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 71

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 71

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RANK W. GIBSON, a native of England, was born near London, May 28, 1846. In 1849 his parents came to the United States. They landed at New Orleans, and immediately started up the Mississippi River for Illinois. In 1850 they removed to Quincy, where Mr. Gibson started the Quincy Whig, which was afterward the first newspaper in Illinois to un- furl the Republican banner. In 1855 he went to Fontenelle, Nebraska, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1856-'57 he repre- sented his district in the State Legislature. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Denver, Colorado, where he established the Rocky Mountain News, the first newspaper published in that place. Ile afterward published the Common- wealth and Republican, and other papers in different points of the State. In 1886 he re- moved to California, and settled in Los Gatos, where he now resides.

Frank W., the subject of this sketch, received his education in the publie schools and in the Denmark Academy, at Denmark, and located in Lee County, Iowa. In 1868 he went to Fre- mont, Nebraska, where he engaged in the book and stationery business for a little more than a year. He then sold out his business, and went to northern Nebraska, where he engaged in general merchandise for one year. In 1870 he came to San Francisco, California, where he joined an expedition to Victoria, British Column-

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

bia, which was then being organized in cou- sequence of the Jim Creek and Peace River gold excitement. From Victoria he went on to the interior of Alaska, where he mined for six months. On his return, in 1871, he stopped at Seattle, and fron here he traveled overland through Washington ad Oregon to San Fran- cisc). In 1872 he went to Colorado, where he took a contract of twenty-sevea miles on the Colorado Central Railroad, with two of his brothers. From there he returned to Nebraska, and engaged in the paint, oil and glass business, in Fremont, until 1880; then engaged in the grocery business until 1882; then in building and renting houses until 1887. In that year he returned to California with his wife, and. they traveled over the State in search of a loca- tion, returning to Nebraska in the fall. In 1888 they removed to Lake County, California, where they located permanently. He lias 440 acres of land, a half mile south of west of Lake- port, on which he has a fine residence and barn; 120 acres are under cultivation, and the whole under fence. He has about fifteen acres planted in fruit trees and vines. Water for domestic use and stock is brought through pipes from a clear cool spring in the mountains. A portion of Mr. Gibson's land lies adjoining the cor- porate limits of Lakeport, which he has sub- divided into town lots, and which he offers for sale at a remarkably low figure. Mr. Gibson has adopted a novel feature in the sale of his residence lots, which consists of giving one lot to any party building on the same and selling them the adjoining lot at a low price if he want to buy, making a nice home for little money. Mr. Gibson also owns 440 acres of land in Pierce County, Nebraska, adjoining the town of Pierce, the county-seat of Pierce Conn- ty. A portion of this land is also within the city limits, and is also laid out in town lots, and given away and sold the same as the above. He has fine business lots in the most desirable part of the city, and some fine lots in the heart of the city of Fremont, Nebraska, the county-seat of Lodge County, which he will sell on easy terms.

Mr. Gibson has very appropriately named his beautiful property in Lake County, . Glenwood Ranch," with his beautiful addition to Lakeport as Glenwood Place. He has published a fine folder with maps, with the ranch subdivided, showing the locality and giving the practical points of the county. Mr. Gibson has now a nice cannery on the ranch, known as the Lake- port Canning Company, canning all kinds of fruit, and making a specialty of canning figs, something new for California, and his best brand, known as his Glenwood Ranch brand, one can always depend on being straight goods.

He was married in 1873, to Miss Helen Lewis, a daughter of Daniel and Catherine (Conrad) Lewis. They have two children: Birdie and Cora, both attending school in Lake- port. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has filled all the chairs in the subordinate, and taken all the degrees in the encampment and canton.

LIJAHI D. HAM, attorney at law, has re- sided in California for sixteen years, and for the past nine years in Napa. He was born in Talladega County, Alabama, in 1840. His parents were James T. and Elizabeth (Whaley) Haut, his father a native of Peters- burg, Virginia, and his mother of Walker County, Georgia. They removed while he was a child to Bedford County, Tennessee, where they lived until he reached the age of fifteen years, and then to Washington County, Arkan- sas. His father, who was a Union man, died during the war from the effects of exposure in- curred in the cold winter of 1863, his feet being frozen while lying out to avoid the Confederate troops, he then having three sons in the Union service. Judge Ham received his edneation in Tennessee, and later in the Arkansas College at Fayetteville, where he took the usual course. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and was fairly launched in his profession in Hunts- ville, Arkansas, when the war broke ont. He

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with other Union men was obliged to leave home and live in the mountains to avoid being either conscripted by the Confederate forces or hanged as a Union sympathizer. Early in 1862 he escaped into Missonri and joined Bowen's Battalion, attached to the headquarters of Gen- eral Curtis. He was immediately detailed as a messenger and scout, carrying dispatches from one command to another; a service for which he was well fitted, owing to his thorough fa- miliarity with the country and the monntains. He was soon appointed Chief of Scouts, with the rank and pay of a Captain of cavalry, and held this important post nnder Generals Brown, Totten and Schofield, with headquarters at Springfield, Missouri. He continued in this position until February, 1863, when he was commissioned Major of the First Arkansas In- fantry Volunteers, serving in that capacity until the close of the war, and participating in all the battles of southwestern Missouri and northern Arkansas, ineluding Pea Ridge, Cot- ton Plant, Prairie Grove and Fayetteville. This last was especially noted as a fight between Ar- kansas Union men on one side and Confederate forces on the other, and resulted in driving the Confederate forces from their section of the country. About this time he was appointed by President Lincoln United States District At- torney for the Western Distriet of Arkansas, which embraced the eleven western eonnties of Arkansas, as well as the whole Indian Territory. He held this office until 1868, and was then ap- pointed by Governor Clayton, Circuit Judge at Fayetteville. He resigned this position in 1874, when he came to California, where he settled in Santa Rosa, and engaged in the prac- tice of law until 1879, when he spent one year in Portland, Oregon. Returning to California he settled in Napa, resuming his practice, which he has continued since that time. He was mar- ried in Arkansas, in 1857. IIis wife's health requiring a change of climate, he took her to Denver, Colorado, where she died, after a resi- dence of about nine months. Some thirteen years ago he married Miss Julia Conn, a daugh

ter of Dr. Conn. There are three children: Rosa, the wife of W. W. Wright, cashier of the Hot Springs (Arkansas) Savings Bank and Treasurer of the city of that name; Lucie, the wife of L. W. Gregg, attorney at law at Fay- etteville, Arkansas, son of Judge Gregg, for- merly Chancellor and one of the Judges of the Supreme Court; and Kate, at the present time visiting in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Judge Ham is a member of Yount Lodge, No. 12, F. & A. M., and of Kit Carson Post, No. 74, G. A. R.

AMUEL R. RHODES, dentist, has been a resident of California for about thirty-five years. His parents, Judge A. L. Rhodes and Elizabeth (Cavins) Rhodes, came from In- diana in 1854. His father had oecnpied a prominent position in the legal and politieal history of the development of California. He represented the Santa Clara Senatorial District about the time of the breaking out of the Re- bellion, was one of the Justices of the Supreme Court for a period of sixteen years, and was for two years of that time Chief Justice. He is now practicing law in San Francisco, and re- siding in San José. Dr. Rhodes received his primary education in the Gates' Institute of San José, attended for three years Santa Clara College, and was gradnated at the University of California, at Berkeley, in 1875. For some four years he nnderwent a process of preparation for his life-work by engaging in numerons branches of business, as journalist, merchant, clerk in a stoek-broker's office, then undertaking the studying of medicine, and finally drifting into dentistry, which he decided to make his profession, and which he has studied and prae- ticed ever sinee. He practiced for abont two years in Havana, Cuba; then returning to the United States he settled in San José, where he remained for about a year and a half, and then removed to Napa, where he has since devoted himself to his profession. He was married in 1879, to Miss Josephine Brito, a native of New

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York. Her father, Dr. Brito, a native of the Island of Cuba, was a naturalized American citizen. He was accustomed to practice dentistry there dur- ing the winter, and in New York during the summer seasons. He died six years ago.

HARLES E. GREENE, deceased, formerly a prominent farmer of Yolo County, was born in Shelburne, Verinont, May 24, 1825, his parents being Rufus and Betsey (Weed) Greene. His ancestry is traceable to the De Gras family of France, and later to the family in Rhode Island named Greene, with whom the famons Revolutionary General Na- thaniel Greene was connected. When the sub- ject of this sketch was twelve years of age his parents removed to Hopkinton, New York, re- sided there seven years, where Charles at- tended the Hopkinton Academy, and then removed to Southport (now Kenosha), Wiscon- sin. There Mr. Greene taught school awhile and then clerked in the drug store of his brother, Pliny P., a practicing physician. March 13, 1849, he started for California with an ox team, and arrived in Sacramento, October 13, after a comparatively pleasant trip.

Upon bis arrival in California, Mr. Greene engaged in mining for a time, with success; then he was in mercantile business, in partner- ship with Mr. Hutchinson, in Sacramento, on J street, where the old Fountain House now stands, until 1852; and while there the firm was obliged to take some land in Yolo County in security for a debt, and Mr. Greene took charge of it. It was twelve miles from Woodland and known as the " Big Ranch." The grant title was proven fraudulent, after expensive litiga- tion in the courts. This, with other things, caused Mr. Greene to lose all that he had saved. lle lived there, however, nntil 1860, when he moved upon the place where his widow now re- sides. After locating there he had many dis- couraging failures, but fortune at length crowned his efforts, and at the time of his death,

in July, 1886, he had one of the most product- ive farms in Yolo County. It is situated five miles north and east of Davisville, and contains 1,280 acres, all enclosed. It is the best of wheat land; and here the widow and two of the children reside, continuing in agricultural pur suits.

Mr. Greene was a settled Republican and a publie-spirited and exemplary citizen. In July, 1855, he married Miss Bertha L. Bennett, of Sacramento. She was a native of Muscatine, Iowa, and a daughter of Milo and Mary J. (Gibson) Bennett, the father a native of Ver- mont and the mother of New Hampshire. Mr. Bennett crossed the plains with his family to Sacramento in 1851, principally for the sake of his health; but he died the next year. Mrs. Greene has had three children: the eldest, Kate A., who is now Mrs. B. B. Tuttle, of Portland, Oregon; Ella A. and Charles E., Jr.

Mrs. Greene relates the following enconnter with Indians while crossing the plains in 1851:

" When we left Council Bluffs, our company numbered about sixty persons, all expecting to go to Oregon, but before reaching the junction of the California and Oregon roads, my father with some others decided to go to California. Our division consisted of ten men, two women and seven children, separating from the main company, taking our way toward California. Occasionally we were visited by Indians in small numbers, and while we treated them kindly always refused their request for ammunition, which they seemed anxious to have. A few days after one of these visits we had some cattle shot, but as they were not greatly injured we did not leave them. This may have angered the Indians, for we began to notice signal fires in all directions. Arriving at the Humboldt River, where water and grass was plentiful, we concluded to rest for a few days, but on a sec- ond consideration we thought it prudent to try and overtake a company who were only two days in advance of us. The signal fires in- creased in numbers, making us feel that danger threatened.

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" At the close of the second day we reached a place called Stony Point, and as usual one of our number was sent forward to choose onr camping grounds; my sister and myself accom- panying him to the place selected, we went · down to the river to get a drink and wash our faces. The gentleman with us stooped down to get some water and was in the act of putting it to his lips when he discovered an Indian on the opposite bank just raising his gun. Simulta- neously a report sounded from both sides, and our escort called to us to run as the Indians were npon ns. This we did crying ' Indians!' ' Indians!' at every step. Our cry was heard just as the wagons were forming the camp. immediately our captain ordered a retreat from the willows, and we barely reached a place where the Indians could not fire on ns from am- bush, when we were surrounded by between seventy-five and 100 yelling, dancing Indians. The wounded man had managed to reach the camp in a short time; two others were dis- abled, thus reducing our defenders to seven men. We made breastworks of bed and pillows, thus affording a slight protection from which onr men could return the fire of the enemy.

" The sun went down on a seemingly doomed company, surrounded by overwhelming num- bers. Our death, or, worse, our capture, seemed inevitable. Within our camp there was a death- like stillness, each one realizing that the next moment might be our last on earth. The firing from both sides continued until midnight, when we could see that some sort of a council was being held. We were not left long in suspense as to their intentions, for suddenly the sky grew red and we were inclosed in a wall of fire. The grass was about eighteen inches high and very dry, and as we saw the flames advancing to- ward us we felt that there was no longer any hope. Surely God was our defense; for when the fire had reached within twenty yards of the camp it went ont. They did not dare relight it, as any attempt to do so would have brought them within range of our guns; so they con- tinned shooting at us until about eight o'clock

the next morning. Then, seemingly discour- aged, they disappeared. After a consultation among our company it was deemed advisable to proceed, but as the traveled road was for the greater part of the way among the willows we decided to abandon that, taking our way across the hills with only the sun for our guide. Each tan carried his gun in one hand, a whip in the other, the women and children always carrying weapons. The wisdom of our course was soon manifest, for the Indians once more swarmed from their hiding places and commenced firing upon ns.

" For three days and nights we were without water, excepting such as we found in the stag- nant pools, and this so fonl that we could only drink it with vinegar or make it into coffee. The stock was watered by women and children passing buckets from hand to hand, while every man with gun in hand stood ready to fire in case of emergency. For a week we dared not stop to rest, making a fire once a day, and then only enough to make our coffee, lest the smoke should reveal us to the enemy. Day and night we journeycd on until it seemed as though death was better than the terrible snspense. Gradu- ally our fears lessened, though it was weary traveling. As my father had lost all his stock, and only by dividing the teams belonging to others were we enabled to bring one wagon, which contained all we possessed in the world. After we met a company of prospectors from California we felt comparatively safe, experienc- ing no farther trouble from the enemy."

ONATHAN C. TYLER, prominent among the old and respected pioneers of Califor- nia, was born in Pigeon Prairie, Michigan, Jannary 11, 1830, the son of Isaac and Eleanor (Knapp) Tyler. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and his ancestors were of Eng- lish origin. His mother was born in Canada, and her ancestors on the paternal side were

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English, and on the maternal side of German extraction.

Our subject was reared and schooled in his native State until eighteen years of age, when he concluded to battle with the world on his own account. On leaving the home of his childhood he proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there down the river to Gaines' Landing, Arkansas, thence to' New Orleans, intending to come to California by water; but on his arrival in that city he found that no regular vessels were sailing from that port to the Golden State; and the cholera was at that time raging fiercely as an epidemic. He remained but ten days in the Crescent City, when he returned North to St. Louis, thence to Beardstown, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a time.

In 1849 he crossed the plains by ox teams, arriving the following year at Hangtown. He became engaged in mining at various camps, his first experience being on Weber Creek, then Nevada City, Grass Valley and Boston Ravine, occupying his time in those camps the first year. Later he visited Feather River and Spanish Ranch, remaining in the latter camp somne four weeks. Thence he went to what was known as Rich Bar, on Feather River, remain- ing there a few months. He next visited the Wyandot diggings, and from there he next went to Shasta County, where he built the old Eagle Hotel. In the fall of the same year, 1853, he came to his present place and purchased 600 acres of land, and from this period he has fol- lowed the life of a practical farmer. In 1856 he purchased a portion of the Spanish grant then owned by Robert Thombs, this being the first purchase of Spanish grant land made in the State of California. His present farm consists of 2,000 acres, located two miles north of the flourishing and prosperous town of Tehamna, and is a portion of the Thombs and of the old Sicard grants, all under full cultivation and used for grain-growing and stock-raising.

Mr. Tyler and Miss Mary Dement, a native of Iowa, who crossed the plains in 1853, were the first white couple married in Red Bluff, the mar-

riage taking place March 10, 1854. They have five children living: George A., John W., Ulysses B .. Sierra Nevada and Mary E. Mr. Ty- ler is politically a Republican, and takes an active part in politics. He also affiliates with the F. & A. M. of Molino Lodge, No. 150, of Te- hama; also Commandery No. 17, K. T., of Red Bluff. Of this commandery Mr. Tyler was one of the founders.

RED MICHAELSON is one of the many reliable and enterprising citizens that Ger- many has furnished the United States. He was born in Holstein, Germany, August 23, . 1830, the son of German parents. His father, John Henry Michaelson, was a saddler and leather tanner. The family were Lutherans. The subject of this sketch received his education in his native land, and there learned the trades of miller and carpenter. He was a soldier in the Schleswig-Holstein army, and served in the war against Denmark in 1849. In the battle of Idstad he received a wound in his thigh, which made him a partial cripple for life. He came to America and to Illinois in 1856, and, not- withstanding his lameness, he worked on farms and in loading cars until the spring of 1859. At that time he came to California. In Shasta County he worked both at mining and at the dairy business. At first he was employed by James Wolf. Later, he purchased an interest in a irnit and vegetable store, and kept it two years. Then he formed a partnership with Frank Litsch and engaged in the general mer- chandise business, continuing it until the fall of 1869. In that year Mr. Michaelson pur- chased a store in Lewiston, Trinity County. Three years later he sold out, and engaged with Mr. Reid in 1872, in the production of Angora goats. That business they followed twelve years, having as many as 1,500 goats at one time, and receiving as high as eighty seven and a half cents per pound for the mohair. The price went down, however, until it reached thirty-

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four cents per pound, when they sold out, get- ting $2,200 for 1,100 goats. Mr. Michaelson has 200 acres of land, on which he is -raising hay and vegetables. He has dealt considerably in city real estate in Redding, has loaned money and built a number of houses. He is president of the building association that erected the fine I. O. O. F. block, and he is a stockholder in the building.

Mr. Michaelson has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty-four years, has passed all the chairs of the order and has taken much interest in the society. He is an intelligent Republican, a kind-hearted man, and is ever ready to do all in his power for the advancement of the best interests of the county.

HRIS SIEBER, proprietor of the Pacific House at Woodland, is an example of those who came from a foreign land to young America and have attained affluence under our benign institutions. He was born Jannary 29, 1847, in Germany, in the Kingdom of Wirtem- berg, a son of Ludwick and Rosa (Linck) Sieber. His father, a farmer, came to America and to California in 1886, and died the next year, in Woodland, at the age of sixty-seven years. The subject of this biographical mention remained at home on the farm until he was fifteen years of age, when he commenced to learn the tin- smith trade. After completing that he sailed from Liverpool to New York city, where he remained a year working at his trade. In 1866 he came by the Nicaragua route to California, worked a year in his vocation at Sacramento, and then two years at the same in Woodland, when he engaged in a bakery and saloon, which he ran successfully for three years. He then dis- posed of his bakery and continued the saloon until 1881, when he purchased the Tackney House. He afterward changed its naine to the Pacific House, under which name he is now running it, with magnificent success. He is also interested in the Woodland brewery, the elec-

tric light system of the city, the Woodland street railway and various other enterprises. He was elected in 1878 a member of the City Council, and he served also as City Treasurer two years. He is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 111, I. O. O. F., and also of the O. C. F.

He was married in 1874 to Miss Frederica Buod, a native of Germany, and their children are Frieda, Christ, Louie, Elsie and Bertha.

C. WEINBERGER, deceased .- One of the most complete and conveniently arranged O wineries and wine cellars in the vicinity of St. Helena was found to be that ereeted a short distance north of the town by the late J. C. Weinberger, and now carried on by his widow, under the management and superin- tendency of Captain C. T. McEachran, her brother-in-law. The buildings are of the fine, light-colored sandstone of the valley, are two stories in height and about 80 x 100 feet in size, presenting a fine appearance from the road. The vineyard is 100 acres of the most approved varieties of wine grapes, and present a very fine, clear and thrifty appearance. They are about half and halt on hill and bottom land. The an- nual make of wines is about 100,000 gallons, chiefly dry wines, while in the distillery, which is conducted in connection with the winery, about 5,000 gallons of brandy are made. In order to make so large a production, large quantities of grapes are purchased from growers in the valley, in addition to those grown in the vineyard. On the property is also a fine-appear- ing orchard of some 300 trees, comprising, pear, fig, etc. From ten to twenty men are employed according to the season. The wines of this cellar are noted for their high merit, and are chiefly taken as fast as they become aged by regular customers in New York, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Texas and other Eastern points, being in constant demand. The greatest possible care is taken in every process connected with the mann- facture of wine, each step being in the hands of

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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 71

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