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 94

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 94

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The marriage of Mr. Hack occurred near Antelope, November 24, 1868, when he was united with Miss Verdenia Frances Keys, a native of this county. Her father, William Keys, was a pioneer who crossed the plains and arrived in 1850. He had started from the East in 1848, but was obliged to stop over at Salt Lake. He first engaged in farming near Free- port, and then at Antelope, residing there until his death; his widow survived him, passing away at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hack.

After his marriage, Mr. Hack continued farming on the lower Stockton road. In 1878 he bought the farm adjoining, and so acquired 515 acres: but later he disposed of 150 acres, and now owns 365 acres, which he devotes to the raising of grain, hay and stock, being one of the thrifty ranchers of the district.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hack was blessed with one child, Clara, who became the wife of Dewitt S. Slawson. She passed away in 1916, leaving five chil- dren, who now make their home with their grand- parents. Lulu assists in presiding over the Hack household; Ethel, Mable and Maude are teachers; while the youngest, Amy, is in the Junior High School at Sacramento.

In May. 1901, Mr. Hack took a prominent part in the organization of the Sacramento County Patrons & Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, being elected a member of the first board of directors. On the organization of the board, he was elected presi- dent of the company; and he has since filled that posi- tion to the entire satisfaction of the patrons. He has given much time to its interests, and it is now a large and successful institution, with a membership of 925 and more than $2,000,000 of insurance. He has been a member of the County Grange for forty-eight years,

and is a past master of the Subordinate Grange and the County Grange. As a member of the organiza- tion, he was the author of the preamble and resolu- tion proposing to bond the county for the purpose of building good roads, which was subsequently ap- proved by the people, resulting in the building of ap- proximately 175 miles of first-class permanent im- proved highway, now one of the most valuable assets of the citizens of the county.

Interested in the cause of education, Mr. Hack served as trustee of Pacific school district for many years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hack have been promi- nent and active in the Pacific Methodist Episcopal Church from its organization, and he has been a member of the official board and a class leader for many years. He is a strong temperance man, and was an active worker for the passing of the Eight- eenth Amendment. Mr. Hack has been a witness of and taken a part in the remarkable transformation wrought in this county, whereby it has been changed

from a wild and primitive state to a garden-spot of fertile farms and orchards. He is optimistic, and looks forward to still greater development of this wonderful valley, with its remarkable resources of soil, water and climate. In national politics, Mr. Hack is a Republican, being a strong believer in the principle of protection for national industries.

NATHAN D. HACK .- A very enterprising and public-spirited citizen, a native son of Sacramento County, is Nathan D. Hack, who was born at Free- port, September 23, 1856. His father, George Hack, Sr., is mentioned above, in the sketch of George W. Hack. Nathan Hack, better known as Dock Hack, was reared on the farm at Freeport, the same place on which he was born and which he now owns. He re- cieved a good education in the public school in Free- port, which was supplemented with a course at At- kinson's Business College in Sacramento, after which he took up farming with his father. This partnership was continued until his sire's death, after which Dock Hack came into possession of 100 acres of the old home place and there continued farming.

Meantime, Mr. Hack had married in Sacramento, of January 3, 1881, being there united with Miss Lavina Kirtlan, who was born at Jenny Lind, Cala- veras County. Her father, Thomas Kirtlan, a native of England, was brought by his parents when an in- fant in arms across the ocean to the land of the Stars and Stripes, and was reared at Salem, Ohio, where he learned the blacksmith's trade under an uncle. When nineteen years of age he came to California via Panama, in the pioneer gold days, and ran a blacksmith shop in the mining camp of Jenny Lind, continuing there until 1869, when he moved to the capital city. There he conducted a blacksmith shop on Twelfth and K Streets until he located at Free- port, where he purchased the blacksmith shop in partnership with Mr. Lee, which they conducted un- der the firm name of Kirtlan & Lee until the death of Mr. Lee. Selling out, he then removed to Diamond Spring, where he followed the same business for a period of eight years. He then went to Capay Val- ley, Yolo County, and there ran a shop until he re- tired to Oak Park, in the capital city. Here he re- sided until his death in 1914, a man who was favor- ably and well known all over this part of California. Mrs. Hack's mother was in maidenhood Narcissis Tucker, a native of Louisiana, who crossed the plains

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to California in an ox-team train in the early days, and here met and married Mr. Kirtlan. She passed away in Capay, in 1910. Nine children were born to this pioneer couple: Lavina, Mrs. Hack; Mary Allic, Mrs. Stiners, who died in San Francisco; Frank, liv- ing in Sacramento; Fred, of Freeport; Mrs. Lizzie Black, of Glendale: Elmer, at Courtland; Arthur, who died at Diamond Spring; Mrs. Maggie Foster, living in Oak Park; and Clarence, who lives in Visalia. Lavina Kirtlan was educated in the public school at Freeport, thus being a schoolmate of Dock Hack, who afterwards became her husband. Their union has proved a happy one, and has been blessed with five children: Hazel, the wife of R. B. Forsyth, a rancher in the Ray district, San Joaquin County; Mrs. Pearl York, of Sacramento; Nathan D, Jr., of Live Oak: Mrs. Blanche Stokes, of Stockton; and Mrs. Mabel Crawford, of Freeport.

Mr. and Mrs. Hack have been actively engaged in farming, devoting their ranch to dairying and the raising of beans and grain; and there they reared and educated their children, who are now nicely located in homes of their own and are highly respected citi- zens in their various communities. Mr. Hack is a member of Eldorado Lodge No. 8, I. O. O. F., Sacra- mento; and for many years Mr. and Mrs. Hack were members of the Grange. He was a school trustee for twenty years, and has served as a member of the grand jury. He has always been fond of the great out-of-doors, his hobby being baseball. In religious views, Mr. and Mrs. Hack are both of the Methodist faith; while politically they are Republicans.

S. HENRY LETTNER .- Posterity will ever honor, as his contemporaries always highly esteemed him, the late S. Henry Lettner, one of the sturdiest and most progressive of the carly pioneers of Sacra- mento County. He was a native of Germany, and after he came to America as a boy of twelve years he lived in Washington, D. C., until in 1847, when he went with a party to Mexico, and was a soldier in the Mexican War, as a sergeant. Then, while still very young, he crossed into California, in 1848. As a youth of only nineteen, he went into the mines at Coloma, and while in Sacramento he lived for a time at Sutter's Fort. In 1849 he located in Yolo County, and bought a Mexican land grant three miles east of Davis. He farmed to grain for many years, and built barns, etc., and in 1862 he erected a brick house, which is still standing. This ranch was sold by him in the seventies.

In 1854, Mr. Lettner returned to Europe and mar- ried Louise Glöckler, a native of Carlsruhe, bringing her out to California by way of the Isthmus of Pan- ama. Their three children were born in California. Only one of the family is now living, Lena, now Mrs. P. C. Drescher, of 1423 H Street, Sacramento. The other children were Louise, who died in early youth, and Fannie, who became the wife of Maj. Win. Kopp, residing in Germany until her death.

Mr. and Mrs. Lettner were splendid examples of the heroic, thrifty, and progressive pioneers, who not only encountered many obstacles and experienced losses, but endured hardships both for the sake of their own kin and descendants and the benefit of all who might come after them. Mr. Lettner was a Mason and a Knight Templar, and he was also a member of the Society of California Pioneers.

HENRY MERRITT RICH .- Sacramento is for- tunate in having efficient and experienced men at the head of the many projects put forward to advance its natural resources and promote the prosperity that is rapidly spreading throughout the entire valley. Among these must be mentioned Henry Merritt Rich, in charge of the United States Engineer's office in the city. Practically a self-made man, he has attained to this position so early in life through native ability along engineering lines, augmented by studi- ous application and the determination and force of character necessary to success in all walks of life. Mr. Rich is a native of Wheatland, Yuba County, born Angust 14, 1889, and a son of William Nicholas and Priscilla (Best) Rich, both of whom are still living, at the good age of seventy-five years, having celebrated their Golden Wedding in June, 1920. They were born in lowa, and came to California in 1887, settling first in Sutter County, ten miles west of Yuba City, and later moving to Wheatland, Yuba County, where they still reside.

Henry Merritt Rich attended the Wheatland gram- mar and high schools, graduating from the former in 1903, and from the latter in 1907. Upon completion of his high-school course he went to Oakland and there worked as a mechanic in a garage until Febru- ary, 1909. In May, 1909, he entered the Vander Nail- len Engineering School of Oakland; and from that date until August, 1910, fifteen months of continuous school, he devoted his entire time to the studies nec- essary to fit himself for his chosen profession.

After completing the engineering course, Mr. Rich began work for the United States Land Office, sur- veying in Glenn, Tehama, and Mendocino Counties, sectionizing government land. In May, 1912, he en- tered the United States Engineer's office in Sacra- mento, his duties consisting in the surveying of the Sacramento River in 1912; and in 1913-1914 he was on the complete survey of the San Joaquin River from Herndon, near Fresno, to Stockton; in 1916 he was on the Sacramento, surveying and also in charge of wing-dam construction and repair; and in 1917 he was in charge of the United States snag boat on the Sacramento, until September, 1917. That year he entered the U. S. Army as lieutenant, and served in that capacity in the Engineers until December, 1918, though, to his disappointment, he did not get over- seas. After finishing his military service, he worked at various jobs with the Sacramento office until August, 1919, when he was put in charge of engineer- ing for the Sacramento District, which position he still holds (1923); and his practical experience in the work necessary for this particular district has been of inestimable value to him in carrying on the affairs of his office.

The marriage of Mr. Rich occurred in Sacramento, June 8, 1921, and united him with Mary Loretta Blackmer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Blackmer, of Sutter County, where the mother still resides, one mile below Meridian; the father was drowned in the overflow during the winter of 1903. Mrs. Rich was born and reared at the home place near Meridian. Fraternally, Mr. Rich is a thirty-second degree Scot- tish Rite Mason, and a Shriner. He is a member of the American Association of Engineers, and polit- ically is a Republican, actively interested in all civic affairs, and particularly in all measures for the devel- opment of this section and the broadening of the social and cconomic life of the community.

Henry M. TEich

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

CORNELIA DOUGLAS PROVINES .- Promi- nent among the efficient librarians for whom Cali- fornia of recent years has come to be known in the library world is Miss Cornelia Douglas Provines, librarian of the Sacramento County free library. Well- read and well-traveled, and therefore well-posted, she is a graceful and interesting conversationalist and easily impresses one with her fitness for such a post of varied possible service to the public at large, and especially to that considerable number desiring some mental stimulus.

She was born at St. Louis, Mo., the daughter of Alexander Provines, also a native of that city, and the granddaughter of William Provines, who was born at Londonderry, Ireland, and was a descendant of a Huguenot family originally driven from France at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. This grandfather William was a graduate in medicine of the famed University of Edinburgh, then as now one of the greatest medical schools in all Europe, and also a graduate of the University of Glasgow, and he applied for a commission as surgeon in the French navy under Napoleon. He did not wait for it, how- ever, but concluded instead to come to the United States; and having arrived here, located in Kentucky. There he received the desired-for commission; but he had established himself this side of the ocean, and so never made use of the honor.

He was married in Kentucky to Miss Mary Brook, a native of Scotland, and after practicing medicine for a while in the Blue Grass State, he went north and located in St. Louis. Later he removed to Co- lumbia, Mo., where he was prominent in the Uni- versity of Missouri, and where he'also practiced med- icine and was distinguished as a fine physician and surgeon, and a leader in Presbyterian circles. The father of our subject graduated from that university, and then became a merchant in St. Louis. He was a wholesaler in coffee and tea, and known throughout the Mississippi Valley.

About 1882 he brought his family to California and located for a while in Sonoma County, near Clover- dale, where he had a farm; and then he took to ranching near Healdsburg, at which place he passed away in 1909. He had married Miss Cornelia Doug- las Bissell, a native of St. Louis and the daughter of Captain Louis Bissell, who was born in New York of an English family, founded in New Amsterdam, N. Y., in 1615 by John Bissell. Captain Bissell, after gradu- ating from West Point, served in the United States Army in the War of 1812; and three years later he retired and located at St. Louis, where he became a large planter, owning a farm now in the city of St. Louis, which he sold to help establish a city water- works. His second marriage was to Mary Douglas, a native of St. Louis and also a member of an old St. Louis family. Five girls and three boys, all living, made up the Provines family.

Miss Cornelia Douglas Provines was educated at the St. Louis Collegiate Institute and in the collegiate department at Stewart Hall, in Virginia, after which she returned to California and served as librarian of the Healdsburg public library. Desiring to still better equip herself for that important field of professional activity, she took a course at the University of Cali- fornia, making library work her specialty, and then put in three years at the Stanford University library. Next she served in the state library at Sacramento,

and during that time attended the State Library Training School. For six months she was librarian in historic San Luis Obispo; then she resigned to accept the position as librarian of the McHenry Public Library at Modesto, as well as county librarian of Stanislaus County, a position she assumed in July, 1911, continuing until December 30, 1919, when she resigned to accept her present position as county librarian of Sacramento County, the responsibilities of which she assumed on January 5, 1920. Through her experience and efforts she has built up the library, making it one of the best of its size in the state; while she has come forward into leadership and influ- ence as a member of the California Library Associa- tion.

JAMES FRANCIS GAFFNEY .- Another distin- guished representative of the Bar of northern Cali- fornia is James Francis Gaffney, whose offices are in the Ochsner Building, in Sacramento. He came from the Prairie State, which has given to the Pacific Coast so many of its best citizens, having been born at Quincy, Il1., on January 23, 1886. His father and mother, James F. and Louise Gaffney, both natives of the same town of Quincy, came to California in 1893. The elder Gaffney purchased a ranch near San Bernardino, where he continued ranching a few years; but he was soon drawn back into railroading, which he had followed for many years in the East, again entering the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad with whom he had been while in Chicago, Il1. He ran out of Los Angeles as conductor, for many years, later becoming division superintendent. He is now division superintendent for the Southern Railway at Columbia, S. C.

James Francis Gaffney, our subject, enjoyed the educational advantages of both the grammar and the high schools of Los Angeles. After graduating from the high school, he went to Needles for a short time, and thence to Chicago, where he took a two years' course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Thereafter, for a time, he was engaged as a sales- man in El Paso, Texas, and in Old Mexico.

In 1912, Mr. Gaffney came north to San Francisco; and on the 13th of June, of the following year, he was installed as manager for the Holland & Funk Company, in one of a chain of their stores. When this company went out of business, Mr. Gaffney joined Lavenson's Company, in Sacramento, with whom he remained for three years. Meantime, he was studying law privately, and on October 1, 1918, he took the Bar examination and was admitted to practice in the courts of California. He has been practicing law for himself ever since, and has been unusually successful. Always public-spirited, he has sought to do what he could to improve civic condi- tions, and has accomplished much in that direction. As a Republican, he has been a candidate for the city council.

Mr. Gaffney married Miss Helen Mary Sparr of Chicago, the ceremony taking place at St. Louis, Mo .; and the talented lady shares his popularity in the eircles of the Elks, and of the Chamber of Com- merce and the County and State Bar Associations, of which organizations he is a member. Mr. Gaff- ney has also reached the fourth degree in the Knights of Columbus. Both he and his wife enjoy outdoor

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life, and in this respect have found their residence in Sacramento County particularly delightful. They are loyal citizens of the county, always eager to for- ward the interests of this favored portion of the state.

HAROLD S. KIERNAN .- For the past twelve years Harold S. Kiernan has held the position of pri- vate secretary to R. A. Herold, and since July, 1921, has occupied the position of councilman in Sacra- mento and can always be counted upon to support any measure for the advancement and progress of his native city. His birth occurred in Sacramento, November 6, 1886, and he is a son of J. H. and Mollie (Shields) Kiernan, early settlers in Sacra- mento, and both still residing there.

Harold S. Kiernan began his education in the public schools of the capital city and after completing the high school course read law in private offices; following this he took up secretarial work and for twelve years consecutively he has satisfactorily filled the position of private secretary to Mr. Herold. Mr. Kiernan was a member of the park board of the city of Sacramento at the time of his election in July, 1921, to the position of councilman and keeps in close touch with the development and advancement of Sac- ramento and surrounding country. Fraternally Mr. Kiernan is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Knights of Columbus, third degree, and the Eagles, and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party.

FREDERICK w. WING .- A

leader among Galt's progressive business men, Frederick W. Wing has donc much to mould public opinion through the columns of his live weekly paper, the "Galt Herald." He was born in Syracuse, N. Y., August 24, 1886. the son of Abel and Anna (Ripley) Wing, both natives of the Empire State. The father, who was for many years a well-known undertaker, is now deceased and Mrs. Wing now makes her home in Calgary, Canada. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and seven of the family are still living.

Although not favored with great opportunities for an education, Frederick W. Wing did not allow this to handicap hin, but by vigilant night work and constant study he acquired a broad foundation that has been the basis of his success in the journalistic world. At the age of thirteen he started to learn the printing business, working for some time at Fayette- ville, N. Y., and then going to Courtland, N. Y., where he worked on the "Courtland News." From there he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and then to Chicago, Ifl., where he worked on the "Examiner" for some time. He then traveled extensively, doing newspaper work all over the United States and Canada, adding to his store of knowledge and gaining an invaluable ex- perience. For three years he lived in Fargo, N. D., where he was business manager of the "Fargo Daily News," and on coming to Galt in 1920 he purchased the "Galt Herald" from William Botzbach; and he has built up a splendid weekly paper with a subscription list of 1,150, and steadily growing. Mr. Wing has been selected by the California Transit Company as manager of the stage depot, which through his efforts has been moved from its location on the highway to the Sawyer block in the business district of Galt.

Progressive and public-spirited, Mr. Wing organized and conducted the Galt "Booster" trip in 1921 and had twenty-five automobile loads of people who trav- eled over Sacramento and San Joaquin Counties, ad- vertising the advantages that Galt has to offer; in 1922 forty car loads made the trip and much interest was evinced by the local people in this excellent publicity. Mr. Wing also started the movement through the columns of his paper that eventually defeated the late county charter. He organized and conducted mass meetings in various parts of the county, debating with the proponents of the charter. and the sentiment against it grew until the final election showed his efforts successful.

At Terre Haute, Ind., August 11, 1907, Mr. Wing was married to Miss Emily S. Walter, born at Am- herst, Ohio, the daughter of Waldemar Alexander and Selma (Gundert) Walter. Her father, who was a Presbyterian minister, is now deceased and her mother makes her home at Ann Arbor, Mich. Mr. Wing is president of the Galt Chamber of Com- merce and he is giving his best efforts and time to constructive measures that will make for the progress of his adopted city.

HENRY FINNIGAN .- Another man of affairs in Sacramento who has "done his bit" in helping to put the city and the county of Sacramento in the front rank in the industrial development of California, is Henry Finnigan, of the enterprising firm of Herndon & Finnigan, general contractors, whose headquarters are at 1814 Seventeenth Street, Sacramento. He was born in Nicolaus, Cal., on August 2, 1885, the son of James and Annie (Carney) Finnigan, the former a sturdy pioneer of 1871, who in that year came out to the young state and established himself as one of the ablest plasterers here. He was called upon to plaster most of the early business blocks. He passed away in 1914, and the following year his devoted wife also breathed her last.

After pursuing his studies in the grammar school courses, Henry Finnigan learned the brick-mason's trade, and for ten years worked for Mr. Herndon. For a time Mr. Herndon was away, and Mr. Finni- gan took over the business; but when Mr. Herndon returned, the two men formed the partnership that has since become widely known, and together under- took general contracting. Some idea of their years of activity and accomplishment may be gathered from the interesting life-story of Mr. Herndon, printed elsewhere in this book. Mr. Finnigan is a Democrat, and looks to the Democratic party to remedy, by wise legislation, many of the ills in the industrial and com- mercial world.

At San Francisco, on September 25, 1915, Mr. Fin- nigan was married to Miss Dora E. Congdon, of Sacramento, who was born in Brainard, Mian., but was educated in Sacramento. Mr. Finnigan belongs to Sacramento Lodge No. 6 of the Elks, and Sacra- mento Parlor of the Native Sons, formerly having been a charter member of Guadalupe Parlor, in San Francisco. He is also a member of the Master Builders' Association and the Builders' Exchange, in the capital city. He is especially fond of hunting, fishing and outdoor life in general, is public-spirited to a large degree, and is very much interested in the history of his native state.

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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 94

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