A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I, Part 101

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1184

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The marriage of Mr. Foss in 1853 united him with Miss Rebecca A. Libby, member of an honored and influential pioneer family of San Diego county. Five children were born of their union, two of whom, Elizabeth and Benjamin H., died in infancy. The eldest daughter, Florence Ada, married O. S. Stew- art and resides in DeLuz, San Diego county. The only living son, Albert J., makes his home at Corona ; he married Miss Hattie Neff (now deceased) and has six children. The young- est daughter, Lillian E., is the wife of Will- iam Griffin, of Anaheim, Orange county, and they have six children.

On another page of this volume will be found a sketch of Benjamin F. Libby, a broth- er of Mrs. Foss; another brother, William E., resides at Long Beach and is engaged in dairy farming. The father, William E., Sr., was born and reared in Maine, but in an early day removed to Wisconsin and later became a pioneer of Iowa, whence he came to Cali- fornia accompanied by his wife. Settling in the San Luis Rey valley he entered a large tract of government land and eventually he gave to his daughter, Mrs. Foss, one hundred and sixty acres of land where now she makes her home. Politically Mr. Libby supported the Republican party from its organization un- til his death. A man of large heart and gen- erous impulses, he was a friend to every pio- neer, and more than one had occasion to be grateful to him for kindnesses quietly rend- ered in a time of need. In his death, which

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occurred in 1880, at the age of seventy years, the county lost a whole-souled and broad- minded pioneer. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Higgins and was born in Maine, died in San Diego county in 1878, at the age of sixty-seven years. To their descendants they left the memory of self- sacrificing toil, high principles of honor and the kindly hospitality that characterizes the pioneer.

WILLIAM RILEY DODSON. An inter- ested witness and participant in the develop- ment and upbuilding of Los Angeles county and particularly the country surrounding El Monte, has been William Riley Dodson, now the oldest settler of the town and a pioneer whose history is as entertaining as that which tells of the progress of the western common- wealth. He is of southern birth, having been born in Crawford county, Ark .. September 3, 1839, a son of Ganum Magby Dodson, the lat- ter a native of Virginia, whose father was a planter in that state, where the name had been established gencrations before by an English ancestor. Ganum M. Dodson mar- ried in Kentucky in 1832, and removed to Missouri the following year, locating on the Sauk river, where he remained for four years, then settled in Arkansas. The place that is now the town of Van Buren was then only a wilderness, and in this he established his home, clearing the land, building a house and improving a farm. In 1863 he lo- cated for a time in Texas, but soon returned to Arkansas and in Little Rock spent his last days, dying in 1866, at an ad- vanced age. His wife was formerly Maggie Thompson, who was born in Christian county, Ky., in 1815, a member of a prominent pioneer family of that state, two of her brothers serv- ing in the war of 1812. She died in Arkansas in 1870, leaving a family of eight children, all of whom attained maturity, while but three are now living.

William Riley Dodson, the only member of the family in California, was reared to young manhood in Arkansas, attending school in the primitive log cabins of the day and obtaining what education he could under the disadvan- tages of the early days. He engaged in farm- ing until 1861, when he enlisted in Company B, Third Regiment Arkansas Infantry, known as Gratiot's Brigade. He was shortly pro- moted to a lieutenancy and later was made captain of Company A, serving under Col. John B. Clark until the close of hostilities. He participated in the battle of Springfield, Mo., where he received a saber wound in his

left wrist; Elk Horn; Prairie Grove, and nu- merous others, at Fayetteville receiving a shot through his upper left arm which broke it. His comrades bound up the arm and he rode six hundred miles to Texas with it in a sling; unfortunately the limbs of trees struck it with such force that it was broken over again. In Rockwall, Tex., the regiment was disbanded by Gen. Joe Shelby. In Lavaca county, Tex., Mr. Dodson received medical treatment, and after his arm recovered he went to work as a teamster, running a six- mule team to Galveston until 1868, and mak- ing $8,000 in the three years. With the pro- ceeds of his work he came to California over- land, with two others driving sixteen hundred head of cattle, which they sold to the govern- ment on the Rio Grande. He located at once in El Monte, which he reached September 28 of that vear, purchased a farm ten miles be- low the town and began agricultural pursuits. After five years he sold out and purchased property in El Monte, which he has been farming ever since. In 18So he became pro- prietor of the El Monte hotel, which had been built by his father-in-law, W. L. Jones, in 1870, and continued its management until 1905, when he sold out and has since given his entire time to the management of his ranch. This consists of forty-eight acres, three acres of which were devoted to a subdi- vision, known as the Dodson addition, and on which he owns five residences, while he also owns two residences on Mission street, one store building and a residence on Main street. and one on Lexington street. The home prop- erty is owned by his wife. He has two pump- ing plants, one used for irrigation and the other for domestic water supply for El Monte. In addition to the property already mentioned he also owns a business house in Puente.

In Texas Mr. Dodson was united in mar- riage with Miss Clarimon C. Jones, a native of Talladega county, Ala., and a daughter of W. L. Jones, a pioneer of El Monte, who died here. Mrs. Dodson died here, leaving six children. namely: William B., of San Pedro; May, wife of Dr. Bragg Mings, of Los An- geles; E. J. and C. B., twins, the former a contractor of Los Angeles, and the latter lo- cated in Oakland, Cal .; W. L., a business man of El Monte; and Foster, at home. One son, Thomas K., died in infancy some years before the mother. Mr. Dodson was married the second time to Mrs. Minerva (Johnston) Blacklev, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Micajah Johnston, who built the first house and blacksmith shop in what is now El Monte in 1852: in 1884 he sold out and the follow- ing year died in Savannah. Mr. Dodson is a

Samuel 5. Black

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member fraternally of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Los Angeles Coun- ty Pioneers, while politically he is a stanch Democrat, having served for years as a mem- ber of the Democratic county central commit- tee. On all matters of public import Mr. Dod- son has taken a keen interest, and is always counted upon to promote movements for the benefit of community, county, state or nation.

HON. SAMUEL T. BLACK. The presi- dent of the San Diego State Normal School is a descendant of an old Scotch family and its sole American representative of his genera- tion. From Scotland the family became trans- planted into England, where he was born in Cumberland May 20, 1846, being fifth in or- der of birth among the ten children of James and Elspeth (Thorburn) Black, natives re- spectively of the city of Glasgow and the shire of Dumfries, Scotland. His father (whose mother was a member of the McLean family of ancient Celt origin) learned the trade of a mechanical engineer and for years engaged in the manufacture of iron, but eventually re- tired from business cares. Both he and his wife remained in England until their death. Only two of their once large family still sur- vive, and of these Samuel T., whose name in- troduces this article, has become one of the leading educators of the Pacific coast. With the advantages of a thorough education in the common-school branches and a later study of the higher branches, in 1859 he began to prepare himself for teaching and meanwhile gained active experience by work as an ap- prentice teacher. During 1864 he became an employe in the offices and factory of his uncle, William Thorburn, an extensive manufacturer of pig iron, under whose oversight he gained a general business education.

The memorable era of 1849 had brought to California, among thousands of other gold- seekers, a young Scotchman, John Thorburn, an uncle of Professor Black. For some time the family were kept posted concerning his whereabouts but in 1867 it had been eleven years since any letter had been received from him. Doubtless the opportunities offered by the new world would have attracted the nephew in any event, but the desire to find his uncle presented a special inducement for emigration, and in 1867 he crossed the ocean to the United States, where he found his uncle at Mineral Point, Wis. While visiting in that town he became interested in California through the tales of early days told by his uncle. and after having taught one term of school, at Mineral Point. in the spring of 1868

he came to the western coast and settled in Yuba county. For one year he taught a rural school at Indian ranch and then taught for three years at Camptonville, receiving $100 per month as compensation for instructing seventy-five pupils, without the aid of an as- sistant. The children were of all school ages, from the pupils of the primary grades to those preparing for the university.

For some years after 1873 Professor Black acted as principal of the Chico schools and then resigned to accept the position of county superintendent of the schools of Butte county, to which he, a pronounced Republican, had been appointed by the Democratic board of county supervisors. On the completion of the term as county superintendent he removed to Susanville, Lassen county, where he was prin- cipal of schools for two years. During the three following years he filled the position of principal of the Hollister schools. From 1881 11ntil 1886 he was principal of the Durant gram- . mar school in Oakland, but resigned in the latter year to take up work as chief deputy county clerk of Alameda county, and contin- ned in the latter capacity for eighteen months. Meanwhile he had given especial attention to the study of law and as early as 1879 had been admitted to the bar by the supreme court. At one time he had planned to engage actively in practice, but the splendid record which he has made as an educator proves that the world of pedagogy would have lost one of its most brilliant disciples had his ability been divert- ed from educational activities.

After having become a resident and land- owner in Ventura county Professor Black or- ganized at Ventura the first high school in the state between Los Angeles and Santa . Cruz, and from the position of principal he was called to be county superintendent of schools, filling the office for four years. Mean- while he had attained eminence as a capable teacher and progressive educator, well quali- fied for the responsible duties of state super- intendent of schools. to which position he was elected in 1894 on the Republican ticket. Dur- ing his incumbency of that important office the San Diego State Normal School was founded and he was chosen its president. On entering upon his new duties in 1898 he re- signed as state superintendent and has since devoted himself to the welfare of the institu- tion. Practically the first vacation of his long and successful educational career occurred in 1902, during which vear he visited relatives in England and Scotland and at the same time studied the methods of instruction adont- ed in British schools. Always deeply inter- ested in any movement connected with edu-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cational work, as early as 1895 he allied him- self with the National Educational Associa- tion and since has been active in its work. In addition he holds membership with the Schoolmasters' Club of Los Angeles and San Diego. While making his home in Camp- tonville in 1872 he was made a Mason and later became a member of the blue lodge in Oakland, also the Royal Arch Chapter and Knight Templar Commandery of the same city, Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and the San Diego Consistory. Since coming to San Diego he has been identified with the city's Chamber of Commerce. Reared in the Presbyterian faith and in sympathy with its doctrines, he yet has the breadth of mind and soul which sees the good in all creeds and lends a helping hand to move- ments for the upbuilding of the race, unhamp- ered in his sympathies by any sectarian bias. A few years after he came west he married Miss Jennie Craig, a native of Ohio and a resi- dent of Camptonville, where she died. The only son of their marriage is David Thorburn Black, who is engaged in business in San Francisco. In 1887 Professor Black was unit- ed in marriage with Miss Pauline Pelham, who was born and reared in California and died here while still a young woman, leaving a daughter, Pauline Thorburn Black, who is now a student in the San Diego State Normal School and makes her home with her father in this city.

SAN DIEGO STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. No state in the Union surpasses California in the care exercised and the pro- visions made to secure the highest educational attainments and the most thorough prepara- tion on the part of those who in turn would devote their lives to the teaching of the young. The profession of an educator, than which none exists of greater responsibility, demands of its followers a training radically different from that required by other professions or oc- cupations, and thus the establishment of in- stitutions for normal work meets an impera- tive necessity of modern civilization. In or- der to secure normal facilities for the most southerly section of the commonwealth many of the men most deeply interested in educa- tional work advocated the establishment of a normal school in San Diego, and after consid- erable agitation concerning the feasibility of the project a bill was presented to the legis- lature and duly passed creating such an in- stitution, also appropriating $50,000 for its maintenance. At the time of the signing of the act by Governor Budd March 13, 1897,

he chose as the first board of trustees W. R. Guy, Victor E. Shaw, T. O. Toland, J. L. Dryden and John G. North. Upon the first meeting of the board a few months after its selection W. R. Guy was chosen chairman and J. L. Dryden secretary. After a careful in- spection of various sites offered for the insti- tution the board selected sixteen and one- half acres in the city of San Diego, tendered by the College Hill Land Association. Sub- sequent to the approval of the deed by the at- torney-general the board let the contract for the erection of the central portion of the struc- ture, work on which commenced in August, 1898. The following month Hon. Samuel T. Black, state superintendent of public instruc- tion, was elected president of the school by the joint board of normal school trustees at a special meeting held in Sacramento, and Mr. Black immediatedly resigned his position in order to accept his new responsibilities.

The first corps of instructors, selected by the executive committee October 27, 1898, comprised the following: Jesse D. Burks, A. B., A. M., registrar; Emma F. Way, pre- ceptress ; Alice Edwards Pratt, Ph. B., Ph. D .; David P. Barrows, A. B., A. M., Ph. D .; Arthur W. Greeley, A. B .; Florence Derby, teacher of music; Sallie S. Crocker, teacher of drawing; to which faculty Miss Helen Bal- lard, A. B., was soon added. Pending the erection of the institution temporary quarters were secured on the corner of Sixth and F streets, San Diego, where the school opened November 1, 1898, with an enrollment of nine- ty-one students. The corner-stone of the building was laid December 10, 1898, with ap- propriate ceremonies; and May 1, 1899, the central portion of the structure was dedicated. Later the two wings were added, thus com- pleting a structure as symmetrical as it is convenient and comfortable. Taking advan- tage of the ample grounds, the board of trus- tees spread the building over considerable space and made it only two stories in height, a plan that has proved practical and success- ful. The building is planned so that each class-room, recitation room and office is equipped with two separate air-shafts, and the library and assembly rooms, being larger, have four such shafts. Each room was planned with its ultimate purpose in view. The library, with its seven thousand volumes and standard periodicals, is a cheerful and light room. A room, 50x50 feet, with a north- ern exposure, is utilized for drawing and man- 11al training, and is supplied with reference books, photographs, casts and objects for still- life study. The gymnasium, located in the west wing, is 36x74 feet, eighteen feet high,

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and is provided with an equipment intended for the Ling or Swedish system of gymnas- tics. The physics, chemistry and biology laboratories are equipped with modern appara- tus. The entire building is heated with the latest system of steam-heating, the corridors and rooms are well lighted, and the effect is that of comfort, convenience and practicabil- ity. The environment is in harmony with the structure. The mesa stands three hundred and fifty feet above the bay, commanding a view of the ocean, bay, and the islands of the sea to the west, while to the north and east the horizon is broken by mountain chains and rugged peaks.

The requirements for admission to the Nor- mal School correspond exactly with those for admission to the University of California. In other words, candidates must have graduated from an accredited high school, and must be recommended by the principals of their re- spective schools. The course in the Normal School covers a period of two years, and is intended to prepare its graduates to teach in the elementary schools of the state. The training school consists of the regular eight public-school grades, wherein the usual ele- mentary branches are taught by approved modern methods. The teaching in the train- ing school is closely supervised by members of the Normal School faculty. Each student teaches in the training school during the en- tire senior year, one hour per day during the first term and two hours per day during the second term. While acting as an assistant the student familiarizes himself or herself with those items of practice common to all teaching, gains self-confidence in handling a class, and forms the habit of regarding chil- dren from the teaching standpoint. The de- mand for teachers trained in the normal schools of California is greater than the sup- ply, and there is also an increased demand for men teachers in the cities, where fair salaries are paid. For students entering from the ninth grade the course of study may be com- pleted in four years, while recommended grad- uates of accredited secondary schools may finish the stipulated course in two years.

The board of trustees comprises the follow- ing gentlemen : Hon. George C. Pardee, Gov- ernor, ex officio member of board ; Hon. Thom- as J. Kirk, state superintendent of public in- struction, ex officio member ; Dr. R. M. Pow- ers, San Diego; Isidore B. Dockweiler, Los Angeles : Senator M. L. Ward, San Diego; George W. Marston, San Diego; Charles C. Chapman, Fullerton. The officers are: Hon. M. L. Ward, chairman, and Helen Dale, sec- retary ; executive committee as follows: Dr.

R. M. Powers, Senator M. L. Ward and George W. Marston. The following instruc- tors are in charge of the training of the stu- dents during the present term, 1906-07. Hon. Samuel T. Black, president, department of school administration ; Emma F. Way, pre- ceptress, mathematics and reading; Alice Ed- wards Pratt, registrar, English; Edith Mc- Leod, principal of training school and super- vising teacher of grammar grades; Elisabeth Rogers, supervising teacher of primary grades ; J. F. West, mathematics; W. F. Bliss, history and civics; W. T. Skilling, physical sciences ; W. W. Kemp, director of training school and instructor in department of education; Lucy A. Davis, department of music ; Anna H. Bill- ings, department of English ; Emily O. Lamb, department of drawing and manual training ; Jessie Rand Tanner, physical education ; Har- riet H. Godfrey, English and history ; and W. C. Crandall, department of biological sciences.

It being universally conceded that the hope of our nation's future is based upon future generations, the importance of carefully edu- cating the young cannot be overestimated, and therefore the value of an institution for the training of teachers is surpassed by no other movement of the age. The men and women who are devoting their time, mental energies and abilities to the preparation of teachers for their life-work accomplish results which are not limited to the present age, but extend into the boundless future of human ac- tivity and intellectual progress. Based upon its present standing and future possibilities, the San Diego State Normal School ranks among the most important institutions of Southern California, and its upbuilders may be termed philanthropists in the broadest and truest sense of that word.

JOHN T. JOUGHIN. Identified with the far west throughout all of his life, the earliest recollections of Mr. Joughin are associated with California, for he is a native son of the state and was born at Sacramento September 27, 1861. His father, Andrew Joughin, known and honored as one of the resourceful pioneers of Southern California, and a man possessing a large circle of friends throughout the state, is represented upon another page of this vol- ume, and the family history will be found in that sketch. The son was still a small child when the family came to Los Angeles county and therefore his childhood was principally passed in this portion of the commonwealth, while his education was acquired in local schools. When not in school he helped his father at the blacksmith's trade, and in 1874

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accompanied the family to a ranch near Hyde Park, Los Angeles county, where he has since made his home.

Since assuming the management of the ranch, about 1880, John T. Joughin has given his attention very closely to the supervision of the four hundred and forty acres compris- ing the tract. However, of recent years he has rented out some of the land and has util- ized about two hundred and sixty acres for the pasturage of his stock, so that his field work has been greatly lessened. In addition to superintending the interests of his mother and himself on the home ranch he took charge of abont six hundred acres near Wilmington, which was rented to tenants. This land, as well as the property at home, forms a part of the estate, which has not been divided since the death of his father. With the general ad- vance in land values during recent years the estate has shared, so that its value is largely enhanced beyond the amount at first esti- mated.

The marriage of John T. Joughin was sol- emnized in 1892 and united him with Wilhel- mina Roeder, a native of Los Angeles county and a daughter of Louis Roeder, one of the most influential pioneers of Southern Califor- nia. The family history appears in his sketch elsewhere in this volume. The two children of Mr. Joughin are Gertrude and Andrew. Though believing in many of the principles accepted by the Republican party, Mr. Joughin has never displayed any partisan spirit, but thinks and reasons for himself without regard to the platform adopted by his own or other parties. Personally he is a man of quiet tastes, home-loving nature and friendly spirit, and has shown signal ability in guarding the in- terests of the family estate.

RICHARD KIDSON. An illustration of what it is within the power of energy and perseverance to accomplish may be found in the life-history of Richard Kidson, who as a boy struggled against reverses more than or- dinarily discouraging, but as a man achieved independence and success. A native of York- shire, England, born August 19, 1828, he was only eighteen months old when death de- prived him of a father's care and support, and at seven years it became necessary for him to earn his own livelihood. As the years passed by he began to believe that success could not be achieved in a region where the mere struggle for a livelihood consumed all of a man's energies, and hence he came to a de- cision to seek the greater opportunities of the new world. When he landed in New York

City on the 4th of July, 1849, he had only $2.50 in his possession, with which to start life among strangers. That sum was devoted to the expenses of his journey to Pike county, Pa., where he secured employment on a farm at Sio per month and board.

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I, Part 101

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1184

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1184