Sacramento County Biographies 1880

Sacramento County Biographies 1880
Information thanks to Nancy Pratt Melton:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/sacbio1.htm

ALABAMA TOWNSHIP

ATKINSON, W. W., lives fourteen miles from Galt and ten miles from Ione, which is his Post Office; was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1834; he removed, in 1843, to Bloomington, Illinois, and lived there until 1852; he came to California in that year, and settling in Amador County, remained there until 1875; he then came to this county and is engaged in farming. Mr. A. has held the following offices: Second Lieutenant, State Militia; Road Supervisor, and is now School Trustee. He owns seven hundred and twenty acres of land, which, with the improvements, are worth about $12,000.

BOARDMAN, SAMUEL; lives ten miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and seventeen miles from Ione; was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1837, and lived there until 1857; in that year he came with his parents to California, and settled in this county, where he has engaged in raising stock the most of the time since; he has done some mining; is now farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1872 to Kate Evans, a native of Delaware, Ohio, who has borne him two children—Estelle Elizabeth, born February 9, 1874, and Vincent Evans, born July 5, 1875. Mr. B. was held the office of School Trustee. He owns six hundred and forty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $10,000.

CRABTREE, I. J., lives ten miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and twelve miles from Ione; was born in Illinois, in 1834, and lived there until 1853; he came to California in that year and engaged in mining in El Dorado County, until 1858, when he settled on his present place, and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1859 to Sarah A. Haller, who was born August 15, 1846, in Montgomery County, Illinois; she came to California 1856 with her parents, Henry and Margaret Haller; they were wrecked on the Golden Age, just outside the Golden Gate; her parents have since died at her home. Mr. Crabtree has four children—Henry F., born June 13, 1861; George L., born November 20, 1863; Edith E., born February 9, 1866; Jacob L., born January 3, 1874. He owns twelve hundred and eighty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $20,000.

CROSSGROVE, C. E., lives four miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and five miles from Elliott; he was born in New Castle County, Delaware, in 1846, and lived there until 1857; his father being in delicate health, they moved to Ham’s Fork, near Fort Bridger, and remained about a year; they then went to Washington Territory, near Idaho, traveling and health-seeking for his father, until 1860, when they settled in this county. Mr. C. is now engaged in farming and dairying; he owns four hundred acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $9,000. He was married in 1877 to Rosalie Bryant, a native of San Joaquin County; she died August 17, 1878, leaving him a daughter—Emma Josephine, born March 27, 1878.

FOWLER, THOMAS H., lives seven miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and five miles from Hicksville; was born on Long Island, New York, in 1824, and lived there until 1849; he came to California in that year and engaged in mining at Jamestown and Auburn until 1850; he then returned East by way of Central America; came back to California in March, 1852, and mined in Northern Mines some months; then spent some time in other other mines and San Francisco; settled in this county in 1853, and engaged in farming and gardening, near his present place, until 1859, and then settled where he is now farming and stock-raising. He was married in 1857 to Francis M. Van Alstine, a native of New York, who has borne him five children. Mr. Fowler has held the office of School Trustee. He owns five hundred and sixty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $5,000.

MAKEE, GEORGE N., lives twelve miles from Galt, and fifteen miles from Ione; was born in Billerica, Mass., in 1831; in 1849 he enlisted in the United States Army, and was on the frontier until 1851; he then lived in Illinois, until the spring of 1852, engaged in wood-cutting; then he went to Fort Laramie, and traded with emigrants, until the fall of same year, when he moved to Salt Lake City, and was in the secret service for about a year. He came to California in 1853, and engaged in mining, at Placerville and elsewhere, until 1859; in that year he settled in this locality, and farmed until 1862; he then spent a year in the Sandwich Islands; in 1863, he returned, and settled on his present place; he owns two hundred and fifty acres, which, with improvements, are worth about five thousand dollars. Mr. M. was married, in 1853, to Jane Steel, a native of England, who has borne him five children, one of whom is deceased—a son. Their two daughters are married, one living in Galt, and the other in Washington Territory. He has held the office of School Trustee. He is the only one in this vicinity who has done much in the way of vine culture, and winemaking; he has shown that they will have a healthy growth, about the only danger being from spring frosts. His Post Office is Clay Station.

MONSCH, MARTIN, Post Office, Clay Station; lives 14 miles from Galt, and twelve miles from Ione; was born in Switzerland, 1829, and lived there until 1849, where he learned the confectionery trade; he immigrated to the United States in that year, and worked at his trade, in that year, and worked at his trade, in New Orleans, until 1852; he then came to California, and engaged in mining, in Trinity County, until 1857, when he went to Los Angeles, and was in the cattle trade there until 1860. Mr. M. settled on his present place in 1860, and has since been engaged in sheep-raising; he owns three thousand five hundred acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $15,000. He was married, September 17, 1872, to Isabella Weir, a native of Scotland; they have three sons, Wallace Tell, born September 22, 1874; Martin B., born December 5, 1875; Allen Clyde, born January 5, 1878.

NIXON, LYMAN, lives eleven miles from Galt, and eleven miles from Ione, which is his Post Office; he rents, of George Walker, five hundred and forty acres of land; was born in Brantford, Canada, in 1837; in 1845 he moved to Buffalo, New York, and lived there until 1855; he then returned to Canada, and was engaged as a railroad engineer until 1863, when he went to Eagle Harbor, Lake Superior, and engineered for about two years; returning to Canada again, he kept hotel until 1867. He came to California in that year, and has been engaged in running farm and mining machinery and until his settlement on present place, in 1878; he is now farming his rented place, and running farm machinery. He was married, in 1857, to S. J. Burgess, a native of Canada, by whom he has a daughter and son, living in Canada. She died April 22, 1862; he was again married, in Michigan, in 1863, to Jane Macaly, a native of Dun Patrick, Ireland, and who has borne him five sons, and a daughter, all of whom are living.

OVERMEYER, J. M., lives six miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and 16 miles from Ione; was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1835; he moved with his parents to La Porte County, Indiana, in 1837, and lived there until 1843; then went to Rock Island County, Illinois, and remained until 1854, when he came to California, and engaged in farming and teaming until 1865, in El Dorado County; he came to this county then, and stopped about a year, when he removed to Santa Cruz County, and lived there until 1873; then he returned to this County, and has lived on his present place since 1876. Mr. O. was married in 1865 to Sarah Martha Douglass, a native of Missouri, who has borne him five children--three sons and two daughters--all of whom are living. He owns three hundred sixty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $3000.

PRESBURY, E. H., lives four and a half miles from Galt, which is his Post Office; was born in Hartford County, Maryland, in 1808; he moved to Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1827, and lived there until 1850, engaged in milling; he then removed to Illinois, and was engaged in farming and milling until 1853; he came to California in that year, and settled in this county in 1854, where he has since been farming; he owns three hundred and twenty acres, which, all with improvements, are worth about $10,000. Mr. P. sowed about twenty-five acres of upland in barley and wheat in 1858; it was thought to be a doubtful experiment, as it was the first one in this vicinity, the farmers heretofore confining themselves to the moist bottom-lands; his experiment clearly demonstrated and settled the then important question, as to the adoption of this section of the country for general agriculture. He was married in 1836 to Martha Bayless, also a native of Maryland; they have one son, William, who is the father of four children, three daughters a son.

QUIGGLE, V. S., lives three and a half miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and four miles from Hicksville; was born in Geauga County, Ohio, in 1839, and lived there until 1858; he came to California in that year, and engaged in raising stock near Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, until 1861; he then came to this county, and kept a hotel on the Cosumnes until 1868, when he went to San Francisco, and from there to Pitt River on a stock venture; he returned to this county in 1873, but afterwards went to Stanislaus County, and farmed two years; settled on his present home in 1875. Mr. Quiggle was married in 1867 to Isabella Lewis, a native of Canada East, who has borne him five children. He owns three hundred and twenty acres, which, with improvements, are worth about $7000.

RATTAN, HIRAM S., lives six miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and sixteen miles from Ione; was born in Wisconsin in 1853, and lived there until 1862; came to California and settled in this county, with his parents, in that year, and remained here until 1866; he then went to San Joaquin County, and resided until 1873, when he moved to Calaveras County, and engaged in sheep raising until 1878; in that year he removed to his present home, and is farming on three hundred and twenty acres, rented of his father, James Rattan, who lives near Acampo, San Joaquin County. Mr. Rattan was married in 1876 to Flora E. Crawford, a native of Michigan, who came to this State with her parents about 1863; they have two children—Ada L., born October 3, 1877, and Herbert L., born March 8, 1879. His property is worth about $3000.

RIEFF, JAMES, lives five miles from Galt, which is his Post Office, and ten miles from Elk Grove; he was born in Arkansas in 1849, and lived there until 1853; he came to California in that year, and settled in this county, living in Sacramento until 1867; he then moved and settled in this vicinity, and engaged in farming. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $2000. He was married January 1, 1877, to Julia A. Somers, a native of Dry Creek Township, Sacramento County; they have one child, Mandie E., born December 20, 1877.

SHINN, H. D., lives five miles from Galt, which is his Post Office; was born December 1853, in New Jersey; came to California with his parents in 1854, and lived in Placerville about one year; they then moved to Elkhorn Township, San Joaquin County, where he lived until March 1879, when he settled on his present place, and is now engaged in farming; he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $3000. He was married on the day of his majority, December 8, 1874, to Emma Sophia Tock, who was born January 27, 1858, in New Brunswick; they have two children—Flora May, born December 18, 1875, and Elmer J., born September 5, 1877.

SHORT, JAMES M., lives six miles from Galt, his Post Office, and twelve miles from Elk Grove; he was born in Barren County, Kentucky, in 1823; moved with parents in 1827 to Alabama, and later to Tennessee, where he lived until 1844; he then went to Chickasaw Parish, on the Mississippi, and engaged in cotton culture until 1847; he moved to Texas in that year, and was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1850, when he came to California, and followed mining for a short time, principally in El Dorado County and Indian diggings; he settled on his present home in 1852, when it was thought impossible to settle the county with farmers, as it was only adapted to grazing, and unfit for agriculture. He is now farming and stock raising. He was married in 1863 to Mrs. Maria Wade, a native of Arkansas; they have one child, a son born June 1864. Mr. S. has held the offices of Justice of the Peace and School Trustee; he owns one thousand seventy-three acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about $12,000.

STEELE, THOMAS, lives a Clay Station, his Post Office, ten miles from Galt, and eighteen miles from Ione; was born in Thropshire, England, in 1842; he emigrated to the United States, with his parents, in 1847, and lived in Wisconsin until 1852; he then went to Salt Lake City, and remained until his removal to this State, which was in 1853; he engaged in mining, in this county, until 1857, when he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, and has been engaged in that business ever since; he owns eight hundred and eighty acres, which, with improvements, are worth about seven thousand dollars. He was married, in 1868, to Marrilla Woodruff, a native of Illinois; she died the same year. He was married again, in 1873, to Celia Rouss; they have had four children—Henrietta, born in 1873; Flora, born in 1874, now deceased; Nellie, born in 1876; and Celia May, born in 1879. Mr. Steele has held the office of School Trustee.

SWIFT, R. S., lives fifteen miles from the Galt, and eight miles from Ione, his Post Office; was born, in New York, in 1831; removed, with his parents, in 1839, to Erie County Pennsylvania, and lived there until 1850; he then went to Monroeville, Ohio, and was engaged in schooling and teaming until 1853; he came to California in that year, and settled within three miles of his present place, where he remained about two years, when he moved to his present home, and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising; he owns about eighteen hundred acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about forty thousand dollars. Mr. Swift was married, in 1860, to Ann Elizabeth Burke, a native of Scioto County, Ohio; she has borne him four children -- -- Lucetta, born March 15, 1863; Laura F., December 27, 1866; Charles S. and John S., September 15, 1867; the later died when eleven days old. Mr. Swift has held the office of School Trustee.

WEST, C. M., lives eight miles from Galt, his Post Office, and twelve miles from Lodi; was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, in 1831; he moved, with his parents, in 1838, to Pike County, Illinois, and remained there until 1852; he came to California in that year, and lived in Amador County, until 1854, engaged in mining; he then moved to Wisconsin Bar, and was engaged in selling merchandise to miners until 1857, when he went to Oregon; subsequently, he returned to his State, and followed stock-raising until his removal, in 1868, to his present place, when he turned his attention to farming also; he owns five hundred acres and sixty acres, which, with improvements, are worth about nine thousand dollars. Mr. West was married, in 1870, to America Baker, a native of Missouri; they have had born to them five children, three of whom are living in -- -- Chester Franklin, born June, 1875; Alice Effie, born June, 1877; and infant, born April 15, 1879. Mr. West has held the office of School Trustee.

WHITNEY, JOHN W., lives five miles from Galt, his Post Office, and the same distance from Hicksville; was born in Ontario County, New York, in 1830; moved with his parents, in 1834, to Cleveland, Ohio, and lived there until 1836, when they removed to Du Page County, Illinois, and remained until 1840; they then went to Grant County, Wisconsin, where he lived until 1852; he came to California in that year, and was engaged in mining in Placerville, and mines north of there, for five years; with the exception of five years spent in Nevada, he was has farmed here ever since 1858; he owns two hundred and forty acres of land, which, with improvements, are worth about three thousand dollars. Mr. W. was married, February 26, 1873, too Sarah Jane Herbert, a native of Essex County, England.

WHITTEMORE, B. F., Post Office, Clay Station; lives ten miles from Galt, and twelve miles from Elk Grove; was born in Rindge, New Hampshire, in 1833; he moved to Illinois in 1837, and to Salt Lake City in 1853, remaining there about a year; he came to California in 1854, and engaged in mining until 1860; he then settled where he is now living, and followed teaming and farming until his farm demanded that he give it his entire attention; he owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, worth about $5000. Mr. Whittemore has held the office of School Trustee. He was married, in 1872, to Anna M. Snyder, a native of Alleghany County, New York; they have had born to them two children, Abion Elmer, born July 16, 1874, and Carl A., born in January 24, 1878.

YOUNG, THOMAS, lives 3 1/4 miles from Galt, his Post Office; was born in Kentucky in 1813; he moved to Missouri and 1817, and lived there until 1852; he came to California in that year, and engaged in farming; with the exception of time spent in 1832, making a trip to New Mexico, he has always been engaged in farming. When Mr. Young settled in the county, in 1852, farming was confined to the bottomlands, the uplands being deemed unfit for agriculture; not until 1858 was it demonstrated that grain could be profitably raised on uplands. He owns two hundred and forty acres, worth, with improvements, about $4000. He was married in 1841 to Ann Eliza Waseman, a native of Missouri; they have had born to them fourteen children; three of their daughters are married and living in this State.

Source: History of Sacramento County, California With Illustrations pg 243-245 1880 by Thompson & West.