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 113

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

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JOSEPH HAMILTON LAPHAM. The spirit of enterprise which has given to Los An- geles its phenomenal growth in the last ten years is well represented by Joseph Hamilton Lapham, one of the city's foremost business men and capitalists. He is the descendant of an old English family, long established in Massa- chusetts, where the name is identified with af- fairs of state. The first western emigrant was Hamilton Lapham, who removed from New York to Marietta, Ohio, in the early days of that state and there was one of its pioneer physicians. Later he located in Indiana and there spent the remaining years of his life. One of his sons, Simon, born in New York, became a farmer in the vicinity of Marietta, where he married Mary Jett, a native of that locality. She was the daugh- ter of Owen Jett, whose ancestors came original- ly from England and settled in Virginia, from which state he immigrated to Ohio and became a farmer in the vicinity of Marietta, where his death eventually occurred. Mr. Lapham is still living, a resident of Beckett, Ohio, in which state his wife passed away some years ago. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four sons and two daughters attained maturity and are now living. Three of the sons served val- iantly in the Civil war, Owen and Luther, now

residents of Cleveland, Ohio, having enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry.

The oldest child in the family of his parents, Joseplı Hamilton Lapham was born in Mariet- ta, Ohio, March 5, 1844, and in the public and high schools of the place of his birth received his educational training. In 1861, in response to the call for the three hundred thousand men, he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-ninth Ohio In- fantry, and was mustered into service in Camp Dennison and immediately ordered to the front. Following is a record of danger and hardship which surely tried the soul of the seventeen-year- old boy, and but for the purity and strength of his patriotism could never have been continued up to the close of the war. After the battles of Corinth, Iuka and Holly Springs and others in the year 1862 and the spring and summer of 1863, he became a veteran in Prospect, Tenn., in the fall of the latter year. In the southwest campaign he participated in the battles preceding the surrender of Atlanta-Resaca, Dallas, Dal- ton, Snake Creek Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and afterward the siege of the city. Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro and the march to the sea followed the occupation of the city of Atlanta by the Union troops. Aft- er the capture of the city of Savannah, Mr. Lap- ham went northward through the Carolinas, par- ticipating in the battles of Goldsboro and Ben- tonville, and in this latter, the last battle of Sher- man's army, he received his first wound, a minie ball passing through his left arm. Upon the close of the war he was offered the commission of lieutenant, but refused it, and after partici- pating in the Grand Review at Washington was mustered out of service with the rank of ser- geant at Louisville, Ky., July 9, 1865.

During the years of his service in the army Mr. Lapham had passed from youth into man- hood and thus his outlook upon life had material- ly changed. His participation in the great strug- gle had prepared him to take a broader and more comprehensive view of affairs. Upon returning to Marietta he entered the Cincinnati Commercial College, from which institution he was later grad- uated, when, in Cleveland, Ohio, he entered the employ of Bonsfield & Poole, manufacturers of wooden ware, and in the capacity of foreman re- mained with them for ten years. With the means thus accumulated he established himself in Cleve- land as a manufacturer of wooden ware in 1876, and from a modest beginning the business grew to remunerative proportions and demanded an enlargement of his factory. Later he took his brother. O. T. Lapham, into partnership, after which the firm was known and incorporated as Lapham & Co., with himself as president. Un- til 1893, when they disposed of their interests to the American Wash-board Company, this en-

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terprise remained one of the important industries of Cleveland.

In the fall of 1893 Mr. Lapham came to Los Angeles, Cal., and since that date has acquired an influential position among the business men of this city. Upon the incorporation of the Califor- nia Fish Company he became a stockholder and was unanimously made president and manager of the same, which position he has ever since filled. Through his efforts a large cannery was erected at San Pedro, where a specialty is made of can- ning sardines, this being the only factory in America that puts up the genuine sardines. They also can lobster, mackeral and tuna, being the only canners of this last-named fish. They oper- ate a line of boats, gasoline sloops, etc., and fish for sardines up and down the coast for a dis- tance of fifty miles from shore. Their headquar- ters are in Los Angeles, at No. 117 Henne build- ing. Mr. Lapham is also the principal stock- holder in the Southern California Supply Com- pany (being one of its incorporators and its president), which handles soda fountain fixtures, bakers' and confectioners' supplies, and carries on an extensive wholesale business. As a direct- or in the National Bank of Commerce and the Manhattan Savings Bank of this city, he is iden- tified with financial affairs, and takes a keen in- terest in everything pertaining to the advance- ment of these institutions. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and active in the or- ganization.

In Marietta, Ohio, Mr. Lapham was united in marriage with Miss Susan C. Cook, a native of Newport, that state, and a daughter of Emblem Cook, a farmer of that vicinity. They are the parents of four children, of whom Guy is one of the proprietors of Hotel St. Augustine, in Tuc- son, Ariz .; Letetia is the wife of M. M. Janes, of Los Angeles ; and Elsie and Mildred are at home with their parents. All are members of the Bap- tist Church, in the Sunday-school of which Mr. Lapham officiates as superintendent. Mr. Lap- ham is identified with the Republican party polit- ically, and belongs to the Union League Club, socially, while in memory of the days spent in his country's service he belongs to Stanton Post, G. A. R., of Los Angeles.

Since his location in Los Angeles Mr. Lapham has made both a financial and social success, win- ning the first by close application to business and business methods, and the latter by demonstra- tion of personal characteristics of manhood. His unusual force of character and strength of pur- pose have been carried by him into every avenue of life-financial, social and domestic, and con- bined with these qualities are a high sense of honor and thoroughly grounded principles, which have made it eminently safe to trust his lead. He enjoys the confidence of the people with whom

he deals and the unbounded esteem of those who know him best. He is typical of the best in American citizenship.

PETER ESPIAU. When Mr. Espiau took up his residence in Pomona in 1890 it was not without definitely laid plans as to his future undertakings, for in his native country, France, he had learned the most minute details con- cerning the propagation of the grape vine, as well as the manufacture of wine, and it was his intention to prosecute the same business in California. His hopes and expectations have been fully realized, and besides a winery and a vineyard of ten acres, he also has a ranch of ten acres in navel oranges.

Born in Lannepax, department of Gers, France, January 9, 1861, Peter Espiau is the third of four sons born to his parents, Jean and Marie (Bordens) Espiau, both of whom were born in France and spent their entire lives there. As his father was a farmer Peter Espiau had every opportunity of familiariz- ing himself with all the duties and obligations connected with farming life. He obtained his education in the local public schools and also made a special study of horticulture and wine- making, which has been of inestimable value to him, especially since taking up his resi- dence in California. Until reaching his major- ity he worked side by side with his father on the home farm, leaving home at that time to enlist in the service of his country, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Twenty- sixth Infantry, Fourth Company, Fourth Bat- talion in which he served four years.

It was in 1890 that Peter Espiau set sail from his native land with the determination to make his future home in the United States. Coming direct to California, he located in Pomona, in which vicinity he has made his home ever since. For a number of years he worked in the employ of others, carefully sav- ing his earnings with the intention of invest- ing them in a business of his own as soon as the right opportunity offered itself. He rec- ognized his opportunity in the absence of a winery in this part of the town and in 1896 he established the first plant for the manu- facture of winc, an undertaking which has proved remunerative. Some time after the establishment of the winery he bought five acres of land adjoining which he set out to grapes, and still later bought five acres more which he also set out to grapes. So success- ful were his efforts in viticulture that he de- termined to try raising oranges, and for this purpose purchased another ten acre ranch, then in fine bearing condition. Both under-

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takings have met with his most ardent ex- pectations and he is ranked among the suc- cessful horticulturists and vine growers of this part of Los Angeles county, his ranch lying one mile west of Pomona on West First street.

In Los Angeles Peter Espiau was married to Miss Julia Serres, who like himself is a native of France, and four children have been born to them, Albert, Andrew, Marie and Gaston. Adhering to the faith in which they were reared both Mr. and Mrs. Espiau are communicants of the Catholic Church, attend- ing St. Joseph's Church in Pomona, and polit- ically Mr. Espiau casts his vote in favor of Republican candidates.'

OBADIAH TRUAX BARKER. In tracing the lineage of the Barker family, first represent- ed in California by Obadiah T. Barker, a pioneer and one of the prominent business men and up- builders of Los Angeles, it is found that they are of Anglo Saxon ancestry, the name having orig- inated through the occupation of the progenitor, which was that of barking trees. The location of the family on this side of the Atlantic antedates the Revolutionary war, the emigrating ancestor settling in North Carolina and the Virginias, where the name flourished for several genera- tions. Inheriting the pioneer spirit of his fore- fathers, Thomas Barker became a resident of Ken- tucky, during the historic days of the state, establishing a home, winning a competence, and proving an important factor in the development and upbuilding of the western commonwealth. In his family was a son, Abijah, a native of Ken- tucky, who, in young manhood, removed to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and there learned the trade of blacksmith. Later he located in the unsettled portions of Indiana and there engaged in the prosecution of his trade and at the same time established a mercantile enterprise, which occu- pation formed his chief interest throughout his entire life. He married Miss Mary Stalker, the daughter of Jonathan Stalker, a native of North Carolina and also an early settler of Kentucky and a prominent and successful man. They reared a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom attained maturitv, the only survivor, however, being Obadiah T. Barker, of this review.

Obadiah T. Barker was born in Scotland, Ind., March 10, 1826, in the vicinity of his birthplace was reared to young manhood, receiving his edu- cational training in the public schools of Greene county. He prepared for college and shortly afterward entered the state university at Bloom- ington, where he pursued his studies for a time, an interruption being afforded by the offer of a

clerkship at $II per month in a store formerly owned by his father. He at once left school and took up the duties of this position, holding the same for eighteen months. Finally resigning his clerkship he formed a partnership with Dr. J. A. Dagley, each furnishing $250, with which they purchased and opened a mercantile business. Both being men of executive ability, good judg- ment and decision of character, their enterprise was a success and their interests remained iden- tical for five years. At the expiration of this time Mr. Barker purchased the entire interest of the business and continued the enterprise alone for several years. In 1854 he married Miss Nancy Record, a native of Scotland, Ind., and a daugh- ter of Joshua Record. Their home remained in that place for some time after their marriage, when Mr. Barker sold his stock and moved to Owensburg, Ind., and there established another enterprise of a similar nature. He became prom- inent in public affairs while a resident of that place, and was elected auditor of Greene coun- ty on the Republican ticket, serving for a term of four years. Upon the expiration of his term of service in 1872 he located with his family in Col- orado Springs, Colo., which was then only a small place. On Tejon street he established the first general merchandise business of the town, and in addition to the patronage received from the residents of Colorado Springs traded with the Indians and freighters; he built up a lut- crative trade and in 1880, when he disposed of his interests, was recognized as one of the lead- ing business men of the then thriving city. He took a prominent part in all public affairs and gave his best efforts for the advancement of the general welfare and the development of resources.

Coming to Los Angeles in 1880 Mr. Barker at once established a furniture and carpet business in partnership with Mr. Mueller, under the firm name of Barker & Mueller; they located at No. 113 North Spring street, but found that they were too far out of the business district, which was then north of that section. The enterprise was then located near the Pico house, at that time the leading hotel of Los Angeles, and as Mr. Mueller had in the meantime sold his inter- est to Mr. Barker the firm became known as O. T. Barker & Sons. Out of this modest beginning has grown what is now known as the firm of Barker Brothers, their enterprise being one of the most extensive of its kind in Southern Cali- fornia. In 1887 Mr. Barker practically retired from business, although his name was still used in the style of the firm name until 1898, in which year the title became Barker Brothers. The new firm moved to the Van Nuys building at Nos. 420-424 South Spring street, which had been crected for their use, and they are still in this location engaged in the sale of furniture, car-

John g. Charnock

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pets, draperies and pictures. Their establishment is quite extensive, extending from Spring street through to Main street, and is several stories in height. Each department is ingeniously arranged to exhibit the .stock to the best advantage and is carefully looked after by an expert in his line of work. Barker Brothers are fully equipped for the business they carry on and easily hold rank among the most extensive enterprises of the kind in Los Angeles.

After his retirement from business Mr. Bar- ker located in Pasadena, his home at No. 1449 Fair Oaks avenue being presided over by his wife. Of the six children born of their union three sons are living, namely : O. J., Charles H. and William A., all members of the business firm of Barker Bros. Mr. and Mrs. Barker are members of the First Baptist Church of Pas- adena, and are active in all philanthropical work, many charities, denominational and otherwise, receiving their liberal support. Very recently Mr. and Mrs. Barker celebrated their golden wed- ding, having traveled together the journey of life for fifty years. That they have seen happy and in the main prosperous years is evidenced by visible signs ; financial independence has come to them and in their beautiful home they are sur- rounded with the comforts and luxuries made pos- sible by early industry and success, friends have increased with the passing years and to-day give honor and companionship to the sturdy pioneers who have borne the burden in the beginning of a western civilization and assisted with all the strength of physical, mental and moral qualities in the development of all resources. They have reared a family of sons who have long since tak- en their rightful place in the commercial world, to which they were early and successfully trained. In the management of their enterprise they have shown business ability. judgment and tact ; O. J. Barker is prominent in commercial activity as pur- chasing agent for the Pacific Purchasing Com- pany, and purchases more furniture than any other one man in the United States. William A. Barker is manager of the same company and in the discharge of duties has exhibited unusual executive ability. Charles A. is manager of the Barker Brothers Furniture Company.

JOHN J. CHARNOCK. For many years the home of Mr. Charnock has been four miles south of Palms, where he owns a portion of La Ballona (meaning whole), one of the his- toric ranchos of Los Angeles county. Few of the pioneers of the county have been more suc- cessful than he. With shrewd foresight and sagacious judgment he invested heavily when lands were low and he now reaps the result of his sagacity in the remarkable increase in

land values. On coming to the coast region in 1875 he was able to secure land at from $10 to $60. an acre, and about that time he pur- chased eleven hundred and fifty acres, of which he still owns seven hundred and eighty- Three acres, worth about $500 an acre. Re- cently he sold seventy-five acres for $400 an acre; at another time he sold sixty acres laid out in town lots in the suburbs of Los Ange- les, and fifty acres where the town of Ocean Park now stands. In an early day he bought large tracts in Riverside county and eighty acres in San Diego county. Besides his other possessions he still owns about seventeen lots in Los Angeles, and the Ione building erected at a cost of $176,000, but sold to him during the financial depression for about $20,000, on which amount the investment returns large dividends.

Near Manchester, England, John J. Char- nock was born December 6, 1829, and at the age of fourteen years he accompanied his par- ents to Canada. In the sketch of his young- er brother, George, the family record will be found. The ancestors had been prominent in England, and the maternal grandfather was a large owner of lands and slaves in the West Indies, but misfortune overtook the parents and they sought better success in the western continent. For three years John J. assisted his father on a Canadian farm, then worked in a bank for a year and afterward was employed on a farm. Coming to the States he spent a few years in Buffalo, then proceeded to Mil- wankee, Wis., and next went to Rock coun- ty, same state, where he was employed as a teamster at So per month. In the fall of the same year he went to the Wisconsin pineries and in time acquired extensive timber hold- ings in that region. Of such lands he owned several thousand acres, and he also owned sawmills at convenient locations. For twen- ty-one years he made a specialty of manufac- turing shingles, which together with lumber he rafted down the Mississippi river in the days when the entire surrounding valley was a rough, undeveloped region. In the interests of larger enterprises he started lumber yards at Dubuque, Independence and Parkersburg, Iowa, and these he conducted for a considera- ble period, the lumber for the same coming from his timber lands in Iowa and Wisconsin. Meanwhile the constant devotion to business undermined Mr. Charnock's health and he was obliged to seek another climate, for which reason in 1871 he relinquished his eastern in- terests and removed to Nevada. There, as in the earlier places of his residence, he soon be- came known as a man of shrewd acumen and remarkable sagacity. Though he took up a

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business entirely foreign to that in which pre- vionsly he had engaged, he was none the less successful. From a small beginning in the sheep industry he increased his flocks until he had from fifteen thousand to twenty thousand head, which he kept on his range near Eu- reka. To furnish pasturage for so large a flock he had a range one hundred and thirty- four miles long and thirty miles wide. On disposing of his stock in Nevada he. removed to California and has since watched the growth and development of Los Angeles county with all the pride of a pioneer and property-owner. He has never married, but lives in content- ment alone on his ranch, and personally super- intends all of his property holdings. Though quite advanced in years, he is well-preserved and can read and write without the aid of glasses, nor does he show in mind or body the effects of his long and strenuous existence. While he has been an active Republican, at no time would he accept office. Were he to be asked the secret of his large success he would probably attribute it to careful invest- ments and frugal economy, and certain it is that both of these qualities have been leading factors in the attainment of his large holdings.

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 commercialismn, 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 fromn 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.

LUTHER C. JANEWAY. A man of decided energy and ability, ever ready to seize all ad- vantageous openings for advancing his business, Luther C. Janeway is prominently identified with the mercantile interests of Ramona, and oc- cupies a good position among its more active and valued citizens. He is respected and esteemed throughout the community, and his generous in- terest in all that concerns its public weal has exerted a marked influence in advancing the various enterprises inaugurated to develop its resources and promote its prosperity. He was born November 21, 1869, in Jasper county, Iowa, a son of Seth Janeway.

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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 113

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