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 114

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 114

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HARLES HEINRICH, deceased. Among the best known of the pioneers of Cali- fornia who have made their home in Sac- ramento, was Charles Heinrich, now deceased. He was born in Germany in 1826, but left there when quite young and came to America, locating in New York. When Stevenson's regiment was organized for the Mexican war, he joined its ranks, and accompanied the command to California, arriving on the 6th of March, 1847. He was among the first to come to Sac- ramento, and he opened the grocery store on the corner of Third and L streets which is still conducted in the family, and enjoys the dis- tinction of being the oldest store of any kind

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

in Sacramento. Mr. Heinrich's courteous de- meanor and good business qualifications made his store a paying investment, but he was burned out, like the rest, in the great fire of 1852, and again suffered in the great floods of 1861-'62. He conducted the business success- fully, in spite of all obstacles, until 1887, when he was succeeded by his son Emil. He was one of the organizers of the Sacramento Hussars, and has served as captain of the company. He was also an honored member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers. His death oc- curred July 27, 1888. His wife was also one of the early ones to come to California, making the trip across the plains from Missouri. ' Her maiden name was Sophia Neubaner. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom five are living. The two oldest of them are twins, viz .: Albert, who is an engineer in the Sacra- mento fire department, at the Tenth street station, and Richard, who has been connected with the fire department of San Diego, but is now a resident of Sacramento. The others are: Minnie, wife of Albert Meyer (firm of Meyer Brothers, of the Wigwam, San Francisco); Emil, subject of the following sketch, and Nellie.

EMIL HEINRICH, son of Charles Heinrich, deceased, and now the proprietor of the pio- neer store of Sacramento, northeast corner of Third and L streets, was born in Sacra- mento, in Jannary, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and after that clerked in his father's store. In 1885 he went to Portland, Oregon, and afterward to San Fran- cisco, where he remained a year, then returned to Sacramento. He soon afterward, however, went to Los Angeles, where he took the position of manager of Brown's bakery and confection- ery business. Since taking charge of the busi- ness in Sacramento, he has given his entire attention to the details, and has maintained the reputation already established. Mr. Heinrich is a member of Sacramento Parlor, No. 3, Na- tive Sons of the Golden West, which he joined in 1880, and in which he has held the office of treasurer. He is an extra fireman of No. 1

Company, Second street. He is a Republican politically, as was his father. Mr. Heinrich is one of the enterprising young business men of Sacramento, and enjoys the confidence and es- teem of the community.

R. F. W. HATCH, deceased .- No expo- nent of the medical profession in Sacra- mento ever occupied a higher place in the hearts of his brethren than did the late Dr. F. W. Hatch. Though not a pioneer, yet he came to California during her early days, and his name was well known throughout the State. Dr. Hatch was a native of Virginia, born at Charlottesville, March 2, 1822. His boyhood days were passed in Washington, District Columbia, where his fath r, an Episcopal clergyman, was Chaplain of the United States Senate for twelve years. His literary and classical education were obtained at Union College, Schenectady, New York, where he was graduated with honors at the age of nine- teen. Having determined to study medicine, he at once repaired to the metropolis, where the largest opportunities were presented for the furtherance of his purpose, and entered the medical department of the New York Univer- sity. Here he received the instructions of such men as Drs. Mott, Revere, Post, Payne and Bedford, and he was graduated M. D. March 10, 1844. He was married to Sarah R. Bloom, in Charleston, South Carolina, June 12, 1844, and located almost immediately afterward for the practice of medicine at Beloit, Wisconsin. Ile afterward moved to Southport (now known as Kenosha), Wisconsin, where he soon acquired an extensive and lucrative practice, and was re- garded as being one of the most competent and reliable physicians. In 1851 he came to Cali- fornia, locating at Sacramento in the fall of that year. He at once engaged in the practice of his profession, and was in early days associated with the late Dr. J. F. Morse. But because of his attainments as a scholar and his love of edu- cation, he was soon singled out as a representa-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

tive, and was elected for several successive terms, both City and County Superintendent of Schools, and member of the Board of Edu- cation. He was elected Secretary of the State Board of Health March 3, 1876, and held the position until his deatlı. His labors in this capacity, and his reports to the Legislature, are the best evidences of the wisdom of the board in their selection. He was an active member of the City Board of Health for more than twenty years; was its president for several years, and its secretary for the eight years pre- ceding his death. For several years he was Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medi- cine in the medical department of the Univer- sity of California, and for the last fonr years of his life was Professor of Hygiene in the same institution. He was also an active contributing member of the American Medical Association for over a quarter of a century. He was a working member of the American Public Health Association, and shortly before his death, was appointed, at the meeting of the Associa- tion at St. Louis, a member of its advising council. He was the first president of the Sac- ramento Society for Medical Improvement, holding that office for five years, and being mainly instrumental in giving to that society such a high rank that membership in it was re- garded throughout the State as a synonym of professionsl standing, nowhere else to be ob- tained in California. His death occurred in 1884, and from the address of that grand phy- sician, Dr. W. R. Cluness, on his old friend, Dr. Hatch, before the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement, the material for this sketch is obtained. Dr. Hatch was an orna- ment to a noble profession, and his name will always live in the history of Sacramento.

SAAC JOSEPII, attorney at law, 531 J street, Sacramento, was born April 25, 1862, in this city; attended high school here and also pursued the literary conrse at the State 47

University at Berkeley; studied law in the office of Judge J. H. McKune, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court in 1884. Since 1885 he has been engaged in general law prac- tice at the number given above. He is also a notary public. With the aid of D. E. Alexan- der, Esq., he compiled a work on probate prac- tice on the. Pacific coast, published by the Bancroft-Whitney Co., of San Francisco. Mr. Joseph is a striking example of what the phy- siognomists call a "fine mental organization," and men of this character are always neat and thorough in their business and affable and un- pretentious in manner. He is a member of the order of Chosen Friends, and a Republican in his political principles. His father, Michael Joseph, a native of Poland, came to California prior to 1850 and worked a long time in the gold mines. In 1852 he located in Sacramento, engaging in mercantile business. He soon moved to Marysville, where he was one of the earliest business men, and was prominent as a merchant there for a number of years. He was likewise employed in San Francisco for a tiine, and finally settled again in Sacramento, where he was engaged in merchandising until his death in 1876. He was a remarkable man in respect to energy and good judgment. Although al- most completely burned out in Marysville and also in San Francisco, and suffered great losses by the fire of 1852 in Sacramento and the flood of 1862, he perseveringly recovered from them all. Mr. Joseph's mother, nee Cornelia Lamm, is a native of France, came to Sacramento in 1852, and is now a resident here.

H. PETTIT, one of the popular business men of Sacramento, is a native of Eng- land, born at London, December 18, 1836, his parents being Joseph E. and Ann (Bennett) Pettit. When he was a mere child, his parents came to Baltimore, in the United States, and from there removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and afterward to Wisconsin, and from

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

there subsequently to Quincy, Illinois. In the latter city R. H. Pettit learned the cigar makers' trade with Henry Hind. After acquiring his trade, he worked for a time at Canton, Illinois, and afterward at Keokuk, Iowa. He was in the latter city in 1859, when, with a man named John Stone, he decided to go to California. They proceeded to St. Joseph, Missouri, and thence to Nebraska City, where they fitted out for their long journey, which was undertaken by them in the company of three others-young Frenchmen. The landmarks of their journey to California may be designated in a general way as Ft. Kearney, Ft. Laramie, Independence Rock, Echo Cafion, Salt Lake City, Sink of Humboldt, Carson River and Genoa. They left Nebraska City on the 31st day of March, and arrived at Genoa on the 5th of August. Mr. Pettit went to work at Mono, where he was en- gaged until November. He tben proceeded to Placerville, and thence came to Sacramento, arriving about the 18th of November. He ob- tained work with Smith & Headman, on Fourth street, between J and K, opposite Odd Fellows' Building (formerly St. George Hotel), and re- mained with them until the flood of December, 1861. He soon afterward started in business for himself in the alley between Land M, Fourth and Fifth streets, and a year and a half later bought the property on K street where he now does business. He gave np mannfacturing in 1880, and now gives his entire attention to wholesaling and retailing tobacco, cigars and everything pertaining thereto. He does an ex- tensive business, which extends throughont all the territory tributary to Sacramento, and no business firm in Sacramento enjoys a higher reputation among its customers than does R. H. Pettit. He has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in December, 1864, was Miss Ellen Hickey, whose parents came to Sac- ramento in an early day. She died in 1868. His present wife was formerly Miss D. D. IIoagland, whose father, John Hoagland, came to California in 1849, and was a member of the Pioneer Society. Mr. Pettit is a member

of Eureka Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., and of Occidental Encampment; of Columbia Lodge, K. of P .; of A. O. U. W .; of California Lodge, K. of H .; of Red Jacket Tribe No. 28, Red Men, and of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. In the days of the volunteer fire department he was a member of Confidence Company, No. 1, which he joined in 1861. Mr. Pettit is an active and enterprising citizen, and a successful busi- ness man.

RED C. KNAUER, proprietor of the Pacific Brewery, Sacramento, is a native of Ger- many, born at Sonnenfeld, Saxe-Coburg, December 16, 1839, his parents being L. and Anna (Burkhardt) Knaner. L. Knauer, his father, came to America in 1847, locating in Chicago, where he conducted a liquor and cordial factory. In 1849 he came across the plains to California by team, with a party of six, among whom was Fred Werner, the journey requiring abont seven months before they reached Sacra- mento. He went to Auburn, and there started a small bakery. He also mined on Feather River, and in the latter part of 1850 went to Weaverville, Trinity County, and opened the Miners' Hotel. He did a big business, and in 1853, having accumulated a great deal of money, decided to go back to Enrope. Proceeding to San Francisco, he stopped at the Globe Hotel, and deposited a large shot bag full of gold in the hotel safe. When it was time to leave, he boarded the steamer, and deposited the sack with the purser. He opened it to show the purser the gennineness of the gold, when, to his amazement, he found the sack was filled with lead! His feelings on the trip back to his old home in Germany can well be imagined, when, after working hard and accumulating a fortune on foreign shores, he must meet his family and friends deprived of all, on account of the theft and treachery of those in whose care he had de- posited his wealth. F. C. Knauer spent his boyhood days at his native place, and there

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

attended the government schools from his sixth year until his fourteenth. About this time his mother died. In 1853, in company with his father, he came to the United States, sailing from Bremer Haven the latter part of October on the Sylphide, and landing at New York in December. After a few days he went to New Brooklyn, where he was engaged at various occupations. In 1855 he came to California, sailing from New York on the steamer Northern Light, and landing at San Francisco in February, from the steamer Cortez. In San Francisco he again joined his father, who was foreman at the Lafayette Brewery. He was in the city at the time of the vigilance committee of 1856, and saw Casey and three others hung. Later in the same year he went to French Bar, Stanislaus County, where his father had by this time opened a brewery. The Fraser River excite- ment broke up mining and business in Stanis- lans County, and the senior Knauer came to Sacramento and took the position of foreman in Scheld's brewery, and our subject came here and also went to work in the brewery. The spring of 1861 found him working in the Sutterville Brewery, but he left there and went up to Sal- mnon River on horseback. Finding no prospects there, he returned to San Francisco afoot. Ilis father, who was a musician, was playing the piano in the city, but went in the spring of 1863 to Idaho City, Idaho, where, in partner- ship with Henry Martz and Henry Boissellier, he started the Ohio Brewery and bakery. Fred C. Knauer worked for Mrs. Mueller in the Ohio Brewery until 1864, when he went up to Idaho to join his father. The property there was sold out on July 8, 1865. and the father went to San Francisco, but our subject remained there until December 16, when he started to Portland, Oregon. By this time all the rivers were frozen up, and snow had fallen so heavily that even the stage companies made little effort at travel. He went to Boise City, and from there proceeded as far as Straw Ranche, from which point ou the road was blockaded. He remained there over a week, but got restless, and started for the next

stage station afoot, with others. They got lost in a blinding snow storm, and after walking all day brought up at night just where they started from, and were glad to get back. They would surely have perished had it not been that, when more dead than alive, they found their own foot-prints in the snow. As soon as possible they proceeded on, and arriving at Umadilla, found the river frozen, and on the second day the stage line was opened. They reached the Chnte by river, and then found it necessary to take the stage again to the Dalles. There they found the Columbia River frozen, and after waiting ten days, it thawed out, and they pro- ceeded on toward Salilo; when they got within five miles of the latter place, they found they could go no farther by water, and they footed it for that distance. The trip was also an expen- sive one. They got one meal a day, which cost $1, while a piece of bacon, a couple of crackers and an apple cost four bits. At the Lower Cas- cades they found everything frozen up again. A few days later, however, a steamer took them to Portland, the trip having ocenpied six weeks. When they reached Portland, news came that the steamer " Sierra Nevada," which was to take them to San Francisco, had gone on the rocks, and they had to wait two weeks for the steamer " Pacific." The voyage lasted eight or nine days, and Mr. Knauer got to San Francisco with just fifteen cents ont of the $600 with which he had started. He remained idle for a time, tak- ing a much-needed rest, then he and his father bought the property in Oakland known as the Oakland Brewery, corner of Ninth and Broad- way, on the 20th of April, 1867. They carried on the business there until May 20, 1869, when they sold the real estate to Black & Moffatt, and the furniture, fixtures good will, etc., to Charles Clinn, Mangerts & Bode. On the 17th of June, 1869, they bought the Pacific Brewery in Sacra- mento. This brewery was started in 1858 by J. B. Kohler, George Ochs, and a Mr. Lorenz. The original buildings are still standing on the premises. J. B. Kohler died in 1859, and Lorenz died in 1862. Thereafter Mr. Ochs car-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

ried on the business until it was purchased by L. Knauer & Son. Since his father's death, in 1881, F. C. Knauer has conducted the trade alone. He has built up an extensive business, and employs improved machinery and compe- tent workmen in every department of his busi- ness. Mr. Knauer was married in this city, December 15, 1870, to Miss Charlotte Berger, a native of Louisiana. She died in Sacramento, leaving two children, viz .: Fred Charles, Jr., and William. Mr. Khaner married his present wife October 2, 1880. She was formerly Miss A. P. S. Gardner, a native of New York. Mr. Knauer is a member of Union Lodge, No. 21, A. F. & A. M .; of Union Lodge, A. O. U. W .; of Sacramento Turn-Verein, and of Sacramento Stamm No. 124, Red men. He is a pushing business man, and has a host of friends in trade and society.

OHN MILLER, present representative of the undertaking firm of Fritz & Miller, holds a high rank in his line in Sacra- mento, He is a native of Dn Page County, Illinois, born a few miles north of Wheaton, December 19, 1848, his parents being Jacob and Julia (Schultz) Miller, both of whom were natives of Germany. He was reared in Illinois, and came to California in 1869, just after the excursion of the Pioneers, celebrating the com- pletion, of the Pacific Railroad. He spent a year in looking over the country, then engaged with R. K. Wick, undertaker, with whom he remained abont five years, then returned to the East. In September, 1879, Mr. Miller bought out the interest of the partner of Joseph Fritz, in the undertaking business, the firmn of Fritz & Miller then being formed. Mr. Fritz died June 23, 1887, and Mr. Miller has since con ducted the business alone He has a hand- somnely fitted establishment, and being a man of taste and excellent business qualities, has re- ceived an extensive patronage from among the best people. Mr. Miller was married in this

city in 1877, to Miss Barbara Snyder, a native of France, who came to America when a child. They have had four children, of whom one, Frank, died at the age of seven years and three months. Those living are: Georgie, Nina and Gertrude. Mr. Miller is a member of Colum- bia Lodge, K. of P .; of Walhalla Grove, A. O. D .; of the Y. M. I .; of the Verein-Eintracht; of the Chosen Friends, and of the Sacramento Hussars. He takes an active interest in mili- tary affairs, especially in the department of marksmanship, and has been Inspector of Rifle Practice of the Fourth Brigade since 1884. Mr. Miller is up with the times in everything per- taining to his business, and enjoys the respect and confidence of the people.

SCHINDLER, one of the well-known long resident inen of business of Sacra- mento, is a native of Germany, born at Baden-Baden, April 14, 1835, his parents being John and Francisca (Schuler) Schindler, the father a farmer. When he was five years of age the family emigrated to America, sailing from Havre on the French merchant ship Eliza- beth, and landed at New York. They located on a farm twenty-five miles east of Buffalo, on the Lake Erie shore. When the subject of this sketch had reached the age of eleven years, he went to Buffalo, and after serving two years as waiter in a fashionable boarding-honse, went to work in the sash, door and blind factory of A. C. Sangster & Husted, to learn that business and the carpenter trade. He worked for them four years, then took the contract to build a cooper shop for N. D. Clark, of Buffalo, and made money out of the job. Ile also mortgaged a lot for $300, and in March, 1852, he started for California with A. C. Sangster. Arriving at Panama, he found no vessel to take him to San Francisco, so went to work at the carpenter trade for "$6 a day and found." He next went to sea on the little two-masted schooner B Allen, engaging at first as table waiter, and

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

being promoted steward. He was 100 days on the voyage to San Francisco, and on arriving there took a steamer for Sacramento. He found Mr. Sangster, who was already in the sash, door and blind business, and went to work for him. Three months later the factory was burned down in the great fire of November, 1852. It was rebuilt on K street, between Fifth and Sixth. Two years afterward it was burned down again, and Mr. Schindler purchased what was left, and started in business himself, he having brought $2,000 with him, and having sent back the money to pay off the mortgage on his Buffalo lot in 1853. Four or five years after he com- menced business, Mr. Schindler's factory was destroyed by fire, and he rebuilt with brick. He sold that place and bought again at 708 and 710 K street. The big floods of 1861-'62 caused considerable loss to him here, aud 40,000 feet of sugar-pine lumber belonging to him, to- gether with a wagon and other property, floated away. Considerable glass which he had in stock was also damaged. Besides this he lost about $2,000 which was owing to him, on ac- count of the high water. These floods showed the people where the grade must be established, and he raised his place eight feet. He next built the house of Mr. Uhl, on M street, for $3,500, and then erected over his own buildings the Central Hall. The fire-fiend again came and burned him out, with the loss of his ma- chinery, again without insurance. He has been engaged in contracting ever since. The sash, door and blind business was a good one in the early days. Before the Eastern manufactured goods came in he could sometimes make as high as $150 in a day. Then the Eastern goods com- menced to be bought here, Eastern lumber sold at $100 per 1,000 feet, and in order to compete with the articles of Eastern manufacture Mr. Schindler hunted out the sugar-pine, with which he did a good business. Some of his workmen went back on him, however, and advised people to buy at the lumber-yards, and he had to com- pete against the whole Eastern trade. But he made money on odd sizes and lengths, which

were not handled in the yards. In May, 1890, Mr. Schindler will assume complete possession of his building, and will then embark in the furniture business. In politics Mr. Schindler is a Republican. He has one son, L. C., who is book-keeper for Gregory Bros. Mr. Schind- ler has been in Sacramento since the early days, and has many interesting reminiscences of the early times in this city.

OHN C. SCHADEN, one of the young business men of Sacramento, is a native of Burg Lesum, near Bremen, in Hamburg, Germany, born May 3, 1857, and a son of Henry and Annie (Winters) Schaden. He re- ceived his education between the years of six and fourteen, and then obtained employment in a cigar-box factory for a year and a half. He then came to America, and after a year and a quarter in New York city, came to California in 1874. Coming to Sacramento, he first went to work for his brother Arend, but soon engaged in business for himself in partnership with A. Rodegerdts. This firm continued for nearly four years, when Mr. Rodegerdts retired from the partnership. One year later Mr. Schaden took in his present partner, Frederick Schnei- der, and the firm became J. C. Schaden & Co. They moved to their present location March 19, 1886. Mr. Schaden was married in Sacramento to Miss Meta Feldhusen, a native of Germany, born at Mayenburg, near Bremen. They have two children, viz .: Bertha and Charlotte. Mr. Schaden is a member of the Sacramento Turn- Verein, and was chosen its secretary at the last general election, but resigned in order to take a trip to Europe. He is a member of the I. O. R. M., and also resigned the office of Junior Sachem in that organization when he went to Europe. He also belongs to California Lodge, K. of H., in which he was a charter member. He has also been associated with the National Guard as a private in Company B, First Artil- lery Regiment, Fourth Brigade. Mr. Schalen

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is an active and influential young business man, and has built up a large trade for his firm.

EORGE S. FISHER, one of the best- known men in the employ of the railroad com- pany at Sacramento, is a native of New York State, born August 27, 1843, his parents being Rev. C. L. and Almira Teresa (Kinsey) Fisher. His mother came of one of the old families of central New York. A brother of her father served on the staff of General Gates, and her father was, for many years preceding his death, manager of the great Eagle Mills, at Utica. Rev. C. L. Fisher, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Norwich, England, and came to America with his parents when nine years old. They located at Utica, New York, and there he was reared and educated. In that city he was ordained a minister of the Baptist faith in 1847. He was married there, and after his marriage he removed to Whitehall, New York. From there he removed to Wis- consin, when much of that State was wild, and Indians and wild game plentiful. He located at Shields, Marquette County, and afterward re- moved to Del Prairie, Adams County. From there they removed in 1857 to Minnesota, set. tling in Money Creek Valley, eighteen miles west of La Crescent. In March, 1860, they joined a large wagon train bound for Oregon. Starting with four yoke of oxen, they reached Oregon City after a journey of six months lack- ing five days, with three oxen and the rear wheels of one wagon, which was hauled as a cart. While on the North Platte they had a little trouble with the Sioux. The horse train and ox teams were encamped some distance apart, and there were not a great number of men in the latter party. A band of Sioux In- dians rode up, and one of them, drawing a sabre, playfully took off the hat of an old man named Allen. Allen returned the compliment by throwing a stone at the Indian, who then hit Allen on the back with the flat side of his sabre.

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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