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 165

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 165

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 Francisco, Cal., Mr. Lincoln married Sarah Eberline, who was educated in the west. Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln are prominent in social circles, and are devout members of the Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Lincoln is a stanch Democrat.

FRANK HOANSLER. The founder of the Hoansler family in America bore the name of John and was a native of Holland, whence lie crossed the ocean to the United States and set- tled on a farm in Pennsylvania. There he and his wife. Catherine, remained until death, rear- ing meanwhile a family of five children, the sec- ond of whom, Frank, was born near Harrisburg, Pa., on Christmas day of 1832. As a boy he at- tended school held in a log cabin containing fur- nishings of the most primitive order and offering educational facilities far inferior to those of the present day. At the age of sixteen he left school and started out to earn his own livelihood, en- tering the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad

Company as water boy. In due course of time he was promoted through various positions 1111- til he became section foreman.

The discovery of gold in California caused Mr. Hoansler to resign his position and in 1849 he and a friend, Mathew Diederer, came west by way of Panama. Misfortune followed him from the first. His comrade was killed in the mines shortly after their arrival and he was tak- en sick so that he could not work; after a year he returned east via Panama and secured em- ployment as section boss at Crestline, Ohio. Aft- er perhaps five years in that capacity he resigned and went to St. Louis, where he became section foreman on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. As an employe of that road he worked back as far as Cincinnati, then west again to St. Louis, and from there to Jasper county, Mo., where for four years he worked in the lead mines. Dur- ing the Civil war he was employed in Indiana. as section foreman on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. Later he was section foreman at Carmi, White county, Ill., with the road now popularly known as the "Big Four."

When Mr. Hoansler came to California in May, 1891, he found conditions far different from those that prevailed during the memorable year of 1849, and he was so gratified with prospects that he decided to become a permanent resident. After one year in Los Angeles he became a farm- er on the Bolsa ranch at Santa Ana and from there in 1894 came to Redondo, where for three years he raised grain and stock on the Weston ranch. Since then he has operated almost six hundred acres of grain land and also has one hundred and forty acres in beans, renting his ranch land from the Redondo Beach Company, and raising beans, barley and corn. A small ranch which he owns at Gardena is rented to other parties, and besides that place he owns a residence and several lots in Redondo. While living in the east he married Miss Mary Ever- ett. who was born in Illinois and died in Indiana. Nine children were born of that union, but only one survives, Mrs. Mollie Brooks, of Gallatin county, Ill. The second marriage of Mr. Hoans- ler was solemnized at Carmi, Ill., in 1874, and united him with Miss Mary Pryor, a native of that city, and a daughter of Philip and Agnes ( Boulder) Pryor. Her paternal grandfather, William Pryor, was born in Michigan and at an early age removed to Illinois, settling on a farm near Carmi, where he remained until death. When sixty-five years of age his devotion to the Union cause led him to enlist in the army for service in putting down the rebellion. Philip Pryor was born at Carmi and died on a farm there when his daughter, Mary, was only two years of age. There were two other children in the family and all are still living. Their mother

2125

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

was born in Pennsylvania and now, at seventy- six years of age, still owns and occupies the old homestead comprising three hundred and sixty acres. Her father, John Boulder, was born in Ireland and came to the United States at eight- teen years of age, settling at Pittsburg, Pa., and later removing to Carmi, Ill., where he bought government land at $12.50 an acre, a portion of the original tract being now owned by his daugh- ter.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hoansler con- sists of five children, namely: Mrs. Maggie Klump, of Toluca, Los Angeles county, Cal .; Lafayette, who is engaged in the tobacco busi- ness at Redondo; Lawrence F., who died in 1900, at eighteen years of age; Cleveland, who is en- gaged in the real-estate business at Redondo; and Marietta, who married Frank Nichelson, a farmer near Redondo. In religion Mrs. Hoans- ler is of the Congregational faith, while Mr. Hoansler is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

JAMES CLARENCE ALCORN. Fully alive to San Pedro's superior advantages of climate, soil, improvements and citizenship, James Clar- ence Alcorn has unlimited faith in its future, and ably champions its claims for recognition as one of the most beautiful, home-like, health- giving and desirable residence cities of Southern California. The subdivision of the large tracts of land in this vicinity into small ranches or city lots makes it possible for the agriculturist, horti- culturist or other business man to here find a favorable location, and in the many transfers of real estate Mr. Alcorn is especially interested, and as a dealer, in realty is carrying on an ex- tensive and lucrative business. A son of James Alcorn, Jr., he was born November 2, 1854, in Venango county, Pa. On the paternal side he comes of Irish ancestry, his grandfather, James Alcorn, Sr., having, with two of his brothers, emigrated from the north of Ireland to the United States, settling as a farmer in Venango county, Pa. He was a man of strong character, and an active member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.

Born in Pennsylvania in 1818, James Alcorn, Jr., succeeded to the occupation in which he was reared, and for a number of years carried on general farming in his native state. He was very active and influential in public affairs, for twenty years serving as tax collector and sheriff of Venango county. He was a cool, clear-headed man, brave in the performance of his duty, on one occasion arresting in their cabin two Molly Magnires, who had their six-shooters drawn, and handcuffing both of them himself. He was a Republican from the organization of that

party, and one of its most loyal supporters in both peace and war. In 1866 he purchased a farın in Indiana, near Elkhart, and there resided until his death, in 1896. He married Mehitable Jones, who was born in Venango county, Pa., a daughter of Isaac Jones, who emigrated from Wales to Pennsylvania, settling on an island in the Allegheny river, buying it from the govern- ment, and it is still known as Jones Island. She died in Indiana, on the home farm. Of the thir- teen children, six sons and seven daughters, born of their union, three sons and six daughters sur- vive. One son, George WV., served in a Penn- sylvania regiment during the Civil war, was cap- tured in battle, and died in Libby prison.

The seventh child in order of birth of the parental household, James C. Alcorn completed his early education in the public schools of In- diana, and at the age of sixteen years began work for the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad Company, being located at Elkhart. Subsequently, with headquarters at Garrett, Ind., he was in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, first as fireman and later as engineer. Going to Colorado in 1885, he traveled extensively in that state, and in 1889 went to Boise City, Idaho, becoming interested in mining in the Deadwood country. In 1900 he established himself as a real estate agent in Salt Lake City, and soon became identified with the best interests of that locality. When the estab- lishment of a road between that city and San Pedro was conceded he was made one of the engineering corps and assisted in the location of the entire highway. Being greatly impressed with the wonderful scenery and climate of Southern California, and more especially with the many advantages of San Pedro, he resolved to locate here. Returning to Salt Lake City he disposed of his properties in that section, includ- ing his mining interests, and in the summer of 1905 came here to live. Buying his present residence, at No. 437 Fifth street, he has greatly improved the property, and since that time has established himself as one of the leading real estate dealers of the city.

In Carson City, Nev., Mr. Alcorn married Anna D. Nash, who was born in Lynn, Mass., and was educated in Boston and in Michigan. She is an accomplished, cultured woman, and prior to her marriage was a noted school teacher, beginning her professional career in the east, and subsequently teaching for nine years at Salt Lake City. Mr. Alcorn is a man of literary ability, his History of the Spanish War, which he illustrated in eleven different colors, being an interesting volume, and a valued acquisition to the historical works of our country. Mr. Al- corn, having been healed by a Christian Scient- ist. has since made a thorough investigation of

2126

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the subject, and is now one of its stanchest sup- porters and a leading spirit in establishing a Christian Science Church in this locality. Polit- ically he is a strong Republican, having ever been true to the principles in which he was reared.

MISS C. ROGERS. The last quarter of a century has furnished the industrial, profes- sional, financial and social world with not a few women of brilliant attainments who have en- tered upon an active career and have thoroughly vindicated the right of each individual to do or be that for which he or she is best fitted by nature. Prominent among this number is Miss C. Rogers, who has established herself as a real estate dealer, with offices in San Pedro and Los Angeles, and is carrying on an extensive and remunerative business in her line, handling San Pedro and Harbor properties only. Of honored ancestry, she was born in Cork, Ireland, a daugh- ter of Reuben C. Rogers, who is actively identi- fied with the commercial interests of that city, being one of the best informed railway and ship- ping men of Cork, Ireland.

Miss Rogers, on the paternal side, is a de- scendant of John Rogers, the martyr, who, dur- ing the reign of Queen Mary, was burned at the stake, in Smithfield, in 1554. Subsequently, James I gave a grant of land in the southern part of Ireland to one of John Rogers's descend- ants, and it was occupied by some branch of the family until sold under the Confiscated Estate Act. The family afterwards became scattered through different parts of the world, one of the immediate ancestors of Miss Rogers settling in the West Indies. Her great-grandfather Rog- ers lived there many years, but died on the re- turn voyage, leaving a wife and son, who after- wards settled in Cork, Ireland. The grandfather remained there permanently, and there both Miss Rogers and her father were born. Her mother, whose maiden name was Lizzie Martin, was born in Kinsale, Ireland, a descendant of the Daunt family, and died at the family residence in Cork.

Having laid a substantial foundation for her future education in private schools, Miss Rogers was graduated from Trinity College, Dublin, after which she continued her studies in France and Germany. She subsequently traveled ex- tensively on the continent, and in April, 1898, crossed the Atlantic, and for a while resided in Canada. Wishing to become acquainted with the United States, she visited various points of interest, and in 1902 arrived in San Francisco. It was her intention to return east to New York City, going by way of Los Angeles, where she had planned to stay twenty-four hours in order

to call upon some friends of her uncle, Sir James Clifton Robinson, of London, who rebuilt the Los Angeles street railways, changing them from horse power to cable system. This rela- tive was associated with the late Charles T. Yerkes in the building of the Underground rail- way in London. These friends of Sir James said to Miss Rogers, "You must see Pasadena and the coast towns, and meet some people whom you used to know in your native land.'

Concluding, therefore, to remain for a while, Miss Rogers subsequently accepted a position as stenographer with George H. Peck, of San Pedro, and while thus employed became inter- ested in real estate dealings. Resigning her po- sition at the end of a few months, she returned to Los Angeles, rented desk room in an office in the Copp building, and in her undertakings was so successful that she afterwards opened an office in San Pedro also. She deals exclusively in San Pedro and Harbor realty, in her trans- actions bringing buyer and seller together prior to making a sale, and in carrying out this plan. is building up a very prosperous business. She makes a specialty of water front property, of the value of which she has an accurate knowledge, and is very enthusiastic over the future possi- bilities of San Pedro as a residence and business city. Miss Rogers is well known and highly esteemed in social circles, and is a member of Esperanza Chapter No. 167, O. E. S., of Los Angeles.

W. P. LOGAN. The family represented by this well-known oil-driller came to California during the early period of American occupancy. About the year 1852 A. S. Logan removed from Missouri across the plains to the far west, set- tling in San Jose and taking up agricultural pur- suits near that town. Removing to the vicinity of Lexington in 1856 he took up a quarter-sec- tion of government land near the Santa Cruz mountains and afterward gave his attention to the improvement of the land and the building up of a finely developed ranch. On that place his death occurred in 1898, when he was eighty- two years of age. His wife, Sarah, died in 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. Among their children was W. P., born in Lafayette county, Mo., November 9, 1850, and an infant at the time of the removal to the Pacific coast, so that his earliest recollections cluster around the San- ta Clara valley. As a boy he attended the com- mon schools of San Jose, and after leaving school he engaged in driving a stage for six years. Since then he has been interested in the oil business, 1879 being the year of his first as- sociation with that industry.

In the pursuit of his calling of oil-driller and

2127

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

contractor Mr. Logan has traveled over much of the west and has gained a thorough knowledge of localities where oil has been found. Upon first associating himself with the industry he was employed by the Pacific Coast Oil Company in Santa Clara county. Later he was identified with the Hardison & Stewart Company in Ven- tura and Los Angeles counties, and for six years worked with the Union Oil Company. May 6, 1900, he arrived at San Luis Obispo and here he worked for four years in the capacity of oil superintendent. North of Santa Barbara he drilled the first well for the Western Union Oil Company. After a brief period with the Los Alamos Developing Company he took an active part in the starting of the Logan Oil Company, a stock corporation, organized in September of 1905, and with this he has since been associated.

The marriage of W. P. Logan took place in 1893 and united him with Miss A. E. Waring, who was born and educated in this state, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Of this union there is a daughter, Edith. In fraternal relations Mr. Logan belongs to the Santa Maria Lodge of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias at Santa Maria, Hesperian Lodge, F. & A. M., at Santa Maria, and the Order of Foresters in Los Angeles. In national politics he votes with the Democratic party.

J. S. LOGAN. Throughout all of his life a resident of California and loyally devoted to his native commonwealth, J. S. Logan is a member of a pioneer family of the west and is a brother of W. P. Logan, with whom he has been engaged extensively in the drilling of oil wells as a mem- ber of the Logan Oil Company. During the resi- dence of his parents in San Jose he was born in that city June 6, 1856, and as a boy he attended the public schools there, later having the ad- vantage of a course of study in the Methodist College at Gilroy. On leaving college he took up the oil business and since has acquired a thor- ough knowledge of the industry, in which he and his brother have reputations second to none in the same line. By traveling throughout the entire state they have become thoroughly ac- quainted with the oil wells and prospects, and their judgment is depended upon in many in- stances where the advice of oil experts is sought. The Logan Oil Company has the confidence of the people and has established a reputation that is not limited to Santa Maria or to Santa Bar- bara county, the Company's headquarters.

During April of 1904 J. S. Logan was united in marriage with Miss Leona C. Holt, who was born and reared in Santa Maria and has spent her life thus far in Santa Barbara county. Onc child, Virgo Helen, blesses their union. Polit-

ically Mr. Logan votes with the Democratic party, while in fraternal relations he is connected with Hesperian Lodge of Masons at Santa Maria and Garden City Lodge No. 142, I. O. O. F., at San Jose, this state.

CAPT. EDWARD EVERETT YOUNG. Noteworthy among the well known and highly esteemed residents of San Pedro is Capt. Ed- ward Everett Young, who is prominent in social and fraternal circles, and as master of a vessel is actively identified with the shipping interests of Southern California. A son of the late James W. Young, he was born January 30, 1874, in Kansas City, Mo., coming from excellent Irish- English stock.

A native of Owen county, Ind., James W. Young grew to manhood in that state, and dur- ing the Civil war served his country, enlisting in an Indiana regiment. Subsequently remov- ing to Missouri, he settled as a merchant at Kansas City, where for a number of years he carried on a prosperous business. Coming to California in 1881, he became one of the leading grocers of Los Angeles, being thus employed the greater part of the time until his death, which occurred in Los Angeles county. His wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Hollingsworth, was born in Page county, Iowa, a daughter of Noah Hollingsworth, and a granddaughter of Joel Hollingsworth, an English Quaker, who settled in Indiana in pioneer times. Noah Hol- lingsworth was born near Terre Haute, Ind., and was there reared to agricultural pursuits. He afterwards learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed for a number of years in Muscatine, Iowa. In 1855 he settled in Page county, Iowa, and at the breaking out of the Civil war he erlisted in the Eighth Iowa Cav- alry, in which he served until his death. He married Elizabeth Byrum, who was born in Ohio eighty years ago, and is now residing in Kansas. Of the seven children born of their union, six survive, Lydia, widow of James W. Young, being the fifth child in order of birth.

Coming with his parents to California when but seven years old, E. E. Young received a common school education here, and at the age of eighteen years embarked in seafaring pur- suits. Locating in San Pedro in 1894, he se- cured a position with the California Fish Com- pany, and in June, 1901, entered the employ of the Pacific Packing and Navigation Company as master of a vessel, for three years engaging in transporting merchandise between Puget Sound ports and the Alaskan ports of the Behring Sea. In 1904 he returned to San Pedro and has since had command of the Alpha, owned by the Cali- fornia Fish Company.

2128

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

On January 6, 1906, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Nellie Hollingsworth, a native of Iowa, and they reside at No. 218 Thirteenth street, San Pedro. In fraternal organizations the captain is very active and influential. He was made a Mason in Wilmington, and is one of the charter members of San Pedro Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., of which he was the first senior warden, and the second to serve as master ; he is also a charter member of San Pedro Chapter, O. E. S., and its first worthy patron; he is a Scottish Rite, 32-degree Mason of Los Angeles Consistory No. 3, and belongs to Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He likewise belongs to Embarcadero Lodge No. 348, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand; and to the Rebekahs, of which he is a prominent member. He is a mem- ber also of the American Association of Masters and Pilots of California Harbor No. 15, of San Francisco. In national politics he is a stanch Republican, but in local affairs votes for the best men and measures, independent of party preju- dices.

M. M. FLORY. The Flory family dates its ancestry back to the early settlement of Virginia, the great-grandfather of M. M. Flory having been the first member of the family to make Rockingham county in that state his home, com- ing from Pennsylvania. The early progenitors were of German origin and brought up in that stern German Baptist religious faith which al- lowed no swerving from duty, however dis- agreeable it might be, and the later members of the family have retained the sturdy princi- ples of their fathers and are men of strong char- acter and scrupulous honesty .. The grandfa- ther, John Flory, was a farmer in Rockingham county and lived to be eighty years of age, his death occurring in 1844. His son, Abraham, born also in Rockingham county, was a man- ufacturer of shoes and later a farmer near Staunton for many years. It was in 1849 that he came to California via Panama, and after working in the mines for a season, returned to his home. Later he made a second trip to the coast and mined again in northern California, and on his way to Iowa in 1855 followed that pursuit in Idaho and Montana for short periods. His death occurred in Keokuk county, Iowa. His wife was Susanna Stoner, a daughter of a Virginia farmer, and she died in the state of Washington.

There were six children in the family of which M. M. Flory was a member, five of them still surviving at this time. Mr. Flory was next to the oldest, his birth having occurred April 9, 1834, in Rockingham county, Va., in which state he lived until seventeen years of age. His edu-

cation was received in a pay school in that state and after his school days were over he learned the carpenter's trade in Shenandoah valley. In 1855 he went to Keokuk, Iowa, and worked at his trade until the Civil war broke out, when he volunteered for military service and was mus- tered in as a member of Company F, Fifth Reg- iment of Iowa Volunteer Infantry. With his regiment he took part in the battles of Iuka and Corinth, and near the latter place he was taken sick and removed to the general hospital at Holly Springs. In the raid at that place he was taken captive and sent to Lagrange and from there to Memphis.' At the latter place the Con- federates were forced to abandon their prison- ers on account of the proximity of the Union army, and he was accordingly left in Memphis, and having contracted rheumatism was assigned to duty as chief clerk of the general hospitals there, where he remained until May, 1864, when, his rheumatism having become acute, he was sent to Iowa and mustered out at the end of his term of enlistment.

After the close of the war Mr. Flory was oc- cupied as a contractor and builder in Washing- ton, Ia., and Kansas City and Independence, Mo., until 1875, when, having had a hard attack of pneumonia, from which he did not readily re- cover, he resolved to try California's climate. After one year in Southern California he went to the desert regions, during which time his health was restored, and he decided to locate permanently in San Bernardino. This place was then a small town and many of the cities which are now places of importance in the coun- ty were not even laid out. Mr. Flory continued his business as a contractor, upon his arrival taking contracts at Oceanside, Ontario, Colton, Highland, and Redlands, in which latter place he erected the first house after the platting of the city. He conducted business in a compar- atively successful manner .until April, 1906. when a stroke of paralysis forced him to give up active work and he is now living a retired life in San Bernardino.

The marriage of Mr. Flory occurred in In- dependence, Mo., and united him with Mrs. Mary (Armstrong) Whitney, who was born in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Flory have been born five children, name- ly: Frank, a carpenter and sawver at San Ber- nardino: Maud, now the wife of Clayton Mus- cott, of Lopez, Wash .: Guy, a contractor in San Bernardino; Edgar, with the Riverside Trust Company, residing in San Bernardino; and Kate, at home. Mr. Flory was made a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Independence, Mo., and is now connected with Token Lodge No. 290, I. O. O. F., of which he is a charter member and past grand, and has

2129

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

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 165

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