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 85

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 85

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).

Mr. Miller has four children by his first wife, namely: Minerva C., now the wife of J. B. Griffin, of Yolo County; James M., now in the drug business in Vacaville; Cornelia T. and Meredith R. In 1870 his wife died, and March

12, 1883, he married Miss Harriet Chrisman, a native of Missouri, and she died March 27, 1877.

OSIAH ALLISON, a fruit-raiser of Vaca Valley, has been a resident of California since 1854, when he brought his family here. He first crossed the plains to California in 1850. His parents were Charles and Hester (Stull) Allison. His father, a native of Pennsyl- vania, came with his father to Ohio, landing at Marietta November 11, 1789, as one of the settlers under the anspices of the Ohio Com- pany, each member of which was granted 100 acres of Government land. Ile brought his family there in a flat-boat from Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and remained the most of his life in Ohio, and spent the last two years in Iowa, dying in 1847.

The family and other settlers were obliged to occupy the part called the Campus Martius on the Ohio River, near its confluence with the Muskingum River, owing to a war with the In- dians. Mr. Allison's grandfather, being a gocd shot, was one of those who supplied the settlers with game during that time. During this war, 1791-'95, the settlers passed years of anxiety and danger within and under the protection of Campus Martins and " Pocketed Point." An annt of Mr. Allison, Mrs. Nancy Allison Frost, now in her 106th year, still lives near Marietta, in the enjoyment of good health. In 1795 the family moved np the Muskingum River, almost opposite to where Lovell now stands. Here his father was brought up, and he lived in Ohio, etc., as before stated. He was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Mr. Allison, the subject of this notice, was brought up in Washington County, Ohio. In his twenty- fourth year he removed with his family to southeastern Iowa, settling in Van Buren County, in 1840, where he lived until 1854 up- on a farm he had entered. In 1850 he crossed the plains for this State, coming by way of Salt Lake and entering California near Placerville.

528

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

He was on the route from May to July. The first year he engaged in mining ; he then returned to Iowa by the Panama ronte, and remained there on his farm until 1854; then he sold it out and brought a drove of cattle overland to California, and also his family along with him. Locating near Vacaville, he bought a tract and engaged in farming and the rearing of live- stock. In 1855 he also planted 100 peach- trees, paying $40 for a handful of twigs, apple and peach, with which to bud his trees; thus he was one of the earliest fruit-growers of Solano County. He continued interested in these pur- snits until 1886, when, having 100 acres in fruit, he sold out.

Mr. Allison was married in 1840, to Miss Julia Baldwin, a native of Washington County, Ohio, and a daughter of David and Lavinia (Wheeler) Baldwin, natives of Connecticut, who settled in Ohio early in the present century. Mr. and Mrs. Allison have six children living: David E., now in the commission business in San Francisco; Charles H., in business in El- mira; Harriet J., now the wife of Thomas Mans- field, of Mount Tabor, Oregon; Orestes H., in business at Elmira; Josiah E., a commission merchant in San Francisco; Hester L., now the wife of Luther J. Harbison, of Vacaville. Eliza M. married Zebulon B. Donaldson, and died in 1873, leaving one daughter.

HARLES HENRY DELVECCIIIO is a native of the city of New York, born May 18, 1829. His parents, Aurelins and Amelia (Willson) Delvecchio, were also natives of New York, the ancestors of the foriner being Italians. Mr. Delvecchio received his education at Cherry Valley and at Utica, New York. He is the only survivor of a family of three chil- dren. After the death of his parents he was taken to be reared by Mr. Isaac Seeley, a lawyer of Cherry Valley, and remained with him five years, until he became large enough to work for a living. At that time, evincing a desire to

learn the barber's trade, David H. Little, a son- in-law of Mr. Seeley's, took him to Utica and located him with George L. Brown, a prominent barber of that city. He was to be taught the trade and sent to school in the winter. The last part of the bargain was not fulfilled, and he consequently " took up his bed and walked." He went to Buffalo and was employed in sev- eral shops, and afterward sailed on the lakes as barber. Early in life he displayed a fine talent for music, and became so proficient as a violinist that he received the admiration and respect of the best people. He subsequently became a music teacher, and also taught dancing. Before leaving Buffalo he married Martha, danghter of Anthony Barrett, of Columbus, Ohio, and they had children, one a beautiful daughter, whom he lost at the age of fourteen years, together with the mother and all the rest of the family.

In 1857 Mr. Delvecchio came to California and spent a winter at Sacramento, teaching music and playing for parties. The following year he came to Red Bluff, opened a barber shop, furnished music for parties and conducted a string band for many years. He gave his per- sonal attention to his barber shop, sometimes em- ploying an assistant and a part of the time doing the work himself. Among the many old-timers he used to barber he names Captain J. S. John- son and Messrs. Miner, James, J. S. Cone, T. Boanman, Thomas Brown, Martin Corrigan, Dr. Bradway and others.

Great and many are the changes which have come over Red Bluff since those days. Mr. Delvecchio saved his earnings, and in 1862 purchased twelve lots, half a block on Washing- ton street, bounded on the north and south by Walnut and Hickory streets. Here he built his residence, and from time to time as lic had means he built other dwellings, until now (1890), he has eleven houses, which he is leasing to parties for good rents. He has retired from the barber business and is quietly and respecta- bly living on his rents and the interest of his money. He is one of the early settlers who have stood by the town, has helped to build it

J. 11. Jak.

529

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

and is deeply interested in its continued pros- perity.

He is not without a companion to share in his prosperity and to be a comfort to him in the declining years of life. In 1870 he wedded Miss Henrietta G. Crazor, a native of Buffalo, New York, and a danghter of Randell and Har- riet A. Crazor. Both Mr. Delvecchio and his wife, as also Mrs. Crazor, are members of the First Baptist Church, and he has served as one of the trustees of that organization. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and all his life has been a strong Republican.

EORGE G. WINTER, of Red Bluff, was born in Prussia, February 21, 1832, the son of Prussian parents. He received his education in his native land, and there learned the butcher's trade with his father. In Septem- ber, 1852, he was accompanied by his sister to America. In Baltimore, Maryland, he worked at his trade three years, and from there he came to California, landing in San Francisco Septem- ber 10, 1855. In the year of 1856 he began work for A. G. Toomes and R. H. Thoms at Tehama, Tehamna County, until the spring of 1861. He subsequently went to Shasta, Shasta County, where he was similarly employed until 1864. During that year he went to Idaho, but returned in a few months and located himself and family at Red Bluff, at which place he was engaged in the butchering business, which he has since conducted. He has been sole pro- prietor since 1884. He has been very success- ful in his business undertakings, and is favorably known throughout the counties of Tehamna and Shasta. He has built a nice home at the corner of Oak and Johnson streets, where he has re- sided with his family since 1877.

In 1861 Mr. Winter married Miss Mary Gates, a native of Tennessee. They have had eight children, six of whom are living, viz .: Frederica, born in Shasta, October 27, 1862, is the wife of

James B. Duncan, of Red Bluff; Louis, also born in Shasta, January 25, 1864; Martha Belle, born in Red Bluff, October 11, 1865, is a suc- cessful teacher in the schools in which she was educated; George A., born at Payne's Creek, Tehama County, May 28, 1867, was a druggist and died June 18, 1889; William H., born at Shingletown, July 12, 1868, is the successor to his brother in the drug business at Redding, Shasta County; John F., born in Red Bluff, October 25, 1869, is in the employ of Wells, Fargo & Company at Sacramento; and Eva, born at Red Bluff, February 2, 1873. Mrs. Winter and her three daughters are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Winter was reared a Lutheran. His political views are in' harmony with the Democratic party.

HERON H. INK .- Among the repre- sentative men of Napa County, those who have achieved success by superior strength of character and indomitable will-power, the gentleman whose name heads this sketch is entitled to honorable mention. He affords perhaps the best example of the possibilities of the county's agricultural development when assisted by the qualities mentioned, and a brief outline sketch of his life therefore becomes a valuable feature in Napa's contribution to the history of Northern California.

He is a native of New York, born in the town of Enfield, Tompkins County, May 24, 1831, his parents being George and Mary (Rose) Ink. The Inks are of German ancestry, but the family has long been in this country. His father went into Tompkins County in an early stage of its development, and there had a fine farm of 250 acres, which he cleared out of the dense woods which he found there.

His mother was a daughter of Ephraim Rose, a veteran of the Revolutionary war, who fought in the campaigns under Washington. She was of English descent on her father's side and Ger- man on that of her mother.

530

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Theron H. Ink, the subject of this sketch, was reared at his native place to farm life, and received very good educational advantages. He attended public school from the time he arrived at suitable age until he was fourteen or fifteen, and followed this with training in a select school at Ithaca, and instructions under an excellent educator named Gillett, at what is known as the l'each Orchard, in the town of Hector, Tompkins County. Before he was seventeen years old he commenced teaching school at Enfield, and was engaged there in that capacity about three years.

About this time he determined to go to Mor- row County, Ohio, where he had a brother and sister, two uncles and a number of cousins, his intention being to remain about six weeks. While visiting among them he secured a school at Williamsport, where he tanghit one term. This was not in the neighborhood where he was making his home, however, but for the next term he secured the home school at Franklin Center. He taught only in winter, while dur- ing the summer months he kept himself em- ployed at farming. Thus he passed the time until 1852.

Among his acquaintances were two young physicians, named respectively Law Wetherbee and Benjamin Hinckley; and hearing them planning a trip to California in the year men- tioned he decided to cast his lot with them, and come to this far-away land, which had held ont hope and promise to so many before him. Prep- arations having been completed, the little party left home, taking the railroad at Mt. Gilead, went to Cincinnati, and there took passage on the steamer Illinois for St. Lonis. Having arrived there, they made the trip to St. Joseph also by water, on the steamer Mononga- hela. It had been their intention to secure a teain at St. Joseph for the purpose of making the journey across the plains, but after considera- tion they changed their plans and instead took passage with a man named Booth Brandon, who, with his wife was ready to start, and who had two wagons, he asking and receiving $100

each from the young men as their passage money.

The long journey was inaugurated by cross- ing the Missouri River April 24, 1852, by ferry, and the party proceeded on as members of a company composed, as regards the remainder, of people from Brandon's neighborhood. The In- dians were hostile at that time, and when the company engaged for the first night, about a half mile west of the Missonri, the camp was arranged with dne precaution for the safety of the people and stock. The wagons were ar- ranged in a circle, with the horses inside the enclosure, and a guard was put on the camp, Mr. Ink being placed on duty among the first squad. A storm had been threatening, and that night the rain came down in torrents, accom- panied at frequent intervals by thunder and lightning. Having to undergo the full severity of it all in his capacity as a guard, Mr. Ink will always remember that night as the most awful of his life. Though for a long time unmolested, vigilance was not slackened, and these precan- tions were continned all the way across the plains.

At Fort Kearney, where they encamped and picketed out their horses, they found about 200 warriors, and one of these, coming up. flopped a blanket in the face of one of the horses. The act was followed almost immediately by a general stampede, the result being that the company was left with only one or two horses ont of the entire number. Of course further progress under these circumstances was impossi- ble, and they had to tarry while hunting parties went ont to endeavor to recover the lost animals. After a week's search about two-thirds of them were found and recaptured, having been picked up as stragglers here and there.

Then they proceeded on via Fort Laramie, after passing which they arrived among the Sioux Indians, who, while they often came around, did not offer to molest them. Among them were some magnificent specimens of physical development. The journey then was steady. the monotony being varied sometimes by

531

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

changes of scenery and again by occasional inci- dents which afforded interest and amusement for the whole party. While on the little Sandy an example in point occurred. A party from Ohio had a fine horse of which they were very fond, and in whose speed they had much con- fidence, and a match was made to race himn against a little white horse of insignificant appearance belonging to an old Frenchman, the distance being about 300 yards. A little fellow from Ohio monuted the favorite of the " contin- gent " from that State, while a little Indian rode the small white horse. The latter proved to be a Tartar; and, having a big advantage over his competitor in the race on the sandy gravel, he won easily, and earned for his owner nearly everything the Ohio men possessed. At Steam- boat Springs, further along on the journey, Mr. Ink enjoyed the sight of an exciting horse race between the Indians, a distance of about four miles being covered in determining the winner.

Leaving the springs, they proceeded on toward the Humboldt, and arriving there, a inan named John Lawson, from La Porte, Indiana, having died, they buried his remains in the middle of the road. Just before they reached the desert, a rain had fallen, and not only was the sand packed down, but water lay in pools about, so that it was crossed without the usual attending hardships and fatigues. The trails of former parties in crossing the great waste were evi- denced, however, in the thousands of perished cattle whose bodies lay there so close together that one could almost walk across the desert on them. Side by side, stretched out on the ground, they appeared alive, and presented a sight never to be forgotton.

Mr. Ink and Dr. Hinckley had walked most of the way after they had lost their horses in the stampede caused by the Indians, but they bought new mounts from some parties bound for Oregon, and the journey thereafter was less fatiguing. Their route had been chosen by Sublette's cut-off, and the Carson ronte into California was taken. In the Carson Valley the party separated, and Mr. Ink and his friends,

Drs. Wetherbee and Hinckley, came on alone, arriving at Hangtown, July 19. Their journey had been a pleasant one when compared with that of many others. For instance, there was one party of four men who pulled a wagon all the way out, and two others who drew a cart from Missouri to Californial Mr. Ink saw the latter party on the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the snow was about fifteen feet deep, and they pluckily said, " This cart has got to go to California! "

At Hangtown our subject canght his first glimpse of California mining life. There he saw big tent houses, any one of which would contain, say, a band of music, a bar, twenty-five or thirty tables, surrounded with players having in front of them stacks of gold which they bet heavily and recklessly, while each would be crowded with men come to play or look on, principally the former, the whole causing a great uproar very unfamiliar to the new ar- rivals from staid Eastern districts.

Mr. Ink remained at Hangtown about a week, during which tiine he prospected a little, and after looking around awhile he hired out to drive a team for a man named Newland, at $75 per month, his occupation being the hauling of hay to Diamond Spring, from a ranch located between Sacramento and Stockton. After being so employed about three months, he went back to the mines, thinking to get something to do there. He went to Diamond Spring, and obtained board there at the Howard boarding house, which accommodated abont seventy-five men, and where his keeping cost him $16 a week. Being unable to obtain any other em- ployment, and not wishing to run behind, he offered to work in the hotel for his board. This proposition was accepted. He was thus engaged abont three weeks, when, having learned the whereabouts of some boys with whom he had crossed the plains, he decided to join them. He told Howard of his intention, and the latter, who had been much pleased with his dealings with him, gave him $4 a day for the entire time he had worked for him. He then pro-

532

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

ceeded to Cold Springs, met his friends, and went to mining there. Soon after, however, he went to Coloma, where he bought a claim. This investment proved a profitable one, and he worked there for some time, taking out as high as $200 a day. The winter was very wet, and he saw mule teams mire down beyond recovery though in plain view of help. His claim was precisely where Marshall discovered gold, run- ning directly across the historic mill-race. Hav- ing worked ont the claim, he went to American Flat, on the American River, and there he joined a company organized to flume the river. This they did for a distance of about three- quarters of a mile, at an expense of some $150,- 000; and when the water was pumped out they found they had been pursning an ignis fatnus in their pursuit of sudden riches, as not over $500 was taken out of the river bed!

Having sunk in this scheme his hard-earned savings, Mr. Ink went to Murderer's Bar, where he worked for a man named Reynolds. Having gotten together a little money there, he went down to Napa Valley in the fall of 1853, and hired out for wages to Jonathan Hungerford, who lived a little off of the Sonoma road at a distance of about five miles. After a short time he changed to the employ of Boone Fly, his first work there being plowing, afterward hanling redwood, and finally assisting in thresh- ing, in which he met with an accident, by his apron becoming entangled in the fan.

In the fall of 1854, Messrs. Ink and Reese Smith rented Fly's place, which is on Coneros Creek, four miles from Napa. They put in a crop of 200 acres of wheat, from which they expected a bountiful yield, but their hopes were blasted when they lost by rust all of it but fifteen or twenty acres of the Oregon variety.

Our subject then took up a piece of land on T. O. Larkin's tract; which he had been told was Government land, but he afterward ascer- tained that it was not such, and was compelled to buy it later, there being in his purchase some 240 acres, lying between Coneros Creek and Hnichica. There he lived and farmed nntil

1860, making San Francisco his market and shipping his products by boat. His operations were successful, as besides farming his place he threshed for himself and others, and operated hay presses. His business was large, and he would have been able to clear up then with a much larger margin of profit, had it not been that he was hampered by being compelled to pay a security debt of $10,000. He had worked hard, however, and no effort possible had been spared in the endeavor to get ahead in the world.

On Christmas day, 1860, he was married in Sonoma; and having sold his home place to Mr. Sackett he went to live, with his bride, on the Huichica ranch of eighty acres, which he had purchased in 1858. Before this time, however, Mr. Ink had branched ont somewhat in land- buying, as before the last named purchase he had bought a tract of 320 acres, which he after- ward sold to a man named Turner; and before disposing of it he and Reese Smith had owned for some time yet another piece of 200, acres and in 1857 he sold his interest in the latter to Smith.

He remained on the Hnichica ranch until the fall of 1861, when he sold it ont and went to Marin County. There he bought a tract of 1,000 acres, and, stocking it up with cattle embarked later in the dairy business, which he carried on until Angust 10, 1873. While in that county he had some bitter experi- ences. He sold off about half his place, and then came a grant and ent off about half the remainder, so that he only had left between two and three hundred acres. Then he purchased again a piece of the same land, only to find when too late that he had bought from the wrong owner, so that he had to lose it all! Not discouraged, however, by repeated misfortunes, he bought it back again, making three times he had been compelled to purchase some of it, in order to be able to finally claim it as his own. Several lawsnits were necessary in defending his rights, but in these he was uniformly "snc- cessful. There were also abont 150 or 200 acres which he purchased twice.

533

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

When he left there he had 2,650 acres in one tract, and this he still retains. While there, he also bought 200 acres in Napa County, which he afterward sold. Iu 1870, having worn him- self out by over-exertion, he bought a home in Petalumna.

In 1873 he returned to Napa County, and located on his ranch of 200 acres three or four miles from Napa City. Next he bought 320 acres of partly improved land in Pope Valley, and went to live there, where he regained his healthı. While residing in the valley, he in- creased his landed possessions there to over 3,000 acres, which he yet retains and farms, and has it stocked with cattle and horses. In 1877 he bought a place on Putah Creek, which has now become, by later purchases, a ranch of 5,000 acres, where he runs sheep and a few goats, though not as many sheep as formerly, he having had as many as 4,000 there. In 1878 he purchased the beautiful property where he now resides, which is situated half-way be- tween St. Helena and Rutherford, and in one of the finest tracts in Napa Valley. It is a portion of the old Bale estate, and Mr. Ink re moved his place of residence there in 1886, and_ the 133 acres comprising the place is improved and cultivated in a highly creditable manner. When he took hold of it it was nothing but a duck pond. He put in ten miles of tiling, which made successful cultivation practicable, and set it all out in vines, which constitute a vineyard as healthy in appearance as any in California. About 1884 he bought a tract of 640 acres in Spanish Valley, which he uses as a stock ranch.

All of these tracts Mr. Ink retains, and to them he gives more or less personal supervision. His viticultural interests alone, though con- stitnting a comparatively small portion of his business, are quite extensive. Until 1886 he sold his grapes, but then started making wine. He erected in that year his winery and cellar, with a capacity of 150,000 gallons. His vintage holds a good rank in the trade.

Mr. Ink is an active Mason, being a member

of Petaluma Lodge, No. 77, F. & A. M .; of St. Helena Chapter, R. A. M., and of Mount Olivet Commandery, No. 20, K. T., Petaluma. In 1874 he was elected as a Supervisor of Napa County, and held his seat in the board, by virtue of successive re-election, until 1884. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

His wife was formerly Miss Harriet Perlia Jane Goodrich, daughter of Hiram and Mariette (Sackett) Goodrich, who came across the plains in 1853, locating first on Coneros Creek, where they lived until 1886, when they removed to Napa. There the mother yet resides, but the father died in 1889. To Mr. and Mrs. Ink three children have been born, of whom the second, B. B., died at the age of seventeen months. The living are a daughter and son, named respectively May and I. G.

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 85

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