A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today, Part 116

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1000

USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today > Part 116

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He was married in Livermore, in 1867, to Miss Louisa Whitney, now deceased, and by that marriage there were four children: John R., Louisa, Charles F. and Katherine. In 1880 Mr. Frick was again married, and by this mar- riage there are also four children: Etta M., Susan M., Herman and William.

OHN GEORG BRAUCH GOEPPERT, one of the proprietors of the Yolo Brewery and the general manager and correspondent, is a native of Hamburg, Germany, born in June, 1859; received a fine education, and in 1879 sailed for the United States and California, but came around Cape Horn and arrived in San Francisco in the fall of of 1880. He first en- gaged as clerk in a grocery store, then started

a bottling establishment for Bavarian beer and continued to conduct the same until 1887, when he established the United States Beer Bottling Company and remained there until 1883. In March of this year he retnined to Germany and in October came again to San Francisco and in a short time to Woodland, where he purchased his present interest. At first here he was in partnership for four months with a man, and then a stock company was formed, comprising Otto Schluer, Chris Seiber, Joseph Genneshausen, A. Niclas, Richard Alge and John G. Goeppert. Mr. Goeppert was made inanager and correspondent. The brewery is a magnificent brick structure on west Main street, and equipped with all the modern improve- ments for the manufacture of first-class beer. Under the present able management the estab- lishment is a complete success and one of which the city of Woodland is proud.

Mr. Goeppert was married in 1887, to Miss Clara C. Myer, a native of Germany, and they have one son, John G. by name.

P. CHADBOURN, a prominent business man of Pleasanton, Alameda County, was born at Biddeford, Maine, June 6, 1853, and came to San Francisco with his parents when a child. He completed his edu- cation in that city, including a course of one year at Heald's Business College. Commenc- ing at the foot of the ladder he then followed railroading for about six years and by persever- ance and industry he finally reached the position of passenger conductor. He quit that business on account of a siege of sickness, which was protracted to a period of more than two years, incapacitating him from any steady business. On recovery he was associated with Charles Sutton & Co. for two years. In 1878 he sold out his interest to his partner and again tried railroad- ing for three months; but not finding the old business a suitable one he went to Pleasanton, where for the first eight months he was book

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

keeper for the firm of Myer & Chadbourn; the next two years he was in Cloverdale, Sonoma County, and vicinity; in 1882 he took charge of the Pierce estate and conducted the ranch as foreman for some two years; then he tried rail- roading for the third time, but in a few months he quit it and located at Pleasanton, where he is now secretary and one of the managers of the Chadbourn Warehouse Company, dealers in hay, grain and lumber, and engaged in storage, shipping and commission and insurance. The incorporators and present stockholders of this company are: Joshua Chadbourn, President; E. W. Harris, Vice President; H. P. Chad- bourn, Secretary; William Harris and John B. Hortenstine. Our subject is a member of Mosaic Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M., at Livermore.

He was married September 16, 1874, to Miss Etta Roden, of Stockton, and they have two children: Edna C. and Harry R.

MIL NICLAS, one of the proprietors of the Yolo Brewery, is a young man of more than ordinary energy and ability in his occupation. He dates his birth July 6, 1860, in Germany, where he learned his trade and followed the same until 1882, when he came to California, and worked at his trade in San Francisco and Sacramento. He went to Woodland, and in 1889 he became a partner in the association now owning the Yolo Brewery, which ranks among the first-class in the State. Mr. Niclas is yet unmarried.

REDERICK A. SCHRADER, wheel- wright and blacksmith at Livermore, was born near Rostock, Germany, Angnst 29, 1851, and accompanied his parents to America in 1861, locating at Elgin, Illinois, where he finished his education and learned the trade of millwright. In 1871 he went to Chicago,

where he followed his trade until 1874, when he came by rail to San Francisco, and soon after went to Haywards, and there he worked at his trade as a journeyman until 1875. Then he went to Dublin and continued in his calling there five years; then was in San Francisco until 1884, then at Sacramento, and then Cen- tral America, where he was employed in the railroad shops at Guatemala, at car-building for eigliteen months. In 1886 he returned to California, visited the East for a few months, came again to California, in 1887, locating near Livermore, where he is now carrying on his old trade, doing general repair work, etc., and having good patronage. He also conducts and owns a saloon at the cross-roads, known as Greenville.

He was married at Stockton, May 17, 1890. to Miss Augusta Kruger. He is a Republican in his political views, taking an active interest in the public affairs of his locality. He is a member of Mosaic Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M., and also of the Society of the Sons of Her- mann, both of Livermore.

B. GIBSON, one of the early set- tlers of Yolo and an agricultorist near Woodland, was born May 20, 1831. in Lonisa County, Virginia, a son of William and Susan (Turner) Gibson, both natives of that State. The grandparents on both sides were in the Revolutionary war. William Gibson moved from Virginia to Missouri in 1837, locating in Howard County, where he remained, a farmer, until his death, which occurred April 10, 1840. He was born July 13, 1799, and learned the brickmaker's trade. His wife died April 23, 1877, in Napa County, California. Mr. Gibson, our subject, was brought up on a farm until 1850, when he came overland with mule teams to the Golden State, the journey occupying four months. Going direct to Yolo County, he pre- empted 160 acres of land from the Government on Cache Creek, in company with a man named

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Cooper. Two months afterward he went to Scott's River and followed mining until the fol- lowing spring. He then went to Oregon, was there three months and returned to Yolo Conn- ty, arriving July 15, 1851. He remained on his ranch until the discovery was made that his land was part of a grant. Accordingly, in 1857, he disposed of the same and located upon his present property, consisting then of 160 acres a half mile from what is now the city of Wood- land, and upon this he has been a constant resi- dent, making it a beautiful and attractive home. He has now some 2,400 acres, all in this coun- ty, and he principally raises grain, hay and stock. He was the first to settle in that portion of the county. The plains then were covered with elk, antelope and wolves. Mr. Gibson is justly entitled to the success which he has earned, coming to California without means and having by his industry and economy added to the wealth of the conntry.

December 23, 1857, is the date of Mr. Gib- son's marriage to Miss Mary E. Cook, a native of Kentucky, whose people came to California across the plains in 1863, and are now living in Yolo County. Their children are three sons: Robert J., born October 18, 1859; Thomas B., born October 2, 1861, and is now a member of the firm of Gibson & Co., one of the largest hardware firms in the county; and Joseph W., born June 4, 1863.

ICHARD BARRY, a farmer near Liver- more, was born in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1839, and in 1859 he came to America, locating in Philadelphia; one year afterward he went to Gloucester County, New Jersey, where he worked as a farm hand for six years. In 1866 he took passage to California by way of the Isthmus, landing at San Francisco, and for two years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits near San José. In 1868 he moved to Livermore and purchased 160 acres of land, which he has since been cultivating, mainly in grain. Mr.

Barry was married at Salem, New Jersey, to Miss Mary Lyons, and they have three children, namely: Alice J., Mary Isabelle and John.

APTAIN N. H. WULFF, now engaged in the steamboat business, lias been a resident of California since 1850, and of Napa since 1859, and he has always been actively interested in boating on the Sacramento and Stockton rivers and their tributaries, first employing sail- ing vessels, and for the last thirteen years as a steamboat owner. He was born in Denmark in 1830, attended the usual public schools up to the age of fourteen, and then, as did most of the boys in that country, began his career as a follower of the sea. During his life as a sailor he visited almost every port in the world, in- cluding Europe, China, South America and Australia, first reaching the California coast in 1850. The glowing accounts of fortunes ac- cumulated in the mines of Shasta County at- tracted his attention, but after a short thongh fairly successful experience there he made sev- cral trips to Chili, whence, at that time, most of the flour, vegetables and other food products that supplied the San Francisco market were procured. He then essayed mining again at Mormon Island, on the American River, but in the next spring a freshet occurred which swept away the results of the winter's work. He con- tinned there through the summer, and having made a little money he invested in a schooner, with which he traded on the river, and ever since that time he has been interested in the saine line of business. From 1853 to 1856 he was also engaged in ballasting ships and carry- ing building stone from Benicia to San Fran- cisco. In 1855 he transported the first loco- motive run in California from San Francisco to Sacramento. This was for the railroad between Folsom and Sacramento. At that time the great bulk of the trade of the State was carried on between these points, and thence into the mines. There was at Folsom a large flouring-mill run

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by water power, and this railroad was intended to do away with the immense amount of team- ing of wheat to this mill, and of supplies from it to the mines and elsewhere. The capacity of that inill was probably 2,000 barrels of flour per day. In 1859 he removed to Napa, wlicre was a large flouring-mill, and engaged in carrying flour and wheat from this county to Sacramento and other parts of the State. Abont fifteen years ago, feeling assured that steam was cer- tain to supersede the use of sailing vessels, he transferred his interest to that class of transpor- tation. He is now interested in the " Caroline " and the " Zinfandel," the latter a boat he had built in 1889. This boat was fitted up for pas- sengers as well as freight, and the line has been of great value to Napa County, operating on the railroad as a check upon high passenger rates. It is the only line on the Napa River having passenger accommodations. For one dollar passengers can make the trip to or be- tween Napa and San Francisco, having a good, comfortable bed and wake up in the morning at either point.

Captain Wulff was married in 1859, to Miss Margaret O'Brien, a native of Ireland, who came to this country at the age of ten years with an older brother. They have had two children: a daughter, Annie, who died in 1861, and a son, Nelson, a graduate of Heald's Business College in San Francisco, now in partnership with his father. The Captain is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and of the Master Mariners' Association. He has been a public-spirited and useful citizen, contributing liberally of his means to all matters of public interest.

ANS MATTHIESEN, a blacksmith of Livermore, was born in Hnsam, Germany, September 22, 1844, and learned the black- smith's trade there. In 1864 he emigrated to America, landing at New York. After spend. ing a few months at Chicago, and following his

trade two years at St. Louis, he came in 1866 to California, by way of the Isthmus of Pan- ama, landing at San Francisco. The first year here he spent at Pleasanton, Alameda County; from 1867 to 1870 he was a journeyman black- smith in San Francisco; then he established himself in business at Ione, Amador County, but sold out there in 1883, and since then has been engaged in blacksmithing, general repair- ing and as a wheelright. He is a member of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A. O. U. W., and also of the society of the Sons of Hermann, No. 13, both of Livermore.

November 14, 1871, at Livermore, is the date of his marriage to Mary Sachau. They have seven children living: Anna W., Pauline, Wilhelmina, Emma, Elinora, Dora. John C., the second child, is deceased.

JOLTON COCHRAN was born in San- dusky County, near Toledo, Ohio, Jan- uary 16, 1828. The history of his fore fathers is coequal with the history of America. He traces his ancestry back to Jolin Cochran, who was born in Scotland of Scotch parents and who came to America as a British soldier in the army of General Braddock, at the time of the war with France. When Braddock was defeated he went with General George Washington (thien a colonel in the army) to Virginia. There he purchased a tarm and became a wealthy man. In the meantime he went to Scotland for his wife and brought her to his new home in the Old Dominion. To them were born ten children. Their son Robert removed to one of the Eastern States and married a Miss Rice, and settled iu Vermont on a farm near Burlington. He be- came a General in the Revolutionary war. Ilis son Seth was a seaman, a mate of a vessel, and came to this coast many years ago; was in the Bay of San Francisco, and purchased furs on the Columbia River. He subsequently re- turned to Vermont and married Polly Stotard, a native of Connectient, of Scotch parents. He

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also had a war record worthy of note. In the war of 1812 he raised a company and was elected their captain. For meritorious service at Plattsburg and in other battles he was pro- moted to colonel. At the close of the war he returned to his home and remained there until 1816, when he sold his farm and made the journey with a wagon to Coldersburg, Ohio. In that place, then a wilderness, he located and continued his residence there until 1821. He then removed to Sandusky, and from there, in 1832, to Toledo. After remaining in the latter place some time he moved to Hillsdale, Mich- igan, and died there at the age of eighty-eight years. Mr. Cochran's grandmother died in Huron County, Ohio, aged ninety-six years.

Holton Cochran is the seventh son and the only survivor of a family of eleven children. At the age of sixteen he began to learn the cooper's trade, and worked at it four years. After that he learned the carpenter's trade in New York city. He made three voyages at sea, first before the mast and afterward as second mate; was in the East India Islands and in Mexico. He then returned to Ohio, and, after spending some time in traveling, visiting nearly every State in the Union, he located at Toledo, where he en- gaged in contracting and building. He was very successful in his business undertakings there, doing large carpenter jobs and also con- ducting extensive cooper works. He erected several fine buildings in Toledo, including the Bethel Church.

In the spring of 1859 he sold ont and came to California, via the Isthmus of Panama. His first venture here was mining in Butte County. He found one piece of gold that weighed $280, and in his best day's work he took out $809. Mr. Cochran saw a piece of gold taken out by another man that weighed fifty- four pounds. In 1860 he went to Virginia City and mined, but not with so much success. He then went to Los Angeles, and from there traveled over the State in search of a desirable location, go- ing to Butte and from there to Red Bluff in 1862. In the latter place he engaged in busi-

ness until the fall of 1864. At that time he removed to Shingletown, Shasta County, and purchased a saw-mill, sawed pine lumber and rafted it down the river to Sacramento. The expense of drawing the lumber to the river was $10; rafting to Red Bluff, $2.50; shipping by steam to Sacramento, $10; in that city it brought 865 per thousand feet. This business Mr. Cochran continued for four years, taking the var to steer the rafts down the river him- self. He then purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising till 1868. In that year he sold out and pre-empted 160 acres on Cow Creek and purchased 320 ad- joining acres. He improved this ranch and resided on it five years, and at the end of that time, in 1873, he sold the property and came to Redding. He arrived here before the rail- road was completed and he built one of the first houses in the town. He engaged in contracting and building, and also purchased a saw-mill at the mouth of Spring Creek. The logs were run down Pit River seventy miles, and the lumber was sold at Redding and Red Bluff. At this business Mr. Cochran was also successful. He sold his mill and engaged in quartz-mining, which proved a failure. Then he bought $3,000 worth of cattle which he sent by John Bloodsel to Bey Valley to be wintered. The winter, however, was so severe that they lost all except fourteen head. After selling his mine he returned to Redding and engaged again in contracting and building and has followed that business up to the present time. He has in- vested in houses and city property in the best part of the town, which he rents. He is one of the stockholders of the I. O. O. F. Hall, a fine block recently completed. Mr. Cochran was the first to invest money in the enterprise. Besides his large real-estate interests he also has money loaned.

In 1854 Mr. Cochran married Miss Mary Ann Read, a native of Ohio. Their union was blessed with four children; George, born in Ohio, and the others in California. Emma married Mr. Ballard and resides at Red Bluff.

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Addie is now the wife of William Worley, also of Red Bluff. After sixteen years of married life Mrs. Cochran died. In 1870 Mr. Cochran married Mrs. Stanley, a native of Kentucky, by whom he had two sons, Horace and Charles, born at Cow Creek. In 1886 Mrs. Cochran died, and in 1889 he wedded Mrs. Gifford, a native of New York. She is of English ex- traction, and for many years made her home at Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Mr. Cochran is an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs in the order. He is a stanch Re- publican, and a man who stands high in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.

B. KINCHLOE, one of the earley set- tlers and well-known citizens of Yolo County, was born December 9, 1823, in Missouri, a son of Joseph and Martha (Edwards) Kinchloe, natives of Kentucky who in early day moved to Cooper County, Missonri, where at the lead mines the father died, in 1828. In their family were five sons and five daughters, of whom only four are now living. Mr. Kinchloe, the subject of this sketch, remained at home on the farm with his widowed mother until her death, which occurred in 1845. He then rented land and continued farming until 1854, when he came overland to California, with ox teams, the trip of five months being a tedious one. The train consisted of ten wagons, with eighteen men and eight women, and David Workman as captain. They had considerable trouble with the Indians. Their first permanent halt was in Yolo County, at the home ranch of Abraham Barnes, Mr. Kinchloe's father-in-law, who had come to this State in 1850. Mr. Kinchloe then had a cabin built, which still stands, as an eloquent monument of pioneer life. The land, 160 acres, was afterward surveyed and found to exist within grant limits, and Mr. Kinchloe was therefore obliged to pay for the same, at the rate of $5 per acre. Later he homesteaded other land, and now he and his

brother, who came with him to California, own together 640 acres of good land, in quality second to none in the county. They carry on general farming and stock-raising. and have accumulated means sufficient to enable them to retire npon their capital. When they first located there the land was perfectly wild, and their nearest market was Sacramento, twenty miles distant. Their property is five miles southwest of Woodland. The brother, P. G. Kinchloe, was born in 1826.

Mr. Z. B. Kinchloe was married in 1846, to Miss Victoria Barnes, a native of Missouri, and they had ten children, seven of whom are now living. Mrs. Barnes was a faithful wife and Inother for forty-two years, when, to all appear- ances in the best of health, she was taken sud- denly sick and died in a few short hours. It was ever her desire to render to her beloved family every comfort possible, and her loss is tlicre- fore very deeply felt.

IMON J. SIMONS, of the firm of Simons & Clee, proprietors of the Soda Works and agents for the Union Ice Company, having their office on B street, between First and Second, Haywards, supply also the towns of Dublin, Pleasanton, Livermore, Suñol, Mission San José, Irvington, Decoto, Centerville, Al- varado, Mount Eden, San Lorenzo, San Leandro, etc., with products of their manufacture. Mr. Simons was born in Schleswig, Germany, Marel 6, 1860, and came to America in 1875, landing first in New York city, and coming thence by rail to Haywards. For the first several years here he followed farming and teaming, and also ran a saloon about two years. He then pur- chased the soda werks and later admitted a partner, and has since managed the business successfully, building up a good and substantial trade. He is a member of the order of the Sons of Hermann, at Livermore.

He was married in Haywards, June 9, 1886, to Miss Annie Hunt, and they have two chil-

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dren, viz .: John H. and an infant son. Mr. Simons' parents were John and Annie (Neilsen) Simons, both natives of Germany; his father is now deceased.

OSEPH HI. HARLAN, a farmer five miles sonthwest of Woodland, is one of the wor- thy citizens who have amassed a fortune by the cultivation of the soil, and stands at the front of the class. He was born May 9, 1829, in Boyle County, Kentucky, a son of George and Johanna (Hihun) Harlan, both natives also of that State. His father, a farmer, in 1853 moved to Cooper County, Missouri, and con- tinned as a farmer and stock-raiser there until his death, in 1845, when he was about forty- seven years old. His wife died in 1852, at the age of fifty years. He brought up six sons and three daughters. Joseph HI. was reared on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-one lie struck out in the world for himself, working and trading, allowing no opportunity to make an honest dollar to escape. In 1853 he came to California, with ox teams and other live-stock, being only three months on the road and the journey being pleasant. The train did not camp out twice in the same place. On arriving in this State, Mr. Harlan first stopped in Sierra County, on the head-waters of the Feather River, to recruit; he then was in Colusa County twelve months, and another twelve months in Butte County, where he had located to re- main, but his claim was found to be grant land, and he went to Solano County, having a similar experience; and in the autumn of 1860 he set- tled on 160 acres of Government land in the western portion of Yolo County, known as the Buckeye ranch. At that time the land was all a bare plain, visited by elk, antelope, deer and bands of Spanish cattle. In 1863 he moved again upon a ranch three miles and a half north- west of Woodland, where he remained until 1872, when he purchased his present place, five miles southwest of Woodland, where he built a

handsome residence in 1873, and has a fine home. He owns 2,820 .acres in Yolo County, on which he carries on general farming and raises live-stock; and he also has 1,800 acres in Fresno County, devoted also to general farming. Mr. Harlan is a practical farmer, a wide-awake citizen and a generous neighbor. He has given employment to many deserving working men.

He was married November 15, 1855, to Miss Grace H. Barnes, a native of Missouri.

NDREW RAMAGE, of Haywards, is a native son of the Golden West, who de- serves special mention in this volume. Ile was born at Haywards, March 16, 1864, learned the trade of blacksmith, worked as a journey- man and finally started in business for himself, having now his shop on Main street, between A and B streets. He is also agent for the sale of wagons, carriages and agricultural implements. He is one of the prominent mechanics of the place, who has by industry and honest dealing gained for himself a good business and a fine reputation. He is an active member of Eden Parlor, No. 113, N. S. G. W. His parents were James and Clementina Ramage, his father a coppersmith by trade, and his mother dying when be was but three years of age. He mar- ried Miss Mary Addison, Angust 22, 1889, at San Leandro, and they have a child.

ILLIAM BRAY, a farmer near Wood- land, was born February 23, 1832, in Monroe County, Kentucky, a son of Richard and Annie (Woods) Bray. His father, a farmer by vocation, was a pioneer of that connty, and died there at the age of sixty-two years. The genealogy of the family is traceable to Germany. In their family were five sons and one daughter. Mr. William Bray was brought up on a farm in Kentucky, and was but nineteen years of age when in 1852 he came

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A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today, Part 116

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1000

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1000