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 114

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 114

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In San Francisco, on October 10, 1912, Dr. Hall was married to Miss H. Rita Weber, of Colusa, an accomplished lady who shares her husband's enviable popularity and esteem. They have two sons, William H. and Thomas F. Hall. The Doctor belongs to Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. Elks, and to the Knights of Columbus; and is also a member of Sac- ramento Parlor No. 3, N. S. G. W. He is interested in civic affairs and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club.

DONALD COY DALTON .- A young man en- gaged in the work of agriculture and horticulture on his father's ranch on the Cosumnes River is Donald Coy Dalton, a native son born at Walsh Station, twelve miles from Sacramento, July 30, 1897, the son of Edward F. Dalton, who is also a native son born on the Cosumnes River. The father is a very suc- cessful farmer and orchardist owning large holdings on the Cosumnes River near Slough House, which he

M. Peters

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

has improved and developed until his ranch is now in a high state of cultivation. He now makes his home in the capital city.

The eldest in a family of five children, Donald Coy Dalton was educated in the public schools in Sacramento. From the Sacramento high school he entered Heald's Business College in Sacramento, from which he was graduated in 1918. He immedi- ately took up ranching and has since assisted his father in operating the ranch, which is largely devoted to the growing of prunes and peaches. He is in- tensely interested in horticulture and is a close stu- dent of the care of fruit trees and the growing of fruit and is carefully storing up knowledge and ex- perience useful to a man engaged in orcharding. Mr. Dalton is interested in the preservation of California history and pioneer landmarks. He is an enthusiastic member of Sunset Parlor, N. S. G. W., and is also a member of Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. E.

EUGENE A. CROUCH .- A representative busi- ness man of Northern California is Eugene A. Crouch, of Messrs. Waters, Crouch & Waters, deal- ers in real estate with offices at 620 J Street, Sacra- mento. He was born in Winnebago County, Illinois, on March 30, 1860, the son of Dr. W. T. and Mary E. (Crissman) Crouch, his father having been a physician, who enjoyed more than a local fame. He served as a true patriot in the Civil War, doing he- roic service as a surgeon, and it was while his father was off at the front that our subject, one of twins, was born. Dr. Crouch died at the early age of thirty-eight; but his devoted wife survived, to breathe her last in Sacramento, in 1921, having been tenderly cared for by her son in her later years.

Eugene A. Crouch crossed the great plains with his father and mother in 1866, and distinctly remem- bers, young as he then was, many incidents of the adventurous journey, including more than one brush with the hostile Indians. His parents stopped for a while at Virginia City, but came on to Sacramento in 1867, removing to Oakland, in 1876, in which town Eugene Crouch went to school. Having fin- ished the high school courses, he engaged in rail- roading at Sacramento for seven years; and after that embarked, in 1884, or just before the big boom in the Southland, in the real estate business; and he is now one of the oldest in that field. He was also deputy county auditor, and deputy county recorder, and a school director or trustee. He resided in the home of Mrs. E. B. Crocker for nine years, and en- joyed enviable relations with the donor of the famous Crocker Library and Crocker Art Gallery, a gift to the City of Sacramento. Messrs. Waters, Crouch & Waters sell real estate and insurance, and success- fully developed the Elmhurst Addition of ninety aeres, near Sacramento.

In the year 1884, and at Sacramento, Mr. Crouch was married to Miss Sophie Stevenson, the daughter of Sophie Edwin, the California actress well-known in the history of the California stage; and their union has been blessed with two children, Edwina, now Mrs. Thomas Simpson, of Burlingame, and Vera, who has become Mrs. A. J. MeNeil, of Alameda, affording in turn the joy of four grandchildren. Mr. Crouch, who is a Republican, but a good non-partisan booster for Sacramento, was the ninth exalted ruler of the Sacramento Lodge of Elks.

MOTT PETERS .- A well-known representative of the transportation organization so efficient in Sac- ramento is Mott Peters, the good-natured and ever- obliging proprietor of the Peters Draying Company, with its busy headquarters at 217 O Street. What he doesn't know about the possibilities of solving this or that vexing problem in the busy life of Cali- fornians and others resident or traveling here, isn't worth considering; while what he does know about conditions peculiarly Californian, and about the city and county of Sacramento in particular, has eased the mind and cheered the heart of many a weary and care-worn traveler. He has become invaluable to the district; and very naturally the town and county . take good care of him in a liberal patronage.

Mott Peters was born in Shasta County on Novem- ber I, 1888, the son of William Harrison and Eva Peters, worthy folks now deceased. When he was a lad he was sent to the well-conducted grammar school in Marysville, and when old enough to begin work and earn a livelihood, he took up clerking in a gro- cery store, and followed that line of commercial ac- tivity for ten years. In 1913 he came to Sacramento and entered the employ of the Pacific Drayage and

Warehouse Company, continuing with them till 1918. when he bought out George Uhl, the drayman, and started in a modest way to do business for himself, opening his lines of service in October, 1918. He knew what the public wanted, and from the start he has made a success, now running five first-class trucks. He was able to make his start in draying just five years after he came to Sacramento; and with the growth of the city and its suburbs his business has increased in proportion.

Mr. Peters was married in Sacramento to Miss Genevieve Miller, a native of Sacramento; and they are the parents of a very promising child, a daughter named June. Mr. Peters belongs to the Eagles, and is a member of the Sacramento Chamber of Com- meree. He and his family are fond of the out-of- doors, and often get out into the open and enjoy the natural beauty for which Sacramento County is famous.

WALLACE SHEPARD .- It is interesting to note that the worthy representative of the federal govern- ment in California, Wallace Shepard, the popular ex- United States commissioner, is a native son, he hav- ing been born at Auburn, in Placer County, on Au- gust 28, 1895, the son of W. A. and Mattie Fan (Hamilton) Shepard, the latter a daughter of Gen. Joe Hamilton, whose record for gallantry is well known. W. A. Shepard was at one time secretary to Congressman J. E. Raker, in Washington; but being by profession a journalist, he is in his right place as proprietor of the wide-awake "Placer Herald," in which he exerts an important influence in that sec- tion for both local and state progress. Both parents are still living, enthusiastie witnesses of the actual growth of a commonwealth they used to confidently dream of.

Wallace Shepard attended the grammar and the high schools of his locality, and then went to the George Washington University, at Washington, D. C., from which he received, in 1915, the degree LL. B. Continuing his post-graduate work at Columbia Uni- versity, New York City, he received the following year the coveted degree of LL. M. Returning to California, he was made deputy county auditor, in

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Placer County, and then deputy county clerk, and finally acting county clerk in the same county.

Enlisting, as an exemplary patriot, in the aviation service during the World War, Mr. Shepard devoted eighteen months to duty at Key West, in the exact- ing division of patrol work. On coming back to Sacramento, he joined the firm of Meredith, Landis & Chester, attorneys, and continued there until Oc- tober, 1919, when he was appointed United States commissioner, which office he resigned January 1, 1923, for the purpose of devoting his entire time to his law practice. He is a member of the American Legion, of which he was an organizer, and is one of the Legion's trustees. Socially, Ex-Commissioner Shepard is as popular as with his colleagues in the professional world; and in the Masonic order, the Shriners, and the Elks, he has ample opportunity to exhibit the rare qualities of his personality.

JOHN ALEXANDER GUISTO .- A native son proud of his association with the Golden State is John Alexander Guisto, born on Third Street near N in the city of Sacramento, September 20, 1862, a son of Frank and Maria (Raggo) Guisto, who were natives of Genoa, Italy. John Alexander is the eldest of their two children and was reared on a farm, receiv- ing his education in the Sutterville school district, at the same time assisting his father with the work on the farm. When the elder Guisto purchased twelve acres at Thirty-first and D Streets, John Alexander engaged with him in growing asparagus, being one of the first to grow asparagus in Sacramento. He con- tinued in the business until he sold the land for subdivision to the Carmichael Company in 1913. Since then Mr. Guisto purchased seven acres at Thir- ty-sixth and D Streets, where he raised asparagus for some years until he planted it to a cherry and plum orchard.

In Sacramento occurred the marriage of Mr. Guisto with Miss Mary Ratto, a native of Eldorado County, born in Irishtown. She was a daughter of John B. Ratto, an early pioneer and miner in that county. He and his estimable wife, who was in maidenhood Vir- ginia Gabonni, now live retired in San Francisco. Mrs. Guisto was the oldest of their five children, and is a well educated and refined woman who presides gracefully over her husband's home. Their union has been blessed with four children: Frank is travelling salesman for Ratto Bros., wholesale grain dealers, San Francisco; Virginia is a graduate of San Francisco high school and also of Hopkins Art Institute in that city, and is supervisor of drawing in San Francisco schools; Mary is a graduate of Sacramento high school and is the wife of P. B. Ready, of Sacramento; and the youngest, Evelyn, is also a graduate of Sacramento high school.

Mr. Guisto is very fond of nature and the great outdoors and enjoys hunting and fishing. He knows of the interesting places and at various seasons one finds him fishing in the rivers or mountain streams, duck hunting on the river and lagoons, or trailing the deer in the high Sierras. He was one of the organi- zers of the Monitor Gun Club, owners of 1,000 acres at Vernon, used for hunting purposes. They sold it when it was reclaimed for farming purposes. He is a splendid shot and has won many prizes in shooting contests. Mr. Guisto's entire life has been spent in Sacramento; he has seen it grow and develop, a mat- ter in which he has also taken a part as well as pride.

WILLIAM JAMES CLIFFORD .- Prominent among the most successful of brick-contractors, who take a very active role in the industrial life of Sac- ramento County, is William James Clifford, a native son and also one of the Capital City's own boys. He entered the family of Christopher and Hattie (James) Clifford, on September 30, 1888. Christopher Clif- ford came to California as a boy, driving horses across the great plains for Colonel McMaster, with whom he continued for years, in charge of his horses. When William was seven years old, his father died, leaving an excellent record for both ability and relia- bility. Mrs. Clifford is still living, the object of ten- der affection.

William enjoyed the privilege of attendance at the public schools, and pretty early tried his luck at sell- ing papers; for Mrs. Clifford had been left with six children, and each necessarily contributed toward the family support. After a while, he learned the brick- laying trade, and for some years followed his trade before engaging, in 1918, in business for himself. Since he has been operating on his own initiative and responsibility, he has usually had more than he could comfortably do; and what he has done has given satis- faction to all immediately concerned. He built the Auto Stage Depot at the corner of Fifth and I Streets, the Bowman Carriage Shop at the corner of Twelfth and A Streets, the Igo Hospital, Norris Apartments, Harvie Implement Company's building, Piggly Wig- gly building, Born Bros.' building, the Japanese Hos- pital, and the Spillman Garage, and has done much residential and mantel work, generally employing about eight men the year round. He is a director in the Builders' Exchange, and a member of the Pro- gressive Business Club. In politics, he prefers the platforms of the Republican party, but maintains independence in thinking and voting.

In the year 1910, occurred the wedding of William J. Clifford and his fiancée, Miss Gertrude McBurney, a native daughter and a worthy representative of one of the old pioneer families of the state; and they have had one child, Alda Wilma. Despite the pressure of business, Mr. Clifford occasionally gets away to enjoy the natural attractions of Sacramento County; and he enjoys hunting and fishing, in particular.

FRED J. FREY .- A native son of the Golden State, who is also a successful dairyman, is Fred J. Frey, who was born near Franklin, Sacramento County, August 15, 1880, a son of Henry and Eliza- betha (Herzog) Frey, natives of Germany. The father was born in 1839 and came to California in 1869; and locating in Sacramento County, he engaged in dairy- ing and farming in the vicinity of Franklin. In time he purchased a ranch and as he prospered he bought other ranches, becoming owner of about 1,000 acres of land which he operated until he divided it among his children. He died in March, 1911, aged seventy- two years, being survived by his widow, who now makes her home with her children at the age of seventy-three. This union resulted in the birth of eight children, seven of whom grew up: Henry; Fred J .; Julia, Mrs. Hansen; Elizabeth, Mrs. M. A. Smith; John, N .; Gesine, Mrs. F. A. Faist; Nellie, Mrs. Lut- tig; all of Franklin except Henry, who lives in Placer County.

Fred J. Frey was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public school in his locality. He as- sisted his father on the farm until his marriage, which

W. J clifford

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

occurred in Sacramento May 10, 1909, when he was united with Miss Ella Lippert, who was born in the southern part of Russia, where she grew to woman- hood, receiving a good education in the excellent schools maintained by the people of German descent in that country. When seventeen years of age she accompanied her brother David to North Dakota and two years later she came to Franklin, Cal., where she had a sister, Mrs. John Kammerer, living and it was here she met and married Mr. Frey, their union be- ing blessed with five children: Fred J., Jr., lda, Lil- lian, Henry, and Edward.

After his marriage Fred Frey located on his pres- ent ranch which he has improved with a fine resi- dence and other farm buildings. He has installed two pumping plants, enabling him to raise fields of alfalfa and engage in dairying. He owns 100 acres and his dairy herd is composed of high-grade Holstein cows, the product being delivered to the condensed-milk factory at Galt. Mr. Frey by close application has made a success of ranching and dairying, and he and his wife are appreciated and highly esteemed in the community where they reside. Fraternally he is a member of Franklin Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, holding the office of manager, while Mrs. Frey is a member of the Royal Neighbors, in which she is an officer. In national politics Mr. Frey is a Democrat.

BENJAMIN ROBERT MEISS .- One of the most enterprising cattle-growers of Sacramento County who is making a success of the enterprise as president of the Meiss Estate Company, is Benjamin Robert Meiss, a native son, born at Drytown, Ama- dor County, November 6, 1869. His father was Louis Meiss, a native of Germany, who came with his parents to St. Louis, Mo., where he was reared and learned the butcher's trade. As a young man he crossed the plains in an ox-team train, arriving in California in 1852, and locating at Drytown, where he began the butcher business. Primitive methods were the vogue in those days, as the' country was new and equipment necessarily inadequate. The stock was killed in the open and the dressed bodies were hung in the trees, and the meat was peddled to the miners at the various places, and packed on burros. Later on be built the first butcher shop in Drytown and continued in business for many years. Meantime he had begun the stock business, in which he was very successful. His first purchase was 160 acres, the nucleus of the present large holdings, and to this he added until he had 6,000 acres of land. He finally gave up butchering to give all of his attention to his ranching, cattle-raising and sheep-raising, running about 1,000 head of cattle and 10,000 sheep, besides en- gaging extensively in buying and shipping cattle and sheep. He was thrifty and improved the ranch with a substantial residence and farm buildings. Louis Meiss made a trip back to Germany after he was nicely started in business in Drytown; and in his home land he married Miss Elizabeth Dorn. He brought his bride to California, and their union proved a very happy one until her death, which oc- curred in 1899, at the age of sixty-nine. He survived her until 1908, dying at eighty-four years of age. Both were held in the highest esteem for their exem- plary Christian lives, and they were mourned by a large circle of devoted friends. This pioneer couple were blessed with ten children, seven of whom are 50

living: John lives on the home ranch; Henry, Wil- liam and Frederick live in Sacramento, as does Mrs. Mena O'Hare; Benjamin R. is the subject of this in- teresting review; and Frank S., the youngest, devotes his time to the home placc.

Benjamin R. Meiss was reared on the ranch, re- ceiving his education in the school of the Buckeye District. From a lad he assisted his father in his sheep- and cattle-raising and learned to ride, rope and brand the cattle, thus early in life becoming an adept in the business. When he was twenty-five he and his brother, Frank S., took over the management of the ranching for his father until the death of their honored and aged parent, when they incorporated the Louis Meiss Estate Company, since which time he has been president and manager of the large holdings and stock interests. He has purchased lands adjoin- ing until they now own 7,000 acres, which is watered by Lagoon Creek and springs and various wells, giving ample and never-failing water for their stock, and making it one of the most valuable cattle ranches in the valley. They also own a 2,000-acre ranch in Eldorado County, as well as a 1,000-acre ranch in Alpine County, where they range their flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, their brand, "L M", being well known on the range.

In Sacramento Mr. Meiss was married to Miss Jennie Jones, a native daughter of the county, born at Walsh Station. Her parents were very early set- tlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Meiss· maintain a residence at 2211 P Street, Sacramento, where the family live, and the children are being educated in the excellent schools of the capital city. Their union has resulted in the birth of four children, Elizabeth, Roberta, Genevieve, and Evelyn. Mr. Meiss is an active member of the Eldorado and Amador Live- stock Association and the California Cattle Growers' Association, and cooperates heartily in their good work. In national politics, he is a Democrat, but locally he is independent, voting for the men and measures he deems most acceptable to the best in- terests of the county.

WILLIAM H. LARKIN .- Another energetic ex- ecutive whose experience enabled him to direct the business affairs entrusted to him with exceptional foresight and skill, is William H. Larkin, now de- ceased, the former manager of the well-known estab- lishment of J. N. Larkin & Son, located at 2211 K Street, Sacramento. He was the proprietor of that important house, and this gave him a freer hand in the development of the firm's trade. He did some- thing more, however, than develop his own business affairs; public-spirited to an admirable degree, he always stood ready to help along trade in general.

William H. Larkin was born at Sacramento on December 17, 1866, the son of J. N. and Sarah (Fern) Larkin. He entered the family of a pioneer who came to California in 1852, and remained here until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he returned to his native state of New York and enlisted in a New York Regiment, and fought throughout the great conflict. After that he returned to California. Miss Fern came about the same time, and they were mar- ried at Sacramento. She is still living, while J. N. Larkin is dead. Both made an enviable record for uscful pioneer work.

William Larkin went to the schools in San Fran- cisco, and then attended the Oakland high school.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

After that he came into his father's establishment in Sacramento, and from him thoroughly learned the printing trade, serving seven years at his trade. When J. N. Larkin retired, in 1905, our subject suc- ceeded him as both manager and proprietor. William Larkin built a new building at 2211 K Street and moved from the old location on J Street, between Third and Fourth; at the time installing a new and larger plant.

At Sacramento, in the year 1902, Mr. Larkin was married to Miss Jeanette Cantrell, a daughter of Yolo County, whose parents were Joab and Martha Louise (Beeve) Cantrell, born in Tennessee and Mis- souri, respectively, who crossed the plains to Cali- fornia in 1852, later engaging in ranching in Yolo County. Mrs. Larkin was educated in the Sacramento schools, being graduated from the Sacramento high school, after which she taught school until her marriage. Mary Louise and Jeanette Larkin are two attractive young ladies of the ensuing household. Mr. Larkin was a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner, an Odd Fellow, Red Man, and Elk; he also belonged to the Native Sons of the Golden West. In national politics he was a Repub- lican. Since his death, Mrs. Larkin continues the business and is meeting with deserved success.

MATTHEW A. SMITH .- Matthew A. Smith was born at Clarendon, P. Q., October 31, 1871. His father, William Smith, was born in Ireland, coming to Quebec with his parents when he was eleven years of age. He grew to manhood and married Frances Hunt, who was also born in the Province of Quebec, of Irish parents, and in that province they followed farming, spending their last years there. Both were devout Methodists. Of their ten children, Matthew is the fourth oldest and the only one living in Califor- nia. He was brought up on the farm in Quebec and educated in the public schools. In April, 1891, when nineteen years old, he came West, making his way to British Columbia. He remained there only three months and then came to California in July, 1891. He worked on a dredger engaged on river improvement for a time and then returned to San Francisco, re- maining until June 17, 1892, when he came to Sacra- mento and entered the employ of the Southern Paci- fic Railroad in the department of bridges and build- ings, continuing steadily in that department for seven- teen years. His close application to his duty made him a very valuable man with the company and his de- pendability was appreciated. He worked from San Francisco to the Nevada line and from Dunsmuir on the north to Los Banos on the south, and could con- struct anything in the building line. As stated before, he was with them for seventeen years, except after the big fire in San Francisco, when, in April of 1906, he spent eighteen months doing structural iron work dur- ing the rebuilding of San Francisco, after which he returned to his old place with the Southern Pacific.

Mr. Smith was married on the old Frey ranch at Franklin, Sacramento County, in 1911, being united with Miss Elizabeth G. Frey, who was born at Frank- lin, a daughter of Heury Frey, a pioneer farmer in Sacramento County. After their marriage they made their home in Oakland for a time but Mrs. Smith had a longing for the country and the old ranch, and she having become the owner of ninety-two and three- quarters acres of the Henry Frey ranch, Mr. Smith re- signed his position with the Southern Pacific in 1912,

wishing to give all of his time to ranching, and located on their farm at Franklin. He built the comfortable residence and other farm buildings, which are ade- quate and convenient. He installed a pumping plant driven by a fifteen-horse-power engine for irrigating the ranch and a three-horse-power electric pumping plant for domestic use. He raises alfalfa and has a dairy herd of about twenty cows, supplying milk to the condensed-milk factory at Galt. Mr. and Mrs. Smith's union has been blessed with four children: Frances, Irwin, Ernest and Charlotte. Mr. Smith was made a Mason in Tehama Lodge No. 150, F. & A. M., at Tehama, Cal., while Mrs. Smith is a mem- ber of the Royal Neighbors at Franklin. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are enterprising and progressive, being optimistic for the future of this region so favored by soil and climate, and are doing their part towards its development and upbuilding. Politically they give their allegiance to the Republican party.

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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 114

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