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 122
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At this time Mr. Conant made a trip East, re- turning to San Francisco in March, 1889. Since then he has invested largely in real estate. In April, 1889, he purchased a ranch of 640 acres on Feather River; came to Redding in June and bought the Reed ranch, 700 acres, one-half mile from the town; has invested in 3,608 acres of timber land and a number of city properties. In 1889, at a cost of $8,500, he built his house and barn in Redding, where he resides with his family. On his ranch near Redding he has planted 13,413 fruit trees, Ile has also devoted much time and attention to stock, having pnr- chased 102 breeding mares. Among his other possessions are the ferry and the ferry-boat.
Mr. Conant is still the owner of a number of mines, which he is developing. His long expe- rience has been of much value to him and also to the county. He put down the first tunnel,
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497 feet perpendicular, and thus demonstrated the fact that the deposits extend down some dis- tance. This has done much toward reviving the mining interests of Shasta County, for min- ing, in a measure, was dead when he began operations. Through his influence capitalists have been induced to make investments here, and inany new mines are now being developed. There are fourteen stamp mills within twenty- five miles of Redding.
Mr. Conant is a man of remarkable endur- ance and courage. He has roughed it in the mountains through sunshine and storm, through rain and snow, and knows what it is to live on short rations. At one time he dug a tunnel thirty-three feet deep, having nothing to cat all the time he worked except beans-beans baked, beans boiled and beans roasted. A man of strong determination and will power, he has ınade hin- self of great value in capturing criminals who had sought refuge in the mountains. He cap- tured three murderers in Shasta Valley, and re- turned them to the authorities in Siskiyou County. Mr. Conant followed them four days and nights, and fired several shots at them be- fore they surrendered. Their crime was the murder of one Walter Scott, in Squaw Valley. He also captured two stage robbers, for which he received a reward of $1,600. With two hired men as assistants he rode ninety-five miles, night and day, and found them in a cañon on the north fork of the east fork of Trinity River. He came upon their camp and jumped his horse down a bank eleven feet, covered them with his pistol, captured thein and delivered them to justice. With the reward thus ob- tained he was enabled to continue his prospect- ing at the time. While on the plains Mr. Conant was with Dick Cody (Buffalo Bill), and went by the name of Buckskin Jack. He was captured by the Indians, under command of Charley Brent, who, after detaining him a few hours, turned him loose.
Mr. Conant's present wife was nee Miss Nel- lie Hamilton, a native of Sacramento. They have three children: John S., who was born in
Virginia City, and Nellie E. and Mary C., born in Redding.
Our subject is a strong Republican. During the Harrison campaign he accepted the bluffs of the Democrats and won $8,773 from them on the result of the election. He is a member of the G. A. R .; was reared by Methodist par- ents, who gave him the name of the founder of Methodisın. Mr. and Mrs. Conant live in their beautiful home in Redding, surrounded by flowers, pictures and music; and the stone cutter and mason, by his perseverance and go-aheada- tiveness, is now the wealthy citizen of Redding.
DAM SCHUMAN, one of the prominent business men of Cottonwood, and a meul- ber of the firm of Price & Co., comes from a country that has furnished America with many of her best citizens in all the departments of business. He was born in Baden on the Rhine, in Germany, January 17, 1832. His parents were industrious and well-to-do farmers, and he received his education in his native land, and also learned the trade of butcher; he also served six months in the German army. IIe had two uncles in the United States, who were making money and were pleased with America's free institutions, and they accord- ingly wrote to our subject's father to sell and come to America, which he did in 1851, set- tling on a farm in Illinois. Our subject worked with his father two years on this farm, and then opened a meat market, which he eon- ducted for a year and a half. In 1858 he came to Red Bluff, California, and for a time was en- gaged in various kinds of business. In 1870 he became acquainted with his partner, and in 1874 they formed the general merchandise firm, which they have since conducted. They have a large business, in one single year selling as high as $65,000 worth, and in another year they purchased $32,000 worth of hogs. They also have been heavy dealers in wool, buying i higli as $80,000 worth in a single year.
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Mr. Schuman is one of those men who has by his persistent industry and hard work with his own hands made a valuable property, and such has been his industrious habits that now when he does not need to work, he keeps right on as busy as ever, not afraid to take hold of any work that he thinks is necessary to do. At any time he can be found at work among his men, helping and superintending the building of the large brick store, which is to be by far the largest and best store in Cottonwood. This firm has done a large credit business, and while the house has made a great deal of money they have also lost many thousand dollars by bad debts. They are not only the oldest but wealthi- est firm it their town, owning several thousand acres of land, and having a large amount of money at interest. June 8, 1890, a lamp ex- ploded in their residence, which resulted in the burning of the house and furniture, including an expensive piano, the loss amounting to abont $6,000. They at once commenced the erection of a commodious and substantial brick residence, which they have just completed.
Mr. Schuman was married in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Slater, a native of Germany, and they had four sons, all of whom are deceased. They have one daughter, Lou, who is married to J. H. Campbell, a thorough business man residing in Chicago. Mr. Schuman's religious faith is that of a Druid, and his political views are Republican. In the time of the great civil war, he took his stand with the Union party and has since remained with them. He is not only a hard-working business man, but a thoroughly intelligent one; and work and intel- ligence combined with generosity and honesty have made him a well-to-do business inan, and a citizen of character and influence.
Iowa.
ILLIAM AND GEORGE MENZEL, enterprising business men of Redding, California, are natives of Polk City, William was born January 26, 1856,
and George, March 4, 1858, sons of William Menzel, a native of Germany. The family came to Shasta County, California, in 1860, and settled at Millville, where the father purchased a farm. In 1861, while attempting to cross Cow Creek in a skiff, he was drowned.
. After the death of their father, as soon as they were old enough, William and George did ranch work and any thing they could get to do to earn an honest living. They subsequently learned the blacksmith's trade and, in 1881, opened their blacksmith and wagon-making business in Redding. Honesty and industry won for them success in this undertaking. In 1886 they established the Redding Meat Market, and since that time have conducted both enterprises. In July, 1890, their whole block and meat market were consumed by fire. They were not insured and their loss amounted to about $3,500. The day after the fire they rented a building and opened their market, and are conducting the business with their characteristic energy. It is their intention soon to erect a new and better building.
The Menzel brothers are both single gentle- men. Both have passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F. They have acquired considerable property, and are representative men in their line of business. They affiliate with the Demo- cratic party, and are liberal and excellent citizens.
ALVIN OWINGS is one of the hardy sons of the East who crossed the plains to California in 1850.
Ile was born in Warren County, Kentucky, February 11, 1829. His father, William Owings, a native of Kentucky, married Miss Esther Johnson, who was also born in that State, a daughter of Calvin Johnsou. They reared ten children, eight of whom are now living. The subject of this sketch spent his youth and received his education in Indiana. When he was twenty years of age he came to this State. The company with whom he traveled were nine
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months in crossing the plains, and many of them died with cholera.
Like other newcomers to this State, Mr. Owings had his mining experiences. For three months he mined at Yreka. His party found a nugget of gold that weighed five pounds and ten ounces, and he himself took out $51 from a single pan.
When he quit mining he went to Middletown and renained three years. Then he purchased eighty acres of land at Cottonwood and was there three years. From that place he went to the north fork of the Cottonwood, purchased land and lived there fifteen years. From time to time he added to his original purchase until he had 680 acres. This he sold. In 1887 he came to Redding, purchased a home and im- proved it, and has now retired from business.
After living a life of single-blessedness for fifty years, Mr. Owings became acquainted with and married Mrs. Moore. She is a native of Missouri, born December 20, 1839, and a danghter of D. J. Guin, also of that State. They have an attractive home in Redding, where they reside. Since the war Mr. Owings has been a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and are highly esteemed citizens of Redding.
OHN GEORGE is one of the early settlers of California, and is the builder and pro- prietor of the St. George Hotel, Redding.
He was born in Ligonier, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1828. His parents, John and Margaret George, were both natives of Germany, came to this country when children and were reared in Westmore- land County. His father was a farmer and a dealer in stock. They had five children, four sons and a daughter, three of whom are now living. When twenty-two years of age Mr. George arrived in Placerville, El Dorado Coun- ty, California, out of funds but with willing hands and a determination to work. That was
in July, 1850. He engaged in mining on Weber Creek. Ilis tirst pan of dirt had a piece of gold in it like a kernel of corn and it weighed one dollar. This he thought was encouraging, and he went to work with a vim, meeting with fair success. He dng there until the following January, when, hearing of the gold excitement at Gold Bluff, he went to that place only to find it was a hoax. He then returned to Sacramento and from there followed the tide of emigration to Salmon River and Shasta Flats (now Yreka). He purchased a train of fifteen mules and loaded them with a cargo of provisions, his destination being Bessville, on the Salmon River. He ar- rived at that place about the 20th of February, and sold his cargo and train and engaged in mining. This, however, did not prove a success. On the 15th of March there came a heavy snow storm, which completely closed the roads, so that no provisions could be taken across the mountains. Mr. George had only kept a short supply for himself, and the other miners also had short rations. They had a few dried apples, on which they subsisted for seventeen days, with now and then a venison, which disappeared like snow before a hot sun. Mr. Bess brought in the first flour-600 pounds-carried by six pack mules. The camp in which Mr. George was at work was the first one he passed. They accosted him for a sack of flour, which he refuse l. They asked him where he was going and why he declined to sell it. He replied that he was going to Bessville and that he had a grocery store and some friends there. They remnon- strated no more with him but fell in with the train. As they passed camp after camp the men all fell into line and followed him, and when they arrived at their destination there was a line of nearly 200 men all eager for the flour. They called a meeting and resolved to divide the flour equally. A man was appointed from each iness to receive the share his mess was entitled to, and if any one was found to misrepresent he was to forfeit his share. Then they appointed a weigher to give each camp its quota, which was two and a fourth pounds to each man on the
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river. The owner sat at one side trembling and not knowing what was going to be done with him. After the distribution, one stalwart inan stepped up on a stump and said: " Now, gentlemen, what shall we pay this man for his flour?" A voice was heard to say, " One dollar per pound." Another said " Two dollars," and a third, "Two dollars and a half." The last was put to a vote and carried. They paid him $1,500 and gave him three cheers.
When this supply gave ont, Mr. George and his friend, Nick Meyers, went across the monn- tains to Orleans Bar to buy provisions. On their way they came to an Indian fishery, where they camped eight days. They traded the brass buttons off their breeches for salmon. When they arrived at Orleans Bar they found provisions plenty, flour fifty cents per pound and meals a dollar and a half at a restaurant, which was kept by an old colored man named Dickerson. After remaining there seven days, each of them pur- chased a sack of flour at fifty cents per pound and some bacon at the same price, and, with their packs on their backs and their rifles in their hands, they started back over the moun- tains to Bessville, a distance of forty miles. Upon reaching their destination they found that trains had been there with provisions, and flour was selling at forty cents per pound and other things in proportion. Mr. George continued to mine there till the month of June and then re- moved to Weaverville, Trinity County, where he was engaged in mining, packing and merchan- dising for three years, meeting with varied snc- cess. In 1854 he came to Shasta County and engaged in gardening, draying, farming and hotel-keeping, which he has continued up to the present time. He built the St. George Hotel in Redding in 1889, and has since been a resi- dent of this city. He has invested in town lots, owns the livery stable and some dwelling houses.
Mr. George married .Miss Sarah Bohin, danghter of Captain Jacob Bohm, of East Prov- idence, Pennsylvania. They have had eight children, only three of whom are living: Oliver M. and James W., born in Pennsylvania; and
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Charles G., born in Shasta County, California. They are all worthy and respected citizens-one a miner, another a farmer and the third a black- smith.
Mr. George takes pride in stating that he is one of the seventeen Republicans that voted in Shasta County for John C. Fremont, and that he has ever since been a stanch Republican. Mrs. George is still living. She is a member of the Methodist Church.
AMES E. ISAACS, District Attorney of Shasta County, was born in Shasta, Cali- fornia, June 29, 1855. His father, Jose- phus Isaacs, was born in England in 1824, and was a pioneer of Shasta County. He married Selada M. Downey, a native of New Jersey. Her father, A. L. Downey, is a pioneer of Cali- fornia; is now eighty-seven years of age, and resides at Sacramento. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaacs, only two of whom are living. Mr. Isaacs followed several vocations in lite, latterly that of a merchant. His death occurred in 1873. His widow is still living.
James E. was educated in the public schools of his native place, attending school from seven until fifteen years of age. The rest of his edu- cation has been obtained in the dear school of experience. His father had made large sums of money, but was unfortunate and lost heavily, and died leaving his estate embarrassed. Thus the care of his mother and her three children devolved upon the subject of this sketch. He engaged in the dry goods and fancy goods busi- ness at Shasta, which he continued until 1877. In that year he was elected Justice of Shasta Township, and held the office two terms. In 1880 he was admitted to practice law by the Superior Court of Shasta County, and since then has devoted his time to that profession. Mr. Isaacs has given special attention to the land office law, and is considered the best anthority on that subject in Northern California. Ilis father was a stanch Republican. but he has
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esponsed the cause of the Democratic party; and that party, either to show their appreciation of the popular young lawyer or to secure a candidate that they were nearly certain to elect, nominated him for the District Attorney of the county. He was elected by the handsome majority of 321, while the Republican majority for President that year was ninety-six. He has since been unanimously nominated by his party for a second term, and his prospects for re- election are very flattering. Previous to this time, from 1880 till 1884, he was deputy dis- trict attorney of the county, under Distrie: Attorney Taylor.
May 1, 1882, Mr. Isaacs led to the hymeneal altar a native daughter of the Golden West, Miss Mary E. Leschinsky. She was born in Shasta County, the daughter of A. F. Leschin- sky, also a pioneer of this county. Two chil- dren have been born to them: Linie and Edith Thyra.
Mr. Isaacs is a charter member and one of the organizers of Mount Shasta Parlor, No. 35, Native Sons of the Golden West. He takes a deep interest in the order, and for fonr years hield the office of District Deputy. In 1886 he was elected a Grand Trustee of the Grand Parlor of the State, and was re-elected to the office in 1887. Mr. Isaacs is an agreeable and courteous gentleman. He is one who has in his composition the necessary amount of push and go-aheadativedness to succeed in what ever enter- prise he undertakes.
ILLIAM PAUL HARTMAN was born in France, September 10, 1841, the son of French parents. He received his education in his native land, and came to Cali- fornia in 1858. January 21 he crossed the Seott mountains, being twenty-two hours in crossing, and reached Yreka the following day. Upon his arrival at that place he began to work at the first thing that offered, which happened to be blacking boots and taking care of a bath-
house. September 1, 1859, he went to Red Binff and entered the barber shop of L. H. D. Lang to learn the trade, remaining there until 1862. He then went to Weaverville, Trinity County, and opened a shop. The prices of those times were seventy-five cents for cutting hair, seventy-five cents for a bath, and twenty- five cents for a shave. In 1863 the great fire occurred; the town was destroyed; he was burned out, lost all he had, and was himself badly burned and received scars which he will always carry. After that he purchased a shop and continued in business there until April, 1865. He then removed to Shasta and opened a shop, in which he did business till September 27, 1889, when he came to Redding. While in Shasta he bought a residence which he still owns. He is now running a good shop, his son Carl having charge of one of the chairs.
Mr. Hartman was married, February 24, 1867, to Miss Malia S. P. Caroline, a native of Germany. They have had three children, born in Shasta, namely: Frederick Joseph, Carl W. and William P., Jr.
The subject of this sketch has been an active business man, having influence in political cir- cles and also in the societies of Shasta. He is a member of the A. O. U. W .; is a Master Mason; and has passed all the chairs in I. O. O. F. In 1870 he received a handsome gold watch chain, with emblems appropriately en- graved, from his brother Odd Fellows, as a token of their regard for his fidelity to the in- terests of the order, after having served two terms as Noble Grand. Mr. Hartman prizes it highly and wears it only ou rare occasions. In 1876 he was elected chairman of the Re- publican Central County Committee of Shasta County. He served in that capacity ten years, until March 8, 1886, when he resigned; and he did the party such eminent service that, No- vember 30, 1882, the officers elected showed their appreciation of the work he had done by presenting him with a beautiful and costly gold watch, appropriately engraved. " For services rendered the party." Mr. Hartman has held
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the office of School Trustee for twelve years. He was twice elected Public Administrator of the county, the first term by 202 majority and the second by 268, when the rest of his ticket was defeated. He ran for office at eleven elections and never was defeated. He resigned his school trusteeship to come to Redding. He says he still holds rank in the Republican party, and the Democrats hate him worse than the devil hates holy water.
OHN SPELMAN is a business man of Red- ding, California, and a worthy member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is one of the brave men, who, when his country's life was threatened by a powerful armed foe, flew to her aid and faced danger and death to save the country. To such brave men the Union owes a debt of gratitude which ean never be paid nor can gold ever measure the value of the services so gallantly rendered. It was at the tender age of sixteen years, in 1862. when the great war of the Rebellion began to assume gigantic proportions that he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was in the memorable engagement at Oetoraro when the Merrimac attempted to sink them and both ships ran aground. They escaped and were in several engagements and bombardments. A part of the time his ship was flag-ship for Ad- miral Porter. He was in active service for four years and was honorably discharged at the close of the war, when he returned to his home and engaged in the peaceful vocations of life.
Mr. Spelman was born in the west of Ireland, February 22, 1846, the son of James and Brid- get Spelman, both natives of Ireland. While the Emerald Isle is his native land he knows nothing of it by experience, as he came with his parents to the United States when three years of age. There were five children in their family, of whom Mr. Spelman is the only sur- vivor. Upon their arrival in this country they
settled in New Hampshire, where the subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools and where he learned the barber's trade. At the close of the war he engaged in business in Brooklyn, New York. In 1868 he emigrated to San Francisco, and for twelve years ran a barber business in that city in the Occidental Hotel. He was also in the Monis Hotel, Santa Barbara, and for a time in the Golden Eagle Hotel in Redding. He has been in business in Redding for five years, from 1879 till 1884. At one time he ran a shop in Salt Lake City.
In 1868, in San Francisco, he wedded Miss Margaret Rock, a native of Pennsylvania. To them were born two children: James and Mary. In 1871 Mrs. Spelman died, and six years later, Mr. Spelman married Miss Norton, a native of Boston. This union has been blessed with nine children, two of whom are living: Alice and Irene.
Mr. Spelman is a Republican. He holds the office of Health Inspector of the city of Redding.
H. WARRINGTON is one of the active business men of Redding, California. He was born in Pictou, Prince Edward County, Canada, February 17, 1854. His father, William Warrington, a native of Eng- land, enigrated to Canada in 1821. In 1838 he married Margaret Cooper, who was born in the north of Ireland of Scotch ancestry. They had seven children, four of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the youngest. He was educated in Canada and there learned telegraphy. In 1875 he came direct to Shasta, California. Ile followed farming in Contra Costa County until 1880. Then for a year he was clerk and coal weigher for the Black Dia- mond Coal Mining Company. In 1881 he be- came telegraph operator for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; in the fall of 1882 was sent as their agent to Marfa, Texas; in 1888 was transferred to El Paso; and in 1889,
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to Marcalles. In July, 1890, he came to Red- ding as ticket and freight agent.
Mr. Warrington was married, in 1873, to Miss Mary Adelaide Bongard, a native of Prince Edward County. Her parents were En- glish people. They have one child now living, Mary Neda, born in Texas. Mr. Warrington is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. Po- litically he is a Republican.
ARSHALL A. MITCHELL is the gen- tleman in Redding, California, in whose hands the good order of the city rests. He it is who sits as the receiver of city taxes and has the care of the streets and highways. His duties are onerous, but he goes about thein from morning till night with a smiling face; all one to him whether he has a noisy and quarrelsome drunkard to arrest and put in the city cooler, or whether he takes the shining gold from the hands of the many wealthy resi- dents of Redding in payment of their taxes. These duties he has faithfully performed for the past six years to the complete satisfaction of all
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