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 163

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 163

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In San Bernardino county Mr. Reeves pur- chased twenty acres of land from J. B. Glover at $20 per acre, eight miles from the city of San Bernardino. Here they built a home and began farming ; for many year's it required their united efforts to again build up their fortunes, but per- severance and energy conquered, and in 1906 they sold a valuable twenty-acre grove of oranges which brought them large returns. Mr. Reeves helped get out the first ditches in the county and in many ways was a factor in the de- velopment of the section. His death occurred in 1882, at the age of seventy-two years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is his wife, both having united with it in 1841 and proved faithful to their vows in the long years that followed. Politically Mr. Reeves was a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the Democratic party.

Mrs. Reeves was in maidenhood Ruth Ann Ramsey, a native of Chautauqua county, N. Y., and a daughter of Samuel Ramsey, who was born in Ohio, where the paternal grandfather was a large farmer and orchardist in the vicinity of Columbus. Samuel Ramsey was married in Ohio to Mary Porter, a native of Pennsylvania, and they then located in New York, where the wife died in early life. He then married Rachel Porter and returning to Ohio located in Ashta- bula county, and three years later to a new post of Ohio, where his daughter saw her first In- dian. Locating in Fremont, Ill., three years lat-

2115

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

er, they lived there for three years and then went to Livingston county, Mo., where he improved a farm. He eventually made a trip to Texas, but did not remain there, returning to Missouri and locating in Spring Hill, where he spent his last days. By his first marriage he had three chil- dren, Mrs. Reeves being the only one now sur- viving. She was born April II, 1826, and up to the age of thirteen years attended the public schools in pursuit of an education. She was married October 5, 1840, and with her husband began the pioneer life which she has led all these years. After the death of her husband she sold the orange grove and located in Redlands, where she is now residing at No. 102 Washington street. She became the mother of eight children, of whom four are now living: Joseph J., the hor- ticultural inspector of Redlands; William B., lo- cated in San Bernardino; J. Chapman, engaged in the hay and grain business in Redlands ; and Edward, of Redlands.

JAMES B. MURPHY. The Murphy family is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was represented on the American continent long before the French and Indian war added another epoch of disquiet to the lives of the colonists. Through marriage a strain of French blood was added to the family in a remote generation. The great- grandfather Murphy participated in the French and Indian war. He was the son of Edwin and Jane (Tibbetts) Murphy and to them twin sons were born April 5, 1857, in Oskaloosa, Iowa .. While they were still young the family removed to Fairfield, Jefferson county, that state, where the children were reared and trained, attending the public schools and Parsons College. When they were twenty years old the father died, and shortly afterward John B. Murphy, our subject's twin brother, was taken ill and removed to Col- orado Springs for his health. In order to be near his brother and tend him in his illness James B. accompanied him in 1878 and from that time until 1884 was employed as a contractor in plaster and mason work. For the next six years he was engaged with Edwin Florence in the shoe business on Tejon street, Colorado Springs, their place of business being known as the City Boot and Shoe Store. In 1891 he removed to Los Angeles and started in the grocery business, in Pico Heights. In the meantime, in 1892, he was appointed postmaster at Pico Heights, serving under both Harrison and Cleveland. Subse- quently he was appointed to fill the same office in Prospect Park under Mckinley, but a number of years later he resigned on account of ill-health and at the same time sold his mercantile business in Prospect Park. Since regaining his health Mr. Murphy has resumed work at his old trade,

contracting for cement, brick-work and plaster- ing of all kinds in Prospect Park, Hollywood and Los Angeles.

While in Colorado Springs Mr. Murphy was united in marriage with Miss Alice Louise Parker, the ceremony being performed July 16, 1879. Mrs. Murphy was born in Saratoga coun- ty, N. Y., and is a daughter of George and Louise Malinda (Laughlin) Parker. Five chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, of whom four are living, the eldest, Alice Marie, dying when three weeks old; Grace Jane is the wife of B. F. Sanford, and lives in Berkeley, Cal .: Florence Louise, the wife of Warren J. Lander, makes her home in Prospect Park ; while the two youngest children, Ruth and Earl James, are still at home with the parents. The subject of education is one which has always been of keen .interest to Mr. Murphy, and as a result he has been called upon to fill many positions in this line. Since 1898 he has been trustee of the Los Feliz school district and is also trustee of the Hollywood Union high school and is clerk of both boards.

In the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. Murphy is a member, he has held the office of steward for a number of vears, has been a teacher in its Sunday-school for twenty-five vears, and for the past three years has been the instructor of the young ladies' normal class. He is identified with but one fraternal organization, the Knights of Honor.

LOUIS WILHELM. Many successive gen- crations of the Wilhelm family were prominent in the business development of their native Ger- man village. Schleid. The history of the family shows that John Adam Wilhelm, who was born and reared in Sachse-Weimar, and served for several years as tax collector and treasurer of his district. owned a flour mill in town and a farm near by, the management of the two bring- ing to him an excellent degree of profit each year. At the outbreak of the Schleswig-Hol- stein war he went to the front and while in ac- tive service was wounded so seriously that event- ually his death resulted therefrom. The estate then fell to his only child, Louis, who was born at Schleid, Sachse-Weimar, June 22, 1863, and was but two and one-half years of age at the time of his father's death. The money was utilized largely in the acquiring of a superior education in the best German institutions of learning. When six years of age he was sent to school, and until he was eighteen his studies were carried on without any interval except the regular vacation seasons. Before he was eigh- teen he received a teacher's certificate from a normal university. In November of 1881 he

2116

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

landed in New York City with several hundred dollars still left of the estate. For a time he worked at Pittsburg, Pa., at various occupations, his main object being the acquisition of a fair knowledge of the English language. Later for eighteen months he took a business course, and then studied music and ancient and modern lan- guages at St. Vincent's College, Westmoreland county, Pa., where he proved to be an intelligent student of exceptional mental endowments.

The introduction of Mr. Wilhelm into Ameri- can commercial methods took place at Little Rock, Ark., where for seven months he con- ducted a mercantile establishment. At the ex- piration of that time he formed a partnership with Rudolph Schwartz and built a flatboat, which he stocked with general merchandise and took down the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. For four years he engaged in trading, meanwhile becoming the owner of nine different boats. On selling out at Vicksburg, Miss., in 1886 he came to California and settled at Los Angeles, where he bought a half inter- est in a grocery on the corner of Ninth and Main streets. After six months he purchased his partner's interest in the store, which he con- ducted for three and one-half years and then sold. The next enterprise in which he became interested was the purchase of a half interest in the I. X. L. livery at No. 824 South Main street, Los Angeles. Six months later he purchased the other half interest from his partner, Albert Cross, and for six years conducted a large busi- ness. During the second year he was given the contract to carry the Los Angeles mails from the depot to the postoffice, and this contract he filled for four years, during the administration of General Mathews as postmaster. In addition owned a blacksmith's shop and operated seven hundred and sixty acres of the Mesmer tract. Eventually he traded the livery business for three hundred and twenty acres in Kern county and $4,000 in cash, but six months later he bought back the livery, and conducted the same some time longer.

The property holdings in which Mr. Wilhelm has been interested represent a considerable value. One of his first purchases comprised one hundred and sixty acres at Hemet, ninety miles from Los Angeles. On coming to Inglewood, he rented the Mesmer tract of seven hundred and sixty acres, the Cook tract of three hundred and twenty acres, and the Freeman tract of four hundred and eighty acres, making more than fifteen hundred acres devoted to the raising of grain and the pasturage of stock. Another real- estate acquisition consists of one-fourth of a block between Fifteen and Sixteenth and Main and Los Angeles streets, with a residence that he rents to tenants, and about the same time

he bought a tract of twelve acres at Hyde Park, where he now resides, the same forming a val- uable and well-improved ranch. On the north- east corner of Figueroa street and Vernon av- enne he bought for $4,500 three lots 151×150 feet in dimensions, and recently he purchased an improved ranch of six hundred and thirty-eight acres four miles west of Hemet, which is valued at $30,000. Twenty miles east of Palm Springs, Riverside county, he owns an eighty-acre tract where the thousand palms grow. In all, he owns over 1,000 acres of farming land. He is a stockholder of the Lomita Land & Water Company. Also a stockholder and vice-presi- dent of the Hyde Park Water Company. All of his holdings represent a value of $100,000 and represent his wise investments since coming to the coast country. In additon to these holdings he loans money on ranch mortgages and makes investments as time and opportunity afford.

The marriage of Mr. Wilhelm occurred May 10, 1892, and united him with Miss Katie M. Maxey, a native of Denver, Colo., and daughter of John J. Maxey, one of the prosperous busi- ness men of Los Angeles and Denver, Colo. Their family comprises the following-named chil- dren; Theresa, Louis L., Anna Laura, Karl Jo- seplı. Angelina M., Leo F., Alma K., Walter J., Gladys M. and Grace R. The children have been reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, of which the parents are earnest sup- porters. Since coming to America Mr. Wilhelm has been stanch and active in his allegiance to the Republican party, but he has held no offices except such as were of an educational nature, included in the latter being the positions of presi- dent of the Inglewood Union high school board and clerk of the Hyde Park school board.

PIRL T. WARD. The trade of carpenter and ranching pursuits have occupied the atten- tion of P. T. Ward since his location in Cali- fornia about twenty years ago. He is now Ío- cated in the vicinity of Artesia and engaged in the management of a thirty-acre ranch, given over to grain, table-grapes, potatoes and general products, and in the conduct of his work has proven his ability, his perseverance and energy. Mr. Ward is a native of Madison county, Ohio, where he was born November 6, 1854, a son of John E. and Eleanor (Harris) Ward, natives respectively of Maryland and Ohio. The family eventually located in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the father passed away at the age of eighty years, his wife having died in Kansas when about fifty. They became the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom but three are now living. A daughter, Mrs. Mathews, lives in the vicinity of her brother, P. T .; John, the eldest son, served

2117

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

valiantly in the Civil war. Up to the age of seventeen years P. T. Ward was reared in Ohio and received his education through the medium of the public schools. At that time the family located in Kansas, where he engaged in farm- ing and learned the trade of carpenter in Pea- body, Marion county, that state, being located in Peabody from 1871 till 1887, where he carried on his trade. In the mean time he bought one hundred and sixty acres of railroad land and devoted this farm to the raising of grain and stock. In 1887 he came to California and in Los Angeles found employment at his trade, re- maining in that city until 1903, when he pur- chased his present property, the cultivation of which is turned over to his sons while he con- tinues to ply his trade in the city of Los An- geles. He was married in 1876 to Miss Emma L. Thomas, a native of Wisconsin, who with her parents, William H. and Sarah Thomas, came to Kansas in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Ward became the parents of the following children : P. A., who married Lilian Williams of Wins- low, Ariz .; John E., assistant clerk of the Phoenix (Ariz.) legislature; S. G .; Paul R .; L. S .; and Edith. Mr. Ward is a stanch advo- cate of Republican principles and while in Kan- sas served for some years as constable.

HON. CHARLES J. WALKER. The posi- tion accorded the Hon. Charles J. Walker in the municipal, financial and social life of Long Beach, Cal., is one to which he is justly en- titled, the success of his career since locating in this city being the result of applied ability and an unswerving integrity of citizenship. Born, reared and educated in New York state, he prof- ited both by inheritance from early ancestors who settled on the Atlantic coast and also by the hab- its of perseverance and energy which were in- culcated by constant training, and to eastern con- servatism he has added western progress and brought about a personal success, financially and socially, while at the same time he has proven himself an important factor in the development of his adopted city.

Mr. Walker, born in Allegany county, N. Y., November 8, 1869, is the youngest in a family of five children, of whom three are living. His father, William D. Walker, was also a native of New York state, where he engaged in the man- ufacture of furniture until 1879. In that year he came to California and located in Tulare county, shortly after which his death occurred, his wife, a Miss Esterbrook, having died in New York state, the place of her birth, a number of years previous. Charles J. Walker remained in the state of his birth until 1889, attending the pub- lic schools in pursuit of a primary education.

and later becoming a student in Alfred Uni- versity, and finally completing a commercial course in the Almond high school. Upon his location in Tulare county, Cal., he accepted a position with a large real estate firm, and was later employed in the abstract office and as dep- uty auditor under Mr. Jeffords. Foreseeing the possibilities of Southern California, he resigned from his position in Tulare county and came to the coast, in 1895 locating in Long Beach. Here he engaged independently in the real-estate busi- ness, buying and selling lots, building residences and disposing of them profitably as the town grew from a population of twelve hundred peo- ple to its present number. In all its progress Mr. Walker has kept thoroughly abreast, actively participating in all movements calculated to ad- vance the general welfare, and at the same time constantly adding to his own prosperity. With his real-estate business he has combined that of insurance, representing several of the leading companies throughout the country, and besides maintains with credit responsibilities in many of the most substantial enterprises of the city. He is president of the People's Bank of Long Beach ; a director in the First National and Citizens' Savings Banks, of Long Beach ; a director in the company now making preparation to erect the new hotel; and president of the Mercantile Com- pany (of which he was one of the organizers.) He is also identified as secretary with the Land & Navigation Company, being associated with Stephen Townsend in its organization, this com- pany turning over eight hundred acres to the Los Angeles Dock & Terminal Company, one of the largest real-estate deals in the vicinity of Long Beach.

Besides his multifold duties and responsibili- ties in the business activity of Long Beach, Mr. Walker has taken a strong interest in municipal life, giving his best efforts in the promotion of proper government. As a Republican he lias sought to advance the principles he endorses, and through the influence of this party was sent as an elector in 1904 to the national convention from the ninthi district of Southern California. In April of 1900 he was elected to the city board of trustees for four years, and upon the organization of the citizens' ticket was made president of the board and served as mayor un- til 1903, when on account of ill health he re- signed.

He was elected chairman of the board as a no-license man and following his election was largely instrumental in putting out the saloons and cleaning up the city. In all things he has proven himself a man of public spirit and a citi- zen upon whom the honor of the city and com- munity may safely rest.

In Long Beach, in 1895. Mr. Walker was

2118

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

united in marriage with Miss Carrie D. Ziegler, a native of Kansas and of German parentage. They are the parents of four children, all born in Long Beach: Alice, Charles, Gussie and Marion. Fraternally Mr. Walker is associated with the Knights of Pythias and Knights of the Maccabees, and in his religious views ad- heres to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he officiates as chairman of the board of trustees.

HENRY HOWARD WILSHIRE. Repre- senting one of the old and prominent families of Southern California, Henry Howard Wilshire spent the days of his young manhood and ma- turer years as a resident of San Bernardino coun- ty, where he assisted in its development as a progressive and enterprising agriculturist. He was born in Utah November 10, 1856, a son of George T. Wilshire, an honored pioneer of Cali- fornia and one whose personal biography will be found in the sketch of another son, Joseph E., which appears elsewhere in this volume. Henry H. Wilshire came to California with his parents and in San Bernardino was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools of the county. Upon becoming dependent upon his own resources he located on a government claim in Oak Glenn, clearing a farm from brush and undergrowth and beginning the raising of stock, in which he was engaged for many years following. He set out an apple orchard and took out ditches for irrigation from the Little San Gorgonia, and also gave considerable time and attention to the raising of potatoes, which is a profitable product of this section. At his death, which occurred August 18, 1895, he owned one hundred and sixty acres located sixteen miles from Redlands, twenty-five acres being in apple orchard and the remainder devoted to grain and hay. He was a Democrat in his political affilia- tions and one of the upbuilders of the section.

He was married in Colton January 1, 1880, to Miss Harriet Ann Vaughan, a native of San Bernardino, and a daughter of James Henry Vaughan. Her father was a native of Wales, and being left an orphan by the death of his father he came to the United States with his mother and in Utah located at Salt Lake City. He teamed in the mountains until 1858 when he came to San Bernardino and engaged in farm- ing, finally locating in Colton, where he fol- lowed general farming pursuits. He is now living on his ranch at the age of seventy-three years. His wife formerly Harriet Sauze, was a native of England ; she came to Utah across the plains and was one of the early settlers of Salt Lake City. She is also living, being seventy-one years old. They were the parents of eleven children, all

of whom are living, Mrs. Wilshire being the fourth in order of birth. Since her husband's death Mrs. Wilshire has continued to reside on the home farm. She is a woman of rare worth of character and held in the high- est appreciation by

all who have ever known her. In religion she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; politically she leans toward the principles of the Democratic party, and believing in her right and duty to exercise the powers of citizenship has served for about five years as a member of the board of trustees of the Yucaipe district. She is the mother of five children, namely : William Henry, of Los Angeles ; Elmer Clarence, in charge of the home farm; Bert Loarn; George Frederick; and Hen- rietta Elsie.

CLARENCE A. WATSON. Although Mr. Watson has been a resident of Redlands but a brief time, he has still firmly established his position among the enterprising and helpful citizens of the place, and is intent on the up- building and development of its resources. He has recently built a magnificent home in Red- lands on the heights overlooking the San Bernar- dino valley, the grounds being superbly laid out and terraced, and complete with every beauty pos- sible to the sunny clime of Southern California. Mr. Watson was born in Newark, N. J., in 1866, the elder of two children born to his parents, George and Sarah F. (Kilpatrick) Watson, na- tives respectively of Auburn, N. Y., and New Jer- sey, and both representatives of old and honored families. The paternal grandfather, Thomas, was born in England and came to America and in New York established his home, where George Watson attained manhood. He then came to New Jersey and in Newark began a business career as a manufacturer of clothing, establishing in 1850 the George Watson Com- pany and managing its interests up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1898. His wife is still surviving and makes her home in New York City, where their son, George Jr., resides.

Clarence A. Watson was reared in his native city and educated in its public and private schools, graduating from the Newark Academy in 1844. He then entered his father's manufactory, begin- ning at the first rung of the ladder, learning the details of the enterprise in the humblest capacity and thoroughly mastering the management, so that he was able upon the death of his father to assume entire charge of the concern. Not only was he able to carry on his father's methods, but with an originality and daring business sagacity enlarged the enterprise and added to its possibilities, in time building the magnificent brick block in Newark at the corner of Broad

2119

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Market streets, where they occupy four im- mense stores in the conduct of the business. He remained a resident of Newark until 1901, when, having made several trips to Southern Califor- nia, he concluded to locate permanently in Red- lands, and accordingly began work on the mag- nificent home which is now a pride of the city. He is interested in horticulture and looks after an orange grove which he owns. In New York City Mr. Watson was united in marriage with Miss M. J. Hill, of New York, and they have two children, George and Harold. Fraternally Mr. Watson was made a Mason in East Orange, in Hope Lodge, F. & A. M., where he still holds membership. Personally Mr. Watson is a man of pleasing characteristics, affable, genial and liberal with his means in the advancement of public interests. In his residence in Redlands he has won a wide circle of friends who ap- preciate him for his fine qualities of character and manhood.

HENRY BROWN WILSON. The official life of San Bernardino county has in Mr. Wil- son, its present county assessor, an able and ef- ficient representative whose duties have been faithfully discharged since taking up this work. He came to Southern California in 1887. He was born in Gardner, Me., June 15, 1856, a son of John S. Wilson, whose personal history is given at length in the biography of John W. Wilson which appears on another page of this volume. The family came to California in 1870 but returned to Maine and located in Portland, where Mr. Wilson completed his preparatory work in the Portland high school and then en- tered Bowdoin College, graduating therefrom in 1880, with the degree of A. B., and three years later was honored with the degree of A. M., by his alma mater. In 1881 he came to Denver, Colo., and remained there for eight months in the employ of a business firm as bookkeeper. He then returned to Portland and accepted the posi- tion of head accountant for the firm of C. M. Rice & Co., a wholesale paper concern of that city, and remained in this connection for the period of four years. He then went to Boston and was in business for a year.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 163

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