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 96

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 96

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Grant Franklin Gillenwater went back East with his mother to Indiana, and there attended the public schools. The death of his parents when he was a small boy necessitated his early entry into the hard school of experience, and on starting out to make his own way he first worked for three years in a furniture fac- tory. Then he farmed in the East until he was six- teen years of age, when, in 1881, he returned to Cali- fornia, his native state. Arriving in California, he worked on a farm for a while at College City, Colusa County; and then for eight years he was with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, running out of Sacramento, and became a conductor. After that he went north to Oregon, and for eighteen months was with the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, in the train service. He next bought a transfer business in Sacramento, and conducted that for twelve years. During this time he was also engaged in ranching. His farm was located on J and Fifty-third Streets, and he eventually sold it at a good profit. His success was such that he was able, in 1912, to establish his present business of welding and machine work, in which he is assisted by his son, Niles Franklin, who is an ex- pert machinist. They employ eight men, and it is ap- parently only a question of time when they will be compelled to enlarge their staff. The business is con- ducted under the firm name of the Sacramento Weld- ing & Machine Works.

In Anderson, on March 9, 1886, Mr. Gillenwater married Miss Nellie Palmer, a popular belle of Pilot Hill, Eldorado County, but born at Coloma, Cal. One son, Niles Franklin, already mentioned, is associated with his father in business. Mr. Gillenwater is a Mas- ter Mason, and he also belongs to the Odd Fellows, in which order he is a past grand. He is public- spirited, and has served acceptably as a school trustee.

4.F. Gillenwatu

HMMcheval

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

JOHN B. DUFFY .- A successful vineyardist of Galt whose younger days were spent in Texas riding the range, where he had many interesting experiences in that free, outdoor life, is John B. Duffy, who was born in Cabell County, W. Va., September 21, 1858, the son of Patrick and Martha (Wade) Duffy, the father a native of County Galway, freland, while the mother was born in Lynchburg, Va., and reared in Virginia. They were the parents of seven children: Mary, deceased; John B. of this sketch; Ellen, Anna and Dora, deceased; William lives in Texas; Mar- garet Olive lives at Cincinnati, Ohio. The mother passed away at the age of thirty-six and in 1860 the father removed to Bath County, Ky., where he fol- lowed his work as a stone mason and macadamized road builder, and lived to be seventy-eight years old.

John B. Duffy was reared at Bethel, Ky., and when he was nineteen he went to Texas and started out for himself. He became a rider on the cattle range and helped drive the first cattle north into the Pan- handle of Texas in 1898. Mr. Duffy made his home at Sherman, Texas, during the greater part of his cowboy life, residing there from 1877 to 1889. Com- ing to Galt he became interested in the orchard and fruit business and since then he has developed three places. The first was a six-acre place on Frank Street, and after he disposed of this he improved a place of seven and a half acres near Galt. His pres- ent holdings consist of seventeen acres one mile southeast of Galt, and this he has partly set to vine- yard and has completed a new residence there, with many other improvements.

At Sherman, Texas, August 22, 1880, Mr. Duffy was married to Miss Anna Brown and three chil- dren were born to them, Ray, Ruby and Don. On January 24, 1921, his second marriage occurred at Sacramento, when he was united with Mrs. Emma (Covell) Taylor; she is a native of Michigan, but came here with her parents when about fifteen years old, her father engaging in farming near Santa Cruz and Redding. By her first marriage she is the mother of two children, C. W. Taylor and Mrs. Frona Smith of Boise, Idaho. During the World War the former entered the R. O. T. C at Coos Bay, Ore., and was sent to the University of Oregon for training; he was later transferred to the R. O. T. C. at Camp Pike, Ark., and here he received his discharge in Decem- ber, 1918. Mr. Duffy is a Democrat in politics and in fraternal life is a member of the Knights of Py- thias, being past chancellor of the Galt Lodge; he is a charter member of the local Grange and was one of its officers during its organization. At the time the United States entered the World War, on the 14th day of April, 1917, Mr. Duffy was a mem- ber of the 1st Regiment, National Guard of Ari- zona, and on July 1, 1917, this regiment was mus- tered into the Federal forces as the 158th Infantry, 40th Division, and he was sent to Naco, Ariz., for border patrol work immediately upon enlistment. In November they were transferred to Camp Kearney for overseas training and on November 25, 1917, Mr. Duffy received his discharge there, not being eligible for overseas service on account of his age; he was a member of the supply company and was a wagoner. He is a member of Smith-Lippi Post of the American Legion at Galt and is its chaplain and historian.

HOWARD D. KERCHEVAL .- An orchardist whose scientific, progressive efforts, and eminently in- teresting and satisfactory results, have contributed to extend the fame of Sacramento County as the garden spot of California, is Howard D. Kercheval, of Grand Island, three miles to the south of Courtland, where he was born on December 22, 1860, the son of Reuben Kercheval, a native of Eaton, Ohio, born December 1, 1820, and his good wife, Margaret White Brodie.

The Kercheval family are traced to France, the fam- ily being Huguenots who, at the time of the revoca- tion of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, fled from France, and coming to the New World, settled in Vir- ginia. Members of the family became prominent in colonial days and served in the Revolutionary War. Afterwards members of the family drifted into Ken- tucky and thence to Ohio, where, as stated, Reuben Kercheval was born; and there he was reared and educated.

As a young man Reuben Kercheval came westward, moving to Joliet, Ill .; and on the discovery of gold in California, he hastened to the new Eldorado, cross- ing the plains in 1849 in an ox-team train. He set out to try his luck at mining, but did not like the experi- ence and after two and a half hours quit the gold- seeking game. He had an uncle, Armistead Runyon, living on the Sacramento River in Sacramento Coun- ty; so he came hither, and in January, 1850, he pur- chased a place on Ryer Island, where he followed the early dry farming. Meantime he had purchased 134 acres at the northeast point on Grand Island for his brother, but this brother turned it back to him. He also had 200 acres adjoining; so he sold his Ryer Island place to Sol Runyon and moved onto his Grand Island ranch in 1855, and this became his home dur- ing the rest of his days. He built a residence and be- gan improvements that eventually made the property very valuable. In 1856 he set out an orchard of pears that is still bearing and is probably the oldest on the river. In 1857 he returned to Illinois and at Joliet was married to Margaret White Brodie, a native of Urbana, Ohio, of Scotch and English descent. Re- turning to his California ranch with his bride, via the Isthmus of Panama, he threw himself into the im- provement of his property. Seeing the great need of reclamation of the waste lands, he became one of the pioneers in the great work of reclamation that has re- sulted in the marvelous agricultural development on the islands in recent years. He served in the assem- bly of the state legislature during the session of 1873, and voted for Gov. Newton Booth for United States senator. In 1877 he again served in the assembly, dis- playing marked ability in obtaining needed legislation. He was a Knight Templar and a thirty-second de- gree Scottish Rite Mason. He passed away on May 5, 1881, aged sixty years, five months and four days; while Mrs. Kercheval, who shared the esteem and good-will accorded her industrious husband by all who knew them, breathed her last on November 17, 1904, at the age of seventy-one. Their family consisted of six children, among whom Howard D. Kercheval was the second in order of birth. James Louis, the eldest, was born in 1858, and died on March 25, 1923, at Wal- nut Grove. Edward H. S. Kercheval followed How- ard, in 1863; he was drowned when six years of age. Mary Josephine was born in 1865, married W. H. Metson, and died in 1911. Hartley, born in 1868, and Gholdsen, born in 1875, are also deceased.

Howard Kercheval attended the Onisbo district school. When a young man, he took up steamboating,

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

entering the service of the California Transportation Company on the Sacramento River, and remaining with that enterprising concern for ten years. He then returned to the home place and engaged in farming; and he has lived there since, owning today 200 acres of the Grand Island Rancho, where his father settled, which is devoted to the raising of pears, plums and peaches. He is at present manager and secretary of the Delta Telephone Company, which was started in a small way after a meeting among neighbors, and which now has some 500 subscribers. The patrons are residents of the entire Sacramento River Delta seetion, from Sacramento to Rio Vista, and the ap- praisement of the company is now about $250,000-a neat sum which speaks for itself in praise of Mr. Kercheval's management. In matters of national po- litical import, Mr. Kercheval is a stanch Republican.

At Sacramento, in July, 1882, Mr. Kercheval was married to Martha Barkley, a native of Newark, N. J .. and the daughter of John and Sarah (Merwin) Bark- ley, who came to California in 1858, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. John Barkley was connected with the hardware firm of Massol-Merwin of Sacra- mento for many years; he died on the Kercheval ranch in 1891, following his affectionate wife to the grave six years after her demise. They had three children, Minnie, Henry, and Martha. Four children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kercheval: Reuben, Elbert. Howard G., and Helen Eugenie. Reuben married Miss Dell Banta, and they have one daughter. Elbert married Miss Elizabeth Finnie, and they have one child, Joan. Howard married Juanita Lauppe, and they are the parents of two children: John Howard and Robert. Helen Eugenie is now Mrs. Wallace, of San Francisco.

Mr. Kercheval is past master of Franklin Lodge No. 143, F. & A. M., at Courtland, and is a member of Sacramento Chapter No. 3, R. A. M .; Sacramento Commandery No. 2, K. T .: and Islam Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in San Francisco; and he is also a member of Sacramento Lodge No. 6, B. P. O. Elks. and belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West of Courtland.

GEORGE C. NEED .- A large landowner and prosperous dairyman of the Galt district is George C. Need, who has spent all his life in his native county. He was born on July 2, 1873, on the Need ranch northwest of Galt, his parents being George and Sarah (Eiler) Need. The father came with his parents from his birthplace in Bavaria, Germany, to the United States when only four years old. They settled in Indiana; and there Mr. Need engaged in grain- and stock-raising before coming to California. where he became one of Sacramento County's influ- ential ranchers.

George C. Need attended the Grant district school in his boyhood and remained on the old home place until his marriage in December, 1912, to Miss Agnes Wegat, the daughter of August and Mary Wegat, who are represented on another page of this history. In 1914, 474 acres of the home place was set aside for Mr. Need and here he erected a comfortable home and farm buildings and made other improve- ments and it has since been the family home. Here he is extensively engaged in raising stock, having an average of 100 head of feeding stock, and he also has a fine dairy herd of eighty cows. Mr. Need also has an interest in the Need estate, which comprises some

2,000 acres of land north and west of Galt. Mr. and Mrs. Need are the parents of two sons, George Henry and Lloyd James.

JOHN WESLEY MeCUISTION .- A hustling Californian of varied enterprise, who did much to place Sacramento on the map, was John Wesley MeCuistion, for years the proprietor of the Original California Employment Agency. He was born at Georgetown, in Williamson County, Texas, on August 11, 1851, the son of Noah and Nancy T. (Merguson) McCuistion, worthy pioneers who braved all the in- conveniences and dangers of frontier life and came out to California in 1852. They left Texas on March 14, but had the misfortune to miss the caravan they ex- pected to accompany through Mexico, and so were among 150 people to charter a sailing vessel. On the way up, they were becalmed, and their water and provisions ran low, but they met some fishing-boats and got relief. Some of the party got out to walk, and beat the boat into San Diego. Again the boat ran out of provisions, but the party finally reached San Francisco, on August 18, 1852.

Noah McCuistion and his good wife went into the mines in Mariposa County, and for two years he fol- lowed mining in various places. He then went to Oakland and became a buyer of stock for Messrs. Mil- ler & Lux. Selling out his place in Oakland, he next went to Martinez, in Contra Costa County; and in 1857 he came into Sonoma County. The year 1859 found him in Mendocino County with a large number of cattle, and there he stayed until the Civil War. In 1861-1862, he was at Tulare, and after that he went to El Monte, near Los Angeles; but he soon had to go to Lower California to get 10,000 head of cattle, and re- turned to Mendocino County in 1863. There he was disturbed by the Indians, but was rescued by the sol- diers. Getting back to Los Angeles, he bought the block of land between Broadway and Hill, and Fifth and Sixth Streets, and located on 160 acres of land at Hollywood, becoming one of the first settlers there. Members of the McCuistion family were prominent in the various walks of life; among them was Edward McCuistion, who for many years served as mayor of Paris, Texas.

John Wesley McCuistion acquired his education largely in a log schoolhouse and in the school of actual experience. When a youth he learned the printer's trade. Instead of working at his trade, how- ever, he peddled jewelry in Lower California, and with the money thus earned he bought thirty-five acres near Downey, after which he hauled freight to San Bernardino. Selling out, he came to Kernville, and next went to Sierra Gorda, where he was in the smelting works for eighteen months. His next move was to Columbus, Nev., and then to Reno; and after that he went east to Cheyenne, Wyo., where he was a scout for the government, remaining in the govern- ment service for six years. In 1875, he went to the Black Hills and established the town of Custer; and he freighted in and out of that country, returning to California in 1877. At Sacramento, he joined William Lind; and then he came to San Francisco. He did not stay there long, but went into Mendocino County and located land, which he later sold. He then crossed the border again to Nevada, and farmed there for two years. Later he came to Los Angeles, and then went to New Mexico, where he remained until 1882. He went to Chloride and there engaged in busi-

Su MeQuistion

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

ness, and then to Grant County, N. M., driving the first wagon into that place; and he took up a town- site and was made postmaster. He also engaged in mining, and sold the Percha Chief Mine for $36,000. He then went to Kingston and was postmaster there: and after that he was at Hot Springs, Ark. For six years he engaged in the cattle business in Colorado; and next he went to Billings, Mont., where he re- mained for two years. He bought land in Orange County, Cal., and organized the school district and built a schoolhouse at Talbert. For a year and a half, he sold and bought land at Corona. Disposing of this, he established an employment agency in Los Angeles, and then went to Santa Cruz, where for five years he continued in the business, until 1907, when he came to Sacramento and established the business here. He called it the California Employment Agency, and later on changed the name to the Original California Em- ployment Agency. In the business he was ably as- sisted by his wife, who kept his books, made the re- ports, and aided him in every way she could. His offices were in the close vicinity of Second and J Streets, for fifteen years.

In Woodland, in 1912, Mr. McCuistion married Mrs. Margaret T. Averell, a native of Philadelphia. Pa., and the widow of Isaac Seymour Averell, of New York, who was with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company until his death, which occurred in San Fran- cisco. Mr. and Mrs. Averell's union was blessed with a son, Edward, who is connected with the United States Shipping Board in San Francisco. He is married and has three sons: Edward A., J. Vincent, and Harrison Tate. Mr. McCuistion had a daughter Teresa, now Mrs. Edgar Cox of Los Angeles, who has a daughter Yvonne. Mrs. McCuistion is a cultured and refined woman of a pleasing personality, and presides gracefully over her home, located at 2931 S Street, Sacramento, the scene of much hospitality and good cheer.

On October 28, 1922, since the interview from which this sketch was prepared, Mr. McCuistion passed away, mourned by his family and many friends. He was one of the best-known men in the county, being known and loved by rich and poor alike. He was especially loved and esteemed by the children, who all called him "Uncle John," and to others throughout the county he was known as "Honest John." In politics, Mr. McCnistion was a Democrat. Of good pioneer stock, he was much interested in the county's historic past, and had full confidence in its promising future. He belonged to the Fraternal Bro- therhood, and the Sacramento Pioneers, in whose circles he enjoyed an enviable popularity.

MRS. LIDA SPARKS BOWMAN WARD .-- Nothing is more typical of the present generation than the place that women have taken in civic and political life, thus contributing a new and valuable viewpoint to the real democracy of government. Well qualified for the office of justice of the peace of Galt which she is now holding, Mrs. Lida Sparks Bowman Ward has thoroughly demonstrated her especial fitness for her task by the fair and impartial justice she dispenses. She is the daughter of Merritt A. and Mary (Driscol) Sparks, old-time residents of Galt, the father coming to California in 1875. He was born in Crawford County, Pa., the son of Mer- ritt S. and Angelina (Kettle) Sparks, both natives of New York. When he was nine months old the family

moved to Clay County, Ind., and here and at Bowl- ing Green he received his education and learned the carriage maker's trade, which he followed in Cincin- nati, Ohio, St. Louis, Mo., Peoria, Ill., and Craw- fordsville, Ind. In 1875 he came to California and for a time was at Sacramento, then went to Dutch Flat, where he followed his trade for a year and a half. In 1878 he came to Galt and for twelve years worked along the line of his trade, but is now retired from active business.

Reared and educated at Galt. Lida Sparks was mar- ried on February 5, 1903, to William W. Bowman, who was born at Downey, Los Angeles County, where he was reared by his grandparents, his father and mother having died in his childhood. For the past ten years Mrs. Bowman has been agent for the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company at Galt. Prominent in the social and civic life of the com- munity, she is a member of the Rebekah Lodge and is president of the Women's Civic Improvement Club, to which position she was duly reelected. She is now serving her second term as justice of the peace of Lee Township most capably and to the en- tire satisfaction of her constituency. She is the mother of two children, Grace Florence and William Merritt.

Grace Florence was married March 15, 1923, to Mr. Frank E'mer Anderson of Galt. Mrs. Bow- man was married a second time April 26, 1923, to Mr. La Fayette Ward, prominent rancher and dairy- man in the Dry Creek district in San Joaquin County.

WALTER C. ANDERSON .- Having spent his entire business career in banking circles, Walter C. Anderson is especially well fitted for the responsible post he occupies as president of the Bank of Galt and stands high in financial circles in Sacramento County. Mr. Anderson is a native of Nebraska and was born at Aurora, Hamilton County, March 14, 1888, the son of Charles and Christina (Carlson) Anderson, both natives of Sweden, the former born at Stockholm, while the mother was born in Skor- bosland. The parents came to the United States when young people and settled near Aurora, Nebr., where the father engaged in farming on a half-sec- tion of land; he lived to be seventy-three years old. Mrs. Anderson survives him, and now resides at the home at Aurora, Nebr.

One of a family of six children, three of whom are now living, Walter C. Anderson attended the public school near Aurora and later a commercial college at Aurora. At the age of nineteen he started out on his business career as a clerk in the Aurora Bank and later went to Chicago, where he was with the Continental & Commercial Bank, one of that city's largest financial institutions, where he gained an ex- cellent experience. From there he went to the Sheri- dan Trust & Savings Bank of that city, and after spending some time with them came out to the Coast, where he became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Camas, Wash. Subsequently he was offered the post of cashier of the bank at Aumsville, Ore., remaining there until he came to California, locating at Glendale, Los Angeles County, where he was cashier of the First National Bank of Glendale. In 1920 he came to Galt and soon became president of the Bank of Galt, and through his splen- did executive ability and years of experience, this institution has taken a leading place among the banks of this district.

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HISTORY OF SACRAMENTO COUNTY

On February 11, 1913, at Chicago, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Minnie B. Clarke, a native of Portland, Maine, who was reared and educated in Chicago, where her parents, Albert E. and Belle Clarke made their home. The mother died in Los Angeles, in 1917, while the father, a professional musician, is the leader of the Clarke Sacramento Band and lives in Sacramento, able and active at sixty-four. A Republican in politics, Mr. Anderson is prominent in Masonic circles in Galt and belongs to the Elks of Stockton.

CHARLES H. HANNUM .- A proficient federal officer whose efficiency, together with his affability, has made him very popular, is Charles H. Hannum, now in charge of the United States Immigration Bu- rean at Sacramento. A native son, he was born in Yolo County, California, on February 11, 1860, the son of W. W. Hannum, a sturdy pioneer and a na- tive of Tennessee, now deceased, who had crossed the great plains to the Golden State in 1850. He mined in Placer County, and was the first deputy sheriff there. Later, he engaged in farming and the raising of cattle, in Yolo County, where our subject very naturally first went to school. After a while, growing older, he attended the old Christian College, at College City.

Up to the age of twenty. Charles Hannum was on his father's ranch in Yolo County, eight miles north- west of Woodland, and in 1880 he located in Wash- ington Territory, now the state of Washington. He engaged in cattle-raising and grain-farming, in Lin- coln County, remaining there until 1894, when he took an active part in politics and served in two offices, first as clerk of Lincoln County, and sec- ondly as county surveyor in the same shirc. From 1894 to 1900, he was attached to the engineering corps of the Great Northern Railroad, and from 1900 to 1903 he was clerk in the Seattle post office. In October, 1903, Mr. Hannum became an inspector in the United States Immigration Service at Sumas, Wash., and in January, 1913, he was appointed in- spector in charge of the Sacramento office. This appointment was made when the office was first established there, and it fell to Mr. Hannum's lot to throw open the door to the public, and ever since then he has been continuously in charge. Up to January 1, 1922, the territory assigned him included the district north of San Francisco Bay, and all the state of Nevada; and he has handled many cases for the government, requiring him to travel thousands of miles. Some 4,161 investigations were made dur- ing the past ten years, and eighty-three deportations of insane and criminals. Mr. Hannum is interested as a stockholder, director, and otherwise in the Gold League placer mines in Nevada County.

Mr. Hannum is married to Miss Sarah C. Ludy, the ceremony taking place at Moscow, Idaho; and their union has been a happy one, Mrs. Hannum, who crossed the great plains in 1864 with her par- ents, proving the right kind of helpmate in such a country in the making. Four daughters have come to bless their hearth. One is Mrs. Elma Young, of San Francisco; another, Mrs. Vesta Bartoo, of Su- mas, Washington; and the others are Mrs. Sadie Grant and Mrs. Elsie Grant, of Sacramento. Mr. Hannum is a Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of Lodge No. 40, F. & A. M. He also belongs to the Fra- ternal Brotherhood, and the Modern Woodmen.

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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 96

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