USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume II > Part 55
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Mr. Stewart was married May 2, 1867, to Miss Sarah Adelaide Burrows, of Enterprise, Pa. Their three children are all married, the two sons, William Lyman and Alfred Clement, residing at La Manda Park, Cal., and Los Angeles respec- tively, and the daughter, May Stewart Martin, wife of Rev. Daniel H. Martin, in Cynwyd, Pa.
In April, 1883, Mr. Stewart came to Los An- geles, and, in company with the late W. L. Har- dison, commenced oil developments in Pico Can- yon, near Newhall, and also on the Smith farm, near Santa Paula. Later they incorporated under the title of Hardison & Stewart Oil Company, with a capitalization of $1,000,000. Some time later, in connection with the late Senator Thomas R. Bard and Dan MacFarland, the Sespe Oil Company was organized, in which the Hardison & Stewart Company held three-fifths of the stock. Still later, the Torrey Canyon Company was organized in connection with Mr. Bard and John Dolbeer of San Francisco. On October 17, 1890, the Union Oil Company was organized, with a capitalization of $5,000,000, and its stock issued to the above three companies in full payment for their properties. Later the capitalization was in- creased to $10,000,000, and still later, to $50,000,- 000, of which at the present time 340,922 shares are issued and in the hands of the public.
From the first the company was much ham- pered in its progress through the lack of capital. Notwithstanding this, through the Lord's blessing
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it now stands in the front rank of the companies which constitute the active factors in the oil in- dustry of the state.
The late Hon. Thomas R. Bard was the first president of the company. Mr. Stewart succeeded him in October, 1894. He continued in that office until April, 1914, when he was succeeded hy his son, W. L. Stewart, and took the position of chair- man of the board of directors.
Mr. Stewart, believing implicitly that "all Scrip- ture is given by inspiration of God, and is profit- able." has endeavored to have the great doctrine of redemption through the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, disseminated as widely as possible. For three years he held the office of president of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was instrumental in bringing to this coast the late Rev. William J. Chichester, D.D., who organized Immanuel Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Stewart was a charter member, and in which, from the beginning, he has held the office of ruling elder. He later was instrumental in organizing the Pacific Gospel Union Mission, with the late Major George A. Hilton as superintendent. The title has since been changed to Union Rescue Mission, located at No. 145 North Main street. He afterwards joined with Rev. A. B. Prichard. D.D., in organizing a Bible Institute, the title of which was afterwards changed to Bible House of Los Angeles, which has its general office in the Lissner building, on Spring street, Los Angeles.
On April 16, 1908, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles was organized, and Mr. Stewart was elected to the office of president. This office he still holds, and the Institute is about completing a permanent home for its work at Nos. 536-558 South Hope street, Los Angeles, adjoining on the south the old State Normal school grounds. This Institute has been greatly blessed of God in its work, which is divided into fifteen departments. Its main auditorium has seats for forty-two hun- dred people. It has a smaller auditorium which, through a series of rolling partitions, separating it into class-rooms, will accommodate twelve hun- dred people. It has some six hundred and thirty dormitory rooms, large social halls, and club rooms for its organized societies.
The oil business in which Mr. Stewart has been a factor, has been a great boon, commercially, to Los Angeles, but he believes that the Bible In- stitute will be of still more value to the city in
that it will be a potent factor in the establishing of strong foundations for the spiritual and moral welfare of the city.
DANIEL FRANCIS DONEGAN. A native of Canada, born at Cobourg August 6, 1844, and educated in the parochial schools, D. F. Donegan has been an important factor on the frontier in the United States since the age of nineteen, when he ran away from his home and went to Chicago. Being of a mechanical turn of mind and quick at figures, he soon became engaged in railroad build- ing and construction of bridges. In 1865 he was building bridges for the Iron Mountain Railroad at DeSoto, Mo., when a flood carried away all the bridges to St. Louis, whereupon Mr. Jones, master of bridge construction, wired Mr. Done- gan to take charge of the gang and rebuild the bridges, working north. The first bridge, at Vic- toria, was three hundred feet long, and with twenty-five men he finished the work in one day, taking the material out of the woods. The year before General Price in his raid had destroyed all bridges, and it took the United States army that was following him two days to rebuild this same bridge. In 1866 the Union Pacific Railroad was completed to Junction City, Kan. That year a great flood caused by a big ice jam destroyed the railroad bridge as well as the pontoon bridge, and at this period also the commissary at Fort Dodge, Kan., was burned. Buffalo Bill carried the dis- patch to Fort Riley. There were one hundred six-mule teams and wagons with supplies for the 2000 troops waiting to cross the river. The gov- ernment built ten new pontoons, but the force of the ice jam was so great they could not be swung into place properly and when the wagons and teams attempted to cross the boats tipped and several mules were drowned; thus the at- tempt was given up until the ice went out. Mr. Donegan told a man how he could accomplish the task when Superintendent Clark, overhearing the plan, asked him if he could do it, and when told that he could. after finding out that Mr. Donegan had had experience, told him to go ahead. He asked for an order for fifteen men and said he could tell within two hours what could be done. In one hour and thirty minutes he had the teams crossing in safety. The quartermaster, Colonel Bradley, was so well pleased that he placed Mr.
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Donegan in charge of the bridge and told him to keep the money taken for toll for his work, which amounted to about $1,000 the thirty days he was in charge. He afterwards was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad in wood construction work for about five years; meanwhile he en- gaged in farming operations, having taken up a homestead claim at Salina, Kan., in 1866. After proving up on it he bought adjoining land until he owned four thousand acres in one body in Saline and Ellsworth counties, which he called "Eden Farm," and upon which he raised wheat and cattle, having over one thousand acres of wheat one year.
It was while he was living in Kansas that Mr. Donegan was united in marriage at Junction City February 17, 1874, with Ellen McDonald. She was born at St. Mary's, Canada, the granddaugh- ter of Donald McDonald, a native of Scotland and a pioneer settler of Glengarry, Canada, he having had to cut his way through the woods to build his home in the new country. Her father, Thomas McDonald, was born, married and died in Canada, likewise her mother, Mary Darough, daughter of Daniel Darough, whose family came from the North of Ireland. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Donegan six children were born : Frank, who died in 1912, aged thirty-seven ; Stella, wife of Harry Phelan of Toronto, Canada; Darrah, a teaming contractor of Los Angeles; William P., also of Los Angeles and associated with his brother under the firm name of Donegan Broth- ers ; Nellie and Louis, who died in childhood.
Some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Donegan went to Colorado, spending about one year there. In 1881 they came to Los Angeles for the first time, remaining about six months, then removing to Santa Barbara. While making their home in Santa Barbara Mr. Donegan began farming at Santa Ynez, but this did not prove successful, so in 1884 the family settled in Los Angeles, which has since been their home. Here he again took up contracting and built the first railroad from Los Angeles to Pasadena, which is now a part of the Santa Fe. He also laid out, graded and built many of the streets in the city. He was farsighted and his knowledge of engineer- ing made him a valuable counselor, and at the time the Broadway tunnel was being built it was his suggestion that it be brought to a certain level, which was not done until the year 1915, and which has added heavy costs to the taxpayers and
the city. During this time he also owned one hundred and ten acres of land where the town of Watts now stands, and raised high-grade, stan- dard-bred horses, but the droughts made this unprofitable and he sold out.
During his thirty years of contracting Mr. Donegan employed large numbers of men and was always considerate of their well being, and was much respected by them. After many years of activity he retired on account of his health and now lives at No. 666 Rampart street. The busi- ness is being carried on by his sons, who have proven themselves careful and successful busi- ness men. The family are members of the Catho- lic church.
C. J. KUBACH. The early home of C. J. Kubach, a general contractor of Los Angeles, was in Germany, his birth occurring at Liebenstadt, near Heidelberg, October 30, 1855, he being the son of Heinrich and Katherine (Gerner) Kubach. He received a good common school education in his native country, and learned the contracting business with his father, with whom he was em- ployed until 1873, after having taken a course of study in architecture at Heidelberg. Desiring to see more of the world, the young man came to America to an uncle who lived in Pittsburg, Pa., and there attended school a year in order to learn the English language, after which he returned to contracting work, which he followed for a year and a half in the new city.
In 1875 Mr. Kubach went to San Francisco with a company of builders, in whose employ he remained a year, when he engaged as millwright in Virginia City, Nev., in the mining district, and after remaining there fifteen months he came to Los Angeles in 1877, and from here visited Sac- ramento and then Mexico, finally locating in Los Angeles, where he has remained in business ever since. His first shop in this city was a small one on East First street, whence he removed in 1884 to better quarters at First and Vine streets, and has been engaged in general contracting busi- ness in Los Angeles continuously since that time, having been a pioneer contractor of this city, his business growing with the growth of the city, and extending also to other cities in this part of the state. In 1904 he moved his offices to the Pacific Electric building, which has remained his head-
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quarters since that time. He built the fine Alex- andria Hotel Annex in Los Angeles, and many buildings for the Los Angeles Railway Com- pany, as well as the building of the First National Bank in Riverside, Cal., and a number of struc- tures at Del Mar, in San Diego county, Cal., and has erected edifices in Pasadena, Redlands and Santa Barbara, examples of his skill being met with as far north as the Tehachapi Pass. The principal buildings erected by him in Los An- geles, besides the Alexandria Hotel Annex, are the Christian Science building, the Wright & Callender building, the Merchants National Bank building, the Southwest Museum, the Turnverein Germania, the Mason building and the store of the J. W. Robinson Company. In March, 1903, Mr. Kubach organized the C. J. Kubach Com- pany, of which he is president, his nephew, George Schneider, being the secretary, treasurer and su- perintendent of the company. In 1904 he was made president of the K. and K. Brick Company when it was first organized, and has since that time been the chief manager of that concern. He is also president of the Rice Ranch Oil Company, of which he was one of the founders, and vice- president and director of the Moreland-French Company, of which R. H. Raphael is president.
In 1883 Mr. Kubach was married in Los An- geles to Miss Sophia Wetterhauer, a native of Germany, and they are the parents of two daugh- ters, Rosa and Sophia. now Mrs. Dencker and Mrs. Richard Culver, respectively, of Los An- geles. In 1896 Mr. Kubach served on the school board of this city. In religious affiliations he is allied with the Lutheran church, and fraternally he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the An- cient Order of United Workmen, his social con- nections being with the Jonathan and Los Angeles Athletic Clubs. Politically Mr. Kubach upholds the principles of the Republican party.
JOHN MORRIS THOMAS. The early days of California brought forth a class of men full of vigor and vitality, brave, energetic, and far above the average in intellectual power and business ability, capable of the successful handling of large enterprises under varying circumstances. Prominent among these men may be mentioned John Morris Thomas, whose
decease in 1908, at the age of seventy-two years, deprived the Southland of one of her most striking and historic characters. Mr. Thomas came to California in 1868 and from that time until his death he was actively associated with the affairs of the commonwealth, and particu- larly of the locality in which he made his home. He was a pioneer in industrial lines, a builder and a developer of natural resources of the state. For many years he was one of the most extensive sheep raisers in Southern California. and was held in high esteem by the noted Spanish families of the early period, among whom he was well known, both commercially and socially. Later he was engaged in citrus culture, being a pioneer in this line also, and was one of the founders of the city of Mon- rovia. For many years he was an active factor in the affairs of that beautiful little city, taking an important part in its development and up- building, as well as in that of the surrounding country.
Mr. Thomas was a native of Indiana, born in Richmond, Wayne county, February 14, 1836, the son of Benjamin and Eliza (Morris) Thomas. The father, who was a farmer, is now deceased, while the mother is still living at the age of ninety-eight years, making her home with a daughter in Riverside county. The boy- hood days of Mr. Thomas were spent in In- diana, where he received his education in the log cabin schools of the pioneer period, attend- ing school in the winter months, and during the remainder of the year assisting on his father's farm. In 1859, when he was twenty-three years of age, he crossed the plains and located in Nevada, where he engaged in the lumber busi- ness, having headquarters at Carson City and at Virginia City. During the ten years passed in Nevada he was intimately associated with the owners of the famous Comstock mine, Flood, Mackay & O'Brien, to whom he sold considerable lumber.
It was in 1868 that Mr. Thomas came to Cali- fornia. In the Puente foothills he purchased thirteen hundred and fifty acres of land, where the present city of Whittier stands, and there engaged in the raising of sheep, for ten years being the largest sheepman in the southwest. In 1887 he disposed of his Whittier holdings and together with W. N. Monroe founded the city of Monrovia. At about this time he also
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purchased a large property in the Cloverleaf canyon, upon which he planted an orange grove. He is credited with being one of the first men in Southern California to engage in this indus- try, in which he continued to be active until his death, June 22, 1908. The city of Monrovia bears the impress of the best thought and effort of this capable man, and for many years the interests of the growing municipality were his constant care and received his earnest consider- ation. He did much for the general welfare of the city and was instrumental in the introduc- tion of progressive and business-like methods into its civic affairs at an early stage of its life. The older citizens remember him with especially high esteem, and his memory is honored throughout the community.
Aside from his business interests Mr. Thomas was well known and received the entire con- fidence of his fellowmen. As evidence of this esteem may be mentioned the fact that he served as state dairy commissioner for a period of four years, and also as county horticultural commissioner for several years, in both of which capacities he gave the greatest satisfac- tion, being peculiarly well fitted for the dis- charge of the duties involved.
The marriage of Mr. Thomas took place in Washoe county, Nev., August 4, 1867, uniting him with Miss Jane Champion, a native of New York state, and the daughter of James D. and Clarissa (Way) Champion. She bore her hus- band one child, a daughter. Mamie Nevada, who in 1887 was married to the eldest son of WV. N. Monroe, then her father's business as- sociate. She was married a second time to W. J. Hess, of Redondo, and is now a widow, residing in Los Angeles.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were the center of a wide circle of friends in Southern California for many years, and especially in Monrovia and in Los Angeles, in which latter city Mrs. Thomas still makes her home. Mr. Thomas was very prominent in fraternal circles, and was one of the veteran Odd Fellows of the county, having been a member of the order for fifty years.
JOSEPH L. STARR. A veteran stock raiser and dairyman of the pioneer days in California as well as the present is Joseph L. Starr, who is an acknowledged expert along these lines. His first endeavor was made in Ventura county, where he located in 1874, the year in which he came to California, and later he came to Los Angeles and purchased land on what is now Arlington street, and here for many years he conducted a dairy and stock farm.
Mr. Starr is a native of Texas, having been born in Austin, July 31, 1851, the son of Solomon and Margaret (Austin) Starr. The latter's great uncle founded the town of Austin, which after- wards became the capital. Solomon Austin was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, and his wife was of Scotch and English extraction. Both parents are now deceased. each having lived to the age of eighty-eight years.
Joseph L. Starr was educated in the public schools of Texas and Missouri, his parents mov- ing to the latter state when he was twelve years of age. After completing his education he be- came interested in the cattle business and for six years followed the fortunes of the cow boy. It was in 1874 that he came to California, locating in Ventura county, where for twelve years he engaged in stock farming. At the close of that period, in 1886, he came with his family to Los Angeles, purchasing a tract of land here, and again engaged in stock farming and dairying. At that time there was almost no settlement here, and when he built his present home in 1887 on what is now Arlington street, there were only a few scattered houses within a radius of four miles. Charles Victor Hall owned one of the quarter sections adjoining him, and a Mrs. Moore owned another adjoining quarter section. Today this entire locality is improved with good streets and is thickly built up with handsome houses and bungalows.
Mr. Starr has been associated with various pub- lic movements since his residence in Los An- geles, and for four years served as state dairy inspector. In this capacity he did much for the enforcement of the dairy laws, using persuasion, explanation and suggestion to accomplish the desired results and meeting with much success. He is a Republican in his political affiliations and for many years was prominent in the affairs of his party, taking an active interest in both state and local issues. He is also prominent in fraternal cir-
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cles, being a Mason of the Royal Arch degree and a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
The marriage of Mr. Starr took place at Pleas- ant Hill, Mo., July 17, 1873, uniting him with Miss Mary Esther Geary, the daughter of Waite and Esther Geary, and a native of New York state. She has borne her husband seven children, all of whom are well known in Los Angeles, where they have passed the greater part of their lives. They are Helen, residing at home; Stanley, who mar- ried Ora Gray and has four sons; Stella, the wife of A. H. Doig and the mother of a son and daughter ; Walter, married to Myrtle Hitchcock ; Laura B., wife of J. M. Hoover and the mother of one son; Jennie L., the wife of H. Lasher ; and Joseph Howard, married to Ethel Pendle- ton.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Starr have many friends and acquaintances in Los Angeles, and are highly esteemed wherever they are known. They have contributed their full share toward the develop- ment and upbuilding of the city and community, and their faith in the future of Los Angeles city and county has been unfaltering at all times.
MICHAEL LEVY. A native of France, born in the troubled little province of Alsace-Lorraine, February 18, 1834, Michael Levy was the de- scendant of a well known family of Alsace-Lor- raine, his parents being Isaac O. and Sarah Levy. He received a good education in his native province, and was well fitted for his battle with life. He left his native land when he was a lad of but sixteen years to seek his fortune in Amer- ica. Coming at once to California, he located at Placerville, in 1850, being there associated in business with his brothers until 1868, when he came to Los Angeles. In this city he continued to make his home until the time of his death, March 22, 1905. He at first engaged in the wholesale liquor business in the Downey block, at the cor- ner of First and Los Angeles streets, where he continued in business for many years. He was one of the first wine producers in Southern Cali- fornia. For several years before his death he lived in quiet retirement.
During the almost forty years that Mr. Levy lived in Los Angeles he was prominently identified with the best interests of the city and was known
as one of the reliable business men of this sec- tion of the state. His marriage occurred in Los Angeles, April 12, 1870, uniting him with Miss Rebecca Lewin, the daughter of Moses and Rose Lewin. Of their union were born five children, of whom the first two died in infancy, and those living are Hortense, now Mrs. Lemuel Gold- water; Therese, and Isaac O. The son is one of the prominent business men of the city, being in the general insurance business under the firm name of Behrendt-Levy Company. He married Miss Dora Marks, and is well known in social as well as in commercial circles. He is a native of Los Angeles, and his education and business train- ing have been received here.
In his political views Michael Levy was a Democrat, although never active in political af- fairs. He was a Mason, a member of the local Pioneer Society, and a typical Californian of the early day.
CHARLES S. ANDERSON. Well known in the United States postal department, Charles S. Anderson has been connected with the postoffice at Los Angeles continuously for twenty-six years, and since December 1, 1894, he has been the efficient superintendent of the money order division. He is an enthusiastic booster for South- ern California and intensely interested in the pio- neer affairs and upbuilding of the city of Los Angeles.
The father of Mr. Anderson was Samuel Thomas Anderson, who was born in central Ten- nessee in 1826 and died at Los Angeles in 1892, and his mother, who was born in Vermont in 1831. is still living at the Anderson homestead on Carr street in Los Angeles, hale and hearty at the age of eighty-four years. The parents had three sons, of whom Charles S. was the youngest, the elder sons being E. C. Anderson (deceased) and William F. Anderson. The eldest son, E. C. An- derson, died at the time of the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. Charles S. Anderson was born at Lebanon, Ohio, and while yet an infant the family removed to Napoli, N. Y., and when he was but four years old they went to Trinidad Island, in the West Indies, near the mouth of the Orinoco river, where they remained five years, the son attending private schools meantime. The next move was to Texas, where the family spent
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another five years, the son attending the public schools and for two years also attending Trinity University of that state. Later, the father se- cured a fruit ranch in Los Angeles on what is now East Jefferson street, and the son Charles, then fourteen years of age, received no more schooling, but devoted himself to hard work upon his father's ranch, at the same time studying at home to fit himself for the United States postal department civil service examination, which he passed successfully, and on November 10, 1889, entered the Los Angeles postoffice, and has re- mained in the service of the department ever since, in 1894 being appointed to the office of superintendent of the money order division.
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