History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 144

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 144

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HON. GEORGE EDWIN WHITNEY .- Was born at Phillips, Franklin County, Maine, on the 19th day of September, 1836. His ancestors were English, and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1632. From this source, it is believed, has sprung most of those bearing the family name in the United States. His father was George W. Whitney, a man well known in his county for his intelligence, integ- rity, and public spirit. He held many minor positions of trust in the township gov- ernment, and also was elected County Clerk in 1848, as a Frecsoiler, in a county that had always been Democratic. After the expiration of his term he continued to reside

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in Farmington, the county seat, engaged in mercantile business, until his death, in 1866 His wife, who still survives (1883), was the daughter of Capt. Peter Haines, a sterling pioneer of Livermore, Maine, the companion and neighbor of the Washburns, since distinguished in American affairs. The subject of the present sketch pursued his preparatory studies at Farmington Academy, and his collegiate course at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut (class of 1857). His mother desired to make him a Methodist preacher, to which denomination both his parents were staunch adherents; but, although always respecting the teachings and sincerity of this powerful body, he never could be brought into the fold of its communion. Having in his junior years chosen to attend the Protestant Episcopal Church, with which he has ever since been identified, a free scholarship conferred by the Maine Conference out of respect for his parents, and intended to be reserved for candidates for the min- istry, was, on the recommendation of the faculty of the college, transferred from him to another more likely to devote his talents to the holy calling. After graduation he passed one year as assistant librarian of the Free Library of Boston, and one year as local reporter on the Boston Courier, after which he returned to Maine, and read law in the office of Hon. Robert Goodenow, at Farmington. He had already seen too much of the world to be content to settle in a quiet country town, and as soon as he was admitted to the bar he left for California, in May, 1861. The Civil War had then just commenced, but its extent was not foreseen. In April an application had been made to Governor Washburn on behalf of the patriotic young men of Franklin County, Maine, to furnish a company for the war. Of the seventy-five thousand vol- unteers called out by President Lincoln, two regiments were assigned to Maine; but Governor Washburn, willing to show the loyalty of his native State, had authorized the formation of ten regiments, eight to be held in reserve. This was at a time when the lumbermen were returning in the spring from the logging-camps; they eagerly embraced the opportunity, and immediately filled the regiments, so that when the application made on behalf of Whitney and others to furnish a company was received there was no longer any opening in this direction. Under these circumstances it was, upon consultation with his friends, determined that there existed no reason for deferring his departure for California. He left New York May 21, 1861, on the North Star, and arrived in San Francisco June 13th on the steamer Sonora. After visiting several interior towns, he returned to San Francisco and entered the law office of Hon. Edward Tompkins (Tompkins & Compton), with whom he remained until near the close of the year, when he commenced the practice of his profession on his own account. In 1862, while law partner with C. H. Parker, under whose name the work was done, Mr. Whitney employed much time in annotating " Bancroft's Practice Act," the first work upon the Code of Civil Procedure published in this State. The final revision was almost wholly done by him. In 1865, believing himself sufficiently established to justify the step, he married Miss Mary L. Swearingen, formerly of St. Louis, Missouri, but then residing in San Francisco with her mother and her sister, the wife of Justice Stephen J. Field. In 1867, upon the nomination for Governor of Hon. George C. Gorham, who for some time had held the office of Clerk of the United States Courts for the District of California, that position being considered an important and lucrative one, was urged upon Mr. Whitney. Apprehensions for his health, affected by close application to a business becoming important, induced him to make a choice which, under other circumstances, would have been unwise, involving, as it did, withdrawal for a time from the law, at a point in a professional career attained only after years of labor, and which, if once relinquished, is even more diffi- cult to regain. In the Clerk's office there was plenty of work, if of a different kind. In it were collected the records and papers of the United States Circuit Court, those of the late Southern and Northern District Courts, and all the records from the Land Commission to ascertain and settle the Mexican land grants throughout the State. These had been kept by different clerks through a series of years, at different places,

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

and according to their various notions, and 'were in a state little different from one of confusion. These papers and records were all carefully scrutinized, arranged, and systematized, so as to be easily traced and found. The system then adopted has ever since been continued, both in the Circuit and District Courts. At the end of 1869 the new Circuit Courts had been organized, the clerks' offices of the Circuit and Dis- trict Courts separated, and the appointment vested in different judges. Upon his retirement from office in 1870, Mr. Whitney spent one year in travel through the United States, Canada, and Europe, returning to California in 1871. Becoming impatient at the difficulty of rebuilding a practice in San Francisco, he went to Salt Lake City, which was then about entering upon a period of great prosperity on account of the mineral discoveries then being made in Utah Territory. He remained there, in an important and lucrative business, until the speculative period had passed. Desiring to give his growing family better advantages than were attainable at that place, he returned to Oakland, where he has remained ever since, in the practice of his profession. While residing in Salt Lake City, he was a careful observer of the enormities, both political and moral, practiced by the Mormons, under the cloak of religion. In 1874 he prepared a bill intended to meet some of the most pressing evils. It was introduced by Hon. Luke Poland, of Vermont, and is usually known as the "Poland Bill." Although subjected to some hostile amendments, it became a law at that session, and was the first practical remedial measure to be passed by Congress. Some of the features embodied in the more recent Legislation were also suggested by him, especially the provision of lodging all matters pertaining to elec- tions in a Commission appointed by the President. Mr. Whitney has always been a Republican, and has taken an active interest in political affairs. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Republican County Committee of Alameda County, in the Garfield campaign, when the county gave a majority of two thousand for the Republican electoral ticket. In 1882 he was elected to the State Senate from Alameda County, and served in that capacity in the Twenty-fifth Session of the Leg- islature. While the Legislature has too recently adjourned to speak particularly of the work of its members, it is not too much to say that Mr. Whitney was recognized by his colleagues of both parties as a careful and safe Legislator, whose voice and opinions always commanded attention and respect. Among the measures introduced by him were the following: An Act to provide for the separate custody of insane criminals; an Act on irrigation and water rights; an Act for the prevention of gam- bling by public officials and persons holding fiduciary positions; an Act to secure a representation of the industries and resources of California, at the International Expo- sition at Amsterdam; an Act providing for the support of aged persons in indigent circumstances.

EDWARD WIARD .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, March 10, 1815, there received his education, and resided until 1835, in which year he proceeded to Georgia and engaged in steam- boating on the different rivers in that State, as engineer, until 1850. He then came to California, by way of Panama, arriving in San Francisco in the month of August of that year, but shortly thereafter proceeded to the mines in Mariposa County, where he remained three years. At the end of that time Mr. Wiard commenced mining on his own account, at which he continued until September, 1859, when, coming to Ala- meda County, he bought the place where he now resides, at the Oakland Trotting

Park. The one hundred and fifty acres he then purchased, all of which he still owns, has located upon it the famous resort called Shell Mound Park, as well as the Oakland Trotting Park; while the principal portion of his property is laid out in gardens and rented, the picnic-grounds being leased to Captain L. Siebe, the "track" being under his own personal superintendence. Married in San Francisco, July 10, 1867, Mrs. Mary Jane Colcord, a native of Maine, and has one child, named George Edward Wiard.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

MOSES WICKS .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Rising Sun, Dearborn County, Indiana, August 28, 1819, and is the son of Zephonia and Catharine (Hetfield) Wicks. When eight years of age he went to Long Island, there learned the blacksmith's trade, and resided until the year 1840, after which he worked as a journeyman until sailing for California. Leaving New York in the fall of 1848, he took passage around the Horn, and arrived in San Fran- cisco, after a tedious voyage of over nine months. Accompanied by Messrs. Mulford and Smith, both residents of Alameda County at the present time, he crossed the bay to what was then known as the Contra Costa shore, and commenced killing game for the San Francisco market, until April 1, 1850, when he proceeded to the mines, but only remaining some eight months, returned to his former occupation of killing wild- fowl on the shores of the San Francisco Bay. In 1852 he settled permanently in Alameda County, and in 1853, in partnership with Mr. Mulford, embarked in farming operations, which were continued for fifteen years, when, selling his interest, he retired from active participation in business affairs, and is now enjoying the comforts of a well-spent life. Married in 1845, Miss Catharine Terry, and has one surviving child, Jane A., now Mrs. Morgan.

JOHN P. WONDERLICH .- Was born in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylva- nia, November 5, 1830, where he was educated and resided until the year 1850, when he came to California via Panama, arriving in San Francisco in April. Soon there- after he went to Coloma, El Dorado County, there engaged in mining until the fall of the year, when he bought an interest in a steam saw-mill-the first steam power introduced into that county. It was located at White Oak Springs. This enterprise he conducted at that place until 1851, when it was transferred to Spanish Dry Dig- gings, where it was operated until 1859. Mr. Wonderlich now turned his attention to farming, at the same place, an occupation he followed until 1862, when he opened the Pennsylvania House, on the Carson Road, about twenty miles above Placerville. There he remained until 1865, when he moved into Placerville, and commenced a truck and teaming business, which he carried on until 1876, when he came to Alameda County and embarked in a saloon, which, however, he abandoned in 1877, and pur- chased the Newport Baths in Alameda, a history of which appears in this work. Married, October 14, 1852, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Miss M. B. Gould, a native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and has five children, viz .: Katie (now married to J. B. Bran- don), Ella M., Samuel G., Byron W., and Jessie P.

THOMAS S. WOODS .- Was born in Lewis County, Missouri, in August, 1854, on the farm of Latney Woods. At three years of age he was taken to Russia by Tom Colwell, with whom he resided until he became nineteen years of age, being chiefly employed in tobacco-raising. In 1872 he went to Galveston, Texas, with Joseph Colwell, and remained a year, engaged in attending to his horses after their purchase. Thence he proceeded to Salt Lake City, and two months afterwards started to Cali- fornia by railroad, where he arrived in 1873. Finding employment with Mr. Spates in Yolo County for a time, he subsequently was engaged in herding sheep for Mr. Culvertson. After this he spent a year in Sacramento, and then came to Oakland, worked for Mr. Sawyer, thereafter five years for Joseph Alexander, and then took up one hundred and sixty acres of good land on the line dividing Contra Costa from Alameda County, where he is making many improvements. Unmarried.

GIDEON WOODWARD .- Was born in Windsor County, Vermont, November 22, 1880, and is the son of Erastus and Sarah (Gilson) Woodward. Here he resided until the year 1842, during which time he fitted himself for a course in Dartmouth College, but did not proceed to that seat of learning. In the last-mentioned year he moved to Pike County, Illinois, and there commenced teaching school, but at the end of a few months he embarked in a general trading business, which he continued one year. In the fall of 1848 he moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where he became tutor in the family of Doctor Ogden. During the two years he was with this family, Mr.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Woodward commenced the study of medicine under Doctor Davis. Two years there- after he entered Dartmouth College, where he attended a course of medical lectures, which he continued in New Orleans on his moving thither in 1845; thence he pro- ceeded to Terre Bonne Parish, in the south of Louisiana, where he farther prosecuted his medical studies, finally graduating in New Orleans in the fall of 1847. Returning now to Terre Bonne Parish, he there practiced his profession until the month of December, 1848, when he came to California via Panama, where he remained ninety days, and thence in the ship Humboldt, anchoring in the harbor of San Francisco after a tedious passage of one hundred and two days. Mr. Woodward at once pro- ceeded to Sacramento, whence he went to the north fork of the Yuba River, and there mined until the winter of 1849-50, when he returned to Sacramento, and in the spring removed to Volcano Bar, and Sandy Bar, with James W. Shanklin. In the fall of 1850 he was joined by his brother Erastus Woodward, when they embarked in a general trading business, and gold-dust exchange, which they found very profitable. In the fall of 1852 our subject removed to San Francisco, where he engaged in the flour and grain trade for a year and a half. From here he transferred the scene of his operations in 1854 to Marysville, Yuba County, and there conducted an hotel until the year 1861. Now, having accumulated several thousand dollars, Mr. Woodward returned to the Bay City, and in the spring of 1861 returned to the Eastern States for the purpose of visiting his father and mother. The fall of 1861 saw him once more in the Golden State, located in the Santa Clara Valley, and interested in the Bank of Gilroy, Hollister, and Salinas. In 1875 he removed to the city of Oakland, Alameda County, where he now resides, having earned the comforts of a well-spent life. Married, December 28, 1853, Bertha Dufficy, who died October 2, 1882, by whom he had a family of eight children, viz .: Sarah T. (now Mrs. O'Brien), George, (now in Mexico), John A. (a resident of Marysville), Alice M., Michael E., Jennie L., Josephine, and Bertha.

JOHN WOOLLEY .- This well-known resident of Berkeley is a native of Cheshire, England, born February 25, 1827, and resided until twenty years of age, in the mean- time learning the trade of boiler-maker. In 1847 he emigrated to America, locating in Philadelphia, where he found employment at his trade until January 14, 1852, when he concluded to seek his fortune in the Golden State, arriving in San Francisco on the 16th of the following June. Mr. Woolley first found employment in Sacramento, and afterwards in San Francisco, until the Centennial year, when he came to Oakland, and in 1880 established his present business. Married in 1860 to Miss Mary J. Mellon.

J. B. WYMAN .- Business manager of the Oakland Times, was born at Olmsted, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, June 12, 1841. Was educated at Baldwin University, Berea, Ohio. He went to Chicago in the spring of 1859, and from that time down to 1877 he was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Chicago, Kansas, and Texas. He came to Oakland in October, 1877, purchased the Oakland Transcript, January 8, 1878, had the name changed to the Oakland Daily Times, which under his able management has gradually grown in importance, until it now fills the first place in the journalism of Alameda County.

WATKIN WILLIAM WYNN .- Was born in the west of England, August 27, 1827. At the age of twenty-three years he emigrated to the United States; first settled in Ohio, and resided in the town of Pomeroy, Meigs County, in that State. Engaged in the grocery business until he started for California. On April 9, 1852, he turned westward, to Independence, Missouri, where, joining a train, he crossed the plains, and after many hair-breadth escapes, arrived at Yreka, September 21st of the same year. His first three years' residence in this State were passed in the mines ; he afterwards embarked in the cattle trade, proceeding to Oregon to purchase beeves, and driving them into California. In 1859 he drove a band of steers through the Livermore Valley to Haywards, and settling on the place now owned by David

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Thomas, better known as the Boomer Ranch, there resided until 1866. In that year he disposed of his property, and took up his residence in Livermore Valley, leasing land for which he paid a sum total of $30,000. In 1881 Mr. Wynn purchased his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres, situated five miles east of the town of Livermore, where he is engaged in general farming. He never married.

JOHN YULE .- Was born in Yorkshire, England, November 30, 1845. At a very early age his parents removed to Jo Daviess County, in the northern part of Illinois, where our subject grew up, attending the common schools of the district for two or three months each winter. In the spring of 1862, in company with several of his early acquaintances, Mr. Yule left his father's house, intending to try his fortune in gold mining in Cariboo in British America. Arriving in San Francisco, however, the news from Cariboo was so discouraging that the party separated, some returning home, some going to Washoe, Nevada, and others to Nevada County, in this State. Mr. Yule joined the party going to Nevada County, where a few days after his arrival he obtained work with Messrs. Gregory & Borines, who then owned a large saw-mill among the timber lands, between Nevada City and Red Dog, in Nevada County, where he continued to work until the mill was shut down for the season. The follow- ing winter he obtained employment in the mines at Red Dog, working for the Mallery Brothers at that place, where he continued to work until the following spring, when he transferred the scene of his operations to Plumas County; there he followed min- ing for several years, meeting with the ups and downs, but principally the downs, and the kindred experiences of a miner's life. Having saved some money, however, and feeling the need of a better education than he then possessed, in the year 1864 he entered the University of the Pacific, at Santa Clara. After spending some eighteen months in the University he again returned to Plumas County, and engaged in min- ing. In the fall of 1867 he came to Alameda County, where he engaged in teaching. In the following year he was elected Principal of the Grammar School at Haywards, which position he held four years, resigning the same to accept the position of Deputy County Clerk, under J. V. B. Goodrich, which position he likewise held under Charles G. Reed. While acting as Deputy County Clerk he began reading law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. In the fall of that year he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace of Oakland Township, for a term of two years. In 1880 he was elected Police Judge of the city of Oakland; and in the spring of 1882 Mr. Yule was elected City Attorney of Oakland, which office he now holds. Married Miss Sarah S. Beach, a sister of Capt. C. W. Beach, of San Francisco, in 1882.

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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

ADDENDA.

The following biographical sketches were received too late for insertion in their proper places :-

EDSON ADAMS .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this history, was born in Fairfield County, in the State of Connecticut, on the 18th day of May, 1824. He is a descendant, on the paternal side, of Edward Adams, who settled in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1640, and on the maternal side, of Edward Nash, who settled in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 1654, these ancestors being among the pio- neers of New England. At an early age Mr. Adams engaged in trade, and continued therein until he sailed for California in January, 1849, arriving at San Francisco in July of the same year. In the following September he went to the mines, returned to San Francisco in March, 1850, and proceeded to examine the country around the bay of San Francisco for a suitable point at which to lay out and establish a town; and finally, on the 16th day of May, 1850, he located permanently at a point now known as the foot of Broadway, Oakland. The place was a wilderness, no inhab- itants being then on the Encinal of Temescal, afterwards known as the town of Oakland. Here he located one hundred and sixty acres, then supposed to be public domain. His location lay on either side of the present Broadway, and extended from the Estuary of San Antonio northerly to about where Fourteenth Street now runs. Afterwards Andrew Moon located one hundred and sixty acres on the west, and later came H. W. Carpentier, who located one hundred and sixty acres on the east of Mr. Adams. Others soon followed and located, until the whole coun- try around was occupied by settlers, and so remained in their exclusive possession for years, with a few isolated exceptions. These early settlers of Oakland and vicinity, as a class, were young, intelligent, and energetic. In the latter part of 1851, Mr. Adams, with Carpentier and Moon, employed Julius Kellersberger and others to sur- vey, lay out, and set the stakes, and make maps and plats (which included the three locations above named) of the town of Oakland. Mr. Adams was elected to fill various offices, and served to the satisfaction of the then residents of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. A few of these enterprising young men determined on founding a town, possibly a city, and time has proved the wisdom of their foresight, notwithstanding the disadvantages experienced by them during the first few years, on account of the few families then in California, as most of those who came here were either single, or had left their families behind them. The inducements at that time to follow trade and mining, also prevented many who otherwise would have located in Oakland from doing so. The want of proper ferry communications between Oakland and San Francisco was a great drawback to the building up of the town. By great exertions, steamboat owners were induced to make occasional excursions from San Francisco to the proposed town, then called Contra Costa. At last a company was induced to establish ferry communication, at least a round trip a day. The fare at first was a dollar each way, but it was soon reduced to fifty cents each way, with the chances of being detained, by foggy weather, five or six hours on a trip. Mr. Adams has been, and now is, engaged in various enterprises on the Pacific Coast. On May 3, 1855, he was married to Miss Hannah J. Jayne, their issue being Julia P., Edson F, and John C. Adams. Mr. Adams still resides in Oak- land, surrounded by his family.

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RAWDON ARNOLD, M. D .- Was born in Romeo, Michigan, July 4, 1830, and is descended from the good old Puritan stock, his parents being both the offspring of English people, whose genealogy is traced to the days of long ago. Having received his preliminary education in the Armada High School, and the Michigan Normal School, he subsequently, in 1857, graduated from the Medical College of St. Louis, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in the State of Missouri. In 1864 he embraced Homeopathy, and has since devoted himself to it, without once regretting the change from Allopathy. In 1871 he came to California, and after practicing with much success in Marysville, in 1877, moved to Oregon, located in Portland, and was in practice there till October, 1881, in which year he returned to California, and settled in Brooklyn, Alameda County. In 1882 Dr. Arnold returned to the East, attended a course of lectures at the Kansas City Hospital Medical Col- lege, and in February, 1883, returned to Oakland, and opened his present office at No. 1068 Broadway, making a specialty of nervous diseases. On the breaking out of the war Dr. Arnold was a resident of Missouri. He lost at the time all his property and had to begin life again with nothing. He entered the army, and followed the fortunes of the Federal forces till the close of hostilities. He has been twice married. Firstly, in 1859; and, secondly, in 1870, to Miss Martha A., daughter of Charles Fergusson, of Mexico, Missouri, and has four children, viz .: Edwin M., Charles A., Leona A., Nellie Custer.

SOLOMON M. BABBITT .- Was born in Austinburgh, Ashtabula County, Ohio, August 7, 1824, and is the son of David and Eunice (Curtis) Babbitt. Having been taken by his parents to Saybrook, in the same county, he there resided until 1837, in the spring of which year he accompanied his parents to Naperville, Du Page County, Illinois, where he lost his mother, after whose death he concluded to come to Cali- fornia. Traveling by way of the plains he reached Hangtown, where he engaged in mining for a year, then returned to Illinois, purchased his father's farm and that adjoining, which renting he established himself in business in Algonquin, McHenry County, in the same State, and during the Rebellion served as United States Marshal there. He now added the lumber trade to his other affairs, and followed it until 1869, when he moved to Elgin, Kane County; but in November, 1874, once more came to California, bringing his wife and family with him. Locating in Oakland, he estab- lished himself as a wholesale commission merchant, and is now the senior partner in the firm of Babbitt, Manuel & Gilpin, at No. 471 Eleventh Street. Mr. Babbitt was elected to the City Council of Oakland for the Second Ward, in March, 1883. Married, in Naperville, Miss Lucinda Balch, and has two children, viz .: Mary (now Mrs. Z. T. Gilpin), and Hattie.

SAMUEL K. HASSINGER .- Was born in Newark, New Castle County, Delaware, April 27, 1826, where he resided until he reached the age of twenty-two years, his boy- hood having been passed on his father's farm. He then learned the carpenter's trade and followed it until 1849. In the month of March of that year he emigrated with his wife and family to Marion County, Missouri, where, working at his trade, and farm- ing, he resided three years. In April, 1852, accompanied by his wife, he started with ox-teams across the plains to California, arriving at Stockton six months afterwards. Here Mr. Hassinger located for about three years and a half, subsequently removing to where now is the town of Copperopolis, and there engaged in mining for about a year, at the end of which he transferred the field of his operations to Knight's Ferry, there mining also. While a resident of this place, in 1857, he held the office of Justice of the Peace, being afterwards Deputy Sheriff. In 1862 he left the place for San Francisco, and followed his trade until 1867, when he came to Oakland, where he now resides. Mr. Hassinger has filled the office of Deputy Township Assessor under the administrations of Messrs. Whetcher and Robinson, and in October, 1881, was elected to the position of Sanitary Inspector of the Health Office, which he held for eighteen months. His present residence, No. 611 Seventeenth Street, he built in 1872.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 144

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