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 92

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.

California intending to start a cannery for the same company in this section, but circumstances changed his plans, and instead of starting a factory he became an employe on the Southern Pacific Railroad out of Los Angeles. During the eight years of his connection with the road he worked his way up from baggageman to con- ductor. Meanwhile he had become interested in Los Angeles county real estate and in 1886 he resigned his position with the road in order to devcte his attention exclusively to his property holdings. His attractive home in San Pedro is presided over by his wife, formerly Olive M. Betts, who was born in New York state, and by whom he has four children, William, Rena, Alma and Leland. The family are identified with the Episcopal Church.

Institutions for the material upbuilding of the county, notably the Chambers of Commerce at San Pedro and Los Angeles, have received the impetus of Mr. Peck's practical co-operation and sagacious encouragement. In his political views he has always been a stanch supporter of Repub- lican principles and at this writing is aiding the party through his efficient service as a member of the county central committee. In 1868 he was appointed vice-consul for Sweden and Nor- way in the district of Southern California, and since then has remained in that position. In fraternal connections he holds membership with the Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, and the Native Sons of the Golden West, while socially he is a member of the Union League Club of Los Angeles and a welcomed guest in the most cultured circles of his home county. To such men as he Southern California owes its steady growth and its world-wide reputation as a desira- ble place of residence, for he and many others of similar devotion and loyalty have developed its interests, improved its lands and attracted to its genial climate cultured people from all portions of the country.

HENRY H. GIRD. The large landed estates which he acquired years ago (all of which he has since divided among his children) give to Mr. Gird a position among the most influential and substantial residents of the San Luis Rey valley. Though he has now reached an age and a finan- cial independence justifying retirement from re- sponsibilities, such is the energy of his tempera- ment that he does not permit himself to lapse into mental or physical inaction. but remains inter- ested in the activities which filled his earlier years. Much of his time is devoted to the care of his orchard of twelve acres, in which may be found every variety of fruit, tame and wild, that grows in the three northern continents, as well as speci- mens from Australia and Africa. In giving the

closest care to the orchard he is not actuated by a desire to make the trees a source of profit, but wishes to develop for family use every variety of fruit known to the latitude.

Descended from an old eastern family, Mr. Gird is a son of Henry H. and Sarah Ann ( Kins- ley) Gird, the former a graduate of the West Point Military Academy, and the designer of the plans for the fortifications at Petite Coquelle near Mobile. After his resignation from the army he became an instructor of mathematics in an insti- tution of learning at Jackson, East Feliciana parish, La., where he remained for thirteen years or more. Removing to Illinois in 1844 he became a pioneer of Clinton county and developed a tract of unimproved land into a valuable farm, remaining there until his death six years after his removai from the south. His wife had died prior to his removal from Louisiana. When the family established their home in the south Henry H. Gird was quite small, he having been born February 16, 1827, at West Point, N. Y. His education was conducted in private schools at Jackson, La., and in the State college of Louisi- ana, which institution he left in order to ac- company his father to Illinois in 1844, and after- ward he aided in developing a tract of virgin soil from its primeval state into a condition of cultivation.

During August of 1853 Mr. Gird arrived at the old town of Shasta after a journey of one hundred and twenty days across the plains with wagons and ox-teams. A brief sojourn was made in Sacramento, after which he took up ranching in Sutter county. From there, in 1861, he re- moved to Santa Clara county and the following vear transferred his headquarters to Los Angeles county, settling six miles from Santa Monica and buying land suitable for the raising of grain and stock. While making his home in Los Angeles county he invested in a tract of four thousand five hundred and ninety acres in San Diego county, which he purchased in 1876 and to which he removed four years later. Of recent years he has erected a substantial ranch house on the place and has made improvements greatly en- hancing the value of the property. Through all of his active life he has been interested in public affairs and since the organization of the Republican party he has supported its princi- ples. Some three months before he left Illinois he was initiated into the Masonic order and ever since then he has been a disciple of the lofty principles of brotherhood and charity for which the fraternity stands.

The marriage of Mr. Gird took place in Clin- ton county. Ill., in February of 1849 and united him with Miss Martha S. Lewis, who was born and readed in that state. Four children were born of their union, namely: William; Mary, wife of

Niles Pease

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H. M. Peters, of San Diego county ; Helen, Mrs. D. O. Lamb, of the San Luis Rey valley, and Catherine, who married Jefferson Shipley and lives at Fallbrook. The only son, who is now proprietor of the ranch, has a wide reputation as a breeder and trainer of fine horses, and some of his best trotters come from his stallion, Cob- wallis. In the raising of cattle he has also been more than ordinarily successful, his specialty be- ing the Devon breed, registered stock, and he re- cently brought a registered bull from Illinois, paying a high price for the animal in addition to $135 in transportation charges. Few men in San Diego county are as familiar with the stock as William Gird, who is regarded as an authority concerning cattle and horses, and whose long ex- perience in the stock business has made his name familiar to stock raisers throughout this section of the country. When a young man he attended Arnold's Business College in Los Angeles, where he acquired a knowledge of commercial affairs and business transactions, but his large success is the result of habits of close observation and wise judgment rather than the study of text- books. His home is with his father, and the two are united by bonds of sympathy, kindred tastes and mutual affection.

NILES PEASE. The commercial activity of Los Angeles has had in Niles Pease, for- merly president of the Niles Pease Furniture Company, one of its strongest and most suc- cessful men and one who has added steadily to its prestige for the past twenty years. When he first came to the Pacific coast it was after a period of twenty-four years of success- ful work as a manufacturer and merchant in his native town, and with the capital and ex- perience thus gained easily established himself in a secure business position here. The suc- cess achieved by Mr. Pease has been the re- sult of earnest, indefatigable labor, sturdy ap- plication and well-directed zeal, and bespeaks possession of the strongest characteristics of manhood.

Mr. Pease is of eastern birth and ancestry, the name being widely known and honored in Connecticut, where his grandfather, Simeon Pease, enlisted for service in the Revolution- ary war. His parents, Wells and Betsey Pease, were also natives of Connecticut, where in the vicinity of Thompsonville, on the 13th of October, 1838, their son was born. He was reared to young manhood in his native local- ity, receiving his education in the public schools until he was eighteen years old, when he became apprenticed to learn the trade of tinsmith. Three years later he engaged in this occupation, establishing a manufactory

and dealing in stoves and tinware. He met with success in his enterprise and gradually enlarged his operations until he was well known throughout the state and largely iden- tified with its business interests. In 1876 he suspended this branch of his business, and devoted his efforts entirely to the sale of fur- niture.

Finally deciding to locate on the Pacific coast, Mr. Pease sold out his interests in 1884 and in the same year came to California, where he identified himself with the Los Angeles Furniture Company as a partner in the con- cern. They established a store at No. 122 South Spring street and began business. At the end of the year Mr. Pease purchased the entire interest of the business, and as his trade increased enlarged bis operations and added to his stock. In 1887 he removed to the Har- ris block, between Third and Fourth streets, on South Spring, and there he had a well- equipped carpet and furniture salesroom. With the splendid increase in patronage which came with the passing years Mr. Pease found it necessary to seek more commodious quar- ters, and accordingly, in 1897, moved into the large, five-story building at No. 439 South Spring street, this being built by L. Harris at that time to accommodate the Niles Pease Furniture Company. On the 25th of Septem- ber, 1897. this business was incorporated under the latter name, his children being taken into the concern. With the passing of years they built up one of the largest and most extensive trades in Southern California, their patronage extending also to Arizona. December 1, 1905, the business passed into the hands of the Pa- cific Purchasing Company, the latter repre- senting the combined business of five similar enterprises in this city.

Aside from his other interests Mr. Pease has been interested for a number of years in various enterprises. He served for some years as a director of the Columbia Savings Bank : is at present a director in the Central Bank of Los Angeles : a prominent member and a di- rector of the Los Angeles Chamber of Com- merce ; and for four years, ending January I. 1906, served as president of the Merchants' and Manufacturers' Association. Ever since deciding to cast in his fortunes with those of the commercial interests of this city. Mr. Pease has taken a deep interest in the ad- vancement of its best interests, and has added the force of a solid and substantial man of af- fairs to the municipality's growth. In his po- litical convictions he is a Republican, and while a resident of Connecticut, in 1876, was chosen by his party to the state legislature. where he served with credit to himself and

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with satisfaction to his constituency. Frater- nally he is a Knight Templar and a Thirty- second degree Mason and stands exceptionally high in the organization. For some years he has been identified with the Unitarian Church, to whose philanthropies he is a liberal con- tributor, and served as trustee of the church for some time.

The marriage of Mr. Pease occurred in Thompsonville, Conn., March 25, 1860, and united him with Miss Cornelia Gleason, a na- tive of that place, and born of this union are the following children: Grace G., Jessie F., Sherman, Jewell, Anna, Herbert and Flor- ence. Mr. Pease is passing on to a peaceful and happy old age, surrounded by the com- forts and luxuries which his years of labor and effort have brought him, serene in the conviction of duty cheerfully done wherever met in his noteworthy career; of success achieved ; of friendships won; and ranking as one of the representative men of Los Angeles and of Southern California.

CAPT. WILLIAM HAZZARD PRINGLE. The river Tweed along a certain part of its winding course forms the boundary between Eng- land and Scotland, and on the banks of that his- toric stream in the shire of Northumberland, England, lay the ancestral home of the Pringle family, some of whose members removed thence to establish the race in the new world. Capt. John Pringle, who was a native of Massachusetts, hecame a captain in the war of 1812 and after- ward lived quietly on his farm near Ogdensburg, N. Y., until death removed him from his labors. In the captain's family there was a son, William, who was born and reared on the homestead near Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, and during the greater part of his active life followed agri- cultural pursuits in the same locality, but passed his last days in Iowa. In his marriage to Miss Eleanore Thompson, a native of St. Lawrence county, he became the son-in-law of Seth Thomp- son, a soldier in the war of 1812, and the latter in turn was a son of a Revolutionary soldier.

The family of William Pringle comprised ten children, eight of whom attained mature years, and two sons and one daughter are now living, William Hazard being fourth in order of birth. On the home farm, near Ogdensburg, N. Y., he was born July 30, 1831, and there he passed the uneventful days of boyhood, alternating work at home with attendance upon a subscription school held in an old log building. As early as 1844 he left home to sail on the lakes, where he remained until seventeen years of age, and then shipped from New York City before the mast in the West India trade, later sailing before the mast

on a trans-Atlantic vessel. On the arrival of the ship in Australia he and the rest of the crew left and secured employment in Sydney, but soon af- terward he shipped on the whaler Albany, of New Bedford, to New Zealand and Guam. From there he accompanied the whaler Betsey Williams to the Arctic seas as harpooner, returning after seven months to Honolulu with a full cargo of whale oil and bone. The ship was then put up for repairs preparatory to a trip around the Horn and Mr. Pringle was paid off at the market price, after which he formed the acquaintance of the Hawaiian royal family and remained for six months as the guest of the king. From there he accompanied the German ship Republic to Tucahona, Chile, and thence around the Horn to Bremerhaven, Germany, from which port he traveled through Germany on a pleasure tour and visited London, where he saw the famous Crystal palace, as well as other sights of in- terest.

Shipping on the bark Clio, of London, Mr. Pringle went to the West Indies for a cargo of sugar and there took passage on a vessel bound for Philadelphia, where he landed in due time. On the way the vessel stopped at Rumkee to be loaded with rock salt. After this he accompanied the brig George Washington to Portsmouth, N. H., next was ten months in the riggers gang. fitting out ships, and then went on the Jolin Wedon to Florida, from there to Liverpool, Eng- land, and then back to Boston. There he be- came second officer on the clipper Gentoo, which was loaded with flour and sugar for San Fran- cisco and made the voyage via the Horn, re- turning thence to Boston. His next cruise was as first officer on the vessel Louisa Margaret to the Barbadoes, West Indies, and then he was first officer on the bark Hahnemann, to Havre, France, and returning to the United States. For three years he was first officer on the Elizabethtown between the United States and France, and at the expiration of that time enlisted in the United States navy, being assigned to the warship Ports- mouth. Eighteen months later he was given an honorable discharge and returned to the lakes, becoming mate on the Palo Alto. From 1857 to 1859 he was captain of the Colonel Cook, and then commanded the Torrent, L. H. Cotton and Lucy Clark successfully, remaining for thirteen years with boats owned by George W. Bissell, of Detroit. Later he became a member of the firm of John F. Rust & Co., which built and operated the ship George W. Bissell, and later built the vessel David W. Rust, which he com- manded for nine years on the lakes. On the death of the senior Mr. Rust he sold his interest in that firm and joined a number of men in building the first large iron steamboat used on the lakes. this being given the name of Onoko. With others

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

he started an iron shipyard at Cleveland, Ohio, where the Globe shipyards, the largest there, en- gaged in building ships and conducting transpor- tation business, with himself as general superin- tendent.

On disposing of his interest in the shipyards to Mark Hanna in 1883, Captain Pringle removed to New Mexico and purchased a cattle ranch in the upper Pecos valley near Fort Stanton, Lincoln county. The following year he came to San Diego but he did not sell his New Mexico holdings until 1886. On coming to California he first made a specialty of the real estate and banking business. Later he bought eight hundred and twenty-four acres on the Mesa Grande, where he engaged in raising standard and draft horses, importing a Cleveland bay possessing the finest qualities of that breed. In 1899 he sold the ranch and since then he has lived in San Diego, limiting his labors to the management of his property inter- ests, and to the filling of his duties as harbor commissioner. Under Governor Stoneman he was appointed pilot commissioner with a re-ap- pointment by Governor Waterman. In Novem- ber of 1903, Governor Pardee appointed him harbor commissioner to fill a vacancy, and two years later he was regularly chosen to fill that position.

The first marriage of Captain Pringle was sol- emnized in Mount Clemens, Mich., and united him with Miss Mary E. Huntoon, who was born at Plattsburg, Vt., and died in San Diego. Nine children were born of their union, but only two are living, viz. : George, a member of the mount- ed police force of San Diego; and William, cap- tain of a steamer on the lakes. The present wife of Captain Pringle was Mrs. Eleanor Keith, of San Diego, a native of Illinois. In national poli- tics Captain Pringle votes the Republican ticket, but in local matters he votes for the man rather than for the party. For some years he has been identified with the Union League Club of San Diego. While at Marine City, Mich., he was made a Mason in the blue lodge, of which he be- came master and at this writing he has his mem- bership in Silver Gate Lodge No. 296, F. & A. M., at San Diego. At one time he was active in St. Clair Chapter, R. A. M., at St. Clair, Mich., but now is demitted, also was formerly promi- nent in the Oriental Commanderv. K. T., of Cleveland, Ohio, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Personally Captain Pringle possesses the genial and companionable traits that win and retain firm friends. With a breadth of views reminding one of the illimitable sweep of the ocean . with a heartiness of manner bespeaking the mariner : with a bluff yet kindly courtesy, an outspoken and frank, yet friendly expression of opinion : with a frame that retains much of the strength of

youth yet suggests familiarity with storm-swept seas; with the perfect ease in all situations that marks the seasoned traveler under all skies ; and with a kindliness of heart that extends an equal courtesy and hospitality to friend and stranger, in his character and personality he af- fords a splendid illustration of the men whose lives are spent amid the limitless expanse of the great seas.

HUGO EUGENE SCHWICHTENBERG. Preceded by about eight years as a traveling photographer throughout the west Mr. Schwich- tenberg came to Pomona in .1893 and established a gallery at No. 386 West Second street for the purpose of building up a local trade. With what success he met may be realized when it is said that in two years' time he had outgrown his original quarters, and it was this circumstance which necessitated his removal to the Avis build- ing, where he is now located. With him photog- raphy has been a life-time study, and when he was only twelve years old he constructed a 4x5 wet plate camera, the ideas for its construction being gathered entirely by self study and read- ing. With this early attempt as a basis he pro- gressed from year to year in his art, until to- day he is recognized as one of the most artistic photographers on the coast.

Although American born Mr. Schwichten- berg is of German parentage, his father, Rev. Henry A. Schwichtenberg, having been born in Dantzic, Germany. For many years he was a silk merchant in that city, but after the loss of his stock by fire he came to the new world to begin life anew. Going to Allegan county, Mich., he worked at the tailor's trade for a time, from there going to Niles, that state, and still later to Michigan City, Ind. While in the lat- ter city he began to study for the ministry, and during the time of his preparation for five years taught in a German-American school. His ordi- nation as a pastor in the Reformed Church was conferred upon him in 1876 and the same year he went to Medaryville, Pulaski county. Ind., to take charge of a church there. Three years later he was transferred to a pastorate in Bir- mingham, Ohio, and after the same length of time in that place was pastor of the church in Piqua, Ohio. From Ohio he was transferred to Boegers Store, Osage county, Mo., his min- istry there continuing for three years, when he came west to Portland, Ore .. in 1884. As there was no church of the Reformed denomination in Portland he was given charge of a Lutheran pastorate, from there going to Mink. Clacka- mas county, remaining there the usual term of three years also. Il1-health necessitated a com- plete rest, and when he was able to resume his

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duties he was placed in charge of a Lutheran pastorate in South San Francisco, remaining there two years, and later was in Petaluma the same length of time. From Petaluma he came to Pomona and assumed charge of the German Lutheran congregation at this place, but he is now retired from active service and at the age of seventy-one years makes his home in Port- land, Ore. His wife, who was a native of Berlin, Germany, died in Portland, leaving three children, as follows: Max F., who is a drug- gist in Portland; Otto H., who is in the employ of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company ; and Hugo E.

The youngest child in the parental family, Hugo E. Schwichtenberg was born June 8, 1867, in Allegan county, Mich., where he attended the public schools, and as he was naturally a student and a lover of books generally, he gained an excellent education. It was while the family were making their home in Piqua, Ohio, that he became interested in the subject of photography, and when only twelve years worked out his first problem in the art by constructing a camera from descriptions which he had read. In 1884 the family removed to Oregon, and in Portland he was for a time employed in a bakery, although he had by no means discontinued his interest or studies in his art. On the other hand he had in the meantime kept up a diligent course of study and preparation for independent work, and by the time he was eighteen years old he was prepared to set forth as a traveling pho- tographer. A slight interruption in his plans occurred about this time, occasioned by the ill- ness of his father. who then had charge of a school. He completed his father's term in the school and in April of that year. 1886, started out with his tent and photographing outfit for Gervais, going from there to Lebanon, spending the entire summer in the two places mentioned. It was his practice to travel throughout the en- tire Pacific coast during the summer seasons, spending his winters in Portland, a course which he followed for six years, and, during two years he also conducted a gallery at Albina. In 1891 he came to California and for one year traveled between San Francisco and the coast, during which time he built up a reputation as an artist of superior merit which had preceded him to Pomona, whither he came in 1893 and estab- lished the nucleus of his present flourishing busi- ness. He opened his doors for business Novem- ber 23. 1893, and August 15, 1895. he became established in his present commodious quarters in the Avis building. In connection with this studio he also conducted a branch studio in Azusa between the years 1808 and 1904, and during the same time also had a studio at On- tario for three years, from 1901 until 1904, but

in the latter year he was compelled to discon- tinue both, as the local work demanded all of his time and attention. In January, 1905, he bought out the studio of which Scholl & Scholl were the proprietors, but since then he has re- moved The Elite (as this studio is known) to more commodious quarters, opposite the First National Bank, southwest corner of Second and Main streets. In both studios he is carrying on an excellent business.

In Pomona Mr. Schwichtenberg was married to Miss Ada M. Hansler, who was also a native of Michigan, her birth occurring in Niles. Two children have been born to them, Otto and Al- fred. The family attend the Presbyterian Church, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Schwich- tenberg are members, and politically he is inde- pendent in the casting of his ballot. His mem- bership in the Board of Trade is looked upon as an acquisition to the well-being of that body, a feeling which is shared by the various fraternal organizations of which he is a member, among them being the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Knights of the Macca- bees, Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Yeomen.

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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 92

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