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 84

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 84

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

ILLIAM MILGATE, a rancher of Na- toma Township, about eleven miles from Folsom, was born in England, December 24, 1812, his parents being William and Hannah Margaret (Pyles) Milgate. The mother died near Newham, and the father emi- grated to America in 1824, with seven dangh- ters and two sons. James, the only brother of the subject of this sketch, is living in Cleve- land, Ohio. The grandfather, also named Will- iam, lived to the age of eighty. The father first settled in Lyons, New York, but afterward moved to Darien in that State, where he died. The subject of this sketch was apprenticed to a shoemaker in Geneva, New York, in 1829, and learned his trade partly there and partly in Canada, where he spent most of the year 1831. He was married in Buffalo, in March, 1832, be- fore he was twenty, to Miss Hannah Gilkey, born in Cayuga County, New York, in 1813, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carey Gilkey. Mr. Milgate worked at his trade in and near Buffalo for about five years, and afterward traveled to more distant points, still working at his trade. In 1849 he established a shoe store in Savannah, Missouri, which he sold out two years later,

when he moved to Council Bluffs. In 1853 he crossed the plains with his wife and children, two sous and a daughter, and worked at his trade one winter in Salt Lake, where another daugliter was born. In May, 1854 they pro- ceeded on their way until they reached Buckeye Flats, where Mr. Milgate mined that season. In 1855 he moved to Sacramento, where he kept the Globe Hotel on K street, but only for a season. In the fall of 1855, with his two sons, he came to what was then known as Wall's Diggings, where they mined with fair success, and in 1856 the wife and daughters joined them at " Walltown," which has ever since been the home of the family, though the town has grad- nally faded from the landscape. It had at one time a population of over 200, besides being a trading center for an extensive mining district, with three general stores, two taverns, two butcher shops, two billiard saloons, a clothing store and a bakery. In 1858 Mr. Milgate opened a saloon, and in 1859 bought one of the general stores, carrying on business in Wall. town almost to the end. He did not see its rise, but he has witnessed its decline and fall. Meanwhile he had filed the necessary papers and received a United States patent to 160 acres, dated October 20, 1875, and eighty acres June 4, 1887, which he uses chiefly as cattle pasture. He has also done some quartz mining in later years, but has done little of anything since 1886. He had a stroke of paralysis in that year, from which he partially recovered after sixteen months, only to be again stricken down June 14, 1888. He is still bedridden, a year later, but is otherwise in fair health and spirits. Mrs. Milgate died August 22, 1866, leaving four children: George Carcy, born in Buffalo, April 19, 1833. He learned the trade of plumber and tinner, and in 1871 went into business in that line at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was there married in 1874 to Miss Eliza Caffle, born in England, a danghter of James and Eliza Caffle, both now living in Council Bluffs. They have four children: Eveline, born May 24, 1874; Grace, April 28, 1879, both in

544

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

Council Bluffs; Frank, born in Sacramento, Jannary 2, 1884; Annie Olive, born in " Wall- town," April 11, 1888. George C. Milgate, having returned to California with his family in 1882, settled on his father's place in that year. William James, also born in New York in 1837, is now proprietor of the Fountain Stables in Sacramento. He also owns about 1,200 acres in Natoma Township. Aurelia, born in New York State in 1841, became the wife of James Burrows, a native of Wisconsin, and died November 23, 1876, leaving three daughters and one son. Her youngest daugh- ter, Marion, born February 4, 1876, was taken into the family of her grandfather, the subject of this sketch, and there reared. Marion Mil- gate, born in Salt Lake City, April 16, 1854, now Mrs. Charles Haines, also of Walltown, has two children, a boy and a girl. Mr. William Milgate was married June 22, 1867, to Miss Hannah Wardle, born in England, May 31, 1833, a daughter of Ralph and Harriet (Chals- worth) Wardle. The parents emigrated to America in 1862, and settled in Salt Lake City, whence they moved to Reese River in 1864, and after eighteen months came to Sacramento, where the father died July 17, 1886, aged seventy-four years, four months and one day. Mrs. Wardle, born June 7, 1807, is still living in 1889, and residing with her daughter, Mrs. William Milgate.

EORGE L. CLARKE, capitalist, Sacramen- to. About the beginning of the present cen- tury, or a year or two later. James Clarke, a native of the New England States, came to Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, bought a farm near Pittsburg, married Miss Sarah Cooper, and became a fariner; and here in April, 1833, was born George L., the subject of this biographical notice. For many years prior to 1847 there had been a Mormon settlement in Hancock County, Illinois, and when in 1847 or 1848 they inoved to Salt Lake, James Clarke bought

600 or 700 acres of Mormon land, and removed his family there. At the age of eighteen years young Clarke entered a store at Rushville, the county seat of Schuyler County, Illinois, as a clerk, where he remained until March, 1852. Even as a boy the tales of adventure in the far West, and such books as " Hastings' Traveler's Guide," had instilled into his mind a firmn de- termination to "go West" at the first oppor- tunity; and when, in 1852, a party was made up at Rushville to cross the plains with ox teams, he gladly became one of the number. The party followed up the north side of the Platte River, crossed the Sweetwater, came over the Rocky Mountains at the South Pass, entered this State through Beekwith Pass, and stopped at Hopkins Creek (at that time in Butte County) for a month to recruit, and then journeyed on to Marysville. Not liking the outlook for mining operations, he crossed the American River at Lile's Bridge, and entered the city of Sacramento on the 8th of Septem- ber. Very soon he purchased an interest in a ranch near Freeport, San Joaquin Township, and began farming. It was on this farm, owned jointly by him and Mr. Dillworth, that he first met Mr. F. R. Dray, who subsequently became prominent in the county. He con- tinned on this ranch of 480 acres until the fall of 1858, when he sold out and bought a farm near Elk Grove, and resided there until 1866, when he removed to town. During that year he went to Oregon and bought 2,600 head of sheep, and drove them across the country to Sacramento. In 1870 he went to San Luis Obispo County, and engaged in raising, buying and selling sheep, frequently driving flocks to Sacramento in order to reach the mining market in Nevada. In 1873 he once more returned to the Capital City, where for three years he con- tinned to reside, retaining his interests in the sheep-raising and stock business. During the Centennial year he made a trip East, visiting Chicago, Niagara Falls, New York, Philadel- phia, Washington, and on his return stopped at his old home in Illinois, and also visited his

yours faithfully John .now Herrlich

545

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

younger brother, James P .. Clarke, in Kansas. His brother has since that time returned to Rushville, and has become a merchant, and is also a supervisor of Schuyler County. After being gone over four months, Mr. Clarke re- turned to this State. Since that time he has bought and improved several pieces of city property, and last year (1888) he and an old neighbor and friend, Mr. Cave, of Sacramento, bought 1,100 acres of Yolo County land, which they are improving, intending to make a stock ranch of it. Mr. Clarke is an active, energetic, go-ahead man. He was never married. His home is at the State Honse Hotel, where he is ever ready to greet his friends in a cordial manner.

ON. A. L. FROST .- This gentleman occu- pies the responsible office of county assess- or, having been elected thereto in the fall of 1886. Like so many of the old Californians, his life has been one full of incident, variety and adventure, ending now happily in comfort and the esteem and confidence of his fellow- citizens. Mr. Frost was born April 18, 1828. in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, and there in the country schools he made acquaint- ance with books, although he owes the better part of his education to the rougher but most valuable schooling of experience and the rubs · and chances of an active life. When but a youth he went to work in a sash and door fac- tory in Lawrence, Massachusetts. In 1845, · still only in his 'teens, he made his way to Maine, where he remained until 1852, when he determined to come to California and test for himself the truth of the stories of gold that came from this western land. The trip was made by way of the Isthinns of Panama, and was nnattended by any serions mishaps. On the 22d of September of that year Mr. Frost arrived in this State, and immediately engaged in mining in El Dorado County. There he re- sided continuously, meeting with the varying

success of the miner, nntil May 20, 1873, when he was appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of California, with office and headquarters in Sacramento. This office Mr. Frost held until Angust, 1885. In the fol- lowing year he received the nomination for county assessor upon the Republican ticket, was elected, and is still the incumbent of the office. He is a director and the vice-president of the Sacramento Glass and Crockery Company. Mr. Frost is a zealons believer in the principles of the Republican party, and an effective worker for all interests which he is persuaded conduce to the public good. He is a member in high standing of the Masonic order, belonging both to Conneil and Chapter, and is also a member of the Knights Templar, Commandery No. 2. He was married in California, to Miss Elizabeth Lum, of El Dorado County. They have a son and a daughter. In conclusion it should be stated that Mr. Frost is both a popular and an efficient officer, a gentleman of genial bearing, and one who fills a place of acknowledged im- portance in the community.

EV. JOHN F. VON HERRLICH, B. D., LL. B., the rector of St. Paul's Church, Sacramento, whether as a pulpit orator of power and acceptance, an active and efficient head of his parish, or as a beloved and popular pastor, has won a position of deserved promi- nence among the clergy of this coast since his arrival here. Called from a similar position in one of the most important cities of central New York to accept a post of labor and responsibil- ity in a church that had suffered almost from the first from a series of the most untoward cir- enmstances, that had mnilitated serionsly against all its best interests, he has in the short space of one year made a compact and enthusiastic body of his parishoners, has infused new life into both the spiritual and temporal status of the church, and has now under way a series of ma-

546

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

terial improvements that will make St. Paul's one of the most worthy and beautiful " Houses of God" in California. Mr. Von Herrlich was born in the State of Ohio, although this was by one of those curious haps of fortune that seldom occur, as his parents were residents of New York, and there Mr. Von Herrlich spent his childhood and youth. His father was Mr. Lonis Von Herrlich, of New York city, in regard to whom we cannot do better than transcribe a por- tion of an article published in the city papers at the time of his death, a short time since. " Louis Von Herrlich was seventy-two years of age, and up to a few months before his death was strong and vigorous. He was highly educated at Ger- man universities, a thinker and philosopher, one of a distinguished family that has given to the German Empire some of its most distinguished lawyers, doctors and statesmen, Ludwig von Herrlich, the uncle after whom the deceased was named, having been at one time the friend and contidant of the German Emperor. Louis von Herrlich was one of three brothers who came to America abont 1844, the deceased being the last of his generation in the family. He was identi- fied, socially and politically, with a well-known coterie of New York Germans,-thie Gilseys, Gunthers, Oulds, Ottendorfers and others-now nearly all passed away, but for the past ten or twelve years having retired from all active business life, he spent his time in° quiet and travel," for which, we may add, his ample means gave fullest opportunity. He left two children, the one being the subject of this sketch, and the other, Frances E , the wife of James C. Elliott, of Cleveland, Ohio, nephew of Bishop Elliott, of South Carolina, and consin of Dr. John Elliott, rector of the Church of the Ascension, Washing- ton, D. C. Mr. Von Herrlich is a university graduate, and an LL. B. of Columbia, as also a graduate from the law college of Columbia, in the class of 1878, and of the General Theologi- cal Seminary of New York city. His first par- ish was the Irving Memorial Church (St. Mark's) at Tarrytown, on the Hudson. In 1883 he accepted a call to Elmira, New York, where

he became rector of Grace Church and Chapel. After a residence there of four years he re- moved to Sacramento, and assumed the rector- ship of St. Paul's Church, January 15, 1888. At the time of his departure the following ap- preciative notice appeared in the New York World: "Rev. John F. von Herrlich, at one time rector of the Irving Memorial Church at Tarrytown-on-Hudson, has for the past four years been at the head of Grace Church, Elmira, New York. He has just accepted a call to St. Paul's Church, Sacramento, California. Mr. Von Herrlich has been one of the most snecess- ful clergymen of the Protestant Episcopal Church in this country. He cleared off a debt of $25,000 which hung over the Irving Me- morial Church, and his rectorship at Elmira has been highly acceptable." Snch, in barest outline, is a sketch of the life of Rev. John F. von Herrlich. He is a young man of learning, energy and power, such as is met with only oc- casionally among the clergy. His discourses, especially upon the more abstruse and recondite themes of Christianity, have aroused consider- able attention, and both as a writer and speaker his services are in demand. Sacramento is to be congratulated in his coming to assume his present charge, as to do so he declined most at- tractive calls to larger eastern cities. Since he has been here he has thrown himself heart and soul into the work of building up St. Paul's, and in this has had signal success, his own con- siderable personal means enabling him to ac- complish things that others might not have attempted. His popularity is very great, a circumstance not to be wondered at by one who has met him; and he has proven himself a true pastor of his people. In its proper place will be found a description of the material improve- ments effected through his instrumentality upon St. Paul's Church. He is an unmarried man. We should be neglecting a matter of in- terest and importance did we fail to state the fact that as a writer and a poet Rev. Mr. von Herrlich has taken a forward place among the molders of thought of this country. His poeins

547

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

are beautiful in thought, strong in purpose, rhythmical in flow; his prose teachings,-for all his writings are teachings, - are terse, pointed, cogent and epigrammatic.

EORGE NESCHE, a farmer of San Joa- quin Township, was born in Hanover, Germany, August 1, 1829. His parents, IIenry and Joanna (Bich) Nesche, came to America in 1836, landing at New York city. Having learned the miller's trade in the old country, Mr. Nesche, the father, worked abont six months for a man by the name of Moore, in a flour-mill at Little Beaver, on the Ohio River, in the State of Ohio. In April, 1837, he proceeded on to Hermann, Missouri, and there worked for different parties until 1849, when he purchased land in Gasconade County, that State, and lived there until the time of his death in 1851. He had four sons and four daughters. Only two are now living. namely: Elizabeth Mahone, of this county, and the sub- ject of this sketch. The latter, as he grew up, worked at the tanner's trade and in a flonring- inill. In April, 1852, he left Hermann, Mis- souri, with a company of fifty men and families, and came overland to this State with ox teams, having no trouble with the Indians. In Sep- tember, after a journey of six months, he reached White Rock, six miles above Hang- town. He followed mining about six years with moderate success, working on the ranches during the sunnner. At the end of this time (in 1858) he returned to Missouri by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York. Visit- ing there for six months, he returned again to this State by way of New Orleans and the Isthmus. In 1859 he purchased 240 acres near Sheldon, in partnership with Mrs. Bader. In 1869 he sold his share of this land, and in Octo- ber returned to Hermann, Missouri, by railway, and married Miss Julia Hoffman, a native of Hermann, Missouri, whose parents both died there. He returned again to California in March,

1870, by overland railway. After renting three years, he purchased his present property of 160 acres in San Joaquin Township, twelve miles from Sacramento city, four miles from Elk Grove, and three miles from Florin. He found his place comparatively unimproved, but he has brought it np to a fine condition. The vine- yard comprises seven acres, and orchard three acres, consisting of peaches, pears, plnins and apricots. This property is one of the best in this locality. In his political views Mr. Nesche is a Republican. His children are: Caroline, born November 26, 1870; George H., Jannary 7, 1872; Johanna, April 25, 1876, and Celia L., February 12, 1880.

AMES EDWARD ENOS was born Angus 16, 1841, in Chicago, Illinois, his parents be- ing James Myron and Jane Eliza (Foote) Enos; the former was born March 21, 1813, in the town of Lester, Addison County, Vermont, the son of Sessions and Mehitable (Lyon) Enos. Sessions Enos was a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Vermont, thence to Chicago, Illi- nois, in 1836, and died October 10, 1838, in his fifty-seventh year; his wife died Angust 23, 1839, in her fifty-eighth year; they had five ehil- dren, viz .: Minerva, Benjamin, James, Martha and Sessions M., of whom Martha is the only one now living. James married Jane Eliza Foote, whose family caine originally from England; there were three brothers who came in the Mayflower; one of thein, Nathaniel Foote, settled in Con- nectient, and the third generation from him was Elisha Foote, whose daughter Jane Eliza was born in New York State, in 1816, and became the wife of James Enos. James was raised in New York city; in 1852 he came to California, across the plains; two years later he returned East on a visit. In 1855 he again crossed the plains, with his family, and came to Sacramento, settling at Florin. He died October 10, 1886; and his wife died April 25, 1887. They had six children, of whoin three are still living. James

548

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

Edward Enos, the subject of this sketch, was raised in Chicago to the age of fifteen, when he came to California with his parents in 1855. In 1860 he began learning the carpenters' trade. In 1869 he went to San Francisco and there attended Heald's Business College, from which he graduated in Angust of that year, and is now a life member of that institution. He then went to Lakeville, Sonoma County, and there carried on building and contreting for fourteen years. At the end of that time, in 1885, he re- moved to Galt, remaining there two years in the capacity of manager of the Galt lumber yards of the Friend & Terry Company, of Sacra- mento; he put in their lumber yard for them. and made various other improvements while there. He owns considerable property in Galt. At present he lives on the home property, eon- sisting of eighty aeres in Brighton Township, Mr. Enos has been a member of the order of Odd Fellows since he was twenty one years old.

ALMER CLARK was born in the State of New York. At the age of twelve he was one year on the Erie Canal, between Schenectady and Albany. In 1840 his father, who was a farmer, sold out and the family ini- grated to Elgin, Illinois, where our subject found employment on the farm owned by his father until he was twenty-four years old. On the 10th of May, 1852, a party composed of our subject, his cousin Oliver Plummer, and many others, started overland by horse train for California. They crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs and saw no habitation until they reached the Mormon settlement in the Car- son Valley. They went to the north of Salt Lake, via Snblette's eut-off; George Masters, a friend, fell in with them on Platte River, Ne- braska, and together they arrived safely at Soda Springs, Idaho. Masters went to Oregon about the 7th of October, and Clark got to Hangtown on the 8th of October, 1852. Our subject was a young man of resources and quite ready to .

take advantage of circumstances. He "had not come for his health," and when one morning a man offered him $2.50 per day to catch fish with hook and line in the softly flowing Sacra- mento, he elosed the bargain forthwith, and is proud to state that suecess attended his efforts and his wages inereased to $3.00 after the first day. Shortly after he began teaming and for the sneceeding seven months was hauling goods to the mines. Then for a time he drove a stage. Subsequently he kept the Eureka stables on K street for a year, and later on the Fountain House on the road to Grass Valley, sixty-five miles from the capital. Then went to Tehama County and engaged in teaming, and after two years once more returned to Sacramento and engaged in stock dealing at the Horse Market on K street. He left California for his old home in the winter of 1859, going via New York. His father died in March following. He purchased a band of horses and drove them aeross the plains; his mother, two sisters, two brothers, two cousins and Mr. J. Soverign, now of Woodland, being of the party. By this en- terprise he made money; horses which cost $56 readily brought $300 in the Sacramento markets. Having disposed of his stock he again returned to Illinois: crossed the plains in 1861, 1862 and 1864. On the last trip, when sixty-five miles from Fort Laramie, the Indians sneceeded in getting away with his horses; he returned to the fort for assistance, and six mounted men started in pursuit, but, after going some thirty miles, became frightened and returned. Clark then continued on his way on foot, a journey of about 300 miles, during which he was obliged to swim rivers and resort to all sorts of expedi- ents to avoid the Indians. Arriving at Salt Lake he met N. C. Alexander, of whom he borrowed $1,300; he spent six weeks in trading, after which Alexander employed him to come to Cal- ifornia and bring seventeen innles and three trotting horses, and to condnet all the ladies of the party to Clear Creek; thirty-five days later they met again at Sacramento. In 1865 he brought another train for Alexander from Atchi-

549

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

son, Kansas, to Salt Lake, and had exciting times with the Indians. During the following year he made two trips, making eight in all. In August of the following year he started for Chicago with a medicine company, and was with them for eighteen years, traveling during that time over the greater portion of the United States. In 1871 Dr. William A. Johnson, of Chieago, compounded a medieinal remedy under the name of "Vigor of Life," purely vegetable and possessing wonderful eurative qualities. Onr subject came into possession of the copy- right a few years later, and, removing to the Capital City, established his headquarters here in August, 1887, making this the distributing point for an extensive trade, extending over the entire coast. He sells direct to the trade both here and in the Eastern eities, where the Vigor of Life has already an established reputation. Besides employing many men to travel through different sections, selling and advertising ex- tensively, Mr. Clark gives his personal attention to the business, making extended trips and necessarily being absent from his office a eon- siderable portion of the time. During these trips the office remains in charge of his wife, an estimable lady of great business ability. To any one who has the happiness to meet Mr. and Mrs. Clark under their own roof-tree will be opened up to a most delightful view of genuine California hospitality.

ILLIAM HENRY ELLIS, of Brighton Township, was born in Kentucky, An- gust 10, 1824, son of William and Rachel (McCaull) Ellis, the former a native of Kentneky and the latter of Tennessee. They were married in Kentucky, and in 1826 moved to Eugene, Vermillion County, Indiana, where the mother died, in 1828. The great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch was James Ellis, who had as brothers John and William; his grandfather John had as brothers James and William; and his father as brothers John

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

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

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