USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 28
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HARLES R. FEW, an active and suc- cessful business man of Monterey, is a native of London, England, where he was born August 4, 1853. He spent his boyhood and yonth in the metropolis of the world, and there received a liberal education. Mr. Few left his native city in 1884, for America, landing in New York city, after a safe voyage, whence he proceeded to Cali- fornia, reaching San Francisco in Decem- ber of the same year. He came to Mon- terey, intending to adopt the dairy business as a calling. In order to become familiar with the business he engaged on a dairy farm in the Carmel valley, but after three years on this farm changed his intention and engaged in the livery business, with Charles Norton as partner. This business they continued in Monterey from 1888 to 1889, when Mr. Few purchased his partner's interest and has since been the sole owner of the Club stables.
He was married April 17, 1888, to Miss Agatha M. Hilby, a native daughter of Cali- fornia and second child of Francis M. (de- ceased) and Katherine (Kissler) Hilby. Mrs. Few is possessed of many feminine graces, takes a lively interest in society matters and presides over one of the finest private resi- dences in Monterey county.
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No citizen has more liberally invested his capital in local enterprises and more thor- oughly identified himself with the business growth of his chosen home than Charles R. Few. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Monterey and the California State Savings Bank, is stockholder, director and secretary of the Monterey Electric Light and Develop- ment Company. He is a director and sec- cretary of the Pacific Coast Live-stock Asso- iation, and director and secretary of the Monterey Board of Trade.
This gentleman is genial and gentlemenly in his manner, social in his daily intereourse with his fellow-citizens. He has an inherent love of sport of all kinds and is consequently popular with the masses, which, combined with his hard business sense, in a large measure unfolds the secret of his success.
ILLIAM C. ASHER, one of the venerable pioneers of this coast, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, December 19, 1816. In 1830 he removed from his native State to Missouri, which place continued to be his home until 1849, In May of that year, on the second day of the month, he started overland for Cali- fornia, traveling with ox teams like the other emigrants that made their way across the plains and mountains at that period. He entered the Golden State by the Lassen route, and the first dinner he took in California was where Senator Stanford's vineyard is now located. He visited Shasta county, Sacra- mento, and other points, and arrived in Ne- vada City on the last day of 1849, In the fall of 1850 he engaged in mining, and the following spring began teaming. From that he turned his attention to the hotel business.
His hotel was burned iu 1852. Not discour- aged, however, he bought another the same week of the fire, and conducted the business until 1853, when he sold out. About that time he was appointed Under Sheriff of Ne- vada county, and served as such till 1855. In 1856 he was reappointed to the same position, serving under William Butterfield until 1858. He also acted as jailer, and at one time came near being killed by one of his prisoners who struck him on the head with a bar of iron. He subsequently served as jailor for Sheriff Boing. In 1859 Mr. Asher left Nevada City for South Yuba river Bridge, where he remained until 1869, and while there came near losing his life by a premature explosion in blasting rock. Next we find him at San Joaquin, engaged in build- ing a levee. He then returned to South River Bridge. Since 1870 he has been a resident of Hollister, San Benito county, and during these years has been variously occu- pied; served as Road Supervisor two years and as Constable two years; was engaged in the poultry business from 1874 till 1877. He was then called on to nurse some diphtheria cases, and was engaged in nursing until 1880. He then turned his attention to ranch- ing, and at times also nursed some. In 1887 he was elected Justice of the Peace for the city of Hollister, and is now occupying this position.
Mr. Asher is unmarried.
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ON JACINTO RODRIGUEZ was born January 12, 1815, in the Pájaro valley, Santa Cruz county, on which place is now situated the prosperous city of Watson- ville. His father, Don Sebastian Rodriguez being then the owner of a vast tract of land
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consisting of thousands of acres abont and in the immediate vicinity of Watsonville.
Our subject removed to Monterey soon after the death of his father and was soon very prominent in the affairs of the capital of Alta California, Monterey. It will be re- membered that education was very limited in the early days in California, but Jacinto applied himself, under the tuition of his father and was soon able to master the Spanish language, in which he learned to read, write and keep accounts. These accomplishments secured him a position in the customhouse, under the Mexican Government, which posi- tion he retained until California became a part of the Union. Don Rodriguez was a member of the first constitutional convention, which convened in Monterey, July 3, 1850, and gave California her first organic law under American rule.
In 1847, he commenced the creation of a noble house on what is now the corner of Alvarado and Franklin streets, and in one year succeeded in building one story of the house and putting on a slight roof of shingles. The price of lumber was so very high and wages demanded by carpenters so great that it was several years before the house was completed. It was then considered one of the mansions of the city, and unlike the others of its kind the rooms were large and light.
In 1848, he married Miss Pergrina Pinto, daughter of Don Rafael and Donna Mana Ygnacia Amador de Pinto, and they had five children, fonr sons and one danghter, all of whom are dead excepting the second son, Charles H. Rodriguez; he and his mother are the surviving members of the family. They are at present living in the same adobe building that was built in 1848, the son hav- ing been employed as bookkeeper for the
Pacific Live Stock Mutual Protection Asso- ciation of Monterey, and at present clerk in the law office of Messrs. Parker & Nougnes, Salinas city, the county seat of Monterey county.
In 1880, Don Jacinto Rodriguez died, leaving considerable property behind him, on the principal business street in Monterey, he havin purchased the property formerly be- longing to Curtis & Conover, on which was built the first brick store in the city, in 1857. He purchased this property at the time the county-seat was removed to Salinas city, pay- in ! a small price for the same; but to-day it is considerably enhanced in value, and it is all in the possession of the family and there is no incumbrance on it, whatever. This is but a brief history of one of the old families of California, who have ever proved themselves brave and true citizens of one of the largest States in this glorious Union.
O. NASH, M. D., has been a resident of California since 1874, and of Hollis- ter. He is a native of Columbia, Wash- ington county, Maine, born August 28, 1841. He spent his boyhood in his native town, and later at Machias, in the same State, in which he laid the foundation of his education. He took a course of two years' study at Amherst College, Massachusetts, in the class of 1867, having taken a classical course. His medical education was received at Bowdoin College, from which he received his diploma in 1868.
In 1873 he entered the regular army as surgeon, and during his term of service, which lasted about two years, he was one of the expedition that fixed the boundary line between British Columbia and the United States.
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Upon his arrival in California he located in Hollister, where he has since resided and successfully practiced his profession. During the years of 1885 and 1886 he served his county as Coroner and Public Administrator. With the exception of 1882 and 1883 he has resided' continuously 'at Hollister. He was Surgeon at New Idria mines during 1882-'83.
His marriage occurred in 1878, when he was united to Miss Ida M. Ladd, and they have two children, Francis L. and Flor- ence M.
TEPHEN CASTRO, of Castroville, is a member of a family whose historic name, in the annals of California, is legion.
He is the son of Don José Francisco and Narcisa (Soto) De Castro, honored citizens of Monterey. Our subject was born in Monte- rey county, on the Pilarcitos ranch, January 12, 1860, and was reared in his native county. Mr. Castro is a fine type of the Spanish Cali- fornian, both in physique and in his uniform kindness of heart and genial manner.
Our subject took unto himself a wife in the person of Miss Marie Mardocco, a dangh- ter of Don Pedro Mardocco, an honored citi- zen of Watsonville, and the ceremony was performed on the 4th of September, 1889, in Castroville. Mr. and Mrs. Castro have two daughters, one named for her grandmother, Teresa Narcisa, and the other Anna. Since 1886 Mr. Castro has been the trusted agent for the Wells, Fargo Express Company, and United States mail carrier at Castroville, in which latter position he is universally popu- lar, and in both positions he contiunes to give entire satisfaction.
The father of our subject, José Francisco,
was a son of Simeon Castro, a prominent figure in the early days of California, and grantee of the Bolso Nuevo and Moro Cojo ranchos. He held numerous responsible pub- lic positions, and reared a large family, of whom Don Juan B. Castro, uncle to the sub- ject of this sketch, is one member. A more complete account of this illustrious family may be found elsewhere in this work.
DWARD SPENCER JOSSELYN was born December 7, 1827, in the town of Duxbury, Plymouth county, Massachu- setts. He remained at the place of his birth, receiving a common-school education, until the year 1842, when he entered upon a sea- faring life and sailed to the ports of the At- lantic and Indian oceans. He continued in that trade until the year 1849, when he sailed from the port of Boston as second officer of the ship Raritan, for San Francisco, via Cape Horn, and arrived at his destination in the spring of 1850. Immediately he assumed command of the vessel and sailed out of the San Francisco harbor for different ports on the California coast, and in the year 1858 he made his first voyage to Tahiti, one of the Society islands. In 1863 he sailed for Boston by way of Panama, and there took charge of the ship Thomas Woodard, and sailed along the coast of South America, doubling Cape Horn, visiting the port of Valparaiso, and again the Society islands. He returned to San Francisco and made that his terminal point for the succeeding two years. In 1865 he repeated the former trip to Boston, and there he built and equipped the brig Percy Edward, and sailed as her master for San Francisco, passing through the straits of Magellan ou his outward voy-
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age, and arriving at his destination in 1866. In the next three years he sailed from San Francisco to Japan and China in the tea trade, and to Java in the coffee trade. In 1874 he permanently located in Monterey, California, and permanently abandoned the sea. He has served one term in the State Legislature, and is a man well known in this locality.
Captain Josselyn was initiated as an Appren- ticed Mason, and was made a Master Mason in 1860, in Oceanie Lodge of F. & A. M., at Tahiti, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient of Franee. He demitted therefrom, February 21, 1871, and affiliated with the Occidental Lodge, No. 22, at San Francisco, California, May 6, 1872. He demitted from the latter lodge, February 7, 1876, and affili- ated with the Monterey Lodge, No. 217, at Monterey, April 8, 1876, of which he is still a member. He was admitted through the various degrees of the order, and was knighted Red Cross, August 1, 1885, and Templar and Knight of Malta, August 15 of the same year, in Watsonville, California, Commandery No. 22, of which he is still a member. April 19, 1888, he was elected an active member of the Masonie Veteran Association of the Pacific coast.
The father of our subject was the Rev. Aaron Josselyn, of Duxbury, Massachu- setts, a clergyman of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and by trade a watchmaker. He was a native of Duxbury, born in 1804, and followed his profession about forty years. He represented his town three times in the State Legislature, and later was for two terms Chaplain of the Legislature. He died in 1887, at the age of eighty-three years, His wife was Miss Ann Binney, of Hull, the daughter of Speneer Binney, who was one of the original owners of the Boston town site.
He had been the owner of 114 aeres of Bos- ton eominon, which he gave to the city as a eow pasture only, and it served that purpose for many years. He was a farmer, and Bos- ton common was a part of his farm.
Captain Josselyn of this notice is the second oldest of a family of seven children, of whom one brother, Joseph, is still living in California. Three of the others died in this State.
Our subject was married August 2, 1863, to Miss Caroline Sears, a native of Duxbury, Massachusetts, a descendant of the Wads- worths. She was a danghter of Haunah Wadsworth, who was born in the old Miles Standish house, of Duxbury. Two sons and one daughter of Captain Josselyn are living, and they are: Spencer Binney, of Boston; Edward Lyman, a merchant of Monterey; and Caroline E.
HAW NASH, deceased, one of the hon- ored pioneers of 1853, is the lamented subject of this brief sketch. He was a lumberman and shipbuilder in Maine, but in 1853 crossed the water to California, by the way of Panama, and with two of his sons, E. G. and P. L. Nash, engaged in mining, where the former and eldest of the two died. Later Mrs. Nash and two younger ehildren came to California to join the husband and father, and the family then made theni a home in Alameda county, where the youngest, a beautiful girl of fifteen summers, passed away, and another ehair was left vaeant. They finally located at Hollister, where the father and mother both died. Mr. G. S. Nash, the son who came to this country with the mother' still resides in San Benito county, where he is well known and highly esteemed, as is also
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his only surviving brother, Mr. P. L. Nash.
Mr. G. S. Nash was born in Washington county, Maine, April 3, 1842, and therefore was but eighteen years of age when he made his trip to the great West. In 1871 he re- moved to Hollister, and has remained there ever since, carrying on farming on an exten- sive scale. He owns one of the finest farms in that vicinity, consisting of about 100 acres. He also owns 255 acres in the fertile Santa Ana valley, east of Hollister.
He married, at his native home, Miss Le- titia Cates, a native of Washington county, Maine, an old schoolmate of bis. She is a lady of fine domestic tastes and social culture. Two children still brighten their home, and two are deceased. Those living are Erastus G. and Carrie A. The entire family are highly appreciated by their host of friends.
ILLIAM STIRLING, a substantial and esteemed citizen of Castroville, California, is a native of Scotland, having been born at Glasgow, in 1835. He left the land of his birth and came to Amer- ica in 1857, locating at Glencoe, Ekfrid town- ship, Ontario, Canada, where he remained and pursued farming for about ten years.
In 1867 he came to the great Golden State, via the Isthinus of Panama, arriving in the city of San Francisco, November 3, 1867. Although by profession Mr. Stirling is a weaver, having learned his trade in a seven years' apprenticeship with his father, and thoroughly understands his work, he has adopted farming as his calling. The first two years of his residence in this county was spent on the farm of John Martin, Esq., at Carmel, a few miles from Monterey. After that he next engaged for six years on the
Estrada rancho, in the Salinas valley. In November, 1876, he located on the Cooper ranch at Castroville, where he has since re- mained.
The father of our subject, Jobn Stirling, came to this State with his son, the mother having died in April, 1853. By profession he was a weaver, at which trade he earned his living. He was a native of Scotland, born in 1799, and was eighty-five years of age at the time of his death, July 26, 1884.
Mr. Stirling was married in Scotland, in January, 1857, to Miss Jane MacNaughton, by whom he has four children, namely: Mag- gie, now Mrs. B. E. Cahoon, of the Laureles rancho; Nellie, now Mrs. Charles Whitcher, of Castroville; John W., foreman of the Spery Mills, located at Salinas; and Duncan, a teacher in the public schools of Monterey county,- a brief mention of whom appears elsewhere in this work,-the three youngest children, Nellie, John and Duncan, being graduates of the State Normal School at San José. Our subject and his estimable wife may justly be proud of their fine family, and few people are so nicely situated in their de- clining years as they.
A. CREPIN, M. D., is one of the prominent and influential citizens of San Benito county, California. He has been a resident of the State since 1876, and of Hollister since 1881. Upon arrival on the Pacific coast he spent four years in San Luis Obispo, where he practiced his profession. He was born in Valenciennes, in the north of France, on November 30, 1841, came to America, with his parents, when only fourteen years of age. The father, Andrew Crepin, was a merchant in his na-
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tive land, but when he came to America he engaged in farming, at Dubuque, Iowa.
Dr. Crepin is the youngest of a family of four and received the rudiments of his education in the College of Notre Dame, of Valenciennes. He studied medi- cine in St. Louis, Missouri, at the medical college of that place. In 1867 he became connected with St. Lonis city hospital and later practiced medicine at Dubuque, Iowa, and other points in the Mississippi valley. Since his residence at Hollister he has been favored with a most extensive professional practice and has thoroughly identified him- self with the business interests of the county. He holds stock in the recently established banking house of Hollister and is likewise interested in the Hollister Water Works, the Hollister Gas Works, the Electric Light and Power Company and Irrigating Company. He responds promptly to any demand made upon him as a citizen of Hollister that tends to the development and public good of the community.
Dr. Crepin was married, in Lansing, Iowa, to Miss Mary McKeogh, aud they have two accomplished daughters, Emilie and Celia. These two worthy people enjoy the esteem and respect of all who know them.
A. ANDERSON, of Salinas, is a na- tive son of the "Golden State," . having been born at Santa Cruz, June 30, 1852.
His father, William J. Anderson, was an important figure in the early history of Cali- fornia. He came to the coast as early as 1837, as an English sailor on a whaling ves- sel. In Larkin's notes lie is referred to as one of Graham's self-made men, and in 1840 one
of the exiles to San Blas. He returned, however, to California and successfully prosecuted a claim for damages. He was granted a car carta, and in 1842 married a Miss Espinosa. He then ran a soap mann- factory and flour mill on the Salinas plains, bnt sold both establishments in 1842. He then removed to Santa Cruz and there held the office of alcalde in 1849. In 1854 he removed to Monterey and followed his trade of mechanic there, and is said to have laid the first roof upon the old Monterey custom- house. He has four sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. Mr. W. A. Anderson was a man of intelligence and skill in his trade and en- joyed the respect and esteem of all who knew him.
Our subject remained in Monterey until July, 1862, following his trade of contracting carpenter and builder, when he removed to Salinas Valley, and in 1868 located in Castroville, until 1890, when he removed to Salinas. He was elected in the campaign of 1890, Assessor of Monterey county, and therefore removed to Salinas to assume the duties of his office, which at this writing, 1892, he still retains.
In 1871, he married Miss Inez, a daughter of the late José Boronda, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Eight children have been boru to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, four girls and four boys.
Mr. Anderson is an estimable gentleman and has proved a faithful official.
ENRY BARDIN .- The subject of this sketch has the honor of being the seventh born in a family which is well known throughout California, that of Mr.
DAVID JACKS.
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James Bardin, deceased. Our subject is a native of Mississippi, where he was born December 20, 1853, and consequently was but two years of age when the family re- moved to the " Golden State," in 1855. (A full account of the settlement of the family at Blanco is given elsewhere in this book).
Henry grew up on his father's estate, and January 10, 1883, he married Miss Martha Thompson, a daughter of Martin J. Thomp- son, and a native of California, having been born in Sonora, Sacramento county. She has born her husband three children, namely: Roy, Hazel and Ethel.
Mr. and Mrs. Bardin reside on their beau- tiful home, situated three miles from Salinas city, consisting of 250 acres of choice land. Mr. Bardin enjoys the respect of his fellow- citizens and is a thoroughly reliable gentle- man. .
AVID JACKS was born in Crieff, Perth- shire, Scotland, in 1822. His ancestors were French Hngnenots. He came to New York in August, 1841, and engaged as clerk in a store, first at Williamsburg, and then at Fort Hamilton, where he remained till 1848 in a large mercantile and manufact- uring establishment. His employer, who was a very capable business man, was the inspector of all the wagons and harness bought by the Government in that market for use in the war with Mexico, and who, like so many others, under similar circum- stances, was inclined to extend favors to the army officers at Fort Hamilton, expecting that those favors would be returned in some form, thereby placing officers, by implication at least, under some sort of obligations to him. Captain Robert E. Lee, who was then stationed at the fort, and who had, in his
official capacity, large dealings at this store, preferred always to deal with Mr. Jacks, and studiously avoided the proprietor. So thor- oughly honest was he that he shrank from laying himself under obligations to any one in any manner that might in the least inter- fere with the conscientious discharge of his duties to the Government as a purchasing agent. Thus Mr. Jacks came to know him well, and to admire very highly his nobleness of character.
James C. Flood, in after years a miner and banker in California, learned the carriage- maker's trade at this establishment where Mr. Jacks was employed, working there three years or more. As the clerks had all they could do, young Flood, after his days work was done in the shop, would often come in and help them, which kindness on his part they greatly appreciated.
About this time the commissary sergeant of a company of the United States Army, which had been ordered to California, needed a competent assistant to help him to keep his accounts correctly, and he engaged Mr. Jacks to go with him in that capacity. Having about the same time read a letter in the New York Herald, from Rev. Walter Colton, a chaplain of the Navy, stationed at Monterey, and holding some civil office there, giving definite information about the gold discoveries, Mr. Jacks concluded to invest his earnings, amounting to $1,400 or $1,500, in goods which he thought would sell out there. He sailed with the company on the Sea Queen from New York for San Francisco, December 14, 1848, stopping at Rio De Janeiro and Valparaiso, at both of which places they were shown gold from the new Eldorado, the nuggets exhibited at Rio de Janeiro having been brought overland from Valparaiso.
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He arrived at San Francisco in April, 1849, where he disposed of his goods in forty-eight hours, realizing about $4,000. Revolvers costing $18 in New York readily sold in San Franciso for $50. He loaned his money at one and one-half per cent per month (the rates of interest ranging at that time from one to five per cent per month), the party keeping it npward of two years, when he paid up in full.
Mr. Jacks was employed in San Francisco as an inspector in the customhouse at $100 per month, his duties being performed mostly on ship-board, as there were no wharves then, cargoes being discharged by means of flat-bottomed lighters. Lighter- men received $8 per day, and were scarce at that, as nearly everybody had gone to the mines.
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