USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume II > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
Mr. Toll is a native of Iowa, having been born at Clinton, that state, November 24, 1858, the son of Hon. Charles Hurlbert Toll and Eliza- beth (Lusk) Toll, who was born in New York. The father was also a native of New York, but after going to Clinton he exerted himself for the advancement and welfare of that city, where he was engaged in manufacturing and also held the position of postmaster, being chosen as repre-
369
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
sentative of his district in the state legislature. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Tenth Iowa Infantry and served until the close of the war, receiving promotion to the rank of major and for some time having charge of the commissary department. His death occurred in Los Angeles, where for two years he had made his home.
The youngest of five children, Charles H. Toll passed the years of his early life in his native city in Iowa, where he received a good educa- tion in the public schools, later attending Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. He commenced his business career in a clerical position in the postoffice at Clinton, and later was deputy clerk of the court for Clinton county, Iowa. For a time after coming to Los Angeles in 1885, he was credit man for several of the large firms of the city, where he made for himself a record for executive ability and careful attention to detail. He has taken an active interest in the municipal affairs of the city, and was a member of the city council from 1896 to 1900, being elected without opposition, rendering valuable service to the cause of progress and leaving a record of which he may well be proud. Since his entrance into the banking business Mr. Toll has met with his accustomed success and is a power in the local money markets.
The marriage of Mr. Toll and Miss Eleanor M. Joy took place in Los Angeles. September 4, 1901. Of their union have been born four chil- dren, all natives of the Angel City. They are Charles Hurlbert. Jr., Gerald Sidney, Maynard Joy, and Carroll Costello. Both Mr. and Mrs. Toll are prominent in their social circle in Los Angeles, and Mr. Toll is a stanch Republican and a member of several prominent organizations, including the Jonathan Club, the Los Angeles Athletic Club. the Chamber of Commerce and other civic and municipal bodies, being also fra- ternally allied with the Foresters and other sim- ilar organizations.
JOHN CRIMMINS. Ireland has sent many splendid sons to America, and California has received her full share of these clever. ener- getic men and women, who have proven them- selves to be as loyal and true in the allegiance to the land of their adoption as ever native son
could be. As citizens they are honest, indus- trious, careful, and thrifty, and in one genera- tion they are transformed into genuine Ameri- cans. Such an one as this was John Crimmins, pioneer of Los Angeles, having come here to reside in 1869 and making this city his home continuously until the time of his death, No- vember 24, 1904.
Mr. Crimmins was born in Ireland, Novem- ber 10, 1850. He was the son of Philip and Mary Frances (Collins) Crimmins, who came to America when their son was still a lad of ten- der years, and located in Boston, Mass. In the public schools of that city the son was educated, and after finishing his schooling he learned the plumber's trade. When but nineteen years old he determined to seek his fortune in the west and accordingly came overland to Los Angeles. Here he started in business for himself, open- ing a shop for the conduct of his trade at the corner of Spring and First streets. He met with much success in his undertaking and added to the scope of his business from time to time, moving several times in search of more satis- factory location and quarters. He had previous- ly purchased property at No. 624 South Spring street and eventually established his store there, and continued at this location until his retirement from active business pursuits.
As was but natural with one who from the first possessed the most unwavering faith in the future of the city, Mr. Crimmins invested from time to time in real estate, and his hold- ings have greatly increased in value owing to the wisdom of his choice and the unprecedented growth of the city. The property on South Spring street previously mentioned was pur- chased many years ago for a merely nominal sum and is still in the possession of the family.
Aside from his business interests Mr. Crim- mins had many warm friends throughout the city which he had won by his splendid character and life. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him and his business integrity and stand- ing were unassailable. his word being always as good as his bond. He was a devout Catho- lic, being intimately associated with the affairs of the church in this diocese for many years, and as a charter member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society gave largely of his time and means toward its support and the promotion of its work. He was also a charter member of the
370
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Los Angeles County Pioneer Society, in which for many years he took an active part. Political- ly he was a Republican, and though never especially active in party affairs, was well in- formed on all questions of the day and was always interested in progressive movements which tended toward social uplift and civic betterment.
The death of Mr. Crimmins was felt as a severe loss by his many friends, and many of the most prominent men in the city paid tribute to his memory by following his body to its last resting place. The pall bearers were J. D. Bicknell, R. F. Del Valle, John Kenealy, F. A. Jay, J. M. Guinn, J. C. Kays, J. H. Clancy and A. C. Golsh.
SANTA MONICA BAY CATHOLIC PAR- ISHES AND INSTITUTIONS. Whoever has known the little Southern California city of Santa Monica on its pink, flower-fringed cliffs over- looking the blue bay must be interested to learn the story of the discovery and naming of this locality by the old-time Spanish padres whose picturesque religion adorned with romantic saints' names has endowed the country of Southern Cal- ifornia with an undying charm. Father Junipero Serra, the Franciscan priest whose name and his- tory are entwined with the story of the old Span- ish missions throughout the southern part of the state, in the year 1770 accompanied an expedition from the mission at San Diego in search of Mon- terey Bay, and tradition tells us that he camped near two beautiful springs of water beside the coast which reminded him of Santa Monica's tears, and, since it was then the anniversary of her saint's day, the good priest named the country Santa Monica, in honor of that holy woman, the mother of St. Augustine.
One of the prominent men of the town of Santa Monica today is Rev. Patrick Hawe, for the past twenty-nine years rector of Santa Mon- ica's parish, and the founder of the chapel at Palms, Trinity Mission at the Soldiers' Home, and St. Ann's Chapel and St. Clement's Church at Ocean Park, all neighboring towns to Santa Monica, the indomitable energy and untiring ef- forts of Father Hawe for the advancement of his church being similar to that of Father Junipero Serra who in the early days founded the
chain of Franciscan missions that extend along the coast of Southern California from San Diego to San Francisco and are adorned with the pictur- esque nomenclature of the Catholic church. Father Hawe was born in County Kilkenny, Ire- land, in 1847, and when sixteen years of age entered the Carmelite Academy, following this with a five years' course at All Hallows' College, Dublin, where he was graduated from the De- partment of Philosophy and Theology, June 24, 1872. On that same day he was ordained a priest, the ceremony being presided over by Bishop Whalen, Bishop of Bombay, India. Im- mediately upon entering the priesthood, Father Hawe came to California, his first appointment here being to the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles. Later he was for a short time in San Bernardino parish, and the year following at Ventura, and later still spent a year in the parish of San Luis Obispo, and the nine years follow- ing were spent at the Church of the Holy Cross at Santa Cruz. He was then appointed to the position of assistant to Father Villa at Santa Barbara, returning later to San Bernardino, whence he removed to Anaheim, and in May, 1886, was appointed rector of Santa Monica's church. At the time of his coming to this little beach city, it was but a small town of a few hundred inhabitants, and he was himself the first resident priest who served this church. Un- der his efficient management the parish has grown to its present prosperous condition, having become foremost in the diocese, and the numer- ous neighboring churches which he has been instrumental in establishing represent the un- tiring perseverance and enthusiasm of his char- acter. In 1902 he held the first Catholic services at Ocean Park, which town at that time could boast no church but now can show St. Clement's Church, established by Father Hawe on Marine and Lake streets, and representing to a certain . degree the architectural style of many of the old Spanish missions in this state. The church at the Soldiers' Home at Sawtelle he was enabled to build with the co-operation of the United States government, for the benefit of the Catholic famil- ies of that town and residents at the Soldiers' Home. Through the activity of Father Hawe there was also established the beautiful Academy of the Holy Names at Santa Monica, which was opened September 4, 1889, in a small building on Second street, under the management of Sister
371
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Superior Mary Mathilde, and was removed the following year to the present handsome grounds on Third street and Arizona avenue. The Acad- emy of the Holy Names has become the center of educational advantages for Catholic children of Santa Monica, and is one of the schools of the highest standing in the state, with an attendance of from one hundred and ten to one hundred and twenty pupils whose graduation at this institu- tion enables them to enter any university without examination, the Sisters of the Holy Names be- ing themselves graduates from a full course of normal instruction. Under the able direction of the present Sister Superior Mary Hermann, the sisters are divided as follows: Eight at the Acad- emy of the Holy Names, three at St. Ann's school, Santa Monica, and five at St. Clement's school, Ocean Park.
On June 26, 1912, the fortieth anniversary of the ordination of Father Hawe, who has been the moving spirit of these various Catholic institu- tions at the beach cities, a celebration was held in his honor at Santa Monica, Bishop Conaty pre- siding at the solemn high mass, Monseigneur Har- nett preaching the eulogy, and speeches in praise of Father Hawe's work being delivered at the banquet which followed, by the Bishop and many other guests of honor.
LEOPOLD H. HARRIS. The founder of the firm of Harris & Frank, one of the best known and most reputable clothing firms in the city, was the late Leopold H. Harris, who for many years was a leading merchant of Los Angeles, a pioneer in his line, and one of the extensive property owners of his day. Born in Prussia in 1836, he came to the United States in 1854, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and after a year in San Francisco he came on to Los Angeles. where with the exception of six years passed in San Bernardino he made his home continuously thereafter until his death. In this city he en- gaged in the mercantile business and was the first merchant in the city to establish a credit in New York. He was also the first man here to erect buildings on long ground leases, among these being the Allen block, which he built in 1885, at the corner of Temple and Spring streets, where the International Bank building now stands. In 1887 he secured a twenty-year lease
on the Spring street lots where the Salisbury block now stands and erected that building. From the late Rev. Eli Fay he purchased in 1898 the site of the building now occupied by Harris & Frank. Mr. Harris was the owner of other val- uable property in this and San Bernardino county and altogether his estate was an extensive one.
It was while in Berlin, following an extended tour of eighteen months in Europe, that Mr. Har- ris was stricken with the illness that finally ter- minated his long and useful career. Though scarcely able to undertake the homeward journey the effort was made, but soon after debarking from the ocean vessel he passed away. A man of careful business methods and very unostenta- tious in all that he did, he gave largely to various city charities, but in a manner so quiet that not un- til his death stopped his support did any save those directly concerned know whence came the money so received. As a public citizen, Mr. Harris was progressive and broad minded, while in his private capacity he was a true friend and a con- siderate and kindly employer.
Mr. Harris was married in Berlin, Germany, in 1868, to Miss Minna Jastrowitz. Of their marriage were born four children, all well and favorably known in Los Angeles and vicinity. They are: Sadie, Mrs. H. W. Frank; Harry L. Harris; Mattie, Mrs. Alfred Stern; and Rose, Mrs. C. M. Adler. Since the death of her hus- band Mrs. Harris has continued to reside in Los Angeles.
EDWARD G. KUSTER. Prominent among the rising young attorneys of the state (if it be proper to speak of a man who has already scaled the heights as "rising," just because he is young) may be mentioned Edward G. Kuster, who, although but thirty-six years of age, has conducted a number of cases of state-wide prominence and national effect. Although not a native of this state, Mr. Kuster has spent much of his life here, having come to Los Angeles when he was a lad of but seven years. His father, Dr. Charles Edward Kuster, has been a practicing physician in the city of Los Angeles for many years. Dr. Kuster himself was a native of Germany, born at Cologne March 7, 1840. His parents removed to the United States when he was seven years of age, settling in Terre Haute, Ind., in 1847. There
372
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
he attended the public schools, later entering higher institutions in Indianapolis, and eventually graduating from Rush Medical College in Chi- cago. He then went to Germany, where he spent some time in pursuit of medical research and study, eventually returning to Terre Haute, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1885, at which time he came to Los Angeles and engaged in medical practice here. In 1889 he again went abroad, remaining for three years in Germany, where he continued his studies under world-famous authorities, at the end of that time returning to Los Angeles to resume his practice here. He retired in 1905, having spent twenty years in active medical work in the city of his adoption, and leaving behind him a record of hon- orable and efficient effort to alleviate the ills of humanity. His wife, the mother of the subject of this article, was Miss Emma Eshman, a native of Terre Haute, Ind. She died in 1905. Dr. Kuster still resides in Los Angeles, where he has many warm friends.
Edward G. Kuster is a native of Terre Haute, Ind., born August 15, 1878. Coming to Los Angeles in 1886, he was a student in the public schools of this city for three years, and then accompanied his parents to Germany, attending school in Berlin until 1892. Returning to Los Angeles he later attended the high school until 1896, then matriculated at the University of Cali- fornia, graduating in 1900 with the degree of B. L. At once he entered the law office of Graves, O'Melveny & Shankland and commenced reading law, remaining with this firm until 1903, when he became chief clerk for H. W. O'Melveny, attorney, until 1906, since which time he has been practicing for himself. Mr. Kuster follows a general legal practice, but has made a specialty of railroad rate cases, and has handled some of the most important of such cases that have been before the western courts. Probably the best known of these, and the one most far-reaching in its local beneficial results, and which attracted a great deal of attention throughout the entire United States, was the Switching Case heard be- fore the Inter-State Commerce Commission in 1908. This case was carried through the various Federal Courts and was finally heard by the Supreme Court of the United States. The effect of the decision was very beneficial to Los Angeles, resulting in the saving of a quarter of a million dollars a year to the shippers of this city.
The marriage of Mr. Kuster occurred in Bakersfield, August 1, 1913, the bride of his choice being Miss Edith Emmons, of that city. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kuster are well and favorably known throughout the city. Mr. and Mrs. Kuster reside at their beautiful country home in the San Gabriel Valley, near the town of San Gabriel, where in 1913 Mr. Kuster built the up-to-date residence now occupied by the family.
Mr. Kuster is a member of several exclusive social clubs, including the California Club, the San Gabriel Valley Country Club, the University of California Club and the Los Angeles Athletic Club. He is deeply interested in all matters of local import, and takes a prominent part in all questions pertaining to the general welfare of the city. He is progressive and wide awake in his views, and is a firm believer in the future of the city and therefore of the necessity of building on broad, progressive lines, looking to the future demands of the great western metropolis rather than to the present local needs of the city.
MILTON LINDLEY. The son of David and Mary (Hadley) Lindley, the former of Scotch-English ancestry and the latter descended from English and Irish forebears who were of the Quaker faith, Milton Lindley was born in Guilford county, N. C., in 1820, and died in the city of Los Angeles May 11, 1875. Throughout much of his life he had made Indiana his home, removing there at the age of twelve with his parents and remaining in the state until 1866. Besides learning the details of farming he also became skilled as a harness-maker and saddler. For twelve years he carried on a harness shop and saddlery at Monrovia, Ind., where in 1850 he took up general merchandising. Four years later he moved to Hendricks county, Ind., and took up farming, on account of impaired health. Later he resumed mercantile pursuits. After he had visited the east to study the new national banking system, he aided in the organization of the First National Bank of Danville, Ind., and continued as director of that institution until he removed to Minneapolis in 1866. For nine years he engaged in the real estate business in the north- ern city. Meanwhile having spent two winters in Los Angeles for the benefit of his health, in 1875 he moved to this place and bought forty acres at
1
375
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
the western limits of the town. In 1882 he sold the property, which later was developed into a beautiful residential section known as Ellendale Place.
At the time of his arrival Mr. Lindley found Los Angeles an unimportant town of a few thou- sand inhabitants. From the first he was an en- thusiastic believer in the possibilities of the place and subsequent depressions, collapses of booms and periods of hard times had no effect in diminishing his optimistic faith. As an operator in real estate he was active and successful. He was in no sense of the word a politician, but had the confidence of the public. In 1879 he was elected county treasurer of Los Angeles county and served for three years, holding over for one year on account of a change in the state con- stitution relative to county officers. In 1885-86 he served as a member of the county board of supervisors, during which time he served the county well as chairman of the finance committee. While a careful business man, he was also liberal in contributions to churches and charitable projects and a generous contributor to all move- ments for the permanent upbuilding of his chosen city. By his marriage to Mary E. Banta nine children were born and six of these survive him, influential factors in commercial, professional and social affairs in the west.
JOHN RANDOLPH COX. The reputation of Los Angeles as a health resort is responsible for the coming of many people yearly to this city ; and a very large percentage of those who come, supposedly for a few months to rest and regain their health and strength, remain to make it their permanent home. Among this class is John Randolph Cox, who in 1881 came to the Angel City from Montana, broken in health by the rigors of the northern climate and the ardor of his labors there. He expected to remain at the most but a few years, but within that time he had decided that it was here that he would establish a permanent home, and so continued to make his residence here.
Mr. Cox is a native of Missouri, having been born in Montgomery county January 22, 1848. He is the son of Alfred and Sarah (Greene)
Cox, both of whom are now deceased. The early years of Mr. Cox were spent in Missouri, where he attended the public schools of his district until he was seventeen years of age. At that time he determined to seek his fortune in the northwest and journeyed with a train of twenty wagons drawn by oxen across the plains to Helena, Mont. From that time (1865) until 1880 Montana was the scene of his activi- ties in the cattle business. In 1880 he drove a large band of cattle from the ranges of Mon- tana across the plains to Bismarck, N. Dak., and was surrounded by over two hundred Sioux Indians on the warpath, but escaped through the efforts of the interpreter; twice in 1870-72 he went from central Texas to northern Mon- tana, six months being required for each trip.
Although the actual years that Mr. Cox spent in school were comparatively few, he has al- ways been a student and has studied at every possible opportunity, attending special schools and classes and keeping up his reading con- tinuously, so that he has acquired a broad and practical education of the highest type.
It was in 1881 that his health broke down and he was obliged to seek rest and recuperation in a milder climate, and so came to Los Angeles, where he has since remained. Shortly after his arrival he purchased the Major Mitchell tract of ten acres located at Figueroa, Grand, Six- teenth and Eighteenth streets, five acres of which property was planted to oranges and grapes. Mr. Cox sold this property five years later for double the price that he paid for it, and since then he has continued in buying and selling city property, both lots and acreage. In this he has been exceedingly successful, and has owned at various times valuable real estate which he has turned at a handsome profit.
During his residence here Mr. Cox has formed a wide circle of friends and acquain- tances and is well known in business and social circles. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never been actively associated with the affairs of his party, although a well-informed and in- dependent thinker. Fraternally he is a Mason, also identified with the Eastern Star, and is a prominent figure in the Los Angeles County Pioneer Society and a member of the Congrega- tional Church.
The marriage of Mr. Cox took place in Ralls county, Mo., November 4, 1880, uniting him
376
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
with Miss Virginia Flowerree, daughter of William K. and Matilda (Caldwell) Flowerree. Mrs. Cox passed away in Los Angeles, May 1,1912.
FRANK L. STEARNS. Both Mr. Stearns and his father having been engaged in the manu- facturing of machinery the greater part of their lives, it is natural that they should have estab- lished in Los Angeles a manufacturing company which is both prominent and of long standing. The father of Mr. Stearns, a native of Amster- dam, N. Y., where he was born in 1832, and re- ceived his education, came to Los Angeles in 1884, after being engaged in farming in Eagle, Wis., from 1855 to 1868, and conducting a fur- niture factory in Cedar Falls, Iowa, from that time until 1873, when he removed to Grand Haven, Mich., and engaged in the manufacture of machinery until his coming to Los Angeles eleven years later. Arrived in this city, he continued in the last-named occupation with his son, F. L. Stearns, to whom he sold out the machinery business in 1891 to devote himself to the manu- facture of furniture, which business he sold out in 1909, his death occurring in 1911.
Frank L. Stearns, the son of George L. and Mary (Snyder) Stearns, was born in Eagle, Wis., January 15, 1860. and attended the grammar and high schools of Grand Haven, Mich., and after graduation at the age of twenty years, worked for his father in the business of manufacturing machinery for three or four years, being appren- ticed at the low wage of only fifty cents per day. Upon their removal to Los Angeles in 1884 the father and son in partnership established the Stearns Manufacturing Company, at No. 1000 North Main street, for the manufacturing of ma- chinery and building pumps and engines, a busi- ness which the son later brought out entire, pur- chasing also the property at Nos. 1003 to 1007 North Main street and independently continuing the business of the manufacture of engines and pumps and both distillate and gas engines, fifteen men being now in the employ of the company.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.