USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 52
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Ai Barney. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in Genoa, Cayuga county, New York, on May 26, 1804, where he resided until he attained the age of eight years, when his
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
family moved to Niagara county, twenty-two miles east from Buffalo, New York, then counted in the Far West, the portion wherein they settled being now known as Erie county. Here he attended the Winter schools, and at the age of nineteen undertook the charge of a school, which he continued for about seven years. While thus engaged Mr. Barney neglected not his own advancement but studied industriously at the dead languages and in time became proficient in both Latin and Greek ; about this time he also commenced the study of medicine, a pursuit he followed until he arrived at the age of twenty-eight years. At this period of his life he was despatched by his brother-in-law to Washington, to attend to certain business in Con- gress, which having effected he settled in Baltimore in the year 1829. In 1830 he closed his business with his brother-in-law, and in that year moved to Frederick county, and a short time thereafter to Frederick City, in the State of Maryland. In 1833 was appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace, a position he filled with eminent capability for ten years, and in 1844 was elected County Surveyor, officiating in that capacity until 1849, in which year he came to California as Vice President of the Baltimore and Frederick Company, a history of which association will be found in these pages. On September 10, 1849, Mr. Barney arrived in San Francisco, after a tedious voyage, and, with his confreres, at once established the undertaking for which they had made the arduous journey. In April, 1850, he visited the mines, in company with three others, and at about fifteen miles from Stockton commenced operations in quest of the yellow metal. These he prosecuted until the end of September, when, not having been very success- ful, he returned to San Francisco. Mr. Barney then removed to San Rafael. When at the mines in 1850 the county of Marin was organized ; but after a service of four months Doctor Shorb, the County Judge, resigned, and Mr. Barney was appointed by the Governor in his stead. He was elected to that position at the ensuing election, and held the office thereafter for a lengthened period of seven years. Shortly before the expiration of his judgeship Mr. Barney purchased a ranch, about two miles from San Rafael, embracing the Coleman valley and all that portion of the Murphy rancho lying east of the Petaluma road, where he resided for two years. He next, in company with his son, Jerome A. Barney, established the well-known publication, The Marin County Journal, continuing the paper until 1872, when the present proprietor, S. F. Barstow, became the purchaser. During that time Mr. Barney was elected County Superintendent of Public Schools, but on selling the paper he retired from public life. At the ripe age of seventy-six Mr. Barney preserves his years with remarkable vigor. In him is to be found a gentleman of vast experience and much erudition. While on the bench he was accredited an impartial judge, and to-day he is honored by all, and respected throughout the county. Married, May 3, 1831, Sophia AnnRigby, by whom he has a family of nine children. Their names are :---
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
Alexander, Luther, Jerome, Augustus, John W., Charles S., Ruth Anna, and Sophia Ann. John W., Charles S., and Ruth Anna are now living.
Simon Fitch Barstow. Was born in Hartford, Connecticut, March 26, 1832, and is the son of John and Eliza Fitch Barstow. When but one year old he was taken by his parents to Bridgeport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, there receiving his early education, and residing until he attained the age of eleven. After this he went to Westminster, Connecti- cut, where he finished his schooling. He next proceeded to Rochester, New York, and was employed by his uncle in the hardware business, where he continued for three years, at the end of which time he entered the office of the Chautauqua County Journal in Jamestown, New York, then the property of F. W. Palmer, now postmaster of Chicago, and there served an appren- ticeship of three years to the printer's trade; he then returned to Bridge- port and resided for one year. In April, 1854, Mr. Barstow came to California via Panama, and arrived in San Francisco in that year, and commenced working at his trade. Was on the staff of the Bulletin during the years 1854, 5 and 6, when the Vigilance Committee held sway in San Francisco, and in 1858 commenced an engagement on the Alta California, where he remained for eleven years. The subject of this
sketch moved to Tulare county in 1871, where he was engaged on the Visalia Delta for one year, afterwards in October, 1872, coming to San Rafael and purchasing the Marin County Journal, a paper which he has since conducted with much success. Married in Petaluma, December 26, 1864, Laura J., daughter of George B. Williams, by whom he has one child living, Anna P., born June 25, 1874. He has lost three daughters, Emma Lilly, Clara Fitch and Laura Irene.
Adam E. F. Blankenberger. Was born near the city of Merinz, Germany, January 17, 1840. At the age of fourteen he became apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade, serving till January, 1857. when he became a journey- man shoemaker, following this till 1862, and on the 24th of October of that year he landed in New York City. In 1863 he was drafted into the army and served in Company K., Fifteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers, in the Army of the Potomac, receiving an honorable discharge, August 27, 1865. In 1867, he came to California via the Isthmus, arriving in San Francisco June 3d of that year. He worked at his trade in various places in the State, but mostly in Stockton, San Diego and San Francisco till December, 1869, when he opened a shop of his own in the latter-named place. In 1873, he made a tour through the Eastern States, and March 24, 1874, he came to San Rafael and established his present business.
Henry Boyen. Was born in Hanover, Germany, May 23, 1842. At the age of twelve years he went to sea as cabin-boy, and sailed for three years
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
in German vessels from German to English, Norwegian, Danish and Russian ports, during the Summer months, attending school during the Winter. At fifteen years of age, he shipped on a voyage from Bremen to Malaga, Barce- lona and other Spanish ports; thence proceeding to Riga, in the Baltic sea, finally returning home. After remaining there for four months, he shipped with his former captain on a voyage from Bremen to San Juan, Porto Pico, whence he proceeded to San Francisco, calling in on the journey at Valparaiso. After a passage of two hundred and twenty days, Mr. Boyen arrived in San Francisco, where, leaving his craft, he shipped on the American vessel " Caroline Reed" for Puget sound. At the end of two months he returned to San Francisco, and left his ship and went on board the coaster " Oceola," but at the end of eight months he left her and obtained employment in the Albany brewery, where he worked for five years. He then purchased a horse and wagon and sold beer on commission for three years, at the end of which he purchased a half-interest in the San Rafael brewery, which he now conducts in partnership with F. Georl. Married June 29, 1870, Dora Mensing, by whom he has Albert, born December, 1870; Eddie, born March 19, 1871; Mary, born April 30, 1873; Amelia, born April 10, 1877; and Dora, born December 30, 1878.
Joseph Bresson. Was born in France, August 9, 1843, where he resided until 1865. In that year he came to California, arriving in San Francisco January 20, 1866, where, after working at various occupations until 1871, he came to Marin and purchased his present ranch of seven hundred and twenty-seven acres. Married May 14, 1871, Dominga Saiz, by whom he has John and Marion.
George Francis Clayton. Was born in Accomack county, Virginia, in 1827, and was the son of George and Anna Bagwell Clayton. His parents descended from the pioneers of that section, and were from among the first families of the State. Here he grew to manhood, learning the carpenter's trade in the meantime. In 1850 he came to California via Cape Horn, and went at once to the mines, where in the course of two years he was able to "clear up" seventy-five thousand dollars. He returned to Virginia in 1853, remaining only two years, when, in 1855, he came a second time to this State. He at once located in San Rafael, and engaged in the wood business, remaining in it for one or two years. He then began working at his trade, and has continued at it ever since. In December, 1870, he went to Astoria, Oregon, where he has since resided. January 8, 1871, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah Frances Alcaraz, daughter of John and Frances Hagler Ebberman, who was born in Henry county, Tennessee, January 29, 1835. Her children by her former marriage are : Rafael A., born March 25, 1860: John Edward, born March 30, 1865; Sarina, born November 27,
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
1866; Mary and Amelia, twins, born February 12, 1869. The children by the last marriage are :- Francis Belle, born November 10, 1871; George Augustus, born May 11, 1874.
Thomas Currey. Was born in the county of Donegal, Ireland, in Feb- ruary, 1836. At the age of fourteen, his parents emigrating to America, took young Thomas with them and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,. where soon after his arrival he was apprenticed to the trade of a harness- maker, which he continued until the breaking out of the war. August 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, with which he served for three years, having taken part in the seven lays' fight at Hanover, Virginia. Was taken prisoner at Hagerstown, Maryland, and con- fined in Libby prison, from which place he was transferred to Belle Isle, and there detained for ten months. In 1863 Mr. Currey received his discharge in Philadelphia, but in 1864 he once more enlisted for one year's service, being honorably discharged at the expiration of that term. In the year 1866 the subject of our sketch came to California, and after working at his trade in Petaluma, Sonoma county, for one year, went to San Francisco, there worked until 1878, when he removed to San Rafael, and established his present business. Married Margaret Thompson, by whom he has Nellie, Frank, Mary, Charles, Maggie and Lillie.
George W. Davis. Was born in Hollowell, Kennebec county, Maine, March 31, 1847, he being the son of Warren and Abbie Davis. The subject of our sketch resided at his birthplace until 1853, when he accompanied his parents to California, arriving July 31, 1854, and immediately proceeded to Nevada county, where G. W. Davis attended the common schools of the district. In 1861 he came to San Rafael and worked in a store four years. In 1865 he entered the office of the Marin County Journal, where he remained until October 9, 1871, having charge of the Telegraph office during a portion of this time. On the last-named date he abandoned the printer's trade, but continued in the Telegraph office until April 3, 1872. In Septem- ber of that year he entered the office of the County Clerk as a copyist. April 23, 1873, was appointed Deputy County Clerk under Val. D. Doub which position he held until 1877, when he was elected County Clerk, being re-elected at the general election of September, 1879. Married, November 18, 1876, Jennie Torres, and has George, born August 11, 1877, and Wesley, born April 27, 1879.
Edward Eden. Was born in Holland on June 5, 1837, where he resided till fourteen years old; at which age he sailed as cabin boy from Rotter- dam, Holland, to Nice, Italy, and followed a seafaring life for three years. In 1853 he landed in San Francisco, and immediately proceeded to the mines on the American river, and continued mining with good success till the
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Summer of 1854, when he came to this county and engaged as a ranch hand with James Miller, where he continued for a period of eight years; thence he engaged with John Lucas, and continued in his employ for a like term. In 1868 he moved to the town of San Rafael, and for five months worked for E. Du Bois, and continued as a laborer till 1874. In the Fall of 1874 he was elected to the office of Coroner and Public Administrator, which office he has held ever since. In March, 1874, he established his pres- ent business, that of undertaker, which he still continues, and since 1874 he has also been collector for the "Marin County Water Company." Mr. E. married Mary Eliza Gannon on Nov. 22, 1868, she being a native of Kildare, Ireland, by whom he has four children, Stephen, Mary E., William and Ger- trude; they have lost three children.
Upton McRea Gordon. Was born near Shady Grove, Franklin Co., Penn., November 10, 1831, where he resided on his father's farm until he attained the age of fifteen years, when he went into the store of Snively & McCauley at Shady Grove, and with them remained for two years. In 1841 he went to Chambersburg, the county seat, and there engaged in the general merchandise store of Joseph Kausler of that city, where he was employed until July, 1850, when Kausler going out of business, Mr. Gor- don removed to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the wholesale dry-goods house of Eckle, Raiguel & Co., one of the largest houses in the city with whom he continued until December, 1851, when he returned home, and on March 17, 1852, sailed from New York for California, via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco on April 30th of that year. On the same day he came to San Rafael, Marin county, from which place he went to the Lagunitas, where he joined his cousins, H. S. and S. S. Baechtel, with whom he remained until recovered from an attack of the Panama fever, when he started for the mines at Coloma and from there to Georgetown, near which, in Empire Cañon, he engaged in mining, an industry he prose- cuted until the middle of August, when he removed to the North Star House in Placer county, on the divide between the North and Middle fork of the American river, where he engaged in butchering with Cyrus Crego, now of San Francisco. After that, in December, he returned to San Rafael, and in that month, in company with H. S. Baechtel, went to Bolinas, and in the following February commenced farming operations, which he con- tinued until the Fall of 1854-in the mean time Mr. Baechtel engaging in the lumber business and Mr. Gordon attending to the farm work. That Fall Mr. Gordon returned to San Rafael and bought out Judge Ai Barney in the general merchandise business and continued it until 1859; in June 1858, however, Mr. Gordon proceeded to Victoria, B. C., during the Frazer river excitement, to which place he transported a stock of goods and opened a store, and there remained until the goods were disposed of in Octo-
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
ber, and then returned to San Rafael, closed out the business in that town, and built the saloon on the corner of Fourth and C streets, and opened it in July, 1859, and continued it until December, when he rented it to a man named Chapin. Mr. Gorden next built the livery stable now occupied by Jewell Bros. for Reynolds & Collister, of the Stage Company. In 1859 was elected to represent the county in the Legislature, after the adjournment of which did not engage in any particular business for eighteen months, when in April 1862, he went to Idaho and there engaged in mining for seven months and returned to San Rafael, and in 1864 went into the whole- sale liquor business in San Francisco, which he continued until 1868, when he sold out to A. P. Hotaling & Co. He then returned home for the first time since 1852, after an absence of sixteen years, and on his return to San Rafael engaged in the real estate business until 1869, in the Fall of which year he was elected County Treasurer, in which office he served for two years, and then established, in connection with A. P. Hotaling, the banking business which he now conducts. Married, April 30, 1856, Elizabeth M. Merriner, a native of Missouri, who came to San Rafael, Marin county, in 1846, by whom he has had four children-Olivia Agnes, Susan Eliza- beth, Harry Jeremiah and Alice Jane, the two last of whom are dead.
C. Grosjean. Son of J. B. Grosjean and Jeanne Comtet, was born in Albertville, Haute Savoir, France, April 28, 1839, where he received his education and resided until August 15, 1854, on which date he sailed for America, and arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 24 of the same year. Until 1862, not having learned a trade, he occupied himself in vari- ous ways. In that year, however, he moved to New Iberia, in the same State, and after seven months proceeded to Houston, Texas, and there sought and obtained employment in a confectionery store. Soon after he was engaged by Weyman Parisat to convey certain goods to New Iberia, and having sold the goods on arrival, with the proceeds he purchased a quantity of rum, and then returned to Houston; almost immediately thereafter was despatched by the same firm with a tram laden with cotton to Brownville, Texas, where he arrived after a protracted journey of forty-five days. We next find M. Grosjean working as steward in a hotel at Matamoras, Mexico, but, remaining there only four months, he obtained employment from the firm of Victor Pretat & Co., of that place, and was by them despatched to Laredo, a distance of two hundred miles, with an assortment of goods which he exchanged for cotton, and with this commodity retraced his steps to Matamoras. We now discover M. Grosjean as a partner in the wholesale and retail business of Claude Collet at Bagdad, fifty miles below Matamoras, where he continued for fifteen months, at the expiration of which they sold out and went back to New Orleans ; but, sojourning there only two months, he returned to Houston, Texas, and commenced a grocery business,
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
which he continued until 1872, when, disposing of his interest, he came to California, and soon after opened his liquor business in San Rafael, Marin county.
Leopold Hechheimer. Was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, October 21, 1839. When thirteen years of age he came to New York City and engaged in the butchering business, where he remained until the Fall of 1861. He then emigrated to California, arriving in San Francisco in No- vember, 1861, since when Mr. Hechheimer has been engaged at his trade in different parts on the Pacific coast. In 1878 he came to San Rafael, and is now residing there, and carrying on his business of butcher. Married, March 2, 1873, Matilda Lewis, of San Francisco, and has two living children, Eva and Gertrude.
James Hunter. Is the only child of the late James and Ellen Hunter, and was born in Sacramento, July 17, 1858. At the age of three years he was taken to San Francisco by his parents, and there resided until 1870 when they moved to San Rafael, where his father died in 1870 and his mother in 1877. The subject of this sketch received his education at the Santa Clara College, and is a graduate of Heald's Business College. Is unmarried.
Francis J. Jacobs. Was born in Detroit, Michigan, September 15, 1846, and is the son of John and Sabra Bradley Jacobs. His father being in the service during the Mexican war, his mother resided chiefly at Bath, New Hampshire, till he was three and one-half years old. His father then returned, and the family settled in Buffalo, New York, and resided there till he was six years of age, when the family moved to Morris, Grundy county, III. where young Jacobs remained till he was fifteen, attaining his education in the public and private schools of Chicago. At the age of fifteen he began the tinner's trade, and after nine months he went to La Grange, Fayette county, Tennessee, and continued his trade for about fifteen months. He was then drafted into the Confederate army, and was attached to Company C, Fourteenth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was afterwards merged, with some others, into the One Hundred and Fifty-Fourth Regiment Confederate States' Army. He served three years and three months in the Confederate army, being most of the time on detail duty and acting as a guide to scouting parties. At the close of the war he made a tour of the. northern States, visiting his family at Cairo, Illinois, and his old home in New Hampshire, returning to La Grange in 1868. Here he remained and followed his trade till May, 1873, when he came to California. Upon his arrival he located at Dixon, Solano county, thence to Princeton, Colusa county, thence to Marysville, thence to Humboldt county, thence to Marys- ville again, thence to Rio Vista, Solano county, and finally, in August, 1874,
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
he came to San Rafael, and worked as a journeyman at his trade till Janu- ary, 1878, when he began operations on his own account, and has since continued here.
Omar Jewell, (deceased), Whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in Schuyler county, New York, February 5, 1821. When but four years of age he accompanied his parents to Canada, and resided opposite Detroit until 1829, when they went to that city and there located. At the age of fifteen years the subject of this sketch moved to Wheaton, Du Page county, Illinois, and commenced farming, which he continued in that section until 1856, in which year, leasing his farm, he removed with his family to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and embarked in the lumber and shingle trade .- At the end of three years, during which Mr. Jewell was engaged in this business, he returned to Illinois and settled on his farm in Du Page county, .. and there resided until 1861, when he removed to New York, being there appointed agent for D. M. Osborn's Reaper and Mower, to proceed to the- Pacific coast. In December of that year he started for California, via Pan- ama, and on arrival proceeded to Petaluma, where he established himself. In April of the following year Mr. Jewell's family, consisting of his wife and seven children, made the tedious journey across the plains and joined him in the month of September, 1862, when shortly after he transferred his . residence to Marin county, and settled on the farm known as the Home Ranch, of Nelson H. Olds, and there dwelt until 1864, when he purchased' the farm now conducted by his sons and built the present residence. Though Mr. Jewell never held office in Marin, he was ever intimately connected with the county's advancement, having its interest always at heart. Mar- ried, February 25, 1845, Viania Marsh, a native of Chautauqua county, New York, by whom there are Alva, born August 2, 1847; Viania, born August. 15, 1849; William, born October 1, 1854; and Annie, born September 10,. 1856. The following members of the family are deceased :- Harriet, born September 1, 1845, died February 3, 1866; Emma, born March 4, 1851, died November 10, 1875; and Olive, born January 10, 1853, died May 8, 1869. Mr. Jewell died January 1, 1875.
Alva Jewell, son of the above, was born in Wheaton, Du Page county, Illinois, August 2, 1847, and accompanied his mother across the plains in 1862 to California. He was educated in the public schools of Olema, Marin county. In 1867-68 he attended a course in Heald's Business College in San Francisco, after which he returned and settled on his father's farm, where. he resided until the Fall of 1873, when he purchased land in Mendocino. township, Sonoma county, and commenced sheep raising, an industry he prosecuted until July, 1874, when he took charge of the Home Ranch,, which he still conducts. In August, 1879, he entered into partnership with
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
his brother William, and commenced the livery business in San Rafael, * which they now maintain. Married, April 20, 1875, Gracie A., daughter of T. C. Bishop, of Sonoma county, and has two children, Ruby, born Novem- ber 6, 1876, and George B., born February 21, 1879.
Richard Kinsella. Was born in Quebec, Canada, in October, 1849. At the age of sixteen he went to New York City and apprenticed himself to the trade of plumber and gasfitter under John H. Keyser, with whom he remained for five years, when he mastered his trade, but continued with Mr. Keyser until 1877, when he came to California, located in San Rafael, and established himself with H. P. Donnelly in business. The partnership con- tinued until June, 1879, when he opened his present establishment. Mar- ried, May 18, 1879, Mary Nolan.
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John Lucas. Was born in Barney of Ballaghkune, parish of Edermin, and townland of Coolnaboy, county of Wexford, Ireland, March 12, 1826, and there received his education and resided until July, 1852, when he sailed for California, arriving in San Francisco September 16th of that year, and on the following day came to this county and joined his uncle, the well- known Don Timoteo Murphy, a large land owner and early resident of Marin. In 1853 Mr. Lucas returned to Ireland, but came back to Califor- nia, arriving in San Francisco July 14, 1855, and coming direct to San Rafael, but after a few months, in 1856, he moved to the ranch opposite the Miller place, where he resided until 1863, when he moved to his present estate, which consists of seven thousand six hundred acres. He married May 1, 1855, Maria Sweetman, by whom there are Alice M., Kate F., Henry J., Maria L., John E., and Eliza P. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have also an adopted daughter named Maggie.
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