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 118

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 118

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although representing a district that does not require irrigation, he extended his friendly aid. He was largely instrumental in passing the Mutual Insurance Bill, designed for the protec- tion of the public against the exorbitant rates of the Insurance Compact. This important bill, which would have given great relief to the people of the State, was unfortunately vetoed by the Governor During the excitement in reference to hydraulic mining, when the differ- enees between the valley agricultural interests and those of the miners seemed almost impos- sible to be reconciled, and about the time that the Waiworth Impounding Bill was defeated in the Senate, Mr. Coombs introduced a resolution requesting the appointment by Congress of a commission to ascertain whether hydraulic min- ing could be carried on without violating the Federal laws, and to consider and recommend the best methods for clearing the rivers and harbors of any debris arising therefrom. This resolution was incorporated in a bill which passed Congress providing for such a commis- sion and appropriating money for its expenses. But perhaps the most useful and valuable of all the labors of this popular and rising young legislator were his untiring efforts to search out and defeat measures inimical to the inter- ests of the people, and his devotion to this ordinarily thankless, but most necessary and important, part of his duties at the State capital will not soon be forgotten.

ARRY W. DURFOR is proprietor of the daily stage route from Redding to Baird, where the United States Fishery is lo- cated. Hle is also the mail and express carrier on this line, and carries the news and correspond- ence of the county to three postoffices, Still- water, Bnekeye and Baird.

Mr. Durfor was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 22, 1854, the son of Edwin T. and Elizabeth (Henheffener) Durfor. His father was also a rative of Philadelphia,

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

and followed the butchering business in that city for a number of years. In 1859 they crossed the plains to California with ox teams. They first settled in Butte County, at Inskip, and engaged in mining, which occupation the father has followed the most of the time since coming to California. Mr. and Mrs. Durfor reared a family of five children, the subject of this sketch being the eldest. He, too, has

mined a great deal in this State, and has also been interested in farming. He owns eighty acres at Stillwater, on which he has built and which he has improved by planting a variety of fruit trees. After purchasing the stage route he removed from his farm to Redding. His sister, an amiable yonng lady, keeps house for him and attends the Redding High School. His younger brother is in his employ. They drive alternate days, and use two good pairs of horses. The route a portion of the way is through a pleasant farming country, then over a rocky and mountainous road.

Politically Mr. Durfor is a Republican. IIe is also a temperance man.

EORGE W. GORDON, a prominent hor- ticulturist near Haywards, was born in Orange County, New York, September 20, 1843, and was reared and educated in Mid- dletown, in his native county, until 1861, when he enlisted as a private soldier in the First New York Mounted Rifles, and served as such until 1864, when he was mustered ont of service at City Point, near Richmond, Virginia, and re- turned to his native State, where he engaged in the dry-goods trade until 1866. He then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he continued in the mercantile trade nntil 1870. Going thien to Chicago he was manager of a mercantile honse there for eighteen years. Ifis ambition led him to exert his utmost energies to attain the front rank of the mercantile circle; but this impaired his health, so that by the year 1888 he conelnded to come to California; and hither

he came, locating at Haywards and purchasing sixteen acres of good land, where he devotes his entire attention to horticultural pursuits. He raises a large and choice variety of all the citrus fruits. He is a member of the Fruit-Growers' Association of Haywards. Politically he is a Republican, and in May, 1890, he was elected a member of the Board of Town Trustees. He is also a prominent member of the G. A. R., and affiliates with the F. & A. M. of Chicago. He is the youngest of five sons in his father's family, and has three sisters. He was married in Chicago, May 7, 1874, to Miss Julia Hub- bard, a native of that city. Her father was one of the first builders and promoters of public enterprise in that city.

ILLIAM KING, a retired farmer of Yolo County, was born January 1, 1838, in Knox County, Tennessee, a son of Alfred A. and Saralı (Sharp) King, father a na- tive of North Carolina and mother of Tennes- see. The father, a farmer by vocation, moved from North Carolina to Tennessee with his par- ents, where he remained until 1840; and then resided in Jackson County until 1849, when he came to California across the plains, settling first in Sonoma County, where he remained nn- til his death, in March, 1853, when he was abont forty-four years of age. William was brought up on a Tennessee farin and in Mis- souri three years, and came to California in 1852, across the continent, being from May 5 till September 28 on the road, and ever since then has made his home in Yolo Connty, chiefly as a farmer. The first two years he worked for wages, and after that he had a farmn of his own, which he sold out in 1876, and since then he has lived a somewhat retired life. He has been Justice of the Peace since 1879. It can be said that Mr. King has done his share of work and borne his share of burdens, as he commenced to work on his own responsibility at the age of seventeen years, in California. He was only

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

sixteen years of age when he made trips to the mines with ox teams, taking provisions there and returning with lumber. When he first set- tled in Yolo County there were but three others living in his township. He was married March 30, 1864, to Miss R. M. Montgomery, a native of Missouri, and they have two sons and six danghters.

APTAIN HAMDEN W. MCINTYRE .- The gentleman who is mnost concerned in this biographical sketch is a man whose inodesty is scarcely less marked than his ability. He is in the prime of life, uncommonly tall and in bearing a courteous gentleman. He passed his boyhood on a Vermont farm, and dates his birth at Randolph, September 28, 1834. His father, James McIntyre, was a native of Vermont, as was also his mother. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch extraction; and his mother, nee Charlotte Blodget, traces her ancestry to Connecticut.

He was educated in his native State, at an Orange County grammar school, working and teaching school between times to pay his tuition. At the age of twenty years he learned the trade of piano and organ maker. In 1857, he went to Canada, where he became the superintendent of a lumber firm, near Ottawa, and remained three years in their employ. In 1860 he re- turned to Elmira, New York, and engaged in the manufacturing of machinery until 1870. On the breaking out of the war, he left his business under the management of his foreman and went to Washington, District of Columbia, where he was appointed as an engineer in the navy yard, remaining there employed in the a ljustment of gunboat machinery until 1865, when he enlisted in the First New York Veteran Cavalry, and was discharged the same year near Charleston, South Carolina; then he returned to Elmira and conducted ; his manufacturing business.

Mr. MeIntyre's favorite studies have been

chemistry and mathematics, the former being first in his regard. His bent of mind in this direction led him doubtless to the study of fer- mentation and practical wine-inaking at the cellars of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company in New York, simply as a pastime during a period of idleness enforced by ill-health further and broader reading and study of this and kindred subjects followed, during the long win- ter nights of a ten-years residence in Alaska, where he was agent at St. Paul's Island for the Alaska Commercial Company.

In 1881 he commenced wine-making in Cali- fornia at Captain Niebaum's Inglenook Winery in Napa County, remaining there until 1887, when he came to Vina and took entire charge of the vineyard and winery of Leland Stanford. He is a master of civil and mechanical engineer- ing. The winery buildings at Vina, with the exception of the old fermenting house, were constructed from his designs and under his personal supervision, and many of the leading wineries of the State have also been constructed from his designs in whole or in part, or from his plans and drawings in full. Among them may be mentioned the Inglenook Winery at Rutherford, Bourne & Wise's at St. Helena, M. M. Estee's at Napa, Mrs. Collins' at Mountain View, John Burson's at Oakville, Goodman & Co's. at Oak Knoll, near Napa City, C. P. Adamnson's and Ewer & Atkinson's at Rutherford, Leland Stanford's at Menlo Park and the late John A. Paxton's at Santa Rosa.

Mr. MeIntyre was joined in marriage at El- mira, New York, in November 1859, with Miss Snsan H. Johnson, a native of Maine. They have had two children, both now deceased. Polictically he is a Republican, and takes an active part in politics, being at present a mem - ber of the County Central Committee. He also affiliates with the F & A. M., Union Lodge, No. 95, Chapter No. 42, R. A. M., Southernteen Council, No. 16, R. & S. M., St. Omar Com- mandery, K. T., No. 19, of Elmira, and Corn- ing Consistory, of Corning, New York. He has taken all the degrees in the York and Scottish

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Rite up to the Thirty-third, and has served in the chairs of all degrees, except the Consistory.

ARTIN CORRIGAN came to Cali- fornia in 1852, and for two years was a miner on Trinity River. In 1854 he came to Tehama County, and has grown up with the city of Red Binff. It was an embryo town when he began his business career in it, and he has seen its wonderful growth and development, and has not been an idle looker-on, but an active worker and a builder of the place.

Mr. Corrigan was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, November 11, 1826. His parents, Thomas and Arn (Condor) Corrigan, were natives of the same county. His father was a black- smith, and also carried on farming in a limited way. Both Mr. and Mrs. Corrigan were devout Catholics. They were the parents of ten chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth. He received a limited education, and learned the blacksmith trade in his father's shop. In 1846, at the age of twenty years, he left home and friends, and sailed for America to make his fortune in the " land of the free and the home of the brave. " He settled in Chicago when that city was in its infancy. It was a muddy little town, with a pole stuck up in the middle of the street, with a sign on it which read "No Bottom." After working at his trade there for six years, he crossed the plains, in 1852, and spent two years at mining, meet- ing with indifferent success. He then opened his blacksmith shop in Red Bluff, at the corner of Main and Pine streets, where his fine block now stands. He carried on the blacksmith business for sixteen years, until 1870, when his shop burned. The ground on which it stood had become too valuable to be used for that purpose, so he erected some store rooms on it, and rented them. In 1882 they also were de- stroyed by fire. Ile then put up his present handsome block of buildings. He has four store rooms in a row, occupied by first-class

business firms. He is now erecting another building on Main Street, 40x 70 feet and two stories high. The lower story is to be occupied by a merchant tailor and a restaurant, and the up- per rooms are for a lodging house. Mr. Corrigan owns a ranch of 1,315 acres, which also he rents. It is used principally as a stock farm. He owns a beautiful residence on High Street, only a short distance from the business center of the city.

Mr. Corrigan was married, in 1870, to Miss Catherine Sweeney, a native of Fall River, Massachusetts. Their quion has been blessed with five beautiful daughters, all born in Red Bluff. All are at this writing residing with their parents. Mrs. Corrigan and her daughters are members of the Catholic Church.

At the time of the great fire in Chicago, Mr. Corrigan returned to that stricken city to visit and, if possible, aid his friends. He has since mnade two trips to Chicago, and on one of these visits his wife accompanied him. Mr. Corrigan is a good citizen, who attends strictly to his own business, and thinks for himself. He is gener - ous and liberal in all his views. Politically he is a Democrat. He believes that one man is just as good as any other man as long as he is as well behaved. He is quiet and unassmining in his manner, and never seeks notoricty in any way.

AMES D. AUSTIN, one of the old and highly respected citizens of Ilaywards, was born in Anderson County, South Carolina, May 11, 1831. His parents, James and Mar- garet (McCurdy) Austin, were both natives of the same State and died wlien he was a boy, in 1839. He was then taken in charge by rela- tives near Marietta, Georgia. In 1852 he went to Franklin County, and the next year to Texas, where, however, he stopped but a few months. He came on to California by way of El Paso, Tucson, Fort Yuma, San Diego, and thence by water to San Francisco. He followed mining

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among the Mariposa mines and in that vicinity until 1859, when he settled in Haywards. For the first four years there he had the care of live stock, and afterward he dealt in live stock for several years. Selling out his business in this interest, he went to Denver, Colorado, and kept hotel for four years. In 1875 he returned to Haywards, where he built the American Hotel, and has conducted it in a thorough manner to the present time, gaining for it a good repu- tation. He has been a member of the Board of Town Trustees, and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1880, which office he still holds. He is a Master Mason of Haywards and a member of Oakland Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M .; and he also affiliates with the A. O. U. W. at Haywards.

He was first married in 1870, at Haywards, to Susan Brumhiller, who died in 1882; and he was inarried again, at Oakland, to Mrs. Matilda Baker, and by this marriage there is one child, named Emma J.

EORGE S. MCKENZIE, the popular and energetic Sheriff of Napa County, has been a resident of California and of Napa County since 1879. Born at Rogers' Hill, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, June 17, 1856, he received his early education in the public schools, but at the age of twelve years he started out for himself, working a shingle machine, then at making furniture, and from this advanced to carriage-building, earning enough money in the summer to pay for continuing his schooling in the winter. At the age of seventeen he set up a carriage shop of his own, employing three men, in his native town, where he continued for five years. During a few months of that time he worked in Boston, Massachusetts, under in- structions, perfecting himself in the arts ot car- riage painting and wood-work. In 1875 he sold out his carriage business and came to California, where three of his brothers had already estab- lished themselves, and settled in Monticello, Napa County, resuming the carriage-making,

repairing and blacksmithing business, at which he continued, working at the trade himself un- til 1880. Meeting with an accident to his right arın, which disabled him from active work at his trade, he bought out a store and engaged in mercantile business in connection with his car- riage shop. In 1888 he was persuaded by his friends to become a candidate for the office of Sheriff, and carrying the nomination of the Re- publican convention against three competitors, he was elected by a good majority, the first Republican sheriff in Napa County for twelve years. In 1889 he removed with his family to Napa, having sold out his carriage shop, though still retaining his mercantile business in Mon- ticello. Besides property to a considerable amount in Monticello, Mr. Mckenzie has a ranch of 160 acres in Berryessa Valley, is a man of broad views, highly respected, and a worthy representative of the young, enthusiastic and progressive element in business, politics and society.

May 1, 1884, he married Miss Alice M. Clark, daughter of Mr. Abraham Clark, of Berryessa Valley, where she was born, her father having been one of the earliest settlers of that region. To them have been born three children, two of whom are still living. The eldest child, Harvey, died from congestion of the brain, caused by a fall, at the age of eleven months. Mr. McKen- zie's parents were Murdock and Nancy (Gunn) Mckenzie. His mother still occupies the old homestead, but his father died two years ago.

Always an ardent Republican, he has been for four years a member of the Republican County Committee, and was a delegate to the last State Congressional Convention at San Francisco. Mr. Mckenzie is a thorough American in his views, his early visit to Boston and residence there having placed him in perfect sympathy with the institutions of this country. Immedi- ately on his arrival in California he identified himself with the interests of his adopted country, by taking out his naturalization papers, and be- came a citizen and firm supporter of the Gov- ernment. In 1888 he made a visit to the home

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of his parents, spending considerable time in Boston and New York, and finally settling all his business interests outside of California. He attends the Presbyterian Church, is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 18, also of Live Oak Encampment, both of Napa City.

N. ATKINS .- In the year 1812 N. A. Atkins, a native of Massachusetts, and his wife, nee Lydia Waters, a native of Connecticut, both of Welsh extraction, emi- grated to the Western Reserve in Ohio, then a wilderness. Here they purchased a farm and helped to clear up the country. and here they reared their family of eight children, only two of whom now survive. On the 20th of August, 1831, their son Quintus Narcissus was born. He received his education in Ohio, at Albion Academy, Pennsylvania, and at Poland Insti- tute, Ohio.

At the age of twenty Mr. Atkins left school to join the ranks of the people who were com- ing from Ohio to the new El Dorado of the West, and arrived in California August 20, 1852. He first mined in Gold Run and then in Grass Valley. In June, 1853, he came to Shasta, after it had been burned to the ground. With a company he went to Horsetown. They conceived the idea of turning the river from its bed by building a dam. Mr. Atkins worked there, and contracted the ague, from which he did not fully recover for eight years. The en- terprise of turning the stream proved unsnc- cessful. He continued to mine and at times with fair success, but, like many other mniners, did not save his money. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Hughs, a native of Wisconsin. Her father, Andrew Hughs, a native of Missouri, camne to California in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Atkins reared a family of four- teen children, eleven sons and three daughters, all of whom are living. The second son and one daughter were born in Star City, Hnmn- boldt County, and all the rest were born in

Shasta County. Their names are as follows: Benjamin W., Frank M., Emma J., William J., Jesse, Warren G., Octava and Flora (twins), Irwin, Dewitt C., Clarence, Quintus Narcissus and Cleveland and Harrison (twins).

Mr. Atkins worked at the carpenter's trade until 1862, when he went to Star City to the mines, remaining there until 1864-'65. At that time he went to Silver Lake, Idaho, going in wagons and being three months on the road, the delay being caused by high waters and bad sloughs. He worked there a year on the quartz mills. The first winter he paid $20 per sack for flour. In 1866 Mr. Atkins returned to Shasta County. He owns 320 acres of land on Clover Creek, where he resides with his family. Ile also has a mill and a home in the monn- tains on the Tamarack road, where his family spends the summers. Mr. Atkins claims to be a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, but is not of Democratic stock. Three times he has been elected County Surveyor. He has also held the office of Deputy Assessor, has been twice elected to the office and is the present incumbent. He is one of the old, reliable stand bys of the county, and is deeply interested in its growth and prosperity. Mr. Atkins is a Master Mason.

ILLIAM P. CORLETT, of the firm of W. P. Corlett & Sons, has been a resi- dent of California since 1874, during which time he has lived and done business in Napa. Born in the Isle of Man, England, in 1824, he attended the common schools until the age of seventeen, when he came to America, landing in New York after a passage of six weeks on the Kensington, a packet-liner of that day, Captain Shumway commanding. There was at that time only two steamships plying be- tween that eity and Liverpool, one leaving each port monthly, a marked contrast to the present passage of about five days. New York was then a comparatively small, but a very clean city, while Brooklyn was comprised in the navy

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yard and a few houses near the Fulton Ferry. This was at a time of great depression in busi- ness, not only here but in England, and he found it impossible to secure a situation. Manufac- tories were almost deserted, and establishments that had employed hundreds of operatives were shut known entirely. After waiting in vain for nearly six months for matters to improve, he returned to England and served an apprentice- ship of five years at the carpenter's trade, at the same time learning the use of tools in almost every branch of wood-working. He worked at his trade there until 1872, when he brought his family to this country, first to Chicago, where he remained for two years, and arriving in Napa in November, 1874. He was married in 1846 to Miss Jane Collister, also a native of the Isle of Man. They have seven children, four sons and three daughters. One of the latter, Mar- garet, is the wife of William Banmont, of San Francisco; Ann Jane is the wife of Daniel Keig, of Napa; and Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Callon, also of Napa. They were all born in the Isle of Man. Mr. Corlett lost his first wife, and afterward he married bis present wife, Miss Elizabeth Mckenzie, a native of Liverpool, England. All his sons are now associated with him in business, John T., William H. and Robert learning the trade of their father, and C. D. that of a machinist, and he is now the en- gineer of the works. They built their planing- mill in 1882, removing to their present location in 1887. This establishment covers about an acre of ground, and is located ou Third street, cornering at the bridge, having a frontage of 160 feet on Third street and a river frontage of about 500 feet. The building occupies a space of 80 x 80 feet, with an L 25 x 60, two stories high. The first floor of the main building is occupied by the heavy machinery, planers, monlding machines, turning lathes, saws, etc., the second floor by light machinery and as a jobbing room, where fourteen work-benches are in use. The lower floor of the extension con- tains the boiler of seventy-tive-horse power and an engine of eighty-horse power, and the upper

floor the drying rooms for finishing lumber. Another building in the rear, 24 x 58 feet in size, is used partly for the storage of lumber and as a glass, oil and paint room. Their main business is the manufacturing of mouldings, window frames, store and bank fixtures, and all house building materials, with which they sup- ply the four surrounding counties of Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo. They also built the Masonic Temple at Napa, considered the finest structure for the purpose north of San Fran- cisco, as well as most of the fine mercantile and residence buildings of the city. They are now engaged on a State contract for two additional infirmaries at the Napa Insane Asylum, and have been for the last ten years the leading establishment of this kind in the above men- tioned counties.

S. LANGAN, attorney at law, at Hay- wards, is a prominent member of the Alameda County Bar. He was born at Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1857, at- tended the State Normal School at Mausfield, and in 1876 graduated at La Fayette College, at Easton, that State. From 1876 to 1880 he studied law and was admitted to the bar during the latter year in New Jersey. After prac- ticing a short time there, he came, in 1881, by rail, to California and located at San Mateo, where he became tutor in the military academy of that place for one year. Lastly he located at Haywards, where he has been elected, and has served for a period of three years, as principal of the public schools. In 1884 he went to Livermore and took a course of law study for one year under the eminent counselor G. W. Lang, of that city, and in 1885 was admitted to practice in the State courts. For a few years following he visited various sections of this State, hoping to recuperate from his im- paired health. In 1887 he again located at Haywards, where he has built up an excellent practice in his profession. He is the attorney

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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 118

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