Prominent Merchant Died of Pneumonia.
One of Auburn's Pioneer Business Men Died Saturday    Death claimed Albert Francis Ford last Saturday morning at the age of 59 years, after an illness of nine days, during which time Mr. Ford suffered from pneumonia and bravely fought off death until the end.  He was taken ill at work a little over two weeks ago and finally consented to go to bed, from which he never again arose.    With the passing of Albert Ford, Auburn loses one of its pioneer merchants and one of its most loved citizens.  As an attest of the esteem in which his fellow merchants held him, all local business houses were closed for an hour while the funeral services were being conducted from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday morning.    Henry Ford, father of Albert, came to Iowa Hill during the gold rush in the early fifties, and he moved to Bath in 1856.  In 1869 Al, as he was popularly known, was born in Bath, Placer County, on the Forest Hill Divide.  Between Auburn and the Forest Hill Divide Mr. Ford spent his entire life.    In 1884 and 1885 he conducted a store at Bath for A.W. Kenison.  He bought the store and ran it from 1885 until 1887.  He then worked for Remler at Forest Hill from 1887 to 1901.  In 1901 he purchased Burt's interest in the store of Burt and Locher in Auburn and has since conducted the store here.  In 1902 Clarke Bequette, a brother-in-law, purchased the interest owned by Locher and the store has been known as Ford and Company since that time.    Mr. Ford was a man of high ideals and was always straightforward and honest in all of his business dealings.  He leaves a host of friends who mourn his passing.    He was a first cousin to Henry Ford the automobile manufacturer, who visited Al a number of years ago in Auburn.    Besides his wife, Alice, he leaves two sons, Robert and Jack and a daughter Dorothy Staiger, two brothers, William and George of Forest Hill, two sisters Mrs. Alice Bequette of Auburn and Mrs. May Bayles of Sacramento.    The funeral services were held Monday morning at 10 a.m. in Auburn from St. Joseph's Catholic church and 2 p.m at Forest Hill.  Rev. Father Vereker who assisted in Mass over the remains in Auburn, spoke eloquently of his true character and his ideals.  It was the words of a friend going out to the soul of a friend who is no longer able to respond.  Burial took place in the cemetery at Forest Hill.  A host of friends turned out at both ceremonies to pay their last respects to their departed friend.  Mehl and Hislop conducted the services. [Auburn Journal, Thu, 16 Feb 1928. Submitted by Peter Urschel.]


BEQUETTE, ALICE ELIZABETH
Alice Bequette Of Auburn Is Summoned   
Mrs. Alice Elizabeth Bequette passed away at her home at 160 Harrison Street early Wednesday morning at the age of 80 years.  A beloved pioneer member of this community her passing will be mourned by many.    Mrs. Bequette had been in failing health since she suffered a stroke several months ago.  She was a mother of Placer County Superintendent of Schools Albert Bequette.    She was a life long resident of Placer County, having been born in the old mining community of Bath on the Foresthill divide.    She married Anthony Clark Bequette 56 years ago, and the couple had made their home in Auburn for more than half a century.  The deceased was a first cousin of the late Henry Ford, famous automobile manufacturer.    In addition to her husband, she leaves her three children, Peter Bequette, Albert Bequette and Gladys Bequette, all of Auburn; a brother, George Ford of Foresthill, and four grandchildren.    A rosary service will be held tonight at 8 o'clock in the West and Hite Chapel of the Hills.  Mass will be said at 10 a.m., Friday, in St. Joseph's Catholic Church.  Burial will follow in the family plot in the Auburn cemetery. [Auburn Journal, Thu, 19 Oct 1950. Submitted by Peter Urschel]

BISBEE, AUGUSTUS CAESAR
Augustus Caeser Bisbee died at Todd's Valley on Thursday after an illness of several months, caused by stomach complications and dropsy.  Deceased had been a resident of this county at different times since 1853.  He was a native of New York, and 79 years 1 month and 12 days old.  He leaves three sons by the first wife, Benton A., Geo. H., and Chancey A. Bisbee, and four children by his surviving wife, Virgil E. Bisbee, Mrs. Alta Gregg, Allen C. Bisbee and Sadie Bisbee.  The funeral was held on Saturday at Todd's Valley.  Deceased had followed mining and farming at different times and had an abiding faith in California, his first arrival here being in 1853, and he remained here four years.  He then returned to Wisconsin, and after a residence there of several years, he made another trip here in 1866, but stayed only a short time, returning to Minnesota and residing there until 1886, when his next journey to this State was made, but he only remained about three months, going back to Minnesota and remaining until 1897, when he again returned here, and had since resided at Todd's Valley. [Placer County Leader (Auburn), Thu. 10 Apr 1902. Submitted by Peter Urschel.]

BERNHARD, ROSA
BERNHARD— In Auburn, January 27, 1902, Mrs. Rosa Bernhard, wife of B. Bernhard, a native of Germany, aged 79 years, 2 months and 27 days. Death of a Pioneer Lady.    Mrs. Rosa Bernhard, wife of B. Bernhard, the pioneer viticulturist, died at her home in Auburn, Monday morning, after a lingering illness.  Mrs. Bernhard was a Christian woman, charitable and kind, and one who enjoyed and spent her entire life at home with her family.  Besides her husband, two children survive her, viz:  Henry Bernhard, the merchant, and Mrs. Annie Barkhaus.  Two others, Benjamin and Mrs. J.G. Beckstrum, preceded her to the grave.  The funeral was held from the Catholic church Wednesday, the following gentlemen acting as pall bearers:  Chas. J. Hellwig, S.M. Stevens, E.C. Snowden, F.E. Brye, James Walsh Sr., and James Breslin.    [B. Bernhard and Miss Rosa How resided in the same locality in Germany, and later when the families emigrated to America, were married in Pennsylvania, in 1846.  Mrs. Bernhard followed her husband to California in 1852, and located in Placer county.  In 1868, Mr. Bernhard purchased the present Bernhard home, where they have since resided.  Mr. Bernhard devoted his time to horticulture and made a success of it.  After successfully establishing their vineyards and orchards, Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard entered upon the trial of silk culture, in 1872.  They planted 1000 mulberry trees, and after experimenting for several years, succeeded in hatching out 1,000,000 worms in 1874.  “The worms lived and grew, says the PLACER HERALD of that date, made large cocoons, producing 100 pounds of silk, worth $10 a pound.  The time from the hatching of the worm until the cocoon was ready for market was about seven weeks, during which the labor of attendance was all done by Mrs. Bernhard and her three or four children, besides attending to their house-hold duties.”
[Placer Herald (Auburn), Sat. 1 Feb 1902. Submitted by Peter Urschel.]


ANDERSON, JAMES
Died suddenly in Auburn, October 12, 1866, JAMES ANDERSON, of Heart disease, aged 44 years.    [His funeral will take place from Masonic Hall, to-morrow (Sunday), at 10 o’clock.]    It is with profound sorrow that we record the sudden decease of James Anderson, Esq., in Auburn, which occurred as above announced.  His death occurred, probably from the cause above stated, in a moment of time, between the hours of nine and ten o’clock in the morning, while sitting in his chair in the PLACER HERALD OFFICE.  Up to the moment of his decease he had seemed in his usual good health and spirits, so that his friends, and probably he himself, had not a moments warning of his approaching death.  This sad event has produced in this immediate community, and among a large circle of friends, a feeling of general heartfelt sorrow—and it would seem fitting in this connection to make a brief record of the leading events of his life.    James Anderson was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, in the month of August A.D. 1822, and was forty-four years old at the time of his death.  At about the age of seventeen years he removed to the State of Kentucky, where he studied law and was admitted to practice as an Attorney and Counsellor in May, 1843; some time after, and before the opening of the Mexican war, he removed to the State of Tennessee, where, in the year 1846, he enlisted in the United States Volunteer service, and with the first troops raised in that State he went to Mexico and served out his term of enlistment, as a non-commissioned officer; and was on his return in 1847, commissioned by the President as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States service, and again went to Mexico, and remained in that capacity in the service until about one year after the close of hostilities, when leaving the service, he removed to Rio Grande City, in the State of Texas, and again engaged in the practice of the law, at which he continued until he removed to this State in the Spring of 1850.  On his arrival in San Francisco, by the way of M!
exico, and on a sail vessel from Mazatlan, he took up his residence in the city of Stockton, and again engaged in his profession.  He was, shortly after his arrival, ap-pointed District Attorney of San Joaquin county, and discharged the duties of that office until the fall of 1851.    Mr. Anderson removed to Placer county in the summer or fall of 1852, since which time he has chiefly resided in the county engaged in the practice of his profession.  In 1857, he was elected by the people of Placer county to the State Senate, to fill the unexpired term of Hon. Joseph Walkup, and after the completion of this term was again elected to the Senate for the ensuing fall term, which he filled with ability.    He continued in the practice of his profession in this county until about December, 1863, when he removed to the Territory of Arizona, residing chiefly at Prescott, the capital town of the Territory, where he remained until his return to this State and county, a few months since, and had recently taken up his permanent residence here, where his death occurred.    The life of the deceased has been an eventful one.  He was the carver of his own fortunes—essentially a self-made man.  Few men had greater occasion or need of self-reliance; and all who knew him will bear cheerful and truthful testimony, that in all the communities in which he has resided—in every station he has occupied in the public, military and civil service and in his professional career—he was justly distinguished for his ability and assiduity; but more than all, for a strict integrity of purpose and an unfailing fidelity in the performance of every duty, and the execution of every trust imposed upon or assumed by him, that knew no flattering, and in which none were ever found, whether friend or foe, to call his character in question.  In all the private walks of life he was remarkable for his geniality of disposition and strong common sense.  As a humorist, he had few equals on the Pacific coast, as his numerous contributions to the public press, from !
time to time, under divers nom de plumes, will amply attest.    He enjoyed the unlimited confidence of a large circle of friends who knew but to love him, to whom he was ever welcome, not only as a boon companion but for his strong, earnest sense and sound judgment; and for his ever faithful and unselfish friendship.    But he has gone, and gone suddenly, without warning to him or his friends who mourn his loss; it is, however, most gratifying to them to know that he leaves an unsullied reputation and a spotless name—ever to be cherished in their remembrance. [Placer Herald (Auburn), Sat. 13 Oct 1866. Submitted Peter Urschel.]

ALBRECHT, CHARLES
Charles Albrecht, who was struck by a street car in San Francisco Friday of last week, died from his injuries Saturday at the Railroad Hospital.  Mr. Albrecht was on his way to see his grandson, who was sick in the German Hospital.  He was struck by a car as he alighted from another, fracturing the skull.  Charlie Albrecht was a pioneer of the Forest Hill Divide, locating at Todds Valley in the 50's, associating himself with A.A. Pond in the manufacture of hydraulic mining pipe.  Later he went to Forest Hill and engaged in the plumbing and tinning business, and at the time of his death was the head of the large mercantile house which bore his name.  He was a successful business man, and social-ly he was a prince among men.  While quiet and unassuming, he was liberal to a fault and everybody thought well of him.  His funeral at the Hill Monday was one of the largest ever held in that section.    Deceased was a member of the Odd Fellows and Workmen.  He leaves a sister in the east and three grandchildren (one living at Forest Hill) to mourn his loss. [Placer Herald (Auburn), Sat. 15 Jun 1901. Submitters Name: Peter Urschel]