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 117

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

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GEORGE BEARD. With the larger growth of Long Beach noticeable during the recent years of its history Mr. Beard has been intimately as- sociated and, as a contractor and builder, he has accomplished much toward the permanent up- building of the city. With the assistance of the fifty men now on the pay-roll he is able to take charge of large contracts and fill them without delay or needless annoyances. Since coming to this city in 1901 he has built many residences and public buildings, including the Congrega- tional Church, Hoag and Yoeman residences, Butte block, Masonic Hall, Alamitos schoolhouse, Flint and Barndollar block, Pine street school, the remodeling of the Alamitos school and the finishing work on the high school, the building of the convention hall and Cynthia annex. The hall is a casino, 152x257 feet in dimensions, a wooden structure three stories in height, with a seating capacity of ten thousand, giving the people of Long Beach adequate facilities for the accommodation of the vast throngs attending their assemblies and other public meetings.

The Beard family is of German extraction. John Beard, who was born in Hessen-Darmstadt, came to America alone at seventeen years of age and in 1837 became a pioneer of South Bend, Ind., where at different times he conducted a bakery and hotel and carried on a farm consist- ing of two hundred and fifty acres. At the time

of his death, which occurred at South Bend, he was seventy-eight years of age. When a young man he had married, at Columbus, Ohio, Miss Magdalena Barth, who was born at Baden-Baden, Germany, and accompanied her parents to the United States, settling in Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio. When seventy-eight years of age she died in South Bend. Of the marriage there were five sons and six daughters, George being the seventh in order of birth, and he was born at South Bend, Ind., November 2, 1849. The fam- ily being poor and the children numerous, it be- came necessary early in boyhood for him to earn his livelihood. At fifteen years he became an apprentice to the trade of carpenter and builder with James Million, of Mishawaka. His em- ployer had been a school teacher in Maine and was a man of fine educational attainments, so that the lad enjoyed the advantage of being in- structed by him, not only in a trade, but also in the rudiments of an education. Indeed, this was all the education he enjoyed in life, with the exception of a year at Notre Dame, South Bend, where he paid his expenses by working for others .. On the completion of his apprentice- ship he traveled for three years in Illinois and Iowa, the most of the time working in the bridge- building department of the railroads.

On his return to South Bend in 1870 Mr. Beard there married Miss Clara Spaun, who was born and reared there and died in El Paso, Tex. The two sons of their union died at an early age. The older daughter, Bertha, is the wife of T. W. Dougherty, of Tocsin, Wells county, Ind .; and the younger daughter, Grace, married John Fochtman, of Petoskey, Ind.

Upon first coming to California in 1875 Mr. Beard took charge of a cattle ranch near Bakers- field. At that time many settlers were coming into that locality, without means to pay for the building of homes, and to help them in getting a start he donated his labor in the building of houses for their families. During 1878.he went to Sacramento and for three years worked at his trade with Henry Coates. When Tombstone was in its balmy days as a rich mining region he went to that town overland and from there pro- ceeded to El Paso, where he worked at his trade. After the death of his wife he took a position with the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad as foreman of their bridge-building department and while filling that position he had charge of the building of the first bridge erected across the Colorado river at the Needles, on the road now owned by the Santa Fe. In 1884 he settled in Los Angeles, where for three years he engaged in the planing-mill business with J. M. Griffith and for six years was in charge of a department with Perry & Mott, also worked with Arnold as foreman for a time. From that city he came to

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Long Beach, where he has a large shop equipped with the latest appliances for his work and con- taining a department for the manufacture of mission furniture and bank fixtures. During the summer of 1905 he enjoyed a needed relaxation from business cares, at which time he returned to the east and visited the scenes familiar to his boyhood days. Since coming to Long Beach he has been made a Mason in the blue lodge in this city. Politically he favors Democratic principles in national issues, but in local matters is indepen- dent. Interested in everything pertaining to his occupation, he was prominent in the Car- penter's Union while living in Los Angeles and often aided in settling disputes which arose be- tween capital and labor.

NELLIE H. AND ETTA C. WILLIS. Con- spicuous among the transformations wrought during the latter part of the nineteenth cen- tury and the opening years of the twentieth cen- tury has been the entrance of women into com- mercial affairs. There are now few occupations and few professions in which at least a few women have not gained distinctive success, and more and more it is being commonly recognized that the mental capacities of the sex are far broader than former ages supposed. Scattered through every part of California are women who alone and unaided have gained success in their chosen callings ; some may be found on ranches superintending the care of stock and cultivation of the land; some have entered professions, where their knowledge, skill and quickness have won recognition ; and some have selected a cer- tain sphere of business activity for the exer- cise of their special talents. In the list of the business women of Ventura county appear the names of the Willis sisters, who for some years have engaged in the restaurant business in Ox- nard and also during the busy season operate a restaurant at the sugar factory.

The history of the Willis family is traced back to the eastern states. Jonathan and Lucinda (Beeson) Willis, natives of Indiana, became pioneers of Iowa as early as 1857, settling in Dallas county, where he served as supervisor and attained a high position as a progressive citizen. While carrying on a large farm he made a specialty of raising fine horses and imported a number from Europe in order to secure the finest strains for his own herd. Coming to Cal- ifornia in 1893 he remained on a ranch near Sat- icoy about two years, but then went back to Iowa, where he died at Perry, July 27, 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife had died in Iowa during October of 1865. Among their children were the son, Oscar C. (who is repre- sented elsewhere in this work) and the daugh-

ters, Nellie H. and Etta C., both of whom were born and reared in Dallas county, Iowa, and re- ceived fair education in the schools of their home neighborhood. During 1887 Miss Nellie came to California and settled at Saticoy, where she made her home for three years, and then her sister joined her. The two had very limit- ed means, but they were energetic, capable and resourceful, and soon found the business open- ing they desired.

Coming to Oxnard the sisters started a deli- catessen store on a very small scale. It was not long before the superior quality of their bakery goods attracted attention and their cus- tomers grew in number. Gradually they changed the business into a restaurant and as such they now successfully conduct the store. The heavi- est hardship of their business experience came to them in 1904, when a fire destroyed their building and equipment, and they were left without insurance to cover the loss. However, undiscouraged by this catastrophe, they soon resumed business, and by their large trade were enabled to recompense themselves for their losses. Their restaurant has no superior in the city, and among the towns-people it is recog- nized that their establishment is a credit to the place as well as a tribute to the energy and cul- inary abilities of the proprietors.

JOHN CAMMACK WILHOIT. In the period subsequent to the Revolutionary war the people of the east began to drift toward the frontier regions and at that time many of the colonial families of Virginia became established in the wilderness beyond the mountains, where they built up the commonwealth of Kentucky. Among those who followed the trend of emigra- tion westward was Hiram Wilhoit, who was born in Culpeper county, Va., in 1797, and was only a lad of fourteen when, in company with his father, Elijah, he blazed a path through the wilderness into the blue-grass region of Wood- ford county, Ky., where he turned the first fur- rows in the soil of a frontier plantation. After his settlement in that region he met and married Miss Sophia Thornton, a native of Kentucky, and both remained in that state until they died.

In a family of three sons and two daughters, all of whom except one son attained mature years. John C. Wilhoit was the second in order of birth, and was born in Frankfort, Ky., February 6, 1851. As a boy he alternated attendance at school with work on the home farm, and in young manhood continued with his father until the latter's death, which occurred in 1876. After- ward he remained for some years in Woodford county, where he cultivated a farm and, like the majority of Kentuckians, became a fine judge

1897

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of horse-flesh, owning a number that were of the choicest stock and excellent pedigree. From Kentucky he removed to Missouri and settled in Cass county in 1881, but a few years of farm- ing in that locality did not prove satisfactory, and in 1887 he removed to the Pacific coast, set- tling two and one-half miles northwest of Long Beach, which at that time contained but one house. The tract of five hundred acres which he leased was in part under cultivation to alfalfa, which proved a profitable crop. Meanwhile he bought and sold horses and made a specialty of raising the trotting breeds, notable among which was Italie, an exceptionally fine animal. With the disposal of his ranch he sold his stable of horses, but he continued to be interested in that industry and is an authority in equine values.

On removing from his ranch into town Mr. Wilhoit from 1901 to 1903 conducted a grain, hay and feed business, and since then has been somewhat retired from commercial activities, al- though he personally superintends his real-estate interests. In addition to his residence at No. 424 American avenue, Long Beach, he owns one- quarter of a block on Fourth street, on which he has erected business houses for rental. While living in Kentucky he was married at Nicholasville, that state, to Miss Nannie Haw- kins, a native of Kentucky. They are the parents of five children, namely: Bessie, who married Allen Walker and lives at Long Beach; Lulu, wife of J. F. McSwain; G. C., a bookkeeper ; Pearl F. and J. Wallace, who reside with their parents. The family attend the Christian Church, of which Mrs. Wilhoit long has been an earnest and faithful member. Though Mr. Wilhoit is not active in politics, he is stanch in his adherence to Democratic principles and stands firm by the faith of the old party.

WILLIAM L. RUST. In tracing the line- age of the Rust family the records show that they come from old and honored English stock, whose members hold prominent positions in commerce and the professions. For years Abra- ham Rust was an extensive manufacturer en- gaged in business in the city of London. Among his children was a son, Rev. A. Rust, who was born and reared in London and received a thor- ough classical education at Cambridge, afterward taking up the study of theology and fitting him- self for the ministry of the Episcopal denomina- tion. Immediately after he was ordained to the ministry he went to India, where he had been appointed a vicar in Calcutta. On his return from that county he became vicar at Dunkirk, France, and in 1886 returned to London, where he has since heen vicar of an Episcopal parish. Widely known throughout his denomination, he

is honored as a man of broad knowledge, earn- est life and consistent Christian character, and his influence has tended toward the spiritual up- lifting of mankind.

The ministerial labors of Rev. A. Rust have been deepened in their usefulness through the capable assistance of his talented wife, who was a descendant of a family noted for its clergymen. Her father, Rev. Joseph Webster, was a gradıl- ate of the University of Edinburgh and became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian denom- ination. For a time he was a chaplain in the English army, and during his service in that ca- pacity he took part in the Crimean struggle, the Egyptian campaigns and many other historic events in English history. Finally he died in England when a very aged man. His daughter, Elizabeth, was born in Kingston, Jamaica, while he was stationed with the army on that island, and she was reared principally in England, where she died in 1898.

Among seven children, all but one of whom are still living, William L. Rust was the eldest in . order of birth, and was born in the city of Cal- cutta, India, while his father was stationed there as vicar of an Episcopal Church. Born Febru- ary I, 1874, he was four years of age when he accompanied his parents to Dunkirk, France, and in 1886 he went with them to England, where he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade at Birm- ingham in one of the many large factories of that city. In the iron works there he completed his trade after a service of several years, during which time he had acquired a thorough theoret- ical and practical knowledge of his chosen occu- pation. Crossing the ocean to the United States in 1891, he proceeded direct to California and joined his brother, Henry, at Santa Barbara. Soon afterward they became interested jointly in cattle-raising in the San Raphael mountains, but at the expiration of three years William disposed of his interest and turned his attention to his trade. For five years he was employed as en- gineer for the Seaside Oil Company at Summer- land. On resigning from that position he became chief engineer with the Guarantee Oil and Re- fining Company at Beaumont, Tex., where he assisted in the building of the company's plant and helped to place the works upon a substantial basis for practical operation.

Ill-health resulting from an attack of the Texas fever led Mr. Rust to resign his remunerative po- sition at Beaumont and for a time he devoted himself to recreation and travel until he had 're- gained his former state of health. During 1901 he came to Oxnard and has since been employed by the American Beet Sugar Company in the capacity of engineer, his special line being the engine and power work. For some years he has been associated with the National Association of

1898

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Stationary Engineers, Santa Barbara Local. In political matters he gives his support to the Re- publican party, while in his religious views he ad- heres to the doctrines of the Episcopal denomina- tion, in which he was reared. After coming to California he formed domestic ties through his marriage at Summerland to Miss Ethel Opple, a native of Michigan, and now the mother of one son, Frank Rust. At an early age she accom- panied her father, Andrew, from Michigan to California and settled at Summerland, where Mr. Opple afterward made his home. During the Civil war, while he was making his home in Michigan, he enlisted in the service of the Union and was enrolled as a member of the Seventh Michigan Infantry, with which he went to the front and bore a gallant part in various engage- ments with the enemy.

WILLIAM J. ALLEN. A considerable pro- portion of the population of Southern California consists of men who, having accumulated com- petencies in other sections of the country, have sought in the evening of their years the climate of the Pacific coast in order that they might en- joy the superior advantages it affords. Included in this class of citizens is William J. Allen, who came to Inglewood in 1903, purchased two lots in the town and erected the comfortable resi- dence now occupied by himself and wife. In genealogy the Allen family is of colonial ances- try, having been identified with the original set- tlement and early development of New England. The family records show that Ebenezer Allen, who was a native of either Connecticut or Mas- sachusetts, became a pioneer of Vermont, and in 1796, on the occasion of the marriage of his son, Noah, he presented the young married couple with a deed to a tract of farm land in Vermont, which state up to that time had at- tracted comparatively few settlers. Afterward that same farm became the centre of Noah Al- len's activities and there he and his wife, who was Mary Woods, spent the remaining years of their busy lives, she dying on the home place at the age of forty-five, while he survived until sev- enty-four years of age. The Woods family set- tled in America at an early date, and her father, Daniel, enlisted as a private in the war of 1812 and was wounded while on picket duty during the battle of Ticonderoga.

At Goshen. in the county where Noah and Mary Allen for many years made their home, a son, William J., was born February 1, 1829, and there he early learned lessons of frugality and industry. When he was fifteen years of age he lost his father by death and afterward was em- ployed by an elder brother as a farm hand for three years, later starting out to earn his own

livelihood in the world. In the fall of 1851 he sold his interests in Vermont and removed to Michigan, where he bought a timber farm in Van Buren county and devoted several years to the clearing of the land. For twenty-five years he continued upon the same place, meeting with his share of reverses and also not a few suc- cesses. Meanwhile his sons had grown to man- hood and started out for themselves, going to Dakota and becoming prominent in their locality. While visiting them in their new home, Mr. Al- len took up a homestead under the Dakota laws, and shortly afterward disposed of his Michi- gan property and moved to his newer posses- sions. The claim was placed under cutivation and improved with the necessary buildings, and he remained there until his retirement from ag- ricultural pursuits in 1903, when he removed to California and settled on his present property.

The marriage of Mr. Allen was solemnized December 3, 1850, and united him with Lucy A. Brown, a native of Vermont. They became the parents of four children, namely: Anthony, who is engaged in the hardware and furniture business at Fairmount, Richland county, N. Dak., and also owns farm lands in that vicinity ; John, a partner with his brother in business; Nettie, wife of E. A. Spaulding, a well-known real-es- tate man whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and Mrs. Mary Mosier, who died on the last day of the year 1904. The family are identified with the Free Methodist Church and Mr. Allen has officiated as a steward in that de- nomination. Both by precept and example he has given his influence toward the cause of tem- perance and in politics sympathizes with the Pro- hibitionists. For several years while living in North Dakota he filled the office of supervisor of Richland county, but with that exception has declined office, preferring to devote his atten- tion to private affairs. Though not a man of large wealth, he has gained a competency by constant labor through a long and active life and is fully deserving of the success he now enjoys.

FRANCISCO MARCOVINA. In noting the various members of any California community it is interesting to observe how all of these people were gathered together from different countries, states and localities, and how well they usually combine to form an intelligent and prosperous town, village or city. Francisco Marcovina, a well-known resident of San Pedro, was born June 10, 1848, in Austria, on the Island of Cur- zola, where his father, John Marcovina, now a venerable man of eighty-nine years, has spent his entire life, during his active career having been a shipbuilder. There, also, his mother,

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

whose maiden name was Maria Kercenich, lived until her death, in 1901.

The second child in order of birth of a family of four children, of whom two sons and one daughter are living, Francisco Marcovina is the only one in America. At the age of twelve years he began a seafaring life on a coasting vessel visiting the Mediterranean ports. Four years later he went into the deep waters, making voy- ages to China and the East Indies, and in 1866 coming across the Atlantic to New York and Boston. At the age of twenty-one years, he was made mate of the barque A. A. Drebbett, and in 1868, on the ship John Bright, he came to Cali- fornia, and there left his vessel, locating in San Francisco, where he was for a while engaged in coasting and freighting for himself. Going then to Contra Costa county, he was employed in farming in the Pacheco valley for six years, the following year being employed as a stevedore at Port Costa. Then, on account of his wife's health, he came, in 1882, to San Pedro, and hav- ing purchased a lot on Palos Verdes street erect- ed a substantial residence.

Mr. Marcovina subsequently entered the em- ploy of the Wilinington Transportation Company as stevedore, and after a few months was made assistant foreman of the San Pedro Wharf & Transportation Company. This responsible po- sition, with the exception of five years spent as foreman of the wharf at Port Los Angeles for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, Mr. Marcovina has since held, and during his long term of service has performed the duties devolv- ing upon him with ability and fidelity. In 1902 he sold his residence on Palos Verdes street and bought his present fine dwelling-house at No. IOII Beacon street, near Tenth street. In north- ern California Mr. Marcovina married Mary A. Markey, a native of Canada, and they are the parents of two children, John Franklin and Edith Emilia. In national politics he is a stanch Re- publican, but in local matters he votes according to his best judgment for the men and measures advocated by the most intelligent and practical citizens. Fraternally he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.

JESUS SAENZ. For thirty years or more Mr. Saenz has been numbered among the busi- ness men of Los Angeles county, where he has built up a substantial mercantile establishment at Palms, on First street and Washington street road. In an early day this place was a part of La Ballona grant and the postoffice was known as Machado. For ten years he held the office of postmaster, the office being in his store. The success that has rewarded his efforts is especially noteworthy from the fact that the business pre-

viously had been conducted at a loss, and when he assumed the management it was necessary to establish credit among business men and awaken confidence among possible customers, a task that called for his persistent application and mental alertness. In addition to his store building and his beautiful home he owns about sixty-five acres of property, in five, ten and seventeen acre tracts, the whole representing an important investment owing to the high valuation of the land. This is devoted to alfalfa, beans, corn, etc., and two acres are in oranges. Believing that increased transportation facilities would benefit the com- munity he donated without charge to the electric railway company the right of way through his lands, and in many other ways he has proved his public spirit and enterprise.

Near the gulf of California, at Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, Jesus Saenz was born Novem- ber 14, 1844. In his veins flows the blood of Castilian and Indian ancestors, of both of which he is proud ; but in appearance and enterprise he shows a spirit decidedly American. He was the only son of Dionisio and Andrea (Rodriguez) Saenz, natives respectively of Durango and Guad- alajara, Jalisco, Mexico. His father, who was the son of wealthy parents, came to California during the eventful year of 1849, with associates chartering a schooner and bringing men and pro- visions sufficient for a prolonged sojourn in the mining regions. The venture, however, proved very costly and unremunerative, and eventually about 1863 he came to Los Angeles county, where he died April 10, 1887, at sixty-two years of age. In 1891 his wife died, her son having taken care of her in her declining years.

When quite a small child Jesus Saenz accom- panied the family to San Francisco. Owing to his father's heavy losses he was unable to at- tend school longer than two years, after which he earned his livelihood as an errand boy in a store. Gradually, as he was proved to be trust- worthy, he was given greater responsibilities, and in time became a trusted clerk in Martinez and Ventura. At eighteen years of age he came to Los Angeles and for some years held a clerkship in this city, and then spent two years at the trade of iron-shutter maker in San Francisco, but the latter occupation did not prove congenial and he abandoned it for the management of the store he now owns. Many years ago he attended the first sale of lots in Santa Monica, but the condition of his finances did not permit him to purchase any real estate in the new town. During the long period of his residence here he has witnessed the growth and prosperity of the county, the devel- opment of its resources and the improving of its lands, and no one maintains a greater pride than he in the present prosperity of the people. Oc- tober 1, 1883, he was united in marriage with

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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 117

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