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 56

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 56

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

363

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

the time, and made the trip from Lexington to California in seventy-one days, the fastest time ever made with ox teams. With Mr. Figg there were Messrs. Culver, Phipps and Spencer, and the lattter's two sons; when they arrived at the Sink of the Humboldt, Mr. Figg let Mr. Spencer take his wagon to proceed with it by the Carson route, while he himself prepared to strike straight for the Sacramento River on horseback. He took some hard bread, a piece of bacon and some blankets, and started. On the journey he saw a dnek fly into St. Mary's River, and he went into a clump of willows to try and get a shot at the duck; he was startled however, to see five Indians rise from the ground and surround him, with bows drawn on him. He was in a bad predicament and supposed that his hour had come. Just at that moment, however, some emigrants appeared in view on an elevated piece of ground across the river, so that they could see Mr. Figg and Indians over the willows. One of them hailed Mr. Figg and asked him if the Indians held him captive. He answered that he did not know how to get away, and the man who had hailed him then headed his horse for the river, crossed and joined Mr. Figg. When the situation was explained, it was agreed that on a given signal they were to level their guns on the Indians, motion for them to go, and if they did not do so, Mr. Figg, who was on one side was to shoot from right to centre, and the other man, who was on the other side, was to shoot from left to center. When the guns were leveled and the signal given, the Indians con- elnded it was best not to bring on a fight and left. In company with two men, named Cable and Walsh, Mr. Figg arrived at what were known as Hot Springs, which Mr. Figg knew about from reading a Mormon guide book. Walsh was in advance and reached the spring first. His dog lapped some of the water and at onee set up a yell. Walsh's mule next stuck his nose in the water but withdrew it in a hurry and came near throwing his rider. Walsh then dipped his hand in the water, and turning to Mr. Figg, who was just coming up, shouted,

" Hello, Figg! hell ain't a half mile from here." The latter requested Messrs. Walsh and Cable not to drink any of the water, but Walsh allowed some to cool and drank it. After resting awhile, they proceeded on to what is now Wadsworth, where they found plenty of grass and water, and went into camp for the first time, soon after crossing Truckee River. The next morning Mr. Walsh was sick and could not travel, and Cable insisted upon Mr. Figg remaining with him. As the latter had the least food, he said he could not, and started on. He proceeded on to Sacra- mento, arriving here early in September, 1849, and put up under some big trees where the Golden Eagle Hotel now stands, at what was then the horse market. His team reached him soon afterward. Mr. Figg engaged as a clerk for Henry E. Robinson, who had a store where the Tremont Honse now stands, and received $13 a day for thirteen days. On the 16th Sep- tember, he commenced clerking for Alexander Sibley, who had been a sntler with Stephenson's regiment. He left the item of salary entirely with Mr. Sibley, and the latter paid him $19 a day and board. Mr. Figg remained with him until he had accumulated $5,000, when Mr. Sibley sold out the ground and the building at anction. Mr. Figg bid it in at $8,200, and still owns the property, which fronts on J street, be- tween Second and Third, and adjoins D. O. Mills' Bank. Mr. Figg at once embarked in the wholesale trade in provisions and miners' supplies, and did a very large and successful business. In the great fire of November, 1852, he lost $61,000. At that time the firm was Bullard, Figg & Co., composed of E. P. Figg, John G. Bray and James Bullard. They rebuilt with a brick structure, and continued the busi- ness as a firm until a year later, when Mr. Figg purchased the interest of his partners. He afterward took in a nephew, and the firm be- came Figg & Wand, Mr. Figg also bought out this partner afterward, and again carried on the business alone. He carried on a wholesale tner- chandise business many years, and also dealt extensively in flour, where the Pioneer Mills

364

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

are now. Mr. Figg has since given his atten- tion largely to general trading and to the fruit business. He and J. Green had 320 acres in fruit in partnership, but the ranch (which is on Grand Island), has been divided, and Mr. Figg has 160 acres, which is principally planted in fine peaches and Bartlett pears. He ships fruit to Chicago and San Francisco. He has been for years engaged in the salt business, to a greater or less extent, and now has a large wholesale trade in that staple, handling exclusively the celebrated Mexican and Liverpool salt. Mr. Figg was married in 1855 to Mrs. Hattie Mc- Cormack, a widow, whose maiden name was Potter, a native of Deerfield, Ohio. There is one son by her first marriage: Frank H. Mc- Cormack. Mr. and Mrs. Figg have two chil- dren, viz .: Edward F. and George L. They have also reared two adopted children, viz .: Susie L. and Alvin P. Mr. Figg ranks among the per- inanent men of Sacramento. He is a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers, and a life member of the State Agricultural Society. He is also a life member of the Cali- fornia Museum Association of Sacramento, Cali- fornia. He was a Past Grand in Odd Fellowship before coming to California. Mr. Figg has been a Democrat since the days of Henry Clay, but has never been a seeker for office.

OHN McNEILL .- Among the old time business men, yet active and prominent in commercial circles here, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who came to Sacramento in 1853. Mr. McNeill is a native of New Hampshire, born at Antrim, his parents being Abraham and Margaret (McMaster) Mc- Neill, both of whom caine of old New England families, and of Scotch and English ancestry. When the subject of this sketch was twelve years of age, his parents moved to Lowell, Mas- sachusetts, and there learned the machinist's trade wi h Aldrich, Tyng & Co. The latter part of 1851 found him still employed with that

firm, but about that time a party was organized among his acquaintances for the purpose of going to California. Among them were John Carter (now of San Jose), William McCall (formerly a commission merchant of San Fran- cisco, now deceased), and others who became well known in California afterward. The party left New York on the 6th of January, 1852, on the steamner Ohio, crossed the Isthmus, and landed in San Francisco February 10, 1852, from the steamer Oregon. Mr. McNeill ob- tained employment with the commission house of Hamm & Flournoy, corner of Front and Washington streets, where the same building stands to this day. In the following year he came to Sacramento, and in 1854 he entered into partnership with W. F. Benchlay, under the firm name of Benchlay & Co. Mr. Benchlay sold out in 1859, and returned to the East, and the firm was thus dissolved. Mr, McNeill then com- menced clerking for Sneath & Arnold, corner of Seventh and J streets. (The firm had succeeded Boyd & Co. in 1851). One year later Mr. Sneath went to San Francisco to attend to the interest of the firm there, Mr. Arnold taking charge of the firm business in Sacramento. A short time subsequently, L. S. Adams bought into the business, and the firm became John Arnold & Co., the membership after this being John Arnold, L. S. Adams, John McNeill and L. A. Upson. In 1865 the interest of John Arnold was purchased by the other partners, and the style of the firm became as at present- Adams, McNeill & Co. (In 1870 Mr. Upson's interest was purchased by the other partners, but no other changes have been made.) The firm was located at the present quarters in 1863. During the floods of 1861-'62, Mr. McNeill was conducting a branch house at Folsom. The firm does a heavy business throughout the Pa- cific Coast. Mr. McNeill was married in Sa- cramento, March 24, 1858, to Miss Mary Tozer, a native of New York State. They have one son, Goodwin, who died in October, 1884, in his twenty-seventh year; and one daughter-Mary Margaret, born in 1861, and died in 1871. Mr.

365

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

Mc Neill has been a Republican since the organi- zation of the party. Previous to that time he bad been a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Winfield Scott in 1852. He was one of the founders of the Howard Benevolent So- ciety, has alway taken an active interest in its work, and is now a trustee. He is an exempt fireman, and in the days of the volunteers was a member of Alert Hook & Ladder Company. Mr. McNeill has always taken an active interest in matters musical, and was one of the organ- izers of the Philharmonic Society back in 1854. The celebrated McNeill Club of Sacramento was named in his honor. He is an active man and takes a live interest in everything tending to the advancement of Sacramento. Since the above was written Mr. McNeill died, October 28, 1889.

HARLES F. GARDNER, son of Zebulon and Mary (Reddish) Gardner, was born in Sacramento, November 13, 1857. He was left an orphan at an early age. His oldest brother sent him to San Francisco to live with Mrs. David Meeker, and he remained with them some years, meanwhile commencing attendance at the public schools. In 1865 his brother sent him East, where he remained several years under the care of Rev. G. F. Tewksbury, at Ox- ford, Maine, and Gorham, New Hampshire, and while there he attended the Oxford Normal In- stitute at Paris, Maine. When he had reached the age of fifteen years he returned to Califor- nia, and took a position in the office of his brother Robert, who was State Surveyor-Gen- eral. Two years later he went back East and commenced attendance at Phillips' College, Andover, Massachusetts, where he was gradn- ated in the centennial year of 1878. After vacation he entered Dartsmonth College, but a short time later changed to Yale, but was com- pelled to give up his studies, owing to the fact that he had used up the money he had saved while in the employ of his brother Robert. In December, 1879, he again returned to Califor-

nia, and took a position with James W. Shank- lin, Surveyor-General. Three years later, at the expiration of Mr. Shanklin's term, he ae- cepted a position in the Land Department of the Northern Pacific Railroad, at Portland, Oregon. While in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railroad Company, in July, 1883, he received the appointment from President Arthur of Receiver of Publie Money for the Sacra- mento Land Office, and served in that capacity until April, 1888, when he was succeeded by a Democratic appointee of President Cleveland, since which time he has been practicing as a land attorney at Sacramento. Mr. Gardner is a member of Sacramento Parlor, No. 3, N. S. G. W., and of Conrt Sacramento, A. O. F. He is a member of Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and a Scottish Rite Mason under the juris- diction of the United States, Territories and de- pendencies. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Gardner was married in this city, Novem- ber 12, 1881, to Miss Alice L., daughter of Richard Parker, who came to Sacramento in 1853, and for many years kept the Parker Honse, corner of Tenth and K streets. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have two children, viz .: Alice Mary and Bertha Reddish. Mr. Gardner is a young man of unusual attainments and business ability, and has already made a highly creditable record in life.

EBULON GARDNER, deceased, was for years one of the most prominent men in Sacramento business circles, and a man of enterprise and integrity, universally esteemed and rospected. He was a native of Exeter, Rhode Island, and the old homestead where he was born July 10, 1810, has been in the family name for 150 years, and is now owned by Sena- tor Herbert Gardner, of Rhode Island. He spent his early boyhood days on the old home- stead, but the day he was twenty-one years old he ran away from home with but 50 cents in his pocket, given him by his mother, determined

366

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

without friends or money to fight fortune for himself and on his own responsibility. At Fall River, Massachusetts, he obtained employment as laborer in Cook, Borden & Co.'s box factory and planing-mill, and worked his way up, step by step, to the position of superintendent. He was with this firm sixteen years. The discovery of gold in California turned his attention in that direction, and in 1849 he left New York for Panama on a steamer, taking with him two men, whose tares lie paid. Crossing the Isthmus they learned that the steamer that was to take thein had broken down. A number of them chartered an old sailing vessel, the bark Clarissa (Captain Lamence), in which they resumed the voyage. The craft drifted about on the Pacific for sixty- eight days, forty days on short rations, and on July 2, 1850, they landed in San Francisco. Mr. Gardner went at once to the mines near Auburn, with those whose passage he had paid. Finding, however, that there were other voca- tions more profitable than mining, he came to Sacramento and bought out the St. John lum- ber yard, which he thereafter conducted. He extended his business interests beyond this limit, however, and built a flour mill at Knight's Landing, Yolo County .. While on a trip np there on the steamer George B. McClellan, Au- gust 25, 1861, with coin and checks to pay off grain bills, he was killed by the explosion of the steamer, when within two miles of the landing. The incidents attending the case were peculiarly affecting. It was the custom for iu- tending passengers to book their names with the clerk the day before the day of leaving, and if any were missing, a whistle would be blown as a signal for them to hasten. On the day ap- pointed Mrs. Gardner was sick, and begged her husband not to go. But after the steamner had blown her whistle twice, he kissed his wife and hastened to the landing, just being able to board the vessel before her plank was taken up. His remains only were found, ten days after the ex- plosion. . Mrs. Gardner's death followed as the result of the sad accident. Mr. Gardner was a prominent man in many directions in this city.

He was a charter member of Union Lodge, I. O. O. F., the first lodge of the order in this city. In polities he was a Republican. He was at all times active in church work. He was identified with the Baptist Church, and gave the lumber for the old church of that denomination.

UD C. BRUSIE, a prominent though young representative of the Sacramento bar, is a native of La Porte, Indiana, born March 28, 1864, his parents being Luther and Mar- garet (Coffin) Brusie. Enther Brusie, father of the subject, was born at Winsted, Litchfield County, Connecticut, Jannary 21, 1822, and was a son of a soldier of the war of 1812, and grandson of a Revolutionary veteran, while his great-grandfather served in the Colonial forces in the French and Indian wars. He came to Indiana when young with his parents. After finishing his common-school edneation he began the study of medicine, and on the 27th of Feb- ruary, 1847, was gradnated at Indiana Medical College, Indianapolis. In the fall of 1850 he came out to California across the plains, and engaged in merchandise at Pult's Bar, in Ama- dor County. In 1854 he went back to Indiana, and gave his attention to the practice of his profession until the breaking out of the civil war. He offered his services in behalf of his country, and on the 22d of October, 1861, was commissioned by Governor Oliver P. Morton as Assistant Surgeon of the Forty-fifth Regi- ment (Third Cavalry) Indiana Volunteers. He served his country faithfully and with credit and honor to himself, and was wounded and disabled in action. In consequence of his in- juries he was honorably discharged from the service. In 1869 he again came to California, bringing his family, via Panama. He located in Amador County, where he was a physician of high standing and a prominent citizen until his death, which occurred in May, 1887. Ile was a stalwart Republican, and devoted to the in- terests of his party. Hle represented the dis-

367

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

trict in which he resided in the State Legislature of 1880. He was an active member of the State Medical Society, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. Jud C. Brusie, with whose name this sketch commences, was reared in Amador County, and educated there and at the University of the Pacific, in which institution he took the Latin and Scientific course. He commenced reading law with Judge A. P. Cat- lin, and continued his legal studies in the office of Clnnie & Knight, San Francisco. He then returned to Amador County, and was there ad- mitted to the bar in 1885. In 1887 he formed a legal partnership with Frank D. Ryan, which continued one year, since which time he has been alone. Mr. Brusie represented Amador County in the Legislature of 1887-'88, of which he was the youngest member, and served on the Committee on Education, on Mining, on Federal Relations, on Judiciary, and on Elec- tions. He is a member of the Leland Stanford Camp, Sons of Veterans. In politics he is strongly Republican, and last year he made a canvass of the State for Harrison. Mr. Brusie is a young man of unusual attainments, and is popular in and out of his chosen profession. He is now of the firm of Brusie & Taylor, at- torneys and searchers of records, Ed. D. being a son of L. S. Taylor, of Taylor & Holl.

R. WILLIAM ELLERY BRIGGS, promi- nent in the medical fraternity of Sacra- mento, is a native of Wadsworth, Medina County, Ohio, born March 31, 1853, his parents being Abiel and Harriet C. (Dinsmore) Briggs. His father, a fruit-grower, was a native of New York State, and came to Ohio with his parents when a child. He died in Yolo County, Cali- fornia, in 1878, having come to the State in 1876. Ilis mother was a native of Maine; she is now a resident of Oakland. Dr. Briggs was reared at Wadsworth and educated there and at Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio. He commenced the study of medicine with his brother, Dr.

Wallou A. Briggs (now of Sacramento), and took his first course of lectures at the medical de- partment of Ann Arbor (Michigan) University. lle was gradnated at Wooster Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio, and also took a degree from the medical department of the Western Reserve Medical College. In 1877 he went to Europe, and attended London Hospital and Moorefield's Eye Hospital. He then attended the general hospital for a further period before resuming his specialties. From London he went to Paris and thenee to Vienna, taking special courses on the eye, ear and throat. In 1879 he established himself in practice in Sacramento, and it is only what is due to the accuracy and completeness of this volume to say that his success has been as remarkable as it is gratifying to his professional friends. Mr. Briggs is an active member of the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement, and has been its president. IIe is a member of Sacramento Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a Knight Templar.

FRANK CLARK, Coroner of Sacramento County, and one of the best known citi- zens of Sacramento, is a native of Yates County, New York, born July 7, 1829, his par- ents being Stillman and Lucinda (Thayer) Clark, the former a native of New IIampshire, and the latter born in Vermont. J. Frank Clark was educated at Middlesex, Yates County, New York, his native place, and at Whitesburgh Sem- inary, near Utica. He learned the carpenters' trade in Oncida County, and followed it nearly six years. Then he went to Detroit, Michigan, and there attended Gregory's Business College, where he was graduated about 1853, and tlien went into the State Land Office at Lansing. After that he was for a year on the Lakes, and then went into the banking house of Andrews, Waterman & Co., Detroit. IIe remained with them two years, then went to Buchanan County, Iowa. About the 1st of April he started for California overland via Salt Lake. Some twenty

368

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

miles east of South Pass City he sold out his outfit, and completed his journey by stage, bringing up in Sacramento, August 7, 1861. He engaged as bookkeeper for Houston, Hast- ings & Co., and remained with them until the fall of 1862, when he went upon a ranch. Two years later he went into the office of State Treas- urer Pacheco, with whom he continued one year. Then Mr. Cornell was elected and he continued with him eighteen months. He next engaged in the grocery business, as a member of the firm of Bronner & Clark, and so continued for a little more than a year, when he engaged in the undertaking business with R. K. Wick. The undertaking establishment of Wick & Clark was opened in February, 1872, that firm continuing two years. Then Richinond Davis succeeded R. K. Wick, and the firm became Clark & Davis. Two years later Mr. Clark bought ont his part- ner's interest in the business. Mr. Clark has held the office of Coroner since Jannary, 1883, and is now serving his fourth term. He was married in Detroit to Miss Rosella Lowell, a native of New York State. They have three children, viz .: George H., who is associated with his father as funeral director; and two daughters, Effie R. and Dillie A. Mr. Clark is a member of Union Lodge, No. 58, A. F. & A. M .; of Sacramento Chapter and Commandery; of Sacramento Lodge, No. 2, 1. O. O. F .; of Occidental Encampment, and of Sacramento Lodge, No. 11, K. of P. He is a past presiding officer of the Odd Fellows' Lodges. Mr. Clark is an active Republican, and has always taken a leading part in the party organization. He is a very popular man, and has a large coterie of friends.

UDGE HENRY STARR, or "Colonel " Starr, as he is generally known on account of his military rank, is a native of Nova Scotia, born at Starr's Point, Cornwallis Valley, on the 24th of September, 1819. The Starrs are an old American family, and those on this

continent sprang from Dr. Comfort Starr, who landed at Boston from England in 1635, and whose descendants now number nearly 8,000 Among his children was Dr. Thomas Starr, and he had three sons,-Josiah, Comfort and Sam- nel,-who emigrated to Connecticut. Josiah (the ancestor of the Starrs of Vallejo and Oak- land) settled at Danbury; Comfort settled at Middleton, and Samuel located at New London. The latter was the direct ancestor of Judge Starr. When the French Acadians were driven out of Nova Scotia the English Government held out inducements to new settlers, and they came in by the ship-load. A large proportion of them were from the American colonies, espe- cially Connecticut, and Massachusetts (at that time including Maine), and the great-grand- father of Judge Starr headed a party that went to Nova Scotia from Norwich, Connecticut, in 1759. They selected their land in Cornwallis Valley, at the head of the Bay of Minas, which is at the head of the Bay of Fundy. Thus the Starr family was established in Nova Scotia. Joseph Starr, grandfather of the Judge, while born in Connecticut, was yet a mere child when the family removed to Nova Scotia. When he arrived at a suitable age he was sent back to Norwich, Connecticut, to be educated, and was at school there when the Revolutionary War came on. He joined the Patriot forces, and served gallantly throughout the war. After peace was declared he married a. Miss Starr, a cousin, and located in Connecticut. As his father advanced in age, however, he was called upon to go back to Nova Scotia, and run the farm, which he did. Charles Starr, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Connecticut, prior to the return of his family to Nova Scotia, and was the oldest child of the family. According to the habit of the family he was sent back to Norwich, Connecti- cut, to be educated, and while he was there the war of 1812 broke ont, and he joined the army of the United States. After the close of the war he went back to Nova Scotia, and took pos- session of the family homestead. He married Paulina, danghter of Henry Cox, who went to

339

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

Nova Scotia from what is now Portland, Maine. Henry Starr, subject of this sketch, was the first born of his parents' children. He commenced his education at Starr's Point, his native place, and finished at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary, in 1840. During the winter of 1840-'41 he taught school at Turner, Oxford County, Maine, on the Androscoggin River, and among his pupils was Eugene Hale, now United States Senator from Maine. In 1841 he went to the old family home in Connectient, and clerked in a boot and shoe store about a year. He then joined his parents at Boston, and they proceeded to Chicago. There he read law with John J. Brown, and was admitted to the bar of the Su preme Court in May, 1844. He went to Mor- ris, Grundy County, Illinois, where he was successful in practice, and in 1849 was elected county judge. He held the office until 1852, when he resigned in order to come to California. In January of that year a large number had mutually agreed to go to California when the weather opened up. About April they com- menced backing ont of the bargain, and finally Judge Starr found himself alone. He went to St. Louis, thence took a steamer to St. Joseph, and joined a party of Missourians bound for California. He accompanied them as far as Fort Laramie, and there changed to a Wiscon- sin company, with whom he went as far as Salt Lake. From there he packed to California, ar- riving at Placerville on the 6th of August. IIe mined for six months at French IIollow, then came to Sacramento, where he has ever since re- sided. He was elected city attorney in 1856, and served two years. In 1859 he was elected to the Legislature, and served in the sessions of 1859-60. In 1871 he was elected district at- torney, and served one term in that capacity. Judge Starr has ranked as a prominent lawyer ever since his advent to Sacramento. He be- came connected with the National Guard of California in 1861, first as Lientenant and after as Captain of the City Guard. He was afterward chosen Major, and finally Colonel, commanding all the companies of Sacramento. He is not 24

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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