****************************
Sacramento County
Biographies
1880
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
BECK, JOHN, farmer, lives three miles from Sacramento;
owns ninety-three acres of land, valued, with improvements, at about $7000;
Post Office, Sacramento; was born in New York City in 1844; parents moved to
Philadelphia when he was quite young, and came to this State in 1849, via the
Isthmus. In the year 1855 they moved to this county; they have since died. The
subject of this sketch has been engaged in railroading for the last ten years;
previous to that gave his attention to farming, is also farming at the present
time. Married Miss Eliza E. Greer in 1875; she is a native of California; they
have two sons.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
BONETTI, JOHN, hotel keeper, farmer and viniculturist;
lives on upper Stockton road about three miles distant from Sacramento his Post
Office; owns one hundred and twenty acres of land; born in Switzerland in 1832,
lived there until 1855 and learned the carpenter trade. July 31, 1855, left the
city of New York for California via the Isthmus of Panama; arrived in
Sacramento November 1, 1855; followed mining for two and one-half years near
Sonora, at Placerville, and in Tuolumne County. In 1858 moved to Sacramento and
opened a cigar and fruit store; after a business of three days his place was
burned; he then moved to his present location and followed the dairy business
for four years, then gave his attention to farming and vine growing; he has
22,000 grape vines, comprising thirty-three varieties, planted on thirty acres
of land. The hotel is a fine building; in connection with it he runs what is
said to be the best saloon in the county outside of Sacramento; at his place
there can always be found a fine stock of wines, liquors and cigars. Married
Miss Laura Ballard in 1861; she was born in Indiana; they have one son, aged
thirteen years. A view of his place can be seen elsewhere.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
BRIGGS, ALFRED, lives five miles from Sacramento City,
his Post Office; he was born in the town of Skaneateles, State of New York, in
1820, there he remained until 1845, engaged in farming and clerking; in 1845 he
went to Wisconsin lead mines, engaging in mining and mercantile business; he
remained until 1850, and then crossed the plains to California, arriving at Placerville,
August 17, 1850; he engaged in mining; he was a member of the Legislature in
1854 from El Dorado County, and again a member in 1858; he was appointed
Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of California by Abraham
Lincoln in 1864; moved to Sacramento in May of the same year; he held the
office nine years, until May 20, 1873; since has been engaged in farming. He
married Mary E. Lucas, native of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, in 1854; they had
six children---four boys and two girls. His wife died in 1870 and the two
youngest children; he married again in 1873, Mary E. Dougherty, a native of
Wisconsin; they have two children, a girl and a boy. Mr. Briggs owns two
hundred and fifty-nine acres of land, valued at $12,000. A view of his place
appears in this work.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
BROCKWAY, C. V., ferryman and farmer, lives on the
Freeport road, two and one-half miles from Sacramento, his Post Office; owns
one hundred and ninety acres of land, valued at $35,000; born in New London
County, Connecticut, in 1807; went to the city of New York in 1822, where he
learned the trade of coachmaker, and remained until 1828, in which year he went
to Washington, D. C.; in 1837 removed to Louisville, and entered the coach and
wagonmaking business, also ran an omnibus in the city; in April, 1849, started
from St. Joseph, Missouri, across the Plains, for California, and arrived in
Hangtown August 4, 1849; kept general merchandise store until November; then
removed to Sacramento, and located at corner of Seventh and K streets; built
the first house in that vicinity; engaged in general merchandising. In 1851
moved to his present place, where he has since been engaged in hop and fruit
growing. He was first married in 1833. Married Miss M. E. Offott, from
Georgetown, D. C., in 1865; they have one son and four daughters. A view of his
place is given in this book.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
BURKE, J. A., farmer and dairyman; lives near the
Freeport road, three and one-half miles from Sacramento, his Post Office; owns
three hundred and twenty acres of land, valued at about $20,000; born in
Ireland in 1824, and emigrated to America in 1834; lived in Boston and Andover,
Massachusetts, where he engaged in farming until 1849; then came to this State,
via Cape Horn; arrived in San Francisco March 1, 1850; followed mining at
Mormon Island for about two years; then came to Sacramento. In 1854, moved to
the place where he now resides; he is engaged in farming and the dairy
business; for the last twenty years has been making butter. Married Miss Sarah
Chandler in 1848; she is a native of Roxbury, Massachusetts; they have one son,
having lost one daughter. A view of his place is given on another page.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
BURNS, PETER, farmer and stock-raiser; lives two and
one-half miles from Sacramento, his Post Office ; owns one hundred and
sixty-eight acres of land, valued at $8,000; born in 1827, in Ireland, where he
engaged in farming; in 1847, came to America, and settled in Brooklyn, and came
to California in 1849, by the way of the Isthmus; followed mining on the
American River, between Mormon Island and Salmon Falls, for about three months;
then devoted his services to a private hospital, in Sacramento, for eighteen
months; in 1851, moved to the place where he now resides; he devotes his time
to farming, fruit-growing, stock-raising, and dairy business; married Miss Ann
Doyle in 1851; she was born in Ireland; they have seven daughters. He has held
the office of Constable, and at the present time is a School Trustee.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
CARUTHERS, ANDREW, was born in Cumberland County,
Pennsylvania, in 1803, and died in Sacramento in December, 1876. Mr. Caruthers,
at the age of seventeen years, went as an apprentice to the art of printing, in
the City of Harrisburg (a fellow apprentice with the Honorable Simon Cameron).
He afterwards located in Washington, D. C., where he engaged in mercantile
pursuits. He there married a Miss Given. There were born to them eight
children, three of whom are now living. The eldest of the boys educated for the
ministry, became pastor of the Assembly's Presbyterian Church, Washington,
when, through failing health, he was compelled to resign his charge. In 1859 he
was appointed, by President Buchanan, Consul General to the West Indies, and
again, in 1861, by President Lincoln, to the same position, where he died in
1862. Mr. Caruthers, Senior, buried his first wife, after a happy marital period
of fifteen years. He again married, a Miss Holland, of the same place, who is
now his surviving consort. He arrived in California early in 1849, and located
at the present home of his family, three miles from Sacramento, in Sutter
Township. Mr. Caruthers, in life, was known as thoroughly and strictly
honorable in all his dealings; but yet, with almost exacting traits, he bore
the truism of a noble character---sans peur, et sans reproche. He was a
faithful member of the First Congregational Society of Sacramento, whose
pastor, Rev. I. E. Dwinell, depicted most beautifully his exemplary life, while
officiating at the last sad rites of Andrew Caruthers. A portrait of Mr.
Caruthers, and a view of his residence, are given on another page.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
CHANCE, SILAS, butcher, farmer and saloon-keeper, lives
four miles from the Capitol. Owns home and lots. Post Office, Sacramento. Born
in 1835 in Illinois. Learned the milling business. Moved to Iowa in 1855; one
year later went to Fremont, Nebraska; was one of the first settlers there. In
1857 crossed the plains to this State, arriving in December of the same year.
Has been engaged in different parts of the State in mining, general
merchandise, milling, etc. In 1872 permanently settled in this county, where he
has followed butchering, farming and saloon-keeping. Married Miss Kate McCabe
in 1861; she is a native of Michigan. They have five children---two sons and
three daughters. He has held the office of Road Overseer.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276.
CUMMINGS, F. H., farmer and stock-raiser, lives three
miles from Sacramento, his Post Office. Owns seventy acres of land, valued at
$5,000. Born in the city of New York in 1846. Parents moved to New Jersey in
1849 and to California, via the Isthmus, in 1856. He has lived in the county
since his arrival in the State, with the exception of a residence of two years
in San Francisco. Moved to his present location in 1875. Has been engaged in
farming, stock-raising and fruit-growing. A view of his ranch is given
elsewhere.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 276-277.
CURTIS, WM., farmer and dairyman; lives two and a-half
miles from Sacramento, his Post Office; his parents, John T. and Mary B.
Curtis, came to America about 1830; William, the subject of this notice, was
born August 11, 1831, in Watertown, Massachusetts; came to California in 1852
via the Isthmus of Panama; was shipwrecked near Acapulco, at the time was on
board the North America; on his arrival in the State he settled on the place
where he now resides, where he has given his attention to farming and dairy
business; owns five hundred and thirty acres of valuable agricultural land;
married Miss Susie W. Potter January 1, 1862; she was born in Hubbardston,
Massachusetts; her parents came to California when she was ten years of age;
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have had four children---William Roland, born July 4, 1863,
Carrie M., born September 13, 1865, Frederick P., born November 30, 1870, Alice
Louisa, born February 20, 1876; they have lost one child. A view of his place
is given on another page.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
DAVIS, L. R., farmer, dairyman and stock-raiser; lives
five miles south of Sacramento, his Post Office; owns 160 acres of land,
valued, with improvements, at about $5,000; born in Virginia in 1825; parents
moved to Kentucky when he was quite young; he engaged in farming until 1850,
then came to California across the plains; followed mining in Yuba County, on
the Feather River, for about one year, then moved to this county, where he has
since been engaged in farming, stock-raising and dairying. Married Miss M. L.
Lonnon, a native of Kentucky, in 1870; they have three sons and one daughter.
Mr. Davis has held the office of Road Overseer. A view of his place is given
elsewhere.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
DOLE, ENOCH, hotel and saloon keeper; lives on Riverside
road, four miles south of the city limits of Sacramento, his Post Office; born
in Maine in 1840; at the age of seventeen he commenced a sailor's life on the
Atlantic; in 1859 he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama; lived in
Sacramento until 1876; followed butchering until 1865, when he went on the
police force; in 1870 resigned, and was Deputy Sheriff under Tan Woods for two
years; was elected Truant Officer, and served until he resigned and removed to
the place where he now resides. Married Mrs. P. E. Farley in 1865; she is a
native of New York State; they have two sons and one daughter.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
DOYLE, WM., farmer and stock raiser; lives one and
one-half miles from Sacramento, his Post Office; owns three hundred and ninety
acres, worth, with improvements, about $11,000; born in Ireland in 1827;
learned the blacksmith trade in his native land. In 1853 came to America and
followed his trade in the employ of the Harlem River Railway Co., in New York
City. May 21, 1855, he sailed in the steamer Illinois to Aspinwall, and came
from Panama to San Francisco in the steamer Sonora, arriving June 15, same
year; lived in Sacramento the greater portion of his time since arrival in the
State, where he worked at his trade; moved to his present location about six
years ago. Married Mrs. Mary Ann McArdal, a native of Ireland, in 1858; they
have one daughter. Mrs. Doyle has one son by a former marriage.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
DUDEN, GEORGE E., blacksmith, farmer, and fruit-grower,
lives five miles from Sacramento, his Post Office; owns seventy-five acres of
land, valued, with improvements, about $5,000; born in Pennsylvania in 1832;
moved, when quite young, with parents, to Illinois; crossed the Plains to
California in 1852; was six months making the journey; settled in Sacramento,
and carried on the carriage and blacksmithing business until 1864; then moved
to his present location, where he has since been engaged in the same business,
and has also carried on farming and fruit-growing. Married Emma Burke, a native
of St. Louis, Missouri, in 1857; they have three sons and six daughters. Mr.
Duden has held the office of School Trustee for the past ten years.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
GERMAN, BARNEY, machinist, farmer, and fruit-grower,
lives two and one-half miles from Sacramento, his Post Office; owns ten acres
of land, valued, with improvements, at about $2,500; born in Ireland in 1830;
came to America in 1850, and settled in Vermont, where he followed the
machinist trade; came to this State in 1866, via the Isthmus of Panama, and
lived in Sacramento until 1878, when he moved to the place where he now
resides; is in the employ of the Central Pacific Railway Company as a
machinist. Married Miss Anna Powers in 1863; she is a native of Jersey City,
New Jersey.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
GRANT, E. A., farmer, lives two miles from Sacramento;
Post Office, Brighton; owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, valued, with
improvements, about $3,000; born in Connecticut in 1823; lived in that State
twenty-five years; learned the blacksmith trade; came to California by the way
of Cape Horn in 1848; worked at blacksmithing in saw-mill at Bodega, Sonoma
County, until May, 1849; then moved to Benicia, and engaged in teaming until
1856; in that year moved to his present location in Sacramento County, and has
since devoted his time to farming and teaming over the mountains. Married Miss
Margaret J. Hull in 1850; she was born in Ohio; they have five children, two
sons and three daughters.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
GROENEVELD, M. T., saloon-keeper, Sutterville, on the
Riverside Road; Post Office, Sacramento; born in Holland, in 1849; came to
America, with parents, in 1849, and lived in Wisconsin until 1854, then went to
Eagle River, near the large copper mines of the Lake Superior region; in 1857,
he took a trip to Chile, South America; traveled through the State some six
months, then came to California; arrived in Sacramento July 2, 1859; has made
this county his home since; has been engaged in mining and saloon-keeping;
moved to his present location in 1874, where he is doing a good business, and
keeps his stock replete with fine wines, liquors, cigars, &c.; married in
1874; has four sons---William, John, Fred., and James.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
HASTINGS, MRS. KATE, lives about one and one-half miles
from Sacramento, her Post Office; owns twenty acres of land; born in Queen's
County, Ireland, in 1832; came to America in 1849, and lived in different parts
of Massachusetts and Connecticut, until 1855; then came to California, via the
Isthmus of Panama, and settled in this county, near present location; married
Daniel E. Hastings in 1856; he was born in Ohio; was engaged in farming and
hotel-keeping; kept the American Union Hotel, at Sutterville, from 1849 until
September 1, 1867, the time of his death. They had five sons and three
daughters; lost one son; Mr. Hastings, during his lifetime, held the office of
Postmaster, Justice of the Peace, and was also School Trustee.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
HOFFMAN, MRS. DIANTHA farming; lives on Freeport road,
three miles from Sacramento, her Post Office. Owns one hundred and
seventy-three acres of land, valued at about $8,000. Born in Athens County,
Ohio, in 1829. Moved with parents to Missouri when she was quite young. In 1852
she crossed the plains to this State, and settled in Sacramento in 1855. Moved
to present place of residence, where she has devoted her time to farming. She
was married to John S. Wilson in 1848. He was born in Tennessee. He died in
this county in 1868. They had six children four sons and two daughters. Lost
one son. She married John Hoffman in 1876.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
HULL, JOSEPH, Sr., farmer; lives two miles from
Sacramento; Post Office, Brighton. Owns one hundred and seventy-five acres of
land, valued at about $10,000. Born in Ohio in 1813. Lived there and engaged
principally in school-teaching until 1845; then crossed the plains to Oregon.
Engaged in farming until September, 1848, when he then left Oregon City and
started for California overland, via Klamath Lake and Modoc Lava Beds. He mined
at Parks' Bar, on the main Yuba River, for about six weeks. He then returned to
Oregon, and in May, 1849, moved with family to this State, and lived in Amador
County until the Fall of that year. Moved to Benicia, and in the Summer of 1850
came to Sacramento and engaged in teaming until 1852; then moved to his present
location, where he has been engaged in farming up to the present time. At the
time of Mr. Hull's residence in Oregon City, Oregon, a Masonic Lodge was
organized; it was the first Lodge organized on the Pacific Coast. They received
their charter from the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1848. Mr. Hull was the first
Master of the Lodge. He has held the office of President of the Board of
Trustees of Levee District No. 2, lying south and east of Sacramento; was also
a member of the Board of Supervisors for about four years. Married Susan Cazel
in 1840; she was born in Ohio. They have three sons and one daughter.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277.
JOHNSON, MRS. SADIE, dairying; lives on land owned by
Mrs. Drew, four miles from Sacramento, her Post Office; born in Boone County,
Illinois, in 1847; she has lived in Idaho and several of the Western States;
her parents moved to Oregon in 1864; she came to California in 1867; lived in
San Jose until the following year; then moved to Sacramento County, where she
has since resided; at present she is engaged in the dairy business. Married
Edward A. Johnson in 1871; they had one daughter; she has also one adopted
daughter. Mr. Johnson was born in Massachusetts, and died January 5, 1879.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 277-278.
KENDALL, WM., farmer, stock raiser and fruit grower;
lives on the lower Stockton road, five miles from Sacramento, his Post Office;
owns one hundred and thirty-two acres of land, valued at $7000; born in
Kentucky in 1808; moved to Illinois in 1823, engaged in farming until 1855;
then came to California, via the Nicaragua route, arriving in San Francisco
April 24, 1855; remained in that city until September 10, 1857; then moved to
his present location in this county. Married Miss Berzilla McGinnis in 1829;
she is a native of Kentucky; they have had two sons and two daughters both
daughters now living. Mr. Kendall held the office of Justice of the Peace in
Illinois. A view of Mr. Kendall's farm is given on another page.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
KITE, M. T., farmer; lives five miles from Sacramento,
and three from Freeport; has six hundred and fifty acres of land. He was born
in Georgia in 1838, where he remained until 1851, when he moved to Alabama, and
one year later to Mississippi. Here he remained until January, 1860, and
engaged in farming. He then came to California via the Isthmus, and settled in
Sacramento County, where he has since resided. His land and improvements are
worth $15,000. Post Office, Sacramento. He moved to his present location in
1874; is largely engaged in farming and fruit growing. In 1871 he married Miss
Flora Granville, a native of Illinois; they have three boys.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
LAKE, E. D., farmer; lives two miles from Sacramento, on the
Riverside road; owns sixty-two acres of land; with improvements worth $14,000.
Post Office, Sacramento. He was born in Maine in 1834, and came from there to
California in 1855; followed mining four years, principally in Butte County;
then came to Sacramento City and lived until 1860, when he went to Virginia
City; returned to this county in 1866, and was engineer for a quartz mill until
1872, when he moved to his present ranch and engaged in farming. He visited the
East in 1867, and married Miss Hattie Marshall, of his native State, the same
year.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
LAKE, JEFFERSON, was born in Winthrop, Maine, in 1804. In
1852 he came to California, via the Isthmus route, and on his arrival in the
State went to his present home, about ten miles from the city. Took a trip back
to Maine in the fall of 1858, going by the stage route via Los Angeles, Fort
Yuma, Tucson, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri to St. Louis, thence by rail to
Maine. Returned to California in the spring of 1859, bringing his family. The
second trip East was made in 1876, when he and his wife made the trip by
railroad, as Mr. Lake had years before predicted to his friends he would do.
Last year Mr. Lake made a four months' visit to the Sandwich Islands, and came
home fully satisfied with California. Was married to Miss Eleanor Brown, by
whom he has six children. Post Office, Sacramento. A. view of his place is
given elsewhere.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
LEPETIT, LOUIS, farmer, lives three and one-half miles
from Sacramento, on the lower Stockton road. Has sixteen hundred acres of land.
Land and improvements in this county is valued at $15,000. Post Office,
Sacramento. He was born in Saxony, in 1820; emigrated to the United States in
1847, and settled at Milwaukee. Came across the plains in 1854; settled at
Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, and engaged in keeping hotel and in the
saddlery business, having learned the trade in his native land. In 1864 he came
to Sacramento County. He also owns sawmills and lands in El Dorado County. In
1852 he was married to Miss B. Bauman, a native of Bavaria; they have one son.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
McCARTY, DANIEL, lives three miles from Sacramento, and
one and one-half from Brighton; has three hundred and fifty-two acres of land;
he was born in Canada East in 1825, and moved to Vermont in 1845, New Hampshire
in 1850 and New York in 1851, engaged in the stone business; came to California
and mined until 1855, water ditches in Amador and Calaveras Counties until
1863, copper mining in El Dorado County until 1866, Arizona, Inyo County,
California, and Nevada until 1867 prospecting, quartz mining and lime business
in El Dorado County until 1877, and settled on his present place in November,
1878. A view of his ranch is given elsewhere in this book.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
MASSEY, CHARLES P. JR., was born in Philadelphia on the
17th of November, 1842; graduated at the High School in 1858, and at once went
to work in a mercantile house in Philadelphia, where he remained till 1863; at
this time he came to San Francisco in the employ of a firm of that city; he
continued there till 1874, when he removed to Sacramento and commenced
business, dealing in carpets and upholstery; retired from the business in
January, 1879, and removed to his dairy farm, known as the “Grove Dairy”. A
sketch of the property (which was since destroyed by fire) appears on another
page. In 1869 was married to Miss A. O. Dodge of Massachusetts. Mr. Massey's
property is worth about $12,500. Post Office, Sacramento.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
MERWIN, S. H., farmer and fruit-grower, five miles from
Sacramento, on lower Stockton road; has one hundred and sixty acres of land,
with improvements valued at $8,000. Post Office, Sacramento. He was born in the
State of New York, where he engaged in farming until 1856, when he came to
California via the Isthmus, and settled in Sacramento City; here he engaged in
the hardware business until 1869, when he moved to the ranch on which he now
resides. In 1863 he married Miss Sarah P. Young, a native of Maine; they have
two sons and two daughters.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
MORLATH, PETER, saloon-keeper, lives on Freeport road,
three miles south of Sacramento, his Post Office; owns ten acres of land; born in
Germany in 1832; engaged in cigar manufacturing until 1858; then emigrated to
America; settled on Staten Island and followed the cigar business until 1863,
when he came to California, and followed his old business in Sacramento until
1875; then moved to his present location, where he is engaged in the saloon
business. Married Miss R. Kaus in 1861; she is a native of Germany. A view of
his place is given on another page.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
MOUTON, ISADORE LISMOND AUGUSTE, was born at Courtonne,
Lisieux County, France, August 17, 1816; arrived in New Orleans in 1845. He
came to California, via Cape Horn, in 1849, landing at San Francisco on the
20th of July. From San Francisco he went to Sacramento and kept the “French
Hotel” on Front street, between “I and J,” and the St. Charles Restaurant on
Second Street, between “J and K.” In 1849-52 Mr. Mouton kept a French bakery on
“N” Street, between first and Second. His present home is known as the “Pioneer
Ranch,” and is situated half a mile below Sacramento City, on the Levee road.
He married L. N. Graham in 1852; they have four children living, two boys and
two girls. Post Office, is Sacramento. A view of his place is shown on another
page of this work.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
NICHOLAS, JOHN, farmer and stock-raiser, lives six miles
from Sacramento, his Post Office; owns one hundred and sixty acres of land,
valued, with improvements, at $6,000; born in Norway, in 1826; emigrated to
America in 1842; landed at New York City, and went to Alabama, where he engaged
in the oyster business; in 1854, left New York for California, via the
Nicaragua route; followed mining in Placer County until 1857; then moved to his
present location, in this county, where he has since been engaged in farming
and stock-raising; married Miss Elizabeth Ourkirk in 1852; she is a native of
Holland; they have one adopted son. A view of his place appears in this work.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
NILES, B. S., farmer and fruit-grower, lives
three-fourths of one mile from the city limits of Sacramento, his Post Office;
owns six acres of land, valued, with improvements, at $2,000; born in Broome
County, New York, in 1808; he engaged in shoemaking until 1853, when he crossed
the plains for California; arrived in Sacramento December 26, 1853; followed
mining in El Dorado County for one year, and teamed until 1857; then settled in
Brighton, Sacramento County, and engaged in farming; in 1873, moved to present
location, where he is farming and fruit-growing. Married Mrs. Pruett, who was
born in Kentucky, and came to California in 1851; they have one son and four
daughters. Mr. Niles has held the office of Road-Overseer.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278.
ODBERT, JOHN B., farmer, stockraiser and fruit grower,
about one mile east of Sacramento; has one hundred and five acres of land
valued, with improvements, at $16,000. Post Office, Sacramento. He was born in
1828 in Washington County, New York, where he engaged in blacksmithing,
wagonmaking and carpentering until 1853, when he came to California via the
Isthmus and settled in Sacramento City, and engaged in horse trading and
blacksmithing until 1859. During this time he did some mining at French Corral;
Nevada County, and on the American River fifteen miles from Sacramento. In 1859
he opened a hotel on the Jackson road near the Cosumnes River, and kept it
until 1867, when he bought and moved upon the ranch where he now resides. He
has a fine house which he built in 1867. In 1855 he married Mrs. Julia M. Hall,
a native of Madison County, New York, who had come across the plains in 1852,
and lost nearly all her possessions in the great fire in November of that year;
they have one son and an adopted daughter.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 278-279.
RICH, GEORGE T., farmer and fruit grower, five miles from
Sacramento on the upper Stockton road; has one hundred and sixty acres of land
that, with improvements, is valued at $15,000. Post Office, Sacramento. He was
born in 1836 at Milford, Pennsylvania, his family removing to Wisconsin in
1837, and all came across the plains in 1849 and settled in Sacramento, and
engaged in wholesale general merchandising. In 1855 he moved upon the ranch
which he now occupies. He is engaged in farming and fruit growing, principally
small fruit, berries, etc.; has about
twenty orange and lemon trees; was for several years making wine. In
1852 he married Miss Maria L. Fine, of San Jose, a native of Lexington,
Missouri, who came to this State in 1849; they have had five children, one son
not living, and four daughters.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 279.
ROCHON, NAPOLEON, saloon-keeper; Post Office, Sacramento.
He was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1836, and in 1848 removed to Monroe,
Michigan. In 1850 he crossed the plains and settled in Sacramento City. About
seven years since he moved to his present location, on the lower Stockton road,
where he has a saloon. He married Miss Mary Kittrick in 1871. She was a native
of Manchester, England, and has borne him one son and one daughter.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 279.
SANBORN, C., farmer and fruit-raiser; lives one mile from
Sacramento, his Post Office. Has thirty-eight acres of land, worth, with
improvements, $11,000. He was born in Ohio in 1854. His parents moved to
Indiana in 1855. In 1870 he came to California and settled at his present home.
He has sunk an artesian well on his place to the depth of sixty feet, which,
with his pumping works, gives him a flow of 20,000 gallons per hour, irrigating
his whole ranch. His father, H. E. Sanborn, was a native of Ohio; he was in
California in June, 1849, and during his lifetime made three trips across the
plains; he died in June, 1872, at the present residence of his son; his wife,
Mr. Sanborn's mother, is still living there. Mr. C. Sanborn has two brothers
living.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 279.
SLAWSON, S. S., farmer and fruit grower; Post Office,
Sacramento; lives four miles from Sacramento; has two hundred and fifteen acres
of land, valued at $12,000. He was born in Sussex County, New Jersey, in 1841;
in 1848 he removed with his parents to Illinois, where he remained until 1863,
engaged in farming; he then came to California, via the Isthmus, and settled in
Sacramento County. He was married in 1870 to Miss Anna A. Hite, a native of
Illinois; they have a son, George H. Slawson, aged three and one-half years. A
view of his place is given elsewhere.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 279.
SPRAGUE, M., farmer, dairyman and stock raiser; Post
Office, Sacramento; lives two and one-half miles from Masonic Building,
Sacramento; has one hundred and forty acres of land, valued at $25,000. He was
born at Batavia, Genesee County, New York, in 1820; moved with his parents in
1830 to Ohio, and in 1838 to Michigan, where he engaged in farming; in 1841 he
removed to Indiana, and worked at carpentering until 1852, when he came across
the Plains, and settled at his present location. He married Miss Nancy M. Smith
in 1845, a native of Otsego County, New York. They have one son and two
daughters. A view of his place is given elsewhere.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 279.
WILLIAMS, ALEX., farmer; Post Office, Sacramento; has
eighty acres of land, valued at $4,500. He was born in Ohio in 1831; from 1850
to 1857 he was engaged in steamboating on Lake Erie, when he came to California
by the Isthmus route, and settled at his present location. In May, 1858, he
married Miss Abby M. Mitchell, a native of Massachusetts; they have one son. A
view of his place appears in this work.
SUTTER TOWNSHIP.
Page 279.
WILLIAMS, J. R., farmer; Post Office, Sacramento; has one
hundred and sixty acres of land; valued at $5,000. He was born in Michigan in
1843, and remained there until 1854, when the family moved to North Carolina,
and engaged in farming and mining until 1865. In that year he came to
California by the Isthmus route, and followed mining in Amador and El Dorado
Counties for nine years, when he came to Sacramento County and engaged in
farming on his present location; he was foreman of mines for H. D. Bacon for
seven years. In 1868 he married Miss Mattie J. McGee, a native of California; they
have one son and three daughters.