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 72
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FERNANDO PACHECO .- The subject of this narrative, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Don Salvio and J. (Flores) Pacheco, and was born in the Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, May 30, 1818, where he resided until 1835, or until he attained the age of seventeen. At that time he came to settle in the Diablo valley, about three hundred yards southwest of Concord. He brought some cattle with him, and remained with them for some time during the year. In the year 1834, Don . Salvio, the father of our subject, received the Grant of the Monte del Diablo Rancho, and settled near the site of the present village of Concord, where he resided until his death, August 6, 1876. In the year 1845, our subject brought his family to Contra Costa county, and here he resided until 1851, when he moved to his present residence, where he owns fifteen hundred acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Our subject has not held any public office, but his father had filled every
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position of trust in the gift of the Mexican Government, save that of Governor ; but the lack of public office is by no means a criterion of Mr. Pacheco's inability to assume such functions had he sought them ; he is a man of much ability and shrewdness, generous in disposition, affable in manner, and possessed of natural accomplishments. Being of the enor- mous weight of three hundred and seventy pounds-in 1870 he turned the scales at four hundred and fifty-Mr. Pacheco is unable to move about as he would wish, yet his influence is felt, although absent in person, and there is no one to say a word against this son of one of the original settlers of Contra Costa. Of the doings on the Rancho in early times, we speak in our history of Township Number Three ; to recognize the im- mense herds of those days, we refer the reader to that portion of our work ; it is to his credit, be it remarked, that he still possesses so great a competency above his less fortunate contemporaries.
JOHN C. PETERSON .- Was born in Denmark, March 30, 1822, and resided there until 1843, during which time he received a common school education and served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade. In the last-mentioned year he proceeded to the island of St. Thomas, one of the Danish possessions in the West Indies, where he resided four years and a half, when he came to America. Having landed in Tuckapo, Louisiana, he there hired as cook on board a vessel and worked his passage to New York City. Thence he found his way in turn to Boston, Pictou in Nova Scotia, Sayresport, Maine, then back to Boston, New York, and from there to Savannah and Charleston. In 1849, the month being January, he sailed from New York to California, by way of Cape Horn, in a craft of only eighty tons, and after a successful voyage, landed in San Francisco July 17th of the same year. But Mr. Peterson did not abandon the vessel in that harbor, for he further engaged himself on board, as cook, when she was put on the route between San Francisco and Stockton. In September he severed his connection with that boat and became cook at the saw-mill of McCann & Parker, at Saucelito, Marin county, where he remained until the Spring of 1850. He then, in partnership with some others, purchased a whale-boat and journeyed to Marysville, Yuba county, whence he went to the mines on the Yuba, there seeking the "yellow stuff" until the following Fall. We next find our subject mining at the Wyandotte Diggings, which field he left in the Spring of 1851 for Rich Bar, on the Feather river. Six months after he moved to Yreka, Siskiyou county, and after prospecting for some time, we find him in Shasta county. In the Fall of 1851, he mined on Clear creek, where he struck good diggings. His next locale was Weaverville, Trinity county, whither he proceeded in the Spring of 1852, and there continued mining for five years, at Big Prospect and its vicinity. In 1857, he moved to the southern mines,
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where he passed the Winter, and in the Spring of 1858, came to Contra Costa county. In the Spring of 1859, he settled on his present farm of two hundred and thirty-five acres, in Sycamore valley, five miles east of Danville, where he is chiefly engaged in farming. Married, April 29, 1865, to Eliza P. Shaw, a native of Ohio, and has five children, viz: Jessie, Lizzie, Ella, Emma, and Chauncey.
ALONZO PLUMLEY .- This early pioneer of Contra Costa county is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and was born August 12, 1830. When but a small boy his father died, and his mother married again. They then moved to Canada, where our subject resided until seventeen years of age. He then left home, and went to Cook county. Illinois, and followed several different occupations, and remained in that State until March 21, 1853. On the above date Mr. Plumley, with his young wife, started to cross the plains with horse-teams. After a usual and uneventful trip, they arrived at Volcano, August 5, 1853, and coming direct to Contra Costa, first settled on the place now owned by Mr. Gregory, of Ygnacio valley, but a short time after he moved to what is now known as Morgan Territory, and, in the Fall of 1864, purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located one mile north of Byron, where he is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Plumley is there enjoying the fruits of a well-spent and prosperous life, beloved by the wife of his youth, surrounded by his children, and respected by the whole community in which he resides. Was married in Cook county, Illinois, March 1, 1853, to Miss Julia E. Chilson, a native of Massachusetts. By this union they have twelve children living ; their names are: Levina Elizabeth, Sarah Eleanor, Charles Eugene, Olive Ada, Ida E., Alonzo Monroe, Lorenzo Grant, Willard Olney, Emma Lydia, Edith Orela, Lillie Julia and Lulu Maud. A portrait of this gentleman will be found in this work.
HENRY POLLEY .- Was born in Russia, Herkimer county, New York, September 10, 1837, and received his education at the common schools, afterwards attending the academy of Fairfield. He resided in his birth- place until twenty-three years of age, and on April 5, 1860, sailed from New York on board the Northern Light to Aspinwall, and on the Pacific side secured passage on board the Sonora, arriving in San Fran- cisco, April 28th, of the same year. Our subject first proceeded to the mines of Forest Hill, and embarked in mining for a short time, but re- turned to Sacramento and worked until August of that year. Mr. Polley then came to Clayton, Contra Costa county, and there worked by the month until 1868, when he engaged in the livery business, in company with that well-known and popular livery man of Martinez, Seeley Ben- nett, a business in which he continued until 1872, when he sold out and
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went to the lower country, engaged in the manufacture of cheeses for one year, and again returning to Martinez, worked for Mr. Bennett for one year. In 1876 our subject returned to Clayton and bought his pres- ent ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, where he is now engaged in general farming and fruit raising. Mr. Polley has been twice married ; first, in San Francisco, in June, 1867, to Miss Martha Willoughby, a native of New York. By this union they had one child : George W. His second marriage occurred in Clayton, in 1876, to Miss Annie F. Carpenter, a native of New York. By this union they have no issue.
HON. CHARLES BRUCE PORTER .- The subject of this sketch was born in Taunton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, November 29, 1817. From nine to thirteen years of age he was a pupil of the Franklin Public School in Boston, and in after boyhood he had a five years' maritime experience as a seaman ; then learned and followed a branch of the engraving business for calico printing. February 20, 1849, he sailed from New York for California with the first party (the Gordon Associa- tion, numbering one hundred and twenty persons,) that attempted the passage of the Nicaragua route, by way of the San Juan river, Lake Nicaragua, and the port of Realijo on the Pacific. After a detention of four months in the country, awaiting a vessel, the party sailed from Realijo in the small Guatemalean brigantine Aun, on or about the 20th of July, and arrived in San Francisco on October 5, 1849, after a tedious voyage, most of the time on short allowance of poor provisions and water. . After two or three years of mining experience and a like terin of resi- dence in San Francisco, Mr. Porter, in 1855, became a resident of Contra Costa county, settling in Green valley, and followed the business of farming. In 1860 he was elected as the candidate of the then young Republican party to represent the county in the State Assembly, and was re-elected the following year. In 1862 he was elected to the State Senate for the district composed of Contra Costa and Marin counties for the term of two years, as then provided by the Constitution ; but, by the adoption of amendments, the terms of Senators, with biennial sessions of the Legislature, were extended to four years, and Mr. Porter was re- elected to the Senate in 1863 for the term of four years. His continual service in the two branches of the Legislature thus comprised the period from January, 1861, to December, 1867. Since July, 1865, the subject of this sketch has been identified with the county as editor of the Contra Costa Gazette, and still continues that relation. Mr. Porter married, November 24, 1857, Miss Annie Williamson, a native of Bantry, Ireland, by which union there are six children, viz .: Harriot, Miriam, Ileen, Mar- garet W., Edmund Bruce, Charles B. and Robert C. A portrait of Mr. Porter will be found in these pages.
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Biographical Sketches.
ANDREW PORTMAN .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Penn- sylvania, and was born November 25, 1832. At the age of thirteen years his parents both died, and he went and made his home with a brother-in-law for one year, then he went to Ohio and stayed two years, when he returned to his birthplace and remained until 1852, at which time he concluded to seek his fortune on the golden shores of the Pacific. But, on arriving at Panama he concluded to remain there, therefore sold his through ticket to San Francisco and found employment on the railroad at that time being built across the Isthmus. Remaining in Panama some four years, we next find Mr. Portman again in his native State, where he resided for a short time, when he again, in July 1856, started via Panama for San Francisco, and arrived the following August. His first venture on this coast was in the mines for two years. In November, 1858, he came to this county and worked at wood-chopping, and in 1860 purchased his present place of one hundred and sixty acres of land, where he has since bought one thousand and eighty acres of swamp and overflowed land which he is now trying to reclaim. On taking an inventory of his stock in 1860, Mr. Portman found himself possessed of fifty-two head of sheep, one cow and calf, one hen and four chickens, but the old saying of " small beginnings make large endings" still holds good in this case, as Mr. Portman is now in affluent circumstances and possesses a well- stocked farm of over one thousand two hundred acres. Was united in marriage at Babbe's Landing, July 27, 1870, to Miss Johanna C. A. Babbe, · a native of Germany. They have four children, all living: Frederick A., Sophia E., William N. and Andrew F.
WILLIAM COBB PRATT .- The son of William and Sarah (Morey) Pratt, was born in Greenwich, Washington county, New York, September 7, 1809, where he received a common school education and resided on a farm until twenty-eight years of age. In 1837 Mr. Pratt moved to Blissfield, Michigan, and then was appointed to a government position in the Indian Department at Mackinaw, which he filled for three years. His next move was to Huron county, Ohio, where he embarked in railroad- ing, as a contractor, and after a residence of six years in Ohio, he moved to New York. September 15, 1850, found him on board a steamer bound, via Panama, for the Land of Gold, coming on board of the steamer that brought the first news of the admission of California into the United States. Arriving in San Francisco October 17, 1850, Mr. Pratt immediately proceeded to Jackson Creek valley, Amador county, and engaged in general farming, but after one year, moved to Ione, and engaged in merchandising. Mr. Pratt filled several official positions, being elected in 1852 Justice of the Peace of Ione, and in the following year was elected to the State Legislature, then sitting at Benicia. In
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October, 1864, the subject of this sketch first came to Ygnacio valley and engaged in farming; four years later he moved to Walnut Creek and embarked in the merchandise trade, selling out a few years ago; he is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. Mr. Pratt was thrice married. First, in Detroit, Michigan, to Miss Delia E. Lanfear; she died in Sacramento county, California, without issue. His second wife was Mrs. M. Comstock, née Maston, who died in 1855, and was buried in Volcano, Amador county. Married his present wife in Sacramento, January 19, 1858, she being Miss Louise M. Howland; by this union they have no issue.
HENRY RAAP .- Was born in Holstein, Germany, June 20, 1830, and is the son of Conrad and Wileky (Holm) Raap. He received his education in his native place. In 1848, entered the military service, took part in the war between Holstein and Denmark, and was discharged in 1851. He then emigrated to the United States, first settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he embarked in farming and horticulture, which he followed for two years, and finally accepted a situation as interpreter for the Great Western Railroad Company, his business being to direct the numerous foreigners then arriving to the proper trains, etc. In 1854, his attention was turned towards the Pacific Coast, and in the following year he emigrated to California, via Nicaragua. On his arrival, he immediately proceeded to the mines at Placerville and El Dorado, commencing to work on the American river, and with considerable success. The proceeds thus accumulated he deposited in Adams' Bank, which, failing soon after, swept away Mr. Raap's hard-earned gold, and left him penniless ; but to despair was not in his nature. He returned to the mines ; in 1858, we find him hard at work on the Frazer river, British Columbia, and in the year following, returning to Europe on a six months' visit. In 1860, he came back to California, and was variously employed until 1862, when he went to Salmon river, Washington Territory, for mining purposes. In 1862 he again returned to Germany, and was there married. He then once more turned towards the Pacific Slopes, arriving in the Fall of 1863, located in Martinez, but shortly thereafter purchased his present property, consisting of two hundred acres of land, one mile south of Martinez, where he is engaged in farming and horticultural pursuits. Married, December 16, 1862, Magdalene Classen, a native of Holstein, Germany, and has : Harry, Adele, John, Alfred and Otto.
SAMUEL FRANKLIN RAMAGE .- Was born in Butler county, Ohio, July 1, 1836. When three years of age he, with his parents, moved to Pike county, Illinois, and resided there and in Adams county, same State, until 1856. On September 8th of that year, he sailed from New York, via Panama, for California, and settled in Contra Costa county. . For four
Silbern y B Soto
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years on arrival he was engaged in stock raising, and in the mean time, in 1858, went to Oregon and drove cattle to Contra Costa county. Since 1860, with the exception of three years, when he was engaged in hauling coal from the mines to Antioch, he has followed farming on the San Joa- quin for three years on the Marsh Rancho and on the land where he first located and now lives. Mr. Ramage was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1881, which office he now holds, and is School Trustee for Green Valley District. Married firstly, in 1860, Sarah J. Flippen, who died in 1873. By that union there are four children, John A., Joseph C., James W., and Clara E. Married secondly, October 2, 1879, Mrs. Lizzie Boswell, Oakland, California, and has one child : Robert C.
JAMES RANKIN .- Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, April 25, 1848. When seventeen years of age he emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York, January 21, 1865, and after spending eight months in that State, he proceeded westward, visiting different parts until the year 1869, when the Union Pacific Railroad was completed, coming to San Francisco and locating there. He went to Somersville, Contra Costa county, July 4, 1870, and made his home there, engaging in mining until 1873. He then purchased the Union Hotel, at Somersville, from N. A. Tyler, and carried on that business for fifteen months, when he again went to San Francisco, where he remained about the same length of time. He re- turned to Contra Costa county, and in partnership with R. S. Cross, opened the first store in Judsonville. He carried on this business until March, 1879, when he bought the general merchandise store of John Gambs, in Somersville, and in the following month, transferred to his pre- sent location in Nortonville, where he has since engaged in the same busi- ness. Married in San Francisco, July 8, 1879, Sarah E. Brown, a native of Pennsylvania. By this union there are two children: Janet, and James.
WILLIAM REHNERT .- Born in Prussia, September 24, 1824, resided there until twenty years of age and learned the trade of black- smith. He afterwards spent three years in different parts, the last being Hamburg, from whence he sailed in 1847, for Galveston, Texas. There he worked at his trade for one year, after which he was engaged as black- smith and horse-doctor in the United States army. In September, 1851 he started overland through Mexico to Magellen, with horse-teams part of the way, and the balance on pack-animals. He was accompanied by his wife and seven companions, who sailed from Mazatlan on the schooner Cornelius, arriving in San Francisco December 16, 1851. There he resided for eight years, working at his trade, the last six of which was on his own account. In October, 1859, he moved to Contra Costa county, and located on his present ranch on the San Pablo road, about two and a half miles from Pinole. Married in San Antonio, Texas, June
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13, 1851, Barbara Miller, a native of Germany. There are three children · living, viz .: Charles W., Louisa E., and Annie Wilhelmina. Two are deceased.
JOHN REINERS .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Harom and Sesche (Meyer) Reiners, and was born in Drege, Province Hanover, Germany, February 28, 1822. At the age of fifteen years, having first attended the common schools of his birthplace, he entered a mercantile establishment in the city of Bremen, and there remained seven years. Subsequently, he returned to his native town, and for fourteen years was in business on his own account there. Mr. Reiners now embarked in the lumber trade, which he continued until 1862, in which year he came to California, and for four years was a resident of San Francisco. In 1866 he returned to Germany, but four years later, in 1870, came back to the Pacific Coast, and resided in San Francisco until the Spring of 1873, when he returned to Germany and remained there until October of the same year. In November, 1873, he settled on his present ranch in Contra Costa county, where he now farms three hundred and ninety-five acres of land. Our subject is a man well-known in the section of the country in which he resides, while his honest integrity of character places him in the front rank of the citizens of Contra Costa. He married, in 1873, Miss Elsa Esdohn, a native of Sudweihe, Province Hanover, Germany.
CHARLES RHINE .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Poland, born March 9, 1838, and in his native place attended school. When fourteen years of age, he served as a clerk to a lawyer for two years, and when sixteen, sailed from Hamburg to seek his fortune in the New World, crossing the Atlantic to New York, and there remaining until September, 1856, when he took passage on board of the George Law to Panama, and on the Pacific side on board the Golden Gate, arriving in San Francisco in October of the same year. Staying there but a short time, he engaged in trade at the mines until the Spring of 1857, when he came to Contra Costa county, and in 1858 opened a general merchandise store, one and a half miles east of the present site of Clayton. One year later, Mr. Rhine was among the first to open business in Clayton, where he conducted a general merchandise store, in partnership with Joel Clayton, for whom the town was named. After three years partnership, Mr. Rhine bought Mr. Clayton out, and has since continued in the general trade. Fifteen years ago, he moved into his present store building, and now carries a stock valued at from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars. Mr. Rhine is also postmaster of Clayton, and in connection with his store is extensively engaged in farming, owning now some nine hundred acres of land. Mr. Rhine was united in marriage in Clayton, August 16, 1868,
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to Miss Celia Lobree, a native of Prussia. By this union they have eight children living: Rachael, Adeline, Pauline, Esther, Abraham, Annie, Elias and Sarah.
WILLIAM RICE .- The subject of this narrative; whose portrait finds a place in the History of Contra Costa county, is the son of Archibald Rice and his third wife, Sally (Richmond) Rice, he being the first-born of this union, and first saw the light in Caswell county, North Carolina, May 2, 1814. At the age of six years Mr. Rice commenced going to school in his native place, and so continued, attending during the Summer months, until October, 1826. In that Fall Mr. Rice, Senior, disposed of his prop- erty in North Carolina and emigrated to Howard county, Missouri, where he rented a farm for one year. In this place our subject resumed his studies for one Summer, and then completed his education, so far as school is concerned. In the Spring of 1828 he accompanied the family to Rolls (now Monroe) county, Missouri, where they settled in the midst of the forest, and in the latter part of the Fall became assistant in a little school there, taught by James Dickey. During the Summer and Fall of the year 1829 an outbreak among the Indians occurred which caused considerable annoyance to the residents, but the erection of a fort soon acted as a peacemaker among the redskins. In the Fall of 1831 their lands in Monroe county were sold, and the following Spring the family located near Independence. On May 19, 1833, our subject was dispatched to North Carolina, armed with a power of attorney, to wind up the estate of his maternal grandfather, who had died during the Fall of the previous year, and left considerable property to his daughter and son-in-law. Even at this day of railroads and steamboats the journey is a long one ; what then must it have been when Mr. Rice undertook it in the pre-staging days, in a two-horse wagon and acting as his own coachman! Matters being settled, he returned to Missouri, arriving September 25th, with a family of eight negroes, the property of his parents. In this year (1833), at the same time as did his father and mother, he joined the Baptist church, the three being admitted by baptism at the same time and place.
In the years 1831 and 1832, Mormons first commenced to settle in Jackson county, Missouri ; in 1833, during his absence in North Carolina, they began to give trouble, therefore the citizens of the county, after meeting in council, demolished their printing office, with the press, the only one then in the district, and wound up their vengeance by tarring and feathering their Bishop, Patridge. This tended to exasperate them still farther and caused more violence, while, in October, so desperate had they become, they gave battle to the Gentiles near Big Blue Brazil, when a lawyer of Independence was killed, and Harvey Wilson wounded. On the following day the Mormons made a demonstration against Inde- pendence, when the citizens of the county turned out en masse, met them
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when within a mile and a half of the town, held them at bay until they surrendered and finally agreed to leave the county. In the Summer of 1834, they once more arrived to get a foot-hold in the district, but as soon as intelligence of their intentions went abroad a general meeting of the community was convened ; volunteer military companies were speedily organized ; Samuel C. Owens was appointed commander-in-chief of the forces, who were immediately marched to the different crossings of the Missouri river, where they guarded these until the venture was aban- doned. In these stirring events Mr. Rice was an active participator, and stood guard for several days and nights. The next important event in the life of our subject was his marriage, February 26, 1840, to Louisa, daughter of William and Martha Ish, a native of La Fayette county, Missouri. He now settled about five miles from Independence, on the road to Lexington, where he engaged in farming, stock-raising, and buying and selling horses aud mules. His health not being good at this time, he undertook a journey into the Southern States with horses, which he disposed of to advantage, indeed, so great benefit did he derive from these journeys that he continued in the business of stock-driving for several years, in the course of his peregrinations visiting every State in the South, except South Carolina. While resident in Missouri, Mr. Rice became the father of seven children, and perceiving the necessity of providing them with an education that might be of benefit in after life, he felt dissatisfied with the common school system then in vogue. To rectify this, in a measure, he obtained permission to open a private school in the Baptist church for a few months, and hired a teacher to conduct it upon his (Mr. Rice's) responsibility. So well pleased was he with the experiment thus made, that Mr. Rice built a substantial structure of his own, for the purpose, on his own land, and kept up his own private school so long as he lived in Missouri. He also took in a few select scholars, some of them as boarders, into his own family, while every grade of instruction to be found in a common school was taught in his- nay more, arrangements were made for tuition in the musical art, and in classic latin as well.
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