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 178

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 178

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Reared in Hillsboro, Tex., and educated primarily in the public schools, David R. Glass later became a student in the Polytechnic Col- lege at Fort Worth, where he was graduated in 1899 with the degree of A. B. Hav- ing run out of funds he worked his own way during the last year and demonstrated the pluck and perseverance which are so large a part of his nature. He began teaching im- mediately after leaving the college halls, hav- ing charge of the Hunt school, in Hill county, Tex .; after one year he entered the Tyler Commercial College and graduated therefrom in 1901, having attended the institution but four and a half months when he was given the degrees of master of accounts and stenog- raphy. He was immediately called to a pro- fessorship in the Bowie Commercial College of Bowie, Tex., retaining the position for six months, when he became the head master in the Tyler Commercial College. He retained this position until March, 1906, and during this time engaged in real estate operations in addition to his scholastic work.

Resigning in 1906 Professor Glass came to Southern California and in San Bernardino, in conjunction with a Mr. Adair, purchased the San Bernardino Business College, and at once began its upbuilding and development, and although but a brief time has elapsed since his assumption of affairs, yet there has been a marked change and advancement which bid fair to place this institution in the front rank of those of similar character in Southern California. While in the Tyler Commercial College Professor Glass prepared what he has since called the Lightning Legible Shorthand, copyrighting the same in August, 1906; he has successfully introduced it in the San Bernardi- no Business College. It is learned in one-

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half the time required for the other systems, every possible means being taken to make it easily written and, better still, easily read. He is also the originator of the Glass touch typewriting system, which is making of his pupils the most accurate of those who are fill- ing commercial positions in this section, and he has also originated the Glass system of bookkeeping. Professor Glass is highly es- teemed and appreciated for the thorough and conscientious manner in which he performs his various duties, no pupil ever losing in any way under his instruction, business meth- ods, thought and habit being strongly im- pressed upon the youth seeking a foundation for a foothold in the world's marts.

In Tyler, Tex., Professor Glass was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Barnette, a native of Mississippi, and a highly cultured woman. In his fraternal relations the professor is iden- tified with the Woodmen of the World; in religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and is a teacher in the Sunday-school. Politically he casts his ballet in the interests of the Democratic party.

WILLIAM A. SACKETT was born in Sherman county, Tex., November 22, 1854, a son of Thompson D. Sackett, the latter a native of Illinois. In Arkansas he met and married Rebecca M. Evans, a native of Alabama, and after a few years they removed to Texas. Four years later they came to California, spent two years in San Bernardino, then moved to Visalia, Tulare county, where they farmed for a time. Locating in San Luis Obispo county the father engaged in ranching for some time, and finally came to Los Angeles county, where his death occurred in 1892.

William A. Sackett was but three years old when his parents brought him to California, two years being spent in San Bernardino. His education was principally received in the com- mon schools of San Luis Obispo county, the course being completed in Los Angeles. He worked with his parents until after his mar- riage, when he began farming for himself. He purchased his present property in the vicin- ity of Artesia, where he has fifty-one acres of land, a part of which is in grain and corn, while much of his attention is given to the management of a dairy. He has lived in this immediate vicinity since 1868, and on this property since 1881.

The marriage of Mr. Sackett occurred in 1877, uniting him with Miss M. M. Petty, who was born in Texas, a daughter of Will- iam J. Petty, and born of this union are the following children : Marinda, wife of J. T.

Orr; William A .; Joseph D .; Ervin M., who died at the age of fourteen years; R. J .; Lucy P .; Jeannette M .: Rebecca J .; and Thompson D. Mr. Sackett is associated fraternally witlı the Masonic lodge at Artesia, the Order of Eastern Star at Norwalk, the Odd Fellows and Rebekahıs of Artesia, the Independent Order of Foresters of Norwalk, and the Knights of the Maccabees of Artesia. Politically he is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles.

JOSEPH WEBSTER. The work of Jo- seph Webster has been accomplished in the upbuilding of a personal fortune and the estab- lishment in life of his children, whom he has had educated and settled comfortably in life, to make of themselves such citizens as he has set them the example. He is an old set- tler of this section of Southern California and during many years of residence has won a high position among his fellow men, appre- ciated alike for his business ability and the personal qualities of character which distin- guish him. He is an Englishman by birth, born in St. Helen's April 24, 1842; his father, Henry, a native of the same place, brought his family to America in 1849, locating on the then frontier (Pottawattamie county, Iowa), where he engaged in farming until his death. which occurred two years later. His wife, formerly Ann Rigby, was of English birth, and died in San Bernardino county in 1879. She was the mother of fifteen children, of whom twelve attained maturity and six are now living.

Joseph Webster was a lad of seven years when he was brought across the water to the western world, the first three years of his life being spent in Iowa. In 1852 the family re- moved to Salt Lake, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and in that place he received a lim- ited education in the common schools. He was early employed on farms and also assisted his mother in the management of the home farm. In 1859 he came to San Bernardino county by mule-teams, and here went to work by the month, and when financially able rented land and began farming on his own resources. Two years later he was able to purchase prop- erty, consisting of a farm now on Third street in the town of San Bernardino, and here he conducted general farming operations and a dairy business. In 1862 he began freighting and the following year with his brothers he drove a band of wild horses from California to Salt Lake and sold them. He continued freighting from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City and into Arizona until 1864, when he began freighting to Montana. Returning to San Ber-

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nardino he engaged in teaming, hauling lum- ber from the San Bernardino mountains. In 1868 he purchased a band of cattle and be- gan stock-raising in the Yucaipe valley, locat- ing a ranch the same year. He purchased his present property from a Mr. Tripp, of San Jacinto, and has here engaged in farming and stock-raising ever since. He owns one-hun- dred and sixty acres in Yucaipe devoted to grain and stock, having previously disposed of lands which he owned in Bear valley and San Jacinto.

Mr. Webster was married in San Bernardino to Miss Mary M. Rabel, a native of Wyom- ing, and a daughter of Henry Rabel, who was born in Germany, emigrated to Fort Larimie, Wyo., and thence came to California and engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Webster became the parents of the following children : Rosalie I., Mrs. Wil- shire, who is now deceased; Elizabeth E., a graduate of Berkeley and a teacher in Pomo- na; Henry E., a farmer in the Yucaipe val- ley ; Reese, a farmer in Santa Ana; Calvin, a carpenter in San Bernardino; Albert, team- ing in Los Angeles county ; Raymond, a farm- er in Yucaipe valley ; Clayton, a farmer on the Base Line in San Bernardino county ; Lillian, a teacher in San Bernardino; Grache, Mrs. Brooks, of San Bernardino; and Mabel, attend- ing a business college of San Bernardino. Fraternally Mr. Webster is a member of the Odd Fellows organization, being active from 1872 to 1905, when he was demitted. He was also a member of the encampment and Rebek- ahs from which he is now demitted. He takes a deep interest on all educational ques- tions, having served for several terms as school trustee in both the Yucaipe district and the San Bernardino. He has been a Democrat politically since the days of Douglas, but un- der the administration of Mckinley he en- dorsed the principles of Republicanism, of which he is now a stanch advocate.

FREDERICK A. POOLE, located in Covina, Los Angeles county, was born in San Bernardino county, near Colton, October II, 1868; his father, Edward Poole, came to America from England in young manhood, and in Missouri married Susan Ann Wilshire, also a native of England. He still survives and makes his home near Colton, at the advanced age of eighty years. His wife died in Septem- ber, 1906, when seventy-seven years old. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom seven still survive and make their home in California.

Frederick A. Poole spent his boyhood days

in his native county and received his educa- tion in the public schools, after which he en- gaged with his father in ranching until he was twenty years old. In 1888 he moved to Orange county, and four years later purchased a ranch of eighty acres near Capistrano. In 1903 he gave up ranching pursuits and engaged in the feed and fuel business in San Bernar- dino for one year, then returned to Capistrano and purchased two hundred and fifty acres, given over entirely to the cultivation of grain. Later disposing of his Orange county prop- erty he came to the vicinity of Covina and bought the forty acres which form his pres- ent ranch.

In June, 1892, Mr. Poole was married to Miss Ada Hayden, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of William Hayden, and who came to California with her parents when a small child. They are now located in San. Diego. Mr. and Mrs. Poole have one son, Fred L.

JOSEPH SILVA, of Oxnard, is engaged in ranching on the Chiappa Pietra ranch. A native of Portugal, he was born De- cember 25, 1862, on Fayal Island, one of the Azores, and until after his marriage resided in the country of his birth, His fa- ther, Joseph Silva, Sr., a farmer, is now liv- ing in Portugal at an advanced age. His mother, also a life-long resident of Portugal, died at the age of seventy-five years. Two of their sons besides Joseph R. are living in Ven- tura county, and a grandson makes his home with Mr. Silva, he having come here from Portugal in 1904.

In 1883 Mr. Silva immigrated to the United States, coming to Alameda county, Cal., where he was employed as a ranchman for three years. Coming from there to Ventura county, he purchased nine acres of land in Saticoy, and since that time has been employed in till- ing the soil on his own account. His present ranch comprises fifty acres, upon which he has made many improvements, placing the land in a fine state of culture, and erecting a con- veniently arranged residence, substantial farnı buildings, and furnishing these with all the modern comforts and conveniences. On the home ranch he raises beans, and in addition he carries on two hundred acres devoted to the- growing of barley. He has title to three hun- dred and twenty acres of farming land in Los Posas, and at Saticoy, in addition to his nine- acre ranch, he owns two house lots, and has four valuable lots at Long Beach, liis real es- tate holdings being very valuable.

In Portugal, before coming to the United

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States, Mr. Silva married Alexandrina Da Gloria, who immigrated to California in 1887, joining her husband in Ventura county. Mr. and Mrs. Silva have six children: Mary, Jo- seph, Phoebe, Annie, Louise and Maggie. Mary, the oldest child, was born in Portugal, but the others are natives of Ventura county. Politically Mr. Silva is a Republican.

MORTON HAIG, a native of Scotland, was born in Edinburgh September 27, 1848, his parents being Robert and Catherine (Shields) Haig, both natives of that place. The father was a man of influence and prominent as a lawyer. Morton Haig received his early edu- cation in Edinburgh, and further pursued his course in Germany, France and Italy. His maternal grandfather having located in Amer- ica and engaged as a successful rice planter in South Carolina, he was induced to emigrate to this country. He decided, however, to lo- cate on the Pacific coast and accordingly came to California, where he associated himself with two brothers, James and Edmund Parkers, his personal friends, in the purchase of three hundred acres of land. They are now subdi- viding this property into small ranches, as Mr. Haig considers this an ideal location to estab- lish and maintain homes with but moderate means. They have previously devoted the land to the cultivation of various fruits and grains, and at one time had a magnificent dairy of full blooded Jersey cattle.

In England Mr. Haig was united in mar- riage with Miss Bertha Brown, a daughter of Hugh Stowell Brown, a noted Baptist divine of England of more than ordinary renown, whose death recently occurred in his native country. Mr. and Mrs. Haig are the parents of five children, namely: Alice, Cecil, Win- nifred, Bertha and John.

CHARLES GREVE, of Palms, was born in Germany in 1840, a son of Henry and Mary (Knopp) Greve. both of whom were also na- tives of the Fatherland, where the father still resides. During his active life he was a farm- er, but of late years he has been living re- tired, deprived of the companionship of his wife, who died some years ago. Eight chil- dren were born to these parents. Charles Greve was trained to agricultural pursuits on the home farm. In 1862 he came to the United States, landing at Castle Garden, New York City, and for several months he worked there as a common laborer to provide the means to pay his passage across the continent. His journey's end brought him to San Francisco,

but he soon left there for the Owen's valley. Coming to the southern part of the state for the first time in 1875, he was variously em- ployed in Los Angeles for about one year, when he purchased the ranch of one hundred and fifty acres on which he now makes his home. Of late the active management of the ranch has fallen upon younger shoulders, his sons relieving him of the duties borne in years past.

Mr. Greve and his wife have four children, Rudolph, George. Frank and Louise, all still at home, and by their self-sacrificing devo- tion to their faithful parents are lightening the burdens of their later years. The family at- tend the German Lutheran Church, and the father and sons uphold Republican principles.

GOTTFRIED ALEXANDER. Prominent among the residents of San Pedro that have met with success is Gottfried Alexander, a well-known and prosperous brick manufactur- er, who has built up a large and lucrative bus- iness in this vicinity. A native of Germany, he was born. December 23, 1859, in Sandan. His father, John Alexander, a brick manu- facturer, spent his entire life of four score years in the Fatherland. He married Louise Harra, who died in Germany. She bore her husband fourteen children, nine of whom sur- vive.

Brought up in Sandan, Gottfried Alexander left school when ten years old, and then be- gan to learn the brickmaker's trade, which he followed in his native country until becoming of age. Emigrating to America in 1881, he located in San Antonio, Tex., where for eight- een months he was employed on the South- ern Pacific Railroad. Locating in Los An- geles, Cal., in 1883, he worked in a brick-yard and became foreman for the firm of Simmons & Hubbard, brick manufacturers. Going to Klondike in 1897, Mr. Alexander crossed the Chilkoot Pass at the time of the great slide, and stopped there to help extricate the people. Continuing then his journey to Dawson, he remained there a year and a half, when he was ready to return to civilization. Coming back to his old home. he engaged with the Los Angeles Brick Company. Starting then in business on his own account, Mr. Alexander located in San Pedro in 1900, establishing a brick yard on Barton Hill, where he has a well-equipped plant, and is carrying on a sub- stantial business as a manufacturer, keeping busily employed in filling his contracts. By industry, perseverance and wise judgment, he has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, and owns property of value, having re-

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cently erected an apartment house, and hav- ing a fine residence at No. 1306 Arnold street.

In Los Angeles, Cal., Mr. Alexander mar- ried Martha Burner, a native of Germany, and they have two children living, namely: Ella and Walter. Politically Mr. Alexander is a stanch Republican, and religiously he is a member of the Lutheran Church.

CAPT. WILLIAM H. ELLSWORTH was born in Sheldon, Vt., February 12, 1844, the eldest. in a family of four children, of whom three are now surviving. His parents, Edgar and Catherine (Primmerman) Ellsworth, were natives respectively of Bristol, N. Y., and Pennsylvania, the maternal grandfather, Peter, being a native of Amsterdam, Holland, an early settler of Pennsylvania, and later of New York, and a patriot in the war of 1812. The father was a mason and builder by trade, and from Bristol he located in Sheldon, Vt., and later removed io New Hampshire and in West Lebanon passed his last days, and there his wife also died at an advanced age. A son, James, served in the First New Hampshire Regiment Cavalry in the Civil war and was wounded at Gettysburg, but survived the per- ils of warfare and made his home in Worces- ter, Mass., until his death, which occurred in 1906.

William Henry Ellsworth was reared in New Hampshire, where his parents removed, and he was there educated in the public schools of West Lebanon. In 1862 he volunteered in Company B, First Regiment New Hampshire Cavalry, and following participated in many of the most important engagements of the Civil war-the battle of Gettysburg, passed with Sheridan up and down the Shenandoah valley, fighting in Custer's brigade; at Cedar Creek three horses were shot from under him, each time his horse fell grasping the rein of some riderless horse and leaping to his back and again charging at the enemy. At Fisher's Hill he was wounded in the thigh. He was transferred to Sherman's army and joined him at Atlanta and in Kilpatrick's division of cav- altry participated in the battles of Jonesboro, Lovejoy station and Atlanta ; thence marched with Sherman to the sea, in the capture of Savannah, then north through the Carolinas, engaging in the battle of Goldsboro, and other minor engagements and on to the surrender of General Lee. He started into the struggle as sergeant, was promoted to office of second lieutenant after the battle of Gettysburg be- cause of services on the field and after Fisher's Hill was promoted to first lieutenant, and after the battle of Winchester became captain

of Company B. He was mustered out of serv- ice at Fortress Monroe in August, 1865, and then returned to New Hampshire, and in 1866 enlisted as a private in the regular army, serving five years in Company B, Eighth United States Cavalry, for the greater part of the time being located in New Mexico and Arizona and engaged in fighting the Apache Indians. His headquarters for this time were in Camp Grant, Arizona, and forts Stanton and Union in New Mexico.

Honorably discharged in 1871, Captain Ells- worth returned to New Hampshire and learned the trade of machinist in Claremont, and worked at his trade until an accident, which broke two ribs, laid him up six months; then was attacked with a severe case of pneumonia and for two years was incapacitated. Ordered to California by his physician, he came to this state and purchased a small ranch at San Dimas, Los Angeles county, and lived there until 1800, when he sold out and coming to Redlands bought five acres on Park avenue near Colton avenue, and set an orange grove of navels. He has been twice married, first united with Miss Susan Holbrook, a native of Cornish, New Hampshire; she died in Cali- fornia, leaving four children. Captain Ells- worth was united in marriage in Redlands with Miss Ida Stowell, a native of Claremont, N. H., and they have one son, Leslie. Fra- ternally Captain Ellsworth is identified with the Independent Order of Foresters, of which he is past officer, and is a member of Major Jarvis Post, No. 12, Grand Army of the Re- public, of Claremont, N. H. Politically he is a Republican, and in religion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM WHITMAN BEACH. A man of unlimited enterprise and energy, able and progressive, William Whitman Beach, of Ter- minal, is widely known as the promoter and manager of one of the important industries of Southern California. In the putting up of clams he carries on a good business, and by · a special process of his own invention he has succeeded in so canning abalones and the Pa- cific coast lobsters that they will keep for an indefinite time, and may be transported safely to all markets of the Union, if not of the world. Of New England stock, he was born, Febru- ary 28, 1856, in Hartford, Conn., which was likewise the birthplace of his father, the late Capt. Walter P. Beach. He comes of truly patriotic ancestry, his great grandfather on the paternal side having been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his Grandfather Beach, who organized the old Phoenix Bank of Hart-

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ford, Conn., and served as its president until his death, was a soldier in the war of 1812.

Following the sea during the earlier years of his life, Capt. Walter P. Beach was engaged largely in whaling, serving as master of a vessel. On retiring from seafaring pursuits, he located in Michigan, at first being engaged in the insurance business at Detroit. Subse- quently removing to Lapeer county, he es- tablished an extensive business as a lumber manufacturer, and took a prominent part in the management of public affairs, serving as sheriff of the county for several terms. Dur- ing the Civil war, he organized a company con- sisting of men from his own lumber camps. This company, which formed a part of the Tenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, he was made captain of, and at the Battle of Pitts- burg Landing he was seriously wounded. Capt. Beach was an old line Democrat, a faithful member of the Episcopal Church, and one of the leading Masons of his time, belong- ing to lodge, council and chapter, and being one of the charter members of the Detroit Commandery, K. T. He lived to the ripe old age of seventy-five years, passing away at his home in Ypsilanti, Mich. He married Martha A. Spencer, who was born in Boston, Mass., and died in Ypsilanti, Mich. Of the nine children born of their union, three sons and four daughters are living, William W., the subject of this sketch, being the second son in order of birth.

After his graduation from the State Normal School in Ypsilanti, Mich., William Whitman Beach, in 1872, entered the employ of W. H. Shaw & Co., wholesale notion dealers at De- troit, and as commercial salesman traveled for three years through Michigan and Ohio. The following three years he was engaged with his father in the insurance business, and for six years thereafter was steward on steamers running from Ogdensburg to Duluth and to Chicago. Subsequently Mr. Beach was for seven years in the lumber regions of Michi- gan, getting out timber for his father the first three years, and afterwards for other lumber manufacturers. Locating then in Wisconsin; he was employed in the hotel business for awhile, first at Waukesha, then at Kenosha and other summer resorts. Coming to California in 1888, Mr. Beach continued in the same bus- iness for awhile, running Hotel Metropole, at Catalina, for Mr. Shatto for two years; for two years managing a hotel at Arrowhead, Hot Springs, San Bernardino county ; and hav- ing charge of a hotel at Kern City, Kern coun- tv, for a year. Changing his occupation, Mr. Beach built a factory at Longbeach, Los An- geles county, and for four years was there

engaged in canning clams and lobsters. In 1902 he opened a lobster cannery in San Pedro, and the following year he incorporated the San Pedro Canning Company, of which he has since been vice-president and manager. In 1902 he removed the business to Terminal, and has here built a new factory, which is large and well equipped with the most modern machinery, and with every appliance for successfully car- rying on his work. Under his new process, Mr. Beach cans clams, lobsters and abalones in a most satisfactory manner, and is now managing a very extensive and lucrative bus- iness shipping the products of his canning fac- tory to all parts of the United States and to the more important markets of foreign coun- tries. In the prosecution of its business, this company leases San Nicholas Island, seventy miles from the coast, and in its fishing, and its lobster trapping, employs eleven crews of men, in addition keeping diving crews busy in gathering clams and abalones. The company has much money invested in its outfit, owning all of its vessels, as well as its large plant.

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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 178

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