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 129

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 129

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A. PELLET .- It is with pleasure that we accord herewith a leading position to this worthy pioneer of wine-making in California, one who, by hearty, earnest work for the business of his life and the country of his choice, has accomplished much in the past with still greater promise of the future, and is to-day regarded as one of the foremost wine

men of our State, being thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the business and an author- ity second to none other. A visit to his charm- ing home, sitnated amid a splendid grove in the center of the valley, with an unequaled view on every side and surrounded by flowers, will long be remembered by the writer as one of those pleasant occasions that come all too unfrequently to mankind. Very much of the general in- formation to be found in another place in this volume has been verified and amplified from his ready stores of information. About his place nothing for show alone was found, but in every instance, in cellar arrangements and all else, utility and convenience was evidently first consulted. In the twenty-seven years since Mr. Pellet purchased and began the improvement of his charming place, he has done a very great deal of work, not alone for himself, but as well the State at large. From time to time he has imported and experimented with something like sixty varieties of grapes for the purpose of testing their adaptability to our climate and conditions. As a result, his experience limits him to about ten varieties, in which he is fol- lowed generally by others in the valley. These are, for red wines, the Zinfandel, Mataro, Gren- ache, Grosse Blanc, Carignane, St. Macaire anp Malbec, and for white wines, the different varie- ties of Riesling, the Chasselas and the Burger. These are grafted npon native resistant stocks. The cellar, which has a capacity of abont 80,- 000 gallons was erected in 1866, being sunk partially beneath the surface of the ground. That it contains samples of some of the grandest vintages ever grown in California, will be as- serted by any one who visits Mr. Pellet and profits by his generons hospitality.

We draw largely for the details of Mr. Pellet's busy and useful life from the history of Napa and Lake counties, which gives them fully and succinctly. Henry Alphonse Pellet was born February 6, 1828, in Canton Nenfchatel, Switzerland, and is the second son of John Samuel and Elizabeth (Javet) Pellet. He re- mained with his parents until he was fifteen

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years of age, receiving in the meantime the rudiments of his education, and also working in his father's vineyards. At that age he entered the high schools which he attended for two years. He then studied surveying for one year. In 1846 he accepted the position of book-keeper for Messrs. Perret & Co., watch manufacturers in La Chaux de Fonds, which he held until February, 1848, when he resigned the position, and served as a volunteer in the revolution that freed the canton of Neufchatel from the sover- eignty of the King of Prussia. In May of 1848, he emigrated to the United States, and having brought a steck of watches, clocks, etc., with him set up in business in St. Louis. In the fall of that year he returned again to Switzerland, having disposed of his previous stock, and in the following spring came once more to St. Louis, bringing with him a replenished stock of watches and watchmaker's goods. In the spring of 1850, determining to follow the tide to California, he fitted np two six-mule teams, and organized a company of twelve meu for the trip overland. The trains were sent to St. Joseph, whither he followed by steamer; and on May 16th they set out for the tedious journey. They chose the northern route, coming via Sublette's cut-off and Fort Hall to the Humboldt River, thence down that river to the sink, across the desert to Truckee and across the Sierras, reach- ing Nevada City, September 6, 1850. The trip was a hard one, much suffering being felt for lack of provisions and loss of cattle, necessitat- ing the abandoning of one wagon. For six weeks they were without bread, and for four weeks had to subsist on jerked beef, proenred from the abandoned cattle along the route. Mr. Pellet engaged at once in mining, and met with good success. In February, 1851, he with five others went to Rich Bar on the north fork of the Feather River, and worked for five months, returning then to Nevada City. In the fall of that year he with others opened a quartz mine, erected a mill, and in less than six months found the whole undertaking a failure. With the dauntless spirit of the early days, this

disaster served only to nerve him to greater efforts. He accepted a position as foreman in a quartz mill at $8 a day, holding it until the fall of 1852. He then came to San Francisco, where in partnership with J. L. Cabanne he put up a flour-inill at North Beach. This they carried on for a year with varying success. In the fall of 1853 the inill was removed to Napa City, being the first steam grist mill in the connty. This mill Mr. Pellet carried on until June, 1855, with no very large profit to him- self, although an immense convenience and benefit to the farmers, who came many miles to to have their grain reduced to flour. He then returned to the mines, going to Siskiyon County. In 1858 he came back again to Napa County, and engaged in farming. In 1860 he leased John Patchett's vineyard near Napa City, and entered upon the making of wine. This was the second wine made in the county, Mr. Charles Krug having preceded him one year on the same place. In 1863 he purchased his present beautiful place, the whole of which (forty-five acres) is in vineyard, saving only the site of his comfortable home, the winery, barns, stables, etc. Until 1866 he had charge of Dr. Crane's vineyard and cellar, when he built his cellar and, in partnership with Mr. D. B. Carver, now a banker, he went extensively into the wine busi- ness, buying grapes and making wine. The firm of Pellet & Carver was dissolved in 1878, since which time Mr. Pellet has continued the business alone, but on a like large scale. Mr. Pellet is now also the Superintendent of the wine cellars for the Natoma Wine Com- pany, the most extensive makers of wines in the vicinity of Sacramento. He makes the wine for the company, attending to every detail from the moment the grapes come in from the vine- yards until the wine is sold. He has always been actively identified with every movement that looks to the betterment of the wine indus- try of the State, being a leading figure in the formation of the Vitienltnral Commission. He has also held more than one elective office, in which he was able to serve his beloved industry

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to great purpose. In the session of 1885-'86, he was chosen a member of the State Legislature. During this time he was Chairman of the Com- mittee on Viticulture, and was the author of the Sweet Wine Bill, and also aided largely in promoting Congressional action on the subject. Previous to this he had served his county and district as Supervisor for several terms, and was also for several terms a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Helena.

Mr. Pellet was married February 5, 1856, to Miss Sarah S. Thompson, of Sandusky, Ohio. They had three sons, Frank and Louis, now in the lumber business in St. Helena, two of the most worthy citizens of that town, who are fol- lowing closely in the footsteps of their father, and John S. Mrs. Pellet is deceased, and Mr. Pellet has again married.

Such in brief is the record of a busy and eventful life, the characteristic feature of which is energy, indomitable pluck, and the strong determination that compels success-an example worthy the emulation of the young.

ENRY FRIEDERIKS .- This worthy old pioneer has had an eventful career and most interesting history, making his way up from very small beginnings to wealth and comfort by hard work and shrewd, common sense. Mr. Friederiks was born in Hanover, Germany, August 7, 1814, and is the son of Christian Friederiks, a native of Hanover. Here the subject of our sketch resided until thirty years of age, being brought up to the trade of butcher. In 1844 he came to America and opened a butcher shop in New York. In the spring of the following year he sold his shop and removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, being engaged there in the manufacture of Bologna sausages. Two years later he went to Chicago, then a very sinall place, and being without means was com- pelled to ask employment at his trade. The best he could get was $8 a month, not sufficient to support his family, and therefore he refused

it. Then he and his wife went to a dry-goods house and asked to be allowed to have some goods on trust, with the promise to pay for them on the following day. They got the goods and proceeded to sell them from house to house, succeeding very well, and continuing the busi- ness all summer. In the fall they started for St. Louis, Missouri. On the way they stopped at Peru, Illinois, and bought three acres of land in the city, paying $80 an acre. At St. Louis Mr. Friederiks was taken sick, and having but scant means his wife continued to sell goods. On recovery of health Mr. Friederiks could not obtain profitable employment, but his shrewd- ness stood him in good stead. Going to a pork- packing house, he inquired what they would sell him the logs' tongues for. They gave them to him for one cent apiece, provided he would cut them out. For some time his business was cutting out hogs' tongues, ranging from 1,000 to 1,200 per day. These he salted down in barrels supplied by the company. When he had fifty barrels he sold a portion of them for five cents a tongue in St. Louis, and shipped the rest, consisting of forty-five barrels, to New Orleans, when he sold the whole lot at ten cents a tongue. Then he went back to Peru, built him a home on his three acres of land, and engaged in the · butcher business in partnership with George Zimmerman, now of Petaluma, California. He remained in this business for three years, being very successful. He then decided to cross the plains to California. In May, 1852, they left Missouri, reaching Hangtown (now Placerville) September 14, 1852. After spending some time in that vicinity he came to Yolo County, took up some land near Madison, and by strict at- tention to business is to-day one of the wealthy and respected citizens of the county. He owns a fine ranch of 2,408 acres, in addition to his fine residence in Woodland, where he is spend- ing the comfortable evening of a busy life.

He was married first to Miss Caroline Huff- man. They had five children: Paulina, Emily, Jennie, John J. and Rhoda. Mrs. Friederiks died in 1863. Secondly, Mr. Friederiks was

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married in 1874, to Miss Mary Matten, a native of Germany, a most excellent lady, a worthy helpmate to her husband.

ALIFORNIA LUSTRAL COMPANY : J. M. Mitchell, Superintendent .- The Cal- ifornia Lustral Company has been formed with a capital stock of $100,000 to work a de- posit of mineral rock discovered a short distance above Calistoga, Napa County. Its president is Luke Doe, of Oakland; its secretary, S. F. Bur- bank, of the same place, and its superintendent, J. M. Mitchell, who has his residence at the mine. The purpose of the company is best ex- pressed in their own words, as follows: "The mineral is used in the manufacture of soaps, also for cleansing, scouring, and polishing com- pounds, and has already been sufficiently used to prove its quality superior to any other sub- stances, except a similar deposit in the immedi- ate vicinity. The product being of universal use, the market extending throughout the world, and the supply being for the most part limited to this inine, the advantages of a participation as a stockholder can be readily appreciated. The mineral which this company has is practi- cally inexhaustible."

When visited by the writer, the mill, 30 x 40 feet in size, with engine-room 20 x 26 feet, ad- joining, was in course of erection, and a gang of men were engaged in opening ont the min- eral on the hillside adjoining, matters being so arranged that the mineral can be shot down by gravitation into the mill. They have a Dodge rock-crusher, capable of crushing a large amount of rock per day, although it is expected that the capacity of the mill will be about five tous per day. The engine is twenty-horse power, and the boiler of thirty-horse power. On the hill is a 5,000-gallon tank, filled from a No. A Dow pump, with a fall of thirty feet, affording an ample water supply for all purposes. There is also an auxiliary pump for the boiler.

Mr. J. M. Mitchell, the superintendent, is a

thoroughly capable and experienced man, having a long experience in the practical working and arrangement of machinery, etc. He was born in London, England, in 1850, the son of Henry Mitchell. In 1861 he came with his father to San José, in this State, where his father is now the superintendent of the San Jose Foundry, J. M. was brought up to the machinists' trade and became a thorough mechanic in every de- partment of the business, having long held positions of responsibility and trust. For sev- eral years he was in charge of the ice works at San Diego, ranking as one of the southern city's enterprising and successful citizens. He is taking hold of the California Lustral Company's enterprise in a thoroughly practical manner, and will assuredly carry it through to success. He is a married man, and is possessed of ample energy and "go."

L. LA RUE .- "El Cnesta," for such is the beautiful and appropriate name of the vineyard and property of Mr. C. L. La Rue, has one of the best and most admirable locations in Napa County. It is fortunately situated in the gap or path between the western side of the valley and the hill above Yountville, thus possessing a most equable temperature and a delightful position. It is a part of the old Hopper place, consisting of 140 acres in all, of which 135 are in vines. Mr. La Rue has owned it for five years, and during that time has made many improvements in the way of replacing his vines with resistant stock, so as to withstand the attacks of the phylloxera. He has now eighty acres already in resistant stocks and will gradually replace all. He has no cel- lar as yet, but hopes to have one before long. At present he sells all his grapes. Mr. La Rue is the son of Hon. H. M. La Rue, so well known all over the State as a public man, the firm of II. M. La Rue & Sons owning a place also in Yolo County. C. L. La Rue was born in Colusa, in January, 1862, and was educated

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and brought up in California. He took a course of two years at the State University in agri- culture, paying attention especially to practical agriculture and chemistry. He has spent all his life on a farm, and has made a practical study of grape culture, being one of the best informed men met. Much important infor- mation was obtained from him.

He was married in Woodland to Miss Spires. They have one son, Elwin, now three and a half years old.

IELS P. FRIEDRIIKSEN, the junior partner of the firm of Tocker & Fried- riiksen, proprietors of the Fashion Stables at Pleasanton, was born in Holstein, Germany, July 7, 1869, and brought up there, upon his father's farm. He is the second son of Niels P. and Netta Maria (Nielsen) Friedriiksen, natives of Schleswig, who had four children. The subject of this brief sketch came to Amner- ica in 1883, sailing from Antwerp to San Fran- cisco. He first located in Solano County, where he worked upon a farm for a few months; theu he settled near Haywards, Alameda County, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he made a visit to his native land. A year afterward he returned to Hay- wards, and in March, 1890, he settled at Pleas- anton, in the business already mentioned. He was naturalized in 1889, is unmarried and is a member of Haywards Lodge, No. 14, Sons of Hermann.

OHN THOMANN .- It would be impossi- ble to select for description a more complete or successful winery in the whole of Napa County than that belonging to Mr. Jolin Thu- mann, one of the oldest and most experienced wine-makers of the State. The cellar is situated at Vineland Station on the railroad, and pos- sesses the advantage, enjoyed, we believe, by no

other establishment of the kind in the county, of having a switch or side-track into the grounds, thus allowing the handling and ship- ping of the wine with the least possible disturbance. Although the cellar is a wooden building, thus at first glance not comparing with some others in the valley, yet it is found to be constructed for its purpose by a man skilled in the business and so thoroughly adapted to the uses of wine-making that we doubt if any other cellar can be reckoned with it. The exellent flavor of the wines made within its walls and their increasing popularity are perhaps the best proof of this fact. The capacity of the cellar is about 200,000 gallons of wine. In the rear is the distillery, also a like complete establishment, having a daily capacity of 800 to 900 gallons of brandy. The ma- chinery in the cellar is all of late construction and approved merit, there being two pressses, one of them hydraulic. Pumping throughont the cellar is done by steam power. The proc- esses of elevating the grapes to the steamer, of crushing, and all other operations are such as are approved and adopted by all the best wine-makers. An abundant supply of clear, cold water is piped to all parts. Mr. Thomann's vineyards, consisting of forty-five acres of the best varieties and known as the Howell Monn- tain Vineyard, are situated on Howell Mountain, thus securing the advantages in quality and bouquet of the mountain-grown wines. In addi- tion to the grapes from his own vineyards, Mr. Thomann also buys extensively from growers; for the purpose of distilling, etc. Most of his wines find a market in California and on the Pacific coast, although of late some is being sold in the East, sales being effected entirely through his own salesmen. The brandies go throughout the Union,-to New York and other Eastern cities, to Salt Lake and to points on this coast. The grounds surrounding the hand- some and modern residence of Mr. Thomann are some of the handsomest in the valley, and the whole appearance of the establishment with its fine trees is very pleasing.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

To gain a just idea of the importance of this establishment to the right understanding of the history of wine-making in California, we must refer back to Mr. Henry Thomann, an uncle of the gentleman whose name heads this article. Henry Thomann was one of the very oldest of the pioneers of the State, having crossed the plains from St. Louis in 1845, at the same time as the Donner party. On reaching California he entered the employment of General Sutter, and later went to Sonoma, and was with General Vallejo. Upon the discovery of gold in 1848, he was one of the first to engage successfully in washing for the precious metal, as he had dur- ing his yonth had practical experience in wash- ing the sands of the river Aare in Switzerland, his native place. He fell sick, however, and had to return to Sacramento. In 1852 Henry Thomann established a vineyard at that city on land bought from Sutter, probably the first vineyard planted in California for the purpose of wine-making, the first being manufactured in 1856. Henry Thomann died in 1883. His nephew, John Thomann, was born at Biberstein, Canton Aargau, Switzerland, in 1836. He was thus brought up in the wine districts of Europe, and to the practical business of wine-making. In 1858 he came to America, coming via New York, and thence to San Francisco by the Isth- mus of Panama. For two years he assisted his uncle in the wine business in Sacramento, when he rented the business from him, purchasing it later. In 1859 he was one of the first to make brandy in this State, making peach and grape brandy. After sixteen years in Sacramento he removed the establishment to Napa County, in order to take advantage of the superior adapta- bilities of this valley, and has built up its pres- ent splendid proportions from the first. Mr. Thomann is one of the best known and most public-spirited citizens of the county. From 1880 to 1882 he served as a Supervisor of the county from Hot Springs Township. He has been a Director in the St. Helena Bank, in the St. Helena Bonded Warehouse, in the St. Turn Helena Verein, and a shareholder in the

Water Company, an active worker and promi- nent figure in all he undertakes, but only now retains his connection with the Turn Verein. While in Sacramento he was a Democrat, but helped organize the Independent Taxpayers' party, and was elected Supervisor here by the Republican party. He is a thorough business inan and is held in general esteem.

Mr. Thomann was married first in Sacramento, in 1862, to Miss Josephine Esch. She died in September, 1888, regretted by all. Four daughters remain as the fruit of this marriage, all of them at home, one son and two daughters being deceased. The names of those living are: Lonisa, Annie, Laura and Bertha. Miss Annie is married to Mr. R. Hoehn. In October, 1889, Mr. Thomann was married a second time, togMiss Mary Miller, of Dixon, Solano County, a most estimable lady.

EROME BARDOT .- This gentleman is the cellar-master for Hon. A. L. Tubbs at his beautiful summer residence at Hill- crest, Napa County. Mr. Bardot is a native of Arbois, in the Jura, France, where he was born in 1858. He was born and brought up in the center of the wine districts of France, to the practical business of vigneron, and is a thor- oughly skilled and experienced man. He was educated at the celebrated Arbois College for wine-making, graduating under eighteen pro- fessors. In 1878 he came to California and to Napa County, entering the employment of J. Schram, with whom he remained as cellar- master for six years and eight months, doing very much to establish the high reputation that the Schramsberger wines have attained. His wines here took gold medals at Sacramento and at London, England, for superior excellence. In 1885 Mr. Bardot went back to Europe, and made an extended visit throughont all the wine regions. He carried with him samples of the California wines, and caused considerable sur- prise among his friends by their excellence.

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He returned to California in time for the vint- age of 1885, and worked for the Napa Valley Wine Company. In 1886 he entered the em- ployment of Mr. Tubbs, and came up to Ilill- crest to take full charge of his cellars and the business of wine-making. Mr. Bardot is an ambitious man and is determined to succeed. He is active, energetic and in every wise sue- cessful, and under his hands we predict great snecess and high reputation for Mr. Tubbs' wines. He is an American citizen.

Mr. Bardot was married in San Francisco, June 6, 1887, to Miss Marie Vescheidt, a native of Cincinnati. They have one child.

ON. CHARLES KRUG .- Any account of the wine interests and industry of Califor- nia without reference to Hon. Charles Krug, of St. Helena, would be like describing the war of Independence without mentioning Washington. Not only is Mr. Krug the pioneer wine-maker of Napa County, but the oldest now alive in the State, and upon all subjects connected with the history and progress of grape-growing and wine-making in California he is an authority. It should be stated further that Mr. Krug is the pioneer German journalist of California, having first come to this State in 1852, to take editorial charge of the Staats Zeitung, the first German newspaper published in California. But to give even the faintest idea of the wonderful activity and energy of this most worthy of California's citizens, and the immense work he has accomplished for the good of his adopted State, we must be permitted to go somewhat into detail.

Mr. Krng is a native of the city of Trendel- burg, llesse-Cassel, Germany, born March 1, 1825. After a thorough academic education, followed by two years spent at the University of Marburg, Mr. Krug came in 1847 to Ainer- ica, and took a position as a teacher in the Free-Thinkers' School of August Glaser in Philadelphia, and also became a reporter upon

the newspapers of that city. Becoming thor- oughly imbued with Republican principles and a desire for the freedom of his beloved father- land, returned to Europe at the outbreak of the Revolution in France in 1848, and, as he never does anything by halves, began at once to take an active part. He went to Frankfort, as the seat of the German Parliament and affording a central field, and began writing revolutionary articles for the press and agitating the repub- licanization of Germany. He became a parti- cipant in the attempt of September, 1848, to overthrow the then reactionary parliament and create a central revolutionary government. The attempt failed, and Mr. Krug, with hundreds of others, was thrown into prison, only to be re- leased after nine months' incarceration in 1849, after the new outbreak of the revolution in Baden and Rheinphalz.

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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 129

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