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 11

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 11

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In Spadra Mr. Howell was married to Miss Grace Collins, who was born in Santa Ana, the daughter of D. H. Collins, of Spadra, of whom more may be learned by referring to

S. Heller

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his sketch, which is given elsewhere in this volume. Two children have brightened the home life of Mr. and Mrs. Howell, Burl and Hazel. Mrs. Howell is a member of the Christian Church of Pomona, toward the sup- port of which Mr. Howell contributes, this also being true of all worthy causes that are brought before his notice. He is a school trustee of the Fairview district, and is sec- retary and a director of the Walnut Fruit Growers' Association of Walnut. The only fraternal organization which claims Mr. How- ell's membership is the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the Camp at Lemon.

SAMUEL HELLER. Comparatively brief as was the duration of Mr. Heller's life, within the narrow limits of the years allotted to him he accomplished much for the advancement of his personal interests and the upbuilding of his home city. Always public-spirited and active in pro- moting the educational and commercial develop- ment of Long Beach, he was intimately asso- ciated with various movements tending toward the permanent welfare of the town. At the time of his demise he was officiating for the second term as president of the school board, during which service he had been an influential factor in advancing the interests of the public schools and had championed with especial earnest- ness the plan of building all schoolhouses two stories in height, besides favoring many other ideas looking toward the development of the schools.

A native of New York City, born July 24. 1863, Mr. Heller was a son of Bernard and Lena (Freud) Heller, natives of Austria, who came to America in early life and settled in New York City, where the father engaged in the retail furniture business. After the death of his wife he left New York City and during 1883 settled in Ohio, taking up the insurance business in Toledo, where he still makes his home. Of the four sons and four daughters comprising the family Samuel was the eldest son. His educa- tion was begun in the public schools of New York City and completed in a business college in Michigan, where he settled in 1884. After leaving college he took up the business of cigar- manufacturing and later conducted a department store at St. Johns. On disposing of his interests in Michigan he came to California in 1899 and settled in Long Beach, where he became in- terested in the buying and selling of real estate. In 1901 he laid out the Heller and Hayes tract of twenty acres, and also added to the city the Rose tract of seven and one-half acres.

When the project was first formulated for the organization of the American National Bank

of Long Beach Mr. Heller became an enthusias- tic advocate of the plan and assisted in the found- ing of the institution, in which he afterward of- ficiated as a director. In addition he was a direc- tor of the First National Bank, a director of the Long Beach Building and Loan Association and a director of the Long Beach Hospital Associa- tion, all of which institutions, along the different lines of their usefulness, have proved of inesti- mable value to the permanent growth of the town While working with keen foresight and shrewd discrimination for the advancement of his personal interests and the well-being of the city, he found leisure to participate in fraternal activities and al- so to keep in touch with local and national politi- cal affairs, in which he supported Republican principles. While living in Michigan he was a leading member of the Tent of the Maccabees at St. Jolins, Clinton county, also the lodge and encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the same town. The Modern Woodmen of America numbered him among their working members, as did also the Masonic fraternity, in which he affiliated with Long Beach Lodge, F. & A. M., Long Beach Chapter, R. A. M., Long Beach Commandery, K. T., Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Los Angeles, and the Order of the Eastern Star, at Long Beach, in which he officiated as past patron, his widow also being a member of the latter order. When he passed away, July 28, 1905, it was felt that one of the leading man of Long Beach had been lost to the town, and in his departure the ac- tivities in which he had participated suffered an irreparable loss. The estate which he left is ad- ministered by his wife, who continues to reside at the home place, No. 707 Cedar avenue, having with her the three children of the family, Anna, Merrill J. and Lillian E. Mrs Heller was born in Austria and bore the maiden name of Rosa Heinman ; at an early age she came to the United States and settled at Harrison, Mich., where she remained until after her marriage. Since his death his widow has carried out the plans he had made in the building of the Cosmopolitan Club building and the laying out of the Willow Park tract of Long Beach.

JAMES M. WOODS. An industrious, thriv- ing, and well-to-do agriculturist near the town of Escondido, James M. Woods is proprietor of a fine homestead in Woods' valley, which was named in honor of his father, Goolsby Woods, an honored pioneer of this section of San Diego county. His ranch, in regard to its appoint- ments, compares favorably with any in the local- ity. its neat and orderly appearance manifesting to the most casual observer the thrift and care of the owner, and bearing testimony to his in-

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dustry and good management. A native born son of California, his birth occurred January 18, 1868, in Yolo county, where he lived until ten years of age.

A native of Missouri, Goolsby Woods married the widow L. I. Belshe, also a native of that state. They migrated across the plains by wagon and ox teams in '49 to California, where Mr. Woods engaged in mining. After living in Sonoma county for a time they moved to Yolo county, bought a ranch, and after operating it finally sold out on account of his wife's health and in 1878 moved to San Diego county. Here he continued farming until his death, which oc- curred on his ranch August 16, 1897, at the age of seventy-three. Five of his children sur- vive him. This part of the country was so thin- ly settled when he came here that he did not deem it worth while to throw his time away on so small a public office as justice of peace or constable. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Christian Church.

Coming with his parents to San Diego county in 1878, James M. Woods was educated in the district schools, and from early boyhood assisted his father in the various labors incidental to pio- neer farm life, attaining wisdom in agricultural lore. When ready to begin work for himself he selected the vocation with which he was most familiar, buying eighty acres of land near Escondido, and has since been actively and sat- isfactorily employed in general ranching. He raises grain and hay to some extent, but makes a specialty of raising poultry and of dairying, sell- ing chickens, milk and butter in the town, and receiving for his products the highest market price.

November II, 1891, James M. Woods mar- ried Annie C. Jacoby, who was born in Burling- ton, Jowa, August 14, 1873, and came to Cali- fornia in 1883. They are the parents of four children, namely : Susie, Orpha, Ellis and Inez. Politically Mr. Woods is a steadfast Democrat, but has never aspired to public office.

LAWRENCE A. CREELMAN. A pioneer resident, prominent business man, and mem- .ber of the San Diego city council is Lawrence A. Creelman, who has been active in the devel- opment and upbuilding of this city for more than twenty years past. He was born May 4, 1853, in Richibucto, Kent county, New Bruns- wick, of Scotch parentage, the families on both sides of the house having been old settlers in Canada. The projenitors on the paternal side came from the north of Ireland to Nova Sco- tia, where James R. Crcelman was born. He was a tanner by trade and musician by pro- fession and taught all of his life. In 1866 he

removed with his family to Collingwood, On- tario, later returning to New Brunswick, and his death occurred in Pointe du Chêne. His wife, in maidenhood Isabella Patterson, was born in Pictou, Nova Scotia, and died in On- tario. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. There were fourteen children in the family, and one son, W. F. W., enlisted in a Tennessee regiment during the Spanish war, his death occurring later in the Philippine Islands.

It was in the common schools of New Brunswick and the Collingwood Collegiate In- stitute that Lawrence A. Creelman received his education, and when his school days were over he learned the tanner's trade in Colling- wood, following it for ten years in Ontario. He then came to the United States and was employed at the carpenter's trade, bridge and construction work successively by the Chi- cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Rail- road and the Northern Pacific, spending two years on the Yellowstone division of the lat- ter. Returning to Ontario he resumed work at tanning for eighteen months, and in 1884 worked on bridges for the Canadian Pacific in British Columbia. The following year he came to California, spent one year in the red- woods of Mendocino county and a like period on a ranch in Yuba county, in 1887 locating permanently in San Diego. The succeeding fifteen years he was occupied as a conductor on the street railways of this city, in 1902 giv- ing up that work to engage in business for himself, and has ever since been proprietor of the Model bath house here. The cement plunge is 50x60 feet in dimensions and is filled with sea water, which is heated to the proper degree for comfortable bathing, and there are also twenty-five tubs with fresh water, each room being fitted with shower appliances. The bath house is the largest and oldest es- tablished in the city, and is located at the foot of Sixth street.

Fraternally Mr. Creelman was made a Mason in 1892, in Silver Gate Lodge No. 296. F. & A. M., of which he is past master ; has attained the thirty-second degree in the Con- istory ; belongs to the Order of Eastern Star ; was made an Odd Fellow in San Diego Lodge No. 153, I. O. O. F., and has served in the capacity of noble grand: belongs to the En- campment, in which he has passed all the of- fices ; holds membership in the Rebekah lodge. and also in the Independent Order of Forest- ers. He was married in San Diego to Miss May Chittenden, a native of Illinois, their union being blessed in the birth of two chil- dren, James and Charles. Mrs. Creelman is a member of the Christian Church. She affili-

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ates witli a number of fraternal orders, is a member, and was for several years treasurer, of Southern Star Chapter No. 96, O. E. S .; and held the same office in Silver Gate Re- bekah Lodge No. 141 for a long period. Po- litically Mr. Creelman is an advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Republican party, and in 1903 he was elected as councilman from the sixth ward of San Diego, a flattering endorsement of his services in the governing body having been accorded him in 1905 by a re-election to the office. He is a member of the Union League Club and in every matter of social and civic interest to the community in which he lives lends a hearty and enthusiastic support.

GUSTAV BRELIN. Not a few of the men prominent in varied departments of the building business in San Diego have come from the far distant domain of Scandinavia, and among these may be mentioned Gustav Brelin, who has been a resident of Southern California since 1887 and of San Diego since 1890. Born in Dalsland, Sweden, April 8, 1864, he was the eldest among four children, three of whom are still living. His father, Andrew, was a native of the same locality and owned and operated the homestead known as Brene, but in 1872 he crossed the ocean to America, settling at Ashtabula, Ohio. where he remained until death. The wife and mother, Breta Kalin, was a native of the same locality in Sweden and a member of an old family of agriculturists.

While still quite young in years Gustav Brelin saw his father depart for the new world, and in 1879 he joined him in Ashtabula, Ohio, where he studied English in the common schools. In 1881 he secured a position on a lake vessel and for two years led the life of a sailor, but in 1884 abandoned that occupation, went to St. Paul, Minn., and began an apprenticeship to the plasterer's trade. On the expiration of his time he worked as a journeyman. In 1887 he came to California, located in Los Angeles and took con- tracts for plastering, remaining there until 1890, when he removed to San Diego. For three years he followed journeyman work in this city and then began to take contracts, in which line he continues to the present time, the firm of Brelin & Walker being one of the largest of its kind in the place. Since forming the connection with his present partner in 1894 he has built up a large trade and has been employed to take charge of much of the plastering in business structures and residences. Among their contracts may be mentioned those for the Keating and Granger blocks. the Sefton block, St. Joseph's Sanitarium, and Pickwick theater, as well as various im-

portant contracts in Coronado, National City, Lajolla and Pacific Beach. During the busy season employment is furnished to eighteen workmen, through whose labor the partners are aided in filling their contracts with promptness and accuracy.

The marriage of Mr. Brelin and Miss Carrie Anderson, a native of Ostrejotland, was solemn- ized in Los Angeles, and has been blessed by the birth of three sons, Hilding, Ebbe and Gustav. The family occupy their new and modern resi- dence on the corner of University and Richmond streets. After coming to San Diego Mr. Brelin was made a Mason in Silver Gate Lodge, F. & A. M., also identified himself with the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the Cabrillo Club, the ' Master Builders' Association, and the Scandinavian Society, of which latter he is a charter member. During 1884 he was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at St. Paul, and now holds membership with the lodge of the order in San Diego. Although in- terested and active in these various organizations, his attention is devoted principally to the de- tails of his business and he is justly proud of the reputation acquired by his firm for reliable and honest workmanship.

PHILIP HANF. Among the residents of Cajon, San Bernardino county, Philip Hanf is well known, as for ten years he has supplied the general wants of the public and has also accom- modated travelers. His genial manners and up- right business methods have gained for him a large circle of friends, both in business and so- cial connections.

A native of Germany, Philip Hanf was born in Bavaria November 4, 1857, his parents also being natives of the Fatherland. Educated in the good schools for which Germany is noted, Mr. Hanf lost no time in preparing himself for the business world as soon as his school days were over, thus displaying an ambitious spirit which is bound to bring success. Besides learning the baker's trade he also learned the butcher's trade, and it was with this preparation that he set foot on Amer- ican soil in 1883. His first six years in this coun- try were spent in New York City, but as is al- most always the case with those who seek our shores he finally gravitated toward the west. Go- ing to Washington he there resumed work at his trades, which he followed continuously for six years, after which he went to Los Angeles and spent one year. With the experience of thirteen years in this country to his credit he came to Cajon Pass in 1896 and purchased forty acres of land, to which he later added a like amount, taking up the latter from the government. At the time he removed to his new purchase there

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was little in the way of appearance to encourage its cultivation, for the land was wild and entirely covered with brush. Nothing daunted, however, he cleared it and set out fruit trees, which he has tended and cared for until he now has a fine orchard, comprising about one hundred and seventy-five trees, which include plums, peaches, cherries and apples. Before his orchard was in bearing condition he opened a general store upon his ranch, erecting the building at the time he built the family residence. He keeps on hand a choice supply of groceries and provisions of all kinds, besides dry goods, and also lias accommo- dation for the traveling public. It is his intention to enlarge his orchard by setting out about three thousand more trees, besides grape vines, and in the future devote his time almost exclusively to the management of his ranch.

In New York City, September 28, 1884, the year following his immigration to the United States, Mr. Hanf was married to Fannie Mooch- can, who was born in Saxony, Germany, and came to the United States when twenty-four years of age. She has borne her husband four children, one of whom, George, died when fifteen months old. The eldest child, Joseph, is a resident of Seattle, Wash .; Gussie is now at home, having recently graduated from the Los Angeles Busi- ness College, and Andrew is also at home.

JAMES HARRISON CLARK, M. D. Numbered among the more prominent, influ- ential and esteemed residents of Valley Cen- ter is J. H. Clark, M. D., who is actively iden- tified with the best and highest interests of this locality, being a prosperous agriculturist and a well known physician. He has, gener- ally speaking, been successful through life, and giving liis best efforts to whatever he has attempted has attained a fine position, pro- fessionally, socially and financially, among his fellow-men. A man of keen intelligence, ex- cellent judgment and sound sense, his advice and counsel are often sought, and invariably taken. He is generous and kind-hearted, do- ing good whenever opportunity occurs, and freely giving professional aid and comfort to the poor and needy. A son of Robert Clark, he was born, December 3, 1841, in Cooper county, Mo., where he grew to man's estate.

Born and brought up in Kentucky, Robert Clark was employed in both agricultural and mechanical pursuits during the greater part of his life. Becoming a pioneer of Missouri, he settled in Cooper county, where from the for- est-covered land he cleared and improved a homestead, on which he was busily employed until his death, in 1852. He was a man of some prominence in the community in which

he settled, and an active Whig in his political affiliations. He married Rhoda Fox, also a native of Kentucky; she survived him, dying in Missouri in 1859. She was a woman of Christian character, and a consistent member of the Baptist church.

Brought up on the home farm, James H. Clark laid a substantial foundation for his fu- ture education in the common schools of Cooper county. As a boy he showed a natural aptitude for study, and his education was subsequently advanced by an attendance at the Kemper Select school and at a prepara- tory college. With two friends, Mr. Clark came with mule teams across the plains in 1864, having an enjoyable trip. Locating in Yuba City, he taught school there for two years. He was in the meantime appointed superintendent of the Sutter county schools, and having filled out the unexpired term of Dr. E. B. Dunwell, was elected to the same office, and served in all about seven years. Dur- ing this time Mr. Clark read medicine, and was also employed in the drug business. In July, 1870, he entered Toland Medical College, San Francisco, and after completing the first year's course, in October, 1871, became a student in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, at New York City, graduating from that institution with the degree of M. D. in March, 1872. Re- turning to Yuba City he was there engaged in the practice of his profession for two years. In 1874, his health failing, he went to Colusa county, locating at Leesville, where he sold goods and practiced medicine for four years. Settling near Los Angeles in 1878, he with others purchased portions of three grants of land at Azusa, but the investment proved dis- astrous. The ensuing four years he was en- gaged in ranching at Norwalk, Los Angeles county, and also followed his profession to some extent. . Coming to San Diego county in 1885, the doctor purchased his present ranch of two hundred and forty acres, lying near Valley Center, and has now one of the best and most productive grain, stock and poultry farms in this part of the country. He has con- tinued his labors here as a practitioner, and is known far and wide as an able and skilful physician. Politically his sympathies are with the Socialists and for three terms, while a resident of Sutter county, he served as dep- tity county clerk. Fraternally he is a member of Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A. M., of Ynba City and religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

In the spring of 1872, in Missouri, Dr. Clark married Mattie A. Robinson, who was born in that state, a daughter of Col. L. W. Robinson, who was very influential in the af-

J & moffert

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fairs of his state, liaving served as representa- tive to the state legislature and as state sen- ator. Of the union of Dr. and Mrs. Clark seven children have been born, namely, Ida De Wilson of Escondido; William Robinson ; Mary Rhoda, a teacher in the public schools ; Hallie Lewis; James Harrison; and Horace L. and Martha Amanda, twins.

THOMAS JEFFERSON MOFFETT. A well-to-do agriculturist of Los Angeles County, and an extensive and successful apiarist, Thomas J. Moffett is prosperously engaged in his con- genial occupation on one of the most pleasant homesteads in the vicinity of Sherman. His ranch contains one hundred and sixty acres of land, a large part of which is under cultivation, and with its comfortable and convenient set of farm build- ings is attractive to the passer-by, giving visi- ble evidence of the enterprise and thrift of the owner. A son of James S. Moffett, he was born, July 4, 1840 in Pope county, Ark., near Dover.

Born and reared in Tennessee, James S. Mof- fett migrated from there to Arkansas about 1832, taking up land, and being employed as a tiller of the soil until the breaking out of the Mexican war. When that was declared he offered his services to his country, and being made captain of Company A, Arkansas Mounted Rifles, com- manded by Colonel Yale, served until his death in San Antonio, Tex., where he received a soldier's burial. He married Eupha Hamilton, who was born in Tennessee, of excellent New England stock, some of her ancestors having crossed the Atlantic in the Mayflower. She re- mained in Arkansas until 1852, when she came across the plains in an ox-team train to Califor- nia, bringing her seven children with her. Locat- ing in Ione, Amador county, she lived there until marrying again, when she came with her hus- band to Los Angeles, in which city she made her home until her death, at the age of seventy- two years.

A wide-awake, active little hustler of twelve years when he came with the family to Califor- nia, Thomas J. Moffett worked for about a year as a farm hand, and then, although but thirteen years old, began placer mining on his own account. He was subsequently variously employed in Amador county, working in the mines, hotel or saw-mill until 1857, when as a result of the Frazer river excitement, he went there and prospected for one season. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1868, he rented land in this vicinity for two or three years, and in its management met with encouraging success. Purchasing then one hundred and sixty acres or railroad land, he improved the ranch on which he has since lived, and in addition to carry-

ing it on in an able manner has several seasons rented large tracts of near-by land in order that he might enlarge his agricultural operations. He is very practical, seizing every offered oppor- tunity for advancing his interests, and besides carrying on general farming in a scientific man- ner, has made a specialty of bee raising, having at times had as many as two hundred and twen- ty stands, although at the present time his apiary contains but fifty stands.

January 29, 1887, Mr. Moffett married Annie G. Cottle, who was born in Missouri, and came with her parents to California at an early day. Politically Mr. Moffett supports the principles of the Democratic party by voice and vote although in local affairs he is extremely liberal.

AMBROSE WALSH. Closely identified with the agricultural interests of San Diego county is Ambrose Walsh, who is pleasantly situated in Valley Center, where he is profit- ably engaged in general farming, managing his affairs with ability and success. A resi- dent of California since nine years of age, he is the son of one of those brave and hardy pioneers who dauntlessly pushed his way into a wild, uncultivated country, and has left be- hind him a record for steadiness of purpose and persistent industry of which his descend- ants may well be proud. He is a twin brother of Austin Walsh, in whose sketch, which ap- pears on another page of this volume, may be found a brief personal history of his pa- rents.

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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 11

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