USA > California > Solano County > History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc. > Part 42
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In 1836 the father of Mr. Pearson was appointed Judge of the Northern District of Illinois, which embraced a, number of counties in the eastern and northern parts of the State. A residence in the district was required, and he removed to Joliet, Will County, Illinois.
The subject of this sketch was well grounded in the classics at an early age, having received the care of a kind and scholarly father as well as excellent teachers : attended Bishop Chase's Jubilee College in Peoria county, Ills .; the Clarkson Academy, Monroe county, New York, and Alleghany College, Meadville, Pennsylvania.
In 1844, to gratify his father, rather than follow his own inclinations, he began the study of law with Judge McRoberts, in Danville, Ills. The year following a position was secured with Joel A. Mattison (afterwards Governor of Ills.) at Joilet, Ills., who carried on an extensive and diversi- fied business - wholesaling and retailing, manufacturing, contracting, banking, etc. The fundamental principles acquired in this practical school of business ripened into a knowledge of the affairs of life which were of inestimable advantage to a young man who had determined on becoming a merchant.
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In 1847, a Mr. Ingersoll headed a small company, composed of persons residing in the vicinity of Joilet, and started for Oregon and California, across the plains. Mr. Mattison held a power of attorney for disposing of an amount of property left by Ingersoll. The year following instruc- tions came from Ingersoll (who had reached California a short time before gold was discovered) to dispose of his property ; purchase, and ship five hundred barrels of dried apples, by water, to San Francisco, and give whatever remained to his relatives - that he was a millionaire, etc. A member of the Ingersoll company, named Cutting, returned to Joliet in September, 1848, and brought $2,700 in gold dust which he had taken out of a claim with pan and shovel in three weeks. This man confirmed all that Ingersoll had written. The people of Joliet were not exceptional ; the whole country was wild with excitement concerning the new El Dorado.
Mr. Pearson was thoroughly imbued with the spirit of adventure ; and although offered every inducement by Mr. Mattison, even that of a part- nership interest, if he would remain, fitted out a wagon and ox team, started for California, March 18, 1849 ; passed through Illinois and Iowa : crossed the Missouri river at St. Joseph, Mo., May 1st, arriving at Salt Lake City in June, remaining until September. While among the Latter Day Saints, Mr. Pearson familiarized himself with the working of their institutions ; reaped, with a sickel, five acres of wheat ; threshed it with a flail, and winnowed it with the wind, by pouring the grain with a meas- ure from a staging, upon a wagon cover spread upon the ground : forty bushels of clean wheat - one fifth of the amount - was his reward for this labor.
Brigham Young, who, in the earlier part of the season, had been more than friendly towards the emigrants, showed his true character as soon as they were in his power. He offered them the alternative of joining the Mormon Church or making a wagon road from Salt Lake city to Cali- fornia by way of Severe river, Rio Virgin, Mohave river and San Bernardino ; frankly declaring that it was an arduous and dangerous un- dertaking, but a service the " Gentiles should perform for the Saints," as they intended to colonize the country along the route as soon as it was opened. A majority of the emigrants destined for California chose road making, however difficult, to mormonism and its abominations. Mr. Pearson, with a party not encumbered with families, were first to start on · this journey of more than seven hundred miles, over rugged mountains, through deep gorges, across arid deserts, without guides or knowledge of the country to be traversed, which was infested with hordes of savages ever on the watch to murder and plunder. Constant vigilance was re- quired on the part of this little band of pioneer road makers ; many lives were lost, and many hair-breadth escapes made, the subject of our sketch,
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with another member of the company, when in pursuit of mules that had been stolen the night before, were decoyed into an ambuscade and fought their way back to camp, several miles distant. At Archilet, or Hernan- dez Spring, Nevada, where they stopped to recruit the starved animals, several young men volunteered to push forward for California on foot, taking only what could be carried upon their backs, giving the remainder of their provisions and use of their teams to the starving and destitute families that had overtaken the pioneer company at several points on the route. After great suffering from hunger and thirst, having gone two days and nights without water or food, this party of volunteers reached, Cocomungo ranch, forty miles southeast of Los Angeles, remaining for several weeks, until the arrival of their teams. These wagons were the first that ever passed through the Cahon Pass, which had been considered only practicable for pack mules.
Mr. Pearson took passage by schooner from San Pedro, arriving in San Fran- cisco the last of November, 1849. His first night on shore was quite different from what travelers experience at present. His bed was the sand of North Beach, wrapped in his blanket, with the rain pouring down upon him. Not to be idle, he accepted a situation for a few days in an auction store, until he could get passage to Sacramento on the "McKim," paying $25 from San Francisco to Sacramento, on his way to Bidwell's bar, on Feather river, where he prospected the middle fork of that river as far up as the American bar. Returning to Marysville, procured an outfit and started for the head-waters of the Yuba, prospecting the Rough and Ready, Grass Valley and Nevada districts, discovering some rich diggings. The idea at that time was, that vast aggregations of coarse gold could be found at or near the heads of the rivers and creeks flowing from the snow-clad summits, and the highest point that could be reached at that time, on account of snow, was Poor Man's creek; this proving rich, (the first pan of dirt prospecting over seventy-five dollars), the summer of 1850 was passed here, good luck attending the labors of our prospector, who, coming to San Francisco in September, sent a portion of his acqui- sition to an uncle in Pennsylvania, for investment, purchased a stock of goods for the southern mines with the balance. Owing to want of rain, no mining could be done. He sold out immediately and went to Ows- ley's bar, on the Yuba, where he engaged in butchering, and running sev- eral quicksilver machines. In February, 1851, he purchased mules and started for Rich bar and east fork of Feather river, with mining outfit and provisions ; was there at the time of the famine, when flour com- manded $3 00 per pound. Spent several months prospecting on the head- waters of Feather and Yuba rivers ; secured claims on Durgon flat, near Downeyville, wintering at Toll's dry diggings. Returned to Chicago in October, 1852, where he built the Rock Island House, on the corner of Twelfth and Clark streets, the first hotel in that part of the city.
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In the fall of 1853 Mr. Pearson came again to California and engaged in farming, near Sacramento city, upon land that was regarded as worthless, by the Spaniards. The first crop of wheat, sown in February, yielded over forty bushels to the acre of grain, weighing sixty-three pounds per bushel. Fruit trees and a vineyard were set out, which proved the land to be far superior to the bottom, or overflowed ground, which General Sutter declared was all that could be cultivated.
In the summer of 1855, a party from Sherlock's creek, Mariposa county, started for Yosemite valley, the Indians saying there was mucho oro (much gold) there; instead of which, they found the now famed " land of mountain and the flood." August 15th, 1855, this party, among them Mr. Pearson, laid claim to the valley, hewing the bark from the side of a huge pitchpine tree, standing at the west or lower end of the valley, near where the trail crossed the Merced river; upon the bared trunk they set forth their claim to the valley, with the names of the claimants, eleven in number.
In 1856 Mr. Pearson returned to Chicago and embarked in the general com- mission business with marked success, until the year 1867, when failing health compelled his retiring. In 1867 he located at Vallejo, which, from its position, favored milling and grain-shipping ; when returning to Cali- fornia he brought the plans for a grain-elevator, and outlined the plans for operating it by a company-which was organized. There being no statutory provision relative to warehouse receipts, he drafted a bill, which failed to become a law. Mr. Pearson, fully aware of the necessity of such a law, in order that the enterprise should be successful, withdrew from any active participation, but gave the company his plans, from which was erected the first and only grain elevator on this coast. After repeated failures, Mr. Pearson finally succeeded in having this warehouse bill passed April 1, 1878. The advantages derived from such a law, by all classes, is manifest throughout the Northwestern States.
A partnership was formed in 1868 between Mr. G. C. Pearson and Mr. A. D. Starr, under name of Pearson & Starr, for carrying on a general com- mission business. They located and built the Starr mills, at Vallejo, one of the largest and best-arranged mills in the world. The firm was dis- solved about the first of January, 1871, Mr. Pearson selling out to Mr. Starr. September 13, 1864 Mr. Pearson married Hattie, youngest daugh- ter of Judge A. C. Brown, of Ogdensburg, New York. They have had four children-three sons and one daughter.
Though determined and positive in character, with decided convictions, Mr. Pearson is not sectarian in religious matters, nor a partisan in politics. He writes and speaks his sentiments freely, never hesitating through fear of being unpopular. His predelictions are democratic, and sympathizes with the people. He shuns notoriety, and has never accepted a nomina-
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tion or held any office. He is a member of the "Old Settlers' Society," of Chicago. The records of said society being burned in the great fire, he, in 1876, presented the old records-which he had kept-to the His- torical society of that place.
POWELL, ABRAHAM, lumberman, of Vallejo. Was born in the city of Philadelphia, on the 24th day of January, 1828. At the early age of twelve he visited the West India islands, with Captain John Rue. In 1841 he sailed from his native city in the bark " Madoline," Captain Wil- liam Shanklin, to Europe, making the return trip in the same vessel. This voyage, which occupied the lengthy period of seventy-three days, was of the most tedious nature, and the hardihood of the young voyager was much tested, for provisions ran out among the steerage passengers, of whom there were a great number, so that all on board were necessarily placed on the meagre allowance of one bran biscuit and a quart of water per diem for three weeks, a lesson of endurance which has not been lost on our hero through his stirring life. In his early days Mr. Powell was employed in the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, and there learned the trade of a ship-joiner and civil engineering, under his father, remaining at this occupation until 1849. On the 2d December, 1846, he married Sarah L., daughter of James Paxon, of Philadelphia, the ceremony being performed by the Reverend Thomas Brainard, at what was then known as the Old Pine Street church. Mrs. Powell was born on 23d October, 1829, in the native city of her husband.
The intelligence of the discovery of gold in California having now taken the world by storm, every face looked eagerly toward the New Dorado, and Mr. Powell, among thousands of others, started for the land of gold. Leaving Philadelphia, his family, and early associations, he took passage on the brig " Osceola," on the 16th day of January, 1849, and on the morning of Sunday, the 5th August, after a voyage of 202 days round Cape Horn, twelve of which were passed at Rio de Janiero, in the Brazils, and fourteen at Talcahuana, on the coast of Chili, he anchored in the beautiful bay of San Francisco. Mr. P., with characteristic energy, was up and doing. He entered into partnership with one of his fellow-passen- gers named William Butcher, in the business of builders and joiners. They had brought out many of the necessaries for carrying on their trade-even the frame work for houses was not forgotten-and at once established themselves in San Francisco, on Jackson street above Kearny, having erected their own premises, on the site now occupied by the old Philadelphia Engine house, No. 12. Orders now came in fast ; their first was to build the old Philadelphia auction-house, for Berry & Middleton, on Jackson street. At this business did he continue till the beginning of 1850, when he returned to the Eastern States, via Panama. Finding
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himself once more in the town of his birth, he assumed his old position in the Navy Yard, where he continued till September, 1854, when he re- ceived the responsible post of master-joiner to the yard at Mare Island, in California, a new station just established on the Pacific coast.
On the 5th of September, after only a very few days preparation, we find Mr. Powell, this time accompanied by his family, once more turned towards the golden west, and, on the 1st October, 1854, he reported his arrival to Captain D. G. Farragut, assumed the duties of his office, and resided on the the island for three years, from which time, until the year 1858, he had full control of all the building operations in the yard. Between the years 1858 and 1861 Mr. Powell went home on furlough, and again returned to Mare Island and filled his former position. In 1864, in conjunction with his own legitimate employment, he was called upon to perform the duties of Civil Engineer, both of which offices he continued to fill up to July, 1865, when he finally severed his connection with the Government. In this year he commenced the lumbering business in Vallejo, a branch of industry which he still pursues. Mr. Powell is a prominent member of the Society of California Pioneers, and in 1869, on the occasion of the fete given to that body when the Central and Union Pacific Railroads were joined, he, accompanied by a portion of his family, made the excur- sion to New York, attended the banquet tendered to them at Delmonico's on the 13th October, and returned to the State in the following Novem- ber. In 1874 once more did Mr. Powell visit the Eastern States, on this occasion, to be present at the death, as he was led to expect, of his mother, who had reached the ripe age of 88 years. On such an errand he thought not of tide nor time, but traveled night and day, and on arrival found that his mother still lived ; whether the sight of her son, now full of years and blessed with much of the world's goods, gave her a new lease of life, or what other cause soever, suffice it to say, that she rapidly improved in health, and it was not till full three years after that she was called to " that bourne from whence no traveler returns," at the old age of 91. Mr. Powell is a man of vast and varied information ; his conversational pow- ers are of the most captivating kind, abounding with anecdote and full of humor, while, as a citizen, he is held high in the esteem of the public. Added to these qualifications, a goodby list in themselves, he is a prominent Mason. He was Master of Naval Lodge while working under dispensa- tion, and was continued so after the charter was received from the Grand Lodge of California, while he holds high degrees in both the York and Scottish Rites of Masonry. Mr. Powell's family consists of James H., born in Philadelphia, Nov. 2, 1847; Mary L., born in Philadelphia, May 1, 1851; Abraham, born on Mare Island, August 8, 1855 ; Priscilla Florence, born in Vallejo, June 10, 1864 ; Eva Paxson, born April 2, 1866; Lurena Blanche, born May 19, 1868; Fannie Elizabeth Vallejo, born February 17, 1858, died March 5, 1863.
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Mr. Powell was one of Vallejo's first School Directors, and for many years a member of the Board of City Trustees, and chairman of the same; also, one of the founders of its charter.
RICHARDSON, HENRY DOUGLASS, was born in Maumee, Ohio, October 18, 1847. His father's name was George, and mother's, Mary Louisa Richard- son, who moved from the place of his birth about one year thereafter to the city of Buffalo, New York, in which place he was apprenticed to the printing business, which he was engaged in at the breaking out of the Rebellion. At the time of the raid into Pennsylvania, in 1863, the 74th regiment of the N. Y. S. N. G. was called out and sworn into the national service. At the time the subject of this sketch was a drummer in com- pany "G," of that regiment, and with them went to the scene of conflict. After the battle of Gettysburg, the riots at New York and other cities took place, the regiment was transferred from Pennsylvania to New York city, where it remained until the riots ceased, when they were ordered back to Buffalo and there mustered out of the U. S. service. Immedi- ately following, Mr. Richardson shipped in the navy, for one year, sent to New York, and was attached to the U. S. S. store ship " Courier," that was employed in carrying ammunition and provisions to the South Gulf squadron. The last voyage in this ship was from Boston bound for New Orleans, which place she never succeeded in reaching as she ran on the reef at Lyniard's Keys, Abbaco Island, and was sunk within an hour after she struck, in the dead hour of night. The crew, with Mr. Richard- son among the number, were enabled to reach the shore by the aid of the ship's small boats in safety. The island was barren of vegetation, but the crew were enabled to subsist on bread that was saved and large green turtles that were caught. For sixteen days they remained on the Island, until one of the boats that had been fitted up and, with a crew, of which Mr. Richardson was among the number, sent to Nassau, N. P., for assist- ance, which was secured in shape of a schooner that was lying in that port, partly loaded with old junk that had been gathered for shipment to the United States. The schooner came to the island for the remainder of the crew, some ninety in all. But before she was ready to depart for the States, the yellow fever broke out that caused a further detention on the island; several of the castaways sickened and, in a short time, died. Finally the scourge abated, and the vessel proceeded to New York and went into quarantine and the crew transferred to the U. S. S. " Union," from which ship Mr. Richardson was discharged, his term of enlistment having expired. From New York he went back to his home in Buffalo, and remained until just before the close of the war, when he re-enlisted · in the navy and again went to New York ; and, at that time, the U. S. S. " Pensacola " was being fitted out for the Pacific Squadron, and to which
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man-of-war Mr. Richardson was sent aboard as ship's printer. The vessel came out to California in 1867, calling in at all of the principal ports on the Atlantic as well as the Pacific side of the continent. In 1869, his service having expired, he went to San Francisco and started in the print- ing business for himself, but, it not proving as remunerative as expected, he sold the establishment and came to Vallejo, February 22, 1870, and secured a position on the " Vallejo Evening Chronicle," where he remained for some three years, and then was engaged in the cigar and tobacco trade for himself, on Georgia street, opposite the Bernard House, for a year and a half, after which time he gave it up and went to work on the navy yard, in charge of the government printing office, and remained until March 1, 1879, when he secured a position as "local" on the " Vallejo Evening Chronicle," where he is engaged at the present time. Mr. Rich- ardson is a Republican in politics, and, during his residence in Vallejo, has three times been elected as a delegate to the Republican County Conven- tion. On March 23, 1876, he was married to Miss Jennie Alice Pratt, of and at Grass Valley, California, who was born in Utah, May 29, 1858, and is now 21 years of age. The lady's father and mother's name was Mr. W. O. and Mrs. C. Pratt. They have had two children born unto them, one of whom, a daughter, Mabel Alice, is living; the first, also a daughter, having died when an infant. Mr. Richardson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and other societies. In the Odd Fellows' Order he has attained the highest rank obtainable in the Subord- inate and Encampment branches of the Order, and for the past four years has been successively elected to the office of M. W. District Deputy Grand Master, of that Order, for this District, comprising all of the Lodges in Solano county. Mr. Richardson, at one time, was President of Neptune Hose Company, and one of the trustees of the Odd Fellows' Library Association at its organization. He has, at various times, been solicited to accept the nomination for office under the county or city, but has de- clined each and all that have been tendered him.
ROBINSON, A. T., was born in Bristol, Waldo County, Maine, Septem- ber 14, 1828. In 1836 he, with his parents, moved to Montville, Waldo County, Maine, where he was engaged with his father, farming, until twenty-one years old, when he took up his abode in Ellsworth, Hancock County, Maine. Commenced business on his own account in the butcher's trade. Here he married Mary L., daughter of Captain James Plummer, of Bristol, Maine, on June 12, 1853. In March, 1854, they came to Cali- fornia, on the ship "North Star" to Panama, then on the "Yankee Blade" to San Francisco, arriving on May 6th of that year, but went to Nevada City shortly after, working in a livery stable owned by John A. Lancaster. Eight months thereafter purchased some mines, which he operated until
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the Fall of 1857, when he came to the Sacramento Valley, in Yolo County, where he farmed and raised sheep. During his residence-in 1859 or 1860-he purchased one half-interest in the livery stable of John A. Lan- caster, at Nevada City, from Mr. Saxly, the junior partner of the firm. He sold his interest about four years ago. He maintained a continuous residence in Yolo County until 1870, at which time he came to Vallejo, buying a stock of goods of Mr. Van Schaack. A. J. Plummer is now his partner, and they are doing business under the firm name of Plummer & Robinson. Since Mr. Robinson's residence in Vallejo he took an active part in organizing the Vallejo Savings and Commercial Bank, and was appointed one of its directors, being a heavy stockholder. During the bank's financial troubles a few years since, and when all thought it must surrender, Mr. Robinson accepted the position as its president, and was one of the number who paid all its indebtedness, again placing it on a solid foundation, and then resigned his position. His children are Thomas L., born June 23, 1858; Elmore E., born February 5, 1862; Mary L., born December 3, 1866; Ralph, born August 23, 1869.
ROE, GEORGE, was born in Elmira, New York, August 28, 1854. He came to California in March, 1870, with his parents, and took up his resi- dence in Suisun, Solano county, where he clerked for several months in Dr. J. F. Pressley's drug store. In the Fall of 1870 the family moved to Vallejo, and in December, 1871, young Roe entered the office of the "So- lano Democrat," a weekly paper published by Thompson & Linthicum, as · printer's devil. He was soon promoted to the case, and afterward, when his employers started the "Daily Independent," he was made city editor. Subsequently he purchased the material of the office, and commenced the publication of a daily morning paper.
RONEY, JAMES, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was born Sep- tember 20, 1847, and here received the ordinary elements of education as well as the academical branches of learning. When only sixteen years old he went out to defend the honor and integrity of his country he loved so well, enlisting in Company B, Second Pennsylvania Artillery, serving in the Army of the Potomac, and honorably discharged at the close of the war. April 1, 1869, he emigrated to this State, coming via the Isthmus, and settled in Vallejo. On June 30, 1874, he bought the "Vallejo and San Francisco Express," and is now transacting the business with Mr. Good, the firm being Good & Roney. Married, in Vallejo, Miss Anna E., daughter of William Shillingsburg, on July 31, 1870. William S., born April 19, 1872; Isabella M., born August 18, 1874; Walter A. and George A., born December 18, 1876; and Jessie, born March 26, 1879; are the names of their children.
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