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 157

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

USA > California > 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 157

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Brought up on the home ranch, Juan Ortega received a practical education in the Spanish schools of his native county, and has since ac- quired an excellent knowledge of the English language. After the removal of the family to Ventura county he helped his father to clear and improve a ranch, remaining at home several years after attaining his majority. Taking up one hundred and sixty acres of government land

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in 1869 he improved a homestead on which he resided for twenty-two years. Selling that estate, he located on his present ranch, near Vista, and is extensively engaged in grain raising, renting about six hundred acres of land. Industrious and enterprising, he is meet- ing with satisfactory results in his undertakings, and as a man of unquestioned integrity is held in high esteem throughout the community.

On March 26, 1866, Mr. Ortega married Edubige Tico, a native of California, and they have become the parents of six children, namely : Charles; Otellia, the wife of Frank Carpenter ; Mary, the wife of Philip Roedfor ; Petra C. Car- rillo : John B. and Frank. Politically Mr. Ortega is identified with the Democratic party and takes a genuine interest in public affairs, at the present time serving as school trustee. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Catholic Church, belonging to the San Luis Rey Mission.

J. FRANK OVER. Numbered among the business men of San Diego, where he has made his home since 1891, is Mr. Over, an enterprising and practical contractor, and a progressive citi- zen. Attracted to California by reports concern- ing the opportunities offered by the coast regions, Mr. Over arrived in Pasadena in 1889, and in the spring of the following year he went to San Francisco, where he worked in the employ of the Pacific Paving Company. In their interests he came to San Diego to take charge of asphalt paving in this city, and for half a year he re- mained here as their foreman, since which time lie has engaged in business for himself. Cement walks and foundations and, indeed, cement work of every kind and description, he has made his specialty, and by reliable workmanship and prompt filling of contracts he has proved that he made no mistake in the selection of an occupa- tion. Nor has his work been limited to San Diego, for he has filled contracts in Escondido, Oceanside, Imperial and other towns of the county. In his factory, on the corner of Ninth and M streets, he manufactures hollow cement blocks, which of recent years have come into popular use and are proving especially prac- ticable for certain kinds of work. From his office in the Chamber of Commerce he directs business affairs, fills contracts, and during the busy season oversees his corps of fifty to sixty workmen in such a manner as to secure the most prompt and satisfactory results.

Many years gone by the Over family lived in Pennsylvania, in the vicinity of Chambersburg, and from there John, with his family, including his son Henry, removed to Illinois, where the former died. The latter, after having engaged in the teaming business at Sterling for a lengthy

period, eventually removed to San Diego, and here passed away at the age of seventy-one years. In early manhood he married Catherine Feigh- ner, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent, and who now makes her home with her son, J. F., in San Diego. Of her four children this son was next to the youngest and is the only one residing on the Pacific coast. Born at Ster- ling, Ill., December 18, 1861, he received a com- mon school education in his home town and at an early age began to work as a machine hand in the Northwestern barb wire factory at Ster- iing. During 1882 he removed to Omaha, and for a year worked in a barb wire factory in that city, after which he began to learn the cement manufacturing trade. In spite of various re- verses, he has been prospered financially, and now owns his residence at No. 630 Fir street, as well as a grain and stock ranch five miles north of Escondido. The success which he has gained in the past is an indication of what the future years will bring him, for lie is now in the prime of life, the master of a profitable trade, keen, capable and reliable ; hence increasing prosperity may be predicted for his future efforts. Since coming to San Diego he has established domestic ties through his marriage to Miss Gertrude Ells, a native of Iowa, and by whom he has one son, Franklin Alfred. In national politics he votes with the Republican party, but locally he main- tains an independence of thought and attitude, voting for those whom he considers best quali- fied to represent the people. In local commercial and fraternal affiliations he belongs to the Chan- ber of Commerce, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Woodmen of the World, the Foresters of America, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being past grand of Sunset Lodge No. 328, I. O. O. F., also a member of the Encampment, Canton and Rebekahs.

FRANK RENFREW FARQUHAR. In the vicinity of Highland, San Bernardino county, the passing traveler may take note of many thriv- ing ranches, but among them all it would be hard to find one whose water facilities equal those en- joyed by Mr. Farquhar. He is bound to no rules and regulations of water companies, and is truly the monarch of all he surveys, for his water sup- ply is furnished from a flowing artesian well which he himself bored at an expense of $1,800. It has a flow of about one hundred inches of water, which by a complete system of piping is made to enrich the most remote portions of the ranch. The system includes a windmill, which with the piping was erected at a cost of $800. From the foregoing it will be seen that Mr. Far- quhar possesses the prime essential of a success-

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ful ranch, ample water facilities, and while at present his land is devoted entirely to the raising of alfalfa, it is his intention in the near future to plant a walnut orchard, for which his land is especially well adapted.

A son of William R. and Marian Elizabeth (Renfrew) Farquhar, Frank R. Farquhar is a native of Indiana, born in Sullivan county, March II, 1861. When he was two years old the family removed to Ohio, and in the schools of Coshocton county he received his first knowledge of books. When not in school he assisted in performing his share of farm duties, and when the time came for him to select his calling in life he very naturally chose the one with which he was most familiar and for which he had inherited tastes also. Push and enterprise are distinguishing characteristics in his make-up, qualities which he early in life made use of, but perhaps with no more telling effect than in the fall of 1885, when as a young man of twenty-four years he came to the west, determined to carve out his for- tune and grow up amid the opportunities of the Golden State. For eighteen months he was lo- cated in the vicinity of Riverside, from there going to Redlands, and finally, in February, 1905, locating two and one-half miles east of San Ber- nardino. His first purchase of land consisted of forty acres, to which he later added twenty acres of the Waterman tract, owning in all sixty acres of as fine land as the county boasts.

After locating in the west, Frank R. Farquhar formed domestic ties by his marriage with Cora Sylvia Merrill, their marriage occurring Feb- ruary 9, 1899. Mrs. Farquhar is a daughter of John H. and Mercy (Brewer) Merrill. She is the proud mother of two interesting children, Merrill Renfrew, born March 14, 1901, and Le- land Brewer, born January 7, 1903. Mr. Far- quhar is an excellent representative of the class who form the best of our western citizenship, the high quality of which has given California high rank in the galaxy of commonwealths.

CAPT. HENRY ALMON CROCKER. The fact that San Pedro is one of the most prosperous cities in California in proportion to its popula- tion cannot be attributed entirely to its favorable location, nor entirely to the fertility of the sur- rounding soil, although both of these circum- stances have proved telling factors in the pro- gress of the place; but a third factor must not be lost sight of, viz .; the progressive spirit of the men who have composed the citizenship and guided its affairs. Closely associated with the town's hitory is the name of Capt. H. A. Crocker, who located here before the organization of the town, the locality then being known as Fiall. To him is due the credit of erecting the

first house in the town, which at that time had no special location, but when the town was laid out it was found to lie partly on Beacon street. By purchasing seventy-five feet on Beacon street near Sixth he was enabled to move his house there, and for many years made his home at that location. This structure was finally destroyed by fire and he replaced it by a two-story build- ing, a part of which was used as a restaurant. In educational affairs Captain Crocker also took the initiative, and with the co-operation of Mr. Linskow built the first schoolhouse in the locality. For many years he was at the head of the school board, and during this time had the satisfaction of seeing the straggling efforts of early days superseded by methods of instruction which prevail in schools in the metropolis.

At the time of the Revolutionary war, his grandfather, then a young man, went from West Machias, Me., to Nova Scotia, where he was married. It was there that the father, James W. Crocker followed his life calling as a farmer for many years. His wife, formerly Jane Spin- ney, was a native of Nova Scotia, of Scotch an- cestry. Both parents are now deceased. Of the five sons and three daughters born to them only four sons are living, and of these Henry A. is next to the youngest. He was born in Napolis Valley, Nova Scotia, August 13, 1845, and was reared on his father's farm there. By the time he had attained his seventeenth year he had received a good education in the common schools around his Canadian home, had gained considerable ex- perience as a farmer, and had also started to learn the carpenter's trade. This latter ac- complishment was interrupted by his response to the call for men in the United States navy during the Civil war. Going to Boston in 1862 he entered the service and for one year was on the Wabash, later serving on the Powhattan, and after his honorable discharge in 1863 he went to Washington. There he was employed in the service of the government until January, 1864, at which time he enlisted in Company B, Third United States Cavalry, under command of Gen- eral Steele: Joining his regiment at St. Louis, he went to Little Rock, Ark., and while near Princeton was taken prisoner and sent to Cam- den, that state. It was while there that diffi- culties arose from the fact that he was a Brit- ish subject and had never taken out naturaliza- tion papers. Through the instrumentality of the English counsel he was able to take out English papers and obtain a passport from General Magruder to General Kirby. Smith, the latter giving him a passport via Mexico. He made the trip to Mexico entirely on foot. a distance of seventeen hundred miles, and after reaching Matamoras he began work at the carpenter's trade, which he had partially learned before en-

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tering the navy in 1862. He was in Matamoras at the time news was received of the assassina- tion of Abraham Lincoln. By way of Cuba he returned to New York City, from there drift- ing to New Haven, Conn., from which port he followed the sea for a number of years. Go- ing to Lynn, Mass., in 1869 he followed the carpenter's trade there until 1875, since which time his life has been associated with California and with San Pedro in particular. His pioneer efforts have not been in vain, for the erection of his own dwelling gave encourage- ment to other settlers to locate permanently and in the passing of years the repetition of this example has resulted in the present thriving town of San Pedro. So enthusiastic was he about its future that in the early days he pre- dicted there would be a population of forty thou- sand inhabitants in the town before long, and at its present rapid rate of growth his prediction will soon be a reality. As his means would allow he added to his first purchase of real estate until he owned ten buildings in all, but about 1896 five of them were destroyed by fire, and as there was little or no insurance carried on the prop- erty it was a complete loss. In later years he gave his attention to running a line of pleasure boats, at one time owning quite a number, but he has sold several and lost as many more, later having only the Pt. Fermin, a gasoline launch forty-two feet in length, which he ran himself. He has perpetuated his name in the history of the town by the erection of the Crocker building, which adjoins the San Pedro Bank of Sixth street, and which is occupied as stores, above which is the Waldo lodging house.

In 1869. while a resident of Lynn. Mass., Captain Crocker was married to Miss Ellen L. Davis, who was born on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and two children were born to them: William H., a musician of San Pedro, now coun- ty assessor, and Mercy J., the wife of Charles Powers, also of San Pedro. Mrs. Crocker died in 1903, and on December 31, 1905, Captain Crocker was united in marriage with Mrs. H. F. Hansen, of Los Angeles. In 1906 he re- turned to his old home in Nova Scotia on a visit. At one time Captain Crocker was identified with a number of fraternal orders, among them the Knights of Pythias. Ancient Order of United Workmen, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Chosen Friends, but he is not now actively interested in any of them. In the church of the Seventh Day Adventists, of which he is a mem- ber, he takes an active part, serving as superin- tendent of the Sahbath-school. The erection of the church was due in a large measure to his personal efforts, for he gave not only of his time, but of his means as well to provide a suitable edifice for the home of worshippers of that de-

nomination. In summing up the life of Captain Crocker who is still hale and hearty, it may be safely said that no one in this section is held in higher esteem than this enterprising citizen, nor has any been more thoroughly interested in or contributed in greater degree to its solid and reliable upbuilding.

ALEXANDER KEIR. In a substantial home at No. 744 Fifth street, San Bernardino, Alex- ander Keir is living retired from ranching, his varied and extensive property interests requiring as much of his time as he cares to give to busi- ness pursuits. Mr. Keir is a native of Scotland, a country noted for its sons of sturdy character and enterprising industry, having been born in Glasgow, August 30, 1844, the son of Alexan- der and Marion (King) Keir, both of whom were born in the same country. When their son was only four years of age Mr. Keir brought the family to the United States, landing at New Orleans, and from there making his way up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Pittsburg, Pa. He was a manufacturer of lumber in his native land, but in casting about for a business opening in this country lie decided to establish himself in the cattle industry, and accordingly in 1849 went to St. Louis, Mo., and started in that busi- ness. In 1851 he removed to Salt Lake, and continued farming and cattle-raising until 1853, when he resolved to remove to California. Tak- ing his family with him, he crossed the plains with ox teams and came to San Bernardino. This section was populated mostly with Mexicans and Indians at that time and was almost entirely un- improved so far as the land was concerned, and Mr. Keir remained only a short time. However, after making his home in Los Angeles for a year he returned to San Bernardino county, pur- chased real estate and followed his chosen occu- pation until 1882, in which year he removed to Santa Monica. His death occurred in San Ber- nardino in 1897. His widow survived him a number of years, passing away at the home of her son, Alexander, in 1904. The parental fam- ily originally comprised eight children, of whom three died in early childhood, and four daughters and one son now reside on the Pacific coast.

After completing his work in the public schools of San Bernardino, Alexander Keir assisted his father on the farm for a time and later accepted a clerkship with the firm of Wolff & Folks, hold- ing the position four years, after which he em- barked in business under the firm name of Wolff, Folks & Co. in Arizona. continuing business un- der this name for one year. In 1872 he retired from this connection and again helped his father in the cattle business, later establishing himself in an independent cattle-raising enterprise in the

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eastern part of what is now the city limits, and remaining there until 1902. He met with very great success in this business, and, although he still owns the one hundred acre ranch, it is now being operated by tenants.

In August, 1869, Mr. Keir was married to Maryette, daughter of Ezra and Susan Parrish, old and prominent residents of San Bernardino county, and of this union ten children were born, two of whom died in infancy. Those now liv- ing are: William E., of San Bernardino; Mary E., the wife of E. E. Clark, of Oceanside ; Sher- man, residing in San Francisco; John King, of San Bernardino; Frank, also a resident of this place ; Robert Burns and James Watt, twins, the latter of whom is deceased; and Ida Gertrude. Fraternally Mr. Keir is a charter member of Valley Lodge No. 27, K. of P., and was formerly affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows, but is now demitted from both organizations. Polit- ically, he is an advocate of Democratic principles. He is a man of great intelligence, keen observa- tion and thoroughly alive to the trend of present day matters of social and civic interest, and as a progressive and public-spirited citizen is accord- ed the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

JOHN R. HARGRAVE. Although Mr. Hargrave is, comparatively speaking, a re- cent addition to the citizenship of Sawtelle the interest which he has shown in the welfare of the town indicates that he is a man of such mettle as to make him a credit to any commun- ity, no matter where Fate might choose to place him. Of Scotch descent on the pater- nal side, John R. Hargrave was born in Illi- nois December 18, 1864, a son of Andrew Har- grave, who was born in Roxburghshire, Scot- land. in 1809. Immigrating to America in 1818, he was a resident of Canada until 1855, when he came to the United States, locating with his family on a farm in Illinois. A lat- er removal found the family in the adjoining state of Indiana, where they remained for. twelve years, in 1882 crossing the plains to Oregon. The father lived to enjoy his new home in the west for about two years, his death occurring in Yamhill county, in March, 1884. His wife was before her marriage Miss Margaret McEwen, born in Canada in 1829, and of the eight children born of their mar- riage all reached maturity with one exception and all are still living.

At the time the family removed from Illi- nois into the Hoosier state John R. Hargrave was a lad of six vears, and although too young to be of any assistance, he was old enough to enjoy the novelty and excitement of the jour- ney. His entire school life was associated

with the common schools of Indiana, and by the time the father took the family to Oregon in 1882 he had completed his education and was ready to start upon a business career. Al- though he had been of considerable assist- ance to his father in his grain and stock-rais- ing enterprises, he did not feel himself suf- ficiently adapted for that life when the time came for him to make selection of a life call- ing. At this juncture he became acquainted with A. G. Churchly, of Portland, Ore., and under his instruction he learned the photo- graphic trade. Seeing a good opening for branching out in Kelso, Wash., he located there in 1888, remaining there for sixteen years, during which time he became well known in the business and political circles of .the town. In recognition of his fitness as a leader and as a man of superior judgment his Republican constituents nominated him as mayor of Kelso in 1900, his election duly fol- lowing. During his term of two years the city was visited by a severe fire, in which he lost all of the property accumulated during his residence there. Since locating in Saw- telle he has been engaged in the photographic business.

Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave, the latter formerly Miss Berdan, have become the proud parents of two children, Andrew C., born in Kelso, Wash., September 17, 1898, and Frances R. born in the same place June 14, 1901. Frater- nally Mr. Hargrave belongs to the Red Men, and while in Kelso served as sachem of Tus- carora Tribe No. 32. Mrs. Hargrave is a member of the Relief Corps, and is also a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church of Kelso, Wash.

ALBERT E. HALL. When the third colony from England landed at Plymouth in 1630 among the passengers was Daniel Foote, concerning whose previous and subsequent history little is known except that he was a man of dauntless courage and pioneer spirit, since he braved the dangers of an unknown sea in order to establish a home in the wilds of a new world. When the Revolutionary war began members of the family were among the patriots who fought for in- dependence with a valor that hunger and hard- ships could not quench. In the fifth generation from the founder of the race in the new world was Samuel Foote, a native of New England and an early settler of Chautauqua county, N. Y. Among the children in his family a daughter, Mary Dorothea, who was born in Massachusetts, became the wife of Elisha, son of William Hall, a Revolutionary soldier descended from English progenitors. Battleboro, Vt., was the native town of Elisha Hall, who early in life embarked

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in the manufacture of lumber and erected the first steam sawmill in Chautauqua county, N. Y., his operations in timber extending through western New York and into Pennsylvania. Dur- ing the year 1840 he removed to St. Louis and engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber. The first cargo of lumber ever sold on the Mis- sissippi river was purchased by him in 1843 and came from Marine Mills, Minn .; prior to that time lumber was freighted down the Ohio river exclusively and taken up the Mississippi by keel boats. Successful in business, Mr. Hall also wielded large influence as a citizen and gave stanch support to all movements for the ad- vancement of his community. An experience as a teacher in young manhood gave him a broad outlook concerning educational work, and for some years prior to 1852 in St. Louis he served as a member of the board of education and board of teachers' examiners. His death oc- curred during a visit in Pennsylvania, and his wife passed away in 1861 at their St. Louis home.

Five children comprised the family of Elisha Hall, four of whom are living, Albert E. being the second in order of birth. Born at James- town, N. Y., June 8, 1833, he was seven years of age when the family settled in St. Louis and there he became a pupil in a private school. Early in life he acquired an excellent knowledge of the lumber business under his father's practical training. When the Civil war began he at once offered his services to the Union and enlisted for three months in a detached rifle company known as the Lyon Guards, in which he was commissioned first lieutenant. At the expiration of his time he en- listed for three years in the Tenth Missouri Cavalry and was commissioned by the president as quartermaster with the rank of first lieuten- ant. His service continued until the close of the war and was principally in Tennessee, Ala- bama and Mississippi. After having been mustered out at Nashville in 1865 he remained in the south and became a cotton-grower near Huntsville, Ala., being the first grower in that state (and, as far as known, in the entire south) to employ the free labor system. The three years of his life as a planter in the south were filled with anxieties and even perils. The country was in a condition of unrest. The noted Klu Klux horrors were stirring up strife and sedi- tion. However, he armed his four hundred colored employes and so escaped without trouble, besides which, after he had armed his men, the county of Limestone where he lived was at peace, being the only county in the state where a turbulent disposition was not shown.

On account of these troubles Mr. Hall gladly embraced an opportunity to sell his cotton lands.

Returning to St. Louis, he engaged in the whole- sale confectionery business for four years, after which he spent three years as a miner in Utah and then became a wheat-grower in the Red River valley near Glendon, Minn., where for ten years he cultivated over one thousand acres of wheat land. On selling out there he removed to Washington in 1888 and embarked in the manufacture of lumber at Tacoma, remaining there until three years later, when rheumatism affected him to such an extent as to render a change of climate necessary. Hoping to be benefited by life in a southern latitude he came to California and traveled by team through the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, thence across to San Luis Obispo and on to Los An- geles. After brief sojourns in different parts of Southern California, June 20, 1898, he ar- rived in Long Beach, where he bought seven and one-half acres on the Anaheim road in the sub- urbs of the town. Later he platted the land and in 1904 sold it in town lots. In 1904 he bought the corner of Seventh and Pine street, which now is improved with a two-story building, and in addition he owns five cottages and other city property.

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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 157

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