USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 63
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HERBERT G. DOW. To the honor of being a citizen of the beautiful state of California, Mr. Dow adds the distinction of being an able and popular official of Los Angeles county, where he is widely and favorably known. While wealth has not come to him in return for his indefatig- able labors nor has fame claimed him as her own, yet in a quiet, contented and useful way he has pursued his daily duties and lived the life of an honorable and upright citizen, enjoying the es- teem always accorded to those of known integrity and high principles of honor. In his capacity of auditor he has devoted himself strenuously to the duties of the position with an earnest desire to win the commendation not alone of the party that elected him, but also of his political opponents.
Herbert G. Dow was born in Portland, Me., in 1860, a son of Moses G. and Ellen M. (I.owell) Dow, both of whom were also natives of the same locality, the father being born in 18II and dying October 31, 1891, while the mother was born in 1816, and died in 1874. The Dow family were among the pioneers of New England, the emigrating ancestor being a native of England and in religion a member of the Society of Friends. After his location in America he reared a family whose descendants
have been prominent in the religious and political life of the community in which they lived. Mrs. Dow was the daughter of Enoch and Mary Lowell, a prominent New England family of strong intelligence and ability. Herbert G. Dow received an excellent common-school education which has enabled him to cope successfully with the problems which have come into his life. He remained in his native state until twenty years of age, when he decided to come west and from July, 1880, until September, 1886, was a resi- dent of Springfield, Mo. In that city he was eniployed as a bookkeeper, secretary and later as traveling salesman for a farming implement and agricultural machinery house for a time and then for one year conducted a hardware store independently. In September, 1886, he disposed of his business interests in Springfield, Mo., and came to California, locating in San Diego, where for ten years he engaged in the real-estate busi- ness and ranching, which brought him satis- factory financial returns. At the expiration of that time he located in Los Angeles, where he has ever since remained a resident.
It was while conducting the Catalina hotel on South Broadway that he became cashier for the county tax collector, a position which he filled efficiently for four years.
A Republican in his political convictions and a man of strong principles, Mr. Dow has gradually assumed a place of importance in the affairs of his party, and following his service as cashier he was nominated by acclamation and elected county auditor in 1902, receiving the handsome majority of eighteen thousand votes, leading his ticket. In January, 1903, he took up the work of his position, which extends over the period of four years, expiring in January, 1907, and at the county convention in 1906 received the nomina- tion for the ensuing term. The confidence vested in the ability and integrity of Mr. Dow have not suffered during his term of service, the duties of his position being discharged with efficiency and with all due regard to the responsibilities de- volving upon him. He stands high with all who know him, either of his party or the opposi- tion, and bids fair to occupy places of continued prominence.
In 1882, at Springfield, Mo., Mr. Dow was united in marriage with Mrs. Roxana (Will-
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iams) Dow, a native daughter of Missouri, and born of their union were twin daughters, Marie Capron and Nadine Capron. Mrs. Dow is an Episcopalian and this church and its charities are supported by Mr. Dow. In his fraternal rela- tions Mr. Dow is a member of Southern Cali- fornia Lodge No. 278, F. & A. M., and also is a member for life of Lodge No. 99, B. P. O. E. He takes an active interest in the business life of Los Angeles, being secretary of the Dow Realty Company, which has an office in the Union Trust Building, at the corner of Fourth and Spring streets, and is also treasurer of Los An- geles Ice Machine works.
WILLIAM W. MURPHY, M. D. The men who make up the professional class of Los An- geles are of such character and ability that they have proven a potent factor in the upbuilding of the city and the advancement of its best in- terests, whether along their particular line or along the line of commercialism, and prominent among them is Dr. William W. Murphy, well known and widely esteemed as a physician and surgeon. He has been a resident of this city for over twenty years and has witnessed its growth and development, and in the midst of his busy professional cares has always been found ready to lend his aid in the furtherance of any plan tending toward the common welfare. He holds a high position and is justly accorded the rank of a representative citizen.
The doctor is a native of Canada, having been born in Brockville August 19, 1846, a son of James and Delilah (Slack) Murphy, residents of that place, where the elder Mr. Murphy en- gaged for many years in general business. Will- iam W. Murphy was reared in his native town, where he received a preliminary education in the public and high schools. He was an apt pupil and with an eager desire to acquire knowledge let no opportunity for mental culture escape him. He was very young in years when he secured a position as teacher in a school in his native county, where he remained for a time, thence locating in Missouri, where he took up the study of medicine. For a time he was associated with a local physician in this study, but finally entered and graduated from the Missouri Medical Col-
lege at St. Louis, Mo. This was in the year 1876 and later he became a student in Bellevue Hospital, New York City, and graduated from the same in 1884. Subsequently he took a special course in the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, after which he returned to the middle west and in 1885 opened an office in Kansas City, Mo. In June of 1886 the doctor located in Los An- geles, Cal., where he was for a time associated with Dr. Darling in a practice which soon as- sumed lucrative proportions. About ten years ago he located in the office which he now oc- cupies at No. 307 South Broadway and has es- tablished a constantly increasing patronage. His ability has been widely recognized throughout the years in which he has been practicing in Los Angeles, and he has become prominent in medi- cal circles, being a member of the Los Angeles Medical Society, the Ophthalmic Society of Los Angeles, the State Medical Society, the South- ern District of California and the American Medical Association.
In 1869 Dr. Murphy was united in marriage with Miss Martha A. Day, a native of Bradley county, Tenn., a daughter of I. O. Day, a prominent physician of that place and an old and much esteemed citizen. One son was born of this union, Claire W. Murphy, who is also one of the successful physicians of Los Angeles. A resume of his life will be found elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Murphy is prominent in fra- ternal circles, being a Mason of high degree. He is associated with Southern California Lodge No. 278, F. & A. M., Signet Chapter No. 57, R. A. M., Los Angeles Commandery No. 9, K. T., and to the Mystic Shrine Al Malaikah. The doctor is one of the oldest practitioners of Los Angeles in the enjoyment of a good business, and has the confidence of his patrons and is a man respected and esteemed by his numerous friends.
WILLIAM FERGUSON. Perhaps no early settler of California was better fitted by exper- ience and physical make-up to cope with the hardships and privations of a pioneer country than William Ferguson, who also proved equal to the opportunities presented by her manifold resources and in the passing years won for him-
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self a position of financial standing as well as a place of importance in the social circles of the city of Los Angeles. His father, John C. Fergu- son, a native of Virginia, located in Tennessee in young manhood and there married, and in 1831 became a resident of Arkansas, where he engaged as a farmer. He brought to bear in his work the sturdy qualities of the Scotch peo- ple, his father having emigrated from Scotland during the colonial period of our history and shortly afterward gave his services in the Revo- lutionary war. He married into one of the old families of Pennsylvania, identified with the his- tory of our country from an early colonial period. John C. Ferguson married Elizabeth English, a native of Tennessee, and the death of both himself and wife occurred in Arkansas.
William Ferguson was born January 21, 1832, near Fayetteville, Washington county, Ark., up- on his father's farm, where he spent the early years of his life. His education was received in a backwoods country school, primitive in its ad- vantages and surroundings, and was necessarily limited, and in the present day would not even be counted a foundation for later knowledge. At the same time he was trained to system and habits of industry through the performance of the duties which were his as the son of a farmer. He was in his eighteenth year when, with an uncle and several neighbors, he started by the overland route to California, unable to resist the influence of the glowing reports which had reached his inland home. The journey was made in safety despite the perils with which it was attended, their first stop in the state being at Mud Springs, which they reached August 10, 1850. But a short time was spent in this loca- tion, when they journeyed on to Sacramento, and from there to Nevada City, where Mr. Fergu- son and Joel Ragin engaged in the mines of Auburn, intent upon securing a recompense for the hardships and trials which they had ex- perienced in their overland trip to the coast. In the spring of 1851, when he went to the Salmon river regions, where he thought he might be able to work successfully in the gold mines, Mr. Ferguson passed the worst period of his life and very narrowly escaped death. His strong constitution, however, coupled with his indomit- able will, enabled him to pass successfully
through all trials. After a short stay in these regions he proceeded to Trinity county, where he began mining and in the winter of 1852 en- gaged in freighting into the mines with a fair remuneration for his labors. Prior to his min- ing and freighting he served as cook in a mining camp for $150 per month, willing and eager to turn to account any ability which he might pos- sess. His next enterprise was as a blacksmith in Canyon City, where he was fairly successful. In 1857 he disposed of his business interests in Cal- ifornia and returned to his home in Arkansas via the Isthmus of Panama to New York City, and thence to the southern state.
Mr. Ferguson remained in the parental home for six months, when he once more came to California with his affairs so arranged that he could make this state his permanent home. Locat- ing in Trinity county in the summer of 1858, he engaged in agricultural pursuits and the manufacture of lumber for three years. Mining attracted him once more and for a time he fol- lowed this pursuit in Nevada. In the spring of 1864 he went to Idaho and remained a brief time, returning in October of the same year to the Golden state, and locating in his former place. In the winter of 1864 he removed to the vicinity of Petaluma, Sonoma county, Cal., where he embarked in stock raising, remaining there until 1868, when he came to Los Angeles to settle up the estate of his brother. . The south- ern city proved an attractive spot to him and he has ever since remained a resident, giving his efforts toward the support of all upbuilding movements. He has proved a man of business ability, establishing a livery stable in 1869 and successfully conducting the same for nearly ten years. At the same time lie has invested in real estate holdings, relying entirely upon his own judgment and foresight, and his ability to discriminate between inflation and values, and profiting by his many years of experience in dealing with men. In 1870 he purchased stock in the water company of Los Angeles, in which he later served as a director for many years. About 1890 he engaged in the manufacture of brick, water and sewer pipes, terra cotta and fire brick, and still maintains his interest in this plant, known as the California Sewer Pipe Com- pany. He has taken a deep interest in business
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enterprises in Los Angeles and has identified himself with many important movements, now serving as director in the Union Savings Bank.
In 1886 Mr. Ferguson built a residence at No. 303 South Hill street, and at that time this was the only building on the street south of Third. At the present writing he is completing a fine residence on the corner of Eighth and Rampart streets, which is to be the future home of the family. This consists of his wife, for- merly Miss Flora Austin, a native of Maine, and two children, Clarence and Mabel. The son and daughter received their education in the public schools of Los Angeles and are graduates of the high school. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Unitarian Church, to which he gives a liberal support. In his political affiliations he is identified with the Republican party, having cast his first vote for Gen. Winfield Scott. He is a man of exceptional ability and strong moral purpose and as such has made his influence felt in the City of Los Angeles. He is self-made in the best sense implied by the term ; has met with misfortune and hardship in the upbuilding of his fortune; has profited by his contact with men and his experiences. Perseverance and energy, and courage in the face of many ob- stacles, have been the capital upon which he has done business, and he has won against all odds presented. His life history may well be writ- ten as a lesson to those setting forth in life under difficulties and fearing defeat.
EDWARD R. BRADLEY, M. D. A success- ful career in his chosen field of labor is accorded Dr. Bradley by all who know him, his position being one of exceptional importance in the city of Los Angeles, where his entire professional life has been passed. He is a native son of the state, his birth having occurred at Folsom, Sac- ramento county, February 24, 1865, his father, Cyrus H. Bradley, a native of Indiana, having crossed the plains to California in the year 1852. He was a man of exceptional ability from his carliest venture in a business career, and although much was required of a man in the pioneer days of the state to warrant success, he easily assumed and held a place of importance in com- mercial affairs of Sacramento county. He en-
gaged in the grocery business in Folsom until 1867, when he went to Oakland and continued in the same line of business until he came to the city of Los Angeles and established the business which is now known as the Los Ati- geles Furniture Company. He met with suc- cess both as to financial returns and the position which he won as a citizen of worth and ability. He is now retired from the active cares of life and is enjoying the fruits of his early industry. His wife, formerly Cordelia A. Rickey, is a native of Iowa, in which state she was married and shortly afterward crossed the plains with her husband to found a new home among the un- developed resources of the west.
The boyhood of Edward R. Bradley was passed in the paternal home in Folsom, Oak- land and Los Angeles, to which latter city the family removed when he was only a lad in years. He received a preliminary education in the public schools of Los Angeles and easily mastered the studies as they came to him in advancing grades, graduating in 1885. He was an apt pupil and cager for knowledge. Not desiring to follow the commercial pursuits of his father, he early decided upon a professional career, and accord ingly became a student in the medical department of the University of Southern California, now un- der the presidency of his intimate friend and brother-in-law, Dr. George F. Bovard. Complet. ing the course in 1888 he went at once to New York City and entered Bellevue Hospital, from which he was graduated the following year with high honors. He remained in the east for a time, accepting the position of physician and surgeon of Bellevue Hospital, where he discharged his duties efficiently. In 1890 he returned to Los Angeles well equipped for the practice which he has since built up, the devotion to his profession bespeaking a successful career, while his person- ality has won for him the confidence of all who have had occasion to require his services. He is a student in the truest sense of the word, keeping well abreast of all advance in medicine or surgery and taking an unflagging interest in all matters pertaining to his profession, making a speciality of the diseases of children. He is a valued member of various medical societies, among them the Los Angeles County Medical Society, State Medical Society and the Ameri-
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can Medical Association. For the last ten years he has served as physician and surgeon of the Los Angeles Orphans Home, and also in other positions of importance.
In October, 1893, Dr. Bradley was united in marriage with Miss Virginia Burton William- son, a native of lowa and a daughter of Charles W. Williamson, an old and honored resident of this city, and born of this union is one child, Gertrude Muriel.
LOUIS GEORGE VISSCHER, M. D., comes of a distinguished family who traces its genealogy back to the time of the Reformation. Its mem- bers include many illustrious men, scientists, litterateurs, statesmen and soldiers, with here and there among them names made famous by deeds of valor or in some branch of learning and embla- zoned on the historic pages of the land that gave them birth. The Hollanders have been patriots ever, and when as colonists they made for them- selves homes in the newer lands their blood gave a sturdy solidity of character to sons and daughters, and their sterling qualities have passed to their many descendants as a lasting heritage to the latest generation.
Of the Visscher family much may be said. One Roemer Visscher was not only distinguished in trade, being the owner of a whole fleet of vessels, but was also one of the first poets of his native land. And so on down the line to Major Kraght Visscher, great-grandfather of Dr. Visscher, who held commission in the royal army. He was a brave man and met death as a brave soldier loves to meet death-fronting the foe. When the combined forces of England and Rus- sia invaded Holland, Major Visscher, at the head of his troops, attempted to cross a bridge held by the enemy and commanded by their artillery. The color-bearer was shot down, and immedi- ately the Major seized the colors, advancing with them through a devastating cross-fire of shot and shell. When nearly across the bridge he was struck by a cannon-ball and instantly killed. Then a sergeant caught the flag up on his bay- onet and with it succeeded in crossing the bridge. A memorial monument was erected to the vali- ant Major Visscher in the city of Alkmaar. His son, Professor Lodewyk Gerard Visscher, held
the chair of history and literature at the Univer- sity of Utrecht ; he was the author of many his- torical and literary works. The son of the latter, Jan A. Visscher, the father of Dr. Visscher, was born at the Hague in 1830. He graduated from the Military Medical College at Utrecht and for twelve years following occupied a position as surgeon in the Royal Navy. When he was twenty-nine years old he received from his government the highest decoration awarded to its citizens-the Royal Dutch Lion. Upon his retirement from the navy he engaged in the prac- tice of his profession and continued in it until his death in 1901, at the age of seventy-one years.
Dr. Visscher is of equally illustrious descent on his mother's side of the family. Her maiden name was Jeanette Antoinette le Ruette. Her immediate family held responsible civil positions under the minister of the interior. She died in 1868, leaving two children. Her second son, Hugo, graduated from the University of Utrecht and is now a practicing physician in Leusden, Netherlands.
Dr. Louis George Visscher was born in Sluiss, Netherlands, December 28, 1864, and his boy- hood years were passed in Holland. In 1881 he entered the University of Utrecht, taking up the study of the classics and medicine. From there he went to the University of Wurtzburg, where he graduated in 1891 with the degree of M. D., following with a post-graduate course of one year at the University of Berlin, and two years at the University of Freiberg. He returned to Holland and entered the University of Leyden, which conferred on him the degree of M. D., in 1898. For a short period thereafter he prac- ticed his profession. Suffering an attack of pneumonia he was compelled to give up his business, and in order to escape the severity of the winter in Holland traveled in Italy and the Riviera.
Dr. Visscher came to Los Angeles in the fall of 1898. When he decided to make a permanent residence liere he opened an office and engaged in the practice of his profession. His present offices are in the Homer Laughlin building. He is a specialist in gastro-intestinal diseases and stands without peer in his line of work in the profession. He is instructor in gastro-intestinal diseases in the College of Medicine, University
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of Southern California, and professor of gastro- intestinal diseases in the Post-Graduate School of the University of Southern California. He is a member of American Medical Association, State Medical Association, Southern California Medical Association, Los Angeles Medical Association, Clinical Pathological Society, and a member of the University Club.
Dr. Visscher married Miss Wilhelmina Eliza- beth Zegers-Veeckens in 1890. They have one son, Karel Hugo Kraght Visscher, born in Wurtz- burg, Germany, in February, 1891, and who attends the Thacher School in the Ojai valley. It is needless to state herein the high standing of Dr. Visscher in the community, or to mention the estimation in which he is held by his col- leagues in the profession. He devoted seventeen years to the study of medicine and his success is simply the reward of honest, persistent effort. His talents, learning and worth as a physician and a gentleman are fully appreciated and suf- ficiently well established to make enumeration of them necessary.
ANDREW W. RYAN. In the vicinity of Kilkenny, Ireland, Andrew W. Ryan was born April 14, 1844, a son of Patrick, likewise a native of that country. The elder man was reared to manhood in Ireland, receiving a good common school education. He married Mary Leahey and in 1852 brought his wife and children to the United States, after landing in New York City going direct to Burlington, Iowa, where he con- tinued to reside until his death. Shortly after his arrival in that city he secured work as a con- tractor in the construction of the roadbed for what is now known as the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Later he was connected with many of the public works of Burlington and through his efforts acquired a competency. The death of his wife also occurred in their home in that city.
Andrew W. Ryan was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to his new home in Burlington, in which city he attended the public and high schools, and later entered Burlington University. In 1860 he put aside his studies to take up the practical duties of life, accepting a place as clerk in a general store, where he re-
mained for about two years. The training thus received was of incalculable benefit to him and gave him a knowledge of the business world which he found of practical use in the years that followed. About this time Mr. Ryan with other young men about his age (only one of the party being over nineteen years old) decided to seek their fortunes in the more remote west, and ac- cordingly after having secured all necessary equipments set out for the trip across the plains. Their journey was made with mule teams and without mishap to Virginia City and there it was unanimously decided to stop and engage in min- ing for a time. They were fairly successful and acquired some means, with which they continued their journey to California, making their way on foot to Visalia, this state. There Mr. Ryan purchased a horse and came on to Los Angeles, the others of the party scattering to various parts of the state.
Mr. Ryan's first work in this section of Cal- ifornia was in the capacity of roustabout at Wil- mington, where he continued until a friend se- cured him employment as a driver for General Banning, who was then occupied in freighting to the mines of Mexico. With the means ac- cumulated in the ensuing six months Mr. Ryan purchased a farm in the vicinity of Downey at a time when land was cheap, and engaged in the raising of corn and hogs. Until 1867 he re- mained in this occupation and while conducting his agricultural interests was elected to the of- fice of justice of the peace, which position he retained for six years. With the passing years he gradually assumed a place of importance in the affairs of the community and as a stanch adherent of the principles of the Democratic party became an important factor in their ad- vancement. In 1875 he was elected assessor of Los Angeles county, and having in the mean- time located in the city of Los Angeles, two years later became a member of the city council from the third ward. In September, 1884, he entered the employ of the Los Angeles City Water Company and remained with them for eighteen years, when the plant was sold to the city. Since that time he has been identified with the State Bank and Trust Company as a director and appraiser, at the present time (1906) hold- ing the office of vice-president, and is also a
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