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 76
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have left the old homestead to take up the activities of life and to establish homes of their own. Of the eight children comprising the family all but one are still living, namely: Mrs. Rosa Grover, of San Francisco; Jessie, who married William Born of Sacramento and has three children; Lillian, who married Frank S. Schoenbackler, also of Sacramento, and has three children; Minnie, Mrs. Julius Haller, of Sacramento, who is the mother of two children; Emma, Mrs. Wolga- mott, who died in 1905, leaving two children, and Albert and Emil, both of Sacramento. Mrs. Kaufman now leases the ranch of three hundred and twenty acres purchased through her unremitting labors and keen judgment.
LOUIS D. EHRET
The family name borne by Mr. Ehret indicates Teutonic an- cestry, but he himself claims a lifelong identification with California, to whose welfare he is devoted with an enthusiasm and loyalty char- acteristic of his affectionate regard for the commonwealth of his nativity. The fortunate possession of the western qualities of pluck, energy and determination, grafted upon the foundation stock of thrift, economy and patience characteristic of the German race, has en- abled him to push his way forward in his chosen calling and has brought to him a high reputation therein. Indeed, as chief engineer of the Sacramento water works, he not only has made an enviable record among those directly connected with the plant itself, but he has risen to a position of distinct importance as one of the most capable engineers in the entire valley, where it is asserted by well- informed men that he has few superiors in the efficient discharge of occupational duties.
During the sojourn of his parents, Joseph and Panline Ehret, at one of the mining towns of Tuolumne county, Louis D. Ehret was born at Columbia, April 1, 1879, but his childhood memories cluster around the city of his present residence, for the family removed hither during the year 1881, and his education was secured in the excellent schools of the place, while his later acquisition of the trade of a machinist dates from an apprenticeship in the Southern Pacific rail- road shops in this city. His father, who was of German parentage and nativity, received the advantages offered by the excellent schools of the country and at the age of fourteen gave up his studies in order to begin an apprenticeship to the trade of cabinet-maker. At the expiration of his time he followed the trade as a journeyman in Ger- man villages, but soon becoming dissatisfied with prospects in his native land he determined to seek the opportunities of the new world.
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At the age of twenty-one years he crossed the ocean to New York City and there boarded a ship bound for San Francisco via the Horn. The port of his destination remained his headquarters for a brief period, but soon he became interested in mining and for some time worked in various camps with more or less success. After he estab- lished a home in Tuolumne county in 1877 he still retained his mining interests and engaged actively in the occupation in local mines. When he came to Sacramento in 1881 he entered into pursuits connected with his early life and engaged as a cabinet-maker in the shops of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in whose employ he re- mained until his demise, at the age of seventy-three years.
The Southern Pacific shops, with which his father was connected during the latter period of his life, furnished Louis D. Ehret with employment during the period of his apprenticeship to the trade of a machinist. On the completion of his time he began to follow the trade at Mare Island, where he continued in the employ of the government for three years, meanwhile doing considerable work as an engineer. Upon his return to Sacramento he secured a position in the Buffalo brewery as a machinist and engineer. The satisfactory nature of his services was indicated by his long retention in the employ of the company. When he resigned in April of 1910 it was to accept an appointment as chief engineer of the city water works under the administration of Mayor Beard. Since then he has devoted his time and attention to the duties of the office, which he fills with character- istic energy and capability. The demands of his various positions have been so numerous and important that he has enjoyed little leisure for participation in public affairs and his connection with politics extends no further than the casting of a Republican ballot at general elections. He was made a Mason in Tehama Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M., of which he is past master, is a member of Sacramento Chapter No. 3, R. A. M., and was exalted a Sir Knight in Sacra- mento Commandery No. 2, K. T. By his union with Miss Agnes Druck, which was solemnized October 12, 1904, in Sacramento, he is the father of a daughter and son, Gladys M. and Louis D., Jr.
WILLIAM E. GRANT
The proprietor of Hotel Clayton claims Sacramento as his birth- place as well as the chosen home of his maturity. While at times the interests of business have required his presence temporarily in other parts of the west, always he has considered Sacramento as his home and headquarters. In entering the hotel business he selected
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the capital city as the seat of his operations and chose the Hotel Clayton, a new and modern building with first-class accommodations, as his special center of activity. The management of the place proves the energy and sagacity of the proprietor, whose courtesy and Chesterfieldian polish supplement a keen business ability and indicate his adaptability for that difficult undertaking, the successful operation of a modern caravansary. The Clayton is a commodions building with one hundred rooms, equipped with modern conveniences and supplied with every requisite for the comfort of the guests, who after having been entertained here once are ready to return should business or pleasure bring them back to Sacramento.
In this city Mr. Grant was born September 9, 1866, being a son of George Robert and Mary Helen (Van Arden) Grant, natives of New York state. As early as 1862 the father became a pioneer of the Sacramento valley, and from that time until his death, which oc- curred June 19, 1889, he followed general farming, meanwhile ac- cumulating large tracts of unimproved land in Placer and Sutter counties. Since his death the wife and mother has resided in Sacra- mento and now makes her home with her son, William E. Of her other children all are living except George Robert, Jr., who died in 1894. The remaining members of the family are as follows: Mrs. Mildred Pierce, a widow; Sarah O., the widow of the late Robert Frazee, who for twenty years or more was connected with the Sac- ramento police force; Julia A., the widow of Leroy L. Crocker, a fruit-grower in Placer county, who at his demise left a large estate in that county as well as holdings elsewhere; Henrietta, wife of C. W. Earle, of Los Angeles; William E., and Ada, a resident of Berkeley, this state.
After he had completed the usual course of educational training Mr. Grant became a traveling salesman and in that capacity gained a broad knowledge of the west. For several years he was connected with the Wood-Curtis Company as manager of their Reno branch, and afterward he held the position of vice-president of the McMillan- Gordon Company for four years, resigning in order to devote his attention to the hotel business. Ever since attaining his majority he has voted the Republican ticket at all general elections. Fraternally he has been a local leader in Masonry and has risen to Islam Temple, N. M. S., of San Francisco. With his wife, who was Miss Matilda Andrews, and his danghter, Miss Viola M., a popular student in the high school, he has a host of warm personal friends among the people of Sacramento. In his devotion to Masonry he shows the zeal and intelligence which have brought into national prominence his uncle, Hon. II. B. Grant, of Louisville, Ky., widely known as the author of the Masonic Code, Templars' Tactics and other manuals used in the order; also known as the head of the command that won the com-
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petitive drills at both of the San Francisco conclaves, the remark- able tactical skill displayed by the command having been achieved through the earnest efforts of their commander.
JEREMIAH CARROLL
Many successive generations of the Carroll family lived and died in Ireland. Notwithstanding the intense struggle to earn from the soil the barest necessities of existence they exhibited a tenacious de- votion to their native land. The patriotism characteristic of the true Celt was in their blood. The cheerful humor of the race showed itself in the optimism which enabled them to rise above the darkest blows of fate. There came a time, however, when a young man de- termined to avail himself of the opportunity offered by America. Crossing the ocean to Massachusetts he there learned the trade of a stone-cutter. After a sojourn of some years in the old Bay state, where he married, he returned to Ireland in 1859 and followed farm- ing. A son was born in county Cork November 29, 1860, and to him was given the name of the father, Jeremiah. The infant was only one month old when the family came to America and settled in Massachusetts, where again the stone-cutter found employment at his chosen occupation. Another removal was made in the year 1866, at which time California was selected as the destination and Sacramento as the site of the future home. For a considerable period the father worked for others, but meanwhile he carefully hoarded his frugal savings and thus was enabled in 1878 to embark in business for him- self. For two years he had his place of business on Sixth street be- tween J and K. From there he removed to No. 808 K street, where he carried on business for eight years. During 1888 he moved to Tenth and S streets, where he had his headquarters for eight years. When finally the infirmities of age rendered further work unadvisable he retired to private life, but remained a resident of Sacramento until his death, which occurred in 1903. As a youth in the old country he had been a devoted Catholic and he gave steadfast allegiance to that church throughout the balance of his life.
The family of Jeremiah Carroll, Sr., and wife, the latter of whom died two years prior to the demise of her husband, comprised five children, of whom two daughters are now deceased and two daughters still survive, namely: Mary, who is the wife of D. J. Considine, of Sacramento, and Margaret. The only son in the family, Jeremiah, Jr., received his education in the grammar and high schools of Sacra- mento. When quite young he began to learn the trade of stone-cutting under Devine Bros., of Sacramento. After he had been with them for three years his father took up the same line of business and he
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entered his employ, remaining in the same position for eleven years. His next venture was the opening of a stone quarry in Placer county, C'al., and this he operated for a number of years. Upon returning to Sacramento he secured employment with the state as superintendent of stone work on the capitol park, and for eighteen months he en- gaged in the construction work on stairways. When the contract had been completed he returned to Placer county and resumed the operation of the quarry, also taking contracts for stone work. At the expiration of three busy years he left Placer county and went to Cascade Locks, on the Columbia river, where for two years he was retained as foreman for the Day Construction Company in the con- struction of the locks for the canal. With the completion of that responsible task in 1895 he returned to Sacramento and here he has since engaged in business for himself, first having his headquarters at No. 1902 Tenth street and after the death of his father removing to his present location, No. 2431 Tenth street, where he has one of the most modern marble-cutting plants in all of Northern California.
From early manhood Mr. Carroll has been interested in public affairs and active in politics as a member of the Democratic party. When only twenty-three years of age he was chosen as secretary of the Democratic central committee and since then he has frequently aided the local progress of his preferred political organization. Reared in the Roman Catholic faith, he always has been sincere in his allegiance to the church and generous in his offerings to its main- tenance. His wedding was the first solemnized in the Sacramento Cathedral after its completion and he and his family have been especially interested in that church, not only for this reason, but also because of their large circle of friends in the congregation and their earnest devotion to its missionary and charitable enterprises. The marriage to which reference has been made occurred August 18, 1889, the bride being Miss Catherine O'Keefe, of Prairie City, Sacramento county, daughter of Michael and Mary O'Keefe, natives of Ireland. His wife died in 1893, leaving three children, and he suffered a further deep bereavement in the loss of one of their daughters, Mary, who died at the age of three years. The surviving daughter, Catherine, is employed in one of the large department stores of Sacramento, and the son, Charles, is an employe of Baker & Hamilton, a wholesale firm of this city.
AMOS LUTHER BOWSHER
The courage that had aided him in early life to face without dismay or tremor the dense ranks of gallant southern soldiers on more than sixty battlefields enabled him in more mature years to fill
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the difficult position of engineer and to meet its dangers, seen and unseen, with trained intelligence and quick decision. But in all the vicissitudes of his adventurous career perhaps at no time was he in greater danger of instant death than on the occasion of his trip, November 1, 1903, as engineer on the first section of train No. 16, known as the Oregon express. At the Tehama bridge on the Sacra- mento river there was a high trestle approach, the view of which was cut off by reason of dense timber, so that until a sharp curve was made close to the trestle it was completely hidden from view. Early in the morning of the ill-fated day the train was making its usual run at the customary speed, and the trestle was shown to be on fire as it came into the vision of the startled engineer. With the quick- ness of a trained mind he made an emergency application of the brakes, reversed his engine and sanded the rail. The engine left the rail at the burning portion of the trestle and safely crossed and stood upright just beyond, carrying the engineer to life and safety. The tender and two cars went down, and the fireman, caught under the tender, was killed. The cars caught fire from the burning trestle. The pitch gas tanks exploded, thus adding to the fierceness of the conflagration. Three of the cars, a mail, baggage car and empty coach, were burned before the second section could pull the rear por- tion, consisting of sleepers, back to a place of safety. The wreck and scene presented to all who viewed it the most convincing evi- dence that had anything but an unusually good stop been made a larger portion of the train, if not all of it, would have shared the fate of the three head cars and many of the sleeping passengers would have shared the fate of the unfortunate fireman.
This veteran of the Civil war and skilled engineer, who now in his retirement from active labors receives a pension from the United States government and from the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, was born at Adelphi, Ross county, Ohio, February 4, 1841, and re- ceived a common school education. Immediately after the opening of the Civil war he enlisted at Columbus, Ohio, with the First United States cavalry, and served during the entire period of the struggle, meanwhile taking a brave part in more than sixty battles. When peace had been declared he was honorably discharged, and on the 10th of September, 1865, he was mustered out of the service. At once he came via Panama to California and established his headquarters in Sacramento. From that time until 1883 he was engaged in telegraph construction work for the Central Pacific Railroad Company, being foreman of a gang for much of the time and superintending the construction of lines all along the coast. During 1883 he became a fireman, and in 1884 was promoted to be engineer, which position he held on the Southern Pacific railroad until March of 1911. when he was honorably retired on account of advancing years. For many years he has been associated with the Locomotive Engineers, and his
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interest in the order did not cease with his retirement from active work. Fraternally he holds membership with the Concord Lodge, F. & A. M., in Sacramento. During 1872 he married Miss Della Cas- sidy, and of their union four children were born. The sons, Joseph and Robert, are engineers with the Southern Pacific company, the former being on the Coast division. The older daughter, Mary, is the wife of Charles Johnson, and lives in Sacramento. The youngest member of the family circle, Laura, resides with her parents at No. 1615 Seventh street, Sacramento, and shares with them the good will and esteem of associates.
FRED J. BISHOP
An identification with the horticultural interests of Sacramento county beginning during the spring of 1901 and continuing up to the present time has given Mr. Bishop a very favorable impression con- cerning the possibilities of this section and particularly concerning the opportunities afforded by the district of Fair Oaks. There are few places in the settlement more favorably located and none more productive than the one which he owns and operates. This is due not particularly to superiority of soil, although that is rich and fer- tile, but especially to the care and cultivation exercised by the owner, who follows scientific methods in the supervision of the land, the care of the trees and the developing of the fruit. A desire to possess on the ranch a residence worthy of the land and indicative of its value caused him to erect a two-story house with all the modern improvements, and this building, recently completed and tastefully furnished, now ranks among the finest in the neighborhood.
The entire life of Mr. Bishop prior to his removal to California was spent in Kane county, Ill., where he was born December 15, 1858, where he grew to manhood on a farm and where he received such ad- vantages as country schools afforded. After he had attained maturity he chose agriculture for his occupation and became interested in the cultivation of land not far from the old homestead. For a consider- able period he engaged in the raising of grain and stock and also made a specialty of the dairy business. Meanwhile he had estab- lished domestic ties, selecting for his wife Miss Annie Forrdrescher, who was born in Elgin, Ill., of German parentage, and who possesses the sterling qualities of mind and heart that contributed not a little to their success. They became the parents of five children, namely : Henry, Frank, Fred, Charlotte and Dorothy. All are at home ex-
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cepting Frank, who is married and rents a place not far from the ranch of his parents.
A desire to escape the rigorous winters characteristic of Northern Illinois led Mr. Bishop to dispose of his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Kane county and forthwith he brought his family to California. The presence of his brother, Percy, at Fair Oaks led him to investigate conditions at this settlement, and he was so favorably impressed that he acquired property during the spring of 1901. This first purchase, which continues to be his home and the scene of his extensive horticultural enterprises, comprises forty-one acres under cultivation to peaches, almonds, oranges and olives. Much of the acreage is now in thrifty bearing condition and the young trees will soon reach an age where they will add materially to the annual in- come from the place. The crops are marketed through the Fair Oaks Fruit Company, in which Mr. Bishop is a stockholder and which he has assisted in making one of the most important business enter- prises of the district.
Far-reaching activities and beneficent influences have character- ized the life of Mr. Bishop, whose loyal devotion to his adopted com- munity and commonwealth forms one of his leading attributes. Al- though never losing an affectionate regard for the home of his birth and the scenes of his early labors, he is a true Californian in spirit, and by developing his own place he has aided in the upbuilding of the district, which he has seen undergo a great change in appearance through the efforts of energetic land-owners. The prospects of the successful cultivation of fruit ranches convince him of the perman- ence of the prosperity of the region and this, supplementing a genial climate, proves to him that he made no mistake in the choice of his location. All movements for the general welfare receive his co- operation and support and the same may be said of his citizenship in Illinois, where he served with efficiency as a road commissioner in Kane county, besides being president of the school board of his dis- triet and afterward for nine years the clerk of the district schools.
WILLIAM AUGUST MEYER
The fact that Mr. Meyer scarcely yet has reached the prime of life is not inconsistent with the statement that he has devoted twenty years of painstaking study to the profession of an optician. When only fourteen, in the year 1892, he was apprenticed to a prominent member of the craft in San Francisco, and under that skilled optician. L. A. Berteling, he studied with a persistence and intelligence that inevitably brought satisfactory results. Every detail of the business
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was learned with a sincerity and earnestness indicative of high aspira- tions. As is the case in every trade or profession where attention to details is made the creed, so with him in his intelligent and pur- poseful studies of the science of optics. While it is a very difficult task to acquire a thorough knowledge of the business (for no work entails greater responsibilities than that of examining eyes and fitting glasses), many competent judges have asserted that he is unsur- passed in his specialty and all agree that his judgment is authorita- tive in questions relating to his chosen calling.
The distinction of being a native-born Californian belongs to Mr. Meyer, whose birth occurred in the city of San Francisco March 18. 1878, and who is a son of John N. and Sophie M. Meyer. When he had completed the studies of the grammar school he began to study under Mr. Berteling in the vacation seasons, but in addition he took up high school studies and at the age of eighteen was graduated with a high standing from the San Francisco schools. After he had ac quired a thorough knowledge of optics he began to earn his liveli- hood through the pursuance of the specialty, and in 1899 he came to Sacramento to act as manager for the Chinn-Berretta Optical Com- pany, in whose employ he remained for five years. A desire to em- bark in business for himself led him to relinquish a position both congenial and profitable. Since then he has carried on a store at No. 903 K street, Sacramento, besides which, May 18, 1911, he opened an establishment in Stockton, both of these being popular and well patronized by people of the two communities.
The marriage of Mr. Meyer and Miss Ruby H. Brown was solemnized in Sacramento December 3, 1901, and has been blessed with two children, a daughter, Margaret, and a son, William August, Jr. The family hold membership with the Episcopal church and maintain a deep interest in religious movements, as well as in all enterprises for the upbuilding of the city and the welfare of its peo- ple. The Republican party has received the allegiance of Mr. Meyer in national and local elections. The Native Sons of the Golden West have numbered him among their members in their Sacramento parlor. and in addition he has enjoyed fraternal relations with the Elks, in which he officiates as past exalted ruler of the Sacramento Lodge No. 6. He is a member of the Sutter club and is past president of the California State Association of Opticians.
HUGH MAULDIN
An inheritance of the chivalrous traits characteristic of a long line of southern ancestors has given to Mr. Mauldin a personality reflecting the qualities of his gallant forefathers, while his almost
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lifelong association with the west has endowed him with the physical and mental attributes inbreathed with the air and sunshine of the Pacific coast. Supplementing other qualifications are the sagacious business judgment, the keen commercial sense and the quick compre- hension of detail that presage success in any avenue of labor; and to the possession of these traits may be attributed much of his rise in the jewelry business in San Francisco, while the same qualities have assisted him in the profitable management of his personal holdings since his return to Sacramento, where now he devotes his entire at- tention to the oversight of his property interests.
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