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 63
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ANDREW DIEFENBACH .- A native of Buffalo, New York, was born February 16, 1832. Was there educated at the common schools and resided until his twentieth year. In April, 1852, he sailed on board the good ship Empire, via Cape Horn, and after a rough passage of five months, arrived in San Francisco in August of the same year. Mr. Diefenbach immediately engaged in mining in Amador county and continued there some three years. In 1856, we find Mr. Diefenbach in Napa county, engaged in agricultural pursuits, where he resided until 1867, when he came to what has proved to be his future home, and embarked in farming on his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, one mile east of Brentwood. In connection with his farm, he owns a meat market in the above town. Mr. Diefenbach is in comfortable circumstances, and respected by all who know him. Married at Brent- wood, in 1868, Mrs. Melvina Cunningham, and has four children and three step-children : Annie, Pearl, May and Andrew T. The step-children are : Mattie, Sadie and Edna.
FREDERICK HENRY CHRISTIAN DOHRMANN, (deceased.)-The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in our history, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, March 22, 1807, where he received a liberal education, and learned the trade of miller. On December 8, 1833, he espoused Miss Johanna Sophia Kummer, a native of Gottingen, who was born September 25, 1809. Mr. Dohrmann followed the milling business in his native place, and became the owner of extensive interests, possessing at one time three different mills --- flouring, saw and oil. However, he sought fresh fields for his operations, and November 23, 1853, with his
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wife, first having disposed of his property, they both bade farewell to the land of their birth, and took passage to America, arriving in San Fran- cisco June 23, 1854. After a short residence in that city, they went to Contra Costa county, for two years conducted the San Pablo Hotel, and in 1856, moved to the farm where his family now reside, comprising one hundred and ninety-seven acres, which he bought August 17, 1865, from J. M. Tewksbury, where our subject died, justly regretted, October 24, 1873. The children by the union are: Frederick, born June 6, 1834 ; Eliza, (now Mrs. Thalmann) born June 10, 1838; Henry, born April 29, 1840 ; Mary, (now Mrs. Koppitz) born March 12, 1845.
THEODORE DOWNING .- Born in Monroe county, Michigan, August 9, 1826, he there resided and was educated at the common schools until seven- teen years old. At the early age of eleven years Mr. Downing was left an orphan, his father dying when he was but six, and his mother passing away when he was in his eleventh year. In 1843, he moved to St. Joseph county, same State, and there worked on a farm until his leav- ing for California, which occurred on March 15, 1854. He started across the plains with horse-teams, and, accompanied by his wife, after an uneventful trip of five months, arrived in Sacramento August 9, 1854. Here he engaged in buying and selling horses, until November 20th, of that year, when he came to Martinez, Contra Costa county, and engaged in the butcher business for a short time. In 1859, we find Mr. Downing in Pacheco engaged in the hotel business, which he followed for three years. July 1, 1865, he purchased his present ranch of forty-six acres, one-half mile from Concord, and is now engaged in farming. Mr. Down- ing was united in marriage in St. Joseph county, Michigan, December 8, 1852, to Miss Mary J. Quackenbush, a native of Montgomery county, New York. They have two children : Marcella M. (now Mrs. F. S. Childs), Sophia C. (now Mrs. F. Sanford.)
JOSHUA E. DURHAM .- This well-known and prosperous farmer of Contra Costa county, whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, December 6, 1829. Losing his mother at an early age, his father transferred his residence to Arkansas; from there, at the expiration of a year, he proceeded to Berry county, Mis- souri, where our subject attended school six years. He then returned to Arkansas with his father for six more years, and finally came back to his former home in Missouri, where he maintained a continuous residence until March, 1850. At this date he proceeded to Independence, and joined a Government train, proceeding to Fort Laramie as a teamster. Here he associated himself with a train of Mormons en route for Salt Lake City, where he passed the Winter, and in the following Spring con- tinued his journey towards California, arriving in Georgetown, El
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Dorado county, in June, 1851. In the vicinity of that place, Mr. Durham prosecuted mining until the year 1853, when he moved to the San Joa- quin valley and found employment on different ranches until 1870-farm- ing, running a stage, and, at one time, owning the ferry at the mouth of the Stanislaus river. In the last mentioned year, Mr. Durham came to Contra Costa county and purchased his present valuable property of three hundred and five acres, four and a half miles from Pacheco, situa- ted in the Ygnacio valley, where he is now engaged in farming and stock-raising, a large portion of his attention being devoted to the breed- ing of thoroughbred horses, of which he has some remarkably fine speci- mens. Mr. Durham is also possessed of four hundred and thirty-four acres at Bay Point-all valuable, fertile land. He married, firstly, in San Francisco, October 2, 1862, Miss June E. Sherman, a native of Ohio, by whom he had seven children, viz: Burnett S., Melvina I., Fannie, Cora E., Levi B., Amelia, and John (deceased) ; secondly, in Pacheco, October 10, 1877, Miss Melvina E. Strickland, a native of Illinois, by whom there is no issue.
JOHN L. ECKLEY .- Was born in Boston, Massachusetts, May 17, 1827, and is the son of David and Caroline (Amory) Eckley. He resided there until 1847, and received a good education. In 1843 he was engaged in the well-known commission house of Chandler, Howard & Co., on Central Wharf, and after a period of four years, left their employ, when occupying the position of head book-keeper. In 1847 he sailed for the East Indies, and engaged in tin mining on the Peninsula of Malacca, which he continued for two years. He then returned to Boston, via Europe, afterward visit- ing the Southern and Western States. In February, 1851, our subject sailed from New York, via the Isthmus of Panama, for California, and arrived in San Francisco in March. He immediately proceeded to Sacra- mento, and was employed as real estate agent, having charge of the property of Howard, Brannan, Larkin, and others, where he remained about two years. He then returned to San Francisco, and acted as agent for Thomas O. Larkin for one year, when he again returned to New York, and engaged in a Honduras Colonization scheme. In 1859 he took a pleasure trip to China, Japan, and other countries, and once more returned to California, in the following year. He settled in San Fran- cisco, and remained there until 1862, when he went to Victoria, British Columbia, where he engaged in the drug business, which he followed for one year, when he returned to San Francisco and went into the oil business, which he carried on for a twelvemonth. He then went to Virginia City, and there embarked in mining speculations for a short time, when he moved to Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, where he resided two years. In 1866 he settled in San Francisco, and from there went East, on
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business; after an absence of three months he returned to California, and organized the house of James W. Burnham & Co., of San Francisco, dealers in carpets, where he was engaged until March, 1881. In 1868 he purchased his present place near Port Costa. Mr. Eckley has always taken a great interest in yachting, and was the first Vice-Commodore of the San Francisco Yacht Club, and first Commodore of the Pacific Yacht Club. He married, August 13, 1864, Sarah E. Burnham, a native of Newburyport, Essex county, Massachusetts, who was born October 16, 1836, and is the daughter of James and Lucy Burnham. By this union there are: John H., born June 19, 1865; Henry, born November 10, 1866; Frank K., born August 31, 1869, and Fannie M., born July 13, 1871.
THOMAS EDWARDS .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in North Wales, April 5, 1812. When fourteen years of age he left his native country, and commenced a sea-faring life, which he followed for ten years. After quitting the sea, he soon obtained the position of mate, and acted as such on several steamers engaged in the immense trade of the Mississippi. It was at this time that he formed the acquaintance of Captain Roe, afterwards the great pork-packer of St. Louis, and with whom he served five years as first mate; of W. C. Ralston, then steamboat clerk; and also of J. B. Crockett, who had but just commenced the practice of law. The friend- ship which began then remained firm throughout life. February 19, 1843, he married Mary Pugh, who was born in North Wales July 20, 1819. In May, 1849, he gave up his position, and left the Mississippi, with its bustling life, being attracted to the far West by the Cali- fornia gold excitement, towards which all eyes were turned. Having passed the Winter of '49 and '50 in Louisa county, Iowa, he, with his wife and three children, resumed their journey westward the following Spring to Council Bluffs, where a company of about forty men and ten wagons was formed, Mrs. Edwards and a friend from St. Louis being the only ladies in the party. The final march was commenced early in May, 1850, via Fort Hall and Lassen's Cut-off. After traveling a few hundred miles together, Mr. Edwards and family laid over for a day on the Platte river to rest the teams, thus allowing the remainder of the party to hurry on. The balance of the way across the plains was made alone. The Fourth of July, 1850, was spent on Green river. After journeying two thousand miles, California was reached in September, 1850, the first stopping place being on Mormon slough, near Stockton, where they remained three weeks. A hotel was then engaged at Green Springs, Tuolumne county, for five hundred dollars a month, but after remaining there three months the owner raised the rent, so they were obliged to move. A site was then purchased about ten miles distant, on the same road, where they kept
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what was known as the Owen House. The business of stock raising was also commenced. In 1856 the place was sold, and the residence of Cap- tain John Dent (brother-in-law to General Grant) was then bought at Knight's Ferry for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the school ad- vantages which that place afforded. A stock ranch was also secured. The latter part of 1863, there being great scarcity of feed, it was deemed advisable to transfer the stock beyond the Sierra Nevada, to what was known as the Owens' river country, Inyo county, in which they were the second foreign settlers. The business of butchering and furnishing the Gov- ernment with meat was then commenced, and was followed up until 1865. The town of Independence was then laid out on this farm, which is the county seat. In 1867, they moved to their present home on Carquinez straits, and engaged in farming and stock raising. The farm comprises one thousand eight hundred acres. In 1881 an arrangement was entered into with Mr. Heald, by which a foundry was established on the place, and the town of Crockett laid out. The family consists of six children, viz : Hugh, John, Thomas, David, Edward and Susan.
MARK ELLIOTT .- The subject of this sketch is the son of John and Elizabeth (Berry) Elliott, and was born in Belmont county, Ohio, April 30, 1826. At a tender age he was taken by his parents to Guernsey county, in the same State. At eight he went with them to Delaware county, where he attended the common schools. At the age of eighteen he started to learn the trade of cabinet-maker, which he continued until twenty-one years old. Next he proceeded to Wyandotte for one Summer, whence he moved to Sandusky, and there resided a year. In the Fall of 1849, Mr. Elliott returned to Delaware county, and, in the following Spring, (1850,) in company with five associates, among them being Drs. Smith and Hubbell, he started with horse-teams to tempt fortune in the Land of Gold. Crossing overland to Cincinnati, they thence proceeded by boat to St. Louis, whence they found their way to Kansas City, where they once more found themselves on terra firma. The regular journey across the plains was now commenced, with all its concomitant inconveniences, but after an extraordinarily rapid transit the party finally arrived at Weaver- ville on July 26, 1850. The first occupation entered into by our subject was making rockers for use in the mines. At this he remained until the Fall, when he transferred his locale to the mines at Diamond Springs, and there resided until the month of February, 1851. At this juncture he moved to Benicia, Solano county, where he plied his avocation of carpenter until the Great Fire of May 4, 1851, in San Francisco, when he proceeded thither and embarked in the then fruitful labors of a cabinet- maker. Remaining in that city until January, 1852, our subject then came to Contra Costa county, and after sojourning for a short time in
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Martinez, he took up his residence on Alamo creek, now known as Sycamore district, where he has since continuously resided, reclaiming, as the years go by, the wild, unbroken country, and causing it to blossom into a fair scene of prolific fields and luxurious pasturage. In 1852, when Mr. Elliott took possession of his property on the Alamo, he had but one hundred and sixty acres of land; to-day he has seven hundred and seventeen acres, almost all of it being under cultivation. In 1858, he built his present comfortable home, while, as if to add greater value to his possessions, at the time of writing, men are engaged on his property penetrating the earth, where a vein of excellent coal has been struck, which at no distant date may prove a bonanza to Mr. Elliott, and an immense boon to the section of the country in which he resides. He ยท married in Oakland, May 15, 1864, Martha E. Dempster, a native of New York, and has two children : Lizzie E. and Mark H.
WARREN B. ENGLISH .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of John M. and Anna (Martin) English, and was born in Charlestown, Jefferson county, West Virginia, May 1, 1846, where he resided, being educated at the Charlestown Academy, and was afterwards engaged in his father's store until the year 1861. Being then fifteen years of age, he joined the Confederate army and served in Company B, Twelfth Virginia cavalry, army of Northern Virginia, all through the war, and at its end returned to his birth-place, where he engaged in general merchandising until the year 1866. In December of that year he sailed from New York in the steamer Montana, via Panama, and arrived at San Francisco in the early part of the following month. On his arrival there, after a few weeks spent in the city, he entered the McClure Military School at Oakland, Alameda county, where he remained two years, during which time he assisted in the organization of the Oak- land Cadets. On leaving the school he received the appointment as Sec- retary to the Silver Peak and Red Mountain Gold and Silver Mining Company, of Esmeralda county, Nevada, a position he held for eighteen months, when, at the end of the Summer of 1871, he went to Columbus, in the same county, and there carried on a business in general merchan- dise until November, 1872, and then returned to Oakland and was joined in wedlock. Mr. English soon afterwards went back to Esmeralda county, and engaged in the manufacture of borax, at Tiel's Marsh, for one year, when he again returned to Oakland to settle up the business of the mining company of which he was the Secretary some years previously. In October, 1875, our subject came to Contra Costa county and engaged in farming with his brother, William D., and Frederick Kapp, on the well-known Government ranch, until September, 1877, when he entered into a partnership with William D. Shaver, and carried on the lumber
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business until June, 1881. About this time, Mr. English built a dredger and took a Government contract to dredge Humboldt Bay, in which he is at present engaged. In the Fall of 1878 he was elected one of the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa county, for Township Three, which position he has the honor of holding at the present time. In Mr. English's case, success has been the test of merit. He has won fortune and position by solitary, unaided study and effort. He came to California a comparative boy, without means or experience. By patient industry, and the pursuit of an honest, straightforward course, he has battled with the disadvantages and checks of youth, poverty and inexperience, and conquered them. Few men have overcome greater obstacles-none are more worthy of achieved success. Mr. English married in Oakland December 2, 1872, Clara Norris, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and a grand-daughter of Hon. H. S. Geyer. By this union there are four children, viz : Hattie, born October 27, 1873 ; Norris, born November 12, 1875; Warren B., born May 19, 1878 ; Hancock, born January 9, 1880
CAPTAIN ORRIS FALES .- Was born in Thomaston, Maine, March 20, 1817. He made his first trip to sea at the age of thirteen years, and con- tinued to follow the sea in the coasting, West India and European trades for twenty-two years. He came to California, around Cape Horn, in 1850. From San Francisco he sailed to the Sandwich Islands, Manila, Hongkong, and back to California in the Winter of 1851-52. In the Summer of 1852, he bought one hundred and eleven acres of land, and built a small house. A few years ago he erected a fine house on his valu- able and highly improved farm, at the juntas of the San Ramon and Walnut creeks. The residence is two stories, thirty by thirty-six feet, with a one-story addition fourteen by twenty-six feet. The house is finely finished in modern style, with all late improvements. Captain Fales bought several small tracts of land adjoining, as opportunity offered, until he now possesses three hundred acres on the extreme northern end of San Ramon valley (and Rancho), bounded on the north by Walnut creek and town of the same name. Most of his land is tillable, and has never failed to yield a crop during the period of his occupation.
BERNARDO FERNANDEZ .- This well-known and highly-esteemed citi- zen of Pinole, Contra Costa county, is a native of Portugal, born November 15, 1830. At the age of thirteen he shipped on board a vessel bound for Brazil, and afterwards followed a sea-faring life-first, before the mast, then as mate, and later as master. In the latter capacity he sailed to all the more important ports of the world. The Summer of 1850 found Mr. Fernandez in New York, where he followed coasting until 1853. In the early part of the above year he started via Cape Horn, in the clipper ship Staghound, for California, arriving in San Francisco in August
Witterbook
A. P. SILVA.
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of the same year. Being struck by the beauties, as well as the natural advantages of the Golden State, Mr. Fernandez concluded to make this coast his future home, and, after a short time spent in Monterey and Santa Cruz in seeking a desirable location, he returned to San Francisco, and in August made his advent into Contra Costa county, first locating at Pinole, where since has proved his home, and began freighting from that point to San Francisco. This he continued until 1857, when he purchased from the Government a tract of land consisting of forty-three acres, on which now stands his present store and warehouses. Also in the above year he erected his present store-room and one warehouse, but in 1862 sustained the loss of the latter by a flood, the entire building be- ing swept away. Nothing daunted, however, and with that push and vigor which he is well known to possess, he began the erection of two large warehouses to accommodate his increasing business. In 1876, these were found inadequate to the demand, and two more were built ; later, another was added to his already large facilities for storing and ship- ping grain. Mr. Fernandez' prosperity may be judged by his posses- sions. Arriving in Contra Costa county with but little of this world's goods, but with energy and strict business principles, he established a reputation on which he was enabled to successfully carry on a large trade. He has since added to his original landed possessions of forty- three acres, until now he is possessed of something over three thousand acres of Contra Costa's fertile soil. Mr. Fernandez is well and favorably known throughout the county, and especially held in high regard and estimation by those with whom his business relations bring him in contact. The subject of our memoir was united in marriage, in Pinole, December 5, 1859, with Miss Charlotte Cuadra, a native of Chili. By this union they have six children : Maria A., born April 10, 1864 ; Anna, born January 26, 1866; Bernardo, born November 15, 1867 ; Mar- garet E., born September 11, 1870; Manuel, born July 13, 1876; and an infant, born September 12, 1881.
HARRISON FINLEY .- Born in Callaway county, Missouri, December 26, 1837. When fifteen years of age he moved with his parents to Morgan county, and in 1853 transferred his abode to Bates county, same State, where he resided until his coming to California. May 12, 1860, he joined a company, and with a train of five wagons and ox-teams started on his weary journey to the land of the fig and vine, and, after an uneventful trip of four months, arrived in Calaveras county, August 12, 1860. After a sojourn of a short time, he moved to Amador county, and in 1863 came to Contra Costa, leased land in the Tassajara valley until October, 1875, when he purchased his present home, consisting of one thousand and eighty acres, situated at the head of the above valley, and is now engaged
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in farming and stock raising. Mr. Finley was married in Amador county, April 3, 1862, to Miss Lavina J. Ray, a native of Missouri. They have eight living children ; their names are: Mattie L., Matilda N., Eliza B., Wilson E., Mary F., Abbie J., Lucy R. and Livonia L.
THOMAS FLOURNOY .- Is the son of Hay B. and Mary (Brinegar) Flournoy, and was born in Estill county, Kentucky, June 24, 1824. Here he resided until he attained the age of fourteen years, when he moved with his parents to Linn county, Missouri, and dwelt until 1850. In this year he immigrated to California by way of the plains. At Big Meadows, on the Humboldt, while on the long journey to the land of future promise, he had the misfortune, on August 30, 1850, to lose his wife, whom he had mar- ried in Linn county, Missouri. Here, at this lonely place, was she consigned to Mother Earth, adding one more to the long list of brave women who had accompanied their husbands into unknown lands. Pursuing his desolate way, Mr. Flournoy arrived in California in September, 1850, and until 1855 was farming in Santa Clara county. In that year he came to Contra Costa, and settled on his present estate of four hundred and fifty acres, situated near the thriving village of Danville, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. He married, firstly, October 21, 1847, Elizabeth Neal, a native of Kentucky, who died at Big Meadows, on the Humboldt, while crossing the plains, August 30, 1850. By this union he has one son, William H., at present a resident of Sonoma county. Married, secondly, August 31, 1854, Laurentie Kifer, by whom he has: Lillian (now Mrs. Rice), John T. (now Professor of Mathematics in the University of the Pacific), Roland F., Ada E., Laura, Dora, Shelby H. and Lucy.
ERASTUS FORD .- The subject of this sketch, an old '49-er and a pioneer of Contra Costa county, whose portrait appears in our work, was born in Berrien Centre, Berrien county, Michigan, June 10, 1830, where he re- sided, and at an early age started to learn the blacksmith's trade, until nineteen years of age. In the Spring of 1849, our subject proceeded to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he joined a train to cross the plains to Cali- fornia, to take his chances among the many that were at that time seeking their fortunes in the Golden West. He first located on Bear river, where he embarked in mining for one month. He then came to Sacramento, and there remained until 1850. In the Spring of that year he came to Martinez, Contra Costa county, and engaged at his trade of blacksmith; in July, he leased his shop, and returned to the mines, where he followed mining until the following Fall, when he came back to this county, and spent the first Winter in a camp where now is the town of Clayton. One year later he located in San Ramon valley, on one of the finest farms in the county, now the property of August Hemme, where our subject followed agricultural pursuits until 1876, when he sold
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