USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 30
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ties as prosecutor in his distriet, and at the close of his term, so thoroughly were his ability and fi- delity appreciated, that he was nominated and elected his own successor for another term of four years. In 1861, with continued improvement in health, the desire to take up private practice once more led to his association with Hon. N. H. Purple, ex-judge of the supreme court of Illi- nois, and under the name of Purple & McCoy they carried on an excellent practice in all of the courts for about two years, or until the death of Judge Purple in August of 1863. As has been previously stated, it was in the fall of 1864 that Mr. McCoy became a candidate for the legisla- ture, his career in that body adding still greater honors to his brilliant achievements. With the close of his term in the legislature, in the spring of 1867. he formed a partnership with Judge M. Williamson and John S. Stevens, a partnership which existed under the name of Williamson, Mc- Coy & Stevens until the death of Judge William- son in 1868, after which it became MeCoy & Stevens. A large and lucrative practice was accorded them, including not only practice in the surrounding counties, but in the supreme court of the state and the cirenit and distriet courts of the United States at Chicago. Yielding to the persuasions of friends, in May of 1871 he took up his residence in the latter city and sub- sequently formed a partnership for legal practice with George F. Harding. They had been estab- lished in business but a few months when the great conflagration of October, 1871, crossed their path and Mr. MeCoy's valuable and exten- sive law library was completely destroyed. Un- dis nayed by their losses, however, they once more established themselves in business at an- other location and the following year admitted Lorin G. Pratt into the partnership, the firm of Harding. MeCoy & Pratt carrying on a lucrative practice until Mr. Harding's retirement from the firm in 1875. Under the name of MeCoy & Pratt business increased with rapid strides, in- cluding litigation in all of the courts, and dur- ing the last five years included considerable rail- road litigation. The sudden death of Mr. Pratt of heart disease September 23, 1881, once more left Mr. MeCoy alone in business. An inveterate worker, he undertook the care of the large prac- tice alone, working early and late in handling the
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large volume of business which his clients were loath to place elsewhere. The strain of over- work. however, began to tell upon his constitution to such an extent that his retirement from prac- tice was advised. Subsequently he removed to California. in the winter of 1888, and his death in Pasadena February 10, 1893, ended a career of usefulness from a professional standpoint, and left to mourn his loss a widow and a son, besides innumerable friends and associates. The son, Alva D. S. McCoy, is a graduate of the Califor- nia State University at Berkeley and the Cooper Medical College of San Francisco. Since his graduation he has been located in Pasadena as a practicing physician. He married Helen, a daughter of Rev. L. P. Crawford, of Pasadena, and they have one son, Donald.
Mr. MeCoy formed domestic ties by his mar- riage, October 7, 1857. to Miss Sarah J. Math- ews, of Lee, N. H., a woman of excellent mental qualities and a graduate of the female seminary at Mount Holyoke, Mass. At her death in 1863 she left a daughter Sarah, who died in 1892. Mr. McCoy's second marriage occurred June 23, 1869, and united him with Miss Lucinda E. Dut- ton, a native of New York, one who in every way, mentally and socially, was a fitting com- panion. Immediately thereafter, with his wife and daughter, he went abroad, making a complete tour of England and the continent, and upon his return to Peoria in 1870 once more resumed his legal practice. Though passed to that bourne whence no traveler returns, the influence of Mr. MeCoy's life will ever remain an inspiration to those who were privileged to know him. A gen- erosity of heart and highmindedness of motive in all acts, publie or private, displayed a person- ality that was broad and deep and one that cir- eumstances or ulterior influences could not alter one iota.
CONRAD HAFEN. Across the vista of passing years the thoughts of this old pioneer often revert to the year 1868, with its exciting journey across the plains and its train of expe- riences in the far west. The ranks of the pio- neers are fast thinning out, but fortunate it is that some still remain to receive the appreciation of a younger generation and to enjoy the bless-
ings of a twentieth-century civilization. The past and the present seem to be brought nearer together when it is remembered that these men, still active factors in our development, were wit- nesses of our history. Born in Scherzingen, Canton Turgau, September 11, 1824, Conrad Hafen was a child of six years at the death of his father, Casper Hafen, who was a shoemaker by trade. Five children were born of his mar- riage with Barbara Venk, and Conrad was next to the youngest of the number. Under the sunny skies of his native land he passed his boyhood and youth, interspersing attendance at the public schools with such work as he could find to do. Living in an agricultural community it was quite natural that in selecting a calling he should give his preference to farming, and this he did, and in addition to raising the products common to the average farm he also raised grapes in large quantities. As long as he remained in his native land he continued to follow this life, dis- continuing it however in 1860 to make his home in the new world, concerning which he had heard very favorable reports as a place where a young man with push and energy could ad- vance rapidly and make a name and place for himself. His hopes and aspirations at that time were not in vain, for with the passing of the years he has been enabled to win success in spite of difficulties, and today is one of the best be- loved citizens of Los Angeles, which he has seen develop from a small town of five thousand inhabitants to its present size and standing among the cities of the world.
Landing on the shores of the new world at Castle Garden, N. Y., Mr. Hafen went from there by rail to Omaha, Neb., where he outfitted with ox-teams and wagons and the other necessities essential for a trip across the plains. Three months of hard travel, interspersed with numer- ous attacks from hostile Indians, finally brought the party to their journey's end at Salt Lake City. In that locality Mr. Hafen remained for two years, following farming in the mean time, and later carried on a similar business near Santa Clara, Utah. After making his home in Utah for eight years, or until 1868, he once more took up the westward march and with a six-horse team made his way to Southern Cali- fornia, crossing Death Valley by way of Cajon
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Pass and reaching Los Angeles December 16. Here the climate and conditions were such as to remind him of his experiences as a vineyardist in his native land, and for two years he rented a vineyard in this locality. The undertaking proved a success, judged from the fact that he afterward purchased land on what is now the corner of Central avenue and Fourteenth street and set out a vineyard of his own, in time having one of the largest and most productive vine- yards in the locality. Finally, in 1878, he dis- posed of the property and has since lived re- tired, now making his home in a comfortable residence at No. 1156 San Julian street. Not only as a vineyardist is Mr. Hafen well known, but his name has been perpetuated in the Hafen house, which he erected in 1876, and some years later, in 1899, he built the new Hafen house on South Hill street. This latter hostelry he dis- posed of in 1905. Many residences scattered throughout the city have also been erected by Mr. Hafen.
During young manhood and while still a resi- dent of Switzerland, Mr. Hafen formed domes- tic ties by his marriage with Miss Margaret Hafen, who like himself was born in that coun- try. She died in Los Angeles, January 7, 1901, having become the mother of five children, of whom three are still living, as follows: Louis, Elisa, the wife of William Brice; and Ida, Mrs. Dedrich, all residents of Los Angeles. Politically Mr. Hafen is a Republican. Personally he is a man who stands high in the estimation of those who know him, all appreciating his fine qualities of manhood and generosity of heart. Liberal to a fault, he gives of his means with a lavish hand, and many have reason to bless him for benefac- tions and kind, friendly advice.
MAJOR DAVID ROE BURNHAM. Pa- triotism has ever been a prominent character- istic of the Burnham family, but in none of its representatives has the expression of this quality had better opportunity than in the life of Major David R. Burnham. When the first gun that opened the conflict between the north and the south was fired he was a young man of twenty-six years, full of vigor and patriotic ardor, and when the call came for able-bodied
men he was among the first to offer his sery- ices. From Carbondale, Pa., where he was born November 20, 1835, he enlisted in his country's service August 28, 1861, and was made first lieutenant of the Sixty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers. From time to time he was honored with promotion by his su- periors, who recognized in him qualities of leadership and a knowledge of military tactics not possessed by the average soldier. June 20. 1863, he was made ordnance officer of the Third Division, Third Army Corps of the Po- tomac, and on November 6 of the same year was made captain of his regiment. During his service of four years he had encountered many hard-fought engagements, and was a partici- pant in the following battles: Winchester, Maryland Heights, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Monocacy, and also participated in the mili- tary operations in the Shenandoah Valley.
After the close of the war Mr. Burnham be- came second lieutenant of the Thirty-fifth In- fantry, Regular Army of the United States, where as in his previous service, he was ad- vanced for meritorious deeds, his commission bearing date June 18, 1867. August 12, 1869, this regiment was consolidated with the Fif- teenth Infantry and became the Fifteenth United States Infantry, in which he served as second lieutenant, and it was while in this command that he was promoted to first liett- tenant January 1, 1875. His promotion to the captaincy of his regiment occurred October 31, 1884, a commission which he held through- out the remainder of his service. For some time he had been failing in health, but was unwilling to resign from the army. Con- tinted ill health, however, finally made a change necessary and he retired from the service June 15, 1891. In recognition of his faithful service in years past he was promoted to major on the retired list April 23, 1904. After the failure of his health Major Burnham sought the mild climate of California in the hope of regaining his former strength. a hope which has been realized to its fullest expecta- tion, for since coming to Pasadena in 1896 he has practically renewed his youth.
Major Burnham was united in marriage
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February 22, 1859, with Olive E. Powers, by a very large majority. In January, 1907, he who, like himself, is a native of Pennsylvania. entered upon the duties of the position, to which he gives the required time and attention. her birth occurring in Milford, where her father, Edmond Powers, was a well-known citizen. Two sons, William P. and Ralph B., were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burnham, a sketch of the former appearing elsewhere in this vol- ume. The family home is one of the finest residences in Pasadena, and here with his wife Major Burnham is passing his later years i. the rest from care which his many years of meritorious service make possible. He is a member of California Commandery, Military Order Loyal Legion of the United States.
THEODORE SUMMERLAND. Not only through prominence in the commercial circles of Los Angeles, but also by reason of identification with civic progress and local politics, Mr. Sum- merland ranks among the well-known men of the city. Many years have passed since he came to the then small town of Los Angeles and since then he has associated himself with every move- ment tending toward the development of local resources and the increased prosperity of the peo- ple. As early as 1888 he was first chosen a mem- ber of the city council from the eighth ward, serving two terms of two years each, and during this time he gave much attention to the duties of the office, favoring every project for the intro- duction of modern improvements and for the ad- vancement of business interests. From 1894 un- til 1808 he served as county assessor. During 1902 he was elected councilman for one term from the fourth ward, and following his re-election in 1904 he served as president of the council until 1906. Under his executive leadership the coun- cil accomplished much for the benefit of the city and instituted many improvements rendered necessary by the town's rapid upbuilding into a. commercial metropolis. Not the least of these improvements was the inauguration of the Owens river project, laying the plans now on the eve of success which will bring to Los Angeles an abundant supply of pure mountain water for all time to come. At the convention held in Santa Cruz in September, 1906, he received the nomi- nation of the Republican party as railroad com- missioner of the third district and was elected
Shortly after the marriage of Isaac Summer- land and Eliza Fellows, which was solemnized in their native England, they crossed the ocean to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania, where their two children, a daughter and son, were born. For a time they lived in Cumberland county, Pa. The father came to California in 1852, and ten years later he was joined by his family, they making the journey by the water route. At first they made their home in Yuba and Plumas counties, but eventually settled in Lake county, where the mother died in 1883, and the father and sister three years later. The only surviving member of the family is Theo- core, a native of Cumberland county, Pa., born September 6, 1852, and the recipient of a public- school education in the home neighborhood. After coming to the Pacific coast he was a stu- dent for a short time at the Napa Collegiate In- stitute. On taking up life's activities he assisted his father in a store in Greenville, Plumas county, and later was employed by the Wells- Fargo Express Company in Marysville.
An appointment as agent of the Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company brought Mr. Summer- land to Los Angeles in 1877, from which point he had charge of the company's policies and busi- ness covering a very large territory. Later he established an independent life, fire and accident insurance business, of which he was the local agent, and since then he has continued doing a general insurance business in this city. For three years he served as special agent of the Liverpool, London and Globe Fire Insurance Company of Southern California. The demands of his busi- ness affairs and the discharge of his official duties occupy his time and attention, yet he finds leisure to promote outside movements and to identify himself with the Los Angeles Chamber of Com- merce. For some years he has been a leading local worker in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being first past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 99, in Los Angeles. A firm believer in the high principles for which Masonry stands, he has been a member since he was of age and is now associated with Los Angeles Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M .. as well as the chapter in this city, and is
Callaghan Byzny
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also a member of the Knights of Pythias. So- cially he is a member of the Union League Club, and politically he has always been a very active worker in Republican ranks. Alike in fraternal relations, business affairs and official positions he has proved energetic, resourceful and capable, and his citizenship has been an honor to himself and to his city.
Mrs. Summerland was formerly Mrs. Estelle (Sallady) Unger, widow of the former city audi- tor, Elijah Unger. She was born in Ohio and came to California with her parents when a child.
CALLAGHAN BYRNE. Probably there is no one in all Los Angeles county who is not familiar with the name and location of the Byrne building in Los Angeles. This was one of the first instances of the use of light-colored brick south of San Francisco, and so pleasing has it become to the eye that the precedent thus established has since been followed by all erecting modern office buildings.
Mr. Byrne is a native of the sunny south, having been born in New Orleans, La. Dur- ing his boyhood years his parents came to California and established their home in San Francisco, so that practically his entire life has been passed in this state. His education was received in the parochial schools of that city, and he was graduated from St. Ignatius College. During his early boyhood years he was associated with men of large real estate interests, and although he did not enter that field at first, he soon drifted into it, and with resulting credit to himself and to the city to which he later moved. Soon after leaving college he became assistant passenger and ticket agent and cashier of the San Francisco & North Pacific Railroad, otherwise known as the Donahue line, and also auditor for the same company. He has held large trusts of honor and retains the confidence of all who know him for his unquestioned integrity.
It was in 1882, while on his way to the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, that Mr. Byrne first saw the city of Los Angeles. From that time on he did not cease to persuade his relatives and friends to invest in this city. so favorable had been his first impressions,
and he, his mother, Mrs. Margaret Irvine, and his brother, began investing in real estate here as early as 1886. It was in 1892 that Mr. Byrne located in the city permanently, and has since thrown his whole life into the upbuilding and advancement of its best in- terests. Wisely foreseeing the need of a mod- ern office building in a city that was making such rapid strides in population he set about drawing the plans for such a structure, the classical front and general plan being the joint design of himself and his brother, James W. Byrne, of San Francisco. The building is admirably located on the corner of Third and Broadway, covering a ground space 120X105 feet, and is five stories in height. It is his present intention to enlarge the build- ing by the erection of two additional stories. Of classical design and architecture, it is con- structed of what is called Roman brick, shipped from Lincoln, Placer county, this state, a brick which is more expensive than that used in the construction of any other building in Los Angeles. As has been pre- viously stated, the Byrne building was the first light-colored building erected in this city, and furthermore was the first modern office building to appear on Broadway. The struct- tire has been a model for most of the office buildings that have since been erected in this city. If there is one feature more than an- other that makes the Byrne building attract- ive to tenants it is the fact that it is so ar- ranged as to be well lighted at all times, in fact the light problem was one of the prime considerations with Mr. Byrne in drawing the plans of the building.
Quality and not quantity has been a prin- ciple that Mr. Byrne has rigidly adhered to throughout his life. He did more than any other man to impart the irreproachable char- acter to Broadway that it now enjoys by awaiting tenants of stores who would create a fashionable shopping district and give the locality a metropolitan tone from the start. This was never better illustrated than at the time tenants were seeking admission into the Byrne building after its completion ; only those were admitted who bore the highest reputation ; as a consequence a number of the
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stores remained idle for a time. From the first Mr. Byrne has endeavored to raise or rather keep high the standard of Broadway as a high-class commercial street, and the fore- going incident is a practical demonstration of his sincerity in the matter. At one time there was an attempt to prevail upon property owners to permit a saloon on the block, and when the matter was placed before Mr. Byrne for his opinion he made the most of the op- portunity to plead for the maintenance of a clean thoroughfare, one in which ladies would feel free to transact business without embar- rassment. This influence had the desired re- sult, as is seen in the fact that from Second. street to Fifth on Broadway, a distance of more than two thousand feet, not a single saloon is to be seen, something unequaled in a non-prohibition city. The effect of this is that property on that street rents and sells for a higher price than on any other street in the city, and the location of the Byrne build- ing is the choicest shopping corner in the city. Mr. Byrne initiated removing poles from the streets by having owners consent to the pres- ent system of running the trolley wires to the buildings.
In addition to his property interests in Los Angeles, Mr. Byrne owns valuable land in Santa Barbara, most of which is on the ocean front ; lemon groves in Montecito, and oil lands, as well as valuable property in Orange county, Santa Clara valley, and in San Fran- cisco, also property interests in other states. From the foregoing it is easily seen that Mr. Byrne is a public-spirited man in the best sense of that word. He is one of the mem- bers of the Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, has been chairman and on commit- tees of the Fiesta, and is a stockholder in numerous financial institutions both in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Socially he is a member of the Jonathan Club. He is a widower, and his only child, a son, Callaghan Byrne, Jr., is now a bright lad of six years.
Mr. Byrne is of a retiring, kindly nature, with literary and artistic ability. He enjoys traveling, a pleasure which has taken him over the greater part of the world, he having been several times to Europe, and in every state
in the Union. He and his mother and brother lost a very valuable collection of paintings, marble and bronze statuary, bric a brac and library in the San Francisco conflagration. He has declined political offices and directorships of institutions, even the presidency of a bank, preferring to be free to travel, as he has a sufficiency of worldly goods.
MRS. EMMA A. SUMMERS. That the highest qualities of womanhood and the strong capabilities necessary to a business life may go hand in hand has been demonstrated in the career of Mrs. Emma A. Summers, one of the most suc- cessful operators in oil lands and real estate of Southern California. Born and bred in Ken- tucky, she spent the earlier years of her life in Hickman, where her father, Capt. W. L. Mc- Cutcheon, engaged as a merchant and banker. He was a native of Tennessee and was descended from an old southern family, originally of Scotch-Irish extraction ; he spent the last years of his life in Kentucky, where he rose to promi- nence in the business world, as well as winning a large circle of friends who held him in the highest appreciation because of his sterling traits of character. His wife, formerly Jennie E. Gar- rison, was a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Major J. E. Garrison, a large planter of that state ; she still survives and makes her home in Kentucky. A relative of the Mccutcheons is Gen. John Thomas Mccutcheon, of Virginia, while other members of the family have risen to prominence in various walks of life.
Emma A. Mccutcheon received a preliminary education in the select schools of Kentucky, after which, having developed unusual musical tastes, she was sent to Boston, Mass., where she took a complete course in the New England Conserva- tory of Music. The talent then developed has remained an important one throughout her entire life, and after she came to Los Angeles she util- ized it by organizing a large class of music pupils, some of whom have been very successful in the work. Shortly after returning to her home in Kentucky Miss Mccutcheon became the bride of A. C. Summers, and together they located their home in the western country. In the same year that they removed to Fort Worth, Tex., they
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came on to Southern California, this being in 1881, and it was here that Mrs. Summers began the development of the business ability which has distinguished her among the financiers of this part of the Pacific coast. She at once began deal- ing in real estate, in which she was very suc- cessful. At the time of the first oil activity in this section (1892), when oil was discovered in the vicinity of her home on California street, Mrs. Summers secured a good location for her first well, which is evidenced when it is known that the well is still producing ( 1907). It is lo- cated on Court street, near Temple, in what was formerly the very heart of the oil belt. Since that day Mrs. Summers has sunk many wells in vari- ous parts of the oil field and to-day is the larg- est individual operator in crude oil in California and is frequently referred to as the "oil queen." a title that she has earned by virtue of her ex- tensive and stupendous operations in the oil fields. She maintains a suite of handsome offices in the Herman W. Hellman building, where she con- ducts her extensive affairs, having held contracts at different times with such oil-consuming plants as those operated by the Los Angeles Railway Company, the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, the Redondo Railway Company, the Pacific Light & Power Company, the Ice & Cold Storage Company, besides a number of oil refineries and practically every large hotel, laun- dry and machine shop in the city.
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