USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 53
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RALPH DOBSON, deceased, was numbered among the representative agri- culturists of Contra Costa County. He was born March 16, 1862, and was a native of this county. His death occurred on December 8, 1915. He acquired his education in the public schools at San Ramon. His father, Edward Dob- son, was a native of Scotland. At the age of seventeen Ralph Dobson laid aside his school books and began ranching. He assisted on the home place for some years and then worked out for a time. At the age of thirty he re- turned home, where he always remained. He was united in marriage to Emma Horan, daughter of J. D. and Annie (Norris) Horan. Her father was a native of Missouri, and crossed the plains with his parents, taking six months to make the journey. Mrs. Dobson's mother crossed the plains with her parents, and they settled near Mission San Jose during the early days, when elk and other wild animals were plentiful. Mrs. Dobson's father died in June, 1903, and her mother passed away in November, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Dobson after their marriage rented various ranches and in 1909 pur- chased twenty acres that was part of the home place. The subject of this review was affiliated with the Democratic party and served as roadmaster for eight years. Fraternally, he was a member of the I. O. O. F., the For- esters, and the Native Sons. Mr. Dobson gained many friends during the period of his residence in the county. He was held in the highest regard by all who knew him, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends. John B. Horan, a brother of Mrs. Ralph Dobson, died August 16, 1916. There was one son, Edwin, born to Mr. and Mrs. Dobson on February 24, 1895, and he died April 23, 1916. He was educated in the public and high schools of San Ramon and Danville. He accepted a position after graduation as bookkeeper in the San Ramon Bank, which he held until his death. His demise caused sincere sorrow to his many friends, all of whom esteemed
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him for his good qualities of character. He was courteous and obliging, and nis genial manner won him the friendship of many in this county.
ROBERT GARWOOD DEAN is a representative pioneer of California and a prominent and highly esteemed resident of Brentwood. Mr. Dean came early to the State, arriving in San Francisco on January 21, 1850, on the top- sail schooner "Francisco," direct from New York, from which port they sailed on July 4, 1849, passing out through the Narrows as the guns of Fort Hamilton were firing a national salute. The little vessel carried four pas- sengers beside himself, and, being a fine seaboat, brought them safely to their destination. Off Cape Frio, on the coast of Brazil, a terrific storm was en- countered that sprung the foremast and compelled them to seek refuge in the port of Santa Cathrini, about three hundred miles below Rio, where they lay about six weeks refitting. Their journey through the Straits of Magellan to California was without further incident. Mr. Dean went to Stockton and thence to the southern mines, digging his first gold on the Agua Frio. In the winter of 1850 he went to Bear Valley, built a log house, laid in a stock of provisions, and waited for rain to enable them to work the gulches. It did not come, but the Indians did, and flipt their arrows at them, and stole their mules and horses until the miners wearied of their sport and started out on the war-path, joining a company under Major Birney. They followed the Indians to the headwaters of the Fresno and defeated them in a hard fight, when Lieutenant Skeen was killed and several of the company wounded. Continuing their search for the redskins, the company went as far south as the Four Creeks, where they buried a number of immigrants slain by the Indians. One of them, who had taken refuge in a log hut, was found hanging to the rafters and divested of his skin. For his services in the Mariposa war Mr. Dean received a land-warrant from Uncle Sam and four dollars a day from the State. Returning to Stockton in the fall of 1851, at the solicitation of his uncle, Seneca Dean, who had a store on the north side of the slough, and who was also a justice of the peace and subsequently a member of the legislature from Stanislaus County, he assisted in the store for a short time. But store-keeping was too humdrum an occupation for the subject of our sketch, and on invitation of R. M. Harmer, one of General Fremont's depend- able adherents, who owned a ranch on the river, he went out on the Joaquin "just for a hunt." Finding himself among congenial spirits and fond of the wild life, where grizzly bear, elk, and antelope were plentiful, and a chase after mustangs on the back of a fleet-footed horse was a pastime, he re- mained until the spring of 1853, when he came into Contra Costa County. In the summer of 1854 Mr. Dean, after being chewed up by a grizzly, returned to the mines, working on the Merced and Tuolumne rivers. In 1857 he fol- lowed the "rush" to British Columbia, and paddled a canoe from Whatcom to Fort Yale on the Frazer River. Victoria was then little more than a ham- let, and Douglas was still the chief factor of the Hudson Bay Company. Not
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finding the mines as rich as reported, nor the climate on the Upper Frazer con- genial to his tastes, he returned to the Sound and spent the summer in hunt- ing deer for the Victoria market. Tiring of this and longing for the summer skies of his beloved State, Mr. Dean returned to renew his search for gold. Fortune smiled on him, and he might have ended his career as a miner had he not received a letter from his Uncle Seneca, who had then become a stock-raiser on the San Joaquin, as a partner of Harmer, asking him to join him in a stock-raising venture. He suggested the plan of taking a hundred head of horses from the West Side, driving them to Salt Lake and exchang- ing them for the foot-sore and worn-out cattle of the emigrants. It was an appealing scheme to a fellow whose hands were calloused with the pick and shovel, and therefore gleefully accepted. Mr. Dean arrived in Carson Valley with his horses late in the summer of 1859, too late to drive through to Salt Lake, and made preparations to winter them. "Stock fed and flourished on the wild sage and bunch-grass of the valley," they told him, but hay was plentiful at five dollars a ton, loose. A storm in December covered the valley deep in snow, and this was followed by a thaw and a freeze that continued for two months. The mountains were closed and the grip of the Ice King was terrible. The Carson River was frozen solid, and a dense bank of fog, excluding the sun, hung over the valley. It was like living in a refrigerator. The carcasses of three hundred head of American cattle on their way to California that had stopped there for the winter lay strewn along the river. The horses survived by browsing on the willows, but they fell away to skel- etons. Then came the report of the discovery of the great silver mines and a wild stampede from California. Everything went booming. Hay ran to two hundred and three hundred dollars a ton, flour a dollar a pound; everything was turned topsy turvy by the inrush. The trip to Salt Lake was abandoned. The opening of a wagon-road via the South Fork of the American River and the Old Johnson Cut-off, along which line the Overland Railroad it was supposed would follow, gave Dean his opportunity to go up into Lake Valley and locate a station. Mounted on a pair of Norwegian skis, with a pack on his back, he climbed the East Range of the Sierras and camped on fifteen feet of compact snow. The next day he was down in the valley, where there was only two or three feet of snow. Here he rolled the pine saplings together and made his location, later hewing the logs and whip-sawing the lumber for a two-story hotel building, which was completed and sold to William Mack, of Sacramento. This was afterward known as the Sierra House. William W. Lapham had made a location on the lake shore for a summer resort. He sold a two-thirds interest to Van Wagner and Seneca Dean. Lapham sold his in- terest to his partners, and later the property was purchased by R. G. Dean and J. H. Martin. The construction of the Central Pacific Railroad via Au- burn and north of the lake transferred the splendid run of custom for the roadside and the resorts until they were obliged to abandon them for want of support. After the expenditure of thousands of dollars and the unrequited
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labor of years they went away, leaving their well-constructed and commodi- ous hotels standing untenanted and empty-monumental of the unpardon- able opposition of the toll-road owners of the Placerville route, who refused to enter into a satisfactory agreement with the railroad company to build over that route, thus driving it via Henness Pass and the Truckee-suicidal for themselves and disastrous to all the others. On leaving Lake Valley, Mr. Dean and wife went back to Carson Valley. Genoa once the county seat of Carson County; but now of Douglas County, had grown to a lively village, with a pretentious courthouse, stores, hotels, and school buildings. Mr. Dean was on his uppers, but far from discouraged and open for any suitable job that was obtainable. "Take our school," said the trustees, and he did at $125 a month. It was new business, but his wife had the experience, and midnight oil did the rest. The mixed school of sixty pupils, from seven years old to twenty-two, had no terror for the new teacher; on the contrary, he rose to the occasion and the school was a success. The second year his wages were raised to $140 and for the third year an offer of $150 was turned down. Teach- ing was abandoned to accept the position of manager of a grocery store established by Henry Van Sickle. This was in 1867, and Mr. Dean continued in this occupation until 1870, when his former partner in their original loca- tion on Marsh Creek died and turned his possessory right over to him. This inducement, coupled with the poor health of Mrs. Dean in that changeable climate, brought him back to Contra Costa County. Our subject entered into the spirit of his new vocation of farming with characteristic enthusiasm. He remembered the motto of Poor Richard, that "He who by the plow would thrive, himself must either hold or drive," and, notwithstanding the dry years and discouragements, Mr. Dean succeeded as a farmer. But he could not be tied down; he aspired to larger activities, and as an agent for G. W. McNear he began buying grain and shipping to tide-water. In 1880, in connection with others, he built the warehouses at Brentwood and Byron, disposing of his in- terest in the same to Fish & Blum. They in turn sold to Balfour, Guthrie & Co., who employed Mr. Dean as their agent, and when they purchased the Marsh Ranch they gave Mr. Dean the added responsibility of manager and superintendent. Continuing in this position, Mr. Dean retired from farming and removed to Brentwood in 1883, residing there continuously since. In 1912 he resigned from his agency, made an extended trip East, cured of his wan- derlust, weary with the years of his occupation, yet still in the vigor of man- hood, though wearing the finger-marks of the octogenarian. Mr. Dean and his wife now reside in quiet content in their cozy Brentwood cottage, an ideal couple. Mr. Dean is of Quaker parentage, dating back to the first settlers of New England. His mother was Helen Barker Dean, daughter of General Barker, of the New York State militia, and assigned to the staff of General Lafayette. He was born at Pleasant Valley, near Poughkeepsie, September 8, 1831. His parents moved to Michigan City in 1836, where his mother passed away, and he returned with his father to New York in 1840.
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Six years later he was orphaned by the demise of his father, and at sixteen was thrown upon his own resources. He found occupation as clerk in a country store at the munificent salary of five dollars a month and board; that in two years was increased to twenty dollars, and he was engaged in that business when he caught the California gold fever that carried him off to the Pacific at the age of eighteen. In 1864-January 5th-Mr. Dean was united in marriage with Jerusha H. Martin, daughter of Reuben Martin and Bethia Gowey-Martin, of East Poultney, Vt., at the then new Geary-street church in San Francisco, by the Rev. Thomas Starr King. Mrs. Dean came to California via the Isthmus in 1860 and soon after accepted a position as teacher in the public schools of San Francisco, where she was engaged up to the date of her marriage. In 1865 they moved from the Lake House to Genoa, Nevada, where with his varied occupations, including two years' service as county superintendent of schools, teaching, and store-keeping, besides shying his castor into the political ring for State senator (that he only lacked five votes of getting), Mr. Dean left the battle-born State for sunny California and Contra Costa County, wherein his activities and his record are so far completed-by his election as president of the Bank of Brentwood, a position that he still retains.
HENRY BRUNS is numbered among the substantial and progressive ranch- ers in eastern Contra Costa County. He was born in Germany on August 28, 1853, the son of John and Geshe Bruns. The parents had eight children, two girls and six boys. Henry, the subject of this review, was educated in the old country. After school he worked out for a time. In 1875 he came to America and located in New York City, where he found work for two years. In 1877 he came to San Francisco and worked at various vocations. In 1880 he went to the San Joaquin Valley and rented one hundred acres, following general farming for over two years. He removed to the Bethany district and farmed for two years. He then ranched near Haywards for a time. Later he located in the Mountain House section for three years. In the fall of 1891 he removed to eastern Contra Costa County and rented six hundred and forty acres from the Mclaughlin estate, operating this place for two years. He then bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres four miles from Byron. Mr. Bruns was married on November 12, 1886, to Ida Helena Lindeman, a native of Germany. She came to America in 1882. Two sons and two daughters were born to them. The elder daughter, Bertha is the wife of John Hensen, of Patterson, California. William married Lottie A. Petterson, and they have one daughter. Henry married Martha Mehrtens, and they have one daughter. Helena, the younger daughter of Mr. Bruns' family, resides at home.
CHARLES A. FRENCH serves in a creditable and able manner as post- master of Brentwood. He was born in Tennessee on October 29, 1875, the
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son of Peter and Malinda French, both natives of Tennessee. His father died in 1902, and his mother passed away in 1909. The grandfather of Mr. French was one of the highly respected pioneers of Knox County, Tennes- see. The subject of this review acquired his education in the public schools of his native State, after which he attended college. In May, 1903, he came west and settled in Brentwood, California. He found employment on a ranch with Mr. Grigsby for a time, after which he bought a lease on the Marsh grant. He continued farming for two years. In the fall of 1905 he removed to Antioch, where he farmed for one year. He then took up his abode in Knightsen, where he farmed, and later removed to Brentwood again, where he followed agricultural pursuits for three years. He entered the mercantile business, and owing to his ability he managed the general store for R. E. LaMoine & Co. for two years. He has been associated with the East Contra Costa Mercantile Company since its incorporation. Mr. French was ap- pointed postmaster in 1915. He was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Anna LaMoine on October 18, 1905. There have been two children to this union- Bertha Anna, born May 15, 1909, and Floy Elsa, born August 21, 1912. Mr. French gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. He enjoys a reputation as a reliable business man and has served on the high-school board for a period of four years, and on the grammar-school board for two years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and locally he can be depended upon to co-operate in all movements that tend to the upbuilding and substantial improvement of his town.
FREDERICK MELBOURNE HOLWAY is recognized as one of the staunch and enterprising pioneers of Contra Costa County. He was born in Somersetshire, England, May 12, 1856, the son of John and Anna Hol- way. He received a limited education in the old country and came to Amer- ica in 1872, locating in Chicago. He acquired his start in life in the hotel business in Chicago, and while a resident there determined to have a better education and attended the public schools for a time. In 1874 Mr. Holway determined to cast his lot with the West and started for Colorado, where he remained about one year. In July, 1875, he landed in San Francisco, where he learned the barber trade, and in connection followed the restaurant and hotel business. In 1878 he came to Contra Costa County, locating at Point of Timber for a time, removing to Byron in the spring of 1878. In 1878 Mr. Holway established the Hotel Byron, the leading hotel in that section until it was burned in 1884. The same year he erected the present hotel, disposing of it in 1891. In 1883 he established his present business, which he has since continued. On May 12, 1883, he was married to Emma Luhrsen, a native of San Francisco, of German parentage. To this union were born ten children- Eva (wife of Lee Acrey of Byron), Percy M. (of Oakland), Raymond F. (of Oakland), Herman (of Byron), Viola, Irene, Geraldine, Martha, and Alvira. Aurora died at the age of eighteen months. Mr. Holway is a Republican,
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and has always taken a keen interest in his party. He is now serving on the Byron school board as trustee. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Byron, and has the distinction of filling all the chairs in his order. He has served as a delegate to the grand lodge that convened at San Diego in May, 1916. Mr. Holway's loving wife passed away on April 3, 1912. She was of a kind and genial nature and had hosts of staunch friends, and her death was mourned sincerely. Mr. Holway came to this section previous to the starting of the town, and tells of shooting geese where Byron is now located. He therefore is the oldest living male resident of Byron. He has at all times shown a spirit of progressiveness, and has aided in every way and done his share in the upbuilding of this section.
FRANK CABRAL .- The substantial and well-to-do citizens of Byron, Cali- fornia, have no better representative than Frank Cabral, who occupies a noteworthy position among the thriving and progressive men of this section. He has been actively engaged in the sheep business for years. He has like- wise been occupied in agricultural pursuits, and owns one of the finest farms in Contra Costa County. He was born in San Maria, Azores Islands, a Portuguese possession, where he received his education. Mr. Cabral came to America and direct to Contra Costa County thirty-seven years ago. For five years he worked out, after which he purchased fifty acres, and the care and attention he exercised in the management of his place place it among the most valuable in his vicinity. He has run as high as eight thousand sheep, and has engaged in the cattle business on a large scale. Fraternally, Mr. Cabral is affiliated with the I. D. E. S. and the U. P. E. C. societies. He was married on May 18, 1893, to Mary Rodgers of Alameda County. To this union have been born four children. Stanley, the elder son, was united in wedlock to Miss Bessie Sanders, of Brentwood; Mae is the wife of F. Lewis, in mercantile business in Byron; Frank, Jr., and Rose are attending school. Mr. Cabral has richly deserved whatever success has come to him, for he now holds a prominent position in the financial world. Mr. and Mrs. Cabral have a host of friends in eastern Contra Costa County.
CHARLES B. WIGHTMAN .- Thoroughly identified with the growth and industrial prosperity of Byron is Charles B. Wightman, who takes an abid- ing interest in all that concerns the town's welfare and progress. He was born in Antioch November 7, 1882. He acquired his education in the public schools of Antioch and Oakley. His father, Joel D. Wightman, was one of the highly esteemed citizens of Contra Costa County. The parents of Joel D. Wightman were among the pioneers who crossed the plains during the gold rush, and he was born on a "prairie schooner" en route. Joel D. Wight- man was active in politics, serving on the board of supervisors, being chair- man of the board when the new courthouse was erected in Martinez. In the parents' family there were nine children. Charles B. Wightman, the subject
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of this sketch, learned the carpenter trade and followed this vocation for a period of twelve years. In 1909 he and his brother Percy engaged in the garage business in Byron, having one of the most modern establishments of its kind in Contra Costa County. Mr. Wightman was united in marriage to Miss Beatrice Wisdom on August 9, 1906. To this union were born two children, Sadie and Erma. Politically, he is a Democrat, but he has never aspired to office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and holds membership in the Native Sons. Percy Wightman was born in Antioch May 18, 1890, and received his education in the public schools of that place. Laying aside his books, he found employment on the river for a time, and later learned the machinist's trade, which he followed until he came to Antioch to engage in the garage and automobile business. He was married to Miss Mabel Campbell, a native of Byron, on February 16, 1916.
JOHN H. TRYTHALL .- Among the representative men of Contra Costa County, and among the most honored and public-spirited citizens of the eastern part of the county, the name of John H. Trythall occupies the posi- tion of pre-eminence. He has been conspicuously identified with the good roads movement since his election to office as supervisor in 1914, and has the distinction of building the first piece of concrete road in Contra Costa County. He is regarded as a citizen of more than odinary importance, for he thoroughly interests himself in questions concerning the welfare of the county, and has brought about results and great benefits in behalf of the people of the entire section. Mr. Trythall's birth occurred in Cornwall, Eng- land, July 26, 1852. He acquired his education in the schools of his native land, and at the age of eighteen he came to America, settling in New Jersey for a time. He took up the vocation of mining in Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wyoming, and Nevada. In 1876 he came to Contra Costa County and found employment at the Judson Mines, where he remained for a time. He then went to British Columbia and Alaska. In 1879 he returned to this State and worked in the Knoxville quicksilver mines at Napa for one year. Following this he worked in the Belshaw coal mines, and then removed to Arizona. In June, 1884, he returned to Contra Costa County and acted as foreman and superintendent of the Pittsburg Coal Mine. This position he held for twelve years. Mr. Trythall then purchased twenty acres of land near Antioch and set out an orchard, which has been brought up to a high state of cultivation. He was twice married, the first union being to Priscilla Jones, deceased, a native of New York State. To this union were Raymond Henry, born June 2, 1884, and Helen Johannah, born April 16, 1889. The second marriage was to Ida Von Baum, a native of Napa, California. To this union a daughter, Hilda, was born September 16, 1904. Fraternally, Mr. Trythall is a Mason, being past master of Contra Costa Lodge, F. & A. M., and of Antioch Chapter No. 65, R. A. M. He was identified with the Odd Fellows of Somersville until the lodge was dis-
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banded, having passed all the chairs. He also holds membership in the Eagle lodge of Antioch. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. He was elected by the people of Contra Costa County to represent them as their supervisor in 1904, and he has held that office continuously since. He has always taken an active part in educational matters, and has served as trustee for many years in the Antioch district. While a resident of Somersville he served in the same capacity for nine years.
HENRY VAN TIENEN JANSSE, one of the successful and prominent business men of eastern Contra Costa County, was born in Holland on September 4, 1878. His parents died in the old country when Henry was young. At the age of seventeen he began his independent career and came to America. He at once came to California and located in Santa Cruz, where his brother Arie was already living, but later removed to San Jose, where he is now engaged in the real-estate business. His brother Dirk is identified with Sloan & Co. of San Francisco; Peter, another brother, is in Santa Cruz County; and his brother John is a traveling salesman. The subject of this review received a limited education in the public schools, after which he attended business college in Santa Cruz. He understood farming in prin- ciple and detail and he readily found employment. Later he became asso- ciated with Silva & Omeara, of Oakley, in the grocery business, and after two years he purchased the interest of Mr. Silva. In June, 1914, Mr. Jansse and his partner purchased the general store of R. E. La Moine & Co., of Brentwood, and incorporated both stores under the name of East Contra Costa Mercantile Company. Politically, Mr. Jansse is a Republican. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Masonic lodge of Brentwood, and he is also a member of the Foresters. He was united in marriage to Johanna Agneta Rost Van Tonningen, a native of Holland, December 12, 1901. To this union there are three children-Helen, born January 22, 1906; Leonard, born Oc- tober 10, 1909; Bernard, born February 14, 1911. The family are members of the Dutch Reformed Church of San Francisco. Mr. Jansse in his business has followed the policy of absolute integrity; his company has always lived up to the letter of all agreements, and this policy has won for it increased customers in both stores. Consequently, the company's standing is of the best, and its members are considered among the representative business men of eastern Contra Costa County.
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