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 106

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

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NELSON OLDS. During the long period of his residence in San Diego county Mr. Olds has risen to a conspicuous position among its farmers and dairymen. When he came to the San Pasqual valley in 1878 he was a young man, just starting out for himself in the world. and ambitious to succeed in his chosen calling of agriculture. Shortly after his arrival he settled upon the ranch which he now owns and operates, the property consisting of four hundred acres of land partly under cultiva- tion and partly in pasture. All of the improve- ments, including the neat farm house, have heen made under his personal supervision, and he has transformed the bare land into one of the finest homesteads in the valley. Dairying has been one of his specialties, and at this writing he milks twenty-eight cows, selling the cream to the Co-operative creamery, in which he is a stockholder.

The Olds family became established in California during the memorable year of 1849, when Nelson H. Olds, father of the gentleman whose name introduces this article, left his native place in Ohio and his occupation as a sailor on the lakes, and came by way of Cape Horn to San Francisco. Having served in the Mexican war from its beginning until the close of the struggle and having experienced the hard- ships of army life, exposure to weather and the fatigue of long marches, he was well adapted to take up the task of pioneer development in the far west. San Francisco in those days had

attracted many desperadoes and as a member of the vigilance committee he did effective work in ridding the city of many of its most desperate ruffians. In July of 1850 he began to mine at the Sierra Diggings and remained there for two years, after which he opened a general store at San Lorenzo, Alameda coun- ty, in the Santa Clara valley. Meanwhile he had met and married Levina E. Martin, who was born in Michigan and in 1852 settled in California. In 1856 they removed to a ranch in Marin county and engaged in dairying and general farm pursuits, remaining there for a long period. During 1878 they came to San Diego and here he died in 1882, at the age of fifty-eight years. At this writing his widow makes her home in Petaluma, this state, and is active notwithstanding her seventy-six vears.

The parental family consisted of five chil- dren, all of whom are living in California. Nel- son, who was second in order of birth among the five children, received a fair education in California schools and remained beneath the home roof until attaining his majority, when he went to Oakland, and thence in 1878 came to his present location. Through all his life he has been loyal to the welfare and devoted to the progress of his native California. As a boy he lived in Marin county, but Alameda is his native county, he having been born there March 3, 1856, while his father was proprie- tor of a mercantile store at San Lorenzo. From the time of attaining the age of voting he has

cast his ballot in favor of Republican princi- ples and has been interested in the success of his party. For a long period after coming to the San Pasqual valley he remained a bach- clor, but eventually he brought a wife to his country home, his marriage, September 28, 1896, uniting him with Miss Ada R. Roberts, a sister of Frederick H. Roberts, mentioned else- where in this work. The only child of this union was born February 11, 1898, and hears the name of Carlton Mason Olds.

WILLIAM WALLACE. Noteworthy among the pioneer agriculturists and mer- chants of . the San Luis Rey valley was the late William Wallace, who for many years was actively identified with the industrial growth and prosperity of this section of South- ern California. Starting in life with but little capital aside from an unlimited amount of energy and perseverance, he met with signal success in his undertakings, well earning the title of a self-made man. A native of Ireland, he was born May 12, 1840, and until six years of age resided in the old country.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Coming to America with his parents in 1848, William Wallace was educated in the public schools of Cambridge, Mass. Choosing then the independent occupation to which he was reared, he worked for a number of seasons on a farm in Vermont, but was not at all satis- fied with his financial returns. Thinking to better his condition, he came to the Pacific coast in the early '6os, working his way across the continent, and for several years was en- gaged in freighting from Los Angeles to Ari- zona and Nevada. Locating then in San Luis Rey valley, he brought a ranch of one hun- dred acres and embarked in stock-raising. He subsequently engaged in mercantile pursuits, having a general store in San Luis Rey, where he built up an extensive and lucrative trade. At the same time he carried on a substantial business as a gardener, also paying some at- tention to stock-raising. He was a man of unquestioned integrity, possessing excellent business tact and ability, and his death, which occurred in 1892, was deeply deplored by the entire community. He was å stanch Repub- lican in politics, a member of the Good Tem- plars in early life, but was not connected withi any church.

In 1874 Mr. Wallace married Alice Locke, who was born in 1852 in New Hampshire, and was educated in the common schools of Penn- sylvania, where her parents settled when she was eight years old. Eight years later her mother died. and very soon afterward the daughter and her father came to California, locating in San Luis Rey valley, where Mr. Locke took up one hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred and twenty acres of which he owned at the time of his death, in 1880. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wallace eight children were born, namely: William Lee : Elbridge, of Riverside county, who mar- ried Kate Baker: Edna J., wife of E. Alvin Wilbur, of Escondido, San Diego county ; Robert L., who is married and lives in Ore- gon : Pearl; Alice R .; Hugh G .; and Anna Rose. Mrs. Wallace is a most estimable woman, highly respected by all. and since the death of her husband has served as postmaster at San Luis Rev. She is a member of the Con- gregational Church, which she and her family attend.

CHARLES L. HEARTWELL. No finan- cier of Long Beach is more familiar with its resources than the gentleman who holds the positions of vice-president of the First Nation- al Bank and president of the Citizens Sav- ings Bank, and who was the chief factor in the organization of both. The national insti-

tution opened its doors for business June 26, 1900, with a capital stock of $25,000, which ha's since been increased to $500,000, and a sur- plus of $100,000 has accumulated, the entire resources of the bank aggregating more than $2,250,000. The savings bank was opened February 1, 1901, with a captial stock of $25,- 000, and has since been increased to $250,000, with resources of over $1,000,000. Both banks are under the same. management and their rapid growth furnishes abundant testimony as to the conservative spirit guiding their sub- stantial development.

Charles L. Heartwell was born in Geneva, N. Y., July 1, 1869, and received exceptional advantages in the gaining of an education. After having completed the studies of the high school of Hastings, Neb., he took a course in Hastings College in that city, which was founded by his father, Hon. J. B. Heartwell. With the intention of adopting the medical profession for his life work he entered the School of Medicine in Paris, France, in 1887. but circumstances altered his plans and turned his aspirations into other fields of activity. For two years he was a student in the Uni- versity of Switzerland at Zurich. During va- cation seasons he took bicycle tours through Europe for the purpose of studying national and political economy, altogether traveling six thousand miles, visiting many points of his- toric interest. The trips were enjoyable and gave him an insight into the customs and hab- its of the people in the countries visited. On his return from Europe in 1889 he settled in Hastings, Neb., and engaged in the banking business at that point, but on account of im- paired health was obliged to give up indoor work for a time and in. 1893 came to Riverside and engaged in orange culture. His grove, which was planted by himself and brother, is known as the Alta-Mesa grove, planted under the Wright act, and was one of the first start- ed in that section of the state. The ranch comprised thirty acres of navel oranges and ten acres of lemon trees. In the culture of oranges and lemons the Heartwell brothers were very successful and their fruit command- ed highest prices.

Mr. Heartwell's connection with the bank- ing institutions of Long Beach began in 1897, when he became assistant cashier in the Bank of Long Beach. With his father he organ- ized the banks of which he is now respectively vice-president and president. Besides his con- nection with these institutions he acts as a director of the Long Beach Water Company, capital $750,000 ; the Masonic Temple Associa- tion (in the work of which he has been ac- tively interested and largely through his ef-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

forts was biult the beautiful Masonic Tem- ple), the First National Bank of Huntington Beach, while in 1904 he assisted in organizing the First National Bank of Compton, in the town of the same name. He was one of the organizers and at present a director of the Long Beach Hotel & Land Co., capitalized for $1,000,000, and the company is now erect- ing a six story fireproof hotel on the Ocean Front. Under Mr. Heartwell's supervision the First National bank in 1906 completed one of the largest and most elaborate office build- ing in Long Beach, being a six story, steel structure. He assisted in organizing The Nel- son-Napier Navigation Company, which runs boats between San Pedro and San Diego, and is a director and treasurer of the company. He is also interested in the San Pedro Salt Works and occupies the office of treasurer in the company which owns them, and is di- rector and treasurer of the Long Beach Build- ing and Loan Association, of which he was one of the organizers. Since 1898 he has served as treasurer of the city of Long Beach, and was a member of the board, that framed the present city charter.

After coming to Long Beach Mr. Heartwell met and married Miss LaVerne Lowe, who was born in Svracuse, Neb. He is a Presby- terian, and the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation of Long Beach has the benefit of his warm sympathy and active support, not only by contributions of money and time, but also through his faithful service in the office of treasurer. Mr. Heartwell is an enthusiastic automobilist and in 1904 assisted in the or- ganization of the Long Beach Automobile Club, and has served as its president since its inception. In this connection it may be men- tioned that he is greatly interested in the good-roads movement and lends his influence to the bettering of the public highways in this section of the state, and was one to help frame a law for the construction of boulevards in the state of California and with others championed the building of Pacific boulevard, which ex- tends from the city of Los Angeles without a curve to Long Beach. He is an active member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce. and also belongs to the Jonathan and Union League clubs of Los Angeles. In matters fraternal he holds membership with the Knights of Pythias at Long Beach, where for one term he officiated as commander of the lodge. The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks numbers him among its members, and in additon he is active in Masonry, being asso- ciated with Long Beach Lodge No. 347, F. & A. M .: Long Beach Chapter No. 84, R. A. M., of which he acts as treasurer; Long Beach

Commandery No. 44, K. T., in which he offi- ciates as treasurer ; Los Angeles Consistory thirty-second degree, and Al Malaikalı Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Los Angeles.

MATTHEW LEWIS. It is interesting to chronicle the life history of the pioneer who has passed through the struggle of the devel- opment of a new country until it has become a veritable garden spot. Among such men we find the subject of this sketch, Matthew Lew- is, who was born in Seven Oaks, County Kent, England, October 1, 1838, the son of Samuel and Eliza (Wheeler) Lewis, born re- spectively in Shropshire, and Seven Oaks.

Mr. Lewis is the only one living of the family of eight children. He was educated in the common schools in his native place. Upon attaining mature years he followed the hotel business at Seven Oaks, then spent two years in Ireland, and afterward located in London, but he found the climate there so injurious to his health that he came to America in 1870. The first year was spent in St. Louis, Mo., the next in Minnesota and during that winter he read an article on the wonderful climate of Southern California which so interested him that he laid plans to visit this semi-tropical Southland. Meantime, in 1872, he returned to St. Louis, in 1873 went to Denver and in the spring of 1874 with a train of twenty wagons came overland via Salt Lake City to San Ber- nardino, arriving in October, 1874. Two weeks later found him in Bear Valley pros- pecting and mining. The next year he went on a fishing trip to the Santa Ana and found it an ideal place with an abundance of game. He was so taken with the place that he drove his stake, because he said, if with his gun and rod he could not make a living, he ought to starve. From 1876 to 1880 he engaged in the sheep business, ranging his flock winters on what is now the site of Redlands. Since 1880 he has given his time to improving and beau- tifying his homestead, which he named Seven Oaks in honor of his old home in Kent. In 1883, when they began building the Bear val- ley dam, he opened his place as a resort and stopping place for people seeking the moun- tain climate in the heat of the summer. The place began to grow and he continued erect- ing cabins and houses for the entertainment of the visitors and Seven Oaks has now be- come the greatest resort in the San Bernar- dino mountains, with the most excellent water. fishing and hunting. Lately he has leased the whole place to W. H. Glass for a term of years.

Seven Oaks has an elevation of five thou-

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sand feet and is located on the headwaters of the Santa Ana river, twenty-two miles from Redlands, and during the season the stage makes daily trips between Redlands and Har- veys, in Mill Creek and thence by horses or burros by trail to Seven Oaks.

Mr. Lewis is also interested in mining in Lone valley, where he is developing the So- corro quartz mine that is already showing good results. He is a Republican in politics, is a liberal and enterprising man and with his means has done as much as any other citizen to develop the natural resources of the coun- try.

FERDINAND J. GOLDKAMP. Descend- ed from an ancient German family, honorably identified with business affairs in their several localities of Germany, Ferdinand J. Goldkamp was born in Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany, April 15, 1849, and was a son of Frank and Dina Goldkamp. The father was a millwright by occupation and remained in Germany until he died, since which time his wife has contin- ued at the old home place. All of their nine children are living and only three of them came to the United States, while Ferdinand J., the sixth in order of birth, was the only one to settle in California. When a youth of four- teen years he was taken from school and ap- prenticed as a clerk in a wholesale manufac- turing house, where he served four years, and afterward remained in the employ of the same house until he had attained his majority.

Upon arriving in the United States in 1871 Mr. Goldkamp proceeded direct to St. Louis and secured employment as a clerk, later act- ing as foreman in a cigar manufacturing es- tablishment for nine years. On resigning that position he began to manufacture cigars, hav- ing his plant in St. Louis. However, the oc- cupation proved trying and unhealthful and he determined to seek another calling and cli- mate. From 1884 until 1887 he engaged in raising stock and grain on a ranch near Stan- ton. Martin county, Tex. At the expiration of three years he sold the ranch and removed to the Pacific coast, arriving in San Diego July 30, 1887. After one year's experience in the fruit business he bought a store building and several lots on Clay avenue, corner of Twen- ty-ninth street. Since then he has improved the building and erected an addition and has engaged in a general mercantile business with gratifying success. In addition to the manage- ment of the store he has devoted six vacant lots to the fruit business and has circled the ground with a cypress hedge. The water plant which he owns is operated by pumping

from deep wells of large capacity and fur- nishes water of such excellent quality that not only neighbors use it for the table, but the soda works also engage it as needed.

The marriage of Mr. Goldkamp was sol- emnized at Marine, Madison county, Ill., Feb- ruary 5, 1873, and united him with Miss Amel- ia Jahns, who was born and reared in that town. In early life her father, Christ Jahns, who was a native of Hildesheim, Hanover, Germany, came to the United States and set- tled in St. Louis, where he followed the car- penter's trade. From there he removed to Marine, Ill., and engaged at cabinet-making, besides taking contracts for the erection of houses and business establishments. After a busy career he died in March, 1893, in the town where for years he had made his home. By his marriage to Caroline Sechteg, who was born in Braunschweig, Germany, and now lives in Illinois, he had nine children, all but one of whom survive. Mrs. Goldkamp, who was the eldest of the family, was reared and educated in Madison county, and resided there until her marriage. Their union was blessed with three sons, namely: Fred, who assists his father in the store; Christ, who is an electri- cian by occupation and also possesses ability as a musician ; and Otto. Fraternally Mr. Gold- kamp holds membership with the Foresters of America and the Turn Verein and was a mem- ber of the board of directors in the building of the new Turner Hall. Always interested in measures for the benefit of San Diego and so- licitous for the city's advancement in every line of development, he has been ready to aid local progress in every way praticable, and in April, 1905, he accepted the position of city councilman from the ninth ward, since which time he has been a member of the health and morals committee, the police committee and the sewer committee. As a councilman his work has been aggressive and efficient, and the position which he holds as an energetic citizen and public-spirited man is merited by his able service as an official no less than by his long and upright career as a merchant.

ALDEN T. DRAKE. Obliged by circum- stances to contribute to his own support from boyhood and start out empty handed on his business career Alden T. Drake has succeed- ed in acquiring considerable property, although he is still a young man, and. by his honesty, integrity and proven qualities as a public citi- zen has won the respect and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. He was born December 23, 1873, in Lawrence county, Pa., the son of Joseph and Harriet (Troutman)

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Drake, who removed from their farm in Pennsylvania to California in 1887. They lo- cated in Menifee valley, or that part of it known as Antelope valley, on a ranch, and there the death of the father occurred a year later, in April, 1888, at the age of forty-seven years. The death of the mother occurred in May, 1906, she having attained the age of sixty years. There were four children in the family, only two of whom are now living. Viola, who became the wife of George Sim- mons, of this valley, died in October, 1905; Freeman A. died in June, 1887 ; Elluard is now living on the home place; and Alden T. is the subject of this sketch.

There was little opportunity for Alden T. Drake to attend school, for after his father's death the care of the home place and his mother devolved upon his shoulders. When nineteen years old he began farm- ing for himself and has continued in that occupation ever since. The land which he first bought was unimproved and its pres- ent condition as an attractive and well-culti- vated ranch with good buildings is entirely the result of his personal efforts. Besides the two hundred acres in Leon which he owns Mr. Drake ranches three hundred acres in Menifee valley, runs a header. bales hay, and is a breeder of draft horses, possessing as fine stock as can be found anywhere. September 6, 1901, Mr. Drake was married here to Miss Zona, daughter of Samuel Walker, who came to California about 1850, his father having been one of the first grain raisers in this state. Mr. and Mrs. Drake have become the par- ents of two children, Daryl and Nina. Po- litically Mr. Drake is an independent Republi- can. He is interested in the fullest develop- ment of the section of the state in which he lives and lends his enthusiastic support to all enterprises tending toward its upbuilding.

GEORGE PARKER McKAY. Conspicu- ous among the leading citizens of Oceanside is George Parker McKay, who is distinguished as the longest-established merchant of the place, and as one of its most successful and popular business men. He has the distinction of being a native-born son of California, his birth having occurred. September 25, 1860, at Oakland, where he was reared and educated.

Charles P. McKay, the father of George Parker McKay, was born and brought up in New York state. Ambitious and venturesome as a young man, he came to California in search of riches in the spring of 1850, jour- neying by the way of Panama, and soon after- wards became a pioneer settler of Oakland,

where he built the first wharf seen in that lo- cality. He gained a place of prominence and influence in the administration of municipal affairs, and for nine years served as city mar- shal and captain of the police. He subsequent- lv removed to San Jose, where he resided un- til his death, in 1877. He married Mrs. Mary (Hunter) Wentworth, who was born in Edin- burgh, Scotland, and died in Oakland, Cal.

The only child of his parents, George Par- ker Mckay received his early education in the public schools of Oakland, and at the age of sixteen years began learning the trade of a machinist in San Francisco, at the Gold- en State and Miner's Iron Works. Sub- sequently going to Los Angeles, he was for awhile with the Baker Iron Works, and later with the Southern Pacific Railroad shops. Re- turning to San Franicsco, he worked for a time with his first employers, after which he went to Albion to work in the lumber mills. Not liking his position there, he again entered the Golden State and Miner's Works in San Francisco, and with the exception of nine months spent in San Diego in 1887, remained there until 1891. His health failing he came in that year to Oceanside to recuperate, and in 1893 opened his present store, at the corner of Second and Cleveland streets, where he is carrying on a thriving business as a general imerchant. He carries a complete stock of all goods found in a department store, his aim be- ing to please his numerous customers, furnish- ing them with articles of a desirable quality, and at reasonable prices. The firm, of which he is the head, owns the land at the corner of Cleveland and Third streets, the finest busi- ness location in the city, and there contem- plates putting up in the near future a new store, a larger building being needed to meet the demands of their rapidly increasing trade.

October 21, 1883, in San Francisco, Mr. Mc- Kay married Mary Catherine Mebach, who was born in Germany, a daughter of the late Bernard Mebach. Immigrating with his fam- ily to the United States, Mr. Mebach settled as a merchant tailor in San Francisco in 1866, but after living there twenty years came to Oceanside, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in May, 1898. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Schiefer, was born in Germany, and resided in Oceanside until her death in December, 1905. Their family, consisting of two daughters and three sons, are residents of Oceanside. Mrs. Mc- Kay was brought up and educated in San Francisco, and prior to her marriage resided in Los Angeles, being the first lady employed as a clerk in the Boston Drygoods Store. She is a typical business woman, devoting her life

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to business pursuits, and since the opening of their store in Oceanside has been a necessary assistant to her husband. Mr. Mckay is a member of Golden Gate Parlor No. 29. N. S. G. W., of San Francisco, and both he and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic Church.

HON. JAMES BENJAMIN HEART- WELL. One of the substantial and promi- nent men of Long Beach is James Benjamin Heartwell, president of the First National Bank and vice president of the Citizens Sav- ings Bank, and an extensive owner of real es- tate and other interests. Beginning life at the bottom of the ladder of attainment he has steadily pushed his way upward by energetic industry, perseverence and wise management, achieving distinguished success in financial and business circles. His father, Oscar F. Heartwell, was born in Geneva, N. Y., in 1818. He was engaged in the building business in New York state, and now lives a retired life at Huntington Beach, Cal. His mother. So- brina Webster, of the same family as the il- lustrious Daniel Webster, died in New York state.

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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 106

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