Alameda County
Biographies
ABRAHAM BRUYN MONTROSS
Was born in Moscow, Livingston County, New York, August 2, 1822. At the age of thirteen years he was taken by his parents to White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Michigan, and there our subject received his schooling and resided until starting for California. Late in February, 1849, he joined a joint-stock company that started for California on March 5th, with teams, etc. On March 20, 1849, leaving his home on horseback, he made his way to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he overtook his company, of which G. W. Peacock, now of Washington Township, Alameda County, was a member. Proceeding across the plains and coming via the Carson Route, our subject arrived at Ringgold, El Dorado County, September 28, 1849. After engaging in mining at this and other localities until August, 1851, at that date Mr. Montross and three companions descended the Sacramento River from Shasta, the object being to ascertain its navigability between that point and Sacramento City. The expedition being crowned with success, during the month of November, with two of his exploring companions, he purchased an interest in the stern-wheel steamer Orient, then running between Colusa and Sacramento. She was the first steamboat to reach Red Bluff, Tehama County – in January 1852. In the spring of 1852, being in ill-health, Mr. Montross disposed of his interest in the steamboat, and for two years retired from active participation in business. In the month of January, 1856, however, he came to Alameda County, and located near where Decoto now is, where he resided until 1858. He now engaged in sheep-farming, and in 1865 moved to his present property, comprising one hundred and fifty-six acres. Married, in 1873, Mrs. Sarah McCalvy, a native of Scotland, and has no issue.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 945
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
VOLNEY DELOS MOODY
Was born in Rodman, Jefferson County, New York, August 15, 1829, and is the son of Ransome G. and Elmira (Bacon) Moody. Having been taken when five years of age by his parents to Michigan City, Indiana, he there resided six years, and subsequently removing to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, there received his education, and dwelt for nine years, two years of which he was employed in a store, and during the last year of his residence was engaged as a contractor on the streets of that city. On March 28, 1849, Mr. Moody, his father, mother, one sister, and three brothers started to cross the plains with ox-teams, via Salt Lake City, to California. At the City of the Saints they branched off, and were one of the first parties to enter this State by the Southern Route. Having arrived in San Bernardino County in the latter part of December, they continued their journey to the Pueblo de San Jose, finally locating in the Pulgas redwoods, San Mateo County, where our subject was among the first to engage in the lumber industry to any extent there. At the end of a year he came to Oakland and purchased a saw-mill, about three miles to the east of San Antonio, which he conducted three years, when, in 1853, selling out his stock and leasing the mill, he returned to Milwaukee, purchased a band of horses, and drove them across the plains to California. In 1854 Mr. Moody once more returned to the East, and, purchasing cattle in Wisconsin, sent them across the plains; and at Newark, New Jersey, purchased carriages and had them shipped to this coast. He now paid a visit to his birthplace, and on May 3, 1854, was married to Miss Adeline Wright, a native of Jefferson County, New York. He then returned with his bride, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, to San Jose, where he resided until 1866, being engaged in the lumber, flour, and cattle business. In the fall of the year last mentioned he disposed of his interests there, and, removing to San Francisco embarked in a mercantile trade, which he continued nine years. In 1874 he conceived the idea of starting a bank in Oakland, and with a few “good men and true” of that city, in 1875, organized the First National Bank, of which, in January of that year, he was elected the President, a responsible and distinguished position which he still holds. In 1875 Mr. Moody built his residence, No. 564 Fourteenth Street, Oakland, where he now resides. He has a family of three children, viz.: William C., Nellie E., and Jessie L. (now Mrs. W. F. Blood of Oakland).
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 945-946
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler