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 107

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 107

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OBERT CHRISTESEN was born in North Schleswig, now in the German Empire, April 24, 1842, his parents being IIans and Seenet H. (Wayback) Christesen. They came to live with their son, Robert, in Sep- tember, 1877. The father died in 1882, aged seventy-four, and the mother in 1884, aged sixty-eight. Robert Christesen received a lim- ited edneation, and worked on his father's farm, from boyhood. He came to California in 1868, and worked first in Sonoma County, driving team for the owner of a saw-mill there, for one year. He worked six months in a butcher shop

and learned the business, but did not follow it further. In 1870-'71 he worked for Mr. Henry Ehrhardt one year. Mr. Christesen was married in Georgetown, now Franklin, December 13, 1871, to Mise Paulina Christesen, a daughter of Paul and Abilena (Boyesen) Christesen, to whom he had been engaged for seven years. Her father was a grain dealer at Flausburg in Schleswig. The two families, though bearing the same naine, are not relatives by blood in any traceable degree of consanguinity. They were married in a month after her arrival. In 1872 Mr. Christesen rented 320 acres for one year; in 1873, another 320 acres, on both of which he raised cattle chiefly. He also bought and sold cattle of others' raising. In 1874 he moved across the Cosumnes, where he rented 500 acres. In 1875 he bought the place he now occupies in Franklin Township, containing 480 acres. About 1877 he bought 160 acres, and in 1879, 200 acres, which with 280 bought in 1884, he sold in 1889 for $15,000. He traded the 160 acres for a blacksmith shop, leaving him at pres- ent the owner of the 480 acres he bought in 1875. He raises wheat, horses, cattle and hogs and the necessary feed for his stock. Mr. and Mrs. Christesen are the parents of four sons and four daughters: Abilena and Louis, twins, born October 12, 1872; Fernando, March 30, 1874; Mary, April 19, 1876; Teslia, October 11, 1877; Emma, January 17, 1880; Robert, No- vember 13, 1882; Henry, October 21, 1885. Mr. Christesen has been a school trustee, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

BNER BALDWIN BURNS, orchardist. Sutter Township, was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, January 29, 1833, son of James and Sarah Burns, both natives of that State. Mrs. Burns' father, Silas Cooper, served seven years in the Revolutionary War, being engaged in one fight which took place precisely on his home land. Abner was born on the Galpin battle-ground. The Burns family

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

trace their history to Scotland. In James Burns' family were fifteen children, seven sons and eight daughters, all of whom were living and were at home just before the war. Three sons entered the Union army, and two of them were killed at Arkansas Post, when General Sherman was commanding there. In 1844 the family emigrated to Putnam County, Indiana. At the age of seventeen or eighteen years Mr. Burns, the subject of this sketch, left home, and for ten or twelve years followed flatboating on the Mississippi River, during which time he passed through many exciting experiences, many of them romantic or otherwise pleasant. He then remained in Indiana until he came to Cali- fornia in 1856, sailing from New York June 24 on the old Northern Light to Nicaragua. Was delayed on the Isthummus by the fighting that was in progress there during the revoln- tion in that country. At length, obtaining pas- sage on the Nevada, he landed in San Francisco February 22. The first two months he worked at mining in the Indian diggings, in company with a friend named McCoy. While there, Messrs. Frink & Alsip, of Sacramento, offered him employment, which he accepted; but in two months was taken sick and he passed six weeks at Dr. Sullivan's Hospital. After recov- ery, he followed teaming with two teams be- tween Sacramento and Nevada City, with considerable profit. A week before Christmas he qnit this and went upon a ranch in Sutter Township on the lower Stockton road, about four miles from Sacramento, in partnership with Benjamin Stoops. A year afterward he went to the mountains, and during his absence Mr. Stoops sold the ranch and ran away with the money, leaving Mr. Burns about $1,000 in debt. In the fall of 1858 he moved upon the ground which now constitutes a portion of his present place, where he bought of the State eighty acres of school land. In 1861-'62 the water covered his land, and he was for a time engaged in min- ing in Nevada and among the copper mines in El Dorado County, which business proved a total loss to him. Ile considers ranching, espe-

cially in Sacramento County, the safest employ- ment and the best investment one can make in the United States. His land, which is well adapted to fruit, especially grapes and peaches, is in a fine state of cultivation. He has taken first premiums at State fairs on peachies and other fruits. He has been active in fruit inter- ests. The organization of the Fruit Union in this part of the county might be accredited to him. Mr. Burns has always been an active politician. He was one of the few who organ- ized the Republican party in this county and adhered to that party until 1884, when he sup - ported the National Greenback party. His first nomination for public office was for the Legis- lature in 1883, on the National ticket. In 1885 he was nominated by the same party for Con- gress. He is a National man in every good sense of that word, that is, simply patriotic. He is now serving his fifteenth term as school direc- tor of Capital district. Mr. Burns was married July 4, 1870, to Mrs. Sarah Slocum, nee Bal- lard, a native of Shelby County, Indiana. The three children are all dead.

SAHEL BRADLEY DAVIS was born January 27, 1836, in St. Thomas (county seat), Elgin County, Canada, his parents being Joel and Amy (Lewis) Davis. The former was a native of Montgomery County, New York, and the latter was a native of Vermont, born at a place not far from Whitehall, being near the New York State line. When a mere child her father, Barnabas Lewis, emigrated to Canada with his family, which consisted of six sons and two daughters; all of whom were the heads of prominent families in that locality. One son, Joel Lewis, was very enterprising in the establishment of public schools; Asahel, an- other son, was the first to establish a liberal or re- form paper in St. Thomas during the exciting times of the rebellion of 1836-'37. Joel Davis, the father, died in July, 1836, when the subject of this sketch was but six months old. His

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

widow afterward married Lindley Moore, who figured very prominently in the history of that country. His father, Elias Moore, was a mein- ber of Parliament during or just after the Re- bellion. Mrs. Moore made her home in Canada until her death, which occurred about twelve years ago. By her first marriage there were three children, Lewis and Adelia, both of whom are residents of Canada, living at the old home- stead, and A. B. By her second marriage there was one daughter, who is now dead; she was married and left one child at her death. The subject of this sketch was reared in Canada, and there received his education in the public schools. In October, 1859, he left his native country and started for California. He went by way of New York, thence to Panama, and arrived in San Francisco about the middle of November. He went directly to Sacramento and from there to the mines at the town of Rough and Ready in Nevada County. The first few month he worked for wages, but after that he mined for himself; he worked, off and on, at mining for abont fifteen years. In 1868 he went on a visit to Canada and remained until the spring of 1870, when he returned to this valley and stayed until the spring of 1871; then went to work on the Ama lor Canal, being in charge of a divis- " ion of men, and remained in that capacity for abont seven months, when the company "busted," and work was suspended. Mr. Davis was cheated out of his. wages to the amount of $400. A new company was afterward organ- ized and Mr. Davis again songht to take charge of a gang of men; he served this company until the completion of the canal in 1875. Mr. Davis again came to this valley and has made his home here ever since. Mr. Davis' career in this com- munity has been such as to elevate him to the highest degree of esteem, as he has been a use- ful citizen, a man of deliberate judgment, and one who desires the best welfare of the people; he therefore has principles for all his conduct as a citizen and neighbor, etc., and deserves all he has attained, and even more In the year 1860 he bought a squatter's right to 160 acres of land

situated in Brighton Township; and afterward got the title from the Government. The land is still in his possession. He also owns 270 acres of improved land in Brighton Township, and 110 acres in Sutter Township.

ARTIN DART, deceased. In the com- pilation of a work such as this there is no part of more value than that which relates to personal histories. In making men- tion of these honored veterans of pioneer time and in many instances departed, there is 110 one more worthy of notice and of the attributes paid him than the late Martin Dart, whose name heads this sketch, and, on account of long resi- dence in this county, is familiar to every one. Mr. Dart was born February 23, 1811, in New London, Connecticut, a son of Joshua and Su- san (Sabin) Dart. The line of his ancestry is traceable to the English and French. In 1840 Joshua Dart emigrated to Genesee County, Michigan. His wife died about 1844, and he survived a few years. They have three sons and three daughters, only two of whom are now living. As a boy Martin was raised on a farm, and was in Michigan twelve years. In 1862 he cameoverland to California, withone horse and one mule, which he rode alternately when not walking. He was in company with a train which left Coun- cil Bluffs May 3, the journey being a pleasant one considering the usual circumstances. They rested some time both at Salt Lake and in Carson Valley. Mr. Dart began mining on the north branch of Stephens Creek and at Grizzly Flats, and followed that pursuit in various lo- calities for about two years, until the money gave out. Then he followed teaming and sell- ing goods for about six years in the mining region. In this business he had to sell ou credit so much that he failed to make it very profitable. In 1858 he took his wife in a lum- ber wagon and moved down into San Joaquin Township, this county, and as soon as the land came into market he purchased the present es-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

tate three miles from Elk Grove. The place, now comprising 160 acres, is so neatly arranged, equipped and cultivated as to attract the atten- tion of all passers by. Twenty-five acres are in vineyard; and Mr. Dart devoted his attention almost exclusively to the vineyard and orchard, being as "smart as a cricket" np to the time of his death, which occurred May 15, 1889, when he had passed the age of seventy-seven years. He was married in 1835 to Miss Eline Stewart, a native of Connecticut. She died in 1844,. leaving three children: Livy S., Franklin S., in the State of New York, and Maria, who returned to Connecticut, and died there.

EORGE W. DARLING, agriculturist, was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland. His parents, John and Margaret (Satterweight) Darling, emigrated to America and resided in this country the remainder of their lives; the father, who was a machinist by trade, dying in 1872, at the age of sixty five years, and the mother in 184-, at the age of forty-five. In their family were nine children: James, John, William, Charles, George W., Frederick, Mary, Margaret and Eliza. All are now dead except Charles and George W. The latter came to America in 1850, by the way of Cape Horn, landing in San Francisco, being six months on the voyage, on a vessel also named Cape Horn. He followed mining on Mississippi Bar four years, with good success, and then located on a ranch on the Auburn road and pursued the call- ing of agriculture, etc., until 1860; next he kept hotel, the California Honse, five months in Carson City; selling that property, he returned to this county and purchased his present ranch of 400 acres, eighteen miles from the county seat, and four miles from Folsom, Grain-rais- ing is his specialty. He came to California with but little means, and has seen his share of the ups and downs of a pioneer's life. He has made his way by hard work, industry and econ- omy. Ile is a man of energy and perseverance,

and retains his youthful appearance.and vigor in a marked degree. When he purchased his present place it was nnimproved, perfectly wild and covered with oak; he was one of the first in this settlement. In January, 1888, he was burned ont, when he sustained a loss of about $6,000; but he is already on the rapid road to full recovery. He kept a diary from 1865 to the time of the fire, in which he recorded all the changes in the weather and events worthy of note; but that conflagration consumed it. Its loss is greatly regretted, for it had been of considerable service to him as well as his neigh- bors. His brother John, the only brother he had at the time, died at New Orleans. Mr. Darling was married in 1858, to Miss Ellen, daughter of Katherine Mullen. She died June 14, 1874, leaving three children, one son and two daughters: William T., who was born July 11, 1859, and married Ettie Allen, a native of Placer Connty; Ida May, born May 1, 1862, is the wife of Thomas W. Ward of this county; and Margaret E., born March 19, 1864, died April 27, 1883.

WEN THOMAS DAVIES, farmer, Brighton Township, was born Cefanccidy- cymar, within two miles of Merthyr Tyd- vil, Wales, February 7, 1820, a son of Thomas and Mary Davies. In that family were four sons and five daughters, who grew up and were married. Four of the sons came to Amner- ica; David came in 1840 and died in Illinois, in the coal mines; Owen came in the fall of 1850; and John and James came nearly at the same time, 1855-'60, John settling in Pennsyl- vania and James in Utah, near Salt Lake City; Jane Williams came to America and died in Illinois, December 20, 1884; the other children died in Wales. When Mr. Davies, the subject of this sketch, was a man grown, he was em- ployed at the Gyfarthfa Iron Works, where he was engaged in wheeling puddling iron from the rolls twelve hours a day every other week,

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at what in United States money would be $2.52 cents per week. His next task was the tilling of wheelbarrows with puddling iron and wheel- ing it to the mill, where it was rolled into rails, etc. For this his wages was $2.88 a week. Sometimes he would wheel as much as fifty tons a day. Next he weighed and sheared merchant iron at the first steam mill, at $2.36 a week. After the Pandy mill was built he was em- ployed there to weigh metal iron, fill it into wheelbarrows from the drains and wheel it to the stall, weigh it into 450-pound charges for the puddling furnaces and pile it up. Of course he had to keep an exact account of all this work; and his wages now had become $5.04 a week. In this he was engaged from 1846 to September, 1850. At that time the Pandy was the largest steam mill in Wales. It was on the east side of the Taff River. Six iron rolling mills were run by water power on the west side, besides one by steam. All these eight mills were within one mile of Merthyr Tydvil. In October, 1846, Mr. Davies married Ann William Morgan, daughter of William Morgan and born in the same place. October 15, 1850, they, with two children, sailed from Liverpool and landed in New Orleans November 22. (toing to Illinois, Mr. Davies worked in the coal mines there from the spring of 1851 to April, 1854, when he went to Utah, overland, with two yoke of oxen, arriving at Salt Lake September 26. In the spring of 1856 he came on to California, ar- riving in Brighton, this county, July 4. Until September 19 he lived in the wagon, and then settled where he has since resided. There he bought a squatter's claim to a quarter-section of land, and afterward purchased the place from the Government. When he first entered it there was only a shanty there, and all the country around was a naked plain. He subsequently bought more land, so that at one time he owned over 500 acres. A portion of this has been deeded to his children and to his wife. She died October 6, 1880, the mother of four chil- dren: Anne and Thomas, John and William. Anne is the wife of Edmund Lewis, a resident

of San Joaquin Township, near Sheldon; the sons are all in this township, and have families. November 21, 1881, Mr. Davies, in Sacramento, married Louisa Hanx, a German lady and a widow at the time, her first husband having died five years previously. She died February 11. 1883, and Mr. Davies, December 1, 1884, married his present wife, Mrs. Friedrika Kern.

ILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, the pioneer jeweler of Sacramento, was born in the city of Brotherly Love, March 21, 1821, the son of Thomas Cunningham, a coppersmith by trade. He learned the trade of silversmith of William Rapp, after which he went to Boston, where he resided for a year; returning again to Philadelphia he found employment with Bailey & Kitchen for three years. When, during the gold excitement of 1849, the William Penn Min- ing Company was organized, a man by the name of L. R. Brooman, one of the shareholders, was unable to come and his place was given to Mr. Cunningham, he paying 8200. They left on the Crescent City for Chagres, on the 5th of February, were five or six weeks on the Isthmus and finally eame up the coast on the whale ship Niantic, arriving outside the Golden Gate just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July, 1849. After spending two or three days in San Fran- ciseo, they came to Sacramento via schooner, went up the north fork of the American River to Willow Bar and began mining, but, being unsuccessful, disbanded and the Penn Mining Company collapsed. Our subject came to Sacramento and, on arriving here, had about $50 with which to start in life. He soon made the acquaintance of a man named Hastings who was working for Pillow, a jeweler, on J Street. Going to the quay, from among the collected debris, he fished out an ordinary crucible and with some tools, loaned by Hastings, made a gold ring, the first work he ever did in the Capital City. Finding that he could do good work he was employed by Pillow, but after ten

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

days he and Hastings formed a co-partnership and, renting a room from Howett & Ells for which they paid $75 a month, they began busi- ness on their own account. They continued together for about two years, when Mr. Cunning- ham bought out his partner, crossed the street to 408 J Street, where more commodious quar- ters were secured, and there he continued busi- ness for over eighteen years. Mr. Cunninghamı was married in the city of Philadelphia, De- cember 31, 1839, to Rebecca Byrley, daughter of George Byrley, a German farmer, at that time in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mr. Cunningham came to California in 1852. They have liad a family of ten children, only three of whom survive, namely: William, Louis and Benjamin; all of whom are jewelers in the city of San Francisco.

OHN F. CROSS, farmer, was born in the State of Maine, in Waldo County, February 13, 1828; in 1848-'52 he was a carpenter in Massachusetts, and then he embarked on the steamer Old North America for California, and left the Isthmus, on the steamer Winfield Scott, on its first trip. Landing at Sacramento April 1, he engaged to a Mr. Bragg for a month; next he went to Shasta City and built two houses; and then, in company with others, went to raft- ing timbers down the Sacramento River, the first ever sent down this stream. They sold their lumber to the man who built the first saw-mill in Sacramento. Next he was in the employ of the Government at Fort Redding, where lie built the first house in the place: Captain Miller was the quartermaster at that time. Returning East, he was married, in March, 1854. The next winter he was again employed by the Government, in Benicia, and in the spring he came to this county, where he has ever since resided. April 1, 1857, he moved into the country six miles from town, where he remained for a year; next was at Mormon Is- land a year, and finally he settled on the place

where he now is. This ranch contains 320 acres; and he also owns 480 acres two and a half miles away, and 310 acres adjoining Orange Vale. Hay and grain are his specialties as an agricult- nrist. Sarah Jane, nee Miss Meservey, Mr. Cross companion in life, was born in Mor- rill, Maine, March 12, 1835. Joseph Cross, the father of J. F., was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, and died in Morrill, Maine. He brought up twelve children,-all married and having families. Mr. John F. Cross has had six children: Nettie, Alice, Lilian, Francis, de- ceased, Herbert, and Charles.

AMES COYLE, a farmer, was born in County Cavan, North Ireland, in 1825, son of Charles and Bridget (Flynn) Coyle; both parents remained in the old country until their death. Of their four sons and four daugh- ters the only one living in the United States is the subject of this sketch. He was brought up in Ireland on a farm. In 1851 lie sailed from Liverpool on an old steamer, which went down during the second trip after that. In twenty- four days he landed in New Orleans, thus mak- ing the second best trip that had ever been made to that city. After spending two months there he went to Memphis, Tennessee, for three or four months; during the ensuing summer sea- son he was in Cincinnati and vicinity; then he resided in Clay County, Missouri, until he eame to California in 1853, overland, with a train be- longing to Miller & Arthur. In this train were forty persons, with 500 head of horses and mules, and a thousand head of cattle. Between 400 and 500 head of cattle were lost on the way; the horses and mules were brought through all right. They crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs on a steamboat, even taking the live-stock across in that way, as they found that driving the cattle across by fording was too slow. Of the party, however, only seven or eight came through together. Two days af- ter passing Fort Laramie they met a large num-

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ber of Indians mixed up with travelers, and, after this train had passed, a fight ensued be- tween them and the soldiers. A number were killed on both sides, including all the soldiers who sided with the emigrants. Stopping a week or more at Salt Lake to recruit, Mr. Coyle's party completed their journey by the usual route, arriving in this county in just six months from the time they started. The stock was quartered at the mouth of Cache Creek. Mr. Coyle's first work was on the construction of the levee here at Sacramento, which was then completed as far as Sntter's fort. Next he spent two months in the gold mines on the Cosumnes River, in El Dorado County, during the highest period of excitement there. He mined at Placerville, and worked on the canal there for abont six months. Settling down in this connty he bought from a Frenchman a claim in Sutter Township, three miles from Sacramento, on the lower Stockton road. It was then a place of very desolate appearance, with a small cabin and a few improvements upon it. He bought it in the spring, spent the summer in the mines, and returning in the fall he did not like his par- chase, and he offered the land for $300, although he had paid $600 for it. Not finding a pur- chaser he concluded to go upon it and make the best of it. This ranch now contains 155 acres, and is one of the finest in the county! Mr. Coyle erected his handsome residence here in the spring of 1885, and it is indeed a credit to the community. He has paid considerable at- tention to the rearing of live-stock, mostly horses and particularly roadsters. Commenc- ing here with nothing, he has made a comfort- able home, and is well to do. He was one of the first who started farming on the Ilaggin grant, which is now coming so fast into culti- vation. He is a genial gentleman, liberal and public-spirited, and the citizens are glad to see him able to enjoy the fruits of his many years of toil. He was married in May, 1858, to Julia Leary, a native of County Cork, Ire- land. They have six children, all sons, viz .: James, Jr., and Charles, twins; John, Thomas,

Edward and Joseph, -all residing in this county.

ARRISON R. CROUCH, of the firm of Cronch & Lyman, plumbers, 511 J street, Sacramento, was born in Sacramento, Sep- tember 10, 1865, and is the son of the late W. T. Crouch, who came from Ohio to California in the same year. Harrison R. was educated at St. Matthew's Hall, San Mateo. His first business experience was in the capacity of book- keeper, which occupation he followed for three years. In August, 1887, he formed a partner- ship with Frank T. Lyman, and opened in their location as plumbers and gas-fitters. Mr. Crouch is the financier of the firmn, and in the conduct- ing of this department of the business has shown marked ability. Being a Californian by birth Mr. Crouch has identified himself with the Native Sons of the Golden West, and is a member of Sunset Parlor, No. 26, of which he has been treasurer for three consecutive terms. For some years he was an active member of the Sacramento Hussars, and was elected by his comrades as Second Lieutenant. Since the ex- piration of his commission he has remained with the company as a passive member. He is a nephew of Mrs. E. B. Crocker, the well-known philanthropic lady of Sacramento. In politics Mr. Crouch is an ardent Republican, and in matters especially concerning the city and county is quite active.

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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