An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today, Part 102

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916

USA > California > Sacramento County > An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California : containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today > Part 102

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).

659

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

family altar, and live to cheer and comfort their declining years, and to rise up and call them blessed. In 1887 they removed from Red Bluff and purchased property on D' street, above Eighteenth, in the city of Sacramento, where we find them surrounded by a large circle of loving friends and acquaintances, enjoying the repose so richly merited.

EV. THOMAS GRACE, pastor of St. Rose's Church, Catholic, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, about 1842; educated in the private schools of his native place, and at St. Peter's, Wexford, under the in- struction of Bishop Furlong, and also at All Hallows College, Dublin; was ordained to the priesthood in 1867, and in September, that year, came to California. In this State he first had charge of the parish at Red Bluff, being the first pastor there; built the Convent of Mercy ; was subsequently at Grass Valley, Marysville, and finally came to Sacramento in July, 1881. His father, James Grace, was of Norman ex- traction, being a descendant of the famous Ray- mond le Gros in the twelfth century.

AVID McLANAHAN was born in Indi- ana County, Pennsylvania. in 1825, his parents being James and Susan (Blacley) McLanahan, both natives of that section of Pennsylvania. Grandfather John McLanahan settled there, and was married to Miss Nancy Farris, a native of that State, who lived to the age of eighty. The parents of D. McLanahan moved to Ohio, near Masillon, abont 1837, and owned a farm there. The son received but little schooling before or after removal, but learned farming pretty thoroughly for his age. He also learned the trade of carpenter, and worked at it som ; years. In 1852 he came to Cali- fornia and went to mining in Mosquito cañon, above Coloma, about nine months, scarcely mak-

ing wages. Worked some at his trade, getting six or seven dollars a day, but could not get enough work. In 1857 he went into the busi- ness of buying and selling cattle and horses, continuing until about 1864. He then made a visit East, not doing much of anything for two years, except the one most important act of life. In 1864 Mr. McLanahan was married to Miss Jennie Harkins, a native of Wisconsin, daughter of William and Kate (McAuley) Har- kins, both of whom are now deceased. Return- ing to California Mr. MeLanahan, in 1866, bought 640 acres on the Mokelumne, a mile and a half below his present home. He in- creased his acreage from time to time until it reached 2.000, in 1879. Since then he has been more occupied with building and beantify- ing a home and grounds. The house was erected in 1881. On his ranch he raises wheat, hay and barley, cattle and horses,-about thirty horses and 200 head of cattle, besides a dairy business of ninety cows. Mr. McLanahan's mother died in 1882, and his father in 1886, aged eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. David McLanahan are the parents of four children: Mamie, born December 16, 1866, now Mrs. Thomas Elder, of Tempo, Arizona; Anna, Oc- tober 14, 1870; Katie, September 6, 1873; and James David, November 3, 1880.

W ILLIAM F. MCCRAKEN was born in Waukegan, Illinois, August 28, 1855, his parents being James G. and Jessie E. (Loveday) McCraken. His mother died in 1857, and he was reared by his grand- parents Loveday, who lived in Chicago many years. where the grandmother still survives at an advanced age. Ilis mother was English by birth, and his father an American, of Scotch or Irish extraction. His early education was chiefly at Immanuel Hall, a military academy, nnder Episcopalian auspices, its rector being Rev. Roscoe Park, a graduate of West Point. Meanwhile his father, who was a stock-raiser,

660

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

with a special preference for horses, had come to California abont 1860. He owned cattle ranches at three different points before he finally settled on the Cosminnes about 1868. Conjointly with Governor Booth and Colonel James as equal partners, he bought 2,700 acres. The ranch had at one time been owned by General W. T. Sherman, who had encamped on it years before with some troops at a point on the river bank, which has since been washed away. Mr. McCraken eventually bought out his partners, -- first Governor Booth, and later Colonel James. The tract was reduced by Government to 1,734 acres. He rented his ranch and lived in Sacramento for several years before his death, which occurred in 1880. Mean- while William F., his son, was a clerk in San Francisco for several years, with various parties, insurance agents and money-brokers, and among others with Hutchinson and Mason. He thns acquired a good knowledge of business affairs. In 1880 he was married to Miss Mildred Seff- ens, who was born April 15, 1861, at Dutch Flats, where her parents resided for twenty five years, and kept a hotel. The father settled there in 1852, and when he brought his wife home in 1854 she was the first white woman in the place. After the railroad reached that point it lost much of its trade and travel, and Mr. and Mrs. Seffons removed to Santa Clara County, where they purchased a nice ranch about two miles from San Jose, and lived there until their death, some eight years later. Upon the death of his father, in 1880, Mr. MeCraken came to reside on his half of the estate, his sister, Mrs. J. L. McCord, of Sacramento, owning the other half. Most of the ranch is worked by renters, but Mr. McCraken retains, under his personal supervision, about 200 of his 867 acres. He gives special attention to fruit and alfalfa, and the raising of horses. This last he recognizes as a trait inherited from his father, and perhaps reinforced from maternal ancestors, several of the Lovedays being distinguished in military life, and the successful soldier usually loves a good horse. His ranch is all under cultivation,

and will grow any crop without irrigation. Even oranges can be raised in the Cosumnes valley, or has been proved by a few experiments.

HE McCUE BROS. have two quarries of fine foundation and cemetery granite near Folsom, to which place they hauled the stone by teams for shipment. As it is im- practicable to have a spur railroad run to their works, they intend soon to have a steam der- rick of their own to facilitate loading. Frank MeCne was born in 1850, and Edward in 1863, in this county, and are sons of John McCue, who had these quarries up to 1876. Both are unmarried.

UDGE JOHN HEARD. - Prominent among those who early in the history of Sac- ramento County were most active both as a citizen, a lawyer and a judge, was John Heard, the subject of this sketch, born in Garrard County, Kentucky, where his father was a farmer, on the 15th of March, 1812. - Upon the death of his father in 1815 his mother removed to Howard County, Missouri, here he was educated, having met with a rare chance in the person of a teacher named James Kearney, a great Greek and Latin scholar, who kept a small select school on the edge of Boone County, Missouri, where he was permitted to attend. Ile afterward studied law with Judge Thomas Reynolds, who afterward became Governor of Missouri; he was fonr years in his office, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1833. He immediately removed to Paris, Monroe County, Missouri, and began the practice of his profession, where he continued to reside until 1841. In 1836 he was appointed to the position of Cirenit Attorney, which office he resigned at the expiration of eighteen months, and having been appointed Register of State lands he removed to Jefferson City, the capital, where he continued to reside until 1846, when

661

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

he went to Independence, and resumed the prae- tice of his profession. In 1848 his health gave out, and he gave up the practice of law, he went to Santa Fé, Chihuahua, New Mexico, at a time when General Price, who was a personal friend of his, was stationed there. In the spring of 1849, he found a party of six young men to cross the plains with teams. They were five and a half months on the journey. At first they joined a large party, but finding there was but little danger to be apprehended from hostile In- dians, and that forage, of which there was a seareity, could be more easily obtained for small parties than for large ones, they left the main train and struck out by themselves. They catne via Salt Lake and the Carson River, and stopped at Weaver Creek, three miles south of Placerville, where some of the party remained, but Heard came on to Sacramento, and began the practice of law with Judge William C. Wal- lace,-now of Auburn,-in 1853, and was with him until he was elected County Judge. This office he held during the building of the court house, which was occupied for a time as the State house, and it was largely through his personal efforts that the building was erected, and the capital secured to this city. In 1858 he resigned the office of County Judge, to re- snine the practice of his profession. In 1860, he became interested in silver mining in Chihua- hua, New Mexico, and during the next five years he was personally engaged in superintend- ing these operations. In 1866 he again returned to Sacramento, resumed the practice of law, making a speciality of land titles, in which he was eminently successful. The Judge was mar- ried in 1836, at Palmyra, Missouri, to Miss Lney Thornton Buckner, daughter of Charles Buckner, Esq., a Virginian. She came to the coast in 1854, coming across the plains. They have four children, all of whom are daughters. The Judge became a Mason in 1935, is a member of Paris Lodge, Missouri, and he was a charter member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers. The Judge who at this writing is in his seventy-eighth year, retains his faculties to

a most wonderful degree, and his relation of the events of the early days of Sacramento are both interesting and instruetive.

AMUEL H. PUGH, of Brighton Town- ship, was born in Owen County, Indiana, August 21, 1832, son of James and Nancy (Sikes) Pugh, natives of Virginia; the father was born in Charlotte County, that State, and the mother in Halifax County. His paternal grand- father, a native of France, came to America as a soldier under Lafayette; was a corporal in the Revolutionary War, and remained throughout the struggle, being present even at the siege and surrender of Yorktown. His maternal grand- father also served in the same war. Samuel's mother's first husband was named Scott, who was of the same lineage as General Winfield Scott. He wintered at Valley Forge and died there after the war of the Revolution had closed. On his mother's side Mr. Pugh's ancestry were Scotch and English. James Pugh was born in 1790, and in the War of 1812 was in the first regiment that volunteered from Virginia. He marched to Norfolk under Captain Carter and Colonel Henderson. At Fort Norfolk he served first in heavy artillery, and was afterward trans- ferred to different points where the fighting was in progress. After the close of the war he con- tinned to live in Virginia, married there, moved to Tennessee, and then to Indiana, settling on White River, seven miles below Spencer, in 1827 or 1828, being one of the first settlers in Owen County. There were then ten times as many Indians as white inhabitants. Wild game was so plentiful that a feast of fresh meat could be obtained at any hour on any day. When Samnel was eight years old the family located three and a half miles southeast of Ne- osho, Missouri. As they passed through Neosho the first log store was in process of erection there. The first clerk employed in Anthony's store there was "Jim " Raines, afterward General, who was killed in the Rebel army at Murfreesboro.

662

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

Mr. Pugh was reared in Newton County. Missouri, from 1839 to 1854, learning the carpenters' trade from his father, who was about the first contractor and builder in that locality. They built the first court-house for that county, a log structure with one door and one or two windows, for $143. They also built the Masonic Hall. Young Pugh also worked on the new court- house, under Martin Garrison. He followed carpentering until he was seventeen years of age and then learned blacksmithing, under Hendrick & McKee, at Neosho, and afterward he remained a year with his father, building houses. No- vember 4, 1854, Mr. Pugh started with another man to Texas, with a small stock of dry goods and notions, and 2,000 apple trees, which they took to Austin. They traveled through thirty- seven different counties of Texas that winter and forty-seven towns. In January Mr. Pugh re- turned to Austin and accepted the superintend- ency of Judge Sneed's ranch, remained with him till June 17 and returned to Missouri, where he wound up his affairs, and on the 24th of September moved with his family to Texas, locating four miles south of Austin, where he had 100 acres of land. There he followed black- smithing for five years. In 1859 he started for Pike's Peak with a team, passing through In- dian Territory, Kansas and Nebraska, to find a train going there, and failing, he abandoned the trip. He then settled in Salem, Richardson County, Nebraska, and worked there at black- smithing and gunsmithing. While there he held the offices of City Marshal, Deputy Sheriff and Deputy United States Marshal, and was holding all these offices when he left. He raised the first military company that volunteered in that county, and was elected its captain. The company was raised to garrison Western forts. He also served in the Home Guards one and a half years, and was in the fight with the Jay- hawkers at Falls City. Between thirty and fifty shots were fired, two men killed and sev- eral wounded. Mr. Pugh lost some blood and a small piece of his ear. May 11, 1862, a train was made up, of which he was captain, and each

started with four oxen and a mimber of cows for California. Mr. Pugh came by mail and stage route up the Platte by way of the Big Blue, Fort Kearney and Fort Laramie, cross- ing the South Platte at Julesburg, the North Platte at Lonis Bernard's bridge, camped at Independence Rock on the night of July 3, and celebrated the Fourth there the next day. On- ward he came by way of Fort Bridger to Salt Lake and the overland stage route to Reese River and the sink of the Carson River to Car- son City, and by way of Placerville to Sacra- mento, passing directly by his present place of residence. When he reached Placerville he was out of money, and he sold a $100 rifle at the Kingsley House for $10, paid $7.50 for expenses and $2.50 for crossing the bridge at Sacramento! He then worked for Mr. Crocker, superinten- dent of the Steam Navigation Company, in their yard, until he could earn money enough to go to his brother's in Sonoma County. There he re- mained till March 1863; returning then to Sacra- mento, he worked in the ship-yard there until the middle of May. Next he followed black- smithing at Carson City, Nevada, about two years, and then bought a ranch upon Carson River, fifty-five miles from Carson. He built a hotel and blacksmith shop upon that place, moulding the brick, laying them and doing all the carpenter work himself. When the Central Pacific Railroad was built to Wadsworth, it drew the travel from his place and he had to leave it, losing all. Then, November 1, 1866, he located on the McCarthy ranch, in this county, until 1869, following farming and blacksmith- ing, and also hauling some for building the levee. During the year just mentioned he bought a piece of land in San Joaquin Town- ship, two miles east of Florin, and continued farming and blacksmithing for five years, and finally purchased a half acre which he now oc- cupies as a residence. Here he built a black- smith's shop, house, barn, etc., all with his own hands. In his political views Mr. Pugh is a Democrat. He has served many years as in- spector of elections, and one term as school

663

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

trustee. He was admitted into Sacramento Lodge, No. 40. F. & A. M. in 1868, and is still a member of that lodge, and he, as well as his family, are members of the Grange. He was married in McDonald County, Missouri, Febru- ary 19, 1852, to Miss Mary Ann Greer, a native of Clarksville, Pike County, Missouri, and daughter of William and Ann (Jones) Greer. Her father was of Scotch descent and the mother of French. She was a child when her parents moved to Jasper County, Missouri, and subse- quently they moved to McDonald County, two and a half miles from Pierceville. Her mother died in Carson City and her father in Sonoma County, California. Mr. and Mrs. Pugh have nine children, as follows: L. M., born December 15, 1852, in Missouri, three miles from Neoslio, and now living in Lewis, near Battle Mountain; he was made a Mason at Elk Grove on the night that he was twenty-one years old, at the youngest age known in the United States; Mary Marcilla, now the wife of R. J. Brown, and living in San Joaquin Township; Nancy Ann, the wife of Peter Chrisman, and living at Gonzales, Mon- terey County; Samuel A., residing in Lander County, Nevada; Parmelia Belle, now the wife of Frank H. Ranlet, of San Francisco; Ethan Franklin, a resident of El Dorado County, near Shingle Springs; Joseph A., near Gonzales; Charles Lorenzo, who lives in Lander County, Nevada; and James Nathan, with his parents.

APTAIN THOMAS DWYER, president of the Sacramento Transportation Com- pany, was born in 1831, in County Wex- ford, Ireland,-next to the youngest in a family of eight children,-his parents being Frank and Ellen (()'Neal) Dwyer. His father was a small farmer, who lived and died a poor man; his death took place in 1885. Nature had endowed young Dwyer with a spirit of enterprise, and when, in 1848, some acquaintances tried to per- suade him to go with them to the New World, he readily consented. Young, hearty, robust,

he came to Toronto in all the vigor of his young manhood, and commenced the battle of life. He at once engaged in the lumber trade, work- ing at that during the winter, and on a farm during the summer. In 1852 he came to the United States, going into Maumee County, Ohio, and there he obtained his first contract work, which consisted in the getting out of a certain number of railroad ties. After this he went to Lake County, Illinois, and again became a " farm-hand " in the summer, going to the pine woods of Wisconsin in the winter, where sometimes for six weeks continuously the sun never melted the snow from the sides of the trees nor' from the roof of the shanty which served as their only shelter. In 1859, during the Pike's Peak excitement, in company with a party of friends, he started for the gold dig- gings; on reaching the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, they learned that Pike's Peak was a humbug, some of the party turned back, but the subject of this sketch and his partner struck out boldly for California, the land of gold and sunshine. They came with ox teamns, via Lander's cut-off, Raft Creek, and the Honey Lake Valley to Susanville, where they arrived on the 3d of Sentember, after a journey of five months. He spent a year in the mines of Shasta County, and went to Chico during the following sum- mer and ran a threshing-machine there and in Colusa County. When the season for farm work was over he bought some timber land on the Sacramento River in Colusa County, and commenced cutting the wood; he got together about 2,500 cords, taking in a partner to share the expense, bought a wood barge and brought the wood down to Sacramento, where he could dispose of it to the schooners in the river. This was the origin of what is to-day known as the Sac- ramento Transportation Company. He afterward bought a small steamer to tow his barges. About this time, 1866, J. H. Roberts, H. L. Miller, Michael Rigney, N. McNear and C. Clots werc added to the firmn, which was then known as the Sacramento Wood Company. In 1879 the name was changed to the Sacramento Transpor-

661

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

tation Company, and the firm was incorporated under the laws of the State. Notwithstanding the California Steam Navigation Company was running in opposition to them, their business grew and flourished. Increased towing facili- ties being required, the Verona was added to their fleet in 1873; the San Joaquin, No. 2, in 1877; the San Joaquin, No. 4, in 1882; the Governor Dana, Dover, and Flora, in 1883; and they are now (1889) building another steamer which has not yet been named. In addition to these steamers they have a fleet of twenty barges. In 1881 they engaged in the manufact- nre of brick, erecting kilns on the _Riverside road, five miles below Sacramento, where they now have the most approved appliances. In 1888 they introduced the new patent system called the continuons kiln, with a capacity of 50,000 pressed brick per diem; they also have in operation four Quaker brick machines, with a capacity of 140,000 daily. The busy life of Captain Dwyer has left him but scant time to devote to politics or the fraternal societies. IIe was married in 1868 to Ellen Flannigan, a na- tive of Ireland. They have five children, viz .: Frances Thomas, Mary Ellen, John Jeffrey, William Patrick and Thomas Edward.

McNEAL, a California pioneer, was born in a place called Three Springs, Hunting- 0 don County, Pennsylvania, his parents being Robert, a farmer, and Catharine (Camp- bell) McNeal, both natives of Pennsylvania. The family, as the name indicates, is of Scotch- Irish descent. Our subject was one of a family of seven children, four of whom were boys. He was born in May, 1815, and was reared upon his father's farm until he reached his majority in 1838, when, starting out in life for himself, he went first to Clinton County, Indiana, where his brother, Alexander, resided, then to Madi- son County, Wisconsin, and afterward to Galena, Illinois, where he learned the carpenter's trade and resided until 1840; during that year he

went to Mobile, Alabama, where he worked at his trade for seven years; he then secured a posi- tion at the United States navy yard at Pensa- cola, Florida, where he remained until coming to California in 1849. He came with a party on board the schooner Crescent City to Chagres, crossed the Isthmus, and paid $300 for passage to San Francisco in the brig Solidad, Captain John Van Honton, who will be remembered as captain on one of the Sacramento River boats for many years, and who afterward kept the Crescent City Hotel. The old Solidad was after- ward brought to Sacramento and now lies high and dry at the foot of I street between Third and Fourth. The party arrived in San Francisco Angust 4, 1849, and, coming to Sacramento, packed to the mines on the Yuba River, where they remained till December, when Boyd and Davis (two of the party)' came to Sacramento. McNeal followed mining for a greater portion of the time till 1852, when he came here and settled down to his trade. He early became a member of the Society of California Pioneers, in which organization he takes great interest. Mr. McNeal has been twice married, first in 1859, to Mary Alice Alexander, who died in 1862; and again in 1866 to Lucretia Kennedy, a native of Ft. Madison, Iowa, who died on the 14th of June, 1868, leaving an only daughter, Minnie, who is the wife of Hiram Z. Johnson of this city.

HRISTOPHER GREEN was born in Ire- land, December 25, 1830, and when he was a little more than thirteen years of age he left his native country and came on the vessel Shenandoah to New York city, where he entered himself as an apprentice to the carpen- ters' trade, in which relation he worked by the month. In 1844 he went down to Washington Market and obtained employment from Joseph Churchill, beginning to work for him for $5 a month, at his up-town house, near University place. After remaining with him for six years

665

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

he went to Chicago, and for sixty days was in the employment of Byer, Wadsworth & Chapin, at $2.50 a day. After a sojourn of twenty-three weeks in Chicago he returned to New York and at once embarked on the Daniel Webster for California, Jaunary 5, 1852, coming by the Nicaragua ronte. On the Pacific side he took the steamer Pacific, upon which he reached San Francisco. There he went to work at the old Pacific Market for George W. Green. Eight months afterward he came to Sacramento and passed on to Nevada City to observe the methods pursued in mining. Returning to Sac- ramento in August, 1852, he engaged himself in the City Market at the time of the fair of that year. During the autumn, that year, he entered the butchering business on J street, be- tween Front and Second. In 1853 he and H. C. Trainor became partners in the Empire Mar- ket, which relation has ever since continned. Mr. Green has always taken an active interest in poli- tics, in publie improvements and in the public welfare generally. Was an old-time Whig, and is now a leading Republican, being a member and the treasurer of the Republican county central committee. He was elected mayor of the city of Sacramento in 1872 by a handsome majority, on the issue raised by the railroad company concerning the filling up of China slongh, he being in favor of the railroad company's propo- sition. In this office he served two terms of three years each. Next he was appointed Post- inaster, to fill out the nnexpired term of Mr. Hopping; was re-appointed for the second term, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, R. D. Stephens. For the last sixteen years Mr. Green has been a member of the State Board of Agriculture, being now a Director, and he has been Superintendent of the Grounds. Decem- ber 9, 1858, Mr. Green married Alice Tolan, a native of Ireland, who came to Massachusetts when young. They have six children, named Tessie, Mamie, Belle, Christopher, Jr., Mar cella and Samnel. In his social relations Mr. Green has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1857,-of El Dorado Lodge, No. 8, in

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.

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 916

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916