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 123
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concerned. Few city marshals could fill the office so faithfully and with so little friction -Marshall by name and Marshal by virtue of office. He is a large, fine-looking man; asks what he wants in a quiet, good-natured way and usually has the power and backbone to make it known that he means what he says. Consequently he has as little trouble as any man could have holding the office he does.
Mr. Mitchell is a native of Illinois, born in Boone County, October 19, 1848. He comes of one of the old Pennsylvania families. His father, a native of the Keystone State, married Esther Alexander, who was born in Virginia, a de- scendant of one of the old Virginia families. It is believed that the ancestors of her family came from Scotland and Ireland and settled in Amer- ica in the colonial days, and that later there was
a Dutch mixture. Suffice it to say that both his paternal and maternal ancestors were sober, industrious and influential people-high spir- ited and too proud to do a mean act. Of a family of seven children, two only are living- Isaac Mitchell, who resides in Plymonth Conn- ty, Oregon, and Marshall Mitchell, the subject of this sketch. The latter came to Shasta County, California, in 1859, when eleven years of age, and has been reared and educated in the county. His father was a saw-mill and lum- man here until 1865, when his death occurred.
Marshall Mitchell began business in this county for himself as a farmer. He purchased 320 acres of land on Cow Creek, which he cul- tivated three years. Soon after the town of Redding was laid out he began the mercantile business in it, in partnership with Mr. Williams. In 1874 they built a store on California street between Butte and Yuba, and the firm of Will- iams & Mitchell did a good business until 1875, when they were burned out and sustained heavy losses. They opened again and continued in business five years longer, when a second fire destroyed their store. Neither of these fires originated in their place of business. Mr. Mitchell then engaged in the forwarding busi- ness, which he continued for several years. In 1885 he was elected Marshal of the city, and has since filled that office with satisfaction to all concerned.
He bas purchased town lots and built a resi- dence on Pine, between Butte and Tehama streets. Mr. Mitchell was married, in 1883, to Miss Annie Watt, a native of Oregon. He is a Master and Royal Arch Mason. In politics. he is a Republican.
AMES M. GLEAVES was born in Guern- sey County, Ohio, September 10, 1852. His father, James S. Gleaves, was a native of Ohio, and his grandfather, Lewis Gleaves, settled the town of Norristown, l'ennsylvania. The family originated in England. James S.
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Gleaves married Elmira A. A. McDonald, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Captain Malcolm McDonald, a native of Scotland and a captain in the British navy. They had twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second. He was a sickly boy, and in early life developed a taste for reading. He went from home at thirteen years of age, and at sev- enteen began to teach school. As soon as he had earned and saved money enough he entered the State University of Missouri. When within a few months of graduating his health gave out, and he was compelled to leave college.
In 1874 he came to California seeking health. He obtained employment in Mereed, as a book- keeper, at $90 per month and board. From there he went to the Yosemite, where, in the pure air of that far-famed mountain retreat, he regained his physical strength. Next, he went to San Bernardino and engaged in the drug business. For a time he was Deputy Postinas- ter; he also had charge of the County Hos- pital a while.
July 4, 1875, Mr. Gleaves was married to Miss Martha A. Beardsly, a native of Connecti- cut and a daughter of Julius S. and Eliza Lucretia (Reed) Beardsly, both natives of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Gleaves have had five children, two of whom are living, both born in Redding. Their names are James, Malcom and Charles Beardsly.
Mr. Gleaves was elected Surveyor of Shasta County in 1886: for two years previous to that time, was Deputy Surveyor. At the last Repub- lican convention at Sacramento, in 1890, he was a candidate for Surveyor General. He is now United States Depnty Surveyor and United States Deputy Mineral Surveyor. Mr. Gleaves was admitted to practice at the bar of Shasta County on September 10, 1889, but does not practice law.
When he first came to Redding Mr. Gleaves was in the drug business, but was burned out, and thereby sustained a severe loss. With an undannted courage and a determination to snc- ceed he has taken hold of other enterprises
and has met with fair success. He is now the owner of an eighteen-acre fruit ranch, the " Fair View Farm," which is beautifully situ- ated on the banks of the Sacramento River, near Reading. He has built an attractive home, from which a beautiful view of the river and surrounding country is obtained. The choice fruits and rare flowers which surround this home are indicative of the taste and re- finement of the inmates. Mrs. Gleaves takes special pride in the care and cultivation of her flowers.
Mr. Gleaves was the first Past Master of the A. O. U. W., at Redding. He was one of the men who instituted the I. O. O. F. Lodge at Redding, and has been District Deputy Grand Master in his distriet. By unanimous vote he was made Grand Commander of the American Legion of Honor. He is also a Master Mason.
EUBEN O. CARMER is one of the early settlers of California. He drove two yoke of oxen and a yoke of cows for leaders across the plains to this State in 1859. Those who come overland to this coast in four or five days, in a palace sleeping car or a tonrists' sleeper, know little of the dangers and privations of the men who spent six or eight weary months in coming to California before the railroads were built and the iron horse began to come "whiz- zing o'er the mountains and buzzing through the vales."
Mr. Carmer was born in New York in 18 -- , and comes of good old Revolutionary stock. His great-grandfather, Isaac Carmer, came from Germany to this country when a youth. At the age of seventeen he carried his musket and fonght bravely in many of the battles of the Revolutionary struggle. He afterward settled in the State of New York, married and became the father of Abrain Carmer. Abram Carmer had a son John, also born in New York, who married Hulda Hart, a native of New Jersey
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They reared a family of seven children, all of whom are living, Renben being the youngest of the family.
He worked on his father's farm and attended school in his native town until he reached the age of seventeen years. He then went to Illi- nois and worked on a farm for three years. On the twelfth of April, 1859, he started for Cali- fornia, as before stated. When they reached the Missonri River, the young men with whom Mr. Cariner started went back. He came on with Dr. Roberts, a gentleman from Pennsyl- vania. They had several skirmishes with the Indians, and Mr. Carmer received three arrows in his left shoulder. They were stone-pointed arrows, and the Doctor cut them out. When they arrived in California, at a point between Stockton and Sacramento, they sold their cattle and went to Kentucky Hill, two miles and a half from Camptonville, in Ynba County. There they engaged in mining and were suc- cessful. The Doctor lost the use of his arm by a shot, and Mr. Carmer and his partner, Will- iam Roades, earned money at one ounce of gold per day and furnished him with the means to return East that winter. During the winter they made $9,000 each. Then they went to the Yuba River and sunk all the money they had made except $60. After that Mr. Carmer went to Yreka and prospected; then went to Red Bluff and worked for wages in the ice business; next, engaged in freighting to Weaverville, Yreka, Shasta and Scott's Valley. In 1871 he sold ont, and was employed by the railroad com- pany for a year. In 1872 he came to Redding, then an embryo town. Hle built a feed corral, which he kept two years. Then he sold out, and, in company with Mr. F. C. Tiffan, built a barn and opened a livery stable. He conducted the feed stable and also did a freighting busi ness until 1875, when he sold ont. One winter he drove a stage from Yreka to Oregon, during which time he met with many exciting adven- tures. Once, in crossing the Cottonwood River, his lead horses were both drowned. He stuck to the wagon and floated to a bend in the river
where he jumped out. He succeeded in rescu- ing the other horses and saved the mail. In the spring he returned to Redding and worked for Bosh & Johnson, freighters. Then for a time he was night clerk in Conroy's Hotel. Then he followed various callings, including mining. About this time be became blind. His disease was what the physicians called ad- hesion of the eye. He suffered severely, but his sight was finally restored. In 1887 he opened his drug store in Redding, and is now doing a very successful business.
In 1888 Mr. Carmer married Mrs. Lydia A. Wilson, a native of California. He is in poli- ties, a Republican. For twenty-two years he has been an Odd Fellow, having passed all the chairs of the order.
M W.HERRON is one of the prominent contractors and builders of Redding, California. Since his residence in this place he has identified himself with the best interests of the town, and has done mnuch toward its improvement in his line of work. A sketch of his life is herewith given.
Mr. Herron was born in Kentucky, Novem- ber 9, 1842, the son of William and Catherine (Hood) Herron, both natives of Kentucky. Grandfather William Herron was born in Scot- land. The subject of this sketch was one of a family of six children. He received his educa- tion in his native State, and, in 1861, at the age of nineteen, enlisted in the Union army, Com- pany K, Seventh Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. He was in many skirmishes and several of the great battles of the war, among them the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Mill Spring, Shiloh, Stone River, siege of Vicksburg, and others. He was in the Banks expedition, on Red River, in the midst of hard fighting. In 1864 his term of enlistment expired, and he re- enlisted and fought until the close of the war. During the numerous engagements in which he took part he was slightly wounded four times.
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
The war over, Mr. Herron received an honor- able discharge in 1866. He returned to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and engaged in carpenter work, at which he was employed in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. In 1869 he married Miss Mary C. Sly. They have two daughters, Emma J. and Bertha A.
From Illinois, in 1876, he came to Colusa Connty, California, where he carried on his business for about ten years. At the end of that time he located in Redding, and has since been a leading architect and contractor of the city. He is now (1890), superintending the building of several of the best residences and business blocks of Redding. He belongs to the G. A. R., A. O. U. W., I. O. O. F., and is a Master Mason. Politieally he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a worthy citizen and is respected and esteemed by all who know him.
ILLIAM S. B. TOWNSLEY was born in East Tennessee, September 1, 1824, the son of John and Mary (Blair) Townsley. His father was born in Tennessee, and his mother, a native of Virginia, was reared on the James River. The ancestors of the Townsley family emigrated to this country from England during the Colonial days. Grandfather George Townsley was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. He settled in Virginia, and after- ward removed to Tennessee. The subject of this sketch is one of a family of four sons and five daughters. When last heard from his brothers and sisters were all living, seattered over Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri.
Mr. Townsley was reared and educated in his native State until nineteen years of age, when, with his younger brother, Nicholas, lie came West. He drove an ox team across the plains for a trader. He came as far West as Santa Fe in 1848. In 1850 he came to California. His first mining experience was near Diamond Springs, on the Cosumnes River. In the sum- mer of 1851 he was in Vacaville. He had only
moderate success in mining, getting enough of the glittering gold to pay his expenses. Then he engaged in farming for two or three years, then, until 1858, he mined on Seott and Klamath Rivers. From there he came to Shasta County, and mined two years at Buckeye. After this he located in the southeastern part of Shasta County, on 360 acres of land, where he built and made improvements and lived for twenty- five years. There are only two men now living who were there at the time he settled on that place. There was not a child of school age in that part of the county. While there his prin- cipal business was stock-raising. He sold that property and purchased an improved farm of 120 acres, where he now resides.
Politically Mr. Townsley is a Democrat. In 1886 he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors of Shasta County. During his term of office he has favored many valnable county improvements, such as the building of roads and bridges, and the construction of the fine court-house and jail. These buildings were completed in 1889, and cost $50,000. Mr. Townsley is one of the worthy and respected early settlers of Shasta County, and it is emi- nently fitting that his name should find a place in history among other brave California pioneers.
OHN EDWARD REYNOLDS, Captain of the National Guards at Redding, Cali- fornia, is a native of Wisconsin. He was born in Dodgeville, August 2, 1849. His father, Edward Reynolds, a native of Scotland, married Margaret Doris, who was born in Wales. They came to the United States in 1840, and settled in Pennsylvania. In 1849 the father came to California, and in 1852 returned for his family, which at that time consisted of wife and five children. They reached Hangtown (now Placer- ville) in September of the same year. After a short stay there he went to Volcano Bar, on the American River and engaged in mining and also kept hotel, being very successful in his
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undertakings. In 1854 the family came to Shasta County and took up their abode at
Whiskeytown, five miles above Shasta. The father entered into a speeulation in the Golden Gate Mining Tunnel, being successful in a financial way, but losing his life in the mine. In 1864 the tunnel caved in on him and others and suffocated them. Twenty hours later they were taken out dead.
The subject of this sketch was three years old when he came with his parents to California, and five when he came to Shasta County. The first work he did was when, at the age of ten years, he rode bell horse for a pack train from Shasta to Douglas City, Trinity County, a dis- tance of fifty miles. The train consisted of fifty or sixty mules, and usually there were six men with them. Mr. Reynolds did the cooking, and was employed in that way for a year. After that he went to work for Town & Taggart, for whom he collected toll and clerked at the Town House. When Mr. Grant purchased the Weav- erville and Shasta stage route, Mr. Reynolds became driver and drove till 1867. Then he drove stage for the Oregon and California Stage Company till 1876.
On the 19th of October, 1875, while driving fourteen miles north of Redding, they were stopped by two men who demanded the express box of Wells, Fargo & Co. Mr. Reynolds re- plied that it was locked in the bottom of the boat and they could not get at it at this place. Then the robbers shot at them, and the team ran and they got away without being robbed. On the following Christmas the company mado him a present of a gold watch, inscribed as fol- lows: " Presented to Jolin Reynolds in recog- nition of his courage and devotion to Wells, Fargo & Co's interests, when attacked by high- waymen, October 19, 1875. John J. Valentine, General Superintendent."
In 1876 he went to work for Wells, Fargo & Co., as shot-gun messenger, between Red- ding and Yreka and Redding and Weaver- ville. The gold from both places was sent down by express, fromn six to seven millions
of dollars being sent per year by them. It was Mr. Reynolds' duty to guard it, and he acted in this capacity from 1876 till 1882. On the 6th day of September, 1876, they had $60,- 000 in gold dust with them and were within a mile of the top of Scott Mountain. At three o'clock A. M. the driver was commanded to halt, and was covered by a revolver in the hands of a masked highwayman. There were three of them, the second armed with a double-barreled shot-gun and the other with a rifle. Mr. Rey- nolds was in the coach, and, pointing his gun out between the curtains, shot the first man in the neck and he fell dead in his tracks. The horses started on the run. One of the high- waymen shot one horse in the fore leg. It ran 100 yards and fell dead. Mr. Reynolds then jumped from the stage and got in the shade of the trees, expecting a fight. The highwaymen, however, did not come on. One of the lead horses was put in the place of the dead one, and they reached Redding with their treasure in safety. The other men were afterward cap- tured and tried. One pleaded guilty and was sentenced for five years. The other was con- victed and sent to San Quentin for ten years. The Express Company showed their apprecia- tion for this service by telegraphing Mr. Rey- nolds a present of $300.
In 1882 he received the appointment of Un- der Sheriff of Shasta County, William B. Hop- ping being Sheriff. This position he now (1890) holde. For the last eight years he has aided in the arrest of many criminals and has taken many to prison. None ever escaped from him after being captured.
December 19, 1889, Company E, Eighth In- fantry Battalion, C. N. G., was organized, with sixty of the best young men of Redding. Mr. Reynolds was chosen Captain. They are well equipped, make a fine appearance, and are a credit to themselves as well as the city of Red- ding.
Mr. Reynolds was married, March 6, 1874, to Miss Eva Smithson, a native of Belvidere, Illinois. They have three children, born in
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Shasta County, namely: Mary L., Eddie S. and John B.
Mr. Reynolds has taken nine degrees in the Masonic order, and has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F. In 1880 he received the nom- ination for Sheriff by the Republican party, but it was decided by the Superior Court that there would be no election and that the old officer would hold over two years.
ARION GRIFFIN, the leading real- estate dealer of Cottonwood, was born in St. Omer, Decatur Connty, Indiana, September 1, 1858, the son of Charles and Cath- arine Griffin, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. Griffin's great- grandfather, Mr. Lyman Griffin, was a physi- cian, and came from England and settled in Vermont, where our subject's father and grand- father were born. Mr. Griffin's grandfather on the maternal side was Jesse Cain, a wealthy In- diana farmer. Mr. Griffin's parents had four- teen children, seven of whom are now living.
Our subject, the eleventh ehild, was educated in his native State, first at the St. Omer Acad emy, and then graduated from the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute. He was then a teacher in the public schools for two years. In 1884 he came to Napa County, California; some of his relatives had died with consump- tion and he was advised to come to this State for a milder climate, but while in Napa County he was informed that it would be better for him to go to the foothills, and accordingly, on April 9, 1885, went to Cottonwood with his younger brother, Scott Griffin, and went into the real- estate business. Griffin Bros. took hold of the business with a will and since that time have spent abont $1,000 a year advertising Cotton- wood Valley, as a result of which they soon built up a good business and induced scores of settlers with money to go in and develop the latent resources of that valley. In 1887 they purchased 400 acres of land in Rogue River
Valley, Oregon, and laid ont the town-site of Tolo, of which Scott Griffin took charge and our subject continued the management of their business at Cottonwood.
When Griffin Bros. located at Cottonwood the place contained only one school-house, an old discarded saloon building. But under their manipulation, and that of a few active young business inen, who arrived about the same time, or soon afterward, the aspect of the town radi- cally changed. They now have a fine large two- story brick school-house, which is a credit to the town, two large new churches, four stores, and all other kinds of business duly represented. The large quantities of rich land about the town have been subdivided and sold to industrious settlers; and where there were only evergreen manzanitas, there are now pleasant homes, vine- yards and orchards. The people who were wont to be satisfied with cheap buildings are now building elegant brick structures, and Cotton- wood is now a clean, healthy, thriving village, with the best of social and educational advan- tages. The people of Cottonwood give Mr. Griffin much praise for his efficient aid in bring- ing abont this desirable state of affairs. The people who have purchased the rich fruit lands have planted trees, and have been pleased to see them bear fruit in two years from planting, and four-year-old peach, almond, nectarine and prune orchards bear fruit that yield handsome returns. Such orchards are worth $500 per acre.
In addition to his real-estate business, he is a notary public, and is a bright, wide-awake, en- ergetic gentleman. Mr. Griffin says several thousand acres of land have recently been sold to capitalists, who purchased them for fruit ranches; that they are to be planted to vines and orchards, and that 100,000 fruit trees will be set out this spring (1891) near Cottonwood. IIe now has valuable tracts of fruit land for sale from ten acres up, at $30 per acre.
After coming to Cottonwood, Mr. Griffin be- came acquainted with Miss Alice McLain, an accomplished teacher in the schools, and a na-
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. HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
tive daughter of the Golden West; and at Cot- tonwood, December 18, 1887, they were united in marriage, in the Congregational Church, by their pastor, the Rev. J. A. Jones. Mrs. Grif- fin was born at Roseburg, Oregon, October 22, 1865, and reared in Shasta County; is a gradu- ate of the Anderson Normal School, and for several years was a successful teacher. In ad- dition to his other good qualities, Mr. Griffin is an active Republican, and a strong temper- ance man, not even using tobacco in any way, and has never tasted intoxicating liquor of any kind. He and his wife are both energetic and enthusiastic workers in the Congregational Church.
R. JAMES OSCAR SMITH, one of the early settlers of the county, and a time- tried and reliable citizen and physician, arrived in this county July 4, 1855. He is a native of the State of New York, born in Scho- harie County, April 23, 1822, the son of James Smith, who was a native of the same State and a merchant in Buffalo, and was also a lumber merchant in Canada. He died in 1873. The Doctor's grandfather, John Smith, was a native of New York, and a soldier in the Revolution; the ancestors of the family came from England. The Doctor's father married Abigail Wattles, a native of Cherry Valley, Connecticut, and they had eleven children, four of whom are now living.
Dr. Smith, the eldest son, spent the first twelve years of his life in the city of Buffalo, and then attended school for six years in Can- ada. There he commenced the study of medi- cine with Dr. Wallen, with whom he remained eleven years. The Doctor came to California and began practice at Middletown, where he re- mained nine years. He then purchased a ranch of 240 acres, and in connection with his medi- cal practice carried on the farm for two years. He then sold and purchased another 240 acres, on which he resided until 1885. He was en-
gaged in raising cattle, horses and sheep, and from time to time added to his ranch until he had 4,000 acres, which he afterward sold and moved into Cottonwood. While on his ranch his house was robbed and burned when the family was absent, cansing him a loss of $3,000, but it was thought that the thieves did not get over $150. The Doctor has built him a good residence and office in Cottonwood, where he has in a measure retired, and is living upon the interest of his money. For some years he has been engaged in money lending. During his long life he has waited upon and adminis- tered to the suffering of both rich and poor alike, both in the day and night and in all kinds of weather, accepting pay from those who had it, and giving it to those who were too poor to pay. For a long time he was the only physician in his part of the county. The Doctor has a fine constitution, and is a strong and hearty man, who has witnessed the growth of the great commonwealth in which he lives, and is one of its active citizens. Before the war he was a Donglas Democrat, but at Lincoln's second elec- tion he became a Republican, and has since voted that ticket. He is also a strong temper- ance man.
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