USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 57
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Charles Lindemann. Born in Philadelphia, May 9, 1853. At the age of six years he moved with his parents to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1875, when he came to California and settled in Marin county, on the Ables place. Married, January 10, 1873, Alice Sterns of Wisconsin, and has three children, Roy, Elmer, and Carrie.
Andrew Manning. This gentleman was born in county Longford, Ireland, in the year 1831. In 1848, he left his native country and came to the United States, settling in Baltimore, where he resided for a period of five years, and was employed in the gas works at that place, as well as in a foundry. He emigrated to this State via the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived in San Francisco during the month of April, 1853. He married Mary Kehoe on the 28th of June, 1855. She was born in the county Kil- kenny, Ireland, on the 25th day of December, 1833. Here he was employed in the San Francisco Gas Works till the 4th of November, 1856, when he came to Tomales township, Marin county, and settled on his present ranch, which now consists of five hundred and forty acres. He has made this place his home excepting two years he resided in Oakland. They have nine children living and their names are, Mary L., Joseph J., Stasio A., Bessie J., Teresa F., Maggie J., Andrew, James E., Evaline K.
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BIOGRAPHIES-TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
Alexander S. Marshall. This old settler of Tomales township was born in Ireland, where he remained till 1849, at which time, he, in company with two elder brothers, James and Hugh, emigrated to America and settled in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the subject of this sketch resided about one year. During the time that elapsed between the year he settled in Indian- opolis and 1854, Mr. Marshall traveled through the Western States, but in that last mentioned he started from Louisville, Jefferson county, Ken- tucky, for California, with a younger brother, bringing with them over the plains a band of cattle and horses. He came direct to Marin county, and settled on what is now known as " Marshall Bros' Home Ranch." His two brothers, James and Samuel having preceded him to the county, coming in 1853. Hugh, the elder brother coming to the county in 1852. Mr. Mar- shall has lived on and within a half mile of the home ranch, since his coming, with the exception of ten months he lived in what is now Tomales village, in the early days when Keys and Dutton were the only inhabitants. In the year 1854, and a little before Mr. Marshall started for California, he married in Kentucky, near the State line of Tennessee, Fannie A. Brown, on March 4, 1854, who was born in Kentucky. Twenty-six years ago this brave woman left home and friends and with her husband crossed the plains for the purpose of making for themselves a home in a new country, thousands of miles away from all that was dear to her girlhood days. But she left all behind cheerfully, settled on the farm in this township with her husband, and came with him to Tomales, where she lived for ten months in a little "seven by nine" house that Keys had built on the creek, keeping the house and boarding the first settlers of the village, viz, John Keys and Warren Dutton. While she was living on the old home ranch in 1855, there was born to her, Emma Jane, on March 18, 1855, who we are informed was the first white child born in the township. There were three children born to them, the remaining two are named Fannie and Lizzie. Mrs. Marshall died on November 30, 1861, and is bur- iedfin the cemetery in Tomales. Mr. Marshall married, for his second wife, Emma Brown, a half-sister to his first wife, February 16, 1870, by which union they have Florence, Mattie, Ida, Lena and a little boy named Henry. Mr. Marshall is one of Marin county's earliest and prominent settlers, has by incessant toil accumulated a competence, and is ever ready and willing to aid in all public and private enterprises which are worthy of patronage.
Robert Molseed. Born in Ireland in 1830. In 1848 he came to the United States, and settled in Pennsylvania, and after two years removed to Jersey City, Pa., where he worked in a rolling mill for thirteen years. From here he emigrated to California, and landed in San Francisco in August, 1864; came direct to Marin county, and settled near his present
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
residence. Two years thereafter he moved to the farm he now occupies. Married Jane Wiley, a native of Ireland. Willie, Jennie, Robert, Sarah, Mary, Mattie, George and Charlotte are the names of their children.
Peter Morrisy. Was born in Youghal, county Cork, Ireland, June 27, 1831. He was educated in private and at National schools. When fifteen years old he was bound apprentice to Henry Thomas & Son, to learn the carpenter's trade, remaining with them three years. At the age of eighteen he emigrated to the United States, and arrived in Boston July 26, 1849. He at once proceeded to Sangus, Essex county, Massachusetts, where he resided one Winter, and the following Spring moved to West Newton, in that State, where he remained for a period of two years, and was employed by Andrew J. Allen. He then proceeded to Stony Brook, Massachusetts, engaging work with the proprietor of a paper mill by the name of John Roberts, continuing in his employ till the Spring of 1853; then went to South Ded- ham, where Tyler Thayer employed him to work at carpentering; thence to Charlestown in 1854. He emigrated to Dunleith, Jo Davies county, Illinois, in the Fall of 1854, where he remained during the Winter; then moved to St. Peters, and located Government land in the center of Le Sueur county. Here he built a cabin and was living in it at the time of the Spirit Lake Massacre in March, 1857. In the Fall of 1858 he sold out his land interests and moved to Dubuque, Iowa, but the following Spring went to Memphis, Tennessee; thence to Coldwater, Mississippi, going into business with Mr. Richardson, which partnership lasted about eighteen months, when the affairs of the concern were conducted by Mr. Morrisy. At the onset of the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861, he was conscripted by the Southern Confederacy and ordered to the camp at Pittsburg Land- ing, Tennessee, to join Beauregard. Before leaving he got a permit to go and work in the Navy Yards at Chickasaw City, Tennessee, where he assisted in building the rebel gun boat "Arcansaw." He remained here till the capture of Memphis, Tennessee, when he applied to one of the officers of our Government fleet for work, which was given him. After assisting in the repair of a boat at that place he was given a permit to go to Cairo and there worked in the Government Navy Yard, remaining till he volunteered for three months as ship's carpenter in the Government fleet then lying at Vicksburg. He was retained here nine months, after which he went to to Cairo, received his pay, and again returned to the fleet, remaining till March, 1864; then left via Cairo for the East, and landed in Massachusetts the latter part of that month. He left New York on the steamer " Cham- pion " for Panama; thence on the "St. Louis" to San Francisco, arriving in May, 1864. He remained in that city about one month; then came to Tomales, Marin county, where he has since lived. He was elected one of the Supervisors of this county.
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Alex I. Haushalt
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BIOGRAPHIES-TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
Eugene Morton. The subject of this sketch was born in Ireland in 1830. On the 22d day of May, 1850, he sailed for New York City, landing in that port on the 16th of September following. He first settled in Mam- aroneck, Westchester county, in that State, where he was engaged in gar- dening. He emigrated to this State via Panama, arriving in San Francisco on February 1, 1864, and immediately came to Marin county and settled in Point Reyes township. After one year's residence in that place he moved to Tomales township, and located on a farm near the present residence of O. Hubbell. He sold the ranch in 1876, and after living on Mr. Stumph's farm for two years, bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and has since made it a permanent home. In 1863 he married Rose Breen, who was born in Ireland. They have two children, Mary Ann and Nellie.
David Muscio. Was born in Switzerland on February 27, 1842. He first moved to Australia in 1855, and in November, 1868, emigrated to Cali- fornia and settled in Marin county, and moved on his present ranch in Octo- ber, 1877. Like most other farmers located in this part of Tomales town- ship, he is engaged in dairying, and at the present time he milks eighty- eight cows, sending his butter to San Francisco to market. He makes about five thousand, eight hundred and forty pounds of butter per year. He resides on the road from Tomales to Marshalls, where he owns six hun- dred and fifty acres of land. He married Louisa Katzorke on June 18, 1866. She was born in Prussia May 22, 1846. They have six children.
James McCausland, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1830. In 1853, in company with his brother William, he started for California and landed in San Francisco March 5, 1853. On arrival he proceeded to the mines in Cal- averas and Tuolumne counties and there remained until 1856, in the month of December of which year or January of '57, he came to his present ranch and put in a crop of potatoes. That same year he purchased the farm and has since resided on it. Married, November 6, 1877, Lizzie Kidder, a native of Lancaster, Massachusetts. We are safe in saying that no man throughout the length and breadth of Marin has done more to forward the interests of the county. He is just in his dealings, true to his instincts, honest in his convictions and genial in his manners; taking him all in all, no truer Friend exists than the ever popular Jim McCausland.
William McCausland, Born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, September 25, 1828. When about seven years of age he moved to Hunt- ington and afterwards to Franklin county in that State, in which last men- tioned place he received his education. In 1853 he started with his brother James for California, arriving in San Francisco March 5th of that year,
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
On landing he proceeded to the mines in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, where they remained until 1855, and then came to Stony Point, Sonoma county, where he commenced farming. In the year 1858 he was engaged in teaming, but in the following year settled in Marin, locating on the farm where his brother now resides. In October, 1874, he took possession of the farm upon which he now resides. His portrait appears in the body of this work.
Henry Paddock McCleave. Born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, January 15, 1830. In March, 1849, he emigrated to California via Cape Horn in the ship "Henry Astor," he being one of a company of ten taking passage as cabin passengers, and also bringing freight, consisting of pro- visions, small houses framed and shooked before shipping, also small five- ton sail boats for use on the rivers. After a long and stormy passage of one hundred and eighty-eight days, not landing at any port after sailing, he arrived in Yerba Buena Cove or San Francisco Bay, September 15th of that year. The company, the next day after arrival, took a job at ten dollars per day and board per man, the job lasting ten days. He then started with his company to the northern mines, stopping first at Coloma, El Dorado county, at General Sutter's saw-mills, the place where gold was first discovered. After stopping about one week they moved their camp into Kelsey's dry diggings, the new diggings being just discovered, and only about nine men there at the time. They built a large log cabin to winter in, and started to mine, but during the Winter they disbanded and went to San Francisco, everything in the shape of provisions being very high. Flour two hundred dollars per barrel, pork one dollar and a half per pound, potatoes one dollar and a half per pound, and miners' boots only six ounces of gold or ninety- six dollars per pair. In the Spring of 1850 he went to Mud Springs, El Dorado county, and worked a month or two in the mines, making good wages. His acquaintances, having been out prospecting, discovered what is called Illi- nois Cañon, about three miles from Georgetown, El Dorado county. They all moved up to their new diggings and worked there with success until late in the Summer, when he started the first express running from San Francisco and Sacramento City into the northern mines. This occupation he contin- ued for fourteen months, receiving for express charges one dollar for every single letter, two dollars for every double one clear of postage and fifty cents for every newspaper. He would make his trip of one hundred miles from Sacramento in one day, leaving Sacramento in the morning and eating dinner at Hangtown or Placerville, and finishing his trip through by supper-time. He then sold out his express business, and commenced mining at Mississippi Bar, on the south fork of American river, building water wheels thirty- six feet in diameter with buckets for raising the water thirty feet high in order to wash the dirt from the bank of the river nearly half a mile off.
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BIOGRAPHIES-TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
He then sold out and got a ranch nine miles from Stockton, and in January, 1853, sold out his interest near Stockton, and in the Spring of 1853 he took up the ranch or farm now occupied by S. H. Church. In 1854 he built a house and commenced to fence his land, and married Mary, second daughter of Joel Harvey, by whom he has two daughters living-Mary Eliza and Amelia P., having lost two sons and youngest daughter. In the Fall of 1857 he sold out and moved into Petaluma, and in 1860 located on his present estate, consisting of two hundred and twenty acres, where he farms a portion and dairies some.
William McGreevy. Born in Ireland, March 22, 1836. When a mere child he came with his parents to America, who took up their residence in Boston. In 1851 he started for the Pacific slope, and arrived in San Fran- cisco in January, 1852. He at once set out for the mines in Calaveras county, locating at a place known as " Angels Camp," where he mined a portion of two years, 1852-'53 ; thence to San Francisco. In 1855 he again set out in pursuit of the " glittering dust," this time on Kern river, where he remained but a short time, when he once more returned to San Fran- cisco, and, going to Alameda county, followed farming until 1857, when he became a resident of this county, locating in Tomales township, and farmed until 1863, when he, in company with fifteen others, proceeded to the Cootney mines, in British Columbia, and remained two years, meeting with good success. He then returned to Tomales, and married, November 15, 1868, Mrs. Rosanna Henry, who was born in Ireland in 1834. Charles W., born May 10, 1870 ; William James, born March 12, 1877, are their children.
Patrick Norton. Aged forty-eight; born in Ireland, and emigrated to United States in 1851, first settling in New York ; came via Nicaragua to San Francisco in 1855, where he remained until he came to this township in 1858, where he has been farming ever since. He is now on his third farm in that township. He was at first a partner with L. Fallon, then got a farm of his own of one hundred and sixty acres, where he lived for fourteen years, till December, 1875, then moved to his present farm of one hundred and forty-seven and a half acres, where he now resides. Has five children.
James H. Nowlin. Was born in Tennessee, February 13, 1843. When eight years old his parents moved to Williamson county, Illinois, where he resided till the breaking out of the Rebellion, and September 1, 1862 enlisted in the Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving in the Department of the Mississippi, till September 7, 1865, at which time he was honorably discharged, and returned to his home, but only remained about one year, when he took up a residence near Nashville, Washington county
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
in that State, where he married Nancy J. Jones, on the 12th day of March, 1867. The following year, in October, he emigrated to this State, and settled on Tomales bay, where he has since lived, except the year of 1872 which was spent in Humboldt county, Cal. Mary Ann, Joseph Logan, Henrietta Ida, James Edwin, and Millie Jane, are their children.
Lewis Osborn, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Hamlin county, Massachusetts, September 4, 1824. When about sixteen years of age, he moved to Suffield, Hartford county, Connecticut, in which place he was educated. He afterwards resided for four years in Cedar (Tipton) and Jones counties, Iowa, when he started across the plains for California with teams and arrived in 1850 at Nevada City, where he stopped and commenced mining on Deer creek. He left the mining districts in the Fall of 1853, and came to his present farm, where he now resides and owns one hundred and eighty-five acres.
Fred A. Plank. Was born in Durham, Green county, New York, on May 15, 1834. In 1839 his parents moved to Fulton county, New York, and thence, in 1845, to Victor, Ontario county, in that State. They emi- grated to Wisconsin and settled in Wheatland, Kenosha county, in 1848. Here the subject of this memoir received his education at the common schools in that place. After the death of his father, which occurred during his residence here, Mr. Plank learned the daguerreotype business, which he conducted in Wheatland on his own account, and by this means supported himself and widowed mother. He married Betsey Ann Foster on December 29, 1859. She was born in Oswego county, New York, on the 19th of January, 1834. Here their only child, Fred Foster, was born, on Septem- ber 25, 1860. They emigrated to this State, crossing the plains in 1861, and first settled at Knight's Ferry, Stanislaus county, where they remained one year, then took up a residence in Petaluma, Sonoma county, where they lived five years. The last year they resided here, Mr. Plank was proprietor of the City Hotel. They next moved on a ranch in that county, remaining one year; thence to Nicasio township, Marin county, in 1869, where he lived two years, and then located in Tomales township, and in November, 1877, took up a residence in the village of Tomales, where he opened the " Plank House" in November, 1879, and is its proprietor at the present writing.
Henry D. Polhemus. Was born in Valparaiso, Chili, on October 13, 1843. His father, John Hart Polhemus, was the American minister to Chili under President John Tyler's administration at that time. In 1849 the subject of this sketch left Chili for Baltimore, Maryland, in company with two elder brothers, taking passage on the ship "Cleone," Captain
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BIOGRAPHIES-TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
Baxter commanding, arriving at their destination during the Winter of that year, his father in the meantime returning to Baltimore via the overland route. Mr. Polhemus took up his residence in Mount Holly, Burlington county, New Jersey, in 1849, where he attended the " West Jersey Collegiate School," conducted under the auspices of the Presbytery of that State, and at that time Rev. Samuel Miller was its President. After attending this college for a term of five years, he apprenticed himself to Peter V. Coppuck to learn pharmacy. He remained with Mr. Coppuck till the 26th of August, 1862, at which date he enlisted in the Twenty-Third New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and on September following was promoted from the rank to Hospital Steward. His regiment left Beverly, New Jersey, on following September 26th, and arrived in Baltimore on the 27th. The following morning repaired to Washington, D. C., and on the 29th received their marching orders, leaving on October 1st, joining the First New Jersey Brigade and Sixth Corps on the 11th. They marched through Virginia and engaged in the battle at Fredericksburg, Virginia, on December 13, 1862. On January 20, 1863, Mr. Polhemus was detailed Division Hospital Stew- ard, and remained on that duty till January 25th. He was honorably dis- charged on account of expiration of term of enlistment, June 27, 1863. In August of that year emigrated to California via Panama, and at once pro- ceeded to Empire City, Nevada, where he held the position of assayer for the " Silver State Reduction Works," under the management of E. B. Dorsey. After one year he returned to San Francisco, and was appointed Station Agent for the " San Francisco and San Jose Railroad," but in the Fall of 1868 he resigned his position to accept the agency of the "Los Angeles and San Bernardino Land Association," where he remained for several years. On February 1, 1876, he took up a residence in San Rafael, Marin county, as agent for the "North Pacific Coast Railroad," where he remained till May 10, 1877, on which date he assumed the same position at Tomales, where he now resides, performing his duties in a satisfactory manner both to employers and the public. Married Emma Martha, daughter of John and Martha Hanna, November 2, 1870. She was born in Clintonville, Virginia, November 5, 1852. Emita and Marianita are their children.
N. J. Prince. Born in Cumberland county, Maine, October 8, 1820. Here he was educated. When about eighteen or nineteen years old he went to sea and followed it till he came to California, leaving Boston, Mass., March 4, 1850, and arriving in San Francisco August 24th following. Remained in San Francisco till October of that year, then went to the mines at a place now called Quartzville; worked at mining till the Fall of 1852, then returned to San Francisco. In February, 1853, he came to this township and located on a farm about two miles north-east of Tomales, on the Bloomfield road. In 1862 he sold the ranch and came to his present
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
farm of three hundred and sixty acres, situated on Tomales bay. Married Mary Doyle February, 1867. They have three children - living, Henry Augustus, Mary Eliza, Celestia Augusta.
William Rowland. The subject of this sketch was born in the north- ern part of Ireland April 9, 1835. His parents brought him to the United States in 1840, settling near Burlington, Chittenden county, Vermont. Here the subject of our memoir was educated in the common schools. In the year 1852 he left New York harbor in the steamer "Northern Light," came to Panama, thence on the steamer "New Orleans" to San Francisco, arriving there December 14th of that year. Immediately after his arrival he, in company with three others, went to the mines at a place called Michi- gan Flat, on the south fork of the American river, walking the whole distance from Sacramento during some of the heaviest storms of that memorable winter. Was engaged in mining eight years. Worked at Hill's Bar on Frazer river in 1858, and in southern Oregon in 1859. On leaving the mines in 1860 he came direct to this township, settled near his present farm, which is bounded on the west by the Pacific ocean. His land numbers 1,070 acres in this locality, and 1,000 acres in Sonoma county. He was elected to the office of Supervisor of Marin county in 1876, which position he continuously held till the Fall election of 1879. Married Maria Johnson on November 16, 1864. She is a native of Vermont. Minnie A., Edwin Stanton, Ida C., and Estella are their living children. They havelost one, Arthur, at the age of seven years and seven months.
H. G. F. Siemsen. The subject of this sketch was born in Ger- many October 16, 1835. He emigrated to America in 1864 and settled in San Francisco; thence to Guallala, Mendocino county, where he resided till 1871, when he moved to his present ranch on Tomales bay. He married Catherine Kuschert on May 27th, 1879. She was born in Germany June 5, 1848, and came to this State April 14, 1879. Mr. Siemsen and wife are respected both by neighbors and friends from the fact that they bear unblemished reputations.
C. T. Thompson. The subject of this sketch was born in Norway June 24, 1836, and at the age of twelve years he went into service on a sailing vessel, and at the age of fourteen, and while the ship was in New York harbor, he left her, taking up his residence in New York City. The vessel was lost on her return trip. He was master of a pleasure boat-on the Hudson river for a short time, then made two trips to London, England, in a packet ship, and one to Havre, and returned to New York, where he was * · made second mate of a line of packets on the Potomac river, running to Alexandria, Virginia. In 1856 he shipped on the "Victoria," Captain
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Gardner master, leaving New York harbor in October, and in due time arrived in San Francisco. He at once went to the mines at Sebastopol, Sacramento county, where he remained till he came to Tomales in 1862. Here he was engaged by Warren Dutton in the shipping trade. On April 11, 1873, he opened his meat market, and has since continued that business in Tomales. Married Minnie Bettner on August 24, 1867. She was born in Wilmington, New Castle county, Delaware, May 8, 1847. She died June 29, 1875. Charles William and Carrie Willmina are their children.
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