History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 139

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 139

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HILAIRE REMILLARD .- Was born in Lower Canada, December 18, 1833, and there resided with his parents until 1852, in which year he moved to Boston, Massa- chusetts, and there embarked in brick-making, which he followed until 1854. He then emigrated to California via the Nicaragua route, and arriving in San Francisco February 17th of that year, at once proceeded to the mines in Nevada County, where he remained until 1860. He now came to Alameda County, and at the time of the Idaho excitement, proceeded to that territory, but returning after an absence of two

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years, he settled in Oakland and commenced the manufacture of bricks there, an occupation he still follows. Married in 1868, Miss Eveline Lavoux, and has one child named, Eveline.

CHARLES H. RICE .- Was born in Belfort, France, October 11, 1831, and is the son of John J. and B. (Schodel) Rice, but at five years old was taken by his parents to the United States, and locating in New Orleans, there resided until 1850. In that year he came to California, and embarking in his trade of butcher in San Francisco, there continued until 1863. At this time he moved to Nevada, and followed the same business in Virginia City, where he remained until 1867, when, coming to Alameda County, he settled in the same occupation in Oakland, and, in 1872, formed a copartnership with James J. White, in the butcher business, the firm now doing business at Nos. 2 to 6 City Market. Married in January, 1857, Miss Jennie Francis McNamara, and has four surviving children, viz .: Octavia, Charles, George, and Edward .:

EDWIN A. RICHMOND .- Was born in Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, December 16, 1837, and there learned the trade of machinist, and resided until 1858, when he proceeded to Canada, and dwelt there for two years. At this period he took passage at New York on board the ship Twilight-the only other passenger being a son of the world-renowned P. T. Barnum, of "wonders" notoriety-and after a voyage of one hundred and nine days, landed in San Francisco May 2, 1860. He was here joined by a brother from Santa Clara County. Mr Richmond now engaged with L. A. Gould to proceed to Virginia City, Nevada, to set up engines, which being accomplished, he returned to California, and after a short stay in Sacramento, came to Alvarado and found employment as engineer of C. J. Stevens' grist-mill. At the end of three years he moved to San Francisco, and two years thereafter proceeded to the Black Diamond Coal Mines, in Contra Costa County, where he worked at his trade for a twelvemonth. Our subject next took charge of brass-finishing in H. Adam's shop, Sacramento, and subsequently returning to Alvarado, there took up his domicile and has since resided. In 1877 he was appointed Postmaster of Alvarado, and agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., while he has held the office of Justice of the Peace, for the past six years. Married July 3, 1872, Miss Lizzie Butterwerth, a native of England, and has four children, viz .: William B., Edwin A. Jr., Allen B., and Ralph W.

JOHN J. RISER .- This pioneer of California, was born in Würtemburg, Germany, June 4, 1824, and there resided with his parents until the year 1831, when they emigrated to the United States, and first settled in Ohio. At the end of a twelve- month they fixed their residence in Richland County, in the same State, and finally, in 1840, located in Marion County, where our subject learned the boot and shoe maker's trade. In 1842 he moved with his brother to the State of Illinois, and after residing for a time in Hancock County, transferred his abode to Quincy, Adams County. At the end of one year and eight months he returned to Hancock County, and in 1844 paid a visit to the Atlantic States, returning in 1845, and joining his brother in his labors. In the following year, 1846, on the declaration of war between the United States and Mexico, Captain James Allen, of the First Regiment of Dragoons, received instructions from Colonel Kearney, commanding the troops at Fort Leavenworth, to visit the Mormon camps, and accept the service for twelve months of four or five companies, for service in Mexico, this force to unite with the Army of the West at Santa Fe, and be marched thence to California, where they would be discharged. On July 16, 1846, five companies of over four hundred men, all told, were mustered into the service of the United States at Council Bluffs, Iowa Territory, and in the ranks of Company C, James Brown, Captain, was the subject of this memoir. With his enlistment commenced a series of hardships, which Mr. Riser encountered cheerfully, and without complaint, as became a true soldier. The march from Santa Fé, through what is now called Arizona, into California, was a continued succession of privations; the weak succumbed, only the robust sur-

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vived. During this march of a thousand miles, stragglers were many, and the famished not a few. On July 16, 1847, the battalion was mustered out of the service, and re-enlisted for eight months. At the end of enlistment, he, with twenty-three others, made a wagon-road to Salt Lake City in 1850. Mr. Riser established himself as a permanent resident of this State, although he paid a two year's visit to Utah between 1848 and 1850. On the IIth day of April of the latter year, he started to cross the plains to California by ox-team, and arrived July 7th. During that summer he stayed in the vicinity of Sacramento, after which he moved to Auburn, El Dorado County, and there remained until June, 1851, when he came to Alameda County and commenced farming. In October, 1854, he acquired his present property, comprising eighty-five acres, and situated in Washington Township, where he is now residing. Mr. Riser married December 25, 1848, Helen R. Allen, a native of the State of New York, and has: Catharine, George C., Charles W., May Belle, Franklin A., and Helen R.

WILLIAM ROBERTS .- Was born in Liverpool, England, December 3, 1830, and at twelve years of age commenced a seafaring life, which he abandoned on coming to California. Arriving in San Francisco, March 27, 1850, he went direct to the mines in the vicinity of Marysville, Yuba County, but finding the water too high for mining, he returned to the neighborhood of Sacramento, where he remained one month, finally going back to the Bay City, where he commenced lightering. In October, 1850, he moved to Alameda County, and two years thereafter commenced business at Roberts' Landing, previously known by the name of Thompson's Landing, the land being purchased from the State. In 1853 he settled in San Lorenzo, where he now resides. Married, June 21, 1864, Miss Ellen M. Davenport, a lineal descendant of the Pilgrim Fathers, and has: Alice L., Andrew G., Caroline N., Ellen D., and Hattie E. CHARLES KINGSLEY ROBINSON .- The subject of this sketch, formerly Mayor of the city of Oakland, was born in Mount Morris, Livingston County, New York, January 16, 1835. At the age of three years he was taken by his parents to Michigan, who were among the organizers of Genesee County in that State. Having resided on the farm with his parents until he became seventeen years old, he then entered the Albion Seminary, Michigan, where he passed two years; he subsequently spent two years at Oberlin, and afterwards entered Antioch College, then under the famous Pro- fessor Horace Mann. From this seat of learning Mr. Robinson graduated in the liter- ary department in June, 1857. He now essayed the difficult task of "teaching the young idea how shoot," and taught school for one year, after which he went to Detroit and studied law in the office of Howard, Bishop & Holbrook for a twelvemonth, there- after taking a regular course in the Ann Arbor Law School, from which, in April, 1860, he graduated. Mr. Robinson then located in East Saginaw, Michigan, engaged in the practice of his profession, and resided there fifteen years. In 1861 he was appointed by President Lincoln United States Land Office Receiver, and performed the duties of the office up till the time of the President's death. He was married in Detroit, Michigan, July 3, 1861, to Miss Carrie M., daughter of Warren Williams of Connecticut, and has had a family of three children, viz .: Charles R. (deceased), Lillie L., and Inez L. In January, 1866, he opened a banking-house in East Saginaw, under the firm name of C. K. Robinson & Co., he previously, however, having served as Cashier of the First National Bank of that town. He continued his bank- ing-house till 1872, when it was merged into the Second National Bank of East Sagi- naw with Mr. Robinson as President for one year, from which position he afterwards retired, remaining, however, on the directorate of the bank. He now concluded to change his location, therefore, after spending two years in winding up his business, on January 4, 1875, he started for the sunny slopes of the Pacific. In the same month he arrived in Oakland, where he has since remained, devoting himself chiefly to liter- ary pursuits. In March, 1882, Mr. Robinson was elected to the office of Mayor of the city of Oakland, a distinguished position which he filled with much credit.

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HON. HENRY ROBINSON .- The subject of this sketch was born in Chesterfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. At an early age he removed with his father, Captain Josiah Robinson, to the adjoining town of Worthington, where he passed his youth engaged in farming, clerking in a store, and teaching school. He sailed for California in January, 1849, and arrived in San Francisco the following August. Shortly after his arrival he went to the northern mines, and, until 1854, was engaged in both mining and trading, often employing from twenty-five to fifty men in mining, and keeping one and sometimes two stores. Close application to business undermined his health, and he sold out his trade in the fall of 1854, and went east in search of health. Failing to find it he returned to California and located in Marysville, remaining, however, but a few years, and his health becoming no better he removed to San Francisco, and the follow- ing year to Alameda, where he engaged in farming and fruit-culture, and where he still resides. In Marysville in 1856 he took an active part in the Republican reform movement of that year, it being the first national campaign of the Republican Party. The second year after locating in Alameda he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors to represent both Alameda and Brooklyn Townships. The following year he was elected to the Assembly, and in 1865 he was elected to the Senate from Alameda County. He was President of the Board of Town Trustees for several years after the incorporation of the town of Alameda in 1872.

JESSE ROBINSON, M. D .- Was born in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, August 28, 1825, where he received his early scholastic training and resided until he attained the age of eighteen years, when he went to Woodstock, Vermont, entered the medical school there, and after a course extending over three years graduated there- from in 1846. In the fall of that year he proceeded to Lee County, Iowa, there com- menced the practice of his profession, and resided until April, 1849, when being led captive by the seductive cry of gold, which rang from the Pacific to the Atlantic shores, he joined a train with ox-teams, accomplished the weary and dreary journey, and finally arrived in California, at Lawson's Ranch, in September, 1849. After try- ing his luck in the mines, and traveling about the State for some time, we find him in December, 1850, present at the organization of Shasta County, and at the election held there for public officers, was chosen its first County Clerk. In the following summer he purchased a farm in Scott Valley, Siskiyou County, and commenced stock- raising. In the spring of 1853 he removed to Southern Oregon, engaged in a packing, saw, and grist mill business, and there continued until the fall of 1861. In this year he became Quartermaster of the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry, United States Vol- unteers, and accompanied his regiment in the summers of 1862 and 1863, in its expedi- tions through the upper Snake River country and as far east as old Fort Hall; and was stationed at Fort Dalles, Oregon, in the winters of 1862 and 1863, and at Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, the winter following, the balance of his four years' term of service being passed at Fort Boisé, Idaho Territory. Having been mustered out of service on September 30, 1865, at which time he was Chief Quartermaster of the Dis- trict of Boisé, he then embarked in farming operations in Jackson County, Oregon, until November 1868, when he came back to California, located in Oakland, where he engaged in various occupations until November 1880, at which time he received the position of Assessor of Oakland Township; was re-elected in November, 1882, and is the present incumbent. Married, April 27, 1854, Miss Lavinia J. Constant, a native of Sangamon County, Illinois, and has four children, viz .: Edward C., Chester L., Thomas M., and Maury.

A. P. ROSE .- Was born in Fayal, Portugal, June 13, 1830, but when thirteen years of age went to Brazil, South America. The next seven years he served as steward on board of coasting steamers, after which he engaged in mercantile pursuits for six years. At the end of this time he shipped in a sailing-vessel for Baltimore and Boston, where he landed in 1856; here he earned his living for three years as a barber. In 1860 he took steamer for San Francisco, where he arrived on November 26th of that

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year, and after a month came to Alameda County, started a barber shop in Centreville, where he remained until 1867. In 1869 he embarked in farming and continued it six years, since when he has not been actively engaged in business. Is now a resident of Livermore, and leads a life of single blessedness.

FREDERICK ROSE .- Was born in Westphalia, Germany, May 19, 1826. Having resided with his parents until he attained the age of twenty-six years, our subject then sailed from Bremen for the United States, and arrived in New York in October, 1852. He afterward engaged in the grocery business in that city for five years, and in April, 1858, sailed by way of Panama for the Pacific Coast, arriving in San Francisco in the following month of May, with his brother Charles Rose. After working in a brewery for nine months, he returned to the Eastern States on business, but in the short space of twenty days, his face was once more turned towards California. On arrival he stayed for a little time in San Francisco, when he left and commenced teaming from Sacramento across the Sierra Nevada to Virginia City, and was the first to bring a load of freight to the town of Austin, Nevada. This occupation Mr. Rose followed for about four years, when he came to Alameda County, first located on the place now owned by Hon. Daniel Inman, but, November 1, 1866, settled on his pres- ent valuable property of one hundred and sixty acres, situated two miles and a half northeast from Livermore, where he is engaged in general farming and fruit-raising. Mr. Rose married in Livermore, Alameda County, California, Miss Amy Lindermann, a native of Holstein, Germany, and has eight children, viz .: Frederick C., William, Amy, John, Rudolph, August, Albert, and George W.

J. A. ROSE .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Pico, Azores Islands, in the month of May, 1850. At the age of thirteen years, becoming very anxious to make the Golden State his abodc, he determined to leave not a stone unturned to gain this end, but at the very outset he was faced with a difficulty that would have deterred a less stanch heart. By the laws of Portugal no youth of thirteen years was permitted to leave the country or its dependencies. To get to California, however, Mr. Rose was determined; therefore he resorted to strategy to effect his purpose. At that time he had an uncle leaving for the United States, and him he determined to accompany, therefore, in spite of the existing enactment, he resolved to conceal himself on board of the vessel, when on board ostensibly to bid farewell to his relative, and not to make his appearance until well out to sea and beyond the reach of Government inspectors. This he was successful in accomplish- ing, and after a voyage of seventeen days, landed in Boston, Massachusetts, in June, 1864. Twelve days thereafter he sailed for California, arriving in San Francisco in August of the same year. First settling in Brooklyn Township, Alameda County, he there worked on a farm for two years, after which he moved to the Moraga Valley, Contra Costa County, and there took contracts to supply the mills with wood. In the fall of 1868 he moved to Haywards Canon, where he had a number of men employed in cutting wood and teaming, for the above purpose. In 1871 he trans- ferred his residence to Murray Township, purchased from Mrs. La Grange her ranch, consisting of two hundred and fifty-seven acres, and subsequently contracted to furnish the Central Pacific Railroad Company with wood, he having as many as two hundred and fifty men engaged in procuring it. In September, 1874, he espoused Miss Josephine, daughter of Augustin Bernal, who departed this life in October, 1875, leaving an infant daughter, who died in April, 1876. In 1875 Mr. Rose purchased from Guada- lupe Bernal a ranch comprising five hundred and thirty-five acres, situated about one mile east from Pleasanton, which, in 1881, he subdivided into sixteen tracts for vine- yard purposes, many of which have been sold and planted in grapes and other fruits, he still possessing three hundred and fifty acres of it, one hundred and fifty acres being under grapes put in by himself in the spring of 1882. In June, 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Sallie N. Mark, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Dr. I. N. Mark, of Pleasanton, whose portrait and biographical sketch are in this volumc. In

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1878 our subject purchased the property then called the " Pleasanton Hotel," which in 1880 he rebuilt, changed its name to the "Rose Hotel," and made it one of the finest hostelries in the State. Mr. Rose also owns seven hundred and fifty acres of the Bolsa Rancho, famous as having the richest and most prolific soil in the county. Thus it is that small beginnings backed by honesty, always develop into great end- ings. Still young and more than ordinarily energetic, Mr. Rose has a long life of much usefulness before him.

LASERY ROSENBERG .- Was born in Prussia, February, 1846, and is the son of Morris and Lena (Copenhagen) Rosenberg. When but two years of age he was taken by his parents to the United States, and resided in New York until 1856, when they moved to California and located in Oakland. Our subject now attended the Collegiate Institute of the late Rev. H. Durant until the year 1860, meanwhile resid- ing with his uncle, Samuel Hirshberg, his father being at Iowa Hill, Placer County. In 1870 Mr. Rosenberg moved to San Francisco, attended the High School there until 1863, and then proceeding to Iowa Hill, there embarked in a general mercantile business. Remaining there until his establishment was destroyed by fire on August 31, 1870, he then returned to Oakland, and purchasing the cigar and tobacco store of Walter Smith at the corner of Seventh Street and Broadway, has since continued operations in that branch of trade. In January, 1878, he opened his present stand at No. 909 Broadway, Oakland. Married June 10, 1879, Miss Sara Wolff of San Fran- cisco, and has two children, viz .: Herbert M. and Gladys.

MORRIS ROSENBERG .- Born in Prussia, May 1, 1817. At the age of twelve he was apprenticed to the tailor's trade, and followed it until 1848, when he emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City, where he worked at his calling until 1852, in which year he came to California by way of the Isthmus. After a delay of seven weeks in Panama, and a voyage of four months' duration, he landed in San Francisco and commenced working at his trade. Two years and a half thereafter our subject moved to Placer County and opened a general mercantile establishment at Iowa Hill, where he remained until the destruction of his premises by fire on August 31, 1870. He then settled in Oakland, where he has since resided. Mr. Rosenberg came of a long-lived stock. His maternal grandfather died at the age of one hundred and fourteen years; one of his aunts lived to be one hundred and two years old; an uncle was ninety-seven years and six months when he died, and his mother was called away from earth at the ripe age of ninety-five years and five months. Mr. Rosenberg married in 1841, Miss Lena Copenhagen, and has five surviving children, viz .: Jacob, Lasery, Charles, Theresa, and Tilla.

EDWARD ROSS .- Was born in Rhode Island, near the Connecticut line, June 26, 1822, and there resided until he attained the age of twenty-two years, when he commenced to learn the carpenter and mill-wright's trade, working at it there until starting for California. On May 20, 1852, he sailed from New York in the steamer Prometheus, and arrived in San Francisco June 25, 1852, ex steamer Pacific. He then came to Alameda County, and settling at Mowry's Landing, there resided until January, 1854, when he went to the southern mines for about eighteen months, subse- quently returning to this section of the country and purchasing his present farm, com- prising thirty-eight acres, situated a mile and a half from Newark. To Mr. Ross is due the honor of having built the first schooner in Washington Township, the V. Alviso, in 1868. Is a member of the Pioneer Association of Washington, Eden, and Murray Townships. Married, April 26, 1860, Miss Esthey A. Comstock, a native of New York State.

JOEL RUSSELL .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of James and Dolly Russell, and was born July 16, 1822, in Waterford, Oxford County, Maine, where he resided until he attained the age of seventeen years. Mr. Russell then began the battle of life; going to Medford, Massachusetts, he alter- nated his time between his service as a clerk in the drug store of Luther Anger in

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that place and the pursuit of his studies at Bethel Academy, in his native county, where he finally graduated with a gilt-edged diploma as a teacher. On October 30, 1849, in company with a few intimate friends, among whom was his especial friend and shipmate, W. H. Stearns, now one of the successful and long-established business men of San Francisco. He sailed in the ship Henry Ware, Captain Noah Nason, from Boston via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco March 13, 1850. Soon there- after he proceeded to Stockton, where for a short time he engaged in contracting and building. There he met Captain Charles Weber, whose acquaintance he favorably made, which resulted in his receiving a deed for one hundred and sixty acres of farm land near Stockton, upon which, during the winter of 1850-51, he built a house and made the necessary preparations to cultivate the land, but owing to a failure of the early rains he abandoned his farming project, sold out and went to the Northern mines, where he spent one year, the history of which would be filled with startling encounters with Indians and other events incident to the life of the early miner; having traversed the mountain ranges from Humboldt Bay to the Columbia River, he returned to San Francisco in February, 1852. Finding himself in that "flat broke" condition then so common among the honest miners, he turned his thoughts toward the generous soil as he looked eastward across the bay, and he finally embarked on board a small sloop from which he landed the next morning at what has since been known as Mayhew's Landing, with his last cent having been expended in the payment of his fare. Near Centreville in what is now Alameda County, by dint of persever- ance and personal application to hard work, he managed to procure sufficient means to enable him to rent land and embark in the farming business. In January, 1853, he settled as a squatter on what proved to be a portion of the Soto Rancho. In 1856 the title of this rancho having been confirmed to the claimants, he bought the title of one of the heirs, it being one-seventh of the ranch, which he divided up with his fellow-squatters, reserving sufficient to protect his own possessions, since which time Mr. Russell has been considered among the larger land-owners of Alameda County. During the year 1854, Mr. Russell was elected a Justice of the Peace for Eden Township, and served one term on the bench as an Associate in the Court of Sessions with Judge Crane then County Judge. His attention having been thus called somewhat to the law, he afterward made application, was examined, and admitted to the practice of law in the Courts of Alameda County. Politically, Mr. Russell was an enthusiastic Republican at the formation of the Republican Party, having cast his first vote for President for the Liberty Party candidate, James G. Birney, and in 1852 at Centreville precinct, adhering to his principles, he nominated his own electors and cast the one vote of his county for John P. Hale of New Hampshire, the free soil candidate for the presidency. He faithfully remained a Republican until the prime object of the party had been accomplished in the overthrow of that national evil, slavery. More recently he has placed his political influence in opposi- tion to what he deems the greater national evil, intemperance and the liquor traffic, and is therefore a pronounced Prohibitionist. Mr. Russell is a man distinguished for personal qualities of a high order, commanding the highest respect of those who know him best. He married, August 3, 1856, Miss C. M. Bartlett. Their children are: Maud F., Thomas B., and Frederick James.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 139

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