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 142

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 P. Lyman was also a loyal soldier dur- ing the Civil war. His birth occurred in South- ampton, Mass., January 29, 1843, but he was a resident of Illinois at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war, having been taken to that state by his parents in 1856. His education was received in the common schools of Illinois and the Grand Prairie Seminary at Onarga, after which he farmed until 1864, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Infantry. Mustered in at Chi- cago, he served in Missouri and Kentucky for a period of six months, when he was honorably discharged and returned again to civic pursuits. He again engaged in farming, establishing a home in 1866, when he married in Massachusetts Helen M. Searle, of that state. In 1869 he sold his farm and enaged in the hardware and lum-

ber business in Roberts, Ford county, Ill., for a period of fifteen years. Disposing of these in- terests in 1884 he came to California, and in Pasadena engaged in the same enterprise, the firm being known as Lyman & Stevens, one of the most extensive hardware stores on Colorado street. This engaged his attention for the ensu- ing two years, when he sold out and became connected with the Pasadena Milling Company. In the meantime, in 1887, he became interested in the real estate business in Pasadena, and this interest led him, in 1901, to locate in Long Beach, where with his brother he established the firm of Lyman Brothers & Rowe. Their enterprise has resulted in much material development for Long Beach, one of their most extensive move- ments being the platting of the Wilson & Ly- man's subdivision of six acres on East Fourth street. Mr. Lyman has erected a fine residence on American avenue, while his brother has built five houses in Long Beach in the last five years.

The death of Mr. Lyman's first wife occurred in Pasadena, Cal., June 2, 1896. In Long Beach, March 16, 1904, he was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle E. Rowe, a native of Illinois. Mr. Lyman is a member of the John F. Godfrey Post No. 93, G. A. R., of Pasadena. He is a stanch Republican in national politics, although locally he is far too loyal a citizen to give his support to any man or measure that in his judgment is not best calculated to advance the general wel- fare. He is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church in his religious affiliations. Mr. Lyman takes a lively interest in public affairs, exerting his influence as a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce, is liberal and enterprising to an unusual degree and is looked upon as repre- sentative of the best type of citizenship by those who have known him throughout his residence in Southern California.

JOHN GOELZ. The care exercised in the discharge of all duties connected with his oc- cupation proves Mr. Goelz to be the possessor of qualities admirably adapting him to work where skill, accuracy and efficiency are the principal essentials. Doubtless his natural en- dowments made the development of these qualities possible, and probably also their pres- ence in his character is due to the excellent training he received during the period of his apprenticeship in the formative period of his career. German masters have a reputation for the careful training of their apprentices, and those who have been under their oversight usually possess the requisite preparation for practical success.

Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, is the native . place of Mr. Goelz, and October 6, 1869, the

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date of his birth, he being the fifth son among nine children, all of whom still survive. His parents. Walter and Eliza Goelz, were born, reared and married in Hesse-Darmstadt, and the mother died there in middle age. The father who still remains in that part of Germany, fol- lowed farm pursuits and the grain business dur- ing the active period of his life, but now is retired from business responsibilities. At the age of fourteen years John Goelz was taken from school and apprenticed to the trade of a cabinet-maker, at which he served the full pe- riod. When he was seventeen years old he came to the United States and settled in Los Angeles, where he followed his trade for two years. At the expiration of that time he be- gan to be interested in the cement business, working in the employ of various contractors.

On coming to Oxnard in 1898 Mr. Goelz en- tered the employ of Carl Leonardt and assisted in the construction of the American Beet Sugar factory. Four years later in 1902 he became superintendent of the cement works at Ox- nard owned by Mr. Leonardt, which position he has since filled with the utmost skill and en- ergy. Since coming to Oxnard he has erected a residence on the corner of Fifth and D streets, and here he and his wife, with their three chil- dren, Emil, Lena and Gusta, have a comforta- ble and attractive home. Mrs. Goelz was for- merly Mary Otto and at an early age left Ger- many, her native land, for the United States, settling in Los Angeles, where she married and for some years made her home. Reared in the Lutheran faith, she adheres to that belief and contributes to the missionary enterprises and general support of that denomination. Though not active in politics, Mr. Goelz has pronounced opinions upon all questions of national import- ance and gives his support to the Democratic party in local and general elections. Fraternal- ly he holds membership with the Sons of Her- mann, in which order he holds official position. To those with whom business dealings have brought him in contact he has a reputation for energy, careful judgment and prompt dis- patch of work, and his presence in Oxnard adds another to the list of the city's skilled work- men.

ANDREW YOUNG may be classed as one of the old settlers of Wilmington, Cal., and has for many years been in the employ of the Wil- mington Transportation Company as superin- tendent of engineers, a most valued and trusted employe. His father, also named Andrew Young, was a native of Ayrshire and with his family came to . Canada, settling near Quebec. He was a flax-dresser by trade and followed that

occupation at La Prairie, Quebec, and later at Champlain, N. Y., where they resided for a time. He enlisted and served as a member of a Cana- dian company during the Rebellion in Canada, and died at Sherbrooke, Quebec. His mother, Jane Fenton, was a native of Montrose, Scot- land. The family came of Presbyterian stock on both sides of the house and their children were brought up in that denominational faith. There were four children in the family, three daughters and one son, all still living.

Andrew Young is the only son and second child in his father's family. He was born at La Prairie, Quebec, Canada, October 24, 1849. Soon after his birth the family removed to Cham- plain, N. Y., where he attended the public schools, and when the family returned to Canada he continued school at Sherbrooke. When he was sixteen years of age he was apprenticed to learn the machinist trade in a large machine shop at Sherbrooke. In 1870, when he was twenty years of age, having served his term of appren- ticeship and mastered the trade, he went to Bay City, Mich., and procured employment at the McDowell Iron works. In 1874 he returned to Sherbrooke and the following year, 1875, mar- ried Carrie Kent, a native of that place.

The western country seemed to hold out in- ducements for the young couple to leave their old home, and in the year of their marriage they came to California. Mr. Young obtained em- ployment with the Fulton Iron works at San Francisco, but only remained in their employ six months. With the idea that he would be better suited he went to Seattle, Wash., and engaged with the Seattle Transportation Company as ma- chinist and engineer, continuing with them until 1878, when he returned to San Francisco and for two years was chief engineer of tow-boats on the bay. In 1880 he came to Wilmington and went to work for the transportation company as chief engineer on their steamers in San Pedro bay. One year later, 1881, the company pro- moted him by giving him charge of the ma- chinery and making him superintendent of en- gineers. For many years the company's shops were at Wilmington, but in 1903 they moved them to San Pedro. Mr. Young retains his po- sition with the company, though his home is at Wilmington.

Mr. Young is thorough master of his line of work and the years he has remained in the em- ploy of the company with whom he is now en- gaged attest their appreciation of his services. He is a man of sterling worth and integrity of character and has gained the respect of the people in whatever community he made his home. In politics he is a Republican; in religion, the family are Presbyterians, following the creed of their fathers and maintaining the faith they were

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brought up in. Their family consists of six chil- dren. Mabel, George Andrew (apprenticed ma- chinist in Los Angeles), Phineas Banning, Fen- ton Kent, Carrie Amelia and Hudson Lawrence. Mr. Young has been a member of the Masonic order for many years, having taken his degrees in Victoria Lodge, Sherbrooke, Canada. Both Mr. and Mrs. Young are members of the East- ern Star at San Pedro. He is a member of Wil- mington Lodge No. 198, F. & A. M., and has served as master four terms. He is a member and past grand of Bowen Lodge 138, I. O. O. F., of San Pedro, and is also a member of the Be- nevolent, Protective Order of Elks. He has been a member of the Marine Association of San Francisco since 1882.

CHARLES WILLIAM LONGMIRE. In 1896, when Charles William Longmire estab- lished his present livery business in Highland, it was on a very small scale, with three horses and a little frame building. Gradually but stead- ily the business grew, however, and now, with a fine brick barn 37x105 feet in dimensions, twen- ty first-class driving horses and numerous new and up-to-date rigs, some of them with rubber tires, he conducts one of the most extensive liv- ery enterprises in this section of the state. For several generations Tennessee has been the an- cestral home of the Longmire family and it was in Anderson county, that state, that both Charles William and his father, Rufus Albert Longmire, were born. The last named was a son of Reuben Moss and Elizabeth (Wallace) Longmire, and was reared on a farm near Clin- ton, on the Tennessee river, in the vicinity of which place he obtained an education in the pub- lic schools. In that place and the adjoining county he lived until 1883, when he came to California, arriving in Highland on January 4. He began ranching immediately upon his arri- val in the state and in 1887 made his first pur- chase of land, securing ten acres on the Base line road at $60 per acre. Upon this land he raised potatoes until he purchased his present ranch of ten acres, when he sold the former place. This latter property was unimproved, and its present fine condition is entirely the re- sult of the personal efforts of Mr. Longmire. The grove of over a thousand naval orange trees and a few lemons was grown from seeds plant- ed by him. He also erected the present nine- room residence and substantial barn, the build- ings being located on the corner of Bolder and Highland avenues. In 1905 the ranch yielded a net income of $100 per acre.

Reuben M. Longmire's marriage, January I, 1868, united him with Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Charles and Selitha (Moore) Shinliver. Her

father died in 1857, and her mother in 1896, at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Longmire are both of German-Scotch descent. They became the parents of seven children: Ida Ann, now the wife of Charles Hadden, of Highland; Lassie, who died at the age of nine- teen years and is buried in San Bernardino; Mattie Elizabeth, who married John Coy, of Highland; Charles William, a resident of High- land and the subject of this sketch; Kittie, the wife of Frank Cram, of East Highland; Maggie, who died when nineteen years old and is buried in San Bernardino; and James E., who lives under the parental roof.

Born May 30, 1873, Charles William Long- mire was ten years of age when he was brought by his parents to Highland, and his education was obtained in the common schools here. Aft- er completing his studies he stayed with his father on the ranch for a time and later en- gaged in the butchering business in Messina for two years. Subsequently he returned home, re- maining with his father for a couple of seasons, and in May, 1896, he located in Highland and established his present business, in 1904 build- ing the new brick barn. Fraternally Mr. Long- mire is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Highland, and politically, like his fa- ther, is a stanch Democrat. On February II, 1902, he was united in marriage with Catherine (Maloney) Bell, the widow of Albert Bell and daughter of Michael and Jennie (Shirtey) Ma- loney, and of this union one child, Vivian Lu- cile, was born April I, 1904.

JOSEPH H. KELLY. An early pioneer in San Bernardino county and one of the largest and most substantial ranchmen in the county is Joseph H. Kelly, who owns and operates a ranch of four hundred acres, which is devoted to grain and stock-raising, he being especially interested in the breeding of fine horses. He has been in the horse business for about forty years, and holds the distinction of having trained the first race horse ever tracked in San Bernardino county. Besides twenty high grade brood mares he now owns three valuable stallions-Bolock, of the famous stock of Zolock; a large draft horse named Mascot ; and a French coach named Charlatan. In 1876 he built a race track on his ranch, which was the first one in the county, and from that was organized the present rac- ing course. The first horse, Valentine, he ever trained for track purposes was entered in twen- ty-seven races and took money twenty-six times. This horse was finally sold and taken to Austra- lia and there defeated Fritz, who had challenged any trotter or pacer in the world.

The birth of Mr. Kelly occurred in Hancock

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county, Ill., July 28, 1842, he being the son of Joseph and Matilda (Hull) Kelly, the former's birth having occurred in Ohio, and his death in Utah; the latter was a native of Illinois, in which state her death also occurred. There were five children in the family, and Joseph H. has now but one brother living, his home being in Ne- vada. Mr. Kelly was taken by his father to Utah in an early day and when a young man of twenty he pushed his own way still further west, coming to San Bernardino county, Cal. He bought land from the larger ranchers and has ever since been engaged in agricultural pur- suits and stock-raising. Mr. Kelly's first mar- riage took place in 1866, uniting him with Sarah Keller, a native of California, who died ten years later, leaving five children, namely: Arthur, Nathan and Hazen, all of whom are married : Hiram, who is single, and the daughter, Druzel- la, is the widow of Benjamin Arthur. In 1880 Mr. Kelly married Alfretta Dewitt, born in Cal- ifornia, and she too has become the mother of five children, Harold, Ernest, Nettie, Harry and Pearl. While he is a believer in Republican principles he exercises considerable independ- ence in the casting of his ballot, believing that men are as important as measures in the gov- ernment of the country. He is a member of the Elks of Redlands.

JACOB POLHEMUS. A pioneer of Col- ton, Jacob Polhemus, now deceased, came to this city in 1875, when the only buildings in the place were a saloon and eating house, and the Pioneer lumber yard office. A carpenter and builder by trade, he was employed in the erection of the pioneer buildings of Colton, among them be- ing the Hathaway and Davenport store, which was the first one established here. In 1877 he purchased lots on the corner of Eighth and I streets, on which he built his residence and shop. As the city grew this location became valuable and in 1886 he erected the well-known Polhe- mus block, a fine two-story structure devoted to business and office purposes, the building be- ing the first one of brick erected in Colton. He was a strong and liberal supporter of the vari- ous development enterprises instituted from time to time and became a stockholder and one of the original incorporators of the Colton Build- ing and Loan Association, which has done so much to encourage improvement in the city. In his business enterprises he was successful and secured a modest, though well-deserved, com- petency, and his methods in his dealings were of a manly and straightforward character that secured him hosts of friends and gained for him the highest respect of the community.

The birth of Mr. Polhemus occurred in New

Jersey in 1822, both his parents, Theodorus and Leah (Cooper) Polhemus, being natives of the same state and descended from old colonial fam- ilies from Holland. The son was reared and educated in New Jersey, where he early learned the carpenter's trade, engaging in it as an occu- pation for twenty years in Jersey City. It was in 1871 that the attractions of California irresist- ibly appealed to Mr. Polhemus and he decided to settle in that state. His first location was in San Francisco, where he remained but a few months, however, soon coming to Southern Cal- ifornia. He settled successively at San Diego, Los Angeles and San Bernardino, and in 1875 established himself in Colton, where his death occurred December 12, 1889. Politically he was a stanch Republican, having been a supporter of that party from the time of its organization in 1856. He was strong and liberal in his support of churches and schools, being a member of the Baptist Church, and serving as treasurer of the society in Colton.

By his first marriage Mr. Polhemus was unit- ed with Miss Jane Tier in 1843. She died in 1870, leaving three children: Lizzie, now the wife of Frank D. Sweetser, of San Francisco; George, a resident of Plainfield, N. J .; and Will- iam, living in Colton. In 1879 he married Mrs. Lucretia (Ford) Bent, who was born in Florida, N. Y., in 1826. Her early ancestors were from Holland and settled in New Amsterdam on Man- hattan Island. When seven years of age her parents removed to Rochester, in which city she was educated, and at the age of sixteen years was married to Heman J. Spring. They lived on a farm in New York for a little over three years, and in 1846 moved to Fox Lake, Wis., later returning to New York. Mr. Spring held the position of depot agent at Millers Corner for a number of years. Resigning that position he again went to Wisconsin, from which state he enlisted in Company E of the Twenty-ninth Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, and was killed on the battlefield. There were three sons born of this union: DeLos A., born December 31, 1845, was married to Eunice Mallory, a native of Savannah, Ga. He made his home in Georgia until his health began to fail, when he came to California and died in Colton at the age of thirty- eight years. He left a widow and three children, who returned to their native state after his death. DeLos Spring served three years in the Civil war, having enlisted in the same regiment with his father when seventeen years of age. Adol- phus D. Spring, born January 8, 1848, married Miss Sarah Wright, has three children and re- sides in Colton, where he is a city electrican. By- ron L. Spring married Clara M. Washburn, has one child, and lives in Madison, Wis. About four years after the death of Mr. Spring his

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widow was married to Joseph Bent, who was accidentally drowned in Fox Lake, Wis. In 1876 Mrs. Bent came to Colton, and three years later was united in marriage with Mr. Polhe- mus. After ten years of happy married life, death removed a devoted husband and a man loved and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Polhemus. died December 7, 1906, at the home of her son in Colton. She was noted for her kindness and generosity and had a host of friends.

GEORGE B. MACGILLIVRAY. The prin- cipal of the grammar schools of Ramona is a member of a Canadian family and a descendant of Scotch ancestry. Both of his parents, John and Catherine (Groat) MacGillivray, were born in the village of Kirkwall, in the north of Scot- land, and the paternal forefathers had been identified with that country as far back as the genealogy can be traced. The maternal an- cestors, however, originally came from the con- tinent of Europe, for the maternal grandfather, Robert Groat, was a descendant of one of three brothers bearing the name of de Grotia, who left Denmark in the sixteenth century and established the family on the shores of Scot- land. During their early life the parents crossed the ocean to Canada and settled at Smith Falls, Ontario, where their marriage was solemnized and where they settled upon a farm. The mother never left that province and died there in 1883, at the age of fifty-seven years. Seven years after her demise the father departed from the scenes familiar to him since early youth and sought the milder climate of California, set- tling in San Diego county near the village of Alpine, where he now lives at the age of eighty- seven, in fairly good health.

While the family were living at Smith Falls, Ontario, a son was born May 12, 1860, and he it is who forms the subject of this narrative and who is known as the efficient principal of the Ramona grammar school. Primarily educated in country schools near the home farm, he was not satisfied with the extent of the opportunities there afforded and sought something more broadening and thorough. With that object in view he matriculated in the Collegiate Institute of Smith. Falls and there carried on the regular course of study, graduating with the class of 1882. Afterward he taught in Canadian schools for three years, and with the money earned by this period of work he paid his expenses in the Ottawa normal school, from which he was grad- uated in the fall of 1888 with an excellent stand- ing for scholarship and knowledge of pedagogy.

Immediately after completing the normal school course of study Mr. MacGillivray left

Canada for the United States and settled in San Diego county, wiiere at once he secured a posi- tion as teacher in the Japilna district. The ex- cellence of his work and the satisfaction afforded patrons of the school by his services may be proved by the statement that he remained for ten years the teacher of the same school, eventu- ally resigning in order to accept his present posi- tion, at which time he removed from Descanso to Ramona. Coincident with his removal he sold his ranch in the former neighborhood. His cozy home in Ramona is presided over by his wife, with whom he was united at Los Angeles Jan- uary 13, 1896, and who was formerly Miss M. W. True, descended from New England an- cestry and a native of Sherbrooke, province of Quebec. Of their union two children were born namely: Laura Belle, whose birth occurred in 1899, and F. True, born in 1904.

Ever since becoming a citizen of the United States Professor MacGillivray has voted with the Democratic party, but at no time has he dis- played partisanship of spirit, and his interest in politics is that of the public-spirited citizen, not the office-secker. Both he and his wife were reared under wholesome and sincere religious in- fluences and both are believers in the doctrines of Christianity, his sympathies being with the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church, while she is an attendant at the Congregational Church. For some years both have been interested in the work of the Eastern Star and have been active in the local chapter, while he also maintains rela- tionship with San Diego Lodge No. 35, F. & A. M., and is further identified with the Ancient Order of Foresters No. 8520, at Ramona, and Sunset Lodge No. 328, I. O. O. F., in San Diego.

F. MORETTI. In no country in the world has the art of dairying been brought to the point of perfection more truly than in Switzerland, and of those trained in the art under native skies none is more thorough or painstaking than F. Moretti, who owns and manages one of the finest dairies in San Diego county. On his ranch of two thousand acres in close proximity to Santa Ysabel he has two hundred and sixty cows, in the care of which he employs ten men throughout the year. A market for the cream is found in San Diego and the butter sells readily in the home market. With the ex- ception of the land necessary to grow hay and grain for the cattle, the entire acreage is given over to grazing.

As has already been intimated, Mr. Moretti is a native of Switzerland, born January 18, 1872, a son of Antona and Martinoia (Domenica) Moretti. natives also of the same country. The father died at the age of fifty-two years, but the

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mother is still in the enjoyment of good health and is now in her fifty-fifth year. Of the seven children comprising the parental family two are in California, our subject and Philip, who is now attending the business college in San Diego.

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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 142

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