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 64

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 64

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

392

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

lar belonging to Ewer & Atkinson at Rutherford is a signal proof of his efforts in this direction. He was one of the organizers a. d the first presi- dent and is now a director of the Bank of St. Helena; and is a member of the board of di- rectors of the Grangers' Bank of California in San Francisco, and of the Napa Bank at Napa City. He has one of the finest residences, sur- rounded with magnificentgrounds, in St. Helena, where he is now enjoying the comforts that have been so well earned by his active and energetic life, and in which, regarded with the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, he can justly spend the remainder of his days, as becomes the man who by long and successful labors has carved out his fortune with his own hands.

Mr. Ewer was a Democrat previous to the war. being elected to the Assembly on that ticket. Since the war he has been a Republican, active, yet conservative.

His son, Fred S. Ewer, is following his father's footsteps and seems likely to take an equally prominent place in years to come. He is the secretary of the St. Helena Water and Gas Companies, and is active in the wine interests of his father, showing promise of becoming an ex- pert wine-maker.

ACOB SCHRAM AND THE SCHRAMS- BERG VINEYARDS .- It is the gen- eral opinion among experts that while Cali- fornia can make wines as good as are to be found in any other part of the world, yet, on account of the dryness of the atmosphere, she does not succeed in aging them, as a general thing. The remedy for this has been found in adopting the system of storage for aging purposes in tunnels run into the hills, where a uniform low and moist temperature can be maintained and the resultant wine be found perfect in every particu- lar. The cellars at the Schramsberg Vineyards were found to be the most complete exponent of this fact of all in this part of the State, and this circumstance accounts for the exceedingly high

reputation that the Schramsberger wines have attained. The cellars are nothing but a series of tunnels, with cellar like excavatiens and transverse connections, run into the hillside There are two sets of them, the upper consist- ing of two tunnels extending into the hill a dis- tance of 200 feet, and connected by cross tun- nels, and the lower, of a similar character, only 400 feet in length. In front of the former is the fermenting honse, 85 x 45 feet in size, of wood, but shortly to be replaced by an erection of stone, to be 130x45 feet in size, with a cen- tral tower 60 x 60 feet, the whole suitably and conveniently arranged for the purposes of wine- making. When this fine building is completed the whole establishment will present an entour- age that will have no equal for substantial beauty and convenience anywhere in the State. The house-mansion, as it might be more prop- erly called, which has lately received its finish- ing touches, is large and very handsome, being built of stone with hard-wood finish . The inside finish is rich yet ornate, every detail and par- ticular the best of its kind. Before the house stretch ornamented grounds, now being laid out to flowers and shrubbery, with taste and discrimination. The barns and stables, of a similar class of architecture, the stone work constructed from material quarried on the premises, is a like handsome structure. The location of vineyards and buildings is one pecu- liarly romantic and pleasing, advantage being taken of the natural capabilities of the position to consult at once ntility and a love of the beautiful. The vineyards are in the thermal belt, where no frost touches the vines, and from their commanding situation of the western foot- hills of the Napa Valley, they present views of great extent and of singular beauty.

It is no wonder, under all these circum- stances, that the wines from Schramsberg are su excellent-this statement, however, going almost without saying, considering the high and rapidly extending fame that the Schrams- berger wines, both red and white, have attained throughout the United States and Europe-in

393

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

fact wherever introduced. The drive up to Schramsberg from the valley, is not the least of the attractions of the spot. It is one long to be remembered, the road winding upwards amid almost tropical verdure, and beneath the lofty forest trees, most part of the way beside a babbling brook that flows in every season. As one emerges at last from the forest, and the elegant mansion and other buildings are seen nestling against the hill, while the orderly rows of grape-vines stretch up ont of sight, the pic- ture is one to arouse enthusiasm, and can cer- tainly never be forgotten.

This great establishment is the product of the life-work of Mr. Jacob Schram and his esti- mable wife. In the thirty years or so since they bought and began the improvement of the Schramsberg Vineyards, they have transformed a rough, unpromising hillside from its native jungle of forest and underbrush to an estate worthy even of the banks of the Rhine itself for beauty and worth. Perhaps the memory of the old home worked in their minds as they planned and labored, for both Mr. and Mrs. Schram are natives of the Rhine-land, one born two miles and the other within one mile of the historic old city of Worms, or rather at the .very side of the famous Liebfrauenberg Vine- yard, whence comes the noblest of wines, the " Liebfraumilch," which they are now coming near to reproducing in the New World.

Mr. Schram's life has been one of singular variety and incident, with the many ups and downs so characteristic of the Californians of the earlier days. No matter what came he never gave up; and though he had many diffi- culties and discouragements to encounter, he was always master of the situation, and came ont superior to the emergency. His life shows well what may be accomplished by energy and pluck when joined with common sense. Per- haps, too, he was actuated by character derived from his ancestors in his successful struggle np- wards from narrow circumstances to affluence and eminence. His uncle, General Schram, will be remembered by all students of history

for his prominence in the Napoleonic wars. His father was also a member of the celebrated gnard as captain under Napoleon. Certain it is that he has never allowed any difficulty to dannt him, but he has always pressed energeti- cally forward.

Mr. Schram was born May 26, 1826, at Pfeddersheim, two miles from Worms, on the left bank of the Rhine. In 1840, when but a mere lad, he set out for America to push his own way in the world. In 1852 he came to California, having had many a trial to over- come, but always meeting them bravely. The exigencies of a busy life brought him to Napa Valley in 1857, and shortly afterward, having lost his health, he purchased the hillside prop- erty and immediately began its improvement, being assisted in every detail by Mrs. Schram, to whom he was married in February, 1859, her maiden name being Annie Christine Weber, and her birth-place Hocheim, one mile from Worms. She has proven a most worthy help- mate to her husband, cheerfully bearing the full share of the hardships and trials of the earlier days, staying at the vineyard alone while her husband was carrying on business in the valley, herself directing the improvements and ordering the dealings. To-day, with equal talent she graces her handsome home, as in the earlier days she conducted the petty affairs of the laborers. The knowledge gained in the old home on the Rhine-the true home by the way of the vine, of the soil's varieties and the value of the hillsides for grape-culture, have all been put into profitable use by Mr. and Mrs. Schiram; and hence it is they chose the admir- able location in the foot-hills and are now reap- ing the return for the greater labor of clearing those hillsides, in the superior quality of the Schramsberger Riesling, Hock and Burgundy that have become so celebrated. It is safe to say that the 100 acres of vines upon this estate are worth five times as much or more that number in the valley bottom. An extensive young olive orchard has also been set ont, and judging by appearances, it will prove an equally

394

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

wise investment with the vines for excellence of quality and worth.

Mr. and Mrs. Schram have one son, Herman Adolph, now a young man of nearly thirty years, who is developing the same traits of energy, intellect and diligence which so abundantly characterize his parents. He is busy improv- ing a property of his own in Knight's Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Schram had another child, a daughter of unusnal brightness and promise. Her death in yonth was an irreparable blow to her parents.

Such is the brief and in no way sufficiently appreciative sketch of the life and labors of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schram, yet, we hope, a correct account as far as it goes.

HARLES H. TOZER, M. D., deceased, occupied a most prominent position in the ranks of his profession, and is known to thousands as a skillful, attentive and well-read physician, while regarded as an authority in the profession. He was born in the city of New York in the year 1801, but when an infant was carried to England, where he received his class- ical and medical education and began the prac- tice of his profession. In the study of medicine he had the advantage of a hospital practice at Guy's Hospital, London, under the celebrated Doctor Abernethy. In 1849 he started for California, but tarried while on the way at Panama to care for fever patients at that point, finally coming on to this State in 1850. In the early days he went with a party of fourteen to Shasta mines, but soon returned to Sacramento, where he practiced until after the great flood of 1861, when he removed to San Francisco, prac- ticing there until his death, which took place June 29, 1880, at his residence in Oakland. His sou, Charles F., whom the writer found hard at work improving the song ranch of eighty acres perched on the sminmit of the divide be- tween Coun and Napa valleys, was born in Oakland, May 11, 1872, and was proceeding

with his education at Hopkins' Academy and elsewhere, when he lost his health. For his benefit Mrs. Tozer purchased the present place two years ago, erected a cozy little house and has settled down to remain until the health of her son will permit a return to her comfort- able liome in Oakland. Meantime they are im- proving their place, which is one of great beauty and commands a view of wide range and great attractiveness, by planting ont trees, vines, etc. Mrs. Tozer, whose maiden name was Miss E. J. Billings, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and came to California in 1862 to join her former husband, Mr. P. O. Valentine, who had preceded her here. Shortly after her arrival he died. In course of time she was married to Dr. Tozer, and is now his widow. Her family all reside at Medford, Massachusetts, a well-to- do and prominent family. She has one brother, Frank D. Billings, of Lathrop, in this State, the only relation on this coast. Dr. Tozer had a daughter by a previons marriage, who was the wife of the late Mr. McNeill, of Adams, McNeill & Co., of Sacramento.

EORGE E. ALEXANDER, M. D., of Hay- wards, began his medical studies under the preceptorship of an eminent practi- tioner at Beloit, Wisconsin, and, taking the regular course of lectures at the Jefferson Med- ical College at Philadelphia, he graduated in 1873. He accepted an appointment as phy- sician in the Government service and came to the Pacific coast and filled his position as such under the command of Generals Davis and How- ard, in the department of the Columbia. He resigned this commission in 1875 and came to Gilroy, Santa Clara County, practiced for seven months, then followed his profession at San Ramen, in Contra Costa County, for a period of ten years, and finally, in 1886, he moved to Haywards, where he has already built up a lucrative practice.

Ile dates his birth October 15, 1847, in Penn-

395

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

sylvania. He enlisted as a private in the Six- teenth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, and served as such until 1865, when he was inns- tered out. He then entered Beloit (Wisconsin) College, where he commenced his literary edn- cation. He then spent a few months on the Kansas and Colorado plains; then a year at Mon- mouth, Illinois, and then returned to Beloit, where he began his medical studies as already stated. He is the eleventh of thirteen children in his father's family. His parents, Randall and Sarah (Carothers) Alexander, are both na- tives of the Keystone State, his father being born in Franklin County, in 1807. His pater- nal ancestors were from the north of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish extraction. His great-grandfather, Reynold Alexander, was one of the early set- tlers of Pennsylvania and served in the Revo- Intionary war. His grandfather, William Al- exander, was born in what is now Franklin County, Pennsylvania, and served as an officer in the war of 1812. Politically Dr. Alexander is Democratic and takes an active part in polit- ical matters. He is a member of Alamo Lodge, No. 122, of Walnut Creek, and of Oakland Com- mandery, No. 11, K. T. He was married at San Ramon, October 15, 1877, to Miss Mary E. Lynch, a native of California, and they have two children: Archie and Adele.

M. STRICKLAND, member of the firm of Howells & Strickland, proprietors of the leading grocery honse in Madison, is the son of Thomas and Louisa (Rother) Strick- land, the former a native of England, born in 1803, and a physician, who died in Guthrie County, Iowa, at the age of sixty-three years, and the latter a native of Germany and still liv- ing in Guthrie County. Mr. Strickland was born in the same county in 1862, and came to Madison, California, in 1880, where he has ever since been successfully engaged in mercantile business. The present partnership was formed September 1, 1888, and they carry between

$5,000 and $6,000 worth of stock. Mr. Strick- land was married in 1889, in Madison, to Miss Mamie Brown, a native of Placer County, Cali- fornia, and they have one son, Harry Francis, born in Madison, Yolo County, California, April 13, 1890.

AMES G. COOPER, M. D., Haywards, is an old practitioner of the regular pro fession. He was born June 19, 1830, in New York city. In 1840 his parents moved into New Jersey, where our subject completed his school studies. His father, William Cooper, was born in 1797, in New York, and was a farmer by vocation until he was appointed Asso- ciate Judge by the Governor of that State. He also served in the war of 1812, as an officer. He married Miss Mary Wilson, a native of Troy, New York, and they had six children, our snb- ject being the first. The Doctor's paternal grandfather was a native of Yorkshire, England; the ancestors on his mother's side were also English, and came to America during the last century, some of them serving in the Revolu- tionary war. Dr. Cooper graduated in his pro- fession at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, in 1851, and practiced in the city hospitals there two years. In 1853 he re- ceived an appointment from the Government and came to the Pacific coast as the physician of the surveying party of the Northern Pacific Railroad. He remained with this party until 1856, when he returned to New Jersey, and practiced his profession there until 1860, when he joined another expedition, accompanying 300 soldiers to the Pacific coast by way of Fort Benton and the northern line of forts, who left detachments at different points along the line. He wintered with the troops at Fort Mojave on the Colorado River, and then went to San Diego and thence to San Francisco. He volunteered and served as surgeon in the Second California Volunteer Cavalry, and served until 1865, when he resigned and came to Oakland, remaining

396

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

one year. Then he practiced medicine in San Francisco until 1871, when his health became impaired and he moved south to Ventura County, where he followed agriculture until 1873. He then moved to East Oakland and remained there until 1875, when he finally set- tled in Haywards, where he has retired from active practice. He is a member of Haywards Lodge, No. 18, A. O. U. W., and of Clinton Lodge. No. 2019, K. of H., of East Oakland.

The Doctor was married at Oakland, January 9, 1866, to Miss Rosa M. Wells, a native of New York, and they have three children, namely : William W., Fannie S. and James S.

R. ANDREW R. PENNINGTON, den- tal surgeon at Haywards, at corner of Main and Calhoun streets, was born at Hillsboro, Ohio, Angust 26, 1842, the eldest of fifteen children of Jacob and Mary J. (Keys) Pennington. His father was born in Virginia, October 4, 1816, and moved with his family to the State of Ohio in 1826; he is a farmer by vocation. Dr. Pennington in 1862 enlis- ted as a private soldier in the Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer Intantry, and subsequently in the Twenty-fourth Battery of Light Artillery of that State, and was mnstered out of the service in 1864. After the war he returned to his native State and engaged in the live-stock trade until 1866, when he went to Macomb, Illinois, and remained there two and a half years. After spending a year in Kansas, he came in 1870 to California to improve his health. He visited San Diego, Lathrop and San José, and spent a year, 1874-'75, in Oakland. In the fall of the latter year he went to Salem, Oregon, where he studied dentistry until 1878. Returning to California he located at Lathrop two years; then he was one year at Grass Valley, and then until 1887 at Nevada City, when he finally located at Haywards, where he has established a good reputation and has a good business. Politically he is a Republican; is a prominent

member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and also affiliates with the Druids and Ancient Order of United Workmen at Haywards. He was married in Ohio to Miss Martha A. Parker, and they have two children,-John E. and Ira S.

MOS S. DU BOIS, M. D., San Leandro, was born in Allegany County, New York, March 8, 1829, of the old Du Bois stock of French extraction, who settled in New York probably before the declaration of independence in America. His grandfather, Conrad Du Bois, was a private soldier in the American army during the Revolutionary war and in the war of 1812. The doctor's father, Abram Du Bois, was a native of New York and a Meth- odist minister, who, in 1836, moved to Pennsylvania. He married Miss Mehitabel Whitmore Sumner, a native of Massachusetts. After a residence of two years in Pennsylvania, they returned to New York State, where Dr. Du Bois finished his education at Milan, Ohio, and taught school in Ohio until 1852. Return- ing to New York, he came thence to California by the Nicaragna route, landing in San Fran- cisco on February 1, 1853. Until 1858 he followed mining in the vicinity of Sacramento, where he was employed by the water company for abont two years. From 1861 to 1865 he taught school and studied medicine, graduating in San Francisco. He practiced his chosen pro- fession at Lincoln, in Placer county, until 1868, when he went to Auburn, the county-seat, and took charge of the county hospital, which posi- tion he filled until Angst, 1874. He continned in general practice there until 1874, when he went East, took a course of lectures in New York city and special studies in surgery at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of that city, and gradn- ated in 1875. Returning to California he located at San Leandro, where he is now, and has been for fifteen years a member of the board of health, and also visiting physician and surgeon to the

397

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Alameda County Hospital and Infirmary, and has an extensive practice. Socially he affiliates with the F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. May 28, 1865, at Oakland, he married Miss Georgiana Barlow, a native of Canada. Her grandfather on her father's side was a colonel in the Revolutionary war. Dr. Du Bois has a grown son, named Sumner V.

OHN CYRUS. - On these pages we present a sketch of the eventful life- history of one of the oldest and most worthy of Napa County's pioneers. During the forty-four years of Mr. Cyrns' residence in the valley, he has been an active participant in the changing of the face of nature from a wild and untamed state to the beautiful country of to-day; and during this time it is safe to say that no one in the valley has been more gener- ally respected or more universally esteemed or more justly entitled to the same. Mr. Cyrus is the son of Enoch and Rebecca (Cook) Cyrus, born in McDonough County, Illinois, March 20, 1831, at a point near La Harpe, not far from the Mississippi River. His grandparents were originally from North Carolina. A few years later the family removed to Missouri, settling first in Jackson County, and later in Andrew County. In the spring of 1846 a train of abont fifty wagons was made up for the long journey to the Pacific coast, among which were included the outfits belonging to the Cyrus family. The train scattered as they made their way across the plains, about twenty wagons that were bound for California keeping together. On the Humboldt River the Indians became troublesome, stealing quite a number of cattle and stock. The trip was made via Truckee, and the Sacramento Valley was finally reached, October 21, 1846. The Cyrus family pushed ou directly to Napa Valley, arriving there in November of that year. For a little time they stayed on the Yount Ranch, and then pushed on to a point a little below St. Helena, where

they remained for two and a half years. In 1849 they removed to Calistoga and a year later to their present place, one of the most fertile and lovely spots in the whole valley, a short distance above the town. Here, February 3, 1853, the father died of small-pox, being fol- lowed shortly after by two sons and two daughters. The mother died in 1873.

Mr. Cyrus has cut up his place, dividing it among his children, and selling portions, but still retaining sixty acres for himself, and still residing in the comfortable residence which has long been a landmark of the upper end of the valley. In 1849 Mr. Cyrus went to the mines, visiting the Stanislaus and the upper waters of the Sacramento, and being well acquianted with the stirring incidents and leading characters of those exciting times. From him is obtained much material in regard to those days, as also with reference to the virgin state of the Napa Valley, the abundance of game, the grizzly bears, the disappearance of the Indians and the rise of the town, etc. Hehas been a farmer all his life, paying but little attention to politics as a general thing. He was brought forward in 1877 as a candidate for County Treasurer on the Re- publican ticket, but was defeated by A. G. Boggs. He has steadfastly declined all other political perferment, wishing rather to attend to his private affairs.

Mr. Cyrus was married June 5, 1855, to Miss Lavina Graves, a native of Illinois, and a pioneer of 1846, and the heroine of stirring events. They have five children: H. E., now in the lumber business in Calistoga, who has one daughter; J. W., a civil engineer and surveyor at Tacoma, and unmarried; Mrs. M. A. Sherwood, whose liusband is in business in Calistoga; Mrs. Sarah G. Crouch, living at home; and Miss Rachel E., also at home, the latter being a graduate of the Calistoga High School, and deeply interested in Indian relics and in matters archæological. Mr. Cyrus is one of the most interesting talkers to be mnet,- a perfect inine of incident and information in reference to early events, hunting scenes, and

398

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

everything of the past. A worthy man and popular, he is truly a representative citizen of of the Napa Valley.

- MANUEL MANASSE has lived in Cali- fornia for the past twenty-five years, and in Napa since 1872. Born in Frankfort- on-the-Main, Germany, in 1842, he received his education in the public schools, and was then apprenticed to the tanning business, serving for two ternis, the first in the tanning of heavy and the second in the tanning of light leathers, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of the bnsi- ness. At the age of nineteen he came to this country, and at once secured employment at a large salary. Owing to the war then in progress and the heavy duties on French calf and kid skins, Mr. Manasse invested his entire capital, about $300, in a small plant for tanning leather. He was very successful, realizing some $7,000 in one year, when a fire swept factory, stock and all his means into oblivion in a couple of hours. Having about money enough to bring his wife and children to California, where lier father then lived, he started in business in San Francisco, with the usual ups and downs of those days, where he remained until 1872, when he came to Napa to take charge of the manu- facturing in the establishment of B. F. Sawyer & Co. Beginning as foreman, lie soon originated a method of dressing leather now known as the Napa Patent Process, which he at first allowed the firm to use on payments of royalty, but in 1879 he became a member of the firm, and later, on its incorporation as a stock company, he was elected vice-president and was one of its directors.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 64

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