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 144

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

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Born in Sangamon county, Ill., September 14, 1869, Mr. Price is a son of Josiah and Jeanette (Hutchinson) Price, both of whom were born in New Jersey and are now making their home in Kansas City, Mo., well advanced in years. At the time the war cloud spread a heavy gloom over the land Josiah Price was living in Illinois and it was from the latter state that he enlisted his services in behalf of the northern cause. As a volunteer in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry he served for three years, participating in the bat- tle of Gettysburg, under General Meade, while during the latter part of his service he was under the command of Gen. U. S. Grant. In memory of the days spent in camp and field he is a member of the Grand Army Post at Kansas City, Mo., where events and experi- ences are recounted which the passing years have not dimmed. Politically Mr. Price is a Republican, on the ticket of which party he was elected to the office of road overseer, a po- sition which he now holds. Both Mr. and Mrs. Price are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Kansas City, Mo.

Ten children originally comprised the pa- rental family, but four of the number are now deceased, and of those living Grant is the

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only resident of California. Born in Sanga- mon county, Ill., he was only one month old when his parents removed to Champaign county, same state, where they remained for ten years, in 1879 settling in Kansas. His school life was passed principally in the latter state, and upon leaving the common schools he turned his attention to learning the trade of engineer. Following this he ran a stationary engine in Glenelder, Kans., for ten years, there- after removing to Missouri, where for two years he carried on farming and for the same length of time filled a position as engineer. After four years spent in Missouri he went to Arizona, where for two and a half years he conducted a creamery very successfully. For a number of years he had been gradually working his way to the far west and in 1902 he arrived in California. Coming direct to San Bernardino, he selected the property upon which he made liis his home until recently, purchasing it and removing upon it the same year.

In 1895 Mr. Price established a home of his own by his marriage with Miss Adeline Carson, who was also a native of Sangamon county, Ill. The five children who have been born to them are named in order of birth as follows: Edgar, Lester, Linwood, Gertrude and Elwood. Following in the footsteps of his father in the matter of politics Mr. Price is a Republican. Personal qualities of a high order have been bequeathed to Mr. Price in rich measure, the possession of which makes him a man among men and all who know him respect and honor him.

HERMAN D. VAIL. Associated as one of the proprietors of the Model Laundry of Long Beach, located at No. 644 West Fifth street, Herman D. Vail has been a resident of Southern California since 1892. He was born in Keokuk county, in the town of Coak Creek, June 26, 1880, a son of John N. and Lydia M. (Garwood) Vail, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter is living in Pasadena, the wife of J. F. Har- rison. The family came to California in 1892 in search of health for the father, who was a veter- inary dentist and who followed his profession in Pasadena until his death. which occurred in Feb- ruary, 1904. Herman D. Vail received his edu- cation in the public schools of Iowa and Califor- nia, and after the close of his schooldays he sought employment in a bakery in Pasadena. He finally came to Long Beach and found employ- ment with L. B. Morgan, who was conducting the Long Beach Steam Laundry, then returned to Pasadena, and from there went to Redlands, where he embarked in the laundry business. In the meantime Mr. Morgan, having disposed of

his interest in the Long Beach Steam Laundry, organized the Model Laundry. September 27. 1902, he came to Long Beach and purchased an interest in the Model Laundry with Mr. Morgan and carried on the work for a time, when a com- pany was organized and incorporated and has since been conducted successfully here.

Mr. Vail was united in marriage with Miss Anna H. Roos, in Pasadena, and they have one daughter, Rose E. Their home is located at No. 1126 East Fifth street, where he has erected a comfortable residence. Mrs. Vail is a native of Buffalo, N. Y. Both are members of the Bap- tist Church and Mr. Vail is associated with the Young Men's Christian Association. Politically he is a stanch advocate of Prohibition principles.

OSCAR BENNETT. A man of ability, en- terprise and intelligence, Oscar Bennett is a most able and valued worker in the interests of the San Pedro Lumber Company, with which he has been connected for many years, being now employed as surveyor of lumber. His faithful- ness in all of his duties, his integrity, and his excellent good sense in all matters pertaining to industrial, financial or social matters have caused him to be highly respected and esteemed by all with whom he has dealings. He is distinguished as a native-born son of California, his birth hav- ing occurred November 11, 1870, in San Fran- cisco, where his father, Michael Bennett, was a pioneer settler.

Emigrating from Germany, his native coun- try, when a young man, Michael Bennett located in San Francisco in 1849, coming to the Pacific coast with the gold seekers. A shoemaker by trade, he subsequently established a large busi- ness in that city as a shoe manufacturer, making a specialty of doing fine work for customers. Removing to Wilmington in 1879, he continued there as a shoe manufacturer until his retire- ment from active pursuits. He subsequently settled in San Pedro, where he resided until his death, in 1893. During the Civil war he served in a California regiment, being sergeant of his company, and was wounded by the Apache In- dians in Arizona. In politics he was a stanch Republican, and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife, Bertha, died in Los Angeles, Cal., in July, 1904. . She bore him fifteen children, nine of whom are living, Oscar. the subject of this sketch, being the sixth child in order of birth.

Having completed his early education in the public schools of Los Angeles and Wilmington, Oscar Bennett, at the age of fifteen years, en- tered the employ of the San Pedro and Wil- mington Transportation Company, for whom he worked until 1890. Since that time, a period

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of fifteen years, he has been associated with the San Pedro Lumber Company, for the past six years being employed as a surveyor of lumber, a work at which he is an expert, being quick, skilful and very accurate. A man of good finan- cial ability, he has invested his means in prop- erty to some extent.

In Los Angeles, Mr. Bennett married Mary Gomes, who was born on Madeira Island, Por- tugal, and they have two sons, Oscar Arthur and Gerald Winchester. Politically Mr. Bennett is a Republican, and fraternally he is a promi- nent member of the Knights of Pythias, being past chancellor of his lodge and district deputy of District No. 69. He was a member of San Pedro Parlor, N. S. G. W., as long as it was in, existence, and likewise belonged to the Benja- min Harrison Camp, S. of V., serving as first lieutenant until the organization was disbanded.

L. J. QUINT. The religious persecution which drove the Huguenots from France caused the Quinte family to seek refuge in Ireland and during the same generation the name became transplated into Maine. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary war one of the family, Benjamin Quinte, who was engaged in the coasting trade in Maine, enlisted for service in the aid of the colonies and sailed the seas on the Bon Homme Richard under that gallant admiral, John Paul Jones, and served in the famous battle between the Seraphis and the Bon Homme Richard. A son, Thomas, enlisted under George Washing- ton in the Revolutionary army at the beginning of the war and followed him until its close. Afterward he received a pension until his death. When the war closed the family moved from Portsmouth to Oxford, being among the first pioneers of the town and received a tract of land from the original proprietors of the township, which has ever since been called by their name as Quinttown.

Josiah Quint, another son of the Revolution- ary soldier, was born and reared in Maine, and became an early settler of South Ryegate, Cale -· donia county, Vt., where he followed the mill- wright's trade until his death. The next gen- eration was represented by Josiah, Jr., who was born at South Ryegate on the Connecticut riv- er, and there engaged in farm pursuits through all of his life, with the exception of the years from 1852 to 1859, when he engaged in mining in California. Stanchly devoted to the Republi- can party, he was elected on that ticket to various local offices. In religion he was of the Presbyterian faith. Either during his lifetime or that of his father the family name was short- ened to its present form by the dropping out of the final "e." In his early manhood he married

Adeline Hancock, who was born at Woodsville, N. H., and died in Vermont. Her father, Thom- as, a farmer by occupation, was a member of the family whose most illustrious representative was John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence. One of the brothers, the late Major Henry Hancock, served as an officer un- der General Taylor in the Mexican war and al- so is entitled to the distinction of having laid out the city of Los Angeles.

In the family of Josiah Quint, Jr., there were four children, all still living. L. J., who was third in order of birth, was born at the old homestead at South Ryegate, Vt., February II, 1865, and received public-school advantages, supplemented by attendance at a seminary at Newbury, Vt. On starting out to earn his live- lihood he secured employment in granite works and remained as salesman or office clerk for seven years. During 1893 he came to Cali- fornia and began ranching at Sherman, where he owned twenty acres and rented adjacent tracts until he had the control of eight hundred acres of grain and stock land. At the time of the building of the electric railway he sold his land. In 1898 he bought the stock of goods owned by the first merchant in Sherman and engaged in general merchandising until 1902, when he sold out, removed to Redondo and em- barked in the grocery business in the bank building. After sixteen months he sold his grocery and bought the Redondo Bazaar, which he now conducts, carrying in stock a large col- lection of shells, curios, etc., and occupying a central location at the entrance of the wharf.

The marriage of Mr. Quint took place at Los Angeles in 1898 and united him with Laura, daughter of J. Bilderain, a pioneer of Los An- geles, where she was born. They are the par- ents of one child, Consuela. Politically Mr. Quint gives pronounced allegiance to the Re- publican party. In 1904 he was elected a mem- ber of the board of trustees, of Redondo and at the same time was chosen president of the board, which position he now fills. In frater- nal relations he hold membership with Redondo Lodge No. 328, F. & A. M., and is also as- sociated with the Order of Eagles.

E. VIEWEGER. San Bernardino was only a small town when Mr. Vieweger located there in 1881 and began to work at his trade, later be- coming a building contractor, a calling which he has since followed with marked success. A native of Germany, he was born in Mittweida, Saxony, October 23, 1838, a son of Ernst Viewe- ger, a contractor and builder in Germany, where both parents spent their entire lives. But three of their ten children are now living and E. Vie-

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weger is the only member of the family in America. After the completion of his education, which was received in Kamnitz, Germany, he was apprenticed to a stone-mason to learn that trade, which he plied in that place and Mitt- weida until 1871, when he immigrated to Ameri- ca, locating first at Norwich, Conn., and then in Boston, after the historic fire at that place. Dur- ing all this time he was employed at his trade.

In 1881 Mr. Vieweger came to San Bernar- dino and secured his first work on the Bear val- ley dam, which was then in process of construc- tion. Later he began to take building contracts and assisted in the buildings of the county hos- pital, the Katz block, Stewart hotel block, South- ern hotel block, Farmers' bank building, Ruffin block and other structures in that city, having a hand as well in the making of the city reservoir. Fraternally he affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and politically believes in the doctrines embraced in the platform of the Democratic party.

By his marriage in Germany in 1866 Mr. Vie- weger was united with Miss Flora Koehler, a native of that country, who was born in 1846, and they have become the parents of three chil- dren : Meleta, who lives at home; Margaret, re- siding in Pasadena; and Ernst, engaged in the laundry business at Ocean Park. Mr. Vieweger is a man of strong principles and stable charac- ter and is held in the highest respect and esteem by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

JOSEPH W. MYZELLE. Although a com- paratively recent resident of San Bernardino, Joseph W. Myzelle has proven himself a worthy citizen and has gained many friends in both so- cial and business circles. His natives state is Arkansas, his birth occurring in White county, January 8, 1862. His father, who was of French extraction, was a farmer until the open- ing of the Civil war, when he enlisted for service and was killed in the performance of his mili- tary duties. His mother, who was a native of Illinois, died in that state when her only son, Joseph W., was but six years of age. His boy- hood days were spent in Perry and Jackson counties, and his education was acquired in the common schools. Deprived of his parents when a mere child and left with no inheritance save pluck, energy and ambition, he began when fif- teen years of age to work for his own support. Going to Murphysboro, Ill., he worked at the carpenter's trade for one year, then continued this employment at Memphis, Tenn., for a time, later engaging as an independent contractor and builder there, and continuing in this business un- til 1892. Returning to Murphysboro, Ill., he bought a two hundred and twenty acre farm five

miles north of that city and engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, eventually bringing the property to a high state of improvement.

In 1902 Mr. Myzelle rented his farm and lo- cated in San Bernardino, Cal., where for one year he worked at the building. trade, then began to take contracts for the erection of residences. He has built many fine houses in San Bernar- dino and his own home is an attractive example of his work, located at No. 1180 Bellevue avenue. His marriage in 1888 to Maude E. Eakin, a native of Illinois, occurred at Murphysboro, that state, and they have four children living, Na- than, Ray, William and Minnie. Mr. Myzelle is a member of the Foresters and Eagles, and belongs to the Baptist Church. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party and is inter- ested in all matters of public import to the com- munity in which he lives.

GEORGE E. HEAP. The entire lifetinie of George E. Heap has been spent in Southern Cali- fornia, his birth having occurred October 27, 1867, in San Bernardino, where his father, Par- ley W. Heap, Sr., a native of Sheffield, England, settled in 1851. During the first years of the father's residence in this locality he was occupied as a general farmer, teamster and freighter, but later he turned his attention to the business of well-boring and is still so employed in San Ber- nardino county. His wife, who was Miss Eliza Bottoms before her marriage, was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, the daughter of John Bottoms, a na- tive of England, who came to this section in 1851 and until the time of his death was engaged as a farmer here. Mrs. Heap died in San Bernar- dino in 1885.

After completing his' studies in the public schools of San Bernardino, his boyhood days hav- ing been spent on the farm, George E. Heap served for two years on the police force of this city under Huse Thomas, chief of police, retain- ing his position for a like period under John Ralphs when the latter was appointed to the po- sition of chief of the force. Mr. Heap resigned this position to become deputy county sheriff under Frank Holcomb, filling this office four years, when he was elected township constable for a term of four years. After the expiration of this time he declined to again become a candi- date for the office, desiring to take up other lines of work. He secured the contract for installing the machinery for the Edison Electric Company in their plant No. 2, at Santa Ana cañon and he also handled all of the material and cement for the five-mile tunnel, which is 8x10 feet in di- mensions, the work requiring sixteen months. Following this he spent a short time in Red- lands, but returning to San Bernardino he bought

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an interest in his present transfer business, form- ing a partnership with R. F. Berryman, and conducting the business under the firm name of Berryman & Heap. They have the largest and most important business of the kind in San Bernardino and keep four wagons continuously busy in the prosecution of their work. Besides this business Mr. Heap owns property in the city, including two residences on F street.

By his marriage in San Bernardino Mr. Heap was united with Miss Estella Case, a native of this city. A sketch of the life of her brother, Jesse H. Case, appears elsewhere in this work. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Heap has been blessed in the birth of three children, namely : Roy, Hazel and Bessie. Mr. Heap is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows here, and of San Bernardino Parlor No. 290, N. S. G. W. Politically he is a stanch advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Re- publican party and is actively interested in all matters of social and civic interest to the com- munity at large.

DANIEL M. HATHORN. Numbered among the skilful and progressive agriculturists of Los Angeles county is D. M. Hathorn, living near Compton, who has met with well-merited suc- cess in his chosen occupation, and is at present retired from active pursuits, enjoying a com- fortable competency, acquired chiefly through his own exertions. Coming from excellent New England ancestry, he was born, July 18, 1861, in Maine, which was likewise the birthplace of his parents, J. G. and Martha (Durell) Hathorn. They came to California in 1869, settling in Los Angeles county, and are now residing in Redondo, the father being eighty-two years of age, and the mother seventy-seven years old. They have but two children, a daughter living with them, and D. M., the subject of this sketch.

Coming with his parents to California in 1869, D. M. Hathorn crossed the Isthmus of Panama on New Year's day, subsequently landing in San Francisco. For a time the family lived in Marysville, coming from there to Compton, where Daniel M. attended the public schools, and after- wards he assisted his father in caring for the home farm. When ready to begin the battle of life on his own account he selected farming as his occupation, and having bought forty acres of land began its improvement. By industry and persevering application he raised large crops of hay, alfalfa and fruit, and as he accumulated money he invested in other land, buying a ranch of forty acres. In the management of his ranch, he met with undisputed success, and was actively and profitably engaged in general farming and dairying until 1905, when he leased the land for

a term of three years. Although practically re- tired at present from agricultural labors, he has plenty to take up his time and attention, being financially interested in various Compton enter- prises. He is public-spirited, progressive and liberal, and has won for himself a good record as an honest man and a valued citizen.

In 1885, in Compton, Mr. Hathorn married Margaret Johnson, who was born in Canada, a daughter of Levi Johnson, and they have one son, Roy, born in 1886. Mrs. Hathorn is a woman of refinement, and a member of the Congregational Church. Politically Mr. Hathorn is independent, voting with the courage of his convictions, re- gardless of party affiliations. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters and of the Fraternal Aid Association.

JAMES FRANKLIN FERGUSON. As superintendent of the water system of the Hemet Land and Water Company and an extensive property owner James Franklin Ferguson is one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of Hemet. He was born August 24, 1869, in Chariton county, Mo., the son of John W. and Mary Ellen (White) Ferguson, the for- mer a native of Indiana and of Scotch descent, and the latter of Bartholomew county of the same state. The elder Ferguson served in the Civil war as a member of Company C, Twen- tieth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was a contractor and builder who removed from his native state to Chariton county, Mo., and later to Meeker county, Minn., where he died in 1875, when the son, James Franklin, was six years of age. The mother survived her husband many years, her death occurring in Los Angeles county, Cal. Of the five children in their fam- ily three grew to maturity and two are now liv- ing.

The oldest child of the family and the only son living, James F. Ferguson was reared in Minnesota from the age of five years, in which state he received a preliminary education through the medium of the public schools, and attended the high school at Litchfield after the completion of his studies in the lower branches. He was born with pronounced natural talents in mechanical lines and when only sixteen years old became a stationary engineer in a Minnesota woolen mill. In 1888 he came to Whittier, Cal., attended the Friends Academy for a short time and later engaged in clerking in general stores at Norwalk and Artesia, at the same time filling the position of assistant postmaster in each of these towns. In 1896 he came to Hemet for a change and rest, but one of his energy could not long remain quiet. Soon recuperating his strength he went to work in a grocery store,

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later engaging in merchandising and the jewelry business. His strong liking for mechanics led him to seek an opening in that line, however, and he accepted a position with the Lake Hemet Water Company which he has filled since 1898. For the past four years he has had charge of the pipe department, with about one hundred and fifty miles of pipes and flumes in the Hemet tract, carrying water from Lake Hemet and branches of the San Jacinto river. Among his property interests are the Ferguson block, which he built and owns, and a ten acre orchard.

The marriage of Mr. Ferguson occurred in Los Angeles, in 1895, when Miss Hattie M. Cassady, a native of Minnesota, became his wife. They are the parents of two children, Elmer Franklin and Lowell Cassady. Fraternally he is a member and junior warden of San Jacinto Lodge No. 338, F. & A. M .; is also a member of the San Jacinto Chapter No. 87, R. A. M .; of Hemet Lodge No. 90, I. O. O. F .; Independent order of Foresters; and Knights of the Maccabees. In national politics he votes with the Republican party, but exercises considerable independence in the casting of his ballot on local affairs and. for city and county officers, believing that the man who has the best qualifications for the office should be elected to it. He is a charter member and deacon of the Christian Church, has strong temperance principles and exerts an elevating in- fluence upon the community in which he lives.

FREDERICK ALONZO KNIGHT. Many years have passed since the Knight family left Holland and established themselves on the bleak Canadian shores and later generations assisted in the agricultural development of the province of Ontario, where Louis Wartman Knight labored in the tilling of the soil through much of his earlier life. Eventually, however, he sought a more favorable climate and came to the Pacific coast. For a time he made his home at River- side, then lived in other sections of the state, but finally returned to Riverside, near which city he now operates and owns an orange grove. During his young manhood he married Maria Sproule, who was born in Ontario, Canada, de- scended from a North of Ireland family. They became the parents of four sons and one daugh- ter: Margaret, wife of Stan Guess; Harry; O. Bruce and F. A., twins, and L. Lorne. F. A. Knight was born in Westbrook, Ontario, Febru- ary 16, 1878. He received fair educational ad- vantages, and after graduating from the Syden- ham high school taught school near Odessa for two years. In his leisure hours while following the calling of a teacher he took up the study of law, toward which his tastes inclined and which he had selected for his profession.

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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 144

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