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 58

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 58

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tinued the prosecution of his trade nntil March, 1877, when he was elected to the position he now holds. In his office he has given entire satis- faction to the people of Sacramento, and his rec- ord has been one of integrity and conscientious work. Mr. McKee has been for many years ac- tively identified with the National Guard of Sac- ramento, having first joined the old company A as private, and from that position progressing through the ranks of Fonrth Sergeant, First Ser- geant, and Lieutenant. When he attached him- self to the artillery regiment, he was chosen its Major, and is now Lientenant Colonel of the regi- ment. Ile was married in Sacramento to Miss

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

Emeline L. McKee, a native of Philadelphia. Hle is Past Sachem of Owosso Tribe No. 39, Improved Order of Red Men. He is Past Chief Ranger of Court Sacramento, A. O. F., and has been commander in the Uniform Rank of Knights of Sherwood Forest; he is Past Chancellor Commander of Columbia Lodge, K. of P,, and is a member of Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Sacramento R. A. C., No. 3. He has been intimately connected with the city fire department, and at the time of his election to his present post was foreman of Engine Co. No. 1. It thus happened that his first duty as auditor proved to be the sign- ing of a warrant for himself as foreman -- a singular coincidence. Mr. McKee has grown up among the people of Sacramento, was edu- cated in her schools, learned his trade amid her artisans, and in all capacities in which he has served he has remained the same modest gentle- man and enjoys the confidence and respect of the people of Sacramento.

ILLIAM S. CHURCH, City Attorney of Sacramento, is a native of Woodford County, Kentucky, born near Versailles, May 19, 1851. His father, James C. Church, was a native of Indiana, but located in Ken- tucky, where he studied surveying, and where he was married to Miss Fannie Smithers, a native of Kentucky. In 1852 he removed with his family to Kansas City, Missouri, and the following year came ont across the plains to California, locating in American Valley, Plu- mas County, where he bought a ranch. He afterward removed to Indian Valley, where he died in 1886. His widow yet resides there. He followed his profession of surveyor for some time after coming to the State, and held the office of county surveyor for one term; but his fine set of instruments were destroyed by fire, and thereafter he devoted his attention to ranch- ing. William S. Church, subject of this sketch, was but two years old when the family removed

-to this State, and he was reared in Plumas County. He was educated in the public schools, and in the winter of 1867 commenced attend- ance at Heald's College, San Francisco, where he was graduated in May, 1868. He then came to Sacramento and obtained employment on Whitcomb's ranch, in the southern part of the county. He worked there some time and then went home on a visit. In 1870 he went to Yolo County, and clerked in a store in Capay Valley for a year and a half. He next engaged in teaching school at Fairview. In 1873 he went to Nevada, and tanght writing school at Virginia City and at Reno. Later in the same year he returned to California, and while in Solano County, was elected superintendent of schools of Plumas County, and by virtue of re- election, served from 1874 to 1878. He then began to think of some permanent profession other than teaching, and turned to the law, for which he then began reading. In 1880 he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for district attorney, in the county of Sierra, but of course was unsuccessful, as the county was hopelessly Republican. In 1881 he received his life di- ploma as a teacher. Early in that year he came to Sacramento and read law with Colonel Creed Ilaymond and W. A. Cheney (now Superior Judge of Los Angeles County). On the 7th of May, 1881, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of California. After his admission he went to La Porte, Plumas County, and there practiced law for two years. He was a candidate for county clerk on the " New Con- stitution " ticket, in 1881, bnt was defeated. On account of the stoppage of hydraulic min- ing, everything was dull in Plumas County, and Mr. Church came to Sacramento and engaged in law writing. He wrote a book entitled " Habeas Corpus" for Bancroft & Co., San Francisco. In the Legislature of 1884 he was clerk of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. In 1885 he went to Galt, and practiced there a couple of months, and then went north to Washington Territory and Brit- ish Columbia. Two or three weeks later he

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returned to Sacramento, and was engaged on the " American Decisions " for Bancroft & Co., and continued his writing on this work until elected city attorney, in 1888. In 1886 he made the race for district attorney of Sacra- mento County unsuccessfully. Mr. Church was married in Sacramento, April 11, 1886, to Miss Tillie Beauchamp, a native of Chicago, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Beauchamp. Mr. Church is a member of Tehama Lodge, F. & A. M .; Sacramento R. A. Chapter No. 3; Sacramento Conncil, No. 1, R. & S. M, and of Court Sutter. No. 7,246, A. O. F. In the latter lie was, at one time, chief ranger. Ile is a man of broad attainments, and although already con- siderably experienced in professional and official life, may be said to have just commenced his career, being yet a young man.

R. ALEXANDER MONTAGUE, one of the eminent practicing physicians of this State, and a resident of Galt, was born in Wake County, near Raleigh, North Carolina, September 16, 1845, son of Dr. W. Il. Mon- tagne, a prominent physician. In the family were six sons and six daughters, one of whom, besides the subject of this sketch, is a physician, in Winston, North Carolina. Dr. Montague received his early education at the Wake Forest College, and in 1865 gradnated at the State University at Chapel Hill, formerly one of the largest institutions in the South. While pur- suing his collegiate course he was gradually drifting into medical studies, and afterward he read in the office of his father two years, and re- ceived his diploma in 1868 from the University of the City of New York, after attending the required course of lectures there. Until 1877 he practiced his profession in his native State, and then came to California, locating at Shasta City, where his competency soon became known and he was appointed surgeon to the County Hospital. He remained at that place nine months. In 1878 he came to Galt, where he

has since resided and had a large practice, ex- cepting the three years 1885-'88, when he was in New York city, prosecuting special studies. Thus the people of Galt and vicinity have the satisfaction of knowing one physician at least among them who is probably as well qualified to treat them as any other general practitioner in the State.

S AMUEL E. WRISTON, a resident of this county sinee 1852, was born in Morgan County, Illinois, March 19, 1834. His father, James, a native of South Carolina, emi- grated to Illinois when a young man. In Mor- gan County he married Miss Catharine P. Sage, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, had three children, and died in 1839 at the age of thirty- four years. Samuel, our subject, is the only one now living. The eldest son, William B., came to this State in 1849, and was accidentally killed in "Russell Pocket," four miles from Galt, July 7, 1856. The other son, Elihn R., came to California in 1859, and died in Wood- bridge, San Joaquin County, June 27, 1877. In after years Mrs. Wriston married John Raf- fety, who also is now deceased. The widow is now living in Pella, Jasper County, Iowa, at the age of sixty-nine years. By the last mar- riage there were six children, of whom four are still living. Mr. Samnel E. Wriston, the sub- ject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm. In April, 1852, when seventeen years of age, he came to California overland with mule teams, in company with three families and twenty- seven men, consuming exactly three monthis on the trip from the Missouri River. When he arrived in Sacramento his brother William was living in the "Pocket." He intended to go over the mountains to Carson Valley, but chills and fever attacked him and prevented him from going. After recovery he began to work on ranches, meanwhile owning some live-stock in company with his brother. After the death of the latter he took charge of all the stock for

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awhile, and then disposed of it. In November, 1857, he returned East on a visit. Arrived in Sacramento again June 1, 1859, and again entered the live-stock business, buying and sell- ing and dairying, and followed this business for nine years in partnership with C. W. Harvey, in the meantime owning some land which he had bought before going East. Up to about three years ago his business was mainly stock- raising, but lately he has paid more attention to general agriculture. His farm consists of 422 acres, on the Laguna, five miles east and north of Galt. He has made his residence in this village since it was started in 1869. Mr. Wris- ton is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, and of the A. O. U. W. of Galt. Politically he is a R publican, although his first Presidential vote in 1856 was cast for Buchanan. In 1860 he was a Douglas Democrat, and since then he has been a Republican. He was united in mar- riage, June 14, 1870, to Jennie V. Ferguson, a native of Illinois, and reared in the city of Chicago. They have had three children, as fol- lows: Carrie F., born May 13, 1872, and died December 24, 1880; Charles R., born October 3, 1874; and Samuel C., born September 3, 1877, and died February 17, 1878.

OLOMON KREEGER, farmer, Dry Creek Township, was born December 17, 1829, in Mt. Pleasant, Forsythe County, North Carolina, son of Jacob and Mary (Fulps) Kree- ger, natives also of that State. Both the grand- fathers of Mr. Kreeger were in the Revolu- tionary War seven years, and they lived to be respectively 103 and 105. Jacob Kree- ger was a farmer all his life and died in his native State, at the age of sixty-eiglit years, in. 1846. He had five sons and six daughters; the sons were George W., Jacob, John, Henry and Solomon; and of these only three are now living. Some of the family still remain in North Carolina, and some are in Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri. Solomon was

raised on a farm in his native State, gradnated at Trinity College, North Carolina, when twenty- one years old, and then he started for California, but stopped near Independence, Missouri, and taught school there a year in Jackson County. In 1851 he started again for the Golden State, with others, coming overland with ox teams. Had some trouble with the Indians, who en- deavored to steal their cattle. By such delays their trip was extended five months and five days. Stopping first at Diamond Spring, El Dorado County, Mr. Kreeger mined about two months, and then followed the same occupation at Michigan Bar, Sacramento County. about four years, with moderate snecess. Then he located upon his present property in Dry Creek Town- ship; but subsequently removed to Sicramento, opened a hay and grain store on the corner of Eleventh and J streets, known as the Elephant Feed Store, and ran it about five years, then re- turned to his ranch. Here he has splendid im - provements, rendering the place exceedingly at- tractive. He has two farms, the home ranch of 451 acres, and the Briggs ranch of 468 acres, on which he has about 200 acres of alfalfa. He has been a member of the Masonic order ever since he was twenty-one years of age. He is a charter member of Nebraska Lodge, No. 71, and of Galt Lodge, No. 267, and in 1886 was a member of the Grand Lodge of the State of Cali- fornia. He is also a member of the Lodge of the Golden Shore and of the Chose i Friends. In 1863 he married Jane Cunningham, a native of Illinois, and they have seven children living, three deceased. Their names are Virgil, Lillie, Lettie, Zena, Tully B., Creed HI., and Saul Cleveland.

F. PHELPS, the jeweler, stationer and inusic dealer of Galt, has been a resident of that place since 1878. He was born in Burlington, Vermont, May 31, 1833, son of Francis and Helen Phelps, both natives also of that State, who resided there until their death.

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Being a natural musician, and having an excel- lent training from the best teachers, Mr. Phelps was set to the systematie study of music at the age of five years, Among his teachers was the noted Lowell Mason. After leaving home, at the age of twelve years he continued his favorite study, mostly by himself, adapting himself to almost any kind of musical instrument. In the early '50's he spent a winter in Chicago, where he played violin in the amphitheater, and traveled with a circus during the summer. He continued this mode of life up to the age of twenty-two years, when he began learning a trade in Cleveland, Ohio. He entered a store there kept by a German named Keselmyer, who had a small business, principally in the way of repairing, and worked with him two years He then traveled, repairing musical instruments and soliciting his own work until he came to California in 1857. He came from New York by way of Panama, landing in San Francisco in March. He mined in Calaveras County ten years, in the meantime prospecting considera- bly, and when short of money would resort to his old trade. At length he abandoned mining and prospecting, and devoted himself exclusively to the repairing business again, until he located in Woodbridge, September 1, 1868, with no means but his kit of tools; and he also taught music some. Much can be credited to Mr. Phelps for what he did for Woodbridge and. that section of the country in the way of ereating a taste for music and raising its stand- ard. He taught in the public schools and led societies free of charge, receiving pay for in- strumental instruction only. As the place ad- vanced in population, wealth, and in other respects, his classes in music increased, and his reputation widened, bringing pupils from greater and greater distances. The people of Wood- bridge, acknowledging their indebtedness to Prof. Phelps, presented him a beautiful gold- headed cane, appropriately engraved with the inscription and date, and the head embellished with a beautiful setting of gold quartz. In his business he naturally collected around him a

considerable stock of jewelry and musical goods. For business reasons he came to Galt, in June, 1878, and opened a store in his line, where he has deservedly prospered. He was married in 1863 to Jnlia A. Carter, a native of Wisconsin, and they have three children: Cora A., Carry L. and Alton D.

ENRY S. PUTNEY, farmer, Dry Creek Township, was born May 13, 1828, in Yates County, New York, a son of Jedediah and Caroline S. (Gartwell) Putney, of English de- descent. His father, who was also a fariner, died in Yates County in 1850, at the age of forty-five years. In his family were four sons and four daughters; the sons were Decastro A., Henry S., George S., and Lyman D. Decastro died on shipboard, on the Pacific Ocean, in 1853, of pneumonia. Mr. Putney was reared upon the farm in New York State until he was of age, in 1849, when he sailed from New York city, February 14, for California, on the Crescent City to Panama, and on the whaling ship Sylph for San Francisco, landing at that city July 28. Coming to Sacramento by sail-boat, he went directly to the mines near Auburn, and mined for gold about a year, with moderate success. In the fall of 1850 he went to San José and en- tered a tract of Government land, which he afterward exchanged for a claim in this county where he now resides, twenty miles from Sacra- mento. It contains 530 acres, well adapted to grain, hay and live stock. All the improve- ments now seen there he has made himself, having lived there since 1851. A good orchard and vineyard are on the premises. He came with nothing and was $16 in debt, and he has made all his property by his own honest earn- ings. Ile was the first man to run a Separator threshing machine in Sacramento County. Mr. Putney, December 27, 1862, married Miss Rhoda A., daughter of Calvin and Eliza W. (Bixby) Bates,-her father a native of Vermont and inother of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Put-

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ney have five children: Melvina E., born Sep- tember 13, 1863; George ·S., Jannary 5, 1865, and died June 12, 1887; Julia M., born Janu. ary 28, 1866; Eliza C., October 24, 1873; and Frankie M., May 11, 1879. Melvina is the wife of Frank S. Wardrobe, of this county; the other children are still at their paternal home. Mrs. Putney crossed the plains in 1859 to this State with her brother George O. Bates and family, who now reside in Sacramento city; they were six months on the route. She and her daughter Julia are members of the Rebekah Degree Lodge, No. 36, of which Miss Julia is Noble Grand. Mr. Putney is a member of Elk Grove Lodge, No. 274, I. O. O. F.

M RS. JANE MAHIN, of Dry Creek Township, is a daughter of Henry Mur- ray, and was born in Cedar County, Iowa. Her father, a farmer, was a native of Ireland, and his genealogy can be traced back to the Scotch-Irish. He was raised on a farm in his native country. He was born May 3, 1812, and married Miss Jane Adair, in Ireland. Emi- grating to America, he located near Point Pleas- ant, Ohio; subsequently he moved to Iowa, where Mrs. Mahin was born, and still lives there, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife died in 1872, at the age of sixty-four years. In their family were eleven children, six daughters and five sons; three daughters are in this State. Besides Mrs. Mahin, there are Mrs. Williamn Frazer and Mrs. D. L. Davis, both in this county. Mrs. Mahin came across the plains and mountains to California in 1864, and purchased the property which she now occupies, twenty- two miles from Sacramento and one mile east of the upper Stockton road. It now contains 423 acres, and is in a very fine state of cultivation, the soil being well adapted to general farming; and the improvements are good. There are also a number of magnificent oak shade trees on the place. Mrs. Mahin has two sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Jennie, wife of E. M. Curl, of Los

Angeles; John R., who lives in this county; Nelita, wife of William Stnart, of Los Angeles; and William, a resident of Sacramento. Mrs. Mahin visited her old home in 1870, but says she is willing to make her home in California during the remainder of her life.

ILLIS WRIGHT, a pioneer and success- ful farmer of Dry Creek Township, was born in Rutland County, Vermont, February 2, 1823. His father, Elihn Wright, was also a native of that State; and his grand- father. also named Elihn, was born in Connecti- cut and emigrated to Vermont when abont twenty-one years old. His only son, the father of Willis, married Minerva McArthur, a native also of the Green Mountain State. Her father, Charles McArthur, was from the Highlands of Scotland, and married a Vermont lady after coming to this country. In 1836 Elihu Wright, Jr., and family emigrated to Illinois when the tide of immigration was to the Western States, and he located thirty miles west of Chicago, on the line between Cook and Kane counties; but that part of the country was afterward taken from these counties and organized into Du Page County. Mr. Wright made his home there un- til his death, about 1851; his wife died in the spring of 1850. Of their three sons the subject of this sketch was the youngest. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty- four years of age, by which time he had land of his own. He then went upon his land and worked it, at the same time assisting the family, which then consisted of four members. In 1853 be came overland to California, arriving at Hangtown October 12, being six months on the road; and six weeks later he went down into Dry Creek Township with a band of cattle which he had brought across the plains; with this stock he went into the cattle business and general farming, which he continued up to 1862, in " Russell Pocket." During this time he kept a team on the road hauling hay and

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lumber to and from the mountains. In 1862 he took some of the stock into the mountains, and during the summer months for eighteen years ran a dairy and raised cattle. He has been a resident of Galt for about seven years, living a more retired life and enjoying what he has worked so hard to attain for so many years. His marriage occurred December 22, 1846, when he wedded Marietta Angeline Van Ein- burgh, who was born in Rutland County, Ver- mont, November 6, 1824. She became the mother of seven children: Frederick, born Sep- tember 25, 1847; Albert W., born April 25, 1849; James C., May 20, 1852; Eva, born Oc- tober 2, 1854, and died October 12, 1884, the wife of Edward Humphreys, of Sacramento; Frank M., April 12, 1857, and died June 13, 1862; Edward E., born May 26, 1859; and Hattie M., August 1, 1867. Mr. Wright was again married December 24, 1882, to Mrs. Eliza A. Summers, nee Arnold, also a native of Rut- land County, Vermont. Her marriage to Dan- iel B. Summers took place October 14, 1845; and they came to California by way of Panama, landing in San Francisco, and then at Sacra- mento May 22, 1852. Mr. Summers died July 13, 1878, an old resident of this county. By this marriage there were eight children, of whom five are now living, four daughters and one son, all married.

EORGE NEED, a general farmer in Dry Creek Township, was born September 27, 1836, in Germany, and emigrated to America in 1840 with his parents, Francis and Dorothy Need, landing at Baltimore and set- tling near Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, In- diana. There they were on a farm until the father's death in 1874, at the age of seventy-two years; the mother died in 1849. In their family were four sons and one daughter, viz .: Michel, George, Valentine, Christopher, and Laney, wife of Louis Lehr, of Indianapolis. Michel came to California in 1852, and died in 1868; Chris-

topher was killed in the Civil War; Valentine also served in the war and now lives in Indiana, George remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty years of age, and then, in 1857, embarked at New York and came by way of the Isthmus to the Golden State, and at once located where he has ever since resided, except a short time in Fresno County, when he was in the stock business. In 1867 he purchased his present fine property of 775 acres, five miles from Galt, and where he has made all the improvements now on the place. In 1867 he married Miss Sarah J. Ehler, a native of Indi- ana, and they have had six children, two of whom are deceased, namely: Effie R., born Oc- tober 18, 1868, died November 25 following; Louisa J., born March 15, 1871; George C., July 2, 1873; Isabel E., June 24, 1874; Fran- cis, born Deeeinber 6, 1876, died April 19, 1877; and Henry J., born September 27, 1878. Mr. Need is a gentleman of kindly disposition, industrions habits and sincere in his morals. Politically he is a Republican; his first Repub- lican vote was east for Ben Harrison.

AMES K. MCKINSTRY, of Galt, was born in Rochester, New York, February 9, 1835. His father, John, and his mother, Jane (Kelso) Mckinstry, were both natives of the North of Ireland. About 1834 they emigrated to the United States, having at that time two children, one of whom died while crossing the ocean, and the other died in Sacramento, in May, 1853. Both were daughters. On arrival in this country, John Mckinstry first located in New York State, where the family resided until 1837, in Chicago till 1840, and from 1840 to 1850 in Galena, Illinois. The mother is now living with her son James, in Galt. On coming to this State abont the middle of August, 1850, they stopped first in Sacramento. In May, 1851, James Mckinstry (our subject) went to the mines, and for abont four years was engaged among them in El Dorado and Placer counties.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

He then came to the vicinity of Galt, where he has since been an honored resident. There he followed the dairy business for about fourteen years, driving eows to the mountains, making butter and raising stoek. From 1872 to 1879, with the exception of one year, he was salesman in Whitaker & Ray's store. In the meantime he started a livery stable in Galt, and for the last ten years he has given his personal atten- tion to the business. His stable was first erected in Old Liberty by Robert Brown. After a time it fell into the hands of Calvin Briggs, along with the Devins Exchange Hotel, and was moved to Galt and set on the corner of Fifth and C streets, where it now stands. Thomas Briggs was the first to run it as a livery stable. Ile sold to William F. Brewster and Benjamin F. Howard, about 1873. After awhile Brews. ter sold his interest to Mr. MeKinstry, and the firm of Howard & MeKinstry eontinned until Mr. Howard disposed of his interest to his brother Caarles B., the firm naine remaining the same. In 1879 or 1880 Mr. MeKinstry bought ont his partner's interest, and since then has been the sole proprietor. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, thoroughly understanding business principles. He has been moderately successful in lite, and he now has the finest livery stable in the place. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 239, I. O. O. F., and of the Galt Encampment, No. 65, both of Galt. He has a ranch of 160 acres two miles from Galt, and another of the same size eight miles from town, devoted to general farming. July 19, 1858, is the date of his marriage to Fanny, daughter of Thomas Armstrong, one of the early artists and engravers on this eoast, who did a great deal of work in San Francisco and Saera- mento; indeed, nearly all the illustrated works issued on the coast at that time were executed by him. Mr. and Mrs. McKinstry have brought up a family of five children, viz .: Clara, wife of C. C. Clement, justice of the peace at Galt; Lizzie, wite of W. R. Cole, residing near Cen- terville, Alameda County; Edgar, assistant agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company,

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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