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 86

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 86

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Mr. Ink has made three trips to the Eastern States since coming to California, first in 1856, next in 1871, and finally in 1876, on which occasion he visited the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia.

He is a man of determined disposition, though inild in demeanor, and has the satisfaction of being a successful man in life, though his ad- vancement has been achieved against formid- able obstacles. He came to California with little, and reverses here reduced his possessions to nothing. After repeated failures, through no fault of his own, he rose to the front, and must be ranked as one of California's successful agri- enlturists.

The Ink family was a large one, our subject having had five brothers and four sisters. All his sisters are married and have families, the oldest having four children, the next one one, the third two, and the youngest three. One of his brothers was the father of two children. Of the family of ten, there are now living three of the brothers and three sisters. The brothers of our subject are: Walter P., who resides at Cloverdale, Sonoma County, and Ira M., a resident of Chesterville, Morrow County, Ohio. His living sisters are: Jane, who resides in Missouri, the widow of Horace States; Cornelia

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Ann, wife of Washington Fish, of Illinois; and Marilla, wife of Edward Grant, residents of Ohio.

ENRY FISK JOHNSON is the oldest living early settler of Shasta Connty. He arrived at the place where Vina is now located on the Sacramento River, September 24, 1849. Here and there scattered over California do we find the Forty-niners, but their ranks are becoming thinned. They are disappearing as priest and vaquero disappeared before them. A few more decades and these brave oid pioneers -these prospectors, placer-miners and front- iersmen of the Pacific coast-will live only on the pages of history. To one interested in the early settlement and the wonderful achievements of this great State it is a pleasure to meet one of these Argonauts and listen to him recount his varied experiences in the mines, his en- counter with Indians and the many privations which he endured.

Mr. Johnson was born in Woburn, on the Lowell road, ten miles from the city of Boston, Massachusetts, November 5, 1826. His grand- father, Charles Johnson, was a resident of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary war, and rendered his country good service as a soldier. He had a son Charles, born in that State in 1792. The Johnson family were worthy members of the Baptist Church and were in- dustrious and well-to-do farmers. Charles John- son, Jr., married Abigail R. Mead, also a native of Massachusetts. Her father, John Mead, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and fought bravely for independence. To Charles and Abigail Johnson four children were born, three sons and a daughter. Henry F. Johnson was the youngest child and is the only survivor of the family. When he was thirteen years of age his father and family removed to Illinois and there settled on a farm. He attended school in winter and worked with his father on their farm in summer. Thus his life was spent for ten

years. At that time news of the rich mines of gold in California reached the stout and brave young farmer's ears, and he was among the first to bid adien to home and friends and start out on the perilons journey for the far West.

Mr. Johnson arrived in Shasta Connty Oc- tober 1, 1849. For three years he successfully mined in Shasta and Trinity counties. He then purchased a pack train and engaged in packing from Shasta to Trinity County. It was a prof- itable business and he followed it for seven years. Next, he engaged in teaming from Red Bluff to Weaverville, a distance of eighty miles. He ran three teams and the round trip required eight days. Each wagon held from four to five tons, and Mr. Johnson made on an average of $600 a trip. He subsequently turned his at- tention to the livery and feed business in Red Bluff, and continned it from 1863 till 1869. He then engaged in the forwarding business there until the fall of 1872. At that time the rail- road was built at Redding and the town started. Mr. Johnson, perceiving its advantages, re- moved to this place. Judge Bush, Frank Miller and two or three others preceded him and commenced the town. Since then he has been engaged in the reshipping and forwarding business, reshipping goods all over the county. He has made numerous investments in city property and dwelling-houses. In the summer of 1880 he built his own commodions residence.

In 1867 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage with Miss Hannah C. Gordon, a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch ancestry. Their union has been blessed with three children, a danghter and two sons, all born in Red Bluff, viz .: Anna Mead, Melvin Gordon and Frank Winn. The two sons are connected with their father in business, and are energetic and reliable young men.

Mr. Johnson is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Pioneer Society of California. His political views are those of a liberal Democrat.

In connection with his forwarding business, in 1865, Mr. Johnson took charge of a train of eighteen wagons to forward the machinery for

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

a quartz mill across the mountains to Silver City, Idaho. They cut their own roads and twice struck the old road over which Mr. John- son came into the country in 1849. On this expedition he was accompanied by twelve sol- diers who acted as an escort to keep off the Indians. They, however, were not needed, as in one of the wagons was a steam boiler with many flues. They told the Indians that every one of them was loaded and had only to be turned to shoot. This piece of information was sufficient to keep the Indians away, for they were much afraid of the big gun. Mr. Johnson says that when he came to Shasta County, in 1849, Mr. A. Grotetend came with him, and Dr. J. F. Winsel came soon after.

ARLEY R. WILEY .- Prominent among the leading citizens of Redding, Cali- fornia, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. The place of his birth was on a farm fourteen miles from Oshkosh, Wis- consin, and the date was April 5, 1855 His father, Jacob Wiley, and his grandfather, Isaac Wiley, were both natives of the State of New York, and the latter was a soldier in the war of 1812. His father married Catharine Growall, of German ancestry and a native of Pennsyl- vania. They became the parents of seven chil- dren, of whom five are living. Harley R. is the youngest. In 1865 Mr. Wiley's father with his family emigrated to California. He was ten years old at that time and has a vivid recol- lection of the sad sights and bitter experiences they met with on their overland journey. They were menaced by the Indians, and a part of their train was cut off and destroyed.

Upon their arrival in California they settled in Ventura County, then a new and undeveloped country. Young Wiley remained with his parents until he was fifteen years old, when he went to Los Angeles County and spent a year with his brother-in-law. He then returned to his father's farm, remained there a year and at

the age of seventeen started out in life for him- self. His brother-in-law, Captain Kittredge, was keeping the American Hotel at Petaluma, and to that place Mr. Wiley went and clerked for the captain a year, until the house burned down. At the age of eighteen he went to San Francisco and tried to make a living there at book-canvassing. Not liking the business, how- ever, he secured a position in Mr. Van Schaack's store. They began work at half past seven in the morning and closed at half-past ten in the evening, having only thirty minutes for meals, and on Saturdays they worked until twelve o'clock at night. He remained with them three months. Then he attended the Pacific Business College a short time, after which he was in a store for a few months. His brothers started a small merchandise business at Santa Paula and for a time Mr. Wiley purchased goods for them in San Francisco. At his brother's urgent request he joined them in Santa Panla. It was his intention to remain only until he could go to college. After being with the firm of Wiley Bros. four months, his friend, Joseph Bradshaw, then professor of math- emathics in Christian College at Santa Rosa, used his influence to have him come to the col- lege and work his way through. When he ar- rived at Santa Rosa he was nearly out of funds. With some other young men he bached in a spare room in the college. They boarded them- selves at an expense of from $2 to $5 per month. His good mother kindly sent him a little money to help him along. After the first five months the faculty learned that he under- stood book-keeping, and he was given the charge of the book-keeping classes and two classes in arithmetic and algebra. The follow- ing year he was regularly installed as tutor by the Board of Regents. So he taught four classes and kept up his studies and made his course in three years, also taking some extra studies outside of the regular course. Mr. Wiley received the degree of A. B. in 1877. J. W. Butler, of Illinois, was president of the college during the year 1874-'75. He was

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succeeded by J. M. Martin, formerly of Hes- perian College.

At the age of seventeen, Mr. Wiley became a Christian. The college he attended was a Christian institution, and he was there per- suaded to join the ministry and was ordained a Christian minister. At the time of his grad- nation, he was offered a church at a salary of $1,000 per year. Previous to that, however, he had promised a friend to go to Los Angeles and start a college. Before they reached that city to enter upon their proposed work his former professor of languages had preceded them and was already engaged in the development of a similar plan. On ascertaining this fact Mr. Wiley went to Santa Ana and had charge of the church there a year, and also started a pri- vate high school. The work of both proved too much for him, and his physician advised him to try some lighter labor for a time. He went before the board of examiners at Los An- geles, obtained a certificate, and took a school at Orangethorpe, which he taught two years, after which he taught two years in the public schools of Napa County. Then he went to Red- ding as principal ofthe schools there and taught one year. At the end of that time he opened a normal institute for the instruction of young teachers, having for assistants several prominent educators of the State. Among those who lec- tured to his normal elass was Fred Campbell, State Superintendent. The Educational Jour- nal, referring to Mr. Wiley's school, says: "To Prof. H. R. Wiley, principal of the Redding School, belongs the credit of holding the first Normal Institute in California. He held these schools four successive years, in the meantime delivering a number of lectures both before the normal institute and before the annual Teach- ers' Institute of Shasta County. Then he closed his educational labors to commence the practice of law. He had been reading law six years. Three years before lie began the prac- tice of that profession he was admitted to the bar by Judge Aaron Bell. He has been in reg- ular practice since 1886, and has also engaged

in land speculation to some extent, in which he has been very successful. He entered into part- nership with L. W. Frisbie, but this partner met with misfortune and left Mr. Wiley to pay off the debts of the firm. He subsequently sold a half interest in his law business to Mr. T. B. Dozier, his present partner. With his law practice and the care of his property Mr. Wiley has more than he can attend to. He has in all 2,000 acres of land. He owns a coin- modious home in Redding and a summer cot- tage at Dnnsmnir. Redpath, the historian, on the occasion of his visit to California in com- pany with the Horticultural Society, listened to an address by Mr. Wiley, which he afterward described, in writing of it, as "eloquence and good sense in rare combination." The pub- lishers of this volume sincerely wish they had space for extracts from Mr. Wiley's addresses, as well as for further details of his interesting life career.

December 26, 1885, Mr. Wiley was united in marriage to Miss Villa Chappell, a daughter of the late Hon. J. N. Chappell. Their union is blessed with a daughter, Villa Elizabeth, and a son, Don Esmond, both born in the city of Redding. Mrs. Wiley is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which her husband is a trustee. Mr. Wiley is a conservative Repub- lican, a leading temperance worker, and a suc- cessful lawyer.

AVID O. JUDY, a liveryman of Winters, is a son of Philip and Sarah A. (O'Rear) Judy, natives of Kentucky, who in the spring of 1859 moved to Boone County, Mis- souri, where he, the father, died, February 15, 1888, and where the mother is still living, at the age of fifty-four years. Mr. Judy, of this sketch, was born April 25, 1859, in Missouri, and lived there until March, 1882, when he came to California. On his arrival here he worked four months in the Inumber business for Towle Brothers; then was foreman of a ranch for

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fourteen months for M. V. Sparks; next he at- tended Heald's Business College at San Fran- cisco for four months; then for five months was employed npon the ranch of John Wolfskill in Solano County; next he and his brother Henry F. rented 400 acres of land near Davisville for five years; and finally, in 1889, David bought a half interest in the only livery stable at Winters, of McArthur; and a month later his brother Henry purchased the other half, and now the Judy brothers have a stable from which they turn out very fine rigs. They are gentlemanly in their disposition and well adapted to their business. They have fourteen head of fine road horses. Their building spot is 80 x 120 feet in dimensions. Mr. Judy, the subject of this no- tice, is yet unmarried.

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EORGE WEMS VESTAL is a prominent business man of Red Bluff. He came from the State of Missouri across the plains to this city in 1857; has been educated and reared in the town and has grown up with it. His ancestors settled in this country long before the Revolution. His father, Alexander Vestal, was a native of Kentucky and his grand- parents were North Carolinians. For a number of years Alexander Vestal was engaged in the pottery business in Missouri and also in Califor- nia. He married Miss Samiri Bright, a native of Kentucky, by whom he had eight children. Both he and his wife are still living in Red Bluff.

The subject of this sketch was born in Law- rence County, Missouri, September 22, 1846. His youth was spent working on the farmn and attending school. When he reached his majority he engaged as a clerk in the store of J. E. Church. He was subsequently made Deputy Sheriff under O. R. Johnson and afterward under John S. Hale, serving six years in that capacity. In the meantime he started a livery business, conducted it three years and then sold ont to engage in the stock business, buying, selling and raising cattle. September 15, 1878,

he opened his meat markets, the Washington Market and the City Market, one on Main and the other on Walnut street, which he has since conducted with marked success. In 1888 his party nominated him for Sheriff of the county, and he was elected by 186 majority. This office he is filling with credit to himself and entire satisfaction to his constituents, and he has re- ceived the nomination for a second term. During his service as Sheriff a horse thief was out on bail of $2,000. He tried to make his escape, but Mr. Vestal followed him to near the line of the British possessions, captured him and brought him back, and he is now serving his term in San Quentin. In 1862 Mr. Vestal built a nice home in Red Bluff. He also owns 5,000 acres of land, which he has fenced and which he expects soon to stock.

May 16, 1872, Mr. Vestal married Miss Clara Gist, a native of Amador County, California. She is a daughter of William Gist, one of the builders of the Oregon & California Railroad. He came to this State from Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Vestal have two sons and a danghter: Elmer, Ethel and Rolla, all at home with their parents in the city in which they were born. Mrs. Vestal is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Vestal is a Master Mason and Knight Templar. He is vice-president of the Tehama County Agricultural Society, and is much interested in the growth and prosperity of Red Bluff and Tehamna County.

EORGE W. SCOTT, one of the leading agriculturists and one of the foremost citi- zens of Yolo County, is a native of Seneca County, New York, born near the town of Ovid, between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, October 19, 1828, his parents being Daniel and Sarah (Dnn- lap Scott). The father, who was of a noted New England family, was born at Warwick, Connecticut, whence he removed to New York State, where he followed farming. The mother was born in Seneca County, New York. Of

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their family of fifteen children, twelve were boys, and eleven grew to maturity. Besides our subject, there are only two others of these now living, viz .: Charles, who lives by the side of his brother, George W., in Yolo County, and James B., a resident of Geneva, New York.

The subject of this sketchi grew up at his native place, under the watchful eye of his father, to the age of nineteen years, when he was allowed, in the fall of 1847, to take a trip to Wayne County, Michigan. It was not in- tended that he should stay longer than a few weeks, but the lake froze up, navigation closed, and he was good for an all winter's stay with his Western relatives. The mails in the spring brought him instructions to return by the first steamer, but he decided to strike out on his own account, and to make his own start in the world. Instead of taking the route homeward, he started west, and proceeded to Kalamazoo, thence to St. Joseph, and finally to Chicago. He was very fond of flat turnips, and, seeing a supply displayed in a grocer's establishment, he invested a shilling and got a half bushel of them. With these he filled the valise he carried, and all the available room in his pockets, and taking the few that remained in his hands he started to walk into the country in search of employ- ment. He brought up in Columbia County, Wisconsin, 150 miles away, with $1.50 left of the $6 with which he had started, and six tur- nips out of the half-bushel. He secured work, and when his father learned that he was not going to return home he sent out another son, who bought for our subject 400 acres of land on Portage Prairie. There he remained until 1850, farming, and by that time he had the place in pretty good shape. He caught the California fever, however, and in the year men- tioned he and two friends in Columbia County, named George Jess and E. K. Dunlap, together with another man started on the long trip to the Golden State. They had four horses hitched to a small, light wagon, and three sad- dle horses, and, taking only such supplies as they deemed absolutely necessary, the start was

made. The result showed that their prepara- tions were exactly right, and when the journey was finished all were ready to admit that they could not do better with all their experience. They crossed the Missouri River at St. Joseph on the third of May, and proceeded via Forts Kearney and Laramie, Sublette's cut-off, and down Humboldt River. At the sink of the Humboldt they left their wagon, and with their horses packed across the desert and into Cali- fornia, arriving at Placerville on the 21st of July, having stopped over twenty days and traveled sixty.two.

Mr. Scott commenced mining there, but after a few weeks went to Spanish Bar, on the mid- dle fork of the American River, and after a short time spent in search for gold there went up on the divide between the North and Mid- dle forks, having been fairly successful in mining. He engaged in freighting between Sacramento and Yankee Jim's, employing a mule team and also one of oxen. In the winter of 1851 he sold his freighting outtit and came to Yolo County pitching his tent on Cottonwood Creek, about two miles from his present residence. He stocked the place with hogs, and also bought a few cattle and horses. After a few months he took S. M. Enos and Enoch Drew as partners. In the spring of 1852 he went back East, partly to visit his parents and brothers, and partly to buy stock, being accompanied by Mr. Drew. He arrived at his old home in July, and was congratulated by his father on having been suc- cessful in doing for himself. He remained there until the spring of 1854, being at that time the only one of the boys at home, and then started on the return trip overland. In south- ern Illinois he and Mr. Drew bought about 200 head of cattle, and started West, crossing the Mississippi River at Chester. They reached the ranch in Yolo County with 167 head.

During his trip East Mr. Scott was married and his wife accompanied him on the trip. After arriving here Mr. Scott and his partner, who had accumulated jointly considerable prop- erty, dissolved partnership, be taking the stock

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and Mr. Drew taking the ranch. Mr. Scott took up a stock ranch at the head of Buckeye, and for years thereafter was extensively en- gaged in the cattle business. American cattle was then worth about $50 a head, and the re- sources of the country seemed so abundant that a large number of the settlers were soon heavily engaged in the cattle business. The year 1864 found everybody with big droves, and cattle fell to $5. That, together with the terrible drouth of that year, broke up nine-tenths of the cattle men. Mr. Scott gathered np abont 600 head out of the 1,200 or 1,400 he had on hand, and took them to Nevada, placing the remainder on the tule lands. His cattle became fat in Ne- vada, and he sold them at from $20 to $30 apiece, making a good profit. His horses, which he took down to the tnle lands about Rio Vista, also came out well. Mr. Scott is now exten- sively engaged in cattle-raising, but he and Mr. Love have in partnership between 7,000 and 9,000 head of Spanish merino sheep. They are also among the heaviest farmers in the valley, cultivating about 3,000 acres of land, and 10,- 000 nsed for grazing, which they own together, Mr. Scott having the sole charge of the busi- ness. He also has 1,000 acres on his home place, and 500 acres in his Buckeye ranch.

He is also interested in oil wells in Ventura County, and at Half-Moon Bay, San Mateo County. At the latter place he and a partner have $10,000 invested in machinery, which is of the most improved pattern known to that industry. This business takes abont all his time the year round. He has also abont 1,000 acres at Banning, San Bernardino County.

Mr. Scott is a stanch Republican in politics, and has taken a prominent part in the councils of the party, although he does not class himself in any sense a politician. He has, however, served his county in the Board of Supervisors, and was the Republican candidate for the Leg- islature in 1870, and again in 1880. Though unsuccessful on account of the long lead of the opposing party, he made a close race, and ran ahead of his ticket. He has always taken an

active interest in public affairs, and the welfare of the community. While a member of the Patrons of Husbandry he was one of the most ardent workers for success. He took an active part in the building of the Vaca Valley & Clear Lake Railroad, grading the line at his own ex- pense from Madison to Winters, and in all put about $18,000 into it without any returns.

Mr. Scott is a man of iron will and great self-reliance, which qualities have made him what he is financially. He could, however, have been vastly better off had he not been ready at all times to lend a helping hand to those who asked his aid. His highest recom- mendation, however, is his honesty, and it is said of him that he is incapable of anything but pure and manly motives, his word being to him as sacred as life itself.

His wife, to whom he was married in New York State, as previously mentioned, December 13, 1853, was formerly Miss Emma Bloomer, a native of the Empire State. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have four children living, viz .: Clar- ence, at home; Arthur, who lives at Banning; Elma, wife of John H. Rice, of Dixon; and Charles Latham, at home. Two are deceased, viz .: Addie and Stella.

OHN G. BOWER, a successful, prosperons farmer of Yolo County, is the son of Will- iam and Elizabethı (Ghusler) Bower, natives of Pennsylvania. His father, who was a me- chanic and a tanner, followed his trade until he moved to Illinois, where he became a farmer and also ran a tavyard. On immigration to this country he first located in Ohio and lived there sixteen years, and then, in 1840, he moved to Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in Pike County in 1872; his wife had died there previously, in 1860.

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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 86

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