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 134

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

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PERCY N. ARNOLD. No more public- spirited Canadian has transferred his allegiance to the Pacific coast or more enthusiastically en- tered into the diversified interests here repre- sented than Percy N. Arnold, a rancher in the vicinity of La Ballona, although his postoffice and market town is Palms. Born in New Bruns- wick, Canada, January 27, 1852, he was the only child of his father's marriage with a Miss Vail, who was born in Canada, dying there at the birth of her only child. Nelson A. Arnold sub- sequently married Anna Smith, a native of En- gland, and the seven children born of this mar- riage all lived to attain years of maturity. The father was also born and reared in Canada, and when he had completed his schooling he settled down on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in that country, and, with the exception of a few years prior to his death, carried on farming throughout his entire life. His earth life came to a close in 1902, when eighty-four years of age.

During his young manhood Percy N. Arnold possessed an abundance of the venturesome spirit which directed the footsteps of so many sturdy men to this western country, and the first step toward self-maintenance was his coming to Cali- fornia in 1874. For six years thereafter he was occupied in various lines of business, but in 1880 he homesteaded a tract of land from the govern- ment, upon which he located and settled down to follow agriculture for his life business. Bv purchasing adjoining land he increased his hold- ings considerably, now owning two hundred and twenty acres in that ranch, although he makes

his home on a one-hundred-and-fifteen-acre tract which he owns near La Ballona. By rent- ing adjoining property he has now four hun- dred acres uncler his control, all of which is planted to beans, hay, etc., which yields a good income annually.

June 16, 1881, occurred the marriage of Percy N. Arnold and Miss Phebe Tibbet, who was born in California, the daughter of Jona- than Tibbet. At the time of the gold fever Mr. Tibbet was one of the throng who came to the state from Ohio, but he did not remain long, for the year 1850 found him back in his native state. When he returned to California in 1852 it was not the attraction of the mines that brought him hither, for he at once turned his attention to the cultivation of the ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, which he purchased that year near El Monte. Besides this half sec- tion of land he bought eighty acres near La Ballona, but it was in Santa Monica that he passed away in 1903. Since the death of Mr. Tibbet Mr. Arnold has purchased the eighty- acre ranch and now makes his home on the property. Four of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold are living and are still at home with their parents. as follows: Nelson L., Bessie T., Percy W. and Laurence F. The third child, Edgar R., was accidentally killed July 4, 1901, by being thrown from a wagon. In his political preferences Mr. Arnold is a Republican and is a member of the Ancient Order United Work- men, Woodmen of the World and Independent Order of Foresters.

EDWIN W. SMITH. Unbounded faith in the possibilities of Long Beach and surrounding country induced Edwin W. Smith, of the Edwin W. Smith Company, plumbers and tinsmiths, to invest his means here and also to give his best efforts toward the development of its resources. His arrival in the state of California is dated from October 16, 1887, although not until 1902 did he locate permanently in Long Beach: since that time. however, the most rapid growth of this city has taken place and with it his own financial success and increased business stand- ing.

Mr. Smith is of southern birth and lineage. his parents, William B. and Lucy (Kade) Smith, being residents of Corinth, Miss., where he was born January 22, 1869. The mother is now de- ceased, while the father is residing in Downey, Cal. While still young in years he was taken to Texas and in that state attended the public schools of Wise county. After ten years in that state the father brought his family to California, where he followed his trade of painter and dec- orator until his final retirement from active du-

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ties. Edwin W. Smith learned the tinner's trade upon leaving school and later the plumber's trade, and after coming to California engaged in various parts of Los Angeles county. In Glen- dale, where he made his home for six years, he engaged for one year as tinner and plumber, after which he came to Long Beach, which was just then evidencing the signs of rapid develop- ment. Upon his location in this city he purchased an interest in the plumbing business of Edward Kay, and later became sole proprietor of same, finally taking into partnership, C. C. Adams, who was associated with him in business for about three and a half years. Since Mr. Adams' withdrawal the business has been continued as the Edwin W. Smith Company.

In Glendale Mr. Smith married Miss Har- riet Iman, and their home is now located at the corner of Appleton and Gaviota. In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a Republican and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Frater- nally he is associated with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Long Beach, in the latter or- ganization having passed all the chairs, and also having been sent as a delegate to the Grand Lodge. In the line of his trade he is a member of the National Association of Master Plumbers, and is ex-secretary of the local association. In 1904 he was sent as a delegate to the National Association at St. Louis. The position accorded him among the business men of Long Beach has been won entirely by his own efforts, his judgment and ability winning him recognition, while his interest in the progress of Long Beach and the promotion of its welfare have given him a place among the influential citizens.

T. E. RICKARD. Retired from active busi- ness life, T. E. Rickard lives in a fine new resi- dence in the San Jacinto valley, on his thirty- two and a half acre ranch three miles southeast of Hemet, which is planted to oranges. He has amassed a comfortable fortune during his life and is now enjoying the fruits of his labors con- tent with what he has gained. The Rickard family is one of the old established ones of cen- tral Illinois, T. E. having been born in that state in Sanganion county, July 2, 1850, the son of Simon P. and Sophia (Earnest) Rickard, natives respectively · of Virginia and Kentucky. The elder Rickard became a pioneer of Sangamon county in 1832, when he bought wild land and engaged in farming, continuing in that occupa- tion and in the same location until the time of his death, in Mav, 1891, having attained the age of seventy-eight years. His wife is still liv- ing at the advanced age of eighty-five years and resides on the original Illinois homestead.

It was the privilege of T. E. Rickard to re- ceive a very fine education, and after his gradu- ation from the high school of Springfield, Il1., he entered the University of Illinois, becoming a member of the first class graduated from that institution. When his education was completed he returned to his home and engaged in farm- ing until 1901, in the summer of which year he removed to California and purchased an apricot orchard in Hemet valley. After holding this property one year he resided in Pasadena for a like period, then returned to Illinois for a time. This land of sunshine proved too alluringly at- tractive to be resisted, however, and he soon de- cided to make his permanent residence here, and upon his return settled in his present home' near Hemet.

In 1879, in Illinois, Mr. Rickard was united in marriage with Kate E. Boardman, the daugh- ter of Lucius M. Boardman, of Ohio, whose family came originally from Connecticut. Seven children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rickard: Lucius S., at home ; Lawrence E., on the old home farm in Illinois; those still under the parental roof being Frances Beatrice ; Ernest W., who is ready to enter Stanford University ; Howard B .; Raymond W. and Katharine Helen. The family attend the Presbyterian Church. During their residence here they have demon- strated their progressiveness, being willing at all times to lend a hand to further the advance- ment and upbuilding of the community.

ALFRED H. OWENS. A liberal and en- terprising citizen and one whose faith is un- bounded in the future of Long Beach, Alfred H. Owens is engaged with the Inter-State Dock & Lumber Company, of this place, becoming asso- ciated with the lumber business in 1894. He was born January 14, 1861, in Missouri, from which state he was taken by his parents to Jef- ferson county, Kans., when only three months old. He grew to young manhood on the pater- nal farm in that locality and received his edu- cation through the medium of the district school in the vicinity of his home. His father, J. H. Owens, is now residing in Pomona, Cal., at the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife, formerly Margaret J. Varney, died in that place in 1900.

Following the family to California, to which state they were attracted by the glowing reports which are constantly finding their way back to the states of the middle west, whose rigorous winters detract much from the pleasure of living there, Alfred H. Owens began as a farmer upon his arrival. He located on the Bixby ranch near the present site of Long Beach, and was an eye- witness to the beginning of the city and its sub- sequent growth. In 1894 he became associated

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with the lumber business as teamster, and after working in the yards of the Long Beachı Lum- ber Company for five years, became foreman, which position he occupied for two years longer. Leaving that company he engaged with the In- ter-State Dock & Lumber Company as checker, after which he assisted in the laying out of the present yards, then spent six months in the of- fice, subsequently becoming foreman of the vards, which position he still occupies. He is a man of honor and integrity and enjoys the con- fidence of those with whom he is associated.

In Long Beach, in 1883, Mr. Owens was united in marriage with Laura L. Martin, a na- tive of Indiana, but a resident of California from girlhood. They became the parents of the following children: Clyde Sherman, a teamster in the yards; William H., a machine hand in the employ of the Star Lumber Com- pany ; Agnes May and Ethel. With his family he is a member of the Baptist Church, and polit- ically is a strong adherent of the principles ad- vocated in the platform of the Republican party. Fraternally he is associated with the Independ- ent Order of Foresters and the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Owens has been interested person- ally in the growth and upbuilding of Long Beach, he having put up three residences, one on Sixth and American avenue: one on Locust between Fourth and Fifth; and in 1904 one at No. 935 American avenue.

ANDREW K. RUTTER. There is perhaps no resident of Southern California whose ex- perience as a lapidary has been more varied or whose knowledge of stones is more diversified than that of Mr. Rutter, who for some years has been the owner and proprietor of the Re- dondo shell store. To promote work at his spe- cialty, which is that of cutting and polishing beach stones. he has introduced a modern polish- ing plant operated by electric power furnished by his own dynamos. With the keen eye of a student of stones, he was the first to notice the beautiful stones on the Redondo beach and at once began to develop the business, polishing the first sardonyx, or agate jaspers, and moon- stones here, and selling the same to tourists. At the same time he has gathered together a col- lection of sea shells. At his store may be seen a rare and valuable collection of Indian relics, including implements taken from old Indian graves at Redondo which have found no dupli- cates at the Smithsonian Institution or elsewhere in the world.

In Medina county, Ohio, Andrew K. Rutter was born September 16, 1850, being the eldest of the six children of Isaac N. and Mary (Kol- lar) Rutter, natives respectively of Pennsylva-

nia and Tuscarawas county, Ohio. His father, who followed the tailor's trade in Ohio, took up farm pursuits after removing to Cowley county, Kans., and at this writing he and his wife are living in quiet retirement at Pawnee, Okla. After completing the studies of the public schools, Andrew K. Rutter took a course in the Mycrantz Academy at Bryan, Ohio. From the age of twenty-two until twenty-seven he en- gaged in teaching school, and with the savings of that period he embarked in the grocery busi- ness at Montpelier, Williams county, Ohio. Next he went to Kansas and from there in 1879 proceeded toward the southwest. For some years he engaged in exploring in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico, and in the ter- ritories of Arizona and New Mexico, during which time he located more than forty claims, but only one of these, the Youngman, proved to be a paying proposition. The year 1886 found him in Portland, Ore., where he remained for two years. Next he explored in the Rocky mountains for crystals and gems, which he shipped to the markets. About this time he dis- covered a topaz crystal forty-six inches long and six inches thick, which was the largest stone of the kind ever found in Colorado. The news of his discovery was noised throughout the coun- try and the Santa Fé Railroad Company bor- rowed the stone for the purpose of exhibiting it in their collection, but while in their hands the stone was lost.

After coming to Los Angeles in 1897 Mr. Rutter engaged in the hotel business and then resumed lapidary work, but in 1901 left that city for Redondo, where he has since engaged in business and has been a member of the Re- dondo Board of Trade. Though not active in politics, he is pronounced in his adherence to the Republican party and always votes the regu- lar ticket. During the period of his sojourn in Colorado he met and married Miss Harriet Fical, who was born in New York state and who shares with him the esteem of the people of their home town.

EDWIN P. DEWEY. In a direct line Ed- win P. Dewey can trace his ancestry back to Charlemagne, the present generation being the forty-first removed from that illustrious king. In 1833 Thomas Dewey of Kent county, Eng- land, came to Boston and later removed to Con- necticut. One of his descendants moved to New Hampshire and then reared fourteen sons, one of whom, David, was the great-grandfather of Edwin P., and another son was the same rela- tion to Admiral Dewey of present military fame. William Dewey was at one time colonel of a Vermont company of militia. Edwin P. Dewey

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was born June 9, 1859, in Hanover, N. H., the son of Ira and Isabelle (Knapp) Dewey, the former a native of Williamstown, Vt., and the iatter born in New York, the daughter of Sylves- ter Knapp, who lived his entire life in that state. The death of Mrs. Dewey occurred in New Hampshire. The father was by occupation a farmer and also served as town clerk for many years. At the outbreak of the Civil war he en- listed in Company B, Fifth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, and served un- til the close of the war. At the battle of Cold Harbor he was wounded and captured by the enemy and confined in Libby prison, from which he was relcased by exchange. He was a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, a man of up- right character and high principles, and his death which occurred in New Hampshire, was universally mourned by all who knew him. There were two sons in the family and Charles S. is now a resident of Vermont.,

Edwin P. Dewey spent his boyhood days on a farm within sound of the old Dartmouth Col- lege bell. He received a preliminary education in the public schools of Hanover and Lebanon, afterward entering Dartmouth College, from which institution of learning he graduated in 1882 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Subsequently he took a course in The Thayer School of Civil Engineering in Dartmouth, after which for five years he was principal of the Marcellus street school in Boston. He next taught a public evening school in that city, at the same time occupying a position as civil en- gineer in the city surveying department. A part of the time he was connected with the engineer- ing department of the Boston & Maine Railroad and was at one time assistant city engineer of Malden. In 1894 he came to California and located in Pasadena, where he was occupied as a civil engineer for several years, then removed to Long Beach, where, until February, 1906, he filled the office of deputy city engineer. At that date he resigned to become one of the in- corporators of the Harbor Iron Works, of which he is secretary and treasurer. The works are now located at No. 237 Olive avenue, but will soon remove to the corner of Riverside Drive and Third street, which site has a harbor front- age. As a specialty they will manufacture gaso- line marine engines. Besides sharing in the ownership of this manufacturing business he also has real estate interests in the thriving city of Long Beach.

The first marriage of Mr. Dewey united him with Miss Emma Philbrick, a native of Boston, and her death occurred in 1899 in Pasadena. Later he was married in Boston to Miss Louise Milne, also a native of that city. In 1883 he was made a Mason in Franklin Lodge No. 6,

A. F. & A. M., at Lebanon, N. H., and is now master of Long Beach Lodge No. 327, F. & A. M .; he also belongs to the Order of Eastern Star and the Cosmopolitan Club. Politically he is an advocate of the principles of the Repub- lican party. Interested in all enterprises tend- ing toward the higher development and upbuild- ing of his city, and possessed of many admir- able personal qualities, Mr. Dewey is held in the highest esteem by his fellow-citizens.

ABRAHAM L. KING. Prominent among the representative citizens and prosperous agri- culturists of Los Angeles county is Abraham L. King, of Palms, who owns and occupies a highly improved and well managed farm. He has achieved success in his vocation by his own un- aided exertions, and is, in fact, a self-made man, starting out in life with nothing but youth in his favor, and his endowments of fine health, a vigorous muscle, and a clear, cool brain. After all, a man possessing these is rich, indeed, from the beginning, and need fear nothing. A son of Abraham N. King, he was born December 24, 1866, at Mason City, Iowa.

A native of Wisconsin, Abraham N. King became a farmer from choice, and the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. Moving to lowa, he there followed his inde- pendent occupation in different places, being engaged in grain and stock raising. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1882, he bought one hun- dred and fifty acres of bottom land, lying one and one-half miles west of Palms, and there by sturdy industry improved a good ranch, on which he lived a number of years. He is now retired from active business cares, making his home at Sawtelle. He is highly respected as a man and a citizen, and is a warm supporter of the principles of the Republican party. In Wisconsin he married Alice Thompson, and they are the parents of seven children, namely : Abraham L .. the subject of this sketch ; Frank, who resides near Venice: Fred, foreman of the Jotham Bixby ranch at Long Beach; Walter ; Edith, wife of S. . G. Hall, of Inglewood ; Mamie, wife of Edward Wade, of Gardena; and Oscar, of Fowler, Cal.

Completing his early education in the schools at Cherokee. Iowa, Abraham L. King came with the family to California in 1882. On coming of age, in 1887, he started out for himself, work- ing by the day or month, and saving money. Accumulating a small sum, he invested it in land, buying fifteen acres, and in addition to carrying this on, he rented nine hundred acres and embarked on his chosen career. Succeed- ing well in his operations he subsequently pur- chased his present home ranch of one hundred

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and thirty acres at Palms. Energetic and en- terprising, he has been exceedingly prosperous in all of his undertakings, gaining experience and ability as the years have passed on, and 110W in the prime of life, has won an honored posi- tion among thie successful and influential agri- culturists of the community. Mr. King married Frankie LeForge and they have four children, namely : Shirley, Harry, Alta and Ruth. Polit- ically Mr. King is a straightforward Republican.

JOHN J. PECKHAM, M. D. The oldest and leading physician of Avalon is John J. Peckham, M. D., who has been a resident of California since 1883. He is a man of broad ed- ucation, has traveled much, encountering many interesting experiences, and has many friends all over the country. His family is of English descent, the early immigrants to this country be- longing to the Society of Friends, and settling in Rhode Island, where the grandfather of Dr. Peckham was horn. Later he removed to a farm in Washington county, N. Y., and there the son, Joseph W., was born, engaged in farm- ing during his lifetime, and there his death oc- curred. His wife, who was Elizabeth Gifford before her marriage, was born in Easton, Wash- ington county, N. Y., and died there at the age of seventy-eight years. Her father, Allan Gif- ford, lived to the remarkable age of ninety-six years.

There were seven children in the family of which Dr. Peckham was a member, three of whom are now living. He was the youngest and was born July 8, 1851, in Easton, Wash- ington county, N. Y., his boyhood days being spent on his father's farm. For his preliminary education he was sent to the public schools, later entered Marshall Academy, then studied medi- cine for a time under his older brother, Dr. Al- lan G. Peckham. He afterwards took a course at Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia, from which he graduated in 1874 with the de- gree of M. D. The succeeding two years he practiced his profession in Saratoga county, N. Y., and from there removed to Albany, where he was connected with the Homes City Hospital and practiced for seven years. At this time his health failed and he sought the climate of the Pacific coast in the hope of bettering it, spending two years each in Los Angeles, Sac- ramento and San Diego. In 1889 he went to Antelope Valley, Los Angeles county, and tried the plan, which was original with him, of tak- ing the outdoor treatment in a tent house. While rusticating there it gradually became a habit with the people who were scattered over the sur- rounding country to call upon him for medical services and his practice soon covered a coun-

try embracing territory fifty miles in extent. He was appointed by President Harrison postmaster of Alpine, the name of which station was changed to Harold at the suggestion of the doctor, and held the position for two years. Having recov- ered his health, in 1891 he went to San Fran- cisco and engaged in practice for a couple of years, and for one year subsequent to 1893 act- ed as surgeon for the English Mountain Gold Mining Company in Nevada county. The con- dition of his wife's health demanding a change at this time they again came to Southern Cali- fornia and located on Big Rock creek, in the Antelope valley, remaining there for two years. The continued ill health of his wife decided him to locate directly on the coast and he located at San Pedro, where he was employed as physi- cian by Helmyer & Neu, the contractors for the old and new breakwaters at that point. Later the government changed contractors and in 1900 Dr. Peckham located in Avalon, where he has ever since continued his medical practice. He is also engaged in the drug business, being one of the proprietors of the Island Pharmacy Com- pany, which carries a full line of drugs and sundries, having the largest stock of drugs in the county outside of Los Angeles. He fills the office of deputy health officer of Catalina township. and is at the same time deputy county recorder. He is also medical examiner for several of the old line life insurance companies, including the Phoenix Life of Hartford, the Mutual Life of New York, and the New York Life. Fraternal- ly he is affiliated with the Avalon Eyrie of Eagles No. 1385, of which he is examining physician ; he was made a Mason in Temple Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M., at Albany, N. Y., and also was raised to the Royal Arch de- gree in that city. Politically he is an advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Republican party.

The first marriage of Dr. Peckham occurred in Albany, N. Y., uniting him with Emma Clay, who was born in Syracuse, and his present wife was, before her marriage, Frances Mackey, a native daughter of Los Angeles. Dr. Peckham is a successful physician and business man, hon- est and upright in all his dealings and is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

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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 134

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