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 97

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 97

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Mr. Bradbury says they had plenty of money and carried it in belts about their waists, with straps over the shoulders. Sometimes at night they hid it in the brush. For the first year or two there was very little stealing. Every thief knew that if he were caught he would

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have to die. The miners often left their gold in cans where they dug it. The prospectors would come along, take up the can, see how much there was in it, and put it down again and pass on. Soon, however, that state of things changed; and there was murder and rob- bery and immediate retribution if the culprit were found.

Forty fleeting years have passed since then, and now (1890) none more vividly realize the changes that have come over this country than does the pioneer. Then Mr. Bradbury slowly trudged on foot or with his pack mules among the mountains of California, and at night slept in the snow; now he rushes through the country after the "iron horse," and, from the window of his palace car, he catches a view of the mountains, the well tilled fields, and the cities and towns that dot the hill-sides and valleys. Every night he sleeps in a first-class hotel, or in his own luxnrions home in Red Bluff. It is with pleasure he recalls the days of '49, and says that if he were a young inan now, he would go to the wilds of Africa and help to develop another grand country.

RRIN F. PULSIFER, agent at Vallejo for the Port Costa Lumber Company, has been a resident of California since April, 9, 1875. The Vallejo depot is the point of sup- ply for the Napa Valley, the Sonoma Valley, and also to some extent the Sacramento Valley. This yard also ships considerable lumber to Sonthern California, Arizona, New Mexico and even as far as Texas on the south and the Mis- souri River in the East. They have received orders for redwood lumber even from Buffalo, New York. They carry a stock of about 4,000,- 000 feet of the various grades and sizes of lum- ber. All the pinc comes from Puget Sound, the redwood from the coast counties, mostly from Humboldt and Mendocino counties.

Mr. Pulsifer was born in Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, in 1852, and at the age of thir-

teen years was thrown upon his own responsi- bility. For a short time he followed the sea, and then various occupations. Two years he was clerk in a hardware store, several years in the ice business, and then for a time he was en- gaged in lumbering in Florida in the employ of Swift Bros., of New Bedford, who were getting ont live-oak timber for the United States navy. In 1875 he came to California, engaged in rail- roading for a year and a half and since then in his present business of lumbering, for about ten years with Pope & Talbot, of San Francisco and Vallejo, and later for their successors, the Port Costa Lumber Company, being for the past year in charge of their business at this point. He is a member of Solano Lodge, No. 229, F. & A. M,, of Vallejo, of Pacific Lodge, No. 155, I. O. O. F., of San Francisco, and of the A. O. U. W.

He was married in 1885 to Miss Mary H. Rutherford, a native of California, and they have two children, Jennie R. and Elizabeth M.

LEXANDER MCKEAN McCOY, Dis- trict Attorney of Tchama County, is a man of rare ability. A brief sketeli of his life is herewith given:

Mr. McCoy was born in Missouri, June 9, 1852. His father, Joseph McCoy, was also born in Missouri, and is a farmer, stock-raiser and cattle dealer. Grandfather Joseph McCoy was one of the earliest settlers of that State. Mr. McCoy's mother, nee Jane Mckean, was a native of Ireland and daughter of Alexander McKean, a native of the Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are the parents of six sons and one daughter, all of whom are now living. They were all born and reared at the old home in Clark County, Missouri, where their father still resides, the mother having died in 1872.

The subject of this sketch attended school in his native State and diligently applied himself to his studies. At the age of twenty-two, in 1874, he graduated at the Christian University

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at Canton, Missouri. After graduating he taught two years in the university, where he was Professor of English Literature and His- tory. In 1876 he came to Red Bluff, Califor- nia, and was employed as Principal of the Red Bluff schools for two years, filling that responsi- ble position with credit to himself and with en- tire satisfaction to the patrons of the school. His health became impaired, however, from the close confinement which his duties as principal required, and, in 1878, he left the school-room and engaged in the sheep business. He regained his health and continued in that business seven years.

In 1884 he took an active part in politics canvassing the county in the interest of the Democratic party. As a speaker he is forcible and logical and his words carry conviction with them. The efficient services he rendered at that time were highly appreciated by his party. In 1885 he took up the study of law with Mr. Jackson Hatch, of Red Bluff, a study which proved congenial to him, and he rapidly became proficient in it. In the spring of 1886 he was admitted to practice by the Superior Court of his county. His age, education, experience as a teacher, ability as a speaker, and the valuable work he had done for his party in 1884, brought him at once into prominence, and, unasked by him, he was nominated for District Attorney in the fall of 1886. He was elected and his services were so satisfactory that in 1888 he was re-elected by an increased majority. At this writing, in 1890, he has been re-elected for a third term by a considerably increased major- ity over 1888.

In 1884 Mr. McCoy was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Muth. She was born in De- troit, Michigan, and is the danghter of J. L Muth, a native of Germany, who now resides in San Diego, this State. Mrs. McCoy received her education in the public schools of San Fran- cisco and at the Normal School at San José. She was first assistant teacher in the Red Bluff schools at the time of their marriage and she has a fine reputation as an educator. Their

union has been blessed with two interesting children, both born in Red Bluff, namely: Ida May, November 16, 1885, and Joseph Muth, September 21, 1889. Mr. McCoy bought a lot in Red Bluff and has built a very pleasant home where he and his family reside. He also has a fruit farin east of the town.

Mr. McCoy became a member of the Chis- tian Church at Canton, Missouri, in 1873, and since that time has been an active and faithful member. He is an elder of the church in Red Bluff, and, in the absence of the pastor, fre- quently fills the pulpit. LIe has made a care- ful study of the evidences of Christianity, and is logical and convincing in his arguments in favor of the truth of the Christian religion. Although Mr. McCoy has never been ordained a minister, his appearance is more that of a Christian pastor than that of the District At- torney of Tehama County. He is a man who justly merits and enjoys the confidence and es- tecin of bis fellow citizens. le is also a inem- ber of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, and makes his interest in them as great moral institutions second only to his church.

AMUEL L. MONDAY, a farmer of Yolo County, is a son of James and Elizabeth (Burdon) Monday; mother a native of New Jersey. The nativity of his father is not known. Ile obtained his surname from the fact that he was found on Monday as an infant on board of a wood-boat at Philadelphia. Ile was a farmer during his life, finally locating in Ohio. Mr. Monday, the subject of this sketch, was born December 6, 1813, in Philadelphia, and was but two years of age when his parents moved with him to Ohio; in 1838 he went to Illinois and bought a soldier's warrant to a piece of land, settled upon it, as he supposed. and after gathering one crop from it he found that he had located on the wrong quarter. Hc then rented twenty acres of land and improved that for four years. Next he went back to the

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vicinity of his old place and purchased 160 acres, which he occupied until 1850. He then came to California, and in 1852 he returned by water to his Illinois home, and in 1854 came overland to the Golden State with a quantity of live-stock, but from 1856 to 1859 he was a resi- dent again of Illinois, when he came again to California with his family to remain. Being well experienced in traveling upon the plains, he was appointed captain ou the last journey. On all the wagons was written in large letters " Monday's Delegation." Arriving in this State, he located first in Sacramento, where he ran a hotel eight months, and then for fifteen years he followed teaming between Sacramento and the mountains. In 1868 he settled upon the ranch in Yolo County of 160 acres, which he now occupies. He also owns 160 acres at Lake Tahoe and 140 acres in Ohio. Mr. Mon- day has been Coroner for two years, Constable four years and Public Administrator two years.

He was married in Ohio in 1837 to Miss Harriet Gramen, born about twenty-two miles from Cincinnati, in Ohio, and they have had two daughters, namely: Anna, who is now the wife of W. E. Parker, and Hattie, now the wife of C. Scott.

ILLIAM HATCHER .- This gentleman is an early resident of Yolo County, and one of its representative wheat- growers and stock-raisers. He has lived a busy and eventful life, experiencing many toils and hardships, but always actuated by the manly resolve to make the most of every opportunity, and to deal fairly by . his fellow men. Mr. Hatcher was born February 6, 1828, in Sevier County, East Tenressee, and is the eldest son of John and Eliza (Taylor) Hatcher. His par- ents were not wealthy as the world regards wealth, but possessed what is better than lands or gold, namely, rectitude of life and energy of purpose,-traits of character fully inherited by their son. They came of good family, also, the

father being of English and German descent, and the mother of German and Scotch ancestry. They were married April 15, 1827, and for two years lived at Wear's Cove, where their son was born. Afterwards they moved to Monroe County, Tennessee, among the Cherokee In- dians, remaining there four years. The next move was to Callaway County, Missouri, where they arrived November 11, 1834. Here his father occupied a position as overseer for Cap- tain Boone, a nephew of the celebrated Daniel Boone. After a residence there of three years, the family removed to the northern part of Missouri, settling in what is now Linn County, but which was then inhabited by the Sioux In- dians. There Mr. Hatcher grew up, being brought up to the life of a farmer, but ready to turn his band to any kind of honest labor, and working at times at tanning leather, making shoes, weaving, spinning, knitting, sewing, school-teaching, etc. It was at this period that he was married to his estimable wife, who has been a true partner in all his ups and downs, and is now peacefully enjoying the evening of life with her worthy husband, and surrounded by children and grandchildren. Her maiden name was Sarah Frances Mullins, and she was born in Howard County, Missouri. Her grand- father, Thomas Rawlings, settled in Missouri at an early day, and was well known throughout the west as " Old Uncle Tommy." Mr. Hatcher married his wife March 27, 1849. They con- tinned to live in Missouri until in the spring of 1852, they determined to set out for California, setting out with ox teains upon the long, hard journey across the plains on April 20th of that year. They had one child with them, Colum- bus W., now a man of forty years of age, resid- ing ou a farm of his own of eighty acres adjoin- ing that of his father. He himself is the father of three children, one boy and two girls. The family arrived in Amador County after the tedions trip, on the first day of September. They had made the journey by the Central route, and Mr. Hatcher had been much im- pressed by the beauty and possibilities of the

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country through which he passed, and resolved to become the owner of some of its fertile soil, but like most of the early pioneers he must first take a turn in the fascinating lottery of hunting for gold in Nature's rock-bound repositories. Accordingly he went to mining in Amador County, and after six months spent in that em- ployment returned from the scene the richer by $150. In the spring of 1853 Mr. Hatcher went to gardening with good sucess, and coming to Yolo County on September 5, 1853, he bought for $750 tbe magnificent property where he still resides. When he located there thirty-six years ago, there were only fourteen women between his place and the town of Washington, opposite Sacramento, and just children enough to or- ganize a small school. He was a prime mover in putting up the first small school building in that large section, where now are flourishing high schools and colleges. Mr. Hatcher's ranch is a fine tract of 200 acres, devoted chiefly to the raising of grain and stock. Mr. Hatcher has had seven children, of whom four are living. The names of those living are: Columbus W., Hannah, now the wife of J. D. McLeod; George Pierce and Asa B. Of those deceased : Mary E .. John D. and Nancy II., wife of J. T. Nimmno. Mr. Hatcher has also six grandchildren, four boys and two girls. George P. has two sons, and Nancy H. one.

H. BAHNEY was born in Massillon, Ohio, March 25, 1825. His remote ancestors, natives of Switzerland, settled in this country long before the Revolu- tion. His father, J. J. Bahney, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1794, and emigrated to Ohio in 1812. He was a pioneer and highly esteemed citizen of that State.

The subject of this sketch engaged in the general merchandise business in his native town when he was twenty-two years of age, and con- ducted it with success from 1847 till 1851. In the latter year the wonderful stories of the piles

of gold hidden in the mountains of California, allured him to this coast. He engaged in min- ing, having only moderate success. The same year he returned to his native State. From 1852 to 1857 he was the pioneer postal clerk on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. At that time he decided to make his permanent home in the Golden West, re- turned to this State with his family and located in Tehama County, on what he supposed was Government land. It proved, however, to be a grant, and, liking the property and not wishing to give it up, he purchased the place, built on it and farmed it for ten years. Meeting with an opportunity to make an advantageous sale, he disposed of the property, and in 1867 came to Red Bluff. Here he purchased the pioneer drug business of Dr. J. R. Bradway, and con- tinued in that business with marked success for eighteen years. In 1885 he sold ont and retired from business for two years. This was rest enough for one who had been an active business man all his life; so he began to seek something that would give him employment, and in 1887 bought his present clothing store. The room he occupies is 50 x 70 feet, and is filled with gents' fashionable clothing, furnishing goods, hats, caps, boots and shoes; and here Mr. Bahney is doing a fine business, preferring to " wear out rather than to rust out."

In 1847 he married Miss Elizabeth Haas, a native of Virginia. To them were born four children, three of whom are living, namely, E. W., Alice J. and Luther E. For thirty-one years Mr. and Mrs. Bahney lived happily to- gethier. In 1878 she was stricken with disease which resulted in her death, and her husband and family were bereft of a loving wife and Inother. For his second wife Mr. Bahney mar- ried Mrs. Mary W. Eaves, an estimable lady, a native of Buffalo, New York. Their union has been blessed with one child, a son, Chiarles.

Mr. Bahney was a Douglas Democrat, and voted for the " Little Giant" for President, but since then he has given his vote and influence to the Republican party. In 1868 he was ap-

J.S. Freeman

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pointed Postmaster of Red Bluff, and held that office until 1878. He has rendered efficient service to the public in many ways; twice held the office of Justice of the Peace; was Superin- tendent of Schools, and has three times been a City Trustee. At present he is honored with the position of President of the Board of Trus- tees, a place he is filling with credit to himself and entire satisfaction to his constituents. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. in all its branches, and has been through all its chairs. He is a consistent and influential member of the Methi- odist Church, has for years held the office of trustee in that organization, and aided materi- ally in building their house of worship in Red Bluff. He has built one good store in the town, owns the one he now occupies, and he also erected the commodious residence in which he resides with his family.

ON. F. S. FREEMAN .- No name has been more intimately associated with the history of Yolo County, and especially of Woodland, than that which heads this sketch. Major Freeman, as he is familiarly and gen- erally known, was born in Knox County, Ken- tucky, December 25, 1832, his parents be- ing J. W. and Mary (Parman) Freeman. The father, who was a fariner, was probably born in Kentucky, but was of Virginian parentage. The mother was also a native of Kentucky. Our subject was but a little over a year old when his parents removed to Missouri, locating in Buchanan Connty, before the " Platte pur- chase," and while the country was yet teeming with Indians. The farm, which lay along the banks of Black Snake Creek, is now entirely within the limits of the city of St. Joseph, one of the great Western trade centers.

F. S. Freeman was but a little past fourteen years of age when in 1847 he secured, through the influence of friends, an appointment in the commissary department of the army then oper- ating against Mexico. He went with Van 39

Fleet, quartermaster of Doniphan's regiment,- and was stationed at Santa Fe nntil 1848. He then went back North, and when the " Oregon Battalion," 500 strong, was organized at St. Louis, he went in the Commissary Department, in the train of Rodney Hopkins, wagon-master, which was one of the five formed to supply the battalion. While Mr. Freeman was with them they built Forts Kearney, Childs and Laramie, and later in 1848 they were sent back to Fort Leavenworth, were they were discharged. Mr. Freeman then returned home, where however he remained but a short time He determined, upon feeling assured of the genuineness of the reported discovery of gold in California, to try his fortune in this new and far-away land, and in April, 1849, he joined a company of some fifteen or twenty men, which was made up at St. Joseph for the westward trip, he being in- terested in one of the wagons of the ontfit. He knew the route chosen as far as Fort Hall, and hence was of much assistance to the party in many ways on that portion of the journey. Withont especially noteworthy incident they completed the trip, coming into California by the Carson route, and landing at Placerville, August 15, 1849. He remained there, at Co- loma, Georgetown and other places in that vicinity until the following spring, when he gave up that occupation, $3,000 in pocket. He then came down to Yolo County and located land on the north side of Cache Creek, about sixteen miles west of Woodland, where he en- gaged in the stock business, buying, selling and raising cattle and horses.

He has ever since continued to deal more or less in cattle and sheep, and has been exception- ally successful. In 1851 he and two partners planted 100 acres of barley. To attend to and harvest this it required the combined efforts of the three owners and a hired man. They cradled and threshed it in the old-fashioned way, the grain going fifty bushels to the acre, and found a market for it in Sacramento and Grass Valley, where it brought six cents a pound. Such an undertaking was in those early

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times, before the advent of improved machinery, considered a daring one, but their reward was commensurate with their ambition and enter- prise. They found "hungry " markets, so to speak, in Sacramento, Grass Valley and other places, and their profits were enormous. From that year until the present one, inclusive, Mr. Freeman has never failed to sow and reap a crop.

He remained on that place thus employed un- til 1857, when he bought a place of 160 acres (then Government land) in what is now Wood- land. The land is now bounded on the east by the railroad track, and on the south by Main street, and all now lies within the city limits. He opened a store for the sale of general mer- chandise where the brick school-house now stands, west of the railroad track, which was the first store in what was destined to be a prosper- ous city. Shortly afterward, in October, 1857, he was married to Miss Gertrude G. Swain, a native of Michigan who came to California with her aunt, Mrs. C. W. Crocker, now of San Fran- cisco. The Crockers were at that time living in the vicinity and Miss Swain had been teaching school in this county.

The tide of immigration kept steadily flow- ing into the State, and Mr. Freeman with keen foresight perceived that other industries would ere long contest with mining for the supremacy. He foresaw that such grand soil, as for example that of Yolo County, would one day be eagerly sought for and be thickly peopled with busy husbandmen; and he felt certain that here was an opportunity to implant a town which would be the center of trade for a large and a rich re- gion of country. He accordingly determined to build one. He put up a building where Lindner's store is now located, and removed his business into it in 1860. During the same year he laid out the town, which, at the sugges- tion of his wife, he named " Woodland." He next set about securing a postoffice, and, having accomplished this object, he was appointed Postmaster, and he also secured the agency for Wells, Fargo & Company's Express. Thus he had established the nucleus of a town, and the

next move was to bring people and business here; but this was found to be a more difficult task. People were not eager to invest money in establishing a business where there was noth- ing but a store and a postoffice, so, taking the initiative; he began to establish new enterprises himself, opening a blacksmith shop where the Exchange Hotel now stands, also harness and butcher shops, which he disposed of when a

suitable buyer came along. Soon the town boasted a grist-inill, which he started, and sold after running it two years. He also started and conducted for two years a stove store and tinware manufactory. Dry goods, clothing, shoe and grocery stores followed in order, Major Freeman sometimes owning several stores in different parts of the town, but never losing an opportunity to sell, thus bringing to Woodland additional capital, more business men and a larger population. He found people ever ready to purchase a business after it had been estab- lished and its success assured, but the enterprise and energy necessary to bring about such an end had to be furnished by Major Freeman. The pushing tactics alluded to proved success- ful, and the town was yet in its first year when its prosperity induced its friends to seek for the location of the county-seat at their place, then established at Washington. Major Free- inan of course led the movement, and with that object in view a petition was circulated through- out the county. Intense opposition was natu- rally encountered from the friends of Washing- ton, but the State Legislature passed an act under which the transfer was made.

With the advancement of the town Mr. Free- man's business advanced rapidly, and about 1864, the postoffice business being in his way, he resigned the postmastership and had the office moved out of his store. In the same way, and for the same reason he gave up the express agency, after he had held it eight or nine years.

Such is the early history of Woodland. There is scarcely a line of trade here of which Mr. Freeman was not the originator.

In 1868 the need of a solid banking institu

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tion was much felt, and negotiations were en- tered into with D. O. Mills, of Sacramento, to start a branch in this town. Before a final arrangement had been consummated, John D. Stephens, who had been living in Virginia City, came to Woodland and proposed to help start a bank here, and to take half the stock himself, and his proposition was at once accepted. Major Freeman wes principally instrumental in plac- ing the other half among the citizens and was elected vice-president, which office he has ever since held. In 1872 he built a brick block on the south side of Main street, where Diggs is now located, and established there a hardware store, that department of his business having grown too large to be louger kept with the others. He carried on both establishments until 1884, when he sold them and withdrew from mercantile life. Besides his merchandis: ing business he has carried on and yet conducts stock-raising, farming, banking, etc. He has watched with pride the growth and prosperity of the town and enjoyed the fruition of his early aim and ambition. He has never allowed his interest in Woodland or the surrounding coun- try to wane; he has not purchased large tracts of land to hold vacant for purposes of specula- tion and thus thwart his own highest ambition, the prosperity of the county, as many short- sighted, unphilanthropic, grasping men would do; on the contrary, he has done all in his power to induce immigration, dealing' in real estate. At present his principal land possession is a 1,000-acre tract on Cache Creek.

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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 97

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