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 97
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 97
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SCRANTON, CARLOS P. Was born in Ohio, May 14, 1830. Here he resided on a farm with his parents until 1851, at which time he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. The first three years were spent in the mines in Placer County, after which he went to Sacramento County, where he remained until the fall of 1857, when he came to Lake County. After spending one year at Lower Lake he returned to Sacramento City, where about eight years were spent. He then returned to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of about three hundred acres, located about one mile and a half north from Lower Lake, where he is en- gaged in farming, stock raising and wool growing. During his residence in Sacramento Mr. Scranton received injuries at a fire which rendered him a cripple for life. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Alice Slater, a native of Illinois. She died in December, 1867, leaving three living children : Mary- etta, Robert E. and Lorenzo B. They lost one, John.
SHAUL, B. F. Was born in Indiana, October 12, 1829. Here he resided on a farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he came via Panama to California, arriving at San Francisco December 17, 1852. The first eight years were spent in mining in Grass Valley, and in June, 1860, he came to Lake County, and located at the Mountain mill. Here five years were spent in milling, after which he settled on his present place, con- sisting of three hundred and twenty acres, located about five miles from Kelseyville. Mr. Shaul married, November 5, 1865, Miss Georgie Maning, by whom he has seven children : George M., Annie M., Aaron B., Benjamin F., Henry B., Jessie S. and Ruth E.
SHATTUCK, D. O. Was born in Tennessee, September 17, 1831. When but a child he, with his parents, moved to Mississippi, where fifteen years were spent. They then moved to Louisiana, where they resided until 1849, when the subject of this sketch, in company with his father and two brothers, came to California via Panama, arriving at San Francisco April 3, 1850. The first four months were spent in the Custom House in San Francisco, after which he went to the mines and mined for four months. He then went to Sonoma County, and followed farming in Sonoma Valley
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until 1871, when, on account of failing health, he came to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of four hundred acres, located in Bachelor Valley, about five miles from Upper Lake, where he is engaged in farming, dairying and wool growing. Mr. Shattuck married, November 3, 1853, Miss P. Sneed, a native of Missouri. By this union they have six living children : Dickson S., Ella, James W., Charles S., Lizzie and George P.
SLEEPER, MOREAN. Is a native of Orange County, Vermont, and was born September 29, 1828. When fifteen years of age he went to New Hampshire, where he learned the mason's trade. After a residence there of two years he went to Wisconsin, where he followed his trade until 1850, when he went to St. Charles, Missouri. There he followed his trade for about two years, and then, after paying a visit to Wisconsin, New Hamp- shire and Vermont, he came to California via Panama. He arrived at San Francisco April 15, 1854. Here he worked at brick-laying until fall, when he went to the mines, and returned to San Francisco in the following spring, where, as before, he followed his trade through the summer, and in the fall went to Downieville, on the Yuba River. Here he followed mining until October 15, 1857, when he met with a serious accident, which resulted in the loss of his eye-sight and of one hand. The accident occurred as follows : Mr. Sleeper was sitting upon a large boulder, holding the tamping iron, in the act of filling tamp dirt upon a charge of powder which had already been put into the hole. He was assisted by a man who was using a sledge upon the iron Mr. Sleeper was holding. By some unknown means the powder became ignited, and while the tamping was going on the blast went off, blowing Mr. Sleeper about fifteen feet, destroying his eye-sight so that he has never been able to see since, and also mangling his right hand so as to necessitate amputation at the wrist. Immediately after the accident he went to San Francisco, where he was treated by Dr. Toland until about the middle of December, 1857, when he came to Lake County, where he has resided with his brother, D. O. Sleeper, about two miles above Upper Lake. Since coming to this county the subject of this sketch has accumulated land until he now owns about eleven hundred acres.
STEPHENS, JOHN D. Was born in East Tennessee, January 16, 1836. When about sixteen years of age, his father being dead, he, with his mother, moved to Arkansas, where they resided about three years. The subject of this sketch then came to California, coming across the plains with an ox- train, and arrived at Rough and Ready September 10, 1854, after a tedious trip of five months and ten days. Like all who came to California in those days of gold, he took at once to mining, which he followed until 1860, when he changed his avocation to that, of teamster, which he continued until October, 1865, when he came to Lake County, and remained at Upper Lake
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until December of the above year, when he returned to the mines, and in August, 1866, again returned to Lake County. He settled on his present place, in Scotts Valley, in November of the above year. Mr. Stephens mar- ried, September 10, 1866, Miss Mary A. McLean. Their children are, Albert S., Laura E., Hector W., Augusta I. and John H.
SHEPARD, MICHAEL. Was born in Massachusetts, May 5, 1835. When sixteen years of age he shipped on board the " New Jersey," for Cali- fornia. Rounding Cape Horn, they arrived at San Francisco October 11, 1849. The subject of this sketch went at once to the mines and followed mining until September, 1856, when he came to Lake County and settled in Bachelor Valley, where he still resides. He owns six hundred and forty acres of land, and is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Shepard married, April 10, 1875, Mrs. Lucy Meredith, a native of Iowa. By this marriage they have one child, Birdie ; and by her first marriage Mrs. Shepard has four children : Lottie, Maggie, Joseph and Shepherd. In the fall of 1866 his eyes were injured while plowing among some poisonous weeds, and for the next succeeding five years he was blind, or worse than blind. After eminent physicians had failed to cure, a lady, Mrs. J. A. Harris, of Lower Lake, effected an entire cure in a few months.
SMITH, ROBERT O. Was born in Indiana, in 1832. When but a child his parents moved to Tennessee, and in 1840 moved again to Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. After a residence here of one year they moved to Ohio, and after a year or so they moved to Virginia, where they resided about two years, and then took up their residence in Wisconsin, where they resided until 1849, when they started for California, and after spending the winter of 1849 in New Mexico, they arrived in California in November, 1850. After teaming and mining for a short time in the southern mines, the subject of this sketch engaged in farming near Stockton, in the San Joaquin Valley, until 1854, when he went to Sacramento. Here he re- mained, being engaged in different pursuits, until August, 1858, when he came to Lake County, and followed farming in Scotts Valley until 1863, when he established a brewery in the above-named valley, which he con- ducted until the fall of 1864, when he changed his location to where he now is, about one-half mile above Lakeport. Here he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he works, as well as attending his brewery, a history of which will be found in its proper place. Mr. Smith married, February 6, 1856, Miss Caroline Holman, a native of Missouri. Their children are, Frances A., Emily J., Annie L., James R. and Caroline R.
SLOCUM, A. A. Was born at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, A. D. 1824. He came to California by water, and arrived in September, 1849. He has followed sundry business callings with varied success. He settled in
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Biographical Sketches.
Lake County before its organization, and was at one time Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions of this county. He is at present engaged in farm- ing and merchandising at Kelseyville, and is agent for Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express.
SWEIKERT, CASPAR. Was born in Wittenberg, Germany, January 11, 1826, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, and followed it until 1850. He then came to America, and spent about four years in St. Louis, working at his trade. In 1854 he came to California via Panama, arriving at San Francisco in April of that year. He then went to Sacramento, where he followed his trade for nearly two years. In 1856 he went to Napa City and bought into a shop, and remained there until 1858. April 28th of that year he came to Lake County, and opened a shop at Upper Lake, which he conducted until 1873, when he purchased a ranch in Big Valley, where he farmed and followed his trade until April, 1876. He then bought and set- tled upon his present place, consisting of six hundred and thirty-nine acres, located in Coyote Valley, where he is engaged in farming and stock raising. He was married, April 12, 1860, to Miss Isabella Duffy, a native of New Orleans. They have three living children: Clara B., William H. and Augustus H. They have lost five : Jane S., Mary L., Emma M., Anna L. and Caspar C.
STARR, M. Was born in Canada West, July 6, 1835, where he spent his early youth in assisting his father in the flour mill. When young Starr was about eighteen years of age he, with his parents, moved to Wisconsin. Here they remained five years, when he moved to Iowa. At the end of another five years Mr. Starr came to California, arriving in August, 1861, having crossed the plains with horse-teams. He conducted a mill at Peta- luma for the first four years, and then went to San Francisco, where he re- sided for three years, being engaged in dealing in hay and grain. In 1868 he erected and put in operation a flour mill at Oakland, which he conducted until 1871. He then went to Livermore Valley, where he conducted a mill for eighteen months. Thence he went to Santa Rosa, where he was en- gineer in the "City Mills" for the same length of time. In 1875 he came to Lake County and purchased the Lakeport Mill, which he has since con- ducted. He was married, June 11, 1856, to Miss Nancy A. Weatherbee, a native of Indiana. They have lost one child, William.
SMITH, WILBURN. Was born in North Carolina, February 17, 1824. At the age of fourteen he went to Missouri, and from there visited Texas and New Mexico. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Sacramento in August. He spent the first eighteen months in the mines, and then returned to Sacramento and worked on a ferry boat for about eighteen months. The next two years were spent in Yolo County, and the
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following four years in Green Valley, Solano County. A year was spent at teaming in Nevada, and eighteen months at farming in the same State. He then returned to Yolo County, and followed farming for three years. In the spring of 1869 he came to Lake County, and settled in Bachelor Valley, where he now owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, and is engaged in farming. He was married, May 30, 1858, to Miss Abbie Linder. They have one living child, Sarah E., and have lost three: Fannie, Richard and Carrie M.
SLEEPER, D. O. Was born in Orange County, Vermont, November 27, 1825, where he resided on a farm until twenty-three years of age, when he went to Benton County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In May, 1852, he started across the plains for California, and arrived at Colfax October 6th of the same year. He engaged at once in mining, which he conducted, in connection with farming and teaming, until October 28, 1857, when he came to Lake County, and located on his present place, about two miles above the town of Upper Lake, where he has continued to reside ever since. He is engaged in farming, stock raising and wool growing. Mr. Sleeper married, in May, 1852, Miss Mary J. Way, a native of Indiana. They have five living children : Eveline, Charles, Ed., Jennie M. and Katie. They have lost Frank, Albert and Lee.
TURNER, WILLIAM. Is a native of Oxfordshire, England, born October 17, 1829. At the age of twenty-three years he left his native country and, coming to America, settled in Ohio. January 6, 1853, he mar- ried Miss Harriett C. Smith, a native of Chardon, Geauga County, Ohio, by whom he has two living children : Emma C. and William H .; they lost two: Ella and Laura. William Turner followed farming until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted and served about one year, when, on account of wounds received at Perryville, Kentucky, he was discharged. We next find him merchandising in Chardon, Ohio, where he remained until 1870, when, on account of poor health, he moved to Cuba, Missouri. Here he followed the hotel business for seven years. His next move was to California, arriving here in January, 1877. He settled in San José, and engaged in the dairy business, which he followed until 1879, when he came to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of eighty acres, located in Scotts Valley.
THORNTON, P. H., M. D. Was born in Tennessee, fifty miles east of Memphis, January 13, 1836. He received his education at Chalmers Insti- tute, in Mississippi, graduating in 1852. In 1853 he commenced the study of medicine in Louisville, Kentucky, where he graduated in 1856, and in 1857 commenced the practice of medicine near Memphis, Tennessee, which he continued until 1861, when he joined the army, serving as medical
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inspector and surgeon under General Hardee until the retreat from Tolla- heoma, Tennessee ; then under Lieutenant-General Wheeler as chief surgeon to all the infantry, until the surrender of Lee. He then returned to Mem- phis and engaged in the commission business for one year. Then practiced medicine until the fall of 1873, when he was compelled to retire from practice on account of failing health. In 1875 he came to California, and, after a residence of about four months in San José, he came to Lake County and located at Lakeport, where he is at present engaged in the practice of his profession. Dr. Thornton married, January 13, 1869, Miss Bell J. Dock- ery, a native of Columbia, Tennessee. They have two living children : Mary H. and Bruce P .; and have lost two: Percy and Glover.
TREMPER, L. B. Was born in Niagara County, New York, January 24, 1825. Here he resided with his parents on a farm until 1844, when the family moved to Lake County, Indiana. Here the father engaged in farmi- ing, and the boy worked at farming, milling and blacksmithing until late in 1849, when he went to Galena, Illinois. Here he joined a party of five others, and in the spring of 1850 they started across the plains, bound for California. They came with horse-teams, and arrived in El Dorado County July 31st of that year. Here he engaged in blacksmithing until Septem- ber 1st, when he sold out his shop and tried his luck at mining. He followed it for four months, and when he "cleaned up" found that he had made $35! He says that the "diggins" were good enough, but he did not understand how to work them. He then engaged as boss of a gang of hands to conduct a " Long Tom " for $2 per day, which he followed for one month. He then helped to construct the first quartz mill ever put up in California, it being located on Mathews Creek, El Dorado County. In the fall of 1851 he was working at getting out timber at $8 per day, when he met with a serious accident-the cutting of his knee-which laid him up for fourteen months, and from the effects of which he has suffered to this day. In the fall of 1852 he opened a blacksmith shop in El Dorado County, where he remained about three months. He then again engaged in mining until the spring of 1854. He then went to Shasta County, and from there to Arcata, and then back to Weaverville, where he was sick with the chills. He then mined a little while, and then went to Tehama and bought a ranch in partnership with two others. At the end of four months he sold out to his partners, and returned to El Dorado County and engaged in mining until 1858. He then went to Napa County and opened a blacksmith shop, which he run until the fall of 1859. He then went to San José and worked at his trade for about three months. He then, in the spring of 1860, came to Lake County and opened a blacksmith shop in Coyote Valley, where he worked until the spring of 1861. He then came to Lower Lake and opened a shop, which he run for seventeen years; since which time he has been engaged in
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farming. He has one hundred and sixty acres where he resides, in the en- virons of the town of Lower Lake, and one hundred and sixty acres about five miles above that town. In 1872 he paid a visit to Indiana, being gone about four months. Married, May 23, 1863, Miss Matilda Slater, a native of Illinois. They have five living children: William G., Christopher, Dian- tha, Nellie and Julia ; and have lost one, Henry.
THOMPSON, D. V. Was born in Missouri, June 28, 1820. When about sixteen years of age he, with his father, made a trip to Florida, where they remained about nine months. On returning to Missouri the subject of this sketch engaged in school-teaching, which he followed until 1839. He then spent two years clerking on different steamers plying between St. Louis and St. Joseph. The next year was spent in farming, after which he en- gaged as clerk in a general merchandise store in St. Joseph, Missouri, which he followed about eighteen months. In 1844 he was elected Sheriff of Buchanan County, Missouri, which office he filled to the full satisfaction of the people. About July 1, 1846, he joined Company "H," Donovan's Regi- ment, and went to Mexico, where he served as a private for one year. He then returned to Missouri and engaged in merchandising in Holt County until the spring of 1849, when he sold out and crossed the plains to Cali- fornia. He left Missouri May 1, 1849, and arrived at Lassens Ranch October 14th of the above year, making the trip with ox-teams. Like all who arrived in the days of '49 he engaged at once in mining, which he followed, in the northern part of this State and in Oregon, until November, 1853, when he sailed via Nicaragua for the land of his birth, where he arrived January 8, 1854. Here he remained until the following spring, when he again crossed the plains, this time bringing a drove of cattle. He arrived in Contra Costa County in September of the above year, where he remained until December, 1856, when he moved to Solano County and located near Vacaville. Here he followed stock raising in connection with farming until November, 1863, when he came to Lake County and located where he now resides, about one-half mile south from Upper Lake. ' Here he owns about two hundred acres of land, and is engaged in farming. Mr. Thompson has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the past eight years. He married, in October, 1856, Miss Martha C. Powell, a native of Missouri. Their children are, Bettie, William A., Jeff. L. and Minnie R.
TUCKER, GEORGE. Was born in Kentucky, April 3, 1812. His father was a farmer, and George lived with him until his death. At the age of fourteen he commenced work in a distillery, which he followed for about eight years. He then engaged in farming for about three years, and then returned to his former occupation, which he followed for about eight years. He then again turned his attention to farming for about three years, and then again resumed the business of distilling, which he followed for about
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two years. He then went to Missouri and engaged in farming until 1859, when he crossed the plains with ox-teams, arriving in the Sacramento Val- ley September 15th of that year. He spent about two months in Butte County, and then went to Coloma County and followed farming one season. In September, 1860, he came to Lake County and settled in Scotts Valley, where he engaged in farming until 1864. In November of that year he settled about one mile south of Lakeport, where he has since resided. Since his residence in Lake County he has filled the position of County Surveyor for three terms, and has held the position of Deputy United States Surveyor and Deputy County Surveyor for several years. Mr. Tucker was married in July, 1835, to Miss Eliza Tomlinson, who died in August, 1841, leaving two children, Jeremiah and Laura A .; the former is now deceased. He mar- ried secondly, in June, 1847, Miss Joan Yager, who died in the spring of 1856, leaving five living children : John W., Mordecai, Benjamin F., George R., and Frederick N .; and they have lost, George R. and Frederick N., in California. In June, 1856, he was united in marriage, for the third time, with Mrs. Martha C. Shirley, and they have one living child, Joseph M., now a resident of Washington Territory.
THURBER, RICHARD P. Was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, May 17, 1823. When he was seventeen years of age, he engaged as appren- tice to the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1856, when he engaged in merchandising. This business he followed about five years, when he closed out and went to Michigan. Here he followed carpentering for about twelve years. In the fall of 1880 he came to California, since which time he has been a resident of Lake County, and is engaged in the lumber business at Rice's mill.
THOMPSON, S. A. Was born in North Carolina, December 20, 1852. When but a child his parents crossed the plains to California, and settled at Folsom, Sacramento County. In 1863 they came to Lake County, and after a residence of about two years at Lower Lake moved to Big Valley. In 1871 the subject of this sketch went to Cloverdale, and after a short resi- dence there went to Sacramento, where he worked in a machine shop for about two years. He then returned to Lake County, and, after filling the position of engineer at Bogg's mill for three years, he took up his residence at Rice's mill, where he fills the same position. Mr. Thompson married, December 18, 1876, Miss A. Benton, a native of California, and they have two children : Carrie M. and Emma L.
TAYLOR, REV. D. T. Was born in Missouri, December 26, 1829. Here he resided with his parents on a farm until twenty years of age, when he crossed the plains with an ox-team and arrived at Sacramento September 16, 1850. Like all who came at that early day, he engaged in mining,
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which he followed five years. We next find him in Petaluma, Sonoma County, where he followed the wood business for two years. He then returned, via Panama, to Missouri, where he prosecuted farming for fourteen months, after which he returned to California, arriving at San Francisco January 12, 1859. After attending school at Healdsburg, Sonoma County, for about eight months, he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1869. He then came to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and ninety-three acres, located in Bachelor Valley, where he still continues to reside. Mr. Taylor was ordained, in 1863, as a Baptist minister, and has preached more or less ever since. He was married, March 3, 1861, to Miss Susan C. Jones, a native of Missouri. By this union they have seven living children : Margaret J., Caleb L., George N., Mary E., Jessie J., Alice R. and Charley ; and have lost two: William S. and Minnie M.
TALLMAN, R. C. Was born in Syracuse, New York, June 28, 1823. When he was but a child his parents moved to Canada, where they resided about two years, when they moved to Michigan. Here young Tallman grew up on a farm. In 1852 he, leaving his parents behind, came via Panama to California. He arrived at San Francisco February 23d of the above year, and went direct to the mines at Iowa Hill, where mining was followed for about four years. From this time until 1856 he was engaged in prospecting in different localities. In November, 1856, he came to Lake County, and engaged in the stock business in the upper end of the county. In September, 1865, he returned East, where he remained until the fall of 1867, when he returned and settled on his present place, consisting of fifty- seven acres, located a short distance above Upper Lake. Mr. Tallman married, September 1, 1861, Miss Mary E. Moore, a native of Missouri. Their children are, Grace I., William W., Berdenia M., George T., Mary E., Fred. L., Walter R. and Winnie F.
TRAVIS, WILLIAM. Was born in Putnam County, New York, No- vember 6, 1826. At the age of nineteen he learned the bricklaying and plasterer's trade, and followed it until 1849, when he came to California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco about the middle of September. He proceeded to the mines at Hangtown, and engaged in that business till the spring of 1850, when he went to one of the forks of the American River, where, in company with Colonel William Hagan, he prosecuted mining till fall. He then went to Nevada County and mined for two months. During the summer of 1851 he and Colonel Hagan cut hay at the sink of Putah Creek, which they lost by floods. He then went to Sonoma County and settled about one and a half miles from Santa Rosa, where a year was spent. He then moved to Vallejo Township, that county, where he lived till 1856. In 1852 he, with Colonel Hagan, returned East ria Nicaragua, and pur-
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