Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.

An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 383-384.

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Judge George A. Blanchard

Judge George A. Blanchard---Among the representative members of the bar of Sacramento to-day is the gentleman with whose name this sketch commences. He is a native of Erie County, New York, born April 15, 1848, and son of George G. and Philinda (Keyes) Blanchard. The latter was native of new Hampshire, and her grandfather, an Irish Presbyterian, settled in the town of Derry in that State. The Blanchards are an old New England family. The parental grandfather of the subject of this sketch, a Massachusetts man, removed after his marriage to Antrim, New Hampshire, thence afterward to Aurora, New York, and finally to Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York, where he bought from Mr. Seward, agent, a farm of the Holland Purchase, early in the ‘50’s. He still lives at the farm, at an advanced age. George G. Blanchard, father of the subject of this sketch, was educated at Jamestown Academy, but his brothers were all Dartmouth graduates. He was married at Jamestown, and moved to Erie County, where he taught school. His wife died while he was there, and soon after he left there and went South, where he resumed teaching. He afterward migrated to Wisconsin, and from there came to California across the plains. Arriving in this State, he first engaged in mining in Nevada county, and afterward removed to El Dorado County, where he mined and followed saw-milling and lumbering. He finally embarked in the legal profession, made his mark as a lawyer, and is now one of the leading members in the profession. George A. Blanchard, subject of this mention, was reared at Jamestown, New York, to the age of twelve years, when he came to California via Panama, taking passage at New York on the Northern Light, and landing at San Francisco from the Golden Gate in May, 1861, just after the breaking out of the civil war. He went to the town of El Dorado and was there prepared for college by sundry learned college men from Yale, Amherst, and other celebrated institutions of learning, all of which contributed their quota to the personnel of the California mining camps. At the age of sixteen years he went to Dartmouth College, was matriculated, went through the four years’ academic course, and was graduated in the class of 1868. He then went to Buffalo, New York, and there studied law with Amos A. Blanchard, who had studied law with Millard Fillmore, in the firm of Fillmore, Hall & Haven. During this time he was deputy clerk of the Superior Court of Buffalo, in which Grover Cleveland had practiced. He was admitted to the bar on examination, in the eighth judicial circuit of the Supreme Court of New York, Judge Richard P.  Marvin, presiding judge, in November, 1869. The next spring he came back to California, and in 1871 he came to Sacramento by invitation of Attorney General John Lord Love, to take the position of Assistant Attorney General in his office. He so continued during four years, and for a considerable portion of the time was acting Attorney General. At the expiration of General Love’s term of office, and after one month with his successor, Jo. Hamilton, Mr. Blanchard opened an office on the corner of Second and K streets, Sacramento, and soon afterward formed a partnership with W. C. Van Fleet (now judge), and the firm of Blanchard & Van Fleet moved into the office vacated by Henry Edgerton, corner of Sixth and I streets. That was in 1875. Mr. Blanchard was elected District Attorney in 1878, and Mr. Van Fleet conducted the civil business of the firm until 1880, when the partnership was dissolved. At the expiration of his term as District Attorney Mr. Blanchard was appointed Assistant Attorney General by General A. L. Hart, and served first in this capacity under the new constitution. About a year and a half later he was appointed by Governor Perkins to fill the vacancy on the Superior bench of Colusa County, caused by the death of Judge Hatch. He served out the unexpired term, was nominated for the position by the Republican convention, and at the ensuing election failed of being chosen for the position by 140 votes, though there was a Democratic majority in the county of 1,000, and this though he had never been in the county previous to his appointment as judge. He practiced law there until January 1, 1888, when he came to Sacramento and formed the present partnership with Judge Amos P.  Catlin. Judge Blanchard was married to Miss Annie L. Hatch, daughter of Dr. F. W. Hatch, deceased, mention of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Judge Blanchard has always taken an active part in public affairs and in the Republican party organization. He was a member of the State Central Committee for Colusa County, and was a member of the State Convention of 1886. It is generally conceded that he could have had the nomination for Attorney General had he so desired. His record on the bench and at the bar place him in the front rank of the legal profession.

W.W. BRISON 

W.W. Brison, guard at the State Prison, Folsom, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, December 20, 1828, a son of Oliver and Mary (Wiley) Brison, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The parents emigrated from West Virginia to Missouri in 1838, and resided there in Marion County until 1850. In the spring of the latter year father and son started across the plains to California, leaving Independence May 9. At Devil’s Gate, on the Sweetwater, about 150 miles west of Fort Laramie, they stopped eight days, and at Salt Lake two weeks, being there on the 24^th of July, which is the Mormons’ principal holiday. Striking northward from this point, they came to the old Fort Hall road, and onward until they arrived at the head of the Humboldt, and thence down that river to the sink. Soon they struck the forty-mile desert, which they crossed during the night. They reached the Carson River at a point called Ragtown, and went up to the town of Genoa, in the Carson Valley, at the foot of the Sierras. After crossing the summit they came down the old slippery Fort road, an old emigrant trail, to Placerville, arriving there August 19. They commenced mining on the south fork of the American River, near Sutter’s Mill, where Mr. Brison saw the first gold in California. In the fall the river rose so that they had to abandon that place, and they went over to Diamond Spring, El Dorado County, and wintered there. In the spring Mr. Brison, senior, “took up” a quarter section of land, forty acres of which he fenced, and twenty-five he plowed, assisted by his son. It was their intention to use it for garden purposes; but after working it awhile, and finding that they could do nothing with it during the dry spring of 1851, they abandoned it. The land was afterward found to be in the Sutter grant, and the Brisons lost it. A part of it is now in Sacramento city. They then purchased a couple of teams and started to Vacaville in Solano County, cut wild hay and hauled it to Cache Creek Slough, about fifteen miles distant, shipping it by a little boat called the Ohio, to Sacramento, where they sold it. During the winter of 1851-’52 they mined at Kelsup Diggings, near Georgetown, El Dorado County. In the spring the elder Brison went down to Cache Creek in Yolo County, and entered 160 acres, and about a month afterward the junior Brison also entered another quarter section. They fenced in about ten or fifteen acres, and tried to buy it of the grant (the Berryesa grant), but the owners would not give it up. The settlers on the grant then clubbed together and hired a good lawyer to fight the case in the courts at Washington, but they lost their suit. In the spring of 1853 Oliver Brison returned home by water, while W.W. Brison went back to the Diamond Spring mines in 1854, where he continued until 1858. He was then employed by the Eureka Canal Company as agent to collect the water rents. In 1861 he came to Sacramento and took charge of the Western Ditch, which was leased by that company, they giving Mr. Brison full control. The next year he was employed by the Eureka and Natoma Water Companies together to sell water at the Farmer’s Diggings on the American River. In 1865 he returned and took charge again of the Western Ditch in this county until 1867, and the next year bought a ranch on the Folsom grant, sixteen miles from Sacramento, on the Sacramento Valley Railroad. This farm he conducted until 1877, when he purchased a half interest in a wholesale and retail grocery store on the corner of Tenth and K Streets, a store which was formerly owned by Cox & Jones. Running that business until 1880, he sold out his interest to his partner, John Lambert, and May 16, 1881, he left for Arizona on a mining excursion. In September 1886, he returned to this county, and May 21, next year, was appointed as guard at the Folsom State Prison, which position he has successfully filled to the present time. Politically, Mr. Brison is a Democrat, and in former times was very active in public affairs. At one time he was treasurer of the Democratic County Central Committee. March 8, 1866, he married Miss Carrie, daughter of Newell Kane, Sr. They have two sons, Oliver O. and William William, the latter named after his father.

D. Johnston

D. Johnston, one of the well-known old Californians now and for many years resident in Sacramento, is a native of Kittanning, Pennsylvania, born June 30, 1827. His father, J. R. Johnston, was a native of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, a farmer and a tanner by trade. His mother, whose maiden name was Isabella Matthews, was also a native of Pennsylvania. David Johnston, the subject of this sketch, was reared at Kittanning, there read law, and for a time served as clerk of the Orphans' Court of the county. On the 14th of October, 1852, he was married, and on the same day started for California. The next week he was in New York City, and on the 21st they left there on the steamer Cortez. He was detained at Panama a week, waiting for the steamer on the Pacific side, and landed at San Francisco November 23, 1852. The great fire had occurred at Sacramento while they were on their way, and in December came the great flood here. Mr. Johnston remained in San Francisco that winter, and the following spring came to Sacramento. From here he proceeded to Bear River, in Nevada County, fourteen miles below Grass Valley. As the children grew up it was thought proper to remove the family to the vicinity of educational institutions. And in 1868 they came to Sacramento, where they have since resided, and where Mr. Johnston has his headquarters for the transaction of his business as a mining and United States land claim attorney. The field of his operations covers this land district, including Amador, Placer, El Dorado, Calaveras and Nevada counties. Mrs. Johnston was, before her marriage, Miss Nancy S. Glass, a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was a prominent man and had been treasurer of Alleghany County, Pennsylvania. Her second brother, J. P. Glass, was a Colonel in Sickles' celebrated corps during the war of the Rebellion. Both of her parents died in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have three living children, viz.: Robert G., who is with Wells-Fargo Express Company, Sacramento; A. J., of the large printing house of A. J. Johnston & Co., Sacramento, and Belle, wife of W. H. Pronty, of Truckee. Mr. Johnston had a brother among the pioneers of California, -- J. R. Johnston, who came here in 1849, and died in Placer County, January 6, 1888. His parents also came to this State, and his father died in Nevada County, August 12, 1860. His mother is yet living. She was born in the summer of 1809. Mr. Johnston has passed the chairs in Eureka Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Pacific Encampment, No. 2; is a veteran Odd Fellow, and has been a member of the Grand Lodge. He has a tract of land about three miles from Auburn, embracing 700 acres, and there pays considerable attention to fruit-growing. He has 7,000 fruit trees, among them 1,000 olives and pears, the remainder being peaches, cherries, oranges, etc. He also has about 12,000 vines of table grapes, among them White Muscat, Rose of Pern, Flaming Tokay, and Black Morocco. Mr. Johnston was elected member of the Board of Education of Sacramento city, and served for two years.

Edwin H. McKee

Edwin H. McKee, auditor of the city of Sacramento, has been a resident of the city since 1855. He is a native of Vermont, born at Essex, Chittenden County, on the 16^th of May, 1847. His father, George McKee, a native of Ireland, came to America with his parents when a mere child. He was reared in New York State, and in Vermont, and in the latter State was married to Miss Mary M. Curtis. In 1852 he joined the throng of emigration to California, making the journey via Panama, and landing in San Francisco. He was soon engaged in mining, and followed that occupation at Mokelumne Hill, Hangtown, Michigan Bar, and other places. In 1855 he was joined at Sacramento by his wife and two sons, Homer L. And Edwin H. Edwin H. McKee was reared to manhood in Sacramento, and was educated in her schools. At the age of seventeen years he commenced the moulder’s trade in the shops of the Central Pacific Railroad, and when he had reached his majority, was a journeyman. He continued the prosecution of his trade until March, 1877, when he was elected to the position he now holds. In his office he has given entire satisfaction to the people of Sacramento, and his record has been one of integrity and conscientious work. Mr. McKee has been for many years actively identified with the National Guard of Sacramento, having first joined the old company A as private, and from that position progressing through the ranks of Fourth Sergeant, First Sergeant, and Lieutenant. When he attached himself to the artillery regiment, he was chosen its Major, and is now Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment. He was married in Sacramento to Miss Emeline L.  McKee, a native of Philadelphia. He is Past Sachem of Owosso Tribe No.  39, Improved Order of Red Men. He is Past Chief Ranger of Court Sacramento, A. O. F., and has been commander in the Uniform Rank of Knights of Sherwood Forest; he is Past Chancellor Commander of Columbia Lodge, K.  of P., and is a member of Washington Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Sacramento R. A. C., No. 3. He has been intimately connected with the city fire department, and at the time of his election to his present post was foreman of Engine Co. No. 1. It thus happened that his first duty as auditor proved to be the signing of a warrant for himself as foreman---a singular coincidence. Mr. McKee has grown up among the people of Sacramento, was educated in her schools, learned his trade amid her artisans, and in all capacities in which he has served he has remained the same modest gentleman and enjoys the confidence and respect of the people of Sacramento.