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 110

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

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In 1888 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Willie A. Rogers, a native of Mississippi, and who came to Texas with her parents in childhood. They are the parents of eight children, namely: Guy L., Īzeta M., Roger C., Leotha, Ottis C., Prilla J., Lowell J. and William A. In politics Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

JAMES H. DOVEY. One of the recent in- dustries organized in Long Beach is the Orna- mental Stone and Brick Company, of which Mr. Dovey was one of the organizers. Until January, 1906, he was superintendent of the plant, and is still a member of the board of directors. The company was organized in 1904 with a capital stock of $25,000, and has since engaged in the manufacture of fine building stone. Specimens of the stone turned out from the plant are to be seen in the structure owned and occupied by the Bank of Huntington Beach, also in the stone used in the Harris residence and the Mccullough block at Long Beach. Prior to and also since the organization of the company Mr. Dovey has been interested in the laying of cement walks and foundations; in which industry he has gained a reputation for skilled and successful work.

The Dovey family is of English lineage, and was founded in America by William Dovey, a native of Somersetshire, and an immigrant of 1857 to the United States, where he found em- ployment in Syracuse, N. Y. During 1869 he re- moved to Michigan and settled on a tract of land near Coldwater, where he followed farm pursuits until his death. His wife bore the maiden name

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of Elizabeth Telford and was born in Ireland of Scotch ancestry; at this writing she continues to make her home in Michigan. Of their ten sons and four daughters the eldest was James H., a native of Syracuse, N. Y., born June 5, 1861, and reared on the home farm there and in Michigan, which he assisted in cultivating until he was twenty years of age. He then served an appren- ticeship to the miller's trade at Coldwater, and at the expiration of his time (five years) he went west as far as Denver, Colo., where for two years he engaged in the creamery business. In 1888 he secured work as a fireman on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad between Denver and Sa- lida, where he continued for two years.

It was during 1890 that Mr. Dovey came to California, where at first he made his home at Pasadena and engaged in laying cement walks and foundations. After eleven busy years in that city he removed to the then small town of Long Beach. with whose rapid progress his own for- tunes have materially advanced, and where he has had a large number of important contracts, both for cement walks and for foundations. As a business man he is prompt, reliable and re- sourceful, careful in planning his contracts and even more careful in executing them. Through his reliable methods of doing business he has es- tablished a reputation that is not limited to his home town, but extends through this part of Southern California.

While living in Denver Mr. Dovey was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Horan, who was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Of this union there are four sons and four daughters, all of whom are being given the best advantages which the means of their parents permit. The family.at- tend the Episcopal Church and Mr. Dovey con- tributes to the maintenance of that denomina- tion. In politics he supports Republican principles and keeps well posted concerning the issues of the age. In fraternal matters he holds member- ship with the Independent Order of Foresters.

JOSEPH F. BRYANT. A man of broad and enlightened views, taking an intelligent in- terest in local affairs, Joseph F. Bryant is actively associated with the leading interests of the thriv- ing village of Palms, where he is serving as post- master and express agent, and is carrying on a good business as a dealer in real estate and in agricultural implements. Wide-awake, energetic and persevering, he is a true type of the self- made men of our times, and as a public-spirited and faithful citizen is ably performing his duties. A son of Enos Bryant, he was born. December 27, 1855, in Darke county, Ohio, near Green- ville. His grandfather, David Bryant, spent the first sixty-five years of his life in Butler county,

Ohio, where his father, a native of New Jersey, settled as a pioneer. Going then to Michigan, he took up land that was in its pristine wildness, cleared a homestead, on which he resided until his death, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years.

Born and brought up in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, Enos Bryant settled as a farmer in Darke county, Ohio, when young, continuing his residence in that place until 1870, when he removed to Iowa. Taking up land in Wood- bury county, he cleared and improved a home- stead, and for seventeen years was there em- ployed in farming and stock-raising. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1887, he located about a mile west of Palms, buying a ranch of ten acres, a part of which he devoted to the culture of fruit, and was there successfully engaged in his independent occupation until his death in 1902, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a man of sterling integrity, an earnest supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and an active member of the United Brethren Church. He married Sarah Ann Townsend, who was born and reared in Darke county, Ohio, where her father, Alfred Townsend, settled as a pioneer. She died on the home ranch at Palms in 1897, aged sixty-seven years.

Going with the family to Iowa when a lad of fifteen years, Joseph F. Bryant assisted his father in clearing a homestead and completed his studies in the public schools. A natural me- chanic, familiar with machinery of all kinds, he began his active career as an engineer on be- coming of age, running stationary engines and threshing machines during summers, while dur- ing the winter seasons he engaged in carpenter- ing. He was subsequently employed as a fire- man for two years on the Iowa divisions of the Illinois Central and Northwestern Railways. In November, 1889, he located at Palms, and for eight years thereafter had charge of the local water works, the ensuing two years running an engine at the Downey avenue power house in Los Angeles. Establishing himself then as a merchant in Palms, he ran a general store for about a year, when he closed out all of the stock with the exception of the agricultural imple- ments, in which he still deals, carrying on a sub- stantial business in that line, and likewise in the sale and transfer of real estate in this vicinity. Since 1900 he has served as postmaster at Palms. and is now agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company, and ticket agent for the Los Angeles and Pacific Railroad Company. In these various positions he is rendering able service, perform- ing his duties with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of the general public.

Mr. Brvant married Martha Devore, who was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and they are

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the parents of three children, namely: Nellie, wife of Albert LaForge, of Palms; Nettie A., wife of Edward Cook, of Palms ; and Marion R., associated in business with his father. Polit- ically Mr. Bryant is a stanch Republican, and formerly served as school trustee, for three years being clerk of the Board. He and his family are consistent members of the United Brethren Church, in which they are valued workers.

J. P. CHRISTENSEN. Before the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein had been incorporat- ed within the German empire and while they were yet under the sovereignty of the Danish government, Mr. Christensen was born in Schles- wig September 24, 1841, and in childhood he was a student in the schools of his native land, where he acquired a fair education in the Dan- ish language. While still quite young he de- cided to seek a home and livelihood in the United States, concerning whose opportunities reports were many and favorable. Bidding farewell to the friends of his boyhood and the members of the family, he set sail for the new world June 26, 1860, and after an uneventful voyage landed in New York harbor on the 19th of July. Im- mediately after landing he proceeded to Manka- to, Minn., whither two of his brothers had gone three years before and where, in 1859, they had opened a general store.

Scarcely had Mr. Christensen become famil- iar with his new surroundings when a heavy misfortune befell him. While hunting on the 7th of September, less than two months after his arrival, his gun burst and seriously crip- pled his left hand. The outlook was discourag- ing, but with his naturally optimistic disposi- tion he did not allow the catastrophe to weaken his energies or lessen his courage. In order to acquire a more thorough knowledge of the English language he attended a select school. Meanwhile he aided his brothers in their mer- chandisinig, and bought furs, ginseng and farm produce, exchanging same for goods at the store. Times were very hard then, a financial depression pervading the entire country. Lit- tle money was in circulation. Eggs brought only four cents a dozen, butter five cents per pound. and wheat thirty cents a bushel, and payment was always made in trade, not in cash.

The great Sioux massacre commenced in Aug- ust, 1862, and shortly afterward Mr. Christen- sen secured a government contract to furnish supplies for all of the military posts south of the Minnesota river. The money thus paid for pro- duce by the government greatly relieved the dis- tresses of the settlers on the frontier, besides causing an advance in prices paid for farm products of from two to four-fold. Supplies

were furnished to the troops until the summer of 1864, when they were ordered to South Da- kota. On discontinuing that work Mr. Chris- tensen bought an interest with his two brothers under the firm title of H. P. Christensen & Brothers. In the spring of 1867 the senior mem- ber of the firm retired and the business was con- tinued by C. S. C. and J. P. Christensen under the title of Christensen Brothers, a large trade being built up throughout all that section of the country. After twenty-one successful years in business they sold out and in the fall of 1889 J. P. Christensen moved to California, arriving in San Diego on the 9th of September. Since then he has engaged in the real-estate business in this city and among other important tasks carried out by him may be mentioned the plat- ting of an addition on the west side of City Park, and the laying out of Golden Park on Point Loma.

The marriage of Mr. Christensen took place September 24, 1866, and united him with Mary A., youngest daughter of R. W. Warren, and a descendant of ancestry dating back in America to the coming of the Mayflower in 1620. As early as 1834 R. W. Warren left his home in the vicinity of Lake Champlain in New York and traversed the wilds of what was then known as the frontier until he arrived in Wisconsin, then still under territorial government, and there he became the first settler at Lake Geneva, where he remained for years, becoming one of the most prominent and most active business men in that part of the state. Through all of his life Mr. Christensen has been an industrious, ener- getic man, interested in business to such an ex- tent that he has not participated in politics, nor has he identified himself with any fraternity other than the Masonic Order, in which he is a Master Mason. All who know him unite in bearing testimony to his upright life and to the energy with which he has overcome misfortune and achieved success.

ALBERT C. HAIGHT. A fine old gentle- man and a pioneer orange grower in San Ber- nardino county is Albert C. Haight, who has been a resident of this part of the county for nineteen years. His ranch comprises nine acres, of which six and one-half acres are planted to orange trees, which Mr. Haight himself set out. He has a fine home with all modern improvements. his outbuildings are good, and the whole place has an air of thrift pleasant to note. The birth of Mr. Haight occurred July 25, 1843, in Steuben county, N. Y., where his parents, Peter and Ada (Crawford) Haight, reared their family, being themselves natives of that state, in which their deaths occurred. The father served in the war

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of 1812, and died when the son, Albert C., was a child of nine months, the death of the mother occurring when he was seven years old. Of the twelve children in the family six are now liv- ing, one son residing in San Diego at the present time.

Until seventeen years of age Mr. Haight at- tended the public schools of Steuben county, and then removed to Belvidere, Boone county, Ill .. where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time, later continuing the same occupation in Michigan. He also worked for a time in a factory in the latter state. His next move was to Nebraska, where he remained two years, and in 1886 he arrived in California. After six weeks spent in Riverside he came to his present ranch in San Bernardino county, which has been his home throughout the succeeding years. Dur- ing the Civil war he served a year and a half in Company B, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, but owing to sickness was not engaged in active warfare. Politically he is a strong believer in Republican principles, and fraternally is affiliated with the Loyal Mystic Legion.

In 1875 Mr. Haight was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Dakin, a native of Mich- igan, and they have become the parents of seven children: John, who married Miss Alice Two- good; Alla; Adda; Affa, the latter now the the wife of David Downs of Highgrove; Ira; Alzora and Elizabeth. All charitable and be- nevolent interests receive the hearty and liberal support of the family.

JOHN FAHLER. A man of energy, enter- prise and wise forethought, John Fahler has been actively identified with the material and industrial advancement of San Pedro, and oc- cupies a noteworthy place among its business agents. Starting in life for himself when young, he came to California in search of a favorable opportunity for gaining a livelihood, and by means of diligent toil and a wise use of his faculties he met with a fair degree of success. The third child in order of birth in the parental household, John Fahler was born in 1862, at Malax, near Vasa, Finland, where his father, Isaac Fahler, was a tiller of the soil.

Immigrating to the United States in 1880, Jolın Fahler landed in New York, but after a brief stay in that metropolis came to San Fran- cisco, where he entered the employ of the Mor- gan Oyster Company. He was subsequently engaged in fishing, first in San Francisco bay, and later on the Columbia river, being located at Astoria, Ore. Returning from there to San Francisco, he remained there until 1891, when he settled permanently in San Pedro. Here he worked for awhile for the San Pedro Lumber

Company, and has since been profitably en- gaged in lumbering or sailing, in either branch of industry meeting with success. He is a man of wise management and by judicious invest- ment has accumulated some property. On Fourth street, between Center and Mesa streets, he erected the residence now occupied as the family home.

Mr. Fahler married first, in San Pedro, Annie Newland, who was born in Finland. She died in San Pedro, leaving one son, Frederick Fahler. Subsequently Mr. Fahler married, in San Pedro, Annia Larson, a native of Eskilstuna, Sweden, and they have one child, a daughter named Mary. Fraternally Mr. Fahler is a Knight of Pythias.

STEPHEN O. DAVIS. For upwards of twenty years Stephen O. Davis, now residing at San Gabriel, has been actively identified with the advancement of the agricultural interests of Los Angeles county, holding a noteworthy position among the foremost farmers of Southern Cal- ifornia. He is a broad-minded, liberal man, enterprising and progressive in all matters, and in the improvement of his fine ranch, located two miles north of Long Beach, he has spared neither time nor expense. He is a native of New York, and was born in Dutchess county April 2, 1831. His parents, William and Cath- erine Davis, were born in New York state, and lived there until 1837, when they removed to Williams county, Ohio, where they purchased land and were engaged in farming the remain- der of their lives, the death of the mother oc- curring there in 1848, and that of the father in 1857.

But seven years old when the family settled in Ohio, Stephen O. Davis was there educated, attending the district school until about four- teen years of age. Beginning life for himself then, he worked as a farm laborer until 1850, when he followed the tide of emigration west- ward, coming across the plains with ox-teams to California, being six months en route. The ensuing year he was engaged in mining on the Scott river, and the next twelve years was sim- ilarly employed in Shasta county. Changing his occupation, Mr. Davis then went to Monterey county, where he invested a part of his money in cattle, and for twelve years thereafter was in the stock business. Coming to Southern Cal- ifornia in 1884. he purchased forty acres of the land included in his ranch near Long Beach, paying $32 an acre. Beginning at once the im- provement of his ranch, he met with most sat- isfactory results, and as a general farmer was exceedingly successful, meeting with good pe- cuniary rewards. Each year he added to the

James a Smith

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

value of his estate, which is now worth $500 an acre. In 1900 Mr. Davis bought another tract of land containing forty acres, and soon afterward purchased fifteen acres more, and has now one of the most desirable farms in the neighborhood. He has a fine set of buildings, which are models of comfort and convenience, and which, with their attractive surroundings, evince the thrift and prosperity of their owner. In the fall of 1905 Mr. Davis bought residential property in San Gabriel, where he is now living retired from active pursuits and enjoying the competency which he has acquired by industry, perseverance and judicious management.

In June, 1885, in Los Angeles, Mr. Davis married Christie Williams, a native of Wiscon- sin, and into their household the following chil- dren have been born, namely: Debnoy, at home; Eugenie, wife of Daniel Harbert, of Bakersfield; Carl and Arthur. Politically Mr. Davis is a straight Republican, and fraternally he belongs to the Masons.

JAMES A. SMITH. One of the prominent ranchers of Los Angeles county, James A. Smith, widely known as Section Smith, was born in Orange township, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, February 12, 1830, a son of John G. and Nancy (Burnside) Smith, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. Both parents lived to a ripe old age, the father, a Whig in his political affiliations in the early days and later a Republican, engaging as a farmer up to the time of his death. The mother was a first cousin of the celebrated General Burnside and her great grandfather, James Burnside, was a fifer in the Revolutionary war. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are still living. James A. Smith ob- tained his education through the medium of the public schools in Ohio, after which he learned the moulder's trade and followed it for a short time in his native state. Finally re- moving to South Bend, Ind., he engaged in the same kind of work and was there married, two days afterward starting overland with his bride for California. They drove the entire distance but arrived safely in Eldorado county in 1853, and immediately engaged in mining at Hangtown. The name of the place was changed to Placerville soon after he arrived there. He remained for a short time in that place when he went to Colusa county and en- gaged in farming, purchasing six hundred and sixty acres of land, where he carried on the raising of grain. In connection with his own property he rented about four hundred acres for the purpose of raising grain. Mr. Smith purchased and conducted one of the first

threshing machines in that section of the country, being interested in this for about five years.

In the fall of 1864 Mr. Smith returned to Illinois and located in Livingston county, where he purchased a fine farm of four hun- dred and four acres. He remained there until 1876 when he again located in California, hav- ing purchased a section of land near Norwalk, showing his faith in the country and obtain- ing for him the name his friends like to call him ; since then he has sold off or given to his children, and now retains two hundred and eighty acres two and one-half miles southeast of Norwalk, where he is engaged in the rais- ing of alfalfa, stock and sugar beets, a part of his land being pasture. Mr. Smith owns val- table property in Los Angeles consisting of three hundred and forty-seven and one-half feet on San Pedro street, near Fourteenth, and one hundred and sixteen feet on West Eighteenth, near Main.

Mr. Smith's first wife was Miss Maria Han- son. a native of Indiana, and while living in Illinois the second time her death occurred. He then married his wife's sister, Mrs. Mar- garet L. Furgerson, a widow, also a native of Indiana, and her death occurred in 1895. Mr. Smith has four living children, namely: Will- iam H., James F .. Jay G. and Bessie : the last named is the wife of A. M. Costner. A life- long Republican, Mr. Smith was a schoolmate and personal friend of James A. Garfield, the martyred president.

JUSTIN ROUSSEY. The family repre- sented by Justin Roussey is of French origin, although he himself is a native of the Unit- ed States, born in Franklin county, Kans., June 22, 1869. The first representative of the family in America was the paternal grandfa- ther, who emigrated from France with his family in 1830, making settlement in Pennsyl- vania. His son John B. was a lad of only seven years at the time of the removal to the United States, and from then until reaching voung manhood he knew no other home than Pennsylvania. A desire to locate in the newer parts of the west was the means of his selling out his holdings in the east and removing to Kansas, where he purchased a half section of land. Besides this property, he also owned fif- teen acres of land in Ventura county, Cal., upon which he lived until his death in 1900.

The wife of John B. Roussey, before her marriage Miss Harriet Petit, was also born in France, and was brought to the United States by her parents when she was about fifteen years old. The Petits also settled in Pennsyl-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

vania not far from the Roussey family, and thus the young people became acquainted and were finally married. Ten children were born to them, all of whom reached maturity, and their names in order of birth are as follows: Charles S., Nicholaus F., Louis F., Addie A., Justin. Chloe Elizabeth (who married D. Jor- dan and lives in Kansas), Jane Della (Mrs. R. B. Knipschure), Julia B., Margaret M. and Catherine E.

From early boyhood Justin Roussey had been associated with agricultural affairs, so that when he chose his life calling and start- ed out independently it is a matter of no sur- prise that he continued to follow the business with which he was most familiar. At twenty- two years of age he began farming on a tract of rented land, his experience on that farm giving him the training and confidence neces- sary to insure success in handling a larger un- dertaking. This resulted in the purchase of a tract of fifteen acres in the La Ballona district, and ten acres of this property now comprises the home place. Besides his own ranch he rents adjoining land to the extent of one hun- dred acres, all of the tract under his control being devoted to beans, hay and barley. By his marriage with Anna Luella Kauffman, a native of Ventura county, two children have been born, Justin Edward and Marion Adeline. Politically Mr. Roussey is independent.

JAMES QUILL. Conspicuous among the pioneer settlers of Downey is James Quill, an extensive landholder and a citizen of influence and wealth. Beginning life with scant means, he labored unceasingly for many years, follow- ing any honorable occupation, and through his unaided efforts has attained distinction as a self- made man and won a position of prominence in business and social circles. Like many other of our most respected California residents, he is of foreign birth, having been born, December 20, 1848, in Ireland. His father, James Quill, Sr., immigrated with his family to New England in 1852, locating in Ipswich, Mass., not far from Newburyport, where both he and his good wife spent their closing years.

But four years old when he came with his parents across the broad Atlantic, James Quill was educated in the public schools of Massa- chusetts. April 9, 1865. the very day of Lee's surrender, he left his Newburyport home, and, with but $30 in his pocket, went to New London, Conn .. where he was for two months in the em- ploy of G. G. Hammond. Thinking the outlook for a young man much brighter in the west, he proceeded to Illinois, and for a brief time worked in Mendota. Continuing his journey westward,

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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 110

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