USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 11
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In his political convictions Mr. Harper is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles, and has always taken an active interest in the ad- vancement of his party. The only fraternal organization with which he is identified is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while his wife belongs to the Rebekahs. Ile is a mem-
ber of the Pioneer Society of Los Angeles County and a member of the Confederate Vet- erans, Camp No. 77. Mr. Harper occupies a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, appreciated alike for his splendid business qualities and his personal character.
HON. BENJAMIN W. HAHN. Illinois has been generous in her supply of notable residents to Pasadena, and among these Mr. Hahn takes high rank. He was born in Chicago August 28, 1868, and is a son of Samuel and Barbara Hahn. During his earlier years the father was a car- penter and builder, a trade which he followed in Chicago with splendid success for many years.
Benjamin W. Hahn attended the common schools of his native city, and from the time of leaving school until he reached his majority he was employed with the Chicago White Lead and Oil Company, gaining versatile knowledge during this time. Coming to California in 1887, he located in Pasadena and some time later began the study of law under the direction of Messrs. Metcalfe and Mclachlan. The latter, Hon. James McLachlan, is now a member of congress from Los Angeles county, Cal. On April 3, 1891, Mr. Hahn was admitted to the bar of the superior court, later to the supreme court, and finally to the United States supreme court. It was with this prestige that he opened an office in Pasadena and began the practice of his profes- sion, first alone, but later in patnership with his brother, Edwin F. Hahn, under the firm name of Hahn & Hahn. The firm conduct a corporation practice almost exclusively, having interests all over California and Arizona. Ben- jamin Hahn has charge of the Los Angeles office, in the new Citizens National Bank build- ing, where he has a large private law library and a fine suite of rooms, and numbered among his clients are many of the influential and wealthy corporations and residents of this western metrop- olis. The brother, Edwin F. Hahn, has charge of the Pasadena office.
Mr. Hahn has always been a stanch defender of Republican principles, and it was on the ticket of his chosen party that, in 1902, he was nom- inated state senator from the Thirty-sixth sena- torial district of California, in which body he
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was a recognized leader. He served on several important committees, notable among them be- ing the committees on finance, judiciary, corpora- tions, banks and banking, and code revision. In addition to his public life Mr. Hahn has filled an important place in the private affairs of his home city, and among other interests directed the or- ganization of the Metropolis Trust and Savings Bank, Bankers Savings Bank, the Sierra Land and Cattle Company, as well as the Universal Order of Foresters. He is also well known in the realm of journalism as the founder of the Pasadena Daily News, which is now one of the leading news sheets of the city.
In San Bernardino, Cal., November 9, 1892, Mr. Hahn was united in marriage with Miss Grace Virginia Gahr, of that city, a daughter of R. P. Gahr, who is well and favorably known there. One son, Herbert L., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hahn.
ELI P. CLARK. One of the most impor- tant movements contributory to the growth and development of Los Angeles has been that fostered by Eli P. Clark, whose association with the promotion of railroad enterprises in this city for the past fifteen years has given to him a prominent place among the repre- sentative men of Southern California. A ré- sumé of his life is in brief a history of the progress of the city, for the enterprise with which he has been connected is one of the strongest factors in its upbuilding, and as such is interesting to read by those who know either the man or the city.
The Clark family were among the pioneers of Iowa, where, in Iowa City, on the 25th of November, 1847, Eli P. Clark was born. When he was eight years old his parents removed to Grinnell, Iowa, then but the beginning of a city, and there he attended the public schools and later lowa College, which was established there. His first experience in the battle of life was teaching one term of school in his eight- eenth year, and in this work he acquired the discipline and self-control which have marked his success in other lines. About 1867 the family removed to southwestern Missouri to escape the rigors of Iowa winters, and follow- ing this Mr. Clark remained at home engaged
in farming with his father during the sum- mers, while he taught school in the winter months. Becoming interested in the possibili- ties held out to the man of courage and hardi- hood by the newer sections of the southwest he decided to locate in Arizona for a time, and accordingly, in the spring of 1875, became one of a party to cross the plains for that terri- tory. This experience was one which required courage in as great measure as in the earlier days of the country, because travel was fraught not only with danger from the Indians, but as well from lawless white bands. They came through safely, however, and after a three months' journey, made by way of the old Santa Fé and Fort Wingate trail, arrived at Prescott.
The associations Mr. Clark formed in that city proved the foundation for his operations later in Los Angeles, as one of his first ac- quaintances was his present partner, M. H. Sherman, who was then principal of the Pres- cott high school, the first public school or- ganized in the territory. He met with suc- cess, also, in his ventures in that city, follow- ing mercantile enterprises for a short time, and also serving as postmaster for nearly a year. In the winter of 1877, under the firm name of Clark & Adams, he began the manu- facture of lumber, operating three sawmills and selling his product extensively throughout the territory. The prominence of Mr. Clark was not only a commercial one, for he quickly rose to a position of importance in political affairs, as a stanch Republican being chosen territorial auditor in 1877, succeeding himself four terms and serving for ten years. It was during these years that he formed the ac- quaintance of General Fremont, while he was governor of Arizona, and counts the friend- ship which grew out of their official relations as one of the most pleasant in his life. Through his association with the interests of the territory as ex officio state assessor (made so by territorial enactment) he was instru- mental in bringing about many improve- ments which are now the law of the land. It was in that city also, on the 8th of April, 1880, that he was united in marriage with bliss Lucy Sherman, a sister of his friend,
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M. H. Sherman, and there he made his home until January, 1891.
In the montli and year just mentioned he joined General Sherman in Los Angeles, in answer to the latter's oft-repeated requests that he do so, and became the vice-president and manager of the newly organized Los An- geles Consolidated Electric Railway Company. Mr. Clark had already established prestige for himself in the matter of promoting railroad facilities for Arizona, having been active in procuring favorable legislation to encourage the building of a road from Prescott to Mari- copa, and afterward was instrumental in hav- ing a bill passed in the legislature of 1885, granting a subsidy of $4,000 per mile for a road to be built from Prescott to connect with the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad. He helped to organize the first company and became its first treasurer and secretary, and finally turned over the organization to Thomas S. Bullock, who financed and built the Prescott & Arizona Central Railroad, which afterward gave way to the Santa Fe, Prescott & Phoenix Railroad, one of the best railroad properties in the west. After locating in Los Angeles Mr. Clark co- operated with General Sherman in the build- ing of the present street railway system, known as the Los Angeles Railway, their sale of a half interest in their property to the bond- holders having taken place in 1895, after its successful financial establishment. To them is due much credit for this enterprise, because at the time of the foundation of the work Los Angeles was only a small city and to all in- tents and purposes gave no evidence of a fu- ture which could make this venture a safe investment. In face of hostile opposition and discouraging obstacles they carried the enter- prise to completion and but a little later were justified in their gigantic undertaking. In the year 1895 Mr. Clark conceived the idea which has resulted in the famous "Balloon Route," his first step being the purchase of the old steam road known as the Los Angeles & Pa- cific Railroad, and following this with the con- struction of the Santa Monica, Ocean Park, Playa del Rey, Hermosa, and Redondo lines, via the beautiful city of Hollywood, compris- ing a system of nearly two hundred miles
which traverse one of the finest, if not the finest, section of Southern California. With the completion of further improvements now in prospect the Los Angeles Railway will be known as the finest electric road system on the Pacific coast. The dominant character- istics of Mr. Clark are in a large measure re- sponsible for the success of this enterprise, which has probably meant more to Los An- geles as an attraction for tourists than any other one feature of the section. Mr. Clark well merits the position he holds among the prominent men of Southern California, all pro- moters and financiers instinctively looking to him and others of his class for an upholding of the prestige which has made Los Angeles famous wherever the name is known.
HON. WALTER R. LEEDS. Although young in years Hon. Walter R. Leeds has al- ready won for himself a position among the rep- resentative citizens of Los Angeles and Southern California, establishing himself as a successful exponent of the law and proving so able an advocate of Republican principles that he was elected to the state legislature and served effi- ciently during the session of 1907. He is a na- tive of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Con- cinnati September 19, 1876. His preliminary education was received in the public and high schools of Los Angeles, whither he was brought by his parents in childhood, and after his grad- uation from the latter he began the study of law (1895) in the offices of Davis & Rush. Two years later he was admitted to the bar, being then just twenty-one years old. In 1900 he was appointed secretary of the Republican county central committee, was reappointed for three terms and served steadily until May, 1906, when he resigned. In the fall of 1906 he received the nomination on the Republican ticket to the state legislature, as representative from the Seventieth district.
In Los Angeles, November 25, 1903, Mr. Leeds was united in marriage with Miss Anna Fay, a native of Muskegon, Mich., and the granddaughter of the late T. D. Stimson, a prom- inent capitalist and lumberman of Michigan, Washington and Southern California. She is a
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woman of rare worth and culture, finely edu- cated, having graduated from Notre Dame Col- lege in Indiana. One son, Walter R., Jr., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Leeds. Fraternally he is a member of East Gate Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., Signet Chapter No. 57. R. A. M., Southern California Commandery No. 9. K. T., and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of the County Bar Asso- ciation and the California Club.
CHARLES W. SMITH. Preceded by over forty years of activity in railroad circles in the central and eastern states, Charles W. Smith came to Pasadena in 1897 with the ex- pectation of retiring to private life, but as on a previous occasion he again acceded to the importunities of friends to once more asso- ciate himself with the work, with the result that he was made president of the Pasadena & Los Angeles Electric Railway, later known as the Los Angeles & Pasadena Electric Railway Company, of which he is still the president. Prior to 1902 he was vice-president of the Pasadena & Mount Lowe Railway Company, and general manager of the Los Angeles Rail- way Company.
At the time the colonists settled in New England a representative of the Smith family left Litchfield, England, and locating in Con- necticut, there founded a settlement to which he gave the same name of his home town in England. A son of this immigrant, William D. Smith, was born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1805; later he removed to Berkshire county, Mass., where he grew to manhood and fol- lowed carriage manufacturing. Still later in his career he made his home in Homer, Union county, Ohio, where, in March of 1848, he and two of his children died of cholera. During young manhood he had married Almira Gott, who was born in Austerlitz, Columbia county, N. Y., the daughter of Story Gott, born in Connecticut of English and Scotch descent. After his service in the Revolutionary war he took up farming in Columbia county, N. Y. Of the nine children born of the marriage of William D. and Almira Smith, six grew to mature years and three of the number are now
living, those besides Charles W. being Mrs. Mary A. Fairbanks, mother of Charles W. Fairbanks, vice-president of the United States, and Mrs. Cecilia J. Ritchie. One son, Will- iam Henry, became well known in the literary field, his initial training along this line gain- ing a great impetus while making verbatim re- ports of the proceedings in the Ohio legislature during the early `6os. Later he became an editor and publisher in Cincinnati, and in 1869 originated the Western Associated Press of the United States, of which he was manager until within two years of his death, which oc- curred in 1896. At the time of his death he was engaged in the compilation of a History of American Slavery, which was almost com- pleted ; as was also the biography of ex-Presi- dent Rutherford B. Hayes, a work which he had undertaken in compliance with a request found in the latter's will. These have both been completed since his demise.
Austerlitz, N. Y., was the birthplace of Charles W. Smith, and September 5, 1831, the date of his birth. When he was eleven years old he removed with his parents to Union county, Ohio, and there until he was eighteen years old he studied under difficulties in the primitive schools of pioneer days. At this latter age he began to turn his education to some account by teaching during the winter months, and later he learned the trade of har- ness-maker and saddler in Woodstock, Ohio. The completion of his trade was almost iden- tical with his introduction into a field which had no connection whatever with his previous years of training, namely, the beginning of his railroad career. This was brought about by the building of railroads into the section of country around his home. On March 1, 1855, he was appointed agent at Woodstock for the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad, from there went as their agent at Columbus, and a year later became general freight agent of the road with headquarters at the same place. Be- tween the years 1857 and 1870 numerous changes and consolidations were recorded in connection with the company, but through them all he was retained in his position. The opening of the Union and Central Pacific led to his acceptance of the position of general
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freight agent of the Central Pacific Railway Company, with headquarters in Sacramento, but on account of failing health he was obliged to resign his position two years later and re- turn east. Subsequently he was general man- ager of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & West- ern Railroad, with headquarters in Indianapo- lis, a position which he later resigned to ac- cept a position with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as traffic manager, with headquarters in Chicago. For one year, dat- ing from May 1, 1880, he held the office of traffic manager of the New York, Lake Erie & Western Railroad, with headquarters in New York, resigning this to become general man- ager of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, with headquarters in Richmond, Va. January I, 1886, he was elected vice-president and gen- eral manager of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, headquarters in Topeka, Kans., in addition to which in 1888 he also acted as general manager of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. The great physical and mental strain which he had been under for so many years began to make inroads upon his health to such an extent that a change was impera- tive, and accordingly in 1890 he resigned his positions.
It had been Mr. Smith's intention to discon- tinue railroad work permanently when he re- signed from the Santa Fe employ, but late in 1895 he was persuaded to act as receiver for the Atlantic & Pacific road, which in the mean time had failed and was in the hands of a re- ceiver distasteful to the bondholders. Under the careful management of Mr. Smith the af- fairs of the company were brought to a satis- factory conclusion and July 1, 1897, the road was absorbed by the Santa Fe system. It was at this juncture that he came to Pasadena with no thought of ever again taking up rail- roading, but once again he was persuaded to enter the field, through the importunity of friends who owned the honds of the Pasadena & Los Angeles Electric Railway, his election to the presidency following. On February I, 1900, he was made general manager of the Los Angeles Railway Company, and at once assumed the duties of the office, with head- quarters in Los Angeles. After holding the
position for about eighteen months he re- signed, August 1, 1901, and was elected vice- president of the company, a position for which his extensive knowledge and excellent judg- ment well qualify him, and he still occupies this worthy position. He also held the same office in the Pasadena & Mount Lowe Rail- way, which by purchase became a part of the Los Angeles system June 1, 1901. In Febru- ary, 1902, all of these roads except the Los Angeles Railway were consolidated into the Pacific Electric Railroad Company. His son, William Henry, was formerly manager of the northern division.
The multiplicity of interests in railroad cir- cles which have made such large demands upon Mr. Smith's time and energies have in no way impaired his interest in the welfare of his home locality, and the Pasadena Board of Trade and the Los Angeles Chamber of Com- merce have received much encouragement and benefit from his membership therein. At the time of the Civil war he was a member of the Union League, and a stanch believer in the principles of abolition, while in politics he is now a stanch Republican. In his religious in- clinations he is a believer in Universalism, and while in Chicago became a member of St. Paul's Universalist Church, from which his membership has as yet not been transferred. He belongs to the California Club and is a Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. In 1852 he was made an Odd Fellow and has passed all the chairs, becoming a member of the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio.
In Woodstock, Ohio, Mr. Smith married Miss Marceline M. Sprague, who was born in Woodstock, Vt., the descendant of a family which had been represented in New England for many generations. They became the par- ents of three children : Kate, who became the wife of Chauncey Kelsey and who died in Richmond, Va .; Ella, who died at the age of five years ; and William Henry, who is a resi- dent of Pasadena. In taking a retrospective glance at Mr. Smith's life it will be admitted that the success which has followed him throughout his business career has been little short of marvelous. When only a boy in years, at the age of fifteen, he was compelled to de-
Josh Scott ,
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pend on his own resources, working as a farm hand for a shilling a day at first. His rise from this humble position to his present stand- ing in railroad circles tells more effectively than can words of his fitness for the career which he has followed, and California may be congratulated upon claiming as a resident one of the successful railroad men of the country.
JOSEPH SCOTT. Strickland W. Gillilan, the famous humorist, now on the Baltimore Sun, was doing newspaper work in Los An- geles, and referring to Mr. Scott, had the fol- lowing characteristic comment to make :
"To arrive friendless in a strange land. to fail in finding newspaper employment even though armed with a letter from John Boyle O'Reilly; to reach one's last $2 bill and take a job of hod-carrying, and to resign the posi- tion as deputy hodman to accept a position as professor of English and rhetoric in a college -sounds romantic, doesn't it? Sounds as if it were fiction rather than real life. But it isn't, and the man who had this career. full of pluck, perseverance and pathos, lives in Los Angeles today. You probably know him. He is a successful lawyer, and he is called 'Joe Scott.'
"No matter how many years ago, he landed at New York. He was a stocky, sturdy, ath- letic chap, twenty-one years old, a graduate of Ushaw College in the north of England, and modestly bearing the honor of having matricu- lated with a gold medal in London Univer- sity. He had been a leader in athletic sports in his college, had specialized in history and literature, and had left with the idea that he would come to this country and be a great journalist. He went to Boston soon after his arrival, and there met John Boyle O'Reilly, the poet-refugee, who gave him letters to the newspapers of the 'Hub.'
"'The managing editors,' said Mr. Scott, 'to whom I presented this raft of letters, all took my name and earnestly assured me that they would let me know when there was an open- ing. I was so verdant I believed them. I said to myself. "It's coming; It's coming." They haven't sent for me yet. O'Reilly then armed
me with a letter to the New York newspapers. He said, "We all came here as helpless as you. You are sure to strike into the swim some- time." I met the newspaper moguls on Park Row-The World, The Herald, The Sun. All took my address. The managing editor of The Il'orld gave me some desultory work for a lit- tle while. When the little work at The World was over, I had only $2 left and was absolutely friendless.' "
R. H. H. Chapman, formerly managing edi- tor of The Herald, Los Angeles, draws the fol- lowing pen picture of Mr. Scott:
"That a sound mind is master of a sound body is well evidenced by the subject of this sketch. To the keenness with which he pur- sued athletics in his youth, Joseph Scott at- tributes that physical vigor which today en- ables him to get through a vast amount of work and preserve excellent health. Sturdy ancestors who feared God and loved their fel- lows are responsible for this fine specimen of muscular Christianity. His father's people have lived in Cumberland for many genera- tions, and form a line of what is known as Bor- der Scotch. His mother, Mary Donnelly, is pure Irish, from the country of Wexford, of Vinegar Hill stock. And judging not only by the distinctive Hibernian traits in Joseph Scott's character, but also by a charming photograph of his mother, his son and himself, which was taken during his trip to the old country several years ago, he 'favors' his mother.
"When just twenty years of age, possessing only rugged health, an excellent education, and a few letters of introduction, Mr. Scott sailed for New York. Ambitious as he was. no toil was too lowly for him to try, and for ten months his energies were spent in shovel- ing coal and carrying a hod.
"At last his opportunity of deliverance came, and the transition was as sudden as it was cx- traordinary. One Tuesday in February, 1890, he was carrying a hod; on the following Thursday he was instructing the senior class of rhetoric at Allegany College. For three years he occupied the chair of professor of rhetoric and English literature in that institu- tion, pursuing his work with the same dili-
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gence and enthusiasm as he had used in shov- eling coal. In his spare moments he studied law, too, and in June, 1893, came to California. Ten months later he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court, and commenced to practice his profession in Los Angeles."
Joseph Scott has risen to a position, both in his profession and in public affairs, of which any man might well be proud. He was born in Penrith, Cumberland county, England, July 16, 1867. Mr. Scott is essentially a self-made man, and his indomitable traits of character- honesty and integrity-have made him one of the most prominent figures in the state of California. At the time when Joseph Scott entered upon his labors at the bar of Los An- geles, it comprised many of the ablest lawyers of California, among whom was the late Stephen M. White; but the young man rapidly fought his way to the front, for his honest countenance, straightforwardness of speech and forceful oratory made him a power before a jury. He won his cases and grew in favor and popularity until he stands today as one of the most successful practitioners at the bar, for he has the reputation of being a lawyer whose presence in a case means honesty and fair dealing. In his intercourse with his brethren at the bar he is manly, kind and con- siderate, and before the court he is modest and courteous, but marked by a dignity which makes him a leader among men.
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