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 59

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 59

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at Lorenzo; Charles W., who manages the business of the stable; and Tom, the South- ern Pacific Railroad agent at Stege, in Ala- meda County; he was appointed at the age of fifteen years, being given the entire charge of all the departments,-the business of the railroad company, of Wells & Fargo's Express and the Western Union Telegraph, being the youngest agent in the employ of the com- pany. In political matters Mr. MeKinstry has always been a Republican, and takes an active part in the public affairs of the county. He has served the people of Dry Creek Township as justice of the peace and notary public for two years.

OHN H. SAWYER was born February 4, 1830, in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in that portion which has since been set off as Carroll County. His parents, Joseph H. and Abigail B. (Hall) Sawyer, were also natives of the same locality. All the four children of the family of Joseph H. Sawyer are now residents of California, viz .: Mrs. Addie S. Grant, of Sae- ramento; John H., the subject of this sketch; James C., of Galt; and Mrs. Susan Hughes, of Oakland. The boyhood days of John H. were " pretty tough." One year was all he had in school; he had to work hard and constantly. When he was fifteen years old the father died, and he had the responsibilities of earing for the family. From his father, who was a carpenter, he partly learned the same trade, and he fol- lowed it most of the time until he was of age. He then spent a year in New York, then a win- ter at Bristol, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1853, in company with his brother J. C., started with horse teams overland for the Golden State. Setting out alone, he fell in afterward with company. The journey was comparatively pleasant and the party arrived at Placerville, August 7. That was then a lively eamp. After remaining there about a month, they went down into Dry Creek Township to

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

build a honse for Dr. Selan Russell, a large cat- tle dealer, who with others have taken up a large tract of land in what was called " Russell's .pocket." Since that time, with the exception of three years, Mr. Sawyer has been a resident of that neighborhood. One year he passed in San Francisco. In the fall of 1856 he returned to Wisconsin and was married, and remained there two years. In the spring of 1859 he came again to California, bringing with him his wife, mother, and two sisters. His mother died in 1880, at the age of seventy-seven years. After his arrival here he worked steadily at his trade for four years. He then turned his attention to dairying for eighteen years, during which time it was a profitable industry. The first land he purchased was in 1878, when the town of Galt was started, his selection being a tract of 400 acres on Dry Creek just a half mile south of town. He also purchased 680 acres, the west boundary line of which was two miles east of town. Since that time he has been a resident of Galt, farming, raising cattle and horses, and building houses. He has built, or assisted in building, all the honses in the place. In 1859 he erected the Devins Exchange Hotel, which was afterward moved to Galt when this town was started. He also built the mercantile house of Whitaker & Ray, the school-house and two of the churches. One of these, the Method- ist, was first ereeted for a school-house. Proba- bly the first upland orchard in this section was set out by Mr. Russell on his place, and Mr. Sawyer built a windmill to irrigate it. This was the first windmill erected in the county. Mr. Sawyer belongs to Phoenix Lodge, No. 232, I. O. O. F., to Galt Encampment, No. 65, Rei Rebekah Degree Lodge, and to Galt Lodge, A. O. U. W .; he is a charter member of all these. The date of Mr. Sawyer's marriage was November 4, 1856, when he wedded Miss Jennie C. Newcomb, a native of Rochester, New York, and a daughter of Samuel E. Newcomb, who is now making his home with her; he is eighty- five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have four children: Frank N., Wallace B., Jean and

Thomas. The eldest was born in Wisconsin, and the others are natives of this State.

B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN BATES, dentist at Folsom, an honored and old-time citizen of California and Folsom, is a native of the district of Greenville, South Carolina, born November 24, 1829. John Bates, his father, was also a native of that State, and passed all his life there. His mother, whose inaiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Springfield, was also a native of the Palmetto State, and died in 1846 or 1847. She had twenty-one children, most of whom grew to years of maturity, settling prin- cipally in South Carolina. Dr. Bates passed his boyhood on a farm, deprived of school edu- cation, but acquired a good practical one. At the age of seventeen he worked at the carpen- ter's trade and commenced the study of den- tistry in North Carolina. He followed the business of carpentering for a short time in Georgia; then came to California, sailing from Charleston on the brig Emily, to Havana, and thence on the steamer Isthmus, The steamer came near sinking on that voyage; indeed this was the last trip she made. He arrived in San Francisco April 15, 1852, and went immediately to the mines on Weaver Creek, El Dorado County, remaining in that county nearly two years; then went to Yuba County, where he bought a mining claim near Camptonville. After working this claim about one year, he sold ont and returned to El Dorado County, where he invested money accumulated from mining. in a ranch. After improving this con- siderably, he sold at a sacrifice; then in 1855 came to Sacramento County, stopping at Fol- som, where, with G. W. Gaylord, he resnmed the study and commenced the practice of den- tistry, subsequently practicing with Dr. Esterly at Sacramento. Since that time he has been a resident practitioner of his chosen profession at Folsom. During the many years resident of this State he has been successful in almost

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

every undertaking. The most of his property and means has been acquired by thrift and en- terprise in his profession. He has, since re- siding at Folsom, taken a great interest in its growth and prosperity. He has been a member of the Masonic order since he was twenty. one years of age; at present is a member of Nato- ma Lodge, No. 64. In political matters he has always been Democratic. From 1857 to 1864 he made regular annual trips into Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras counties, taking about six months to each trip. There being at that time very few dentists in the country, his visits were always hailed with delight. In 1864 he married Mrs. Jennie S. Bates. Their only child, Jennie E., died April 21, 1881, in her eighteenth year.

W. BRISON, guard at the State Prison, Folsom, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, December 20, 1828, a son of Oliver and Mary (Wiley) Brison, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The parents emigrated from West Virginia to Mis- souri in 1838, and resided there in Marion County until 1850. In the spring of the latter year father and son started across the plains to California, leaving Independence May 9. At Devil's Gate, on the Sweetwater, about 150 miles west of Fort Laramie, they stopped eight days, and at Salt Lake two weeks, being there on the 24th of July, which is the Mormons' principal holiday. Striking northward from this point, they came to the old Fort Hall road, and onward until they arrived at the head of the Humboldt, and thence down that river to the sink. Soon they struck the forty-mile desert, which they crossed during the night. They reached the Carson River at a point called Ragtown, and went up to the town of Genoa, in the Carson Valley, at the foot of the Sierras. After crossing the summit they came down the old slippery Fort road, an old emigrant trail, to Placerville, arriving there August 19. They

commenced mining on the south fork of the American River, near Sntter's Mill, where Mr. Brison saw the first gold in California. In the fall the river rose so that they had to abandon. that place, and they went over to Diamond Spring, El Dorado Connty, and wintered there. In the spring Mr. Brison, senior, "took up" a quarter section of land, forty acres of which he fenced, and twenty-five he plowed, assisted by his son. It was their intention to use it for garden purposes; but after working it awhile, and finding that they could do nothing with it during the dry spring of 1851, they abandoned it. The land was afterward found to be in the Sutter grant, and the Brisons lost it. A part of it is now in Sacramento city. They then purchased a couple of teams and started to Vacaville in Solano County, cut wild hay and lianled it to Cache Creek Slongh, about fifteen miles distant, shipping it by a little boat called the Ohio, to Sacramento, where they sold it. During the winter of 1851-'52 they mined at Kelsup Diggings, near Georgetown, El Dorado County. In the spring the elder Brison went down to Cache Creek in Yolo County, and entered 160 acres, and about a month afterward the junior Brison also entered another quarter section. They fenced in about ten or fifteen acres, and tried to buy it of the grant (the Ber- ryesa grant), but the owners would not give it up. The settlers on the grant then clubbed to- gether and hired a good lawyer to fight the case in the conrts at Washington, but they lost their snit. In the spring of 1853 Oliver Brison re- turned home by water, while W. W. Brison went back to the Diamong Spring mines in 1854, where he continued until 1858. He was then employed by the Enreka Canal Company as agent to collect the water rents. In 1861 he came to Sacramento and took charge of the Western Ditch, which was leased by that com- pany, they giving Mr. Brison full control. The next year he was employed by the Eureka and Natoma Water Companies together to sell water at Farmer's Diggings on the American River. In 1865 he returned and took charge again of

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

the Western Ditch in this county until 1867, and the next year bought a ranch on the Folsom grant, sixteen miles from Sacramento, on the Sacramento Valley Railroad. This farm he con- dneted until 1877, when he purchased a half interest in a wholesale and retail grocery store on the corner of Tenth and K streets, a store which was formerly owned by Cox & Jones. Running that business until 1880, he sold out his interest to his partner, Jolin Lambert, and May 16, 1881, he left for Arizona on a mining excursion. In September, 1886, he returned to this county, and May 21, next year, was ap- pointed as gnard at the Folsom State Prison, which position he has successfully filled to the present time. Politically Mr. Brison is a Demo- crat, and in foriner times was very active in public affairs. At one time he was treasurer of the Democratic County Central Committee. March 8, 1866, he married Miss Carrie, daugh- ter of Newell Kane, Sr. They have two sons, Oliver O. and William William, the latter named after his father.

B RAINARD F. SMITH was born in Madi- son, Indiana, July 4, 1849. His father, Samuel F. Smith, a native of England, came to the United States when he was eighteen years of age, in 1824, locating in Cireinnati, and engaging in the wholesale boot and shoe business there, being one of the pioneer mer- chants of that city. He moved to Madison, Indiana, on the Ohio river, where he carried on the boot and shoe trade, and also a tannery. In 1857 he moved to Indianapolis, and there had a large factory for the manufacture of wagon and carriage material, which was finally merged into the manufacture of the Sarven wheel, Mr. Smith having introduced it. He employed about 1,200 men, and the establishment was at that time the largest mannfactory in the West. He also had a large store in St. Louis, where lie had a partner, making it a depot for the wheels and for the wagon and carriage material which 25

he manufactured. About 1871, after he had accumulated a large fortune, he sold out to his partner and traveled in Europe, enjoying the fruits he had so faithfully earned by a life of toil. He died in 1878, of paralysis. He was married in Madison, Indiana, to Belvidere Rob- erts, a Yankee school teacher from Vermont. She died in 1866. Of that family there are four children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He obtained one year of his pre- paratory education at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, of which his uncle, Rev. Henry Curtis, was president. His second collegiate year was taken at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indi- ana. He entered the freshman class at Yale College in 1866, and upon the death of his mother he returned home and afterward fin- ished his collegiate course at Wabash College, graduating in.1870. During his college vaca- tion he took a business course at Indianapolis. After graduating he entered the office of his father's factory and remained there until the ensning autumn. Hearing a great deal of Cali- fornia, his curiosity was excited to spend a win- ter here. Carrying out his contemplated pro- gramme, he liked the elimate so well that lie has ever since remained here. In 1871 he came to Sacramento with E. E. Ames, who was agent for the Studebaker wagons and for his father's patent wheels, and remained with him first as commercial traveler and afterward as business manager until 1879, when he went to San Fran- cisco to assume the management of a large agri- cultural house there. . Filling that position until 1883, he returned to Sacramento and opened a house of his own, under the firm name of Brainard F. Smith & Co., the partner being George A. Davis, of San Francisco. The fail- ure of Mr. Davis in San Francisco, in 1885, caused Mr. Smith to close business. Since that time he lias devoted his attention principally to the collection and settlement of his old ac- counts. Since August 1, 1888, he has been secretary of the Folsom State Prison, and May 2, 1889, he was elected the secretary of the Preston School of Industry, to be located in

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Amador County. Ever since he became a resi- dent of this county he has taken an active in- terest in politics as a Republican, having identified himself with almost every political movement.

HARLES AULL, Warden of the State Prison at Folsom, was born in Clay County, Missouri, May 23, 1849. His father, Dr. T. M. Aull, a native of Kentucky, in 1832 joined the first regiment of United States dragoons enlisting from that State; they went to the Rocky Mountains, and afterward were stationed at Fort Leavenworth. The Doc- tor was in the Government service three years, and then went to St. Louis, attended medical lectures at the State University and graduated, and settled in northwestern Missouri, where he practiced his profession. For two terms he re- presented Atchison County in the State Legis- lature. In 1852 he came overland with a large train to this State, arriving in November at Marysville, but was soon driven out of that place by a flood, the same year. He next re- sided in Martinez, Contra Costa County, two years, and then, in 1854, located about on the line between Dry Creek Township, this county, and San Joaquin County, when the settlers were few and scattered. There were only two or three families at Ilicksville, and one or two at Elk Grove. Dr. Aull pre-empted a tract of land, and resided on it for seventeen years. In 1856 he was elected to the Legislature from San Joaquin County, and served one term. In 1872 he removed to Modesto, Stanislaus County, and died there in 1873, at the age of sixty-seven years. In Missouri he married Clara Fngitt, a native of that State, and she died in Sacra- mento city, in July, 1888. Of the ten children in this family five are living. The first business in which Mr. Charles Aull engaged was the mercantile, at Liberty, near Galt. In 1870 he went to Modesto and was employed in a store there for nearly a year, and then, after assisting

his father to move to Modesto, he fitted up a drug store for him there. He himself also had considerable experience as a druggist. In March, 1872, a bitter fight arose between two factions of the Democratic party in respect to under-sheriff. The sheriff, John Rodgers, fin- ally solved the problem by tendering Mr. Aull the appointment, although he had never been an applicant or in any way connected with the mat- ter. He accepted the appointment, and in that office he obtained his first knowledge of crim- inal business. This branch of the public serv- ice of the county fell into his hands, and at that time it was very voluminous. Having got through with some pretty hard cases success- fully, he evinced that he was an ingenious and energetic officer. He held that position three and a half years. In 1875 he was appointed turnkey of the San Quentin prison, under Lieu- tenant-Governor Johnson, who was at that time ex-officio warden of the prison; and during his administration of four years Mr. Aull held nearly every position under him, which gave him a practical idea of the minutest details of prison management. During Ames' adminis- tration as warden of the prison, a clean sweep was made of all the officials in 1880, for politi- cal reasons. For the succeeding three and a half years Mr. Aull was employed most of the time by the Wells-Fargo Express Company, looking after criminals. He had charge of several cases, having to travel over the Pacific Coast several times. One of the most noted ot these cases was the capture and conviction of the murderers of Banker Cummings, of Nevada County, who was captured in the East four years after the commission of the crime. The details of the pursuit and capture and trial would fill a large volume, and are fresh in the minds of many in this State. Many important circumstances of the case were in Sacramento city. Mr. Aull was appointed deputy warden of the San Quentin prison by Hon. Paul Shir- ley, in November, 1883, and served four years, resigning November, 1887; and thirty days later he was elected warden of the Folsom prison,

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

which position he now fills. He was married in December, in 1887, to Miss Maggie Anglon, of San Francisco. Politically Mr. Aull is a Democrat, and he has always taken considerable interest in the political affairs of the State, hav- ing often been a delegate to the State con- ventions.

ACOB AND OSWALD BRODER .- Chris- tian Broder, the father of these gentlemen, was a farmer and a stock-raiser in Switzer- land, owning the property he occupied, and was a man of energy and good business qualities. He was born in 1792, married Ceophe Roupe, and died in 1879; his wife died in May, 1844. They had eight sons and one danghter: Chris- tian, Anton J., Oswald (deceased), Oswald (liv- ing), John, who died in Sacramento in 1850. Bena Hilvica, Elizabeth (deceased), Frank Bro- der, who died in August, 1868, and was buried at Mormon Island. Jacob Broder was born February 22, 1833, in Sargans, Switzerland, and was reared on a farm. In September, 1848, he and his brother left home and sailed from Havre de Grace for America, landing in New Orleans. In that vicinity they worked on sugar planta- tions and in vegetable gardens for about two months. In December, 1848, he left New Orleans for St. Louis, Missouri, on the steamer Great Missouri, which is long to be remembered as the boat that first conveyed the Asiatic cholera to St. Lonis. Half of the ship's crew, mostly negroes, died of this disease. Landing at St. Louis New Year's Eve, the brothers went into Madison County, Illinois, and remained there until April 11, 1850, employed on a farm ; and while there they saw whole families dying of that dread scourge, cholera. On the date mentioned they started for California across the plains, there being now three brothers in the party,-Jacob, Oswald and John. They had a very pleasant trip, and halted first in Sacra- mento, September 7, remaining there about two months, during which time Jolin died for want

of medical attendance. Jacob and Oswald were obliged to sleep beside their dead brother in the tent, and the following day dug his grave and begged the use of a wagon, paying $10 for it, to hanl the corpse to its final resting place. Those distressing times here are described else- where in this volume. The surviving brothers then went to Marysville and mined for a month, and from there to the North Fork of the Salmon River, in Klamath County, where they had to pay $2.50 a pound for flour; 900 pounds were dealt out at that price within three hours. They mined there for about two years, at a profit of $10 a day, the cost of living being about $2 a day. Meat averaged abont 60 cents a pound, potatoes 75 cents, and butter was often as high as $4 a pound. In 1853 Jacob came to Sacra- mento County, and purchased his present ranchi three miles from Folsom, containing 160 acres, and at present 1,100 acres, well adapted to or- chard and vineyard as well as grain, hay and live stock, being well supplied with running water. It is as good for irrigation as any valley in the world. Mr. Broder has a fine honse, built in 1878, of granite, on the side of a hill, whence a most beautiful view of the ranch and surrounding country is to be had. IIe made all the improvements here himself, and the ranch is one of the best in the county. When he first came here he was told that he would starve to death on such land. Although he has seen some sad experiences in early life, he is now well circumstanced. He is a man of courage, foresight, business ability and integrity. He was married November 16, 1869, to Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mary Studarus, of Brigh- ton Township, this county, and they have seven children: Mamie J., born November 3, 1870; Frances, October 31, 1873; Jacob, July 9, 1875; Joseph, December 17, 1877; Irene, September 23, 1880; Walter, June 7, 1883; and Edith, September 20, 1885. Mr. Broder is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding his member- ship in Natoma Lodge, No. 64. Oswald Bro- der was born April 26, 1826, and in 1864 married Miss Frances Bainbridge, a native of

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England. When he was on the Sahnon River he was stricken with a fever and started for Sacramento for medical aid, and while on the way was attacked by a highwayman. By a mere chance he escaped by jumping down into the brush about one hundred feet. While lying quietly on the ground he could hear their re- marks to the effect that they intended to kill him. While lying there quiet for two days, sick, he heard the shooting of guns and the cries of people, but supposed they were of the enemy. Many other narrow escapes with his life has he had. To-day he is surrounded with all the comforts of civilization, his farin adjoin- ing that of his brother, just described.

HARLES M. SLAYBACK, M. D., Fol- som, was born July 19, 1845, at Hills- boro, Montgomery County, Illinois. His parents, Crosier and Minerva Slayback, came to Folsom in 1875. His father died October 13, 1889. They have had seven children, namely: Mrs. S. E. Yarrick, at Dunnigan Station, Yolo County; Charles M., the subject of this sketch; Olive, in Folsom; Mrs. Amelia A. Lillie, at Dunnigan Station; Byron A., who died in Illi- nois before the family came to this State; W. L., residing at Knight's Landing, Yolo County; and Mrs. E. L. Wilkinson, living in Orange Vale, this county. Dr. Slayback was brought up in his native town; graduated at Hillsboro Academy in 1863; commenced the study of medicine in 1866, continuing two years in the office of Drs. Owen & Stratton at Hillsboro; and attended a medical lecture course at Cin- cinnati, 1869 -'71, graduating; the next two and a half years he practiced his profession at Butler, near Hillsboro; attended a winter terin of the American Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, and in the fall of 1874 came to Cali- fornia. The first year liere he spent traveling throughout the State, and then located at Placerville, where he practiced over two years, and the remainder of the third year he was at

the town of El Dorado. In February, 1882, he came to Folsom, where he has since resided; and since that date he has been a member of the order of Odd Fellows, holding his member- ship in Diamond Spring Lodge. January 1, 1882, the Doctor married Miss Ella M. Dono- van, danghter of Michael Donovan, an old Cali- fornian, and a resident of Sacramento.

- B. TOWNSEND, rancher, near Folsom, was born January 28, 1823, in West-

6 brook, Maine. His parents were George and Hannah (Baker) Townsend, both natives also of that State. His father was a tanner by trade, most of his life spent in Maine, and died at the age of seventy-five years. In the family were four sons and six daughters. The subject of this sketch was brought up in the village of Derring's Point until he was twelve years of age, when he started out for himself, commencing in a stoneware factory and then in a mill. He next visited Georgia a short time, and returning was engaged by Levi Morrill, a great politician and elector from Portland for President Polk. Mr. Townsend remained with him ten years. In 1846 he mar- ried Miss Rachel Hodskins, a native of Maine, and in 1853 sailed from New York to California, by way of the Isthinns, on the John L. Stephens, and by steamer to San Francisco. The first six months here he followed mining at Jennie Lind Flat; he then purchased a milk ranch, two and a half miles east of Folsom, where he has since remained. When he began here the dairy con- sisted of seventeen cows, and he had two horses; but there were no buildings on the premises. The ranch now comprises about 350 acres, and is particularly well adapted to dairying and stock-raising. Mr. Townsend has also followed butchering to some extent. In 1855 he visited the East, going and returning by water, and bringing his family with him. Ile is a member of the order of Chosen Friends. He has one child by his first marriage and four by his

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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