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 62

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 62

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Besides learning the boot- and shoemaking trade as a boy, he ran errands for the Union soldiers, and he also lent a helping hand to the pursued negro; and he is credited with having saved the lives of over 200 Africans, some real slaves, by assisting to hide them in cellars and to bring them the necessaries of life while they were in hiding, and then to help spirit them away. He also tells of seeing many of them, when pursued, throw themselves into the Hudson River and drown, to avoid being captured and taken back to slavery. Indeed, his life in New York is most interesting. Even as a kiddie of six years, he began to shine boots, carrying his shining-hox over his shoulder. He sold badges of Lincoln in 1861 and 1864; and he shined Lincoln's boots in the old Occidental Hotel on Broadway, in February, 1865, when Lincoln was on his way to Washington to he inaugurated the second time. After the assassination of the President. he sold Lincoln badges also. While he was shining the boots of the President, he was asked many ques- tions as to his habits, schooling, etc .; and upon leav- ing, Mr. Lincoln admonished the lad to "always tell the truth, especially to your parents." This has never heen forgotten by Mr. Sbarbaro, and is one of his cherished memories of the martyred President.

Antonio Sbarbaro went to Europe with his parents on June 22, 1869, and remained there until 1878. The family settled in the city of Bobbio, on the river Trebbia, and while in Italy he entered the Italian

Capt. A. barbara

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

army and did his duty by the land of his father's birth, and was discharged in 1878 as first sergeant. While he was living in Italy, he became the president of the Societa Operaia, a union which included all mechanics, and he served six terms; even while he was in the army he was not allowed to resign his office. On May 8, 1878, he left for California, and arrived here on September 13. He came to Sacramento in 1880, and worked for Tom Harper, remaining in his employ until he embarked in business for himself, first at 1125 Third Street, and then at his present location at 705 I Street. He has been fairly success- ful ever since he started, not getting rich, but cer- tainly getting his share of the trade from such per- sons as are particular about their foot-wear and are determined to have the best; and at his present age of sixty-six he challenges any and all men of his craft to do better or more accurate work.

On October 8, 1887, in Sacramento, occurred the marriage of Antonio Sbarbaro and Miss Emilia Boi- tano, from which union were born two children, Rosie and Adelina. Mr. Sbarbaro served as a captain in the Bersaglieri Company, in Sacramento, which took leading parts in the National Guard activities under General Sheehan, and Colonels McKee, Sey- mour, Guthrie and others. Incidents of historical interest are related by the Captain, of which we men- tion one that took place on September 22, 1888, when his company was returning from San Francisco after having attended the anniversary of the entry of the Italian army into Rome, when the rule of the Pope was overthrown. They were in full regalia, and on crossing the bay on a ferry-boat Captain Sbarbaro met C. C. Allen, then adjutant general of California, and ordered his company to stand at "present arms" before the state officer as a token of respect. This was never forgotten by General Allen, who became a warm friend of Captain Sbarbaro. Another incident of interest occurred at the time of the A. R. U. strike in 1894. The striking railroad men broke into the Bersaglieri hall and took all their guns, evidently to protect themselves from the soldiers, who had been ordered to Sacramento. The Captain reported the loss of the arms to Mayor Steinman and to Sheriff O'Neil, and also to United States Marshal Baldwin. He was told by the latter that all the guns would be given back to their rightful owners, as the state guards had taken all guns from the strikers and they were stored in the basement of the capitol building. Upon orders from Mr. Baldwin to General Allen, the guns were once more delivered to Captain Sbarbaro.

Captain Sbarbaro has been an active Republican politician for many years, and for thirty years has been a recognized leader in the Italian colony, serv- ing as president of the colony for several terms. While president of the Italian colony he held the confidence of his people and always got results when promoting any drives for beneficial purposes, not only from the Italian population, but from people of every creed and nation. He always got prompt returns from many of the prominent citizens of San Fran- cisco, among them A. Sbarbaro, president of the Swiss-Italian Bank, L. Scatena, A. Pedrini and J. F. Fugazi, who always responded to calls for aid. The Captain was the first man to induce the Italian consul at San Francisco to visit Sacramento. This was on April 26, 1908, and was the first time an Italian con- sul had visited the capital city. In 1913, the Captain 21

appeared before the state legislature to ask for the appropriation of money to teach Italian in a cosmo- politan school in Sacramento. In the movement he had the support of Luella B. Johnston, then presi- dent of the board of education, and Charles C. Hughes, superintendent of schools. This was made a bill and passed, not only for Sacramento, but for all cities in the state over a certain population where it was deemed expedient to teach that language. This was the first attempt made for the passage of such a measure in Sacramento. Captain Sbarbaro has always been ready and willing to aid those in distress, either at home or abroad. In 1886 he raised a fund for the destitute from the cholera epidemic at Liguria and Napoli, and for the flood sufferers at Veneto, that same year; and he also raised money for the relief of those made destitute at the time of the great tidal wave at Galveston, Texas. At the time of the Messina disaster in Italy, in 1908, the call came for funds for the earthquake sufferers; and on January 3, 1909, Cap- tain Sbarbaro, then president of the Italian colony in Sacramento, sent out a call for a meeting to arrange for soliciting funds to send to the refugees. The results were immediate, as that same day over $1.000 was subscribed and inside of three months there had been raised $7,713.98, which had been sent in $1,000 amounts from time to time. This money was raised by solicitation from people of all nationalities, and was sent through the state branch of the California Red Cross by Captain Sbarbaro to the committee in Italy that had been appointed to care for the sufferers. The results of the drives by the various committees are shown in a personal letter to Captain Sbarbaro from A. Bonnheim, treasurer of the Sacramento Red Cross, in which it was stated that all moneys collected tor the above purpose had been sent to Italy. During the "Days of '49" parade in 1922, in Sacramento, Captain Sbarbaro was Grand Marshal of the Italian Division, and this division had the distinction of win- ning the second prize. He is one of the best-known men in Sacramento, and has always shown his public spirit by helping every worthy and worth-while proj- ect that has been brought to his notice, that had as its aim the uplift of his fellow-men and the making of a better and greater Sacramento.

THOMAS N. DAVIS .- A California rancher who is an enthusiastic native son, and of whom, because of his progressive methods and scientific results, Sacra- mento County may well be proud, is Thomas N. Davis, who was born on the old Davis ranch near Hicksville, five miles northeast of that town, on February 13, 1871. His father, David Davis, came out to Califor- nia in 1852 and made an interesting record as a pioneer, details of which may be found in the story of E. A. Riley, found elsewhere in this volume, acquir- ing, previous to his death, 1,120 acres. At first, he engaged in the raising of sheep and cattle, and he also had considerable range land in the mountains; and in later life he took up general farming.

Thomas N. Davis attended the district school that had been named after his father; and when twenty- four years old, he started farming for himself. He married at Sacramento, on July 2, 1894, Miss Georgia Alida Spring, a native of Sacramento County and the daughter of Elias W. and Christiana (Long) Spring. Her father was a school teacher, and also an carly settler of Sacramento County; and he conducted

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schools in several counties in central California. Miss Spring completed the studies required at the Sacra- mento high school, and then attended the state normal school of San Jose, after which she taught for some three seasons before her marriage. Her father died at the age of fifty-eight, and her mother at the age of sixty-nine. Elias W. Spring is a brother of Mrs. Davis.

Mr. Davis has operated the Davis ranch continu- ously since his marriage, with the exception of one year, which he spent at Eureka, in Humboldt Coun- ty; and he has 160 of the original Davis acres, upon which he built a home, where he has reared two sons, Thomas N., Jr., and Francis Murray, who assist him in grain farming. He leases about 1,500 acres devoted to grain-raising purposes, and he employs eighteen head of horses and one tractor. He served for years as clerk of the board of trustees of the Davis school district. In national political affairs, he votes regardless of party lines.

RICHARD T. BUTLER .- For the past twelve years Richard T. Butler has been the manager of the Cavitt Orchard Farm located fifteen miles north- east of Sacramento on Auburn Boulevard, consisting of eighty acres well improved and productive. He was born in Evansville, Ind., March 4, 1851, a son of William Thomas and Elizabeth Butler, both na- tives of England. William Thomas Butler and his wife emigrated to America in 1844 and in 1852 crossed the plains to California with an ox team, enduring many hardships, but were fortunate in hav- ing no trouble with the Indians while en route. Will- iam Thomas Butler was a boatman by trade, and in 1864 while mending the bottom of a river boat on the Sacramento River, accidentally fell into the river; he was rescued, but the chill of the cold water caused his death within a year. He was survived by his widow and seven children: Sarah Ireland, a venerable pioneer of Sacramento, passed away in 1922; William Thomas resides in Roseville and his sketch is in this volume; Richard T. is the subject of this sketch; John resides in Roseville; George is deceased; Mary Spaniger resides in Roseville; and Charles is de- ceased. The widow remained in Sacramento, where she educated and reared her children. She was a close and intimate friend of the Stanfords and she spent her declining years in Roseville, where she passed away.

Richard T. Butler attended public school in Sacra- mento and at an early age began to earn his own way in the world; he began ranching near Sacra- mento, where he conducted a dairy; he saved his money and soon had enough to start as a teaming contractor with Bowers & Wattes; later he learned the moulder's trade with the Southern Pacific Rail- road Company. On June 29, 1876, Mr. Butler was united in marriage with Miss Ida B. Cavitt. For thirty years Mr. Butler farmed in Sacramento County and in 1911 became manager of the Cavitt Orchard Farm, the estate left by Mrs. Butler's mother, who passed away May 8, 1911. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Butler: Lila May, George W., Richard T., Albert F., Edith May, Vital B., and Melba B. Mr. Butler was residing in Sacramento at the time of the high water in 1862 and helped the family to remove from their home at Twelfth and L Streets to higher ground and for many days they went about in boats. Mr. Butler has devoted much

of his time to the progress of the Sylvan district of Sacramento County, among the oldest rural sections of California.

CHARLES H. JOLLY .- A venerable and highly esteemed pioneer, whose recollections of early days are of never failing interest to all who treasure the history of the Golden State, is Charles H. Jolly, a retired merchant of Folsom City, who has been a state guard at the Folsom Prison since December 18, 1893. He was born at Jollytown, Greene County, Pa., June 18, 1837, and is now the only surviving son of Titus and Rachael (Powndston) Jolly, both natives of Old Virginia, who pioneered together in clearing the forests in Pennsylvania for the town- site of Jollytown, named for Titus Jolly. Few men excelled him in that day of hard struggle against great and heavy odds, when as a farmer, blacksmith and wagon-maker, he helped to blaze the way in the march of civilization for others.

Charles left home at the age of thirteen, and drift- ed about at common labor, making his way through West Virginia; and when sixteen years old, he start- ed West with his brother Samuel. They crossed the plains by way of the North Platte River, and he arrived on November 28, 1858, at Hangtown, now Placerville, his brother having lain over in Virginia City, where he remained. For about three years Charles prospected, in placer mining, with pick and shovel, and in 1861 he located at Folsom, then a lively center and the railroad terminus. He conducted a store for six years, and on January II, 1862, with a partner, Mr. Berry, built over night a boat, on which they made a trip the next day to Sacramento City, twenty-two miles away, on the high waters of the memorable flood of that year. While en route to Sacramento, they saved a valuable dog which had taken refuge on a haystack on a neighboring farm and brought it to Sacramento, for which, when they returned the faithful animal to its appreciative mas- ter, they were amply rewarded. They spent one day in the capital city on their boat, conveying people through the Venice-like streets from place to place, and when evening came sold their boat for $75, and returned to Folsom City by means of the steam rail- way. This adventure was typical of the spirit of the time in which they lived, and is one of the best of Mr. Jolly's stories.

As a merchant, Mr. Jolly made an enviable repu- tation for progressive methods and ideals, and after burning out in 1867, he went to Washoe City, Nev., and for five years followed placer-mining with fairly good results. In 1873, he removed to San Fran- cisco, and there for seven years he was an employee of large wholesale establishments. In 1880, he re- turned to Folsom, and with two partners conducted a general store, until he sold out. in December, 1893, as the result of a thrilling event at the near-by state prison, leading to a shake-up and reform. After the famous Sontag break in that year, Warden McCombs solicited Mr. Jolly to become a guard at the prison, and from a sense of duty, he responded to the call and disposed of such private interests as would oth- erwise have stood in his way Since then Mr. Jolly's record as a guard and officer in every department of the prison has been and is above reproach, and he has the distinct honor of being the eldest of any of the state prison guards in California, and the one who has longest been in office. He is known as both a

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fearless and thoroughly capable man, and his experi- ences have been sent abroad throughout the country many times by newspaper syndicates.

Some of these experiences, in which other brave officers besides Charles H. Jolly participated, are full of the romance and high-lights found in fic- tion founded upon real life. On July 27, 1903, for example, thirteen desperate convicts in Folsom Prison assailed the guards, captured the prison armory, and escaped, carrying with them Warden Wilkinson and Captain R. J. Murphy. They had armed themselves with "file" knives and razors. Two of them turned on W. A. Chalmers, the outer gatekeeper, and stabbed him in the arm, while the others rushed into the captain's office, captured the warden, captain and oth- er officials, and taking them as shields, demanded that the armory be opened to them, or they would slaugh- ter all the officials. The armory was opened and they supplied themselves with rifles, revolvers and ammu- nition, and still holding their prisoners to shield them, demanded that the main gate be opened, under the same threat, and it was done. To the lasting honor of two prisoners, be it said, Joseph Casey, a life-term- er, slammed the inner door, preventing a general es- cape. O. C. Clark, another convict, doing twenty years for forgery, dropped down in the office, and going to the warden's office, gave the alarm, which was telephoned to Folsom, and the big siren was sounded. The warden and officers were released and returned to the prison, their captors having exchanged clothes with them. Chief Turnkey Joseph Cochrane had been badly stabbed, and Guard William Cotter was dead and others wounded. At Pilot Hill the convicts were overtaken by posses, and J. J. Allison, a convict, was killed. On August 1, as a militia company from Placerville was trailing the convicts on a hill near that place, they were fired on from ambush, and two of them, Festus Rutherford and Charles Jones, were killed, and William Gill wound- ed. The convicts split into two bands, and posses hunted the foothills and mountains for them. Rob- erts was captured in a grain-field near Davisville, on August 5, by Deputy Sheriff John J. Hinters of this county. Roberts and Howard had come to Sacramento, and passed the night at Agricultural Park, separating afterwards. Seavis, the negro con- vict, was captured on August 6 at Auburn, by Sher- iff Keene and Deputy Coan. Fahey had a battle on the night of August 7 with Detective Max Fisher and Deputy Sheriff Wittenbrock, but got away in the dark. On August 23, Murphy was captured by offi- ers at Reno, and Woods was captured in the same city the next day. Roy Fahey, "Red Shirt" Gordon and some of the others have never been captured.

On December 30, 1904, a desperate attempt was made by seven convicts engaged on the rock-crushing plant in the prison grounds, to duplicate the break of 1903, but it was a disastrous failure. Warden Yell, anticipating that such an attempt was contem- plated, had given strict orders to the guards to fire on the convicts, no matter who might be killed, if such an attempt were made. The convicts were aware of the order, but did not believe that it would be carried out. They stopped the machinery by throwing a sledge hammer into the rock crusher, and when Captain Murphy went to sce what was the matter, they seized him and also Charles Jolly, using them as shields. The convicts had cached a number of knives made from pieces of steel, with

which they threatened to kill their prisoners. The convicts were Charles Carson, W. J. Finley and F. Quijada, all life-termers, and D. Kelly, W. Morales. J. Quinlan and H. C. Hill. The guards began firing, and in less time than it takes to tell it, Morales, Quin- lan and Hill were lying dead, and the others bad- ly wounded. Captain Murphy and Charles Jolly, whom they had used as shields, were both wounded by bullets; Finley and Carson, being life-termers, were convicted after their recovery from their wounds, and sentenced to hang, but stayed their execution for a while by an appeal to the United States Su- preme Court. Mr. Jolly, to the satisfaction of a wide circle of friends, survived a situation such as few would care to face, for the mere sake of a thrill.

At Folsom, and on May 17, 1867, Mr. Jolly was married to Miss Evelyn Heaton, a native of Peoria, Ill., where she was born on January 11, 1844, the daughter of James and Carolyn (Jacobs) Heaton, the former a native of New York, where he was born in 1821, and the latter a native of Connecticut, where she first saw light in 1816. In 1834, they migrated to Illinois, and after living there for eighteen years, they crossed the great plains to California in 1852. Mrs. Jolly has a most remarkable memory, and she is able also to delight her admirers with reminis- cences of her trip, as one of a party traveling in forty-two covered wagons. They arrived on August 16, 1852, making the record trip for the shortest time, so it is said, ever taken by an immigrant train to cross the plains from Illinois to California. The family stopped a short time at the Beckley Hotel. Sacramento, and later Mr. Heaton became promi- nent as a farmer, although he was really a veterinary surgeon; he had returned East for study, and was duly graduated, in 1868, from the State Veterinary College in New York. He was scientific in his meth- ods of agriculture, and contributed something definite to the advancement of the farmer in California. Be- fore his death he had owned a rich farm on Auburn Boulevard, northeast of Sacramento. Mrs. Jolly's mother died on April 22, 1900, and a year later, on December 29, her father passed away.

Mrs. Jolly recalls vividly the time when she and her sister rode horseback from the ranch to Fol- som City, in 1856, to witness the arrival of the first steam-cars in California, on the line which was newly completed from Sacramento City to Folsom City, the year before she graduated from the Presby- terian Academy at Folsom. Fifteen years ago Mr. and Mrs. Jolly removed to Represa, arriving in Sep- tember, and now they have a comfortable home just outside the gray walls of Folsom Prison, on a sightly hill, next to the beautiful gardens and home of the warden.

Mr. and Mrs. Jolly are rightfully the holders of a very honorable and a unique position among the residents of this county; and in May, 1918, the whole countryside turned out to help them celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. The I. O. O. F. hall at Folsom was crowded to overflowing, although it is one of the largest halls in the county. The happy couple have served the community faithfully, and deserve to enjoy, as they certainly do, the estecm of all who know them. They contribute as liberally as they can to public and private charities, and seck to be of service at all times to those less fortunate than themselves.

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G. W. CAVITT .- Among the pioneer orchardists of Sacramento County who began farming as early as 1864 was G. W. Cavitt, his first purchase having been 280 acres on the Auburn road which he de- veloped into a fine productive property. He was suc- cessful in whatever line of work he turned his hand to, for he was honest and industrious and gained the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. His birth occurred in Rush County, Ind., in 1832, and at the age of thirteen he accompanied his parents to Iowa, where they became farmers until 1864.

On February 28, 1856, Mr. Cavitt was married to Miss Rebecca Perkins, a native of Virginia, and four children were born to them; William C. passed away in San Francisco March 12, 1923; Thomas F. is deceased; Ida Belle is now Mrs. Richard T. Butler; and Eva F. In 1864 Mr. Cavitt brought his family across the plains to California by ox-team and had some interesting experiences with the In- dians. Hc located on the Auburn road, where he bought 280 acres and engaged in farming and team- ing at first. He improved his home place with a fine residence, which was later destroyed by fire. Mr. Cavitt continued active until his death, January 24, 1907. Mr. Cavitt also owned valuable real estate in Sacramento and after his death Mrs. Cavitt capably looked after the estate interests until her death in May, 1911; the estate now consists of eighty acres; 200 acres of the estate had been disposed of before Mr. Cavitt's death. This worthy pioneer couple will be long remembered for their activities along lines of advancement and progress.

MRS. MAY A. BEAUVILLE .- An interesting, in- spiring example of what a gifted woman, with the proper purpose in life, may accomplish, particularly in the management of agricultural property, is af- forded by Mrs. May A. Beauville, who lives on her trim acres about four miles north of Clay. She was born in Buckeye Valley, Amador County, the daugh- ter of J. Oscar Taylor, a native of Wisconsin, who had married Miss Fanny McKee, a native of Cala- veras County, whose father, in turn, was a native of Massachusetts and an early California pioneer. He mined at Mokelumne Hill, and there the mother of our subject, who lived to be fifty-four years old, was born. J. O. Taylor is still living, near Eugene, Ore., at the ripe old age of eighty-seven, enjoying life raising strawberries, something he has wanted for years to do.

May Taylor accompanied her parents to Pineville. Ore., together with her two brothers, Henry, now deceased, and Harry, who lives at Eugene, Ore., and at Pineville she went to school, getting there the foundation of that training which has enabled her to accomplish so much, so well. On September 28, 1892, she was married to William Beauville, a native of San Francisco. In 1910, she returned to Clay, where she inherited forty acres of the old McKee Ranch estate that first fell to her mother, through whom, at the latter's death, she received her por- tion. She now not only manages this tract, but she also leases eighty acres belonging to Mrs. Elizabeth Howard and George McKee, of Fulton, and during the summer months she conducts a small dairy. In her agricultural operations she has employed the most scientific, up-to-date methods and the best of mechanical outfits, and with her exceptional acu- men and enthusiastic liking for her work, she has

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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 62

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