USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 48
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Personally Mr. Hughes is a man of many parts. Combining with an unusual degree of financial ability a stanch integrity in business affairs and an unimpeachable honor, he has won not only a competence in the world's field of action, but also the friendship of the many who have known him during the years of his residence and association with the west. To an unusual degree is he esteemed by his fel- low-citizens and honored for the qualities of his citizenship. Personally an unostentatious inanner, a kindly hospitality and generous spirit have given him a place among those citizens upholding the civic honor of our city.
MILLARD M. PARKER. The Parker fam- ily was established on American soil at an early date in the history of New England, the immi- grating ancestor being an Englishman, whose descendants became prominent citizens of Maine. In that state, near Livermore Falls, Millard M. Parker was born November 27, 1849, a son of
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Cyrus and Harriet (Norton) Parker ; both par- tention to the management of his personal in- ents were also natives of Maine, where the father terests, one of which was the development and improvement of a ranch of ten acres. This prop- erty he sold in the winter of 1906 for a large sum, retaining enough land only for a residence on East California street. This is occupied by himself, wife and daughter, Grace M. Parker, who is a teacher in high school work. Mr. Parker's son, George M., is in business in Liv- ingston, Mont. Both daughter and son are grad- mates of the University of California and are well equipped for their work in life. engaged as a prosperous farmer until his death, which occurred at an advanced age. The pater- nal grandfather was Scarborough Parker, also a farmer, who allied himself by marriage with the Goding family of Maine. In the public schools of his native state Millard M. Parker received his early education, later attending a select school at Kent's Hill, Me., preparatory to entering college. Matriculating in Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., he was grad- uated therefrom in 1875, after which he engaged in pedagogical work in Connecticut and Massa- chusetts.
Coming to California in 1882 Mr. Parker ar- rived in Pasadena in the month of January, 1883. and here he at once engaged in teaching. Later he accepted a position as assistant professor in a small college which had been opened in Pasa- dena, continuing in the college for two years. Upon the removal of the college to Los An- geles at that time he established a private school known as the Pasadena Academy, which he con- ducted for the purpose of preparing students to enter colleges of the first order, and during his continuance in this institution instructed many young men and women who have since assumed responsible positions in the business world.
In 1891 Mr. Parker relinquished his private school to assist in organizing Throop Polytech- nic Institute of Pasadena, of which he had been elected vice-president and professor of ancient languages. In these capacities he served for nearly seven years, when he was called to the presidency of the University of Arizona, and in that capacity rendered efficient service in the development of the institution, which soon took rank with many of the similar institutions of the older states.
When Mr. Parker resigned his chair in the University of Arizona he had rounded out a period of nearly thirty years of educational work -work which had broadened his own character, enlarged his mental vision, and by which he had given an undoubted impetus to educational affairs of the southwest. He returned to Pasa- dena at the close of his school work and for the past few years has devoted his time and at-
Before her marriage, in 1878, Mrs. Parker was MI. Josephine Miles, a daughter of Daniel C. Miles, of Westminster, Mass., and niece of Lient .- Gen. Nelson A. Miles, of the United States army. Both Mr. and Mrs. Parker are mem- bers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pasadena, in which he is an official member and contributes liberally to its charities.
Mr. Parker has always been intensely inter- ested in the up-building of Pasadena. In 1886. upon the organization of the city, he hecame a member of the first council and soon afterward was elected president of that body. During his incumbency the council passed a prohibitory or- dinance, the first city in the state to do this. and since that time Pasadena has been known as the prohibition city of the coast. This or- dinance in some of its features became incor- porated as a part of the organic law in the new charter of Pasadena. Also while a member of the council Mr. Parker suggested many new improvements which were completed during his incumbency, one of which was the sewer farm system. He is held in the highest esteem as a citizen, and personally is a man of sterling traits of character which have won him a wide circle of friends.
JACOB ADLOFF. The senior member of the well-known firm of Adloff & Hauerwaas, Jacob Adloff is a prominent figure in the busi- ness life of Los Angeles, one of the early citi- zens who has watched the growth and prog- ress of the city from its days of infancy, and with a public spirit and liberality unsurpassed has assisted in the material development and upbuilding of this entire section of the state.
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When he first came here from his native place of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, where he was born June 20, 1860, there was a population of but twelve thousand people, and with nothing to presage the wonderful future of Southern California. The first sixteen years of his life were passed in his native country, where he re- ceived an education in the public schools, and in 1876 he came to New York city, where he spent a few months. In 1877 he went to Elko, Nev., where an uncle, A. Bixel, was engaged as a brewer. He apprenticed himself to learn the trade of brewer and after completing it in 1880 came to Los Angeles, and here for a time engaged in the liquor business in partnership with Robert Eggert, and also acted as agent for the Boca beer. During the "boom" of 1885 and 1887 he engaged principally in real-estate operations, in which he was very successful. In 1888 he took the Fredricksburg Brewery agency and when the English syndicate was formed became agent for all of them, but made a specialty of Wieland and Fredericks- burg. He began this enterprise in a very small way, being first located on Second street, and later opposite the Naul warehouse. With the growth of the business it was necessary to seek more commodious quarters, and in 1897 it was removed to the present location, where the company owns about two acres from Central to Alameda street. Here they have built large warehouses, cold storage and bottling works, with a siding from the Southern Pacific Rail- road, which gives them every possible con- venience. In August, 1894, Mr. Adloff took into the enterprise with him John Hauerwaas, one of the enterprising citizens of Los Angeles, whose recent death removed from the com- munity a man of ability and public spirit. The two were very successful in their operations, which were not confined to this vicinity alone, and the business now extends into Arizona and Nevada. Mr. Adloff is also largely interested in real-estate operations, owning considerable valuable property in this city and others ad- jacent to it.
The home of Mr. Adloff is located at the corner of Jefferson and Western avenues, and is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Paulina Schmidt, who was born in Rhode Is-
land and reared in Los Angeles. In his fra- ternal relations Mr. Adloff is associated with the Masonic organization, having been made a member of the order in Los Angeles Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M., and raised to the degree of Royal Arch Mason in Los Angeles Chapter No. 33. He is also associated with the Odd Fellows, being a member of Golden Rule Lodge ; the Foresters, the Red Men, the Eagles, and the Turn-verein. In the line of his busi- ness interests he belongs to the Merchants & Manufacturers Association. Politically he is a stanch adherent of Democratic principles and is an ex-member of the Democratic coun- ty central committee. He takes a keen interest in the progress of the city and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce is enthusiastic in his efforts to advance the general welfare.
HON. HENRY EDWIN CARTER. To the honor of being a native-born citizen of Califor- nia Mr. Carter has added the distinction of be- ing an unusually successful one, through his own efforts acquiring a place of prominence in the professional and political life of the state. Born in Tuolumne county, September 26, 1865, he is the son of John B. Carter, one of the early pioneers of the state. He was a native of Con- necticut, whence in young manhood he immi- grated to Michigan, making that place his home until 1849, when he made his way to St. Joseph en route for far-famed California. The journey was made across the plains in the customary manner, by ox-team; the trip was a long and perilous one, as the Indians at that time were very unfriendly and menaced the life of all who came within their power. However, without mishap other than the ordinary trials of the journey they arrived at Sacramento, thence go- ing to Placerville, where Mr. Carter engaged in placer mining in what was then known as the Long Ditch. He was successful in the accumu- lation of some means, with which he decided to enter business as a lumber dealer, and accord- ingly established a yard in Tuolumne county, where he continued for a number of years. With the approach of age he disposed of his business interests and retired from active life, remaining a resident of that section until his death, which
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GPellissier
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occurred in January, 1893. He had made a also of Dockweiler & Carter. He has met with success of his career and was universally es- teemed and honored wherever known. In mem- ory of his early days in the state he was a member of the California Pioneer Society. His wife, formerly Alice Moore, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States with her par- ents in childhood, survived him and now makes her home in Los Angeles with her son, Henry E. Carter, the subject of this sketch. She is now in her seventy-fourth year, in the enjoy- ment of good health and all her faculties. The parental family comprised the following children : Mary Elsie, wife of G. C. Baker, of Los An- geles; Ettie, widow of the late A. A. Day, of Minneapolis; and Henry Edwin, the subject of this review.
The boyhood of Henry E. Carter was passed in his native county, where he received a pre- liminary education in the public schools. Later he attended a select school, after which he took up the study of law in the offices of Anderson, Fitzgerald & Anderson, of Los Angeles, being admitted to the bar in April, 1890. Establish- ing an office in this city he began a practice of his profession, which was soon productive of satisfactory financial results. At the same time he acquired a prominence in political circles which led to his appointment to the position of deputy attorney general of the state, by Hon. W. F. Fitzgerald, the attorney-general of the state, with whom he had studied law. He remained in that position for four years, when, in 1900, he was elected to the assembly of California from the Seventy-fifth Assembly District, com- posed of a portion of the city of Los Angeles. In 1902 he was re-elected to the same office and at that time was chosen speaker pro tem. of the assembly. In 1904 he was elected state sen- ator from the Thirty-seventh Senatorial District of California and during the session served on several important committees, among them be- ing the judiciary committee, ways and means committee, also on the committees on prison and reformatory, elections and corporations. He is now serving as a member of a committee for the selection of a site for a new and modern state prison.
During his practice of law Mr. Carter has been a member of the firms of Carter & Pierce and
success and has established a large and con- stantly increasing clientele. At the same time he has carried on an extensive stockbrokering business, under the name of the Lichtenberger- Carter Company. As a stockholder and man- ager of the Searchlight Mining & Milling Com- pany, at Searchlight, Nev., he is also identified with mining interests and is prominent in such circles. In the midst of his many duties he has found time to be identified with various social and fraternal orders, being a member of Native Sons of the Golden West, Jonathan Club and Union League of Los Angeles; Hollenbeck Lodge, F. & A. M., and Knights of the Mac- cabees. He has always taken a keen interest in the preservation of early historical data and is a valued member of the Historical Society of Southern California. In politics a Republican he has given his support to this party without exception, taking an active part in local and also national affairs; he has voted for two United States senators, Perkins and Flint. He stands high in the councils of his party, enjoying the confidence of all who know him and the respect of those of opposite political faith because of the principles upon which his entire career has been founded.
GERMAIN PELLISSIER. Among the early settlers of Los Angeles who have con- tributed during their long years of residence here to the material growth and upbuilding of the city, prominent mention belongs to Ger- main Pellissier, a citizen for nearly a half cen- tury. Mr. Pellissier is of French birth and lineage, the family being an old and prom- inent one of southern France, where the resi- dence in which Mr. Pellissier was born Sep- tember 24, 1849. was built more than a hun- dred and fifty years ago and is of solid stone. His father. Jean Francois Pellissier, was a farmer and stockman of Hautes-Alpes, and followed this occupation until his death, which occurred in 1866, at the advanced age of sev- enty years. His wife, formerly Adelaide Bel- lue. also a native of France, survived him un- til 1886, when she, too, passed away.
The youngest in a family of ten children,
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Germain Pellissier was reared to the age of seventeen years on the paternal farm, receiv- ing his education through an attendance of the public schools. He worked with his father in the sheep industry and. thoroughly familiarized himself with all its details. De- ciding to seek his fortune among the more abundant opportunities of the western world, he immigrated to America and on the 2d of February, 1867, arrived in San Francisco, Cal. He remained in that section of the state until August of the same year, when he came to Southern California and established his resi- dence in Los Angeles. For twenty-eight years his home remained at the corner of Seventh and Olive streets, which was then beyond the city limits, and there in 1888 he built the Pel- lissier block which he still owns. His present home is located on property which at that time he could have purchased for $1.25 per acre, thinking it advisable not to do so as he would have taxes on land which was consid- ered an unprofitable investment. Later he bought it for $25 an acre and held a large part of it for years, finally disposing of it as the demand for subdivision property became so insistent.
When he first located here Mr. Pellissier engaged in the sheep industry, raising im- mense bands of sheep, ranging them in Kern and Ventura counties as well as Los Angeles county, and from the very first seeking to im- prove his breed by importation from France and Australia. His banner yield for a year's shearing was sixty-two and a half pounds from one buck. Afterwards one buck of his flock was sold in Australia for $2,200. As a breeder of the famous Rambouillet strain of sheep Mr. Pellissier achieved great success and the clip of these animals some years later showed the remarkable climatic advantages of California for producing heavy fleece. The fam- ous French Merino rams "Woolly," "Clydes- dale" and "Napoleon" took the first premium at the State Fair in Sacramento whenever they were exhibited. The statement of the weight of their clip was laughed at by eastern papers, so to demonstrate the absolute truth of it, Mr. Pellissier gave a public sheep-shearing exhibi- tion at his home ranch on April 26, 1884.
Competent men were chosen as judges to de- cide the weight of the fleeces with the follow- ing result: Ram "Woolly" five years past ; weight two hundred and twenty-three pounds before clip; weight one hundred and eighty- four pounds after clip; fleece weighing thirty- nine pounds; three hundred and fifty-seven days since last sheared. Ram "Clydesdale," three years past; weight, two hundred and eighty pounds before clip; weight, two hun- dred and thirty-eight pounds after clip ; fleece weighing forty-two pounds ; three hundred and sixty days since last sheared. "Napoleon," two years old; weight, two hundred and ten pounds before clip; weight, one hundred and sixty-eight pounds after clip; fleece weighed forty-two pounds; three hundred and sixty days since last sheared. From one of "Wool- ly's" lambs, six months old, the fleece weighed fourteen pounds. The above figures were cer- tified to by judges and justified the assertion that California was the banner state for high- bred sheep and that no more favorable ground can be found for fine breeding purposes than this section. After the shearing the party heartily enjoyed a lunch prepared by Mr. Pel- lissier and then took a tour of inspection of his flock, which satisfied them that the claim of Los Angeles county for having the finest bred sheep in the country was not unfounded. At that time Mr. Pellissier owned two hun- dred acres of land in what is now the west part of the city of Los Angeles and this was used as a public shearing place. After retir- ing from the sheep raising industry Mr. Pel- lissier rented his land until the encroachments of the city induced him to part with a part of his land, which was then sold for subdivi- sion purposes. However, he still owns eighty acres of the original tract fronting on Ca- huenga boulevard, and here he has erected a beautiful residence, the architecture of which is patterned after the villas on the Riviera.
In San Francisco Mr. Pellissier was united in marriage with Miss Marie Julie Darfeuille, a native of Paris, and they are the parents of two children, Marie Louise and Adelaide. Mr. Pellissier is extensively interested in af- fairs of Los Angeles, being a stockholder in
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seven different banks. He is a Republican in politics, but has never cared for official posi- tion because of his engrossing business in- terests. Eleven years ago Mr. Pellissier took his first trip back to his native land, and again in 1904 and 1905 made an extended trip throughout Europe, visiting not only France, but also Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy and other countries. He retains a warm in- terest for the land of his birth and for some time served as president of the French Beney- olent Society. He is widely known and held in the highest esteem among the represent- ative citizens of Los Angeles.
JOHN W. BIXBY. Honored among the old pioneers of Southern California is John WV. Bixby, who, although long since passed to his reward, still holds a place as a repre- sentative citizen of the early days. Born of old New England ancestry, he was a native of Anson, Me., and was reared to young man- hood on the old home place, where his par- ents, Simon and Deborah (Flint) Bixby, en- gaged as farmers throughout their entire lives. The death of his father in early life placed upon John W. the responsibility of caring for the home farm, which he did in con- junction with his brother, Fred; at the same time, however, he managed to secure a good education, graduating from the normal school of Anson and thereafter following pedagogical pursuits with those of farming.
His two elder brothers having come to Cali- fornia in an early day, John W. Bixby de- cided to try his fortune on the Pacific coast, and accordingly, in 1870, after having given his share of the home farm to his brother, he came to Southern California. He had but $30 after his arrival here and he immediately sought employment, engaging at the carpenter trade in Los Angeles county with a remunera- tion of $40 per month. Later he became fore- man for Jotham Bixby, who was largely en- gaged in the sheep business, and it was not long after that that he engaged in a similar enterprise on his own resources. That he was eminently successful is proven by the fine
estate he accumulated before his death, which occurred May 6, 1886. Through the foresight of John W. Bixby the old Michael Reis ranch was rented for sheep raising purposes by him- self and his two partners, Jotham Bixby and I. W. Hellman, and later they purchased this twenty-seven thousand acre tract. About 1884, two years after Long Beach had been laid out, they cut off five thousand acres for the Alamitos town site, which embraced all land lying east of Alamitos avenue and ex- tending up to Bay City, taking in Signal Hill. After Mr. Bixby's death the property was di- vided among the partners, his estate receiv- ing seventy-five hundred acres, a hundred acres of which was afterward sold for the town site of Bay City. Property also owned by his children at the present writing consists of fifty-five hundred acres which Mr. Bixby purchased in the Santa Ana canyon, the first of the land he owned in Southern California. These large interests were managed by his wife until 1898, when they passed into the hands of his son, Fred H., who is now at the head of affairs. He had two children, Fred H. and a daughter, Susanna Patterson, the latter the wife of Dr. E. A. Bryant, of Los Angeles. Mr. Bixby's wife was formerly Miss Susanna P. Hathaway, who was born in Skowhegan, Me., a sister of Mrs. Jotham Bix- by and daughter of Rev. G. W. Hathaway, a Congregational clergyman, who after his re- tirement in 1862 or the year following, came to Southern California, where he remained until his death. Mrs. Bixby was educated in the Skowhegan Academy, and was a woman of rare ability and attainments. She was a member of the Episcopal Church in religion and was always a willing contributor to all charities in and out of the church. It could be said of her in all truth "None knew her but to love her, none named her but to praise." She left behind her many friends who revere her memory. Mr. Bixby was a member of the Presbyterian Church, but. like his wife, was liberal both in and out of the church, helping with a liberal hand those who needed help. Politically he was a stanch advocate of Republican principles.
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MAJOR HENRY HANCOCK. Although many years have passed away since the death of Major Henry Hancock he is still remembered as a worthy representative of the citizenship of Los Angeles, his name occupying a prominent place in the annals of Southern California. He was born April II, 1822, in Bath, N. H., of which state his father, Thomas, was also a native, the paternal grandfather, Henry, having emi- grated from Somersetshire, England, during the colonial period of our history. His mother, Lucy (Smith) Hancock, was also a native of Bath, N. H., and a daughter of Jonathan Smith, the representative of an old New England fam- ily : for many years he was connected with hotel interests in Bath, where he occupied a position among the prominent citizens and as- sisted materially in the upbuilding of the town. General Putnam, of Revolutionary fame, was a great uncle of Major Hancock.
The boyhood years of Henry Hancock were passed among the scenes of his native place, where he received a preliminary education in the public schools; later he entered Norwich Mil- itary Academy. Possessed of a keen, logical mind, the intricacies of the law appealed to him as a desirable vocation, and accordingly he be- came a student of the law department of Har- vard University. Following his graduation, in 1846, with a surveying party he went to St. Louis, Mo. His first employment in that city was in the capacity of private tutor, in which occupation he continued until his enlistment for service in the Mexican war, when he was com- missioned quartermaster under General Dono- van and participated in many memorable bat- tles, serving with much distinction. Upon the close of hostilities he returned to his old home in New Hampshire, where he spent a part of the ensuing year.
During his service in the southwest Major Hancock, like many others of the soldiers of the Mexican war, became interested in the large territory of the Pacific coast that passed into the possession of our government, and this, with the glowing reports of the gold discovery, in- duced his decision to join the westward trend of emigration. In Boston, Mass., he took passage on a vessel bound for San Francisco, and in September, 1849, reached that port-then but
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