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 89
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131
Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican; has been Secretary of the Republican County Central Committee; he took an active part in the cam- paign that elected President Harrison. He was tendered the nomination for District Attorney, but withdrew from the contest, preferring to give his full attention to the practice of his profession and make it the business of his life. Mr. Smith is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was chairman of the committee that had charge of the laying of the corner-stone of the new temple of Redding Lodge, No. 271, and the dedication of the same. He is not a church
553
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
member, but believes in religious institutions and contributes liberally to their support. He takes a lively interest in everything that tends toward the upbuilding and prosperity of the county.
NDREW C. BRIGMAN, President of the Board of Trustees of the city of Redding, and Republican nominee for the State Assembly, is a native of Chillicothe, Missouri. He was born April 3, 1848. His father, Isaac Brigman, was a native of North Carolina, sev- eral generations of the family having lived there. His mother, nee Mary Culbertson, was born in Indiana, of English and French extraction. Mr. Brigman and his family removed to Oregon in 1853, and resided there and in Washington Territory for many years. They had a family of eight children, the subject of this sketch being the oldest.
He received his education in Portland, Ore- gon, and after he arrived at man's estate he became a speculator in land and stock. He sub- sequently removed to San Francisco, where he continued in business two years. In 1875 he went to Redding, Shasta County, and here engaged in mining four years. Since that time he has become a prominent real-estate dealer and a land owner. He also deals in live-stock and is a breeder of horses and cattle, having a number of valuable animals, some of his horses being the best imported Clydesdales in North- ern California.
In 1889 he was elected Trustee of the city, and when the Board organized he was made president. In the fall of 1890 he received the nomination of the Republican party for Assem- blyman from his district. Mr. Brigman is president of District Fair No. 27, Shasta County. He owns a fine ranch of 2,500 acres, which is principally devoted to the raising of horses and cattle. He has also purchased prop- erty in Redding and built a beautiful home, in which he resides with his family.
Mr. Brigman was married in 1881, to Miss Julia Brincard, a native of California, her father having come from his native country, France, and settled in California at an early date. They have one son, Andrew, born in Redding.
Mr. Brigman is an Odd Fellow, a life-long Republican, and one of the most energetic and successful business men of Shasta County. He takes a deep interest in the growth and develop- Inent of Redding, and is a liberal supporter of all worthy public enterprises.
LLEN W. ETTER, junior member of the firm of Klemmer & Etter, wholesale and retail dealers in flour, feed, grain and hay, was born in Nova Scotia, May 14, 1854. His parents, James and Eliza Ann (McKean) Etter, were both natives of Nova Scotia. Their an- cestors were from Holland. Allen W. is the eighth of their eleven children, nine of whom are living. He was reared in his native place, educated in the common schools and learned the trade of wagon-maker. He worked at his trade there until he was twenty-four years of age, when he came to California and located in Princeton, Colusa County. There he remained four years, working at his trade. In 1886 he came to Redding and formned a partnership with Mr. Klemmer. They are enterprising inen and are doing a fine business.
In politics Mr. Etter is a liberal Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has passed all the chairs of the order several times.
HARLES ROBINSON, a well-to-do farmer of Yolo County, dates his birth Decem- ber 15, 1852, in Missouri. His father, Daniel Robinson, was born May 12, 1827, in Allegany County, New York, and his mother February 1, 1829, in Lincoln County, Missouri; they were married in that State in 1849, and in 1857 started with ox teams across the plains
554
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
for California, the captain of their train being Frank Perkins. On arriving in California they first stopped on Mr. Perkins' place until the ensuing spring, when they located on the place where they now reside, and which contains 480 acres of well improved good land. The father died in 1877, and the widowed mother is pass- ing the remainder of her life at the place de- scribed. Charles still remains with his mother, an unmarried man, and he owns a ranch of 102 acres of fine land on Putah Creek two miles east of Winters.
OHN M. FISHER, one of the enterprising business men of Red Bluff, is a native of Upper Canada. He was born June 25. 1851, and is the son of John and Frances (Bishop) Fisher, natives of England. He is the oldest of a family of three children, and re- moved with his parents to Iowa when he was twelve years old. He received a good common- school education, and remained on the farm with his father until 1877. He then became a clerk in a grocery store in Austin, Minnesota. He afterward engaged in the business as a mem- ber of the firm and remained there eight years. In 1885 Mr. Fisher sold out and came to Red Bluff, California, where he elerked for two years for Van Sant & Eckert, after which he was Under Sheriff of the county for one year. Then he purchased Mr. Van Sant's interest in the business, the firm name being now Fisher & Eckert. Their trade extends ont into the coun- try for thirty five miles, and they are doing a very successful general merchandise business. Mr. Fisher is full of business 'push and enter- prise, and both he and his partner have the con- fidence and respect of their patrons in Red Bluff and Tehama County.
Mr. Fisher was married in 1880, to Miss Adah Steuart, a native of New York. They have two children, born in Austin, Minnesota, namely, Stenart L. and Francis S. Mrs. Fisher is an active member of the Presbyterian Church.
For a number of years she has sung in the church choir. Mr. Fisher is a Republican. He has passed all the branches of the I. O. O. F., and has been Captain of the Canton. Mr. Fisher is among the more recent acquisitions of Red Bluff, but he evinces a most commendable interest in the prosperity of the city.
H. EPLEY, whose beautiful home, " Cypress Lawn," fruit farm, is situ- ated in Brown's Valley, about three miles from Napa, has a ranch of fifty acres, ten of which is in vineyard and twenty-five in or- chard, principally apricots, prunes, peaches and pears, about two-thirds in bearing. There are forty Japanese persimmon trees in full bearing on the ranch, and producing an average of seventy- five pounds to the tree. They require much the same climate as the orange. Up to this time his market has been in San Francisco. Brown's Valley has an area of abont 1,500 to 2,000 acres, and was named from the man who purchased it from Vallejo, the Mexican grantee, for a horse and buggy. Now the bare land is held at from $100 to $250 per acre. Mr. Epley has a fruit-dryer on his place, exclusively for his own use. He was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan, in 1835, and grew np on his father's farm, attending the usual schools up to the age of seventeen years. His parents were Henry K. and Rachel (Moe) Epley, the former still living, but the latter died in 1885. His father was an engineer on the Michigan Central Railroad, as early as 1840, when they used for rails strap iron spiked down on wooden sills. The son learned the same business as that of his father, and later that of mechanical engin- eer in a machine shop. In 1853 he removed to Iowa, and a year afterward to Minnesota, where he took up a farm. He sold this land, and with the proceeds built the first steam saw-mill on Lake Pepin. In this he was engaged with his brother, rafting their lumber down the Missis- sippi River to Dubuque, Rock Island, St. Louis
555
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
and other points along the river. He continued in that business for four years, and then re- turned to Michigan, where he was married to Miss Mary E. Robinson, in January, 1858. They came West, first under the impulse of the Pike's Peak excitement; but keeping on to California, they settled in Lassen County, among the first residents of Honey Lake Valley. He was the engineer of the first steam saw-mill set up there, which a year later was removed to Washoe Valley, Nevada, and set up about four miles from Carson. He ran this engine until fall and then rented it for $1,000 per month for six months. He remained in Nevada for four years, and then purchased a ranch in Honey Lake Valley, where they lived for eleven years, engaged in general farming. In 1874 he re- moved to Napa, and for nine years carried on the stationery business. When he purchased the ranch where he now lives there were eleven acres in orchard, and Mr. Epley has himself planted the vineyard and the remainder of the orchard since that time. He has three children living: Dora, a graduate of the Napa Ladies' Seminary, and Myrtle and Carl, who are now attending the Napa College. Mr. Epley was for one term a member of the Board of Super- visors in Lassen County, and also for one term in Napa County. He is a member of the Masonic order and of the chapter, also of several other orders, and has always been a Re- publican in politics.
AMUEL P. POND, a retired farmer re- siding at Woodland, was born October 25, 1818, in Vermont, the son of Willard and Ama (Patrick) Pond, natives of the same State. He was but four years of age when his mother died, and when he was eleven years old lis father died, and he went to live with an aunt (of the subject) at Hubbardton, Vermont. At the age of fifteen years he went to Brunswick, New York, and found employment upon a farm for two years; next he was engaged on the Erie
Canal for two years; then for four years he fol- lowed the sea; then he was on a farm again in Vermont, working for his cousin until 1842; and in 1843 he purchased a farm in New Haven, Addison County, that State, where he resided until 1850, when he came to California. In this State he followed mining until 1852, in the Big Canon in El Dorado County; he then took up a ranch near Cacheville, in Yolo County, and occupied it until 1858, when he disposed of it and bought 160 acres about a mile and a half northeast of Woodland. In 1886 he moved into Woodland, buying a fine little residence on Lolas street, where he is now enjoying life.
In 1842 he married Anna Gregory, a native of Vermont, who died March 7, 1889, at the age of seventy-two years. They reared two adopted daughters,- Ellen W. and Alzada S.
EORGE NOLLMAN was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, March 6, 1856. His father, John Henry Nollman, was a native of Hanover, Germany, and liis mother was also a German. They came to the United States, in 1848, and settled in New York city. They afterward removed to New Jersey and were engaged in farming there until 1865, when they returned to New York city.
The subject of this sketch finished his educa- tion in a New York college that was founded by the old Dutch Hollanders in 1633, one of the oldest institutions of learning in the country. In 1879 he removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and engaged in the lumber business until 1881-'82. At that time he went to Grafton, Dakota, where he was also interested in the lumber business and had a large trade. He also built a wheat elevator, and dealt in grain. While engaged in business at that place, he was elected alderman of the city for two terms, serv- ing four years. During that time he was strongly in favor of all measures that had for their object the improvement of the city and
556
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
was highly commended by the press for the efficient service he rendered.
Mr. Nollman's wife was nee Miss Nellie Blake, a native of Connecticut and a sister of Mrs. J. F. Burgar. They have one son, born in Grafton, Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Nollman inter- est themselves in the social affairs of Grafton. They are members of the Baptist Church. When they decided to come to California many regrets were expressed, and the newspapers spoke of them in the highest terms.
At one time in his history, Mr. Nollman was cashier for a sash and door manufactory. While going to his office with the cash box and money under his arm a notorious thief attempted to rob him, throwing red pepper in his eyes. In the suffle the box was thrown on the ground. As the robber reaclied for it he received a severe kick from Mr. Nollinan, who regained the treasure and escaped with it. The thief was arrested and convicted; Mr. Nollman was lion- ized for the firm courage he evinced.
Another incident occurred by which Mr. Noll- man almost lost his life. He got on board a caboose to go on a journey. While it was standing on the track, before starting, it was run into by a freight train. The caboose was thrown into the air as high as the telegraph poles. Mr. Nollinan was so injured that he was unconcious for nine days. A jury allowed him $5,000 damage, which the company paid.
The cold weather in Dakota induced him to seek a mild climate and in 1887 he came to California. After traveling over the State, seek- ing a location, he decided to invest in Red Bluff. He accordingly purchased a fine tract of land, adjoining the city, and planted a portion of it with fruit trees: 400 orange and lemon, 100 olive, and 800 trees of other varieties. They . are doing well and show a fine growth and with- out irrigation. He and Mr. Burgar formed a partnership and purchased property in the city. They have built a store and two nice residences. Although Mr. Nollinan has been in this place only a brief period he has thoroughly identified himself with the best interests of the city, and
the firm of G. Nollman & Co. are doing an ex- tensive business in groceries, provisions, grain and lumber. They have recently purchased an interest in a very valuable invention, called a patent boiler water front. It is to be attached to steam boilers and its use is to save fuel and make steam. They already have contracts to attach it to boilers, and there is no doubt of its value and utility.
Mr. Nollman is an active member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a Re publican.
HARLES ROBINSON, whose ranch is in Brown's Valley about three miles from Napa, has lived in California since 1850, and in Napa County since 1855. His ranch comprises 450 acres, of which about forty acres is in vineyard. Ten acres of this is in resistant vines, and he will gradually replant the re- mainder. He has about six acres in orchard, and the main part of his business is general farming, dairying and stock-raising. He was born in Helsingborg, Sweden, in 1831. His parents dying in his early infancy, he was brought up by relatives, taking the name of an aunt. He attended the local schools until four- teen years of age, and after passing some time in Stockholmn he came to America with his unele in 1848. He arrived in San Francisco on October 12, 1860, coming by way of Cape Horn as cabin boy in a sailing vessel. After a short experience in the mines he settled in Napa County, and began the business of buying cattle from the immigrants who came into this valley across the plains. He continued trading until 1861, when he bought a ranch of 200 acres on Coneros Creek and engaged in wheat-raising. At the same time he purchased a horse-power threshing-machine, and later a steam thresher, which he operated in connection with his farm- ing up to the time he bought his present home in 1880. He has recently completed an elegant house of nine rooms on the place, with modern
557
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
·
conveniences, water being introduced under pressure from a neighboring hill. Mr. Robin- son has a wine-cellar, 62 x 32, and two stories in height, stone below and frame above, and of a capacity of 35,000 gallons. He has still on hand all the wine of last year's vintage, to the amount of about 25,000 gallons. He is the owner of one- fifth of the Palace Hotel and of the East Napa Land Company. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Napa Lodge, No. 18.
OSEPH GRIFFIN, deceased, forinerly a farmer of Yolo County, was born February 6, 1818, in Frederick County, Virginia, a son of George and Nancy (Johnston) Griffin, natives of Virginia. As he grew up he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade and followed it up to within the last thirty years of his life. He left Virginia at an early age, spent a short time at Cincinnati, and then a period in Ralls County, Missouri, and then purchased a farm in that State, upon which he continued to reside until the spring of 1850, when he camne overland to California with ox teams, in company with Mr. Ely, a brother of Mrs. Griffin. After spend- ing a short time in the mines, he returned to Missouri with the intention of remaining there; but in 1857, the thoughts of the excellent feat- ures of the Golden State had wrought him up to such a pitch that he had to come again, to remain; and he came as before, with ox teams, with Mr. Ely, and this time had serions encoun- ters with the Indians, losing some of their stock and many times narrowly escaping with their lives. Stopping in Yolo County, Mr. Griffin purchased land on Cache Creek near Knight's Landing, where he was engaged about ten years. He then bought near Winters, Yolo County, and lived there until his death, inaking all the improvements on the place. The tasteful resi- dence was built in the fall of 1877. At the time of his death he owned about 1,000 acres in Yolo County, and about 180 in Lake County. He was a man marked by traits of energy and persever-
ance. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Nancy Ely, a native of Missouri; they had twelve chil- dren, seven of whom are living, namely: Thomas D., George W., Annie E., wife of J. Spencer; James B .; Mary J., deceased ; Margaret, deceased; John F., Amanda B., wife of J. D. Rice; Mary A., deceased; Robert E. Lee, deceased; Emma, deceased, and Joseph. Mr. Griffin was a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity at Winters, and is remembered by all who knew him as a worthy and upright citizen. Mrs. Griffin still survives, and is enjoying a degree of health that promises long life.
EDMUND WRIGHT was born in Stock- port, England, October 27, 1832, and came to the United States in 1861, to California in 1869, and to Red Bluff in 1872. He received his education in Stockport and Manchester, and before coming to this country was a commercial traveler. Upon his arrival in the United States the first work he did was to drive Government mules. After that he was engaged in farming, in Ohio, for two years. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Eighty- sixth Ohio Infantry, and served the cause of the Union until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge in September, 1865. He then purchased 160 acres of land in Ohio, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for four years. In 1869 he sold out and came to Cali- fornia, for the benefit of his health. Three years lie spent in Colusa County. From there he came to Tehama County and purchased 130 acres of land, located seven miles north of Red Bluff. He also bought 1,000 sheep, and engaged in that business for ten years, being very successful. He disposed of the sheep, and, in 1888, sold the farm. At that time he be- came the senior member of the firm of Wright & Taylor, dealers in groceries and provisions, at Red Bluff. They keep a large stock, and are doing a prosperous business. Their trade ex- tends out of the city for thirty five miles.
558
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
In November, 1863, Mr. Wright was married to Miss Elizabeth Heathcote. She was born in England, came to America when three years of age, and was reared in Wisconsin. They have six children: Walter H., Alice E., Ellen G., George E., Mabel A. and Herbert H. The two oldest were born in Ohio, one in Colusa County and three in Tehama County. Two of the daughters are successful school-teachers. The oldest son is a farmer and stock-raiser. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Wright is a Republican, and belongs to J. K. Mansfield Post, No. 75, G. A. R., of Red Bluff.
AMES LOUIS BARHAM is one of the prominent citizens of Tehama County, California. He was born near Springfield, Missouri, October 2, 1852, and is the son of John and Arabella (Swagerty) Barham. His parents were born in Kentucky, and their an- cestors for many generations were natives of that State. They crossed the plains to Cali- fornia in 1857, spent two years at North San Juan, and in 1859 settled in Chico, Butte Connty. The subject of this sketch is said to have been the first boy who went to Chico to reside. He lived there continuously for twenty- two years, and his parents still reside at that place. Mr. Barham is the oldest of a family of eight children. His education was received at Chico. He earned his first dollar by wash- ing bottles for Hon. E. P. Pond, present Mayor of San Francisco, who is now (1890) the Dem- ocratic candidate for Governor of California. Mr. Barhamn was the pioneer expressman of Chico. He carried the express for Wells, Fargo & Co., and the mail for a number of years. He subsequently accepted a position as clerk for G. W. Dorn & Co., dealers in general merchan- dise, and was in their employ seven years. He then spent a year in Tombstone, after which he returned and accepted a clerkship with Cone & Kimball, of Red Bluff. For six years he was
employed by that firin, and during that time he became widely and favorably known as a most obliging and competent business man.
In 1886 he was chosen by the Democratic party as their candidate for County Assessor. He made a lively and spirited canvass, speaking all over the county. His opponent had held the office for thirteen years, but Mr. Barham was elected by a majority of 354 votes, carry- ing every precinct except two. He entered upon the duties of his office determined to con- dnct it in accordance with the law and without being influenced by either party or property. Many of the papers in the office, that would have been of value to him, were destroyed by the former incumbent, which made his duties much more difficult; but he succeeded in reduc- ing the taxation of the connty $1.10 per hun- dred less than the average of the three best years of his predecessor, and he fonnd and as- sessed 70,734 acres of land in the county that had before escaped taxation. In 1890, without opposition, he was renominated by his party and elected over the strongest man in the Republi- can party by a majority of 295.
Mr. Barham was married November 25, 1875, to Miss Georgia Holcomb, a native of St. Louis, California. They have one child, Court- ney, born in Chico. Mr. Barham is the owner of a comfortable home in Red Bluff.
Onr subject is a prominent Mason, has been and is Master of Vesper Lodge, No. 84, and is Inspector of the district, appointed by Grand Master Estee. Mr. Barham is also a Knight Templar. His wife is a member of the Epis- copal Church, and his political views are Dem- ocratic. He is a business man of ability and enterprise, and a citizen every way worthy of the confidence and respect of the people of the county.
BORREO is the proprietor of the Bay Vineyard and Orchard, which also in- cludes the wine cellars and distillery. The fine place, about seven miles from Napa,
559
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
and adjoining the celebrated Jackson Napa Soda Springs, is beautifully sitnated in a shel- tered spot on the west side of the Foss Valley range of mountains, and occupies both sides of the Soda Cañon. He has here 370 acres, seventy- five of which are in vineyard, and ten acres in blackberries and other fruit. There are also 564 olive trees, some of them six years old and in bearing. These are all of the Picholin variety, with which Mr. Borreo was familiar in his Italian home, and which he considers the most desirable both for picking and for oil. The grapes on this ranch are of the Burgundy and Zinfandel variety, mostly of the non-resistant stock, but all in bearing and so far free from phylloxera. Mr. Borreo is, however, preparing resistant vines, having now 10,000 rooted in nursery, which he proposes to plant in new ground so as to be ready in case the disease makes its appearance. He has already picked some of the olives, and they are indeed de- licious, of a fine. delicate flavor, with a most pleasing after taste, and will prepare samples of oil from a few of the Picholin olives the com- ing winter. There is a beautiful view from his residence over the whole valley to Napa City, Monnt Tamalpais, Pinole Point, the vessels and bay beyond, and even the trains to Santa Rosa, as well as those up the Napa Valley. The winery has a storage capacity of 200,000 gal- lons, and there are now in stock some 50,000 gallons of wine of the last season's vintage. There is also a distillery in which he will use for making brandy all inferior grapes, as well as the lees and pomace, and other refuse prod- ucts of the vineyard. His main products are Port, Angelica, claret and white wines. Mr. Borreo has established his own brandies and reaches the consumer direct, having customers all over the State of California. Next season he will commence bottling, and will then make preparations to enter the Eastern market, hav- ing already placed some of his wines on satis- factory terms in New York city.
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.