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 78
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JOHN TORMEY, (deceased) .- This gentleman was born in Westmeath, Ireland, in the year 1825, and there resided until 1849, when, in company with his sister, Ann Tormey, he sailed for the United States, arriving in New York in the month of April. He almost immediately proceeded to Peoria, Illinois, where he remained about ten months. He then, it being the Spring of 1850, with his brother-in-law, Peter Fagan, and a cousin, started with ox-teams to face the hardships of a journey across the plains to California. On arrival in the Golden State, he first turned his atten- tion to mining in Tuolumne county, an occupation he followed until the Fall of 1852, when he returned to New York. Subsequently, Mr. Tor- mey went to the Western States, and there purchasing a band of cattle drove them to California, to Suscol, Napa county, where he arrived in the Fall of 1853. A year later, there being associated with him in the transaction Peter Fagan and Isaac Lancashire, he purchased a tract of three thousand acres of land in Suscol, and there followed farming and stock-raising until 1865, in which year he came to Contra Costa county, and bought the interest of one of the Martinez heirs in a two-thousand- acre tract of the Pinole Grant, still, however, retaining his interest in Napa county. Mr. Tormey now embarked in farming and stock-raising on his newly acquired property, and, in 1867, in partnership with his brother, Patrick Tormey, purchased four and one-third elevenths of the Pinole Grant, consisting of seven thousand acres, on which he resided until his death on July 21, 1877. In the Fall of 1866, John Tormey was elected to the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa county from Town- ship Number One, and was four times re-elected to the like position, continuing to perform the functions of the office until the period of his demise. John Tormey was a man of generous, noble, kind and liberal instincts, a spirit which was displayed on many occasions, not only in assisting his own relatives, but others not of kin. Few men had so large a number of attached friends, and the attendance at his funeral was the largest ever seen in Martinez, many of those present having come from abroad and from other portions of the county, and the train of carriages following the remains from the family residence, over eight miles of dusty road, numbered upwards of a hundred and twenty. He was buried in the Martinez Cemetery, in the family plot upon the hill-top, which looks out over the waters of the Straits of Carquinez and Suisun Bay, to the far-off snowy Sierras. His remains were reverently laid away with the last attentions of affection and the impressive ceremonies of religion. The spot is marked by a monument graceful· in design and elegant in form, of rare beauty and excellent workmanship. Mr. Tormey married in Stockton, November, 1859, Miss Anna Waterhouse, a native of Missouri, by which union there were nine children, five of whom are now living, viz: Thomas L., John V., Philip J., Mary T. and Ida M.
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Biographical Sketches.
PATRICK TORMEY .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Patrick and Mary (Rooney) Tormey, and was born in Westmeath, Ireland, in March, 1840. There he resided until September, 1858, in which year, after undergoing a three years' academic training, he, with three sisters and a brother, sailed from Galway to the United States. Arriving in New York September 29th, he remained in that city a short time, and on the 7th of October, in company with Hon. D. N. Sherburne, of Sycamore valley, sailed for the Isthmus of Panama in the steamer St. Louis, the journey to San Francisco being continued in the Louisa, where he landed on the last day of October, 1858. He now joined his brother, the well-known and much lamented late John Tormey, at Suscol, Napa county, and there engaged in farming for a year. In the Fall of 1859, our subject proceeded to Stockton, San Joaquin county, and for six months was employed in the California Flour Mills; after which he came to Contra Costa county, and was engaged for eighteen months in herding cattle for his brother on the Pinole Rancho. In June, 1861, he drove some stock to Nevada, returning at the end of four months, and leasing a portion of the place which lie has since purchased. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits for two years, at the end of which he transferred his operations to the "Adobe" ranch, near Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he resided four years. On the expiration of that term he returned to Contra Costa county, and with his brother, the aforesaid John Tormey, purchased his present large tract of land of seven thousand acres, it being a part of the Pinole Grant, and the portions of Mesdames Estudillo, Merle, Berryessa, Richardson, and a third share of Mrs. Castro. The property has a frontage on San Pablo Bay of three miles ; on it is situated Tormey Station, on the line of the San Pablo and Tulare Railroad, now the property of the Central Pacific Railroad Company; it is on the direct southern route to the Eastern States, and since coming into the hands of Mr. Tormey, the value of the land has been much enhanced by many improvements. In the Fall of 1877, Mr. Tormey was elected to a place on the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa county, made vacant by the demise of his brother, who had held the position for the previous nine years, and has since been called upon to fill these functions, being one of the most active members of the Board. To know Mr. Tormey is to appreciate his manly worth. The excellence of his life, his unswerving rectitude of purpose, and undevi- ating honesty, all go to make up a man to be trusted and honored-as he is, indeed, by the citizens of the county in which he has been a resi- dent for more than two decades of years. He married, in May, 1875, Mary Mathews, a native of Boston, and has three children-John P., Leo F. and Mary.
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History of Contra Costa County.
JOHN TRENGOVE .- A native of Cornwall, England, born October 10, 1838. When but nine years of age, he, with his father, emigrated, and arrived in Vera Cruz, Mexico, at the time of its occupation by the Ameri- can army under General Scott, and remained in that country until March, 1851. He then started, via Acapulco, to San Francisco, where they arrived April 8th of the above year. Our subject immediately proceeded to Stockton, and thence to Tuolumne county, where he was employed in a dry goods store ; then embarked in mining for about ten years; then served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade; then mining again, until coming to Contra Costa county, which event occurred November 17, 1877. He first located in Somersville, where he resided until 1875, then went to Santa Cruz and followed his trade for some time, then superin- tended and completed the Railroad tunnel which runs through a part of that city, and for the Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad Company. In July, 1877, returned to Tuolumne county, and remained there until December, 1878, when he again came to this county, locating at Somersville, where he followed his trade; later bought out the present general variety store in the post-office building. He now holds the position of deputy post- master of Somersville, and district deputy of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of district number forty-nine, being initiated June 18, 1862. Was married in Somersville, November 15, 1876, to Miss S. E. Dunnigan, a native of Iowa. It is sad to say their only little child, a daughter, is now deceased.
JOHN H. TROY .- Born in Ireland in the year 1837, where he resided until March, 1854, when he emigrated to the United States, and remained in Boston until February 14, 1857. He then started for California, via Panama, arriving in the Golden State early in the month of March. On arrival he immediately proceeded to British Columbia, at which time there was the Frazer river excitement, and after a stay there of ten months, returned to California, and in March, 1858, moved to Pacheco, Contra Costa county, and engaged in mercantile pursuits until December 28, 1875, when he made Oakland, Alameda county, his home. On January 1st of the following year, he embarked in the insurance business, which he is at present carrying on. Married November 3, 1861, Louisa Engalmeyer, a native of Louisville, Kentucky; by whom there is one son : George D. Married secondly, Kate Harris, on June 2, 1867. By this union there are four sons, viz .: John H., Charles S., Frank M., and Robert E.
RICHARD R. VEAL .- This successful farmer of Township Number Five is a native of Pike county, Illinois, was born July 5, 1838, on a farm, and was educated at the common schools of his native county until 1856.
John Reiners.
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November 5th of the latter year he, with his parents, two brothers and three sisters, started, via New Orleans and Panama, for the Golden State, arriving in San Francisco January 24, 1857. After a short time spent in Solano county, they removed to Sonoma county, and engaged in stock- raising, where the subject of this sketch resided until his coming to this county, which event occurred February 22, 1868, locating on his present valuable farm of eight hundred acres, in the Eden Plain district, four miles from Brentwood. Mr. Veal is a thorough and successful farmer, enjoying the confidence and esteem of the whole community in which he lives. Was united in marriage, in Martinez, March 11, 1880, to Mrs. Selinda Sexton, a native of New York. A portrait of Mr. Veal will be found in this work.
THEODOR WAGNER .- The subject of this sketch, the distinguished Surveyor-General of the State of California, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Hesse-Cassel, September 9, 1841. Coming to the United States at the early age of fifteen years, he may justly be considered one of our "self-made men," who by his own indus- try, labor, efforts and exertions has succeeded in reaching the honorable and responsible position he has held for the past four years, and which is about to be relinquished by him. The Great Rebellion found him in Florida. Leaving the small savings he had acquired there, he at once proceeded to the North and entered the Union army, in the service of which he earned the higher grades of rank, remaining until the close of the war. Going to Arkansas after the termination of the conflict, he served as Deputy Secretary of State, and thence moving to Missouri, he there entered upon the practice of law and surveying. Arriving in Cali- fornia in the year 1872, he took up his residence at Visalia, Tulare county, and there practiced almost exclusively as an attorney in land cases. The investigation ordered by the Hon. Carl Schurz, then Secretary of the Interior, into the so-called "desert land swindles," enabled him to use his experience in land matters to such good effect on behalf of the Govern- ment that the appointment of United States Surveyor-General was con- ferred upon him, which office he has held ever since. In this elevated position he has had opportunities for proving his talent for organization and his usual conscientiousness, while he has succeeded in infusing into the affairs of the important office a perfect system, which will inure to the advantage of his successor, as well as bestow invaluable benefit to the public at large. Mr. Wagner established perfect order in arranging the documents relative to private land claims in California, some of which are of the greatest importance, and all of public interest, heretofore only existing in a chaotic mass, thereby rendering them safe and secure against waste, theft, and the dangers of being counterfeited. Previous to his
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advent the clerks and draftsmen in the Surveyor-General's office received their pay at irregular intervals, subjecting their salary demands to a heavy discount, and thereby becoming a prey to money sharks-an iniquity he has most effectually rectified. A large amount of work was left undone, and the sum of eight thousand dollars-set apart for doing the same-was used for unnecessary expenditures, probably with a view to keep up a set of political barnacles. The neglected work was taken in hand and completed by a system of savings from other sources of expenditure, so that in due time the employés of the office were promptly paid at the end of each month; the work of the offices was perfectly systematized, and there exists no deficiency in any manner. Mr. Wagner has been singularly fortunate in rendering decisions to frustrate the nefarious designs of land sharks and land speculators, a case in point being the now celebrated "Sobrante" case, where over sixty thousand acres of valuable land in Contra Costa and Alameda counties were pre- served to the public and prevented from becoming a prey to speculators. It was but natural under these circumstances that he should be assailed by parties representing adverse interests and their tools who have failed in their endeavors to use him for their nefarious schemes. These attacks resulted in an investigation, demanded by him, which proved his invio- lable integrity, and resulted in exposing the groundlessness of the charges. These facts are the best acknowledgment of the excellent manner in which Mr. Wagner has administered the office of Surveyor-General. It is therefore much to be regretted that he cannot be prevailed upon to seek a reappointment, and although earnestly requested to do so, he feels obliged to decline the honor, as the salary attached to the position is not commensurate with the arduous and responsible duties devolving there- upon ; with this, however, we are assured that in whatever calling Mr. Wagner may embark in the future he will not only succeed, but have the good wishes of all for his success, and will leave behind him a record, saying monumentum ære perennius-a monument more durable than brass.
JAMES T. WALKER .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in this volume, is the son of Samuel S. and Barbara (Toomey) Walker, and nephew of the renowed Captain Joe Walker, whose name to Californians is as familiar in their mouths as household words. The gentleman of whom we write was born in Roane county, Tennessee, November 25, 1825. At the age of six years he was taken by his parents to Jackson county, Missouri, whither they had transferred their home, and here our subject attended school and dwelt until 1847. In July, of that year, Mr. Walker, with eight others, started for California with ox-teams to brave the dangers of a then little-known journey. In the
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month of November that portion of the Green river known as Henry's Fork they reached, and here leaving the regular Northern route, made the attempt to enter the country by the Southern Pass, but on account of the depth of snow, were compelled to retrace their steps to Brown's Hole, on Green river, eighty miles below the old emigrant crossing, on that stream. Here, our subject and three companions, with nought but the pine trees for their shelter, and no food save the fruits of the chase, passed a forlorn and desolate Winter, while it was not until the following July that they were able to continue their journey, arriving in California in September, 1848. Mr. Walker at once proceeded to Gilroy, Santa Clara county, purchased and butchered a lot of cattle, with which he intended to supply the mines during the Winter months. Subsequently, he proceeded to those at Dry creek, and, finally, commenced teaming between Sacramento and Coloma, an occupation he followed until the Winter rains compelled him to desist. He then engaged in mining at Drytown, Amador county, with good success, until the Spring of 1849. Mr. Walker is next discovered located at Stockton for a short period, whence he found his way to the mines at Angel creek, and there remained until June of that year. At this period he returned to Gilroy, purchased cattle, drove them to the mines, then disposed of them, and continued in this trade until 1850. In February, of that year, he deter- mined to return to visit his home in Missouri. Mark his route. Tak- ing passage in the steamship Panama, from San Francisco, he proceeded to the Isthmus, thence proceeding down the Chagres river, to the island of Cuba he went in the steamer Georgia, there he joined the British packet Avon bound for Mobile, from that place he voyaged to New Orleans on the steamer James L. Duy, whence he journeyed by steamer to his home. The visit was a flying one, however, for in April of the same year, we find him once more with his face turned towards the plains and California, where he arrived in August. Our subject now sojourned in Sacramento City until January, 1851, when, with a party of six, besides himself, he started for New Mexico and Arizona, districts of which little then were known, but which had been visited by, and found favor with his uncle, Captain Joe Walker. In June, of that year, the eleventh day, we find Mr. Walker leaving Santa Fé, with five comrades, for Missouri, where his stay again was not long. In April, 1852, we see him for the third time about to undertake the arduous journey across the plains to the Pacific Slopes, on this occasion being accompanied by his father's family, and having with him a drove of cattle and horses. In the Fall of 1853, he moved from Gilroy to Contra Costa county, and settled on his present estate of one thousand four hundred acres, where he has since resided. Mr. Walker served three years as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa, while he has been prominently
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History of Contra Costa County.
identified with all movements tending to the advancement of the interests and prosperity of the county. Married, May 14, 1861, Mary C. Vaughan, a native of Jackson county, Missouri, and has: John M., Louisa B. and Josephine E.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH R. WALKER, (deceased) .- Standing in the pretty little Alhambra cemetery, at Martinez, is a plain, unpretentious marble headstone, bearing the following inscription : " Captain Joseph R. Walker, born in Roane county, Tennessee, December 13, 1798. Emigrated to Mis- souri in 1819, to New Mexico in 1820, to Rocky Mountains in 1832, to California in 1833. Camped at Yosemite November, 13, 1833. Died October 27, 1876, Æ. seventy-seven years, ten months and fourteen days." What a wealth of reminiscence there is in these few simple statements-what a life of energy, toil and adventure, do they speak. It would appear, however, to be doubtful if Tennessee has the honor of claiming this worthy old pioneer among pioneers. We are informed by no less an authority than his nephew, with whom the aged veteran passed his declining years, that the Captain was actually born in Virginia, but he was taken to Tennessee at a very early age, whither his parents had emigrated. In 1819, he moved to and was a resident of Jackson county, Missouri, and took part in the planting in that State of the arts and sciences, which have done so much towards making the name of the United States respected in every part of the habitable world. In the year 1820, Captain Walker made his first trip on the plains, going with a party to New Mexico on a trapping and trading expedition, having the ultimate idea of crossing to the Pacific coast, but when they had reached as far as Prescott lake, troops were dispatched by the Governor of New Mexico to order their return. He therefore retired to the settlements, and, until the year 1832, maintained a residence in Jackson county, and carried on the business of trapper and trader, his principal ground being in Arkansas and Texas. On a trip from Independence to Fort Gibson, Arkansas, for cattle, our subject first met the redoubtable Captain Bonne- ville, then stationed there, who told Walker of his proposed expedition to the Rocky Mountains, and wished him to join it as a partner; he had not money enough, however, therefore was engaged as one of the captains of the two hundred and-forty men, which comprised the company when rendezvoused at Fort Osage in 1832. In his adventures of Captain Bonneville, the greatest of American writers, Washington Irving, thus describes Captain Walker : "He was about six feet high, strong built, dark complexioned, brave in spirit, though mild in manners. He had resided in Missouri for many years, on the frontier ; had been among the earliest adventurers to Santa Fé, where he went to trap beaver, and was taken by the Spaniards. He returned to Missouri, and had acted, by
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turns, as sheriff, trader and trapper, until he was selected as a leader by Captain Bonneville." Captain Walker remained with Bonneville until the Spring of 1833, when he left the expedition in the Rocky Mountains, and determined to visit California. The best maps he could procure of the country represented a river flowing from the Great Salt lake to the Pacific coast. He made up his mind to follow this route, and accordingly, in the early Spring, set out at the head of thirty bold and experienced trappers, well mounted and accoutred. Arriving at Salt Lake he made its circuit, to be disappointed in finding the river; but nothing daunted, he struck out west, and in October reached the Sierra Nevada, which he undertook to scale. His first attempt to descend to the west was near the headwaters of the Tuolumne, which he found impassable, but working a little farther to the southward, he struck the waters of the Merced, and got into the valley of the San Joaquin. His was the first white man's eyes that that ever looked upon the Yosemite, which he then discovered, although the honor has been accorded to some other person at a period twenty years later. His party encamped in the San Joaquin valley, recruiting and trapping until Spring. Meanwhile Captain Walker, accompanied by a few men, explored the principal valleys in the State, and made himself thoroughly acquainted with their topography and capabilities. In the Spring of 1833, he moved to the southward along the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, looking for a pass to the east. His skill in judging the lay of the country at a distance has been described by old and experienced mountaineers as something so marvelous as to be nearly akin to magic. He would look at a chain of mountains forty or fifty miles away, which he had never seen before, and tell in an instant whether they possessed timber, water or pasturage, and what was the best approach to them-where were the natural water-ways and barriers. Guided by this unerring instinct, he passed to the southward until he" came to what he considered the only true pass through the Sierras, and which is situated in about thirty-five and a half degrees of North Lati- tude, and bears his name ; Walker's Pass he considered the true outlet from California to the East. On his return to the East, he kept nearly on the thirty-fifth parallel, and found the country east of the Colorado fertile, and a climate unequalled in the world for salubrity. Thus he continued for the next decade of years, trapping and trading, or, as his nephew expresses it, "coming and going."
In 1843, our subject was in the vicinity of Fort Hall. While there, Captain J. B. Chiles arrived with the family of that venerable pioneer, George Yount, of Napa, Julius Martin and wife, now of Gilroy, Santa Clara county, and Frank Mcclellan, of Pacheco, Contra Costa county. A Miss Ayres afterwards joined the party. Being afraid that they would not be able to get over the mountains before the Winter, Captain
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Walker agreed to pilot the party into California. Captain Chiles was sent on in advance, and was to return to meet them at or near Walker's lake with supplies. After recruiting the animals, Captain Walker started with his party for California by way of Walker's lake, the route he had formerly traveled. He missed Mr. Chiles, and the party were in severe straits for provisions. They got fish from the Indians on Walker's river, trading horse-shoe nails (which the Indians used for awls) for them. Beyond Walker's lake they abandoned the wagons, as Winter was closing in upon them ; they therefore cached their goods, killed their cattle for provisions, and after terrible suffering got across the mountains into Tulare valley, at some point now in Kern county. The chief dependence of this party of helpless women for food was on the rifle of Captain Walker, and his woodcraft to pilot them over the wild waste of desert plains and lofty mountains which intervened between them and the set- tlements. His courage and energy were equal to the task. The captain was wont to describe with great spirit the feast the party had on a fat mustang pony, the first thing he killed after getting into Tulare valley. In 1846, war having been declared between the United States and Mexico, Captain Walker drove a band of mules into New Mexico, which he dis- posed of to the Government, and afterwards bought the same species of animals from the Mohave Indians for a like purpose. In the Spring of 1847, he returned to Jackson county, Missouri, where he sojourned until 1849, in the Spring of which year he arrived once more in California. During that Summer he traded in the mines, driving stock thither and selling them. He continued until 1851 on a ranch he had acquired near Gilroy, in which year he organized a company of nine persons to proceed to New Mexico and Arizona. In June, 1851, however, the party broke up and scattered, the captain remaining behind until the month of March in the following year. He then took up a ranch for a year or two near his old friend, Julius Martin, at Gilroy, and subsequently, in 1854-55, organized a company which proceeded on a prospecting tour in the Bodie and Esmeralda districts. In 1857, he turned towards Arizona, but one of his men, named Lyons, being wounded in a fracas by the Mohave Indians (he died afterwards in Los Angeles), the captain returned to California. In 1859, he acted as guide to the troops sent up the Colorado from Fort Yuma to chastise the Indians. On May 9, 1861, he left on a prospecting tour in Arizona, New Mexico besides other places in that locality, while in the following year he arrived at the place where now the town of Prescott, Arizona, is located, and discovered the rich mines in that vicinity. The year 1864 saw him back in California, but to return before the close of the year, to remain until 1867, when he came to reside with his nephew, James T. Walker, at his home in the beautiful Ygnacio valley, where he died peacefully, October 27, 1876. Several
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