USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 41
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The Byron Times, was started in 1906 by Harry Hammond, the pres- ent owner and editor. Mr. Hammond has built up his paper to one of in- fluence and power. He is well known to newspaper men throughout the State. The Byron Times is the first paper in the State to use red ink, and the initials in red are a feature of each issue. These initials read a word or words. The paper covers twenty-one points in the three coun- ties of Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Alameda.
PART II BIOGRAPHICAL
BIOGRAPHICAL
C LARK L. ABBOTT, M. D .- Among the best-known physicians of the Bay counties is Doctor Clark L. Abbott, an active, capable, and much respected citizen of Richmond, Contra Costa County. He was born in Seneca County, Ohio, October 5, 1874. His father, Abraham Lorenzo Abbott, is a native of Ohio, and is a man of high general standing in his community, a man of genial and cordial manners, and above all he is a man of noble aims. He has many friends and has the confidence and respect of all in his community, where he has followed agricultural pursuits all his life. Doctor Abbott's mother, Calena (Titus) Abbott, is also a native of Ohio, and to her were born three sons and three daughters. Of these the only sur- viving ones are Clark L. and one sister, Elvira, who resides on the home place in Ohio. The Abbott family was one of the first to be founded in America, and Doctor Abbott's great grandfather was one of the sturdy pi- oneers who assisted in settling that region now Ohio after the war of 1812. The family genealogy dates back to Revolutionary ancestry, and there were many in his family that took part in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War, and a goodly number of the Abbott family in Ohio have enlisted in the present conflict. Many in the family are members of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revo- lution. The Doctor's great-grandfather was among the men who assisted this Government in taking the Seneca Indians to Iowa. Doctor Abbott was reared on the home farm. He attended the public schools. He is a self-edu- cated man, and has always been a careful student and close observer. Intent upon the successful study of medicine, in 1891 he entered Heidelberg Univer- sity, at Tiffin, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1896 with the degrees of B. S. and M. S. He then entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, gradu- ating from that institution in 1900. He served as intern in the leading Chi- cago hospitals for some time, when he decided to cast his lot with the Gold- en State and located in San Francisco, where he served as lecturing physi- cian in the College of Physicians and Surgeons. At the same time Doctor Abbott had opened an office in San Pablo, where he practiced his profession. He removed to Point Richmond, where he opened an office and began the general practice of medicine, and acted as physician and surgeon for the Santa Fe railroad for this district. Doctor Clark L. Abbott was married in Ohio in 1901 to Miss Nellie Rule, a native of that State and a daughter of one of the representative farmers in his locality. Mr. Rule was a man who took an active part in local politics, and his death, which occurred in 1901, was mourned by a wide circle of friends. His wife passed away in 1915. In
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his political affiliations Doctor Abbott is a Republican, and has taken an ac- tive part along party lines for the past twelve years. During the early days in Richmond, the Doctor was one of a committee who had charge of the in- corporation of the town and was a member of the freeholders who drew up the first charter. During his residence in Ohio he was made a Mason, becom- ing a member of Greensprings Lodge. He served as Exalted Ruler of Rich- mond Lodge, B. P. O. E., for three terms, and for some time past has been president of the board of directors of that lodge. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. Doctor Abbott is a member of the county and State medi- cal associations, a Fellow of the American College of Surgery, and is chair- man of the Auxiliary Committee of Medical Defence of Contra Costa Coun- ty. Personally, he is a genial and companionable man, and those who come in the circle of his friendship find him broad-minded and liberal, a supporter of public movements, and one whose success has been well deserved. He was elected coroner in 1906, which office he now holds.
CHARLES M. BELSHAW is numbered among the distinguished citizens of California because of the prominence he has attained in promoting the permanent interests of Contra Costa County along all lines, and also by rea- son of the extent and importance of his business connections. Mr. Belshaw is associated with industrial, commercial, and financial enterprises. He was born at Fiddletown, Amador County, California, March II, 1861, and was reared principally in San Francisco, where he attended the City College and University Mound College. In 1879 he took a college preparatory course un- der Professor George Bates, of San Francisco, and then matriculated in Har- vard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1883. Returning to California, he became timekeeper, paymaster, and wharf clerk to the Empire Coal Mines, and later superintendent of the mines. At the time of his father's death Charles M. Belshaw succeeded to his mining interests. In politics he is affiliated with the Republican party. In 1894 he was elected to the Assembly on that ticket. Evidence of his faithful service is given in his re-election to this office, in which he has served three full terms and the extra session of 1899. In 1900 he was elected to represent the district in the State Senate. Mr. Belshaw was twice married; the first union was to Miriam E., daughter of Tyler K. and Marietta (Warren) Waite, a na- tive of De Kalb County, Illinois, who died January 20, 1914. The second mar- riage was to Maud E. Spencer. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and Na- tive Sons of the Golden West. He assisted in organizing the parlor at An- tioch, and is a past grand president of that order.
MORTIMER W. BELSHAW, deceased, was born in Herkimer County, New York, April 20, 1830, son of William and Mary (Rhodes) Belshaw. Without assistance from anyone he acquired an education superior to most of his associates. At sixteen years of age he began to teach school during the
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BIOGRAPHICAL
winter months; with the money thus earned he took a course of study in Oxford Academy, Chenango County, New York. About the same time he learned the trade of watchmaker and jeweler. Later he entered Geneva (now Hobart) College, from which he was graduated in 1850. For two years sub- sequent to graduation Mr. Belshaw acted as collector for the Erie Canal locks at Little Falls. Meanwhile he had heard reports about California and its possibilities-attracted by these reports he decided to seek a livelihood on the Coast. In 1852 he came via the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco, thence proceeding to Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras County, where he worked as carpenter for a time. His next business venture was the opening of a jew- elry store at Fiddletown, Amador County, where he also held the position as agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company. About 1864 he removed to San Francisco, where he became connected with the Pacific Refinery. Pos- sessing mechanical genius, he invented a number of useful devices, among them the Belshaw water-gate, still used in many mining districts. In 1868 he went to Inyo County and opened the Cerro Gordo Mines. While there he successfully solved the problem of smelting the rebellious galena ore and in- vented the water-jacket furnace now used in all smelters. An important en- terprise in connection with the mines was the establishment of a freight route that utilized about fifteen hundred mules and horses for the convey- ance of the bullion over the mountains and desert. On severing his connec- tion with the mines as manager he retained a large financial interest. Mr. Belshaw came to Antioch in 1877, and in company with Judson and Rouse opened the Empire Coal Mines in the foothills of Mount Diablo. They built a railroad and dockage. As a stockholder and director, he was interested in the Kennedy Mining & Milling Company, near Jackson, Amador County. He was president of the Gwin Mine Development Company of Calaveras Coun- ty. He was the Republican candidate for assemblyman from Amador County in 1856. Many of his articles bearing upon the silver question were published in papers throughout California as well as in other parts of the country. The failure of his health led to his retirement from personal control of his vari- ous interests. After an illness of six months he died at the home of his son, in Antioch, April 28, 1898. Mr. Belshaw was united in marriage in 1858 to Miss Jane E. Oxner, a native of Herkimer County, New York; she died in 1900, at the age of sixty-four years. Their older son, William Conrad, was born June 5, 1859, and died July 5, 1864.
ELAM BROWN BARBER is a son of Mathew Root Barber, one of the re- spected pioneers of Contra Costa County, and who was born in Delaware County, Ohio, August 7, 1815. When two years of age he was taken to Bond County, Illinois, where his father engaged in farming. His father died when Mathew R. was young, and he made his home with the family of the Honor- able Elam Brown. Here Mr. Barber's father attended school and resided un- til he was twenty-one years of age. In 1837 he took in a partner and followed
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farming and wagon-making. On March 15, 1849, he joined a party and crossed the plains, making the journey in six months. The first place at which he stopped in California was Hangtown, now Placerville. This was in Septem- ber. Mr. Barber mined for a time, and then engaged in lumbering near San Antonio, then in Contra Costa County. While working in the redwoods he wrote tickets for the first election of officers in this and Alameda County. He erected many of the first houses in Martinez, and on February 14, 1851, he sailed from San Francisco via Panama and New Orleans and went to Il- linois. Remaining one year, he, with his wife and family, drove a band of stock across the plains to California, arriving at Martinez, August 22, 1852. In the fall of 1852 he purchased a beautiful tract of land consisting of four hundred and forty-three acres. Mr. Barber was elected to the office of Public Administrator for four successive terms. He was married in Pike County, Illinois, November 14, 1837, to Orpha Bean. The subject of this sketch was born June 13, 1846, near Jacksonville, Illinois, and crossed the plains with his parents when five years of age. He was educated in the public schools of Martinez and Heald's College, San Francisco. Finishing his education, Mr. Barber returned to the home ranch and has remained here since. There were six children in the parents' family, and our subject is the only one living. Mr. Barber is a Republican, but never aspired to public office.
JAMES E. RODGERS, one of the prominent attorneys of Contra Costa County, is a man to whom success has come as a result of unfaltering deter- mination, untiring industry, energy, and enterprise, for he has worked his way upward to the success which he now enjoys. Mr. Rodgers is a native of California, his birth having occurred at Sonora, Tuolumne County, May 2, 1865. His father, P. F. Rodgers, was a native of Ireland, and came to America in 1849. He came to California via Cape Horn, and settled in Sonora County, where he became interested in mining until 1868, when he removed to Pleas- ant Hill, Contra Costa County. Here he took up ranching until his death, which occurred in 1891. Mr. Rodgers' mother, Mary (Holland) Rodgers, was also a native of Ireland. His parents were married in Sonora County, and four children were born of this union. John F., of Oakland, California; Rose M., wife of John G. Duane, of Martinez; Sadie J., wife of T. S. Duane, of Martinez; and the subject of this sketch. In 1897 Mr. Rodgers was admitted to the bar, and the same year was elected county clerk, which office he held for ten years. He resigned in 1908 to take up the practice of law in Martinez, where he has since resided. Mr. Rodgers was united in marriage April 29, 1890, to Miss Alice Buckley, a daughter of William H. and Mary Buckley. To this union have been born James E., Jr., and Alice, who is at present at- tending the Berkeley School of Art. Mr. Rodgers is affiliated with the Re- publican party. Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F., W. O. W., B. P. O. E., and Native Sons. He is an able lawyer, and his professional attain- ments put him in the front rank of the legal fraternity of the Bay counties.
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ALFRED S. ORMSBY is one of the prominent attorneys of Contra Costa County, California, and occupies a place today among the leading jurists of the State. He was born in Petaluma, December 23, 1871, and is the son of Alfred Walter and Lucy G. (Price) Ormsby. His father was a native of New York State, and his mother was born in London, England. Mr. Ormsby's father died in Oakland on December II, 1877. His mother makes her resi- dence in Walnut Creek. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the public and high schools of California. He studied law and passed his ex- aminations with high honors, winning his admission to the bar in 1897. He practiced in Oakland for a period of ten years, and then removed to Contra Costa County. Was justice of the peace at Walnut Creek, and resigned and was appointed chief deputy to the Honorable A. B. Mckenzie, then district attorney for Contra Costa County. He is now chief deputy under Thomas D. Johnston, present district attorney. Mr. Ormsby is affiliated with the Repub- lican party. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic lodge and Eastern Star chapter. He also is a member of the B. P. O. E. of Richmond, the I. O. O. F., and is an active member of the Native Sons. He was united in mar- riage to Miss Alice A. Waite, of Walnut Creek, November 30, 1893. Their children are Walter A., born June 29, 1898, a high school student, and Alice Marian, born August 1, 1906.
RUDOLPH A. WILSON was born near Scottsboro, Jackson County, Ala- bama, November 5, 1882, being the eldest son of William Yancey and Emma (Ulrich) Wilson, both natives of Alabama. At the age of ten years he re- moved with his parents to Arkansas, and a few years later to Texas. He at- tended the public school until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he accompanied his father, who had become an evangelist, on a tour of the Southern States. Possessing a good voice and some musical ability, he conducted the musical part of revival meetings with his father for some years. In 1898 the family removed to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and it was here young Wilson began to learn the printing business, and by close application mastered the details of the trade and became a competent mechanic. In 1902, with his family, he came to Southern California, and in January, 1903, came to Oakland, to take a position on the staff of the Messiah's Advocate, in which position he did both mechanical and literary work. On May 19, 1905, he was married to Miss Lena Evans, of Sherman, Texas, a young lady whom he had met some years previously while with his father in evangelistic work. To this union there have been born three daughters: Vida, born July 10, 1907; Ruth, born May 27, 1909; Margaret, born July 12, 1916. In 1905 he es- tablished a job-printing business in Oakland, which he conducted about a year, after which he was engaged by various printing establishments in San Francisco until July, 1908, when he became editor and proprietor of the Spreckels Courier, in Monterey County, later disposing of his interest in this paper and establishing the Spreckels Enterprise, which he conducted success-
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fully for some years. He also organized the Tri-County Publishing Com- pany, Inc., and became its president and manager. This company published a monthly agricultural journal. Mr. Wilson was one of the founders of the Spreckels Improvement Association and its first secretary, being also a mem- ber of the State Association of Commercial Organization Secretaries. In August, 1913, having disposed of his Monterey County interests, Mr. Wilson came to Antioch and became associated with the Antioch Ledger, which posi- tion he still holds. He has displayed at all times a keen interest in the col- lection of historical data and publicity work generally. Fraternally, Mr. Wilson is a member of the Antioch Lodge of Free Masons, a past grand and a past chief patriarch (of the Encampment branch) of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Rebekah Lodge. He is a mem- ber of the official board of the First Congregational Church of Antioch; also a member of the executive board of the Contra Costa County Christian Endeavor Union; and is vice-president of the Martinez Typographical Union. He has the reputation of standing for that which is cleanest and best in community affairs.
JOEL D. WIGHTMAN, deceased, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, April I, 1853. His parents came to California in 1854 and settled in Santa Clara Valley for a short period, after which they moved to Dutch Flat, Placer County, where Mr. Wightman's father engaged in farming. From here the family went to Solano County, where the father died. The family removed to Carson City, Nevada, where Mr. Wightman acquired his education. The family removed to Santa Cruz, and later to Vacaville, at which place Mr. Wightman learned the wheelwright trade. He came to Antioch and learned the contracting business. He purchased the first land sold in the vicinity of Oakley, and was successful in conducting an orchard. While in the con- tracting business Mr. Wightman was practically the first choice of both Democrats and Republicans for the office of supervisor for his district, and was elected twice by large majorities. He has always taken a deep interest in county affairs, and was largely instrumental in securing the new court- house. Mr. Wightman was united in marriage in Antioch to Sarah Osborn, of Carson City, Nevada, March 5, 1874. To this union were born Carleton E., Charles B., Percy S. (of Byron), Ray S., and Misses Bessie and Minerva (of Antioch). Mr. Wightman was one of the highly respected and representative men of the county. His death was due to injuries received nearly twelve years ago. At the time of the accident, June 29, 1905, Mr. Wightman was superintending the raising of a large flag-pole at the Live Oak School near Oakley, when the staff slipped and pinned him to the ground, badly fractur- ing his spine. From that time until his death he was compelled to use a wheel chair. Mr. Wightman was a man of sound business judgment, and was emi- nently fitted to hold the responsible positions with which he was honored. He served the people of Antioch district for two terms as justice of the
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peace with honor to himself and credit to his constituents. He served in this office nearly six years. Fraternally, Mr. Wightman was a member of the Masonic lodge of Antioch. His death occurred March 5, 1917. He was a man of many sterling qualities, and he won the respect and confidence of all who came in contact with him. In official and social relations he held steadily to high ideals.
GEORGE H. FIELD is one of the successful and prominent contractors of eastern Contra Costa County. His birth occurred in Kent County, Canada, May 12, 1864, a son of Benjamin and Mary A. (Mitten) Field, both parents being natives of Canada. Mr. Field's mother passed away when he was but eight years of age. His parents removed to Reed City, Michigan, when George was young. Here he acquired a common school education. Early in life Mr. Field assisted his father and learned the carpenter trade. This voca- tion he has always followed with gratifying results. At the age of sixteen Mr. Field came to the Pacific Coast, where he readily found employment at his trade in Tacoma and Seattle, Washington. He removed to Stockton, where he resided for twenty years. Many fine business buildings and resi- dences in Stockton, Pittsburg, Antioch, and surrounding communities testify to his skill and ability. For eight years he was identified with the Santa Fe Railroad, and had charge of bridges and buildings. Twelve years ago he sev- ered his connection with the railroad, and has since followed contracting and building. Politically, Mr. Field is a Democrat. He takes a keen interest in local affairs, but has never aspired to office. He was united in marriage to Mary A. Sexton, of Stockton, California, on May 29, 1888. To this union have been born five children: Ruth, born December 29, 1890; Genevieve, born Oc- tober 28, 1892; Percy, born January 10, 1897; Cyril, born January 24, 1895; Wesley, born February 21, 1900. Fraternally, Mr. Field is a member of Char- ity Lodge No. 6, I. O. O. F., of Stockton. He is held in high regard by his business associates by reason of his enterprise and integrity.
ALDEN NATHAN NORCROSS is one of the highly respected and repre- sentative citizens of eastern Contra Costa County. Energy, ability, and well- directed ambition, controlled by sound judgment, have constituted the foun- dation upon which Mr. Norcross built his success. He was born in Wood- bury, Vermont, November 27, 1828, a son of Captain James R. Norcross and Eleanor (Blanchard) Norcross, who were from among the representative families of their section. Mr. Norcross's parents were both born in Ver- mont. His father was a farmer, and Alden assisted on the home place and attended school. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Norcross started out in life for himself. He went to Boston, where he engaged in the dray business, and has the distinction of building the first low dray in the United States, as far as he can ascertain. In 1861 he enlisted for three years, and was assigned to light horse artillery in Captain Nim's battery. Mr. Norcross served in the
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HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
army three years, and during this time his brother Joseph carried on the business in Boston. In 1864 Mr. Norcross received an honorable discharge and returned to Boston, and there was actively engaged in his business for twenty years. Mr. Norcross has always been a lover of good horses and al- ways owned the best, and it may be related here that while in the army he was selected on several occasions by his General and sent on one occa- sion to New Orleans, where he selected and took one hundred and seventy mules and one hundred horses back to camp. The General told Mr. Nor- cross's captain that when he wanted horses to have Mr. Norcross get them; that he knew good horses, and could get back in half the time required by the commissioned officers. Mr. Norcross spent some years in Texas, where he did farming and freighting. In 1890 he removed to California, and settled in the sandland section, which is now Oakley, where with Mr. Marsh he pur- chased twenty acres of land and platted the town-site. Soon after laying out the town Mr. Norcross and Mr. Marsh severed their business relation, and Mr. Norcross gave a half block for school and playgrounds, and presented two lots as a site for the Methodist church. In March, 1861, Mr. Norcross was married to Julia Langmaid, of Pittsfield, New Hampshire. To this union were born six children, of whom two are living, Bert Leland and Florence, the latter making her home in Antioch. Mrs. Norcross, wife of our subject, died in Pittsfield, N. H., in the early '70s. Politically Mr. Norcross is a Re- publican. While he has taken a keen interest in national affairs, he has never aspired to local office.
BERT LELAND NORCROSS, son of Alden N., was born at Summerville, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, January 4, 1872. Mr. Norcross acquired a common-school education, coming to California with his father in 1890. After reaching San Francisco and remaining over night, Bert started out alone over the mountains and landed in Brentwood, where he found employment with Henry McCabe at ranching. He worked out for five years and then purchased ten acres; to this soon after he added twenty-one acres, and has been constantly purchasing land, until now he owns one hundred and fifteen acres, all in almonds and walnuts of the choicest varieties. In 1915 Mr. Nor- cross shipped sixteen tons of nuts. Politically, he is a progressive. He has taken a keen interest in educational work, and assisted in building the first school in Oakley, and serves as a trustee. Mr. Norcross has taken an active part in the temperance movement in this county. He was twice married, the first union being to Phyllis Trembath, of Antioch; her death occurred in San Francisco. The second marriage was to Sophia Hamma, of San Fran- cisco, October 30, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Norcross are members of the Metho- dist Church. Mr. Norcross is one of the successful members of the county, and to him belongs the title of self-made man. Through his energy he has risen to be one of the leading men of the eastern part of Contra Costa County.
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