USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 47
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Nancy Arreen Barker
DE Backer.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Blanchard, for the large practice which he con- trols today represents the labor and study of years. As a recompense he has the satisfaction of claiming as his clients many of the well- known and influential business men of Los An- geles. His office is in the Temple block.
It was some time after his location in Los Angeles that Mr. Blanchard met the lady who was to become his wife, his marriage with Miss Lucy U. Shackelford occurring in this city in 1884. She is of southern parentage and was born in Virginia. Mr. Blanchard is esteemed for his many admirable and exemplary traits of char- acter, his unfailing good nature and general in- terest in all that tends to benefit his home city. The possession of these qualities shows nowhere more prominently than in the work connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a member, and as a member of the visiting committee of the City Hospital.
OBADIAH TRUAX BARKER. In tracing the lineage of the Barker family, first represent- ed in California by Obadiah T. Barker, a pioneer and one of the prominent business men and up- builders of Los Angeles, it is found that they are of Anglo Saxon ancestry, the name having orig- inated through the occupation of the progenitor, which was that of barking trees. The location of the family on this side of the Atlantic antedates the Revolutionary war, the emigrating ancestor settling in North Carolina and the Virginias, where the name flourished for several genera- tions. Inheriting the pioneer spirit of his fore- fathers, Thomas Barker became a resident of Ken- tucky, during the historic days of the state, establishing a home, winning a competence, and proving an important factor in the development and upbuilding of the western commonwealth. In his family was a son, Obadiah Truax, a native of Kentucky, who, in young manhood, removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there learned the trade of blacksmith. Later he located in the unsettled portions of Indiana and there engaged in the prosecution of his trade and at the same time established a mercantile enterprise, which occu- pation formed his chief interest throughout his entire life. He married Miss Mary Stalker, the
daughter of Jonathan Stalker, a native of North Carolina and also an early settler of Kentucky and a prominent and successful man. They reared a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom attained maturity, the only survivor, however, being Obadiah T. Barker, of this review.
Obadiah T. Barker was born in Scotland, Ind., March 10, 1828, in the vicinity of his birthplace was reared to young manhood, receiving his edu- cational training in the public schools of Greene county. He prepared for college and shortly afterward entered the state university at Bloom- ington, where he pursued his studies for a time, an interruption being afforded by the offer of a clerkship at $11 per month in a store formerly owned by his father. He at once left school and took up the duties of this position, holding the same for eighteen months. Finally resigning his clerkship he formed a partnership with Dr. J. A. Dagley, each furnishing $250, with which they purchased and opened a mercantile business. Both being men of executive ability, good judg- ment and decision of character, their enterprise was a success and their interests remained iden- tical for five years. At the expiration of this time Mr. Barker purchased the entire interest of the business and continued the enterprise alone for several years. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy Arreen Record, a native of Scotland, Ind., and a daughter of Josiah Record. Their home remained in that place for some time after their marriage, when Mr. Barker sold his stock and moved to Owensburg, Ind., and there established another enterprise of a similar nature. He became prom- inent in public affairs while a resident of that place, and was elected auditor of Greene coun- ty on the Republican ticket, serving for a term of four years. Upon the expiration of his term of service in 1872 he located with his family in Col- orado Springs, Colo., which was then only a small place. On Tejon street he established the first general merchandise business of the town, and in addition to the patronage received from the residents of Colorado Springs traded with the Indians and freighters; he built up a lu- crative trade and in 1880, when he disposed of his interests, was recognized as one of the lead- ing business men of the then thriving city. He took a prominent part in all public affairs and
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gave his best efforts for the advancement of the general welfare and the development of resources.
Coming to Los Angeles in 1880 Mr. Barker at once established a furniture and carpet business in partnership with Mr. Mueller, under the firm name of Barker & Mueller ; they located at No. 113 North Spring street, but found that they were too far out of the business district, which was then north of that section. The enterprise was then located near the Pico house, at that time the leading hotel of Los Angeles, and as Mr. Mueller had in the meantime sold his inter- est to Mr. Barker the firm became known as O. T. Barker & Sons. Out of this modest beginning has grown what is now known as the firm of Barker Brothers, their enterprise being one of the most extensive of its kind in Southern Cali- fornia. In 1887 Mr. Barker practically retired from business, although his name was still used in the style of the firm name until 1898, in which year the title became Barker Brothers. The new firm moved to the Van Nuys building at Nos. 420-424 South Spring street, which had been erected for their use, and they are still in this location engaged in the sale of furniture, car- pets, draperies and pictures. Their establishment is quite extensive, extending from Spring street through to Main street, and is several stories in height. Each department is ingeniously arranged to exhibit the stock to the best advantage and is carefully looked after by an expert in his line of work. Barker Brothers are fully equipped for the business they carry on and easily hold rank among the most extensive enterprises of the kind in Los Angeles.
After his retirement from business Mr. Bar- ker located in Pasadena, his home at No. 1449 Fair Oaks avenue being presided over by his wife. Of the six children born of their union three sons are living, namely: O. J., Charles H. and William A., all members of the business firm of Barker Brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are members of the First Baptist Church of Pas- adena, and are active in all philanthropical work. many charities, denominational and otherwise, receiving their liberal support. Very recently Mr. and Mrs. Barker celebrated their golden wed- ding, having traveled together the journey of life for fifty years. That they have seen happy and in the main prosperous years is evidenced by
visible signs ; financial independence has come to them and in their beautiful home they are sur- rounded with the comforts and luxuries made pos- sible by early industry and success, friends have increased with the passing years and to-day give honor and companionship to the sturdy pioneers who have borne the burden in the beginning of a western civilization and assisted with all the strength of physical, mental and moral qualities in the development of all resources. They have reared a family of sons who have long since tak- en their rightful place in the commercial world, to which they were early and successfully trained. In the management of their enterprise they have shown business ability, judgment and tact : O. J. Barker is prominent in commercial activity as pur- chasing agent for the Pacific Purchasing Com- pany, and purchases more furniture than any other one man in the United States. William A. Barker is manager of the same company and in the discharge of duties has exhibited unusual executive ability. Charles A. is manager of the Barker Brothers Furniture Company.
WILLIAM M. HIATT. Since 1887 William M. Hiatt has been a resident of Los Angeles county and has proven an important factor in its development and upbuilding. A native of Jasper county, Iowa, he was born March 24, 1868. He was reared to a useful manhood in his native locality, receiving a preliminary education in the public school, later graduating from the high school at Lynnville, Iowa, then entered Penn College at Oskaloosa. He was but nineteen years old when he came to California in 1887 and in Whittier established with others the Whittier Graphic, which later Mr. Hiatt moved to Newberg, Ore., where the paper is still be- ing issued under the name of the Newberg Graphic. Returning to California in 1889 he steadily rose to a position of confidence among the citizens of Whittier. In 1891 he came to Los Angeles and found employment. He read law in the office of Judge H. C. Dillon, and was admitted to practice in 1893. He then opened a law office in Whittier, Cal., where he built up a good practice. In 1901, desiring a broader field, he returned to Los Angeles and became identified with the legal department of
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the Title Insurance & Trust Company, continu- ing with them for about three years, when he established an independent practice. In 1903 he married Miss Clara Meredith, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of Robert Meredith, a prom- inent citizen and an early settler of that lo- cality. Mr. and Mrs. Hiatt have one son, John Meredith.
Since coming to Los Angeles Mr. Hiatt in- vested in real estate, buying and selling prop- erty in Los Angeles and vicinity. He is also a stockholder in the Home Savings Bank of Whittier and the Whittier National Bank, as well as the First National Bank of Los Angeles and National Bank of California. His office is located at 454-6-8 Wilcox building, where he is conducting a practice which is growing in size and importance. Mr. Hiatt is a member of the Jonathan Club and Union League Club, Chamber of Commerce, and Bar Association. For his personal qualities Mr. Hiatt is held in high esteem by all who know him and is valued for the high character of his citizenship.
JOSEPH W. WOLFSKILL. The history of a community is best told in the lives of its citizens, and when these citizens are men of forceful character, progressive and public-spir- ited, giving of the best in their lives not alone to the upbuilding of their own fortunes and the furthering of their own personal interests, but to the establishment and maintenance of en- terprises calculated to advance the general wel- fare of those about them, then indeed is such a career worthy of a place in the highest type of citizenship. Such qualities and characteristics have distinguished the Wolfskill family, estab- lished in Los Angeles county in February, 1831, and since that time proven a dominant force in the upbuilding of the western com- monwealth and the development of Southern California. The pioneer, William Wolfskill, was a native of Kentucky, his birth having oc- eurred in the vicinity of Richmond, March 20, 1798: his parents were of German and Irish extraction, inheriting from ancestors the spirit of sturdy courage and independence which prompted them to make for themselves and their children a home in what was then a wil-
derness. While he was still a child in years the family removed to Howard county, Mo., then the center of an Indian country, and dur- ing the war of 1812 considerable trouble was experienced from the hostility of the red men.
In 1815 William Wolfskill returned to Ken- tucky to attend school, and two years later was again located in the paternal home in Missouri, where he remained until he was twenty-four years of age. He received a practical training along agricultural lines and at the same time imbibed the spirit of the early day-the cour- age. independence and progressiveness which ever distinguished the pioneer. Young man- hood found him inclined to push farther into the west and after leaving home in 1822 he went to New Mexico, spending one year in Sante Fe. He then went down the Rio Grande to Paso del Norte, and trapped for beaver with a native of New Mexico, who gave proof of his villainy by shooting Mr. Wolf- skill in an endeavor to secure an insignificant plunder of hides, blankets and ammunition. However, the blankets, which were made of homespun, proved to be a most excellent ar- mor and checked the bullet, which entered the flesh near the lieart. Returning to Santa Fe, Mr. Wolfskill remained a brief time, after which he went to Taos and fitted out an expe- dition to the Colorado river, where he engaged in trapping until June of the same year. He had many adventures with the Indians during this period in the southwest and many narrow escapes, but finally returned to his home in Missouri. His health had been impaired by the hardships he had undergone during this time and he found it necessary to remain in Missouri for a time. Later he engaged in buy- ing up herds of cattle from the western ranges and driving them to eastern markets, which oc- cupation he found lucrative until the spring of 1828. At this date, he with others outfitted with a load of goods for New Mexico, and af- ter reaching that point and disposing of the goods he pursued his way to California, arriv- ing in Los Angeles in February, 1831.
Henceforth Mr. Wolfskill remained a eiti- zen of California and in the years following he gave no little toward the highest development of the state. The first schooner in California-
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
El Refugio-was built by him at San Pedro, and in it he made one trip to the coast islands in search of otter, after which he sold the ves- sel, which finally went to the Sandwich Is- lands. He then turned his attention to that which occupied the greater part of his time throughout the remainder of his life-the cul- tivation of citrus fruits and grapes and the raising of stock. He planted the first orange grove in this section in 1841 and demonstrated the fact that Southern California possessed a climate that would produce the finest fruit in the world. In 1856 he planted two thousand trees a little southwest of what is now the Ar- cade depot, this being the largest orchard at the time in Southern California. For many years thereafter this ranch proved one of the most prolific orange bearers in the state, as many as twenty-five thousand boxes of oranges and lemons being shipped in a single year. The growth of the city has long since displaced the orange grove, but the early pioneers of Los Angeles remember it as one of the first fruits of the eastern civilization. In addition to his efforts along this line, Mr. Wolfskill also gave considerable time and attention to the growing of nuts, at one time importing sweet almonds from Italy and attempting their growth. The climate here was evidently not adapted to their culture and this effort proved a failure, although in the cultivation of other nuts he was highly successful.
With the growth of the city Mr. Wolfskill found opportunity to improve his property and this he did, to the material advantage of his own property and that about him, finally dis- posing of one tract for the large sum of $200,- 000. To Mr. Wolfskill is owed much for the character of his citizenship, for no man exer- cised his talents and ability more than he to develop and advance the best interests of Southern California and particularly of Los Angeles. A man of broad mind and natural culture, he was intensely alive to the educa- tional needs of the community and for the im- mediate benefit of his family he established a private school in his own home, at the corner of Fourth and Alameda streets, which property he purchased in 1838, and there his children received a good education, as did also the sons
and daughters of other pioneers. It has been truly said of him that his work in the develop- ment of this region, along every line of activ- ity, was such as to win for him the esteem of his associates and the regard of all who have ever had reason to love Southern California. Personally he was a man of many friends, for he was of a genial, kindly temperament, a fine conversationalist, and thoroughly alive on all questions of contemporary interest. He con- tinued to reside at his Los Angeles home until his death, which occurred October 3, 1866. By his marriage, in January, 1841, Mr. Wolfskill allied his fortunes with those of an old and hon- ored Spanish family. His wife was Dona Magdalena Luge, daughter of Don Jose Ygna- cio Lugo and Dona Rafaela Romero Lugo, of Santa Barbara. They became the parents of six children, three of whom are now living, Joseph W., Mrs. Charles J. Shepherd and Mrs. Frank Sabichi. The eldest daughter, who mar- ricd H. D. Barrows, died in 1863; Lewis, who married Louisa Dalton, a daughter of Henry Dalton, of Azusa rancho, died in 1884, and Rafaelita died in childhood in 1855. Mrs. Wolfskill preceded her husband to the grave four years.
Joseph W. Wolfskill was born in Los Ange- les, September 14, 1844, and in this city was reared to young manhood, receiving his edu- cation in the private school which his father had established. Upon the land now occupied by the Arcade depot and other buildings in that vicinity he engaged in horticultural pur- suits until the growth of the city made the property too valuable to be thus utilized, when he began the laying out and disposal of large tracts, the first to be sold being one hundred acres known as the Wolfskill Orchard tract, which was owned by Mrs. F. W. Shepherd and himself. The lots now front on Fourth and Fifth and Sixth streets, also Third and Central avenue, all business property, which has continued to advance in price to the pres- ent day, and now being held at fabulous prices. Although he has disposed of a vast amount of property he still retains considerable city prop- erty, owning at the present writing the site of the city market. He owns a ten thousand acre ranch in the San Jacinto valley, in River-
1
Thomas Hughes
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
side county, and also a handsome residence in Redondo, on Pacific avenue, where he has re- sided since 1887. For many years he has been identified with the business interests of Los Angeles, having a nursery at the corner of Wabash and Znal streets, on Brooklyn Heights, and is also engaged as a florist at that place, his products being handled by a retail store located at No. 218 West Fourth street, Los Angeles. He has met with uniform suc- cess in his work and is justly named among the men who have attained a high place in the citizenship of Southern California. He is a man of strong, unswerving principle, firmly grounded in all that goes to make the highest type of manhood, and merits the position of high esteem in which he is held by all who know him. He has served efficiently as a member of the city council of Los Angeles for two terms, acting on both the land and water committees. He is a stanch Republican and has been ever since casting his first vote for Lincoln, and has given his best efforts toward the promotion of the principles he endorses.
In San Francisco Mr. Wolfskill was united in marriage with Ellen de Pedrorena, a native of San Diego, Cal., and the daughter of the Hon. Miguel de Pedrorena, who was born in Spain and became a pioneer of San Diego, where he engaged as a rancher and stockman. He was very prominent in public affairs, serv- ing as a member of the first constitutional con- vention of California, and his death, which oc- curred in San Diego, removed a citizen of worth and works. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfskill are the parents of ten children, of whom Joseph WV. Jr., is engaged in stock-raising in Riverside county : William F. is a resident of Los An- geles; and David and John are engaged with their father in business in Los Angeles.
THOMAS HUGHES, a representative citi- zen of Los Angeles, was born in Greene coun- ty, Pa., August 25, 1859, about forty miles south of Pittsburg, where his father owned a flouring mill on the banks of the Monongahela river. His boyhood was passed among these scenes, the knowledge gleaned from books during his attendance of the public schools
being supplemented by a thorough practical training under the instruction of his father. Inheriting the spirit of independence from his pioneer ancestry, and the self-reliance and courage which induced their emigration to a western world. he was but eighteen years old when he became dependent upon his own re- sources and sought a location among the more abundant opportunities of the southwest. In Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Clifton, and other towns of New Mexico, he was employed as a millwright and also in railroad construction work for five years. From that location he came to California and in Los Angeles-then a small town of only fifteen thousand people- began the foundation of a business that should some day place his name among the success- ful manufacturers of the Pacific coast. The first year (1883) he secured work in a plan- ing mill, and the following year, with his carn- ings, entered upon independent operations on a necessarily small scale. Success accompa- nied his efforts and he soon found it necessary to increase his equipment. He constructed and at different times operated eight different mills, one of the most important being at San Pedro, this having since burned. In 1896 he organized a business under the name of Hughes Brothers, a connection which contin- ued until 1902, when the enterprise was incor- porated as the Hughes Manufacturing Com- pany, with Mr. Hughes as president and most extensive stockholder, L. L. Robinson as sec- retary and Grant G. Hughes as general man- ager. They have a very complete and up-to- date equipment, having installed the most modern machinery, and it can be truthfully said that Mr. Hughes has brought more ma- chinery into Southern California than any other one man. They have a three-story brick building, 105x400 feet, and in the manufacture of their product employ over three hundred men. Shipments are made to Nevada, Ari- zona, Denver and surrounding towns in Cali- fornia, their extensive business not only add- ing to their personal returns, but giving to Los Angeles a prestige as a manufacturing center which has continued up to the present writing. In the early days of this city small opportunities were offered for manufactories,
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and only men of discernment could foresee the unlimited possibilities that were awaiting en- terprise and ability along this line. Mr. Hughes was the leader and has remained to the present day foremost in the ranks of the men who are advancing these interests. To the upbuilding of Los Angeles he has given every effort, platting Hughes addition to the city, and has also invested otherwise in realty holdings here.
Familiar from his youth with Los Angeles and its surrounding country, Mr. Hughes was among the first to develop oil, which was known to exist in quantities in this part of the state. There were only about fourteen wells on Lakeshore avenue when he took up the project, and thenceforward gave means, time and personal attention to the accomplish- ment of his plans. The first company formed, and which he assisted in organizing, was the American Oil Company, and following this at a later period was the organization of the Fullerton Oil Company, which owns fifty acres in fee in the heart of the Fullerton district. He was a member of the company that put down the first well in the Santa Maria dis- trict, and to this enterprise he gave his per- sonal attention ; after securing a small flow at a depth of over two thousand feet, the well caved in and the matter was then dropped for a time. This location was then one hundred miles from any other oil region, but has since become one of the largest producing fields in the world, ten thousand acres in this district being owned by the Western Union Oil Com- pany, of which Mr. Hughes is first vice-presi- dent and supervising manager of the develop- ment work. The first well put down by this company was in the location started by Mr. Hughes some years before, proving his theory correct as to the location of oil. This organ- ization is one of the most extensive of its kind in the west, being made up of prominent finan- ciers of Los Angeles, whose ability and enter- prise have been used to further the advance- ment of the country along this line.
While a resident of New Mexico Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Miss Car- rie Mosher, a native of New York, and their home in Los Angeles is among the most at-
tractive of the city-evidencing within and without the refined and cultured tastes of the family. Mr. Hughes, although a busy man, has still taken time to interest himself in va- rious of the fraternal and social organizations of the city, being a member of the Elks, the Union League Club and the Driving Club, while automobiling is a recreation in which he indulges as freely as his business cares will permit. Although never an aspirant for per- sonal recognition no citizen is more actively interested in the promotion of all measures for the civic honor of the municipality. Locally he supports the men and measures which judg- ment impels him to believe best in the gov- ernment of the city, although in state and na- tional politics he is a stanch Republican. He has always declared for "open shop" and equal rights to all as citizens, willing to give the "square deal" and demanding it. He can al- ways be counted upon to give freely of time, money and influence in the furtherance of any movement tending toward the advancement of the general welfare and with the aggression which can only mean progression in such a man as he, takes a leading part in all contests in the support of his principles.
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