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 159

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

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ers were all consumers under the system and sur- rendered to the company their rights and claims on the water they had been using and holding stock in the new concern according to their usage of water, and in the management of this enter- prise Mr. Hotchkiss is secretary and to him is largely due the credit for the manipulation of details which promises a successful consumma- tion of the previous legal troubles at an early date.

In addition to his interests already mentioned Mr. Hotchkiss owns a ranch of one hundred and fifty acres at Loma Linda, of which forty acres are devoted to the cultivation of a fine orange grove, while his home is on Walnut avenue, in Redlands, where he is a member of the Board of Trade, an ardent Republican and a helpful and practical citizen. He was married in 1867 to Miss Heacock, a native of Gloversville, N. Y., and born of this union are two children, Leonard F., secretary of the C. W. Scranton Company, of New Haven, Conn .; and Minerva, wife of L. W. Hall, of New Haven, Conn. Mr. Hotchkiss was made a Mason in Gloversville Lodge No. 429, A. F. & A. M., and raised to the degree of Knight Templar in the Holy Cross commandery No. 51, K. T., of the same place. He is a charter member of the Bear Valley Post, of the Grand Army of the Republic in Redlands, and is a member of the California commandery of the Loyal Legion, and of the Southern Cali- fornia Association of Companions of the Loyal Legion. He supports the charities of the First Congregational Church, of which he is a mem- ber. He is justly named among the representa- tive citizens of Southern California and held in highest esteem for his splendid qualities of char- acter, his integrity and manhood.

WALLACE HUNGERFORD, one of the substantial and successful ranchers of Los An- geles county, is a native California, his birth having occurred in Sutter county September 19, 1870. His parents, M. C. and Mary E. (Ramey) Hungerford, were natives respectively of Scioto county, Ohio, and Shenandoah county, Va., and hoth were pioneers of California, their marriage taking place in Sutter county, Cal. They had hoth crossed the plains in 1854. They located in Los Angeles county in 1880 and purchased a ranch of forty acres, and there the mother is still living at the age of sixty-seven years, the father having died at the age of sixty-two years, five months and fourteen days. He was identi- fied with the Masonic organization, being a mem- ber of Meridian Lodge, F. & A. M., of Sutter county. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and was often called upon by his party to serve in a public capacity, having acted as assessor

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of Sutter county for several terms. Mr. and Mrs. Hungerford became the parents of seven children, of whom five are living and all are lo- cated in California.

The first educational training of Wallace Hungerford was received in the common schools of Colusa county, Cal., the course being com- pleted in the grammar schools of Norwalk. This training was supplemented by a course in the Whittier College and a private school, where he perfected himself in a general course of study. Returning to the ranch he remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, when he set out for himself, locating on the ranch where he has made his home for the period of fourteen years, engaging in general ranching and the dairy business, the latter being supplied by a herd of fifteen cows and the milk shipped to Los Angeles. All of the thirty-eight acres comprising the ranch are in excellent condition, well cultivated and he has added improvements which make of the property one of the valuable properties of this section. Mr. Hungerford is a Good Templar, is interested in the advance- ment of educational affairs (now serving as trus- tee of the Carmenita district), and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Po- litically he is an advocate of Democratic princi- ples. He is one of the substantial citizens of this section, held in highest esteem for the splendid qualities of citizenship he has already displayed, for the business ability which is bringing him success, and the character of his manhood.

HENRY TELESPHARE GIROUX. In the pioneer days of the state H. T. Giroux, for many years a well-known merchant of Santa Monica, left Canada, his native land (having been born in the vincinity of Montreal, February 28, 1828) and sought to try his fortunes among the un- developed conditions of the Pacific coast. His father, Pierre Giroux, was a farmer of Canada, where he was born, a son of Jean Giroux, an emigrant from France, his native country, and a blacksmith by occupation. H. T. Giroux learned the trade of blacksmith under the in- struction of his older brother, Eucher Giroux, the head blacksmith of the Grand Trunk Rail- road Company in Montreal. In 1852, fired by the glowing reports of the wealth of California, he left Canada, and from an eastern port took passage on a vessel for the Isthmus of Panama, which he crossed on foot ; from there he went by boat to San Francisco, landing absolutely penni- less, but fortunately not lacking in courage and energy. He immediately found work as a dish washer, perfectly willing to accept anything that afforded him an honest livelihood. After four weeks he journeyed to the mines in Eldorado

county, where as a miner, grocer and liquor mer- chant he made a small fortune. Later he car- ried on mining almost exclusively, and like many others during those historic times made and lost several fortunes. He made two trips back to his home in Canada, the first time in 1865 and again in 1871, going and returning each time by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He became a well-known figure in Eldorado county, where he was identified for many years with mining interests.

In 1875 Mr. Giroux located permanently in Southern California, taking up his residence in Santa Monica, where he established the first store, selling groceries and liquors; with the growth of the town his interests increased, suc- cess accompanied his efforts, and he is today in possession of a comfortable competence. He still maintains his interest in the mercantile affairs of the place, still conducting his store, while he has also invested in property here, owning a busi- ness lot 50x150 feet, located on Second street. Mr. Giroux is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and in politics is a stanch Republican, having cast his first vote for Lincoln and ever since has maintained his loyalty for his party.

ASA HUNTER. Coming to Los Angeles more than half a century ago, Asa Hunter, liv- ing on a ranch located in the northern suburbs of the city, holds a leading position among the pioneer settlers of this section of Southern Cali- fornia. From his early manhood he has taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of his adopted city and county, materially aiding the progress and development which has been caried on so rapidly, and to such a remarkable degree. As a representative agriculturist, he has achieved suc- cess by unremitting toil, directed by sound busi- ness principles, and as an honorable and upright citizen he possesses the confidence and good will of the entire community, being respected and es- teemed by the young and the old. A native of Kentucky, he was born in 1832, a son of the late Jesse D. Hunter, of whom a brief biographical sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume.

His parents moving to Illinois when he was a child, Mr. Hunter was brought up in Hancock county, living there until about fifteen years of age. In 1847 his father started with the Mor- mon battalion for the Pacific coast, leaving his wife and five of the children, of whom Asa was the oldest child, to follow at a later period. In 1848 therefore the family started across the plains with an ox-team train, going first to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where they spent the winter. The following spring they continued the journey, Asa driving the oxen, his team being the second one to drive into Salt Lake City. Continuing

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the journey westward, he piloted the family safely to Sacramento, arriving on July 4, 1849, after a trip full of hardship and anxiety for the brave youth on whom rested the entire respon- sibility of caring for his mother, brothers and sisters. His father and his brother William sub- sequently joined them in Sacramento, and after a brief stay in that place brought them to the southern part of the state. On locating in Los Angeles in 1851 Mr. Hunter became associated with his father, first as a manufacturer of brick, and afterward as a farmer, remaining with him until 1867. Going then to Antelope valley, Mr. Hunter purchased a ranch, and for seventeen years was there prosperously employed in stock raising and dealing. Returning then, at the urg- ent request of his father, to the old homestead, he tenderly cared for his parents as long as they lived, and has since resided here. By industry, good management and persistency of purpose. Mr. Hunter has accumulated a handsome com- petency, and is now living practically retired from active pursuits. He has recently been dispos- ing of much of his landed holdings, at the pres- ent time owning eighty acres of city property, and but seventy-five acres of land outside of the city limits. For many years he raised small fruits and berries in large quantities, but at the present time leases a large share of his land. He is a most loyal and faithful citizen, and since coming to this part of California more than fifty years ago, has been outside of Los Angeles coun- ty but three times.

Mr. Hunter married Petro Hortese, who is of Spanish descent, and they are the parents of six children, namely: Emily, wife of Jacob Snyder, of Los Angeles; William, a dry goods merchant in Los Angeles, having a well-stocked store on Broadway, between Fifth and Sixth streets ; Richard, living on a ranch adjoining his father's, married Mattie Polick and has two children, Asa and Harben; Aleck engaged in farming near the home ranch; Josie, living at home; and Keziah, wife of Daniel Gage, a guard in the state prison at San Quentin. Polit- ically Mr. Hunter is a decided Republican, but he has never been an aspirant for official honors. his private business requiring his entire time and attention.

GUSTAV ADOLPH GEHRING. The an- cestral home of the Gehring family is in Baden- Baden, Germany, where both the father and mother of Gustav Adolph were born. The elder Gehring was a baker by trade, and left Ger- many in 1848, coming on the ship Clipper around Cape Horn to San Francisco, where he arrived eight months later. As the gold excitement was then at its height, he went to Trinity county to

work in the mines, and during the ten years he remained there met with very good success in his undertakings. By way of Panama and New York City he returned to his native land during the early '50s, and upon his return brought his wife. They came by way of the Isthmus and went direct to Trinity county. Subsequently he sold out the mines which he had there and went to San Francisco for a year, after which he settled at Santa Cruz, engaged in the bakery business for a time, then retired from active work . and both he and his wife died at Soquel several years later.

The birth of Gustav Adolph Gehring occurred December 14, 1858, in Trinity county, Cal., he being next to the oldest child in a family of six children. He received his education first at a prvate school in Trinity county and then in the public schools of Santa Cruz county, and after his school work was completed learned suc- cessively the baker's trade, milling and stone dressing. Later he was employed in the Alma- den mines for a year, and subsequently prospected and mined in Trinity and El Dorado counties. Following this he was foreman in a lumber camp in Mendocino county for a time, and in 1896 went to Yuma county, Ariz., where he was em- ployed in the King of Arizona mine, operated by the Blaisdell Company. He then went to the desert country and engaged in sinking wells for H. W. Blaisdell, sinking a three-hundred-foot well, which he timbered, and also ran the pump- ing plant. Later he was employed at the Venus and Mars mine, also running the steam pumping plant there, and following this went to the Sen- olar and Fortuna mines.

In 1890 Mr. Gehring located in Temescal, Cal., on a bee ranch, remaining there until 1892, when he removed to Elsinore. and has been con- ducting an apiary at this place ever since. His ranch comprises one hundred and twenty acres, which is improved for honey production, and he owns three hundred colonies of bees, placed in patented hives. He divides his time between raising comb honey for the market and his min- ing interests, among his holdings being an in- terest in the Gold Standard mine, which has a shaft two hundred and twenty-five feet deep.

Mr. Gehring was married at Santa Cruz to Miss Charlotte F. Jenkins, who was a native of that place, and she was residing there at the time of her death. She became the mother of three children: Gustav J., of Elsinore; Henry E., of Shasta county ; and Irene. of Soquel. By his second marriage Mr. Gehring was united with Mrs. Carrie F. (Robinson) Laws, widow of Benjamin Laws, who died in Fullerton. She is the daughter of J. W. Robinson, a native of New York, a pioneer farmer of Ithaca, that state, and now residing at the head of Elsinore lake on a

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ranch. Her mother was Elizabeth, daughter of Crumlin LaDue, who was a pioneer settler in Cowlitz county, Wash., where Mrs. Gehring was born. She was a member of a family of six children, all of whom are now living. By her first marriage she became the mother of three children, Jesse, Benjamin S. and Charles C., all living at home. Mr. Gehring is a member of Elsinore Lodge, I. O. O. F., and politically affiliates with the Democratic party. Although his life is a busy one, largely taken up with busi- ness duties, yet he finds time and opportunity to aid in the upbuilding of his section of the coun- try and occupies a prominent position among his fellow-citizens.

JESSE D. HUNTER. There was no more prominent figure among the pioneer settlers of Los Angeles than the late Jesse D. Hunter, whose name stands out in bold relief in its an- nals. He was a fine representative of the men whose shrewd foresight and determined energy opened the way for the settlement of this part of the state, and were ever active in developing its varied resources. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1847, it was his privilege and pleasure to watch its growth from the very beginning, and to play an important part in promoting its in- dustrial prosperity. Moving from Kentucky with his family, he lived for a number of years in Hancock county, Ill., being there engaged in agri- cultural pursuits.

Enlisting as a private in the Mormon battalion, under command of Gen. Cook, in 1847, he was a member of the same company to which Mr. Charles E. Colton, now an honored resident of Burbank, belonged, and with his comrades came to California. While in the army he met with various thrilling experiences, passing through all the excitement, danger, sport, and occasional hardships incident to camp life, these being oc- casionally varied by a brief visit from the noble red man and his squaw. In 1849 Mr. Hunter went north to meet his family, as related in the sketch of his son Asa, on another page of this work, and after his return to this part of the state was for awhile employed by the Govern- ment as Indian Agent at Temecula. Going from there to San Bernardino, he was engaged in cat- tle raising for a few months, after which he located in Los Angeles. Establishing himself as the pioneer brick manufacturer of the place, Mr. Hunter burned the bricks for many of the prominent buildings of earlier days, including among others the brick jail which occupied the present site of the People's Store, on Spring street; a building at the corner of Main and Third streets; a house on the corner of Com- mercial and Los Angeles streets; several brick

buildings near the race track; and a small build- ing on the spot now occupied by the shop be- longing to John Myers. As a manufacturer he was successfully assisted by his son Asa, and the two carried on a substantial business, brick be- ing then worth $25.00 a thousand.

Retiring from manufacturing pursuits, Mr. Hunter bought about twenty-two hundred acres of land lying just north of the city, on the east side of the river, and subsequently purchased three hundred acres on the opposite side of the stream. Engaging in the care of his land, he improved a large and valuable ranch, on which he lived, honored and respected, until his death, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was a comparatively robust man until the last year of his life, when he met with a painful ac- cident while driving, his horse and cart falling upon him, and breaking his hip. From 1849 until his death, Mr. Hunter was a continuous resident of this part of California, never going ont of Los Angeles county excepting on the one 'or two occasions that he went to San Francisco to have his hip treated. He was widely and fav- orably known as a man of unblemished character, and his death was regretted as a loss to the com- munity in which he had passed so many years. He belonged to the Masons when young, and for a number of years drew a pension from the gov- ernment for services rendered to his country.

Mr. Hunter married Keziah Brown, who bore him ten children, two of whom died in Illinois, and one in Sacramento, while seven are living, namely : William, engaged in ranching near the parental homestead ; Asa, of whom a brief sketch appears on another page of this work; Mary, wife of Joseph Burke, of Los Angeles county ; Jesse, of this county; Samuel, residing. on San Fernando road, north of the city; Martha, wife of Eli Taylor, of Los Angeles county ; and Eliza- beth D., wife of John Erick, living near the old race track. Mrs. Hunter survived her husband a number of years, passing .away on the ranch where she had lived for so many years.

GEORGE A. GOODRICH. Arroyo Grande is fortunate to be able to count among its citi- zens George A. Goodrich, a fine old gentleman, well educated, fully posted on all matters of general interest and extensively traveled, and one who is scrupulously honest in every word and deed, all of these qualities having earned for him the high esteem of all members of the community. He is a member of the Masonic order, and politically a firm believer in the prin- ciples advocated by the Republican party. At various times he has served his country in offi- cial capacities, having been a postmaster during his residence in Illinois. and also in the same state

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he assisted in the census enumeration by the United States government in 1880. Religiously both he and his wife affiliate with the Baptist de- nomination and take an active interest in all mat- ters pertaining to church work.

Mr. Goodrich is of good old New England parentage, both his parents, Lemuel M. and Fan- nie Hutchinson Goodrich, having been born in the state of Vermont, which is also the place of his own nativity. The parents died in Wiscon- sin at advanced ages, and of the family of four children, the two sons live in California, W. F. Goodrich making his home in Los Angeles. George A. Goodrichi was born December 15, 1835, and received a part of his education in Vermont, and when he removed with the family to Wisconsin at the age of sixteen years entered the academy at Milton, Wis. He began his business career in Wisconsin, where he bought a ranch and continued to conduct it until 1869. In that year he went to New Hampshire and engaged in the wholesale corn and flour busi- ness at Lancaster, following this until he was burned out in 1875, when he sold the business and went to Fulton county, Ill., buying a farm there. Six years later he again removed to Wisconsin and farmed until 1893, when he came to Ventura county, Cal., and after a short time settled permanently in San Luis Obispo county on his present ranch, which consists of twenty acres, planted to vegetables, potatoes, straw- berries, Logan berries and dew berries, the land being especially adapted to these crops.

In 1866 Mr. Goodrich was married to Miss Sarah Smith, a native of New Hampshire, and to them have been born four children: J. W., who is married, has three children and lives in Illinois : Belle, Mrs. Eastic, is the mother of three children; Ella, who is the wife of W. H. Bauman, of San Luis Obispo, has two. children; Carrie, who married C. E. Congdon, also has two children, their home being in San Mateo.

EDMUND B. GREENE. The wharfinger at Serena, in the employ of Hayward & Hunt, has a variety of duties to perform, for there are fif- teen acres of ground planted to many varieties of flowers and shrubbery, for which the place is noted. Edmund B. Greene, the present in- cumbent of the position, is making a record in the manner in which he performs his duties and meets the various visitors who delight to visit the grounds. In the care of the gardens he has efficient help in his estimable wife and both of these pleasant old people are highly respected by all with whom they come in contact. The father of Edmund Greene was born in White- hall, N. Y., and the mother, Christina Ward, was

a native of Vermont. Six children were born to them, Edmund being the only one living. Both parents died in Michigan, where they went five years after the birth of this son in New York, February 15, 1829. Edmund received his edu- cation in the state of Michigan, which was his home until the year 1870. At that time he re- moved to Kansas and worked at the painter's trade, which he had learned in the former place, there doing ornamental and landscape painting. In 1874 he came to Santa Barbara, Cal., and con- tinued to work at his trade for a time. At one time he owned an apiary, from which he de- rived a good income, and he now owns two acres in his home place. His wife also has a seventy- nine acre ranch composed mostly of hay land. By his marriage, November, 1863, to Sarah Hutchins, a native of Michigan, one child was born, who died at the age of four years, and the mother died in 1874.

In 1900 Mr. Greene married Elizabeth Halli- day, a daughter of John and Janet (Miller) Halliday, natives of Scotland. Both of her parents are deceased, the mother dying in Scot- land and the father in Canada.

The war record of Mr. Greene is an interest- ing one, the first thirteen months of his enlist- ment having been served with Company E, Fifth Volunteer Cavalry of Kansas. After the expira- tion of this term he again enlisted, this time in 1863 in Company H of the Sixth Regiment of Michigan Heavy Artillery, in which he served until he was wounded in the battle at Blakely, Ala., when he was assigned to detail service and accomplished valuable work in drawing maps for the use of the First Division of Thirteenth Army Corps.

W. F. HALL. The founders of the Hall fam- ily in America became pioneers of New Eng- land, whence their descendants scattered through- out the entire country. From Connecticut, where he was born and reared, Nathan Hall migrated to New York and there married Miss Rachel Goodwin, a native of that state. From that time onward they continued to live in the Empire state and at advanced years passed away at their Havana homestead. During the existence of the Whig party Mr. Hall had been one of its sup- porters and subsequent to its disintegration he identified himself with the newly organized Re- publican party. Of his three children one son died while employed in the St. Louis internal revenue office, and the only daughter, Mrs. C. H. Reno, who had been making her home with the second son, W. F., in Los Angeles county, died October 19, 1906.

Seneca Falls, N. Y., is the native town of W. F. Hall, and November 13, 1836, the date of

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his birth. Upon completing the studies of the public schools he entered Wesleyan College at Lima, Livingston county, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1859. Afterward he en- gaged in teaching school in Missouri and Mich- igan. At the opening of the Civil war his sympa- thies were such that he promptly offered his services to the Union, and August 16, 1861, was accepted as a member of Company F, First Colo- rado Cavalry. From Denver the First Colorado made a forced march to Fort Union, N. Mex .. as General Sibley of the Confederate army was on the march from the plains of Valverde, where he had defeated his brother-in-law, Gen- eral Canby. General Sibley was on his way to Santa Fe, where he raised the Confederate flag and declared New Mexico in the Confederacy. The First Colorado reached Fort Union and from there proceeded to Santa Fe, meeting Gen- eral Sibley's advance guard in Apache Cañon, about twenty-five miles from Santa Fe. It was while with his command in Apache Cañon, in making a charge on a Texan battery, that Mr. Hall was wounded, March 26, 1862, and re- moved from the field to a hastily improvised hos- pital at a ranch house. The next day he was captured by Texans, but was released four days later, and afterward was unable to leave the hospital for about three months. On his re- covery he rejoined his regiment and was with them in the sanguinary battle of Sand creek against the Indians. When peace was declared he was ordered back to Denver and there dis- charged, October 30, 1865, after à service of four years, three months and fifteen days. Prior to the war Generals Sibley and Canby were col- onels in the regular army, their wives being sis- ters. During the war Mrs. Canby came through the lines and visited the sick and afflicted in the hospitals, giving them refreshing delicacies which were greatly appreciated, as for some time their fare had consisted almost solely of parched corn, owing to the destruction of a supply train. As a memento of his hospital experience Mr. Hall still cherishes a Bible which Mrs. Canby bestowed upon him at that time.

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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 159

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