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 83
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George wandered from the east into Utah, New Mexico and the adjacent territories, and reports of his death finally reached the coast. A brother in the east administered on his estate, and all trace of George was lost for years. Finally Captain Brown, of the ram Stonewall, was going through the Straits of Magellan, on his way to Japan, when some Patagonian chiefs came on board. Among them was a "hirsute, squalid, weather-tanned and very tattooed man," who proved to be none other than "Colonel George McDougal," who had journeyed through Central America and various countries of South America, and was now prospecting at a solitary station in the Straits, called Sandy Point, having become the chief of an Indian tribe.
MeDougal was a giant in size and had always been so stately and handsome that he had been called "Lord George McDougal." Cap- tain Brown said that after he had been shaved, cleaned up and dressed in good clothes, MeDougal was the handsomest and most dis-
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tinguished man he had ever seen. McDougal sobbed and cried when told of his family, but refused to remain on board or go with the ship, . as he had a valuable mine which he was developing with the aid of the Indians. He promised, however, that he would proceed further north as soon as possible and would go home, and when Captain Brown afterwards met him in Valparaiso, he succeeded in sending him home.
HIRAM W. JOHNSON
Hiram W. Johnson, present governor of California, was born in Sacramento September 2, 1866, the son of Grove L. Johnson and his wife, nee Miss Anne de Monfridy. He was educated in the public schools of this city, and graduated from the high school at the age of seventeen. He studied law in the office of his father during the following year, and at the age of eighteen entered the University of California in the class of '88. He soon became recognized as a leader from his aggressive disposition and it is stated that the students used to say that "a freshman is boss of the whole university." He was pitcher of the college nine in his day and his son, Hiram, Jr., became its catcher. Reared in a political atmosphere, it is not surprising that he mixed in the interclass politics of the university and attained a commanding position. He was elected editor of the "Blue and Gold" in his junior year, but did not enter upon the duties of the office. Cupid had marked him for his own, and in his twentieth year he left the university to marry Miss MeNeal, daughter of Archibald MeNeal, a Sacramento pioneer. By her he has two sons, Hiram W. Johnson, Jr., and Archibald McNeal Johnson.
After his marriage Mr. Johnson entered his father's law office, and with his elder brother, Albert M. Johnson, entered into partner- ship with his father. The partnership did not endure long, however, on account of political differences, and the brothers set up a separate office. He plunged into politics as a practical reformer, and became a frequent delegate to city, county and state conventions of the Re- publican party, twice splitting the Sacramento delegation on the issue of railroad domination. He and his brother made and won a sen- sational campaign against heavy odds and won the election of George H. Clark for mayor of the city. He moved to San Francisco in 1902, with his brother, and they opened a law office. Albert died abont a year later, and Hiram continued to practice alone. He was engaged in the "graft prosecutions" for a time, but withdrew from the prose- ention to make Langdon's campaign for district attorney. When
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Heney was shot, however, he took up Heney's work, and was suc- cessful in convicting Abe Ruef.
In 1910 Mr. Johnson was nominated as the progressive Repub- lican for governor, and won by a handsome plurality. In 1912 he was nominated at the convention of the Progressive party to run on the ticket for vice-president with Theodore Roosevelt, but was defeated, winning, however, eleven of the thirteen electors for California. His aggressive nature is still prominent and through his influence a num- ber of radical reforms in state affairs have been inaugurated.
MARTIN HALLORAN
The honor of forty-two years of continuous identification with the Southern Pacific yards at Sacramento belongs to Mr. Halloran, who entered the employ of the company July 9, 1869, and continued with intervening promotions until February 1, 1911, when he was placed upon the pension list of the organization he had served so long and so well. From a very humble, unimportant job at a switch he was promoted through various positions to be general yardmaster, and as such he served for thirty-three years, meanwhile making an ab- solutely clean record for efficiency, trustworthiness and successful yard supervision. Among railroad men he has enjoyed a wide ac- quaintance, particularly among the officials at the California terminals of the road. An expression of the esteem in which they held him appeared in a letter sent him by H. W. Sheridan, superintendent of the Sacramento division. Under date of February 3, 1911, the note assured him of the general recognition of his faithful service and the continned good-will of the company which had so long received the benefit of his industrious application.
The life record of Mr. Halloran indicates what it is within the power of unaided efforts to accomplish, for he had no means and lit- tle education to assist him in securing a start in the world. The family was hampered by poverty and the early life of the young Irish lad was filled with hardships, not the least of these being a long sep- aration from his parents. In county Kerry, Ireland, against whose broken coast line dash the mighty waves of the Atlantic ocean, Mar- tin Halloran was born November 12, 1844, and there he passed the years of childhood. Early in 1851 his father and mother came to the United States, accompanied by three sons, these being the eldest of their six children. The three youngest sons were left with their grand- parents in Ireland, while the parents settled in Toledo, Ohio, and en- deavored to secure a livelihood for themselves and the children with them. At first they encountered many difficulties and suffered many
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privations, but from poorly-paid day labor the father rose by suc- cessive steps until he was chosen city assessor of Toledo.
At last it became possible to send for the youngest children and thus re-unite the family. Friends emigrating from Ireland brought the lads with them. Martin, the eldest of the three, was almost fifteen at the time. The father went from Toledo to New York City to meet the ship, but found the passengers had debarked and it was necessary to go to Fourth avenue and Forty-second street. Being a stranger, he had some difficulty in finding the place. While searching for the house he met a German who was in business in the neighbor- hood. An inquiry brought out the fact that the German had seen the boys, and when told by the father that they had been separated for almost nine years he followed, anxious to witness the meeting. After the lads had been found and the first joy of the reunion was over, the father started with them for Toledo, where all the neighbors gathered to join with the family in a celebration honoring the event.
Immediately after his arrival in Toledo a search for employment was made by Martin Halloran, and he secured work in a nursery. After a year he began in a railroad freight house at the age of sixteen. Later he was promoted to be a brakeman on the Wabash between Fort Wayne, Ind., and Toledo. From Ohio he went to Chicago and secured work as a brakeman on the Chicago & Alton railroad, being first on the run from Bloomington to Chicago, and later from Bloom- ington to Alton, Ill. From the freight service he was promoted to a passenger route. At the time of the second inauguration of Presi- dent Lincoln he carried many delegates on his train and tlms became familiar with the faces of many of the leading statesmen of that period. Returning to Toledo at the close of the war, he resumed work as a switelnnan on the old Cleveland & Toledo railroad. At the expiration of four and one-half years he resigned his position, went to New York City. took passage for the Isthmus June 1, 1869, crossed at Aspinwall, then sailed up the Pacific, and on the 25th of June landed at San Francisco. For a few days he worked in a harvest ยท field. On the 2d of July he came to Sacramento and made applica- tion for a switchman's job. Through the influence of Mr. McCray he was given a position July 9, and had the distinction of being the third man to move cars in the Sacramento yards. There were then only three men employed, but at the time of his retirement one hun- dred and twenty flagmen and switchmen were given steady work.
Investing some of his earnings in property, Mr. Halloran still owns six lots and houses in Sacramento, and he recently sold a ranch of two hundred and forty-three acres eight miles from this city. The land was sold at a considerable increase over the purchase price, and represented an excellent investment for him. With his wife and daughter, Miss Lizzie L., he resides at No. 1218 D street, where he
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owns a comfortable home. Prior to her marriage in 1872 Mrs. Hal- loran was Miss Mary O'Connor and lived in San Francisco. She had come to California via Panama, landing in San Francisco May 12, 1868. The family are devoted members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Halloran has been actively connected with the Knights of Columbus. In addition he is a charter member of the Foresters in Sacramento. Upon attaining his majority he adopted the prin- ciples of the Democratic party. While still adhering to that organ- ization in national elections, he does not follow party lines in local affairs, but votes for the men whom he considers best qualified to promote the welfare of the people and the upbuilding of the city.
THOMAS BERTRAM HALL
Those who are familiar with Captain Hall's association with the commercial advancement of Sacramento, those who had watched with keen interest his rapid rise from an humble position in an important wholesale house to the executive management of its entire field of enterprise, and those who recognized his keen, silent, unobtrusive but powerful contribution to civic prosperity, all united in bearing testi- mony to his ability, intelligence and patriotism. From the year 1869, the date of his permanent settlement in Sacramento, until his demise, which occurred in July, 1910, he was a contributor to movements for civic development, and by his high ideals of citizenship, acute powers of discrimination, recognized leadership and unceasing activity in the promulgation of progressive projects he won and retained the con- fidence of the people, particularly of that honored class of early set- tlers who were contemporaries of him and his colleagues in the sub- stantial and permanent upbuilding of the city.
Born in Illinois Jannary 4, 1853, Captain Hall entertained no recollections of the place of his birth, for he was only a few months old when his father, Richard Hall, brought the family to California and settled in Sacramento. Richard Hall was for some time em- ployed as a workman in the building of the Folsom & Placerville railroad, the first in the entire state. Receiving no pay for his long and difficult work, he became indignant and determined to return to Illinois. Accompanied by his family he went to San Francisco and boarded the steamer Yankee Blade, on which he sailed down the Pacific ocean. When off the coast from Santa Barbara the ship was wrecked and the entire family had a narrow escape from death. For- tunately, however, they were rescued and brought to shore, and they
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then returned to Sacramento. Shortly afterward he bought a farm in Sacramento county, but in 1856 he removed to Solano county and took up a tract of raw farm land, giving his attention for years to the transformation of the property into a productive ranch.
After having completed the studies in the schools at Silveyville, Solano county, and later having taken a course of study in Heald's Business college of San Francisco, Thomas Bertram Hall returned to Sacramento in 1869 to establish himself in business. He was then sixteen years of age and his first work was as porter in the wholesale grocery of Milliken Brothers. His rise was almost spectacular. Within seven years the original members of the firm had retired and he himself had become the principal man in the business. The firm of Hall, Luhrs & Co., which began its existence with Mr. Hall as president, and continued without change in name or ownership up to the time of his death, has held a rank for years as one of the most successful wholesale grocery establishments in the entire state. In 1885 Mr. Hall joined Company E of the California National Guard, and soon he was elected captain of Company G, serving as such for ten years, when he resigned in order that others might enjoy the honor which he had himself highly appreciated. It is indicative of his character that he declined the commission with such generous forethought.
While he made it his practice to decline official positions, Captain Hall had served the state in an official capacity. Twice he was urged to become a candidate for mayor, one such occasion being in 1907, when Clinton L. White finally became the Republican nominee and won the race. At that time Captain Hall was a member of the city Republican central committee. He was credited with being the chief supporter of Benjamin F. Catlett for city trustee from the Sixth ward, after an exciting campaign against R. E. Callahan, then presi- dent of the city board. On various occasions Mr. Hall served as dele- gate to state and other conventions of the Republican party. Under Governor J. H. Budd he served as a member of the board of auditors to the state commissioner of public works, remaining on that board until Governor H. T. Gage superseded it with a new organization. Later Mr. Hall refused a similar position tenderd him by Governor Gillett, but later on accepted the position under Governor Pardee, on his earnest solicitation. For years he was a member of the Sacra- mento Chamber of Commerce. As a member of its citizens' com- mittee he assisted in securing the Western Pacific railroad shops for Sacramento. He acted as one of the freeholders and assisted in the framing of the city charter. Scores of movements for the general welfare, particularly the campaign to secure pure water for the city, received his capable assistance. From the inception of the Orange- vale Company he officiated as its president, drew the plans and was
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a prime mover in launching the gigantic work of subdivision, which is now transforming the Sacramento valley from a vast grain-field into many small farms. The opening of the Orangevale tract was a pioneer step in the important enterprise tending toward diversified farming, which rapidly is populating the heart of California. He was very active in the State Agricultural Society and was requested to accept a place as director, but he declined the honor, giving them, however, every assistance in his power. He owned a large farm at Marysville, devoted to dairying, and was a breeder of Holstein cattle.
In Sacramento, March 25, 1876, occurred the marriage of Thomas Bertram Hall and Selina Agnes Govan, the latter born in Phila- delphia, Pa. They became the parents of three children. The oldest daughter, Edna Bernice, died at the age of five years. The son, Ward E. Hall, is cashier of Hall, Luhrs & Co. The youngest daugh- ter, Ethel Blanche, Mrs. Warren S. Reed, resides with her mother. Mr. Hall also is survived by two sisters, namely: Mrs. Edward Le- moine, of Melrose, and Mrs. Daniel Goe, of Hyampom, Trinity county. The family residence is an attractive place at No. 1031 O street, ac- quired by Captain Hall during the early years of his successful busi- nees career and occupied by him and his wife thereafter. On July 2, 1910, he died suddenly from heart failure, when apparently he had been enjoying a very satisfactory convalescence after an operation and a long illness. Interment was made in the city cemetery under the auspices of Washington Lodge, F. & A. M., and Sacramento Commandery No. 2, K. T., in which he had officiated as eminent commander. He was also a member of Islam Temple, N. M. S., of San Francisco. While his life had contained little of the spectacular, it was nevertheless noteworthy, and his death was a distinct loss to the citizenship of Sacramento. As a member of that patriotic, loyal band of men who in the early days began the building of the city with a view to solidarity, he is entitled to an honored place in local annals and to the grateful remembrance of the generations that shall enjoy the fruits of his labors.
VINCENT CALLIGORI
The brief history of this enterprising citizen of Sacramento is one that, could it be given in full, would well illustrate the value of close application to business if one would, without capital, achieve a noteworthy business success. Mr. Calligori was born at Jackson, Amador county, Cal., July 25, 1878, a son of Peter and Annie Calli- gori, and was sent to the public schools near home until he was
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eighteen years old. Laying aside the school books which had for years been his beloved daily companions, the youth now came to Sac- ramento to seek success and fortune among strangers. He found employment with the Capital Paste Company and was soon advanced till he was acceptably filling the position of paste-maker. Thus em- ployed until 1901, he then became half owner of the business, and has been since then the general manager. This rise in the business world was achieved only with hard and persistent labor and a careful and tireless study of the enterprise and all the conditions under which it was being pushed further and still further to the front with each passing year. At this time it takes rank with the leading factories of its kind on the coast, manufacturing for the trade more than twenty kinds of macaroni and paste products, which are in increasing de- mand among discriminating consumers. Mr. Calligori is also a partner in and manager of the Capital Feed Company, dealers in hay, grain, flour and mill feed, doing a wholesale and retail business.
A Republican, faithful to the traditions and aims of his party, Mr. Calligori is deeply interested in Sacramento and its general prosperity and progress, and as opportunity offers he invariably aids to the extent of his ability such measures as promise to result in good to his fellow citizens. He is a member of Excelsior Parlor No. 31, N. S. G. W., proud of the California nativity that made him eligible to membership and helpful to all of the interests of the order.
THOMAS JOHN COYLE
The records of Coyle genealogy indicate the identification of the family with Ireland back to a period where authentic history becomes merged into tradition. When the new world began to attract many of their race to its unknown possibilities they followed the tide of emigration across the ocean and one branch became established near the rock-bound shores of New Brunswick. In that province, near the city of St. John's, Thomas John Coyle was born in 1856, and from there he came to California at the age of nine years, accompanying his parents, an industrious and honorable Irish couple, who long since have passed away. Owing to the scarcity of schools in that period and the poverty of the family it was not possible for him to enjoy the abundant educational advantages given to the young people of the present century, but in spite of his deprivations in that respect he became the possessor of broad information acquired through reading and observation. In the great school of experience he proved an apt
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pupil, and as a result he gained a breadth of knowledge not always acquired through collegiate instruction. His early years gave him much of adventure and privation. The laborious tasks incident to a freighting business earned him a livelihood for some years and he also drove a stage through mining districts not then reached by any railroad. As the years passed he witnessed the slow but steady de- velopment of the state; he saw the first railroads built through some of the mining regions, and he witnessed the upbuilding of large cities and the transformation of broad prairies into profitable ranches. Upon eventually retiring from business cares he came to Sacra- mento, purchased property, established his home and here, in 1905, five years later, occurred his death. In his passing from earth he left many hearts to mourn him and to reflect with pleasure upon his upright character. His benevolent disposition and kind heart are remembered by those to whom by example he indicated an existence of loyal citizenship.
In 1886 Mr. Coyle married Elizabeth Krenkel, a native of Sonora, Cal. Her father, Bernard F. Krenkel, was born in Germany, and died in California, where her mother now lives, the latter being rugged notwithstanding her eighty-nine busy and active years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Coyle comprised eleven children, and eight of these are still living, namely: Thomas J., Jr., Nellie E., Francis J., Morris E., Joseph C., Charles G., Albert B. and Dorothea R., all of whom have the honor of claiming California as their native com- monwealth. Since the death of Mr. Coyle the family have continued to reside in Sacramento. Having spent her entire life in the state, Mrs. Coyle is familiar with its history and peculiarly solicitous con- cerning its advancement, for she possesses the true and loyal spirit noticeable in every native daughter, and she has reared her family to share her enthusiastic faith in the commonwealth.
ALFRED DALTON, JR.
The varying experiences that enter into every well-rounded career have fallen to the lot of Mr. Dalton since the time when, an energetic lad of thirteen, he departed from the shelter of the home- roof and took up for himself the struggle necessary to the earning of a livelihood. The loss of educational advantages and the lack of parental encouragement were partially recompensed by the increased self-reliance resultant from the personal encounter with the world of 47
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affairs. His privilege it has been to travel extensively through the west, to see much of this portion of the world and thus to gain the information that makes of him a broad-minded citizen ever striving to promote the welfare of his native commonwealth.
The village of Benicia in Solano county is Mr. Dalton's native place, and October 21, 1858, the date of his birth. His father, Alfred Dalton, Sr., is a pioneer of 1850 in California and a very early settler of Benicia, where for over forty years he has officiated as a member of the school board and was largely instrumental in the building of the high school. When only thirteen years of age Alfred, Jr., began to learn the printer's trade in the composing room of the Benicia Tribune under the then proprietors, Messrs. Linthicum and Hopkins. When the paper was moved to Dixon, Solano county, he went there also, but a year later left and removed to San Francisco, where he found work in the job office of B. F. Sterritt & Co., the oldest job office in the city. Later he finished the printer's trade in the employ of the Chronicle at San Francisco.
During the excitement at the Caribou mines in British Columbia about 1878 Mr. Dalton went to that country and spent some time pros- pecting and mining, but did not meet with any good fortune. Upon his return to Benicia he secured employment with the New Era. Two years later he bought out the paper and for twelve years he con- tinned to publish a weekly sheet at that place. Afterward he re- moved to Martinez, Contra Costa county, where he purchased and for five years published the News. About that time the country began to be excited by reports from the Klondike gold fields and he became anxious to try his luck in Alaska, so he sold out his interests and left California. While on the steamer en route to the north some of the passengers fell ill with the smallpox and all on the ship were quar- antined for two weeks. Eventually they were put ashore at Egg island, a barren rise of land off the coast of Alaska. After hard- ships innumerable Mr. Dalton reached Nome, but owing to the law- less conditions which prevailed he made little headway financially during the year of his sojourn at Nome. On his return to California he remained for a short time at Benicia, after which he entered the state printing office at Sacramento. The study of law, which he had taken up while still in the newspaper business, took his attention for some years, and August 28, 1905, he was admitted to practice at the bar of the state. Since his admission to practice he has been un- usually successful. As a speaker he is fluent, logical and forceful.
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