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Sacramento County
Biographies
1880
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
BARTON, H. E.; Post Office, Latrobe, El
Dorado County; lives on Deer Creek, ten miles from Folsom, and four miles from
White Rock; was born in Schoharie County, New York, in 1832; removed, with
parents, to Iowa in 1837, and lived there until 1853; he crossed the plains in
that year, and went up into Oregon; came to California in April, 1854, and
settled in El Dorado County; was engaged in stock-raising there until April,
1866, when he moved to this county, and settled on his present place; is now
extensively engaged in stock-raising and dairying; owns three hundred cattle
and sixty horses; he carries on the dairy business in Lake Valley, El Dorado
County, where he has five hundred and eighty acres, and where he drives his
stock every summer; his stock ranch, of three hundred and twenty acres, is in
Alpine County. Mr. Barton owns one thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of
land; his land, with improvements, in this county, is worth about $20,000. He
was married, in 1859, to Miss Margaret Skiffington, a native of New York City,
born March 31, 1844; they have nine children seven sons and two daughters. A
view of his place is given elsewhere.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
BENNETT, JOHN; Post Office, Mormon
Island; was born in England, in 1817, and lived there until 1846, engaged in
whipsawing for ships; emigrated to the United States in that year, and was
engaged in the same business in Medford, Massachusetts, until 1851; he then
came to California by way of the Isthmus, and settled at Mormon Island, where
he now lives; owns two hundred and fifty-three acres of land; has been engaged
in mining, fruit-growing, and farming. Mr. Bennett is Vice-President of the
Natoma Water Company; he is one of the heaviest stockholders, and is one of the
Directors. He was married, in 1849, to Miss Martha Nuttall, also a native of
England; they have an adopted daughter.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
BRODER, JACOB; Post Office, Folsom; lives
three miles from that town, and one and a-half miles from Mormon Island; was
born in Switzerland in 1833; emigrated to the United States in 1848, and was
engaged in farming in the Eastern States until 1850. He came to California in
that year, across the Plains, and settled in this county. He followed mining
for about two and a-half years; since then has been engaged in farming and
stock-raising; owns four hundred acres of land in this county; his land, with
improvements, is worth about $11,000. Mr. Broder was married in 1869 to Miss
Mary M. Studerus, a native of Virginia; they have four children, two sons and
two daughters. A view of his place is given on another page.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
BRODER, OSWALD; Post Office, Folsom; lives
three miles from that town, and one and a-half miles from Mormon Island; was
born in Switzerland in 1826, and lived there until 1848, engaged in farming;
emigrated to the United States in that year, and followed farming in the
Eastern States until 1850. He then came to California, across the Plains, and
settled in this county; was engaged in mining for about two years, when he
moved to his present location and has since been farming and wine-making; owns
four hundred acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $5,000. Mr. Broder
has held the office of School Trustee. He was married in 1864 to Miss Frances
Bainbridge, a native of England.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
BUTLER, JOHN E.; Post Office, Folsom;
lives five miles from that town amid twenty-four miles from Sacramento; was
born in England in 1828, emigrated to the United States with his parents in
1836, and lived in Illinois until 1850. In that year he crossed the Plains and
came to California; engaged in mining in Yuba county until 1852, when he
returned to Illinois, and remained until 1854; he then crossed the Plains a
second time, and resided in Yolo County from 1856 to 1863, where he was farming
and stock-raising. He settled in this county in the Fall of 1863, and has since
been stock-raising, farming and hotel-keeping; owns six hundred acres of land.
Mr. Butler has held the office of Constable. He was married March 9, 1865, to
Miss E. L. DeWolf, a native of Ohio; they have two children, both boys.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
CAPLES, JAMES; Post Office, Folsom; lives
eight miles from that town and twenty miles from Sacramento; was born in Ohio
in 1823; removed to Missouri in 1839, and lived there until 1847; in that year
he moved to Illinois, and remained there until 1849. He then came to
California, across the Plains, and was engaged in general merchandising in
Placerville until 1851, when he settled on his present location, and has since
been farming and stock-raising; owns thirty-two hundred acres of land. Dr.
Caples was a member of the Constitutional Convention. He was married in 1847 to
Miss M. J. Walker, a native of Kentucky, daughter of George Walker of Illinois;
they have nine children, five boys and four girls.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
CULVER, L. G.; Post Office, Mormon Island,
where he lives; was born in State of New York in 1836, and lived there until
1854. He came to California in that year by way of the Nicaragua route, and was
engaged in the sawmill business in Placerville until 1864; he then enlisted in
the Seventh California Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he
was mustered out in San Francisco. Mr. Culver owns the Mormon Island Bridge. He
was married in 1876 to Mrs. Kate DeNoe, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio; they have
one child, a son.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
DAVIS, W. O.; Post Office, Folsom; lives
five miles from Folsom and twenty-two miles from Sacramento; was born in
Tennessee in 1830; removed with his parents in 1841 to Missouri, and lived
there until 1852, engaged in farming. He came to California in that year,
across the plains, and settled on Alder Creek; moved to his present location in
1870, and up to that time had been engaged in mining, since then has been
raising sheep; owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, worth about $1200.
Mr. Davis was married in 1870 to Miss Maggie French, a native of Scotland. They
have four children two boys and two girls.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
DUVOL, J. F.; Post Office, Mormon Island,
where he lives; was born in Massachusetts in 1819, and lived there until 1849,
engaged in general merchandising. He came to California in that year, by way of
Cape Horn, in the bark Diamond, and resided in Sacramento City about
three years, engaged in photographing, till burned out in 1852. In 1854 was
engaged in mining at Mormon Island, when he moved to Folsom, and after a short
period moved to his present location, where he has resided for nine years. He
has been engaged in farming, fruit-growing and viniculture.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
DONOVAN, PATRICK; Post Office, Folsom;
lives two and a half miles from that town and three miles from White Rock; was
born in Ireland in 1822; emigrated to the United States in 1848, and lived in
Kentucky until 1855. He came to California in that year, by way of the Isthmus,
and settled in this county, where he has since resided. He has been engaged in
mining ever since he came to the State, and has been working his present claim
since 1858; owns fifty acres of mining land. Mr. Donovan was married in 1855;
his wife died in 1860; was married again in 1863 to Miss Ellen Dinneen, a
native of Ireland. They have three children two boys and one girl.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
HAASE, PETER, Post Office, Folsom ; lives
about five miles south of that town, and about twenty miles from Sacramento;
was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1830; removed to London in 1848, and lived
there until 1853; emigrated to the United States; in that year, arriving on the
day of President Pierce's inauguration, March 4, 1853; he resided in New York City
until 1854, when he came to California by way of the Isthmus, and followed
mining until 1859, at Forbestown, Butte County, and near Folsom in this county;
he then settled on his present location, where he has been engaged in farming
and stock-raising: owns fourteen hundred acres of land. He was married in 1868
to Miss G. Bassen, also a native of Hanover, Germany; they have five children
two sons and three daughters.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
HOUSTON, J. W.; Post Office, Folsom;
lives two and a half miles from that town, and twenty-six miles from
Sacramento; was born in Maine in 1831, and lived there until 1851, engaged at
blacksmithing; he came to California in that year, by way of the Nicaragua
route, and settled in this county; he followed mining in this county four
years, and then located where he now lives, and has since been farming and
blacksmithing; owns 580 acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $8,000.
Mr. H. has held the office of Tax Collector. He was married in 1855 to Miss
Sarah E. Jones, also a native of Maine; they have two children, a son, and a
daughter. A view of his place is given on another page.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268
HURLEY, JOHN, lives four miles from
Folsom, and one mile from Mormon Island, his Post Office. He was born in the
State of New York in 1810, and came across the Plains in 1849, arriving August
30, 1849. Mined eighteen months at Long Bar, on Yuba River; then spent fifteen
years in Sacramento, during eight of which he was blacksmithing; he then mined
six months in El Dorado County; he then engaged for five years in ranching in
Sacramento County, fifteen miles from Sacramento City. He then lived two years
in Sacramento City. For the past five years he has lived in the vicinity of
Folsom. He is now mining some claims he has owned for three years.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 268-269.
McCOMBER, JOHN; Post Office, Folsom;
lives four miles from that town, and two miles from Mormon Island; was born in
the State of New York in 1836, and lived there until 1853; he spent five years
in the States of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin; came to California in 1858, by
way of the Isthmus, and settled in this county; he has been engaged in farming
and teaming ever since he came to the State; owns three hundred and twenty
acres of land in this county, and five hundred acres in El Dorado County; his
land is worth about $8000. Mr. McComber has held the offices of Constable and
Deputy Sheriff. He was married in 1864 to Miss M. Davison, a native of
Massachusetts; they have five children two sons and three daughters.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
MILGATE, W. J., Post Office, Folsom;
lives ten miles from that town, and twenty-one miles from Sacramento; was born
in the State of New York in 1837; when quite young, removed with his parents to
Illinois, and lived there a short time; they then moved to Iowa, and remained
there until 1853; they crossed the Plains in that year, and settled in this
county, near his present location; he has been engaged in stock raising, but
for the last twelve years he has been exclusively engaged in the sheep
business; owns eight hundred and eighty acres of land, worth, with
improvements, about $7000. He was married in 1862 to Miss A. S. Tuttle, a
native of Missouri; they have three children two boys and one girl.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
MURRAY, P.; Post Office, Mormon Island;
lives one mile from that town; was born in Ireland, in 1834; emigrated to the
United States, with his mother, in 1844, and lived in Orange County, New York,
for about three years; in that year he went to New Orleans, and lived there
until 1854; he then came to California by way of the Nicaragua route, and
resided in Sacramento City until 1861, and then moved to El Dorado County,
where he engaged in farming and stock-raising; he settled on his present
location in the spring of 1879, and continued in the above mentioned business;
owns one hundred and forty-five acres of land in this county. He was married in
1854 to Miss Delia Ford, also a native of Ireland; they have four children two
boys and two girls.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
NUTTALL, JOHN; Post Office, Mormon
Island; was born in England, in 1813; emigrated to the United States in 1835,
and lived a short time in New Jersey; from there he moved to Medford,
Massachusetts, and was employed in a ship-yard; came to California in 1851, by
way of the Isthmus, and settled in Mormon Island, where he has lived ever
since; he sent for his family about a year after his arrival; was engaged in
mining about five years; since then has been engaged principally in farming,
fruit-raising and stock-raising; owns four hundred and fifty acres of land in
the county, and also owns town property. Mr. Nuttall held the office of School
Trustee for several years. He was married in 1830 to Elizabeth Nuttall, also a
native of England; they have two sons living.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
ROBINSON, JAMES S. S.; Post Office,
Mormon Island; was born in Nova Scotia in 1815; removed with his parents to
Maine in 1827 and lived there until 1852; he then came to California by way of
the Isthmus and commenced mining near Mormon Island; followed mining in this
county until 1863, when he moved to Alpine County and remained there about
seven years; then, he returned to this county and settled at Mormon Island, his
present location, and since when, he has been engaged principally in raising
fruit; owns twenty acres of land, worth about $1500. Mr. Robinson has held the
office of Road Overseer. He married Augusta D. Townsend, a native of Maine; she
died about three and a half years ago.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
SALES, WILLIAM, was born in England in 1819
and remained till 1843, when he came to the United States and settled in New
Jersey, working in a stone quarry for about eighteen mouths. From there he went
to New York, then to New Orleans and then to Kingston, Jamaica, where a stay of
one year was made. He then returned to New Orleans for a few weeks, and then to
Pittsburg, where he joined the North American Circus; came to California in
1852; settled in Sacramento County, where he has since resided, following
mining for a short time, and afterwards devoting his attention to farming,
fruit-growing, dairying and poultry-raising. In 1849 Mr. Sales married Miss E.
Balsover; they have had five boys, three living, and four girls living. Mr.
Sales has held the office of Road Master for three years. His Post Office is
Folsom.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
SAUL, CHARLES, was born in Wicklow County,
Ireland, February 8, 1829; came to the United States in 1848 and followed
bricklaying at St. Louis, Missouri; came to California across the plains in
1852 and halted at Winter's Bar, on the Mokelumne. Mr. Saul discovered
Lanchaplana (step-of-the-hill) diggings, and worked there three months. Then
moved to his present home on Deer Creek. In 1861-2-3, Mr. Saul superintended
the construction of the South Fork Turnpike Road, for which he never received a
dollar. His education prepared him for civil and mechanical engineering, and he
has surveyed many roads in California. In 1858 he returned to Ireland, married
Miss M. A. Jones, and returned to California in 1859. They have had five
children---Thomas Owen (deceased), Martha Eveline, Emily Francis, Edwin Joseph
and Charles Ashurt (twins, the former is dead). Mr. Lamb has four hundred
acres, half of which is good wheat land; the other half is splendid pasture. He
is a Republican in politics, a Protestant in religion, and Liberal in his
opinions. Of his home a view is given on another page.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
SILBERHORN, JOHN; Post Office, Mormon
Island; lives three-quarters of a mile from that town and three and a half
miles from Folsom; was born in New York City, in 1849, and lived there until
1853; he came to California in that year, with his parents, by way of the
Isthmus, and lived at Salmon Falls until 1869; he then removed to Mendocino
County, and remained there four years, when he removed to Mormon Island; has
been engaged in mining ever since he came to the County; he has been Ditch
Agent for the Natoma Water and Mining Company for the last six years. Mr.
Silberhorn was married October, 1873, to Miss Catherine Hart, who was born near
Mormon Island; they have three children two boys and a daughter.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
STEPHENSON, THOMAS; Post Office,
Mormon Island; was born in London, in 1830, and lived there until 1849;
emigrated to the United States in that year, and came direct to California by
way of Cape Horn, and settled in this county, on his present location; he
followed mining for a short time, but has been engaged, principally, in general
merchandising, at Mormon Island, since coming to this State; owns town
property, worth about $800. Mr. Stephenson held the office of Justice of the
Peace for about eighteen years, and has been Postmaster, at Mormon Island, for
the last nine years. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Christiana Myers, a
native of Germany; they have one child a son.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
TAPPER, A. W.; Post Office, Folsom; lives
eight miles from that town, and twenty-two miles from Sacramento; was born in
Prussia, December, 1829; emigrated to the United States in 1854, and came
direct to California, by way of the Isthmus; he at once settled in this county,
and engaged in mining, which he followed about twenty years, but was at the
same time engaged in farming and stock-raising, which now receives all of his
attention; his stock business is confined principally to sheep and horses; owns
six hundred and forty acres of land, worth about $3,000. He was married, in
1861, to Miss Amelia Kummer, a native of Switzerland.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
THOMASSON, A. H. ; Post Office,
Routier; lives six miles from Folsom, and sixteen miles from Sacramento; was
born in Kentucky, in 1820; removed, in 1838, to Missouri, and lived there until
1842; he then went to Iowa, and remained there until 1845, when he returned to
Missouri, and resided until 1850; he came to California, in that year, across
the plains, and settled in this county, on his present location; he is engaged
in farming and stock-raising; owns two hundred and fifty-four acres of land,
worth, with improvements, about $7,000. He was married, in 1839, to Miss D. A.
Anderson, a native of Syracuse, New York; they have three children a son and
two daughters.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269
TOWNSEND, E. B.; Post Office, Mormon
Island and Folsom; lives a quarter of a mile from the former and two and a-half
miles from the latter; was born in Portland, Maine, 1823, and lived there until
1853, engaged in the manufacture of shoe-binding. He came to California in the
Spring of that year, by way of the Nicaragua route, and settled on his present
location; he has been engaged in dairying, butchering, and farming since coming
to the State; owns three hundred and thirty-four acres of land, worth, with
improvements, about $2,500. Mr. Townsend has held the office of School Trustee.
He was married to his second wife, Mrs. M. S. Powderly, in 1874; she is a
native of New York State; they have five children, one being an adopted child.
A view of his place is given elsewhere.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 269-270.
WILKINSON, MRS. M. J., resides in
Sacramento City, and owns the White Rock Ranch in Natoma Township; she was born
in Maine, and at the age of ten years removed to Illinois, and afterwards to
St. Louis. In 1844 she married a Mr. Chapman, a ship carpenter, and with him
came across the Plains in 1849; they passed through the memorable flood of that
winter, and then went to Hangtown (Placerville). In April, 1850, they purchased
for $2,500 a half interest in the present ranch, merely as a hotel; it was a
favorite tavern on the road to the mines, and from the old canvas tent it was
improved to a large house, barn, &c.
In 1857 Mr. Chapman was lost on the ill-fated steamer Central America;
Mrs. Chapman carried on the ranch with her three children. Two years later she
married Mr. Wilkinson; in 1871 she drew a prize of $20,000 in the Mercantile
Library Lottery of San Francisco, and the family then moved to Sacramento City.
Mr. Wilkinson died in 1878, leaving Mrs. Wilkinson a second time a widow. She
has had eight children, five of whom, two sons and three daughters, are still
living. A view of Mrs. Wilkinson's place is given elsewhere in this work.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 270.
WILLIAMS, W. H., lives eight miles south
of Folsom, twenty-two miles from Sacramento; was born in Scotland in 1818; on
the 18th of August he left New York, via Cape Horn, for California, arriving in
San Francisco, February 13, 1849. He went to Sacramento, and then to the mines
at Rhodes' Diggings, where he worked for six weeks; from this point he went to
El Dorado County, and continued to work in the mines for two and a-half years.
In 1855 Mr. Williams settled in Natoma Township, where he now resides; his possessions
comprise six hundred and forty acres in Sacramento County and seven hundred
acres in Nevada County. Married Mrs. Frances Hoke in 1864; they have had one
child, a girl, who died when two years old. Mr. Williams' property is worth
about $15,000. Post Office, Folsom. A
view of his place is given elsewhere.
NATOMA TOWNSHIP.
Page 270.
WILSON, MRS. ELIZA; Post Office, Folsom and Clarksville;
lives two miles from White Rock and eight miles from Folsom; was born in
Ireland, 1839, and lived there until 1859; emigrated to the United States and
came direct to California in that year, via the Isthmus, and settled in this
county; moved to present location in 1863, and is now engaged in farming; owns
three hundred and forty acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $2,000.
She was married in 1866 to I. N. Wilson, a native of Illinois, and by whom she
has, now living, seven children, three sons and four daughters. Mr. Wilson died
in March, 1878.
Source: History of Sacramento County, California With
Illustrations 1880 by Thompson & West.
© 2004 Nancy Pratt Melton.
Sacramento County Biographies