USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume III > Part 54
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 | Part 60 | Part 61
When his term as superintendent of public in- struction was over, General Sherman was ap- pointed Adjutant General of the Territory by Gov. F. A. Tuttle, and re-appointed by Gov. C. Meyer Zulic. In this capacity he again achieved distinction, a notable work being the placing of the National Guard of the territory on a solid basis.
Business enterprises had claimed the interest and attention of General Sherman from the be- ginning of his residence in Arizona, and he was associated from time to time with prominent men in undertakings of public importance. In 1884 he organized the Valley Bank of Phoenix, and was elected its first president. This bank now has the largest resources of any bank in the state of Arizona, it having prospered from the first. Gen- eral Sherman is no longer interested in it, how- ever, he having disposed of his holdings in 1889, when he came to Los Angeles.
In his business undertakings in Los Angeles, General Sherman has always been intimately asso- ciated with Eli P. Clark, his brother-in-law, and intimate friend for many years. Their first ven- ture in Los Angeles was in the electric railway field. In 1891 the Los Angeles Consolidated Rail- way Company was founded, with General Sher- man as president and Clark as vice-president and general manager. The consolidation of all local street car lines followed in 1894, and the two part- ners secured control of a horse-car line in Pasa- dena, and later constructed the Pasadena & Los Angeles Interurban Line, which was opened for operation in 1895. This was followed immediately by the construction of the Los Angeles Pacific Railway between Los Angeles and Santa Monica, which line was opened for operation Aprii 1, 1896. The opening of this line was the occasion of much rejoicing in Los Angeles, and a gala af- fair, in which all Los Angeles joined, marked the
894
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
event. This was but natural, as the fertile terri- tory lying between the beach city and Los An- geles was thus opened to the central market, and a new harbor was given to the city, which meant added facilities for communication with the com- mercial world at large. The resulting increase in property valuation in Santa Monica and vicinity and along the line of the new road gave evidence of the appreciation of those who were most di- rectly benefited by the enterprise and progressive spirit of General Sherman and Mr. Clark. This road was successfully operated until the fall of 1909, when it was taken over by the Southern Pacific. Other railroad ventures have continued to claim the support and co-operation of this pioneer builder of transportation ways, and he has invested heavily from time to time in railroad securities, and is at present a director in all of the Harriman electric lines in Southern Cali- fornia.
The first railroad building of General Sherman was in Arizona, and in 1884 he built the Phoenix Railroad, which today extends from Phoenix to Glendale, Ariz., connecting there with the Santa Fe lines. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the company, and the work of promoting and constructing the line was almost entirely due to his personal effort.
In the early '80s General Sherman was mar- ried to Miss Harriet E. Pratt, the daughter of R. H. Pratt, one of the distinguished builders of the Central and Southern Pacific Railways. They have three children, Robert, Hazeltine and Lucy, all well known in Los Angeles.
General Sherman himself is deservedly popu- lar in the city of his adoption, and for which he has done such great things in the development line. His faith in the financial future of the community has been unfaltering, and it quite nat- urally followed that he should invest heavily in real estate. This he did with such wisdom that his holdings have increased in value until they are of immense worth. Socially he is an universal favorite, being a splendid companion and a friend to be at all times highly prized. He is a member of the California Club, Athletic Club and of the Los Angeles Country Club, while other favorite clubs are the Balsa Chico Gun Club and the Bo- hemian Club of San Francisco. In addition to these he is associated with various fraternal or- ganizations in Los Angeles, as well as with the best known of the civic and political organizations
of the city, and with the leading commercial clubs.
During the past few years General Sherman has retired from active participation in business life and is spending his time in quiet enjoyment of the fruits of his toil. He has a handsome residence and a one thousand acre farm in the San Fernando Valley, where he resides much of the time. He has not, however, lost his keen interest in all that goes on about him, and continues to control his extensive business interests with skill and mas- terly ability.
EDWARD PAUL HAUPT. Paul Haupt, the father of Edward Paul Haupt, of Los Angeles, was a native of Dresden, Germany, where he was born in 1853 and received his early education, removing with his parents to the United States. They settled in Louisville, Ky., where the boy continued his education until four- teen years of age. The first business ex- perience of the elder Mr. Haupt was in railroad construction work on some of the first railroads of that section of the country, he later removing to St. Paul, Minn., and engaging in the same line of occupation until 1895, the year of his removal to Los Angeles. Arrived in this city, he was employed in building construction, which com- prised principally office buildings, among which may be mentioned the Los Angeles Trust and Savings, the Hibernian, the Delta, the Union Oil, Central, Hollingsworth and Homer Laughlin buildings, Bullock's store, and many other large buildings in different cities on the coast. Paul Haupt was a Mason and a Shriner, the first mem- ber of the first Board of Public Utilities of Los Angeles, and a member of the Chamber of Com- merce, the Municipal League and the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association. His death oc- curred on June 12, 1914, and he is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Alma Lyndahl, whom he mar- ried in Chicago, and three children, William, Norma and Edward Paul Haupt.
The youngest child, Edward P. Haupt, was born in St. Paul, Minn., September 20, 1890, and graduated from the Harvard Military School at Los Angeles at the age of seventeen years. After his graduation he was for a time engaged as his father's secretary, and upon his parent's death continued the business of building construction, having since that time erected the Merritt build- ing and the Pioneer Truck Company's building at
895
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
San Diego, Cal., as well as many others. Mr. Haupt is the owner of the steamship line between Los Angeles and Mexico, the only line that operates on regular schedule, and also owns con- siderable real estate in this city and ranch prop- erty in other parts of the state. Besides being president of the Martin-Haupt Commercial Com- pany, he is also a member of the San Diego Yacht Club and the Sunset Yacht Club. His marriage took place in Pasadena, Cal., on December 23, 1914, uniting him with Miss Rosaline Eunice Merritt of that city.
JOHN HAYWOOD FRANCIS, A.M. Com- ing grandly to the front in all lines of human activity, the city of Los Angeles is attracting nationwide attention. Up-to-date in everything, the metropolis of the great Southwest is fully abreast of the times when it comes to matters of education, and its history would be incomplete without a brief mention of its excellent city superintendent of schools, whose genius has found expression in the establishment of the Polytechnic High School of Los Angeles, and whose pains- taking and persistent work has advanced all of its schools to a standard of exceptional efficiency, a fact which becomes very apparent when consider- ing the thoroughness of its high schools, which are now on the accredited list so that a diploma from any one of them will admit its holder to any of the state universities in the nation.
Professor Francis was born at Greenbush, Preble county, Ohio, May 18, 1866, and is the son of George and Mary (Fall) Francis, who came from a family of hardy Pennsylvania farmers of Scotch-Irish blood. As a boy he attended the public schools of his native state, and obtaining a teacher's certificate he engaged in the educational profession as a teacher for two years. Being filled with a desire for higher learn- ing, he entered Otterbein University at Water- ville, Ohio. There he passed one year in the preparatory and three years of his college course, and in 1892 he entered the San Joaquin College at Woodbridge, Cal., where he finished his senior year. Graduating with the degree of A. B., he became a teacher in the commercial department of the college from which he graduated after- ward, teaching commercial law, economics and accounting for one year, during which time he
rose to be head of the department. In 1894 he went to Stockton and became head of the com- mercial department of the Commercial High School, was chosen vice-principal of the same in 1895, and the same year his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M. In 1896 he came to Los Angeles and was engaged as the head of the commercial department of the high school for a period of five years. He then became prin- cipal of the Commercial High, which position he held with great credit for four years. During this time he became a convert and strong advocate of the idea of technical education, and this led to the founding of the Polytechnic High School of Los Angeles. He became its first principal and served as such from 1905 to 1910, when he was chosen superintendent of the city schools, a posi- tion which he continues to occupy. Considering the tremendous growth in size and population of the city, it is easy to understand something of the greatness of his work, which has given him a nationwide reputation. The total enrollment of all the schools, both elementary and high, for the school year of 1914-15, now just ended, was 80,000, while the average daily attendance during the same time was 60,519. His office is located at 716 Security Building, his office hours being from 3:30 to 5:00 p. m. daily. His residence is at 1117 Elden avenue, where he and his good wife entertain very hospitably.
As has been said, the school system of Los Angeles has been developed greatly during Pro- fessor Francis' administration. The following may be mentioned as some of the steps taken in the last five years: First, joining of the kinder- garten and first grade under one supervision; second, the organization and establishment of neighborhood schools; third, the organization of the intermediate schools; fourth, the establish- ment of continuation schools ; fifth, the establish- ment of the junior college; sixth, the organiza- tion of vacation schools; seventh, the establish- ment of the department of nature study in the elementary schools; eighth, the establishment of school gardens in the elementary schools; ninth, the establishment of the night high schools ; tenth, change in the construction and type of school buildings from wood and lumber to cement, brick and stone, so that they are now fire-proof with the exception of the floors; eleventh, material enlargement of school playgrounds; twelfth, organization of parents' and teachers' clinic,
896
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
whereby care is taken of thousands of cases of eye, ear, nose, throat and dental trouble; thir- teenth, the organization of the civic center; four- teenth, the establishment of school farm with horticultural, live stock and poultry departments, which are open Saturdays and during the summer months. Machine shops are maintained in this same connection and practical instruction is given in automobiling and flying machines. Art centers have also been established at convenient places, where interior decorating, landscape gardening, card and "ad" writing, cartooning, and the illus- trating art are taught.
Of these various developments the neighbor- hood schools are particularly worthy of mention. At these places wholesome and nourishing food is served. A lunch consisting of a bowl of ex- cellent soup and a half loaf of bread is served for a penny, and if the pupil has not the penny it is given free of charge. This branch of the system was started as a philanthropy by private individuals, and was later undertaken by the public school, but is still partly supported by philanthropy. Another branch of this service is the day nursery, where babies from three months to four and one-half years are brought and taken care of, thus relieving the mother and older sister, giving them an opportunity of engaging in pro- ductive work. Three cups of warm milk are given daily to each child, and sanitary sleeping apart- ments are provided. Five hundred shower baths have also been installed in this connection, while well equipped laundries are maintained where women may bring their laundry; there are also sewing rooms and sewing machines for domestic - sewing.
Professor Francis is at present advocating music centers where vocal and instrumental music can be properly taught, all of which outlying centers will be auxiliary to one great central music hall, where all that is best in music will be ren- dered in grand concert. With Bergson, Professor Francis is a believer in an activist religion. He believes that indolence and unemployment are unpardonable evils, realizing that "inactivity is the symbol of death if it is not death itself." If his policies are carried out for the next ten years Los Angeles will easily become one of the foremost educational centers in the land.
Professor Francis was married at Woodbridge, Cal., June 4, 1892, to Miss L. Lou Hott, daughter of Bishop James W. Hott of the United Brethren
Church. They are the parents of two children, George Haywood and James Francis. Mr. Francis is a member of the National Educational Association and belongs to the University Club of Los Angeles, and the Archaeological Institute of America, while fraternally the Masons and In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows claim him as a brother. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Gamut Club, and socially is affiliated with several of the city clubs.
WALTER PERRY STORY. Although not a native of California, Walter Perry Story has nevertheless passed the greater part of his life in this state, and his education was completed in Los Angeles institutions. He has been engaged in milling interests, banking and real estate and is one of the best known of the younger financiers of Southern California, who have by their ability and judgment been brought in close association with the general upbuilding and devel- opment of the Southland. He is the owner of the Walter P. Story building, at Sixth and Broadway, erected in 1908, and completed in 1910. This is one of the most beautiful office buildings in the city, and also one of the most modern and con- venient.
Mr. Story was born at Bozeman, Mont., De- cember 18, 1882, the son of Nelson and Ellen T. Story, his father being a native of Ohio, born in 1838, and his mother a Missourian, born in 1845. They were pioneer settlers of Montana, migrating there from the eastern home in 1864, and Mr. Story there engaged in mining, banking, milling and the cattle business. The family came to Los Angeles in 1894 to establish a winter home, and Mr. Story, seeing the future possibilities of the city, invested heavily in real estate, thus forming the nucleus of the present large interests of the family in Southern California. Mr. Story and his wife still reside in Bozeman, Mont.
W. P. Story received his early education in the public schools of Bozeman, later attending school in Los Angeles, and also Shattuck Military Academy, at Faribault, Minn., and the Eastman Academy at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He has been prominently associated with the best commercial interests of Los Angeles for many years.
897
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
Mr. Story is commissioner of agriculture for the sixth district, and is well informed on agricultural subjects and the owner of much valuable real es- tate throughout Southern California.
The marriage of Mr. Story was solemnized in Los Angeles, April 23, 1903, uniting him with Miss Geraldine Rowena Baird, of San Francisco. Both Mr. and Mrs. Story are very popular socially and Mr. Story is a member of a number of ex- clusive social clubs, including the California, the Los Angeles Country, the Midwick Country, and the Los Angeles Athletic Clubs.
JOSEPH J. PETERMICHEL. A native of the state of Pennsylvania, where he was born in Alleghany City, May 10, 1872, the son of Joseph and Barbara Petermichel, Joseph J. Petermichel has been a resident of the city of Los Angeles, Cal., for a number of years. Until the age of eleven years he attended the public schools of his native place, removing then with his parents to Chicago, Ill., where he continued his education in the public schools until he was fourteen, when he commenced his business experience as errand and newsboy, continuing this for two years, when he was an office boy in a law office for a year, and for two years messenger boy on the Board of Trade. For a year and a half thereafter he at- tended a business college, with a view to broaden- ing his abilities and opportunities in the way of self-support, and after a course at this institu- tion Mr. Petermichel was enabled to engage as stenographer with various companies until the year 1889, at which time he removed to San Francisco and continued there in the same line of occupation with a fruit commission merchant for a year. After a year spent on the Pacific coast he returned to Chicago, where he found employment with the Griffin Car Wheel Company as steno- grapher for the board of managers of that firm, after fifteen months with them again coming west, this time to Southern California, where he located in Los Angeles and engaged as steno- grapher with James J. Byrne, the general passen- ger agent of the Santa Fe Railroad, for a year On account of ill health Mr. Petermichel resigned this position and spent fifteen months in the mountains to regain health and strength, upon his return engaging as stenographer and private sec-
retary with A. H. Naftzger, president of the Cali- fornia Fruit Growers' Exchange, an office which he filled for some years. Later he was appointed deputy public administrator, serving for three years, since which time he has acted as official reporter of the Superior Court. Mr. Peter- michel is an active and efficient member of the advisory board of the Los Angeles Business Col- lege, and was for six years a member and assist- ant secretary of the Republican County Central Committee, and thereafter for the same length of time secretary of the same. Since 1911 he has held the position of secretary of the Citizens' Committee and has been active campaign man- ager at different times when public welfare en- listed his sympathies.
The marriage of Mr. Petermichel took place in Chicago, on November 30, 1893, nniting him with Louise Kalas, and they are the parents of three children, namely, Grace, Harry and Ruth, of whom the two youngest are pupils in the public schools of Los Angeles.
JAMES H. CLOW. The president of the Black Planing Mill Company of Los Angeles is James H. Clow, who was born in Smithfield, Utah, November 17, 1883, the son of William H. Clow, and received his education in the public schools and business college until the age of eighteen years. He then engaged as carpenter in Salt Lake City, Utah, for eight years, after which he went into the contracting business in that city. Giving up the business in 1912, he removed to California, locating in Los Angeles, with which city his business interests have been associated since that time. On first coming to Los Angeles Mr. Clow bought an interest in the Black Planing Mill, of this city, which company he bought out two years later, and on June 6, 1914, it was incorporated, he being elected its president, a position which he holds today. This company was established in the year 1904 by A. W. Black, and did a general planing mill work, including that of carpentry and cabinet work, and under the efficient management of Mr. Clow is coming to the front among the Los Angeles firms of that nature.
The marriage of Mr. Clow took place during his residence in Salt Lake City, uniting him
39
898
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
with Miss Ella M. Cobbley on October 16, 1905, and they are the parents of one son, Howard J. Clow. In his political interests Mr. Clow is a member of the Republican party, and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
L. L. CHANDLER. Occupying various posi- tions of trust in Los Angeles and vicinity and at all times discharging the duties which devolved upon him in such a manner as to win the approval and confidence of his associates, L. L. Chandler is today a prominent factor in the affairs of South- ern California, being recognized as a man of power and ability, as well as of unimpeachable integrity of character. Since July, 1914, he has been vice-president and general manager of the California-Arizona Construction Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and in this new venture he is meeting with his customary success, the company having been already placed on an enviable basis of operations.
A native of Iowa, Mr. Chandler was born in O'Brien county, June 20, 1874, the son of Charles and Marie S. (Edwards) Chandler. Removing with his parents to Hiawatha, Kan., he there at- tended the public and high schools, graduating from the latter when he was seventeen years of age. It was shortly after this that he made his first trip to the Pacific coast, coming to San Jose, Cal., where he attended the University of the Pa- cific for a year. Later returning to the middle west, he accepted a position as shipping clerk with the Turner-Frazer Mercantile Company, at St. Joseph, Mo. After eight months in this work he went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he secured a similar position with the Washburn Flour Mills, remaining with them likewise for eight months. It was at the close of this time that Mr. Chandler finally returned to the coast to make his perma- nent home. He came first to Hood River, Ore., where he had charge of the shipping department of the Oregon Lumber Company for a year, go- ing at that time to Portland, Ore., where he en- gaged with his brother-in-law as a clerk in the latter's jewelry store, remaining for a year. Fol- lowing this he joined his mother in a year's travel, after which he located in Orange, Cal., where he was associated with the Santa Ana Valley Irriga- tion Company as foreman and timekeeper until April, 1898, when he resigned in response to the
excitement incident upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, and enlisted in the army, being assigned to Company C, Eighteenth In- fantry, with the rank of sergeant, and serving until December, 1901. At the expiration of his period of enlistment he re-enlisted, this time in Company H, Fourth Infantry, with rank as first sergeant, serving until 1904. At the expiration of his second term of enlistment Mr. Chandler re- turned to the life of a civilian permanently, but remained in the service of the government, com- ing to San Pedro as recorder in the office of the United States engineering department, where he served for a year. For four months following this he was inspector of the Los Angeles city engineering department, then for three years he was with the Barber Asphalt Company as fore- man, and later was their assistant superintendent for a short period. Following this he became su- perintendent of the work of this company throughout the city of Los Angeles, retaining this position until 1912, when he was elevated to the responsibility of district manager for Southern California, discharging the responsibilities of this office until in July, 1914, when he resigned to or- ganize the California-Arizona Construction Com- pany, of which he is now the vice-president and general manager.
In addition to the general popularity accorded Mr. Chandler as a man of affairs, he is well known in fraternal and club circles, where he is a universal favorite. He is a Scottish Rite Ma- son, a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Spanish War Veterans, taking a prominent part in the affairs of these various organizations. So- cially his favorite club is the Los Angeles Ath- letic club. In politics he is a Republican.
The marriage of Mr. Chandler was solemnized in La Habra, Cal., January 11, 1907, uniting him with Miss Christina M. Brown, of that place. They make their home in Los Angeles.
H. A. OLMSTED. Since the year 1912, H. A. Olmsted has been the president of the distributing branch of the J. W. Butler Paper Company, the Sierra Paper Company by name, which was estab- lished in 1905 by J. H. McLafferty and associates, and in 1907 was bought out by the J. W. Butler Paper Company of Chicago and now constitutes one of their many distributing branches. The
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.