USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 50
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Not alone as a business man, however, was Mr. Mullen well known in this city but as a citizen whose best efforts were constantly given toward the development of the natural resources of the section. Although a Demo- crat in politics he was appointed by Governor Markham as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Whittier State School and served in the capacity of president, giving his time and thought and best effort toward its advancement in every possible way, never be- ing too busy to look into matters that came up in regard to the institution. He was one of the organizers of the Chamber of Commerce and served as its treasurer for some years. After his death at the meeting of the Board of Directors of the chamber March 15, 1899, they passed resolutions of respect to his memory, which were engrossed and sent to his family. He was one of the organizers and a director of the Columbia Trust Company, an organizer and director of the Citizens National Bank, and an organizer and director of the Califor- nia Clay Manufacturing Company, being as- sociated with W. H. Perry and other early pioneers in these efforts. He was one of the most enthusiastic upbuilders of the city, a tireless worker in its belialf, and of unbounded faith in its importance and of the future of the entire state. A man of wonderful business qualifications and a great capacity for work and execution, broad minded, liberal and social in his nature, he won a host of friends among the people with whom he came in contact.
It seemed a part of his life never to overlook the little things of life-the giving of encour- agement to those who were downhearted, or the more substantial but no more necessary help of funds to those who were in need, be- ing never too engrossed in his personal af- fair, business or pleasure, to fail to look into the matter of the welfare of others when brought to his notice. His death occurred March 4, 1899.
In Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. Mullen established home ties by his marriage with Miss Mary Teresa Deane, who was born in County Gal- way, Ireland, a daughter of Judge Edward and Esmina Deane, the father being a jurist in Ireland, who after his retirement located in Brooklyn, N. Y., where his death later oc- curred. After his marriage Mr. Mullen brought his bride to Milwaukee, Wis., where he had established himself in business. After her husband's death Mrs. Mullen became president of the Mullen-Bluett Company, which position she is still filling, demonstrating an unusual possession of business ability, judg- ment and understanding. She is a woman of rare ability and attainments, cultured and refined, and holds a high place among the many friends who have known her for so many years. She has had eight chil- dren, four of whom are now living, namely: Edward Francis, Marie Rose, Arthur Benedict and Genevieve, the youngest daughter being the wife of George Allan Hancock. All are located in Los Angeles and hold places in the citizenship of the city their father called his home and lent his efforts to improve. The sons assist their mother materially in the maw- agement of her large interests and thus materi- ally relieve her of this burden and responsi- bility.
JOHN T. KIERNAN. Prior to taking up his permanent residence in Los Angeles Mr. Kiernan led a life full of variety, change and such danger and adventure as come into the life of every railroad man. Since 1901 however he has given up other interests to devote his time exclusively to mining, and at this writing is president of the Thomas Mining Company, whose
William Stanton
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mines are located in Lower California. The office of the company is at No. 219 Henne build- ing, and here Mr. Kiernan makes his head- quarters.
Born in Monroe county, N. Y., October 12, 1849, John T. Kiernan is a son of John and Loretta (Brennan) Kiernan, both of whom were born in Ireland, in later life coming to the United States and settling near Rochester, N. Y. Upon the farm which he owned near that city the father passed away in 1897, his wife having died in 1867. The eldest of the four children in the parental family, John T. Kiernan attended the public schools of Ogden, and as he was the eldest son and. his father a farmer it goes without saying that his time when not in school was employed in duties about the farm. When he was in his twentieth year he struck out in the world on his own account, having in the meantime satisfied himself that he would not follow in his father's footsteps and settle down as a farmer. From Monroe county. N. Y., he went to lonia, Mich., in April, 1869, and soon found work in the lumber camps in that vicinity. While the work was hard and trying to one unaccustomed to it, it still was acceptable, as it kept him occupied and enabled him to de- fray his expenses while on the look-out for something better. In 1870 he secured a posi- tion in the construction service of the lonia & Lansing Railroad. Resigning his position with the company in 1872 he went to Elkhart, Ind., becoming fireman in the service of the Lake Shore road, and remaining with the company until his removal to Kentucky. On the Louis- ville & Nashville road he served in the dual capacity of fireman and engineer until going to Utah in 1877, at this time giving up railroading to engage in mining with the Yosemite and Re- vere Quartz Mining Company.
Mr. Kiernan's mining experiences at this time were of comparatively short duration, however, for in the fall of 1879 he returned to the south and resumed his position of engineer on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. Leaving the south permanently three years later he started directly for the coast, entering Los Angeles for the first time January 25, 1882. Equipped with credentials and recommendations from officials of the various roads by whom he had been em-
ployed since 1870 he had no difficulty in secur- ing a position in the west, and for six years ran between Los Angeles and Yuma as engineer on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Still in the employ of this road, from 1887 until 1893 he ran between Sacramento and Truckee, but in the year last mentioned he gave up railroading altogether, and has since been engaged in busi- ness in Los Angeles. The same year he opened a men's furnishing goods store on Fernando street, and during the eight years which he car- ried it on became known as one of the substan- tial and energetic business men of the city. In the meantime however he had become interest- ed in mining once more, and after selling out his store bought an interest in the Thomas Min- ing Company, with which he is still connected. Ever since coming to the west in 1882 he felt satisfied that Los Angeles property was bound to be valuable before long, and as soon as he was able to make an investment he built a resi- dence in this city in 1886, following this some time later by the erection of The Kiernan, a thirty-eight room hotel on West Fourth street, between Bunker Hill and Hope streets.
Mr. Kiernan is a Democrat in his political affiliations and has been a delegate to various county conventions. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Columbus, and is also a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive En- gineers, of which organization he was at one time chief engineer.
WILLIAM STANTON. The varied cx- periences which have filled the greater part of the life of Mr. Stanton, one of Pasadena's substantial citizens, make of him an interesting link in the chain which leads back almost seventeen years in the history of his home city. He has been an eye-witness of the changes which have come with the passing years and has himself been a factor in bringing about present conditions. When he came here in 1890 he selected the site of his present home- stead, the improvements on it having just been begun by Mr. Stimson, and since so greatly changed by him, until now, seventeen years afterward, it would be difficult for one to realize the old-time appearance of Grace Hill, as his
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homestead is appropriately named. It com- prises thirteen acres on the corner of South Fair Oaks avenue and State street, on a high elevation, which gives a commanding view of the surrounding country. Upon taking pos- session of the property he planted it to orna- mental trees and fruit and erected a fine resi- dence and otherwise improved the place, mak- ing of it one of the most picturesque, attractive and home like spots in this part of the county.
Of good old Quaker stock, Mr. Stanton was born in Salem, Ohio, August 28, 1832, a son of Benjamin Stanton, M. D., who though born in North Carolina, had been a resident of Ohio the greater part of his life, having removed to that state with his mother and the other children in 1802. Settling in Jefferson county, he there grew to manhood, and in the mean time had prepared himself for the medical pro- fession, which he followed throughout the re- maining years of his life, dying in that state in 1861. His marriage united him with Martha Townsend, a native of Pennsylvania, who when quite young was taken by her parents to the frontier of Ohio, the family settling near Salem. It was in that locality that she grew to womanhood, married and reared her chil- dren, her death, as well as that of her husband, being mourned as a public loss to the com- munity. They were faithful and devout fol- lowers of the Quaker belief, and trained their children to lives of uprightness and high prin- ciples, qualities which they themselves pos- sessed. Until he was sixteen years of age Will- iam Stanton received a primary education in the district schools near his Ohio home, and from then until nineteen he attended a select school. The close of his school life marked the opening of his business career, his first posi- tion being as rodman in a civil engineering corps in surveying what is now the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago Railroad through Ohio & Indiana, for a period of three years. This experience, however, proved but a stepping stone to the life which he was destined to lead, the entering wedge into which was firmly placed when he took up the study of law in the Cincinnati Law School. Following his graduation therefrom in 1859 he took up the practice of law in Cincinnati, Ohio, following
it with success in that location for sixteen years. During this time he was elected to the state legislature, serving three terms, from 1861 to 1867, taking part in important legislation. He was a member of the judiciary committee the entire time and was chairman of the com- mittee on public schools. Resuming the private practice of law once more he continued to fol- low it until failing health warned him that a respite from long-continued strain was essen- tial. Heeding the warning he gave up his practice temporarily in 1875 and in the same year went to New Brighton, Pa., three years later going to Sewickley, Pa., where he resided for three years. As has been previously stated it was in 1890 that he identified himself with the west and with Pasadena in particular. From the first he entered heart and soul into the affairs of his adopted home, and as an evi- dence of his faith in its brilliant future he purchased the property which has ever since been his home. From the first he has con- tinued to make improvements and such altera- tions as would make it a complete and up-to- date place and as early as 1890 he erected the residence now occupied by the family. For several years he was a director and vice-presi- dent of the Pasadena National Bank, and in 1897 he became a member of the board of trustees of Throop Polytechnic Institute, and has held it ever since.
Mr. Stanton's marriage in 1870 united him with Miss Ellen K. Irish, of Pittsburg, Pa. At her death in 1897 she left one daughter, Emily, who is the wife of Oliver S. Picher, of Joplin, Mo., who is general manager of the Picher Lead Works. Mr. and Mrs. Picher have one son, Oliver S. Mr. Stanton's present wife, to whom he was united in 1903, was formerly Mrs. Sophronia H. Nevin, a daughter of Will- iam Harbaugh, a prominent citizen of Pitts- burg, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton have traveled quite extensively, in this country and abroad, but have found no place which satisfies their idea of a home city more thoroughly than does Pasadena. Besides owning Grace Hill Mr. Stanton also owns considerable valuable prop- crty, namely the Stanton building, on the cor- ner of Colorado and Raymond avenue, as well as the Stanton building in Pittsburg, Pa. Fra-
Fixed Ir sticky
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ternally he is a member of Corona Lodge No. 324, F. A. M., and politically he is a Repub- lican. To an exceptional degree he commands the respect and good-will of his fellow-towns- men and has demonstrated in unmistakable terms his reliability, public spirit and rare good fellowship.
FRED HATHAWAY BIXBY. Born of pioneer parents, Fred Hathaway Bixby is a native of Wilmington, where he first saw the light of day April 20, 1875. His father, John WV. Bixby, came to Southern California in an early day and through management and per- tinacity of purpose won for himself and his descendants a competence as well as a name and place among the men who made the west- ern commonwealth. For more complete de- tails concerning his life refer to his personal biography, which appears on another page of this volume.
Fred Hathaway Bixby was reared in his native county, receiving his early education in the public schools of Long Beach and Los Angeles, then at the age of fourteen years en- tering the Belmont Military School of San Mateo county, Cal. Finally matriculating in the University of California at Berkeley, he graduated therefrom in 1898 with the degree of Ph.B. Returning to Southern California, he then assumed the management of the home ranch as well as property owned by his father in Santa Ana canyon, and since that date has engaged extensively in stock-raising and gen- eral farming pursuits. On the home place there are two hundred and fifty acres of peet land, of which seventy-five acres are devoted to the raising of celery; while he has one thousand acres in beets, five hundred in al- falfa, one thousand in barley, two hundred and fifty in corn and small garden vegetables, and the balance in pasture. In his stock-raising he breeds Hereford cattle and draught horses, Omer, at the head of his stud, having been imported from Belgium. This beautiful roan which weighs twenty-four hundred and forty pounds, was purchased for $6,000. This ani- mal took the championship medal at the ex- position at St. Louis in 1904, also taking the
blue ribbon at the Pasadena horseshow, and various other medals at different times. Among his other fine horses are Charlemagne, Marquis, and Louis, a Tennessee jack. Mr. Bixby has ably demonstrated his ability in this line and occupies a high place among the western breeders of fine stock.
Systematic in all his details, Mr. Bixby has constantly added to his equipment until he has every facility for carrying on his busi- ness, all arrangements being made for con- venience and excellence in every department on the ranch. His place is one of the most beautiful in this section, the buildings being located on the heights overlooking the mount- ains, valley and sea-an ideal spot for a home- the land extending six miles along the coast, and being in itself a small principality. The old adobe house that was built over one hun- dred years ago with walls from three and a half to four feet in thickness, has been im- proved and modernized and yet retains the ap- pearance and necessarily its historical inter- est that cling to the days when the Spanish dons reigned supreme. The other buildings of the ranch are large and in keeping with the progressive spirit of the owner. Besides man- aging this property, since January, 1907, Mr. Bixby has operated the ranch in Santa Ana canyon in partnership with his sister, under the name of the Los Dos Ranchos Company.
In Berkeley, Cal., August 31, 1898, Mr. Bix- by was united in marriage with Miss Florence Elizabeth Green, of that city, and born of this union are four children, namely: Kath- erine, Florence Elizabeth, Deborah and John Hathaway. Mir. Bixby is a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon and the Skull and Keys So- ciety ; socially he holds a high place among the rising young men of Southern California, appreciated alike for his business ability and the integrity and fairness which have charac- terized his business career.
LINFORD C. LULL. The association of Linford C. Lull with the manufacturing in- terests of Los Angeles has resulted in a mater- ial upbuilding and development of an enter- prise which has meant no little in the growth
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and progress along the most stable lines of the city. As vice-president and manager of the Auto Vehicle Company he has been instru- mental in its rapid advancement among the manufactories of the city, establishing it as an industry of great importance, and with the ability of a man of affairs making it conducive to the welfare of the general public.
Before Mr. Lull came to California he was a manufacturer of wide extent in the middle west, being especially interested in such en- terprises in Michigan. That is his native state, his birth having occurred in South Haven, October 1, 1856. The family came originally from England, the emigrating an- cestor settling in New York state, near Al- bany, where Mr. Lull's grandfather, Samuel Lull, enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war. Samuel Lull eventually followed the example of his forefathers and in middle life became a pioneer of Kalamazoo county, Michi- gan, where he engaged in general farming un- til his death. His children were born in New York, one son, S. W., being a native of Gene- see county, in the vicinity of Penn Yan. This son grew to years of maturity in Michigan, there married and like his father followed farming throughout the active years of his life. His death occurred in Kalamazoo, as did that of his wife also, she being in maidenhood a Miss Brott, born in the vicinity of Cleve- land, Ohio, of parents of German descent.
Of the nine children born to his parents Lin- ford C. Lull is the only one now living. He was reared in Kalamazoo and received his education in the public and high schools, after which he sought employment along independ- ent lines. Engaging as a traveling salesman with an implement company of Kalamazoo, this business occupied his attention for the en- suing five years, during which he traveled over thirteen different states throughout the middle west. With the knowledge thus ac- quired he decided to enter upon a manufactur- ing career and accordingly established with a partner the first manufactory of farming ma- chinery in Kalamazoo. The firm was known as that of Lull & Skinner and remained so un- til Mr. Lull purchased the entire interest, after which he organized the Lull Carriage Com-
pany. This was in 1896 and during the inter- vening years this enterprise has grown to most lucrative proportions, the manufacture of the Lull carriages and buggies being one of the largest industries of Kalamazoo. Mr. Lull still retains the presidency of that concern, although his interests are now more widely scattered. For some years he was also inter- ested in the Noyes Carriage Company of Elk- hart, Ind., was largely instrumental in the building up of the plant, and for ten years served as its president. Notwithstanding his busy commercial interests Mr. Lull still found time to engage to a considerable extent in agri- cultural and horticultural pursuits, having set out and superintended the management of a number of orchards near South Haven, some of which he still owns.
In 1903 Mr. Lull decided to come to the Pacific coast because of the mild climate, lo. cating in Southern California. In Los Ange- les, which was just then at the beginning of the marvelous growth which has distinguished it among the cities of the west, he found a splendid opening for business enterprises, and in the same year of his location here he bought an interest in the Auto Vehicle Company, which had been incorporated the previous year. He became its vice-president and general man- ager, the business first being conducted on North Main street, where they manufactured the Tourist automobile in a limited way. In 1905 they moved to their present quarters on South Main and Tenth streets, there occupy- ing a building which covers a space of one hundred and ninety thousand square feet. They manufacture eight different models of two and four cylinder cars, the capacity of the manufactory being about eight machines per day : they employ three hundred and sixty- eight men. In addition to their general auto business they handle the Lull carriages and Columbus buggies. The northern branch of this business is located in San Francisco, where they carry on a large business, making in all one of the largest enterprises of its kind on the Pacific coast.
In Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Lull was united in marriage with Miss Eva Akins, a native of Ohio, born near that city; they have six chil-
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dren, namely: Carey, Glenn, Bertha, Eunice, in due time in a strange land and among peo- Linford and Evelyn. Mr. Lull is associated with the Chamber of Commerce, the Mer- chants and Manufacturers Association and the Auto Dealers Association of Southern Cali- fornia. Although pre-eminently a busy man he has taken time to associate himself with various fraternal organizations, among them the Elks and Masons, having been made a member of both in Kalamazoo. In that city he belonged to the Chapter and Commandery and is now a member of Al Malaikah Temple, of Los Angeles. He is a member of the Bap- tist church in his religious affiliations and liberally supports its charities. In his politi- cal affiliations he is a stanch adherent of Re- publican principles.
JOHN C. KOFOED. A practical demon- stration of the results obtainable by a union of singleness of purpose, good judgment and a large capacity of industry is found in the home surroundings and accumulations of John C. Kofoed, the owner of considerable real estate in Los Angeles and vicinity. Descended from a long line of Danish progenitors, he came to the United States during young man- hood supplied with a large measure of optim- ism, adaptiveness and resource, all of which qualities he has put into practice, as will be seen by a résumé of his life history.
A native of Denmark, John C. Kofoed was born in the island of Bonholm, March 12, 1835, a son of Nils and Carrie (Miller) Kofoed, who like himself were natives of Denmark. Up to the age of sixteen years he was a pupil in the public schools adjacent to his home, but with the close of his school days he en- tered upon his business career by beginning an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade, following this until attaining his majority. To a young man of twenty-one years ambi- tious to make a name and place for himself in the business world, the advantages which his own country had to offer paled in comparison with the outlook for progress in the new world, and thus it was that in 1857 he bade farewell to home and friends and embarked on a vessel bound for New York City. Landing
ple whose language and customs were entirely unknown to him, he was undaunted by the sit- uation and immediately endeavored to find work at his trade, the only line of work with which he was in the least familiar. During the year in which he remained in the metropo- lis he worked diligently and saved from his earnings whatever was not needed for actual necessities. In the meantime he had devel- oped a strong desire to see the western coast, and hither he came in 1858, and for two or three years followed mining in Sierra county. It is safe to presume that his expectations were not fully realized in his western expe- riences, for at the end of this time he once more took up life in the east, making the trip by the Isthmus of Panama. Going to Ran- dolph, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., he established himself in the finiture business, a line of en- deavor which he continued with success for ten years. At the close of this period he closed out his interests in the east and once more turned his steps toward the west, and for a time carried on a furniture business in Topeka, Kans., his place of business being located on Kansas avenue. Though he had come to Cali- fornia as early as 1858, his citizenship in this commonwealth really began in 1886, when the country was in the heyday of success. Invest- ing his means in real estate, he became a half owner of sixty-seven acres in the Westlake district, known as the Knob Hill tract, which he laid out into building lots. Since then he has invested in other real estate, and besides owning the family residence at No. 950 Blaine street, also owns other valuable residence and business property.
Mr. Kofoed's first marriage was celebrated in Randolph, N. Y., and united him with Janet Perry, who prior to her marriage was a school teacher in that city. At her death twenty years later she left two children, Perry, who is interested in the furniture business in Seat- tle, Wash., and Grace, Mrs. Rennselaer, a resi- dent of Palms, Cal. In Topeka, Kans., Mr. Kofoed was married to Mrs. Lillie Mullins, who died twenty-three years later while on a visit to friends and relatives in Pennsylvania. Of the children born of this marriage Charles
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