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 119

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 119

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

for the Electric Light and Knox Water Com- panies; also he is the City Attorney. Being a decided Republican he has rendered his party considerable service, having been a delegate to every county convention since 1881; and he has been twice chosen delegate to State conven- tions. He affiliates with the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F.

Mr. Langan and Miss Lydia Breckwell, a na- tive of California, were joined in marriage at Haywards, September 3, 1885, and they now have two children,-Gurdon S. and Anna M.

ATRICK H. GEARY, a prominent farm- er and dairyman of Alameda County, near Suñol, owns 1,500 acres of farming and grazing land seven miles south of that place and keeps thirty-five to forty milking cows, and inakes butter for the San Francisco market. He has also a fine prospect of gold and silver bearing quartz on his land, which he is now prospecting, the indications being good for a bountiful supply of the precious metals. He was born in Cork, Ireland, February 22, 1840, and was a babe when the family emigrated to America, loeating at Syracuse, New York, where he was reared and educated. His par- ents were Maurice and Mary (Cronan) Geary. In 1856 he caine across the plains to California, taking two seasons for the journey and wintering in Salt Lake City. He was one of a number who handled the stone in the monument erected to the memory of the emigrants that were inur- dered at Mountain Meadows, Utah, in 1858. From that place he came to this State by way of San Bernardino and Los Angeles, where he worked at teaming for a time. Afterward he superintended the salt works of Salinas for two years. In 1860 he came to Mission San José, Alameda County, where he worked upon a farm for a short time. Then he engaged in the livery business. Selling out the latter eight months afterward, he located upon 160 acres of land near the Mission and followed agriculture there

two years. Then he sold his claim there and moved npon his present farm. He was one of the gentlemen who formed the Rosedale School District, and has been one of its trustees for nine years. He is a Democrat and takes a lively interest in local affairs. He is a member of Triumph Council, No. 177, O. C. F., of San José.

While at Mission San José he was married to Miss Mary A. Kell, February 15, 1863. She is a native of Canada, and came to California by way of Panama in 1851. They have ten children now living: Maurice, Mary R., Annie, Ellen, Daniel, John, Thomas, Patrick H., Mag- gie and Elizabeth.

UGENE PROLETTI is the proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stable of Ander- son, where sojonrners will find lively road- sters and well equipped turnouts at the most reasonable prices, the proprietor being a man of practical experience in the business and of a gentlemanly nature, who studies to please his patrons, and by that method has gained for him- self and his stables a reputation second to none in Shasta County. Mr. Proletti was born in Crevia, Piedmont, Italy, in 1855, where he was educated and reared to farm life. His parents were Vincenzo and Annie (Anderlina) Proletti, botlı natives of Italy. He came to America in 1869, locating in Sonoma County, California, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. In connection with his ranch he also conducted a dairy, being successful in this enterprise dur- ing the years he was connected with it. Selling out his ranch in 1879, he next came to Ander- son, Shasta County, and engaged in his present business.

Mr. Proletti is a Republican in principle, but takes no part in politics, devoting his entire time to the business he believes himself best adapted for. He is a single man, and the fifth of ten children in his father's family, three besides himself being in America, and the re-

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mainder of the family residing in their native land.

ILLIAM DEVIN, of Tehamna County, is a native of Pike County, Missouri, born at Frankfort, December 17, 1846, the son of William and Elizabeth (Lewelling) Devin. The father was a native of Virginia and came to Missouri in 1820, where he died in 1864; the mother was a native of St. Louis, Missouri, born in 1817, and died in 1878. Her ancestors on the paternal side were Scotch-Irish, and on the maternal side were Welsh, who were persecuted and finally driven from Wales on account of their religious views. Our snb- ject learned the machinist's and blacksmith's trades, and left his native State in 1873, coming by rail to California, locating in Colusa County, where for a few months he received $5 per day as a journeyman blacksmith. He next opened a shop at the town of Durham on his own ac- count. Selling out a few months later he came to Vina, and is now established in a general re- pair shop for blacksmithing and wheelwrighting.

In 1874 Mr. Devin was elected Justice of the Peace, and has also served as Deputy Sheriff, and is now Deputy Constable. He was School Trustee of Lason District from 1884 to 1886. Politically he is a Democrat, and takes an active part in all political matters.

He was married at Vina in 1879, to Miss Fannie Moore, a native of California, and a daughter of the late J. P. Moore, an old Cali- fornia pioneer. Mr. and Mrs. Devin have one child, Ray.

ALTER D. NUNAMAKER, one of the business men of Redding, California, is a native of the State of Minnesota. Ile was born August 19, 1865, of German and American ancestry. His grandfather, Peter Nunamaker, a native of Germany, came to the

United States many years ago and and settled in Pennsylvania. There Isaac Nunamaker was born. He married Miss Lucy Shepherd, by whom he had five children, the subject of this sketch being the third. He was reared, edu- cated and learned the jeweler's trade in Minne- sota. He went to Dakota and worked a year at his business, after which he returned to Minnesota. From there he went to Ellsworth, Kansas, where he was in business three years. January 10, 1888, he came to Redding, Cali- fornia, and opened a jewelry store. He keeps a fine stock of goods, does satisfactory work, and, by his obliging and gentlemanly manner of dealing with his customers, has established a fine business.

August 19, 1888, when twenty-three years of age, he married Miss Nettie Derby, a native of Dakota. Their union has been blessed with a son, Raymond, born in Redding.

Mr. Nnnamaker is a member of the National Guards of California, and also of the Knights of Pythias. He is entlinsiastic over his adopted State and especially over the city of Redding. As a worthy citizen and reliable business man he enjoys the good-will and respect of all who know him.

M AYNE PLUMB, the senior member of the firm of M. & C. S. Plumb, promi- nent merchants of French Gulch, was born in Kentucky on the seventh of September, 1851. His early education was obtained in New York. In 1865 he ca ne to California and finished his studies at the State University at Oakland. He has had large experience in the mercantile business, having served twenty years as a clerk. The Messrs. Plumb inher- ited the store and stock from Thompson Pinmnb, who established the business at French Gulch in 1868. He conducted it successfully until 1886, the time of his death. At that time his son, Mayne Plumb, took charge of the store. His partner, Charles S. Plumb, is his cousin.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

They are both enterprising business men and are doing a lucrative business. Their stock con- sists of general inerchandise, and their trade ex- tends for forty miles into the country and is constantly growing.

Mr. Mayne Plnmb was married, in 1880, to Mrs. Allie Blair, a native of Ohio and a daugh- ter of Dr. John Smith, now of California. Mrs. Plumb has one son, Eddie L, by her former husband. Mr. Plumb is an Encampment Odd Fellow, and has passed all the chairs in his lodge. He is also a Master Mason. His politi- cal views are Republican.

Charles S. Plumb, the junior member of the firm, is a native of Michigan; was educated in Illinois, and followed railroading for the Michi- gan Central Railroad until he came to Califor- nia in 1877. After his arrival in this State he was engaged for a time in a livery in French Gulch, but gave it up to enter the mercantile business with his cousin. They are agents for Wells, Fargo & Co.

MANDAR CARLTON RUGGLES was born in Erie County, Ohio, January 27, 1831, a son of Salınon Ruggles, a native of Connecticut. His mother's maiden name was Rebecca Nyman, and she was a native of New York State and of German descent. The tradition is that the Ruggles family in America originated with three brothers who came to this country from Scotland, one of whom settled in Connectient, one died shortly after his arrival and one went to the Southern States; and the latter is the one from whom nearly all the peo- ple by that name in the South have descended. Nearly all of them in foriner times were slave owners and some of them participated in the Rebellion. The northern branch were all anti- slavery and Union men. Some entered the Union army and some were killed in battle. The father of the subject of this sketch, a mas- ter mechanic, ship-builder and ship superin- tendent, had an important position in the

Union army, in the department of the Missis- sippi. He had a ship-yard and dry-dock at Milan, Ohio, about eight miles from Lake Erie, where he built a great many vessels for the lake trade.

Judge Ruggles, the subject of this sketch, was brought up in his native State. He was nineteen years of age when he was educating himself at an academy called the Huron Insti- tute, at Milan, and the gold fever brought him to this State, with the consent of his father. In company with friends, he purchased and completed a large outfit of wagons and horses with provisions to make the long journey across plain and mountain. They also started with a considerable quantity of clothing, hats, caps, etc., bnt had to abandon it fifty miles west of the Missouri River. The wagon was taken back to Weston, Missouri, and sold, and the party came on with pack horses and mules. There were nine in the party, divided into two inesses, and they traveled together until they reached the Sonth Pass of the Rocky Mount- ains, when, as is natural and nsnal, they dis- agreed and separated. The party of five, of whom Mr. Ruggles was a member, by a little stratagem the night before the separation, said they were going by way of Sublette's Cut-off; rising early next morning, they started towards Salt Lake instead. The other mess, thinking they had taken the other route, saw none of them until they reached California. Mr. Ruggles' party reached Salt Lake July 4 and Placerville August 14, 1850, having the usual experiences of the journey, spiced with a little trouble with Indians, etc. The redskins attempted to steal their live-stock, and one of them was killed. In crossing the desert they had to kill all of their horses, to put them out of their misery, which was induced by want of nourishment and water.

During the first five years in California Mr. Ruggles was engaged in gold-mining at differ- ent points, a part of the time with excellent success; but he afterward lost his little fortune in a fluming operation. The second year after

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his arrival he was offered $10,000 for his in- terest, which he refused. After he quit mining he followed farming about four miles south of Woodland, from 1856 to 1866; he then sold his place and since November 6, that year, he has been a resident of Woodland. Here he has been Postmaster six years,-1866-'72; also at the same time he ran a drug store, the first one in the town, also a variety and jewelry store, having a partner in his business. After his term as Postmaster expired he continued in his mercantile business three years longer, when he sold out. Next for two years he prospected around the State; then he was appointed Pub- lic Administrator for Yolo County, by the Board of Supervisors, and he also went into the real-estate business and collection agency, in which he has since been engaged. In the fall of 1879 he was elected Justice of the Peace, in which position he was ex-officio Police Judge, and in this double capacity he served for three years; then for a time he confined himself to the real-estate business and the duties of a Notary Public. He has been elected to his judicial seat three times. He is a thorough Re- publican, and the fact that his district is at the same time strongly Democratic shows his pop- ularity. At the present he is secretary of the Republican County Central Committee, taking a lively interest in political matters. As a Re- publican, however, he is not radical. In religious :matters he has been for many years a member of the Methodist Church. As to the liquor traffic he believes in regulation in- stead of prohibition.

Judge Ruggles was married in 1859, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Maddux, a native of Illinois, and they have one son and three daughters.

OTTLOB RAYER, proprietor of the Ger- man bakery on Castro street, Haywards, was born in Wirtemburg, Germany, Octo- ber 27, 1842, where he was educated and brought up to the baker's trade until 1864,

coming then to America. He stopped for two months at Detroit, Michigan, and then was in St. Louis, Missouri, until 1868, when he came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. After arriving here he followed his trade a year in San Francisco, and then moved to San Lean- dro and conducted the same business there five years. His next location was at Haywards, where he is now conducting a successful trade in bread, pies of all kinds, and pastries, which can be had fresh from his ovens daily; also fancy and domestic confectionery, candies, etc., at wholesale and retail.

Mr. Rayer affiliates with the Sons of Her- mann, Lodge No. 14, of Haywards. He was married at San Francisco Angust 1, 1868, to Miss Caroline Fitzer, a native of Germany, and they have three children, namely: William, Frederick and Charles. Mr. Rayer is the son of Lenhardt and Catrina (Finley) Rayer, the father a native of Germany and a horticultur- ist, and the mother also a native of the same conntry; both are now deceased.

HARLES E. FISH .- Among the promi- nent and substantial farmers and stock- growers of Tehama County we make particular mention of the subject of this sketch, who was born in Scott County, Iowa, March 27, 1852, the son of Erskine and Cordelia (Freeman) Fish, both natives of New York. His maternal grandparents, Samuel and Balinda Freeman, were natives of New York, and moved to the State of Iowa in 1844. His paternal grandparents, P. William and Lois (Grover) Fish, were born in the State of Vermont; the former died in 1854 and the latter in 1870.

Mr. Fish is a self-educated man, being quick of perception and unflagging in his efforts to improve the mind, and he certainly has raised himself to the level, if not beyond that, of the average man. He accompanied his parents across the plains to California in 1860, locating in Tehama County, where they followed farm-

Herbert Kraft

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ing for several years. In 1871 he moved to the town of Tehama, and was for several years eon- neeted with the butchering business. He then went to Red Bluff, continuing in the same busi- ness for a short time, and then engaging in the mercantile pursuits for one year. For five years he was Deputy County Assessor. In 1886 he again engaged in farming, and is now loeated twelve miles north of Red Bluff, where he and his partner, Frank L. Jelly, own 1,900 acres of land, and jointly carry on farming and stock-raising. Politieally Mr. Fish is a Repub- lican, and is the regular nominee for County Sheriff.

He has been twice married, the first, Septem- ber 3, 1871, to Miss Mary C. Weitemeyer, of lowa, who died in 1881, leaving one child, Cor- delia D. The second marriage was at Red Bluff, to Miss Maggie C. Goodridge, a native of California, and they have three children: Frank A., Erskine and Charles. Mr. Fish affil- iates with the F. & A. M. of Vesper (blue) Lodge, No. 84, Chapter No. 40, and Command- ery No. 17, of Red Bluff.

ERBERT KRAFT, the richest, as well, perhaps, as the most energetic man in Tehama County, and banker, farmer and politieian, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany , March 15, 1831, and is yet a hale, hearty, aetive inan, with sufficient tireless vitality to attend to his own diversified and immense business and that of the county besides, as he is known as the " working Supervisor of Tehama County." HIe possesses nearly 20,000 aeres of some of Tehama County's riehest lands, which might be said to include the cream of the Sacramento Valley. Besides the realty he has some 9,000 aeres of choice redwood timber, in one solid bloek, in Del Norte County,-within a few miles of Crescent City, which alone is worth a round million. He recently had a flattering offer for an option upon this property from a syndicate of London capitalists, but promptly refused. 48

Besides this wealth he is the owner of the Bank of Red Bluff, conducted under his name; is a stockholder and director of the Bank of Tehama County, whose stock is never on the market; and also a shareholder in the recently formed Mu- tual Savings Bank of San Francisco, the guaran- teed capital of which is $1,000,000. He also possesses some choice property in the town of Red Bluff.

His parents came to the United States when he was ten years old. At eighteen he left home without his father's permission, having gained in the two years preceding a practical knowledge of the tinning trade. When he left home his worldly wealth amounted to $9. In 1852 he started from Farmington, Illinois, for California by the way of New Orleans. He got as far on his journey, in a schooner, as Chagres, but there learned that the rush across the Isthmus for California was so great that his chance for pas- sage was small; so he turned back and reached St. Louis in March, and soon after lett St. Jo- seph, Missouri, in company with three more, to " cross the plains." They started with a yoke of eattle, a wagon and a saddle mule. and reached Hangtown (now Placerville) August 2, 1852, at which place the four dissolved their transeonti- mental partnership, sold their property and di- vided, and Mr. Kraft at that time had $2.50 in his pocket.

Ife worked at his tinning trade in Placerville for one month and then left for Sacramento, where he readily found employment and kept at it steadily for two years, saving all his earn- ings outside his necessary expenses. In 1854 he started north, on foot and alone, traveling through Southern Oregon and Northern Cali- fornia, in search of a permanent location. He located in Red Bluff and opened a small tin- shop, where he found all the work he wished at great profit. He continued to save, purchased a fine store and stock of hardware and tin-ware, and by making direct importations of goods from England soon found himself an independ- ently rich man, with the largest hardware and tin business north of Sacramento, which he con-

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ducted for twenty-one years. He then sold his business and gave his attention to other busi. ness matters into which his surplus wealth flowed. He loaned money to safe borrowers at the prevailing rates of interest, and consequently doubled his wealth very rapidly. National, State and County securities which fell in his way were discounted largely, while land pur- chases were sold at a large profit. He gave his attention to everything purchasable of a staple nature, and has secured grain by the train-load, with which he chartered ships to carry the grain to Liverpool. Anything tangible and safe he has ventured into, often in opposition to the advice of his friends, but the golden lining has always turned to him. Although Mr. Kraft is the largest holder of mortgages in Tehama County, for the past ten years his legal proceed- ings to collect the loans have not averaged one per cent. per annum.

Mr. Kraft was married March [15, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth Krauth, at Louisville, Kentucky, the home of her parents. This union has been blessed with eight children, all born in Red Bluff, six of whom are living, viz .: George H., Edward C., Augustine, Elmer, Nettie and Ger- trude.

ETER KRELLENBERG, furniture dealer and undertaker, Woodland, was born in Holstein, Germany, but at that time the province of Denmark, June 22, 1828, a son of Jocob and Mary Krellenberg, both of whom are deceased. The mother, whose maiden name was Jarvis, died in 1842, the mother of eight children, seven of whom were living at that time; the husband survived until 1849.

When a boy Mr. Krellenberg began to learn the cabinet-making trade of his father. At the age of twenty-one years he entered the military service of his government and served four years. He then worked at his trade until 1853, when he emigrated to the United States and found employment for ten years in New York city.

In 1863 he came to California, by way of Pan- ama, and landed at San Francisco in the latter part of June. His first year in the Golden State he passed in Yolo County among relatives, then went to Sacramento, where he followed his trade five years. In 1869 he started in business for himself at Woodland, with only a capital of $600, which he invested in property for a resi- dence. He also borrowed money and purchased the corner lot where he is now located, upon which stood a small frame building. This he fitted up as a shop, put in a small stock of fur- niture and began business. Three years later he erected a one-story brick building and en- larged his business. In 1881 his property was destroyed by fire, his loss being about $16,000, and the insurance only $5,000. Wholly un- daunted by this catastrophe, he immediately re- built his present large establishment on the cor- ner of Main and Third streets, 76 x 90 feet and two stories high. At present every available space is utilized with his large and complete stock of furniture; and he has besides a large undertaking department, all of which is run in the most improved style.

Mr. Krellenberg was married in 1854 to Julia Claussen, a native of Germany, and they have had nine children, only four of whom are now living. While residing in Sacramento they suffered much misfortune. It was there that three of their children died; one died in New York and one in Woodland. Those living are: Eimel, who is associated with his father in busi- ness; Emma, wife of Henry Kraft, of Colusa County; Julia, wife of William Dose, of Oak- land, and Nellie, living at home.

EORGE C. LAHE, of Tehama County, is a native of Salem, Massachusetts, dating his birth February 16, 1847. He was reared and educated in that place, and in early life was connected with a boot and shoe manu- factory In 1868 he came, via Nicaragua, to San Francisco, where he has been the book-

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

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keeper for many mercantile houses. In 1884 he came to Tehama County, and has since been the book-keeper and cashier of the firm of Simpson & Aitken, of Corning. Mr. Lake was joined in wedlock with Mist Lizzie Burnett, at San Francisco, January 15, 1872, and they have two children: C. Hurbert and Jennie B. They lost their two eldest children by death-Lizzie and Florence.

R. ALBERT MARK ESTERLE. one of the leading dentists of Red Bluff, is a son of Dr. B. M. and Charlotte (Bidwell) Es- terle. His father came to California in 1850, and settled at Sacramento. He was the first dentist of that city. and carried on a successful business there. His mother was a daughter of Samuel Bidwell, of Pennsylvania, and a de- scendant of the noted family of Bidwells, who were of English origin and were pioneers of Philadelphia. The Esterles are of French and German extraction.

The subject of this sketch is the second of a family of three children. He attended school at Santa Clara College, after which he engaged in the photograph business at Sacramento. There he soon attained eminence in his profes- sion, and at the State Fair held in Sacramento he received the silver cup, a prize for the best collection of photographs. . After continning in the business for some time, his health failed, and for three years he traveled throughout the United States with his father, visiting nearly every town of any size in the conntry. On re- gaining his health, he decided to become a den- tist. He attended the Meadville College, Penn- sylvania, and is a graduate of the St. Lonis Medical and the Missouri Dental College. For five years he engaged in the practice of his pro- tession in St. Louis, with Dr. Hall. In the meantime his father made a trip to Shasta County, California, to look after some mining interest, and was taken with apoplexy and died there. Ile was buried by the Masonic fraternity

of Red Bluff, of which he had been an honored member. His death brought his son, Dr. Es- terle, to this place, and he was induced to locate here. He spent two years practicing his pro- fession in San Francisco, and, with that excep- tion, has been in Red Bluff since 1876. He established himself in a splendid office on Main street, corner of Oak, where he occupied seven rooms and a conservatory, having it all furnished and fitted with the best appliances for his busi- ness, and being very successful. In 1882 the building in which his office was located was de- stroyed by fire. At that time Dr. Esterle was building a house on Washington street, and, after the fire, he converted it into an office, and used it as such for three years. Then he occupied rooms on Main street for two and a half years. This year (1890) he has established his office in the northeast corner of the Cone & Kimball building-the finest building in the city. The Doctor, with his usual taste and ability, has fitted up an office, consisting of a suite of four rooms, in a most elegant and elaborate manner. The rooms are carpeted, and fitted and furnished with the most modern appliances of improved dentistry.

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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 119

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