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 65

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 65

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EGRAND R. DAVIS, of Sutter Township, was born May 16, 1824, in Prince William County, Virginia, son of Isaac Davis, a native of Kentucky, and a farmer, and Malinda Davis. His father had four brothers: Jilson, James, Travis and Harrison. Travis was stabbed and killed by a negro who was endeavoring to escape. Isaac Davis returned to Louisville, Kentucky, and remained there the rest of his life, dying at the age of fifty years; his wife died at the age of thirty-five years. In their family were three sons and three daughters: Mary J., Julia. Lyman R., Legrand R., Maria N., wife of L. R. Figg, of Louisville, Ken- tucky; and William, deceased. The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm. When young he worked at painting with the intention of learning the trade, but he abandoned that project and resorted to farming. Starting for California in 1849, he proceeded as far as St. Louis and there his funds gave out, and he heard of so much sickness on the Isthmus that winter that he was persuaded by his friends to remain. He then engaged in brickmaking for

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

R. W. Williams, and the next spring started again for California overland, leaving the Mis- souri River at the point where Kansas City now is; was four months making the trip, and had but little trouble with the Indians or with sick- ness. At one place they were halted by the In- dians, and one of the company exchanged horses with them. They overtook the whites and de- manded $20, which was given them. Near Ft. Laramie, Mr. Williams was placed in command of this train, to succeed the previous captain, who had died; and Williams was afterward killed by a man named Hunter, at or near Salt Lake. The train halted, and the lawyers and judges which were in it conducted a formal trial of Hunter and discharged him. After that there was no trouble. They arrived at Sacramento August 20. Mr. Davis' first night's sleep here was where the Plaza now is. Until February 10 he worked in the Southern mines, and then one summer season on. Feather River, being moderately successful. In the fall of 1851 he went to Benicia and burned brick for Timothy Sage two months. Next he purchased a tract of land four miles below Georgiana Slough, con- sisting of three-fourths of a mile or morc. On that he chopped wood for about two years and sold it. In 1853 he sold that land, went to San Quentin and made brick for a season, for Gen- eral Taylor. At that place he lost about $600. During the next fall (1853) he purchased the sloop Bianca, of sixty tons register, said at that time to be the fastest boat on the river; and he used it for floating and hauling wood to San Francisco, in which business he made inoney. In the fall of 1854 he sold it, and it was after- ward sunk on the Sacramento. He had to take it back, at considerable loss, raise it, repair it, and he sold it again. About that time he par- chased the place where he still resides, four miles from Sacramento, off the lower Stockton road. At that time it was a claim of about 200 acres, and he commenced at once to fence and improve it. He followed teaming over the mountains to Virginia City, his ranch being kept up mean- time. Since then he has given his whole atten-

tion to agricultural pursuits. At present there are 200 acres of the home place, on which he mostly raises wheat, with remarkable success. He has also other land in crops. Altogether he has 500 acres in wheat, 140 in barley and 100 in oats. Besides, he has about 2,000 vines and plenty of other fruit for family use. He is a member of the K. of P., and of Sacramento Grange, No. 12. Politics, Republican. He has made three visits to his home in Kentucky, and has crossed the Isthmus five times. He was married in 1870 to Emma L. Lennon, a native of Kentucky, and they have eight children: Newton B., Legrand R., Jr., George W., Lydia N., Florence M., Benjamin C., Raymond I. and Nellie P.

ENRY FREDERICK WILLIAM DET- ERDING, deceased, was born in Han- over, Germany, June 11, 1818. At the age of fourteen years he was apprenticed to the wagon-maker's trade, at which he served three years; then, according to the custom of his na- tive country, he was sent ont to spend five years in traveling and to learn the ways of the people and earn his own living, which was to serve as a part of his education. At the expiration of this time he returned to Hanover and opened a carriage and wagon shop, where he prosecuted the business until 1845, when he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York. Pro- ceeding on to St. Louis, he established himself there in his trade until 1851. In March of this year he started with two yokes of cattle and came overland to California, arriving in Sacra- mento September 24, 1851. The train con- sisted of five wagons, and they did not separate until they arrived at Shingle Springs, El Do- rado County. On arriving in Sacramento Mr. Deterding opened a shop on the corner of Ninth and J streets, where he carried on his trade with prosperity until April, 1853. Selling out, he removed to Diamond Spring, EI Dorado County, where he opened a general store, which was

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

managed by his wife while he turned his at- tention to mining. This he continued until some time in October following, when he sold out his store and took a contract for hauling logs to a saw- mill at Mud Springs, now the city of El Dorado. In the spring of 1854 he moved to Logtown, and again engaged in merchandis- ing. The next fall he moved his stock to Griz- zly Flat, same county, and carried on the business there until May, 1857. He then bought 520 acres of land in Sacramento Connty, which still remains the same and belongs to two of his daughters. In the fall of 1857 he built a quartz-mill and dam about sixteen miles from Carson, Nevada, and did quartz-crushing there two years, his family meanwhile remaining on the farm here. The quartz business, however, proved to be an unsnecessful venture, as he lost the $30,000 which he had put into it. After that he returned to the farm. On this place was a hotel which he conducted, it being on the main thoroughfare for all the teaming and travel between Sacramento and Virginia City and that section of country. In 1879 business was entirely suspended and the hotel did not pay so well; but it was still kept open. The house is still standing. Mr. Deterding was successful in almost all his business pursuits, being a good manager and financier. In his political sympa- thies he was a Democrat. He died Angust 26, 1879, and his wife June 18, 1885. Their mar- riage occurred in the old country, in 1845; she was a native of Germany and her maiden name was Wilhelmina Rosenberg. They brought up ten children, six daughters and four sons, as fol- lows: Mary, who died while crossing the plains; Louis, who died at the age of seventeen years, June 18, 1867; Christina, who died December 14, 1885, at the age of thirty-three years; Julia, who died October 25, 1888, also at the age of thirty-three years; Charles William, Matilda, Isabella, Wilhelmina, William, who died in 1869, aged five years; and Frederick, who died June 25, 1875, aged only one month. Charles William Deterding was born at Grizzly Flat, El Dorado County, May 19, 1857, and made his

home with his parents until after the death of his father. His present place of 290 acres was purehased November 14, 1883, since which time he has been employed there. Previously for six years he also worked the home place. He has had from 800 to 1,800 acres in cultivation at one time. His orchard of 140 acres com- prises peaches, apricots, pears, plnins, French prunes, figs, walnuts, almonds, oranges, lemons and limes, all of which are bearing. The vine- yard of twenty-five acres has Tokays, Mnscats and a variety of wine grapes. Fine buildings adorn the premises. October 1, 1884, Mr. Det- erding married Miss Mary, daughter of John Shields, whose sketch appears elsewhere, and they have had two children: Charles, born De- cember 10, 1885; and Mary, born February 27, 1886.

IRAM RIPLEY BECKLEY was born in Athens County, Ohio, March 2, 1835, his parents being Lucius Ripley and Mary Ann (Gorsline) Beckley. The father was a native of Ohio, and the mother of Indiana, her parents living near Fort Wayne. Grandfather Daniel Beckley married a .Miss Camp, and both lived to a good old age, perhaps sixty years. In 1844 the parents, with three sons and a daughter, moved to Van Buren County, Iowa, where the father was engaged for a time selling the produet of a local pottery, chiefly to dealers. He after- ward moved to Lee County and went to farming near Montrose for two years, when he returned to his previous pursuit in Van Buren County. The grandparents also spent a few years with him in Iowa, but afterward went back to Ohio. In 1850 L. R. Beckley, with his wife and chil- dren, crossed the plains to California with three ox teams and some cows, forming part of a com- pany of over 100 persons and a train of thirty- eight wagons. The Beckleys left Bonaparte, Iowa, April 5, but did not cross the Missouri until about May 1, not daring to venture into the interior because of the backward condition

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

of the grass that season. They arrived in Hang town, now Placerville, September 20, 1850, whence the father soon went forward to Sacra- mento to buy flour and other supplies with which he started a bakery at Diamond Spring for a few months. In December, 1850, they mnoved to Sacramento, where the father built the Washı- ington Hotel, corner of Fifteenth and J streets. After a few months he rented it to another party, and he conducted the Prairie House on the Placerville road. There the mother died, June 5, 1851, and the family returned to the Washington Hotel in Sacramento. In the spring of 1852 he was again married to Mrs. Phœbe Shaeffer, a widow having one son. He was burnt out in the great fire of November, 1852, and soon afterward bought the Monte Cristo House on the Coloma road, which he carried on about three years. In 1855 he moved into Franklin Township, and the fortunes of the family have been connected with this township ever since. He first took up 320 acres about two and a half miles west of where Franklin now stands, with a frontage of one mile on the road to the Sacramento River. Soon afterward he bought about 1,000 acres five miles north of Franklin. He was elected Supervisor for the years 1855 and 1856, and was afterward Public Administrator for one term. He died May 15, 1859, after two or three years of broken health, leaving three sons and a daughter born of his first marriage: Benson D., born about 1833, now a rancher of Calaveras County, and the father of four children; Edmund J., born in 1836 or 1837, a hotel-keeper in Portland, Ore- gon, and the father of one child; Mary Maria, born in 1838, by first marriage, Mrs. Isaac Allen, and by second, Mrs. S. F. Wheeler, who lived in this county from 1850 to 1883, and died in Nevada County in 1885. P. R. Beckley, the subject of this sketch, worked with his father, and afterward for a time in charge of his ranches, almost continuously from boyhood until the death of the latter in 1859. Meanwhile he had bought 160 acres adjoining his father's place on the road from Franklin to the Sacramento, and

about 320 acres of low land near the river. Mr. Beckley was married December 30, 1858, to Miss Sarah Clark Walton, born in Delaware, January 3, 1838, a daughter of William and Maria (Fountain) Walton, both now deceased, -- the father, May 27, 1877, aged seventy-eight; the mother, December 25, 1885, aged seventy- six. The father was of English, and the mother of French descent. Their son, John Henry, died in Franklin, November 24, 1888, aged forty-two, of blood-poisoning, from what seemed at first a trifling wound in the hand. Another son, William J., died in Iowa, in 1854, at the age of nineteen. A daughter, Elizabeth J., was married to Dr. B. H. Pierson, one of the first residents of Woodland, Yolo County, and pre- vionsly for fifteen years a practicing physician in Sacramento. He died in Franklin, January 10, 1883, leaving three children, now living with their mother in Auburn, Placer County. Another daughter, Esther Ann, was married to T. J. Holloway, a rancher of Santa Barbara. They are the parents of four daughters and two sons. Mr. Walton with his family came to Sacramento in May, 1856, from Iowa, where they had settled in 1849, at Farrington, Van Buren County. In 1857 they moved from Sacramento to the Twelve-Mile House on the Lower Stockton Road, which Mr. Walton car- ried on about three years. Early in 1859 Mr. Beckley built a new house on his place, which, however, he soon sold, being invited by his father to live near him on his upper ranch. The father's death in May threw the estate into court for distribution. In 1860 Mr. Beckley took charge of the Twelve-Mile House previ- ously run by his father-in-law. In 1861 he bought the ranch of 320 acres now owned by Weller Freeman, about two miles east of Frank- lin. In 1864 he was elected County Assessor for two years. In December, 1866, he sold his ranch and settled in Georgetown, now Franklin, of which he has been a second founder. He bought four acres along the west side of the road, on which he has since erected the most substantial buildings in the valley. Ile first

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put up a store and dwelling, the former being now used as a saloon, having been replaced as a store in 1881 by the large two-story brick, a consp cuous landmark for miles around, of which the npper-story is used as a public hall. The dwelling of 1867 is embodied in the two-story building known as the Franklin Hotel, begun in 1885 and finished in 1887. In February, . 1867, Mr. Beckley opened his place for business as a general store which he conducted until 1875, at the same time carrying on general farmning on the McCraken ranch of 400 acres adjoining the village plat at its southwest cor- ner, which he continued until 1885. Being elected Supervisor in 1875 he sold out his stock of goods and rented the sto.e. He entered on the duties of his office on the first Monday in October of that year, and retained it by re-elec- tion until 1882. After an intermission of seven years in official life he was appointed after the election of 1888 to the position of sub-sheriff, and entered on the discharge of its duties on the first Monday in January, 1889. He has been postmaster continuously since 1868. Mr. Beck- ley is a member of the Masonic brotherhood, and is a highly esteemed and public-spirited citizen of Franklin Township -- a sort of genial head-center of all local interests. Mr. and Mrs. Beckley are the parents of ten children, the crown and glory of their useful, industrious and unpretentious lives: Lucius Ripley, born No- vember 23, 1859; William Walton, June 3, 1861; Mary Maria, Jannary 8, 1864; John Augustus, December 26, 1865; George Irville, December 16, 1867; Lizzie May, May 1, 1871; Isaac Freeman, May 25, 1873; Sarah Esther, March 11, 1876; Laura Alice, January 14, 1877; and Ora Edna, July 17, 1883. . Of these, the oldest daughter, Mary Maria, was married June 29, 1882, to John W. Hall, a native of Canada, son of John E. and Jane Elizabeth (Benjamin) Hall, then residing in this township and now in Yolo County. John W. Hall had taught school in Georgiana Township nearly four years, when, at the age of twenty-six, he was accidentally drowned, April 1, 1884, while hunting on the

Whitcomb place, leaving two children: Elmer Ernest, born April 25, 1883, and a posthumous child, Myrtle Gertrude, born September 4, 1884. The children and their mother are members of the Beckley household. Lucius R., the oldest son of P. R. Beckley, owns 160 acres in Jenny Lind Township, Calaveras County; and William W .. the second son, owns an adjoining quarter section.

ILLIAM CURTIS, rancher, was born in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massa- chusetts, Angust 11, 1831. His par- ents, Jolin Thomas and Mary (Bailey) Curtis, natives of Lincolnshire, England, eame two years previously to America. His father died May 1, 1850, and his mother, now nearly ninety-one years of age, is living with him, the subject of this sketch. She has made three trips from Massachusetts to California, twice by water and onee by land. Of her family of five children, only two sons are living. At the age of sixteen years young William commenced driving a milk wagon into Boston, and con- tinned in that business until he left for Cali- fornia. February 5, 1852, on the steamer Prometheus, he left New York city, and came by the Nicaragua ronte. Embarking on the steamer North America for San Francisco, the vessel was wreeked when four days ont, near land, at night. She ran ashore abont ninety miles below Acapulco. Mr. Curtis then traveled to Acapulco on Mexican ponies. Many of the passengers, however, had to walk, as there were 1,100 of them. No lives were lost by the wreck. From Acapulco Mr. Curtis came in a sailing vessel to San Francisco, arriving May 10. Where he now resides his brother was then living. After stopping with him a few days, he went to Beale's Bar, on the North Fork of the American River, and tried gold- mining for two weeks, quitting then for want of water. His brother was taken sick and after his recovery returned to Massachusetts, and re-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

mained there until December, 1888. In his absence William took charge of the place, and in the course of two years became the owner. Up to three years ago he kept a large dairy of eighty to 100 cows. During the past twelve years he has been engaged extensively in thresh- ing, and during the past seven years he has had many cattle in Arizona; has 1,200 head there at present. He makes annual trips to that conn- try to look after his interests. On his property in this county he has about ninety head of horses, young and old, and abont forty head of cattle. He has 1,500 acres of land in cultiva- tion on the Haggin grant, which he has been conducting for the past six years. Of the homestead tract, on the lower Stockton road, there are 200 acres. In the flood of 1852 he lost heavily in stock. With that exception he has been fortunate, and his management has been attended with great success. January 1, 1862, is the date of Mr. Curtis' marriage to Snsan W. Potter, of Ione Valley, this State. They have two sons and three daughters, but the sons are deceased. William Roland died at the age of seventeen years, and Frederick P. at the age of four years and four months. The daughters are Carrie M., Alice Louisa and Edna. Politically Mr. Curtis has been a Re- publican ever since the party was organized, and has been an active worker for the advance- ment of its principles, participating in the con- ventions, etc .; but he has never aspired to any office. He has always thought that his own business, well attended to, would pay as well as any other he could ever hope to reach.

E. CHAMBERLAIN, one of the Cali- fornia pioneers, associated with Sac- ramento since the early days, is a native of Dunstable (now Nashua), New Hamp- shire, born October 31, 1801, his parents being Elijah and Elizabeth (Kidder) Chamberlain. The Chamberlains are one of the early New England families. Three brothers of that name

came from England in the early colonial days, one of whom settled in Massachusetts. From him the subject of this sketch is directly de- scended. His father was an extensive Boston merchant, who had business interests at other places. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a native of Dunstable, New Hamp- shire, and her father was a minister there for many years. When W. E. Chamberlain, onr subject, was an infant, she resided at Boston, but on account of her health she went to Dun- stable to live. Daniel Webster, that great figure in American history, was a relative, and sometimes made his home there, so that our subject was as intimately acquainted with him as with a brother. W. E. Chamberlain went to Hopkinton to pursue his education, and while there lived with an aunt, Mrs. Webster's mother. He attended school there and at Pel- ham and Hopkinton. While at Bradford he was compelled to quit school on account of being attacked with rhenmatism. He wanted to go to West Point Military Academy, but his mother was unwilling. He entered a store at Andover, and in 1822 became a silent partner with Joel Carter in Boston. In 1824 the firm of Simpkins & Chamberlain, Boston, was founded. In 1827 Mr. Chamberlain went to Cincinnati, where he engaged as clerk in a store. He next went to Oxford, Ohio, where he engaged in business. In 1844 he went to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he was in business five years as a member of the extensive firm of Craft & Chamberlain. On the morning of the 1st of January, 1849, he started for his place of business, when he met some one who told him his extensive lard works were burned down. He proceeded to the scene and saw that the re- port was only too true, and that everything was destroyed. At 10 A. M. he returned to his home. When asked by his wife what he in- tended to do, he said he was going to California. In connection with three or four others a party was formed for that purpose, but the others lett Mr. Chamberlain out of the arrangements, con- cluding he was too old. IIe, however, not dis-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

couraged, arranged with two other men, and they outfitted and started, proceeding to St. Joseph, Missouri. They found it difficult to cross the river, and after that was accomplished many obstacles appeared ahead. There was a vast emigration ahead of them, and the grass was short; so they sold their wagons, having concluded to pack across. Before they got to Big Blue (two or three days after leaving the Missouri River), the signs of cholera became so numerous that Mr. Chamberlain's partners, Messrs. Ketchum and Barber, became alarmed. In the morning, after a very stormy night, they came to Mr. Chamberlain and proposed to go back. He told them he would not, but would give them $100, and take two mules and part of the supplies, and go ahead. Two of the party that had left Mr. Chamberlain out on account of his age, Mr. Crawford and Colonel Hook (afterward sheriff of San Joaquin County), were overtaken, and he joined with them. The three proceeded on to Little Blue River, and there Colonel Hook was taken sick. Crawford then insisted on going back, but Mr. Chamberlain would not have it that way, and proposed in- stead to wait until a train came along, and put Colonel Hook aboard. This was done, and the two others proceeded on their way. After making the last crossing of the Platte, and after they had proceeded out of sight of it, Mr. Chamberlain became very sick with the dysen- tery. He said, " I will have to stop and rest ;" but the Indian encampment could be seen in the distance, and Mr. Crawford refused to wait, as he said they would be killed by Indians. Mr. Chamberlain put up his little tent, and they finished their work of separating. Mr. Craw- ford was about leaving, when a train appeared over the hills, approaching them. The first

wagon was that of a young Virginian, named Wilson. He put one of Mr. Chamberlain's mules into his team, and they proceeded to- gether. Mr. Chamberlain reached Sacramento August 23, 1849. A few days later he went with a young inan from New York, to a point on the Mokeluinne River, five miles from Ione,

and went to mining; but their efforts proved futile. He then went up on the Cosumnes River, and remained at Cook's Bar until spring, when he returned to Sacramento and purchased a little store from Lindley & Booth. Mr. Dye built a store on the Plaza to rent to him, and after renting it about a year, Mr. Chamberlain purchased it. He carried on business there until burned out by the great fire of November, 1852. He was elected city treasurer, taking the office in 1854, and serving one year. The next year he was elected city clerk and anditor. In the spring of 1856 he became connected with the bank of D. O. Mills & Co., and has so remained ever since. For a time he held the position of vice-president and director. He has been city treasurer also in 1863, 1864, 1867, 1969-'72, and two years since the last-mentioned date. Mr. Chamberlain was married in Sears- port, Maine, while a resident of Cincinnati, to Miss Charlotte A. Kidder, a native of Sears- port. She was a daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah (Averton) Kidder, and granddaughter of Dr. Averton, of Massachusetts, a celebrated physician. Her father was a Boston merchant, who, on giving up business, retired to a farm. Mrs. Chamberlain came to California to join her husband in 1853, via the Nicaragua route. The children did not come until two or three years later, having remained in Indiana, under the tuition of Dr. Scott, Mrs. President Harrison's father. Three children have been born to them, viz .: Edward (deceased), Florence L. and Will- iam Edwin. Mrs. Chamberlain departed this life June 1, 1888. Edward, the oldest son of W. E. Chamberlain, completed his education in Sacramento. He studied medicine with Dr. Moss, of this city, and assaying with Henry Hawks, of San Francisco. He became con- nected with smelting works, and went from there to Arizona to look at some mines. He prac- ticed medicine there, and was hospital steward at Fort Ynma. He afterward went to Mexico, where he contracted yellow fever, and died in 1884, aged forty-three years, leaving two chil- dren. Florence L. is the oldest living child of

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Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 916

Author: Davis, Winfield J., 1851- 4n
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 916