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 66
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 66
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98
WOOLLEY, ELIPHUS B. Was born in Rockingham, Vermont, No- vember 28, 1828, and resided there until he was four years of age, and then moved with his parents to Canada, locating in Compton, where he received a common school education. Remaining there for nine years, and his mother in this time having died, he moved with his father back to Vermont, and there remained until his starting for California, excepting eighteen
591
Biographical Sketches.
months that he attended a Jesuit College at Vicolet, in Canada. April 20, 1850, he sailed from New York on board the steamer "Philadelphia," coming via Panama, and arriving in San Francisco, June 24, 1850. Re- maining in the metropolis for a few days, Mr. Woolley proceeded to Beales Bar on the American River, and engaged in mining. Remaining only a short time he returned to San Francisco, and sojourned a while. Then in the following three years he located in several places, only staying a short time in each, until April, 1854, we find him working a claim at Summit Pass, and a short time afterwards he sold it and cleared over six thousand dollars for his year's work. May 1, 1854, he sailed from San Francisco for New York, and thence to his old home in Vermont, remain- ing there about one year and visiting all the principal cities of the East, he again, in March, 1855, sailed via the Nicaragua route for the Golden State. On his arrival in San Francisco for the second time he remained but a short time, and then moved to Stockton, and there remained a few months. He then, October 11, 1855, went to Volcano, and there engaged in the livery and stage business, in which he continued for seventeen years, during which time he made another visit to his old home in the East. On his arrival on this coast again he settled in San Mateo, and there ran a stage from San Mateo to Pescadero, some thirty-one miles, carrying the United States mails and Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express. He continued in this place and business for three years; then selling out, he moved to Napa County, locating in Calistoga, and engaged in running the Harbin Springs stage line for a few months from Calistoga to the Springs. He then opened a meat market, in which he still continues. Mr. Woolley was united in marriage May 20, 1859, to Miss Jane M. Foster, a native of New Hampshire. They have one adopted boy, Burt, born January 8, 1879.
YOUNT, GEORGE C. (deceased). The subject of this sketch, whose por- trait we take great pleasure in presenting to our readers in the body of this work, was born in North Carolina in the year 1794, and, with his father's family, emigrated to Missouri in 1804. From Missouri he went to Santa Fé, and engaged in the business of distilling, and made money very fast there, but owing to the dishonesty of his partner he lost all. There are men living yet in that place who remember him very well. Mr. Henry Fowler saw and conversed with one such man during his visit to that place during the summer of 1881. From thence he set out for California, where he arrived in February, 1831. He justly ranks among the earliest pioneers of civilization on the Pacific Coast, being at the time of his arrival, and for some time after, the only white man to be found from the Mission of So- noma to the quarters of the Hudson Bay Company. He found the country overrun by numerous tribes of savage Indians-there being at that time
.
592
History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
not less than ten or twelve thousand ranging the country from Napa to Clear Lake. They were composed of varions tribes, which, perhaps, accounts in some degree for their sudden and almost total disappearance, as they fre- quently made war upon and destroyed each other. Grizzly bears were also found in great numbers. To use the words of the venerable pioneer, "They were everywhere-upon the plains, in the valleys, and on the mountains, venturing even within the camping-grounds, so that I have often killed as many as five or six in one day, and it was not unusual to see fifty or sixty within the twenty-four hours." The only traces of civilization to be found in the country at the time of Mr. Yount's arrival, were the Missions which had been founded by the old Padres, who were sent from Spain for the pur- pose of civilizing the Indians, which object they accomplished by attacking small parties of Indians, taking them prisoners, and driving them into the Mission, where they were put through such a course of instruction as best fitted them for the duties they might be expected to perform. Each Mis- sion was supplied with five or six Spanish soldiers, and when one band of Indians became somewhat tame, they were sent out, under the command of the Spanish soldiers, to attack and drive in more Indians, who, in their turn, had to go through a course of instruction or civilization. The soldiers wore coats made by pasting one deer-skin upon another, to the number of seven, which admirably served the purpose of coats of mail, as no arrow could possibly penetrate them. As soon as one Mission was well filled, the Padres would take some of the most civilized Indians, and, selecting another sta- tion, start a new Mission. In this way the various Missions were established, beginning at San Diego, and extending until every important point had its Mission. In the fall of 1833 the cholera broke out in California, and raged with terrible violence among the Indians. So great was the mortality that they were unable either to burn or bury the dead, and the air was filled with the stench of decomposing humanity. A traveler, who passed up the Sacramento Valley at this time, relates that on his way up he passed a place where there were about three hundred Indians, with women and children, encamped; when he returned, after an absence of three or four days, the ground was literally strewed with dead bodies, all having died except one little Indian girl; she occupied the camp alone, while around her lay the festering bodies of her dead companions, and the air was rendered noxious by the disgusting stench arising from the dead bodies which, not alone in this camp, but everywhere throughout the valley, strewed the ground. After Mr. Yount's arrival in California, he continued his occupation of hunting and trapping, together with catching sea-otter, up to the year 1834. He then spent two years in traveling from place to place, engaging sometimes in one occupation, and again in another. At this time he frequently took charge of the Sonoma Mission, while the Padre went to San Rafael to look after affairs
593
Biographical Sketches.
there. In 1836 he came to Napa Valley, for the purpose of settling upon a large tract of land which had been granted him by the Mexican Government. Here the same spirit of enterprise which had prompted him to stray so far from the land of his fathers, began to show itself in the way of improve- ments, and, in the fall of 1836, he built the first log-house ever erected on the Pacific Coast, and raised the first chimney in California, from which ascended the blue smoke to heaven. The Spanish Padres, when they saw the cheerful fire blazing on the hearth, exclaimed in alarm, "Yount ! it will make you grow old to have a fire in the house !" And the savage Indians looked on in wonder and amazement, then, shrugging their shoulders, retired to ponder over the wonderful works of the "white man." The house was constructed somewhat after the fashion of a block-house or fort, with one room below about eighteen feet square, while above, the walls extended so as to make a room twenty or twenty-two feet square ; where the roof extended, port-holes were made for the purpose of protection against numerous hostile tribes of Indians, and through which Mr. Yount was often called upon to defend him- self by firing many a deadly shot upon the savages, who from time to time came down from the mountains to make war upon him. At this time his only companion was an old Frenchman, who had served in the war with Bonaparte, and his only neighbors five or six families of friendly Indians, who had taken up their abode near by. With these exceptions, there were no neighbors nearer than the Sonoma Mission on the one side, and the Hud- son Bay Company on the other. At one time the Indians of Sonoma made a great feast and dance. The Indians on Mr. Yount's place took it into their heads to go to the feast ; so a young Indian came forward and asked Mr. Yount if he might go, at the same time signifying that five or six more of the tribe would also like to attend. Mr. Yount readily gave his consent ; but the young Indian became depressed in spirit, seemed moody and sad, and finally declared he would not go to the dance, and no persuasion of his com- panions could induce him to change his mind, so they departed without him. The air was still and calm, and the night wore quietly away until just before day-break, when suddenly arose upon the air the fearful warwhoop ! Louder and louder it sounded, as if the very fiends incarnate had been set loose ; and Mr. Yount, grasping his rifle, sprang from his couch to find his house surrounded by a band of savages, who had come down from the mountains for the purpose of war and plunder. Thick flew the arrows, and the first one to fall was the young Indian who but the day before had re- fused to leave Mr. Yount. The Frenchman guarded the room below, while Mr. Yount fired from the port-holes above, killing many of the invaders, so that they were glad to retreat, carrying their dead and wounded with them. During the skirmish a little circumstance occurred, which serves to show the disposition of the brave settler. The friendly Indian women rushed to the
38
594
History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
door of Mr. Yount's cabin, for the purpose of obtaining protection from the flying arrows of the wild Indians ; but the Frenchman had the door strongly barricaded, and refused to open it. At length their piteous screams reached the ears of Mr. Yount, and in a voice like thunder he exclaimed, " Open the door, you old rascal, and let those women and children in, or I will come down and put you out among the Indians !" It is needless to say the door was opened immediately, and the women and children given such protection as the house afforded. The man who could ride right up to the face of a grizzly bear, and fight the red-skins with furious and unerring aim, whose courage in the midst of most imminent danger never faltered, could not listen to the pleading voice of the helpless Indian women and their babes, but ordered the door opened, even though by so doing he risked his own life and the life of his only companion, his trusty Frenchman. At another time Mr. Yount and his friendly Indians had had a fight with some savage tribes, and whipped them. But revenge still burned within the breasts of the savages, and they determined to make another attack. Mr. Yount heard of their approach, and taking twenty-five picked braves from the Sonoma Mission, went out to meet them. They met in Pope Valley a company of five or six hundred wild savages, and a terrible battle was the re- sult. The arrows flew thick as hail, yet the little party of braves, led on by Mr. Yount, stimulated by his example, and encouraged by his voice, fought like heroes, and after a desperate encounter, which lasted until the morning began to break, succeeded in putting the enemy to flight, hav- ing taken forty prisoners, and killed and wounded many more, while they suffered comparatively small loss. During the engagement, Mr. Yount, who was foremost in the fight, had a silk handkerchief shot off his head by an arrow, yet he remained unhurt. When we consider what a little handful of men went out to meet hundreds of a warlike race, and yet returned vic- torious, we realize the power of him who "giveth not the battle to the strong, nor the race to the fleet," and also the fact that knowledge is power, and that it is destined by the all-wise Ruler to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. As civilization advanced, his fights with the grizzlies and wild Indians became less and less frequent, but new and more formidable enemies appeared in the land commissioners, squatters, and lawyers. Mr. Yount's history, in this respect, is but a repetition of that of almost every one of the early settlers of the country. The land which their own daring, energy and courage rescued from the grizzly and wild Indian, they had to contend for in our courts of law. This is not as it should be. They are all men well advanced in years; their thin locks are white with the frosts of many winters. They have played a noble part in the history of our country, and it ill becomes our Government to allow them to dwell in inse- curity, uncertainty, and anxiety, now. They have earned their repose, and
595
Biographical Sketches.
should be allowed to sit in the shade of their own vine and fig-tree, in their declining years, with none to dispute their right. Notwithstanding all he had to contend against, Mr. Yount resided in Napa Valley, on the very place which had been to him the scene of so many trials and adventures, every foot of which he contended for with the grizzly bears and wild Indians, until the day of his death. Strange to say, he was never wounded in any of his conflicts, and bore upon his person no scars as mementoes of the past. He retained much of the energy and firmness of his youth, and preserved his memory to a remarkable degree to the last, relating incidents which happened years ago as if they occurred but yesterday, even giving the day of the week and month, without the least reference to notes. He was un- ostentatious and simple in his manner, narrating incidents of the most start- ling and thrilling nature in which he played a conspicuous part, without be- traying arrogance, egotism, or vanity, and fascinated the listener by his easy and simple statement of facts. Such a man was Mr. Yount-a fair repre- sentative of a class of people who seemed by nature fitted for trying times, and whose courage was at all times equal to any emergency. The more des- perate the circumstances, the more calm and collected the mind, the more deadly the aim. To use the words of the venerable patriarch, "the tighter the place the surer the shot." He looked with a keen insight into human nature. It was to him no sealed book, but one with which he was perfectly familiar, and with which he was so well acquainted that no garb of decep- tion could long be worn in his presence ; his sharp eye and quick perception would penetrate and rend it into fragments. So while the crafty and de- signing could make but little headway with him, the honest and worthy might approach fearlessly, sure of ready sympathy and that benevolence which is ever the accompaniment of a noble nature. He died in October, 1865, at the age of seventy-one years, and his body is resting in the ceme- tery near the beautiful village which bears his name, and in the heart of the lovely valley in which he was the first white man that ever set foot upon its virgin soil, and within sight of where he spent over a third of a century. A large monument has been erected to his memory. On one side of it is inscribed, "George C. Yount, born in North Carolina May, 1794 ; died October, 1865 ; age, 71 years." On the next side is a medal represent- ing a hunter with a rifle, and a dead grizzly at his feet, with the inscription, " Arrived in California February, 1831." On the third side is a medalion representing Plenty, with a sheaf of wheat, grapes, horses, and men plowing, and the words, " Received his grant of land February, 1836;" while on the fourth side is Death with his scythe.
YOUNG, E. G. Was born in Bath County, Kentucky, December 12, 1830. In 1835 he, with parents, moved to Jackson County, Missouri. In May, 1850, he came to California, arriving at Hangtown, October 11th of
596
History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
that year. He came to Napa and farmed till 1855. He then went to Contra Costa County, and engaged in the same pursuit, and in 1858 he returned to Napa, where he still resides, being engaged in farming. He was married, in Contra Costa County to Miss Isabella White, a native of Randolph County, Missouri, born July 30, 1840. They have one child, Guy Wallace, born September 8, 1873.
YARRINGTON, JAMES. Was born in Genesee County, New York, November 16, 1830. Here he received a common school education and fol- lowed farming until 1851, when he went to Jackson County, Michigan, where he followed railroading for about six months. We next find Mr. Yarrington in Ashtabula County, Ohio, where he remained about six months working at wagon making. He then went to Cattaraugus County, New York, and followed the same business until 1873, when he came to Cali- fornia and located at Salinas City, in Monterey County. Here he conducted a wagon shop for six years, then came to Napa County and located in Calistoga, where he is engaged in wagon making.
YORK, JOHN. This worthy old pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Granger County, Tennessee, June 15, 1820, and is the son of Enoch and Nancy Hill York. When he was thirteen years of age his parents moved to Warren County, Middle Tennessee, where he resided till 1841. He then emigrated west and settled in Dade County, Missouri, where he began farming, which he followed till 1845. April 15th of the above mentioned year he started in Captain John Grigsby's Company, together with David Hudson, William Hudson, William Elliot, and over one hundred more men, across the plains to California, arriving at Johnsons Ranch October 15th of that year. Continuing his journey to this county, he arrived at Calistoga, then known as the Hot Springs, with above men- tioned three gentlemen, November 1, 1845. He resided at Calistoga till the Bear Flag War, in June, 1846, when, for protection, he moved his family to Sonoma. Lieutenant Revere, commanding a Government vessel at San Francisco, and who took command of the forces in Sonoma, entrusted the subject of our sketch and Sam Kelsey with the important duty of carrying the American flag from Sonoma to Sacramento, and delivering the same to Captain Sutter at his fort, which duty these two brave young men promptly and faithfully carried out. In the fall of 1846 he returned to Calistoga, and settled on the farm now owned by Peter Teale. On the discovery of gold in 1848, Mr. York with his family went to the mines, and began operations below Coloma; where he continued two weeks. He then proceeded to Hangtown (Placerville), where he mined until September, meeting with good success. He then returned to this county, and settled on the ranch which he had purchased from Dr. E. T. Bale previous to going to the mines.
597
Biographical Sketches.
In 1849 he again returned to the mines, being absent six weeks. He now owns sixty acres of land, mostly in vines. Mr. York married September 5, 1842, Lucinda Hudson, who was born in La Fayette County, Missouri, June 20, 1823, and by this union they have nine living children: William E., born June 5, 1843 ; David, born September 3, 1845 ; Henry, born December 6, 1847; John A., born April 18, 1850; Nancy I., born August 12, 1852; Pettis S., born December 24, 1855; Charles, born March 3, 1858; Caswell, born November 14, 1860; Frank, born January 21, 1863, and Nellie, born February 13, 1867.
ZOLLNER, J. F. Was born in the Kingdom of Prussia in the year 1832. Went to school in the city of Balve, commencing in the year 1837 and ending in the year 1843, when, in company with his parents and two brothers, Antone and Henry, he immigrated to the United States. His parents with their family, Antone, John F. and Henry, settled for a short time in Mine La Motte, Madison County, Missouri, where John F. was sent to school and obtained an English education. In 1846 the father, having been engaged in lead mining for three years, then purchased a farm in Perry County, Missouri, where he moved with his family, leaving John F. at that time at school in Mine La Motte. In 1847 John F. went to his father's farm and remained with the family until the year 1848, when, on the 28th day of August of that year, becoming dissatisfied, he left home with the consent of his father, and returned to Mine La Motte, where he engaged in the lead mining and butchering business until the winter of 1849. Then he purchased a stock of goods, and, in company with a young man by the name of Thomas Barton, went into the Black River Swamps, trading their goods for furs, deerskins, etc., which enterprise proved a suc- cess, but, becoming tired of that sort of laborious life, they concluded to sell the remainder of their stock, and try their luck farther west. He then, in company with Barton, went into Pulaski County, Missouri, and remained there until the winter of 1850. He then started for Arkansas, arriving at Fort Smith in the spring of 1851. Barton hired to drive a team for some farmer, and Mr. Zollner remained in the city of Fort Smith until the cholera broke out. He then enlisted in the government train running from Fort Smith to all of the frontier forts, such as Forts Arbuckle, Preston, Washiteau, Brazes and Fantom Hill. In 1852, in the month of April, be- coming dissatisfied with frontier life, having then visited, and been through about a dozen different Indian Nations in the employ of Uncle Sam, he started through Texas, by the way of El Paso, Doniana, Mimbres, Cruzes, Tuc- son, Warners Ranch, El Monte, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Stockton to Sonora, Tuolumne County, to engage in gold mining. He arrived in Tuol- umne County, which at that time was considered the banner county of
598
History of Napa and Lake Counties-NAPA.
the State, in November, 1852, and engaged in gold mining at Sonora Hill Gulch, but until about February, 1853, with little success. About that time the small-pox broke out in the boarding-house, where there were about thirty boarders, and all hands scattered and built cabins as best they could. It had been raining continually from November 13, 1852, up to this time. The roads from Stockton became impassable, and a great deal of the provi- sions used in the mines were carried in by Chinamen, some of which would carry two hundred pounds from Stockton to Sonora, a distance of sixty- five miles. Provisions went up until flour was sold at $1 per pound, potatoes 80 cents a pound, and everything else in proportion. Common rough mining boots cost $16 per pair. About April 1, 1853, the roads being better, goods went down so rapidly that it caused a great many failures among the merchants. At that time he sold the claim at Sonora Hill Gulch and moved, in company with seven others, to Woods Creek, to a place known as Cowskin Island, so called on account of the many small huts built by Mexicans of the hides taken off of cattle, there being a slaughter- house on the island, the owners of which were glad to have any one take the hides out of their way. Worked that claim until July, and not having met with success, abandoned the same and moved to what was known as Jackass Gulch. Mined there in company with one Rodgers, with some success until the 28th day of August. Becoming dissatisfied, he concluded to leave the mines. Went to San José and soon found employment in the Campbell Redwoods, and remained there until about the middle of November; he then went to Santa Cruz, and from there to Pajaro Valley, near Watsonville, and engaged in digging potatoes. When the potato season was over he went back to the mines, and commenced mining in a little gulch, between Jamestown and Sonora, with some success. Becoming dissatisfied on account of the flattering news that came from Cave City, Calaveras County, he started in March, 1854, to that place, but the reports not being true, soon found the undertaking a fruitless one, and returned to the old place in Tuolumne County. Remained there a short time when good news was heard from a place above Sonora, at the head-waters of Woods Creek, known as Hardscrabble. Went there and remained until June; then went to work driving a logging team for Messrs. Heslep & Traylor, who, at that time, were the kings of the lumber business in Tuolumne County, their place of business being at the county seat, Sonora. Tuolumne County at that time had a voting population of five thousand six hundred, three-fourths of which lived in and about Sonora. Remained in the mountains teaming until the fall of that year; went back to mining again as the teams were turned out during the winter. In the spring of 1855, went back into the mountains and engaged in teaming until September. Finding good news coming from Murphys Camp, Calaveras County, he went there and engaged
599
Biographical Sketches.
in mining on a little creek, between Murphys Camp and Calaveritos, until 1856, with reasonable success. He then went to Mariposa County and en- gaged in mining again, between Princetown and Agua Frio, but the mines not proving remunerative he abandoned them in the spring of 1857, and went back into old Tuolumne County and commenced again to mine on a place called Peoria Bar, with excellent success. There were four partners, John F. Zollner, James Oliphant, Frank Shaw and George W. Moore. Some days they took out as high as $370 to the hand. Sold the claim and in the spring of 1858 engaged in the butchering business. In the fall of that year pur- chased a market, with Thomas J. Severus as partner, in Montezuma, Tuolumne County, and for nearly three years did a successful business. In July, 1861, was married to the only single daughter, at that time, of Mr. William McClung, the result of that marriage being five children, James, Thomas, Agnes, Ada and Mamie. In 1862 the Copperopolis copper mines, so noted for their rich ores, caused a great excitement. He sold the mar- ket in Montezuma, and purchased another in Copperopolis, Calaveras County. In 1863 the first death occurred in the family, being the death of the second child, Thomas. In 1867 the copper excitement having abated, Copperopolis went down faster than it had raised on account of the failure of C. T. Meader, in the sum of over $1,900,000. He left his family in Copperopolis, after having sold the butchering business, and started out with Thomas Cuttler hunting for business. Landed in Napa in March, 1868, and went into the butchering business with Henry Bihler as partner and continued in business for one year, when Mr. Bihler sold his interest to John Even. In 1869 the second death occurred in the family, it being the son James, the first-born. In 1871 he was elected Sheriff of Napa County, and in 1873 run again for the same office against L. M. Corwin. The county that year went Democratic by about five hundred majority, and Corwin, being a Democrat, beat Zollner by only seventy- six votes. After the first term of office he went back into the old firm ; also purchased a third interest in the well-known McBain & Co. tannery ; also purchased a one-third interest in the lumber yard now owned by James & Boggs. In 1877, having received the nomination by acclamation in the Republican Convention for Sheriff, he accepted and ran against Bennett James. The Republican party was beaten by about three hundred votes that fall, and Zollner was elected by one hundred and fifty-three majority. In April, 1878, he sold the butchering business to A. B. Walker, and the lumber business to Bennett James. Continued in the tanning business. At the expiration of that term of office Zollner & Even pur- chased the butchering business then carried on by Joseph Henry, who in the meantime had been elected County Treasurer, also the business of George
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.