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 63

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 63

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has been always generous and kind to himn. Natural selection brought thein together early in liis life, and neither money changing, merclian- dising, politics, nor other allurements have ever shaken his love for the simple yet noble occupa- tion of tilling the soil.

The lineage of Mr. Cone is traced back to the days of the Norman conquest, embracing eight and twenty generations, among the last of whom were many families which cast their lot in what was then the British-American colonies. He is the son of Timothy Cone, a native of East Had- dam, Massachusetts, who was the son of Joseph Cone, a naval officer in the Revolutionary war.

Joseph Spencer was the seventh of Timothy's

ten children, and was born on the 26th day of August, 1822, near Marietta, Ohio. Of noble lineage, reaching by connected historical records to the invasion of England by William I, a more unaffected and thoroughgoing American, de- spising cant and humbug and modern snobbery, cannot be found anywhere.

Until reaching his twenty-second year Joseph worked on his father's farm, making the best of such scanty educational facilities as the neigh- borhood afforded. His choice iuclined toward a profession, especially to that of the law; and had he selected this career, he would, beyond a donbt, have achieved success, for he possessed a full share of the qualities required for this call- ing-soundness of judgment and a ready wit, coupled with a remarkable force of character and an almost unlimited capacity for work. But this was not to be, aud fortunate it proved for his adopted State, and perhaps for himself, that while losing a good lawyer his country gained the assistance of one whose later services in de- veloping the resources of Northern California it is impossible to overestimate.

But Mr. Cone was resolved to make his own way in the world, and as a beginning set forth in 1843, upon obtaining his majority, on a trading expedition among the Cherokee Indians, with the results of which he had no reason to be dissatisfied. From that date until 1850 the iv- cidents of his career contained nothing calling for special mention. In the spring of this year the excitement that followed the discovery of gold being at its height, he joined a company of adventurous spirits like himself bonnd for Cali- fornia, starting from Jasper County, Missouri, and following the banks of the North Platte to the neighborhood of Fort Laramie. Here he became wearied with the slow and tedious travel of the wagon trains, and with four others, pack- ing their effects on horseback, made their way to Green River, where, as he supposed, a settle- ment was near at hand. Meanwhile their ani- inals had been stolen by the Piutes, and now provisions ran short, so that for a fortnight they were compelled to live on crow soup, to which

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were added a few teaspoonfuls of flour. At length, however, all arrived in safety at Nevada City, following exactly the route afterward selected by the Central Pacific Railroad.

He mined, engaged in merchandising, pack- ing and all the varied occupations of that early period until 1857, when he settled down to the stock-raising business in Tehama County, on Alder Creek, where he remained with fair suc- cess until 1868. In that year he purchased the celebrated Rancho de los Berrendos, near Red Bluff, which he has developed into the finest ranch property, probably, in the State. The limits of this article will not permit a description of this noble estate. It has grown under the inspiring genins of its owner until it embraces nearly 100,000 acres, and is a principality.

Every branch of agriculture known to the wonderful climate of California can here be seen. Cereals, stock of all kinds, fruits, gardens, orchards,-indeed, all the varied products of our generons soil and climate here find splendid de- velopment. Mr. Cone is vice-president of the Bank of Tehama County and one of its largest stockholders; he is also at the head of a large mercantile corporation-the Cone & Kim ball Company. Other business also engages liis at- tention, and yet every detail of his great farm receives his supervision. He was president of the first railroad commission under the new con- stitution in 1879, and served with great benefit to the State for four years. He was the leading spirit in the railroad commission, and through his practical knowledge of affairs and his friends in dealing with the question of freight rates, he succeeded in obtaining for the people a reduction on all the staple products of the soil going to- wards tide-water, from twenty-five to thirty- three per cent. He has marvelous executive ability, and yet does his work in so quiet a way as to appear not to do it at all.

Mr. Cone is a man of strong and decided con- victions. He is a Republican in politics and believes profoundly in the doctrine of protection to American industries and labor. His recent travels abroad have confirmed him in this belief.

While not a communicant of any church he yet respects all creeds and supports the church liberally and endeavors to walk uprightly before God and man.

In 1867 Mr. Cone returned to his native State and married the daughter of Colonel Reppert. One son and two daughters are the fruit of this marriage.

Kind and generous and helpful to the needy; enterprising and broad-minded on all questions, he is one af the foremost inen of this region, and has stamped his infinence and his character npon the history of his time. We regret that this work does not admit of a more extended sketch of his career.

ANIEL CHISHOLM, one of the promi- nent and prosperous business men of Hay- wards, located there in 1879, and has been conspicuous in the establishment and manage- ment of the electric-light system of that place, which was put into operation in 1888. By this system a company has been incorporated, com- prising Messrs. Chisholm, Farrell and Ingram. The power is located on A street, in the same building where are the wagon, carriage and agri- cultural works of Chisholm & Farrell. This is also a general repair shop and blacksmith shop. Wheelwrighting is also a specialty; and they also have a feed mill, where they grind different grains and sell the product to the local trade. They employ about twelve men throughout the year.

Mr. Chisholmn was born September 23, 1854, in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, where he grew up and learned blacksmithing. His father, Hugh Chisholm, was by occupation a school-teacher. His mother's name before marriage was Cathe- rine Monroe, and the ancestry of both parents were Scotch. Mr Chisholm, our subject, came into the United States in 1878, locating in Plumas County, where he remained one year; then he came to Haywards, worked for a time as a journeyman blacksmith, and later set up a

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shop for himself. Finally he bought an interest in his present business, which by shrewd judg- ment and progressive ideas he has made firm and prosperous.

He was married in Oakland, March 19, 1885, to Miss Isabella V. Foster, and they have two children: Zelda G. and an infant daughter, Trello A. Mr. Chisholm is politically a Republican, and socially a member of Sycamore Lodge, No. 129, I. O. O. F., at Haywards.

EORGE TANDY, JR., a harness mann- facturer of Madison, is one of the old and respected citizens of the place. His par- ents, George and Belle (McFedgen) Tandy, were natives of Ireland and remained there all their lives; the father died in 18-, and was a cab- inet-maker by trade; the mother died in 1868. The subject of this sketch was born in Dublin, Ireland, and in 1868 he came to America, and by the Isthinus of Panama to California, having a voyage of about three weeks to San Fran- cisco. He went directly to Buckeye, now Mad- ison, where he has since remained. He learned his trade in Dublin, serving seven years as an apprentice. He is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 253, F. & A. M., and of Madison Lodge, No. 150, O. C. F.

Mr. Tandy was united in marriage with Miss Maggie O'Brien, who was born in Ireland, and they have two children, viz .: George W., now Justice of the Peace for Capay Valley and manager of a harness shop there; and Belle, now the wife of W. Berry, in San Francisco.

ORNELIUS YAGER BROWN, of the firm of Latimer & Brown, attorneys at law, Martinez, was born February 24, 1861, at La Fayette, Contra Costa County, son of Law- rence M. Brown; and graduated at the school of Martinez in 1877. In 1879 he went to Fresno County, took up land there and followed farmn-

ing three years. Returning to Martinez, he was appointed deputy sheriff under D. P. Mahan and served two years. On the appoint- ment of Paul Shirley as warden at San Quen- tin, he served in a position under him about eight months. Returning again to Martinez, he was appointed Town Marshal, to fill out the unexpired term of Frank Pitts, who died in office. About the time that he went to Fresno, where he began his law studies, and after serv- ing his term as Marshal of Martinez he con- tinned his legal studies, under the preceptor- ship of his uncle, Judge Thomas A. Brown, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court June 16, 1886. He opened an office in Mar- tinez, and in 1889 formed a copartnership with R. H. Latimer under the firm name of Lati- mer & Brown.

Lawrence M. Brown, deceased, formerly a resident of Contra Costa County, was born in Greene County, Illinois, Jannary 13, 1834, be- ing the youngest son of Elam Brown, and was only ten years of age when he was brought across the plains by his father, his mother hav- ing died in Illinois. They located in the Sau Antonio redwoods in Contra Costa County. Lawrence remained with his father until he was about twenty-two years of age, when he was married and took charge of his father's flour mill at La Fayette; the town was then called Brown's Mills. In 1861 Mr. Lawrence M. Brown opened a general merchandise store and hotel in La Fayette. When R. B. Hard was elected sheriff in 1867, Mr. Brown was appointed under-sheriff and moved to Martinez in Decem- ber, 1867, taking charge of the office, which he conducted two years. At the expiration of Mr. Hard's term of office, Mr. Brown was a candidate for Sheriff, on the Democratic ticket, while his brother, Warren Brown, was a candidate for the same office, on the Republican ticket, and was elected. The subject of this sketch then entered law practice with his brother, Judge Thomas A. Brown, and continued in that relation until his death, Angust 10, 1877. He had been admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of California

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in 1868. He was a strong Democrat, an active politician, was a candidate for office several times, but was defeated on account of the strong Republican majority of the county. He was generally known as "Doc. Brown," which title was given him, although not a physician, on the following occasion: In early days, while living at La Fayette, he was called upon to dress the wounded hand of a man, as there was no physician convenient; so that in after years when he was asked who dressed the hand he would humorously reply, " Why, Doc. Brown."

January 1, 1855, Mr. Brown married Miss Mary E. Yager, a native of Missouri, and they had two children: Eugene Elam and Cornelius Yager. The former is a practicing physician in Selma, Fresno County, and the latter is an attorney in Martinez. Mr. Lawrence Brown was a member of the Odd Fellows order for a number of years. Lawrence M. Brown was beloved by all who knew him or ever came in contact with him, a man of sterling integrity, of a most amiable disposition, kind and affable; and during a long and intimate acquaintance with him a friend never heard him spoken of or his name mentioned but as a model man.

B. McARTHUR, cashier of the Bank of Winters, is personally an illustration of the rapid rise to prominence which char- acterize the young blood of California. The Bank of Winters first opened its doors for busi- ness in 1885, with E. Wolfskill, president; William Sims, vice-president; and E. E. Kahn, cashier. In 1886 J. B. McArthur succeeded E. E. Kalın as cashier; Mr. Kahn's other busi- ness duties requiring so much of his time he was compelled to resign his position as cashier, but still acted as secretary. These have held their respective positions from that time until the present. Mr. McArthur was born March 24, 1849, in Ontario, Canada, a son of Daniel and atherine (MCcDonald) MeArthur. His father, a farmer by ocenpation, resided in Canada a

greater portion of his life, dying there in 1857, at the age of sixty-five years; and the subject of this sketch was but four years old when his mother died. He was brought up on a farm and started out in life for himself at the age of fourteen years, going to Minnesota, where he spent a year, thence to Nebraska, where he was six years engaged in farming. The next three years he passed as a student at a college in Illi- nois; thence he went to the State University of Nebraska, where he attended one terin; in 1875 he caine to California and located at Vacaville, where he accepted a position in the service of the Vacaville & Clear Lake Railroad Com- pany as station agent, and remained three years; and he finally removed to Winters, accepting a position with the railroad in that city. He was employed as station agent until 1886 when he accepted his present position. It may be said of him that " he was old when yonng that he might be yonng when old," and his success in life has been entirely the result of his own in- dnstry, energy and perseverance.

He was married, in 1877, to Miss M. L. Bryce, a native of Kentucky. Three of their four children are living, namely: Mary E., Charles S. and Bessie M.

Mr. McArthur has about 480 acres of land in Tulare County, on which is carried on general farmning, and 960 acres in Washington. His neat and tidy residence in Winters is located on East Abbay street. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since he was eighteen years of age.

34 ILAS D. INGRAM, one of the prominent and progressive citizens of Haywarde, was born in the township of Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence County, New York, March 31, 1821; followed farming, lumbering, blacksmithing and studied medicine, but practiced it very little. In 1855 lie moved to Wisconsin, and afterward to Flint, Michigan; Brighton, Ohio, following his trade here nutil 1859, and then moved to

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Morgan County, Missouri; May 2, 1861, after seeing the Confederate flag raised in Kansas City, he started across the plains in company with others, for the Golden Coast. While in camp at Mountain Springs, July 18, his train was attacked by Indians and a number of the whites were killed; all the mules, sixty in num- ber, stampeded, and the Indians secured them. Two members of the train started toward Salt Lake and overtook another train of emigrants, whom they finally induced, through fraternal snasion, to aid them on the way. Soon after- ward Mr. Ingram was fortunate enough to pur- chase some inules, and continue the trip on to California. Locating at what is known as Pleasant Grove, Sutter County, Mr. Ingram was the first resident there and consequently the founder of the town, where he carried on his trade until 1866, when he inoved to San Francisco, and became a dealer in live-stock for two years. Then he inoved to Sonoma County one year, theuce to Austin Creek, near Duncan Mills, where five years later he was burned out, losing nearly everything. In 1878 he built a hotel and conducted it as a pleasure resort. In this and other enterprises Mr. Ingram spent money freely in the construction of a wagon road over the mountains, from Guerneville to Fort Ross, passing by his hotel, this enterprise alone costing him some $8,000. His next struggle was to induce the North Pacific Coast Railroad Company to extend their road to his place, in which he succeeded, thereby making his hotel easy of access from San Francisco. In 1888 he sold out this resort and moved near Haywards, locating for a time on thirty-five acres of land which he still owns, and on which he raises nearly all varieties of deciduous fruits. He is now a dealer in real estate, having his residence at Haywards. He was the prime mover in establishing the electric light system in 1888, and he still owus half of the stock. This company was incorporated by S. D. Ingram, D. Chisholmn and J. H. Farrell, May 1, 1890. Politically Mr. Ingram is a Republican, and fraternally he affiliates with the Masonic and

Odd Fellows orders,-in the latter being a member of Unity Lodge, No. 131, at San Fran- cisco, of which he was also one of the charter members; he has passed all the chairs.

Mr. Ingram was married in Oswegatchie, New York, February 12, 1855, to Miss Sarah A. Rolston, and they have three children: Frederick S., Charles W. and George B. The ancestors of Mr. Ingram on the paternal side were from Leeds, England, and on the maternal side Scotch and German.

D. STEPHENS, farmer near Madison, Yolo County, is one of the old '49ers of this golden county. Leaving Cooper County, Missouri, May 10, 1849, he crossed the plains to the Golden Coast, arriving in Sacramento Angust 6, following. He followed mining at Mormon Island, Missouri Bar, on the American River and Hangtown, and then with other parties he wintered in a cabin on the Sacramento River. In the spring he returned to mining, on the middle fork of the American River. July 4 he returned to Sacramento. Soon he entered the business of buying cattle and mules from arriving immigrants, and drove them down to Cache Creek, where in 1850 he made a camp, thinking it was Goverment land, but found it to beon the Berreyesa grant, which they bought. In 1853 he returned to Cooper County, Missouri, bought cattle, and in 1856 went to Oregon, continuing in the cattle trade. He arrived again in Yolo County in March, 1861, where he has ever since made his resi- dence. Of the home ranch there are 3,400 acres and on the Gordon grant 1,000 acres. He is engaged principally in the raising of live- stock and grain.

Mr. Stephens was first married in 1872, in Sacramento, to Laura C. Wilcoxson, and they had two children: Josie and Katie L. He was subsequently married to Miss Nanie Lucas, in Woodland, in 1877, and by this marriage there are nine children: John L., Lulu M.,

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Sally S., Minnie, Bessie, George. D., William F., Frank W. and Benjamin G.

PHRAIM Q. CRITES, a fariner near Black's, was born April 22, 1838, in Wayne County, Ohio, the son of Jonah and Lucy Ann (Kindich) Crites, both natives of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; the father was a merchant until he was abont forty years of age. In 1856 Mr. Crites, our subject, sailed from New York for California, and after arriving here stopped for a few days at Sacra mento; then mined two months on the Cosnin- nes River; made a trip northward, stopping in Marysville for a short time; was next em- ployed in a hardware store at Sacramento four years, and finally, in 1860, he went into Yolo County and purchased a tract of 170 acres, one and a half miles northwest of Black's, which is now a very fine ranch. Fifty acres are set out in grapes, of which eighteen acres are in bear- ing, and thirty-two acres are two years old. Twenty years ago he set out the first orchard in this vicinity.

August 3, 1884, he was united in marriage with Miss Delia F. Naupin, who was born February 12, 1863, in California, and they have two sons, named and born as follows: Charles C., December 10, 1886, and Harry E., July 31, 1888.

OHN ZVIERKOVICH, proprietor of the Opera Restaurant at Woodland, is the son of John and Mary (Vidole) Zvierkovich, natives of Dalmatia, Anstria. The father was a brick-mason by trade, and died in his native country in 1866; and the mother is still living in the old country. Mr. Zvierkovich, the sub- ject of this brief mention, was born in Austria in 1864, and in 1878 came to California, locating directly in Stockton, where his first employment was as a waiter in a restaurant. Being am-

bitions to excel. as a caterer, he at length began to condnet such an institution upon his own re- sponsibilities, in the city of Woodland, Yolo County, and he has now as fine a restaurant as can be found in any town of 15,000 inhabitants. His present place was opened by him in 1887, and is estimated at $2,000 value. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. R. M. of Sacramento. lodge No. 39, is yet unmarried, and is esteemed by all as a good citizen and a responsible business man.

ON. SENECA EWER .- While the life history of the men of '49 is always inter- esting and always instructive beyond that of any other body of men that ever lived, yet there are always a few the record of whose life and actions should be written more fully and read more generally, especially by the young, than any other. The man who has made his way laboriously upward from the narrow circum- stances of youth to the affluence of mature life; who has achieved an education against the ob- stacles of lack of means and fortune, and who has climbed to a position high in the respect, esteem and honor of his fellow-men, the life of such a man should be written fully and without reserve, and be placed within the reach of the newer generation as an example of diligence. It is such a career that it is our pleasure here to record-that of the Hon. Seneca Ewer, who is one of the prominent men in Northern Cali- fornia.

Mr. Ewer was born near Auburn, western New York, in the year 1823, his father being an agriculturist of that section. When he was but nine years of age the family moved to Michi- gan, settling on the shores of the Huron River. Here young Ewer grew up a stout and sturdy lad, inured to the hard work of a farm in those early days, and spending as much of his leisure time during these years as he could upon the water, gaining a knowledge that stood him in good stead afterward. But he did not waste his time. He fitted himself to become a teacher in

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the district schools, and with the money earned in this manner paying his way first to a pre- paratory school and then to college, graduating in 1847 at the Michigan University. Rememn- ber that all this was done without aid from any one, saving only that a loving mother knit his socks and fitted him out with pants and vests. Like all the country school-teachers of that day, he boarded around from house to house, often having to walk as much as two miles to school. A mnost amusing incident of the time, but one that will illustrate the state of affairs that then existed, occurred to Mr. Ewer. While he was boarding at the house of an English family, one cold night they brought out a warming-pan to warm the schoolmaster's bed. It was the first thing of the kind he had ever seen and he was much interested in the novel instrument.

Determining to come to California in 1849 and test for himseif the truth of the golden stories that were flying over the country, he set out for the long trip overland from Michigan. At Lexington, Missouri, a party of five, consist- ing of Mr. Ewer, Ben Manning, George Reeves and son and another set out together. Later on they united with the famous Michigan train that called themselves the Wolverines and came in by the Lassen ronte. On the road they fell in with Mr. Loring Pickering, of the San Francis- co Call and Bulletin, and family, and finding the route difficult they joined teams and left a wagon behind. Nearing the headwaters of the Feather River, Mr. Ewer with Mr. Pickering and family packed over to the Feather River in the Sacramento Valley, leaving the team to fol- low as fast as it could. They had a pretty hard time of it, being short of provisions; but the lucky shooting of a deer by Mr. Ewer provided for them abundantly. They came out at Long's Bar, reaching there November 4, 1849. The wagon, reduced to a cart, came in soon after and Mr. Pickering began trading in a small way, while Mr. Ewer mined and knocked about gen- erally. The hardships of the time may be imagined when the only bed that Mr. Ewer had for quite a time was a wagon-bed shared

with others. The boat used for crossing the river was swept away during the high water with several men in it one of whom was drowned. To replace it one of the old-fashioned curved wagon beds was used for a ferry and answered until a better one could be constructed. Mean- time the soaking rains prevented the wagons from coming in with provisions and "grub " ran short. Mr. Ewer and four others were sent out on a perilous trip down the river by boat to Sacra- mento to obtain supplies. Mr. Ewer's boating experiences on the Huron River came into play, he acting as steersman. They got the provisions and after a terrible hard pull up the current, found to their disgust that, the rains being over, wagons had got in and there was a plentiful supply of everything.

The following summer Mr. Ewer was engaged in mining on the middle fork of the Feather River, twenty miles above Bidwell's Bar, and from the fall of 1851 to 1855 was in the general merchandise, business at Hamilton, then the county-seat of Butte County, and in the fall of 1855 he went to Oroville and began the practice of law, at the same time devoting himself to the breeding of stock, cattle, sheep, etc., in Butte County, and rapidly attained a prominent po- sition. In 1854 he was elected a member of the Assembly on the Democratic ticket, attending the session which met at Benicia, and removed the capital to Sacramento, and again in 1865 he was chosen to represent Butte County in the State Senate by the Republican party for the years 1866-'68. Previons to this he had in 1852 been Judge of the old Court of Sessions of Butte County. He was also a delegate to all political conventions, etc., of his own party dur- ing these years. Finally, in 1870, he came to Napa County and settled in St. Helena, since which time he has been one of the most active and public-spirited residents of the Napa Valley. It is chiefly to his energy that St. Helena owes her excellent water supply. He has been an active promoter of the wine-growing interests of the valley, and is the possessor of large vine- yards. The splendid fire-proof, stone wine-cel-

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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 63

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