Alameda County
Biographies
MARK AGER
Was born in Jefferson County, New York, June 7, 1842, and there resided until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when he answered his country’s call, and enlisted, April 19, 1861, in Company F, Thirty-fifth New York Regiment, from which, after two years’ service, he was discharged and re-enlisted in Company F, Twentieth New York Regiment, serving in this corps until the close of the war. In 1865 he came to California, located at Folsom, Sacramento County, and was in charge of the post-office there until 1869, when he moved to Pleasanton, and was the first agent of the Western Pacific Railroad Company there. Resigning this position in 1871, he moved to Sunol and opened the present railroad office there. In the following year he commenced operations in his present store, and in 1874 erected the first warehouse in that place, constructing another like edifice in 1875. Married, September 24, 1866, Miss Sarah E. Sanborn, and has two sons, Archie and Fred.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 837
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JAMES M. ALLEN
Was born in Cole County, Missouri, November 13, 1828, and is the son of David and Elizabeth (Storey) Allen. When but two years of age he was taken by his parents to Cooper County, where they resided five years; after which they transferred their habitation to Jackson County, not far from Independence, where our subject first attended school. His father and mother now moved to the adjoining county and took up their residence on a farm, where they remained until 1846, when the family determining to emigrate, joined the party captained by Hon. Elam Brown of Contra Costa County, and with it came to California. His father was taken sick at Fort Bridger on the route, and was left behind; and his mother died and was buried at the Sink of the Humboldt. Mr. Allen and his party entered California at Johnson’s Ranch, October 10, 1846, where they found the proprietor to be a rough sailor, dwelling in a dirty little hut, and surrounded by naked Indians – a fact which caused some confusion among the ladies of the train. Continuing their journey they camped on the spot where Sacramento, the capital of the State, now stands. About a mile and a half up the American River, at New Helvetia, stood the hospitable inclosure of Sutter’s Fort, where beef, flour, and other commodities were procured, the fresh meat and bread being highly appreciated, for they had been long desired. Here it had to be decided whither the party should permanently locate, the places receiving the greatest favor being the Santa Clara Valley, Napa, and Sonoma. Mr. Allen with his brothers and sisters elected for Santa Clara, to which place they at once set out in company with Elam Brown and his family. On arrival at the San Joaquin it was found necessary to swim the entire train across its turbulent waters. The journey was now continued to the rancho of Robert Livermore, and here, in October, 1846, Mr. Allen camped on the site of the prosperous town which bears the patronymic of the English pioneer. Following through the Sunol Valley, and passing the Mission of San Jose, they emerged on to the Santa Clara Valley, went through the Pueblo de San Jose, and three miles further came to a halt at the Santa Clara Mission, where they located. Mr. Allen now enlisted in the military company raised by Capt. Charles M. Weber, the services of which are detailed in our chapter on the Military Occupation of the northern portion of Upper California, and with it took part in all the stirring incidents of that campaign. In the year 1847 he met his father, whom he had not seen since leaving him at Fort Bridger, and subsequently, with his brother-in-law, William M. Mendenhall, took up his residence on a ranch about six miles from Santa Clara, which Mr. Allen, Senior, had purchased. Here our subject resided until the discovery of gold. As soon as this startling intelligence was announced, Mr. Allen immediately proceeded to the American River, and engaged in mining for a month, at the end of which time he returned to the ranch, he there with Mr. Mendenhall made a gold-rocker – the first seen in the State – and returned to the mines. Taking with him pack-mules he commenced selling goods in partnership with Warren Brown throughout the diggings, and remained there until the fall of 1848, when he returned to the farm in Santa Clara Valley. His father, who had remarried in Oregon and made his home there, now sent for our subject and his younger brother and sister to join him. After a rough and tedious voyage of forty-one days, fourteen of which were passed on the bar at the mouth of the Columbia River on account of water being frozen to a depth of eight inches, and the voyage up the river made in a canoe, they arrived in Portland, when they proceeded to Salem. Mr. Allen’s stay in Oregon was short. At the end of four months he returned to California and embarked in a mule-freighting business between Sacramento and the mines. During the winter of 1849-50 he bought cattle and wintered them at Cache Creek. In the year 1849 he and Jones <sic> Spect laid out the town of Fremont at the confluence of Feather and Sacramento Rivers. In 1850 he was appointed Sheriff of Yolo County by Governor Burnett, in which office he served two years. At this period, owing to the depreciation of property in Fremont, he lost a considerable sum of money, he consequently returned to Santa Clara, while his brother-in-law, William M. Mendenhall, went into the stock business there. In the spring of 1853 these gentlemen moved into Contra Costa County, but in that fall Mr. Allen proceeded to Carson Valley to meet the immigration for the purpose of buying horses, establishing his headquarters on Clear Creek, twelve miles below Mormon Station; but remaining here only a few weeks he went to Rag Town and there encountered Martin Mendenhall with his father and family. At this time Mr. Allen first met Miss Sidesia Mendenhall, the lady he afterwards made his wife. With Mr. Mendenhall our subject returned to Contra Costa County and purchased the farm in San Ramon Valley now owned by William W. Cox, where he remained three years, after which he bought a ranch in Tassajara Valley, where he engaged in stock-raising for three years more. He now sold out the majority of his cattle, retaining three hundred head of the best, and entered into a partnership with Elisha Harlan, and thus continued for three years further. Mr. Allen now transferred his habitation to Alamo, and afterwards to Martinez where he remained until the fall of 1861. At this time he moved to San Francisco with the intention of acquiring real estate there, but engaged in mining in Virginia City, Nevada, and Reese River. During these last years Mr. Allen suffered much from sickness, and was consequently not as successful in accumulating the goods of this world as he otherwise might have been. He now engaged in the livery business, which he continued until 1865, when, disposing of it, he was appointed by Governor Haight Adjutant-General of Militia for the State of California, the functions of which office he discharged for three years. About this time Mr. Allen’s sight began to fail him; he therefore repaired to Santa Clara for a three months’ rest, after which, he returned to San Francisco, where he was prostrated by asthma. To seek his health he came to Livermore, Alameda County, where he has since resided, engaged in real estate operations. Colonel Allen was present in Mexico during the Maximilian War. Mr. Allen’s family consists of one son, viz.: Eugene D., born in San Ramon, Contra Costa County; Delora Belle, now the wife of Doctor Biddle, Healdsburg.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 837, 838
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler