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 153

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 1887 Mr. Bailard married Miss Kitty Cra- vens, a native daughter of California, and they are the parents of three children, John, Jesse and Jean.

ALEXANDER H. SHIPLEY. The varied attractions of climate and scenery which make certain favored spots in Southern California the rival of the European Rivera have brought hither people from all parts of the world and have given to the country a cosmopolitan population representing many varied types of thought. sentiment and nationality, but united in their expressions of devotion to the inter- ests of the region now their home. Some have chosen to establish their Lares et Penates in the larger cities, where the air is vibrant with the whirl of commerce ; others have preferred the smaller towns, where within sight of the majestic ocean or lofty mountain peaks, they may enjoy the changing charms of nature 1In- disturbed by the stress of business cares and the turmoil of political responsibilities. To Mr. Shipley, laying aside the cares of a long business experience in this country and abroad, there came the wish to enjoy the quiet charm of a home near the ocean, in the midst of an environment attractive to the eye and exhilarating to the mind. In search of such a location he came to San Diego and in 1893 purchased a residence near the shore of Carls- bad, where he has since lived in retirement

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from commercial cares and in the enjoyment of a beautiful home.

Brooklyn is Mr. Shipley's native city and November 5, 1843, the date of his birth, his parents being Capt. Thomas and Sophia (O'Connor) Shipley, natives respectively of Delaware and Dublin, Ireland. Through all of his active life Captain Shipley followed the sea and rose from a humble position to the command of a vessel, in which capacity he con- tinned until his death in 1864, at the age of sixty years. His wife survived him for many years, passing away in 1886, when seventy-two years of age. Their son, Alexander H., was taken to England in childhood for the benefit of his health and in order that he might enjoy the educational advantages offered by the schools of that country. On the completion of his education he returned to the United States and for some years afterward was iden- tified with affairs in Wall street. In 1875 he removed to New Zealand and engaged in the commission business. From 1877 until 1886 he represented the United States as consul to New Zealand, attending to the duties of the office in addition to managing his large busi- ness interests. Eventually, however, consid- erations of health caused him to resign the consulate and close out his holdings in New Zealand, after which he returned to the United States and settled in the northern part of Cali- fornia. removing from there to San Diego county in order to enjoy the benefits offered by the equable climate of this locality. Im- mediately before he sailed for New Zealand he was married in San Francisco to Miss Julia G. Seamont, of New York, by whom he has one daughter, Florence. In religions views Mr. Shipley and his family are believers in the doctrines of the Episcopalian denomination and contribute to all the activities of their church. Fraternally he has been identified with the Masonic Order for many years and has been interested in the philanthropies of that organization.

SYLVESTER W. BARTON. Perhaps no citizen of Whittier has been more active in its development than Sylvester W. Barton, who has been a resident of this locality since 1890 and during the passing years has acquired a com- petence and at the same time has established a position of influence among the representative men of the place. In Wayne county, Ind., where his birth occurred February 5, 1855, his paternal grandfather was numbered among the early settlers, as were also his parents, John and Rachel (Penland) Barton; the family were universally esteemed for the qualities of man-

hood manifested in their citizenship and in ag- ricultural labors were named among the suc- cessful men of the section.

Inheriting traits of self-reliance and indepen- dence S. W. Barton early assumed the burden of self-support, with nothing to presage success save determination and energy. Through his own efforts, as a substitute teacher, he procured means to pursue his studies at the state normal, in Ada, Hardin county, Ohio. Trained to the life of a farmer he eventually returned to this pursuit, in Mahaska county, Iowa, engaging in farming for the period of four years; attracted to the Pacific slope in 1887 he came to South- ern California with the intention of pursuing ranching and the raising of stock as he had formerly done. For two years he cultivated a ranch at Compton, where he finally purchased an alfalfa ranch. Locating in Whittier in 1890 he has since made this city his home, making his personal efforts parallel with those for the advancement of the general welfare of the com- munity. In addition to the cultivation of his ranch (located a mile southeast of the city proper and consisiting of ten acres devoted to English wal- nuts) he is in the possession of a good real-es- tate business, having opened an office in 1893 for the purpose of conducting this enterprise. He is located on Philadelphia street and is ac- counted one of the successful men engaged in this business. He has accumulated considera- ble property since his location here and has tak- en a prominent part in the upbuilding of im- portant industries, among them assisting ma- terially in the organization of the Whittier Steam Laundry, in which he is a stockholder. For many years he was also largely identified with the oil industry in the vicinity of Whit- tier, being one of the promoters of the Whittier Oil & Development Company, the firm of Bar- ton & Clayton making extensive purchases in oil lands. He has been a director in the com- pany ever since its organization and has also served efficiently as secretary and general man- ager. Another enterprise of note with which his name has been identified was the purchase of three thousand acres of unimproved land in La Habra valley, which he subdivided and sold to colonists.

Notwithstanding his many cares Mr. Bar- ton has found time to ally himself with social and fraternal organizations. He is a promi- nent member of the Knights of Pythias, while politically he gives a stanch support to the prin- ciples advocated in the platform of the Repub- lican party. He can always be counted upon to further any plan for the advancement of the general welfare, and as a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and a director of the Whittier Board of Trade he takes a pro-

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found interest in business affairs. His home, which is in Whittier, is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Leila Mendenhall, a na- tive of Indiana, and they are the parents of one son, Russell J. Mr. Barton is one of the rep- resentative citizens of Whittier, having won his position through the exercise of executive abil- ity and judgment, which have given him a finan- cial success and the possession of many admir- able traits of character upon which his life struc- ture has been founded. Progressive and enter- prising he has sought the advancement of the community in every instance and as a conserva- tive business man has won the confidence of the people.

WILLIAM H. HOOD. A representative citizen of the Alamos valley is found in Will- iam H. Hood, who owns one hundred and sitxy acres of land and rents an additional two hundred and eighty acres, the whole amount being devoted to the raising of grain crops. He also has about thirty stands of bees, which produce a very satisfactory amount of honey that sells for a good price.

Mr. Hood was born in England in 1861, and received his education through the me- dium of the schools of his native land. As a young man he took up the occupation of clerk- ing and continued in that employment until January, 1885, when he removed to Canada and remained a resident of that country for two years. He then came to the United States and located in Philadelphia, his residence in California dating from 1889. The following year he went to Minnesota, where he was mar- ried to Miss Christina Brakkey, and upon their return to California Mr. Hood engaged in farming, in 1892 purchasing and removing to the present ranch, which has since been his home. He is a man of many admirable per- sonal qualities and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

ADAM M. VOGT. Varying degrees of prosperity have been experienced by Mr. Vogt since his association with Los Angeles in 1887. losing heavily during the boom period, but these losses have been more than recouped in the meantime and he is today living retired in this city on the corner of Twenty-first and Tober- man streets.

The patronymic Vogt is suggestive of the Fatherland, and there Adam M. Vogt was born, in Baden, December 27, 1848. Up to his four- teenth vear he was a pupil in the gymnasium in his native town, after which he was appren- ticed to learn the jeweler's trade. As his fathi-

er was an invalid and the family of children large it goes without saying that he, being the eldest, had to assist in supplying the family ne- cessities, and as soon as he became competent at his trade worked at it continuously until the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. Believing that in the New World he would find greater opportunity for gettting ahead he came to the United States that year, going at once to Forreston, Ogle county, Ill. Honor- able work of any kind was acceptable to him at this time, for although distance divided him from his kinsmen they were uppermost in his thoughts, their need of his assistance spurring him on in his undertakings. Work as a farm hand was the first opportunity that offered, and he followed this until accepting a position in a restaurant, which he held for two years. It would not have been an impossibility to find work at his trade, but as his lungs and throat were already affected as a consequence of the previous years devoted to the work he deemed it inadvisable to undertake it again. From For- reston, Ill., he went to Monroe, Wis., where for a short time he drove a beer wagon, follow- ing this by clerking in a restaurant for two .years. Subsequently he opened a grocery and restaurant in Monroe, which he carried on with excellent results for about seventeen years, his health at this time making it necessary for him to seek a milder climate. Selling out his Wis- consin interests in 1887 he came the same year to California, with Los Angeles as his destina- tion.

With the proceeds of the sale of his Wiscon- sin holdings, Mr. Vogt purchased three acres where he now lives, paying therefore $9,700. During the period of the boom he speculated heavily in real-estate and for a time he experi- enced financial difficulties, and it was at this time that he began buying and selling stock. His efforts along this line were far more suc- cessful than he had anticipated, so much so that in 1904 he was enabled to retire from active business. His original plot of three acres has of late years been divided into city lots, some of which have been sold, reserving for his home place a frontage of two hundred and sixteen feet, on the northeast corner of Twenty-first and Tober- man streets, which is valued at $15,000. Be- sides the homestead he owns another residence at Twenty-first and Toberman streets, which he rents, also a store building near Ascot, which is likewise occupied by a tenant. When it is re- membered that Mr. Vogt came to the United States empty-handed (landing in New York with just $2 in his pocket), with health im- paired, and with necessity for work confronting him, both for his own support and to enable him to render assistance to his parents in the

Joseph Crawford

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Fatherland, it is little short of marvelous what he has accomplished and much praise is due him for his persevering efforts.

Mr. Vogt's first marriage occurred in 1874 and united him with Miss Louisa Miller, a na- tive of Wisconsin, by whom he has two chil- dren, Frederick Julius and Edward Karl, both of whom are in San Francisco. His second marriage was celebrated September 15, 1881, and the present Mrs. Vogt was before her mar- riage Miss Maggie Baker, she too being a na- tive of Wisconsin. The only child of this mar- riage is Gladys, who is still at home with her parents. Prior to the present administration Mr. Vogt had always espoused Democratic princi- ples, but his last presidential vote was cast for Theodore Roosevelt. Locally he casts his bal- lot for the man best qualified for the office in question, irrespective of party. The only fra- ternal order of which he is a member is the Odd Fellows, belonging to Concordia Lodge No. 124 at Monroe, Wis.

JOSEPH CRAWFORD. Now living re- tired from active business at Bowers, a half mile east of San Jacinto, Joseph Crawford, one of the old settlers of the state, is enjoying the fruits of the labors of many years. He was born March 7. 1832, in Utica, N. Y., the son of John H. and Mary (Taylor) Crawford, both of New York nativity, and the grandson of William Crawford, who fought in the war of 1812. John H. Crawford was a merchant and removed to Indiana in 1833, engaging in business at Fremont, where his wife died Au- gust II, 1839. He then changed his residence to Saratoga, N. Y., and finally removed to Washington, D. C., and was staying with Zachary Taylor, in company with whom he had fought in the Indian wars, when his death occurred in June, 1842, at the age of seventy years. Camp Crawford, at Prairie du Chien, Wis., was built by a brother, Samuel Craw- ford.

There was little opportunity for Joseph Crawford to attend school when he was a boy, for from his eighth year he was obliged to "hoe his own row." By much reading and pri- vate study he has, however, been able to ac- cumulate a larger store of knowledge than many more fortunate people acquire. Between the ages of eight. and ten years he was em- ploved at team driving in Indiana, then hired out by the month, doing various tasks, in 1843 engaging to drive a team to Green Bay, Wis. Two years later he went to Weyauwega and teamed for a time, returning again to Green Bay at a later period and was for the follow- ing eleven years occupied as a log driver. Sep-

tember 1, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Twelfth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, and during his army service was en- gaged in the siege of Vicksburg, at Jackson, at Meridian, the commencement of the battle of Corinth, later was stationed near Memphis, and took part in engagements at Bolivar, At- lanta and Kenesaw Mountain, as well as in other lesser battles. The term of his service extended over three years and four months, an honorable discharge being given him at Chattanooga in 1864.

Returning to Wisconsin Mr. Crawford re- mained two years in the logging camps, then removed to Colorado, driving overland from Omaha to Georgetown, and followed mining until 1869, at intervals doing some wood cut- ting also. He then went to Arizona and pur- chased a ranch on the San Pedro river, sixty miles east of Tucson, lived in that city for one year, then went to Mountain Springs, Cal., and was employed in building the stage road then under way. Following this he worked in the mines, prospected and teamed between San Diego and Julian for a year. From there he came to San Jacinto, Septem- ber I, 1875, and constructed a private toll road over the San Jacinto range, the trail made at that time being used for many years. Riv- erside was his next location, then Bear Val- ley, and finally San Jacinto, where he now lives. There were few white people in this section when Mr. Crawford first settled here and he has been an active participant in the great development the country has since un- dergone. He has invested in farming prop- erty, owning two hundred acres near Valle Vista, one hundred and sixty acres near Ca- huilla and eighteen acres near San Jacinto. Politically he is an advocate of the principles of the Republican party.

TEOFILO VALDEZ. As the name would indicate Mr. Valdez is a descendant of Spanish ancestors, and he was born in California Jan- mary 8, 1854. His father, Jose E. Valdez, was also a native of the state, where he was well known as a rancher and stock raiser. From Jose G. Rocher, who was one of the heirs of the rancho La Brea, the father purchased eleven hundred and sixty acres of land, paying the money therefor and receiving in return the deed to the property. Twenty-five years later, in some unknown way Henry Hancock ascertained that the deed had never been recorded, an omis- sion which in point of law made Mr. Valdez' deed worthless, and for the sum of $1 he pur- chased the land from Mr. Rocher, which a quar-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ter of a century before he had handed over to Mr. Valdez. A lawsuit necessarily followed, which cost Mr. Valdez $30,000, but in spite of all his efforts he was compelled to give up posses- sion of the ranch in November 1879. Froni that time until the latter years of his life he traveled from place to place, his death occurring at the home of his son near Hollywood. His wife, formerly Cecelia Lopez, was also a native of California, and by her marriage with Mr. Valdez became the mother of four children, as follows: Francisco P .. Warsiza, Teofilo and Martina.

After the loss of the old homestead Teofilo Valdez took up one hundred and sixty acres in what is now the beautiful city of Hollywood, and here it was that his father passed his last days in quiet and peace. Although Mr. Valdez still owns one hundred and fifty acres there he now makes his home in Sherman, where he also owns considerable property, this being in the choicest and most desirable part of the city. While to some extent he sells and exchanges property he makes a specialty of renting resi- dences erected by himself, the well-planned houses and desirable locations both tending to make his undertaking a success.

By his marriage in 1876 Mr. Valdez was united with Maria Antonia Corta, who was also a de- scendant of a long line of Spanish ancestors, her birth occurring in Los Angeles county on the old Machado La Ballona rancho. As one of the heirs to the estate she now owns three tracts near Venice and Ocean Park. Of the nine children who blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Valdez eight are now living, as follows : Teofilo D., Frank, Eliza, Jose E., Thomas, Mar- tina, Eugene and Charles. Following the relig- ious belief of their ancestors Mr. and Mrs. Val- dez are Catholics, and in this faith their children have also been reared. Following in the foot- steps of his worthy father in matter of politics Mr. Valdez believes in the principles of the Re- publican party, to which he gives his allegiance at all times.

COLUMBUS W. PATTERSON. One of the most energetic and successful ranchmen of the San Marcos district in San Diego county is Columbus W. Patterson, who was born Novem- ber II, 1857, in Polk county, Mo., the son of William and Elizabeth (Reed) Patterson, both of whom were natives of Tennessec. The father was at different times farmer, millwright and storekeeper in Missouri, having been engaged in the latter named business at Pleasanthope. The parents were unusually strong and vigorous, the father having lived to be seventy-six years of age and the mother attained eighty years. Both

died in Missouri. They became the parents of nine children, four of whom are still living.

Columbus W. received his education through the medium of the public schools of Missouri and when he grew to manhood engaged in farm- ing in his native state for two years, then re- moved to Kansas and was interested in cattle on the ranges there for nine months, after which he came to the Calico mining camp of California and worked in the mines for two years. In 1886 he came to Buena, San Diego county, and filed on a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and also bought twenty-five acres in order : to get water on his holdings. The land is de- voted to the cultivation of grain and hay crops, and Mr. Patterson also finds that the raising of chickens is a profitable part of successful ranch- ing. He was married in 1886 to Miss Minnie Vansandt, a native of Missouri, and they have become the parents of two children, James and Noel. Mr. Patterson is a stanch believer in the principles advocated in the platform of the Dem- ocratic party, and takes an active interest in all matters that tend to advance the community in which he lives. He is a man of pleasing per- sonality and stands high in the esteem of his fellow-citizens.

JOSEPH CHARLES PEARSON. Among the horticulturists of Los Angeles county men- tion may be made of Joseph Charles Pearson, who is located in El Monte and engaged in the cultivation of a small but valuable ranch of his own, and his father's ranch, a total of one hun- dred and thirty acres all in walnuts and one-half in full bearing. Mr. Pearson is the son of a pioneer, having been brought to California by his father, David F. Pearson, in 1886. The elder man was born near Dayton, Ohio, a son of Samuel Pearson, an emigrant from North Carolina, who settled in Ohio and there reared his family. In 1853 he removed to Cedar county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until his death. He was a member of the Society of Friends, a helpful and conscientious citizen, and held in high esteem by all who knew him. David F. Pearson engaged as a farmer in Iowa for some years, then went to Kansas and followed a like occupation near Dodge City, and in 1879 removed to Osage county, same state. He farmed there until 1886, when he came to Cal- ifornia, making his home in Wildomar for seven years, after which, in 1893, he removed to El Monte, where he engaged in the raising of wal- nuts. He is now retired from active business and is making his home in Pasadena, at No. 426 North Mentor street. His wife, formerly Annie Michener, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, a daughter of George Michener, a graduate phy-

Broseph De Meuble

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sician, the descendant of a prominent Quaker family. She also survives and resides in Pasa- dena. Of their six children, a son, George M., is county surveyor of Riverside county ; Samuel F., city engineer of Pasadena; and Joseph C., the subject of this review.

Next to the youngest in his father's family Joseph Charles Pearson was born near West Branch, Cedar county, Iowa, November 30, 1874, and received his education in the public schools of Kansas and California, being but twelve years old when brought to the state. He assisted his father in the improvement of the ranch in El Monte, where they located in 1893, and later he purchased sixteen acres adjoining the old home- stead and set it to walnuts. He continued gen- eral farming also and since his father's retire- ment has taken charge of the entire property, which is devoted to walnuts, alfalfa, garden vegetables, etc. There are two wells on the place, one hundred and fifty feet in depth each, with a total capacity of three hundred and fifty inches. He has been very successful in his work, is en- ergetic and capable, and is building up for him- self a competence and at the same time taking a place among the representative citizens of the community.

In Springville, Iowa, Mr. Pearson married Miss Edith E. Hall, a native of Ohio, and daugh- ter of Pearson Hall, a farmer in Iowa. They have one son, Chester Charles. Mr. Pearson is a member of the Society of Friends, and polit- ically is a stanch adherent of the principles of the Republican party.

JOSEPH DE MEULLE. As president of the Harbor iron works of Long Beach Joseph De Meulle is recognized as one of the most prominent and influential business men of this city. He was born November 22, 1850, in Montreal, Canada, the son of Edward and Margaret (Boulveau) De Meulle, both na- tives of Canada, the former having been born on the Isle of Orleans, province of Quebec. As a young man he was a ship carpenter by trade and later established shipyards in Corn- wall, conducting the business until the time of his death, at the age of fifty-six years. The family was one of the oldest in Quebec, the first member having come with the first French troops sent to Canada. Six of the eight children of this family are now living, one son, Charles, being a resident of Long Beach and in charge of the moulding depart- ment of the iron works owned by his brother, Joseph De Meulle.

Reared in Cornwall, Ontario, Mr. De Meulle attended the common schools and later worked as a ship carpenter, continuing at that em-

ployment until 1867, when he came to Cali- fornia via the Nicaragua route on the San- tiago de Cuba from New York to Greytown. He spent some time on the American river, in San Francisco and at Marysville, being em- ployed at the latter place until April, 1868, when he went to Virginia City, Nev. For a year he was employed in a planing mill there and became interested in mining, and in 1869 went to the White Pine (Nev.) country with a surveying corps. He became a surveyor and followed this occupation as well as mining for about seven years, then took up contracting in the same state, remaining there until 1880. Removing to Utah he next engaged in stock- raising and mining and established the horse- shoe T brand on the Wah Wah ranch.

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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 153

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