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, 1923, Part 100

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026

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, 1923 > Part 100

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On September 18, 1891, at Sacramento, Cal., Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Caroline Olson, who was also born in Wermland, Sweden, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Olson) Olson, both of whom have passed away at their home in Sweden at the ages of sixty-two and sixty years, respectively. They were the parents of five children: Caroline is Mrs. Ander- son; Eric John; Mary is Mrs. Jack Long; Christina is Mrs. Becker of Sacramento; and Hilda is Mrs. Albert Johnson of Sacramento. Mrs. Anderson came to America alone in 1882, joining her brother who lived at Sacramento, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of three children: Edna Margaret, Lester Edmund and Frank Elmer. The family have many friends in the neighborhood where they have perse- vered and prospered.

664

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

FRANCIS M. JANES .- An enterprising and suc- cessful rancher, whose neat farm of forty acres has become one of the show-places round about Galt, is Francis M. Janes, who lives about two and one-half miles cast of that town. He is a native of Missouri, and was born in Andrew County, on June 3, 1863, and his father was Thomas Jefferson Janes, a native of Wisconsin. Grandfather H. F. Janes built the first house in Janesville, Wis., and also that town, whose name is now so historically famous, was named in his honor. He later removed to Andrew County, Missouri, and there his son, Thomas Jefferson, the father of our subject, was married to Miss Ellen Flesher. In 1852, Grandfather Janes and his family came across the great plains to California in a prairie schooner, and settled at Camp Curtis, in Humboldt County; this was a government camp, where soldiers were stationed to protect the immigrants from the na- tives. Grandfather Janes acquired 400 acres of land, and spent on it the balance of his days. Thomas Jef- ferson Janes returned to Andrew County, and there Francis M. Janes first saw the light.

In 1871, Thomas Jefferson Janes and family re- turned again to Humboldt County, where he then had a farm of eighty acres, upon which he lived the bal- ance of his days, dying at the age of seventy-six. Mrs. Janes, who was a native of Illinois, passed away in her eighty-fourth year. The worthy parents had five chil- dren, Mary, the eldest, now being Mrs. Bradford, of Humboldt County. Thomas Jefferson is at Santa Margarita: Francis M. is the subject of our story; Ella is Mrs. Brotchie, of San Diego; while Joseph Theodore is deceased.

Francis M. Janes attended the Janes district school, a district named after the family, and when still very young, he went into Del Norte County, and worked for two years in the Hobbs & Wall box factory. Then he returned home, and worked around there for an- other two years. After that he rented his father's farm, and managed that for seven years, raising grain and running a dairy; and then, with a partner, he con- ducted a shingle mill at Ryan's Slough in Humboldt County, for two years. He next worked in a saw- mill at Scotia, Cal., for eight months, and then went to work in a store at Alliance, Cal., and continued there for three years.

Mr. Janes now bought a half-interest in the Alliance business, and was a partner with R. A. Green for ten years; but selling out, he removed to Oakland, where he had a grocery store on 38th Avenue, for two years. Following that experience, he purchased his present location, about two and one-half miles east of Galt, acquiring forty acres in 1912, known as the Lem Kane ranch. He moved to this ranch with his family, and here he has resided since. He owns a lot at Berkeley, and he has eighty acres at Fremont, in Fremont County, Idaho, and Mrs. Janes has a quarter-section willed her by her father. These 240 acres in Idaho are under cultivation, and are devoted to general farm- ing. The home-ranch of forty acres cast of Galt is largely devoted to a vineyard, thirty-two acres being set out to vines, while eight acres are in pasture.

On June 29, 1887, Mr. Janes was married at Eureka, Cal., to Miss Elizabeth Otilda Ernestina Giesler, a na- tive of Elizabeth, N. J., and the daughter of William and Mary (Holtz) Giesler, both natives of Germany, the former a native of Baden, the latter of Hamburg. Her father was a potter by trade, and the last years of his life he was a farmer in Idaho. In 1873, he came

out to California, and settled first in Mendocino County, and from there removed to Humboldt County, and later to Fremont, Idaho, and after a while he re- tired and passed away, at the home of our subject and his wife in Humboldt County, breathing his last in his sixty-ninth year. Mrs. Janes' mother was fifty-one years old, when she died at San Francisco. Three children made up the Giesler family: Elizabeth, Mrs. Janes; Charles, who is deceased; and Bertha, Mrs. Nelson, of Walnut Creek. Mr. Janes is a Republican, and he was a school trustee for a year in Humboldt County. He belongs to the Ancient Order of For- esters. He is a stockholder and a director in the Bank of Galt and he belongs to the Grape Growers' Asso- ciation, and Poultry Producers' Association of Central California.

LEONARD B. LANDSBOROUGH .- An energet- ic, progressive and experienced manager of an im- portant commercial concern of constantly increasing significance to horticultural interests in Sacramento County, is Leonard B. Landsborough, popularly called Ted Landsborough, the genial and accommo- dating secretary of the A. B. Humphrey Company, fruit-growers, packers and shippers at Mayhews. A native son of the Golden State, he was born at Sac- ramento, on June 11, 1887, the son of Leonard M. and Agnes (Rutter) Landsborough, whose life-story is given elsewhere in this work. They are numbered among the pioneer folk now most honored in our country's annals, who struggled hard, endured much, and sacrificed for years in order that the way might be made easier for others, and that the foundations might be securely laid for the superstructure of pres- ent-day progress and civilization.

Ted Landsborough attended both grammar and high school, and in 1906 was graduated from the latter institution with honors. Then he spent seven years in Mebius & Drescher Company's wholesale grocery, where he acquired much valuable informa- tion and experience. On leaving their employ, he entered upon the duties of his present position, as secretary and manager of the Mayhews ranch, hand- ling fruit and livestock for his company. The com- pany own 380 acres at Mayhews, devoted exclusively to fruit, and 1,000 acres at Escalon, in San Joaquin County. They use only the most scientific and eco- nomic methods, and have the most up-to-date plant and apparatus. They have their own independent selling force in the East, and their sales total as high as 125 cars. The fruit of the A. B. Humphrey Com- pany is well-known and in great demand in New York. Mr. Landsborough is also the manager and secretary of the James Rutter Company, controlling 240 acres of vineyard land.

In 1911, Mr. Landsborough married Miss Winnifred Humphrey, the daughter of A. B. Humphrey; and they have three children, Gladys, Leonard and An- toinette. Mr. Landsborough is a Republican, and was foreman of the Sacramento County grand jury for 1919. He also belonged to the Board of Free- holders that drafted the proposed new county charter. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree, and be- longs to the Scottish Rite and the Shrine. He is also a member of the Rotary Club, and was a member of the board of directors, in 1920, and chairman of the Fruit and Agriculture Bureau, of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce.

LB Landsborough

667

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

JOSEPH CHARLES HOBRECHT .- When Jo- seph, Charles Hobrecht opened his electrical store in Sacramento at 1012 Tenth Street, in the spring of 1909, it was with a thorough knowledge of his own qualifications for the management of such a business, and his success has come from his natural ability in the line of his specialty, supplemented by education and study, which has secured for him recognition among men of his occupation throughout the entire West. Born in Germany, April 21, 1876, he was a very small child when brought to the United States by his parents, Lawrence and Theresa (Kremier) Hobrecht. After landing in New York City, the fam- ily traveled as far west as Nebraska and settled in Omaha, where the father, a skilled mechanic, secured employment at his trade. During 1903 he joined the other members of the family, who had preceded him to California and settled in San Francisco. Both par- ents are now deceased. An education acquired in the public schools of Omaha and Creighton University of Nebraska qualified Mr. Hobrecht for the duties of the business world. In early life he assisted his father in a machine shop and thus acquired a compre- hensive knowledge of such work, becoming a skilled mechanic; and he continued for eight years in that occupation. Going to Montana, he started to work as an electrician, and continued to operate a plant in that city for some time. During the year 1900 he came to Sacramento, where he worked in the employ of the Bay Counties Power Company for eighteen months; then he entered the employ of the Electrical Supply Company, with whom he continued for seven years, or until he had determined to engage in the electrical merchandising and construction business for himself.

Mr. Hobrecht's first marriage united him with Miss Mary Farrell, who passed away, and subsequently he was married to Mrs. Lillian (McCarthy) Hanford, of Sacramento, daughter of Patrick McCarthy, a pio- neer of Eldorado County. During the World War, Mr. Hobrecht was a member of the draft board. He is public-spirited and has always taken an active part in civic affairs, is a director of the Chamber of Com- merce and a past president of the Rotary Club, and fraternally is affiliated with the Elks, the Y. M. I. and the Knights of Columbus, having attained to the fourth degree in the latter organization. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hobrecht are earnest members of the Cath- olic Church.

JAMES M. HASTINGS .- A rancher of wide ex- perience who has come to make a specialty of high- grade pears, is James M. Hastings, whose model farm is situated some eight miles north of Sacra- mento, on the Natomas Boulevard, in Reclamation District No. 1000. He has forty acres there of rich orchard land, and grows other fruit besides pears. He was born in Sacramento on March 25, 1864, the son of Daniel E. and Kathryn (Cunningham) Hastings, who were pioneer settlers of the Golden State. Other connections of his family were also identified with the building of the West in a very interesting way; a great-uncle, Lansford Hastings, was the offi- cial guide who piloted General Fremont to California in 1846. His father was formerly proprietor of the American Union Hotel and stockyards of Sutterville, known as Old Sacramento, and he was also promi- nent as a successful placer miner, and prospector, and

our subject owns many priceless heirlooms of those early days, left by his parents. His father returned to Ohio with his brother, James, in 1862, and he served with the 147th Volunteer Infantry, while Uncle James was a prisoner of war at Andersonville, and died in Ohio, in 1878. The worthy couple had seven children, and our subject was the fifth in the order of birth.

Growing up, James Hastings became a building contractor in Sacramento, and during his activity there, he constructed many of the finest residences. Later, he spent nineteen years in Alaska and the frozen North, so that he has had a great many thrill- ing experiences. In 1896, he left Sacramento with a party of forty-five young business men like himself, all eager about the "gold rush," and the next spring started out with a partner and followed to its head- waters the Koyukuk River, being the second white man ever known to have returned alive from that region. He found traces of Lieutenant Allen, who had preceded him into the region, but who was lost, the Indians recovering his body from the ice-flow. years later. He spent nineteen years in Alaska, and still owns much desirable property there, and he is a personal friend of ex-Governor Stone, of Alaska. He is also the founder of Hammond River Diggin's, in Alaska. Mr. Hastings returned to the Golden State in 1913, and he has since made Sacramento his home, notwithstanding that he has twice returned to the "Treasure-Box of the World," as he terms Alaska, since 1915, and in the meantime has developed a mod- ern fruit ranch near Sacramento. He is a prominent member of both the Pioncer Society of Alaska and the Pioneers of the North.

At a point above parallel sixty-eight, north, Mr. Hastings was married to Miss Mary Boysen, a native of Elkmont, Wyo .; and their fortunate union has been blessed with the birth of three children: Helen, Ruth and James Hammond. Mr. Hastings belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West, and is affili- ated with Parlor No. 3, of Sacramento.

GEORGE F. MAY .- A native son of California whose life has been spent near the scene of his birth is George F. May, who was born at Stockton, May 2, 1878, the son of George and Sophie (Beckman) May, both parents being natives of Germany. One of San Joaquin County's early pioneers, the father came to California across the plains in 1854 and Mrs. May arrived here soon after, their marriage occur- ring in Stockton. Mr. May engaged in teaming from Stockton to the mines and in later years farmed near Galt and also ran a hotel there which has since burned down. He lived to be seventy-four years old, the mother passing away when fifty-three.

George F. May went to the Henderson school south of Lodi in his boyhood and when fifteen years old started out for himself, working on the Saner ranch on Dry Creek in Sacramento County for about nine years. He then started in the drayage business, at first using horse-drawn trucks but now using motor trucks for both his local and long-distance hauling. He has now been engaged in this business for sixteen years, and in addition handles ice, wood and coal, having built up a splendid patronage. Mr. May is one of a family of seven children, his brothers and sisters being as follows: Fred G., Mrs. Kate Fox and Henry T., all of Galt; William, who died at the

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

age of twenty-six; Mrs. Myrtle Crosby of Reno, Nev .; and one child who died in infancy.

At Sacramento, March 10, 1907, Mr. May was married to Miss Louise Biederman, born in Sacra- mento, the daughter of Henry and Magdalena (Anwater) Biederman, the father a native of Con- necticut, while the mother was born in Wittenberg, Germany. The parents came to Sacramento, Cal., in 1876, and here the father was engaged as a cabinet- maker for many years; he passed away at the age of sixty-five, but the mother still lives in Sacramento. They were the parents of seven children: Theresa, residing at Sacramento; Mrs. May of Galt; Mrs. Alice Haven of Sacramento; Henrietta and Etta, deceased; John Henry of Dunsmuir; and Richard George, who died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. May have one son, George Henry, and they reside in the old May home at Galt. In fraternal affiliation Mr. May is a member of Lodi Lodge, Foresters of America, is president of Galt Parlor, N. S. G. W., is a past grand of Galt Lodge, I. O. O. F., and with his wife belongs to the Rebekahs. He takes a strong interest in the civic life of the community and has served an unexpired term as justice of the peace and has been deputy constable. In politics he is a Republican.

LELAND C. KIMBALL .- That twentieth cen- tury science, aiding practical American technology, has made possible the most wonderful advancement in the field of irrigation, is demonstrated by the extensive, successful activities of Messrs. L. C. Kimball & Company, of Elk Grove, who have sunk about 95 per cent of all the large wells in the com- munity during the past five years. This sort of en- viable performance one might expect very naturally of a native-born Californian; but if, by any chance, say accidentally, a Californian could not be found handy at the time that the service was called for by progressive humanity, then a good, old-fashioned Yankee, such as comes from New Hampshire, would be the next individual most likely to fulfil expecta- tions.

Leland C. Kimball, the head of this firm, came from Lebanon, N. H., where he was born on May 13, 1893, the worthy descendant of Herbert J. and Lena (Comings) Kimball, who left their Eastern environment in 1908, came out to California, and stopped at Elk Grove, when it was in its infancy. They were farmers, and so they threw themselves into agricultural pursuits. Leland C. Kimball at- tended the high school, and made a specialty of both chemistry and geology, and although at first he embarked on a modest business venture, he prof- ited a good deal, in a scientific way, from his studies, which led him to look ahead into larger fields. He opened a candy store at Elk Grove, but soon sold it and joined the J. Breuner Company of Sacramento, where he learned interior decorating, which he fol- lowed for five years. In 1917 he took over the busi- ness which had been established by his father, who had come to make a specialty of well-drilling, and had perfected the finest system of irrigating by pumps and wells; and they have done almost all the important work in that field called for by those residents wishing to improve their property with better irrigation. They handle the Byron Jackson turbine and centrifugal pumps and electric motors, provide well-casing, irrigation pipe, windmills, tanks and gas engines, and sink deep-water wells

and furnish complete installations of irrigation plants with pressure systems.

Mrs. Kimball, before her marriage on August Il, 1915, was Miss Rowena Baker, of Elk Grove, and they have two children, Leland C. and Doris Ruth. Mr. Kimball belongs to the Odd Fellows; politically he is a man above party, and supports enthusiasti- cally all approved local movements. When in need of recreation, he goes fishing and hunting.

WILLIAM W. PRINGLE .- A native son of the Golden State who, in his enterprising and progressive way, has become a man of affairs in Sacramento County, is William W. Pringle, who was born at Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, Cal., May 27, 1868. His father, William Graham Pringle, was born in Kingston, Canada; while Grandfather Pringle was a native of Scotland and emigrated to Canada. William G. Pringle was a saddler and harnessmaker by trade, having served his apprenticeship in Mont- pelier, Vt. In the autumn of 1859 he came to San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama, and in the spring of 1860 he settled at Half Moon Bay, and es- tablished a harness and saddlery business that he continued without interruption until his death in 1909, having lived in California just fifty years. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Eliza Dunn, a native of Holyoke, Mass., whose parents came from Belfast, Ireland, to Holyoke, where she was reared and edu- cated. A cultured and refined woman, she wielded an influence for good, and at the time of her passing, in 1873, was greatly loved by all who knew her. Five children were born to this pioneer couple, of whom William W. was the third in order of birth.

Reared in the pleasant environment of Half Moon Bay, William W. Pringle received a good education in the public school; and then he learned the harness- maker's trade with his father. However, having a liking for nature and the great out-of-doors, he chose ranching and horticulture for his occupation and, having arrived at eighteen years of age, left his trade to start for himself. Coming to Contra Costa County, he took up the study of horticulture and soon became foreman for the J. P. Ames orchards in Alhambra Valley, continuing in charge until 1900, when he re- signed and located in Sacramento County. Here he purchased the old Tom Johnston ranch, on the river, which he has improved until he now has thirty-five acres all devoted to the raising of pears, plums, and cherries. Since then he has purchased forty-six acres, a part of the old Warner ranch, also on the river, located in Reclamation District No. 744. This is also in orchards of pears, plums, and peaches. With great care he sees to the cultivation, pruning, and spraying of the orchards, as well as the picking and packing of the fruit, and is obtaining satisfactory and profit- able results. Mr. Pringle is well posted as a horti- culturist, and his advice is frequently sought by others. A firm believer in cooperation as the best method of marketing the product of his orchards, he is a member of the California Pear Growers' Associa- tion. Fraternally, he is a member and a past grand of Martinez Lodge No. 297, I. O. O. F., and a mem- ber of the Rebekah Lodge at Half Moon Bay, as well as of Seaside Parlor, N. S. G. W., in the same city, and of Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. Elks. Be- lieving that protection is the fundamental principle for the success of American industries and institu- tions, Mr Pringle is naturally a strong Republican.

671

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

JAKE SMALL .- For many years identified with the mercantile business, both in Kentucky and Cali- fornia, Jake Small has of late years been engaged in the real estate business, maintaining an office at Galt and handling considerable property in this vicinity. A native of Germany, he was born at Wittenberg March 27, 1865, the son of Sol and Jette (Erlanger) Small, all their lives residents of that country. The father, who was a merchant, died at his home there at the age of fifty-four, the mother passing away at forty-eight.

When a young man Jake Small came to the United States and settled at Hartford, Ky., where he en- gaged in the general merchandise business. From there he removed to Owensboro, Ky., where he opened up another store which he conducted for ten years, when he sold out and came to Redwood City, Cal., where he was in the same line of business for ten years. He then came to Galt and entered the employ of Whitaker & Ray, going from here to Nome, Alaska, where he was manager for the Ames Mercantile Company. He only remained there one year, however, and came back to Galt, where he be- came purchasing agent for Whitaker & Ray and later for the Don Ray Company. Several years ago he established himself in the realty field at Galt and he has demonstrated his ability by his success in this line of activity.

Mr. Small's first marriage, which occurred at San Francisco, united him with Miss Julia Erlanger, a native of that city, and one daughter was born to them, Helen Small, who resides at Galt. In 1906, at Sacramento, Mr. Small was married to Miss Ernina Rowland, who was born at Honolulu, but who has made her home in the United States. In his politi- cal affiliations Mr. Small is a Republican.

FREDERICK G. RENNIE .- A highly-respected public official and resident of Sacramento County, Frederick G. Rennie is sincerely interested in beau- tifying this state of sunshine and dreams. He was born on October 14, 1865, at Keithley, Yorkshire County, England, one of eight children, five sons and three daughters that brightened the home of Patrick and Helen (Judson) Rennie. In 1882 the family left their home in England and came to the United States and California, locating in Tehama County. The parents are now deceased.

Frederick G. Rennie began his education in Eng- land and finished in the schools of Tehama County; and he also learned the practical side of landscape gardening and the nursery business while still a young man and followed that business until coming here to Sacramento. In March, 1893, he came to the capital city and secured employment with the state as a gardener. in the grounds of the capitol, re- maining in that occupation until 1911, when he en- tered the employ of the park department of the city of Sacramento, for four years having full super- vision of all the city parks. When the department was reorganized he was made assistant park super- intendent, which position he now occupies.

In 1890, Frederick G. Rennie and Miss Etta A. Eby were united in marriage, and since they located in Sacramento their circle of friends has ever been on the increase. Mrs. Rennie is a native daughter, born in Tehama County, the daughter of Jackson Eby, a pioneer of that part of California, and a well

known politician, having served as assessor of Tehama County for over twenty years. Few citi- zens of that section of the state had a more inti- mate association with the growth and development of its resources than did he. He died in Sacramento. Mrs. Eby now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Rennie, and at the age of eighty is hale and hearty and a most enjoyable companion.

Politically, Mr. Rennie is a Republican; fraternally, he is a Red Man. His favorite pastime is fishing and hunting. The beauties of nature forever call him onward, uplifting him in his worthy cause, that of bestowing upon the citizens of California a few moments of quiet content under the blue sky and on the soft, mossy carpet of Mother Earth.

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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, 1923, Part 100

Author: Reed, G. Walter Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1026

Author: Reed, G. Walter
Publication date: 1923
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1026