USA > California > Nevada County > History of Nevada County, California; with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and manufactories > Part 64
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REINHART, JOSEPH, lives six miles from Grass Va dy, b'. po t office, and sixteen from Auburn,
and owns 200 acres of land. He was born in Switzerland in 1833, and went to Ohio in 1854. and in 1856 came to this State. He engaged in brick- laying in Sacramento till 1858, and then went to Fraser river and mined until 1861, then to Yreka, California, engaged in mining, packing and trad- ing. In 1862 he went to John Days river, Canon City, and was head sawyer in a sawmill, then returned to Yreka and worked at brick laying till 1803, when he went to Virginia City, and in 1864 to this connty and mined until 1866. In 1868 he went. East and came back a few months later and lived at Buckeye Hill until 1872, when he moved to where he is now farming and stock raising. In 1864 he married Miss Katy Renk, a native of Bavaria, and has one son and one daughter.
RELLEY, J. W., resides and owns property in Grass Valley: residence on Walsb street; dental parlors at No. 1612 Mill street, up stairs.
RICHARDS, PHILIP, banker; lives in Nevada City: was horn in Cornwall, England, October 23, 1828; remained until 1850, engaged in mining; then to Lake Superior, Michigan: remained until 1852, engaged in copper mining. in the mine near Eagle river; tben to Grass Valley, Nevada eouuty, Cali- fornia, remained until 1858, engaged in mining, was one of the company wbich sank the Alta Hill sbaft No. 1, in 1854; then to Nevada City. remained until tbe present time, engaged in mining. for years was one of the owners of Cornish mill and mine, is now engaged in hanking and buying hullion, ete.
RICHARDSON, WARREN, resides in Truekee. Ile was born in Maine in 1835, and came to this State in 1852. He mined in Sierra county till 1854 and then went to El Dorado eonnty and remained nutil 1866, mining and lumbering. He then went to Virginia City and was engaged as a millwright until 1869, when he came to Truekee, and has sinee been in the lumber business. He is the senior member of the lumbering firm of Richardson Brothers, who own a mill near Truckee, and bave a yard in Tuscarora. Ife has an interest in the Sierra Nevada Lumber Association at Salt Lake City, and huilt the first mill for the N. P. R. R. at Kalama, W. T. In 1867 he married Miss Maggie Morrison, a native of California, and has one son.
RICKARD, HENRY, lives in Rhode Island Ravine, Grass Valley. He was born in England in 1856, and went to Nova Scotia in 1875, and canic to Grass Valley in 1876, where he has since been mining. In 1879 he married Miss Rose Sampson. a native of England.
RIDGE, A. J., resides corner of School and Bean streets, Grass Valley. IIe was born in Georgia in 1835, and moved with bis parents to Cherokee Nation, 1839. His father, John Ridge, was killed the same year, and the family went to Arkansas. He graduated from the Arkansas College, and in 1856 was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of that State. Ile then went to Austin, Texas, and practiced law until 1868, also engaging in farming. In 1868 he came to this State to see his brother, John R. Ridge, the well-known writer, who died the same year. He came overland vin New Mexico, Arizona, Fort Yuma and San Diego. and then by vessel to San Francisco. From there he came direct to Grass Valley, which has since beon his home. He is practieing his profession and interested in mining. In 1856 he married Miss Helen C. Doom, a native of Austin, Texas, and has three sons and two daughters.
RIDLEY, J. R., proprietor of the Palace store, jewelry, tobacco, ete., Truckee. He is a native of London, and came to the United States in 1858. IIc lived two years in New York and went to San Francisco in 1860, where he worked as a watchmaker and jeweler until 1862, and then in San Jose till 1868, tben in San Francisco two years, in Napa and in San Francisco again one year, when he came to Truckee. In 1856 he married Miss Mary Barnard, also a native of London.
RITCILIE, ISAAC N., lives ten miles from Grass Valley, his post office, and five from Colfax, and owns 120 aeres of land. He was born in Indiana in 1821, and in 1827 went to Illinois with bis parents. In 1846, he moved to Iowa and in 1849 eame to California. He mined in Amador county eight months, then in Sierra and Nevada counties until 1851: thence to Napa county until 1861, when he commenced teaming from Sacramento to Washoe. In 1866 be settled permanently in this county and is engaged in farming and stock raising.
ROBB, J. W., lives at Enreka South. He was horn in Kentucky, 1820, and remained there until 1833, when he removed to Illinois, and thence to Missouri in 1844, remaining there until 1850, engaged in milling and lumbering! In that year he emi- grated to Nevada eonnty, California, and engaged in mining nntil 1859. Since then bas followed various pursuits, and for the past thirteen years has kept botel at Eureka Sontb. Post office Graniteville.
ROBBINS, JOHN T., lives at Gold Flat; post office Nevada City. He was born in England in 1852. and was blacksmithing until 1873, when he came to Nevada City. Since living here he has been blacksmithing at the California, Providence and Murchie miues, and since January, 1879, has been at the Wyoming.
ROBINSON. C. F., grocer, Nevada City; was horn in Providenee, R. I., in 1816; remained until 1850. engaged in wholesale and retail dry goods busi- ness; then to Nevada connty, California, engaged in mining about two years; was engaged with Webster and Chambers for abont two years as hook keeper; was employed clerking for some years, and has been in his present business of general groceries at present location for ten years. Married in 1843 Sarah Jane Clark, a native of Newport. R. 1., a daughter of Wm. S. Clark, of that place. Mrs. Robinson died in 1861: born to them two daughters. one of whom' died in 1873, the other lives with grandparents in Rhode Island.
ROBINSON, GEO. K., lives in Nevada City: owus one-fourth of an acre of land: was born in New York in 1847; remained until 1868, engaged in study and learning trade; then to California; en- gaged in teaching; cdited the Nevada Herald for some time: was elceted County Superintendent of Public Schools in 1877. Married L. Jane Stotlar in 1872, a native of Ohio; they have two children living, one girl and one hoy. Mr. Robin- sou has held the office of Secretary of several civic societies, and County Superintendent of Schools. Land and improvements are worth ahont $700.
ROBINSON, T. J., lives live miles from Rough and Rundy, his post office. Ile was born in West Virginia in 1844, and moved to Ohio in 1854. In 1862 he went into the U. S. army and served four months, and then returned to Ohio. In 1864 he went to the State of Nevada and mined oue year. and then came to this county. He has been en- gnged in teaming and is now farming and hluck-
smithing. Ile owns 149 acres of land, valued at $1,600. In 1870 he married Miss C. A. Robinson, a native of Virginia, and has two sons and one daughter.
ROBLEY, GEORGE, lives at Lowell Ifill. Ile was born in Nova Scotia in 1842, and in 1864 came to California, settling in Gibsonville, Sierra county, engaging in mining until 1879. Ife then came to Lowell Hill and is foreman of the Morgan Co.'s elaim. In 1871 he married Miss M. Sbaugh- nessy, a native of Connecticut.
ROFIRIG, GUSTAV, lives at Eureka South. He was born-in Germany, 1824, and remained there until 1849, when he emigrated to New York, where he went into eutlery business. In 1852 he went to Philadelphia, and spent four months there in the Brass works. He then returned to New York, and until 1854 was engaged in umbrella and para- sol works; also in entlery. In that year he removed to Massaebusetts, and went into cutlery mannfac- ture until 1858, when he came to Nevada connty, California, where he has since been engaged in mining and merchandising. In 1871 he was burned out and again in 1878. In 1870 he ma. ried Miss Sophia Miller, a native of Germany. Post office Graniteville.
ROLFE, 1. J., U. S. Revenue Collector, Nevada City, owns residence and lot: was born in Oxford eounty, Maine, September 8, 1826: remained until 1835: then to Missonri with parents; remained until 1839; then to Illinois; remained until 1845; engaged most of this time as cabin boy on npper Mississippi trade; then to Brighton, Massachusetts: remained until 1830; then to California, overland. May 13, 1851, came to Nevada City. and has held his residence there till the present time: until 1854 was engaged in mining: then was associated with his brother, T. H. Rolfe, in publishing the Nevada Democrat till 1863: in 1864 in connection with O. P. Stidger started the Nevada Daily Gozette, and was interested in its publication until 1867; in 1870 received the appointment of Deputy United States Revenne Collector, which appoint- ment he has held continuously to the present time. Married in 1854. Emily Lindsey, a native of Maine: they have six children living. two s ns and four daughters.
ROLFE, TALLMEAN H., was born in the town of Rumford, Oxford county, Maine, September ". 1824, being the third son of Samnel aud Elizabeth Rolfe. When he was about eleven years of age his parents moved with their family to the theu Western States. At the age of sixteen he was bound to a newspaper publisher to learn the "art preservative of all'arts." He hecame a favorite with his employer. whosupplied him with standand works and all current publications, which he studied and perused with great avidity and profit in an intellectual point of view. After completing his teri of apprenticeship he decided to abandon the printing business and study the profession of law, and for some time pursued a regular course of reading in the office of (". L. Higler. Est . now Judge of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Illinois. Int his adventurons and enterprising > pir.t. in the full glow of ardent youth, would not permit han to remain confined to a lawyer's office nor a priut- er's case. At that time California was scarcely known, and Oregon was beginning to attract the attention of the more adventurous pioneers to that then remote region. About the first of April. 1845, young Rolfe, then barely twenty years of age, left his home in illinois to join an emigrant
229
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
train about starting overland for Oregon, where he arrived late in the fall of the same year. Ile located a claim ju the Willamette valley, with the intention of becoming a farmer. He soon became tired of farming, and not liking the climate, he joined a party in the spring of 1847, and started overland for California. Ile was three months in making the journey to Monterey, where he found employment in the office of the California stur, published by Sam. Brannan. When the paper" was removed to San Francisco he was stili em- ployed in the office, and continued there until the summer of 1848, when he started for the mines. In company with four others he made the voyage in a whale boat from San Francisco to the junction of Yuba aud Feather rivers, where Marysville now stands. He first engaged iu mining on Feather river, a short distance below Bidwell's Bar, but having some difficulty with his partner, he left aud went up to Bidwell's Bar, and becoming asso- ciated with General Bidwell and others, mined there during the summer and fall, iu which they were very successful. During the carly part of 1849 he was employed as clerk in Samuel Bran- nan's store, at Sutter's Fort, In the summer of 1849, in connection with a young man named Cheever, he established a trading post at the junction of Feather and Yuba rivers, and as ageut for Brannan, Reading, Cheever, Hensley and Sutter, he laid out the town of Yuba City, Leing associated in the latter business with George Pier-
son. Marysville was soon after laid out, and being more favorably situated as a dis ributing point for the mines, soon drew all the trade from Yuha City, and no one would buy town lots in a place were there was no business. Rolfe aud a few of his friends made a desperate effort to retain the trade on the west side of Fcather river, aud his last dollar was expeuded in the struggle. He re- mained at Yuba City until after the admission of California into the Union of States, and was a member of the first Court of Sessions of Sutter county. In the winter of 1850-51, in company with others, he started a newspaper called the Index, at Sacramento. The enterprise proved a failure, aud he then accepted a situation ou the Placer Times, and subsequently the Times and Transcript, where Le remained until June of that year, when he came to Nevada City. For some time after coming to Nevada he was employed as compositor on the Nevada Journal, and subse- quently in mining at Walloupa, in Little York Township. In September. 1853, he was elected Justice of the Peace for Nevada Township, and in December following, in connection with others, he bought the Youny America printing office, and changing the name to Nerada Democrat, he con- tinued his connection with that publication, us foreman and editor, up to the time of its suspen- sion in 1863. He took an active interest in politics, affiliating with the anti-Lecompton or B oderick wing of the Democratic party. He was an ardent supporter of David (. Broderick and Stephen A. Douglas, and on the breaking out of the rebellion, naturally drifted into the Union, or Republican party. He was thoroughly posted in the political history of the nation, being a constant reader and possessing a retentive memory for dates, names and figures. In 1863 he went to Austin, Nevada, where he was engaged in mining until 1866, when he returned to Nevada and purchased the Nevada Daily Cosette, which he conducted for two years, when he again sold out and engaged in mining,
but which he was compelled to relinquish in con- sequence of his health, which was serionsly impaired by an attack of pneumonia. In 1871 he was elected Justice of the Peace for Nevada Township, but failing health rendered a change necessary, und in September, 1872, he went to the southern part of the State, only to find relief in death, which occurred at San Bernardino. on the eighteenth of November, 1872. Ile was upright and honest in all his transactions, and although often the victim of those who took advantage of his confiding nature, he retained till the last a pleasant view of life. Skeptical and with slight hope of a future existence, his life was an exem- plificatiou of the Golden Rule.
RUSSELL, W. B., lives at Liberty ITill; post office. Dutch Flat, Placer county. He was born in Maine in 1838, and in 1860 came to California. mined at Morristown, Sierra county, till 1863, and He at Howland Flat, samme county; was mjuing and contracting until 1878. He then came to Liberty Ilill, aud is Superintendent of the claims of the Liberty Hill C'ou. Miniug Co.
SACKET, FRED A., mining and insurance agent, Nevada City; was born in New York State in 1840; remained until 1850. Occupation that of a mining and insurance agent.
SCADDEN, HENRY, resides at Grass Valley. He was born ju Cornwall, England, 1829. In 1850 he went to South America, remaining there about five years. Reached California in 1855; located in Grass Valley scon after, and has resided there ever since. Mr. Seadden is a practical miner. He first worked for Win. Watt and B. B. Layton upon Massachusetts Hill. Subsequently he did much contract work for different mining companies, and was also employed as superintendent of very valu- able mines. He, ju company with three others, finally bought the Scadden Flat miue, which was successfully and profitably worked. At one time Mr. S. was engaged in the livery business at Grass Valley, for two years. He and his son are at present conducting a grocery business at that place. He is also a partner of Mr. Hodge in the brewery, a view of which appears on another page. He was married September 27, 1855, to Mary Jane Y'endel. They have had eight children, six of whom are now living, four boys and two girls. Post office Grass Valley.
SCHARDIN, MRS. CATHARINA, lives at New- town, five miles from Nevada City, her post office, and the same distance from Grass Valley, and owns 160 acres of land, valued at $4,000. She was born near the River Rhine, Germany, in 1829, aud in 1850 weut to Counccticut. In 1855 she came to California by the Nicaragua route, and has ever since lived in Newtown, a name given the place by her husband. In 1856 she married Huhardis Schardin, a native of Germany, who died in 1878. Mr. Schardiu lived in St. Louis from the time he was fourteen years of age nutil he came to this State in 1849. He kept a large store and market in Newtown. She has one danghter.
SCHEUERMANN, VALENTINE, lives at Spence- ville, and owns 160 acres of land. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, and worked as a blacksmith until 1849, when he went to Buffalo, New York, and worked at his trade until 1852. Ile then caine to this State and worked at his trade ju Sacramento till 1855; then mined till 1862, when he came to this county, aud has since been black- smithing. In 1860 he married Miss C. Jacobine, a nativo of Germany.
SCHMIDT, GEORGE, lives at Moouey Flat; post office Sinartsville, Yuba county. He was horn in Bavaria, Germany, ju 1813, and in 1829 weut to France, and in 1833 to New Orleans, and the same year to St. Louis. In 1834 he enlisted in the army during the Black Hawk war, and served three years. Hle then spent six months in Pennsylvania, and then lived iu New York State until 1841, en- gaged in tailoring. Hc then weut to Ottawa, Illinois, engaging in tailoring until 1853, when he crossed the plains and lived a year in San Fran- cisco, since when he has lived in this county. Ile is keeping hotel and boarding house at Mooney Flat. In 1849 he married Miss Veronica Mertz, a native of Germany, and has two sons and three daughters, two sons having died.
SCHROEDER, JOHN F., lives at Rough and Ready. He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1827, aud weut to Baltimore in 1850, aud a week later to New York City, where he merchandised until 1853, and then came to this State. He mined at Coloma until 1856 and in Placer county till 1859. Ile then merchandised in Yuha county until 1862, and then to this county, which has siuce heen his home, and where he has been merchandising. In 1864 he married Miss Catherine Schumidler, a native of Luxemburg, Germany, and has oue son aud four daughters. He has held the office of Post Master at Rough and Ready.
SCHULZE, FREDERICK, lives at Eureka South. He was born ju Hanover, Germany, 1841, aud remained there until 1871, when he emigrated to New York, and stayed there two years. He then removed to Nevada county, and since 1874 has beeu engaged in hutchering at Eurcka. In 1875 he married Miss Emuma Heiling, a uative of Ger- many. They have one boy. Post office Granite- ville.
SCHWARTZ, C. F., agent of the Excelsior Water and Mining Co .; owus house and lot on Boulder street, Nevada City; was born in Lubeck, Ger- inany, in 1833; remained until 1854, eugaged in livery business; then to El Dorado county, Cal- ifornia; remained until 1858, engaged iu miniug; then to Placer Co. for six months; then to Nevada county, and has mined in some capacity ever since; in 1868 leased Newtown Ditch of Excelsior Water and Mining Co. for three years. In 1871 became agent for the same company, which position he still holds. Married in 1872, Josephine Snyder, a native of St. Louis; they have two sons living, Louis P., born November 28, 1872, Charles B., born April 10, 1875.
SCOTT, WM .. lives in Nevada City; owns three houses and lots; was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1828; remained until 1852, engaged in teaching school; then to Nevada county, California, via the Isthwus of Pauama; remamed until present time: engaged in mining for ten or twelve years; has occupied the position of Constable and Night Watchman for some time. Married Mary Reyes in 1864, a native of Chile, South America; they have two girls living, Harriet F., born June 20, 1865; Bessie C., born July 8, 1877. Mr. Scott has held the offices of County Supervisor, Police officer and constable.
SEAMAN, WILLIAM, resides at Nevada City. IIc was born in Ohio in 1839, and was engaged iu car- ringe smithing until 1856, when he went to Illinois and followed the same occupation till 1859, and then in Indianapolis till 1861. Ile then worked in Chicago six months and in St. Louis until 1863. He then weut to New York and from there to
San Francisco, going directly to Stockton and worked at his trade until 1866; in San Francisco till 1869; at San Jose till 1870; at Napa six months; at Oakland one year, at Placerville six months. and at Smartsville until 1873. He then cmne to this county, and is engaged in carriage and wayou making. In 1860 he married Miss Marie Zimmer- man, a native of Indiana, and has one son and two daughters. A view of his factory will be found ou another page.
SEARLS, NILES, HON., was born in New York in 1825, where he remained as a student until 1848. He then moved to Missouri, and upou the receipt of the news that gold had been discovered ju C'ali- fornia, came overland to the new El Dorado. In 1850 he settled in Nevada City and engaged in the practice of law. He was elected District Attorney of Nevada county in 1852, and in 1855 was elected Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial District, which office he held until 1862. In 1877 he was elected to the State Senate, but only served during one session, his term being shortened by the adoption of the new Constitution. Judge Scarls is still engaged in the practice of law in Nevada City. having for a partner, Hon. A. C. Niles. Ilis practice is large and he enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. In 1853 he married Mrs. Mary C. Niles. He has two sons, one of whoin, Fred Searls, is engaged with his father in his legal practice.
SEIBERT, LOUIS, lives at Nevada City. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, iu 1812, and remained until 1853, when he removed with his parents to Nevada county, California, where he has since resided. He was quartz mining for eleven years. In 1878, he establisbed his present business of cronk heer, wine and brandies at Nevada City. Iu 1868 he married Miss Lizzie Schumer. They have two boys and three girls. A view of his place is given elsewhere.
SELFRIDGE, G. T., lives at Hunt's Hill, post office Nevada City. He was horn in Argyle, New York. in 1827, and farmed until 1852, when he came to California. He mined at Strawberry Valley. Dad's Gulch and other places in Yuba county till 1868, then was blacksmithing at Smartsville till 1876, and then came to Huut's Hill, where he is blacksmithing. In 1862 he married Mrs. Harriet M. Crary, a native of New York. Her maiden name was Terry, and she married H. M. Crary in 1855, who died in 1859.
SELIM, D., is a native of London, England. He spent several years in Germany attending school, and then came to the United States in 1872. In 1876 he came to California. He was for a time counected with the Oakland Times, and is at preseut editor of the Herald, Nevada City. For the past ten years he has been a bohemiau, and brings to bear on his editorial duties the fund of knowledge gained ju bis varied experience».
SHAFFER, S. S., lives at Lowell Hill. He was born in Obio in 1830, and in 1850 came to this State. He mined at Nevada City till 1853, at Omega till 1873 and then went to Little York and Lowell Hill, and is now engaged in the Planet Mine.
SIIAW, JOHN, lives five miles from Grass Valley. his post office, and eighteen miles from Auburn. and owns 320 acres of land. He was born in New York in 1812, and went to Illinois in IN55. In 1852 he came to California and has lived continu- ously in Nevada county; on the place he now occu- pies. Ile was at first engaged in the old Holt
HISTORY OF NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
saw mill, which he purchased in 1853 and operated until 1872; but is now farming, stock and fruit raising. 1u 184) he married Miss Sarah Hall, a native of New York, and has two sons and four doiglite s. .
SHINGLE, P., lives at Scott's Flat, where he has 160 deres of land. He was born in Hamburg in 1826. In 1852 he emigrated to Nevada county, California, where he has since resided, mining. with exception of a trip back to Hamburg in 1872. Po tod'ce Nevada City.
SHURILA.I. F, THOMAS, resides and owns property in Nevala City. He was born in Canada in 1830, and went to Kentucky in 1853 and taught school nutil 1861. Ile then went to California and firmed until 1863, and then came to this county. He worked for P. Sutton in the dairy business till 1865, and for Gregory & Waite till 1867, aml then became a member of the firm of Shortleif'&& Baldwin. Eighteen months later Baldwin sold to A. H. Irish, and eighteen months later Shurtledl' did the same. lle then entered into business alone for several years, then spent four years in Illinois in the grain business, and came back to Nevada City in 1877, mnd established the business of Shurtleff & Co., corner of Main and Commercial streets. He has held the (dlice of Town Trustee. In 1868 he mar- ried Miss Lodcuia C. Percival, a native of Canada. He has three boys and two girls by a former mar- ringe.
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