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 55

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 55

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OHN AUGUST LAUFKOTTER, a pioneer of Sacramento, was born in the town of Weinenburg, Province of Westphalia, Ger- many, July 19, 1812. His parents were Frans and Sophia (Kalthoff) Laufkotter. His father was mayor of the town, had a tanyard, with a tract of land adjoining, a pottery and a hotel. The subject of this biographical outline, the youngest of his eight children, was reared in his native town to the age of ten years, attending gymnasium from the age of ten to fourteen. At the age of eighteen years he volunteered in a rifle company in the Government service, in the

Volunteer Rifle Corps, and served one year. October 2, 1834, he sailed from Bremen, and November 28 arrived in Baltimore, on the Johannes. Having a letter of recommendation to a nobleman in Baltimore, with whose sister he was acquainted, he went to Wheeling, West Virginia, being one of four private passengers. He brought with him money, clothes and tools, such as saws of all kinds and chains, etc., and remained in Wheeling for a few days, or until the steamboat was ready, and he sailed on down to Louisville, Kentucky, and a few days later proceeded on his way to St. Louis, with four persons, two brothers and another man and his wife, who had been put in the second cabin. No city in the United States where so many educated Germans as in St. Lonis. Some of his fellow-countrymen met him on the wharf, and afterward, as they were standing in the Swiss Hotel, John A. Sutter came up and said to Mr. Lanfkotter that he wanted to start a colony, and asked him whether he had tools, etc. The latter replied, Yes. There were many Swiss in St. Louis then, among them captains, professors, etc., who were spending a great deal of money in that city. Twice a week they at- tended the German club. From two men who had been in the Rocky Mountain region Mr. Laufkotter heard of a company going to Santa Fé to form a colony. Before arrangements were perfected, Sutter went to St. Charles to reside, not far from St. Louis, as living was consider- ably cheaper there, and in the meantime some parties lost confidence in him. Friends per- snaded Mr. Laufkotter to go into business. Ac- cordingly he engaged a partner and rented a building; but before starting in trade he went to Belleville, Illinois, Peoria, etc., hunting a good location; but, not being satisfied, he returned to St. Lonis, where a friend met him and proposed to go into business with him at St. Charles, run- ning a grocery and saloon. This offer was ac- cepted, and they made money " hand over fist." Sntter, residing there, would visit him every day. One day he told Sutter there was a chance then for him to get off, there being Frenchmen

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in St. Louis who could tell him about Santa Fé. Accordingly, Sutter went to work and by spring got together seventeen men, with a few mules and equipments. They met and appointed Laufkotter, Sutter and Mr. Keiser a committee to go to St. Louis and buy goods. Repairing there, they lived in high style and ran in debt $6,000, the company signing a mutual note for the amount. The goods were insured and sent on the steamboat to Independence. The com- mittee returned to St. Charles and got every- thing ready for starting, and Mr. Laufkotter went to St. Louis again to say Good by; and while there had a social time with the wholesale merchant, and the Russian consul, etc. From a man who had just arrived from New Orleans to join the party, Sutter obtained $1,300 as his share in the enterprise. But when all seemed ready to start there was no money in the treas-

ury. Sutter hustled around in St. Charles and obtained $100 from a miller, other money from other men, and a doctor gave him a medicine chest worth $80. Most of the party went by steamner to Independence, and eight or ten went by land with wagons; but Laufkotter and Sut- ter by carriage. This they smashed to pieces in going down a rough hill. Sutter got together $200 more; but Laufkotter endeavored to have him deposed as captain, as fighting was expected on the plains. He sold his interest in the com- pany, 8400, to Sutter, for 35 per cent. The faction following Laufkotter had plenty of beef, with mint sauce, while Sutter and his men had only bacon. The latter returned to the States,

while Mr. Laufkotter, with a number of picked men and furnished with tools, went to the mines at Rio del Dolores, where the Alcalde measured off a place for them; but for the first ten days' work they obtained only $5 worth of gold. Mr. Laufkotter then kept a saloon on the Plaza in Santa Fé, and afterward added the dry-goods trade and then a billiard hall. Was laid up with sickness, having to lie four weeks on the floor, when the only one to attend to him was a Freuchman who had been a body-guard to Na- poleon. On recovery he joined the Americans

who were going out to meet the Apaches in Arizona, on a trading expedition. During this journey he experienced many a memorable scene of privation, narrow escape and romantic passage .of life. From this trip he returned to the States, and in 1837-'38 made another journey into northern Mexico, also full of exciting adven- ture. One morning they killed seven grizzly bears before breakfast! During this expedition they found the Apaches hostile to the Ameri- cans, and it required several days to convince them that he was not an American. He made peace with them, giving them peace papers. For a number of years after this he was a resi- dent of Missouri, where he was in partnership with a man in a drug-store. On the breaking out of the gold excitement he came across the plains with an ox team in 1849, arriving in Sac- ramento October 10 with his family. On arriv- ing here he first erected a simple dwelling, 18 x 30 feet, near where the present city ceme- tery is, sawing ont, with the aid of another man, a great portion of the lumber with a whip-saw.

For the lumber sheeting he paid $1,400. After- ward he moved into a house which he had to vacate upon the location of the present capitol grounds; and then he bought his present fine property, 20 x 80 feet, being the southeast cor- ner of Tenth and J streets. It was then only a one story structure, but he has since added a second story, and an expensive double portico, and he has always kept the building in a fine condition. He now occupies the second story as a dwelling, while the first story yields him a good permanent income. Mr. Laufkotter mar- ried in the old country Miss Jasper, and came with her in 1843 to this country, landing at New Orleans. Settling upon a farm in Jersey County, Illinois, he followed agriculture there for five or six years, and then went to St. Louis, as already mentioned. He has four children living, all residents of Sacramento: William, Clement and Charles are engaged in boring wells, and in other mechanical enterprises; and Emma is keeping house for her father. Mr. Laufkotter has led a remarkable life. He is a

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well-preserved, fine-looking old gentleman, cour- teons, affable and vivacious. His romantic ca- reer is referred to in a large German work entitled, " In der neuen Heimath," which is a collection of historical miscellanies concerning prominent Germans in this country; and Mr. Laufkotter has ready for the press a very large work written by himself.

C. PIERSON, superintendent of the Capi- tal Gas Company of Sacramento, is a na- tive of Connecticut, born in Fairfield County, May 3, 1852. Both parents were natives of New York State. In the latter part of 1851 the father started for California via Panama, arriving early in 1852. He was for many years engaged in mining in the northern part of the State, but in 1883 came to Sacra- mento to locate. J. C. Pierson, the subject of this sketch, was reared in New York State, and educated at Huntington, Long Island. Hle studied engineering with William H. Debe- voice, in New York. He became connected with the James F. Joy corporation, operating in the West, and was for some time engaged in exploration and preliminary railroad work for them in Kansas and Nebraska. He was there employed in the Atchison & Nebraska, and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé lines. In 1872 he came to Nevada, and in the following year to California, being connected with the Colfax & Grass Valley and the Central Pacific Rail- roads. In 1878 he was appointed engineer in charge of the work done by the Sacramento River Drainage District, and conducted the work done by the State on Bear River. In 1879 he was elected county surveyor, taking the office in 1880, and held it by virtue of re- election to 1888, inclusive. In January, 1888, he became superintendent of the Capital Gas Company of Sacramento. Mr. Pierson is a member of the K. of II., and of the K. and L. of II. He is a member of the Technical Society of the Pacific Coast. He was married in 1877

to Miss Susie Boyd, of San Francisco, a native of California. Mr. Pierson is an active, able man, and is a valnable addition to the citizen- ship of Sacramento.

EUBOURG & LAGES, wholesale dealers in brewers' supplies and mannfacturers of malt, are one of the representative firms of Sacramento. The house commenced business as Bachmann, Lages & Co., in 1866, the mem- bers at that time being C. F. Bachmann, C. Lages and L Neubourg. In 1869 they bought ont the interest of C. Weil, in the grocery bnsi- ness, corner of Eleventh and J streets, in con- nection with F. H. Rusch, and that business was thereafter continued under the name of La- ges & Rusch, until the death of Mr. Rasch in 1870. They carried on trade there under the name of Lages & Co., from the time of Mr. Rusch's death till 1875, when they sold out the grocery business. On the 1st of Jannary, 1876, the firm became, by the retirement of Mr. Bach- mann, as at present constituted,-Nenbourg & Lages. Their extensive building on Fifth street has a frontage of sixty feet, by eighty feet in depth, and is two stories in height with basement, the latter being used in the mannfact- ure of malt. They also have a mill in operation for the manufacture of all kinds of meal. Their trade extends throughout Northern and Eastern California, Nevada and Utah, and is of very large proportions. They also do a heavy busi- ness in the exportation of hops throughout the entire United States and Europe. Leonard Nenbourg of this firm is a native of the princi- pality of Lippe-Detmold, Northern Germany, born October 31, 1828, his parents being Rev. Carl (a minister of the Reformed Church). and Johanna (Curtins) Nenbourg. He attended pri- vate school to the age of sixteen years, then entered the mercantile trade as an apprentice, afterward .being advanced to the position of clerk. Ile came to America in 1854, sailing from Bremenhaven on the 31st of August, on

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

the steamer Germania, afterward used as a trans- port during the Crimean war. He landed at New York September 20, and a couple of weeks later went to Butler County, and Cincinnati, Ohio. A year later he went to Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where he clerked and kept books in a brewery. He came to California in 1859, leaving New York on the steamer Western Star, crossing the Isthmus of Panama, and landing at San Francisco from the steamer Golden Age, October 16. He came to Sacramento and clerked for Weil & Co., until the firmn of Bach- mann, Lages & Co. was formed in 1866, with him as a member. Mr. Nenbourg was married in 1869 to Miss Dora Kerssenbrock, a native of Germany. They have six children, viz .: Clara, Annie, Lottie, Ida, Carl and George. He is a member of Walhalla Grove, U. A. O. D., in which he passed the chairs. He is president of the Germania Loan & Building Association, and has been one of its directors for nine years, and president since May, 1887. He is a pleas- ant, affable gentleman, and a good business man.

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HRISTOPHER LAGES, of the firin of Neubourg & Lages, was born at Vegeseck, near Bremen, Germany, March 16, 1838, the house in which he was born being directly across the street from the residence of the cele- brated German explorer Rohlfs. His parents were Hermann and Meta (Fortman) Lages. He. was educated in the Government schools, and at the age of fourteen years engaged in a seafaring life, going on the sailing vessel J. F. Wichel- hausen. He followed the sea abont one year, making voyages from Bremerhaven to Balti- more and Holland. His next voyage was in 1853 from Bremenhaven to New York, where he severed his connection with the ship. He engaged as clerk in the grocery store of Henry Brandt, on Ann street, and afterward with Henry Hahn, on Frankfort street. In 1854 Mr. Lages came to California, leaving New York by the steamer North Star on the 5th of August,

and after crossing the Isthinns of Panama, came to San Francisco on the Yankee Blade, landing on the 31st of Angust. He became a clerk for John Evers, corner of Montgomery and Vallejo streets, and remained in his employ until 1858, when he followed the stream of navigation to the scene of the Fraser River mining excite- ment. He went on the Orizaba to Victoria, and was soon engaged in trading in provisions for the mining camp on Fraser River, getting his supplies from San Francisco. His capital was only moderate, but he followed the business successfully for nine months, then returned to San Francisco in the latter part of February, 1859. He came to Sacramento about March 25 of that year, and became clerk for August Evers, on L street, between Seventh and Eighth, and so continuing until the floods of 1861-'62. He next engaged with C. Weil & Co., with whom he remained until the firm of Bachmann, Lages & Co. was formed in 1866. Mr. Lages was married December 23, 1868, to Miss Annie Bergmann, who came here with her father, Adam Bergmann, when a child. She died March 30, 1883, leaving one child, Christopher Columbus Lages, who was born October 5, 1870. Mr. Lages married his present wife June 14, 1884. Her maiden name was Matilda Nenhans, and she is a native of Oldenburg, Germany." They have three children, viz .: Albert Henry, Meta and Helena. Mr. Lages is one of the early members of Schiller Lodge, No. 105, I. O. O. F., having been initiated in 1862. He is essen- tially a business man, having been schooled from boyhood to a mercantile career, and ranks, with his partner, among the leading merchants of Sacramento.

ICHARD H. WITHINGTON, of the Capital Soap Works, Sacramento, is a native of Genoa, Seneca Connty, New York, born July 21, 1818, his parents being Daniel and Saralı (Hall) Withington. both of whom were natives of Alleghany County, Penn-

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sylvania. When he was a young man he ae- companied the family to Monroe, Michigan, where they settled. There he farmed for a time, and then carried on business across the State line, in the northwest county of Ohio. In 1850 he came to California. Going to New York he took passage on the steamer Georgia to New Orleans, thence to Matagorda Bay, and from there he accompanied Captain Freneh through El Paso, and thence proceeded to San Diego. There he took passage on a Boston brig for San Francisco, where he arrived after a voyage of twenty-three days, November 12, 1850. He came up to Sacramento on the steamer New World, and from here proceeded to the mines on Bear River. He mined about five miles above McCourtney's for a year, then went to farming in Ione Valley, where he re- mained from 1852 to 1862. He then went to Gold Hill, Nevada, and kept public house there for a year and a half. The succeeding year he was so engaged at Meadow Lake. From there he came to Sacramento in 1865, and engaged in the manufacture of soap on J street. In 1866 he took in a partner, and the firm became Withington & Bagley. In 1871 C. F. Williams bought out Mr. Bagley, and the firm remained Withington & Williams until October, 1886, when Sparrow Smith came into partnership, since which time the institution has been known as the Capital Soap Works. There has been a constant advancement in the character of ma- chinery and appliances used in the processes of manufacture, and the factory is now equipped to successfully compete for trade in the markets of the world. Their business, constantly in- creasing and spreading its limits, already ex- tends over a vast seope of territory. Some of their markets are here given: California, Wash- ington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Utah, Ari- zona, New Mexico, and the Eastern States, especially Michigan and Wisconsin. Their soaps have an unsurpassed reputation, and sell readily on their merits wherever introduced. Mr. Withington gives his entire personal atten- tion to the details of manufacture and the man-

agement of the- plant. Mr. Withington was married in Michigan in 1842, to Miss Hannah Clark, a native of Ireland, who came to this country when a child with her parents. They have two children, viz .: Sarah, wife of Calvin Williams, merchant, Eleventh and J streets, and Millard C., who is one of the firm of the Capi- tal Soap Works. Mr. Withington is a member of the Sacramento Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He formerly belonged at Ione, and was Past Master of the lodge there. He is also a member of the Legion of Honor. Mr. Withington was a Whig in the days of that party, and has been a Republican since the party was organized. Ilis first Presidential vote was for William Henry Harrison in 1840, and his last for Benja- min Harrison in 1888. He was one of the organizers of the Calvary Baptist Church, and has been deacon ever since its organization. Mr. Withington is a earetul, conscientious busi- ness man, and well deserves the success that his enterprise lias met with.

HILIP HERZOG, one of the prominent citizens of Sacramento, was born October 4, 1834, in Cineinnati, Ohio, where his father, Frederick Herzog, a native of Germany, had located in 1817. At that early day Cin- einnati was a mere village, and the elder IIer- zog had abundant opportunity to purchase any amount of land, now in the most valuable part of the city, for little or nothing. He did ac- quire possession of a piece of land there, on which he followed gardening for a while, though he afterward gave up that occupation for that of butchering. He died in Cincinnati in 1858, having witnessed its progress from a backwoods village to the proud rank which it then enjoyed, of the "Queen City of the West." His wife, also a native of Germany, likewise died in Cin- cinnati. Her maiden name was Hall. Philip Herzog, with whose name this sketch eom- mences, was reared at Cincinnati, where he was educated in the public schools, and afterward

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went to work for a brother. In 1854 he came to California, accompanying his sister, Mrs. Todhunter, whose husband kept the City Mar- ket in Sacramento, or J street, between Front and Second. He came by way of New York, leaving there October 4, on the steamer Star of the West, and crossing Nicaragua came to San Francisco on the old steamer Cortez, landing on the 31st of October. He came to Sacra- mento next day, aud at once obtained employ- ment with Treat & Stanwood, the latter a brother-in-law of James G. Blaine, who kept the Boston Market. He remained in their em- ployment eighteen months, and then he and Fred Wastier succeeded Treat & Stanwood by purchase, and the firm became Herzog & Was- tier. The firm continued some four or five years, doing business on Second street, between K and L. Philip Hartman then succeeded Wastier, but Mr. Herzog soon bought ont Hartman's interest, and continued alone for a short time, when he again took in a partner, Henry Shulmeyer. They were associated about four years, when Mr. Shulmeyer's interest was purchased by M. M. Odell. A year later the latter purchased Mr. Herzog's interest. He then went back to Ohio to visit old scenes, friends and relatives. He returned to Sacra- mento in 1872, and bought in with Alex. Burns in what is now the City Market. About two years later Mr. Burns was thrown from a horse and killed, and Mr. Herzog continued the business alone until 1882, when he sold out to A. & A. Heilbron, and retired from business. In 1885 he again went East. In 1886, having returned to Sacramento again, he bought in with M F. Odell, in the New York Market. They do a heavy wholesale, retail and packing business. Mr. Herzog was married in this city in 1857, to Miss Mary Todhunter, a native of Cincinnati. They have three children living, viz .: Ida, wife of George P. Curtis; Charles and Susie Flora. Mr. Herzog is a Republican politically, and was formerly a Whig, having cast his first vote for Millard Fillmore. He has served with credit on the School Board of

Sacramento. He has been associated with Con- cord Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M., since 1858. He is also a member of the Chapter, Council and Commandery. Mr. Herzog has passed through all the vicissitudes of Sacra- mento, and was ruined by the flood of 1862. He persevered, however, and now ranks among the leading citizens of Sacramento in all re- spects.

C. CHANDLER, one of the prominent Sacramentans entitled to the distinction of being a California pioneer, is a native of New York State, born at Columbus, Chenan- go County, on the 15th of August, 1826, his parents being Elijah and Mary (Whitney) Chandler. His father, who was a farmer, was a native of Vermont. The Whitneys were an old Connecticut family. L. C. Chandler, the subject of this sketch, was reared at his native place to the age of sixteen, and there he re- ceived his school training. In 1842 he went to Boston, and commenced the printer's trade in the office of the Boston Journal. He served a regular apprenticeship there, and worked as a journeyman in Boston and other eastern cities. When the news of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, in 1848, electrified the conntry, he was working in a book and job office in New York city, and he was not slow in making up his mind to try his fortunes in the new El Dorado. He interested himself with others in forming a party for that purpose, and an organization was effected under the leadership of a physician, who, however, finally backed out, and did not go. There were 141 in the company, each of whom put $21.50 in a common fund for ex- penses. They chartered the bark Mara (Cap- tain Parks), and on the 30th of January, 1849, left New York harbor. They sailed to Vera Cruz, and thence proceeded by the National road through Jalapa, Pueblo, City of Mexico and Guadalajara, to Mazatlan. It had been their intention to take shipping at that port for

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California, and most of them did so, but Mr. Chandler was one of twenty who decided to take the trip by land, and, as he expressed it, they "took the hurricane deek of a mule." While in Sonora the party divided, and Mr. Chandler continned his journey via Hermosillo, Tueson, Los Angeles, San Buenaventura and Pacheco Pass, up into Mariposa mines. He afterward went to Stockton, and from there down Livermore Valley. In the spring of 1850 he went back to Stockton, thence to Calaveras mines, and worked along the Stan- islans River, at Mormon Gulch and Angel's Creek. The next scene of his mining efforts was at Ohio Bar, on the Yuba. When the Smith River excitement came on, he went to Crescent City. From there he went to San Francisco, and thence to Marysville. His finances were then at a low ebb, and he ob- tained employment driving mules from Marys- ville to American Valley, in Plumas County. In the fall of 1853 he went to work on the Marysville Herald. He afterward went up into the mountains and worked for some time on the Mountain Messenger. In that country he also carried express on snow-shoes for Adams & Co. In 1855 he came to Sacramento, and went to work at the case on the Union. He was one of the five men that started the Bee, and followed the fortunes of the paper for nearly a year, then went to work on the Union again. He followed the printing trade until 1864, and since that time has been engaged in the real estate business, which he has made a success. Mr. Chandler has always been a champion for the cause of temperance, and has been for twenty years Treasurer of Siloam (Good Templars') Lodge. He was a charter member of Cosumnes Tribe, Red Men. He is now the only living representative of his family. A brother, Bradley Chandler, was a soldier in the Mexican war, and was at the battle of Palo Alto, a private in Company B, First Illinois Infantry Regiment. He was honorably dis- charged on expiration of service, at Camary, Mexico, June 17, 1847. Since that time trace

of him has been lost. Mr. Chandler has been actively associated with Sacramento for over a third of a century, and has been an eye-witness to the vast change which has taken place here in that time. He is a good representative of the better type of the early comers to this State. He has been for many years a mem- ber of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers.

P. FIGG, one of the pioneers of Califor- nia, who has resided in Sacramento sinee the early days, is a native of Mereer (now Boyle) County, Kentucky, born in the suburbs of Danville, April 24, 1819, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Roe) Figg. His mother was born in Greene County, Virginia, and was of Scotch ancestry. His father was a native of Virginia, of English ancestry, and died when the subject of this sketch was a a mnere boy in years. Before he had reached his majority, E. P. Figg went to St. Louis, and embarked in the for business on quite an extensive seale, getting his furs in the in- terior, and marketing them in St. Louis and Cincinnati. In 1844 he located at Lexington, Missouri, and carried on mercantile business there nearly five years. In 1844 he shipped a lot of goods, mostly furs and hatters' articles, from Cincinnati to St. Louis, on the steamer Laneet (Captain Hieks), and he boarded a boat at Lonisville. By some misehanee he had failed to get a shipping receipt. On arriving at St. Louis he applied to a cominission merchant to look after the goods. The boat was burned np and he lost his goods, but whether they were consumed by fire or not, he could never learn. In the spring of 1849 a party was made up at Lexington for the purpose of going to California, and Mr. Figg joined the party, making sixteen wagons in all. They traveled together nearly a month, when Mr. Figg and the ocenpants of another wagon left the party, and proceeded alone. They traveled all night a good deal of

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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