USA > California > Merced County > History of Merced County, California with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 32
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Mr. Ramsey was married in 1867 to Miss Deborah D. Smith, of Missouri, and has five children, all boys, named respectively: George A., Thomas Lee, Archibald D., William, and Henry Ramsey.
R. A. WEAVER.
Mr. R. A. Weaver was born January 12, 1840, iu the south- western part of the State of Pennsylvania, in Westmoreland Couuty.
While at home, Mr. Weaver worked on the farm whenever he was out of school until November 14, 1859, when he left his native State and went by rail to New York, which city he left November 21st, on the steamer Constitution, for Aspin- wall, thence across the Istbinus to Panama, from there, on the steamer Golden Age, to San Francisco. It took twenty-two days to make the trip, and Mr. W. landed in San Francisco
RES. OF R.A.WEAVER 2 MILES SOUTH OF CRESSY MERCED CO. CAL.
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December 12, 1859. He immediately took the steamer for Stoekton, where he landed the next day.
Mr. W. immediately went to work on Mr. A. Hokenshell's farm, which is situated six miles from Stoekton, and stayed there twenty-two months, after which he rented a farm on his own account, but had rather poor success with the experiment. It was the year of the flood, and so he had bad erops. After this, Mr. Weaver hired himself out again for a year, which expired in October, 1867. He then worked in Stanislaus County, near where Modesto now is. He bought, in 1868, about 1,100 acres of Government land in Merced County, which comprises his present farm.
Mr. Weaver built one of the first eabins on the then desolate plain. At that time the plaius were covered with wild cattle and droves of antelope. In the fall of 1868, Mr. Cressey moved into that neighborhood, and Mr. Weaver worked for him until September, 1869, when he went East overland, to see tbe " old folks at home," but was gone only about five months, when he returned, and again worked for Cressey.
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In March, 1871, he began to farm his own land some, but worked for Mr. Atwater during the time, but in October, 1872, he settled down on his own place of 660 acres, having sold a portion. It is two miles south of Cressey Station, on the Southern Pacific Railroad. The county seat is fourteen miles distant. He devotes his farm chiefly to raising wheat, but pays some attention to stock, keeping about forty hogs, eight horses, three mules. His house is surrounded by trees. His orchard contains about thirty peach and fig trees and one hundred grape-vines. Mr. Weaver is not married.
ELI GRIMES.
Within six miles of Merced County Seat is situated the bome of the family of Mr. Eli Grimes, consisting of himself, his wife, formerly Miss Lydia M. Upton, native of Peterborough, Hills- borough County, New Hampshire, whom he married in 1877, and their two children: Lewis E., and Albert W. Grimes.
Mr. Grimes is the son of Mr. John and Alida Grimes, who, at the time of his birth, June 8, 1835, lived in Perry County, Ohio. He stayed at home while a boy, partly attending school and partly working on the farm, until be thought of earning his living amongst strangers, so as to learn the ways of the world.
He had worked as a farm hand two years in Missouri, Gen- try County, and one year in Kansas, when he determined on going to California. Being of a speculative mind, he started with a drove of horses across the continent, making a stop at Sacramento, where he arrived in the year 1860. He after- wards lived in Stockton.
He came to Merced County in 1868, and bought his farm of 840 aeres of splendid farming land, the soil being of the best in the county. It will average forty hushels of wheat per acre in ordinary seasons. It is admirably situated, being within six miles of either railroad or water transportation,
Besides raising of cereals he keeps generally four milch cows, ten hogs and ten horses.
ELI FURMAN.
Eli Furman has a farm near Plainsburg, on which he car- ries on general farming, and confines himself to no particular produet. He has 400 acres of the home farm and rents 640 near by. He came to Merced County in 1869, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. His place is twelve miles from the county seat and four from the railroad, while school and church are within three miles. He keeps usually on the farm 120 sheep, 30 horses, 10 mules, besides hogs and other stock. His orchard has a variety of fruit, consisting of apples, pears, plums, pomegranates, figs, almonds, apricots, eherries, ete. These all do well and produce an abundance of fruit.
Eli Furman was born in Ohio, on the Huron River. His early life was speut in trading and farming. He left Bloon- field, Iowa, in 1859, on the so-called Sander's route, north of Salt Lake, for California. After a trip of five months and five days he reached Santa Clara, October 5, 1859, and engaged in teaming. In 1862 he moved to San Jose, and in 1869 came to Merced. He married Miss Dyantha A. Hall, in 1838, who was a native of New York State. They have six boys : Arthur W., William E., John S., Alvin R., Addison C., and Francis M. Furman. The three girls are named Ellen A., Rhoda E., and Clara M. Furman.
E. W. HEALY.
Looking through the pages of our "Illustrated County History," we find the picture of the home belonging to Mr. E. W. Healy, who has acquired his property through long years of toil and labor.
Mr. Healy is a native of New York. He was born in Gen- esee County, October 1, 1820. He worked on his father's farm when young, staying with his parents, Horace and Pamelia Healy, until 1845, when the whole family moved to Carroll County, Illinois. In the spring of 1846 Mr. Healy went to Elgin, Illinois, where he worked at manufacturing threshing machines for four years; he then returned to his parents and worked two years at their farm.
In the spring of 1853, he, with his brother, sister and brother- in-law, determined to go to California. They hired three men, bought two wagons and teamus, some loose stoek, and started on their journey across the continent, via Council Bluffs. It was late in the season, so, when they reached the steam ferry, they found that the boat was not running, they were therefore obliged to go down the river five miles to a place called Trader's Point, where they managed to cross the river, but only after three days' of hard work and the loss of some stoek, consisting of borses, cattle and sheep.
They left tbe Missouri River on the twelfth day of July, and traveled to the Elk Horn River, forty miles, where they joined
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HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
a large train of Mormons, with whoin they traveled to Salt Lake City, where they arrived safely on the first day of Sep- tember, 1853. The Mormons treated Mr. Healy's party very kindly, acted as protectors against the Indians roving about, and doing a good many little acts which showed kindness. Twenty-five miles from Salt Lake City, at the mouth of Brighamn's Cañon, Mr. Healy's party built winter quarters, where they stayed for eight months.
Here Mr. Healy left his party, in order to join J. M. Mont- gomery's train, with whom he came through to California, arriving at that gentleman's ranch, on Bear Creek, Merced County, August 14, 1854.
During the dry winter of 1854-55, Mr. Healy mined in Mariposa County, but had poor success, barely making expenses. So, in the fall of 1856, he returned to Merced County, to work again for Mr. Montgomery.
In 1858 he had saved enough to huy his present farm of 1,880 acres, situated on Mariposa Creek, six miles from Merced Couuty Seat, four miles from the railroad, and three miles from school. The land is of good quality, averaging thirty hushels of wheat and fifty hushels of harley per acre. He also keeps some stock for farm use, generally ten horses, four head of cattle, and other animals.
October 21, 1880, he married Mrs. Lizzie Ashley, a native of Arkansas.
DEEP ARTESIAN WELLS.
The following account of an artesian well on Healy Brothers' ranch will he found interesting, as most of the flowing wells hored, so far, in this county are shallow, ranging from 150 to 300 feet in depth, but latterly they have hecn boring deeper, and in two instances splendid streams have heen obtained at a little less than 500 feet.
The Healy Brothers, on their Mariposa Creek ranch, ohtained a good flowing stream at a depth of 483 feet. This was the first deep well ever sunk in that part of the county, and fully rewards them for their grit and enterprise, for in addition to the present advantages of a fine flowing well, the fact that ar- tesian water can he obtained there increased indefinitely the value of every acre of land in that locality.
On the Merced Colony Tract, some eight miles north west of Merced, there are twelve flowing wells, the water of which is being turned to good account in irrigating the soil.
AUGUSTINE SMITH.
Augustine Smith was horn in Hallowell, Maine, on the fourth of October, in 1835, his parents being John and Re- hecca Smith. Lived on a farm until the age of seventeen, when he left his home to make his way as he desired. Having somewhat of a mechanical genius, he learned the carpenter's trade in Boston, spending nearly two years at that occupation in Massachusetts.
He concluded to seck a more congenial climate. Started from
Boston hy the Nicaragua Route, and after a little over a month's journey on the steamer Cortege arrived in the harhor of San Francisco in February, 1854. Lived some six or seven months in the city, following his trade as a means of livelihood, until the gold fever so entranced his mind that he determined to try his hand at picking up gold on the hill-sides of some mountain couuty.
On reaching Rough and Ready, in Nevada County, little time claused ere it found him engaged in that pursuit, hut meeting with no success, he soon abandoned the claim and bought into a mill for making lumber, following in that line for two years and meeting with moderate success.
A MINING ADVENTURE.
He sold out and again took up mining on the Yuha River, near Bridgeport, where in company with others, he huilt a flume over a mile in length, over a country of so rough a nature that the lumber and other material used had to be transported on their shoulders, hut thinking that they were going to strike a rich mine, it required little effort to work with willing hearts and hands, at a great cost and many priva- tions for two years, only to he again disappointed and in a more precarious condition, having contracted many dehts dur- ing the time, prominent among which was a bill for merchan- disc. Imagine the dismay within the ranks on receiving posi- tive information from the merchant to the effect that the bill must he paid or no more credit. This caused a desperate reso- lution within each one to settle that at all hazards, and to do so would bankrupt the whole company. As it was Christmas, and their pockets empty, it was a very poor prospect of a Christ- mas dinner, for at that time it took one dollar to obtain but an ordinary meal ; but luck was theirs, for the merchant gave a dinner on hehalf of a few friends and Smith and companions received an invitation. After a hountiful repast and appetites gratified, their aims were never higher, their youthful natures and huoyant spirits urged them to persevere to win success, so they started hack to an empty camp consulting among them- selves as to what course to take so as to continue the mine and develop it. Arriving at a conclusion, a portion went to work on a toll-road, then heing built, to furnish the rest means to go on, hut after several months patient toil they were compelled to ahandon their mine with blasted hopes. They separated in disgust, each one taking different directions.
Mr. Smith then drifted to a little town called French Cor- ral, in Nevada County, where he found employment as foreman in the Shady Creek Ditch Company, in whose employment he remained until he had at his disposal some little money, then the old ardent desire to embark in mining again took posses- sion of him. He hought an interest in a hydraulic mine, and contracted a great deht upon himself in fitting out the mine to his idea as to how it should he constructed to he iu a paying condition and meet with the desired end.
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BETTER LUCK.
He again entered the road to fortune, for after a few months of enterprise, he had cleared enough to take off the indebted- ness and leave his interest unencumbered. Continuing to work on at a good compensation for ten years or so, when health failed and it became evident that there must be a change, con- sequently, disposing of his interest took his departure for San Francisco, and thence on a trip to the Eastern States and his old home-the Pine State.
After several months' sojourn, returned to California, making the journey both ways by water, it being just a year previous to the completion of the Overland route. After traveling three years seeking health as well as mental occupation through several different counties in the State, he finally, located in Merced County, and bought a tract of farming land lying along the Mariposa Creek on the township line due south from Merced, comprising 800 acres, six miles from the town. Merced is the nearest railroad station, although Plainsburg switch is counted the same distauce. There is no direct water communication; the San Joaquin River lies south and west some eight miles, and is navigable only during the high water, when occasionally a steamer comes up to load with wool and grain along the banks. Opposite the northern line is situated a little school house that accommodates about forty or fifty pupils, school being kept six months in the year.
Wheat and barley are the principal products of export, but hay is also raised, supplying the home consumption as well as some local demands. There are used on the place some eigbteen head of horses in tbe preparing of the soil and planting of the seerl, the gang-plows are used universally throughout the country, as the greatest amount of work can be accomplished with them.
ARTESIAN WELLS.
Being within the artesian belt, the water used is supplied from these wells, which are arrived at at the depth of 170 to 300 feet. (See further notice under Artesian Wells.) In connec- tion with this ranch is 1,500 acres of grazing land, or rather used for that purpose by the owner at the present, the time not being far distant when eventually farming will be the use. There is in the center of the land an excellent artesian well that flows far beyond, whose waters quench the thirst of 2,500 bead of sheep the year through.
The nature of the soil is of a saudy loam together with a kind of adobe, which produces in profusion clover and alfelicia, also a bunch-grass that is much liked by stock in its young and tender state.
Mr. Smith was married in 1872 to a Miss G. A. Ellis, of Santa Barbara, who was a native of California, being raised in Nevada County, and subsequently lived for some time in Santa Barbara.
JAMES CUNNINGHAM.
One of the first sketches in our collection is that of the home and farın of James Cuuningham. The artist took a position on the high bank of the stream so as to look down upon the valley, residence and improvements. In the foreground are some of his stock, and in the distance is the stock-range o ' the foot-hills. The bouse, with its large verandas, is surrounded with shade-trees, and presents a cozy aul home-like appearance. Windmills supply the ground with water for domestic nse as well as for irrigating the fruit and ornamental trees and viues. Mr. Cunningham is one of the most successful and well- known farmers of Merced. He has had a great many adven- tures and experiences, but none more thrilling than this one written by himself and published in the Mariposa Gazette :-
"HUMBOLDT COUNTY, Nevada, May 10, 1865.
"I was not at home when the Indians attacked the ranch on the second of April. They shot one of the men and two horses; burned the house and drove off forty head of horses and seventy head of cattle. We have not recovered any of them yet. I inoved the stock immediately opposite Star City and Union- ville, where I thought they would be safe, but it turned out differently. On the night of the fifth, we were surprised about 9 o'clock. I had got everything realy to start on the fifteenth. I had been at Star City, and just returned with the butcher, who wanted to purchase some calves. We were about to go to bed, when the Indian war-whoop was raised and repeated in all directions throughout the hills. They came down on us like a squall, and in a short time the house was surrounded by a swarm of Indians, armed with rifles. They commenced a rapid fire on us, to which we replied as quick as possible, and a general fight ensued. Our house was well adapted for fighting, being built of stone, but had a thatched roof which would prove our ruin if it were not thrown off. The Indians tried to fire it, and kept up such a heavy fire that for some time it was impossible to throw it off. * * * The Indians closed around ns, and we had again to take to the sage brush and fight tbem off while the balance took the roof off. In this operation, one of our men, Thomas Farrel, was shot. We fought for two hours and a balf, when our ammunition gave out. We crawled to the house, and found that the boys had the roof off and that it was in a good state of defense, and could have been easily held if we had had a supply of aminu- nition.
CUNNINGHAM RUNS THE GAUNTLET.
" We held a consultation and it was agreed that one of us should run the gauntlet to town for help and ammunition. I was chosen to make the trial. The Indians in the meantime, were packing off their wounded. The distance from camp to Star City is twenty miles. I saddled Billy, the only horse left us, as the Indians had parties out driving off the cattle and horses, while the others hemmed us in around the house. The
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HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY.
hoys gave me a clearance of 200 yards. I took my pistol and knife, jumped on Billy, and went off "like a streak of light- ning." The Indians were closing around the house again. A mile brought me to the summit-which I had harely turned when the Indian yell broke upon my car, and was taken up all the way down the canon, at different points, to the distance of six miles. I saw in a moment that the Indians were deter- mined that help should not reach us from town, and that none of us should escape. Could I reach town, the party might be saved, and probably the stock. I reflected but a few moments. To go back ? Never ! So I put on; the bullets whizzing from either side of the cañon, The horse behaved nobly under a storm of yells and bullets, through which he bore me to the mouth of the canon. Here, by the moonlight, I saw two Indians ahead of me. To stop and fight might lose the party ; and there were no chances in my favor. I kept the road until within 100 yards of them, when one of them fired and missed me. The other dashed across the road, wheeled, and fired as I passed. I still went on unhurt. They pursued me some six uniles, when they gave up the chase.
"J made Star City, got all the help I could, and telegraphed to Unionville, ' Captain Prescott, of the Star Volunteers, raised ten men and horses, Brighton & Brothers fifteen men and horses, and got to camp the same time as the Star Volun- teers.
NARROW ESCAPE.
" I made the distance from camp to Star City in one bour and a half. My horse was shot in two places. I had a bullet through my vest and breast of my coat; otherwise uninjured. As soon as the Indians saw that we could get help, they left with what stock they could gather, and all our horses, We pursued them for two days, and came up with them fifty miles above the head of the Humboldt canal."
ALEXANDER GEORGE BLACK.
One of the most picturesque of our illustrations is the home ranch of A. G. Black, situated near Hornitos, Mariposa County. In the background of the view is seen the beautiful mountain, dotted with trees, cut into beautiful rolling hills by ravines lined by chaparral and small trees. In front of the residence is a stream winding through the farm and supplying water for stock. To the left of the view is the orchard and vineyard. The whole representing a quiet, homelike scene. -
A. G. Black was born in Maine, March 2, 1826, and spent his early life in farming and lumbering. He lived for some time in Bureau County, Illinois, and in 1853 he took the ship Mystery, at Boston, for tbe voyage around the Horn, and was 120 days making the journey, reaching San Francisco, June 28, 1853. He tried farming in the Pajaro. Valley for two years, and then came by way of Pacheco Pass with an ox-team to Mariposa County, and hauled lumber for Clark's saw-mill, In 1856 he built a stable in Hornitos, and afterward kept a gro-
cery store and teamed nntil 1865, In 1861 he visited his old home in the East. In 1862 . he began farming. His place consists of 735 acres situated near Hornitos, and twenty-eight miles from the railroad. The farm is used for pasturage, except a small part devoted to crops and gardening.
Sheep-raising is made a specialty, and Mr. Black usually keeps some 2,500 head of sheep, forty head of cattle, thirty-five hogs, six horses, and other animals. On the place is a good orchard with a variety of fruit trees. There are forty peach, twenty-five apple, ten plum trees, etc. There is a good vine- yard of 800 grape-vines and 'a good vegetable garden.
He married Miss Laura C. Warren in 1856, a native of Maine. They have no children,
SILAS BOWMAN.
Twelve miles southeast of Merced is the farm of Silas Bow- nian, It is situated in what is called Sandy Mush. He carries on a variety of farming, but has given considerable attention to sheep-raising. On the place are artesian wells which sup- ply the farm with water and furnish the sheep plenty of green grass which keeps them in good condition and free from scab and other diseases. One season his flock of 1,200 sbeep sheared 6,000 pounds of wool, an average of five pounds to the animal.
On his farm is an orchard of a variety of trees and some vines. The vicinity of the residence is fenced into fields for convenience. He keeps some stock of all kinds. He is a prac- tical farmer and makes his business a success.
HENRY CLAY DAULTON.
No man occupies a more honorable position in this section than H. C. Daulton. He is a pioneer of the State, having arrived August 13, 1850, at Hangtown. He came overland, with ox-teams, and was four months on the trip.
The traveler who flies across the continent in palace cars, may think that he realizes the trials of such a journey; but nothing but actual experience will give one an idea of the plod- ding, unvarying monotony, the vexations, the exhausted energy, the throbs of hope, the depths of despair, through which the pioneer lived. Day after day, week after week, going through the same weary routine of breaking camp at daybreak, yoking the oxen, cooking meager rations over a fire of sage-brush and scrub-oak; packing up again, coffee-pot and camp-kettle; wash- ing scanty wardrobes in the little streams they crossed; strik- ing camp again at sunset, or later if wood and water were scarce; tired, dusty, tried in temper, worn out in patience-to .go over the weary experience to-morrow. No excitement but a broken-down wagon, or the extra preparation made to cross a river, marked their way.
He mined in the vicinity of Coloma, where gold was first discovered by Marshall, with but little success. Very rarely did men, on their arrival in the country, begin to work at their old trade or profession. To the mines first. If fortuue favored,
J. KOCHER STOVES TIN & HARDWARE
J. KOCHER. HARDWARE & AGRICULTURAL IMPLIMENTS. MERCED.
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ANDREW LAUDER.
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they soon quit for more congenial employments. If she frowned, they might depart disgusted, if they were able; but oftener, from sheer inability to leave the business, they kept on, drifting from bar to bar, living fast, reekless, improvident, half-civilized lives; comparatively rich to-day, poor to-morrow ; tormented with rheumatisnis and agues, remembering dimly the joys of the old homestead. In the spring of 1852 he returned to his East- ern home, but could not forget the cbarms of California; so, in the spring of 1853, he engaged to drive an ox-team to California for Thomas Hildreth, at fifteen dollars per month, leaving New London, Missouri, with a heavy train of cattle and sheep, on the seventeenth of May, 1853, coming by way of Salt Lake, and, after a hard journey, reached Los Angeles November 24, 1853. From Los Augeles he came to Fresno County, his present home, iu 1858, and engaged in stock-raising, principally sheep.
A LARGE SHEEP RANCH.
His ranch is 16,000 acres, mostly grazing land, and fenced in with twenty-two miles of good board fence, with redwood posts and four eight-inch boards to the panel; posts are set seven and one-balf feet apart, thus making a substantial aud durable fence.
His residence is ample, and surrounded by shade aud orua- mental trees, and enclosed by picket fence. His out-buildings are large, and yards conveniently arranged. A large wind- mill supplies ample water for use about the house. He has planted a good many trees about the place, which add much to its general appearance.
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