History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 125

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

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fell into incompetent hands. A second factory built on the same ground, under a different management has proved a success. In 1874 he moved with his family from Alvarado to live on a farm he had bought some few years before, near Altamont, Murray Township, and also to take charge of some landed interests that he held there in common with other parties. The method of summer fallowing, which was not in vogue here except on his own farm and in a very few unimportant cases, he made compulsory on the lands under his charge, where from being almost non-producing, they now raise under this method a fair remunerative crop. Many other farmers have followed the example, and summer fallowing, among successful farmers, in all places adapted to it, is now rather the rule than the exception.

EBENEZER HERRICK DYER .- The subject of our sketch, whose portrait will be found in this work, deserves a high place in the history of Alameda County, for in the promotion of her resources, upon which her present prosperity and her future wel- fare depend, no man, among all those honorably mentioned in this work, has labored with greater zeal and more untiring energy. Coming here in the infancy of the county he was quick to sce her necessities and her possibilities, and with the push, energy, and determination of purpose that have always characterized him, he has stood in the face of, to ordinary men, unsurmountable difficulties, and has succeeded in raising his own limited fortune to ample proportions, and in establishing an industry in our midst the possibilities of which, not only to our county, but to the whole coast, no human foresight can to-day set the bounds. The "Standard Sugar Refinery" at Alvarado is a monument to the success of Mr. Dyer, in the manufacture of pure sugar from the sugar-beet, the abundant product of our fertile valley. Millions of dollars are annually sent abroad for sugar, and the consumption is increasing at a rapid ratio. This success shows that push and energy are what are needed to make the business a success in this country, and to keep for our own people the millions thus sent abroad. The "Standard," under Mr. Dyer's management, yearly throws on the market one and a half million pounds of pure white sugar-not such as the early article manu- factured, but pure and well refined, equal to the best of cane. This work; this grand result, has been accomplished under the most discouraging conditions for man to encounter, and succeed. Failure has succeeded failure all over the United States, but Mr. Dyer, since he first became connected with the business, in 1869, has "stayed" with it, at times venturing his all upon its success, taking the stand that, with proper man- agement, and an understanding of the business itself, it might be made an abundant success. He claimed that our conditions of climate, our people, and our mode of doing business were not properly understood by the foreign sugar-makers that have heretofore generally had the management of this industry, and his success justifies those views. Standing as we do to-day upon the summit, and viewing the fruits of the energetic, strong, and pushing character of the subject of our sketch, we are lead to inquire the origin and life of such a man. Ebenezer Herrick Dyer was born at Sullivan, Hancock County, Maine, April 17, 1822; he descended from the Cushings, Sawyers, Thorndykes, and Dyers, who were among the first English colonists of New England. Ephraim Dyer, his grandfather, was a soldier of the Revolution. With an education afforded by the public schools of his youth, he was early thrown upon his own resources, which, with the stern teachings of New England life, soon developed his active mind and formed a symmetrical, energetic, and pushing character. He embarked in business in his native town as a merchant, which he soon enlarged so as to embrace the lumber business and the operation of the Sullivan Granite Quarries, which he conducted on a scale commensurate with his energy. While operating these quarries he furnished large quantities of granite for the Government in different parts of the United States. Seeking a wider field he came to California, via the Isthmus, in 1857, and finding a promising new country, he returned in the fall of the same year for his family, consisting of a wife and two children. He arrived the second time in April, 1858, and settled at Alvarado, where he has since resided. He first engaged

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for a short time in stock-raising. In the fall of 1859 he was elected County Surveyor of Alameda County, and re-elected in 1861. In the latter year he was appointed United States Deputy Surveyor by Surveyor General E. F. Beale, and served in that capacity, under various Surveyors General, for about ten years. In 1869 he first became connected with the beet-sugar business at Alvarado, in connection with some of the leading men of our State. The first attempt at the business was not a success, its management being in the hands of Messrs. Bonesteel and Otto, two men brought out by the first company from Wisconsin, as "experts," to manage affairs. Mr. Dyer, although not a sugar-maker, or with any previous knowledge of the business, by his connection with this first attempt, gathered information which led him to believe that, under proper management, the new enterprise could be made to succeed; so strong, in fact, was he impressed with this idea, that, when the first company left, in 1871, for Soquel, he bought the factory buildings, with lands adjacent, with the expressed pur- pose of making a success where a failure had been, and regaining the money he had lost in the first attempt. The repeated failures in the business heretofore throughout the United States made capitalists timid, and it was not until 1879 that Mr. Dyer succeeded in enlisting others in the enterprise with sufficient capital to make it a suc- cess. In 1876 he was chosen by the Second Congressional District of California as a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Cincinnati, Ohio, which he attended. At that time he traveled to the places of note in the East, with his family, taking in, of course, Washington and the Centennial Exhibition. In 1879 he suc- ceeded in forming the Standard Sugar Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of manufacturing sugar from beets, at the locality of the first attempt, at Alvarado. He was appointed and remains at present General Superintendent and Business Man- ager for the company. The name of the corporation is now the Standard Sugar Refining Company, and of its success it is hardly necessary to speak, but it may be mentioned that the earnings of the company last year were thirty-three per cent. on the amount invested. So much has energy, perseverance, and pluck accomplished, where failure was and had been predicted again and again.

HARMAN EGGERS .- Was born in Germany, April 19, 1823, and was there edu- cated. At sixteen years of age he commenced to learn the trade of bricklayer, and in 1844 emigrated to the United States. Locating in. Perry County, Missouri, he there passed the winter of 1844-45, and in the spring moved to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade for a time. In 1853 he crossed the plains to California with Mr. Blacow, and arrived October 21st, settling at once on his present estate, comprising one hundred and ten acres. Married, in St. Louis in 1852, Miss Mary Durreng, a native of Germany, and has: Louis H., Edward H., Matilda, Frank, Alice, and Helen.

SOLOMON EHRMAN .- Was born in Lichtenfels, Bavaria, March 4, 1846, where he received a common school education, and afterwards finished his scholastic training at the Fürth College. In May, 1863, he started for the United States, and first land- ing in Baltimore, there sojourned for two months. At this time he sailed for Cali- fornia, via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco September 3, 1863. Coming direct to Mission San José he there joined his brother, Max. Ehrman, but subsequently moved to Suisun, Solano County, where he was in business four years. Eventually returning to Mission San José, he there entered into partnership with Leopold Bachman, the latter of whom retiring on September 1, 1880, was succeeded by A. Lebrecht, the style and name of the firm being Ehrman & Lebrecht. The history of this firm, which is very interesting, we give as follows: The original firm was founded in 1854, by S. Strauss, Leon Ehrman, and S. Bachman, under the firm name of Strauss & Co. They occupied an adobe building on the site of the present store. After about two years, Strauss withdrew. The remaining partners kept "Bachelors' Hall," Ehrman attending to the store while Bachman peddled with a wagon. While the latter traveled over the country, he had many adventures, the details of which would be interesting as illustrations of life in California before it had bcome so com-

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pletely Americanized as in later years. Upon one occasion, a native Californian lord, desirous that his household should appear in raiment, ample as well as rich, asked the traveling tradesman what he would take for his entire stock. Upon being informed -a large enough price of course-the trade was immediately consummated, and the wagon emptied, the purchaser taking his chances as to the nature and style of the goods, and the seller returning to headquarters for another load. In 1864 they bought out the business and stock of Musser & McClure, and moved across the street into the place occupied by the latter firm, an adobe building on the church property. There was no change in the firm until 1868, when Mr. Ehrman withdrew, and his nephews, Max and Solomon Ehrman, were admitted to the partnership. On July 4th, they moved into the new frame building which they had erected on the west side of the street, at a cost of five thousand dollars. On the night of opening a grand ball was given by the firm. It was a magnificent affair, and probably the largest ball ever in the valley. Everybody was invited, and everybody came. Even the babies could not stay at home, and a considerable number of the drawers and shelves were utilized for cribs. In the great railroad accident at Simpson's Station, October 14, 1869, Max Ehrman was killed. In December of the same year Mr. Bachman retired, and his brother Leopold, together with Charles Adler, were admitted to the partner- ship. Adler soon withdrew, leaving the business to Solomon Ehrman and Leopold Bachman, who continued under the firm name of Ehrman & Bachman until the late change, a term of nearly eleven years. Mr. Lebrecht, who succeeded Mr. Bach- man's interest, is a brother-in-law of Mr. Ehrman. He was formerly a resident of this State, but had lived in North Carolina. Married, December II, 1870, Miss Lina Lebrecht, a native of Nüruberg, Bavaria, and has three children, viz .: Alfred M., Alexis, and Mattie.

FREDERICK G. EIBEN .- Was born in Germany, November 3, 1848, and there resided until he attained the age of seventeen years, at which time he emigrated to the United States, and settling in New York City, there followed the grocery business until his coming to California in 1876. Locating in Oakland, he opened his present store under the style of Eiben & Steen, the latter of whom retiring in 1878, A. J. Nor became associated with him in the concern under the firm name of Eiben & Nor, Oakland. Married, October 2, 1870, Miss Frieda Petersen, a native of the city of Lubeck, Germany, and has one child, Etta, born in West Oakland, November 29, 1877.

ROBERT WILLIAM ELLIOTT .- Born in Clay County, Missouri, August 9, 1831, where he was educated and resided until 1856. In that year he crossed the plains with ox-teams and a drove of cattle, and arrived in Solano County, California, in the month of August. Having settled, in the first instance, near Dixon, he embarked in the stock business, and followed it until 1865, when he turned his attention to general farming and the culture of the vine. He afterwards was for some time engaged, and is still interested, in coal-mining in Oregon. In 1873 he discontinued his operations in Solano County, and in the following year took up his residence in Oakland, where he has since resided. Married July, 1855, Miss Josephine B. Mc- Donald, and has: Adelaide McDonald, Mark L., and Richard H.

JAMES EMERSON .- Was born in Swinton, Yorkshire, England, October 25, 1821, where he resided and followed farming until April, 1851, in which month he sailed from Liverpool for the United States. Landing in New Orleans in May of that year, he soon proceeded up the Mississippi to St. Louis, but afterwards located in St. Clair County, Illinois, where he farmed until April 5, 1853, when, joining a train (among which were Robert and John Blacow and Herman Eggers and their families), he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. Arriving at Mr. Blacow's ranch Octo- ber 20, 1853, Mr. Emerson started out to find work. After a year's service with Mr. Blacow, he leased land of Lyman Beard, and farmed until the fall of 1857, when he purchased the place opposite that now owned by Mr. Gallegos, where he remained

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until 1868, then selling out, he bought his present property, consisting of seventy acres, situated about a mile and a half from Centreville, where he is engaged in general farming and fruit-raising. Married in April, 1862, Miss Anna Eggers, a native of Germany; and has seven surviving children, viz .: Nellie, Annie, Louisa, Julia, Alice, Ralph W., George I.

JOHN M. ENGLISH .-- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland, February 17, 1834. At the age of five years he was taken by his parents to Jefferson County, Western Virginia, and there received his education and resided until his leaving for California, in 1851. On the 4th December of that year he sailed from New York on board the steamer Phymetes, and proceeding by the Nicaragua route, finished the voyage in the Independence, arriving in San Francisco January 7, 1852. Mr. English at once set- tled on a farm near Centreville, Alameda County, which is now occupied by George Patterson, where he remained one season, when he moved to an estate on the San Lorenzo Creek, where he farmed until 1857, when he transferred the scene of his operations to the property where he now resides, purchased by his uncle, Samuel B. Martin, the tract so acquired being one league square. The portion occupied by Mr. English is situated two miles and a half north from Pleasanton, and comprises three hundred and twenty-five acres of fine land. In Mr. English we have one of nature's truest noblemen, a man whom it is an honor to know, and whom to know is to appre- ciate. Married in San Francisco, in 1869, Miss Leta, daughter of Captain Smith of Sonoma County, by whom he has four surviving children, viz .: Frederick, Genevieve, John, and Ada.

ADAM FATH .- Whose portrait appears in this history, was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 20, 1821, and there resided until he attained the age of twenty- five years, having learned the trade of shoemaker with his father. In May, 1846, he determined to emigrate to the United States; therefore, taking ship at Bremerhaven, he sailed to the "Land of the Free," and first found employment in Buffalo, on board a steamboat. In the following year he enlisted in the United States Army (Ord- nance Department), and, with his corps, proceeded to and took part in the Mexican War, after which he came to the Pacific Coast; and to California with Captain C. P. Stone, who was detailed to establish an arsenal at Benicia (now Solano County). In the establishment of that post Mr. Fath took part, and there was quartered for some time. May 27, 1853, being 'mustered out of the service, he then went to Fort Point, where he helped to land the first seven cannon, at the time of the Crimean War, in 1854. Then he returned to Benicia and took charge of the Government stock, under Captain Cleary, Quartermaster, for two years. Then he betook himself to dairying, and so continued until 1859, when he transferred his location to Alameda County, and first settled on land now owned by Charles McLaughlin, about six miles from Livermore, on the Azro Bayo. There he resided until the fall of 1864, when he came to Liver- more, took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land-his pay for Army services-on which he now resides. Married in Vallejo, Solano County, California, in 1857, Miss Mary Feehely, a native of Ireland, and has six children, viz .: John A., Valentine, Mary M., Annie M., Frederick W., Louisa L.

ANTONIO FONTE .- Was born in the Western Islands, in the year 1826, where he resided up till he attained the age of twenty years, at which period he commenced a seafaring life. This occupation he followed three years, two of which he passed in the East Indies. In 1851 he hied himself unto the Land of Gold. Settling in San Francisco in March, he obtained employment in a warehouse at Clark's Point, and there remained until the month of October. Mr. Fonte now engaged in the milk trade, carrying it across the bay from San Antonio (now East Oakland), to San Fran- cisco, in a whale-boat. While thus employed he made the acquaintance of the late James B. Larue, by whom, in the month of December, he was engaged as an assistant. At the end of two years and a half our subject started a boarding-house on the site

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where now stands his store, which he carried on, save for four months during the years 1855, until 1861, when he built and opened his present establishment, which he still conducts, situated at Nos. 800 and 802 East Central Avenue, East Oakland. Married January 20, 1856, Miss Rosanna Lyons, and has five children, viz .: Henry, Maria, Joseph, James, Anna, surviving.

SAMUEL FRANCIS .- This well and favorably known merchant tailor of Oakland is a native of Belfast, Ireland, born in 1846. He remained in his native country until 1863, serving an apprenticeship the latter four years to the tailor's trade. In the above year he emigrated to Toronto, Canada, and two years later removed to Chicago, Illinois, and there resided until the fall of 1871, when he came to the Pacific Coast, selected Oakland as his future home, and opened up his present successful business at No. 1006 Broadway, where, after a residence of twelve years, through honesty, integrity, and strict business principles, he enjoys the confidence and esteem of the whole community in which he resides. Mr. Francis was united in marriage, Decem- ber 18, 1870 to Miss Jessie Douglass, a native of Canada. By this union they have one child, Frederick J.

JOHN L. FRESE .- Was born in Bremen, Germany, April 15, 1831. Being not yet eighteen years of age, he emigrated direct to California, making the passage in the brig Express. On arriving in San Francisco he crossed the bay to the region then known as the Contra Costa, and located, in 1849, on what is now the line of Adeline Street, in the city of Oakland, on the place lately owned by Mr. Briggs, situated between First and Second Streets; it was called the Old Ranch. He there engaged in farming, and was the first to raise potatoes in what is now Oakland Township. In 1850 he moved to the place which went by the name of the "Old German Corral," which stood on land now defined as between Fourteenth and Six- teenth Streets, where he resided between six and seven years. He then moved up town to where the town site then was, and kept a restaurant and lodging-house on Broadway. In 1865 he purchased his present property, consisting of four large lots, located on Railroad Avenue and Bay Street. Married in Oakland, in the fall of 1860, Miss M. Weingthr, a native of Germany, and has two children: Carl J. and Louisa.

J. HOMER FRITCH .- Was born in San Francisco, California, May 31, 1854, and is the son of George and Margaret (McKew) Fritch, the first of whom arrived on the Pacific Coast from St. John's, New Brunswick, in 1850, as the master of a ship, and the latter from Australia in the famous year '49. After passing from 1866 to 1868 in St. Mary's College, San Francisco, our subject entered the Oakland Collegiate School, and went through a full course of three years and a half under F. M. Campbell, the late State Superintendent of Public Instruction. For the next fourteen months he was in the employ of J. T. Millikin of San Francisco, after which he entered the service of R. D. Chandler, wholesale coal-dealer, having risen during his employment to the position of head book-keeper; then, in 1878, he commenced busi- ness in Oakland as importer and dealer in wood and coal. He married, November 8, 1880, Miss Mary W. Lippitt of Petaluma.

ELIJAH FOSTER .-- Was born in Yorkshire, England, November 26, 1828, and farmed there until February 2, 1850, when he sailed for the United States, arriving in New York, March 28th of the same year. Remaining in Geneva, New York, until December, 1853, he then took passage in the Northern Light, and crossing the con- tinent by the Nicaragua route, on the Pacific side, sailed in the Sierra Nevada, finally landing in San Francisco, December 31, 1853. A few days later he crossed the bay to Mission San José, and finding employment in Union City, there remained for a time. Mr. Foster next took a spell at the mines until the following summer, when he returned to Alameda County, worked at different occupations until 1861, and in that year purchased the place he now occupies, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, situated near Murray's Landing, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Is married, and has one daughter, Mary A., and an adopted son.

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PHILIP J. GERHARDY .- Whose portrait appears in this work, was born at the Castle of Hardenberg, Hanover, Germany, February 22, 1841, and is the son of Prof. H. Gerhardy, a graduate of Heidelberg; residing in his birthplace until 1855, when he came to America on a pleasure trip, but on his arrival in New York, being so favorably impressed with the city, he concluded to seek his fortune in the New World, and immediately found employment in a large tea store, where he remained for three years. He then, in 1858, concluded to come to California, and with a com- pany of young men he came, via the Isthmus of Panama, from whence he sailed for San Francisco, and there found.employment in the Mint Market for about two months, when he started a similar business for himself, in which he was very success- ful, making some $30,000 in sixteen months. He then sold out, and proceeded to the Russian River, where he engaged in the stock business; purchasing a large num- ber of cattle, he drove them to Sacramento, were he met with a serious loss in the drowning of most of his stock at the time of the flood in that city in 1862. He then returned to San Francisco, and engaged in the butcher business, and thirteen years ago transferred his business to Oakland, and opened his present shop at Nos. 829 and 831 Broadway. As proprietor of the well-known San Francisco Market Mr. Gerhardy, in early times, has met with many reverses, but with a strong will and strict integrity he has surmounted them all, and is now in easy financial circumstances, and doing a prosperous business. With an exceedingly generous nature he lends a helping hand to all charities, and is highly respected by all who know him. At the age of forty years our subject was married to an estimable young lady, the daughter of Elder G. W. Kinkada, a graduate of the Woodland College, Yolo County.

WILLIAM P. GIBBONS, M. D .- Was born in Wilmington, Newcastle County, Del- aware, April 19, 1812, and is the son of William Gibbons, M. D., and Rebecca (Donald- son) Gibbons. Having resided with his parents, and from them received a careful early training and education, he subsequently learned and followed the printing business for several years. Mindful of the necessity of a more liberal education, he also attended during this period medical and scientific lectures in Philadelphia, and became a member of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, which institu- tion has ever afforded the best opportunities for study and investigation in every department of science. It was here that botany became a specialty, outside of his subsequent profession. Failing in health, he returned to the county of his birth, and farmed there until 1839, when he was induced to take charge of a seminary for young ladies, at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, a position he held until 1849. During his tenure of this office he assiduously devoted himself to the study of medicine, and, by more than ordinarily close application, was enabled to graduate in the year 1846, in the University of the city of New York. In the last-mentioned year, aided by Messrs. Kelly and Pratt, two lights of the "fourth estate," Dr. Gibbons made a raid upon the ancient Lancashire School system in Poughkeepsie, and by a series of well-planned and successful attacks carried war into the camp of the enemy, overthrew the pernicious method of a by-gone antiquity, and succeeded in establishing the free school system, which has, far and wide, become a pride to our country. For four years the Doctor served as President of the Board for the management of this system, which he had been instrumental in creating, with the gentlemen above named. In the month of December, 1852, he sailed from New York, per steamer Uncle Sam, to the Isthmus of Panama, where he was attacked with cholera, then so prevalent among the emigrants, who were detained by thousands in that pestiferous climate. The Doctor says that he shall ever remember with gratitude the kindly act of the late W. C. Ralston, who carried him in his arms from the hotel to the beach, when he was so enfeebled by disease as to be unable to walk. It is truly by such happy actions that friendships are cemented and recollections are perpetuated. From Pan- ama he sailed on the Cortes, Captain Crocker, on that memorably disastrous voyage,

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 125

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