A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234

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M. L.

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 4125

A HISTORY

CALIFORNIA

AND AN

Extended History of Its Southern Coast Counties

ALSO

Containing Biographies of Well-Known Citizens of the Past and Present.

J. M. GUINN, A. M.,

Secretary and Late President of the Historical Society of Southern California, and Member of the American Historical Association of Washington, D. C.

ILLUSTRATED.

COMPLETE IN TWO VOLUMES. 1

VOLUME II.

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CAL. 1907

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY.

1359858

W.C.B. Richardson.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

WILLIAM C. B. RICHARDSON. One of the best known and most honored residents of Tropico is the venerable William C. B. Richard- son, who is distinguished both for his own life and work, and for the excellent ancestry from which he traces his descent, his family name oc- cupying a prominent place in the annals of New England, its members being noted for their integrity and patriotism. A son of Hon. Elkanah Richardson, he was born in Swanzey, Cheshire county, N. H., October 28, 1815, of English an- cestry. His paternal grandfather, Wyman Richardson, a resident of the Granite state, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, taking an active part in many engagements.

Born, reared and educated in New Hampshire, Elkanah Richardson subsequently removed to Ohio, becoming a pioneer of that state. He was a surveyor by profession, and in the pursuit of his occupation became familiar with that section of the country in the early days of its history. A man of much talent, he became influential in financial, business and legal affairs, and for fourteen years he served as judge of the circuit court. His death occurred while he was in the prime of life, at the age of fifty-six years. He married Sophia Belding, who was born in New Hampshire, of thrifty Scotch ancestry, a sister of William C. Belding, who was killed in the war of 1812, and for whom the subject of this sketch was named.

Being taken by his parents to Ohio when a boy, William C. B. Richardson was educated in the common schools of Cuyahoga Falls, Sum- mit county. Subsequently working with his father, he became proficient as a surveyor, which he followed . for forty years in Cleveland. A straightforward, thorough-going business man, he met with eminent success in his undertakings, acquiring wealth and distinction, and though he has disposed of some of the property that he formerly held in that place he still owns three acres of valuable land, and a number of city lots. In municipal affairs he was active and promin- ent, and while a resident of Ohio, served for two terms as a member of the common council of Cleveland. For a few years he was also en- gaged in the coal business, being in partnership with his son, O. S. Richardson, who is now dis- tinguished as the oldest-established coal mer- chant in Chicago, Ill. In 1868 Mr. Richardson came to Los Angeles county, and here pur- chased the St. Eulalia rancho of six hundred and seventy-one acres. A part of the property has been sold in city lots, but adjoining land has been purchased, and the estate as it stands today contains seven hundred acres, and is worth upwards of a quarter of a million dollars. About three hundred acres of this is in strawberries and the balance in general fruit, walnuts and

produce. Although over ninety years of age, Mr. Richardson retains much of the mental and physical vigor of his earlier years, and works some every day. He has been prosperous as a general farmer and fruit grower, and delights in adding to the happiness, comfort and prosperity of those around him. When the electric line was put through this section he gave the right of way, one hundred feet wide, through his ranch.

In Akron, Ohio, in 1838, Mr. Richardson married Sarah Abbott, a daughter of John Ab- bott, who lived to the ripe old age of ninety- two years. Mrs. Richardson died in 1895, aged seventy-five years. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, four arrived at years of maturity, namely: Omar S., of Chicago; El- kanah W., of Tropico, Cal .; Herbert, also re- siding in Chicago, and Mrs. Sophia Bisbee, who died in Akron, Ohio. Mr. Richardson is a member of the Pioneers Society and the His- torical Society of Los Angeles county. He is a Master Mason, being made a Mason in Summit county, Ohio.

PROF. W. OLIN LOWE. Prominent among the leading educators of San Diego county is Prof. W. Olin Lowe, principal of the Ramona high school, with which he has been connected in this capacity for eight years, outranking in length of service any other high school principal in the county. A man of broad and progressive views, cultured and talented, he is eminently qualified for his important work, and is meeting with almost phenomenal success. Possessing much force of character, and wise and judicious in his counsels, he exerts an influence for good in the community, and in the mental, social and moral development of the children under his supervision is an important factor. A son of John R. Lowe, he was born June 1, 1860, in Solano county, Cal., where his parents settled as pioneers.

A native of Indiana, John R. Lowe was reared to agricultural pursuits, and as a young man chose the occupation of his ancestors. In 1852 he came to California with the courageous pion- eers of those days, and in the subsequent years became a landholder, and a very successful agri- culturist and horticulturist, owning a good ranch and a valuable vineyard in Shasta county, where he spent the closing years of his life, dying there when sixty-four years of age. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and an active and con- sistent member of the United Brethren Church. He married Janet Root, who was born in Indiana, and is now living in Kern City, Cal. Of the children born of their union, four survive.

Going with his parents to Yolo county when

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

six years old, W. Olin Lowe there completed the course of study in the grannar schools, and afterwards attended the San Joaquin Valley Col- lege, spending two years in the preparatory de- partment and four years in collegiate work, tak- ing the regular classical course, which included Greek and Latin. He subsequently taught school one year in Shasta county, and four and one-half years in Selma, Fresno county. Then, giving up teaching for awhile, Professor Lowe entered the ministry, for three years preaching for the United Brethren denomination. Accepting a po- sition in Los Angeles in 1895, he taught most successfully for four years in the city schools. Coming from there to Ramona in 1899, he has since had charge of the high school, and in its management has won an enviable reputation as teacher, friend, counsellor and disciplinarian.

In 1887 Professor Lowe married Belle Lim- baugh, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of F. M. Limbaugh, who came with his family to California in 1866, and settled at Rio Vista, Solano county. Four children have blessed the union of Professor and Mrs. Lowe, namely: Minnie Esther, born December 18, 1888; Wil- liam Marion Reese, born December 26, 1890; Alma Genette, born July 5, 1893, and Frances Mae, born March 27, 1896. Politically the pro- fessor is a steadfast Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters; of the Fraternal Brotherhood, at Los Angeles, and of San Diego Lodge No. 35, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Southern California School Masters Club and for two terms has been identified with the San Diego county board of education.

JOHN W. CUSHING. One of the enter- prising and progressive citizens of Los Angeles county was the late John W. Cushing, who en- gaged as an agriculturist in Southern California for many years prior to his death, which occurred February 14, 1903. He was a native of Ireland, born in Belfast June 24, 1830, a son of Patrick Cushing, a builder in that city, and Mollie (Stewart) Cushing, a native of Belfast and a member of the same family to which A. T. Stew- art of New York belonged. Reared to young manhood in Belfast J. W. Cushing received his education in the schools of that city, after which he made that place his home until 1848. In the last-named year he decided to immigrate to the western world and accordingly came to New York City, where he was employed for four years and during this time applied for his papers making him a citizen of this country. They were granted August 29, 1857, and delivered to him in San Francisco. In 1852, he came to Cali- fornia via the Nicaragua route, landing in San

Francisco in April. For several years following his arrival in the state he was occupied in the mines, after which he returned to San Francisco and engaged in general contracting and teaming. In 1868 he removed to Humboldt county, Cal., and a year later made a trip to Southern Cali- fornia, where in the vicinity of Savannah, Los Angeles county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of the Dalton tract. The following year he located his family here, erecting a resi- dence, barns and all necessary outbuildings, and thereafter engaged in grain and cattle raising. Later he added to his original purchase one hun- dred and eighty acres a half mile north of Savannah and a twenty acre tract adjoining the first piece, the entire property becoming known as the Primrose farm. He remained on this place up to the time of his death February 14, 1903. His remains were interred in the San Gabriel Cemetery, as he was a member of the old Mission Church at San Gabriel. In his poli- tical relations he was a Democrat, but was always stanch in his support of the Union.

In San Francisco, in St. Mary's Cathedral. October 20, 1861, Mr. Cushing was united in marriage by the Rev. Father Croak with Miss Mary Carr, a native of County Donegal, Ireland, and a daughter of John Carr. He was a general contractor who about 1850 located in Philadel- phia, Pa., where his death eventually occurred, as did that of his wife, formerly Catherine Travis, also a native of Ireland. They were the parents of nine children, of whom four are now living, Mrs. Cushing being the only one in California. She came to San Francisco via the Isthmus of Panama in 1859 and two years later was mar- ried in that city. She is the mother of the follow- ing children; Mary Agnes, wife of Thomas Godfrey, of San Pedro; Elizabeth S. and Alice J., both of Los Angeles; Anna L., of Chicago; John F., who died at the age of seven years and three months; Patrick L., on the home ranch; Cecelia. of Los Angeles ; Catherine, wife of Dr. C. W. Seeber, of Los Angeles; Polk L., on the home ranch: James, of Los Angeles; Joseph Emmet, on the ranch; Ileen, of Los Angeles; and Margaret S. In October, 1904, Mrs. Cush- ing removed to Los Angeles, where she now makes her home, being a member of the St. Vincent's Catholic Church, and a devoted worker for its interest.

CUSHING BROTHERS. Native sons of the state of California, Patrick and Emmet J. Cushing are engaged in the cultivation and de- velopment of property which bids fair to rank with the finest ranches of Los Angeles county, The eldest was born in this county January 31, 1876. and the latter April 25, 1881, both re-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ceiving their education through the medium of the public schools of El Monte, where they grew to manhood. Their father, John W. Cush- ing, a pioneer of California, was born in Belfast ; Ireland, his education was received in the schools of his native city, after which, at the age of sixteen years he came to America and in New. York City was employed for about four years. Subsequently he came to California and on the property which he owned, known as Primrose farm, his death occurred February 14, 1903.

Progressive and enterprising, the two brothers assumed the management of the old Cushing homestead, which consisted of one hundred and eighty acres located in the vicinity of El Monte, and here they are associated in the raising of stock, in which business they have been very success- ful. In 1904 Patrick Cushing was united in mar- riage with Miss Nellie Graney, a native of Port- land, Ore., and they are the parents of one son. John Clifford. They are devout members of the Catholic Church. The brothers are Demo- cratic in their national tendencies, although lo- cally they can always be counted upon to up- hold good government, regardless of party af- filitions. Socially they occupy a high position among the ranchers of this section of Los An- geles, appreciated for their sterling worth as men and citizens.

SYLVESTER H. GARNER. A native Cali- fornian. Sylvester H. Garner was born in San Bernardino county, August 10, 1869, the youngest son of John Garner, a pioneer of the state, and one of the prominent men among the ranchers of Southern California. The elder man was born in Davidson county, N. C., May 1, 1820, a son of David Garner, who died at the remarkable age of one hundred and five years. He came to Hancock county, Ill., where he mar- ried Mary Ann O. Rawson, a native of Wash- ington county, Ind .; they were members of the Church of Latter Day Saints and located in Nauvoo, Ill., where they made their home for five years, and upon the exodus of their people in 1846 Mr. Garner took his family to Council Bluffs, Iowa. Two years later he started west- ward once more and in Salt Lake City he made his home until 1851, engaging in farming, etc. When learning of the new doctrines which Brigham Young had introduced into the church since coming to Salt Lake City, such as polyg- amy and others, he became disgusted with the church in that place. Deciding to locate in California, he outfitted in 1851 and on March I started to cross the plains to San Bernardino with Dave Seeley. Capt. Jefferson Hunt and Andrew Lytle. There Mr. Garner purchased land and began farming, being the first man to

plant alfalfa in Southern California and raise and thresh the seed, to start his ranch purchas- ing fifty pounds of seed at $1 per pound. He became prominent in the public life of the com- munity, a settlement having been established by the men who came through with Mr. Garner, and during the years of his residence he was elected to many positions of trust and responsi- bility. For two terms he served as supervisor of San Bernardino county and was chairman of the board for several years, and was also school trustee for many years. He was a stanch ad- herent of Democratic principles. By virtue of his early residence in the state he was a member of the Pioneer Society of San Bernardino county. In 1874 he removed to Newport, where his death occurred in 1890, when nearly seventy years old. His remains were sent to San Bernardino and buried by the side of his wife, who had preceded him in 1880. His funeral was one of the largest ever held in San Bernardino, the large number attending being a silent evidence of the great regard and esteem in which he was held. There were thirteen children in the parental family, of whom six are still surviving.

Reared in Southern California, Sylvester H. Garner received his education in the public schools of Santa Ana, Orange county, where his parents located when he was a child in years. After completing his education he began farming for himself, at the age of twenty-one years go- ing to Fresno, where he followed horticultural pursuits. He became the owner of twenty acres of land which he sold after five years and came to Los Angeles county and in the vicinity of Florence engaged in sugar beet culture, leasing and cultivating about three hundred and seventy- five acres of land belonging to the Nadeau and Cudahy estates. Finally giving up ranching he located in Los Angeles and engaged in the whole- sale produce business, and after a time sold out and followed a grocery enterprise. Altogether he was in commercial enterprises in Los Angeles for five years. Finally disposing of his business interests he came to El. Monte and in 1903 pur- chased his present property, which contained at that time fifty acres, although he has since disposed of a half of it and now has but twenty- five acres devoted to walnuts and alfalfa. He has made all the improvements himself, install- ing a pumping plant, etc., and bids fair to make a striking success of his enterprise.

June 29, 1898, Mr. Garner was united in mar- riage with Miss Cora Van Fleet, who was born in Dickinson county, Kans., in 1872; she was but ten years old when brought to California by her father, Nelson Van Fleet who for many years made his home in Downey, Cal., but is now living retired in Los Angeles. Mrs. Garner was one of eleven children, eight of whom are

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

living in California. Previous to her marriage she was a teacher in the Los Nietos public school, having held the said position for seven consecu- tive years. Mr. and Mrs. Garner have one child, Sylvester H. Jr., who was born in Los Angeles City, February 11, 1903. Both himself and wife are members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

JOHN ROBERT PIERCY. Credit is due Mr. Piercy for the efforts he has made toward the upbuilding and development of the section of California in which he has made his home since 1895. He is a native of North Carolina, his birth having occurred in Murphy. Cherokee county, November 22, 1859; his grandfather, Stephen Piercy, was born in England and in young man- hood immigrated to America and settled in North Carolina, his son, Wesley, the father of John R. also being a native of that state. The latter was a surveyor and was engaged in this work in North Carolina until his death. He was a citizen of prominence, helpful in the maintenance of law and order, and as a Master Mason was influen- tial in fraternal circles. He married Martha Collins, whose birth and death occurred also in North Carolina.

Of the thirteen children born to his parents, of whom nine attained maturity and eight are now living, John Robert Piercy was sixth in order of birth. He was left an orphan at the age of ten years and two years later he went to Indiana where, in the vicinity of Terre Haute, he made his home with a brother, who was a farmer in that section. He remained in that location for four years when he decided to go further west- ward, and accordingly traveled through Iowa, North Dakota and Utah, engaging in farming and mining, the latter employment occupying his at- tention in Utah for eight years, working with the Maxfield Mining Company. It was in 1895 that he first came to California and in the vicinity of El Monte, Los Angeles county, he found em- ployment on the ranch of George H. Peck. After one year he leased the ranch, which consisted of four hundred and eighty-three acres, and while he engaged in the raising of alfalfa and grain he undertook the improvement of the place by boring a well one hundred and twenty-seven feet deep and installing a steam engine, forty- horse power, with a capacity of one hundred and fifty inches. He had two hundred acres given over entirely to the cultivation of alfalfa. In 1902 he decided to invest in land and accordingly purchased fifty-four acres in the vicinity of El Monte, and immediately set it to walnuts, while he also engaged in general farming. Later he disposed of twenty-nine acres of the property, re- taining twenty-five acres, which he has brought

to a high state of cultivation and improvement, having erected a new residence in 1905. He was instrumental in the incorporation of what is known as the Peck Ranch Water Company, of which he is secretary and manager, and which ir- rigates one hundred and fifty-eight acres of land.

November 22, 1891, in North Carolina, Mr. Piercy was united in marriage with Miss Rillie Tatham, who was born in Cherokee county, that state. Her father, Benton Tatham, and grand- father, Thomas, were both natives of North Car- olina, of English descent, the latter having served in the Mexican war, as did his brother, James Tatham. Farming had been the occupation of the family for generations and Benton Tatham was so engaged at the breaking out of the Civil war, in which he served faithfully. He married Arra Wright, born in Yancey county, N. C., a daughter of James Wright, a farmer of Scotch- Irish descent ; she was the fifth in a family of ten children and is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Piercy are the parents of three children, namely: Rob- ert, William and Murvel. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, having been made a member of the order in Monrovia ; politically he is a Republican on national issues, while locally he supports the man whom he considers best qualified for public duties.

MARK HUTCHCROFT. One of the suc- cessful citizens of the community in and about Bassett is Mark Hutchcroft, known and esteemed throughout this section as an upbuilder of the best interests of the general welfare. He is a native of Grant county, Wis., born January 27, 1859. the oldest son in a family of eight children, of whom three sons and four daughters are now liv- ing. His father, John Hutchcroft, was born in Yorkshire, England, where the name had flour- ished for generations. The grandfather, Ed- ward Hutchcroft, brought his family to America and located in Grant county, Wis., where he en- gaged first as a miner and later as a farmer. After spending fifteen years in mining, John Hutchcroft followed farming and finally, in 1874, brought his family across the continent to Ore- gon, where they located in McMinnville. Later he purchased a farm in North Yamhill, Yam- hill county, and resided there until his death, which occurred in 1897. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically was a stanch Republican. His wife, formerly Mar- garet Bell, was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, a daughter of Robert Bell. a merchant in Scotland, where he also died. They also were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mark Hutchcroft received his preliminary ed- ucation in the public schools of Wisconsin and Oregon, and completed it in the Willamette

Whytheso

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

University. He was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until attaining his majority. He then became dependent upon his own re- sources and with his brother began logging on the North Yamhill river, from the city of North Yamhill down to Oregon City and Portland. He was occupied thus for five years, when with his accumulated earnings he rented a place and be- gan raising hops at North Yamhill, still in part- nership with his brother. On account of his wife's health he sold out in May, 1895, and came to California, locating in Santa Monica and en- gaging with the Santa Monica Lumber Com- pany. In 1897 he accepted a position as fore- man of the Bassett ranch, and has held it ever since, now being superintendent of three hundred acres of this large property, and engaged in set- ting it to walnuts. He has purchased thirty acres of the ranch, which is devoted to walnuts and alfalfa, while his attention is given to general farming on the greater part of the place.

Mr. Hutchcroft was married in Oregon to Miss May Roberts, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Henry Roberts, and they have two children, Grace and Gladys Belle. Mr. Hutchcroft has always take a prominent place in educational affairs wherever he has made his home, while in Oregon serving on the school board, and was also a member of the Bassett school board when their building was erected. He is a member of the Mountain View Presbyterian Church, in which he officiates as an elder, and politically upholds the principles of the Republican party.

HON. WILLIAM H. KELSO. For many generations the Kelso family was identified with the development of Pennsylvania and especially with the agricultural and coal-min- ing interests of Allegheny county. The orig- inal Scotch immigrant, George Kelso, who came to the United States in 1760, from the town of Kelso, Scotland, located in Bucks county, Pa., from there going to Cumberland, near McClure's Gap, and still later, in 1782, removing to Washington county. His son, John Kelso, served seven years, seven months and ten days in the Revolutionary war, and was one of the one hundred and twenty men who stormed Stony Point. During his serv- ice he was made orderly sergeant. The son of the latter and the grandson of the orig- inal founder of the name in America, Ben- jamin Kelso, was born in 1790, in Allegheny county, where he became the owner of coal lands, bank stock and other profitable hold- ings, representing about $30,000, which in those days was considered quite a fortune. Among the children of Benjamin was John B .. a native of Allegheny county and a life-

long resident ot that portion of Pennsylvania, where he died at sixty-five years. Included in his possessions was a tract of coal land, which in time became the inheritance of his only son, William H., the only daughter hav- ing died without heirs. In politics he affiliated with the Republican party from the organi- zation of the party until his death, and always he maintained an active interest in party mat- ters. Through his marriage to Mary Hall, a native of Allegheny county, he became con- nected with an old-established family of Penn- sylvania, of remote Irish extraction. Her

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 1

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234