USA > California > Solano County > History of Solano County...and histories of its cities, towns...etc. > Part 54
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CLOUTMAN, JOSEPH F., born in New Hampshire, May 3, 1825, and when seven years old moved with his parents to Kittery, Maine, where he re- ceived his education. In 1841 or '42 he proceeded to Boston, Mass., and there was employed in a grocery store for one year, when he commenced to learn the trade of a house and sign painter. In 1849 he came to Cali-
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fornia, by way of Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco September 14, of that year. On arrival he settled at Sacramento, and followed his trade until the following year, when he removed to the mines, there remaining for six months ; he returned to Sacramento, and once more established himself as a painter, which he continued till 1858. In this year Mr. Cloutman settled in Yolo county, Cal., farming and keeping a dairy there for three years, at which time he moved into Solano county, and located on the farm on which he now resides. On September 3, 1862, he was elected a Justice of the Peace for Tremont township, which office he held for eight years. On September 6, 1871, was elected Supervisor of Dis- trict No. 3, and held that office for three years, being for two years Chair- man of the Board. Was finally elected Constable of Tremont township on September 5, 1877, an office which he continues to hold. While a resident of Sacramento Mr. C. was twice burned out and twice flooded out. He married in 1846 Miss Mary J. Whitehouse, a native of New Hampshire, where she was born October 7, 1827, by whom he has Addie C .; Miriam, (dead) ; George F .; , Charles H .; Willie F.
FOSTER, GEO. W., was born in Lafayette, Missouri, November 11, 1829, where he received his education and farmed, until the spring of 1853, when he started across the plains for California, arriving at Lake Wash- ington, October 19, of the same year, and then ran a ferry boat for two years. At this time he made a return voyage, via Panama, to his home, returning at the end of two months to the Golden State, accompanied by his mother and four sisters, and settled on the place where he now re- sides, at Tremont Station. Mr. Foster owns and farms three hundred and twenty acres of land ; he is also proprietor of the warehouses, and con- ducts the shipping of all grain from that point to San Francisco and other ports. He married October 17, 1860, Miss Gincey L. Wall, who was born July 1, 1843, in his native county, and has Mary J., (deceased); William W .; Arthur T .; Everett E .; Elnore P .; Ethel.
GUTHRIE, B. J., born in Richmond, Virginia, November 28, 1828, and when three years old removed with his parents to Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where he received his primary education ; when thirteen, he again accom- panied his parents to Illinois, and there finished his schooling. When here, his parents died. Mr. Guthrie then went to St. Louis, and com- menced life as a cabin-boy, on board a river steamer ; after which he be- came a steward, and finally a pilot, on the Mississippi river. In April, 1852, he proceeded across the plains, to California, and, arriving at Dia- mond Springs in July, he opened a hotel, which he managed until June, of the following year, when he went to Prairie City and mined until Jan- uary 1, 1864, when he settled on a farm about three miles south-west of
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Davisville, where he now resides. He owns nine hundred and fifty-five acres in Solano county, and thirty-two in Yolo county. Mr. G. married, December 11, 1856, Miss Bettie A. Judd, who was born in Trumble county, Ohio, February 26, 1835.
HYDE, SEPTA FILMORE, was born in Vermont, June 7, 1819. When fourteen years of age he removed to Clinton county, N. Y., where he finished his education ; here he settled, and, in company with his brother, S. E. Hyde, carried on a large machine, blacksmith, and carriage shop. In 1849 he transferred his business to De Kalb county, Illinois, where he also engaged in farming, until his starting for California, in April, 1852, accompanied by his wife, nee Miss Caroline Moore, whom he had married on February 9, 1843. Embarking at St. Louis for St. Jo., while on board the steamer, Mrs. Hyde died from the effects of an attack of cholera, and after her burial, her afflicted husband prosecuted his lonely journey across the plains, with his two young children-Phoebe R., and Asa F., the eldest of them not yet being four years. On arriving in California he proceeded to Placerville and worked in the mines till January, 1853; he then went to Diamond Springs, where he labored at lumbering up to November, 1856. In 1855, moved to Amador county, and was engaged in lumbering, when he settled on the place where he now lives, ten miles north-east of Dixon, situated in Tremont township, on the county line. Mr. Hyde was elected a Justice of the Peace for Tremont township on October 18, 1871; an office which he still continues to fill ; has been a Notary Public for the district, and was mainly instrumental in the establishment of the first school district in Tremont. He married, secondly, July 7, 1855, Miss C. J. Saunders, who was born in Lewiston, Niagara county, N. Y., May 25, 1829, by whom he has Lena, Fred W., Leland S., Carrie M., Alvert. The children by his first wife are the above-named Phoebe R. and Asa F. Hyde.
HYLAND, WILLIAM, was born in Ireland, in the year 1828, and emi- grated to Maryland, where he resided until 1856, when he came to Cali- fornia, via Panama, arriving at San Francisco February 14th, of that year. He engaged in mining at Webber Creek until August, when they removed to Tremont township, and located there till May, 1857, when he returned to the mines, sojourneying there up to the month of February, of the following year, and then re-located in the Suisun valley, on one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, situated about four and a half miles north east of Dixon City. Mr. Hyland married, September 26, 1852, Miss Ann McCann, a native of Ireland, who died April 21, 1877, from the effects of an accident caused by a horse, when aiding hor husband in some farm work. Their family consists of Mary A., Anna Eliza, Maria J., Emma, (deceased) William H., Alice G., Arthur, Allen A., Florence E., Nettie F.
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SNEAD, S. M., is a native of Campbell county, Virginia, where he was born September 10, 1823. When seventeen years of age he joined the Mexican expedition under General Scott, where he served for three years, returning to Virginia at its close, and commenced to learn a trade. In 1840 emigrated to California, and engaged in mining until 1852, when he . began draying in Sacramento in the following year. He next went to the Eastern States, returning in 1854, bringing with him a drove of horses, and settled on a ranch on Cache creek slough, where he engaged in stock raising until 1861. This year he moved to the farm on which his family have resided since his death, on January 25, 1879. Mr. Snead, May 1, 1858, married Miss Mary McGuire, who was born in New Orleans, July 12, 1840. Their children are: John R., Samuel R., Stephen L., Katie A., Minnie L., Winneford F., and Lucinda M.
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SILVEYVILLE.
BROWN, C. P., received his early education in Howard county, Missouri, where he was born, June 11, 1820. He studied in 1838-40, and prac- ticed it in that State until 1845, when he moved to Iowa, and located in Fremont county, where he again prosecuted his legal business until 1853, when he emigrated to San Joaquin county, California, and made farming his principal occupation. In 1874 he commenced a law practice in Dixon, which he continued for about a year, and in 1875 was elected a Justice of the Peace for Silveyville township, an office which he still holds. Mr. Brown married, in 1843, Miss Francess Frigitt, who was born in Clay county, Missouri, December 27, 1825, by whom he has Lizzie T., James J., (deceased), Hiram P.,(deceased), Bennett C., Ann B., Prentiss, and Francis C.
COLEMAN, NAPOLEON B. S., born in Woodford county, Kentucky, Janu- ary 25, 1831. In September, 1848, he graduated at the Commercial Col- lege at Louisville, Kentucky, and in the Spring of the following year went to Jackson county, Missouri, and entered into partnership with John F. McCauley in the commission business. In May, 1853, this firm, in company with two more gentlemen, purchased about 2,000 head of cattle, and crossed the plains to California, arriving at Sacramento September 13th of that year. In the following year the quarternal partnership was dissolved, when the subject of this sketch proceeded to Volcano, Jackson county, California, and opened a mercantile and mining business, being joined in these operations with his brother, J. W. Coleman, now a promi .. nent stock-broker of San Francisco. In 1859 Mr. N. B. S. Coleman arrived in Silveyville township, in Solano county, and settled on a farm five miles southeast of the present site of Dixon City, but at the time there was only one house in the corporation limits, which was owned by Thomas Dickson. Mr. C. prosecuted farming till 1872, when he moved into Dixon, where he has since resided, being engaged in real estate oper- ations, farming and stock-raising. In 1869 he was elected County As- sessor, and served for a term of two years. He owns about 1,000 acres of land. On March 13, 1855, Mr. C. married Miss Martha J. Kelley, who was born July 5, 1836, by whom he has eight children, viz., Eugene F., Alvin L., John W., Fannie S., Napoleon B. S., Mattie L., Lulu M. and Cimrie E.
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COTTEN, JAMES W., born in Polk county, Illinois, December 28, 1832. In that State he received his early education, which he finished in Mills county, Iowa. In 1851 he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he re- mained one year, and then proceeded to St. Louis, and there learned the trade of a sawyer. October 22, 1855, Mr. Cotten left for California, by way of Panama, landing in San Francisco December 11th of that year. On his arrival he proceeded to Amador county, where he passed that Winter, and in the following Spring started for the mines in Placer county, where he stayed until 1857, and then repaired to the Suisun valley, there farm- ing for one year, on a location near Dixon; on the expiration of which he transferred his labors to San Jose, where he engaged in the lumber trade. In the Fall of the year 1859 Mr. C. returned to Illinois, and there embarked in the like business, which he gave up at the end of two years and went back to his former home in Iowa. In 1864 he started for Idaho Territory, in company with George Russell, and went into the hotel busi- ness on the Weiser River, In the following year he again began farming, which he continued till 1868, when he returned to Dixon and re-engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he gave up in 1872, and opened agencies for real estate and insurance. Was appointed a Notary Public, October 31, 1874, and on March 6, 1878, was commissioned a Justice of the Peace for Silveyville township-positions which he still continues to hold. Mr. Cotten married, November 29, 1873, Miss Priscilla J. Evans, who was born in Amador county, California, April 24, 1857, and has an only child, Lucy May, born January 2, 1875.
CURREY, ROBERT J., is a native of Benicia, Solano county, California, having been born there December 30, 1851, where he remained until the Spring of 1860, when he went to New York and stayed one year. In 1864 he was sent to Santa Clara College for two years, and from there to a seminary in Oakland, Alameda county, where he studied for three years. In the Fall of 1870 he entered Yale College, New Haven, Con- necticut, and graduated in 1873; after which he returned to the Pacific Coast, and in the following Spring was appointed Aid on the United States Coast Survey, which position he resigned in 1875, and located on a farm four miles north of Dixon, where he now resides. He is the owner of 640 acres.
DASHIELL, W. A., was born in Somerset county, Maryland, on May 6, 1825. In the years 1835-40 he attended college in New Jersey. In the following year he entered the Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in June, 1845. He next traveled through the West- ern States until the spring of 1849, when he came to California and engaged in stock raising in Sacramento until 1853, when he left the
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Pacific coast for Missouri, and there purchased sheep and cattle, with which he returned to this State, arriving in Los Angeles in December, 1853; and from thence proceeded to Sacramento, there following his avocation until 1856, and then moved into Solano county. From 1859 to 1862 he was traveling, after which he once more settled in this county; was agent for the California Pacific Railroad Company for three years when it first came through Dixon, since then he has been dealing in stock ; is an insurance and real estate agent; held the office of Assessor for the Third District, to which he was elected September 4, 1867. Mr. Dashiell married, December 25, 1854, Miss Hester Mckinley, who was born in Illinois, April 19, 1834, by whom he has: Matilda, Katie, Char- lotte, (dead) Edward E., Agnes, George B., Fred., Annie, Benjamin, Hester, Robert, and Jessie.
DICKSON, THOMAS, was born in Pennsylvania on June 4, 1800. In 1804 he moved with his parents to Allegany county, New York, and remained there for about fifteen years, when they moved to Indiana. In 1832 served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war; in 1835 emigrated to Iowa, and in 1853 came to Diamond Springs, California, prosecuting mining for one year. In the following year he forsook the gold region and removed to Solano county and rented a piece of land one mile in a north-easterly direction from where the city of Dixon now stands. Mr. Dickson built the first house within the corporation limits of that city in the year 1855, which he has since enlarged. He has engaged in farming ever since he settled in the county. Mr. D. married, in 1833, Miss J. P. Hood, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, who was born December 13, 1813, by whom he has: Elizabeth F., born February 1, 1834; William B., born April 16, 1836; Martin A., born January 2, 1840; Henry A., born March 31, 1843; Nathan, born August 12, 1846; James, born Feb- ruary 13, 1849, (since dead); Eva B., born July 14, 1853, and James, born December 4, 1855, (since deceased).
DINSMORE, REV. J. M., was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1851. In 1861 he removed to Lawrence county, where he received part of his education, which he completed in Ohio. In 1875 he attended the Western Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, and in the following year proceeded to San Francisco, where he entered the Theo- logical Seminary of that city and graduated April 26, 1878, after which he left for Dixon, Solano county, and took charge of the Presbyterian church there, he being now the resident pastor.
DUDLEY, J. M., was born in Oswego county, New York, September 7, 1830. In 1836 he moved with his parents to Indiana, where he received his education, and after taught school during the winters of 1849-50-51.
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In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and, on arrival at a place where Dayton in Nevada State now stand, Mr. D. was stricken down with fever and confined to his bed for several months. As soon as able, after his recovery, he went to the mines. On account of sickness he was delayed in Carson valley during the winter of 1852-53. After his recov- ery he mined in Gold Cañon. As soon as the snow had sufficiently melted he continued his journey and settled on the Sacramento river, where he farmed for three years. In 1856 he removed from thence to Dixon, this county, near where he now resides. On first arriving in this section he taught school at Silveyville for four terms, since when he has given his undivided attention to farming. Mr. Dudley served two terms as Legislator in 1862-63, and in 1873 was defeated for the Senate by H. E. McCune. He was a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention which was convened at Sacramento in September, 1878. Mr. D. is a Republican in politics. He married November 24, 1857, Miss Elizabeth F. Dickson, born in Madison county, Illinois, February 1, 1834, by whom he has : Lucy J., Earl D., Frederick M., George D., and Elizabeth.
ELLIS, JAMES ADDISON, (deceased), was born May 1, 1842, in Lewis county, Missouri. At the commencement of the late war he enlisted as a private in Col. Glover's regiment of Union troops, and was engaged in north-west Missouri in the darkest days of that section. Mr. Ellis was wounded in a skirmish in Marion county and for many months lingered between life and death, but finally recovered. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and also a Granger, in which he occupied a prominent position. In 1864 he married Miss Henrietta Johnson, and came to California in the following year, since which time, up till his death, he was a citizen of Solano county, residing near Dixon where he engaged in farming. He left a farmily of two girls, Carrie E. and Emma M., who now reside with their mother on the farm in Silvey- ville township.
FRAHM, GEORGE, is a native of Schleswig Holstein, Germany, having been born there on June 27, 1851. In 1867 he emigrated to California, arriving in San Francisco in August of that year, and proceeded without delay to the San Joaquin valley, where, in company with his brother, he, being one of the first agricultural settlers, commenced farming operations, which he continued until 1871. Left that section of the country and proceeded to Sacramento, where he started, as an errand boy, in a whole- sale candy factory, and by good conduct and application, worked his way to the positions of salesman, book-keeper, and manager, respectively. In 1875 he removed to Dixon, Solano county, and jointly, with his brother, purchased the City Hotel; he bought out his brother on July 1, 1877,
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since when he has conducted the establishment alone. In 1876 Mr. Frahm was instrumental in the building of the German Lutheran Church, in Dixon, and became President of its Building Committee. In . 1878 he was elected foreman of the Fire Company ; and is one of the City Trust- ees, as also City Treasurer. Mr. Frahm married August 17, 1877, Miss Amelia Hall, a native of Solano county, who was born March 6, 1859.
HALL, RICHARD, was born in Ireland, March 11, 1819. When four years old he accompanied his mother to Canada, his father being dead. He there learned the trade of a shoemaker, which he followed till seventeen years of age, when he removed to St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and again prosecuted his calling till 1849, when he transferred the scenes of his labors to Illinois ; farming there till the spring of 1853, in which year he started across the plains for California with an ox team, arriving in Sac- ramento September 10, of that year, and worked at his trade until Octo- ber 5, 1854. At this time he took passage for the Eastern States, on board the steamer "Yankee Blade," from Sacramento. When seventy miles from Santa Barbara, she struck a rock and became a total wreck, fortunately, with no loss of life, but much discomfort. This catastrophe was the cause of Mr. Hall once more turning his face towards the port which he had just left, and there re-purchased his former place of busi- ness. In the fall of 1854 he settled on the Wolfskill and Barker grant, where he farmed till 1857, when he located on the tract of land on which he now resides, two miles north of Dixon. On first arrival here Mr. Hall carried on a hotel, in connection with his farm ; the former, however, he gave up, in 1869. As far back as 1861-2, he was the proprietor of the Union Hotel, in Sacramento. He married, first, on December 1, 1839, Miss Frances N. Hayne, who died November 6, 1868, leaving him ten children. Secondly, he espoused Mrs. Amelia Audnup, September 29, 1871, who was born in Preble county, Ohio, August 21, 1822.
MACK, DARIUS, born in Vermillion county, Indiana, February 24, 1829, In 1854, he left his native State and emigrated to California, arriving at Sacramento in February, 1854. He first kept a ferry for his brother, A. H. Mack, at Sutterville for one year, after which he opened a hotel at the same place, and then went to Folsom where, in company with his brother, H. B. Mack, he managed a small store and mined during three years. In 1857, he settled near Dixon, where he has lived ever since. He married, May 21, 1860, Miss Cynthia J. Cotten, who was born February 10, 1847. by whom he has: James H., born May 4, 1861; Darius W., born Decem- ber 26, 1862, deceased 1863; Hozra B., born February 6, 1866 ; Sophonia J., born November 5, 1867, deceased 1878 ; Lottie L., born December 11, 1872.
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MAYES, JOHN S., was born in Knox county, Indiana, March 29, 1829, and went to Missouri with his parents when five years old. In April, 1850, he started for California, arriving at Placerville August 7, of that year, and worked in the mines until 1853, when he commenced teaming, an occupation he followed up to 1856, where he settled on his farm, situ- ated in the suburbs of Dixon, where he now resides. He married, April 23, 1868, Miss Francis A. Hood, who was born in Iowa, June 20, 1850.
MERRYFIELD, JUSTICE C., is a native of Wyoming county, New York, having been born there on February 7, 1818. In 1836, he went to Ogle county, Illinois, where he resided until 1850, and in that year came to California across the plains with horse team ; arrived in Placerville in July and worked in the mines about one year when he moved to a farm in Sacramento county, residing there until January 1, 1857, when he located on another farm two miles north of Silveyville, Solano county, where he lived until 1864, when he settled in Silveyville, and has since resided there. September 4, 1861, was elected a Justice of the Peace for Vacaville township and held the office for that and after for Silveyville township until he resigned, December 29, 1874. In 1876, was elected President of the Bank of Dixon, a position he now holds; is a Director and one of the Auditing Committee of the Granger's Bank of San Fran- cisco, to which he was elected in 1874. In 1873, was elected one of the Executive Committee of the State Grange and was re-elected three times, he is now serving his fourth term as Master of Dixon Grand Lodge. Is Chairman of the Executive Committee of the California College at Vaca- ville. Mr. Merryfield has been thrice married. He married, third, Mrs. Lizzie Crathers, August 10, 1876, who was born in Oakland county, Michigan, January 9, 1843.
McKINLEY, GEO. C., born in Madison county, Illinois, July 2, 1832. In 1840, he moved with his parents to Missouri and then commenced his studies, which he finished in Gonzales county, Texas, whither he went in 1845. In 1852 he emigrated to Los Angeles county, California, along with his father and mother, but, as there was much trouble in that district in respect to land titles, at the end of seven months they left for Sac- ramento ; when here he was employed in the nursery and vegetable garden of Paul Hamilton, where he continued for three years. In 1855, Mr. Mckinley made another trip to the southern counties of the State in quest of land, but finding the former stumbling blocks still prevailing he remained but a short time and then returned to Sacramento, from whence he made for Lynchburg, near Oroville, and for two months pursued min- ing and finally returned to Sacramento. On October 6, 1856, he and his parents settled on the knoll south of Dixon, where the cemetery is now
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located, and there pitched their tents, which was soon followed by the construction of a dwelling house. Mr. McKinley's father was an un- fortunate passenger on board the steamer "Washoe " when she blew up near Rio Vista, on September 4, 1864, when he received injuries which resulted in his death at Sacramento, September 21, 1864. His mother still resides with him. In September, 1871, Mr. McK. was elected County Recorder, an office which he held for two years. He married, December 17, 1860, Miss Emeline Benton, who was born in Jo. Daviess county, Illi- nois, September 28, 1842, by whom he has: William B., Addison B., Charlotte, deceased, George, Robert L., Sidney S., Paulina, Lucino D.
McPHERSON, ALEXANDER, is a native of Nova Scotia, where he was born in July, 1836. In 1855 he emigrated to California, landing in San Francisco early in October of that year and proceeded to Sierra county and commenced mining, a pursuit which he labored at until 1861, when he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres from Charles Pearson, in Maine Prairie township, Solano county, which he managed until 1873 and then sold out. He, thereupon, acquired the adjoining farm on which he resided until 1878, when his house was destroyed by fire, compelling him to take up his residence in Dixon, where he now resides. He married Miss Sarah Newell, in September, 1861.
NYE, ALFRED B., was born at Stockton, San Joaquin county, Cal., Octo- ber 25, 1854, but resided principally in Tuolumne county, until six years of age, when he was taken by his parents to Plymouth county, Mass., where he remained till 1871. In this year he returned to California, and commenced acquiring the printer's trade in the office of the "Vallejo Chronicle;" subsequently became the local editor for that publication, and in April, 1877, purchased the "Dixon Tribune " newspaper, of which he is the present editor and publisher.
REDDICK, HARDIN, was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, June 13, 1810. Here he was educated. In 1835 moved to Monitau county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming until 1849, when he came the " overland route " to California, arriving in Sacramento on August 18th of that year. He removed to Yuba county, this State, soon after, where he prosecuted mining for ten days; when he was prostrated with sickness for eleven months, enduring all the sufferings incident to a camping life. On his recovery, he returned to Missouri, via Panama, engaging in farm- ing for two years, and returned to Sacramento, Cal., in September, 1853, and soon after settled on the farm where he now resides. His early resi- dence here was replete with hardships, he having to live under a tent for the first month. Married Susan Dearing, October 29, 1835 ; she was born in Stokes county, N. C., February 3, 1818. Their children are John W., Sarah A., and Catherine.
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ROHWER, HANS, was born in Holstein, Germany, February 25, 1832. In the spring of 1852 he emigrated to Iowa, and remained there till 1854. In this year he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Placerville October 25th, and engaged in mining until September, 1856, when he set- tled on the farm where he now resides, about one mile south-east of Dixon.
SILVEY, ELIJAH S., received his early education in St. Charles county, Missouri, where he was born, March 26, 1819. In 1849 he came to Cali- fornia, accompanied by his wife, whom he married on March 2, 1843, and his two children, arriving at Benicia in October, of the same year, where they resided until 1851. In this year they returned to Missouri, and in the next (1852) once more crossed the plains to California, bringing one hundred milch cows with them, and settled on the plains, where Silvey- ville now stands. The Silveys were the first settlers in this section of the county, and gave their name to one of the townships of Solano county. Mr. S. kept a hotel and saloon at the time of arrival, but a few years thereafter people commenced to locate, and a considerable town sprung up, which was, however, removed to Dixon on the completion of the rail- road in that quarter, Mr. Silvey died November 11, 1869. His widow is the oldest settler at Silveyville. Their children are : Elmira J .; born December 19, 1846; Lucy, born April 30, 1848 ; George R., born Novem- ber 4, 1850 ; Edward A., born June 28, 1853 ;'Edmund, born October 10, 1856 ; James, born May 24, 1858; Florabelle, born November 4, 1861; Lee E., born July 11, 1867.
SIMMONS, Jr., REV. J. C., is a native of the State of Georgia, having been born in Butts county, May 26, 1827, and graduated at Emory College, Oxford, Georgia, in 1848, after which he ministered in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in that State. In 1852 he was sent to Califor- nia as a missionary, reaching San Francisco February 26th of that year. He was sent to Grass Valley, Nevada county, Cal., filling that appoint- ment for two years. In 1854 he moved to Stockton, where he remained for two years, at the end of which time he was sent to Mariposa, and thence to San Jose, remaining two years at each place, when he was ap- pointed Presiding Elder of the San Francisco district, a position which he held for one year ; he then moved to Sacramento, and there ministered for two years, In the fall of 1862 he moved to Santa Clara, remaining there one year, thence proceeded to Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he ministered for two years and a half, and during the third year was elected Professor of English Literature in the Pacific Methodist College at Vaca- ville, a position he retained until the removal of the institution to Santa Rosa, in Sonoma county, in 1870. The following year he was employed as Sunday School Agent for the Conference, and in the fall of 1871 was
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appointed, for the second time, Presiding Elder for the San Francisco dis- trict, holding the office for one year. In 1872 he was stationed at San Jose, after which he left for Santa Rosa, where he was Presiding Elder for that district for four years.
In the fall of 1877 he was appointed agent for Pacific Methodist College, but during the year was moved and stationed in San Francisco. In 1878 he was a delegate to the General Conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia, in May of that year, and in October he moved to Dixon, and has since had pastoral care of the Methodist Episcopal Church South there. In the fall of 1877 Mr. Simmons was ap- pointed to deliver the quarter-century sermon at the session of his Con- ference held in Santa Rosa. In 1852 he assisted in the organization of the Pacific Annual Conference, and is the only effective member now left. Mr. S. married, June 28, 1853, Miss Margaret R. Campbell, of Madison- ville, Hopkins county, Ky., by whom he has five children : John C., Jr ; Mary Blythe, William A., James H., and Mardis C.
SMYTHE, PETER, was born in Ottawa county, province of Ontario, Cana- da, May 10, 1836, and there received his early education. In the fall of 1853 he emigrated to Oregon, and engaged in mining operations, at Sail- or's Diggings, for one year, when he moved into Klamath county, where he embarked in farming, which he prosecuted for nine years. In June, 1863, Mr. Smythe came to Silveyville township, Solano county, and set- tled on a farm about three miles from Dixon, where he remained till 1868, and then moved into that city, being employed in different mercantile firms until 1874, when he started in the lumber business for himself, in a yard situated on the west side of the railroad and north of the depot. In 1861-'2 he held the office of Justice of the Peace in Klamath county, Cal., and has served one term in a like capacity in Silveyville township, hav- ing been elected thereto in 1874. In April, 1878, on the incorporation of the City of Dixon, Mr. S. was elected City Trustee, and in the organiza- tion of the Board was elected Secretary, which office he still continues to hold. He married May 3, 1868, Miss Anna Brown, a native of Edenderry, King's county, Ireland, by whom he has one child, Christiana M. J. T.
TIMM, PETER, born in Holstein, Germany, November 18, 1836, where he learned the trade of a cabinet maker. He then emigrated to Iowa, and worked on a farm for four years. In 1859 he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia with an ox-team, arriving at Placerville September 20th of that year. For his first two years he engaged in mining, and then embarked in farm- ing, after which he worked at his trade in San Mateo county, until 1864, when he settled on a ranch, about five miles east of Dixon, on which he resided for four years ; he then sold out, and purchased that on which he now lives, situated half a mile north-east of Dixon. In 1872-'3 Mr. Timm
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THE HISTORY OF SOLANO COUNTY.
was Deputy Assessor of the northern end of the county, and in 1874-'5 he was Tax Collector for the whole of Solano. When the City of Dixon was first started, Mr. Timm moved a large proportion of the houses from Silveyville and Maine Prairie. He is a Steward of the Society of Dixon Grangers, No. 19. He married, in May, 1867, Miss Cecilia Benk, who was born in Holstein, December 25, 1846, by whom he has Laura A .; Henry ; William ; Louisa.
UDEL, DOCTOR O. C., (deceased), was born in Ohio, June 8, 1820, where he received his education, and graduated in medicine. When twenty- four years of age he went to Iowa, and commenced the practice of his profession, which he continued for five years. In 1850 he came to Cali- fornia, crossing the plains with horses, which were stolen from him when near Salt Lake; he, therefore, was forced to undertake the balance of the journey on foot, accompanied by his four companions, which was accom- plished by their arrival in Yuba county, where he remained till the fol- lowing year, and then returned to Iowa. In 1852 he once more crossed the plains ; on this occasion, bringing with him his wife and two children, as well as a drove of cattle. He now settled near Winters, but on the Solano county side of the Putah creek, and confined himself to the rais- ing of stock and farming, which he followed as long as he lived. In 1860 he located on the farm now occupied by his widow, situated four miles west of Dixon. He died there on December 11, 1872. Doctor Udell married, November 6, 1848, Miss Caroline Winton, who was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1827. Their children are : Alva, David, Edwin, Olivia, May, Carrie (deceased), George, Blanche, Ralph, Grace.
WEIHE, EDWARD, born in Germany, July 30, 1830. In 1850 came to California, and for five years engaged in mining in El Dorado county. For the next four years he followed the cigar trade in San Francisco, and for two years more in Stockton, whither he has moved his business. Mr. Weihe then proceeded to Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras county, and there opened an establishment for general merchandise, which he continued for nine years, when he removed to San Francisco, and commenced a produce business, which he carried on for two years. In 1871 he settled in Dixon, where he engaged in the liquor and cigar trade, in connection with which he carried on an exchange and broker business. Mr. Weihe married, November 17, 1863, Miss Minnie Trencehel, who was born in St. Louis, February 12, 1843, by whom he has Gustavus A. P., Otto A., Frederick W., Bertie E., Florence C.
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