USA > California > Sacramento County > History of Sacramento County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, 1913 > Part 101
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The Republican party has had in Mr. Wachhorst a faithful and sagacious exponent of its principles. Among the organizations to which he belongs may be mentioned the Sutter Club, Eagles, Elks and the Masonic order in Washington Lodge No. 20, F. & A. M .; Sacramento Chapter No. 3, R. A. M .; Sacramento Council No. 1, and Sacramento Commandery No. 2, K. T. Upon removing to Solano county he there formed the acquaintance of Miss Mollie B. Johnson and they were united in marriage May 2, 1887. They are the parents of three children. The eldest son, Donald Eugene, is a well-educated young man, having had excellent advantages in the University of California. The younger sons, Jack B. and Thomas H., are students in the Sacramento public schools.
HERBERT C. SWITZER
At Barrie, Ontario, Canada, Herbert C. Switzer was born in 1869. He attended public schools near his boyhood home until he was fifteen years of age, then familiarized himself with the work of the telegraph operator and went to Toronto, where he was employed some years and advanced himself in railroad work until he became an efficient transportation man. In 1889 he made his way to Washington and located at Winona, where he was a railroad agent, telegraph operator, general merchant and postmaster. It was through his efforts that the postoffice was established there and he was in charge of it six years. He was for fourteen years connected with the freight and passenger departments of the O. R. & N. R. R. and was with the Great Northern railroad two years, with headquarters first at Spokane and then at Seattle. From Seattle he came to Sacramento in 1908.
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It was to assume the ownership and management of the freight and passenger steamer Sentinel, which plies between Sacramento and Colusa, that Mr. Switzer cast his lot with the people of Sacramento. The boat is new and up-to-date, and is owned by Herbert C. Switzer & Company. The boat, which has one hundred tons capacity, is en- gaged in a general transportation business from all places between Sacramento and Colusa, making tri-weekly trips.
In September, 1908, Mr. Switzer married Mary Conroy, a native of San Jose and the daughter of John Conroy, who was a pioneer gold-seeker in California of 1850 and is now a member of the house- hold of his son-in-law. Mr. Switzer is a man of enterprise and pub- lie spirit, who believes that his prosperity will depend very much on that of the city, and there is no local interest conducive to the welfare of the people that he does not helpfully promote to the extent of his ability.
DONALD MCDOUGALL
The present city treasurer and nntil 1912 a successful merchant tailor of Sacramento, Donald McDougall, was born in Inverness county, Nova Scotia, in June, 1858, of parents of Scottish birth. His father died in 1904, aged ninety-one years, his mother in 1911, at the still more advanced age of ninety-four years. To the country schools near his boyhood home young MeDougall went for his early education, and those who know him are well assured that he gave close and per- sistent attention to his studies. As a hoy he was apprenticed to the tailor's trade, which he mastered by the most absorbing application to the exacting and painstaking work involved. After working for some years in shops in Boston and in New York he came to Sacra- mento in April, 1884, and opened a merchant tailoring establishment which he has made one of the representative institutions of its kind in the town.
Since coming to California Mr. McDougall has not been indif- ferent to the demands of enlightenment and patriotic citizenship, and as a Democrat he has been active and influential in public affairs. In 1906 he was elected county public administrator, an office in which he served faithfully and with great efficiency four years. In 1911 he was a successful candidate for city treasurer, and in that responsible place he has patriotically met all demands upon him, giving satis- faction to rich and poor, and to his fellow citizens of every shade of political belief. He is an Elk, devoted to the social and charitable interests of that benevolent order. He has taken great interest in
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the raising of fine horses and has grown some of the best in Sacra- mento in his time. He married Miss Lilian Johnston, of Sacramento, whose father, William E. Johnston, was a prominent rancher, well known and respected to the end of his busy and useful life, and whose mother, a California pioneer, is living at an advanced age. Mrs. McDougall has borne her husband children as follows: Mar- guerite, born August 12, 1900; Archibald, June 29, 1904, and Lilian May, May 22, 1910.
EDWARD J. MCEWEN
Two generations bearing the name of MeEwen have been inti- mately identified with the commercial history of Sacramento and have engaged extensively in business affairs bringing them into direct and congenial relations with a large number of customers. Prior to his removal to California in 1876 and his settlement in Sacramento, the father, Edward MeEwen, had made his home in New York state, where he was born at Brockport, Monroe county, February 18, 1855, and where he had received an excellent education ending with a course of study in the State Normal School. At the age of twenty-one years, ยท having started out to earn his own way in the world, he came to California and secured employment as a moulder in the shops of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Sacramento. Later he decided that business affairs offered greater opportunities than the work of a mechanic, so he opened a retail grocery in partnership with John McMurray. At the expiration of two years he purchased the interest of his partner and continued the grocery alone, building up a perma- nent class of customers that gave him an important and extensive family trade. The long and successful commercial association of this business man with Sacramento did not end until his demise, which occurred October 13, 1906, and which brought to an honorable close a long period of constant identification with the grocery trade in the capital city.
The city of Sacramento is the native place of Edward J. McEwen, who was born January 5, 1885, and is next to the eldest of the three children of Edward and Maggie E. MeEwen. Primarily educated in the grammar schools, he later took a course in the city high school and at the age of seventeen years he spent six months in the Atkin- son Business College. The first position which he held, that of clerk, brought him into the city offices of the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany and already he was gaining an accurate knowledge of the various duties of that place when the death of his father rendered it expedient
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for him to assume the management of the grocery in the interests of the estate until it was closed out, since which time he has been book- keeper for the Union Oil Company.
The marriage of Mr. McEwen occurred in Sacramento August 7, 1907, and united him with Miss Esther Borel, who was born in Marys- ville, and by whom he has a daughter, Eleanor. The family are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
ALBERT LEONARD
When the news concerning the discovery of gold in California reached the eastern states a multitude of aspiring Argonauts at once sought of destiny the fortunes to which very few ever attained; or which, when acquired, were found to emanate from other sources than those anticipated in the first alluring visions of the mines. Among the young men to whom the news changed all of their future activities was Albert Leonard, who was born in Massachusetts in 1826 and who at the time of the great discovery at Sutter's Camp worked in an humble capacity in New York, having lived there from boyhood. Im- mediately he began to plan a trip to the Pacific coast. Joining with a party of one hundred picked young men who chartered a large ship in New York and ontfitted with provisions sufficient for three years, he sailed around the Horn during 1849 under the leadership of a captain especially engaged by the expedition. The company entered San Francisco through the Golden Gate and proceeded to Sac- ramento, where a division was made into squads of ten and in that way they pushed forward to the mines.
Not finding any enconragement in his attempts to mine, Albert Leonard secured employment as mail carrier for other miners and for some months he continued in that position, by no means an easy task at that time and in that place. Soon afterward he decided that the taking up of land would offer a more congenial field of labor and accordingly he bought a tract, which he commenced to develop and improve. During 1851 he was united in marriage with Miss Cor- delia Merrill, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Isaac Merrill, an honored pioneer of California. It was during the eventful year of 1849 that the Merrill family crossed the plains to the gold mines. The trip occupied seven months and was filled with dangers and hardships, but found a safe termination in little more than the time ordinarily required for such an arduons enterprise. For years Mr. Merrill made his home in Sacramento county and at his death in 1870
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many tributes of praise were bestowed upon his memory by the pio- neers who long had labored at his side in the upbuilding of the com- munity and commonwealth.
Eventually giving up ranching pursuits and disposing of some of his landed estate, Mr. Leonard embarked in the real estate and insurance business, which enterprises took up his time and attention throughout the remainder of his useful career and until his death in 1892. Meanwhile he also had been a local leader in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a participant of the meetings of the Associa- tion of California Pioneers at Sacramento. No movement for the ad- vancement of the county failed of his support. It was one of his chief joys in life to witness the steady and permanent growth of the state to which he had come prior to its admission into the Union, which always had received his unfailing loyal devotion and in which he had risen from poverty to independence, from obscurity into local promi- nence. There were fifteen children born of his marriage. but five of these died at an early age. The ten own living are as follows: Mrs. Alice Scott, of Fresno; Carrie, who resides in Philadelphia; Benjamin and Charles, both of whom are industrions and capable citizens of Sacramento; Jessie, who is married and makes her home in the capi- tal city; Irene, Joseph, Albert, John A. and Harry W. Until her demise, January 6, 1912, the widowed mother made her home at the family residence, No. 3520 Seventh avenue, where she was surrounded by the comforts accumulated by the wise management and frugality of earlier years and where she enjoyed the affectionate ministrations of her children and the warm esteem of old acquaintances.
L. HENRY
The gentleman mentioned above, a lawyer and a theatrical mana- ger, who has had wide experience in business life, was born in Dela- ware City, Del., attended the public schools of Washington, D. C., graduating at seventeen, and then entered the Columbia Law Uni versity, from which he was graduated in his twenty-first year with the degree of A. B.
It was at Leadville, Colo., that Mr. Henry began his active life, and it was as chief clerk in the United States land office there that he made his initial bow to the world of business. Besides attending to the duties of his office he practiced land law at Leadville until 1884. Then began the activity in the field of theatricals that has made his name known in certain cireles from coast to coast. Coming to Sacramento, he became treasurer of the Metropolitan theater. In
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1893, when it was destroyed by fire, he went to San Francisco, where he was called as assistant to C. P. Hall of the Bush Street Theater. Later he entered into a partnership with Mr. Giesea as lessee of five theaters located respectively in San Jose, Stockton, Sacramento, Oak- land and San Francisco, all of which the firm is operating success- fully at this time. Mr. Henry spends most of his time in Sacramento as manager of the Clunie theater. ,
The wide acquaintance which has come to Mr. Henry in the trans- action of his business has been augmented and its friendships have been cemented by his membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, he being a charter brother in San Jose Lodge No. 522. Politically he has always voted with and exerted his influence in behalf of the Republican party.
FRANK O. HUTTON
A native son of the state, Mr. Hutton was born in Solano county November 11, 1874, and there his boyhood and youth were passed. The achievements of maturity bring him into touch with Sacramento county, for it was here that he began to learn the light and power business, here he began at the very bottom of the ladder of success and here he gradually acquired such a thorough comprehension of electricity and such a practical experience with its uses that he rose to a position of influence and responsibility in the specialty now in- dispensable to the permanent progress of every city and village.
The discovery of gold in California proved the lode-star that attracted Frederick Hutton hither from his native town of Perry, Wyoming county, N. Y., where he had received a common-school edu- cation and had already entered upon the task of earning a livelihood. During the summer of 1852 he crossed the plains with a company of Argonauts whose powers of endurance were as great as their hopes were high. Upon arriving in the state he began to mine at Dutch Flat and also engaged in general merchandising. For a considerable period he remained unmarried, but after a time he was united with Miss Charlotte Olinger, who was born and reared in Wisconsin. They were residents of Vacaville for many years and there his death oc- curred in 1898. Later the widow removed to Dixon, where in 1904 her useful existence came to an end. Their son, Frank O., had been educated in the Vacaville schools and had been trained to habits of self-reliance, industry and intelligent energy, which formed almost his sole capital in the world of affairs.
Upon coming to Sacramento in 1896 Mr. Hutton secured employ-
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ment as a helper at the plant of the Electric Light and Power Com- pany. From the lowliest position in the concern he worked his way forward to a post of trust. During 1906 he came to Folsom as fore- man of the Folsom power house of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which owns adequate water power for the operation of the heavy machinery. Since coming to Folsom he has assisted in the organization of the Folsom Bank, becoming one of the original sub- scribers. The growth of the bank has proved a helpful factor in the material development of the place.
The marriage of Frank O. Hutton took place at Vacaville, Cal., October 25, 1895, and united him with Miss Myrtle Collins, who was born, reared and educated at that place, being a daughter of W. L. Collins, now a resident of Sacramento. Four children were born of the union, but the eldest, Kenneth, was taken from the home by death when he was only three years of age. The surviving children are Charlotte, William and Jacques. Mr. Hutton has maintained an independence of thought and ballot throughout his maturity and has voted for the men whom he considers best qualified to represent the people, irrespective of their views upon national problems. For some years he has been actively associated with the Fraternal Brotherhood. Movements for the material development of Folsom receive his stanch support and the town has in him and his wife honored residents whose presence promotes the moral, educational and material upbuilding of the community.
CHARLES HORACE ELDRED
Although he had no recollection of any home except in California, having lived in this state from the age of six months until his death, Mr. Eldred was a native of Michigan, born during the year 1855. After he had completed a course of study in a business college he became an assistant to his father, Horace Eldred, in the hotel busi- ness. For years he actively promoted the success of the State House Hotel, a popular hostelry of the capital city. In addition he was connected with the state railroad commission's office for a time. Poli- tics received a due share of his attention and he voted the Republican ticket, but he never sought official honors or participated in partisan contests. Aside from his identification with the Ancient Order of United Workmen he had no connection with fraternities, preferring to occupy his leisure hours with domestic enjoyment, personal recrea- tion and social intercourse.
The marriage of Mr. Eldred in 1882 united him with Miss Edith
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Connell, a native of Sacramento county, now residing at No. 1317 Seventh street. With her are her two children, Alma and Horace, Jr., the latter an electrician by occupation. Mrs. Eldred is a member of an old and honorable family of Sacramento. To this city in the pioneer era came her parents, William and Katherine (Dailey) Con- nell, natives respectively of Scotland and Ireland, and a couple pos- sessing true worth of character as well as patriotic devotion to the land of their adoption. It was the sad lot of Mrs. Eldred to lose her father, mother and husband about the same time, leaving to her and her children the memory of their sincere lives, unwavering integ- rity, honorable principles and fixedness of purpose in industry and well-doing.
HON. JOSEPH ADAMS FILCHER
Ten years or more before the trans-continental railroad had brought the east and west into direct connection an Iowa family made the tedious journey across the plains with a "prairie schooner" drawn by ox-teams. Accompanying the expedition was a lad of about twelve years, Joseph A. Filcher, who was born in Burlington, Iowa, August 3, 1846, and to whom the trip presented less of hardship than of opportunity. With all the enthusiasm of early life he helped to drive stock the entire distance. Whether enduring the heat of the desert summer or threading a narrow pass through the moun- tains, he was alike hopeful with the optimism which blesses youth and energetic with the patient industry of those who have been trained to endurance of hard work. When he first saw Sacramento in 1859 the city was in the infancy of its history and presented the crudities inseparable from frontier civilization. Shortly after coming west he settled with his parents on a farm near Marysville and there he worked for some years to bring the land under cultivation and develop a productive farm. Meanwhile it had not been possible for him to secure an education and he was ambitious to advance in the world. As soon as he could be spared from the parental home he started out to earn his own way and to secure an education. Nor were his efforts in vain, for he worked his way through the State Normal and became a man of wide information.
The acquisition of a thorough education qualified Mr. Filcher for the work of a school-teacher and this profession he followed dur- ing early manhood, after which for twenty years he was owner and publisher of the Placer Herald at Auburn, Placer county. It is said that this is the oldest newspaper in existence in the entire state.
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The press which he used was the first ever brought into the state, Samuel Brannan having brought it from New York to San Francisco on a vessel around the Horn. When its days of usefulness were ended it was placed in the Golden Gate mission in Golden Gate park, where it now is on exhibition.
The marriage of Mr. Filcher in 1873 united him with Miss Clara Tinkham, a native of Maine. They are the parents of three children now living. George W., who resides in San Francisco, is connected with the railway mail service. Ralph E., of Chicago, is extensively interested in the real estate business and in colonization work. Irma married Pierre Meyers and lives in Sacramento. For years Mr. Filcher has been well known among the Democrats of the state. At the time of Cleveland's second election as president he was chosen a presidential elector. When the electoral college held its meeting he was selected as a messenger to carry the returns to Washington. During 1878-79 he served as a member of the state constitutional convention. Beginning in 1883 he held the office of state senator for four years and meantime gave to his district the most con- scientious of service. A candidate in 1888 for state railroad com- missioner, he was defeated by only a very small majority.
Upon the election of Mr. Hendricks as secretary of state of California Mr. Filcher was selected to complete his unexpired term as state prison director and in that responsible post gave faithful service as well as universal satisfaction. For eleven years he was manager of the state board of trade. Later for five or more years he held a position as secretary of the State Agricultural Society, from which post he was promoted to his present office as manager of exhibits. Fraternally he has been very prominent in the Improved Order of Red Men and has held every state office within the power of that organization to confer, including that of representative to the national convention for two terms. Largely through his tact- ful efforts as a leader in the California Editorial Association, of which he served two terms as president, the national convention of 1903 was brought to San Francisco and the success of that gathering is a matter of state history.
Perhaps in none of his manifold activities has Mr. Filcher been more successful than in his labors as representative of Cali- fornia as commissioner to national and international expositions. He was appointed sole commissioner by Governor Budd to the Cotton States Exposition held at Atlanta, Ga., in 1895, and to this he gave intelligent service in the interests of California. Two years later he represented the state at the International Horticultural Exposi- tion in Hamburg, Germany. In 1900 he was commissioner to the World's Exposition held in Paris and the following year he acted in the same capacity at the Pan-American Exposition, Buffalo, N.
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Y. During 1904 he gave his attention as state commissioner to the California section at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, held in St. Louis. He was president of the Commissioners Association at Portland and at Seattle and was vice-president of Commissioners Association at the St. Louis Exposition in 1904. The remarkable success attending his work caused him to be chosen state commis- sioner to the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland in 1905 and the Alaska-Yukon Exposition at Seattle in 1909. In 1911 he began to work actively in behalf of the Panama Canal Exposition to be held at San Francisco in 1915 and made a tour of the state in order to secure the participation of all the counties to the fullest extent possible. Skilled in detail, comprehensive in information, widely ac- quainted with business leaders of the United States and Europe, more experienced possibly than any exposition worker in the entire country, he is admirably qualified to bring such movements to a successful issne and to fill with honor any position conferred upon him in connection with their management. In April, 1912, while actively engaged in the above enterprise, he was nominated, without solicitation on his part, for candidate as city commissioner under Sacramento's new charter, being one of ten nominated from thirty-five candidates, and on May 18, 1912, he received the second highest vote of the ten, the honor bringing with it a four-year term, and subsequently he was assigned by his associates to the position of commissioner of finance. Resigning his position with the State Agricultural Society and the Panama-Pacific International Expo- sition, he assumed the duties of his office July 1, 1912. At the age of twelve years he reached Sacramento, having ridden horseback across the plains, and barefooted he drove his father's herd of cattle. He ended his journey on the road running along side of the present plaza, in front of the city hall, September 6, 1859. Since that time he has accomplished much for his city and state, and now holds the strings of the purse of the city on which he first cast his eyes fifty-three years ago.
JOHN A. GERBER, Jr.
A native of California, Mr. Gerber was born in Sacramento, September 2, 1874, and attended the city public and high schools until he was nineteen years old. Then for three years he studied materia medica with the Merrill-Washburn drug house, and after that till 1901 he read medicine and surgery under the preceptorship of Dr. Cartwright. Ile did not finish his professional studies and
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engage in the practice of medicine, however, but turned his attention to a business career instead. From 1901 to 1903, when he sold out that interest, he was proprietor of a meat market, after which he was driver for the Cascade Laundry until 1908.
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