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 72

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 72

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experienced men, the uniform excellence of the product being no doubt due to this fact.

We copy herewith entire the sketch of the life of Mr. Weinberger that appears in the his- tory of Napa County: "Mr. Weinberger was born in Weissenburg, Bavaria, July 13, 1830, and is the son of Christian and Madaline (Rebes- berger) Weinberger. He resided at his birth- place until 1848, during which time he was educated at the common schools. At the age of fourteen he began the confectionery trade, which he followed until March, 1848. He then came to America, landing in New York the latter part of May. He remained there and worked at his trade until 1853, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked but a few months only, when he went to Indianapolis and began business on his own capital. He re- mained there until 1865. He then purchased a farm, in connection with W. H. Ragan, and began the fruit and nursery business, which he followed until 1870. In 1869 he paid California a visit, and was so pleased with the country that he returned to Indiana in 1870, and settled up his affairs, and came back to California to make his permanent residence. He came to Napa Valley, and located at his present place, a short distance above St. Helena, and has since paid his entire attention to the manufacture of wine. He is an active member of the St. Helena Viti- cultural Society.

He was married January 27, 1860, to Miss Anna Von Dokkun, of Cincinnati, who was born in Paris, France, November 5, 1838. By this union there is one danghter, Minnie, born December 27, 1861. Mrs. Weinberger died in 1866. He married, secondly, Miss Hannah E. Rabbe, a native of New Albany, Indiana, born October 7, 1840. They have had children as follows: Emily D., born January 23, 1875, is deceased; Hannah, born June 7, 1876; Marie, born July 4, 1878, is deceased; and John C., born March 4, 1881.

Mr. Weinberger died in March, 1882, being foully shot down without provocation by a misereant. His death was felt to be a public

misfortune, for although quiet, unostentatious and modest, there were few indeed more gener- ally beloved by the community. He was public- spirited, energetic and enterprising, very thor- ongli in all his dealings and aided much in every good work. He was the first to erect a stone wine cellar in the valley, a portion of which was completed in 1876, all his investments being made with an eye to the future. The business, since his death, has been carried on by Mrs. Weinberger, as her husband would have ex- pected, and she has met continned and satis- factory success as a consequence. She still re- sides in the handsome residence, surrounded by well-kept grounds, erected by her late husband. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, being a Royal Arch Mason. He was a stockholder in the Warehouse Association of St. Helena.

Miss Minnie Weinberger is now the wife of Mr. Zierngibl, the manager of W. B. Bourn's great wine cellar, married in 1885.

APTAIN C. T. McEACHRAN .- In ad- dition to superintending the business of his sister-in-law. Mrs. J. C. Weinberger, Captain McEachran owns and conducts an ex- tensive establishment on the eastern side of the valley. Here he has a fine wine cellar, 100 x 100 feet in size and an extensive and well-cared- for vineyard. The grapes are hauled to the Weinberger cellar and there mnade into wine, the cellar on Captain McEachran's place being used for the storage of old wines. Upon his place he also raises stock and animals of varions kinds and carries on general farming. He has had a life of more than usual variety and in- terest, containing, too, a lesson to those who have ambition, as showing what may be ac- complished by energy, rectitude and persever- ance. Captain McEachran is of Scotch birth, being born in 1824, in the city of Greenock. A short time later the family removed to Edin- burg, where he resided nntil 1831, when he was

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brought to America by his parents. He was brought up and received his education for the most part in the State of New York, but, mani- festing a love for a sailor's life, he went to sea, being engaged in different capacities on the great lakes and elsewhere, the latter part of the time being in command as master of the vessel. Later on the Captain engaged in trade, being in the ship-chandler business in Chicago in 1854, in partnership with others, and afterward in other lines. Finally, in 1858. he came to California and immediately went to the mines in Tuolumne County, remaining there with varying success for three years. He then went to Arizona, Idaho, Virginia City, and elsewhere, and having accumulated a little money de- termined to quit mining and settle down. Ac- cordingly he came to the Napa Valley in 1870, began wine-making and has been engaged in it ever since, having now the reputation of being one of the best and most experienced wine men in the county. He has made his way from the start almost without assistance, owing all his success to his quick brain and ready hands, coupled with intelligent foresight and attention to business.

Captain McEachran is a Republican in poli- ties, but never a politician. In private life he is universally respected and esteemed, those who know him best thinking most highly of him. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, hav- ing held the high honor of being Grand Master of the order in 1886-'87.

OSEPHI MECKLENBURG is the pioneer milling man of Napa County, and a gen- tleman of experience, well posted in regard to the history of the county, and one who is well regarded and popular in the county, being now the Roadmaster of his district. Mr. Mecklenburg was born in Germany, in 1825. In 1842, when a lad of seventeen years of age, he came to America, and at Toledo, Ohio, learned the milling business, following it later

at Ft. Wayne, Indiana, for five years. After that he was engaged in his business in Illinois, having married, in Michigan, Miss E. Hamil- ton, a native of New York State. Her mother, born in Connecticut, is still alive, at a very old age. She draws a pension as the widow of Bemis Hamilton, a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1852 Mr. Mecklenburg and family crossed the plains to California, and spent two years at Sacramento, San Francisco and Davisville, run- ning flouring mills for Wilson and Conroe & Co. at the former cities, and for Jerome C. Davis at the latter place. In the fall of 1854 he removed to Napa County, with which he has since been prominently identified. He first started a mill at Yountville, for Mr. Yount, and ran it for a year and a half. He then went to the mines in El Dorado County, spending a year at that business. He then returned to Yountville, and for a year longer carried on the mill at that point. In 1858 Mr. Mecklenburg took the mill on the Bale place, where W. W. Lyman now lives, carrying it on for a year, later on again returning to Yountville, spending in all about five years at that point, between the years 1854 and 1864. Later, in partnership with Mr. Lyman, he carried on the Turbine mill at the Lyman place, until the extension of the grape business in the valley made it unprofitable. For twelve years, from 1865 to 1876, inclusive, Mr. Mecklenburg was a Supervisor of Napa County, and was one of the most active promoters of its interests. During Garfield's administration he was appointed United States Deputy Collector under Hartson, for Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties, holding the position four years. For a time he was also the tobacco in- spector at San Francisco, under United States Secretary of Treasury Folger, but he early re- signed that position. For the past three years he has served as Road Overseer of this district. Mr. Mecklenburg is an ardent Republican, an abolitionist and free-soiler, with very decided opinions on the leading questions of the hour, in regard to which he takes a broad and com- prehensive view. Unfortunately, failing health

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has of late militated much against his comforts, but it is hoped that he will overcome this and regain health and strength.

Mr. Mecklenburg has three children,-one daughter and two sons. The former is now Mrs. Cora Fawle, of Oakland; the sons, Lin- coln, is a printer in Oakland, and J. H. is engaged in ranching near his father's place, four or five miles above St. Helena.

OHN D. LAWSON, a real-estate dealer of Woodland, was born in Jackson County, Tennessee, July 15, 1832, and he was eight years of age when the family moved with him to Chariton County, Missouri. In 1852 he came by the overland ronte to California, settling in Sierra County, where he resided one year. He then came to Yolo County, where he has continued to reside until the present time. For a number of years he was engaged in farm- ing, a few miles southwest of Woodland; but in 1860 he moved to Woodland, and built a residence on Lincoln avenue. In 1861-'62, to- gether with his only daughter, now Mrs. W. R. Pond, of Woodland, he attended Hesperian College. He built the first livery-stable in that city in 1862. In 1869 he entered mercantile business where now is the grocery of Eaton & Son; at the end of two years he sold out to Mr. Eaton, and was appointed Deputy Sheriff and Jailer by Sheriff J. P. Bullock for four years. Just before his term expired he was elected County Recorder, and he left his former situation and assumed the duties of the latter for a two years' term, commencing March 4, 1874. The next two years he was engaged in the real estate business, and then, in partnership with H. L. Marders, he kept the Fashion Stable: this was in 1878. In 1883 he was again ap- pointed Deputy Sheriff and Jailer, by Sheriff Jason Watkins, and held the position two years. In 1871, while serving under Sheriff Bullock, he was elected the first Marshal of the town of Woodland, and served from March until May,

under a temporary government until the charter for the incorporation was obtained. After that he was elected a member of the Board of City Trustees for two terms. His present business as real-estate agent was established in 1885. In 1887 he admitted a partner, the firm name becoming Lawson & Maxwell, the latter retiring a year later. Mr. Lawson continued the busi- ness alone until March, 1889, when he formed a copartnership with Louis Walker. The firm name is now Lawson & Walker. Politically, Mr. Lawson is a Democrat.

He was married to Miss Jane Browning, in Yolo County, September 13, 1855, Elder J. N. Pendegast performing the ceremony. The result of this marriage has been a large family of children, all of whom are living at Wood- land. Their names are, respectively: Genoa, Wm. H., James B., Robert G. and Edward.

OSHUA I.AWSON, deceased, was born April 4, 1804, in Jackson County, Tennes- see, and in November, 1829, he married Mary Chaffin, also a native of Tennessee. The family made two trips to Missouri,-first in 1838, spending one year there and returning in 1839. In 1840 they made their second trip, locating in Chariton County, and remained there until 1848, removing thence to Macon County, where they resided four years, when he came to California, with ox teamns. Leaving Bloomington, the county-seat of Macon County, April 13, 1852, they arrived at Gold Hill, Sierra Connty, September 6. The whole fam- ily followed mining about a year. In Septem- ber, 1853, they came into Sacramento, where they sojourned abont two or three months in an old hut on K street, between Eighth and Ninth, and on December 14, came into Yolo County and located permanently on a farm four miles southwest of Woodland, now owned by Dr. Strong. The Lawson family all located land in the same neighborhood. Joshua Law- son died in Woodland. December 21, 1862, and

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the widow is still living, at the age of eighty- three years. In their family were seven daugh- ters and two sons, of whom several died when young; four died in Woodland, and only two are now living, namely: Mrs. Shellhammer and . J. D. Joshua Lawson was a fine mechanic, and followed mechanical pursuits for over thirty years prior to coming to California. He was a preacher of the Christian Church from 1835 to the time of his death. He was the prime mover in the organization of the Chris- tian Church at Woodland, the first pastor of the Church worshiping there, and, unlike most pastors, he preached on Sunday without peenn- iary reward, and attended to his mechanical pursuits during the week, -wagon and carriage- making, blacksmithing, gunsmithing. etc. He was also one of the originators and founders of the Hesperian College at Woodland.

G. BULLARD, merchant and Post- master at Davisville, dates his birth

o June 20, 1831, in Monroe County, New York. His parents, Benjamin and Eleanor (Weaver) Bullard, were natives respectively of Vermont and New York. The father, a shoe- maker by trade, but chiefly a farmer by occupa- tion through life, moved in 1836 to Oakland County, Michigan, settling near Walled Lake, upon land which he purchased there. In 1849 he sold out and moved to Fredonia, Calhoun County, same State, where he remained until 1853, and then he came to California with his family, overland, being five months and two days on the route, ending at Sacramento. He was interested in a hotel there until 1870 and then he was a resident of Davisville until he died, in December, 1884, at the age of seventy- nine years. In his family were three sons and five daughters.

The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm and was with his parents when they came to California. The first work which he did for his own interest was at mining, principally at

Timbuctoo, above Marysville, and in this busi- siness he continued about nine years, in com- pany with a brother and a brother-in-law. He closed his mining experience with $2,200, to be divided between the three. Then for about four years he was in the transfer business in Sacramento; next he was book-keeper for a canal company and a general mercantile house at Michigan Bar for three years; and then, in 1870 he removed to Davisville and was book- keeper for Drisback & Company until that firm failed; then he started out for himself in the grain and mercantile business, but, not having the courage to deny credit, he failed in this enterprise. His general character and upright- ness was too well known for him to be long waiting for an opportunity, and in 1886 he was appointed Postmaster at Davisville, in which position he has served the people to the present time. In connection with the office, he runs a very neat store of groceries and general mer- chandise. He is a member of Dixon Chapter and Woodland Commandery of the Masonic order.

Mr. Bullard was married October 20, 1868, to Mary A. T. Farrell, a native of Ireland, and they have two daughters and three sons, whose names are Mary E., Walter W., Edward F., William G. and Nettie B.

MITH BROWN is the manager of the Eshcol Vineyard and Winery, of which James H. Goodman & Company are the proprietors. This ranch contains 300 acres, 200 in vineyard and about twenty-five in or- chard, and a portion was originally planted in 1882. It has been largely replanted by the present owners. The winery has a storage capacity of 300,000 gallons; building, 125 x 75, of three stories; the first floor devoted to stor- age, the second floor to fermenting and storage, and the upper floor to the crushing of grapes. This product is sold to the trade in Napa and San Francisco. Mr. Brown has been a resident

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of California since 1852, and of Napa County since 1855. Born in Burrillsville, Rhode Island, in 1819, he attended the public schools of his native place, and later an academy in Fall River, up to the age of eighteen. Two years afterward he embarked in the grocery business in Providence, under the firm name of Brown & Steere, Selling out to his partner, he assisted to organize and was chosen president of the first company to establish a factory and en- gage in the manufacture of India rubber, be- fore Goodyear's experiments were known to the world. With three friends he furnished one- third the capital which enabled the original dis- coverer of the vulcanizing process, Martin, to perfect and develop that great invention. They began with the manufacture of rubber shoes in a small way. For their own amusement the girls employed in the factory mnade little toys and animals, and gradually the business ex- tended into new directions. After one trip through the west Mr. Brown arrived home to find his factory destroyed by fire, and Good- year, who had meantime patented his process for preparing rubber, brought suit enjoining the company from further manufacturing. As so much had been lost by the fire he sold out his interests and removed to Baltimore, where he established the first stove foundry in the State of Maryland. Of this he made quite a success, increasing the plant to $50,000, but in 1849 his foundry was burned, leaving only a lot of scrap-iron as the result of his labors there. He then went to Massachusetts and engaged in the woolen manufacture wiht an uncle; but, his health failing, he spent one winter in Missouri, and in the spring of 1852 started on his trip across the plains, coming by way of Salt Lake and the Mojave Desert, and arriving at the lit- tle Mormon town of San Bernardino in 1852. He spent the winter there and at Los Angeles, coming to San Francisco in the spring of 1853, where he opened a livery stable on the corner of California and Webb streets, which he car- ried on for about two years. In 1855 he put on the first line of stages running between

Sonoma, Petaluma, Napa, the White Sulphur Springs and Sacramento, meantime, for one year, owning and conducting the Napa Hotel in connection with his stage line. He sold out both in 1858, and, buying 1,000 acres of land from Cajetano Juarez, he engaged in grain and stock farming until 1866. During this time, with Sam Brannan and others, he built the rail- road from Soscol to Calistoga, and was its presi- dent until it was sold to Ryder & Roelofson in 1872. Mr. Brown was interested in quartz mining in California, Nevada and Mexico from 1858 until he sold out his last mine at Angel's Camp, in Calaveras County, in 1887.

Mr. Brown was married in 1840 to Miss Chloe Thayer, a native of Douglas, Massachu- setts, who was the daughter of Marvel and Lucinda Thayer. Both were descended from old New England stock. They have three chil- dren living: Frances B., now the widow of Henry Edgerton; Summit, now the wife of Homer S. King, of San Francisco, and Dana W., now residing in Nevada, and in the employ of the Carson & Colorado Railroad. For many years of his earlier residence in California Mr. Brown dealt largely in cattle, driving them from Mex- ico and Southern California. During his entire manhood he has been actively engaged in large business interests. He has property in Seattle, Washington, and large landed interests in this State. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Equalization by Governor New- ton Booth in 1872.

ICHEL DE KEYSER, a Pleasanton jeweler, was born at Antwerp, Bel- ginm, July 6, 1857, the son of Charles and Lucia (Verbiest) De Keyser, natives also of that country, who had seven children. At an early age Michel, their third child, was sent to Macon, France, where he learned the watch- making and jewelers' trade. In 1881 he re- turned home and worked at his trade until 1884, when he came to America, landing at New Or-

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leans. Thence he came by train to San Fran- cisco, where he followed his profession a year, with a partner of the name of H. De Houck, until 1886. The latter then absconded, leaving Mr. De Keyser to pay all the debts. Our sub- ject next went to Haywards, and a year after- ward removed to Pleasanton, where he is now well established in the jewelry business. He has also one other shop, namely, Livermore, where he manufactures jewelry. He has con- cluded that partner-ship is a very poor "ship" to sail in, having been robbed and broken up in his business twice through the rascality of such associates in business. He thinks now that he will sail through business life alone. Being of an inventive genins. he has devised several combinations, which he expects to render nseful. One of them is an economical process for ex- tracting oil from seeds, which he claims will extract and take out a larger percentage than any other process now in vogue.

Mr. De Keyser was married in Belgium, May 11, 1881, to Miss Natilia De Lombaerde, and they have two daughters and a son.

JON. WILLIAM MINIS .- In retracing the genealogy of this gentleman, we find that a grandfather, John Minis, was a na- tive of the north of Ireland and came to the United States in old age with five sons, landing at Pittsburg in the year 1800. The eldest of these sons, William Minis, was the father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He first settled in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and then moved into Beaver County, same State, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1859. He married Mary Cochran, also a native of Ireland, and they brought up two sons and two daughters; both the daughters are deceased.

The younger of the sons, the subject of this sketch, was born in Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, March 7, 1819, and spent his younger days with his father upon the farm, indeed

until he was thirty years of age. Being in a " backwoods " section of the State, his advant- ages for education were limited to what could be obtained in the pioneer log school-house, and a short term at an academy. During the early gold-inining period, a company of 300 members was formed at Pittsburg, called the " Pittsburg Company," to come to California. This was joined by Mr. Minis, who at the time was living eighteen miles distant on the Ohio River. They came upon a chartered steamboat to St. Joseph, Missouri, where Mr. Minis and three others left the company and joined a stock com- pany with Captain Winters at the head. They crossed the Missouri River April 7 and landed at Sacramento Angust 7, 1849, among the first immigrants of that year. Going immediately to the mines on the Yuba River above Marys- ville. at a place called Long Bar, Mr. Minis and his comrades began work ; but as there was much sickness there they soon returned to Sacramento. They next went to Clear Creek, twelve miles west of where Shasta is now, and camped there abont six weeks, during which time they buried one of their number at that place. Of sixty miners at that point, twenty sickened and died. But gold was plentiful; every man able to work took ont from the dry diggings there $50 to $500. The rainy season approaching, they re- turned to Sacramento, arriving there a few days before Christmas, 1849, and wintering in and about that city.

In the spring three of Mr. Minis' mess com- panions went to the mines. while he and another man named Wells built a honse on the Coloma road, as a wayside hotel. This was conducted by Mr. Minis about fifteen months, when he sold out his interest and joined his messmates at Ford's Bar on the American River, and worked there in the river mines until the autumn of 1852. Then, together with his companion, J. J. Lytle, he came into Yolo County, settling on the banks of Putah Creek, and followed agricultural pursuits there until 1858. They intended to buy land at first, but the title was not clear. In 1857 the grant upon

H.P. Menite.

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which they settled was confirmed to William Wolfskill; and in that year Mr. Minis purchased the old Tule House seven miles west of Sacra- mento, which in those days was the great place for making money, Sacramento being the com- mercial center. After running that house abont three years he sold out and bought 2,000 acres of land in this county, which he fenced for graz- ing purposes; and on it lie built a nice residence. Altogether, he expended upon the place about $10,000; but the flood of 1862 came and every- thing went down the river. This of course left Mr. Minis in financial straits. In the spring he settled in the little town of Washington, in Yoio County, directly opposite Sacramento, and re- mained there until December, 1865. During that fall he was elected Sheriff of Yolo County and at the end of two years he was re-elected,- thus serving four years. In 1869 he was elected joint Senator for Solano and Yolo counties, and served a term of four years. On going out of the Sheriff's office he was elected Justice of the Peace and Town Recorder for Woodland. In 1875 Mr. Minis was elected Surveyor General for the State of California, which office he held from Jannary, 1876, to January, 1880. For the next six years he was a grocer in Woodland; but in the antumn of 1886 he was elected County Treasurer, and in the fall of 1888 was re-elected, and is therefore holding that position to the present time. In 1853, while living upon the Wolfskill grant, he was elected County Surveyor, and re-elected several times, without opposition. In 1856, while he was keeping the Tule House in Yolo County, he was elected to the Legisla- ture and served four months. He has always been a Democrat, and an efficient worker for the party ; has never been beaten for office but once; has also been a faithful attendant at the connty and State conventions of his party for more than thirty years past. He has never been known to have an enemy.

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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 72

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