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 148

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

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HIRAM SMITH DAVIDSON. On the cor- ner of Highland avenue and G streets, in San Bernardino, Mr. Davidson has made his home for more than two decades, having seventy acres of land orginally in this location. Of re- cent years he has sold off portions of the tract, however, until he now has only twenty-nine acres. The residence is a fine modern structure, which he himself erected, in fact all of the im- provements are his handiwork.

Hiram S. Davidson is a native of Illinois and was born in Hancock county May 22, 1840, the son of George and Nancy (Lytle) Davidson, the parents being natives of Pennsylvania. When Hiram was a lad of ten years his parents re- moved to Utah, and as he was then of school

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

age he at once became a student in the schools in that then territory. From the time after leaving school until he was eighteen years old he followed teaming, a business which brought him in contact with many who were making their way across the country to the far west. This was a suggestion to the lad and the year 1858 found him carrying out his cherished plan. From that time until coming to San Bernardino county in 1875 he had visited various parts of the state, his choice for a permanent location falling on this favored spot after a thorough canvass to find a combination of advantages, such as climate and soil. He at once erected a commodious home for the family, and the barn and other building, which he also erected, are in keeping, all combining to make one of the substantial and well-ordered ranches in this vi- cinity.

Mr. Davidson's marriage in 1877 united him with Mrs. Elizabeth (Bain) Swarthout, the widow of George Swarthout, and three children have been born to them, as follows: Walter Mel- vin, who is in Arizona, an employe of the Santa Fe Railroad Company ; John Andrew, who op- erates a cigar store in San Bernardino; and Net- tie, at home. By her former marriage Mrs. Davidson became the mother of five children, named in order of birth as follows: Charity, Mrs. Stephen Kelley, of San Bernardino; Susan, who died at the age of nineteen years; Charles, who lives in the state of Washington; George, who is a conductor on the Santa Fe road and resides at Needles ; and Albert Riley.

J. J. HANFORD. The largest manufactur- ing establishment in San Bernardino, with the sole exception of the Santa Fé shops, is the Hanford iron works, occupying three acres, with a brick building erected in 1904, on the corner of C and First streets. The structure is 100x283 feet in dimensions and is thorough- ly modern in equipment, furnishing a plant complete in every detail. The products of the foundry find a ready sale not only where iron work is needed in San Bernardino, but also in Redlands, Highland, Ontario, Pomona, and to some extent also in Los Angeles. The foundry has a capacity of seven tons per day and fur- nishes employment to about twenty-four work- men, each of whom is skilled in his special de- partment.

Born in New York City June 12, 1845, J. J. Hanford is a son of Peter Hanford, a moulder in the Novelty iron works in that metropolis. It is natural that he should be an expert foun- dryman, for he has been familiar with iron works from boyhood. After having completed the grammar school studies in New York City

and Brooklyn, in May of 1859 he became an apprentice to the moulder's trade in the Novel- ty iron works in New York City. From Aug- ust until December of 1863 he was employed in the Algers works of South Boston, extensive manufacturers of government engines, shot, shell, etc. On his return to Brooklyn from Boston he took up work at his trade and con- tinued at the same until 1873, when he was chosen a clerk in the comptroller's office, and later engaged in business in Brooklyn.

Coming to California in 1882 Mr. Hanford found Los Angeles a sleepy Mexican town of ten thousand inhabitants. However, he was charmed by its climate and location and be- lieved it offered a favorable point for real-estate speculation. Accordingly he bought and sold, handling large tracts of city property. When the boom collapsed in 1889 he was interested with four others in the subdividing of the Gen- eral Sanford ranch, which they had purchased. The decadence of the boom stopped their enter- prise and Mr. Hanford returned home with only a dollar. In 1889 he went to San Diego and entered the employ of the Coronado Foun- dry and Machine Company, of whose foundry he soon was made foreman. While filling this position he was ever on the alert for a desir- able point in which to embark in business for himself, and in 1892 he selected San Bernar- dino as the center of his future activities. With Mr. Wade, then the general manager of the Santa Fé Railroad, he made a contract to manufacture and furnish the castings for this division of the road. The foundry was built and the plant started on C near Second street, but at the expiration of three years he pur- chased his present property of three acres, erected necessary buildings, and has since de- veloped a large business in structural iron work, taking orders from all parts of the county.

The marriage of Mr. Hanford was solem- nized in New York City and united him with Miss Joan Gregg, who was born and educated there. One son blesses the union, William J., who assists his father in the supervision of the works. Mrs. Hanford is a woman possessing broad culture and refined tastes. One of her specialties has been the collection of Japanese curios and art treasures, of which it is said bv excellent judges that she has the finest ex- hibit in this country.

Although formerly a Democrat, since 1904 Mr. Hanford has voted the Republican ticket. During his residence in the east he was a lead- er in local politics and wielded a large influ- ence throughout his district. Since coming west he has been interested in movements per- taining to the political life of his county and

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HISTORÍCAI, AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

state. For six years he was a member of the city council and during four years of that time he officiated as president of the board. The San Bernardino Board of Trade has numbered him among its leading members ever since its organization and at this writing he acts as chairman of the manufacturers' committee. During 1904-05 he officiated as president of the board and at the expiration of his term de- clined renomination, thus establishing a prece- dent for a one-year term in the president's chair. While living in New York City he was made a Mason in Munn Lodge No. 190, A. F. & A. M., and later became connected with the Sanctorum in Brooklyn. Other organizations in which he has wielded an important influence are the Eagles, Improved Order of Red Men, Fraternal Brotherhood and Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks.

MOSES B. GARNER. During the early portion of the nineteenth century there came to the United States a young German bearing the name of Moses Baumgarner and possessing the qualities of thrift and perseverance for which his countrymen are noted. After a brief sojourn in Kentucky he removed to Illinois and took up a farm in Hamilton county near McLeansboro, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Ere he had reached the success toward which his ambition pointed sudden death overtook him and removed from the community a capable farmer and progressive citizen. It was at the time of the cholera plague in 1851 that he and his wife on the same day fell victims to the dread dis- case. The family name had been shortened to its present form by the original immigrant, shortly after his arrival in the new world.

Reared on an Illinois farm and educated in country schools, M. B. Garner had no special advantages in youth, but was obliged to earn his own way from an early age. For a long pe- riod he resided in his native county of Hamilton, where he followed farm pursuits and for a time served as deputy sheriff. Later he cultivated land in White county and from there removed to Fairfield, Wavne county, where he engaged in conducting a hotel and carrying on a livery business. On removing to Xenia, Clay county, Ill., he carried on a hotel as well as a general store. Meanwhile in early manhood he had established domestic ties. His marriage was sol- emnized August 25. 1852, and united him with Miss Hannah Hcard, a native of McLeanshoro, Ill., and a daughter of John H. and Mahilda (Crouch) Heard, also natives of Illinois. The family was founded in America by her grand- father. Charles Heard, who was born in England and died in Illinois. The maternal grandparents,

Adam and Hannah (Buck) Crouch, made their home upon a large farm near Shawneetown, Ill., remaining there until they passed from the scenes of earth. When twenty years of age John H. Heard enlisted as a volunteer in the strug- gles with the Indians and rendered faithful serv- ice in the Black Hawk war. Throughout active life he followed agricultural pursuits and made a specialty of raising and selling thoroughbred horses. His death occurred in Illinois when he had reached an advanced age.

The family of John H. Heard consisted of two children, but Hannah was the only one of these to attain maturity, and she was orphaned at three years of age by her mother's death. In childhood she was sent to neighboring schools which were conducted in log buildings destitute of conveniences and scantily equipped for the purposes desired. Public schools had not yet become popular and teachers were engaged by patrons to be paid on the subscription plan. In spite of disadvantages incident to the day and locality she acquired a fair education, besides which she was carefully trained in housewifely arts. About eleven years after her marriage she accompanied her husband and their five children to the west, traveling with horses and oxen dur- ing the summer of 1863 and settling near Vir- ginia City, Mont .. at Alder Gulch. For a brief period Mr. Garner carried on a mine which he had purchased at Pine Grove.

During the spring of 1864 the family started for Los Angeles, but on their arrival at San Bernardino the illness of a child caused them to stop. A house was bought, the family estab- lished themselves comfortably, and for years Mr. Garner engaged in the butcher business .. With the profits of his work he invested in a company that built the motor railroad to Redlands and also to Harlem Springs, and he further became a stockholder in the First National Bank of San Bernardino, of which he was elected vice-presi- dent. The decadence of the boom caused the failure of the bank and, to meet its obligations to depositors, Mr. Garner willingly donated all of his property, leaving nothing whatever for all of his work. Though disheartened by the finan- cial catastrophe, he bravely began once more, and in time retrieved his losses and by buying and selling lands again accumulated a compe- tency. His death occurred in September, 1900, when he was seventy-two years of age, and since that time his widow has remained at the old home in San Bernardino. Both were from early life identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church South and contributed generously to re- ligious movements.

The ten children comprising the family of Mr. and Mrs. Garner were named as follows: Mary, Mrs. James Swing, of Riverside; Lucy, Mrs.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Harry Bryant, of San Bernardino; Maggie, Mrs. John Barton, who died in San Bernardino, leav- ing three children; Will C., who is engaged in the real estate business in this city; Robert F., who is one of the leading cattle-buyers in this part of the country; Mrs. Jennie Lemaster, of El Paso, Tex .; Emma, who died at eighteen years of age; John T., who is engaged in the wholesale meat business at Riverside; Florence, Mrs. Fred W. Park, of San Bernardino; and Joseph, who died at the age of thirteen years. Identified with the early American occupancy of San Bernardino, Mr. Garner held a promi- nent place among its early business men and progressive citizens, and contributed largely to the development of its material resources. Its prosperity and reverses he shared, rejoicing in the one, deploring the other; yet retaining, even when the reaction from the boom brought un- wonted financial depression, a stanch faith in the ultimate prosperity of his home city and county. While he never sought political prominence, he kept posted concerning party issues and gave his support to the Democratic party. The high prin- ciples of Masonry received his stanch support and for years he was an active local worker in the order. Another organization in which he main- tained an interest was the Illinois Society of California. It was not his privilege to live to witness the prosperity of the twentieth century, yet it may well afford pleasure to his family to realize that his energy, enterprise, wise judg- ment and keen foresight contributed materially to the consummation enjoyed by the present gen- eration.

WILLIAM SPEED. A successful ranch- man of San Bernardino is William Speed, who has been a resident of this section since 1876. He is a native of England, and was born Feb- ruary 27, 1841, a son of William and Mary (Turner) Speed. At the age of thirty years he immigrated to this country, settling first in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and remaining there five years. Attracted by the opportunities offered on the Pacific coast he decided to move further west and in 1876 arrived in San Ber- nardino, Cal., which place has since been his home. In 1881 he purchased the ranch upon which he now lives, the land at that time being uncultivated and unimproved. He built an at- tractive five-room cottage on the place and erect- ed the necessary outbuildings, and has about five acres now planted to alfalfa. Before the water became scarce he raised six crops of hay in a season, cutting about nine tons to the acre, but since the water has been less plentiful the yield has fallen to about one ton to the acre.

The marriage of Mr. Speed, which occurred

in England, united him with Ann, a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth (Hodges) Mollard, her birth occurring there December 6, 1842. Seven children were born of this union: Henry Richard, who died in 1881, at the age of sixteen ; Elizabeth, the wife of O. J. Sessions, residing in Los Angeles ; Mary, whose death occurred in 1871, in her second year; Mary, now Mrs. D. Wilson, her home being at Long Beach; Anna, the wife of W. C. Garner, of San Bernardino; Margaret, who lives at home; and Mabel, who died at the age of seven years, in 1886. Mr. Speed is a man possessing many fine qualities of heart and mind and is highly respected by his friends and neighbors in San Bernardino.

JOHN HEBER LYTLE. The war between the United States and Mexico which grew out of the annexation of Texas to the Union in 1845 was indirectly the cause of bringing the Lytle family to the west, for in 1846 Andrew Lytle, the father of our subject, left his Iowa home and came to the scene of hostilities, in which he participated until the signing of the treaty of peace in 1848. Instead of returning to Iowa, in 1851 he came to California and settled in San Bernardino county near a little creek which later became known as Lytle creek, so named in honor of the family. By trade he was a blacksmith, and after coming to San Bernardino he erected a shop in which he carried on a good business the remainder of his life. He died in 1874, when only forty-eight years of age, while his wife, who before her marriage was Hannah Hull, lived to reached her seventy-seventh year, passing away in 1893.

John Heber Lytle was an infant when his parents left Iowa, where he was born April 16, 1846, so that his only knowledge of his birth- place is what has been handed down to him by his parents. His primary education was re- ceived in the schools of San Bernardino and of Salt Lake City. As manhood years approached and it became necessary for him to select a busi- ness which would enable him to provide for his own support, he tried various lines of work, in- cluding farming, and it was the latter that he finally decided he was best adapted for. After working for others for some time in 1884 he purchased twenty acres one quarter of a mile from the city limits of San Bernardino, at the corner of I street and Highland avenue, the same property upon which he has made his home for over twenty-two years. Besides erecting a house and barn he set out about one and a half acres to various kinds of fruits, all of which have grown to the luxuriant proportions known only to this land of never-ending sunshine.

In San Bernardino, January 20, 1884, John

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

H. Lytle and Sarah Louisa Mccrary were united in marriage. Mrs. Lytle was born in San Bernardino April 24, 1865, and is a daugh- ter of William and Emma (Mapstead) Mc- Crary. Of the five children born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lytle all are living and at home with their parents with the exception of John Milton, who died in 1886, when five months old. In order of birth the others are named as fol- lows: Emma, Ena, Stewart and Serena. Mr. Lytle's early religious training was in the Mor- mon Church.

WALTER FREMONT GROW. No citi- zen of Highland is more closely identified with the development and upbuilding of this com- munity than is Walter Fremont Grow, who has been a resident here since 1882, has acquired large property interests and has assisted in the promoting of an irrigation system that has been of untold benefit to this section. He was born July 19, 1856, in Maine, the son of Samuel Lorenzo and Harriet Fulker (Currier) Grow, and was taken by his parents to Monona coun- ty, Iowa, when nine years of age. After ob- taining a high-school education he adopted the occupation in which he had been trained from boyhood and engaged in farming in that state until 1881, when he came to California. The first year here was spent on a large grain ranch near Fresno, and later he came to Highland and worked as a horticulturist for a year, thereafter purchasing his present ranch of eighty-six acres. He has put all of the improvements on the place, including thirty acres of navel oranges and grape fruit, commodious barns, and a fine residence of eleven rooms.

It was in 1898 that Mr. Grow with others es- tablished a domestic irrigating water system, sinking wells and installing large pumps, and al- together making it one of the most perfect water systems in use. All of the developing was done under the supervision of Mr. Grow, who was the first superintendent. The company is in- corporated for $50,000, and its officers are L. C. Waite, of Riverside, president; Herbert W. Johnstone, of Highland, vice-president ; John Browning, of Highland, secretary, the latter be- ing also at the present time the managing super- intendent. Mr. Grow, who owns eleven-twenty- fourths of the stock, is one of the directors and the head of the collection committee. He is a stockholder in the Northfork Water Company, and has a number of houses in Highland which he is renting. As director of the Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the transportation and street and highways committees he is one of the leading members of that body. In 1894 he was nominated and elected to the office of

supervisor of San Bernardino county, running against George M. Cooley.

Fraternally Mr. Grow is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Highland, has taken all of the degrees, and in 1904 represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge at Bakersfield. A member of the Congregational Church, he is a liberal supporter of the various charities and benevolences of that denomination, and his in- fluence is found on the side of all enterprises tending to elevate the community in which he lives. On July 11, 1880, he was married to Carrie Ella Burroughs, a native of Iowa, whose birth occurred May 21, 1861, and her death Au- gust 7, 1890. Three children were born of this union : Edna May, now Mrs. William E. Brome- low, who resides in Highland; Ernest Prentiss, who died at the age of three months; and Laura Myrtle, at home. Mr. Grow was again mar- ried, December 15, 1900, Caroline Lowrie Wil- son becoming his wife. She was born in Pitts- burg, Pa., August 27, 1852, the daughter of William Work and Caroline (Lowrie) Wilson. Of this union two children have been born, one who died in infancy and Walter Lowrie, born June 4, 1904.

CLARENCE C. McCOLLUM. Conspicuous among the younger members of the farming community of Compton is Clarence C. Mc- Collum, who settled here about two years ago, and in the pursuit of his chosen vocation is meeting with good success. A son of I. McCol- lum, he was born December 23, 1880, in Iowa, where the first three years of his life were passed.

Born in 1832, in North Carolina, I. McCol- lum learned the carpenter's trade when young, and for a few years followed it in the south. From there he removed to Iowa, but soon thereafter he went to Indiana, remaining there one year, when he once more located in Iowa. In the latter state he followed farming until 1883, when he located with his family in Pasa- dena, Cal., and is now living in Long Beach, Los Angeles county. He is a man of sterling integrity and worth, much esteemed in the community. Politically he is a Republican, and both himself and wife are members of the Friends Church. His first wife, Eunice (Had- ley) McCollum. died in early life, having be- come the mother of two children, one of whom died in infancy, and the other, Elmina, now lives in Pasadena. Cal., and is single. Mr. McCollum's second wife was Luzena Ballinger, a native of North Carolina, and they became the parents of eight children, of whom two died in infancy. Those living are: Emma, the wife of John Byers, of Pasadena; Tillie,

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the wife of Charles Mathews, of Olympia, Wash .; Luella, Mrs. Conrad McDaniel, of Pas- adena; Rhoda, wife of W. Z. Taber, of Pasa- dena; John, who married Mettie King and is living in Los Angeles; and Clarence C., the subject of this sketch.

Scarce three years old when he came with his parents to California, Clarence C. McCol- lum was reared and educated in Pasadena, where he began life for himself as a teamster. Industrious, prudent and thrifty, he accumulat- ed some property, and now owns a house and lot in Pasadena. In December, 1904, wish- ing a change of occupation, he came to Comp- ton, and having rented fifteen acres of land has since been prosperously employed in gen- eral ranching and dairying, selling his milk at the Compton cheese factory. Since locating here he has purchased a ranch of twenty-five acres. Wide-awake, active and ambitious, he is carrying on a substantial business, and has already obtained an assured position among the enterprising young business men of his com- munity.

January 9, 1902, Mr. McCollum married Lot- tie Edna Lee, who was born in Illinois Novem- ber 22, 1880, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Lee, who came from the Prairie state to Cal- ifornia in 1886, locating in Pasadena, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. McCollum have two children, Clarence Milton and Margery Lucille. Politically Mr. McCollum is a Repub- lican, and both he and his wife are attendants of the Christian Church, Mrs. McCollum hav- ing been a member of the First Christian Church of Pasadena since her fourteenth year.

JAMES L. GRIFFIN. Experience gained through a long sojourn in Southern California has given to Mr. Griffin a thorough knowledge of real estate values and makes his judgment in transactions of buying, selling or exchang- ing especially sound and important. In the upbuilding of San Pedro and Gardena he has been particularly active, and his name is as- sociated with the transfer of many lots in his subdivisions, the platting of additions and the sale of lots having been among his specialties for a long duration of years. Although he has recently established his home in Los Angeles, he has not relinquished his interests in the towns named, but continues active in negotiat- ing sales or exchange of properties, and is re- garded as an authority concerning values.

Descended from an old southern family, Mr. Griffin was born in Greene county, Ind., July 30, 1869, and is the eldest among four chil- dren, all of whom still survive. His parents, Richard F. and Sarah E. (Inman) Griffin, were

natives respectively of Tennessee and Indiana, and both died in Missouri, where for years the father followed the trade of a carpenter and cabinet-maker. At the time the family re- moved to Missouri James L. Griffin was a lad of fourteen years, and, with the exception of a brief period spent at Little Rock, Ark., he remained in Missouri until 1889, the year of his removal to California. Immediately after his arrival he secured employment in Los An- geles, and in 1891 learned the butcher's bus- iness with the Redondo Beach Company. Aft- er six months with that company he started a. shop of his own at Redondo, where he carried on a growing business.

Immediately after removing to San Pedro, December 5, 1895, Mr. Griffin opened a butcher shop on Sixth near Beacon street, and later bought the shop owned by George Hinds on Fifth and Front streets. The latter market he conducted until May of 1902, meanwhile build- ing up the largest business of its kind in the town and establishing a reputation for reliabil- ity and keen business methods. In the mean- . time he had become interested in the handling of town property both in San Pedro and Gar- dena. Among his enterprises was the purchase of the James L. Griffin subdivision to Gardena, a tract of forty acres, which he sold off in lots from one to ten acres in size. In addition he became owner of the Griffin and Kitzman tract of twenty-six acres, which has been sold off in town lots. At this writing, with Messrs. Mc- Dermott and Quinn, he is interested in the San Pedro Villa tract of twenty-five acres on the Weston road, which he has divided into lots of two and one-half acres. Besides buy- ing and selling he has improved considerable property. Some years ago he erected the Grif- fin block, 25x100 feet in dimensions, on the corner of Fifth and Front streets, San Pedro, and in it he conducted his meat market for a time, but the block eventually was sold. The home building was another of the structures erected under his supervision. Since moving to Los Angeles he has made his home at No. 2927 Halldale avenue, and continues to be in- terested in real-estate transactions in this city and elsewhere.

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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 148

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