MAJOR T. J. BLAKENEY 

Major T. J. Blakeney, Superintendent of the Life-saving Service, Twelfth United States Life-saving District, embracing the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington—from the boundary line of Mexico on the south to British Columbia on the north. 

This gentleman is a native of the State of New York, having been born at Peekskill, Westchester county, November 3, 1835. His education and early training was received at the Peekskill Academy, of which seminary his father, Thomas Blakeney, was one of the founders and patrons. 

Young Blakeney subsequently removed to the city of New York and entered the office of Doctor John Howe as a student of dentistry, and in December, 1855, sailed for California via Nicaragua, reaching San Francisco on the steamer Uncle Sam in January, 1856. 

He at once proceeded to Sacramento and entered upon the practice of dentistry, being among the earliest and most successful dentists in the capital city. Dr. Blakeney assisted at the first organization of the Republican party on the Pacific coast, March 8, 1856, and at once became an ardent advocate of its principles. During the Lincoln campaign in 1860 he was chairman of the Sacramento County Republican Central Committee, and through his direction the vote of that county was changed from about 3,000 Democratic to about 1,500 Republican. This great gain gave the State to the Republicans by a plurality of 741 votes, and perhaps may have so strengthened the Union cause as to discourage any contemplated attempt at secession on the Pacific coast. 

Dr. Blakeney was present in Washington at the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, March 4, 1861. Among other Californians he volunteered, and as accepted by General Winfield Scott to stand in the crowd during the ceremonies of the inauguration for the purpose of quelling any outbreak of violence by secessionists which was feared at the time. 

Immediately after the proclamation of the President was issued calling for 75,000 volunteers, Dr. Blakeney had an interview with Senator E. B. Baker, in New York, on the subject of raising a regiment in response to the call, to be composed as largely as possible of men who had been on the Pacific coast. After consulting the President by telegraph, Senator Baker authorized Blakeney, Frank Lemon and Rod. Mathewson to recruit a regiment to be known as the “First United States Volunteers of California.” Under this authority over 1,000 men were enlisted and quartered in Fort Schuyler, New York harbor. 

The plan of Baker was that the officers of this regiment should be commissioned by the President of the United States, and that the regiment should be designated as the “First Regiment United States Volunteers of California.” After several days spend in drilling these raw men at Fort Schuyler, Chester A. Arthur, the Adjutant-General of the State of New York, called upon Baker and notified him, by the authority of Governor Morgan, that the men enlisted in the State must be accredited to its quota, and that the Governor would insist upon his right to commission the officers. Upon this announcement Senator Baker threw up the regiment and its was subsequently organized as the Thirty-second New York, with Rod. Mathewson as Colonel and Frank Lemon, Major. 

After this Senator Baker proceeded to Philadelphia, and within a short time raised 1,500 men and organized the troops then known as the “First California Regiment.” 

The subject of this sketch joined the regiment at Suffolk Park, May, 1861 as Second Lieutenant, Company K, was afterward promoted to be First Lieutenant, Company C, and finally as Captain, Company C. He served with the regiment, either on the staff of the general commanding the brigade or with his company, until after Burnside’s battle at Fredericksburg, when he received appointment as Major of the First Cavalry, California Volunteers, and reported for duty to General Carlton, commanding the Department of New Mexico. While in this command Major Blakeney made several successful campaigns against the Navajo and Apache Indians, both of which tribes were the hostile and exceedingly troublesome. 

At the close of the war he returned to Sacramento, arriving at his old home during the political strife which was disgraced by what was called a “spittoon convention,” at which the delegates representing the opposing factions in the Republican party assailed each other at the State capital with spittoons. What was known as the “Long Hair” wing of the party, after withdrawing from the association with the “Short Hair” wing, proceeded to nominate a ticket to be voted for legislative and county offices. Major B. was by this party nominated for the office of County Clerk. The split in the party caused his defeat. 

He was subsequently appointed by the President, Assessor of the Fourth Internal Revenue District, which office he filled with satisfaction to the Government four years, when he resigned to enter into mercantile business in San Francisco. 

On taking up his residence at San Francisco, Major Blakeney found the city swarming with ex-soldiers and sailors, many of whom were without either means or work to support themselves. In order to do something to improve the condition of such, he inaugurated steps to organize all honorable discharged soldiers and sailors and secure their recognition and employment. The organization was known as the “Veteran Corps,” and its President was Major T. J. Blakeney. About 1,500 names were enrolled in the organization, which held regular meetings, and accomplished much good for its members. Finally dissension arose within the society, and having fulfilled the objects for which it was formed it disbanded. 

In the spring of 1867 Major Blakeney organized the Grand Army of the Republic on this coast, under authority from the Grand Commander of the order. The first initiations into the society were made by him within sound of the roar of the surf on the ocean beach south of the Cliff House, and under the light of a beautiful full moon. The command of the department was subsequently transferred by Major Blakeney to General John F. Miller. 

Major Blakeney has been in charge of the Life-saving Service on the Pacific Coast since 1882. Several efforts to effect his removal from office have been made by political opponents, but without avail. His administration of the important duties assigned to him has been approved by the department under which the service is conducted, and the probability is that he will be in harness yet many years as a faithful and efficient officer. 

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker 

Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages 524-526 , Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.

WILLIAM HENRY FRYE

 

William Henry Frye was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, May 28, 1813, is parents being James and Elizabeth (Baxter) Frye. The father died July 23, 1822, at about the age of forty-five, the mother surviving until April 24, 1847, then in her sixtieth year. Grandfather James Frye was the first of the family to settle in Kentucky, having moved thither from Virginia. Soon after the birth of W.H. Frye his parents moved to Missouri, settling in Pike County. His formal education consisted of three months’ schooling, but on this scant foundation his thirst for knowledge, aided by exceptional natural ability and great industry, has reared a superstructure of wide and varied information of which a college graduate need not be ashamed. He made such progress by private study that while yet a young man he taught school with success, occasionally referring to an older teacher in difficult cases. As his judgment and power of reflection grew with his years and experience he came to be recognized as an exceptionally well informed man, and now, at seventy-six, though physically aged his intellectual power retain their wonted vigor, enhanced by special acuteness of perception, the ripened fruit of his many years of independent thought and close observation. In early years Mr. Frye worked on his father’s farm, and in young manhood had the courage to buy out the interest of the other heirs, but the panic of 1837 made the burden too heavy and eventually compelled the sale of the place. He afterward traded for some two years, chiefly in pork and tobacco. In March 1849 he started across the plains and reached Weaverville September 6. He had a pleasant journey. He started in a large train, but two wagons separated from the train and came through by themselves. In 1852 he commenced buying and selling cattle; and in 1853 raised his first crop of barley on what is now his homestead ranch, sixteen miles south of Sacramento, on the lower Stockton road. He first took up 160 acres, then unsurveyed, to which he has since added by purchase three other quarters of as many adjoining sections, thus becoming the owner of 640 acres in one body. He also owns 170 acres five miles north on the same road, now occupied by his oldest son. Mr. Frye raises wheat and barley, and until recently raised considerable stock. For some years he also carried on a dairy business, but now gives his chief attention to wheat, raising only such stock as he needs on his ranches. Mr. Frye was married January 7, 1854, to Mrs. Sarah Hough, born in Cortland County, New York, October 20, 1823, the daughter of Rodney and Sophia (Watts) Sanford. The father, a native of New York State, born March 16, 1793, died in Ohio, March 18, 1840. The mother, a native of New York, also died in Ohio, under the age of fifty. Her grandfather Sanford reached a good old age, and grandfather Isaac Watts was over eighty when he died. Mrs. W.H. Frye has had four brothers, all born in the State of New York: Arthur W., born February 15, 1816, became a Presbyterian minister in Ohio, served as Captain in an Indiana regiment in the Civil War, and died in Detroit, Michigan, in March 1887; Whitfield, born April 30, 1818, a lawyer by profession, has resided for some years at Wahoo, Nebraska; Philo Watts, born January 14, 1821, is a farmer in Palo Alto County, Iowa; DeWitt Clinton, born October 14, 1827, is a farmer in Ohio, and served in the Civil War. All have reared families. Mrs. Frye is a lady of a high order of intellect who also takes a deep interest in the welfare of humanity. Though well advanced in years she still presides over the local Sunday-school, a labor of love for the rising generation. She is not only a loving wife and devoted mother but her maternal solicitude embraces all children within reach of her influence. Her four sons have grown to intelligent and upright manhood under her loving care and watchful oversight, and her heart still reaches out toward the young for whose moral welfare she labors with unflagging zeal and earnest sympathy. The home is a large, handsome structure, containing all the comforts and luxuries necessary to a rational enjoyment of life, and thoroughly permeated with wholesome intellectual and kindly spirit of both parents. Mr. and Mrs. Frye are the parents of four sons: Edward William, born January 21, 1856; Charles Thomas, June 13, 1858; Eugene Hough, January 1, 1861; Jacob Henry, September 28, 1863. Each went to school from about the age of seven to eighteen, and all have inherited and cultivated a love of reading. Edward William was married September 7, 1881, to Miss Mary Hustler, born at Marysville, California, October 11, 1856, daughter of Asbury B. and Martha J. (Humfreville) Hustler, both now living in this county below Courtland. The father is a native of Maryland and the mother of Ohio. Both have been in California since 1854, the father having made his first visit to the State in 1852. Grandfather William Hustler, also a native of Maryland, died at the age of about eighty at Carlisle, Ohio. Grandmother Fanny (Burke) Hustler, born in Wilmington, Delaware, died at Carlisle, Ohio, of cholera, contracted while nursing the sick in the epidemic of 1832. Grandfather Jason Humfreville, born near Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1804, died near Courtland, California, in 1875. Grandmother Mary Ann (Ellsworth) Humfreville, born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1811, died near Courtland, California, September 21, 1881. Mrs. E.W. Frye was educated in the district schools, and afterward taught school for some years before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Frye are the parents of two sons: Harbert Henry, born June 25, 1883, and an infant son, born August 1, 1889. Charles F. Frye was married October 12, 1886, to Mrs. Mary (Day) Bascom. The other sons are unmarried.

 

OLE O. GOODRICH

Ole O. Goodrich, nursery man and orchardist, Sutter Township, was born February 22, 1840, in Norway, son of Ole and Ida Goodrich. His father, a farmer, came with the family to America in 1852, purchasing land, and locating in Dane County, Wisconsin, and died there in 1854; his widow survived until 1859. They had eight children, named Christian, Ida, John, Julia, Butler, Isabel, Ole and Eliza. All except John are living. Ole was twelve years of age when he came to America, landing in New York City. Proceeding at once to Wisconsin, he there learned the photographer’s art, and worked at it until 1863, when he sailed from New York on the steamer Ariel, and came by the Isthmus to California, landing at San Francisco in December, on the steamer St. Louis. For a while he was employed in a restaurant at Benicia, then he was cook on a ranch, which has since been included within the city of Oakland; next he herded sheep for a short time; next traveled among the mountains taking photographic views; then was employed by Flint & Olsen, here in Sacramento, as foreman in their hop yards, remaining with them five years; then worked awhile for Mr. Williams in the nursery business; next was in partnership with J.S. Harberson for eleven years, and then during the two floods he lost heavily each time. In 1883 he went out and purchased thirty-four acres of J. Burke, and commenced to set out a nursery and orchard. In 1888 he purchased seventeen acres more of D. Rocca, and he now has altogether fifty-one acres, all of which is devoted to nursery and fruit. The place is three miles south of Sacramento, and a half mile east of Sutterville. He has been experimenting with fruit for thirteen years, and has introduced several new kinds into the market, among them two very excellent varieties of peach named by Mr. Hoyt the “Goodrich” and “Sacramento,” which come in after all the other good varieties are gone; also a very early apricot; they are gaining in popularity, and Mr. Goodrich has no trouble in disposing of all his young trees, as well as the fruit. He propagates and sells all varieties of fruit trees. He is a very energetic man, a hard worker, honest in all his dealings, and therefore reliable as a nurseryman and horticulturalist. Mr. Goodrich was married January 1, 1876, to Miss Mary Grundon, of English ancestry. They have three children: William, Elizabeth and Minerva.