JOHN A. FRASER.-Was born in Pictou county, Nova Scotia, June 22, 1849, where he received his education and resided until 1867, being engaged in farming, railroading and occupations of a like nature. In the last mentioned year he immigrated to California, and after serving his apprenticeship with his brother in Martinez, came to Pinole and entered into partnership with Edward Hagen in the blacksmith's shop there. In 1875, this connection was severed, and our subject became associated with John W. Boyd, with whom the business is now carried on. Married, August 7, 1875, Anna R. Rollen, a native of England, by whom he has three children, John A., born July 13, 1876; George W., born February 6, 1878; Mabel I., born July 11, 1880. ROBERT R: FULLER.—A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, born December 13, 1818. Mr. Fuller's early life was spent in that State and Vermont, residing in the latter some twelve years. In 1832, he located in Lynn, Massachusetts, there learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed until 1846; he then moved to Philadelphia and resided four years. In the Spring of 1850, the tide of immigration set toward the gold mines of this State. Mr. Fuller sailed from Philadelphia on board the bark Delia Chapin, and, coming around the Horn, after a passage of six months, arrived in San Francisco November 26th of the same year. Mr. Fuller first engaged in mining for about two years, and, in February, 1853, concluding to embark in agricultural pursuits, therefore selected Contra Costa as his future home, and in the above year located on his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, adjoining the town limits of Antioch, and commenced general farming. Was united in marriage, in Lynn, Massachusetts, to Miss Sarah A. Pierce, a native of that city; by this union they have four living children, Eugene I., Ida, now Mrs. Knight, Robert H., and George W. FERDINAND GAMBS.-Born in Germany, near Frankfort on the Main, August 24, 1838; he resided in his native country and attended the common schools until sixteen years of age. In 1854, accompanied by his father, sailed from Havre de Grace for America, first landing in New York City, where he found employment in a wholesale dry goods house as salesman, which position he held for three years. We next find Mr. Gambs in New Orleans, where he resided until the breaking out of the rebellion, when he moved to Washington City and there engaged in business and remained until 1868. His next move was to Virginia, where he married and engaged in business, but being dissatisfied with the country, he concluded to try the Golden State, and selling out his stock of goods he proceeded to New York, and there embarking on board a steamer via Panama, arrived in San Francisco in November, 1869. On his arrival he came direct to his brother living in Pacheco, and engaged with him for a short time in the general dry goods trade. In 1871 he located in Somersville and engaged in the mercantile business, and there resided until 1878. He then went to San Francisco and sojourned until March, 1880, when he located in Walnut Creek, and about June 1st, opened his present dry goods house, under the firm name of Morgan & Gambs. Was united in marriage in Virginia, August 9, 1868, to Miss Julia Terrill, a native of the above State. They have five living children, as follows: Ferdinand, Julia, Eliza, Henry and August. JOHN GAMBS.-A native of Germany; born near Frankfort on the Main, December 24, 1827. Was there educated at the high schools, and resided until nineteen years of age. In February, 1847, he started for the New World, landed in New York in April of the same year, and first found employment on a farm in Duchess county, at seven dollars per month, but only stayed one season. In December, 1848, he started for California, working his passage on board the steamer Oregon, and, after a trip of four months round the Horn, arrived in San Francisco April 1, 1849. Mr. Gambs first engaged in mining, for a short time, and then opened a hotel in San Francisco, which he conducted until he was burned out, May 5, 1851. He then went to Mariposa county, and engaged in the stock business, which he followed until 1861. His next move was to Pacheco, Contra Costa county, which has proved to be his permanent home, where he entered into the business in which he is still engaged, being proprietor of the leading mercantile house of Pacheco, and enjoying life in his fine residence, surrounded by thirty acres of vineyard and orchard. Mr. Gambs was married, in Pacheco, to Miss Helen Ohl, a native of Germany. Their children are: Louisa, John C., Helen, Harriet and Elise. E. A. GARRIDO.-The subject of this sketch was born near Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county, March 5, 1854, and is a descendant of one of the oldest families of this county. Mr. Garrido began his education in the district schools of Township Number Two, and afterwards entered the preparatory department of the State University. In December, 1869, he started in business, in company with John M. Wilson, in Walnut Creek, in which he continued until 1880, when he branched out and opened a general merchandise store, in connection with which he filled the position of deputy postmaster. In April, 1882, our subject moved. to Martinez, where he is, at this writing, engaged in the liquor business. Mr. Garrido was united in marriage, in Walnut Creek, November 20, 1880, to Miss Lena T. Geary, a native of this county. They have one daughter, Lyda, born July 31, 1881. ALONZO L. GARTLEY.-Is the son of George W. and Rebecca (Beresford) Gartley, and was born in Shelby county, Ohio, July 1, 1840, where he received a common school education, and afterwards learned the trade of blacksmith. In May, 1861, then being twenty-one years of age, young Gartley answered to his country's call, and enlisted in Company D, Eleventh Ohio Infantry Volunteers for three months. At the expiration of this term, he re-enlisted for three years, and served faithfully, being with his regiment all through, and taking part in some of the most desperate battles of the war, the marks of which he honorably bears to this day, having been twice wounded, first at Antietam and again at Mission Ridge. Serving until the expiration of his enlistment, our subject received his discharge at Camp Dennison, Ohio, June, 1864, and immediately returned to his home at Sydney, in the above State, and sojourned a short time; then paying a brief visit to his relatives in Pennsylvania, he started for the Golden State, sailing from New York September 5, 1864, on board the good ship Golden Gate, to Aspinwall, and on the Pacific side on board the Sierra Nevada, arriving in San Francisco October 5th of the same year. Coming direct to Martinez, Contra Costa county, he first found employment on a ranch, where he remained for two months, but being full of patriotism and love for his country, Mr. Gartley enlisted in Company D, Eighth Regiment, California Infantry Volunteers, December 24, 1864, for three years, or during the war; but after ten months service the war was declared at an end, and our subject was again honorably discharged, October 24, 1865. He once more returned to this county, where he followed several different occupations until 1872, when he entered into co-partnership with S. Newberger, and is now engaged in the general merchandise trade on Ferry street, under the firm. name of Newberger & Gartley. The subject of our memoir was united in marriage, in Martinez February 6, 1876, with Miss Florence B. Standish, a native of Columbus, Ohio. By this union they have three living children: Grace R., Alonzo, Jr., and Zoe. JAMES GAY, (deceased). The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, October 12, 1828. When nine years of age he took to a sea-faring life, and followed it until his coming to California in April, 1849, when he arrived in San Francisco and entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and in it remained until his coming to Contra Costa county in 1857. He first located on the place now owned by his widow, one mile northeast of Clayton, where he carried on general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred October 3, 1879. Mr. Gay was married in Clayton, May 5, 1871, to Mary Kirkwood, a native of Scotland, by whom there are four children, viz: Nicholas, now adopted by his uncle, Nicholas Kirkwood; Jennie M., Margaret A. and Mary E. At the time of his demise the following obituary notice of Mr. Gay appeared in the Contra Costa Gazette. 'It is our painful duty to recognize the hand of Providence in calling suddenly from our midst, by death, one of our most esteemed citizens—Mr. James Gay. On Friday, October 3, 1879, Mr. Gay was at home with his family, and enjoying, as was his habit, the society of his wife and four children, of whom any and every husband and father might be proud. At noon he ate a hearty dinner, and kissed his family before going to a neighbor's with a load of grapes, but when nearly a half mile from home he received a stroke of apoplexy, and while in the act of securing himself and team, some kind friends chanced to meet him and rendered timely assistance. His uncle, Nicholas Kirkwood, and family, were soon at his side, when he was carried home, where every possible assistance was rendered him; but when the physician arrived death was evidently near, and in two hours from the stroke he was dead, having been unconscious from nearly the first. The sudden death of the deceased has given a shock to this community not soon to be forgotten. The last man thought to be so near the gates of death-reminding us all that in the midst of life we are in death.' "The funeral services took place at the late residence of the deceased, on Sunday, October 5, 1879. There was a large concourse of people, who came to sympathize, and show the appreciation in which the deceased was held. "The deceased was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, October 11, 1829. came to California in 1849, and the last twenty-two years of his life have been spent in Contra Costa county, on his farm near Clayton, where, by his industry and integrity, he has made many warm friends, and by whose death the community has lost a citizen and neighbor whose place may never be filled. But where the blow falls heaviest, there is a loss we can never describe. A kind husband and an affectionate father can only be fully valued by those who have one, and to lose one is a loss keenest felt where the blow falls heaviest. We commend the widow and her children to the same Spirit who has taken the husband and father from them to rest in peace, that when they, too, shall leave the shores of Time, there may be a happy reunion. The Lord has kindly provided a Christian uncle, who feels deeply and enters with deep sympathy into the feelings and wants of the bereaved family. May the grace of God sustain them all." LAWRENCE GEARY.-Was born in Baden, Germany, December 5, 1827, there receiving a common school education and residing until he immigrated, in March, 1848, to the United States. He first arrived in New York, where he sojourned for a few days, then proceeded west to Philadelphia, and there found employment on a farm near that city, remaining there some six months; he next moved to St. Louis, and thence south to New Orleans, where he found employment on a sugar plantation. In the latter part of April, 1849, Mr. Geary again went west to Fort Leavenworth, and there resided some two years. In April, 1852, he, in company with three others, started across the plains for the Land of Gold, and, arriving at Hangtown, August 26, 1852, there followed mining. In the Fall of that year he came to Contra Costa county, and engaged in farming in different localities, until the Fall of 1878, when he purchased his present ranch, located six miles south of Martinez, consisting of four hundred acres, and is now engaged in general farming. Mr. Geary was married in Contra Costa county, November 25, 1858, to Miss Jane Wallace, a. native of Missouri. They have five living children, Charles W., Thomas, Frederick, Lawrence, Hattie, and Franklin, (deceased). ANDREW GEHRINGER. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, June 12, 1823, where he resided and learned the trade of line maker until the age of twenty-one years. He then sailed from Bremen for the United States, arrived in New York in July, 1843, and first found employment on a farm a short distance from the city. Here he remained until 1846, when he enlisted in Company H., First Volunteer Infantry Regiment of the United States army. In September of that year, his regiment was sent round Cape Horn, on board the Susan Drew, and, after a passage of seven months, arrived in San Francisco April, 1847; his corps being assigned to the Presidio, he there remained until his discharge. Mr. Gehringer then engaged in mining, and afterward, in 1851, moved to Santa Clara county, where he embarked in farming, and resided for twelve years; but owing to a defective title, he lost his valuable ranch of three hundred acres. In the Fall of 1863, he moved to Contra Costa county and bought his present estate of seven hundred acres, two miles east of Concord, and is now engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mr. Gehringer was married, in San José, to Mrs. Henrietta Bollmann; by this union they have two children, Conrad A., and Lena Christianna. COLONEL W. W. GIFT, (deceased.) -This distinguished gentleman, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Marlborough district, South Carolina, October 24, 1796. In or about the year 1809, he moved with his parents to Tennessee, where he resided about forty years. As a boy he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for some time, after which he married and embarked in agricultural operations. In the year 1818, or thereabouts, he commenced running boats from Nashville, Tennessee, to New Orleans, an occupation he followed, with which he combined farming, until 1849. In the Spring of that year he left Memphis, Tennessee, for the Golden State, and arrived in |