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 57

Author: Palmer, Lyman L; Wallace, W. F; Wells, Harry Laurenz, 1854-1940; Kanaga, Tillie
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : Slocum, Bowen
Number of Pages: 1056


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 57
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 57


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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children, Robert P., born September 19, 1860; Alfred H., born March 6, 1866 ; Gertrude E., born December 17, 1874 ; Joseph R., born October 3, 1876, and Julien B., born March 1, 1878.


LITTLE, BERNADOTTE. Was born in Ireland September 29, 1818, and is the youngest son of Robert and Rose McCaffery Little. He resided in Ireland, attending school most of the time until 1842, when he came to America and settled in Louisville, Kentucky. Here he remained for four years, keeping books for a commission house. He then moved to Inde- pendence, Missouri, where he began the mercantile business, which he con- tinued until 1849. In May of that year, he left Missouri with ox-teams, bound across the plains for California. He came the northern route and had a great deal of trouble, being robbed of his stock twice by the Indians, and being obliged to come in on foot through snow waist deep, having nothing with him but a Spanish serapa or blanket, a tin cup and a butcher knife. He arrived at Lassens Ranch in time to vote for the Constitution of the State, November 13, 1849. He went at once to Bidwells Bar and began mining, which he continued until 1850. He then went to Crooked Bar on Feather River, where he was not very successful. In September, he went to Nelsons Creek, where he mined with good success. In 1851 he took up a ranch in Indian Valley, Plumas County. He continued mining until 1853, when he disposed of all his interests and came to Napa County, settling a short distance from Napa City. In 1876 he sold his ranch and moved to Napa City, where he has since lived. He was married November 1, 1864, to Miss Camilla Percival. They have one child, Robert J., born November 29, 1865.


LAURENT, JEAN. Was born in Bordeaux, France, November 2, 1837. When quite young he began traveling about, and in 1852 came to this State, and proceeded at once to Sonora, Tuolumne County, and began mining, ranching, and various other pursuits. In 1860 he made wine in that place. In 1868 he came to Napa County and began the vegetable business, which he followed for four and a half years. He then settled on his present place, where he has since been engaged in the wine business. He has a fine, large celler, a full description of which will be found in the proper place. He was married in St. Helena, January 22, 1876, to Miss Louisa Trumplek, who was born in Switzerland, in 1856. They have two children, August, born January, 1878, and Eugene, born in June, 1881.


LAWLEY, JOHN. This old pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Franklin County, Alabama, December 6, 1818, and is the son of Elijah and Frances Baker Lawley. In his infancy his parents moved to Jefferson County of that State, where he was reared on a farm, receiving the advantages of the common schools of his neighborhood. In 1840 he


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moved to Tuskaloosa County in said State, where he was alternately engaged in teaching and superintending plantations, mills, marble-works, etc. In the year 1852 he came to California, worked in the mines for a short time, and then rented the Kellogg Farm in Napa County. In 1854 he established himself in the grain business in Napa City, erecting during that year the well-known Banner Warehouse. He continued in the grain business until 1872, at which time he parted with his warehouse interests, and having purchased a large tract of land in Berryessa Valley, moved thither and immediately began the business of farming, which he continued until 1877, when he engaged in mining for quicksilver in Pope Valley. His present residence is on the hills at the head of this valley and adjoins the celebrated Phoenix Quicksilver Mine, of which he is principal owner. In 1866 he built the toll road over St. Helena Mountain in Napa County. Was married August 15, 1854, to Cynthia Ann Williams, who was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, February 14, 1823, and by this union they have four children, to-wit: Mary F., born September 13, 1855 ; Charles A., born Sep- tember 22, 1857; Harry B., born September 27, 1859, and Ada W., born April 30, 1863. Mr. Lawley has always been an active business man, but one of varying fortunes. Possessing a heart of kindly impulse, a generosity with- out limit, his good nature has often been imposed upon by the selfish and mercenary, greatly to his loss. In a life so long identified with Napa County, he has been a prominent factor in all that pertains to its permanent growth and prosperity, and now at three score years and more, he has scarce an enemy in the land.


LOCKER, WILLIAM. The subject of this sketch was born in Canada West, February 2, 1830, where he received a common school education, and resided until he was eighteen. In 1848 he moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he worked at the printer's trade until the spring of 1850. April 1st of the latter year he came across the plains, driving ox-teams to California. He first settled in Placerville, August 20th of the same year, and there followed mining for one year. He then moved to Napa Valley. In 1854 Mr. Locker returned to his Canadian home, where he resided some four years. And again in 1858 he returned to California, and to Napa County. In 1867 he purchased his present property of fifty acres, two miles from Yountville, and is now engaged in viniculture. Mr. Locker is unmarried.


LOGAN, JAMES I. Son of David and Margaret Phillips Logan, was born in Beaucoup, Washington County, Illinois, November 6, 1829, and re- mained in that county until he was twenty-nine years of age, and as school- houses were somewhat of a scarcity in those early pioneer days, Mr. Logan's education was home-taught and self-made. He worked on a farm, and after- ward learned the carpenter's trade. In 1858 he moved to Centralia, Marion


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County, same State, and engaged successfully in the furniture and under- taking business, and continued in this until March, 1864, when, on account of failing health, he sold out and started with his family overland to Cali- fornia, with mule teams, and arrived at Santa Clara September 29th of that year. Staying there but a short time, he moved to Oakland, where he built a residence and engaged in the real estate business in San Francisco. July 24, 1865, he moved to Napa County, locating in St. Helena, where he bought a ranch and engaged in farming pursuits, on a tract of fifty acres, situated in the Logans Addition to St. Helena, where he now resides. April 10, 1878, he engaged in his present business of furniture and undertaking, located on the west side of Main street, above the Windsor Hotel, and has now one of the leading furniture and undertaking houses of the county. During the late Civil War he was at the head of a commission from his county, to visit the battle-fields and prepare and restore the dead soldiers to their friends, and holding a general pass from U. S. Grant to go and come at pleasure, he was enabled to do a great deal of good. Having an ex- perience of thirty-five years in handling the bodies of the dead, he is now among the foremost in preparing and shipping bodies successfully to all parts of the world, by a method entirely his own, having, under a test, kept perfectly ten bodies more than six months in the vaults of San Francisco. He was united in marriage in Washington County, Illinois, November 15, 1849, to Miss Unity J. Livising, a native of that county and State, and by this union they have seven living children and three deceased : J. Melvin, born June 22, 1851 ; Alvin Rose, born May 22, 1853, died January 1, 1855; M. Hill, born August 5, 1855 ; Celestie Amelia, born September 2, 1857, died August 22, 1858; Minnie Adelle, born July 6, 1860 ; Charles Mead, born June 30, 1863; Inez May, born May 19, 1866, died February 27, 1871 ; Aura Pearl, born December 13, 1868; Daisy Dell, born March 31, 1873, and Lee Ross, born September 22, 1876.


LANE, ROBERT F. Was born in Belmont County, East Tennessee, August 7, 1824, and remained in his birthplace, engaged in farming until he was nineteen years of age. In 1843, he moved with his parents to Polk County, Missouri, and engaged in farming, and learned the stone-mason's trade. He spent the years 1850 and 1851 in Texas, when he returned to Missouri and there resided until he came to California, which event occurred April 9, 1854, starting from Polk County, driving ox-teams, and a drove of cattle, and arriving in this State in September, 1854. He first located in Pope Valley and engaged in stock-raising, where he remained only a short time on account of the depredations of the bears, of which the valley was infested at that time. He then moved his stock to Napa Valley, and in 1858, started East on a visit, sojourning in Missouri for a few months. He


r. Scheffler


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then returned to Napa County and engaged in stock raising, in which he continued until 1861. In 1864, he purchased his present place of seventy- five acres, one mile from St. Helena, and is now engaged in viniculture. Mr. Lane was twice married: first in Missouri, March 17, 1846, to Miss Easter Mackey, who died January 27, 1853. By this union they had one child. He married his present wife, Miss Elizabeth C. Appleby, March 13, 1859. By this union they have four children living. Jemima C., born August 3, 1860 ; Josephine A., born September 23, 1861 ; Thomas J., born August 26, 1864 ; Benjamin R., born May 1, 1866, and died November 25, 1869; Cynthia I., born September 19, 1868, and died November 13, 1876 ; Lulu S., born August 19, 1872, and May O., born September 19, 1874, and died November 18, 1876.


LEWELLING, JOHN. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Randolph County, North Carolina, January 16, 1811, and is the son of Meshach and Jane Lewelling. In 1822, when he was but eleven years of age he, with his parents, moved to Henry County, Indiana. Here he grew up on a farm and received a common school education. In 1837 he moved to Henry County, Iowa, where he remained until 1850. He then came across the plains to Cali- fornia, arriving at Hangtown (Placerville), July 7th of that year. He immediately began mining, which he followed until that fall, when he went to Oregon, and worked for his brother, who was then engaged in the nursery business, in Milwaukee. The next spring he returned to California and mined, and in the fall went back to Oregon. The next spring he returned to his old home in Iowa, going via Nicaragua. In November, 1853, he started for California a second time, with his family, coming via Nicaragua, and arriving in San Francisco, January 4, 1854. He engaged with E. L. Beard to plant a large orchard at the Mission San José, and remained there for two years. In 1855 he went to San Lorenzo and planted a large orchard, and in 1856 he moved his family to the place. He had there one hundred acres in orchard, which was principally cherries. He remained there until 1864, when, on account of poor health, he came to Napa County, and began planting vines in 1865. He has now one hundred acres of vineyard, which is in a thrifty condition, and presents a handsome sight when laden with fruit. He has a beautiful residence, and nicely lo- cated place, and is surrounded in his declining days with all that goes to make up the complement of earthly comfort and enjoyment. While he was a resident of Alameda County he was a member of the Board of Supervisors for several terms. He was married in May, 1832, to Miss Elvy Elliott, who was born near Richmond, Indiana, October 11, 1815. They have two sons living, Eli, now on the old farm at San Lorenzo, and Harvey J., who is living with his parents.


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LIDELL, WILLIAM H. Was born in Otsego County, New York, December 14, 1842, and is the son of James A., and Delia Herkimer Lidell. He resided at his birthplace until he was twenty-two years of age, during which time he received his education at the Fairfield Seminary. In 1864, he moved West, first settling in Chicago, Illinois, where he em- barked in the hop and malt business, in which he continued until 1878. He then moved with his family to California, becoming lessee of the famous Ætna Springs, of Pope Valley. It is one of the most pleasant summer re- sorts in California, and Mr. Lidell is the right man in the right place; being genial, obliging and generous to a fault. He is eminently successful, the Springs being well patronized during the summer months. A full descrip- tion of tho Springs will be found elsewhere in this history. The subject of this sketch was married September 25, 1866, to Mary Stewart, who was born in New York City, January 14, 1844. By this union they have four children : Mary, born February 4, 1870 ; Samuel J., born October 9, 1872 ; William H., Jr., born November 23, 1879 ; Chancellor Hartson, born October 11, 1880.


LYMAN, W. W. Son of Theodore B. and Annie M. Albert Lyman, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, July 28, 1850. He resided at his birthplace until 1860, when he, with his parents, went to Europe and remained there ten years. During this time he was educated at the School of Mines, at Freiberg, in Saxony, and in the University of Berlin. In 1870 he returned to America, and in 1871 he came to California, purchasing his present place in July of that year, where he is engaged in wine-making, milling, general farming, and stock raising. He has a tract of nine hundred acres, on which was the Bale homestead. A full description of his wine- cellar and mill will be found in their proper places. He is unmarried.


LINN, GEORGE. Was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1825, and is the youngest son of John and Jane Rea Linn. At the age of nine years he ran away from home and came to America, and for nine years he lived with a man by the name of Bancroft in Erie County, New York. When he was eighteen years of age he went to Indiana and spent eighteen months in Greene County, working at the carpenter's trade. He then returned to his old home in New York, and remained there until March, 1849, when he started overland for California, arriving in the Sacramento Valley Sep- tember 28th of that year. In January, 1850, he came to Napa Valley and worked for Nathan Coombs. In the spring of 1850 he joined a company of twelve, which was organized in Napa Valley with Charles Hopper as leader, and proceeded to Humboldt Bay, and thence to the Trinity River. In September he returned to Napa and began working in the redwoods, where he remained until 1853. He then returned to Iowa, where he pur-


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chased a band of cattle, which he brought across the plains to Napa Valley in 1854. He then rented land from George C. Yount, and began farming. In 1856 he made another trip East, going to Missouri, and purchasing an- other drove of cattle, which he brought to California in 1857. He again went to the Yount ranch, where he remained until 1860. He then purchased three hundred acres of the Soscol tract, and remained on it until 1864. He then bought the parcel of the Yount grant which he had previously occu- pied, consisting of three hundred and twenty acres, and also another tract of two hundred and sixty-five acres, and has since resided here. He now owns seven hundred acres in Napa County. In 1873 he went to Texas, and, in company with Thompson, purchased a large tract of land, which they stocked with sheep, Mr. Linn superintending the business. In 1878 he dis- posed of this interest, and purchased sixteen acres in the city of Austin, Texas, which he now owns. In 1857, while in Missouri, he was married to Miss Nancy Gardner, who was born in Laclede County, that State. Their children are, William H., born May 4, 1858; John, born December 25, 1860; James, born September 25, 1862; George, born October 11, 1865, and Etta, born January 3, 1870.


LAZARUS, LEOPOLD. The subject of this sketch was born in France, March 26, 1827, and remained in his native country until the age of twenty- one. He then, in the fall of 1848, started to seek his fortune in a foreign land, and wisely selected the United States for his adopted home, first landing in New Orleans. Here he remained for one year, and then started for California via Panama, and arrived in San Francisco December, 1850. On his arrival in the metropolis of the Pacific Coast, he secured a situation as clerk in a clothing store, where he remained about one year, and then moved to San José, and there engaged in the dry goods business, in which he continued for seven years. His next move was to Vallejo, where he engaged in the restaurant business, and remained about one year. For the following two years he was engaged in mining and store-keeping in the White River mining district, Tulare County. In July, 1862, he moved to Napa County, and located in St. Helena, and engaged in the general merchandise trade, in which he continued until 1875. In November, 1866, Mr. Lazarus was appointed Wells, Fargo & Co.'s agent for St. Helena, and owing to the in- crease in that office, he decided in 1875 to give up his store and attend to the express office, in which he is now employed, with equal satisfaction to the company and the business men of the town in which he resides. Mr. Lazarus is now serving his fifth term as Treasurer of St. Helena. In 1869, he bought sixteen acres of land near St. Helena, and planted it in foreign vines, paying for it $750, and in 1881 he sold it for $7,500, which shows how land has appreciated in value in that vicinity. The subject of our


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sketch was married in San Francisco January 18, 1863, to Miss Julia Straus, a native of France, by which union they have three sons and one daughter : Alfred, born November 1, 1863; Leon, born January 5, 1865; Leontine, horn December 29, 1868, and Sylvain, born June 27, 1875.


LOCKWOOD, FRANCIS EDGAR. Was born in Westchester County, New York, August 8, 1838, and is the son of Nathan and Mary Miller Lockwood. In 1857 he went West, and settled in Ottawa County, Michigan, where he began the lumber business, which he followed until 1861. He then returned to his birthplace, where he sojourned for one year. In 1864 he came via the Isthmus of Panama to California, and immediately located in Napa, where he embarked in the dairy business, which he followed for three years. He then began farming at Soscol and continued for two years. He then spent a portion of the year 1869 in the mines at Black Rock, Ne- vada, and once more returned to Napa County, where he was engaged in the building of the Geyser, Cobb Valley and Howell Mountain roads, which occupied him three years. In 1872 he began the liquor business at Ruther- ford station, and in 1876 he opened the general mercantile store of that place, and in 1881 purchased his present place of business, on the corner of Main ann First streets, Napa. He was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Kilburn, daughter of Ralph L. and Maria Pope Kilburn, September, 1873, a native of California, and by this union they have three children: Na- than K., Frank E., and Edna.


LAWRENCE, GEORGE WILLARD. Son of Joseph and Harriet Taber Lawrence, was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts, June 7, 1849. In 1855 he, with his parents, came via Nicaragua, to California, arriving in May of that year. The family resided in San Francisco until September, 1856, when they came to Napa County. George was educated in the public schools and the Napa Collegiate Institute. In 1863 he began an apprentice- ship to the printer's business in the Register office at Napa, and remained connected with that paper until 1869. He then began clerking in the drug store of E. N. Boynton, where he has since remained. He is an industrious, reliable and capable man.


MOODY, TIMOTHY M. Son of John and Casandra Allison Moody, was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, August 7, 1833. He resided at his birthplace till he was fourteen years of age, when he moved to the western part of the State and began life for himself. He maintained a livelihood at various occupations till 1856, when he proceeded to Alexander, Missouri, where he spent the winter of 1856-7. In the spring of 1857 he came across the plains with ox-teams to California, arriving in the State in September. Once in the Golden State he proceeded to Bodega, Sonoma County, and worked in the pioneer saw mill of the Pacific Coast, Captain Stephen


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Smith's, for two months. He then proceeded to Petaluma, that county, where he began ditching near the town, in which he continued a short time. He then began work at the blacksmith's trade for J. W. Hemmenway, where he continued till the fall of that year. He then came to Napa and found employment at the same business, at which he continued till 1861. We next find Mr. Moody at Soscol, Napa County, doing business for him- self, where he remained till 1864. In that year he went to Arizona, where he remained four months. From there he went to Virginia City, Nevada, and followed his trade for one summer. In 1865 he returned to Napa and worked for A. W. Norton for three months, when he again began business at Soscol, which he followed till 1868. In that year he went to Davisville, . Yolo County, where he carried on business for eleven months, and then went to Cache Creek, same county, and staid one year. He then returned to Napa, and in 1871 purchased his present business, where he is engaged in general blacksmithing. Mr. Moody married Charlotte True, who was born in Lagrange County, Indiana, October 3, 1844, and by this union they have Minnie True, born January 13, 1867, died January 13, 1868 ; Lillie Jane, born February 20, 1869; George Clifford, born November 28, 1871, and Arthur Ernest, born November 24, 1873.


MAYFIELD, JAMES MILTON. Whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Samuel and Eliza Mills Mayfield, and was born in Tuskaloosa County, Alabama, July 3, 1833. At that place he received a common school education, and was raised on a farm, residing at his birthplace until April 1, 1859, when he started for California, and at New Orleans, he took the steamer "Empire City " to Havana, where he boarded the steamer " Star of the West," to Aspinwall, and crossed the Isthmus by rail, and at Panama he took passage on the steamer " Golden Age," arriving in San Francisco, May 16, 1859, having been detained fifteen days in New Orleans and five days in Havana. He immediately proceeded to Napa County and began working for R. Smith, making hay at $40 per month. In the fall of 1859 he rented land of A. L. Boggs and began farming, which he continued for one year. Mr. Mayfield then, in 1861, in partnership with James Coleman, leased land from Mrs. McCoombs and James Clyman, which he farmed for one year. He was then idle or worked out by the month, until in 1862 he began farming on land he purchased in connection with his wife's uncle, on Car- neros Creek, where he continued until 1865, when he sold his farm and re- moved to Napa City, and in 1866, he purchased his farm which is three miles south of his present home, where he resided until 1876, when he bought and moved upon the place where he now lives, consisting of ninety- five acres, and is chiefly engaged in farming. Mr. Mayfield held the office of Assessor of this county in 1868 and 1869, and for two years-1877 and 1878-represented this county in the State Legislature. The subject of


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this sketch was united in marriage November 9, 1862, to Miss Rosalie Chapman, daughter of Levi and Lavina Lamb Chapman, who was born in New London County, Connecticut, June 7, 1842. By this union they have six living children. Thomas I., born June 17, 1864 ; Samuel G., born July 9, 1866; Edwin Milton, born June 27, 1868, and died when but one month old; Leonidas Milton, born March 8, 1870; William E., born Feb- ruary 8, 1874; Lavina E., born April 1, 1876 ; Annie Rosalie, born May 12, 1880.


McKINZIE, ALEXANDER. Was born in Nova Scotia, December 17, 1840, and there resided until 1868. When he was seventeen years of age he became an apprentice to the blacksmith's trade, which he served for three years. He then was engaged at journeyman work until his departure for California in 1868. He first settled in Napa Valley, where he began work- ing for his brother, and continued until August of that year. He then took a trip to Coos Bay, Oregon, where he sojourned one year, and in 1869, returned to Napa County, and in October of the same year came to Berry- essa Valley, and began working at his trade for John Lawley, which he followed till April, 1870, when he settled in Monticello, where he has since resided. He was married in September, 1869, to Nancy K. Fraser, a native of Nova Scotia, born April 8, 1842. Their children are : Isabelle, born August 16, 1870; Charles, born October 31, 1871; Roderick, born May 26, 1873; Nettie, born January 17, 1875 ; Abraham C., born September 23, 1877, and William T., born February 11, 1880.




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