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 162

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

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In Homer, Mich., Mr. Allen was first mar- ried to Miss Rose Knapp, who was born in New York state and died in San Bernardino, leaving two children, Byron W., who is his father's partner in business, and Edna, the wife of Sid- ney H. Rockwood and a resident of Fresno. Byron W. Allen is also married, his wife prior to her marriage having been Faith Garner, and they are the proud parents of one son, Jack. Some time after the death of his first wife Oliver A. Allen was married in Michigan to Miss Sarah Hiller, she also being a native of that state. The family occupy a pleasant resi- dence at No. 538 Eighth street. besides which Mr. Allen owns other valuable property in San Bernardino. While residing in Homer, Mich., he was made a Mason in the local lodge, and

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since coming to California has joined San Ber- nardino Lodge No. 348, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican, and is a member of the Board of Trade of San Bernardino. Mrs. Allen is a member of the Presbyterian Church, toward the support of which Mr. Allen contributes, as he does to all measures which have for their ob- ject the uplifting of humanity.

At the time of the Rebellion Mr. Allen was a boy of about eleven years, and although he was too young to participate he well remembers the enlistment of his older brother, King P. Allen, in whose daring and bravery he took a com- mendable pride. He enlisted as a member of the Second Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and after serving the term of his enlistment was honorably discharged. He is now a resident of Pullman, Wash. The patriotic spirit of the Allen family became evident in the next generation when, at the age of sixteen, Byron W. Allen enlisted in the National Guard of California. The opening of the Spanish-American war gave him an op- portunity for active service and he went to the front as corporal of Company K, Seventh Cali- fornia Regiment, later was promoted to ser- geant, and as such was honorably discharged from the service. Thereafter he continued his membership in the National Guard for a number of years, or until the expiration of his term, when he was discharged with honors, in Novem- ber, 1905, having served as first lieutenant of his company for four years prior to this date.

CHARLES B. ADAMS. The life which this narrative chronicles began in Burlington, Vt., December 29, 1830, and closed at Long Beach, Cal., March 8, 1899. The Adams family be- came established in America during a very early period of colonial settlement and one of its branches settled in Vermont, where succeeding generations lived and labored as tillers of the soil and pioneer business men. Among those who bore the family name was John Adams, who married Amanda Barbour, also a member of a colonial family of Vermont. Some years after their marriage they migrated to New York state and there labored for a long period, but eventually removed to Illinois, where at Aurora Mr. Adams died. Later the widow joined mem- bers of the family in Minnesota, and in that state in the city of Minneapolis she passed away. Among their children was a son, Charles B., who was a small child at the time of the removal to New York state and received his primary ed- ucation in the country schools common to that day. Following the westward tide of emigra- tion he became an early settler of Aurora, Ill., and from there removed to Newburg, Mitchell county, Iowa, later going to Minnesota and set-

tling at Austin, where he became interested in business enterprises.

From the beginning of the Civil war Mr. Adams was stanch sympathizer with the cause of the Union, and in August of 1862 he offered his services as a volunteer in the army, his as- signment being with Company C, Ninth Minne- sota Infantry, with which he went to the front to aid in quelling the rebellion. During a very long march he received injuries which disabled him and made it necessary for him to remain in a hospital for a time. On his recovery he was honorably discharged in March of 1863, and at once returned to Austin, where he resumed his association with civic affairs. For many years he made his home in Minnesota, but finally de- siring to settle in a more genial climate, he came to California in 1889. For eight years he lived on a ranch near Anaheim, and upon disposing of that property came to Long Beach, where he purchased and improved real estate.

The marriage of Mr. Adams was solemnized August 22, 1857, and united him with Miss Mary, daughter of Michael Shaney, a native of Lowell, Mass. When she was quite small she was orphaned by the death of her mother and afterward remained with her father until she became the wife of Mr. Adams. Born of their union were five children, namely: Hattie A .; Loraine, who married Edward Wolverton and resides in Kansas; Edna I., Mrs. William Cooper, of Long Beach ; Sherman R., a resident of Long Beach; and Clarence C., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Mary S. Adams died at Long Beach, November II, 1906, and is buried beside her husband in Signal Hill Cemetery near Long Beach.

MARTIN STUCKER FREER. No name is better known or held in higher esteem than that of Freer, established in Los Angeles county by a pioneer whose name will ever be honored in the citizenship which has given to California het supremacy among sister states. Martin Stucker Frcer is a native Californian, and was born in Berryessa, Santa Clara county, October 1, 1854, his father being William H. Freer, the pioncer, whose history is given at length elsewhere in this volume. Reared on the home farm for the first twenty-one years of his life, Martin S. was educated in the public schools of his native coun- ty. He came to El Monte, Los Angeles county, in October, 1875, driving stock to the farm which his father had bought in 1869 and left in charge of his brother Thomas till that time. He remained at home with his father until he was twenty-eight years old, when he became depend- ent upon his own resources, in partnership with a Mr. Dobbins renting a part of the Baldwin

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ranch for one year, then the Rowland ranch of Puente for three years, when Mr. Freer went to Tehachapi, Kern county. He engaged in the raising of grain, horses and mules on a ranch of four hundred and eighty acres of land whichi he purchased in Tehachapi, was very successful in his work, and added improvements which made it one of the fine and valuable ranches of this section. He finally purchased a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres fourteen miles from the home place which he rented, and con- tinued these interests for six years, when he sold his farming implements, all machinery, stock, etc., and went to Oakland, Cal., and made that place his home for about eight years. At the expiration of that time he returned to his ranch · and began raising alfalfa and hogs and contin- ued thus occupied until 1905, when he rented his property (the following year selling the home place and continuing to rent the other for the raising of grain) and returning to Los Angeles county located on his farm of thirty-five acres a mile and a half from El Monte, where he is now installing a pumping plant and expects to set the entire ranch in walnuts.

In Oakland, December 19, 1892, Mr. Freer was united in marriage with Mrs. Elvira Louisa (Moody) Wilkinson, a native of Moore county, N. C., and a daughter of W. H. Moody. He was also a native of North Carolina and served in a regiment of that state in the Civil war as major. He removed to Tennessee and thence to Arkansas, and about 1869 brought his family overland to California. He settled at El Monte and engaged as a builder, finally removing to Anaheim and following the dairy business until his death at the age of forty-five years. He was a prominent Mason and a Democrat politically. His wife was formerly Mary Mills of New York City, who married there at the age of eighteen years. After the death of Mr. Moody she mar- ried Rev. John Freeman, a Baptist minister who resides at Norwalk. By her first marriage she became the mother of four children, namely : Lucy J., wife of John H. Freer, of Arcadia; An- derson H., of Redondo; and Elvira Louisa. Mrs. Freer had three children by her first marriage, Lester, Geneva and Lewis. In his political af- filiations Mr. Freer is a stanch advocate of Dem- ocratic principles and seeks to advance these in- terests.

HENRY JACOB PRATT. The experiences of Henry Jacob Pratt throughout a varied ca- reer in the western states have served to make of him one of the most entertaining of companions, whose recollections take him back to the begin- ning of civilization on the Pacific coast. De- scended from an old New England family, he

was born in Taunton, Mass., July 23, 1847, next to the youngest in a family of eight children, of whom but three are now surviving. Two broth- ers, Charles Allen and Dean Jones, were killed in the battle of Pea Ridge in the Civil war, the former a member and corporal in the Third Regi- ment Illinois Cavalry, and the latter of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois In- fantry ; two brothers survived the perils of war- fare, William L., first of the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Infantry and later of the Third Cavalry, now a resident of Idaho, and Morton A., of the Third Regiment Illinois Cavalry, raised to the rank of captain and later brevet-major, a resi- dent of Wichita, Kans. The last named is known as the "father of Populism" and was a popular candidate for the vice-presidency on the Populist ticket when Weaver ran for president in 1896. Their father, Capt. D. L. Pratt, was engaged in the merchant marine service for many years, after which he located in Livingston county, Ill., and was there employed as a farmer until his death. Their mother was Elizabeth Douglas in maiden- hood, a native of Massachusetts; her death oc- curred in Livingston county, Ill.

Henry Jacob Pratt was reared in Illinois, where his father located in 1852, receiving a prac- tical training on the paternal farm while he at- tended the public school in pursuit of an educa- tion, later completing the course in the Joliet high school. Upon attaining his majority he set out for the west, going first to the Black Hills by mule teams, and after one year spent in that lo- cation, continuing the journey to Virginia City, Nev. He was first employed on a ranch, where he remained for some time, in 1871 coming to Humboldt county, Cal., and with one hundred head of cattle engaging in stock-raising. At the same time he superintended a large ranch in the vicinity, known as the Clover Valley ranch, in which he later purchased an interest. They con- tinued to add to the acreage of their ranch until they owned one of the large ranches of that sec- tion. In 1884 they sold out and Mr. Pratt or- ganized a company known as the Jordan Valley Livestock & Land Association, of which he be- came secretary and manager, the company pur- chasing thirty thousand acres in Humboldt coun- ty on the Little Humboldt river, and there en- gaged in an extensive raising of stock, their brand being the bullshead. In 1898 Mr. Pratt sold out his interest in this association and made the trip to Alaska, making his way by boat to Skagway, over the White Pass, down the Yukon to Dawson City, where he engaged in mining and prospecting. He remained in that city for three vears, engaging in mining and prospecting, and in a general merchandise business. In 1901 he went to Nome and mined for two years, and in 1903 he returned to Nevada, where he was one of

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the organizers of the Washo Power & Develop- ment Company, after which he engaged as super- intendent in the construction of the electric pow- er plant in Reno. He has continued his associa- tion with this company, although he came to Red- lands in 1905, and here purchased the Frink ranch and organized the firm known as Cheney & Pratt, this property consisting of five hundred and twenty acres in the San Timoteo canon, about eight miles from Redlands. In December of that year he located on the ranch and became the general manager of the concern, instituting a dairy of seventy cows, and operating a cream- ery, using a gasoline engine, patent churn and separator, and now supply the Star Grocery of Redlands, the products being considered the best the country affords. Mr. Pratt has been very successful in his work and is considered one of the most enterprising and progressive men of this section, esteemed both for his business abil- ity and personal qualities of character.

In Sacramento, Cal., Mr. Pratt was united in marriage with Mrs. Minnie (Long) Jones, a na- tive of Wisconsin, who crossed the plains by ox- teams in an early day. They are the parents of three children: Morton E., a miner in Mexico; Mabel A., wife of John Lindsay, of Tonopah; and Frank H., a miner of Goldfield, Nev. Mr. Pratt was made a Mason in Winnemucca, Nev., and now belongs to the lodge of Reno, Nev .; and was raised to the degree of Royal Arch in Win- nemucca. Politically he is a Republican.

CHRISTIAN MICHELSEN, a prominent citizen of Hollywood, was born in Denmark, Mark 30, 1844, a sturdy Danish ancestry giving to him qualities of character which have formed the foundation for his success in mature years. His parents, John and Stine (Hjordrup) Michel- sen, were both natives of the Jutland Peninsula, where the name has been prominent for genera- tions in public affairs. Mr. Michelson received an excellent education in his native land, after which he learned the cabinet maker's trade and also took up the work of printer, engaging in this dual occupation until attaining the age of twenty- two years. Attracted by the multifold oppor- unities held out by the western world, he decided to emigrate, and accordingly in the year 1866 he came to America. His principal employment during the four years which he spent here was as a printer, his training on Danish papers having given him a valuable experience. Returning to Denmark at the close of the four years he was drafted into the Danish army and after serving six months was let out on parole. In the mean- time he had written a book on "Life in Western America" and published it in Denmark, and this proved to be the initial step of many years of

successful writing in both his own and the Eng- lish language.

Again locating in America after an eighteen months' stay in his native land, Mr. Michelsen settled in the middle west, following his trade in Missouri and Nebraska for the period of five years and establishing a varied acquaintance with the conditions of the country in which he was making his home. He then returned to Den- mark, and being on parole, served the full time of his required enlistment in the Danish army. Upon his honorable discharge from the service he returned to America, and in 1878 located in Fre- mont, Neb., and following this was engaged for many years in writing for various Danish news- papers throughout the United States. At the present time (1906) he has seven quarto vol- umes filled with clippings of his own writings and published in different papers throughout the country. Since 1886 he has given lectures throughout the country, having made his first tour of the United States in that year, and every two years since he has toured this country and the Orient. He is now contemplating a tour to Russia which is to occupy a period of ten months, taking in Holland, Belgium, France and Austria, thence to Denmark, where he intends to deliver a course of lectures on his observations in the latter countries. He has traveled on every con- tinent, having made an extended tour of Egypt and the Holy Land, his strong powers of obser- vation and assimilation enabling him to quickly become familiar with conditions, manners and customs of the different places he has visited, and giving him a fund of varied information, which makes of him an entertaining and instruc- tive speaker.

Mr. Michelsen located in California in October, 188I, becoming a resident of the city of Los Angeles, where he followed his two avocations in conjunction with his writings. He purchased property in the beautiful little city of Hollywood, where in 1906 he erected a handsome home on Plummer street, which is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Eveline Rasmussen, whom he married before his first trip to America. They are the parents of the following children: Olga, who lives near San Francisco; Manu H., en- gaged as a blacksmith in Los Angeles; Thor, a musician and vaudeville star touring the United States at the present writing; Philaletha, who was born in Denmark and reared in California, receiving her education in the schools of Los Angeles, after which she entered the law depart- ment of the University of Southern California and was graduated June 16, 1905, and admitted to the bar July 15, 1906. Her federal examina- tion was taken September 3. 1906, and in the near future she expects to locate in Los Angeles and engage in the practice of her profession ;

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Hamilton, foreman for the Lacy Manufacturing Company in the erection of oil tanks; Rufus, also a tank builder; Twain, at home; and Eve- line, a student in the grammar schools of Holly- wood.

The broad training which has been the largest educational feature in the life of Mr. Michelsen has given him a mental scope of unusual breadth and understanding. All of the issues of life- business, social, political or religious-are viewed by him in a broad-minded, liberal spirit, are weighed according to his wide, mental grasp made possibly by his ready assimilation and thorough understanding of human nature, and it is in this spirit that he brushes shoulder to shoulder with men and measures that make up the warp and woof of every-day living. Inde- pendent by nature and made more so by his training, Mr. Michelsen is eminently capable of deciding important questions under his own rigid questioning and never decides hastily or without due consideration. His judgment can be de- pended upon and his decision be regarded be- cause of its fairness to all concerned. Mr. Michel- sen is a Theosophist in his religious views and lives up to the principles of that doctrine in the thorough way in which he endorses all principles which are a part of his views. Thoroughly whole-souled and genuinely interested in the ad- vancement of those about him, interesting and entertaining in his mental development, Mr. Michelsen has won a host of friends in his jour- neys about the world, being appreciated both for his moral and mental stature. He is a citizen of prominence and one upon whom public honor may safely rest.

ELIAS THOWSON. One of the leading citizens of Norwalk and noted for his zeal in any movement pertaining to the upbuilding and development of the place is Elias Thowson, who has conducted a meat market here for the past ten years. He is a native of Norway, his birth having occurred there February 27, 1868; his father, Thor, and mother, Elizabeth (Hansen) Thowson, were both natives of the same coun- try, and emigrated to America in 1887 and in California established their home. They are now living near Anaheim, Orange county, where the father is engaged in the management of a ranch which he owns. They are the parents of nine children all of whom are now living in this state.

Elias Thowson was sixteen years old when he decided to come to the United States and try his fortunes among the broader opportunities of the western world. He located in Oregon first and there engaged in ranching for the period of a year, when he went to North Dakota and

worked on a farm belonging to his uncle. Two years later, in the year 1887, he came to Cali- fornia, and from Los Angeles went to Anaheim, where he eventually purchased a ranch of forty acres and proceeded to its cultivation and im- provement. He was located about four years in that section when he sold out and went to Washington and took up land, but not caring for the climatic condition or prospects there, he re- turned to California and in Buena Park fol- lowed ranching for two years. He then estab- lished a butcher business in that place and con- ducted it successfully for one year, when he came to Norwalk and became the proprietor of his present fine business. This he has built up from a small beginning, enlarging his ca- pacity until he now runs two wagons through the country. He is a successful business man and has made a host of friends through his square and upright methods and manner of dealing with the public.

In 1889 Mr. Thowson was united in marriage with Miss Edith Mason, a native of Wisconsin, and they have one son, Irving. Fraternally he is identified with the Odd Fellows organization of Artesia, and is conductor of the lodge; the Independent Order of Foresters; Woodmen of the World; Modern Woodmen of America; and Daughters of Rebekah. In his political convic- tions Mr. Thowson reserves the right to cast his ballot for the candidate he considers best qualified to discharge official duty.

GEORGE S. PHILLIPS. As one of the ris- ing young men of Pomona mention belongs to George S. Phillips, who aside from any reflected honor from his well-known father is respected for his own personal worth and ability. Since the death of Louis Phillips, which occurred in March, 1900, his son has been secretary of his estate, which has been incorporated and is known as the Louis Phillips Estate Company.

A native son of the state, George S. Phillips was born in Spadra, Los Angeles county, Oct- ober 21, 1874, being the youngest child in the family of his parents. He received his educa- tion in the public schools. Since 1901 he has been a director in the First National Bank of Pomona and of the Mutual Building & Loan Association also of this place, and many other institutions in the town name him among their stockholders. The incorporation of his father's vast holdings made his services necessary in its management, and since then he has been secretary of the Louis Phillips Estate Company. Included among the holdings are a number of valuable business structures of Pomona, also similar prop- erty in Los Angeles, and among the latter may be mentioned the Hamburger and also the New-

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mark stores. For nine years Mr. Phillips was a member of Company D of the old Ninth Na- tional Guard, and later was second lieutenant of Company D of the Seventh Regiment, holding this office at the time of his resignation in 1898. Since locating in Pomona he has become a mem- ber of the Chapter and Commandery, and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Politically he gives his support to the candidates of the Republican party.

In 1897 Mr. Phillips was married to Miss Irene Richmond Dudley, who is a native of Wis- consin, and was born in La Crosse. She came west during her girlhood years, and here re- . ceived the greater part of her education, her school days closing with her graduation from the state normal school at Los Angeles. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips has been brightened by the birth of three interesting chil- dren, Adelaide Louise, Louis Dudley and George S., Jr. Mrs. Phillips shares in the esteem in which her husband is held, and in both religious and social life of Pomona she is an active worker. She holds membership in the Episcopal Church of this place, is a member of the Eastern Star, and also belongs to the Ebell and Shakespeare Clubs. The family home at No. 305 East Holt street is the center of hospitality, where their many friends delight to gather.

RICHARD WAINWRIGHT REEVES. The pioneer element was the strongest characteristic in the life of Richard Wainwright Reeves, one of the early settlers of Redlands and a citizen who gave no little toward the upbuilding and de- velopment of this section of Southern California. He was of southern lineage, his birth having oc- curred in North Carolina in February, 1810; his father, James Reeves was also born in that state. whence in 1812 he removed to Tennessee and in Rutherford engaged as a farmer for eighteen years. Locating in Pekin, Tazewell county, Ill .. in 1830, he followed the life of a pioneer farmer until his death, which occurred when over ninety years old.

Richard W. Reeves learned the carpenter's trade in Springfield, Ill., and later engaged in raising thoroughbred horses, having a circuit throughout Illinois and Indiana for ten years. Removing to Missouri he located in Livingston county and there with his father-in-law, Mr. Ramsey, built the first house on the prairie, the wood brought direct from the Missouri forest and their own hands completing the work. He followed farming after his marriage about this time and also prosecuted his trade. In 1850 he followed the westward trend of civilization and

crossed the plains to the gold fields of California, returning after two years to his wife, who had remained behind in Pekin, Ill. In the year of his return (1852), they located at Spring Hill, Mo., and made that place their home until 1864, when, with his wife and three children, Mr. Reeves outfitted with ox-teams and crossed the plains to Montana. They were four months en route, during which time they suffered much from the depredations of the Indians, but suc- ceeded in arriving in safety in August. There Mr. Reeves took up a homestead ranch in Wil- low creek valley, their resources having been de- pleted by the inroads made upon them by the journey, etc., and they were thus compelled to begin at the bottom again. They built a little cabin and necessary outbuildings, and there Mr. Reeves sold hay at $60 per ton, and his wife but- ter at $1.50 per pound. They gradually brought their farm to a high state of cultivation and there remained for twelve years. Because of the health of Mrs. Reeves (who had been an invalid for eight years) they came to California in 1876, making the journey in wagons. The second day of the trip she began to improve and by the time they had reached Southern California she was in very much better health and gave promise of re- covering her health entirely.

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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 162

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