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 125

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 125

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Mr. Boswell was married in 1883, to Miss Mary E. Divine, a native of Missouri, and daughter of Thomas Divine. When she wag two years old her mother died, and she was reared by Mr. Boswell's aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Boswell have two sons and a daughter, born in

Shasta, namely: William M., Andrew A. and California. Mrs. Boswell is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Boswell is a Chapter Mason, and is now the Junior Warden of the lodge. His political views are Democratic. He resides with his family in their pleasant home on Main street in Shasta.

RANK LITSCH is one of the representa- tive citizens and business men of Shasta County. He was born in Baden, Ger- many, November 7, 1835, of German parents. He was educated in his native country, and there learned the trade of baker. After the term of his apprenticeship had expired, in 1853, when eighteen years of age, he came to the United States of America. He spent one year as a baker and clerk in a store in Missouri, and the following year, hearing of the new El Dorado of the West, he came to California in pursuit of gold. After landing in San Francisco he came direct to Shasta County, where for three years he was engaged in mining at Lower Springs without any remarkable success,-his largest find in one day being $40. He then came to Shasta, and for three years was bar-tender for his brother, Charles Litsch. In 1863 he started a store on his own account, on the ground ad- joining his present location. He now owns and occupies both stores. Until 1869 he was in partnership with Fred Michaclson. They moved their stock to Lewiston, Trinity County, pur- chased the store of Isaac Shaw, and conducted it till 1872. At that time Mr. Litsch sold out and went to San Francisco, remaining in that city a year. In the fall of 1873 he returned to Shasta and started a general merchandise store, and has successfully conducted it since that time. He has been continously in business longer than any other merchant in the town. He is interested in a valuable quartz mine which is now being developed.

In 1863 Mr. Litsch wedded a Miss Shenre, a native of the city of New Orleans. Their union

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

has been blessed with four children, two of whom are living, both born in Shasta: Elizabeth and Emma. Their son, Joseph, lived to be twenty-three years of age, and died of heart dis- ease. The other child died at the age of nine months.

Mr. Litsch is an I. O. O. F., has passed all the chairs of the order and is now Treasurer. He is a charter member of the A. O. U. W., and is now holding the office of Financier. Politically he is a Democrat. In 1886 he was elected one of the Supervisors of the county, which office he is now filling. He is a valuable and worthy member of society, ever ready to do what he can for the advancement of the best interests of the community in which he resides.

OHN VARNER SCOTT is one of the old representative Californians who came to this State in the early days of its history. Since that time he has been identified with the interests of Shasta County as a miner, a hotel- keeper, and, lastly, receiver at the United States Land Office, now located at Redding. He is a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, born Decem- ber 27, 1821. His parents were Hugh and Margaret (Moore) Scott, natives of the Emerald Isle. To them were born nine children, some in Ireland, some in England and some in the United States, as they removed to England and from there to Pennsylvania, settling in the latter place in 1833. Five of the family survive.

The subject of this sketch lett his home in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1851, and came via the Isthmus route to California, arriving in San Francisco in 1852. The Atlantic voyage was made in the United States steamer Atlantic, and the journey was finished in the Clarissa Andrews. Upon his arrival at this coast he came direct to Shasta, where he engaged in mining and was fairly successful. He has seen two onnces of gold taken from a single pan of dirt. He says the largest piece ever mined in Shasta County was taken out by Rochon and

his partner at Spring Creek, three and a half miles from Shasta. It weighed sixteen pounds and was worth about $4,000

In 1854 Mr. Scott purchased an interest in the Franklin Hotel. and conducted it until 1868. In the mean time he bought out his partners, Alfred Walton and James W. Tull. In 1868 he purchased the Empire Hotel,. which he ran until 1889. During his career as a hotel-keeper in Shasta he entertained large numbers of people who were attracted to the town by the rich mines in its vicinity. Among his frequent guests were such men as Leland Stanford, David Gwinn, Joaquin Miller, Governor Haight, John P. Jones, Governor Bigler. Major Bidwell, George C. Gorham and hosts of others. For sev. eral years Shasta was the end of the wagon road, and from there supplies were packed on minles. In this way the machinery for mills was taken, 400 to 450 pounds being an ordinary load for a mule. Mr. Scott says he knew one mule to carry 1,000 pounds of flour twenty rods, most of the way up grade; another packed an iron safe, weighing 650 pounds, to Yreka, a distance of 120 miles, was not unloaded until it reached its destination and did not lie down while on the journey. Mr. Scott is interested in the Bunker Hill quartz mine, and also in some gold and silver mines. The Empire Hotel still be- longs to him. He is one of the nineteen voters of Shasta County who cast their ballot for Gen- eral John C. Fremont in 1856, and he has since voted with the Republican party. September 1, 1889, he was commissioned receiver in the United States Land Office, in which position he now serves, and to which he gives his close atten- tion. He is one of the prominent members of Western Star Lodge, No. 2, the first instituted Masonic lodge in the State of California, and has filled all its offices. He is also a member of the Council and Chapter, and is a member of the Legion of Honor.

Mr. Scott was married in 1863, to Miss Kate Linch, a native of Ireland. Since that time she has been his faithful companion, the sharer of his joys and sorrows. They live in a cozy home

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on one of the picturesque hills of the old mining town of Shasta.

UDWIG ANDERSON, a Inmberman of Martinez, was born in Copenhagen, Den- mark, August 26, 1825, and at the age of sixteen years he became a mariner, and at the end of six years of seafaring life he found him- self in New York city, whence he came to Cal- lao and Lima, in Peru, in 1849. In the latter part of this year he sailed on the barqne Ellitta and arrived in San Francisco in Angust, 1850. During the same year he made the round trip to Panama on the steamer Oregon, which brought the first tidings to the coast that Cali- fornia had been admitted into the Union. He then followed the coasting trade until 1860, and finally, having learned that Captain Anderson of the excellence of the Contra Costa region, he determined to locate at Pacheco, which was then flourishing. At that place he opened a lumber yard, which he still conducts with satisfactory success; and he has branched out into Martinez in his extending business. By an unflinching integrity and indomitable perseverance he has acquired considerable possessions in different portions of the county.

He was married in San Francisco November 23, 1858, to Miss Honora Troy, a native of Ire- land, and has seven children living: Marie C., Louis D., Nora A., Mary M., Annie N., Jence J. and Elizabeth T.

AMES L. PACE, a farmer of Yolo, is a son of Richard R. and Elizabeth (Proctor) Pace, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Tennessee. He was born in Boone County, Missouri, August 16, 1836, and at the age of twenty-two years he went to Pike's Peak with ox teams, and three weeks afterward came on to California with the same outfit, arriving on the banks of Mokelumne River, where the

train disbanded. Mr. Pace came to Yolo Coun- ty and worked by the day until the spring of 1863, when he went to the coast and bought a drove of hogs, brought them to Yolo Valley, fattened them in the stubble fields and then dis- posed of them the same year. He then bonght another drove and took them in the mountains near Auburn and sold them there. Returning to Yolo County, he drove a number of the same to Cedar Lake for H. C. Yerby, in 1864, and remained there until 1866. During this time he purchased a small ranch in Lake County, bonght some stock for it, and in 1866 drove a band of cattle to Yolo County and pastured them upon the old Snodgrass ranch, being a partner of D. Cramer. He then disposed of his ranch in Lake County, married Miss Porter, October 6, 1875, and began to spend their sum- mer seasons in Yolo and their winters on the ranch. In 1889 Mr. Pace bought another ranch of 160 acres abont three miles from Yolo and eight from Woodland, where they expect to inake their permanent home. The ranch of 8,000 acres belonging to Messrs. Pace & Cramer is well stocked.

Mr. Pace's children are: Ralph H., Myrtle A. and Pauline E., all natives of Yolo County.

BNER ABELE, a farmer of Yolo County, is a son of Joseph and Francisca (Ycager) Abele, natives of Germany. He was born in Würtemburg, Germany, August 7, 1826, lost his parents when fourteen years of age, and when twenty-five years old emigrated to this country. The first five years here he spent in Buffalo, New York, following his trade as cooper; spent one year in Canada; returned to Buffalo, and next was in Erie, Pennsylvania, two years, where in 1856 he married Theckla Heeinle, also a native of Würtemburg. After following his trade two years in the latter place he went again to Canada and conducted a cooper-shop of his own three years, when he came to California, by the Isthmus route. Going

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to Yolo, he first worked as a day laborer until 1862, and then purchased a place of his own. He now has 1,120 acres two miles west of Cacheville. He has three sons and three daugh- ters living, namely: Joe, Alois, John, Fran- cisco, Josephine, Mary and Ragena. Two of his children are deceased, -- Adolph and Agata, besides a grandson named Joe Abele.

IERSON B. READING, one of the two or three most conspicnous fathers of Northern California, was born in New Jersey, November 26, 1816, and died at his ranch, Buena Ventura, in Shasta County, on the 29th of May, 1868, aged fifty-one years and six months. For about a quarter of a century he liad occupied a prominent position in Cali- fornia. In 1843 he crossed the plains in com- pany with the late Samuel J. Hensley, and some twenty-five others, and from that period was thoroughly identified with this region of the continent. The route by which the party arrived is thus described by Hon. John Bidwell:

"The ronte by which they had come had never to my knowledge been visited or traversed by any save the inost savage Indian tribes; namely, from Fort Boise, on Snake River, to the Sacramento Valley, via the upper Sacramento or Pit River. The hostility as well as conrage of those savages is well known; and I may refer to the conflicts with them of Fremont in 1846, of the lamented Captain Warner in 1849, and of General Crook in 1867."

In 1844, Reading entered the service of General Sutter, and was at the Fort when Fre- mont first arrived in California, in the spring of that year. In 1845 he was left in charge, while Sutter marched with all his forces to assist Micheltorena in quelling the insurrection headed by Castro and Alvarado. The former had shown his partiality for Americans by granting them lands, and this led to the espousal of his cause by our people. Reading, in 1844, had received a grant in what is now known as Shasta County.

Later, in 1845, he visited, on a hunting and trapping expedition, nearly all the northern part of California, the western part of Nevada, as also Southern Oregon. He was afterward extensively engaged in trapping -- in 1845-'46 -- on the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. In all these dangerous expeditions his intelligence, bravery, and imposing personal ap- pearance exercised over the hostile Indians a commanding influence that protected himself and party not only from hostile attack, but also secured their friendly aid in his undertakings.

When it became probable that war would be declared against Mexico, Reading enlisted un- der Fremont; and on the organization of the California Battalion by Commodore Stockton, was appointed Paymaster, with the rank of Major, and served until the close of the war in this country. After its termination, Reading returned to his ranch in Shasta, which he made his permanent home.

In the events preceding and accompanying the acquisition of this territory, the knowledge and experience of Reading were of great ad- vantage to the Government, and that the flag of our Union instead of that of another nation now waves over it, is in a great measure due to those early pioneers who entered California be- fore the existence of gold in its soil was even surmised.

In 1848 Reading was among the first to visit the scene of Marshall's gold discovery -- Coloma-and shortly after engaged extensively in prospecting for gold, making discoveries in Shasta, at the head waters of the Trinity, and prospecting that river until he became satisfied that the gold region extended to the Pacific Ocean. A portion of these explorations were made in company with Jacob R. Snyder. A large number of Indians were worked with great success, until all were disabled by sickness. In 1849, with IIensley and Snyder, Reading en- gaged extensively in commercial business in Sacramento, and continned the firm until 1850.

In the fall of 1849 Major Reading fitted out an expedition to discover the bay into which he

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supposed the Trinity and Klamath rivers must empty. The bark Josephine, in which the party sailed, was driven by a storm far ont of her course to the northwest of Vanconver's Island and had to return. Others, subsequently, act- ing on the idea, discovered and called the bay after that world renowned traveler Humboldt, by whose name it is now known.

In 1850, Major Reading visited Washington to settle his accounts as Paymaster of the Cali- fornia Battalion. The disbursements exceeded $166,000, and had been kept with such neat- ness and accuracy, supported by vonchers, that the auditor considered them as being the best of all presented during the war.

While in the "States," on this occasion, he visited his old home, Vicksburg, where in 1837 he succumbed to the crisis which caused such wide-spread ruin among the merchants of the Southwest. His object was to pay in gold the principal and interest of his long outstanding and almost forgotten obligations. This he did to the extent of $60,000-an instance of com- mercial integrity of which California has reason to be proud.

In 1851 Major Reading was the candidate of the Whig party for Governor of California, which exalted position he failed to obtain only by a few votes. Since then he was frequently invited to become a candidate for political posi- tions, but declined.

For many years previous to his decease, agriculture, with a view of developing the interests of the State, occupied his attention. In 1856 Major Reading married, in Washing- ton, Miss Fanny Washington, who, with five children, was left to mourn the death of their beloved protector.

ARNEY PARISH, a farmer near Cache- ville, is a son of James and Nancy (Me- Can) Parish. the former a native of Penn- sylvania and the latter of Virginia. He was born in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, Sep-

tember 18, 1835. In 1858 he came by water to California and soon went to Virginia City, where he was engaged in mining one winter. In the spring he went to Grass Valley, and in a month to Yuba County, where he was employed by a mining company for five months. Pur- chasing then a team, he began freighting from Marysville to the mountains, which business he followed two years. Selling this outfit, he went to San Joaquin County and then again to Vir- ginia City, Nevada, in 1862, but within a few weeks he returned to Yolo County and worked for George and William Woodard.for four years. In 1865 he bought 217 acres of land, of M. Lowe, and in 1869 purchased the farin of fifty acres where he now resides, a half mile from Cacheville and five miles from Woodland.

In 1865 he was nnited in marriage with Mary Boub, and they had five children, all of whom are dead but one son, named Edward. Mr. Parish, for his present wife married Miss Annie Weamer, and by this marriage there are six children: Elizabeth, William, Annie, Otto, Theodore and Minnie.

ENJAMIN OLIVER was born in Ver- mont, May 6, 1833. His parents, Alex- ander and Sarah (Robinson) Oliver, natives of Ireland, came to America a newly married conple, in 1827, and settled in Essex, Vermont, They resided on a farin there for many years, and there reared a family of nine children, the subject of this sketch being the oldest. He re- ceived his education in the common schools of the Green Mountain State, and assisted his father in farm work.

In 1852 he came to California. For nine years he worked in the mines in Shasta County. withont large results. At the end of that time he turned his attention to farming. He pur- chased seven and a half acres in the corporation of Redding. From time to time he bought other lands until he owned 600 acres. This he disposed of at a liberal advance, and afterward

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

repurchased twenty-five acres of the property, on which he has built a nice large residence. He is engaged in raising fruit and vegetables, giving most of his attention to horticulture.

Mr. Oliver was united in marriage, in 1874, to Mrs. Ellen Carine, a native of Michigan. They have eight children, all born in Redding, Sarah, 'Maggie, Ella, Lncy, Winnie, George, Benjamin and Charles, all at home with their parents at this writing. Mr. Oliver came to the vicinity of Redding in 1859, long before there was any thought of a town here. He has seen its wonderful growth and development, and has aided in the advancement of its best interests. He is a Democrat; was elected by his party to the office of Supervisor, holding the office from 1871 till 1876. He is now a nominee for the same position.

Mr. Oliver's father died in 1870, after which his mother and sister came to California. The mother died in 1889, and is buried at Redding.

ENJAMIN H. PICKETT, one of the early and reliable citizens of California, was only one year old when he arrived in this State, and consequently has seen all of her wonderful growth. He was born at White River Junction, Vermont, October 23, 1824, the son of John Pickett, who was also a native of that State. His grandfather, David Piekett, was an English- man, who left that country for the colonies in their early history, and took a hand in the war for independence. He was one of General Washington's staff officers, and was a prisoner on the old Dutch prison ship 109 days, and with eight others escaped, the remainder dying of disease and hardships. Mr. Piekett's father married Miss Candace Lewis, a native of New Hampshire, and the daughter of Professor Lewis, President of Dartmouth College. He Tras an Englishman, and came to America with his parents when he was a child. Mr. Pickett's parents had six children, fonr of whom still survive.

Onr subject, the third child, received his edu- cation in Vermont, Indiana, Mexico and Cali- fornia, the practical part of which was received in the two latter States, as lie was a volunteer American soldier in the war with Mexico from its commencement until the capture of the cap- ital of Mexico. So he was one of the brave little army who attacked and defeated a far superior army in numbers in their own country, and drove them time and again from their strong fortifications and captured their capital. No wonder General Taylor said of them, " They did not know when they were whipped." The remainder of his practical education was ob- tained in the mines and mountains of California in the early days, and there is no doubt that he was an apt seholar in digging gold, pursuing Indians and hunting deer, elk and bear, and notwithstanding he is sixty-five years of age, he still takes pride in a good shot. Mr. Pickett's first work in this State was on a farm, and then in a saw-mill. He mined at Placerville for two years and took out $16,000; next he mined for a time at Shasta, and only made $300, and at that time his flour cost him $1.25 per pound and other things in proportion. From there he went to Yreka, where he mined ten months, and took out $10,000. He then returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and after a visit came again to California and became a rancher. He secured a homestead of 120 acres, and afterward made other purchases until he has now a fine ranch of 1,380 acres. He has built three dwelling- honses on this ranch as his necessities' required, and he now has a pleasant home and good farm buildings. He is engaged in raising hay, grain, hogs and cattle, in which he has been very suc- cessful.

Mr. Pickett was married in 1847, to Miss Melita Mohan, a native of Indiana, and this union has been blessed with one child, a danghi- ter, whom they named Candace. She was born in Indiana, and is now the wife of Elias Brown, and resides on their ranch near her father. They have seven children. Mr. Pickett has been a Republican since the organization of that

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

party, and in 1856 took a part as a free State man in the Kansas troubles. 'In 1855 he was a volunteer against the Indians on the Rogue River. Fourteen men from his vicinity started on that expedition, and only himself and another man went through. The expedition was a suc -. cess, the whites running the Indians into a cave and killing them. At the fight on Klamath River there were a large number of Indians in a tamarisk swamp. Mr. Pickett, with thirteen others, volunteered to go around behind them and drive them out, which was accomplished, the men in front being ready to sheet as soon as they came out. Nearly all the Indians were killed and this ended their depredations. Mr. Pickett has many interesting reminiseences of the early days. He has a goed retentive memory, and is quite strong and capable for a man of his years. The value of such brave men to the State and the society which they pro- tected and helped to build, can never be over- estimated. " May they live long and be happy.'

F. REID, a retired farmer residing seven miles southeast of Davisville, " Yolo County, was born in Garrard County, Kentucky, June 20, 1812, his parents being Joseph and Elizabeth (Slavin) Reid, the former a native of Virginia, born in 1779, a farmer by occupation, and the latter a native of North Carolina. They moved to Adair County, Kentucky, when the subject of this notice was a year and a half old, and six and a half years afterward they moved into Tennessee; two years subsequently to Franklin County, that State; in 1829 into Alabama; in 1844 back to Tennessee; in 1853 to Arkansas; and in 1857 to California, landing at Sacramento. He bought a place in Yolo County, which he still owns, containing 320 acres, seven miles south- east of Davisville.

October 6, 1834, Mr. Reid was united in marriage with Elizabeth Shores, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Levi and Mary

Shores, natives of North Carolina. She was born in 1818, and died October 11, 1889, the period of their married life being fifty-five years, lacking enly twenty-five days. In their family have been sixteen children, three of whom are deceased. The living are: Joseph B., Alexander H., Eliza A., Mary I., Reuben E., Sarah F., Alfred, William F., Jr., John M. Margaret E., James H., Louis L. and Emma; and the deceased are: Levi, who died in 1861; Lucie E., who died in 1876; and Hannah W., who died in 1884.

H. DRUMMOND, a merchant at Davisville, was born May 1, 1859, about seven miles southeast of that village, on a ranch where he lived until he was fifteen years old. He then moved into town, attended school, and finished his education at Sacramento, at the age of twenty years. In 1882, in partnership with E. W. Brown, he started in the hardware business at Davisville; and nine months afterward he sold out his in- terest in that business and bought an interest in the hardware and grocery trade of D. F. Lig- gett, and they carry a stock of about $20,000, doing a large and prosperous business.

March 13, 1884, Mr. Drummond was mar. rie I to Eliza Callaway, and they have one son, named Lester C. Mrs. Drummond was killed in Oregon by a horse running away and throw- ing her and her little babe out of the buggy, July 15, 1885. She was killed in the instant, but the babe escaped unhurt!

M. HALL, JR., is the owner of Glendale, one of the finest estates in every respect in this part of California. It has a mag- nificent stretch of 1,400 acres, reaching from hill crest to hill erest and occupying the whole of the upper end of Conn Valley. When Mr. Hall took possession of it six years ago it was

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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 125

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