USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume II > Part 25
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strong disapproval of friends in the old Bay State, but his plans had been well worked out, and he believed that the climate and natural resources of California were a sure basis for a great and prosperous future for that "sunset land," and in that it is needless to say he has not been disap- pointed.
Starting from Boston on the 13th day of Sep- tember, 1880, a fast train took the party to Council Bluffs ; from which place to Los Angeles very deliberate progress was made from the rear end of a freight train, fifteen days being occupied in making the journey. Soon after arriving in California a site was selected and purchased for an orange grove and has been the home of the Bishop family for more than a third of a century.
Alhambra in 1880 had no postoffice, no store, no railroad station, no market. The settlers ob- tained their supplies from Los Angeles or from a little store at San Gabriel near the old Mission Church. Some of the streets had been laid out, but none of them had been plowed and worked. A score or so of houses, most of them of the California type, made up the little hamlet. A little one-room church was a center of community interest.
A noteworthy event in the early history of the colony was the meeting of Mr. Bishop and a neighbor one morning under an orange tree when usual neighborhood gossip led to a discussion of the needs of the settlement and evolved the proposition that a postoffice was the great desid- eratum, and before the close of the day Mr. Bishop had drawn up and circulated a petition to have one established in Alhambra. The petition was favorably considered and the neighbor, H. W. Stanton, a conspicuous figure in the early his- tory of the colony, was appointed postmaster. He erected a building at the corner of Main street and Garfield avenue, the lower floor to be used for a store and postoffice and the upper floor for a social hall. From this time on the growth of Alhambra was rapid and Mr. Bishop has always taken an active interest in its development. In due time Alhambra became an independent school district, Mr. Bishop filling the position of trustee for nine years and most of the time being clerk of the board.
Mr. Bishop has been called upon to fill many positions of responsibility. He was justice of the peace of the township for nine years, a member
of the first board of city trustees, a director of the First National Bank of Alhambra, director and vice-president of the Alhambra Savings Bank, trustee of the San Gabriel Cemetery Association, and has been president of the board of trustees of the Alhambra Methodist Episcopal Church during most of his residence in Alhambra.
In the early days there was a primitive irrigat- ing system which brought water from El Molino Canyon to a reservoir on the tract. from which it was distributed through the colony in pipes and ditches, and the water for domestic use in the Bishop family was supplied in buckets filled from one of these ditches. Later Mr. Bishop was one of the organizers of the Alhambra Addition Water Company, filling the position of superin- tendent for twenty-five years, and under his supervision the present water system was in- stalled.
Mr. Bishop has seen the growth and develop- ment of the great citrus industry from a very small beginning to its present gigantic propor- tions. In those early days the fruit growers were not educated to practical methods of culture and handling. The system of packing and shipping was crude. The marketing was through commis- sion houses and always unsatisfactory. The growers too often received in returns "red ink" in place of hard cash. The industry was placed on a substantial basis by the creation of the Cali- fornia Fruit Exchange, on a co-operative plan, and appurtenant thereto the Alhambra Orange Growers' Association, of which Mr. Bishop has been a director and secretary since its organiza- tion.
During his residence in Alhambra Mr. Bishop has seen a treeless plain where jack rabbits lived undisturbed and coyotes made night vocal trans- formed into a busy city. The trails over which the early settler urged his broncos with the lum- bering wagon have become fine macadamized streets over which the swift automobile and trolley car dispute time and space. The little board chapel has been the forerunner of several houses of worship with modern appointments. The little corner store has been the entering wedge for banks, stores and business houses, and the city boasts of school property of more than half a million dollars' value. The little hamlet with scarce a hundred population has been transformed into a center of high civilization and culture.
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WESLEY ROBERTS. It is interesting to watch the tide of population ebb and flow in different portions of a city as the influx of a poorer element crowds out the residences of the old inhabitants and the growth of business pros- perity encroaches upon the domains of mansions which were once fine residences, but have now deteriorated to the low estate of boarding-houses. As is the case with other cities, the downtown streets of Los Angeles have changed much with the passing of the years, and what was originally residence property is now built up with modern hotels and business blocks. At the corner of Second and Hill streets, where the Union League building now stands, was formerly located the home of Wesley Roberts, a prominent architect of Kentucky birth, who in 1869 removed to Los Angeles, making his home in a location which has since become so near the center of the business life of the city.
Besides the profession of architect in which he met with much success, Wesley Roberts was oc- cupied with many other interests, his long and useful life, extending from June 11, 1826, to November 30, 1891, having been filled with many stirring experiences as well as years of faithful application to business. The education of Mr. Roberts was received in his home state, Ken- tucky, where he also learned the profession of architect. Removing to Wilmington, Mo., in 1853, he occupied himself with a life of strenuous en- deavor and courageous service for his country ; his employment in the freighting business from Missouri to Denver, Colo., where he went with the true pioneer spirit and did much toward the laying out of the city, was superseded by service in the army, he joining General Price's army at the outbreak of the war, and rendering faithful service until wounded and honorably discharged in 1863. That year he crossed the plains to Salt Lake City, whence the gold excitement called him the same year to Virginia City, Mont. In 1866 he moved to Blackfoot City, Mont., where he engaged in stock raising, being one of the men who laid out Deer Lodge, Mont., and the designer of the plans for the old state buildings of that state. Upon coming to Los Angeles in 1869 he made this city his home, while continuing to carry on an extensive cattle business in Idaho and Mon- tana. Engagement in the oil industry brought him opulence, the company with which he was concerned being known as the Los Angeles Oil
Company, and in this occupation he was actively engaged until his death in 1891.
Associated with him in his oil interests until 1881 was his son, Oscar W. Roberts, who was the son of Wesley Roberts and Mary M. Magee, their marriage occurring at Paris, Ky., about the year 1848. The children born to these parents are: Oscar W .; George D., who married Julia Rendell ; Montana, who married W. P. Martin; Mollie; Carlton E .; Edwin; and Billingsley. The educa- tion of Oscar, the eldest, was received at Dr. Rose's school and St. Vincent's College, after which he engaged in the cattle business, taking charge of his father's ranch at Snake River, Idaho, from 1873 to 1876, thereafter being as- sociated with his father in the oil industry until 1881, when he went to New Mexico, where he has been engaged in the cattle business ever since. Oscar Roberts married Anna E. Ruch in Los Angeles, December 17, 1901, they now residing on South Alvarado street, this city. In his political interests he is a Democrat, and was a member of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of Arizona. Fraternally he is a Mason, and holds membership in two social clubs, namely the Sierra Madre and the California Clubs.
WILLIAM FREDERICK BALL. One of the most valuable and important industries of California and one in which phenomenal fortunes have been made and lost over night is the oil producing enterprise, and among those men in Southern California who from comparatively small investments have received splendid returns and are now enjoying profits of no mean value is numbered William Frederick Ball. More than ordinarily successful he has retired from com- mercial pursuits and gives his time to the super- vision of his holdings, still holding, however, a prominent position as stockholder and director of several oil companies. He is vice-president of the Fullerton Oil Company, director in the Bard Oil Company, being a heavy stockholder in each, and is also director of the Bond & Mortgage In- surance Company.
Mr. Ball is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Lycoming, November 12, 1860, son of Joseph and Matilda C. (Fischer) Ball. The father en- gaged in the woolen manufacturing business and was successful to a marked degree, being now
Des Raephe
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deceased. His mother, who was born in Germany, is now making her home in Los Angeles. Until the age of sixteen Mr. Ball attended the district schools of his native town and then left school to embark in business life. Following various under- takings for two years, at the age of eighteen he came to California, arriving in 1879. He worked for a short time at Anaheim Landing, later being employed on the Alamitos ranch for one year, at which time he came to Los Angeles. From Feb- ruary to November, 1880, he was employed with Horner & Torr in their woolen business and for the subsequent fourteen months was watchman for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The next year he had an opportunity to purchase a small fruit store across from the old river station and there he continued until 1882, at which time he purchased a cigar stand located in the lobby of the old postoffice building. This venture proved successful and from time to time he was enabled to extend the scope of his enterprise until he now owns the cigar store, billiard room in the rear and the barber shop in the adjoining building. Several years ago Mr. Ball retired from the active management of these interests, and it was at that time that he invested his money in the oil industry. His chief identification with the oil interests con- sists in the property near Fullerton which is now being developed. It is here fitting to add that Mr. Ball has always been associated closely with his brother, A. L. Ball, in his every business un- dertaking and financial move. They are together interested in the orange and walnut growing bus- iness near Downey. In 1884 they purchased the Cochran ranch and three years later became the owners of the Luper ranch, both of which they have improved and developed, having for their principal product Valencia oranges and walnuts.
Mr. Ball's marriage occurred February 25. 1886, in Los Angeles, uniting him with Miss Mary Paula Chard, daughter of Charles and Mary Chard and a native of Toronto, Canada. She came to Los Angeles in 1881. She is the mother of a son and a daughter: Madge I. is now the wife of Edwin J. Salyer and the mother of one son, William Frederick III; William F., Jr., has but recently graduated from the University of California at Berkeley.
A popular member of the Pioneer Society of California, Mr. Ball sustains his interest in all that pertains to the society. He is a Republican in politics, an enthusiastic sportsman and a promi-
nent member of the Blue Wing Duck Club. Many friends in the city and county have learned to deeply appreciate Mr. Ball's splendid manhood and conscientious loyalty, and many pleasures have been his through the love and affection of his associates.
GEORGE A. RALPHS. When the Ralphs family disposed of their interests in Missouri and made the long journey to California with the anticipation of making a permanent home, George A. Ralphs was still a lad, and he often recalled with interest the exciting incidents of the trip. Setting out from Missouri with a prairie schooner and five yoke of oxen, the little party joined a caravan in Kansas, and all went well until Colorado was reached, when the party was attacked by that foe of the frontier, the Indian. About one-half of the party was de- tailed to fight the Indians and the other half to remain guard to the women and children and supplies. The fate of the first-mentioned band of men still remains unexplained, for nothing was ever seen or heard of them after they left their companions, and it is believed beyond question of a doubt that they were massacred by the Indians. It was with feelings mingled with fear and courage that the remainder of the party set out once more on the journey that was to bring them to the west, and it is need- less to mention that when the Ralphs party reached San Bernardino they had good cause for thanksgiving, for it had been eighteen months since they set out from Missouri.
George A. Ralphs was born in Joplin, Mo., September 23, 1850. Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles he turned his attention to learn- ing the brick-layer's trade, and many of the early structures in the city bear evidence of his handiwork. In his trade he became an expert and was hailed as the champion brick- layer of the state, many times vanquishing con- tenders for honors in open competition. Later he met with a severe accident which cost him one of his hands and in consequence he was obliged to give up his trade and start life anew. Courageous in spite of this handicap, he secured a position as a grocery clerk in a small store at Fifth and Hill streets, and by economically saving his earnings he was enabled in 1877 to purchase in partnership with a Mr. Francis a
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small grocery store at Sixth and Spring streets, where business was conducted under the firm name of Ralphs & Francis. Two years later, in 1879, Mr. Francis's interests were purchased by Walter B. Ralphs, a brother of the senior partner, and business was continued under the name of Ralphs Brothers for a number of years. From the first they prospered and their interests grew with astonishing rapidity. until they reached the splendid proportions of the present time, including three of the largest retail grocery stores in the city, which rank second to none in the quality of their goods and service. In 1909 the business was incorporated as the Ralphs Grocery Company and has since continued under that name.
The marriage of Mr. Ralphs and Miss Wal- lula Von Keith was solemnized in Los Angeles, July 23, 1896, and they became the parents of two children, a son and daughter, George Al- bert, Jr., and Annabell. The father of Mrs. Ralphs was Prof. J. H. Von Keith, the well known California artist.
The cause of Mr. Ralphs' death, June 21, 1914, was a regrettable accident which occurred in the San Bernardino canyon, back of Arrow- head Hot Springs Hotel, where the family had gone for the week-end. While wandering up the canyon for a morning stroll Mr. Ralphs seated himself on a boulder beside the trail, and in attempting to assist his wife to a place beside him, dislodged a huge stone which had been the support of the boulder and it rolled down the mountain side, carrying him with it. One leg was caught under the boulder and severely injured. He was immediately rushed to the Ramona Hospital at San Bernardino and every effort was made to save his life, but the shock proved too severe for his weak heart and he did not survive the operation.
In the death of Mr. Ralphs Los Angeles suffered a severe loss, for he was a man of high principles and sterling worth, capable, ener- getic and of the highest standard of integrity. No stronger testimony of the regard in which he was held by his associates could be given than is expressed in the following letter of sym- pathy to his family, signed by thirty-two of his co-laborers on the trial jury : "Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God to remove from our midst our associate and friend, George A. Ralphs, we, as members of the Trial Term Jury
in the District Court of the United States, de- sire to convey by these resolutions to the af- flicted widow, children and family of Mr. Ralphs, our heartfelt sympathy in the great loss they have sustained.
"Associated with Mr. Ralphs as we have been during the past four months, we have formed an estimate of his character which has placed him in the front rank of the best citizens of this community, where he has lived for half a century, and marked him as an efficient, in- telligent, painstaking and conscientious man, whose views of duty were reflected by his re- marks when asked why, with abundant reasons therefor, he did not ask to be excused, said: 'I feel it to be my duty as a citizen to serve when called and do not care to ask the Court to excuse me.'
"In the death of Mr. Ralphs this community has lost one of its best citizens, and we feel that all who knew him will join us in saying, 'May God rest his soul and give consolation to his bereaved family.'"
SECONDO GUASTI. That he has actually made the desert "blossom as the rose," and that without the aid of water, is the verified boast of Secondo Guasti, president of the Italian Vineyard Company, member of the newly created state board of viticultural commissioners representing the vineyardists of Southern California in that body, veteran winery man and pioneer of Los Angeles. It was in 1883 that this energetic Italian landed in Los Angeles and at that time he pos- sessed the munificent sum of one American dollar. But he was not afraid to work and fortune has smiled upon him as upon a favored son, and today his holdings have grown to immense proportions and are so distributed that they are constantly in- creasing in value. His enterprises have been of a nature to be especially beneficial to the country, in that he has developed and utilized land that was generally considered worthless-desert tracts on which water could be run with the greatest difficulty, even were the water available, which has not so far been the case. Yet through the industry of Mr. Guasti thousands of acres of this land have been made highly productive, being now known as the Italian Vineyards and including some four thousand acres in San Bernardino county.
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Mr. Guasti belongs to the better class of Italians and comes from a family noted for their industry and enterprise. His father, Javanne Guasti, ran a grocery store, bakery and winery in his native village, where he died at the age of fifty-four. Young Secondo was born in Prince Monto, Mombaruzzo, in the province of Alessan- diria, Italy, May 29, 1859. His mother was Mag- dalena Guasti, who lived and died in her native province. She was the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters. Of these the sons are both residents of California, Thomas being associated with Secondo in the affairs of the Italian Vineyard Company in San Bernardino county, while the daughters, only one of whom is married, are both living in Italy.
Secondo Guasti was a clever and industrious boy. He assisted his father in his various enter- prises, learning much about the culture of grapes and the manufacture of wine, and also learning something about the work of the bakery and gain- ing some slight skill in the art of cookery. He first attended the public schools and later the com- mercial schools of the province and progressed rapidly in his studies, working in the daytime and in the evening attending school, reading and studying.
Stories of America always possessed the keen- est fascination for this lad and he secured and read everything pertaining to the land across the seas that could possibly be obtained. As a natural result he determined to seek his fortune in the Panama country, it being the time of the activity in that region occasioned by the attempt of the French to construct a canal across the isthmus. De Lesseps, the famous French engineer, was in charge, and Guasti determined to seek employ- ment under him. Arriving at the scene of action, he soon found himself in the midst of a severe yellow fever epidemic, with some four hundred persons ill at one time. The Italian consul advised him to leave at once for San Francisco, which he did, arriving at the Bay City July 3, 1881, and finding a condition of intense excitement prevail- ing, due to the assassination of President Garfield.
Mr. Guasti was a stranger in a strange city, with no friends and but little money. He was staying at a little Italian hotel on Montgomery street, known as the Roma Hotel, and one day chanced to remark to one of his countrymen that if there was need of a second cook he might do the work. The answer was that if he could cook
well enough to be a second cook in Italy he could be a first cook in San Francisco, and straightway the position was given him. He had brought a little Italian cook-book with him and this he studied carefully at night, making thorough prepa- ration for the work of the coming day.
Carefully saving his money, Guasti soon had enough to make a beginning of his own. He went to Guaymas, Mexico, and in partnership with two of his countrymen went into the restaurant busi- ness for himself. They were all energetic and thrifty and the new undertaking proved to be a prosperous one. This was in 1882, at the time when the Santa Fe was building their branch from Guaymas to Benson, Ariz., and the partners secured the contract of cooking for the construc- tion hands, which was a most profitable business, although it required much hard work. Later yellow fever broke out here and Guasti left his business and crossed the line into Arizona, locat- ing at Tucson. Here he was stricken with the dread disease and for two months lay ill. After his recovery he came on to Los Angeles, arriving here November 3, 1883. With him was one of the young men who had been associated with him in the Guaymas undertaking, one Achille Bertalle, who later returned to Italy and is now several times a millionaire. There were three in this party, and among them they had just $3, one dollar each.
Mr. Guasti secured employment as cook in a restaurant, and again saved his earnings with a view to embarking in business for himself. With- in a short time he was able to purchase the Italian Hotel on Alameda street. Here he prospered and within a few years was able to erect his own winery.
Soon after coming to Los Angeles Mr. Guasti formed the acquaintance of Giuseppi Amillo, a fellow countryman and a pioneer groceryman of Los Angeles. One day Mrs. Amillo wanted a dish of spaghetti prepared in the true Italian fashion and asked Mr. Guasti if he would not cook it for her, he having by this time acquired somewhat of local fame as an artist in this line. Jokingly he replied that he would be glad to do so if she would in return give the hand of her eldest daughter in marriage as a payment. Still in the spirit of a jest Mrs. Amillo made the desired promise. This eventually proved to be a prophecy rather than a jest, however, for this same daugh- ter, then but a laughing girl, grew to charming young womanhood and was wooed and won by
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young Guasti. As Louisa Amillo she was for several years the secretary and bookkeeper for Mr. Guasti, and after their marriage, which took place in Los Angeles, August 23, 1886, she con- tinued to have charge of the office work for her husband, thus enabling him to give his time and attention without hindrance to outside affairs. For sixteen years this arrangement continued, and Mr. Guasti gives full credit for his great success to the aid and co-operation of his clever wife. He declares that she is the best manager he has ever had and that today he could not secure her equal for $500 a month. In every sense of the word she has been a helpmeet and a com- panion and he has always considered her as a full partner in his business rather than an as- sistant. Their marriage has been an exceptionally happy one and today Mr. Guasti "thanks his patron saint that he was able to cook such good spaghetti."
Mrs. Guasti was herself born in Los Angeles. Her parents were both natives of Italy. Her father, Giuseppi Amillo, is well remembered in Los Angeles. Her mother was Catherine (Ber- naro) Amillo, who died in Los Angeles in 1913. She was the mother of six children, all of whom are living in Los Angeles at this time (1914) and all are natives of Los Angeles. They are Louisa (Mrs. Guasti), Rosa, Angel, Aurelia, Charlie and Joseph.
About 1886 Mr. Guasti went into the winery business exclusively. The site of his present place of business on Palmetto street was then a vineyard producing wine grapes. The first winery built by Mr. Guasti was located on Aliso street and called the Guasti winery, and much of his supply of grapes was purchased from the vine- yard where the present property now stands. After three years here he acquired and ran the Bernard winery on Second and Alameda streets, continuing this for ten years. In 1889 he moved from the Aliso street location to Palmetto street, where he is still situated. His enterprises pros- pered exceedingly and he never missed an oppor- tunity to extend his interests to good advantage. In 1897 he rented and ran the Glendale winery in connection with his other properties for several years.
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