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 115

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

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AUGUST LOUIS RUHSTALLER .- Prominent among the most successful managers of famous Cali- fornia hotels, performing a most important part in the social life of the Golden State, is undoubtedly August Louis Ruhstaller, the guiding spirit of the Capital Hotel, at Sacramento, in which city he was born in 1889, the son of Frank J. and Charlotte Ruhstaller, whose interesting life-story is elsewhere given in this historical work. He attended the public schools of his native city, and topped off his studies with courses at St. Joseph's College in Oakland and Howe's Business College, in Sacramento; and then he went into the brewery with his father, learning the various stages of the business under his guidance. His father passed away in October, 1907, and the mother survived her husband only until September, 1908. August Louis Ruhstaller continued in the employ of the brewery, working his way up to the position of shipping clerk, and representing the firm as a local salesman, and so enjoyed a wide and valuable acquaintance.

At the outbreak of the World War, August Ruh- staller offered his services in defense of his country, joining the infantry at first, and then getting trans- ferred to the aviation section, No. 257, S. S. & C. He did not succeed in getting across the sea, but was sta- tioned at Camp McArthur, Texas, in training there, and was under orders to go overseas when he was honorably discharged and returned to Sacramento. He then joined the service of the Capital Hotel, as a clerk, and was soon promoted from his clerkship and made cashier; and in June, 1921, he became man- ager. He has been more than successful in what is generally conceded to be a difficult role, and numbers a wide circle of acquaintances as his dependable friends. His experience, combined with a genial tem- perament and a real desire to render needed service, enables him to give satisfaction to all who are capable of appreciation.

At Olympia, Wash., in the year 1910, Mr. Ruhstaller was married to Miss Barbara Gresl, of Olympia, and their union has been blessed with the birth of two chil- dren, Doris and Barbara. Mr. Ruhstaller belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Elks and the Red Men. He is fond of deer-hunting and out-of- door life generally. All the world comes to Sacra- mento, sooner or later, and it is never the fault of Manager Ruhstaller if the best part of the world does not seek rest and refreshment at the Capital Hotel.

T.L. Ruhitaller,

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

PAUL GATEJEN .- A landscape gardener of note who has helped to extend the fame of the California capital far beyond the confines of Sacramento County is Paul Gatejen, a native of Hamburg, Germany, where he was born on March 4, 1875, the son of Henry and Doris (Herring) Gatejen, substantial people who enjoyed all the esteem of their fellow- mortals such as anyone might wish for. His father was a tax-collector, and they lived and died in their native land. Paul attended the excellent German schools, and while yet a youth was apprenticed to the landscape gardener's art. What he there learned so thoroughly, he added to later in other countries where the opportunity for a development of his skill was greater, and where, according to their varied conditions and problems, they had different ways of doing things.

When a young man of eighteen, with plenty of ambition, Paul Gatejen crossed the ocean already traveled by so many of his fellow-countrymen seek- ing their fortune in the New World, and came to the United States, locating in New York City for the next six years; but when the Spanish-American War broke out, he enlisted and served for three years, in the United States army. He saw active service in the hospital corps, was in three engagements and was wounded three times; but when the war was over he came out to California and to Sacramento. In 1906, he again took up his profession and for years he did landscape work far and wide, in private estates, and in school and other public grounds and he is still in such demand that he finds it necessary to refuse many invitations to lay out or supervise the grounds of those who would give much to secure him, and to profit by his experience and taste. He is a Veteran of Foreign Wars, is a Republican, and is public-spirited.

On August 6, 1903, occurred the marriage of Paul Gatejen and Miss Martha Cortsen of California, a native daughter of an old family; and their for- tunate union has been blessed with three children. Charles, Paul and Doris. Mr. Gatejen is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters.

GEORGE W. NEUBOURG .- A popular trans- portation official whose efficiency, together with his genial cooperation, repeatedly proves invaluable to Sacramento commercial and industrial interests, is George WV. Neubourg, the wide-awake freight agent of the Western Pacific. He is a native son, and was born at Sacramento on December 17, 1885, the son of Leonard and Dorethea (Kissenbroeck) Neubourg, the former a pioneer who came to the United States in 1848, and to Michigan and Califor- nia in 1852, traveling by way of the Isthmus, as did Mrs. Neubourg, who reached here in 1863, after which they were married here. Our subject comes, there- fore, of the best of pioneer stock. Mr. Neubourg was the proprietor of the Star Mills and Malt House, and he was in that business for thirty years, under the firm name of Neubourg & Lages, when he retired. The worthy couple had six children, and George was the youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Neubourg both died here, rich in friends and enjoying the good-will of a wide circle.

George W. Neubourg profited by the advantages of both the grammar and the high schools of Sacra- mento, and was graduated from the latter in 1905; and then for a year he was with the surveyor of Sac-

ramento County. After that, he was with the U. S. Geological Survey for three months, leaving on ac- count of his health; and on September 16, 1906, he went to work for the Western Pacific Railroad as chainman of a surveying party running out of Sacra- mento. He thus saw this railroad built, finished and in actual service; and he is the oldest man in the Western Pacific's service. In 1908, he was made a transit man; and on December 1, 1909, he was made collector, under W. C. Dibblee, the agent here. On March 1, 1911, he was promoted to be chief clerk, and on December 1, 1918, he was office engineer for T. L. Phillips, the engineer for the Western Pacific; and on March 1, 1920, he was appointed freight agent here. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club; and in politics he is Republican.

On May 31, 1913, occurred the wedding of Mr. Neubourg and Miss Norma Ketcham, a native of Sacramento and the daughter of a well-known Southern Pacific locomotive engineer. She passed away March 12, 1923. There is one child, Anna Maria. Mr. Neubourg is a Mason, and is senior warden in the Commandery, and belongs to the Ben Ali Temple and the Shrine; and he is a Native Son of the Golden West.

GEORGE J. HANLON .- A young man who is aid- ing in the development and upbuilding of the ranching interests of Sacramento County is George J. Hanlon, a native son, born on the American River fourteen miles east of Sacramento, October 1, 1885. His father John Hanlon was also a native of Sacramento County, while Grandfather George Hanlon was born in lowa, coming to California in the early fifties and settling at Clarksville. He remained a few years, and then established his headquarters at Fourteen-Mile House, from which place he engaged in teaming to Nevada. He was very successful and became the owner of several large ranches. His life history is recorded more fully in the biography of his daughter, Mrs. Georgiana McDermott.

John Hanlon was the next to the youngest of four children and learned farming and cattle-raising, in which endeavor he was very successful. However, he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors for he was stricken by death in August, 1886, aged only twenty-six years. The mother of our subject was Kittie Studarus, born in Sacramento County, whose father, John Studarus, was an early pioneer farmer and stockman. She passed away in Sacramento in November, 1922.

George J. Hanlon was the only child and after his father's death was reared by his Grandfather Hanlon, receiving his education in the public schools and San Jose high school, from which he was graduated, and afterwards he attended school in San Francisco. Removing to Minden, Nev., with his mother, where they owned a ranch, he engaged in raising alfalfa for three years. Returning to Santa Clara County he purchased an orchard near Campbell and became a fruit-grower for nine years, during which time he was a member of the California Prune Growers' Asso- ciation. He was the owner of lands in Sacramento County. He sold his holdings in Santa Clara County in: 1920, and returned to his native county and has since devoted his time to looking after his different ranches and at present he is developing and improving his Cosumnes ranch, comprising 680 acres, 350 acres of which is valley land and is under irrigation. With

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

others he has taken out and constructed a ditch from the Cosumnes of sufficient capacity to irrigate about 1,000 acres of land. He rents both his Deer Creek and American River ranches.

In 1914 in Eldorado County, Mr. Hanlon married Miss Florence Celio, a native' of that county, a daugh- ter of Frank and Amelia Celio, also a native son and daughter, who were cattle-growers, as were the grand- parents. Mrs. Hanlon received her education in his- torical old Placerville.

Mr. Hanlon is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and is a charter member of Ben Ali Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Sacramento, while Mrs. Hanlon is a member of the Eastern Star.

SAMSON E. LIMA .- Industrial art in Sacramento County is well represented by the talented Samson E. Lima, of Twelfth Street road, in the capital city, and his successful enterprise of making ornamental plaster decorations. He is a Norwegian by birth, and was born in that picturesque Northern country in the city of Stavanger, October 26, 1871, a son of Erik and Anna (Stueland) Lima; and in the schools of Norway he received that fine educational training which has proven of such inestimable value to him in his path-breaking work.

When old enough to do so, Samson E. Lima learned the wood-carver's trade; but he had no sooner made himself proficient in that than he took up the making of plaster decorations. Then he went to British South Africa in 1903, and stayed there for three years; and after that he returned to his native country. All the while, he was acquiring more and more practical experience of value and more thor- oughly preparing himself for his present responsible undertakings.

In 1907, believing that his future lay in the New World, Samson Lima crossed the ocean to the United States, locating in San Francisco, where he spent two years and then one year at Lincoln as model-maker with the Gladding McBean terra cotta works. It was in 1910 that he came to Sacramento. He was not long in establishing himself in the field in which he is now a leader, and such is his ability, his experience, and his devotion to the best interests of his patrons, that he now does most of the orna- mental plaster-work wanted in the city. He put the artistic touches to the Forum Building, the Masonic Temple at Tenth and J Streets, the County Hospital and the principal theaters; and he has also done much work outside of the city, including the orna- mentation of churches and banks, and he keeps two men employed all the time. His plant is located on the Twelfth Street road, near the railroad, and it is a busy art-center. He built his residence at 621 Fortieth Street, where he resides with his family.

In San Francisco, in 1909, Mr. Lima married Miss Inga Person, a native of Sweden, near Stockholm, and they have four children to gladden their happy domestic life. Anny is the eldest, then come Eliza- beth and Edith, while the youngest is Ruth; and they are all attending the local schools. The family belong to the Scandinavian Mission Church, and Mr. Lima seeks to exert the best political influence as a man independent of party. He is fond of the attrac- tion and pleasures of outdoor life, and that means that he is fond of Sacramento County.

PETER J. WILKIE,-A native of Scotland, Peter J. Wilkie was born in the town of Paisley, on Janu- ary 1, 1877. He is the only surviving son of John and Nora (Monaghan) Wilkie, and is a descendant of one of the oldest Scottish families, whose names have helped to make Scotland famous. His was a family of artists. One member of the family be- longed to the Royal Academy, and by some of the critics his paintings have been ranked with the fic- tion of Scott and Burns; in 1836, he received the honor of knighthood.

When fifteen years of age, Peter J. Wilkie came to Canada and went to work on a farm; but after three years he decided that farming would never satisfy him as a permanent vocation, and going to the city of Ottawa, he entered the employ of the Coles Na- tional Manufacturing Company, dealers in art goods and interior decorations. Finding the business to his liking, he made rapid advancement, and the firm de- cided to send him out as a traveling representative. For a number of years thereafter he represented them, until the Watson Foster Company, of Mon- treal, Quebec, recognizing his ability as a salesman, engaged him at what was then considered a very high salary even for a commercial traveller. Later still he was travelling representative of the Reg. N. Boxer Company, of the same city. He has travelled all over Canada, and is familiar with every city and town of importance from Halifax, N. S., to Victoria, B. C. Besides having a speaking acquaintance in nearly every town in the Eastern States, he has also visited many European countries; and being a close observer of conditions and circumstances, he finds California superior to any other country in which he has ever traveled.

In the year 1901, Mr. Wilkie married Miss Maude Woods, of Brockville, Canada, and by her he has had four very promising children, Elsie, Harold, Lillis and Leslie, the two last-named having been born in Sacramento.

Mr. Wilkie came to California in 1913, and took charge of the decorating department of the J. P. Jarman Company, at San Jose. A year later he re- moved to Sacramento, to take charge of the same class of work for the C. H. Krebs Company, with whom he remained until in 1916, when he went to the Mexican Border with the United States Army.

As a boy, he had studied law, in the law school of Walter Jenkins, near Campbeltown in Scotland, and continued to read law and to be interested in that profession for many years after his arrival in Canada. In 1913 he became a student of La Salle University, Chicago, Il1., and four years later, in 1917, he was successful in being admitted to the Bar, in this state; and he is now a member of the State and County Bar Associations.

Mr. Wilkie has gained state-wide, and indeed nation-wide, attention by his fearless and tireless efforts to defend a cause, in which he honestly and sincerely believed; but which, upon discovering its falsity, he assisted in prosecuting with the same de- termination he had displayed in its defense. In 1917, he became a member of the infamous American Ma- sonic Federation, under the impression that it was a regular Masonic body. Shortly after his initiation into the order, he became suspicious of the authority which the organization claimed, and began a long and comprehensive search of their credentials and records,

Mickie

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

but could find no flaw therein. The members' diplo- mas came to them directly from Scotland, and mem- bers both of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Scotland and of other Masonic Grand Lodges, from foreign countries, often visited the lodges of the American Masonic Federation, some of them becoming regular attenders. Mr. Wilkie, in his professional capacity, was often called upon to defend the members of the organization in the courts of California, on charges of being clandestine and on charges of misrepresen- tation; and in every case he was successful in gain- ing an acquittal, thereby becoming more firmly con- vinced of the justness of his cause.

In 1919, he had been elected to the second high- est office in the Supreme Lodge of this order for the United States, and in the absence of the Supreme Grand Master, who was then on a visit to Switzer- land, Mr. Wilkie received information of an alarming nature. He awaited the return of his superior, and then laid this information before him, obtaining a complete confession of his guilt. Thereupon, Mr. Wilkie immediately began to prepare the members of the order in California for the disclosure which he later made, in June, 1921; and before the end of that year he had destroyed the organization utterly, and in the month of May, 1922, he assisted the United States prosecutor in obtaining a conviction of the parties responsible for the fraud which had been im- posed upon the American public for over fourteen years. They were sentenced to the Leavenworth prison, and were fined in the sum of $5,000 cach.

In this manner Mr. Wilkie not only vindicated his character and reputation, but again proved his sin- cerity and fearlessness. He will fight to the last ditch, in the old Scottish style, for a cause in which he has faith and confidence, and will just as sin- cerely and persistently pursue and prosecute a fraud or a faker. He is a friend to the poor and the unfor- tunate, and believes that the chief end of his profes- sion is to assist the courts to do justice.

MRS. ELIZABETH C. HEATH .- Among the oldest settlers now living in Michigan Bar is Mrs. Elizabeth C. Heath, a native of Arkansas, born near Little Rock, on September 14, 1852, a daughter of James Monroe and Faletia Warren Carter, who crossed the plains in 1856 to California, locating at Michigan Bar, where for a time he followed mining. Later he purchased a small farm and followed ranch- ing. The father died on March 13, 1894, while the wife and mother died August 22, 1887. Of their ten children, three are living: Julia, Mrs. Perkins, of Ione; William A., of Sacramento; and Elizabeth M., the subject of this review.

Elizabeth M. Carter attended the local schools and soon after completing her schooling she was married in 1873 to John Wesley Heath, who was born in Adams County, Ind., November 18, 1846, his father being George W. Heath, who was born in Mfont- gomery County, Ohio, January 11, 1817, a son of William and Amy (Watkins) Heath. In 1832 the family moved to Adams County, Indiana. George W. Heath was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He came to California in 1852 and became one of the pioneer Methodist ministers in California. He owned a 160-acre farm near Michigan Bar and served as justice of the peace of his township. He was married in Ohio December 3, 1837, to Miss Rachel Jane Roebuck, born in Ohio, February 29,

1820, a daughter of John and Rachel (Russell) Roe- buck. Mr. and Mrs. Heath have long since passed to the great beyond. John W. Heath came to Cali- fornia in 1854 and received a good education in the district schools, and as a young man he followed min- ing and clerking. In 1877 he became junior partner in the firm of West and Heath, general merchants at Michigan Bar, and in October of that year lic was appointed postmaster of Michigan Bar. In 1885 he became sole proprietor of the business, continuing in business and as postmaster until his death on De- cember 21, 1917. He was a past master of the Masonic Lodge at Ione, and was also a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in the same place. He was school trustee and manifested a deep interest in the cause of education, while politically he was a Repub- lican. Mr. and Mrs. Heath were the parents of eight children: Nellie B., deceased; Lena Maud; Myrtle E .; Mrs. Edna Alice Schneider; George Monroe; John Edward; Bertha Faletia, deceased; and Mrs. Bessie Beryl MfcCrea. After her husband's death Mrs. Heath sold the stock of merchandise and also gave up the post-office, devoting her time to the manage- ment of her 200-acre ranch, which she devotes to stockraising. She is now among the oldest settlers in this section and is well posted in early-day local his- tory, and is greatly interested in preserving land- marks and happenings of the pioneer times "in the Golden State.

MRS. LUCINDA GIROLAMI .- A native daugh- ter who has seen much of the improvement and growth of her native city, the capital of the great commonwealth of California, is Mrs. Lucinda Giro- lami, a daughter of pioneer parents, Frank and Maria (Raggo) Guisto, who were natives of Genoa, Italy. Frank Guisto, when a lad of seven years, came with his parents to Philadelphia, Pa., where he received a good education in the public schools of that city. In 1852 he came to California, around Cape Horn in a sailer, to Jackson, Cal., and there he followed min- ing, and there, too, he married Miss Raggo, who was brought from her native Italy when a babe in arms by her parents to Philadelphia and to Jackson, Cal., when she was a girl of seven years, arriving there in 1853 or 1854. In that pioneer mining town she attended school, and grew to woman- hood. Soon after their marriage they located in Sacramento, so they were through the flood of 1861 and 1862. Mr. Guisto engaged in farming, purchas- ing twelve acres of land, now in the city limits, where he raised asparagus until his death in 1899. His widow afterwards sold the place to Mr. Carmichael, who subdivided and sold it as the Casa Loma Addi- tion, and it is now built up. Mrs. Guisto lived to the age of seventy years, passing away in 1917. They were granted two children: John, who resides in Casa Loma, and Lucinda the subject of this interest- ing review. She received her education in the River- side school and assisted her mother competently in presiding over the home until her marriage on De- cember 25, 1881, being united with Constant Giro- lami, who was born in Lucca, Italy. He made his way to Sacramento, Cal., when thirteen years of age. He began at the bottom and paddled his own canoe, in time becoming a farmer, and he demonstrated his ability to succeed and with the aid of his estimable wife accumulated a competency and became in- fluential in their community. They owned a ranch at

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Thirty-fifth and B Streets, and also one on Riverside road, where they engaged in growing asparagus. However, he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors for he was called to the world beyond on February 8, 1906, a man who was deeply mourned by his family and friends.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Girolami was blessed with three children: Estelle is the wife of Peter Lago- marsino, of Sacramento, and has two children, Earl and Doris; Eva is the wife of John B. Lagomarsino, and also lives in the capital city, and has a son named John Bert, Jr .; and the youngest of the family is Justine, Mrs. Vincent Matteucci, of San Francisco, who has a daughter, Justine Marie.

After her husband's death, Mrs. Girolami continued farming, specializing in asparagus for a few years, when she rented her ranches and now devotes her time to looking after other interests. She manifests a decp interest in civic and social conditions in her native city, for whose prosperity she is very zealous. During the World War she was active in the Red Cross and other allied war work. Mrs. Girolami is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and being a firm believer in the principle of protection for Amer- ica and Americans, she is a strong Republican is poli- tical views.

CAPTAIN ROBERT H. DUNDAS .- Popular to an exceptional degree for an official having so much to do with a varied public, Captain Robert H. Dun- das, of the Sacramento police, finds it relatively easy to take charge of, and to direct and control the traf- fic of the capital city. He is a Canadian by birth, having been born in Ontario on October 10, 1888, and his parents were Edwin and Emma (Aiken) Dundas, who came to Sacramento as far back as 1890. He joined the Southern Pacific Railroad as construction man, and helped to construct many of their extensive snow-sheds; and now, cheered by the companionship of his devoted wife, he is living re- tired.

Robert Dundas pursued the curricula in both the grammar and the high schools, and then joined the United States army. He belonged to the marines, and saw service in Asia and in the Philippines for three and one-half years, and was awarded a con- gressional medal for service there. He was then in the transportation department of the Southern Pa- cific for six years, and after that enlisted in the World War. and was Lieutenant of Field Artillery on the East Coast for one and one-half years.

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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 115

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