USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume III > Part 57
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the Revolution. Fraternally he is a member of Southern California Lodge, No. 278, F. & A. M .; Signet Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M .; Los Angeles Commandery, No. 9, K. T., and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His public honors have been equal to the success he has achieved in his chosen profession, but he has not cared for official recognition. He has served frequently as a delegate in the various state, county and city conventions of his party, and was chairman of the Republican county convention in 1906. Gov- ernor Pardee tendered him the appointment of superior judge when the legislature increased the number for Los Angeles, in 1905, but he declined. He has also been urged by his friends to be a candidate for the office of superior judge, but has steadfastly refused, however, never shirking the duty of using his influence and working faith- fully for the success of the Republican party. Socially he enjoys the esteem of his fellow citi- zens, and as a charter member of the Jonathan Club since its organization has been active for two terms as a director, and is a member of the Union League Club. He gives his support to the charities of the Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member.
The marriage of Mr. Lee occurred in Phila- delphia, Pa., October 16, 1883, and united him with Miss Helena Farrar, who was born in that city and reared in Washington, D. C., receiving her education in Notre Dame, Maryland, and at Mount De Sales Academy, in Baltimore. Born of this union were three sons, Bradner Wells, Jr., who was born January 20, 1886; Kenyon Farrar, born February 28, 1888; and Guilford Richard, born October 20, 1890, and died August 5, 1891. Both surviving sons were educated in the Harvard Military School at Los Angeles, and Leland Stan- ford, Jr., University. The ancestry of the Farrar family is traced back to Gualkeline or Walkeline de Ferrariis, a Norman of distinction attached to William, Duke of Normandy, before the Invasion of 1066. From him the English and American branches of the family are descended. Henry de Ferrars, his son, is on the roll of Battle Abbey (a list of the principal commanders and com- panions in arms of William the Conqueror), and was the first to settle in England, which he did immediately after the Conquest, and became a citizen of much eminency for both knowledge and
integrity. Among the noted Farrars in New England were Stephen Farrar, who was delegate to the proposed Congress at Exeter; Timothy Farrar, justice of the peace of Hillsboro, and later a member of the convention to frame a constitution for New Hampshire, was also a member of the committee to petition the presi- dent for the repeal of the Embargo Act, and with Stephen Farrar and others was a founder of the New Ipswich Academy. Deacon Samuel Farrar was chairman of the first committee of correspondence in November, 1773, and was afterward a member of the great Middlesex Con- vention of August 30, 1774, which led off in the Revolution, and a member of the first Provincial Congress which met October 11, 1774, and at sixty-six years took part in the battle of Concord; Major John Farrar, whose three sons were Minute Men in the Revolutionary war; Jonathan Farrar, who was lieutenant and commander of the Guard at the North Bridge, Concord, at the time of the British attack on Concord, April 19, 1775; and Hon. Timothy Farrar, of New Ips- wich, N. H., who served as a judge of the courts in New Hampshire from 1775 to 1816, inclusive, in the course of which time he occupied every seat from that of junior justice of the county court in 1775, to that of chief justice of the Supreme Court, to which he was appointed Feb- ruary 22, 1802. Over twenty by the name of Farrar were graduates of Harvard University. A complete genealogical record of the family is contained in Vol. VI of the New England His- torical and Genealogical Register of October, 1852. Mrs. Lee's direct ancestor was Jacob Far- rar, who was born in England, there reared and married, and with his wife and four children emigrated to America about 1640. He located in Lancaster, Mass., and became a prominent citizen, and after the burning of the town by the Indians, during King Philip's war, he removed to Woburn, Mass., where his death occurred in August, 1677. The town of Lancaster was incorporated May 18, 1653, and among the original proprietors were John and Jacob Farrar. A son of Jacob Farrar, also called Jacob, was born in England about 1642, came to Lancaster with his parents, here attained manhood and married Hannah, daughter of George Hayward. He was killed by the In- dians during King Philip's war, August 22, 1675, and soon after his death the widow removed with
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her children to Concord, N. H. Their son, George Farrar, was born in Lancaster, Mass., August 16, 1670, and was taken by his mother to Concord when about five years old. He was reared in the town now known as Lincoln and tradition relates that when he was twenty-one he had twenty-five cents in money, which he gave away in order to start with absolutely nothing. He became very successful in business, and before his death in Lincoln, May 15, 1760, owned large tracts of valuable land. His wife was, in maindenhood, Miss Mary Howe. They had a son, also called George, who was born in Lincoln, N. H., February 16, 1704, married Mary Barrett, of Concord, and engaged as a farmer until his death in 1777. His son, Humphrey Farrar, was born February 23, 1741, and in manhood married Lucy Farrar, later removed to Hanover, and finally to Colebook, N. H., where he died. His son, William Farrar, was born in Hanover, N. H., September 13, 1780, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801, and settled in Lancaster, N. H., where he died in March, 1850. His son, Col. William Humphrey Farrar, was born in Lancaster, N. H., in 1828, educated in Dartmouth College, after which he took up the study of law in the office of the dis- tinguished statesman, Hon. Daniel Webster, then with Hon. Caleb Cushing, who became attorney general of the United States. Under President Pierce's administration he was appointed United States district attorney for Oregon, becoming then a practitioner in Portland, and standing high in his profession. He served as mayor of Port- land and was also in the Oregon state legislature. He was also a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Oregon. Later he returned east and resided, practicing law in Washington, D. C., where he married Miss Cora Stansbury, of Balti- more, and Mrs. Lee is the only child of this marriage. While in Oregon, Mr. Farrar served as a colonel in the Indian war, and justly earned, by his irreproachable citizenship, the high esteem in which he was held. His death occurred in Washington, D. C., in 1873.
DON JUAN BANDINI, who was one of the most able men of early California, was the son of Capt. Jose Bandini and his wife, Ysidora Blanca y Rivera. Don Jose Bandini, founder of
the family in America, was a native of Andalucia, Spain. At an early age he entered the navy, and as lieutenant of the Spanish vessel Nymphia he was present at the battle of Trafalgar. He after- ward became captain and acting commander, with title of almirante, over a squadron in South American waters. In his flagship La Reina he twice visited California. The ship's lantern, some silver curtain-rings, and a rare old painting called the "Madonna of the Moors," taken from the cabin of La Reina, are still in possession of the family. Capt. Jose Bandini made several voyages from Spain to the new world. For a time his home was at Lima, Peru. He was married in 1796 to Ysidora Blanca y Rivera, a Spanish lady of good family. He had seven children, only one of whom ever came to North America. Having left the navy on account of ill health, being a sufferer from gout, Captain Bandini, now a widower, accompanied by his youngest son, Juan, came, in 1822, to San Diego, Cal., where he took up his residence. Later he moved to his son's home on the Jurupa rancho, where he died in April, 1841. He was buried under the flag stones in the church of the San Gabriel Mission. Among the Spanish manuscripts, now the property of the University of California, are several from the pen of Captain Bandini, which, when they are made public, will no doubt throw further light upon the history of this brave officer.
There is some doubt as to the birthplace of Don Juan Bandini. The testimony of his elder children is to the effect that he was a native of Castile, Spain. Don Jose, father of Don Juan, although a commander in the Spanish navy, had a home and owned much property in Lima, Peru, and it is, perhaps, for this reason that some of the records have it that his son was born in Peru. With his father, Don Juan came to California just about the time he attained his majority. His first appearance in public life was as a member of the assembly or deputation which met at Monterey in 1827-28. From 1828 to 1832 he was commissioner of revenue for San Diego. In 1832 he was a leader in an uprising, sometimes called the Bandini Rebellion, against the tyranny and incapacity of Governor Victoria, whom Mr. Ban- dini and his associates succeeded in displacing. In 1833 Mr. Bandini was sent to the City of Mexico as a member of Congress. Among other acts, he offered a resolution urging the founding
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of an academy in California, showing the great need there was for such an institution. In 1834 he was appointed inspector of customs for the southern province of California, and in 1838 administrator of the San Gabriel Mission. From 1842 to 1844 he held various public offices.
Like many of the leading Californians, Don Juan Bandini had been for a long time thor- oughly dissatisfied with the misrule of the officials appointed by the Mexican government for the territory. For this reason, upon the coming of the Americans, he decided to assist them, be- lieving that the government of the United States would be much superior to that of Mexico. He gave liberally of horses, cattle and supplies to Commodore Stockton and his troops. He also gave possession of a wing of his house in San Diego, which was a very large one, to the Ameri- can commodore for himself and staff. For these acts Mr. Bandini lost his vast Mexican posses- sions, the Guadalupe, Tecati, and other ranchos, which are today veritably "no man's land," since, without the signature of the Bandini heirs, no man can hold title, and that family are still de- barred from their rights. In 1847 Mr. Bandini was one of the seven leading men of the state, Spanish and American, appointed by John C. Fremont under orders of Commodore Stockton to meet as an assembly to arrange laws for the new territory. On account of the departure of Stockton and the disagreement between General Kearney and Fremont, which resulted in the re- moval of the latter from his position as governor, this assembly was never convened.
Mr. Bandini was a lawyer of ability and a ready writer. His articles upon the land ques- tions, published shortly after the war, were con- sidered a most able exposition of the subject. In the so-called "Bancroft Library" now, happily, in the hands of the State University, and soon to be opened to the public, there are some twenty- eight of his manuscripts, one of them a history of California from its discovery to the time of the Mexican war. Besides his Mexican posses- sions Don Juan had large holdings in Southern California. Among these was the Jurupa rancho, the present site of Riverside, and a large portion of the land where San Diego now stands. At the latter place was the Bandini homestead. The house was very large, being two-story and sur- rounding a large court. Here for many years was
dispensed that hospitality for which the Cali- fornians were noted. Bancroft says of Mr. Ban- dini that he must be regarded as one of the most prominent men of his time and place. General Fremont, between whom and himself there existed a warm friendship, spoke of him in the highest terms, and says that he was a native of Spain.
Don Juan Bandini was twice married. In 1823 he was married to Dolores, daughter of Capt. Jose Estudillo, a distinguished citizen of the province, who for many years held the position of commandante at Monterey, later occupying a like position in San Diego. The second wife of Don Juan was Refugio, daughter of Capt. Santiago Arguello, and granddaughter of the pioneer Capt. Jose Dario Arguello, one of the foremost men in the settlement of the territory. As the repre- sentative of Spain he it was who conferred upon the twenty-four families which founded Los An- geles title to their lands. He was for some time acting governor of California, leaving that posi- tion to become governor of the peninsula.
Dona Refugio, by virtue of her noble presence and character, her youth and beauty, as well as her position as wife of Don Juan Bandini, was, perhaps, the most prominent woman in Southern California during the events attending the Mexi- can war. She it was who made the first Ameri- can flag manufactured in Southern California. It happened in this way: Her husband had accompanied a detachment of Commodore Stock- ton's command to the Bandini ranchos in Lower California, where he had supplied them with horses, cattle and other necessities. For this aid to the enemy he had to at once remove his family from its Mexican home, so upon the return Mrs. Bandini and her little ones were of the party. On this journey Major Hennesley, commander of the American troops, discovered that he had neglected to bring with him a flag, without which, in the disturbed state of affairs, it would be un- wise to attempt to enter the town. Learning of his dilemma, Mrs. Bandini offered to make him a flag. The sewing bag upon her arm furnished thread, scissors, needle and thimble, and at the noon rest she took from the clothes of her little ones, Margarita, Dolores, and her baby boy, the necessary material, and under the direction of the Major soon fashioned what Dona Refugio described, when telling the writer of this, the
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story, as a "Muy bonita bandera" (very pretty flag). "The day after I got home," continued Mrs. Bandini, "Commodore Stockton and all his staff in beautiful uniforms called to thank me for the flag, and the band of the Congress (the flag- ship of the squadron) gave me a serenade, such music I have never heard before." The flag was sent to Washington with other trophies of the war. In her San Diego home Mrs. Bandini nursed the wounded Kearney, and entertained many of the officers of the American army, among these the gay Lieutenant William T. Sherman, with whom a firm friendship was formed, lasting through his life. One of the officers, Lieut. Cave J. Coutts, a classmate of U. S. Grant's, eventually won Ysidora, at that time the only young lady of the Bandini family, her elder sisters being mar- ried, and her younger ones yet little children. Like all the daughters of Don Juan, she was noted for her beauty.
At the time of his death the family of Don Juan Bandini consisted of his wife, Dona Re- fugio; his five sons, Jose M .; Juan B .; Juande la Cruz ; Alfredo, and Arturo ; and his five daugh- ters, Josefa, wife of Pedro C. Carillo; Arcadia, wife of Don Abel Stearns; Ysidora, wife of Cave J. Coutts ; Dolores, wife of Charles R. Johnson ; and Margarita, wife of Dr. James B. Winston. At this time, 1915, there are still living Jose M., Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Winston, both widows.
DON ABEL STEARNS and DONA AR- CADIA BAKER. Don Abel Stearns, as he was called by the people of his adopted state, was for many years the leading American in Southern California. He was a native of Salem, Mass., where he was born in 1799. He had been several years a resident of Mexico and had become a naturalized citizen before entering California. In 1829 he came to Monterey, where he remained about four years, then removed to Los Angeles. Soon he became one of the most prominent and influential citizens of the old pueblo, devoting himself to its interests, both as a public officer and private individual, through a long life.
His home was on the site of the present Baker block, at the southeast corner of Main and Ar- cadia streets. Here he built a substantial, wide spreading adobe surrounding a large courtyard. 40
When the gates were closed this was a citadel of itself capable of withstanding a siege. On several occasions its strength was put to the test. In this commodious house, which by the common people was denominated "El Palacio de Don Abel," his beautiful young wife, Arcadia, daugh- ter of Don Juan Bandini, and her lovely sisters, dispensed a noble hospitality. Don Abel Stearns had the honor of sending the first gold from Cali- fornia's soil to the United States mint. It came from a ranch belonging to the San Fernando Mission, and was sent in a sailing vessel around the Horn. Altogether about one million dollars' worth of gold was taken from the San Fernando placer mines.
Had it met with success no action of Mr. Stearns would have been considered so creditable as his earnest endeavor, during the years preced- ing the Mexican war, to win the misgoverned, neglected province of California to consent to a peaceful annexation to the United States. As the confidential agent of the government at Wash- ington, Mr. Stearns worked in the south, as did Mr. Larkins in the north, toward this end. They had almost succeeded, when the untimely ebulli- tion of Commodore Jones of the American navy in assuming that there was a state of war and taking possession of Monterey, made the Cali- fornians suspicious of the brotherly intentions of the United States. The American commodore, when he discovered what a grave mistake he had made, did all that was in his power to undo the harm. Patiently Mr. Larkins and Mr. Stearns went on with their plans for a peaceful solution of the difficulties that were troubling California. So wise were their plans, so strong their influence over the prominent men of the territory, that they began to have hopes of success, when the episode of the Bear Flag and the events which followed that movement precipitated war.
Mr. Stearns was devoted to the interests of the Californians. He was a member of the famous convention which drafted the constitution of 1849, representing the district of Los Angeles ; later he was assemblyman, supervisor and council- man. In 1868 he built the Arcadia block on the Los Angeles street front of his property. It was the largest business block in town, and around it centered the interests of the city for many years. In its second story was Stearns hall, where took place many social and political events of interest
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in the history of the pueblo. Mr. Stearns was one of the largest land owners in California, and at his death, which occurred in 1871, left a large estate to his widow.
No account of the life of Don Abel Stearns or of the history of the city of Los Angeles would be complete without mention being made of his wife, who was the late Arcadia Bandini de Baker. One spring morning many years ago the ceremony took place at the San Gabriel Mission, which united this lovely young girl of sixteen to a man older than her father, whose features were con- sidered by the people of his time to be unusually homely. One might naturally exclaim, "What a sacrifice !" but, although Mrs. Stearns became the social leader of Los Angeles and vicinity, acknowI- edged by Americans and Californians to be one of the most beautiful women in a country re- nowned for its lovely women, yet the match was a happy one. Through his life Don .Abel was proud of the attention paid his wife, whose beauty it was his delight to adorn, while Mrs. Stearns was fond and proud of her genial and clever husband. Mr. Stearns' herders made up a little song over which their master often chuckled; translated it was something as follows :
"Two little doves sang on a laurel,
How lovely Dona Arcadia, how homely Don Abel."
After the unfortunate flag raising of Commo- dore Jones, he hastened to San Pedro and there waited on his ships while he sent a messenger up to his countryman, Don Abel, urging him to mediate between him and Governor Micheltorena. who was at that time living in Los Angeles. Mr. Stearns succeeded in arranging a meeting at his house, and the following is the account given by Dona Arcadia of the historic event :
"We gave a dinner to the governor, the com- modore and their attendants ; everything was very friendly ; they seemed to enjoy themselves and the uniforms of the two countries were most beautiful. On the next day but one the governor gave a ball, which was to be at his house, the only two-story house in Los Angeles. To show the Americans how patriotic were the people of California, the governor requested, in the invita- tions, that all the ladies wear white with a scarf of the Mexican colors, red, green and white. Of
course we gladly complied, though some of us had to work hard to get our costumes ready.
"The day of the ball came, but with it came rain, such a storm as I had never seen. As it drew toward evening the water came down faster and faster. The governor had the only carriage in California, and this he was to send for the Commodore, Mr. Stearns, Ysidora, and myself, but the poor young officers had to walk, and their faces were long when they looked at the rain, then at their fine uniforms and shiny boots.
"Our California horses were unused to pulling loads, and in the storm refused to work, so the cholo soldiers of the governor served as horses; they took us as safely, and we had a delightful time. Everybody was happy; the commodore and the governor sat together and exchanged courtesies and compliments."
Some years after the death of Mr. Stearns his widow married R. S. Baker, a native of Rhode Island, who had large sheep interests in Southern California. Mr. and Mrs. Baker built the Baker block at the corner of Main and Arcadia streets, which is a model of substantial construction. Mr. and Mrs. Baker and Senator Jones gave the land, three hundred and fifty acres, for the Soldiers' Home, near Santa Monica. After Mr. Baker's death Mrs. Baker resided in Santa Monica until she passed away.
GEN. EDWARD BOUTON, one of the representative citizens of Los Angeles, and a pioneer in its development and upbuilding, is the descendant of an ancestry which has given to the world many eminent men as warriors, statesmen and financiers, and-not the least among them- patriots who in the time of need have freely sacri- ficed everything of a personal nature to give to the cause of their country. They are one of the oldest families of America, and previous to their location on American soil trace their genealogy back to the fifth century, where they were identi- fied with the Visigoth clan, and the head of the Salian tribe, under king Hilderia, A. D. 481, who at his death left his son, Clovis, king of the tribe. This king as is well known in history eventually embraced the Christian faith, which example was followed by many of his people, among whom were the ancestors of the Bouton family. The ancient Bouton shield or coat-of-arms had the
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following motto on a groundwork on perpendicu- lar lines, "De Gules a la Fasce d'Or," which is old French, and its translation means a force as of a leopard when it attacks with its red mouth open. This coat-of-arms is still borne by the Count Chamilly, at present residing in Rome.
Members of the Bouton family distinguished themselves in French history for many genera- tions, the military and court records abounding with their name and the valor of their deeds for two centuries. Nicholas Bouton, born about 1580, bore the title of Count Chamilly, he being the direct ancestor of Gen. Edward Bouton; he was a Huguenot, and with his three sons, Herard and John (twins), and Noel Bouton, was a refugee during the violent persecution of the Protestants by the Roman Catholics during the predominance of the Guises in France. Later, the intolerance of the Catholics being over, Noel Bouton further advanced the honors of the family and was made Marquis de Chamilly, and in 1703 became the marshal of all France, a life-size portrait of himself being placed in the gallery of French nobles at Versailles, France, where it is still to be seen. The Irish branch of the family was founded by a descendant of a brother of the marquis, who, in the reign of Louis XIV of France, rose to the rank of Premier Valette de Chambre, and died upon the scaffold in the prison of Luxembourg in 1794, for his opposition to priest and king. This was Herard Bowton, who with his twin brother, John, received his educa- tion in the family of a priest in Ireland. Upon the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Herard Bowton returned to Ireland, still following the fortunes of Marshal Tehomborge, under whom he served in the Protestant army under William III, risking life and fortune in behalf of civil and religious liberty. He particularly distin- guished himself as a fearless and valiant soldier at the battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690, and was rewarded for his services with a share of the con- fiscated lands situated in the county of Ballyrack. The present Lord Montague Bowton is a lineal descendant of Herard Bowton, who presumably returned to France after the battle of the Boyne.
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