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 86

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 86

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

& McNair was organized and commenced busi- ness there. In the fall of 1879 Mr. Wise bought his partner's interest, and has since carried on the business alone. He has made many im- provements on this property, the latest being a large painting department, 40 x 40 feet in ground area, and two stories in height. He has a frontage of forty feet on J street, and 160 feet on Eleventh street. He has built up an exten- sive trade in the lines of blacksmithing, carriage and wagon-making and carriage painting, and gives constant employment to from twelve to fifteen skilled workmen. Mr. Wise was married in Sacramento County, on the 20th of October, 1875, to Miss Alice P. Taylor, who was born in this county, and is a daughter of J. B. and Ann E. Taylor, a sketch of whom appears in ex- tended detail in another portion of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Wise have one child, Miss Me- linda Belle. Mr. Wise is a member of Sumner Post, No. 3, G. A. R. He is one of the active, pushing men of Sacramento, and is deserving of much credit for the fine showing he has made in a business way in this city.

EORGE PYBURN, M. D., Eleventh and H streets, Sacramento, has been a practic. ing physician here since 1878, at which time he first came to California from the State of Colorado, where he had been located for some time. He was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, March 31, 1831. His father died while he was still young, and he had to " go to work " early, in order to earn at least a part of his living. At the age of fourteen he entered the office of John and Benjamin Green, archi- teets and civil engineers, and at eighteen was "articled," or apprenticed, to them for three years to learn the " art and mysteries " of that profession. After the completion of his seven years of actual apprenticeship, he worked for other firms as clerk and dranghtsman, ulti- mately going to Reading, in the south of Eng- land. Being desirons, however, of studying

medicine, he eame, in 1854, to Toronto, Canada, where he had the opportunity of a favorable situation, in which he could earn something whereby to defray his expenses while studying. The situation was that of assistant in the office of Cumberland & Storm, architects and design- ers of the beautiful Toronto University, in Queen's Park. Saving np meanwhile sufficient means to pay his fees, ete., he went to the West- ern College of Homeopathy at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in 1859. Previous to this, however, he had practiced some in Port Hope, Canada, where, to quote the words of an ably written notice in a record of prominent homeo- pathic physicians, he had the honor, if not the profit, of introdneing homeopathy, in 1857-'58. After receiving the degree of M. D. at Cleve- land, he traveled-or as he prefers to say, " roamed" -- through the United States, sojourn- ing in various cities for periods of various length. Besides others, he was in Indianapo- lis, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, New York and Washington, engaged perhaps quite as much in literary labor as in the practice of medicine. While in Cincinnati, besides con- tributing to the daily press, he became associate editor of the Scientific Artisan, a weekly jour- nal published by the American Patent Company and occupying a similar position in the West to that of the Scientific American in the East. In 1864 he settled in Indiana, first at Shellby- ville and later at Logansport, where he remained for over six years and built up a large practice, establishing a reputation for ability and snecess. He then became interested in the Union Col- ony, founded by the late Father Meeker; and in 1870 he went to Colorado. There, besides endeavoring to lay a practical foundation for a treatise supplementary to Horace Greeley's " What I Know About Farming," by raising potatoes for the Doryphora decemlineata and other " truck " for the Caloptenus spretus and two per cent. a month for the gold-bugs, he laid ont irrigation ditches, hunted "Government corners" and antelopes, felt pulses, ordered pills and set bones, secundem artem. Remov-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

ing, in 1875, from Greeley to Georgetown, a prosperous mining camp in the Rockies at an altitude of over 8,000 feet, he devoted himself entirely to the practice of his profession and the study of botany, that region being peculiarly rich in its flora. From that point, in 1878, he eame to Sacramento, as already stated. From youth the Doctor has been a rigorous investiga- tor into the secrets of nature, and is known among his acquaintances as an assiduons culti- vator of science and a successful physician. While living in Toronto he was made, when only twenty-four years old, a member of the Canadian Institute, a body composed of the leading scientific and literary minds of that eonntry. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Indiana Institute of Homeopathy; he is also a member of the American Society of Micros- copists. As a writer, the Doctor is an author of merit, being a contributor to the Popular Science Monthly and other journals, medical and scientific. His article a short time since in the Popular Science Morthly, on " Home- made Telescopes," attracted great attention on account of its practical value. He has also pub- lished a number of minor brochures on various medical and scientific subjects, which have had wide circulation and marked popular effect, notably his publications on homeopathy. As a

botanist, he is an indefatigable collector. As such, his labors at present are mainly directed to the formation of an herbarium for the Cali- fornia Museum Association of Sacramento, of which body he is one of the founders and directors. Being also an enthusiastic mineralo. gist, he was employed to prepare the catalogue of the State mineral cabinet, now in the lecture- room of the E. B. Crocker Art Gallery, and is one of the three trustees of that treasure. The Doctor also takes much pleasure in microscopes, telescopes and other optical instruments. Lastly, he is a theoretical musician, and, as he says, he "extracts much honey from harmony, and mel- lifluons melodie; incite medicating motions in the atoms which go to make up his be(e)ing!" In conclusion, it should be said that Dr. Pyburn

is a self-made man, in the typical and American sense of the term. He has made his way and a name for himself against odds that would have discouraged most men. As a physician he has had quite flattering success, and wherever he has been he has always had as large a practice as he cared to attend to. About a year after his arrival in Sacramento he was appointed physician and superintendent of the county hospital, and held that office until the wheel of polities and " other things" "let him out!" For two years, from 1879 to 1881, he was also a member of the eity board of health, being secretary of that body during the latter year.

D. STEPHENS, Postmaster, Sacramento, and one of the best known citizens of Central California, is a native of Fulton Connty, Illinois, born April 14, 1837. Nathan Stephens, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Steuben County, New York, and came of an old Eastern family. He was married in New York State, to Miss Alba C. Bostwick, and they afterward removed to the neighbor- hood of Canton, Illinois. They removed to Peoria County, Illinois, and there in 1841 his wife died. In April, 1849, the family started for California with two teams. They crossed the Missouri River at St. Joseph, continned the trip by the old overland trail, by Sublette's cut- off, and by the Carson route into California, arriving at Weaverville on the 16th of October, 1849. They wintered a mile and a half from there, on Weaver Creek, and that winter en- gaged in surface mining. In February, 1850, they started for the valley country for the pur- pose of locating land stopping three weeks at Rhodes' Diggings (more recently Prairie City). On the 1st of April they located nine miles from Sacramento, in Brighton Township, on the American River, and this location proved to be a very valuable one. There the elder Stephens put up a hotel and conducted it until the time of his death, which occurred January 25, 1875.

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He was a Democrat politically, and always took an active interest in public affairs. Of his children, five are living, viz .: Mrs. Jane E. Booker, of Fresno; Mrs. Rebecca Vandersloot, of Farmington, Illinois; Jerome, of Fresno; Mrs. A. M. Hood, of Sacramento, and R. D. Stephens, subject of this sketch. Nathan Stephens was a member of the society of Cali- fornia Pioneers, and was a prominent Mason. R. D. Stephens, with whose name this sketch commences, crossed the plains with his father at the age of twelve years, and is therefore a pioneer. He was reared to manhood in this county, and his first schooling in California was received at Brighton, which was three miles from his home. Later, however, he had the opportunity to attend school nearer home. He is, to a large extent, however, a self-educated man. He was reared to farm life, and when he was twenty engaged in running a threshing- machine. After about four or five years he bought one of his own, and carried on business with it successfully. In the fall of 1859 he made his first entree into polities, and was then elected constable for Brighton Township. In 1869 he was elected to the Legislature of Cali- fornia, and served in the session of 1869-'70. He was warrant clerk in the State Controller's office from 1875 to 1880, and in 1882 was a candidate before the convention of the Demo- cratic party for the office of Controller of State. He was elected to the State Constitutional Con- vention of 1879, and took an active part in the work of that important body. On the 21st of September, 1885, he was appointed by Presi- dent Cleveland to the office of postmaster of Sacramento, and assumed his new duties on the 1st of November. It is due Mr. Stephens to say that he has made a splendid record in this office, which has attracted wide-spread attention under his management, and many times elicited the compliments of the Department, whose officials say that there is not a better conducted office in the United States than that of Sacra- mento, under Mr. Stepliens. He has intro- duced several innovations in the methods of

handling and distributing mails, which have been to the great advantage of the business men and public generally. Mr. Stephens is one of the best known fruit-growers in Central California, and he has achieved great success in this line. On his place of about 100 acres he has seventy acres in orchard, and twenty acres in vineyard. His grapes are of the finest varie- ties and are splendidly cared for, the result being that they bring prices ranging from 30 to 40 per cent. higher than any grapes shipped from California. The orchard is composed of carefully selected trees, and no trouble or ex- pense is spared in obtaining the best possible results. As a result the yield of the various fruits is far above the average, while the prices brought are the highest, and the goods are always in demand, even on a full market. One of the most important features about this in- teresting place is the irrigating plant, which is a wonderful affair for a private ranch. This can be understood when it is stated that the plant has a maximum capacity for throwing 17,000 gallons of water per minute. Mr. Stephens is generally recognized as the wheel- horse of the Democratic organization in this portion of the State, and certainly no inan lias done more toward contributing to its success. An active, pushing man, he enjoys an extensive acquaintance and great personal popularity with the masses, and withal possesses powers of leadership and organization which render his services of inestimable benefit to his party.

JON. WILLIAM B. HAMILTON is county clerk now for the third term, having been elected to that office for the first time in 1885, re-elected in 1887 and now again in 1889, on the two latter occasions being nominated by acclamation by the Republican party, and each time elected by majorities running away ahead of the rest of the ticket. Mr. Hamilton was born in England in 1848, of mingled Scotch and English parentage, his father being a native of

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

the "Land o' Heather and Thistle" and his Inother an Englishwoman, but before he had reached the mature age of one year, the family removed to America, landing at New Orleans. The father came on the following year to Cali- fornia, being thus an " Argonaut." This oc- curred in 1853, when Mrs. Hamilton, after stay- ing with friends for a short time in Kentucky and Ohio, rejoined her husband, making the journey by way of the Nicaragua River. Am- erican Flat, El Dorado County, was where the elder Hamilton was working and at that point young " Billy," for so his intimate friends know him best, spent the three years until 1856, when he came to Sacramento and has resided here ever since. In this city Mr. Hamilton received his education in the schools of the place, and finally became a student of law in the office of Coffroth & Spaulding, the eminent attorneys of former days. Unfortunately Mr. Coffroth's death occurred in 1874, and as young IIamilton was withont means, he was forced to take hold of the first thing that presented itself. He was appointed clerk of the police court under Judge W. R. Cantwell. Upon the expiration of his term in 1876, he received the appointment of deputy county clerk under A. A. Wood, and held it under the succeeding terms of. Col. T. H. Berkey and C. M. Coglan, At the expiration of the latter gentleman's term in 1884, Mr. Hamilton received the nomination upon the Re- publican ticket, and was elected by the handsome majority of 1,301 votes. Again, in 1886 he was the unanimous choice of his party and was elected by a plurality of 3,000; and now at the last election he was also the Republican candi- date without opposition and received the rous- ing majority of 2,104. Of course, he is a true- hearted Republican to the backbone, and an enthusiastic worker for the principles of the " grand old party;" but that does not hinder his great popularity among men of the other faith as well as his own, as is shown by his enormous vote. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Masons' order in high standing, the Red Men, the A. O. U. W., and is an ardent lover of field sports, at

present ocenpying the presidency of the Forester Gun Club. Mr. Hamilton is an unmarried inan, but takes a pleasure in caring for the wants of his aged parents, both of whom are still alive, and are now, in the decline of life, enjoying the comforts that their years demand at their son's home, As an indication of the kind of man he is, we can relate only one inci- dent ont of many.

Every year there comes to Sacramento, a bowed and decrepit old Indian. He was once of gigantic frame and of strength and energy corresponding, but the hand of time has touched him, gently it is true, yet ineffaceably. It is the old chief, Coppa-hembo (the name means bear- slayer), once the head of a powerful tribe that dwelt in the foot-hills of the Sierras. Like the race in general, this tribe has almost disappeared. vice, indolence, fire-water and the heavy hand of the white man having worked their ruin. Coppa-hembo, an exception among them all, was sober, temperate and careful and still lives in humble style with his squaw among his na- tive cañons. In 1854 Indians were numerous abont American Flat, and among them several tribes and chiefs, the one named heading one tribe. At that early day white boys were very scarce in the mining regions, and hence little Billy Hamilton, then a sturdy, independent urchin of six years of age, was a favorite with every one, Indians as well as miners. One day Coppa- hembo's tribe of Indians and another tribe had a dispute over somne canse and came to blows. They were ranged on opposite sides of the mountains near American Flat, and arrows and bullets were flying thick and fast. Little Billy heard the shots and, boy-like, heedlessly ran to the spot, and although warned away by the In- dians, who all knew and liked him, and who cried out " Wheelland, come away," stayed watching the fray. Presently there was a lull, and Coppa- hembo, taking advantage of it, sprang upon a pine stump and began an oration, striving to pacity the opposing bands. In the midst of the pacific effort, an arrow suddenly whistled across the gulch and pierced Coppa-hembo's thigh,

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bringing him to the ground. Thoughtlessly and overcome with grief at the fall of his friend‹ little Billy dashed to him and strove to help him, in immiment danger of his own life. This put an end to the battle, for the Indians knew that the result of any hurt to Billy would mean a terrible revenge on the part of the miners. Old Coppa-hembo remembers this, and so every year is witnessed the touching spectacle of this feeble old man making his way to this swarm- ing city from his lonely wigwam to renew old memories with ". Billy," now our honored county clerk. They go down to a restaurant together, have a salmon broiled in a peculiar way, a spe- cial treat to an Indian, and sit long over the rustic feast.

M ARKUS GRAF, one of the old-time residents of Sacramento, is a native of Germany, born at Mnhlhausen, Baden, on the 24th of April, 1830, his parents being John and Helen (Rehm) Graf, the father a grocer. Markus Graf was reared at his native place, and there received his education, attend- ing the public schools from the age of six until he was fourteen, and the Sunday-school to the age of eighteen. When he had reached the age of fifteen years he commenced tbe tanner's trade with a man named Handlosser, and served an apprenticeship of three years. He then traveled as a journeyman throughout Wurtem- berg, Bavaria, Saxony, Switzerland, etc., in all abont four years. He then went home and at- tempted to start in business, but not finding prospects good, concluded to go to America. In October, 1851, he sailed from Rotterdam on the sail ship " Rhine," and proceeded on his way to the United States. The vessel encountered heavy weather off the Atlantic coast, and at a . point nearer Philadelphia than New York she was beached on the sand. They cut the masts down and filled the hold with water to keep the vessel from drifting and toppling over, and waited for day to come. The next day the wind

was moderate. The next day two men got away from the vessel, and, proceeding to New York, secured a steamer to come down and res- cue the people on board. The passengers, who had remained all this time on the upper deck exposed to the weather, were taken off on boats and landed, then taken to hotels and houses. After two or three days there they were taken to New York by the steamer. The exposures to which they were subjected from the weather may be appreciated when it is stated that they were stranded on the 6th of January. After Mr. Graf and others of the rescued passengers had been in a boarding house in New York two or three days, their landlord was informed that their baggage had arrived, and it was then brought to them. The voyage had lasted sixty- seven days, and as he had not had enough to eat or drink for some time, Mr. Graf was taken down with sickness and lay in hospital a couple of weeks. After recovering he obtained work with a man named Keifer. After this he en- gaged with a Mr. Hoffman, and finally at a fac- tory on Emma street, with a man named Golding. He worked for Golding then, and in his factory, near Albany, also, until the latter part of 1853. In December of that year he took passage on a steamer at New York for Acapulco, then crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and proceeded to San Francisco on the steamer "Golden Age," landing in January, 1854. A couple of days later he proceeded to Coloma by way of Sacramento and Marysville, and went to work mining on Sutter Creek. After this he worked two months for a farmer, and in 1855 came to Sacramento, and worked a year in Pen- nock's brewery. He then bought a turning lathe, and opened a shop in Sacramento, and in partnership with P. Gossner manufactured bill- iard outfits until 1861. The business was quite extensive, and gave employment to five or six workmen. Since that time Mr. Graf has been in business at his present location. He was married in Sacramento in 1874, to Miss Matilda Metzer, a native of Wurtemberg. Mr. Graf has been a member of Schiller Lodge, I. O. O. F.,

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since its organization, in 1862; has been secre- tary and treasurer of the lodge; and is a veteran Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Sacra- mento Hussars, and has held the rank of cor- poral in that organization. Mr. Graf has been identified with Sacramento for over a third of a century, and has seen many changes in the city and surrounding country since that time. He is a popular man, and has a large eircle of friends.

ENERAL R. H. ORTON. - Since the great importance of the National Guards of the various States of the Republic has come to be so generally recognized, California has not been backward in the military spirit, and has been unusually fortunate in the class of men who have given their personal efforts to- ward the advancement of the condition of her State service. In the office of Adjutant-Genera she now has General R. H. Orton, whose name heads this sketch, and who is peculiarly quali- fied for that important position by nature and by training. General Orton is a native of Oneida County, New York, born August 23, 1838, his parents being James M. and Rudy Hart (Gillett) Orton. Both parents were natives of Windsor. Connecticut, his father's ancestors having settled there in 1638. His father was a furniture manufacturer, and had learned the cabinet-making trade with Mr. Cheney, father- in-law of Horace Greeley. R. H. Orton, sub- ject of this sketch, was reared in his native county, and there received his education. He came to California in 1858, taking the steamer "Philadelphia " to Havana, the "Grenada " to Aspinwall, and the "John L. Stephens" to San Francisco, where he arrived on the 15th of May. He engaged in the business of manufacturing furniture, which engaged his attention until March, 1863. He was a strong Union inan in his sympathies, and had only abstained before from entering the Government service as a soldier on account of the great distance from the

seat of war. In March, 1863, however, he of- fered his services in behalf of his country's flag, and was mustered in as Second Lientenant of Company F., First California Cavalry. The company was ordered to New Mexico, and on arrival in the field of operations, Lieutenant Or- ton was detached and made Quartermaster and Commissary of the camp on the Miembres River. After being stationed there three months he was ordered to take command of Company C, and extend the outposts of the lines in Texas to San Elizario, the next post being occupied by Con- federate troops. He was in command theu about eight months, and during that time saw much active service in the field. He made five raids into old Mexico after deserters and stock thieves, being each time successful. He partici- pated in the pursuit of Comanche Indians as Adjutaut under Kit Carson, commanding the First New Mexico Cavalry. He was promoted to the Captainey of Company M during the lat- ter part of the summer of 1865, and assumed his command in November. He commanded the expedition that went to the relief of the town of Harness, in old Mexico, 300 miles over the border, which was beleaguered by Apache Indians, and as a result the town was relieved when nearly ready to succumb. He was next stationed at Fort Sill, and while there his men were consolidated with another company, and he was placed in command of an expedition, also acting as quartermaster. In the fall of 1866 all California volunteers were ordered back to the State, and he started with his men on the 17th of September, reaching San Francisco on the 28th of December, losing only one horse and one wagon, a really remarkable record for such a journey. All the troops were mustered out on December 31 except the subject of this sketch, who severed his connection with the army on the 4th of Jannary, 1867, being the last Cali- fornia volunteer in the United States service. He went back to his old home in New York. visiting there from February to Thank-giving day, and returning to California in December. He then re-engaged in furniture manufacturing,

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY.

but afterward embarked in the insurance busi- ness, which engaged his attention until the time of his appointment to the office of Adjutant- General of California, in 1887. He was, how- ever, identitied with the National Gnard of California from its organization, in 1861. He commenced at that time as Lieutenant, and promotion has ever since marked his connection with the military. The Civil War transferred him to active service in the field. In 1875 he became Captain of Company D, First Infantry. Four years later he was made Major of the Cav- alry Battalion, which included all the mounted companies in the State at that time. After his incumbency of that position he was on the re- tired list four years, and resumed his connection with the military as Major of the First In- fantry. He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel a month later, and served in that capacity until called to his present position. General Orton was married at San Francisco in 1874, to Miss Dora Carroll, a native of Oneida County, New York, born in the same neighborhood as him- self. At a point 100 yards from her birthplace the first American flag was hoisted. The siege of Fort Steinwich (the scene of this incident) commenced June 27, 1777, and on the 17th of Angust the flag flying under fire on this occa- sion was adopted as the National colors. Gen- eral Orton brings to his office unusual quali- fications in his long military training, and his zeal in the effort to place the National Guard of California in the first rank of similar organiza- tions in this country.

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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