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 95
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 95
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KENNEDY, ROMULUS. Was born in Seneca County, New York, December 22, 1818. In 1829 his parents moved to Michigan and located in Detroit, where his father followed the business of contractor and builder until 1836, when he moved to Canada and engaged in the distilling and brewing business. Young Kennedy remained in Detroit, attending school, and living with Stephen T. Mason, the Governor of the Territory. About 1837 he began the business of carpentering, and worked in Buffalo and Detroit till 1840, when he went to New Orleans, where he followed trading on the Mississippi River for about one year. He then engaged in clerking in a store in New Orleans until November, 1848, when he went to Memphis and opened a boat store. In February, 1850, he started for Cali- fornia, crossing the plains in a company of which Dr. Benjamin Bryand, now of Santa Clara, was captain. They arrived at Sacramento in August of that year, and spent about four months in the mines, when he went to Sacra- mento and began carpentering. At the end of four months he went to Vaca- ville, Solano County, and built the first house ever erected in the place, for
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Mason Wilson. He remained there until 1852, when he returned to Sacra- mento and worked at his trade till April, 1855, when he met with an acci- dent which made him a cripple for life. He was disabled by this accident so that he was confined to his bed most of the time till 1858. He then went to Vacaville and took charge of the Wilson House, where he remained till 1864. He then came to Lake County and located at Lakeport, where he still resides, and is engaged at his trade. Since his residence here he has held the office of Justice of the Peace, by election and appointment, for about eight years. He was married, September 6, 1880, to Miss Bell Hurl- but, a native of New York.
KELSEY, JOHN. Was born in Kentucky, July 17, 1819. At the age of eighteen he went to Tennessee, where he engaged as apprentice to the gunsmith trade for four years. We next find him in Ray County, Missouri, where gunsmithing was followed until 1867, when he was elected to the position of County Treasurer, which office he held for six years. In 1873 he came to California, and to Lake County, settling in Kelseyville, where he still continues to reside. Mr. Kelsey married, in 1839, Miss Emma Jones, a native of Tennessee. Their children are, William, Alvin, Solomon and Linnia A.
LYNCH, JOHN. Was born in Ireland in 1829. Here he resided with his parents on a farm until nineteen years of age, when he came to America and spent the first two years in New York City. The next fourteen months were spent in Auburn in a woolen factory. He then went to New York, and took passage aboard the ship "Racer," and came around Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco about October 20, 1852. He went at once to the mines in Tuolumne County, where he remained until the fall of 1856, when he returned to San Francisco and engaged in the milk business until Sep- tember, 1858. He then came to Lake County and settled in Scotts Valley., where farming and stock raising were conducted until the fall of 1864, when he settled on his present place, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, located in Big Valley, about two miles north-east from Kelseyville, where he is engaged in farming and dairying. Mr. Lynch married, October 6, 1857, Miss Rosa Kearns, a native of Ireland. They have one living child, David J., and have lost three : Catharine, James E. and John.
LAWRENCE, RICHARD H. Was born in Caroline County, Virginia, September 10, 1828. At the age of sixteen he entered the office of Richard Hill, Jr., at Richmond, as clerk. Here he remained three years. The next year was spent in teaching school in King George County. March 24, 1849, he sailed aboard the ship " Mananna " for California. Rounding Cape Horn, he arrived at San Francisco September 24th of the above year. He at once proceeded to the mines on Yuba River, where he followed mining
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two years; after which he went to Solano County, and settled in Suisun Valley, where he followed farming one year. We next find him in Sonoma, where he remained until May, 1854, when he came to Lake County, and settled in Bachelor Valley. Here he engaged in stock raising until 1861, when he was appointed under sheriff, and removed to Lakeport. This office he held two years. In 1865 he moved to Mendocino County, and had charge of the toll road leading from Lakeport to Cloverdale for about fifteen months. He then moved back to Lake County, and engaged in hotel- keeping at Lower Lake, which he continued until 1876. He then engaged in farming in Big Valley for about two years, after which he moved to Lakeport, where he has since resided. Mr. Lawrence has held the office of Justice of the Peace two terms, being elected first in 1856 and again in 1864. In 1878 he was again appointed under sheriff, which position he held two years, and in 1871 he held the office of notary public. He married, in August, 1861, Miss Eliza Worsley, a native of Delaware.
LEVY, MORRIS. Was born in Russia August 15, 1852. When thirteen years of age he went to England, where three years were spent. In 1868 he came to California, and after spending three years in San Francisco, came to Lake County and engaged in general merchandising at Lower Lake, which business he still continues to follow. Mr. Levy married, July 6, 1879, Miss Selina Wolf, a native of England. By this marriage they have one child, Solomon.
LEAGUE, JAMES N. Was born in Hannibal, Missouri, June 29, 1845. At the age of sixteen he entered the Confederate service and served about eighteen months. He then went to St. Louis, where he attended Com- mercial College for one year. We next find him in Ralls County, Missouri, engaged in merchandising, which he followed about two years. In the spring of 1868 he came via Panama to California, and, after spending one year in Lake County camping, returned East and established a boot and shoe store in Glasgow, Missouri. This he conducted until June, 1870, when he again came to California and to Lake County. He located at Lakeport, where he engaged in merchandising until June, 1876, when he changed his residence and business to Upper Lake, where he has since resided. Mr. League married, November 20, 1872, Miss Jennie Marr, a native of Mis- souri. By this union they have two children : Ida and Thomas L.
LEVIN, DAVID. Was born in Germany, November 18, 1853. When he was about eight years of age he, with his parents, came to New York, where they remained about eight months. The family then proceeded to California, coming by way of Panama. The subject of this sketch received his education at the South Cosmopolitan School in San Francisco. In 1868 he engaged in the hat trade which he followed until 1878, when he came to
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Lakeport, and engaged with Mr. Aaron Levy in the general merchandise business, where he has since resided. He was married April 29, 1878, to Miss Minnie Levy, and their children are Golda and Ellis.
LYON, GEORGE A., SR. Is a native of Canada, and was born August 8, 1821. When about ten years of age his parents moved to Pennsylvania, and after one year's residence there they moved to Ohio. At the age of nineteen the subject of this sketch entered the Alleghany College at Mead- ville, Pennsylvania, which institution he attended for two and one-half years, when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to discontinue. The next two years were spent in teaching school in Canada. He then re- turned to Pennsylvania and engaged in the manufacture of pig iron, which he followed for two years, when the building and machinery were destroyed by fire. Mr. Lyon was then appointed deputy sheriff of Mercer County, which office he held until March, 1849. He then started across the plains with ox-teams for California, and arrived at Sacramento September Ist of the above year. The first winter was spent in mining in Amador County. He then established a store at Jackson and after about six months, in com- pany with two men, established a store in Sacramento, which they conducted, as well as that in Jackson, for about one year. The subject of this sketch then sold his interest to his partners, and engaged in hotel-keeping in Placer County, which business he followed for six years. He then moved to Sacramento, where he resided until September, 1858, when he removed to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of nine hundred acres, located at Black Point, between Lakeport and Upper Lake, where he is now enaged in farming and wool growing. In 1859 he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held three years. Mr. Lyon married, March 18, 1846, Miss Prudence Mckean, a native of Pennsylvania. She died June 12, 1873, leaving eight children : George A., Sarah E., Carlos A. Clara M., James M., Edward E., Ada A., and Mabel C. He married secondly June 10, 1874, Mrs. Emma L. Ranard. By this union they have two children, Edith and Walter S.
LEVY, AARON. The subject of this sketch was born in Russian Poland, September 15, 1830. In 1851 he, with his brother Louis, came to New York, where he remained for two years. In 1853 he came to California, via Panama, arriving at San Francisco in the fall. There he engaged in the dry goods business, which he continued until 1857, when he went to Napa and remained until 1859. He then engaged in merchandising with H. Cohn, about one mile below the present site of Lakeport, to which place they moved their stock of goods at the end of a year. In about a year they admitted H. Charmark as a partner in the firmn, and kept him in charge of the business. Mr. Levy then went to Virginia City, and engaged in the
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clothing business, where he remained until 1865. He then returned to Lakeport, and purchased the interest of Mr. Cohn, and the business was then conducted under the firm name of Charmark & Levy. At the end of two years he bought Mr. Charmark's interest in the Lakeport store, and the latter took the branch store at Kelseyville, which they had established in that place. From that time until 1878 he conducted the business alone, when Mr. David Levin was admitted as a partner, and the firm name is now Levy & Levin. Mr. Levy is among the pioneer merchants of Lake County, and has remained continuously in the business. He was married June 21, 1856, to Miss Bertha Levison, and by this union there are six living children : Minnie, Joseph, Solomon, Lena, Rebeckie and Celia.
MOORE, J. H. Was born in Jackson County, Missouri, May 13, 1842. When but a child his parents crossed the plains and located in Sonoma County, where they resided until 1858, when they came to Lake County and settled in Scotts Valley. The subject of this sketch engaged in the stock business until 1871, when he opened a saloon at Lakeport, and in 1873 inoved to Lower Lake and engaged in buying and selling stock until 1879, when he opened a saloon in Lower Lake, which business he has since fol- lowed. In the fall of 1879 he was elected to the office of Constable, which he still holds. Mr. Moore was married, July 24, 1867, to Miss Jennie Bynum, a native of Missouri, daughter of Joseph Bynum, M. D., of Lower Lake. By this marriage they have two children : Crigler and Warren.
MORRISON, ZENO. Was born in Arkansas June 7, 1833. Here he followed farming until 1852, when he crossed the plains with ox-teams to California. On arriving he settled in Sutter County and followed farming until 1866, when he came to Lake County and located in Scotts Valley. Mr. Morrison owns one hundred and sixty acres of land and is engaged in farming and stock raising. He married, July 17, 1859, Miss Louisa Jones, a native of Arkansas. Their children are, Robert A., Sarah J. and John W. A nephew, Charles A. Parish, also resides with the family.
MILLER, ISAAC. Is a native of Ohio, and was born May 10, 1831. At the age of seven years he, with his parents, moved to Indiana, where they resided about seven years, and then moved to Illinois. In 1854 the subject of this sketch, leaving his parents, settled in Iowa, where he fol- lowed farming and milling until 1864, when he came to California. Crossing the plains with a train of emigrants, he arrived in Siskiyou County October 10th of the above year. Here he followed farming for about two years, and then moved to Mendocino County, where he prosecuted the same avocation six years. We next find Mr. Miller in Lassen County, engaged in stock raising. Here he remained about five years, then returned to Men- docino County, where he spent one year. In October, 1878, he came to
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Lake County, and settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, located in Scotts Valley, where he is engaged in farming. Mr. Miller married, March 18, 1852, Miss Louisa J. Weller, a native of Kentucky. By this union they have four living children, Elizabeth R., John H., Mary F. and Minerva J. They have lost five.
McBEE, W. Was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, in April, 1843. When but a child his parents moved to Page County, Iowa, where farming was prosecuted until 1863. At this date they crossed the plains to Cali- fornia, and arrived in Green Valley, Solano County, August 8th of the above year. In October, 1869, the subject of this sketch moved to Lake County, and settled on his present place located in the lower end of Long Valley, and about five miles from Sulphur Bank, where he is engaged in wool growing. Mr. McBee married, June 1, 1867, Miss Silva True, a native of Missouri. By this union they have four living children : Nettie, Addie, Henry and Archie; and have lost one, Hattie.
MILLS, WILLIAM H. Is a native of Jefferson County, New York, and was born March 3, 1841. When fifteen years of age, he, with his parents, moved to Minnesota. where he followed farming until June, 1873, when he came to California, and settled in Cobb Valley, Lake County. Here he spent one year, and then moved upon the place where he now lives, about five miles from Lakeport, in Big Valley, where he is engaged in farm- ing. Mr. Mills married, May 22, 1866, Miss Lucinda Mason, a native of Pennsylvania. They have four living children: Willie Jay, Charley E., Daisy L., and Ida L.
MORLAND, THOMAS. Was born in Indiana, March 12, 1829. In 1855 he moved to Missouri, where he followed farming and raising stock, until 1857, when he crossed the plains to California, arriving in Yolo County in November of the above year. Here he followed farming until 1869, when he came to Lake County and settled on his present place, con- sisting of three hundred and twenty-three acres, located near Rice's mill, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising.
MANLOVE, WILLIAM H. Is a native of Virginia, and was born July 3, 1817. When about sixteen years of age he engaged as clerk in a general merchandise store at Petersburg. This occupation he followed until 1847, when he returned home and remained with his parents on a farm until 1849, when he sailed, aboard the ship " Marianna," for California. After making the trip around Cape Horn, he arrived at San Francisco in September of the above year. Mr. Manlove went at once to the mines in Amador County, where he prosecuted mining and merchandising for two years. He then went to the northern mines, where about six months were spent. We next find him engaged in farming in Sacramento County
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where he remained until 1855, when he came to Lake County and located in Coyote Valley, where he resided until 1861, when he was elected Sheriff of Lake County. This office he held two terms by election and a portion of another by appointment. At the close of his official term he settled in Big Valley, where he has since resided. He owns three hundred and fifty acres, located about four and one-half miles south from Lakeport, where he is engaged in farming. Mr. Manlove married, in November, 1862, Miss Susan Thompson, a native of Missouri. They have eight living children, Louisa F., James J., Virginia B., Minnie L., Katie, Hattie H., William D. and Navara.
McINTIRE, CHARLES. Was born in Dublin County, North Carolina, February 10, 1812. Here he resided until 1840, the latter part of which time he spent in clerking in a store. At the above date he went to Holmes County, Mississippi, where farming occupied his time until 1849, when he came to California via Mexico. After spending about one month in San Fran- cisco he went to the mines, where he followed a miner's life until 1851, when he went to Napa County. Here he followed farming until the fall of 1865, when he came to Lake County and settled on his present place, con- sisting of three hundred and twenty acres, located about six miles from Kelseyville. Here he is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. McIntire married January 6, 1857, Mrs. Margaret B. Starr, from Quincy, Illinois, by whom he has six living children : William R., Murdock, Clara, Sarah J., David F., and Ann A .; and have lost one, Oscar E.
MCCULLOUGH, ROBERT. Is a native of Missouri, and was born March 13, 1837. Here he resided with his parents until 1854, when he crossed the plains to California, arriving on Feather River September 6th of the above year. ,He engaged at once in mining, which occupation he fol- lowed fourteen years. In 1868, he commenced teaming and farming in Plumas County which he followed until 1871, when he sold out and came . to Lake County, and in 1874, settled on his present place, consisting of two hundred and ten acres, located on Scotts Creek, about four miles from Lake- port. He is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Mccullough married March 25, 1869, Miss Margaret McClintock, a native of Indiana. Their children are : Martha E., Henry H., Etta M., Samuel G. and Millie E.
MURDOCK, GAWN. Was born in Ireland July 4, 1823. In 1844 he came to America and located in Arkansas, where he spent about two years in pork packing. He then went to Ohio, where he followed farming until 1852, when he returned to Arkansas, and after spending a short time, started across the plains for California. After a tedious trip with ox-teams Sacra- mento was reached September 10, 1852. The subject of this sketch engaged in mining, which he followed at different places until 1855, when he bought
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a hotel in Placer County, which after about eight months, he sold, and in January, 1856, moved to Sutter County, where he followed dairying until the fall of 1857, when we find him in Butte County engaged in stock raising and farming. This he followed until 1874 when he moved to Lake County, and at present is engaged in farming about two miles from Upper Lake. Mr. Murdock married March 21, 1852, Miss Ellen Shields, a native of Ireland. They have three living children : George G., Elizabeth and Annie ; and have lost two, John S. and William.
MITCHELL, T. A. K. Was born in Ohio, June 5, 1848. When he was seven years of age his parents moved to Iowa. In 1867, the subject of this sketch returned to Ohio, where he served as an apprentice to the black- smith trade for two and a half years. He then went to Kentucky where he was under instructions for one year. The succeeding year was spent in Tennessee at his trade, when he returned to Iowa and after following his trade there for one year he engaged in farming for one year. In 1873, he came to California, and after spending about four months in Lake County he went to Yolo County and worked at blacksmithing at the Reed Quick- silver Mine for about four months He then returned to Lake County and was foreman of a blacksmith shop at Sulphur Bank for two and a half years, since which time he has been engaged in blacksmithing at Lower Lake. Mr. Mitchell is an industrious, good, and clever machinist, and is reaping the reward of industry. He was married July 10, 1872, to Miss Sarepta D. Bingham, a native of Illinois, by whom he has four children : Rosana D., Sarah G., Gregory W. C., and Mary E.
MILES, R. F. AND JAMES S. The first named was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1826. When he was but a child his parents moved to Ohio, and from Ohio to Wisconsin, where they settled on a farm In 1852 Robert F., in company with his brother, James S., started across the plains with ox-teams, bound for California. After a trip occupying five months and eight days, they arrived at Nevada City Septem- ber 8th of that year. They began mining operations at once on Kentucky Flat, and in the spring of 1853 they went to Goodyears Bar, where they remained until the fall of 1854. They then went to Camptonville, where they remained until the fall of 1856. They then went to Nevada City, where they mined about one year. We next find them in Brandy City, where they were engaged in the meat business for about three years. In January, 1858, they came to Lake County and located in Coyote Valley, where they engaged in the stock business. In the spring of 1862 James went to Idaho, where he mined until the fall of 1867, Robert remaining in Coyote Valley in the meantime. Upon the return of James, they proceeded to erect a saw mill above Middletown, known as the Miles & Amesbury Mill. They retained their interest in this mill until about 1870, when they came
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to Lower Lake, where they now reside, being engaged in the butchering and saloon business. Robert F. was married, August 14, 1863, to Miss Josephine Harbin, a native of Missouri, and they have six living children, Varena, Sarah J., Mark M., Ida L., Robert F. and Thomas M. James S. was married October 18, 1876, to Miss Laura Simmons, of St. Helena, daughter of Col- onel Simmons. They have one child, Charley S.
MATHEWS, MACK. The subject of this sketch was born near Shel- byville, Indiana, April 4, 1840. He moved with his father's family to south-west Missouri, where he remained till he was sixteen years of age ; and in 1856 he came to California. He has lived in Lake County since its organization, and has held the position of Superintendent of Schools for several terms, being elected at the last general election held in 1879, and is the present incumbent, filling the office with great credit to himself and to the full satisfaction of the people. He is a thoroughly energetic man and fully identified with the interests of the county in which he resides.
MAXWELL, THOMAS P. Was born in Virginia February 11, 1831. When but a child he, with his parents, moved to Indiana, but after a short stay they took up their residence in Illinois, and remained there seven years. They then moved to Missouri, where they remained until 1849, when they crossed the plains to California and settled near Stockton. The subject of this sketch went to the mines, where he spent the winter in mining, and in the spring returned to Stockton and engaged in stock raising until 1864, when he came to Lake County and settled near Upper Lake, where he is engaged in farming.
MCKINLEY, GEORGE E. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in the body of this work, was born in New Brunswick, August 9, 1837. When he was five years of age, he with his parents moved to Iowa. They resided in Burlington, that State, until 1849, when they moved upon a farm and remained until 1852. In that year the subject of this sketch came across the Rocky Mountains and spent four years in Utah in the stock business. In 1856 he came to California, and after spending a few months in Plumas County, he came to Lake County, arriving in December of that year. After remaining here a short time he went to Napa Valley. In the summer of 1857 he returned to Lake County and settled on his present place in Loconoma Valley, about three miles north-west of Middletown, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming and stock raising. He has always lived an active and earnest life of usefulness, and is now en- joying the highest regard and esteem of a large circle of acquaintances. He was married December 10, 1862, to Miss Caroline Springston, a native of Pennsylvania. They have seven living children: Sidney, George, Eva, Ada, Lillie, Mary and Charles ; and have lost one, Ella.
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MERRITT, RUFUS D. Was born in Franklin County, Maine, March 24, 1834. Here he received his education and resided with his parents on a farm until he was sixteen years of age. He then engaged in school teaching, which he followed during the winter season until 1857. In the meantime he worked on his brother's farm during the summer, and attended school during the spring and fall. On account of failing health he was obliged to change climate, hence he came to California via Panama, arriving at San Francisco about May 12, 1857. After about two weeks he went to Tuolumne County for the purpose of mining, but finding water very scarce he engaged in wood-chopping for about six weeks. He then engaged in mining which he followed till the fall of 1860. He then rented a ranch in the same county and followed farming for about one year. He then engaged again in mining through the winter, and in the spring of 1862, he engaged in the meat business, supplying the miners with that article of food. In the fall of 1863, he went to Alameda County and spent the winter on a farm. In the spring of 1864, he bought an interest in an express line be- tween Oakland and San Francisco, which he conducted until the spring of 1866. He then started a hay and grain store on Broadway, Oakland, which he conducted for three years. In the fall of 1869, he went to San José and opened a hay, grain and coal store, which he conducted till the fall of 1871. He then came to Lake County and settled at Kelseyville, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming and raising sheep. He was married April 28, 1860, to Miss Caroline D. Wheeler, a native of Maine. By this union they have five living children : Mabel E., Marion E., Carrie A., Fred and Harry. They hove lost one, Annie M.
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