Harry Ells, one of the progressive and
representative citizens of Contra Costa County, was born in Canning, Nova
Scotia, November 9, 1854, and is the fourth of the six sons and two
daughters of William and Sarah (Newcomb) Ells, farmers in Nova Scotia. As a
boy Mr. Ells found the Nova Scotia farm altogether too small to supply the
needs of the large family, and accordingly he located on a farm near
Winchester, Massachusetts, in 1871, this slight progression opening up yet
broader fields of activity, and placing him in touch with the Far West, to
which he came during the summer of 1874. Locating in Dutch Flat, he engaged
in mining for himself and others, and after the incorporation of the
Cedar Creek Mining Company, he became foreman under Colonel Ludman. Coming
to Stege as assistant superintendent of the California Cap Company, he was
advanced to the position of superintendent in 1889, which position he held
for several years. Mr. Ells branched out in various activities in the
county. He became interested in the real estate and insurance business, and
is a director of the Bank of Richmond. An active and influential Republican,
he has been postmaster at Stege for several years, and served for some years
as president of the board of school directors of the Stege District. In 1902
he was elected to the State Assembly by a large majority from the
twenty-second district, serving on the committee of roads and highways, fish
and game, and as chairman of the committees on manufacturing and internal
improvements. He was unanimously chosen as a candidate to succeed himself
for the term of 1904, and his Democratic opponent, seeing nothing but defeat
before him, withdrew from the contest, and Mr. Ells' election was assured.
Mr. Ells was twice married, the first union being to Katie Seltzer in 1880.
He was married in Sacramento, and his wife died in Dutch Flat one year
after. The second marriage occurred on December 23, 1912, to Maybelle Perry
Seavey, of Richmond. Mr. Ells is a member of McKinley Lodge No. 347, F. & A.
M., of which he is past master. He is also a member of Siloam Chapter No.
37, R. A. M., the Commandery of Oakland, and the Eastern Star.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co.., 1917, p. 567.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.
The history of Contra Costa County would be
incomplete were there failure to mention Louis Brackman, who resides near
Martinez. He was born in Pinole on February 11, 1863, a son of William and
Anne Brackman. Both parents were natives of Germany. The father of our
subject was one of the pioneers of California, crossing the plains in 1849,
starting from St. Louis, and taking six months to make the trip. After
reaching San Francisco he engaged in the cattle business. Later he took up
farming in Moraga Valley. He afterward moved to Pinole, where he followed
ranching and stock-raising. The father died on March 7, 1898, when Louis was
eighteen years of age, and his mother died on January 4, 1882. In the
parents' family eight children were born. Frederick K., who died in
February, 1915, was a rancher and lived near Muir Station. William resides
near Concord. These are the only brothers of Louis Brackman who resided in
this county of late years. Louis Brackman was educated in the public
schools, after which he returned to the home ranch, where he remained until
he was eighteen years of age. He then left home and found employment at
ranching for a period of seven years, when he purchased his father's place
in the Pinole Valley. Here he continued for a period of about sixteen years.
He then bought a fruit-ranch near Muir Station, consisting of twelve acres.
This he sold and removed to his present location, situated most ideally, and
consisting of one hundred and thirty-eight acres. In politics Mr. Brackman
is a Republican. He has served on the educational board in the various
places he has lived with credit. He was married on August 20, 1895, to Miss
Nellie Carpenter, a daughter of Daniel and Sarah Carpenter. To this union
there are three children - Velda Lorain, born October 17, 1900; Louis
Clarence, born July 15, 1908; Alice Ruth, born August 1, 1910. The family
attend the Congregational Church. Mr. and Mrs. Brackman have an extensive
acquaintance and a host of friends, and they have the esteem and confidence
of all who know them.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 567-568.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.