USA > California > Napa County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 50
USA > California > Lake County > History of Napa and Lake Counties, California : comprising their geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber, together with a full and particular record of the Mexican Grants, also separate histories of all the townships and biographical sketches > Part 50
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DODGE, ALBERT HENRY, M. D. The subject of this sketch is the son of Everett K., and Clarissa Fowler Abbot Dodge, and was born in St. Louis, Missouri, March 5, 1850. In July, 1852, he, with the family, reached California via the Isthmus of Panama. After a few years spent in other portions of the State, they made their home in San Francisco, at
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which place Albert H. received the most of his school education having been a student at the City College, under its venerable founder, Rev. Dr. Burrows. In 1874 he entered the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania, graduating after a three years' course. At the expiration of a term of service as Assistant Physician in the Philadelphia Hospital, he returned to this coast, located in Napa City, and began the practice of his profession. The Doctor was united in marriage, July 8, 1880, to Miss Annie M. Franklin, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
DAWSON, WILLIAM J. G., M. D. Was born in New Bandon, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, Canada, January 12, 1846. His mother dying when he was but fourteen months old, he was taken by his grand- parents to New Castle, Northumberland County, and there brought up and educated. In the fall of 1865, he went to New York City, and attended the Medical Department of the University, graduating from that institution in March, 1867. He was then appointed Assistant Physician in the New York City Lunatic Asylum, a position he held for over one year. In the spring of 1868 he was admitted, by competitive examination, one of the House Staff of the Charity Hospital, New York, acting as Assistant Physi- cian for six months, and then entering as one of the House Physicians and Surgeons in October, 1868, which position he held for one year. In Octo- ber, 1869, he returned home to New Castle, New Brunswick, and remained there practicing medicine until the fall of 1876, when he started west, sojourning a few weeks in Colorado, and then continued west to California, locating in St. Helena January 12, 1877, where he has since been practicing his profession. His office and residence are next to the Catholic Church on Oak avenue.
DWYER, THOMAS. Son of Patrick and Hanora Crotty Dwyer, was born in County Waterford, Ireland, in 1828. In 1848 he, with his parents came to America and located in Boston. In 1853 he came via the Isthmus to California, arriving in San Francisco in November of that year. In 1854 he went to Shasta County and began mining on the east fork of Clear Creek. He then went to Siskiyou County in 1856 and mined at Sawyers Bar on the north fork of Solomon River. In July, 1859, he left Sawyers Bar and went to Boston and New York, at which place he was married. They left that city in October of that year for California and arrived in November. He returned to Sawyers Bar, where he resided till May, 1869, when he came to San Francisco. In October, 1870, he came to Napa County and purchased his present place of one hundred acres, where he is engaged in farming and grape-growing. He was married, September 14, 1859, in New York, to Miss Mary Cummings, a native of County Waterford, Ireland, born March 13, 1836. They have four living children :
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Margaret, born December 22, 1860; Edward P., born April 22, 1862; William F., born April 25, 1872, and Cecilia, born March 5, 1878. They have lost seven children : Annie M., Mary B., Thomas P., Therca, Katie, Philip, Valen- tine and Agnes who was born in San Francisco and died in that place in September, 1870. Five of these children died within four weeks in No- vember, 1877, with diptheria at Oakville, Napa County, and one, January 4, 1878, of the same disease. The two eldest living were born at Sawyers Bar, Siskiyou County, and the two youngest were born at Oakville, Napa County. Four of the children that died were born at Sawyers Bar, Siskiyou County, and of the other two that died one was born at San Francisco and the other at Oakville, Napa County.
ESTEE, HON. MORRIS M. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born November 23, 1833, in the town of Free- hold, Warren County, Pennsylvania. His father, Ansel Estee, was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1806, and his mother, Phœbe Moran, was born in Rochester, New York, in 1810, and died but recently in Erie County, Penn- sylvania, where his father still resides. At a very early period of his child- hood his father, with the family, moved from Warren County, Pennsylvania, to Concord, Erie County, that State. His father was a farmer, owning one hundred acres of land, which business he followed during the whole period of the childhood and youth of the subject of this sketch. At a very early age Morris, who was the eldest of a family of nine children, was sent to the district school ; but as soon as he was old enough to be of assistance on the farm his school terms were restricted to the winter seasons only, and he worked at home during the summer months. When he was fourteen years of age, having advanced beyond the studies taught in the district school, he went to Waterford Academy, in Erie County, which institution he attended, except during the summer terms, for two years. At the age of sixteen he began teaching school during the winter terms, boarding around, as was the custom then, among the patrons of the school, and attending the academy during the fall terms, and working on his father's farm during the summer months. He continued in this manner until the summer of 1853, when he borrowed money of a neighbor, his father not being willing for him to leave home, for the purpose of paying his passage to California. He gave this neighbor no security for the money borrowed, except his personal promissory note, agreeing to repay double the amount borrowed within six months, which promise he duly fulfilled. Upon his arrival in California, September, 1853, he went to Cold Springs, El Dorado County, and engaged in mining, where he remained until 1854. He then went to Volcano, Amador County, and continued in mining at that place until 1855. He then engaged in school teaching in Volcano, and began the study of the law at the same time,
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under the tuition of the late Judge T. M. Pauling, who was also a Pennsyl- vanian, and a man of great culture. In the winter of 1857-8 he went to Sacramento, and entered the law office of Messrs. Clark & Gass, where he remained until the spring of 1859, when he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State. He then opened an office in that city and began at the foot of the legal ladder, upon the topmost rungs of which he was afterwards destined to plant his feet. But the pathway of his earlier professional days was not strewn with the roses of success, and the fledge- ling found it a hard struggle at first. But his was not an ambition to be daunted by the seeming adversities of an hour, and with patience and per- severance he wrought on, hoping, ever hoping, for the brighter to-morrow. At last the clouds began to lift, and the true worth of the man began to be appreciated by his fellow men, and his election, in 1862, to the Assembly from Sacramento County, let a grand rift of sunshine in upon his profes- sional career. That was a memorable session of the Legislature of Cali- fornia, being composed of some of the ablest men in the State, and it was in this session that the Hon. John Conness was elected to the United States Senate. In the fall of 1863 he was elected to the office of District Attorney, for the City and County of Sacramento, which position he held until 1866. He then went to San Francisco and began the practice of his profession in that city, and he has remained there ever since. In 1867-8 he published the legal work entitled "Estee's Pleadings, Practice and Forms," in three volumes, a work that has now reached its second edition, and is generally received and recognized as a standard work in all the States and Territories that have a code. During Mr. Estee's residence in Sacramento he became a warm friend of Mr. Newton Booth, and when that gentleman was announced as a candidate for Governor, Mr. Estee devoted all the energies of his character to secure his nomination. After Mr. Booth's nomination, Mr. Estee was made Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee, and the following campaign, in which Mr. Booth, as the nominee of the Re- publican party, and Governor H. H. Haight, as the nominee of the Democratic party-two good and eminent men-aspired to the guber- natorial position, was one of the most memorable political contests in the history of California The organization of the Republican party was, at that time, brought from chaos into absolute perfection, and Mr. Booth was elected Governor by a majority of some five thousand. In 1875 Mr. Estee was elected to the Assembly from San Francisco. During that session no party had a majority in the Assembly, there being about thirty-four Inde- pendents in that body, and the remaining members were about equally divided between the Democrats and "straight-out" Republicans. Mr. Estee was chosen Speaker, for which position he was eminently qualified, which was evinced by the fact that no decision of his was ever overruled,
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and but little wrangling occurred on the floor of the House. At the close of the session Mr. Estee returned to his practice in San Francisco, which had become very large and lucrative. In the winter of 1878 he was the unani- mous choice of the Republican caucus for the United States Senatorship and received the entire vote of the Republicans in the Legislature for that position ; but the Democrats being in the majority, Mr. Farley was elected. He was elected delegate from the State at large to the Constitutional Con- vention from the San Francisco district. His well-known anti-corporation sentiments marked him out as Chairman of the Committee on Corporations and he was appointed to that position. The report of that committee, which has now become a part of the organic law of the State, shows how well the labor assigned to it was performed. He was the only member of the eight delegates from the San Francisco district, representing the State at large, who upon returning to his constituents supported the New Constitution, he believing that, while there were some things in it which were crude and ought to be amended, yet in the main it was a good Constitution and that it would benefit the people, and that it should have a fair and just trial before it was condemned. He returned again to his practice in 1880 and was elected one of the twelve men to whom was assigned the duty of framing a new charter for the City and County of San Francisco. The in- strument was duly drawn up by them ; but when it was submitted to the people for adoption it was defeated. In politics Mr. Estee is a Republican, though he is very independent in his views; and from the earliest step he took in politics until the present time, he has most strenuously opposed, in the Legislature and out of it, the exactions of railroad corporations, and their continued interference, by the use of money, with the politics of the State. He is one of the leading horticulturalists of Napa County, having at this time a vineyard of about three hundred acres, and owning in Napa Valley in one body about six hundred acres of land under a high state of cultivation. He also takes great interest in agriculture. Upon the organi- zation of the Napa Viticultural Society in 1881, he was chosen as its presi- dent; and much of the good that society has accomplished is due to the suggestions and energy of its chief officer. His family spend about eight months of the year at their beautiful country residence a short distance north-east of Napa City, and the remainder of the year is spent in San Francisco. At the law Mr. Estee has for years been a leading member of the bar, and now stands in the foremost ranks of his profession in San Francisco, and enjoys a most lucrative practice. He is industrious, frank, open-hearted, and loyal to those to whom he turns in friendship. He is firm in his convictions, strong of will, and when his purpose is once formed nothing can swerve him from it. As a public speaker he is always earnest, logical, sincere and fair ; few men are his superiors, and he never fails to
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impress an audience ; his manners are dignified, and he often reaches the plane of eloquence. In February, 1863, Mr. Estee was united in marriage with Miss Frances H. Divine, a daughter of Judge Davis Divine of San José. They have had three children, two of whom are still living, one aged sixteen years and the other five years.
EPLEY, THOMAS H. Was born in Washtenaw County, Michigan. October 18, 1836, and is the second child of Henry K. and Rachel Moe Ep- ley. He resided at his birthplace until 1852, receiving his education in public and private schools in the meantime. In the fall of that year, he went to Fayette County, Iowa, where he built the first house in Brush Creek. In the spring of 1853, he erected the first hotel in that place. In that year he moved to Central Point, Goodhue County, now Lake City, Wabasha County, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming for three years. He then went to work for Starr, in a saw-mill at Lake City. In 1857, he went to Davenport, Iowa, on a raft. In the fall of that year he returned to Michigan. Thence in 1858, he went to Lake City, and thence to Omaha, where he spent the summer, and in the fall he went to Savannah, Missouri. In 1859 he returned to Omaha, and during that year he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams, and arrived September 20th. He first worked on a ranch in Lassen County, and then run an engine in a saw-mill. In the spring of 1860, the mill was moved to Washoe Valley, and was the first steam mill ever put up in Washoe County, Nevada. During that spring the Piute War broke out, and he enlisted in the volunteer service, and was detailed to guard Carson City, and was not in any active engagements. After this excitement died out he finished the erection of the mill, and ran it for Penroad & Lewis, until the fall of that year. He then rented the mill, paying a rental of $1,000 per month, and ran it for six months. In the spring of 1862, he built a house in Gold Hill, where he ran a lumber yard, and also purchased forty feet in the Crown Point Mine, and set the first engines to work on it, and worked there for six months at six dollars a day. On account of failing health he began teaming. In 1864, he traded his Gold Hill property for a section of land in Honey Lake Valley, Lassen County, California, and farmed until 1874, when, in the spring of that year he moved to Napa County. While living in Honey Lake Valley he owned a saw-mill, which he lost by fire. He began his present business of sta- tionery, notions, etc., in 1874, and conducts it in connection with Mr. L. Paccaud. He was married January 1, 1858, to Miss Mary E. Robinson, a native of Calhoun County, Michigan. They have three children : Dora M., Carl and Myrtle Leona.
EDGINGTON, WILLIAM. Was born in Garrett County, Kentucky, March 20, 1816, where he resided till 1840. He then emigrated and settled
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in Platte County, Missouri, and for the first year he was engaged in the distilling business. He then embarked in farming, which he followed till April 28, 1846. He then started with an ox team across the plains for California, arriving in the Sacramento Valley October 22d of that year. On leaving home they expected to go to Oregon, but at Fort Hall they met Messrs. Applegate and Gough, by whom they were persuaded to change their route for California. This route led them down the Humboldt River two hundred miles, and there they found orders from Applegate and Gough that they would find a comfortable camping place near the foot-hill eighteen miles farther on. Finding no water or grass for their stock they held a meeting and took a vote whether they should proceed on to Oregon or come to California, by which it was decided that they would go to California. While on the Humboldt four of the party died, and as above stated they reached the Sacramento Valley on the 22d of October, 1846. On Bear River Mr. Edgington left the party and enlisted in Fremont's battalion, Com- pany E, under Captain Hastings, and was mustered into service at San Francisco, and from there proceeded with the company to Santa Clara Valley. He stayed in the service till March, 1847, when he was mustered out. On arriving at San Francisco he found that the company with whom he had crossed the plains was located in Chiles Valley, Napa County, and he immediately started to go there. He at once began work for Mr. J. B. Chiles, with whom he continued till May, 1848. On the 8th of that month he was united in marriage to Theresa A., daughter of Captain John Grigsby and Nancy Wilson Grigsby, a native of Tennessee, born November 21, 1830. In July, 1848, he, with his wife, went to the mines on the American River, just below Sutter's old mill, where he embarked in mining with good success, which he followed for three months. They then returned to Chiles Valley, and spent the winter of 1848-9 with Captain John Grigsby. In the spring of 1849 he, with Captain John Grigsby, went to the middle fork of the Yuba River, where they " struck rich diggings," and continued mining for two months, returning to this valley with lots of coin. He then went to the redwoods, a few miles north-west of his present home, where he eut, hewed and whipsawed lumber, which he hauled into Napa with ox teams, and there erected his first house and home in California. It was built near where James & Boggs' lumber yard is now situated. He resided there till 1850, when he moved to his present home, and has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. He now owns one thousand acres of land in Napa County ; also much valuable property in Napa City. By his marriage he has nine children.
ELLIS, FREDERICK W. Was born in New York, April 20, 1841. When he was but one year old his parents moved to Dearborn County, Indi- ana, where he resided till he was eight years of age. In 1849 his parents
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died within twenty minutes of each other with cholera, and left three orphan children. The subject of this sketch was taken by the Masons and Odd Fellows, who cared for him till his grandfather came from New York and took him home with him. In 1860 he came to California. He proceeded to the mines, and thence started for Washoe on snow-shoes. In the fall he returned to California, and came to Napa Valley searching for a mill to run, having learned that trade in New York. He began work for Ellis & Erwin, in the old Bale mill, and remained there till the spring of 1863. He then went to the mines, and in the fall returned to this valley " dead broke," and began working in the Yount mill, which he has since pur- chased, and continues to conduct, in connection with farming. He owns fifty-one acres of land adjoining his mill. A full description of his mill will be found in the proper place. He was married November 27, 1864, to Miss Minnie Holland, who was born in Oregon. Their children are Minnie E., Willie and Freddie.
ELGIN, WILLIAM A. This old and respected resident of Napa County is the eldest son of the Rev. Lewis and Elizabeth Thompson Elgin, and was born in Patrick County, Virginia, January 4, 1829. When he was but two years of age his parents moved and settled in Howard County, Missouri, where his father engaged in farming, and the subject of this sketch received his education at the common schools, with the exception of eighteen months, when he attended the Highland Academy, of Jackson County, same State. He then engaged in teaching school and followed that vocation for three years, his parents having in the meantime moved to Greene County. From that place, in April, 1853, Mr. Elgin, accompanied by his wife and young daughter, and in company with his brother-in-law, the Hon. William L. Anderson, of Lake County, started across the plains for the Golden State, at that time the land of promise, and after a tedious journey of some five months, finally arrived in Sacramento. He remained there but a few days, and then proceeded to Napa Valley and first camped on Cache Creek, when the subject of this sketch proceeded on horseback to seek a location in the then almost uninhabited Napa Valley. He finally settled three miles east of St. Helena and engaged in stock-raising and there resided until August, 1857, when he moved to the town of St. Helena and embarked in merchandising in the building now occupied by the Swiss Union Hotel, and continued in that business until the spring of 1860. Mr. Elgin then bought the place now occupied by E. Heyman and then engaged again in farming until 1866, when he sold his ranch and in 1867 embarked in his present business of livery and feed stable, located on Main street, opposite the Pal- ace Hotel. In 1859 Mr. Elgin was elected a member of the County Board of Supervisors from this district, and in 1880 to the office of Justice of the Peace of Hot Springs Township, an office he now holds. Mr. Elgin is one of
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St. Helena's most energetic and thriving citizens, and one most highly esteemed by all who know him. He was united in marriage in Springfield, Missouri, March 12, 1851, to Miss Mary A. Anderson, a native of Tennessee, and by this union they have five living children and one deceased : Sarah C., now Mrs. L. H. Boggs ; Ira P., Clarence E., Lewis H., deceased, Jessie F. and Alice G.
EARL, THOMAS. This worthy pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Canada, and is the son of John and Frances Burney Earl. In 1835 he emigrated to Richmond, Ray County, Missouri, where, with the exception of a year spent in Lexington, Kentucky, he remained until 1850. May 20th of that year he, with three others, started overland from Inde- pendence, with a team of mules, bound for the land of gold. On the Platte they joined the Henry Boggs' train. The party made the trip in the short period of three months, arriving in Sacramento in August of that year. He paid Napa a visit, then mined a while, and finally, in 1851, he returned to Napa and established the pioneer saddlery in the place. In this pursuit he was very successful, and, satisfied that Napa's future was destined to be bright and prosperous, he determined to cast his lot permanently with her citizens. Accordingly, in 1853 he purchased a tract of eighty-five acres from James M. Harbin, and erected a house thereon. The tract was used by tenants for farming purposes until 1858, when he disposed of it to John Lawley, and it is now known as the Lawley Addition to Napa City. In 1853 Mr. Earl bought a lot sixty feet square on Main street, adjoining the lot on the corner of Main and First streets, owned by William H. James. In 1856, after much urging, the latter joined Mr. Earl in the erection of a substantial brick building covering the two lots, which was the first business building of brick ever erected in Napa City. The brick were procured by Mr. Earl in Sacramento. The first floor was used for stores and the second story of Mr. Earl's part of the block was occupied for several years as a Masonic hall. In 1857 he erccted another brick store building of thirty- six feet frontage, adjoining the first. The upper story was finished into one room, 36x55 feet, and was used for a hall for lectures, theatricals, etc., and was known as Earl's Hall. It was subsequently occupied by the Odd Fellows for a lodge-room. This building had an iron front, and was the first of the kind ever erected north of San Francesco. In the spring of 1858, he returned to New York for the purpose of purchasing a large stock of saddlery, etc., in his line. He combined business with pleasure, and pro- ceeded to Monroe County, Michigan, where he formed the acquaintance of Miss Fannie Montgomery, and married her on the 3d of January, 1859. He then returned to California and erected a third brick building, and the second one with an iron front. In 1861 he had the honor of erecting the first concrete house ever built in Napa, it being 30x34 in size, and is his
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present residence. It will thus be seen that Mr. Earl has contributed in no small degree to the improvement of the appearance of the town. In 1857, when the big fight was being made concerning the re-cession to Solano County of a strip of territory annexed to Napa by the Legislature in 1855, Mr. Earl was found in the foremost rank, standing out boldly and doing his share towards retaining this valuable property as a portion of Napa County. He also took a very prominent part in securing the making of the toll- bridge across Napa River a free bridge, heading and circulating the subscrip- tion himself. He also took a very active part in the locating of the Odd Fellows College and Home here. He also took a very active part in striv- ing to get the State Normal School located in Napa City. In 1863 he was elected to the office of Public Administrator, which he filled two years. He was again placed in nomination, but declined; he was put on the ticket, however, and elected, but refused to qualify. He held the office of City Marshal during the years 1874-5-6. In September, 1879, he was elected President of the Pioneer Association of Sonoma, which position he has since filled. Mr. Earl is a man of worth and integrity, one who has full and unbounded faith in the future of his favorite city and county; one who has not been sparing of time or money for their advancement ; and while some have been loud in their acclamations of what they intended to do, Mr. Earl has gone quietly along and accomplished great results. To him then let us accord the honor.
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