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 109

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

USA > California > 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 109

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Ever since becoming. a citizen of the United States Mr. Wees has kept posted concerning our national problems and has maintained a constant interest in movements for the upbuilding of his county and state. Politically he votes the straight Republican ticket and always gives that party his stanch allegiance. For eight years he served efficiently in the office of city trustee and since 1902 he has been a member of the city

1857

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

council, representing the fourth ward, in which capacity he has given his support to measures beneficial to the city, yet bearing ever in mind the interests of the taxpayers. More than forty years ago, while living in Wisconsin, he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and now has his name enrolled with Token Lodge No. 290, in the work of which he has heen warmly interested.

ALLEN W. ANDREWS. Actively and prosperously engaged in business as a dealer in real estate, and as a property owner, Allen W. Andrews holds a position of note among the representative men of Compton. Public- spirited and energetic, he has been a promi- nent factor in the upbuilding of this part of the county, his aid and influence being visible in all movements for the general welfare of the community. The descendant of an old colonial family of New England, he was born April 25, 1845, in McHenry county, Ill., a son of George Andrews.

Born and reared in Massachusetts, George Andrews left the scenes of his childhood days when a young man, migrating to Illinois, where he took up land from the government, in McHenry county. With true pioneer grit and courage he cleared and improved a valua- ble homestead, on which he was prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1903. He married Cordelia Allen, who was born in Michigan, and died on the home farm in Illinois in 1847. Three children were born of their union, namely : Henry T., who served throughout the Civil war in Company C, Twentieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, subse- quently studied law, and now resides in Pres- cott, Ariz. : John, who enlisted in Company D, Eighth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and died of measles while in service ; and Allen W., with whom this sketch is chiefly concerned. Both parents were Uni- versalists in their religious beliefs, and in poli- tics the father was a Republican.

Brought up on the home farm, Allen W. An- drews obtained a practical education in the common schools of his district. Fired with the same spirit of patriotism that enthused his brothers, he enlisted, at the age of sixteen years, in Company E, First Illinois Artillery, better known as the Waterhouse Battery, was mustered into service on December 13. 1861, and remained with his comrades until mus- tered out, December 24, 1864. He participated in many of the important battles of the war, in- cluding the engagement at Pittsburg Landing, in April, 1862; those at Corinth, Memphis, Guntown. Raymond, Champion Hill. the Siege

of Vicksburg, and at Jackson, Miss. During the summer and fall of 1864 he, with his com- pany, followed General Price through Arkan- sas, Missouri and Kansas, from the latter state going to Nashville, Tenn., where he took an active part in the engagements of December 15 and 16, just before he was mustered out.

Returning from the scene of conflict to his home in central Illinois, Mr. Andrews re- mained there awhile, after which he resided in Missouri and Kansas for a long time, living in the former state four years, and in the last- named ten years. Coming from Kansas to California in 1887, he first engaged in the liv- ery business in Pasadena, after which he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, living on a ranch for a number of years. Sub- sequently settling in Compton, he has since carried on an extensive business as a general dealer in real estate, by his systematic meth- ods and honest dealings building up a fine trade and winning the confidence and respect of the people.

In 1892 Mr. Andrews married Nellie Mc- Nall, daughter of Chauncey McNall, a native of New York, and into their pleasant home three children have been born, namely : Nellie, thirteen years old; Webb, nine years of age; and John, seven years old. Politically Mr. Andrews is a stanch Republican, and takes a genuine interest in local and national affairs. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, and be- longs to Shiloh Post No. 60, G. A. R., of Comp- ton. Religiously he is a Congregationalist. He has accumulated money as a business man, and in addition to his town property he owns a ranch of twenty acres, situated one and one- half miles east of Compton.

DAVID MITCHELL is well informed on scientific farming and the breeding of stock, for he has spent many years in securing the most comprehensive training and education in these lines that could be obtained in the best schools on agriculture and stock-breeding in England and Ireland. He is highly esteemed by all who know him and enjoys an enviable reputation in business and professional circles. His ranch of one hundred and ten acres is well improved and is devoted to general farming, corn and beans being the principal crops, although he also has a walnut orchard and some berries planted and in bearing.

Mr. Mitchell was born in Londonderry, Ire- land, a son of John Mitchell, a hardy Scotchman, who died at the age of sixty-four years, when his son was sixteen years of age. His mother, Marjorie (Stewart) Mitchell, was also a native of Scotland and after locating in Ireland was

1858

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

married to Mr. Mitchell. She died in Ireland at the advanced age of seventy-five years. The father was engaged as a steward or manager of a large estate in Ireland during his lifetime. It was after his death that David attended the Bel- fast farm schools, which are conducted by the English government, and in 1870 he graduated from the model farm school at Cork. He then attended the Albert institution at Dublin, receiv- ing further instruction in agricultural work and the breeding of stock. He did some botany lec- ture work here and later was given charge of a model farm located at Tervoe, Limerick, in which position he remained for one year, when he went to Ballyelare, North Ireland, to manage a farm for his brother. In 1874 he decided to immigrate to this country and made San Fran- cisco his first objective point. He brought with him letters of introduction to Steele Brothers in Edna, who gave him a position in their butcher business which he held for thirteen years. From there he moved to his present location, purchas- ing a ranch of fifty aeres, to which he later added sixty aeres, making his ranch today one hundred and ten aeres.

In 1877 Mr. Mitchell was married to Miss Catherine Donahue, a native of County Kerry, Ireland, and to thema eight children have been born: Marjorie S., the wife of G. W. Bennett of San Francisco; Annie Laura, who is married to D. C. Isom : David Francis, Agnes, William Wallace, Ethel Porter, John Alexander and An- drew Joseph. Mrs. Mitchell is a member of the Catholic Church and Mr. Mitchell belongs to the Presbyterian denomination. Politically he is a strong believer in the principles advocated by the Republican party, and he is especially inter- ested in educational matters, in recognition of which he has been serving as school trustee of his distriet for twenty years.

WILLIAM CARUTHERS. The Caruth- ers family, represented in Los Angeles county by William Caruthers, a widely known and prosperous rancher in the vicinity of Downey. is of Scotch ancestry and possesses in a large degree the traits characteristic of these people. In Missouri John Caruthers first saw the light of day and was reared to manhood in the vi- einity of his birthplace, receiving his education in the primitive schools of the middle west. In his native state he met and married Miss Fran- ces Murphy, and shortly afterward they estab- lished their home in Louisiana, where, on the 22d of January, 1830, their son William was born. Later thev removed to southeastern Texas and located on a farm, where the father died in 1855 and the mother a year later. They became the parents of fourteen children, of

whom twelve attained maturity and all, with the exception of William Caruthers, are now living in Texas.

Rather limited advantages in an education- al line were afforded the youth of the south- west, the subscription schools leaving the principal parts of one's training to be acquired by experience and observation. William Caruthers received his educational training through this medium and at the same time was drilled in the daily duties of a farmer and stock-raiser. He engaged in this occupation in Texas upon attaining manhood's estate, re- maining in that location until 1859, when, with his family (having previously married Amar- ado Perry), he journeyed to California, driv- ing his stock before him across the plains. A brief time was spent at El Monte, Los An- geles county, whence he went to San Luis Obispo county and there established a farm- ing enterprise, which occupied his attention for the ensuing two years. About this time he was impelled to make a trip throughout the northwest before locating permanently in Cal- ifornia, and accordingly he spent some time in Oregon and Washington. After his return to California he located for a short time in the Soledad mines, Kern county, which move proved a disastrous one indeed, for he lost by foods everything he had accumulated. In 1865 he came to Los Angeles county and in the vi- cinity of Downey purchased the ranch which he now owns; this was then bare, wild land, devoid of all cultivation and giving no prom- ise of the future productiveness. Mr. Caruth- ers immediately began improvements and cul- tivation, setting out fruit trees, building fences as needed, erecting substantial buildings, and to-day owns a seventy-five acre ranch largely devoted to the raising of English walnuts. Be- sides this property he also owns another ranch of eighteen acres in this vicinity. He has met with success in his enterprises, and although suffering a misfortune at one time in his life, he was undaunted at the prospect of again be- ginning his career, bravely faced the future and energetically sought to build up his for- tunes, once more. He is named among the prosperous land-owners of this vicinity and esteemed for the business qualities which he has demonstrated throughout his long resi- dence in this section.

The marriage of Mr. Caruthers occurred in 1856, his wife being a native of Tennessee. They became the parents of the following . children: Zora, wife of L. M. Drider, of Los Angeles, and the mother of two children ; William, at home : Angie, who died at the age of thirty-three years: Jefferson D., who mar- ried Annie L. Holmes, and resides in the vi-

1859

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cinity of Whittier; Mollie, wife of J. T. Stev- ens, of Mississippi; Martha, wife of Marion McClure, of Burbank, and the mother of two children; Hugh, who is married and has two children, and resides in Merced county ; and John P., who married Bessie McMillan and has one child. The family support the Chris- tian Church in their religious inclinations, while politically Mr. Caruthers adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party. Fraternally he is associated with Downey Lodge No. 220, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Eastern Star lodge of this place. Mr. Caruthers has proven himself a citizen interested in all movements pertaining to the advancement of the community in which he has made his home, and has been particularly active in educational affairs, serv- ing for several terms as a member of the school board. He is an honored and useful member of the Los Nietos and Ranchito Walnut Grow- ers' Association, incorporated, and renders valuable aid in the advancement of these in- terests.

SAMUEL NEWTON JENNINGS. Con- spicuous among the more prominent and pro- gressive agriculturists of Los Angeles county is S. N. Jennings, one of the leading farmers of Clearwater, and one of the foremost citizens of the town. Possessing a good knowledge of the pleasant occupation in which he has for so many years been actively engaged, he is carrying on general ranching in a thorough-going, system- atic manner, his labors being well repaid by the generous crops produced in his fertile and well- tilled fields. A son of the late John Jennings, he was born, October I, 1843, at Mount Pleas- ant, Brown county, Ill., where his parents were pioneer settlers.

Born and brought up in Kentucky, John Jen- nings lived there until after his marriage with Mary Fry, who was born and reared in the same town. Then, in 1838, he went with his bride to Brown county, Ill., where he took up land, from which he cleared and improved a fine home- stead. He was successful as a general farmer and stock-raiser, becoming owner of four hun- dred acres of valuable land before his death. He was a man of sterling integrity, highly respected throughout the community. He was a Democrat in politics, but belonged to no secret organiza- tions. Both he and his wife attended the Pres- byterian Church, being valued members. They became the parents of five children, one daugli- ter and four sons. The daughter died in early childhood, but the sons are all living, two in California and two in Illinois.

Reared on the homestead, and educated in

the common schools, Samuel N. Jennings be- came familiar with the numerous branches of agriculture in his younger days. Choosing farm- ing as his life occupation, he remained at home. taking care of his parents and managing the home farm until they died. Subsequently, in partnership with one of his brothers, he owned over five hundred acres of land in Brown county, a large part of it belonging to the parental es- tate. Selling his share of the estate to his broth- er for $50 an acre, Mr. Jennings left Illinois in 1888, coming from there to Los Angeles county in search of a favorable location. Renting the Cox ranch, about five miles from Clearwater, on the Santa Monica road, he lived there for a year, and in the raising of barley and other crops was quite successful. Being thus encouraged, he then purchased his present ranch, buying first forty acres of his farm, subsequently adding two other tracts of forty acres each, then a tract con- taining fifty-four acres, and still later buying twenty acres of land. On this extensive ranch he is carrying on a large and very remunerative business, raising fine crops of alfalfa and beets, and running a dairy. He is a man of excellent business capacity, influential in public matters, deeply interested in the growth and prosperity of his adopted town, ever willing to contribute of his time and means to further its interests. He is successful financially, and is a stockholder in the Commercial Association of Compton, as well as in the First National Bank of that city.

In 1871, in Brown county, Il1., Mr. Jennings married Emma Haley, daughter of William Haley, a well-known farmer of that vicinity, and of their union four children have been born, namely : Clarence; Eva, who died when eigh- teen years old; Stella, who died at the age of fifteen years; and E. D., who is married, and with his son, Fred, lives on the homestead with his parents. Politically Mr. Jennings affiliates with the Democratic party in national affairs, but in home matters votes for the best men and measures, independent of party restrictions. He and his family are attendants of the Presbyter- ian Church.

WILLIAM TURBETT. Many have been the changes wrought in the history of California since Mr. Turbett landed at San Francisco in the year 1852, after having traveled via the Nica- ragua route from his eastern home. Then the country presented an aspect of crudity and of primeval wildness strangely depressing to one fresh from the refining influences of a high civil- ization. Still sparsely settled, its population was of cosmopolitan variety, yet among its pioneers there were young men of remarkable strength of purpose, integrity of character and force of

1860

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

will, and it was these who laid the foundation up- on which rests the great commonwealth of the present century. The pioneers of fifty years ago have in many instances passed from the scenes of their labors, but a few yet remain to enjoy the fruits of their arduous efforts and the refinements of the present era of progress.

Honored among the pioneers of California and for many years a resident of Ventura county, Mr. Turbett was born near Mansfield, Richland county, Ohio, heing a son of Thomas and Martha Turbett, the former born in Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter descended from German progenitors. Both died in Ohio, the mother passing away when in middle age. Of their seven sons and two daughters, William was the youngest. By a second marriage of the father there were three children. Among the sons was John, a pioneer of 1849 in California, who crossed the plains with an emigrant party and eventually settled in Ventura county, where he died. The father was a farmer in Ohio from early manhood through all of his life.

On the farm where he was born October 16, 1833, William Turbett passed the uneventful years of youth. For a time he attended school held in a log building furnished with slab benches ; public schools had not yet been intro- duced into the locality and the wages of the teacher were raised by subscription. When he left home to make his own way in the world he came to California, which, in those days, was at- tracting attention by reason of the riches of its mines. After he arrived in San Francisco he went to the mines in Yuba county and for a time clerked in a hotel, but after about five years he abandoned that work and went to Sutter county. Near Yuba City he bought a farm, set- tled upon the land and operated the same for two years. During the fall of 1869 he returned to Ohio by the newly completed railroad and visited among friends in the old home locality, at the same time working for a livelihood. Dur- · ing November of 1870 his brother-in-law re- turned to Ohio from Ventura county and de- scribed the opportunities awaiting settlers in this part of the state. Attracted by the description of opportunities, Mr. Turbett accompanied his brother-in-law to California, arriving in Ventura county late in the year 1870. For three years he worked for his brother-in-law, and meanwhile, in 1872, he and a nephew, Daniel Gilger, bought one hundred and sixty acres less than one mile south of the present site of Oxnard.

Three years after acquiring a partial interest in the farm, Mr. Turbett secured the deed to forty acres of the tract and this he still owns. A year after gaining the title he put down an artesian well of one hundred and forty feet, using a sixteen-inch pipe, and he still has an abund-

ance of water from this well which makes it possible to irrigate his land as needed. How- ever, since settling on his place he has never found it necessary to use water to raise his crops and has raised a crop every year. In former years he had the land in barley and corn, but eventually found it far more profitable to raise beans and beets, and accordingly gives his atten- tion exclusively to these products. In politics he is of the Republican faith. Personally he bears a reputation as an unpretentious, retiring man, averse to prominence, yet unusually liberal and public spirited, a friend to all measures for the development of the county. After coming to his present place he here married Miss Elzora Trotter, a native of Illinois, and they are the par- ents of three children. The sons, Thomas and John, make their home in Oxnard, and the daughter, Mrs. Grace Tapee, resides in Santa Barbara.

STEPHEN H. CARSON. Through an in- timate association with the commercial and pub- lic interests of San Bernardino extending over a long period of years. Mr. Carson has acquired . a thorough knowledge of the resources of the locality and has gained a wide acquaintance among its people. Much of his life has been passed in this city. In its schools he received his education and in its stores he gained his ini- tial experience in business methods. During the greater part of his business career he has been interested in the drug business and possesses a practical knowledge of that occupation. Aside from the amount he still has invested in that line of trade, he has other business interests, besides which he owns residence and business property in the city.

While he has passed the greater portion of his life in San Bernardino, Mr. Carson is a native of Utah and was born near Salt Lake City, De- cember 5, 1855. being a son of William and Trephina Ursula (Goddard) Carson, and a grandson of Stephen H. Goddard, a pioneer of San Bernardino, who died in this city at the age of about eighty-eight years. The father was born in Pennsylvania in 1818 and died at Fair- field, Utah, in 1898, while the mother, who was born in Ohio in 1836, is still living and makes her home with her children. Brought to Cali- fornia by his parents at an early age, Stephen H. Carson received such educational advantages as the schools of San Bernardino afforded, and after leaving school entered the office of the Daily Guardian, where he served an apprentice- ship of three years at the printer's trade. How- ever, he did not follow that occupation, but turned his attention to the drug business, in which he was employed as a clerk by the firm

1861

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

of Bowland & Craig for two years. Meanwhile his health had become impaired and hoping to regain his strength he went to the mountains and worked in saw-milling. The change proved beneficial and soon he had recovered his physi- cal strength. Returning to San Bernardino he engaged as a clerk in the grocery business with Henry Conner, but later again became interested in the drug business, and still continues in that occupation, being now a silent partner with his sons-in-law, Schlott & Clute, in the Owl drug store.

The marriage of Mr. Carson took place De- cember 30, 1877, and united him with Anna, daughter of William and Hannah Harrison. Four children were born of this union, Lillie, Ada, William S. and Clarence H. The elder daughter is the wife of D. C. Schlott, and the younger married William G. Clute. As before mentioned, the sons-in-law are engaged in the drug business : the sons also are employed in the Owl drug store. Throughout all of his active life, ever since attaining his majority Mr. Car- son has voted the Democratic ticket. While maintaining his views with firmness and voting for them with fidelity, he has displayed no trace of partisanship, but concedes to those of opposite beliefs and ideas the same independence of thought and ballot which he demands as his own privilege .. At no time has he solicited official honors, and the only position he has held was that of member of the city council, to which he was elected in 1903 for a term of four years. As a citizen he is honored for the qualities that have brought him financial success and for the generosity of disposition and kindness of heart that have characterized him in his dealings with others.

WILLIAM SMITH. One of the progress- ive and wide-awake ranchers of Los Angeles county is William Smith, who has succeeded in building up for himself and family a home and competence, and at the same time is win- ning the good opinion of all who know him. Of southern birth and lineage, he was born in Monroe county. Tenn., November 20, 1860, a son of William and Elizabeth (Hudgings) Smith, both natives of the same state, where the father engaged as a farmer until his death, which occurred shortly before this son was horn. His mother, whose grandfather Hudg- ings served in the Revolutionary war, lived in Tennessee until her death, which occurred at the age of fifty-five years. She was the mother of two children. William Smith was reared in his native state and educated in its common schools, after which he worked on the home farm until attaining the age of twenty-seven years. He then set out for himself and not

many years had passed away until he was the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which were devoted to the raising of grain. In 1887 he went to Texas and located in Parker county, thence went to Scurry coun- ty and made that place his home for the period of three years, owning a farm of six hundred and forty acre's and being interested in general farming and stock-raising, then returned to Parker county. Going next to Indian Terri- tory he spent the ensuing four years there and on leased land raised corn and cotton. In 1900 he came to California and located on his pres- ent property, later purchasing the same, which consists of twenty acres with good and sub- stantial improvements. Besides his own prop- erty he leases about sixty acres and raises grain, while his principal interest is the man- agement of a dairy of fifteen cows. He is also giving some time to the breeding of poultry, having at the present writing about three hun- dred hens.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 109

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