USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume III > Part 49
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Mr. Warner continued there for three years, from there going to First and Spring streets, and later to Fifth street, between Spring and Main streets, where he erected three small brick build- ings. His business increasing, he moved across the street and conducted a restaurant near the site of the present Security Bank building, where he remained until 1910. In that year he sold out the business, this being his last stand in the restaurant business, wherein he had become well known to the early settlers as one of the pioneer caterers of Los Angeles. Having accumulated some money in that line, Mr. Warner then entered the real estate business with the purchase of land on Bon- sallo avenue, whereon he erected an apartment house, which he sold out in 1912 to build his two
Mr. MacDonald, although born in America, spent his boyhood and part of his early manhood in England. His father died in 1869, and the mother took the children back to England, to the home in which she was born. The son was edu- cated in the Grant School, a private institution at Burnly, Lancashire, England, conducted by the late W. M. Grant, one of the best known edu- cators of England. On the death of his mother he immediately returned to America, coming to Los Angeles in 1891. In 1892 he was admitted to the bar before the Supreme Court of Cali- fornia. He has served two terms as trustee of the Los Angeles Bar Association, and was lec- turer on corporations for the University of Southern California. He is a director of the Bank of Italy and of the Hibernian Savings Bank of Los Angeles, and president of the Dimond Estate Company of San Francisco, a close cor-
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poration having large real estate holdings in and near that city. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the California Club.
VINCENT MORGAN. A native of Los Angeles, born November 20, 1882, Vincent Mor- gan is a son of the late John C. and Cecelia (Finn) Morgan, one of the pioneer families of Southern California, the father having practiced law successfully in Los Angeles for many years. Vincent Morgan was educated in the public schools and graduated from the Los Angeles High School, after which he entered the law department of the University of Southern Cali- fornia, graduating therefrom in 1909 with the degree of B. A. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession, establishing the law firm of Morgan, Allen & Richardson, which association continued only one year, after which he became a member of the present firm of Porter, Morgan & Parrot with offices in the Ex- change building.
Mr. Morgan has won recognition by his ap- pointment to the faculty of his Alma Mater as instructor in elementary law, code reading, domes- tic relations and real property. He served as president of the Alumni Association of the law department of the university in 1910. In 1913- 14 he served efficiently as a member of the police commission of Los Angeles. He is a member of Ramona Parlor, N. S. G. W., of the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity and the Sierra Madre and Union League Clubs. In all matters pertaining to the advancement of the state, county, city and the people's interests Mr. Morgan is never to be found wanting.
AUGUST ROTH. Though of foreign birth, August Roth has been connected with the ad- vancement of the city of Los Angeles since 1886, has seen the place grow from a small town to its present proportions, and has done his share toward its upbuilding.
The native land of Mr. Roth is Germany, where he was born in Prussia November 8, 1841, and learned the trade of cabinet-maker, attain- ing the high grade of skill in this line character- istic of the craftsmen of central Europe. In 1861
he removed to the United States, settling in Litchfield, Ill., where an uncle had preceded him. For two years Mr. Roth worked at his trade in Illinois, the furniture which he produced being hand made. At the end of two years, in com- pany with his uncle, he took a one-third interest in a flour mill and engaged in the manufacture of flour at Butler, Ill. This being at the time of the Civil war, when prices were high, the venture proved a profitable one to the two men. After eight years in this business they sold out their interests, and some years later, in 1886, Mr. Roth removed to Los Angeles, where he at once began to invest money in real estate, purchasing a lot on Seventeenth and Hope streets, whereon he erected two houses, one of six, the other of eight rooms, which buildings are standing and both of which he still owns. On Main and Washington streets he bought a feed mill, which he operated for three years, after which he took up the car- penter's trade, at a later date being instrumental in the construction of the machinery for the oil well plant on Second street, of which plant he for seven years thereafter was engineer. Con- tracting and building then occupying his atten- tion, Mr. Roth erected a number of fine dwellings in Los Angeles, and in 1903 bought an acre of ground on Lucile avenue, where he erected three cottages commanding a fine view of the valley and the sea, and one of these houses is at present his home.
Although now retired from business, Mr. Roth has in late years dealt extensively in Los Angeles real estate and still has valuable holdings in this city, having also owned lots in the city of Bur- bank, which he bought in the early days and was able to sell at a good profit. He has known Los Angeles since its early days when its street car system consisted of but one line of horsecars, and recalls many interesting incidents of the for- mer days of the now prosperous city.
The marriage of Mr. Roth was solemnized in Litchfield, Ill., uniting him with Emma Zuermue- len, also a native of Germany, she having come to the United States when a small child. She died in Los Angeles in 1913, leaving a daughter and son, namely, Mrs. Rosa Gates, of Banning, Cal., and Walter A. Roth, of Los Angeles. Aside from his real estate interests which have made him well known in the city during his long residence here, Mr. Roth is also prominent in Masonic cir- cles, being a member of South Gate Lodge.
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WILLIAMSON DUNN VAWTER. The descendant of a distinguished old Virginia family, Mr. Vawter was born at Mt. Glad, on Madison Hill, Ind., August 28, 1815, and removed with his family to Vernon, Ind. Tiring of farm life at home, the young man went to live with his uncle, Col. John Vawter, who was the proprietor of a grocery store at "Vawter's corner," in Ver- non, where the nephew became clerk and later partner with his cousin in the business. For many years Mr. Vawter was postmaster in the town, a leader in temperance work there, and custodian of the local branch of the American Bible Society.
The first marriage of Mr. Vawter occurred July 15, 1834, uniting him with Mary Charlotte Tilghman Crowder, of Baltimore, Md., who died September 22, 1851, leaving six children, namely, Mary Ellen, May, Jane-Cravens, Aramantha Charlotte, William Smith and Edwin James Vawter. In November, 1852, Mr. Vawter mar- ried Charlotte Augusta Knowlton, a native of Shrewsbury, Mass., by whom he became the father of two children, Emma K. and Charles Knowlton Vawter, who is now deceased. The death of the second Mrs. Vawter occurred De- cember 27, 1893, in Santa Monica, Cal., the family having come west in the year 1875.
Mr. Vawter was associated with the early de- velopment of two of the most beautiful smaller cities of Southern California. Pasadena, "the crown of the valley," the pride of the southern part of the state, was originally laid out for the cultivation of oranges and grapes, and was the property of "the Indiana colony," as the owners were called. Mr. Vawter was prominent among them and one of the original stockholders when he first came to California, and the owner of a sixty-acre ranch in a locality now occupied by the business portion of the city of Pasadena. The little town in the valley overshadowed by the velvet mountain range grew rapidly into the "city of homes," which is one of the names applied to Pasadena at the present time; but many orange orchards are still found there and add to the beauty of the place, their acres of conventional green trees hung with golden fruit like Japanese lanterns, having for a background the snow- capped mountain range against the blue sky. From Pasadena Mr. Vawter removed to Santa Monica, Cal., and opened the first general store in that town, in a building on Fourth street, later establishing lumber yards and a planing mill
there which proved a boon to home builders. In 1886 he secured a franchise and with his sons built the first street railway which was for a time operated at a loss, but later the line was extended to the Soldiers' Home at Sawtelle, and Mr. Vaw- ter lived to see his undertaking become a paying enterprise. With his sons he organized the First National Bank of Santa Monica, opening the same in the brick building on the southeast corner of Third street and Oregon avenue which they built in 1888. He was also one of the founders of the Presbyterian church in that city, and throughout his life remained one of its stanch supporters. When we look at the pretty town of Santa Monica set high upon its curious palisaded sea cliffs, it is interesting to remember that this city, like many others in California, was laid out upon a portion of one of the enormous ranchos of old days, which formerly covered a part or even all of certain counties. Sheep and cattle once grazed and fields of grain waved where streets and buildings have now been established. Mr. Vawter was an active worker for the de- velopment of the town of Santa Monica, where the memory of his noble and useful life will long remain. He was a man of high ideals and active service, pre-eminently just in all things, and though at no time making any great pretense to importance or ability, could always be depended upon to do the right thing at the right time. Al- ways deeply interested in politics, he was a stanch Whig during the life of that party, and a member of the Republican party from the time of its birth. His death, which occurred in July, 1894, was the cause of general mourning among those who had become attached to him through long association.
HENRY GLASS. Another of the pioneers of Los Angeles who left behind him a legacy of work well done was the late Henry Glass, who was born July 3, 1853, at St. Goar on the Rhein in Germany. His father, Herman Glass, was a bookbinder by trade, following that occupation during his lifetime. He married Elisabeth Karsch. The grandparents were Peter and Elisa- beth (von Herf) Glass, born at Rheinfels, St. Goar on the Rhein.
Henry Glass was educated in his native town and afterwards entered into his father's business. When he was seventeen years of age he accom-
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panied an aunt, Mrs. Gentsh, to the United States, locating in Burlington, Iowa, where in 1871 he began business as a bookbinder. In 1875 he sold out and journeyed still further west, stopping in San Francisco for a short time. Desiring to see more of the state he came to Los Angeles, arriv- ing in June, 1875. Finding a field here for his chosen vocation of binder, the bookbinding here- tofore having had to be sent by steamer to San Francisco, he entered the employ of the Times- Mirror Printing and Binding House as foreman. In 1881 he started in business for himself on a small scale, but the close confinement and long hours undermined his health, and in 1890 he sold out to Cook & Wiseman of San Francisco. Re- linquishing business cares he went to Arizona to rough it on a ranch with the cowboys, hoping in the out-of-door life to regain his health. In this he succeeded and returned to his home. Upon the sudden death of Mr. Cook he bought his old business back again, taking as a partner James W. Long. It was his habit, however, from the thorough knowledge of every branch of the busi- ness, to watch closely every detail in the various departments, and the close confinement of years of indoor work again impaired his health and forced him to seek an outdoor life. Accordingly he sold out to Mr. Long in 1901 and engaged in the insurance business and as agent for the German Hospital, of which he was one of the directors and a charter member. In 1902 he took a six months' trip to visit his old home in Ger- many to recover his health and came back much improved. He continued in the insurance busi- ness and as agent for the hospital until the mar- riage of his son Herman T. once more launched him in the bookbinding business under the present title of the Glass Bookbinding Company. In May, 1908, Mr. Glass, accompanied by his wife and daughter Norma, started on a trip to Europe, where Mr. Glass died at Wiesbaden, November 29, 1908.
Always ready to assist his less fortunate fellow man and do his part in the upbuilding of the city's welfare, Mr. Glass, on account of impaired health, never would accept public office, though importuned many times to become a candidate. He was a Mason, member of the Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and a Shriner. He was for years president of the Turn Verein Germania, and it was mainly due to his efforts, assisted by other prominent German residents of Los Angeles, that
during his term as president of this organization physical culture and the German language were introduced into the public schools. The Turn Verein Germania furnished their physical culture teacher gratuitously for a time to convince the public of the benefits derived therefrom, "God's greatest blessing, a strong body for a clean, noble soul to dwell therein."
In his early political views Mr. Glass was a Democrat, but before Garfield's election changed to Republican and remained a firm believer in the principles of that party, although in local matters the man most capable in his estimation received his support. He was a member of the Rifle Club, the Turn Verein Germania and the Pioneer Society of Los Angeles. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The marriage of Henry Glass and Lydia Heile- man was celebrated in Los Angeles September 12, 1877. She was the tenth child and seventh daughter in a family of twelve children born to David and Caroline (Breden) Heileman, and was reared to a life of usefulness. In regard to their marriage the following is taken from the Times-Mirror of September 15, 1877:
"We are always in favor of temperance, but there are rare instances in which we think a lady is justified in taking a Glass. For instance, last Wednesday Miss Lydia Heileman took Mr. Henry Glass, the foreman of the Mirror Book Bindery, for better or for worse. We make no objection, but on the contrary we wish them long life and happiness, and may none of the little Glasses ever be broken."
The following children were born to this worthy couple: Norma Elizabeth, born Novem- ber 30, 1878, died November 28, 1913; Herman T., born October 15, 1880, was united in marriage at Richmond, Va., with Willie Belle Taylor and is continuing the bookbinding business started by his father; Irma Adelma, born May 25, 1882, is the wife of Dr. Royal Arthur Ritz of San Fran- cisco.
MILTON Y. KELLAM. One of the pio- neers in the settlement and advancement of the young city of Los Angeles is Milton Y. Kellam, who was born in Newcastle county, Del., January 1, 1839. In the spring of 1849 he went to Illinois with his father and two of his brothers, all of whom became active in the development of Ma-
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coupin county, opening up the prairie land and building for themselves a cabin home on the two hundred acres of property purchased by the father, which comprised one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and forty of timber land. Here they engaged in farming and in the raising of cattle and hogs, as well as grain, making for the family a comfortable home to which the mother and other brothers came a short time after- ward. The five brothers then engaged in farming as partners, but this arrangement was discontin- ued in 1865, after which time they worked inde- pendently. For thirty-five years Milton Kellam continued to live in this new land, experiencing trying times and much hard labor, having driven three yoke of oxen while breaking the land for farming purposes.
In the spring of 1883 Mr. Kellam made a trip to Los Angeles, and appreciating the future pos- sibilities of California, he returned to the western city the following year, where he has since made his home and in whose upbuilding he has played an important part, showing much good judgment in his real estate dealings. His first purchase of property was that of eighteen acres at Fruitland, where he carried on farming, also raising peaches, apples, grapes and watermelons, some of the lat- ter weighing as high as eighty-two pounds, while clusters of his grapes sometimes attained a weight of six pounds and his crops of corn averaged fifty bushels to an acre. Besides his Fruitland prop- erty, which he traded, after a time, for nineteen town lots, Mr. Kellam also owned land in the cities of Long Beach, Alhambra and Azusa. With the acquirement of lots in the city, he entered into the buying and selling of Los Angeles lots with much success; those purchased by him on Grand avenue advanced $100 a month per lot for ten months, after which time he sold them, thereby realizing great profit, while the three which he owned on Hope street near Tenth street he sold in ten days' time at a profit of $1500. With his partner, George D. Rowan, he bought the north- west corner of Spring and Fourth streets, build- ing a two-story block thereon, after fourteen years selling for $1500 per front foot this property which he had purchased at the price of only $150 a front foot. Having sold this land, the partners purchased sixty feet and ten inches between Fifth and Sixth streets, on the west side of Broadway, which was then just coming into prominence as a business street, the price paid for the property be-
ing $750 per front foot, Mr. Kellam still being a half owner in the same. A block was built there, with a hotel bearing the name of Hotel Milton, in honor of Mr. Kellam, and another bore the names of the partners, being known as the Kel- lam and Rowan block. Mr. Kellam is now retired from active business life, and with his family resides at their comfortable home at No. 926 South Olive street, the grounds of which are beautified by a fine magnolia tree planted by him- self. In his religious associations he is identified by membership with the First Methodist Church of the city.
In 1911, with his eldest daughter, Anna J., Mr. Kellam made an extended trip around the world and greatly enjoyed the journey. The wife of Mr. Kellam, formerly Anna M. Beeson, whom he married February 5, 1866, and who was born February 5, 1842, is, like himself, a native of the state of Delaware, and they are the parents of four children, namely, Edward R., the proprietor of the Diamond Coal Company of Los Angeles, Anna J., Lydia A. and Milton Y. Kellam, Jr.
ELI WEED SHULER. Owner of a large ranch at San Dimas, where he is engaged in citrus culture, general farming and stock raising, Eli Weed Shuler is today one of the most influential citizens of his community, and recognized as a inan of more than ordinary worth and ability. He is public spirited and progressive and gives of both time and ability for the general welfare. His place is one of the most attractive and valu- able in the vicinity and is managed in such a manner that it is also very profitable.
Mr. Shuler is a native of Ohio, having been born in Vinton county, February 6, 1848, the son of John M. and Margery (Weed) Shuler, his father being a native of Ohio and his mother a Pennsylvanian. His father was descended from old German ancestry, while the mother was of English extraction and connected with the promi- nent Weed family of New York and Pennsyl- vania, and related directly to Thurlow Weed. Her father was Dr. Dennis E. Weed, a native of Connecticut, who moved to Green county, Wis., where he was for many years postmaster and a leading physician. Mr. Shuler's father, a mill- wright and bridge-builder by trade, came first to California in 1852 and was one of the original
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locators of the Blue Lead mine above Downie- ville, where he remained for two years, mining and prospecting. He then returned to Iowa, making his home in Van Buren county until 1864, when he again crossed the plains to California. For six years he was in San Joaquin and Sonoma counties, dying in the latter county. He had been prominent in political affairs in his Iowa home and was a man of force and ability.
When a small child Eli Weed Shuler moved with his parents to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he remained until he was sixteen years of age. In 1864 he crossed the plains to California with his parents, there being many exciting ex- periences by the way, including serious trouble with the Indians. The train accompanied Mrs. John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, for a thousand miles on the way, and Mr. Shuler recalls her as a lady of great culture and courage. Arriv- ing in San Joaquin county he engaged in teaming there and in Sonoma county, following this occu- pation and general mill work for fourteen years. He was also interested in mining and was one of the original prospectors in the great Mojave desert. He was a member of Company A, Second California Volunteer Cavalry, under General Canby, doing scout duty during many Indian frays. He retired with the commission of cap- tain, and still possesses the sword which he used in service. During the siege of the Modoc In- dians (who were under Captain Jack and Shag- nasty Jim) he fought in the lava beds in Modoc county, this state, a horse being killed under him during the campaign.
Mr. Shuler was one of the first settlers in Covina and he moved into the first house erected there. He took possession of his present ranch of one hundred and forty-eight acres, a mile north of San Dimas, in 1881, and has since then made this his home. Besides raising fruit he is engaged in general farming and stock raising and is prosperous and progressive in his ideas of the conduct and management of such a ranch. In the early days Mr. Shuler owned and operated a threshing machine. He has taken a prominent part in the local affairs of his community, and has played an influential part in the history of the San Gabriel valley. As a Republican he has been given many evidences of the confidence and esteem of his constituents, having been elected to serve as deputy sheriff, and as deputy United
States marshal, and has been a member of the Republican county central committee many times. In local commercial affairs Mr. Shuler is no less prominent, being a heavy stockholder in the First National Bank of San Dimas, a member of the Glendora Mutual Water Company, the Citrus Belt Water Company and the Glendora Water Com- pany, and also of the Pioneer Society of Southern California.
The marriage of Mr. Shuler and Isalena Dohoerty, a native of Illinois, was solemnized in Sonoma county in 1878. Mrs. Shuler came across the plains with her parents when she was but two years of age, and was reared and educated in California. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shuler have many friends in San Dimas and vicinity.
THOMAS W. WATSON. Although not a native of California, Thomas W. Watson has resided in this state practically all of his life, having come to Los Angeles county with his parents when he was but four months old. He received his education in the public schools of the county and since attaining manhood has been closely associated with the development of his community and a vital factor in its life. He was formerly mayor of the pretty little suburb of Glendale, situated eight miles from Los Angeles, and is at present city manager, having resigned the office of mayor prior to accepting the newly created office.
Mr. Watson is a native of Texas, having been born in Houston, June 8, 1878. Soon after his birth his father, W. G. Watson, moved with his family to California, locating at Pasadena, where he opened a meat market. His was the only shop in town and he prospered exceedingly, remaining there until 1885, when he moved to Glendale, where for ten years he engaged in the butcher business. At the end of that period he retired from active business life, but continued to make his home in Glendale. When he first located there the little city contained only a few straggling houses. He was quite active in the development of the vicinity and became the owner of valuable real estate. The son, Thomas W., received his education in the public schools of Glendale and
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after he had completed his education he was associated with his father in business. Their first association was in the butcher business, follow- ing which, under the name of W. G. Watson & Son, they carried on a nursery and seed store. They also invested in real estate and improved several pieces of property in the city limits of Glendale. Among these was a lot at the corner of Broadway and Glendale avenue, on which they erected a handsome business block containing eight stores on the ground floor with offices above.
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