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 113

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

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

which he improved a good ranch. In addition to his agricultural labors he was also actively employed in the practice of medicine until 1890, having an extensive patronage through- out this section of the county. Retiring from the profession in that year, he lived on his home farm, enjoying a well-merited leisure, until his death, in 1902, at the venerable age of eighty-one years. His first marriage unit- ed him with Mary J. Johnson, who was born in Arkansas, and there spent her entire life, dying in 1863. In 1865 he married Annie Shep- perd, a niece of L. E. Conway, distinguished as the first governor of Arkansas, and also a cous- in of ex-governor Rector of Arkansas. She survived him, passing away in 1903, at the age of sixty-five years.

Having completed the course in the public schools of his native town, E. A. Brunson con- tinued his studies at Bardstown, Ky., after After locating in Cleveland, Thomas H. James continued his studies under private instructors, receiving excellent educational advantages. In- terested in mechanical pursuits, he subsequently entered the city engineer's office in Cleveland, where, under such men as Morse, Force and Rice he received his principal training. For four years he served in the engineer's department of different railroads, including the New York, Chicago & St. Louis, known as the Nickel Plate, and the Michigan & Ohio, while thus employed doing a good deal of bridge and construction work. April 10, 1888, he took up his residence in Los Angeles, Cal., where he soon accepted a struction department. He afterwards assisted in the construction of the outfall sewers of the tunnel portion at Inglewood. which he attended medical lectures at the Uni- versity of Louisiana. Beginning the practice of his profession in 1872, he was located at Columbus, Ark., for fifteen years, and dur- ing that time built up a large and lucrative business. Listening to the persuasions of his father, he finally came to Los Angeles county, locating in Downey, where for three years he leased about five hundred acres of the Cen- tenilla ranch. He also invested in land, buying a farm of twenty acres, which he still owns. A man of much enterprise and energy, far- sighted and practical, he became one of the promoters of the Arroyo Ditch and Water, position in the city engineer's office, in the con- Company, which he served as president one year, as director five years, and as superin- tendent two years. The latter position he was urged to accept for another term, but refused, sending his resignation in January, 1905, since which time he has devoted his attention to the buying and selling of real estate.

Dr. Brunson married, in 1876, in Arkansas, Susie E. Kinsworthy, a native of that state, and into their household three children have been born, namely: Mary L., a teacher in the Lugo district; Lillian M., a medical stu- dent in Los Angeles ; and Zekie K., a graduate of the Downey high school and teacher of mu- sic. Fraternally Dr. Brunson belongs to Dow- ney Lodge No. 220, F. &. A. M., and religious- ly he is a consistent member of the Presbyte- rian Church.

THOMAS H. JAMES. Occupying an as- sured position among the representative citizens of Santa Monica is Thomas H. James, city en- gineer, who has attained marked distinction in his profession, and is widely known as a gen- tleman of scientific attainments. Since his ap-

pointment to this office in 1895 he has devoted his attention to the duties devolving upon him, giving most satisfactory service, his quick, keen intellect, his training and his wide experience eminently qualifying him for his responsible posi- tion. He was born, November 4, 1857, in county Devon, England, near the city of Exeter, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Thomas James.

Born of Welsh ancestors, Thomas James was reared and educated in his native county, liv- ing there for a number of years after his mar- riage with Anna L. Wright, by whom he had eight children. He died in England in 1868; subsequently emigrating with her family to the United States, Mrs. James in 1874 settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where she had been preceded two years by her son Thomas H. She passed away in that city in 1878.

Starting then in business on his own account, Mr. James had an office in the Workman block, and was kept busily employed. Subsequently becoming identified with the Terminal Railroad Company, now the Salt Lake Railroad Com- pany, he served as assistant engineer until the fall of 1893, winning a fine record for his achieve- ments in that capacity. In November, 1893, he came to Santa Monica to take charge of the laying of the foundations of the North Beach bath house, also the general construction work for the Santa Monica Land and Water Company, at the same time doing some special engineer- ing for the Los Angeles and Pacific Railroad Company. He afterwards served, by appoint- ment, as city engineer and street superintendent for two years, but since 1895 has served in the capacity of city engineer, rendering distinguished service. He also does engineering to some ex- tent in other portions of Southern California, being frequently called upon for work requiring special care, among which may be mentioned work for the Western Pacific Development Com-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

pany in laying out Brentwood Park and all the Palisades improvements. In the pursuit of his profession, Mr. James has accumulated a fine property, including a handsome home at No. 322 Fourteenth street, in which he resides. He is maintaining an office in Los Angeles at No. 611 Fay building to look after his outside in- terests.

January 6, 1881, Mr. James married Mary Rose Lucas, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, a daughter of M. S. Lucas, of that city, and they are the parents of three children, Clarence V., Grace L. and Myrtle H. The son, a mechani- cal engineer and electrician, was for some time in the employ of the Los Angeles Pacific Rail- road Company at Sherman, Cal., but is now as- sociated with the Wilson Electrical Company in Santa Monica. The oldest daughter, Grace L., is a member of the senior class in the Le- land Stanford, Jr., University and Myrtle, the youngest child, and the only one born in Cali- fornia is in the freshman year in the above in- stitution. Politically Mr. James is a sound Re- publican, and fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

ROBERT ALLEN CRAWFORD. Con- spicuous among the men of prominence and in- fluence in San Pedro is Robert Allen Crawford, who is distinguished alike for his own sterling qualities, and for the honored ancestry from which he is descended. As a civil engineer in the employ of the government, he has done much to advance the commercial interests of this part of Los Angeles county, and by careful atten- tion to those things conducive to the welfare and progress of business and social affairs he has shown himself a public-spirited and useful member of the community. As to his private business, he has never allowed anything to es- cape his observation which might be of benefit to him in carrying on his trade, or rather his art, for his work in this vicinity has almost amounted to a fine art, so well has it been exe- cuted. The descendant of an honored southern family, he was born September 19, 1864, in Richmond, Va., a son of John A. Crawford. His grandfather, John Crawford, was born in Georgia, of substantial Scotch ancestry, and dur- ing his active life was a banker in the city of Athens.

William H. Crawford, Mr. Crawford's great- grandfather, was a very prominent figure in pub- lic life during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. He was born in Georgia, studied law, and was among the leading attorneys of the south. From 1807 until 1813 he was a mem- ber of the United States senate, after which he served as a cabinet officer, first as secretary of

war, and later as secretary of the treasury. At one time he was minister to France, and in that capacity was a personal friend of Lafayette. He was a man of strong individuality, possessing a keen intellect, and in his religious beliefs was a Scotch Presbyterian.

Born and reared in Athens, Ga., John A. Crawford received a legal education, becoming an attorney of note. For a few years he fol- lowed his profession in Richmond, Va., being while there a court reporter, also serving as a representative to the state legislature, as state senator, and as private secretary to General Cobb, secretary of the treasury. At the close of the war he returned to Athens, Ga., where he was engaged in the practice of law until his death. He married Ellen Peebles, who was born in Richmond, Va., where her father, Allen Peebles, was a jeweler. She is now living in Athens, Ga. She bore her husband three chil- dren, of whom two survive, Robert Allen, the special subject of this sketch, being the first born.

Educated in Athens, Ga., Robert Allen Craw- ford was graduated from the University of Georgia with the class of 1884, receiving the degree of C. E. He was subsequently princi- pal of a school in Mitchell county for two years, when he resigned the position. Locating in Kansas City, Mo., in January, 1887, he was for two years employed as a civil engineer with the firm of Tuttle & Pike, while there gaining val- table experience in his special line of work. Since February, 1889, with the exception of six months that he spent in superintending the con- struction of the grounds for the St. Louis Expo- sition, he has been in the service of the United States government as a civil engineer. In 1889, as assistant engineer, with headquarters either in Kansas City or Jefferson City, he was em- ployed on construction work, which he followed in that vicinity for twelve years, building dikes, revetments, dams, etc. From 1901 until 1902 he was engaged in dredging at Memphis, Tenn. Coming to San Pedro in 1902 as assistant en- gineer he had charge of the Inner Harbor im- provements, in which capacity he designed and built the new government dredge. During the comparatively short time that he has been a resident of this city he has won a place of in- fluence in business and social circles, and is now one of the directors of the First National Bank.

In Jefferson City, Mo., Mr. Crawford mar- ried Pauline Brace, a daughter of Judge Theo- dore Brace, chief justice of the supreme court of Missouri. The judge, a native of Maryland, is a skilful and able attorney, well known throughout the western central states. His wife, whose maiden name was Roanna Penn, was a descendant of William Penn, the English

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Quaker who founded Pennsylvania. Mrs. Crawford is a woman of talent and accomplish- ments, and is a fine musician, having been graduated from the Conservatory of Music at Jacksonville, Il1. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have one child. Robert Brace Penn Crawford. Mr. Crawford, true to the religious training of his youth, is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Crawford belongs to the Christian Church.

LOUIS F. STEPHENS. Although not a native of Southern California, Mr. Stephens has made his home in this part of the state since youth and is a thorough Californian by birth, training, education and ideals, keenly in sym- pathy with the progressive spirit that has con- verted the barren wastes into scenes of "beauty that are a joy forever." The property which he owns and operates lies one and one-fourth miles south of Palms, Los Angeles county, and comprises twenty-five acres of large monetary value, in addition to which he owns thirty acres in another tract. A native of San Francisco, he was born in that city October 29, 1861, and is a son of Andrew and Rosina (Wetzel) Steph- ens, natives of Germany, who immigrated to the United States in early life and were married in New York City. The father, who was twenty- one years of age at the time of landing in the new world, secured employment on a steamer plying the waters of the Hudson river between New York and Albany, and remained with the same steamboat company for nine years, during a part of which time he acted as third mate. On resigning his position on the steamer he came to California and settled in San Francisco, where for nine years he was a clerk in the large mer- cantile establishment of Redington & Co. From 1868 to 1878 he made his home in Santa Clara county, where he owned one hundred and eighty acres and engaged in general farming. In the mean time he also became interested in the cul- tivation of large areas of wheat land in the Salinas valley, but several seasons of protracted droughts ruined his crops and left him without means to continue agricultural pursuits.

While making his home in Santa Clara coun- ty Andrew Stephens was bereaved by the deatlı of his wife in 1876. Discouraged by this loss and by the failure of his industrious efforts to gain a livelihood, he decided to seek a new loca- tion, and in 1878 came to Los Angeles county. Having practically no capital, he was obliged to begin farming upon a very small scale, but grad- tally he increased his holdings, and with the sav- ings of these years he invested in a tract of one hundred and fifty acres near Palms. To this he subsequently added by the purchase of one htill-

dred and sixty-three acres, owning in all three hundred and thirteen acres. On that place he was actively engaged in farming until a short time before his death, which occurred at sixty- eight years. After becoming a citizen of the United States he voted the Republican ticket at both local and general elections. At his death he was survived by four children, namely : An- drew C., now residing in Fresno county ; Louis F. and Carl E., ranchers near Palms, Los An- geles county ; and Edith, who is the wife of Luther Washburn.

When the family left the Santa Clara valley and established a home near the southern coast, Louis F. Stephens was a youth of seventeen years, alert, keen and vigorous, therefore capa- ble of assisting his father in the difficult task of renewing the family fortunes. His time was given to his father until 1885, when he married Mercy, daughter of Jacob Brown ( see sketch else- where in this work) and established a home of his own. Since then he has been interested in general farming, at first as a renter, then as the owner and operator of one hundred acres near Palms, and still later, selling that place, becom- ing the owner of his present homestead. With his wife he holds membership in the United Brethren Church and they are rearing their chil- dren, Louis Reuben and Melzina, in the faith of that denomination. In political views he has al- way been independent, voting for the man rather than the party, and with strong leanings toward the cause of prohibition as a principle rather than as a party issue.

JOSEPH H. MCCULLOUGH. Identified with the industrial and mercantile interests of the city of Downcy is Joseph H. McCul- lough, who is carrying on an extensive and re- intinerative business as a dealer in farm im- plements and machinery of all kinds, and also in buggies, wagons, carriages and vehicles. One of the early settlers of this part of the county, he is widely known, and as a man of upright character and fine moral principles is held in high esteem. A son of the late Thomas Mccullough, he was born, January 23, 1859, in the province of Quebec, Canada.

A native of England, Thomas Mccullough immigrated to America when a young man, lo- cating in the province of Quebec. Purchasing land at North Hatley, he engaged in agricult- ural pursuits for many years, and in addition was interested in the mercantile prosperity of his adopted town, keeping a general store. He died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years, in Canada, where his wife, whose maiden name was Martha Irwin, is still living, having come

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to Quebec when a girl from Scotland, her na- tive country.

Educated in the common schools of North Hatley, Quebec, Joseph H. Mccullough re- mained on the home farm until attaining his majority. Learning then the blacksmith's trade, he followed it at Ayer's Flat, Quebec, until 1887, when he came to California in search of a favorable opening for business. Spending the first winter of his stay in this genial climate at Santa Ana, he located in Dow- ney in the spring of 1888, and has since resid- ed here, having now a pleasant and attractive home of his own. After working at his trade for six years, he purchased a smithy, and in ad-

dition to carrying on general blacksmithing dealt in farm machinery, buggies and wagons, in both branches of industry being very suc- cessful. In December, 1904, he sold his shop, and has since confined his attention to mer- cantile pursuits only, handling farm imple- ments, machinery, wagons and buggies, as be- fore mentioned, and having a fine trade.

June 7, 1894, in Downey, Mr. Mccullough married Julia Ardis, who was born December II, 1873, a daughter of John and Fanny (Har- ris) Ardis, and they have two children, name- ly: Ardis Irwin, born December 4, 1895, and Katherine, born January 17, 1903. Political- ly Mr. McCullongh is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters, to the Modern Woodmen of America and to the Knights of the Maccabees. He and his family attend the Methodist Epis- copal Church, their religious belief being in sympathy with the teachings of that denomin- ation.

BYRON S. COLE. Distinguished as a na- tive-born citizen of Los Angeles county, and as one of its most prosperous and practical ag- riculturists and horticulturists, Byron S. Cole is worthy of special mention in this volume. A man of enterprise and keen foresight, possess- ing a thorough knowledge of ranching in all of its departments, he is meeting with signal suc- cess in his operations, his fine ranch, with its many substantial improvements, comparing fav- orably with any in this part of Southern Cali- fornia. A son of George W. Cole, he was born, December 21, 1871, in Los Angeles county, near Downey, and in this section of the state he has spent his entire life.

After leaving the district school, Byron S. Cole continued his studies for awhile in Whit- tier Academy, completing his early education in the Baptist College at Los Angeles. From earli- est boyhold he was familiar with farming pur-

suits, being well trained in the science of agri- culture by his father, and on attaining his ma- jority selected as his life work the free and in- dependent occupation to which he was reared. He now owns forty acres of the old Cole home- stead, and to its care and management is devot- ing all of his energies. His ranch, one of the most fertile and productive in the neighborhood, contains a bearing walnut grove of twenty acres, from which he receives good annual returns, and on the other twenty acres he raises excel- lent crops of corn and alfalfa.

In Whittier, Cal., October 13, 1892, Mr. Cole married Mayme King (daughter of John King, a highly respected citizen of this place), and they have one child, a son, named Clifford Raymond. Mr. Cole is financially interested in horticultural organizations, and is a member of the Los Nietos and Ranchitos Walnut Growers' Association. Politically he supports the principles of the Dem- ocratic party by voice and vote, and fraternally he is a member of Oro Lodge No. 315, I. O. O. F., of Whittier.

REINHOLD BOETTCHER. While retain- ing a deep affection for the land of his birth and the home of his ancestors, Mr. Boettcher is a typical Californian, loyal to the country of his adoption, interested in its progress and firmly persuaded that no other land can surpass it in climate, soil and other advantages. Identified with California since he was a young man of twenty-two years, he is by birth a German, born in Posen, Prussia, July 23, 1850, being a son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Bledow) Boettcher, natives and lifelong residents of Prussia, where the father followed the blacksmith's trade through all of his active life. Both are now deceased, but all of their six children survive them, and of these Reinhold was next to the youngest. Fol- lowing the usual German custom he was sent to school until fourteen years of age and then was apprenticed to a trade, serving for two years under a blacksmith of the home neighborhood.

When only sixteen years of age Mr. Boettcher came to the United States and settled in Pennsyl- vania, completing his trade in Philadelphia and Shamokin. For a time he was employed in the Pennsylvania railroad shops, where he had the heavy blacksmith's work in connection with the building of coal cars. From Pennsylvania he came to California in 1872 and secured employ- ment in San Francisco, where he held various positions, including a brief period of work in the Fulton iron plant. Next he spent six months as an employe in a foundry at Greenville, Plumas county, after which he worked at the blacksmith's trade in Susanville for two years. For several years afterward he carried on a blacksmith's

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

shop at Buntingville, Lassen county. The year 1883 found him a newcomer in Los Angeles, and there he worked in the Baker iron foundry (at that time on Second street), as well as with other companies or men engaged along the line of his specialty. For several years he carried on a shop at Anaheim and later worked at the trade in Pomona, after which, in 1894, he was em- ployed in the factory at Chino in the capacity of blacksmith. At the time of the laying of the foundation of the Oxnard factory he came to the new town and has since been in the employ of the American Beet Sugar Company in the position of chief blacksmith, which responsible work he discharges with characteristic efficiency and promptness.

In the numerous places whither work at his trade has taken him Mr. Boettcher has made many friends, so that his circle of acquaintances and well-wishers is unusually large and widely scattered throughout the state. While giving his attention principally to his chosen occupation, he has been interested in other enterprises and has the credit of erecting the Pomona house, a build- ing of twenty-three rooms, situated on A street near Fifth. Formerly he was quite an active worker in the Odd Fellow encampment, but of more recent years he has relinquished his asso- ciation with anv section of that order besides the local lodge. While living in Anaheim. on April 28, 1887, he married Miss Dolores Portio, who was born in San Diego county and is a member of an old family of Southern California. The heaviest bereavement of their married lives came to Mr. and Mrs. Boettcher when they lost their only child, Sylvester, who died at the age of eighteen years.

GEORGE P. SHANKS. Fortified by the experience gained while following agricultural pursuits successively in Iowa. Oregon and South Dakota, Mr. Shanks was prepared for the prac- tical conduct of farm affairs upon coming to the southern coast of California in 1891. For a year he remained at Norwalk. Los Angeles coun- ty, and then removed to Palms, in the same county. For thirteen years he rented three hun- dred acres or more of the Hammel and Dinker ranch, and utilized the land in the raising of corn and beans, also had a portion of the property in meadow and pasture. Meanwhile the savings of these years were invested in property and he thus acquired a five-acre tract with a house, also another place near by, where he has recently erected for his family a comfortable residence costing $4,000, also has erected a substantial barn for the shelter of stock and storage of grain. as well as one hundred acres of orange land

in the Lindsay district, Tulare county. His present possessions are the result of judicious investments since coming to California, as pre- vious to that he had lost practically everything through crop failures in South Dakota.

Born in Chicago, Ill., September 1, 1860, George P. Shanks was a son of John and Ellen (Sharp) Shanks, natives of Scotland. His father, who was born March 8, 1828, immigrated to Chicago about 1849, and for some time was connected with a general mercantile business of that city, also engaged in merchandising in El- gin, Ill., for a few years. About 1867 he be- came a pioneer merchant of Waterloo, Iowa, but a few years later took up farm pursuits on rent- ed land in Blackhawk county, Iowa. Eventually he purchased farm land near Cedar Falls, Iowa. On account of ill health he came to California in 1899 and now resides at Pomona, where he has an orange grove of two acres. Since coming west his health has been restored and he is now robust and vigorous for one of seventy-nine years. While he was still a lad in Scotland he became acquainted with Ellen Sharp, who was born January 1, 1831, and an engagement was entered into, which was consummated in their marriage at Chicago, she having crossed the ocean alone to join him in his new location. Her death occurred in Chicago, September 1, 1860, when she was twenty-nine years of age and when her son, George P., was an infant.

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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 113

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