USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 58
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JOSIAH R. BAKER .- The subject of this sketch was born in Salt Lake city, Utah, April 20, 1853. When quite young he moved to Ogden, and was there educated in the common schools of that city, where he was afterwards employed as telegraph-operator for the Utah Central Railroad. October 1, 1870, he started on horse-back, driving a drove of cattle, to cross the mountains to California, and first located on Sherman Island, in Sacramento county, where he resided about one year, and then moved to this county, located in Antioch, and was employed as telegraph-operator and post-office clerk, a position which he held until April 11, 1878, when he was appointed postmaster at Antioch, a position which he now holds, and is also agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., and manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Was united in marriage April 15, 1879, to Miss Alice E. Wills, a native of Illinois ; by this union they have one child, Ina E.
ROBERT O. BALDWIN .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait it affords us much pleasure to produce in this history, is one of the earliest as well as one of the most prominent settlers of the beautiful San Ramon valley. He is a native of Eastern Ohio, and was born March 30, 1828. When but a child his parents moved to Summit county, same State, where our subject received a common school education, and resided on his father's farm until 1850. When in his twenty-second year he left his home to seek his fortune in the Golden West. On March 18th of that year, he, with a brother (now deceased), and six companions, started with mule-teams to cross the plains and mountains to the "land of promise"-California. When they arrived at North Platte they found that their progress was not as fast as they wished, and that their teams were failing and their provis- ions running short. They concluded that they had better abandon their wagons, and pack in order to hasten through. Halting for one day, they hastily constructed some pack-saddles with the harness and such things as they had on hand. Provided with two mules each, they resumed their journey, going by the way of Salt Lake, expecting there to obtain what provisions they were in need of. Much to their disappointment on arri. ving at Salt Lake they found that they could not buy any groceries nor flour, (harvest not having set in,) but they were fortunate enough to ex- change some tea and sugar for a little corn-meal. With what they had they resumed their wearisome journey, and in order that their provisions might last until they could obtain more, each and every man was rationed -receiving a small portion every day. Yet they were all very cheerful and looked forward for better times. This way of living continued about three weeks, at the end of which time their appetites were pretty well sharpened. They arrived at the Sink of the Humboldt river, all well.
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Before crossing the much dreaded desert of forty miles, they sat down and ate the last of their provisions, and filling their canteens with water, started about four o'clock in the afternoon. There was no fear of mis- taking the road, for it was lined with abandoned wagons, and dead ani- mals were strewn about. They traveled all night, and arrived at Carson river about eight o'clock in the morning. There they met the first team with provisions from California, and not having had any food since they started across the desert, they were compelled to purchase some, notwith- standing that everything was sold at two dollars per pound. They did not buy more than for their immediate use, for as they came nearer to their journey's end, provisions got cheaper. Having crossed the mount- ains, they arrived at Hangtown, (now Placerville,) July 28, 1850. Here Mr. Baldwin embarked in mining for the Winter, and in the following Spring he removed to the North Fork of the Feather river, and there prosecuted mining until the Fall of 1852, when he came to Contra Costa county to visit some friends who were living in San Ramon valley. Im- pressed with the beauties of the valley and the surrounding country, Mr. Baldwin concluded to make it his future home, and in partnership with Wm. Meese (at present his next neighbor, and one of his companions across the plains), purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, which they followed until the year 1855, when they divided their ranch, each taking one hundred and sixty acres, our subject choosing the place where he now resides. He has since added to his estate, until he possesses one of the finest farms in the county, consisting of nine hundred acres, one and a half miles southeast of Danville, and on which well appointed farm he resides. Mr. Baldwin is now prepared to enjoy the comforts attending a well-spent and useful life, surrounded by his interesting family, and having the confidence and esteem of the citizens of the county in which he lives. He was united in marriage in San Ramon valley, March 25, 1858, to Miss Mary Cox, a na- tive of Indiana, by whom he has six children. Their names are May M., now Mrs. Dr. W. E. Hook, born May 1, 1859 ; Elmer H., born Sep- tember 6, 1861 ; Robert O., Jr., born April 20, 1865 ; Jennie C., born De- cember 30, 1866; Perry A., born August 14, 1869; and John F., born December 20, 1873. Mrs. R. O. Baldwin was born January 9, 1838.
MATHEW ROOT BARBER .- This old and respected pioneer of Contra Costa county, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, August 7, 1815. When two years of age he was taken by his parents to Bond county, Illinois, where they engaged in farming and stock-raising, but losing his father at an early age, he went to live in the family of Hon. Elam Brown of Lafayette, but then of Morgan county, Illinois. Here Mr. Barber attended the common schools and resided,
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until he attained the age of twenty-one years, when he started to face the world. In 1837 he took unto himself the faithful partner who still shares his home, and followed farming, together with wagon-making, his trade, until the ever memorable " days of '49." March 15th of that year he joined a train on the point of crossing the plains to the Land of Gold, which they reached after a weary journey of six months. The first place stopped at in California was Hangtown, now known by the less unpleas- ant name of Placerville, where they arrived in September. Here Mr. Barber betook himself to the mines for a spell, and afterwards engaged in the lumber trade in the redwoods, near San Antonio, then in Contra Costa county. While in the redwoods he wrote tickets for the first elec- tion of officers of Contra Costa county, which then consisted of the present Contra Costa and Alameda. After that he worked at the carpenter's trade, building several of the first houses in Martinez, some of them now standing. February 14, 1851, he sailed from San Francisco via Pan- ama and New Orleans, to Illinois, and after a sojourn of a year-this time with his wife and family-drove a band of stock across the plains into California, ultimately arriving at Martinez, August 22, 1852. In the Fall of 1852 he purchased his present beautiful location, then consisting of unbroken plain and hill, with no improvements, two miles from Mar- tinez, consisting of four hundred and forty-three acres, where he is en- gaged in general farming and fruit culture, his orchard and vineyard alone covering an extent of forty acres. Mr. Barber was elected to the office of Public Administrator for four successive terms, as will be gathered from our table of County Officers. He married in Pike county, Illinois, November 14, 1837, Orpha Bean, by whom he has had the following family : Maria B. (now Mrs. Lander), William H. (deceased), Daniel N. (deceased), Elam B., and Clara E. (now Mrs. Goodall).
BENJAMIN F. BEEBE .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait ap- pears in this work, was born in Frankfort, Herkimer county, New York, September 3, 1830, and there received a common school education and resided until fifteen years of age. When eighteen he served an ap- prenticeship at the wheelwright's trade in the town of Washington Mills, in which he continued four years. His next location was in the employ of James Gould & Co., in Albany ; here he remained eight years. After a short sojourn in Greene county, we next find him in the employ of the well-known firm of Amos Rogers & Co., machinists, Oneida county ; he remained with them until their failure in 1862. June 3, 1863, he started via Panama for California, arriving in San Francisco on the 29tlı of the same month. After a short stay in the metropolis he came to Contra Costa county, and first found employment in Pacheco, where he worked until 1865. He then engaged in farming, and November, 1868,
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bought his present homestead, one-fourth of a mile from Concord, where he built his pleasant residence, and, after a successful life, is now one of Contra Costa's most respected citizens. Was united in marriage in Walnut Creek, June 10, 1869, to Miss Fannie C. Kuble, a native of Buf- falo, N. Y. By this union they have one child living and one deceased. Bemjamin F., (now deceased) ; Carrie F., born February 8, 1872.
SEELEY JAMES BENNETT .- Is the son of Stephen R., and Susan (Gregory) Bennett, and was born in Delaware county, Ohio, October 9, 1833. Here he was educated and resided until 1854, during the time working on his father's farm. He then removed to Iowa and found em- ployment with the Western Stage Company, with whom he remained until February, 1859, when he concluded to settle in California. Pro- ceeding to New Orleans, he thence sailed via the Gulf of Mexico for the Golden State, where he arrived towards the last days of March. He came direct to Contra Costa county, and for the first year obtained em- ployment in different places until March 1, 1860, when he embarked in the livery business in Pacheco, and there remained until 1862, when he transferred his establishment to Martinez, at the same time purchasing his present property on Ferry street in that town, to which he has since considerably added, and on which he has erected one of the handsomest and most substantial buildings in the county. In 1861, Mr. Bennett started and operated the first stage line from Pacheco to the Mt. Diablo coal mines, and sold out when he went to Martinez. Afterwards he started a stage line from Martinez to the summit of Mt. Diablo, which he still continues. In Mrs. Bennett we have an esteemed lady, distinguished as a taxidermist. Her ornithological collection is one of the most beautiful we have seen, and when it is remembered that the birds are all native to the county, and that they have been placed and worked entirely by her own unaided skill, we have said but little to enlighten the reader in this regard. Mr. Bennett married in Martinez January 20, 1862, Miss Jane E. Hough, a native of Ohio, and has an only son, Stephen E., born July 3, 1864.
MATHIAS BERLINGEN .- Everybody in this county knows or has heard of the subject of this sketch, as he is known to be one of the most prosperous farmers in the county. A native of the Rhine province, Prussia, he was born January 18, 1830, and there received a common school education, and resided until 1861. He then emigrated to America, and first settled on a farm near Chicago, Illinois, where he remained some two years; and in the Fall of 1863, started, via New York and Panama, for the "golden shores" of the Pacific, arriving in San Francisco December 26th of the same year. His next move was to Solano county, where he worked on a farm for three years, and, in the Fall of 1867, came to this
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county, purchased his present valuable and well-improved farm of four hundred acres in the Point of Timber district, two miles north of Byron, and is now considered one of the most well-to-do as well as one of the most respected citizens of the community in which he lives. Mr. Berlin- gen was united in marriage in San Francisco January 29, 1874, to Else Katharina Schnoor, a native of Flensburg, Schleswig, Germany. He has one stepchild, Kate Schnoor, born September 16, 1867.
SIMON BLUM .- The reminiscences of the early pioneers and adventurers of the Pacific coast must ever possess a peculiar interest for the Cali- fornian. Green in their memory will ever remain the trials and incidents of early life in this land of golden promise. These pioneers form no ordinary class. Resolute, ambitious and enduring, looking into the great and possible future of this western slope, and possessing the sagacious mind to grasp true conclusions, and the indomitable will to execute just means to attain desired ends, these heroic pioneers, by their subsequent career, have proven that they were equal to the great mission assigned them-that of carrying the arts, institutions and real essence of American civilization from their homes in a remote country, and implanting them upon the shores of another hemisphere. Among the many who have shown their fitness for the important tasks assigned them, none merit this tribute to their characteristics and peculiar worth more fully than the subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in this work. Mr. Blum is a native of the northern portion of La Belle, France, where he was born May 22, 1834, and there received his education, and resided until he attained the age of sixteen years. In 1850 he sailed from Europe for the United States, and landing in New York, was there for two · years employed in a wholesale mercantile establishment. At the end of this term he sailed for California, proceeding in the steamer Uncle Sam to Aspinwall, and from the opposite side of the Isthmus in the Sierra Nevada to San Francisco, in which harbor he arrived February 20, 1853. Here he engaged in merchandizing, and thus continued until the Fall of the following year, 1854, when he transferred his locale to Contra Costa county, and purchasing the business of Captain Fogg in Martinez, there established himself. This emporium was successfully carried on until the Spring of 1856, when the establishment was consumed by fire, and left little remaining of their large stock of goods. But Mr. Blum's motto was, and still is, to be " up and doing." The smoldering ashes of their store had scarcely cooled, when a new and more imposing edifice rose, Phoenix-like, from its expiring embers. From the old ruin sprang pros- perity. As business increased, so came the necessity for more commodious premises-a want which culminated in the present elegant iron-front store of S. Blum & Brother. As an instance of what may be done when.
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the unswerving confidence of the public is gained, we may mention, casually, that the firm has sold, since 1877-the year of the erection of the present store-over one million dollars' worth of goods in retail alone. In the mart of S. Blum & Brother may be found anything and every- thing that may be required in a country of farmers-general merchan- dise, hardware, etc., while their stock of agricultural implements is as limitless as it is excellent. Our subject is also connected with the well- known grain firm of Fish & Blum, in Martinez, while he has also an extensive store in Susanville and Buntingville, Lassen county, California, doing business under the style of Blum & Alexandre. Thus have we outlined the history of a man of sterling worth, admired by all for his integrity, and loved by his fellow-citizens for his justness and goodness of heart. He married, in San Francisco, June, 1861, Leontine Alexandre, a native of France, by whom he has Myrthine, Albert, Edmund, Rosa and Hermine.
HENRY BLUME .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait we now produce, is the son of Frederick and Sophia (Twiste) Blume, and was born in Prussia, March 4, 1837. Here he resided until the year 1856, first being educated, and afterwards following the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Blume now emigrated to the United States, arrived in San Francisco August 4th of the above year, and first found employment in a hotel. At the end of seven months, owing to ill-health, he abandoned this vocation, but on recovery commenced gardening, which he followed until the Spring of 1857. He next re-entered a hotel, and finally, in 1859, came to Contra Costa county. Mr. Blume first settled near Pinole, but in 1862 sold out and moved to his present residence and farm, consisting of three hundred and fifty acres, where he is engaged in dairying and farming. Married, November 17, 1867, Frederika Gohuning, a native of Prussia, and has: . Henry A., born July 10, 1868; Frederick A., born April 15, 1870 ; William F., born April 2, 1872; Charles, born December 3, 1874 ; Albert F., born December 12, 1876.
JOSHUA BOLLINGER .- Born in Bollinger county, Missouri, June 1, 1810, where he resided until April, 1850, when he joined a company bound for the Golden State, and with ox-teams crossed the plains. On arriving in this State, he spent a short time in the mines, and then engaged in farm- ing on the Yount ranch, in Napa county. He afterwards, in different parts of the State, carried on the same vocation, until January, 1854, when he returned to Missouri, and with his family again came to Cali- fornia, first settling in the Santa Clara valley, where lie resided until 1855. In the Fall of that year he came to Contra Costa county, and lo- cated on the place now owned by his son Joseph, and known as Bollin- ger cañon. In 1866 he purchased his present farm of two hundred and
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eighty-three acres, and is now one of Contra Costa's prosperous farmers. Mr. Bollinger was twice married, both times in Bollinger county, Mis- souri. By his first union he had five children ; their names are: Elizabeth, Christopher, Adam, William and Joseph. Married the second time March 24, 1854, to Miss C. Luney. By this union they have seven children, as follows : George, Benjamin, Henry, Sarah, Mary, Arthur and Matilda.
JOHN W. BOYD .- Born in Southampton, England, March 22, 1826, where he received his education, learned the trade of blacksmithing, and resided until 1859. In that year he emigrated to Australia, but at the end of a year proceeded to the Society Islands where he sojourned six months ; he then came to California, located on San Pablo creek, and followed his trade there until 1873, when he established himself at Pinole, taking J. A. Fraser into partnership in 1875. Married November 5, 1867, to Catharine Rowley, a native of England.
JOSEPH BOYD .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this volume, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, June 22, 1822. At the age of twenty-three years he emigrated to the United States, first locating in New York, where he resided until June 24, 1850, when he took pas- sage on board the steamer Commodore Preble, for California, via the Straits of Magellan and Panama, arriving in San Francisco, February 15, 1851. His first employment in the Golden State was as a fireman, but afterwards reverted to his trade of baker, which he had acquired in New York, continuing in this under the style and firm of Edington, Boyd & Co., afterwards Boyd & Miller. In October, 1858, he came to Contra Costa county, purchased the property on which he now resides, comprising one hundred and twenty-eight acres, situated one mile south of San Pablo, and is now engaged in farming. He married in San Francisco, August 8, 1856, Miss Rosanna Hodge, a native of Antrim, Ireland, and has no issue. It is a pleasure to state that Mr. Boyd is much respected by his neighbors, a sure sign of his honesty, worth and integrity.
THOMAS W. BRADLEY .- This old pioneer, whose portrait it gives ns pleasure to present to our readers, is the son of Thomas and Edith (West) Bradley, and first saw the light in Sumner county, Tennessee, December 22, 1818. His youthful days were passed at the place of his birth until he reached nineteen years of age. His parents then moved west, and located in Jackson county, Missouri, where the subject of our sketch resided until May, 1843. He then, at the solicitation of two of the now resident pio- neers of Napa county, Colonel J. B. Chiles and Wm. Baldridge, was in- duced to join them to cross the trackless plains to the then almost un- known regions of the Pacific coast. On the 30th of the above month
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and year they started with mule teams, and after a long and weary jour- ney arrived at Fort Hall, when they secured the services of that old and famous guide and hunter, Captain Joel R. Walker, to pilot them through the mountains, arriving, after a trip of fifty-five days, at Sutter's Fort, November 10, 1843. Mr. Bradley immediately found employment at the Fort, and was one of the party who placed in position the alarm bell, which was afterwards rung every thirty minutes to denote "all's well !" Our subject remained at the Fort until March, 1844, when he proceeded to Napa county, and found employment on the Yount ranch, until March, 1845. He now took charge of Chiles' ranch, in Chiles' valley, in the latter named county, and at that time built the adobe house still standing in that well-known glen. Here this fearless pioneer dwelt in solitude, his only companion being his faithful watch-dog, with an occa- sional visit from his nearest neighbor, some twenty miles distant. Mr. Bradley's narrow escapes from the beasts of the forest, while living in his valley home, would alone be sufficient to fill a good-sized volume ! In 1846, on the breaking out of the Bear Flag War, Mr. Bradley enlisted in Captain Grigsby's company, and took part in all the demonstrations du- ring the contest for the independence of the Golden State. On the close of hostilities our subject once more repaired to Chiles' valley, where he continued to reside until 1849, when he was married, and in June of the same year, came to Contra Costa county, and to the redwoods, where he secured lumber, hauled it to Martinez, and, in company with others, put up a building, in which he kept a hotel in the Winter of 1849-50. In the Fall of 1850, we find Mr. Bradley located on a ranch between Mar- tinez and Lafayette, where he resided for ten years, and then removed to Lafayette and remained there until 1868. We next find him in Merced county, engaged in farming. In the Spring of 1871, Mr. Bradley again returned to his favorite county of Contra Costa, and to his present place, two miles above Lafayette, where this honored pioneer is now anchored, enjoying the comforts of a well-spent, honest life-beloved by his chil- dren, and respected by the whole community in which he lives. He was married in Chiles' valley, Napa county, on Christmas Eve, 1846, to Miss Rebecca Allen, a native of Missouri; by this union they have nine living children. Their names are : James Warren, John Willard, William T., Josiah, (now deceased), Henry, (deceased), Sofrina J., now Mrs. Eachus, Elizabeth, George A., Edith, Isaac W., and Annie Bell.
JOHN BRAWAND .- Born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, March, 1832, and there resided until nineteen years 'of age. He then left his native land and emigrated to the United States, and first located in St. Louis, Missouri. The next seven years were spent in that State, Iowa and Kansas. In October, 1857, he started from the latter State to cross the
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plains to California, arriving early in the Spring of 1858. He immediately proceeded to the Frazer river and there followed mining for two years. In the Fall of 1860, he returned to San Francisco, from whence he sailed for his native land to pay a visit to his old home. Sojourning but a few months, he again returned to the United States, and purchased a farm in Iowa, on which he resided but a short time, when he, at his adopted country's call, enlisted in the Spring of 1861, in Company "C," 16th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served for nearly three years, being discharged on account of disability. He again returned to his farm in Iowa. A short time after was married, sold out and removed to Kansas, where he remained until 1867, when he again crossed the plains with horse-teams, of which he was robbed by Indians en route, to this State. Our subject first located in Alameda county. In April, 1869, he moved to Concord, Contra Costa county, where he engaged in teaming until April, 1877, when he purchased a half interest in the well known livery stable of Mahony & Brawand, of Concord, where he now resides. The subject of our memoir was married in Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1864, to Miss Margaret Bohren, a native of Switzerland. By this union they have four surviving and four deceased children. The names of those living are : Annie, Alice, Minnie and Clara.
JOHN L. BROMLEY .- This gentleman, whose portrait appears in this work, once a prominent and valued citizen of Clayton, Contra Costa county, but in later years a resident of Oakland, Alameda county, is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, in which city he was born December 24, 1820. His parents were Lewis and Ann C. Bromley, and his grandfather was John Bromley, of Mount Savage, Maryland; the Bromleys were of English extraction, and made their earliest home in Vermont and New York. In 1851 Mr. Bromley was united in marriage with Miss Anna Levering, likewise a Baltimorean, but whose immediate ancestry pertained to Penn- sylvania, her grandfather having been Peter Levering, a member of the Society of Friends. By this union there are the following children : William Lewis, born in Baltimore, Thomas Levering, Anna C., Robert Tunis, Martha M., Joseph H., Ella V., Walter F., Marion, Virginia, and Roscoe P. The salient points of Mr. Bromley's somewhat eventful and active career may be briefly set down as follows : Pursuing mercan- tile affairs in Baltimore in his youth and early manhood, when the Mex- War began, he laid aside the arts of peace and entered upon a military career, which lasted until the cessation of hostilities. He participated in the various battles which led up to the grand result of the capture of the city of Mexico. Entering the service as Orderly Sergeant, Mr. Bromley, through his own abilities, and the fortunes of war which cut off his supe- rior officers, rose to the command of his company. Upon this point, and
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