drinks. When he first came to America he embraced the principles of the Democratic party; but when the flag of his adopted country was fired on at Fort Sumpter he changed his membership to what he believed to be the safest guardian of his and his country's liberty, and has since voted with the Republicans. JAMES HARRISON MILLER. Newell, nee Hawley. His grandfather, Simeon Newell, was an enlisting officer in the Revolutionary war, and they are all lineal descendants of one Thomas Newell, who settled in the town of Southington, came in very early times. His mother was a daughter of Asa Hawley, and born in Farmington also. He William H. spent his minority in securing an education and at various kinds of labor in New England. The subject of this sketch is the oldest settler at In November, 1851, he sailed from New York via Latrobe. He was the eldest child of a family of ten the Panama route to San Francisco, where he archildren born to John and Elizabeth Miller. He rived about January 1st, 1852, and proceeded at once was born at Springfield, Robertson county, Tennessee; to Coloma and from there to Columbia Flat and and until seventeen years old worked on a farm, after engaged in mining. During the years 1856-7 he that entered a wholesale dry goods store in the city of had charge of the ditch from Georgetown to the Memphis as a clerk for W. D. and H. Connell. After head waters. In 1859 he went north to the head four years spent in their employ, he engaged in the waters of Trinity river, returning from there he sailed trade for himself at Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. On for the Atlantic States in May, 1860. At the breakthe second day of February, 1850, he left his native ing out of the war he enlisted in a Hartford rifle State to cross the plains to California, being one of company, but on account of ill health was discharged the first to attempt the trip across the then almost and returned to California in 1861. From this time untrodden plains. On the 13th day of August he on he was active in the developing of mines in his arrived at Placerville, was taken sick at once and did district; he located what was known as the Newell not recover until December. He then went to Ledge, on which he erected a 20-stamp mill. He and Logtown and engaged in butchering. In 1857 sold Robert Doran located the famous St. Lawrence, on it out and went to San Jose, in February. In May which they sunk a shaft and run a tunnel 400 feet he returned to the mountains at Georgetown and before selling it to Isaac Bateman, Esq., who afterthence to Nashville, where he engaged in work on the wards disposed of it to an English company for one mills. He then went to Orum city and in company half million dollars. In 1870 he visited the East, with Lyton Bostick opened a store, which they kept and again returned to the Pacific coast in 1872, and till 1861; declining health drove him out of the mer- engaged in mining, running quartz mills, etc. cantile line and he engaged in stock raising, and is finally concluded to provide a more permanent home now one of the largest dealers in live stock in the for declining years and purchased from David Martin county. He keeps about 6,000 sheep, 200 cattle and the farm he now owns, one of the oldest settled in 30 to 50 horses, which find feed and range on about the county, and on which there is a valuable mine, in 7,000 acres of land owned by Mr. Miller. He has connection with good agricultural and fruit growing in addition a fine range for stock in the Sierra Nevada lands. He has been a permanent resident of Colmountains, west of Lake Bigler. In 1869 he repre- umbia Flat since 1872 and a greater part of the time sented his county in the Legislature and again in has acted as mining recorder for his district, and for 1877-78. Is Democratic in politics, and the only some time was Master of the Grange at Garden valone in the family of his father and nine other childley. He was married January 31st, 1875, to Celia He was married in 1854 to Eliza A. Ewing, a Richar 'son Cole, a daughter of William and Fannie daughter of Samuel Ewing, of Montgomery, Ohio. Frink Richardson; she was born in Sheldon, Wyoming They have raised a family of six children, viz: Ten-county, New York; she was educated in Bloomingnie A., now Mrs. C. W. Duden, Libbie C., John ton, Illinois, and came to California in June, 1871. Lyton, Mary M., Hattie N. and Nettie Frances. Her father was a native of Massachusetts, where he Miller is essentially a self-made man. His education was born on the 30th of May, 1786, and her mother was very limited, and when he did the first day's February 3d, 1795. They reared a family of eight chillabor in California he was $500 in debt, but by in-dren to years of maturity. Her father served in the war dustry and tact has in a few years become one of the of 1812; he died January 27th, 1871, and her mother first men in the county financially. died October 28th, 1874, at Georgetown, California. Her brothers George, John and James, were old Was born in the town of Farmington, in Hartford Californians, and mined in El Dorado county early county, Conn., March 13th, 1831: he was the third in the fifties. John is now one of the influential and Son and seventh child of Roger Shelden and Naomi | wealthy men of Sacramento. ren. WILLIAM HENRY NEWELL Mr. The Indian name of Columbia Flat, where Mr. and Mrs. Newell reside, was Po-no-chitta-toma, meaning moon flat, and the name of the post office is St. Lawrence. Mr. Newell has acted as Justice of the Peace for several years. WM. D. OTHICK, ing, a trade that he has been trained to from boyhood. He is now Postmaster at Coloma. Mr. Price is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Coloma, of which he has been Secretary for many years. Was married to a daughter of John Teuscher, an old time Californian. WILLIAM. E. RIEBSAM, One of the early settlers in El Dorado county, was born in the town of Wolcottville, Litchfield county, Of the firm of Riebsam and Adams, of Latrobe, came Conn., February 15, 1820. Is a son of John and to California in 1852, from the town of Muncy, in the Harriett (nee Platt) Othick. On his mother's side his beautiful Susquehanna Valley of Lycoming county, ancestors were of English origin, and Revolutionary Penn. stock. His father was a woolen manufacturer, and W. D., the subject of our sketch, worked in the factory until he was 20 years of age, when he learned carriage making. Phillip Riebsam, his father, was a native of Germany, and came to Muncy in an early day and was engaged in merchandising. His mother was Sarah Riebsam, and born in the State of New Jersey. In 1851 he removed to California, coming via William was born in Lycoming county in 1829. the Isthmus. He located at Kelsey the same year and engaged in mining, in 1852 he moved to Coloma, and for a number of years has been engaged in mining; has taken out as much as $1,500 in one day and from $15,000 to $30,000 per annum for three years. In 1856 he settled on his present home and began improving slowly. Has now about 400 apple, 700 peach, 50 pear and 200 plum trees, together with about 11,000 vines, and he makes from 5 to 10 thousand gallons of wine annually; has 92 acres of land in his farm. In 1852 he kept a store in Coloma, and in 1854 had a stage line between Coloma and Auburn, charging $6,00 fare for each passenger, while in the store he sold flour as high as $45.00 per hundred pounds. Was married in 1858 to Mary Quinn, daughter of John and Mary Quinn. Mrs. Othick was born in the county Down, Ireland, December 23, 1833. There have been born to them six children, viz: Mary E., born in San Francisco, and died when about six weeks old; Gertrude, born Aug. 9, 1861; Georgiana, born January 29, 1862, died July 18, 1879; Leonora, born Nov. 22, 1862; Harriett, born Sept. 31, 1865, and William D., born January 16, 1871. Mr. Othick is a member of “Acacia Lodge, No. 92, F. A. M., at Coloma." and When he had arrived at years of maturity he engaged as his father's successor in the mercantile husiness in Muncy. In 1852 he closed up his business there and crossed the plains to California. After following the mines for about two years, he engaged in selling goods at Spanish Camp in company with James H. Miller. In 1864 he removed to Latrobe, and engaged in business with A. J. Adams; the firms are still in business, carrying a large and varied stock of merchandise. Previous to the year 1866, he was engaged in the stock business with J. H. Miller. He served one term as Supervisor of the county, is a member of Latrobe Lodge, No. 189, of which he is a Past Master. Married in 1859 to Sarah Hitchcock, a native of Ohio, to them have been born six children, Eurena and Ella, who were twins; Henrietta E., Charles H., Mary Elizabeth and Ada V. The first three were born in Spanish Camp and the others at Latrobe. Mr. Riebsam is a thorough business man, and as such has been successful. LEWIS T. STROUP. and Sarah Stroup. of Delaware and the latter in Pennsylvania. Lewis first saw the light of day at Newcastle, on the banks of the proud old Delaware, July 16th, 1812. His JOHN PRICE. boyhood days were spent in attending public school John Price, of Coloma, was born in Burlington, Ver- and at work on his father's farm. On the 17th day mont, in 1831. He came to California via the of November, 1853, he was united in marriage to Panama route in 1850, and went to the mines in Miss Mary Dixon, who was also a native of Delaware, Stanislaus county. After a short time he returned to and a daughter of Thomas D. and Margaret (nee San Francisco and again to the mines. During the Ocheltree.) They resided at Christianna, Delaware, years '52 and a portion of '53, he was clerking in a until 1856, when they sailed via Panama to Caligrocery store in Sacramento. In July, 1853, he went to Coloma, and mining a short time, engaged in clerking for Robert Bell in 1868. He purchased the business and has since been engaged in general merchandis fornia. After a few months spent in San Francisco, Mr. Stroup located his family at Sacramento, and he began mining at Red Bank on the South Fork of the American river; after accumulating some funds, he purchased the place where his family now resides, and gold had been announced to the world. He crossed began laying the foundation for a future home. The the Isthmus of Panama and arrived in San Francisco residence had been erected by Mr. Jenkins in 1854, in January, 1849, and was at Auburn, in Placer county, but was in an entirely unfinished condition. Very in February of the same year. He was born in the little was to be seen about the place attesting the State of New Hampshire in 1825. Was educated at labor of the husbandman. A small vineyard was Hanover and graduated as a geologist. Except one soon planted by Mr. Stroup, shade trees provided, year engaged in the wool trade, he has been very acand from time to time, as circumstances would per- tively engaged in developing and selling mines. Has mit, improvements were made, and it is now one of made 49 trips across the continent in the interest of the most cheerful and pleasant homes in Salmon Falls mining corporations and effected the sale of 39 differtownship. There are from 50 to 60 acres of land, ent mines. He has erected 10 different quartz mills about 30 of which is in vineyard. and is now, in company with his son Fred, operating Orofino gold quartz mine, on which he has the most complete mill in the county, fully equipped with the air compresser, power drills, eight batteries, seven concentrators, White's revolving furnace pans and settlers, together with a complete assaying and smelting outfit, all located on a 40 foot ledge, on which there is a double compartment shaft and all run by water power, with 360 feet pressure. The family consists of five children, Harry, born May 13th, 1855, in Christiana, Delaware, and is in business at Plainfield, California. Katie was born August 24th, 1857, at Red Bank, California; Uriah was born March 5th, 1864; Thomas D., born February 14th, 1866; and Fannie E., born March 17th, 1870. Mr. Stroup died September 21st, 1881, having attained his three score years and ten; was an Odd Fellow, and a man much esteemed as a generous, good man, a fond parent and kind husband, friend to all and respected by all. HIRAM STODDARD a Was the first son and second child of Avery and Lucy Stoddard, who were natives of Maine, where Hiram was born, on May 12th, 1830. When 7 years old his parents died and he was left to battle for himself. As soon as old enough he went to learn the shoemaking trade; this done he learned to be a moulder in a foundry; he spent two years at each trade. On the 5th of March, 1852, he sailed by way of Cape Horn to California, where he arrived on July, 25th. He moved on to Murderer's Bar and began river mining. In 1853 followed the same at Oregon Bar, and in 1854 he again mined on the river, having farmed in 1853, In 1856 he farmed on land owned by Mr. Harris. In 1857, in company with John Simington, located his present home. He soon bought his partner out and owned and worked the farm alone. He was married April 4, 1867, to Mrs. Margaret F. Hughes. They have two sons, Hewny N., born Oct. 27, 1868 and Avery P., born Nov. 8, 1872. Mrs. Stoddard had two sons by first marriage, viz.: Frank E., born at Williamsburg, Maine, Oct. 15, 1852; Charles W., born on Manhattan Creek, Cal., August 23, 1854, both married. A sad accident with some farming machinery in midsummer, 1883, ended the life of Hiram Stoddard, mourned by his many friends and relatives. JOSIAH HAMILTON LANGDON TUCK. The subject of this brief mention was one of the first to reach the Pacific Coast, after the discovery of Mr. Tuck was married in 1835 to Lucy A. Cutler, a native of Vermont. To them have been born 8 children, 5 of whom are yet living. Frank H. is Supt. of mines, Mary E., now Mrs. Charles Miller, of Saint Charles, Ills., Clanon T., a boot and shoe manufacturer in N. H., Fred B., Supt. of Orofino mines, and Kittie, now Mrs. Dr. G. H. Beach, of Los Angeles. In addition to his various mining interests he has one of the finest almond orchards in California, located near San Jose. His father was Col. Edward Tuck, who commanded the Fourth Regiment of New Hampshire troops in the war of 1812, and his mother was Mary Warren, a rel ative of General Warren, who fell in the battle of Bunker Hill. WILLIAM H. VALENTINE, of Coloma Valley, was born in Queen's county, New York, December 19, 1830. His father was Obadiah Valentine. William's boyhood days were devoted to obtaining what he could of an education in the common schools of that day, and in learning the machinist's trade. In 1849 he, in company with others, built a ship and sailed via Cape Horn from New York to San Francisco, leaving the former in August, 1849, and arriving in San Francisco in January, 1850. He went to Nevada City, then a village of but three houses, and engaged in mining. In 1851 he came to El Dorado county and was one of a company to build the first ditch in the county, called "Uniontown and Michigan flat ditch. In 1850 he had assisted in the erection of one in Placer county. For a number of years he was engaged in mining and ditching. In 1857 he located in his present home, Cork, Ireland, June 2, 1812. After receiving his edand in 1859 began improving it; there is now about ucation he went to learn the carpentering and boat4,000 fruit trees on the place and 4,000 grape vines. building trades, which he followed for many years. In In 1856 he was married to Laura J. Cromwell. There 1833-4, he removed from his native country with his are three children living and one deceased, Layton W., parents, who settled in Canada. In 1849 Thos. beLouis H. and Carlton O., are living and Jennie A.gan boating on the Erie Canal. In 1853 he gave that died when four years old. GERGET MENSEN WUBBENA Was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 3d day of November, 1823. He is a son of Nicholas Wubke, (nee Remmens) who were also Hanoverians from the Province of Friesland, a proud people, who fought long and valiantly for their country's freedom. up, and sailed via the Isthmus of Panama to California in 1854. He settled at Kelsey, and engaged in mining until 1859. During this year he returned to the East intending to remain, but was taken ill and had to return to California's healthful, life giving climate. He then took up his permanent abode at Kelsey, where he yet resides. JAMES ASKEW He was married in 1842, lost his wife in 1853, and When 14 years, the sea had its charms for young has ever since remained a widower. Is now engaged Wubbena, and he went as a sailor boy. He followed in business at Kelsey, is widely known in the county, the water for 13 years. In 1850 he was on a Holland and always the same genial, courteous gentleman. ship in the East Indies, and decided to come to California. For five years he was engaged in various pursuits, a short time on the ship Persia, then in the mines. and after a season of stage driving, bought the squatter's title to his present home, in 1853, and began improving it. It has been changed in a few years from a brushy waste to a fertile farm, on which there grows about 15,000 grape vines, and over 300 fruit trees. The farm was taken up in 1850 by McDowell, and was and is yet, known as McDowell Hill. On the 14th day of May, 1854, he was married to Miss Christiana Fritz, a native of Wurtemburg. They have had seven children, Charles W., Nicholas G., William F., Rosa K., Lena W., Emma F. and Henry, who died in infancy. Mr. Wubbena has about 700 acres of land, and in addition to making wine and brandy raises cattle and horses. son of ANDREW JACKSON ADAMS, The business partner of Mr. Riebsam, is a Henry and Sarah (nee Mills) Adams, of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on the 8th day of December, 1830. His father was a contractor and builder, and also owned a farm on which Andrew was engaged until in 1852 he crossed the plains to California. From the time of his coming to California in 1852 to 1864, he was engaged in mining. In 1864, he bought into the business at Latrobe. Was married July 4, 1865, to Miss Dennis, a daughter of James Dennis, of Sutter Creek. The union is blessed with three children, viz: Laura E., Charles Francis, and Claude M., all born at Latrobe. At an early day his parents removed to Ohio, and in 1846 to Wisconsin, where his father served in both houses of the State Legislature and was one of the presidential electors. THOMAS ALLEN Was born on June 23, 1831, near Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. His parents were Christian, and Ann Askew. Here young James had to attend school until he was 12 years of age, when his father required his help on the tow path on the canals, where he worked faithfully for the nxet five years. But when about 17 years old he quitted this kind of work and for four years he went as a mate on a canal boat. The desire to see other countries drew him away from home; on the first of January, 1853, he left his native town to go to America, taking passage on board the ship Ellen Maria, from Liverpool to New Orleans, where he arrived on March 7th, and after a short stay of two days concluded to go to St. Louis, where he was married on the 3d of April, same year, to Jane Lodge. There was no stop at St. Louis for the young married pair however; with a view to go to California they took up the travel again by the way of Keokuk to Kanesville, where they attached themselves to a party of 40 wagons to go across the plains. A heavy snow storm, which was encountered after passing the South Pass, brought great loss to the party, so that they reached Salt Lake City, on October 9th, quite destitute and nearly starved. The advanced season did not allow them to continue with the journey and they concluded to stop here till the next spring. For James Askew, however, this expected next spring did not come before the year of 1857, when he became able to start with his family for California, on March 20thBeing the first train which crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains that season, they had to shovel their way through the snow on the summit, but reached Mud Spring (El Dorado) on the 4th of June. From here. Askew went on to Latrobe, where he first engaged in Is a son of John and Ann Allen, and was born in mining together with one called 'Uncle John,' but not finding the fortune he had expected, returned to El save six months' rations of their cargo. This was perDorado, where he engaged alternately in teaming for haps the first auction sale of goods held in Sacramenthe mines and mining for himself until 1861, when he to. They then bought lots, intending to go to merbought a ranch one mile from El Dorado, the same he chandising; sickness prevented this attempt and they is residing on still. He made this a dairy ranch, sup-opened the restaurant, known as the Knickerbocker plying the town people with milk, but kept on mining Restaurant. This was first destroyed by the flood and and teaming. Not quite satisfied with his location secondly by fire. He then went to teaming to Long he traveled in 1865 and '66 over the greater part of Bar, on the Yuba, where he also bought an eating the State, with the purpose to hunt up a better place house and an interest in two mining claims, to which to settle on, but always returned home convinced that they dug ditches at a very heavy expenditure and he could not find anything better, and commenced to realized nothing, the floods of 1852 destroyed their improve what he had got. He first directed his at- dams, etc. He then engag ed inmining bank diggings, tention to his stock, which had to be improved for and was quite successful, in taking out about $17,000. dairying purposes, and he bought a bull calf, Gen- A portion of this money he loaned to a friend who Grant, and three heifers, all of the best Jersey breed, on term bought what was known as the Tennessee from direct imported stock. These were the first ranch, in El Dorado county, which Mr. Brown was Jerseys brought in the county and he took all the obliged to take in order to save his money. He then premiums for Jerseys at the County Fair, and one called it the Knickerbocker ranch, here he expended premium at the State Fair, in 1870, and in 1871 took large sums of money and misfortune again befell him. three more premiums at the State and County Fairs He then took to the mines in the Meadow Lake dison the same stock. He also took the first premiums trict, where they were compelled to carry material for for best roll and firkin butter at the County Fair building mills into the mines on mules. The ores since 1878, as well as at the State Fair since 1879. were rebellious, and a snow slide swept the mill into He introduced the first carp in the county, keeping the lake. This closed out his mining interest for a them for breeding; for which purpose he has two large ponds covering about one acre of ground. Mr. Askew's marriage was blessed with seven children, two girls and five sons, viz: Emily Jane, born August 7, 1855, at Salt Lake City, died; James Henry, born at Ogden, November 11, 1856; John Edward, born at Mud Springs, September 29, 1858; Walter Lodge, born August 1, 1860, drowned in a mining ditch August 2, 1862; George William, born January 23, 1863; Her bert, born August 26, 1866, died; and Nettie Louvina, born April 6, 1871. PROVOST D. BROWN Was the first son and second child of a family of eight sons and daughters born to Abraham J. and Mary, (Provost) Brown, of the State of New Jersey, where in the town of Brownsville, Middlesex county, the subject of our notice first saw life on the first day of September, 1824. His ancestors settled in New York early in the seventeenth century. The first 24 years of his life he spent, as was the custom at that time, in attendance on the district school in winters and working on the farm in summers. time and he again turned his attention to farming. He has 320 acres of valuable land, on which there is the best orchard in the township, consisting of 1,500 trees and 6,000 vines. He was married in 1856, by this union there was two sons born, viz: Charles C., born June 31, 1857, and Albert E., who was born April 21, 1859, his wife died and he was married a second time and she also died, and on the 7th day of December, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Nellie S. Bancroft, a daughter of William Bancroft, of Clipper Gap. There has been born to them two children, Philip D., on October 2, 1879, and Effie N., February 19, 1882. Mr. Brown is a very industrious and enterprising citizen. He is an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry, and was the first master of a Grange in the State of California. Is a member of the Horticultural Commission, and has been a member of the Republican Central Committee. He is a practical and successful farmer, and owns a very productive tract of land, well fenced and watered, and is engaged in raising stock as well as grain and fruit. GEORGE BEATTIE During the summer of 1848 the news of Marshall's discovery of gold at Coloma, reached his native town. Was born at Edinburg, Scotland, June 24th, 1827; He at once joined in a company of 38 persons was an apprentice at stone cutting. Came to Caliwho purchased a schooner and sailed via the fornia 1849, via Cape Horn, in the ship Audly Clark; Straits of Magellan to San Francisco, where they arrived September 1st. First mined in Tuolomne arrived in June, 1849. The party proceeded at once county February, 1850, on Canyon creek, Oregon to Sacramento, and disposed of their boat and all canyon and Georgia slide, in company with his |