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 121
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Mr. Gilmore built his present home in 1874, and has surrounded it with vines and fruit trees. His principal farm products are wheat, barley and hay, of which he raises large quantities. His sons are raising fine thorough bred horses, and he has devoted some attention to produeing draft horses.
He has been a life-long adherent to the Re- publican party, and is a member of the Repu- publican Central Committee. Mr. Gilmore is high esteemed as a worthy eitizen of the com- munity in which he resides.
HARLES JOSEPH BECKER is a mem- ber of the general merchandise firm of Becker & Foster, cousins, who are indus- trions and good business men. Mr. Becker, unasked by himself and without much effort on his part, has just been elected one of the Supervisors of his county, which indicates to some degree the estimate his fellow-citizens have in his business ability and good judgment.
Ile is a Native Son of the Golden West, born in Shasta, July 19, 1857, the son of Joseph Becker, who was a native of Prussia, and who came to America in 1846, and for a time resided in St. Louis, Missouri. He married Margaret Foster, a native of Germany, and they had nine children, of whom all but one are living. Mr.
Becker, the eldest bnt one of the family, received his education in Marysville, Yuba County, and also followed barbering for nine years in that city, which he had learned of his father. In 1883 he began business with his cousin in Cottonwood, and the firm at once stepped to the front, and have since acquired a large patronage. They handle all kinds of goods, in- cluding lumber and grain in large quantities, and under their capable management their trade is steadily increasing, extending as far as fifty miles east and west. Politically Mr. Becker is a leading Republican, and is one of the direct- ors of the Horticultural Society of the county of Shasta, and is ever ready to aid in the im- provement and building up of the county. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of his school district, and was one of the men who helped build the fine school-house, which is now a fine improvement and credit to Cottonwood. He is Past President of the N. S. G. W. at Marysville.
Mr. Becker is still a single man, and has be- fore him in the usual course of events the pros- pect of a glorious future.
RANK J. BARNES, a farmer of Yolo County, is a son of Abrain and Grace Barnes, natives of Kentucky, who moved to Missouri, where the father served in the Indian war, and the mother, in the fort of Ho- ward County, moulded bullets for the company. It was in that county, in 1836, that the subject of this sketch was born, and when eighteen years of age he crossed plain and mountain to California, with his mother and the family; his father had come in 1850. The latter followed mining, but mostly farming and stock-raising to the time of his death in 1875. The widow died in 1877. Mr. Frank J. Barnes has been a resident of Yolo County ever since his arrival in California, excepting the two years he was in Butte County. He has had a farm of his own, raising grain and live-stock, excepting
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about three years in the butcher business in Woodland. His present ranch consists of 130 acres of very fine land lying about three-qnar- ters of a mile west of Woodland on the Main street road, and he has thereon a good two-story . dwelling.
He was married in 1870, to Miss Harlen, a sister of J. H. Harlen, one of the most pros- perons farmers of Yolo County. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have a daughter, named Leonora.
AMES T. HADLEY, a well-to-do farmer of Yolo County, and one of the best known and highest esteemed, was born in Cler- mont County, Ohio, October 26, 1835, and was but two years of age when his parents moved with him to Henry County, Illinois. In 1861 he came to California by water, landing at San Francisco January 14, 1862. Shortly he went up to Sacramento with his wife, two children and a sister-in-law, landing on the steps of the What Cheer House, when the ground was all under water .. The next morning they started in a small boat across the country for Yolo. The swift current of the Sacramento was full of whirlpools and the oarsman failed to manage the boat. A fisherman near by saw the danger, hurried to their assistance and took the pas- sengers back to Sacramento, except Mr. Hadley himself, who with the oarsman continued on their journey over fences and through orchards until they reached a barn belonging to the Gamble Brothers. After a few minutes rest they started out again, and the next point they reached was the Herald House, where they stopped over night. The next morning they reached Woodland, a very small place, and stopped over night, and the next day Mr. Had- ley went on to Yolo, five and a half miles distant, but it seemed to him about twenty miles! Shortly after his arrival there he was engaged by C. S. White and George W. Park, and he was there employed until the fall of 1863. He then went to Cherokee Flat and followed inin-
ing there until 1864, when in May he returned to Yolo County. During the following Febru- ary he visited Illinois with his family, and on returning purchased 160 acres of first-rate land in Yolo, and he has since been a prosperous farmer and a favorite citizen.
His parents were Harry and Sarah T. (Cooper) Hadley, the former a native of New York State and the latter of England.
In 1857, in Illinois, Mr. Hadley was married to Miss Sarah A. Moore, a native of Indiana, and they have five children: Lena M., William C., Julia E., Nellie E. and Walter P. Mrs. Hadley died in California in 1871, and June 11, 1874, Mr. Hadley was united in marriage, in Illinois, with Miss Addie Glissen, a native of Ohio, and by this marriage there was one child, Grace Lee. Julia died in 1881 and Walter P. was shot and killed March 24, 1889, probably by accident in taking a rifle from the shelf at his father's house when no one was a witness. He was a splendid specimen of young manhood, not only physically but also in qualities of heart and mind. He was born in Yolo County in the very honse and in the very room where his handsome, manly form was laid out and prepared for burial. The afflicted family have the heartfelt sympathy of numberless friends in their great sorrow.
OHN BENJAMIN HARTSOUGH is a Forty-niner and one of the best known characters in Northern California. He is one of the oldest Americans born in the city of Detroit, Michigan. His birth occurred in the year 1811, twenty-five years before Michigan became a State. His father, Christopher Hart- sough, was born in New Jersey. In the war of 1812 he was captured by the Indians, carried into Canada, pressed into the service of the English as an alien and drove a team for the English army. He married Delight Haskins, a native of Connectiont. Her father, Elisha Haskins, was a wealthy citizen of Connecticut,
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who removed to Canada and settled in the Lon- don district, about the year 1825, the English governinent giving him lands for settling there. This worthy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Hartsongh, were the parents of sixteen children. The sub- ject of this sketch was the third of their five sons.
Hereceived his education at Detroit, Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor. While in Rock Run, Illinois, in 1837, he was converted and soon afterward began to preach. In six months he was licensed as a local preacher and went into his first work at Leadmine, Wisconsin, on the Apple River district. When Mr. Hartsongh left home to enter the ministry his father, who was a fol- lower of the teachings of Tom Paine, did all in his power to prevent his son's going and said many hard things of which he afterward re- pented. When they again met the father clasped his son in his arms and expressed his sorrow for the bitter things he had said. The young minister gave his father briefly the plan of salvation; he promptly accepted it and was converted. During Mr. Hartsough's preaching in Illinois and Wisconsin his ministry was blessed with numerous revivals. He labored in the vineyard of the Lord in those two States for ten years.
His health failed, and with the hope of secur- ing a beneficial change, he came to this sunny clime, reaching California September 15, 1849. He engaged in inining until the first of May, 1850, with moderate success. Then he went over the mountains to carry provisions to the emigrants who were starving and took their poor stock in exchange. The stock was pastured for a month, after which it was driven over the monntains. At this work Mr. Hartsough made considerable money. In 1851 he opened a grocery and provision store near Nevada City, supplying the market with his own cattle. This business he continued two years, during which time he purchased the ditch stock of a broken- down company. He put the ditch in order and kept it four weeks. It, however, proved a per- petual Sabbath-breaking business, and because of that he sold it to his partner, who, in three
years, realized nearly half a million of dollars from it. This ditch is still running. His partner sold it and went to San Francisco in 1862. There he engaged in stock speculations, met with reverses and drowned himself in the bay and his body was never recovered.
Mr. Hartsough sold his store and shop and removed to Yolo County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1863 he was elected to the State Assembly, and, being a stanch Republican, used his best endeavors to keep his State in the Union. At that time there was a strong force at work to take it out, and he became a power on the side of the Union. It was largely due to his efforts and to those of a few of his colleagues that the State was saved and kept from the bloodshed and dis- grace that would have followed. During a great deal of his ministry his work has been gratuitous and done for the love of the cause. He has rendered much efficient service in help- ing to build churches in Northern California. In Redding, where he now resides, he pur- chased the church site for $500 with his own money, and carried on the enterprise of build- ing the church to its completion.
In 1864 he settled his business, put his land into money, and with some stock removed to Contra Costa County. From that time until 1890 he had regular work in the ministry. He is now in his eightieth year and has retired from active ministerial labors. He owns a small farm in Colusa County and a home in Redding. He tells the following little remin- iscence of his preaching:
In February, 1850, while he was holding services in a new store in Georgetown, El Dor- ado County, a lot of gamblers from a tent near by rushed down the street, ringing bells and rattling tin pans, shouting " Fire! lire!" His congregation made haste to get out. In a quiet voice he asked them not to be excited but to go quietly. Soon afterward they all came back, accompanied by a number of those who had made the disturbance and sat quietly to hear the serinon.
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In 1838 Mr. Hartsough wedded Miss Luey Titus, of Michigan. Their union was blessed with two children, one of whom died and the other, Christopher, resides in Oregon. After four and a half years of married life his beloved companion died of pleuro-pneumonia, and he was left with his two infant sons. In 1858, fifteen years after her death, he married Mrs. Eliza Stoirs, a native of Missouri, reared in Wisconsin.
While Father Hartsough has attained his four-score years, he is still quite aetive and walks perfectly erect with a firm, quick step. He carries such a benevolent smile on his face that one cannot fail to see that he loves God and is at peace with Him and with all the world.
ILLIAM E. HOPPING has the honor of being a California Forty-niner. He comes of old English ancestry. Three brothers, John, James and Abram Hopping, came to America and settled on Long Island. When the Declaration of Independence was signed John and James espoused the cause of the colonies and Abram remained true to his King. After the close of the war Abram re- moved to Canada and, it is claimed, dropped the final g in his name. This is the history of the names Hoppin and Hopping in America. The brothers who joined their interests with the colonies remained on Long Island. For many years their posterity lived in New Jersey. In that State Mr. Hopping's father, Primrose Hop- ping, was born. He married Naney Chasey, also a native of New Jersey. To them were born three daughters and two sons, of whom only two are now living,-the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. C. Stewart, of Oak- land, California. She weighs 300 pounds and Mr. Hopping tips the beam at 370. Ile re- ceived his education in the East and there learned the butcher's business.
Mr. Hopping eame around the Horn in the old ship Balance, landing at San Francisco,
November 23, 1849. This was the last voyage the old ship made, and she now lies buried at the foot of Pacific street. The history of this ship as given to Mr. Hopping by her captain is as follows:
A New York merchant had lost several of his ships by the English. In order to get even and get revenge he fitted ont an American privateer that captured, during the war of 1812, several prizes, and finally this ship, which he named the Balance in honor of the fact that she made his account even with the English. How old she was when captured is not known, but she sailed under American colors thirty-seven years, until 1849, when she was pronounced nnseaworthy.
Mr. Hopping began work at his trade in the Fulton Market, corner of Washington and Jack- son streets, San Francisco. The following spring his desire to dig for gold sent him to the mines. His first experience was at Murphy's mines in Calaveras County, where he was successful. Then he mined up as far as Mud Springs on Logtown Creek. He subsequently went to Big Cañon and he and Charles Crocker mined there together. He spent a year at Big Cañon and was very successful in his mining operations. During that time he made a trip to Sacramento to secure supplies, as they were searce at the eamp. In 1852 Mr. Hopping came to Shasta County and mined at French Guleh. There he began butehering and carried on that business in connection with his mining interests, con- tinuing the same until March, 1864. He after- ward received the nomination from the Re- publican party for Sheriff of the county. Ile was elected and served two years, and at the end of that time was re-elected. At the close of his second term he engaged in quartz mining in the Highland mine. It paid well for a time but they finally lost the vein. Mr. Hopping still owns a half interest in it. He was elected to and held the office of County Judge for eight years, until the adoption of the new constitution. He soon after became register of the land office and filled the position until 1882, when he was
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again elected Sheriff of the county. At the writing he has the nomination for the same office another term. He is ex-officio tax col- lector of the county. Mr. Hopping has has much to do with thieves and murderers, both as Judge and Sheriff, and has conveyed many conviets to prison, as many as eight at one time and none ever escaped from him.
Mr. Hopping was married in New Jersey, in 1863, to Miss Harriet Hopping of Hanover, New Jersey, his half second cousin and a lady he had known before coming to California. Five children have been born to them, three of whom are deceased. Those living are Hattie and William, both born in Shasta County.
During the late war Mr. Hopping was a strong Union man, and did all in his power to uphold the Government. He is a Royal Arch and Council Mason and is Past Master of his lodge. He is a member of the Society of Cali- fornia Pioneers.
AVIS N. SHANAHAN, one of the early settlers of California, and a prominent horticulturist of Shasta Courty, was born in Cass County, Michigan, December 27, 1833, the son of Peter and Sinia (()'Dell) Shanahan, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter of Virginia. The mother was a daughter of Gabriel O'Dell, a Kentucky pioneer. They had a family of five children, of whom our subject is the only survivor. He was reared and edu- eated on a farm in his native State, and there learned the earpenter's trade. He came to California in 1854, and worked in the mines tear Georgetown and vicinity for more than a year, with reasonable success. He then pur- chased a squatter's claim, which he worked one year, and then sold out and removed to Colusa County, where he took up Government land, which he worked two years, but by reason of a drouth his crops failed both years. Next he removed to a ranch near Colusa, and for two years engaged in raising hogs; next he removed
to Chico, Butte County, but being sick and not meeting with satisfactory snecess, he moved six miles east of Colusa, where he purchased a raneh and farmed three years. He then sold out and removed to Yolo County, where he purchased railroad land, which he improved and farined ten years; then he sold out and returned to Colusa County, rented land a year, then leased a large ranch for two years, and finally came to his present ranch fonr and a half miles east of Anderson, Shasta County, where he now has 300 acres of choice fruit land. He has already planted 5,000 French prunes, and 500 other fruit trees of different varieties, and also 2,000 vines. He is still improving and plants ing. The trees that are bearing at four years old yield $100 per acre, and the prospects are most flattering for a grand snecess in the fruit business in this portion of the county.
Mr. Shanahan was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth V. Huff, December 27, 1857, who is a native of Georgia, and the danghter of Thomas Huff. a Virginian. They have five children, four sons and one daughter, all of whom have been spared to them. The children are as follows: Thaddens W., born in Colusa Connty, is a lawyer of Anderson, and has just been elected on his third term to the State As- sembly, and has just finished an exeiting can- paign, stumping his district for the Democratie party, and by his eapable efforts overcame a Re- publican majority in his distriet; Eugene. born in Colusa County, has a farm near his father's; Chester, born in Butte County, is interested with his father in the ranch; Ross, born in Sutter County, also with his father; the daugh- ter, Mary Elizabeth, was born in Yuba County, and is now the wife of Burt Chamberlain, and resides at Cottonwood. Mr. Shanahan has seen inueh of the vicissitudes of early life in Califor- nia, and is still a hale and hearty man. He has affiliated with the Democratic party all his life. He is a worthy citizen, and taken an active in- terest in the educational matters of his district; is a School Trustee and Clerk of the Board. His enterprise in horticulture will be of value
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to his part of the county, as it shows what the soil will do, and enhances the value of the prop- erty, as one acre for fruit is worth ten for other purposes.
OHN G. COOPER .- In biographically sketching the lives of the reputable and worthy citizens of Redding, California, the writer finds few, if any, more deserving of honorable mention in a work of this character than John G. Cooper.
He was born in England, of English parents, June 3, 1821. His education was obtained in his native land, but, as he says, he is still study- ing. IIe worked at the manufacture of silk ribbon and silk hosiery; was clerk or book- keeper for a contractor and builder; later on, learned the harness-maker's trade and worked at it for some time.
In the spring of 1844 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Plymouth, Marshall County, Indiana, where he purchased a farm and improved it by building, etc. This property he sold, and afterward bought a farın in St. Joseph County, same State, where he remained twelve years. In 1855 he came to California, via the Isthmns ronte, and landed in San Fran- cisco. He engaged in dairying at San Francisco and in San Mateo Connty for twelve years. While there he was elected to and held the office of Justice of the Peace. He afterward removed to Napa County, purchased 640 acres of land, which he improved and for which he secured a perfected title, and there engaged in fruit cul- ture. He remained on that place from 1867 till 1880. In the latter year he sold out and removed to Redding. Here be purchased thir- ty-four acres of unimproved land in the then yonng town. At the time of its purchase it was occupied by Indians. Mr. Cooper cleared it up, built his home and planted trees. He has disposed of it all except his home and orchard and vineyard, which he has reserved for his own nse. He has eight buildings in the
city, consisting of dwelling-houses and a store, all of which are occupied.
Mr. Cooper was united in marriage in 1847 to Miss Barbara Russell, a native of Ohio, and coming from an old American family. Her father was a soldier in the war of 1812. Their union was blessed with two children. One is deceased, and the other, John Henry, born in California in 1856, is a resident of Oakland, this State. He is employed as proof-reader on the Oakland Enquirer; is married, and has two children.
Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are faithful members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Cooper's father was a ininister, who led his son to a knowledge of the gospel. At the carly age of fourteen years he experienced religion and joined the church, and through all these many years he has been an intelligent and earnest worker, standing np for the cause of God and humanity every- where. He is now an ordained elder in the church at Redding. Mr. Cooper is enthusiastic over the wonderful growth and development of California. He is a member of the society known as the Sons of St. George, the object of this society being to influence Englishmen in this country to become citizens of the United States. He is also an active temperance man and a Good Templar. For many years he has cast his vote with the Republican party. He has become thoroughly identified with this conn- try and its grand institutions, and no native- born citizens could be more stanchly American than he.
OHN WESLEY CONANT is a prominent and influential citizen and miner of Red- ding, Shasta County, California. A brief sketch of his life is herewith given.
Mr. Conant was born January 14, 1845. Ilis parents, Jacob and Matilda Conant were both natives of Tennessee, and of German an- cestry. They had nine children, six of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch
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spent his boyhood in Tennessee, Illinois and Missouri, and learned the mason and stone-ent- ter's trade.
In June, 1862, he enlisted in the service of his country in Company H, Eighth Missouri Cavalry, and in 1864 re-enlisted in Company K, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry. He saw a great deal of active service; was bearing a dispatch to Gen- eral Lyon when the General fell; was in the battles of Lone Jackstone Mountain and Spring- ford, and many of the battles of the Army of the Potomac. They were sent to join Sherman at Savannah; were in the fight at Port Selma on the 8th of April; from there went to Mont- gomery, and drew up to fight at Lime Creek on the evening of the night that President Lincoln was killed. He was with his squadron on the right flank, and nearly all of them were killed, wounded or fell into the hands of the enemy. Mr. Conant received two shots: the ball which entered his breast he still carries behind the shoulder blade; and the other one entered his side and broke his lower rib and he ent it out with his razor. He joined his regiment in June, 1865, and was discharged in April, 1866.
In 1867 he went to the plains in the western part of Kansas and drove a team for the Gov- ernment; then engaged in carrying dispatches to Fort Harper; in 1868 he went as a scout for Custer and Sheridan, and was on the raid to Fort Cell. In February they rescued the white woman who had been carried off by the Indians, and returned to Fort Hays. He was in the massacre at Salmon Falls, then went back to Fort Harper, and thence to his home in South- ern Kansas in April, 1869. There he engaged in work at his trade in Douglas County. In 1870 he married Miss Alice Umberger, a native of Kansas and a daughter of Captain Umber- ger. By her he had one daughter, Maggie M., born in Douglas County.
Mr. Conant came to California in 1872, and settled at Stockton. From there he went to Chico, and worked for General John Bidwell. In the fall of 1873 he engaged in mining in Plumas County, and the following March he
came to Shasta County. Next he went to Yreka, where he was employed at driving stock. In 1875 he went to the southern part of Siski- you County, near the Calahan ranch, and there made a good find. In 1887 he took out over $5,000, taking $320 in a single day, no piece larger than ten dollars, and from that down to fine gold. After this he went with a pack-horse to the mountains and spent some time there prospecting. Finding nothing on the Salmon River or in the New River country, he came to the Niagara Mine, at French Gulch, and worked two months for W. T. Coleman. Then he start- ed on another prospecting tour, and arrived at Squaw Creek, Shasta County, July 5, 1855. There he found several good mines, and named thein as follows: the Mountain Rose, the Black Bear, the Logan and the Uncle Sam. Shortly after locating them he sold the first three to Edward Riley, of New York, for $45,000. Then he developed the Uncle Sam, the Hawk- eye, the Mocking Bird and the Grizzly Bear; built a steam saw-mill and a ten-stamp quartz mill, and took out $138,600. He sold the claims to the Sierra Butte Mining Company, supposed to be an English syndicate, tor $150,- 000.
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