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 59

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 59

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Daniel E. Stuart was educated at the Grand Island district school, and finished his schooling with an academic course at the University of the Pacific at San Jose. With the exception of five years in the employment of the Griffin & Skelly canneries of Grand Island and at their Oakland plant, Mr. Stuart has devoted his entire time to operating the home ranch for his mother. One-half of the 200 acres is at present in orchards, principally of pears and ship- ping prunes, and the remaining acreage is in beans and vegetables; but he is gradually developing the entire property to orchards, setting out trees every year, so that in time the ranch will blossom as 200 acres of fruit in one body, a large holding in this day of small ranches.

The marriage of Daniel E. Stuart, at Fairfield, Solano County, on October 19, 1905, united him with Miss Elsie Crow, the daughter of Abe and Cecelia Crow, and the third in a family of eight children. The sixth child, Lelland Crow, died during the late World War; he was on board ship for France when the influenza broke out on the vessel, and the troops were returned to America and taken to hospitals at the port; out of the entire company only forty sur- vived the epidemic, and Lelland Crow was among the boys who gave their lives for their country-no

less so than those who reached the battle-grounds and died while serving "over there." Mrs. Stuart was reared and educated at Rio Vista, where her father was a rancher. He is now deceased, but the mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart have adopted two children and made a place for them at the family hearth: Lelland and Wanda. In political belief, Mr. Stuart is a Republican; and in all matters he is a true Californian and a firm believer in the future pos- sibilities of his native state.

PATRICK HAYES .- The list of Sacramento's popular citizens contains the name of no more worthy, upright and loyal citizen than Patrick Hayes, the assistant chief of the Sacramento fire department. He is a native son of California, born in San Benito County, March 12, 1873, a son of John and Anna (Hern) Hayes, who settled in California in an carly day, where the father was in the employ of the gov- ernment and later engaged in mining pursuits. When Patrick was a small child his parents removed to San Jose, Cal., and there he received his education in the public schools. After his school days were over he first worked at bricklaying; then went into the laun- dry business, first in San Jose and later in San Fran- cisco and Sacramento. In 1902 he entered the Sacra- mento fire department and was with Truck Company No. 1 for ten years; then he was commissioned cap- tain of Chemical No. 2 and held the position for nine years; on July 1, 1921, he was promoted to the posi- tion of assistant chief of the fire department. Hc is held in high esteem by the citizens of Sacramento.

The marriage of Mr. Hayes united him with Miss Winnifred Boles and they are the parents of four children: John F., Hilda, Winnifred and Annie. In politics Mr. Hayes is a Republican and fraternally he is a member of the Red Men of Sacramento.

JOHN T. FAIRBAIRN .- An old pioneer of Sac- ramento County and one who helped in upbuilding and developing it to the present-day era of prosperity, was John T. Fairbairn, who was born of pure Scotch ancestry, at Lancaster, Erie County, N. Y., Febru- ary 5, 1856. He was the son of John and Isa- bella (Brackey) Fairbairn, the father a native of Scotland who came to America in 1853, and eventual- ly went to Canada, where he engaged in farming un- til his death, in 1876. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War. The wife and mother was also a native of Scotland, her death occurring in 1858.

An only son, John T. Fairbairn was educated in the public schools of Canada, and when sixteen years of age started in life for himself, came west to Cali- fornia and was employed by J. D. Morrison in Sac- ramento County, later going to Yolo, and there worked as ranch hand until 1879, when he was made foreman of the Dr. P. H. Merritt ranch, remaining in that position until 1883.

January 3, 1883, in Seaforth, Ontario, the young pioneer was married to Agnes Houston, a schoolmate who had given him her promise to join him on life's journey when he could provide for her; she was of Scotch parentage, the daughter of James Houston. farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbairn came to California and located at Walsh Station, where the young hus- band bought 200 acres and began ranching, and that continued to be their family home until his death, in 1914. He added to his holdings from time to time and

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eventually owned 500 acres, raising grain and stock. He took an active part in county affairs, helping to build up the district and to protect and further the best interests of the people. A Republican in politics, he was a delegate to both county and state conven- tions; a member of the County Central Committee, he was active in its various affairs and always a worker for the good of his fellow citizens. He was school trustec of the Brighton school district for many years and served as clerk of the board as well. In line with his progressive ideas, he was a member of the Ranchers' Protective Association. Fraternally he belonged to the Odd Fellows, and to the Scot- ish Clans; and like all true Scots, he was a Presby- terian in religious faith. Six children were born to the worthy pioneers: James H .; John B .; Russell A .; Frances 1., wife of F. H. Prittie of Sacramento; Agnes G., wife of J. S. Rusby, of Elk Grove; and Mary D., who married E. J. Camp, of Florin. All were born and reared in Sacramento County. The good wife and mother passed to her reward in 1916.

James H. Fairbairn, the eldest son, was born on the old home place, and attended the local schools; growing up on the ranch, he early learned the rudi- ments of agriculture, and his years of experience have added to that knowledge. He makes the manage- ment of the 700 acres he now operates his real life work, for which he was fitted by early environment and training; and he has won success through atten- tion to details and the use of up-to-date methods and implements. Fraternally Mr. Fairbairn is a mem- ber of the Royal Arch Masons, and of Sacramento Parlor No. 3, Native Sons. Like his father, he is a Republican in political adherence, though in local affairs he acts without partisanship in all matters per- taining to district development, and the community could not look for a more loyal supporter. The two brothers are also working in partnership with James H. on the ranch.

GEORGE R. JENKINS .- Few leaders in the Sac- ramento commercial and financial world have a better understanding of the complicated problems of insur- ance than George R. Jenkins, the energetic senior member of the well-known house of Geo. R. Jen- kins Company, Inc., located at 613 J Street, in the building owned by Mr. Jenkins. A Californian who has never ceased to talk enthusiastically for the great Golden State, he was born at a beautiful spot in Monterey County, July 16, 1875, the son of Lewis R. and Lottie Elizabeth (Hegel) Jenkins, the former a pioneer who came here first in 1852, then re- turned East to Iowa. During the Civil War he served in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and when the war was over he engaged in farming, having returned to California. He also engaged in the livery business in Sacramento, located on K Street, between 6th and 7th Streets. He died, esteemed by all who knew him, in 1912; but his devoted wife still enjoys life, the center of a circle of admiring friends and prominent in the Eastern Star, the Amaranth and the White Shrine circles.

George R. Jenkins attended the local public schools in Monterey, held in the building used for the first State Capitol, and he also attended night school and studied mechanical drawing; then he took a corres- pondence course in law, but he did not take the bar examination. However, he took up mining and worked in. California, Arizona .. aud. Nevada, spending

eleven years in that line of activity and meeting with the best of results in the various fields where he was employed. In 1910 he decided he could do better and came back to Sacramento and began in the real estate and insurance business. In 1920 he formed the Geo. R. Jenkins Company, and on January 1, 1923, the business was incorporated and Mr. Jenkins became its president. The company specialize in insurance, although they do a general real estate business in connection. The experience of the projectors, their modern, superior methods, and their never-failing at- tention to the every want of a patron, have combined to yield them a handsome patronage; and it is not surprising that no Sacramento firm has evidenced more interest in town and county. Mr. Jenkins is a director of the Central California Funding Cor- poration, of which he was also one of the organizers.

Mr. Jenkins has been twice married, first to Miss Mabel Farris, by whom he had two children: Farris, who was associated with his father and was also playground inspector for the city of Sacramento, and who died July 2, 1922; and Clare, who graduated from the high school and is now an assistant in her father's office. His second marriage united him with Miss Ida M. Bowman, a native of Oakland, and their happy union has been blessed by the birth of a son, George R. Jenkins, Jr. For his recreation Mr. Jen- kins enjoys fishing and hunting for big game. He is a life member of the Mckinley Athletic Club, Inc., in which he is also one of the trustees and he main- tains a live interest in all athletic sports. He is public-spirited and ready to assist in all movements for the advancement of the community's prosperity.

WILLIAM W. BOTTIMORE .- A member of a pioneer family that settled in Sacramento County more than half a century ago, William W. Bottimore is a native of the Old Dominion, born in Tazewell County, Va., June 27, 1866, the son of William T. and Louise (Cecil) Bottimore. The father was born in Baltimore, Md., and the mother in Virginia and both were of old English ancestry, the Cecil family being of colonial stock. Seven children were born to them, as follows: William W .; Mrs. Angeline Brown of San Diego; Charles Carroll, died in 1918; Katherine, Mrs. Frank Marceau of Milbrae, Cal .; Mary, died in 1894; Mrs. Nannie Corrales of Los Angeles; Frank, died at the age of twenty-one. In 1870 the Bottimore family migrated to California and settled at Woodbridge on the Woods place; they remained there but six months and then went to New Hope, but after a year they were flooded out and came to Galt, where the father followed his trade of brick-mason until 1886; then the family, with the exception of our subject, removed to San Diego, Cal., where the parents passed away.

William W. Bottimore received his education in the Galt district school, and when seventeen started to work on the Need ranch, continuing there for five years. He then rented 500 acres cast of this ranch and for nine years engaged in raising grain there. He then purchased his present place of 400 acres on the open plains and built a home and farm buildings, planted trees and shrubbery and set out a thirty-acre vineyard of Tokay grapes. Here he installed an irri- gation system, using the first centrifugal pump in Sacramento County. Later he dynamited three acres of hard-pan and set it out to peaches, and now some of the finest fruit in this section is produced there, as a reward for his perseverance and labor. Mr. Botti- more maintains. a dairy on his. ranch and raises grain,

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cattle, horses and mules, although most of his farm- ing is done by tractor. He has three sixty-horse-power Best tractors and in addition to his own land leases large tracts. He has a large repair shop on his ranch and he and his sons do all the machine repair work, his eldest son being an expert mechanic. Mr. Botti- inore expects to break up his hard-pan soil with a sub- soil breaker, built to go to a depth of five feet, which, instead of lifting the ground, pushes each cutting to one side, taking a strip five feet wide to each cut- ting. This is the first experiment of this kind to be tried out in this part of the county.

On December 16, 1892, Mr. Bottimore was married to Miss Cora B. Quiggle, born on the Quiggle ranch on the Cosumnes River in Sacramento County, the daughter of V. S. and Isabella Quiggle, carly pioneers of California who had large land-holdings near the present site of Herald. Mrs. Bottimore's grand- mother was Mrs. Elizabeth Louins, who was the first woman to prove up on a piece of government land in Sacramento County. Mr. and Mrs. Bottimore are the parents of ten children: Ephe Ray is the eldest; Donna is Mrs. Robert Fawcett of Galt, and has a son, Robert Donald: Zelma is Mrs. Burton Scoon of Roseville, Cal., and has a daughter. Joan Virginia; Cecil is a part- ner with his father; Thae died in infancy; Thomas, Abner, Catherine, Hallie, and Robert Lee are all at home.

The oldest son, Ephe Ray, entered the U. S. Army in November, 1917, was one week on Angel Island and then was sent to Kelly Field, Texas, where he took the examination for mechanics and was placed in the 23rd Recruit Squadron and sent to Waco, Texas, for training. This outfit was absorbed by the 257th Aero Squadron and Mr. Bottimore became a truck driver, remaining on duty at Waco until June, 1918, when he went to Camp Green, N. C., and was transferred to the 332nd Aero Squadron and sent to Morrison, Va., sailing from there to Liverpool, Eng- land. In England the squadron was turned back from Southampton and sent to Edinburgh, Scotland, and there served with the Royal Flying Corps, Mr. Botti- more attaining the rank of sergeant. Just after the armistice this squadron was routed for home, but in- fluenza broke out and they were delayed a month, finally landing at New York December 24, 1918. Mr. Bottimore was discharged at Camp Mills, N. Y., January 10, 1919, and returned home. On June 30, 1920, he was married to Miss Catherine Spencer of Galt and they have a daughter, Frances Jane, and a son, Ephe R., Jr.

William W. Bottimore is a lifelong Republican. A stanch friend of education, he served as a member of the Alabama school district for nineteen years.

WHITTEMORE BROS .- Well-known among the successful ranchers of Sacramento County who have attained their success by scientific, progressive methods, courageous investment and steady applica- tion to the problems before them, Messrs. Whitte- more Bros., who are operating two miles northwest of Clay, are enjoying an enviable position. They represent the Whittemore family of Clay, together with a sister who is still living, and they all live on the old Whittemore ranch. These brothers are Al- bion E. Whittemore, who was born on July 16, 1874; Carl A. Whittemore, who first saw light on January 24, 1878; and Benjamin Franklin Whittemore, who was born on February 15, 1880. The sister is Anna Lucy, now married and the wife of William Hart.

She was born in 1883. They are the children of Benjamin Franklin Whittemore, a native of New Hampshire, who had married Miss Anna Margaret Snyder, of Allegany County, New York. Ben- jamin F. Whittemore came out to California as early as 1853, across the great plains; and he mined at Michigan Bar. The Snyder family had migrated to Illinois, and in 1872 Benjamin F. Whittemore re- turned East from California. He was married in Illinois, and that same year he came back to Cali- fornia, bringing with him his young wife. He settled about two miles northwest of Clay Station, and there purchased a quarter-section of land. And he built a home at that time, and died on his ranch on No- vember 9, 1885, aged fifty-two years and ten months His wife was born on June 27, 1838, and she died at the old home at Clay, on June 3, 1920, having almost reached her eighty-second year. Mr. Whittemore was one of the first trustees of the Laguna school district, and both he and his gifted wife were among the most esteemed pioneers in this section. All their boys attended the Clay district school, and since their boyhood, they lived on the ranch with their mother. Miss Whittemore married William Hart, of Clem- ents, and she has three sons: Wilbur, Lauren and Delbert.

To the original quarter-section of land Benjamin F. Whittemore had added 320 acres in two parcels, and of this estate the Whittemore brothers own 280 acres. They also have a plot of ground seven and one-half acres in extent in Galt, within the northern part of the city. Their father always conducted a general farming enterprise, and bequeathed to his children something more than merely a good name. Carl A. Whittemore has been clerk of the board of directors of the Laguna district school for the last twelve years. Benjamin Franklin, Jr., the youngest son, served as constable of Alabama Township from 1914 to 1922. and like the other brothers he is a stanch Republican. B. F. Whittemore was united in matrimony at Sacramento on December 15, 1918, with Miss Josephine Ivey, who is a native of Ar- kansas. She came to California with her mother when two years old, and was reared and educated at Clay Station. Her father was William Ivey, who had married Mary Holcomb. Mr. Ivey died in Ar- kansas, but the mother came on to California with her family, and here married Thomas Allen, of Clay. He died in 1911. Mrs. Allen is still living near Clay, the mother of four children, by her first marriage, all of whom are deceased, save Mrs. Whittemore, while by her union with Mr. Allen she had three children, Louis. Rufus, and Jewel. Mrs. Whittemore attended the Clay district school, and has two children, Le- land Benjamin and Roland Carl.

PETER B. GERMAIN .- A successful, prosperous rancher whose modern, scientific methods and high standards in business negotiations have entitled him to his substantial returns, is Peter B. Germain, a native of Three Rivers, in Quebec, Canada, where he was born April 30, 1856, the son of John B. and Hen- rietta (Trottier) Germain. His father and mother were born on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Canada, our subject's grandparents having been fron- tier settlers of Ermandier, Canada. Grandfather Ger- main lived to be seventy-five years of age, while Grandmother Germain survived him and saw her eighty-sixth year. John B. Germain saw one year more of life than his father, and his devoted com-

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

panion, Peter's mother, also lived to be eighty-six years of age. They had eleven children, of whom Arselia was the eldest; then came Ferdinand, Napo- leon, Emma, Henry, Joseph, Peter, Mary, Josephine, Clara and Adolph.

Peter Germain attended the Canadian grammer schools, and when eighteen years old, left home to come into the United States and made his way West to California. At Stockton, he worked for two years for William Fairchild, who lived out on the Stockton- Waterloo road; and then he went to Petaluma, but soon returned to Stockton, to spend three years in various engagements. Coming into Sacramento Coun- ty, he was married on April 30, 1889, to Miss Esther C. Carr, who was born on the Carr ranch, near Clay Station, and was the daughter of Seymour and Mary (O'Neal) Carr. Seymour Carr was a native of Syra- cuse, New York, born September 1, 1840, who later removed to Des Moines, Iowa, in the winter of 1851- 1852, where his parents died. In 1859, he crossed the plains to California, arriving September 1, and he worked at mining for a short time, then farmed, and in 1870 settled on a ranch of 240 acres, near Clay, Cal., where he spent the remainder of his days. He died on May 14, 1912, in his seventy-second year; his good wife also breathed her last in her seventy-second year, passing away June 15, 1909. Seymour Carr was identified most honorably with public life. He served two terms in the state legislature as assemblyman, and for about twenty years was justice of the peace in his township. He was a school director, a member of the Grange and also an Odd Fellow. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Carr were blessed with seven children. Alice is Mrs. Thomas L. White of Pacific Grove: Esther C. is the wife of our subject; Elmour is at San Jose; Ella A. has become Mrs. Hauschildt; William is on the home place; Maud is Mrs. William Henning, of Forest Hill; and James is with William. Esther C. Carr attended the Alabama district school in Sacra- mento County, and there laid the foundation of that excellent training by which she has been able to be- come such a valuable helpmate to her husband.

After their marriage, Mr. Germain purchased a quarter-section of land near Clay Station, and still owns 140 acres of this tract. The place has six acres of vineyard, and the balance of the land is a stock farm. Mr. Germain has served as road overseer in his district, and has been a trustee of the Alabama district school. In national politics, he is a Republi- can; in local affairs, always a good non-partisan booster.

Six children were granted to Mr. and Mrs. Ger- main. Mary E. passed away in her twentieth year. Emma A. is a graduate from the Fresno Teachers' College, and Clara M. is a graduate from the Western Normal at Stockton, and both are teaching at Fresno. John S. graduated from the teachers' college at Chico. June 7, 1923. On March 10, 1923, he married Frances Requa. The younger ones are Peter W., a graduate of the Galt high-school class of 1922, and Josephine E. John served in the late World War. He entered the service in October, 1917, as a member of Company L, 363rd Infantry, 91st Division, trained at Camp Lewis, but was taken down there with the scarlet fever and rheumatism, through which he suffered far more than many who went overseas, and survived great physical dangers; and he was honorably dis- charged, as a corporal, in March, 1919. What he modestly and uncomplainingly did for his country,

even though he was denied the privilege of going to European battlefields, will always be a source of satisfaction to himself and his friends.

LOUIS W. MYERS .- At the time of his death, which occurred on April 8, 1922, Louis W. Myers was the owner of 865 acres on Grand Island, consist- ing of a highly developed fruit ranch, devoted to pears, peaches, plums, cherries and asparagus, and one of the show-places of the county. He was born on the Myers ranch on Grand Island, on October 27, 1870, a son of Henry W. and Sophia Myers, both natives of Germany and early settlers on the Sacra- mento, their arrival dating in the early fifties.

Louis W. Myers was educated at the Auburn schools. Early in life he showed great aptitude for agriculture and horticulture, which as time went on enabled him to acquire and develop an immense acre- age. This property he managed so successfully that his name became well-known throughout the valley and the central part of the state as one of the county's most successful and resourceful ranchers, with a repu- tation for exceptionally keen business management as well as a thorough knowledge of soil and climatic conditions.

On November 21, 1894, Louis W. Myers was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta de Back. She was born in Holland, a daughter of P. G. and Patronella (Gassling) de Back, and when twelve years of age was brought to the United States by her parents, who settled on the Sacramento River and there en- gaged in ranching, being numbered among the agri- culturists who aided in the development of the coun- ty's rich agricultural resources. Here the mother died, aged sixty-three years; the father is still living, making his home on Grand Island with Edward H. Myers. Henrietta de Back received her education at Notre Dame Convent, in San Francisco, and after- wards was married to Mr. Myers. Although a native of a far-distant country, Mrs. Myers has spent prac- tically all of her life in California. Eight children blessed the union of these representative Californians: Louis John, who is operating the ranch for his mother; Rena Sophia, wife of Fred Kulper and a resident of Suisun, Napa County; Henry William, who married Gertrude Kahlmeier, of New York State, and resides in Sacramento; Patronella Cato, wife of John Marshall Diggs of Sacramento; and Paul de Back, Theodore Edward, Henderieka Dora, and Marie Louise. All have had most excellent school advantages.

In 1918 Mr. Myers started the building of a pala- tial home, the construction of which consumed two years; and the grounds are now in the process of being laid out in landscape gardening. The comple- tion of the work as planned will place the family home in a class with the Claus Spreckels home in San Francisco. It is of the type of beautiful country home for which California is famous throughout the world. The residence is constructed after the Italian style of architecture, and presents a magnificent and beautiful appearance. It was planned by Mrs. Myers, and her ideas were carried out by the architect. Mr. Myers named the ranch Rose Henrietta Orchard, and he was very proud of his orchard, so named for his accomplished wife; and under this brand the fruit is packed and shipped to the large cities in the East, direct from the L. W. Myers landing.

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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 59

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