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 II, Part 10

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234

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To his country home Mr. Borden brought a wife in 1905, his marriage occurring on the 7th of June of that year and uniting him with Miss Leonore Beller, daughter of Alexander Beller, a well-known citizen of Carlsbad. In their religious views Mr. and Mrs. Borden support the doctrines of the Christian Church and are contributors to its missionary move- ments and local charities. The Fraternal Brotherhood numbers Mr. Borden among its members and his interest in its work has been constant. Appreciating the evil wrought by the indiscriminate sale of intoxicating liquors, he has taken a firm stand against saloons and has given his sympathy and co-operation to the prohibition cause. These views he carries into the political field and gives his ballot to Prohibition candidates whenever that party puts a ticket before the voters of his locality.

RICHARD O. HUNT. It has been the good fortune of Mr. Hunt to succeed beyond his expectations in the California enterprises in which he has been interested since his ar- rival in this state over thirty years ago, and few have more readily adapted themselves to western opportunities for advancement, nor can it be said that his youth held more than ordinary inducements to try to make the best of himself in the environments in which he found himself thrown. Born in Maine April

24, 1832, he was educated in the common schools of his native state and there also learned the trade of carriage making, follow- ing this in Worcester, Mass., for some years before removing to Chicago, Il1., in 1853. Af- ter spending about three years in the latter city he went for a short time to Racine, Wis., then to Austin, Minn., following his trade with varied success in these different states and cities. December 24, 1863, he enlisted as sec- cond lieutenant in Company B, Second Min- nesota Cavalry, under General Sulley, and with his regiment went through the Dakotas, par- ticipating in several severe battles with In- dians. The following November he was pro- moted to first lieutenant and served until De- cember 1, 1865, when he was mustered out, having given his country two years of efficient service.

Coming to California in 1872, Mr. Hunt opened up a carriage shop in Santa Barbara which is still in operation under the firm name of Hunt's Son & Schuster, his son Charles L., having this business under his supervision. About three years after coming to this state he purchased nearly a thousand acres of land in the Conejo valley, Ventura county, which he rented out for nearly ten years, but being unable to procure or keep satisfactory ten- ants, he moved upon the ranch himself in 1887, and since that time has made his home here continuously. The greater portion of his land is devoted to raising grain and stock, and a dairy of thirty-five cows. Nearly all of the butter produced from his dairy, averaging about one hundred pounds a week, is sold in Ventura. He has recently erected a large silo upon his ranch 16x31 feet, and fitted it out with modern machinery.

The marriage of Mr. Hunt was solemnized in Chicago, Ill., in 1854, and united him to Mary J. Brown, a native of Oxford, Mass. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have eight children, name- ly; Walter L., who is in the grocery business in Santa Barbara: Charles L., managing the carriage business founded by his father in San- ta Barbara ; D. Frank, formerly business man- ager of the Morning Press of Santa Barbara, but now postmaster of Santa Barbara; Lorin E., a professor at the University of California at Berkeley : Hamlet R., who has a fruit farm at Niles, Cal .; Albert W., a farmer on the home ranch; H. F., who is a blacksmith at Pasadena ; and Alice F., the wife of Edward Hunt of Berkeley. Fraternally, Mr. Hunt is a member of Ventura Lodge, F. & A. M., also of the Royal Arch Masons. He is also an hon- ored member of the Grand Army of the Re- public of Ventura. Ever since coming to his ranch in 1887 he has been a familiar figure in

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the neighborhood, and his kindly nature and general interest in his surroundings have won him many true friends among those who, like himself, are appreciators of the land resources of this very productive portion of the state. Mrs. Hunt is an estimable woman and shares in the popularity and regard of her husband, fine and deserving traits of character in both having contributed towards making this feel- ing general among their friends and acquaint- ances.

FATHER DANIEL WEBSTER MUR- PHY. The interests of the Catholic Church in Hollywood are zealously guarded by Rev. Father Murphy, who has had charge of the parish at this place since January 12, 1904.

A native of County Cork, Ireland, born Jan- uary 12, 1876, he was brought to the United States when a child of four years and was reared and trained in Cambridge, Mass. His initial school training received in the east was continued in Redlands, Cal., whither he came at the age of fourteen years. All of his school- ing and training thus far had been with the object of preparing himself for the priesthood, and for the purpose of receiving his credentials he went to Baltimore, Md., in 1894. Cardi- nal James Gibbons conferred the solemn rites of priesthood upon him in 1899. Thereafter he was first appointed assistant to the Cathe- dral at Los Angeles, Cal., where he served almost four years. Hollywood at that time was attended from the Old Mission of Los Angeles.

The arrival of Rev. Thomas J. Conaty in the southern diocese, as bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, resulted in transferring Father Murphy to the parish at Hollywood, which has been his sole charge since January, 1904. Mass was first celebrated in this parislı May 3, 1769, by the founder of all the Cali- fornia missions, Father Junipero Sera, and up- on this date also was celebrated the Holy Wood of the Cross, hence the name of Holy- wood, or Hollywood, the name which was aft- erward given to the place by the wife of John L. Beveridge, of this place. When Father Murphy took charge of the parish it numbered only fourteen adult parishioners, and in about three years the membership has increased to seven hundred, including among the number many of the leading citizens in the surround- ing country. The neighboring towns of Col- grove. Sherman and Prospect Park are included in the Hollywood parish. During 1905-06 Father Murphy built the church at St. Victor, at a cost of $10.000, this being the gift of Vic- tor Ponet, the Belgian consul at Los Angeles. He also erected the present church edifice

soon after his removal to this parish, purchas- ing one and a half acres of ground upon which the church was later erected at a cost of $29,- 200.

Closely associated with the parish at Holly- wood is the Immaculate Heart College, which was founded by the sisters of the Immaculate Heart, under the auspices of Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Conaty. The site of the college is one of the most beautiful spots to be found in this part of the state, in the midst of undulating foothills. The building is a brick and con- crete structure of late mission type, erected at a cost of $160,000, surrounded by fourteen acres of land. The college is in charge of Mother Superior Mary Magdalene, and sixty- five sisters. Instruction in the college is di- vided into three main departments, high school, college, and department of music, art and dramatic art. Besides giving instruction to both resident and day pupils, ladies are here trained for the sisterhood.

Not only has Father Murphy been an im- portant factor in the religious life of Holly- wood, but his influence has also been felt with equal force in the secular affairs of the town and surrounding country. As a member of the board of trade he has taken a special inter- est in the work of street improvement, his efforts along this line being productive of much good. The cause of temperance is an- other matter which lies close to his heart, and his influence among the young of his parish and elsewhere in this direction is widespread and deep. Father Murphy is one of the char- ter members of Hollywood Club and is chap- lain of the Knights of Columbus, of Los An- geles, the largest body of laymen in that city. During their general convention in June, 1905, they presented the church with a beautiful stained glass window representing the landing of Columbus and the first Catholic service in America, October 12, 1492. Father Murphy's parents, John S. and Nora (Mahoney) Mur- phy, also natives of County Cork, are still liv- ing, making their home in Redlands, Cal. An uncle of John S. Murphy, Daniel Murphy, of Hobarttown, New Zealand. is the oldest arch- bishop of the Catholic church in the world.

G. G. BUNDY. Ere the present prosperity of Southern California had taken definite form except in the visions of sanguine and optimistic citizens, Nathan Bundy, a native of Ohio, sought a field of employment in this part of the country and identified himself with the region which his son, G. G., has regarded as his lifelong horne. For a brief period during his early manhood Nathan Bundy had been a resident of Iowa and

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from there he returned to Ohio to choose a help- mate, his wife being Harriet Smith, a member of a pioneer family of Ohio and a native of that state. Accompanied by his wife he returned to Iowa and there followed the painter's trade. Meanwhile he heard much concerning Califor- nia and was induced by flattering reports to re- move to the Pacific coast, a decision he has had no reason to ,regret. April 30, 1876, he arrived at Santa Monica, which then was an insignificant hamlet on the beach, whose attractions as yet had not drawn hither a large population of re- sorters and health-seekers. In addition to en- gaging at his trade he became interested in the buying and selling of real estate and enjoyed considerable profits during the progress of the boom. After having made Santa Monica his home for more than twenty years, in 1898 he re- moved to Los Angeles and now resides at No. 1766 West Twenty-fourth street, on the corner of Congress street.

During the residence of the family at Ames, Story county, Iowa, G. G. Bundy was born March 21, 1873, and he was three years of age at the time of coming to California. Primarily educated in the Santa Monica grammar school, he had the supplementary advantage of attendance at the high school of that city, graduating with the class of 1895, the first to receive diplomas from that institution. After leaving school he took up the oil business, which he followed for six years, and then turned his attention to the management of his livery business, the Santa Monica stables, and to the buying and selling of real estate, in which he has met with encourag- ing success. In politics he always gives his allegiance to the Republican party and takes a warm interest in matters pertaining to municipal and state welfare. The young lady whom he selected as his wife was Miss Adele A. Smith, who was born and educated in San Francisco, but came to Santa Monica in girlhood and was living here at the time of their marriage. Two children, a daughter and son, bless their union. The family occupy a distinctive position in local society and number a host of friends among the people of their home town.

NATHANIEL McCLAIN, a pioneer rancher of Los Angeles county, is a citizen who stands high in the esteem of all who know him, both for his personal qualities of character and his business ability. He was born in Utal Septem- ber 29, 1856, a son of Francis McClain ; the latter was a native of Kentucky, who emigrated in young manhood, crossing the plains to Nevada in 1850. and engaging in the mines of that sec- tion. He met with considerable success in his efforts and acquired independence. Later he

went to Utah and passed many years, finally locating again in Nevada, where he spent the ensuing seven years. At that time he was en- gaged in teaming to the mines. Finally locating in Los Angeles county he engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred in 1881, at the age of forty-eight years. He was a man of energy and ability and accumulated a property of one hundred and sixty acres which was divided among his children. Politically he was an adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party and gave every effort toward the advancement of these interests. While a resident of Utah he took part in many Indian wars, being a resident of the state at the time of the Mountain Meadow mas- sacre. His wife was formerly Lovina Green, a native of Illinois, whose death occurred in 1900, at the age of fifty-six years. Both himself and wife are members of the Latter Day Saints Church.

H One of the family of nine children, all of whom are living in Los Angeles save one son who is now deceased, Nathaniel McClain spent the years of his boyhood in various locations, among them Nevada and Oregon and California, coming to Los Angeles in 1869 and here completing his education in a private institution. At the age of twenty years he began ranching for himself, following his early training along this line. He has made a success of his work, accumulating considerable means and at the same time build- ing up for himself a place of esteem among his fellow-citizens. In 1877 he established home ties through his marriage with Miss Martha Vick, a native of California and the stepdaughter of James S. Hart, who came to California in an early day and who is still living at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Elizabeth Hart, the mother of Mrs. McClain, is also an old pioneer of the state. With her parents she started from St. Joseph, Mo., in 1849, traveling by ox-train, but both her parents died before reaching their desti- nation. Arriving in the state early in the spring of 1850, Mrs. McClain thereafter made her home in Sacramento. She is still living, at the age of seventy years on the homestead in Green Meadows, surrounded by her children, grand- children and great-grandchildren. Her ex- periences in California during the gold-seeking times make her an interesting conversationalist.

After his marriage Mr. McClain located upon an eighty-acre tract belonging to his father-in- law, where he is still living, also owning at the present writing twenty acres on Manchester avenue, all of which is devoted to the rais- ing of grain. Mr. and Mrs. McClain be- came the parents of seven children, as fol- lows : Irena L., Viola L., James N., Arline C .. Leona. N., Inez N. and Evelyn N. The second

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughter, Viola L., became the wife of A. G. Williams, and at her death February 9, 1906, at the age of twenty-three years, left three chil- dren, Arville Guy, Evelyn Viola and James Wesley. Since the death of their mother these children have made their home with their grand- parents, Mr. and Mrs. McClain. The youngest child James Wesley, survived his mother seven months, passing away September 2, 1906, at two years of age. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. McClain, James N., married Miss Martha Barn- hill, who is a talented musician, and they are the proud parents of one daughter. Nathaniel Mc- Clain belongs to the Fraternal Aid Association of Los Angeles, and politically he is a stanch Democrat. His religious belief conforms with the doctrines of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, though he is not an active member of that body, while his wife's views coincide with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although not an active member of the Church.

GEORGE W. WISEMAN. Ever since com- ing to the state in 1893 Mr. Wiseman has been associated in business with his brother, Haldon R., and since 1904 they have owned and man- aged the principal book and stationery store in Sawtelle. The father, Abner Wiseman, was a native of Kentucky, born in Estill county, March 7, 1845, and was therefore about sixteen years old at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. His youthful spirit needed no urging to prompt him to enlist, and before long his name was en- rolled in the Eighth Kentucky Infantry. After a faithful service extending over four years and six months he met with a severe accident re- sulting from the overturning of an ammunition wagon. This unfitted him for further service, and indeed it was ten years before he recovered from the effects of the injury sufficiently to re- sume business. Purchasing eighty acres of land in Estill county, Ky., he carried on farming there for about ten years, at the end of this time re- moving to Dent county, Md., for two years en- gaging in the iron works there, burning wood for charcoal. For a short time he was engaged in the same business in Oswego, Ore., going from there to Walla Walla, Wash., where for twelve years he carried on agricultural pursuits. Ad- vancing years, however, made it advisable for him to discontinue active duties and in 1894 he sold out his interest in Washington and entered the soldier's home at Santa Monica. While on furlough he visits his sons in Sawtelle. Politi- cally he is a Republican. The Woodmen of the World number him among their members, as do also the comrades of the John A. Martin Grand Army post at Sawtelle. Mrs. Wiseman was be- fore her marriage Mary Ellen Obney, and she,

too, was born in Estill county, Ky., December 28, 1847. By her marriage with Mr. Wiseman six children were born, as follows: Sophie Anna, who died in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1894 ; George W., our subject; Martha J., Mrs. J. R. Arm- strong ; Joel S., who married Anna Shurtz; Hal- don R., who is in partnership with his brother in Sawtelle, and Thomas B., who married Alice Fletcher.

George W. Wiseman was next to the oldest of the family and was born in Estill county, Ky., February 17, 1870. When the family located in Washington he was still a young lad and in the schools of Walla Walla he gained his first knowl- edge of books. This training he later supple- mented by a business course, which he soon put into practice by establishing himself in the grain business, following this for a number of years. After conducting a farm in that state for two years he came to Los Angeles county, and in Santa Monica established a dairy business with his brother, Haldon R., and in an incredibly short time they found themselves in possession of one of the largest dairy industries in this part of Los Angeles county. The same spirit which prompted their father to lay aside his farm implements and enter the service of his country at the time of the Civil war led the brothers to dispose of their flourishing business and enlist in the Spanish- American war. During their three years service they were in several skirmishes and one engage- ment, but unlike their father they escaped in- jury. It was after the return from the war that they came to Sawtelle and bought out the book store of which they are now the proprietors, and their success in the years in which they have been residents here prove them to be men of push and perseverance and well worthy the success which has followed their efforts. Politically they are defenders of Republican principles. George W. Wiseman is interested in fraternal matters to some extent, holding membership in the Odd Fellows order and the Fraternal Bro- therhood.

DAVID BRUCE. As one of the progressive ranchmen of Arroyo Grande, David Bruce is an earnest advocate of every enterprise that tends toward the upbuilding of his community. A fine gentleman, successful, careful and conscientious in all of his business transactions, it goes with- out saying that he is well thought of by everyone with whom he comes in contact. His ranch con1- prises forty-two acres of as fertile land as there is in the valley, and it is devoted to a variety of crops, including dewberries, beans and lem- ons. The family residence is a commodious structure, and the entire property is up-to-date and in excellent condition.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Bruce is a native of Ireland, born May 10, 1860, and there he received the most of his education. At the age of sixteen years, in 1876, he immigrated to Canada, and engaged in farm- ing there for six years before coming to Califor- nia in 1882. His father before him was a farmer in Ireland and the lessons of careful industry and attention to details which the father instilled in the minds of his sons was a part of Mr. Bruce's education. This was supplemented with the adoption of the most up-to-date methods of ranching in this country, and from the time of his arrival in California in 1882 he has met with great success in all of his undertakings. He first settled at Stockton, in San Joaquin county, and ranched there for four years, when, in 1886, he removed to Marine, where for two years he had charge of a large dairy ranch of twenty-two hundred acres. From there he went to Cholame and engaged in ranching and grain farming for sixteen years, having acquired title to three hun- dred and twenty acres, which he sold when he came to Arroyo Grande and purchased the place upon which he now resides with his family. In 1904 Mr. Bruce married Emily Boxall, who im- migrated to this country from her native coun- try, England, and to them has been born one child, John Lester Bruce.

Politically Mr. Bruce is a strong supporter of the principles embodied in the platform of the Republican party, and takes an active interest in all matters affecting the community, state and country in which he lives. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which they support with their means and their labors and in all things they fill an important place in the life of Arroyo Grande. As to his antecedents, both parents of Mr. Bruce were natives of Ireland, the father, James Bruce, having died there at the age of seventy- seven years, and the mother, Mary (Crawford) Bruce, lived to be one year older than her hus- band. The family consisted of six children, all of whom now live in Ireland except two, Joseph Bruce, a resident of Mendocino county, Cal., and David Bruce, the subject of this sketch.

WILLIAM HARVEY HOWELL. One and a half miles west of Lemon, and not far from the Fairview school house, lies the six- ty-five acre ranch owned and supervised by Mr. Howell. A combination of circumstances makes this without question one of the rich- est and most productive ranches in this part of Los Angeles county, its rich black loam taking first rank among its superior advan- tages. Thirty acres of the tract are in walnuts, twenty in alfalfa (although this latter tract is being replaced with walnuts), and the re-

mainder is in grapes and deciduous fruits, the whole being irrigated by a pumping plant.

The earliest ancestor of the Howell family of whom we have any definite information is the grandfather, James Howell, who was born in Illinois but early in life settled as a pioneer farmer in the adjoining state of Iowa. There he followed the peaceful life of the agricult- urist throughout the remainder of his life and reared a family to lives of usefulness. Among his children was G. W. Howell, who was born in White Oak, Mahaska county, Iowa, and now makes his home on a farm in the same lo- cality. His wife, formerly Martha Cox, was also a native of White Oak, Iowa, her father, Isaac Cox, settling in that commonwealth during the early history of its settlement. three children, all sons, were born to this worthy couple, William H. being the eldest of the number. He was born September I, 1873, on the parental homestead in Iowa and was partially reared in that state, but the re- moval of his parents to Kansas in 1885 brought him one step nearer to the west and the scene of his present labors. First in Wash- ington, Kans., and later in Osborne, that state, he attended the public schools, and it was during the family's residence in that state that the home was saddened by the death of the mother.

When twenty years of age, in 1893, Will- iam H. Howell struck out for himself, his de- cision to come to California being influenced no doubt from the fact that an uncle, James Staples, an old forty-niner, was living in this state. Going to Dutch Flat, where his rela- tive lived, he remained there a short time and then went to Truckee, where for .six months he was in the employ of the Truckee Lumber Company. From Nevada county he came to the southern part of the state in 1895, first to Los Angeles and then to Pomona, in the lat- ter place following the cement business for a time. Going back to Los Angeles, he held a position with a cold storage company for a short time, and the following year, 1896, came to Lemon and settled upon a rented ranch. Two years later he purchased his present ranch of sixty-five acres in close proximity to Lemon. A pumping plant on the ranch not only supplies an abundance of water for his own use, but he is enabled to irrigate neigh- boring ranches also. Everything about the ranch bears the stamp of the owner's person- ality, the residence, barns, fences and other appointments being kept in perfect repair.

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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 II, Part 10

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234