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 15

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

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ALEXANDER DALLAS. The fact that Mr. Dallas retains but an indistinct recollection of his birthplace, the Island of Islay, in the high- lands of Scotland, is due to his departure from that home in early childhood and his removal across the ocean to the new world. While re- taining but a fleeting memory of the country, he displays in his character and rugged per- sonality the sturdy traits for which the Scotch race is noted the world over, and a stranger would not hesitate in classing him among the natives of the land of the heather. However, the greater part of his life has been passed in the United States, whither he came with his parents, William and Rachel (McTaggart) Dallas, natives of Scotland. Born in the high- lands on the ancestral homestead January 8, 1836, he was six years of age when the family settled in Greene county, Ala., his father embarking in the growing of cotton and owning twenty negro slaves. There the mother died in 1848, at the

age of thirty-five years, and the father in 1862, when sixty years of age.

The private schools of Alabama furnished Alexander Dallas with fair educational advan- tages, and the years of youth passed unevent- fully in study and recreation. The year that marked the change from youth to manhood was 1856, when he was twenty, for at that time he bade farewell to family and friends and started out to seek his own livelihood. With three friends, the eldest of whom was twenty-five, while he was the youngest, he started on horse- back for the far west. With the aid of pack- mules he crossed the desert and the plains, and finally arrived in Los Angeles via Salt Lake at the close of an uneventful trip completed in only three months from the time of starting. Shortly after his arrival he mined on the Frazer river, but his first important work was that of cutting pile in the San Fernando canyon to be used in building the first wharf at San Pedro. On completing that work he bought six team of oxen and made a contract with the government ( which General Hancock represented) to haul freight from San Pedro to Fort Tejon, in which employ- ment he continued for three years.

On leaving the government service Mr. Dallas engaged in farming, rented land at El Monte. Three years later he bought a tract forming a portion of San Antonio ranch, which was one of the first cut and sold in small holdings. The land was situated eight miles east of Los Angeles and there he continued for eight years. On selling the property he removed to Arizona and engaged in freighting to the mines for six years. On his return to California he settled in Los An- geles and for ten years engaged in grading streets, a work of great importance and one in which he proved himself trustworthy and capa- ble. The year 1890 found him in Redlands, where he secured employment in making reser- voirs for the Domestic Water Company, and at the same time he did grading for the Bear Valley Water Company. When he had completed the grading he sold the teams. The next venture in which he became interested was the making of ditches in Moreno valley for the Bear Valley Company, in whose employ he had charge of dig- ging and filling with pipe lines fifty miles of ditches. When that contract had been filled he opened a general store at Moreno and also for ten years held the office of postmaster. Since selling the store in November, 1905, he has lived retired from business cares. Included in his pos- sessions are ten town lots in Moreno, his home town, as well as forty acres of farm land in the vicinity.

The marriage of Mr. Dallas was solemnized at El Monte, this state, in 1861, and united him with Jane Whiteman, a native of Texas, who died

Boyamin B. Huggins

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in 1881, at the age of forty years. Five children were born of their union, namely: James, who is engaged in the printing business in Los An- geles ; Annie, who married George Williams and lives in Shasta county, Cal .; Peter A., who con- ducts a general store at Redlands Junction ; Ray- mond, living in San Bernardino county, and Louis, whom death removed from the family cir- cle at the age of three years. In political views Mr. Dallas has been a stanch believer in Demo- cratic principles ever since boyhood ; reared in the south, he imbibed the southern spirit and a strong faith in its institutions. As a rule he has de- clined offices, but he made an exception since coming to Riverside county, and for four years filled the position of justice of the peace, in which office he proved himself familiar with the law and an impartial exponent of its teachings.

BENJAMIN B. HIGGINS. For upwards of thirty years a resident of San Diego county, Ben- jamin B. Higgins, of Bonsall, is noted as one of its most valued citizens, resolute, energetic and enterprising, and one who has made his mark in the building up of the township in which he resides, both socially and financially. He is en- gaged in general agriculture, to which he de- votes his whole attention, and is meeting with un- bounded success in his undertakings. A native of Oregon, he was born in Polk county, Au- gust 27, 1856, a son of the late Hiram Higgins.

Born in Illinois, Hiram Higgins was brought up on a farm, and when old enough to start in life embarked in agricultural pursuits. He sub- sequently resided for a few years in Missouri, and while there traded extensively in Mexico. Crossing the plains with ox teams in 1849, he arrived in California after a long and dangerous trip, and for awhile tried mining. He subse- quently went to Polk county, Ore., where he cleared a ranch from the wild land, upon which he made his home until locating once more in California. Having purchased land near Comp- ton he located upon it in 1867 and continued in his chosen occupation. About 1875 he entered the land now included in the present home ranch of his son Benjamin, and established an apiary: which he managed successfully for some years. He married Malinda Derben, a native of Mis- souri, and of the eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, born of their union, ten are liv- ing, the oldest child being now sixty years of age. Both parents united with the Christian Church when young, and the mother, who resides in Compton, in one of its most faithful and con- sistent adherents.

When four years of age Benjamin B. Higgins came with the family to Southern California, and for about seven years lived in Los Angeles, where

he laid the foundation for his future education. In 1867 the family removed to Compton, where he attended the graded schools, completing the full course of instruction. Coming with his father to Bonsall in 1875 he assisted him in start- ing an apiary, and for many years carried on an extensive business in bee farming, having on an average about one hundred and fifty colonies of bees, one season this number being increased to four hundred colonies. In 1889 Mr. Higgins bought from his father this ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, and has since devoted himself to general farming, including the raising of grain, beans, walnuts and peaches. He raises good crops, and as an agriculturist is exceedingly pros- perous, fortune smiling on all of his ventures. He also has a French Percheron stallion for breeding purposes.

In 1879 Mr. Higgins married Laura Combs, and they became the parents of six children, namely : Alfred A., of Bonsall; Frances, wife of Augustus Culp, of Oceanside; Lizzie, wife of Charles Trotter, of Oceanside: Elon, living at home; Benjamin, at home, and Mary, at home. In 1903 Mr. Higgins was again married, Sadie Kitching becoming his wife. Politically Mr. Higgins is identified with the Democratic party, and although not an aspirant for public office has long served as school trustee, for fifteen years being clerk of the board. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JAMES BROWN WATSON. Situated at the foot of the San Bernardino mountains, six and one-half miles from the city of that name and along the route of Highland free delivery No. 2, may be seen the well-improved home- stead owned and occupied by Mr. Watson, and brought by him to its present high state of improvement since he acquired the land by purchase in 1893. Immediately after buying the property he built a residence and barn and established his home on the tract. At that time the land was in its wild state, no attempt having been made at improvement, but un- der his energetic labors a transformation soon was effected. Owing to the adaptability of the soil to fruit, he has made horticulture his specialty. Shortly after coming here he plant- ed seed of various fruits, and now has one of the finest orchards in the locality. The thir- teen acres are in navel oranges, lemons and grape fruit, as well as deciduous trees of the best varieties. Through using great care with the trees, some of which have their original tops and some have been budded twice, he has made his grove one of the most productive in

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the vicinity and the fruit finds a ready sale at the highest market prices.

During the early years of his life Mr. Wat- son was a resident of Missouri, born in Ray county, July 31, 1859, his parents being James and Rebecca (Ragan) Watson, natives of Kentucky and England. Educated in com- mon schools, the knowledge he now possesses has been acquired by close observation and careful reading rather than from early train- ing in school. On starting out to earn his own way in the world he took up agricultural pursuits and continued to reside in Missouri until he was twenty-one years of age. On leaving that portion of the country he came to California, landing at Riverside in September, 1880, and securing employment in that town, where soon he acquired a practical knowledge of orange culture. In the spring of 1888 he removed from Riverside to Highland district, where since he has made his home and en- gaged in fruit-raising with energy and grati- fying success.

In all of his work Mr. Watson has been aided by the co-operation of his amiable wife, who was Elsie R. Hill, a native of Des Moines county, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Mary (Banta) Hill. Their home is brightened by the presence of three children, Viola, James Roy and M. Adele, who are attractive and promising children, and to whom will be given the best educational advantages the dis- trict affords. Two daughters have been taken from the home by death. Mary Rebecca was two years of age when she passed from earth June 9, 1899, and Lois was three years and five months old when the home was bereaved of her presence on Christmas day of 1904. Among their neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Watson are esteemed for the qualities of mind and heart that have won them friends in large numbers and given them a high social stand- ing in the community.

JOSIAH ALKIRE. The life which this narrative sketches began on Christmas Day of 1818, in Williamsport, Ohio, and closed at Kenoak, in Pomona, Cal., February 4, 1895. Between these two dates is the epitome of a career that was busy, useful and successful. Wherever duty called him he performed well his part, and the prosperity that came to him was directly attributable to his wise judgment and tireless activity. With a record of over forty years to his credit as a wholesale mer- chant in St. Louis, Mo., he came to Pomona in 1890 and settled down on a part of the famous old Palomares rancho, upon which was located the old adobe house erected by

Tomas Palomares in 1840 for a family resi- dence. It served the purpose for which it was originally built and later became the wel- come half-way house for travelers, this in the early days being the principal hotel between San Bernardino and Los Angeles. Another incident worthy of note in connection with this historic relic of other days is the fact that the first school in Pomona valley was held in the east room and was taught by C. B. Towner. When Mr. Alkire took posses- sion of the property in 1890 he reset the orchard to navel oranges and laid out the grounds into a beautiful park. The old adobe house was remodelled and replastered and put in excellent repair throughout, and today Kenoak, as the homestead is called, stands as a model of comfort and completeness.

Josiah Alkire was a son of Rev. George Al- kire, a minister in the Christian denomina- tion. Up to the year 1840 he filled pulpits in various parts of Ohio, but in that year re- moved to central Illinois, where during the remainder of his life he went about doing good and fulfilling his mission as a minister of the Gospel. In all of his work he had the sympathy and co-operation of his wife, who was in maidenhood Katie Rush. In the primi- tive schools that prevailed in Ohio prior to 1840 Josiah Alkire gained such knowledge as the equally primitive teachers were able to furnish, but notwithstanding the difficulties under which he labored he made the most of his meagre opportunities and laid by a larger fund of information than the less ambitious students. In 1849 he set out for the gold fields of California. The records do not state with what success he met as a miner, but it is known that he returned east soon after- ward and that he made a similar trip across the plains three years later, in 1852. In the fall of that year, however, he returned east as far as St. Louis, Mo., where he established himself in the wholesale grocery business. From unpretentious beginnings the business grew and prospered with the passing of years, until he commanded a trade that extended over a wide radius, shipping goods to points along the Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri and Red rivers. He became an important factor in the business circles of St. Louis, where he had gained a record for uprightness and in- tegrity, and his removal to the west in 1890 was deeply deplored. It was not until three years later, however, that he finally disposed of his business in St. Louis and thus severed connections which had been sustained with mutual pleasure and profit to himself and his home city for over forty years. Purchasing thirteen acres of the Palomares rancho near

Josiah W Hudson

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Pomona and adjoining Genesha Park, he re- modeled and improved the adobe residence and set the orchard to navel oranges exclusively, making the homestead one of the most delight- ful and restful spots in this part of Southern California. Mr. Alkire was not long spared to enjoy his new home, however, for his death occurred amid the surroundings which he had learned to love February 4, 1895.

Near Pleasant Plains, Sangamon county, Ill., in 1864, Josiah Alkire formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Lydia Tomlin, the daughter of Almarine and Rhoda (Smith) Tomlin. During young womanhood Mrs. Al- kire attended the Illinois Woman's College at Jacksonville, from which institution she was graduated. Two sons blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Alkire, Frank, who is a shoe merchant in Phoenix, Ariz., and George, who is engaged in the cattle business in the same place.

JOSIAH W. HUDSON. The agricultur- ists of Los Angeles county have had in J. W. Hudson one of their most prominent and suc- cessful citizens, his enterprises in this section of Southern California extending over a period of a considerable number of years. He is a native of New York, where his birth occurred in Oswego, February 18, 1844; his father, J. W. Hudson, was born and reared in Boston, Mass., the representative of a distinguished · family of that state, and he there learned the trade of cooper, which he followed until his death, which took place in Ohio in 1894. His wife was formerly Sarah E. Wells, of Welsh ancestry, her birth occurring in Connecticut and her death in Ohio in 1892. They were the parents of the following children: Amarette, Amos, Lottie, Mary, Susan, Sarah, and Jo- siah W., of this review; of this family all are living except Amos and Lottie.

Josiah W. Hudson was reared in his native state, receiving his education in the public schools up to the age of fourteen years, when he became dependent upon his own resources. After leaving home he drifted further west and in Iowa secured employment in Allamakee county. At the first tap of the drum in 1861. however, every thought but that for his coun- try's need was put aside and he immediately enlisted for the three months' service. The quota of men being obtained. he was not needed, but nothing daunted nor satisfied that he would not be needed in the future, he then enlisted in Company K, Fifth Regiment Iowa Infantry, for three years, and participated in many of the most important engagements of that historic struggle. He was in the battle

of Iuka, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Cham- pion Hill, and after the surrender of Vicks- burg because of disability he was transferred to Company C, Fourth United States Veteran Reserves, and in this he served faithfully until his honorable discharge in 1864.

Returning to civic life Mr. Hudson was lo- cated in Peoria, Ill., and from that point in the spring of 1865 joined a party for the overland trip to the Pacific coast. He drove an ox- team across the plains to Virginia City via Salt Lake City, and the following year he drove oxen to Montana. His first employ- ment in the west was as a miner, with other prospectors going to the Big Horn mountains, returning via Salt Lake City and afterward engaging in a venture in southern Utah. In the meantime he had come to Southern Cali- fornia and in the year 1867 he began spending his winters in Los Angeles county, while dur- ing the summers he engaged in mining in Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. He met with success in his work, not because he never lost, but because he never let misfortune daunt him, but went perseveringly to the task again, and in the main was successful in his efforts.

In November, 1879, Mr. Hudson was united in marriage with Miss Victoria R. Rowland, the youngest daughter of John Rowland, one of the earliest pioneers of Southern California, who with a partner secured a grant of many thousand acres of land, a large part of which afterward passed to his children. His marriage in an early dav united him with a lovely daugh- ter of a Spanish settler. Subsequently Mr. Rowland was married to Mrs. Gray and their daughter became the wife of Mr. Hudson.

Mr. Hudson has over two thousand acres of fine land, upon which is the old Rowland homestead, the first brick house built in South- ern California. The bricks were burned on the old farm, the house being erected by Mr. Row- land in 1855. This extensive acreage is used principally for grain and grazing purposes, one of Mr. Hudson's interests being in the raising of horses. He has been very successful in this effort and has acquired a position among the citizens of the section who hold him in high esteem for the ability, energy and industry be has displayed in the management of his prop- crtv. Progressive in every sense of the word. and liberal with his large means, no citizen is inore depended upon to further important movements in the growth and development of this section. When the Salt Lake Railway were putting their line through the country he donated two acres of land for what is now known as Hudson Station. Mr. Hudson has been an interested witness in the development of the country as well as an active participant,

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he being the man to sink the first artesian well in Los Angeles county, and in many other ways assisted materially in the upbuilding of the community in which he makes his home.

Mr. and Mrs. Hudson are the parents of three children, namely: Rowland, Lillian and Josiah W., Jr. Fraternally Mr. Hudson is connected with Pentalpha Lodge No. 202, F. & A. M., in Los Angeles, and politically he is Independent. He is a member of the Pio- neers Society of Los Angeles County. He has always taken a special interest in educational affairs of the community and his school dis- trict, organized in 1888, was named Hudson district in his honor. Mr. Hudson merits the position of esteem and respect he holds in the community, having won it by the qualities of manhood he has displayed during his long res- idence in Southern California. He is account- ed a helpful and practical citizen, a generous and loyal friend, and a man who seeks always to advance every influence toward the better- ment of the moral life of those about him.

MOSES ATWOOD FLINT. Shortly af- ter his removal to California in May, 1898, Mr. Flint bought ten acres of improved land (planted to vines, olives and citrus fruit) which formed the nucleus of his present prop- erty. Since then he has added to his hold- ings and now owns twenty-five acres. The cottage has been enlarged and other improve- ments made as the needs of the family de- manded or their inclination directed. The barn which still is in use was built by the Mormons who years ago took up the land from the government.

The family of which Mr. Flint is an hon- ored representative comes from New England ancestry, and he was born in Vermont, but passed the years of youth principally in New Hampshire, where for some time his parents, Rev. Moses and Nancy (Hovey) Flint, made their home. The best educational advantages were given him that the neighborhood afford- ed. On the completion of a common-school course he was sent to an academy, where he fitted himself for the work of teaching, and af- terward for a long period he continued suc- cessfully as an educator in the east and in Iowa. For twenty-one years he lived in Iowa and followed his chosen calling with gratify- ing success, winning a position among the fore- most teachers of his locality. On retiring from the school-room to engage in outdoor activi- ties, he removed to California and since then has resided in San Bernardino county.

The marriage of MIr. Flint was solemnized March 17, 1861, and united him with Hannah Sophronia Balch, a native of Grafton county.

N. H., and a daughter of Theodore and Sally (Lovejoy) Balch. On both sides of the fam- ily her ancestors were identified with the ear- ly history of our country. Both of her grand- fathers participated in the war of 1812, one enlisting from Hebron, Grafton county, and the other from Lyme, same county. The pa- triotic spirit characteristic of the family finds further proof in the fact that two of Mrs. Flint's brothers bore a brave part as Union soldiers in the Civil war, and were faithful in their allegiance to the cause from the time of their enlistment with a New Hampshire regi- ment until the expiration of their term of serv- ice. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Flint, namely: Edwin At- wood, who was born January 3, 1863, in New Hampshire, and received his educa- tion in Iowa: Theodore Balch, who was born in Iowa November 28. 1865, and now resides in California : Sarah Elizabeth, who was born April 27, 1868, and is now the wife of David Scoville, of Decatur county, Kans .; Levi Car- roll, who was born December 28, 1871, and died March 5. 1876; Moses Deloss, who went to the Philippines as a soldier in the Spanish- American war and since the close of the war has remained in Manila as a supervisor of teachers ; and Emma Frances, who was born April 27, 1877. and is now the wife of Daniel Ledford, of San Bernardino.

The family are identified with the Baptist Church and in former years Mr. Flint officiat- ed as a deacon of his congregation. In fra- ternal relations he became affiliated with the Independent Order cf Odd Fellows many years ago and has retained his interest in that organization, besides being identified with the Masonic Order in the blue lodge. As a citi- zen he is always found on the side of meas- ures for the benefit of the people and for the efficient training of the rising generation. it being his belief that a thorough education is the best preparation for a successful life. Through all of his labors he has shown a thoughtful consideration for others and a spir- it of impartiality and justice most important to a teacher. In the quiet life of an orchardist, remote from the turbulent world of affairs, he finds abundant exercise as well as a keen pleas- ure in the improvement of the land, and after years of energetic application to educational work he enjoys the change to his present oc- cunation with its accompanying activities.

ULYSSES F. RICHARDVILLE. Having been left an orphan in his sixth year, Ulysses F. Richardville had a childhood lacking in the tender care of parents, and from the age of

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eleven years was obliged to make his own way in the world. Armed only with a scanty com- mon school education, his two empty hands, and indomitable pluck and energy he has suc- ceeded in acquiring a good working education by careful and extensive reading, and accumu- lated considerable property, as well as attained a position of some prominence in his locality, where he is held in the highest esteem by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. The Richardville family is of French extrac- tion, the first members having come to Ameri- ca four hundred years ago. U. F. Richardville was born in February, 1868, in Knox county, Ind., the son of Peter and Ida (Cornpint) Richardville, both of whom were natives of Indiana. The father was a farmer in that state, his death occurring there April 30, 1874, at the age of thirty years; his wife died in 1870, when twenty-five years old. From the time he was eleven years old until 1892 Mr. Richardville worked on farms by the month for Indiana farmers, and in that year he de- cided to seek wider opportunities in the west. Arriving in Redlands, Cal., he worked out for six months, and then started to ranch for him- self in Moreno, beginning necessarily in a small way. By the exercise of prudence and careful and economical business methods he was able gradually to add to his interests un- til now he is recognized as one of the lead- ing ranchmen in the valley.

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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 15

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