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 102

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

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The prospects offered by Long Beach induced Mr. Palmer to settle in this city after coming to the west and here. in 1897. he established the Press Printing office with F. R. Smith as a partner. While in charge of the Press he be- came interested in the construction of the present

pleasure wharf. This matter he continued to agitate until a committee was finally selected by the city council and the board of trade and authorized to design such a wharf and report costs, etc., to the authorities. As secretary of this committee, Mr. Palmer labored assiduously for nine months and carried on a voluminous correspondence in relation to similar structures, endeavoring to secure accurate data as to cost and best methods of construction. It was a source of great gratification to him when the report of the committee was accepted and the building brought forward to completion with the result that the wharf is now one of the city's principal attractions. Since coming to Long Beach he has erected eleven dwelling houses and three business blocks, and has maintained a con- stant interest in the building activities of the city.

The marriage of Mr. Palmer united him with Miss Ida R. Smith, who was born in Illinois. Their family consists of four children, all at home, and named as follows: Harry R., a prin- ter by trade; Jennie M., a stenographer; Ruth Ann and Percy Edward. In politics Mr. Palmer votes with the Republican party. While living in South Dakota lie became affiliated with the lodge, chapter and commandery of Masonry at Aberdeen. Though no longer identified with the ministry, he is deeply interested in the work of his denomination, and for many years offi- ciated as secretary of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Long Beach and as secretary of the official board of the church. At the time of the erection of the first edifice he served on the building committee and gave freely of time and means to push the work forward to a satisfactory completion, and is still a member of the board of trustees.

IRVING LEWIS BLINN. Although young in years the above named gentleman holds rank with the most progressive and enterprising citi- zens of Whittier, Los Angeles county, where he is a leading factor in the industries of the place as manager of the Whittier Lumber & Mill Company, a well known enterprise of Southern California. Mr. Blinn is a native son of the state, his birth having occurred in San Francisco August 2, 1870. In that locality he was reared to the age of seventeen years, receiving his edu- cation in St. Matthew's Hall school of San Mateo and Hopkins Academy of Berkeley. Fol- lowing the completion of his studies he was sent by his father, Lewis W. Blinn, to represent the latter's interest at Tombstone, Ariz., where he remained until December, 1888. In that vear he came to Los Angeles and opened an office, representing the Blinn Lumber Company in a clerical position, continuing so occupied for

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

some time, when he became an employe of the San Pedro Lumber Company in order to become thoroughly familiar with the lumbering business. Both companies engaged extensively in the wholesale and retail lumber trade and by his ap- plication to the work he became proficient in every department and capable of superintending the business. In 1889 he resigned from his po- sition in Los Angeles and went north in order to accept a position in Tacoma, Wash., to thor- oughly familiarize himself with the details of the lumber manufacturing business. He became associated with the Tacoma Mills Company in the capacity of manager, having charge of their retail business for the period of two years. Go- ing to Portland, Ore., at the expiration of that time he opened a lumber brokerage office, and later, in company with others, bought a sawmill located at Westport, on the Columbia river. He met with gratifying success in this enterprise and acquired an experience which has been of inestimable service to him throughout his career in this line of business. Heeding a wish of his father's, he returned to Southern California in June, 1903, and assumed the management of the Whittier Lumber Company, which position he still occupies. He is justly numbered among the most enterprising and substantial men of this section.

Mr. Blinn now makes his home in Whittier, where he is a leading citizen. He has one son, Lewis W. Blinn, by a former marriage. Fra- ternally Mr. Blinn is associated with the Elks, being a member of Lodge No. 142, of Portland, Ore., Lodge No. 323, F. & A. M., and Lodge No. 91, R. A. M., the two latter of Whittier, Cal.

JOSEPH AUSTIN EDWARDS. Among the business men of Hemet there is none more enterprising and energetic than Joseph Austin Edwards, who has been a resident of Southern California since 1887. The Edwards family has been a prominent one in this country ever since the early colonial days, when the great-grand- father, Casper Edwards, fought in the French and Indian wars, and as a participant in the bat- tle of Quebec was one of the men who assisted in carrying the body of General Wolfe from the field. He also served in the Revolutionary war, was in the battle of Princeton, and was at one time taken captive by the Indians, who carried him to Quebec. Joseph Edwards, the son of Casper, married Abigail Buell, whose father also was a Revolutionary soldier. The grand- father, who was born in Windsor, Broome coun- ty, N. Y., removed to Chenango county, and later, in 1843, to Wisconsin, where his death finally occurred. Edward F. Edwards, the

father of Joseph Austin, was born in Chenango, N. Y., in 1822, and removed to Wisconsin when twenty years of age. He bought a farm near East Troy, in Walworth county, and improved it, in 1852 removing to LaCrosse county, buy- ing a farm at West Salem, twelve miles from LaCrosse. He was one of the very first set- tlers in that section of the state, became the first postmaster at West Salem, and was also a justice of the peace there. That place continued to be his residence until 1882, when he went still further west and located at Huron, S. Dak. After living there a number of years he came to California to make his home with his son. The mother, who was Almira Carver in maidenhood, was a daughter of Austin Carver, also an early settler in Walworth county, Wis., and is now living with J. A. Edwards, he being the only one of their two children now living. The elder Mr. Edwards is eighty-four years of age, and his wife five years younger.

It was in July, 1848, that Mr. Edwards was born near East Troy, Walworth county, Wis., his boyhood days being spent on the farm at West Salem, where he received his preliminary education in the public schools, and took a fin- ishing course in the West Salem Academy. After graduation he taught one term of school, but finding that he preferred a business career in 1872 he began to deal in grain, wool and live stock, shipping stock and produce from six dif- ferent stations along the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railway to Chicago, soon conducting the largest business of that nature on the division. Impaired health compelled him to seek a milder climate, and in 1887 he came to Los Angeles, spending two years in recuperating, and in 1889 again took an active part in business operations. He purchased an orange orchard at Azusa, kept it a short time, then sold it and located at Bur- bank where he engaged in the dried fruit busi- ness, built a packing house and continued to conduct it for seven years. From there he re- moved to Phoenix, Ariz., where he was in the grocery business until 1905. In the meantime he had also become the owner of an alfalfa and stock ranch at Glendale, Ariz. Disposing of his property interests in that state he returned to California, and in Hemet purchased the Cree & Bruce grocery store and also the stock of Gra- ham & Fast, and has turned his business into general merchandising, with a very complete stock, it being the largest store of its kind in Riverside county. He employs eight experienced assistants and three horses and wagons. His business grew to such an extent that the old quarters were inadequate and in November of 1905 he erected a new building 50x75 feet in dimensions, which is used as a salesroom, with warehouses in the rear. He has also opened up

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a branch grocery store in Valle Vista, and to all his interests he gives his personal super- vision.

The marriage of Mr. Edwards occurred in Wisconsin, and united him with Miss Mona Dickinson, a native of Massachusetts. One daughter, who is now Mrs. Hattie Noyes, of Greenwood. Wis .. was born to them. Mrs. Ed- wards died in Wisconsin. Politically he is an advocate of the principles embraced in the Re- publican party and while official positions do not appeal to him he does his dutv as an active and public spirited citizen and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

EBER K. BITHER. Since the founding of the town of Oxnard during the year 1898 Mr. Bither has been identified with its com- mercial and agricultural interests, and mean- while has developed a transfer business from an insignificant enterprise to its present large proportions. The management of this busi- ness with the filling of the contract for the sprinkling of the streets and also the filling of orders for draving. he gives over largely to his sons, while his attention is devoted in large measure to the management of three hundred and thirty acres near town, utilized in the raising of heets and beans as well as other farm produce. The barns necessary for the proper care of his twenty-six head of horses as well as the substantial residence occupied by his family have been erected under his supervision in recent years, and each is well adapted for its special purpose.

Of remote Scotch descent, Mr. Bither is a member of an old Maine family, and was born in Aroostock county, that state, February 27, 1851, being a son of Phineas and Maria (Porter) Bither, natives respectively of Free- dom, Waldo county. Me., and Nova Scotia. The paternal grandfather, Benjamin Bither, was a native and lifelong resident of Maine, where he followed the builder's trade. The maternal grandfather. David Porter, became a pioneer of Wisconsin and Minnesota, where he engaged in mining, also labored as a pion- eer agriculturist and frontiersman, and during the Blackhawk war went out against the Indians with other early settlers. At the age of twenty-two years Phineas Bithier settled upon seventy-five acres of timbered land, which he cleared and made ready for cultiva- tion, and afterward he devoted the tract principally to potatoes. On that place he re- mained until deatlı.

Four sons and three daughters comprised the parental family and of these three sons and two daughters survive, the gentleman whose

name introduces this article being the eldest of the number. As a boy he became familiar with work in the lumber regions of Maine and' with the ceaseless toil connected with the care of the small home place, which under the most intensive form of cultivation scarcely produced enough for the proper education of the large family of children. At the age of twenty-two years he left home to make his own way in the world. During two winter seasons he was employed in driving teams in Clearfield, Pa., and from there in 1876 came to California, es- tablishing himself on a farm near the Cotton- wood, in Merced county, where he leased three hundred and twenty acres of grain land. From that beginning he increased his lease- holds until he had the cultivation of three thousand acres under his personal care, and the large output of grain he hauled to Hill's Ferry for shipment. After the death of his wife in 1887 he removed to Saticoy and for two years engaged in farming and teaming, after which he cultivated a portion of the Las Posas rancho for three years. During the next two years he engaged in teaming in Santa Cruz, from which point he returned to Ventura county and the Las Posas rancho. Three years later, in 1898, he came to the new town of Oxnard, where lie rented land and em- barked in the raising of beans and beets. Shortly afterward he bought out Bell's trans- fer line and from it has developed a large and profitable business.

The marriage of Mr. Bither took place in Maine and united him with Miss Mary Buck, who was born in that state and died in Mer- ced county, Cal., leaving four children, name- ly: Vivian R., who married Frank Runkle, of Simi, Ventura county : Miriam A., who resides with her father in Oxnard; Harry S. and Hart- ley S., who have charge of the transfer busi- ness owned by their father. Another son, Eber, died while yet a small child. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Bither at no time has been active in politics nor has he ever sought polit- ical offices, but he has maintained a keen in- terest in affairs tending toward the progress of county, state and nation. Since coming to Oxnard he has been identified actively with the lodge and encampment of the Odd Fel- lows, and in addition has held membership with the Independent Order of Foresters.

EDWARD PRENTISS CLYDE. Probably no one in the vicinity of Highland can more fit- tingly claim the title of pioneer thian Edward P. Clyde, who for nearly half a century has lived on his present property not far from High- land. When he located here in September,

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1855, Indians were his nearest neighbors and the frequent visitations from wild animals made constant watchfulness on the part of the settlers a necessity. All of this is now changed, and in the transformation which the intervening years have brought about in the introduction of labor- saving machinery and the multitudinous influ- ences that make for progress none has been a more interested witness than Mr. Clyde.

A native of the Empire state, Edward P. Clyde was born in St. Lawrence county Novem- ber 9, 1831, a son of George W. and Cynthia (Davis) Clyde. About 1835, when their son was a lad of four years, the parents took up their westward march, crossing the Mississippi river and locating for a time in Missouri. Another removal found them in Illinois, from there go- ing to Iowa, and in 1850 they crossed the plains and took up their abode in Utah. Of the seven children originally comprising the parental fam- ily Edward P. is next to the oldest living. In April, 1855, he started from Utah with Cali- fornia as his destination. Settling in San Ber- nardino county, he erected the first house which appeared in this part of the valley. In 1858 he purchased one hundred acres near what is now Highland, but from time to time he has dis- posed of portions of it until now he has only thirty acres, upon which he is engaged in gen- eral farming with very satisfactory results. In the early days he planted trees which have grown and flourished with passing years until today one of the most distinguishing features of the Clyde ranch is the grove of alanthus trees, which have grown to enormous size.

A marriage ceremony performed December 26, 1858, united the destinies of Edward P. Clyde and Mary Singleton, the latter a daugh- ter of Robert and Betsy (Hindle) Singleton. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clyde, William Robert, George Edward and Rufus Thomas, all of whom are living.

DANFORD ATWOOD. The years that have elapsed since the death of Danford Atwood have not effaced from the minds of those who knew him the splendid characteristics and qualities of manhood shown in his career of pioneer and upbuilder of the best interests of San Bernardino county. He was the representative of an old New England family on his mother's side. She was formerly Lucy Turner, a native of Con- necticut, while his father, Reuben Atwood, and two brothers, immigrated from England and took up their residence in that state. Some time after his marriage Reuben Atwood decided to immigrate to the western part of the middle west, and in Nauvoo. Ill., made his home for some time. Finally removing to Council Bluffs,

Iowa, he resided there until his death, which oc- curred at an advanced age. His wife survived him for some time, eventually passing away in Springfield, Utah. They were the parents of four children, of whom Danford was the eldest; Rebecca, Mrs. Wareham, died in Springfield, Utah, in which city Celah and Dwight also passed away.

Danford Atwood was born in Connecticut in 1823 and in childhood was brought to the frontier, where he was reared to manhood among the primitive surroundings of the middle west. Early imbued with the frugal and conscientious habits of his New England ancestors, he em- barked in an independent career with no capital save that of his qualities of manhood. In 1850, in Council Bluffs, he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Garner, a native of Illinois. Her father, George Garner, was born in North Carolina and in young manhood located in Quincy, Ill., where he engaged in farming for some years, later removing to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1850 he removed to Payson, Utah, following stock-raising and farming there and making that place his home throughout the re- mainder of his life. He was a descendant of a Revolutionary family, his father having served in the Colonial army. He died at the advanced age of one hundred and five years, while the grandmother lived to the age of one hundred and six. George Garner was first married in Hancock county, Ill., to Elizabeth Hedrick, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Reuben Hedrick. She died in Illinois at the age of thirty-two years. They had six children, of whom three are now living, namely: Mrs. At- wood; John E. Garner, a farmer of San Ber- nardino; and Mrs. Rathbun, also of San Ber- nardino. For his second wife Mr. Garner mar- ried Lydia Hill. In 1846 he removed to Coun- cil Bluffs, Iowa, whence he crossed the plains with ox-teams in 1852 and located in San Ber- nardino, Cal. He purchased land on Lytle creek and farmed until 1872, when he sold out and went to Utah, where he was killed by a runa- way team August 31, 1877.

After his marriage Danford Atwood farmed in Council Bluffs until May, 1860, when with his family he crossed the plains to California, arriving in San Bernardino December I of the same year. The trip was a hard and dangerous one. The night before they reached Vagus Springs the train called a halt at two o'clock in the morning and every man and ox laid down to sleep, but Mrs. Atwood, realizing the danger they were in, stood guard for two hours, the train reaching their destination, early the next morning in safety. Soon after his arrival in the state Mr. Atwood purchased land, which after two years he sold and reinvested the proceeds

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in one hundred acres in the Warm creek dis- trict. In addition to improving the land he erected a fine residence, good barns and out- buildings. Together with his wife he labored as a pioneer in both his personal affairs and the community in which he made his home, estab- lishing himself as a citizen of worth and works, and one to whom the respect and esteem of all who knew him were generously given. His death was caused by injuries received in a run- away on November 8, 1892, passing away a month later.

Mr. Atwood left a widow and eight children, namely : Eveline, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, of Santa Monica ; Ernestine, Mrs. C. C. Janney, of San Bernardino; Arnold, the only son, also of San Bernardino: Ann, wife of William Banford, of Nordhoff, Cal .; Emma, wife of John Shay, of San Bernardino; Ida, wife of William Benson, of Colton. Cal .; Sarah, wife of George Holiday, of San Bernardino; and Lizzie, wife of Judd Rush, a leading attorney of Los Angeles. Since her husband's death Mrs. Atwood has resided in San Bernardino, where she looks after her extensive interests. She is a devoted member of the Christian Church and a woman of rare worth of character, esteemed by all who have known her during her residence in Southern California.

WILLIAM NEWPORT. The city of Ches- ter, where Mr. Newport spent the years of his early life, presents a marked contrast to the local- ity of his residence during mature years. When he came to Southern California he found the land undeveloped, the towns new and the conditions those of the frontier, while in his old home town antiquity had set its seal upon land and buildings. One of the oldest cities of England, Chester. still has in a fair state of preservation its en- circling walls built by the Romans in A. D. 73, in order to protect the inhabitants from invasion. In all of England there is but one other city that has its ancient walls preserved. It is the proud boast of Chester that never once, since its walls were built, has the city been taken by an enemy or succumbed to any foe. Visitors from other points always enjoy the walk along these old walls, with the fine view of the placid and wind- ing river Dee, and the view of the narrow streets of the ancient town with their gabled-roofed houses and galleried stores.

Such were the surroundings with which Mr. Newport became familiar in boyhood days. Born June 5, 1856, he was the only child of the union of William and Mary (Newns) Newport. The father was born in England in 1818 and the paternal grandfather in 1788. The mother was born in 1820, became the wife of William New- port in 1854, and had only one child, to whom

was given the name of the father, William. As far back as the records can be traced the an- cestors followed farming pursuits, and it is nat- ural that William Newport should have inherit- ed a taste for agriculture. Determining to seek a home in a country where a young man could find a desirable opportunity to prosecute large landed holdings, he came to the United States in 1876, at the age of twenty years, and at once proceeded to San Francisco, thence going to Los Angeles county, where he engaged in farm- ing for nine years, meanwhile studying the soil, climate and possibilities of different localities.

During the year 1885 Mr. Newport came to Riverside county and purchased two thousand acres, almost all of which could be tilled.

His removal to the ranch resembled the migra- tions of the patriarchs whose journeyings are recorded in Biblical history. Twelve wagons formed the train and were loaded with provisions. lumber, implements and other necessities, includ- ing a building 9x18 feet in dimensions, and one story in height, which was utilized as a cook- house. Cattle, horses and mules in large num- bers were driven by his men servants. Menifee valley he found very dry and its few settlers look- ed with pity upon the young man who, they de- clared, could not make a success of farming in such a dry country. However, their sentiments did not discourage him. Taking up the work in hand, he built a substantial ranch-house and two large barns. Later he planted ten acres in fruit and laid out ample grounds adorned with shade and ornamental trees, hedges, walks and drives, making of the homestead one of the most attractive in the entire country.

To aid in the cultivation of the land Mr. Newport employs about thirty men, some of whom have been with him twenty years or more. The cooking is in charge of four Chinamen. The plowing is done by means of twenty gang- plows with a total capacity of two hundred acres per day. In addition to his large holdings he operates other land, aggregating fifteen thou- sand acres, of which thirteen thousand acres are in grain (wheat and barley) and the balance in pasture and alfalfa meadow. The grain crops average seven bags per acre each year, but the present crop (1906) will average much more, as the season has been unusually favorable. The harvesting is quickly dispatched with the aid of his four thirty-liorse combined harvesters, and all of the other work moves with rapidity and system under the judicious oversight of the pro- prietor.

One of the specialties of the ranch is the rais- ing of blooded horses and mules. Experience has proved that the pasturage and climate are adapted to the production of fine stock, and some of the animals raised on the land have won

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wide recognition by their excellent markings and speed. All of the teams used in the cultivation of the land are raised here, as well as many others for the general markets. In addition Mr. Newport engages in raising Berkshire hogs, of which he has some specimens as fine as can be found in the United States. Both in stock and in grain nothing satisfies him that is short of the best. In sowing the land he uses the finest quali- ties of wheat and barley and as a consequence his grain brings the very highest market prices. The pumping plant which he built about 1894, was the first in this part of the country. Later he put in another plant, both of which he now uses, pumping the water into a large lake, from which it is distributed to any part of the two hundred acres under irrigation.

The putting in of the crops, their harvest- ing and marketing, are conducted under a reg- ular business system, with the aid of corps of efficient workmen under the capable supervis- ion of Mr. Newport. Energy is the watchword of the proprietor. Laziness is not tolerated, being utterly foreign to his own nature. At half- past four in the morning the hands arise to take care of the stock and while it is yet early, the work in the fields is begun. Dry years have brought hardships and failures of crops, yet in spite of many discouragements Mr. Newport has worked indefatigably and with such energy that he now ranks among the foremost ranchmen of Southern California, and the broad acres which he has transformed into an attractive ranch prove him to be a man of unusual capability.

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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 102

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