USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 62
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Of the three children born to his parents Har- mon D. Ryus was the youngest. His public school training in Topeka was supplemented by a course in Washburn College and this was fol- lowed by a military course in Wentworth Mili- tary Academy at Lexington, Mo., he having been attracted to the latter training through his association with the National Guard, of which he had been a member from the age of seven- teen, having in the meantime attained the com- mission of lieutenant. After his graduation in 1893, he spent two years in travel in South America, during which time he participated in three revolutions, viz .; in the United States of Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela, at Carte- gena, Colombia, commanding ten mounted guns. After numerous experiences of hardships and exposure to danger he returned to the United States and accepted the chair of instructor of military science and tactics in Wentworth Mili- tary Academy. When the Spanish-American war opened he volunteered his services, becoming first lieutenant and adjutant of the Third Mis- souri Volunteer Infantry, his service dating from May, 1898. Subsequently he was placed on de- tached service, remaining there until mustered out in January, 1899, and during the following March he came to Los Angeles. His first ex- perience in the west was running a pleasure boat between Long Beach and Terminal, this being the first boat of the kind to run between these points, and the Meteor, as the boat was called, was in reality the beginning of the Meteor Boat Company of Catalina. In September, 1901, he sold his interest in his boats to the present own- ers and at the same time became initiated in the automobile business through his appointment as receiver for the Hall automobile. Two months following this he secured the agency of the White Steamer, the first car of this make which he sold going to E. T. Stimson, and it is still in constant service. Since beginning in business with the model just mentioned Mr. Ryus has added to his stock from time to time, until he now has seven makes of machines in his repos- itory. His first place of business was on Main street between Third and Fourth, but after two years in that location, in December, 1903, he
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opened his present garage on South Broadway, adjoining the Lankershim hotel. The building is 60x336 feet and extends from. Broadway to Spring street, being without doubt the largest garage in the city, having a floor space of twen- ty-two thousand square feet. The plant is equipped with the most modern machinery and is prepared to repair and rebuild all kinds of machines, this work, as well as the manufacture of their own machine, giving employment to fifty-five hands. In 1903 the business was incor- porated as the White Garage Company, of which Mr. Ryus is vice-president and manager. Be- sides the White machine, they carry the Toledo, Hartford and Tribune, all of the Pope manu- facture, for which they have the agency in Southern California from Santa Cruz and Fres- no as far south as San Diego, and also in Ari- zona and Old Mexico. Since establishing him- self in the automobile business Mr. Ryus has won thirty-seven cups and one medal in auto races, two of these being won in the race to the top of Old Baldy. While in military college he was noted for his accomplishments in football, and for some years was coach for the University of Southern California.
In Topeka, Kans., Mr. Ryus was united in marriage with Miss Celeste Nellis, the daughter of Judge DeWitt Nellis, ex-judge of the su- preme court of Kansas and a prominent attor- ney of Topeka. Mrs. Ryus is an accomplished musician, being a graduate of the University of Berlin, where she won the Kaiser medal, an honor which up to this time had never fallen to any foreign pupil. She is well known in social circles in Los Angeles through her membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Ebell Club and the Friday Morning Club. So- cially Mr. Ryus is a member of the Jonathan and Union League Clubs, and politically he is a Republican in national affairs, though in local matters he gives his vote to the candidate best qualified for the position. He is a charter mem- ber of the Automobile Dealers Association of Southern California, being vice-president of the organization at this writing, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants and Manufacturers Association. All that the words upright and liberal imply may with truth be applied to Mlr. Ryus, both in his social and
business life, for all who come in contact with him pronounce him a man of irreproachable character and of generous impulses.
WILLIAM POWERS BURNHAM. At the time of the civil strife between the north and the south William P. Burnham was a mere child, having been born January 10, 1860, in Scranton, Pa., a son of Major David R. and Olive E. (Powers) Burnham. His educational privileges were considerably above those enjoyed by the average youth of his acquaintance, for his par- ents appreciated the value of a good education and determined to give him every advantage their means would permit. After attending the common schools of the different army posts until he was fourteen years of age he matriculated at the Kansas State Agricultural College, continu- ing his studies there until he was seventeen years of age. On June 15, 1877, he entered the mili- tary school at West Point, N. Y., and four years later was graduated and assigned as second lieu- tenant of the Sixth Infantry. Subsequently, in February, 1891, he was promoted to first lieu- tenant and was placed on duty as instructor in law and tactics in the Military Infantry and Cav- alry School at Fort Leavenworth. As a reward for faithful service, in May, 1898, he was made lieutenant-colonel and as such served in the Fourth Missouri Volunteers in the Spanish- American war, serving in Cuba until February 10, 1899, when he was promoted to captain of infantry and assigned to the Fifth United States Infantry, January 1, 1899. He also served two years in the Philippines. August 20, 1906, he was promoted to major of the Twentieth In- fantry, and is now ( 1907) major, general's staff, chief of staff, department of Columbia, at Van- couver barracks, Washington.
In February, 1890, Mr. Burnham was united in marriage with Miss Grace F. Meacham, daughter of Major Frank Meacham, M. D., of the medical corps, U. S. A. As an author Mr. Burnham is well known, the earliest of his pro- ductions being "Three Roads to a Commission in the United States Army," published in 1892; among his later works are "Duties of Outposts," "Advance Guard," and others, published in 1893, besides many other works on military subjects
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which have been published from time to time. Aside from any reflected honor from his noble and illustrious father, Mr. Burnham has won many laurels during his military career, and in view of what has already been conferred upon him it is safe to predict still greater and more brilliant success.
JOHN LOPIZICH. The versatile abilities possessed by Mr. Lopizich enable him to figure prominently in the well-being of a number of business enterprises in Los Angeles, as well as numerous fraternal and social organizations of the same city. A native of Austria, he was born in Ragusa, Dalmatia, November 25, 1865, the son of Ivo and Ivha Lopizich, the former a builder by profession. After graduating from the gymnasium of his native city Mr. Lopizich began the study of pharmacy there and in due time was qualified to put his knowledge to prac- tice as a registered pharmacist. For five years he held a position in Ragusa, and at the end of that time he went to Ismailia, Egypt, and for five years was associated with one of the oldest pharmacists of Canal Suez.
With about ten years of practical experience as a pharmacist to his credit John Lopizich came to the United States in 1888, coming direct to Los Angeles, Cal., which has since been his home and the scene of his business undertakings. As was natural he sought employment in a line with which he was most familiar, and for about a year and a half was in the employ of G. E. Ful- lerton, one of the old-established druggists of this city. Confidence in his ability to manage a pharmacy of his own induced him to establish a drug store at No. 503 North Main street, a venture which proved all that could be desired by the most ambitious. Subsequently he removed the business to No. 427 North Main street, a few doors from his first location, and at the same time associated himself with Jules Viole, under the firm name of Viole & Lopizich, an associa- tion which still exists, their drug store being one of the oldest in the city and the largest store of the kind north of First street. In 1904 the business was incorporated and Mr. Lopizich made treasurer of the company, but more re- cently it has been re-incorporated as the Viole-
McLean Drug Company, Mr. Lopizich still re- taining his position of treasurer.
Financial as well as business matters have a claim on Mr. Lopizich's attention. September 20, 1904, he organized the International Savings and Exchange Bank, of which he has been presi- dent from the first. This is one of the live monetary institutions of this city, capitalized for $200,000, and with a paid-up capital of $125,000, and until recently doing a general banking busi- ness. In August, 1907, the International Bank of Los Angeles was incorporated with a capital of $100,000. as an off-shoot, so to speak, of the International Savings and Exchange Bank, Mr Lopizich also being president of this institution The latter makes a specialty of commercial bank. ing, while the parent institution, as the nam : would indicate, makes a specialty of savings ac- counts. These two institutions will in the near future be housed in a building of their own, the officers having under way a fine modern bank and office building on the corner of North Spring and Temple streets. It covers a ground space 57×122 feet, is ten stories in height, and is con- structed of fireproof brick and terra cotta. When completed this will be the highest building north of Fourth street and the third highest structure in the city. Mr. Lopizich is also interested in the Western Lock and Hardware Company, being treasurer and a director of the company, and he also holds the same offices in the California Granite Manufacturing Company, besides which he is interested in other mercantile concerns.
In Los Angeles, Cal., Mr. Lopizich was mar ried to Miss Marianna Davarede, a native of this city and the daughter of Jean Davarede, a French. man by birth and a pioneer settler in California, coming here in 1849. At one time he was the owner of the Menlo Park tract. Three children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lopi- zich, as follows: Ivo, Vladimir and Mirko Fraternally Mr. Lopizich belongs to the Foresters of America, and socially he is a member of the Slavonian Benevolent Society, Italian Mutual Benevolent Society, Society Francaise of Mutual Benevolence, Servian United Benefit Society Austrian Military Society, Italian-American Club, and in the line of his business interests he belongs to the State Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association. His interest in
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the well-being of his home city is attested by his membership in the Chamber of Commerce, and politically he supports Republican principles.
JAMES MILLER GUINN, of Los Angeles City, was born near Houston, Shelby county, Ohio, November 27, 1834. His paternal and maternal ancestors removed from Scot- land and settled in the north of Ireland in the latter part of the seventeenth century. His father was born near Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh, and his mother, Eliza Miller, was born near Londonderry. His father came to America in 1819, and after ten years spent in the lumber business in the province of New Brunswick he migrated to Ohio, in 1830, and located on a tract of land covered with a dense forest.
James M. Guinn spent his boyhood years in assisting his father to clear a farm. The fa- cilities for obtaining an education in the back- woods of Ohio fifty years ago were very mea- ger. Three months of each winter he attended school in a little log schoolhouse. By studying in the evenings, after a hard day's work, he prepared himselt for teaching; and at the age of eighteen began the career of a country ped- agogue. For two years he alternated teaching with farming. Ambitious to obtain a better education, he entered the preparatory depart- ment of Antioch College, of which institution Horace Mann, the eminent educator, was then president. In 1857 he entered Oberlin Col- lege. He was entirely dependent on his own resources for his college expenses. By teach- ing during vacations, by manual labor and the closest economy, he worked his way through college and graduated with honors.
On the breaking out of the Civil war, in 1861, he was among the very first to respond to President Lincoln's call for volunteers, en- listing April 19, 1861, four days after the fall of Fort Sumter. He was a member of Com- pany C, Seventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Later he enlisted in the same regi- ment for three years. This regiment was one of the first sent into West Virginia. He served through the West Virginia campaign under McClellan and afterwards under Rosecrans.
The Seventh Regiment joined the army of the Potomac in the fall of 1861, and took part in all the great battles in which that army was engaged up to and including the battle of Get- tysburg. In September, 1863, the regiment, as part of the Twelfth Army Corps, was sent to the west, and was engaged in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. Its three years being ended, it was mustered out the Ist of June, 1864, in front of Atlanta.
In August, 1861, while the Seventh Regi- ment was guarding Carnifax Ferry, on the Gauley river, it was attacked by three thou- sand Confederates under Floyd and Wise. Af- ter a desperate resistance it was forced to re- treat, leaving its dead and wounded on the field. On the retreat the company of which Mr. Guinn was a member fell into an ambush and nearly one-half of those who escaped from the battlefield were captured. Mr. Guinn, af- ter a narrow escape from capture, traveled for five days in the mountains, subsisting on a few berries and leaves of wintergreen. He finally reached the Union forces at Gauley Bridge, al- most starved. At the battle of Cedar Moun- tain his regiment lost sixty-six per cent of those engaged-a percentage of loss nearly twice as great as that of the Light Brigade in its famous charge at Balaklava. Of the twen- ty-three of Mr. Guinn's company who went into the battle only six came out unhurt, he being one of the fortunate six.
Of his military service, a history of the com- pany written by one of his comrades after the war, says: "Promoted to corporal November I, 1862; took part in the battles of Cross Lanes, Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Antietam, Dum- fries. * *
* On every march of the company till his discharge."
After his discharge he was commissioned by Governor Tod, of Ohio, captain in a new regi- ment that was forming, but, his health having been broken by hard service and exposure, he was compelled to decline the position.
In 1864 he came to California (by way of Panama) for the benefit of his health. After teaching school three months in Alameda county he joined the gold rush to Idaho, pack-
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ing his blankets on his back and footing it from Umatilla, Ore., to Boise Basin, a distance of three hundred miles. For three years he followed gold mining with varying success, sometimes striking it rich and again dead broke. His health failing him again, from the effects of his army service, he returned to Cal- ifornia in 1867; and in 1868 went east and took treatment for a number of months in Dr. Jackson's famous water cure, at Danville, N. Y. He returned to California in 1869, and in October of that year came to Los Angeles county. He found employment as principal of the schools of Anaheim-a position he filled for twelve consecutive years. He reached the town with $10; by investing his savings from his salary in land, at the end of twelve years he sold his landed possessions for $15,000. During the greater portion of the time he was employed in the Anaheim schools he was a member of the county board of education. He helped to organize the first teachers' institute (October 31, 1870) ever organized in the coun- ty. In 1874 he married Miss D. C. Marquis, an assistant teacher, daughter of the Rev. John Marquis. To them three children have been
born : Mabel Elisabeth, Edna Marquis and Howard James. The Marquis family is of Huguenot ancestry. The progenitors of the family in America left France after the revo- cation of the edict of Nantes, and settled in the north of Ireland. From there, in 1720, they emigrated to America, locating in Pennsyl- vania.
In 1881 Mr. Guinn was appointed superin- tendent of the city schools of Los Angeles. He filled the position of school superintendent for two years. He then engaged in merchandis- ing, which he followed for three years. Sell- ing out, he engaged in the real estate and loan business, safely passing through the boom. He filled the position of deputy county assessor several years.
Politically he has always been a stanch Re- publican. He was secretary of a Republican club before he was old enough to vote, and, arriving at the voting age, he cast his first vote for John C. Fremont, in 1856, and has had the privilege of voting for every Republican nominee for president since. In 1873, when the
county was overwhelmingly Democratic, he was the Republican nominee for the assembly and came within fifty-two votes of being elect- ed. In 1875 he was the nominee of the anti- monopoly wing of the Republican party for state superintendent of public instruction. For the sake of party harmony he withdrew just before the election in favor of the late Prof. Ezra Carr, who was triumphantly elected. He served a number of years on the Republican county central committee, being secretary from 1884 to 1886.
Mr. Guinn took an active part in the organ- ization of the Historical Society of Southern California, in 1883, and has filled every office in the gift of the society. He has contributed a number of valuable historical papers to mag- azines and newspapers and has edited the His- torical Society's Annual for the past ten years. He is a member of the American Historical Association of Washington, D. C., having the honor of being the only representative of that association in Southern California. While en- gaged in the profession of teaching he was a frequent contributor to educational periodicals and ranked high as a lecturer on educational subjects before teachers' institutes and asso- ciations. He is a charter member of Stanton Post No. 55, G. A. R .; also a past post com- mander. He has filled the position of post ad- jutant continuously for fifteen years. When the Society of Pioneers of Los Angeles Coun- ty was organized in 1897 he was one of the committee of three selected to draft a form of organization and a constitution and by-laws. He has filled the office of secretary and also that of a member of the board of directors since the society's organization ten years ago.
In 1904 Mr. Guinn was nominated for mem- ber of the city board of education by the Non- partisan committee of one hundred. The Non- partisans were elected by a majority of three thousand over their Republican opponents, al- though at the county election in November the Republicans carried the city by a majority of over twelve thousand. He was renominated in 1906, but declined the nomination. After the organization of the new board, Mr. Emmet J. Wilson, having been appointed assistant city attorney, resigned. Mr. Guinn was urged
55
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to fill the vacancy and finally consented. Be- sides the historical portion of this volume he has written a history of Southern California and a brief history of California.
ALEXANDER CAMPBELL SMITHER. The oldest pastorate of Los Angeles is that of the above named minister, one of the most popular and highly esteemed men of Southern California, where he has been a most important factor in the upbuilding and advancement of his denomination. As his name would indicate he comes of a family identified with the earliest movements of the religious doctrine advocated by Alexander Campbell, one of the most courage- ous pioneers in theological fields. His parents, L. N. and Keziah (Curry) Smither, were both natives of Kentucky, where the father engaged for many years as a successful and prosperous farmer. He is still a resident of his native state, but is now retired from the active cares of life. The mother died some years since.
Born June 10, 1865, A. C. Smither is also a native of the Blue Grass state, where upon his father's farm he was reared to young manhood. The early days of his life were spent much as those of any other farmer lad, home duties al- ternating with an attendance of a subscription school, where he obtained his rudimentary knowl- edge. Gifted with more ability, however, than the average youth, he was not satisfied with a foundation for knowledge but early decided to devote his life to the highest calling and in the most earnest spirit of effort and conscious desire sought to prepare himself fully and completely for the work. In 1882 he matriculated in Ken- tucky University, Lexington, Ky., from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1886. Later he began to preach the Gospel in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, and although he met with the success which is characteristic of all his efforts he was not content to take up the work permanently without further study. Accordingly he became a student in Butler Uni- versity, near Indianapolis, Ind., and devoted the ensuing two years to theology, graduating there- from in 1800. In the same year he accepted a call to the First Christian Church of Los Angeles, and has ever since remained in this pastorate. The changes which the years have brought are
indicative of the spirit of progress which has distinguished the Disciples in Southern Califor- nia. The church building at that time was on Temple street and was known as the Temple Street Christian Church; the congregation was small and its influence was scarcely felt even in its immediate neighborhood. Under the leader- ship and masterly mind of Rev. Mr. Smither the First Christian Church was evolved, the con- gregation moving in 1894 to the corner of Hope and Eleventh streets, occupying the Sunday- school room, which was the first part of the new building erected. In 1897 the auditorium was completed, its seating capacity being eight hun- dred, while that of the entire building is four- teen hundred, a value of $50,000 being placed upon the property to-day. From the modest be- ginning of the old Temple Street Christian Church has grown up the most extensive and in- fluential church of its denomination on the Pa- cific coast. During Mr. Smither's pastorate eighteen hundred persons have been added to the congregation, the present membership being nine hundred, and in this time this church has been instrumental in organizing numerous churches, among them the East Eighth Street Church, the Central Church, the Magnolia Avenue Church, the Highland Park Church, be- sides giving largely of members and money to organize others. Mr. Smither holds an unex- celled position among the ministers of his denomi- nation, honored alike for the qualities of leader- ship which have ever distinguished his career, and for the spirit of earnestness and devotion which has impelled him to a useful activity. He is an ardent and enthusiastic worker and has given to every. department of the church an impetus which has brought about most satisfac- tory progress.
Significant of the high place he holds among the citizens of Southern California was his ap- pointment to the position of president of the Board of Trustees of Berkeley Bible Seminary, at Berkeley, Cal., which position he holds at the present writing, ably discharging the duties in- cumbent upon him. He has three times declined the honor of being made a member of the na- tional convention, but has served as president of the Southern California mission convention for five years. Through his various articles con-
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tributed to eastern religious papers he is well known throughout the entire country and readily accorded a place among the men who are ad- vancing the cause of the Disciples of Christ. His influence is unusually wide in his home city and in religious circles of Southern California.
The marriage of Mr. Smither occurred in Los Angeles, July 29, 1891, and united him with Miss Gertrude Clough, a native of Massachusetts, though reared and educated in California. She is a daughter of Frank S. Clough. the descend- ant of an old New England family. Educated and accomplished, Mrs. Smither has brought to bear in her duties as the wife of a minister ability and culture which have made her peculiarly suc- cessful in all the work she has undertaken. She has many friends in and out of the church, who appreciate her for her sterling traits of character. Mr. and Mrs. Smither are the parents of one son, Chester Campbell Smither, now a student in the public schools of Los Angeles.
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