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 60
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position. He was married in 1866, to Miss Mattie M. Gordon, daughter of M. W. Gordon, for many years County Judge of Amador County. They have two children: Augusta, now wife of W. W. Hollister, of Santa Barbara, and Henry G. Mr. Stevens is a member of Yount Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Golden Gate Commandery, Knights Templar, of San Fran- cisco. He resided for many years at the asylum, but of late has occupied his beantifnl home at the corner of First and Seminary streete, in Napa City. His parents are still living in Santa Barbara, where they celebrated their golden wedding on September 17, 1889.
ILLIAM A. FISHER has a ranch of some 300 acres adjoining Napa, near Union Station, 100 acres of which is in orchard. He began planting fruit trees as early as 1855, setting abont six acres, adding to his orchard at intervals until it reached its present proportions, seventy acres being now in bearing, and the remainder soon will be. The principal fruits are apricots and peaches, there being about thirty acres of the former and twenty of the latter, ten acres of pears, and the remainder prunes, apples, nectarines and a variety of other fruits. Mr. Fisher was one of the earliest fruit- growers in California, for when he set out his first orchard there were only three or four persons raising fruit even on a small scale in Napa County. Mr. Yount had set out a few mission grape-vines and pear-trees, for the fruit of which he received large prices. About 1853 Mr. Nash, now of San Francisco, Mr. Kellogg, now of Los Angeles County, and Mr. Osborn on the Oak Knoll place, had set ont small orchards with a view to profit. Mr. Osborn, who, as Mr. Fisher says, was one of the most intelligent and public-spirited citizens of Napa County at that time, had entered quite largely into fruit enlture, believing that that industry was destined to become a very large and import-
ant one to California, the soil and climate being in every way favorable to its best development. Mr. Fisher early adopted these ideas, and has consistently adhered to them amidst all the changes and fluctuations of the fruit markets. He also set out a vineyard of some fifteen acres, but this he afterward re-planted with trees. His market is abont equally divided between San Francisco and the East, some of the fruit being disposed of to the Napa Cannery. Mr. Fisher is of Scotch nativity and parentage. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Dawson) Fisher, natives of Rosshire, Scotland, where the subject of this sketch was born in 1820. His parents removed to America when he was ten years old, settling in Ontario, Canada, where he lived up to the age of twenty-eight. He attended the schools of that day both in Canada and Scot- land. His principal occupation has always been that of agriculture and horticulture. The excitement attending the discovery of gold attracted him to California, and he arrived in San Francisco, via Panama, in Nove nber, 1850. He proceeded immediately to the mines, and worked for five months near Placerville, and going thence to the southwest fork of the Fea- ther River he mined at Rich Bar for about seven months. Having met with fair success, he left the mines and engaged in farming near Marysville, putting in one crop of wheat in Butte County. In 1853 he came to Napa County, and purchased the ranch where his present home is located, in the following year adding the present site of his orchard. He has made his home here since that time, and has been actively identified with the agricultural and horticultural developments of this county. He was married in 1868 to Miss Sarah Attwood, a native of Maine. They have one son, William M., a graduate of Queen's College, Toronto, Canada, who is now engaged with his father in managing the business of the ranch. Mr. Fisher has always avoided the responsibilities of official position, though he has taken an active interest in matters of public welfare. He was for two years treasurer of the State Grange, an organ-
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ization in which he has felt a deep interest. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
ERMAN FREDERICK ROSS is one of the early, reliable and worthy settlers of Shasta Connty, and one who has had an eventful history. He was born in Sweden, De- cember 24, 1823. His parents, Erick and Catharine Elizabeth Ross, were also natives of Sweden. His father's business was that of Swedish iron manufacture, and had large estates. In religion they were Lutherans.
Mr. Ross, the subject of this sketch, at the age of fifteen years started out in life as a sailor. In his first voyage his ship was wrecked in the English Channel, striking a bank in a heavy snow-storm, and went to pieces. The crew took to the boats, saving nothing but what they had on their person, and were twenty-four hours in frozen clothes, daslied about by an angry sea in small open boats. When they were picked up they were nearly frozen to death, and had to be litted out of their boats. This " cooled " Mr. Ross' ardor for a seafaring life, but did not stop him from seeing more of the world. He then went on an English vessel to the coast of Africa, where he went on board of an English man-of- war that was cruising there to do what she could in capturing slavers, then very numerous, and thereby break up the slave trade. Their ship, the Ferret, was a fast sailer, and they ran down many a slaver and rescued the poor men and women who were packed like cattle in the holds, which they landed on Sierra Leone. Many of the slavers were fast sailers and got away.
Mr. Ross was afterward transferred to an English seventy-four three-decker, and was sent to the coast of China during the China war, and participated in some of the battles at tlie close of the war. The soldiers then returned to England and were paid off. In 1843 Mr. Ross took passage to America, landing in New York city. Then he sailed with traders for gold dust
and ivory on the coast of Africa and returned to the United States. Next he shipped on the first iron propeller made for the United States Govern- ment, the building of which was superintended by Erickson, the great inventor, and named Lagaree. It was an experiment, but she proved a success. They raced with the Great Western and beat her so far that they steamed around her twice.
He went on this vessel to Washington. She took President Tyler and his bride on a pleasure trip to Richmond. Then they went with her to Florida and made surveys there, and after this took out the first load of United States arms for the Mexican war. Mr. Ross was in the employ of the Government in the quarter- master's department during the war with Mex- ico. Soon after this he had the yellow fever, and on his partial recovery went to the State of Maine to fully recuperate.
He remained there until 1849, when he came to California and landed at San Francisco. From there he went up the American River and engaged in mining for gold for a time. He was quite successful, and there with others made dams. Everything had been high while they were working on the dams, and they soon got rid of their money and also went in debt; and when they lost their work by the high water they were heavily in debt. They went to work with rockers in the bank, and in two weeks took out gold enough to pay their debts, and even more.
At this time there was great excitement over rich discoveries at Gold BInffs, and there was a rush in that direction. He started there and landed at Trinidad, when the winter set in hard and the bubble burst. He next mined on Salınon, Scott, Klamath and Trinity rivers, and finally brought up at Shasta in 1852. It was then a rushing place, with crowds of people. He mined awhile, went to Oak Run and took up 160 acres of land and engaged in raising all kinds of farın products. When he began high prices Were paid for farm produce. He paid ten cents per pound for seed barley and sold the crop for one and a half cents per pound.
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While he mined on the Trinity the Indians were quite troublesome. Frequently some one was killed. They had to keep a man on guard to prevent the savages from stealing up and killing them. The reds killed four men, and then about fifteen of the miners agreed to pur- sne them. When they came up with them they succeeded in killing three, the rest escaping.
Mr. Ross farmed on his ranch until 1865, and for a time he engaged in teaming to Idaho, Nevada and Silver City. At this business he made some money. In 1865 he purchased a half interest in the mill at Millville, the other owner being Mr. H. N. Wilkinson. This business for years proved a success. They handled a great deal of grain, and supplied some counties with flour. When the railroad was built in 1876 it to a great extent injured their business. They still own and run the mill, but it has not the business it once had.
When Mr. Ross settled in this county the Indians were numerons along the banks, salmon was plenty in the streams and game on the hills and mountains, deer, antelope and bear,- so that the Indians had plenty to eat. After the Americans settled in the connty and the rush of miners in 1849 and the years following, the Indians made frequent raids on them, steal- ing horses and cattle and occasionally killing a man and sometimes a family. To punish the Indians and for self-protection the whites had to retaliate, and often they did not know that they had found the right Indians; but in these raids Mr. Ross never killed a woman or a child. Even after he bought his mill in 1865 there were occasional bands of Indians who raided the country and committed depredations on the settlers; but as the game became scarce the Indians were starved out.
In 1859 Mr. Ross married Miss Margaret Ilunt, a native of Missouri, and they have had two sons, born at Oak Run, namely: Albert F., now the county clerk of Shasta County, whose history will be found in this work; and Harok, who is at home with his father on their ranch. The relentless hand of death took from them in
1864 the kind and loving wife and mother, and three years afterward Mr. Ross was again mar- ried, to Miss Clarissa Powers, a native of Iowa, who has since been his faithful wife.
Since the great war of the Rebellion Mr. Ross has been a consistent and stanch Repub- lican, and for some years hield the office of Justice of the Peace. He has taken an active part with and has been prominent in several of the societies of the county. When at Shasta he was one of the charter members of the Legion of Honor. He is a chapter Mason and was one of the charter members and first Master of the Northern Light Lodge at Millville.
ALENTIN ALVISO, a prominent Cali- fornian of Livermore, was born in the town of San Jose, February 14, 1841, son of Agustin Alviso and Maria Antonia Al- viso, nee Pacheco. His father, Agustiu, was the son of Ygnacio, who figured conspicuously in the early history of California, under the Spanish government.
To the brothers-in-law jointly, Agustin and Tomas Pacheco, in consideration of services rendered the Mexican government, was given the Rancho Potrero de los Cerritos, now in Alameda County, and consisting of 13,000 acres, where our subject, Valentin, spent the greater portion of his time. On October 16, 1871, he removed to Livermore, near which place he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He received his education in Kingston (Massachusetts) College, and has since filled many offices of importance in Ala- meda County. In 1875 he was elected County Supervisor and served two years; in 1881 he was elected to the State Legislature and served two terms at the regular and extra sessions. He was also an employé of the Federal Government in connection with the naval office in the port of San Francisco, which place he, being a Repub- lican, resigned in 1885. ·
Mr. Alviso is a prominent Republican, and
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at times has rendered considerable service to his party. By invitation of the State Central Committee, he delivered addresses throughout the southern part of the State in favor of the election of Grant and Colfax in 1868.
When a young man he was of an adventurous disposition; was one of the Fraser River vic- tims in 1858; in 1860 he associated himself with Judge Noble Hamilton in connection withi the Potosi mines in Virginia City, Nevada, pur- chasing and owning stock in that mine for two years, but sunk several thousand dollars with- ont return. He has also been associated with several local enterprises, as the Livermore Water Company, of which he was Vice-Presi- dent two years. He is a member of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A. O. U. W., of Livermore.
He was married at Mission San José, March 25, 1868, to Miss Josephine, daughter of the late Robert Livermore, the first settler of Liver- more Valley, and they have three children, Christine M, Maria A. and Rosa E.
ILLIAM MCCULLOUGH, a prominent rancher of Yolo County. Among those not pioneers who have yet been identified for many years with Yolo County, the gentleman whose name heads this article stands prominent. He is a native of New York city, born March 2. 1844, his parents being William, Sr., and Agnes (Johnston) Mccullough, both of whom were of Scotch ancestry, and born in the north of Ireland, whence they removed to New York. There the father started in business in 1831, on a small scale, afterward locating in Sullivan County, New York, in the mercantile business. He had stores, at different times, in three towns of that county, and amassed a con- siderable fortune, by the exercise of industry and good business ability. He afterward re- inoved his family to East Orange, New Jersey, but being anxious to try mercantile life in the new West he himself went to Rochester, Min- nesota, and started a store, with his usual suc- 24
eess. He remained there until his death, July 17, 1878. His widow survived him until May 3, 1890, dying at East Orange.
At the age of fourteen years the subject of this sketch commenced attendance at the Ash- land Collegiate Institute, Ashland, Greene County, New York. When not at school he had been accustomed from early age to assist in his father's store, and on leaving college he pro- ceeded to Rochester, Minnesota, where he re- joined his father and resumed his labors in the latter's establishment. In 1861 he went to the family home in the East, and, becoming imbued with the patriotic spirit, offered his services at Newburg in defense of his country's flag, and was accepted, on the Fourth of July, 1861. He was assigned to duty in Company H, Fifty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he served until disability compelled his discharge. He was then not eighteen years old, but being broken in health he proceeded to California to recuperate. Much improved in vigor, he went back East, where he intended to re-enter the service, but finally yielded to his mother's en- treaties and refrained. In 1868 he returned to California, and after looking around for a time located temporarily in the San Joaquin Valley, where he was engaged in harvesting during the season of 1869. After that he came to Yolo County, where he has since made his home, and with whose interests he lias since been identi- fied. He has owned his fine home ranch, con- sisting of 692 acres located six miles northwest of Woodland, since 1874. He has, besides, other valuable landed interests, namely, 450 acres in the Capay Valley, as fine land as can be found in the State of California; 280 acres of timber land in Shasta County, and a 200-acre farm in Olmstead County. Minnesota.
Mr. McCullongh is one of those men whose word is as good as his bond, and he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him. Honest and upright in all his business relations, he deservedly ranks among the best. men of the county.
Mrs. McCullough was formerly Miss Emma
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Curtis. She is a native of Kent County, Mich- igan, where she was born February 17, 1848. They have one child, a daughter, named Mattie.
Mr. McCullough is modest and retiring in his disposition-one of those who never seek after public place or patronage-yet always performs in a conscientious manner his duties as a citizen. He is a member of William H. Seward Post, No. 65, G. A. R., of Woodland.
M O. HARLING, County Clerk and Auditor of Yolo County, State of California, was born in Monroe County, Kentucky, April 30, 1845, the son of Calvin Harling and Eliza A. Harling (nee Welch.) also natives of that State. The Harl- ing and Weleli families came from North Caro- lina in 1797, settling in Monroe County, Ken- tucky, about forty miles from Bowling Green, the nearest town to their place of settlement. Mr. Harling's mother's family were of Welch and Crawford ancestry, the latter of Scotch descent, and the former of Welsh descent.
Calvin Harling left Kentucky in the fall of 1854, with his family, intending to come to California the next spring; stopping in Mis- sonri, they heard that the Indians on the plains were so hostile that they remained there until the next year, in Butler County, and at Pilot Knob; he finally died in Butler County, Sep- tember 22, 1856, at the age of thirty-five years. A few months afterward, the widow returned with her family to Monroe County, Kentucky, and in the fall of 1858, she started again for California, but stopped in Missouri until the following year; then she started from Butler County, that State, and crossed the plains with ox teams and cattle, and in September, 1859, arrived at the home of the grandmother of Mr. Harling (Mrs. Jane Welch), about a mile and a half northwest of Woodland.
Mrs. Harling was married to H. M. Hord, August 1, 1860, and now lives in Woodland.
Her two sons and two daughters are now heads of families.
Micajah Oglesby Harling was fourteen years of age when he came across the plains. He stood guard half of each alternate night, stand- ing guard the first and after part of the night alternately: he drove one of the ox teams all the way across the plains. Ile was able then to take one of those old Missouri ox whips and make it pop like a rifle, in which indeed he took special pride. In addition to the foregoing duty, he and a companion did the cooking for the party every fourth week.
During the first fall after his arrival in this State he put in thirty acres of grain, abont three miles south of Woodland. From that time onward he worked on farms, and at intervals at- tended district school, finally entering Hesperian College. In April, 1866, he went to Buckeye, a small town in the southwestern part of Yolo County, between Madison and Winters, and in partnership with M. R. York, one of the present county supervisors, entered into the mercantile business. Mr. IFarling was also interested in a general merchandise business at Monticello, Napa County.
When the railroad was built through the county and the town of Winters sprang up, Harling. Lowery & Co. started the first store there. and soon all the business of Buckeye was removed to Winters. While there they also built and owned the first store in Maxwell, Colusa County. Mr. Harling remained in busi- ness in Winters nntil about 1882, when he was elected County Clerk and County Auditor of Yolo County on the Democratic ticket. In 1884 he was defeated for the same position. In 1886 lie was nominated and elected County Clerk and Auditor. In 1888 he was elected to the position he now holds. During the two years he was out of office, Mr. Harling was a member of the firm of Harling, Frazer & Co. in mercantile pursuits. In 1887, when he as- sumed his present position, he disposed of his bsuiness interests to J. K. Smith.
Mr. Harling was married, March 19, 1868,
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to Margaret J. Ely, a native of Missouri, and they have two sons living, John D. and Benj- amin E. One son died when an infant and Robert C. Harling died September 22, 1876, when he was four years old.
ON. W. A. ELGIN .- One of the old and respected citizens of St. Helena is Jndge W. A. Elgin, who first came to the town in 1857, when it was bnt a country village, con- taining but two stores. He engaged at once in a general merchandise business, continuing it until 1860, when he sold out and began raising grapes, being one of the pioneers of this part to engage in that business. In 1865 he sold his vineyard, and in 1867 started a livery stable, which still exists, being carried on by bis son, C. E. In 1879 Mr. Elgin was elected Justice of the Peace, and was re-elected for four succes- sive terms, holding otlice in all for eight years. In 1860-'61 he was elected to the office of Supervisor for this district, and held the office of Depnty Assessor for the district two years, 1888-'89. Judge Elgin was born in Virginia, Patrick County, January 4, 1829, but was brought up and educated in Howard County, Missouri, whither his parents removed while he was still young. When our subject was still young, parents removed to Jackson County, where he was reared until he was grown. His parents removed to Greene County, Missouri, where he taught school, and whence he came to California. He had expected to come to California in 1852, but was prevented by high water, and they put in a year, he and his brothers-in-law, Anderson by name, W. L. and T. H., and in 1853 they came out. He en- gaged for a time in teaching school, and after- ward became interested in the raising of stoek. Finally, in 1853, he set out with a band of cattle for California, driving them over the plains. He experienced the usual troubles, such as having stock stolen by the Indians, ete., but finally reached the State in safety, and after a
temporary location on Cache Creek, Yolo Coun- ty, he selected the Napa Valley, and continued in the cattle business nntil 1857, when, as already related, he settled in St. Helena.
Judge Elgin was married in Missouri, to Miss Mary A. Anderson, a native of Tennessee, March 12, 1851. Had one child born in Mis- suuri. His young family crossed the plains with him. They have five children still living and one deceased, of whom two are boys and three girls. The names of the sons are Ira P. and C. E., who are botli engaged in the livery busi- ness, one at the npper end and the other at the lower end of Main street, St. Helena. The girls names are: Sarah Coloma, now wife of L. II. Boggs, of Lake County; Jessie Fremont, as- sistant postmistress, and Alice Grant. Judge Elgin is a gentleman of fine presence and genial greeting, and commands the thorough con- fidence and esteem of the whole community. He is a pronounced Republican in politics, tak- ing an active interest in both general and local questions. He has a comfortable home on Oak street, where he is now enjoying the leisure deserved after a busy and well-spent life, al- though it must not be supposed that he is at the end of his activity, as he is a strong and hearty man, having many good years before him.
Since the above was written Judge Elgin has been appointed Postmaster of St. Helena, a choice that gives eminent satisfaction to the town, and will prove a good selection, as he is well fitted in every respect for the position, both on account of his ability and popularity. He was appointed about February 1, 1890, and took the office on the 1st of April, following.
ENRY B. WOOD, one of the representa- tive citizens of Yolo County, is a native of Rhode Island, born in Newport County, August 8, 1828. His parents, Borden and Harriet (Gray) Wood, were also natives of that State. Late in life they moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts, where they passed the remainder
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of their days. Of their two children, the daughter is living in New Bedford, and their son, Henry B., is the subject of this notice. In his youth he spent four years in New York State, and at the age of seventeen or eighteen years he accompanied his parents to Massachu- setts.
During the height of the gold-mining exeite- ment he lett New Bedford, February 22, 1849, as a member of an organized party of thirty persons, and sailed on the old whale-ship Will- iam Henry around Cape Horn, and their first stop was at San Francisco, September 10, when the band was disorganized: Mr. Wood came up toward Sacramento as far as Benicia, the highest point reached by that ship, and thence on a launch to Fremont, a small village that had just sprung into existence. Mr. Wood and a part of the ship's company bought a lot and put up a residence. He and a few others went to the mines at Bidwell's Bar, and, leaving his friends there engaged in mining, he returned to Fremont. The next spring he went up on the Feather River, and followed mining a year, on that river and places on the American River, Dutch Flat, etc., meeting with fair success, in placer mining. . In 1852 he returned to the Eastern States by way of Panama and New York city. In January following he came again to the coast, by way of the Nicaragua route, arriving here in February. He was then in the mines on the north fork of the American River until 1859, when he bought a ranch near the Sacramento River in Yolo County, and began farming. The place he still owns, but he discontinued agricultural pursuits in 1870. The ranch comprises about 500 acres, and is situated between Fremont and Knight's Land- ing. In 1870 he moved into Woodland and engaged in the hardware trade established by Gray & Freeman, purchasing the interest of Mr. Freeman. After a partnership with Mr. Gray for three years, he bought him out and has since conducted the business alone. In this he has had growing success, commensurate with the rapid growth of the beautiful city of Wood-
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