USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume II > Part 51
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Ferdinand Godde,
' ister
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as a nestor of the bar, and it is fitting that in cases involving intricate and difficult problems, where large amounts are at stake and vast in- terests involved, his counsel should be sought with universal unanimity of opinion concerning the value of his professional services.
Although throughout the greater part of his life a resident of Los Angeles, Mr. O'Melveny is of Illinois birth and parentage, born August 10, 1859, to H. K. S. and Anna Wilhelmina (Rose) O'Melveny. After graduating from the Los Angeles high school in 1875 he matriculated in the California State University and remained in that institution until the completion of the course in 1879. Upon his admission to practice at the bar of California he opened an office in Los Angeles, where from 1883 to 1885 he filled the office of deputy district attorney under Stephen M. White, then district attorney, and in the latter year formed a partnership with J. A. Graves under the firm name of Graves & O'Mel- veny. The name of the firm was changed in 1888 to Graves, O'Melveny & Shankland. Through as- sociation with Henry J. Stevens in 1906 the firm of O'Melveny & Stevens was established and this in turn, by the addition of Mr. Millikin in 1907, expanded into the present co-partnership of O'Melveny, Stevens & Millikin. For thirty years Mr. O'Melveny has been a moving force in the professional history of Los Angeles and his vig- orous mind has been felt continually as an im- portant factor in law affairs. In the courts his opinions are received with respect and his sug- gestions with deference, this respect and defer- ence being based on the knowledge that he was thoroughly grounded in the principles of the law and that he possesses abilities of an high order. While he stands at the head of his profession in the city, he has not confined his activities to practice, for a study of his career reveals a wide range of successful endeavor, including a director- ship in the Azusa Ice & Cold Storage Company, the Farmers & Merchants National Bank, the Security Trust & Savings Bank, the Los An- geles Trust & Savings Bank, the Title Insurance & Trust Company, the Dominguez Estate Com- pany, the Dominguez Water Company and other well-known business or financial concerns of Southern California. Along lines of civic service he has officiated for two terms as a member of the board of trustees of the Los Angeles public
library, also has acted as a member of the civil service commission and as a member of the board of park commissioners. His marriage in 1887 united him with Miss Marie Antoinette Schilling, of Los Angeles. Social organizations with which his name is enrolled and to whose progress he has contributed are the California, Crags Country and Los Angeles Country Clubs.
FERDINAND GODDE. The native home of Ferdinand Godde was Germany, a country which has sent many of its industrious sons to populate the Middle West section of our own land, a district which fifty or sixty years ago was made up of frontier states where the farm lands had to be reclaimed from the for- est and the homes and families of the settlers protected from wild Indian tribes. Later many of these men of German birth, like those of New England ancestry also, migrated still further west, constituting themselves pioneers in the truest sense of the word, making the toilsome journey across the unsettled and desert plains of the then almost unknown west, taking their families with them in great ox-wagons and driving their herds of cattle before them. Suffering and thirst beset them on the way and hostile Indians rendered the journey in the pioneer days one fraught with great danger. But these courageous men are the ones who have helped to found the cities along the western coast and by their endeavor make these towns the thriving centres of business which they are today. Coming from Germany, where he was born in Prussia, May 4, 1848, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Godde, Ferdinand Godde therefore finds many of his brethren already established in the new home of his choice.
The education of Mr. Godde was received in the public schools of his native land. Dur- ing the Franco-German war of 1870 and 1871 he served as a private in the German army. Since coming to America in the year 1874 his life has been one of hard work, which, how- ever, has brought its desired result, that of steady advancement in business life crowned finally with success. The first place where Mr. Godde located in this country was Michi-
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gan, whence he removed to Wisconsin, where he was employed in various ways until 1879. It was in that year that he came to Los An- geles county and purchased fifty acres of land in what is now the beautiful suburb of Holly- wood. Here he devoted his attention to rais- ing winter vegetables in this productive land where the raising of fruits and vegetables has become such an extensive industry and where flowers blossom with wonderful profusion. As the population of that section of the coun- try increased and handsome residences sprung up on what had formerly been farm land, Mr. Godde wisely took advantage of the increase in the value of property, gradually selling off his lands at an increased price until he has now but five lots left. Another section which has attracted his attention is that of River- side, located in the greatest orange-growing district in the state; and near the city of that name, in one of the loveliest and grandest sec- tions of Southern California, Mr. Godde now owns a ranch of one hundred and fifty acres, where his son Frank is engaged in raising al- falfa, one of the staple products of California, where it is used extensively as fodder.
The industry and wise management of Mr. Godde have now enabled him to retire from active business life and since 1910 his life has been one of well earned rest from business cares. By his marriage in Los Angeles, Jan- uary 26, 1886, to Mary Sommer (a daughter of Theodore and Katherine Sommer and a na- tive of Germany, who came to Los Angeles in 1885, direct from Germany), Mr. Godde is the father of five children, namely: Ferdinand ; Frank, who runs his father's ranch near River- side; Elizabeth, married to A. D. Bartol; Mary, attending the Normal School at Los Angeles; and Harry, a pupil at the high school. In his religious affiliations Mr. Godde is a Catholic, and is an attendant at the Blessed Sacrament Church.
JUDGE FRANK R. WILLIS. For more than thirty years a member of the Los Angeles bar, and one of the leading attorneys in the state, Judge Frank R. Willis is today recognized a power in legal affairs of the city and state, and a criminologist of note. Since 1908 he has been
a judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles county, and as such his service has been dis- tinguished and more than ordinarily efficient. He is the friend of the prisoner in the dock, as well as his judge, and while administering the letter of the law with unfaltering fidelity, he neverthe- less keeps ever within sight the fact that the province of the law is remedial, rather than purely punitive, and the ultimate welfare of the accused is the object toward which he continuously strives. He has been instrumental in placing on the statute books of California certain legislation which has been exceedingly far-reaching in questions of criminology and in the treatment of criminals throughout the state, and his position as professor of criminal law and procedure at the University of Southern California Law School, which po- sition he has occupied since 1901, has given him a place in the legal profession throughout the state, and especially in Southern California, which is widespread in its influence and altogether en- during.
Judge Willis is a native of Massachusetts, born at North Adams, August 17, 1854, the son of Albert and Laura P. (White) Willis, both of whom are well and favorably known in that lo- cality. The son was educated in Iowa, where his parents removed when he was yet a lad. He graduated first from the common schools and later attended the state Normal school, graduat- ing in 1879. After teaching school for a brief period he attended the University of Iowa, com- pleting a course in the law school in 1881, and immediately thereafter was admitted to the bar in that state.
Locating at Cherokee, Iowa, Judge Willis, although not yet "Judge" by many weary years of service and study, opened his first office and commenced his practice, July 1, 1881. He re- mained in Cherokee for two years, meeting with appreciable success and making many friends. The wider opportunities of the Pacific coast, how- ever, appealed strongly to his inclinations and am- bitions, and in 1883 he came to Los Angeles, and has since been a resident of the county, and for most of the period of the city. He maintained an independent practice until 1886, when, his ability having attracted much favorable attention, and his striking personality having won him many warm admirers and friends, he was chosen attorney for the public administrator of the city, and two years later, in 1888, was elected city attorney for Re-
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dondo, polling a splendid majority of the votes cast. After serving the beach city for a period of four years he was made assistant district at- torney for Los Angeles county, serving in this capacity for eight years. Here again his service was of such a character that he won distinction for himself and honor for the office, adding ma- terially to his already appreciable prestige and making many warm personal friends, both among the legal profession and the laymen.
It was not until 1908, however, that he was finally called by the people to serve on the bench as Judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles county. Here for six years he has presided, and during that time he has again added to his laurels distinguished service of a high order. He is a keen student of criminology, and goes deeply into all criminal cases which come before him. He has successfully put into practice the probation system now on the penal code of California, meeting with almost phenomenal success in this line of work. As proof of this is submitted the fact that in 1911 he had under his jurisdiction one hundred and fifty probationers earning $15 per week, and "making good" in the highest sense of the word. This does not mean that he is in any sense lenient with hardened offenders or lax in his duty of protecting the public against vicious persons by giving them their liberty under the probation system; but it does mean that his hu- man interest in the unfortunate men and women who come under condemnation of the law is warm and sincere, and that his hand is always the "helping hand" that is held out to lead to a better and a useful life, if the unfortunate will but grasp hold of the opportunity and try.
That Judge Willis' efforts towards prison re- form are bearing fruit we quote from a speech by Prison Director Mclaughlin at the fifth annual convention of the California Bar As- sociation, at Oakland, in the month of November, 1914: "If a man in prison for life, or otherwise, has property rights, contract rights, or any other rights, at the time he is admitted, I would give him the right to go into the courts of the country and assert those rights and defend himself, and so far as that is concerned, I would accept the proposition of Judge Willis. At the same time I would call this most excellent judge's attention -and we, the directors, recognize your work, Judge Willis, and applaud it, and would to God there were more judges like you in the state,
taking an interest in the first offenders, those young fellows who have made their first mis- step and should not reach prison at all-we com- mend you and bless you for that * * * *
Since his connection with the University of Southern California, Judge Willis has gained a place in the hearts of the younger generation of attorneys that is making him a permanent power in shaping the future policy of the Los Angeles county bar, and which will in the future bear cer- tain fruit in legal and legislative affairs of the state at large.
Socially Judge Willis is both prominent and popular. He is well liked among his colleagues, both because they admire the attorney and judge, and because the man himself possesses qualities of mind and heart which endear him to his asso- ciates at all times. He is a member of the Union League Club, and of the Gamut Club, and is a prominent Mason and a Shriner, while the various legal and civic societies of the city claim his membership and support. He has received the support and co-operation of several of the largest organizations of women in the city at various times, when such support was essentially important to the accomplishment of a desired work, and in their investigations of the questions involved these women have not found Judge Willis wanting.
The marriage of Judge Willis occurred in Iowa City, Iowa, March 8, 1882, uniting him with Miss Letitia Allin. Mrs. Willis is a woman of charm- ing personality and strong character, a fitting com- panion for her distinguished husband. She is the mother of two sons, William H. and Fred A .. both well known in Los Angeles.
ALFRED BECK CHAPMAN. The history of Los Angeles city and county for the past half century or more is very closely inwoven with the life story of the late Alfred Beck Chap- man, who for thirty-five years made his home at San Gabriel, where he owned extensive acre- age. Mr. Chapman had been an active factor in the affairs of the county during his entire residence here, taking a keen interest in all that pertained to the welfare of the public at large. and bringing to bear on all questions of public interest the same splendid judgment that made him a power in the legal profession and in the
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business world. He had served the city of Los Angeles in various capacities, giving of his legal ability for the good of the municipal government as city attorney, and later being elected district attorney. He also served several years as city superintendent of public schools, in which capacity he made a most desirable record, both for himself and for the educational work of the city. After retiring from the active pursuit of his profession Mr. Chapman became greatly interested in citrus culture, and at the time of his death, January 16, 1915, owned one of the finest orange groves in the San Gabriel valley.
The Chapman family came originally from England, where they ranked as one of the best of the old stock. The American progenitor set- tled in the South, and William S. Chapman, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, of which his father was presi- dent, and afterwards engaged in the practice of law, giving much time as well to the management of his cotton plantation. He married Coziah A. Beck, the daughter of Col. Alfred Beck, of the United States Army, and their son, Alfred Beck Chapman, was named in honor of his distin- guished grandsire. The father died when he was a young man of only thirty-two, leaving the young wife to rear the son alone. Alfred Beck Chapman was born at Greensboro. Ala., Septem- ber 6, 1829. He graduated from West Point in 1854, and was later stationed at various western points, including Leavenworth, Benicia, Tejon and Churchill, being promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Later he resigned from the army to engage in the practice of law. It was in 1861 that he came to Los Angeles to make his home. studying law with his father-in-law, J. R. Scott, who was then engaged in practice here. After the war he formed a partnership with Andrew Glassell and for three years they conducted a successful business. At the end of that time they admitted another attorney to partnership, the firm thereafter being known as Glassell, Chapman & Smith, the junior member being Col. George H. Smith, late of the Confederate army. Later Mr. Chapman, who had won his way to high favor with his constituency by his straightforward methods and his unusual ability in unraveling knotty problems, was elected city attorney, and later still district attorney, serving in both capaci- ties with great satisfaction to the general public.
In 1879 he retired from the active pursuit of his profession and took up the life of the farmer, settling upon a portion of the Santa Anita rancho. His original purchase comprised sixteen hundred acres, a large part of which he planted to citrus fruits. From time to time he sold off portions of the ranch, until at the time of his death it con- tained only about seven hundred acres.
While the Santa Anita property formed his home place, Mr. Chapman also made various other purchases of real estate and from these he reaped a handsome profit. Together with Mr. Glassell he owned at one time ten thousand acres in Orange county and thereon they laid out the town of Orange, promoting and developing this beautiful little city. The two principal streets of the town are named after its two founders, Glas- sell street and Chapman avenue. In the San Gabriel valley, where he lived for thirty-five years, Mr. Chapman did much to advance the value of his property, developing and improving it, and adding many beautifying touches as well. He was public spirited and progressive in the broadest sense of the word, and no movement for the betterment of the valley, whether socially, educationally, or physically, but received his un- qualified support and endorsement. He was known among his neighbors as a man of advanced ideas along sane and sensible lines, one who built for the future as well as for today. In politics Mr. Chapman was a Democrat and a strong party man, although on several occasions he received the support of many men of other parties who were glad to give their political en- dorsement to a man of such splendid principles.
Mr. Chapman had been twice married. The first marriage was solemnized in 1859, the bride being Miss Mary S. Scott, the daughter of J. R. Scott, who for many years was an attorney in Los Angeles. Of their marriage were born six children, three daughters and three sons. Of these the eldest son, Alfred S., is well known throughout the state as an authority on fruit growing. He served as a member of the State Horticultural Society and has otherwise been associated with state-wide movements for the promotion of the interests of the orchardist and fruit grower. The second son, William, is a physician in Spokane, Wash., while the youngest son, Richard D., is also a member of the medical profession. The daughters are Lucy, Ruth and Evelyn. After the death of his first wife Mr.
James Jarpres
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Chapman married Miss Mary L. Stephens, the daughter of Col. W. H. Stephens, who since the death of Mr. Chapman has continued to reside at the family home, Chapman Place, San Gabriel.
JAMES JAYNES. Those who came to Los Angeles in an early day, invested in real estate, and held on to their investments, almost with- out exception reaped a rich reward, for the growth in values has been steady and very great. Among such as these may be mentioned the late James Jaynes, who came to Los An- geles for his health in 1884 from Illinois. He immediately invested his capital in real estate, turning his property whenever an advantageous occasion offered, and so managing his affairs that this proved a source of handsome income, and his holdings so increased in value that from a comparatively small investment originally they had grown to practically $100,000 at the time of his death, September 18, 1913.
Mr. Jaynes was a native of New York state, having been born there in 1828. He was a direct lineal descendant of the early Pilgrims, both his father, James Jaynes, and his mother, Elizabeth Champion, tracing their ancestry directly to those hardy forerunners of a mighty race. The son received his early education in the public schools of New York, and his first independent work was farming, in which he was quite successful. When he was twenty- one he went first to Woodford county, Ill., and later to McLean county, in the same state, where he again engaged in farming, also in milling and dealing in grain, continuing thus occupied until 1884. At that time he came to Los Angeles, where he continued to reside until the time of his death. For years he held a com- mission as notary public.
During his residence in Los Angeles Mr. Jaynes made many warm friends who remem- ber him with affection. He was an ardent tem- perance worker, a member of the Good Tem- plars, and was a member of the Church of the Nazarene, being a regular attendant on all its services. His marriage was solemnized in Woodford county, Ill., in 1856, uniting him with Miss Mary Powell. Of their union were born two sons, James A. and Isaac D., both well known in Los Angeles county, where they have resided many years.
James A. Jaynes is a worthy son of his splendid father. He is a native of Woodford county, Ill., born November 8, 1861. He re- ceived his education in the district and normal schools of Illinois, attending until he was twenty-one. With his parents he came to Cali- fornia, locating in Redondo, where for several years he engaged in the teaming business. He then came to Los Angeles and entered the employ of the Z. L. Parmelee Company, chang- ing later to the Dohrmann Company. He has always been much interested in real estate, and farming is his favorite occupation. He has in- vested from time to time in real estate, and recently most of his time has been spent on a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres located near Los Angeles, and which is his especial pride.
The marriage of Mr. Jaynes occurred in Los Angeles in September, 1885, uniting him with Miss Addie Potts, the daughter of W. H. and Rebecca Potts, pioneers who came to California from the South after the war. Mrs. Jaynes was born in the South, but was educated and grew to womanhood in Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. Jaynes have become the parents of five children, all but the youngest son being married and living in Los Angeles. William married Miss Daisy Kelly ; Grace is the wife of J. W. Devlin and the mother of four children, James, Leland, Marion and Lawrence; Lola is the wife of Floyd Franklin and the mother of three chil- dren, Melvin, Blanch and Wilma : Rilla is now Mrs. T. S. Raybourne and the mother of one child, Alva ; and Joseph is attending school.
Mr. Jaynes is a firm believer in the future of Southern California as well as a practical advo- cate of the "back-to-the-soil" movement. He has gladly forsaken the callings of the city and returned to the calling of his youth-farming. He gives his personal attention to his property, and not only makes it a paying proposition, but so thoroughly enjoys the life on the farm that he grows daily more enthusiastic about it, and more earnestly an advocate for this life.
EDWARD LLOYD. Many far-sighted pio- neers contributed to the agricultural and realty development of the southwest, but fewer in num- ber are those who concerned themselves with the
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industrial growth of the community and labored to establish manufacturing plants at a time when such line of enterprise was at a low ebb of activity. In coming to California from Canada, the late Edward Lloyd was influenced less by considera- tions of climate or health than by a desire to establish a business of the kind familiar to him in his former home, and he selected Los Angeles as affording facilities for the upbuilding of a permanent plant unexcelled by other cities of the Pacific coast. His parents, James and Jane (Magee) Lloyd (both now deceased), had been Canadian pioneers and he himself was a native of Ontario, born at Burford, June 5, 1840. From an early age he manifested an interest in the trade of machinist and showed skill in the occupa- tion. For such work he was given an excellent opportunity in the carriage works of his father at Burford, where he learned the trade during the summer vacations and after the close of his schooling. Besides attending the public schools in his native town he had been sent through the high school at Paris, Ontario, and thus was well grounded in the essential principles necessary for business activities.
When the carriage shop of the elder Lloyd was closed at Burford and he had joined with his two eldest sons in opening a new plant at Paris, Ontario, the younger son, Edward, became an employe in the works and there became proficient in every department of the manufacturing enter- prise. When he came to Los Angeles in 1886 he was thoroughly grounded in the trade and able to conduct a business of his own with ef- ficiency. With his two brothers he opened a shop on Market street, under the firm title of Lloyd Bros. At the time of his arrival things were on an upward trend and the great boom of 1887 was already in sight, so that his early ex- periences included not only the greatest boom the city ever had, but also the greatest period of financial depression, that of 1889 and the follow- ing years. Five years after starting the business he bought out the interests of his brothers and changed the title to that of Lloyd Carriage Works, continuing as sole proprietor until his death, November 17, 1913, since which time the plant has been under the management of his only son, Charles Lloyd. Besides this son he was survived by his wife, whom he had married in Los Angeles, August 21, 1888, and who was Matilda Eaton, daughter of Elan and Keziah
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