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 114

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

USA > California > 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 114

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

W DAVIS

743

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Seth Janeway was born and reared in Ten- nessee, living there until about sixteen years of age. In Iowa he was married to Susanna Picker- ing, of Tennessee. He cleared and improved a farm in Jasper county, Iowa, living there and in Missouri and Texas until 1893 when he came with his family to Ramona, where he still re- sides, being a well-known and prosperous rancher. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Friends Church. To him and his wife, five children have been born, namely : Arwilda Hinshaw, living in this valley; Ada, living at home; D. O., in business at Whittier, Cal .; J. S., in the government employ in the Philippine Islands, and Luther C., the subject of this sketch.

Receiving but limited educational advantages as a boy, Luther C. Janeway spent his childhood days' in different places, spending six years in Missouri, going when seven years old with his parents to Kansas, where he lived on year. The family then returned to Iowa, and there he as- sisted in the care of the home farm for four years. Going then with his father, he located in the Panhandle, Crosby county, Texas, where he remained nine years, at first being engaged in farming, and later as clerk in a store. Going northward, he subsequently spent two years in Northern Kansas and Colorado engaged in farm- ing, but not caring to make a permanent loca- tion there, in. 1895 came to Ramona, settling on a ranch. In 1899 he went to San Diego and en- tered the employ of F. H. Briggs, for two years clerking in his grocery. July 19, 1903. he opened his present establishment in Ramona, and has since built up an extensive and remunerative business as a dealer in general merchandise, handling dry goods, lumber, hardware, poultry supplies, etc., his trade being one of the finest in the place. He is also proprietor of the freight line between Foster and Ramona and has also opened up a feed mill.

In 1898 Mr. Janeway married Charlotte Keyes, a native of Kansas, and they are the parents of four children, namely: J. Raymond, Robert K., Clara M. and Waldo P. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Janeway are members of the Friends Church. Politically Mr. Janeway champions the principles of the Republican party. Fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Forest- ers and to the Modern Woodmen of America.

JOHN W. DAVIS. One of the most suc- cessful financiers of Southern California was named in the person of John W. Davis, whose keen foresight and executive ability won him recognition early in life, for his death occurred when in his thirty-third year. He was born

December 16, 1860, in Fox Lake, Wis., the youngest child and only son of his parents. His father, John W., was born in Montgom- eryshire, Wales, where he received a good ed- ucation, thence immigrating to New York at the age of nineteen years, meeting and marry- ing, near Utica, Margaret McCollum, a native of Glasgow, Scotland. Together they went to Fox Lake, Wis., where he assisted material- ly in the upbuilding of the town, helping to es- tablish the Wisconsin Female College now combined with Milwaukee College. In part- nership with William E. Smith, who after- ward became governor of Wisconsin, Mr. Da- vis engaged in the banking business until ill health compelled his retirement from active life. He then traveled over Europe, spending considerable time in Germany. In 1876, when the Southern Pacific Railroad had just been completed to Colton, San Bernardino county, he located there, as he found the climate bene- ficial to his health. Locating there perma- nently, he engaged in business, in December, 1886, assisting in the organization of the First National Bank of Colton. His death occurred a year later, removing a practical and helpful citizen in all the avenues of life. He was a prominent Mason and had many friends both in and out of the order.

John W. Davis, Jr., was reared in Fox Lake and educated in the Fox Lake Academy and the University of Wisconsin. In 1876 he came to California for the first time, accompanying his father to Colton. Subsequently he re- turned to the University of Wisconsin and in 1880 came again to Southern California, be- coming bookkeeper in the Farmers' Exchange Bank of San Bernardino. After a time he went to Yankton, S. Dak., and there studied law under Gamble Brothers, and was admitted to the bar, when, with his savings of $2,000, in partnership with another he established a bank at Scotland, S. Dak. This enterprise was short- ly afterward disposed of at a good profit. when he went to Bridgewater and started a similar enterprise, of which he became president. This grew to splendid proportions and became one of the most successful institutions of its kind in South Dakota. In November. 1885. he lo- cated in Colton and the following year assist- ed in the organization of the First National Bank of Colton, which was opened December of that year, with his father as its president. After the death of his father in 1887, he be- came the head of the institution and made it a success. In 1889 he arranged his affairs for a trip to the Paris Exposition, and after his re- turn he purchased control of the San Bernar- dino National Bank and enlarged the business

744

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

very materially in the few years following. In 1891 he was asked to organize a bank at River- side, and it was during his efforts in this line that his health was so seriously impaired that he was forced to give up active efforts.

Mr. Davis' death occurred August 6, 1893, 111 New York City, and removed from the com- munity a citizen of unusual ability and public spirit. As a Republican in politics he sought to advance the principles he endorsed, al- though never caring for personal recognition along this line because of his multifold busi- ness interests. He left a widow and four daughters, namely : Margaret E., a graduate of Smith College and the wife of Dr. Charles E. Ide, of Redlands ; Marion, Dorothy and Gwen. Mrs. Davis was in maidenhood Miss Jennie E. Roberts, of Cambria, Wis., and a daughter of J. W. Roberts, whose sketch appears else- where in this volume. She was graduated from Downer College, at Fox Lake, Wis., and in Portage, that state, on December 4. 1883, she was married to Mr. Davis. She resided in Colton until 1898, when she removed to Red- lands and located on a ranch of fifty-three acres on Brookside avenue, one of the attrac- tive homes of this section, carefully laid out and wisely cultivated, the property being de- voted to oranges. Mrs. Davis is a director in both the First National Bank of Colton and the San Bernardino National Bank. She is a member of the Spinnet and officiates as its president, and is also a member of the Con- temporary Club. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church she gives liberally to the support of its charities.

LOUIS GEORGE VISSCHER, M. D., comes of a distinguished family who traces its genealogy back to the time of the Reformation. Its mem- bers include many illustrious men, scientists, litterateurs, statesmen and soldiers, with here and there among them names made famous by deeds of valor or in some branch of learning and embla- zoned on the historic pages of the land that gave them birth. The Hollanders have been patriots ever, and when as colonists they made for them- selves homes in the newer lands their blood gave a sturdy solidity of character to sons and daughters, and their sterling qualities have passed to their many descendants as a lasting lieritage to the latest generation.

Of the Visscher family much may be said. One Roemer Visscher was not only distinguished in trade, being the owner of a whole fleet of vessels, but was also one of the first poets of his native land. And so on down the line to Major Kraght Visscher, great-grandfather of Dr. Visscher, who held commission in the royal army.

He was a brave man and met death as a brave soldier loves to meet death-fronting the foe. When the combined forces of England and Rus- sia invaded Holland, Major Visscher, at the head of his troops, attempted to cross a bridge held by the enemy and commanded by their artillery. The color-bearer was shot down, and immedi- ately the Major seized the colors, advancing with them through a devastating cross-fire of shot and shell. When nearly across the bridge he was struck by a cannon-ball and instantly killed. Then a sergeant caught the flag up on his bay- onet and with it succeeded in crossing the bridge. A memorial monument was erected to the vali- ant Major Visscher in the city of Alkmaar. His so11, Professor Lodewyk Gerard Visscher, held the chair of history and literature at the Univer- sity of Utrecht ; he was the author of many his- torical and literary works. The son of the latter, Jan A. Visscher, the father of Dr. Visscher, was born at the Hague in 1830. He graduated from the Military Medical College at Utrecht and for twelve years following occupied a position as surgeon in the Royal Navy. When he was twenty-nine years old he received from his government the highest decoration awarded to its citizens-the Royal Dutch Lion. Upon his retirement from the navy he engaged in the prac- tice of his profession and continued in it until his death in 1901, at the age of seventy-one years.

Dr. Visscher is of equally illustrious descent on his mother's side of the family. Her maiden name was Jeanette Antoinette le Ruette. Her immediate family held responsible civil positions under the minister of the interior. She died in 1868, leaving two children. Her second son, Hugo, graduated from the University of Utrecht and is now a practicing physician in Leusden, Netherlands.

Dr. Louis George Visscher was born in Sluiss, Netherlands, December 28, 1864, and his boy- hood years were passed in Holland. In 1881 he entered the University of Utrecht, taking up the study of the classics and medicine. From there he went to the University of Wurtzburg, where he graduated in 1891 with the degree of M. D., following with a post-graduate course of one year at the University of Berlin, and two years at the University of Freiberg. He returned to Holland and entered the University of Leyden, which conferred on him the degree of M. D., in 1898. For a short period thereafter he prac- ticed his profession. Suffering an attack of pneumonia he was compelled to give up his business, and in order to escape the severity of the winter in Holland traveled in Italy and the Riviera.

Dr. Visscher came to Los Angeles in the fall of 1898. When he decided to make a permanent residence here he opened an office and engaged

747

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in the practice of his profession. His present offices are in the Homer Laughlin building. He is a specialist in gastro-intestinal diseases and stands without peer in his line of work in the profession. He is instructor in gastro-intestinal diseases in the College of Medicine, University of Southern California, and professor of gastro- intestinal diseases in the Post-Graduate School of the University of Southern California. He is a member of American Medical Association, State Medical Association, Southern California Medical Association, Los Angeles Medical Association, Clinical Pathological Soeiety, and a member of the University Club.

Dr. Visscher married Miss Wilhelmina Eliza- beth Zegers-Veeckens in 1890. They have one son, Karel Hugo Kraght Visscher, born in Wurtz- burg, Germany, in February, 1891, and who attends the Thaeher School in the Ojai valley. It is needless to state herein the high standing of Dr. Visseher in the community, or to mention the estimation in which he is held by his col- leagues in the profession. He devoted seventeen years to the study of medieine and his success is simply the reward of honest, persistent effort. His talents, learning and worth as a physician and a gentleman are fully appreciated and suf- ficiently well established to make enumeration of them necessary.

ARTHUR MeKENZIE DODSON. The record of the Dodson family in California is a record of persevering industry and untiring energy. Father and sons unitedly have la- bored to promote their mutual welfare and have counted no labor too difficult when by its successful accomplishment the general pros- perity might be promoted. The history of the family in this country dates back to colonial times, the first representative coming over on the Mayflower and establishing the name in New England, where the Fletehers and Mc- Kenzies, into which families the Dodsons mar- ried, also became prominent and influential citizens. In this connection it is worthy of note that John Fletcher was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Arthur Mckenzie Dodson was born in Phil- adelphia, Pa., in 1819. remaining in the east until the year previous to the finding of gold in California. The year 1848 found him a miner in this state, but from the fact that he gave up this life two years later and was ever after engaged in commereial pursuits, it is safe to presume that his efforts in this direction were not all that he had anticipated. Coming to the old pueblo of Los Angeles in 1850. he opened one of the first butcher and grocery establish- ments in the place and was the pioneer soap

manufacturer here also. A later enterprise was the establishment of a wood and eoal yard at what is now the corner of Sixth and Spring streets, in the very heart of the city. This in fact was the nucleus of a little town to which he gave the name of Georgetown, in honor of "round house" George, then a prominent char- acter in that locality. At a later date Mr. Dodson removed to the San Fernando valley and began raising wheat and barley, this be- ing the first attempt at farming in the valley. Still later he became superintendent of the O'Neill ranches in San Diego county, but meeting with an accident there he was com- pelled to give up the management. After re- covering from the injury he went to Tucson. Ariz., and engaged in the eattle business, and it was while there that his death occurred about 1886.

The marriage of Mr. Dodson united him with Reyes Dominguez, a member of one of the oldest families of the state, she being a na- tive of this county and a daughter of Nazario Dominguez, well known to all early residents in this part of the state. He and his brothers, Pedro and Manuel, owned the Rancho San Pedro, which extended from Redondo to Compton and on to Long Beach. Mrs. Dodson died in Los Angeles in 1885, having become the mother of twelve children, only three of whom are now living. James H. and John F. are in partnership in business and reside in San Pedro, and Emma, now Mrs. Thompson, resides in Hobart Mills, Nevada county, Cal.

JAMES H. DODSON. A native of the state, James H. Dodson was born in Los An- geles February 26, 1861, and in his home coun- ty was reared and edneated, attending both public and private schools. A turning point in his career eame at an early age, for while still a bov he was taken into the home of George Hinds, a large stoekman and buteher of Wil- mington, this county, he also serving as coun- ty supervisor. He was the junior member of the firm of Vickery & Hinds, wholesale butch- ers, who had stores located in all of the prin- cipal towns along the coast, and in the man- agement of these Mr. Dodson assisted for twenty years. In 1883 they established a store in San Pedro, it being the pioneer market in the town, and of this Mr. Dodson had charge until resigning to take charge of a similar busi- ness of his own, carrying this on until 1899.

The year last mentioncd was the beginning of an eventful period in the life of Mr. Dodson, and witnessed liis removal to Manila, Philip- pine Islands, where as a member of the firm of Simmie, Swanson & Co. he was interested in

748

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the first sawmill in the town. In addition to carrying on the mill the firm had the contract for carrying the mail, and later established the first American carriage works in Manila. In 1901 Mr. Dodson began traveling throughout the Philippine Islands, Asia Minor and Arabia. returning by way of the continent and Eng- land, and in so doing had circumnavigated the globe. Locating once more in his native state, in 1902 he leased of George Porter a part of the Old Mission ranch, the seven thousand acres which he rented being devoted entirely to the raising of wheat. Coming to San Pedro the following year, he established a partner- ship with his brother John F. as general con- tractors for grading and cement work, and in the meantime the name and fame of the Dod- son Brothers have become synonyms for all ' that honest, straightforward dealings would suggest. James H. Dodson was one of the or- ganizers and is manager of the Pacific Manu- facturing and Supply Association, mannfac- turers and dealers in ornamental and building brick and builders' supplies.

In 1881, while in Wilmington, Cal., Mr. Dodson was united in marriage with Rude- cinda Sepulveda, a union which associated him with one of the most prominent families in the state. On the old Palos Verdes rancho Mrs. Dodson was born, the daughter of Jose Diego Sepulveda, he being one of the five owners of this vast estate, which extended along the sea coast from San Pedro to Redondo Beach, and for miles back into the foothills. The land was originally owned by Mrs. Dodson's grand- father, Dolores Sepulveda, who was killed by Indians while he was returning from Monte- rey, where he had gone to obtain a patent to his ranch. Much of the property was handed down to his son, Jose Diego, who was born on the old ranch near San Pedro in 1813. During the war of the United States with Mexico he was loyal to the former, contributing generous- ly of cattle, horses, money and provisions from his own private store, and materially aided in extending the dominion of the United States to the Pacific ocean.

Six children have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Dodson, those living named in order of birth as follows: Florence, James H., Jr., and Carlos D. All that the term public- spirited implies is found in the make-up of Mr. Dodson, who for eight years has been a mem- ber of the city council, serving as its president for one term. He has also served in the ca- pacity of license collector, and for eight years he was on the board of school trustees. His in- fluence in the upbuilding of San Pedro has further been felt through his association with the Chamber of Commerce, where his opinion

has great weight and consideration. Frater- nally he is a member of San Pedro Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., having joined the order in Wilmington, where he became master of his lodge. Mr. and Mrs. Dodson have hosts of friends in San Pedro, not restricted to the up- per classes alone, for they have given gener- ously of their means to sustain those less for- tunate and in fact no helpful beneficence has been denied their support.

JOHN FLETCHER DODSON. As a mem- ber of the firm of Dodson Brothers, John F. Dodson is well known throughout San Pedro and vicinity, having established himself in busi- ness here as a contractor for cement and grading work about 1898. For about six years he car- ried on the business alone, during which time he laid some of the best work to be found in the city today. With the growth of the city and the corresponding demand for work in his line his business grew to such proportions that the as- sistance and co-operation of some one with an equal interest in the affairs became essential. This want was supplied in his brother, James H., the two uniting their forces in 1904 under the name of Dodson Brothers, a firm which to- day stands for all that is best and most depend- able in their line in this part of the county.

A native of the state, John F. Dodson was born on the San Pedro ranch near what is now Compton April 8, 1867, a son of Arthur Mc- Kenzie and Reyes (Dominguez) Dodson. (For further details concerning the parental family the reader is referred to the sketch of the father, given elsewhere in this volume.) Up to the age of thirteen years John F. Dodson attended the public schools of Los Angeles, after which he went to make his home with his father's old- time friend, George Hinds, at Wilmington. Mr. Hinds' attachment for the elder Mr. Dodson was strengthened in the fact that the latter had rendered him financial assistance when he came here from the east, a kindness which he never forgot, and one which he has never been able to repay to his own satisfaction. The keen in- terest which he has ever taken in the sons of his benefactor has been of a substantial character and of lasting benefit to the recipients. For ten vears Mr. Dodson was superintendent of one of Mr. Hinds' numerous ranches, this being known as the Henrietta Stock Farm, located near Comp- ton, and devoted to breeding and training stand- ard horses. The knowledge and experience which Mr. Dodson gained during this time made him an expert horseman, and in the Southern California circuit he became especially well known. as during all of the time he was with Mr. Hinds he drove in the races on that track.

fre N. Savage

751

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Although Mr. Dodson became identified with San Pedro in 1893 it was not until about 1898 that he established the nucleus of his present prosperous business. Beginning in a small, un- pretentious way, and with only one outfit, the business grew with steady rapidity from the very outset, with the result that greater facil- ities for filling contracts became essential. The admission of his brother James H. into the busi- ness in 1904 has enabled him to give his entire time to the superintendence of the outside work, which keeps about sixty-five men and sixty horses busy the greater part of the time. The firin of Dodson Brothers is conceded by those best able to judge to be the most reliable con- tracting firm in their line outside of Los Angeles, and the fact that its work is appreciated as above the average is shown in the volume of business transacted, coming both from old and new cus- tomers. During 1906 the firm added a new de- parture to their business by adding a road oiling outfit and are doing work in that line in North- ern California.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Dodson is bright- ened by the presence of three interesting children, Ynez Reyes, William Savage and John Fletcher, Jr., to whom a successful future may be assured if their parents' training is adhered to and the example of their elders' lives followed as their pattern. Mr. Dodson's marriage occurred in 1898 and united him with Kate Agnes Savage, who was born in San Francisco, a daughter of Hon. W. H. Savage, an account of whose in- teresting life is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Dodson belongs to the Roval Arcanum, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and he is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce of San Pedro. J. F. Dodson is also interested in the Pacific Manufacturing and Supply Associa- tion.

HON. WILLIAM H. SAVAGE. A review of the representative citizens of San Pedro and of the men who have played an important part in the history of this city and the state would be deficient without a sketch of the life and work of Hon. W. H. Savage, who is too well known on the Pacific coast to need special introduction to the public. At the bar he has been a brilliant advocate; in the halls of legis- lation a wise and prudent counsellor and able debater: on the rostrum an impressive and convincing speaker ; and in every field a con- troller of the minds of men. Fitted by native courage and intellectual ability to direct af- fairs and to assume responsibility, he has steadily pursued his way to higher heights of achievement and has long been recognized as

a leader in thought and action, a quality which has been the keynote of his success in the state senate, to which he was elected in 1904.

Born in County Limerick, Ireland, July 12, 1840, W. H. Savage is a son of Michael and Ellen (Kelley) Savage, both of whom are now deceased, the mother passing away in Vallejo, this state. The father was reared principally in England, there graduating from a military academy which was the initial step into the later military life which he followed. He was a participant in the Crimean war, taking sides against Russia, and during his many years of service won the title of major. Later he brought his family to the United States, set- iling in Boston, Mass., and it was in that city that his earth life came to a close. Seven chil- dren originally comprised the parental family, but of this number only three are now living.

W. H. Savage was a lad of about five years when he accompanied the family to the United States and settled in Massachusetts. For a number of years he was a pupil in the public schools of that state, and at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war he lacked two months of being nineteen years of age. Filled with the same patriotic spirit which had been such a strong feature in his father's character, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1861, serving on board the sloop Mississippi, under Lieutenant Dewey, who later became the hero of Manila bay. In 1863, while at- tempting to run the batteries of Port Hudson, the Mississippi was grounded, and here she was riddled withi shot and set on fire by the en- emy's batteries, so that officers and crew had to abandon her and make their way as best they could to the other shore before the flames reached her magazine. Here it was that Mr. Savage was captured by the enemy and sent to Libby prison. At the expiration of his term three months later he was exchanged, and without unnecessary loss of time he re-enlisted in Company A, Fourteenth New York Caval- ry, serving in Louisiana until the close of the war, when he was mustered out with the title of sergeant. The need of able-bodied men in the frontier service caused him to re-enlist once more, this time becoming a member of the Fourteenth United States Infantry, serv- ing as quartermaster-sergeant under Col. Charles S. Lovell throughout his three-year term of enlistment. He was next a member of the Twelfth United States Infantry, and as quartermaster-sergeant under O. B. Wilcox traversed the frontier of Arizona and Califor- nia. At his own request he received his hon- orable discharge from the service in May, 1874, and the same year came to Wilmington, Los Angeles county. Cal., where in January,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 114

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