USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 58
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CYRUS WRIGHT. Various interests have occupied the attention of Cyrus Wright, of Pasa- dena, throughout his advanced life, and in every avenue he has demonstrated the qualities of char- acter and business ability which have brought him success. He is now residing in Pasadena on a small orange ranch, which he takes great pride in developing and improving. Inheriting his high qualities of character, Mr. Wright was born in
Cattaraugus county, N. Y., February 22, 1828. His father, Richard Wright, was also a native of New York, born near Sandyhill, member of a family prominent in the political history of the nation. himself serving as state senator, high sheriff of Cattaraugus county and judge of the court. His brother Joseph was prominent in pol -. itics in Indiana, and another brother, George Wright, served as United States senator from Iowa, and is now residing in Des Moines. By marriage Mr. Wright allied himself with another distinguished family of New York, his wife be- ing Polly McCullock, whose uncle was secretary of the United States Treasury during Abraham Lincoln's administration.
Cyrus Wright was reared in his native county and educated primarily in its public schools, after which he completed the course in a select school at Hinsdale, N. Y. In young manhood he went to Wisconsin and attended Beloit College, also teaching school for several terms in that vicinity. Finally he migrated to St. Louis, Mo., where he taught school on the Illinois side of the river. His next location was in Minnesota, where he pre-empted a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and at once began its improvement and development, engaging in general farming until he sold out in 1866. He then located in Marshall. county, Iowa, where he resided for twenty years, serving as justice of the peace for fourteen years and also practicing law. It was in December, 1886, that he first came to Southern California, and in Pasadena made a purchase of two acres of land fronting on North Fair Oaks avenue, which he immediately set out to oranges, lemons and other fruits and proceeded to an intelligent improvement of the property. He is now retired from all other activities and devotes his attention entirely to his ranch, where he has fine improvements, including two houses and a residence which is the home of the fam- ily. He was married in 1868 to Miss Anna Berk- holder, a native of New York City, and daughter of James and Margaret ( Beach ) Berkholder, also of that place, and who was an heir to the Anneke Jans estate. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have two children. Bert C., a resident of Seattle. Wash., and May, who is the wife of William D. Moody, an engineer and member of the board of trustees of Long Beach.
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Mr. Wright is a Republican in politics, al- Danish army, where he later received a commis- though he has not always espoused these prin- ciples, while a resident of Minnesota serving in the state legislature, at which time he was a Douglas Democrat. After the outbreak of the Civil war he became affiliated with the Republican party and ever since that time has remained a loyal supporter of this party's principles. He took an active part in the city campaign of 1907 and made a number of speeches with Mayor Earle, the successful candidate. He has always taken a strong interest in the development of whatever section he has made his home, and while a resident of Minnesota, during the Civil war, rendered valuable service in the sup- pression of an Indian outbreak. This outbreak came on while most of the fighting men were in the army and was occasioned by the Indians endeavoring to retake their lands. Fired with patriotism and on account of murder committed by the marauding expeditions of the Sioux In- dians, Mr. Wright with others took his gun and horse and drove them out of the state. He is widely known and highly appreciated and re- spected for the qualities of character which have distinguished his citizenship. A prominent mem- ber of the improvement association of North Pasadena, he has always taken a lively interest in all things for the upbuilding and developing of this part of the state.
OTTO WEID. Los Angeles is a city of sur- prising growth in population, hand in hand with which growth has followed an increased inter- est in the real estate business. Among the num- ber thus engaged is Otto Weid, who in his office in the O. T. Johnson building transacts many of the important sales and transfers negotiated in this city and vicinity.
Although Mr. Weid is a native son of the state, born in Vallejo, Solano county, in 1868, he comes of Danish antecedents, who originally spelled the name Hviid. The grandfather, Hen- ning Hviid, was a farmer near Odense, and there it was that his son Ivar A. was born October 23, 1837. To prepare himself for the business world he apprenticed himself to a dry-goods merchant, remaining with the same employer for seven years, but instead of following it he entered the
sion. He resigned this, however, in order to come to the United States and participate in actual warfare, his knowledge of army rules and military tactics rendering him a welcome recruit to the United States army. Presenting his cre- dentials to the Danish consul at Chicago he was promptly enlisted and mustered into the Third Missouri Infantry, with which he marched to the front. For a time his regiment fought Price in Missouri. On account of his soldierly bear- ing and experience in military affairs he was recognized as a splendid soldier and was detailed to return to Chicago to aid in recruiting the Eighty-second Illinois Infantry. He was elected captain of Company I and went with his regi- ment to the front, being assigned to the depart- ment of Virginia. It was while on this campaign that he contracted rheumatism and finally, after the battle of Fredericksburg, he was compelled to resign his commission and receive his honor- able discharge. By way of Panama he came to California in 1863, and in 1870 located in Los Angeles. Four miles west of the present court- house he owned six hundred acres of government and railroad land, a portion of which he sold dur- ing the boom for $1,000 per acre. Reinvesting the proceeds in other city property, he soon found himself doing quite a real estate business, and it was in this line of endeavor that he accu- mulated the greater part of the means that he possessed at the time of his death. In San Fran- cisco he married Miss Marie Magnus, and five children were born to them, as follows: Otto, whose name heads this article; Victor, a resi- dent of Los Angeles; Selma, the wife of A. W. Francisco, of Los Angeles ; Ovidia, and Axel, of Ocean Park. Fraternally Mr. Weid was a Ma- son, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter, and was also identified with the Loyal Legion. Mrs. Weid is still living, making her home in Ocean Park.
Otto Weid was reared and educated in the city of Los Angeles during his early boyhood years, his supplementary training being received in the Santa Clara College, from which he grad- uated in 1889 with the degree of B. S. Two years thereafter were spent in travel throughout Europe, after which he returned to Los Angeles. Some time later he went to Denver, Colo., there
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becoming manager of the Platte Valley Packing Company, and while there he also organized the Summit Coal and Coke Company, of which he himself became secretary. Locating once more in Los Angeles, he here engaged in the real es- tate business until the following year, when he made another tour of the European continent. It was during this time, while he was in Italy, that he received the sad news of his father's death. Upon his return to Los Angeles he re- entered the real estate business, and at first handled city property almost exclusively, later branching out into suburban property. The Hollywood Park tract was originally a sixty-six acre tract, which he has subdivided and improved, and since placing the lots on the market they have sold so readily that he has been encouraged to subdivide and improve the thirty acre tract now known as Edgewood Park place.
In Los Angeles, in 1905, Mr. Weid was united in marriage with Miss Eleanore Tuttle, who was born in LaHarpe, Ill. Politically Mr. Weid is a Republican, and not unlike his father he takes considerable interest in fraternal matters. He was made a Mason in Southern California Lodge No. 278, and is now identified with the Los An- geles Consistory No. 3, and with Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Mr. Weid is es- teemed by all with whom he comes in contact, and with his wife holds a high place in the re- gard of the best people of Los Angeles and Ocean Park, in which latter place they make their home.
FRANK STOKES. The Stokes family is of English origin, and the first representative in the United States was Charles Stokes, the father of our subject, who immigrated from his birth- place, Somersetshire, when a young man and settled in Concord, N. H. Subsequently he re- moved to the middle west, and it was while re- siding in Rock county, Wis., that he was mar- ried to Miss Annie E. Kimble, who was born in New York state, on the banks of the Hudson. She remained in the vicinity of her birthplace until the '30s, when the family migrated to what was then considered the western frontier, set- tling in the wilds of Wisconsin. In Rock coun- ty, that state, Mr. Stokes entered government land and settled down to agricultural life after
he had cleared the land of timber and underbrush. By the time the rumors concerning the finding of gold in California were scattered broadcast over the land he had brought his farm up to a standard of productiveness that warranted him in leaving it in charge of others while he went to the scene of the excitement. With others of equal ardor he crossed the plains in 1850, deter- mined to try his hand at mining. Upon the claim which he located on the American river he carried on placer mining with considerable suc- cess on the whole, although his experience was not without the usual hardships and discourage- ments which formed so large a part of the his- tory of early mining days in the state. Subse- quently he engaged in the bakery business in Marysville. To Mr. Stokes belongs the credit of originating the Pony express of pioneer days, the route starting from San Francisco. In 1855 he returned to Wisconsin and resumed the duties of the home farm which he had laid down five years previously. Later, however, he sold his holdings in that state and from 1864 until the time of his death in 1890 he made his home on the farm which he had purchased in Mitchell county, that state. His widow survived him for a number of years, her death occurring while on a visit to California in 1902.
Frank Stokes was born near Janesville, Rock county, Wis., November 26, 1846, but was edu- cated principally in Porter, that county. Until he was seventeen years of age his time was given exclusively to his studies, and upon leaving school he devoted himself with the same assiduity to making his way in the world that had character- ized his school life. His first work was as a farm hand, being employed on farms in the vicinity of his home for two years. With his brother, William H., in 1871 he erected a flour- ing mill in Janesville, Minn., and later they erected a mill in Watertown, S. Dak., in the heart of the wheat region of that state. The plant was equipped with a complete roller system, and for about eight years the brothers carried on a very successful business. In 1890 the partnership was dissolved and the same year witnessed the re- moval of Frank Stokes to California, his iden- tification with Pasadena dating from that time. During that year he purchased thirty-seven acres of choice land in what is now South Pasadena
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and planted the ranch to oranges principally, al- though he also set out some of the various fruits which grow so luxuriantly in Southern Califor- nia. Under his careful training and watchful- ness the ranch has been made to produce abund- ant crops and from this standpoint is considered one of the most valuable ranches in the county. Since he purchased the property it has increased in value from $300 to $2,500 per acre. During 1907 he sold all but four acres, upon which are located the home buildings.
Mr. Stokes' first marriage occurred in 1872 and united him with Miss Orraletta H. Newell, of Mitchell county, Iowa, and a daughter of Wyman Newell, a prosperous and highly re- spected citizen of that community. Seven chil- dren were born to them, four of whom are liv- ing, as follows: Winninette, the wife of Ralph Arnold; Josephine F., the wife of Dr. Clifford Wood, of Vallejo; Orraletta, and Frank, Jr. Mrs. Stokes died in Pasadena April 18, 1892, and on November 30, 1893, Mr. Stokes married Miss Anna Magreta Hegard, a native of Denmark; she died May 30, 1904. On January 1, 1907, he was married to Miss Bessie Springer, a native of California, and a daughter of the late E. F. Springer, a pioneer of 1849 in California, and one of the best known citizens of Santa Clara coun- ty. Wherever circumstances have placed him Mr. Stokes has entered heartily into the affairs of public concern and been an important factor in the business life of the community as well. For six years he was a member of the city council in Janesville, Minn., was a member of the same body for four years in Watertown, S. Dak., and in South Pasadena was a member of the council for two years. Mr. Stokes is recognized as one of the city's enterprising business men, and per- sonally he is well liked for his geniality and up- right qualities.
CHARLES ELLIOT LANGFORD. On the honored list of citizens of Pasadena who have passed on to their reward is the name of Charles Elliot Langford, at one time a large land holder of this section and prominent in the upbuilding and development of the community's interests. He was a native of New York, his birth having occurred in the vicinity of Niagara Falls in 1828;
his parents, Charles E. and Abigail (Elliot) Langford, were lifelong residents of that state, where the father engaged as a manufacturer of woolen goods near Niagara Falls. The son re- ceived a good education in the common schools near his home, which he attended during the win- ter months, and in the summers assisted his father in the woolen mills. He remained with his father until attaining his majority, when he left home and with $100- the amount he had saved up during his boyhood years-he went to the middle west and with a friend bought five hundred acres in Iowa. Later he engaged in saw milling in Illinois on the east bank of the Mississippi river. He established what was known as the Langford & Hall Lumber Company, en- gaging extensively in the manufacture of lumber, which was shipped to different points down the Mississippi river. While one day engaged in the mill Mr. Langford was walking on a plank, which tipped and threw him backward quite a distance. He sustained injuries which confined him to his home for several weeks. Four weeks after his accident, Mr. Hall stepped upon a runway plank, which tipped and threw him violently forward upon his head, resulting in immediate death. The coincidence of their accidents was remarked up- on at the time and made quite an impression upon the mind of Mr. Langford. After recov- ering from his accident Mr. Langford resumed management of the mills and continued actively engaged in the work for some years. Later he entered business independently, erecting the first steam mill in the section.
Mr. Langford first came to California in 1888, intending to pass the winter and return again to his business pursuits in the following spring. So pleased was he with the prospects of the country that he purchased a tract of twenty acres in southeast Pasadena, and later purchased an- other small tract near Olivewood for the sum of $18,000. He bought a third tract of forty acres in what is now known as Lamanda Park, disposing of this at a later date. For some years he maintained his connection with his manufactur- ing interests in Illinois, but immediately upon his return began the manufacture of lumber designed to be used in the erection of a home in Pasa- dena. He finally disposed of his mills to David Joyce of Lyons, Iowa, where at one time he
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owned a fine tract of five hundred acres. He then came to Pasadena and remained a citizen of the place to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1896, his interment taking place in the Mountain View Cemetery, Pasadena. Fraternally he was a Master Mason, a Republican in politics and a member of the First Congregational Church of Pasadena. He was widely known and much beloved for his sterling traits of character.
In 1870 Mr. Langford was united in mar- riage with Miss Maria M. Sherman, a daughter of Daniel and Rebecca ( Morris) Sherman, na- tives respectively of New York and Fulton county, Ill. The father became a prosperous farmer and business man in Illinois, where his death occurred in 1899. The mother passed away in 1906 at eighty years of age. Mrs. Lang- ford was born in Kingston, N. Y., where she spent her girlhood and received her primary edu- cation, completing the course in a private school. Since her husband's death she has continued to look after his extensive interests and has proven herself possessed of good business judgment and executive skill. She has one daughter, Mabel E., wife of E. L. Ferris, a rancher of Los Angeles county. She is also a member of the First Con- gregational Church of Pasadena, and contributes liberally to all its charities. While a resident of Illinois Mr. Langford served as a trustee of the Illinois Military College.
CHARLES C. BROWN. When Mr. Brown came to Pasadena in 1879 the country was sparsely populated as compared with present conditions and it has been his privilege and pleas- ure to watch its steady growth, and in the es- tablishment of beneficial projects to lend his aid and influence. He comes of Irish and Scotch ancestry on the paternal and maternal sides re- spectively, and is himself a native of Scotland, born in Wigtownshire in 1841, the son of James and Sarah (Cowan) Brown. Neither of the parents ever left the old country for a home in the new world. During his active years the father was superintendent of the Bruce estate.
In the schools of his native town Charles C. Brown received but a limited education, and while he was still a young man he immigrated to the United States, going direct to Lake county.
Ill., where he was employed on a farm for sev- eral years. The call for able bodied men to aid in the restoration of peace at the time of the Civil war met with a ready response from Mr. Brown, who on April 1. 1863, became a member of the Second Illinois Light Artillery. Under the command of General Burnside his regiment participated in the battle of Chattanooga, and was also in the battle of Lookout Mountain, the siege of Nashville, the battle of Franklin and the battle of Knoxville, Tenn. Thereafter he was placed on recruiting service, and enlisted fifty-four men, continuing in that line of duty until March of 1864. Subsequently he was given a position in the postal department, carrying the United States mail to various points throughout the south from Nashville.
While on a furlough Mr. Brown went to Wau- kegan, Ill., where he was married February 3. 1864, to Miss Augusta Cleaver, of that city. When the war was over and his duties in the south were ended Mr. Brown returned to Illi- nois, thence went to Muskegon, Mich., where for two years he was in the employ of Stevens & Smith, who at that time were well known grocerymen in that city. Subsequently he ac- cepted a similar position with Ryerson. Hill & Co., of that city. After one year the firm turned their grocery business over to Mr. Brown, and he continued it under his own name until com- ing to California. His advent in California dates from the year 1874. at which time he went to the northern part of the state, and some time later he came as far south as San Francisco, where as an employe of C. T. Hopkins he re- mained for three years. He then came to South- ern California as a representative of the Mutual Orchard Co .. at a time when Pasadena was in its early infancy, and it has been a pleasure to him and a decided benefit to the town that Fate led him to make his future home there. In the mean time he has followed the real estate busi- ness, and a number of tracts have been bought and subdivided and later sold at considerable profit. While he commands an excellent busi- ness in his special line he is not so absorbed in his own private interests as to be oblivious to the needs and conditions of matters of public im- port. The need of good roads early impressed itself upon him and he has exerted special effort
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in this direction, his interest leading directly to his appointment as superintendent of roads, a position which he held for four years in the county and six years in the city to the satisfac- tion of those instrumental in placing him in the position, as well as the citizens generally.
Fraternally Mr. Brown is a Master Mason, and with his wife he is a member of the First Episcopal Church, both being liberal contributors to its material welfare, besides assisting person- ally in its various benevolent enterprises. As an old comrade of the early `6os Mr. Brown finds pleasure in associating with those who like him- self gave service to the Union cause, he being a charter member and past commander of J. R. Goddard Post, G. A. R., at Pasadena. Besides the demands made upon his time and energies from his real estate interests and as superintend- ent of streets, Mr. Brown's service in the fur- therance of the Pasadena Lake Vineyard Land & Water Company have been inestimable, he having served on the board for twenty-five years. In fact, there are few enterprises and in- dustries inaugurated for public good with which he has not been connected. By all he is recog- nized as one of the progressive citizens of Pasa- dena, a man of broad general intelligence, as well as one who is exceedingly well versed in the various interests which claim his attention.
ALFRED C. ARMSTRONG. From 1885 to the time of his death in November, 1893, Al- fred C. Armstrong made his home in Altadena, where he improved a beautiful home place of seven and a third acres of land, which he planted to oranges and lemons. He was a native of New York, his birth having occurred in Oswego, April 19, 1834; his parents, Andrew and Cor- nelia Armstrong, were also natives of that state, where they spent their entire lives. Mr. Arm- strong received a good common-school education and later attended a select institution. After leaving school he embarked in the drug business in Cleveland, Ohio, and for many years con- ducted a successful enterprise. Subsequently he entered the employ of the Lake Shore & Michi- gan Southern Railway, now the New York Cen- tral, having charge of the supply department for thirteen years. He then resigned to accept a po-
sition with the Santa Fe Railway in the same ca- pacity, with headquarters at Chicago, remaining with this company for four years, when he retired from railway work.
Coming to California in 1885 Mr. Armstrong located in Altadena, where he purchased a tract of seven and a third acres and began its im- provement and development, setting out oranges and lemons and establishing his home here. Later he purchased a tract of twenty-three hun- dred acres in Riverside county. He was always a public spirited man and assisted materially in all things for the betterment of his adopted state. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and served as vestryman for a great many years. In politics he was a stanch adherent of Democratic principles, but never cared for official recogni- tion, preferring rather his own fireside, his fam- ily and friends. He was a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. His death was a distinct loss to the community, for he was a man and citizen helpful always in the upbuilding and develop- ment of public interests.
Mr. Armstrong left a widow and four children, as follows: Nina, the wife of Lewis A. Murfey, of Cleveland, Ohio; Alfred Warner, residing in Altadena : Dr. William L., residing in New York City; and Marion, at home with her mother. Both sons are graduates of Yale. Mrs. Arm- strong was before marriage Mary Warner, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Lucius War- ner, one of the early settlers of the Western Reserve. She now resides at the family home- stead in Altadena, which residence is large and substantial, modern in all its appointments, and is situated among choice and well selected trees and shrubs from various climes.
ISAAC J. REYNOLDS. In 1887 two broth- ers, Isaac J. and Charles C. Reynolds, came to Pasadena and under the firm name of Reynolds Brothers established themselves in business as undertakers and embalmers. Under this name the business was carried on for four years, when the brother last mentioned withdrew from the firm, which at the same time admitted W. N. Van Nuys, who was a native of Wayne county, Ind., and took up work with Reynolds Brothers in Pasadena in the same year their business was
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