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 84

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 84

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In all his endeavors he has been aided by his worthy wife, Mrs. Leah Wahrhaftig, who likewise, by her un- selfish devotion to the community, and especially her family, and by nobility of purpose and ideals, has endeared herself to the community. They have four sons, one of whom was born in the state. Solomon is a rancher, who lives at home and is past master of the Folsom Lodge of Masons. Myer J. is a physician, who, having pursued courses at the University of Cali- fornia, and its medical school, now practices medicine in Fresno. He is a prominent physician of that city, and is also a prominent Mason. He married Miss Goldstein, a graduate of the Sacramento high school, and they have two children. He offered his services to his country during the World War, and served as First Lieutenant in the Medical Corps. Joseph is a graduate of the Sacramento high school, and is a member of the California bar. He has of- fices in San Francisco where he is a successful insur- ance broker. He is married to Miss Edith Rubel, a granddaughter of that prominent and world famous man, David Lubin, who founded the International Institute of Agriculture at Rome. Matt, the youngest son, also graduated from the Sacramento high school, being president of the student body while there. He attended the University of California and in 1914 re- ceived the degree of B. L. with honors. In 1917 he received the degree of J. D. from the same University. While there he was made a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, the national honor society, and was also editor-in-chief of the "California Law Review," one of the foremost legal publications of the state. Since his graduation he has been a member of the faculty of the School of Jurisprudence of the University of California in the capacity of lecturer in law, and has offered courses in the Law of Property, Agency, Busi- ness Law, and Elementary Jurisprudence. During the World War he offered his services to his nation, and was stationed at Washington, D. C., where as secre- tary of the Superior Board of Contract Review of the Army, and as a member of the legal staff of the Pur- chase, Storage and Traffic Division, he did creditable work. He is a practicing attorney in Oakland, and a member of the firm of McKee, Tasheira & Wahrhaf- tig. He is closely identified, in most cases as an offi- cer, with many fraternal and benevolent institutions in Oakland, and like all the other sons is a prominent Mason, being a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. Mr. and Mrs. Wahrhaftig are rightfully proud of their sons, as also the sons are proud of their parents; for by reason of the training and efforts of their parents, they have been enabled to attain suc- cess in their chosen fields, and to fill a prominent place in the professional and intellectual life of their re- spective communities.

Mr. Wahrhaftig has had only two hobbies in all his life, and they remain the same today as they were years ago, namely, reading and farming. The latter, to be sure, has been realized in a satisfactory manner only since his arrival in California, the common- wealth of his adoption. He is a member of Natoma Lodge No. 64, F. & A. M., and a past noble grand of Folsom Lodge No. 62, I. O. O. F. Both he and Mrs. Wahrhaftig, who have figured so prominently in the life of their community and indeed of the state, de- serve and enjoy the full confidence and high esteem of their fellow-citizens.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

The story of this interesting and representative fam- ily of foreign birth is indeed a story of the Old World's folly and of America's promise. It indicates the extreme folly of the Old World monarchies in forcing from their shores those who, by proved effort and attainment, would have contributed so materially to the stability and evolution of their country had they been permitted to remain in the enjoyment of equality of right and opportunity with all others. And it is a story of sacrifice and of noble aspiration, leading to successful fruition, for throughout their lives in this well-loved country of their choice, the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Wahrhaftig always have been to advance themselves, to educate and advance their family, and to follow the highest ideals of right thinking and right living. And finally their story, and the story of their sons, is a story of loyalty and love and devotion to this state and to this nation, wherein they have found full equality of right and opportunity, and full enjoy- ment of religious and civil freedom.

MRS. JENNIE V. WRISTON .- Closely identified with Galt and its vicinity for many years, Mrs. Jennie V. Wriston is one of its most esteemed residents, hav- ing contributed much to its progressive ideals. Dur- ing her long residence here she has been very promi- nent in the Rebekahs and besides being a past noble grand of that order, she has written an interesting his- tory of the Galt Lodge. Mrs. Wriston, who was born in Chicago, Ill., was the daughter of S. M. and Naomi (Rice) Ferguson, the former a native of New York and the latter of Rhode Island. The father came to California in 1852, and after remaining awhile started back to his home in Chicago, but was never heard from, so it was supposed that he was murdered while on his journey.

Mrs. Wriston was educated in the Scammon school in Chicago and in 1870 she came to San Francisco, where on June 14 of that year she was married to Samuel E. Wriston, who was born at Jacksonville, IIl., March 19, 1834. Mr. Wriston had come to California across the plains in 1852, and after mining a short time, engaged in the cattle business. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wriston came to Galt and Mr. Wriston became extensively interested in the cattle business here, owning a ranch of 422 acres west of Galt and also a range in the mountains for his stock. He was also in the retail meat business, having a butcher shop at Galt and four meat routes, covering the vicinity of Galt and Elk Grove. With Charles Harvey of Galt he also owned the present site of the Tahoe Hotel at Lake Tahoe. Mr. and Mrs. Wriston became the parents of three children: Carrie F. died when nine years old; Charles R. lives at Stockton; and Samuel Chester died in infancy. After a long and useful life, Mr. Wriston passed away on November 2, 1909, and he was deeply missed, especial- ly in the ranks of the Odd Fellows, having been noble grand of the local lodge several times.

The present home of Mrs. Wriston has quite an interesting history. It originally stood on the banks of Dry Creek, where the State Highway now crosses it. In those days there was no bridge across this stream, and it was used as a stopping-place for travelers when the rains made it impossible for stages to cross the creek. This house was then known throughout this vicinity as the "Old Folks' Home" and when Galt was laid out it was moved there and used as a hotel, being the first hostelry in this part of the

county. Most of the lumber in it came around the Horn in a sailing vessel, and a settee and set of chairs still used by Mrs. Wriston also came to California by this route. After the house had been used for a hotel for some years, Mr. Wriston purchased it and remodeled it into a comfortable home and Mrs. Wris- ton has continued to reside there since his passing away. Mrs. Wriston belongs to Rei Rebekah Lodge No. 132, I. O. O. F., of Galt. She named it and was its first noble grand, first past noble grand and first dis- trict deputy, and is still an active member.

GEORGE P. McNEIL .- An enterprising man of affairs, who thoroughly understands the conditions of the field in which he has made such pronounced success, is George P. McNeil, the far-seeing and very accommodating proprietor of the popular Wet- Wash Laundry, at 2501 Twenty-fourth Street, Sac- ramento. He was born in Minnesota, the son of James Edward and Louise McNeil, and attended the public schools. He grew up to farming, and as far back as 1876 came out to California, locating at Fresno. There he continued agricultural pursuits; and he also followed the races, and had a string of fourteen horses at the old Emeryville race track.

Although he had no previous experience in laun- drying, he established his present concern in 1912, starting in a very modest way; and now he owns the building he occupies, a fine structure 120 by 180 feet in size, and he employs fifteen people, using modern equipment only, and securing very nearly all the laundry patronage of the vicinity. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, in which he is a de- cidedly active member.

In 1915, Mr. McNeil was married at Sacramento to Miss Elizabeth Riison, a native daughter of Cali- fornia, who was then living in Sacramento, a teacher of the piano, a daughter of the late Andrew and Elizabeth (Kuno) Riison; the mother is still living at the home of the subject at Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. McNeil have one child, Georgia Elizabeth Mc- Neil. Mr. McNeil belongs to the Elks.

Bert F. Hews, a Fresno scribe roaming around town for the "Star" with pencil and note-book, met the subject of our sketch, and under the caption, "A Few Minutes' Chat with One of Our Neighbors," gives us his impressions. He says: "It was while I was talking over the wet-wash laundry industry with McNeil, that I learned he was a former race- track man. 'I had a string of fourteen horses at the old Emeryville race track,' he said, 'and it was a fine stable, if I do say it myself. Perhaps my best horse was Funnyside, a mare who could be always counted on to win. She won a number of stakes for me, as well as innumerable purses. You know, I was just about ready to quit racing when the legislature passed the anti-betting measure,-the game had be- come so rotten. You have no idea just how crooked racing was in those days. But ever since I first raised a horse, I have played square. I never had a bit of use for a horse-owner who would throw a race, or enter into a combine to fleece the bettors. I loved racing for the game itself, not for the chance of picking up easy money by being crooked.

"'I could have been a millionaire had I wanted to be crooked, for the book-makers would come to the owner of a favorite, and offer him the purse if he

groß Mcneil

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

would lose the race. When I left Emeryville, I felt so disgusted that [ never wanted to see a race track again.'

"I was wondering how McNeil came to go into the wet-wash business, and, after a reminiscent pause, he told me.

"'At the end of the racing game, I disposed of most of my string and took quite a rest. Our home was in Oakland. A wet-wash laundry started next door, and I grew interested watching the rapidity with which the business increased. Sacramento was offering splendid opportunities to the investor. 1 came here, looked over the ground, and it was no more Fresno, nor any other city with us. I opened the first wet-wash laundry, the business grew faster than I ever expected, and now I value our plant at $35,000, practically all clear. Sacramento is a great city, and it is going to be greater; and I admit that I am a booster for the capital city all the time'."

HARRY SAMUEL PRAGER .- Among the busi- ness men of promise who are helping to build up a permanent prosperity for Sacramento, is Harry Samuel Prager, and none is held in higher esteem, nor have any brighter prospects than he. Engaged in an occupation for which there is invariably a de- mand, he is successfully conducting an art studio, and has won a large and ever increasing patronage from all those who appreciate artistic interior deco- rating. He was born in Los Angeles, Cal., Novem- ber 23, 1881, a son of Samuel and Rosalie (Lowen- stein) Prager. Samuel Prager settled in Los An- geles in 1850 and was a successful business man for many years; he was a very prominent Mason and for twenty-two successive years was president of the Masonic board of relief; both parents are now de- ceased.

Harry Samuel Prager completed the grammar and high school courses in the schools of Los An- geles; then he went East and completed his training in art; in 1919 he came to Sacramento and estab- lished his present business. Mr. Prager was the designer of many store fronts of the Forty-niners' cel- ebration recently held in Sacramento, and his mural and pictorial interior panels are worthy of note.

The marriage of Mr. Prager united him with Miss Janet Oom of Grand Rapids, Mich. In politics Mr. Prager is a stanch Republican, and his public spirit is manifested in many ways for the advance- ment of the community he has selected for his per- manent home.

JOHN JOSEPH DUGGAN .- Since his sixteenth year, John Joseph Duggan has been in the employ of various railroads and since 1910 he has been identi- fied with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company of California, until in 1920 he became chief dispatcher with the Western Pacific Railroad Company; his merited success is all the more notable from the fact that it has been secured by his own judicious man- agement.

John Joseph Duggan was born in Fairbury, Nebr., November 2, 1887, a son of Hugh and Mary (Garin) Duggan, who still reside on their farm in Nebraska. He received his education in the grammar and high schools of his native city; then after finishing school he learned telegraphy and during a number of years was employed by the C. B. & Q., D. & R. G., and

O. S. L. In 1910 he removed to California and was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company; in January, 1920, he removed to Sacramento, taking a position with the Western Pacific Railroad Company, where his promotion has been rapid.

The marriage of Mr. Duggan united him with Miss Pearl Shaw, a native of Illinois. During the World War Mr. Duggan was first lieutenant in the engineer corps and spent a year and a half in France. Fra- ternally he belongs to the B. P. O. Elks and the American Legion.

MARK L. BURNS .- Blackstone can have no idle regrets if he is able to see with what consummate mastery he is represented by the scholarly and high- minded bar of California, among whom one of Sac- ramento County's most devoted members is Mark L. Burns, the attorney of the capital city. He was born near Porterville, on March 9, 1873, the son of Frank G. and Caroline (Woody) Burns-the former a sturdy emigrant who came over the great plains. with a slow-moving oxen-train. The party was at- tacked by Indians, and as a consequence lost all they had; and our subject's father was lucky to reach the Golden State at all. He was only seventeen then, however, young and lusty, and for five years he con- tinued at hard work in the mines. Then he removed to Porterville, and took up the stock business, and for a number of years, he was deputy sheriff, and it fell to his lot to arrest John Best, the outlaw. He died in 1912, having rounded out an eventful and exceed- ingly useful career. He was survived by his wife, who is now the center of a circle of devoted friends.

After finishing the grammar-school and high-school three-year courses, Mark Burns put in three years in Kent's Law School, at San Francisco, and in 1911. after successfully sustaining the exacting bar exam-

inations, was admitted to the practice of law in Cali- fornia. He hung out his shingle a year and a half in Siskiyou County, and a year in Oroville, Butte County, where he was fairly successful, and now he confines himself to general practice in Sacramento. He belongs to the state and county bar associations, and the Native Sons of the Golden West; and he is a Democrat whose experience is prized in the counsels of the party.

Mr. Burns has been twice married, first to Miss Emma Longenbaker, by whom he had eight children: Lena May has become Mrs. A. L. Wible and has one child living; Raymond L. is the eldest son; Elsie is Mrs. H. A. La Salle and has two children; then come John F., Albert, Emma, Marie and Mark L., Jr., who died aged twelve. The wife and mother died in 1908. His second marriage united him with Miss Georgia Jones, cousin of the celebrated minister, the Rev. Sam Jones, and their union has resulted in the birth of two children, Virginia and Edwin P. Mr. Burns belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and also to the Moose.

JABEZ TURNER .- A pioneer who could tell many an interesting story about the stirring develop- ment of the great Golden State, was the late Jabez Turner, who was born in Northamptonshire, England, on October 25, 1828, and died in Sacramento, Cal., on December 24, 1907. He arrived in America on September 20, 1852, and located at Syracuse, N. Y., where he was employed in the railroad shops. Two years later, in September, he crossed the line into

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

Ontario, and at Hamilton became foreman of the railroad shops. In April, 1859, he moved westward to Grand Rapids, Mich., later returning to Syracuse; and in October, 1862, we find him at Sturgeon Bay, \Vis.

In 1864, considerably impressed by the repeated stories from California, he left for the Pacific Coast on the first of April; coming via Panama, he arrived at San Francisco on September 25, 1864. Soon after- wards he made a trip to Honolulu. There he took charge of the building and equipping of a sugar mill; but he later returned to San Francisco, and on April 1, 1866, entered the employ of the San Francisco and Alameda Railroad, and in Alameda he remained until the road became a part of the Central Pacific, with which he continued until November 14, 1871. He was then transferred to the railroad shops in Sacramento; and after spending years as foreman, he retired at the age of seventy-one, and six years later breathed his last.

He was elected mayor of Sacramento in March, 1878, making his campaign on the state workingmen's ticket, and he served for three years as mayor of the capital city. He was made a director of the Sacra- mento Building and Loan Association, and was library trustee for fourteen years.

His widow survived him until February 4, 1923, passing away at the old family home at 819 Nine- teenth Street, aged seventy-nine. She was formerly Miss Nancy Phelps, and was born in Belleville, Ohio. She came with her parents via Panama, in the sixties, to San Francisco. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Turner were born six children, four of whom grew up, and three of whom are living: Amy resides in the family home; Lucy J. is a teacher in the Sacra- mento public schools; Fred died in 1908; and Sidney lives in McCloud, Cal.

CHARLES F. DEAN .- Sacramento County has good reason to be proud of its professional men, among whom is numbered Mr. Charles F. Dean, of the well-known firm of architects, Messrs. Dean & Dean, of Sacramento. He was born at Belton, Texas, on February 1, 1884, and is now associated with his brother, James S., whose life story is given elsewhere in this work. As he began life with the best home advantages, it is not surprising that in his pursuit of one of the noblest and most honored of professions, he should do much to elevate the minds, and beautify the lives of others.

Charles F. Dean enjoyed both the ordinary gram- mar school and the high school courses of instruction, and then spent three years at the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Bryan, Texas, where he took a civil engineer's course, with special work in draw- ing. The next two years he spent in San Antonio, Texas, and after that, seven years in Chicago, follow- ing his profession; and then, in 1908, he came out to California, and entered the state service as chief de- signer of the state architect's office-a position of peculiar responsibility and some opportunity, which he filled with eminent satisfaction until 1922, when he resigned.

Mr. Dean then joined his brother, and they have since expanded more and more as practical architects equipped to undertake very pretentious work, and being more and more encouraged by increasing de- mands for their services.

Public-spirited to a high degree, the Messrs. Dean & Dean have done what they could to improve the standards, in particular, of domestic architecture.

In 1913, Mr. Dean and Miss Alvina Laue, of Sac- ramento, were married at Sacramento, and Mrs. Dean has entered into her husband's ambitions, and shared his social and intellectual life. Mr. Dean is a Re- publican.

JAMES WESLEY HOWARD .- Among those whose efforts are concentrated upon the development of California's rich mineral resources is numbered James Wesley Howard of Sacramento, one of the largest gold-mine operators of this part of the state and a man of notable business acumen. He was born in Saline County, Mo., January 20, 1874, a son of George W. and Susan F. (Wolford) Howard. The Howard and Wolford families are both of old and prominent Southern stock and were early settlers of Missouri. During the Civil War some of the broth- ers served in the Confederate Army, while others were in the Union Army. George W. Howard re- mained loyal to the Union and served in a Missouri regiment, joining the Union Army when eighteen years old, and served through the Civil War. After his return to civil life he was wounded by bush- whackers.

James Wesley Howard was four years of age at the time his parents came to California. They first settled at Leesville, Colusa County, and the father took up a tract of government land, which he cleared and developed, transforming it into a productive and well-improved farm. At the same time he purchased land at Grimes, Grand Island, where he eventually moved and resided until he moved into Sacramento, where he passed away. His widow resides in Sacra- mento. J. W. Howard attended the rural schools in Colusa County and aided his father in cultivating the home ranch until he reached the age of seventeen, when he started out in life for himself. Coming to Sacramento in 1891, he secured employment in the shops of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and there learned the machinist's trade, remaining in the service of that corporation for about seven years. His attention has since been devoted to gold-mining, and his activities in this field have been attended by a marked degree of success. He is a member of the firm of White, Howard & McCormick, Inc., and sec- retary of the Golden Center of Grass Valley Mining Company. Mr. Howard was one of the prime mov- ers in the consolidation of several valuable mining properties he was interested in into the above com- pany, namely, the Dromedary, operated since the early fifties, Rock Roche, Peabody and Cabin Flats, as well as the Berriman mines, covering an area of 150 acres. Much of this property is located in the center of Grass Valley, the company having acquired by pur- chase the mineral rights of the lot-owners in about 100 acres of the business portion of Grass Valley, obtain- ing title to all the mineral under the lots below sev- enty-five feet under the surface. The acquiring of these deeds took several years of hard work on account of other companies who were also making a fight for the same property. However, Mr. Howard and his asso- ciates were successful, and they now have one of the best mining properties in the district, having a series of veins which yield free milling ore of high grade and picture-rock quality. One main shaft is now

Det. Howard.

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down 1,350 feet. The company gave fine specimens to the mineral department at the San Diego Exposi- tion and also to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, the value of the mineral so given amounting to several thousand dollars. The property, with equipment and development, represents an in- vestment of over $400,000, and it will take more than 100 years to work it out. Mr. Howard is also presi- dent of the Kern Mining Company, operating the Blue Gold Mountain Mine, which is also a large pro- ducer. He owns the controlling interest and is presi- dent of the Twin Sisters Mining Company of Nevada County, operating a gold mine of seven claims, a continuation of the famous Plumbago and Gold Canon veins. From the time he was a boy he had a desire to mine, a liking that would not down even when he was learning the machinist's trade in the Southern Pacific Railroad shops. By close economy he was ready when he finally found the way open, and imme- diately embraced the opportunity presented. Since then he has followed his chosen enterprise diligently and has made a study of mineralogy, geology and mining methods, and particularly of mineral deposits in California. However, he finds the days spent in the Southern Pacific machine shops of great advan- tage in his present calling, as the experience gained there gave him the technical knowledge needed inci- dental to operating mines.

Mr. Howard began at the bottom when he started in the Southern Pacific shops. His salary at first was only ten cents an hour, nine hours a day, and he had to pay his own way. The close application, per- severance, self-denial, and economy he had to prac- tice, however, fitted him well for the experience of later years, and no doubt explain the secret of his success. His experiences in the mining world have given him a new schooling; and feeling the great need of more production of gold, he is intensely inter- ested in producing the yellow metal that is the stand- ard of value in our government, and he thoroughly enjoys the creating of new dollars and more wealth for the country at large. Mr. Howard is a member of the Metal Producers' Association of California, with headquarters in the Merchants National Bank Building in San Francisco. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Department of Mines and Mining in the Sacramento Chamber of Com- merce, and a member of the American Mining Con- gress of Washington, D. C. In addition to his other business enterprises, he is also interested in farming, owning a ranch in Yolo County. Mr. Howard pos- sesses the broad vision, initiative spirit and adminis- trative powers characteristic of the man of large affairs, and his business associates have the utmost confidence in his judgment and reliability.

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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 84

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