USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 10
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 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
Henry H. Markham was born in Wilming- ton, N. Y., November 16, 1840, and was there reared to young manhood. A common school education was supplemented by a course in Wheeler's Academy, Vermont, from which in- stitution he was graduated in the spring of 1862. Removing to Manitowoc about this time, in the same year he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-second Wisconsin Infantry, for service in the Civil war, and from Madison was ordered into camp in Tennessee. His services following were those of hardship and danger, but were borne with the courage and fortitude which were a part of his inheritance. He marched with Sherman to the sea, and thence started north through the Carolinas, receiving a wound at River's Bridges, Salt Kahatcha river, S. C., February 3, 1865, which incapacitated him. He was sent to Beaufort, S. C., whence upon his recovery he went north and was mustered out of service in Milwaukee July 23, 1865, with the rank of second lieuten- ant.
Immediately following his return to civic life Mr. Markham entered the law office of WValdo, Ody & Van, of Milwaukee, and pur- sued his studies with such persistence that he was admitted to the bar of the state and the United States supreme court in 1867. He at once began the practice of his profession in Milwaukee and two years later took into part- nership his brother, George C. Markham. They were successful in building up a large and constantly increasing clientele, whose de- mands upon the time and attention of Mr. Markham told seriously upon his health. Much against his desire he was compelled to relinquish his practice in 1879 and on the 22d of February of that year he came to Pasadena, Cal., where he hoped to recover his strength and vigor. Shortly after his arrival he pur- chased twenty-two and a half acres between Fair Oaks and Orange Grove avenues. In 1887 he erected a magnificent residence on Pasadena avenue, and has since then beauti- fied the grounds and surroundings until he has made of his home one of the most delight-
587
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ful and attractive places in Southern Cali- fornia.
It was almost impossible for Mr. Markham to do otherwise than take a prominent part in political affairs of his community, as he was peculiarly equipped by education and expe- rience to become a leader among men. In 1884. chosen by his party as a candidate for congress from the Sixth District (which in- cluded the counties from San Mateo to San Diego, fourteen in all), he threw himself act- ively into the canvass and visited all but three of the counties. He was elected by a majority of five hundred votes, his predecessor, a Dem- ocrat, having received thirty-two hundred plu- rality. Significant of his success was the fact that upon the expiration of his term his own party held the convention open two days wait- ing for his acceptance and the Democrats tele- graphed him that they would put no one in nomination and the election would be his with- out opposition. He declined the honor, how- ever, and returned to his California home. Al- though as a congressman Mr. Markham ac- complished much for his district the greatest feature of his work was the recognition he secured for Southern California, which up to that time had scarcely been regarded as a community of any size or power. Through his efforts a United States court was estab- lished in Southern California and also as a member of the committee on rivers and har- bors he was instrumental in starting a move- ment in favor of a harbor here. Loyal to the cause of the soldiers who served with him in the Civil war he was active in securing the establishment of one of the National homes in Santa Monica, which has since become known as the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Soldiers, and he was afterward elected by congress as a manager of these homes and devoted much time to their direc- tion, exercising supervision of the one at Santa Monica. Upon being elected governor he re- signed his office as manager. Through Mr. Markham was secured the transfer of the head- quarters of the regular army from Arizona to Los Angeles, and in this city they remained until the second administration of Cleveland, which meant the bringing into the state of
about $3,500,000 annually. In order to assist the old soldiers in securing pensions he hired an assistant and paid him $75 per month out of his own pocket. In the meantime, finding the appropriation for the Home to be insuffi- cient, he went to Washington, D. C., at his own expense and secured an appropriation of $187,000 for its completion.
He became candidate at the earnest de- mands of the citizens of Southern California, and in opposition to ex-Mayor Pond, of San Francisco (Democratic), he was elected gov- ernor in 1890, receiving a majority of eight thousand votes, and on the 7th of January of the following year took the oath of office. In January, 1895, his term of service completed, he retired once more to private life. During his administration occurred the Columbian Exposition at Chicago and for this he secured an appropriation of $300,000, which was the largest raised by any state, with the exception of Illinois, and selected a board of commis- sioners, to whom he gave entire charge. This exhibit was a motive power in the attraction of thousands to the state of California. Among other important movements he secured the adoption of the Australian ballot system in the state, which is now a part of every party platform. He compelled the Southern Pacific Railroad to pay back-taxes amounting to $1,- 300,000, and in countless ways gave to the upbuilding of the state and the development of its best interests. One important pledge made by him in the executive position was carried out-that the state tax should not ex- ceed fifty cents on the valuation of $100.
In Chicago, Il1., Governor Markham was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Dana, who was born in Wyoming, Ill., and educated in Rockford Female Seminary, from which institution she was graduated. Her father, Giles C. Dana, a business man of Waukesha, WVis., traced his ancestry to an old eastern family, among other colonial men of power and prominence claiming relationship with Is- rael Putnam. Mr. and Mrs. Markham became the parents of the following children: Marie, a graduate of Leland Stanford University in the class of 1900: Alice A., educated at Throop Institute ; Gertrude ; Hildreth ; and Genevieve,
588
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
who died in Sacramento in 1891, at the age of seven years. In his fraternal relations Mr. Markham is identified with the Masonic or- ganization, being a member of Corona Lodge, F. & A. M .; Pasadena Chapter, R. A. M .; Pasadena Consistory, Pasadena Commandery, K. T .: and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Los Angeles. In memory of his "days and nights on the battlefield" he is a member of John F. Godfrey Post, G. A. R., and the California Commandery Loyal Le- gion. In local affairs no citizen has taken greater interest in the upbuilding of the city of Pasadena and the general welfare of South- ern California. He was instrumental in or- ganizing the First National Bank of Pasa- dena, in which he served as a director, while he was also identified with the movement which resulted in securing the street railways for Pasadena, and the building of the Santa Fé Railroad. He was most active in his ef- forts to secure a harbor for Southern Califor- nia, realizing keenly the need of one, and in this connection it is impossible to estimate the value of his labors. In April, 1904, he was again elected by congress as manager of the National Home for the period of six years.
It is not necessary to eulogize on the life of Governor Markhanı, for wherever his name is known it is honored. His life has been one of prominence, and through it all he has main- tained the high standard of excellence which has made it possible for him to stand fear- lessly in the light of public scrutiny. He seemed endowed by nature with those quali- ties essential to leadership-a keen, forceful, logical mind, an unusual executive ability, and added to this an unswerving integrity and honor which have given him a wide and last- ing influence. No public man of California has retired to private life with more of honor or esteem by his fellow citizens, whether of his party or another : so strong has been the impression made by hun that his deepest in- terest lay in an advancement of the state's welfare rather than his own.
CHARLES CASSAT DAVIS. Among the leading attorneys of Los Angeles is Charles Cas- sat Davis, who is prominent in legal, financial
and social circles. Of a strong personality, great force of character, and rare mental attainments, he is justly entitled to the honorable position that he holds as one of the most brilliant lawyers of the city ; through persistency of purpose and zeal. intelligently and unerringly directed, he has achieved success at the bar and in financial cir- cles. He is and has always been an inveterate worker, deep thinker and great traveler; has a high sense of honor and integrity; belongs to a good family ; is of a genial and hospitable nature ; extremely cool, self possessed and calculating un- der trying conditions ; and a gentleman under all circumstances. His caution is large, but it is offset by a large hope; his moral faculties are strong and active; his intuitions and first impres- sions and presentiments have almost invariably been correct and have been his guide in a large measure in his successful dealings with strangers and with men in general. He is possessed of unbounded benevolence, is philanthropic, large- minded, liberal and public-spirited and has always been in advance of his times in all matters re- lating to public welfare. He is a natural critic and has an analytic mind; is a high idealist and a man of great order, a lover of art, books and nature. There is an undercurrent of thought and philosophy permeating his nature; he spares neither time nor labor in any cause or other busi- ness in which he is engaged.
Mr. Davis was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1851, of Welsh and Huguenot stock ; his parents were Timothy J. and Caroline M. (Cassat) Davis, both natives of Ohio. His paternal grand- parents came from Wales, where the estate has heen in the family for more than five hundred years; they located in Ohio during President Madison's administration. On the maternal side the family can be traced back to the Guizot fam- ily in France, Huguenots who were forced to flee to Holland at the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes; later the family immigrated to America, where they changed the name to Cassat. Mr. Davis' grandfather, David Cassat, was a tan- ner in Ohio; he married Miss See of an old Vir- ginia family, who, when they became pioneers of Ohio, freed their slaves. Mr. Davis is the oldest of a family of five children and was educated in the public schools until he entered the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware, where he was
Joпл. Mner barex Marble
591
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
graduated in 1873 with the degree of A. B. and . the esteem of thoughtful and discriminating men in 1876 received the Master's degree. Entering which few attain at his time of life. His work is making a marked impress upon the trend of events in Southern California, and the record of his life is entitled to a place of distinction in the annals of the state. Columbia College Law School he was graduated in 1875 with the degree of LL. B., and at once began the practice of his profession in Cincinnati. He rose rapidly to public notice and in 1880 was elected to the Ohio state legislature, and also for five years of the time that he was located in his native city he served as attorney for the Ohio State Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
In 1885 Mr. Davis removed to Los Angeles, since which time he has been actively and suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of law. For six years he was a director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1900 he was a member of the Los Angeles Board of Education, serving for the last three years as president of that body; upon his election to the school board he found affairs so corrupt that with Judge N. P. Conrey he started an investigation which resulted in the removal of Webb and Adams and broke up the unlawful ring. In 1904 he was elected on the Non Partisan ticket as a member of the Board of Education, resigning in the spring of 1906. He served efficiently as president of the Los An- geles Highway Commission in 1904 and 1905: was director of the Municipal League from 1900 to 1905 and attorney for the League in the Dav- enport "Recall" suit ; also president of the Eco- nomic League for two years; director of the Landmarks Club; member of the advisory board of the Southwestern Archaeological Society ; and socially belongs to the Sunset, Jonathan, Univer- sity and Sesame clubs.
Mr. Davis has taken an active and prominent part in every reform movement that has been started in Los Angeles. Since the time when he was prime mover in the cleansing of the Board of Education from its corrupting influences he has been ready to give of his time and means towards any purpose that tends to raise the moral status of the social and political world. Though comparatively young in years his strong personal attributes have long since been generally recog- nized, and these characteristics, taken in conjunc- tion with his manifest public spirit, his breadth of mind in viewing all public affairs, and his generosity of heart, have given him a place in
COL. JOHN M. C. MARBLE. Among the prominent financiers of Los Angeles mention belongs to Col. John M. C. Marble, who has been a resident of the city and an upbuilder for nearly twenty years. Mr. Marble is the descendant of two old Eastern families, among the earliest settlers of New England. The pa- ternal ancestor, his great-grandfather, was born in Boston and married Sally Bullard. They had a son, Eleazer, born May 4, 1762, who became a resident of Vermont, and re- moved from that state to Wyoming Valley, Pa., and married a widow Thomson, whose maiden name was Mary Richards. Their youngest son was Ebenezer Marble, born in Wilkesbarre, Pa., in 1805. He married Han- nah Carey, of Careytown, now a part of Wilkesbarre; their second child, the subject of this sketch, was born July 27, 1833, and hav- ing lost his father in infancy, was then raised by his mother's family until the death of his mother's grandfather, John Carey, of Carey- town, in 1844.
The Carey family is of English origin : good authority in the mother country says they have nothing to oppose that the family was founded in England by the son of the Roman general, Carus, who was a general in Briton in A. D. 282. The pedigree of the family was drawn up by the Royal College of Heralds by command of Queen Anne Boleyn, commencing with date 1170, Adam de Kari.
The emigrating ancestor was John Carey, a descendant of Sir Robert Carey, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth of England, who upon the completion of his education in France sailed for the new world to try his fortune. He landed in Massachusetts in 1634 and soon aft- er joined the Plymouth colony, where he be- came active in public affairs, was highly re- spected and influential. He married Elizabeth Godfrey, daughter of Francis Godfrey, and ear-
592
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ly acquired large land holdings at Bridgewa- ter. He reared a large family of sons and daughters, of whom Francis, his second son, was born in Duxbury, Mass., January 19, 1649, and was reared in Bridgewater, where he mar- ried Hannah, daughter of William Brett. Born of this union were two sons and four daugh- ters, of whom Samuel, the eldest, a native of Bridgewater, married Mary Poole in 1704. With the removal of his son, Eleazer (next to the youngest in a family of nine children) to Dover, Dutchess county, N. Y. (Eleazer mar- ried Miss Sturdevant), the name was carried westward, for from Dutchess county he went on to Wyoming Valley, Pa., in 1769. The family suffered in common with all the pio- neers of that valley, so awfully stricken by pri- vations and by Indian atrocities during the Pennemyte and Revolutionary wars. One of the family, Samuel, was captured at the Wyo- ming massacre ; was first adopted in the family of a chief, later bartered back and forth and held in bondage by his savage captors; finally turned over to the British as a prisoner of war and at the close of the war liberated as such. The second son, John, was born at Bonds Bridge, Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1756, came with his father to Wyoming Valley in 1769. enlisted in boyhood in the Continental service, serving during the entire Revolutionary war. He was with Washington at Valley Forge and participated in many of the important engage- ments of the struggle. He was in the com- panies that were ordered to the relief of the Wyoming Valley settlers and although they made forced marches, still arrived too late to prevent the massacre. He owned considerable land in Luzerne county and was a man and citizen widely respected and esteemed. He reared a family of children, one son, John, mar- rying in young manhood and passing away at an early age. Ile left a daughter, Hannah, who was reared by her grandfather ; she mar- ried Ebenezer Marble and was left a widow in early womanhood.
Their son, John Minor Carey Marble, as has been previously stated, was reared in the home of his great-grandfather until he was in his twelfth year, when the latter passed to his re- ward. With his mother he then removed to
Putnam county, Ohio, where two of his un- cles had located ; his education was received in the private schools of the period and Wilkes- barre Academy, later supplementing this training with a course in the Wyoming Sem- inary at Kingston, and the public schools of Ohio. In Ohio he accepted a position as clerk' in a mercantile establishment, after which, at the age of seventeen years, he became a part- ner in the business at Kalida, and the follow- ing year went to New York City and purchased his first stock of goods. His first marriage occurred in 1861 and united him with Mary L. Coleman, daughter of Dr. G. D. Coleman, of Maysville. Ky., her grandparents being resi- dents of Lebanon, Ohio. At her death in Del- phos, she left one son, Guilford, who became a prominent attorney and politician of Ohio, and died at the age of forty years.
Mr. Marble's civic pursuits were interrupted by the Civil war, when he enlisted for service in the One Hundred Fifty-first Regiment, Ohio Infantry. in which he was commissioned colonel, and which took a prominent part in the defense of Washington. He continued ac- tively in the mercantile business until 1864. when with others he organized the First Na- tional Bank of Delphos, he being cashier and later president. In 1872 he removed to Van Wert, Ohio, when he purchased an interest in the First National Bank of that city and suc- ceeded his father-in-law. Dr. Charles Emerson, who had removed to Colorado, in the presi- dency. He continued at the head of this insti- tution until he disposed of his interests, when he organized the Van Wert National Bank, in which he served as president. Because of his wife's health (he having in the meantime mar- ried a daughter of Dr. Emerson) he made a trip to California, and so impressed was he with the climate and the opportunities he believed the country had in the future, that he decided to locate here permanently. He returned home and in October, 1888, having disposed of con- siderable of his property, he returned with his family to the Pacific coast. In Los Angeles he began at once the organization of the Na- tional Bank of California, and opened busi- ness on the corner of Second and Spring streets in September, 1889. He continued as presi-
7. Harper
595
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dent of this institution until 1906, when he resigned and disposed of his interests. In the meantime he had also been instrumental in the organization of the Home Telephone Company, and served as its president from the time of inception to 1906, when he resigned : was like- wise one of the organizers of the Union Home Telephone & Telegraph Corporation, in which he acted as president until his resignation in September, 1907. His entire life in manhood has been passed in active business affairs and through his efforts has come a large develop- ment of natural resources. While a resident of Ohio he assisted in the organization of the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinac Railway Com- pany, built the first five miles of road, and re- mained with the enterprise until it was suc- cessfully completed to a system of three hun- dred and forty-six miles. He then declined the presidency, which was accepted by his old friend, Hon. Calvin Brice. In Los Angeles he has lent his aid freely to the advancement of public interests and no man is more depended upon to give his support as a liberal, public spirited citizen.
Mr. Marble's second marriage occurred in 1870. in Van Wert, and united him with Eliza- beth Emerson, who was born in Ohio; her father, Charles Emerson, was born in Mariet- ta, Ohio, August 6, 1812, a son of Caleb and Mary (Dana) Emerson, early settlers of Ohio from Massachusetts. The great-great-grand- father, William Dana, was captain of artillery during the Revolutionary war. Caleb Emer- son was a prominent attorney and journalist of Marietta, while Charles Emerson was a physician and merchant, first in Gallatin, Ohio, and from that point he went to Van Wert, where he was active in banking circles for many years, being president of the First Na- tional Bank. In 1870 he removed to Greeley, Colo., where he organized the pioneer bank of the city, and conducted same until his retire- ment to Denver, in which city his death oc- curred August 23, 1896. His wife was in maid- enhood Margaret Bayman Grier, a widow when she married Dr. Emerson; she died in 1869. Mrs. Marble received her education in the Ohio Female College at College Hill. Ohio, and is now the mother of three children, name-
ly : Elizabeth Dana, John Emerson and Will- iam Carey, the two sons engaging with their father in The John M. C. Marble Company. Mr. Marble is a member of the California Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Le- gion, Sons of the Revolution, and Grand Army of the Republic, and in religion both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. He is an ardent supporter of Republican principles in his political convic- tions.
CHARLES F. HARPER. One of the most enterprising citizens of Los Angeles is Charles F. Harper, whose association with the busi- ness interests of this city have resulted in the development of one of the largest hardware concerns of the section. Mr. Harper is of southern birth and lineage, having been born in North Carolina in 1832, a son of John Suggs and Nancy (Gibbons) Harper, both also na- tives of that state. The father died many years ago, survived by the mother, who made her home in Los Angeles until 1871, when her death occurred. She had two children, of whom only Charles F. is now living. The family eventually became residents of Missis- sippi, in which state Mr. Harper entered the service of the Confederate army, intending to join the Fourteenth Regiment Mississippi In- fantry, but was at once put on detached serv- ice, being in the arsenal for a year and a half. Later he was transferred to the navy works, remaining there until the close of the war. Among the engagements in which he partici- pated was that of Selma, Ala.
Upon the declaration of peace, Mr. Harper returned to Columbus, Miss., and again took up the hardware business he had established in 1854, and which he conducted successfully for three years. Attracted to the Pacific coast by the glowing reports of opportunities there, Mr. Harper brought his family to California in 1868 after disposing of his business inter- ests in Mississippi. In Los Angeles he at once established a hardware enterprise in the Allen block, at the corner of Spring and Temple streets, then the center of the business district. This modest beginning of nearly forty years
596
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ago bore little promise of attaining its present large proportions, but its growth has been commensurate with the advancement and pro- gress of the city, and in proportion to his ef- forts in behalf of the latter the same measure of prosperity has been meted out to Mr. Har- per. This enterprise was incorporated about 1880 as the Harper-Reynolds Company, of which Mr. Harper still retains the leadership, although until recently the active management of the company has been in charge of his son, Arthur C. Harper.
Since 1895 Mr. Harper has been a resident of Hollywood, where he owns a beautiful es- tate of four hundred and eighty acres known as Ceilia Vista (named by Bishop Fitzgerald, and meaning sky view), lying on the mount- ainside, from whose base to the summit ex- tends one of the finest orchards to be found in the state. Wide driveways, lined on either side by stately palms of large size, add grace and beauty to the landscape. Here with his wife, Mr. Harper is enjoying the evening of his days. Before marriage Mrs. Harper was Miss Martha W. Mullen, she too being of southern birth, born in Mississippi, June 17, 1838. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, of whom only five attained maturity : Edward J., who was born in Mississippi, is a minister in the Presbyterian denomination, and now is pastor of the Knox church of Los Angeles; Arthur C., who was also born in Mis- sissippi, had charge of his father's interests in the hardware store until elected to fill the office of mayor of the city; Albert G., whose birth occurred in Los Angeles, is interested in the Consolidated Pipe Company, of which his brother, Arthur C., was president, and of which Augustus D., the next child in order of birth, is manager; the youngest of the children, is Benjamin W., who was also born in Los An- geles, and is now a practicing dentist of Hol- lywood.
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.