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 107

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

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J. B. Heartwell was born in Seneca county, N. Y., July 4, 1843, and was prepared for col- lege in the Geneva Classical Institute. ()n ac- count of illness he did not enter college, but took a course at Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie. N. Y., graduating in 1863. In 1864 he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Geneva, N. Y., and in 1866 was promoted to the position of cashier, which place he filled with great credit until 1870. when he resigned. He then re- moved to Des Moines, Jowa, where with other associates he organized the Iowa Loan and Trust Company, and was its secretary for eight years. In 1881 on account of his wife's health he removed to Hastings, Neb., and in 1882 was one of the organizers of the Ne- braska Loan and Trust Company of Hastings and served acceptably as its president. While residing in Hastings he was city treasurer for two terms and in 1886 was elected state sen- ator, where he served his constituents honor- ably and faithfully ; he also served as postmas- ter at Hastings and at the close of his term in 1894 he came to California on account of his wife's health. He first located at Riverside and was there engaged in orange culture until the spring of 1900. when he located in Long Beach, where in June, 1900, with his son. C. L. Heartwell, he organized the First National Bank with a capital stock of $25,000. The first vear he served as vice-president, when he was

chosen president and continues to fill that re- sponsible position. The bank now has a cap- ital stock of $500,000 with $100,000 surplus and assets of two and one-quarter million dol- lars. With his son, Charles L., he organized the Citizens Savings Bank of which also he is serving as president. He is president of the Mutual Trust Company and is a prominent factor in the Interstate Dock and Lumber Company and the Mutual Building and Loan Association.

The wife of Mr. Heartwell was in maiden- hood Sarah Jane Dibble, a native of Connecti- cut, and is a member of an old prominent Vir- ginia family, and is numbered among the cul- tured and refined women of the city. They have two sons, Charles L., cashier of the First National Bank of Long Beach. who is repre- sented elsewhere in this work; and James F., late cashier of the Bank of Huntington Beach.

Mr. Heartwell is endowed with exceptional ability as a financier and organizer. This trait was displayed in his early business career, or- ganizing the first Loan and Trust Company in the middle west.

He is a prominent Mason and organized Long Beach Commandery No. 40, and was its first Eminent Commander. He is a member of Los Angeles Consistory No. 3, and Al Mal- aikah Temple, N. M. S. He is also an active member and chairman of the finance commit- tee of the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Heartwell is a life-long Republican and is a very active member of the Presbyterian Church, is serving as superintendent of the Sunday-school and for thirty years has been very active in Sunday-school work in the mid- dle west as well as on the Pacific coast. Dur- ing the years of his residence in this state he has given frequent evidence of a hearty desire to accomplish all within his power for the ad- vancement of community interests and partic- milarly for the promotion of those movements intended to elevate the social, moral, educa- tional and industrial status of Long Beach. His strong personal attributes have been generally recognized and these characteristics taken in conjunction with his manifest public spirit, and his generosity of heart have given him an enviable place in the esteem of thoughtful and discriminating men.

REV. ALONZO EDSON JONES. As pastor of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located on Fifth and G streets. San Bernardino, Cal., and high priest of his denomination, Rev. Alonzo E. Jones fills an important and influential po- sition in the life of that city. On both sides

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of the house he is descended from a strong and vigorous ancestry, whose names are prominently connected with the early history of our country. His mother's grandfather was originally from Wales, and became an early pioneer in Pottawattamie county, Iowa. He died at Gollard Grove, Iowa, at the ad- vanced age of ninety-six years. Both he and his wife were members of the Church of Lat- ter Dav Saints. On his father's side the his- tory of the family in this country dates from Revolutionary days, his grandfather, Nathan Jones, having been a soldier in that war. His parents were Alonzo Edson and Susan I. (Perry) Jones, the former born August 23, 1815, at Sharon, Vt., the latter in 1820, at Essex, N. Y. They removed to Pottawat- tamie county, Iowa, near Council Bluffs, and there September 18, 1848, was born the son Alonzo Edson, whose early boyhood was passed on his father's farm. In 1853 the fam- ily crossed the plains, coming to San Ber- nardino county, Cal., and located on Lytle creek north of Colton, engaging in grain- growing and stock-raising. The father passed away in April, 1904, at his home in San Ber- nardino.

Until he was sixteen years of age Alonzo Edson Jones attended the common schools and from then until he had attained the age of twenty-one years he stayed on his father's farın, after which he set about to accomplish the ambition he had long cherished and pre- pared for the ministry. In due time he was ordained into the priesthood of the Church of Latter Day Saints and so continued until 1869, when he became a constituted preacher. In 1870 he was married to Elizabeth Catlin, a native of the same county in Iowa as him- self, and who came to California with her par- ents in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Jones became the parents of four children: Alonzo O .; Minnie L., who married Harry Smith ; and John Wal- ter, all of San Bernardino and Sylvia May, deceased. Mrs. Jones' father was a soldier in the Mexican war and was afterwards em- ployed as a government scout and was killed by the Indians while in the performance of his duty. Since his residence in California Rev. Mr. Jones has been located near Colton and been engaged in farming and the minis- try with the exception of six years spent in Los Angeles and Orange counties, during which time he was assistant pastor of the Church in Garden Grove. In 1893 he was elected pastor of the San Bernardino church. He also holds the position of a general mis- sionary, receiving his appointment from the general conference of the church. The Re- organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter

Day Saints has no affiliation with the Utalı church, the head of this branch being located at Decatur county, Iowa, and the doctrine of plural marriage being ignored by the re- organized church. This church has been de- clared, by the courts of the land, the successor of the original church organized in 1830. The membership of the San Bernardino church comprises two hundred and eighty names ; there are sixty names on the Sunday-school roll, and a Zion Religio Literary Society is maintained. Rev. Mr. Jones is known as a man of strong principles and broad minded views, and is beloved and respected not only by his constituents of the church, but by a large number of friends and acquaintances scattered over ail Southern California, where he has labored so long.

JOHN WILLIAM ROBBINS. Too much cannot be said in praise of the enterprise and thrift which have brought success to J. W. Robbins, who, it is safe to say, has a larger acreage under his care than any other resi- dent of Santa Barbara county of the same years and experience. The tract of fifty-two hundred acres under his management is rent- ed property, located in close proximity to Los Alamos, and is admirably adapted to the uses to which it is devoted. While eight hundred acres are in barley and dairying is carried on to some extent, it is the stock ranch that claims the most attention and produces the largest income annually of any of the several branches of agriculture here maintained, the ranch being stocked with over four hundred head of cattle, also mules, horses and hogs.

Not only is Mir. Robbins a native son of the state, but he claims the distinction of being the first American boy born in Guadaloupe, Santa Barbara county, his birth occurring on the last day of the year 1872. His parents, M. V. and Louisa Catherine (Baber) Robbins, were both natives of Missouri, from which state the former started in 1852 on the long and perilous journey across the plains. Go- ing direct to Sonoma county, he settled on a ranch not far from Santa Rosa, upon which he made his home for twenty years. In 1872, a short time prior to the birth of their son, the parents removed to Guadaloupe, Santa Bar- bara county. In 1879 they settled on the Sis- quoc ranch. in the same county, removing from there in 1883 to Goleta and still later to Santa Barbara, where the father died in 1896.

Of the five children born to his parents J. W. Robbins was the third in order of birth. The first eleven years of his life were associat- ed with his native village, in whose public

HeBertEllis

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schools he gained such training as the primi- tive place afforded. Removing to Goleta in 1883, he completed his education in the Santa Barbara Business College, and continued to make his home near that city until 1902. Un- der his father's training on the home ranch he learned all of the details for the successful cul- tivation of land, a training which he put to further practical test by renting land and ranching for himself. In 1901 he leased and ran the Ontario and Eagle Canyon ranches near Santa Barbara.

In 1902 he assumed control of the El Rob- lar ranch, consisting of fifty-two hundred acres near Los Alamos, of which he is the lessee. With a company of five Mr. Robbins formed the El Roblar Thrashing Company, of which he is one of the managers.

In 1899 Mr. Robbins was married to Mabel E. Hunt. a native of England, and two chil- dren, Catherine and Lelia, have been born to them. Mr. Robbins' political sympathies ally him with the Democratic party, while frater- nally he belongs to the Elks of Santa Bar- bara and the Native Sons of the Golden West. It is said of Mr. Robbins that to know him is to be his friend, and indeed it could hardly be otherwise, for he possesses in generous measure all of the attributes that make for noble manhood and honest, upright citizen- ship.

H. BERT ELLIS, A. B., M. D. Univer- sally recognized as one of the leading physi- cians of the state. Dr. H. Bert Ellis occupies a merited position of prominence among his contemporaries and enjoys the highest con- fidence of those who have sought his advice professionally. In Los Angeles, where he has made his home many years, he is regarded as a citizen of more than ordinary importance, for he has so thoroughly interested himself in questions concerning the physical welfare of the community that he has brought about results of incalculable benefit. He is unques- tionably a man of much native ability and with this has brought to bear in the prose- cution of his profession an application and earnestness and an intense love of the work which have given to him a merited success.

A descendant of stanch English ancestry, Dr. Ellis was born in Lincoln, Me., May 17, 1863, a son of James Henry Ellis, who traced his antecedents to one of the lord mayors of London. His mother, Annie M. (Bullard) Ellis, descended in a direct line from William Bradford, second governor of Massachusetts and the head of the little colony of Puritans at Plymouth. J. H. Ellis, who was born in

Middleboro, Mass., April 23, 1836, became one of the leading dental surgeons of the maritime provinces and from 1867 to 1883 was located in Fredericton, New Brunswick. His wife was also a native of the Bay state, and was born August 21, 1838. H. Bert Ellis received his primary instruction in the public school near his home, and later attended and graduated from the high school, where he prepared for more advanced work. Entering Acadia Uni- versity, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, in 1881, he was graduated from this institution three years later, after which he came to California and for one year was engaged in agricultural pursuits and business enterprises in Los Angeles and Pasadena. Following this he became a student in the medical department of the University of Southern California, from which institution he was graduated in April, 1888. Having served for a portion of this time as interne at the Los Angeles County Hospital, he was equipped with both a thorough knowledge of his profes- sion and some practical experience, and in ad- dition to this he went at once to Europe, where he pursued a post-graduate course at the universities of Gottingen, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. Returning to his home in Los Angeles he began a practice of his profes- sion, which has continued up to the present time. He has met with unusual success and has built up a large and constantly increasing practice. Since 1893 he has devoted himself exclusively to the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and has won wide distinction in this important and difficult field of labor.

Many positions of trust and responsibility have been filled by Dr. Ellis, among them that of lecturer on physiology in the College of Medicine of the University of Southern Cali- fornia, to which he received appointment in October, 1889, shortly after establishing his practice. In October of the following year he was elected professor of the same department and continued to act in that capacity until January, 1896, when he was elected to the chair of ophthalmotology, and in November, 1898, was further honored by being made treasurer of the college of medicine. He is prominently identified with medical organiza- tions, having served officially in many of them. As president of the Southern California Med- ical Society in 1899 and 1900 he took an active part in its affairs. He was senior vice-presi- dent of the American Medical College Asso- ciation, and has served constantly as secretary or assistant secretary of the Los Angeles County, Southern California, State and Amer- ican Associations, the American Medical Ed- itors Association and of the Doctors Social

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Club of Los Angeles. Socially he is prominent as a member of the California, Jonathan, Uni- versity and Union League Clubs, and of the Science Association of Southern California.

In his political affiliations Dr. Ellis adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Republican party and gives his support to its men and measures. During the years 1903 and 1904 he was a member and president of the Board of Education of the city of Los An- geles. Fraternally he is prominent among the Masons and Elks. In personal character the doctor is such a man as one of his profession should be, possessing the rare qualities of good cheer and sympathy, a patience born of long experience in an alleviation of the ills of man- kind, and confidence which instinctively wins the trust of those about him. He has many friends professionally and socially, and is just- ly considered one of the able men of the city.

DENVER O. LAMB. Noteworthy among the large landholders and extensive agricult- urists of Fallbrook is D. O. Lamb, the owner of as comfortable a homestead as can be found in this section of San Diego county. A man of excellent business capacity, thoroughly versed in the many branches of farming, he is meeting with good success in his under- takings, his well-appointed and well-cultivat- ed ranch of one thousand acres evincing the thrift, skill and excellent management of the owner. A son of the late J. O. Lamb, he was born, March 31, 1859, in Minnesota, where he lived until three years old.

Born and reared in New York, J. O. Lamb began his active career as a sailor, and until thirty years of age was engaged in seafaring pursuits. Locating then in Wisconsin, he mar- ried Mary J. Fillmore, who was born in that state, and began life as a farmer. Moving from there to the adjoining state of Minnesota, he continued there as a farmer for several seasons. About 1863 he started westward, thinking in a newer country to further ad- vance his fortunes. Joining an emigrant train he crossed the mountains, and for four years was located near Salt Lake, Utah. Coming with his family to Southern California in the fall of 1867, he lived for five years in San Ber- nardino, after which he settled just west. of Los Angeles, where he remained until 1899. Retiring then from active pursuits, he came to Fallbrook, and from that time until his death, in 1905, made his home with his son, D. O. Lamb. He was a stanch Republican in poli- tics, and while living in Los Angeles served A native of Luzerne county, Pa., Ralph D. Lacoe, Sr., was brought up near Pittston, as road overseer, and for fifteen vears was deputy constable. He was a member of the · where he began life for himself as a builder

Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in his religious views was a Materialist. His wife, who survives him, lives in Fallbrook.

About eight years of age when he came with his parents to this state, D. O. Lamb re- ceived limited educational advantages in the schools of San Bernardino county. While there he began working at the carpenter's trade, which he completed in Los Angeles, subsequently following it as a business for a number of years, three years of that time be- ing thus employed in Pasadena. In 1886 he located in San Diego county, and has since been employed the greater part of the time in agricultural pursuits. Investing his money in land, he has now a fine ranch of one thou- sand acres in Fallbrook, and as a raiser of cat- tle and grain is meeting with notable success, his operations being extensive and lucrative. . A man of keen intelligence and quick percep- tions, he has made a personal study of many of the leading questions of the day, and is largely self-educated.

In 1885 Mr. Lamb married Ella Gird, who was born in Los Angeles, and they are the parents of eight children, namely: Nettie, Katie, Edna, Murray, John, Annie, Denver and Lucy. In national affairs Mr. Lamb is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but in local matters he votes for the best men and measures, inde- pendent of party prejudices. He has made a study of Spiritualism, and both he and his wife are among its strongest advocates.

RALPH D. LACOE. Prominent among the highly esteemed residents of Oceanside. San Diego county, is Ralph D. Lacoe, a re- tired business man. As a former dealer in real estate and coal lands he was very suc- cessful, by his eminent ability and keen judg- ment accumulating a handsome property, which he is enjoying at this beautiful seaside resort. Although a comparative newcomer, he is an ardent admirer of Southern California, appreciating all of its advantages, and taking great pleasure in its mild and health giving climate. A son of the late Ralph D. Lacoe. Sr., he was born, April, 1867, in Pittston, Lu- zerne county, Pa., of honored French ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Anthony Lacoe, left France, his native country, about 1790, at the time of the French Revolution, coming to Philadelphia, Pa., at first, but subsequently settling near Pittston, where he was employed as a carpenter and farmer until his death.

John C. Kemal

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and lumber manufacturer and dealer. Sub- sequently settling in Pittston, he was there en- gaged in the banking business during the Civil war. He acquired considerable prop- erty in that vicinity, becoming owner of valu- able real estate and coal lands, remaining in active business until his death, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a Republican in politics and a man of much influence. His wife, whose maiden name was Bridget Clary, was born near Pittston, Pa., left an orphan when young, and died in the fall of 1873. She bore him three children, two of whom are liv- ing.

Brought up in Pittston, Ralph D. Lacoe re- ceived his elementary education in its public schools, after which he attended the Wilkes- barre Academy, and the Wyoming Seminary. Subsequently engaging in business with his father, he dealt extensively in real estate and coal properties, also doing surveying in the coal regions. Continuing thus employed for a number of years, he carried on a very prof- itable business, acquiring considerable wealth. In 1894 he made his first trip to the Pacific coast. selecting Oceanside as the most desira- ble place in which to spend the season, and subsequently he made two other visits to Southern California. Particularly pleased with Oceanside and its environments, he brought his family here in 1905. choosing this for a per- manent place of residence.

In Pittston, Pa .. Mr. Lacoe married Har- riet Stark, who was born in that city, and was educated at a college in Baltimore, Md. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child. Ralph D. Lacoe, Jr. Politically Mr. Lacoe, true to the principles in which he was brought up, is a stanch Republican, and relig- iously he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

JOHN CHARLES FREMONT. Through- out American history and story no name is more familiarly known than that of John C. Fremont. the Pathfinder of the Rocky Mount- ains. School children of all ages read and reread with renewed delight and interest his encoun- ters with the dusky foe on the plains and ex- ploits of thrilling adventure throughout his en- tire career on the western frontier. His fear- less and daring spirit was no doubt an inher- ited tendency, for it is known that the founder of the family in America was a man of large undertakings and indomitable courage. Born in France at a time when the edict of Nantes was still in effect, he lived there contented with his surroundings and privileges until the revocation by Louis XIV. when he was sent to

Canada as an officer in the troops, and there he eventually settled with his family. There the family became well known, the famous Dr. Charles James Fremont being a member of this branch of the family. The grandson of this immigrating ancestor, Louis René, was the founder of the family in the United States, his later years being spent in Charleston, S. C., his death occurring there in 1818. In Virginia he married Anne Beverly Whiting, whose aunt, also a Miss Whiting, became the wife of John Washington, and held George Wash- ington in her arms at the time of his christen- ing.

Born in Savannah, Ga., January 21, 1813, John Charles Fremont, of this sketch, was a lad of five years when the death of his father cast the first shadow over his young life. Re- maining with his widowed mother in Charles- ton, he there became a pupil in the public schools, where he displayed an aptitude and receptivity which made him a delight to his teachers. One especially, Professor Robertson of the University of South Carolina, took a keen interest in him and gave him outside as- sistance in his studies that was of untold ad- vantage to him. Circumstances over which he had no control, however, put an end to his school days, and at the age of nineteen the support of his mother, brother and sister fell upon his young shoulders. From his earliest school days he showed a fondness for mathe- matics, and it was along this line that he bent his keenest energies. Naturally he sought em- ployment which would make use of his train- ing, and this he had no difficulty in finding. His first practical work was as a surveyor in the rice lands of South Carolina, a task which involved considerable risk to life, and was paid for accordingly. From 1833 to 1835 he was a teacher of mathematics on the sloop-of-war Natchez, and later became assistant to Capt. W. G. Williams of the United States topo- graphical engineers. Subsequently he was ap- pointed an assistant to Mr. Nicollet, who un- der the direction of General Sibley, with head- quarters at old Fort Snelling. explored the country north of the Missouri river, at the same time discovering its source. In May, 1842, he set out on another expedition, his ob- ject this time being to survey beyond the Rocky Mountains by the south pass, one of the members of his party being Kit Carson, the noted trapper and scont. On this occasion, on August 15, he scaled the peak that is now known as Fremont's Peak.

With a band of thirty-nine trusty men Mr. Fremont set out in Way of 1843 for the pur- pose of finding a path to the Pacific ocean. In his equipment he had the first India rubber

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boat ever constructed, and this was also the first boat that ever floated on Salt Lake, the explorers sighting this body of water for the first time September 6, 1843. It is a fact worthy of note that the maps which Mr. Fre- mont made of the country at this time were the same ones which Brigham Young used in making his way to that garden spot. Proceed- ing toward the coast, Mr. Fremont reached California in the middle of the following De- cember, and in March of 1844 reached Sutter's Fort, near Sacramento. Having accomplished the purpose for which he came he began to re- trace his steps on the 24th of the same month, reaching Kansas July 1, 1844. Starting on his third expedition in 1845 he finally reached Monterey, the old capital of California, there raising the first American flag on Gaviota Peak, when threatened with attack by Cas- tro's men. From Monterey he went to Klam- ath lake. Working under the direction of or- ders reecived from Washington to defend the interests of the United States in California and to protect American settlers, with Stockton

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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 107

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