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 95
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About 1850 Mr. Meder began to invest the money made in the lumber business in land, buying small tracts as they appeared to be of in- creasing value. He built himself a home on the Franceforte creek, and assisted Eli More to build his mill at that point. At no time a plunger or speculator, he nevertheless tried mining for six months, at the expiration of
which time he decided other callings offered greater opportunities. In time he entered the cattle business and devoted himself also to the buying and selling of lands. On the site of the noted Wilder ranch he erected buildings, many of which are still standing, and here he made his home. At one time he owned land north and west of Santa Cruz, along the coast, and there his cattle roamed at will, and his dairy turned out the best products known at that time. In 1874 he sold his land and re- tired to Santa Cruz, where he was making his home at the time of his death in 1890. His first wife died August 3, 1872, and July 18. 1873, he married Olive Ann Sinnett, dangh- ter of John and Ann (Orr) Sinnett, the former of whom was a seafaring man. Mrs. Meder had a sister and her husband, Henry Jordan, who came to California with their child, leav- ing one other child behind them for her to take care of. Two and one-half years later she came west bringing the child with her. Mr. Meder was a large-hearted man and a liberal, but in- ostentatious giver. He had the rugged simpli- city and resourcefulness which have laid the foundations of the west, and upon which others have since built both fame and fortune.
WILLIAM H. WARDEN.
In the early part of the nineteenth century Gabriel Warden, a farmer, lived near Granville, Licking county, Ohio. He married there and reared a large family. Of his ten sons and three daughters, the eighth in order of birth, Lew Moore, was born on the home farm in 1825. In 1844 he went to Iowa as an Indian trader. At the time of the discovery of gold in Califor- nia he determined to seek his fortune in the far west, and accordingly started across the plains, via Fort Laramie, Salt Lake and thence to Hangtown. After a journey of sixty-two days he reached his destination July 6, 1850. For several years he was associated with a brother. H. M., in the stage business in Grass Valley, north of Sacramento. During the early days he was a pioneer miner on the American, Yuba and Feather rivers. Later he embarked in the cattle business in Napa county, but soon after-
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ward renwel lu Mendocino county, where his son, William H., the subject of this article, was born in 1861.
To fill an unexpired term, L. M. Warden was appointed high sheriff of Mendocino county, at the expiration of which he was elected to the office, and subsequently re-elected, holding the office for four terms altogether, from 1860 to 1868. All of the elections were as the Demo- cratic candidate. On resigning as high sheriff, he came to San Luis Obispo county in 1868, and settled on the Atascadero rancho, where he turned his attention to the sheep business. In 1871 he transferred his sheep to Los Osos val- ley, where he bought four thousand acres of Los Osos rancho, otherwise known as Captain Wilson's ranch. In addition to having sheep, he also carried Durham and other fine grades of cattle and had a dairy of over one hundred milch cows. The drought of 1876 was so severe that it caused him to retire from the stock business, and later he sold a part of the ranch.
During 1874 and 1875 Mr. Warden served as supervisor of San Luis Obispo county, and in 1878 he was elected a member of the California general assembly, in which body he ably repre- sented his constituents for one term. His inter- est in educational matters led him to accept the responsibilities of a school directorship, in which position he continued for many years. He aided in the organization of the Agricultural Society of San Luis Obispo county, in which he held the office of director. In Masonry, too, he was prominent and active, and when he died, in 1803. his funeral was conducted with the impres- sive ceremony of the Knight Templars.
By the marriage of L. M. Warden to Helen Franklin, a native of Indiana, and now a resi- dent of Portland, Ore., four children were born, namely: Frances E., wife of D. J. Haines; Wil- liam H., of San Luis Obispo county; Oscar L., of Portland, Ore .: and May, wife of W. II. Fiske, also of Portland. Of these children Wil- liam II. was seven years old when his parents brought him to San Luis Obispo county, and he has ever since remained a resident of the same locality. His education was such as dis- friet schools afforded and gave him the needed 11 cparation for a life of activity. At this writing
he owns one hundred and fifty acres of Los Osos rancho, although by leasehold he cultivates over twelve hundred acres of the tract, and uses the land principally for the pasturage of cattle. He is especially interested in the dairy business and his dairy is noted for the excellent quality of its butter. In 1899 he bought the Gibson ranch and removed to that place, which has since been his home. Like his father, he is a staneh Dem- ocrat, and like him, too, he is an active worker on the school board, having served as a director for ten years. In 1886 he married Miss Lizzie LaTourette, by whom he has six children, namely: Alfred LaTourette, Roy, Lew M., Howard, Emma and William H. Fraternally Mr. Warden is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. He is one of the native sons of Cali- fornia, who maintain a warm interest in the de- velopment and progress of the state, and partic- ularly assist in the growth of their own home county.
WILLIAM T. ELLIOTT.
His loyalty to Republican principles and to the town of which he has been a resident since 1875, has secured for Mr. Elliott many evi- dences of the esteem in which he is held by his fellow townsmen, and which has been fit- tingly rewarded by his appointment to the post- mastership of Gonzalez by James A. Gary, post- master general. He is now serving his second term and since his incumbeney of the office gen- eral satisfaction has been expressed, and many improvements have been made over previous management of the affairs of Uncle Sam. This postoffice is known as a fourth-class affair, and the genial presiding genius thereof cast his first presidential vote for the immortal Abraham Lincoln.
A native of Vermilion county, Ind., Mr. Ell- iott was born in 1837, a son of Robert Elliott. who was also born and reared in the Hoosier state. The family is of Scotch-Irish extraction, and the paternal grandfather removed to Vir- ginia at a very early day. Mr. Elliott ac- quired his education during the winter months at the little log school house of his neighbor-
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hood, and when the Civil war broke out was living in Portland, Ind. In August of 1861 he enlisted in Chambersburg, that state, in Captain Sam. Irvin's company, and, upon the death of their first commander, General Baker, they were thrown upon the governor of the state of New York, who attached them to a New York regiment, the Harris Light Cavalry, or Second New York. The regiment participated in many of the important battles of the war, and Mr. Elliott was discharged from the service September 16, 1864, at Hallstown, Va. With the return of peace, he again lived in Indiana, where he engaged in the prosecution of his trade of carpenter, and in 1868 removed to Kansas, locating in Neosha county, where he continued to live until his removal to California in 1871. At Peach Tree he engaged in stock raising for three years, and then removed to Monterey, where he took up his trade and followed the same until 1875. That year he first became identified with Gonzalez and has since been · an interested and helpful spectator of its con- tinued growth.
The marriage of Mr. Elliott and Elizabeth Glover, daughter of Claybon Glover, occurred in Indiana in 1858. Of this union there were five children: George, who was killed while at his post as a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad; Margaret, who died in Indiana; John S., who is a teamster in Mendocino county, Cal .; Clara, who is now Mrs. Abraham Higbie of Gonzalez; and Isabell, who is the wife of Mr. Patton, of Gonzalez.
JACKSON MANN.
hundred acres of land. Christopher Mann, the father of Jackson, was born in North Car- olina, from which state he removed to Indiana at an early day. He was a farmer and stock raiser by occupation, and served with distinction in the Black Hawk war, winning the rank of lieutenant. Twice married, his first union re- stilted in thirteen children, and his second union in nine children, twenty-two in all. His death occurred in Jackson county, Mo., at the re- markable age of one hundred and twelve years. His father, Jonas Mann, came originally from Germany.
At the age of twenty-one years Jackson Mann reaped the benefit of his father's untiring in- dustry, for he was presented with eighty acres of land with which to start out on an indepen- dent career. In 1853 he disposed of this land at a profit, and came overland with ox teams to California, the trip requiring five months and fourteen days. Arriving at San José, where his brother was already located, and purchased several lots as an investment, after which he removed to the mountains and engaged in team- ing to Redwood city. After experimenting with a ranch with a bad title, he engaged in lime burning for a year or so, and was finally burned out of the business. He then proceeded to Sonoma county and bought a ranch, but this went the way of his former ranch, the title being absolutely void. In the fall of 1860 he bought forty acres of land in the Pajaro valley for $300, and after living thereon for a year, bought his present farm of two hundred and fifty acres. The country was new at that time, and the present prosperity and unequalled riel- ness of the soil were as yet unthought of. Of his land, one hundred acres are in the valley, and one hundred and fifty in the hills. Twenty acres are under an orchard four years old, and raising.
One of the most prominent and successful of the fruit growers of the Pajaro valley is Jackson Mann, whose family is further repre- sented in the valley by his brother, Christopher, . the remainder is devoted to farming and stock with whom he shares an enviable standing, as well as large competence. He was born in While living in Missouri, January 14. 1847. Mr. Mann married Rebecca Jane Robertson, a native of Monroe county, Ky., where she was born April 29, 1824. When three years of age Mrs. Mann removed with her parents to Illinois, and when fourteen years of age was taken to Jackson county, Mo., where her mar- Montgomery county, Ind., September 10, 1825, and was reared in southwestern Missouri, whith- er his parents removed when he was twelve years of age. After four years in this part of the state the family removed to Jackson county, Mo., where the father purchased fifteen
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riage occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Mann have had nine children, and thirty-three grandchildren. Of the children, Nancy is the wife of H. M. Hays: William E. is a stock raiser of Monterey county; Christopher died at the age of twenty- five; Ezekiel Jackson is a rancher in Santa Cruz county; John W. is a rancher in Monterey county: Susan Jane is the wife of James Phillips of Santa Cruz county; James Henry is a resi- dent of Watsonville, Cal .; Mary F. is Mrs. Charles Gill of San Francisco; and Katie died at the age of five years and fourteen days. Mr. Mann is a Republican in politics, and has been a school trustee for several years. He is a member of the Church of Christ.
JOHN DENNIS MURPHY.
An extensive orchardist of the Pajaro valley 15 John D. Murphy, who inherited from his father two hundred and eighty-two acres of land, upon the greater part of which he is raising apples. At first he set out fifty acres under Newtown pippins and winesaps, and has since set out one hundred and fifty acres under pippins and Bellefleurs, making two hundred acres under orchard, seventy acres of which are in bearing condition.
When he first came to this valley Mr. Mur- phy was four or five years of age, having been born in San Francisco, Cal., June 22, 1855. His father, John Murphy, was born in County Cork, Ireland, where he lived until twenty years of age. About 1849 he came to America and located in Boston, and arrived in San Francisco during 1850 or '51. He worked in the coast city until he had saved up $4,000, which was invested in stock, which was kept across the bay. This stock was transferred to the Pajaro valley in 1859, the owner thereof set- tling on land across from Santa Cruz county, which he rented and occupied until 1863. Hc then purchased one hundred and sixty acres, a part of which constitutes his present ranch, pay- ing for it $1.700. From a partly improved state ly increased the value of his land by incessant midustry and continual development, adding Chereto until he owned six hundred and eighteen Deres in a body at the time of his death, Febru-
ary 14, 1892, at the age of sixty-eight years. He possessed remarkable vitality during his life time, and was able to superintend his many interests up to within the last week of his life. He was a Democrat in politics, but never got any nearer political affairs than casting his vote. He was one of the earliest pioneers of the valley, and with his son, John Dennis, set out the first orchard in the district. He was a member of the Catholic Church. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Shechy, was also born in County Cork, Ireland, and came to America about a year after her husband, whom she shortly afterward married. Mrs. Murphy died February 22, 1892, eight days after the death of her husband. She also was a member of the Catholic Church, and was the mother of six children, viz .: Margaret, the widow of James Fenan, and a resident of San José : Mary, a sister in the Grass Valley Convent and who entered the order in 1890; Ella, living in Watsonville; Annic: Julia, deceased in 1894; and John Dennis.
February 5, 1896, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage with Mary Driscoll, a native of Santa Cruz county, Cal., and a daughter of Jerry and Hannah Driscoll, pioneers of Santa Cruz county. Of this union there have been born two sons, John and Eugene, the latter of whom is in the employ of his uncle, the present mayor of San Francisco. Mr. Murphy is a Democrat in politics, and has at times been very active for his party. He is among the substantial and thrifty agriculturists and horticulturists of his neighborhood, and has not only a reputation for raising excellent ap- ples, but derives a steady income from beets and strawberries, which he cultivates between the trees. Mr. Murphy and his wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
HON. C. F. LACY.
As a practicing attorney of Salinas and a former member of the assembly, Mr. Lacy is well known throughout Monterey county. He was born in the city of Monterey in 1864. and is a son of J. V. and Belle (Taylor) Lacy, natives respectively of Canada and Liverpool, England. In 1858 his father became a pioneer of Cali-
ZADOCK KARNER
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fornia and during that year began to follow the wheelwright's trade in Monterey, but in 1868 re- moved to Salinas, where he has since resided. After having completed his education in the public schools, C. F. Lacy took up the study of stenography at seventeen years of age and soon became an expert in that art. His pro- ficiency led to his appointment as court report- er, which position he filled for ten years and meantime devoted himself during his leisure hours to the study of law, for which his long court experience gave him exceptional ad- vantages. In 1890 he was elected to the state legislature and served during the session of 1891. In July of the latter year he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state, and shortly afterward began in the pro- fession to which the succeeding years have been devoted. Until 1899 he was alone, but during that year formed a partnership with G. H. Dougherty, and this association continues to the present. The firm have been given charge of various important cases, and in every matter entrusted to their oversight have proved capa- ble and painstaking. In politics Mr. Lacy is a Republican, and fraternally is connected with the Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and Ancient Order of United Workmen. His mar- riage in Salinas united him with Emma Edring- ton, who was born in Kentucky, and to their union was born a daughter, Dora.
ZADOCK KARNER.
Contemporaneous with the development of the dairy industry on the Pacific coast were the successes of the late Zadock Karner, and for many years of his life a record thereof would throw considerable light on pioneer dairy methods and the gradual growth of the indus- try to its present rank. A resident of Santa Cruz from 1871 until the time of his death, July 13, 1894, during these years he became known as one of the city's leading and influen- tial citizens, a contributor to local projects and a believer in all progressive plans. The home- stead which he occupied was formerly owned by J. W. Brown and comprised two acres on
Mission street, forming a pleasant abode for himself and family.
The far-famed Berkshire region of Massa- chusetts was the scene familiar to Mr. Karner in boyhood. He was born at Egremont, that state, October 19, 1811, and was the youngest son among seven children, whose ancestors set- tled in New England in early days. The public schools and academy at Egremont furnished him with fair educational advantages, and on leaving school he took up mercantile pursuits. Going to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1836, he en- gaged in the grocery business for two years. On selling out he returned to Massachusetts and learned the jeweler's trade under C. Kline, at Sheffield, where he remained for three years as an employe, and then embarked in business for himself. His brother Levi meantime went to California and sent back favorable reports, so in 1851 he decided to join him in the far west. He came via the isthmus and was one of the passengers on the first voyage of the Golden Gate from Panama to San Francisco. Proceeding to Gold Run he joined his brother and they soon became interested in mining and in the management of a hotel at Cold Spring. During the nine years of their residence at that place they devoted six years to hotel-keep- ing. His former trade of jeweler Zadock also brought into use, doing considerable work as a repairer of watches. On the death of his brother he removed to Marin county and em- barked in the dairy business, having previously purchased twelve cows and a ranch of one hun- dred and sixty acres. About this time his nephew, Levi K. Baldwin, now a retired banker of Santa Cruz, came from the east, and the two leased a large ranch at Point Reyes, which they stocked with one hundred and sixty cows.
At the time of selling his interest in Marin county Mr. Karner was the owner of five hun- dred and sixty acres at Olema and had a dairy of one hundred and fifty-two cows. In 1868 he settled in Monterey county, where, in connec- tion with another nephew, he bought twenty- eight hundred acres at $7 an acre. Of this tract he later became the sole owner, but dis- posed of a portion in order to free himself from debt, thus confining his attention to the bal-
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ance of the ranch, fifteen hundred acres, on which he kept one hundred and fifty cows. Renting this land to other parties in 1871, he removed to Santa Cruz, where the remainder of his life was quietly passed, with no intricate business enterprises to command his attention or exhaust his strength. Though never desiring positions of prominence, but finding his great- est pleasure in the development of his dairy in- terests and the enjoyment of domestic life, yet he did not neglect his duty as a citizen, and was over found ready to do his part toward promot- ing public-spirited measures.
Returning east in 1870, Mr. Karner was mar- ried at Sheffield, on the 20th of September, to Miss Charlotte, daughter of Frederick A. and Harriet (Kellogg) Brown, and a descendant of colonial New England ancestry. The month after their marriage they started for California and settled in Santa Cruz, where Mrs. Karner still resides. Frequently they returned to the east to visit relatives, but at no time did they desire to remain there permanently, for the rigors of a New England winter were not allur- ing to those familiar with the delights of Santa Cruz sunshine and balmy air. In addition to the family residence, Mrs. Karner owns a ranch of thirteen hundred acres, which is well stocked and from which she receives fair re- turns. Among the people of Santa Cruz she has a high standing, enjoying the esteem of all with whom she has become acquainted since coming west.
CHARLES P. MCCARTHY.
Among, the many successful agriculturists of Santa Cruz county prominent mention should be accorded Mr. McCarthy, who for the past thirty years has made his home on his pres- ent farm. In addition to general farming he conducts an orchard of fifteen hundred apple trees, which consist almost exclusively of Belle- feurs and Newtown pippins.
A son of Patrick and Leta (Nagle) McCarthy, ( harles P. was born in County Cork, Ireland, August 15. 1846. Upon reaching the age of twenty-one he sailed for the United States, land- ing in New York harbor in due time and later
proceeding to San Francisco. After spending two weeks there he came to Watsonville and for about seven years was in the employ of William F. White. In 1874 he purchased his present farm, which comprises forty acres of productive land, located three miles from Wat- sonville and one mile from college.
In 1867, prior to leaving his native land, Mr. MeCarthy was united in marriage to Ellen Hall- sy, also a native of County Cork, and a daughter of Matika and Mary Kelley. To Mr. McCarthy and his wife were born the following children: Charles, Louisa, Lizzie, William and Edward. Louisa is employed as teacher in one of the public schools of Watsonville, and Edward is a student in the University of California, class of 1904.
Although private affairs occupy the most of Mr. McCarthy's time and attention, still he is not too busy to take an interest in public mat- ters. In his political sympathies he is a staunch believer in the principles of the Democratic party, which he upholds whenever and wherever opportunity offers. The Roman Catholic Church of Watsonville is the church home of Mr. Mc- Carthy and his family.
J. E. RANKIN, M. D.
The physical woes of the community of Gon- zales are admirably cared for by Dr. Rankin, whose skill in diagnosis and treatment has won him the confidence of a large following, not only in the town, but in the surrounding coun- try. He is one of the most popular and suc- cessful of the Irish-Americans who have found in Monterey a pleasant home and profitable business, for, though born in Ireland in 1841, he came to America with his parents, Robert and Catherine Rankin, the following year, and is therefore essentially a son of the United States. Robert Rankin devoted liis active life to teach- ing music, and in America settled with his family at Evansville, in southern Indiana, where he soon after died. The necessity for individ- ual maintenance brought about the disruption of the family, and the doctor went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was educated in the public schools. Having decided to adopt the pro-
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fession of medicine he then entered the Buf- falo Medical College, from which he was grad- nated with honors with the class of 1891. For preliminary practice he had located in southern Michigan, and after graduation he removed to the northern part of the state, where he lived in- til his removal to California in 1897. The follow- ing year he came to Gonzales, and, as the only physician in the place, has received the patron- age and appreciation due his ability and fine personal characteristics.
While living in Michigan Dr. Rankin en- listed in Company M, Fourth Michigan Cav- alry, and served the Union cause until his hon- orable discharge at Nashville, Tenn., in 1865. During the service he saw much of the grew- some side of war, and participated in the battles of Stone River, Missionary Ridge, Chicka- manga, Franklin and many more important battles and skirmishes. In 1867 he married l'hoebe L. Lane, and of this union there are two daughters. In national politics Dr. Rankin is a Republican, and cast his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. Fraternally he is associat- ed with the Masons and the Maccabees, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
CARL E. LINDSAY.
Carl E. Lindsay, attorney at law of Santa Cruz, and member of the firm of Lindsay & Netherton, was born in Bucyrus, Crawford county, Ohio, December 6, 1861, a son of David M. and Sue (Wheeler) Lindsay, and grandson of Moses and Eleanor (McManamay) Lindsay.
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