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 107

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 107

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On January 19, 1874, Miss Sarah Hartley was mar- ried to John Mugford, who was born in Cornwall, England, in 1835. He accompanied his brother Samuel to California via Panama in 1855, and was engaged in mining until 1869, when he received an injury which caused him to seek a different occupation. Removing to Carbondale, he bought 160 acres of land; but after paying for it, he was obliged to turn it over to the rail- road. The family then removed to Sutter Creek, where they later bought land. From this land he cleared the timber, which he hauled to Sutterville for fuel in the mills at Sutter Creek. Mr. and Mrs. Mugford were the parents of eight children. William is married and has three children, one of whom is married and has one son five years old. William Mugford and his family reside in Sacramento, where he is foreman in the bolt shop of the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany. Leona is now Mrs. Frank Carroll, and they have two sons and one daughter. Jane is the widow of James Langdon; she has three children, and the family reside in Sacramento. Samuel has a wife and six children; John is married and has one son; Bessie is Mrs. Frank F. Silva, and they have six children; Arthur is at home, and is one of the stockholders in the Northern California Milk Association; and Minnie is deceased, survived by five children. Mr. Mugford became a United States citizen in 1867, and there- after voted the Republican ticket; he passed away May 6, 1898. Mrs. Mugford has been an active inem- ber of the Free Methodist Church for more than twenty years.

THEODORE ERICKSON .- A practical painter and artistic decorator who has so successfully devel- oped his business that he has become an extensively operating contractor, is Theodore Erickson, a native of Sweden, where he was born on February 1, 1883. the son of Thuve and Elena Erickson. The father, a Scandinavian by birth, came across the ocean when a boy, married in the United States, and re- turned to Sweden, where he and his devoted wife both rounded out well-spent lives, and merited and received the esteem of all who knew them. For most of his life, Thuve Erickson was a carpenter, although he took up agriculture toward the end of his career.

Theodore Erickson attended the excellent public schools of Sweden, a part of that educational system so famous throughout the world, and when fourteen years old commenced to learn his trade, at which he worked steadily until he came to the United States. He located at first in Chicago, where for eight years he found employment as a journeyman painter; and then, migrating West to San Francisco, he worked there for some of the larger firms for another eight years. Wherever he worked, whatever he did, he demonstrated both his knowledge in every ordinary detail of his trade, and considerable original artistic gift as well; and his faithful service to his employ- ers gradually built up for him a reputation that proved of great value to him when he established a business of his own.

In April, 1912, Mr. Erickson came to Sacramento, and for the past eight years he has been well estab- lished here in business for himself. He does general painting of residences of all kinds, and makes interior decorating his specialty. He employs five men to care for his various contracts, and through con- scientious oversight of his work, has been able to build up a prosperous business. Mr. Erickson be- longs to the Master Painters and to the Builders' Exchange. In politics, he is a Republican. Fond of outdoor life, he especially enjoys a day's outing with rod and reel. In fraternal life, Mr. Erickson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and he is also a member of the Swedish lodge, "Vasa."

JOHN T. HUNT .- A general contractor of wide experience, whose constructive work, carried on with unremitting enterprise and through the use of considerable capital and the very best appliances and devices for rapid, up-to-date accomplishment, entitles him to be classed as one of the real builders of both city and county, is John T. Hunt, the pro- prictor of the well-known establishment at 3781 Sixth Avenue, Sacramento. He was born at New Castle, in New Castle County, Del., on February 26, 1884, the son of Jacob K. and Mary J. (Ready) Hunt. In the home of these pioneers, John T. Hunt began his preparation for the tasks of life, attending the schools in Sacramento, to which city he had come at an early age, in 1893.

As a youth, he worked in clerical positions in local stores, and in 1907 joined his brother, T. B. Hunt, in contracting for work, the two continuing together for some years. Then, for a while, he worked as a journeyman carpenter, and of late as a general contractor. Seeing the need for better work, more satisfactory both to the prospective owner and also to the prospective dweller or tenant, in the building of houses and flats, he has confined

M. Avro Gicknow

a. E Pierson

727

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

himself largely to such residences, studying to give the city something late in style and modern in con- veniences, and at the same time at the lowest possi- ble cost compatible with artistic and enduring work. In this he may be said to be more than ordinarily successful, and in consequence he has secured a handsome share of patronage. He belongs to the Builders' Association and to the Master Builders, and has been steadily active in promoting the best interests of the entire Sacramento region in the mat- ter of structural development. He has also done some prospecting, hoping to open up new channels for enterprise.

In Auburn, Mr. Hunt was married to Miss Pearl May Tauzer, a native daughter of Woodland, an accomplished lady, moving in a circle of devoted friends. Mr. Hunt belongs to the Eagles and the Woodmen of the World. In politics he holds himself aloof from any fixed party affiliation, seeking rather the best interests of the community in which he lives.

MICHAEL O'NEIL .- A successful nurseryman, Michael O'Neil has established himself on a ranch at Arcade Park, northeast of Sacramento, and has re- cently completed a modern residence there for his family. A native son of California, he was born at Marysville, January 13, 1881, the son of John and Mary O'Neil, both natives of Ireland. The father, who was a longshoreman in New York City, came to California in 1852 and entered the employ of the Greeley Flour Mills; and later he helped in the build- ing of the levees at Marysville. He passed away in 1882, the father of five children, of whom Michael was the youngest. Mrs. O'Neil was afterwards married to L. Borrel, a native of France, who had come to California in 1865; he was for years a blacksmith in Marysville, but spent his latter days in Sacramento, where he passed away in 1913. Three daughters were born of this union: Cecilia, Grace and Esther Borrel.

Starting out for himself at the age of fourteen, Michael O'Neil entered the employ of W. R. Skinner in one of the early canneries at Marysville, where he learned the packing business in all its branches, work- ing each season in the cannery, and on neighboring ranches in the meantime. In 1901 he came to Sacra- mento with his brother, John O'Neil, who came there to take charge of the soldering of fruit cans for the California Cooperative Canneries. At this time this was all done by hand, and his brother held the record for handling 1,000 cans an hour. Entering the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad shops at Sacramento, Michael O'Neil had charge of the boiler and furnace rooms, and also worked in the rolling mills, working in the shops until 1909, when he started in as a clerk in a grocery store, later becoming the owner of a grocery in Sacramento. In 1915 he sold out his business, and with a partner, C. J. Millgate, estab- lished himself in the nursery business, growing young trees for the Kirkman Nurseries, and for others; and in this he has met with good success from the start.

In 1919, Mr. O'Neil was married to Miss Ethel Sanderson, born in Sacramento County, the daughter of Marion and Minnie Sanderson, pioneer residents of this county, Mr. Sanderson being connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad shops. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil have one daughter, Ethel Bernice. Mr. O'Neil is a member of Sheridan Lodge, No. 312, I. O.O. F., while Mrs. O'Ncil belongs to the Rebekahs.

ALFRED E. PIERSON .- An interesting display, both of builders' materials and of workmanship, is that of Alfred E. Pierson, the hard-wood floor ex- pert, at 865 Santa Ynez Way, Sacramento. He was born at Aurora, Ill., on November 5, 1887, the son of James P. and Matilda (Anderson) Pierson. The mother breathed her last when our subject was a boy of five years of age. In October, 1916, Alfred Pierson came out to California with his father, who established himself in business in Sacramento, where he is highly esteemed as a carriage wood-worker.

Alfred E. Pierson attended the public schools of lowa, going for a year to the Cedar Rapids high school. Then he learned the wood-working trade, as it applies to carriage-building, under his father's guidance, and followed that line of technical work for six years. Then he took up the specialty now oftener in demand, the laying of hardwood floors, and from 1907 to 1911 was with the Inlaid Floor Company of San Francisco. In the latter year, he joined the Sacramento Hardwood Floor Company. After a couple of years, feeling that he ought to build and develop for himself, he established his own hard- wood-floor business, and since 1913 he has enjoyed an ever-increasing volume of trade. Successful from the start, where formerly he employed one man, he now keeps eleven busy. He has furnished all the hardwood flooring for most of the better class of residences recently constructed in Sacramento, and he also contracts both to furnish and to lay the flooring. He belongs to the Builders' Exchange and the Exchange Luncheon Club. In politics he is a Republican.

When Mr. Pierson married, in 1912, he chose for his bride Miss Mable Jensen, a native daughter and one of the popular belles of Sacramento; and they have one child, Richard. Fraternally, Mr. Pierson is a member of Capital Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Aerie No. 9, of the Eagles; and in the social circles of these organizations, and elsewhere, he and his wife enjoy an enviable popularity.

FRANCISCO F. SILVA .- The latter part of the active life of Francisco F. Silva has been associated with fruit raising on his home place of seven and a half acres on the Fruitridge Road, and his success in this industry is as marked as was his success for fifteen years in the feed and fuel business in Sacra- mento. He was born in Fayal, Azores Islands, April 7, 1864, a son of John F. and Mary (Pacheota) Silva, the former a native of the Isle of Pico and the latter of Fayal. John F. Silva came to California first in 1846 and prospected in Sonoma County; then he re- turned to his native country and his second journey to California occurred in the late fifties; he again re- turned to Fayal, where he was married and where he passed away, survived by five children and his widow. In May, 1878, Francisco F. and his brother Charles arrived in California and located at Sutterville, where Francisco F. Silva worked on a dairy farm for fifty cents per day; the following spring he went to Davis- ville, where he received two dollars per day, working in the harvest fields; later, with his brother John, he went into the dairy business at Fremont, which was successfully conducted until 1893, when Francisco F. Silva sold his interest and moved to Fallon, Nev., where he engaged in farming and stock raising for eight years on a 500-acre ranch. In 1901, Mr. Silva made a trip to Fayal to close his parent's estate. This

728

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

occupied him for eight months, and upon returning to California he located at Sacramento, where he estab- lished a feed and fuel yard at 15 Front Street, which he conducted for fifteen years, when he sold out and retired to his fruit ranch on the Fruitridge Road. About four years ago he purchased range land in the vicinity of Toll, Cal., from which the timber is being removed and the land planted to orchard.

On September 22, 1908, Mr. Silva was married to Miss Bessie Mugford, a daughter of Mrs. Sarah Mug- ford, a pioneer of Sutter Creek, Cal. The late John Mugford, father of Mrs. Silva, was a pioneer rancher in Amador County. Mr. and Mrs. Silva are the par- ents of six children: Bessie L., Hazel, Sarah, Helen. Ada, and Frank F., Jr.

LOUIS SPOSITO .- The recent marvelous develop- ment of Sacramento County is undoubtedly due in part to the keen foresightedness and bold enterprise of such leaders in the field of transportation as Louis Sposito, the wide-awake and ever accommodating proprietor of the Sacramento, Roseville, and Lincoln Auto-Truck Freight Line, and one of the owners of the Biltwell Garage. He was born in San Francisco on July 6, 1885, the son of Frank Sposito, and his good wife, Madeline. His father became a pioneer settler in the Bay City when it was a mere village. Both of these worthy folks are still living, and have been eye-witnesses of the marvelous changes they themselves helped to bring about, in the growth and development of the state.

Louis Sposito went to the local grammar schools. and continued his training for life in the larger school of actual, practical experience. He worked at various jobs, even trying railroading, and came at last, in 1910, through a kindly destiny, to Sacramento. He liked the town, and made friends there; and soon he decided to establish what was then much needed, an auto-truck freight line running between the capital and the city of Auburn. Compelled to start in a modest way, he began with his one truck, and he was soon doing most of the transporting required between the two points; and as business gradually and steadily increased, he added to his equipment, until he was operating four trucks and four trailers. With this superior outfit he was well able to handle the largest amounts of freight needing transportation. For a handsome consideration he was induced to sell the line to Snyder Brothers, the sale taking effect on April 1, 1922.

With a partner, Anthony Breverly, Mr. Sposito then purchased the Biltwell Garage, at 830 L Street, where he engages in a general garage business. The Biltwell Garage is one of the best-built garages in the capital city, and is thoroughly fire-proof. On May 8, 1923. with J. L. Fithian, he bought the Sacramento, Rose- ville and Lincoln Auto-Truck Freight Line, and has continued the business, selling the old equipment and purchasing new. He has a five-ton White truck; and his headquarters are located at 501 I Street, where all the freight trucks leave. His business is growing rapidly, necessitating an increase in his equipment, and his headquarters are seldom other than busy.

In Sacramento, April 25. 1923, Mr. Sposito was united in marriage with Miss Lyla Bentley, a native daughter of the state, born at Vacaville, and he resides with his wife in his comfortable residence at 2000 E Street. Non-partisan in his political affiliations, he supports the best men and the best measures. Frater-

nally he is a popular member of the Eagles and the Red Men. He is fond of sports, particularly enjoying the national game of baseball, and when business per- mits he is also not averse to a lively boxing-bout.

WILLIAM A. THIELBAHR .- An experienced, progressive builder who has become one of the most successful general contractors at the capital city, and who does business also throughout Sacramento County and Valley, is William A. Thielbahr, located on the Auburn Boulevard in North Sacramento. He was born in Sacramento, at the corner of Twenty- seventh and P Streets, on August 10, 1884, the son of Charles J. and Julia (Deterding) Thielbahr, of good pioneer stock. Charles J. Thielbahr was brought to Sacramento as a child three years of age, and lived with his folks where the Buffalo Brewery now stands. This was in 1855, and our subject's maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. De- terding, conducted a hotel at Mills for the drivers of oxen, teaming to the mines. Charles J. Thielbahr was a cooper. He learned his trade with John Ochsner, and followed it until he was forty-five years of age. He then took up carpentering, which he still follows, rendering excellent service. Mrs. Thielbahr, whom many will recall with gratitude, affection and esteem on account of her estimable qualities as a woman, died at the age of thirty years.

William Thielbahr was sent to the public schools . until his fifteenth year, when he learned his trade- with more than the usual thoroughness of artisans of today. In 1907 he engaged in contracting and building on his own account. He was foreman of construction on the Sacramento Hotel, and also on the Weinstock & Lubin Building, and the Hale Bros.' store; and he erected C. E. Johnston's home in North Sacramento, and also the Prentice Burtiss residence, one of the finest in the city. He employs eight men, and belongs to the Master Builders and to the Builders' Exchange, where he welcomes pro- gressive ideas and methods, and is himself known for the aggressive manner in which he carries through anything he once undertakes.

Mr. Thielbahr was one of the pioneers of North Sacramento. There were only three families living there when he built his residence, and since then he has aided materially in building up the city. He was one of the three original men that obtained the lighting district for North Sacramento; and later on they succeeded in forming a fire district. He is now serving as lighting commissioner and also as fire commissioner for North Sacramento.

In the capital city, June 24, 1903, Mr. Thielbahr was married to Miss Laura Cushman, who was born in Shenandoah Valley, Amador County, a daughter of William and Stella (Harrell) Cushman, born in Massachusetts of an old New England family, who became pioneers of California. Grandfather Harrell was a pioneer of Hangtown, now Placerville, and as a placer miner helped in the hydraulic mining at Coon Hollow, where they cut out the whole moun- tain. Mrs. Thielbahr received her education in Ama- dor County. She is a woman of pleasing personality, and presides gracefully over her husband's home. They have two children: Elaine Florence attending Sacramento high school, class of 1924, and Willian M .. attending the grammar school. In politics, Mr. Thielbahr is a Democrat.

OF~a. Thielbahn Laura & Thielbahn

731

HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

LEO STEPPAN .- An Austro-American who has more than made good in California, and who, since coming to Sacramento, has become a general favor- ite, enjoying an enviable reputation throughout city al.d county, is Leo Steppan, who was born in Austria on May 7, 1870, the son of Martin and Katherine (Butler) Steppan, of old German families, who crossed the ocean to the United States when Leo was seven years of age. They located near Ottawa, Franklin County. Kans., where Martin Steppan, who was also a musician, found it necessary to take up agricultural pursuits, if he would support his fam- ily after their accustomed manner of living; and now that these worthy folks are both dead, it is a pleasure to record that they sought to do their duty, in their modest sphere in life, and that they undoubtedly did make many others more comfortable and happier through their lives and good works.

Leo Steppan gave the public school teachers all that they asked of him as the price of a popular edu- cation, but he added to his curriculum the study of music, determined some day to be a real musician; foi his father had been bandmaster in the Austrian army, and the son inherited from him no little genius. There were five boys in the musician-farmer's family. and the father formed an orchestra by the aid of his sons, and they furnished the music for country dances and such local affairs. Leo Steppan also traveled with Forepaugh's Circus as solo cornetist for four years, and then he was with a dramatic company for two years. Then he entered the service of an institution at Kankakee, Ill., as leader of the orchestra and band, al.d traveled with another circus when they featured the band for a season. He next located at Topeka. Kans., for a short time, and at Glenwood, Iowa, and was the leader of the band for the Institution for the Feeble-minded at Glenwood, the largest school for the feeble-minded in the world, having charge of the children's band, which took prizes for three years, and teaching band instruments.

In 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Steppan came to Sacramento; and here he joined the 2nd Regiment Band, and was made bandmaster under Colonel Seymour. He has also played, and still plays, in theaters in Sacramento, where he has his own orchestra and band. He usually handles the cornet, by preference; but he can play all instruments, more or less. In 1917, the "Pacific Coast Musician" said: "The State Fair closed on Septem- ber 15, a blaze of pyrotechnical glory. Probably the prize contests for bands thrilled the music-lovers more than any other musical feature. Some eighteen bands participated; among these were several well- known organizations, including several Native Sons' bands, the Naval Training Station Band of Vallejo, the Naval Volunteers' Band of the Battleship Oregon, and the winner of the first prize in Class A, Steppan's Concert Band of Sacramento. In all, $2,600 was divided among the winners in the several classes. The fact that the three judges were non-residents. and that patriotic sentiment naturally favored the naval bands, strongly emphasized the musical ability of the winning band, and its director, Leo Steppan. The band has a membership of fifty-five men, all but two or three being residents of Sacramento. . . . Director Steppan elected for his selection the well- known and popular 'Jubel Overture,' of Weber."

In Topeka, Kans., in 1894, Mr. Steppan was mar- ried to Miss Alice Heft, a daughter of Ferdinand Heft,

a world-famous musician with a specialty for the violin. She studied violin under her father and others. including Ralph Wylie of Kansas City, and became a postgraduate of Highland Park College at Des Moines in 1898. After her marriage, Mrs, Steppan taught violin and orchestral instruments at the Glenwood institution for eight years. She was born in Neu- chatel, Switzerland. Her father was a graduate of the Leipsic Conservatory and as a finished violinist did concert work and teaching. He married Marie L. Wuthier, who was of French descent; and they migrated to Dixon, 111., where Professor Heft taught at the Dixon Normal School, and Mrs. Steppan stud- ied the violin under her father. Mrs. Steppan is now doing professional work in music. She is leader of the Ladies' Orchestra of the Tuesday Club, and in 1921 won the silver cup. One child, Carl, is going to school. Mrs. Steppan is a member of the Tuesday and the Saturday Clubs; and Mr. Steppan belongs to the Red Men.

MRS. CATHERINE MOSHER .- A very enter- prising, public-spirited and successful woman, who is making progress in agriculture and horticulture, is Mrs. Catherine Mosher, who in maidenhood was Catherine Glenn, a native of the state of Iowa, born at Ottumwa. Her father, Patrick Glenn, was a na- tive of New York State, who emigrated to the Middle West and became an early settler in Mahaska County, Iowa, where he followed agriculture, becoming the owner of a farm near Ottumwa. There, too, he was married, being united with Miss Margaret Moore. who was born in Ireland, where she was reared until ten years of age, when she accompanied her parents to St. Louis, Mo. Having become interested in Cali- fornia, Patrick Glenn decided to cast in his lot with the Pacific Coast region; so he came hither, and after looking around, he decided to locate near Walnut Grove, Sacramento County, and was joined by his wife and daughter Catherine in 1877. He engaged in! grain-raising, expanding his operations until he was raising grain on a very large scale on Staten Island. Later he removed to a farm near Madera; but after a series of dry years, he returned and made his home in Sacramento, where he resided until his death in De- cember, 1915. His wife had passed away the preced- ing year, leaving two children, of whom Catherine is the only one now living.

Catherine Glenn came to California with her mother when she was a little girl of seven years and attended school at Walnut Grove, after which she entered Mt. St. Gertrude's Academy at Rio Vista, where she was graduated. She was married in 1887. at the age of seventeen years, being united with Wil- liam Mosher, who was born in St. Paul, Minn. His father, Jacob Mosher, was a Nova Scotian. Emigrat- ing to the West, he became a pioneer in St. Paul, and there his son William was educated in the public schools. In 1883 William Mosher came to Sacra- mento County, Cal., where he followed farming. Af- ter his marriage he farmed on different ranches on Merritt Island until 1903, when he purchased the ranch where Mrs. Mosher now resides, on the Sacra- mento River, about twelve miles south of the capital city, in Reclamation District No. 744, just north of Hood. There was an old orchard on the place, and he set more trees and became active and much in- terested in horticulture. However, he was not long permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors, for he

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 107

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