James Leslie Multer
James Leslie Multer - The subject of this sketch is a native of New York, having been born September 14, 1843, at Summit, Schoharie County, fifty-five miles from Albany, the capital. His parents were also natives of the Empire State, and were born in the township of Worcester, Otsego County. He was educated at the Oliver Academy, located in Fergusonville, Delaware County, an institution of learning well and favorably known for many years past in Central New York. His time, from the age of twenty, has been almost exclusively devoted to journalism, his first effort in the business being the publication of the Monitor, in company with his father, Jacob J. Multer, a lawyer by profession, at Schenevus, Otsego County, New York, the first number being printed in 1864. In a few years he became sole proprietor of the paper, and in 1870 established the Schoharie County Democrat at Richmondville, New York. Finding the work of superintending two printing offices at different points too arduous, he disposed of the Democrat in 1873, and finally sold the Monitor in 1874, the latter sale being made in anticipation of coming to the Pacific Coast. These papers have been published regularly since their first appearance, the last one above mentioned being a widely circulated and influential journal. Though being extremely indifferent about sight-seeing now, he has traveled a great deal in the United States - north, south, east and west - and while visiting the Southern States, after the Rebellion, he was so greatly impressed with the vast difference of climate in comparison with that of his native State, that he resolved to seek a locality where the winters were less rigorous than in New York, and this resolution finally resulted in his coming to California in the fall of 1877 and locating in Calistoga. Having been so long engaged in newspaper work, he naturally drifted into that business again, and soon after his arrival here the Independent Calistogian made its appearance, and is now being published, having been sustained longer than any one of the several papers that have been issued here and failed. He is of retiring manners, somewhat diffident, and very conscientious. To the former qualities may be ascribed the fact that he has not a political record, for he repeatedly declined elective offices proffered by partisan friends at the East in instances when success at the polls was certain. He is a great admirer of Napa Valley, which he insists is not surpassed in beauty by any other section of country in the land. Having chosen it as his abiding place, he is greatly interested in its prosperity, and the columns of the Calistogian are always open for the publication of matters that will prove beneficial to this beautiful section of country. Mr. Multer and Miss Mary E., daughter of Thomas B. Van Alstyne, M. D., were married on the 7th of November, 1873, in Richmondville, Schoharie County, the place of her birth.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 521-522
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Last updated February 2007