USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 42
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EARK BRAMERS is one of the pros- perous farmers of Monterey county who have forced their way on to suc- cess by dint of their own enterprise and per- severance.
Mr. Bramers is a native of Germany, born February 20, 1821. He came to this coun- try in 1853, upon his arrival being almost
penniless. First he located in Lee county, Illinois, where he remained four years. The following six years he lived in Steele county, Minnesota. He came to California in 1864. While in Illinois he was married, in 1856, to Miss Etta Blohm, also a native of Germany. They have two children living, namely: An- nie, now Mrs. Fred Batz, of Monterey; and Albert J., who married Miss Bertha Menke.
Mr. Bramers' ranch consists of 700 acres of fine grazing and farming land, which is in an excellent state of improvement, and on which is a fine fruit orchard and vineyard. He also owns and operates a threshing ma- chine, and in this is doing a good business in the neighborhood. His residence is one of the finest rural homes in this region of Monterey county.
Politically, Mr. Bramers is a Republican.
ILLIAM A. SHEPHERD, of Mon- terey, California, is a native of Lee connty, Iowa, born December 23, 1845. His father, Joseph Shepherd, of San José, came overland to the Pacific coast in 1859, from lowa, where he had for many years resided, engaged in farming. He was born in Ohio. He brought with him to this State his wife and five children, and after their arrival here another child was born to them. His wife, who before her marriage was Jeannette Hendricks, is still living at Saratoga, Santa Clara county, the place where they first located.
In 1864 William A. Shepherd enlisted as a volunteer in Company H, Second Cavalry, and fought the Indians on the plains in the region of Paradise valley, at Winnemucca, and other places. He enlisted for three years service, but served two years only, the war having closed.
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Returning to Saratoga, he spent two years there, after which he located in Tulare county, where he remained sixteen years, en- gaged in the manufacture of brick. He owned a ranch of fifty acres near Tulare city. In 1887 he sold out, and bought of D. K. Frazier his present ranch, 200 acres. He raises hay and stock, and conducts a dairy. On his ranch is one of the finest fruit orchards in Monterey county, the climate and soil of his immediate locality being rich and well adapted to fruit culture.
Mr. Shepherd was united in marriage, at San José, in 1871, to Miss Rachel Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, a farmer. She is a native of Illinois. Their seven children are as follows: Oscar, George, Benjamin, Henry, Caroline, Myrta and Walter.
Mr. Shepherd is a thorough business man, and has the confidence of a wide circle of acquaintances.
ILLIAM HATTON .- This gentle- man, who is the owner of the Del Monte dairy in Carmel valley, is one of the representative men of the State in this line of business.
Mr. Hatton is'a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, born June 9, 1849, the fourth in a family of eight children. An elder brother, Edward, also lives in this county. William remained at home until he was thirteen years of age, when he went to sea as an apprentice on board a merchant ship. He led a seafar- ing life seven years.
Coming to California in 1870, he began work as a dairyman apprentice upon the same ranch where his own dairy is now located. He worked continuously for the gentle- man who owned the dairy at that time,
Mr. E. St. John, now of Salinas, until he bought his interest. He is a man pos- sessed of great energy, perseverance and fine executive ability, and is considered to-day without superior as a practical dairyman. He is an enthusiast, and loves his business, which probably is one great element of his success. Mr. Hatton has the most extensive dairy in- terests in the county, and 648 acres of choice grain land in Salinas valley. He milks about 600 cows, and is gradually raising the grade of his stock. For six years he has been man- ager of the Pacific Improvement Company's ranches, dairy and cattle interests, in Mon- terey county.
Mr. Hatton was married, in 1875, to Miss Kate Harney, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, and a daughter of M. J. Harney, deceased. She was born on James Island at Fort Sumter. Mr. and Mrs. Hatton have seven children, namely: Anna M., Hattie H., Sarah J., Edward G., William H., Frank D. and Howard.
Mr. Hatton is a member of Watsonville Commandery, Knights Templar, Monterey Blue Lodge and Salinas Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He is also a member of the Mon- terey Lodge of I. O. O. F. He is active in politics, and takes an interest in all matters of local improvement.
AMES A. HORTON is a native of the Buckeye State, born at Tiffin, Seneca county, September 17, 1849. In early life he was inured to hard work on a farm, and has been an industrious worker all his life. After the usual attendance at the public schools, he entered Heidelberg College at Tiffin, where he remained for some time. Mr. Horton came to California in 1869,
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and followed farming in Alameda county for six years. In 1875 he moved to Monterey county and located near Castroville, where he engaged in stock-raising. In 1888 he was elected Sheriff of this county, he being the first Republican sheriff elected in the county in a period of sixteen years. He was re-elected by a largely increased majority in 1890, and is the present incumbent of that office.
In 1880 Mr. Horton was united in mar riage with Miss Lira M. Grimes, of Mon- terey county, and to them have been born two children.
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AMES HENRY ROCHE, a California pioneer of 1855, now a well-to-do farmer near San Juan, in Benito county, was born in County Clare, Ireland, March 11, 1837. His father was a farmer and stock- raiser, who emigrated to America in the fall of 1847, accompanied by an older son and the subject of this sketch. They landed in Massachusetts, and James, then abont eleven years of age, worked in the Fall River Nail Works for two bits a day, and was later em- ployed in the American Print (Calico) Works, in the same place.
He afterward shipped as seaman on the Margaret Evans, a merchant sailing vessel, making a trip to Europe, being gone two years. On his return, he spent two years at home, and then came to California, arriving in the latter State in the fall of 1855. The following three years he spent mining in Union Valley, Plumas, Shasta and Trinity counties. He then returned to San Francisco, and secured employment from the Bensley Water Company, and later, worked for the Spring Valley Company. He aided in lay- ing the water main from Seventeen Mile
House to and in the city of San Francisco. He also worked for Morrell Brothers, in the same city, and superintended for them, in the fall of 1860, the erection of the Coal Oil Works at Carpenteria, Santa Barbara county.
In that same year, he went to San Juan and acted as foreman on a ranch for J. P. Sargent, staying there, off and on, for two years and a half. He then commenced farm- ing for himself at Sargent Station, San Benito county, where he remained one year. He then in 1864, removed to the city of San Juan, where he entered the wholesale mercan- tile business. He continued successfully in this enterprise until 1868, which was known as "small-pox year,"and then closed out his in- terests. He then farmed at Paicines, where he also started a, store, which he conducted for two years. At the end of this time, he returned to San Juan, where he speculated and was engaged in the meat business. He took a prominent part in establishing this town, where he remained for eight years. In 1878, he left that city and commenced work for Dr. Thomas Flint. After three years he removed to his present farm of 300 acres, on which he proved up about eleven years ago.
Mr. Roche has served in many prominent and useful capacities. When in San Fran- cisco, he was an active member of Columbia, No. 11, Burt Street Fire Department, Colum- bia Guards, the Home Guards; in all of which he did efficient work. At San Juan, he was Marshal three terms; was Deputy Sheriff under Thomas Watson, and was one of nine who pursued Bundet Vascus for twenty-two days in the mountains of Monterey, San Be- nito county, into Los Angeles county. He also served on the Board of Trustees. In all of these trying positions his acts have been distinguished for intelligence and honesty.
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He was married in Sargent, August 27, 1863, to. Miss Guadalupe, an estimable lady, a native of Santa Clara county, and daughter of Don José Marie Sunches. They have had twelve children, six sons and six daughters, ninė of whom are living.
TEPHEN B. GILBERT, Redwood, San Mateo county, California, was born in Yates county, New York, in 1825. in: 1846 he directed his steps toward the West, and took up his abode in Mottville, St. Joseph county, Michigan; thence to Illinois the following year, where he taught school. He came to California in 1850, and lived in El Dorado county one year, engaged in min- ing, subsequently following the same occu- pation in Placer county. In 1852 he went to San José, and several years later came from there to San Mateo county, where he has since been interested in agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Gilbert was married in 1859 to Miss Ann Walkens, and their union has been blessed with three sons and four daughters.
He has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has done his part toward helping to advance the growth and development of this section of the country. He served the county as Surveyor two terms, and in 1867-'78 was a member of the County Board of Supervisors.
HARLES AYERS .- This venerable gentleman was born in Redding, Eng- land, March 3, 1829. His father, James Ayers, moved from Redding to Wind- sor, England, when the subject of our sketch was a lad of five years. The father being a
confectioner and pastry cook, he learned that trade from him.
March 17, 1848, Mr. Ayers set sail from his native land for Australia, where he worked at his trade and was financially successful. In London he was married to Ann Delahny, an English lady who was of Irish descent and of a Protestant family. Her father was a hatter by trade, and was engaged in business in London; both her parents being natives of that city. She became the mother of nine children, two of whom are now living, namely: Elizabeth, widow of M. L. Britton; and Charles, a plumber by trade, She died in 1879. July 30, 1889, Mr. Ayers married for his second wife a Miss Langhtry, by whom he has one son, J. W. B. Ayers. Mr. Ayers has five grandchildren.
As a pioneer of San Mateo county, he is well known. Indeed, he was one of the very first business men of Redwood City. He built the Fremont Hotel, one of the most popular hotels in the county, and lias since continued to operate it. As a man of in- tegrity and square dealing few have a better reputation than he.
J. SANTOS, a prosperous business man and influential citizen of Hollister, California, who has aided materially in advancing the best interests of his com- munity, was born in Portugal in 1863. His early life was passed in his native country, the name of which suggests to the ordinary mind vast vineyards of sunny grapes, from which is expressed the delectable Port wine. In 1881 he came to California, which much resembles his own beautiful land in topog- raphy and products. In 1882 he settled in Hollister, iu the vicinity of which is a large
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colony of Portuguese, the majority of whom have by frugality and industry, acquired wealth and prosperity, and helped to develop the re- sources of San Benito county. Mr. Santos engaged for some months in hotel keeping, after which he turned his attention to mer- chandising, and by industry and persever- ance, has placed himself in the front rank of business men of this locality. He is identi- fied with nearly all the local public en ter- prises of Hollister, and is esteemed for his intelligence, integrity and uniformn courtesy of manners. He is President of the Portuguese Union, and a member of the A. O. U. W.
- OSCOE G. NORTON, a prosperous farmer and popular citizen of San Ben- ito county, California, was born in Som- erset county, Maine, December 5, 1839. He resided in his native county until May, 1861, when he embarked for the Golden State, via the Panama route. His first enterprise on the frontier was herding sheep. After accu- mnlating sufficient means, he bought his present farm, on which he has continued to live for eighteen years. When the adjoining city was platted and sold, in 1891, Mr. Nor- ton bought forty acres. He also leases 300 acres in his vicinity, all of which he success- fully improves, and is classed among the most important farmers of his county.
Mr. Norton was married August 29, 1889, to Miss Mary Merrill, an intelligent lady, a native of New Hampshire, and a daughter of Robert E. Merrill, now a prosperous stock rancher of San Benito county. Mrs. Norton came with her parents to California when a child. They have one child, Robert Merrill Norton, born February 2, 1891. Mr. Nor- ton has two sisters in this vicinity, both
prominent ladies. Elizabeth P. Norton, un- married, has been for forty years an educator, and is at present teaching school in San Be- nito county. The other sister, Mrs. Sarah F. Hight, is a widow, residing in Hollister.
If any doubt prevailed as to the desira- bility of locating in California, it would be dispelled by the phenomenal success achieved by the subject of this biography.
ON. GEORGE H. BUCK, an eminent jurist and popular citizen of Red wood City, California, where for many years he has acted as Judge of San Mateo county, was born in Harrison, Maine, in 1847. He received a liberal education and for a time had charge of Gorham's Seminary and Academy in that State. His mind took a legal turn, and believing that the bar afforded him an opening. he entered the office of Woodbury & Ingalls, of Boston, Massachu- setts, as a student of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. Like most young at- torneys, he found it necessary to turn his hand to something while studying for his profession, and accordingly he became a teacher in the Gorham Seminary, where he soon rose to be vice-principal. After being in this position for some time he went West in search of a wider field for his ambition, tak- ing with him a letter from the authorities of the seminary to the effect that he was " emi- nently well qualified as a teacher and dis- ciplinarian." He next settled in Cincinnati, and soon became one of the attorneys for the Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad, which position he held for three years, when his health compelled him to seek a milder climate. Accordingly, in 1875, he came to California. In the fall of 1882 he was
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elected District Attorney, succeeding him- self in the years 1884, 1886 and 1888. In the fall of 1890 he was elected Judge of San Mateo county, to fill an nnexpired term, and also for the full term of six years, commenc- ing January 1, 1891. It is a significant fact that, although he has been a life-long Democrat in politics and his district is largely Republican when party lines are drawn, yet such are his sterling traits of character and professional ability that political preferences and prejudices are laid aside at a convention or election when the magnetism of his per- sonality is exercised.
Judge Buck was married July 14, 1892, to Miss Elizabeth King, an accomplished lady of Redwood City, danghter of Henry King of that place.
The Judge belongs to a number of secret societies, being a member of Metamora Tribe, No. 24, of Redwood City, and was at the session of the Great Council held in 1889, elevated to the stump of Great Sachem, from which position he retired in Angnst, 1890. He has also held the fraternal office of Noble Grand Arch of the United Ancient Order of Druids, from which office he retired in June, 1892.
In the various walks of life Judge Buck has always been the same able, unpretentious and benevolent gentleman and deservedly enjoys the esteem of a large community.
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S. LIBBY, a well-known and esteemed fariner of San Benito county, Califor- nia, living near Hollister, was born in Cumberland, Maine, November 23, 1841. He continued to reside in his native place until 1865, when he embarked for California. Arriving in due time at his destination, he 22
first engaged in general farming. in Sonoma county. Thence, he went to Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties, and finally located in San Benito county in the fall of 1869. He bought out the claim of some squatters near Paicines, and he settled on his present farm eight years ago. Here, he has 320 acres, one-half of which is tillable land, and enltivated to general farming. Since coming to California, Mr. Libby has made two trips to his native place, renewing the friendships of former years.
He was married, in February, 1884, to Miss Susie Frank, an estimable lady, and a former schoolmate of Mr. Libby's. Her father was Isaac Frank, a highly respected citizen of Cumberland. They have two chil- dren: Edith May, born August 27, 1887; and Frank, born December 20, 1892.
Mr. Libby is an active member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is an intelligent and highly esteemed citizen.
JOAQUIN BOLADO .- Among the rep- resentative men of San Benito county, the subject of this sketch ranks as one of the most prominent. He was born in Santander, Spain, one of the provinces of Castilla la Vieja, or Old Castile, on March 3, 1822, a son of Valentin and Antonia Bolado. His father was an officer in the Spanish army at the time of the invasion of Napoleon, and after the war retired from the service. He was a large land-holder and operator in lands, etc. One of his sons is a lawyer in Spain, and has held the office of Judge and other positions of honor, and is a wealthy man. A daughter (sister of our subject) is the wife of a large land owner; and the other two are unmarried ladies.
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Mr. Joaquin Bolado, the eldest of the children in the above family, studied Latin under the instructions of a private tutor, and, as he became a young man, began business as a clerk in the shipping and forwarding house of his uncle, a prominent man of San- tander, Spain, being employed there for three years. In 1870, he went to Zacatecas, Mexico, where he had an uncle living, and secured a position in the dry-goods house of Juan de la Guerra, for whom he was engaged for about four years. He next entered the employ of Watson, Newell & Co., an English firm at Zacatecas, and took charge of their bullion shipments to the seaport towns of Mata- moras, Mazatlan and sometimes Tampico. In this capacity he had under his care im- mense sums of money, the account of a sin- gle shipment sometimes running up into millions of dollars!
Being thus engaged between the United States and Mexico, his duty sometimes took him close to the scene of hostilities; and on one occasion he was escorted by Captain Lewis, Commander of the Texas Rangers, and while with that officer met and made the acquaintance of General Wool, at Monterey. While engaged in one of his periodical trips, in 1848, he learned of the discovery of gold in California; and, in partnership with Cas- años Bros., of Tepic, he employed about fifty Mexicans, including a physician, the inteu- tion being to utilize the force in digging gold in the new fields. All preparations having been made, he left San Blas, with his expedi- tion, on the schooner Maria, June 26, 1849, arriving at Monterey, California, after a voyage of abont sixty-two days. They went to what is now Watsonville, secured six carts (carretas del pais) and went to the Tuolumne river and commenced to work the gold placers near Major Savage's camp. Their success here,
however, was not great, and they went to the camp at Sonora, where most of the people they had brought up from Mexico left them.
Mr. Bolado returned to San José and en- gaged in general merchandising, in partner- ship. A year afterward he contracted with Francisco Pacheca to take the San Luis ranch for eight years, in partnership with Ripa Pagaza and Castaños, also from Spain. On this land they pursued the live-stock busi- ness, being very successful, as their profits in six years were nearly $200,000! Butchers would come to their ranch from points as remote as. Sonora, Campo Americano, An- gel's, etc., while they also found a market in San Francisco and elsewhere. He was so en- gaged for eight years.
After withdrawing from business a short time he again took a stock ranch, near Nicolaus, between Sacramento aud Marys- ville, but he sold out there in 1860, went to San Francisco and engaged in the commission business, on Sansome street, near Pacific, as a member of the firm of Sanjurje, Bolado & Pujol. Their business consisted in import- ing Havana cigars and in a general trade with Mexico and Central America.
In 1862 Mr. Bolado went with his wife on a tour to Europe, the trip occupying fourteen months, and they visited also the exposition at London.
In 1864 the firm lost 14,000 cattle in San Luis Obispo county, and about 1,000 horses and 3,000 cattle on the Quien Sabe ranch. In 1866, after closing the business mentioned, Mr. Bolado entered into partnership with Mariano Malarin and stocked the San Luis ranch. They were associated two or three years, and then Mr. Bolado, in company with José Arques, bought the Santa Ana ranch of 23,000 acres, for stock purposes. They car- ried on the business together for two years,
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after which they sold off 5,000 acres and divided the remainder. To his half, Mr. Bolado has added by purchase until he now has 9,500 acres in this ranch. He has also a tract of 1,000 acres six miles east of Hollis- ter, which is fine farming land. He also has banking interests in San Francisco, is a director of the Farmers & Merchants' Bank of Hollister, and president of the Farmers' Warehouse Company, at Tres Pinos.
He is in no sense a politician, but votes with the Democratic pary. Socially, he is a member of the San Francisco Society of California Pioneers, and of the Odd Fellows lodge at Hollister.
He was married February 2, 1857, to Miss Julia Ábrego, a native of Monterey, Cali- fornia, and a daughter of José and Josepha (Estrada) Ábrego. Her mother was a sister of Governor Alvarado, and the father was a merchant from the city of Mexico; the latter settled at Monterey, and there held the post of Treasurer for the Government of Mexico Mrs. Bolado died January 10, 1891, in San Francisco. By this marriage there were four children, three of whom died at an early age. Their living child, Julia, is the wife of Gas- ton Ashe, of San Francisco.
BNER BASSETT, deceased, was a pioneer of California. He came to the State in 1849. He was born in Maine, October 13, 1823, and he was one of twins, having a twin sister, Jane, now Mrs. Bernice Burden, living near Fall River, Mississippi. Abner Bassett was a son of Jonathan and Sarah Bassett, of Fall River. His father was by trade a stonecutter, and did an extensive quarry business.
Abner and his twin sister were the fourth
born of the family, they being born October 13, 1823. He married Miss Mary Ann Tur- ner, a daughter of Ralph Turner, a calico "block" printer by trade, and for several years he was the keeper of the United States tavern at Belvadier, Massachusetts, near Boston.
In 1849 Mr. Bassett came to California, went into the mines and engaged in contract- ing and building in partnership with J. S. Emery, now of Oakland, California, and they did an extensive business. They also built by contract for the Government the dry-dock on Mare Island, taking the granite rock for the same by water on a private ship from Point Lobos, south of Monterey. It was the use of the granite rock that led the purchasers (which were themselves) of the Rancho San José y Sur Chiquito, one of the most valuable places in Monterey county.
Our subject's trip to California was made via Cape Horn, on the bark Mallery, which he and his brother Alfred, with a company, purchased, loaded with stores, and sailed from New York. The voyage to San Francisco harbor, covered a period of seven months.
Mrs. Bassett, August 8, 1853, arrived in San Francisco, following her husband by the same route on the clipper Shooting Star, bringing with her her son William T., then five years old. Mrs. Bassett was on the sea continuously for four months and twenty-two days. The clipper was not a passenger ship, and the party comprised the captain, with his bride, Mrs. Bassett and her son, and three others, including her brother, James Turner.
For nine years the family made their home in San Francisco. They then lived twenty- three years in Virginia City, Nevada, when Mr. Bassett had his exhausted mining inter- ests, and with J. S. Emery erected one of the first quartz mills that crushed ore on the Comstock lead.
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