USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 28
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and in 1864 he disposed of his effects and crossed the Isthmus of Panama, thence going to San Francisco, and located in Healdsburg, Sonoma county, where he remained about eighteen months. He then removed to Los Gatos, Santa Clara county, and operated a mill for about three years. From there he removed to San Jose, and for a time engaged in real estate operations, later becoming identified with the First National Bank of San Jose as a director, vice-president and later president. After remaining in that city for sixteen years he finally moved to Los Angeles in 1886 and dealt to some extent in real estate. Still later he assisted in the organization of the Title, In- surance & Trust Company, becoming its first president and remaining identified with that institution until his retirement in 1895, when he gave up business activities and established his permanent home in Pasadena. He spent his time thenceforth in looking after his pri- vate interests until his death, which occurred in September, 1904. Mr. Harrison was a man of ability and energy, an entertaining compan- ion through his wide information acquired from reading, and a man and citizen held in high esteem by his numerous friends. In all things he was public spirited, giving liberally of his means to advance the interests of his home state and city.
In 1857 Mr. Harrison married Miss Sarah Spruance, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Benjamin and Rachel (Hines) Spruance, and born of this union were four children, only one son, Lewis G., now surviving, he be- ing a resident of San Francisco. Mrs. Harri- son resides in the beautiful home on Pasadena avenue, which has been the home of the family for more than a decade. In his political affil- iations Mr. Harrison was a pronounced Re- publican, but never cared for official recogni- tion, preferring instead the quiet contentment of his home circle.
CLAIRE W. MURPHY, M. D. Inheriting the qualities which have distinguished him in his line of work, Dr. Claire W. Murphy is named among the successful physicians and sur- geons of Los Angeles, where he has been en-
gaged in the practice of his profession ever since the completion of his studies. The doctor may be said to be a life-long resident of Los Angeles, as he was only a lad in years when brought to this city by his parents, his father, Dr. W. W. Murphy, becoming a prominent physician and surgeon here, where he is still engaged in prac- tice. (His life-history will be found on another page of this volume.) Claire W. Murphy was born in Decatur county, lowa, July 20, 1870, and in his native city received the rudiments of an education, after which he completed his studies in the public and high schools of Los Angeles. Inheriting the taste which led to his selection of medicine and surgery for his life- work, he read medicine with Dr. George W. Lasher, a noted physician of this city, after com- pleting the course in St. Vincent College. Later he became a student in the medical department of the University of Southern California, from which institution he was graduated in 1891. Following this he went to Boston, Mass., and matriculated in Harvard Medical College, doing post-graduate work in 1894. Returning to Los Angeles, he began a practice of his profession, which has resulted in more than ordinary suc- cess. He has risen steadily in the ranks of physicians and surgeons, significant of his abil- ity and his place among the men of this pro- fession being the position of consulting surgeon of the Los Angeles College, which he held for six years. For sixteen years he has also held the position of professor of anatomy in the col- lege of medicine, University of Southern Cali- fornia, and a like position in the dental college in the same institution, where he proved himself master of the situation. For a man of his age he has had a wide and successful experience, while actual practice has enriched the knowl- edge constantly gleaned from all sources afforded by medical journals, associations, etc. He is prominent as a member of the American Medical Association, State Medical Society, Southern California Medical Society, Los Angeles County Medical Association and the Academy of Medi- cine of Los Angeles.
The home of Dr. Murphy is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Blossom Williamson, of Lincoln, Neb., whom he married in 1899. They have one son, Warner Williamson Murphy. In
HRB. Ellison
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his fraternal relations the doctor is identified with the Masonic organization, being a member of Hollenbeck Lodge No. 319. F. & A. M .; Signet Chapter, R. A. M .; Los Angeles Com- mandery, K T .: Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Los Angeles Consistory, and he has taken the thirty-second degree. He is also a mem- ber of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and belongs to the University Club. As a phys- ician Dr. Murphy takes first rank and is held in the highest esteem by all who have known him, both in a professional way and socially. He has many friends who appreciate his qualities of manhood and honor him for his citizenship. which means the co-operation in all movements pertaining to the advancement of the city's best interests.
DR. THOMAS BALCH ELLIOTT, who was one of the founders of Pasadena and gave to the city its beautiful name, was born July 20, 1824. at Brockport, N. Y. He came of a long line of sturdy New England ancestors, several of whom were officers in the Conti- nental army and navy. Of these his mother's father, Rev. Thomas Balch, had a most inter- esting career. As a young lad he served as "powder monkey" under John Paul Jones dur- ing his celebrated encounter with the Serapis. Later he was taken prisoner and carried to Ireland, where he spent many months on board a prison ship and suffered great privations. At the close of the war he returned home and graduated from Harvard, and later from the Dedham (Miass.) Theological Seminary, which was founded by his father and was the first theological school in America. In the war of 1812 he resigned his pastorate and entered the navy as chaplain. He was an officer on the Constitution at the capture of the Gurriere.
John Eliot, apostle to the Indians, was a great-grand uncle of Dr. Elliott. Deacon George Sumner, that beacon light of old New England, was also an ancestor. His father, Dr. John Brown Elliott, was a physician well known and beloved throughout central New York. He had two sons; of these Ezekiel Brown Elliott, the elder, was, like his brother, a graduate of Hamilton College. He early
entered the treasury department at Washing- ton. He soon rose to be the foremost math- ematician of the United States. For many years and until the close of his life he held the position of government actuary, all bills of congress in the department of finance pass- ing through his hands for investigation and approval. His rectitude in this important and dangerous position was absolute.
Dr. Elliott, who was the younger brother, after graduating from Hamilton College in the class of 1844, began the study of medicine. During this period he taught in a seminary in New York, spending his leisure hours in literary work. He soon proved to be a ver- satile writer and was connected with several leading journals of New England. His writ- ings over the signature of "Col. Muzzy" were widely read. During his residence in In- diana he wrote and published much in regard to the preservation of the native trees and the need of replanting the forests. After graduating from Jefferson Medical College Dr. Elliott ac- cepted a position as assistant physician in the Indiana hospital for the insane, and moved to Indiana. where he remained until he again moved westward, this time to California. From the first an ardent abolitionist. he was the only man in the state of Indiana, who, in 1852, voted the Free soil ticket. While still physician at the Insane Asylum Dr. Elliott married Miss Helen Agnes Brown, of Goshen, Ind. Miss Brown was the youngest daughter of Ebenezer Brown, one of the builders of the Erie canal. After this great project was completed Mr. Brown moved with his family to Northern Indiana, where he remained until his death. After leaving the hospital for the insane Dr. Elliott pur- chased a farm on the western outskirts of Indianapolis. This was improved by a land- scape gardener into a lovely home. Preced- ing the war Dr. Elliott was physician on the famous Underground Railway, a station of which was located near his house and many a weary despairing slave was blessed by his skilful attentions. Apropos of this, when, shortly after the war, the doctor and his fam- ily entered one of the leading hotels of Mon- treal, he was recognized by some of the col-
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ored servants, most of whom were escaped slaves, and the devotion and gratitude be- stowed upon him by these poor creatures was pathetie if a little embarrassing. During the war Dr. Elliott was appointed by Governor Morton as special surgeon to look after the welfare of the Indiana soldiers. This duty he faithfully performed, visiting the armies of the Potomac and Cumberland. He was an actor in the chaos which reigned at the time of the first Battle of Bull Run and was with Grant's army at the siege of Vicksburg.
About 1861 Dr. Elliott gave up the practice of medicine and opened a commission busi- ness in grain and flour, building in Indianap- olis on the banks of the Pogues run the first grain elevator in Indiana. During this period he was for some time president of the Board of Trade, and was also commercial editor of the Indianapolis Journal, but it is for the build- ing up of its superb school system that the people of Indiana's capital hold him in grate- ful remembrance. For twelve years he gave the best of his strength and time to the school interests and the result is a common school system which is, in many respects, second to none in the world.
In 1872, discouraged by the severity of the climate of the middle west, Mrs. Elliott pro- posed to her husband that they remove to a region where the changes of temperature were less extreme. California was her choice, as all her life she had desired to see the land of gold and oranges. This proposition Dr. Elliott discussed with his brother-in-law, D. M. Berry, who was enthusiastic over the scheme. Many of their business associates became interested and an association was formed called the California Colony of In- diana with an enrollment of a hundred names, of which some sixty were then heads of fam- ilies, leading business men of the Hoosier me- tropolis.
In the summer of 1873 this colony sent out to the Pacific coast Mr. Berry and Gen. Nathan Kimball as agents employed to purchase land. While these gentlemen were traveling over Southern California examining various ranches the panic of that period overwhelmed the business centers of the east and only a few
of the original subscribers to the colony were able to carry out their part of the scheme, so the colony was dissolved. After many dis- appointments and much delay Mr. Berry, Thomas H. Croft, of Indianapolis, Judge B. S. Eaton, of Los Angeles, and others, succeed- ed in re-forming the colony in Los Angeles under the name of the San Gabriel Orange Grove Association. Half of this syndicate was formed by five of the surviving members of the original colony, one of whom was Dr. Elliott. Three thousand nine hundred and sixty-two acres of land lying north of Los Angeles at the foot of the Sierras was imme- diately purchased at the price of about $12.50 per acre. This land is included in the present limits of Pasadena and South Pasadena. The first payment was made December 27, 1873. and the final one December 27, 1874.
On the first day of December, 1874. Dr. El- liott and family reached Los Angeles. He im- mediately began to build on his property on the San Pasqual rancho, as the purchase was then called. His selection for his home was at a point on the banks of the Arroyo Seco nearly opposite the Scoville grade, then called the Fremont trail and later improved and owned by Mr. Scoville. The doctor built a large square, two-story frame house with double gallery and wings, much like the homes to be found south of the Mason and Dixon line. Here he entered with enthusiasm into the life of a rancher. A hard life it was, indeed, call- ing for an unlimited output of money, time and strength, but his delight in his semi-trop- ical home, his faith in California and its future never wavered.
To the colonist in those days land was val- uable only in proportion to the number of oranges it would raise per acre. It was not long before Dr. Elliott began to realize that this was a mistaken point of view. He saw that the country's chief asset was its climate. "Not in oranges," he prophesied, "will its wealth be in the future, but as a health re- sort, the land will become famous and the homes of health-seekers will cover its plains and valleys." Thinking this he would have formed an association to buy more land, all now incorporated in the city of Pasadena, but
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Samuel Calvert Foy
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they called him visionary and said that it sided in Washington until the death of Captain would be fifty years before he would get a Foy in July, 1833. return from his investment. After a year or two, during which time the settlement had been known in Los Angeles as the Indiana Colony, it was decided that the place must have a name. Foreseeing this Dr. Elliott had written to a college mate of his who was mis- sionary to the Indians in the northern Mis- sissippi valley asking for some Indian name signifying Crown or Key of the valley, the site of the little village being practically the key to the beautiful San Gabriel valley. In answer a number of Indian names with this signification were received, but Pasadena, a Chippewa name, was the one chosen by Dr. Elliott and later by the colonists at their year- ly meeting.
In all things relating to the highest good of Pasadena Dr. Elliott was ever deeply inter- ested. He was alert to preserve the oak trees, to lay out wide streets, and to retain the musical Spanish names. He and Thomas H. Croft were the first board of trustees of the first church of Pasadena, the Presbyterian, numbering in 1906 over seven hundred mem- bers. Dr. Elliott's death occurred August 13, 1881, at the age of fifty-seven years. There survive him his wife, Helen A. Elliott, and four children: Mrs. Arturo Bandini, Mrs. Arthur Ayres, Whittier Elliott, and Agnes Elliott. Mrs. Ayres' home is in Berkeley, Cal., while the remainder of Dr. Elliott's children still live in Pasadena.
SAMUEL CALVERT FOY was born in Washington, D. C., under the shadow of the Capitol, September 23, 1830. His father was Capt. John Foy, a native of Ireland, and for many years superintendent of the Capitol grounds. His mother was Mary Calvert, a native of the state of Kentucky, and daughter of Christopher Calvert, a Virginian, claiming de- scent from George Calvert, first Lord Balti- more. Capt. John Foy and Mary Calvert were married at her father's house near Lexington, Ky., November 11, 1817, by the Rev. W. Bad- den, a French Catholic missionary, and they re-
Samuel Calvert Foy was not quite three years of age at the time of his father's death. His mother returned to her people in Ken- tucky and there her three sons, James Calvert, John Moran, and Samuel Calvert, grew to man- hood. Samuel was educated at Morgan Aca- demy, Burlington, Ky., a school famous in its day, and boasting such well-known teachers as McGuffey and Ray. On leaving school, he went to Covington, Ky., where his mother, who had married again, was then residing. He learned the harness trade in Cincinnati, with the founder of the house of Perkins, Campbell & Co. In 1849 he left Kentucky and moved to Natchez, Miss., where he followed his trade until 1852. In that year he caught the gold fever and sailed for California, going by way of Havana and the Isthmus of Panama. Land- ing in San Francisco, he stored his trunk and set out for the mines. Footsore and weary, he reached Douglas Flat, and was walking half heartedly through the camp, when a hearty voice called out. "Why, hello, Sam." and there were his two brothers, Jim, afterwards Colonel James Foy of the Twenty-third Kentucky In- fantry, and John, well known to all the early residents of Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
In 1854 Mr. Foy left the mines. He came to Los Angeles and finding a good opening, sent to San Francisco to the firm of Main & Winchester for goods and established the bus- iness which has long been advertised as the "oldest business house in Los Angeles." In 1855 his brother John came south and the brothers formed a co-partnership which was managed for about ten years by John M. Foy, while Samuel C. Foy looked after extensive cattle interests in the northern portion of the state.
In October, 1860, Samuel Calvert Foy and Lucinda Macy, daughter of Dr. Obed and Lu- cinda Polk Macy, were married in Los Ange- les. They made their home in San Joaquin county until 1865. when they returned perma- nently to Los Angeles. The brothers then dis- solved partnership, Samuel C. Foy continuing the Los Angeles house, and John Foy establish-
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ing himself in the same line of business in San Bernardino.
In politics Mr. Foy was a splendid example of an old-line Democrat. Never a politician, but always a close and sharp observer, he had the clearest understanding of the meaning and value, the full significance of the political prin- ciples he professed. He was a man who knew no fear, and during the troubled months fol- lowing the assassination of President Lincoln he paced the streets of Los Angeles at night to preserve order. the city's first peace officer. He was a zealous member of the Masonic fra- ternity until failing health forced him to leave the work to others.
After a life well spent he died at his home in Los Angeles in 1901. His wife and six children survived him. These children were one son, James Calvert Foy, and five daugh- ters, Mary, Cora, Edna and Florence Foy, and Mrs. Alma Foy Woolwine. Mr. Foy passed on to his children the heritage of his good name, as had his father and his father's fa- thers. He was a thoroughly honest man, whose name was as good as his bond. His chief joy was his family and he was proud to give his children the best educational advan- tages. He was a useful citizen and a patriot ; one of the pioneers of California, whom her native sons should be proud to emulate.
ANDREW MCNALLY. The name of An- drew McNally is well known in Southern Cali- fornia as well as on the other side of the con- tinent, for in this sunny clime he established one of the most beautiful homes of Altadena, and in the great city of the middle west he contributed his time, energy and ability to the development of a successful business enterprise. The traits which distinguished his character were an inher- itance from Scotch ancestry, his grandfather being known in Scotland because of his ability to improve and intelligently cultivate his farm. His father was also born in Scotland, and there married a daughter of Holland, combining the sturdy qualities of that hardy nation with those of his own land. They had a large family and Andrew McNally, the eighth in order of birth, was early forced to seek his own livelihood. He
received his early education in the common schools and was then apprenticed to learn the trade of printer. He mastered the details and continued to work at the trade in Chicago, and from the humble beginning of a youth rose to the position which was his as a partner in the world-known firm of Rand, McNally & Co., whose atlases of the world are used in every schoolroom on the globe. His success in this line was not due to accident or good fortune, but resulted wholly from the application of his own natural ability, coupled with his indefatig- able energy and perseverance. It is not to be presumed that there were no difficulties in his pathway, but that the obstacles were overcome is indisputable proof of the latent qualities of the man. Suffice it to say he did succeed and rose to a position of unusual esteem among the business men of Chicago, being universally com- mended for his straightforward dealing in all matters of business, the stanch integrity of all his methods, and the genuine business ability which brought the large financial returns for the efforts of the firm.
This perhaps was the lifework of Mr. Mc- Nally. And yet in no less degree a part of his success was that which he named as his recrea- tion. He was a man of versatile ability and throughout his entire life left no effort unmade to broaden his own life and character and make more complete the lives of those about him. Home life appealed to him forcibly, even at the time that he was seeking to build up a suc- cessful business enterprise. In Chicago he owned various residences which he beautified in every possible way. He was burned out in the great fire of '71, finally purchased a farm of eighty acres at Elmhurst and found some pleasure in the cultivation of the land. He returned to Chi- cago, however, and eventually erected five stone- front houses on Park avenue, opposite Lincoln Park, one of which he occupied himself, and the others he gave to his married son and daugh- ters. This remained his Chicago home. It was about 1880 that he came to California and near Pasadena purchased four hundred acres of land, now in what is known as Altadena, a place .named by himself. He built a modest house on one side of the tract, at the same time planting on about ten acres of the ground orange and lemon
Il+. Alderson.
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trees and many kinds of shade and ornamental trees and laying out flower beds and setting out shrubbery. The next winter he occupied his own house and enjoyed his improving ranch. Other easterners of financial means wintering in the beautiful climate and seeing the results of a little intelligent culture purchased individ- ually pareels of the original four hundred acres, each making liberal improvements and erecting handsome buildings until Altadena has become far famed in its perennial beauty. For six years prior to his death Mr. McNally had left the management of his business entirely to others and devoted himself to the culture of flowers and the raising of song birds, which were imported by him from nearly all lands and climes, ae- climated and turned loose with their broods. His conservatory was a place of beauty, the tropics having been searched for exotics-palms and ferns from Japan and the East Indies, and in- dleed from almost every country of the world. He also became the owner of a twenty-five hun- dred acre ranch known as La Mirada, and here he had large lemon groves and grain field, hav- ing given it every possible attention until one thousand acres were cultivated.
The connection of Mr. McNally with all pro- gressive and enterprising movements for the ben- efit of the community in which he lived-Chicago or Southern California-was well known, both enjoying his assistance, whether material or only a word of advice. Age did not lessen his in- terest in everything that appealed to the intelli- gent and the progressive. Practical, thorough and receptive of the new ideas in the industry to which he devoted his life, he was also a far- sighted and sagacious man in all the wider fields of business energy in which he was engaged. As chairman of the finance committee of the World's Fair in 1903 he exercised considerable influence in the raising of ten million dollars among the merchants of the city. He was a member of the Old Time Printers' Association, the Knights Templar and the Union League Club.
In his home life, however, Mr. McNally's greatest enjoyment was found. His wife, a woman of rare qualities of character, cultured and refined, was before marriage Miss Adelia M. Highland, a native of Chicago and the rep-
resentative of an old family of prominence. Their union was blessed by the birth of four children, one son and three daughters, namely: Frederick G., now a prominent business man of Chicago; Helen B., Mrs. Belford; Nannie M., wife of F. D. Neff, president of the Pasadena Tourna- ment of Roses Association and secretary of the Southern California Horse Show ; and Elizabeth B., Mrs. Henry B. Clow, of Chicago.
Mr. McNally's character was an unusual com- bination of qualities; possessing great talents for business, diligent in whatever labor he under- took, and yet combined with a temperament of such force and personality, a nature of amiabil- ity, patience and sympathy, it was but natural that he should have an extensive acquaintance and that his reputation should have been world- wide. He possessed rare qualities of character and throughout his entire life had sought only to develop that which was best and highest within him, living up to his ideals to the time of his death, which occurred on the 7th of May, 1904.
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