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 91
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
566
[HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
In 1858 Mr. Mooney was married. The union has been blessed with five children, all born in Tehamna County and all now living. The children have received. their education in the Catholic schools.
Mr. Mooney has always voted the Demo- cratic ticket; was a Union Democrat and voted for Stephen A. Douglas for President. He has frequently held the office of School Trustce since 1860. In 1884 he was elected one of the Supervisors of the county, was re-elected to the same office and now liolds that position.
J. WELCH, a prominent farmer of Yolo County, first crossed the plains to Cali- fornia in 1850. He is a native of Mon- roe County, Kentucky. His parents, Richard and Jane (Harlan) Welch, were also natives of that State; his father was a farmer and black- smith. At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Welch spent six months in Missouri, and then came on to California and began mining in Amador County; in the fall of 1851 he located in Yolo County; was in Los Angeles County from 1869 to 1874, and since then on his pres- ent well improved ranch of eighty acres; he raises live stock and alfa fa. He married Martha Browning, a native of Kentucky, and they have two children living; and they have End two who are now deceased. Three of the family are members of the Christian Church.
AMES S. CAMERON, M. D., is a worthy citizen and a leading physician of Red Bluff. He was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, November 20, 1845. His father, James Cameron, was also a native of South Carolina, born in 1798. He was a planter by occupation. His religious views were in accordance with the Associate Reformed Presby- terian Church and he was a faithful member of the same. His wife, nee Malinda Toland, was
of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and a sister of the late Dr. H. H. Toland, of San Francisco. The Camerons came from Scotland. Grandfather Cameron was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
The subject of this sketch is the only survivor of a family of four sons and three daughters. He received his education at Erskine College, in his native State, and left that institution in August, 1861, at the age of sixteen, to join the Confederate army. He participated in the for- tunes of the army in Virginia until the close of that great struggle, when General Lee sur- rendered. Our young soldier was with General Johnson when the news of the surrender reached them. They disbanded and he returned to his home and took the oath of allegiance to the United States. Ile then went to Philadelphia and entered Jefferson College, where he studied medicine under Professor William H. Pancost, professor of anatomy in the college.
May 10, 1866, Dr. Cameron sailed from New York and landed at San Francisco June 13, fol- lowing. He there entered the office of his uncle, Dr. H. H. Toland, then and since one of the most noted physicians on the coast. He remained with him until November 26, 1868, when he left San Francisco, and on the night of the 28th landed at Red Bluff. Here he opened an office and began the practice of his profes- sion, and his career as a physician at this place has been a successful one.
Two years after he came here he was united in marriage with the second daughter of Mr. H. Gerke. She was born in San Francisco, April 24, 1852. Their union was blessed with two sons, James Henry and George Toland, bothı born in Red Bluff. Mrs. Cameron was a beauti- ful and refined lady, a noble and true wife and a loving mother. Their happy married relation was interrupted by her death, which occurred November 6, 1880, her disease being enlarge- ment of the spleen. Her loss was a severe blow to the Doctor and his little family and also to her many friends and acquaintances in Red Bluff.
567
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Dr. Cameron was engaged in building one of the finest residences in the city, and he sold the property soon after his wife's death. He has since remained single, and he now lives at the Tremont Hotel. He met with two serious accidents not more than a year apart, being thrown from his buggy each time; first, his arm was broken, and, July 15, 1884, the other arm was fractured, and he also sustained severe in- jury to his head. IIe has since been resting and recuperating. Up to the time of his injury he had an enormous practice and had made him- self a benefit to his race, going night and day to treat the suffering without stopping to ask whether they were rich or poor. In politics. the Doctor is a Democrat. He is a Master Mason, a Knight Templar and a Scotch Rite Mason. His office is in the Cone & Kimball building.
P. BALZARI, dairyman at Woodland, was born July 4, 1855, in Switzerland, of which country his parents, James and Constance (Mattie) Balzari, are also natives; the father, who has been a merchant most of his life, is still living there. When our subjeet was twelve years of age, he and his father came to California by water, landing at Petaluma, where he was engaged in the livery business until 1878; then he worked on a farın at El- mira, Solano County, until 1880, when he moved near Madison, Yolo County, and followed farm- ing there until the next year, when he came to Woodland and started his present dairy ranch, where he keeps seventy head of cows and is the leading dairyman in that locality. He keeps the finest grades of stoek. His gross income is $500 per month. He has 240 acres of land near Cottonwood in Shasta County, and twenty acres in Willow Oak Park, Yolo Connty.
He was united in marriage, December 23, 1876, in Yolo County, with Eva A. Merrell, a native of Michigan, born November 18, 1858, the daughter of U. P. and Almira (Finch) Mer- rell, her father a native of Connecticut and her
mother of Michigan. They have two sons: Charles W., born July 7, 1878, and Robert A., January 2, 1884.
AJOR E. H. WARD was born in Wythe County, Virginia, in 1842. He is a son of Robert Newton and Margaret F. (Thompson) Ward, and is the youngest of a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters. Both the Wards and Thompsons trace their ancestry to the English. Mrs. Ward was born in Virginia, a descendant of one of the old families of that State. Mr. Ward was also a native of the Old Dominion, born in Wythe County. He was extensively engaged in the stock business; and was a leading Whig, bitterly opposed to secession. When Virginia seceded, however, he went with his State and became an ardent supporter of the Southern cause. He lost all his property in the war. The family came to California in 1870, and Mr. Ward's death oc- curred at Stockton in 1881.
The subject of this sketchi received his educa- tion in Emery and Henry College, Virginia. He left college in April, 1861, to enter the Confederate army, and enlisted as a private in Company A, Eighth Regiment, Virginia Car- alry. The regiment was reorganized in 1862 and he was made Orderly Sergeant of the company. He was actively engaged in the war in Virginia from its ontbreak to its close, and was present at the surrender at Appomattox.
At the close of the war Major Ward went with his father to a place near Memphis to en- gage in cotton-raising. They employed their own negroes and others and conducted the busi- ness for two years. The rapid decline in the price of cotton caused them to give up the en- terprise and return to Virginia. There they engaged in stock-raising until 1870, when they ame to California. In 1871 Major Ward be- gan a sheep business, in a small way, on shares. Soon after this he bought sheep in Tehama County and drove them to Montana, Wyoming
568
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
and Colorado. This proved a remunerative en- terprise as well as an arduous and severe one, for these trips occupied six or seven months, during which time he was exposed to all kinds of weather, sleeping at night with no covering save the broad canopy of heaven, and faring on the plainest of food. Some time after this he began buying lands in the southern part of Te- hama County and accumulated several thonsand acres of land, on which lie established a sheep ranch. In 1884 he entered into a copartnership. in the business with Major J. S. Cone, and since then they have carried on the business very ex- tensively, Major Ward being thie acting man- ager. They have 30,000 acres of land devoted to the business and have about 15,000 sheep. The annual sale of sheep and wool averages $30,000.
Major Ward has purchased lots in Red Bluff and has built a very attractive and pleasant home. In 1883 he was united in marriage with Miss Mellie Howell, a native of Missouri. Their union has been blessed with three sons, born in Tehama County, namely: Gorham C., Robert E. and Clay R. The Major is a Royal Arch Mason. He has been a life-long Demo- crat, but he is in favor of a high tariff, and felt compelled to vote for Mr. Harrison at the last election; and he is now independent in politics. Major Ward is a representative citizen of Te- hama County, one who has by his own well directed efforts secured for himself and family a competency. During the twenty years of his life in California he has risen from very moder- ate circumstances to a position of prominence, wealth and influence.
M RS. E. POCKMAN .- In the list of those holding a prominent place as agricult- urists in Yolo County, the name of Mrs. E. Pockman is entitled to a leading posi- tion, both on account of the excellence of her fine ranch, and because of the admirable way in which its affairs are managed. She is the
widow of the late J. M. Pockman, who was one of the older and more respected residents in the county. He was a native of Missouri, and the date of his birth was Jannary 9, 1842. When a young man he came to this State with a party of others, some of whom settled in Yolo County, among thein William Hatcher, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Pockman arrived in 1852, and in the following year settled in Yolo County, making it his home up to the time of his death, which occurred in April, 1882. He was married to Mrs. Pock- man, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Brown, at the town of Yolo, on October 20, 1873. Mr. Pockman spent the active portion of his life in Yolo County, was a man possessed of an un- usual amount of energy and perseverance, and was always actuated by the highest motives. He was a man very highly esteemed throughout the community, both for the kindliness of his heart and the generosity of his nature. He pro- vided well for his family, doing for them all that a kind husband and father could accomplish, accumulating during his life a considerable property.
Mrs. Pockman is a native of Wisconsin, where she was born in 1854. When she was a mere child her parents removed to St. Paul, Minne- sota, where they lived till 1872, when they came to California. She is the owner of a splendid tract of 640 acres of beautiful farming land, all of it lying in Yolo County and all of it highly improved. She has four children, three boys and one girl.
D. BUTLER, residing near the head of Brown's Valley, abont fonr miles from
0 Napa, has an orchard of thirty acres, divided as follows: 900 cherries, 900 French prunes, 900 peaches, the remainder being de- voted to a variety of fruits. These are all in bearing. There was an apple orchard of about 1,000 trees on the ranch, but this he is grub- bing np, as the codlin moth destroys the
.
569
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
crop. These will be replaced by other fruits, principally prunes and apricots. There are 100 acres in the ranch, but one-half is hill land, only adapted for grazing purposes and furnishing fire-wood. Mr. Butler purchased this place about seventeen years since. He was born in Monmouth, Illinois, in 1843. When he was ten years of age his parents removed to Oregon, where he assisted his father on his farm and at- tended school until he arrived at man's estate. When he was twenty-one he returned to Illi- nois and entered Abingdon College, graduating there in 1865, after a course of three years. Returning to Oregon, he taught school for several years; coming to California he pur- chased in 1872 the ranch where he has since resided. He has taught school for about ten years, at intervals, during his residence in Napa County. He was married in 1868, to Miss Nel- lie Morris, a native of Quincy, Illinois, who died in 1879. There are two children from this marriage: Lena, who is a graduate of the Ore- gon State Normal School, and has been a teacher; and Ralph, who is now in attendance at the same institution. In 1886 he married Mrs. Hazzie Garr, a native of Missouri. He is a member of the Masonic order, Yount Lodge, No. 12, and has been a member of the Board f Education for six years.
ODERICK HENRY BIERCE is one of the pioneers of Red Bluff and one who has had much to do with the building of the town, and its history.
Mr. Bierce was born in Prattsville, Green County, New York, September 2, 1833. His father, Alexander N. Bierce, was a native of Massachusetts, but was a resident of New York for a long time. Grandfather Alexander A Bierce was born in France and came to America early in the history of the country. Our sub- ject's father was in politics a Whig and in religion a Methodist. He married Deborah Allcot Morrison, a native of Yonkers, New
York. To them were born eight children, Rode- rick H. being the sixth and one of the four who are now living. He received his early education in New York, and in 1848, when he was four- teen years old, the family removed to Illinois and settled in the village of Dixon. At that place he finished his education and learned the carpenter and millwright trade and there worked for seven or eight years.
In 1859 Mr. Bierce crossed the plains to California and engaged in mining at Weaver- ville, Trinity County, meeting with good success. After that he came to Red Bluff. The next year, however, he returned to the mines and built a flume, but the claim proved a failure and he met with a serious loss. He then came back to Red Bluff and commenced work at his trade. His first work was to assist in building the Antelope flouring-mill, six iniles east of Red Bluff. In 1863 he formed a co- partnership, Bierce & Powell, contractors and builders. In connection with their other busi- ness they built a planing-mill and manufactured sash and doors, and also added a lumber yard. They built the Red Bluff Hotel, and it burned down before it was completed. A stock com- pany was formed and they rebuilt on the same site. The hotel finally became the property of the builders. Great depression came upon the city and they sold it at a heavy loss, only receiv- ing $2,500 for it. The hotel was afterward sold for $21,500. This firm dissolved and Mr. Bierce carried on the lumber business alonc. On the completion of the Blue Ridge flume by Frank Campbell and Welton, Mr. Bierce was selected manager of their lumber yard and planing-mill. This was in 1874. They afterward sold to the Sierra Flume & Lumber Company, and Mr. Bierce was retained in his position. The company was reorganized and became the Sierra Lumber Company, and he continued with them until 1886. In that year he went to San Diego and took charge of the lumber yard and was manager for the Coronado Beach Lumber Company. After being there nearly a year he went to San Quentin, Lower California, and
570
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
assumed charge of the lumber yard and store of the International Company of Mexico. October 20, 1888, Mr. Bierce returned to Red Bluff and has since been engaged in contracting and building. He has this year (1890) completed the erection of the Red Bluff flouring-mill, a large and valuable one.
Mr. Bierce was married in 1869, to Mrs. Margaretta Mitchell, widow of Mr. Reuben J. Mitchell. By her first husband she had a son, R. J. Mitchell, and by Mr. Bierce she has had four children, three sons and a daughter, all born iu Red Bluff, viz .: Roderick N., who is now in the Signal Service office at San Francisco; Ralph S .; Rollin H. and Edith M. Mr. Bierce is a life-long Republican; has voted for General J. C. Fremont and every Republican candidate for the presidency since. When he came to Red Bluff there were only thirteen Republicans in Tehama County, and during the dark days of the Rebellion there were inany disloyal people in California. A Confederate flag was carried in triumph through the streets of Red Bluff. The patriotic blood boiled in the veins of Mr. Bierce and his partner, Mr. Powell, and they attacked the disunionist. Several shots were fired, and they arrested him and sent him to Sacramento a prisoner. The flag displayed on that occasion is now in the possession of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Red Bluff. Mr. Bierce, after that occurrence, was one of the leading spirits to organize a company of Home Guards, and stood ready to fight or die for his country. The organization of the company had a salutary effect in preserving peace and making the lives of the people secure.
For six years Mr. Bierce was a School Trustee, and has ever taken an active interest in educational matters. He was one of the charter members of the Ancient Order of the United Workman, of Red Bluff, and has been a Master Workman for several terins. He is a prominent member of the Mason fraternity, was master of the blue lodge two [years, and has filled nearly every other office in the lodge. He is also a Royal Arch Mason. Mr. Bierce was elected a
member of the Board of Supervisors of the eity, and was Chairman of the Board for two years. He was Chief of the Fire Department for six years; and on his retiring from that department, the members showed their appreciation of his services by presenting him with a splendid gold watch. It was a pleasant surprise to Mr. Bierce and he treasures the token highly.
To the biographer it is a pleasant task to record the history of one who, by his generous deeds and inanly conduct, has endeared himself to his fellow citizens, and has led that upright and honorable life of which his posterity justly feels prond.
RUCE B. LEE, of Red Bluff, Tehama County, California, lately deceased, was the eldest son of Barton Lee, one of the early settlers and founders of Sacramento. The old firm of Priest, Lee & Cornwall was one of the wealthiest and most noted in the early his- tory of California. Mr. Lee's grandfather, Benjamin Lee, was a pioneer of Skaneateles, New York, and also of northern Ohio. The Lees came originally from the Scottish branch of the family. Mr. Lee's mother, nee Henri- etta Lee Steele, was a native of Sandusky, Ohio, and a descendant, on the maternal side, from the Virginia branch of the Lee family.
Bruce B. Lee was born in Iowa, September 26, 1838. He erossed the plains to Oregon and California in 1844. Mr. Lee is enthusiastic over Tehama Connty and believes it to be the best in the State. During his residence in California he has held many prominent posi- tions; was elected to the State Legislature as a member of the Assembly from Sacramento County, in 1868; was appointed Harbor Com- missioner by Governor William Irwin, in 1876; was elected Grand Commander of Knights Templar in 1880, and secured the Triennial Conelave of that order for San Francisco, in 1883; and at the time of his death was Prelate of Red Bluff Commandery, No. 17, K. T ..
-
571
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Past High Priest of Red Bluff Chapter, No. 40, R. A. M .; and Captain of Company D, Eighth Battalion, N. G. C. Mr. Lee was man- ager of the largest insurance agency in America. He is the owner of a fine orchard, and has for sale about 200 acres of the finest orchard land in the valley.
July 2, 1868, Mr. Lee wedded the lady of his choice, Miss Ada Titus, the acknowledged belle of Sacramento in the days of Governor Haight's administration. Mrs. Lee is the daughter of Col- onel J. W. Titus, of Sacramento, and is a lead- ing member of the Episcopal Church, and a vo- calist of more than ordinary ability.
Mr. Lee devoted his checkered and eventful life not alone to making money and accumu- lating wealth, but to ameliorating the conditions of the indigent and suffering, and thus by making bright the pathway of many a poor soul he has also brought sunshine and happiness into his own life. He was a man who reverenced his God, loved his neighbor as himself, never sought notoriety, and enjoyed fun as much as any one. By his fellow citizens he was regarded as liberal, generous, talented and full of busi- ness push and enterprise. His death took place in December, 1890.
ILLIAM DUNCAN came to Red Bluff in 1875, and is a prominent horticult- urist of this place. He is one of the many intelligent and thrifty sons whom Scot- land has furnished the United States to develop her resources and acquire wealth in this land of the free, where merit can win, unaided by title or wealth. Mr. Duncan's parents, George and Christina Duncan, were natives of Scotland, and the father was a gardener. To this business William was reared, working at it first in Scot- land and afterward in England.
Mr. Duncan emigrated to the United States in 1848, and located in Iowa, where he pur- chased a farmi of two hundred acres. This he
improved by building, etc., and resided there until 1875, carrying on gardening, raising stock, and also keeping a dairy. Mr. Duncan had made a visit to Tehama Connty, California, in 1870, and was much pleased with the country and the climate. In 1875, as already stated at the beginning of this sketch, he came to Red Bluff, and has since made it his home. He pur- purchased 300 acres of land adjoining the city, and for three years conducted a dairy. He planted sixty acres of the rich bottom land to fruit trees, peaches, pears, plums, apples, prunes, figs and almonds. He also set out a vineyard. principally raisin grapes. His ship- ment this year (1890) amounts to two tons of dried seedless Sultana grapes and ten tons of raisins. His peach crop brings $1,000 per year. He dried large quantities of prunes. Many of his trees are yet young. Before planting very extensively he experimented to see which would do well. While that was a safer way, it delayed large results. He has built a large residence, overlooking Red Bluff and affording a fine view of the Sacramento River.
In 1852 Mr. Duncan married Miss Margaret Brownlee, a native of Canada. Their union has been blessed with ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: Frank W., who is at present in the employ of the Rock Island Rail- way Company; Isabel, wife of W. R. Hall, the efficient County Clerk of Tehama County; Christiana M., wife of Thomas Hardie, resides in lowa; Mary, who lived to be twenty-seven years of age and died at the home of her par ents in Red Bluff; James Brownlee; Minnie; Will E., who resides in Sanger, California, and is superintendent of the sash and door department in the Sanger mill; George W., Florence E. and Maurice W. Mrs. Hall, before her marriage, was an accomplished school-teacher and held a life diploma. Miss Florence is the affable and obliging deputy at the Red Bluff postoffice. The family are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Duncan has been a life-long Republican. He is one of the worthy and influential men of the county, and is demonstrating the wonderful
572
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.
adaptability of the soil and climate to horti- culture.
B. TUFTS, real-estate dealer at Davisville, is a highly esteemed pioneer of Califor- nia. He was born November 18, 1824, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, a son of John M. and Mary Wilson (Davis) Tufts. The father, a native of New Jersey, was educated at the West Point Military Academy, received a Lieutenant's commission, and served in the reg- ular army for a number of years, and was mar- ried while in service. He retired from the army about 1820, and for twenty years followed farming, when be retired from that and pur- chased a handsome residence in Rahway, New Jersey, where he died in 1878, at the age of eiglity-eight years.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. J. B. Tufts, was raised on a farm. At the age of twenty- one years he went to New York city and learned the printer's trade, continuing in the same five years. In 1849 le came to California, sailing from New York on the bark Clyde, under command of Captain Kempton, with seventy-five passen- gers on board. The trip was made around tlie Horn, occupying six months and two days. Mr. Tufts landed in San Francisco November 2, 1849, well equipped for starting a general iner- chandise store, having brought both building and goods with him. His intention was to es- tablish a wholesale commission honse in San Francisco, but on arriving he changed his mind, owing to the high price of real estate and danger of fire, and he went to Sacramento with his building and goods, upon a schooner which he chartered for $1,000; and there he erected his two story building, 20 x 40 feet, and covered it with 17,000 pounds of iron, which was worth in San Francisco at that time $2 a pound; and lumber was worth $600 per 1,000 feet, for green sycamore; and the tin for roofing worth $100 per box. The entire material for the building, which cost in New York only $825,
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.