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 51

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 51

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

tures nearly all his harness stock, his trade be- ing principally in light harness and farmers' work. Mr. Gehring was married in Sacra- mento September 19, 1868, to Miss Margaret Stahl, a native of Schleswig-Holstein. They have had seven children, of whom one, Freder- erick William, is deceased. The living are: Frank Paul, Wilhelmina, Emma, Theresa, Ame- lia, and Charlotte. Mr. Gehring is a member of the Chosen Friends. He is a popular man and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the community.

W. EILERS is one of the well-known business men of Sacramento. He was born in Hanover, Germany, May 2, 1826, his parents being Fred and Adelheit (Kattman) Eilers, the father a farmer. D. W. Eilers spent his boyhood days at his native place, and was educated from six to fourteen years of age. In 1845 he came to America, sailing from Bremen in August, and landing at New York after a voyage of six weeks. The same evening he took a steamer for Albany, thence by canal to Buffalo, and from there proceeded by steamer to Chicago. Ile worked three months on the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, then went to St. Louis, and, obtaining a job six miles below Carondolet, worked there for eighteen months. The next seven months he worked at Springfield, Illinois, then obtained employment at the survey of the Sangamon and Morgan Railroad, between Naples and Spring- field. He worked with a team on the construc- tion, and then on the repairs between Berlin and Jacksonville. After he had been there four years he determined to go to California. Pro- ceeding to New Orleans, he took a sailing ves- sel for Chagres, crossed the Isthmus on foot, and came to San Francisco on the steamer Win- field Scott, landing April 29, 1852. He pro- ceeded to Sacramento, and a few days later to Jackson, Amador County. Not being pleased with the prospects there, he went to the Trinity

mines, and worked there three or four months. He then returned to Sacramento, and from there proceeded to Gooch's Bar, below Downieville, where he mined until the snow drove him ont. He then went to Lone Rancheria, on the other side of Drytown, worked there three or four months, then to Gooch's Bar. He mined there, at Nevada City and at Gold Flat until August 10, 1854, when he came to Sacramento and en- gaged in trucking. He followed that business fifteen years, then opened a store at the corner of Fourth and O streets. After two years there he removed to his present location, 1501 Tenth street, where he has a large trade. He was married on the 5th of December, 1854, to Miss Juliana Gabel, and they have five children, viz .: Theodore George, Paulina M., Sophia L., Fred- die H. and Christian H. Mr. Eiler is a mem- ber of Sacramento Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1859, and of the Pacific En- campment. Mrs. Eiler was born in the village of Kaisten, Bavaria, her parents being Killian and Gertrude Gabel, her father being a farmer. She was reared there until eleven years of age, attending school, and there was taught English, which became of great valne when the family came to America, as they did in 1848. They sailed from Havre on the 17th of April, on the sailship Cheshire, and landed at New York. Two days later they went to Philadelphia by steamer. From there they went by rail and canal to Pittsburg, through the Alleghany Mountains. They had intended to locate there, but changed their purpose, and one week later took a steamer for Cincinnati, and they located there, and afterward at Newport. In 1854 Mrs. Eiler, then a young lady in her "teens," came to California, where her sister, Mrs. Deick- mann, lived. She went to Cleveland, thence by Buffalo and Albany, to New York, and there took passage on the steamer Illinois, which left New York July 5, 1854, for Aspinwall. The Panama Railroad had got started for part of the distance, and she rode ten miles on it. then pro- ceeded on mule-back to Panama. Then she took the steamer Golden Gate, and landed at

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San Francisco on the 30th of July. One week later her brother-in-law came for her, and she proceeded to Sacramento.

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ETER KUNZ, proprietor of the Empire Nurseries, is one of the best known of the old residents of Sacramento. He is a native of Germany, born at Zeiskan, Bavaria, on the 11th of April, 1835, his parents being George Henry and Christina (Weigand) Kunz, the father a farmer and land owner. Peter Kunz spent his boyhood days at his native place, and received his education in the public schools be- tween the ages of six and fourteen years, and in 1851, in company with his brother John, lie came to America. They sailed from Havre in the sailship Germany, and landed in New York May 6, 1851. They remained in New York city eleven months, and then onr subject went to learn the nursery business with Peter Hen- derson & Bros., of Jersey City. He worked in the floral department and became expert in the care and handling of flowers. In 1854 Mr. Kunz and Chris Martin, a fellow-workman, came to California, leaving New York on the steamer Sonora, July 20, crossing the Isthinns by rail, and proceeding by sea on the steamer Empire, from which they landed at San Fran- cisco twenty-six days out from New York. Mr. Kunz obtained work in San Francisco with a man named Thomas Hayes, with whom he re- mained two and a half years. He then came to Sacramento, arriving here in August, 1856. He rented a place on Third street, between S and T, in partnership with Charles Shiminger, and they set about improving it. They got their stock from the Eastern States, and by the fall of 1861 they had made such progress that they had a splendid place, and were worth $50,- 000. That was the condition in which the floods of 1861-'62 found them. But when the deadly elements had finished their destructive work, it was seen that the result of the labor of years had been swept away at one fell blow, and

either partner would have sold ont to the other for $25! During the flood time, after he had put in the day, Mr. Kunz would row in a boat to the second story of the house where he slept, and there pass the night. Mr. Kunz had $700 in cash in his pockets, which, of course, the flood had left him, and about two months later he went to San Francisco and was married; when he returned with his bride he had $60 in his pocket. It cost him $300 to clear away the drift wood which was all over the place, to get started again, but that summer he cleared $2,000. This was not all done on this place here by any means. He first raised $500, then went to San Francisco, bought plants, shipped them to different parts of the State, and then auctioned them off. While Mr. Kunz keeps a few varieties of flowers, to cut for bouquets, he makes a specialty of small fruits and rhubarb. He purchased his present location, corner of Third and R streets, in 1863, moved into it in 1864, and has since made all the improvements. He was much damaged in this place by the flood of 1878, which was very destructive. He was married in San Francisco on the 9th of February, 1862, to Miss Louisa Ochs, a native of Spesert, Baden-Baden, and kept a public house. Her father died in 1849, and she came to America with her mother in 1854, locating in Jersey City. She came to California from there, landing at San Francisco January 13, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Kunz have six children, viz .: George, Annie, Rose, Louis, Lillie, and Chris- tina. Mr. Kunz is one of the oldest members of the Tehama Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M., having joined in 1858. He is a Republican on national issues, but in local matters is non- partisan. Mr. Kunz's parents both died in Jersey City-his father in 1865, and his mother in 1854. He had a brother named George IIenry Kunz, who came to California with Gen- eral Sutter, but our subject has lost trace of him since 1849, when he heard of his going to Valparaiso. He has a brother now living back East. Mrs. Kunz's mother died in Jersey City in 1867. Mrs. Kunz has a sister living in Ger-

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many, another is widow of Mr. Shiminger, and a third sister is the wife of Frank Kunz, of Union Nursery.

IRAM GRIBBLE, one of the well-known capitalists of Sacramento, is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Pine Grove, Cum- berland County, November 25, 1825, his parents being Abner and Catharine (Bumbaugh) Grib- ble. In Pennsylvania the father had charge of the wood-chopping for an iron-smelting estab- lishment. When Hiram Gribble was in his sixth year the family removed to Logan County, Ohio, and located on a farm. The subject of this sketch learned the saddler's trade at West Liberty, Logan County, Ohio, and followed it there until 1852. In that year he went to St. Louis (having determined to go to California), and there met a party of eleven from Michigan who were also bound for the new El Dorado, and joined them. Proceeding to St. Joseph, they outfitted there, and started with ox teams, one team of horses, an extra horse and three wagons. They crossed the Missouri River at a point four miles above St. Joseph, and went into camp for the night on the west side of the river, on the night of the 23d of April. One man was taken sick there. They traveled all the next day, and at night encamped at an In- dian mission, and two men were taken down with sickness on the way. A doctor at the mission said that the disease was small-pox, and the whole party except Mr. Gribble and the captain were vaccinated. The next night their camp was pitched on the Nemaha Creek, and the first sick man, named Cox, sat in one corner of the tent. They remained there eight or nine days nursing him, and finally concluded to re- summe the journey, and leave two men to care for the sick one. This was done, and eight days later Cox died, and his two nurses came on with the remaining team. When they came up with their comrades they had nothing but their team and the running gear of the wagon,

the remainder having been thrown away. Other teams passing by would not allow them to travel with them on account of their having had small- pox aboard. The party made good time, and when they reached the Humboldt, passed wagons that had gone by then on the Big and Little Blue. Their route was by Sublette's cut-off, Soda Springs, Steamboat Springs, Wadsworth and Truckee. From Reno they went to Sierra Valley (then Beckwith's Valley), and thence to Nelson's Creek in Plumas County. They went to mining in Little Meadow Valley, below Spanish Ranch, and remained there until the middle of September, when they proceeded to Marysville. Mr. Gribble came to Sacramento, arriving the latter part of September. Ile re- mained there until the fire of November, 1852, and a few days later went to what is now Cen- terville, El Dorado County, and remained there, mining. He remained but a few days, then re- turned to Sacramento, and went to work at Madison's harness and hardware store, corner of Sixth and J streets, the only place left standing by the fire. He remained there until Septem- ber, 1853, when he went to San Francisco, boarded a steamer and went back to Ohio, via Panama and New York. In the spring of 1854 he went to Westport, Missouri, and re- mained there that summer, again returning to Ohio. In the spring of 1858 he again went to New York, and on the 6th of March left for California on the steamer St. Louis. IIe crossed Panama and came on to San Francisco on the steamer John L. Stephens. He came to Sacra- mento and resumed work at the old place, which was then run by Smith & Wagonblast. IIe eventually bonght ont the business, and con- dneted it for four years; then in partnership with William Joseph embarked in the grocery business on the corner of Twelfth and E streets. Eleven months later they built on the corner of Front and I streets, and went into business there. The firm carried on the business there from May, 1869, to 1880, then built farther up on I street. In June, 1883, they went out of the business, having rented out both places.

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Mr. Joseph died in 1888. Mr. Gribble has been associated with business circles in Saera- mento for many years, and though not actively engaged in trade at this time, yet has important interests here which require his attention. Many changes have occurred since he first set foot in Sacramento; in fact there is nothing here now to remind one of those times except the topography of the land and water courses, and even in this respect there have been great changes. Mr. Gribble's mother is still living at West Liberty, Ohio, aged eighty-four. His father died about 1860. Of their nine children the subject of this sketch was the second in order of age, and all are yet living but one.

B. NIELSEN, one of the prominent citi- zens of Sacramento, was born at Sonder- burg, Schleswig-Holstein, August 27, 1828. His father, who was a merchant, died when the subject of this sketch was only four- teen years of age, about the time he had com- pleted his course in the public schools. H. B. Nielsen entered upon a seafaring life in 1844, inaking his first voyage to the West Indies on the ship Australia. During the next two years he made a trip around the world on the Skiold. Twice she went from Valparaiso to Mexican ports, thence to China, thence via the Cape of Good Hope to New York, where she arrived in 1848. Ile then shipped as a sailor on the American ship " Express," and with her made several trips to the West Indies. At Buenos Ayres he shipped on the German brig " Henry von Gagern," and went around Cape Horn to San Francisco, where he arrived on the 14th of An- gust, 1850. Ile proceeded to San Diego, where he was for a time engaged as a boatman, and, going out in a boat to meet the steamer Oregon, he was the first person in California to receive the news of her admission as a State into the Union. In January, 1851, he returned to San Francisco, and was for several months in the revenne service on the brig Lawrence. Ile then

started for the mines, and on the 5th of July, 1851, reached Sacramento. As one of a party of seven he went to El Dorado County, mined that summer at Long Bar, and toward winter went over below Auburn, where he was located for some time. In 1852 he took a trip East for pleasure, returning in 1853 to Auburn, where he learned that his old companions were up on the Yuba, at Washington, Nevada County, and went up there. He remained there and at Mis- souri Bar, engaged in river and surface mining until 1857, then went to Coloma, where he and some of his friends again engaged in mining. In the spring of 1858 he and two of his com- panions, John Stahl and Tennis Scholl, embarked in general mercantile trade at Louisville. In 1859 Mr. Nielsen sold out to his partners, and took another trip East, returning in the spring of 1860. He resumed business with his old partners and Theodore Maass, at the Half-Way House between Greenwood and Georgetown, and there remained until 1865, when he came to Sacramento. Mr. Nielsen, in partnership with Mr. Maass, engaged in business at the cor- ner of Seventh and N streets. The latter died in 1879 and Mr. Nielsen carried on the business until 1881, when he removed to Eighteenth and I, and there went out of business in 1884, on account of his health. He was married in this city in 1885. His wife's maiden name was Sarah C. Atterbury, and she is a native of Mis- souri. He has two children, viz .: Henry Har- rold and George Washington. His wife's children by her first husband are: Ellis and Lonisa. Mr. Nielsen is a Democrat politically. He was elected second trustee in 1883, and served one term in that capacity and was ex offieio street commissioner. Mr. Nielsen has been an officer in the Odd Fellows for about thirty years. He joined in Spanish Flat, and passed the chairs of the Georgetown Lodge. He is a trustee of the El Dorado Lodge, Sacramento, and is a director and treasurer of the Odd Fel- lows' Temple. He is a member of the Encamp- ment, Canton, and Rebekah Lodge, and a member of the General Relief Committee. Mr.

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Nielsen is an active, influential man, and enjoys, in a high degree, the confidence of the com- munity.

A. CASWELL, proprietor of the Inter- national Hotel, is to-day one of the representative hotel men of Sacra- mento, though he has been in the business but a comparatively short length of time. Mr. Cas- well is a native of Kingstown, Ontario, born December 29, 1842, his parents being Henry and Catharine (Miller) Caswell, both of whom were natives of Limerick, Ireland. On coming to America the father located on a farm near Kingstown, and there the subject of this sketch was reared and educated. In 1864 W. A. Cas- well came to California, taking the steamer Ariel from New York on the 23d of February, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, and landing at San Francisco from the steamer Constitution, March 18, 1864. He came at once to Sacra- mento and worked at anything at which he could obtain employment, but principally under B. R. Crocker, on the railroad work just com- mencing. After about a year of this employ- ment he went with Dr. Cluness, with whom he remained about two and a half years. His next occu pation was bill-posting, and he obtained thie ownership of the bill-boards and privileges. His business prospered and he kept adding to its scope. He started the transfer bus and ran it three or four years. For some years he had the agency for the Chronicle, and all northern news- papers, which paid well. He was also manager of the Metropolitan Theater. So that when he decided to give up his other business and em- bark in that of hotel-keeping, in 1885, he was leaving a prosperous business behind him. With characteristic energy he at once set about the improvement of the International IIotel, upon taking its proprietorship, and now has a house of great beauty in its finish, fittings and appointments. Doubtless most of the citizens of Sacramento would be astonished npon enter-

ing the hotel to observe the wonderful change which has come over the house. It requires, of course, some time to build up a trade for a hotel, even with the best of management, but such a hotel as the International now is, is certain to succeed and will repay the liberality with which it has been fitted np, regardless of expense, but mindful only of the comfort and convenience of the guests. The hotel is conducted on the Eu- ropean plan, and the spacious restaurant is open day and night. Mr. Caswell was married in Sacramento in October, 1870, to Miss Susan Gibbs, who came to the State from Illinois with her parents when a mere child. Their children are: Maude, William Henry, and Edison W. The parents of Mr. Caswell came to Sacramento in 1870, and here his father died in 1876. His mother, who is now seventy-six years old, and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Caswell, as does the latter's mother, who is aged seventy- five. Mr. Caswell is a member of Concord Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M .; of the Royal Arch Chapter, No. 3, and of Sacramento Com- mandery. He is a member of Capital Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F., and of Red Jacket Tribe, No. 28, Red Men. In politics he is a Republi- can. Mr. Caswell has made his start in this city, and his success has been won by close at- tention to business, and indomitable pluck and energy.

H. MEIERDIERKS, merchant, of Sacra- mento, is a native of Vegesack. a sister State of Bremen, Germany, born De- cember 12, 1841, his parents being Bernard and Annie Meierdierks. His father was a cook by profession, and followed that vocation on the sea. C. H. Meierdierks attended the public schools from the age of six to fourteen, and then studied navigation, after following the sea, to be admitted in the Bremen Navigation School. He had not passed his fifteenth birth- day when he entered upon his nautical career on the sailship Clio, Captain Fröhling, which

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was in the New York and East India trade. He was on this vessel five years, and while with her became a full seaman. His next vessel was the Isabella, a passenger ship which ran to New York, and after her the Bernard, on which he was a portion of the time first mate. Some of his other vessels were the Emma and the Con- stantia (formerly the Susan Faring). During his seafaring career he traveled all over the globe, and was in the China trade six years. Ilis last vessel was the Frederick Hardwick, Captain Kohlmann, and he left her at Bremen in 1871. In 1872 he came to California via Panama, and arrived at Sacramento on the 13th of April. Ile engaged first along shore, after- ward with Millikin Bros., next with C. Lages & Co., and finally with T. H. Cook & Co. In 1876 he started in business for himself on the northwest corner of Twelfth and O streets, where he has since continued, and where he has built up an extensive trade. Mr. Meierdierks was married in Germany to Miss Metha Eliza- beth Toengis, a native of that country. They have five children, viz .: Willie, born in Ger- many, who commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Simmons, of Sacramento, and is now in the State University at Berkeley; Charles, Ben, Annie and George. One died, viz .: Eddie. Mr. Meierdierks is a well-known and respected citizen, and enjoys the confidence of a large circle of friends.

M ARTIN KESTLER .- Among the manu- facturers of the Capital City is the above named gentleman. Mr. Kestler was born at Hartsville, Loraine, in April, 1832, his parents being Martin, Sr., and Mary (Mom- ber) Kestler, the father a looking-glass mann- facturer. The subject of this sketch was but one year old when his father died, and in 1845 the family took passage on the sailship Swans- down, at Ilavre, for America. They landed at New Orleans in the fall, and in the spring of 1846 went to St. Louis, all except the brother,

who remained in New Orleans. At St. Louis our subject engaged first at the occupation of peddling vegetables, and when he became strong enough went to Stendaman's shop to learn the wagon-maker's trade. He worked at several other shops, among them that of Jacob Bersch. In 1852 a party of four was formed to go to California, composed as follows: Mr. Kestler, subject of this sketch, Henry Fisher, who after- ward died at Marysville; John Tsa, who in after years ran a ferry on Sacramento River; and a blacksmith, whose given name.was Henry, and who was afterward killed by the caving in of a mine near Diamond Spring. They bought a wagon and five yoke of cattle, laid in a stock of provisions, and started on the 28th of Febru- ary. Going to St. Joseph, they crossed the Missouri River there on the 1st of May. Their routes were by Forts Kearney and Laramie, thence by Sublette's cut-off, Truckee and the Sierra Valley into California. Part of the journey was made with one of the trains cross- ing that year, but the latter part of the way they had as company only one wagon and its owners, who were from St. Charles, Missouri. They sold their team at Sierra Villa, and trav- eled afoot thirty miles to Downieville, where they arrived about the 23d of September. The next day Mr. Kestler packed out with a mule, got down to Foster's Bar, and thence took the stage to Marysville, and from there proceeded in the same manner to Sacramento. He went to work for Gouge & Bauman, who had a shop on Sixth street, between J and K, where the Belvidere Hotel now stands. He was with them until they were burned out in the fire of No- vember, 1852, then went to work as a carpenter for contractor Fidler, who erected a number of substantial buildings. The flood, later in the year, stopped that work, and Mr. Kestler went to work on a farm opposite the Sacramento brewery. A couple of months later he obtained employment in the brewery, and in September, 1853, he started a blacksmith and wagon-making shop on Ninth street, between I and J, in part- nership with Ilenry Geisel, now deceased. The

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latter retired from the firm in about three years, and Mr. Kestler continued the business at that place until 1859, when he built at his present location on Ninth street, between J and K. He now has large and well equipped buildings with a frontage of eighty feet on Ninth street, eighty fcet on an alley, and an L extending to J street, where he also has twenty feet frontage. The flood of 1862 did little damage to him on account of his buildings being substantially con- structed of brick, though but little work was done for a couple of months. He has built up a large trade, employs a number of skilled workmen, and manufactures anything that runs on wheels. Being a highly skilled workman himself, he knows how to set his work correctly, and thereby receives the work of some firms who will not employ any one else. Mr. Kestler was married in Sacramento June 7, 1855, to Miss Phillipina Darber, a native of Nassau, Germany, who came here in an early day from Galena, Illinois, with her mother, her father having previously died. Mr. and Mrs. Kestler have four children living, viz .: Gustav Adolph, who resides at Willows; Amelia, Kittie, Elnora and Frederick Henry. Mr. Kestler has passed the chairs of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is now a trustee of the lodge. He is also an officer of the Sacramento Turn-Verein, which he joined shortly after its organization. He became a member of Protection Engine Company, No. 2, in 1854, and was connected with it mnost of the time until the paid fire department came into vogue. Ile is now an exempt fireman. Mr. Kestler has made his start in Sacramento, hav- ing lost even all his extra clothing at Marysville. He ranks among the best citizens of this city, and enjoys the respect and esteem of the com- inunity.

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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