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 58

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 58

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S. HUMPHREY, harness-maker at Winters, is the son of E. A. and Lonisa Catherine Hmmphrey. His father, a native of Virginia, born March 14,

ARchipman

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1832, was a harness-maker by trade, and came to California in 1854, settling first in Sacra- mento, where he worked at his trade for some time. He then went to Liberty (now Galt), same county, and there owned and conducted a shop until he moved to Winters in 1875, and resided there until his death, November 17, 1889. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Humphrey's mother is living still. Walter S. Humphrey was born July 6, 1860, in Liberty (now Galt), Sacramento County. In partnership with a brother, R. L., born in the same place in 1864, he is carrying on his father's business since his death, having now abont $3,000 worth of stock, and employ- ing one man.

Mr. Humphrey married Ethel Stewart, who was born in Jones County, Iowa, the wedding taking place in Winters, July 17, 1885. Mr. Humphrey is a member of Damocles Lodge, No. 165, K. of P.

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ENTON JONES, one of the worthy and reliable citizens of Redding, California, is a native of Sandwich, Illinois. born De- cember 27, 1841. His father, William L. F. Jones, a native of the Green Mountain State, emigrated to Pennsylvania and from there to Illinois in 1836. He was a farmer and black- smith and one of the brave pioneers of the lat- ter State. Mr. Jones' grandfather, Nathaniel Jones, was also a native of Vermont. The mother of the subject of this sketch, nee Bet- sey Misner, was born in Indiana, of German an- cestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones six children were born, five of whom are living.

Benton remained with his parents, receiving a publie-school education and spending his summers in work on the farm. He eon- tinued to work on. his father's farm, of which he is the owner, until 1885, when he rented it and came to California, purchasing a home and set- tling in Redding. He is engaged in the real 21

estate and abstract business and is interested in several placer mines.

In 1875 Mr. Jones married Harriet R. Vance, daughter of Dr. G. E. Vance. One son was born to them, Edwin D., in Redding. The loving wife and mother was attacked with that dread disease, typhoid fever, and notwithstand- ing the best medical treatment and care were given her she died in September, 1887. Polit- ically Mr. Jones is a Republican. He fre- quently held offices of trust in his Eastern State. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a Chapter Mason.

ORTON PARKER CHIPMAN, the sub- ject of this brief sketch, was born at Milford Center, Union County, Ohio, March 7, 1836. Both his parents were born in Vermont, and on his father's side several of the family were distinguished as statesmen and lawyers in the early part of the country's his- tory. He had such advantages of education while a boy in the private and public schools as were afforded in Ohio; but his parents moved to the fartlier West while he was yet in his 'teens, and settled in Iowa. Here the boy as- sisted his father in building np a home and con- ducting his business as a merchant, but not to the neglect of his studies. Young Chipman was a pupil of Samuel F. Howe, at Mt. Pleas- ant, lowa-one of the most successful educators of his day -- and later entered college at Wash- ington, Iowa.

With a liberal education, but without gradu- ating, he became impatient to enter upon the activities of life, and chose the law as a profes- sion. Ile graduated later at the Cincinnati Law School, and at the beginning of the war was engaged in practice at Washington, Iowa, as a partner of Hon. Joseph R Lewis, afterward Chief Justice of the United States Court in Washington Territory. When Mr. Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand volunteers was

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sent out, Mr. Chipman was the first to enroll his name in his town, and a company was at once there organized. It became Company " H" of the Second Iowa Infantry-the first three-year regiment from that State-and Mr. Chipman was Lieutenant of the company. The Colonel of the regiment, Hon. Samuel R. Cur. tis,-then a Member of Congress,-appointed Lieutenant Chipman Adjutant of the regiment. Upon Colonel Curtis' promotion as Brigadier- General, Lieutenant Chipman was elected by the officers and was commissioned Major of the regiment by . Governor Kirkwood. He took part in the early campaigns in Northern and Central Missouri, and was Chief of Staff to General Curtis up to the movement on the Ten- nessee River by Grant. He was severely wounded at Fort Donelson while charging the enemy's entrenehments with his regiment. For gallantry at this battle he was commissioned by President Lincoln, Colonel and Additional Aid- de-Camp in the United States Army on the staff of Major-General Halleck, and was, after the siege of Corinth, assigned to his old com- mander, Curtis, and made Chief of Staff. The Secretary of War detailed him for duty at the War Department in the winter of 1862-'63, where he afterward remained until the elose of the war. Ifis position was one of confidence and responsibility, and he was near to that great War Secretary until the war ended. He was Judge-Advocate of several important mili- tary courts, and prosecuted and convicted the Andersonville jailer, Wirz.

He resigned from the army in 1865, after his promotion as Brevet Brigadier-General by Sec- retary Stanton, and opened a law office in Wash- ington city, where he built up a large business. In 1871 he was elected, and in 1873 re-elected by the people of the District of Columbia as Delegate in Congress, and was the first and last Representative ever chosen for that office from the District. He was one of the founders of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was the first Adjutant-General under the re-organiza- tion, while General John A. Logan was Com-

mander-in-Chief in his first term, and was Judge-Advocate-General for General Logan's second term.

His health failing in 1875 he came to Cali- fornia, intending to return to Washington; but he soon became fascinated with the large enter- prises then offering and the health-giving cli- mate everywhere to be found. And he never after lived out of the State, but at once identi- fied himself with her best and highest develop- ment.

As an evidence of General Chipman's enter- prise and tireless devotion to active business pursuits, he organized, immediately on coming to the State, a large lumbering company, which, in less than one year from its incorporation, had ten saw-mills, two sash and door factories and three flumes in operation; and in 1876-'77 manufactured and sold over 40,000,000 feet of Inmber in one season. The investment was large, and, but for the general failure of all enterprises which followed the downfall of the Bank of California, this great scheme would have succeeded and been profitable to its own- ers. It went down for the time, but was re- organized, and is now one of the most import- ant industries in Northern California. The General has been practicing his profession of the law at Red Bluff since 1879, and has built up a wide clientage, and is among the foremost lawyers of his part of the State. His law partner, Charles A. Garter, has recently been appointed United States Attorney for the Northern District of California, and now re- sides at San Francisco.

General Chipman takes an active interest in all local enterprises and has given much thought and has written and spoken mneh upon matters concerning the material development of the State, and is a practical and large fruit-grower. Ile is Vice-President of the State Board of Trade, whose labors are solely in the interest of State growth. He is also President of the Cal- ifornia World's Fair Association, whose Exeen- tive Committee has in charge the whole matter of the State's exhibit at Chicago in 1893.

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He has never been active in politics in the State, but always takes the stump for the Re- publican party on occasions of National and important State elections. He has made the distinctive Republican policy of protection a special study, and his tariff arguments are pro- nounced clear and convincing by all who hear them, except the tariff-for revenne believer and free-trader who prefer not to be convinced. At the Republican State Convention in August, 1890, lie was a prominent candidate for Gov- ernor, and though not nominated he made a inost favorable impression, and, as a represent- ative man of the North, the honors of the party may yet await him.

General Chipman writes with great facility upon inany subjects, and his helpful pen finds frequent expression through the press and peri- odicals. His annual address at the State Fair in 1886, and at the Stockton District Fair in 1887, published in the State Reports, are full of material of permanent valne to agriculture and the fruit industry of California. He was the first to present in satisfactory form the rise, growth and importance of our fruit industries, which he did in a report to the State Board of Trade in 1889. When the people of Northern California shall make up their minds to demand a larger recognition in the distribution of places of political influence and power, somewhat com- mensurate with the grand capabilities and the existing merits of that region, it is not improb- able that General Chipma i may be chosen as their leader.

General Chipman married the daughter of Robert Holmes, of St. Louis, Missouri, in Jan- mary, 1865; and his wife has been his constant companion ever since. Their home is widely known for its generons hospitality.

ALVIN RUDDOCK, M. D., although not a practicing physician at present, yet is one of the oldest citizens of Woodland, and of this State for forty years. His present

hardy constitution and hale physique he inherits from the sturdy Scotch. His father, Edward Ruddock, emigrated from Scotland about the age of eighteen years, and the Doctor's mother is a native of Massachusetts, town of Whately. The Revolutionary war being in progress at the time, he (Mr. E. Ruddock) enlisted in the American army at Bunker Hill, and served through the remainder of the war. The Doc- tor's step-grandfather Stafford, and his grand- father on his mother's side, Thomas Sanderson, were also both soldiers in this war, serving from the beginning to the end. Edward Rud- dock first settled in Boston, where his first ocenpation was milk-peddling. He afterward moved to Whately, Franklin County, Massa- chusetts. Shortly after he married and moved into the town of Buckland, where he made his permanent home, bringing up a family of six sons and six daughters. His wife's maiden name was Martha Sanderson. She was a native of Franklin County, and was seventeen years old at the time of her marriage, while her hus- band was three years her senior. They lived a happy life together for seventy-eight years, the old gentleman being ninety-eight years old and his wife ninety-seven at their death. When they went to the town of Bnekland they rode, both on one horse, a distance of twenty miles into the wilderness and settled on 200 acres of heavily timbered land, which in due time was all cleared except a scanty amount left for fuel.

Calvin Ruddock, our subject, was born in Buckland, Franklin County, Massachusetts, Jannary 18, 1814, and was brought up to the monotonous labor of farm life. At the age of sixteen years he began to learn the carriage- making trade in Ashfield, same county, and served an apprenticeship of five years.

After his five years' apprenticeship expired he went to Clinton, in Oneida County, New York, where he attended a literary school called the Liberal Institute. He afterward began the study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr. Stewart, of that place. About that time the celebrated William H. Seward was elected

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Governor of New York, in 1840, and Mr. Rud- dock went to Albany and attended medical lectures. While there he spent a year in the office of Drs. Wing & Boyd, and continued his study there, while at the same time he attended lectures. Next he attended another course of medical lectures at the Berkshire Medical In- stitute at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1842. All through this period the Doctor had to devote his vacations from study to teaching school, in order to replenish his scanty store of funds. His first practice was in the town of Pitcher, Chenango County, New York, which, by the way, is the burial place of all his parents. A year afterward he moved four miles further down to the town of Cincinnatis, in Cortland County, where he thought he could do better. Later he removed to Gilbertsville, Otsego County, same State, where he remained until he came West.

During all this time he was a regular physi- cian, but had given considerable attention to homeopathy, and he at lengthi became a zeal- ous and thorough homeopathist. He feared that his change of system would make him un- popular, but it actually increased his patronage.

A digression to general history is here justi- fied. Samuel A. Ruddock, a brother of Ed- ward, was a well-to-do merchant in Boston, who at length became bankrupt; but he was so far advanced in mathematics that the Government appointed him Topographical Surveyor for the western country. For nine years he was absent on this duty from his family at their home in Charleston, South Carolina, who during all this time heard nothing'from him! His work called him through the Western Territories fully to the Pacific coast. He gradually worked his way here through Mexico. While here he found gold on what he termed the "Coast Range of the Rocky Mountains." He had several pieces of metal in his possession when he was captured by the Indians near Fort Hall. To prevent the loss of his life, and even of his effects, he managed to obtain communication with some whites, who came to his relief,

proving to the Indians that he was a Govern- ment officer; they therefore released hin.

The letter which was written by him from this coast, to his brother Edward, gives the de- tails relative to the above facts, and also a gen- eral description of the country. He returned to the East by way of Fort Ilall, where he met Kit Carson. In later years, Dr. Ruddock having this point in mind, saw Carson at Placerville in 1849, and spoke to him on the subject. The surveyor, having only one eye, was easily described; and when asked as to whether he saw such a man at such a time, Carson replied that he did recollect him, and ' gave the place of meeting as being between Fort Hall and the States, where Ruddock was then going. He went on to the East, and while in New York had his precions findings assayed, and it proved to be gold twenty-two carats fine.

Mr. Ruddock then continued on his journey to Washington, resigned his position and or- ganized a company for a trip to this coast to follow gold-mining; but as he was about to start, the mountain fever was revived which he had contracted on his journey to the East, and he died; and all traces of his travel and dis- coveries were lost to the family. It is sup- posed that by the phrase "Coast Range of the Rocky Mountains," used in his letter, the Sierra Nevada was meant, as at that day the geography of this region was very obscure. IIis letters nerved many a '49er for the contest and fatigues of the journey. Samuel A. Ruddock laid out his route through the Southern States, New Mexico and onward to the Pacific coast by way of Fort Hall; and it was while in New Mexico or Arizona on this trip that he was taken sick and was laid up on the desert where there was no water or food for either man or beast, and the escorting company had to move on to some place for subsistence. Mr. Ruddock had there- fore to be left alone to die; for to remain was dcatlı, and to go on was hope. They left him with his horse, rifle and blankets, etc. On the third day, about sunset, an elk appeared in

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sight; Ruddock rolled up on his elbows and brought the animal down with his rifle, and by extraordinary effort he crawled up to the fresh carcass, opened a blood-vessel and drank to satisfaction. That night he slept well. His fever was broken on the fourth day, and he moved on in pursuit of his company. Before reaching it, and while crossing a small stream running west, he discovered what proved to be gold, twenty-two carats fine.

This discovery was made eighty years ago, and the letters referred to were the wonder of Calvin's youth, and were worn into pieces by frequent perusal. Thus we have another account, to be added to several already published, of the discovery of gold in California prior to Mar- shall's discovery in 1848.

Mr. Calvin Raddock, our subject, left New York State in 1848, with the intention of making a trip to this State with a company of others to whom he had imparted a knowledge of the above facts as a secret; but some of them failed to give security, and the organization was not completed. However, he continned west- ward, stopped in Wisconsin and practiced his profession for one year, and while there the news went abroad over the world of Marshall's discovery. le quickly organized a company and crossed the plains with a band of cattle, coming by the old Fort Hall ronte, and first stopped in this State at Findlay, on Bear River, where for a time they pastured their cattle. They ended their march at Sacramento in 1849, on the site where the old Freneh Hotel was, on Front street. A few days later the Doctor went on to Placerville, where he spent a portion of the winter mining and practicing medicine. His patients became so numerous that he opened a hospital at Placerville, the first homeopathie hospital on the coast. In the fall of 1851 he came down into the Sacramento Valley to col- lect money which he had lent, and having to take live-stock for payment, he floated it into Yolo County, and has made it his home here ever since. This movement caused him to turn his attention to stock-raising. He first located

on the Monument ranch, on the west side of the Sacramento River, eight miles above the city. About 1857 he bought a place on Wil- low Slough, half way between Woodland and Davisville, near where Merritt's Station now is. There the Doctor carried on general farming until 1872, when he moved into Woodland, where he has since resided. The first fifteen or six- teen years of his residence in this city he was in the eastern part of the town; in 1887 he purchased his present home, comprising two and a half acres of land on Oak avenue, west of Cleveland.

He was married December 25, 1862, to Mrs. A. B. Guilford, who was born in Portland, Maine, a danghter of William Bell.

In political matters the Doctor was an old- time Whig, casting his first Presidential vote for General llarrison. His next vote was foe James G. Birney, of Detroit, Abolitionist. Birney had been nominated by a convention in Albany, New York, to which Dr. Ruddock was sent as a delegate fromn Oneida County. The Doctor was also nominated on the Abolition ticket in Chenango County, for the New York State Senate. He now is a strong Prohibition- ist Republican. Religiously he was educated a Congregationalist, and joived that church at the age of sixteen years, but for the past six years he has been a Methodist.

EORGE J. TURTON is proprietor of the Turton Nurseries, situated abont eight miles north of Napa. This orchard and nursery, covering about sixty acres, was set out in 1883, and is one of the largest in Napa Valley. There are some 3,500 peaches, 500 French prunes, 250 apricots, 3,000 Bartlett pears, and 1,000 cherries. He has four acres in nursery, which will be doubled the present sea- son. He has sold 10,000 trees already this year, and will probably have 30,000 more; and next year not less than 60,000, principally peaches

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and plumns. He was born in Hull, England, in 1829. Ilis parents were John and Anna (Johnson) Turton, both of whom died during his infancy. At the age of seven he was brought to America by his uncle, George John- son, and grew up ou his farm in Western New York, attending the public school for about three months in the winter season, when not needed on the farm. But with characteristic en- ergy he spent his evenings and spare time in study, mastering algebra, geometry, trigonome- try and surveying by himself, without any help except from books. At twenty-one his unele gave him $100. He remained with him for two years longer, and soon after engaged in the practice of his profession as a surveyor. At the age of twenty-four he was appointed United States Assistant Surveyor, and was actively en- ployed in the States of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas and Nebraska, running the State line between Kansas and Nebraska on the fortieth parallel line. In 1856, while surveying in Kansas, the Border Ruffian excitement being then in full blast, Mr. Turton was captured three times on his trip to the Surveyor Gen- eral's office to make his returns, by different squads ofGeneral Buford's company of cavalry, which was organized in Mississippi and Ala- bama for the purpose of making Kansas a slave State. After examining him for arms, and finding that he was on Government service and carried a pass from the United States Marshal, he was allowed to proceed. During the same sminmer he surveyed the sixth principal meri- dian, and the first and second parallels east through Nebraska. The next year he settled down to farming in Nebraska as one of the first settlers in the Platte Valley, where there was at that time abont twenty Indians to one white man. He lived on this farm for twenty years, following his profession as a surveyor at the same time. Mr. Turton was a member of the first State Legislature in Nebraska, and voted for the first Congressman from that state. He was County Commissioner (Supervisor) of Dodge County, Nebraska, for three years,

Justice of the Peace for six years, and Post- master of North Bend for five years.

He was married in 1857, to Miss Harriet Bachelder, a native of the State of New York. Her parents were Luther and Clarissa (Judson) Bachelder, natives of Vermont, who moved to Western New York in early life. Four chil- dren were born to them in Nebraska: Frank, the eldest, died in Napa, California, at the age of twenty-five years; Luther, an architeet, lo- cated in Napa; Frederick, now in partnership with his father; Clara the youngest, and only daughter, died in Napa, at the age of seventeen years.

In 1877 he sold out his farm in Nebraska and moved to California, purchasing a ranch one and a half miles from Napa, where he lived for six years, and planted an orchard. He then bought his present home, which, with the help of his sons he has developed to its present flourishing condition. In this State he has not become identified with politics, though in Ne- braska he was forced to take an active interest in all political matters, on account of his exten- sive and intimate acquaintance with the State as a pioneer and prominent citizen.

ISAAC FISHER, a farmer near Woodland, is one of the enterprising ranchers of Yolo Connty who have demonstrated that a small farın can be made sufficiently remunerative for a livelihood. lle was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1829, a son of Henry and Magdalene (Suavley) Fisher. Her father was a miller by trade and also a farmer by oc- cupation, and moved to Indiana in 1837, where he lived until 1858. Then he came overland to California, in company with his son John H. Ile was taken sick on the route, and lived but three weeks after his arrival at the home of the subject of this sketch, dying at the age of sixty- three years. Isaac was seven years old when he was taken by his parents in their change of residence from Pennsylvania to South Bend

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Indiana, and until 1853 he was engaged there in farming and also employed for a time in the woolen mills, tanneries, etc. In March, 1853, he left for California, with horse teams, and came by way of Council Bluffs, Salt Lake and the Carson route, the trip occupying about six months. He arrived at Sacramento September 19. and for three months he worked at odd jobs, and then in the mines a few months, and then returned to the valley in January, and again cemmenced work at odd jobs. In a short time he and his brother J. H. purchased a squatter's title of 160 acres of land and they cultivated it in partnership until 1859, when they dissolved. Isaac now has eighty acres of land, upon which he nets as great profit as many who have larger farıns. The place is devoted chiefty to alfalfa, and it is furnished with the best of buildings. It is four miles south of Woodland, on a fine gravel road. In 1886 Mr. Fisher raised five tons of alfalfa seed from twenty-five acres. which sold at ten to twelve cents a pound, and he cut on an average five tons of alfalfa hay to the acre, from sixty-five acres, and does not boast of the crop. He is a genial, good-natured gentleman, now over sixty-one years old, ap- pearing, however, not to be over fifty. He is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 22, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a Republican in his political views. In 1840 he helped to raise a flag-pole to the honor of General W. H. Harrison.

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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 58

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