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Sacramento County
Biographies
1880
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AISTON,
JOHN; Post Office, Antelope; lives three miles from that town, and fifteen
miles from Sacramento; was born in England in 1825; emigrated to the United
States in 1853, and lived in Utah until 1857; he came to California in that
year and settled in this county; is now engaged in farming; owns four hundred
and forty acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $7,000; also owns a
large ten-horse power grain-thresher. Mr. Aiston has held the office of Road
Overseer of District No. 4. He was married in 1846 to Miss Mary Johnson, also a
native of England; they have one child a son. A view of Mr. Aiston's place is
given on another page.
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ANDERSON,
W. G.; Post Office, Antelope; was born in Iowa in 1849, and lived there until 1876,
engaged in masonry and blacksmithing; he came to California in that year and
engaged in blacksmithing in Sonoma County until 1878; he then moved to
Antelope, where he is now carrying on the business of a general blacksmith; he
owns town property worth about $200. He was married in 1876 to Miss M. E.
McKinney, a native of Iowa; they have two children son and daughter.
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ASTILL,
RICHARD, lives thirteen and a half miles from Sacramento, and in Antelope,
which is his Post Office; was born in England in 1840; he emigrated to the
United States with his parents in 1849, and lived in St. Louis, Missouri, until
1854; he came to California in that year. During the war he returned East and
enlisted in the army; he came back to this State in 1868, and engaged in
farming until October, 1878, when he opened a general merchandise store in
Antelope. Mr. Astill was married while in the army, in Texas, to Miss
Margarette C. Faber, a native of Georgia; he was again married in 1874 to Miss
Beckie Chambers, a native of Scotland; he has two daughters. He has held the
office of Constable for the last four years; owns one hundred and sixty acres
of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $5,000.
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BERRY,
J. L., lives thirteen and a halt miles from Sacramento, in Antelope, which is
his Post Office; was born in California in 1856, and has lived in the State all
his life; he settled in this county in 1877, when he bought out the Antelope
Business Association in that town, and has since carried on the mercantile
business there. Mr. Berry holds the positions of Postmaster, Rail Road Agent
and Telegraph operator; he is also in charge of the warehouse belonging to J.
F. Cross. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mary Ann Roddick, also a native of
California.
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BORMAN,
CHARLES, Post Office, Antelope; lives two miles from that town, and thirteen
miles from Sacramento; was born in Prussia in 1833; emigrated to the United States
in 1857, and lived in Illinois until 1860, engaged in farming; he came to
California in that year and lived in Sacramento until 1868, when he returned to
Illinois and followed farming until 1877; he then came back to this State and
settled on his present place: owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, worth,
with improvements, about $3,000. He was married in 1871 to Margarette Ernst, a
native of Germany; they have four children a son and three daughters.
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BREWSTER,
D. D., Post Office, Antelope; was born in Pennsylvania in 1840, and lived there
until 1862, engaged in carpentering; he moved to Ohio in that year, and worked
at his trade until 1875; he then came to California, and engaged in
carpentering at Marysville until 1877, when he removed to Antelope, and is now
working at his trade, and also wagon-making; he is the only carpenter in
Antelope.
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CAVITT,
G. W., Post Office, Antelope; lives two miles from that town and fifteen and a
half miles from Sacramento; was born in Rush County, Indiana, 1832; removed
with his parents to Iowa in 1845, and lived there until 1864, engaged in
farming; he came to California in that year and settled in this county; he
still owns the place he settled on in that year; is now farming; owns two
hundred and eighty acres, worth, with improvements, about $4,800. He was
married February 28, 1856, to Rebecca Perkins, a native of Virginia; they have
four children--William C., born November, 1856; Thomas F., born September, 1858;
Ida Belle, born January, 1860; Eva F., born April, 1867. A view of Mr. Cavitt's
place is given on another page.
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CHATTERTON,
JOHN, lives ten miles from Sacramento, which is his Post Office, and four and a
half miles from Antelope; was born in New York, in 1802; when quite young he
moved to New Jersey, and lived there eighteen years; he then returned to New
York, and remained there until 1849; he came to California in that year by way
of the Isthmus, and settled in this county, March, 1850. Mr. Chatterton did the
iron work, and George Jackson the wood work, on the first steam engine built in
the State, in 1851; it was built in Sacramento, on Third street, between I and
J streets, in the shop of Smith & Neals. He bought the above firm out in
the same year. He worked at his trade, coach-making, for the California Stage
Company, from a short time after its organization to its dissolution. He has
held the office of Justice of Peace. Married in 1829, to Miss H. E. Hicks, a
native of New York; they have three sons and four daughters. He owns two
hundred and thirteen acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about
$5,000.
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COLE,
GEORGE W., lives twelve miles from Sacramento and three miles from Antelope,
which is his Post Office; he was born in New York in 1833, and lived there
until 1852; he came to California in that year and settled in this county; he
was engaged in teaming to the mines until 1858, but has since been farming and
stock-raising. Mr. Cole was married in 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Rightmire, a
native of Ohio. He owns two hundred and twenty acres of land, which, with
improvements, are worth about $10,000. A view of this place is given on another
page.
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COYLE,
MRS. B.; Post Office, Sacramento and Antelope; lives thirteen miles from the
former and three and a half miles from the latter; was born in Ireland in 1833,
and lived there until 1847; in that time she made two trips to Scotland with
her parents; emigrated to the United States in 1847, and lived a while in
Brooklyn, but afterwards moved to Boston; she subsequently moved back to
Brooklyn, and was married in 1852 to Edward H. Coyle, also a native of Ireland;
they came to California in 1856, by way of the Nicaragua route, and lived in
Sacramento City until 1859, when they removed to this township, where she now
lives. Mr. Coyle died in 1872; up to the time of his death he was engaged in
sheep raising. Mrs. C. owns one thousand and forty acres of land, worth, with
improvements, about $30,000; she has four children living, three sons and a
daughter; her second son, W. M., now farms the home place.
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CROSS,
J. F.; Post Office, Antelope; lives two miles from that town, and fourteen
miles from Sacramento; was born in Maine, 1828; in 1849 he removed to
Massachusetts, and engaged in carpentering there until 1852; he came to
California in that year, and lived in Sacramento until 1853, when he went to
Benicia, and was employed on Government work until 1854; he then returned East,
and was married that same year to Miss Sarah J. Miservey, also a native of
Maine, who has borne him six children, three sons and three daughters, all of
whom are living. After his marriage, they settled in this county, and he has
since been engaged in farming and stock raising; owns three hundred and twenty
acres, worth, with improvements, about $8000. Mr. Cross held the office of
Constable from 1861 until 1873.
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DALY,
ELISHA; Post Office, Antelope; lives one and a half miles from that town, and
fifteen miles from Sacramento; was born in Pennsylvania in 1823, and lived
there until 1845; he removed to Illinois in that year, and worked at
carpentering until 1854; he then came to California, and settled in this
county; settled on his present location in 1859; owns three hundred and
sixty-six acres, worth, with improvements, about $7000; is now engaged in
farming, and threshing. Mr. Daly has held the office of Justice of the Peace
for the last fifteen years. He was married in 1853 to Eliza Ramsey, a native of
Ireland, who has borne him thirteen children, five boys and eight girls, all of
whom are living.
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DE KAY, SEELY, Post Office, Roseville; lives two and a half miles from that place,
and seventeen miles from Sacramento; was born in New Jersey, 1822, and lived
there until 1849, engaged in farming; in that year he removed to Ohio, and
continued farming until 1852; he then came to California and to this county,
and followed teaming until about 1864; since then he has been farming, and
stock raising; owns four hundred and eighty acres, worth, with improvements,
about $5000. Mr. Dc Kay was married in 1865 to Mrs. Jane Pitcher, a native of
England, who has borne him one child, a son; she has seven children by a former
husband.
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DRIVER,
E. S., lives twelve miles from Sacramento, and three and a half miles from
Antelope, which is his Post Office; he was born in Ohio in 1829; removed with
his parents when quite young to Indiana; he came to California in 1850, and
engaged in mining until 1852, when he went to butchering, and followed that
business until 1854; he then commenced teaming between Sacramento and the
mines, which occupied his attention until 1857; in that year he settled where
he now lives, and has been engaged ever since in farming and stock raising. He
was married in 1860 to Mary E. Forsyth, a native of Illinois; they have seven
sons and three daughters. Mr. Driver owns twelve hundred acres of land; which,
with improvements, are worth about $40,000. A view of his place is given on
another page.
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GARDNER,
JOEL, was born in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, March 13, 1831. In early life was
engaged as a mechanic at the Springfield Agricultural Works, also at Chicopee
Falls. On the first day of January, 1857, he started for California, via the
Isthmus; for two years after his arrival followed dairying; subsequently raised
great flocks of turkeys, which were herded like sheep, and sold at a great
profit; annual sales have been as high as $2,000. His present home is twelve
miles northeast of Sacramento city, near Antelope Station, on the Central
Pacific Railroad, and contains three hundred and five acres of well cultivated
land. Mr. Gardner was the first Postmaster at Antelope. Married Eliza Tate, and
has one son. A view of his residence is shown on another page.
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HAYS,
DAVID, farmer, lives four miles from Antelope Station and seventeen miles' from
Sacramento; Post Office, Antelope Station; born in Richland county, Ohio, in
1832; crossed the Plains to California in 1852, and settled on his present
location in this county. He was married to Mrs. Jane Biscoe, March 29, 1866;
she was born in Tennessee. Mr. Hays owns one hundred and sixty acres of land,
valued, with improvements, at about $2, 500.
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KELLY,
THOMAS, Post Office, Sacramento; lives eleven miles from that city; was born in
Ireland in 1832. He emigrated to the United States in 1848, and lived in
Connecticut until 1856. He came to California in that year, and resided in
Sacramento city until 1873, being engaged in blacksmithing and keeping a
saloon; he then moved to his ranch, present location; owns two hundred and
eleven acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $3,500. He was married in
1859 to Margaret Mooney, also a native of Ireland; they have three children, a
son and two daughters.
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KEYS,
MRS. HARRIET E., lives ten miles from Sacramento, which is her Post Office, and
four miles from Antelope. She was born in Ohio in 1827; in 1836 she removed
with her parents to Missouri, and lived there until 1839; she then moved to
Illinois, and remained until 1849. She was married in 1846 to Wm. N. Keys, a
native of Illinois; her maiden name was Beach; they came to California in 1850,
and first settled on the river, below Freeport. She has four sons and two
daughters; owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which, with improvements,
are worth about $4, 000.
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LAUPPE,
RUDOLPH; Post Office, Antelope; lives two and a half miles from the town, and
fourteen miles from Sacramento, at the old Fourteen-Mile House; was born in Switzerland
in 1832, and lived there until 1858, engaged in farming; emigrated to the
United States in that year and lived in New Orleans until 1859; he then came to
California, and settled in this county. In 1869 he purchased of James Gray the
property where he now lives, known as the Fourteen-Mile House, and since then
has been farming the place, though engaged some little in raising stock; owns
three hundred and twenty acres, worth, with improvements, about $6,000. He was
married in 1855 to Miss Regine Schafer, a native of Germany, who has borne him
five children three boys and two girls all of whom are living.
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LEWIS,
MRS. ALICE; born in England in 1831. After coming to the United States, she
lived for a time in St. Louis, and came to Ca1ifornia in 1857. She lived in El
Dorado County until 1860, and then came to Sacramento County. She lives fifteen
miles from Sacramento City and two miles from Antelope.
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LINDLEY,
D. N.; Post Office, Antelope; lives one and a half miles from that town, and
fifteen miles from Sacramento; was born in Ohio, 1824; removed to Michigan in
1840, and lived there until 1852, engaged in milling; in that year he came to
California and followed mining until 1856, when he returned East. He was
married in 1857 to Lucy Scarlett, a native of England; with his bride, he came
back to the State in 1858; since then, he has made one trip East; settled on
his present location in 1874, and is now farming; owns one hundred and sixty
acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $3,000. He has a son and
daughter A. S., born 1858; and Myra, born 1863.
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McCORMICK,
F.; Post Office, Antelope; was born in Ohio, in 1844, and lived there until
1854; in that year he went to St. Louis, and made his home with an uncle until
1855; he then went to Cincinnati to attend school; served four years'
apprenticeship in the machine business; engineered on the rivers about three
years; served three years and seven months in the United States Army during the
war. After his return he spent some time in the oil regions of Beaver County,
Pennsylvania; he subsequently went to Brazil, on business connected with his
trade, and afterwards returned to his native place; later he located in the western
part of Iowa, and remained there until 1876; he then removed, with his family,
to this State and county, and is now engaged in machine repairing and
blacksmithing at Antelope. He was married in 1871, to Miss Sarah Cluff, also a
native of Ohio, and who bore him three children; he married his present wife,
Miss Clara Justice, a native of Indiana, in 1878.
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MULDROW,
JAMES; Post Office, Sacramento; lives ten miles from that City; was born in
Missouri, in 1836, and lived there unti1 1852, engaged in farming; he came to
California in that year, and engaged in mining in El Dorado County until 1854;
he then moved to Sacramento City, and followed teaming until 1862, when he
settled in this township, and has since been engaged in farming and
stock-raising; owns two hundred and twenty-six acres of land, worth, with
improvements, about $4,400. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Hannah Cope, a
native of England; they have two children, sons.
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O'DONAHUE,
CORNELIUS, was born near the Lakes of Killarney, county of Kerry, Ireland, in
1828. He came to the United States in 1844, on the ship Pampera, which,
after thirteen weeks' voyage, was wrecked on the banks of Newfoundland. After
three months' stay in Boston and Chelsea, he went to work on the survey of the
Erie Railway, Western Division. After that work was finished, he drove stage
from Big Valley to Elliotville and Old Buffalo for eight months. In 1848 he
went to Chicago and worked at iron-moulding for one year; afterwards followed
farming in McHenry County, Illinois, for one year, with his brother-in-law,
Daniel O'Connell. Thereafter he worked at La Salle, Illinois; Chicago, St.
Louis, Lake Providence, Tennessee, and Natchez, Mississippi. Stayed at the
latter place for three years as overseer on David & Huitt's plantation. In
1854 Mr. O'Donahue started for California by the Panama route. In California he
followed mining for fourteen years, working at Grass Valley, Nevada City,
American Hill and Bunker Hill. Here he lost heavily in the tunnels, Brother
Johnathan and Morning Star. In 1857 he invested $8,000 in the Bay State Tunnel
at Alleghanytown, Sierra County. Of this company, John W. Mackey---the “Bonanza
Millionaire”---was the bookkeeper. The company, having lost $72,000, squared up
and quit business in 1860. His next investment of $2,400 was in the Excelsior
Tunnel at Cumberland Town. Afterwards, he removed to Virginia City and engaged
as contractor and superintendent for Captain Gates. In 1863 he bought the
present home of one hundred and sixty acres, a mile and a half south of
Antelope; to this he added, by purchase in 1872, a tract of three hundred and
twenty-two acres, situated two and a half miles south-east of the first
purchase. Mr. O'Donahue was first married in New Orleans in 1854. The bride was
Miss Margarette Culhane, a native of County Kerry, Ireland. They had the
following named children by this marriage, viz.: John, born May 2, 1856; Mary,
born June 27, 1857; died May 29, 1875. Daniel, born April 22, 1859; Clar Ellen,
born June 22, 1861. His wife, Margarette, died July 14, 1864. On the 20th of
April, 1865, he married Miss Mary O'Hea, a native of Cork, Ireland. By this
union, they have one child---Katie, who was born February 22, 1866, and who is
now a promising miss of thirteen. Mr. O'Donahue is assisted in his farm work by
his sons, John and Daniel. In 1879 Mr. Donahue visited the East, spending a few
months in rest and sight-seeing at Chicago, and in the several places of
interest in Minnesota. He has held the office of Constable for eight years. A
fine view of Mr. O'Douahue's premises may be seen on another page. Post Office,
Antelope.
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PARSONS,
JOHN, lives fourteen miles from Sacramento, and one and a half miles from
Antelope; he was born in England, in 1825, and came to the United States in
1848; engaged with Nathan's Circus for several years; came to California in
1854, and, in 1855, returned to England for a short visit; on his return to
California, he engaged in teaming over the mountains till 1866, since which
time he has been employed in farming; married Caroline Keats, a native of
England, at Sacramento, in 1869; they have two adopted children a boy and a
girl. Mr. Parsons' property is worth about 5,000; Post Office, Antelope
Station. A view of Mr. Parsons' place is given on another page.
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VAN
MAREN, MRS. C.; Post Office, Antelope; lives three miles from that town, and
thirteen miles from Sacramento; was born in Germany, in 1825; emigrated to the
United States, when about twenty-five years of age, and came to California
shortly afterwards, or about the year 1850. She was married to Peter Van
Maren---her maiden name being Hurtzig by whom she has six children three boys,
and three girls. Her husband died in 1876, aged fifty-four years; since his
death, her eldest son, Philip, has managed the farm. She owns seven hundred and
eighty-seven acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $23,000.
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VOLLE,
FREDERICK; Post Office Antelope; lives one and a half miles from that town, and
fifteen miles from Sacramento; was born in Prussia, in 1823, and lived there
until 1846, engaged in milling; emigrated to the United States in that year,
and followed farming, in Indiana, until 1853; he then came to California, and
was in the milling business, in Sacramento City, until 1858, when he moved to
this township, and is now farming and stock-raising; owns four hundred and
eighty acres of land, worth, with improvements, about $7,000. A view of this
place is given on another page. He was married, in 1851, to Julia Heimroth, a
native of Germany, who has borne him eleven children three sons, and eight
daughters.
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WHEADON,
MRS. ISABELL; Post Office, Roseville, Placer County; lives three miles from
that place, and fifteen and three-quarter miles from Sacramento; was born in
England, and lived there until 1854; emigrated to the United States in that
year, and lived in St. Louis until 1856; she then started for California, arriving
in El Dorado County the following year, where she resided until 1859. She was
married, in 1859, to Theodore Wheadon, a native of New York, by whom she has
three children---G. T., aged 19; Mary Jane, aged 17; Matthew W., aged 11. Her
maiden name was Isabell Johnson. Mr. Wheadon died in 1871; since his death she
has managed the farm; owns three hundred and twenty acres, worth, with
improvements, about $2,100.
Source: History of Sacramento County, California With Illustrations 1880 by Thompson & West.