History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 120

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

of Chico, learning that he had sold out his paper at Red Bluff, prevailed upon him to locate at Chico, and start a paper at that fast growing and prosperous town. He went to Chico in the fall of 1865, and started the Weekly Courant, editing the paper and practicing law up to May, 1869, when he again sold out his business, office, and dwelling, and moved to Oakland. In the summer he took a trip to his old home in Vermont, visiting many of the Eastern, Western, and Southwestern States. He returned in July of that year, and opened a law office in San Francisco. Never idle, always most happy when pressed with business, he could not sit down in idleness and wait for it to come to him; therefore, to fill up the time, he started the Masonic Mirror, which he edited and published for four years. In 1872 he was solicited by many prom-

inent citizens of Oakland to purchase the Oakland Daily Transcript, and make it a stanch Republican journal. He listened to the advice and solicitations of friends, and, the old fascination seizing him, he bought the paper; and in building it up and placing it on a paying basis it cost him several thousand dollars-all he possessed, in fact- besides nearly breaking his constitution with severe labor, he doing the work of two and three men during the four years and a half he conducted the paper. In 1876 he sold his interest in the paper-having previously sold a half interest-and in the sum- mer of 1877, received the appointment of Superintendent of Bonded Warehouses at the port of San Francisco, which position he held until July, 1880. At the election of 1880 Mr. Bishop was elected City Justice of the Peace of the city of Oakland, and was re-elected to the same office, without opposition, at the election of 1882, which position he now holds. Mr. Bishop has always been active in politics, but he has never stooped to deceive, or forfeit his integrity-ever holding that honesty should prevail in politics as well as in the business affairs of life. If he could not support a man, he was ever free to tell him so. If he does support a man, he does it with his whole might, mind, and soul. A friend he never forsakes, and if he has an enemy, it never troubles him nor disturbs his feelings. His motto has ever been, "Do ye unto others as ye would that others should do unto you." It would be impossible for a man to be active in politics, publish a strict, terse, incisive party paper, and not make enemies; nevertheless, Mr. Bishop has probably as few enemies as any man in Oakland, for the reason that he always avoided personalities, dealing wholly with principles, and not with men. But when he combats what to his mind are false doctrines and political evils and heresies, his pen is as sharp and effective as a two-edged sword of Milan steel. His literary works are all of a high order. A California romance "Kentuck," written by him while engaged in the arduous duties of editing the Daily Transcript, received the highest encomiums from the press throughout the Coast, as the best exposition of early California life ever given to the public-equal, and, as many asserted, superior to Bret Harte's best. Few persons in California have a more exten- sive acquaintance than Mr. Bishop, and those who know him best, most appreciate his integrity of character, firmness of purpose, honesty of inotives, and upright life; while all admit his ability as a terse and forcible writer; a man of general information, well read in the law, a conscientious Judge, and a useful citizen. Such is a condensed and imperfect sketch of a few incidents and points in the life and career of Amasa Wright Bishop, who for fourteen years has been a resident of the beautiful city of Oakland, and a citizen of Alameda County.

JOSEPH F. BLACK .- Whose portrait appears in this volume, was born in Burling- ton County, New Jersey, April 1, 1835, and there resided until he attained the age of eighteen years. On April 26, 1853, he sailed from New York on board the Crescent City for Panama, whence taking passage in the Golden Gate, he arrived in San Fran- cisco June 1, 1853. Mr. Black located at once in Alvarado, Alameda County, and subsequently purchasing the farm now owned by S. P. Harvey, there prosecuted agri- culture until 1859. Disposing of the ranch in that year he moved to Dublin. Murray Township, followed farming on the Dougherty Ranch, and was the first, in point of fact, to till the ground in that locality. In 1863 he transferred his operations to the

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Bernal Rancho, where he has since engaged in raising grain. In 1866 Mr. Black pur- chased the interests of Juan, Raphilo, and Joaquin Bernal in the Rancho El Valle de San José, consisting of seven thousand seven hundred acres, plots one, two, twenty- six, thirty-three, and thirty-four of which he has retained and laid subject to the plow. Mr. Black, besides his large grain-growing enterprises, has thirty-five acres of land planted with vines, now of two years' growth, being the first vineyard of any importance in the Livermore Valley, while he is laying out in the same manner one hundred and fifty acres more this year, and building a series of fine wine-cellars. Mr. Black has also twenty-five acres in hops, which he has found a profitable venture. Has subdivided and sold this year over twelve hundred acres for grapes in subdivis- ions from seven to two hundred acres, and with the assistance of Charles A. Wetmore, Chief Viticulture officer, has succeeded in establishing on the Arroyo Valle what promises to be the best dry-wine district in the State. He married, in the residence of Greene Patterson, Alameda County, California, in the year 1865, Miss Mary E. Simpson, a native of Independence, Missouri, by which union there are five children, viz .: Mary, Kate, Joseph, Ellis, and Frank.

WILLIAM CLARK BLACKWOOD .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this history, is the son of Samuel and Mary (McMordy) Blackwood, and was born in Seneca County, New York, June 7, 1813, being the youngest of seven sons-no daughters. Having received a common school education and worked on a farm until the year 1836, he emigrated to Michigan and settled near the town of Farmington, Oakland County, where he followed farming for ten years. In 1846 Mr. Blackwood embarked in the milling business in Wayne, in the same State, and there remained until starting for California. Making the journey by way of New Orleans and Chagres, he arrived in San Francisco by the steamer Union, June 26, 1851. After prospecting some months, in October of that year he came to the redwoods, which then stood uncut above Brooklyn, or East Oakland, where he remained until the following January (1852), when he removed to Eden ' Township and began farm- ing, which he continued until 1878. Mr. Blackwood now gives his attention to fruit- growing, he having an orchard of sixty acres under apricots, plums, prunes, etc. Married, firstly, in September, 1835, Miss Elizabeth J. Woodward, who died in April, 1850, leaving four children, viz .: Samuel W., Sarah E., Mary F., and Clementine; and, sec- ondly, Miss Jane Evert, by which union there is one daughter named Lucy; and, thirdly, Miss Elizabeth Craig. His son was educated a physician and surgeon, and served as such with distinction in the Union Army during the Civil War, and was breveted a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army of the United States for distinguished professional services by President Johnson. He died October, 1871, in Peru, while professionally employed as Superintendent of Railroad Hospitals in that republic by the celebrated Harry Meigs.

ROBERT BLACOW (deceased) .-- This gentleman, whose portrait will be found in our pages, was born in England, December 6, 1814, and resided there until he attained the age of twenty-five years. In 1839 he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Illinois, in what was known as the "American Bottoms," opposite the city of St. Louis. Here he maintained a residence until 1842-3, when he moved and located in the out- skirts of St. Louis, there engaging in general farming and dairying, his business being to supply the inhabitants of the city with milk. On June 5, 1845, he was united in matrimony to Miss Helen Catharine Deering, a native of Germany, and four years thereafter, in 1849, emigrated via the Isthmus of Panama to California. On landing, Mr. Blacow at once proceeded to the mines, where he remained until the fall of 1851, when he took up the homestead, now consisting of three hundred and fifty-eight acres, at present occupied by his widow. Immediately after locating his claim in 1853, Mr. Blacow returned to Illinois, where he had left his wife and three children, and fitting up an outfit crossed the plains to California, and took up his residence in their new home in Alameda County. Here he died December 22, 1873, leaving the following family: William, Alice, Mary, Alfred, and Richard.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CAPTAIN GEORGE WILLIAM BOND .- Was born in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, July 19, 1804, where he resided until the year 1821, when, with his brother, who was a physician and an invalid, he made his first voyage to the West Indies. It was his parents' wish that he should study for the medical profession, but after a few months' trial, and death of his brother he gave up that study, and for several years after was engaged with his brother-in-law in merchandising, the West India trade, and in ship- building. On coming of age he gave up this business, and shortly after purchased a brigantine and commenced a scafaring life in earnest, principally in the West India trade. In the year 1832 he married Frances Gertrude, the eldest daughter of Richard Carter, of Cheshire, England, and having sold his brig he again tried a mercantile life, but after a few years and not succeeding he gave it up and returned to a sea- faring life, which he followed until the year 1847, when, having lost his wife, while absent on the West Coast of Africa, he returned in 1848 to Nova Scotia. In 1849, he with four others, purchased and fitted out a brigantine and left Yarmouth for Cali- fornia, arriving at the latter place in July, 1850, having called at Rio de Janeiro and Valparaiso. Aftera voyage down south he sold his vessel, and in the year 1851 went to a rancho near Vallejo's Mills, on the Alameda Creek. In the spring of 1852 he went to the mines on the north fork of the American River, but returned in a few months, and in the fall of the same year, in partnership with Charles Hilton, erected at the place now called Centreville the first wheelright and blacksmith shops in the county, but the following year sold out his interest to James Beazell; from that time until 1860 he was engaged in various occupations with the late Captain Calvin Valpey, purchas- ing in the latter year a part of Agua Caliente Rancho, on which Captain Valpey resided until his death, but Bond continuing to reside on his property at Centreville, engaged in various occupations, and holding for several years the offices of Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, and Notary Public. In the year 1882 he, with his son Charles, purchased the well-known William Y. Horner Rancho, where he now resides with his son, having rented his property at Centreville. He was married at Neston Church, Cheshire, England, on the 28th day of August, 1832, his wife dying on the 20th day of April, 1847, leaving five children: Eliza Carter (now Mrs. Bingay, residing at Sac- ramento); Sarah Gertrude (now Mrs. Vroom, residing at St. Johns, New Brunswick); Charles John; Maria (now Mrs. Pope, residing at Sacramento), and Annie Ritchie (now Mrs. Marston, residing in Eastern Oregon).

CHRISTIAN BOTHSOW (deceased) .- Was born in the Island of Alse, Denmark, August 6, 1825. Having followed the life of a sailor until he attained the age of twenty-one years, he then returned to his home, there remained two years, and after- wards learned the trade of ship-carpenter, at which he worked on board of different vessels until his arrival in California. First settling in Union City, near Alvarado, he there remained until 1852, when he located upon the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where his family now resides. Married February 16, 1856, Miss Jane Hendry, a native of Morayshire, Scotland, by which union there is a family of three children, viz .: Henry N., Anna Christina, and Harriet E. Mr. Bothsow died Novem- ber 20, 1879.

WILLIAM J. BOWEN .- Was born at Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts, March 14, 1817, and at seventeen years of age entered upon a seafaring life, at which he continued thirteen years, his last voyage being made in the ship Edward, in the year 1839, to a Peruvian port. At the end of this cruise he took up his residence in the Society Islands, where he was engaged for about five years in command of vessels plying in the South Seas. He then made an attempt to come to California, in a vessel built there by himself, but owing to a disagreement with his partner the trip was abandoned, and the craft sold. He then shipped in the schooner Currency Lass, and after going to the Sandwich Islands, came on to San Francisco, and made an attempt to establish a lumber trade with Bodega, Sonoma County, but was not allowed to land the cargo in San Francisco, his vessel being under a French protective

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

flag; he, therefore, returned to the Sandwich Islands, loaded for San Francisco once more, but on arrival found that the market was glutted, so he returned with his freight to the Islands. Mr. Bowen thence sailed to the friendly shores of the Society Islands. Now came the discovery of gold in California, therefore he brought the Sackety Hawk, with passengers. He now engaged in the lumber trade with Bodega, and having had his craft driven on shore, eventually got her off after seventeen days passed in dis- charging her cargo, aided by Capt. Juan Smith and his Indians. The vessel was sold to a man named Phelps, who never paid for her, but some legal difficulty inter- vening, Mr. Bowen turned her over to the Justice of the Peace, and in May, 1849, betook himself to the mines, where for five months he was very fortunate. He now returned to the Bay City, purchased an interest in the brig Sabine, and in her made a voyage to Australia, and on his return suffered shipwreck on a reef at the Navigators' Islands. Here he was placed in command of a vessel that had been stolen in the harbor of Sydney, whither he returned with her. At this place Mr. Bowen married, returned to San Francisco, and took up his residence at Saucelito, Marin County. At the end of three years he removed to San Francisco, but six months thereafter crossed to Ocean View (now West Berkeley), and in 1853 built the first hotel in that place, in which business he remained twenty-three years. He is now engaged in the wood and coal business at the corner of Delaware Street and San Pablo Avenue.

B. F. BRANNAN .- Was born in Jackson County, Indiana, August 8, 1833. In 1851 he went west to Tama County, Iowa, and was a resident of that State sixteen years. In 1867 he emigrated, via Panama, to the Pacific Coast, came to Alameda County, and located on the place now owned by George Beck, about five miles north of Livermore. In 1878 he purchased his present homestead, adjoining that town, consisting of forty acres. Is married, and has two children, Florence and Maud.

JAMES A. BREWER .- Was born in Oneida County, New York, November 29, 1834, where he received his schooling, and resided until the spring of 1852, being up to that time engaged in farming. In the season just mentioned he turned towards the west, and, proceeding to Wisconsin, was there employed in the construction of the railroad between Janesville and Monroe. At the end of eighteen months Mr. Brewer removed to Kansas, and there maintained a domicile until starting for California. In March, 1856, he essayed the arduous journey across the plains with horse-teams, and, coming direct to Alameda County, located at Washington Corners in July, 1856. Here he engaged in farming, an occupation he has since followed at that place. Dur- ing his residence in Kansas Mr. Brewer held the office of County Surveyor of Atchison County, which position he held until leaving for the Pacific Coast. Married, IIth of October, 1866, Mrs. Maria Ann (widow of J. R. McDavid, who was a well-known farmer of Washington Township, died June 21, 1861, and left four children, Volunia A., Julia L., Troy C., and John R.), and has two children, viz .: James M. and Henry C.

EDWARD BROWN .- Was born November 11, 1839, in Bridgenorth, England; was educated and lived in Wymondham, Leicestershire, until appointed to a position in a railway office in London, where he remained until March 29, 1863, at which date he sailed for New York. Very shortly afterwards he went into the service of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, and in April, 1865, was appointed agent of that company for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1868 he organized the Lancaster Fire Insurance Company; capital, $200,000; and acted as its Secretary until November, 1871; when La Caisse Générale-a Paris Fire Office-established an American Branch, Mr. Brown was appointed Superintendent of Agencies. In Jan- uary, 1875, he was sent to San Francisco to establish a business upon the Pacific Coast for the said company. On May 1, 1878, the firm of Brown, Craig & Co .- Mr. Homer A. Craig of Oakland being the other partner-was formed, their office being at No. 215 Sansome Street, where it has ever since remained. Mr. Brown resides in Alameda, is married, and has five children.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HON. LEWIS HENRY BROWN .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Haywards, Alameda County, California, was born March 24, 1857, and is the son of George and Fidelia (Larabee) Brown. The father of the young legislator, whose name commences this short memoir, was born in the State of Maine, and in an early day made the weary and hazardous voyage to California in a small craft, coming through the rock-bound coast and tempestuous waters of the much dreaded Straits of Magellan. On arrival he located near Alvarado, and com- menced farming operations, but subsequently proceeding to the redwoods of San Mateo County, there stayed only a short time, and finally proceeded to the "Iron House" District, Contra Costa County, where he opened a store of general merchan- dise, and resided there until the spring of 1856, when he returned to Alameda County, located at Haywards, opened a mercantile business in a small building near Haywards' Hotel, and conducted it until 1880, when he sold his interest to his son, Lewis H. Brown, retiring from business on account of ill-health. Mr. Brown, Senior, died August 2, 1880, at the age of fifty-six years. Our subject, Hon. L. H. Brown, was entirely educated at the common school of Haywards, his present position being both an honor to the institution wherein he received his training and the application for study which it proclaims for himself. At the age of fifteen years he commenced business on his own account, first in insurance connections and afterwards in newspaper work. In two years from the start he was appointed to take charge of the agency of Wells, Fargo & Co., and likewise engaged successfully in the fruit trade. In 1877 he formed a partnership with William G. Long, and purchased the store occupied by his father, but a few months thereafter Mr. Long seceding from the firm, his interest was bought by Mr. Brown, Senior, and the firm of George Brown & Son was established, they owning at the time half of the block on which the store is located. Being a native of the county, and, above all, possessed of strong sense and good business qualifications, it is no wonder that he received the Republican nomination by acclama- tion, which resulted in his election to the State Legislature as a member of the Assembly for Alameda County, on November 7, 1882. His record in the capitol is such as any one of more years may be proud, while his actions have received the cordial approbation of his constituents. In 1879 Mr. Brown was appointed to fill the vacant office of Town Treasurer of Haywards, to which position he has since been annually re-elected. In that year, too, he was elected a Trustee of the town of Haywards. He is a member of the Oakland Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and Master of the Masonic Blue Lodge of Haywards, and also Past Grand of the Lodge of Odd Fellows in Haywards; is also a member of the Knights of Honor, and as well as Past Worthy Chief of the Good Templars Lodge of Haywards. From the foregoing it will be gathered that Mr. Brown is foremost in all public and social institutions of his native town. His career is watched with interest by all who know him, while it requires no great seer to predict that in old age his brow will be decked with the laurel chaplet of fame, bearing the appropriate legend-palmam qui meruit ferat. Married, Novem- ber 19, 1878, Miss Willitta Long, a native of Thomaston, Maine, and has one son, viz., George Chester, now aged three years.

SAMUEL R. BROWN .- Was born in Upper Canada February 9, 1818, where he learned the miller's trade with his father in the town of Malahide. Here he resided until he became thirty-four years of age. Early in the year 1852 he sailed from New York for California in the ship Grecian, and after rounding Cape Horn came to an anchor in San Francisco Harbor August 12, 1852. Proceeding at once to the mines in Nevada County, he there remained but a short time, when, being attacked with fever, he was compelled for a time to abandon this occupation. The intervening five years, up till 1857, he passed in different parts of the State, and in November of that year came to Alameda County and found employment with Musser & McClure, . and remained there until 1863. In that year he purchased his present hotel property, and commenced conducting the house of entertainment at Washington Corners known

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

as Brown's Hotel. Here he at present resides. Married August 17, 1863, to Miss Mary Langton, a native of Ireland, and has two children, viz .: Silvia A., and James W.

DR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BUCKNELL, (deceased) .- Was born in the town of Hiram, State of Maine, in the month of October, 1821. Losing his father at the early age of five years, he was left with three sisters to the care of his mother; who, finding it difficult to support and properly rear so large a family, gave him (soon after his father's death), to her sister's husband, a farmer living in an adjoining town. The farmer with little regard to his tender years and delicate constitution, required very hard work from him, infant as he was, during the summer months, but allowed him to attend the public schools in winter. Being a good scholar and very ambitious; he determined to have a better education than it was possible to obtain where he was; he left his uncle, despite his efforts to retain him, at the age of fourteen, and entered the Manual Laboring School in Readfield, Maine, where he remained about three years, receiving some aid from two of his mother's brothers, residents of Readfield, and much kindness from the wife of one of his uncles, which he always remembered with great gratitude. When seventeen years old, he commenced teaching during the autumn and winter months, thereby earning money to defray the expense of studying during the remainder of the year. When about nineteen he began the study of medicine with Dr. Potter of Waterville, but failing health, and the fear of consumption, inher- ited from his father, obliged him to seek a milder climate. He went to Savannah, and afterwards to Florida, teaching and still pursuing the study of medicine. Three years later, finding his health much improved, he returned to New England and entered the Medical School at Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1846 and com- menced the practice of his profession soon after in his native town. The following year he was married to Miss Martha E. Lincoln of Cornish, Maine. The Doctor's ambition soon led him to seek a larger and more luerative practice, and he went to take the place of a physician recently moved from Machias, Maine. Here he found . an abundance of work, but his health never robust soon failed rapidly. He took a young physician as partner, hoping thereby to be able to remain, but a return of hemorrhage from the lungs again drove him to seek a more genial clime, and on the 4th of November, 1850, accompanied by his wife and sister, he sailed in the brig Agate bound for San Francisco. During the voyage of six months his health seemed quite restored, he having gained sixty-eight pounds in flesh, and on reaching San Francisco, April 24th, he concluded to commence the practice of his profession in that city. Six months later a return of his old pulmonary troubles convinced him that he could not long endure the cold winds of the bay. He visited Alameda County in quest of business, where the wind was said to be less severe; meeting with John M. Horner, he obtained from him the agency of a steamboat, which was to run daily from Union City (now Alvarado) to San Francisco and back, loaded with vege- tables and other produce raised by Mr. Horner, and the farmers in the vicinity. Here Dr. Bucknell established a post-office, got an appointment as Justice of the Peace; and besides attending daily to the loading and unloading of the steamboat, he discharged the duties of these offices, occasionally performing the marriage cere- mony for those who could not obtain a minister's services; in addition to all this he went to attend the sick whenever called, and as he spoke Spanish, he soon received calls to visit the afflicted in most of the Spanish families in that part of the county. In 1852 and 1853 he suffered so much from rheumatism, that he con- cluded to leave Alvarado and try the interior of the State, and he moved to Marys- ville, but after living one year in the city, and another year on a ranch near the city, he was prostrated with malarial fever, and returned to Alameda County, this time to the Mission of San Jose, where he received much kindness from Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Beard; soon afterwards he purchased from Mr. Combs a farm of two hundred and forty acres, between Washington and Centreville, and in September moved into the farm- house which Mr. Combs had built for his own family, which was quite commodious and comfortable. During all these changes and wanderings Dr. Bucknell had been

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 120

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206