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 13

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

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CHARLES I. MASON. Occupying a po- sition of prominence among the foremost busi- ness men of Compton is Charles I. Mason, of the firm of Mason Brothers, hardware dealers and plumbers, having their main store in this town, and a branch establishment in Gardena. Enterprising, progressive and practical in his views, he is actively assisting in promoting the growth and industrial prosperity of his adopted city, and in its upbuilding is playing an important part. He was born in Derby, England, October 9, 1865. His father, Isaac Mason, born in England in 1835, married Mary Smith, also of English birth, and they became the parents of the following children : Mary Louise; G. Harold, in partnership with Charles I .; Alice Gertrude : J. William, of Los Angeles, an employe in the postoffice; and Charles I., the special subject of this sketch.

By years of study in the common and high schools, and by subsequently taking a college extension course, Charles I, Mason acquired an excellent education, which was further ad- vanced by the study of mechanical engineer- ing at South Kensington. On finishing this course he worked as an engineer for three years, and then took up the study of plumb- ing in a thorough manner, becoming proficient in the trade. His health failing, he came to California in 1888, hoping in this genial cli- mate to regain his former physical vigor. Lo- cating in Compton, he purchased seventeen acres of land, and for about seven years was

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engaged in raising fruit and alfalfa. The ensuing two years he worked as a plumb- er, and in a bicycle establishment in Los Angeles. Returning then to Compton, in partnership with his brother G. Harold, he bought a harware and plumbing establish- ment, and they have since built up an exten- sive and lucrative business in this line, in the busy season employing about a dozen men.

Under their present firm name, Mason Broth- ers, Mr. Mason and his partner have opened a branch store in Gardena, where they are suc- ceeding beyond their expectations, their pa- tronage being large and remunerative. Re- cently they erected one of the finest business buildings in Compton, and are now prepared to fill all orders promptly and satisfactorily.

In 1896 Mr. Mason married Mary Whaley, who was born in California, a daughter of the late Dr. Francis Whaley, who came to this state as a pioneer more than thirty years ago, and until his death, in August. 1904, was en- gaged in the practice of medicine. Mr. and Mrs. Mason have three children, namely : Lawrence H .. Helen M. and Charles Ronald. In his political views Mr. Mason is a Pro- hibitionist, and religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the Compton Water Company.

CUTHBERT GULLY. To the energy and enterprise of her young business and profes- sional men Long Beach owes much to her phe- nomenal growth and development, and in the furthering of this general prosperity Cuthbert Gully, a successful and practical civil engineer, has contributed a generous share. Descended as he is from generations of prominent Englishmen, it is but natural that he should display the same strong qualities of character which gave to them leading positions in their country. His grand- father, John Gully, a native of Bristol, England, was a successful business man, a large land own- er, interested in coal mining and a breeder of fine horses, having won the Derby one year. As a public man he exercised his talents in parliament having been a member from York for two ternis.

Captain Henry Lawrence, the father of Cuth- bert Gully, was a commander in the English navy and at the time of his resignation at the age of twenty-seven years, was the youngest commander in service. After his retirement from military life he engaged in the practice of civil engineer- ing in England for a time, then came to America and continued to work in Florida. Later he removed to the province of Quebec, Canada, and bought a farm on Lake Memphremagog, for a number of vears dividing his time between this

property and coal mines in England which he owned. In 1889 the family returned to England and the parents reside in Southsea. Mr. Gully's mother, who was in maidenhood, Henrietta Wal- lace, is a native of London and traces her lineage back to Sir William Wallace on her paternal side and through her mother claims Robert Emmett as an ancestor.

A member of a family of nine children, Cuth- bert Gully was born in 1878, at Lake Mem- phremagog, Quebec, Canada. He acquired his education in England at St. George's College, and later studied civil engineering under his father. In.1894 he came to California, locating at Riverside, and as civil engineer entered the office of the San Jacinto Land Company under W. E. Pedly, a position which he retained for six years. For two years thereafter he was in- terested in horticultural pursuits, specializing on orange growing. Disposing of his ranch he was for eighteen months employed as assistant super- intendent of construction with the Riverside Power Company, resigning this to accept a posi- tion in Los Angeles with E. T. Wright as civil engineer and surveyor. Six months later, in 1904, he came to Long Beach and continued the practice of his profession independently, laying out Willow Park and Long Beach Boulevard tracts. He is now engaged on the Long Beach Reclamation District work in reclaiming about three thousand acres of land.

The marriage of Mr. Gully occurred in Long Beach, uniting him with Edna Sovereign, a native of Illinois, and they are the parents of one child, Edna Adalza. Mr. Gully is an active member of the Episcopal Church and fraternally was made a Mason in Temescal Lodge No. 314 F. & A. M., in Corona. Politically he is an ad- vocate of Republican principles, and as a public- spirited citizen who is interested in the best de- velopment of the city he is held in the highest esteem by all who have the pleasure of his ac- quaintance.

JOHN KEYES MORRISON. An industri- ous, progressive and well-to-do agriculturist of Los Angeles county, John Keyes Morrison, liv- ing retired near Compton, has improved a fine homestead, which in its appointments compares favorably with any in the locality. With its sub- stantial, buildings and well-cultivated fields, it gives proof to the most casual observer of the thrift and care of the owner, and shows con- clusively that he has a thorough understanding of the business in which he has engaged, and that in its management he has exercised excellent judgment. A son of William Morrison, he was born, May 5. 1835. in Philadelphia, Pa., of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

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William Morrison was born and reared in Ireland, but when a young man immigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania, where he mar- ried Elizabeth Keyes, who came from Ireland to the United States with her parents when she was a young girl. She died in Philadelphia, Pa., leaving two children, of whom John Keyes, the subject of this sketch, was an infant three months old. After locating in Illinois the father subsequently married again, and by his second union had a family of four children. The re- mainder of his life was spent in Illinois, where he carried on farming until his death. He was a man of deep religious convictions, and a mem- ber of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Coming with his father and grandfather as far west as Illinois when a young lad, John Keyes Morrison remained at home until after attaining his majority, receiving a practical com- mon-school education, and a fine training in the numerous branches of agriculture. When ready to settle in life he purchased land in Washing- ton county, Ill., not far from the parental home- stead, and was for several years there· success- fully engaged in tilling the soil. In 1874 he re- moved with his family to California, settling near Compton, where he at once bought thirty acres of the land included in his present ranch. A large part of his original purchase he devoted to the cultivation of fruits of all kinds, a branch of agriculture which proved exceedingly remuner- ative. By purchase he has added seventy acres of adjoining land to his ranch, and here he lives retired with his family. Since his retirement his son John W. has taken the active care of the ranch, upon which he raises large crops of grain and fruit.

In 1859, in Nashville, Washington county, Ill., Mr. Morrison married Letitia L. Loughery, who was born in County Derry, Ireland, and came to America in 1846. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison six children have been born, namely : Anna D., wife of Prof. A. J. McClatchie, of Montobello, Cal., and the mother of one child: John W., who has charge of the ranch; Lillie, in Los Angeles; Alonzo T., of Calabasas, who married Harriet Parker, by whom he has two children, a son and a daughter ; Lorenzo L., who married Alice Arthur and has two daughters ; and Margaret Letitia, living at home.

reliability of business dealings and success in mercantile affairs. The department store owned and operated by the firm has its headquarters in a building 55x100 feet in dimension, but in addition there is a two-story brick warehouse 25x100 feet, and a warehouse on Saviers road 40x80 feet, all of the buildings be- ing utilized for the storage of goods or for their display in the interests of customers. As Oxnard itself has had a rapid growth in importance and prestige, so this business enterprise has deve- loped rapidly from an unimportant size to pro- portions rivalling those of the large cities.

Near the historic city of Strasburg, France, and in the province of Alsace, now a part of the German empire, Leon Lehman was born Feb- ruary 6, 1861, being a son of Moise and Estella Lehman, natives of the same province and mem- bers of old families there. The father was a merchant and real estate dealer during all of his active years and until shortly before his death. All of the seven children are now in America and in 1893 Leon returned to Europe and brought to the United States his widowed mother, in order that she might spend her last days with her children, of whom he was the eldest. He received an excellent education in col- lege, and afterward served an apprenticeship to the dry goods trade in Paris, where he had the ad- vantage of studying under some of the most suc- cessful merchants of the continent. At the ex- piration of two years he came to the United States, proceeded direct to California, and set- tled in Hueneme, where in October, 1878, he entered the employ of Wolff & Levy as a clerk. Intelligence, skill and executive ability enabled him in 1886 to buy an interest with Mr. Wolff, who had succeeded to the business of Wolff & Levy, at which time the title was changed to Wolff & Lehman. For the better accommoda- tion of the stock of goods the firm erected a brick building.

On the dissolution of the partnership a new association was entered into and the firm of Leh- man & Waterman was organized with W. M. Waterman as a junior member. In addition to carrying a stock of general merchandise they em- barked in the grain business, and continued to- gether until January, 1906, when the junior partner's interest was purchased by the senior member. The firm erected a frame building and started the first store in Oxnard in 1898, but later the building became too small for the grow-

LEON LEHMAN. Throughout the length and breadth of Ventura county the people are - ing trade, and the present substantial structure familiar with the rapid growth and exceptional was erected on the adjoining lot. In the incor- poration of Oxnard Mr. Lehman was an active factor and ever since then he has officiated as treasurer of the city. At this writing he holds office as president of the Citizens Club, an or- ganization composed of Oxnard's leading citi- popularity of the department store conducted by Lehman Bros., at Oxnard. Under the present firm title the founder of the business, Leon Leh- man, associated with his three brothers, Matthew. Edmond and Paul, has gained a reputation for

Presby T. Hubbert

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

zens, banded together to promote the welfare of the town. On the organization of the Oxnard Masonic Club he became one of its charter mem- bers and has officiated as its treasurer for some time. Since coming to Oxnard he has erected a substantial residence on the corner of D and Second streets. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Santa Barbara and the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Hueneme Lodge, of which he is past master, and the first one to be taken into that lodge, while at this writing he holds mem- bership with Oxnard Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M., also with the Royal Arch Chapter. Ever since becoming a citizen of the United States and of voting age, he has given his allegiance to the Republican party. A man of unusual business ability, he superintends with care and keen intelligence the stores at Oxnard and Hneneme owned by the firm and built up to their present dimensions largely through his persever- ing energy. In the growth of Oxnard his con- tribution as a progressive merchant and public spirited man has been of the greatest importance.

PRESLEY T. HUBBERT. Bound to the beautiful valley of San Luis Rey by the ties of years of identification with its agricultural in- terests, Mr. Hubbert has for the region a feel- ing of affection deeper and more abiding than for any other spot of earth's broad domain. To the people of the valley his name is significant of all that is manly and noble in character, pure and lofty in friendship, and genial and com- panionable in temperament. As a pioneer he bore a part in the development of the resources of the valley and as a citizen he contributed his quota to movements for the public welfare. To know him is to admire him for the possession of the qualities of mind and heart unusually at- tractive and deep and also for the possession of a sagacious judgment that gives weight to his counsel and permanent value to his advice.

Of southern family and birth, Mr. Hubbert is a son of Matthew and Elizabeth S. (Thornton) Hubbert, natives respectively of Tennessee and Georgia. The father, who was a farmer and cattle-raiser, came to California in 1869 and set- tled at Julian, but the following year removed to the San Luis Rey valley, where he entered land from the government. At the time of his death in 1886 he was seventy-six years of age, while his wife, who lived to be eighty-five, pass- ed away in 1903. They were the parents of fifteen children and ten of these are vet living. Presley T., who was born in Attala county, Miss .. November 27, 1846, was eight years of age when the family removed to Texas, and his education (which was limited to the common school

studies) was received principally in that state. For a time he worked as a cowboy and during ten months of the war period he was employed in the department furnishing beef to the Confed- erate army. Meanwhile his father had be- come interested in the cattle business and had his range on the present site of Roswell in New Mexico, remaining there for four years, and the son aided in the business bv driving herds of cat- tle to and from the range. In the pursuit of this work he crossed the plains ten times. When his father closed out the cattle business and removed to California he returned to Texas, and from there came to the coast country in 1872, journeying via steamer from Galveston to New Orleans, thence by rail to St. Louis. from there on the railroad to Denver. Salt Lake and San Francisco, thence to San Diego, and from there via stage to Julian, where he became interested in mining.

After a year in California Mr. Hubbert re- turned to Texas for his mother, brothers and sisters, who came back with him to San Diego county. In August, 1873, he closed out his mining interests and came to the San Luis Rey valley, where he purchased a quarter section of land from his father and later entered one hun- dred and twenty acres from the government, on which property he has since engaged in ranch- ing and stock-raising. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Helen M. (Adams) Hub- bert, a native of Texas, and a daughter of Cal- ifornia pioneers of 1867. who settled in the Hope school district in San Diego county. Thev are the parents of the following children: Louis C., now in Mexico: Victoria E., who is on the home ranch : Jennie E. and Bavard T., who are attending school in Los Angeles: Nannie B., a student in the San Luis Rey schools, and Edgar T., at home. The family attend the Christian Church, with which Mrs. Hubbert is identified and to which Mr. Hubbert has been a gener- ous contributor. Politically a Democrat. reared in the faith of that party and pronounced in his allegiance to its principles, he is vet liberal and non-partisan, and in voting considers the char- acter of the candidate and his qualifications for office rather than his political views. Always interested in educational matters. he has served efficiently as school trustee and has contributed materially to the advancement of the local schools.

TOHN P. VARBLE. The reputation ac- onired by J. P. Varble as a rancher of Los Angeles county has been won entirely by his owr efforts, having brought to bear in his work an intelligent and conscientious thought which has resulted in the accomplishment of his aims and

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purposes. He is located near El Monte, where he settled in 1903. He is a native of Franklin county, Ark., and was born January 23, 1865 ; his father, Alexander Varble, was a native of North- Carolina, while his mother, formerly Margar- ett Houston, was born in Arkansas. The father died in 1880, and the mother is still surviving and making her home in Modesto, Stanislaus county, at the age of sixty-three years, still active and taking an interest in the work of the Christ- ian Church, of which she is a member. The father was a Democrat politically and prominent in the affairs of his adopted state.

J. P. Varble was the eldest of ten children born to his parents and in Franklin county he received his education in the public schools. He came to California in 1891, after having engaged as a farmer in his native state, and upon his ar- rival here located in Stanislaus county, where he remained for three years. He then came to Los Angeles county and engaged in ranching, in 1903 locating on his present property, which con- sists of one hundred and ten acres, devoted to the raising of alfalfa, which yields eight tons per acre. He owns seventeen acres of fine land which he intends to plant to strawberries and walnuts. He was married in 1886 to Miss Callie Owen, a native of Arkansas, and four children were born to this union, Oma, Truman, Ruth and Valda. Mr. Varble is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the Democratic principles and both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.

A. L. MATTHEWS. Twenty years ago A. L. Matthews came to California and located at Wildomar, purchasing land upon which he is now raising hay and grain. . He was born August 21, 1845, in Chemung county, N. Y., the son of Isaac and Ann ( Manning) Mat- thews, the former being a native of New York and the latter born in England. The Mat- thews family is one that has been identified with the history of the United States for sev- eral generations, the grandfather, Kortwright Matthews, having been an officer in the Black Hawk war and took an active part in the bat- tle fought at Horseheads, N. Y. The father was educated in New York and became a Methodist Episcopal minister, having charges at various points, including Big Flats, Reaser Hill and Pine Valley. His death occurred in New York in 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The mother died in 1859. when she was fifty-nine years old.

Reared in an intellectual and refined atmos- phere, A. L. Matthews in boyhood attended the public schools, later studying for a time at

Starkey Seminary. In October, 1863, he dem- onstrated his patriotism by enlisting in Com- pany E, Fourteenth Regiment of New York Heavy Artillery, and was injured by the ex- plosion of a shell at Fort Hamilton, the wound having troubled him ever since. On account of his disability he was discharged at Fort Schuyler, N. Y., and in 1868 located in Ne- vada, Story county, Iowa, where he engaged in ranching until 1872. He then removed to Hiawatha, Brown county, Kans., remaining there for two years, when he located in Spring Hill, Johnson county, that state, and bought a farm upon which he lived until 1875. His next move was to Arkansas valley, Kans., there filing upon a homestead claim upon which he resided until 1886, when he removed to California. Locating at Wildomar, he bought ten acres of land, improved it, and en- gaged in ranching. Besides this he also owns a quarter section of farming land in Kansas.

June 21, 1902, Mr. Matthews received the appointment as postmaster of Wildomar, and on August 15 of the same year secured the position of station agent for the Santa Fé at that point. At about the same time he also became proprietor of the general store which he now owns. He has been clerk of the school board for twelve years, and for the past eight years has been deputy county clerk. Polit- ically he is an advocate of the principles em- braced in the platform of the Republican party, and religiously belongs to the Method- ist Episcopal Church. He is also a member of the Riverside post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Matthews' marriage in Hutchinson, Kans., October 24. 1877, united him with Miss Mary H. Allison, a native of Illinois, they becoming the parents of two children, Anna and Anson Leo, both of whom died in in- fancy. As a progressive and enterprising citi- zen Mr. Matthews takes a leading place in his community, in which he is held in the highest respect and esteem by all.

CHARLES J. MURPHY. A native son of California, and the representative of one of its early pioneer families, Charles J. Murphy is well deserving of mention in a work of this character. A well-known resident of the thriving little village of Oxnard, he is actively identified with its mercantile interests, holding an excellent posi- tion among the energetic and thorough going business men who have attained success through their own tact, good judgment and perseverance. Establishing himself here as a member of the firm of Murphy & Weill nearly two years ago, he has since built up a lucrative trade, dealing

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principally in groceries and men's furnishing goods. A son of the late Thomas Murphy, he was born, April 17, 1874, in San Francisco, where he was reared and educated.

Leaving his home in the east when a young man, Thomas Murphy followed the march of civ- ilization westward, coming across the plains with ox-teams ere the thought of construction a trans- continental railway had been conceived. With his brother pioneers he labored with pickaxe and shovel, and as a miner met with encouraging success. On retiring from that occupation he located in San Francisco, where he resided un- til his death. He married Mary Flanagan, who survives him, and is now living in Alameda. She bore him eight children, three of whom are living, Charles J. being the second child.

Having completed the studies of the public schools of San Francisco, Charles J. Murphy was graduated from a commercial college, and soon after that event began the battle of life for himself. Locating in Hueneme in 1896, he ob- tained a position as clerk in the store of Lehman & Waterman, and while there obtained an ex- cellent knowledge of mercantile pursuits. When the firm removed to Oxnard Mr. Murphy came also, and for some time thereafter had charge of its hardware department. Resigning his clerk- ship in November, 1904, he, in partnership with Mr. Weill, started in business for himself, open- ing a store on Fifth street, in the Maulhardt building. Stocking his establishment with a fine assortment of groceries, both staple and fancy, and opening a men's furnishing goods depart- ment, he has since built up a most satisfactory business, his patronage being large and remuner- ative.

November 15, 1905, in Oxnard, Mr. Murphy married Katherine Wilson, who was born in Hueneme, a daughter of U. S. Wilson, now a residence of Oxnard. Politically Mr. Murphy is a stanch Democrat, and fraternally he is a mem- ber of Santa Barbara Lodge No. 613, B. P. O. E., and of Oxnard Lodge No. 750, K. of C.

MORGAN R. WATKINS. Conspicuous among the California pioneers who have so ably assisted in developing both the mining and agri- cultural resources of this state is Morgan R. Wat- kins, a prosperous farmer, living near Mesa Grande. His ranch is under a good state of cul- tivation and well improved, the buildings being of a neat and substantial character, betokening the thrift and wise management of the owner. Like many others of our most respected and successful citizens, he was born and reared in a foreign land, his birth having occurred, Decem- ber 26, 1845, in South Wales. His parents, David and Elizabeth (Rosser) Watkins, were

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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 13

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