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 137

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 137

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The success of the Christian Brothers College has been greatly due to its capable presidents and facul- ties. It would have been impossible for any one man to bring this college to the prestige that it deservedly and undoubtedly enjoys. The property on which the college stands has so increased in value that a new and beautiful establishment consisting of three build- ings is contemplated; this will accommodate twelve Brothers and fifty boarders and about 300 day stu- dents. The physical as well as the intellectual and moral education of the students will receive the best attention, for the school rooms and dormitories will be modern in every respect; the site will include a large campus with all things necessary for the out- door training of the students; and indoor physical training will not be neglected.

CHARLES LESLIE HUGHES .- An energetic, experienced executive is Charles Leslie Hughes, the secretary of the California Breeders' Sales and Pedi- gree Company, in the Ochsner Building in Sacra- mento. A native of the Empire State, Mr. Hughes was born on January 6, 1880, the son of L. E. and Anna ( McGinniss) Hughes, worthy citizens who did their part to make better the locality in which they lived.

Charles Hughes attended the public schools, and then went to Colgate University. After that, he worked at various undertakings, trying insurance, then the cattle range, and after that real estate, so that when he came out to California in 1905, he was equipped with a varied and valuable experience. He found an excellent engagement with a 'business house in San Francisco, and for five years traveled as their

salesman, thereby getting better acquainted with Cali- fornia. He then hought the "Livestock and Dairy Journal," of Sacramento, and published it for five years, through that channel doing much to foster cer- tain departments of the greatest importance in Cali- fornia agriculture. In 1916, Mr. Hughes entered upon the varied duties of his present responsible post. In politics, he is independent enough of mere party and partisan influence to be able, especially as an enthu- siast for local reforms, to wield thereby a wider influ- ence. He is attached to his home, but he is neverthe- less fond of outdoor life, opportunity for the enjoy- ment of which one finds a-plenty in Sacramento County.

On June 4, 1921, Mr. Hughes was married to Miss Mae Cook, a popular lady of San Francisco, who has shared his work and his pleasures, and who doubtless deserves no little credit for his professional success. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are indeed popular, repre- senting as they do the best spirit of Northern Cali- fornia.

AUGUST WEGAT .- For forty years associated with the ranching interests of Sacramento County, August Wegat has done his full share in the develop- ment of the section around Galt, which has been his home the greater part of the time. He was born on a farm in East Prussia, July 7, 1854, the son of Ernest and Anna (Mauerichott) Wegat, the mother passing away at the age of forty-four, the mother of three sons: John, William and August. The father, who married again and reared a family, passed away at his home in Germany when seventy-three years old.

August Wegat received a common school education in the schools of his home district and when twenty years old entered the German army, where he served for three years. He then came to the Rhine country and for three years worked at Elberfeld, and in 1881 he made his way to the United States. The first year here he spent on construction work with the South- ern Pacific Railroad out of Prescott, Ariz., and in 1882 he came to Sacramento County, Cal., and worked for a while on a ranch near Galt. After spending a sum- mer near Woodland, Yolo County, he returned to Galt and started ranching on his own account, first renting fifty acres of bottom land on the Cosumnes River, where he raised corn and beans. From year to year he added more acreage, and he has farmed all the way from 300 to 1,000 acres of land at different seasons, and is meeting with good success.

At Galt, in October, 1885, Mr. Wegat was married to Miss Mary Corock, born in the province of Posen, Germany, now a part of Poland. Her parents were Rock and Mary Corock, the father a shoemaker who passed away at Posen when seventy years old. They were the parents of eight children: Mrs. Mary Wegat; Stefan; Josephine; Margaret; Hedwig; Lawrence; Mrs. Agnes Oxander of Woodbridge, Cal .; and Mrs. Lucy Shoemaker of Red Bluff, Cal. Mrs. Wegat came to California in 1883, and here she met Mr. Wegat, their marriage occurring two years later. They are the parents of nine children: Anna married Joe Rhoda of Woodland, Cal., and they have five children: George, Gussie, Joe, Anna and Dick; George lives in San Joaquin County, as does William; August has one son, Carl; John lives at Galt; Mrs. Agnes Need of Galt has two sons-George and Lloyd; Henry, Fritz and Otto are at home. The Wegat ranch is on the Thornton road, just west of the city limits of

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Galt. Mr. Wegat is a Republican in politics and be- longs to the Sons of Herman. Mrs. Wegat died April 26, 1923, and was buried in the Odd Fellows cemetery at Galt.

GOTTARDO BARSETTI .- Prominent among the Italian-Swiss-Americans who have made good in Sacramento County may well be mentioned Gottardo Barsetti, who operates a fine dairy ranch about five and one-half miles east of Galt. He was born in Can- ton Ticino, Switzerland, at picturesque Irolo, on Octo- ber 3, 1883, the son of Joseph and Sophie Barsetti, his father being a hard-working teamster, who passed away in 1896. Four years later Mrs. Barsetti, who had been a very devoted wife, came out to California to live with her son, the subject of this interesting story. She was the mother of eight children, and among these Gottardo was the third-born. Lena and Leo were the eldest, Teresa was the fourth in the order of birth, and then came Millie and Mary, the latter now deceased, and Dan and Elizabeth the youngest.

Gottardo attended the Swiss schools, and he re- mained at home with his folks until 1903, when he came out to the United States. He did not stop long in the East, but proceeded almost directly to Healds- burg, in Sonoma County, where he worked in a dairy and on fruit ranches for six years, and then spent three years in San Bruno, San Mateo County, when he came to Galt. He purchased forty-five acres one and one-half miles east of Herald, and there he had a dairy ranch; but in time he leased his ranch to others. and instead took charge of a ranch of 400 acres on Dry Creek belonging to Mrs. Donovan, of Galt. This he now manages, on shares, as a dairy ranch, main- taining a dairy herd of sixty head of cattle.

The marriage of Gottardo Barsetti and Miss Mary Tonella occurred at San Francisco on August 26, 1912. when our subject chose for his life-companion a play- mate from the same town in Switzerland, who had come out to California alone in 1909. She is the daughter of Achile and Emily Tonella, the former being a farmer. Three children have blessed their union: Emily, Henry and Lillian. Mr. Barsetti is a member of the Red Men at South San Francisco. He is a Republican; but in local political affairs, he is a good booster for Galt, and the man and the meas- ure most likely to benefit the town where he lives and labors are sure to get his vote.

ALBERT STEINER .- After a long and thorough training in his line of work in his native land of Swit- zerland, Albert Steiner was well equipped on his ar- rival in this country to establish himself in his present business as proprietor of a meat market and delicates- sen at Galt. He was born at Thun, Canton Berne, Switzerland, May 28, 1897, the son of Albert and Rose (Stauffer) Steiner, the father a native of Canton Graubunden and the mother of Canton Berne, the for- mer a butcher by trade.

Albert Steiner attended school in his native district and then was at Lausanne, Switzerland, for two and a half years, attending school and working at his trade. He then went to Geneve and thence to Gren- oble, France, spending some time there, and at both places he went to school in order to learn the lan- guage. Next he went to Lugano, Canton Ticino, where the Italian language is spoken, and there he continued to work as a butcher and learned Italian

sausage making. After eighteen months there he went to Milan, Italy, and after a short time he came to the United States, arriving in California in 1915. settling first at Sacramento, where he was with the Moore & Yoerk market for eight months, then was with the Columbia market there for a while. He then came to Galt and for a year worked at his trade with Alfred Zehnder, then went into partnership with Mr. Zehnder. After two and a half years he bought out Mr. Zehnder and has since conducted his meat market alone. He also has a wholesale and retail delicatessen and makes all his own sausages.

In 1919 Mr. Steiner's father came to California and later sent for his family and they now make their home at Santa Cruz. There are twelve children in the family, as follows: Rose, Hanna, Emma, Albert, Vic- tor, who was in the bakery business at Galt for two years and now in San Francisco: Fred, Matilda, Felix. Clara, Gertrude, Ferdinand and Martha. All the fam- ily are in California except Hanna and Matilda, who are married and have their homes in Switzerland. Since coming to Galt Mr. Steiner has entered into the life of the community and is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, the Knights of Pythias of Galt, of which he is vice chancellor, and of the D. O. K. K. of Sacramento.

GUSTAVUS A. KINDBLOM .- One of the suc- cessful business men of Sacramento, and for many years a resident of the capital city, Gustavus A. Kind- blom is a native of Sweden, born January 20, 1865, and reared on a farm in that country. When a youth of eighteen years he came to the United States, ar- riving in Chicago, in 1883, with two dollars in his pocket to face the new world with. His first work was with the Peterson Nursery, outside of the windy city. and he stayed with this employer one and one-half years, and his wages were $150 per year. He took up elm trees and transplanted them in the city, and he helped to plant the large elm trees now in Lincoln Park, and in front of the Palmer House, in Chicago. The young adventurer's next move was to Milwaukee, Wis., and there he worked as a section hand on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with wages at ninety cents a day; from there to Sibley, Iowa, working on a ranch for twenty dollars a month. A short stay in Omaha, Nebr., found him with a crew cleaning snow from the railway tracks; then to Kansas on a ranch, at first working for his board and later receiving in addition fifty cents per day. In Kansas City he found evening work cleaning cars for the Chicago & Alton Railway, and during the day worked for a stone mason. Here he decided that the far West might prove more advan- tageous, and 1887 found him in Los Angeles with the Santa Fe Railway, for which company he put in one year doing construction work; then he journeyed to Seattle, Wash., and worked as cook in the lumber woods, wages fifty dollars per month; then a waiter in a restaurant in Portland, Ore., after which for a time he worked on the sand barges on the Columbia River, and later in a sawmill on Snake River.

All these ventures were of short duration, seeing the country and learning its ways being the main ob- jeet. On his first visit to Sacramento the young man stayed but a short time, when he worked on the Cum- mings ranch for twenty-five dollars per month; he still had the traveling fever, however, and next went to Salt Lake City and there worked in a smelter, and

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later as store room boy in the Morgan Hotel in that city. finally becoming steward in charge. Cripple Creek, Colo., and Butte City, Mont., were next visited in turn. Of all cities he visited, however, Sacramento impressed Mr. Kindblom as most promising, and in 1894 he returned here to take up his permanent resi- dence, and for the next fifteen years he was employed driving a laundry wagon, first for the Mason Laundry and later for the Cascade Laundry. For the past twelve years he has been engaged in the rooming house business, owning and managing the Shasta, Davidson, Coulson, Singleton, and the Golden West, and found himself particularly adapted to this line of endeavor, as it has proved very successful, so much so, in fact, that he is soon to retire from active business.

It would be hard to find a more striking example of a self-made man than in the life here recorded; if the hardest kind of hard work, and self-denial, count for anything, assuredly the final success rewarding his efforts has been fully earned by Mr. Kindblom. He has found time, too, to take part in church and social affairs and has been a member of the English Luther- an Church for many years, formerly serving as trus- tee of that body. Mr. Kindblom has one daughter, by his first marriage, Mrs. Florence M. Richardson, the mother of a son, Winnick Kindblom, five years old.

EDWIN NICHOLAS .- Born and reared in Sacra- mento County, it seems especially fitting that Edwin Nicholas should hold public office in his home en- vironment, and particularly one in which a thorough knowledge of the locality is necessary. He is the son of John and Louisa (Sorenson) Nicholas, both na- tives of Norway, where the father was born, in Aren- dal. November 27, 1828; John Nicholas received his education in the district schools of his native land and when fourteen years old was confirmed in the parish church. Choosing the sea for his vocation, he went out as cabin boy, and later became able seaman, and for ten years he followed the sea, making port in many parts of the world, including Europe, Algeria, Africa and part of North America.

In 1850 he located in Mobile, Ala., and in 1854 went to New York and embarked for California, via Pana- ma. On reaching the state, he mined in Eldorado and Nevada Counties; later he teamed to the mines. In 1857 this sturdy pioneer bought from the govern- ment 160 acres of land six miles south of Sacramento, near the present town of Florin, in the Pacific district, and engaged in ranching, stockraising and dairying, and he became a successful and prominent rancher of the district. Twice married, his first wife was Eliza Ourkirk, a native of Holland, their marriage occurring in 1852, and in 1879 she passed on.

On February 24, 1883, occurred the marriage of John Nicholas to Louisa Sorenson, who was also a native of Norway, born November 19, 1851, and 1881 marks the time of her arrival in California; four chil- dren were born of this union, the two now living be- ing Edwin and Dora, wife of C. B. Wire. The father died in 1910, and the mother died May 16, 1923.

Edwin Nicholas attended the schools of the Pacific district, and at an early age worked on his father's ranch, and he has followed agricultural pursuits since that early beginning; in 1908 he took charge of the home ranch and still carries on its operation It is one of the few old places in the county still in the pos- session of the descendants of the original owners. Al-

ways active in community affairs, he is trustee of the Pacific school district; and for eight years he served as deputy constable of that district. When Hon. J. J. Henderson, the recently elected district attorney of Sacramento County, took office, in January, 1923, he appointed Edwin Nicholas a detective on his staff of deputies, selecting him from a list of applicants as be- ing especially fitted to fill the office, owing to his years of experience in criminal investigation as deputy con- stable, as well as his familiarity with every inch of the ground in this part of the state.

The marriage of Mr. Nicholas united him with Eva F. Spence, also a native of Sacramento County, and one daughter has been born to them, Irma Jeanette. Fraternally Mr. Nicholas is a member of the Florin Lodge of Odd Fellows No. 364, and he is popular throughout his district as a man of fine integrity and one who believes in advancing the best interests of his home community.

ISAAC ARNOLD .- A pioneer widely and highly esteemed among California fruit-men is Isaac Arnold, now living at Elverta. He is popularly spoken of as the "father of good roads in American Township," and he has attained local fame as champion of the rights of many. He is resident engineer and inspector of county highways, and has been a member of the highway committee that has accomplished so much, since 1912.

He was born in Chicago in January, 1848, the sec- ond of three surviving sons of Lawrence Arnold, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, who was born there in 1828. Lawrence Arnold became a prominent figure in the wholesale mercantile field, and conducted a large busi- ness at 80 and 82 West Randolph Street, Chicago, thus affording a good home for his family. Isaac Arnold, when the Civil War broke out, was in his early teens; and in 1864, on the 7th day of October, when only seventeen years of age, he enlisted as a member of Company H, 51st Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a substitute for his father, and he served under General Thomas until September 25, 1865, when the end of the war found his company on the Texas frontier, and him thrice wounded.

On returning to Chicago, Mr. Arnold worked as a butcher; and in that line he kept busy until 1871, when he decided to come to California, and at length ar- rived at Sacramento on March 13, 1871. The next year, he went to Fort Vancouver, in Washington, and remained there until 1878. and when he returned to California, he entered the employ of A. T. Hatch, as foreman in the fruit-packing department of Suisun, in Solano County. Two years later, he went to Auburn, in Placer County, and for twenty-eight years he fol- lowed the fruit business, and as an individual shipper became one of the pioneers and largest growers and shippers of pears, having one hundred acres in one orchard, and shipping to the Eastern markets through the Pioneer Fruit Company.

At Auburn, Cal., on April 23, 1886, Mr. Arnold married Miss Mattie Atkins, the daughter of John and Sarah (Eveninger) Atkins. They have no children. Twelve years ago, Mr. Arnold moved to Sacramento County, and he has been a resident of Elverta ever since; and it is safe to say that he has done more for the development of this community in recent years than any one man; and for twelve years, he has served well as deputy sheriff of American Township. Having the welfare of the entire community at heart, he has

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given liberally of his time and means to help others. He is an honored member of the G. A. R. of Sacra- mento.

CHARLES L. PUGH .- An expert well-driller is Charles L. Pugh, a native of Sacramento, where he was born on September 24, 1868, the son of S. H. and Mary Ann (Greer) Pugh. His father was a pioneer of '62, and came to California from Kentucky, crossing the plains while driving two teams of cows; he was a blacksmith, and soon found demand for his services; and while he worked at the forge, he also attempted farming. Later, he came to Perkins, and here had a blacksmith shop and a hotel, for twenty- five years; and he died in Sacramento, in 1914. Three years later, Mrs. Pugh, a native of Missouri, breathed her last. The worthy couple were married before they came to Perkins, and they had six children.

Charles Pugh attended the public schools, and then worked at various jobs until he established himself in business, planting, and doing carpenter work, and operating as a general mechanic. For the past quar- ter of a century, however, he has been well and fav- orably known as a well-driller, and has put in more wells than any other man in the county of Sacra- mento; so that today he is considered an authority upon the subject, and often appealed to for advice by others. Especially is he called upon by private in- dividuals and government authorities to help locate water. He has installed the outfit of the Capital Dairy, the Oak Park Water Company, and the Hag- gin Bottom Land Company, as well as many other plants; and in this great work of developing water, has helped immensely to develop the county. He is a Democrat, and for twelve years he was a very ac- ceptable justice of the peace of Brighton Township.

In the year 1890, Mr. Pugh married Miss Minnie Morton, by whom he had five children, who in turn had seven children of their own. Through a second marriage, Mr. Pugh became the husband of Eloise Rhodes. He is a Mason, of the third degree. He is fond of fishing, and of the great outdoor world gen- erally, his professional work bringing him more and more into touch with Nature.

MRS. IDA M. C. SMITH .- One of the well-known and successful educators of the state, who has prac- tically devoted her life to this phase of humanitarian work. Mrs. Smith may almost be called a native daughter, for, while her birth took place in Iowa, she was brought to California by her parents when a babe in arms, and received her rearing and education in the Golden State. She was raised to girlhood in Napa. attending the old Napa Seminary, and later Napa public schools. From there she went to San Jose and finished with a course at the state normal, and after her graduation, taught in the country schools of San Diego and Napa counties, and later in the Napa city schools. A desire to see and study life in a foreign country prompted her to spend several years in Japan, as governess in a wealthy Japanese family.

Returning to California, Mrs. Smith for a time taught in the schools of San Joaquin County. In 1909 she came to Sacramento to take charge of the Pal- metto high school; this was a county school, just out- side the city, and a county orphanage school at that time; some four years ago the district was annexed to the city and the school was named the John Muir School; in the month of February, 1923, it was merged

with the Bret Harte School. With primary, grammar, and also a kindergarten class, the school teaches to the eighth grade, and it is here that Mrs. Smith has accomplished wonderful work in bringing the school up to its present high grade of efficiency. When she took charge there were about one hundred pupils, with three teachers; there are now 215 pupils and eleven teachers, all working in harmony and with results that repay its head for working inside and outside of hours, in her efforts to bring about the successful and harmonious working of her school. The broadening influence of a woman of her calibre can hardly be esti- mated when development of growing intellects is in question; and the state can justly be proud of her schools as long as we have such educators to bring them to perfection.

Prominent in club circles, for naturally her work has been in the public eye, Mrs. Smith is a member and past secretary of the California Federation of School Women's Clubs, past president of the Sacra- mento School Women's Club, and also a member of the Business Woman's Club of Sacramento.

ABRAM KEITHLY .- A sturdy, successful and influential pioneer, whose memory is held in highest esteem by all who knew him, was the late Abram Keithly, the rancher, who passed away at Antelope, in Sacramento County, on November 29, 1918, at the age of eighty-seven. He was born in the charming old Missouri town of Wentzville, in St. Charles County, far back in 1831, was reared on a farm and accom- panied his parents, and brothers, John M., Hiram and Wilshire, across the great plains with ox teams to California, arriving in Placerville in 1850; there they engaged in placer mining, on Mormon Island and in the vicinity of Folsom, experiencing varied luck. At the end of the second year, the parents and brothers returned to the East, but another brother, Harrison K., came West in 1854, by way of Panama, and joined Abram. He was then conducting a feed and fuel yard at the corner of Seventh and K Streets, in Sacramento, where the Capital Hotel now stands, and during the cholera epidemic, both brothers worked over-time, even in digging graves for those so swiftly carried off by the awful plague.

In 1860, Abram Keithly bought 233 acres on the Sacramento River, at Elkhorn Ferry, in order to cut the timber for fuel, and he sold many hundred cords in his yards at Sacramento. Only cow-trails existed there then in what is now Natomas District No. 1000. and the wood had to be transported by river boat. The flood-waters eddying in the region of this rancho made more and more of a menace, and being anxious to sell out, Mr. Keithly traded his ranch for a city block in Carson City, Nev., and moved to that place in 1864, and there engaged in stock-raising. The fol- lowing year, he returned to Sacramento County and settled on a homestead of 160 acres in the Del Paso grant, near Antelope. He served for thirty-nine con- secutive years as assessor of American, Center, and Mississippi Townships, and gave up this office only on account of impaired health, a short while before his death. He was also road overseer for twenty years in this district, and he made his efforts in behalf of better highways count. He adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, and was a Mason. affiliated with Sacramento lodge.

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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 137

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