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 124

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

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In a business way Mr. Haraszthy has large hold- ings at various points, is interested in mining property in Utah, and has charge of the oil bus- iness owned by his sister, Mrs. Hancock, of Los Angeles. There are one thousand acres of land in the LaBrara ranch on which are located one hundred and five wells, which are now in opera- tion and are held by an unexpired ten-year lease by the Salt Lake Oil Company. Mr. Haraszthy's brother, Arpad, was a prominent man in viticul- ture circles in California for many years and had, at the time of his death, amassed a great for- tune. His wife was a daughter of Gen. Guada- lupe Vallejo.

By his first marriage Mr. Haraszthy has two children, Charles Ernest, who is married and lives in San Francisco, and Harriet, who married George Hunt, and also resides in San Francisco. By his second wife, who was Isabel King, and a native of Illinois, he has one daughter, who is married to James Meadows, of Yuma, Ariz.

Mr. Haraszthy is a successful business man and politician and to every enterprise of progressive interest to this section of the state he gives his enthusiastic support. He has a host of friends throughout the country who recognize his ability and worth and accord him the hearty admiration and respect due a natural leader.

HON. CHARLES FITZ ABNER JOHN- SON. A man of prominence in Southern Cali- fornia whose name is inseparably connected with the development of this section of the state is the late Hon. C. F. A. Johnson, of Long Beach, who during the days of busi- ness depression ten years ago displayed marked foresight and executive ability in helping to tide over the discouraging years and make a solid foundation for building up the country, when there arrived a succeeding wave of prosperity which has carried upon its crest the most remarkable advancement ever witnessed in any section of the United States at any period in her history. This branch of the John- son family dates its records back into the early history of the thirteen original colonies, Isaac Johnson being one of the first settlers in the Maine country. His son, Dr. Abner, was born at Sullivan, Hancock county, Feb- ruary 22, 1786, and after graduating in medi- cine established himself as a practitioner in Waterford and Sullivan. He was a commis- sioned surgeon in the war of 1812, and dur- ing many years of his life devoted himself to the manufacture of Johnson's liniment, a well- known household remedy which may still be purchased, for it has withstood the test of time and is now being put up in the same

form as originally. In 1812 he married Julia Sargent, who was born in Boston, Mass., Alt- gust 30, 1786, and died in Wethersfield, Conn., June 30, 1878. Both she and her husband were lifelong adherents of the Congregational Church.

One of the well-known figures in the colon- ial history of Massachusetts was Col. Paul Dudley Sargent, the father of Mrs. Johnson, especial interest attaching to his history be- canse he was one of those brave men to whom the United States owes its independence. He was born in Salem, Mass., in 1745, and was but a young man when British tyranny aroused the colonies to arms. He took part in the memorable Boston tea party and when hostilities began, fitted out at his own ex- pense a regiment which was one of the nine- teen that constituted General Washington's camp at Cambridge in July, 1775. With the young Marquis de Lafayette he at times shared the honor of being aide-de-camp to Washington, and among the engagements in which he took a part were those of Bunker Hill, Long Island, New York City, Trenton and Princeton. In after years he loved to recall that stirring night when with his illus- trions general and other brave men he crossed the 'Delaware and surprised the British and Hessians in their revelries. At the close of the war, finding that the whole of his private fortime had been sacrified to his country he found it necessary to begin anew. He took up mercantile pursuits for a time, but finally retired to a small farm near Sullivan, Me., and there his death occurred September 28. 1828. His honorable service for his country became widely known and many well-known men, among them Tallyrand, came to his mod- est home in Maine to enjoy his hospitality and talk over the stirring scenes through which he had passed. His patriotism and mili- tary abilities were inherited by him, for his father, Col. Epes Sargent, was a man of tal- ent, and his mother was a daughter of Gov- ernor Winthrop by his marriage to Ann Dud- ley, a granddaughter of Governor Thomas Dudley of Connecticut. The marriage of Paul Dudley Sargent united him with Lucy, daughter of Thomas and Lucy (Smith) Saun- ders, the latter a daughter of Rev. Thomas Smith, of Portland, Me., and the former a . member of the council of Massachusetts dur- ing the troubles with England that ended in the war for independence.

In the family of Dr. Abner and Julia (Sar- gent) Johnson there were three daughters and four sons, Charles Fitz Abner being the old- est in the family and the one who survived all of his brothers and sisters. One son, Dud-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ley, who had enlisted as a lieutenant in the Seventeenth Regiment of Maine Volunteer Infantry, was killed in the battle of Chancel- lorsville : Thomas, who came to California in 1850, died of cholera on the American river the following year; and Samuel died at Ban- gor, We. Among the daughters was Mrs. Charlotte McKay, who served throughout the Civil war as a nurse and later wrote an in- teresting account of her experiences in the army, which was published in book form. In recognition of her faithfulness, the regiment with which she served presented her with a diamond Maltese cross.

Charles Fitz Abner Johnson studied classics in the Bangor (Maine) Theological Seminary and later attended Gorham Academy. Com- pleting his studies he spent some time as a clerk in Bangor, then went to Cincinnati and learned telegraphy, after which he came to San Francisco via the Panama route. This was in 1849 and like all forty-niners he first tried his luck at mining. locating on the Yuba river. His operations were only ordinarily successful, however, and later he engaged in freighting and took the first mule-train of pro- visions to Yreka. By 1852 he decided that his western experiences were sufficient to sat- isfy bim for a time at least and he returned to the east and engaged in the lumbering busi- ness on the Aroostook and St. John's rivers. A most successful enterprise which he later engaged in was the manufacture of potato starch and in this he had at one time the larg- est business in the world, all of his ten mills being located in Aroostook county. He re- tained his interests in the manufacturing plants until his removal to California in 1889. Be- sides this enterprise he was extensively en- gaged in merchandising and had a bank at Presque Isle. His large business interests did not prevent him from taking an active part in public affairs and he was one of the most prominent and influential Republicans . in the state of Maine, while his acquaintance included the leaders of his party throughout the country, and he was more than once vis- ited by men of national fame, including such men as Garfield and Blaine. In 1884 he was a state elector on the Blaine ticket and had the honor of casting his ballot for that candi- date at Augusta, Me.

Forty years, after his first visit to California Mr. Johnson resolved to make the state his home, for he had in these intervening years acquired a competency amply sufficient to sup- ply every comfort for his declining years. Se- lecting Riverside as a desirable location he purchased twenty acres of land on Palm avenue and engaged in horticulture for the

succeeding six years. In 1895 he removed to Long Beach and erected an attractive home on Cedar avenue. Upon the re-incor- poration of Long Beach, in the fall of 1897, he was elected to the board of trustees, by which body he was chosen president and thus became the first mayor of the re-organized town. This was the time when that city was passing through a season of great business de- pression and a lack of funds prevented the making of any improvements; as a result no settlers were attracted to the place, although the beach was acknowledged to have no peer and the climate as near perfect as is to be found any where. Largely through the ef- forts of Mr. Johnson a radical change was ef- fected, a city hall lot was purchased, a city hall built, the pavilion erected, and the ques- tion of the establishment of an electric light plant and a sewerage system was agitated. These improvements were not then made, al- though Mr. Johnson strongly advised them, and had the advice been followed thousands of dollars would have been saved to the city. which was lost by delay. He was made a di- rector of the Bank of Long Beach and a di- rector and stockholder in the Savings Bank. and was active in all departments of business and social life of the city.

The first marriage of Mr. Johnson united him with Sarah C. Jewett, who was born in Gardiner, Me .. a daughter of Samuel Jewett, and a sister of G. K. Jewett, who was presi- dent of a railroad in Maine. Her father was born in Massachusetts, as was also her mother. a Miss Kimball. While visiting at Fallbrook, Cal., the death of Mrs. Sarah Johnson oc- curred and her body was taken to Riverside for interment. Of this marriage five children were born, three of whom attained maturity : Mrs. Louise Fremont Gray, of Boston, Mass .; Mrs. Kate Dudley Wheelock, of Riverside ; and Edward Jewett, who was at one time en- gaged in the insurance business in Boston, and brought the first ostriches to this coun- try from South Africa, where he had spent a vear in studying the habits of the birds. Mr. Johnson had also an adopted son, Hon. T. H. Phair, who was known as the "Starch King." and occupied a leading place in political cir- cles in Maine, having served at times as a member of the state central committee. and for a term as senator in the Maine legisla- ture. Another adopted son, Percy A. John- son, is a large rancher of Fallbrook, and a member of the state assembly of California from his district.

In Riverside occurred the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Harriet (Campbell) Hart. who was born in Griswold, Conn., a daughter

Ed. Amar

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of E. F. and Mary E. (Burlingame) Camp- beil, natives of Connecticut. Her paternal grandfather, Napoleon Bonaparte Campbell, was born in the Nutmeg state of Scotch de- scent, and her maternal grandfather was Capt. Peter Burlingame, also a member of a promi- nent family of that state. In an early day E. F. Campbell settled in Janesville, Wis., where he engaged in merchandising, but later he re- moved his business to Ashley, Ill., and there died. His wife died in Janesville. They had only two children, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Roberts, the latter of Marshfield, Wis. Mrs. Johnson was a charter member of the Ebell Society, which she at one time served as presi- dent, and is a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Both Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became members of the Congregational Church, in which he was a deacon. While living in Maine he was one of the founders of the church of that denomination at Presque Isle. He was made a Mason in Ashland, Me., and after com- ing to Long Beach became a charter mem- ber of the blue lodge in that city. The death of Mr. Johnson occurred May 27, 1902, and he was buried at Riverside. He was a man possessing the highest qualities of heart and mind and exemplified in his life the ideal of a progressive and public-spirited citizen, who gained the highest respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact, whether in business, social, political, public or private life. During his residence in Long Beach he was intensely interested in reclaiming and devel- oping the flat lands now being dredged and advocated as manufacturing and harhor sites.

EDOUARD AMAR. When Edouard Amar first came to Southern California he could drive from his home near San Pedro to Los Angeles and see but one residence on the way. In the passing years he has witnessed the phe- nomenal growth of this section; the building of the city of Los Angeles and smaller neigh- boring cities; the development of the country lands and progress and improvement of all methods in farming : and in the midst of it all he has taken a prominent part as a sheepman and made for himself a financial success. He now resides at the corner of Twelfth and Mesa streets, San Pedro, where he has one of the finest homes in the city, an entire block being devoted to the grounds about the house.

A native of France. Edouard Amar was born in St. Bonnet, in Hautes-Alpes, March 6. 1852, the youngest child and only one in Amer- ica in a family of three daughters and two sons, of whom two sons and one daughter are row living. His father. Edouard Amar, was

engaged in the wholesale wine business in that place, where his wife, formerly Rosin Ollivier, passed away in 1878. Edouard Amar, the son, was reared to young manhood in St. Bonnet and educated in the common schools of the place. In 1872 he decided to try his forttines on this side of the water and accordingly came to San Francisco, where he remained for one year. Subsequently, in 1873, he came to South- ern California, and on the San Pedro rancho, near Wilmington, engaged with Valet, an ex- tensive rancher and sheepman of this section. He continued with him for two years, at the end of which time he purchased a hand of sheep from him and began independent opera- tions. This proved the nucleus for the fortune which he has since built up, with the increas- ing years adding to his flock of sheep until he had as high as twenty-four thousand at a time. He became the most extensive sheepman in Southern California and one whose sticcess was unlimited. His band of sheep ranged throughout all the country which has since been built up in the cities of San Pedro and others. From the time that San Pedro became a place of residence (when the old pioneer Tim- mons first conducted a store here), Mr. Amar has called this his home, and is still among the most enterprising and substantial citizens of the place. In 1887 he laid out blocks four- teen and ten and sold them off as the Amar addition to San Pedro, and in many other ways has manifested his interest in the welfare of the city which he calls his home.

Mr. Amar has been twice married, his first wife being Marie Garagnous, a native of France, whose death occurred in Los Angeles. She left one daughter, Irma, the wife of Con- stant Aleman. In 1888, in Los Angeles, he married Josephine Boisserang of St. Bonnet, France, and a daughter of Marie Boisseranq a shoemaker of that place. where his death occurred. Her mother, Victorine Mauren (Provensal) Boisseranq, . was born in St. Bonnet, where she now makes her home. Of her two sons and two daughters the daughters and one son are now living, all being in Cali- fornia. Josephine Boisseranq was reared to Young womanhood in St. Bonnet, whence she immigrated in 1887 to California, and there met and married Mr. Amar. They are the parents of two children. Eloy, born in 1891, and Leon, born in 1896: their first child. Edouard, having died at the age of eleven months, and the third. Endry, at nine months. Mr. Amar has served as a member of the board of trustees of San Pedro for four years, is a member of the Freeholders of this city and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles. He is a true blue Republican

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and active in his efforts to advance the prin- ciples which he endorses. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias of Los Angeles, also of the Uniformed Rank; and belongs to the French Legion, also of that city, in which he is a drum major. Mr. Amar holds a place of importance among the representive citizens of this section, and enjoys the con- fidence and esteem of all who know him.

WILLIAM T. FULTON. A resident of Cal- ifornia since 1883 and the owner of his present ranch near Camarillo since 1897, Mr. Fulton was born in Crawford county, Pa., July 15. 1856, and was one of eight children born to his parents, J. J. C. and Margaret (Graham) Fulton. The parents were also natives of Pennsylvania, the birth of the mother occurring in Erie. Illinois was comparatively wild and unsettled when, in 1857, the parents settled on a farm in Mercer county, that state, making their home there for seven years. The end of that time found them making another westward move, which resulted in their settling on a farm in Benton county, Iowa. In all probability they would have re- mained in the middle west the remainder of their days had it not been for a visit paid their son, William T., in 1892, he having located in Cali- fornia some years previously. Returning to Iowa they disposed of the farm and implements and once more set out for the west. Settling on prop- erty which he had purchased at Montalvo, Ven- tura county, Mr. Fulton continued the occupa- tion which he had followed from his earliest working years, death ending his labors in 1901, when he was seventy-two years old. His widow is still living, at the age of seventy-three years, making her home in Montalvo with her grand- son. Harry, the eldest son of W. T. Fulton. Politically Mr. Fulton was a Republican, and during his more active years and while a resi- dent of Iowa, was very prominent in the ranks of his chosen party. A public service of credit to himself and his constituents followed his elec- tion to the office of justice of the peace, and his interest in school matters was demonstrated by his efficient service on the school board. Mrs. Fulton is a member of the Presbyterian Church to which denomination her husband also belonged and in which he was an elder.

William T. Fulton has no knowledge of Craw- ford county, Pa., except what has been handed down to him, for he was a child of only one year when taken by his parents to Illinois. The removal to Iowa, however, seven years later, he remembers distinctly. He attended the common schools of Benton and Adams counties during the winter seasons, and at other times he gave

his services to his father, assisting in the duties of the home farm until coming to California in 1883. He accepted the first work which came to hand, working on the railroad at Mojave, for about one year. The next year found him in Ventura county, where, as before, he accepted the first honest work that could be obtained, and for about five years worked as a ranch hand through- out Ventura county. This experience was of double advantage to him, not only enabling him to lay by the means to purchase land of his own, but giving him an excellent opportunity to make a suitable choice of location. Before settling down permanently, however, he farmed on rented property, first in Pleasant valley, near Springville, and later in the vicinity of Cama- rillo, and it was not until 1897 that he purchased his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres. The location was well chosen and the land is well adapted to the raising of beans, walnuts and apricots, to which it is devoted. To the two latter commodities he has planted nine acres each, while the remaining acreage is in beans, which harvest twelve sacks to the acre.

Mr. Fulton's first marriage united him with Elizabeth Robbins, who was born in California, and who at her death, November 26, 1891, left two children, Ada B. and Harry. In August, 1893, Mr. Fulton married Alice Berry, who died October 26, 1895, and the only child living of that marriage is Clifford, who is now eleven years old. The present Mrs. Fulton, to whom he was married October 29, 1896, was in maiden- hood Molly Arnold and was the widow of Summer Sheppard. By her first marriage she has three children, Leroy, Bertie and Artie, aged seventeen, fifteen and thirteen respectively, and by her marriage with Mr. Fulton there are two children, Blanche, aged seven years, and Bessie D., now five. Mrs. Fulton is a member of the Baptist church, and politically Mr. Fulton gives his support to the candidates of the Republican party. During his long residence in Ventura county he has won and retained the respect of associates and has a large circle of friends and well-wishers.

LA TORRE WEBSTER, of Carpinteria, comes from a pioneer New York family, both his father and mother being natives of that state. There were four children born to them, three of whom are still living: L. T., who resides in the vicinity of Carpinteria : L. F., who is postmaster at Ventura, and L. O., of Ottawa county, Ohio. The father died in Ohio at the age of seventy- five years, and the mother, who came to California with her sons, lived to the advanced age of eighty- three years.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Born in Lorain county, Ohio, January 24, 1845, La Torre Webster left the state when still a young boy and went to Wisconsin, where he re- ceived a common school education. When the Civil war broke out he responded to the call of his country and enlisted in Company E, Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and ten months. His campaign was an active one and with his company he took part in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth. After the war closed he went to Ohio and for sixteen years engaged in grape culture. In 1881 he located at Carpinteria, Cal. Taking up unim- proved land he set out his own orchard and erect- ed buildings, making of it one of the credita- ble ranches of the state, and of which he has every reason to feel proud. He has made a specialty of walnut raising and is among the best posted men on that subject in the state. His or- chard comprises sixty acres, a part of it being planted to apricots and other kinds of fruits, al- though the largest acreage is in walnuts.

In 1871 Mr. Webster was married to Sarah E. Hammond, of Erie county, Ohio, and two child- ren were born to them, a son and daughter. T. D. Webster, who married Miss Stella Pike, has one child, and Mary A., who became the wife of W. E. Beckstead, has three children. Mr. Web- ster is a Republican in politics and serves his district as school trustee.

JOHN W. ROBERTS. In tracing the causes that have led to the development and prosperity of California, the student of history discovers that the citizenship of men from the states to the east has been a leading factor in the results now visible. Numbered among the business men of San Bernardino, who by excellent business judgment and untiring en- ergy, contributed to the growth of the city and county, mention belongs to the late J. W. Roberts, who came to the Pacific coast from Pittsburg, Pa. The family which he repre- sented had long been identified with North Wales, and there he was born in Bala July 22, 1835. It was during his childhood that his parents, Richard and Gwen

Rob- erts, immigrated with their family to the United States, taking up their abode in the vicinity of Port Leyden, Lewis county, N. Y .. where the father spent the remainder of his life as a tiller of the soil. His wife, how- ever, survived him a number of vears, her earth life closing in Columbus, Wis., at the home of her daughter. The old family home in Lewis county, N. Y., is now the prop- erty of the eldest son, David. and though well

advanced in years he still superintends its management.

The dauntless spirit which led his parents to seek freedom from the restraints by which they were surrounded in their native country had evidently been handed down to their son J. W., for at the age of nineteen he too gave vent to the pioneer spirit within him, remov- ing at that time to Wisconsin. He made his way across the country by means of ox- teams, and settled in Cambria, Columbia county, where friends of his had preceded him. As his only training thus far in a business way had been as a helper on his father's farm it was natural that he should seek employment among the farmers in the neighborhood of his new home, and as he was a hard-working, industrious young man his services were al- ways in demand. Farm work, however, was only a means to an end, for during all of the time he was thus engaged he frugally saved his earnings with the idea of starting in busi- ness for himself as soon as he had accumulated the necessary mcans. This accomplished, he opened a merchandise store in Cambria, and in addition to its management he also acted as express agent. The scope of his business en- larged from the first, due no doubt to his pleasing personality and upright business prin- ciples, a combination which is always an in- valuable asset to its possessor, and it was not long before he had added to his other business a general exchange and banking business, re- ceiving patronage not only from the citizens of Cambria, but from the surrounding country as well.

Mr. Roberts formed domestic ties by his marriage in 1860 with Eliza Williams, who was born near Wrexham, North Wales, the daughter of Gabriel Williams. During the childhood of his daughter Mr. Williams immi- grated to the United States, and in Cambria. Wis., erected the pioneer flour mill of that lo- cality. Subsequently Mr. Roberts became asso- ciated with his father-in-law in the manufacture of flour in that place, and still later both were interested in the Danville flour mills, in Dan- ville, Dodge county. \Vis. Some time after the death of his father-in-law he sold out his interests in Wisconsin and established his headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa., where as a member of the firm of H. H. Mears & Son, he continued as a flour merchant for many years. The flour and grain handled by the firm gained a world-wide reputation and in consequence they controlled a large and profitable business. Upon withdrawing from the latter firm in 1873 Mr. Roberts entered into a partnership with James A. Steele during the same year and for eighteen years, under the firm name of Roberts

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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 124

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