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 56
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 56
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KICHLER, PLASS (deceased). Was born in Switzerland in 1838, where he resided until 1872, when he came to California and settled in Sonoma. In 1877 he came to Napa County and began the dairying business, which he continued till his death, which occurred February 27, 1881, and was caused by a kick on the head. He was married in September, 1875, to Miss Karolin Keiser, who was born in Switzerland in 1859. They have four children, Joseph, Josephine, Rosaline and Plass.
KORTUM, LOUIS. Son of I. W. and Ida Stave Kortum, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, August 25, 1846, and resided in his birthplace- Schwerin-until 1871, first attending school until sixteen years of age, and then engaging in the wine and general merchandising business. He re- mained in this for four years; then he clerked for two years, and then engaged with his brother in the same business, continuing in it until he came to America, arriving in New York in June, 1871. He went direct to Chicago, where he visited for some time with his friends, and then engaged in business there for six months. In August, 1872, he started for California, arriving in this State in the same month, first locating in Los Angeles in the employ of Messrs. Kohler & Frohling, of San Francisco, remaining in this place nearly four years. He next moved to Cucamonga, in San Bernardino County, where he sojourned for three years. He then moved to Napa Val- ley and located in Calistoga, where he has since resided, and is now the proprietor of Kortum's wine cellar, of which a full account appears else- where in this work.
KETTLEWELL, JOSEPH R. Son of Joseph and Nancy Ann Wal- lace Kettlewell, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1825. When he was two years of age his parents moved to St. Clairs- ville, Belmont County, Ohio, and resided there some six years. In 1833,
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his parents moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, where the subject of this sketch was educated at the common schools. His father died in 1837, and two years later he moved with his mother back to Belmont County, Ohio, and there was apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith. Remaining there four years, he again returned to Virginia and remained about one year. He then moved back to Ohio, locating in Cincinnati, and there followed his trade for four years. He then located in several places, staying only a short time in each, until June 1, 1854. We then find him in Iowa City, Iowa, engaged in his former business, where he built a large shop and carried on an extensive business, until he started for this coast. Leaving Iowa City April 20, 1863, he crossed the plains with his family, sojourning in Austin, Nevada, for one year. He then proceeded to California, arriving in San Francisco July 23, 1864. He then engaged in his former business, residing there for eight years. July 1, 1872, he came to Napa County, locating in St. Helena, and began his present extensive business of keeping hardware store, blacksmith shop and manufacturing wagons and carriages, etc., enjoy- ing the confidence and respect of all the citizens of the community in which he lives. Mr. Kettlewell was united in marriage in Cincinnati, April 15, 1847, to Miss Eliza Paul, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, August 11, 1825, and by this union they have four living children and two deceased : Joseph A., born February 12, 1848; George W., born December 23, 1849 ; James O., born April 12, 1852; Eliza J., born February 25, 1855, and died October 25, 1865; Benjamin F., born May 8, 1857, and Charles P., born April 13, 1860, and died October 19, 1866.
KISTER, JOHN SCOTT. Third son of Jacob E. and Catherine Hart Kister, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Newberrytown, York County, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1828. At his birthplace he was educated at the common schools, and there served an apprenticeship to the boot and shoemaker's trade, and resided there till September 7, 1850. He then emigrated and settled in Decatur, Illinois, where he followed his trade and carpentering till March 22, 1853. He then came across the plains to California. When three days travel from the Platte River, Mr. Kister started on in advance of the train in the morning, and after walking a few miles he was attacked on both sides by two Pawnee Indians, who walked him in front of them for three hours, trying to find out the size of the train and number of men behind, and would probably have killed him had he not made them believe that he had a revolver in his inside vest pocket. He entered the State by the Lassen cut-off, and arrived at Shasta City August 22d of that year. He immediately proceeded to Mill Creek, forty miles from Shasta, where he engaged to drive ox-teams, drawing lumber to the Sacramento River, at which occupation he continued till the fall rains.
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Harry. C. Parker
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He then went, by their orders, to one mile above Tehama, where he made rails and fenced a farm for Black & Sanborn. Late in February, 1854, he went to Middletown, Shasta County, where he worked one week in the mines, and then returned to Shasta City, and was employed by the Clear Creek Mining Company; and after he had been with them two weeks he was honored with the position of foreman of the sluice, and worked with that company till July. He then came to St. Helena, Napa County, and leased the Bale saw mill, and sawed lumber during the winter of 1854-5. At the same time he leased David Hudson's farm, which he continued to conduct till November, 1856. "He then moved to St. Helena, and crected a small building, where he began the boot and shoe trade, and in which he continued till 1865. He then sold his interest, and moved to Conn Valley and began farming, which he followed till 1869, when he again returned to St. Helena and purchased his present place, consisting of twenty-one acres, where he has since been engaged in grape growing. He was united in marriage February 18, 1862, with Miss Julia Etta Spear, who was born near Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, December 2, 1842, and by this union they have two living children : Alice Emma, born December 27, 1863, and Lilian Ainsworth, born November 6, 1869.
KEEGAN, JOHN. Was born in County Meath, Ireland, April 16, 1839. At the age of twenty-eight he left his native land and came to America, and first located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1868. In that year he started via Isthmus of Panama, to California, and on arriv- ing in this State he came directly to Napa County and to Knoxville, where he embarked in mining until 1877, when he took charge of his hotel, and he has since carried on that business there. Mr. Keegan was united in mar- riage May 18, 1867, to Miss Mary Goodwin, who was born in Ireland, March 25, 1840. They have eight living children : Katie, Elizabeth, John, Rosanna, Mary, Theresa, Agnes and Alice, and one deceased.
KEAN, JOHN. Was born in Granville, Licking County, Ohio, April 29, 1833. He resided there until he was six years of age, when, with his parents, he moved to Finlay, Hancock County, where he resided for four years. When he was ten years of age they moved to the adjoining county, Putnam, where he remained until he came to California. In that county he received his education at the common schools. When quite young he learned the cabinet-maker's trade from his father, following it, and going to school until March, 1852, when he, with his father, proceeded to Fayette, Missouri, where they procured a team and supplies and left Independence, same State, May 2, 1852, to cross the plains for the Golden State, coming by way of Salt Lake City. When on the Platte River, his father, June 4th, was attacked with the cholera, and died.
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The subject of this sketch continued his journey to the Far West, entering the State at Placerville in September, 1852, and arrived at Sacramento the 26th of the same month. He immediately began ranching on Cache Creek, Yolo County, in which he continued until the spring of 1858. He then removed to Coyote Valley, then a part of Napa County, but now in Lake County, and there began the business of ranching, and continued in this for two years. He removed from there in 1860 to Pope Valley, Napa County, where he erected a saw mill, and in connection with it carried on farming until 1867. In that year he was appointed by B. W. Arnold, Deputy Assessor, and served until 1868, when, by J. H. Howland, he was appointed in that year to the office of Deputy County Recorder, and held this position until 1869. He was, in that year, appointed to the office of Superintendent of the County Infirmary, which position he held two and one-half years. In 1871-2, he was once more appointed to the office of Deputy Assessor under B. W. Arnold, and served two years. Again, in 1873-4, he was appointed to the position of Deputy County Clerk and Recorder, by C. B. Seeley. In 1875 he was nominated and elected to the office of City Clerk and Treasurer of Napa City, which" position he held one year, and was then elected County Assessor for the term of four years, and re-elected again in 1879, which office he now holds with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people. Mr. Kean was united in marriage October 11, 1866, in Pope Valley with Miss Mary Halterman, she being a native of Jackson County, Ohio, born September 7, 1848. By this union they have four children, Leslie G., born January 9, 1870; Mary L., born March 8, 1872; Maud, born May 24, 1875, and Zoe, born July 17, 1879.
KELLY, JOHN NELSON. The son of Alfred Moore and Etta Valeria Donnell Kelly, was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, October 3, 1852, where he resided until 1871, receiving the principal part of his education in that State, afterwards graduating from the high school of Richmond, Ohio. In September of the above mentioned year he moved to Polk County, Iowa, remaining in that State until February 20, 1879, when he started overland for California, where he arrived February 29th of the same year. He had previously visited the State for a period of six months. He went direct to Chiles Valley and engaged in general farming and herding. Mr. Kelly is still unmarried.
KENNEDY, W. W. Was born in Indiana, December 10, 1833, and is the son of Stephen and Eliza Richardson Kennedy. In 1846 he went as a teamster to Santa Fé. He then settled in Buchanan County, Missouri, where he remained with his brother on a farm for one year. In the spring of 1849 he returned to Indiana, and purchased cattle and an outfit, and started for California May 10th of that year. He came across the plains by
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the way of Fort Hall and entered the State by way of the Lassen cut-off about September 10th. He began mining at Spanish Ravine in El Dorado County, which he followed for six years. In 1857 he came to Napa County, and engaged with Dwight Spencer at farming, which he followed till 1859. In September of that year he returned to Indiana, where he lived for six months, and then went to Missouri, where he purchased a farm. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 35th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served for nine months. At the battle of Springfield he was wounded, on account of which he was discharged. In 1864 he returned to California. May 3, 1859, he was married to Miss Annie Hogan, who died October 10, 1879. Their children are, Maggie, Andrew, Albert and Clara.
KELLY, LUKE. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in County Roscommon, near Dublin, Ireland, in March 1831, and is the son of Frank and Mary Egan Kelly. He resided at his birthplace until he was eight years of age, when he, with his parents, came to America, locating in New London, Connecticut, where he resided, with the exception of an eight months' residence in Rhode Island, until his coming to California. When he was about ten or twelve years of age he went to work for Alberson, a foundryman in New London. After working for him some time he was engaged with J. N. Harrison, of " Pain Killer " fame, who was also a hardware merchant for one year. He then became chore and bell boy in the City Hotel in New London, for one year. He then served an apprenticeship with a Mr. Gillett, for three years at the brick-layer and plasterer's trade. In September, 1853, Mr. Kelly sailed from New York on board the steamer " Golden Gate " to Nicaragua, and on the Pacific side he took passage on the steamer "Sierra Nevada," arriving in San Francisco October 15th of that year. He immediately began plying his trade, work- ing first on the Marine Hospital, and continued to work at his trade for one year in different parts of the city. In 1854 he went to Stockton, and worked on the Insane Asylum for a while; he then worked for Captain Webber in the gardening business, and then for Timothy Page in a flouring mill. In the spring of 1856 he began working for I. D. Hamilton in a hotel on the Sonora road, twelve miles from Stockton. In 1857 he leased this hotel and began business for himself, and at the end of one year pur- chased the property. He remained here for six years, and during that time purchased the hotel in Copperopolis, and run that property for one year. He then sold out, and in the meantime leased the Copperopolis Hotel and ran it three years. He then leased the property and purchased the furni- ture of the Webber House in Stockton. At the end of two years he returned to Copperopolis and took possession of that hotel, where he re- mained until that place was destroyed by fire. In 1866 he moved to San
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Francisco and began the livery business on Kearny street, on the present site of the White House. At the end of two years he moved to Market street and erected the Charter Oak Stables, near Fourth and Market. He remained there for one year, when he went to Santa Rosa and engaged in the hotel business again, having charge of the Kessing and Grand Hotels. He continued there until March, 1875, when he came to Napa City and opened the Palace Hotel, where he has since remained. Mr. Kelly was united in marriage with Miss Bridget Mullen, and their children are, Kittie, William, and Thomas.
KRUG, CHARLES. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait ap- pears in the body of this work, was born in Trendelburg, near Cassel, Prussia, Germany, March 1, 1825, and is the only son of Caspar and Marie Steitz Krug. He resided at his birthplace until he was fourteen years of age, when he went to a Latin school in Hersfeld, and remained there for a term of six years, completing the full course of the school. He then went to the University at Marburg, which he attended for two years. In the summer of 1847 he came to America and located in Philadelphia, where he was engaged as a teacher in the Free Thinkers' School of August Glaser, until May, 1848. At this time, called by the outbreak of the Revolution in France, and afterwards over all Continental Europe, he returned to the "Fatherland," and began writing revolutionary articles for the press, and agitating the project of republicanizing Germany. He resided at Frankfort- on-the-Main, at that time the seat of the first German Parliament. On the 18th of September of that year he was engaged in a revolutionary attempt to overthrow the then reactionary Parliament, and to create a central revo- lutionary government for all Germany ; but the attempt failed, and he was imprisoned for nine months, till the new outbreak of the Revolution in Baden and Rheinphalz, in 1849, opened for him and about one hundred other enthusiasts the doors of their prison. In 1851 he returned to Phila- delphia, and remained there until Jacob Hahnlein engaged his services as editor of the Staats Zeitung, the first German paper ever published on the Pacific Coast. He came to California via the Isthmus route, and arrived in San Francisco June 14, 1852. He remained engaged in that business until 1854, when, in the early part of the year, he proceeded to Crystal Springs, San Mateo County, and located on a Government claim, which was near where Colonel A. Haraszthy had a farm. The first work performed on this place was the making of a road, which was the first manual labor performed in his life. There was quite a colony of Hungarians in that vicinity. Mr. Krug erected a log house, and attempted to become a prac- tical farmer, but only remained there about eight months, when he returned to San Francisco, and entered a private gold refining establishment for a
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short time. In 1856 he was appointed clerk of the refining department of the United States Mint, where he remained till Colonel A. Haraszthy, with Count Wass and W. Molitor, opened the gold and silver refinery on Brannan street. In January, 1858, he went to Sonoma and purchased a place from Colonel Haraszthy, and planted twenty acres of vines upon the tract inside of the next three years. In the fall of 1860 he disposed of his place in Sonoma, now the property of Messrs. Heller Brothers. December 26, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Caroline, daughter of Dr. E. T. Bale, of Napa Valley, and immediately located upon his present place. In 1858, during his residence at Sonoma, John Patchett, who lived near Napa City, while on a visit to Sonoma, stated to Mr. Krug that he had a fine crop of grapes on his place, and was desirous of having them made into wine. Mr. Krug accepted a proposition, and came to the place with a small cider press, and began operations. He made about twelve hundred gallons of wine for Mr. Patchett, which was the first wine ever made in Napa County by other than the old Spanish pro- cess, which is fully described in the body of this work. Hence to Mr. Charles Krug belongs the honor of making the first wine in Napa County, and of being the pioneer of an industry that was subsequently to be of all-absorb- ing interest over the entire county. In 1859 Mr. Krug manufactured wine for Mr. Louis Bruch, on the Bale Mill place, where Mr. W. W. Lyman now resides. In 1860 he made wine on the shares on Mr. George C. Yount's farm, making that year about five thousand gallons. The now prominent Henry Edgerton used to visit Yount's farm for recreation, and for exercise would sometimes turn the crank of the crusher, which was roughly con- structed by a friend of Mr. Krug's, Mr. Conrad Tempel, now a hardware dealer in Petaluma. In 1861 Mr. Krug made the first wine on his present place. The quantity made was about one hundred gallons, and the grapes were procured from his neighbors and from Knights Valley. In the spring of 1861 he planted about twenty acres of rooted Mission vines. This was the second vineyard in the St. Helena District planted for the purpose of making the grapes into wine, Dr. G. B. Crane having preceded him two years. In the following years he purchased grapes in the neighborhood, the principal growers being David Hudson, John York, Dr. Bale's Mill and homestead places, Owsley, J. Tucker and others. At the present time he has one hundred and fifty-three acres of vines, one hundred and twenty-five of which are bearing. He has steadily increased his business from the few hundred gallons of 1861 to the three hundred and twenty thousand gallons of 1880. The rude and small cellar has given way to a most com- modious and magnificent structure, a full description of which will be found in its proper place. It has not always been sunshine with this pioneer of winemakers. His has been a long and arduous struggle against an ebb tide
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to bring California wines up to their present status. Reverses of fortune have borne hardly upon him also, chief of which was the destruction of his cellar and its contents, in 1874, by fire. No man but a Krug, or a man pos- sessed with his iron will and indomitable energy, would have passed through these reverses safely. But now he stands out in the effulgent light of achieved success. To-day he is at the head of the greatest industry of Cal- ifornia, and his vineyard is located in the very heart of the wine-producing section to which the eyes of the world are turned, and to which the markets of the world must look for future supplies of this great product. He takes a most active part in the advancement and furtherance of his favorite industry, being at the present time a member of the Board of the State Viticultural Commissioners, president of the Viticultural Association of the St. Helena District, and a prominent promoter of the buildings of the association in St. Helena. Mr. Krug has one of the loveliest places in the beautiful Napa Valley, and his hospitality is proverbial far and near. To meet him is to pass into an atmosphere of genial good fellowship which makes one feel better for the meeting. Such a man well deserves the grand success which he has achieved, and well merits the proud position which he now holds, both at the head of his favorite industry and in the hearts of his friends and neighbors. We must not omit to state that he took a very lively inter- est and active part in the new-Constitution movement a few years ago. He was a delegate to the State Convention of that party, and was nominated by the State Convention of the Workingmen's party for State Treasurer, which, owing to the pressure of his private business, he was compelled to decline. As stated above, he was united in marriage with a daughter of that old pioneer, Dr. E. T. Bale, and by this union they have had five chil- dren, as follows : Linda, born October 15, 1861; Charles, born December 9, 1865, and died May 13, 1866; Anita, born March 18, 1868; Lolita, born June 16, 1870, and Karl, born December 28, 1875.
LOEBER, FRED. W. Son of John and Caroline Sommerlatt Loeber, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 5, 1857. He attended the common schools of his native county and graduated from Newton Academy of Baltimore, Maryland, in 1873. He then began book-keeping for his father, and school teaching, which he followed till 1876. He then came to California, and for one year traveled through the State in search of a loca- tion. In May, 1877, he came to Napa County, and took charge of the Nook Farm at Rutherford. In May, 1878, he settled where he now lives, and has since been engaged in raising, breeding and training horses, and has now some of the most promising colts in the whole county. Married February 5, 1880, Miss Alice M. Griffith, who was born February 5, 1862, in Sonoma County, and by this union they have one child, Joy May, born November 21, 1880.
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LEWTON, JUDGE LEWIS. Was born in Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, December 25, 1816, and is the son of Jacob and Eleanor Law Lewton. He moved to Columbiana County, Ohio, in 1822. He is a self-educated man. In 1842 he was admitted to the bar at New Lisbon, Ohio. In the fall of 1844 he went to Scott County, Illinois, and engaged in the practice of law until 1846. He then returned to Ohio and settled at Cadiz, where he practiced law in the courts of that and adjoining counties, and in the U. S. District and Circuit Courts in Cleveland and Cincinnati till 1878, with the exception of the time spent in a trip to California in 1849. He arrived here in August of that year. In 1850 he started back and was shipwrecked near Acapulco, and from there he went overland to Vera Cruz, thence by sea to New Orleans. In 1878 he came to Napa and is now president of the Bank of Napa. He was married in November, 1841, to Mrs. Sarah Millner, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born February 25, 1818. They have two children, Lydia, now the wife of E. T. Shepherd, late Attorney- General of Japan, and George W., living at Altamont, Orange County, Florida.
LAMDIN, JOSEPH F. Son of Robert and Caroline M. Farland Lam- din, was born in Talbot County, Maryland, January 10, 1828. He resided at his birthplace till his fifteenth year, when he went to Baltimore, where he secured a situation in a dry goods store. He remained there until the fall of 1849, when he contracted to work for the firm of Wetmore & Gray, who bad preceded him to California and engaged in the dry goods busi- ness in San Francisco. March 22, 1849, Mr. Lamdin sailed on the ship " Samoset," via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco September 10th, same year. He procceded to Benicia, where he began clerking for the above- named firm. He remained there until April, 1850. He was then sent by the firm to Stockton to superintend a branch store, where he remained until the fall of 1851, when their store was destroyed by fire. He then formed a partnership with H. T. Compton, in the same business, under the firm name of Lamdin & Compton, Stockton, and continued in this business until 1858, during which time Mr. Lamdin resided in San Francisco and attended to the business for the store. In 1858 the firm was dissolved. Mr. Lamdin then remained in San Francisco till he came to Napa in 1859, where he began the general merchandise business in that place, which he continued until 1868, when he confined himself to the express business, having been Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agent since 1863, in which business he is now engaged, and it is but small encomium to say that Mr. Lamdin is the right man in the right place, as he is obliging and accommodating, and entirely trust- worthy, and is held in very high esteem by the citizens of the city in which he lives. The subject of this sketch was married in Stockton to Miss Althea Parker, October 29, 1859, a native of Nantucket, Massa- chusetts, born February 14, 1841. By this union they have five living
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