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 73
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woman of capability and education. They are the parents of three children, namely: William E., born November 16, 1887; Mary Gladys, May 1, 1889, and Dorothy Grace, who was born November 22, 1894, and died July 5, 1910, when almost sixteen years of age. Mr. Owen is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, and with his wife and family is associated by membership with the Bruceville Metho- dist church.
JOHN E. T. PIKE
With the exception of his first nine years Mr. Pike passed all of his life within the boundaries of the state of California. As he viewed the remarkable transformation wrought in his home city of Sacramento and in the surrounding country, he was wont to contrast the appearance of the village of the pioneer era with the cultured metropolis of the twentieth century. It was a source of gratification to him that his father, the late John Pike, was one of those sturdy, energetic pioneers to whom the west owes the foundation of its present prosperity, and he might have reflected with like pardonable pride upon his own honorable identification with civic growth. When he left his native town of Eastport, Me., where he was born in October, 1852, it was to begin the then long and tedious journey to the remote and unknown regions along the Pacific coast. With a boy's clearness of vision and keenness of memory he observed the aspect of the strange regions through which the family passed en route via the Isthmus of Panama to their destination, and recollections of the trip formed one of the most interesting memories of his life. Nor did he ever forget the frontier schools of Sacramento and the crude system of instruction then in vogue, which formed a startling contrast to the educational system afterward adopted.
To the credit of Mr. Pike it may be said that he remained in association with the same firm for forty years, death alone proving the cause of ultimate severance. In early youth he entered the office of the Wells-Fargo Company at Sacramento. Every position from the humblest he filled at different times until eventually he was made cashier, and he was filling that responsible post in September of 1910, when death terminated his earthly labors. He allowed few out- side matters to interfere with the daily discharge of business duties. Indeed, he took no part in civic projects, much as he approved of all that were for the benefit of the community. Nor did he take any part in politics, although he kept himself posted concerning national prob- lems. Fraternally he co-operated with no organization except Ma- sonry, in which he rose to high degree. As a member of Sacramento
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Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., he first became enlisted in Masonic philan- thropies. Later he entered the Royal Arch Chapter and the Council of Royal and Select Masters. In addition, he became connected with the Sacramento Commandery, K. T., in which he served as com- mander, being the youngest commander up to that time. Eventually he was honored with admission to the Islam Temple, N. M. S., at San Francisco.
The Pike residence at No. 1712 P street, Sacramento, is now owned and occupied by Mrs. Pike and her only child, Hattie M., now Mrs. Clemont Brokaw. She was a native of this city and a graduate of its schools. Prior to her marriage in 1878 Mrs. Pike bore the maiden name of Fannie M. Hackett. She was educated at Napa seminary and Napa college. She, too, claims Sacramento as her na- tive city, her father, Dr. Francis M. Hackett, having come from his native New Hampshire across the plains to California during the memorable year of 1849, and in this state he established a permanent home, here being united in marriage with Miss Ellen Merrill, who was born and reared in Chicago, Ill. When fourteen years of age she came with her parents to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams in 1849. Dr. Hackett was a pioneer dentist in Sacramento and later practiced in San Francisco, where he passed away. Mrs. Pike was educated at Napa seminary and Napa college. Among the oldest sur- viving settlers who remember Dr. Hackett and his wife they are re- called as people possessing true worth of character and the sturdy mental and physical attributes necessary to successful pioneering.
WILLIAM W. HINSEY
Should the query be propounded as to the identity of the most influential citizens of Fair Oaks, the name of William W. Hinsey would appear among those of other promoters of the local prosperity. Indeed, it would be difficult to overestimate the importance of his labors in the organization and management of the Fair Oaks Fruit Company. To his capable oversight may be attributed the high finan- cial standing of the concern among the banks of Sacramento valley and the satisfactory continuance of a large business among the local horticulturists. As secretary, treasurer and manager he has been at the head of the growth, improvements and progress of the establish- ment, which now owns and occupies seven buildings, including an office, a warehouse, olive oil mill and packing houses. The present value of the holdings of the company in real-estate and improvements aggre- gates almost $100,000. Successful prosecution of the business is indi-
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cated by the fact that the company has paid out to stockholders one hundred and two per cent of the value of the stock since the plant was first started, and for the building up of such a profitable industry universal credit is given to the efficient manager.
During the early history of the now thriving city of Ottumwa, Iowa, no physician was more highly honored and none more success- ful in the practice of the profession than Dr. J. C. Hinsey, who made his home in that town and there reared his family, among them being William W., born in Ottumwa November 18, 1862. After he had com- pleted the studies of the common schools he took a commercial course in the Ottumwa Business College and then commenced the earning of a livelihood through the work of shipping clerk in the wholesale house of Ottumwa Starch Co. and then for three years with W. A. Jordan & Son. Recognition of his worth came in his promotion to the posi- tion of cashier. For several years he continued with the firm, but in 1888 he resigned to come to California. On the occasion of this first trip to the west he settled at Elsinore, Riverside county, and secured an important position with the real estate exchange.
Upon returning to the old home and resuming business asso- ciations, Mr. Hinsey organized the Ottumwa Fruit Commission Com- pany and continued to operate the concern until his second removal to the west, which occurred during the year 1898. During the spring of 1899 he became assistant manager for George D. Kellogg, a frnit shipper of Newcastle, in Placer county, and for the ensuing four years he continued in that village. From there he came to Sacramento county and settled at Fair Oaks, where later he was one of the promot- ers and organizers of the Fair Oaks Fruit Company, one of the most successful concerns of its kind in the entire valley. Immediately after his arrival in the town he bought a lot and erected a comfortable mod- ern residence, which he since has made his home. In addition to other business identifications with the town he is a stockholder in the Fair Oaks Bank, the organization of which he helped promote through his intelligent and zealous endeavors.
Upon coming to California for the first time Mr. Hinsey was accompanied by his young bride. He had married at Ottumwa Sep- tember 29, 1888, Miss Carrie E. Logan, a cultured and popular woman of that city and the recipient of excellent advantages in its schools. Seven sons were born of their union, but the first-horn, Harold, died at the age of five years. The others are Charles M., George L., Wal- ter B., Donald M., Philip H. and Ralph R. In politics Mr. Hinsey has been a Republican, though locally supporting the candidates whom he regards as best qualified to serve the people regardless of politics. With his wife he holds membership in the Fair Oaks Methodist Epis- copal Church, which for many years he served as treasurer, besides being a member of the board of trustees. While living in Ottumwa he was made a master Mason. Perhaps no subject of general impor-
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tance interests him more than that of education. Favoring good schools, he has aided in securing them through a service of years as a member of the school board and his influence has accomplished much toward the advance locally of the standard of instruction and dis- cipline, both of which points are emphasized in the management of the Fair Oaks schools.
MRS. KATHERINE B. FISK
It is natural that earnest devotion to the welfare of California should characterize Mrs. Fisk, for she has been a resident of the state from her earliest recollections, and here she has led a useful, con- tented and prosperous existence, exhibiting in the management of her landed interests a capability and energy equalled by few. To her life has presented no opportunity for leisure, but has been a sphere for useful activities, and the oversight of her well-improved homestead and her varied business interests, as well as attending to her social duties and the rearing of her children, has left her little time for leisure. While she is the possessor of ample means, the supervision of the estate left by her husband at his death and the management of her broad interests fill her days with useful activities, although she still has time for the duties and obligations that fall to her as a mem- ber of the Tuesday club, besides which she takes an active part in other social functions of Sacramento.
Descended from an old and prominent Norse ancestry, Mrs. Fisk is the daughter of Ole O. and Tobina Lovdol, natives of Arndol, Nor- way, who immediately after their marriage immigrated to Missouri and located in St. Joseph, where Mr. Lovdol became a successful merchant tailor. In 1869 he removed with his family on one of the first through overland trains to California, and purchased a farm on Riverside road, later buying additional acres in Sacramento and Yolo counties. He made a specialty of hop growing and was one of the largest as well as a pioneer hop grower of California. He became the owner of over five hundred acres of land, all devoted to the growing of pears, alfalfa and hops. During 1896 he lost his wife, and in 1908 his own demise occurred at the age of eighty-four years. To his descendants he has bequeathed the heritage of an honorable life and tireless industry. Starting as a pioneer, he improved the grain land so that it yielded manifoldly. By his capable management he ac- cumulated a competency and rose to a position of prominence among the hop growers of the state. Of their seven children, only four are living. Of the sons, Thomas B., O. A., William E. and George B. are all deceased excepting O. A. The daughters, besides Mrs. Fisk, are
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Ovedia, Mrs. F. L. White, and Emma, Mrs. W. E. Beardslee. They both reside in Yolo county.
Mrs. Fisk is herself a native of St. Joseph, Mo., and was two years of age when the family moved to Sacramento. Here she was given the opportunity of attending the grammar and high schools of Sacra- mento, where she availed herself of the privilege of acquiring a prac- tical education. Mrs. Fisk owns two hundred and sixty acres of very valuable land at Lovdol Station in Yolo county. At her home place on Riverside road she owns fifteen acres which for years was devoted to the raising of hops, but more recently has been put under cultiva- tion to pears. From 1885, when she became the wife of Charles A. Fisk, a native of Toronto, Canada, she was his helpful assistant until his death in 1909, when she succeeded him in the management of the property, and in addition she maintains a wise oversight of the Yolo county tract, which is now in hops and alfalfa. Besides the manage- ment of her own interests she is one of the executors, with her two sisters, of the estate of her brother William E. Lovdol, these vast acres in Yolo and Sacramento counties being still intact and operated as an estate. Mrs. Fisk is a stockholder in the Sacramento Valley Trust Company and the Tuesday Club House Association, as well as the Ramie Fiber Company of Berkeley. Four children were born of her marriage, but of these one, Thomas E., died in early life. The daughter, Ethel, now Mrs. H. C. Whitman, resides with her on the ranch, and the oldest son, Charles A., assists her in the care of the place. Ernest is a student in the high school.
F. L. ATKINSON, M. D.
A native of Illinois, Dr. F. L. Atkinson was born in Galena, Jo Daviess county, June 28, 1860. He was educated in the public schools of Galena, the Platteville Normal and Valparaiso University, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan, and completed his medical course at Rush Medical College, Chicago. Graduating in February, 1885, with the degree of M. D., he came to San Francisco on May 1 of the same year, and after travel- ing over the coast and through the northwest, he located permanently in Sacramento. Here he has remained ever since, practicing his profession. On June 6, 1886, he was elected health officer by the City Board of Health, being the first physician chosen to that im- portant place within the history of the city. He afterwards became assistant county physician and dispensary physician. Dr. Atkin- son was elected a member of the Board of Education of Sacra- mento in 1897, and served in that position four years. During his service here he took an active interest both in a sanitary and edu-
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cational way in the city schools and their improvement. He was the first member of the Board of Education in Sacramento to raise his voice against the obnoxious fraternities of the high schools, and the fact that the matter went to the legislature and was enacted into a law restraining these improper and harmful institutions, proved the wisdom of the Doctor's judgment.
Dr. Atkinson believes in a thorough and a practical preparation for the duties of any trade, calling or profession. With this in view for his own training he has traveled widely over the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa, studying in the hospitals of New York, Chicago, London, Paris and Vienna. He is a member of the Amer- ical Medical Association, the State Medical Society of California, and the Sacramento Society for Medical Improvement, having been sec- retary and president of the last mentioned organization. He is sur- geon to the Northern Electric Railway Company for this city. Hav- ing been an owner of swamp and overflowed lands he naturally takes much interest in the reclamation of such tracts, and has devoted much time to the study of the Sacramento river, with reference to the reclamation of its overflowed shores as well as its navigability. He is at present trustee for Reclamation District 900, which comprises twelve thousand acres of swamp and overflowed land in Yolo county directly opposite Sacramento City. The territory is known as West Sacramento. It was virtually through Dr. Atkinson's efforts that $2,500,000 was brought to Sacramento to develop these lands. He believes in the great possibilities of Sacramento and the Sacramento valley and is a powerful "booster" for these localities. While his time is given to the practice of medicine and surgery he finds time to look after his city real estate and landed interests.
Dr. Atkinson was married in Sacramento in August, 1888, to Mrs. Florence E. Hodgdon, a native of Sacramento, the daughter of William P. Todhunter, one of the pioneers of Sacramento. Frater- nally Dr. Atkinson was made a Mason in Sacramento Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M., and is also a member of all the Scottish Rite bodies. He is also a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, Red Men and National Union. Politically he has always been a Republican and has taken a deep and active interest in the success of the party and in securing for the county a clean and progressive administration of public affairs.
JAMES FRASINETTI
Foremost among the qualities which are essential to permanent success are both optimism and perseverance, controlled by unswerving honor, and to the possessor of these attributes fortune denies nothing. 41
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Keen in business and industrious to a marked degree, James Fra- sinetti, sole proprietor of the Florin winery of Florin, Cal., today occupies a position for which he is fully equipped, and among his as- sociates is regarded as a man of influence and firmness of purpose. A son of beautiful Italy, which has produced many of our best known and most prosperous citizens, his birth occurred November 22, 1872, in Montemurro, in the province of Basilicata, which was also the birthplace of his father, Constandino. The latter was united in mar- riage with Carmella Galanti, of Montemurro, and of the six children born to them, all natives of Italy, five are living.
Settling in New York City, Constandino Frasinetti engaged in the manufacture of candy for eight years, after which he came to San Francisco, Cal., and continued in the business for the succeeding two years. In 1887 he took his family to Sacramento, where he followed his trade successfully until 1897, when he returned to New York City. He passed away November 14 of that year, being survived by his wife, who died in 1905.
Though but five years old when the family came to the United States, James Frasinetti bears vividly in memory the wonderful scenes through which he passed on his way to the new land, and in spite of the lure of his mother country has remained loyal to the home which has given him both contentment and prosperity. Until the age of fourteen he attended public school in New York City, taking ad- vantage of his educational opportunities with the foresight character- istie of his race, and, upon his graduation, willingly participated in the support of the family. In 1885 he accompanied his parents to California and assisted his father in the candy business, learning the confectioner's trade and becoming an expert in the art of candy making. In 1899 he established a winery in Florin, where he has since resided. The site of his present vineyard was a grain field when he located upon it, and he set out the vines and erected the buildings. Most of his products, which include a general line of fine wines and brandies, are shipped to New York City, and are in universal demand, owing to their superior quality.
On May 28, 1893, Mr. Frasinetti was united in marriage in New York City with Miss Rose Cassieri, who was reared and educated in Italy. Six children lend their contrasting personalities and ambitions to the interest of the family circle: Constandino, familiarly called "Christie," his father's chief assistant, was born in 1894; Angelo, born in 1902; Joseph, in 1904; Carmella, in 1906; Amelio, in 1908, and Thresa, in 1910. Mr. Frasinetti and family are known to be both gen- erons and thoughtful regarding those less fortunate than themselves, and deservedly rank among the leading citizens of the community.
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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY
RUSSELL WELLINGTON MILL
When representatives of the Mill family sought larger opportun- ities than those afforded by their native England they crossed the ocean to Canada. The rigors of a stern climate unfortunately gave little recompense for the larger agricultural and social liberties ac- corded by the newer country. Ultimately James M. and Sarah (Wat- ers) Mills gave up their friends and associations in Canada and came to California in the hope of finding equal opportunities combined with a more genial climate than their home land could boast. The pres- ence of relatives at Hollister induced them to settle at that point, and near there Mr. Mill for years engaged in ranching, while also finding an occasional opportunity to follow his trade of a carpenter. Eventu- ally a home was established at Pacific Grove about 1887 and in that city Mrs. Mill passed away in 1890, after which her husband joined his son at Sacramento and took up carpentering in this city.
At the old home near Hastings, Canada, Russell Wellington Mill was born December 2, 1869, and when but little past six years of age he left forever those scenes familiar to his earliest memories. During January of 1876 he arrived in California with his parents and after- ward attended school at Hollister, eventually completing his studies in the Pacific Grove schools. After he left school he began to learn the carpenter's trade at Pacific Grove and in 1890 he came to Sacra- mento, where later he was joined by his father. In this city he learned every detail connected with mill work during the thirteen years of his connection with the firm of Bassett & Minford. When their plant was destroyed by fire he secured employment with another firm. Meanwhile, June 28, 1900, he married Miss Edina Scott, daughter of Thomas and Nettie Scott and a lifelong resident of Sac- ramento, where for years Mr. Scott has carried on a retail plumbing establishment.
It was during 1904 that Mr. Mill embarked in business for him- self. His first purchase consisted of what was known as Campbell's mill on Fifth street, and there he built up a growing and profitable trade in his line. Evidence of his increasing prosperity appeared in his purchase of a tract on Third and V streets, where his plant now occupies almost a block of very valuable land. During 1910 he erected a modern and well-equipped mill, which when run at its full capacity furnishes employment to eighty hands. In the mill may be found every feature of modern plants of its kind. The equipment facilitates the prompt and satisfactory handling of lumber from which to manu- facture sash, doors and interior finishings for residences. Under the title of the Sacramento Planing Mill and Furniture Company the firm has been incorporated and has risen to a front rank in the line of its
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specialties. The success of the venture is due to the untiring energy and wise management of the proprietor, who gives his entire time to the supervision of the mill and allows no extraneous matters to de- tract his attention from the business. Politics has never entered into his life nor has he taken time for participation in fraternal activities, with the sole exception of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to which he has belonged for twenty years, and which has received his helpful generosities in many of its philanthropies.
GEORGE W. FICKS
With every passing year the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic grow thinner and the diminishing corps of the survivors walk with less of the military erectness characteristic of their younger days. Prominent among the veterans of the Union army now living in Sacramento we mention the name of George W. Ficks, who is af- fectionately and familiarly known by the title of colonel, although no epaulets adorned his uniform as he fought with desperate earnestness during the long and sanguinary encounters with the Army of the Potomac, nor did a grateful country reward his services with other than the honorable mention given to thousands of lads who, like him- self, left home and friends in order to volunteer in the defense of the Union. The war has long since become only a memory, but as long as gratitude exists in the hearts of patriots, so long will the names of the loyal defenders of the Union be cherished with peculiar tender- ness in the annals of our history.
Born in Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pa., November 7, 1846, and reared in Armstrong and Westmoreland counties, in the same state, Colonel Fieks lived the life of strennous activity usual to farmers' sons, and hence had but few educational opportunities. When scarcely eighteen years of age he enlisted, in September, 1864, as a private in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Ninth Army corps, Army of the Potomac. His most memorable engagement was the siege and capture of Petersburg, and he also had many thrilling experiences while serving on detached duty, finally participating in the Grand Review at Washington. After peace had been declared he was honorably discharged during the summer of 1865, and then returned to Pennsylvania, where he attended school at Leechburg during the ensuing winter. With the close of that term his schooling came to an end and he again took up the
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battle of life. Work in a lumber mill at Newcastle was secured; later he was employed in a livery stable; in fact, he eagerly grasped any chance to earn an honest livelihood.
Meanwhile many reports concerning prospects in California had reached the ears of the young ex-soldier, who finally determined to seek a livelihood in the west. February 9, 1868, he left Newcastle, Pa., for New York City, and there he boarded a ship bound for the Isthmus of Panama. From that point he sailed by steamer to San Francisco, and after a few days in the western metropolis he proceeded to Sac- ramento. Next he went to the timber regions of Butte county and worked in the lumber mills during the summer, thence going to Rock- lin, Placer county, where he was employed in a stone quarry during one winter. A later employment of five months as a brakeman on the Southern Pacific railroad was followed by a visit of about three months at his old Pennsylvania home, from which he returned to the employ of the railroad company, continuing thus engaged for eighteen months. Afterward he secured a clerkship in the dry goods store of E. Lyon & Co., Sacramento, and for thirteen years he remained in the same position, resigning in order to become a reporter with the Sacramento Record-Union under the management of W. H. Mills. For seven years he continued with the daily paper, and then served for four years as United States storekeeper in the Fourth district during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison. Subsequently he held a position under Mayor Steinman of Sacramento, which was followed by the lease of the Clunie opera house, which he managed for three seasons. For six years, or until New Year's of 1911, he held a position in the office of Hon. Charles F. Curry, secretary of state. At this writing he is the manager of the distributing agency for the "Tragedy of Andersonville," which was written and published by Gen. N. P. Chipman, presiding judge of the appellate court.
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