USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 54
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
were killed, and his store with other buildings were burned. This caused him to return to California, and he located in Spanish town, Butte county. He opened a store here and remained three years,. and again in 1859 returned to the Rouge river country, locating this time at Ellensburg, Curry county, remaining until December, 1863. He then, with his family, started for California, and were shipwrecked and detained until April, 1864. Upon arriving in California he located at San Francisco and spent one year in that city. In 1865 he paid his old home in New York a visit, returning to San Francisco after an absence of four months. In 1866 he made a tour through Nicaragua and New Granada, being absent about seven months. In October of this year he came to San Rafael and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1879, when he disposed of his interests. He was appointed postmaster for the San Rafael office October 14, 1867, which office he has held continuously until the present time. He was married June 27, 1856, to Miss Josephine Piementen, who was born March 19, 1838. Their children are :- Alexander, Frances Josephine, Oscar Collins, Edwin W., Frederick W., Carrie, and William.
James Tunstead. The subject of this sketch is the son of Thomas and Deborah Tunstead, and was born in county Carlow, Ireland, January 18, 1842. In the Spring of 1849 he accompanied his parents to America, and with them settled in Newark, New Jersey, where he attended school. There he resided until the year 1856, when he shipped before the mast on board the ship " Robin Hood," Captain, M. Ginley, following a sailor's life until March 21, 1861, the date on which he left for California on board the clipper ship "Galatea," and arrived in San Francisco August 10th of that year. Mr. Tunstead early showed that determination of character which, in after life, has stood him in such good stead; he lost no time but at once commenced teaming in San Francisco, and the better to increase his stock of knowledge he was a regular attendant at the night schools. In that city he sojourned until 1862, the time of the gold excitement in Cariboo, whither he went and engaged in prospecting and mining, enduring many hardships until obliged to work his passage back to San Francisco in the steamer " Hermann," in the Fall of that year. Once more in San Francisco, Mr. Tunstead reverted to his old occupation of teaming, being successively employed by Mr. Martin and Horace Davis, of the Golden Gate Flouring Mill, with whom he remained until coming to Marin county in October, 1866. At this period he served in the McMahon and National Guards of the State Militia. On his arrival in Marin, he rented a farm from James Black, on the Pacheco Rancho, and there pursued his farming operations until September, 1875, when he was nominated for the office of County Sheriff on the Independent ticket, and was elected by the handsome majority of two hundred votes. He was nominated for a second term in 1877, on
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
this occasion on the Democratic ticket, and being again elected, held the office until March, 1880. He did not accept re-nomination. It is no fulsome flattery so say that few more able, keen-sighted or efficient officers have ever been found on the roll of officials, while a more popular citizen does not exist than James Tunstead.
James Ross, (deceased). The subject of this sketch was born in Petty, near Inverness, Scotland, in the year 1812, where he received his education and resided until he reached the age of seventeen years. He then left for Van Diemen's Land, now Tasmania, and after a short stay there removed to Melbourne, New South Wales, where he resided until 1849. In this year he came to California and soon opened a wholesale wine business in San Fran- cisco, which he continued until 1857, when he purchased an interest in the Read Rancho and acquired a large tract of land, including what is now known as Ross' Landing. Mr. Ross married in Van Diemen's Land, April 17, 1839, Miss A. S. Grayling, who, with their family, survives him, and resides on their beautiful estate in Ross' valley. Mr. Ross died, April 22, 1875, while holding the office of Supervisor of the First District. A record of the estimation in which he was held will be found in an extract from the Minutes of the Board of Supervisors of Marin county, noted on page two hundred and twenty-six of this work.
William T. Sale. Is a native of Derbyshire, England, having been born there November 16, 1841. Is the son of Joseph Sale, who was farmer, hotel owner and grain merchant; was taken to Warwickshire when young; after leaving school, chose the trade of joiner and builder. After finishing his apprenticeship, in 1863, he came to America, and after working at his trade in the cities of New York, Boston and New Jersey, in this country; returned to England and joined his father, as traveling agent and buyer for him in Birmingham. At the end of two years he started on a tour which included New Zealand, Tasmania and several of the Australian colonies and Pacific islands, arriving at San Francisco in 1869, which year he came to San Rafael and worked at his trade until May, 1874, when he established the furniture and carpet business, which he now conducts. Married, Sep- tember 19, 1878, E. A. Walton, by whom he has one child, Eva, born July 4, 1879.
Isaac Shaver. The subject of this sketch was born in Wayne county, New York, July 10, 1828. He resided at his birth-place until the Spring of 1834, in which he emigrated with his parents to Jackson county, Mich- igan, and in the public schools of that place received his education. On March 25, 1852, on account of failing health, he, along with his two brothers, Aaron and Jacob, started with teams across the plains for Califor-
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
nia. On the journey Mr. Shaver was in succession attacked with measles and cholera, but happily over-riding these plagues, after a tedious voyage reached Hangtown, now Placerville, on September 13th of that year. Near this point he commenced mining, which he continued with mixed success for six years. In 1858 he began the lumber business at Sly Rock, El Dorado county, and there erected a forty horse-power steam mill, with a capacity of twenty thousand feet a day. Here he continued until 1864. In July of that year, having previously purchased the mill property of Dell & Holland, he located in San Rafael, took possession of his newly acquired interests and ran the mill for four years. About this perio l he established a lumber yard at Ross' Landing, whence he supplied the city of San Rafael and vicinity. In 1868 he moved his mills to Nicasio township, one mile from the village of that name, and there carried on his operations for four years. In this year he also moved his lumber yard to San Rafael, where, in 1872, he erected a planing mill. In 1876 he constructel the mill near White ranch, Nicasio township, which is still running. At the time of Mr. Shaver's coming to San Rafael, he adopted the system of furnishing those who had vacant lots, and wished to build on them, with lumber. Thus, many of those who own houses in the town to-day have obtained them in this manner. As soon as his planing mill was erected, he too embarked in the building of houses, which he has continued with such perseverance that now he owns upwards of seventy structures in San Rafael, nearly all of which are rented. In 1879 the property known as the Esperanza House came into his possession. In September he commenced building and repair- ing the establishment, which will prove both an advantage and an ornament to the town. Married, in 1860, Maria M. Kiler, who died six years later, leaving him his two eldest daughters, Minnie and Ettie, after which he married his present wife, Hatty, by whom he has two daughters, Clara and Ivy, and two boys, Ray and Glen.
J. O. B. Short. Was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 10, 1828. When but eighteen months old he was taken by his parents to Indiana, who settled near Indianapolis, where they resided for some years; thence they moved to Shelby county, Illinois, for three years; next to Fayette county, Missouri; then to Platt county, where their home was made for some years. May 1, 1846, with his mother and the rest of the family, the subject of this sketch started from Andrew county, Missouri, across the plains for California, the company consisting of about one hundred and twenty men and sixty-two wagons, under Captain Greig. The route pur- sued was that known as the northern, by way of Fort Hall. Their place of destination was Sonoma, and the route lay by William Gordon's, now in Yolo county, John R. Wolfskill's on Putah creek, Solano's Rancheria at Rockville, George Yount's in Napa, where they halted a few days, and
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
thence by Spanish trail to their destination. From Sonoma the Short family proceeded to the Novato rancho, and there remained until the Fall of 1847, when they removed to the Mission San Rafael, and made additions and repairs to a portion of the old Mission buildings, which stood on the Court House block. For the first few years Mr. Short did little in the way of farming, but dealt in cattle and other stock, and selling timber. In 1868 the Short brothers commenced laying out their addition to the town of San Rafael, to which they have since considerably added. Married, November 11, 1855, Mary Miller, by whom he has five living children, viz., Walter, Alice, Eugene, Maggie, and Ora.
Herman Zopf. Was born in Germany, May 15, 1837. In the year 1859 he emigrated to Brazil, and there began the raising of tea, coffee and tobacco. In 1864 he came to California and settled first at Sonoma, where he was engaged by W. Hood. After one year he went to Contra Costa county, then to Solano county, where he was employed in Green valley, and in the Fall of 1867 took up his residence in San Rafael and opened his Wine gardens. Married, March 28, 1872, Mrs. Philipina Herbert.
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAUCELITO TOWNSHIP.
SAUCELITO.
Hugh A. Boyle. Born in St. Louis, Mo., September 26, 1843. Was educated at the St. Louis University, and was a member of the graduating class of that institution in the year 1862. At the age of eighteen years he emigrated to California via the Missouri river to Fort Benton, through Dakota, Idaho and Oregon, arriving in San Francisco October, 1862, where he creditably filled various positions of trust and responsibility up to the time of his removal to this county. In 1868-69 was Mayor's Clerk and Secre- tary of the Board of Health of San Francisco. In 1871 he settled on his present estate, consisting of three hundred and twenty-five acres, being a part of the Read ranch, where he prosecutes dairy farming. Married, November 11, 1865, Carmelita Garcia, a native of California, by whom he has two children, Sarah and Hugh.
Doctor John Cairns. Was born in Scotland, August 24, 1803. After finishing his education at the University of St. Andrews he acted as private tutor in several families. In 1830 was elected Master of the Grammar School of Lochmaben, which office he held for twelve years. Resigning this he left for China, passing two months in London, and being wrecked on the south coast of England. Arriving in China he located in Hong Kong, and edited the Hong Kong Register, a newspaper published in the city of Victoria in that colony, for six years, and then came to California in com- pany with A. L. Inglis and James Stephenson, bringing with them about thirty Chinese, with whom they went to Tuolumne county, and there founded that well-known place, Chinese Camp. After remaining here for three months he was engaged in the office of Everett & Co., of San Fran- cisco. At the end of six months, during which he remained with them, losing everything, including a valuable library, in the fire of June 4, 1850, he commenced farming, being associated with his former partner, A. L. Inglis, in Gordon valley, Solano county, residing there for two years. The subject of this sketch next purchased a farm near Fulton Station, Sonoma county, and sojourned there for ten years ; he afterwards lived in Santa Rosa, Sonoma county, for two years, and then moved to San Francisco, where he entered
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
upon the study of medicine (more as a recreation than as a necessity), which he soon mastered, and obtained his diploma in 1867, at the green old age of sixty-four years. In 1873 the doctor took up his residence in Saucelito, where he has held the office of Justice of the Peace for four and a half years. He married, November 1, 1853, Jane Thomson, a native of Scotland.
Thomas Boileau Deffenbach. The subject of this sketch was born in Georgetown, Pennsylvania, on the 25th day of July, 1822. His father's name was Lewis, and he was a pioneer printer of Doylestown, Pennsylvania. He founded the Doylestown Democrat in 1816, and the paper still flourishes. Young Thomas spent his early years at Millford, New Jersey, on a farm. During the years he attended a country school, five miles away, over the mountains, for a few months during the Winter season. This constituted his school days. He went to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1837, and became apprenticed to the printer's trade with an uncle, Charles Kemle (better known as " Grey Eagle;" while in the Black Hawk War the Chief Black Hawk gave him that name), who was at that time publishing the St. Louis Reveille. His apprenticeship lasted for eight years. He then continued with his uncle as a journeyman printer till 1850, in January of which year . he started for the then far-fabled land of gold-California. He chose the Panama route, and after reaching New Orleans he took the steamer " Fashion " to the mouth of the Chagres river; thence up that river to the Pacific side of the Isthmus. From there to San Francisco he came on a British brig. This trip required eighty-eight days. He arrived in San Francisco in March, 1850; went at once into the mines where he remained till the Spring of 1853. He then began the printing business in the old Whig office. In 1856, in connection with Thomas H. Agnew, as senior partner, he opened a general job and printing business. In 1866 he became the sole proprietor of the business, and continued in this business till 1869, when he disposed of it. In August, 1868, he came to old Juan Read home- stead, and has since resided there with his family, following dairying chiefly. He was united in marriage with Donna Inez Read, daughter of Juan and Hilaria Read, February 17, 1864. Donna Inez was born on the Read home- stead. They have had children as follows :- Inez, born December 16, 1864, died December, 1868; Mary Matilda, born April 14, 1866; Caroline Hilaria, born November 26, 1867, died April 7, 1873; Thomas Boileau, born June 4, 1869, died December 9, 1876; Jessie Oliver, born December 9, 1876; Mary Halaria, born March 31, 1879.
Charles G. Dye. Was born in Madison county, New York, March 28, 1807, but moved with his parents when quite young to Jefferson county, where he received his education and learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed until his emigrating to California. He arrived in San Francisco,
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John Griffins
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BIOGRAPHIES-SAUCELITO TOWNSHIP.
September 20, 1850, and went direct to Marysville and there engaged as a wheelwright until the year 1856, when he returned to San Francisco and com- menced business as a carpenter, an occupation he pursued until 1870, when he came to Marin county, and settled about two miles north of Saucelito, where he now resides. In July, 1877, Mr. Dye was appointed Justice of the Peace for that township, which position he still holds. Married, September 17, 1862, Christina Wood, a native of Ireland.
James H. Gardner. Was born in South Carolina, March 16, 1810. He was educated at an Academy in Georgia, and graduated in law. In 1849 he came via Panama to California, arriving at San Francisco in August of the above-mentioned year. He went direct to the mines on the Yuba river; here he remained until 1854, when he returned to San Fran- cisco, and became Register Clerk in the Custom House. He was employed in the Custom House filling different positions until 1862, since which time he has been a Custom House broker. He was a member of the Legislature during the years 1852-53 and 54. In 1869 he moved to Saucelito, where he has since resided. Mr. Gardner married August 6, 1868, Miss Virginia Thouvenin, a native of France.
George J. Hood. Born in Fairfield county, Ohio, November 11, 1842, and there received his education. When seventeen years of age he went to New York, and after a stay of fourteen months enlisted in the army and served for three years. He next returned to Ohio, and became engaged at Zanesville as a railroad contractor and freight clerk until January, 1870, when he emigrated to Nevada and commenced the lumber and wood busi- ness. In 1874 he left that State and came to California, and after spending one year in San Joaquin county removed to Oakland, Alameda county, and became interested in the wood and coal trade. In 1877 he came to Marin county as agent for the Sonoma Lumber Company, and remained in their employ until their interests were sold to Jacob Schnell, by whom he is now engaged. Married, February, 1868, Mary L. Myers, and has three living children-Hubberd, Edward and Harry.
F. M. Kuhn. Was born in Hillsboro, Oregon, August 31, 1853. When but a child his parents moved to Washington Territory, where the subject of this sketch received his early education, which he completed at private school. In his youth he learned his father's trade of blacksmith, but in 1872 they opened a shop in Olympia, Washington Territory, where he remained for eighteen months. He next moved on to a dairy farm in Pacific county, Washington Territory, remaining there for one season, and then came to California, locating at Saucelito, and there opened the black- smith business, which he is now conducting. Married, August 16, 1877, Miss S. F. Wells, a native of California, and they have one child, Frances E.
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
R. M. Rutherford. Born in Scotland, December 21, 1836, there receiv- ing his education and resided until 1856, in which year he went to Austra- lia, and there worked at carpentering until 1873, when he came to California and settled in Saucelito, where he is now engaged in the business of builder and contractor.
Charles C. P. Severance. Was born in Madison county, New York, February 8, 1820, where he received his education and learned the trade of a blacksmith. In the Spring of 1845 he went to New York City and engaged in a general commission business, which he conducted until 1848, when he returned to Madison county and kept a hotel until March, 1852, in which year he started for California via Nicaragua, arriving in San Francisco April 10th. He proceeded at once to Tuolumne county and there mined for seven months, when he erected a saw-mill and engaged in the lumber business, which he continued until elected County Treasurer in 1858, an office he filled for two years. He next proceeded to Virginia City, Nevada, and was for two years prospecting and mining in that district. At the end of this term he opened a pork-packing business in San Francisco, an industry he followed for three years, after which he became traveling salesman for Smith, Brown & Co., for four years; he then speculated in mining stocks until 1877 when he retired from business and made his residence at Saucelito. Married, April 26, 1843, Sarah M. Wylie, a native of New York. They have four children-Clemissa H., Charles W., Samuel J., and Frederick V.
John Joseph Read. Was born at the Presidio of San Francisco, June 16, 1837, and is the son of Juan and Hilaria Sanchez Read. He was edu- cated in the Mission Dolores school. In 1859 he came to the Rancho Corte Madera del Presidio and has since resided upon it. He is married to Miss Carlotta Suarres, a native of Mazatta, Mexico. They have two children- John P. and Clotilda.
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BIOGRAPHIES-TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
TOMALES.
Thomas J. Ables, Whose portrait appears in the body of this history, was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, January 28, 1835, where he was edu- cated in the common schools of that State. He commenced teaching a school when only seventeen years of age, and remained in Ohio until 1857, in which year he started across the plains for California, in company with two uncles and his brother Benjamin Ables. After leaving Ohio, Mr. Ables went to Booneville, in Missouri, where the necessary preparations were made for the trip to the Golden State. Here he made a contract to drive loose cattle, receiving in payment for this labor his board, as his funds were insufficient to enable him to succeed in any other way, having but forty dollars when leaving his native State. He left Booneville on May 8, 1857, and reached Bloomfield, Sonoma county, October 10th of that year. Here he again resumed the business of teaching in the then Union District, Green valley, where he remained for fifteen months, after which he taught for one term of four months in the Iowa District. In the Fall of 1858 he and his brother bought two hundred acres of land in Tomales township, which they occupied about the beginning of 1859. Benjamin Ables carried on the farm, and the subject of this sketch still continued the profession of teach- ing. In the year 1860 he was nominated by the Republican party as Superintendent of Schools for Marin county, to which office he was elected. by a majority of twenty-five, he being the only successful candidate on the ticket. The schools of the county, up to this time, had not been organized and had not drawn any public money. The task of organizing them was a laborious and tedious one, but was accomplished in the one term that Mr. Ables occupied the position. For this one year's work, the Board of Super- visors, who then fixed the compensation of Superintendent, in the fullness of their hearts, allowed him three hundred dollars. County warrants being then worth only ninety cents on the dollar, his salary for one year was reduced to two hundred and seventy dollars. On January 16, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary E., second daughter of S. M. Martin, of Two Rock valley, Sonoma county. From this union three children have been born, two daughters and a son. Mrs. Ables was born in Birmingham, Van Buren county, Iowa, July 2, 1841, and crossed the plains with her parents
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
in 1852. After his marriage Mr. Ables engaged in dairying and farming in Tomales township. Was elected Justice of the Peace in 1865, and filled the position for two years. The Republican party nominated him for the Assembly in 1867, a position to which he was elected and was a member for the sessions of 1867-8. In 1870 he was nominated by the Republicans of the Third Supervisorial District for the office of Supervisor, to which position he was elected and "served for three years. During his term as Supervisor the present County Court House was built, many of the most important public roads constructed, and the North Pacific Coast Railroad Company organized, and induced, by a subsidy of sixty-one thousand dollars from the county, to locate the line of their road where it is now built. Up to the time of the completion of the line to Tomales, the northern end of the county had no connection with the southern portion, save via Petaluma by stage, or by way of Petaluma and San Francisco. In 1873 he was again elected to the Assembly and served during the twentieth session as an Independent, voted and supported Governor Newton Booth for the position of United States Senator, and advocated all the reform measures which brought into existence the Independent party. Mr. Ables at present fills the position of Cashier of the Bank of Tomales, to which office he was elected at the inaugural meeting of the Directors of that institution, Sep- tember, 1875. His children's names are :- Clara I., born October 17, 1861; Zilla L., born November 20, 1865; and Thomas H., born November 22, 1874.
John Alexander. Born in Ireland in 1846. In 1868 he emigrated to America and to this State. His first three years were spent in Sonoma county, since which time he has been a resident of Marin.
W. Armstrong. Born in Ireland, county Monaghan, May 11, 1845. Came to this country in 1869. Married March 3, 1875, Emma Jane Mar- shal, one of the first white girls born in Tomales township. Fannie, born April 26, 1876; James Joseph Marshal, born April 16, 1878, are the names and births of their children.
Robert Bailey. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in our pages, was born in Kentucky, December 26, 1827. At the early age of seven he moved with his parents to Morgan county, Illinois, and when twelve accompanied them to Sangamon county, same State, where he resided until he was of age. In the year 1848 Mr. Bailey moved to Polk county, Iowa, and there abode until the Spring of 1850, when he crossed the plains with ox-teams, reaching the mines in Placer county in October of that year. Here he worked until the Spring of 1852, in which season he transferred his habitation to Sacramento, continuing there until the Fall, when he once more moved and located near Bloomfield, Sonoma county. In the Autumn of 1855 Mr. Bailey returned to Iowa and thence to Missouri,
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