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 120

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 120

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Dr. Esterle is not only a skilled dentist, but he is a refined and cultured gentleman and a worthy citizen. He is identified with the best interests of Red Bluff, and any measure that has for its object the improvement or building up of the city, finds in him a supporter. He has mnade investments in town property, and at present owns eight residences and places of business. Politically he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Eastern Star. He adheres to the Episcopal Church.

F. BURGAR, a member of the firm of Nallman & Company, although a recent acquisition to Red Bluff, has thoroughly identified himself with the best interests of the city. A brief sketch of his life is herewith given.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Mr. Burgar's birth-place is in Ontario, Can- ada, ten miles from Niagara Falls. His father, Joseph Burgar, was born in New Jersey. Grand- father Burgar, also named Joseph, was a native of Germany. He came to America before the Revolution and was a soldier in that great struggle. He lived to be 102 years old, and his wife, who was of English ancestry, was 101 years of age when she died. Mr. Burgar's father married Miss Anna Coneryman, a native of New Jersey. To them were born five chil- dren, two daughters and three sons. The sub- ject of this sketch is the only survivor of the family. He received a common-school educa- tion in Canada and, at the age of seventeen years, went to Buffalo, New York. There he learned the carpenter and millwright trades. After living in Buffalo ten years he emigrated to Wisconsin, where he acted as manager for the Fox River Improvement Company, building locks on the canal which connected the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. He was thus employed for two years. Subsequently he engaged in the lumber business, making shipments up the Fox river and down the Mississippi to St. Louis. After that he lett Dubuque, Iowa, in a company of twelve inen, expecting to join a party of sixty others and go to Idaho. They, however, failed to overtake the larger party. After they had gone some distance, one night while eu- camped, they were attacked by seventy Indians, and Mr. Burgar's partner was shot and killed. Our subject was treasurer of the company and had $7,000 in his possession. Before setting out on the journey he took a vote as to where the money should be kept, and it was decided to carry it in his trunk. When attacked by the Indians they lost everything they had and were compelled to retreat and fight for their lives as they went. They killed sixteen Indians and succeeded in making their escape. They traced their way back to Omaha, reaching that place exhausted and hungry. Before entering the town they separated, thinking that method would increase their chances for getting food. Their plan did not succeed, for both the hotels

and private honses declined to help them. They had been without food for three days and were in a sad dilemma. Mr. Burgar had the good fortune to meet with a friend, George Brown, who at once loaned him money with which to buy a coat and make himself presentable and then invited him to his home. He gave $3 for the coat. Arriving at the liome of his friend, a scant amount of food was placed on the table and both Mr. Brown and his wife ate lightly and helped him in the same manner. It ap- peared to Mr. Burgar that they were starving themselves as well as him. This, the doctor afterward told him, they did to save his life. Had they given him all he wanted at first he would have died. When he recovered he went to Fort Dodge, lowa, where he worked at his trade a year.

At that time he went to Monticello and while there met and married Miss Elizabeth Blake, who has since been his faithful helpmate through all his reverses and successes. Mr. Burgar has been a great traveler and has lived in a number of places. After his marriage he returned with his bride to Fort Dodge; from there he weut to Sioux Falls, Dakota, and remained two years; next went to Dakota County, Minnesota, and, with his brother, engaged in the dairy business; a year later he sold out and went to Fargo, Dakota. For two years he engaged in the grocery business in Fargo. Then he built a large brick store, 100 feet long, and filled it with general merchandise. IIe and his brother conducted this store five years, also being interested in grain and lumber. In connection with their other business they shipped the farmers' grain, for one cent per bushel, thereby obtaining the farmers' trade. At this time his brother's failing health caused him to seek a change of climate. They rented their store for three years, for $2,000, and removed to Graftou, on the Manitoba road. There they built a large double store, into which they moved their stock, and conducted the business three years. They then sold the stock but still retain the property. Ilis brother's health continued to fail and even

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a trip to California and a sojourn in this balmy climate proved of no avail, and his death oc- curred soon after his return home. His wife survived him only one month. Mr. Burgar and his wife have taken the children and are rear- ing them.

In June, 1887, the subject of this sketch came to California and, after traveling all over the State for months, seeking a location, finally settled at Red Bluff. He formed a partnership with Mr. G. Nallian, under the firin name of Nallman & Company. They are dealers in groceries, provisions, flour, feed, lumber, latlı, shingles, doors, sash, blinds, etc. The large store they oceupy. at the corner of Walnut and Lincoln streets, was built and is owned by them. Each of them has built a good house and owns twenty acres of choice land, on which they have planted a large variety of fruit trees, oranges, olives, almonds, walnuts, apricots, peaches and other fruits.

Mrs. Burgar is a member of the Baptist Church. Her husband was reared a Presby- terian. In polities he is Democratic, but al- ways votes for the best man.

NTON KLEMMER, senior member of the firm of Klemmer & Etter, wholesale and retail dealers in grain, hay and farm pro- ductions, Redding, California, is a native of Ohio. He was born March 29, 1842. His father and mother, Anton and Catharine (Wig- art) Klemmer, both natives of Germany, came to the United States in 1838 and settled in Trenton, Ohio. A short time afterward they removed to Missouri, and in 1855 came to Cali- fornia. They settled in Sierra County, and there Mr. Klemmer engaged in mining. Next, they inoved to Long Bar, Yuba County. They finally located in Virginia City, where he died in 1875. His wife survived him five years, her death occurring in 1880.

The subject of this sketch was reared in Missouri until fourteen years of age, when he

came with his parents to California. While a boy he mined with his father, meeting with fair success. After becoming of age he started in mining for himself at Virginia City, Aurora, and Esmeralda, and has since followed mining and store keeping in the different mining towns of Northern California, having a miner's luck -- sometimes being successful and at other times "broke." At Smartville, in 1868, he married Miss Ella Thrush, a native of Virginia. Soon after their marriage he returned to Grass Valley, where he worked as an engineer one year and lost the most of his wages. Then he tried work- ing in the mines and had the same misfortune again to lose his wages. At that time he went to Colusa County, without money but with his wife and four little children, George, Lizy, Lettie and Totte. For a time he engaged in boring wells and made a success of that. He then opened a livery business at Princeton, which he conducted for eleven years. In 1886 he came to Redding, where, in connection with his partner, Allen W. Etter, he built the store in which they are now doing business. He has also purchased lots and built a residence here. Three other children have been added to their family,-Fred, Mabel and Gertrude.

Mr. Klemmer is a wide-awake business man. In politics he is Democratie.

USTAVE LIERSCH is the proprietor of the Liersch House, of Corning, who took charge and reopened it December 1, 1885, and by conducting it in a thorough manner has gained for it a good reputation. The hotel is situated on Main street, a few blocks from the depot, and affords a fine view of the Sacra- mento Valley and surrounding foot hills. The appointments and furnishings of the hotel de- note a degree of comfort, and the tables are bountifully supplied with the best the market affords. The popularity of the hotel is attested by the fact that it receives more than the av erage share of the public patronage. Mr.

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Liersch is a native of Thalwinkel, Saxony, Ger. many, born November 8, 1857. Ile learned the millwright and wagon-maker's trade, which he followed until 1875, when he came to Amer- ica, landing at New York, and thenee by rail to California, locating at Jaeinto, Colusa County, where he followed his trade two years. He then came to Riceville and formed a partnership with his brother William, carrying on the busi- ness of blacksmith and wagon-making until 1884, when he sold out his interest. In 1885 he made a visit to his native land; returning to Riceville the same year, he took charge of his present business.

Mr. Liersch was first married in 1882, and by that union there is one child, Helena. He was again married, at Rieeville, December 3, 1885, to Miss Dora Jens, a native of Holstein, Germany. They have two children-Francis and Otto. Mr. Liersch came from a long-lived family; his grandfather, Carl Liersch, lived to the age of 119 years and three months; and his father, also named Carl, met his death by acci- dent at the age of seventy-two years; his mother, nee Julia Schoneburg, is still living, at the age of seventy-nine years. Mr. Liersch is a stanch Republican, was naturalized in 1883, and always takes an active part in loeal polities. Ile affiliates with the I. O. O. F., Corning Lodge, No. 305, and is a charter member of the Encampment, No. 76, of Red Bluff.

IRGILIUS P. BAKER is a pioneer and a worthy citizen of Red Bluff, and to him is much credit due for the share he has taken in the building up and beautifying of the town. A brief sketch of his life is herewith given.

Mr. Baker was born in New York, December 21, 1825, the son of Solomon and Sarah Baker, both natives of New York, he being the young- est in a family of ten children. His educational advantages were limited, as he was sent to

school during the winter months only, and he began to earn his living when he was twelve years old. He learned the carpenter's trade, and became a contraetor and builder. When he was twenty-two years of age Mr. Baker mar- ried Miss Jane Lowrey. He had removed to Cass County, Michigan, when he was thirteen, and his marriage occurred there. He continued working at his trade, carrying on contraeting and building there until 1853.

In that year he came to the far West and settled in Red Bluff. When he landed in the embryo town, he had his wife and two little chil- dren with him to support, and had just one five- dollar gold piece in his pocket. He pitched their tent on the bank of the river, after which he started for the store, which was then kept by a Mr. Bull, intending to purchase some pro- visions and to make his money go as far as it eould in buying flour, pork and other things. When the storekeeper was told what his cus- tomer wanted, he weighed a piece of pork and said: " That comes to $5. If you don't want that much, you don't want any." Mr. Baker returned to his tent with a feeling of discourage- ment. Soon Captain Reed and his good wife, who were keeping the hotel, stepped down to their tent to see and greet the new-comers. When that gentleman learned the family were short of provisions, he said, " You ean come to my house and get all the grub yon want nntil you can work and earn money." It was a gen- erous and kind offer, and it filled Mr. Baker and his wife with lasting gratitude, and they have always treasured the highest regard for him who so nobly befriended them in their time of need.

The next day Mr. Baker obtained employ- ment, and began work at $10 per day; and he has never since that time known what it was to be short of provisions. He soon after got the job of building the frame hotel on the ground where the Fremont now stands. An oak tree stood on Main street, opposite, and a few rods south of the building. There he moved his tent and his family, and there he lived while he worked at the building.

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At this time all the hanling was done by wagon trains; and when the men came down from the North, they stored their money with Mrs. Baker for safe-keeping while they were in the town. She buried it under the tent, and at times had as much as $200,000 buried there. When the men called for their money it was nothing unusual for them to give the children $10 or even $20; so Mrs. Baker was the pioneer banker of the town. Money was plenty and not valued very highly; it went as freely as it eame.

Mr. Baker continued to work at his trade until 1856. By that time he had saved $3,000 in fifty-dollar gold slugs. He made a trip East, going by water, and two months later returned to California. He again took up his business of contracting and building, and worked at it for eighteen years. In 1870 he turned his at- tention to farming, purchased 400 acres of bot- tom land, farmed it for five years, and sold it at a handsome profit. He then retired from business. Since that time, however, he has done some contracting. Sinee his residence at Red Bluff he has erected a greater part of the best buildings in the eity. In 1853 he purchased the lots on which his present home is situated. He first built a house costing $2,200, which still stands. In 1881 he built his present resi- denee-one of the finest in the city-and it is a fitting place for the venerable mechanic to spend the evening of Iris useful life. His family consists of his wife and four children. The two older children were born in Michigan, and the others in Red Bluff. Their names are Stephen, Sarah, Edward and William. Edward was the first male white child born in Red Bluff; and when the Baker family came here there were only two white women in the town.

As in most places in California, there was a strife and litigation over the title of their lands, and it cost Mr. Baker $9,000 to defend his title, in which he finally sneceeded. The sub- jeet of this sketch now lives on the rent of his buildings and the interest of his money. He is a Republican and a good eitizen.

No one need wonder that Red Bluff pros-

pered when he contemplates the class of men who were the founders.

HARLES R. MAYHEW, a California pioneer, the son of a California pioneer, and one of Red Bluff's worthy citizens, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 31, 1844. His father, William Perry Mayhew, well known in California as Uncle Billy May- hew, now resides with his son, Charles R., in Red Bluff. He was born in Carthage, Ohio, September 20, 1816, and now, at the age of seventy-four, is hale and hearty, weighs 245 pounds, and is a fine specimen of the worthy pio- neers of the Golden State. He married Miss Adaline Hubbel, a native of Ohio, and by her had six children, only two of whoin survive. The Mayhew family, accompanied by Mrs. Mayhew's mother and step-father, Mr. Rogers, crossed the plains to California in 1849, being five and a half months en route. While on this journey Charles R., passed his fifth birthday. The company divided on the plains, one part preceding the others. When the first party came to the point where the Carson and Lassen routes met, they left letters informing those following which way they had taken. The persons with whom the letters were entrusted destroyed them, and sent the rear party on the other route. The Lassen, the route on which they were sent, being the longest, they did not arrive for some considerable time after the first party reached their destination. Being thus delayed they ran out of provisions and much suffering was incurred. `Grandfather Rogers traveled twenty miles on foot to get provisions, and left his wife alone while he was gone. They built fires and discharged guns to guide him back to them.

Upon their arrival in California Mr. Mayhew took his eattle across the Sacramento River and eamped where the China Slough of Sacramento is now located. When he returned to the camp one day after a short absence Mr. Mayhew

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found his wife making pies of a sack of dried apples they had brought with them. A num- ber of men were standing near. In answer to her husband's query as to what she was doing, she replied that she had started a bakery, and was making pies for the men at one dollar each.

The following winter was a memorable one to many of the California pioneers and especi- ally soto Mr. Mayhew. On the fourth of Novem- ber the mother died. She was a faithful help- mate and a loving wife and mother, and, what was more, a true and earnest Christian woman. IJer loss was deeply felt by her little family and husband. Mr. Mayhew had rented the brig Traveler, that was lying in the river, and was keeping hotel in it, a part of Sacramento being under water. While there another death oc- curred in his family: the little baby brother died.

In the spring Mr. Mayhew went to the mines on Feather River and left the subject of this sketch and his two sisters, Sarah and Alice, with Grandfather and Grandmother Rogers, who moved to Santa Clara. Their father was in the mines three years and when he returned to Marysville he had just ten cents left. He bought a six-mule team on credit, and engaged in freighting to the mines from Marysville. By the third trip he had made enough to pay for the outfit, and he continued the business that season very successfully. The old California Stage Company established a stage line between Sacramento and Portland, Oregon, and made Mr. Mayhew a proposition to drive for them at a salary of $150 per month. He accepted the proposition and drove a four and sometimes 8 six horse stage from Hamilton to Tehama, a distance of about sixty miles.

At this time he became acquainted with a widow, Mrs. Besse, whom he wedded in the fall of 1853. In May, 1854, he went to Santa Clara to get his children, and brought them with him by steamboat up the river to Tehama County. They landed at the month of Deer Creek. Peter Lassen's house was on one side of the river and Mr. Mayhew's on the other,

both adobe honses. A large number of Indians had assembled to see the white children, who were very much frightened. Charles tried to be brave, but the girls felt quite certain that they were going to be killed. At that time the Indian's had a rancheria on the banks of the river, and more than two hundred of them were there. It was not an uncommon sight to see large numbers of antelope. There were also plenty of grizzly bears in Tehama County at that time. Our subject, although a boy at the time, dis inctly remembers when the first tele- graph was put up through the county.

Charles R. Maybew was in attendance at the University of the Pacific in 1863, and it was his intention to finish a course of study there. His father meeting with reverses, he changed his plans, left school, came to Deer Creek, and, in company with his brothers-in-law, J. T. Gibbs and Daniel Sill, drove a band of cattle to Squaw Valley. From there he made weekly trips to Virginia City, Nevada, driving cattle, continu- ing that business until he fell from his horse and broke his leg. His brother-in-law came back, took sick and died. They had eighty-six head of cattle apiece, which his brother-in-law took to Honey Lake Valley to winter. The In- dians killed so many of them that in the spring each of them had only thirty-six left, which they sold for ten dollars apiece. Mr. Mayhew gave his money to his father, and accepted a clerkship in the Fremont Hotel at Red Bluff. During this time he also had the stage office for seven months while the agent was absent. On his return the California Stage Company sent Mr. Mayhew to Yreka, to take charge of their office at that place. February 28, 1866, he crossed the Scott and Trinity mountains on a sleigh, it being his first sleigh ride.

On the nineteeth day of the following July Mr. Mayhew was married to Miss Mary A. Kerns, a native of Ohio, their marriage taking place at Bell's Bridge, Shasta County. He re- turned with his bride to Yreka and continued there for some time. Their union has been blessed with five children, three danghters and

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two sons. Frank L., the oldest, was born at Bell's Bridge, October 15, 1868. The others were born at Red Bluff, viz .: Arthur B., Carrie R., Alice M. and

In October, 1867, Mr. Maybew bought the New York House, at the foot of Scott Monn- tain, in Trinity Valley. The Western Union Telegraph Company gave him an agency and sent him an operator of whom he learned the business in six weeks. The following July he sold ont, removed to Chico, started a furniture store and remained there three months. From that place he came to Red Bluff and accepted the position of book -keeper for Mr. J. E. Church, a prominent merchant.

In 1872, in partnership with S. D. Clark, a pioneer of the town, he opened a grocery and provision store, beginning business on a small scale. Their friends predicted a short business career for them and gave them as a limit three months. They, however, succeeded beyond their own expectations and soon bought out Mr. Henry F. Dibble, a prominent merchant. After this hard times came on and nearly every firm in the town failed except theirs. In 1884 Mr. Mayhew bought out his partner, as- sumed all the indebtedness and took a bill of all the property. He paid his partner, and the creditors accepted Mr. Mayhew for the indebted- ness of the firm. In the spring of 1885 he built two brick stores, on the corner of Walnut and Washington streets, seventy-five feet front by eighty feet deep. The room which he occupies is fifty by eighty feet. The other room is rented. The building has a fine basement with concrete floor. Mr. Mayhew has been in busi- ness for eighteen years, deals in general mer- chandise and handles large quantities of wool, and still retains customers who began to trade with him at the beginning of his business career. He built a residence at the corner of Jefferson and Hickory streets, which is sur- rounded with a beautiful lawn and which makes a very attractive home. He also has another house which he built and rents.

Mr. Mayhew is the owner of 320 acres of

land, located eight miles south of Red Bluff, which he has subdivided into ten-acre lots, and which he is selling to actual settlers. This is called La Bonita tract. It is fine fruit land and is in a desirable location.

In 1885 he made a trip East for health and rest, and traveled through twenty-four States and Territories. He returned much benefited in health.

Politically Mr. Mayhew is a Republican and has been all his life. In 1876 he was elected Treasurer of Tehama County. He and his wife and two of their children are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and for twenty years he has been a member of the Grand Lodge.

OHIN GILMORE, a pioneer and well-to-do rancher of Red Bluff, came to California in 1856. He was born in Owensdale, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, December 24, 1835, and comes of an old pioneer family of Carbondale, that State. His father, John Gilmore, was born in Carbondale, owned a farm there, and there married Mary Baker, a native of New York. Mr. Gilmore was the youngest of their nine children, and is now (1890) the only sur- vivor of the family, his parents having died more than twenty years ago. The whole family were members of the Baptist Church. Like the majority of farmer boys, the subject of this sketch went to school in winter, and worked on the farm in summer. Upon arriving at the age of twenty-one, he set out for the Golden State to make his fortune, coming by the water route, and he has not been disappointed in the results obtained from his labor here. He is now the owner of 600 acres of beautiful farm land, within three-quarters of a mile of the city of Red Bluff. He first located at Oroville, after which he came to this place and bought out a squatter, Robert Riggs. His original purchase was 160 acres, and he lived on it in a board shanty for awhile. From time to

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time he has added to his property until it has reached its present proportions. For the most of it he paid $13 per acre. Now its valne per acre is $100.

For a year Mr. Gilmore lived on his ranch without a partner to share in his joys and sor- rows. He then wedded Christine Dowell, a native of Illinois. There union was blessed with five children, all born at their present home. Four of them are living, namely: Frank, Dora, Charles and Olive. Dora is engaged in teaching school. Nine years after Mrs. Gil- more's death Mr. Gilmore married Mrs. Eliza- beth Fonday. She was born in Iowa, and re- moved to California when a child.

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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 120

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