USA > California > El Dorado County > Historical souvenir of El Dorado County, California : with illustrations and biographical setches of its prominent men & pioneers > Part 46
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In a short time he purchased the Sierra Nevada Hotel, enlarged and improved it and continued as its proprietor until 1865.
For a number of years he was collector of foreign miners' taxes, and after that was abolished he was elected Treasurer of El Dorado county in 1867. In 1876 he was chosen to represent his county in the Legislature. He was a zealous worker in whatever duty he undertook to perform, and as the custodian of
the people's money and assistant in making their laws, he gave universal satisfaction to his constituents. He soon abandoned politics and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he always took an active interest, and at the time of his death (June 2, 1881) had one of the finest vineyards and wine cellars in El Dorado county, known as the "Coloma Vineyard." On the property he erected a large 3-story building used as a residence and hotel. The location is a beautiful one, on an eminence overlooking the town of Coloma, and the valley for a long distance. In the construction of the residence, wine cellars and sur- roundings, not labor or money was spared to make them as they should be. He was a man without the advantages of an education save as acquired by obser- vation and reading in later years, as he never attended school after 12 years of age, but being very fond of reading he had provided himself with one of the finest libraries in the county and was well informed on all topics of interest.
For a number of years he was an active member of the Coloma band, and tried to cultivate the tastes of the young by teaching music in the village.
In short he was the life of Coloma, being possessed of an indomitable will, a s, irit of enterprise and never idle a moment, his life was one of continual activity, and being possessed of a spirit of adventure and cour- ageous temperament, he was impelled to rapid achieve- ments in a multiplicity of enterprises. Being sympa- thetic and kind in his nature he was ever a welcome friend to the society of his associates. He displayed an active interest in every work that promised the elevation and welfare of mankind and through his gen- erous nature was helpful in every society of which he became a member. He was an obliging friend, and as such prized while living and mourned since gone. He was a member of the A. O. U. W., of the I. O. O. F., and of the Masonic fraternity, of which he had taken every degree from Ist to 32d inclusive.
He was married three times, the last wife survives him and resides at Coloma, and of his children but three are living, viz: Abraham now in Utah, Hugh now in San Francisco, and Louisa, the youngest child now with her mother at Coloma.
It is not claimed that Robert Chalmers was without his faults. But while it is "Human to err," it is "Divine to do good."
THOMAS Z. ARMSTRONG.
Thomas and Jane (Bell) Armstrong were natives of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. They came to the United States about 1829 and settled at West Union, Adams county, Ohio, where Thomas Z., the subject of our sketch, was born on the 28th day of February,
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1831. When about 9 years old his father died; he There was then but an embyro town where now stands the great city. The company at once secured teams and went to the Mokelumne river mines, where Sacramento, Mr. Bayley went on a prospecting tour through Hangtown and Coloma mining districts. In October he returned to Sacramento and opened a storage house. In March, 1850, he returned to Coloma and took charge of the Winters' Hotel at a salary of $500 per month. On the 25th day of July, 1850, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Jones, at the Green Springs, by Rev. J. A. Benton ; this was the second wedding in the county. On this occasion Mr. Bayley hired the first horse and buggy ever in the county to go on a wedding trip to Sacramento, paying two ounces per day, for the use of it. He was absent ten days and on his return, Uncle Billy Rogers, the owner, magnanimously agreed to deduct $20.00 and settled at $300.00. had lived on a small farm and was a contractor on the pikes or toll roads in use at that time. About 1846 Thomas went with an uncle to Whiteside in August they disbanded. After a short stay at county, Illinois. On the 22d day of August, 1850, he arrived at Placerville, California, and went to min- ing at Fort John on Dry creek. In 1851 he went to Volcano canyon in Placer county, and thence to Coloma, where he remained until 1867. For a num- ber of years he had charge of the toll bridge, and was in the employ of Thomas H. Williams as ditch agent for some time. In 1867 he went to Jones' Hill and purchased a mining claim which he operated for over twelve years. In May, 1880, he became a resident of Georgetown. On June the Ist, 1881, he paid $200 for the Rich Gulch mine, from which in about sixty- five days he took out near $18,000. He associated with him in the ownership of the mine Mr. Amos Baldwin, also an old time Californian. Mr. Arm- strong came to California with less than enough to buy one meal to eat, but by perseverance and fair dealing "has accumulated a handsome competence. He is a Royal Arch Mason and also an I. O. O. F.
ALCANDER JOHN BAYLEY
Was born in Athens, Windham county, Vermont, October 16th, 1827, and was the youngest of three sons descendants of James and Mercy nee (Priest) Bayley. His father was born in Athens in 1780, and died in the same town January 5th, 1832. His mother was born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, in 1783, and died May 14th, 1832. His father was a mer- chant in the town in which Alcander J. was born. Young Bayley was graduated from Townsend Aca- demy when sixteen years old, and always having had a desire to visit the Western States he started on a trip to Brunswick, Missouri, to complete which in that early day consumned thirty-five days. He visited Leavenworth, Kansas, the same year, but in a short time returned to Brunswick, Missouri, and engaged in merchandising. In May, 1848, he returned to his native town, and in August of the same year, under the firm name of Davis & Bayley, on the day he was twenty-one years old, began a commission business in Boston. Early in December the news of the dis- covery of gold in California reached the city of Boston, and as Mr. Bayley had spent some years on the frontier in which he had become accustomed to "roughing" it, he was not long in determining to seek the new El Dorado. He at once organized a company who pur- chased the ship Edward Everett, and on the 11th day of January, 1849, she weighed anchor in Boston harbor, and after a long and tedious voyage cast anchor again in San Francisco bay, July 6th, 1849.
In September, 1850, he resigned his position in the hotel at Coloma and erected a hotel at Pilot Hill, known as the Oak Valley House; when completed he gave an opening ball which continued for two days, November . 27-28th, 1851, and upon counting his cash found that he was $3,500 ahead. This stimu- lated him to go on and enlarge his hotel. We here- with insert a copy of the invitation.
"COTILLON PARTY
To be given at A. J. Bayley's Oak Valley House, Thursday evening, November 27th, 1851. Managers Robert H. West, John C. Barr, Hon. V. Daniels, Hon. W. F. Stewart, Wm. R. Hopkins, Dr. D. A. Cohea, John Orr and Hon. Judge Thomas". When the building was enlarged it contained a hall 96x30 feet, hard finished and covered with fresco paper, and adjoining it was a dining room the same length and twenty feet wide. The first ball given in the new hall was on the 19th of October, 1854, to which 156 tickets were sold at $10.00 each, and one hundred and forty ladies present. The total receipts of this party was $2,200. The last annual ball was given by Mr. Bayley on the evening of October 25th, 1860, at which the receipts were $1,500. On the 16th of May, 1861 the entire structure with all its contents was de- stroyed by fire, and Mr. Bayley began the construc- tion of his present palatial brick residence, the largest in the county, containing about three hundred thou- sand brick and costing $20,000. It is three full stories in height. The opening reception was on May 15th, 1862. The residence is located on his beautiful Oak Valley ranch of 640 acres, forty miles from the capital of the State and eight miles from Coloma and Auburn each. From the observatory,
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
on top of the residence, can be had a fine panoramic view of the Sacramento and Coloma valleys, together with several of the surrounding towns and peaks. The house is used as Mr. Bayley's private residence. In point of construction and finish it is second to none in the State of its class. In front of and run- ning the entire length of the building is a double piazza, supported by eight large wooden pillars and under all of it a No. 1. cellar.
On this farm will be found all kinds of stock and poultry that is common to the climate. He manufac- tures the wine which "maketh glad," yet he touches it not himself. In 1871 he was the Democratic nominee for the Assembly and the only one elected on that ticket, and served his term out with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He is engaged in merchandising at Pilot Hill, and is pro- prietor of the Grand Central hotel at Lake Bigler or Tahoe, one of the finest bodies of water in America. Mr. and Mrs. Bayley had born to them four children, viz : Alonzo A. on April 24th, 1851 ; James P. born July 4th, 1852 ; Jennie E. born February 13th, 1854; and Ida M. born July 11th, 1861, now Mrs. H. C. Ewing. Alonzo A. is married and has two sons, he is engaged in merchandising with his father, and resides near the homestead ; he was the prime mover and organizer of the first Grange of the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry in California, and was of late one of the Supervisors, the first and only native born El Doradan to hold a county office. James P., his youngest son, is the owner of a farm adjoining his father. Mr. and Mrs. Bayley have, by constant toil and a due regard to economy, accumu- lated a good home and competence upon which to rely in the declining years of their lives.
JOHN CARTHECHE
Was born in Zea, Greece, in 1822. His father, George Cartheche, was a sea captain, and engaged in the revolutionary war in Greece, and also in the war between Russia and Turkey that raged before the revolution in Greece. John attended school until he was 16 years old, and then went aboard of his father's ship as a sailor boy, and under the tutorage of his father learned navigation.
At the age of 21 he was made captain of a schooner; he had the misfortune to lose her in a bay in the Grecian waters, and was so chagrined that he would not return home but shipped aboard an English ves- sel as a sailor, but being quite expert in learning the "ropes" he was soon made second mate of the ship. He sailed as such for four years
He came into New York and shipped on an Amer- ican vessel. He continued to sail on the American
boats until 1849, when he came around Cape Horn to San Francisco and went at once to the mines in El Dorado county. In 1857 he followed the Frazer river excitement. After his return to California he engaged in the tobacco and cigar trade, together with a restaurant. He was a Deputy Sheriff of the county, under Maurice G .. Griffith, for four years, and two years under James B. Hume; for the following six years he was again in business for himself in Placer- ville. Since this time he has been acting as a mes- senger and detective for Wells, Fargo & Co., in the mountains of Southern Utah. Mr. Cartheche has no family of his own, but has been magnanimous in the expenditure of his means in educating others, having supplied the means necessary to complete the educa- tion of three young men and one young lady. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity for the past thirty years. Is a member of the Chapter R. A. M. and of Placerville Commandery K. T. No. 4, of which he was Eminent Commander, and has filled offices in other lodges.
JAMES DONAHUE
Was born in the county of Fermanah, Ireland, June I, 1827. His parents afterwards removed to county Cavan, where James received a good common school education and worked on his father's farm. In 1850 he came to the United States and settled in Massa- chusetts, 17 miles from Boston, where he resided until March 1855, when he moved to California and settled in Kelsey township, where he still resides. In June, 1857, he settled on the home he now owns of 40 acres, on which he raises fruits of all kinds. In addition to this he has a valuable property in the city of San Jose. In 1875 or '76, he abandoned mining entirely and has since given his attention to fruit growing, and the care of his farm at Kelsey. He was married on the 8th of January, 1854.
By the marriage there have been three children, viz: Rosa A. E., Charles E., and James T. Both the sons received a liberal and thorough business education in San Francisco business colleges, are both young men of steady habits and in good positions. James T. is book-keeper in San Francisco and Charles in a general merchandise establishment at Grantsville, Nevada. The family were all born at Kelsey, El Dorado county, California.
BENJAMINE F. EDMUNDS
Was born May 20, 1824. Is the sixth child and sixth son of a family of thirteen children, sons and daughters of Richard and Lydia Edmunds, of Cape May, New Jersey. Here Benjamine T. was born, and when but a small boy he removed with his parents to the city of Philadelphia, where he received a com-
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mon school education. In 1839 he went to sea, and while a sailor visited the ports of Boston and leading towns in Maine, and sailed to New Orleans and Liver- pool. After his return from the voyage he went to learn the weaver's trade, which, however was not to his taste, and returning again to the sea, sailed to South America.
On the 12th day of August, 1849, he was paid off in the city of Valparaiso, and at once joined the ship "Ann" as second mate and sailed for San Francisco, where he arrived in February, 1850. He went at once to the mines at Nevada city, where he remained about three months; returning to the water again he went to the Navigator Islands for a ship load of hogs, per- haps the first swine shipped into San Francisco. The winter of 1850 he spent in Valparaiso, and returned to California in the spring of 1851, and in June of same year located at Coloma, where, with the excep- tion of about 11 months spent in Nevada and Sierra counties, he has ever since resided, and engaged him- self in mining. He has an orchard of about 350 trees and 300 vines, all of choice varieties. 'The grapes are the seedless centennial, and most valuable for raisins. In politics Mr. Edmunds is a Republican. His ideas of religion are best given in his own words. "I believe man is a being purely physical, subject to nature and consequently to necessity. Born without our consent, our organization is independent of us, and our ideas 'come to us involuntarily. Man's will had no share in bringing him into the world, and he goes out of it against his inclination. All his actions are compulsion. Human actions are never free. They necessarily proceed from constitution and from received ideas strengthened by example, education and experience, the motive which determines man is al- ways beyond his power. He is not a free agent. A debauchee may be persuaded to change his conduct. This circumstance does not prove that he is free but only that motives can be found sufficient to counter- act the effect of those which formerly acted upon him. Choice by no means proves liberty. Since hesitation only finishes when the will is determined by sufficient motives; and man cannot hinder motives from acting upon his will, can he prevent himself from wishing to possess what he thinks desirable ? Notwithstanding the system of human liberty, men have universally founded their systems upon necessity alone. If mo- tives were thought incapable of influencing the will why make use of morality, education, legislation and even of religion ? We establish institutions to in- fluence the will; a clear proof of our conviction that they must act upon it. These institutions are neces- sarily demonstrated to man. The necessity that gov- erns the physical governs also the moral world, where everything is also subject to the same law."
IRA A. FISK
Was born in the town of Lancaster, Franklin county, Ohio, February 7th, 1814. When about sixteen years of age he began clerking. About 1839 he ac- companied his parents to Logansport, Indiana, and from there to Independence, Missouri ; from here he returned to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he opened a boot and shoe store.
In 1844 he went to Palestine, Illinois, and began farming. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, returned east in 1852, and again came to California in 1853. In California he followed mining till 1862, when he purchased his present home of 160 acres. He was married December 5th, 1844.
There have been nine children, viz: Thomas Cullen, Charles Edward, Wilbur Quincy, deceased ; Isa William, Mary Anna, Ira Benjamin, Henry, Rosa Grace and Werter.
JOHN W. GAINS.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Portsmouth, county of Hampshire, England, October 20th, 1825. After leaving school he went to sea, which occupation he followed till in 1850, when he came to San Francisco. After visiting Coloma he returned to Sacramento and soon opened the hotel known in those days as the Rialto. It was located on L street. This he abandoned on the breaking out of the cholera, and after another hotel venture in San Francisco which proved disastrous he returned to the mines and selected Salmon Falls as his future home ; has been a resident ever since, Has been Justice of Peace for over ten years; school trustee for sixteen years ; water agent for nine years. On April Ist, 1869, he purchased the business of Mr. Campbell, and has been in the mercantile trade since; has the only store in Salmon Falls, He was the older of two children in his father's family. His father was an officer in the British Navy.
Mr. Gains was married on the 11th day of Nov- ember, 1847, to Miss Mary Ann Scurlock, of South Wales. They have had three children, all born in Salmon Falls ; Mary Louisa, now Mrs. Minor Miller, Elizabeth B and Lillie E., deceased.
BENJAMIN W. HARTLESS
Came to California from Carroll county, Missouri, where he had been residing for six years previous. He came to Missouri from Tennessee with a widowed mother. He was born in Rutherford county, Tennes- see, February 15th, 1828. After arriving in California he followed mining at Nevada city, Little Fork of the American river, and on Dry creek, near Georgetown, until 1858, then began dairying and farming at Gar- den valley. His parents were natives of Virginia and
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HISTORY OF EL DORADO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
inoved to Tennessee in a very early day. Mr. Hart- less was married to Mrs. Wakefield April 23d, 1871. She had a family of six children, viz : Claudius B., William B., Jefferson D., Frank, Thomas and John. Mrs. Hartless was born in Saratoga county, New York, and came to California in 1853; she first lo- cated at Brighton, Sacramento county, from here to Negro Bar and thence to Garden valley, where they reside on 160 acres of land.
THOMAS JOHNSON,
Of Sailor flat, so called on account of being located by sailors, was at one time a lively mining camp and rich in its yield of coarse gold. From quite a popu- lous settlement in the '50's it has left only Messrs. Wagner, Reese and Johnson, the subject of this men- tion, who was born on the 9th of June, 1843, in Sorain, Denmark. He followed the sea from early boyhood until coming to the United States in 1858. His first location in El Dorado county was at Placer- ville, in 1864. He followed mining at Mud Springs for some time, and for four years was engaged on the St. Laurence mine. He was married November 19th, 1867, to Mary Little, a widow, who had three child- ren, viz : Maggie, James A. and Mary. Mr. Johnson was the father of two children, viz : Ellen and John P., both deceased.
JOHN BARTHOLO KOCH
Was born November 2d, 1827, in Baden, Germany. His boyhood days were spent on a farm and in at- tending school. In 1855 he crossed the ocean to America, coming direct to California, and began mining at Ringgold. In 1856 he was united in mar- riage to Margaret Rickert, who was also born in Baden, on April 23d, 1828. The wedding took place at Diamond Springs. Mrs. Koch came to the United States in 1854, spent one year in New York city, and on October 20th, 1855, arrived at Diamond Springs, in California. Immediately after their marriage, Mr. Koch purchased from Michael Rickert the boarding house on the same spot where the Diamond hotel now stands, and began keeping a public house. It was then a small building little better than a cabin, but there was a large business done in it. He was prosperous in business, and two or three years later bought the farm in front of the hotel, on which was then a small vineyard, and a few years later added another piece of land to his possessions, making 160 acres, on which there is about 17,000 vines, from which brandy and wine is manufactured to the amount of about 4,000 gallons annually. The present hotel was erected in 1878, is a two and a-half story frame structure, 52 feet long by 32 wide, with a good cellar ; contains
twelve rooms and dining and office rooms, making fourteen, besides pantries and closets all thoroughly furnished inside, with a double veranda or porch ex- tending full length of the building. Mr. Koch died on the 24th day of April, 1879, and is interred in the burying ground at Diamond Springs. Mr. Koch was successful in business and had accumulated a good property at the time of his death.
There are five children living and one dead, viz : Mary E., born April 25th, 1857; Anna M., born September 11th, 1858; Carl, born May 15th, 1860 ; Johann A., born July 25th, 1861 ; Margaret, born March 31st, 1863 and Emilie C., born October 20th, 1868, and died August 15th, 1869.
The hotel and distillery are carried on by Mrs. Koch, assisted by her two sons. The building was erected at a cost of about $5,000., is the best on the road from Folsom to Placerville, is well and taste- fully furnished ; and the weary traveler who stops therein will always find comfort and plenty, combined with courteous treatment. The wine and brandy are of the best quality, etc. The wine cellar is built of brick and capable of holding 20,000 gallons.
JONATHAN LAUMAN,
One of the pioneers of California, was born October 18th, 1829, at Christiania, Norway. He was one of a family of nine children and is at this time the only survivor of them all. His father was Joseph, and mother Grethe (Neilson) who was a Norman of the Northmen. In 1840 Mr. Lauman came to the United States and for a few years resided in New York city, where he received a good education in the primary branches. He went from New York to Iowa, settling in Lee county, and from there he crossed the plains to El Dorado county, where he arrived on the 7th day of September, 1850, in time to be a territorial pioneer.
He followed the mines continuously until 1857, when he settled on his present home of eighty acres. His farm is located in Kelsey township, and on it he raises some of the finest of fruits and vegetables. He is the father of six children, viz : Maria H., born Jannary 15th, 1855 ; Thorval J., born January 16th, 1857 ; Josephine C., born January 17th, 1859; Theo- dore L., born May 9th, 1861 ; Mary A. L., born May 31st, 1867 ; Martha A., born March 31st, 1870, to all of whom he has given a good education. Mr. Lauman himself is a constant reader and is possessed of a thorough knowledge of history. He said to the writer " I am not much of a bible man, but go a good deal on the dictionary," and we found his family record was kept in "Webster's Unabridged." He was always temperate in the use of intoxicating
·WHITEOAK RANCH· RESIDENCE ARTHUR LITTEN, WHITEOAKTP. ELDORADO, CO. CAL ·
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drinks. When he first came to America he embraced the principles of the Democratic party ; but when the flag of his adopted country was fired on at Fort Sumpter he changed his membership to what he be- lieved to be the safest guardian of his and his coun- try's liberty, and has since voted with the Repub- licans.
JAMES HARRISON MILLER.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest settler at Latrobe. He was the eldest child of a family of ten children born to John and Elizabeth Miller. He was born at Springfield, Robertson county, Tennessee; and until seventeen years old worked on a farm, after that entered a wholesale dry goods store in the city of Memphis as a clerk for W. D. and H. Connell. After four years spent in their employ, he engaged in the trade for himself at Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. On the second day of February, 1850, he left his native State to cross the plains to California, being one of the first to attempt the trip across the then almost untrodden plains. On the 13th day of August he arrived at Placerville, was taken sick at once and did not recover until December. He then went to Logtown and engaged in butchering. In 1857 sold it out and went to San Jose, in February. In May he returned to the mountains at Georgetown and thence to Nashville, where he engaged in work on the mills. He then went to Orum city and in company with Lyton Bostick opened a store, which they kept till r861 ; declining health drove him out of the mer- cantile line and he engaged in stock raising, and is now one of the largest dealers in live stock in the county. He keeps about 6,000 sheep, 200 cattle and 30 to 50 horses, which find feed and range on about 7,000 acres of land owned by Mr. Miller. He has in addition a fine range for stock in the Sierra Nevada mountains, west of Lake Bigler. In 1869 he repre- sented his county in the Legislature and again in 1877-78. Is Democratic in politics, and the only one in the family of his father and nine other child- ren. He was married in 1854 to Eliza A. Ewing, a daughter of Samuel Ewing, of Montgomery, Ohio. They have raised a family of six children, viz : Ten- nie A., now Mrs. C. W. Duden, Libbie C., John Lyton, Mary M., Hattie N. and Nettie Frances. Mr. Miller is essentially a self-made man. His education was very limited, and when he did the first day's labor in California he was $500 in debt, but by in- dustry and tact has in a few years become one of the first men in the county financially.
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