Lake County
Biographies
WILLIAM GESSNER
Was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 27, 1821. Here he received a collegiate education, and in September, 1839, set sail for America aboard the “Oceana,” which was wrecked near Jamaica, where the crew was detained about one month. They then got relief by the Government, and finally arrived at New Orleans about the 23d of December, 1839. Mr. Gessner went at once to Illinois, where he taught the German language two winters, working in a brick-yard in the summer. In the spring of 1842 he engaged as clerk in the hardware store of Charles Wolf & Co., in St. Louis. Here he remained until July, 1844, when he went to New Orleans, where he followed clerking until January, 1845, when he enlisted in the 2d Dragoons of the regular United States service, and was engaged in the war with Mexico, serving through the war. He was discharged January 20, 1850, at Sonoma, Sonoma County, California. Mr. Gessner was engaged for three months in the quartermaster’s office at Benicia, after which he went to the mines, and after spending about three months came to Solano County and engaged in farming in Suisun Valley, where he remained until the spring of 1864, when he sold his farm and went via Panama to Pennsylvania, where he remained but a short time. He returned across the plains with horse and mule teams, and arrived in Suisun Valley in August. In October, 1864, he came to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, located at the head of Scotts Valley, where he is now engaged in farming. Mr. Gessner was elected Supervisor in September, 1879, which office he still holds.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 235
CHARLES GOODWIN
The subject of this sketch was born in Ontario County, New York, October 8, 1816. When he was eight years of age his parents moved to Detroit, Michigan, whither young Goodwin accompanied them. Here the boy was not idle but set himself vigorously at work to obtain an education, and how well he succeeded is evidenced by the fact, that at the very early age of sixteen we find him engaged in teaching, which profession he followed for the succeeding seven years, when, on account of failing health, he connected himself with E. and J. Wilber & Co., wholesale hardware dealers, as a traveling salesman, and remained in that position for the following two years. In the spring of 1850 he started for California across the plains, coming as far as the Truckee River with horse teams. At that point they met with the misfortune of having all their horses stolen by the Indians. Mr. Goodwin then set out to accomplish the remainder of the trip on foot, and arrived at Nevada City, California, October 10, 1850, without a dollar in his pocket. Like all other old timers Mr. Goodwin was engaged in various pursuits, among which may be mentioned mining, auctioneering and teaming, until the spring of 1856, when he came to Lake County and settled in Big Valley, where he has since continued to reside. He now owns about three hundred acres of land, located at the extreme lower end of Big Valley and near Clear Lake, where he is engaged in farming and wool growing. Mr. Goodwin is one of those active, stirring men who pushed out to the very vanguard of civilization, and has always given his best energies to the advancement and upbuilding of the community in which he resides. He was united in marriage, March 24, 1880, with Mrs. R. J. Arnold, a native of Missouri.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 236-237
ABRAHAM GALLATIN
Was born in Pennsylvania, September 18, 1818. Here he followed farming and boat-building until 1842, when he went to Illinois. After spending two years there he returned to Pennsylvania, where he resumed his former business until 1852, at which time he came to California via New Orleans and Panama. We find him at once in the mines, where he remained until 1868. He then made a trip East and traveled in several of the different States for about two years, but finally settled in Napa City, Napa County. Here he resided until 1874, when he moved to Pope Valley, where he resided until December, 1878, when he moved to Lake County and settled on his present place, consisting of three thousand acres, located in Coyote Valley. Here he is engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Gallatin married, October 18, 1870, Mrs. Slonecker, a native of Pennsylvania.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 237
L. H. GRUWELL
Whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Quincy, Illinois, November 22, 1836. When still a child his parents moved to Iowa, where his father was engaged in farming till the spring of 1849. In that year the father of Mr. Gruwell, with his family, crossed the plains with ox-teams to California, coming in on the southern route from Salt Lake City, arriving at Los Angeles in December of that year. Soon after arriving the father, with his family, moved to El Dorado County, and remained until the fall of 1851, when they went to San Jose, where they engaged in farming. In the meantime young Gruwell attended the Pacific University for one year. In 1857, then a young man of twenty-one, he came to Lake County, then a part of Napa County, and speculated in stock until 1861, when he went to Mendocino County, and bought a ranch in Sherwood Valley, continuing to purchase stock for market in the counties of Sonoma, Marin, Lake and Mendocino; also, making trips to the southern counties, buying and driving cattle to San Francisco. In the fall of 1863 he sold his place in Mendocino County, and returned to Lake, where he married Miss Lizzie Lyons, daughter of Judge Lyons, who is still a resident of this county, and formerly a resident of Pennsylvania, where the daughter was born. In the fall of 1866 he moved, and settled on Stoney Creek in Colusa County, where he followed stock raising and speculating for a number of years. In 1872 he removed to Siskiyou County (now Modoc), where he successfully followed the same business till the spring of 1873. On the 15th of January of that year his wife died, leaving four small children, the youngest but a few weeks old. In a few months thereafter he returned to Lake County with his little family, locating at Lower Lake. In 1874 he married Miss Mattie McClintock, a native of California, and daughter of J. T. McClintock, of Scotts Valley, where he now resides. Soon after locating at Lower Lake he became interested in the stage lines from that place to Calistoga, which he followed for three years, when he sold out his interest, and has since given his attention to the livery business. He owns at present three hundred and seventy-four acres of farming land, one and a half miles from Lower Lake, and his livery stable and house and lot in town. Mr. Gruwell served for three months as Supervisor under appointment by the Superior Judge. The able manner in which he discharged his duties secured his election to the position November 2, 1880, by a majority clearly showing the high estimation in which he is held by the public. He has also manifested a lively interest and taken a very active part in the organization of the Lake County Agricultural Society, giving the use of the grounds for the exhibition free, and was elected its first president, which office he now holds for the second term. He has had a family of six children, four by his first wife: Millie, Robert L., Calla and Lizzie, the last-named dying at the age of four years and four months. By his second wife he has two children, both girls: Alla and Katie. Mr. Gruwell has a well-knit form, indicating great physical power, weighing some two hundred or more pounds. It will be observed by reference to his portrait that he is a man of an iron will and determination of purpose, with a vital force sufficient to accomplish successfully whatever he undertakes.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 237-238