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 54

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 54

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OHN SKELTON, one of the prominent citizens of Sacramento, was born at North Shields, Northumberland, England, April 19, 1837, and is a son of Thomas Skelton. His mother's maiden name was Reed. His father was a dranghtsman of marked skill and ability, as well as a thorough and practical ship carpen- ter and joiner. Jolın Skelton was reared at his native place, and there received his educa- tion in the private schools. At the age of six- teen years he was bound out to a foundryman, and learned the moulder's trade. His parents having died, however, he determined to leave the country of his birth and seek his fortune in foreign lands. In accordance with this decision he sailed from Liverpool, January 6, 1857, on

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the sailship The Protector, of Bath, his destina- tion being California. The voyage proved a memorable one, and will never be forgotten by those who participated. When off Cape Horn they were caught in a terrible storm, and 60 imminent was the danger of going to the bot- tom that the captain ordered the mate to cut away the masts. The mate answered, "No, sir! If we live this storm out, we will need those masts." So they were let stand. Although all hands had given up hope, the storm was ridden ont safely. No port was touched at by the vessel on the entire voyage, though an un- successful attempt was once made. Water for drinking purposes gave out, and it became necessary to spread the sails to catch rain. They tried to make the harbor of San Francisco on the 3d of July, but before they had entered the Golden Gate a heavy fog obscured vision, and the vessel drifted about for over two days wait- ing for a chance to get in. Burning barrels were cast overboard, and fog-horns were con- stantly blown, but neither answer nor pilot came. When the fog cleared so that objects could be seen, it was discovered that the ship- was on the point of running into a bank, there being just time to avoid it. They landed on the 6th of July. Mr. Skelton then came to Sacramento by boat, and was soon engaged in the wood business at the corner of Front and N streets. Two years later he secured a contract from the Steam Navigation Company to move the freight brought by the company's steamers for the Folsom Railroad, using a two-horse truck in the work, and receiving $250 per month in payment. He then re-entered the wood business on J street, between Second and Third. Two and a half years later he removed to his present location, on Fifth and I streets. Mr. Skelton was married in England, to Miss Elizabeth Ann Hunter, a native of North Shields, England. They have three children, viz .: Eliphalet, John Thomas, a clerk in the Southern Pacific Railroad office, and Mabel. Mr. Skelton, a Republican politically, is a member of the School Board of Sacramento,

and takes an active interest in everything per- taining to the advancement of the cause of edu- cation. He is a member of Tehamna Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M .; Capital Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F .; is Chaplain of Ben Bow Lodge, Sons of St. George, and for 1889 representative in Grand Lodge from the local lodge of Chosen Friends, and was elected one of the Grand Trustees, also Treasurer of Lodge 96, Chosen Friends, of Sacramento.

HILIP SCHELD .-- Among the solid, sub- stantial citizens of Sacramento is the gen- tleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Germany, born in the town of Giessen, Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darinstadt, October 13, 1827, his parents being John and Kate (Bellow) Scheld. His father was a wheel- wright by trade, that having been the occupa- tion of the family for several generations. Philip Scheld was reared at his native place, and re- ceived his education at the Government schools between the ages of six and fourteen years, and assisting his father in the labors of the farm on which the family inade their home. In 1845 he came to America in company with his broth- er Henry, sailing from Bremen June 4, on the sailing vessel Neptune, and landing at Philadel- phia July 11. He engaged at the baker's trade at Philadelphia, and remained there two years, lis place of employment being located on Cal- lowhill street, between Eighth and Ninth. His brother remained in that city, at the cabinet- making trade, until 1849, when, in company with twenty-four others, he went to New Or- leans, and thence by way of Monterey, Durango and Mazatlan, to the Pacific coast, where they took a sailing vessel to San Francisco. He be- came a miner and is still a resident of Califor- nia, living at Yreka, where he is a prominent man and the owner of the water-works system, which he constructed. Philip Scheld received a letter from this brother, advising him to come to California, and he decided to leave Baltimore,

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where he had been for a year and a half, and try his fortune in the "land of gold." He left Baltimore on the steamer Philadelphia, Febru- ary 4, 1850, went to Panama, crossed the Isth- mus by boat and afoot, his effects being packed across by mule. On the Pacific side he took passage on the steamer California, for San Francisco, where he arrived on the 24th of March. He paid $16 for his passage to Sacra- mento on the steamer Hartford, being a day and a half on the way. He proceeded on to Coloma, El Dorado County, taking a four-ox team. When he arrived there he learned his brother had departed. The latter had gone to Volcano, but Mr. Scheld did not know his whereabouts, although they mct several weeks later at Volcano, where a company was trying to flume the river at Volcano Bar. Mr. Scheld, with a partner, Daniel Troy, started in baking for a hotel; eventually it was found that the landlord could not pay them, and they had to take the property. Their quarters were too small, however, and they built a larger house, and they also built the Sierra Nevada Hotel, which is still running. They continued that business until the fall of 1852, and Mr. Scheld was in Sacramento with a team obtaining sup- plies on the day of the great fire. It had not commenced when he left, however, and he was informed of it next day, on the road to Coloma. He closed out his business at the mines, and he and his brother sold out between 400 and 500 hogs which they had accumulated, at Sacra- mento, and they were here when the flood of 1852 came on. Mr. Scheld and brother became engaged in teaming between Sacramento and the mines, and continued in that business for years. Then he rented the brewery on East M street, and a month later bought it. No one could recognize the slightest resemblance be- tween the small plant of that day and the large establishment of the present, known as the Sacramento; yet comparison is easy, as the old building, with shingles off, now stands nn- used on the premises. On the 22d of Febru- ary, 1856, the next day after the completion of

the Folsom Railroad, he shipped beer to Fol- som, getting $21 per barrel, the price now being from $6 to $9. By the flood of 1862 he had considerable malt and barley damaged, and also lost about twenty casks of wine which he had made on the Norris grant. He has rebuilt the Sacramento Brewery with modern improve- ments, and it now ranks with the best. Mr. Scheld was married in Sacramento, April 7, 1858, to Miss Margaret Fritz, a native of Ger- many, born near Mayence, on the Rhine, who came to Sacramento in 1857. They have one son, Adolph, who is now traveling in Europe, and who has been trained to the banking busi- ness. Mr. Scheld has been a director in the Sacramento Savings Bank for about twelve years. He has large interests in this locality, and considerable land in Southern California, principally in Los Angeles County. Mr. Scheld joined Confidence Company, No. 2, Volunteer Fire Department, in 1863, and is now a mnem- ber of the Exempt Firemen. He joined the Sacramento Turn-Verein in 1857, and is yet an active member. Mr. Scheld is an enterprising man, and does his share in the matter of public improvements.

J. SENATZ, proprietor of the Mississippi Kitchen, Sacramento, was born March 1, 1830, in Philadelphia, his parents being Frederick and Maria (Lingg) Senatz. His father, a native of Berlin, Prussia, was a soldier for the first Napoleon, being on that fateful in- vasion of Russia and at the burning of Moscow. At the age of fourteen years young Senatz started out in the world for himself and was first employed as third cook on an Ohio River steamboat, and then in a similar capacity on the Mississippi River, all the way from the Falls of St. Anthony to New Orleans. His boat also made trips up the Yazoo and Arkansas Rivers. In 1849-'50 he aided in the transportation of Indians to their territory for the United States Government. In 1852 he came with a party

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made up from the boat, the Banner State, over- land to California, with ox teams. On the way they ascertained that they were in the middle of the great stream of immigration to this State that year, 15,000 wagons having gone ahead of them. The true cause of this great rush, not generally known or remembered at the present day, was the fact that Congress had extended into that year the privilege of every man and his wife entering a quarter-section of land in Oregon, besides eighty acres more for every child. They avoided coming by way of Salt Lake on account of their taking with them from Fort Laramie Colonel Deadman, who had been active in driving out the Mormons from Mis- souri; for if he should be found with a train he said the Mormons would kill every one of them! With shrewd and energetic management they got through with their journey with the loss of but one of the cattle. One of the party on the route slyly drank up their gallon of brandy, the only liquor they had for cases of sickness, and had substituted in the demijohn a pomade con- sisting of alchohol and coffee; and when they administered this to a sick man, thinking it was the brandy, it was the last drink that man ever took. On the way they picked up an abandoned cow with her calf, and took good care of them as they brought them along; and when they reached the Sink of the Humboldt, they over- took parties who claimed them. The decision of the matter being left to other parties, it was determined that the claimant might have them if they would pay $50 for the care that had been taken of them; but it was doubtful whether they ever had been the owners, and even if they had been, it is certain they would have never seen them again had it not been for the energy of others. The experiences of Mr. Senatz and his party were exciting, and would be interesting to relate had we space here. At Bear Valley a man bought all their horses, cattle and wagons, to be delivered at Little York, fifteen miles fur- ther on; and there they saw the first house since leaving the Missouri River excepting those at Forts Kearney and Laramie. Each party had

paid in $105 at St. Joseph for the expenses of the trip, and now, on the sale of their ontfit, each drew $125. Putting up a shake house at Little York, they bought a $100 claim and be- gan mining, but with poor results. Then they came on to Sacramento, arriving here October 14, 1852. Mr. Senatz was first employed as cook in the Golden Eagle Hotel by D. E. Cal- lahan, at $300 a month. The great fire of No- vember 2, 1852, destroyed the hotel, but Mr. Callahan hurried up a shanty and continued business. In the spring he put np a brick hotel. But Mr. Senatz, after making several attempts for an independent business here, went to Pin's Grove, at Sears' diggings, and opened a hotel which he named the Mountain Cottage. This proving a poor investment, he returned to Sa- cramento and re-engaged with Mr. Callahan. In May, 1855, he went back to Philadelphia, by way of Panama, and in January, 1856, returned to Sacramento and again entered Mr. Callahan's employ. In June, 1868, he went to Victoria, during the gold excitement on Fraser River, leaving his family in San Francisco. He fur- nished a hotel there, on ground he had leased for a year, and made money; but the proprietors then offered for sale their lots on condition that the purchasers should become British subjects within three years; and this was the occasion of Mr. Senatz's quitting that country. Going again to Philadelphia, in 1859, he commenced business there; but the next year he returned here to Sacramento and went to work for Tubbs & Patten, who had leased the Golden Eagle Ho- tel; and a few months later he bought a half interest in the City Hotel, and in partnership with James Schoonmaker, ran that establish- ment. The next year he purchased the latter's interest. At the expiration of the lease he bought the What-Cheer House, now the Grand Hotel, foot of Clay street. The raising of K street cost him so much that he had to quit the place in 1868. Then he kept a restaurant in San Francisco and then hotel at Gilroy. In 1878 he returned to Sacramento and again took the City Hotel, and conducted it until 1881;

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since the 12th of March of that year he has had his present situation, where he is enjoying great successs. September, 1856, he married Miss Annie L. Johnson, a native of Philadelphia, and they have one daughter, Mary E. Although Mr. Senatz has had a life so wonderfully varied, he yet appears young and is jovial and genial in his nature. He is one of the organizers of the Sacramento Light Artillery, is a Veteran Odd Fellow, joining El Dorado Lodge, No. 8, in 1862, and passing all the chairs; also a mem- ber of Council No. 65, O. C. F. He is a stanch Republican and is a member of the Board of Education.

C. CHIPMAN .- Among the enterpris- ing young men of Sacramento, who, while making a success of the lines of trade represented by them, yet take an active interest in the affairs of the day, is the gentleman with whose name this article cominences. He is a native of this city, born January 1, 1853, his parents being Seth and Margaret E. (Brown) Chipman, a native of South Carolina. Seth Chipman, a native of South Carolina, was reared in Schuyler County, Illinois, and was there married to Margaret E. Brown, danghter of Daniel Brown, who came to California across the plains in 1850. Daniel Brown was con- nected with the Pioneer Mills as a millwright in the early days. He also assisted in the con- struction of the Stockton Water Mills at Fol- so', the Sacramento Mills and the Starr Bros. Mill at South Vallejo. His positions were those of foreman and contractor on the work men- tioned. Sacramento was for many years his headquarters, and he has a wide acquaintance here, but is now a resident of Monterey. Seth Chipman came across the plains to California with his family in 1851, accompanying an Illi- nois party and locating in Sacramento. A few years later he removed to Yolo County, and followed stock-ranching there until 1858, when a farın was purchased from F. R. Dray, located 23

in Sacramento County, about six miles below the city. There he continued his business of stock-raising. His death occurred in San Fran- cisco, from cancer. He had been a Whig in the days of that party, but, with the majority of its members, afterward joined the Republican party. The family continued to live on the ranch until February, 1866, when they removed to Sacramento. H. C. Chipman was educated in the public schools of this city. On the 2d of July, 1868, he went to work at the trade of sign and ornamental painting, with James M. Calvyn, a pioneer, and remained with him until February 19, 1883, the first four years as an apprentice and workinan, and after that as a partner. His work has been in this city and tributary territory, with headquarters at Sacra- mento. Mr. Chipman was married August 8, 1878, to Miss Adelaide Weinreich, a native of Sacramento, and a daughter of Henry Wein- reich, whose sketch appears elsewhere. They have two children, viz .: Henry W. and Loretta A. Mr. Chipman was a charter member of Sacramento Parlor, No. 3, N. S. G. W., of which he was twice president, as well as president of the Grand Parlor. He is an active working Republican, and a prominent factor in the party organization. IIe was elected a member of the School Board in November, 1886, and re-elected in 1888. He is an artist in his busi- ness, and a man generally respected for liis many excellent qualities.

LARENCE N. NELSON .- It is uni- versally conceded by those conversant with the facts that Sacramento has a trade with the outside world quite unusual for a city of her population, and figures can readily be given in support of this statement; yet it is true that the total amount is materially swelled by including the business of some houses gen- erally overlooked in estimates of this kind. The establishment of Clarence N. Nelson, at 327 K street, is a case in point. One might pass it

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every day in the year and yet have no idea of its importance. Yet from the most remote points of the Pacific Coast orders are daily coming to Mr. Nelson for large bills of goods, the amounts of which would be surprising to the uninitiated. He manufactures and handles nothing but saddles and their belongings, prin- cipally for stockmen's use, and has the only ex- clusive saddlery house on the coast, which has been built up entirely by his own energetic efforts. As Mr. Nelson is the representative of one of the old families of the city, a brief per- sonal sketch of himself and family has a fitting place in this connection. He is a native of New Haven, Connecticut, born January 9, 1848, and son of A. T. and Harriet (Robinson) Nelson. A. T. Nelson was born at Johnsburghı, New York, and came of an old family of the Empire State. He was reared at Schaghticoke, and after his marriage at Glens Falls, went to Memphis, Tennessee, thence to Norwich, Con- nectient, and thence to New Haven. In 1852 he came to California via Nicaragua, but had the misfortune to be a passenger on a steamer that was wrecked, thus necessitating a stay on the Isthmus that extended six months, and the journey to San Francisco being eventually made on a sailing vessel. He came at once to Sacra- mento, and opened two establishments in the harness-making line, one on the corner of Fourth and K, and the other on J, between Sixth and Seventh. The fire of 1852 reduced both places to ashes. The fire of 1854 de- stroyed a building he had just constructed at 327 K street (present number). He rebuilt soon afterward, however, and thereatter carried on business at that location. His family came out to join him in 1855, leaving New York on the 2d of February, on the steamer North Star, crossing the Isthmus of Panama on mules and by team, and coming to San Francisco on the steamer George Law, which was afterward de- stroyed by fire, its name having been changed to Central America. A. T. Nelson was an active business man till the time of his death, which occurred December 23, 1876. He was a

pronounced Republican politically, and held posts of honor and trust in this city. He con- tracted pneumonia (his fatal illness) while serving as chairman of the building committee of the Board of Education, at the time of the construction of the High School. He was at the same time superintendent of the city ceme. teries. He was a prominent and active mem- ber of the Masonic order, and for seven years was Master of Tehama Lodge. He had also been presiding officer of Sacramento Council, and a member of Sacramento Commandery and Knight Templar. A beautiful gold medal, the gift of his lodge, is now in the hands of his son, Clarence N. It bears the following in- scription: " Presented to P. M. A. T. Nelson, by members of Tehama Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M., for faithful service as W. M. of said lodge for Masonic years of 5856, 5857 and 5858." He had a legion of friends, and his deathi was universally regretted. Clarence N. Nelson, whose name heads this article, was but a child when his family came to Sacramento, and he received his education in the public schools of this city and in a commercial college. He commenced the saddle and harness-making trade with his father in 1865, and in April, 1875, became a partner in the business, buying out the interest of J. P. Mason in the firm, which then became A. T. Nelson & Son. He succeeded to the entire business after his father's death. IIe sold out the harness business in 1886, for the purpose of handling saddles ex- clusively. Mr. Nelson was married at Santa Clara, to Miss Maggie Prior, a native of New York, who came to California in 1862. They have three children, viz .: Hattie, Lillian and Alton P., all of whom are completing their education at the University of the Pacific, San José. Mr. Nelson is serving his second term as Master of Tehama Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is a member of Sacramento Chapter, No. 3, and of Sacramento Council, also of Capital Lodge, I. O. O. F. Ile is an active and influ- ential Republican. Mr. Nelson is an enter- prising man, and certainly deserves credit for

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his success in adding another to the list of Sacramento industries.

ICHOLAS SCHADT, one of the early comers to this country, now a resident of Sacramento, is a native of Prussia, born December 16, 1835, his parents being Peter and Susan Schadt, the father a farmer by occur- pation. Nicholas Schadt was but a year old when the family came to America, choosing the neighborhood of Tiffin, Ohio, for residence. In 1851 they came to California via New York and Panama. The trip across the Isthmus was an eventful one, six days having been spent navigating the Chagres River by means of a slow barge, pushed by poles, while a two days' journey on foot and by mule-back completed the undertaking. At Aspinwall the family took passage on the steamer Constitution, for San Francisco, the voyage occupying twenty- seven days. A few days later they came to Sacramento, and after three or four weeks in the city they removed to the Yolo side of the Sacramento River. The next year they located on a dairy ranch two miles up the river. In 1853 Peter Schadt lost his wife by death, and in 1855 he sold ont his place to his sons, Nicho- las and Louis, and his son-in-law, M. Bryte, and went East, where he was again married, and afterward took np his residence in San Fran- cisco. There his death occurred in 1873. Nicholas Schadt received his schooling in Ohio, and grew to manliood on the farm in Yolo County. This farm contained 1,400 acres, and the dairy interest thereon was quite extensive. In 1876 he sold out his interests there and re- moved to Sacramento. In 1878 he built the large and substantial brick building on K street, between Seventh and Eighth, which has a front- age of forty feet on K, with a depth of 140 feet, while an L forty feet in width extends to Eighth street. This building is well adapted to busi- ness and residence use, and the family make their residence on the second floor. Mr. Schadt

is a member of Union Lodge, No. 21, A. O. U. W. He is an honored and respected citizen, and withal an eye-witness to much of the change that has taken place in this region, and to many interesting incidents of history. Mr. Schadt was married in New Brunswick, to Miss Georgi- ana Stewart, granddaughter of General Stewart. They had ten children, eight of whom are living, viz .: Anna Elizabeth May, Frederick William, Edwin Nicholas, Alice Josephine, George Franklin, Della Florence, Norman Stewart, Lillian Viola, James Lester and Edna Alma.

REND SCHADEN .- Among the enter- prising merchants who have commenced their business career iu Sacramento is the gentlem in with whose name this sketch com- mences. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, born on the 9th day of October, 1845, and is a son of Henry and Anna (Winters) Schaden. His father followed a seafaring life, and for years was a cook on trans-Atlantic passenger vessels. Arend Schaden spent his boyhood days at his native place, and attended school from the age of six to fourteen. During the next five years he was at sea most of the time, his first voyage having been from Bremenhaven to New Orleans. This was at the opening of the American civil war, and the vessel he was on having been detained on a bar for ninety-five days, was the last to leave the Crescent City afte the blockade had been established by the Union fleet. The vessel returned to Bremen, thence went to Guttenburg, from there to Cape Town, and next to Rangoon, India. From there the vessel returned to Bremen, stopping at St. Helena. He was next promoted to the position of steward, and in that capacity made another trip to the East Indies, this time to Akyab, on the Bay of Bengal. On his return to Bremen he entered the service of another vessel, com- manded by Captain Thiernau, this time a light sailor, with nearly a first-class seaman's wages.

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While at New York he left the vessel and de- termined to locate in the United States. He obtained employment in the grocery store of J. Brummerhop, on the corner of East Broadway and Rutgers street, in the capacity of clerk, and was so employed until he came to California. He left New York November 28, 1868, and came to San Francisco via Panama, completing the trip on Christmas day. On the following day he came to Sacramento, and on the 1st of Jannary he entered the employ of his uncle, Herman Winters. He was thus occupied until October, 1870, at which time he formed a part- nership with S. D. Fuller in the grocery busi- ness under the firm name of Schaden & Fuller. which continued for five years. He then pur- chased his partner's interest, and five years later moved across the street to his present location in 1880. Mr. Schaden was married in Sacra- mento, March 8, 1874, to Miss Meta Sanders, a native of Bremen. They have two children, viz .: Alfred and Anna Gesme. Two have died, named Arend Otto and Johnson Henry. Mr. Schaden has made his start in Sacramento, and now holds a high place among business men of the city, which he has reached by his own business ability and integrity. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, as also of Capital Lodge, I. O. O. F., and has passed the chairs in Cosumnes Tribe of Red Men.

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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