San Joaquin County
Biographies
AMERICUS MILLER ABBOTT
AMERICUS MILLER ABBOTT,
president and manager of the Relief Wind-mill Company of Stockton, was born in
Maine, June 10, 1847, a son of Abiel and Eleanor Jane (West) Abbott. The
father, born in Maine, April 18, 1811, learned the trade of stonemason and
became a contractor in that line. He came to California in 1855, and after some
time settled on a farm in Bachelor valley, being also interested in mines, the
new water ditch and other enterprises. He was a justice of the peace at one
time, and died March 20, 1877, in Searsport, Maine; the mother, born July 22,
1816, died in Stockton, January 30, 1875. Grandfather Abbott, a soldier of the
war of 1812, was killed in battle; the grandmother, Mrs. Abbott, died in Waldo
County, Maine, at the age of eighty-seven.
A.
M. Abbott
received most of his schooling in Maine, with a few short seasons in this State
after his arrival in 1861. After school days his chief occupation for several
years was farm work, until 1868, when he abandoned that line of industry. He
learned the trade of blacksmith, and about 1871 started a shop in this city.
Besides the usual work in his line he did considerable special work in the
repairing of agricultural implements and machines. In October, 1875, he began
to give exclusive attention to the construction of a windmill and pump, and
also on some minor devices and improvements. In 1879 he formed a partnership
for the manufacture of the Abbott windmill and the Abbott pump, together with
tank and tank frames, under the style of Abbott & Williams. By the
admission of Mr. Stowell the firm became Abbott, Williams & Stowell, and by
the withdrawal of Mr. Williams, in 1881, it became Abbott & Stowell, so
remaining until 1886, when they separated, Mr. Abbott continuing to make the
windmills known by his name and Mr. Stowell the Relief windmill. In 1889 they
consolidated under the name of Relief Windmill Company, June 17, 1889.
The mill is said to be lighter-running
than any others, which reduces the noise to a minimum, while its durability and
simplicity of construction give it an advantage in reducing cost. These mills
have been introduced everywhere on this coast, and is an evidence of their
popularity, as well as durability. It may be instanced that on the great ranch
of J. B. Haggin they have been gradually introduced until there are no less
than sixty of them in use in 1890. It has been steadily improved from time to
time, over a dozen patents have been obtained for various improvements, the
result of close observation and experience in manufacturing. The Relief
Windmill Company use wheels of four distinct designs, including the Davis
Improved and a strong, durable and light-running steel wheel, which is giving
special satisfaction to their patrons.
Mr. A. M. Abbott was married in Stockton
in 1875, to Miss Sarah Ann Connor, born in Pennsylvania, August 24, 1842, a
daughter of James Connor and his wife (by birth a Miss Mayberry). The father is
still living, aged over eighty years. Mrs. Abbott died in this city in March,
1886, leaving four children: Mary Eleanor, born August 23, 1875; Charles
Austin, November 3, 1878; Frederick Connor, May 7, 1881; Asa Americus, August
18, 1884. Mr. Abbott was again married in Stockton, March 17, 1888, to Miss
Minnie Fuller, born in Illinois in 1862 and a resident of this State since
1874. Both her parents are living in this city.
Mr. Abbott is a member of Stockton Lodge,
No. 23, A. O. U. W., also of I. O. O. F., No. 55. A. M. Abbott has four
brothers: D. F., C. A., George W. and W. L. His sister, Mary Jane, the youngest
of the family, now deceased, was married to G. G. Hillman, in 1874, and left
two children: Nellie and Lizzie. Nellie, the eldest, died February 15, 1890.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 564-565. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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