USA > California > History of the State of California and biographical record of Coast Counties, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 75
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A few years after coming to America, Mr. Quirk decided to expend his savings in a visit to his old home in Ireland, and started on the voyage. However, by misrepresentation he had been induced to ship on a vessel bound for South America. Finding the deceit too late to return, he accompanied the vessel in its voyage and visited all the principal ports from Panama to Valparaiso, the trip occupying from October, 1855. to June, 1856. Immediately after his re- turn he started across the continent for the west, and hence the hoped-for trip was indefinitely postponed. In religious views he is connected with the Roman Catholic Church. His wife. Catherine, daughter of James Larkin, was born in Ireland, and became the mother of two chil dren, but both of these died in infancy. This loss left them lonely, so they decided to take other children into their home, and have since taken several from the Catholic Orphanage. whom they reared and trained for useful post tions in the world. The last of these boys to leave them was Joseph Warrac, who is prati to call them "father" and "mother," and who
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gives nonoise of becoming one of the most in- fluential men of the Pajaro valley.
HENRY F. LOEBER.
Twenty-five years ago Henry F. Loeber, then a sturdy youngster of twelve, was lustily calling newspapers on the streets of San Francisco. While rattling small change in his pockets and hobnobbing with the wealth and poverty of the town, he seems to have collected a few ideas worthy of incorporation into successful careers. The fact that he is at present the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land in the Jolon valley, and is also one of the most prominent and influential members of his community. woukl indicate that there was something doing in the brain of the dispenser of news.
A native of Yolo county, Cal., Mr. Loeber was born March 8, 1865. His father, Herman Loeber, who was born in Russia, and there reared and educated, immigrated to the United States about 1845, and after living for a time in Missouri, went to Mexico in the United States army, serving during the war. In return for his services he took up a soldier's claim after his return to Missouri, and in 1850 came overland to California, where for several years he en- gaged with fair success in mining. He managed to save enough money to start a stock business on the Yolo plains, near Davisville, but in 1868 went back to mining, which, however, fell far short of his expectations. Thereafter he lived m San Francisco and Oakland until taking up huis residence with his son, Henry F., in 1885. We is a Republican in politics and the present postimaster of Lockwood, and though four score wars of age performs his duty to the satisfac- Tion of all concerned. He voted the presidential pocket for James K. Polk. His wife, formerly Hannah Griffin, was born in Ireland and died at the age of twenty-eight. leaving four children, of whom Henry F. is the youngest.
After running the paper route at North Beach The two and a half years, Henry F. Loeber went to Santa Maria and learned the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of three and one half wars He then followed his trade in San Fran Misto for five months, but owing to the asthma,
with which he was afflicted, was obliged to make a change of location. Coming to the Jolon val- ley, he homesteaded three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he improved and still owns, and to which he has added until he has six hun- dred and forty acres, three hundred and twenty in each ranch. His wife also owns one hundred and sixty acres. Of this property, that of Mr. Loeber has two hundred and forty acres in pas- ture, and two hundred and twenty in general farming. The land belonging to Mrs. Loeber is devoted to wheat and barley.
In 1889 Mr. Loeber married Regina Roth, a native of Germany, and who came to the United States when seventeen years of age. In 1884 she came to California and took up the home- stead upon which the family now live, and which she was obliged to reside on in order to hold. Mr. and Mrs. Loeber are the parents of three children, Oleta, Arma and Francis, all living at home. Mr. Loeber is a Republican in politics, but entertains very liberal ideas as to office seekers and holders. He is broad-minded and progressive, and wields an enviable influence in all matters of importance in the locality. A practical and scientific farmer, he is an appre- ciator of the opportunities by which he is sur- rounded, and has the faculty of turning them to the best possible account.
ROBERT J. ROGERS.
For many years Robert J. Rogers has been known as one of the foremost sheep raisers of Monterey county, and also as one of the most popular and successful farmer citizens of this favored part of the state. In his temperament he embodies the sterling and adaptive traits of his English ancestors, for many years associ- ated with Northampton, England, where he was born May 1, 1838.
As a boy Mr. Rogers was destined to assume the responsibility of self-support at a practically early age, and, when fifteen began clerking in a grocery. At the end of seven years he repaired to Birmingham and soon bought out his em- ployer's business, which he continued alone for about eighteen years. Thus equipped with large fundamental experience, he came to America
DUNCAN MCKINNON
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in 1876, and upon one hundred and sixty acres of land now owned by Arthur Reynolds engaged at once in the sheep business. In 1878 he moved to section 21, across the road from where he now lives, but soon bought three hundred and twenty acres on section 16, which contained a particularly fine and inexhaustible spring. In time he moved to another tract of government land, and in 1890 settled upon his present ranch, which comprises eighteen hundred acres, he having sold sixteen hundred acres in 1899. For eighteen years he engaged in the sheep business with Charles Margetts and is still constantly buying and selling sheep. His long and suc- cessful association with this branch of stock- raising has rendered him an authority in all matters pertaining thereto.
In 1868 Mr. Rogers was united in marriage with Elizabeth A. Margetts, sister of his former partner, and a native of Rugby, England. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rogers, viz .: Evelyn, the wife of George Grant, of Spreckles; Margaret, at home; Robert G., a school teacher, and living at home; and Gwendolin. Miss Margaret Rogers, the second (laughter in the family, is considered the finest horsewoman in the west, and that is saying a great deal. She was almost raised in the saddle, and can break the worst kind of bucking broncho horses without any assistance. With the utmost ease she drives six or eight horses hitched together in a manner that would win admiration from the most experienced stage driver of the old days. In addition to hier equestrian accomplishment Miss Rogers is men- tally a very brilliant woman, accomplished in various directions, and especially adept as a mit- sician. A few years ago Hearst's San Francisco Examiner sent a reporter to interview this in- trepid rider, with the result that he produced an article of absorbing interest, and which found its way into many eastern papers. Miss Rogers owns a small band of cattle and horses, and is withal an independent, splendid exponent of typ- ical western womanhood. Mr. Rogers is proud of his daughter, and his neighbors and friends are proud of him. He is exceedingly liberal in his ideas, and as a promoter of enterprise and prog ress in his neighborhood has no superior. He
is a member of the Masons of King City, and has been treasurer of the lodge for six years.
DUNCAN MCKINNON.
Duncan Mckinnon was born in York county, Canada West, June 15, 1836. His parents were natives of Scotland, and had emigrated from there in May, 1835. During his early youth noth- ing of importance happened until he was nine years of age, when his father was taken sick, and after a lingering illness of one year died, leaving his mother a widow with seven children, Duncan being the oldest of three boys and three girls, one girl being older than he. From that time afterward he had, to a certain extent, to oversee and manage the farm, which was small. He worked hard, having little or no advantages for education, what he did get being in the winter months. After he had grown to be a man, from that time until 1862 nothing happened of any importance.
In the latter part of that year there was a gold excitement in British Columbia. Not be- ing satisfied with the small place at home and the slow way of making money on it, and desir- ing to see more of the world, on the 7th of April Mr. Mckinnon started by rail for New York and there, on the 11th, took passage on the steamer, Northern Light, for Aspinwall. There were one thousand persons on board the ship, which arrived at its destination on the morning of the 22d. He crossed the isthmus on the same day, went aboard the steamer. Golden Age. and sailed that night for San Francisco, where he arrived on the 5th of May. After remain- ing there for a few days, he took steamer for Portland, Ore., and thence went to Victoria. Vancouver's Island, reaching there about the 15th of May. IJe found many emigrants waiting for better weather to start to the mines. He remained on the island some days.
At that time the only road that was properly opened to the mines was by New Westminster and Lytton. Instead of taking that road, Mr. MeKinnon with twenty-one others chartered a schooner to convey them, and eight hundred pounds of freight to cach person, to Bentic Arm. From there they expected to take canoes
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up the river, a distance of forty miles, and thence on Imlan's backs to Fort Alexander, : farther distance of one hundred and twenty miles. They also discovered that the contents of the Indian packs would be all devoured be- fore they got to the end of their journey. The -chooner sailed from Victoria on the Ist of Inne, and when a few days out one of the pas- ungers was taken sick and in a day or two showed signs of smallpox, which it proved to be. Sailing near the mainland, he was put ashore at Fort Rupert, but too late ; he left the infec- tion aboard. In a week three more were taken down, but all remained on board until the schooner arrived at Bentic Arm, about June 15th. From there they hired Indians with canoes to carry them and their provisions 11p to the Ballaconla river forty miles. They had to walk most of the way, and also had to wade large branches of the river, which was high on account of the snow melting in the mountains. Some of the party were sick with smallpox at the time, among whom were the subject of this sketch and William and Michael Lynn, also na- tives of Canada, the latter not being of age. M. Lynn became too ill to travel further. The two brothers took their provisions and blankets, and camped thirty miles from sea and ten miles below where the Indians were to take them.
Mr. Mckinnon, with the rest of the party, arrived at the end of the canoe route, where they remained for two days. The party then started for Fort Alexander, on Frazer river, a distance of two hundred and twenty miles through an Indian country, little known to white men. D. Mckinnon and D. McCollum, who were both sick with smallpox, did not ac- company the party. The former was so ill that he lay in the woods a month before he could Get out of bed. Part of the time he could not see. Mccollum was not very sick. In the meantime the Lynns, hearing that the other party intended to set out for Fort Alexander, Tired Indians with canoes and started to over- take them. While passing through a rapid por- Tion of the river, where a large tree had fallen to it, and which they passed around and were working their way back to the channel, the pole od one of the Indians slipped, the canoe turned,
struck the tree, went under it and split in two. William caught hold of the tree, while Michael and the two Indians went under. The three got hold of one-half of the boat and worked it ashore. Michael went back to look for his brother, but too late; the water had swept him away, and Michael never saw him again. Will- iam had all their money on his person. All their provisions were also lost, and Michael was left alone among Indians, without money or food. There he remained until by chance William Hood, of Santa Rosa, Cal., came to the Bantict river with pack animals, intending to make a road there. Lynn came up with his party to where Mr. Mckinnon was, and stayed there a few days. When the train left again for Fort Alexander some time in August, both went with it until they reached the Chiccotan river, about one hundred and twenty miles from the coast. There they took a contract for cut- ting wood, it being too late to proceed to the mines. They formed a copartnership, to con- tinue while they remained in the mines.
When they had completed their contract, Lynn went to Bentic. Arm, while Mr. Mckinnon remained with Alexander McDonald, an old Hudson Bay trader. Their intention was to trade with the Indians. McDonald went down to the coast with his mules to meet the steamer, in order to get provisions and articles to trade with, while Mckinnon remained on the place. The steamer not being in, he was detained four- teen days, during which period snow fell so that he could not return for some time, and McKin- non was left alone for about three months, with no white man nearer than sixty miles. The Indians got the smallpox and died by the thon- sands. Being superstitious, they conceived the white man to be an evil spirit, and acted in a strange and deceitful manner, with murder in their faces. One day they came and told him that the other tribe had killed Robert MeClon 1. his nearest neighbor, sixty miles distant, which afterward proved to be true. Mckinnon was in danger of his life and he knew it, but there was no help. The snow was seven feet deep: he could not walk on snowshoes, and to attempt it would be death, as the Indians would follow and kill him. At this time he never expected to
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sce a white man again. One day, when they were the worst, he happened to find a Catholic prayer-book belonging to McDonald, who was a Catholic. While looking it over he turned to the picture of the Saviour on the Cross. The Indians saw it and commenced to cross them- selves. At once he saw his advantage. They took him for a priest. As there were many dying, there were many burials, at which he had to officiate, and, he confesses, in a very awkward manner, being himself a Protestant. The French priest, who went there with the Iludson Bay Company, had taught the Indians. It saved his life. McDonald returned and all was well. Once after this he had a narrow escape with his life from the Indians; at another time he was chased by wolves to the shore of the lake, where, finding a raft, he jumped aboard and pushed it out. Being tired out, he spread his blanket and went to sleep, and did not awaken until the sun was shining the next morning. It being a dangerous place to live in, he bade McDonald good-bye and left with his partner, Lynn, for the Caribou mines. On his way thither he received news of the death of his mother. The following year MeDonald, with eleven others, was killed by the same In- dians.
They arrived at the mines in September, 1863. Like most of the miners they had high expecta- tions and small returns, or, in other words, did not make a "big strike." What they did make was from the shoulder at hard work. They re- mained at the mines until the fall of 1865, when they left with the intention of going home to Canada. They arrived at San Francisco on the Ist of November and put up at the What Cheer Ilonse. The next day they secured passage on the steamer to sail on the 13th of the same month. On the morning of that day the What Cheer safe was robbed and they lost all they liad. Woodward, the proprietor, refused to make the loss good. They appealed to the law, and beat him in the twelfth district court. Ile carried it up and kept them out of it for two years.
They remained in the city for two months, when Mckinnon was taken sick. Lynn and he then dissolved partnership, the former going to
the mines. Mckinnon remained in the city till May 5, 1866, when he went to Santa Clara, stopping at Cameron's hotel. After paying his bill the next morning, he had but fifty cents left. At that time breakfast was fifty cents and dinner seventy-five cents. He could not get his dinner. He made up his mind that he must go to work at once. After breakfast he struek out towards Alviso, came across an old farmer mending his reaper, bade him good-day and asked for work. The farmer looked at him and saw he had a gold watch and ring. His face and hands looked delicate after being sick all winter. The farmer evidently took him for a gambler or some scoundrel. Mckinnon read his thoughts. Be- ing the first time in his life that he had to work for another, it hurt him. He went back to town, got his mining suit and blanket, and started out the second time. He had traveled a mile when a man hailed him and asked him if he wanted work. He said that was what he was looking for. He worked for the man only half a day when his work was done. Then he engaged with another party at higher wages. Having a thorough knowledge of farming and farming machinery, he had no trouble in picking his place in harvest. He ran a separator for Jonas Statler. After harvest he rented Mr. Statler's farm on the Lexington road. He finished seed- ing on the 26th of February, 1867, and on the 5th of March was on board steamer, boun 1 for his old home in Canada. He arrived at Toronto on the 29th of March. His oldest brother and sister were married; many of the young people he was acquainted with were gone or married : his mother was gone, and the old home had lost its charms for him. He sold his place and in May leit for California with his youngest brother, Anthony. They arrived in Santa Clara in time to harvest his erop. He made well on it. proving that farmers could make money faster and surer than any other class in Califor- nia, and that if they would only apply the same diligence, forethought, and study as others do in business, they would be the wealthiest men in the state.
After harvest D. Mckinnon went to Monte- rey county in search of land. He was favorably impressed with it for farming purposes, returne 1
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to Santa Clara, and with his brother moved to Monterey county on the 18th of October. 1867, renting land from J. M. Soto, it being a part of the Santa Rita rancho. They continued to farm that and a part of the Sausal rancho until 1874. In this year they bought eleven hundred acres of the Sausal rancho, paying $60,000 for it ; and afterwards bought three hundred and sixty-five acres of the Santa Rita rancho. In March, 1876, he made one more trip to his native home, re- turning to California in June.
January 1. 1877. Duncan Mckinnon married Miss Alice Mand Hebbron, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Hebbron, of Natividad, Mon- terey county, formerly of London, England. Mr. Hebbron is at present a prominent stockholder in Monterey county. (On the same day and at the same place his eldest daughter, Miss Ida C., was married to J. M. Walker, of Canada.)
Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon became the parents of a son, born December 6, 1877, named Dun- can Florent Mckinnon; and one born May 12, 1880, named William Elmer Mckinnon; and a (laughter, born January 1, 1885, named Ethel Alice. In 1887 Mr. Mckinnon was bereaved by the death of his wife, and one year later by the death of his daughter.
Duncan Mckinnon bought out his brother in January, 1881. His home place is beautifully located within two and a half miles of Salinas, the county seat of Monterey county. Santa Rita ranch of three hundred and sixty-five acres is farmed by his oldest son, Duncan. The home ranch of eleven hundred acres is managed by his youngest son, Elmer. They have the most im- proved machinery on it, and are among the first farmers of the county.
DAVID RODRICK.
.A career worthy of emulation from many standpoints is that of David Rodrick, one of ilw enthusiastic promoters of the enterprises of Monterey, at the same time engaging for many years in an extensive real-estate business. He grew to manhood in Fairfield. Me., where he was born in 1845, and his first business experi- once was acquired in Portsmouth, N. IL., where
he lived for eight years, subsequently engaging in the boot and shoe business in his native town of Fairfield.
In 1876 Mr. Rodrick came to San Francisco and associated himself with the wholesale coal and iron firm of J. MacDonaugh & Co., and afterward went to the mines of Tulare and Placer counties, and became identified with the development of several good properties. A later responsibility was in connection with the management of the barber shops of the Del Monte Hotel, where he remained from 1885 until 1887, and the following year he entered into partnership with Dr. J. E. P. Heinz in the purchase of sixty-five acres of land lying be- tween the hotel and old Monterey. This prop- erty was platted out in lots now known as the Oak Grove addition, and is one of the most beautiful and desirable residence localities along the bay. The lots were all disposed of by sale in 1890, the venture proving a most advanta- geous one for the promoters. Mr. Rodrick for the following two years devoted his energies to the hardware and general merchandise business, and in connection therewith handled real estate. Upon disposing of his store he increased his real-estate enterprises, and built many private structures, and to-day is the owner of some of the most valuable property in the city. He also has charge of the Loma Pricta lumber yard, and is still interested in mining near Jacksonville, where there are some particularly fine specimens of low-grade ore. In 1902 he embarked again in the hardware business and now has a store on Alvardo street.
The many services rendered by Mr. Rodrick in connection with the substantial upbuilding of his adopted city have won him the appreciation of all who rejoice in her abundant prosperity. lle was one of the promoters of the Bank of Monterey, of the electric light plant, and was for several years a director for the street car line. He was also a promoter of the Monterey Power Company, which project failed owing to the scarcity of water during the last five or six years. . \ Republican in national politics, he served for six years on the town board of trus- tees, and for five years of that time was chair man of the board. Fraternally he is associated
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with the Masonic Chapter and Commandery, and the Ancient Order of Odd Fellows.
WILLIAM R. COOLEY.
One of the most enviable careers identified with Paso Robles is that of William R. Cooley, who is not only one of the most courteous and energetic, but one of the most profoundly eru- (lite members of the San Luis Obispo county bar, and who in less than ten years has acquired a clientage ofttimes not secured by a lawyer in twice that length of time. He was born in the Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, November 25, 1844, and from his father, F. Cooley, inherits an aptitude for the legal profession. The elder Cooley was a man of pronounced ability, and was a native son of Michigan, of whom his state might well be proud. He had an extended practice in Santa Barbara county, Cal., and was the first police judge appointed after the organ- ization of the town of Santa Barbara, an office maintained by him with credit until age com- pelled his retirement. From Michigan he had migrated to Kentucky when a boy, and his edu- cation was completed at Frankfort College, in that state. The last years of his life were spent with his daughter in Sacramento county, where his death occurred in 1892. His wife, Harriett (Ross) Cooley, was born in North Carolina in 1832 and went to the Cherokee strip with her parents at an early day. She was a member of a Cherokee family and had six hundred and forty acres of the land awarded to the Indians of that tribe. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooley, three sons and six daughters, of whom William R. was the second youngest.
After completing his preliminary education in the public schools and a private school of Los Angeles, at which time Santa Barbara was an adobe village, he entered Yates College, and was admitted to the bar in 1893. He at once com- menced to practice in Paso Robles, and has been unusually successful. He has served for one term as justice of the peace, and for the same length of time as city recorder, declining the nomination for a second term. He has a de- lightful home on Pine street, Paso Robles, which is presided over by his wife, formerly Annie
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