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 59
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
Sacramento Bank. Since 1857 Philip Scheld has been identified with the Turn Verein. In 1863 he joined Confidence Company No. 2, Volunteer Fire Department of Sacramento, and when the need of volunteer work no longer existed he became a member of the Ex- empt Firemen. Besides his large interests in and around Sacra- mento, he invested heavily in Southern California property and still has valuable holdings in Los Angeles county. For thirty-three years or more he has been a stockholder and director in the Sacramento Bank and when W. P. Coleman passed away in 1901 he was chosen to succeed to the responsible office of president. Notwithstanding his advanced years he still maintains an active interest in the man- agement of the bank, which benefits constantly by his wise counsel and shrewd insight into affairs.
EDGAR M. SHEEHAN
The president of the Sacramento Valley winery is one of the native sons of the capital city whose rising success furnishes evi- dence as to local possibilities and as to his own inherent qualities of mind. The twentieth century has marked an advance in the instal- lation of new industries and the expansion of old-established plants. Out from a past of commercial lethargy has arisen a present of activity. Growth is the keynote of present upbuilding and the creed for future development. The winery takes rank among the recent accessions to the business life of the city, having been organized in May of 1910 by Mr. Sheehan, who has been the only manager as well as the first president of the concern. With an excellent location, a conservative management and a necessary amount of capital, future development is certain. There is therefore every reason to believe that the winery will develop into one of the most successful plants of the kind in this portion of the state.
As the name indicates, the Sheehan family comes of Celtic an- cestry. The first representative in California, T. W. Sheehan, was horn in County Cork, Ireland, in 1844, and at a very early age crossed the ocean to Maine, where he found employment at Augusta. From that city he left in 1862 for service as a soldier in the Union army. With his regiment he participated in a number of fierce battles and remained at the front until after peace had been declared. After he had received an honorable discharge from the army he came to California in 1866 and settled in Sacramento, where he secured em- ployment as a carriage-painter. Later he served as a deputy sheriff until 1871, when he engaged as a bookkeeper with the Sacramento
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Union, a popular daily of the capital city. Worth and fidelity won recognition in the newspaper office and he was promoted to be manager, which responsible position he filled until his retirement from all business activities in 1905. The following year occurred his death. During early manhood he had married Mollie F. Lynch, a native of New York. Among their family of five children Edgar M., born in January of 1871, was first in order of birth. As a- boy he attended the public schools and completed his studies in the high school in 1888, when he entered into business affairs.
A valuable experience while connected with the Sacramento Union came to Mr. Sheehan through his service as a reporter on the daily and a contributor to the editorial department. After a time he was delegated to travel for the paper and still later he was given a position in the business department. Through these various positions he gained much valuable information not only concerning the operation of a great daily, but also in regard to general business matters. In 1904 he accepted a place with the California winery as head of the publicity department, but resigned the ensuing year from that department in order to enter upon the more important duties of general manager and vice-president. In an official capacity his service was most helpful to the business and in addition the expe- rience enabled him to successfully organize the Sacramento Valley winery, which he manages with notable skill and comprehensive alertuess.
The environment of boyhood, the influences of the home and the relations to the church, were such as to cause Mr. Sheehan to identify himself with the Roman Catholic faith in his very early life and from that time to the present he has been devoted to the cause, generous to its philanthropies and loyal to its doctrines. His wife was formerly Miss Virginia Milne, whom he married in Sacra- mento April 25, 1908. In political views he holds to Republican principles and gives his ballot to the nominees of that party. The Sons of Veterans have numbered him among the active members of their post in Sacramento, while his social and fraternal relations have been further enlarged through an influential connection with the Sutter Club.
WILHELM R. H. SCHEUNERT
With the experience acquired through residence in Germany, the land of his birth, and in America, the chosen home of maturity, Mr. Scheunert gives his preference to the land of the free and par- ticularly is he devoted to the great western country. As the chosen
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place of his home and the center of his business activities, he cher- ishes the utmost loyalty to Northern California, with whose pro- gress he has been familiar for a long period. Although now more than sixty years of age he retains much of the physical alertness and all of the mental acumen characteristic of earlier life. Not only is he probably one of the oldest commercial travelers in this part of the state, but in addition he ranks as one of the most successful. In the line of his specialty he has built up a large trade in Northern California and Nevada. By so doing he has enlarged the business of the wholesale cigar factory in Sacramento, where his brother, Emil, remains to superintend the city trade.
Through a lifetime of exceptional activity Wilhelm Scheunert, Sr., held a prominent position among the business men of Zduny, a town of Prussia, not far distant from the borders of Russia. Not only did he own and operate a flour mill in the village, but in addition he managed other important enterprises and also served efficiently as city trustee, being indeed a citizen of such prominence that his demise was mourned as a public loss. His wife, Wilhelmina, also resided in Zduny until her death. Their son, Wilhelm R. H., was born in Prussia November 10, 1849, and attended the national schools of Germany, as well as private institutions of learning in his native kingdom. Following the usual custom of the country he was sent to serve in the army. It was at the time of the Franco- Prussian war and he therefore saw service not only in camp, but also on the battle-field. During 1870-71 he was honorably discharged with the commission of sergeant.
Almost immediately after his return home from the wars Mr. Scheunert began to make preparations to emigrate to the new world. Without any means except sufficient for traveling expenses, he started on the long ocean trip to New York City and this was fol- lowed by the journey across the continent to San Francisco, where he found employment. In a few months he came to Sacramento and secured work as a barber. Eighteen months later he went to Virginia City, Nev., and embarked in the cigar business, but in 1875, after the big fire, he removed his business headquarters to Sacramento, the center of all subsequent activities on his part. Since 1876 he has been identified continuously with the cigar business as a manufacturer and jobber. He organized the business as Scheunert Bros., Inc. With him in business is his brother, Emil, horn in Prussia in May of 1858, educated in Germany and California, and employed for a time in a dry-goods house that specialized in ladies' furnishings. For several years he engaged extensively in farm pur- suits in Mexico, but owing to the yellow fever he was forced to leave that country. After a visit of a few months at his old German home he returned to Mexico to close out his affairs and then joined his brother in Sacramento, where since he has engaged in the cigar
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business. Fraternally he holds membership with various organ- izations, including the various degrees of Masonry up to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The older brother has been connected prom- inently with the Knights of Pythias as well as other societies. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Goepel, daughter of Herman Goepel, who in the early days was a well-known resident of Sacramento.
JOHN LESKER PATTERSON
Within three miles of Folsom lies the well improved fruit farm which has been the home of Mr. Patterson for a considerable period and which through his well-directed efforts has acquired a reputation for productiveness and profitable operation. In coming to Orangevale, for such is the name of the district, he first made a visit of inspection from his Nebraska home and later removed to the property he still owns. Continued identification with the locality increases his faith in the soil and his devotion to the higher development of the community. While he has inspected many other parts of the state and at one time remained for two years in San Joaquin county, he believes Sacra- mento county to be the peer of all and the center of a vast horticul- tural section whose possibilities as yet are only partly appreciated.
Of Pennsylvanian birth and parentage, John L. Patterson was born at Uniontown, Fayette county, February 14, 1859, and at the age of eleven years, in 1870, he accompanied his parents to Iowa, set- tling upon raw land in Madison county. While helping his father he was also given fair schooling, and not only completed the grammar grade, but also attended a high school and later took a course of study in the Baptist college at Pella. For a time he engaged in teaching school. During young manhood, in 1884, he removed to Nebraska and settled at Kearney, Buffalo county, where he bought and still owns residence property. While still in Iowa he had learned the trade of a stationary engineer and knowledge of the occupation enabled him to operate an engine with snecess for five years. He also taught in the Kearney Industrial school for six years ..
During the period of his residence at Kearney Mr. Patterson met and married Miss Adelaide Stout, who was born and reared in New York state; her death occurred in 1903 and her body was interred in Folsom cemetery. Surviving her are the two daughters born of the union, Irma and Ona, who are attending the local schools. The family came to California during 1897 and settled at Orangevale, where Mr. Patterson had bought property on a previous trip to the west. The place had been planted to fruit trees, but there were no
Moram Patterson
John Leaker Patterson
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other improvements. His first task was the building of a substantial house. Later other improvements were made and adjacent property was purchased, until now he owns sixty acres, all in fruit. Six and one-half acres are in oranges, seven acres in prunes and the balance in pears, almonds, olives and grapes. From 1898 until 1900 he acted as superintendent of a ranch of two thousand acres and meanwhile made his home on the property, which is situated in San Joaquin county, but in 1900 he resigned the position in order to take up the personal supervision of his Orangevale ranch. In addition to im- proving this property he has bought and sold real estate and has promoted many enterprises for the benefit of the locality. A move- ment which received his early and constant support was that looking toward the starting of a bank, and it was characteristic of him that he should be among the first to subscribe to the capital stock. Since then he has continued a stockholder in the Bank of Folsom and now serves as a member of the board of directors. He is president of the Orangevale Water Company, which is installing a new system of piping to supply water for irrigation and domestic use in the colony.
The present wife of Mr. Patterson, whom he married in 1905, was Mrs. Nora (Raper) Gibbons, who was born in Placer county and reared in Colusa county. She was educated in Pierce Christian col- lege at College City, graduating in 1887 with the degree of B. S. Her parents were Robert and Frances (Allen) Raper, who crossed the plains in 1864 and settled in Coluisa county. The father is now living in Orangevale, but the mother died in 1909. After her graduation Miss Raper became the wife of O. J. Gibbons, and of that marriage three children were born, as follows: Aris, of Oakland; Robert L., a graduate of the State Agricultural school at Davis and now horticul- tural inspector of Sacramento county, and Ruth, who is attending high school in Sacramento. Politically, Mr. Patterson believes in Repub- lican principles, and is progressive in his tendencies. Ever since young manhood he has been interested in educational progress and no one in his district maintains a closer affiliation with such work than does Mr. Patterson, who believes that the public schools are the most important factors in our national development. He and his wife are active members of the Orangevale Grange, of which he is past master and Mrs. Patterson treasurer, and these progressive organizations they have not only promoted, but they have also organized them whenever possible. While living in Nebraska Mr. Patterson became associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Kearney of which he is past grand, and he is also past chief patriarch of the encampment, as well as a member of the Uniform rank of the order, in Nebraska. Mrs. Patterson is president of the Orangevale W. C. T. U.
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JAMES RUTTER
A study of the lives and activities of the pioneers of Sacramento county discloses no name more worthy of honorable mention than that of the late James Rutter, who was identified with California as a per- manent resident from the year 1852 until his death. An early ac- quired knowledge of the trade of carpenter proved helpful to him after he left his native country and crossed the ocean to the United States, for this occupation and kindred pursuits enabled him to be self-supporting from the first. Notwithstanding the fact that he had reached an age justifying his complete retirement from all business cares and the further fact that he had accumulated a competency through his arduous undertakings in the past, he continued to the last actively interested in all life's activities, personally overseeing his varied enterprises and showing the same persevering energy char- acteristic of him during earlier years.
Descended from a long line of Anglo-Saxon ancestors, and himself a native of Cornwall, England, James Rutter was born August 15, 1827, and received such advantages as English free schools afforded. As he came toward manhood and studied conditions at home he saw no prospects for the future, and the depressing conditions of labor in his native land led him to seek the better opportunities of the new world, where he landed in New York City May 15, 1849. It was not his intention to remain in the eastern metropolis, and he soon took his way westward to Buffalo. There he boarded a lake vessel bound for Chicago. On his arrival in that then insignificant city he found conditions unattractive and the demand for workmen small, so he pro- ceeded to St. Louis, where he found temporary employment. Next he filled a position in Quincy, Ill., and from there removed to Galena in 1851. The following year he came across the plains by ox-teams, ac- companied by his yonng wife (this being their bridal tour), the trip consuming the entire summer, but fortunately bringing no accidents or disasters. In October, 1851, he was married in Galena, Ill., to Miss Thomasine Penberthy, a native of Cornwall, England. She was reared in England and when eighteen years old, in 1848, came with her parents to Galena, Ill. Of this union three children were born, only one of whom is living. She is Agnes E., the wife of L. M. Landsborough of Florin. They have five children. Thomas R., Leon- ard B., Amy L. (Mrs. McCraney), William Lloyd and Georgia I.
For a period of six years after his arrival in California and his taking up of active labors Mr. Rutter followed the carpenter's trade in the city of Sacramento. During 1858 he removed to Florin, a small village southeast of the capital city, and here he made his home until his death, meanwhile becoming the owner of one hundred and eighty
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acres of valuable land and improving a homestead attractive in ap- pearance and productive in returns. To him belongs the distinction of having planted the first vineyard in Sacramento county. He further has the distinction of having shipped the first raisins out of the county and sent the first grapes to the eastern markets. Years ago, when methods of irrigation were crude, he put in the first pump- ing plant in the entire state and this same undertaking, which was watched by the citizens with considerable skepticism, proved so satis- factory that others soon followed his example. In making new de- partures in agriculture or horticulture he indeed proved a pioneer. Fond of experimenting, he made a special study in early days of the soil, the climate and the crops best suited thereto. Some of his ex- perimeuts cost him considerable sums and yet proved impracticable, but so many of them were successful that in the end he reaped large returns from his new undertakings. Nor was the work helpful to himself alone. Other pioneers, studying his methods, imitated his plan of cultivation and found in him an authority concerning hor- ticultural subjects. Thus he acquired prominence unsought. In his desire to promote the welfare of the country he gave freely of time, means and influence, and in his declining days he reaped the rich re- ward of years of self-sacrifice and intelligent endeavor.
HUGH J. SMILEY
On the other side of the world, in Australia, in the city of Mel- bourne, Hugh J. Smiley, long of Sacramento, was born November 25, 1858, a son of Rankin and Catherine Smiley. His parents went from England to Australia in 1857. His father attained eminence there in politics and long held the office of Immigration-General, and now lives in London; his mother has been dead many years. The son was educated in public and private schools in Australia and in 1882 came to the United States and located in San Diego, where he was for a year in the real estate business with his uncle. From San Diego he went to San Francisco and identified himself with the interests of another uncle who was in the stock business. In 1884 he came to Sacramento and entered the plumbing shop of the South- ern Pacific Railroad, where he learned the plumber's trade. He was then placed in charge of the air-brake department of the coast di- vision with headquarters in San Francisco. After having been in the employ of that corporation for twelve years, he devoted two years to the installation of the water system in the Tesler coal mines near Livermore, Cal. Then he engaged in the plumbing business
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in Sacramento, buying a fine property on the lower Stockton road at its intersection with Cypress avenue, where he erected a home and a shop. He now owns four houses in this neighborhood, some prop- erty near Stockton and sixty acres of land in Mexico.
In 1892 Mr. Smiley married Miss Ada L. Fassett of Sacramento county, daughter of the Hon. Lonis H. Fassett, of Sacramento county, who filled the office of supervisor two terms and represented his dis- trict one term in the California Assembly. They have one son, Earl B., born September 19, 1891, a graduate of the Sacramento high school, who is associated with his father in business. Mr. Smiley affiliates with the Eagles, the Odd Fellows, the Grange and the Fraternal Union of America, and Mrs. Smiley and their son are members of the Baptist Church.
JOHN F. COOPER
Romance often found its way into the privations and perils expe- rienced by the pioneers of the west and it was not lacking from life's activities with Mr. Cooper as boy, youth and man, nor has its pleasant glow wholly faded from the gold-tinted horizon of his memories as, retired from the strenuous tasks of former years, he finds leisure to reflect upon the past and enjoy its many interesting recollections. From the far-distant past there come to him memories of the family home at Lexington, Ky., where the father, Archibald H. Cooper, M. D., engaged in the practice of medicine for a considerable period and where his own birth had occurred December 17, 1840. Genealogical records indicated that the family had been established in America during the colonial era and descended from English ancestors, but the American representatives fought on the side of the colonies during the Revolution. Their devotion to the country has been imitated by every generation of descendants and patriotism is a family char- aeteristic.
The Kentucky doctor had established a home of his own during early manhood and had chosen as his wife Miss Elizabeth A. Mc- Intosh, a native of Kentucky, descended from Scotch and English progenitors and like himself a representative of a Revolutionary fam- ily. Her death occurred in 1854, two years after her arrival in Cali- fornia. One of her sons had died of cholera while they were crossing the plains and that boy, Louis, lies in an unknown grave. Another son, David, a soldier in the Civil war and in the Indian struggles along the western coast, died in Sacramento in 1901 and was buried with Grand Army honors. A daughter, Laura, died in 1907 and her hus-
John Cooper
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band, George F. Nourse, passed away the following year. Shortly after the discovery of gold in California the children of this family had seen their father and uncle depart for the west and later re- ceived word that they had started stores at Mud Springs and Dia- mond Springs, to both of which places they had given their names.
Deciding that he would remain in the west the doctor sent his brother-in-law, John McIntosh, back to Kentucky to bring the balance of the family across the plains. A large company of emigrants was gathered together. Twenty-seven wagons were required for the people and supplies. The boy of twelve years, John F. Cooper, rode the entire distance on a little white mule and he vividly recalls the hardships of the journey, the dangers from cholera, the perils from Indian and Mormon outbreaks and the countless vicissitudes marking such an expedition. The party was unusually fortunate and after a quick trip of three and one-half months arrived safely in California August 27, 1852. The majority of the relatives took up residence in Colusa county, but John F. Cooper's family made their headquarters at Sacramento. His second memorable experience was while serving as cabin-boy on board the ship, Witchcraft, from San Francisco to New York by way of the Horn. At New York he shipped for return passage on the clipper Swordfish. Upon his return to the west he collected fares on the steamer Clinton, plying between Oakland and San Francisco.
While at Stockton in 1854 the young lad was fortunate in winning the friendship of Prof. W. L. Wright, head of the department of mathematics in Yale College. The older man took an interest in the self-reliant youth and aided him in his efforts to secure an education. Nor was this the extent of his benefactions. He had previously bought the Rough and Ready Island ranch and at his death he willed one-half of the estate to young Cooper, who thus found it possible to attend the Benicia high school for three years and later completed his educa- tion in the Sacramento schools. Meanwhile he learned the trade of a printer and worked in every department of the business with the Sacramento Bee and Republican. A life-long fondness cherished for music found expression when he took up its study under Professors Winter and Mansfeldt. Under their superior instruction he became proficient in both vocal and instrumental music. The organization of the Philharmonic Society was largely the result of his energetic efforts and for many years he was honored with its presidency. Besides hav- ing charge of music in the Sacramento public schools, he was organist of the Methodist Episcopal Church for eight years, held a similar position in the Presbyterian Church for twelve years and at the Jewish Synagogue for seven years. One of the results of his efforts was the formation of the Sacramento chorus of one hundred and fifty voices which were added to the San Francisco chorns of fifteen hun-
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dred voices for the Camilo Urso Concert under the leadership of Carl Zerahn.
After over thirty-five years as proprietor of a music store on J street, Sacramento, in 1893 Mr. Cooper sold these interests. As evi- dence of his influence in musical circles it may be stated that his suc- cessors incorporated the business under the title of the Cooper Music Company, the name being considered one of the valuable assets of the honse. Since he relinquished his associations with musical affairs Mr. Cooper has bought and improved a number of fruit farms, but these he has sold from time to time. In former years he owned interests in mines in Mexico, California and Nevada. For a time he made his headquarters in San Francisco, where with his brother-in-law, George F. Nourse, he started the Overland Freight and Transfer Company in 1873. The company collected freight for the railroads and shipped to Australia, China, Japan and other foreign points. Even up to the present the business is still flourishing, but Mr. Cooper sold his interest and returned to Sacramento because the San Francisco climate proved unpleasant to him. Through his personal efforts the Capitol Sacra- mento Transfer, Van and Storage Company was incorporated in 1899 and in 1902 he purchased his partner's interests, thereupon becom- ing sole proprietor of the concern. While he still manages the busi- ness he has practically retired from business cares, and he has also retired from the fraternal activities that once engrossed much of his time, for in former years he was an active member of the Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, Foresters of America, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and other organizations.
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