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 122

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 122

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L. G. SILLER, of the firm of Siller Brothers, contractors, is a son of John and Catharine Sil-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

ler, and was born in Hancock County, Illinois, December 13, 1863. His parents, with the family, came to the Pacific Coast in 1872. Af- ter reaching Sacramento they located on a farm a few miles from the city, near Florin, and here he attended school and remained there until 1880, and then came to the city and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. In 1884 he and his brother engaged in contracting and build- ing, and since then, for the past six years, the firin of Siller Brothers have built np a large and successful business in contracting and real es- tate. Among the buildings erected by them are the new William Tell Honse, the Orphan Asylum, the State Printing Office, and building corner of Seventh and I streets, the large apart- ment house corner of Ninth and L streets, and inany others. They have built seven houses on their own property, corner of Seventeenth and Q streets. They also own and operate a large planing-mill. They are yonng men of energy and ability, and among the most responsible contractors in the Capital City. Mr. Siller be- longs to the I. O. O. F. He was married Oc- tober 5, 1882, to Miss Mary C. Eller, a native of Germany. They have three children-Ma- bel, Laura and Rubie.

AMES STAFFORD, retired, is a native of the north of Ireland, and was born near Belfast, May 15, 1815. He grew up and attended school there, and after reaching man- hood emigrated to this country and worked in New York State. Was at West Point during the memorable log-cabin campaign, when Gen- eral William Henry Harrison was elected Presi- dent. After several years, on account of his health, Mr. Stafford returned to his native country and remained there until 1847, when the whole family-his parents and ten chil- dren-came over to this country and settled at Aurora, Indiana. Here he engaged in merchan- dising, and built up a large trade; also engaged in packing pork and in buying and selling cattle

and hogs throughout the country; and for thirty-five years carried on the most extensive business in that section of the State, and ex- tending through the adjoining States, and en- joyed an enviable reputation for his honor and integrity. The family came to the Pacific coast in 1874, Mr. Stafford remaining to attend to his business interests. Since coming here he has not engaged in active business. His at- tractive home is at 1316 Seventh street. Mr. Stafford was married May 10, 1850, to Maria Hueston, who also is a native of the north of Ireland, her home being near the city of Bel- fast. The death of this estimable lady occurred in June, 1886. They have had fourteen children, only four of whom survive. James, Robert and Mary are living at home in this city, and Jeunie is married and living at Galt, in this connty.

F. CALDERWOOD, one of the oldest and best known men in the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, is a native of Maine, and was born in Waldo County, April 27, 1837, and is a son of Levi and Lydia Calderwood. He attended school during boy- hood, and upon reaching manhood he deter- inined to come to the Pacific coast, and sailed in the "Star of the West," and came via the Isthinus, and on the Pacific side came in the steamer "John L. Stephens," and arrived in San Francisco, October 16, 1858. Like all who came here in the early days, he went to the mines in El Dorado and Placer counties, and continned for nine years in hydraulic mining. In the early part of 1868 he engaged in rail- roading. Upon the construction of the Central Pacific he was on the first regular train that went across the summit into Truckee. He was conductor on the Mountain division twelve years, and has been in the service of the com- pany as condnetor for twenty-two years. In June, 1876, he brought the noted Centennial train of Jarrett & Palmer, over the Mountain Division. The time made across the continent,

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from New York to San Francisco, was eighty- four hours, less four minutes. Mr. Calderwood is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and a member of Capitol Lodge, I. O. O. F., for the past twenty years. He is past chief of O. R. C., and served three years as chief. He was ac- tively identified in establishing the order and building it up. Mr. Calderwood was married by the Rev. Fred Charlton, November 25, 1862, to Miss Sarah J. Fuller, of Sacramento. Her parents, Jacob N. and Jane E. Fuller, came to California in 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Calderwood have three sons, viz .: Wiliam T., Samuel H. and George E. They have lost two sons and two daughters.

OHN MEISTER. The pioneer dairyman of the Capital City, is a native of Switzer- land, and was born April 17, 1820. He attended the common schools and was brought up on a farm. In 1852 he emigrated to the United States. After reaching this country, he found a friend who wanted to come to the Pacific coast, and three of them came together. They were 140 days on the way and arrived in California in September, 1852. He went to the mines for a short time and then came to Sacra- mento and began work in a dairy. After two years he became a partner and afterwards bought his partner's interest. In 1852 his brother arrived here and became a partner with him and they carried on the business together successfully for twenty years, and since that time Mr. Meister has carried it on alone. His son, George A., takes an active part in the management of the business. Mr. Meister's first dairy was located at Sutter's Fort. He suffered large loss by the flood of 1862. He has about 150 cows and twenty-five horses and is the oldest dairyman now engaged in business in the Capital City. He owns large dairy and fruit farms east of the city, including the well- known Smith's Gardens. He began life with- out anything and his success is owing to his

own efforts. Mr. Meister has been twice mar- ried, his first wife being Pauline IIerr; she left four children: Annie, now married and living in San Francisco; Panline, Louise and George Al- bert. Mr. Meister married Arelia Wirth, his present wife, in 1876.

A. COOK, architect, one of the oldest and most prominent of his profession in the Capital City, is a native of Chenango County, New York, boru April 20, 1832. His parents, Aaron and Lydia Cook, were natives of New York State. His father was ninety-eight years old at the time of his death. His grand- father lived to be over 100 years of age, and Grandmother Cook was ninety-one years old at the time of her death. The parents of our sub- ject removed to Albany in 1832 and he grew up and attended school there. He served three years' apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter and joiner, during the time taking lessons in architectural drawing, and upon reaching early manhood he came West to Michigan, locating at Kalamazoo, where he engaged in contracting and building, preparing all of his own plans. After a time he gave up contracting, devoting his whole time to architectural work. He re- inained there ten years. In 1861 he went to St. Louis and thence to Chicago, where he followed his profession, and thence to Council Bluffs and Omaha. On account of his health, he came to California in 1870 and located in Sacramento, where for the past twenty years he has taken a leading position in his profession in this section of the State. He superintended the construc- tion of the Western Hotel, Hale's Block, and several churches, also the State Prison at Fol- som, the Nevada State Asylum, the court house at Redding, the county hospitals at Men- docino, Tehama and Colusa, Cone & Kimball's Block, and Odd Fellows' Hall at Red Bluff; also Odd Fellows' Building and churches at Wheatland and Redding, and churches in Stock- ton and in other cities and towns. He has pre-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

pared the plans for many of the finest buildings in this section of the State. In 1870 Mr. Cook married Miss M. Midler, of Chicago. They have four children, viz .: Christopher, Eva, Amy and Irwin Paul. Mr. Cook belongs to I. O. O. F .; El Dorado Lodge, No. S.

HOMAS H. COOK is a native of North Shields, England, and was born October 2, 1824. His parents, John and Sarah M. Cook, were also natives of England. He grew up with his father, and during his early boyhood attended school and werit to sea, which he followed for some years, and then came to Quebec in 1847, and thence by canal to Buffalo. Next he followed the Lakes for a time. When the discovery of gold was attracting the atten- tion of the civilized world he determined to come to the Pacific coast, and started from Chicago in March, 1849, and after braving the dangers of the trip overland across the continent, ar- rived in Sacramento in August of the same year. Soon after coming here he engaged in draying, in which business he continued for several years. He returned to England in the fall of 1851, and soon after, while there, in March, 1852, married Miss Hannah Skelton, also a native of England. They came to Cali- fornia in the fall of the same year, and reached here a few days before the fire. He engaged in draying for five or six years, and then engaged in the wood business, which he carried on suc- cessfully for some years, until 1867, when he made another visit to his native country with his wife and two children. This journey was filled with sorrow. He.lost one of his children, a son, in New York; the death of his wife and remaining child, a little girl, occurred in Eng- land. He also lost two children here. After coming back here and remaining about two years he returned again to England, and while there married IIelen Drydon, a native of Scotland. He remained in England seven years, and in 1875 came again to California, and engaged in

mercantile business in Sacramento, on the cor- ner of Eighth and J streets, and continued there fifteen years and built np a large and successful wholesale and retail trade. In January, 1890, he removed to the large and commodious store on the corner of Tenth and K streets, to accommo- date his large and constantly increasing trade. Mr. Cook is still in the prime of life, and has established an enviable reputation for integrity and fair dealing. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have four children, three of whom survive, -- George N., William H. and Thomas H. One son, Herbert J., was drowned.

IDNEY ELDRED is a native of Ohio and was born January 30, 1830. Ilis parents were Daniel and Hannah Eldred. They removed to Michigan in 1834, and there Sidney was reared and attended school during boyhood. Upon reaching early manhood he determined to come to the Pacific coast. He came by water and sailed in the "Star of the West," via the Isthmus, and on this side by the Brother Jona- than, and after a rough voyage of fifty days, ar. rived in San Francisco in March, 1854. A few days later he came up to Sacramento and went to draying. In the spring of '56, he opened the National Hotel on J street, between Tenth and Eleventh. After running this house two years he opened the Noyes House on Tenth and I streets, and continned there until 1860, when he sold out, and during the same year went East and remained nntil the spring of 1861. He then left there with a drove of horses and came across the plains, bringing them to this State. He afterward built the Eldred House, on K street, above Tenth. He owned a farm six miles out of the city and engaged in farming for some years, but on account of poor health he came to thiscity and retired from active bns- iness life. Mr. Eldred has never songht politi- cal preferment. He has been twice married. In October, 1856, he married Miss Sarah White, from Michigan. Her death occurred in August,

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1880. They had four children, only two of whom survive-a son and daughter: Frank, now living in Washington State, and May, now Mrs. Dr. Root, of this city. In 1881 Mr. Eldred married Mrs. May Gilman, a native of New Hampshire. Mr. Eldred is a man of gen- erous impulses and one of the best known citi- zen in the Capital City.

EORGE HAYTON, capitalist, is a native of England and of English parentage. His father, Aaron Hayton, died in England, and his mother, Elizabeth Hayton, died in Strat- ford, Canada, in 1885. The boyhood of Mr. Hayton was spent in his native country, where he served an apprenticeship in manufacturing boots and shoes. In 1841 he came to this country and lived in Canada until 1850, when he went to New York State, and two years later determined to come to the Pacific coast. He sailed from New York February 28, in the barque Kremlin, Captain Davis. They had a rough voyage, and were six weeks doubling Cape Horn; were five months on the voyage, and arrived in San Francisco August 2, 1852. He came up to Sacramento and then went to Marysville, to the mines; was there only a short time and returned to Sacramento to work at his trade. He rented a place the first of the month and paid his rent in advance, and the following day the big fire came and the building was burned, and he was out the rent he had paid for the first month. The following year he went to the mines in Trinity County; was ouly there a few months and returned to Sacramento. After working at his trade about nine months he started in business for himself, the firm being Hayton & Donohue,-The " Eagle Boot & Shoe Store,"- and this firm continued for six years, when the latter retired, and Mr. Hayton be- came sole proprietor of the business, and carried it on successfully until 1878. Having acquired a competency, he retired from active business, and is enjoying his well-earned repose. In 1876

Mr. Hayton was married in Sacramento to Mrs. Mary Taylor, a native of England, who came to this country in 1853 and to California in 1858. Her parents died in Canada. In 1869 she re- turned to England on a visit. Mr. Hayton has made several visits East since coming here. The first time he went by water, in 1857, and twice across the continent since the railroad was built. He has eaten thirty-eight Christmas dinners in Sacramento. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Hayton have an attractive home corner of Sixteenth and K streets.

OHN BELLMER, an old and honored citi- zen, corner Eighth and L streets, Sacra- mento, was born near Bremen, Germany, May 11, 1833. At the age of fifteen years he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York, remained there until October, 1852, when, intending to go to Australia, he sailed in the barque Catharine Augusta. The vessel stopped at Rio Janeiro, but the yellow fever prevailed to such an extent that half the pas- sengers died and those that could get away were glad to go anywhere; and Mr. Bellmer sailed in the clipper ship High Flyer around Cape Horn to California, arriving in San Fran- cisco in September, 1853. Like all others who came here seeking their fortunes at that early day, he went to mining, at Michigan, Bluff and Last Chance, and remained there four years and then came to Sacramento and started busi- ness here in 1857, and since then, for the past thirty-three years, he has been successfully en- gaged in his vocation here, and has passed through fire and flood and borne his share of misfortune. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Bellmer was elected county treasurer, and after holding the office two years was re-elected in the fall of 1873, and held that office until 1876. He has been an active. prominent member of the Ger- men Turn-Verein, in which body he has lield the office of president and secretary. IIe is

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also a prominent member of I. O. O. F., being now past grand of that order. Mr. Bellmer was married January 18, 1860 to Miss Maria Grady, of New London, Connecticut. They have had twelve children, six of whom are living: three sons-William F., Frank R. and Edgar H .; and three daughters-Sarah E., Carrie L. and Alice E.

S. BEALS, photographer, 415 J street, the veteran photograph artist of the Pacific Coast, was born December 2, 1823, in Ilartford, Connecticut. He received his educa- tion there and at Wethersfield until the age of eighteen, when he went to New York and en- gaged in merchant tailoring at 156 Broadway, and continued there about six years. While there he cut the uniform for Stevenson's regi- ment, which came to California for the Mexican war. He was engaged in the same business at Babylon, Long Island, two years; then he re- turned to New York and opened a daguerreo- type gallery at 175 Broadway, and continued there nntil 1853, when he sold out and sailed from New York, and came to California via the Isthmus. From Panama he came on the steamer Uncle Sam, and landed in Sacramento in Octo- ber, 1853. He came direct to Sacramento and opened a photograph gallery on Third and J streets, with R. II. Vance. After the big fire, the following year, he opened a gallery at 87 J street, where he conducted the business four or five years, and then removed to 415 J street, and remained there nntil after the flood of 1861. During that time and for years he was usher and assistant manager of the old Sacramento Theatre, for Thomas Magnire; was also manager of the Forrest Theatre, between Second and Third streets. After the latter was burned, he acted as manager of the old Metropolitan Thea- tre, on K street, between Fourth and Fifth, being manager of both theatres at the same time, and was manager for Maguire until the latter retired from the business. He conducted

his photographic business as well, for over twenty-five years in the present location, 415 J street, and he is the oldest photographic artist now engaged in business on the Pacific Coast. He has been successful, and accumulated a val- nable property on Twelfth and F streets, his homestead being one of the land-marks. Ile is a lover of fine horses, and usually has one or more in his possession. Mr. Beals is a veteran Odd Fellow, having been a member of the fra- ternity fifty-eight years. He was a member, with P. T. Barnum, of Island City Lodge, New York; is now connected with Eureka Lodge, No. 4, and is one of the oldest members of the order in the United States. Mr. Beals has been twice married. Ilis first wife was Rosalia Fow- ler, of New York State. She died in 1879, leaving two daughters-Mrs. Josephine Ingalls, of Sacramento city, and Mrs. Sarah Campion. The latter inherited a talent for painting, and went abroad to pursue her studies in France, and achieved an enviable position in the pro- fession. She died in 1887, leaving one son, who is cashier for the prominent commercial house of Williams, Dimond & Co., San Fran- cisco. In 1886 Mr. Beals married Mrs. J. E. Dodge, a native of New York, and by this marriage there is one son.

HILIP WOLF, one of the most extensive contractors of the Capital City, was born in Keokuk, Iowa, April 10, 1859. His father, Philip Wolf, came to the Pacific coast in the spring of 1861, and the mother and chil- dren arrived here in December of the same year, just before the noted flood. In 1863 they re- moved to Sheldon, this county, then a flourish- ing place, and four years afterward returned to this city. Philip attended school during boy- hood, and served an apprenticeship to the trade of carpenter and joiner. After working at his trade several years, he engaged in merchandis- ing; this not proving successful, he returned to his trade and after a time engaged in con

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tracting and building. The first year he built three houses, and his business has since steadily increased from year to year, and during the past year he built thirty-six houses, among them some of the most attractive in the city. He has given much attention to agricultural draw- ing and draws the plans for all of his own work, thus saving the expense of an architect. Dur- ing the past year he has done a larger contract- ing business than any firm in Sacramento, employing twenty men. He has by his ability and integrity built up a successtul business, and enjoys an enviable reputation as a contractor. Ile owns his attractive home on N street, besides three houses and lots on J street, and other city property. He belongs to the order of Foresters. Mr. Wolf was maried April 20, 1884, to Miss Minnie C. Gerber, a native of Sacramento, whose father came to the Pacific coast in 1849.

A. CUNNINGHAM, the well-known pro- prietor of the Sacramento Boiler and Iron Works, was born in the Empire State, in Schenectady, February 4, 1843, and is a son of Thomas N. and Mary Cunningham. He learned his trade in Philadelphia, and followed it there and in Albany and Schenectady. In 1868 he came to the Pacific Coast, and located in Sacra- mento and entered the employ of the railroad company. After remaining in the shops two years, he established his present business in the railroad company's building, and remained there until 1873, when he removed to his present loca- tion on I street, between Front and Second streets. Since then, for the past seventeen years, he has built up a large and successful business. Such is his reputation for standard work, that he was awarded the contract for manufacturing the large boilers, tanks, bins, etc., for the Buffalo Brewing Company, for their immense brewery in this city. He also held the position of engineer of the water-works six years. Ile is a member of the Masonic fra-

ternity and the Knights of Honor. He was married in May, 1882, to Miss Sarah W. Shields, of Portland, Maine, and they have three chil- dren-Addie, Myra and May.

HRISTIAN GRUHLER, deceased, was a native of Wittenberg, Germany, and was born September 12, 1830. He attended school during his early boyhood, and in 1845, at the age of fifteen, emigrated to the United States. He went to Cincinnati and remained there six years. After the discovery of. gold in California, he determined to come to the Pacific coast, and he, with his brother and others, eight wagons in all and ox teams, came the overland route across the continent. They were 105 days on the way, and arrived here in 1852. He worked in San Francisco until the following year, when he engaged in the grocery trade, and the following year engaged in the brewing busi- ness in Sacramento. He and his brother estab- lished the Columbus Brewery, and built up a large and successful business. He went East in 1861, and on the 6th of May of that year was married, in Cincinnati, to Miss Catharine Gruh- ler, a native of Germany, who came to Cincin- nati in 1853, and lived there until she was married. Mr. Gruhler was a member of the Turn-Verein and the Exempt Fireinen's Asso- ciation. He was actively engaged in business until his death, which occurred October 11, 1878. IIe left four children, viz .: Albert E., Emma, Hermann A. and Clara A. He left a large estate. Mrs. Gruhler occupies the attract- ive home corner of Fifteenth and L streets.

OIIN M. MILLIKIN, formerly one of the prominent business men of Sacramento, is now engaged in the real-estate and in- surance business at No. 110 Fourth street, in this city. For the sake of convenience let us begin with his early life, his ancestors, etc. On

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his mother's side his forefathers were of the sea- faring class, being ship builders, sailors, etc. On his father's side his ancestors were mer- chants, lumbermen, etc. His mother's maiden name was Jemima Skolfield. His uncle Josiah Millikin was a tanner in Oxford County, Maine, and afterward engaged in Inmbering in Portland. His five sous soon after entered the commercial world, and they were highly spoken of in the Lewiston Journal and other papers. They are all still in the East, are wealthy and still prominent in business circles. Charles Millikin is now managing the famous Glenn House in the White Mountains; Seth is now engaged extensively in New York; Wes- ton is engaged on a large scale in lumbering in Maine and Canada, making shipments to all parts of the world. He is also president of the Cumberland Bank in Portland, is a member of the company of Loan Commissioners; George and Henry are in the wholesale grocery busi- ness in Portland. The subject of this biographi- cal outline was born February 28, 1821, at Lubeck, Washington County, Maine. When he was four years old he turned West, moving to the village of Gray, Cumberland County, Maine, where his early schooling was obtained. At the age of sixteen years he went to Portland, and began to clerk for Burbank & Furbish, general wholesale grocers; and it was liere that he obtained that real practical business educa- tion that enabled him in subsequent life to be- come one of the most prominent merchants of this country. On account of his failing health, however, he had at the end of about three years retired from business pursuits for about two years. He was employed by Philip Shaw, al- though nominally clerk only, yet he actually had independent control of all the business, and sustained this relation there for about ten years. May 12, 1850, Mr. Millikin left home for Cali- fornia, in company with S. B. Leavitt, subse- quently his brother-in-law, and M. L. Witham; they sailed on the steamer Georgia to the Isth- mns, where they were long delayed, Jolın M. having come immediately to San Francisco, ar-

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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