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 152

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.

one child, Martha O., who is now the wife of Z. Quincy and makes her home in San Diego. She is the mother of nine living children. Though not a partisan in political views, Mr. Billingsly upholds the Democratic party with the earnestness of deep convictions and has never swerved in his allegiance to its prin- ciples.

J. W. ANDERSON. The date of the estab- lishment of the Anderson family in America is not definitely known nor do the genealogical rec- ords give the name of the original immigrant, but it is a matter of family history that early in the colonization of the new world they became estab- lished in Pennsylvania, where succeeding genera- tions lived and labored and died. Joseph An- derson, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and a farmer's son, began an apprenticeship to the trade of currier at an early age and on the completion of his apprenticeship began to work for wages. In 1847 he embarked in the patent leather busi- ness in Pittsburg, Pa., and carried on a growing trade until his factory burned to the ground in 1856, after which he began in business at Hill- side. Eventually he removed to the Pacific coast and became identified with the interests of Los Angeles county, establishing his home near Compton, but soon afterward, in 1878, his earthly life ended, when he was seventy-three years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary C. Storm, was born at Frederick, Md., and died in the east when sixty years of age. Both were earnest members of the Christian Church; the father affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in politics supported Repub- lican principles after the organization of that party. Of their children only two sons lived to maturity, J. W. and George H. The latter was formerly a prominent citizen of Pittsburg, Pa., where he was vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, but is now a resident of Southern California.

J. W. Anderson is a native of Wheeling, W. Va., born August 3, 1838, and from the age of two years was reared in Pittsburg. Pa., where he attended public and private schools. After dis- continuing his studies he began to help his father in the patent leather business and worked both in the factory and the storeroom. In 1873 he left home and came to California, making the journey via the railroad to San Francisco, and thence on a steamboat to Wilmington, and from there to Anaheim, where he made a brief so- journ. Next he went to Orange and bought land which he planted to citrus fruit trees. In 1886 he removed from his orange grove into Los An- geles and for four years was employed as a deputy in the customhouse, also for two years

was connected with the waterworks system. On leaving Los Angeles for a visit in Pennsylvania, his son, Lawrence, took charge of the water- works and has since been connected with the plant, being now auditor of the city water works. On his return from the east Mr. Anderson en- gaged in the shoe business for two years, but this business he turned over to his son, George, and secured a position for himself as book- keeper with the Southern California Packing Company. After a year in their employ he be- came bookkeeper, accountant and general office manager for the Los Angeles & Redondo Rail- road Company, in which capacity he continued for thirteen years discharging his many and re- sponsible duties with promptness and accuracy.

On severing his connection with the railway company Mr. Anderson engaged in the real estate and insurance business and continued to reside in Redondo, where he still owns a home. From there he came to San Diego county and settled near Bonsall, where he bought a ranch of five hundred acres and erected the house now occu- pied by his family. In addition to general farm- ing he is engaged in the dairy business and also carries other lines of stock on the place. Through his long and active career he has been identified with many enterprises and has held various posi- tions of trust, all of which he has filled with dignity and energy. While living in Orange county he served as a notary public and justice of the peace and there, as in other places of his abode, he was active in Republican political af- fairs, maintaining a warm interest in everything tending to the success of the party and the ad- vancement of its principles. In fraternal rela- tions he is a Mason, having been initiated into that order in the Santa Ana blue lodge. With his family he holds membership with the Christ- ian Church and contributes to its missionary and charitable movements.

The marriage of Mr. Anderson took place in December, 1860, and united him with Sarah Mc- Clelland, a native of Pittsburg, Pa. They are the parents of the following children : Lawrence, who married Priscilla B. McNitt and lives in Los Angeles : George H., who married Sadie Dixon, of Escondido and resides at Redondo; Margaret M., the wife of Tremont Loveland, of Bonsall ; Ivan, who is with his parents on the home farm; Arthur T., living in Los Angeles county ; Her- bert, who married Blanche Harlan, and Arthur, who married Jacintha Smith, and lives at Re- dondo.

WINFIELD SCOTT TOWNSEND. It is now sixteen years since Mr. Scott first set foot on California soil, coming hither from Illinois where the family had flourished since 1835. It

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was in that year that the grandfather, Nathaniel Townsend, left his native state, New York, and with his family settled in what was then consider- ed the frontier, they being the first white settlers in Adams township, La Salle county, Ill. Dur- ing his early manliood he displayed his patriotic spirit by valiantly defending the cause of the col- onies in the second struggle with England, and in the course of the conflict was severely wounded. Among the children born to himself and wife was Charles Townsend, who accompanied his parents to the pioneer region of Illinois in 1835 and thereafter remained a resident of the state until his death at the age of sixty-five. His marriage united him with Jane Smith, a native of Ohio, who was a member of the Presby- terian Church, in the faith of which she passed away in Illinois when in her sixty-sixth year. The conditions which confronted the pioneers in the middle west were such as to make heavy demands upon their abilities, and none met these conditions more graciously than did Charles Townsend, who from the first took a deep in- terest in the welfare of La Salle county, and especially of Adams township, where he served as road commissioner and school director, filling the latter position the greater part of his mature years. Politically he was a Republican. Of his union with Jane Smith (for he had been pre- viously married) three children were born, one of whom is Winfield Scott, of this review.

Winfield S. Townsend was the third repie- sentative of the family in Adams township, La Salle county, Ill., and it was there on his father's farm that his birth occurred November 16, 1853. Until he had reached mature years his life was associated with that locality exclusively, having in the meantime applied himself diligently in prosecuting his studies in the common and high schools. This training was supplemented by at- tending Hedding College, in Abingdon, Knox county. His school life over, he returned to La Salle county and was variously employed there until 1885. that year witnessing his removal to Minnesota, where for two years he was employed as a stationary engineer. During this time his thoughts had turned many times to the land of the setting sun, and hither he came in 1888, After spending about two months in Pasadena he went to Corona, Riverside county, where for a time he raised oranges on a six-acre tract which he had purchased. Selling this he im- mediately purchased a ten-acre ranch in the same locality, where for twelve years he was inter- ested in an orange industry that netted him splendid returns for his labor. However, at the end of this time he disposed of his interests there and came to Los Angeles, where for three vears he conducted a real estate business. After his return from Illinois, whither he had gone

for a short visit, he went to Yolo county, there carrying on a ranch of eighty acres devoted to the raising of grain and hay. It was after disposing of his interests in that locality that he came to Los Angeles county once more, this time settling upon a ranch near Pomona, which was his home for nearly three years. While his ranch of forty acres was not as large as many in the vicinity, it is safe to say that none of his neighbors could claim better returns per acre than he. The entire tract was under cultivation, thir- ty-three acres being in alfalfa, and the remainder in potatoes. To supply his ranch with plenty of water Mr. Townsend installed a pumping plant, which enabled him to irrigate the land thoroughly with the result that he harvested abundant crops of both commodities, especially of alfalfa, which produced six and seven crops per year.

In 1878, while still a resident of Illinois Mr. Townsend was married to Clara E. Barnhart, who like himself was a native of La Salle county, that state. Two children have been born to brighten their home life, Claude Ellis and Lo- retta. Mrs. Townsend is a member of the Christian Church and both herself and husband are interested in benevolent and uplifting en- terprises, whether of a religious or secular na- ture. Like his father before him Mr. Townsend is a believer in Republican principles, and like him also he is interested in good roads and in furnishing the best school advantages possible for the rising generation. For this reason while in Illinois he was made road commissioner and was also a school director, giving to both the same care and interest which he bestowed upon his private affairs. While in point of years Mr. Townsend may be called a newcomer to Pomona, no one is more deeply interested in its welfare than he and as neighbor and citizen he has won a foothold which is a credit to himself and a distinct benefit to those with whom he comes in contact.

JAMES HENRY POWERS. The thriving city of San Pedro has a full quota of live, en- ergetic business men, among whom is James Henry Powers, who is actively identified with the mercantile interests of the place as one of its leading hay and grain warehouse merchants. Since becoming a resident of this place, Mr. Powers has identified himself with its growth and advancement, encouraging the establish- ment of beneficial enterprises, and by his decis- ion of character and integrity has won the re- spect and esteem of the community. A native of Canada, he was born on the Bay of Chaleurs, near the mouth of the Restigouche river, a son of Dr. Joseph Henry Powers. He is descended from a family of note, his grandfather, Thomas

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Powers, having, after his graduation from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, settled in Dublin, Ireland, where he was engaged in the practice of law until his death, being one of the leading attorneys of that city.

Born in Scotland, Joseph Henry Powers com- pleted his education at Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, where he was graduated with the de- gree of M. D. Subsequently immigrating to America, he located in Canada, where he acquired a fine reputation as a physician, and was actively engaged in his professional labors until his death, in 1872. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Cronen was born in London, England, and died in Wisconsin, in 1886. She bore her hus- band ten children, all of whom grew to years of maturitv, James Henry being the second in or- der of birth.

Born August 29, 1844, on the home farm, which was located on the banks of the Resti- gouche river, James Henry Powers received a practical common-school education, remaining beneath the parental roof-tree until nineteen years of age. Going then to Wisconsin, he was there employed in lumbering until 1875. Chang- ing his occupation in that year, he went to Ari- zona, locating near Apache, on the Gila river, where he embarked in the stock business for awhile. Removing from there to Cochise coun- ty, Ariz., he bought land in the Chiricahua mountains, and was there successfully engaged in cattle raising and dealing until 1896. Selling his stock at that time, he came to Los Angeles county, locating at Gardena, where he bought ten acres of land, which he at once began to improve, being one of the first to irrigate, es- tablishing a pumping plant, the well being two hundred and twenty-five feet deep. He raised good crops of alfalfa by irrigation, and from his well furnished water for his neighbors, ir- rigating about one hundred and twenty acres of land from his plant. In 1898 he engaged in the grocery business at San Pedro, erecting his present store building, which was then the larg- est of the kind in the city. Putting in a full line of staple and fancy groceries, he has since built up a large and lucrative trade, and for the past four years has also carried feed of all kinds, having a large trade in this line. By means of good business management and judgment he has acquired considerable valuable real estate in the city and has also built the largest ware- house in this vicinity.

In Arizona, Mr. Powers married Jennie Mark, who was born in Troy, N. Y., and prior to her marriage was engaged in educational work. Mr. and Mrs. Powers have one child, a daugh- ter named Helen. Politically Mr. Powers is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he was made a Mason in 1895, in Wilcox Lodge No. 10, of

Wilcox, Ariz., and in 1897 became a charter member of San Pedro Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., which he has served as master; he was made a Royal Arch Mason in Long Beach, and is now a member of San Pedro Chapter No. 89, R. A. M .; and is a member and worthy patron of San Pedro Chapter, O. E. S. Mrs. Powers is a member of the Episcopal Church.

JOSEPH A. ROOKER. Although a resi- dent at his present place for a comparatively brief period only, Mr. Rooker has made his home in California since 1859 and since 1884 has been identified with agricultural interests in San Diego county, where now he makes his residence near the village of Vista in Delpy valley. It was during 1904 that he came to this locality and purchased one hundred and twenty acres, which he devotes to the raising of grain, and in addi- tion he has been interested in the bee industry, his apiary consisting of thirty-eight colonies of bees. Always a tireless worker, energetic and persevering, it is wholly due to industry and not to luck that he has accumulated a competency, and by honorable traits of character he has won and retained the good will of his community.

Council Bluffs, Iowa, is Mr. Rooker's native place, and December 25, 1848, the date of his birth, his parents being Joseph and Emeline (Hewitt) Rooker, natives of Indiana, and pio- neers of Iowa. During the year 1848 the family disposed of their effects in Iowa and started across the plains with a party of immigrants. Settling in Utah, they remained there until 1859 when they pushed on toward the coast and set- tled in Alameda county, Cal., there engaging in farm pursuits. While in that locality the fam- ily experienced some successes and some reverses but on the whole achieved noteworthy progress and became independent financially. During 1884 they became pioneers of San Diego county. The father settled at Bonsall in a locality whither at the time few immigrants had drifted. His death occurred at Oceanside in 1893, when he was eighty-four years of age, and he was sur- vived for thirteen years, by his wife, who died in Oceanside at seventy-nine years of age in 1906.

The earliest recollections of Joseph A. Rooker are associated with Utah, for he was only an infant when the family crossed the plains. After completing his education in the schools of Ala- meda county he assisted his father on the home farm, first in Alameda county and later in San Diego county. During 1888 he took up farming at Bonsall, where he still owns an eighty-acre tract, but recently he removed from that farm to the tract near Vista that forms his present

nusthompson

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

home. The neat residence is presided over by his wife, whom he married in 1887 and who was Emma DeWitt Knox, a native of Indiana. They have no children of their own, but took into their home a niece, Ruth, a daughter of Mr. Rooker's sister, and this child they have reared from the age of eighteen months. In her edu- cation they are taking deep interest and are now sending her to the Fallbrook high school. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mrs. Rooker is a member of that denom- ination. Ever since casting his first ballot Mr. Rooker has supported Democratic principles, but has not been a candidate for office nor has he sought local leadership in the party, but in a quiet, unostentatious way he discharges every duty that falls to a public-spirited, progressive citizen.

HON. NEWTON W. THOMPSON. In- dicative of the sagacious judgment that has marked his steady progress in commercial en- terprises is the fact that more than twenty years ago, when the present development of Los Angeles county was undreamed of by even the most sanguine settlers, Mr. Thomp- son came to this locality, strong in his faith as to its future fortunes. Subsequent history has but deepened his faith in the country and his loyality to its institutions. The years have brought him manifold successes and honors, including his present responsible position as manager of the examining department of the Title, Insurance and Trust Company of Los Angeles, also president of the board of trus- tees of his home town of Alhambra and a member of the California state legislature from the sixty-ninth district.

Descended from an eastern family of colon- ial prominence, Mr. Thompson is a son of Newton M. and Ada (Warner) Thompson, na- tives of New York state, and a grandson of Daniel Thompson, an eastern farmer, also of Seth Warner, member of a pioneer family of Vermont. Throughout the brief period of his business activity (for he was only forty-seven when he died) Newton M. Thompson followed the occupation of a farmer and the trade of a merchant: possessed of admirable traits of character and endowments of mind, had he been spared to old age he would have reaped an unquestioned success, but he passed away ere his fortunes had been thoroughly estab- lished and his children therefore were obliged to develop self-reliance and industrious habits at an early age. The widowed mother, at the age of sixty-six years (1907), is making her home in Alhambra with her son, Newton W. The latter was born at Pulaski, N. Y., Sep-

tember 16, 1865, and had the advantage of an excellent education at Pulaski Academy, grad- uating as the valedictorian in the class of 1883, after which. he engaged in teaching school.

Upon his arrival to California in 1885 Mr. Thompson made a brief sojourn at Florence and then removed to Los Angeles, where for a year he acted as clerk to the justice of peace of the township, also reported for the Tribune for a short time. In 1887 he purchased an in- terest in an abstract business in Los Angeles and conducted the same until 1890, when he entered the employ of the Los Angeles Ab- stract Company. On the merging of that con- cern in 1894 into the Title, Insurance and Trust Company, he continued with the latter organization and at different times was em- ployed in varying capacities, but since 1903 has been in charge of the examining depart- ment, a position of trust and arduous respon- sibilities. Since 1887 he has made his home in Alhambra, where he owns a comfortable resi- dence with modern improvements, and in his pleasant suburban surroundings he finds an agreeable relaxation from the cares of city business affairs.

The marriage of Mr. Thompson was solem- nized November II, 1891, and united him with Miss M. Elizabeth Lloyd, who was born and reared at Pulaski, N. Y .. and by whom he has three children, Lloyd W., Newton E. and Mar- garet O. The family are identified with the Presbyterian Church of Alhambra, in which Mr. Thompson officiates as elder and also for five years served as superintendent of the Sun- day-school. Ever since his settlement in Cali- fornia he has been an interested participant in local affairs and has supported the Republican party in local convention and committee work. On the incorporation of Alhambra he was se- jected to serve as president of the board of trustees and in that capacity has supported all movements for the steady growth and perma- nent progress of the place, yet has maintained a conservative spirit and a devotion to the in- terests of tax-payers. Local educational mat- ters have benefited by his intelligence and in- terest. For three years he has been honored with the office of president of the Alhambra city school board. In 1904, the year after his first election as president of the Alhambra board of trustees, he was elected to represent the sixty-ninth district of California in the state assembly by a plurality of twenty-seven hun- dred, and in the following session maintained an active interest in legislative work, besides being a member of the special committee on education. In 1906 he was re-elected by a majority of over forty-three hundred. In fra-

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ternal relations he is an active member and past master of Alhambra Lodge No. 322, F. & A. M., and past patron of the Alhambra Chapter of the Eastern Star, both of which or- ganizations have benefited by his sagacious judgment as an officer and his enthusiastic sup- port as a member.

JOHN BAILARD. The Bailard family is one that originated in Germany, and it was first represented in the United States by the grand- father of our subject, at which time his son, Andrew Bailard, was only four years old. Mis- souri was then far out on the frontier line and was covered with forests throughout the greater extent of the state, but this did not blind the sturdy pioneer to the opportunities which the new land afforded and here he brought his family and made for them a home. Andrew Bailard, who was born in Germany, November 22, 1827, remained under the parental roof until 1853, when, attracted by the stories of the still greater opportunities in the country on the west- ern coast, he joined a party of emigrants and crossed the plains with ox team and typical overland outfit of those days. The party started with a number of cattle which they hoped to take with them to the new country beyond the mountains, but in common with many others they were molested by the Indians, who stamped- ed their stock and succeeded in driving away a number of the animals.

Miss Martha Shoults, who had been a member of the same party of emigrants from Missouri, her native state, in 1857 became the wife of Mr. Bailard, and they resided in San Mateo county, the first stopping place of the original party, un- til 1868, when they removed to Santa Barbara county, where a section of five hundred acres of land formerly embraced within the boundaries of one of the large grants, was purchased. A part of this was devoted to pasturage, a part of it planted to walnut trees, and the remainder devoted to the cultivation of beans, for which product that section of the state has always been noted. Mr. Bailard took a prominent part in the administration of the public affairs of the county in which he resided, and served for two terms as county supervisor, being elected by the Demo- cratic party, with which he affiliated during his lifetime. His death in 1876 removed a leading citizen who was highly esteemed by all who knew him. His wife still resides on the old homestead in Santa Barbara county.

John Bailard was born in San Mateo county, August 6, 1859, and after receiving a preliminary education in the public schools of his native county he attended the Santa Barbara College, his parents having removed with the family to

Santa Barbara county. When school days were over he worked for a time on the home ranch; a desire to establish himself independently, how- ever, induced him to buy a ranch of his own and he now has fifty-four acres of fertile land under his care and ownership, forty acres of which are in beans and yield heavy crops. In addition to this he cultivates twenty-eight acres of the old homestead, which produces thirty-two hundred pounds of beans to the acre, and he also has thirty acres in hay. In Ventura county he owns a half interest in a six hundred and fifty acre ranch, and also another holding of one hundred and forty-eight acres. In all of his business ventures he has invariably met with much suc- cess, and his fellow citizens recognizing that a man who can well and profitably conduct his private affairs has the best recommendation for being able to wisely help in the managing of the county's business, have elected him for two terms to the office of supervisor in Santa Barbara coun- ty. When it is remembered that this is a strong Republican stronghold and that Mr. Bailard is a stanch believer in the principles of the Demo- cratic party, the tribute to his worth is a flat- tering one.

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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 152

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