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 65
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surrounded by all the comforts of a happy home, and a large family, con- sisting at present of seven children, Mr. Glass having lost two while living at Placerville. Those living are as follows: Albert W., Clara, Annetta, Irena, Frank L., Frederick and Rolla C.
AMOS M. GRAVES .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Monroe county, New York, where he was born April 10, 1841. July 8, 1862, at his country's call, Mr. Graves enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, and served his full time of three years. He now bears a memento of his service in the loss of one of his index fingers. On his return home, he started with his mother via the Isthmus of Panama for the Pacific States, and arrived in San Fran- cisco October 22, 1865. His father having preceded him to California, the subject of our memoir first found employment on the river steamers as engineer, which he followed some five years, at the end of which time, he joined his mother, after the death of his father, on his ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, two miles east of Antioch, where he is now engaged in general farming, and respected by all who know him. Mr. Graves was married in Martinez, October 23, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Comrie, a native of Scotland. By this union they have one daughter.
MARTIN L. GRAY .- The son of Joseph F. and Maria (Cunningham) Gray, was born in Sedgwick, Hancock county, Maine, April 28, 1839, where he resided for the first thirteen years of his life. At this period he was engaged coasting in Summer, and in Winter attending school. At fourteen, engaged in the Grand Bank cod fishery in Summer, and attending school again in Winter. Sailed out of Castine, Maine, for three consecutive Summers. After arriving home in the Fall of 1855, from a voyage of five months, commenced teaching school in November, and taught until April. He then shipped on board of the schooner Carrie A. Pitman, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Captain Henry Turner, Master, of Bucksport, Maine, for Grand Banks. He made one trip with Captain Turner, and on his return to Marblehead was given a recommendation to the owner, Henry F. Pitman, to have charge of the vessel. He was Master of her seven Summers, each Winter teaching school. During the Winter of 1863 and 1864, he made up his mind to come to California. On May 20, 1864, in Bangor, Maine, he was married to Mary A. Emerson, a school-mate of his ; and June 20th they both started for California from New York upon the steamer Northern Light, to Aspinwall, from Panama to San Francisco upon the Constitution, arriving there July 24, 1864; stopped at the In- ternational Hotel two days, and obtained employment of Fred Larkin upon a farm in the vicinity of the town of Sonoma, but at the end of a month returned to San Francisco. On August 20th, he came to Contra
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Costa county, and for three years and a half worked on the farm of A. H. Houston. He was then one year in the employ of Sylvanus Hough; for another twelve months he was engaged with Elam Brown at Lafayette, from whom on November 1, 1869, he rented twelve hundred and fifty acres of land and started a dairying business, which he has since continu- ously followed. July 11, 1871, his wife died, by whom there were born two children-Maria L., and Lyndon E. October, 1872, in San Francisco, married Lucy O. Emerson, who died July 20, 1873, by whom was born one child, who died July 29, 1873. May 20, 1874, Lyndon E .; also Maria L., September 13, 1874, died. He is at present occupying three hundred and twenty acres of the above-named farm, and conducting a dairy of forty cows. Mr. Gray owns twelve acres of land in Vernon Park, near Temescal, and also several lots in the Bay View Homestead in Alameda county.
MUNSON GREGORY .- Whose portrait will be found in the accompanying work, was born in Delaware county, Ohio, June 25, 1828, where he was educated, and resided until 1850. In that year he essayed the arduous undertaking of crossing the plains by way of Salt Lake City, to the Land of Gold. Arriving in the City of the Saints in July, he there remained until the following November, when he took up the line of march, and having proceeded by the southern route, arrived in Los Angeles in the month of January, 1851. After a short time passed in the City of the Angels, he journeyed to the gold fields near Placerville, where he was joined by his brother, Platt Gregory, whence they found their way into Sierra county, and there dwelt until 1857. At this period, Mr. Gregory visited his birth-place in Ohio, and in the Spring of the next year was married. It should be mentioned that our subject visited Contra Costa county during the year 1855, and purchased in 1857, a valuable farm, beautifully situated near the base of Mount Diablo, com- prising four hundred and forty-one acres. Hither, after his marriage he came in 1858, with his bride, via Panama, and here have they since resided, the original property having been so augmented that it now consists of nine hundred and fifty acres of the finest land in the fertile Ygnacio valley. Here Mr. Gregory has surrounded himself with every comfort necessary to a rural life, while it is a satisfaction to know that he enjoys the confidence and esteem of all the residents of the county of which he is a worthy citizen. We may not omit to mention that Mr. Gregory has collected a valuable assortment of geological specimens, all the fruits of Contra Costa county, which are carefully named and classified while the fossil specimens in his collection-from the Brobdignag oyster of seven inches by twelve inches, to the perfect impression of the oak leaf-are most complete and valuable. Married in Delaware county,
37
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Ohio, February 1, 1858, Miss Laura Knox, a native of that State, and has surviving : Fannie E., Herbert M., and Warren C.
ERASMUS D. GRIGSBY .- A native of Missouri, born October 2, 1841. In the Spring of 1852, then being but eleven years old, he started with his parents, two brothers and two sisters, to cross the plains to the Golden State, and after an uneventful trip of six months, arrived in Napa valley, locating on the place now owned by his father, Terrel L. Grigsby, one of the best known men of Napa county. He lived with his parents on their farm until October, 1864, when he married, came to this county in 1868, leased land on the Marsh Grant, also leased land in Stanislaus county for four years, carrying on the two farms, and in 1876 purchased his present valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, four miles north of Point of Timber. He subsequently purchased one hundred and sixty acres more land and is now engaged in general farming. Married in Napa county, October 28, 1864, Miss Elmira Miller, a native of Illinois. By this union they have four children-two sons and two daughters : Laura S., Warren M., Lillie J., and Byron L.
LOUIS GRUNAUER .- The pioneer merchant of Brentwood, a native of Prussia, was born October 6, 1854. When eleven years of age he attended school in Hamburg for three years. He then, at fourteen years, emigrated to America, first locating in New York for one month. Now he sailed via Panama for the Pacific Coast, and arrived in San Francisco in Novem- ber, 1868. His first move was to Amador county, where he clerked for one year. He next spent eight years in the same capacity in San Joaquin. Mr. Grunauer then engaged in business for himself in Alameda county, where he resided for one year, and in September, 1878, came to Contra Costa, to what is now the town of Brentwood, built his present large store and hotel, opened the first business house of that thriving town, and in 1880, received the appointment of postmaster of Brentwood.
FREDERICK L. HAMBURG .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, born March 5, 1824, and there attended school until fifteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to the trade of har- ness-maker for four years. He followed that business until twenty-one years of age. He then enlisted in the army for three years, and in the Fall of 1850 emigrated to the United States, first locating in New York city, where he followed his trade and resided until his coming to this State. In June, 1853, he sailed, via the Nicaragua route, for Califor- nia, and arrived in San Francisco in July of the same year. He then went to the mines of El Dorado and Calaveras counties, where he fol- lowed mining until 1858, when he came to Contra Costa county, locating in Alamo, where he found employment at his trade. Remaining but a
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short time, he again returned to the mines; and in 1860 came back to Contra Costa and to Alamo, when he bought his former employer's har- ness establishment, engaged in business for himself, and there continued until the Spring of 1876. He then sold out, and with his family paid a visit to his old home in Germany. There they sojourned about two years, and again returned to California, remaining in San Francisco about one year. In May, 1879, we once more find him in this county, having pur- chased his present farm in Alamo of one hundred and sixteen acres, which he has leased, but still retains his residence, and is now living on the fruits of a well spent and prosperous life. Married in Alamo June 21, 1863, Miss Maria Korman, a native of Germany. They have two children- August and Frederick L. Jr.
HON. GEORGE W. HAMMETT .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Mason county, November 10, 1822. When he was six years of age, his parents moved to Portsmouth, Ohio, and there resided until 1832, when they proceeded further west, locating in Taswell county, Illinois, where our subject was employed at the wool- carding business until 1844. He then went to Wisconsin, and remained in that State until April 1, 1853. Afterwards, with his wife and three children, with ox-teams, he started to cross the plains to the Golden State, and after an uneventful trip, arrived in Contra Costa county in October, 1853, first locating on the place where he now resides at Lafayette, which he at that time purchased, but owing to a defective title has since lost, but is now residing on the same as renter. In Wisconsin, Mr. Hammett held several important offices, at one time, in 1851, being elected to the Legislature of that State, serving for two years. Mr. Hammett was united in marriage in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, March 25, 1846, to Miss Mary J. Gorham, a native of Illinois, by which union they have three children, viz: Frank, George W. Jr., and Laura E.
HON. AUSTIN WESLEY HAMMITT .- Was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, April 27, 1824, and is the son of Benjamin and Margaret (Masten) Hammitt, and resided there until he attained the age of nine; then his father's family moved to Northfield, in Portage county, residing there five years, and then to Circleville, Pickaway county ; at the age of twenty our subject and a younger brother went to Wapello county, Iowa, and soon after his father with his family followed. He resided there until 1846, when he went to Ottumwa, in the same county, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1847. He next proceeded to Louisville, where he followed the same occupation for two months, after which he was engaged as carpenter by the Government in the Quartermaster's Department, and thence to Brazos Island, Texas, and to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
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After an absence of fifteen months he returned to Ottumwa. On April 20, 1849, he started with ox-teams across the Plains for California, pass- ing up the North side of the Platte river, up the Sweetwater, through South Platte, across Greene river and on to Fort Hall, and entered the State through the Lassen road. Mr. Hammitt arrived at Sacramento, October 13th, the day of the election for law and order against the gamblers, and he voted for the former. On arrival there, he went to the mines and followed mining on the South Fork of the Middle river, and at Birdsville opened a store, which he carried on for some months. He then proceeded to Nevada city, and commenced mining on the Coyote diggings in April, 1850, remaining till December, when he went to San Francisco, and on Janu- ary 1, 1851, passed through the Golden Gate on his way home to Iowa. He arrived at Ottumwa February 25th, of that year, and in the latter part of April he again started across the plains for Oregon, this time accom- panied by his wife and younger brother. On reaching Elk Horn river they found it so swollen that all the ferries had been taken off, so they proceeded up the stream a distance of about fifteen miles and built a boat and went across. On reaching the other side, Mr. Hammitt was made Captain of the train. Continuing their trip they came to a bridge, where they found that some Pawnee Indians had taken possession of it and were charging toll. Mr. Hammitt asked to see the chief of the tribe and told him he was not prepared to pay toll. The chief replied that they could cross if he would give him a bag of sugar, but to his surprise when they started over the bridge each one wanted a bag of sugar. He called on his men and told them to be ready to make an attack if necessary. They, however, went across without any difficulty. Continuing the journey, they arrived in Lane county, Oregon, eight miles from Eugene City, where our subject obtained a half section of land from the Govern- ment, and erected the first Court House in that county. He was enga- ged in the carpentering business there until April, 1857. On June 15, 1857, he arrived in Contra Costa county and settled near Walnut Creek. In 1858, he purchased the "old David Glass place," about two miles from Walnut Creek, and resided there until the Fall of 1881. He then went to San Francisco, and after a period of nine months returned to Walnut Creek, where he engaged in mercantile business and which he is now prosecuting. Mr. Hammitt served a term in the Assembly in 1873-74, for the county of Contra Costa, being elected on an independent ticket. He also served as Justice of the Peace from 1865 to 1867. Married April 10, 1849, Samantha Shaffer, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hed- dinger) Shaffer. Mrs. Hammitt was born in Harrison county, Ohio, June 28, 1827. The children by this union are Millard, Samantha Malicia, Wesley H., and John C.
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HIRAM P. HARDY .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Goffstown, New Hampshire, and was born February 18, 1825. When but an infant his parents moved to Woburn, Massachusetts, where he resided until 1832. Then after a residence of eighteen months in Woodstock, Vermont, they moved to Andover, Massachusetts, where our subject was educated at the academy of that place, and afterwards served seven years in the study of horticulture, in which accomplishment he became proficient, as a glance at his present beautiful place near Martinez will convince anyone. Septem- ber 16, 1849, Mr. Hardy, in company with several others, purchased a vessel-the Cordova-and sailed from Boston via Cape Horn, for the Golden State, arriving in San Francisco April 9, 1850. Selling his inter- est in the vessel, he proceeded to the mines of Calaveras county, where he engaged in mining, which occupation he continued for two and one-half years. He then returned to San Francisco, and after a short time entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, in which he contin- ued until June, 1853, when he came to Contra Costa county, and first found employment on the ranch of Dr. John Strentzel, afterwards work- ing for several parties until January 7, 1864, when he leased the well- known Bush ranch, near Martinez, which he farmed until December, 1880, when he purchased his present beautiful home, consisting of twelve acres of ground, where he is now engaged in viticulture and fruit raising. Was married in San Francisco, May 7, 1863, to Miss Ellen Cannon, of New York.
JOEL HARLAN, (deceased.)-The subject of this memoir, of whom an excellent portrait will be found in the body of this work, was the son of George and Elizabeth (Duncan) Harlan, and was born in Wayne county, Indiana, September 27, 1828, where he resided until seventeen years of age. He then, with his parents, moved west, locating in St. Joseph, Missouri; and in the following Spring, 1846, they continued their west- ward journey across the then little known plains to California, the route taken being that known to the pioneers of that, and the present time, as the Hastings cut-off. It will thus be seen that Mr. Harlan was one of the actual pioneers of this State, having arrived here one year prior to the discovery of gold, and was living in San Francisco when the famous discovery was made. An uncle of our subject, Mr. Weimar, was engaged in the mill enterprise with John W. Marshall when the latter made the discovery of the precious metal. After a short time spent in San Fran- cisco, Mr. Harlan, with his father and mother, two sisters and a younger brother, named Elisha, moved to San José Mission, locating and building there a house which afterwards proved to be a landmark defining the line between Alameda and Contra Costa counties. During his first year's residence there our subject was called upon to mourn the death of his mother. When the first Legislature met and provided for a
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county organization, his dwelling fell within the territorial limits of Contra Costa county, as then established. Like nearly every one else in the " days of gold," Mr. Harlan took a turn at the mines ; on the return from which, death claimed his aged grandmother, who now lies buried beneath the present State Capitol at Sacramento. On April 7, 1849, he was united in marriage, in the town of Sonoma, by Ex-Governor Boggs, to Miss Minerva Fowler, a native of Bellevue, Illinois, and the daughter of William and Catherine (Speed) Fowler. He next located in Napa city, for a short time, then moved to Sacramento, where he sojourned a few months, and thence moved to San Francisco, where their eldest child, Elisha, was born. In the same year he transferred his abode to San José, and at the end of a twelve-month, became the first settler in what is now the flourishing town of San Lorenzo. In the year 1852, he purchased a tract of land and erected a dwelling in Amador valley, and when the county of Alameda was created, mainly from the original territory of Contra Costa county, one of the points defining the boundary line between the counties was the " house of Joel Harlan." Mr. Harlan, however, always considered his home on this side of the line and in Contra Costa county. In 1856 he purchased upwards of two thousand acres of the Norris Tract, and two years later built the present dwelling in which his widow and children now reside. Mr. Harlan was an upright and genial man, greatly respected and much beloved, not only by his own family and relatives, but by the citizens of the county in which he lived. On Sunday, March 28, 1875, after a prosperous and well-spent life, Mr. Harlan passed away to his Maker. In regard to his demise, the Danville Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was an honored member, at their meeting held April 10, 1875, adopted the following memorial resolutions : " WHEREAS, It has pleased the Divine Master to remove from our midst, our Beloved Brother, Joel Harlan: Resolved, That, in the death of Brother Harlan, we have lost an esteemed member of our Order; the community a worthy and upright citizen, and his family a devoted husband and father. Resolved, that we extend to his bereaved family our sincere and heartfelt sympathy in this, their sad hour of affliction. Resolved, as a mark of respect, that we wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to his family, the Contra Costa Gazette, and the Pacific Rural Press." His family consisted of the following members: Elisha, Annae (now deceased), Laura M., Mary, Horace, Helena, Henry, Fred and Addie.
CAPT. ALFRED B. HARRISON .- A native of Devonshire, England. At the age of eleven years his parents placed him in a naval school, near London, where he remained for three years, and was then bound appren- tice on board a merchant vessel. After five years of thorough drill in all a sailor's duties, he became mate of a bark, and two years after rose
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Biographical Sketches.
to the position of master. In this capacity he continued for twenty-five years, being almost constantly afloat, and visiting all parts of the world in his various voyages. Becoming weary at length of a sea-faring life, he determined to marry and make for himself a home in one of our Western States. Minnesota was his first choice, but finding the Winters there rather severe, he concluded to seek a more temperate climate and selected the Golden State as his future home, coming to San Francisco in October, 1872. In June, 1877, he removed his family to their present residence, near the thriving town of Walnut Creek. After an adven- turous life on the briny wave, he is thus snugly anchored in a secluded haven in the heart of one of the most beautiful valleys of California- the valley of San Ramon-the fairest spot in the county of Contra Costa.
GEORGE W. HAWXHURST .- This early and respected resident of Contra Costa county, whose portrait appears in this work, to whom belongs the honor of being among the first to discover and develop the Mount Diablo Coal Mines, is a native of New York City, born December 30, 1827. He there resided and learned the trade of machinist and engineer, which he followed until May 4, 1850. When he heard of the gold discoveries in California, he concluded, with many others, to seek his fortunes in the new Dorado. Consequently, on the above date, he sailed from New York for Panama. On his arrival at the latter place he, with a party of six, went to Buena Ventura, South America, then about two hundred miles inland to the city of Novita, where they prospected for gold, but not finding it in paying quantities, he remained only a short time, coming back to Panama and shipping on the steamer Panama, in the Engineer's department, for California and Oregon. After making the round trip, he landed in San Francisco in the Fall of 1850. He left the latter place for Wood's creek, in Tuolumne county, and 'engaged in mining; from there he went to Fresno county, still engaged in mining; he next went to the North Fork of the Merced and mined there for a short time; he then went across the main river, and was within twenty miles of the beautiful Yosemite valley-the highest bluffs of perpendicular rocks of which could be distinctly seen. From there he returned to Tuolumne, where he was employed in putting up the machinery in several large mills in that county until the Winter of 1853. Our subject again returned to San Francisco and put up the machinery for H. B. Tichenor, and ways that raised the first square-rigged vessel on the Pacific Coast. After this, he was engaged in working at his trade as engineer for the Pacific Mail Company until 1855. At the expiration of this time, he came to Contra Costa county. In 1860, coal had been discovered by Francis Somers in the range of hills where the town of Somersville is now located. Mr. Somers and Mr. Hawxhurst
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prospected in other locations. The first was what is now known as the Black Diamond claim, and the next the Cumberland claim. They found the croppings of coal in both places. They then went to what is now known as the Central mine to prospect. While working there, Mr. Norton located the Black Diamond claim, which has been opened and successfully worked up to the present time. Mr. Hawxhurst then located the Union mine. He took S. B. Whipple, of San Mateo, as partner, and worked said claim successfully until December, 1876. Mr. Hawx- hurst and J. C. Rouse then bought and opened the Empire mine. After shipping considerable coal, he sold the same to Messrs. Judson & Belshaw, its present owners. He then leased a piece of coal land belonging to the Pittsburg Company, which he is working at the present time. Mr. Hawxhurst was married in San Francisco, April 13, 1865, to Miss Lucie V. La Porte, who is a native of Dixon, Illinois. By this union they have five living children, named as follows: Theodosia, Josephine, George H., Leonard and Ernest.
JOAQUIN HERNANDEZ .- Born in San José, July 3, 1839, and afterwards lived on the family ranch near Los Gatos, Santa Clara county. In the year 1855, his father sold the family estate to James Alexander Forbes for twenty thousand dollars, and moved to Lower California, our subject returning at the end of two years, leaving his relatives there. He now came direct to Contra Costa county, and after following different occupa- tions until April, 1859, he came to Concord and opened the first business in the village, there being then but two or three other houses. Married in Santa Clara, November 11, 1877, Custodia Avila, a native of California, and has three children: Frederico, Joaquin and Rosa.
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