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 120

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 120

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IIISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

California with a view of permanently locating here. He soon realized the opportunity which the rapid development of the far West offers for an enterprise of the character mentioned above, and selecting the Capital City as the most favorable location, he, in connection with Mr. Gerber, of the California State Bank, organized a stock company, which, it is believed, will be- come not only one of the "institutions " of the Pacific Coast but one of the most extensive in the country, for, to use his own words, " We shall use only the best material. Our beer will be of the highest standard of excellence and equal in quality to that made in this or any other country." He brings to this enterprise a large, practical and successful experience. Not only will the experience of Mr. Graw conduce to this result, but the head brewer, Mr. Bap- tiste Nierendorf, brings with him an experience of many years, his profession having been ac- quired at the celebrated Brewers' Academies in Germany, where he received his diplomas.

WACHHORST. One of the familiar landmarks of the Capital City is the jewelry establishment of H. Wachhorst, on lower J street, at the sign of the town clock. Not only is this the leading house in this line, but it is also the pioneer jewelry establishment, as well as the most complete in all its details, in the trade. A brief outline of the well-known founder of this house and of his antecedents will be read with interest, in connection with this, the historical volnine of Sacramento County. Born in Hanover, Germany, in May, 1827, he early in life acquired the trade of his father and grandfather, both of whom were celebrated watchmakers and dealers in precious stones. In 1843 he came to the United States and spent a year in acquiring a thorough mastery of the language of what was to be his adopted country. He then becatne an employe in the house of Hyde & Goodrich, the " Tiffany " of the " Cres- cent City," justly celebrated as one of the most

extensive dealers in the United States. He re- mained with this firm five years, becoming an expert in stones, to which branch or the trade he devoted much time and attention. When the excitement incident to the discovery of gold in the valley of the Sacramento attracted the attention of the world to this locality, he, like so many other ambitious yonng inen, deter- mined to seek his fortunes in the far West; and, taking passage on the bark " Mary Water- man," Captain James Higgins, commander, -a vessel of 300 tons, 175 passengers,-he started ont on one of the roughest voyages known to history, around the Horn, stopping at Rio de Janeiro, through Magellan Straits, stopping at Valparaiso and Chili, and up the Pacific coast to the Golden Gate, and thence after a short rest at San Francisco, to Sacramento and the mines at Mormon Island. Six months of the rough life of the miners' camp was quite enough for him, and returning to Sacramento in December, 1850, he opened a small shop in a room about eight feet wide on J street, be- twe-n Front and Second, for which he agreed to pay $500 per month rent in advance; but money came easy in those pioneer days, and, possessing a general and practical knowledge of the business, he made money rapidly during the next three or four years. In 1854 he sold out, thinking he had a sufficient income, $800 per month, and removed to San Francisco, where he lived a life of elegant leisure, following his tastes and giving much attention to music, both vocal and instrumental. Having acquired a competence, he traveled extensively abroad, throughout Europe, England, France and Italy for two years, and having satisfied his ambi- tions in this respect, he returned once more, in 1859, to the land of sunshine and gold. In 1859 he purchased the business of Messrs. Hel- ler & Andrews, now the proprietors of the Dia- mond Palace, Montgomery street, San Fran- cisco. This firm continued until after the floods of 1861; and Mr. Wachhorst has been in bnsi- ness in Sacramento since that time, gaining an enviable reputation, particularly in diamonds,

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which branch of the business he has made a specialty, and gathering together one of the finest selected stocks to be found anywhere in the country; not this alone, but such has been the probity of his business life that the name of " Wachhorst " has become a synonym of the highest standard of honor and fair dealing in the line of his chosen profession. Truly the mantle of his ancestors has fallen upon his shoulders, and his name perpetnates the mnem- ory of those who have gone before him. Early in life Mr. Wachhorst became identified with the Masonic fraternity and he is a Royal Arch Mason in good standing. His sixty years of life rests lightly upon him, and he retains to a really remarkable degree, that energy, enter- prise and business acninen for which he was noted in early life, - characteristics which brought him to the front rank among the rep- reseutative men of the Golden State of Cali- fornia. He has given much time and attention to the study of music and is prominently iden- tified with musical interests in the city and throughout the State. He has an excellent voice and is passionately fond of music.

EORGE WISNER HANCOCK, Secretary of the Sacramento Crockery Company and an enterprising member of several business circles, is a descendant of the John Hancock whose bold chirography heads the list of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and who was secretary of the celebrated convention that drew up that remarkable document. Our subject is also a descendant of the Lee family of Maryland, as was also the late General Robert E. Lee, the most liberal scholar among the Con- federate generals of the late civil war. George's father, Nathan Hancock, in the early days of Massachusetts, owned and operated a stage line from Barre, Worcester Connty, to Petersham and Boston. This line was afterward sold out to a Mr. Twitchell, for many years a leading railroad man of New England. Mr. Hancock

was born at Barre, Massachusetts, in 1836, the eleventh child in a family of twelve children, seven of whom are still living. He was edu- cated at the high school of his native town, which afterward became widely known as the seat of the first State Normal School of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. At the early age of sixteen years he took charge of a farmn, previously occupied by his older brother, who had just come to California. At that time (1852) he had three brothers in this State: John, Henry and William. John had come in 1849. In 1857, his brother Henry having returned to look after the farm, George came to this State, land- ing at San Francisco in February, 1858. First he joined his brother, William, then on a farm on the Monroe ranch, on the Sacramento River. Remaining there nntil 1863, he went to the State of Nevada to reside, but soon returned to Sacramento. In 1866 he engaged in the live- stock business, on a ranch on the Cosumnes River, sixteen miles from Sacramento, which was successively in Placer, Sutter and Sacra- mento connties. From the first until the pres- ent time has Mr. Hancock been enthusiastically interested in this vocation, at that point. He has some very fine blooded stock. In 1885 his filly Daisy, a yearling, made the fastest time in the world, passing a mile in 2:384. His colts, by Guy Wilkes Sterling, Antevolo and others, are very promising. On his ranch he also has fifty acres in fruit,-Bartlett pears and French prunes,-in which he takes special interest. But Mr. Hancock has also been prominent in commercial circles. In 1857 he organized the Grangers' Co-operative Business Association of Sacramento. In pursuit of information regard- ing enterprises of this kind, he visited San Jose, San Francisco, Stockton and other cities, and the plans submitted to the association and adopted by it were the result of this investigation of the subject. He was the first president of the association and continued actively engaged in the enterprise until the close of 1888. In 1882 he bought the " Dollar Store " at 627 J street, and from this has grown the present great whole-

Go. W. Hancock.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

sale and retail house known as that of the Sac- ramento Crockery Company, of which Mr. Hancock is the secretary, John Neil being the president. In this line this is the foremnost house north of the Bay. Of course Mr. Han- cock is a member of the order of Patrons of Husbandry. He is also prominently connected with Capital Lodge, I. O. O. F., and for the past twelve years a director of the State Agri- cultural Society. For two terms he has been superintendent of the society's grounds and of their race track. Yet still more conspicuous has Mr. Hancock been in bringing about useful legislation. While the Constitutional Conven- tion was in session, the State Grange held its annual session in Sacramento. A committee was appointed by that body to formulate arti- cles in the interest of the farmers and of the producing classes generally. Mr. Hancock was a secretary of that committee, and it devolved upon him, after discussion, to put into form the ideas desired to be engrafted into what ultimately became the organic law of the State. Twenty- seven articles were formed and adopted by the committee, and placed in the hands of members of the convention; nineteen of those articles were adopted in the exact language in which they were presented. At a meeting of the Sacramento Grange Mr. Hancock was appointed on a committee to examine and report upon a set of text-books for the public schools, and after a thorough investigation of the matter re- ported in favor of the plan that the State should compile and print the text-books. He formu- lated the very plan that was afterward adopted and put into operation, and that now furnishes the text-books to the pupils of the whole State at forty per cent. of their former cost. He car- ried the matter np to the State Grange, and from it to the Legislature, where he was an active inember of the " third house " until it became a law. Thus California became the first State in the Union to adopt this wise ineasure, which other States are now taking into a favorable consideration. Mr. Hancock was on a com- inittee appointed by the State Grange at the

annual session held at Oakland, to examine the manufacture of jute bags, with a view to car- rying their manufacture into the State prison; and from the report made the matter was pushed into the Legislature and became a law, which when put into successful operation broke the iron sack ring that had been hield over the farmers for so many years. Mr. Hancock was also the first to suggest a citrus fair being held in northern California, which had resulted in developing the vast citrus resources of this section of the State. When a new pavilion was wanted for the State Agricultural Society, and many of the directors feared to undertake the job, Mr. Hancock with characteristic conr- age said it could be accomplished, and was act- ive in the circulation of the petition which secured the requisite amount of subscription to warrant the Legislature in passing a bill to pay $40,000 from the State treasury for the erection of the present building. Mr. Hancock was first married in 1868, to Miss Julianna Folger, whose ancestry were well-known families in Nantucket, Massachusetts. By his marriage there was one son: Benjamin Franklin Hancock, now of Sacramento. In November, 1882, Mr. Hancock married Miss Edith Southworth, a niece of Judge A. L. Rhoads of San Jose and a descendant of Parson Southard (as the name was then pronounced), who was a prominent Presbyterian minister, celebrated for his scholar- ship, especially for his knowledge of the classi- cal languages and the German. He established the First Presbyterian Church in Oneida County, New York. The son by this marriage, named Raymond Southworth Hancock, exhibits the sturdy qualities of his long-lived and prom- inent ancestry.

- OSEF SCHNEIDER, contractor and builder, was born in Weimar, Austria, in 1848. After attending school during boy- hood, he entered a building college, where he ac- quired his trade. Upon reaching manhood he

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emigrated to America in 1867, and went to Milwaukee, where he was successfully engaged in contracting and building for twelve years. In 1880 he went to New Mexico and was a member of the firm of Burke, Dane & Schneider. They carried on a large business for several years. Then he came to the Pacific coast. He spent one year in Los Angeles and then came to San Francisco, where he remained one year, and in 1885 came to Sacramento, where for three years he worked in the machine shops, and since then has been engaged in contracting and building, and by his ability and good manage- ment is building up a nice business. He has the contract for erecting the ice plant buildings and store rooms for the Buffalo Brewing Com- pany. He owns the lots on the corner of eight- eenth and E streets in this city; he also owns property in the city of Milwaukee. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and American Legion of Honor. In 1878 he married Annie Schlerp, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They have two children: Lulu and Annie.

H. KINROSS, professor of voice cul- ture and vocal music, was born in

6 Stirling, Scotland, December 21, 1846. His father, Henry Kinross, was precentor in the Erskine U.P. church, Stirling. The subject of this sketch attended the schools of his native town. His uncle urged him to enter his bank and re- ceive a practical business education, but young Kinross wanted to see the world, and came to Canada. It was during the civil war, and after a short time he came to Rochester, New York, where he enlisted in the First New York Cav- alry; he was under age and the major of the regiment had to sign his enlistment as guard- ian before he could be accepted. He partici- pated in the battle of Gettysburg, and in the campaign through Shenandoah Valley, Win- chester, Cedar Creek, and others. He was wounded three times. He served as "high private " three years and four months and after

the close of the war he returned home. Hav- ing a taste for music and having a good voice, he was persnaded to cultivate it, and pursued his musical studies two years in London under " Randegger." He returned to America and came to Washington expecting to get a position in one of the departments, and while there ac. cepted an engagement with the Riching Eng- lish Opera troupe in 1867. He continued in English opera as chorus singer, prompter, sec- ond baritone and principal baritone eleven years, and sang with Parepa Rosa, Kellogg, and other leading prima donnas. He came to the Pacific coast in 1878 and was assistant conduc- tor of the great May festival in San Francisco. He conducted all the chorns rehearsals there and at other places throughout the State and at Portland. While in the latter city he received flattering offers to locate there, which he ac- cepted, and was prominently indentified with musical interests there for some years. In 1887 he came to Oakland and remained there until 1889, when he was induced to come to the cap- ital city and accepted the leadership of the McNeill music club, organized for him by the late John McNeill, Esq. January 1, 1890, he was also appointed director of the Turner Har- monie Society. Prof. Kinross was united in marriage February 28, 1889, to Miss Addie Casedy, a native of Siskiyou County, California. She is also a fine musician, both vocal and in- strumental.

ON. E. W. MASLIN .- It is universally conceded that there is no study at once so valnable and so interesting as that of per- sonal biography. This is especially true of biography in California, for, from the records of no other people on the face of the earth can so much of instruction and of profit be gleaned than from the recital of the lives of the older Californians. It is, therefore, with all con- fidence that pen is put to paper in the case of such an one. IIon. E. W. Maslin, the secretary

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of the State Board of Equalization, was born in Maryland, April 1, 1834, the son of Philip Thomas and Harriet (Points) Maslin, both natives of that State. The father died at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother when but forty-five years of age. Mr. Maslin received his education in his native State. He came to California by the ship Herman, having a long six-months voyage by way of the stormy Cape Horn. He reached San Francisco May 1, 1853, and started at once for the mines, reaching Grass Valley on a Saturday night and going to work on the following Monday. Here he con- tinued until September, 1855, when he began the study of law, being admitted to the bar in the spring of 1857. His time at the mines was not ill-spent, however, for Mr. Maslin was the locator of the celebrated Idaho mine at Grass Valley, as also of its eastern extension, the Maryland mine, also of great value. He has retained his interest in mining, holding inter- ests in copper and other mines. Being ad- mitted to practice law he immediately opened an office in Grass Valley and succeeded from the first. In the fall of 1859 he was elected district attorney of Nevada County, holding of- fice for two years at Nevada City. He then re- moved to Grass Valley and remained there until the summer of 1869, when he went to Sacramento and was elected secretary of the first State Board of Equalization. He remained in the Capital City until the spring of 1872, when he went to Santa Rosa, but upon the election of Governor Irwin he was appointed his private secretary, a post he filled until January, 1880. He was then elected to his present official position as secretary of the State Board of Equalization, as then organized under the new State constitution. Mr. Maslin has been much interested of late years in promoting horticulture in the foot-hills of California. He has conducted many experiments upon his ranch at Loomis, Placer County, achieving most suc- cessful results, which. have benefited the entire State, and has fostered a rapid advancement of portions formerly wholly neglected. In 1882

he planted the Sherry grape upon his place, and in 1885 the Smyrna fig, meeting with abundant success and adding largely to the resources of the State. Mr. Maslin is a gentleman of pro- gressive views, a clear and logical thinker -one who has won eminence by inerit, and who has hosts of ardent friends-in fact, all who know him. Ile is one of California's most valuable citizens. He was married at Grass Valley, in 1859, to Miss Mary A. Underwood, a native of Missouri. She died in May, 1874, leaving five children, four sons and one daughter, the latter having some time since been most unfortunately drowned. Their names are: Vertner, Sargent Prentice, L. W., Mary Maud and Thomas Paul. In 1885 he was married, secondly, to Miss Alice Way, of Jerseyville, formerly a teacher. They have one son.

DWARD KLEBITZ, capitalist, is a native of Germany, and was born in the Prus- sian province of Silesia, January 31, 1817. His parents were Karl G. and Leonora Klebitz. His father was a wagon-maker and blacksmith, and also carried on a farın. The son, Edward, attended school during boyhood, and learned the trade of his father. He joined the army and served his time, and in the revo- Intion of 1848 he took an active part, and on account of lis prominence was an officer, but was tried by court martial and degraded in rank to the line, and sentenced to nine years' im - prisonment within the fortifications; but was only detained until the investigation could be reached by the highest tribunal, which released him. During this time he heard of the gold excitement in California, and he determined to emigrate to America. He came by a sailing vessel, and had a very rough time in doubling Cape Horn. After leaving Valparaiso he had a pleasant passage, and after being en route six months arrived in San Francisco the last of February, 1851. A few weeks later he went by steamer to Marysville, and thence six of them,

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shipmates together, went to mining at Bidwell's Bar: they only remained a short time and then he returned to San Francisco. Not finding work he came up to Sacramento, May 15, 1851, and went to work in Flohr & Harin's saddle shop, and remained until the end of 1851. The following spring he engaged in merchandising at Volcano, in Calaveras County. The firm was Klebitz & Beckman. They carried on the business until July. 1853, when the store was robbed and his partner murdered. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Klebitz closed up the business and returned to Sacramento. He and Julius Wetz- ler started a swimming bath on Fourth street, but he sold out his interest the following year to Wetzler, and engaged in business on Fourth street, the firm being Klebitz & Green. They also owned a large sheep ranch in Solano County, and had several thousand sheep. They continued together for twenty-nine years, until 1884, when he sold out and retired from active business life. Mr. Klebitz's family consists of his wife and two daughters-Leonora, now Mrs Fred B. Adams, of the firm of Adams & Co., wholesale grocers of this city; and Lizzie, liv- ing with her parents in their attractive home, No. 417 Eighth street.

EORGE A. PUTNAM, an honored citizen and prominent member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers, is a native of Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and was born May 15, 1825. His father, George S. Putnam, a native of Danvers, Massa- chusetts, was born in 1780 and died in 1840, aged sixty years. His mother, Polly C. Put- nam, nee Carter, a native of Fitchburg, was born in 1785 and her death occurred in 1868, aged eighty-three years. The early life of Mr. Putnam was spent on a farm, and he attended country school. At the time of his father's death, at the age of fifteen, he started out to make his own way in the world. He went to Boston, where he entered a store, and attended

evening school. He remained there until 1849. When the gold excitement was extending over the country, he determined to come to the Pa- cific coast and sailed from Boston, February 4, 1849, on the ship Leonore. He came around Cape Horn and arrived in San Francisco, July 5, 1849. He went up in the mines, on the Yuba River, and was very successful; he re- mained there nntil 1853, when he came to Sacramento and was engaged in teaming and transportation to the inines, in which business he continued several years. In 1857 he was appointed deputy sheriff and held that position until 1863. Upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Second California Cavalry but was rejected on account of physi- cal disability. The following year, 1862, he enlisted again and was rejected. In 1863, he received a Major's commission and was ap- pointed Paymaster in the United States army and remained in the service until June 15, 1865. After being mustered out he went East and spent several months. Upon his return in December he was appointed box and stamp clerk in the Sacramento postoffice, where he re- mained five years. In 1871 he was appointed Internal Revenue Assessor for the fourth dis- trict, and held that position until the office was abolished by the Government in 1873. He was then appointed Deputy Federal Collector of the fourth district and served until June 1874, when he again became connected with the postoffice until March, 1877. He was then elected city tax collector and has been re-elected for seven successive terms; he still holds the office, the present term making four- teen years. Mr. Putnam is identified practi- cally with political affairs, is an active member of the Sacramento Society of California Pio- neers and is one of the present directors. He has held that position for the past twelve years. He is a member of Sumner Post, G. A. R., at Sacramento. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the order of L. O. O. F., the K. P., and also Exempt Firemen's Association. Mr. Putnam was married in Sacramento October 5,

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1855, to Miss Phœbe A. Sylvester, a native of Plymouth, Massachusetts. They have two sons: George P. and Charles 11. Mr. Putnam has been a Republican since the organization of the party.

ALE BROS. & Co .- Never before in the history of the world has trade and com- merce exercised so great an influence or been productive of such great results. The furthering of these have been the cause of almost all the progress of the century; on account of trade most of the modern wars have been waged, and the nations that have been the most active traders have led in the race for supremacy : wit- ness England and America as examples. It has mostly remained, too, for this generation to watch the growth of the most signal mark of material advancement and public welfare, in the establishment of those great mercantile houses which, while retail in their character, yet afford to the purchaser the opportunity to buy at wholesale rates, and to select from a stock al- most as wide as the markets of the world, on account of the magnitude of their purchases and the immense variety of their stock. This is brought about only when the double advantages of ample capital, or credit (which is the same thing) and wide commercial experience come together. Such an introduction is but fitting in presenting a sketch, however meagre, of the great mercantile house of Hale Bros. & Co., whose large establishment on the corner K and Ninth streets in Sacramento is known not alone to every lady in the Capital City, but almost throughout the coast, for a considerable propor- tion of the firm's business is done by mail through the country, customers being drawn even from all sections of the Pacific slope. The firm really consists of the father, Marshall Hale, Sr., the founder of the house, but no longer an active member, and of five brothers. Mr. Hale, Sr., is a native of Vermont, but removed to New York and carried on business there for a

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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