William Stark Manlove, M.D.

 

Doctor Manlove’s ancestors were originally from Yorkshire, England.  Grandfather Christopher Manlove was commissioned Surgeon or “Apothecary’s Mate,” to his Majesty’s Hospital in North America, August 5, 1761, during the reign of George III, King of England, by General Amherst, Commander-in-Chief of the British troops in this country. This was before the Declaration of Independence. He settled first in New Jersey for a few years, and then moved into Virginia; was married in Petersburg, and resided there until his death. He had five sons and five daughters. His third child, John Manlove, was born in Dinwiddie County, that State, on a plantation adjoining the city of Petersburg. There he grew up to manhood, studied medicine under the tutelage of his father, and was a prominent physician of that country for eighteen or twenty years---until his death, which occurred in 1825. He married Miss Ann King, a Virginian, who survived him for about thirty-five years, and died in 1857. They had one son and one daughter. This son, the subject of this sketch, was born December 9, 1824, at the old Virginia homestead in Dinwiddie County.  His preliminary education was had at private schools, he then attended an academy, and then the University of Virginia at Charlottesville, and subsequently he attended medical lectures, and afterward a course in the medical department of the “University of Pennsylvania,” at Philadelphia, graduating there in 1847. He practiced his profession in his native State until 1849 when a stock company of about 125, then organizing in Richmond, Va., for a trip to California during the gold excitement, Dr.  Manlove became a shareholder. They sent a committee to New York, who purchased a ship “Mary Ann,” brought it to Richmond, loaded it with supplies, and in March embarked on their long journey around Cape Horn. Four days out the vessel sprang a leak, and from that until they reached Rio Janeiro they had to keep a gang of men pumping, passengers alternating with the sails at this laborious task. At Rio Janeiro they spent an enjoyable month, repairing the ship and recruiting. They celebrated the Fourth of July at the Faulkland Islands. The weather was cold and rough as they rounded Cape Horn, but the eight days which they passed at Point Conception, Chili, were delightful; they arrived at San Francisco on the last day of September. The company then disbanded, sold the vessel and effects, and scattered to various points in the State. After remaining some six weeks in San Francisco, Dr. Manlove went to the Southern mines in Amador County, and was there until the spring of 1851, mining, trading and practicing medicine. Then selling his interest, he went to Nevada City, and mined and prospected through the mining regions in the northern part of the State. Not meeting with success, and tired of roaming, he selected this county for a permanent residence, purchasing his present place, consisting of half a section of land, and here he has since remained, farming and practicing his profession, with the exception of two years, when he was sheriff of Sacramento County, 1857-‘59. Among the very first to realize the future of grape culture in this favored locality, as early as 1858, he began planting the Mission variety, which was at that time thought to be the best; out of his abundant experience he now favors the “Burgundy,” and the finer varieties of table grapes, Tokays, Muskats, Cornichons, etc., of these having fifty acres, or about one-half his vineyard. The Doctor is the standard authority in his section on all questions pertaining to fruit culture, and he thinks cherries the best paying crop; he has half a hundred acres devoted to them, and to plums, apricots and peaches of the best varieties. The Seedling orange does well, ---trees seventeen years old, well filled with luscious fruit. He has more orange trees than any other man in this section, including a considerable planting of trees obtained from Florida direct.  He also has pecans, butternuts, Eastern and English walnuts, Japanese Persimmons, dates, etc., all fruiting. Politically the Doctor has always been a Democrat, and has filled many positions of trust and responsibility, beside that of sheriff for two years, to which reference has already been made. In 1887 he was appointed by Governor Bartlett a member of the State Board of Viticulture, a position which he fills with credit, but perhaps his greatest public work has been his connection with the “Patrons of Husbandry;” sixteen years ago he was chairman of the Farmers’ Association, which was merged into the “Grangers’,” or “Patrons’,” movement. He was chosen the first master of the new organization in this county, and was organizing “deputy” for the district composing El Dorado, Amador and Sacramento counties for the three first years, during which time he organized and put into successful operation no less than fourteen local granges. Of his home life we need say but little. His wife, to whom he was united in September, 1859, is a daughter of the late Hon. Shubel N. Baker, who came to California from Coldwater, Michigan, at an early day, was a merchant in the city of Sacramento, and associate county judge under the old Constitution; he was afterward a rancher in this county, where he died some fifteen years ago. The family comprises an only son, J. Edward, who takes charge of the various farming operations, and a daughter, Catherine A. The homestead is situated on the old “Jackson road,” seven miles east of the Capital City; the Placerville railroad cuts it in twain, and affords them a convenient station almost at their gates. The house a commodious modern structure , sheltered by gigantic “black” oaks, and surrounded by beautiful flowers, tended evidently by some loving hand, is a picture of home comfort and genial hospitality. Here then we see resting from his labors a man whose life has been one of more than usual activity, truly a representative man, one who has done much to advance the agricultural and fruit-growing interests in this favored section of the State, and we gladly accord to him a prominent place in the annals of this county.