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 88

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

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The marriage of Mr. Machado occurred April 15, 1875, and united him with Miss Gregoria De Leon, who was born in Los Angeles, and is a daughter of Ramon De Leon, a native of Spain. The children of their union are named as fol- lows: Alfredo, a government surveyor, now lo- cated at Salt Lake, Utah: Ascuncion, wife of Harry Minor, who owns a mill at Manila, Philip- pine Islands : Jose De Luz, at home : Florentina, at home ; Dolores, who went to the Philippines as a teacher and there was married to John Borrow, their home now being in Manila; Yloria, at home; and Francisco, who also remains on the home place.

IF Hawsom

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

DAVID F. NEWSOM. The history of any community is best told in the lives of its citi- zens. Especially is this the case when these citizens are men of power and ability, wield- ing an influence along moral and educational lines, and exerting efforts for a personal sue- cess parallel with those necessary to the ad- vancement of their adopted state. Almost tin- interruptedly from 1853 David F. Newsom was identified with the history of San Luis, Obispo county, and he left an impress which places his name in the list of those of her most representative men. Through the sub- stantial qualities of character he was able to gain for himself financial prosperity and that which is still more desirable, the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mr. Newsom was born at Petersburg, Va., September 5, 1832, of an old established southern family prominent during the old plantation days, when chivalry, gallantry, courtly manners and open-handed hospitality were matters of pride and honor with every gentleman of the south. Mr. Newsom's father was a slave-holder and had all masters been as considerate and hu- mane as he there would have been no war over the question of slavery. He was kind to the negroes, gave them all that was required to make them comfortable, and asked less of them than many employers of labor do of their white help today. No warm Sunday dinners were served in the Newsom house- hold because the negroes were given from Saturday noon till Monday morning as time in which to do what they liked, no work being required of them except that which was abso- lutely necessary. His mother was even known to have milked the cows on Sunday in order to give the milkmaid her outing, and in re- sponse to this treatment the negroes appeared to take pleasure in furthering the interests of the family.

In the schoolroom Mr. Newsom made rap- id progress and after preliminary work in the lower grades and two years at the Petersburg Classical Institute, a Presbyterian school, he entered the Wake Forest College at Forest- ville, N. C., but in his fifteenth year, on ac- count of his father's business failure, he was obliged to give up his studies and endeavor to do something toward his own support. Af- ter careful consideration of the subject he de- cided that it would be wise to learn a trade and accordingly accepted an opportunity to go to New York City and apprentice himself to Dietz Bros. & Co., brass finishers. One of the Dietz brothers was the husband of his mother's sister and it was because of this con- nection that the position was secured. On March 15, 1849. he boarded the sehooner Ann,

owned by Captam Bogart, who kindly offered him free passage to New York, where he ar- rived after an eight-day voyage. The schoon- er was doeked on East river and under the direction of the captain Mr. Newsom immedi- ately made his way to the principal store of the Dietz firm, found his unele, who directed him to his boarding place at No. 66 Beek- man street, which was then a very fashionable thoroughfare. This was the home of Ed- mond Dietz and there the nine apprentice boys of the firm were boarded and lodged. The balance of this first week in the city was spent visiting relatives and on Monday morn- ing, March 29, Mr. Newsom began his two years' apprenticeship. He took great pains with his work from the first and within six weeks it compared favorable with that of his superior and he was advanced rapidly from one department to another. His unele and aunt were the editors of Holden's Magazine and as such were the recipients of many com- plimentary tickets to operas, lectures and con- certs, and these tickets were frequently given to their nephew. Mr. Newsom was glad to take advantage of every opportunity to fur- ther educate and eultivate himself and also availed himself of his apprentice's right to draw books from the Mechanics' Library. His unele noting his ambition secured for him a like privilege at the Mercantile Library, where he was also entitled to attend the lectures frequently given there. In this way he heard a course of lectures on political economy giv- en by Horace Greeley and listened to other authorities on various interesting and instruc- tive subjects. Through the Dietz family, a member of whom was superintendent of Bar- num's American Museum, he secured free ad- mission to that place and saw and heard many things of interest and profit. It was Mr. Bar- num who made the engagement with Jenny Lind, the Swedish nightingale, to come to the United States and sing thirty nights for $30,- 000. The Battery was selected as the place for the concerts and the firm for whom Mr. Newsom was working secured the contract for lighting the building. He was one of the lighters sent to the hall the night of the first concert to attend to the lights and so had the pleasure of hearing the first concert. An in- teresting fact in relation to this incident is that through a elever maneuver Mr. Newsom had the privilege of sitting in the seat for which the first ticket was sold at the auction for $600. He had been informed that the buyer did not intend to occupy it, and when after the first overture was ended and it was still empty Mr. Newsom slipped into it and sat there through the concert.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

From Mrs. Taylor, another friend, Mr. Newsom received invitations to attend Henry Ward Beecher's church, occupying a seat in the Taylor pew, and thus heard that noted orator and divine a number of times. He ad- mired his power to sway an audience and car- ry his hearers from tears to applause and frenzy, but did not agree with him in his ut- terances on the slavery question, believing that Mr. Beecher was not correctly informed as to facts concerning the negroes and their treatment. Lectures were not the only medi- um of education which he availed himself of, but believing that bookkeeping would be of very great assistance to him he made arrange- ments to attend the Public Night School No. 5, on Duane street, where he also took les- sons in vocal and instrumental music. In spite of the many things which he accomplished for self-advancement he still found time for amusement and recreation and on Sundays often visited the various nearby places of in- terest. The three weeks' vacation which was given him during his apprenticeship he spent in Connecticut, at Saybrook, Middletown and Durham, the latter being his mother's birth- place. After visiting relatives at these points he then returned to New York, making a short stop at Saratoga Springs. The trip took him up the Hudson river and at one point the steamer stopped, dipped her flag, and then proceeded on the way. Upon inquiry as to the reason for this salute he was told that it was in honor of the Polish nobleman, Kos- ciusko, who there fought for American indepen- dence. Mr. Newsom also visited Troy, Al- bany, and Poughkeepsie and upon his return to New York went to work at his trade with new vim. Apprentices were paid $30 the first year and $40 the second, and when Mr. New- som's two years had expired he had due him of these amounts just $20. On the day of the expiration of his apprenticeship. March 29, 1851, he left New York a good mechanic, a fine bookkeeper, and with an unusually large fund of general information.

He immediately started toward his home in Virginia, stopping at Philadelphia, where he was met by his father, who was in the north buying goods at that time. While there he visited friends and called at the factory of Cornelius & Co., a firm doing work of the same kind that he had been engaged in, and his intelligent criticism of some lacquer work which he inspected secured for him a flatter- ing offer of a position in the establishment. He deferred a decision in regard to the offer until he had opportunity to consult with his parents ; as his mother preferred that he dis- continue work at the trade he acceded to her

ivishes and remained in Petersburg. Accept- ing a position in a shoe store owned by Lyon & Davis, the firm that had bought his father's business, he remained there for two years, af- ter which he decided to come to California.

Desiring to become a member of the Ma- sonic order before his departure from home his employer presented his application to the lodge and on the evening of his twenty-first birthday, September 5, 1853, he received the first and second degrees. On the tenth of the month the third degree was conferred, the lieutenant-governor, who was grand master of the state, being present, assisting in the rais- ing and delivering the lecture. The initiation, passing and raising of Mr. Newsom was under a special dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia and he had the honor of being, with one exception, the youngest Master Ma- son ever made in Virginia. The exception was George Washington, who had received his degrees under a special dispensation from the Grand Lodge of England. In later years Mr. Newsom also became a member of the Knights of Pythias order.

On September 15 Mr. Newsom started for New York, and after spending several days there renewing old acquaintances, secured pas- sage to San Francisco by the Nicaragua route on the steamer Star of the West, which left the harbor September 25. Ten days later the passengers were in San Francisco. Mr. New- som went immediately to Samuel Prichard's office there and inquired for Petersburg friends and one of the first to make an ap- pearance was Oscar M. Brown, a neighbor. who had stood high in the estimation of the public. Mr. Brown informed him that he had two ranches in San Luis Obispo county, and he also held the office of county judge. He said there was a vacancy in the clerk's office and would appoint him to fill it if the $2,000 salary was sufficient inducement. Mr. New- som decided to accompany the judge south and a few days later they arrived at San Luis Obispo. The clerk appointment materialized, but the salary did not, and as the small sum of money which he had with him was soon gone it was necessary for him to do something to replenish his purse. He finally decided to run a feed stable and this enterprise developed into a very remunerative one. Meanwhile he continued his work on the clerk's books, which he found in a decidedly chaotic condi- tion. It took a great deal of hard work to get them into any kind of order and when it is known that the county clerk was also clerk of the district, county and probate courts, recorder, auditor, county sealer, superinten- cent of schools. and clerk of the boards of

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

supervisors and equalization, one realizes that the office was no sinecure. As ex-officio coun- ty superintendent of schools Mr. Newsom en- ployed a teacher and opened the first public school of the county in a room in the old mis- sion building. After the expiration of the term of his appointment to the office he was elected by the voters and continued in that official capacity until June 10, 1857, when he changed his residence and went to try his fortunes in Washington.

His first business venture in that state was a mercantile store at Olympia, Wash., and following that, in April, 1858, he started the first general store at Bellingham, meeting with very good success. In December of the same year he disposed of his business and moved to Fort Hope, British Columbia, remaining there but six months, however, when he again turned his steps Californiaward. Upon his arrival at San Juan Island, where he found General Pickett with a detachment of United States soldiers trying to prevent his arrest by the British, Mr. Newsom organized a company of sharpshooters to assist him, and when a compromise of the trouble between the Brit- ish and American factions was agreed upon Mr. Newsom was chosen as one of the two magistrates to represent the different factions. He remained on the island until 1861, having charge of the sutler's store and assisting in the establishment of the San Juan lime works. Following this he again took up his residence in San Luis Obispo county and from that time until his death identified himself with the development and upbuilding of that part of the state. For thirty years he affiliated with the Democratic party, but in later life held independent views and did not cast his bal- lots on strictly party lines.

After his return to this county he was again prominent in political life and filled various offices, including those of justice of the peace and deputy county clerk. In 1864 he removed to Arroyo Grande and became the first teach- er in the public schools of that district. He was always especially interested in the sub- ject of education and did everything in his power to forward school interests in his own county. In the fall of 1864 he moved to the Santa Manuela ranch, having purchased twelve hundred acres of ground which is now devoted to the raising of hav. walnuts, al- monds, olives, citrus and deciduous fruits of the various varieties. Cows, turkeys and chickens are also raised and a flock of An- gora goats adds materially to the income feat- fires of the ranch. Mr. Newsom was inter- ested in the Newsom tannery and other busi- ness enterprises, but he was probably best

known as the proprietor of Newsom's Arroyo Grande Warm Springs, which are situated on this land and which he developed. The waters of the springs are specific for many diseases, which fact was first proven by the curing of patients which Mr. Newsom brought from the county hospitals. That was many years ago, and the place has since become one of the most popular winter resorts in this sec- tion of the state, and the curative powers of the waters have been tested with great satis- faction by thousands of tourists who have come long distances to bathe in the health- giving mineral waters. To those who desire it, camping privileges are free, and there are a number of cottages on the grounds which are rented to winter dwellers. The location is ideal and picturesque. The ocean with its de- lightful privileges is but a short distance away and the place has an atmosphere of quiet re- finement. No saloons have ever been allowed on the grounds-a restriction which was the cause of many predictions of failure when the resort was first opened to the public. The place is now being conducted by. Mrs. Newsom with great success.

It was in 1863 that the marriage of Mr. Newsom to Anita Branch occurred. The story of his courtship, which was probably one of the shortest and sweetest on record, is an in- teresting one. Mr. Newsom was inclined to be timid and bashful and in his bachelor days was often bantered by his friends for remain- ing single when there were so many nice girls in the community who lacked a husband. One day a San Luis Obispo merchant made him a novel wager. He offered to make out a list of eligible young women and Mr. Newsom was to. commence at the beginning and pro- pose to each girl in succession until he had been accepted or the end of the list was reached. For each rejection the merchant agreed to forfeit a box of wines and when ac- cepted the suitor was to pay a like forfeit to the merchant. The wager was agreed to and Mr. Newsom started out. To his great sat- isfaction the first name on the list was that of a maiden upon whom he had long cast his eyes in admiration,. Miss Anita Branch, a daughter of F. Z. Branch, a prosperous farmer of Arroyo Grande. She was busily arranging flowers in the parlor when the young man called early in the morning. After the usual salutations and a few words of desultory con- versation the would-be lover arranged a white and red rosebud on a rose geranium leaf and asked her to accept them with their signifi- cance. Her reply was a white and red pink on a rose geranium leaf. When the young man returned to San Luis Obispo after this

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

happy consummation of his brief though de- lightful courtship and met the merchant he exultantly announced the result in this con- cise language. "Eight words, two bouton- nieres, and in less than a minute the matter was ended. The wine is yours, Old Fel!" The best part of all was that the courtship was fol- lowed by forty years of happy and prosperous married life. Twelve children were born to them, all of whom are still living, three in Bakersfield and nine on the home ranch where they were born. Their names are David Z., Edward F., Mary M., Eliza, Anna, Alexan- der D., Louisa G., Michael A., Ruth R., Belle L., William H., and Robert P.

As a boy David F. Newsom was bright, ac- tive and full of mischief, but was not vicious, although when very young he had earned the reputation of being incorrigible on account of various escapades both in and out of school. Within a space of two years' time he had been expelled four times, but this was because his teachers misunderstood him and did not know how to manage a boy of his lively disposition and highstrung nature. In those days the most popular and often expressed sentiment was "Spare the rod and spoil the child," and teachers were especialiy fond of the admoni- tion. They seemed to be employed for their ability to develop all the latent evil there might be in a child's nature, rather than to educate their minds. Mr. Newsom felt strong- ly on this particular question throughout his life and often said: "Oh that our teachers could realize the injustice they are doing themselves and the great harm they are doing the child by inflicting corporal punishment. If a child must be punished, send it home and let the parents do it, while you retain the love and respect of your pupil." In his own ex- perience in the schoolroom he practiced this principle and when in 1863, while teaching a private school in San Luis Obispo, a mother brought her twelve-year-old son to him and advised him to use the whip and not spare the rod he requested her to take him home and do the whipping herself if she wished him whipped, for he would not strike a child. That boy grew up into an honored and re- spected citizen, for he was not whipped but, on the contrary, made to feel that he was a gentleman and was expected to act as one.

It was not alone in school, however, that the boy's exuberant spirits and love of fun and practical jokes crept out and got him into trouble. One day his father took the rest of the family to spend a day with an uncle on his plantation, leaving David and the negro cook, Mammy Vinney, at home alone. After a noonday shower the boy discovered a num-

ber of rats drinking water under the eaves and succeeded in shooting two of them. Up- on picking the bodies up he noticed that they were very fat and plump, and an impish idea seized him. He carefully skinned and dressed them, finding them very tender and tempting in appearance, and not being able to resist the temptation he took them to the cook tell- ing her they were young squirrels and asked her to cook them for supper. "In due time," said Mr. Newsom in relating the experience, "the family returned, supper was announced, and the young squirrels were eaten with a relish. All were loud in praise of the dish. My uncle advised me to try again, for they were the best he had ever eaten. A leg re- mained in the dish, I ate it and if epicureans do not add fried rats to their list of delicacies, they will miss a treat. Supper being over we were assembled in the parlor and again the delicacy and fine flavor of the squirrels was re- marked upon. I determined to tell them what we had caten, but was careful to take a stand near the door ready to run. Upon being in- formed that instead of young squirrels they had eaten rats my uncle was indignant, my aunt cried, while my cousins ran out of doors with their fingers down their throats endeav- oring to eject the loathsome rodent from their stomachs, and bedlam reigned for a few mo- ments."

While Mr. Newsom never lost his apprecia- tion of jokes and was the instigator of many through his life he was never unkind in the practice. This trait which in the boy led him to play so many pranks, in the man developed an optimistic temperament. And his was an optimism of the right kind-one that not only made him think and talk optimistically, but act so. He was a man of clean life and strong principles, and his influence was always on the side of every elevating and progressive enterprise. His death in January, 1902, re- moved an honored citizen, loved and respected by all with whom he came in contact.

GEORGE WASHINGTON HUGHES. In a state noted for magnificent scenic effects, the view from Signal Hill is not one of the least striking. Stretching only two miles from the great ocean and south of the Sierra Madre range, it affords an attractive view of both, as well as of twenty-seven cities and villages. Those who are familiar with its landscape claim as the chief beauty its ever-changing views with the passing of morning, noon and night. Every morning the island of Catalina may be seen on the one hand and the great city of Los Angeles on the other.

gast Baldina

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Every evening the stars shine down upon myr- iads of lights gleaming from lighthouses and piers, or swinging from ships and yachts, or twinkling through the windows of countless homes. Near by is the city of Long Beach, with its auditorium seating six thousand, its hotel costing nearly one-half million dollars, its bank building costing $100,000, its pier costing $100,- 000 and eighteen hundred feet in length, and its population growing with unprecedented rapidity.

The promoter of Signal Hill and the president of the Signal Hill Improvement Company is G. W. Hughes, a young man of great energy and progressive spirit, who was born near Vincennes, Ind., July 10, 1870, being the eldest among eight children, four sons and four daughters. His par- ents, John B. and Abbie G. (Warman) Hughes, were natives of Indiana and Illinois, and the father, after a lifetime of industrious application to agricultural pursuits, died in Indiana, where his widow now makes her home. After complet- ing the studies of the common schools G. W. Hughes was sent to the Southern Indiana Col- lege at Mitchell, where he remained for one term, and then returned to take up farm pursuits near the large estate, Loo-goo-tee, owned and oc- cupied by his father. In 1896 he became interest- ed in the hotel business at Odon, Daviess county, Ind., and two years later removed to Tunnelton, Lawrence county, same state, where he conducted a department store. Coming to California in 1902 with $800, he embarked in the real estate business at Long Beach and the next year platted forty acres on Signal Hill, also the Elin avenue addition of ten acres and several large purchases on the ocean front.

The Signal Hill Improvement Company was incorporated in 1904, with a capital stock of $200,000, the object being to improve and sell in building lots a tract of one hundred and eighteen acres on Signal Hill. A number of prominent men were interested in the enterprise, but their stock was acquired by Mr. Hughes and Mr. Crowe, who now operate the company's holdings. On the first sale day. May 25, 1905, when lots were open to the public, $58,000 worth of lots were sold, and the sales have since continued at a gratifying rate. The lots are 60x130, with oiled boulevards eighty feet wide, cement sidewalks, artesian water piped to each lot. no saloons, no stores. Water is supplied by the Signal Hill Wa- ter Company, of which Mr. Hughes is president. and he is also vice-president of the Signal Hill Gravel Company. After coming to the coast he was married at Long Beach to Miss Marie Wolf, a native of San Francisco, and they are the par- ents of a son, LeRoy. Politically he maintains an independence of views, voting for the men and measures he considers best qualified to promote

the interests of the people, and in fraternal rela- tions he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Los Angeles.

JAMES VINING BALDWIN was born in Weston, Ohio, a suburb of Toledo, October 25, 1870, the second in a family of three chil- dren born to his parents, Edward and Harriett (Taylor) Baldwin, both of whom were born and reared in the eastern states, the paternal name ranking high in mercantile circles in New York City. In young manhood Edward Baldwin removed to Ohio, and in Weston carried on a merchandise establishment for many years. Not unlike his predecessors he thoroughly understood his calling, and the name of Baldwin soon bore the same stand- ing in business circles in Weston that it had in the east. Having disposed of his store he is now living in Weston at an advanced age.

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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 88

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