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 174

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

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LEWIS LEWISON. The young men of to-day who are inclined to underestimate the chances for success in the country might de- rive encouragement and a change of opinion from the career of Lewis Lewison, one of the self-made men of Los Angeles county, who in addition to cultivating his own ranch of four acres on Kingsley and Washington streets, Pomona, superintends the management of forty acres adjoining his own, all of which is set out to oranges of a good quality. Ever since locating in Pomona in 1891 he has given his undivided attention to the study of horti- culture, and for a number of years prior to establishing himself in the business on his own account he had charge of the large ranch owned by Fred J. Smith, of Pomona.

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Mr. Lewison is a native of Denmark, born near Wiborg, Jutland, September 9, 1863, being next to the oldest in a family of six children born to his parents, Peter and Maren (Anderson) Lewison. A blacksmith by trade, the father gave up work in that line during the progress of the Sleswick-Holstein war in 1864, serving with valor during the struggle. The parents never left their native land for a home in the new world, and the mother is still living in the land which is dear through the associations of a lifetime. The father passed away in 1877. Three of their six chil- dren are now residents of California.

The public schools in the neighborhood of his Danish home furnished the only school training which Mr. Lewison received, and while he was still a young boy he had become thoroughly familiar with the blacksmith's trade, and indeed, from the age of sixteen until twenty, he worked at his trade for wages. In compliance with a rigid custom in his native land he entered the service of his country, be- coming a member of the Sixth Regiment, Fourth Company, and after a six-months serv- ice he was honorably discharged. In 1887 he came to the United States and located on a farm near Dannebrog, Howard county, Neb. Two years later he moved still further west, going to Wyoming, here for two years he had charge of a cattle ranch. Disposing of his interests there at the end of that time he com- pleted the journey to the Pacific coast and in the spring of 1891 located in Pomona. Al- though his previous training had not been along the line of horticulture his knowledge of agriculture was invaluable to him and he easily secured positions with orchardists. He remained with one employer, Fred J. Smith, for nearly nine years, and for three years had entire charge of the ranch, which contained one hundred and ten acres. A desire to once more become a land owner led to the purchase of a small ranch in 1897, but after two years he disposed of it and purchased his present four-acre ranch at the corner of Kingsley and Washington streets. At the time he took pos- session of the ranch only one acre was in or- anges, but he now has three acres in splendid bearing condition.

In Pomona Mr. Lewison was married to Miss Christine Jorgensen, who was born on the Island of Laaland, Denmark. Two sons, Alfred and Julius, have been born of this mar- riage. The family attend the Christian Church, of which both Mr. and Mrs. Lewison are members. Mr. Lewison is a member of the Fruit Growers' Exchange, and is a director of the Kingsley Tract Water Company. Po- litically he is a Republican in national affairs,

though in local elections he gives his vote for the best man for the position in question, irre- spective of party name. Fraternally an Odd Fellow, he was initiated into the order in Po- mona Lodge No. 246, and with his wife is a member of the Fraternal Aid.

PHILEMON R. LACY. The growing of carnations has become one of the industries of Redondo, and to no one is the development of the industry more indebted than to Mr. Lacy, who for many years has made of it a specialty and has studied every branch of the work until he now is regarded as an authority on the sub- ject. When he first entered the employ of the Redondo Floral Company he knew little of flori- culture, but by careful observation and constant study he acquired a thorough knowledge of the occupation and eventually was made manager of the largest carnation garden in the entire world. The company owns eighteen acres in carnations and ships to the wholesale markets as far east as Chicago, making a specialty of new varieties, including the Governor Roosevelt, Norway, En- chantress, Queen. Louise, H. Manley and Madame Lawson. Their original greenhouse, 20x300 feet in dimensions, was the first building of the kind erected in Southern California. In time it proved inadequate to the growing needs of the business and was supplemented by a greenhouse 208x56 feet. Besides the sale of carnations, a large trade is carried on in nursery stock, ornamental shrubs and potted plants.

The father of Mr. Lacy was David A., born in Carter county, Tenn., at the foothills of the Great Smoky mountains, and reared in the midst of a frontier environment. Early in life he went to Texas and took part in the revolution tor Texan independence. When the now flourishing city of Dallas had only two houses and they were cabins built of logs, he landed in that place, where one of his first transactions was to trade a pair of boots for a section of land six miles from town. The bargain proved an excellent one for him, as the ranch, which he still owns, is now among the most valuable stock farms in that locality. In religion he is identified with the Christian Church. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Paulina Cockrell, was born in Kentucky and died in Texas in 1883. Nine children, five sons and four daughters, were born of their union, and all are still living, P. R. be- ing fifth in order of birth. He was born at Dallas, Tex., June 7, 1866, and at a very early age became interested in working with fruits and flowers. Soon he was given charge of his father's nursery and orchard, and under his supervision the trees produced abundant crops of fine quality. In 1887 he came to California

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and for a year worked as a horticulturist, after which he came to Redondo and embarked in the livery business with George Cate, the two erect- ing the first barn in Redondo and conducting the first business of its kind. In two years he sold out and became an employe of the Redondo Floral Company, with which he has continued to the present. Since coming to Redondo he has established a home of his own, being united in marriage with Miss Grace Hamer, who was born in Illinois, and reared at Compton, Cal. Two children, Reta Paulina and Carl Raymond, com- prise their family. In religious connections Mrs. Lacy is identified with the Baptist Church and Mr. Lacy contributes to the same, also to other movements for the public good. Along the line of his chosen work he finds pleasure in his asso- ciation with the Los Angeles Horticultural So- ciety, while fraternally he holds membership with the Independent Order of Foresters and has served the local lodge as chief ranger.

Since writing the above Mr. Lacy has re- moved to a ranch near Gardena, which is now his postoffice.

THOMAS H. LAMBERT. Numbered among the progressive citizens of El Monte is Thomas H. Lambert, who as a farmer and horticulturist holds place among the successful men of this section. He is a native of Franklin county, Ark., born April 27, 1869, in the vicinity of Fort Smith ; his father, Frank, was born in Alabama, as was also his grandfather, Morgan, who im- migated to Arkansas and became a farmer in that section. Frank Lambert engaged as a farm- er until the breaking out of the Civil war, when he left his farm, shouldered a musket and fought gallantly for the land of his birth. He returned to civic pursuits after the close of the struggle and followed farming until his death in 1873. His wife, formerly Rebecca Jones, died in 1876, leaving five children, of whom three now sur- vive.

The youngest of his father's family, Thomas H. Lambert was orphaned at the age of seven years, when he went to live with an uncle, George Lambert. After two years he made his home with his married sister, Mrs. Bradley, and while with her received what education it was pos- sible for him to obtain with the limited advan- tages of the country of Arkansas. Thrown up- on his own resources at the age of fourteen years he secured employment on neighboring farms until he was eighteen, when with his accumulat- · ed savings he went into the general merchan- dise business with an uncle, Joseph Lambert, being located at National Springs, Ark., until 1889. In this year he sold out and came to Cali- fornia. After remaining two months in Los

Angeles, he was in Pasadena for the ensuing three months, and from there came to El Monte, entering the employ of J. S. Killian, a horticult- urist of this section. In 1891 he returned to Arkansas and the following year married Miss Fannie Bryant, a native of that state, where hier father was a farmer. In 1894 they lo- cated in Briartown, I. T., and farmed for two years, when Mr. Lambert once more turned his face to the Pacific coast. In El Monte he engaged as foreman for Mr. Killian until 1898, when he decided to enter the work for himself. He began by raising potatoes in different places in this district, but not until 1906 did he pur- chase property, in that year buying thirty acres in the El Monte school district three-quarters of a mile north of the town. Here he began rais- ing walnuts and alfalfa, and has since added many improvements, among them a pumping plant with a forty-horse power engine, a No. 7 Byron Jackson vertical pump, with a capacity of one hundred and fifty inches. At the same time he operates the Proctor farm of seventy acres, rais- ing walnuts and alfalfa, the land being irrigrat- ed by a pump with a capacity of one hundred and twenty-five inches, and farms sixty-five acres of potatoes in the Bassett district.

Mr. and Mrs. Lambert have two children, Stella and Ottie. Fraternally Mr. Lambert be- longs to California Lodge No. 330, I. O. O. F .. of Monrovia. His wife is a member of the Baptist Church, to which he gives a liberal sup- port. He belongs to the Mountain View Walnut Growers' Association and does all in his power to promote the best interests of the country at large. Especially is he interested in the educa- tional affairs of the community, having served as a member of the board of trustees of the El Monte district for three years, and is now act- ing as clerk of the board to the entire satisfac- tion of all concerned.

HENRY CLAY LEWIS. A man of excep- tional business ability and judgment, far-sighted and enterprising. Henry Clay Lewis, a resident of Long Beach, has been actively connected with many of the important transfers of realty in Los Angeles county within the past fifteen or twen- ty years, and as one of the leading dealers in real estate has carried on an extensive and re- munerative business. A son of Thomas Lewis, he was born at Buckrun, Adams county, Ohio, April 12, 1830. of substantial colonial stock.

Born and reared in South Carolina, Thomas Lewis became a farmer from choice, and while yet a young man became one of the earlier set- tlers of Ohio. In 1832 he followed the march of civilization westward. going with his family to Warren county, Ind., where he took up land,

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cleared a farm from the wilderness, and carried on general ranching for thirteen years. Going to Vermilion county, Ill., in 1845, he remained there until his deatlı, at the age of fifty-three years. He married Ann Gage, a native of Kentucky, and after his death she removed to Polk county, Iowa, where she spent her remain- ing years, dying at an advanced age.

Completing his early education in the high school at Bloomingdale, Ind., Henry Clay Lewis worked for awhile with his brother on a stock farm. Subsequently going into business for him- self, he located in Annapolis, Ind., as a stock raiser and dealer, remaining there several years, when, in 1861, he removed to Polk county, Iowa. However, as his brothers enlisted for service in the Civil war, he returned to Vermilion county, Ill., to live with his mother, but later took her to his house in Polk county, Iowa, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. His brother Charles was taken prisoner at the battle of Chattanooga, and died in Andersonville prison. His brother Levi served through the entire war, at its close receiving his honorable dis- charge. In 1883, Mr. Lewis removed to Glen- elder, Kans., and then came to Los Angeles county, Cal., arriving in Pasadena on December 22, 1884. At once engaging in the real-estate business he made money in his transactions. Keen-sighted and sagacious, with a wise pre- monition of the future upbuilding of the city, he invested a part of his capital in a fruit ranclı, which, as a sub-division, he laid out in town lots, and sold at an advantageous price, the lots bor- dering on Euclid street. He became a large property owner in Pasadena, at one time having title to eighty acres of land. Locating at Long Beach in 1889, he owned and operated a stock ranch about four miles north of the city for six years, after which he resided for awhile within the city limits. He subsequently spent five years on a ranch near Santa Ana, but in 1900 re- turned to Long Beach, where he has since lived, honored and respected by all.

Mr. Lewis has been three times married. In Bloomingdale, Ind., in 1854, he married Jane Hill, a native of that state. She died in Wabash, Ind., leaving three children, namely : Almyra A., widow of the late Robert Huston, of Wyoming ; Thomas S., for twelve years a conductor on the Southern Pacific Railroad, and now living in Los Angeles, where he is interested in mining as manager of the Cieneguita Copper Company ; and William Edwin, of Denver, in the railway service. In 1875, in Iowa, Mr. Lewis married Anna Thornton, who was born in Illinois, and of this marriage four children were born, name- ly : Alwilda May, wife of Roland J. Newsom, a gardener in Pasadena: Frank N., of Long Beach; Harry, living near Huntington Beach ;

and Carl, of Long Beach. Mrs. Lewis died . February 22, 1900, near Santa Ana. September 15, 1903, Mr. Lewis married Elizabeth Burger, who was born in Cook county, Ill. Her father, born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1806, married Mary Zenly in Detroit, Mich. : she was a native of Alsace-Lorraine, her birth occurring in 1811. Upon his immigration to the United States, Mr. Burger located first in Detroit, Mich., later in Cook county, Ill., afterwards residing in Naper- ville, Ill. In 1865 he moved with his family to Dwight, Ill., and there both he and his wife spent their remaining years, his death occurring in April, 1893, and hers one month later, in May, 1893. Mrs. Lewis has demonstrated her abilities as a good business woman, and for a number of years conducted a millinery store in Dwight, Il1. Since locating in this state and since her marriage she has ably assisted her husband in various business ventures. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lewis enjoy the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

JACOB RHEINGANS. Throughout South- ern California are many well-to-do agricult- urists, who through their own strenuous ef- forts have obtained a competency and are now living retired from active labor, enjoying a well-earned leisure. Prominent among these prosperous farmers is Jacob Rheingans, whose highly improved and well-kept ranch is advan- tageously located near the city of Los An- geles. A son of the late William Rheingans, he was born December 20, 1843, in Germany, and from his honored ancestors he inherited in a large measure those habits of industry, thrift and economy that invariably command success in the business world.

A native of Germany, William Rheingans lived in the Fatherland for a number of years after his marriage, being employed as a tiller of the soil. Immigrating with his family to the United States in 1848, he proceeded di- rectly to Wisconsin, where he purchased five hundred acres of land, from which he im- proved a valuable homestead. Active and in- dustrious, he carried on general farming in that state until his death, in 1896. He mar- ried Margaret Know, who bore him twelve children, three of whom were born in Ger- many, and the others in Wisconsin. Eight of the children survive, namely: Jacob, the subject of this sketch: Henry: Peter; Will- iam: Charles; Fve; Mary; and Katie. The mother was a member of the Lutheran Church, which the family also attend.

During the Civil war Jacob Rheingans en- listed as a private in a Wisconsin regiment, and served under Colonel Soloman until the

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expiration of his term of enlistment. Be- coming a farmer from choice, he began till- ing the soil when about twenty-two years old, and was thus successfully employed in Wis- consin for about twenty years. In 1886 he came to California in search of a favorable opportunity for investing his money. Locat- ing near the city of Los Angeles, he purchased his present ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, and in its improvement was very suc- cessful, it being now one of the most attract- ive and productive estates in the neighborhood, Having labored with well-directed toil for many years, he is now taking life easy, hav- ing relegated the care of his ranch to his son William. Politically Mr. Rheingans is an ar- dent supporter of Republican principles.

Mr. Rheingans married Katherine Hetsel, a native of Germany, and of the twelve children that have blessed their union ten are living, namely: Lizzie, Louise, Katie, Bertha, Mag- gie, Sarah, Huldah, Ida, Robert and William. Mr. and Mrs. Rheingans are true to the re- ligious faith in which they were reared, and are loyal members of the Lutheran Church.

MRS. NARCISSA DUNCAN. In speak- ing of the pioneers of a country the average person calls to mind members of the sterner sex who have braved the dangers of settling a new country, unconsciously ignoring the thousands of noble women who have shared the same dangers and vicissitudes and are no less worthy to be called upbuilders of common- wealths. Among the latter perhaps no wor- thier example could be mentioned than Mrs. Narcissa Duncan, who upon the death of her husband pre-empted the quarter section which he had previously entered in Green Meadow district, two and one-half miles south of the city limits of Los Angeles. Adhering ten- aciously to the policy of improvement and cul- tivation which her husband had inaugurated, it is her pride and satisfaction to own one of the most valuable ranches in the county, the land ranging in value from $1,500 to $5,000 per acre.

Mrs. Duncan's ability to cope with pioneer conditions is in a measure an inherited ten- dency, for it is known that her paternal grand- father was one of the first settlers in Livings- ton county, Mo. There her father, William Parker. was born, reared and established a home of his own. When his daughter Nar- cissa was a child of two years (her birth oc- curring in Livingston county December 8, 1842), Mr. Parker took his wife and nine chil- dren to Texas, the entire journey being made by wagon. Two years after their location in

the latter state the family were bereaved by the death of the wife and mother. After fol- lowing farming and stock-raising there for about five years Mr. Parker left his family on the ranch and began teaming for the govern- ment. Returning to Texas about 1854 he made preparations for the removal of his family to California, making the journey overland the same year by mule team. In the vicinity of San Diego the father engaged in farming and stock raising for four years, thereafter carry- ing on the same business near Del Monte until 1871. During the latter year, on account of advancing age, he gave up active business life altogether and thereafter made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Duncan, until his death, which occurred when he had attained the ripe age of eighty-two years. Throughout life he had been a stanch supporter of Dem- ocratic principles. His wife, who in maiden- hood was Elizabeth Hicks, was also a native of Missouri, and died while the family were living in Texas.

As will be seen from the foregoing Mrs. Duncan was little more than a child in arms when the family removed from Missouri, and was a girl of twelve when her father located in California. In 1855 she was united in mar- riage with William S. Duncan, who although born in Tennessee was reared in Texas, whith- er his mother had removed while he was still a youth. At the time the Parker family re- moved to this state he also came hither as a member of the same train, and the following year occurred the marriage of the young peo- ple. From 1857 until 1859 Mr. Duncan was interested in the White River mines in Kern county, and subsequently located in Los An- geles county, in 1868 purchasing a squatter's claim to the land which his widow now owns and occupies. As a means of livelihood he carried on teaming to the mines (having eight horses to each wagon), following this up to the time of his death, January 11, 1871. Eight children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, all of whom reached maturity except the youngest, who died in infancy. Frances became the wife of M. L. Bennett, a rancher in Green Meadow district; she died in young womanhood, when only twenty-seven years of age. Robert is the second child in order of birth. Cora is the wife of Charles McClain, and the family reside in Los Angeles. John Smith is a rancher and has charge of the homestead. Henry resides in Los Angeles, where he carries on a truck business. Mahala is the wife of Lonis Fogle, who in addition to conducting a ranch in Green Meadow dis- trict, also carries on teaming. The youngest child living is Mande Myrtle, the wife of Hugh

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C. Laughlin, and she still makes her home with her mother on the old homestead, which now contains only sixty-two acres, the re- mainder of the quarter section having been deeded to the other children. All of the sons are Democrats in their political affiliations.

ERNEST M. FREEMAN, M. D. Since in- augurating his professional practice in Long Beach in 1903 Dr. E. M. Freeman has become substantially identified with the advance in medical and surgical science in Los Angeles county, his wide experience and appreciation of the highest tenets of his calling making him an acquisition whose influence and opin- ion must needs carry great weight. Upon lo- cating here in June, 1903, he opened a private hospital, which with the aid of his wife, who is a trained nurse, he carried on for one year, giving it up at the end of that time to devote himself to his private practice.

The birth of Dr. Freeman occurred Decem- ber 13, 1864, in Nova Scotia, in which north- ern country his boyhood and young manhood were passed. Endowed by nature with a taste for knowledge and being surrounded by supe- rior advantages for gratifying this taste, it is a matter of no surprise that he made rapid strides in his studies. His public school train- ing was followed by a course in Acadia Col- lege, at Wolfville, Nova Scotia, an institution conducted under the auspices of the Baptist denomination, and from this seat of learning he graduated with the degree of B. A. About this time he had become very enthusiastic over the possibilities offered to energetic young men in California, and wisely determined to see for himself concerning the truth of them. Coming to the state in 1887, we went direct- ly to Santa Barbara county, where he taught school until matriculating in the medical de- partment of the University of California, front which he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1893. His first work as a practitioner was in Riverside county, building up an extensive practice in both Hemet and San Jacinto, in both of which places he established offices. Going to Santa Ana in 1901, he engaged in the practice of his profession there until re- moving to Long Beach, as previously stated.

In Santa Ana, Cal., Dr. Freeman married Mrs. Jessie Zavitz, who was born in England, but was reared in Canada. Being gifted by nat- ure with the qualities so essential in caring for the sick and afflicted, she determined to pre- pare herself for scientific nursing, and with this end in view entered St. Catharine (On- tario) Marine Hospital, graduating as a trained nurse. In the line of his profession Dr. Free-

man is a member of the county and state med- ical societies, and at one time was one of the examining surgeons of the bureau of pensions of the United States. While a resident of San- ta Ana he served as health officer. Although his professional duties leave little time for outside matters, le attends with considerable regularity the several fraternal orders of which he is a member, among them being the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters, Fraternal Aid As- sociation, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which latter order he is medical examiner. His political preferences are listed on the side of the Republican party, of which he is a stanch adherent. A man of deep religious convictions, he is a member of the Baptist Church, to whose various avenues of benevolence he contributes generously. Throughout his entire life Dr. Freeman has been governed by high principles of action, thus drawing to himself many friends and as- sociates, who have the utmost confidence in him.

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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 174

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