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 63
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 63
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always point with pride. He contributed his full share in creating the high character of California's judiciary of which her people are justly proud. After the adoption of the Constitution of 1879, it occurred to Governor Irwin, who was then in office, and Governor Perkins, the Governor-elect, as well as to many of the ablest lawyers in the State, that the work of the incoming Legislature would be greatly lessened and the body of our laws much im- proved, by appointing three gentlemen of high character and ability to pre- pare such changes of the codes as the new organic law made necessary. In looking among the lawyers of the State for talent and legal lore competent and adequate to the task, the eyes of these two Governors naturally fell on Thomas P. Stoney, and he with Hon. I. S. Belcher, an ex-justice of the Supreme Court, and Mr. A. C. Freeman, a distinguished legal author, were selected. The work assigned to this Commission was ably done, and had not the jealousy of some lawyers who had been honored, unfortunately, with seats in the Legislature, prevented the adoption as a whole of the work of this Commission, the laws of the session of 1880 would not have been found so defective, nor would so many of them have failed to stand the test of judi- cial criticism. In 1879 he was nominated by the State Convention of the Democratic party for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, but the break in the ranks of that party, caused by the organization of the New Con- stitution party and the Workingmen's party, led to the defeat of the regular ticket and he was not elected. In January, 1880, Judge Stoney removed with his family to the city of San Francisco and is now a member of the well known firm of Stanly, Stoney & Hayes. In early life Judge Stoney became a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His culture and intelligence would entirely preclude the idea of bigotry in his religious views. His convictions are, however, pronounced, and both he and his wife are active and useful members of the cause which they have espoused.
J. G. P.
STOREY, CHARLES A. Was born July 1, 1828, in London, England, and was educated in Liverpool. At the age of nineteen, he with his parents moved to Jamaica, West India Islands, and engaged in the manufacture of sugar, and continued in this business until December, 1852, when the sub- ject of our sketch sailed for New York, where he sojourned a short time. He then started for Portland, Oregon, in the bark " American," Captain Kirby, via Cape Horn, and, after a passage of six months, arrived at his destination September 27, 1853, where he resided eighteen months, during which time he was engaged in farming. We next find Mr. Storey in San Francisco, in the employ of George O. Whitney & Co., furniture dealers, a situation he held for over one year. He then spent the following four years in the Sacramento office of Wells, Fargo & Co., during which time the great and memorable flood of 1861-2 occurred, inundating the whole city to the
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depth of from four to twenty feet. He then moved to Gold Hill, Nevada, and engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued for five years, when he returned to San Francisco and was again employed by Wells, Fargo & Co. in the home office, a position he held for the next four years. September 1, 1872, he moved to Napa County. In the early part of 1873, he paid a visit to his native land, sojourning there for a few months, returning to St. Helena in the fall, when he purchased his present prop- erty, consisting of twenty-two acres of land located inside of the city limits, devoting his time and study to the cultivation of hops, in which he is ex- tensively engaged and in which he takes no little pride, having obtained a diploma and medal at the Centennial Fair held in 1876 for sample of choice hops. He is engaged also in viniculture. Mr. Storey was married in San Francisco March 27, 1858, to Miss Emma E. Cooke, a native of New York State, by which union they have had two children, one of which is deceased: Charles A., born April 4, 1859, and Lulu, born September 22, 1860, died January, 1862.
SMITH, W. A. C. Was born in Boston, England, August 26, 1834. In 1851 he came to America, and after spending two years on a farm he engaged in school teaching. March 21, 1857, he sailed from New York for San Francisco, where he arrived the latter part of April of the above-named year. The first two months of his California life were spent on a farm, after which he engaged in mining in Plumas County for about two months. We next find Mr. Smith in Butte County, where mining was prosecuted until December, 1857. He next went to Tuolumne County, where the shin- ing metal was sought for until 1859, when he went to Calaveras County and engaged with others in the enterprise of building a flume, three thousand feet long, for mining purposes. When this flume was nearly completed, they, by some hook or crook, lost, not only the flume, but all their time and money, which was no small amount. This was a heavy blow to a young man, but Mr. Smith was not one to give up. He fought manfully on and in a few months we find him engaged once more in "teaching the young idea how to shoot," at the Academy in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Here he remained until he came to Napa County, where he has since resided. Mr. Smith's first business in St. Helena was that of teaching, and what was then the school room is now used by Wells, Fargo & Co. as an express office. In February, 1876, he began the banking business, which he has since followed. He is also engaged in the insurance business and is a notary public. Mr. Smith was married August 8, 1879, to Mrs. Minnie Warren, a native of Tennessee.
SCHRAM, JACOB. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Pheddersheim, two miles from Worms, on the left bank of the Rhine River, May 26, 1826, and is the son
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of Herman and Annie Wagner Schram. He resided in his native country until he was sixteen years of age, receiving in the meantime a common school education. In 1840, he came to America, first locating in New York, where he began the barber business, which he followed until 1853. In that year he sailed from New York to Aspinwall, and from Panama he sailed in the steamer " Yankee Blade " to San Francisco, arriving in January, 1854. He immediately began the barber business, and then moved to Marysville, and conducted the same business in that place. In August, he returned to San Francisco, and opened the Metropolitan Theatre Tonsorial Parlors, which he continued till 1857. He then came to the White Sulphur Springs, where he was engaged as barber and ladies' hair-dresser for one season. The fire of that year burned him out of house and home, as it were, and he was compelled to seek business elsewhere. He then went to Napa City and opened a shop which he maintained for three years. His health then failed, and he purchased his preseut place and moved upon it August 12, 1862. He and his excellent wife set about it at once to make for themselves a home, and both of them went into the field and cleared up a small tract and planted it into vines. From this small start the business has grown from year to year, until at present he has fifty acres of bearing vines, and has made upwards of one hundred and sixty thousand gallons of wine. His wines have a well-earned and well-deserved reputation, and the "Schrams- berger" brands are being sought for now all over the United States, and are fast spreading in Europe. A full description of his wine cellar and vineyard will be found in its proper place. He was married February 6, 1859, to Miss Annie Christine Weber, who was born in Hochheim, one mile from Worms, October 2, 1833. They have one living child, Herman Adolph, born April 23, 1862, in Napa City.
STEVES, JOHN H. Was born in Durand, Winnebago County, Illi- nois, June 12, 1851, and resided in his birthplace until he was twenty years of age, and attended the common schools of that place, and after- wards the high school of Rockford, same State. At Durand he served an apprenticeship of three years to the tinsmith's trade; and in 1871 moved to Beloit, Wisconsin, and there worked at his trade, being in the employ of one firm during his stay of six years in that place. January 1, 1877, he returned to his old home, Durand, on a visit; and finding his father ready to start for the Golden State, he concluded to accompany him, and arrived in San Francisco January 25th of the above year, where they sojourned a short time. Hearing of the beauties of the Napa Valley, they paid it a visit, and finally located in St. Helena, where he found employment in the shop of W. L. Phillips, and remained there until August 12, 1878. He then bought out the tinware stock of Mr. Phillips, and moved to his present location, next door to the Van Tassell Hotel, and is engaged in the general
What Thompson
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Biographical Sketches.
hardware business. He married, January 8, 1879, Miss Ida S. Warren, a native of California, and by this union they have two children: Henry Edgar, born November 12, 1879, and Charles Emory, born August 5, 1881.
STRAUS, JULES E. Was born in Alsace, France, February 24, 1844, where he remained until he was fifteen years of age, when he came to America, sailing from Havre de Grace to New Orleans, arriving in the latter place in April, 1858. He there secured a position as clerk in a mer- cantile firm, and held this position some six years, and then sailed for California, and after a passage around the Horn of six months, he arrived in the land of promise of plenty in April, 1865. Remaining in San Fran- cisco a few days, he came to Napa County, locating in St. Helena, where he accepted a clerkship from the firm of Lazarus & Levy, in a general store, which he held for one year. He then accepted a position in a store in Kern County, and remained for two years. His next move was to Treasure City, White Pine County, Nevada, where he still pursued his former occupation. Remaining a short time there he moved with his family to Wickinback, Arizona, and opened a store, remaining in this place eighteen months. He once more returned to California, and to St. Helena in December, 1870, and started business in the building now occupied by Wells, Fargo & Co., where he continued until 1875. He then moved across the street into his present storeroom and is doing a flourishing business. Mr. Straus was married July 13, 1868, to Miss Janett Levy, a native of France, and by this union they have one child, Bernice B., born in St. Helena ; also an adopted daughter, Matilda R. Straus.
SEAWELL, JOHN H. Was born in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, February 8, 1815. At the age of eight years he, with parents, moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, where he received his education and resided until 1839, at which time he went to La Fayette County, Missouri, and engaged in clerking. In May, 1850, he crossed the plains to California, and arrived in Napa County, October 7th of the above year. Here he engaged in farming and merchandising, which he continued for eight years. In 1851 he was elected to the office of County Clerk, which position he held two years. In 1858 he discontinued his mercantile business, and turned his undivided attention to farming until 1864, when he went to Washoe and engaged in mining for eight months. He then returned to Napa, and after a few months went to Mexico, where he engaged in cotton growing until 1867, when he returned and settled in Berryessa Valley, where he followed farm- ing until 1871, when he once more engaged in merchandising. This he followed for five years, since which time he has not been engaged in any particular business. Mr. Seawell married December 7, 1843, Miss Mary Louderdale. Their children are, Jonah L., Prudence, Martha, Charles and Antoinette.
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SPENCER, DENNIS. Son of Dwight and Eliza Kirby Spencer, was born in Jackson County, Missouri, August 22, 1844. In 1852 he came to California with his parents, who first settled near Sacramento. They after- wards moved to Green Valley, Solano County, and after a short residence in that place moved to Napa County. In 1864 Dennis entered the Santa Clara College, where he remained for two years. In 1872 he entered the Union University Law School at Albany, New York, and was admitted to practice May 7, 1873. He then returned to Napa County, and in 1874 was elected District Attorney, and served three terms. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of California April 13, 1874.
SHURTLEFF, GEORGE C. Son of Benjamin and Ann M. Griffith Shurtleff, was born in Shasta, Shasta County, California, April 7, 1854. After receiving the advantages of the public schools of Shasta City he en- tered the Brayton College School, of Oakland, after which he entered the Freshmen year of the University of California; but in 1874 he came to Napa and accepted a clerkship with Messrs. Allen & Parks, and with them and their successors he remained in that position until August 19, 1880, when he purchased a one-half interest in the firm now known as Thompson & Shurtleff. He was married August 9, 1877, to Alice C. Nichols, daughter of J. M. Nichols, who was born in Napa County, November 8, 1859; and by this union they have one son, Roy N., born September 14, 1878.
SIMMONS, AMOS, son of Thomas and Rebecca Wilson Simmons, was born in East Tennessee, August 24, 1827, and remained in his birthplace until he was nine years of age, when, with his parents, he moved to Missouri, and located in Greene County and engaged in farming. There he received a common school education, and remained about twenty-two years. Leaving that State in May, 1857, with his family, he started across the plains for California with ox-teams. Crossing the Missouri River above Fort Kearny, and coming via the Lassen cut-off, he first entered this State at Hangtown, now Placerville, and remained there one year. He then moved, in August, 1858, to Napa Valley, and located near St. Helena, and purchased a farm and remained there for six years. He then sold out and moved to Calistoga, locating on, or pre-empting his present ranch, about one mile from the above-named town, consisting of one hundred and sixty-three acres, and engaged in farming and fruit raising, having a vineyard of eight acres and a nice orchard of all the different varieties of fruit grown in this country. He was united in marriage April 3, 1848, to Miss Martha Tyler, who was born in Tennessee. By this union they have six living children : Sophronia E., born June 25, 1849 ; Thomas J., born April 14, 1851 ; James K., born Sep- tember 29, 1854 ; Amos B., born January 27, 1861 ; Bell, born May 14, 1867, and Emma B., born February 18, 1870.
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TONOLLA, A. M. Was born in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1835. When nine years of age he, with parents, moved to Philadelphia, where he received his education. He then served an apprenticeship to the piano-making trade, of four years. In 1859 he came via Panama to Cali- fornia, and arrived at San Francisco in December of the above year. He at once engaged with the firm of Jacob & Zech, to work at his trade, that of making pianos. In 1862 he was admitted as a partner in the bus- iness, which relationship lasted about two and a half years, when he sold out his interest, but still continued as journeyman for a short time, when the firm was closed out by creditors. After this Mr. Tonolla remained in the shop for about six months, finishing up some instruments and doing repair- ing. Afterwards he was employed at Trinity Church for about five months, then engaged at his former trade until 1871, when he came to Napa County and located in St. Helena, where he is engaged at hotel-keeping.
TRUBODY, JOSIAH SIMMONS. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son of Edward and Mary Simmons Trubody, and was born in Cornwall County, England, June 19, 1805. Here he received a common school education and resided till 1830, when he pro- ceded to New Brunswick. June 26th of that year we find him in Phila- delphia, where he soon found work in the harvest-field with the Quakers, at which he continued for three weeks. He then proceeded to Wayne County, Pennsylvania, where he hired out to work at general farm labor, at which he continued for seven years. In September, 1837, he emigrated West, and settled in La Fayette County, Missouri, where he remained for two years. He then moved to Carroll County, that State, and began farm- ing, which he continued till August 26, 1849. He then started for Cali- fornia, coming the southern route, and arriving in the State January 22, 1850. He immediately proceeded to Napa County, and located on land two miles below Yountville, on which he resided till 1873. In May of that year he moved to Napa City, and has since resided in that place. Mr. Trubody married, in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, Miss Mary Ann Lakin, October 4, 1835, who was a daughter of Joel Lakin, of Massachusetts, and Clemen- tina Sands, of New Jersey. She was born in Wayne County, Pennsyl- vania, March 19, 1811. By this union, which was formed nearly fifty years ago, they have two children : William P., born February 23, 1843; Edward W., born December 13, 1851; one child deceased, Chrisanda Jane, born August 17, 1840, and died April 13, 1868.
TRUBODY, WILLIAM A. Son of John and Jane Palmer Trubody, was born in La Fayette County, Missouri, December 5, 1839, where he resided until May, 1847, when he, with his father's family, started across the plains for California and arrived October 1st of that year. They remained
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at Sutters Fort for two months, when they went to San Francisco. In 1850 he went East, and for four years attended the Mount Pleasant Academy in New York. He then returned to California and completed his education at the University of the Pacific, near San Jose. He then came to Napa County and located on his present place, consisting of a half interest in one hundred and eighty-four acres, ninety of which are entirely devoted to horticulture. In 1880 he shipped eighty tons of blackberries and averages seventy and eighty tons each year. The vines cover thirty-five acres. The Trubody brothers began the blackberry business in 1867 and have steadily increased until to-day they stand at the head of the list. In 1867 he was elected Supervisor and filled the position for one term. He was married November 17, 1868, to Miss Lura, daughter of T. L. Grigsby, who was born in Laclede County, Missouri, November 30, 1850. Their living children are, George A., born September 22, 1871; Lulu Etta, born October 4, 1873 ; Clara, born October 30, 1877; and Frank, born November 8, 1879. They lost their oldest child, Elma, born September 29, 1869, and died June 8, 1873.
THOMPSON, ISAAC. Son of Ezra and Cynthia Gifford Thompson, was born in Bristol County, Massachusetts, January 16, 1824. When he was quite young his parents moved to New Bedford, same county. He was educated at the Middleborough Academy, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. When he was fourteen years old he began as clerk which he followed for six years. In 1843, he began the ship chandlers and grocery trade for him- self in New Bedford, which he followed until 1851. In October, 1852, he sailed from New Bedford on board the ship " Rainbow," and arrived in San Francisco in May, 1853. In August of the the above year, he moved to Waldo, Josephine County, Oregon where for two years he was superin- tendent of a mining water ditch. He then, in 1855, opened a general mercantile store in the above place, and continued in that business until his removal to Napa County in 1876. He first purchased the place now owned by Mr. Sharp, two miles east of Napa, upon which he resided until Feb- ruary, 1879, when he moved to Napa City, and in August, 1880, began the hardware business under the firm name of Thompson & Shurtleff. He was married November 1, 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Briggs, a native of New York, born July 28, 1848. Their children are, Rosetta, born August 20, 1870 ; Elizabeth Daisy, born in October, 1875, and Frank, born January 31, 1881
TRUBODY, JOSIAH PALMER. Was born in Wayne County, Penn- sylvania, April 18, 1836, where he resided only two years. His parents then moved to La Fayette County, Missouri, where they resided until 1847. May 1st of that year they started across the plains, and arrived at Johnsons Ranch in October of the same year. The family settled in San Francisco,
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and he remained there with them until 1856. In that year he came to Napa County and began farming on his present place, where he has since continued to reside. He has been engaged in the horticultural business the last few years, and Trubody's blackberries have a State wide reputation. His place consists of one-half interest in one hundred and eighty-four acres. He was married May 3, 1865, to Miss Sophronia Ament, who was born in Ken- dall County, Illinois, February 12, 1847. Their children are, Charles M., Albert W., Samuel A., and Charlotte Jane.
THOMANN, JOHN. Was born in Switzerland January 30, 1836, and resided in his native place until he was twenty-two years of age. At the age of fifteen he began working in a nursery, which he followed for two years, and then worked on farms and vineyards until he came to America, which was in 1858. He came to California in that year and settled in Sac- ramento, where he engaged in the nursery and wine business, which he followed until 1874. He then came to Napa County and located on his present place, near St. Helena, where he has since resided. He has also a ranch on Howell Mountain of one hundred and thirty acres, which he is planting into vines. He has a fine, large wine cellar on his home place, a full description of which will be found in its proper place. He is an energetic, thorough-going business man, and is at present a member of the Board of Supervisors of Napa County. He was married in 1863 to Miss Josephine Esh, and by this union they have four children, Louisa, Annie, Laura, and Bertie.
TUCKER, JOHN W. This old pioneer of Napa Valley is the son of R. P. and Delilah Compton Tucker, and was born in Ohio, January 26, 1833. He resided in his birthplace until he was four years of age, when, with his parents, he went to Rock Island County, Illinois. He remained in that place until April, 1846, when he, with his father, started across the plains with the intention of going to Oregon, coming the old Fort Hall route. Arriving at Fort Hall they were advised, on account of the lateness of the season, not to go to Oregon. They then turned their faces towards California, entering this State at Truckee, and crossed the mountains a little in advance of the Donner party, and only passed the place of the terrible sufferings of that party a short time before the storm came on. On their arrival in this State they rented a piece of land on the Johnson ranch on Bear River, and put in a crop. In the spring of 1847 they moved to near Sacramento, and there bought a farm, and remained one year. Not liking that location they concluded to move to Napa Valley, locating on the farm now owned by his brother, G. W. Tucker. In the spring following they bought a farm, and continued farming until 1872, when, their title being declared illegal, and after a residence on this place for more than twenty-five
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years, they were compelled to give it up. The years following, until 1880, Mr. Tucker made his home in the valley, and in the above year he bought his present farm, comprising one hundred and eighty acres, and is once more nicely situated in his favorite valley. Mr. Tucker is in every sense of the word a pioneer, and his mind can not help wandering back to the beauties of Napa Valley thirty-five years ago, when this district had no resident save the Indian, or the herds of undomesticated cattle and horses, the beast of prey, and the fowls of the air. Mr. Tucker is now engaged in general farming. He was united in marriage, October 8, 1879, with Mrs. C. E. Weed, who was born in Moscow, Maine, December 3, 1838. He has three step-children : Bertha E. Weed, born September 10, 1860, in Carmel, Maine; Nettie M. Weed, born March 20, 1862, in Carmel, Maine ; Edwin H. Weed, born January 10, 1864, in Bangor, Maine.
TABOR, ISAAC, M. D. Was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, Feb- ruary 28, 1817. He was educated in Providence, Rhode Island, at the Friends New England Yearly Meeting Boarding School, and at Amherst Academy, Massachusetts. In Cherry Valley, New York, he began the study of medicine, and further prosecuted his studies by attending medical lectures in Albany, that State, and Woodstock, Vermont, and graduated from the Medical College of the latter place June 9, 1841, and received a third course at the Berkshire Medical School of Massachusetts. We next find Dr. Tabor in St. Louis, Missouri, where he followed his profession for one year, and then, owing to ill-health, concluded to change and moved to Texas, and settled on the Red River in Cass County, and there practiced medicine for twenty years. The war then broke out and the Doctor's sympathies being with the North, he left his sunny home for that of Providence, Rhode Island, and there continued his practice until he removed to California, which event occurred in June, 1876. He first located in Placer County, and there remained until the fall of 1879, when he moved to Oakland, where he sojourned for a few months, and then moved to Napa Valley, locating in St. Helena, and is now building up a nice practice, and is respected by the com- munity in which he lives. The subject of this sketch was twice married. His first marriage occurred in Texas, October 23, 1844, to Rebecca S. Prewitt, a native of Alabama, who died March 3, 1861, in Providence, Rhode Island. They had three children : Benjamin Prewitt, born August 17, 1852, in Texas ; Isaac Francis, born November 24, 1854, in Rhode Island ; ยท Mary Elizabeth, born December 21, 1857, in Texas, and died March 4, 1860, in that State. He married secondly in Worcester, Massachusetts, May 11, 1865, Miss Emily Whitney, a native of Westminster, Massachusetts. Their children are, Ernest Frederick, horn February 26, 1866, in Worcester, Massachusetts ; Ashley Raymond, born December 24, 1868, in Rhode Island.
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