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 52
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 52
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GARNER, JOHN R. Whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, is a son of Valentine and Sarah Edington Garner, was born in Wright County, Missouri, July 22, 1838, where young Garner was reared on a farm and given the advantages of a common school education. In 1857, at the age of eighteen, he came to California, across the plains, with ox-teams, and arrived September 18th of that year, after a tedious trip of five months. He came at once to Napa Valley and began renting land of George C. Yount. In 1863 he purchased his present place of one hundred and twenty acres, and now owns three hundred and twenty acres, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married November 13, 1864, to Miss Roberts, who was born in Wayne County, Tennessee, October 5, 1845. Their child- ren are, Thomas, born November 26, 1866; Joseph, born September 24, 1868; John, born July 25, 1871 ; Louis, born November 6, 1873 ; Frederick W., born March 25, 1876; and Bush C., born September 9, 1879.
GRIGSBY, WILLIS P. The subject of this sketch is a native of Napa County, and was born near Yountville, December 14, 1851, and is the son of one of the first pioneers of the county, Jesse and Margaret Alexander Grigsby. He attended the common schools amd afterward completed a course at the Collegiate Institute of Napa, graduating from that institution in the class of 1872. Mr. Grigsby has remained all his life in this county, and February 1, 1880, commenced keeping his present livery and feed stable in St. Helena, under the firm name of W. P. Grigsby & Co., located on the corner of Main and Polk streets. He was united in marriage Sep- tember 12, 1872, to Miss Evaline Osborn, who was born in Ogle County, Illinois. They have three children : Willis O., born in St. Helena, March
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24, 1873; Gertrude E., born in St. Helena, May 21, 1875, and George P., born near Yountville, February 5, 1880.
GIBBS, WILLIAM H. Was born in Posey County, Indiana, June 29, 1829, where he resided till 1852. In that year he crossed the plains to California and settled in Colusa County. He engaged in teaming which he followed for six years, when he began farming on Stoney Creek, that county, where he remained till 1860. He then went East, but returned during the same year and settled where he now resides, owning two hundred acres of land. In 1874 he, with Mr. Cooper, opened the store at Yountville, which property he still owns but is not carrying on the business. He was mar- ried January 1, 1849, to Lucinda Williams, a native of Gibson County, Ohio, born May 1, 1833. Their children are, Charles H., born April 14, 1855 ; Samuel W., born September 25, 1859, and George, born August 5, 1865.
GARDNER, CHARLES A. Son of Charles and Annice Dickson Gard- ner, was born in Middleport, Iroquois County, Illinois, August 22, 1842, and he remained at his birthplace until 1853. He then moved to St. Anthony, Minnesota, in company with his father's family. After a residence here of two years the family proceeded to Lake Pepin, where the father engaged in the practice of his profession-the law. The elder Gardner was an ener- getic and highly respected gentleman, as is evinced by the fact that he was a member of the Territorial Legislature of Minnesota in 1855-6, and was further honored with the position of Speaker of the Lower House of that body. He afterwards received the nomination by President Buchanan to the position of Governor of Dakota, but it was not confirmed by the Senate. About 1857 the father purchased a stock of goods and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Delhi, Iowa, where he remained for two years. He then moved to Franklin County, where he practiced his profession until the fall of 1859. That winter was spent by the family in Kansas, and in the spring of 1860 they started overland for California, coming the old emigrant route, and arriving in Sacramento in September of that year. Young Gardner first found employment as a clerk in the post-office in that city, under Post- master Hardenberg, where he remained for one year. He then began work on the Sacramento Union, which he followed for about one year. In 1863 he went to San Francisco, and was engaged in his father's law office, and at several other occupations. He was a carrier for the Democratic Press of that city, and was present when that building was sacked at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. While in San Francisco Mr. Gardner was a member of the Washington Guards and the City Guards, and helped to preserve order at that time. He was also a member of the Olympic Club. In 1865 he went to Portland, Oregon, and purchased a tract of land, and on his return to San Francisco he engaged in the publication of the Commercial
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Record, and after disposing of that he bought an interest in the Guide. He retained this but a short time, when he sold to his partner, and engaged in the study of law in his father's and other law offices. He was afterwards with Brooks & Ranleun, Hope, McKillop & Co., and others. He was with Bancroft & Co. for about one year on the Digest of California Reports. He then went to Portland, Oregon, with his family, and there filled the position of book- keeper for the Oregon agency of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. In 1870 he went to Anaheim, California, and there practiced law, being at one time Deputy District Attorney of Los Angeles County. At the end of one year he returned to Portland and engaged in the practice of law in connection with his father. He remained there but a short time, when he returned to Anaheim and purchased the Gazette of that place. In the fall of 1872, having changed the name of the paper to the Southern Californian, he sold out, and in December of that year came to Napa County, locating at St. Helena, and purchasing a vineyard of fifty acres. He then purchased a half interest in the Napa Register, which was con- ducted under the firm name of Francis & Gardner, for about two years. He then disposed of his interest to Mr. Francis, but remained in charge of the editorial department of the paper for another year. In June, 1876, he came to St. Helena and purchased the Star, which he has since continued to conduct in a manner that reflects great credit upon himself and best sub- serves the interests of the community in which he has cast his lot. He has been twice honored with the appointment of delegate to the Republican State Convention. Mr. Gardner was married in St. Helena, January 26, 1869, to Miss Sarah A. Clark, a native of Hartwick, Delaware County, Iowa. Their children are, Miriam Emma, born April 15, 1870, at St. Helena ; Edith Maria, born April 28, 1872, at Anaheim ; Katy, born December 7, 1874, at Napa, and Ruth, born October 6, 1877, at St. Helena.
GRIFFITH, CALVIN C. This old and respected pioneer of Napa County, whose portrait appears in this history, is the son of James A. and Elizabeth Rogers Griffith, and was born in Chatham County, North Caro- lina, March 1, 1828. When he was but seven years of age, his parents moved and settled in Macon County, Missouri, and engaged in farming and stock raising, and there the subject of this sketch received the education that the common schools of that place afforded at that early date. After a residence of ten years in Missouri, he, with his parents, with ox-teams started for California in company with others, among whom may be mentioned Mr. John York, David Hudson, James Gregson and Harvey Porterfield, and under command of John Grigsby, started from Independ- ence, Missouri, to cross the then almost unknown plains, with the intention of going to Oregon. On their arrival at Fort Hall, however, they procured a guide, John Greenwood, who prevailed on them to change their route and
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come to California. A division of the original train took place-some going on to Oregon, while the balance turned their faces toward what afterward proved to be the Golden State. Among the latter, was the subject of our sketch, and with thirty wagons, out of as high at one time as one hundred and twenty-five, arrived in California, and we believe this to be the first train that ever successfully crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They arrived at Johnsons Ranch October 17, 1845. In a few days they proceeded to Sutters Fort, near Sacramento, and there, building a raft, they crossed the Sacramento River and proceeded to Napa Valley, arriving on Mr. Yount's ranch November 1, 1845. After six months residence in this valley, Mr. Griffith and family were compelled to seek protection in the town of So- noma on account of the Mexican War. Calvin Griffith was a volunteer under General Fremont, during the war in California, serving in all about nine months, receiving his discharge in April, 1847, and now has a medal made out of the brass of one of the cannons captured during this war. At the close of the war, Mr. Griffith returned to Sonoma, and went thence to the mines. In 1852, he embarked in farming, and in the fall of 1853, re- turned to Napa Valley, and engaged in farming near St. Helena, for three years. In 1856, he returned to Sonoma County, continuing farming on Mark West Creek until the spring of 1871. He then purchased his present property, consisting of eighty-three acres, and engaged in general farming, about one-half mile north of Rutherford. Mr. Griffith was united in mar- riage in St. Helena September 6, 1855, to Miss Lydia Lensibaugh, a native of Wisconsin. They have seven living children : Oliver C., Mary E., Alice M., Clara A., Albert J., George A. and Jessie G.
GROEZINGER, G. Was born in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Sep- tember 18, 1824. There he received his education, and learned the trades of hotel-keeping, baking, and wine-maker. He resided in his birthplace till 1840, when he went to Switzerland and embarked in hotel-keeping, which he continued till 1848, when he immigrated to America and settled in New York City. There he was engaged as head-waiter in the Delmonico Hotel. In January, 1848, he sailed in the steamer " Oregon " to Panama, and there engaged as steward on that steamer, but gave it up and came on to California, arriving in San Francisco February 22d of that year. He soon found employment as steward in a hotel, which he followed only a few months. He then proceeded to Yuba County, where he opened a general miners' store, which business he continued till 1854. He then made a trip to Switzerland, Germany and France, being absent one year, and returned to San Francisco, bringing along several thousand grape cuttings of best varieties. In 1858 he turned his attention to the manufacture of wine in San Francisco, buying his first grapes of Colonel Haraszthy, and paying him for the same three cents per pound. He has since continuously fol-
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lowed that business. In 1871 he came to Yountville and erected his present wine-cellar, a full history of which will be found in its proper place. He now owns five hundred and fifty acres of land, and has two hundred and thirty acres in vines. Married in 1872 to Rosalia Trondle, and has two sons, Gottlieb and Emile.
GREER, JOHN. Was born in Ireland. When he was eighteen years of age he went to England and remained for three years. He then went to the West India Islands, and resided there two years. In 1850 he went to Albany, New York, where he worked in a hotel for five years. In 1855 he came to California, arriving December 15th. He engaged in various pur- suits till May, 1856, when he came to Napa County, locating at the White Sulphur Springs, and in the following year he took charge of the Spring's stables, and conducted them for the following fourteen years. He, in com- pany with Mr. Tainter, purchased one hundred acres of land, on which is now situated the business portion of St. Helena, and he still resides on about thirty acres of that tract, lying on Spring street. He has also other exten- sive interests in Napa Valley. He was married in Albany, New York, October 15, 1854, to Mrs. Ellen McGuire, a native of Ireland. Their chil- dren are Mary, John, Thomas, Clarence and Lizzie.
GRIGSBY, JESSE. Whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Roane County, Tennessee, February 23, 1819, and is the son of George and Rebecca James Grigsby. When he was quite young his parents moved to Monroe County, that State, where he received his education and resided till 1837. He then went to Missouri and located in Pulaski County, where he engaged in farming and stock raising until 1840. He then moved to Greene County, and began the same business, which he fol- lowed until the spring of 1850. February 19th of that year he started across the plains for California, coming via Green River route and South Pass, entering the State by the Truckee route, and arrived in Napa County September 18th of the above year, and settled with his brother, Captain John Grigsby, who was then residing in the valley. Here he began farming and stock raising, which he followed till 1872, when he sold to D. Emerson. He then moved to Berryessa Valley and engaged in the same business, and remained there for one year. He then gave up his farm to his son, P. D. Grigsby, and has since retired from business. He has held the office of Su- pervisor for two terms, and has always been one of Napa County's most staunch and stable farmers and citizens. He was married June 27, 1837, to Margaret Alexander, who was born in Gifford County, North Carolina, in March, 1819, and they are still hale and hearty, after spending over forty- four years of married life. They have seven living children ; Pulaski D., William T., John W., Rebecca, Willis P., James, Jesse F., all but one of whom are now living in Napa County.
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GRIGSBY, P. D. Oldest son of Jesse and Margaret Alexander Grigsby, was born in Pulaski County, Missouri, April 30, 1838. When he was but two years of age his parents moved to Greene County, that State, and there resided until April, 1850, when they came to California, locating first in Napa Valley, where they arrived September 18th of that year. They re- sided near Yountville until 1857, when he embarked in business for himself. He began farming near Oakville, and remained there until 1859; he then moved to the Trancas, one and one-half miles above Napa City, which he rented for five years. In 1864 he purchased a farm on the " Big Ranch " road, and remained there until 1875. He then moved to his present place in Berryessa Valley, consisting of two thousand acres, and is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married August 26, 1857, to Miss Louisa Crowey, who was born February 19, 1840, and died Feb- ruary 25, 1871, leaving the following children : Margaret J., born June 1, 1858; Jesse W., born December 11, 1860 ; Rebecca, born September 2, 1862; John W., born February 1, 1864 ; Louisa D., born June 14, 1865; William W., born November 11, 1869. He married, secondly, November 14, 1872, D. Garner, who was born March 2, 1844. Their children are : Julia A., born December 29, 1873; Nelson, born June 19, 1875 ; Dana, born November 23, 1876 ; Estella, born September 5, 1878 ; and Homer, born April 23, 1880.
GOSLING, C. Was born in England January 16, 1829. In 1836 he, with his parents, came to America and settled in Oakland County, Michigan. In 1846 he went to steamboating on the Mississippi River, running from Memphis to St. Louis. May 5, 1850, he started overland to California, arriving in July of that year. He proceeded to Sacramento and began steamboating between San Francisco and Marysville, which he continued until March, 1851, when the steamer sunk. He then returned East via Panama, and returning to California overland, brought his family with him. He went to Sacramento and engaged in the hotel business, keeping the Bee Hive House, in connection with which he ran a bakery. In the fall of 1852 he went to near Freeport, on the Sacramento River, and engaged in farming. In 1869 he purchased his present place of two thousand acres in Berryessa Valley, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. In 1879 he was elected Supervisor from his district. He was married August 11, 1852, and now has seven children, as follows: Adela (now Mrs. F. G. Huskey), Mary E., Lucy E., William H., Emma M., Walter J., and Alice A. They have lost Frank W., Emily E., Austin F., and Letitia A.
GILLAM, JOHN. Was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1830. At the age of sixteen he moved to Illinois, and was engaged in blacksmithing in Rushville for three years. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Placerville Augut 23d. He mined there for two
John 6. Weinberger
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months and then went to Coloma, where he engaged in the restaurant busi- ness. In 1851 he went to Mormon Island, and in 1853 to Mud Springs, El Dorado County, where he engaged in blacksmithing and continued until 1860. He then came to St. Helena, Napa County, and began working at his trade, which he followed for ten years. He then took a contract for supplying wood to the Central Pacific Railroad, and remained in that business for six years. He then went to Salmon Creek, Mendocino County, and built a saw-mill in company with D. A. and J. A. Mckinley. He is next found in Lodi as superintendent of a lumber company. In 1877 he returned to St. Helena, where he still resides. May 23, 1855, he married Miss Mary Perry, a native of North Carolina.
HASTINGS, JUDGE S. CLINTON. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Jefferson County, New York, November 22, 1814, and is the son of Robert C. and Patience Brayton Hastings. His mother's family, the Braytons, were among the first settlers in that section of New York State. His father, a native of Boston, in early life moved from Rhode Island to the interior of New York, where he married, and reared a family of seven children, all of whom are now deceased except the subject of this sketch and one sister, Mrs. Suel Foster, now a resident of Iowa. When young Hastings was but ten years of age, his father moved to near Geneva, New York, where the father died at the end of a year. After this event occurred, he, with his mother's family, moved to St. Lawrence County, where he was nominally a member of the Governeur Academy for a period of six years, under the special instruction of two tutors, who were graduates of Hamilton College, New York. At the age of twenty he became principal of the Norwich Academy of New York, and filled that position for one year with great credit to himself, and to the entire satisfaction of the patrons of the institution, having in that short space of time fully restored the success of the academy. He then went to Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where he engaged in the study of law with Daniel S. Mayor and the Hon. Amos Lane for about two years. During the campaign of 1836 he edited a political paper in the interests of the Democratic Party. In the spring of 1837 he went to the then Blackhawk Purchase, now the State of Iowa, and settled at where is now the City of Muscatine ; and was honored while a resident of that place, with the posi- tion of member of the Territorial Legislature of Iowa for several years. In 1846 he had the still greater honor conferred upon him of being elected to the United States Congress, being a member of the famous Mexican War or Twenty-ninth Congress. Upon his election Iowa was not yet admitted into the Union ; but through his exertions she was added to the sisterhood of States, and he then took his seat. Upon his return from Congress, he
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was appointed Chief Justice of the State by the Governor. In the spring of 1849 he set out overland for California, arriving in Sacramento City in August of that year. He was elected by the Legislature of California to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the State. Having filled his term of two years, he was elected by the people to the office of Attorney-General. Having become almost entirely impoverished during his term upon the Bench, owing to the great expense of living at that time, he sought the office of Attorney-General, so that he might be able to prac- tice his profession in connection with his office, and thus replenish his exchequer. At this time he had a family of four sons and three daugh- ters. After practicing law for a year or two, his accumulations of property became so great and his interests so varied that he ceased its practice, and has since then to the present devoted his entire time to the management of his country and city real estate. He has made his home principally in Napa Valley, where he has a fine, large estate near Rutherford station. Here he has burried his wife and two of his sons. He is extensively engaged in vineyards and vine planting in Napa and Lake Counties, and wool and wheat growing in other counties. For the last twenty years he has devoted a great amount of his time to foreign travel, and while abroad took occasion to investigate carefully the various systems of instruction in prominent institutions of learning in those countries. He has also carefully studied the systems of instruction in the law in the prom- inent law schools of those countries and the United States. In 1878 he donated to the State of California, and paid into the Treasury thereof, the sum of $100,000 with which was founded the law department of the State University, which is known as the " Hastings College of the Law." The only conditions that restrict this magnificent bequest to the State by one of her most honorable citizens, is that no more than the amount of interest which would accrue from that sum at seven per cent. per annum, shall be expended out of this endowment for compensation to instructors in the department ; and further, the privileges and benefits of the school shall not be confined to those only who intend to make the practice of law their life work, but it shall be free to all. The founder is thoroughly impressed with the grand truth that the study of jurisprudence in all of our institutions of learning, will conduce greatly to the advancement and advantage of the future of the commonwealth, hence the last condition of the bequest. Hav- ing fixed the course of study at three years, Judge Hastings has personally devoted the most of his time since the founding of the school, now three years, in establishing the institution and getting it into successful operation. The best of talent was secured at the first to fill the chairs, and professors and lecturers of eminence were employed. Judge Hastings was also instru- mental in founding the St. Catharines Convent and School at Benicia. In
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1869 he accompanied ex-Governor William H. Seward as an escort, on his celebrated voyage to Alaska, when that gentleman went there to "spy out the land," as it were, examine its resources, and form an opinion of the value of that country. The party proceeded to Alaska in the Oregon Steamship Company's steamer "Active," which was tendered to the Seward party, and they were absent from San Francisco about forty days. On his celebrated voyage around the world, ex-Governor Seward and suite were the guests of Judge Hastings for two weeks. On this occasion the Judge's eldest daughter, Clara L., was united in marriage with Col. E. C. Catherwood. It was agreed at this time between ex-Governor Seward and Judge Hastings that upon the arrival in New York City of the former gentleman from his voyage around the world, the latter should join him, and they together should proceed to the North Sea and explore the north-west coast of Norway and Sweden. The Governor was very urgent in desiring the Judge to spend a few months at his home in Auburn before they proceeded on their projected tour. With this object in view the Judge proceeded to New York City, and while waiting there to meet the Governor the latter died. The excessively warm friendship which existed between these two men was remarkable in many respects. In religion their thoughts ran in widely different channels, and in politics they were at antipodes. The ground for the attachment on the part of the Judge was that in ex-Governor Seward he recognized the greatest living ethinological philosopher, and on this account he was universally known as the "Sage of Auburn." Judge Hastings stands to-day in the front ranks of California's best men. From almost impecuniosity he has climbed the ladder of fortune, till he is to-day a millionaire, owning property in almost every county in the State. As a financier he is not excelled on the Pacific Coast, and we doubt if he is equalled. He is broad and liberal in his views, strong in his convictions, and thoroughly in earnest in whatever he undertakes. His is a mind well and richly stored with the golden cream of literature, and his library at his Napa homestead is a marvelous collection of the choicest works of the world. Through his munificent gift to the State in the endowment of the Law School his name will be justly perpetuated through the generations yet unborn, until the great commonwealth of California shall become a thing of the past, so long forgotten that its records will not cover a page of history. In 1845, in the city of Muscatine, Iowa, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Azella Brodt, a native of Hamilton County, Ohio, who at the time of her marriage was only seventeen years of age. She died in 1874 at Pau, in the south of France. Her remains were brought home and are now resting in the family grounds in the cemetery at St. Helena. He has now six living children, two sons and four daughters, as follows: C. F. D., at present married and residing in Solano County, near Suisun, and is
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