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 50
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ILLIAM H. MARTIN, a representative pioneer of California, and a highly es- teemed citizen of Pleasanton, Alameda County, came to the Golden State in 1850. He was born in Canada, near Quebec, April 19, 1837, and at an early age was brought into the Uni- ted States by his parents, who settled in Mis- souri. They were John and Catharine Martin, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 1825, and in 1840 to Missouri. In 1850 they came across the plains by ox team to California, arriving at Ragtown, or Diamond Spring, Sep- tember 8. They went directly to Searsville, San Mateo County, where William finished his schooling and clerked in his father's hotel nntil 1858. The family then removed to Dublin, Alameda County, and engaged in farming there. In 1863 William took a trip to the State of Sonora, Mexico, where he engaged in mining for one year. Returning to California, he lo- cated at mission San José and conducted a hotel there for eighteen months; then he was a resi- dent at Dublin again for twelve years, engaged
in farming and stoek-raising. In 1877 he en- gaged in the butchering business, in addition to his interests in the farm, which he still owns. In 1886 he moved to Pleasanton, where he is now successfully engaged in carrying on a meat market on Main street, opposite the Rose Hotel. He keeps three wagons in his employ to supply the local trade.
He was united in matrimony to Miss Kathe- rine Riley, at mission San José, July 13, 1865, and they have two children-Mary and W. J.
Dennis Martin, uncle of the preceding, died June 18, 1890, at San Francisco, at the age of seventy-two years. The name of Dennis Mar- tin will long be remembered by the early pio- neers of California, as he was among the very first. A native of Ireland, he came to Canada in 1825, to the United States in 1838, and in 1844 he started with his father's family of six children across the plains by ox teamn, he being the leading spirit of the company. They arrived in Carson Valley, now the State of Nevada, where they were snow-bound. Later the entire family successfully erossed the Sierra Nevada mountains on snow-shoes, arriving at Sutter's Fort on Christmas day. This trip Mr. Martin claims to have been one of the greatest hard- ships of his life. In the spring of 1845, Mr. Martin returned to the valley and in due time brought over his wagons and outfit. Settling in San Mateo County, he put up the first saw- nill in this State, working in the Redwoods of that county. In 1853 he converted it into a four-mill, building another saw-mill near the site of the first. Mr. Martin had a family of six children, of whom there are three now living.
W. HANNUM, deceased, formerly"a farmer near Cacheville, was born April 23, 1828, in Robertson County, Ten- nessee, a son of Miffin Mayppen and Nancy (Pitt) Hannum, natives of Tennessee. The senior Hannum was a farmer and remained in Tennessee until his death. Mr. Hannum, our
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subject, was brought up on a farin, and at the age of twenty-one years he went to Morgan County, Missouri, where he was employed most of the time as a farm hand until he came to California in 1850. He came overland, with ox teams, being about three months on the road. Until 1853 he followed gold mining in El Dorado County and vicinity, and then went down to the valley in Yolo County and com- menced agricultural pursuits upon land he had purchased two miles from Cacheville. He sold this out and in 1879 rented land until his death, which occurred in 1885, when he was fifty-seven years of age. He was a member of Y'olo Lodge, No. 81, F. & A. M., for twenty- six years. The mention of his name revives tender memories and kind recollections among all who were acquainted with him.
August 18. 1857, he married Mrs. Eunice, Mateer, a native of Illinois, who died May 6, 1866. By that marriage therewere four children, three of whom are now living: Charles H., Mar- tha E., wife of A. G. Mitchum, and James A. Mr. Hannum was again married May 24, 1870, to Miss Priscilla Hill, a native of Missouri, and by this marriage there were also four children, namely: Albert S., Ennice C., Warren H. and William C. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hannum came down into the valley and purchased her present home, in 1887, consisting of twenty-eight acres, two miles south of Wood- land. It is principally devoted to the produc- tion of alfalfa, which is here a very profitable crop. She also has a small vineyard, and manages to support herself, with the aid of her children. Their home is one which shows neat- ness and comfort.
ENRY HOGAN, a prominent and prom- ising young attorney, is a native of Cali- fornia, born,in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, September 2, 1860. He received his primary education under private tutors, up to the age of twenty years, when he entered St. Mary's Col-
lege, San Francisco, where he graduated in 1879 as Bachelor of Arts. He commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Robert Crouch, now Superior Judge of Napa County, and completed his conrse at the law school in Albany, New York, graduating thereat in May, 1883. He was selected by the faculty to deliver the class oration, being the first student from west of the Mississippi to receive the honor. This oration, entitled " The Perils of Asiatic Immi- gration," struck a popular chord in the hearts of the people of the Pacific coast, and it was generally reprinted there, while in the East it opened up a fuller knowledge and consideration of this important question, which was then be- ing agitated in Congress in the form of the Exclusion Bill.
Returning to San Francisco, he entered the law office of M. M. Estee, late chairman of the Republican National Committee, and chair- man of the convention which nominated Ben- jamin Harrison for President. Here he re- mained as head clerk until the fall of 1884, when he was tendered by the Democratic party of Napa County the nomination for District Attorney. This he accepted, and, notwithstand- ing the fact that Napa County is strongly Re- publican, he was elected by 109 majority in the campaign in which Blaine carried the county by 300 majority. He was renominated in the succeeding election and was again elected. During his incumbency lie proseented several murder cases, and a large number of important telouy cases successfully.
In July, 1886, he took a short vacation, re- visiting Albany, New York, where he was married to Miss Emma Von Krnen Mann, only daughter of P. H. Mann, of the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad, whose acquaintance he had formed while at the law school in 1882. He then established himself in the active practice of his profession, in which he has already built up a satisfactory basiness. Mr. Hogan is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and Past President of Napa Parlor and a Grand Trustee of the order, also a
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member and President of the Young Men's Institute.
ON. GURDON BACKUS. The argonauts of California are a race by themselves, standing up like giants among the people who have flocked in to profit by their early trials, hardships and tireless labors, just as the huge redwoods overtop the smaller trees of the forest. California can never do sufficient jus- tice by her pioneers, for the reason that with- ont them she would never exist. They came thousands of miles over sea and land, literally taking their lives in their hands, and notwith- standing the most incredible difficulties and dangers they fought their way, and as a result we of a later day are reaping the benefits of their sufferings, in this, the fairest of all lands.
Amid the many life-histories of the pioneers that it has been the good fortune of the writer to pen, he can safely say that none have been so full of incident, of interest, of indomitable en- ergy, of great accomplishment and of lessons worthy the reading and remembering as that of Gurdon Backus, which we here present.
He was born in the old Green Mountain State, November 6, 1820, and is therefore at the time of this writing nearing the close of the sixties, yet as active, as energetic and as young in appearance as if he had yet to touch the half century. Of his earlier days and of his family we present the following :- His father was a contractor and builder of ships, and built the flag ship Saratoga at Vergennes, Vermont, which whipped the English at the battle of Plattsburg; was on board himself as volunteer. He died in Burlington, Vermont, when Mr. Backus was but eight years old, He was a first- class ship builder and mechanic, traveling all over the continent in the course of his business. He had six children, two boys and four girls. The youngest son, brother of Gordon, left his home for the battle-fields of Mexico, where he fell in battle. Commodore MeDonough boarded
with his grandmother at Vergennes, Vermont, .during the building of the fleet in 1814. The maternal grandfather, Colonel Nichols, was a pensioner of the Revolutionary war.
The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm until fourteen years of age, and was then engaged in the clothing business in Poughkeep- sie, New York, and Burlington, Vermont, and next in New York city. He was an active worker for Harrison in 1840, and was a member of a log-cabin club. He entered business for himself at the age of nineteen years, and was in the clothing trade until he came to California. He was married twelve days after he reached his majority.
Mr. Backus was among the first to set out from his Eastern home for the El Dorado, leav- Burlington, Vermont, January 13, 1849, and New York in March, for the long trip across the continent, driving a six-mule team from the city of St. Louis. He tramped the whole seventy- five miles from Cumberland to Brownsville, be- ing three days and a half on the old National road. The long journey was successfully ac- complished with the usual hardships and diffi- culties, but without serious mishap, and the Golden State was reached Angust 29, 1849, the arrival in Sacramento, then the objective point for every one, in the September following. After a few days in this city, Mr. Backus went np to Redding's Diggings in the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, but did not remain long after the winter rains came on. He made his way back to Sacramento, through miseries and difficulties, such as can only be appreciated when heard from the lips of the men who ander- went them. He took a position in the Empire Hotel, kept by Keefe & Butler, the latter a brother of the celebrated General, at $195 a month and board, remaining with them until the end of January, 1850. Then he opened the Anglo-Saxon Hotel on Front street, and con- tinued the business with good success until the fall of that year.
The outbreak of cholera, however, induced him to transfer his energies to another point,
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and accordingly we find Mr. Backus in San Francisco in November, 1850, homeward bound for the East, with a comfortable little pile of $17,000 worth of gold dust in his sack. He did not get farther than that city, however, and soon leased the Commercial Hotel, on the corner of Jackson street and Jones Alley, where Colonel Haraszthy now has his wine depot, paying 110 less than $800 for his monthly rental. He made the house the best and one of the leading hotels in the city, for he always does his best, and was patronized by the best class, and fairly earned money for a while, having bought the house and enlarged it, when the disastrons conflagration of May 4, 1851, swept the hotel and all its con- tents out of existence, and left Mr. Baekus with only $50 in his pocket.
Nothing daunted he stepped aboard the Sacra- mento boat the next day, determined to go back to the mines and retrieve his fortune. On reach- ing that city, he was accosted by a Jewish mer- chant, J. Pinchover, on the levee, and offered a position with him as clerk at $150 a month and board. This position he retained until the end of December, 1851, and then, receiving a Gov- erument clerkship, he went to Vallejo, then the State capital, and with this begins another and more prominent chapter in the eventful life of the worthy pioneer. At this time, too, begins the literary activities of Mr. Backus, letters from him giving the best resumé of matters, political and general, of all published, appearing in the Eastern and other papers. Fortunately he kept a diary of those early days,-a perfect ireasnre. house of facts and circuinstances used for this article. He took an active part in the great struggle over the State capital, working ener- getically in the interests of Sacramento. He went one night through the rain and darkness, mp the Sacramento River for State Senator Henry E. Robinson, to assure his vote for the final test.
Mr. Backus clerked in the Legislature until May, 1852, when he began business in Sacra- mento for himself on J street, in the clothing trade, gradnally enlarging his business and
launching out into new departments of enter- prise until he was one of the most extensive dealers in central California. In April, 1853, he was made Harbor-master of Sacramento, holding the office for two years, being th S and afterward largely interested in Sacramento schooners and shipping. In 1851 he built for himself the fine mansion at the corner of Tenth and E streets, then one of the finest residences in the city, and still ranking with any for beauty and comfort, surrounded by trees, shrubs and flowers, and bringing ont his family from the East to occupy it.
In March, 1852, Mr. Backus became the Sacramento agent for Charles Crocker, who was then carrying on a store at Negro Bar, and later on he admitted Mr. Crocker as a partner. No- vember 2, midnight, 1852, occurred the great fire, which destroyed almost the whole city, his store among others. His house and one other were the only honses left north of J street on Tenth street, and he fed and housed his friends for some time to the number of sixteen or more, among them E. B. Crocker and wife, whom he was instrumental in saving from the horror of that fearful night. There was great suffering at this time, and the price of provisions went up to fabulous rates, yet through all Mr. Backus went unflinchingly and nobly, helping his friends, although himself one of the greatest losers. The general election had just taken place, and the ballots, etc .. had been carried to his house and were thus saved. In February, 1854, he went into business in partnership with W. R. Strong, of Sacramento, now so well known, and was again extensively launched into business, only to lose everything again by fire, July 12, 1854, at midday. In 1855 he was elected Public Administrator, holdidg the office for two years.
The war feeling that resulted later in the desperate civil struggle was already rising high. In all this Mr. Backns was for the Union, "first, last and all the time;" and when Lincoln's call for volunteers was made, he at his own expense published a notice calling for volunteers, organ-
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ized three companies, and at great expense and difficulty outfitted them, through the Union Club of Sacramento, and kept them together until the war department sent ont an officer, Colonel Kellogg, to take command. He aided in organizing the Union Club of Sacramento, formed of men whose united action did more than almost any other cause to keep California in the Union, and stifle the hot Southern desire for secession and war, although the leaders of this element were his close personal friends. The money raised by Mr. Backns and the Union Club was the means of arousing the movement that placed this State among the loyal common- wealths and steadied the feelings of all. IIis son, General Samuel W. Backus, so well known for his many public positions and his great worth of character, now Postmaster of San Fran- cisco, was his father's right-hand man in all of this, and he himself went East and served hon- orably and well throughout the civil struggle.
For seven years Mr. Backns was in the in- ternal revenue service in San Francisco, going to that city in 1861. Sixteen years ago he ac- cepted the agency of the Southern Pacific at the important station of St. Helena, the wine center of California, a position which he still holds with satisfaction to the business public. His beautiful cottage home in the eastern part of the town is the picture of home-like comfort, being surrounded by trees and veritably em- bowered in flowers and flowering shrubs. He was a member of the common council of Sacra- mento (sitting with Mark Hopkins) in 1853, which built up the city, improved its streets, etc., and was active in railroad matters.
Mr. Backus has always been a clear-sighted and acnte observer of the events of which he has made a part. He is a powerful writer, an exact and careful business man, a good conversation- alist, and a most genial host. His popularity is shown by his long occupancy of his present position, where he has to meet and adjust affairs with all classes of people, not less than by the majorities which he has received when a candi- date for public office. He is an honored inem- 20
ber of the Pioneer Society of San Francisco, and of Washington Lodge, No. 20, F. & A. M. of Sacramento. His motto throngh life has been, " Duty : results take care of themselves. "
M. KEYS, M. D., Livermore, was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May 14, 1855. In 1874 he began the study of medicine in the office of his father, L. H. Keys, M. D., an old practioner, and in 1878 attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, same State, and graduated there. He practiced five years at Walker, Linn County, Iowa, and five years in Hampton, Iowa, and in the fall of 1888 came by rail to California, first locating at Pescadero, then Monterey for a short time, and finally in 1889 he settled in Liver- more, taking up the practice of Dr. W. B. Tay- lor, and now has a lucrative business, his success being marked. He is a member of Anchor Lodge, No. 191, F. & A. M., and also of the K. of P.,-both at Hampton, Iowa. March 1, 1878, at Earlville, in Delaware County, Iowa, he married Miss Jennie R. Carter, and they have two children: Fannie and Harold.
CHAUNCEY CARROLL BUSH, called the father of the active business city of Redding, is one of the men of mark, who with others planned and laid the foundation of the prosperity of the county of Shasta. He comes of good old Revolutionary New England stock. His great-grandfather, David Bush, married Thankful Pettibone at Simsburg, Con- necticut, and had two sons, born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The eldest of these sons, David Bush, Jr. (Mr. Bush's grandfather), was born October 29, 1762, and married August 13, 1783, Anna Brown, a twin daughter of Major Jacob and Anna Brown. They had seven children, all born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The third of their family, Daniel Brown Bush (Mr. Bush's
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father), was born May 18, 1790. David Bush, one of Mr. Bush's uncles, reared several chil- dren, among them Charles P'. Bush, a Congre- gationalist minister in Michigan, and his broth- er, George Bush, a Congregationalist minister in New Jersey. Peregrine, another of them, married a daughter of John Francis, a Bap- tist minister, and their son, John P. Bush, was at one time publisher of the Oneida (New York) Observer. The Judge's ancestry were all men of distinction in their town. Jacob Brown, his maternal grandfather, in 1775. joined the Revolutionary army in Boston, was elected a Major and marched through Maine to Quebec, Canada, with Benedict Arnold. All the soldiers suffered with hunger, and they were compelled to eat horses and dogs. Mr. Brown died on the Plains of Abraham, with small-pox. Mr. Bush's grandmother's uncie, John Brown, was a lawyer in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, joined the Revolu- tionary army, was made a Colonel, and was killed by Indians and Tories in ambush at Stone Arabia, New York. Major Henry C. Brown, a consin of his grandmother, was sheriff of Berk- shire County for twenty years. Mr. Bush's father, Daniel Brown Bush, married Maria Merrick, a daughter of Lieutenant Joseph and Mercy (Smith) Merrick. They had three sons and three daughters, of whom he was the young est. His mother died when he was five months old. IIis oldest brother, Joseph Merrick Bush, has resided in Pittsfield, Illinois, since 1838, and has published a paper there for over thirty years. Judge Bush's eldest sister, now Mrs. Ellen Dewitt Hatch, resides at Big Timber, Montana, and is a writer of much ability. His sister, Maria Merrick, married Hon. Jackson Grimshaw, a noted lawyer of Illinois. His brother, Colonel Daniel Brown Bush, resides in Portland, Oregon, and is manager of the Home Mutual Insurance Company. He served through the Mormon war at Nauvoo, Illinois, after that through the Mexican war and through the war of the Rebellion. Judge Bush's father married for his second wife, a widow, and a daughter of Captain Geer, of New York city. They had
five children, only two sons of whom now survive. One of them, a brother of Judge Bush, is Colonel Edward Geer Bush, a graduate of West Point, who served through the war of the Rebellion. There is a sister, now Mrs. Lucia Bates, residing at Pittsfield, Illinois. Judge Bush's family are noted for longevity. His father died November 23, 1885, aged ninety- five years, six months and five days, and none of his brothers died under seventy years.
Judge Bush was born July 31, 1831, in Pitts- field, Massachusetts. His parents moved to Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, in 1834, then called the far West. In 1850, at the age of eighteen, he crossed the plains, by way of St. Joseph's, Missouri, Fort Hall, Fort Laramie and Carson Valley, arriving in Hangtown, now Placerville, July 22, 1850; wintered at Ophir, near Anburn, until February, 1851, and then removed to Shasta County, arriving at Shasta February 21, 1851. For several years he fol- lowing mining, then clerking in stores and en- gaged in other callings. In 1861 he was elected Justice of the Peace in Shasta, afterward Asso- ciate Judge of the Court of Sessions. The next year he was elected County Judge, and re-elected twice afterward, the satisfaction given to all parties during the first two terms being so great that the Democrats declined to nominate a candidate against him the last term. During his three terms as County Judge, only one case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and that was affirmed. Having decided to remove from Shasta he declined to let his name go be- fore the people for re-election. For ten years he was engaged in merchandising in Shasta He spent much time and money in trying to induce the railroad company to build their road to the town of Shasta. Failing in this he de- cided to move to the newly projected town of Redding, and induced a few of his neighbors and friends to do likewise. Acting upon this decision, the night of July 22, 1872, found Judge Bush sleeping on a soft pine board, with one blanket over him, on the lot where now stands the Bush block, which at present contains
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the Bank of Shasta County, Chambers & Camp- bell's hardware store, the postoffice and other ocenpants. August 12 the first bill of goods from a general stock of merchandise in the town of Redding, was sold by him. He cast his lot with the town, and has staid and worked for its success.
It is no disaparagement to the efforts of others to say that Judge Bush is the father of the city of Redding, and the father is and has just reason to be proud of his child, as it has become at eighteen years of age a fine city with its many brick blocks, electric lights, fine sys- tem of water-works and sewerage, and every brick laid and every timber put in place to make it the lovely, populous city it is destined to become. It is a monument to his sagacity, enterprise, faith and tenacity of purpose, and is destined to become the "city of the north." Judge Bush is now its very efficient Postmaster, and has held the position three different terms and inakes a very obliging and prompt official. He held the office of United States Court Commis- sioner for twenty-two years. Has been a Mason for twenty-five years, and Master of Western Star Lodge two terms, and of Redding Lodge two terins, and is now Grand Bible Bearer of the Grand Lodge. He has been a School Trustee for several years, taking a deep interest in educational matters. Was a member of the School Board that erected Redding's fine brick school-house. He was the founder of the Bank of Shasta County, and its first president. . He was a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, that nominated James G. Blaine for the Presidency, and was one of the Pacific coast committee that visited him at his home in Augusta, Maine, and congratulated him on his nomination; and he was also one of the com- mittee that notified Logan of his nomination at Washington, District of Columbia. Although not a communicant he is a firm and consistent supporter of Sabbath-schools and churches. During the war he was a worker for aud a mem- ber of the Sanitary Commission.
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