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 84

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

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His death occurred in 1851, at the age of for- ty-one years, in Chambersburg, a most suc- cessful and promising career being cut off in the prime of life. David and William, broth- ers of Richard Bard, were the founders of Bardstown, Ky.

On his mother's side, also, Mr. Bard has in- herited good blood. She was Elizabeth Lit- tle, born in Mercersburg, Pa., the daughter of Dr. Peter W. Little, who was born in York county, Pa., was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, read medi- cine under Dr. Benjamin Rush of Philadel- phia, spent his lifetime in the successful prac- tice of his profession and died at Mercersburg. His wife was Mary Parker, a daughter of Ma- jor Robert Parker, who was an officer in the Revolutionary army, and in private life after the war conducted a merchandising business. His sister was the wife of General Andrew Porter, whose great-grandson is General Hor- ace Porter, late ambassador to France. While visiting her son Mrs. E. L. Bard died at Berylwood, his home, near Hueneme, in Ven- tura county, on the anniversary of her birtli- day, December 7, 1881. There were four chil- dren in the family, two daughters who reside in Chambersburg. Pa .. and two sons. The younger son, Dr. Cephas L. Bard, was the foremost physician in Ventura county for many years and died in 1902, loved and re- spected by all who knew him. A sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this volume. The re- maining son is Thomas Robert Bard, who was born in Chambersburg. Pa., December 8. 1841, and spent his boyhood days in that town.

After preliminary work in the public schools Mr. Bard attended Chambersburg Academy and graduated from that institution when seventeen years of age. Having decided to study law he secured an opportunity to read under Judge Chambers, a retired Su- preme justice of Pennsylvania, but soon. learned that his tastes inclined to a more active occupation and he secured a position on a railroad corps and worked for a while on the Huntington & Round Top Railroad in Pennsylvania. After this he resumed the study of law for a short time, then accepted an offer from his uncle by marriage, David Zeller, to enter his office as bookkeeper, he being engaged in a grain and forwarding busi- ness at Hagerstown. Md. These were excit- ing days, for at this time the Civil war broke out and Mr. Bard, who was an enthusiastic reader of the "Atlantic Monthly" and the New York Tribune, which publications print- ed strong abolition articles, was one of very few people in Hagerstown who openly es-

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poused that side of the question before the be- ginning of the war.

While the war was yet in progress Mr. Bard became an assistant to the superintend- ent of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, hav- ing charge particularly of the movement of trains carrying military supplies. While an incumbent of this position he became ac- quainted with Colonel Thomas A. Scott, sec- retary of war, and president of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad, and was induced by him to take charge of his large land holdings in Cali- fornia. Mr. Bard started about the 20th of December. 1864, via the Panama route, spent Christmas of that year on the sea, and ar- rived in San Francisco January 5. 1865. While a part of Colonel Scott's property was located in Humboldt and Monterey counties the greater area of the three hundred and fifty thousand acres of land was located in Los An- geles and Ventura counties, and in the last named locality Mr. Bard made his home.

Mr. Bard was the pioneer in the develop- ment of the oil fields of that setcion of the state, and as superintendent of the California Petroleum Company sunk some of the earliest oil wells in California on the Ojai ranch. The results of this work were not equal to the ex- pectations of the company, and in 1868 the work was abandoned. Among other oil en- terprises in which he was interested and was the organizer are the Union Oil Company of California, the Torrey Cañon Oil Company and the Sespe Oil Company, of which he was president, both of which were ultimately ab- sorbed by the Union Oil Company. In 1868 he subdivided the Rancho Ojai and sold it as small ranches and a little later disposed of the Rancho Canada Larga in the same way. It is a notable fact that while there has been much trouble over titles to lands comprised in the various grants in this state, there have never been any controversies over the acres disposed of by Mr. Bard. In 1871 he built the wharf at Hueneme and laid out the town. He subsequently acquired the ownership of this wharf from Colonel Scott, built warehouses, enlarged and improved the landing and ex- ploited its advantages until it became a very important shipping point, handling more ag- ricultural products ihan any other wharf south of San Francisco, it being possible for him to secure cheap transportation rates on account of the returning lumber schooners from ports below. The building of the wharf at Hueneme encouraged others to engage in such enterprises at places on the coast, as ex- posed and unprotected as was Hueneme : and as the mechanics whom he employed on the Hueneme wharf were desirous of securing

further employment in their business, they took contracts in his name, but on their own account, to build wharves along the channel. Among others were the wharves at More's landing, Gaviota, Santa Cruz Island, and the wharf built for the Los Angeles & Independ- ence Railroad at Santa Monica.

Mr. Bard next subdivided for Colonel Scott the Rancho El Rio de Santa Clara o la Colonia and secured some undivided interest for him- self in that grant. He became one of the prin- cipal owners of the ranchos Simi and Los Posas, and bought as well, from the company he represented, the San Francisco ranch which he afterwards disposed of to Henry Newhall. He was largely interested in sheep raising several years ago and at one time he and his co-partner owned thirty-five thousand head. During the dry years following 1875 thousands were lost, but the business was con- tinued, and later success made the venture a profitable one as a whole. Since its building Mr. Bard has been president of the Hueneme Wharf Company and was one of the organ- izers of the Bank of Ventura, serving as pres- ident of that institution for many years. He was likewise an organizer of the Hueneme Bank and is now its president. He was one of the supervisors of Santa Barbara county and when Ventura county was created he was one of the commissioners appointed to organ- ize this county. Although in charge of such extensive business interests, no movement calculated to be of material benefit to his sec- tion of the state went without his support. and both time and means were freely given to every interest deserving the attention of a good citizen.

The political career of Mr. Bard has been a long and honorable one which culminated in a term in the United States senate. He was sent as a delegate to the Republican National Convenion in 1884 when James G. Blaine was nominated for the presidency, being the only elector from California sent to the electoral college in 1892. At a special session of the state legislature in 1900 Mr. Bard was elected to the United States senate by a unanimous vote of the Republican members of the state senate and served his term with great credit to himself and satisfaction to the people whom he represented. Whenever a question came up for his decision he studied the pros and cons of the matter deeply before expressing an opinion, which however when onee arrived at was almost invariably right. He made an especially thorough study of the Panama Ca- nal project, even before assuming -his sena- torial duties at Washington, and in the con- sideration of the amendments to the first Hay-

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Pauncefote treaty his colleagues accorded to Senator Bard the credit of having offered cer- tain suggestions which resulted in several of the important amendments to that document.

When Mr. Bard assumed his duties as su- perintendent of the lands and wharf at Hue- neme he met with opposition from some of the residents. His life was even threatened at times and it is said that upon one occasion a gibbet had really been erected for his execu- tion. Mir. Bard felt himself in the right on disputed questions, however, and pursued the even tenor of his way apparently unconscious of trouble, and the time came when even those who were once his pronounced enemies be. came his stanch friends.

It was in 1876 that Mr. Bard began to im- prove the grounds of his beautiful home and make it what it is today, one of the finest res- idence places in the state. There are fifty acres of ground attached, half of which is laid out in a park and contains trees, plants and flowers from all parts of the world. Floricult- ure has always been one of the most pleas- urable recreations of Mr. Bard, and in his flower gardens are found many fine roses which were originated on his grounds.

His marriage, which occurred in 1876, united him with Miss Mary, daughter of C. O. Gerberding of San Francisco, founder of The Evening Bulletin of that city. She was a native of San Francisco, and became the mother of eight children: Beryl B. : Mary L., wife of Roger G. Edwards of Saticoy ; Thom- as G .: Anna G .: Elizabeth Parker: Richard; Philip ; and Robert. All are now living ex- cept Robert, who died at the age of two years. Wir. and Mrs. Bard also opened their home to an adopted daughter. Alethea Malden, a young English lady.

Mr. Bard was made a Mason in Ventura and is now a member of Oxnard Lodge, F. & .A. M .. and of Oxnard Chapter, R. A. M., and of the Ventura Commandery, K. T. He is a member and liberal supporter of the Presby- terian Church, and a man of superior integrity and rectitude. There is a pronounced yet un- explainable influence felt in the presence of some people that can be accounted for in no other way than that it is caused by the in- ward thoughts and high motives of the per- son to whom they are ascribed. When in the presence of such a man one feels, instinctive- iy, that he has lived a pure and upright life and is one who can be trusted implicitly with- out fear that any confidence imposed in him will be betrayed. There is no necessity to eulogize a man of the well known reputation and eminence of Senator Bard. yet it will not be out of place to mention that he possesses between the two families it is very remote. But

to a remarkable degree this personal magnet- ism, as it is popularly called. While naturally endowed with the qualities which win the love and esteem of his fellow men, there is a strength of purpose in all his actions without which it would be impossible for him to live the blameless life he has with a career so filled with public and private duties as have fallen to his share.

CEPHAS LITTLE BARD, M. D. No man has more opportunity to endear himself to the members of a community, rich and poor, high and low, old and young, than has the physician, who not only ministers to the sufferings of the afflicted ones, but brings cheer to the house- hold of those whose physical pains he relieves. Dr. Cephas L. Bard was one of those who was loved, honored, respected and almost rever- enced by every inhabitant of Ventura city and in the country for many miles around. Dr. Bard was born at Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pa., April 7, 1843, a member of an old estab- lished family which came to this country in colonial days.

The great-great-grandfather, Archibald Bard, came to this country before 1741. We find him settled with his family in Adams county, Pa., on a farm granted to him by the proprietaries in 1741. Here his son Richard Bard and his wife, the great-grandparents of Dr. Bard, were captured by Indians. Richard Bard made his escape at the urgent solicitation of his wife, after his body had been painted by the Indians in colors indi- cating that he was doomed to torture and death. After making many hazardous attempts to res- cue his wife he eventually succeeded in ransom- ing her from captivity, which had continued for more than two years. Richard Bard was a proni- inent citizen of Cumberland, now Franklin county, Pa., and was a member of the Penn- sylvania convention that ratified the Federal con- stitution. Among Richard Bard's sons was Thomas Bard, a captain in the war of 1812. His son, Robert MI. Bard, the father of Dr. Bard, was for many years a prominent lawyer at Chambersburg. Pa. He was a man of great talent and ability in his profession, recognized as the leading member of the local bar. He was a Whig, took an active part in politics and was a candidate for congress at the time of his last illness. He died in 1851. It is not true, as has been stated in published notices of his death, that Dr. Bard was con- nected with the family which was represented by Dr. John Bard and his son, Dr. Samuel Bard, ·distinguished over a century ago as physicians of the City of New York. If there be any connection

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his taste for the medical profession was inher- ited by Dr. Bard from the maternal side of his house. His grandfather, Dr. P. W. Little, a student under Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a promi- nent physician at Mercersburg, Pa., and had two sons, both of whom were physicians: Dr. Robert Parker Little, who practiced at Colum- bus, Ohio, and Dr. B. Rush Little, who at the time of his death was professor of obstetrics in the Keokuk (Iowa) Medical College.

Dr. P. W. Little's wife, Mary Parker, was the daughter of Col. Robert Parker, who served with distinction in the Revolutionary war. Col- onel Parker's sister was married to General Andrew Porter, from whom descended David Rittenhouse Porter, governor of Pennsylvania, and his illustrious son, General Horace Porter, late ambassador to France.

While still very young C. L. Bard had deter- mined to devote himself to the medical profes- sion and after completing a course of classical studies at the Chambersburg Academy he en- tered the office of Dr. A. H. Senseny, one of Pennsylvania's most talented physicians, and began to read medicine. This was at the time of the Civil war and when the news of McClel- lan's reverses reached him he decided to re- spond to the call of patriotism and enlisted as a private in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol- unteers and with that regiment participated in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Fred- ericksburg and Chancellorsville. His term of service having expired he attended a course of lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, and after passing a satisfactory examination secured the appointment as assistant surgeon of a regi- ment of Pennsylvania volunteers and remained in the war until the surrender of General Lee, when he returned to his old home and prac- ticed at his profession until 1868. He then came to San Buenaventura, Cal., the place being at that time but a very small village. He was the first doctor to locate there and with the ex- ception of short intervals of time in which he attended post-graduate courses in Eastern med- ical schools, lived in San Buenaventura until death. At the first county election in Ventura county he was unanimously elected coroner, both parties having nominated him, and for twenty years he served as county physician and surgeon, and was also an efficient health officer. He was popular in all medical circles having filled the office of president of the Ventura County Med- ical Society, being an active participant in the actions of the California State Medical Society, of which he was made president for one term. and at various times was a member of the Board of Pension Examiners.

He was a man of well rounded interests and took a leading part in social and civic life, was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the military order of the Loyal Le- gion, and was a Knights Templar. True to his ancestral teachings he adhered to the beliefs of the Presbyterian denomination. One of the dear- est dreams and ambitions of Dr. Bard during his lifetime was the establishment of a complete and modern hospital at Ventura, and for years he studied and planned the details of the build- ing, its arrangements and fittings. The culmi- nation of his desire was realized the last year of his life when the beautiful Elizabeth Bard Memorial Hospital at Ventura, erected to the memory of a loving mother, was completed by the two sons, Dr. Cephas L. and Hon. Thomas R. Bard.

His attention to the exceedingly large prac- tice which he had built up in this section of the state did not prevent him from taking an ac- tive interest in all public enterprises. He was a stalwart patriot and his love for the flag and pride in the institutions for which it stands were as strong as his love for his profession and pride in his medical and surgical skill. His death, April 20, 1902, removed one of the most valued citizens and well beloved men in Ventura county. Of his qualities of mind his literary talent was most remarkable and he found time during a busy professional career to read the classics, be- come familiar with the riches of literary artists, and write numerous literary productions. His inventive genius was also of a high order and contributed to his remarkable success as a sur- geon and practitioner. That he had the quali- ties of a great man none who knew him will deny ; that he would have been great in any call- ing in life there is no doubt ; and that he was the most dearly beloved and most highly esteemed man in the community is a fact acknowledged by all.

GEORGE F. MANDER. In the making of his choice of a permanent location as well as in his identification with a growing industry, Mr. Mander feels that he has been especially fortunate. Since he became a resident of Long Beach in 1898 he has been a loyal and enthu- siastic supporter of local affairs and a firm be- liever in the increasing importance of the town, this faith being evidenced by his investment in local real estate and business enterprises. When he first came to this point he followed the car- penter's trade and assisted in erecting a number of buildings, among them the plant utilized by the Long Beach Gas Company. Having be- come familiar with the manufacture of gas dur-

W.H. Perry

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ing a sojourn in Rockford, Ill., and having shown skill in the installing of the machinery and putting in of pipes, the members of the com- pany decided that he possessed peculiar qualifi- cations for the office of superintendent and chose him for that position. The plant as it stands to-day is the direct outcome of his undivided attention. At the first installa- tion a small machine was selected suited for a town of the size of Long Beach at that time. The growth of the place, however, was beyond even his sanguine expectations, and in two years it became necessary to increase the capacity, which was done by installing a plant twice the size of the first one. During 1905 a new machine was installed having eight times greater capacity than that of the machine it dis- placed. The plant is operated by twelve regu- lar employes under the direction of the superin- tendent and is managed with a skill and intelli- gence appreciated by the stockholders and pa- trons of the company.

One of the recent undertakings with which Mr. Mander's name is associated is the Seaside Sanitarium and Medical Dispensary Company, of which he was one of the originators, and which has a capital stock of $200,000. It is the plan of the company to erect and conduct a san- itarium on the bluff at Long Beach overlooking the Pacific. This will be the only institution of the kind along the coast and will add another beneficial feature to Long Beach. The building will be up-to-date and modern in every respect and absolutely fire-proof. Mr. Mander is presi- dent of the company.

A resident of California since 1885, Mr. Man- der is of English parentage and ancestry. His father, James, a native of London, came to America and settled in Wisconsin while that part of the country was still undeveloped. When he became a citizen of Beloit, that now thriving city had only three houses and the county of Rock was still.in the primeval condition of na- ture, its soil uncultivated and its possibilities 1111- known. For some years he engaged in teaming from Milwaukee to his home neighborhood, and after the advent of railroads turned to other avocations. The balance of his life was passed in that locality. His son, George F., was born in Rock county, Wis., August 25, 1861, and re- ceived such advantages as the common schools afforded. When nineteen years of age he went into the city of Beloit and spent three years learning the machinist's trade, but relinquished that occupation by reason of its injurious effects upon his health. Later he was engaged at car- pentering for two years, and for two years acted as a traveling salesman for agricultural imple- ments, sewing machines and pianos, then for a year engaged in the manufacture of cigars.

but sold out in order to resume work at his trade.

On coming to the west, Mr. Mander was em- ployed by the government as a teacher in the In- dian school at Fort Yuma, where he remained for two and one-half years, and then resigned and removed to Pasadena. At that time this now beautiful city was only a small village. With A. Bliss as a partner he engaged in carpentering and took contracts for the erection of residences, after which he assisted in the building up of the town of Epworth in Ventura county. Pasa- dena continued to be his home until 1898, when he came to Long Beach and has since been ac- tive in the material growth of this popular re- sort. Before leaving Wisconsin he was mar- ried in Beloit to Miss Fannie E. Lewis, a native of that state; they are the parents of a daugh- ter, Pearl G., who was born in California Janu- ary 9, 1886.' Politically he has no partisan at- tachments, but supports the men who, as can- didates, seem to him to be best adapted for the position at issue. In fraternal relations he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand of his lodge, is fur- ther connected with the Daughters of Rebekalı as an honorary member, and was one of the incorporators of the Universal Order of Forest- ers, of which he has been supreme vice chief ranger since its organization.

WILLIAM HAYES PERRY. The busy years of an eventful career found their fulfillment in the life of one of Los Angeles' old pioneers-William Hayes Perry, whose in- herited traits of character led him not only to seek his fortunes among the less tried oppor- tunities of a new country, but to establish a home and surround it with all the refining and uplifting influences which accompany prog- ress and development. His parents were pio- neer settlers of Ohio, where they endured the privations and hardships incident to life in a new country, establishing a home and giving of the best of their efforts in the development of the commonwealth. Their son. William Hayes Perry, born in Newark, Ohio. October 17. 1832, was reared among the primitive sur- roundings of a pioneer home. in the midst of whose duties he attended the rude school in pursuit of whatever education it was possible for him to procure. Following the custom of the early days he became an apprentice in youth and learned the trade of cabinet-maker, which occupation was interrupted by the ac- complishment of his desire to try his fortunes in the land but shortly before made famous by the discovery of gold. In 1853, immediately

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

following his majority, he joined a party of about fifty men and women made up at Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, and with them began the us- ual perilous journey whose destination was, "the land of sunshine and flowers." The party had with them a large band of cattle, sheep and horses (Colonel Hollister, of Santa Bar- bara, bringing back with him to the coast a large number of stock), and this presented quite a temptation to the Indians, who con- stantly attacked them. Not until February, 1854, did the party finally reach Los Angeles.

The first employment of Mr. Perry in the then small city of Los Angeles was at his trade of cabinet-maker and in this work he managed to accumulate some means. After one year occupied thus he opened the first fur- niture store and factory of the town, in part- nership with an acquaintance, the firm name being Perry & Brady. Enterprise and ability were the only requisites of the business, as there was no competition demanding a display of capital. The firm grew in importance, and after the death of Mr. Brady in 1858 the late Wallace Woodworth purchased an interest in the business, which was then known under the name of Perry & Woodworth; in 1864 S. H. Mott purchased an interest in the business and they were henceforth known as Perry, Woodworth & Co. The original business of the firm was the manufacture and sale of furniture, but other interests later became a part of the organization. In 1865 Mr. Perry. through Captain Clark, applied for a franchise to furnishi gas for the city, and combining with others built the works and began the manufacture. In 1873 the firm of Perry, Woodworth & Co. changed from the mant !- facture of furniture and the cabinet business to dealing in lumber, mouldings, doors, sash, blinds, builders' hardware and finishing sup- plies of all kinds With the growth of the city and the demands upon their business, the plant was enlarged and constantly improved with all modern devices in machinery and gen- eral equipment. Their plant was located on Commercial street, extending through to Re- quena street, where they built a branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad for the ac- commodation of their interests. This plant was put up in 1899. the original building hav- ing been destroyed by fire. The death of Mr. Woodworth occurred in 1883, after which the business was incorporated as the W. H. Perry Lumber & Mill Company, and this today is one of the strongest firms of its kind on the Pacific coast. They own timber lands in va- rions places along the coast, logging camps, sawmills, vessels, wharves, spur tracks to the railroads, and handle the lumber from the tree

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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 84

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