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 56

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

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

estate in Sacramento County. He had a small settle- ment called Hicksville, all upon his own land; and he owned lands in San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Sonoma Counties. He was a close associate of General Sutter. and kept watch many a night at Sutter's Fort, when trouble with the natives was expected, or actually had broken out. John F. McCauley later acquired a great deal of the Hicks estate, known at that time as one of the five largest properties in California. Mr. McCauley's experience in the Mexican War proved of value to him when he started on his trip across the continent. He was prepared to deal saga- ciously and justly with the Indians. He had with him an abundance of gifts with which to win their friendship and could also make himself easily under- stood; and whenever the train was confronted with hostile savages, he settled peaceably with them, and the train passed on safely without anyone being killed.

John F. McCauley brought a large sum of money with him to California, and upon settling here he loaned it to the State of California. Later, there was an attempt to repudiate the debt, and an interesting historical account shows Mr. McCauley's resourceful- ness and strategy. To grant the payment of the loan made by Mr. McCauley, the state legislature had to pass a bill allowing a disbursement to that amount, but it was generally known that the governor would veto any such bill. At the time when this measure was up in the legislature, one of Mr. McCauley's Mexican War veterans was conducting San Quentin prison on a lease basis. Mr. McCauley secured this lease from his old comrade; and when the governor visited the prison on one of his regular inspection trips, he was induced to sign the bill for the payment of the loan.

John F. McCauley settled in San Francisco, and there he always continued to reside, one of the pic- turesque figures of the metropolis. He was greatly criticized by the press in those early days for what he did, but it is a matter of record that through his management the San Quentin penitentiary was made to pay its own expenses, for many stores and brick buildings in San Francisco were built through convict labor, at his suggestion. He had acquired 10,000 acres of land, in San Joaquin County, on Dry Creek and Mokelumne River, in Sacramento County, and also in San Francisco. The title to the estate in Sacramento County was finally cleared in Wash- ington, after being entailed by counter claims set up by the holders of the old Spanish grants which orig- inally embraced this acreage, and then later some of the squatters had to be evicted bodily from the estate.

Mrs. Alice M. Valensin was one of four children in her parents' family. Two brothers. John William and Richard McCauley, are now deceased. The other brother is George B. McCauley, of Forest Lake Ranch, San Joaquin County, who also has a home in Santa Cruz and Oakland, and maintains a home at Independence, Mo. He has one daughter. Caroline. Mrs. Va'ensin first went to the school kept by the Sisters of St. Vincent, in San Francisco, and later she attended the Notre Dame Convent at San Jose. When the Civil War broke out, John F. McCauley. having sprung from old Southern stock, naturally showed his sympathies for his native section, and things were made exceedingly unpleasant for him in San Francisco, where he and Dr. William Scott, a

Presbyterian clergyman, were hanged in effigy, as "Southern sympathizers." Mr. McCauley, after some difficulty, succeeded in boarding an English vessel, and sailed with his family for Europe. At that time, our subject was a little girl, with a child's enthusiasm and a child's non-understanding; and because she sang "Dixie" in a San Francisco hotel, she was charged with treason and a warrant was issued for her arrest. When confronted by the warrant-officers, her fa- ther asked them if they wished to hear the young musician sing the song, and he proceeded to place Alice at the piano; and with such innocent spirit did she sing that the officers, seeing the folly of such a silly warrant, went away laughing. During the war, Mr. McCauley outfitted a company of some 500 men, whose purpose was to reach the South and actively lend what aid they could to the Southerners; but although they made several attempts to run the Federal blockade in Texas and Arizona, they did not all succeed in reaching their wished-for goal. In Europe, the McCauleys made their home in Paris; and there our subject attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart, and in the French capital finished her education. Grandfather McCauley lived to be nearly one hundred years old, and both Mr. and Mrs. John F. McCauley almost reached their ninetieth year.

While in Europe, the McCauleys went south into Italy, and at Florence Miss Alice met Julio Valensin, and they were married on February 19, 1873. Mr. Valensin was born in Egypt, a son of Moise Valensin and Elena Del Valle Valensin, the former an Italian banker and successful business man who had two banks, one in England, and the other in Florence. In the case of Julio's mother, there was an interest- ing combination of Spanish, Scotch and Italian blood: and because Julio Valensin was what he was, the McCauleys moved in the society of the royal family, and mingled with diplomats and scholars. Mrs. Valensin not only traveled throughout Europe, but she personally drove a four-in-hand over the mount- tain roads of Switzerland. Her husband had fine horses, and he took great joy in seeing his wife handle them. He had been educated by private tutors. In California, he lived on the ranch where he trained his horses; and he was the owner of "Sidney," then the fastest trotter in the United States. He died in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1892, while on a visit there with race-horses. Mr. Valensin was a very handsome man, was a good linguist, and spoke English so fluently and with such an excellent accent that one might have taken him for an English instead of an Italian gentleman.

In 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Valensin came out to Cali. fornia on a trip, but they returned to Italy intending to remain. However, Mr. Valensin's passion for trotting-horses brought him back to California, and in 1877 they returned to this state to stay. He had purchased property at Pleasanton, and was an enthu- siast for blooded race-horses. Mr. and Mrs. Valen- sin always called the McCauley Rancho their home, and she has resided upon the home-place ever since her return. Upon her father's death, she received 4,000 acres of land in Sacramento County, to which has been added 2,000 acres, and also 2,000 acres of range land at Burson, Calaveras County. During the life of her husband, the ranch was devoted to the raising of race-horses; but after his death she con- verted the entire ranch into a cattle and grain farmi. For some time she has maintained a herd of from

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1,500 to 2,000 head of cattle, and from 100 to 200 head of horses. During the "Boxer" rebellion in China, she sold many head of horses to both the Englsh and German governments.

Mrs. Valensin has one son, Pio Valensin, who, on attaining his eighteenth year, while still continuing his studies, assumed the management of their large estate. He was born in Florence, on November 26, 1873, and was privately tutored by Monsignor Capel, a noted Roman Catholic prelate and scholar; and on December 1, 1917, he was married at Oakland to Katherine Koster, who was born in Schleswig-Hol- stein, Germany, the daughter of Jerry and Doris (Heinz) Koster. Her father was a sea-captain of French descent, who had an adventurous life at sea; while her mother was of German descent and came from a family of farmers. Her parents are living at Castroville. In 1890, the family came to San Francisco; but her father soon removed to Franklin, in Sacramento County, where he bought land and there farmed, in time becoming naturalized. He later retired and removed to Castroville. The worthy couple had four children: Margaret, the eldest, has become Mrs. Booth of Florin; then come John and Mrs. Pio Valensin; while the youngest is Emma, of Sacramento. Katherine Koster Valensin attended the Franklin district school, and now she supervises the educational training of their only son, Pio Valen- sin, Jr. The Valensin family are stanch Democrats, and Pio has been often urged to run for the legisla- ture; but owing to his many and pressing duties on the ranch, he has steadily refused. He has been for years past a member of the Democratic County Cen- tral Committee.

Mrs. Alice M. Valensin is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church, and about as interesting a conversationalist, with her great fund of reminis- cence, as one may anywhere find. She has all sorts of stories to tell, and not a few are in one way or another echoes of her old family days. It is interest- ing to relate, for example, that Elizabeth Pia Mat- thews, their colored maid, was born, thirty-four years ago, on the Valensin ranch, and has ever since re- mained with our subject. Elizabeth is a refined, well- educated young woman, an honor to her race as well as to the family in which she has been reared. She is the daughter of an old pioneer California fam- ily, her grandparents having come to California as slaves, and she has always been most loyal to the McCauleys, so long among the Matthews' best friends. Her grandmother nursed George MfcCauley when he was a baby.

Sacramento County cannot fail to feel a pride in this worthy representative of an old American fam- ily, whose annals tell again the absorbing story of how a nation once fell out, on account of a family misunderstanding, and luckily fell into line again, since when, now for many years, it has presented to the once skeptical world a united front of impregnable strength.

MRS. MARY L. LAMPSON .- Among the lead- ers of the citrus fruit industry in Sacramento County is numbered Mrs. Mary L. Lampson, owner of The Palms at Orangevale, one of the finest fruit ranches in the state. She was born near Lincoln, Maine, December 16, 1868, the eldest daughter of Charles Wesley and Mary Jane (Robbins) Osborne. The mother, following the death of her husband, remar-

ried, becoming the wife of William P. Warren, a native of Maine. Mary L. Osborne accompanied her mother and stepfather on their journey to California in 1874 by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and after reaching this state they settled in the Alexander Valley, eight miles from Healdsburg, in Sonoma County. Mr. Warren cleared his land of timber and through arduous labor brought it to a high state of development, becoming the owner of a valuable orchard. He reared a family of seven children and was numbered among the honored pioneers of that region.

Mary L. Osborne attended the Alexander Grant School, and while a student at the Healdsburg High School was united in marriage with Augustus Lamp- son, who was born near West Point, Calaveras County, Cal., June 14, 1864. His parents came to this state during the gold rush of 1849, and his father was very successful in his search for the precious metal, acquiring valuable mining claims which are now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lampson. As a young man Augustus Lampson followed the trades of the blacksmith and wheelwright, for fifteen years conduct- ing a shop on Mokelumne Hill, and was widely known for the high quality of his work as well as for his integrity and reliability. Later Mr. Lampson located in Geyserville, where he embarked in the hardware business, erecting a substantial building and placing therein a carefully selected stock. Prospering in his undertaking, he decided to broaden the scope of his activities and also opened a garage. His fellow- citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office and for several years he served as constable, while he likewise acted as school trus- tee. For fourteen years he continued to live and con- duct his business in Geyserville. At the end of that time he sold the business to his son, Everett David. who is conducting the enterprise under the style of A. Lampson & Sons, the name first adopted. In December, 1916, Mr. and Mrs. Lampson removed to Orangevale, locating on their newly purchased ranch of fifty acres, situated on the Greenback Highway; but Mr. Lampson was not long permitted to en- joy his new home, passing away on March 11, 1917, after a four days' illness with pneumonia. He was a man of sterling worth, capable and enterprising in business, loyal and public-spirited in matters of citi- zenship, and faithful to every trust reposed in him.

Mr. and Mrs. Lampson were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom are sons, and there are now ten grandchildren in the family circle. Chester Wil- liam, the eldest in their family, was born August 24, 1889, and is now operating a ranch at Santa Rosa, Cal. He is married and has three sons. Everett Da- vid, born May 18, 1891, is married and has one son. He resides at Geyserville and ranks with the leading merchants of that place. Walter A. was born March 13, 1894, and aids in operating his mother's ranch. He is married and has two sons. Warren Lee, an enterprising merchant of Geyserville, was born June 8, 1896. He is married and has two children. Alvin W. was born January 17, 1898, and is engaged in merchandising at Cloverdale. By his marriage he has become the father of two children. Myrle Rob- bins was born February 2, 1900, and is the possessor of marked literary talent and linguistic ability. He is the author of the book entitled "On Reaching Six- teen," now in its fourth edition, and is an intimate friend of the noted educator, David Starr Jordan.

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While a student at Stanford University he was se- lected by the Quaker Church for relief work in Rus- sia, and spent twelve months in that country, return- ing to the United States in January, 1923. He trans- lates Russian with ease and has mastered seven lan- guages. He married Miss Bertha Goethe of San Francisco, who was graduated from the language de- partment of Stanford University, and they reside at Hayward, this state. Harriet Josephine, born Feb- ruary 3, 1902, is the widow of L. Walters, of Sac- ramento. The younger members of the family are Glenn Sumner, who was born September 7, 1903; Clyde Porter, born December 2, 1905; Florence A., born November 18, 1907; and Willis Ellory, born March 17, 1910.

In addition to rearing this large family Mrs. Lamp- son has also sheltered and educated children whose parents were unable to provide for them, and has enabled them to start out in the world equipped for life's practical and responsible duties. She was married on July 21, 1921, to Orlando Lampson, a younger brother of her first husband, and theirs is a most congenial union. Mr. Lampson concentrates his attention upon the management of The Palms, a highly productive tract of fifty acres, devoted to the raising of oranges, grape fruit, Bartlett pears, prunes, plums, grapes and olives of choice varieties. The packing-house on the ranch is kept busy during ten months of the year, and the fruit from The Palms orchards finds a ready market because of its superior quality and flavor.

Mrs. Lampson is a very capable business woman, and since the death of her first husband has super- vised the operation of her ranch, which ranks with the best in the state. Mr. Lampson was identified with the Masonic fraternity, and she is a member of the Eastern Star, belonging to Natoma Lodge, No. 64, at Folsom. For over thirty-two years she has been an earnest, conscientious and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and its teach- ings guide her in the daily relations of life. She is a valued member of the Community Club of Or- angevale, and for more than three decades has been connected with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Of broad, humanitarian spirit, she supports those movements which have for their object the betterment of the condition of humanity and the elevation of the standards of life to a higher and more ideal plane. Her days have been filled with unostentatious acts of charity and kindness, and her tender, womanly qualities have made her greatly be- loved.

CAPT. THOMAS A. RYAN .- Among the best- known and best-liked men in the river and bay transportation service was the late Captain Thomas A. Ryan, pioneer steamboat captain in the service of the Sacramento Transportation Company, and one of the oldest masters in their employ. A native of New York, he was born at Albany, on May 2, 1852, the son of Thomas and Ann ( McNamara) Ryan, worthy folk who passed their last days in the Empire State surrounded by their many friends and rela- tives.

Thomas A. Ryan attended the public schools of his native city and when a lad in his teens began a serv- ice on the water that was to last until he died. At the age of sixteen, in 1868, he came to California and for a year was in the river service with his head-

quarters in San Francisco; then he came to Sacra- mento and began at the bottom in the service of the Sacramento Transportation Company and went through all the pioneer conditions that confronted steamboat men during the early years of their exist- ence. He helped clear the Sacramento River of snags as far as Red Bluff in order that boats might ply their trade that far north. His stories of these early days were very interesting and he never lacked an audience when recounting tales of the river. He witnessed the evolution in steamboating on the river and bay and always kept abreast of the period and was a very well-informed man, holding the confidence of his superiors as well as those working under his direction. In 1880 he was made a captain, and from that time he had command of various vessels, among them the Red Bluff, Dover, Verona and others.

Captain Ryan was married in Sacramento to Miss Clara Sarah Hastings, one of the very first children born in Sutterville. They had five children: George T., died in 1919; Arthur, inspector of police in Sac- ramento; Bert and Charles, both deceased when about thirteen years old; and Gladys, employed in the state motor vehicle department. There are four grand- children and one great-grandchild. Mrs. Ryan passed away in 1915, beloved by all who knew her. Captain Ryan was a member of the National Mates and Pilots' Association and in all public matters he gave his support to the projects he thought would bring the best results to the greatest number of people. After a long and useful career Captain Ryan laid down the cares of life and passed to his fathers on May 12. 1923, after an illness of but a few weeks. He will be missed by all who came to know him as a man, citizen and friend.

HON. ALDEN ANDERSON .- Few men have been associated more actively, and none more honor- ably, with the industrial and political history of north- ern California than Hon. Alden Anderson, who grew up and was educated in San Jose, Santa Clara County, and is now president of The Capital National Bank of Sacramento, and actively associated with a number of other financial institutions and enterprises that aid in the advancement of the county and state. Wide has been the influence exerted by him in the banking circles of this part of the state; and varied as have been his commercial connections, they have been equaled by his intimate identification with the public life of the commonwealth and by his patriotic partici- pation in the upbuilding of his community.

A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Anderson was born in Meadville, Crawford County, in October, 1867, while his parents were at their old home on a visit. When he was three months old, his parents returned to California and settled at San Jose. With such educational advantages as were afforded by the public schools and the University of the Pacific, Alden An- derson began to earn his own livelihood at a very early age, his first occupation being that of an assist- ant in the fruit business conducted by his father. During 1886 he went to Suisun City, Solano County, and embarked in the fruit industry for himself, as well as shipping of same. The evolution of the business carried him to Sacramento in 1902. Soon after his arrival in the capital city, and until the year 1908, he acted as vice-president of the Capital Banking and Trust Company. In that year he disposed of his stock in that concern and all of his fruit interests,

alden anderson

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and moved to San Francisco, where, until July 1, 1909, he held office as vice-president of the Anglo & London Paris National Bank, and until February, 1911, served by appointment as superintendent of banks of California. During 1911 Mr. Anderson made a protracted continental tour of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Returning to Sacramento, December 1, 1911, he assisted in organizing The Capital National Bank, which institution purchased the site and business of the Capital Banking and Trust Company, and under its present title of The Capital National Bank he officiates as president. Mr. Anderson's place in the banking circles of northern California is one of as- sured influence and increasing responsibility. He purchased and helped to organize a number of other banks in the Sacramento Valley, in the management of which he actively participates. He was president of the company building the electric line from Sacra- mento to Stockton, an enterprise of the greatest importance to the permanent npbuilding of the rich agricultural region through which it passes. His home is graciously presided over by the lady whom he married at Rockville, Cal., March 2, 1893, and who was Miss Carrie L. Baldwin. There is one daughter in the family, Miss Kathryn.

Any account of the life activities of Mr. Anderson would be incomplete were no mention to be made of his association with the political history of the com- monwealth. Elected to the Assembly in 1897-1899 and 1901, he soon became a force in the Legislature. In 1899 he was selected as Speaker of the House, and he filled that difficult post with the same tact and ability displayed in every relation of public life. A still higher honor awaited him in 1902, when he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of California; and he filled that eminent position for four years, retiring with the general good-will of the people he had served with such fidelity and distinction. He is at present a Regent of the University of California, and the civilian member of the Veterans' Welfare Board.

It would seem impossible for a citizen having so many duties in public office, in business connections and in banking circles, to enter with any activity into fraternal and social circles; but Mr. Anderson has not allowed his existence to be dwarfed into a tedious round of irksome cares. On the contrary, he has enjoyed society with the same enthusiasm characteris- tic of his identification with other spheres of life. He is a member of the Pacific-Union and Family Clubs, of San Francisco, and the Sutter Club of Sac- ramento. He is a member of nearly all Masonic orders, and of the Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias and Foresters. Practical philanthropy, whether exer- cised privately or through the medium of fraternal organizations, receives his steadfast support; and movements inaugurated and inspired by the desire to help the needy, to encourage the depressed or to uplift the fallen, have benefited by his sagacious counsel and sympathetic cooperation.

JOHN K. FLYNN .- An enterprising and very progressive man of affairs in the automobile world is John K. Flynn, the president of the Motor Car Deal- ers Association of Sacramento, formerly equally well and pleasantly known as the efficient president of the Mecum, Flynn & Hunter Company, of the Capital City. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio, on April 17, 1889, the son of James L. and Catherine (Con- nolly) Flynn, the former still living, but the latter

now deceased. The family came out to San Francisco in 1911, and there soon made many friends, who will always recall and esteem them as fellow-citizens, neighbors and friends.

John Flynn had all the advantages of the excellent public schools, and in addition the best of courses at the business college. Then he took up railway work, next followed the storage-battery business, and was also in the clothing business for three years. When he removed to Sacramento on January 8, 1918, he had already formed valuable connections and so suc- ceeded from the very start. The company that he now so ably represents was then formed, to take care particularly of Chandler and Cleveland products; and what position this organization has taken in the city may be judged from the fact that Mr. Flynn was on the committee entrusted with the framing of the motor vehicle act of 1921. Public-spirited, he did excellent work in the cause of liberty and his native land during the World War. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce.

When Mr. Flynn married, in 1917, at San Fran- cisco, he chose for his bride Miss Harriet Pabst, of Orland, Glenn County; and their union has been blessed with one daughter, Mary Jean. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Flynn is always willing, when it comes to local legislation, issues and candi- dates, to put aside narrow partisanship. He is an Elk, and he belongs to the Del Paso Country Club; and in the circles of these organizations, Mrs. Flynn also enjoys an enviable popularity. Mr. Flynn is fond of golf and of fishing.

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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 56

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