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 76

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 76

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).

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

height. Another of similar dimensions, and connected with it by cross tunnels, will be run later on. The conditions of temperature were found admirable, and on account of the tunnels and position of buildings the temperature re- inains uniformly low,-in fact this cellar being found as well arranged and apparently as well adapted for the production of wine as any in the valley. It is probably owing to this fact, and the practical experience of those at the head, that has given the wine of the Beringer Bros. its very high reputation wherever introduced. They find their market chiefly in the East, although a little is sent to Enrope, being appre- ciated in the home of the vine itself for its excellent quality. The brandies are handled altogether by the firm of Walden & Co., of New York. It is the intention of the Beringer Bros., however, eventually to bottle all their production and place it on the market in that shape. With this end in view they are yearly storing a portion of the best of their make, hav- ing now something like 250,000 gallons in the cellar. A distillery containing three stills of latest make, is also a part of the establishment. Last year 60,000 gallons of brandy was made, utilizing thus all the inferior qualities of wine.

The place and surroundings are one of un- usnal beauty, the grounds being tastefully laid out in park-like form withi trees, shrubs and flowers in profusion, while the residence of Mr. Frederick Beringer, the head of the firm and its financial strength, adjoining the town of St. Helena, is of rare elegance and architectural beanty. It is built of stone and hard wood of a modern style, and with its handsome grounds is considered the finest place in this part of the valley. The estate consists of fifty-five acres where the house and cellar are situated, and of 360 acres of hill land, the latter being set ont principally to vines of the better sort, to take the advantage of the superior quality of moun- tain-grown grapes. For white wines the Gute- dels and Rieslings are most employed, and for clarets, Carbernet-Sauvigon, Mataro, Carignane, Burgundies, etc.

The firm or house of Beringer Bros. consists of Messrs. Frederick and Jacob L. Beringer. Of these Frederick Beringer, the elder of the two, is the manager and business man. It is his ample means that has enabled the firm to accomplish what it has in the way of erecting a splendid cellar, and in carrying out the many improvements which enable the house to pro- duce its fine quality of wine. It is to the per- sonal experience in wine-making, etc., however, of Mr. Jacob L. Beringer, the younger member of the firm, that the practical details of the whole matter have been carried ont.

The brothers were born in Mainz. Germany, the foriner in January, 1840, and the latter in May, 1845. Mr. Frederick Beringer was sent to Paris when young to be educated, studying at the great St. Louis College. After gradua- tion he went into business in that city, remain- ing in all ten years in Paris. He then traveled extensively through Mexico and the United States, tinally going to New York in 1862. He again traveled throughout this continent, until finally in 1866 he returned to New York and started in business as a maltster, buying barley in Canada, having it malted in Buffalo, and selling it in New York, a business that he con- tinued with profit for years, his office being at No. 40 Whitehall street, New York city. Finally, in 1884, he came to California, all prep- arations having been already made, the beauti- ful house being erected in 1884. The writer found it still more beautiful interiorly than ex- teriorly, if that is possible; the fittings and fur- nishings are all of the finest and best, from billiard and reading room to library and con- servatory,-singularly elegant and handsome.

During his residence in New York Mr. Beringer was an honored member of the famous Arion Society, holding the presidency of it for thirteen consecutive years, and being the recipi- ent of many beautiful and valuable souvenirs of the office. His son, Frederick, Jr., has been in Europe pursuing his education in the college at Mainz, and for three years at Belfort, France. He is now traveling in this country to complete

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his education. Mr. Beringer has also two daughters, younger.

Jacob L. Beringer, after his education, which was received in his native city, devoted himself to learning the business of wine-making in every particular, being in charge of the great wine cellar of Tim & Floske at Berlin for two years, from 1865 to 1867, as also that of J. A. Harth & Co., in Mainz, in 1867-'68. In 1868 he came to New York and carried on business there until 1872, when he came to California and became foreman for Charles King, with whom he remained until 1878, meantime, with the assistance of his brother, planting the vine- yard and building the cellar now utilized by the firm.

He held the position of Town Trustee of St. Helena in 1878, and is a thorough, popular and experienced man. He has a family consisting of a wife and five children.

" Quality. not quantity," is the motto of the Beringer Bros., and they are living up to it as shown by the fact that they received a silver medal at the Paris Exposition of 1889 for their wines, a gold medal at the State Fair at Sacra- mento, and also a medal at the Mechanics' Fair in San Francisco,-in fact wherever they have exhibited they have carried the honors.

HARLES HESSE, one of the substantial and successful farmers of Tehama County, was born in Tisson, Germany, December 23, 1847, a son of William and Lonisa (Haska) Hesse. The parents were both natives of Ger- many, and emigrated to America in 1853, lo- cating near Chicago, Illinois, where they carried ou farming until 1858, and then moved to Davis County, lowa. Here onr subject received his education in the public schools, and assisted his father on the farm until 1869, when he began farmning on his own account, which enterprise he conducted until 1871, when he came by rail to California, first locating in Indian Valley, Plumas County. where he conducted a farm and

dairy business. In 1873 Mr. Hesse sold out and removed to Tehania Connty, and is now lo- cated on his farm of 1,360 acres, situated four- teen miles west of Red Bluff, of which 700 acres is under full cultivation, devoted princi- pally to grain and stock growing, the balance being pasture and grazing land, except a small fruit orchard for family use.

Mr. Hesse was joined in marriage at Bloom- field, Iowa, August 6, 1871, with Miss Margaret Fox, whose parents were Germans and emigrated to America in 1852, locating in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Ilesse have four children. viz .: William A., Charles N., Maggie L., and Ruby V. Mr. Hesse is a stanch Republican, and takes an active part in politics. He has been School Trustee of Brown's district for many years. He affiliates with the I. O. O. F., Red Blutf Lodge, No. 76; also the F. & A. M., Vesper Lodge, No. 84. Red Bluff.

ILLIAM H. SMITH, one of the promn- inent viticulturists of Tehama County, was born January 16, 1828, in Rens- selaer County, New York, where he was reared and completed his education at the Kinderhook College. His father, John M., and mother, Ann Maria (Hendricks) Smith, were both natives of New York State. The original immigration on the maternal side to America came from Holland. Mr. Smith while in his native State held many important offices of trust, among them that of Commissioner of Highways. He was elected to this office in 1865, and retained it until 1874. when he resigned this position and declined the office of Supervisor. He left his native State in 1876, and came by rail to Cali- fornia, locating in the vicinity of Healdsburg, where he engaged in viticultural pursuits until 1879. He moved thence to Oakland, where he now owns residence property and lived retired from business life until August, 1881, when he accepted the superintendency of the entire sys- tem known as the Stanford vineyard and ranch

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property, located at Vina, which he conducted in all branches until 1887. Then the wine in- dustry and other branches of business connected with the ranch reached a point where it became necessary for Mr. Smith to be relieved of a portion of the responsibility. He now has charge of and superintends all the outlying bus . iness in connection with the famous ranch. In 1889 Mr. Smith took a vacation of a few weeks and paid his native State and relatives a visit.

Mr. Smith was joined in marriage in Column- bia County, New York, in 1840, with an estim- able lady of his name, Miss Jane H. Smith, who was also a native of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had two children, Georgiana, now deceased, and Charles H., who has a position in the treasurer's department of the Central Pacific Railroad since 1874. Mr. Smith is the eldest of six children in his father's family, four of whom reside in the State of New York, and one brother, Captain N. T. Smitli, a resident of California, who has long been connected with the Central Pacific Railroad as assistant treas- urer. In politics Mr. Smith affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not active in political matters. He is a member of the Board of School Trustees of the Lassen School district.

OHN DINSDALE, a general farmer near Woodland, was born December 26, 1852, in Woodland, California, a son of Owen and Saralı (Middleton) Dinsdale. Owen was a native of England who came to New Orleans about 1846, went to St. Louis and finally in 1860 crossed the plains to California, locating two miles east of Woodland. He was a farmer all his life, his death occurring July 12, 1889, when he was seventy-four years of age; his wife died in California, October 1, 1873, at the age of fifty-four years. Of their eight children John was the fourth. He was brought up on a farm, and now occupies the ranch east of Woodland consisting of 320 acres of choice farming land, whereon he is a producer of grain and also rears

live-stock. He is a practical man, a represent- ative of his class and is well and favorably known from his long residence here and the high order of his conduct as a citizen. In 1884 he married Sophronia Wallace, a native of Indiana, and they have one son, Ralph J., and two daughters, twins, Nora and Nina.

ETTERMAN W. CONN, M. D., has been a resident of the Pacific coast since 1862, living twenty years of that time in Nevada, and since 1883 in California. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and was brought up in Zanesville, where his father practiced medi- cine for forty-five years. He received a primary education in the public schools, and was trained by his father, with the view to the medical pro- fession, until the age of eighteen, when he left home for California by the Panama route. After some time in this State, the excitement attending the opening of the Comstock Mine carried him to Nevada, where he engaged as a miner in the Savage Mine. At this time the mine had only been sunk to a depth of fifty feet, and they were working the black sulphurets, worth in gold and siver from $3,000 to $7,000 per ton. After about two years here he went to Austin, Nevada, prospecting and working in the mines at that place. Feeling the need of a settled purpose and direction in life he returned to Virginia City and entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. Green of that place for one year, when he was enabled, with the aid of his previous experience in his father's office, to performn all office surgery and minor operations. He continued his studies in the office of a broth- er of a major general of the Confederate army, who was killed in Missouri during the last year of the war. This gentleman had been a sur- geon in the British army in India for twenty- five years, having had a long and varied experience in most surgical operations. He re- mained in that office for abont one year, acquiring a vast experience in surgery, so many

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

men being injured in the mines in 1868. He finished his studies with Dr. McMeans, of White Pine, Eastern Nevada, who had long practiced medicine in Santa Rosa, California, and entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York city, where, after a three year's course, he graduated and received his diploma, in 1872. Returning to the Pacific slope, he commenced the practice of his profes- sion at Virginia City, where his previous acquaintance and experience, coupled with a remarkable successful surgical case that occur- red soon after, brought him a large and lucrative practice, which continued and increased during the fourteen years of his residence there. He then removed to Los Angeles, in this State, for one year, and afterward to Napa where he has practiced for the last five years. His parents were Dr. William P. and Eliza (Wein) Conn, who were among the early settlers of Ohio. They are now residents of Napa, his father at the age of eighty-six years, and his mother at the age of eighty-four, being still in the enjoyment of active and robust health. His brother, Dr. Frank M. Conn, has been a practicing physician in Virginia City for many years. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Nara County Medical Association, and of the Masonic order, Yount Lodge, No. 12, of Napa. An enthusi- astic devotee of his profession, he loves it for what it is able to do for the good of suffering humanity. To this profession he has devoted his life, and to this wonderful singleness of pur- pose his great success in it is due.

OHN D. CHEETIIAM, a farmer of Yolo County, between Woodland and Madison, was born in that County, December 9, 1861, a son of Samuel and Martha (Francisco) Cheet- ham. The father was a native of England, came to California in 1850, and died when John was very young. His mother was a native of Illinois. Mr. Cheetham is an industrious young man, well known in the county for his integrity and good

judgment. He rents 400 acres, on which he raises principally grain, situated four miles east of Madison and seven miles west of Woodland. For his wife he married Florence Paliner, a native of this State, born in Solano County, May 22, 1870, and they have one daughter, who was born December 31, 1888, and named Eva A.

ORENZO DEXTER, deceased, formerly a farn er near Winters, Yolo County, was one of the old and respected farmers of that locality. He was born April 1, 1813, in Herkimer County, New York, the son of Sam- nel and Anna (Fargo) Dexter. Samuel, a farmer, moved to Michigan in 1833, where he lived until his death. Being one of the earliest settlers in that State, he found the country an unbroken forest, through which he had to cut fifteen miles to find his claim. Lorenzo, the subject of this notice, was brought up on a farm in such a country, and when he was twenty years of age he struck out for himself, continuing as a farm hand. In 1850 he came to California, with horse teams, being four months on the route. His first stop in the Gold- en State was at Hangtown, where he was engaged in mining for six years, being moder- ately successful. During the last two years of that period he was superintendent of water ditches and reservoirs for mining companies. In 1856 he went into Yolo County, purchased a squatter's title to a tract two miles northeast of Winter's and settled upon it. thus becoming one of the first settlers in that part of Yolo County. At length he increased his land pos- sessions to 440 acres, which he improved from barren plains to a comfortable home, which he enjoyed in the evening of life. He was married June 20, 1837, to Miss Sarah M. Phelps, a native of Ohio, who still survives him. Of their four children two are now living, namely: Ma- son S., of Monterey county, and Ida L., wife of J. P. Trumbull. Mr. Dexter was a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic

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fraternity at Woodland. He died in 1881, on the sixty-eighth anniversary of his birth-day, sud- denly falling prostrate in the front yard at his home.

W. MORGAN, a farmer of Yolo County, was born January 6, 1833, in Trumbull County, Ohio, a son of Ezra and Harriet (Jordan) Morgan, natives of New York State. In 1851 the senior Morgan came to California and in 1853 sent for his two sons M. W. and Emery B., who taught the first school in the Cacheville district. The father returned to Ohio in the spring of 1856. Pre- vionsly, M. W., at the age of sixteen years be- gan sailing on the lakes. At the age of twenty- one years, in 1853, he came to California, as mentioned, landing in San Francisco, and in a short time went to Yolo County, and settled on his father's farm, until his father returned to Ohio. Then he went to selling goods in the mountains, and followed that business success- fully until 1867, when he returned to Yolo County and purchased the place where he now lives. During the same year he went back to Ohio and Iowa; and while East he was married, in Davenport, Iowa, August 18, 1869, to Miss Mary A Neal, a native of Ohio. He came with his wife to California and settled upon his ranch; but in 1877 his wife died, leaving an only daughter, Clara L., born September 5, 1870. Mr. Morgan has toiled faithfully and honestly for many years in the Golden State, and well deserves the enjoyments of the beautiful home which he has made near the foothills of the Coast mountains. His ranch contains 200 acres.

ENRY A. CLAUSEN, following agricult- ural pursuits near Black's, Yolo County, is a pioneer who has struggled against the disadvantages of early days, but, being in- dustrious and economical, he is now enjoying

the accumulations of many a hard day's work. He was born February 18, 1826, in Germany, the son of John and Annie (Alımling) Clausen, natives of Germany, who emigrated in 1854 to Wisconsin, and in 1860 returned to Germany, where they ended their days. In 1850, Mr. Clau- sen, subject, went by sail to New York city, and worked at his trade of carpenter there for five years, and then he came by water to California, and the first year and a half here he followed mining. He then moved into Yolo County, worked at his trade and bought and sold land until 1863, when he settled upon the ranch where he now resides, of 1,040 acres of finely improved land, about one mile north of Black's, where he expects to spend the remainder of his days, at this beautiful home.

He was married in 1866, in the house where he now lives, to Miss Catherine Hegelan, a na- tive of Germany and a daughter of Frederick and Maria (Knodler) Hegelan, both natives of Germany. She was born September 4, 1840. Their five children have been: Einma, born January 21, 1867; Ernest, November 30, 1872; and Minnie, April 8, 1875; and the deccased are Charles and Julia. Ernest graduated at Wood- land Business College at the age of sixteen years; and Charles died February 10, 1888, while attending Heald's Business College in San Francisco.

ARDEN CRAWFORD CURRY, one of the representative and substantial farmers of the Sacramento Valley, and the owner of 400 acres of fine farm land situated in the heart of the valley, two miles northeast of the flourishing town of Corning, is a native of In- diana, dating his birth at Terre Hante, June 17, 1833, the son of William and Clemsy A. Curry. The mother is a native of Kentucky. The father, a farmer by occupation, moved to Lawrence County, Missouri, in 1840. In 1857 the sub- ject of this sketch crossed the plains, via Fort Bridger, to California, first locating at Red Bluff,

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Tehama County, where he was engaged eight years in teaming across the mountains from Red Bluff to Yreka, Weaverville and other points upon the road to the Humboldt mines, etc. At this period the Indians were very troublesome, infesting this section of the country, stealing stock and murdering the whites whenever the opportunity offered. Mr. Curry was near the Hot Creek Station when the massacre occurred at that place. The Indians attacked and mur- dered the whites and then burned the station. He was engaged in the livery business in Red Bluff for several years, and in 1871 he went to Colusa Courty, where he engaged in farming for three years. He was then in Ventura County two years, residing one year in the city of Los Angeles. In 1876 he returned to Te- hama County, and in 1880 located on his pres- ent tarm, where he is engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising.

Mr. Curry was married at Red Bluff, June 2, 1867, to Miss Isabelle Davis, a native of Iowa, who crossed the plains in 1861. They have three children living,-Ollie F., William M. and Reta J .; Mary B. died August 2, 1869, and Katie C. March 21, 1884.

ARREN A. BROWN, a farmer on Oat Creek in Yolo County, is a son of James and Mary (Banister) Brown. His father, a native of Rhode Island, removed to New York State, and in 1837 to Lake County, Ohio, where he died in 1840. His oldest brother then took the family to Illinois. Their mother was a native of Vermont. Mr. Brown, of this sketch, began to work for a fam- ily about forty-five miles northwest of Cleve- land, where he continned four years; he then went to Illinois and remained with his brother one winter and in the spring was employed on the farm for Mr. Wattling, and continued with him three years; then worked one summer sea- son for a neighbor at $16 a month; next he chopped wood on the Mississippi River for the

winter, making his home at Galena: in the spring of 1851 he ran a ferry-boat at Tete Des- more for a man by the name of Greer for one season, and in the spring of 1852 came with horses overland to California. He made his home in Pine Grove, Placer County, until 1868, when he went to Yolo County and settled in Cache Creek Canon, where he rented land until 1888; and finally he purchased 320 acres in Fairview Township, on Oat Creek, where he is now flourishing as a prosperous agriculturist.

He was married in Placer County, in 1857, to Miss Mary E. Towner, who died October 29 of the next year; and for his present wife, Mr. Brown married, January 24, 1867, Miss Eliza- beth J. Staton, a native of Missouri, who was brought to California when six years of age. By the last there are the following children : Mamie L., born May, 1868; Warren A., Sep- tember, 1870; Caswell C .; May, 1872; Harry R .. May, 1874, and Josie H., August, 1879.

COURTOIS .- It is with peculiar pleas- ure that we here place on record a notice of the important work that is being done for Napa Valley and the wine interest, not alone of this section but of the State at large, by the experienced and indefatigable labors of Mr. V. Courtois. During the eight years that he has been a resident of this val- ley, he has accomplished a great deal, winning the confidence of grape-growers and wine- makers alike by his knowledge and enthusiastic attention to the business. Mr. Courtois is a native of Cette, France, on the shores of the Mediterranean, one of the centers of the wine industry of France. His father has an exten- sive wine-house in that city, having trade cover- ing the whole of Europe, and the family has been connected with the wire business for several generations. It will thus be seen that Mr. Courtois comes of an experienced family, and should know what he is doing. After an experience covering many years in France, and

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afterward at Naples, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain, Mr. Courtois determined eight years ago to come to this State, to examine into the possi- bilities for wine and brandy making, and with a possible view of going into business here. His investigation was sufficiently favorable to induce him to locate permanently in Napa Valley, where he has for the past four years carried on an extensive and rapidly increasing business,- that, too, against the most vigorous opposition of those who were satisfied with the slow-going and old fashioned ways of doing business, and did not care to see the energetic and enthusiastic Frenchman come in with his new ideas and im- proved methods. He has steadily enlarged his business, however, and to-day occupies a com- manding position in the wine business of the Napa Valley, having many cellars rented, where he makes wine on contract, and acting also as broker and commission merchant in the pur- chase and sale of wines. His trade covers all the United States, Central and Sonthern Amer- ica, etc., but is chiefly confined to San Fran- cisco, finding it more profitable to concentrate his attention to one market. Mr. Courtois is very energetic in forwarding any course that will be of general benefit to this section, spar- ing neither time nor money to further the best interests, and making many improvements, The question of killing the phylloxera, which is such a pest in California, has occupied his atten- tion deeply, and this summer he proposes to visit France to examine the new means adopted there, with the intention if possible of introduc- ing it here, making at the same time an exhaust- ive report to the department at Washington. It is his intention to make a study in London, Paris, Bordeaux and the other centers of the qualities and styles of wines that are called for in those markets, with a view of profiting by it afterward here. He is a broad-minded and public-spirited man in his efforts, aiming as inuch to benefit the wine interests of the State at large as himself personally. He will also go to Cognac in order to interest capital there to undertake the manufacture of real cognacs

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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 76

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