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 45
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EXEMPT FIREMEN
The first Exempt Firemen's Association was organized on August 14, 1865. Twenty-two members were present at the meeting on that day and the following were chosen as officers: George Rowland, president; J. H. Houseman, vice-president; J. J. Smith, secretary ; J. F. Crawford, treasurer. In 1871, when this association was abol- ished, it had ouly sixty-five members. It was a charitable associa- tion, but its charities were neither compulsory nor systematic. The fund was under the control of the board of delegates, which had been incorporated June 10, 1868, and in the treasury was about $38,000, in 1872, which was turned over to the new association which was formed at that time.
The latter, which went out of existence a few years ago, was organized under an act of the legislature, approved in April, 1872, it having been instituted December 4, 1872. The first officers elected were: W. L. Herndon, president; A. H. Cummings, first vice-presi- dent; Joseph Davis, second vice-president; George A. Putnam, treas-
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urer; also a board of trustees of the general fund and one of trustees of the charitable fund.
Although in 1871 the old association had only sixty-five members when it was dissolved, the new one began business in 1872, with three hundred and twenty-four members, and many others joined it later on. Its objects were social, and fraternal aid and pecuniary benefit. The pecuniary benefit given was eight dollars per week in case of disability, ten dollars a month to widows of deceased mem- bers in case they were in need of it, and one hundred dollars for funeral expenses. Besides this, all the friendly aid the association could bestow in case of sickness or distress was cheerfully given. These benefits were not given to a member, however, if his distress was the result of gross dissipation. By death and removals the number of members was gradually reduced to one hundred and fifty- one in 1890, and finally to sixty-seven in 1901, when the association wound up its affairs.
By the act which created the paid fire department of the city, it was provided that the Exempt Firemen's Association should have the privilege of selecting one of the old engine-houses of the volun- teer department for its use. The old engine-house on the north side of the alley, on Eighth street, between J and K, was accordingly chosen and the property was put up at auction, it being necessary that it be sold to avoid complication of the title. No one would bid on it against the Exempt Firemen, of course, and the sum it brought was $100. The building was remodeled and a hall built for their nse, while the lower story was fitted np for stores, which brought a good rent. When the association wound up its affairs the property was sold and has been demolished to make way for a fine modern building. The change made in it by the Exempts cost about $7000, and it was occupied by them for the first time July 12, 1875. Thus landmark after landmark of the old days is passing away, and like the Pioneers, the Exempts still living have dwindled away to a mere handful and soon only the memory of them will remain to us.
John F. Dreman, who was a member of No. 1, in the old volunteer department, and turned out in parade with it in 1851, and who was afterwards a member of No. 3, and of Neptune Hose Company, was the last president of the Exempts, and is the proud possessor of a handsome badge presented to him when they disbanded. Mr. Dreman, who was for many years a member of the city board of edu- cation, and served also as a supervisor of the county, is still living, at the age of eighty-three, at the time of this writing. James Coff- roth, a brilliant lawyer of a generation ago, was the first member of the Exempts who died, and William L. Herndon was their first president.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
CHAPTER XXXVII EARLY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
A history of this city would not be complete withont at least a partial list of the pioneer business men and business houses, in addi- tion to those already named in a former chapter.
The early historians state that in May, 1849, there were about thirty buildings occupied by stores and that on June 26th there were one hundred honses in the city. In the advertisements in the Placer Times we find those of the following business and professional men :
Whittlock & Gibson, auction and commission.
Burnett & Rogers (Peter H. and John P.), exchange brokers and agents for the collection of debts. Mr. Burnett afterwards became governor of California.
Drs. L. P. and S. S. Crane, physicians and druggists.
Dr. C. B. Zabriskie, physician.
Orlando MeKnight, proprietor of the American House and Res- taurant.
Murray & Lappens.
Pickett & Co.
Saget & Co.
T. McDowell & Co., auction and commission.
Gillespie, Gerald & Co., wholesale and retail grocers, provisions and mining goods.
Brannan & Co., (Samuel Brannan, William Stout, and Mellus, Howard & Co.) general merchandise. In August, 1849, Brannan was again alone. He died at Escondido, San Diego county, May 5, 1889.
Dr. B. Bryant, a graduate of the Botanico Medical College of Memphis, drugs and medicines. He also established a hospital in August, 1849, on L street.
Dr. W. H. Anson, "late surgeon of the U. S. Army," opened an office in August, 1849, "opposite Prof. Sheppard's store."
John Codlin, butcher and provision merchant.
H. P. Merrifield, auction and real estate.
James C. Zabriskie, law, conveyancing and surveying.
Morse, Dunning & Co. (Charles E. G. Morse, of St. Louis, Mo., and John Dunning, of New York), provisions.
J. P. Rittenhouse & Co. (Thomas C. D. Olmstead and W. E. Keyes).
Peyton, Comet & McCarver.
Dr. F. M. Rodrigues, from New Orleans.
B. E. Watson, groceries.
Dr. M. B. Angle.
Massett & Brewster (Stephen C. and Charles O.), auction and commission. Massett later became a well known musical composer and writer.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
A. Drinj, store at the Fort.
Thomas A. Warbass, real estate.
Robertson & Co. (G. M. R., Theodore Van Colt and Thomas King), meat market.
Dr. W. G. Deal.
Dr. Robert Wilson.
G. G. & R. G. Cornell, meat market.
Drs. Mckenzie and Ames (J. M. and F. W.)
James N. Harding, law and real estate.
Elisha W. Mckinstry, law.
Jones, Prettyman, Barroll & Co. (Dr. W. G. Deal), commission, real estate and drugs. Afterwards Prettyman, Barroll & Gwynn.
Charles Lindley, law and commissioner of deeds.
Bailey, Morrison & Co., merchants.
Pearson and Baker (James P. and W. A. B.), real estate. Plume, Trnman & Co.
Cardwell, Brown & Co. (H. C. C., E. L. Brown, John Harris and John F. Fowler), afterwards Harris, Brown & Co.
Drs. J. L. Wydown and T. J. White.
J. B. Starr & Co. (H. L. Barney), anction.
McNulty & Co. (A. G. Hedrick), hardware.
Dr. Benjamin R. Carman bought Mr. Deal's interest in the Mar- tin & Deal hospital at the Fort, in December, 1849.
Dr. Hardenstein, homeopathic physician.
Barney, Brewster & Co. (B. B. Barney, R. E. Brewster, Fred Ogden, J. H. Blossom and J. P. Hurley), afterward Barney, Blos- som & Co.
Snydam, Fletcher & Co. (John Suydam, Warren Fletcher and J. E. Galloway), then Suydam & Galloway, anction and commission.
Drs. Stanbury and J. W. H. Stettinius, associated with Charles E. Abbott, bought the hospital of Dr. Craigan and Mr. Abell at the Fort, during the winter of 1849-50.
Dr. S. P. Thomas.
B. F. Hastings & Co., exchange brokers, bankers and commission merchants.
James Tait & Co., general merchandise.
C. F. MeClure & Co. (P. R. Slater).
Covilland, Fajard & Co., general merchandise.
Meconniken & Co. (E. Meconniken, A. Hadley and James A. Myer), auction and commission.
William Montgomery, auction and commission, groceries, etc.
Andrew J. Binney, civil engineer and surveyor.
Fowler & Frye, proprietors of the City hotel.
E. M. Ilayes, jeweler.
Offntt, Wales & Co. (M. II. Offutt, C. P. Wales, Jacob P. Dunn and George Dunn), auction and commission.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
Hensley, Redding & Co. (Samuel J. Hensley, Pierson B. Redding and Jacob R. Snyder), general merchants. Dissolved partnership February 10, 1850.
Middlebrook & Christy (Charles M. and John M. C.).
Steele & Grummun (Seymour G. S. and Calet G.).
William R. Prince & Co., sheet iron, zinc, miners' supplies, etc.
Demas Strong, dry goods. Mr. Strong was a brother of W. R. Strong, afterwards a prominent citizen and merchant of Sacramento. He was still living in the east some years ago.
M. G. Leonard & Co. (Sheldon, Kibbe and Almy), groceries and miners' supplies.
Gillespie & Monson (Eugenio G. and Alonzo M.), land agents.
L. Bartlett, Jr., bank and real estate.
E. D. Byne & Co., dry goods.
G. M. Robertson, commission agent and real estate broker.
Henley, MeKnight & Co. (S. C. Hastings), bank.
Dr. Bryarly, partner of Dr. Deal.
Wetzlar & Co. (Gustavus W., Julius Wetzlar, Benjamin Fenner, Cornelius Schermerhorn and Francis Stratton). Some of these sold ont afterward to John A. Sutter, Jr., and C. Brandes.
A. P. Petit, contractor and builder.
Dr. C. Morrill and C. F. Whittier, drugs.
Joseph Clough, real estate.
John H. Dickerson, civil engineer and surveyor.
Moran & Clark.
J. Neely Johnson, lawyer, afterward elected governor by the American party.
Bailey, Morrison & Co. (Major B., John C. and E. M. Hayes).
Smith, Keith & Co. (J. E. S., Matthew K. and Henry M. Spotts- wood).
Lewis & Bailey (John HI. L. and John T. B.), general commis- sion and merchandise.
Warbass & Co. (Thomas A. Warbass, William S. Heyl and John F. Morse), bankers and real estate.
Barton Lee, snecessor to Priest, Lee & Co.
G. B. Stevens, wholesale anction and commission.
Chenery & Hubbard, proprietors of the Globe hotel.
Ferris Forman, law.
Hoope & L'Amoreanx, general merchants.
G. H. Johnson, daguerreotype artist.
John H. Spies, notions.
Bnrnell, Stout & Co., wholesale anction and commission.
Spalding & McKinney (Volney S., M. D. and Joseph Mckinney), saloon.
A. M. Winn, agent for Sutter.
Dr. T. B. Kruse.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
J. D. B. Stillman, M. D., left in 1862.
L. A. Birdsall, M. D.
J. A. Wadsworth, M. D., from Providence, R. I., had the K Street hospital.
Boyd & Davis, real estate, later removed to San Francisco and became wealthy.
Earl, McIntosh & Co., forwarding, later of San Francisco.
John Hatch, jeweler, resided in Sacramento until his death.
Simmons, Hutchinson & Co., general merchandise. Simmons dealt also in real estate.
J. L. F. Warren established the store now owned by Baker & Hamilton. He went to San Francisco afterwards and for many years published an agricultural paper there.
D. O. Mills was a dealer in gold dust and founded the bank that bears his name. He went to New York many years ago to reside, and there his death occurred.
Brown, Henry & Co., wholesale clothing.
James Lee kept the "Stinking Tent," the largest gambling estab- lishment for a time. Z. Hubbard soon after started a large, neat gambling tent.
James Bininger built the first hotel in Sacramento.
James King of William, who engaged in various occupations, was killed in San Francisco by Casey, precipitating the formation and action of the Vigilance committee there in 1856.
Dr. Charles H. Craigan, from Washington, D. C., in 1849 estab- lished a hospital at the Fort, at which the rates for board and treat- ment ranged from $16 to $50 per day.
H. Arents & Co., general merchandise.
Burge & Ratcliffe (Robert K. and William M.), manufacturers of iron doors and shutters.
M. T. MeClellan, speculator in gold and silver; "coin exchanged for dust, at $15 per ounce."
Sagat and Southard (L. T. and Charles C.), general merchandise and miners' supplies.
Marshall & Santory, general merchandise.
Von Pfister & Vaughan (Edward and William), general merchan- dise.
H. A. Schoolcraft, real estate and magistrate.
Drs. William M. Carpenter and T. L. Chapman.
Dr. T. M. Ames, at Sutterville.
Nevett & Co., hardware; Youmans was the "Co."
C. C. Sackett, notary public and conveyancer.
R. Chenery, flour.
George H. Pettibone, proprietor of the El Dorado House.
Yates Ferguson, general store.
Haines, Webster & Co., hotel.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
Richard Berry, auction.
Barton & Grimm, real estate.
Watson & Bem, hardware.
C. P. Huntington & Co., hardware.
J. B. Blanchard & Co., hardware.
Bowstead & Woods, iron and brass foundry.
Other firms were: Wesley Merritt, Moran & Clark, H. E. Rob- inson & Co., George H. Johnson, Thompson & Taylor, Cochran, Peifer, Samuel Gregg, S. C. Bruce, Montgomery & Co., Captain Gallup, A. C. Latson, John Van Houghton, Ames & Mckenzie, Jesse Haycock, Dearbower, Caswell, Ingalls & Co., Hanna, Jennings & Co., Captain Northam, Geise & Son, J. J. Burge, Hardenbergh & Co., Morrill & Hamlin, Coats & Rivett, Cheeks, Pinkard, Prince, Scranton & Smith, T. S. Mitchell & Co., Reynolds & Co., P. B. Cornwall, Panl, White & Co., etc. There were also a number of express companies and stage lines.
As the town grew apace business increased. The big fire, how- ever, made many changes in the firms. The principal grocers in 1850 and succeeding years were as follows :
Pomeroy & Peebles were the most extensive in their operations. Their place was familiarly spoken of as the Missouri store.
Haynes & Co. were almost exclusively an importing house.
Bullard, Figg & Co. did a large business. Mr. Figg, for many years before his death, dealt in salt; his son, E. J. Figg, continued the business until a few years ago.
Cavert & Hill, whose store was on Front street, where McCreary's mill stood in later years, also did a large business.
Forshee, Booth & Co. did a very large business, and the members of the firm were John Forshee, Lucius A. Booth and Job F. Dye. The latter came to California as early as 1840. Booth removed to Pied- mont a number of years ago.
E. D. and W. F. Kennedy were Philadelphia men who enjoyed good patronage, became wealthy in the grocery trade and then re- turned to Philadelphia.
J. W. Foard & Co. (George Cadwalader being the "Co.") was another pioneer firm. Mr. Cadwalader became a prominent lawyer here. Both he and the senior member of the firm died years ago.
W. T. Grissim & Co. (Snyder), have both passed away.
Curry & Co. and P. J. Brown & Co. were both burned out in the great fire of 1852, but re-established themselves, finally going out of business in 1855.
The Lady Adams Company (to which Mebius & Drescher are the successors) was named after the ship that brought the members of the company and their cargo of goods to the coast, and was one of the oldest firms in Sacramento.
Stanford Bros., three brothers of Leland Stanford, were not
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
burned out in the big fire of 1852, although their building was not as fireproof as many others that were consumed. All of the other build- ings in the block were burned.
Hermance & Burton were burned out in 1852 and never resumed business.
J. H. Trowbridge & Co. and Carroll & Stearin soon after the fire succeeded the old house of Birdsall & Co., and took the name of Scud- der, Carroll & Co.
Taylor & Van Sickle had a large business patronage before the fire, but after that Van Sickle dropped out of the business.
Louis Sloss, who later became head of the Alaska Fur Company, was a very successful trader here up to 1854.
Chamberlain & Patrick, another successful firm, engaged in busi- ness on the Plaza. Chamberlain afterwards entered the banking honse of D. (). Mills & Co., with which he remained in active employ- ment until nearly ninety years of age; he died a number of years ago. Dr. Patrick has been dead for many years.
Wilcoxson & Co. closed their business in 1852 after a successful career, and became large landholders in the valley. The members of the firm have been dead for a number of years.
Maddux & Co., who came here from Arkansas in the early days, built the Maddux block at Third and K streets.
Mills & Co. (James and D. O. Mills) were in the grocery business until about 1851, when they retired. The latter established the bank which bears his name, finally removed to New York and there died.
Bushmell & Co. was another of the few lucky firms that were not burned ont in the big fire of 1852.
Sneath & Arnold in 1851 established the business to which Adams, McNeill & Co. succeeded and which in 1911 was bought out by Mebius and Drescher. John Arnold died in 1864. Sneath removed to San Francisco in the '60s, and carried on a large dairy on the San Bruno road until his death.
Fry, Hoopes & Co. founded the house that is now Lindley & Co. (J. D. Fry and Thomas Hoopes). Hoopes died years ago and Fry removed to San Francisco.
Of Hopkins. and Miller, the partners were Mark Hopkins and Ed. Miller. Hopkins died at Ynma March 29, 1878. Miller was with the Central Pacific Company for a number of years.
Another large business firm was W. P. McCaull & Co. Moore moved to Louisville, Ky., and MeCanll died here.
Smith & Booth were the predecessors of Booth & Co. Charles Smith died in New York. Newton Booth, the other partner, was afterward senior member of the firm of Booth & Co., and became governor of California and United States senator. He died in this city July 14, 1892.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
Hull & Lohman, another of the successful early firms, removed later to San Francisco and died there.
Lindley, Booth & Co. (T. M. Lindley and L. A. Booth) began business in 1849. Booth retired from the firm in 1850, and after a while Lindley closed his business and went elsewhere. He became a member of the firm of Fry, Hoopes & Co. February 1, 1853, on the corner of Seventh and J streets. The firm name was changed to Lindley & Hoopes a year later, and in 1853 Mr. Lindley was in busi- ness alone. He took his son, D. A. Lindley, into partnership a num- ber of years ago, under the present firm name. Mr. Lindley, Sr., has been dead for some time.
Besides these here named, there was a number of other grocery firms in the early days, among them being Birdsall & Co .; Ahrents & Tolger; Meeker & Co. (S. H. and David Meeker) ; Burton & McCarty; Wood & Kenyon; Kramer & Quivey; Loveland & Co .; Kibbe, Almey & Co .; Thomas Bannister; Burton, Fish & Culver; Peter Slater, etc.
G. Miller & Sons established artificial stone and cement works in 1876 at Tenth and L streets.
In 1849 Peter Kadell established the Sacramento brewery, now owned by Philip Scheld. In 1850 Zins & Weber built a brewery at Twenty-ninth and J streets. In 1853 Louis Keseberg built one at Twenty-eighth and M streets. In 1853 Philip Yager started a brewery in Sam Brannan's old adobe store on K street, near Twenty-eighth, and another, the Tiger brewery, at Thirty-first and K streets. In 1860 the St. Louis brewery was built at Sixth and G streets. Later the City brewery was erected at Twelfth and H streets. In 1858 the Pacific brewery was established at Ninth and P streets. In 1853 the Columbus brewery at Fifteenth and K streets was established. In 1861 the Sntterville brewery was built, and in 1869 the Capital brew- ery was opened. In 1878 the eight breweries running made 530,200 gallons of beer.
The Sacramento Valley Beet Sugar factory was established on the J street road in 1868, but was a failure and closed in 1876, as did the Capital distillery, owned by the same company.
The first boiler shop was started by Anderson & Corbett in 1853. In 1854 II. Webster opened a broom factory, and two years after- wards there were three.
In 1858 there were seventy-nine wagon and carriage shops in Sac- ramento, employing 340 men and turning out $750,000 worth of vehicles. There were also five foundries.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
CHAPTER XXXVIII BANKS AND BANKERS
Sacramento today boasts of its banking institutions as second to none in the state in their growth and stability. Nowhere do the banks in California stand higher in these respects or receive more favorable reports from the bank commissioner. The clearing house, established some years ago, does a yearly increasing amount of business, facilitat- ing the transactions of the banks materially.
The bank of D. O. Mills & Co., now the National Bank of D. O. Mills & Co., was founded in 1850 by D. O. Mills, who in 1855 took in as partners Edgar Mills and Henry Miller. D. O. Mills, James Mills and Edgar Mills, three brothers, came to California in 1849, James dying soon after his arrival. D. O. Mills had had some banking ex- perience in New York, but at first engaged in merchandising, in con- nection with his brother, W. O. Mills, who remained in New York City. He soon turned his attention to banking, however, and accounts of many of his deals, as early as 1849, are still to be seen in the records of the bank, although the bank proper was not formally established until 1850. Among the relics preserved is a bill of exchange, the "third," signed by him and dated January 13, 1851. The original bank building was located on the south side of J street, about sixty feet from the corner of Third. It was a small, one-story frame build- ing with a stone front, and a picture of this was for a long time used on the checks of the bank; in fact, until 1865, when the bank was removed to its late location on the southwest corner of Second and J streets. Although it passed through one of the greatest conflagra- tions in the city, the same old regulator clock, bearing the date of 1850 on its face, still ticks off the seconds as on the day when the bank was established, more than sixty years ago, and proving that the bank is the oldest institution of the kind in the state.
The early business of the bank consisted mainly in selling ex- change on New York and buying gold dust. As compared with those of the express and other companies, the deposits in the bank were not large, but as one after another of the companies failed, their business naturally fell to the bank-a case of the survival of the fittest. In 1855 the firm, as stated, consisted of D. O. Mills, under the title of D. O. Mills & Co., later he admitted Edgar Mills and Henry Miller as partners, and they so continued till July 19, 1874, when the bank in- corporated under the style of "The National Gold Bank of D. O. Mills & Co." In September, 1883, the word "Gold" was dropped, under a general law of congress. At present its capital and surplus amounts to $1,000,000. Its officers are: C. F. Dillman, president; W. T. Pentz and F. B. Anderson, vice-presidents; F. H. Pierce, cashier; T. D. Lit- tlefield and C. C. Cotter, assistant cashiers; directors: P. C. Drescher, H. Weinstock, William Schaw and Arthur E. Miller.
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The new bank building was completed and the papers and money removed from the old bank on Second and J streets to the new one at Seventh and J, October 12, 1912, and in connection with the re- moval, Frank Miller, a former president of the bank, in a letter to the president, Charles F. Dillman, gave some interesting reminiscences. He states that Mr. Mills, previous to coming to California with a stock of flour in 1849, was cashier of a bank in Buffalo, N. Y. His office was on J street, near Third, and later he built a one-story brick building on the same spot. The firm name at that time was Mills, Townsend & Co., but Townsend went out of the firm in 1857, and Edgar Mills and Henry Miller became partners, each taking one-third of the $100,000 capital. Three per cent per month was the current rate of interest in those days, and Mr. Mills' $50,000 capital swelled in the course of a dozen years to $3,000,000. By 1865, when Frank Miller entered the bank, it had decreased to two per cent, and later to eighteen per cent per annum and finally to twelve per cent. When fire swept the town Henry Miller spent the night on the levee with the books of the bank, and when the flood came the bank moved next door to the second floor of the Figg building. The pioneers' wives were heroic, and in the dark days of 1860, when Mr. Mills said to his wife: "Shall we go back east?" she replied : "No; we are both young, and California will be our home."
In 1865 the filling in of J and K streets was begun, and in December of that year the bank was moved from J street between Second and Third to Second and J streets, which had been up to that time occupied by Wormser & Co., afterwards bankers in New York City. The vault was a large iron box which had been used by another bank, and which is now the lower vault at Second and J streets. Mr. Miller says that he and another bank employe put two trays of $20 gold pieces into a clothes basket, put a copy of the Union over them and carried them down a few doors to the new bank.
The new bank building is constructed of granite and steel, costing $250,000, on a lot costing $150,000, and the interior of the building is costly and beautifully furnished and fitted up, making it one of the finest bank buildings on the coast.
Wells. Fargo & Co. began business here in 1856 and have con- tinued business since that time, practically monopolizing the express business of the coast until 1911. Their office is now in the Forum building on Ninth street between K and L.
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