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 111

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 111

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LFRED BRIGGS, rancher, was born in the town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, September 11, 1820, son of Samuel and Anna (Wilkie) Briggs, both natives also of that State. His grandfather, John Briggs, was a a native of Vermont, and, after his daugh- ter Betsey was born, emigrated in pioneer times to the frontier in New York State, locating at a place called New Albany, where a number of his children were born, among whom was Sam- uel, the next to the eldest. A few years later he returned to Vermont, and in 1800 to New York again. He was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War. Samuel Briggs was born in 1789. When grown up he received a piece of land from his father, and afterward bought other tracts. This farm contained 110 acres, and was about half a mile from the foot of Skaneateles Lake, the town of the same name being situated on both sides of the lake at the outlet. It is now in the possession of Courtland Briggs, the youngest son. In early days the family were surrounded by friendly Indians of several tribes, and here Samnel brought up his family. His

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

house fronted on the old Genesee road running from Albany to Buffalo, which was the first made through the country, a distance of about 300 miles. Along this road were a number of " taverns," some of them kept by Indians. When thirty years of age Mr. Samuel Briggs married Miss Anna Wilkie. Her mother was born in New Amsterdam, of Mohawk Dutch descent. She died in 1841, and her husband survived till about 1867. They had four chil- dren, all sons, namely: Alfred, Frederick, Charles and Courtland, of whom the eldest and youngest only are living. Alfred Briggs lived with his parents and in the vicinity of his home until he was twenty-five years of age, working on his father's farm and clerking for his uncle in a flouring mill and distillery. That mill in those days turned out about 100 barrels of flour a day. In the distillery high wines exclusively were manufactured, which were shipped to New York. In 1845 Mr. Briggs went to Chicago and different places in Indiana. His brother Frederick was keeping a store at Rochester, In- diana, with whom he remained for a time, re- turning in the fall to New York. In July, 1846, he again went to Rochester, Ir.diana, and engaged as a clerk in a dry-goods store three months, or until November, when he went to the lead mines in La Fayette County, Wiscon- sin, which is in the southwest corner of the State. He followed mining there about eight- een months, then entered the store at Shulls- burg as clerk, where he shortly afterward took an interest in the business, under the firm name of Briggs & MeNulty. At the end of four years the gold excitement of California carried him away with the rushing crowd toward the El Dorado. Having seen some '49ers who had been here and returned, bringing the news direct, in April, 1850, he and a cousin, William Billings, started by way of St. Joseph, Missouri, and came through on the Salt Lake ronte. At St. Joseph they found many old acquaintances, that point being a great rendezvous for Western travel, and the final point of preparation and departure through the unknown wilds that

stretched illimitably before the eager gold hunt- ers. They joined a train of six or seven wagons, commanded by Abram Woodard, an old settler in this county whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. Briggs celebrated the 4th of July in Salt Lake City, at agrand dinner furnished by the Mormons, who made a business of feeding im- migrants. Here the party rested a few days. They left the valley July 10, taking the Mor- mon route, and using the Mormon guide book, which was the best one published at that time. They soon met two men from the Woodard train returning to Salt Lake for provisions. The company were suffering considerably on the route of the Sublette ent-off, and these two men announced their intention to go with this com- pany instead of pursuing the cut-off any further. Flour at that time was $50 a hundred weight, and cornmeal $25; a pint of brandy would buy fifty pounds of flour. Brandy, coffee and sugar commanded almost any price in Salt Lake City. The Mormons had made considerable money from returning Californians and money was scarcely an object with them. On reaching the Sink of the Humboldt they loaded Mr. Briggs' wagon with hay and water, leaving the other wagons there and packing the other animals Each one on his horse, they thus reached Rag- town, where they recruited, paying a " bit " a pound for hay. Crossing the mountains through the Carson Canon they reached Johnson's ranch, where they sold their horses, saddles, etc., and commenced mining. Mr. Briggs" mining ex- perience would be a history of itself. He was generally Incky -- indeed so much so that others used to say, " Wherever Briggs goes it will pay yon to follow." Altogether he took out of the mines probably abont $150,000. Being of a free-hearted nature, he has been very liberal with his fortune. He followed the business about fourteen years in El Dorado County, dur- ing which time he was married, and for five or six years lived on a ranch; but this being nearly all mining land, he paid bnt little attention to farming. In the spring of 1864 he came to Sacramento County, and a year afterward pur-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

chased his present place in Sutter and Brighton townships. It contains 185 acres, well improved and in a good state of cultivation. Politically Mr. Briggs was an former years a Democrat. In 1853 he was elected to the Assembly from El Dorado County, and in 1858 he was again elected, on the anti-Lecompton ticket (anti- slavery) to the same position. He has accord- ingly been a supporter of the Republican party ever since it was organized. In 1864, through the influence of John Conness, of El Dorado County, then United States Senator, Mr. Briggs received from Abraham Lincoln the appoint- ment of Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of California, which position he held nine years, having his office in Sacramento. For the past twenty-one years Mr. Briggs has been a member of Tehama Lodge, No. 3, F. & A. M., of Sacramento. October 18, 1854, is the date of Mr. Briggs' marriage to Mary A. Lucas, who died July 15, 1870, the mother of six chil- dren, namely: Helen M., Charles W., Anna E., John C., George F., and Alfred, Jr. The three youngest are deceased, and the living are all residents of this State. Mr. Briggs was again married October 28, 1873, to Mary E. Dough- erty, and by this marriage there are three chil- dren,-Bertha, Alfred and Clara.

IRAM CHASE, a farmer of Dry Creek Township, was born November 16, 1824, in Saratoga Connty, New York. His father, Abner Chase, was a native of Vermont, was in early years engaged in the manufacture of clothing, and afterward was a lumber mer- chant most of the time during the remainder of his life. He died in Cattaraagus County, New York, at the advanced age of ninety one years. He was an energetic man in business, inch in- terested in politics but never aspiring to office. For his wife he had married Mary Cox, also a native of New York; she died at the age of seventy-two years. There were five sons and two danghters in their family. The sons were

C. C., Homer, Hiram, Henry and Charles. All except Charles are still living, and in the East- ern States. Hiram was brought up on a farm in New York and also trained in the lumber business, following this until he was twenty- eight years of age, then, in 1852, came to Cali- fornia. Starting for the coast he was at first in a large train, but afterward he and two others came on with one mule. After stopping in Placerville for a short time he came into Dry Creek Town- ship and rented a ranch of William L. McIntyre on shares. One year afterward he took a farm in San Joaquin. Selling this, he entered into partnership with a son of McIntyre in a ranch on his land, and remained there until 1857 when he went East, by way of Panama, and visited in New York State; and there he was married, in 1859, to Miss Amanda, daughter of Simon and Fanny (Flagg) Frazer. Her grandfather was a soldier in the British army. Both her parents were natives of Vermont. In 1869 Mr. Chase returned to California, by way of the Union and Central Pacific railroads, intending to settle at Los Angeles; but, finding so many of his old friends in Sacramento County beseeching him to remain here, he yielded to their persuasive argminents. Accordingly he purchased his pres- ent ranch of 160 acres, from John McFarland, then a part of the Sharon grant. This farm he has improved until he has made it one of the best in the country, it being a model of comfort and neatness. He is now gradually converting it into vineyard and orchard. Mr. Chase has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1848, being now connected with the Phoenix Lodge at Galt. Of his foar children only two are living: Fanny, wife of S. M. Fulton, and John C., liv- ing on the home place.

AMES H. COSTELO was born in Phila- delphia, October 9, 1837, son of John and Mary (Costelo) Costelo. Ile worked at the blacksmith trade in his native State until 1855, when he went to Linn County, Iowa, where he

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

remained five years. In 1860 he moved to Den- ver, Colorado, where he remained two years and eight months employed at his trade. In 1862 he started for California with mule teams. He was accompanied by his family, father and mother and two hired men. The trip occupied only sixty-two days. They arrived in Sacra- mento September 21, 1862, just before the State fair of that year. James Costelo remained in Sacramento three months working at his trade, then leased the Daylor ranch on the Cosumnes River, where he remained two years. He then leased a ranch in Napa County and lost $4,000 during the year he stayed there. In 1865 he moved to Sacramento and purchased a ranch located fourteen miles from Sacramento at old Elk Grove. He also runs a blacksmith shop. He was married. in January, 1862, to Miss Sarah L. Shockley, a native of Ohio, whose parents came to California in 1862 with Mr. Costelo. Mrs. Costelo's mother resides with them, aged seventy-four years. In their family are eight children: Hattie B., George L., Levy S., Raymond V., deceased, Clarence, Nellie, Edna and Walter. Mr. Costelo is now paying his attention to the raising of fine horses, and he has some splendid specimens of the noble animal on his ranch. The ranch is in a fine state of cultivation. He belongs to the Elk Grove I. O. O. F., No. 274, Grange, and Occidental Encampment, of Sacramento.

INCENTO CASELLI, orchardist, was born in Tuscany, Italy, August 16, 1835, a son of Pasquale Caselli, who died Nov- ember 21, 1888, at the age of eighty-seven years. His mother died October 19, 1887, at the age of seventy-eight years. When seventeen years old he sailed for America and spent the first year in New York, manufacturing images from plaster of Paris. Next year lie came to California by the Nicaragua ronte, landing in San Francisco in August, and on the coast he spent the first year among the inines în Sonora. Then he

raised vegetables three years at San Francisco, and then engaged in farming in this county. He was five years on rented land on the Sacra- mento River in Sutter Township, and then bought seventy-two acres about two miles below the Riverside House and there carried on farm- ing and vegetable gardening about ten years. Selling this place, he returned to Italy to visit. his parents. After thirteen months of absence he rented a place below Sntterville, where the old brewery was, and remained there two years; and finally, in 1876, he purchased his present place between the upper and lower Stockton roads, consisting of sixty acres and devoted mostly to fruit; twenty-three acres are in vine- yard, three acres in orchard of different kinds of fruit, especially the small fruits. Much credit is due Mr. Caselli for the industry and economy by which he has increased his worldly posses- sions from nothing to the comfortable home which he now enjoys. His family are all indus- trious laborers. Mr. Caselli was married, in 1861, to Mary Nevis, a native of Portugal, who died September 20, 1877, at the age of thirty- five years. Mr. Caselli has had six children, named Alfred, Maggie, Albert, Emanuel, Belle and Flora. Belle was born in Italy and the others in this county.

ILLIAM CARROLL, an enterprising and successful farmer of Lee Township, was born in 1833, in Canada East, about forty-five miles from Montreal, in a settle- ment almost entirely Catholic, known as St. Columban. His parents, William and Cather- ine (Cunningham) Carroll, were both Irish, the father being a native of Fermanagh, and the mother of Longford. They were married in New York State about 1828, and their oldest child was born there, being about two years old when they settled at St. Columban's in 1831. They were the parents of ten sons and two daughters, all living in 1889, except one, who died at the age of fourteen. William received

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the usual education of what was the equivalent of our district schools, but with a certain fee or contribution attachment. At the age of nine- teen or twenty he hired out as a steamboat hand, and worked at different lines of work until he was twenty-five. In the fall of 1858 he set out for California by the way of New York and Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco in March, 1859, after a voyage of 133 days from New York, in the clipper ship Gray Feather. He engaged in the sheep-raising business on Government land, free to all, until he bought a possessory right in 1863, part homestead and part purchased from the rail- road, which he increased by further purchase at intervals until he owned 720 acres. About 1881 he sold 320 acres, making his present holding about 400 acres, on which he raises the usual grain crops. He was married in 1878 to Mrs. Lucy (Scanlan) Kavanaugh, a native of Kerry, Ireland. They have no living children, but Mrs. Carroll is the mother, by her previous marriage, of two, a son and daughter, the latter now being Mrs. Louis K. Callison, of San Jose.

HARLES TRAVER .- Among those who, coming to California in the early days, have amassed a fortune and become promi- nent as representative men in this "the land of golden promise," the subject of this sketelı ranks among the most widely and favorably known. The story of his life carries with it a lesson fully illustrating what may be aceom- plished, even under adverse circumstances, by perseverance and well-directed energy. He was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was but a child when taken to South Bend, Indiana, where he was raised in the family of a cousin, and worked in a brick yard, receiving little or no rudiment- ary education. At the age of sixteen years he ran away from home and found employment upon the river and elsewhere; this was in 1841. In 1844 his cousin, starting for Oregon, desired him to accompany him, but he decided to re-

main in South Bend, and was there united in marriage to Miss Dillie Day, a daughter of Cap- tain Lot Day, a farmer. As he grew up he be- came acquainted with Charles Crocker (since noted), who came from the same place, South Bend, and they were friends prior to coming to California, as well as since. In 1850, in com- pany with his wife and a party made up at South Bend, he started out for California, over- land. Schuyler Colfax, afterward Vice-Presi- dent of the United States, being then a warm personal friend, made them a farewell speech as they started on the then long journey. Their train, consisting of thirty-two ox teams, made quite an imposing array. On this, his first journey across the plains (he has made three altogether), Mr. Traver walked every step of the way and carried his rifle on his shoulders. Crossing the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, the party proceeded up on the north side of the Platte, to Salt Lake, and by way of Goose Creek, the head of the Humboldt, etc., to Hangtown, arriving August 12, having been something over four months on the road. During the follow- ing year (1851) his father-in-law, Captain Day, came across the plains and settled at Stockton, San Joaquin County, where Mr. Traver and wife joined him. Remaining there till the fall of that year, they went to the Cosumnes and rented the Slough House, which had been kept by Daley & Sheldon. Daley had died in the fall of 1850, of cholera, and Sheldon, a man of irascible temper, had made himself unpopular and was shot during the following spring. Mr. Traver kept the Slongh House till the winter of 1853, when he crossed over into Yolo County and took up a homestead, where for fourteen years he made his home, until he took up his residence permanently in the Capital City. Mr. Traver was one of the first in the State to raise grain. In 1852 he paid sixteen cents a pound for seed barley, sowed it, cut it all himself with a cradle, and hired Indians to rake and bind it, and in this primitive and laborious manner secured the first crop. When in 1860, upon the completion of the Masonic Temple, the

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

county court-rooms were removed from the building at the corner of Ninth and K streets to that edifice, Mr. Toll remodeled his building and fitted it up as a hotel, and in doing so be- came involved. The property came into the possession of L. M. Curtis and Mr. Traver, and after the floods of 1861-'62, when the water stood on the first floor of the building as high as the bar. they refitted and refurnished it for one Judy, who kept it for a time. It was after- ward kept by James Shoemaker for two years. Curtis & Traver then bought the lot, forty feet on K street and 120 feet on Seventh, making altogether 100 x 120 feet. In 1868 the entire building was remodeled, and has since been known as the Capitol Hotel, one of the finest in the city. When in 1864 Mr. Traver moved in from the ranch, he did so in order to take charge of the hotel; but he soon leased the property to Mr. Day, a brother-in-law, who ran the house until he was succeeded a few years later by Messrs. Blessing & Guthrie, the present proprietors. Of the later enterprises which have engaged the attention of Mr. Traver, the "Seventy-six Land and Water Company " of Fresuo County, and building of the town of Traver on the Southern Pacific road, must re- ceive at least a passing notice. Having pur- chased a large tract of land in Fresno County, midway between the city of Fresno and Tulare, he conceived the idea of bringing the water of King's River, thirty-two miles distant. for pur- poses of irrigation, and a ditch 100 feet wide at the bottom was constructed and proved a per- fect success. In 1884 the town of Traver was laid out, a station and other buildings erected, and at the first day's sale of town lots in April that year $27,000 was realized; and such was the rapid development of this section, due to the abundant supply of water, that in 1885 more wheat was shipped from Traver station than from any other point on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Traver has been a Freemason since 1849, being a charter member of Castwell Lodge, of South Bend, Indiana, and an Odd Fellow since 1886, being a member of Enreka 46

Lodge, No. 4, and of Encampment No. 2, cf this city. Such in brief is the outline of the history of one of Sacramento's most successful and honored eitizens, who began life without a dollar, and who arrived on this coast forty years ago without a business acquaintance or a friend ; yet snch has been the success of his life that it is with pleasure that we accord to him a promi- nent place in this historic volume of a county with which he has been so closely identified for so many years.

HOMAS HOLDER, proprietor of the City Hotel, Sacramento, is a native of Eng- land, born at Bath, Somersetshire, ou the 28th of August, 1832, his parents being John and Ann (Challenger) Holder. The name origi- nates from the Tower Holders of London (time of the great fire of 1666). Thomas Holder was reared and educated at Bath, and served two years at the confectionery business. He then went to London, where he was for four years under the noted Sawyer, of the Reform Club. Ile then went to Australia, under engagement with the Melbourne Club, of Melbourne, where he was given charge, though only twenty years of age. In the meantime his father, who was on his way to Australia, went down with the George Tayleur in the Irish Channel, and our subject went back to England to take his mother to Australia .. He took her to Geelong, Victoria, where he opened a large confectionery establishment. There his mother died. He closed out the business, and accepted a commis- sion to travel in the interests of the Govern- ment. During his service in this capacity he had some adventures which he will never for- get. He started with the ill-fated Burke and Wills' scientific expedition in 1860, to explore the continent of Australia in a line from its southern to its northern borders. When they arrived at the Barcoo, on Cooper Creek, a depot was formed, and Mr. Holder and others were left there, while Robert O'Hara Burke, William

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

John Wills (of the Melbourne Observatory) and two others, named Gray and King, proceeded on across the desert, leaving the rest, on the 16th of December, taking a horse and six camels. They accomplished their task, and started back. Gray died on the way, on the 16th of April. Five days later the others reached the Barcoo. But as misfortune would have it, they had been given up for lost by Mr. Holder, and those with him, who had taken their departure only a few hours before the three reached there. They wandered about; Burke and Wills died of star- vation, and King fell in with some friendly blacks, with whom he was found by a relief ex- pedition. On another occasion Mr. Holder had a terrible experience on the west coast of New Zealand. With a party of sixty he was landed at Bruce's Bay by the ship William Misken, for the purpose of exploring and prospecting. There is a promontory there, running well out into the sea, and this was supposed to be the end of the gold diggings. They met with disaster in many respects. Most of thein started to return by land, but that way there were nine snow rivers to cross. A whale boat had been left them, and Mr. Holder and eight others took the boat, and four out of that number manned it. They ran out of provisions and water, and were eight days and nine nights at sea in the open boat, when they were finally picked up by the steamer "Claude Hamilton," off Cape Foul- weather, aud taken to Nelson. Mr. Holder then engaged in trading between Nelson and Okitiki. He was so engaged for about five months when he went to Melbourne, and was then called to Sydney to take the position of manager of the Australian Club. He held that position for six years, and gave it up to take the Per Hotel at Manley Beach, nine miles from Sydney. When he elosed there he left Aus- tralia with the intention of visiting England with his wife and family, but arriving at San Francisco concluded to remain there. He opened the City Bouffe on Kearny street, one of the greatest oyster-houses and restaurants of the day. Ile next went to Portland, Oregon, and

opened the Maison Dore, but afterward returned to San Francisco, and opened the large London and Glasgow pie establishment, wholesale and retail, on Valencia street, where he himself sold as high as 1,000 pies on the street per night. He next leased the Neptune Gardens, Alameda, from the railroad company, and conducted them one season. Following this, in 1886, he came to Sacramento, and opened the City Hotel and had it ready for the accommodation of fair visitors, a big undertaking, for the small amount of time he had. His great experience as a caterer gives him an immense advantage in the operation of a hotel, and he has built up the trade of his house from nothing to its present large proportions. Mr. Holder was married in Anstralia, April 11, 1871, to Miss Minnie Shay, a native of Australia. They have had eight children, of whom four are living, viz .: Thomas Percival, Ernest John, Ellen Louise and William Oscar. Mr. Holder is an enterprising man, and in his business has made a name for him- self in more than one country. He has had an eventful life, and one well worth the writing.

ENRY C. ROSS, supervisor of Sacra- mento. No State in the Union, indeed 1.0 country in the world, can equal Cali- fornia in the history of her sons, who from small beginnings have, by enterprise and good judgment, advanced to positions of eminence and affluence. A good illustration of this re- mark is the life of the subject of this sketch, who was born in the little village of Camden, Preble County, Ohio, December 28, 1834. When he was a child his father, Charles Ross, a native of Pennsylvania, died. His mother, Lois (Ladd) Ross, also a Pennsylvanian, after- ward was again married. His opportunities for a school education were greatly limited, as he had but the winter seasons for a few years in which to attend school. With the noble pluck characteristic of the Scotch ancestry, from which he sprang, he determined to learn some useful

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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