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 127

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 127

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SAMUEL DOWDIN, JR .- A prominent citizen of Sacramento County is Samuel Dowdin, Jr., the free- holder of Folsom City. He was born on his father's ranch, one and one-half miles south of Nimbus Sta- tion, in that county, on November 24, 1877, the son of Samuel Dowdin, who was a native of Old England, where he first saw light on April 24, 1832. He had come direct to America with his father, who expired while en route to California, the devoted kin being called upon to lay him to rest in the soil of Indiana; and Samuel continued on to California with his oxen, and arrived at Placerville early in 1852. He was a placer miner at Peet's Flat, but the great flood of 1862 swept away all he had acquired of earthly pos- sessions, and he was fortunate to escape with his life. Soon afterward he was married to Miss Orrella Al- lyn, a noble woman of Scotch ancestry, who had arrived in the Golden State in 1862, having traveled to Placerville by ox team.

Samuel Dowdin, Jr., is the second youngest of a family of five sons and two daughters, the eldest being Robert C. Dowdin, a rancher at Live Oaks in Sutter County. Angeline, the second-born, is now the wife of B. H. Taylor, of Sacramento. Cyrus M. is a rancher at Verona, in North Sacramento. And Charlotte E., the youngest, married C. M. Corbin, of the capital city. Two brothers, Edward and William, are deceased. All the children attended the Kinney School.

Samuel Dowdin, Sr., bought 320 acres in Butte County, at a place called Central House, and re- moved with his family there; but in 1889 he returned to Sacramento County. His son, Samuel, farmed for himself at home, until he entered the employ of the Natoma Vineyard Company, where he worked for eight years on a vineyard of 2,000 acres, the second largest of its kind in the United States, situated near Sacramento, midway toward Folsom City. At the age of twenty-three, he started work on a steam- dredger, in gold mining on the Mississippi Bar, and for three years he was occupied there; and soon after

that, this plant was turned into an electric dredge, so that since his twenty-third year, he has followed the dredgerman's work in every department. He worked for the Folsom Development Company, and when this was merged into the Natomas Company of Cali- fornia, he still continued with the Natomas Company. He has been an active participator and an eye-witness in this extensive industry and has seen the 500-pound buckets replaced by others each weighing 4,200 pounds.

Full of years and honors, Samuel Dowdin, Sr., passed away on October 1, 1905, at the age of seventy- three, and four years later, at the age of sixty-three, Mrs. Dowdin breathed her last. Both were esteemed and beloved by all who knew them.

Mr. Dowdin is thoroughly patriotic. During the World War he gave splendid support to Liberty Loan drives and to all Red Cross work. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and has been president. He is a past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge; and he is a past master of Masons, belonging to the Natoma lodge, and is a member of the Eastern Star.

CHRIS R. JONES .- A thoroughly wide-awake and experienced man of real estate affairs is Chris R. Jones, vice-president of the Hickman-Coleman Com- pany of Sacramento, now residing at 1115 Forty- third Street and having his offices at 724 J Street. His parents were both English, his father, William E. Jones, having married Phoebe Parker; and the mother has passed away. For the past thirty-five years Wil- liam E. Jones has been engaged in the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in the car shops, and during that time he has never failed to maintain a high standard in his work.

Chris R. Jones went to the grammar and then to the high school, in Sacramento, and for five years he engaged in the newspaper business. Then he was a real estate salesman for five years, and in April, 1917, he became affiliated with, and a director of the Hick- man-Coleman Company, the prominent realtors, deal- ing in real estate and insurance. Two years ago, he was made vice-president of the concern. He is an ex-director of the Chamber of Commerce and has con- tributed what he could toward making that organiza- tion so effective in the expansion of commercial affairs in northern California. He is also one of the organizers and a former president of the Sacramento Realtors' Association.

In 1913, at Sacramento, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Effie Buell, a native daughter of an old and well-known pioneer family; and their domestic life has been brightened by the addition of three children: Warren E. and the twins, Chris R., Jr., and Hugh D. Mr. Jones is a vice-president of the California Real Estate Association and belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Elks, and he is also a member of the Y. M. C. A. and the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sacramento. He was formerly director of the Rotary Club. Mr. Jones marches with the Republicans, and in every way seeks to improve civic life by elevating the standards of politics. He was a member of the Board of Freeholders under the charter election, which gave Sacramento the manager form of government, and is a booster for his locality, always striving to support the best men and the best measures.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

WILBUR F. BRAND .- A young man of progres- sive spirit and unfaltering perseverance, Wilbur F. Brand has won a creditable measure of prosperity in business affairs and at the present time is holding the responsible position of secretary of the Hickman- Coleman Company, Inc., in which he is a stockholder. He is ever ready and willing to lend aid to meritorious projects that are for the good of his home city and community. He was born in Sacramento, March 19, 1892, a son of George S. and Minnie Alice (Lawson) Brand. George S. Brand came to California in 1880 and became a member of the real estate firm of Curtis, Carmichael & Brand. Both parents are living and re- side in Sacramento, and their oldest son is Clyde H. Brand, the attorney.

Wilbur F. Brand received his education in the gram- mar and high schools of Sacramento, during which time he was circulation manager for the Saturday Evening Post for eight years. After finishing high school, he engaged in the real estate and insurance business and in 1917 became associated with the Hick- man-Coleman Company, which is the oldest real es- tate firm in the capital city.

The marriage of Mr. Brand united him with Miss Emeline Spafford, a daughter of the late Edward Spafford, and his wife Emeline A. Spafford, early set- tlers of Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Brand are the parents of two children, Elizabeth Spafford and Wil- bur F., Jr. In politics, Mr. Brand is a Republican and fraternally is past president of Sunset Parlor No. 26, N. S. G. W. He is a director of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Lions Club, and Sacra- mento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. Elks. For recreation he is fond of duck hunting and holds membership in Gray Lodge Gun Club, and he is a member of the Del Paso Country Club.

NORMAN H. BATEMAN .- An experienced, en- terprising operator in the building line is Norman H. Bateman, contractor and builder, at Sacramento. A native of Minnesota, he was born at Lexington, on July 5, 1874, the son of Perry and Cornelia Bateman, sturdy pioneers; his father had really been in Cali- fornia during the stirring days of forty-nine, when he made his "pile," not by mining, but by teaming for the miners; but he afterward returned to Minnesota and to what looked better to him-farm land. Mr. and Mrs. Bateman are now dead; but their good works live after them.

Norman Bateman profited by the opportunity to attend the excellent rural schools in Minnesota, and then he helped on the home ranch until he was seven- teen years of age, when he began a period of seven years of work in a sawmill. Then he became an engineer, and from his twenty-first until his twenty- fourth year, he was an engineer in a flour-mill. Next, he went to Minneapolis and joined a large construc- tion company as a carpenter; and at the end of six years, he undertook contracting for himself.

In 1907, he came out to California to build a club- house at MeCloud; and after that, he was for three years in San Francisco. Then, until 1914, he was on a ranch and busy with contracting, and following that, he had charge of the construction work, other than building of the main plant, of a sugar plant at Tracy. Now, with F. S. Waterman, he is engaged in contracting and building in Sacramento, and they have built many of the finer residences here. Mr. Bateman belongs to the Master Builders, and as one

of that progressive organization, has been ever ready to favor anything itself favorable to Sacramento, town or county. In politics he is Republican. In Minneapolis, Mr. Bateman was married to Miss Agnes Fagot, of that city, and they have one child, a daugh- ter named Dorothy. In fraternal affairs, Mr. Bate- man is a Master Mason.

ARTHUR H. LAMB .- A distinguished architect who has won a permanent place in the esteem of the Sacramento people, is Arthur H. Lamb, of the well- known aggressively progressive firm of Woollett & Lamb, of the Mull building, Tenth and L Streets, Sacramento. He was born in New York City on Feb- ruary 5, 1883, the son of Hugh and Elizabeth B. (Chamberlain) Lamb, well-situated New Yorkers, the family being long at home in Manhattan, and he grew up in a refined circle. Hugh Lamb has passed on to the great Beyond, but Mrs. Lamb continued the center of affection from many friends until November 15, 1922, when she passed away, at her home at Mont Clair, New Jersey.

Arthur H. Lamb attended both the grammar and the high schools of the metropolis, and since his father was an architect, it was natural enough that he should follow in that gentleman's footsteps. After taking a special course in art, therefore, Arthur entered his father's office, and in the year of the great fire and earthquake at San Francisco, he came out to the stricken bay city, where he remained for five years, when he went south to Los Angeles and put in an- other five years.

In 1917 Mr. Lamb came to Sacramento, and at once became a member of the firm of Woollett & Lamb, taking for his partner John W. Woollett. Together the two gifted men designed many of the finest struc- tures hereabouts, the Physicians building being among the number. Mr. Lamb was married in 1918 to Miss Phyllis Kent of Piedmont. In national political af- fairs Mr. Lamb prefers the standards of the Repub- lican party, but in local matters he is non-partisan.

CARL A. LAMUS .- A very successful man of af- fairs is Carl A. Lamus, of the well-known firm of Carl Lamus Company, and the Exide Battery Service pro- prietor. He was born at Minneapolis, Minn., on June 23, 1882, the son of Peter and Emma Lamus, both of whom are now deceased. The mother died when our subject was only four years of age. His father af- forded him such elementary educational advantages as were possible through the public school; but at the age of fifteen Carl set out for himself, and from that date began to earn his own living. He had had a good start in life, and the influence of a good home ac- companied him in his early career.

In 1902, he came out to California and at Keswick learned the trade of machinist, and in 1904 he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific in Sacramento, where he gained the world's record for boring loco- motive cylinders, completing the job in two and three- fourths hours average, day after day. The best record today in the Sacramento shops is eight hours In 1906, he entered the employ of the P. G. & E., and learned the trade of electrician, and later had charge of installing the Brighton station for the Great West- ern Power Company. Next he went to Big Bend, where he was in charge of operations until he en- gaged in his present business in 1911, when he estab- lished himself with Chas. H. Graham, in the business

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

with which his name has long been honorably asso- ciated. In February, 1922, Mr. Lamus succeeded to the ownership of the business and now employs fifteen persons.

Mr. Lamus was married to Miss Elizabeth Kauff- mann, a native of San Francisco, and she has proven an excellent helpmate. Mr. Lamus is a director in the Chamber of Commerce at Sacramento, and he be- longs to the Rotary Club of the same city. He is a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, an Elk and an Odd Fellow, and is fond of fishing, bowling, golf, and baseball, and is a member of the Del Paso Golf and Country Club. In national politics he is above mere party lines and narrowness; in local affairs, he is, first, last and all the time a good "booster," devoted to the section in which he lives and thrives.

EDWARD S. CRAWFORD .- A representative business man of Sacramento who is widely esteemed because of his practical experience and highly pro- gressive methods, is Edward S. Crawford, of the Ed- ward S. Crawford Motor Company, of Sacramento. He was born at Smith Center, Smith County, Kans., on February 20, 1880, the son of Alford Floyd and Laura (Eldridge) Crawford, worthy pioneer folks, of whom the father is now dead. They gave such edu- cational advantages to their son as were possible in that time and place, but at fifteen the lad was com- pelled to go to work. He found employment in the manufacture of bicycles, in which corner of the in- dustrial field he worked hard for eight years; he then took up the automobile business in various places, and in 1913 came to Sacramento, as manager for James F. Pieper. On January 1, 1920, the company with which he is at present connected was established and immediately secured his services. Mr. Crawford be- longs to both the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. In matters of national political import, he is a Republican; but he favors a more non-partisan stand on local issues.

Mr. Crawford married Miss Flora Summers, the ceremony taking place at Cheyenne, Wyo. Her home was in Denver, Colo., but she was a native of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Crawford is an Elk. He spent five years in the Colorado National Guards, and during the World War rendered effective service by helping with the home guards, and also in the Liberty Bond drives. Deeply public-spirited, Mr. Crawford is par- ticularly interested in Sacramento County, and leaves no stone unturned to assist in the great work of hav- ing it come to its own, and as speedily as possible.

RICHARD P. TALBOT .- An attorney not only well-versed in jurisprudence, but particularly familiar with the practice of law in California is Richard P. Talbot, a native of Missouri, where he was born at Fayette, in Howard County, on March 21, 1873. His father, William Boone Talbot, had married Miss Maria Payne, a gifted and charming woman who passed to her eternal reward when our subject was two years old. Mr. Talbot is still living, in comfortable retire- ment at Tulsa, Okla.

Richard P. Talbot attended the ordinary public schools, and then matriculated at Central College, at Fayette. He next studied law in Senator Samuel C. Major's office, in Fayette, and in 1895 was admitted to the practice of law in Missouri, and for several years had an office at Fayette. In 1899 he came out to Arizona and settled at Prescott; and for sixteen

years he practiced there. He was also the district at- torney for Yavapai County for a term; but in 1915 he decided to leave the state and remove to Sacramento, and since March 15 of that year he has been an hon- ored member of the California Bar. His knowledge of the practice of law in other states has not only en- abled him to be of greater service to his patrons, but has often made it possible for him to render a real service to; some colleague more limited in experience; Mr. Talbot's urbanity and willingness at all times to do the other fellow a good turn have made him a valued source of counsel, so that he is popular among all who have any dealings with him. He belongs to the bar associations of the state, the county and the city.

A nephew of Rev. Dr. Ethelbert Talbot, the distin- guished Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania, Richard P. Talbot was married, on December 16, 1902, to Miss Stella M. Jackson, of Bartow, Florida, the ceremony taking place at Bartow. One daughter, Miss Dorothy, has blessed this union. In fraternal affiliation, Mr. Talbot is an Elk; and in politics he is a Democrat.

WILLIAM ALBERT WEIGT .- One of the worthy representatives of the commercial interests of Sacramento is William Albert Weigt, proprietor of the Sterling Electric Company, whose place of business is located at 907 Eighth Street. He was born in Biggs, Butte County, September 13, 1879, and is a son of S. A. and Emma (Miller) Weigt. S. A. Weigt was one of the original forty-niners, and the mother of our subject was born in Sacramento, a daughter of Antone Miller. S. A. Weigt is de- ceased, but the mother now resides in Oakland.

Reared in the parental home, William Albert Weigt began his preliminary education in the gram- mar school. Subsequently he became a stenographer, and four years were occupied in the study of law. Then he attended preparatory school and Stanford University in Palo Alto, after which he entered the California National Bank in Sacramento, occupying a position with that institution for the following four years. Then he was in the employ of the Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank in San Francisco for one year. Removing to Oakland, for five years he was with the Central National Bank. Returning to Sacramento, he conducted an apartment house for his mother on Eleventh Street; then he took a posi- tion with the John Deere Plow Company and was also with the Electrical Supply Company. Desiring to become independent, he organized his own elec- trical company in 1918, known as the Sterling Elec- trical Company, which was incorporated the same year, and he was made the president. In 1921 the company was disincorporated, and he now operates an independent company. This company does all kinds of electrical construction work and a complete line of electrical supplies are always on hand; seven men are employed to take care of the steadily in- creasing business.

Mr. Weigt's marriage united him with Miss Char- lotte Schaden, a native daughter of California, born in Sacramento, and they are the parents of one son, William Albert, Jr. Mr. Weigt is a prominent Ma- son, being a Knight Templar and a member of the Shrine. He is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce of Sacramento and politically is a Republican. During the World War he was active in all the war work drives and in the Chamber of Commerce work.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

FRANK SARTI .- An experienced business man, thoroughly posted as to his corner of the great field of world industry, whose hard work, thrift and ex- emplary enterprise have brought prosperity, is Frank Sarti, the popular manager of Messrs. Rossi & Com- pany, the well-known florists, at 921 K Street, Sacra- mento. He was born in the province of Lucca, Italy, first seeing the light in a farm-home near Lucca, 011 September 28, 1889, and he came to America in 1907. Making his way west to Tacoma, Wash., he worked for wages with the Northern Pacific Railroad, and later he found employment in a lumber yard in the same place. Then he worked for the Seattle Steel Company; and when he had learned to speak English, he was put in charge of the giant shears in the scrap- yard. These shears were used in cutting up scrap iron, and were the largest on the Pacific Coast. While in Seattle he attended night school and thereby gained a better knowledge of English; and he then started to learn the florist business, and in order to do so, put in five years with the Messrs. Rosaia Bros. in Seattle, but the World War having involved the United States, he went to work for the govern- ment in the ship-yards of Seattle and Portland. After the war, he went to Los Angeles, and there he worked for a local florist, getting the newer and more mod- ern ideas; and in 1920 he went to San Francisco.

There Mr. Sarti entered the employ of the Rossi Company, and was soon made head clerk in their Oakland store; and when Mr. Rossi decided to open a branch in Sacramento, he chose Mr. Sarti as the man best-fitted for the new responsibility. Mr. Sarti, therefore, opened up the Sacramento branch in Sep- tember, 1921, and from the start it has proven a real success. One of the Messrs. Rossi has the distinction of being the man to originate the now world-wide popular phrase, "Say It With Flowers"; and Messrs. Rossi & Company of San Francisco, are the largest wholesale and retail flower dealers in California, hav- ing branch-stores in Oakland, Sacramento, Fresno, and Reno, Nev. Mr. Sarti belongs to the local order of Moose and also to the Eagles.

PATRICK MATTHEW BOYLAN .- To have rounded out a full life, doing his part in the work to which Providence had called him, and making his contribution to the building up of the commonwealth cheerfully and to the best of his ability, is a record of which any man may be proud, and among such we find Patrick Matthew Boylan, whose sterling quali- ties are attested to by the many friends made here during nearly a half century of residence. A native of County Cavan, Ireland, he was brought to Provi- dence, R. I., as a boy, and reared there. In 1854 he made his first trip to California by way of the Isth- mus, and on arrival mined for a time in Eldorado County.

Returning to his eastern home, Mr. Boylan mar- ried there Rose McAteer, born in Belfast, Ireland, and he then became engaged in railroad work in Providence for a period. The lure of the West proved too strong, however, and in 1859 the young couple came to Sacramento, via the Isthmus, and settled down to make their home in the new sur- roundings. Mr. Boylan entered the employ of the Capital Gas Company, and for forty-three years he was a trusted employee of that concern, for many years serving as engineer of the plant; to remain 5€

with one concern for so great a length of time shows a character made up of stability and true worth and also that these qualities were appreciated by his em- ployers. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Boylan, and two of them are now living: Nellie A., and Mamie Boylan. Mr. Boylan passed to his reward in 1901, leaving many friends to mourn his loss, as well as his devoted family.

THOMAS ANTHONY FARRELL .- Thomas An- thony Farrell, an attorney-at-law in the capital city, was born in Sacramento, March 3, 1888. His father, Edward J. Farrell, came to Sacramento from Ireland in 1870. His mother, Margaret (Haley) Farrell, is a native of California. Edward J. Farrell was an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Sacra- mento for forty years.

Thomas Anthony Farrell attended Christian Broth- ers' College, Sacramento, after which he attended Santa Clara College, and then entered the law office . of J. W. S. Butler, where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1915. He was chief deputy district attorney under Hugh B. Bradford for seven years, when he resigned; and since 1921 he has prac- ticed his profession in the county of Sacramento. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the California State Bar Association, and the Sacramento County Bar Association, in which he is a member of the board of governors.

At Elk Grove Mr. Farrell was married to Miss Ida M. de Roza, a native daughter of Sacramento County. Mr. Farrell is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Eagles and the Elks.

GEORGE F. POWELL .- A representative and successful business man, who did his part nobly in the upbuilding of the city of Sacramento was the late George F. Powell, a prominent manufacturing jeweler. Mr. Powell's birth occurred in Milroy, Rush County, Ind., August 21, 1870, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Reiff) Powell, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky respectively, who removed to Milroy, Rush County, Ind., after their marriage. When George F. was one year old the family removed to Rushville, the same state, and there he attended school. When fourteen years of age George removed to Fort Scott, Kan., and there he completed his education, and there too he began the jewelry business with his older brother, William R., as Powell Bros. After many years of successful business, George F. sold his interest and removed to Mena, Ark., where he also followed the jewelry business, continuing until 1906, when he re- moved to California and located in Sacramento and established the jewelry firm of Powell, McKee & Company on K Street. This business was conducted for about ten years, when Mr. Powell took over the business, continuing in the old location until the Forum Building was completed. Then he took up his location in that building and engaged as a manu- facturer and retail jeweler, meeting with deserved success until the time of his passing in October, 1920.

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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 127

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