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 123
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JOHN COOK. Since 1889 John Cook has conducted a department store in Nipomo, San Luis Obispo county, in which enterprise he has met with a success that places him among the representative men of this section. In Cambridge, England, where he was born October 13, 1849, his father, George Cook, maintained a general store, at the same time owning and managing an inn. The Elder Cook married Anna Wells, and they reared a family of eleven children ; he lived to be nine- ty-four years old, and his wife eighty-six. Both were members of the Baptist Church. The example of immigration was set by the oldest son, who, at the age of fifteen, came to America in a sailing vessel. John Cook, less adventurous than his brother, remained in Cambridge, and during an apprenticeship of four years to a merchant there he received no remuneration whatever, his board being paid by his parents.
But nineteen years old when he arrived in America in 1868, John Cook soon afterwards became identified with the merchantile firm of Gage, Downs & Company, of Chicago, as a window trimmer, remaining in that capacity until the great fire of 1871. He then conduct- ed a general store in Bloomington, Ill., for five years, and at the same time began the study of law, in which he graduated in the first law class of the Illinois State Normal in 1876. While in Bloomington, he was united in marriage with Elsie A. Crist, daughter of Dr. Crist, one of the best known pioneers and medical practitioners of Bloomington, and who had located in that town when it was in its infancy. From Bloomington Mr. Cook re- moved to Kansas, and after practicing law for
a short time established a store dependent up- on the farmers for its patronage and supply. This departure proving a failure owing to suc- cessive failures in crops, he became identified with a wholesale concern in St. Joseph, Mo., whence, owing to the illness of his wife, he came to Riverside, Cal., in 1882.
After engaging in merchandising in River- side for seven years, Mr. Cook came to Ni- pomo in 1889 and started what has developed into one of the best equipped and most di- versified general stores in the county, and one may be sure of full value for money invested and immunity from misrepresentation. He makes a special study of the personal pref- erences of his patrons, is glad to order goods required that are not on hand and in every respect conforms to the demands of the day for modern and up-to-date methods in his busi- ness.
In political affiliation Mr. Cook is a Repub- lican, with a strong leaning toward Prohibi- tion. Since old enough to form his own con- clusions he has been identified with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and the local church profits by his personal co-operation and gen- erosity. Fraternally he is a charter member of Nipomo Lodge, K. of P., and is otherwise connected with the social life of the commun- ity. His oldest son, George C., who was edu- cated at the University of Southern California, married Zelia Toy, and is engaged in ranch- ing near Modesto, Stanislaus county ; Bertha L., the only daughter in the family, married Rev. S. S. Sampson, of Arroyo Grande ; and Carl J., the youngest son, is qualifying as an electrical engineer at the Oakland Polytech- nic.
JOSE ADARGA. An old settler of Santa Catalina Island and a man thoroughly familiar with the islands surrounding it is Jose Adarga, who has been the guide of many a party of hunters in these places, Jeffreys, the noted prize fighter, having on one occasion secured his serv- ices in that capacity. Mr. Adarga was born in the city of Los Angeles, at what is called the Pepper Trees, on New High street. His father, Pedro Adarga, was born in Lower California, Mexico, and early settled in Los Angeles, follow- ing the cattle business throughout his life. His mother, Phillepa Redona, in maidenhood, was also a native of Lower California and after her marriage came with her husband on horseback to Los Angeles. After the death of her huis- band she was married to Joseph Preciado, of Avalon, who is well known as "Mexican Joe" throughout this section. He came to California when but six years old with his foster-parents,
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about the year 1836, they having taken a claim on the island, where they engaged in raising sheep and goats. Later on they learned that Catalina was not government property and in consequence lost all their possessions there. Mr. Preciado settled in Avalon and is now engaged in running a launch here.
Jose Adarga was the youngest in a family of six children, four of whom are now living. His father dying when he was but six years old he had no opportunities for securing an education in the schools, but managed to obtain a large fund of knowledge through later personal efforts. As a mere child he went to work to support himself. Securing employment at San Juan Capistrano on a sheep ranch he remained there until sixteen years of age when he ran away from his em- ployer, who had been very hard on him. Going to Los Angeles he later went to Wilmington where his mother had located, and there he peddled fruit for a time. In 1869 he came to Catalina in the boat White Horse with Mr. Boschet, who had mines on the west end of the island. Mr Adarga here secured work of Mr. Howland on his farm and learned the sheep-shearing trade, thereafter coming each year from Wilmington to the different islands during the shearing seasons to assist in that work.
In 1883 Mr. Adarga was married to Miss Dolores Soto, a native of Los Angeles, whose father, Manuel Soto, was in the cattle and horse raising business in San Diego and Lower Cali- fornia, his death occurring in San Diego. Mrs. Adarga was reared at San Juan Capistrano. After his marriage Mr. Adarga settled on Cata- lina at White's landing and commenced to work for Captain Whitley, a stockholder, remaining in his employ for many years. In 1895 he re- moved to Avalon, where he was guide and hunter for Banning Brothers for a few years, and later engaged in the boat business, running the glass bottom boats and a line of row boats. With one exception all of his seven children are at home. They are: Reguinaldo, engaged in business with his father : Paulina, now Mrs. Frates, of Avalon ; Everett, Rosa, Esquia, Catalina and John Peter. Politically Mr. Adarga is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party.
GEORGE W. CALDWELL. One of the most prominent citizen of Dolgeville, Cal., is George W. Caldwell, who is station agent, post- master and merchant at this place. He was born September 29, 1862, in Jo Daviess county, Ill., and received his education in the common schools of that state. His father, Samuel K. Caldwell, was born in 1815 in Kentucky, where he farmed for a time and later engaged in the merchan- dising business. After his removal to Illinois
with his family he again engaged in farming, buying one hundred and forty acres of land in Jo Daviess county upon which he remained until his death in 1869. The mother was Nancy Albin in maidenhood and a native of Southern Illi- nois. She died on the Illinois homestead in 1872, having become the mother of twelve children, seven of whom are now living.
When nineteen years of age Mr. Caldwell left the farm and took advantage of an oppor- tunity to learn telegraphy. After he had finished his apprenticeship of two years he went to Chicago and entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1888 he resigned his posi- tion there and came to California, connecting himself with the Southern Pacific Company, and has been in their employ for eighteen years. His present position is that of station master at Dolge- ville, where he also has other business interests. He is a member of the Order of Railway Teleg- raphers, the Knights of the Maccabees, and polit- ically affiliates with the Republican party. His wife, Hattie M. Clark before her marriage, is a native of Iowa, and they are the parents of four children, all of whom are living: George W., B. H., Albin and Katie M. Mr. Caldwell is a man of strong principles and in all enterprises which tend to develop his section of the state is an enthusiastic promoter.
RALPH S. COMPTON. Well known as chief engineer on the boat Empress and a stock- holder in the Meteor Boat Company of Avalon, Ralph S. Compton is a man who has made a success in life and has many friends who esteem him highly. He is a native of Scotland, having been born in Stow, October 10, 1863, the son of James and Margaret (Ingles) Compton, both of whom were born in Scotland, the latter's death occcurring in that country also. The father was employed as a railway station master in his native country and when he brought his fam- ily to America settled in Atchison, Kans., and became chief clerk to the master mechanic of the Missouri Pacific, holding that position until the time of his death. There were nine children in the parental family. Ralph S. being the third in order of birth.
It was in 1871 that he was brought to this country by his father and given the advantages of a public-school education in Kansas. At the age of seventeen he entered the employ of the Missouri Pacific as a fireman. and at twenty-four was promoted to engineer and given a run out of Atchison. In 1887 he severed his connec- tion with that company, and coming to Los An- geles secured a situation with the Southern Pacific, which he soon resigned to accept a place as fireman on the Santa Fe. He continued to
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follow this occupation until 1893, when he re- signed on account of a strike and subsequently became a street-car motorman on the Pasadena line. He owned a launch at Catalina and had been in the habit of spending a part of each sum- mer here, so was familiar with conditions when, in 1901, he decided to locate at Avalon. He engaged in the handling of row boats and had two launches, the Helena and Henrietta, until 1903, when he built the Lady Lou, of which he was engineer until January, 1906. At that time he consolidated with the Meteor Boat Company and became chief engineer of the Empress, which position he still fills.
The marriage of Mr. Compton occurred in Los Angeles county, uniting him with Henrietta Treat, who was born in Atchison, Kans., and they have one child, Ralph Theodore. Mr. Comp- ton is interested in the development of his com- munity and as a citizen is public-spirited and progressive, identifying himself closely with the upbuilding enterprises of the city in which he resides.
HON. ALBERT B. MOFFITT. For many years a resident of Fernando, the late Hon. Al- bert B. Moffitt was actively identified with the carly history and growth of its industrial, busi- ness and political interests, and as a citizen of prominence and influence his name will ever be held in grateful remembrance. He was dis- tinguished as an early settler of this state and as a soldier in the Civil war, having an excellent record for brave and gallant conduct on the field of battle.
Coming to California at an early day. Mr. Moffitt was for some time in the employ of the Wells-Fargo Express Company at Oakland. Re- signing his position in 1874: he located in Fernando, and as a partner of the late Hon. Charles Maclay was for a number of years en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, carrying on an ex- tensive and lucrative business. Taking an intelli- gent interest in public matters,' he was elected as a representative to the state legislature from the Fernando district, and served until his death. which occurred June 14, 1884.
In October. 1873. Mr. Moffitt married Ara- bella Maclay, daughter of the late Hon. Charles Maclay, and of their union three children were born, namely: Charles M .; Grace L., wife of Frederick Prince, of San Francisco: and Albert Hubbard. Mrs. Moffitt is now residing in San Francisco. Politically Mr. Moffitt was an un- compromising Democrat, and socially he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Fraternally he was prominent in Masonic circles. being one of the charter members of Fernando Lodge No. 343. F. & A. M. He was likewise a
charter member of Fernando Lodge No. 214. A. O. U. W., and did much to promote the good of the order.
ABRAHAM L. HICKEY. The early set- tlers of California were brave and sturdy men, the forerunners and founders of one of the most glorious commonwealths the world has seen, but nevertheless abundant credit is due to later settlers who continued the work so nobly begun and brought to fruition projects which their predecessors had only dreamed might be accomplished. Among the more re- cent comers to the state mention belongs to Abraham L. Hickey, who is the owner and oc- cupant of a flourishing ranch not far from Orcutt, Santa Barbara county.
Mr. Hickey is of southern birth and par- entage, born in East Tennessee, on Christmas clay of 1863, into the home of John and Martha ( Murdock) Hickey. natives respectively of Tennessee and South Carolina. Selecting ag- riculture as his life calling the father settled on a farm in his native state. At the break- ing out of the Civil war he enlisted at his country's call and last year of the war his life was sacrificed in his country's cause. Left a widow when her son Abraham L. was a child of two years, Mrs. Hickey continued to make her home in Tennessee until 1869, when, with a brother, she came across the plains to Oregon. Abraham L. was then a lad of six years, and hence the greater part of his life has been spent on the western coast. His en- tire school life was passed in Oregon, for he attained school age during the year he was brought west. Continuing the work which his father had followed before him, he too selected agriculture as his life work, and in Grant county, Ore .. engaged in ranching and stock- raising, continuing in that location until com- ing to Santa Barbara county, Cal., in 1897. During that vear he purchased his present ranch of forty acres, although he did not set- tle upon it until 1905. . Thus while he has been a resident of the state for about nine years he has lived on his present property only about one year, but even in this short time . he has brought about numerous improvements which enables his ranch to rank with those of many older and more experienced ranchers. He is thoroughly convinced of the possibilj- ties of this part of the country and what he has accomplished is but the development of his expectations.
In Oregon, in 1891. Mr. Hickey was mar- ried to Miss Sally B. Martin, a native of Mis- 'sissippi, and while they were living in Oregon two children, Blanche and Charles. were born
charles W Lowing
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to them. The other children, Bert and Earl, have been born since the removal of the family to this state in 1897. Mrs. Hickey is a mem- ber of the Christian Church, which all of the family attend, and toward the support of which Mr. Hickey contributes freely. Polit- ically he is a Republican, his fraternal affilia- tions identifying him with the Odd Fellows' lodge at Santa Maria and Hesperian Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M., of the same place. Mr. Hickey has one brother who is a resident of Oregon, in which state his mother also makes her home at the advanced age of seventy- eight years.
CHARLES W. LOVING. Distinguished alike for his own integrity, industry and personal worth, and for the honored ancestry from which he traces his lineage, Charles W. Loving is well cleserving of special mention in this volume. He comes of English, Irish and Scotch stock, and was born January 17, 1830, in Louisville, Ky., a son of George Loving. His great-grandfather, Joseph Loving, and his son Christopher, the next in line of descent, came from England to this country, and settled in Virginia just prior to the Revolution, in which Joseph Loving took an ac- tive part, serving in several engagements.
A native of Richmond, Va., George Loving there grew to manhood, receiving his educa- tion in the public schools, and obtaining a good knowledge of agriculture on the home planta- tion. Two of his brothers, John and James, served in the war of 1812. He moved to Illi- nois when a young man, locating as a pioneer in Sangamon county, not far from the old home of Abraham Lincoln. Soon after the declaration of the war between Mexico and the United States he enlisted in an Illinois regiment, and for two years fought with his comrades, serving under Colonel Morris and General Zachary Taylor, and taking part in the battle of Vera Cruz and in other engagements. At the close of the war he re- turned to Illinois and after farming there awhile longer removed with his family to Henry county, Iowa, where he resided until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. He married Lucy Arthur, who died in early womanhood. when her son. Charles W .. was but four years old.
Completing his education after the removal of the family to Iowa. Charles W. Loving succeed- ed to the independent occupation to which he was reared, and in which he was well trained. In 1849, inspired by the ambitions of youth and health, he came with the gold seekers to Cali- fornia, and was engaged in mining and prospect- ing on the Feather river, and in other regions known to miners for quite awhile, traveling
about a good deal and at times meeting with en- couraging success. Returning to Iowa, he en- gaged in the pork packing business in Henry county, but in 1857 met with misfortune, losing heavily. Going then to Colorado, he made and lost money in mining. The Civil war breaking out, he enlisted in the Third Colorado Cavalry, in which he served under Gen. U. S. Grant at Vicksburg, and in many other battles, his last engagement being in the battle of Nashville, under General Thomas. At the close of the con- flict, he returned to Colorado, and in 1869 came again to California to mine. He remained here awhile, after which he returned east, and in 1873 he made a third visit to the Pacific coast, but did not stay here many months. In 1876 he was for awhile successfully employed as a miner in the Black Hills, S. Dak. Subsequently locating at Bellefourche, that state, he was there successfully engaged in the stock business for a number of years, making considerable money. In Novem- ber, 1901, he settled in Santa Monica, where he now owns some valuable real estate, having made wise investments in this part of Los Angeles county.
At Deadwood, S. Dak., May 20, 1878, Mr. Loving married Jennie L. Andrea, who was born in Ohio. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and religiously he is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.
FERGUS LINN FAIRBANKS. One of the most popular and prominent young business men of Hueneme is Fergus Linn Fairbanks, cashier of the Bank of Hueneme and a leading character in business, political, social and religious circles. He is a son of one of the old settlers of Ventura county, his father, Elijah B., having made the trip west via Oregon, down through California. locating in this county in 1876. A native of New York, he was brought up in Wisconsin. where his father, Theophilus Fairbanks, removed his family when the section of country near Waupun was wild and unsettled; his death oc- curred there, when he was over ninety years old. Elijah B. Fairbanks removed to Nebraska when twenty-four years of age and engaged in farm- ing and after his removal to California worked at teaming for five years in Ventura. from there coming to Hueneme with the Hueneme Wharf Company to take charge of the wharf. He still occupies that position and is a man who holds the highest respect of every member of the com- munity. The mother of Mr. Fairbanks was born in Illinois, and was the daughter of Rev. Richard Linn, a minister of the Christian Church. He later went to Iowa, where he was largely interested in farming and from there took his family to Pawnee, Neb., where he farmed and
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gave his services as a minister of the church without compensation. Two of the sons were in the Civil war, and the daughter, Martha M., who became Mrs. Fairbanks, still lives with her husband at Hueneme.
There were seven children in the parental family, of which Fergus L. Fairbanks is the second, his birth having occurred at Table Rock, Pawnee county, Neb., April 12, 1876. The first five years of his life were spent at Ventura and from there he was brought with the family by his father to Hueneme, where he has since resided. He was the recipient of a very good education which began in the Hueneme public schools, was continued at the Ventura high school, from which he graduated in 1894, and completed by one year of college work at the Occidental college in Los Angeles, after which he accepted a position in the Bank of Hueneme as bookkeeper. At the time of the death of Major Gregg, cashier of the institution, in Decem- ber, 1900, Mr. Fairbanks was elected to the office by the board of directors and has held the position ever since, being now as well a director and stockholder of the bank, which was or- ganized in 1889.
Mr. Fairbanks' first marriage occurred in Los Angeles, uniting him with Miss Lula Hooper, who at her death left a daughter, Constance. Mr. Fairbanks' second marriage was performed in Los Angeles, Miss Helen Murphey, a native of Michigan, becoming his wife. To this union one daughter also has been born, namely, Helen. The family residence, which is one of the finest in the city, is situated on the corner of Third and Clara streets. Mr. Fairbanks fills a number of positions of importance in the community and is the initiative influence in those enterprises which tend toward the upbuilding of this section. He is an active worker in the Presbyterian Church ; is president of the board of trustees of Oxnard Union high school ; is a strong Republi- can and finds opportunity for doing important work for his party as a member of the Republi- can county central committee.
B. A. HARASZTHY. The distinguished family of Haraszthy, which belongs to the an- cient nobility of Hungary, and first settled in that country more than eight hundred years ago, has among its American representatives B. A. Har- aszthy of Colegrove, Cal. His father was Count Augustin Haraszthy, who was a stanch friend of that noted patriot, Kossuth, and led an ex- citing and adventurous life in his native land. He and five other nobles engaged in a plot to arouse Hungary against the Austrian govern- ment and when they were warned that the author- ities had become possessed of a knowledge of
their plans and they were threatened with arrest and certain death should they be caught, they fled to America. For a time the Count remained in New York and then the United States gov- ernment interceded with that of Austria and secured permission for him to return to his coun- try and remove his family to America, although the property in Hungary was confiscated. At the time of the Kossuth trouble he held the office of private secretary to the Viceroy of Hungary and his grandfather was Viceroy of the kingdom of Dalmatia. Count Augustin was a man of en- terprising disposition and, with his adventurous spirit, life in New York was not satisfying. He crossed the plains to California, planted a vineyard in the southern part of the state, remained there for a number of years and then removed to Nic- aragua, where he died.
The son, B. A. Haraszthy, was born in Wis- consin and received his education at the St. Timothy's hall school, Maryland, and at Santa Clara college. He followed his father's lead in engaging in the wine industry in California and for eight years held the position of superinten- dent of the Lake Wine and Vineyard Company, and afterward engaged in mining, all over the southern part of the state. He also inherited his father's daring spirit and love of excitement and became in turn a pioneer of Arizona, Utah, California and Alaska. While living in Arizona Mr. Haraszthy took an active part in politics, and was the recipient of many honors at the hands of the voters, serving at one time as a supervisor of Yuma and as school trustee and was nominated as a candidate for sheriff, but the Southern Pacific Railway Company took a hand in the election at that time and defeated him.
The three years which he spent in Alaska were full of adventure and exciting experiences, and he succeeded in locating a number of paying mines. He spent several months in searching the fields of Kotzebue and then purchased a small fishing smack and prepared to sail down the coast to Cape Nome, but the ice was so heavy that the party were obliged to return a number of times and start again after discouraging attempts. On the last trip they encountered a storm which blew their vessel on the mud flats seven miles from shore, and it took them five days after the storm subsided to get the boat afloat again. No serious mishap befell them afterwards until about five miles off Port Clarence, when another storm drove the craft on the rocks and the crew start- ed for the shore in a small boat, but a breaker up- set them and they were obliged to swim, reaching land safely though nearly exhausted and ninety miles from Nome. The sufferings of the men before they reached that point were terrible, but they were glad for their deliverance at any cost.
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