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 45

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 45

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

proceeded down through Truckee Valley, and brought up at Sacramento, camping the first night where the Bee office now is, and in close proximity to a large sycamore tree. Mr. An- dersoon soon went with his family to George- town. He kept a provision store there until the latter part of 1850, and then removed to Willow Creek, near Folsom. He has been jus- tice of the peace ever since the organization of the State except one term. Mr. Anderson's inother died with cholera in the epidemic of 1852. Major W. A. Anderson, subject of this sketch, was but four years of age when the family came to California, and he grew to man- hood in this State. He commenced his educa- tion at Folsom Institute, at that time a flourishing institution, and continued his stud- ies at Santa Clara College. After completing his studies he taught school for a time, then commenced attendance at the Law College at Benicia and was there graduated. He was ad- mitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of Cal- ifornia, April 4, 1865, while a minor. Just after that he was elected county auditor, taking the office only four days after he had reached his majority. He was also ex-officio clerk of the Board of Supervisors, of the Board of Equaliza- tion, and of the Swamp Land Commission. He held the office of auditor until March, 1868, and then entered into the active practice of the law. He was associated with George Cadwalader for eight years, forming one of the strongest firms in the history of the Sacramento bar. Cadwala- der attracted wide attention during this time by his conduct of the Powelson case, wherein he established the doctrine that abuse of a wife should constitute grounds for divorce, and in the celebrated " soldier vote " case. Mr. An- derson was associated in the following cases: Rio de los Moquelemos (otherwise " McCauley," or Hicks) grant case; the famous litigation be- tween the California Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad companies; Atlantic and Pacific Rail- road versus Western Union Telegraph Company, etc. Mr. Anderson left Mr. Cadwalader in 1876 to accept the office of city attorney, which

he held until March, 1878, when he once more entered private practice. He has since filled the office of city attorney, during the term from 1880 to 1886. From 1867 to 1875 he was As- sistant Adjutant-General of the Fourth Brigade, N. G. C., with rank of major. Major Ander- son has always been one of the most popular men, and has the happy faculty of drawing to him close personal friends. He is an eloquent and able public speaker, and this quality, be- sides standing him in good stead in his profes- sion, has often been of the greatest service in the campaigns of the Republican party, to whose interests he is devoted, and he has many times been called upon to stump the district and the State. What is quite unusual, however, he is equally ready with the pen, and his pub- lished reminiscences of the early bar, among others, are entertaining to the highest degree, aside from their historic valne. Withal he is a genial, courteous gentleman, open-hearted and generous to a fault.

B ARTIN DANIEL, one of the well-known farmers of Alabama Township, was born in Fayette County, Illinois, February 11, 1835. June 20, 1859, he started on his long journey overland for California. He stopped at Honey Lake a few days; from there he went to Marysville, where he cut wood until he ac- cumulated a little money; then after visiting Stockton a short time he came to within two and a half miles of where he is now living and worked for five months at $25 a month; then went up Dry Creek two miles further, and was employed by Mr. McTucker one year at $35 a month; next he was engaged by Lew Mitchell one year, two miles still further up the creek, for $400; then returned to McTucker's and worked two years at $30 a month; then renting a ranch of 200 acres, he worked for himself a year, raising wheat principally; next he rented for a year another ranch, owned by E. H. Presbury, and then returned to the McTucker place for

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the third time, renting the ranch for two years; and finally, in 1868, becoming weary of labor- ing for others, lie entered the place he now oc- cupies, 160 acres, six miles from Galt, on the Ione road, where he raises hay and grain. Mr. Daniel married in California Mary McTucker, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1828. William Daniel, father of Bar- tin, was born in North Carolina. He emigrated to Illinois in an early day, where he died in 1866, at the age of ninety-two years. His wife, Sarah Daniel, died at the age of ninety-three. Bartin Daniel and Mary McTucker were mar- ried September 22, 1866.

DWARD H. WILLIAMS, chief engineer of the city water-works, Sacramento, is a native of Essex County, New York, born December 19, 1830, his parents being Elijah and Phebe (Greeley) Williams. His father was born in Sudbury, Vermont, and was a vessel- owner, having three schooners in the Lake Champlain trade. His mother was a native of New York State, and a consin of Horace Greeley. E. H. Williams was reared in his native place, and as a boy followed boating a great deal on Lake Champlain after his eighteenth birthday, giving especial attention to machinery. A schoolmate of Mr. Williams, named George T. Newell, liad come to Cali- fornia in 1851, and he returned with splendid accounts of the country, his description creating great interest and excitement. In 1852 he went ont again, and Mr. Williams accompanied him. They proceeded in the Empire City to Havana, thence to Navy Bay on the same steamer. On the Pacific side they took the steamer Tennes- see, and arrived at San Francisco May 10, 1852. O i the next day he started for Placer County, and arriving there, went to prospecting at Yan- kee Jim's. Not being successful, he left after one month, and went to Big Bar, on the Middle Fork of the American River, and got a situation at mining work with Livermore, at $100 per

month and board. He worked there about four months, then found a claim that looked favor- able in Todd's Valley, and went there to work it. During that winter (1852-'53) water in the river was very high, and provisions were scarce and expensive, flour going up to $1 a pound. In March, 1853, he left there and went to Ne- gro Bar, below Folsom, and engaged in mining. They were there building the North Fork Canal to Mississippi Bar for mining purposes, and, in connection with two other men, Mr. Williams took a contract to dig three miles of the ditch. When that job was completed he gave up mining work, and opened a book and sign store at Folsom. A year later he went into the busi- ness of manufacturing soda, ale, porter and Ore- gon cider. His next employment was that of running a stationary engine in the machine shops of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, at Folsom. He remained with the company nntil his healthi failed him, sometimes in the shops, sometimes on the road. He then went to Lake Tahoe, and finding that a steamer had been sunk there the year before by the parties who ran her, he raised the steamer and ran it that summer. He was also at Forest Hill, Placer County, and while there quite an excitement arose in regard to blne cement mining, and five mills were soon in operation. It becoming known that Mr. Williams was acquainted with machinery, he was at once offered the charge of one of the mills, which he accepted. Ile re- mained with the company two years. Then they went under, and he was ont $400. He remained on the Divide about six months, but things be- coming dull, he came down to Sacramento and went to work for the Central Pacific Railroad in the round-house. Seven years later he was sent to Paterson, New Jersey, for two locomo- tives, but while he was there the boiler-makers went on a strike, and the boilers for the locomo- tives could not be turned out. Mr. Hunting- ton then sent him back to Sacramento. A couple of montlis after his return the paid fire commissioners requested him to take charge of the Tenth street engine, which he did, and so

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continued for six years. He was employed in the Central Pacific machine shops for eight months, then became connected with the water- works. In 1886 he was appointed chief en- gineer, and has since held that position, with great satisfaction to all interested in the efficiency of the water-works machinery. Mr. Williams was married in March, 1858, to Miss Mattie Hartsongh, a native of Jo Daviess County, Illi- nois, who came across the plains with her par- ents in 1854. They have five children, viz .: William B., of Los Angeles; Carrie, Charles, Harry and Everett. Mr. Williams is a member of Sacramento Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F. He joined the order at Essex, New Jersey, in 1851, and is a veteran Odd Fellow; is a member of the order of Chosen Friends. The water-works machinery has been very efficiently handled nnder Mr. Williams' supervision, which has given great satisfaction to citizens generally.

OHN J. BUCKLEY, searcher of records and city assessor of Sacramento, is a native of Boston, born October 1, 1853, his par- ents being P. J. and Mary M. Buckley. His father came to California in 1859, and after a brief experience in the mining regions, located in Sacramento. John J. Buckley, the subject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in this city, and educated in the grammar and high schools. In 1865 he went to Europe, and after six years' traveling, came back to Sacramento and became an employe of the Central Pacific Railroad Company as locomotive fireman, and was so engaged five years. He then commenced the study of law with A. C. Freeman, now of the firm of Freeman & Bates, San Francisco, member of the New Constitution Convention, and author of many valuable law treatises. He remained with him until 1880, and during that time learned the business of searching records. In 1880 he engaged permanently in that busi- ness for himself at 606 I street. In March, 1883, he was elected city assessor, and has held

the office ever since by virtue of re-election, his present term expiring in April, 1891. Mr. Buckley is a Past Great Sachem of the Im- proved Order of Red Men of California; Pay- master of Knights of Sherwood Forest, A. O. F .; Past Arch U. A. O. D .; member of Sacramento Turn Verein, and of Concord Lodge, No. 116, F. & A. M. Mr. Buckley is an active man, and has as many friends in Sacramento as perhaps any other citizen.

DWARD MINOR LEITCH, one of the prominent citizens of Sacramento, is a native of Putnam County, New York, born April 27, 1835. His father, George Leitch, was a native of Scotland, who, when a child accompanied his parents to America, lo. cating in New York State. The mother of the subject, whose ınaiden name was Saralı Jenkin- son, was born in England, and also came to this country when a child. George Leitch was a tin and copper smith by trade, and he carried on business in these lines in New York city pre- vious to 1836. He then removed his family to Elkhart County, Indiana, when that country was very new and wild, the wild grass being as high as a man's head all about them in their new location. A log cabin was built and there the family lived, while George Leitch tilled the land, and also gave his attention to the education of his children. IIe, however, died within a year and a half after reaching Indiana. His wife, remaining a widow, continued to live on the old homestead until her death, which oc- curred in 1874. E. M. Leitch was one of a family of thirteen children, of whom he was the twelfth in order of age. He was reared there to the age of nineteen years, and learned the moulder's trade in Jackson & Wiley's foundry, Detroit, Michigan. In 1858 he went to New York, and took passage there on the steamer Star of the West, for Chagres, on his way to California. On the Pacific side he took the steamer Golden Gate, and landed at San Fran-

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cisco July 14, 1858. He had four brothers in the mountains of Sierra County, and his first move was to make a visit to them. After that he came to Sacramento and entered the employ of the Sacramento Valley Railroad as brakesman, in which capacity he served for some time, then as baggage-master, and again as conductor, his entire period of employment on the road being thirteen years. He then voluntarily resigned his position with the railroad, having bought out the business of his brother, who had one truck and two horses engaged in the transfer business. Mr. Leitch has by sobriety and in- dustry gradually worked up a large business from that small beginning, and now employs seventeen horses in his business, while six or seven men are constantly engaged; this has been accomplished by strict attention to busi- ness, and by sernpulous fairness and honesty in all business transactions. Mr. Leitch was mar- ried December 27, 1868, to Miss Olive A. An- nis, a native of Camden, Maine, who by the way is a loving wife and a devoted mother, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Annis. When she was yet a babe her mother died, and in 1866 her father came with his family to California. Ile died in Sacramento in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Leitch have had seven children, all boys, of whom one-William Thomson-is deceased, having been drowned in Sacramento River on the 29th of July, 1886, at the age of twelve years and ten months. Those living are: George Thomas, Edward Everett, Samuel Walter, Albert Edgar, James A. Garfield and T. Dewitt Talmage. Mr. Leitch, who had always been a Republican, was one of the pioneers in the prohibition movement in Sacramento, and has been at the front in all the work of the party. At one election, on the prohibition ticket, he received 638 votes for chief of police. He afterward made the race for sheriff, and in 1888 for supervisor of the second district. Mr. and Mrs. Leitch are mnem- bers of the Sixth Street Methodist Church, and Mr. Leitch is one of the trustees and also a member of the Law and Order League. He is also an active member of the Y. M. C. A., and

was sent as a delegate to the Sunday rest-day convention. In fact, in anything pertaining to charity and humanity he is always found at the front.

D. YOUNG, State Printer of California, is a native of Ogdensburg, New York, 6 born Jannary 16, 1841, his parents being John and Caroline (Fielding) Young. He was left an orphan at an early age, and commenced life for himself as cabin boy on lake steamers, being thus engaged for three years. He then went into the office of the Buffalo Republic and served an apprenticeship to the printer's trade under Welch, afterward Controller of New York State. In 1861 he came to California via Pan- ama, locating at Saeramento in May. He se- cured employment in the Union office, and remained after the consolidation of that paper with the Record. In 1868 the city editorship of the Union was placed in his hands, and he held the same post with the Record-Union until called to the office which he now holds by Governor Perkins. At the conclusion of Gov- ernor Perkins' term he returned to the Record- Union, but was reappointed State Printer by Governor Waterman. Under the administra- tion of Mr. Young the State printing-office of California is one of the most orderly conducted offices in the world.

ORYDON M. WEST, proprietor of one of the largest and best conducted farms in Alabama Township, was born in Penn- sylvania in 1831. In 1838 his parents re- moved with him to Pike County, Illinois, where they remained until 1852, when he came to California. Mr. West first followed mining two years near Ione; next, opened and conducted for several years a grocery and meat market called the Miners' Store, two miles from Dry- town. The next nine years he was in the cat-

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tle trade, in which he had moderate success, and finally, in 1867, he purchased his present place of 600 acres, eight miles from Galt, on the Galt and Ione road. There he has a fine residence, with tasteful surroundings. Grain and cattle are his specialties. Jefferson West, father of Corydon, was born near Concord, New Hamp- shire; came to California in 1853, and died a year afterward. Mr. West, the subject of this sketch, was married in this State, to America Baker, a native of Illinois. Their living chil- dren are: Chester F., Alice E., Hattie A., Win- nie M., Clara E., and Rachel E .; and the de- ceased are: Charles E. and Mary E.

DWARD H. PRESBURY, one of the old settlers of Alabama Township, was born in Harford County, Maryland, in 1801, and emigrated to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he lived twenty-seven years, following the trade of miller. In 1849 he lost his wife, nee Martha Bayless, and he then sold out, bought 500 head of cattle, and came with them to California, losing but very few. Selling them after his arrival here, he bought the ranch upon which he is now living, containing 123 acres, five miles from Galt, on the Ione road. His prin- cipal crops are grain and hay. Mr. Presbury has one son, William, who is living with him.

ICTOR LEMAY, general foreman, Car Department, Central Pacific Railroad Shops, Sacramento, is a native of St. Emilie, County of Lotbiniere, Quebec, Canada, born July 6, 1838, his parents being John B. and Clair (LcClair) Lemay. Both parents were of Canadian birth and French ancestry, and his father was a carpenter and blacksmith hy trade, was extensively engaged in business, having a tract of land which he farmed, and a grist-mill, saw-mill and fulling-mill. He was also a ship owner, and would send lumber to Quebec for

shipment to London. Victor Lemay spent bis boyhood days at his native place and received his education there and at college at Quebec. When yet a mere child he exhibited a taste and natural genins for mechanical work, and as a mere boy constructed some quite intricate and original contrivances in wood-work. He also labored one or two years at blacksmith work in his brother's shop. He left college when six- teen years of age, and worked as a brick-maker during the succeeding summer. In the fall of that year he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and about three weeks later secured employment with a gunsmith and carriage maker, named Chatelle, who did a great deal of work for the Sioux and Winnebago Indians. He worked for him about a year, repairing guns and at general mechanical work, and then went to Hudson City, Wisconsin, on the St. Croix River, where he went to work for a farmer named James Murphy, building corn-cribs, sheds and barns. In the latter part of 1860 he went back to his old home in Canada. He first engaged in farm- ing and afterward went to work in a Quebec shipyard. Then he went home and started a cabinet shop, and he was connected with that for a time, then started a shipyard and black- smith shop of his own. In 1865 he sold out, and, going to East Douglas, Massachusetts, en- gaged with the Hunt Axe Mannfactory, cabinet- making being dull at that time. He ground hatchets and axes properly at the first trial. He had been employed by the company at this work for nine months, and then they commenced the erection of a large cotton mill. He went home for his tools, and went to work on the construction as a carpenter. He worked until the building was completed, about four months, then went to Ashton and engaged with the Lonsdale Com- pany, who were putting up a big cotton factory. After he had been there three months he was promoted foreman of the joiners, and had charge of the work of putting up machines, looms, floor-work, etc. He was employed by the Lons- dale Company about twenty-three months, and for a year of that time he kept boarding-house,

How. George & Johnson, Attorney- General of Califor

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having been induced to do so by Superintendent E. Kilbourn and Architect John Hull. He decided to go to California, and on the 1st of January, 1868, gave notice to his employers of his intention to leave. By the 4th of the month he had sold his household effects and was in New York all ready for the trip. He took the steamer Arago, which left New York for Aspin- wall on the 5th of January. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and took the old steamer America for San Francisco, landing there Jan- nary 28, 1868. It was two or three weeks be- fore he could find satisfactory employment, and he then went to work on the residence of Mr. McCollum, builder of the Mint. That job was completed in less than two months, and he then worked for contractor Pratt about a month. He and a foreman were then sent by Pratt to the firm of Cautrall & Dell, and after he had been with them a short time he was given charge of their window-frame and cash works. In the fall of 1868 he came to Sacramento, and was here introduced to A. J. Simmons, then general fore- man at the railroad shops, and Mr. Lemay was given assurance of work if he would come here. So he went back to San Francisco, made ar- rangements accordingly, removed to Sacramento, and on the 11th of November went to work as a carpenter. In 1871 he was promoted fore- man of the cabinet department, in which, at that time only five or six men were employed. This number had increased to from 100 to 150 men by 1885, and on the 5th of July of the latter year he was promoted assistant foreman of the car department under Mr. Turner. On the 6th of January, 1889, he was introduced as general foreman of the car department. Mr. Lemay was married in Canada to Miss Marie Anna Marcotte, a native of Portneuf, Canada. They have five children, viz .: Joseph Alphonse, John B., Raisen, Joseph and Mary. The first three were born in Canada, the fourth in Rhode Island, and the last in California. Mr. Lemay is a member of Columbia Lodge, K. of P., and of Owosso Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men. fle is a great field sportsman, and was a member

of the first gun club organized in Sacramento, generally known as the California Gun Club. Mr. Lemay, besides being a master of his bnsi- ness, is a most popular man with those in his departments, and the community generally.

BON. GEORGE A. JOHNSON. - [This sketch is from the History of Sonoma County, published in 1889.] In every great department of activelife there are a few who, by innate superiority of mind and breadth of culture, tower above the mass of their fel- lows, as the head above the body directing and controlling its movements, and giving to it power and character. In such a relation stands Attorney-General G. A. Johnson to the bar of California as one of its most eminent . and honored members. He was born in Salis -. bury, Maryland, in 1829. His mother dying in his early childhood, he was reared in the home and family of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Rider. His father, Joshua Johnson, moved soon after Mrs. Johnson's death to New Castle, Indiana. Grandfather Rider was a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his house was the headquarters of Methodism in the town of Salisbury. Thus the grandson was surrounded by those moral influences which made a permanent impression upon his plastic young mind, and stamped themselves upon his subsequent character. His early scholastic train- ing was in the schools and academy of his native town, and at the age of nineteen he went West to his father's home and began the study of law in New Castle, Henry County, Indiana; but, soon realizing the necessity of a more thorough education, he prepared himself and entered Yale College, from whichi he graduated in the class of 1853. Among his associates were Ilon. Wayne McVeigh, President Andrew D. White, District Attorney Phelps, and others distin- guished in letters and statesmanship. During his college course Mr. Johnson won several class prizes, and was elected and served as pres-

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ident of the board of editors of the Yale Lite. rary Magazine. After his graduation he was tendered and accepted the professorship of Latin and Greek in the Western Military Institute, at Drennon Springs, Kentucky, of which General Bushrod Johnson was president. Remaining there but a few months, owing to an epidemic of typhoid fever, which closed the school, Mr. Johnson returned to New Castle and resumed his law studies with Jehu T. Elliott, subse- quently Judge of the Supreme Court of Indi- ana. After completing his course of reading and attending a term in the law department of the State University, he commenced legal prac- tice in 1855 in Cambridge City, Indiana, and the same year was joined in marriage with Miss Juliet M. Wayman, of that city. Pursning a successful legal business until 1873, and attain- . ing a high rank in his profession, he was that year appointed Circuit Judge of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit by Governor Hendricks. The following year, 1874, owing partly to the ill- health of his wife, Judge Johnson immigrated to California, settled in Santa Rosa, aad formed a law partnership with Hon. Barclay Henley. In the spring of 1878 he was elected mayor of Santa Rosa on the Democratic ticket over the Workingmen's candidate. Upon the passage of the act that year submitting to the vote of the people the question of calling a convention to franie a new State Constitution (a measure which Judge Jolinson zealously advocated and worked for, which was carried in the State, and in Sonoma County by about 1,000 votes), he was chosen one of the delegates to the conven- tion, and resigned the mayoralty. The Consti- tutional Convention met in September, 1878, and was in session five months. Judge John- son was at once recognized as one of the leaders in that distinguished body, and was chosen to compile and arrange the address to the people, a copy of which, together with a copy of the new constitution, was sent to every voter. He was also selected to deliver tlie presentation speech on the occasion of presenting President

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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