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 150

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

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In 1886 Macedonio Machado was united in marriage with Alice Vaughn, a native of Iowa. The ups and downs which have formed so prom- inent a feature in the life of Mr. Machado would have embittered many men, but not so with him, on the other hand he has taken a keen and heart- felt interest in the affairs of his fellow-citizens and in turn has been honored by them by election to many offices of public trust, and in each and every case has served with satisfaction to his con- stituents. For two terms he was chief ranger,

four years served as deputy assessor, one year as game warden, and for one and a half years served as postmaster in Temecula, all of which positions have been held under Republican rule. In addition to his mercantile business he has been interested in the real-estate business since 1889, owning four hundred acres of land in Riverside county, besides which he owns an in- terest in twenty-five hundred acres of farming land also in Riverside county. He also owns large interests in the tourmaline and beryl mines at Rincon and Smith mountain. In this resumé of the life of Mr. Machado it will be seen that he possesses personal qualifications of a high order and that he has made good use of them and made them count on the credit side of the page is best told in the story of his life.

EDWARD L. CLANCY. A man of resolu- tion and much force of character, E. L. Clancy of San Luis Rey is a fine representative of the progressive agriculturists whose shrewd fore- sight and determined energy have opened the way for the settlement of the San Luis Rey val- ley, and are now active in developing its varied resources. A son of the late Thomas M. Clancy, he was born, February 13, 1855, in Jo Daviess county, Ill., when the metropolis of Chicago was only a straggling hamlet, with small indications of its present proud position as one of the lead- ing cities of the world.

A native of Ireland, Thomas M. Clancy was there reared to man's estate. In 1849 he came with his bride, whose maiden name was Cather- ine McManus, to the United States, locating first in Jo Daviess county, Ill. He afterwards moved to Kansas, where he resided until his death. His widow survived him, dying in South Dakota. He served for three years in the Civil war, belonging to the Ninetieth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and for two years was employed in the Signal Service department. He was a man of much force of character, possessing strong convictions, and in his political affiliations was a sound Democrat.

In Jo Daviess county, Ill., E. L. Clancy re- ceived a common school education, after which he assisted for a few years in the care of the home ranch. He was subsequently engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account, re- maining in Illinois until 1883. Going then to South Dakota, he took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, and having begun its improvement there followed his independent calling for seven years. Selling his estate in 1891, he lived for thirteen years in Arizona, be- ing there employed as a machine hand in a plan- ing mill. Coming to San Diego county in 1904, he bought his present ranch of forty acres, near

WILLIAM L. SIDWELL

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Bonsall, and has since been profitably engaged in grain-raising and dairying. He keeps ten cows, and in addition to caring for his dairy makes a specialty to a certain extent of raising poultry, an industry in which he is quite suc- cessful.

In 1897, in Kansas, Mr. Clancy married Mary E. Verschelden, a native of Belgium, and of their union two children have been born, namely : Joseph, six years old; and August, two years of age. In national affairs Mr. Clancy supports the principles of the Democratic party, but in local matters he votes for the best men and measures, regardless of party affiliations. Fra- ternally he united with the Independent Order of Foresters at Flagstaff, Ariz. He is a mem- ber of the Mission Catholic Church, towards the support of which he contributes generously.

WILLIAM L. SIDWELL. Until September 27, 1902, William L. Sidwell was numbered among the progressive and public-spirited citi- zens of Los Angeles county, where he had made his home for more than twenty years. He was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Pennsville, Morgan county, July 7, 1842, his parents being Jesse and Hannah (Sutliff) Sid- well : both father and mother were also natives of Ohio, where ancestors of the family (English on the paternal side) had established the name. When twelve years old his parents removed to Texas, settling in Collin county, where he began to learn the trade of blacksmith three years later, working with his father, who followed this pur- suit throughout his entire active life. The elder man located in Arkansas after the close of the Civil war, in which state his death eventually oc- curred.

opening of the great trans-continental railway, he came to California in 1869 and in San Diego established a blacksmithing business, which he continued for several years. He met with suc- cess in his line of work, and accumulated consid- erable means. Subsequently going to Orange county, he engaged in business in the village of Orange, and later was established in Anaheim, same county. In 1880 he settled permanently in the Ranchito district, Los Angeles county, and on the present site of Rivera engaged in blacksmith- ing and mercantile pursuits, and at the same time followed farming to some extent. He was very successful in his operations and acquired consid- erable means, which he later invested in walnut groves, owning three at the time of his demise. He became one of the prominent citizens of this section, participating in all movements for the development and upbuilding of the country and its best interests ; as a member of the Los Nietos and Ranchito Walnut Growers' Association, in- corporated, he was active in the advancement of these interests and was one of the foremost walnut growers in this part of the state. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and although too busy to ever care for official recog- nition for himself, yet he exercised an influence in political affairs. Frugal and thrifty by in- heritance and training, of good, sound business principles and unswerving honor, he not only ac- quired a financial success, but became known as well as one of the substantial and reliable citizens of Southern California.

Mr. Sidwell is survived by his widow, for- merly Miss Belle Frances Gallaspy, a native of Texas, and daughter of William Gallaspy, who brought his family to California in an early day and located with them in San Diego county. She is a woman of rare worth and character, possess- ing many admirable qualities, which have won her universal esteem. For many years she performed became widely known. She is the mother of three children, namely: Estella, wife of Henry Jud- son, of Rivera; Lester L., who resides on one of the ranches owned by the Sidwell estate; and Chester C., who resides in the Ranchito district. The two sons were educated at the Throop Poly- technic Institute, at Pasadena, and are adding to their inheritance of an honorable name strong, earnest and upright living, which gives them a place among the representative men of Southern California.

William L. Sidwell was only twenty years old when he enlisted in the cause of the "sunny south", becoming a member of what was known ' the duties of postmaster of Ranchito and thus `as the Gano squadron of cavalry, and with them participated in a number of skirmishes with Union troops, principally in Tennessee and Kentucky, and also did considerable scouting and cavalry work of a general nature. He was honorably dis- charged after one year's service, and later enlist- ed in a troop of cavalry in the Trans-Mississippi army, remaining in this survice until the sur- render of Lee ended the civil strife. The cavalry disbanded at Marshall, Tex., and Mr. Sidwell returned to civic pursuits in his home in Texas. The devastating influence of the Civil war was such as to induce many of the old settlers to seek homes' elsewhere, and Mr. Sidwell was no A. W. WOHLFORD. Intimately associated with the financial history and the commercial development of San Diego county is the name of A. W. Wohlford, president of the Bank of Es- condido, president of the Escondido Savings Bank exception to the rule, and in 1867 he removed to Missouri and followed his trade in that state for the ensuing two years. Deciding to try his fortunes in the west. then made accessible by the

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and a director and stockholder in the Escondido Lumber, Hay & Grain Company, all of which organizations owe their present progress and their sound moneyed basis to his able efforts, co-laboring with William L. Ramey and assisted by a number of the progressive men of his home town. A man of strong character, with the advantages of a university education, it would be impossible for Mr. Wohlford to identify himself with any town without impressing his vigorous personality and his fine mental endow- ments upon the industries of the place to their upbuilding and progress. Those intimately ac- quainted with him state that, aside from his broad intelligence, his prominent and leading trait of character is his strict integrity and the care he exercises in living up to the very letter of his obligations and promises; and this same honesty and care he demands of those doing business with him.

Near the city of Freeport in Illinois A. W. Wohlford was born January 15, 1858. His father, John, was a native of Pennsylvania and in 1836 removed to Illinois, where he took up a tract of government land and remained until his deathı in 1868, at the age of sixty years. He had married a member of the Heckman family of Pennsylvania, and his wife, like himself, was born in that state and died in Illinois. After having completed the studies of the common schools A. W. Wohlford was sent to the Uni- versity of Wisconsin, where he took a complete course of study and was graduated in 1880 with a high standing as a student. Returning home he engaged in the drug business for five years and then removed to Nebraska, where he or- ganized the First National Bank of Madison and became the president and principal stockholder in the organization. Since his removal from Nebraska he has still retained an interest in the bank. In 1890 he came to California and after a brief stay in San Diego he settled at Escondido, where he has since owned the controlling in- terest in the Bank of Escondido and has been instrumental in the recent transformation of the institution into a national bank. In addition he acts as president of the Escondido Savings Bank and has been the leading factor in the develop- ment of the latter concern. In common with many other residents of the locality he is in- terested in the raising of citrus fruits and from his three lemon groves he ships an average of twenty-five carloads of lemons each year. Horti- culture presents to him an agreeable relaxation from the cares of business and the management of his large financial interests, and he has found it not only a pleasant occupation, but the source of a goodly income as well.

When Mr. Wohlford came to California he was still unmarried, but in 1893 he established

domestic ties through his marriage to Miss Lillie Burnet, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they are now the parents of two children, Mary and Burnet. In fraternal affiliations Mr. Wohlford belongs to the blue lodge of Masonry at Es- condido and still retains his membership in Free- port Chapter No. 23, R. A. M., besides which he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JOSEPH V. SPROUSE. None of the quiet dignity and refinement which form so large an ele- ment in the make-up of the typical southern gen- tleman is found wanting in Mr. Sprouse, whose hospitality and generosity are proverbial to the residents of Julian and the surrounding country for many miles. He is descended from a long line of southern ancestors, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Evans) Sprouse, natives of Miss- issppi and Arkansas respectively. Later years, however, found them residents of California, and in this state both passed away, the father in 1891, at the age of seventy-five, and the mother in August, 1905, when in her seventy- fifth year. She was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and exemplified throughout her life the teachings of the Christian religion. Poli- tically Mr. Sprouse was a Democrat. Of the seven children who originally comprised the parental family only four are now living, as fol- lows: John T., a resident of San Bernardino county ; Mrs. Arthur Miller, of San Diego coun- ty; Mrs. Beccka M. Robert, of Texas; and Joseph V. the subject of this sketch.

Born in Van Buren county, Ark., October 6, 1849, Joseph V. Sprouse was only about three years old at the time the family took up their abode in Texas, and all of his boyhood and early manhood were associated with scenes and acti- vities in the latter state. The time and place were not especially favorable for gaining more than the rudiments of an education, but such as were afforded were made the most of and furnished the foundation for the broad know- ledge of men and affairs which Mr. Sprouse en- joys today. Then as now, Texas was parti- cularly well suited to the cattle business, broad, unlimited fields and an abundance of luscious grass being the chief requirements, and for a number of years Mr. Sprouse was very success- ful as a stock-raiser. In addition to carrying on his extensive ranch he also did considerable teaming. When about twenty-six years old, June 14, 1875, he left the Lone Star state with Califor- nia as his destination, the slow but sturdy horse teams with which he made the trip overland reaching Los Angeles January 17, 1876, after a journey of seven months and fifteen days. His first settlement in the state was at Downey, Los

9. J. Sepulveda

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Angeles county, but he soon afterward purchased being closely identified with numerous important development enterprises. He was county super- intendent of roads for a time, then engaged in real estate dealing and laid out the Caroline tract and Grand View addition, the two comprising three hundred acres of land, all of which has been disposed of at good prices. He has large a ranch near New River. The four years which he spent in that vicinity proved unprofitable, however, and he lost the ranch as a result. This experience did not in the least tend to dampen his ardor, but rather spurred him on and in- creased his determination to find a location suited to his needs. Foster, San Juan, Ellsa cañon and interests in the old town of San Pedro and still Santa Ana in turn knew him for a short time, but it was not until the spring of 1892 that he settled on his present ranch in the vicinity of Julian. The family home is a comfortable cot- tage which was erected by Mr. Sprouse on a tract of seven acres, and in addition to the land which he owns he leases adjoining land for ranch- ing purposes. Besides raising stock he does con- siderable teaming, both industries contributing to make a very satisfactory income.

In 1872 Mr. Sprouse was married to Miss Mary T. Collins. All of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sprouse are still living and are named as follows: Margaret, the wife of Charles Potter; Emma A., who became the wife Ed Martin ; Artie M., Mrs. Will Grigsby, of San Diego; Thomas A. and Joseph W. Politically Mr. Sprouse is a Democrat, and on that party's ticket has been elected school trustee a number of times. Mr. Sprouse is universally esteemed and respected, a fact which is attested by his large circle of friends and acquaintances.

ALBERT G. SEPULVEDA. In financial circles in the city of San Pedro Albert G. Sepul- veda is one of the most prominent and well-post- ed men. He is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of Southern California and one that has been identified with its development and upbuilding for more than two generations, both his father, Roman D., and grandfather, Jose Diego, having been born in San Pedro, the latter being one of five brothers who owned the Palos Verdes grant of land comprising thirty- nine thousand acres. The grandfather, Jose Diego Sepulveda, was born in San Pedro in 1813 and died here in 1872, when fifty-nine years of age. His marriage with Marie E. Desolde, who was born in San Diego, allied him with a family well known for many years in that locality. All of the three children born to Jose Diego and Marie E. Sepulveda are still living in San Pedro, as follows: Aurelio W., Roman D. and Rude- cinda F., the latter the wife of James H. Dodson. Born in San Pedro August 9, 1854, Roman D. Sepulveda was there reared, and after gaining a preliminary education in the public schools there attended St. Vincent's College at Los Angeles. Upon the completion of his studies he returned to San Pedro, where he has ever since been one of the most prominent and enterprising citizens,

owns land in the western part of the city and ad- jacent to it. Many of the residences and busi- ness blocks here were built by him, among the latter being three brick blocks, the Sepulveda building on Beacon street, where the First Na- tional Bank is located, the Sailors Union Home, also on Beacon street, and the Harbor City Sav- ings Bank building, the two latter named being two stories in height. He established the Sepul- veda water works, the headwaters of which are a mile and a half distant, the water being pumped from springs into the reservoir. The develop- ment of water works is one of his special inter- ests, in which he utilizes both springs and wells. He was also one of the organizers of the First National Bank of San Pedro and is now vice- president of that institution. In the official life of the city he has been active and served as a member of the city board of trustees for two terms. Politically he is an advocate of the prin- ciples embraced in the platform of the Republican party, and fraternally he affiliates with the Eagles. All of these business, political and social connec- tions give him a well-rounded interest in the whole life of the city and make him naturally a leading and highly respected citizen. The fam- . ily home is a comfortable and attractive one, located on Fifth street, and is presided over by his wife, formerly Caroline Oden, a native of Wilmington, and the daughter of George W. Oden, a pioneer builder of that locality.

Of the eight children comprising the parental family Albert G. is the eldest, born in Wilming- ton November 21, 1880; William, who came next, is engaged in farming near San Pedro; Philip is a teamster in San Pedro; Benjamin is private secretary to George H. Peck; Louis is at home ; Carrie is the wife of Frank Shearer, and Maud and Ella are living at home with their parents. Reared in San Pedro, Albert G. Sepulveda at- tended the public schools there, later taking a course in the Los Angeles Business College, from which he graduated in 1899. His first business position was with the German-American Savings Bank in Los Angeles, and during the five years that he was with that institution he rose steadily from stenographer to teller, which latter position he resigned in 1904 to assist in the organization of the First National Bank of San Pedro. When this bank was opened he was elected assistant cashier and has held the position ever since. The institution does a general banking business, and

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with a capital stock of $25,000 and a surplus of $10,000 holds a strong and stable position in banking circles.

In 1906 Mr. Sepulveda assisted in the organ- ization of the Harbor City Savings Bank and has been its cashier from the time of its opening. This bank has a paid-up capital stock of $25,000, transacts a general savings bank business, pay- ing three and four per cent on time deposits. It is located in the Harbor City Savings Bank building, 50x75 feet in dimensions, on the cor- ner of Palos Verdes and Sixth streets, is up-to- date in its fixtures and provided with safety deposit vaults. In national politics Mr. Sepulveda is a believer in the principles of the Republican party. Fraternally he has a number of prominent connections, being a member of the Red Men, the Order of Pocahontas, was made a Mason in San Pedro Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M .; belongs to San Pedro Chapter No. 89, R. A. M .; and also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star. As a young and successful business man and a pub- lic-spirited citizen prominent in the upbuilding of the community in which he resides he is held in the highest esteem by a host of friends, who admire him as well for his many excellent per- sonal qualities.

BYRON CLARK. The raising of walnuts is one of the most satisfactory ranching industries in Southern California, and among those who are engaged in this profitable employment men- tion belongs to Byron Clark, whose ranch of eleven acres lies a short distance from Palms, Los Angeles county. A native of Kansas, he was born in 1860, a son of Samuel L. Clark, who was born on the Wabash river, in Indiana, in 1831. As a farmer the father started out early in life to make his own way, and in 1855 took up government land in Kansas. Besides the quarter section which he homesteaded he also bought ten acres more, making his home on this property until 1877, when he sold out his hold- ings in that state and removed to Kansas City, Mo. A change of location brought about a change of occupation as well, and for twenty years he carried on a very satisfactory fuel and feed business in the latter city. Disposing of his mercantile interests at the end of this time he once more took up farming on a tract of ten acres near Baldwin, Kans., but of late years has given up active work altogether and still makes his home there. Before her marriage Mrs. Clark was Leonora J. Market. She was born in Ind- iana in 1841, and passed away in Baldwin, Kans., in 1905.

In a family of seven children born to his par- ents Byron Clark was next to the oldest. His school days over, he entered into a partnership

with his father in the feed business in Kansas City, but four years later he withdrew from the firm and began making preparations to come to California. The year 1887 witnessed his arrival in San Diego, and one month later he came to Los Angeles county. His first purchase of land in this county he sold after residing on it one year, investing the proceeds in the eleven acres which comprise his present ranch near Palms. Of this tract eight acres are in walnuts.

In 1885 Mr. Clark was married to Margaret Proebstel, who was born in Missouri on Christ- mas day of 1858, and was the second in order of birth in the family of five children born to her parents, Andrew and Matilda J. (Matney) Proebstel. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Clark has been blessed by the birth of five interesting children, as follows: Abbie E., Leonora J., Samuel G., Anna May and Emma Louisa. The family are members of the Union Church.

HARRY C. AIKEN. Among the men of prominence in Glendale is Harry C. Aiken, who is well known as the former chief officer of the Los Angeles Humane Society. A man of quick perceptions, warm-hearted and broad- minded, with a keen sense of justice, he was especially adapted to the position which he so ably filled, and performed the various du- ties devolving upon him with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was born March 31, 1862, in Colorado, but was brought up and educated in Michigan, where he lived until sixteen years old.

Returning then to Colorado, Mr. Aiken re- sided in that state a number of years, and also spent ten years in Iowa engaged in the hard- ware business. In early manhood he became associated with the Pinkerton Detective As- sociation, continuing for about ten years in their employ. Coming to Los Angeles in 1903, he here established a branch office of the agency, of which he was superintendent for about four months. Then, his health giving out, owing to the severe strain to which he had so long been subjected, he resigned his position. On June 1, 1905, after several months of recuperation, he was appointed to the responsible position as chief officer of the Humane Society, which looks after children, and under the new law he was a county of- ficer, with legal authority throughout the city and county. This office he held one year.

In Seattle, Wash., Mr. Aiken married Eliza- beth Creamer, who was born in Ohio, and prior to her marriage was a teacher in the pub- lic schools. One child has blessed their union, Horace P.

In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Aiken purchased their

trung the Willis.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

present residence property at Glendale, on Ninth street, where they have a beautiful home. They have five acres of land, upon which they have high-grade dogs and cats, and on which they also raised chickens for the market, making a specialty of broilers. Mrs. Aiken has the finest Angora cats to be found in the west, and at the cat show, held in Los Angeles in January, 1906, she took three first premiums on Angora cats, and one first premium on Japanese cats. She and her husband had at one time six hundred pet pigeons, but they disposed of all their birds and now devote their time to raising dogs, making a specialty of bulldogs, Collies and Pomeranians, their kennels being known as the Persian Kennels. In 1906 Mr. Aiken es- tablished a boarding place for the cats of tour- ists and residents, where they are given the best of care. In the raising of pets thus far Mr. and Mrs. Aiken have been very success- ful, and their stock farm, when completed, will be by far the largest and best of the kind west of the Mississippi. Politically Mr. Aiken is a Republican, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Royal Arcanum of Los Angeles.

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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 150

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