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 121

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 121

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HENRY SCHNEIDER .- A native son who has made an enviable success in the stock business and be- come a very influential man of affairs in his com- munity is Henry Schneider, who was born in Pleas- ant Valley, Eldorado County, April 24, 1866. His father was also named Henry Schneider, a native of Zurich, Switzerland, who emigrated to St. Louis. Mo. He was a butcher by trade and followed that business in the metropolis of Missouri until he re- moved to Kansas City, where he ran one of the first meat markets in that city. In 1855 he was butcher for the United States government on the plains, spending two years on the frontier. He was in Utali at the time of the Mountain Meadow massacre and helped bury the dead. In the fall of 1857 he came to Placerville, Cal., where he engaged in butchering; then he went to Diamondville in the same business. Purchasing a farm in Pleasant Valley, he engaged In stock-raising until his death in 1914. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow. He had married in Diamond Spring Louise Schmidt, a native of New York City. Her father, Eugene Schmidt, was born in Germany, while her mother was born in Paris. They crossed the plains to California when Louise was a child, arriving in San Francisco when it was a town of shacks. She passed away in 1911.

Henry Schneider was the oldest of their seven children and attended the local public school until he was cleven years of age, when he took a man's place, assisting his father in the stock business at the same time he attended night school until he was thirteen years of age. He continued buying cattle for his father and also driving a meat wagon, retail- ing meat through the country until 1889, when he started in business for himself.

In February, 1889, at El Dorado Mr. Schneider was married to Miss Hester M. Wheeler, who was born in El Dorado, a daughter of Noah and Hannah Wheeler, natives of New York and Mineral Point, Wis., respectively, who had crossed the plains to California in an early day. He was a wheelwright by trade, but soon after locating in El Dorado en- gaged in the building business; and both spent the remainder of their lives there. After his marriage Mr. Schneider engaged in the butcher and stock business in El Dorado and in time became the owner of a 1,100-acre ranch there. In 1906 he removed his family to Sacramento, where his children at- tended school, at the same time continuing his stock business. 1n 1909, he purchased his present ranch on the Cosumnes River, taking his son Leland into partnership with him. He engages in raising grain, alfalfa, sheep and cattle, running about 500 head of high-grade Hereford cattle and about 2,500 head of sheep. They have added to their holdings and now own 5,200 acres on the Cosumnes River near Slough House, besides mountain lands for summer range. 1n 1920 he improved his ranch with a nice new resi- dencc, on a rise overlooking the beautiful Cosumnes Valley, making a very sightly place. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Schneider resulted in the birth of four children: Leland W. is a partner of his father and is a graduate of Heald's Business College: Amy Irene is the wife of Thomas Burke of Plymouth; Blanche is the wife of Melvin Russell of Folsom; while the youngest child, Ione, is attending Heald's Business College. Mr. Schneider and his son are members of

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Diamond Spring Lodge No. 9, 1. O. O. F., and of the California Cattle Growers' Association, and be- ing protectionists are naturally Republicans.

CHARLES S. SCHOECH .- An officer who is doing his duty and who has been a resident of the county for forty-five years is Charles S. Schoech, a native of Iowa, born in Wapello County, October 1, 1857. His father, Gebhardt Schoech, was born in Tyrol, Austria, coming to America when a young man of eighteen years to Missouri with his father, who died of yellow fever six months after his arrival. In 1850 Mr. Schoech crossed the plains to California and here he mined for four years and then he re- turned to Germany via Panama, after which he came back to the United States and located in Wapello County, lowa. Charles Walther, a comrade in the mines in California, had made the trip with him to Germany, being a native of Württemberg, and on Mr. Schoech's return to America, Charles Walther and his sister, Emma, were fellow passengers, and soon after their arrival in Iowa Gebhardt Schoech and Miss Walther were married. Although a cabinet- maker by trade, Mr. Schoech soon turned to farm- ing for a livelihood, and purchasing a farm he raised corn and hogs, becoming a well-to-do and substan- tial citizen. The father died May 25, 1908, in his eightieth year, his wife having preceded him about 1901 in her seventy-fourth year. They were the par- ents of eleven children, ten of whom grew up, two girls and eight boys.

Charles Schoech, who was the, oldest of the eight sons, was reared on the lowa farm and received his education in the local schools. He had al- ways been interested in California because of his father's experience in the mines in the early gold days, and when he had passed his twentieth year he started for California, arriving in Sacramento in February, 1878. He worked on a big ranch for three years and then returned to Iowa, where he spent a year. While there he married Miss Eliza Jane Davis, who was born in Schuyler County, Mis- souri, a daughter of Gilbert and Jane (Darby) Da- vis, natives of Ohio. Eliza Jane Davis was engaged in teaching in Iowa until her marriage. Soon after this happy event the young couple moved to Ne- braska, locating a homestead and timber claim in the Elk Horn country; but Mrs. Schoech's health was not good there, so they decided to remove to California. Selling their holdings they arrived in Sacramento County in the spring of 1885, and soon purchased a small ranch at Franklin and built a resi- dence which has been their home ever since. For many years he leased land and farmed to grain; but he now engages in dairying on their fifty-five-acre ranch, which is well improved with a pumping plant and is now seeded to alfalfa.

For about tweny-five years Mr. Schoech was con- stable of old Franklin Township before its consoli- dation as San Joaquin Township. In 1922 he was elected the first constable of the new township, a position he is creditably filling, having his headquar- ters in Elk Grove. One child has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Schoech, Roby, who married Miss Elizabeth Backer and has had two children: Evelyn, deceased, and Vivian. Roby Schoech is assisting his father in operating the dairy and also driving a truck for the Northern California Milk Producers' Associa- tion. Mr. Schoech is a charter member of Franklin

Camp No. 7281, Modern Woodmen of America, and has been a member of the board of managers since its organization, while Mrs. Schoech is a member of the Royal Neighbors.

WILLIAM E. KLEINSORGE .- A very success- ful legal practitioner of the city of Sacramento is found in William E. Kleinsorge, who was admitted to the California bar in 1894. Sacramento, Cal., is his native city, where he was born January 13, 1867, a son of William and Emma (Stose) Kleinsorge. The father of our subject came to California in 1862, having been preceded by Miss Emma Stose by ten years, and this pioneer couple were married in Cali- fornia; the father was a wholesale groceryman and was engaged in business in Sacramento until his death in 1880. While spending his youthful days under the parental roof William E. Kleinsorge at- tended the grammar and high schools of Sacramento; then he studied law under L. T. Hatfield and Albert M. Johnson and in 1894 had completed his studies and was admitted to practice in the state of Cali- fornia.

The marriage of Mr. Kleinsorge united him with Miss Louise Drescher, a daughter of P. C. Drescher, wholesale grocer of Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Klein- sorge are the parents of one son, William Philip. Mr. Kleinsorge is a Republican in his political allegiance and fraternally is a Knight Templar, Shriner and thirty-second degree Mason; he is also a member of the Sutter and Del Paso Clubs of Sacramento.

EDGAR FRANK KENNEDY .- A successful business man at Franklin, who is a native son, is Ed- gar Frank Kennedy, born near Florin, Sacramento County, August 19, 1884. His father, Frank Ken- nedy, was also born near Florin. The grandfather, William Kennedy, a native of the state of Maine, crossed the plains in the early fifties to California and located two miles north of Elk Grove. How- ever, it was not long until he removed to Oregon; and then he went to southern California and after- wards spent some time in various portions of the state, but he spent his last days in Florin. Frank Kennedy has been a farmer and fruit-grower, and he now re- sides on his home ranch near Elk Grove, whither he moved in 1886. Mr. Kennedy's mother was Estella Firth, before her marriage, a native of Pennsylvania. A woman of culture and refinement, she still presides over the old home, being the mother of five children: Leona was the wife of Ed Kloss, but passed away at thirty-four years of age; Edgar is the subject of our interesting review; Mrs. Hazel King lives near Hood; Mrs. Edna Lenore and Elmer are both residing in Sacramento.

Edgar F. Kennedy spent his youth on the farm and attended school in the Jackson district. After his school days were over he followed orcharding, which was his principal pursuit until 1910, when he began working for Ed Kloss, and under his direction he learned butchering and stock-buying, becoming particularly adept at butchering. In 1918 he bought out the old Ed Kloss butcher shop in Franklin, which in time he rebuilt and remodeled and opened a new market, in which undertaking he has met with great success. The place is well equipped with a Blairco ice machine and refrigeration plant, with a capacity of five tons, and the whole plant will have a refrigeration capacity of fifteen beeves. In his

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

business he employs two Dodge auto trucks, the routes covering a large territory, including an area ten by twenty miles. This method is of great con- venience and accommodation to the country cus- tomers, the meat being sold at the same price as at the shop. Mr. Kennedy is at the helm every day and by his energy, close application, and enthusiasm is making a decided success of the business.

Mr. Kennedy was married in Sacramento to Miss Josephine Stewart, a native of Amador County, Cali- fornia, a daughter of a pioneer family, and they make their home in their comfortable residence just south of Franklin. Fraternally, Mr. Kennedy is a mem- ber of Elk Grove Parlor No. 41, N. S. G. W. He is liberal and enterprising, has great faith in the future greatness of the Sacramento Valley, and in his progressive way can always be counted upon to give of his time and means as far as he is able towards its upbuilding and development.

JESSE LEE REITH .- A native son of California, Jesse Lee Reith was born on the old Reith home- stead at Union House, eight and a half miles south of Sacramento, on January 13, 1869. His father, John Reith, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, July 2, 1828 His grandfather, also named John, was a clock-maker and manufactured the big hall clocks. Jesse Reith has one of these, which was made over 100 years ago. As was the custom of the boys born and raised in the seaport town of Aberdeen, John Reith chose the sea and followed the coasting trade, in which he rose to able seaman, and then sailed on deep water, visit- ing the important ports of the world and circumnavi- gating the globe. His last voyage was in a ship bound to Australia and thence to San Francisco. Arriving in March, 1850, he was thrilled by the gold discovery, left the vessel, and like hundreds of others rushed to the mines, making his way up the Sacra- mento River in a small sailing vessel which he him- self piloted. He was amazed at the magnitude of the river and saw the possibilities of the vast river bottoms. For three years he mined at Auburn Ravine, Rattlesnake Bar, and other early mining camps; but finding that the search for the elusive metal was not so profitable as he had anticipated, he determined to engage in farming. So, returning to Sacramento County, he located 320 acres of govern- ment land; and in time fulfilling the requirements of the law, he obtained title to the land. It was splendid meadow land, and he cut the grass, selling the hay to the teamsters who were hauling to the mines; and later he drifted into stock-raising and farming, He raised some of the first wheat in these parts, set out cottonwood groves, built a residence and other farm buildings, and in time had a well-improved farm and dairy; and there he made his home until his death, which occurred on December 9, 1921, at the age of ninety-three years. He had served as trustee of Perry school district for almost thirty years. The marriage of John Reith occurred in Sacramento in 1860, when he was united with Miss Annie Boswell, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came via the Panama route to San Francisco in the early fifties. She was a faithful wife and loving mother, a truly good woman, who pioneered nobly with her husband until her death in 1901. Eight children blessed the union of this pioneer couple. Henry died in San Joaquin County. John resides in Woodland

W. C. died in Sacramento. Jesse Lee is the subject of our review. Fenelon M. died in Sacramento. Charles E. resides in San Francisco. Mrs. Jane Rich- mond and Anne reside in Woodland.

From a lad, Jesse Lee Reith assisted his father on the home farm, early in life learning the rudiments of farming. His education was obtained in the pub- lic school in his home district, and at Napa College. After completing his studies he selected ranching for his life work, taking charge of his father's ranch; and here he engaged in grain-growing and stock- raising, in time becoming owner of the old home- stead. He now has a well-selected herd of Jerseys for his dairy, which he is conducting with gratifying success. Greatly interested in preserving California history and pioneer landmarks, he is a member of Sunset Parlor, N. S. G. W., in Sacramento. Polit- ically, he is a stanch Republican, having been a member of the County Central Committee. He is active in the support of high public morals, and has served as a member of the grand jury.

JOSEPH E. HICKS .- Representing the third gen- eration of a family of California pioneers, Joseph E. Hicks has spent his entire life in the vicinity of his birth. He was born on the old Hicks ranch, near the present location of McConnell Station, Sacramento County, on August 20, 1884. His father, James B. Hicks, was born in Tennessee on August 7, 1849, a son of Joseph and Martha Hicks, both natives of Virginia. Joseph Hicks came around the Horn with his wife and four children when James was a small boy. The family settled at first near Jackson, Ama- dor County, then moved to Sacramento County and acquired part of the Chaboya Grant on Dry Creek, south of the present location of Galt. Here James B. Hicks was reared, and on December 1, 1877, he was married to Miss Etta Frederick, who was born at Sacramento May 29, 1855, the daughter of Louis and Elizabeth (Geater) Frederick. Louis Frederick was a native of Germany; and on coming to the United States he settled in Lexington, Ky., where he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Geater. Four children were born to them in Kentucky; and in 1853 the family came around the Horn to California, and here four more children were born, only two of whom are now living. Mrs. James B. Hicks, and William Frederick, who lives at Rocklin, Cal. Louis Frederick was a tailor: and he first settled in Sacramento, where he carried on his trade. In 1867 he moved to a ranch three miles from Roseville, Placer County, and farmed there for a number of years. He died in Oakland at the age of sixty-nine, Mrs. Frederick passing away when fifty-nine.

After his marriage James B. Hicks established the firm of Bottimore & Hicks, entering the butcher busi- ness at Galt and continuing there until he sold out his interest and moved to the old Hicks ranch, where our subject, Joseph E. Hicks, was born. James B. Hicks farmed this 1,100-acre ranch for fifteen years and then returned to Galt, where he spent his last days, passing away June 24, 1904; he was survived by his widow, who is still living there. They were the parents of several children: Fred, of Yuba City, Cal .; Pearl, Mrs. C. F. Whitmore of San Francisco, who has four children, James, Leslie, Helen and Emily; Ralph M .; and Joseph E., of Yuba City.

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Joseph E. Hicks received his education at the Galt and Arno schools and when sixteen started out for himself. He worked for the Don Ray Company of Galt as clerk for five years; then for a year and a half he was in business for himself, and the following ten years were spent in the store of Sawyer Bros., Inc., of Galt. Upon the resignation of R. H. Brewster as constable of Galt, Mr. Hicks was appointed in his place, and he held this office to the entire satisfaction of the public. On December 10, 1921, Mr. Hicks opened up a soft drink business. This business was sold on May 26, 1923, and Mr. Hicks is now man- ager of one of fifty stores owned by the Martha Washington Grocery Stores, Inc., at Yuba City, Sut- ter County, his home address now being 404 B Street, Yuba City.

On June 10, 1910, Mr. Hicks was married to Miss Grace A. Sparks, the daughter of Merritt A. and Mary (Driscol) Sparks. Her father, who was a native of Crawford County, Pa., was a son of Merritt S. and Angelina (Kettle) Sparks, both natives of New York. When Merritt A. Sparks was nine months old, the family removed to Clay County, Ind, and there at Bowling Green he received his education and learned the carriage-making trade, which he fol- lowed in Cincinnati, St. Louis, Mo., Peoria, Ill., and Crawfordsville, Ind. In 1875 he came to California and remained for a time at Sacramento, going from there to Dutch Flat, where he worked for a year and a half. In 1878 he came to Galt and for twelve years conducted a shop along the lines of his trade. He and his wife still live at Galt. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph E. Hicks are the parents of three children: Melvin Max- well, Josephine, and Mary Etta, who was named for her two grandmothers. Mr. Hicks is a Democrat in politics. He is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of Galt, and is also a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

HIATT T. HIATT .- An eminent, successful at- torney who worthily represents the bar of California is Hiatt T. Hiatt, a native of Woodland, Cal., where he was born on December 15, 1889. He attended first the local grammar school, and then the high school of his home district; and when old enough to plunge deeply into books and lore, studied law privately.

In January, 1910, Mr. Hiatt was admitted to prac- tice in the state of California, and soon afterward he entered the law offices of Messrs. DeLigne & Jones, in Sacramento, where he remained until he was ready to practice for himself. His patriotism led him to abandon professional work and ambition, however. when the World War came to involve his native country ; and for nine months he was in France as a private. In November, 1919, he returned to Sacra- mento and entered into partnership with Frank Gafney, whose office was in the Ochsner Building: and he has contributed his share to the success of the firm, which is considered one of the most de- pendable legal firms in northern California. He was also admitted to practice in the federal courts, and this has given him and his partner a real advan- tage from which their patrons frequently profit. He belongs to the state and county bar associations, and is a valued pillar in the Republican party.

Mr. Hiatt is a Mason, of the York Rite, and a past grand high priest of the Royal Arch. He is fond of baseball and likes outdoor life especially.

ANDREW N. ANDERSON .- An energetic, pro- gressive and very successful rancher, whose pros- 1.erity has become a source of pride to his friends as well as to himself, is Andrew N. Anderson, who was born at Rio Vista, on February 28, 1880. His father, Neil Christian Anderson, was a native of Fyen, Den- mark, and married Miss Anna Thorhaven, from Schleswig-Holstein; he had come out to California when he was eighteen years old, during the seven- ties, and their wedding was one of the pleasant fea- tures of the social life of their day in San Francisco. He moved to Rio Vista with his bride, and first worked for Mr. Toland, on his farm there; and later he embarked in farming for himself. He owns a 2,000-acre ranch in the Montezuma Hills, four miles from Rio Vista, but he now lives retired in Oakland. The worthy couple had nine children: Lulu, the eldest; Andrew, of this review: and William, Holger, Anna, Neil, Jr., Edward, Clarence and Iva.

Andrew Anderson attended the common school at Rio Vista and Atkinson's Business College of Sac- ramento, where he was graduated in 1900. He fol- lowed clerical work for five years, for the Wood- Curtis Company, of the capital city, and then became shipping clerk for Baker & Hamilton, hardware mer- chants of Sacramento, with whom he remained for three years. Thereafter he had charge of the elec- trical department of the Southern Pacific stores in Sacramento, and from there he was transferred to the supply train of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and traveled over the Western Division. For two years he worked under Mr. Fay, on the City of Sac- ramento wharf. In 1912. Mr. Anderson came to Sherman Island and began farming, and now he has 150 acres devoted to asparagus for the most part, and the balance to grain. He is now serving his eighth year as a trustee of the local school district. Non-partisan in his support of measures for the ben- efit of the community as a whole, in matters of na- tional political moment Mr. Anderson is a liberal Republican.

Andrew N. Anderson was married at Sacramento on September 21, 1904, to Miss Minnie Nagle, a na- tive of Sacramento and the daughter of William and Mary (Sheehan) Nagle, who were early settlers at Courtland, Cal. After marriage, Mr. Nagle farmed Mr. Sheehan's ranch for a few years, and then he was for years associated with the San Francisco municipal railroads. Today he enjoys a pension in retirement. They had two children: Annie, Mrs. Dittus of Sacramento; and Minnie, now Mrs. Ander- son, a graduate of St. Joseph Academy. One child, Ila, has added to the happiness of Mr. and Mrs. An- derson's married life. Mr. Anderson is a member of Valley Lodge, No. 559, B. P. O. Elks.

CAPT. CALVIN H. SMITH,-A man of pleasing personality and an interesting career is Calvin H. Smith, who was born on a farm in Adams, Iowa, on December 18, 1882, the son of Jacob and Deborah (Bullock) Smith. Mrs. Smith visited Sacramento in 1916; her husband is deceased. They were both na- tives of Ohio, and came to Jowa in an carly day.

Calvin H. Smith was educated in the public schools and graduated from the high school at Corn- ing. Jowa, when he was seventeen years old. When he came to California, in 1899, he located in Stock- ton and resided there for ten years; and he started to work as a deck hand on a steamboat, and was

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promoted until he became Captain in 1914. He worked for the Farmers' Transportation Company, and in 1918 he began with the Sacramento Transpor- tation Company.

On November 18, 1912, Calvin H. Smith was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Schade, a na- tive daughter of the Golden State. Both of her par- ents were born in Monterey, and were numbered among the early pioneers of California. Mr. Smith is a member of the National Mates and Pilots' Association of America. He is very fond of outdoor sports, being especially interested in hunting.

GEORGE T. RYAN .- A young man of much promise who passed away in the prime of life was George T. Ryan, one of the representative business men in Sacramento and a man who was always ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. A native son, he was born in Sacramento on April 2, 1879, the son of the late Capt. Thomas A. and Clara S. Ryan. George attended the local public schools and when he had finished the high school courses he began his life work on the river boats, starting at the bottom and gradually working his way up to the top until he received his papers making him a Master of steamboats on the Sacra- mento River. He continued on the river for about eight years, when he left the water and embarked in the grocery business.

George T. Ryan was married to Miss Ella Beitzel, a daughter of Jacob and Caroline (Stark) Beitzel. Jacob Beitzel came to California in 1858 and was employed for many years in the shops of the South- ern Pacific, and here he spent his last days. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan became the parents of three children. Earl, Thomas and Bessie. Politically Mr. Ryan was a man above party. After a useful career he passed away in October, 1919.

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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 121

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