USA > California > Solano County > History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc. > Part 44
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Maine, October 22, 1852, Miss Maria D. Cummings, a native of that place, by whom he has John W., born in Vallejo, October 3, 1858, and George A., born September 1, 1862.
WILSON, E. J., is a native of New York, having been born in that State in the year 1829, being in the earlier years of his life engaged, principal- ly, in the manufacturing and lumber interests. On the twentieth day of February, 1856, he sailed for California, and arrived in San Francisco in the following month, and remaining there but a short time he proceeded to Shasta county, where he resided for one year, being, for the most part, engaged in mining. In 1857 he came to Vallejo, where he has ever since been identified with many of the interests of that city. Mr. Wilson is President of the Vallejo Savings and Commercial Bank ; Vice President of the Vallejo Land and Improvement Association ; and is President of the Board of Trustees, to which office he was elected in 1876. He mar- ried in 1851, in New York, Miss Helen M. Chamberlain, by whom he has George W., born in 1852, and Hattie, born in 1862.
WILSON, JOHN, farmer, in Vallejo Township, was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to America, in 1851, first settling, for a few months, in Philadelphia, and left, on December 25, 1851, for San Francis- co, which he reached on March 4, 1852. On his arrival he proceeded to Hangtown, now Placerville, remaining there till the following May, being engaged principally in mining operations ; he then moved to Solano county, and was employed by Curtis & Clark, the former owners of his present estate, with whom he stayed till 1855, when, together with his brother, Joseph Wilson, they purchased a drove of 400 head of horses, and took them to New Mexico, where they were exchanged for 4,000 head of sheep, which latter the brothers drove back to their homes on the Suscol Ranch, the undertaking occupying about sixteen months. In 1857 Mr. Wilson purchased a portion of his present farm, 900 acres of which he owns, and has under the finest and latest improvements. He is a large breeder of stock, the horses reared by him being among the finest in the county. Mr. Wilson married in San Francisco, October 10, 1870, Lavonia Wright, a native of Oswego, New York ; they have one son, Edward.
WILSON, JOSEPH, farmer in Vallejo township, is a native of county Ty- rone, Ireland, where he was born in April, 1826. In 1846 he emigrated to the United States, and settled in Philadelphia, but embarked from there in December, 1851, arriving at San Francisco on March, 4, 1852, and at once proceeded to Hangtown, now Placerville, and Weaverville, where he engaged in mining until May, 1852, when he came to Solano county, in company with his brother John, and found employment with Curtis & Clark, the former owners of the estate now owned by the broth- ers Wilson. In 1858 he purchased and now possesses 854 acres of land, comprised in the finest farming district in the county. Mr. Wilson mar-
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ried in Lake county, Indiana, January 15, 1866, Miss Margaret W. Young, a native of Logan county, Ohio, by whom he has Jennie Belle, born Octo- ber 10, 1866 ; John Andrew, born July 9, 1868; Joseph Ross, born Octo- ber 7, 1873; Eldana Agnes, "born April 22, 1876, and George Wallace, born January 4, 1879.
WILLISTON,“JOHN EDWARD, the subject of our memoir, was born in Portsmouth, Norfolk county, Virginia, October 14, 1841, where he con- tinued, with the exception of three years, until 1855, when he went to Boston and there attended school. On April 20, 1858, he embarked for California. Came up on this side on board the steamer " John L. Ste- phens," arriving in San Francisco May 15th of that year, and came di- rectly to Vallejo, to join his father, who was at the time Assistant Civil Engineer on Mare Island Navy Yard. On July 4th of the same year Mr. Williston, Sr., with his son, left for Victoria, en route for the Fraser river, on board the clipper ship " E. F. Willetts," but returned from British Co- lumbia in the following November, per steamer " Santa Cruz," and settled in Vallejo, where the latter has since resided. Mr. John E. Williston was employed in various branches of business up till 1866, when, in part- nership with Mr. H. B. Bell, he opened a grocery store, but, unfortu- nately, in 1869, the establishment was destroyed in the great fire ; with that perseverance, however, for which he is so famous, Mr. Williston im- mediately rebuilt his grocery and continued its business until January 25, 1879, when, on account of failing health, he sold his interest to Mr. D. W. Harrier. He was elected Sheriff of Solano county, by the Demo- cratic party at the general election of September 1, 1875, and the like honor was for the second time conferred upon him on September 5, 1877; he has also served for two years on the Board of Trustees for the City of Vallejo. Mr. Williston is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Mount Moriah Encampment, as also a member and Secretary of the San Pablo Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was also a member of Naval Lodge and Naval Chapter F. & A. M., and a member of California Com- mandery No. 1, of San Francisco. Married March 29, 1869, Miss Sarah E. McLeod, by whom he has Edgar, Eugene, John E., and Alice B.
YOUNG ANDREW J., born in Lincolnville, Waldo county, Maine, on March 20, 1829, where he resided until 1850, when he moved to Rockland, Knox county, at which place he learned the trade of ship carpenter, remaining there till 1859, when he emigrated to California, crossing the plains, and first settling in San Francisco, where he sojourned until 1870, when he located in Vallejo, of which city he is still a resident. Married K. Ingraham, at Rockland, Knox county, Maine, on August 16, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Young have an adopted daughter, Effie E., married to Andrew B. Hall, of Petaluma, Sonoma county.
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SUISUN.
ALDEN E. B., of the firm of E. B. Alden & Co., of Napa and Suisun, was born in Lincoln, now Knox county, Maine, January 1, 1839. He received the benefit of the public schools until, at the age of sixteen years, he left home to engage in mercantile pursuits. Went to Boston, Mass., in 1864, where he remained the most of the time until February, 1869, at which time he emigrated to California, remaining in San Francisco for about nine months ; from thence removed to Vallejo and became employed on the Navy Yard at Mare Island, where he remained until 1875, at which time he became associated with Mr. A. P. Voorhees, in mercantile trade. The firm removed to Napa city in the spring of 1876, and in September 1878, Mr. Alden established a branch of their business in Suisun, of which place he has since been a resident with his family. Married in Sacra- mento, October 12, 1870, Lydia E., daughter of Benj. F. Webster, of Knox county, Maine. Their children are : Bertram F., born January 5, 1873 ; Evie E., born February, 1875, died the following July ; Edith May, born February, 1878.
BARBOUR, NATHAN, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., January 12, 1813. When twenty-one years old he moved to Kentucky, then, after three years, to New Orleans, La., trading on the Mississippi river, thence to Andrew county, Mo., where he abode until coming to California in 1846, crossing the plains with an ox-team, and came to the banks of Feather river, in October of that year. A full account of Mr. Barbour's so- journeyings are given in the county history, up to his coming to his present place in Suisun valley. Married Miss Nancy, daughter of Landy Alford, May 9, 1846. She died October 15, 1868. Armelia (deceased), Eli, Nan- cy, Nathan, Julie, Nellie May, and Florence Katie are their children.
BATEMAN, J. K., County Superintendent of Schools, a native of High- land county, Ohio, was born January 14, 1850. From a very early pe- riod of his life he was a lover of books, and while attending the public schools in his birth-place made rapid progress in his studies, finishing his academical education in the National Normal School, of Lebanon, Warren county, Ohio. In after life the classic poets were added to his store of intellectual enjoyment. September, 1868, then only eighteen years old, he commenced teaching public schools, which occupation he followed up to the time he was elected to his present office, on September 5, 1877. Came
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THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
to California, arriving August 31, 1873, settling in this county at Elmira, and, after two years, went to his former home, remaining one year, then returned to this county, settling in Dixon. He is now a resident of Sui- sun, Cal., beloved by his many friends and respected by the citizens of the place in which he lives.
BATEMAN, JOHN M. K., is a native of Highland county, Ohio, and born 11th December, 1837. Received his education at the National Normal School of Lebanon, Ohio, and the New Jersey State Normal School at Trenton. Left Ohio in May, 1874, and came to California, first settling at Riverside, San Bernardino county; thence to Oakland, and Dixon, Solano county, thence to Santa Cruz, and in June, 1878, came to Fair- field, this county, taking charge of the public schools, which place he now occupies. On September 19, 1868, married Euphemia, daughter of Charles McNeill, who was for five years a member of the Colonial Legislature of Ontario, Canada. Mrs. Bateman was born in Canada, March 30, 1842. Their living children are Victorian, Mary Margaret and Sarah May. Lost three-Minnie Este, Leonard and Daisey.
BAUMAN, J. H., the subject of this sketch, was born in Germany, July 6, 1823. Emigrated to Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1842; thence to Seneca county in the same State. In 1849 he crossed the plains, with a horse team, arriving in Sacramento September 1st of that year. Lo- cated on the North Fork of the American River, where he was engaged in mining, but in due time returned to Sacramento, coming down on the Sacramento River, where for a short time he was engaged in farm- ing. Came to Suisun Valley in December, 1850, camping on a farm now occupied by Mr. Buther. He made a continuous residence in and around this valley, herding cattle, until June 14, 1853, at which time he returned to Ohio. On his return to California, in the Spring of 1854, he came via Boone County, Missouri, buying a herd of cattle, which he brought across. the plains, arriving in the Montezuma Hills at a place now known as Bauman's Ravine, named in honor of Mr. Bauman, as he was an early settler in the hills, arriving there in the Fall of 1854. Came to his present residence in January, 1862. Married Miss Mary A., daughter of John McMullen, September 20, 1860. John, Elveng H. and Lottie May are their living children. They have lost two, Clarissa and Flora.
CHRISLER, P. J., was born in Ontario County, New York, July 4, 1831, and here he was educated. In 1854 he emigrated to St. Joseph County, Michigan, where he married Sarah M. Pulver, daughter of Fletcher Pul- ver, of Lyons, Wayne County, New York, January 4, 1858. She was born March 14, 1838. They emigrated to this State, and immediately
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THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
settled in Suisun City. Mr. Chrisler was first engaged in the produce trade, on his arrival in this locality, but afterward changed to that of a grocer. In June, 1870, he moved to Vaca Valley, five miles northwest from Vacaville, erected a house, had a Post-office established, over which he presided as postmaster, platted the ground for the purpose of founding a village, which he named Tolenas; but on account of the scarcity of water the project was abandoned, and he returned to Suisun the same year. He is now engaged in the lumber and sewing machine trades, as well as having established one of the most important insurance offices in this county. Leslie J., Minnie A., Jennie Gertrude (the last deceased), Sarah E., William A., Charles D. and Peter Spencer are the names of his children.
CLAYTON, DAVID J., a native of Logan County, Kentucky, born January 30, 1812, where he lived until fourteen years of age, when he moved to Simpson County with his parents, where he resided about thirteen years on a farm. He then went to Jackson County, Missouri, and farmed for thirteen years longer. In March, 1848, he married Miss Rebecca Jane Shaw. On May 15, 1850, he emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox teams, and arrived in Sacramento in September following. He prospected about the country until February, 1851, when he returned East, via Panama, being on the trip three and a half months. On May 6, 1852, he again returned to California, bringing with him his wife and two children. He arrived in Suisun Valley, Solano County, October 23, 1852, and settled on a farm known as the Baker Ranch, where he lived one year. He then settled on his present ranch, consisting of five hundred and twenty-five acres, situate about seven and a half miles northwest of Suisun City, at the upper end of Suisun Valley. Mary B., deceased, James D., Henry B., Martha S. and William L. are the names of their children.
COGHLAN, O. R., was born in Belleville, St. Clair County, Illinois, January 22, 1847. Here he attended the public schools for four years. In 1859 he went to Richmond, Kentucky, where he worked in a printing office till 1861, when he went to St. Louis, Missouri. Here he became reduced to the most abject poverty, and in order to gain an honorable livelihood he worked in a market garden until September 29, 1862, when he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, which was afterward attached to Blair's Brigade, in Steel's Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. On December 29, 1862, he was severely wounded in the right breast, while engaged in battle at Chickasaw Bayou, or Haines' Bluff, and on this account was honorably discharged July 29, 1863. Returning to St. Louis, Missouri, followed the common avocations of life till September
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1864, when he took a course of studies in the preparatory department of McKendring College, at Lebanon, Illinois, remaining until January, 1865; thence to Memphis, Tennessee, where he clerked in a wholesale saddlery house, and by industry and honesty was promoted to assistant bookkeeper, and on January 1, 1866, took charge of this department. Emigrated to California September, 1872, settling in this county in November of that year. Commenced the study of law with Judge W. S. Wells, and was admitted to the bar January, 1874. Was elected District Attorney in September, 1877, and is the present incumbent. Married, on February 23, 1876, Madge Redman, daughter of C. C. Redman, Esq. of Santa Rosa. Mary. R. is their only child.
CROCKER, ASA. This well known old settler came to Suisun City in the Spring of 1854, with Captain Josiah Wing, working for that gentleman, and afterward opened the first restaurant in that village. He emigrated to this State in the bark "Terror," via Cape Horn, arriving in San Fran- cisco June, 1853. For a short time he was on a coasting vessel, and for five months was employed on the ferry-boat "Ion," plying between Be- necia and Martinez; then up the Suisun Bay, on the schooner " Ann So- phia," to Suisun, settling as above stated. He is a native of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and born March 24, 1836, coming to California from this place. Married Miss Anna B., daughter of William Pearson, September 8th, 1861. Horace L. and William Sherman are his living children. Frank M., deceased.
DAVISSON, OBEDIAH, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, July 27,1810; here he was educated, and learned in the ways of farming ; married Hulda Wyatt, September, 1832. In 1845 they moved to Holt county, Missouri ; thence, crossing the plains to California in 1854, settled in this township, and on his present farm in September of that year. Has served in the capacity of School Director, and ever takes a lively interest in the educa- tion of the young.
Thomas Davisson, his son, was also born in Coshocton county, Ohio, coming with his parents to this place, and has always lived with them. He mar- ried Letta Owens, September 9, 1875.
DAVISSON, W. G., was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, August 22, 1833. Emigrated to Holt county, Missouri, in 1845, from which he came to this State, crossing the plains with an ox-team, settling in this township the first of September, 1852. After working in different places he bought his present farm and moved to, and has occupied it since 1854. Has held the office of School-director, and through his influence, as well as others, their school library contains an excellent selection of books, which denotes
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a high standard of intelligence, not only for Mr. Davisson, but for the community in which he lives. Married Miss Clara E., daughter of Josiah King, of New York State, on June 19, 1866. Their children are : Clara Gustavia, Ada Francis, William Sherman, Lula Adell and John G.
DOWNING, M. D., W. G., the subject of our memoir, was born in Scot- land county, Missouri, October 7, 1853. His parents went to St. Louis in 1862, where young Downing, after the usual course of instruction in the grammar school, graduated at the St. Louis University in 1869. He com- menced the study of medicine in the Missouri Medical College, in 1870, and took his degree of M. D. in March, 1873. In order to better fit him- self for a practitioner, he repaired to the St. Louis City Hospital, remain- ing three years. January, 1877, he emigrated to Suisun, Solano county, Cal., where he has practiced his profession with marked success.
DUNN, ALEXANDER, County Clerk, Solano county, California, was born in Platt county, Missouri, May 7, 1841, and emigrated to California, cross- ing the plains with his parents, and arriving at Placerville October 10, 1850; from thence proceeding to the Suisun valley December 24 of the same year where they located four miles north of Fairfield, the present county seat. Mr. Dunn attended the first school ever taught in that part of Solano, then kept by John Doughty, and in July, 1852, he moved with his father to Vaca valley, who died there on July 5, 1873. In 1867 he moved to Mendocino county, and in 1869 took charge of the " Mendocino Democrat," continuing its editor for three years, when he returned to Vacaville. Mr. Dunn graduated in the Pacific Methodist College at Vaca- ville May 14, 1864. In 1873 Mr. Dunn was a candidate for the office of County Surveyor, but was defeated by A. H. Gunning, who appointed him his deputy; Mr. Gunning, however, resigning before the expiration of his term, Mr. D. was appointed to fill the vacancy on July 12, 1875, in which he was confirmed at the general election, held on September 1, 1875. On September 5, 1877, he was elected to the office of County Clerk, and continues to exercise the functions of that position. He mar- ried September 25, 1865, Jennie, daughter of J. E. Elder, of Sacramento county, by whom he has Eagan Lee and Virginia Ann.
EDWARDS, JAMES G., born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, April 24, 1822, and resided there till 1826, when he moved to Franklin county, Alabama, from whence he proceeded to Hampstead county, Arkansas, in 1837; after which, in 1849, he emigrated to California, coming across the plains, and arriving October 1st, of that year, at Lawrence bar, Feather river. Engaged in mining for two years, and then came to Sui- sun valley, in October, 1851, and settled on what is now the farm of John
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McMullen. Removed into Suisun city in 1854, and in 1860 came to his present farm of 160 acres, where he has since resided. Married, June 13, 1856, Therza Jane Stone, a native of Missouri, who died August 2, 1867. He has, Alice, born June 18, 1857; Laura, born April 24, 1859; Mary, born December 13, 1862 ; Charles Henry, born May 6, 1865, and Alabama Josephine, born July 23, 1867.
FITCH, WILLIAM WAYNE, was born near Auburn, New York, Octo- ber, 22, 1816, and removed to Genesee ceunty, near where now stands the town of Nunda, Livingston county, in 1818. Received a course of academical instruction at Wyoming, Genesee county, studied and practiced surveying and engineering under Colonel Elisha Johnson at Rochester, New York. Served under the orders of the Provincial Parliament in exploring railroad routes in Canada west; engaged in preliminary surveys for a railroad company in Ohio; removed to De- troit, Michigan, in 1837, was engaged on public works, government land surveying and private undertakings of a like nature. Came overland to California in 1849 and engaged in mining. In 1854, began surveying land grants under Colonel J.C. Hays, U. S. Surveyor-General for California, and was elected County Surveyor for Solano county, in 1865, which posi- tion he held till 1873, and was re-elected in 1877, and now holds the office. Mr. Fitch joined the Advent Christian Church, July 4, 1877.
GILLESPIE, EDGAR FERGUSON, (deceased,) among the most worthy of the pioneers of Solano county was the subject of this sketch, who was born at West Farms, Westchester county, New York, December 7, 1822, and died at Suisun on June 22, 1875. Mr. Gillespie when but eight years of age removed to North Bend, Hamilton county, Ohio, with his parents and, on their death, he changed his residence to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was employed as a clerk in a wholesale drug store until 1848, when, in connection with his oldest brother he commenced business in Dubuque, Iowa. The gold fever breaking out in 1849, he sold his interest in his store to his brothers and came across the plains with an ox team, arriving in this State in November of that year. He first engaged in mining at Hangtown, now Placerville, until the Summer of 1850, when he entered into a mercantile business at that place with Henry K. Curtis. During the Fall of that year Mr. Curtis had occasion to visit Suisun valley and was so much pleased with the country that he immediately located two claims-one for himself and one for his partner. In 1851, the store was disposed of and they took up their residence in the valley and engaged in haying and farming until 1853, when they sold their possessory rights to David and P. O. Clayton. In 1854, Mr. Gillespie started in business in Vacaville, where he resided for ten years, being Postmaster of that dis-
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triet for a great portion of that time. On September 1, 1858, he was elected Supervisor for the third district and was a member of the board when the county seat was removed from Benicia to Fairfield. On Sep- tember 2, 1863, he was chosen to fill the responsible position of Sheriff and, on taking possession of his office, removed with his family to Suisun, where he resided up to the day of his death. On the completion of the California Pacific railroad, he was appointed station agent at Fairfield, and he was also elected Justice of the Peace for Suisun township, October 20, 1869. In 1872, he was appointed deputy recorder by George C. Mckinley and, in 1873, he was selected, by the people at the general elec- tion held on September 3, to succeed that gentleman in the office. Mr. Gillespie married in May, 1855, Sarah J., daughter of Captain J. H. White, of San Francisco, who died October 4, 1874, by whom there were ten daughters and two sons, viz .: Delia, Mary Ida, Luella, Clara, Jennie, Sarah, Emma, Augusta S., Effie, surviving; and John, Edgar and Cornelia, dying in infancy.
GILLESPIE, GEORGE A., was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on December 7, 1830. His parents and the other children of the family were born at West Farms, Westchester, New York ; when he was yet an infant, the family removed to Ohio and located on a farm near North Bend, and about eighteen miles from the city of Cincinnati. Here ten years of his life were spent and here his parents died ; the father dying when he was of the age of six years, and his mother following the father to the grave four years later. In February, 1842, the family of children returned to St. Louis and for one year George attended the private schools in the city, and, in 1843, the family separating, he was sent to Kemper College, an Episcopal institution of learning, located near St. Louis. In 1844, he left the college and went to live with his eldest brother, who was located in Boonville, Missouri, and while here for two years he attended Kemper's Academy, closing his school days at this institution. After clerking in a hardware store at Boonville for a time, in 1847 he returned to St. Louis and took a situation with Joseph S. Pease, one of the pioneer wholesale hardware dealers of that city. He remained with Pease until the great fire of May, 1849, at which his employer was burned out and rendered almost bankrupt. In a few months he went into the employment of Hon. Henry*T. Blow, the then owner of the Collier White Lead Works, as paying teller in the purchasing office of that establishment, and remain- ing with Blow until March, 1850, when he embarked "the plains across " to California, journeying from the Missouri river to Sacramento, in the then unprecedented time of eighty-three days, and arriving in Sacramento on the 10th day of July, 1850. After remaining in Sacramento a week or two to rest from the arduous trip, he, in company with two of his St.
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