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 60

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 60

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

second, which was in 1874, when he wedded Miss Mary S. Powderly, of Sacramento, who died in 1886. The living children are Lillian F., wife of George Strong; George William, Dora and Lydia; and there are four step-chil- dren-Monroe, Mary, Ella and Ida.

ETER HAASE, farmer and stock-raiser, was born January 18, 1830, in Hanover, Germany. When eighteen years of age he went to England and remained there five years. Then he emigrated to America, arriving in New York city March 4, 1853. After re- maining there a year he came to San Francisco, by the steamer Yankee Blade. First he worked in the Butte County mines two years, after- ward he bought the ranch of 1,400 acres where he now resides, and is a prosperous farmer. For his wife he married, September 22, 1868, Miss Gertrude Bassen, who was also born in Hanover, Germany, October, 29, 1844. They have six children, whose names are Charles H., Katie G., Rosa A., Peter B., Mary A. and John B., all residing upon the home ranch.

AMES H. BURNHAM, banker at Folsom, was born in Galveston, Texas, November 1, 1846. His father, James G. Burnham, was a native of Kennebunk Port, Maine, where he was reared, and attained a commercial edu- cation and learned the art of civil engineering. He went to Texas when it was a republic nn- der the rule of Sam Houston. He was sailing as supercargo of his father's vessel from Ports- month, New Hampshire, to Vera Cruz, Mex- ico, and during a gale the vessel was blown ashore on Galveston Island, where the city now stands. His father returned to New Hamp- shire after material and apparatus to get the vessel off the beach, leaving him in charge of the vessel and cargo. During his absence the tide of immigration began coming in to that

point, and he decided to remain there. He was first employed to survey the city plat, and was afterward appointed collector of the port. He next engaged in the wholesale grocery business until 1850, when he came to California, and continued in the same business in San Fran- cisco until 1855. In December of that year he located in Folsom, becoming thus a pioneer of that place. When the Folsom estate was sold off he bought largely and erected the first build- ing there. He engaged in various pursuits un- til 1870, when he returned to Galveston and served as United States Census Marshal for the Eastern District of Texas, and was elected treasurer of that city. Coming again to Cali- fornia in 1873, he engaged in business in San Francisco, and died there February 26, 1878, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was a danghter of Captain Henry Parker, also a ship owner and master. She was a native of Charles- ton, South Carolina. Their marriage occurred in 1844, in Galveston, Texas; she died in 1859, in Folsom, leaving three sons and one daughter; the daughter has since deceased. The sons are all residing in this county, viz .: Charles E., teller in the California State Bank at Sacramento; Fred P. and James H., residing at Folsom. James H. Burnham, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of Folsom and San Francisco. In 1864 he engaged in business pursuits, purchasing an interest in the drug store of Alfred Spinks, a pioneer of this city, and a prominent Democratic politician, and since then has carried on this business. In 1878 he succeeded to the banking business and the Wells, Fargo & Co. express agency, formerly conducted by C. T. H. Palmer, once a promi- nent factor of Folsom, and now of Oakland. Mr. Burnham has been very successful in business, becoming one of the substantial men of the place. Republican in politics, he has always taken an active interest in political matters, although never a candidate for office. He has been a member of the Masonic order since 1874, and for eight years he has been master of Natoma Lodge, No. 64, F. & A. M., at Folsom.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

In 1866 he married Mary A., daughter of Reu- ben Clark, architect of the State capitol at Sa- cramento. They have two sons and one dangh- ter: Clark J., a graduate of the Sacramento High School, and now a student in the Toland Medical College in San Francisco; William P., engaged in business with his father; and Emma M., the daughter, residing with her parents in Folsom.

EORGE LITTLE was born October 21, 1819, in Scotland; was married there to Elizabeth Williamson, and soon afterward mnade a voyage to Australia. In a short time he sailed for San Francisco, on the sailing ves- sel Robert Bowen, and came to Sacramento and directly proceeded on to Negro Bar, where he followed mining for twenty years. He then bought a claim, on which he resided nine years; then selling out, he bought where he is now liv- ing, and where he raises grapes and some hay and cattle. This farm of 135 acres is all in good cultivation. Mr. Little's children are Maggie, William and John E. George Little, the father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, was married in 1808, followed teaming and farming, and died in 1847.

RS. M. BENNETT, residing at Mormon Island, was born December 15, 1820, in Lancashire, England, daughter of James and Mary Nnttel; her father was a car- penter and joiner. November 1, 1849, she married Mr. Bennett, a native of England, who came to America in 1847, and resided in Mas- sachusetts, where most of the time he was a manufacturer. He came by way of the Isthmus to California in 1852. Leaving his wife in Sacramento, he went at once to Mormon Island, where he followed mining three years. At the end of the first month he sent for his wife. In 1852-'53 he located his present home and set-

tled upon it; and when it came into the market he purchased it. There he followed farming and fruit-raising until his death, October 23, 1879, when he was sixty-two and a half years of age. He was a man of great energy and ability. He and his wife obtained their start in California by working out for wages, and to-day she enjoys the luxury of a nice home, surrounded by a great number of old-time friends. The property, comprising twelve acres, is mostly devoted to choice fruit. Mr. Bennett was at one time a prominent Freemason and Vice Pres- ident of the Natomna Water and Mining Com - pany. Mrs. Bennett has an adopted daughter, named Martha E. Bradbury, who is the sole companion of her declining years.

HRISTIAN L. ECKLON, butcher at Fol- som, was born in Augustinburg, Den- mark, now under the German government, March 17, 1832. His father was a farmer and butcher, as also were all the sons. In 1852 Mr. Ecklon came to America, landing at Boston and remaining four years in or near that city. At Brighton, near Boston, he was engaged in the butcher business. In 1856 he came to California, by the Nicaragua ronte, landing at San Francisco the middle of Angust. First he followed mining at Negro Bar two years, with no success; and ever since 1858 he has fol- lowed his favorite calling, butchering and the supply of the meat market. In the earlier days he had two shops,-one in Folsom and one at Mormon Island; and he had considerable business in adjoining towns. Since the mining

excitement died away the area of his trade has become confined to Folsom. In 1872 he bought the suspension bridge of Kinsey & Whitely, of San Francisco, and lived on the bridge collect- ing toll for ten years; he then sold it to the county for $8,000. In 1878 or 1879, Colonel Greely came from New York and introduced the signal service on the bridge. Interesting Mr. Ecklon in the matter, he turned it over to

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

him, and be kept it until he sold the bridge, and then it was carried on by J. H. Sturges un- til it was discontinued in 1887. Mr. Ecklon is a Republican, casting his first vote for J. C. Fremont, and he has been a local Icader in his party. Mr. Ecklon was married in 1860 to Mary Keffe, a native of Ireland, and they have three sons,-Charles Henry, Lorenz Gottfried, and Christian Frederick. The two eldest are engaged with their father in his business.

- HOMAS G. CASEY, a San Joaquin Township farmer, was born May 3, 1824, in the State of New York, near Auburn, Cayuga County. His father, Jesse D. Casey, was a native of New York, a farmer by occupa- tion, and died in Yates County, New York. The maiden name of Thomas' mother was Bet- sey Brown. In their family were fonr sons and four daughters: William J., Charles H., Sarah J., T. G., Edward M., Emeline, Eliza and Mar- garet. Mr. Thomas G. Casey was on a farm until he had passed twenty years of age, when he began to learn the harness-making trade in Potter, Yates County, New York, and for a number of years, with interruptions at farming, he followed his trade at Branchport, same county, on the west branch of Crooked Lake. November 10, 1849, he married Rebecca A. Putney, danghter of Jedediah Putney. She died Angust 3, 1860, in this connty. May 1, 1864, Mr. Casey married again, this time Mrs. Imogene A. Mitchell, a native of New Hamp- shire, and danghter of Milton Aldrich, who came to this county in 1862, and died here March 7, 1871, at the age of seventy-three years and three months. His wife, Eunice, born in 1806, still survives him. By the first marriage there were four children: Henry P., born August 9, 1851; George T., March 28, 1854; John T., July 21, 1855, and died two days after; and Arthur B., born August 20, 1856. All the living are in this county. By the second marriage there are three children,

viz .: Milton A., born October 23, 1865; Jesse E., June 21, 1870, and Lily A., Angust 14, 1871. Mr. Casey came to California in 1859, by way of the Isthmus, from New York, ein- barking on the 4th of July and landing here the 30th. Spent the first year on the Putney ranch, on the Cosumnes. He then went out upon the grant and struggled along until he accumulated a small amount of means, and then bought a claim of 160 acres at $3 an acre, and when in 1874 it came into market, he sold it for $2,000. Then he camne on the north side of the line into Brighton Township, and occupied rented property until 1880, when he purchased his present ranch of a quarter section in San Joaquin Township, for $3,000. It is twelve miles from Sacramento and three from Florin. Here he has made some valuable improvements, especially in fencing, out- buildings, etc. He carries on general farming, but has also fifteen acres in vineyard and orchard; has an interest- ing variety of trees and a great number of beautiful shrubs. He is a Republican in his political sympathies, having cast his first vote for W. H. Harrison, while by coincidence his son Milton A. first voted for Benjamin Harri. son. Mrs. Casey came to California with her sister and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, in 1859. She married Mr. W. P. Mitchell, May 12, 1861, and he died December 24 following, during the time of the flood, with small-pox, four miles north of the American River, on the Norris grant. She then taught school and did house work. Their daughter, Waltermine, was born April 9, 1862, and died September 2, 1862.

LBERT COLEBAKER, farmer, was born Jannary 5, 1842, in Ohio, to which State his parents had emigrated. In 1851 they came to California, being two years on the road, getting through 8,000 head of sheep, but had some trouble with the Pawnee Indians. They wintered in Salt Lake City. On arriving in

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

this State they stopped first at Placerville, where the citizens gave them a big dinner, in the middle of the road. They then proceeded on to the Flat-top House, and to the lower end of the Norris grant, and finally a little further up they entered a piece of land which they sup- posed belonged to the Government. In 1861 they were ousted by the sheriff and other citi- zens. He then bought a ranch back of Rocklin and remained there nine years, when he broke his leg, cansing him a loss of about $8,000. He then sold that place for $500, and located where he is now making his home. The present ranch contains 302 acres, where he raises hay, grain, cattle, hogs and sheep. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Jelly, was born in New Jersey about twenty years ago, who left Jersey City in 1861. They have two daughters, Rosa Ella and Emma Jane.

- AVID COONS, rancher, San Joaquin Township. This gentleman's father, George W. Coons, was a native of Ken- tucky, and his father, David Coons, was Ger- man, but whether born in Germany or not is not certainly known. In early day he was a resident of Kentucky. He afterward moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and kept store at the old Market Ferry, and it was kept for many years after his death by his son George W. David Coons' grandfather was married twice, and George W. was the son of his first wife. He afterward married a French lady, by whom he had two daughters and one son-Mary Ann, Frank and Virginia; these three are living in the East. After his death he was succeeded in business by his son George W., who was born January 28, 1817, in Kentucky, and moved to St. Louis with his father. In 1849 he came across the plains to this State, with mule teams, locating first in Sacramento, where he opened a general store. IIe also established a store at Mud Springs, El Dorado County. He carried on this business for two or three years, in the

meantime erecting for himself the first quartz mills ever built in California, on Mathenus Creek, a mile and a half from Mud Springs. In 1852 he returned to Missouri, leaving the mill in the care of two uncles, who allowed it to go down and be finally sold by the sheriff, during the absence of the owner. In returning East he went by water, and the steamer was wrecked and lost, and he completed his journey ou another vessel, reaching St. Louis in safety. In the spring of 1853 he again crossed the plains, with his wife and four children, being six months on the way. After spending a year in San Fran- cisco, without prosecuting any particular bnsi- ness, he located in the Sheldon- grant in this county, on the Cosumnes River, and remained there about two years. He then bought a squatter's title to what was supposed to be Government land, at $500, but this was proved to be on that grant and he had to vacate. He had the place all fenced, house and stables up, etc., but he had to leave. He finally took up 360 acres of Government land, upon which he re- mained until his death, which occurred Sep- tember 14, 1875. He was married in St. Louis January 29, 1839, to Sempronia H. Lanham, a native of Maryland, where she was born January 8, 1823, but was reared in St. Louis County, Missouri, about sixteen miles from the city. Her father's name was Horatio Lanham, and her mother's maiden name Sempronia. By that marriage there were thirteen children, viz .: David, born May 1, 1840; William C. L., April 10, 1842; Thaddeus Eugene, April 4, 1844; Benjamin Franklin, February 15, 1846; Edward L., April 10, 1847; Harry, November 18, 1848; Benjamin Franklin, October 14, 1852; Ninion, January 9, 1855; Collins G., January 2, 1857; Lily, September 14, 1858; Frank M., August 1, 1860; Benjamin F. P., April 5, 1862; Charles B., October 30, 1863. Thaddeus Eugene ,died July 18, 1845; the first Benjamin F. died Sep- tember 25, 1851; and the second Benjamin F. died November 7, 1853. Those who are living are residing in this State. David Coons, whose name heads this sketch, was thirteen years old

Bery Welch

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

when he came to this coast with his parents. From 1863 to 1866 he was engaged in mining in Idaho, and farmed one year there, and since that time he has made this county his home. He owns all the home place excepting seventy acres belonging to the widow, twenty acres belonging to his brother Harry. Grain rais- ing is his specialty. He also engaged suc- cessfully four years in sheep raising, taking the animals up into Modoc County, for free range. He lost about 1,300 head on account of hard winters. In company with his brother, in 1888, he set ont thirty acres in orchard. In political principles he is a Democrat, as was his father before him. For nine years his father was justice of the peace in San Joaquin Town- ship.

B ENJAMIN WELCH, General Master Car- Builder, Southern Pacific Railroad, was born on "Peck's Island," Casco Bay, near Portland, Maine, in August, 1827. The Welch family emigrated from Yorkshire, England, to the north of Ireland. His grandfather, James Welch, settled in New England in the early colonial days, and was in the Revolutionary army. The family of the mother of Benjamin Welch, Lucinda Bracket, was of Scotch descent, and settled in New England in 1636. They were nearly related to George Cleves, the pio- neer settler of the city of Portland, Maine. Like so many of New England's sons, especially in the early days, the father of our subject "fol- lowed the sea," and, although a man of means, young Benjamin was not brought up to idle away his time. At the age of sixteen we find him working as a carpenter in the Portland Lo- comotive and Car Shops, doing the work for the Atlantic & St. Lawrence Railroad, afterward the Grand Trunk Railroad, under the superintend- ence of Horace Felton and John Sparrow, where he remained for five years. In the spring of 1852 he came to California via the Vanderbilt steamer Daniel Webster, to Greytown, on the

Nicaragua River, thence across to the Pacific, reaching San Francisco on the 26th of March, where he resided for three years. On the 4th of March, 1855, he started for the Kern River mining district, and during this trip of four months visited the various mining operations in the San Joaquin and Bear valleys. It was during this trip that his services were engaged by the Sacramento Valley Railroad Company as a car-builder and superintendent of their pattern shops, which position he filled for seven years, being at Folsom during a portion of that time. Leaving that point, he went to the San José road, which was being constructed, making his headquarters at the "Seventeen-Mile House," with Charles Mclaughlin, who was killed in San Francisco a few years ago. He was also on the Mission and other roads until 1863, when he was engaged by Mr. Huntington, in the in- terest of the Central Pacific Railroad, T. D. Judah, Chief Engineer of the road, being his personal friend. He was engaged as Car Mas- ter, but to this duty was added that of General Superintendent of Construction of the different shops, buildings, etc., the first one being 20 x 150 feet, on which only half a dozen men were em- ployed for the first year. Additions were made of 130 x 30 feet, and this was the shop as occu- pied until 1867, when the present structure, 60 x 200 feet, was built; in 1868 the building, 90 x 230 feet, with an L 90 x 40 feet, which was roon followed by another, 100 x 200 feet, and the Round House. In 1865 he constructed his first immense snow-plow, which was in suc- cessful use for many years, the original cost being $2,400. He reconstructed the American River bridge, which had been destroyed by fire. In 1869 he invented a machine known as a " Framer and Tenon Machine," thereby saving much time and labor in the construction of cars. In 1870 the "Emigrant Sleeper" or "Tourist Car" was constructed upon his plans, and has since been adopted by the majority of the roads throughont the Union. These cars, built by the Pullman Company, were shown at the Railroad Exposition at Chicago in 1884,

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and received very general and favorable com- ment. At this writing (1889) the department under his control employs 1,950 workmen.

Mr. Welch was married January 4, 1860. to Mrs. Ellen Marsh, nee Barbour, a native of the State of Maine. Their living children are: George Henry, Walter Hatch, Frank Cum- mings and Benjamin Bradford. Mr. Welch is a member of Union Lodge, No. 58; F. & A. M., Sacramento Chapter, No. 3; Commandery. No. 2, and Council, No. 1, having been identified with the latter society over thirty years. He has held many positions of trust in connection with railroad matters, among which might be mentioned his membership with the Car- Builders' Association since 1870. He was ap- pointed as one of a committee on brakes, which was in session at Burlington, Iowa, for thirty days in 1886, and again in 1887. Plain, unostentatious and unassuming, his thorough knowledge of every detail, his fertility of re- source and kindliness of nature, has secured to him the happy cognomen of "Uncle Ben," and in the language of one of his associates, " What- ever Uncle Ben says, goes." The friend and associate of the late A. J. Stevens, Master Me- chanic and Superintendent of Motive Power; his inherent knowledge of men and things; his practical ability and inventive genius, brought him into intimate, personal relations with the master spirits of this, the greatest railroad en- terprise of the present generation, and no man stands higher in the councils of the great cor- poration. His name will find a place side by side with those whose thought first spanned the continent; whose plans and purposes, finding an echo in his breast, were brought to a successful issue by their energy and executive ability.

RANK KUNZ, proprietor of the Union Nursery in Sacramento, came to this State in 1861, in time to witness the great flood of that year. After that had subsided he started in business on the south side of the cemetery.

In 1862 he admitted a partner, Charles Schim- inger, and they bought ten acres. His partner remained with him until he moved to his present location in 1877, since which time Mr. Kunz has been alone in his business. In 1864 or 1865, he gave up his original location to the city. He has long been prosperous in his busi- ness, doing considerable work in cut flowers and designs in the cemetery trade, and he also propagates and sells many plants, both flowering and non-flowering. He was born in the village of Zeiskam, near Landau, in Bavaria, Germany, October 22, 1833, his parents being Philip Peter and Francesca (Weigand) Kunz. His father was a farmer, having land of his own, and marketed the wheat he raised; he is still living, but Mrs. Kunz is deceased. In the family were two sons and two daughters, and there is here, in California, a brother, George H., and a sister, who is the wife of G. H. Ha- mann. Mr. Kunz sailed from the old country March 12, 1852, in a sail vessel, and within nineteen days landed in New York. Soon after- ward he went to Jersey City and began work for the celebrated Peter Henderson, in his vegetable garden department; was there about two years, and then a little over a year in the same busi- ness for Mr. Bonekamper, then for a consin, Frank Kunz, in Jersey City, and at Bergen Point, until he came to California, in 1856. He came by way of the Panama Railroad, sailing on the Ariel on the Atlantic side, and the John L. Stephens on the Pacific side, and was twenty- four days on the voyage. One night, when on the Atlantic side, the vessel had a narrow es- cape from being dashed to pieces on a rock. He landed in San Francisco August 14 or 15, the last time the Vigilantes turned out. He . did odd jobs in that city,-sold bouquets sent in by his cousin at Hayes Valley. Although he had his wife with him on his arrival in Califor- nia, he had but $2.50 in money; and both worked out by the month to obtain a start, making $50 or $60 a month. Starting a garden in Hayes Valley, he sold vegetables. In 1859 he went to Fraser River, but remained only four days

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

in Vancouver. There were too many there. Returning to Hayes Valley, where the big church now is, he resumed the raising of vege- tables. Since then he has been for three years State gardener, under Governor Perkins. He is a member of the U. O. R. M .; of the K. of H .; has belonged to Sacramento Stamm, No. 124, U. O. R. M., going through all the chairs, and was also a member of Company G, Sarsfield Guards for nine years, and is also a charter member of the Pacific Sportsmens' Club, organ- ized April 1, 1881, winning the second gold medal, for which the club contested. He has not taken any active part in politics. He was married in New York July 20, 1856, to Miss Antonio Ochs, and they have five children now living, all in Sacramento, viz .: Charles F., Katie, Frank (who married Katie Clark), Emma and Hattie. They have lost four children, the three eldest in San Francisco and one in Sacramento.

OHN LAWTON, merchant, Ashland, was born December 9, 1827, in Dover, Maine, a son of Seth and Lucy (Wood) Lawton, whose ancestry were of English origin. His father, who was born in October, 1800, has been a farmer and butcher by trade, and is still living. He had six brothers and two sisters. Ilis mother lived to the age of 102. Mr. Law- ton, the subject of this sketch, was engaged npon the farm until he was of age. In the spring of 1851 he sailed from New York on the steamer Prometheus for the Isthmus of Pana- mna, crossed the Isthmns upon a mule, and sailed thence on the steamer Gold Hunter for San Francisco. He landed in Sacramento June 12, being about two monthis on the journey. He proceeded at once to Beale's Bar in Placer County, and mined there about two months, and then a short time on the Pinkham claim, and then at the Rhoades mine six months, and back to the old place again, and so on until 1859, when he purchased a half interest of W. W. Latham, making the firm of Latham & Law-

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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