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 130

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

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868

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

received his primary education in the common and high schools of that place, after which he entered Washington and Jefferson College, in Washington, Pa., from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1890. He remained in Pennsylvania for one year following his gradua- tion, when he came as far west as Utah and found occupation as a teacher in a school near Ogden. In the same year (1891) he came to Los Angeles, Cal., bringing with him no capital other than his courage and indomitable will, without which even ability cannot find success. He had $35 in money and instead of waiting until this was gone he at once sought employ- ment, which he found in the Whittier state school. He remained as teacher in this institu- tion for three years, and in the meantime devoted his spare time to the reading of law. This intri- cate study he finally mastered and in 1895 was admitted to the bar before the supreme court of California. Opening an office in Los Angeles he began the practice of his profession and from that time to the present has arisen steadily in the ranks of the legal fraternity. He was also intimately connected with other important move- ments of both local and state interests, being a member of the California National Guard, and in 1898 accompanied the Seventh Volunteer In- fantry to San Francisco, having been made ad- jutant of the battalion. Much to their disap- pointment the company were never ordered to the front, but remained in San Francisco, where Mr. Fredericks was made judge advocate, hold- ing this position until the return of this company to Los Angeles.

Upon his return to the city and the resumption of his legal duties, Mr. Fredericks was appointed to the office of deputy district attorney, in which · position he so ably represented the interests of the people that in 1903 he was nominated and elected district attorney for a term of four years. Since taking up the duties of this responsible position Captain Fredericks (which title has been won in the National Guard) has proven himself a man of strong character and ability-firm for- the right in whatever place he has found him- self ; undaunted by political preference or preju- dice : frank and fearless in the discharge of his duties. He has been a firm friend and champion of the best interests of Los Angeles and is held in the highest respect and appreciation by her citizens. His career is only just begun, for he is a young man, with all a young man's energy and ambition, and with the splendid success al- ready achieved bids fair to rank among the fore- most men of our state.

In 1896 Captain Fredericks was united in marriage with Miss Agnes M. Blakeley, of Los Angeles, a daughter of James O. Blakeley, a prominent citizen of Visalia, Cal., and they are

now the parents of three children, two daughters and one son. In his political affiliations Captain Fredericks is a stanch adherent of the Repub- lican principles. Fraternally he is a Mason of Knight Templar degree and prominent in the order.

HERBERT G. DOW. To the honor of be- ing a citizen of the beautiful state of California, Mr. Dow adds the distinction of being an able and popular official of Los Angeles county, where he is widely and favorably known. While wealth has not come to him in return for his inde- fatigable labors nor has fame claimed him as her own, yet in a quiet, contented and useful way he has pursued his daily duties and lived the life of an honorable and upright citizen, en- joying the esteem always accorded to those of known integrity and high principles of honor. In his capacity of auditor he has devoted himself strenuously to the duties of the position with an earnest desire to win the commendation not alone of the party that elected him, but also of his political opponents.

Herbert G. Dow was born in Portland, Me., in 1860, a son of Moses G. and Ellen M. (Lowell) Dow, both of whom were also natives of the same locality, the father being born in 1811 and dying October 31, 1891, while the mother was born in 1816, and died in 1874. The Dow fam- ily were among the pioneers of New England, the emigrating ancestor being a native of Eng- land and in religion a member of the Society of Friends. After his location in America he reared a family whose descendants have been prominent in the religious and political life of the community in which they lived. Mrs. Dow was the daughter of Enoch and Mary Lowell, a prominent New England family of strong in- telligence and ability. Herbert G. Dow received an excellent common-school education which has enabled him to cope successfully with the pro- blems which have come into his life. He re- mained in his native state until twenty years of age, when he decided to come west and from July, 1880, until September, 1886, was a resident of Springfield, Mo. In that city he was em- ployed as a bookkeeper, secretary and later as traveling salesman for a farming implement and agricultural machinery house for a time and then for one year conducted a hardware store independently. In September, 1886, he disposed of his business interests in Springfield, Mo., and came to California, locating in San Diego, where for ten years he engaged in the real-estate busi- ness and ranching, which brought him satis- factory financial returns. At the expiration of that time he located in Los Angeles, where he has ever since remained a resident.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

It was while conducting the Catalina hotel on South Broadway that he became cashier for the county tax collector, a position which he filled efficiently for four years.

A Republican in his political convictions and . a man of strong principles, Mr. Dow had gradu- ally assumed a place of importance in the affairs of his party, and following his service as cashier he was nominated by acclamation and elected county auditor in 1902, receiving the handsome majority of eighteen thousand votes, leading his ticket. In January, 1903, he took up the work of his position, which extends over the period of four years; expiring in January, 1907, and at the county convention in 1906 received the nomination for the ensuing term. The confi- dence vested in the ability and integrity of Mr. Dow have not suffered during his term of service, the duties of his position being discharged with efficiency and with all due regard to the respon- sibilties devolving upon him. He stands high with all who know him, either of his party or the opposition, and bids fair to occupy places of continued prominence.

In 1882, at Springfield, Mo., Mr. Dow was united in marriage with Mrs. Roxana (Williams) Dow, a native daughter of Missouri, and born of their union are twin daughters, Marie Capron and Nadine Capron. Mrs. Dow is an Episco- palian and this church and its charities are sup- ported by Mr. Dow. In his fraternal relations Mr. Dow is a member of Southern California Lodge No. 278, F. & A. M., and also is a mem- ber for life of Lodge No. 99, B. P. O. E. He takes an active interest in the business life of Los Angeles, being secretary of the Dow Reality Company, which has an office in the Union Trust Building, at the corner of Fourth and Spring streets, and is also treasurer of Los Angeles Ice Machine Works.

FRANK BURNS. That a temporary mis- fortune may prove a permanent blessing in dis- guise is nowhere better illustrated than in the life of Mr. Burns. As a result of too close application to his duties as auditor of the Peoples Bank of Buffalo, N. Y., his health became impaired to such an extent that a com- plete change of scene and climate became im- perative. In search of these restoratives he came to California during the summer of 1899. having secured a temporary leave of absence, but his permanent resignation was soon sent to his employers in the east, this step re- sulting more directly perhaps from his awak- ening to better business chances in the west than from restored health. After looking about for a suitable location to open a bank he finally selected San Pedro as the most prom-

ising, and on January 7, 1901, the doors of the State Bank of San Pedro were opened for bus- iness. The bank has a capital stock of $25,000 with a surplus of $15,000, while the deposits average about $300,000.

In Mayville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Frank Burns was born April 2, 1867, the youngest of three sons born to his parents, Patrick and Margaret Burns. The father was a farmer in New York state, but his son Frank has no personal knowledge of him, as he died when the latter was an infant. The mother died in 1890. The eldest son in the parental family, W. H., is secretary and treasurer of the Los Angeles Electric and Gas Company, while Joseph R. is in the real estate business in that city. The school days of Frank Burns are associated with the Catholic college at Niagara Falls, N. Y., which he left when he was fourteen years of age in order to begin his independent career. He was no doubt influ- enced to take this step by the example of his elder brother, who had become a clerk in one of the numerous hotels that line the shores of Lake Chautauqua, and in following in the lat- ter's footsteps he clerked in the various ho- tels until a better opportunity offered itself. Receiving an appointment as assistant post- master in the office at Mayville he entered upon his duties, but did not complete his term, as better inducements and more congen- ial work were strong points in favor of his accepting a position with the firm of Skinner, Minton & Co., bankers of Mayville. Their hank later became incorporated as the State Bank of Mayville, and of this new enter- prise Mr. Burns was made assistant cashier and a director. Although he had served as assistant postmaster but a short time his Qualifications for the position were fully ap- preciated and in 1893 he was appointed post- master of Mayville by President Cleveland. Again he resigned his position before the com- pletion of his term, this time to assist in the organization of the Citizens' National Bank of Erie. Pa., in 1897, Mr. Minton, formerly of the firm of Skinner, Minton & Co., being cashier of the new enterprise, The following year Mr. Burns accepted the position of auditor of the Peoples' Bank of Buffalo, but failing health soon gave warning that rest and change were absolutely necessary if he wished to keep up the pace which he had set. June 19, 1899. he gave up his position in the bank temporarilly and came to California in search of health, and with what results the reader has already been apprised. Besides the enterprise with which his name is most closely associated he is con- nected with a number of other business under- takings, among them the San Pedro Wholesale

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Company and the San Pedro Ice Company, in both of which organizations he is a director. While a resident of his home town in the east Mr. Burns was actively interested in all meas- ures that had as their object the betterment of the community and his assistance and influ- ence were felt in various capacities. He gave efficient service as city clerk of Mayville, and his work on the board of education was not only a credit to himself, but of lasting benefit to the cause of education in that locality. Mr. Burns was responsible for the organization of the Board of Trade of San Pedro, and after it ceased to exist he took a prominent part in the organization of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, of which he was made president, being re-elected to the office after the expira- tion of his first term. As a member of the American Bankers' Association and the State Bankers' Association he comes in contact with men widely scattered over the country, but with one common interest at heart, gatherings which are of inestimable value and interest to members of the craft.

In Mayville, Chautauqua county, N. Y., Frank Burns and Miss Cora Parkhurst were united in marriage in 1892, and one child, Francis Plato, has blessed their union. Mr. Burns was made a Mason in San Pedro and belongs to Lodge No. 332. Other fraternal orders with which he is identified are the ' Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being a charter member and trustee of the organiza- tion at San Pedro; the Eagles, of which he is president : the Royal Arch Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which latter body he has been treasurer for nine terms. In his methods Mr. Burns is progres- sive, is upright in his dealings with friends and associates, and is appreciated because of his many attributes that contribute to the general well-being.

SEBASTIAN D. MARTIN. Self-acquired wealth, liberal ideas, a hospitable home and an engaging personality, contribute to the stand- ing of S. D. Martin, one of the best known men of the Portugese colony in the vicinity of Guadaloupe. Mr. Martin's home ranch con- tains one hundred and fifty acres, and yields a substantial income from grain, beets, hay and potatoes, and he also owns a one hundred and sixty acre tract near the oil fields of this county, devoted to grain and stock. He be- longs to the student farmer class, and labors in the ever-widening avenues of his calling with intelligence and discernment. His im- plements include many of the costly and in- genious labor-saving devices of the day, and

his surroundings show wise regard for detail and method.

The youth of Mr. Martin was destitute of educational or general advantages, due partly to the straitened circumstances of his parents, but principally to his objection to restraint and his craving for adventure. He was born in the Azores or Western Islands, February 2, 1854, and his father, John L., was born in the moth- er country of Portugal, and still retained the Portugese name of Martinez. The father lived to be seventy-two years old, while the mother died at the age of sixty-eight. There were nine children in the family, and seven live in California. Sebastian D. was about thirteen years old when his spirits became too high for the narrow confines of the islands, so he sought an outlet in the occupation of whaling, to which the writers of fiction attach a never- failing fascination. At the end of three years, however, he made a landing in Boston, and for the following two years found employment along the shore north of the city.

In 1874 Mr. Martin journeyed overland to California, where he engaged in ranching in the vicinity of Santa Maria for ten years. He then located in San Luis Obispo county, and in 1901 invested his savings in his present home ranch. While living in Boston and work- ing as a longshoreman, in 1873, he married Lena Lewis, a native of Portugal, and eight children have come to share his prosperity : Mary, wife of John Clock, of Santa Maria; Maunwell, who married Mary Martinez; An- tone, Louie. George. Joaquin, Maggie and Rose. Among the more settled conditions of his life Mr. Martin has augumented his knowl- edge of the sea by persistent research along practical educational lines. The result is he has a well-trained mind, is well posted on current events, and thoroughly in sympathy with scholarly gifts and acquirements. He is prominent in the social life of the community, and is a member of the I. D. E. S. and U. P. C. Politically he is a Republican. Mrs. Mar- tin is a devout member of the Catholic Church, and is fraternally connected with Queen Isa- bella Lodge.

J. FREDERICK HILDEBRAND. Steam- boating in some phase of the work has been the occupation of J. Frederick Hildebrand since the beginning of his independent business career. He is a fine engineer and mechanic and is now filling the position of chief engineer on the Cabrillo for the Wilmington Transportation Com- pany in San Pedro. He is of German nativity, born December 25, 1870, in Emden, Hanover, where his father, Frederick, still resides as a

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pensioner, having been in the government em- ploy as a custom office inspector. His mother is deceased. The youngest member of a family of nine children J. F. Hildebrand was reared in Hamburg and was there educated in the common schools. In 1885, at the age of fourteen, he came to the United States, where he became interested in steam-boating. After coming to the Pacific coast he went to the Behring Sea and entered the employ of the Alaska Packers Association, remaining with them for eleven years, during the greater part of this time making his home in Oakland. Subsequently he accepted a position as first assistant engineer with the John S. Kim- ball Steamship Company, and afterwards worked as chief engineer successively for the Dollar Com- pany, Sudden & Christensen, and again for the Dollar Company. In 1903 he located in San Pedro and for two years worked for the Dollar Com- pany as chief engineer on the Steamship Robert Dollar. In 1905 he accepted his present position on the Cabrillo owned by the Wilmington Trans- portation Company.

By his marriage in Riverside, Wash., Mr. Hildebrand was united with Miss Sina Hansen, and they with their two children, Louis and Chester, make their home on the corner of Grand avenue and Eleventh street. Religiously they are members of the Lutheran Church, support- ing the various charities and benevolent enter- prises of that denomination. Mr. Hildebrand is a member of the Marine Engineers Association No. 35, in San Francisco. Politically he is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party.

S. V. TRIPP. The Tripp family is dis- tinctively pioneer, S. V. Tripp, the father of the present generation influential in Riverside county, having crossed the plains in 1853 and thenceforward gave his allegiance to the state of California. He was located first in Trinity and Shasta counties and there conduct- ed a pack train from the mining camps to San Francisco. He was a brick mason by trade and this occupation was later followed in Los Angeles, where he located in 1855 and erected the first brick building of the place. Removing to San Bernardino in 1860 he fol- lowed the same employment for nine years, putting up the first jail of that city, which was located where the court house now stands. Finally removing to Riverside county he took up a ranch in the vicinity of San Jacinto, spending his last days in that place, where his death occurred in 1892, at the age of sixty- four years.

Mr. Tripp was twice married, his first wife being Rosa Ramsey, a native of Ohio, and

born of this union were six children, four of whom attained maturity : S. A., a blacksmith of San Jacinto; O. C. and William B., sketches of whom appear elsewhere in this volume; and Edith R., wife of Q. Reed, of Sage. After the death of his first wife in San Bernardino county Mr. Tripp married Caroline Covington, of Mississippi, and they became the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living. Mr. Tripp was a citizen of prominence, acquired by his efforts to be helpful and practical, and one upon whom public honor might safely rest. For several years he served as justice of the peace of San Jacinto township, and Sam Temple, who murdered Alesandro, of whom men- tion is made in "Ramona," was tried before him. He assisted materially in the upbuilding of his adopted state, gave liberally of time and means in the furtherance of any plan for the advancement of the country's welfare and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.

ERNEST A. BRYANT, M. D. It is cer- tain that skilled physicians and surgeons are in great demand wherever they elect to make their place of abode. Although not a native of the United States, so much of Dr. Bryant's life has been passed on this side of the border that his strongest interests are here and the loyalty of his citizenship is a part of his life. He was born in Canada, near Ontario, in 1867, a son of J. H. Bryant, a successful physician who left his native state of New York and in Canada prac- ticed his profession for some years. Later he practiced in St. Paul, Minn., for a number of years, when he came to California and made Los Angeles his home until his death in 1901.

Ernest A. Bryant passed his boyhood in the middle west, his parents having located in Minne- sota, where he received his primary education in the public schools, this being augmented by a medical course in Philadelphia, Pa. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1890, and following this event became in- terne in St. Agnes Hospital Philadelphia, where he remained for eighteen months. In 1891 he came to California and locating in Los Angeles at once established a general practice of medicine, which speedily grew to one of remunerative proportions. For six years he engaged in a general practice of his profession as police sur- geon, when he was appointed superintendent of the Los Angeles County Hospital, serving from 1897 to 1900. During this period he rose to prominence among the physicians of Southern California, which resulted in his appointment in 1902 as chief surgeon of the Pacific Electric Railway Company, while he also serves in a like

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HISTORICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

capacity for the Los Angeles Railway Company, the Inter-Urban Railway Company, the Los Angeles & Pacific Railway and the Redondo Rail- way. He is also consulting surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railway Company and surgeon in charge of the Sisters Hospital. The many responsibilities which have fallen to him in the various positions he has been called upon to fill are borne by the doctor in a creditable manner. with cheeriness born of his confidence in his own skill and an optimism which invests him with all the attributes a patient could desire. He is very popular among those with whom his duties lie and is esteemed both as a physician and a man.

In 1904 Dr. Bryant was united in marriage with Miss Susanna P. Bixby, a daughter of John Bixby, a prominent citizen of Los Angeles coun- ty, and born of this union is one daughter, Su- sanna P. Dr. Bryant is identified with various medical associations, among them being the Los Angeles Physicians and Surgeons Pathological Society the State Medical Society, Medical So- ciety of Southern California, American Medical Association. In the University of Southern Cali- fornia, he holds the position of professor of Clini- cal surgery. Through constant research the doc- tor keeps in touch with modern methods and discoveries and at all times brings them to bear in his practice. Socially he is a member of the California, Jonathan and Country Clubs.

THOMAS JOEL STEELE. The require- ments necessary for success in business are some- what different from those needed in the achieve- ment of prosperity in ranching affairs, yet they are alike in that both occupations demand energy, wise judgment, perseverance and decision of pur- pose. To these qualities may be attributed the fact that Mr. Steele has gained a wide reputation for extensive agricultural interests as well as the name of being a keen and capable business man. One of the pioneers of Arroyo Grande, he came to this locality in the fall of 1876 and since then has been deeply interested in the agricultural development of San Luis Obispo county. Mean- while he has acquired a ranch of twenty-four hundred acres, a portion of which he has di- vided into small tracts for sale, but the larger portion is utilized for the raising of grain and the grazing of beef cattle and milch cows. At this writing he has one hundred head of cows and makes a specialty of the sale of cream. About 1903 he became interested in a livery business at Arroyo Grande and at the same time opened a meat market which he still conducts under the title of Steele & Co., his attention being given to the management of these two lines of business and to the supervision of his ranch and dairy

interests. He is also interested in a wholesale slaughtering and cold storage plant at Pomona.

Page county, Iowa, is Mr. Steele's native lo- cality, and February 2, 1855, the date of his birth. His parents, J. B. and Nancy ( Reece ) Steele were natives respectively of Kentucky and North Carolina, and in 1856 removed to Kansas, where their son was educated in the common schools of Atchison county. The autumn of 1875 found the family removing to Califor- nia, where they spent one year at Hollister, thence coming to San Louis Obispo county in the fall of 1876. Later the parents established their home at Paso Robles, but eventually settled in Pomona, where the mother died at the age of fifty-nine, and the father in 1906, aged seventy-nine years. During the Civil war he had served as a member of the Kansas state militia. Nine children com- prised his family and of these all but one are liv- ing in California.

The marriage of Thomas J. Steele occurred in 1892 and united him with Miss Susie M. Jewett, who was born in San Francisco. Four children were born of their union, namely: Eva; Ches- ter; Stanley, who died at seven years of age; and Albert. For a number of years Mr. Steele has been identified with the Fraternal Brother- hood, also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order. of Rebekalis at Arroyo Grande. Ever since casting his first ballot he has been a stanch supporter of Democratic princi- ples. Movements for the unbuilding of Arroyo Grande receive his enthusiastic support, and he shows a permanent interest in everything tending toward the advancement of the place, being in- deed a leader among his fellow-citizens in all plans for local progress.

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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 130

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