History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 137

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

USA > California > Alameda County > History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions > Part 137

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out. Mr. Niehaus now embarked in his present business of merchant with S. Salz, under the firm name of Salz & Co., and has since continued it. In this gentleman we have one of the most whole-souled of living mortals. He is noted for his upright- ness in business, his strict honesty, and unswerving rectitude of character. His hearti- ness is infectious, his probity, unquestioned.

J. K. NISSEN .- A native of North Schleswig, and was born November 23, 1840. Here he maintained a residence until the month of June, 1864, when he went to Hamburg, and lived there until May, 1867. At this time he emigrated to California, and landing in San Francisco July 29th of that year, joined his brother, who had been a resident of San Lorenzo, Alameda County, for two years previously. Failing to find employment there at the end of two weeks, he returned to San Francisco, and there was engaged to proceed to Mount Eden, where he worked in a store for seven months. Returning then to the Bay City, he was employed for three months in a restaurant there, when he left for the country, and after working for a short time on a farm, obtained a situation in San Leandro in a store, where he remained eleven months .. Feeling dissatisfied now at working for others, Mr. Nissen started a peddler wagon with dry goods, which he found more profitable. On December 12, 1869, he married Claudine Buchpold, a native of Nord Schleswig, and in the fall of 1870, pur- chased a lot from William Meek, San Lorenzo, on which he built a small residence, where, after some time, he opened a store, still continuing his wagon business, leaving his wife in charge of the place. Both being economical and industrious, they soon put by a little money, which ultimately enabled him to buy a lot in the town of Hay- wards in 1875, on which he built a large two-story house for a store and dwelling, combined with a hotel. His family consists of two girls and two boys.

ANDREW J. NOR .- Was born in Germany, March 21, 1855, and there resided until the year 1872, when he emigrated to the United States, and settling in Living- ston County, Illinois, there lived for a year, at the end of which time he came to Cali- fornia, embarked in the dairy business in Merced County, and there continued until 1875, when coming to West Oakland, he resided until 1878, when he entered into partnership with F. G. Eiben in the grocery business under the style of Eiben & Nor, at the northwest corner of Seventh and Campbell Streets, Oakland. Married in November, 1881, Miss A. S. Miller.

LOUIS NUSBAUMER (deceased) .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this history, was born January 19, 1819, in Carlsruhe, Grand Duchy of Baden. His mother Amalia Gmehli was born in the town of Mühlheim on the upper Rhine. His father, George Nusbaumer, born in Switzerland, entered the army of Napoleon I. at an early age; serving in the medical department through all those memorable campaigns. For conspicuous services rendered at the grand catastrophe of the " cross- ing of the Beresina" he received the highest decoration of honor, at the end of the great historical drama. After completing his medical studies at Heidelberg, he established himself at Carlsruhe and subsequently became one of the most renowned surgeons of his time. Louis was born in the second year of their marriage; his mother died the year following. After passing the Lyceum and attending lectures at the Polytechnic Institute, Louis, at the age of seventeen, entered a mercantile house in Frankfort on the Main. From nineteen to twenty-one he spent on one of those large model farms to obtain a practical insight of farming. At twenty-one he entered a jewelry establishment as book-keeper in the city of Pforzheim. At twenty-three years he married a young lady of that place named Elizabeth Roth, born September 5, 1824, in Mobile, Alabama, she had returned with her parents to Germany at the age of five. Nusbaumer now rented a large estate on Lake Constance on the upper Rhine, where they lived nearly two years. Here again they met with heavy losses through misplaced confidence, and but for the constant and faithful assistance of his young wife the situation would have been desperate. They now turned their thoughts to the great country in the far West. In June, 1847, they arrived in New York, on the

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ship Earl of Liverpool. Nusbaumer soon obtained a situation in a jewelry establish- ment in Newark, N. J. In the fall of 1848, after the first exciting news from Cali- fornia had reached the States, Nusbaumer, like many others, was seized with the gold-fever. On the 20th of March, 1849, he, in company with sixty others, mostly Ger- mans, left the city of New York, full of hope, on their journey overland, towards the gold-fields of California. The organization soon broke up and Nusbaumer arrived in company with others at Salt Lake, October 1, 1849, seven days later himself with five others resumed their journey westward. After traveling two hundred and fifty miles in ten days on foot they fell in with Capt. Hunt's train, consisting of one hundred and fifteen wagons. Journeying with them ten days without much headway, Nusbaumer with several others left the train and took a random course towards " Walker's Cut-off." The third day the country ahead became utterly impassable for wagons. Henceforth, their journey was one of continuous hardships and privations, wagons and contents had to be abandoned and only the most needful articles packed on their cattle. Time and again, they were without water and food for days; most of their cattle perished. On the 19th of February, 1850, the last beef was killed; four days later, to their inex- pressible joy, they struck Capt. Hunt's trail on the Mohave River, and six days more brought Nusbaumer and two more of the original company of sixty to the first Span- ish ranch in Lower California, March 1, 1850. They soon made their way towards San Francisco. During the summer he mined in the Merced River. The spring fol- lowing, April 5, 1851, his wife who had made the trip by steamer via Panama had joined him once more. With the exception of some eleven months spent in a trip to Oregon and back, they lived in San Francisco till the fall of 1856, when they moved on an eighty-acre farm on Dry Creek, Washington Township in this county, bought by C. Duerr for Nusbaumer and himself. October, 1857, Duerr and Nusbaumer rented the estate of John W. Kottinger, situated in Murray Township, embrac- ing the larger part of the present town of Pleasanton for a term of five years. Their business here consisted of merchandising and sheep-raising. At the expiration of their lease 1862, they bought a joint interest in the Rancho El Valle de San José consist- ing of some three thousand acres, on part of which they made their permanent home. On the 25th May, 1876, Louis Nusbaumer met with irreparable loss in the sudden death of his estimable wife, his life-long companion, who always encouraged and faithfully assisted him in their many grievous trials in their younger days. To her untiring industry is due a very large part of the success that finally crowned their efforts. From this shock Nusbaumer never entirely recovered. On the 10th day of July, 1878, he, too, died at the age of sixty. They left four children George Louis, Albert, Emil, and Bertha, aged respectfully thirty-one, twenty-nine, twenty-seven, and twenty years; all of whom are permanent residents of Alameda County. Personally Mr. Nusbaumer was a remarkable man in many ways; below medium height, com- pelled through near-sightedness to wear eyeglasses at all times, he was physically of great endurance, a great hunter, an expert shot, an accomplished rider, and an enter- taining compan on, warm-hearted and generous to a fault, always ready to forgive. His many noble qualities of heart and mind will ever be remembered by his many friends.

STEPHEN G. NYE .- Was born in January, 1834 at Westfield, New York. His father, John Nye, was among the first settlers on the Holland Land Company's Pur- chase in western New York, when there were no roads and all was forest west of Buffalo, and he and his family suffered the privations and toils incident to pioneering. The children were two sons; one of whom met his death in the Union Army in Virginia in 1862. The subject of this sketch received such education as the common school could give until the age of sixteen, when he commenced teaching, and with his earnings pursued his studies until his graduation at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, 1858. For the next year and a half he was principal of Westfield Academy, and he then entered the law office of Hon. T. P. Grosvenor, at Dunkirk, New York where he pur-

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sued his studies until November, 1861, when he came to California. His first bread was earned by teaching the district school at Centreville in this county for three months. He then entered the law office of Janes & Lake as clerk in the spring of 1862, and there remained until the death of Mr. Janes broke up the partnership. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court in April, 1862. In 1863 he returned to this county, where he has ever since resided. In the fall of 1863 he was elected District Attorney of this county, and served two years. On the resignation of Judge Noble Hamilton as County Judge, in August, 1867, he was appointed by Gov. Low to fill the vacancy and was successively elected thereafter to the same office until his resignation, which took effect September 1, 1878. He then resumed and has ever since continued the practice of his profession. In 1879, after the adoption of the New Constitution, he was elected to the State Senate, where he served in the sessions of 1880 and 1881. He was married in January, 1863, to Miss Emma M. Hall, daughter of Asa Hall of Westfield, New York. In 1865 they purchased a block of land in San Leandro, and built a house, where they have ever since resided.

JOHN H. OLIVE .- Was born at Long Point, Canada West, seventy-five miles south of London, September 7, 1825, where he was brought up on a farm until he attained the age of eighteen years. At that time he removed to London and engaged in the stage business until July, 1850, when he emigrated to Galena, Illinois, and entered the employ of Funk & Walker on their stage line from Dubuque to Iowa City, thence to Muscatine on the Mississippi. In this service he remained until April 12, 1851, when he embarked for St. Louis, Missouri, and there joining Howe & Maly's circus with it traveled through Illinois and Wisconsin, arriving in Galena July 4th, of the same year. Here he severed his connection with this company, but on the 24th of the same month he joined Howc & Lent's circus, and with it went through the States of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and finally brought up in New York, October 19, 1851. Mr. Olive now found employment in the Bowery Theater, and was one of the party that brought General Kossuth, the Hun- garian patriot, from his ship at Staten Island, at the time that he made his first speech in the United States. Our subject revisited London in December, and remained there until June, 1852, when he once more embarked in the staging business, but in the month of December of the same year he proceeded to Michigan, and followed the like occupation. On March 4, 1854, Mr. Olive joined Captain Young's party bound for California. Leaving Galena in April, now commenced a series of hardships and adventures from which the stanchest might turn. On their weary journey across the endless plains they were twice attacked by Indians, on the Platte River and at Steamboat Springs, but exercising extreme caution and displaying no fear they made their way safely through the dangers seen and unseen. On June 26th, the desert was crossed and Ragtown gained; thence they proceeded by Beckwith Cut-off to Bidwell's Bar, finally arriving at Sacramento, August 11, 1854. Here our subject found employment with the California Stage Company. March 3, 1856, he removed to Stockton, followed his old occupation until March, 1862, when he purchased a farm in Merced County, and resided there three years. At the end of that time he took up his residence in Stockton until 1865, when he took charge of Dooley & Co's. stage line until 1872, and on C. H. Sisson becoming proprietor remained with him until 1876, when he purchased an interest in the stage line which retaining until 1879, he then removed to Contra Costa County, settling on the Fish Ranch, eight miles from Oakland.

LUTHER E. OSGOOD .- Was born at Blue Hill, Hancock County, Maine, June 17, 1831, where he received his education and resided until he grew to man's estate. In November, 1852, he sailed from New York to Aspinwall in the Illinois on his way to California. On the Isthmus the poetry of travel commenced to wear away. Half of the journey across was performed on foot; however, the Pacific shore was attained, and thence taking passage on the Golden Gate, the city of San Francisco was reached

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December 17, 1852. In January, 1853, Mr. Osgood came to Centreville, found employment with a Mr. Torrey for one year, and subsequently found various occupa- tions in different places until November, 1857, when he returned to the scenes of his youth in the State of Maine, married, and in the following May returned to the Golden State. Coming to Alameda County at this time, 1858, he located on the place to which he had come in 1853, situated about three miles south of Centreville, comprising one hundred acres. In 1874 he purchased the Morgan Ranch, adjoining his property. In 1880 he transferred his residence to Washington Corners, where he purchased of Judge A. M. Crane the property on the San José road, on which he now resides. In the fall of 1875, Mr. Osgood was elected to the office of Township Assessor and has been chosen to fill that position for no less than four terms, while he is its present incum- bent. He is a charter member of the Washington Township Pioneer Association, and has been its Treasurer ever since organization. Married in Blue Hill, February 7, 1858, Miss Sarah P. Hinckley, a native of Maine, by whom he has had a family of two chil- dren, viz .: Annie E. (deceased), and Blanche A. The twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage was duly celebrated February 7, 1883.

ADAM A. OVERACKER .- Was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, May 26, 1814. He resided on his father's farm until he attained the age of sixteen years, when he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Lodi Plains, Michigan. Here he received his education and resided for fourteen years. At this time Mr. Overacker took unto him- self a wife, and transferring his habitation to McHenry County, Illinois, there dwelt two years, when he moved to Jones County, Iowa, and engaged in farming at that place for twenty years. In 1854 he traded his farm to a Mr. Hollenbeck for sheep in California -what was supposed to be a goodly herd-and forthwith proceeded to the Pacific Coast to take possession, but found on arrival at Centreville, that there were only five hundred head all told. For two years our subject was a resident of the Centreville district; he then removed to Murray Township, and in 1866 purchased his present property, comprising three hundred and twenty acres, situated one mile east from Livermore, where he engaged in general farming. Mr. Overacker has held the office of Secretary of the Board of School Trustees for five years. Married, August 28, 1836, Miss Phoebe W. Patterson, a native of the State of New York, by whom there has been a family of seven children, five of whom survive, viz .: Horace T., George P., Mary (now Mrs. J. L. Weilbye), Lula (now Mrs. L. A. Summers), and Alice P. (now Mrs. Geo. Hawkins).

HOWARD OVERACKER .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Michael and Lucinda (Briggs) Overacker, and was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, November 21, 1828. When an infant five years old he was taken by his parents to Sharon, Michigan, where they located, and our subject had his early schooling, as well as being trained to hold the plough and watch the season's change. Residing on a farm, he then heard the wild alarum ring that gold had been discovered in the tail-race of a mill in California. With such prospects ahead he at once made up his mind to tempt the "fickle dame," and in December, 1851, left Michigan for New York, whence he sailed on the steamer Daniel Webster, January I, 1852. Traveling by the Nicaragua route, after a voyage, unmarred by any incident of moment, our subject landed in San Francisco on the 15th February. To reach the gold-bearing sections of the State was now his chiefest wish. He almost immediately proceeded to Placerville and after engaging in mining for some six months, with but moderate success, determined to turn his attention to farming, there- fore coming to Alameda County in November, 1852, he located in the vicinity of Centreville, where he remained until the fall of 1855, when he visited his early home, bringing out a young wife. In 1856, in partnership with his brother, Michael Over- acker, the property now owned by the widow of the latter was purchased, and there he maintained a residence for four years. In 1860 he revisited the home of his youth, taking with him his wife and child, returning to California in April of the same year. On arrival he purchased his present farm of two hundred and sixty acres, situ-

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ated about half a mile northeast of Centreville, where he is extensively engaged in fruit-raising; his elegant residence was erected in 1867. Like all pioneers brought up on the frontier Mr. Overacker has a great love of the chase. To wage war against the savage grizzly was with him a passion; his scars but tell the tale of his unyielding pluck; a broken arm and several ribs but speak of hair-breadth escapes. As pomolo- gist and agriculturist he has no superior; as a genuine man he has but few peers, while, as a trustworthy citizen he is an honor to the community in which he resides. These virtues have borne their reward. In 1862 he was elected from Washington Township to fill the position of Supervisor, being elected four years in succession, and was again called upon to assume these functions in 1871, while such was the estima- tion in which he was held by his associates that he was called upon to assume the Chair, and presided during one year. In 1878 he retired from public life and is now enjoying a well-earned rest from official labor. Married in Jones County, Iowa, Jan- uary 28, 1856, Miss Dora Monroe, a native of New York, and has the following family, viz .: Fleda (now Mrs. John A. Bunting), Howard, Jr., Kate, Elizabeth, and Michael.

OWEN R. OWEN .- Was born in the Isle of Anglesea, North Wales, March 31, 1846, and there resided until he attained the age of eighteen years. He then emi- grated to California by way of Panama, arriving in San Francisco April 30, 1863. After passing three years as shipping-clerk in the employ of Charles Clayton, San Francisco, he came to Alameda County, commenced farming on the Dougherty Ranch, and there continued until 1869, when he moved to Livermore and the place on which he now lives, having some fifteen hundred acres under cultivation. These he relinquished in 1882, when he purchased one hundred and eighty acres, and is now engaged in agricultural pursuits of a general nature. Married in Dublin, Alameda County, February 24, 1878, Miss Mary E. Murphy, a native of Alvarado, Alameda County, by whom he has had a family of three children, viz .: William J. (deceased), Edward Roland, and Owen R., Jr.

ROBERT FOSTER PATTEN .- The subject of this sketch, one of the three verita- ble pioneers of the city of Oakland, whose portrait appropriately finds a place in this volume, is the son of William and Ruth (Foster) Patten, and was born in Washington County, Maine, February 8, 1798. In early life he learned the tanner's trade, like his father before him, and in 1812 accompanied his parents to Nova Scotia, where they had taken up their residence, and our subject resided until he attained the age of twenty-four years. At this period he returned to his relatives in Maine, where he passed the next seven years. Subsequently returning to the British possessions, in connection with his younger brother, he embarked in the business of carriage-build- ing in New Brunswick, and thus continued until making up his mind to join the thousands that were flocking to the mines of the Pacific Coast. Sailing from Boston, Massachusetts, in the ship Sweden, Captain Cotting, via Cape Horn, on March I, 1849, he landed in San Francisco August 4th of the same year, and there joined his brother William, whose arrival had preceded that of our subject by about twenty days. In February, 1850, Mr. Patten and his two brothers crossed the bay, made up their minds to settle upon the place now occupied by that portion of East Oakland known as Clinton, obtained a lease of one hundred and sixty acres, in the following year acquired four hundred and eighty acres more, and there continued farming four years. For full particulars of the transactions of the Patten Brothers we would refer the reader to the history of Brooklyn Township on page 413 of this work. Here have the two brothers, Robert and William, resided ever since -- the third brother, Edward C., died in April, 1852-respected by the entire community as honest, upright men. The subject of our memoir never married. His brother William Patten, who was born December 30, 1800, married, in 1854, and has one child.

GEORGE W. PATTERSON .- Was born in East Berlin, Adams County, Pennsyl- vania, July 26, 1822, and in early childhood removed with his parents, Henry and Lydia (Kimmel) Patterson, to Greene County, Ohio. There they resided on a farm

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till the fall of 1832, when they moved to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, and followed farming as before. Early in the year 1849 a joint-stock company was organized in La Fayette, for the purpose of mining and trading in California. This company was composed of about twenty members, and each, of whom our subject was one, con- tributed five hundred dollars to the common fund. They left La Fayette March 13, 1849; thence by steamer via New Orleans to Port Lavaca, Texas, and with teams and pack-horses overland via San Antonio, Santa Rosa, and Durango to Mazatlan. The journey was made in the midst of cholera, of which one member (Jerry Starr) died near Durango, and was toilsome and slow from Texas to the Pacific. They remained a week awaiting a vessel, and finally sailed July 13th on the brig Louisa, touching there from Sydney. They were forty-seven days out, with barely enough water to live, and arrived in San Francisco, August 29, 1849. Here in the harbor were supplies that they had ordered from New York six months before. The company having dissolved, the goods were divided and the members separated. Our subject, with four others, went to the American River mines, where they worked more or less successfully, and the next summer went to the Trinity mines. But with bad investments and heavy expenses, at the end of fifteen months he found himself broken down physically and financially, and came to Alameda County about January I, 185 1, to recuperate, engaged in farming; since he has been moderately successful. Was married July 11, 1877, to Miss Clara Hawley, a native of California. Has two children, Henry G. and William H. Patterson, aged respectively five and two years.

NATHANIEL GREENE PATTERSON .- Was born in Greene County, East Tennes- see, March 23, 1820, but at nine years of age was taken by his parents to Greeneville District, South Carolina, where he attended school and resided for nine years. At this period of his life he proceeded to Jackson County, Missouri, and while a resident of that place made two trips to Santa Fé, the first journey being undertaken in 1842, and the second in the following year. On his return from this last expedition he went to a place called Pueblo, on the Arkansas River, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, but he returned shortly after and made a trip to Georgia, after which he came back to Missouri in 1842. In 1846 he left for the then little known region of the Pacific Coast, and after enduring the thousand and one hardships incidental to crossing the plains at that early date, arrived at the hospitable gates of Sutter's Fort, September 5, 1846. He now returned to meet his fellow-immigrants, whom he had left at Fort Hall, and falling in with them at the place where the town of Wadsworth now stands, on the Truckee River, accompanied them into the sloping valleys and rolling foot-hills of California, once more arriving at Sutter's Fort, in the month of October. He here joined Fremont's Battalion, Company C, Captain Granville Swift, and J. C. Baldridge, Lieutenant, and with it served until 1847, when he entered the quartermaster's department of the regular army, where he was civilly employed. In the fall of that year he was engaged by Governor Mason and Secretary of State Halleck to carry the United States Mail from Monterey to San Francisco, which he did until June, 1848. And now there was no doubt that the cañons of the Sierras teemed with gold; therefore, Mr. Patterson proceeded to the American River, and embarked in the exciting pursuit of gold-hunting. By the fall of that year he had drifted down to the Tuolumne Mines, where now is the town of Sonora; but at the end of six months left to winter in the Pueblo de San José. In the spring of 1850 he kept a feed and livery stable, in partnership with his brother, in Stockton, and in the month of March of the same year removed to the Las Pocitas Rancho of Robert Livermore, where he remained until March, 1851, building a house, however, during 1850, on the property now known as "Negley's Place," two miles from the spot now called Bantas. In June, 1851, Mr. Patterson returned to Missouri, and thence visited his birthplace in Tennessee, returning to Missouri in 1852; and there, with his broth- ers, A. J. and D. C. Patterson, he fitted out a freight team for Salt Lake City and California, where they arrived in the latter half of the same year. Having remained

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 137

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