USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
-
58;
BIOGRAPHICAL
Lumber Manufacturers' Association, a member of its board of governors, and as adviser and director of the Mississippi Valley Lumbermen's Asso- ciation. Despite his vast private interests, Mr. Smith has found time to be a patron of the arts, a spirited public citizen, a philanthropist, a church sup- porter, and an active participator in public affairs. In 1896, he was presiden- tial elector from Minneapolis, destined to carry to the national capital that State's vote for McKinley and Hobart. He also was a delegate to the Re- publican National Convention which nominated Mckinley and Roosevelt. He has been an officer in the General Council of the Lutheran Church in America. He has served many years as a regent of the University of Minne- sota, one of the highest offices in the gift of the governor of a State. Mr. Smith, while an American of undivided allegiance, is greatly interested in the welfare of the Scandinavian people in this country and the fatherland. He took a prominent part in the relief of famine sufferers in Norland, and has made substantial gifts to Scandinavian schools and churches in this country. In recognition of the services he has rendered the sons of Sweden in the United States and elsewhere, he has been signally honored by the King of Sweden, having been created Knight Commander of the Second Degree of the order of Vasa. For several years Mr. Smith occupied the post of Swedish consul in Minneapolis. On February 14, 1878, Mr. Smith married Miss Jo- hanna Anderson. Of this marriage have been born three sons (Oscar, the eldest, accidentally killed when seventeen years of age, and Vernon A. and Carroll W., holding responsible position with the C. A. Smith corporations) and three daughters (Nann, now Mrs. Frederick A. Warner, Adeline, and Myrtle, now Mrs. Philip Rodgers, of Honolulu). The family home is located in Berkeley, California.
JOHN JOSEPH SULLENGER was born on January 8, 1868, at Oakville, Napa County, California, on the ranch of George Yount. He attended the public school at Rutherford, and afterward, in 1882, graduated from Heald's Business College in San Francisco. He then worked at surveying in different parts of the State, and at one time helped the noted engineer, A. W. Von Schmidt, lay out the Marsh grant. He was next employed for some time by T. N. Wills, of Antioch. Eventually, in 1888,. he bought the ranch in Lone Tree Valley, where he now resides. In 1897 he was married to Annie Eliza- beth Love, and of this union there are three sons and one daughter-John Dugald, born September 14, 1899, graduating 1917 from Liberty Union High School, Brentwood; Archibald Mckinnon, born March 27, 1901, second year in high school 1917; Robert Love, born September 4, 1902, attending gram- mar school; Annie Elise, born May 26, 1905, attending Deer Valley grammar school. Mr. Sullenger still does odd jobs of surveying for his neighbors, and is considered an excellent mathematician.
ROBERT LOVE, one of the pioneer settlers of Lone Tree Valley, eastern Contra Costa County, was born in Kilburnie, Scotland, on September 10,
588
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
1828. He was the recipient of a limited education, as his parents died when he was young and he was brought up by his wife's people in the Highlands of Scotland. At the age of seventeen he decided to cast his lot in the New World, and came to America, settling in Kentucky and Pennsylvania, and readily found employment in the coal mines, where he remained for some time. He came to California in 1852 and worked at quartz-mining in Placer County, and was interested with partners in a large quartz-mill near Mich- igan Bluff and Forest Hill. He owned a farm in Napa County, near Suscol, known as the Stanley Ranch. He paid a visit to Scotland, and later, on his return to California, he sent for his intended bride, and was married to Eliz- abeth Mckinnon, on March 21, 1861, in San Francisco. They made their home in Napa County, and conducted a dairy while interested in the mines. Event- ually, he sold his farm, gave up mining, and moved to Contra Costa County. In 1867 he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of Government land in Lone Tree Valley, which he farmed, and also worked at different times in the mines at Somersville, Stewartville, and Judsonville. Mr. Love died in 1900, and his wife passed away in November, 1904. The family consisted of four sons and four daughters-Janet Montgomerie, born at Napa January 9, 1862, died November 16, 1874; Archibald, born February 8, 1863; Annie Eliza- beth, born April 21, 1865; Robert, born November 21, 1866, in Napa, died May I, 1893; John, born August 9, 1869; Lizzie, born October 4, 1871, died in December, 1894; Flora, born 1873; Dugald, born March 30, 1875, died in October, 1886. Archibald and John are still on the home place, and are num- bered among the representative ranchers in their locality.
TURNER & DAHNKEN .- At this point in their business career, through their remarkable powers of foresight and business faculties, they made the real step to their business future by entering the film supply business about one year after the great San Francisco fire and earthquake. Their new loca- tion was in a small store-room at Ellis and Fillmore streets. At this time there were few producers in America, which necessitated the importing of their films from Europe, which was then the center of the industry. The next few years brought immense developments in the motion-picture busi- ness on this coast and throughout the world. The Film Exchange grew and grew, and outgrew its quarters on Ellis Street; so then they moved to a large and more spacious store on Eddy Street near Mason, where business is now conducted by the General Film Company. The General Film Com- pany of America, commonly known as "The Trust," saw the great possibil- ities of this coast and purchased the business of the firm of Turner & Dahn- ken at the enormous price of $200,000 for contracts and leases for films held on this coast. "The Trust" people found that the name of Turner & Dahnken stood so big with the public as moving-picture exhibitors that they desired to retain that name as the title of the Film Exchange main- tained in San Francisco. Mr. Turner refused, and this almost broke off ne-
589
BIOGRAPHICAL
gotiations, but the coast men retained the right to use their own name. They had other plans for the trademark which they had established by years of honest treatment and a progressive policy. They had decided to enter the theatrical ownership field themselves, and their first real substantial invest- ment in the exhibition of moving pictures was in two small theaters on Mar- ket Street, which turned out to be another big advance in the march of progress that had marked the success of Turner & Dahnken's career. They sold their lease to a Market Street location on which these two theatres were conducted to Alexander Pantages, who built the present Pantages Theater on this site. Turner & Dahnken received the amount of $28,000 for this transfer of lease. This sale, however, did not interfere with their future plans, and immediately upon the execution and close of this sale, they still proceeded to advance in the amusement business, with the policy clearly set in their minds to exhibit pictures of the most intense interest, pictures of sound morals clearly portrayed and cleverly executed, and by a rigid en- forcement of these policies they have become the greatest entertainers with motion pictures to the West Coast public. They now have theaters located in every important city of the West Coast, not theaters of the ordinary store-room type, but beautiful, commodious, elaborately furnished theaters, with uniformed attendants to wait upon the pleasures of the theater-going public. The headquarters of this vast circuit is located at 942 Market Street, San Francisco, and it occupies one entire floor of the Garfield Building, where the photographic, sign-writing, card-writing, supply department for all necessities to maintain their circuit, clerical work, official work, directing, etc., is carried on. Such theaters as the famous Tivoli Opera House, seating two thousand people, known all over the world as the home of Tettrazini, Caruso, and other famous opera singers, has become one of their large places of entertainment. One of the largest theaters in America was con- structed for the vast interests of the Turner & Dahnken firm, located at Eleventh and Broadway streets, Oakland, California. This theater has many innovations for the accommodation of the lovers of the silent drama-hand- some upholstered seats, a maid in attendance for the comforts of the ladies, large and spacious waiting-rooms with telephones at their command, a tea- room for ladies to rest, and between sips of their tea to pass their opinions upon the wonderfully pleasant entertainment they have received from the hands of the Turner & Dahnken Circuit. This elaborate place of amusement seats about 3500 people, and patrons are able to reach the gallery without the assistance of steps, a gradual incline from the main entrance being pro- vided for their convenience, something entirely new to the theatrical public of the West Coast. The decorative scheme of this magnificent theater is of the latest and most up-to-date design, so arranged that when worked in con- junction with the lighting scheme, the house can be immediately converted into the environments of the subject being exhibited upon the curtain. The house can be made into twilight, dawn, the surroundings of a volcano, or
590
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
become part of a fire scene. A wonderful master pipe-organ is installed to give all the necessary effects lending realism to the silent drama, such as the gradual approach of cavalry, or of the distant rumble of cannon, the singing of birds, or the eruption of a volcano, the echo of distant noises. In fact, space will not permit the naming of the wonderful advancement these two exponents of the silent drama, as pioneers in the theatrical game, have developed in the moving-picture theater. Their theaters are the last word of improvement, and they have traced the exhibition of the motion picture to the zenith of its glory from a humble inception through phenomenal evolu- tion to an inspiring development. James T. Turner was born in Antioch on July 25, 1873. Educated at Antioch grammar school until the age of thir- teen, then sought employment as farmer. Then became associated with his present partner, Mr. Dahnken, as manager in the Arlington Hotel, Antioch. In the fall of 1899 he left for San Francisco and made his first real business venture, which proved very successful, and which afterward turned out to be the coming together of the firm of Turner & Dahnken in the spring of 1901. In the summer of 1904, Mr. Turner opened up the beginning of the amusement business in Fresno, and after three months of success, their attention was drawn to the Lewis & Clark Exposition. They immediately moved their shows to the city of Portland, and after a successful season were unable to renew their lease, which necessitated their storing the shows. Mr. Turner then returned to Fresno, and Mr. Dahnken resumed the hotel business at Antioch. Immediately after the great San Francisco earthquake and fire Mr. Dahnken came to San Francisco to seek a possible location for their shows, and sent for Mr. Turner and wired Portland to ship their shows to San Francisco at once. In the meantime they prepared their loca- tion to receive their automatic vaudeville shows, located on Fillmore Street, San Francisco. Business was very profitable for about one year. Mr. Turner has a way of remaining patient and calm under the most trying circum- stances-just aggressive enough to be forceful, and just amiable enough to be loved. He has a way of saying "Thank you" that makes you feel good all over. He makes people like to do things for him.
FRED DAHNKEN is a son of Fred and Bridget Dahnken, one of the prom- inent and representative families of the Bay region. His father was a native of Germany, and his mother came from Ireland. At the age of fifteen Mr. Dahnken's father left his native country and came to America. He remained in New York for a few years and later decided to cast his lot in the Golden West. He came to San Francisco via Panama route and engaged in business for some years. Later he moved to Sherman Island, where he followed farm- ing, and in 1865 he located in Antioch. He followed the draying business, and for thirty-five years, owing to his absolute integrity, he filled the office of wharfinger, and while in this office he was identified with the hotel in-
.
591
BIOGRAPHICAL
terests of Antioch. He was especially active in politics, and was a loyal supporter of the Democratic party; he served in a creditable manner on the school board, and was city trustee for some years. His death occurred in 1913. He was a broad-minded man, liberal in thought and honorable in pur- pose, and always supported any progressive measure that was for the benefit of his locality. His death was mourned by a wide circle of friends. The mother of our subject passed away in 1915. In the parents' family four chil- dren were born, two of whom died in infancy. Henry, a brother of our sub- ject, died in 1911. He had been identified for many years with his father in Antioch. Fred Dahnken was born in Antioch on February 17, 1868. He at- tended the Antioch Grammar School until of a sufficient age to act as clerk in L. Meyers' grocery-store, Antioch. After two years he became associated in business with his father as wharfinger, and a few years later he ventured in the hotel business, which he still retains. In 1896 he started for British Columbia to make a further venture in the hotel business, which did not prove successful and necessitated his return to Antioch. However, not sat- isfied, he followed the big gold rush to Alaska in the year 1900, but after looking the situation over he did not believe there were possibilities there for substantial investment or of making a business venture with a future, and he returned again to Antioch. At this time the firm of Turner & Dahn- ken laid its cornerstone. Mr Dahnken has the courage of his convictions, but his convictions very seldom require much courage to support them. He is gifted with an incredible measure of business instinct and a wonderful power of perception. His inventive and creative mind has been responsible for most of the popular improvements in the theatrical business. On Feb- ruary II, 1903, he was united in marriage to Margaret Kearney, a native of San Francisco, and daughter of Patrick Kearney, who erected the Palace Hotel of Antioch, and a granddaughter of Mrs. Tregalles, of Antioch. To this union there were two children-Carsten, born December, 1903, and Mar- garet, born in 1905. In politics Mr. Dahnken is affiliated with the Democratic party, but he never aspired to office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles of Antioch, the Press Club, and Indoor Yacht Club of San Francisco.
CHARLES FISH (deceased) .- The name of Charles Fish is remembered throughout Contra Costa County as that of one of the men who gave his best efforts toward the cultivation of the broad farming lands of the county. Before his death, which occurred on February 28, 1911, he, with his brother, Lafayette I. Fish, became the owner of large tracts of land. In the death of Charles Fish Contra Costa County and the whole bay region lost one of its largest and most successful ranchers, and one of the most energetic, capable, and public-spirited pioneers. Mr. Fish was born in Batavia, New York, October 24, 1818, son of Libeus and Polly (Holcomb) Fish, descend- ants of Colonial settlers of New England, and the former was a son of
1
592
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Lieutenant Josiah Fish, who served during the Revolutionary War as a lieutenant under Captain Wm. Hutchins. Mr. Fish acquired a common-school education, and in Oceober, 1834, he secured a position as clerk in the store of Foote & Beebe, at Batavia. After six months he was transferred to a store . at Careyville, owned by the same firm. In April, 1837, he went to Gallatin, Mississippi, as clerk for his brother, Josiah Fish, who paid him fifty dollars for a time, and later raised his salary to eighty dollars a month. In the fall of 1838 he removed to Monticello to take charge of a branch store. With one thousand dollars he had accumulated, he engaged in business with W. D. Larkin, whose interest he purchased in 1843. After conducting the busi- ness alone for about ten years, in January, 1853, he sold out and took pas- sage from New Orleans on the whaler "Independence," which was wrecked off the lower coast of California. He arrived in San Francisco on the last day of March, 1853. He at once found work in a store operated by Jerry Ford, and June, 1854, found Mr. Fish located in Martinez. After taking charge of a warehouse at Pacheco for a few months, he acquired an interest in the concern in connection with his brother, Lafayette I. Fish, and for eleven years he continued in this partnership, after which he sold his in- terest in the concern, and, with his brother, acquired large tracts of land, which were operated by tenants. Mr. Fish assisted in the organization of the Martinez Bank and became one of the directors. From 1880 to 1882 he was a member of the firm of Fish & Blum, and at other periods he main- tained an interest in the grain business. Mr. Fish and his brother at one time purchased about three thousand acres in Fresno, San Joaquin, and Kings counties. In 1906 Charles Fish retired from active business, and after his retirement his advice was often sought in matters of importance. Mr. Fish was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Grimes, who was born in Bethany, Genesee County, New York, and reared in Erie County, her par- ents being William and Elizabeth (Mccullough) Grimes: To Mr. and Mrs. Fish were born four children-Charles Stanley (who married May How- land, a native of St. Louis, Missouri; he received the appointment from the Board of Supervisors in March, 1904, as commissioner in charge of the Contra Costa County exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis), Grace Emily and Blanche Ellen (who reside at home), and Eli, who died in 1886. For many years the family occupied an attractive resi- dence erected by Mr. Fish on an eminence overlooking the city of Martinez, the surrounding valley, and the bay in the distance, the whole forming a charming scenic environment for the comfortable home. He was always a liberal contributor in the advancement of educational and religious work. Charles Fish and Mrs. Lafayette I. Fish donated the ground upon which the Martinez high-school building was erected. Martinez, the adopted town of Charles Fish, owes much to his progressive spirit and broad-minded citi- zenship, and in the annals of the place his name will always be remem- bered and cherished.
593
BIOGRAPHICAL
HENRY MYERS BUCKLEY is numbered among the representative men and substantial farmers of Contra Costa County, and has followed this occupation successfully all his life. He is a son of William Heywood and Jane Ann (Myers) Buckley. The father of Henry M. Buckley was num- bered among the pioneers of California, where since very early times his activities have been a force in progress, and his citizenship a valuable municipal asset. He first came to California in 1849, from Ulster County, New York, via Mexico, and was among the early gold-seekers to reach the California mines. Later he was identified with Government work at Benicia for a time. Again he went to Placer and El Dorado counties, where he mined. Returning to the Empire State, he married Miss Jane Ann Myers, a native of Dutchess County, New York, a descendant of the Knickerbocker and other prominent families of Revolutionary ancestry. Mr. Buckley with his wife made the trip together to California this time via the Isthmus route, locating in San Francisco for two years. He then took up holdings of land where Fruitvale is now located, and in 1857 he removed to Contra Costa County, where he took up five hundred and twenty acres and engaged in general farming and stock business. Here he remained until his death, which occurred May 18, 1912, in his eighty-ninth year. Since pioneer times Mr. Buckley's father has taken an active interest in public affairs. He was a staunch Republican for many years, and later joined the People's party. He watched the community develop along all lines. He was considered authority on everything pertaining to the early settlement and the later development of the county. His wife died June 14, 1914, at the age of ninety- one years. Although she has ceased from her labors, and no longer her smile brings gladness to the many who knew her, yet her memory is green, and her name is spoken in eulogy throughout Contra Costa County. The subject of this sketch acquired his education in the public schools of Contra Costa County. Laying aside his books, he became actively engaged on the home place, where he has always remained. He has recently rented the ranch, but up to 1914 he was largely identified with the stock and dairying interests of the county. There were six children in the parents' family- Adeline, wife of George Sellers, of Oakley; Frances W., died October 5, 1916; Joseph H., a resident of Pinole, married Miss Zitella Higgins; Annie E. and Jennie L., both residing at home; and Henry, the subject of this sketch.
HARCOURT GALTON BIGGS is the son of the Rev. G. Hesketh Biggs, who was justice of the peace of Worcestershire County, England. His death occurred at Stratford-on-Avon in 1903. Mr. Biggs is an active and enterprising representative of the business interests of Contra Costa County. He is superintendent of the manufacturing department of Blake Brothers Company. His birth occurred in England in 1863, and he acquired his edu- cation in the same town where Shakespeare lived, Stratford-on-Avon. In
594
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
1881 he came to America and settled in Texas, where he rode the range for a period of five years. He next went to Wyoming, where he followed the range for four years. Mr. Biggs came to California and located in San Francisco in 1890, and became identified with Warren & Company, a whole- sale machinery firm, for two years. He then took a position with the Min- turn ranch in Fresno County, where he acted as foreman for two years. Throughout his career Mr. Biggs has been successful in every business he has undertaken, and was especially successful in handling horses. He con- ducted a business for three years in San Francisco, corner of Van Ness and Golden Gate avenues, where he bought and sold horses, after which he became associated in his present position. Politically, Mr. Biggs is affiliated with the Republican party. He held a position as foreman of the jute-mill at San Quentin for nearly two years, and acted as deputy sheriff in Fremont County, Wyoming. While he was acting in this capacity the sheriff was killed while hunting horse-thieves, and Mr. Biggs served three months as sheriff to fill the unexpired term. He was then appointed deputy sheriff under the new administration. Fraternally, Mr. Biggs is affiliated with the B. P. O. E. lodge of Richmond, and he has the recognition of having held the office of exalted ruler. He was elected to this office April 1, 1914, and his term expired April 6, 1915. At the expiration of his office, Mr. Biggs was presented with a handsome gold watch. He was united in marriage to Gertrude Lindsay, daughter of Judge Lindsay, August 29, 1894. Their two children are Adele, born September 19, 1895, and Reginald, born May 5, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Biggs are esteemed by all who know them.
NORMAN H. BENNETT .- Numbered among the esteemed and popular residents of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, is Norman H. Bennett, cashier of the San Ramon Valley Bank, who is filling the position with marked ability. He is a man of intrusted integrity, possessing good judg- ment and tact. He is performing the duties devolving upon him to the entire satisfaction of the public. Mr. Bennett was born in Iowa, June 12, 1883, a son of Rudolphus and Mariette (Peck) Bennett, who were the par- ents of nine children, of whom six sons and two daughters are living. The father was a native of Vermont, and was prominently identified with his community as a newspaper publisher. In 1887 he came to California, and located in San Diego, where he published a newspaper. He is now retired, in his ninety-second year. Mr. Bennett's mother was a native of Clinton, Iowa, and her father was identified with the early history of that State, and was a large landowner. The subject of this review has one brother, Ira E. Bennett, editor of the Washington Post, in Washington, D. C. He is one of the remarkable newspaper men and authors who have gone to the East from the San Francisco Chronicle. On December 9, 1916, he was elected pres- ident of the Gridiron Club, the famous organization of the Washington newspaper correspondents. This most coveted honor in the newspaper
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.