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 83

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 83

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).

He first went to work in California as a farın hand, but after being so engaged about a year he went to Putah Creek and rented land from Greene McMahon, and went to farming for himself. He rented from him for three years, and then moved upon his present homestead, which was then owned by Thcodore Winters.

When the town of Winters was started he pur- chased from his landlord 303 acres. He had accomplished this much by determination and pluck, and after a time purchased an additional 135 acres, to which he later added 348 acres more, both of the last mentioned tracts being purchased from D. P. Edwards. Nothing but grain had been raised on this land, and Mr. De Vilbiss set about its improvement in a system- atic way. He erected the necessary buildings in a substantial manner, and in 1878, having come to the conclusion that the future advance- ment of that region must come from other products than grain alone, he commenced plant- ing fruit. To the trees planted that year he has since added regularly until he now has a fruit acreage of 100 acres, about a third of which is in bearing. The trees are pears, apricots, peaches, plums, figs and almonds, while about ten acres of the amount is in table grapes. For the land on his ranch he paid $40 an acre straight through, but of the entire tract he has sold off 600 acres, all his fruit land, however, being in the amount retained. This of course has become very valuable, as Mr. De Vilbiss takes an unusual degree of pride in the quality of the product turned out of his orchard, his dried fruit, especially, commanding the highest price in the market. He shipped his first car load of fruit in 1890, during the week ending July 5, the consignment being made to Loomis, of New York. His shipments for 1890 from twenty-two acres of apricots were over a ton of dried fruit to the acre.

Foreseeing that Winters had a substantial fu- ture before it as a town, and would be the center of the fruit-handling industry, and recognizing the need existing of first-class accommodations for travelers and others in order to reap the full benefit of the coming trade of Winters, Mr. De Vilbiss set about the selection of a suitable site, and in October, 1889, commenced the erection of

THE HOTEL DE VILBISS.

Work on the structure was pushed with com- mendable vigor, and on July 15, 1890, the

515

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

house was finally opened to the public. So well does this enterprise deserve the commendation of the citizens of Winters and the general pub- lic, that a brief description of the house is an essential feature in this connection.

The Hotel De Vilbiss is a handsome and im- posing brick structure of two stories in height, while the ground dimensions are 80 x 120 feet. The architect, Mr. Cook, of Sacramento, having drawn the plans after the suggestions of Mr. De Vilbiss, has arranged within these dimensions a hotel second in convenience to none in the entire section of the State known as Northern California. The first story comprises a commo- dious and handsome office, an elegantly ap- pointed bar, a dining-room 56gx27 feet in extreme dimensions, a spacious kitchen 22 x 32 feet in area, fitted with a Montagne Patent French range, while a hall-way runs the entire distance from office to kitchen. The outlets to the floor above are a handsomely ornamented staircase leading from the office, while the en trance to the ladies' stairway is at the rear of the dining-room. The first story also contains two elegant business rooms, the superior of which are not to be found in Yolo County. A prominent feature is the great plate-glass win- dows in the front, which are 872x96 inches in dimensions, manufactured in Indiana with the ntinost care and from the finest materials.

The second floor contains, besides necessary store-rooms and closets, forty airy and elegantly furnished sleeping-rooms, a noteworthy feature being the splendid light afforded each room, bringing out in a clear manner the excellence of the plans. On this floor is also the roomy and handsomely appointed parlor, a fitting ad- junct to such a home. The furnishings of the house, as regards the wood-work, is in California red wood and ash, and the design excellent. The honse is supplied with its own gas machine, and the dining-room is lighted by two chandeliers of four lights, while the bar has one of four lights, and the office two of two lights each. The halls above are illuminated by globe lights. The entire structure is crowned by a tower

which rises to the height of seventy-two feet at the corner of Main strect and Railroad avenne. Just beneath the apex of the tower is a large open space containing a number of lights for night illumination.

The opening of the hotel was made the occa- sion of a great gathering and joyous festivities participated in by a host of prominent people from the vicinity and from abroad, and the event will long be remembered as a bright one in the history of Winters. The enterprise of the builder was commended by all, and cou- gratulations poured in upon him for the pro- gressive spirit he had shown.

Mr. De Vilbiss has an interesting family of six children: John S., the eldest, is in business in San José; the eldest daughter, Mary, is visit- ing the old home and friends in Missouri; Charles L. is attending the college of Notre Dame, near South Bend, Indiana; and the re- maining three -Esther, Helena and Annie-are at Notre Dame College, San Jose, California. The children exhibit great natural artistic ability, which has been developed under compe- tent training, and many evidences of their ability in their direction have received due acknowI- edginent at public and private exhibitions.

Mr. De Vilbiss is a man of generous im- pulses, honest to a degree, and his success in life has been dne entirely to his own efforts. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community.

HE FRANCK BROTHERS, pioneer settlers of French Gulch, and leading mine-owners and merchants, are natives of Mannheim, Baden, Germany. Their ances- tors were Germans and their father was a soap manufacturer of that country.

The older brother, Frederick Franck, was born January 15, 1826. He was educated in his native town and there learned the trade of lock-making. In 1846 he emigrated to New York, and from there went to St. Louis and

516

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

worked at his trade four years. In 1850 he started with a mule team across the plains for California, the land of gold. They came to Sacramento by the way of Ringgold, and on the last part of the journey suffered much for want of food, and were greatly reduced. While re- covering strength at Sacramento he worked at his trade for two months. He then started for the mines at Salmon River and mined there all winter, then went to Whiskytown and worked in the mines successfully until the following spring. In 1852 he came to'French Gulch and mined until September, 1853. Having made a good stake he returned to St. Louis and spent the winter, coming back to California across the plains. In 1854 he opened a store at Dutch Gulch, -- miners' supplies and general merchan- dise. After being there a short time he re- moved to French Gulch and continued the same business until 1856, when his store burned and he met with a heavy loss. His brother had joined him, and they built their present store building, a fire-proof one, in 1867. They are also interested in a ranch on which they raise fruit, clover, potatoes and vegetables.

Frederick Franck was married in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Garecht, a native of Germany. They have had twelve children, all born at French Guich. Those living are Fritz William, John C., Henry, Louise, William, Gustave, Julia, Lena, Eliza and Mary.

Ignatz Franck, the younger brother, was born July 12, 1831. He was educated and learned the carpenter's trade in his native land, and came to the United States in 1846. He worked at his trade in St. Louis until 1852, when he came to California and mined on Feather River. After a short time spent in mining, he engaged in an enterprise to turn the river, and lost all he had. Then he came to French Gulch and engaged in mining, with good results. In 1860 he returned to Germany to visit his friends, re- maining six months. After his return to Cali- fornia he engaged in quartz-mining with his brother. In their first venture they lost $2,000; but in his next, with his nephew, J. C., they

made $3,000 apiece, and afterward sold the mine for $4,500. He then bought a mine in Dead- wood, in connection with the MeDonald Broth- ers, paying $1,100. This they still own. They have taken out $450,000, and they are still de- veloping the mine.

Mr. Franck was married in 1870, to Mrs. Eliza Stark, a native of Germany. They have had six children, born in French Gulch, namely: Henry, George, Louise, Annie, Maggie and Clara. Mr. Franck has been a Republican since the organization of the party. He is an Odd Fellow, and has been Treasurer of his lodge for the last twenty-five years. The Franck Brothers are among the best known and most honorable and reliable men of Shasta County.

ENICIA AGRICULTURAL WORKS- Baker & Hamilton, sole agents; T. B. Montgomery, superintendent and manager. This business was established in Benicia in 1880, after having been commeneed several years previously in San Leandro, where it was known as the Sweepstakes Plow Works. The establishment now covers about ten acres, and has 1,000 feet of deep-water frontage, on which a wharf 700 feet long accommodates the ship- ping department. The product of these works is shipped to Australia, New Zealand, Central and South American States, Sandwich Islands, Japan, China, and indeed to most points of the agricultural world, as well as to all points in California. By way of the two greatest rivers of this State, the Sacramento and San Joaquin, access is had to nearly all the agricultural por- tions of California. The largest ship afloat ean anehor without difficulty near the great wharf of these great works, discharge its cargo and load itself with the manufactured products of this immense establishment. These works are also connected by rail with every point in the interior. The implements made here are plows, harvesting machines of every variety, the Berry steam thresher, steam traction thresher and

517

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

plow, invented and first used by G. S. Berry on his large ranch in Tulare Connty and mannfact- nred at these works; it is probably the largest in the world. It has a forty-two-foot cnt header, in two sections,-a fourteen-foot and a twenty-six-foot section,-with a fifty-horse- power engine, and a twelve-horse-power station- ary engine on the same frame to run separator and headers, and both taking steam from the same boiler. Mr. Berry in 1887 plowed his ground, harrowed, sowed and harvested his crop for seventy cents per acre, using a thirty-foot header. In 1888 the Benicia Agricultural Works built for him a large machine with a forty-foot leader, and he reduced the expense to sixty cents per acre! He made an average of nine acres per hour during the season. In two days of ten hours each he cut 230 acres, -- an average of eleven and one-half acres per hour. He uses Benicia Granger Plows, which he runs day and night, employing two sets of men, a locomotive light in front to see where to go, and rear lights to see the plows, enabling the men to stear the machine by night. The Berry traction is the only successful machine of the kind in nse, which five years' successful running has fully demonstrated. The price of this machine, complete, with barley crusher, is $8,500; without the crusher, $8,000, including engines, separator, headers and plows.

In the Benicia works iron farm wagons are also manufactured, and there is a special depart- ment for each specialty made and for each class of work.

Mr. Montgomery is a native of Scotland, born in Linlithgowshire, in 1849. When he was four years of age his parents removed to Can- ada, where he graduated at the Hamilton Busi- ness College, Ontario. In 1872 he went to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was hook-keeper for O. K. Pearsoll, in the line of agricultural implements and hardware, and since that time he has represented some of the largest agricult- ural-implement firms in the United States, among them Nichols, Shepard & Co., of Battle Creek, Michigan; the Chair pion Machine Com-

pany, of Springfield, Ohio; the Wayne Agri- cultural W.orks, of Richmond, Indiana, and later D. M. Osborn & Co., of Auburn, New York; representing these firmns as general agent throughout the Western States. In 1887 he came to California, intending to represent East- ern manufactures at Valparaiso, South America; but, on account of cholera at that point, he could not go by the Pacific route, and while in San Francisco he was offered a position as man- ager of these works, which he accepted.

He was married in 1876, to Miss Emma Green, daughter of William Green, of the firm of Wheeler, Green & Co., Grand Rapids, Mich- igan. She died in Kansas City, in 1883, and in 1889 he married, here in Benicia, Miss Emma La Force, of New York city. His parents were John W. and Grace W. (Waddell) Montgomery, natives also of Linlithgowshire, Scotland. His father died in the old country. and his mother is still living, in Canada. Mrs. Montgomery is a daughter of Ephriam S. La Force, a contractor, of Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Montgomery is a member of Benicia Lodge. No. 5, F. & A. M .; of Oriental Com- mandery, No. 35, of Kansas City; of the Chap- ter of Benicia, and also of the I. O. O. F.

OLONEL A. M. STEVENSON, who has been a resident of California since 1850 and of Solano County during most of that time, was born in Versailles, Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1821. His parents were William and Jane (Muldrow) Stevenson, his father a na- tive of Maryland and his mother of Virginia; their parents moved into Kentucky during its earliest period of settlement. Colonel Steven- son's grandfather fought for the independence of this country in the Revolutionary war, and his father was a soldier in the war of 1812.

At the age of about twenty years Colonel Stevenson was employed in the office of the clerk of the Circuit Court, where he learned many valuable lessons for life. Next he en-

518

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

gaged in mercantile business, in which he con- tinned until the breaking out of the Mexican war, when he enlisted in the First Regiment of Kentucky Cavalry, under Colonel Humphrey Marshall, his immediate commander being Cap- tain Thomas F. Marshall. Colonel Marshall, by the way, afterward became prominent as a politician and as a Confederate commander dur- ing the late civil war. Going to Mexico with his command, he was appointed Quartermaster with the rank of Colonel, which position he held until the close of the war, participating in the battle of Buena Vista and a number of skir- mishes. After the war he resided in Kentucky until the great gold excitement of this State took the world, when he came hither by the way of New Orleans and Panama, reaching the golden coast in the early part of April, 1850. After a few weeks spent in the mining regions, he went to Sacramento and began as a trader in live-stock, becoming one of a stock company who purchased horses, cattle and sheep from the immigrants, and sent many of them down to the Vaca Valley to fatten; and they also bought and imported horses, cattle and sheep from the East. G. B. Stevenson, one member of the company, brought out in 1851 2,000 sheep from Illinois in one season, costing him about $1.25 a head in Illinois, and he sold them here on an average of $10 a head, while the rams brought as high as $50.

In 1853 Colonel Stevenson returned to the East by way of Panama and New York, visiting on the way his foriner home in Kentucky. On that trip he purchased, in his native State, a number of blooded horses, and in Missouri and Illinois he bought also a lot of fine cattle, all of which he brought successfully across the plains to this State, in 1854. This company purchased a large extent of land and cattle, con- tinuing in these operations nntil about 1860, when they dissolved and divided the profits. Colonel Stevenson continued in the same line of trade until about 1870, when he organized the Vaca Valley & Clear Lake Railroad Company, who built the line from Elmira to Madison and

managed it until July, 1888, when they sold it to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; and since that time the Colonel has been operating with the latter company in looking after its land interests along this line. He has twice repre- sented Solano in the State Legislature; is a member of Vacaville Lodge, No. 83, 1. O. O. F.

In 1857 Colonel Stevenson married Miss M. E. Gardner, a native of Arkansas, and they now have six children: Jennie, now the wife of Doc- tor J. W. Stitt, of Vacaville; Annie E., now the wife of Frank H. Buck, of Vaca Valley; Mary Lon, now Mrs. Henry Heilbron, of Sacramento; Leila and Mabel, graduates of Vacaville College; and Andrew M., at present attending the same institution.

RED MEZGER, a farmer in the north- eastern part of Yolo County, was born in Württenberg, Germany, March 13, 1837. a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Katz) Mezger, both natives of the same place. In 1859 he came to the United States and lived in New York until 1868, when he came by way of the Isthmus to the Golden State and shortly afterward settled upon 160 acres of land about seven miles north- west of Yolo, where he is now enjoying life as a prosperous agriculturist.

In 1865 he married Miss Claus, a native of Württenberg and a daughter of John and Bar- bara (Bayer), and they have nine children: Fred, Frank, Charles, Theodore, Albert, En- gene, Katie, Mary, and Clara.

HIOMAS LOWDON .- Among the promi- nent residents who have identified then- selves with French Gulch and the mining interests of Shasta County is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Lowdon has been a resident of this county for twenty-seven years. A brief review of his life is as follows: He was born in Westmoor village, near New-Castle-on-Tyne,

519

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Northumberland County, England, July 12, 1827, the son of Richard and Isabella Lowdon, natives of the same county, in which their son was born. Mr. Lowdon's early life was spent at his native place and his education was ob- tained there. He learned the business of coal mining in all its departments and became an ex- pert coal miner. In 1849 he emigrated to Pennsylvania and engaged in coal-mining in Schuylkill County for ten years. He came to Forest Hill, Placer County, California, in 1859, and turned his attention to gold-mining, re- inaining there three years without meeting with success. The mine, in which he lost $3,000, afterward sold for $225,000. In 1863 he came to French Gulch, Shasta County. Mr. Lowdon worked a few months for the Washington com- pany. He then purchased a tenth interest in the Highland mine, worked it three years, and .took out $130,000 for the company. In 1867 he sold his share for about $1,000. Since then he bought back one-half of the Highland mine and inill and is working it successfully. After the sale of the mine in 1867 he prospected and engaged in the lumber business at French Gulch, continuing it for seven years. In 1875 he returned to his old home in England to visit his parents and friends and to introduce miners' squibs, a machine in which he was interested and with which he was successful. He visited the Centennial at Philadelphia, and the follow ing year returned to England and established the business of manufacturing miners' sqnibs. He then came back to his home at French Gulch, where he has since resided, being engaged in prospecting for gold, mining and ranching.

In 1865 Mr. Lowdon built the comfortable home in which he resides with his family. He was married, in 1847, to Miss Isabella Brownlees, a native of Cornhill, Northumberland County, England. They had three children, all born in Pennsylvania, viz .: John R., George B. and Isabella. The latter is now the wife of George Simmons. Mrs. Lowdon died in 1875.

Politically Mr. Lowdon is a Republican. In 1880 he was elected Justice of the Peace, has

been re-elected several times, and is now (1890) the nominee of his party for that office. He was reared by Methodist parents, and in his re- ligions views is very liberal. He is a most worthy and reliable man, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens.

J. PRIEST .- This old pioneer of '49 is one of the best-known and most deserv- elly popular citizens of Napa County, who owns one of the finest places in the county, with magnificent soda springs upon it, not ex- celled in the world. Mr. Priest was born in Holmes (now Ashland), County, Ohio in the year 1826. In 1849 he came to California across the plains by inule teams, reaching Sac- ramento on the first day of August. He went at once to Mormon Island, where he engaged in mining, afterward going to the Yuba River, and wintering at Auburn. In 1850 he went to the north fork of the American River, and afterward found his way to Placer County, where he mined until 1860. when he gave it up, having encountered the usnal ups and downs of the miners' life. In 1860 he went to Cache Slough, Solano County, and engaged in stock- raising. In 1863 he came up to the Capelle Valley, and in 1869 to Soda Springs Valley, where he now is. He owns a splendid ranch of 740 acres, a portion of the old Cataculo Rancho, where he is carrying on general farming and stock-raising. The springs referred to are a genuine feature of the country. The overflow colors the rocks a strange whitish tint over a considerable area, presenting a remarkable ap- pearance. The waters from it possess some of the best medicinal qualities and are in univer- sal demand, being shipped over the whole coast and used very generally. The principal spring is a wonderful one, the water being clear and limpid and having a fine natural sparkle. There is nothing like it in the country. Not far from the spring Mr. Priest's cousin, D. Q., has taken np a ranch on Government land. He came to

520

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

California in 1850, and engaged in mining. In 1874 he returned East, but in 1884 came back once more to California, and took up his pres- ent place. Mr. J. J. Priest is a man of unpre- tending but sterling qualities, one who im- proves on acquaintance. He and his excellent family are the soul of hospitality Mr. Priest is a Republican, and an upholder of the better side of all things, a great reader and an excecd- ingly well informed mnan on questions of the hour.

He was married in Solano County, to Miss Foster. They have nine sons, all at home.

ATHANIEL S. HOWARD, a retired farmer of Walunt Creek, Contra Costa County, was born January 19, 1819, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, and at the early age of ten years he went to sea and fol- lowed life thereon until he was sixteen years of age; he then went to Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts, and served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for fif- teen years. At the age of twenty-five he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Hitch. August 1, 1849, he joined a party ot forty-one and sailed on the ship Florida from New Bedford to San Fran- cisco, arriving January 1 following. Soon they sold their cago for $60,000. sent the ship back. and the company disbanded in April. Then Mr. Howard worked at his trade in San Fran- cisco until the first of May, when he went with five others to the Southern mines on the Mer- ced River, where provisions were scarce and privations plentiful. They had to pay 25 cents a pound freight to get their provisions in camp. The river was high and they could not com- mence work until a month had elapsed. Three of the company were taken sick and had to quit that region. Mr. Howard and two others of the company remained during the summer, and, not being satisfied with making $16 to $20 a day, went thirty miles down the river to a place where they thought they could shovel the gold

ont by the bucketful. They started afoot, with their beds on their back, and got lost in the hills, without provisions or water. They suf- fered intensely with the heat, the thermometer standing 120 degrees in the shade. They all gave out except Mr. Howard, who started for the nearest white settlement, which was at a ferry on the Merced River, ten miles distant, and on his arrival there found himself nnable to speak. He was given a drink of brandy and soon was able to tell his story. He offered $500 to any one who would go and bring his comrades in. Finally a Spaniard agreed to go, providing Mr. Howard would go with him. Although unable to travel, Mr. Howard, with the Span- iard and three mules, started out npou the ex- hausting journey, arriving at their destination at half past ten o'clock at night; Mr. Howard found his friends were rolled in their blankets. He had taken the precaution to carry along with him a bottle of whisky; and he held this ont to them, telling them to throw np their hands; they did so, but only for the bottle; and after pulling at the bottle's neck freely they were able to sit upon a mule and start upon their journey. The next morning they started again for their diggings on foot, excepting Mr. How- ard, whose feet were so swollen that he rode a mule and did not walk for sixteen days.

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

A memorial and biographical history of northern California, illustrated. Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy...and biographical mention of many of its most eminent pioneers and also of prominent citizens of today, Part 83

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