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 69

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 69

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ground floor, where are also the offices, dining- room, etc. A eentral parlor on each floor is in the front of the main building affords a splendid outlook. Fire escapes in the shape of covered ways lead from each floor to the hill at the back. A like covered passage leads also to the chapel and gymnasium. In the rear part of the second floor unch space is taken up with the gents' bath-room with its varions departments. About a score of different baths are given, among them Russian vapor, electric, electric vapor, sulphur vapor, alkaline, Swedish sham- poo, steam inhalations, douches, fomentations, etc. On the third floor are similar arrange- ments for the ladies; while on the fourth is the surgical office and dispensary. In a separate building at a little distance is the boiler and engine house, whence the establishment is heated by steam and all necessary motive power supplied. The bakery is a complete establish- ment where are turned ont the " Health Foods" so well known in connection with the Rural Health Retreat. It has revolving ovens with six trays, cracker kneaders; fonr kinds of bread and thirteen of crackers are baked, about two barrels of the latter per day being the average. Large shipments of these health foods are being constantly made to all parts of the coast. The laundry is a complete establishment also in a separate building. In the commodious stables are kept eight horses, some being for livery nse by guests. The employés in all number be- tween thirty and forty, and the accommodation for patients admits over 100, and is always pre- engaged. Additional rooms are contemplated at once.

To the medical and surgical skill and pleasant manner of Dr. W. P. Burke, the medical sn- perindent, not a little of the popularity of the Retreat is due. He is a native of Missouri, born in 1850. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California with his parents. After a common- school education he attended the Santa Rosa Col- lege for a time, but soon followed his natural bent for medicine by taking up studies in that line and duly received a certificate to practice; later on,

attending the Eclectic College, Chicago, and from thence to Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the cele- brated Battle Creek (Michigan) Sanitarium he perfected himself in surgery and general treat- ment of-cases. Returning to California in 1885 he graduated at the Cooper Medical College in San Francisco, and in the following year came to the Rural Ilealth Retreat to take charge. Aiter fourteen months, however, on account of friction of others he withdrew, practiced a short time in St. Helena and then founded the well- known Sanitarinm at Napa City, which has now been merged in the Rural Health Retreat. He was recalled to the medical superintendency of this latter on October 6, 1889, and still holds the position. Dr. Burke makes a specialty of ab- dominal surgery, the removal of cancers and abnormal growths, in all of which he has a marked success. Many cancers that had been abandoned by the ordinary practitioners have been treated and cured at the Retreat, the care, physical and constitutional treatment, regular honrs, wholesome food, etc., of the establishment, no doubt contributing under the physician's di- rection to much of the benefit.

Dr. M. G. Kellogg, the retired assistant physician, now in Los Angeles, is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1832. He went with his parents to Michigan in 1835, and graduated in medicine at New York city in 1868. Previous to this latter, however, he saw some of the adversities of life, and also of the triumphs that await the hard-working and de- termined men. Early in the spring of 1859 he crossed the Missouri River with his wife and family of three children, with two-yoke team of oxen, and a wagon containing one week's pro- visions, and when he reached Omaha, April 1, he had a ten-cent piece only in his pocket. They crossed the plains, and on September 10, 1859, bronght up in Marysville, all sound and well, and Dr. Kellogg had then a fifty-cent piece, but was minns his team and wagon. Suf- fiee it to say that he made his way, completed his course in medicine, supporting his family meantime in comfort, and was one of the found_

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ers of the Rural Health Retreat, was its first phy- sician, and has the warin regards of hosts of people. Feeling desirous of relegating the more onerous duties of his position, however, to younger shoulders, he prefers to take the post of assistant. He is the author of "The Hy- gienic Family Physician," a valuable work pub- lished in 1874. The well-known physician and author, J. H. Kellogg, M. D., of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, is his brother.

John Fulton, the popular Secretary and Su- perintendent of the Retreat, is a native of Nova Scotia, born in 1846. He spent fourteen years in Minnesota, but failing health induced him three years ago to seek the softer airs of Cali- fornia. For two years now he has efficiently managed the affairs of the Rural Health Retreat and has aided more than a little to its popu- larity.

In conclusion, it should be stated, that the Rural Health Retreat is conducted under the auspices of the Seventh Day Adventists, a body that has proved its conscientious obedience to right by doing an immense deal of good wher- ever its members are thrown. Under their inanagement the Rural Health Retreat has a long record of good deeds, and possesses the warm gratitude of hundreds of people. The Pacific Heulth. Journal and Temperance Ad- vocate, a paper that is doing mnuch to enlighten under its motto of " Physical Reform the true Basis of Mental and Moral Reform," is edited at the Retreat. It is a spot that must be sure to be appreciated, and those who are siek can. not do better than experience its benefits.

HEODORE R. PARKER is the Super- intendent of the Napa Water Works, and also of the Napa City Gas Light and Heating Company. The directors of the water company are: S. E. Holden, president; George E. Goodman, J. A. MeClelland, H. H. Knapp and and F. E. Johnson; S. E. Churchill is the secre- tary. The works are situated about one and a

half miles from Napa. The source of the sup- ply is an underground stream, which is pumped into a reservoir having a capacity of 3,500,000 gallons. The present capacity of the pumps is about 50,000 gallons each twelve hours. They have some nine miles of main pipe. The water furnished is so pure that, though used steadily in the boilers for six years, it has never left any seale or deposit. This underground stream was discovered somewhat by chance. Mr. Coe, the proprietor of the premises on which the pump- ing works are situated, had reason to believe from a well he had sunk that there was a large body of water underneath, and so reported to the water company. They sunk a large well that flowed so freely that they could not control the stream, obliging them to sink a shaft and run a tunnel beneath the stream of water, and finally a eross tunnel also. Their preparations being completed they blew up the roof of the extreme ends of the eross tunnel, which caused the full stream to flow through the main tunnel to their pumping shaft. This had furnished Napa a practically unlimited supply of water, the pressure in the town being about forty-five pounds to the square inch. The reservoir, 100 feet above tide-water, is situated in a deep cañon, with a masonry wall on the west end thirty feet high, twenty-one feet thick at the base and about six feet thiek at the top, fronting the water in convex form. It is locked into a ledge on either side like the Sweetwater damn near National City, San Diego County, and is cemented into the solid roek on the bottom and sides.

The gas company was incorporated in Au- gust, 1867, and re-incorporated in 1889. They manufacture gas from bituminous coal. The works were rebuilt in 1888, under the super- vision of John Fullager, formerly superintendent of the Cincinnati Gas Light Company.

Mr. Parker was born in New York city, October 21, 1838, where he attended the publie schools until about eleven years of age. He then entered the office of Dr. Roberson, where he was taught to write and started in many

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branches of study, but the Doctor died a year later, and he then went into the office of Butler, Evarts & Southmayd, as copyist. This was Hon. William M. Evarts, now United States Senator from New York. He was employed for & time in the hardware business, and at fif- teen years of age he began to learn gas-fitting, with which business he has been connected to a certain extent all his life. When seventeen he began working as a journeyman, being em- ployed for some time in the Richmond Gas Works, on Staten Island. In 1859 he went to Exeter, New Hampshire, to take charge of the gas works at that place, a position which he held for three years. He then came to Califor- nia, in 1862, by the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco April 28. He managed a saw- mill at Mokelumne Hill for a year, and tlien removed to Marysville, where he superintended the gas works until 1869, when he came to Napa and assumed his present position.

Mr. Parker was married in Exeter, New Hampshire, July 28, 1861, to Miss Eliza M. Cate, a native of that place. They have six children: William M., born October 5, 1864; Adah A., born December 3, 1866; Joseph R., born August 27, 1870; Caroline T., born Feb- ruary 6, 1873; John W., born December 24, 1876; and Theodore R., born October 1, 1879. Ilis parents were William Martin and Caroline T. (Hogan) Parker, the father a native of Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, and the mother of Hacken- sack, New Jersey. Mr. Parker is a member of Corinthian Lodge, No. 5, of Marysville, F. & A. M., and has been a member for the past seven years of the Board of School Trustees.

ASMUS H. CASTERSON, a farmer near Pleasanton, is one of the progressive citi- zens of Alameda County, who dates his birth at Langeland, Denmark, December 7, 1843, where he grew up in agricultural pur- suits, the son of Henry and Christine (Peterson) Casterson. His parents were also natives of

that country but are now deceased. He came to America 1868, from Hamburg to New York, and then by way of Panama to San Francisco. In a short time he went to San Lorenzo, Ala- ineda County. In July, 1869, he permanently located three and a half miles north of Pleas- anton, where he now resides, on his ranch of 216 acres, and is carrying on general farming and stock-raising. He also rents fifty acres. He is a Republican in his political sympathies, taking efficient hold of local affairs.

He was married in San Francisco, March 16, 1873, to Miss Caroline Christianson, and they have eight children, namely: William M., Til- lie, Laura M., Clarence C., Hattie, Harry J., Lonis and Alfred B.

EORGE W. FEE, real-estate and insur inee agent, St. Helena, a native of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, was born June 2, 1837. His grandfather, Colonel John Fee, a Scotchman by birth, took an active part in the Revolutionary war, while his father, George J. Fee, served honorably as a soldier in the war of 1812. The father died when Mr. Fee was yonng, leaving the family but scantily provided for, and as a consequence he had to make his own way from the time he was able to work. When fourteen years of age he set out for him- self, and during much of the time cared also for his mother and sisters. When eighteen years old Mr. Fee began railroading, an occupation in which he has spent eighteen years of his life. His first employment was on the Burlington & Missonri and the old Keokuk & Des Moines roads, the family meanwhile having joined him in Iowa in 1854. In 1866 he came to Califor- nia and for a time was passenger conductor on the line from San Jose to San Francisco, when in the hands of Donohue & Co. Later he accepted a position as superintendent of the quartz mills at Washoe, the Atchison and Savage mille, continuing therefor two years. He then went East, and on his return was passenger con-

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ductor of the North Pacific Railroad, being there two years. Later, for several years he held like positions on the Carson Railroad and on the road from Palisade to Enreka, Nevada. Finally in 1876 he came to St. Helena for the purpose of administering an estate five miles above town. This occupied him for about six years, since which time he has been engaged in the real estate, insurance and kindred pursuits. Mr. Fee is a Democrat of decided yet liberal views, and holds the confidence of the party. For two years he served as Deputy Sheriff of Napa County, and is now collector of town taxes and a deputy marshal.

Mr. Fee has never married. He has devoted himself to his family, caring for his mother and sisters for many years Of the latter two still reside with him. A brother, John D. Fee, is a leading builder of Pueblo, Colorado. Another brother, James P. Fee, who served through the war in an Iowa regiment, lies buried at St. Helena. His oldest brother, J. J. Fee, now deceased, was perhaps the most prominent bridge-builder of Pennsylvania. Some of the finest railroad and other bridges in that State are his work.

EORGE CROPSEY, a prosperous rancher of the Livermore Valley, is one of the promi- nent pioncers of Alameda County, and mnost worthy of mention in this history. He has been a prominent farmer and stock-raiser for nearly thirty years, and is now residing with his fa nily upon his farm of 350 acres three miles and a half west of Livermore. He is also engaged in raising live-stock, including road. sters and speed horses, among them one stallion, " Redwood," that has a record of 2:27 on the track, and others of less speed. IIe has a race course npon his own ranch.

Mr. Cropsey is a son of Giles B. and Maria (Lockwood) Cropsey. who were natives of New York State but are now deceased, the father dying in 1877. Mr. Cropsey, of this sketch,

was born at East Troy, New York, December 8, 1836, and moved with his father to Rochester, that State, where he received his schooling. In 1858 he came by way of Panama to San Fran- cisco, and for two years he was at various points on the coast, -Sacramento, Russian River, Clo- verdale, etc. In 1860 he went to Haywards and worked for a time, then to Portland, Ore- gon, where he was in the commission house of J. M. Blossom & Co. for a short time; then he went up the Salmon River, and to the Cariboo country in British Columbia; next he was en- gaged in quartz-mining in Nevada for serveral months; then he followed farming at Hay- wards until 1870, when he visited his native State. On his return to California he settled at San Lorenzo until 1877, when he went upon his present ranch.

He was married in Oakland, October 30, 1883, to Miss Matilda Rudebeck, and they have two children, Giles B. and Earl D.

UDGE THOMAS B. BOND, an attorney of Lakeport, is a native of Maryland, born near Belaire, January 24, 1832. His father was one of the defenders of Fort McHenry, in the war of 1812. He served as Deputy Register of Wills for twenty-five years; and was also cashier of Havre de Grace Bank for a number of years Thomas B. Bond, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the schools in the vicinity of his birth. In 1850 he received an appointment from B. H. Latrobe, in a corps of civil engineers, on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which profession he followed until 1856. He then went to Mexico, Missouri, where he studied law with Judge Edwards, for two years. He commenced practicing in 1858, in Andrain and Boone counties, Missouri, where he remained until 1861. In that year he crossed the plains to California and engaged in the practice of law and other pursuits, in Marin and Sonoma counties, for about one and a half years. In 1863 he settled permanently in

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Ukiah, Mendocino County, where he remained eighteeu years engaged in the practice of law. In 1865 he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of District Attorney for Mendocino County, and in the fall of that year, was nomi- nated and elected to the same office, on the Democratic ticket. In the fall of 1867 he was re-elected for a second term. When Judge Bond took the office of District Attorney, the finances of the county where in a deplorable condition, warrants on her treasury being worth only about sixty cents on the dollar. At the close of his term of office, the credit of the county had been restored, and paper represent- ing her indebtness was received at par valne. During his term of office there was a vast amount of criminal business in that county, which necessitated the drawing of a large num- ber of indictments, none of which were ever set aside by either the District or Supreme courts. In 1887 the County Superintendent of Schools, having resigned, a gentleman who was appointed to fill the vacancy refused to qualify. At the urgent request of the County Supervisors and teachers of the county, Judge Bond consented to accept that office, which he filled for two years, in order that the schools might be main- tained. In 1873 he was offered the nomination for the Assembly by the almost unanimons vote of the Democratic party. He, however, pre- ferring the practice of his profession, declined the nomination. In 1877 he was elected to the office of County Judge, without opposition, which he held for four years; no decision made by him, while presiding over this court, was reversed. In 1877 he was elected President of the Bank of Ukiah, which position he held for one year. In 1881 he went to Southern California, where he resided at San Diego, Santa Barbara and other places. In 1883 he formed a law partnership with llen. G. W. Schell, at Modesto, Stanislaus County, with whom he practiced a little more than five years. In 1888 he removed to Lake County, and per- manently settled in Lakeport, where he is now engaged in his profession. He was admitted to

practice in the Supreme. Court of the State of California, in 1865, and the Supreme Court of the United States in 1885. He voted for James Buchanan for President, and has voted for every presidential nominee on the Demo- cratic ticket since that time.

He was married in 1865, to Miss Nettie Sid- dons, a native of St. Louis, Missouri. They have no living children. Judge Bond is a Past Master of Abel Lodge, F. & A. M., of Ukiah, and has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for the past thirty-four years.

OHN ARMSTRONG, a general farmer of Livermore Valley, dates his birth Septem- ber 26, 1842, in County Tyrone, Ireland, where he was reared on a farm, the son of Robert and Ann (Mills) Armstrong, also natives of the same county, who emigrated to America in 1863, locating at Nilestown, Ohio, where the father died, July 16, 1881; the mother is still living in that State. Mr. Armstrong, the sub- ject of this paragraph, came to America in 1860, locating the next year in the town of Mexico, in the northeastern part of Missouri, and was engaged in agriculture there until 1870. when he moved with his family by rail to California, locating at Mt. Eden, Alameda County, for one year, and then upon his present farm four and a half miles northwest of Liver- more, where he owns and cultivates 160 acres of fine land, raising stock and grain. He is one of those jovial, whole-souled sons of Erin so characteristic of the truly American charac- ter as to be a most welcome immigrant. He was naturalized in Missouri, in 1864.

He was united in matrimony to Miss Matilda Bell, in his native country, and they have now eight children: Annie B., Joseph D., John J., Martha J., Robert L., Newton W., William G. and Ora J. Mr. Armstrong is a member of Mosaic Lodge, No. 218, F. & A. M., and of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A. O. U. W., of Liver- more. Annie B. Armstrong was married June

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20, 1886, to Samuel McKelvey, and now re- sides in San Francisco. Joseph D. Armstrong was married to Miss Sara McMullin the 1st day of July, 1890, and resides in San Lorenzo, where he is occupied as principal of the San Lorenzo public school.

ULIUS L. WEILBYE, architect and builder, residing at Suñol, is a prominent and pro- gressive mechanic who deserves special mention in this volume. He was born on a farm near Alvarado, Alameda County, May 5, 1854, and at an early age learned the carpenter and joiner's trade in the town of Haywards. Soon he began making building contracts for himself, and went to Livermore, where he be- came a foreman for J. S. Duncan, and remained in that position until 1877. He then went to Oakland, where he was employed in the Pioneer Planing Mills three years, when he made architecture a special study. A year later he took charge of the Verdi Planing Mills, of Verdi, Nevada, that place being destroyed by fire in 1881. Here Mr. Weilbye lost his draft- ing instruments, library, and all his mechanical tools. The plant was immediately rebuilt, and conducted by him until 1885, when he went to Suñol, his present location, and where he has designed and built many of the private resi- dences, besides some of the public buildings in the county, as the public school building at Livermore, a hotel at Snñol, the public school building, many residences, churches, etc. He has for many years made architecture a special study, thereby reaching a station at the head of his business. In addition to his designs and building operations at his present location, he has established and carries on a lumber yard, having a fine and well-selected stock of lumber and building materials. In his political views lie is a Republican, and takes an active part in political matters. He is a member of Brooklyn Lodge, No. 225, F. & A. M., at East Oakland,

and also a member of Oakland Chapter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons.

Mr. Weilbye is the son of Lars and Ida Weilbye, natives of Copenhagen. His father was a seafaring man, and first came to America as master of a sailing vessel, landing in 1847 at the point now known as Montgomery street, San Francisco, which was then the water front. Thence he went to a point near Haywards, and owned and worked a farm until his death in 1857. Mr. Weilbye, our subject, was married in Livermore, to Mary, the oldest daughter of A. Overacker. His family now consists of his wife and her son.

LAWHEAD, liveryman, Woodland, is a son of E. G. and Nancy (Coen) Lawhead. Ilis father, a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, born in 1799, was a cabinet-maker by trade, and died in San Joaquin County in 1886. His mother, a native of Pennsylvania, died in Ohio. Mr. Lawhead was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1828; married Miss Edith Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania in 1851, came to California in 1853, by way of Panama, and stopped first at Nevada City, where he engaged in mining for five years. He next lived at Central Ferry on the Stanislaus River, where he assisted his uncle in a store for six years; from 1863 to 1866 he followed teaming at Stockton, and the following twelve years he was a farmer of Solano County. Finally he went to Yolo County where he farined for six years, then raised stock for three years in Solano County again, and at last came to Wood- land in the fall of 1887, where he purchased a half interest in the livery business on Main street, in partnership with T. J. Hutchison. Some time afterward he purchased Mr. Hutch- ison's interest, but has since taken as a partner Joseph Clemens, their establishment being known as the City Stable.

His wife still lives, and they have two chil- dren, both danghters: Rachel, wife of T. P.

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Emigh, a Solano County grain merchant and capitalist; and Rosamond, a teacher in Solano County.

P. ADAMSON .- There is no more beauti- ful spot to be found in the whole Napa Valley than the splendid vineyard of Mr. C. P. Adamson. It lies on the eastern edge of the valley, at a distance of about a mile from Rutherford, and possesses a location not excelled for depth and fertility of soil, beauty of situation, and convenience for carrying on the whole business. It is one of the older vine- growing and wine-making establishments of the county, having been begun as long ago as 1870 by Mr. Adamson, and each year since its wines were first placed in the market the superiority of its products has been more generally ac- knowledged. There are. in all now 150 acres planted to vines, including all the most cele- brated qualities of grapes that have been found adapted to this section. Among them are the Riesling, Golden Chasselas, Carpinnette, Carig- nane, Burgundy, Zinfandel, Grossblane, etc. The vineyard consists of 150 acres, and pre- sents a very fine appearance, being of thrifty and healthy growth, and so carefully attended that not a weed or spear of grass is visible. Situated in the midst of the vines, in a tract set off for its use, is the winery and wine cellars, which were found to be well worthy of a visit. The cellar is 120 x 115 feet in size, built of wood, double lined and ceiled, thus making it evoler and of better storage facility than even the ordinary stone cellar would be. Its capacity is 300,000 gallons, but usually contains only the vintage of the season, as Mr. Adamson never has any difficulty in effecting sales.

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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 69

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