USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 49
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Hugh Walker. Was born in Nova Scotia, August 9, 1843, and there resided until 1863, where he learned the cooper's trade with his father. In the last mentioned year he settled in Boston, the Winter of 1863-4 being spent in Indiana, and in May, 1864, sailed from Boston for California, arriv- ing in San Francisco on the 28th day of June of that year. On landing he at once commenced working at his trade and continued in San Francisco for nine months, when he entered the government service as a cooper at Tucson, Arizona, where he was employed for a year and a half; he then went into the hotel business at that place, and there resided until June, 1867, when he returned to San Francisco and began his trade again, following it for five months, when he was engaged by a contractor of the State Prison at San Quentin. Here he remained as foreman of the cooper shop until April, 1869, when he went to Hamilton, White Pine county, Nevada, and there engaged in prospecting for silver, but finding none, and failing in health, he returned to San Francisco and once more found his trade to be a benefit. In 1875 he came to Olema and opened the store which he now conducts. Married
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
April 28, 1877, Mamie Smith, by whom he has one child named Ella Irene.
Samuel P. Weeks. This worthy gentleman and pioneer, a portrait of whom will be found in these pages, was born April 30, 1828, at Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He was the son of Henry and Thersa Phinney Weeks, both natives of that State. In 1842 young Weeks shipped before the mast on board the bark "Congress," from New Bedford, bound for a whaling voyage in the Pacific ocean. After cruising awhile on the St. Paul's whaling grounds, they proceeded to the north-west coast. This voyage occupied about four years. After remaining at home one year he again, in 1847, shipped for another whaling cruise on board the ship " Lagocia," and went with her to the north-west whaling grounds, returning in 1851. In the Fall of 1852 he started to California, coming as far as Panama on the steamer "Georgia," and thence to San Francisco on the since ill-fated steamer "Pacific," arriving at the latter place in December, 1852. He came to Bolinas at once, and formed a partnership with Hiram Nott and George Gavitt in the schooner " Eliza," which he ran in the San Fran- cisco and Bolinas trade until 1854, when he disposed of his interest and returned home for his family. After his return to California he came again to Bolinas and followed hunting for one year, when he purchased his present homestead, where he conducts a general dairying and farming business. He has held the office of Road Master since 1876. He is one of the staunch citizens of Marin county, and a perfect gentleman. He was married May 3, 1850, to Miss Susan Robinson Jones, daughter of Gorsham and Love Fisher Jones, and who was born in Falmouth, July 4, 1832. Their children are: Henry Wallace, born April 27, 1851,-died January 15, 1855; Felida Phinney, born April 15, 1855; Hattie Frances, born August 27, 1857; Nellie Louisa, born August 15, 1858; May Gertrude, born Sep- tember 6, 1864; and Grace, born September 9, 1872.
William Wallace Wilkins. The subject of this sketch, whose por- trait will be found in this work, was born in Middleton, Essex county, Massachusetts, May 27, 1824, being the fifth child of James and Betsey Wilkins. He remained at his birth place till he was twenty years of age, attending the common schools during a few months of the Winter season, and laboring on a farm the remainder of the time. In 1844 he went to Danvers, a neighboring town, and was engaged in a shoe manufactory, where he remained for two years. He then returned home and remained till March 17, 1849, when he united with a joint stock company, which was fitting out a vessel for California. The vessel was a bark of two hundred and sixty tons burthen, called the "La Grange," and was under charge of Captain James Dewing. The vessel was sailed around Cape Horn, and no
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port was made except the Falkland Islands. After a fair passage they arrived in San Francisco bay, September 17, 1849. They at once started up the Sacramento river, but at Benicia it was found necessary to discharge a part of the cargo, and the entire outfit for constructing a steamboat which they had brought with them was put off here, and a part of the company detailed to build the steamer. When completed, it was called the " Commodore Jones," in honor of Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones, whose vessel preceded the "La Grange " on its way to Benicia only a mile or so. This steamer was the first one that ever made the trip from Benicia to Sacramento, also up the many creeks and inlets of San Francisco bay. She was disposed of soon, however, by her builders, and her name changed to the "Jack Hays," under which name she got to herself quite a fame. After discharging the steamboat part of her cargo, the "La Grange " was sailed to the Embarcadero of Sacramento and fully discharged. When the town of Sacramento found itself in need of a calaboose, no house could be found suitable for the purpose, and the "La Grange" was leased for that use. Later the city purchased her for a city prison, and she lay at anchor there till she rotted out. When the ship arrived at Sacramento, Mr. Wilkins, with twenty-five of the company, set out for the mines, locating at Dry creek, Amador county. After six weeks they returned to Sacramento, and the company disbanded. He, with others, procured an out-fit and ox-teams to draw it, and returned again to Amador county, where he remained till 1850, when he went to El Dorado county, locating on the north fork of the American river. Thence he went to Nevada City ; thence to Auburn, and finally located, in the spring of 1851, on a claim on the Missouri Bar, in the middle fork of the Feather river. While here he was called upon to undertake one of those perilous journeys so common in those days, which read now more like fiction than truth. Their larder having become exhausted, it became necessary to have it replenished. He and another man started for Marysville, their nearest town, for provisions, and were met by a fearful snow storm, and it became necessary for them to beat the paths for their animals. Only having provisions for a two days' journey, their rations were exhausted long before they had reached the settlements of the valley. During the journey they fell in with another party of men, and they all traveled together. At the close of the fourth day out, Mr. Wilkins, accompanied by a man named Stevenson, started out to find a settlement if possible and to get assistance for the party. Fortunately, at the end of four miles, they descried a cheerful camp-fire leaping high into the darkness of the night. Once there speedy relief followed to all the party. After proceeding to Marysville, and purchasing the provisions and returning to camp, what was his surprise to find his party all gone in search of the Gold Lake myth, and that their claim had been jumped. He then went to Ophir, Placer county, and remained till late in 1852, when he came to Bolinas,
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
having taken passage from San Francisco on board the sloop "Falmouth," Captain Riley, master. He at once entered into partnership with Captain Morgan, on the Belvidere ranch, where he remained till 1860. He then moved on the ridge now owned by Captain Bourne, and engaged in cutting wood and getting out railroad ties. In 1869 he purchased his present home- stead of one thousand three hundred and ninety-seven acres, just at the head of Bolinas bay, and is now engaged in the dairy business. Mr. Wilkins is a man of sterling worth, and one of the many estimable gentlemen to be found in Marin county. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary B. Morse, daughter of Joseph H. and Mary E. Girdler Morse, February 12, .1876, who was born in Manchester, Massachusetts, October 17, 1846. Their children are :- Mary and Bessie, twins, born December 1, 1876; James G., born August 11, 1878.
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NICASIO.
Oliver Allen. The subject of this memoir was born in Windham county, Connecticut, on the 29th day of January, 1804. Here he received his early education and learned the trade of a cabinet-maker from his father, who was a large manufacturer of furniture. At the age of sixteen years he was sent to the Southern States as a traveling agent for his father's manufactured goods, in which agency he was quite successful. Returning after an absence of about a year, he went to work again at his trade in his father's shop, and at the age of twenty-one went to New York to perfect his knowledge of the furniture business ; on the completion of his time in the city, he established himself in the furniture business at Norwich, Con- necticut, in which he continued for several years. He then opened a machine shop, which was destroyed by fire. After the catastrophe which had deprived Mr. Allen of all his property, he was appointed Inspector of steamboats boilers and engines for the State of Connecticut, under the first United States law providing for such inspectors. He was also employed by Colonel Potter, of the United States engineering corps, who was then engaged in improving the channels of the river Thames and the Connecticut river. The surveys for this work were performed by Mr. Allen, and while he was engaged in this and similar work at other points for about two years, he made importaint discoveries affecting machinery used in steam dredging which became of great practical use and value. At this period he entered into a partnership with Messrs. Randall & Haskell, of New Bedford, Massa- chusetts, and E. H. Holmes, of South Windam, Connecticut, for the purpose of carrying on the business of steam dredging, the deepening of channels,
canals, and other work requiring submarine excavations. During the next few years in which Mr. Allen was engaged in the business, he received several patents for improvement in dredging apparatus which he had originated and perfected. He caused to be constructed a number of dredging machines with many novel and improved patterns. The business of this company was carried on quite extensively and successfully, both in the United States and Canada. Mr. Allen afterwards disposed of his interest in this business, and his attention being called to the many risks and dangers incurred by the whalemen, he determined, if possible, to furnish them with some implement
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
or method whereby many of their difficulties might be avoided, and, after considerable study and many experiments, he succeeded in producing a " bomb-lance," which was the first explosive projectile ever used in killing whales. These bomb-lances have been, and are now, used almost univers- ally by whalemen in all parts of the world, and have been the means of saving many valuable lives, as well as being a great aid to a very important industry. In April, 1849, the subject of this sketch joined a company of sixty members, who bought the " May Flower," and, after loading her with an assorted cargo, started for the then new gold region of California; they had a fair passage, with the exception of a very severe storm which occurred off Cape Horn on the 4th of July, arriving at San Francisco in September, 1849, having made the trip from New Bedford in five months and thirteen days. Before leaving the East, the company had purchased the river steam- boat " Lawrence," which, under the superintendence of Mr. Allen, was taken apart and with all her machinery was stowed away in the hold of the " May Flower," and after their arrival in San Francisco the ship sailed to the mouth of the San Joaquin river, at a point known as New York, where the steamer was taken out and rebuilt under the direction of Mr. Allen, and was the first steamboat that ever reached Stockton. The company above referred to retained its organization for some months after their arrival in California, during which time they carried on different mining operations in both the northern and southern mines, in each of which they were only moderately successful. The property of the company was finally sold and the proceeds divided among the members, to the satisfaction of all. During the Winter of 1849-50, Mr. Allen was employed by Col. Stevenson on cer- tain surveys at the mouth of the San Joaquin river, after the completion of which he spent some time in the mines of Tuolumne county, but after a while found his way back to San Francisco, and very soon went into a farm- ing operation in Tuolumne county, but after losing three crops in succession, two by floods and one by drouth, and having his house and about all he pos- sessed destroyed by fire, he concluded to abandon that enterprise and make a trip East, which he did by way of the Isthmus, in the Summer of 1852, and after spending some four or five months with his family, returned to Cali- fornia. He was soon after engaged to reconstruct two saw-mills at Bolinas, Marin county, which was done to the satisfaction of the owners. At about this time his family, consisting of his wife and two sons, arriving from the East, he bought a house and claim to a piece of land and mill-site on Daniel's creek, Marin county. This place was afterwards sold to Messrs. Taylor & Post, who built thereon the Pioneer Paper Mill, the first paper mill ever operated on this coast. Mr. Allen aided in the construction of the mill, and for about two years following was engaged in various ranching and mechan- ical operations, and in 1859 moved with his family to Point Reyes, Marin county, and engaged in the business of dairying. In the year 1865, he
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purchased, in company with his son Charles D. Allen, a tract of land of about two thousand acres in Nicasio township, Marin county, which they improved and made one of the best appointed dairy ranches on this coast. In 1875 he sold his interest in the ranch to his son Charles and moved to Petaluma, where he has since been and is at present residing. While in the dairy business, Mr. Allen was the inventor of an improved butter worker and a butter mold, both of which are now in general use among the dairy- men of this State and elsewhere. He is also the patentee and manufacturer of Allen's improved fracture bed, which has proved a very useful and com- plete appliance for the treatment of fractures of the thigh, and is also of great service in the treatment of other surgical cases. Mr. Allen was mar- ried March 18, 1827, to Miss J. C. Goodspeed, of East Haddam, Connecticut. There were born to them five children, two daughters and three sons; only two of the children, the two youngest boys, reached the age of manhood and only the youngest, Charles D., is now living, his eldest brother having died at Point Keyes at the age of twenty-five. Mrs. Allen died at Petaluma March 23, 1879, at the age of seventy-five years, and after a married life of more than fifty-two years.
George Boreham. This gentleman was born in Woodford, Essex, England, December 16, 1810. He is the son of William and Mary Powell Boreham. Here he grew up, from childhood to manhood, learning the black- smith trade, at which he continued to work, till 1848, when he came to New York. He at once opened a shop there and continued it for one year, when he started for California on the steamer " Crescent City," in December, 1849, coming via the Panama route. He came as far as Santa Barbara in the ship " Soledad," and the remainder of the way to San Francisco in a Government schooner, arriving in San Francisco in February, 1850. Went at once to the. mines in Stanislaus county. In 1850, he went to Mexico, locating at a village known as Los Angeles, near San Miguel. There was an extensive cotton factory located at this place, and Mr. Boreham was engaged as blacksmith for the mill. He remained here till 1854, when he came to Los Angeles, California. Here he remained for twelve years, pursuing his trade. In 1866, he came to Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he remained two years. In 1868, he moved to Nicasio and continued in business there until 1875, when he moved to San Geronimo station, where he has since resided, and continues in the blacksmithing business. Mr. Boreham was united in marriage, on August 27, 1853, with Donna Louisa Guanig, daughter of Juan Guanig. She was born June 21, 1842, in Mexico. Their children are :- William, born June 23, 1854; Mary, born December 25, 1856; Margaret, born May 25, 1859; Victoria, born May 24, 1861; Edward, July 4, 1863; Charlotte, born May 7, 1865; Emma, born March 31, 1867; Frederick, born April 1, 1869; George, born June 19, 1871; Benjamin, born March 21, 1873.
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Louis Cheda. A native of Switzerland, born November 25, 1849. Came to America in 1864, and located in Marin county on his present ranch on May 29th of the above year. Mr. Cheda is one of Marin's chief dairymen, and is doing a flourishing business. He married July 4, 1877, Carmela Martinelli, a native of Switzerland, born December 31, 1857. Irene, born May 20, 1878; Veglia, born August 14, 1879; are the names and births of their children.
John Calvin Dickson. Was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, November 4, 1835, and is the son of Robert and Janet Lenna Dickson, both natives of Scotland. His education was attained at the common schools of his State, and one year, 1857-8, spent at the McIndoes Falls Academy. Early in 1858 he started for California, coming via Panama, arriving in San Francisco February 27th, of that year. He came to Marin county the next day, and began working for his brother, Wm. J., remaining with him two years. He then leased a dairy ranch and conducted that business till 1869, when he purchased his present homestead of six hundred and thirty acres, located two miles east of San Geronimo. He was married October 26, 1865, to Miss Jane Caldwell, who was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, Sep- tember 28, 1842. Their children are :- Mary Ella, born October 23, 1866 ; Robert Edwin, born February 2, 1870; Nettie Margaret, born February 3, 1872; Herbert Caldwell, born February 20, 1875; Clara Louisa, born April 7, 1877 ; Alice Ray, born November 2, 1878.
William J. Dickson. This gentleman, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, January 25, 1829, and is the son of Robert and Janet Lenna Dickson, both natives of Scotland. Young Dickson remained on his father's farm till 1853, attending in the meantime the common schools of the State, and the high schools at Peacham and Newbury, and also teaching school during the Winter sessions. In Sep- tember, 1853, he sailed via the Isthmus for California, and arrived in San Francisco about the 27th of that month. He went at once to Knight's Ferry and engaged in the employ of Locke & Dent, in the erection of the dam and the first mill that was built there. He remained in that place till 1856, when he came to Marin county, and in company with his brother, David S., began the business of dairying and stock raising on the San Geronimo ranch. The county at that time was sparsely settled; traveling was done mostly on horseback; fences were almost unknown; bear were plentiful, often killing the stock in the night. In 1859 he returned to his old home in Vermont, remaining there till December of that year, when he returned, bringing with him his sister, now Mrs. W. R. Coburn, of Middle- ton, Lake county. In 1869, when the San Geronimo ranch was divided and sold, he bought about five hundred acres, and has since resided upon this
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homestead. He has long been prominently identified with the school interests of his neighborhood, and is one of the officers of the Presbyterian Church of San Rafael. November 16, 1869, he was married to Miss Jennie R., daughter of William and Isabella Baxter Barr, born in Glasgow, Scot- land. The marriage occurred in Rochester, New York. Their children are :- Frederick William, born September 27, 1870; and Edith Isabella, born August 28, 1876.
Thomas H. Estey. Born in Sharon, Massachusetts, August 12, 1826. At the age of seventeen he left his native State and followed the sea until the gold. excitement of 1848. On February 10, 1849, sailed from Boston, arriving in San Francisco September 12th of the same year. Went to the mines in October, at Mud Springs, Placer county, worked there for the most part of three years. Afterwards followed hunting in the Sacramento val- ley in the Winter. In May, 1857, came to Marin county and commenced dairying on Salmon creek. In 1862 left Marin for San Luis Obispo county, bought stock and lost them in the drouth of 1863-4. Returned to Marin in 1865; in October, 1866, leased for five years nine hundred acres of land and one hundred cows from the late James Black, in partnership with his brother Charles. At the end of the lease, in 1871, they bought their present home of two hundred and forty acres. Married January 15, 1875, Hannah E. Gannon, a native of New York. Mr. Estey was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1878.
Timothy G. Lamb. Was born in Syracuse, New York, April 16, 1833. When six years of age he moved with his parents to Lorain county, Ohio, where he remained until twelve years of age, when he became a sailor ; first employed on the lakes, and afterwards at sea. After being thus occupied for fourteen and a half years he emigrated to California in 1858, and landed in San Francisco on January 13th of that year. He immediately proceeded to the mines in Tuolumne county, where he remained for eighteen months, after which he engaged in dairying in Napa county, and on August 21, 1860, came to Marin and settled in Point Reyes township, where he engaged in dairying for several years. In 1875, he located on the "Black tract," where he now resides. Married January 10, 1864, Maria Cockran, a native of Ireland. Their children are Alynia, Selah G., Helen F., Louisa A., Kize G., and Charles A. Mr. Lamb was pres- ent at the wreck of the "Sea Nymph," and assisted in saving life from that ill-fated yessel.
Richard R. Magee, Whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1819. In 1847, with his mother and sister, he left the green shores of the Emerald Isle for New Brunswick, but remaining only one month pushed his way to Boston,
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Mass., and there sojourned for a year and a half. In March, 1849, Mr. Magee arrived in San Francisco in the ship "Cordova," having made the passage round Cape Horn. His first venture was at the mines where he remained for seven months, when he came to Marin county. In 1857 he settled on his present place, located about one mile from Nicasio, where he has a farm of four hundred acres. Married, January 9, 1862, Mary E. Murray, who died March 27, 1875, leaving four children :- Mary T., Alice C., Richard J., and Thomas E.
Luigi Mazza. Born in Switzerland, April 11, 1837. Went to Aus- tralia in 1854, and came to California in 1868. In 1869 came to this county and bought his present estate, where he has been engaged in dairying ever since. Married, September 2, 1874, Lui Giacomini. She is a native of Switzerland. Claudina, Romilda, and Onellia, are the names of his chil- dren.
Neil McIsaacs. Born in Nova Scotia, August 8, 1842. At the age of sixteen years he commenced life as a sailor, and for four years followed this occupation. In 1862 he seceded from that business and went to Pennsyl- vania, where for two years he worked in the coal mines of that State. He next enlisted in the army, and after serving four years was honorably dis- charged; he then emigrated to California via Panama, arriving at San Fran- cisco August 4, 1865 ; he next came to Marin county and resided in Tomales for two years. Is employed in the dairying business. Married June 9, 1869, Kate Linahan, by whom he has Don D., Hugh J., Flora R., and Evalena.
A. Righetti. Born in Switzerland, January 15, 1840. Came to America in 1870 and located in Marin county. Married G. Tognazzini, a native of Switzerland, in March, 1871. Persev, Livio, Olinda, Virginia, and Ida are the names of their children.
Russell A. Rogers, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Orange county, Vermont, on the nineteenth day of October, 1827. At the age of fourteen he took a position as clerk in a country store, where he remained for four years, after which he removed to Boston, where he continued in the same business until December, 1851. He then sailed for California, arriving the first of 1852, and started at once for the mines, choosing Shasta and Trinity counties for his field of operations. Here he remained for one year, experiencing the usual ups and downs of mining life. In 1853 he returned to San Francisco and soon engaged in the dairy business, his farm being situated west of the Old Mission Dolores, where Fourteenth street is now located. He continued in this business until 1869. By this time the city had increased in size until
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