USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume II > Part 18
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Notwithstanding his very long identification with the professional interests of the west, Judge Hutton is still active mentally and physically and gives every indication of having before him a long number of years of continued efficiency, during which the city may expect to be benefited by his presence and legal acumen. Judicial fair- ness has characterized his long association with bench and bar. A broad knowledge of the law gives him prestige in the circle of attorneys. Per- sonally, being a man of companionable disposi- tion and gregarious habits, he has many friends outside the limits of his profession, while his standing as a pioneer of the utmost devotion to Los Angeles places him in a unique position among the people of this southwestern metropolis. Original in thought, broad of scholarship, learned in the law and intense in all of life's activities, he comes to advancing years with the well-merited honors of his fellow-citizens.
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WILLIAM CHARLES BLUETT. Two great cities in the formative period of their history received an impetus in the commercial activities and the master mind of the late William Charles Bluett, a native of Dublin, Ireland, but from early life a resident of the United States. Ap- parent chance turned his steps into a line of business for which he had a natural aptitude. All of his life was given to the management and ownership of clothing establishments, which under his efficient and sagacious over- sight invariably developed into enterprises of great magnitude. As an illustration of the energy, promptness of action and power of determination that characterized him in every emergency, it may be stated that after the great Chicago fire, in which he lost every- thing, instead of succumbing to despair as did many men of vast enterprises, he hastened to New York city to order a new and large stock of goods. A prompt shipment of the order en- abled him to open up the first store after the fire. For more than ten years afterward he continued a leading clothier in Chicago, but eventually the climatic attractions of the west and the commercial opportunities offered by Los Angeles drew him to the Pacific coast, where he made his home from 1883 until the date of his death, October 26, 1906. Mean- while he rose to conspicuous prominence among the business men and influential mem- bers of the Chamber of Commerce.
At the time of the arrival of Mr. Bluett in Los Angeles the city numbered but a few thousand in its population and was largely Spanish in its racial type of citizenship. Nevertheless he saw its possibilities for de- velopment as an American center of commerce and with shrewd prescience identified himself with its advancing interests. Thereafter, in times of financial depression as in seasons of great growth, he remained the same optimis- tic, level-headed, keen and efficient citizen, active in public affairs, manifesting an un- changing faith in the future prosperity of Los Angeles, a leader in the California Club, the National Irrigation Association and in many other organizations or enterprises of ex- tended usefulness. Mr. Bluett was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mulvey, and their only daughter, Alice M., has since their
demise continued to make her home in the city with which the family name is insepara- bly associated. From 1883 to 1885 Mr. Bluett as senior partner of the firm of Bluett, Daly & Sullivan, conducted a clothing business in the Nadeau Hotel Block, and in the latter year, when the business was removed to the corner of First and Spring streets, the firm name be- came Bluett & Sullivan. In 1889 Mullen & Bluett entered upon its long and successful career, figuring conspicuously in the business history of Los Angeles. More recent head- quarters are now maintained in one of the most substantial and modern blocks on Broad- way. Mr. Bluett had retired from the firm in March, 1905.
ROBERT DAVID WADE. The west spelled opportunity in the destiny of Robert David Wade to a degree so exceptional that to mention his name is to revive memories of his intimate identi- fication with great and growing enterprises, some of which owed their inception to his optimistic foresight, while others were fostered into profit- able fruition through his ability and executive leadership. Qualities so remarkable as to win prestige and prominence in a progressive com- munity were his possessions, partly through in- lieritance from a line of cultured Virginian an- cestors and in part through individual develop- ment of his native endowments. Environment also contributed as a large element in his interest- ing career, while a liberal education, the result of his own determined efforts, broadened the view- point of his mental vision and prepared him to grasp the opportunities of California during an intimate identification of more than three decades with its public affairs and commercial enterprises. The influence of his dominant personality was not narrowed into one groove of activity, yet became so pronounced in the oil industry that, consider- ing the number and value. of the properties in which he held stock, he was entitled to rank among the foremost men in the history of western oil development.
That substantial intellectual qualities came to Mr. Wade as a family heritage is indicated by the fact that his only brother, William L. Wade,
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M. D., became a prominent physician of Los Angeles county, while their father, Hon. David Wade, M. D., a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, not only rose to professional success in Hendricks county, Ind., but also was highly honored in election to the Indiana state legisla- ture for the sessions of 1846, 1848 and 1850, and, had it not been for his untimely death in 1853, undoubtedly would have risen to greater eminence as a statesman and patriot. Of Virginian family, born near Winchester, that state, into the home of Daniel Wade, he had married into a Quaker family that settled in North Carolina during the colonial era. His wife, Emily, was a daughter of Hon. Levi Jessup, the first county clerk of Hendricks county, Ind., who was expelled from the Society of Friends on account of having accepted office, forbidden by their church rules. In an early day he became a pioneer of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where in 1852 his talents re- ceived recognition in election to the state legisla- ture. The blood of the austere but gentle Quaker mingled with that of the courtly old Virginia cavalier in producing Robert David Wade, who was born in Stilesville, Hendricks county, Ind., September 14, 1848, and passed away at Los Angeles September 9, 1913. Sixty-five useful and honored years were encompassed within the earthly boundaries of his activity. Indication of coming usefulness appeared in the self-reliant spirit with which he began to clerk at only four- teen years of age, this employment being had at Wadesville, Va., a village named in honor of his ancestors. An education begun in public schools, continued in Howe's academy at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and completed in the Northwestern Chris- tian (now Butler) University in the suburbs of Indianapolis, Ind., enabled him to teach school with considerable success, but this work he regarded merely as a foundation for larger efforts in commercial enterprises.
Determination to remove to California proved the pivotal point in the career of Mr. Wade, although the earlier period of his identification with the west gave little indication of the large interests of later associations. Having engaged in mining quicksilver in San Luis Obispo county in 1876-77 and following similar pursuits in Nevada county, he thence came to Los Angeles in 1878 and embarked in the mercantile business. From that time he had a career of growing public
service and private business success. The Los Angeles Board of Education had the benefit of his intelligent co-operation as one of its members in 1882-84, and the city received exceptionally capable service from him in the capacity of tax collector during 1892-94, while as county recorder he proved equally efficient in a term lasting from 1898 to 1902. To these offices he was elected on the Republican ticket, for he was as stanch in adhering to that party as his father and grand- father had been in advocating old-line Whig principles.
With A. P. Halfhill of Los Angeles as a part- ner, in 1892 Mr. Wade organized a company for the purpose of canning sardines and located a plant on Terminal Island, now known as East San Pedro, their main packing house command- ing an unobstructed view for miles in every direction. Industrial development had not yet begun and their house was the first to embark in business at the location, now the center of many similar enterprises. At that time Long Beach, plainly visible on the south, was a mere village, while to the east could be seen the old town of Wilmington with its three hundred inhabitants, and to the west rose Dead Man's Island, made famous by Dana in his "Two Years Before the Mast." With the development of all the sur- rounding country there has been a simultaneous development of the enterprises established by the Southern California Fish Company, of which Mr. Wade continued to be the president until his death and which, in addition to canning other varieties of fish and manufacturing olive oil, made its national reputation principally through the manufacture and sale of the Blue Sea brand of canned tuna fish. In the early years of the history of the company five hundred cases of sardines were counted a large pack, where now forty thousand cases of Blue Sea tuna and sardines find their way into the world's markets, trucked into freight cars for shipments to cities or loaded in the great iron steamers that fly the flags of every nation. Since the company commenced to manu- facture the Blue Sea brand of tuna in 1908 it has leaped into worldwide popularity and gained a prestige almost unparalleled, but resulting directly from the fine quality of the fish and the scientific skill maintained in the entire process of canning.
Important as were his commercial and manu- facturing enterprises, it was principally through
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real estate and oil investments that Mr. Wade attained great wealth, and in the last few years of his eventful career his interests were confined largely to the oil industry, in which he was promi- nent as an organizer and officer in the Oceanic, Rice Ranch, Lake View, Lake View Annex and Ojai Oil Companies, being for some years the president of both the Rice Ranch and the Ojai Oil Companies. An indication of his faith in Los Angeles appears in the fact that he erected and owned the Auditorium hotel on Fifth street be- sides having many other holdings in the city. Other interests of his latter years included the presidency of the Althus Land Company, the
Prudential Investment Company, Brumiller Building Company, Santa Maria Crude Oil Com- pany and the Leasehold Company, while a short time previous to his death he gave to Los Angeles the most expert and efficient service as a member of the city water board, being a promoter of the great plans for securing to the entire community an inexhaustible supply of the purest of water. Besides being a director of the Gamut Club his services in effecting the reorganization of the Union League Club and his efficient leadership as president for two terms made him at the time without question the most influential and popular of its members. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons, Maccabees and Knights of Honor. In 1879 he married Miss Carrie B. Reed, who was born in Massachusetts and died in Los Angeles in 1909, leaving an only child, Annie Louisa, now the wife of W. V. Ambrose. A sub- sequent marriage united him with Louise A. Con- able, who with their son, Robert David, Jr., sur- vives him and maintains the family home in Los Angeles.
PATRICK HANNON. Well remembered among the early pioneers of Los Angeles is Patrick Hannon, who crossed the plains in a "prairie schooner" in 1869, and from then until the time of his death continued to make his home in this city. For nearly thirty years Mr. Hannon has "slept with his fathers," his death having oc- curred October 29, 1885, but his name and mem- ory have been kept bright by his family, his wife and children still making their home in Los Angeles, where they are well and favorably known.
Mr. Hannon was a native of Ireland, having been born in County Kerry in March, 1848, and he received his education in the private and parochial schools of his native county. When he was little more than a lad he heard the call of the lands across the sea and when he was seventeen he answered. For a few years he followed the trade of carpenter in various eastern cities, and then (in 1869) he came west, locating imme- diately in Los Angeles, where he continued to reside thereafter, engaged in the contracting and building business until the time of his death. He always had the greatest faith in the future of the city, and from time to time he purchased real estate, choosing land that then seemed far out in the country, but which is now well within the city limits, and one plat, a farm of twenty- three acres, is now in the heart of the manufac- turing district. A part of this tract is still in the possession of his heirs, and is of very great value.
Mr. Hannon was always a devout member of the Roman Catholic church, attending St. Vibiana's Cathedral, and in his political affilia- tions he was a Democrat. At all times he gave his support to the best interests of the com- munity, advocating progress and civic betterment along sane and practical lines.
The marriage of Mr. Hannon and Miss Cath- erine Harnett, the daughter of Patrick and Jo- hanna Harnett, was solemnized in Los Angeles, June 8, 1874. The bride, like her husband, was a native of Ireland, coming to the United States in 1866, and for a time lived in St. Louis, Mo., coming to Los Angeles in 1870. She is the sister of Mgr. Harnett, vicar of the diocese of Los An- geles and Monterey, and one of the best known of the Catholic clergy in the southwest. Mrs. Hannon bore her husband eight children, of whom four daughters and two sons are now liv- ing and well known in Los Angeles, two sons having died in infancy. Those living are : William, who married Miss Eugenia Brodrick ; Henry F .; Mary, the wife of James Keily; Cath- erine, the wife of Thomas Daly; Johanna, the wife of Henry Van Dorn; and Margaret, the wife of Peter J. Bruttig. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Hannon has continued to make her home in Los Angeles, where so many years of her life have been spent, and where she is near her children and her many friends. She is a devout member of the Roman Catholic church ) and a worker in its societies and organizations.
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WILLARD G. HALSTEAD. Associated conspicuously with large business affairs of Los Angeles from the pioneer days of the city until his death, Willard G. Halstead was well known all over the state of California, his integrity, high sense of honor and quiet bearing marking him as the best type of western business man. Sin- cere in all his dealings, an upright, conscientious citizen, his death meant to his city and state the loss of a stanch friend, and many young men whom he had helped in their efforts to gain edu- cational opportunities mourned him deeply.
Between the date of his birth at Rome, N. Y., July 6, 1841, and that of his death, August 17, 1910, there was an era of purposeful activities crowned by the respect of associates and made fruitful by his capable oversight. These activities for years took him into different portions of the west, but, with the utmost loyalty to Los Angeles, he always considered this city his home and never wavered in his purpose to eventually re- turn hither to pass his declining days in con- genial climatic and social conditions.
The opening of the Civil war in 1861 found Mr. Halstead, an adventurous youth of twenty years, eager for military service and proud of an op- portunity to fight for the Union. While with his regiment at the front, on duty with the army of the Potomac, he won the commission of lieutenant in recognition of gallant service and conspicuous bravery. On the expiration of his term of service he received an honorable discharge. As a former commissioned officer of the volunteer army, he was a companion of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and maintained a continuous and sincere interest in all affairs con- nected with the order. After two years' service he returned to New York state and from there came to California in 1867, settling first in San Francisco and later in Los Angeles. From the pioneer development of the latter city until his death he was associated with large business enter- prises and owned valuable property holdings. At the time of his arrival he found the town a sleepy Spanish settlement lacking in enterprise, content with a small population and unaware of the great future which destiny had in keeping for it. With keen prescience he discerned local opportunities and future possibilities. He believed the little town slumbering in the sunshine would arise from its lethargy and mount to greatness. To this end he willingly gave of time and influence, and he
formed one of that great band of patriotic Ameri- cans who contributed to the early ascendancy of the city. The demands of large outside interests took him elsewhere, but never did he lose his love for the city near the sunset sea and always he cherished a hope to return hither. Indeed, at the time of his sudden death he and his wife, who was Florence P., daughter of the late H. K. W. Bent, of Los Angeles, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work, were making plans to establish their permanent home in this city.
During the period when the Panamint country was in its prime Mr. Halstead acted as manager of the Cerro Gordo Freighting Company for Remi Nadeau. At that time the company had a large stage station and supply depot at Mojave and sent supplies to the Panamint region from that depot, bringing ore back on the return trip. These were the palmy days of Panamint mining. Miners thronged to the district in large numbers. Returns were gratifying and the company therefore had an enormous amount of freighting in its charge, but with the waning of the industry and the departure of miners for newer prospecting points the teaming business also was transferred else- where. After ten years of employment with the freighting company Mr. Halstead engaged as general superintendent for the Banning Company at San Pedro and Wilmington, which responsible position he filled for nine years with the greatest efficiency. The last seventeen years of his life were passed in Northern California as president of the Excelsior Water & Mining Company, which position he was still filling at the time of his demise. Meanwhile, however, he had not dis- posed of his holdings in Los Angeles, for he regarded this city as a profitable field for realty investment as well as a most desirable location for a home, and through all the years when business obliged himself and wife to establish temporary homes in other parts of the state they still re- mained, in sentiment if not in actuality, citizens of Los Angeles, devoted to the welfare of the western metropolis, watching its steady growth with warm interest and never changing in their earnest faith in its future supremacy over the cities of the Pacific coast. For forty-three years it was his privilege to live in the west and to be warp and woof in its material upbuilding. In this long period he became well known as a man of unwavering integrity and irreproachable char- acter.
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Johan Cushion
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JOHN CASHIN. Although never a resi- dent of Los Angeles, John Cashin was for many years closely identified with important indus- tries of this city, and two of his sons, J. O. Cashin and D. K. Cashin, are now prominent business men of this city, having been formerly associated with their father's interests here. The special interest with which Mr. Cashin was identified in Los Angeles was the ice business, he being the organizer of the Union Ice Com- pany in 1881, of which he was superintendent until 1892, at which time he disposed of his interests in this concern and organized the National Ice Company, of which he became superintendent and director. In 1909 this com- pany was reorganized and called the National Ice and Cold Storage Company, and in this undertaking Mr. Cashin was associated with Joseph Martin, Nicholas Ohlandt and John A. Buck. The company has steadily grown from a small beginning and is today one of the largest in the state, with splendid central sta- tions in San Francisco and Los Angeles and twenty-three additional branch stations through- out the state. In 1913 Mr. Cashin re- signed and the company sold their interests to an English syndicate, Mr. Cashin living in re- tirement until the time of his death. September 29, 1914, his son, J. O. Cashin, who had entered the employ of this company at its organization, still holding the office of superintendent of the Los Angeles station. With his wide experience in the ice and cold storage business, the son had rapidly risen in the confidence of the firm, which placed him in charge of the Los Angeles office upon the opening of that branch, which is valued at more than a million dollars and is exceptionally complete in all details, being equipped with the latest machinery and its cold storage department containing seven hundred thousand cubic feet of space and in every par- ticular modern and scientifically sanitary.
John Cashin was a '49er of the truest type. A native of Ireland, he made the journey around the Horn in 1849 on a sailing vessel with a party of Irish emigrants bound for the California mines. Born in Cashel, Tipperary county, Ireland, he received his education in the national school of Tipperary, coming to America when about twenty years of age and locating in the mining districts, being for a time in Placer county, Cal., and later mining in Yuba /
county. After a time he went to Virginia City, Nev., where he engaged in mining in the famous old Comstock mine until 1870. Return- ing to California, he located in Nevada City, where he engaged in the cattle business throughout the Sacramento valley until 1878, when he sold his interests there and removed to San Francisco. There he started upon his splendidly successful career as a manufacturer and distributor of ice, in a small way at first, bringing his ice from the mountains, and later establishing a manufacturing plant on a small scale. He prospered and in 1881 was one of the organizers of the Union Ice Company, as above stated, his first big venture in this line, later organizing the National Ice and Cold Storage Company in Los Angeles, with which both he and his sons were prominently con- nected. Although making his home in San Francisco, Mr. Cashin was nevertheless almost as familiar a figure in Los Angeles, making very frequent trips from the Bay City for many years, and taking an active part in many vital interests of this city. He enjoyed a high stand- ing among the business men of Los Angeles, as well as of San Francisco.
The marriage of Mr. Cashin and Miss Mar- garet Grace took place in Sacramento, Cal. There were nine children born of this marriage, seven of whom are living at the present time and all but one residents of California, of which state all are natives. The eldest daughter be- came the wife of Charles J. Heggerty, the well- known attorney of San Francisco ; he was born in Smartsville, Yuba county, Cal., and became well known throughout California as the partner of George A. Knight; James O., division manager of the Los Angeles branch of the National Ice and Cold Storage company,
was born at Nevada City, Cal., and educated in the public schools of San Francisco ; as as- sistant to his father he remained with him during the various changes in the business wherein he holds his present high office ; on September 14, 1899, he was married to Henrietta Heinze- man, in his political interests is a Republican and in his religious affiliations a member of the Catholic Church, being also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Los Angeles Athletic Club; Margaret resides in San Francisco; Sister Superior M. Vin-
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centia is in San Leandro Convent, near Oak- land ; David K., born at Nevada City and edu- cated in the public schools of San Francisco and at St. Ignatius College, became associated with his father in the ice business immediately upon leaving school, where he remained throughout all of the changes in the business, and is now cashier at the Los Angeles branch of the same ; lie is a member of the Catholic Church and a Republican ; on June 25, 1894, he married Mittie H. Granger, by whom he is the father of two children, Margaret and Harold; Nora is a resi- dent of San Francisco ; and John P. is at present in the United States Shipping Commissioner's office at Seattle. John Cashin, the father of these children, died at the age of eighty-seven years.
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