Solano County
Biographies
LUKE ALVORD
was born in Syracuse, State of New York, on September 16, 1812, and remained in that city and neighborhood working at his trade and farming until February, 1850, when he sailed in the “Tennessee” for California, arriving in San Francisco in April, having been detained in Panama three weeks awaiting her arrival. At once went to Tuolumne county, at Wood’s creek, four miles above Jacksonville, and remained there engaged in mining until July 12, 1851, when he left to return home. In February, 1853, he again left Syracuse for California, on this occasion accompanied by his family. On his arrival he went back to the mines, moving from place to place, principally in Sacramento and Amador counties, having lived for twelve years in Volcano. In 1867, he came to Sacramento city and in the following year took up his residence in Vallejo, where he has remained ever since. Is a carpenter by trade, and was foreman on the grain elevator when it was built. Mr. Alvord married at Syracuse on November 12, 1834, Miss Henreitta S. Childs of Saratoga, New York, by whom he has: Cass, born September 13, 1836; Marion, born May 9, 1840, died 1844; and Helen Burnett, born August 30, 1845, married at Volcano, 1867, Professor W. H. Tripp, of Vallejo.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 329
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WALTER DUNCAN ANDERSON, M.D.
was born in Tatamagonche, Colchester county, Nova Scotia, April 17, 1840. At fourteen years of age he moved to Canada, where he resided for seven years, at the expiry of which he returned to Nova Scotia; thence to Boston, Massachusetts, where he studied medicine and graduated at the Harvard Medical School on March 9, 1864. Dr. Anderson practiced for three months in the Magdalen Islands, two years in Wallace, Nova Scotia, and on December 23, 1866, came to Vallejo, where he still resides. Married Mary Jane, daughter of Thomas Wallace, machinist, on 5th February, 1879.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 329
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WILLIAM ASPENALL
arrived from Panama, in the ship “Harriet Rockwell,” in June, 1850. On landing in San Francisco, he found letters informing him of the whereabouts of former friends and companions in arms, of the Mexican campaign, among them being Col. James M. Stuart, Postmaster of the present House of Representatives, Major Cooper and N. K. Swope, ex-Captain of Mexican fame. Mr. Aspenall soon after started for the southern mines, and arrived in Jamestown, Tuolumne county, in July, 1850, and there engaged in mining, with some success, for two years. In 1852, the Scott-river excitement broke out and he, with five others, determined to organize themselves into a party and proceed thither. At that time, provisions were exhorbitantly high. They purchased a pack train of mules, in Sacramento, consisting of fifteen head besides saddle animals, loaded them with flour, sugar and tobacco, and made a successful voyage to Trinity valley. When here, the Indians stampeded the animals belonging to the expedition, when everything was lost save two mats containing two hundred pounds of China sugar. The entire party got snowed in when crossing the Trinity mountains, being twenty-one days in working their way to the summit, which is known as the Devil’s Backbone. They endured many hardships on this occasion; food was scarce; they, therefore, contented themselves with mule’s flesh and sugar; yet, ultimately, arrived at Scott’s river bar in time to take a hand in the Rogue-river war, which was then being carried on against the Indians; the hostilities were soon terminated on the capture of fifty squaws by Governor Joe Lane. We next find Mr. Aspenall in Oregon, on the banks of the Willamette river, where he had built himself a log cabin, but, getting weary of the solitude of the Oregonian forests, in 1852, he once more returned to California and, for a second time, proceeded to Jamestown, Tuolumne county, where he was appointed Deputy, under his friend, Sheriff Swope. In March, 1853, he was joined by his family from New Orleans, who had sustained shipwreck on their journey. In 1854, Mr. A., with others, took a prominent part in the contest which resulted in the location of the county seat of Tuolumne county, at Sonora, whereupon, he, with Charles M. Scott, ex-Member of Congress, James M. Stuart, already mentioned, and Captain Arnix, left Jamestown, the two first going to the county seat at Sonora, while the latter came to Vallejo, where they purchased some property, Arnix, after a while, giving up all his possessions, on account of faulty titles. Mr. Aspenall now erected a store in Vallejo, which was opened on June 1, 1855. It was his original intention to make this a one-storied building, but, finding a few Brother Masons in the city, he added another story to it and helped to start a Masonic Lodge in September, 1855, and the Odd Fellows’ Lodge in the same building in October of that year. Was elected a Justice of the Peace, in 1856, for Vallejo Township, and, on the incorporation of the city of Vallejo by the Legislature, in 1865, Mr. Aspenall was on the first Board of Trustees. In 1874, he once more was elected to the Board of Trustees and became their President for two years, and, in 1877, was again elected a Justice of the Peace for Vallejo township, a position which he still holds.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 329-330
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler