Amador County Biographies
JAMES W.
SHEALOR
The subject
of the following sketch is a native of Virginia, having been born in Page
county, August 24, 1830 after leaving school, for some
years. At the tender age of six years
he removed with his parents to the State of Missouri, locating at Springfield. The father of the present subject was a foundryman, and James followed that business, after leaving
school, for some years. He also engaged in fining, and was a tiller of the
soil, when the western fever first laid hold of him. In 1853 he moved with his father and mother
to California, coming by way of the plains, and experienced the
trials usually attending such a trip in those early days.
His first location was at Volcano,
Amador County, and his business for some years after reaching
the pacific coast was varied, he being engaged in mining, teaming, ranching,
milling, and other branches of industry.
For
the past seventeen years he has resided on his present ranch, situated six
miles north-east from Volano He has three hundred and
twenty acres of fine land, and thoroughly understands the cultivation
thereof. On this ranch he has a saw-mill
that was erected in 1860, and which Mr. Shealor runs
about six months in the year, manufacturing pine lumber for the people in his
vicinity.
He was married February 4, 1853, to Miss Melinda Simms, of
Missouri. Their
union has been blessed with five children, four boys and one girl.
The father of our subject is still living,
but his mother died December 23, 1863.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 320
Transcribed
by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
D. B.
SPAGNOLI
Is a native of Italy, having been born in the
town of Rooegro, Province of Novara, November
30, 1840. He obtained his early education in the city of Pallanza. In 1852, he went to the French college at Vevey, remaining there until 1854, when, in company with
his parents and one brother, he came to California. The names of the family were Deodato Spagnoli and Maria
Antoinette, father and mother, and
the two sons, Silvester and D.
Benjamin. They reached San Francisco August 1, 1854, coming to Clinton, in Amador county, the
following September. The elder Spagnoli mined near Clinton for several months and
then bought a store and stock of goods, consisting of general merchandise. D. B., the subject of this sketch, at
the breaking out of the Frazer river excitement, went north with the crowd, and
had about as exciting experience of the dangers of navigating the Frazer river
and of traveling among the Indiana, as any man that ever returned alive. An interesting book might have been written
on the subject, if book-making had been in his line of business. After his return in 1858, he followed stock-raising
until the death of his father in 1863, when he took charge of his father's
estate, consisting of store, mining interests and ditches, managing those until
1865, when he was appointed Deputy County Recorder, occupying the position two
years. In 1867 he was appointed Deputy
County Clerk. In 1869 the offices of
Clerk and Recorder were merged in one and he received the nomination for the
double office at the hands of the Democrats, and in September was elected,
serving two years. At the expiration of his term of office he formed a law
partnership with R M Briggs, having studied law and been admitted to the bar
while County Clerk. Mr. Spagnoli has
had a liberal education, speaking some four or five languages with
fluency. He belonged to a wealthy and
refined family in Italy, and started in life with
many advantages, which he has not failed to improve.
He has had great influence among his countrymen,
who would take his advice and trust their business to his care. He was married January 12, 1870, at Stockton, to Miss Rosa Isabella
Bryant. In 1872 he returned to Italy on account of business,
visiting London, Paris, Rome, Lyons, Milan, Turin and other cities of the Old World. After his return from Europe he became interested in
the drug store at Jackson, finally becoming sole
proprietor.
His
mother died in Amador County in 1873. He lost his wife
in 1874. who Ieft two sons [now living], two and
three years of age, named respectively, Sylvester Nelson D., and Urbono Giovani D.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 320
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham
SYLVESTER G.
SPAGNOLI
Was born in the town of Rooegro, Italy; came to California in 1854 in company with
his parents, Deodato and Maria Antoinette Spagnoli, and a brother D B Spagnoli,
now a resident of Jackson, and settled in Clinton, Amador County, in the month of
September, 1854. In 1865 he went to Owyhee, in Idaho, on a mining excursion,
returning the same year. On the location
of his brother in Jackson in the autumn of 1865, he
took charge of the home business, consisting of merchandising, mining, and
ditching, which he successfully managed.
He was married November 23, 1868, to Miss Minnie V. Bryant,
by whom he has had four children: Stella M. S., now eleven; Clotilde
E. S., born in Clinton, and Minnie R. S., aged
three years, born in Harmon, county of Penobscot, State of Maine.
Mr. Spagnoli
enjoys the confidence and respect of the community, having held the position of
Justice of the Peace three terms, once in 1876 by appointment, and twice since
by election.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 320
Transcribed
by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
ALEXANDER
SHEAKLEY
Was
born at Sheakleyville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, May 1,
1827. In this town
he spent his boyhood, and acquired the practical business education which has
insured success in his many under-takings.
In 1852 he followed the stream which set with so strong a current to the
Golden State, arriving at Placerville, where he remained engaged in mining
until September, 1853, when he came to lone City, then growing into notice in
consequence of the rich lands in the valley, and its being on the line of
travel from the mines to Sacramento.
This place he made his permanent home, and materially aided to develop
into its present prosperous condition.
He has been engaged in many kinds of business. For the first ten years he carried on
blacksmithing. Close attention to his trade impaired his health, and disposing
of the business, he engaged in hotel keeping, becoming proprietor of the Arcade,
then one of the finest hotels in the State. Since then he has been engaged in
many things, always, however, retaining the ownership of the fine tract of land
containing one hundred and eighty-four acres, which is his residence. This place is beautifully located, twenty to
fifty feet above the valley, which sweeps in a circle around the elevation on
which his house is built. Sometimes twenty reapers can be seen cutting down the
fields of golden grain, which alternate with orchard and vineyard. Ho has a fine residence, with all the modern
improvements, which is a prominent object in whatever direction one may
approach the valley. His place is underlaid by a vein
of coal, which is likely to become valuable.
Mr. Sheakley is one of the solid men of the
county, always reliable. He was married,
April 6, 1864,
to Mrs. A. E. Montandon. No children have blessed the union, to
inherit and improve the fine property, though judging from Mr. Sheakley's hearty appearance, he
does not contemplate retiring from the care of it for many years to come.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 319
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham
BRUNO H.
SCHACHT
Is
a native of Germany, born about 1850. He is a young man of thorough business
habits, and has the confidence of all with whom he associates. In 1879 shortly after being naturalized, he
was elected to the position of Public Administrator, a situation more
responsible than profitable, which he fills with eminent ability and integrity. He has a beautiful residence in the town of Jackson, and evidently intends making the place his permanent
home.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 319
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
JOHN SANDERSON
Is a native of Ireland, and was born in the
month of June, 1830. He remained in the
"Emerald Isle" until he reached his seventeenth year, at which time he
came to America, and settled in the
grand old State of New York, where he remained
three and one-half years. He then
removed to New Jersey and was a resident of
that State until he came to the Pacific coast in 1864. Having had experience on the " briny
deep " in his trip from his native country to the United States, he
naturally chose the steamer as his mode of conveyance, and arrived in
California by way of the Isthmus of Panama in due lime, sound of limb and
buoyant in spirits, seeking like all others an easy fortune in the mines of
thin State. His first location was at
Sutter Creek, in Amador County where he followed the
occupation of a miner for about six years.
From his savings he purchased the beautiful ranch that is now his home, located about one
and one-half miles west of Sutter Creek.
This home place of Mr. Sanderson's is admirably situated and contains
320 acres of choice land, which he is cultivating in a manner that is bound to
make it productive.
He was married on the 13th of February, 1863, to Miss
Katy Hughes, a native of New York, and their union has
been blessed with eigh children, seven of whom are
living. The only son born to them was called to the other world on Thanksgiving
day, 1879.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 319
Transcribed
by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
ARTHUR B. SANBORN
Of the firm of Turner & Sanborn, is a
modest, industrious, and, consequently, promising young man. He was born in 1856, and received such
education as could be obtained in the town of Jackson, until he was fifteen
years old. He made the most of his opportunities,
and, at the close of his school days, commenced a regular course of reading,
political economy being a favorite study.
He is steady and reliable, never having been given to the dissipations so
common to the young men in California, or, in other words,
he never took time to sow any wild oats, but went directly to work improving
his mind. In 1879 he became connected with H. S. Turner in the management of
the Jackson Sentinel, and is now part proprietor. He is a brilliant and forcible writer, and
has a promising future.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 319
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham
JONATHAN SALLEE
Was born in Lincoln County, Missouri, June 17, 1832, where he
resided until he was nineteen years of age, when he crossed the plains with an
ox-team, making the trip in four months.
His first halt was at Mud Springs, now El Dorado, but he soon moved to
Weber creek, where he engaged in mining until 1859, when he returned to
Missouri, where ho remained until 1871, when he returned to California with his
family; for, however much we may think our State is played out a few years'
residence in the Eastern States is sure to make us long for the mild Winters
and even hot Summers of this State. Ho
located on his present ranch, about one mile and a quarter from Plymouth, on
the road to Oleta, whore he has since resided. His
place contains three hundred and twenty acres of good land, favorably located
for business and health, it being in the elevated part of the county, above the malarial
region. He unites stock-raising with
the cultivation of the farm, the country around being a fine range for
cattle.
He was married April 25, 1861, while in Missouri, to
Miss Mary E. Beach, who died in the Spring of 1865.
By this marriage there were two
children, a son and daughter. April 26, 1866, Mr. Sallee was married a second time, making Miss Sarah Jane Longfellow
his wife. By this marriage they have had two children, but one
of whom is living, the family now consisting of himself,
wife, and three children.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 318-319
Transcribed
by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
BENJAMIN ROSS
Was born in Portland, Maine, February 19, 1822, where he learned the trade of mounting
pictures and mirrors; enlisted in Company E, Captain Charles B. Crowninshield, First Regiment, Massachusetts Mexican
Volunteers; served under General Taylor on the Rio Grande until September; then
under General Scott until the close of the war, being promoted during the time
to the position of Sergeant Major. After the close of the war he returned to
Boston, but started to California soon after by way of Fort Smith, Santa Fee
and Salt Lake, arriving at Weber-town, El Dorado county, in September,
1850. In 1852 moved to Volcano, which
place ho has since generally made his home except during a trip to Idaho in
1862 - 63. Has at different times been engaged in mining,
merchandising, banking and surveying. In
1872 he was appointed United States Deputy Surveyor for mines by Surveyor
General J. R. Hardenburgh, which position he still
holds under Surveyor General Wagner In
1878 he was elected Supervisor for District No. 2, and is now, by virtue of
seniority, chairman of the Board. He was
married December 6, 1865, to Miss Mclnfcyre,
and has a family of interesting children.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 318
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham
JAMES ROBERTSON
Was born in the town of Ottawa, Canada, November 26, 1828, where he resided until 1854, engaged in farming. Catching the prevailing California fever, and
perhaps tiring of the long and tedious cold Winters, he turned his steps
towards the land of sunny hills and mild Winters, reaching San Francisco by the
Panama route, about the first of November. He located on his present place in
1856, and has pursued the even tenor of his way ever since, swerving neither to
the right nor left. His place is a beautiful
location, overlooking Sacramento, Stockton and the adjoining plains, which
places often come into distinct view, as the atmosphere clears up after a storm.
His business has been chiefly Stock-raising
and farming. He owns four hundred and
eighty acres of land about midway between Jackson and lone, at the
junction of the old Sutter Creek and Jackson roads. Natural springs supply all the water necessary
for domestic and stock purposes. For a view
of the house and beauty of situation [see engraving in the body of the book.] Mr. Robertson never married, but has had all
the care of a father in helping to raise the younger members of the family, and
also to support a mother in her declining years, the mother being spared to him
until the autumn of 1880.
History of Amador County, California: With Illustrations
and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 318
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham
J. H. RINGER
The gentleman to whom this sketch refers is a
native of the State of Missouri, born in
Bay county, on the 14th of June, 1843. He remained in
his native
State until he was eleven years of age, and then, at that tender age, endured
the hardships, privations, and toil, consequent with a trip across the plains
to California, where he arrived sound of limb, and located at Butte City,
Amador county. He remained there until
1855, and removed to Aqueduct City, where he resided about two years. He then settled in Jackson
valley, and has since been a resident thereof.
As a farmer, Mr. Ringer is a decided success, and is the owner of one of
the finest ranches in the valley, containing four hundred and thirty-one acres,
nearly all of which is under a high state of cultivation, his improvements also
being very fine. Mr. Ringer was married April 23, 1873, to Miss Emily E. Stamper, and is the proud father of three
interesting girls. He is one of the most
thorough and energetic business men in the county, and is rapidly making
himself wealthy.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 318
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
B. F. RICHTMYER
Was born in Coneaville,
Schoharie County, New York, June 17, 1824, at which place he
resided until he was twenty-two years of age, receiving such education as the
place afforded. In 1844 he removed to Delevan, Wisconsin, where for some years
he was employed in a flouring mill. In
1850, yielding to the prevailing California fever, he crossed the
plains with the great emigration of that year, settling at Drytown
the autumn of the same season. Here he engaged in merchandising and mining,
meeting with the usual gains and losses in those days; gains in large profits
then customary, and losses by fires, bad debts, and ill-luck in mining, which,
as many old Califomians remember to their sorrow,
were also
common enough to be called customary. During his
residence here, he was express agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., telegraph
operator and agent, etc.He was associated with G. W.
Seaton in the famous Seaton mine, which, in its day, had the richest quartz
ever found in the county. It was a
pocket mine, however, and did not continue dividends any great length of
time. In 1871, Mr. Richtmyer
was elected County Clerk, his personal
popularity carrying him much beyond the average ticket in the election. He now removed to Jackson, the county seat,
which place he has since made his home.
After serving his term as County Clerk, he became the agent
again of Wells, Fargo & Co., this time at Jackson, and soon after was made
an agent for the Western Union Telegraph Company, both of
which positions he has since filled. In
addition to his other duties, he has also filled the position of
Notary Public; was seven years agent for the Heme
Mutual Insurance Company of California. He is also proprietor and manager of the Jackson water-works, and such is his methodical system of business that he can do all these things justice, and still have time to devote to society and domestic affairs. He was married September 10, 1855, to Miss Celina Van-netter.
As a man, Mr. Richtmyer
is deservedly popular; unswerving integrity, suaviter
in modo, capability mid modesty, being united in
a remarkable degree. He is
unexceptionable in his habits, and if possessed of any faults at all, they are
the amiable ones of being
too generous and unsuspecting. He will
be found equal to any trust the people of the county or State may choose to
repose in him.
History of Amador County, California: With
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers.
By Jesse D Mason
Thompson & West, Oakland, California – 1881
Pp 317 - 318
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley
Graham
