Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 171 — One of the most notable buildings is the elegant new Rotunda. Circular in form and seventy-five feet in height, it is surmounted by a glass capola which reflects for many miles both the rising and setting sun. On the right as one enters the building, is the postoffice with a telephone communication with Napa and thence by telegraph with any part of the world. On the opposite side is a reception room for the convenience of the lady guests. The court in the center is nearly 100 feet in diameter, fitted up as a grand parlor and ball-room, handsomely carpeted and furnished, and lighted by # huge gas chandelier of thirty-two lights. Extending around this entire circle is a wide promenade, outside of which are arranged the rvoms for guests; all hard-finished, with gas and water, and with windows looking out upon the land-scape. The club-house is another building of white stone, in which are the bar and billiard-rooms, bagatelle table, bowling-alley, etc. The new dining-hall is isolated from the remaining buildings, and is flanked by a commodious kitchen and the rooms for the servants. Gas mains are laid throughout the grounds, and the premises are lighted at night. Among the many pleasure resorts of California, and within the reach of the the metropolis of the Pacific coast, none surpasses in beauty and comfort this charming retreat. Its magnificent scenery, fine drives and perfect accommodations render it the most delightful of watering places; the last breath of the sea breeze reaches it, and the pure air and the soothing hush of night always insure sound and refreshing slumbers. COLONEL J. P. JACKSON, lawyer, journalist, politician and man of affairs, tirst saw the light in Cleveland, Ohio, the State which has furnished daring the last quarter of a century a large proportion of the men who have been prominent in public life. Here he lived until he was fourteen years of age, when he removed to Cincinnati, where, after the usual course of preparation for professional life, he practiced law for fifteen years. In 1857 he was married to Miss Anna Hooper, a native of the State of Kentucky. They have had nine children, seven sous and two daughters, five of whom were born in Kentucky and four in California. He took an active part in the war of the rebellion, serving in the army of the Cumberland, under Rosecrans and Buell, and from Pittsburg Landing to Corinth on detached service under Grant. Fortunate in his early association with an unusual number of men who have made their mark in life, he had occasion to measure swords with many whose names have been historic in the daily forensic contests of the bar and the platform. Always prominent as a public speaker he easily carried off the honors and success which are peculiarly the rewards of his profession, and has played a leading part in many important enterprises. Tn 1867 he went to Europe to negotiate the bonds of the California Pacific Railroad, and his service resulted in his coming to the Coast, where he assisted in building the road and remained its President until it was bought by the Central Pacific Company. After building two other roads, both of which were in like manner sold out to the Central, he retired from the railroad business and turned his attention to other enterprises. Deeply interested in politics, he has stumped the States of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and California as an enthusiastic and successful champion of the Republican cause, but has until now succeeded remarkably in escaping the toils and trials of office-holding as far as he himself is concerned. In 1864 he received the unanimous nomination for the Governorship of Kentucky, and afterward declined a nomination to Congress from the Sixth District of that State, when such nomination was equivalent to an election. He refused an appointment to the commissionership of Internal Revenue under Andrew Johanson, and also the position of First Assistant Secretary of the Treasury under Grant. He has hitherto preferred the sterling activities of an extensive business to the dignified retirement of official position.