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 112

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

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William Fulton was born and reared in East Machias, Me., and there followed for awhile the business of a lumberman. Being attacked with the gold fever in 1849, he came overland to Cal- ifornia, and in common with the thousands of other emigrants embarked in mining pursuits. Unsuccessful, however, he went northward to Port Ludlow, Wash., where he was for ten years engaged in the manufacture of lumber. Giving up that occupation, he was subsequently em- ployed in logging until his death, at a com- paratively early age. He married Mary Ann Guptill, who was born in East Machias, Me., and died in Chico, Cal., in 1879.

After the death of his mother which occurred when he was but eight years of age, Charles E. Fulton attended school a very short time, and at the age of ten years began life as a wage-earner, from that time until the present being self-sup- porting. At the age of fourteen he went into the woods to work, and for a number of seasons was employed in a logging camp. Subsequently, while thus employed, a thirst for knowledge came upon him, and he eagerly seized upon every opportunity afforded him for study. In 1891, at Port Blakeley, Wash., he entered the employ of Hall Brothers, and there began to learn the trade of shipbuilder. Going to San Francisco

in 1895, he accepted a position in the Fulton Iron Works, working a year as ship carpenter, and afterwards being foreman. While there he at- tended the Lincoln night school, studying marine architecture and mechanical drawing, in both of which he became proficient. Returning then to Washington, he located at Bellingham, where lie built the four-masted schooner Sehome, the schooner Cecilia Sudden (both of which are still in commission ), a tug-boat seventy-five feet in length, and several launches. Locating at San Pedro in 1904, he was for a year employed in the shipyard of the Wilmington Transporta- tion Company. In the spring of 1905 lie re- signed that position to become the partner of Peter Iversen, since which time business has been carried on under the name of the Fulton & Iversen Ship and Boat Building Company. By his wise management and good judgment Mr. Fulton has advanced the interests of the company and extended its business. Among some of the better known boats built by this firm may be mentioned the steamships Long Beach and Empress, the latter the largest glass- bottomed boat in the world.

In Tacoma, Wash., Mr. Fulton married Car- rie Linnie Johnson, who was born in Chicago, Ill., where her parents settled on coming to this country from Christiania, Norway. Of their union two children have been born: Clara May and Robert W. Politically Mr. Fulton is a true- blue Republican, and fraternally he was made a Mason in San Francisco Lodge No. 212, F. & A. M.

WILLIAM SHEPPARD. As proprietor of the Hemet dairy, which is supplied by a herd of twenty-five high grade Jersey cows, William Sheppard is known as one of the most enter- prising and energetic citizens of Riverside coun- ty. He is of German descent, the name having originally been Schaeffer, and his father, George Sheppard, was brought to this country by his parents from his native land when but seven years of age. The family settled near Catawissa, Pa., where the son attended the common schools and later learned cabinetmaking and the painter's trade, attaining great proficiency in the work. He afterwards resided in Maryland for ten years, then went to Beaver Dam, Wis., and in 1856 settled in Fillmore, Minn., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and lived until his death in 1906, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife, who was Hannah Yost before her mar- riage, was born in Pennsylvania near Catawissa, and her death occurred in 1904.

The birth of William Sheppard occurred at Fillmore, Minn., November 10, 1857, and his education was received through the medium of

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the common schools of that state. From boy- hood he helped his father on the farm and when a young man contracted to conduct the place for a number of years. In 1893 he went to Kingfisher county, Okla., and purchasing a homestead relinquishment on a claim near Okarche, proved up on the place and engaged in grain and stock raising. He also ran a thresh- ing outfit there and continued to live in that state until 1902, when he sold his interests and located in Hemet, Cal. He first purchased five acres of land on Florida avenue, adding sub- sequently by purchase fifteen acres more, which now gives him a twenty-acre ranch, sixteen acres being in alfalfa and the remainder devoted to horticultural purposes, a fine olive orchard occupying the most of the plot. He established his dairy business in 1903 and has since done an excellent retail business.

The marriage of Mr. Sheppard took place in Fillmore, Minn., Miss Lillian F. Young, a native of that place, becoming his wife. They have become the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters: George Nelson, liv- ing in Minnesota, Lee, Mabel, Jennie, Rose, Aloa and Wallace. Mr. Sheppard was made a Mason in Chatfield, Minn .; he also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees at Hemet : Independ- ent Order of Foresters, Modern Woodmen of America, Fraternal Aid and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Mrs. Sheppard being a member of the Rebekah Lodge.

FREDERICK BLUEMLE. Closely identified with the industrial prosperity of Los Angeles county is Frederick Bluemle, a representative farmer, and a true type of the energetic, hardy and enterprising men who have actively assisted in the development and advancement of this fertile and productive agricultural region. His ranch, lying seven miles north of San Pedro, is one of the best in the vicinity, and under his in- telligent management is highly cultivated and improved. A German by birth and ancestry. he was born, November 4, 1855. in Baden, Germany. His parents, George and Karoline (Riess) Bluemle, were born in Germany, where the father was engaged in tilling the soil until his death, in 1856. The mother survived her husband, and is now living in the Fatherland, a bright and active woman. seventy-nine years old.

Leaving the public schools at the age of four- teen years, in 1870 Frederick Bluemle immigrat- ed to the United States, hoping in this land of plenty to find remunerative employment. Going to Somerville. Ind., he worked by the month for about eight years. and being industrious, and prudent in his habits, accumulated some money. His health failing, he came to California, ar-

riving in Los. Angeles county September 27. 1878, and locating in the German settlement, where he worked by the month for a year. His health improving, he then rented land, which he managed successfully for a number of seasons. Purchasing forty acres of the land now included in his home ranch in 1884. he has since been prosperously employed in agricultural pursuits. A systematic, thorough-going farmer, he has made all the improvements on his ranch, which is advantageously located seven miles north of San Pedro, his ranch, with its large dwelling house and fine outbuildings, being one of the most attractive in the community, while everything about the premises indicates the existence of a cultivated taste and ample means. His farm- ing implements are of the most approved pattern, and all things are in keeping with the appliances of a first-class agriculturist. In 1903 he added to the size of his ranch, buying sixty acres of land near the German Church, and to this he is making extensive improvements also.

March 29, 1883, in California, Mr. Bluemle married Elizabeth Anna Rockensuess, a daugh- ter of the late William Rockenstiess, of Germany. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bhiemle, namely: William Ludwig, Rudolph Henry, Frederick Johann, Emma Helen, Lillian Mina, Maria Karolina and Anna Elizabethı Thusnelda. Politically Mr. Bluemle is identified with the Republican party, and for a number of vears has been clerk of the Lincoln school board. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bluemle are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he was one of the organizers and served on the building committee of the church. He is now a trustee and serves as local preacher of the church. For over twenty years he served as superintendent of the Sunday School. He has always supported movements that have had for their object the upbuilding of the county.

WILLIAM I. STEVENS. Prominent among. the well-known and thriving business men of Compton is William I. Stevens, who has spent nearly three decades of his life in this commun- ity, being formerly engaged as a lumber dealer in Gardena, but now employed by the San Pedro Lumber Company at Compton. He enjoys the many improvements that have been made in this locality since he first came here, the establish- ment of home industries and local benefactions being with him of paramount importance and well worthy of the aid he so willingly gives. A son of S. C. Stevens, he was born in St. John, New Brunswick, September 5, 1853.

Coming from old Virginia stock, S. C. Stev- ens was born, reared and educated in Canada. He was engaged in seafaring pursuits during

Presente. IT Cogswell

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his active career, living in New Brunswick dur- ing his earlier life, but subsequently settling in Maine, where he lived for twenty-five years, dying there when well advanced in years. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Jones, also died in Maine. They were the parents of five children, namely: Mrs. Maud Bryan; Mrs. Eliza Holmes; William I .; Mrs. Catherine Mc- Afee; and Clarence H.

Acquiring a good education in the district, subscription and normal schools, William I. Stev- ens was employed as a teacher while a young man. Subsequently learning the business of a lumber manufacturer, he followed it for some time, but was unfortunate, losing considerable money in his transactions. Departing from his eastern home, he went to Illinois, arriving in Chicago with but fifty cents to his name. Ship- ping before the mast, he went from there to Green Bay, Wis., where he secured a position with a lumber company, receiving a salary of $80 a month. At the end of a year and a half he established himself in business in Chicago as a lumber manufacturer and dealer. A few years later, in 1874, he came to California, locating in Compton, where, with the exception of three years spent in Gardena, where he was in busi- ness for himself, he has since been similarly em- ployed, the San Pedro Lumber Company appre- ciating his knowledge and experience. In his operations he has met with good success, by his industry, thrift and force of character arising from a condition of comparative poverty to a place of affluence. He owns considerable city property in Compton, and has recently erected a fine residence in a pleasant part of the place.

In 1876 Mr. Stevens married Mrs. Nancy (Gaines) Rogers, a native of Kentucky, who presides over their new home with grace and hospitality. She is a member of the Christian Church, but, with Mr. Stevens, attends the Con- gregational Church. Politically Mr. Stevens af- filiates with the Socialist party.

HON. PRESCOTT F. COGSWELL. The California Assembly has acquired a distinc- tion among the states of the nation because of the men of ability and enterprise who are lending their efforts to advance the interests of the people through legislation, and holding place as a representative of his district is the Hon. Prescott F. Cogswell, a pioneer walnut grower of the Mountain View section in Los Angeles county, Mr. Cogswell is of English ancestry, the records tracing the name to the year 1064, in the county of Essex, England, where it was then known as Coggeshall. John Cogswell was born in Westbury, Leigh, Wilts county, England, in 1592, and in 1635 he came

to America on the ship Angel Gabriel, which was wrecked off the coast of Maine on the 16th of August of that year. He escaped by swimming to the land. He finally settled in Massachusetts and there the name flourished for generations; his son, William, born in Westbury, Leigh, Wilts county, England, married and located in Massachusetts, where his son, William Jr., was born in Ipswich and married Martha Emerson ; their son, Edward, was born in Gloucester, while his son, Sam- uel, was born in Ipswich, to which place the family returned. The family fortunes were changed to Preston, Conn., where another John Cogswell was born, who in young man- hood located in South Britain and there reared a family, a son, Ferris, marrying and passing his remaining years in that section. His son, Franklin Ferris Cogswell, moved to- ward the north, passing some time in Sand- gate, Vt., where was born a son, Asa H., the father of Hon. Prescott F. Franklin F. lo- cated in. Ontario, where he engaged as a farmer until his death which occurred at an advanced age.

Asa H. Cogswell became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ontario and continued so occupied for a number of years, finally, however, engaging as a farmer in that section until his removal to Los Angeles, Cal., where his death occurred in 1896. His wife was formerly Mary L. Allen, who was born in Ontario, a daughter of Nathan Prescott Al- len, of Fort Plains, N. Y., and granddaughter of Nathan Allen, of Pomfret, Conn., who mar- ried into the Goodell family of Mayflower an- cestry. Mrs. Cogswell died in Los Angeles in 1906, leaving a family of two daughters and three sons, namely: Prescott Franklin, of this review; Mary, wife of J. R. Davis, sheriff of Luzerne county, Pa .; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. John P. MacPhie, of Lynn, Mass. : A. Horatio, head of the Latin department of the Alameda high school, and a prominent baritone singer of that section: and Irvin Roy, of Los An- geles.

Prescott F. Cogswell was the oldest in his father's family and was born October 23, 1859. in the vicinity of Ingersoll, Ontario, and there spent the first nine years of his life. In 1868 he was taken by his parents to Afton, Iowa, where his father engaged as a merchant for the period of two years : they then returned to the old home in Ontario, where Mr. Cogswell completed his education in Albert University of Belleville. He came to California in 1883 and in the vicinity of Tustin purchased an orange ranch of twenty acres, which he culti- vated and improved for a few years, disposing of the same during the real estate excitement

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of 1888. That same year Mr. Cogswell be- came associated with B. F. Maxson in the purchase of the McLean ranch of five hundred and fifteen acres in El Monte, which they sub- divided, putting in streets and laying off blocks, and disposing of the greater part of it advantageously. Mr. Cogswell set out the first walnut orchard in Mountain View district and continued to add to his interests until he now owns one hundred and one acres in wal- nuts, while he also owns an alfalfa farm ad- joining El Monte. He has laid out several tracts in this vicinity, one of which, one hun- dred acres, is known as the Cogswell tract.

In Montreal Mr. Cogswell married Miss Jane Belcher, a native of Calcutta, and a daughter of the Rev. Canon S. Belcher, of Grace Church, Montreal. He was born in London, England, and was sent as a mission- ary to India and later to Montreal. Mrs. Cogswell died in 1898, leaving a family of three children, namely: Frederick A., attend- ing the University of Southern California ; Harold G. and Irene, in the high school of El Monte. Mr. Cogswell has always taken a prominent part in matters of public import and is especially interested in educational work, now serving as secretary of the board of education of the Union high school, of El Monte, which position he has occupied since the organization of the district. He was prominent in the organization of the First National Bank of El Monte and is still con- nected with the institution as a director. He also is a director in the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, of Los Angeles. In religion he was reared in the Methodist Episcopal Church and is numbered among those who may be count- ed upon to support all worthy charities of the church or community. In polities he is a Re- publican and it was on this ticket that he was nominated and elected in 1906 as representa- tive from the Sixty-eighth district, having a plurality of thirteen hundred and eighty-five votes. His liberality and enterprise have won for him a wide friendship and given him a place among the representative citizens of this section.

E. M. JOURDAN. Generations of the Jourdan family have lived and died in sunny France, content with her surroundings and ad- vantages, but the continuity was broken when E. M. Jourdan set foot on American soil in 1876. Closely following the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia and while the prospects for obtaining sud- den wealth in this locality were still at high tide, he was born January 6, 1854, in Hautes- Alpes, France, a son of Pierre and Edelean

(Joubert) Jourdan. Neither of the parents ever left their native land, and throughout his entire life the father was a tiller of the soil.

Nothing of unusual interest transpired during the early life of E. M. Jourdan, and as was natural he gave a helping hand in relieving his father of such farm duties as his strength would permit. An irreparable loss in the death of his mother when he was only nine years old sad- dened his young life, and before long he was made to realize the necessity of self mainte- nance. A period of nine months in the public schools constituted his school life and formed the foundation for the later knowledge which he obtained from reading good literature. His first independent work was herding cattle for neigh- boring farmers and during the two years that he was thus employed he made his home with his father and assisted him as his other duties would permit. When only thirteen years old he entered the coal mines, but soon found a better opening in a foundry, where the work was more in keep- ing with his tastes and inclination, and he soon became an expert in his particular line, receiving eight franes or $1.52 per day for his services. Although his business undertakings had been successful in his native land, he was filled with an ambitious spirit to advance still further, and in order to carry out his plans he set sail from France in December, 1875, and in due time ar- rived in San Francisco.

Since locating in the United States Mr. Jour- dan has been interested in various undertakings, in all of which he has met with the success which his efforts and determination made pos- sible. It was not long after locating in San Fran- cisco that he entered the employ of G. Venard, dealer in tea, coffee and spices, with whom he re- mained for five years. After severing his con- neetion with Mr. Venard in 1881, he went to Los Angeles, and for one year worked in the foundry of Powers & Baker, his experience in this branch of mechanics during early life thor- oughly qualifying him for the position. Later, going to Riverside, he established a *restaurant, which he conducted for three years, giving it up at the end of that time to engage in mining in the Perris district. It is safe to presume that his efforts as a miner were not as remunerative as he had hoped, for he soon afterward went to Santa Ana, where he engaged in the liquor business for one year. In 1886, having again located in Los Angeles, he followed brick- making for one year, and in 1887 came to San Pedro, with whose interests he has since been identified. During the eleven years which he had spent in the state he had resided in a num- ber of the larger and more important cities, but in none had he found the opening which he souglit until locating in San Pedro. In partner-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ship with George H. Peck he purchased two blocks of land, which has since been divided and is now known as blocks Nos. 15 and 17, Jour- dan's subdivision, and block No. 11, Hill & Jour- dan subdivision. During the twenty years which Mr. Jourdan has made his home here he has been fairly successful in the handling of real estate, making a specialty of subdividing and improv- ing large tracts and selling in small lots for homesteads.

In San Francisco, January 8, 1881, Mr. Jour- dan was united in marriage with one of his countrywomen, Victonne Maouconl, and two chil- dren have blessed their union, E. A. and Edward J., both of whom are at home with their parents. True to the faith in which they were reared, Mr. and Mrs. Jourdan are adherents of the Catholic Church and contribute generously to its various benevolences.

CHARLES FREMONT PITCHER. The Pitcher family is of English descent, although the branch to which Charles Fremont Pitcher belongs has lived in America since Revolutionary days, and his great-grandfather, who was a set- tler in Vermont, served in that struggle. The grandfather, Oren, was born in Vermont, after- wards removed to New York, served in the war of 1812 and later went to Bremer county, Iowa, where his death occurred. The father was or- iginally a farmer in New York, but removed to Iowa in 1859, improved a farm there and resided on it during his lifetime. At the breaking out of the Civil war he volunteered in an Iowa regi- ment, but was rejected. His wife was Phoebe Ann Smith, who was born in New York, a daugh- ter of Hiram, also a native of that state, who removed to Bremer county, Iowa, in an early day and remained until the time of his death. He served in the Civil war in an Iowa regiment, and was wounded in battle. After the war he did military service on the Texas frontier and was engaged in the Maximilian troubles. Mrs Pitcher died in November, 1905, at her home in Iowa.

The oldest in a family of five children Charles F. Pitcher is the only member living in Califor- nia. He was born October 2, 1856, in Cat- taraugus county, N. Y., and when only three years old was taken with his father's family to Iowa, where his boyhood days were spent on the farm. He was educated in the public schools and when eighteen years of age came to Cali- fornia, locating at Vacaville, where he worked at his trade of blacksmith and machinist. He remained there until 1878, when he removed to Mendocino county to work in the lumber mills. He stayed there but a few months, however, in the fall coming to Ventura county and locating on a ranch on the Conejo, upon which he en-

gaged in grain raising and the stock business. After a term of four years he removed to the Ocean View district and devoted himself to grain raising. His present home is on a ranch of three hundred acres which was formerly in the seaside tract of the Colonia grant. One hundred ånd twenty acres of the land are in beets and the re- mainder in grain and hay. He has some very finely bred cattle and horses, among the latter be- ing Young Mac, a black twelve-year-old by Mc- Kinney, dam by A. W. Richmond. He also has a blacksmith shop on the place and does a good business working at his trade.

In 1879 Mr. Pitcher was married to Miss Emma Arnold, a native of Susanville, Lassen county, Cal. To this union seven children were born, namely: William, a farmer in Ventura county ; Fannie, the wife of Joseph Thompson, of Phoenix, Ariz .; Oscar, in the United States navy service aboard the ship Paul Jones; Grace, a student at the University of California; Ray, Ethel and Percy, the last three named being still under the parental roof. Mrs. Pitcher is a school trustee of their district and Mr. Pitcher has served on the board of school trustees of Ocean View district several terms in the past. He is a Republican in politics and is a man who takes a keen interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community in which he lives. In 1898-99 he was engaged on the coast survey under A. T. Mossman, remaining with the party until the survey from Santa Barbara to Yuma was completed. In every enterprise which en- gages his attention Mr. Pitcher gives faithful and efficient service and he has earned the high- est esteem of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

EDWARD ATHERTON BRUNSON. A resident of Downey, Los Angeles county, for nearly a quarter of a century, Dr. Edward Ath- erton Brunson has been actively identified with the best interests of the people and the place, and has contributed his full share in advanc- ing and promoting the agricultural and in- dustrial prosperity of the community in which he resides. For the past year he has been en- gaged in the real-estate business, and in his operations has met with uniform success. A son of the late Robert A. Brunson, he was born, in 1844, in Arkansas, and was there brought up and educated.

Although born and reared in North Caro- lina, Robert A. Brunson migrated when a young man to Tennessee, thence to Arkansas, and for many years was one of the leading phy- sicians of the community in which he resid- ed. In 1876 he came to California, locating near Downey, where he purchased land from

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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 112

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