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 18

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

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JEREMIE CHEVALIER, of El Monte, is a native of France, his birth having occurred in Hautes-Alpes, May 23, 1868. His parents, Jacques and Mary (Blanc) Chevalier, both died in France, where as agriculturists they had spent their entire lives. They had five children, of whom Jeremie was next to the oldest. He was reared on the parental farm and educated in the common schools. He was sixteen years old when he came to California, arriving in Los Angeles February 22, 1885. Without means or friends he began at the bottom, securing em- ployment in a vineyard in this city, after which he went to San Pedro and engaged with Ed Amar in the sheep business. After four months

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lie went to Tehachapi and worked for ten months in the same business, when he returned to Los Angeles county and engaged in the dairy business. Four years later he undertook an in- dependent effort, purchasing teams and renting land in Orange county, where he successfully engaged in raising grain. Four years later he engaged in raising alfalfa at Los Nietos, Los Angeles county, for a similar period, and finally, in 1902 he bought twenty-five acres of the Peck tract, where he raised alfalfa and walnuts. He installed a pumping plant with a fifty horse pow- er engine and a capacity of two hundred inches, with two wells one hundred and twenty-five feet deep each, this being in partnership with two other ranchers near him. He still retains this property and makes it his home, at the same time renting land with which to carry on more extensive enterprises, devoting the rented land to grain and hay.

In Los Nietos Mr. Chevalier married Miss Mary Buschard, a native of Sacramento, and a daughter of Frank Buschard, who was born in Canada of French descent, came to California in 1849 and for years engaged in mining. He is now retired and living in Los Nietos. Mr. and Mrs. Chevalier have two children, Henry and Clementina. Mr. Chevalier is independent in politics.

WILL LUCIUS FOWLER. The name of Fowler is one well known and highly honored in Redlands, where father and son have given their efforts toward the upbuilding of the city's best interests and its advancement among the other sections of Southern California. The son, Will L. Fowler, is serving at the present writing as city marshal and ably discharging the duties that fall to him as an incumbent of this position; the father, William Fowler, was a prime factor in the municipal government up to the time of his death. The family was originally of English ancestry, the name being located in Connecticut, where William Fowler was born, a son of Bildad, who brought his family to Ohio and established the town of Fowler's Mills, near Cleveland, where he engaged as a farmer until his death. About 1852 William Fowler located in Newport. Minn., and followed farming until the breaking out of the Civil war, when, in 1861, lie volun- teered for service in Company F, Eighth Minne- sota Infantry, serving a full three years' term as second lieutenant. At Murfreesboro he re- ceived his only wound during the war, being shot through the right hand. Honorably discharged in 1864 he returned to his farming pursuits in Minnesota, and was there honored by election to the state legislature two consecutive terms. Previous to this he had served his county as su-

pervisor and was a prominent advocate in the advancement of educational affairs. He served for three years as president of the Minnesota State Dairymen's Association, and in a like ca- pacity for the State Agricultural Association of Minnesota for two terms. In 1891 he came to Redlands and bought an orange grove and later set out more acreage to this fruit, and in this work and his connection with municipal affairs of the city as member of the city council, at first by appointment and later by election, and presi- dent of the board of trustees for seven years, he occupied his time until his death, which occurred May 20, 1905. Redlands owes much to this en- terprising and helpful citizen, whose name will forever be inscribed on the roll of the city's hon- ored men. He was a member of Redlands Lodge No. 300, F. & A. M., and was commander of the Grand Army post here, and also held the same office in Minnesota. He was an active member of the Baptist Church and gave liberally to its support and upbuilding, while in Minnesota be- ing a delegate to the state convention. Politi- cally he was a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. In Ohio Mr. Fowler married Miss Caroline A. Lane, a native of Ohio, and she is now surviving and making her home in Red- lands. They became the parents of six children, of whom four are now living, namely: Frank L., engaged in horticulture in Redlands; May C., Mrs. Thompson, of this city; Nellie C., of San Jose ; and Will L., of this review.

In Newport, Minn., March 16, 1875, Will Lucius Fowler was born and there obtained his education primarily in the public schools, com- pleting the course in the Redlands high school, after his location here with his parents in 1891. He was graduated in 1895 and the following year entered the University of California and. passed the ensuing two years. In 1898 he en- listed in Company G, Seventh California In- fantry, and was mustered in at San Francisco for service in the Spanish-American war. He was mustered out with his regiment in Decem- ber, 1898, with the rank of corporal, after which he returned to Redlands and at once engaged in horticultural pursuits and also in building un- til April, 1906, when he was elected city marshal and ex officio tax collector on the Good Govern- ment ticket. Taking the oath of office April 18, 1906, he at once entered upon the duties of his position and has since given it his entire time and attention. In Redlands Mr. Fowler was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth E. Shorey, a native of Omaha, Neb., but who was brought to California at the age of three years and here reared to womanhood and educated in the Red- lands public and high schools. Mr. Fowler is a member of the Spanish-American War Vet- erans' Association, a member of the Sons of Vet-

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erans and the Red Men. He belongs to the First Baptist Church and officiates as deacon, having previously served as superintendent of the Sun- day-school. He is a member of the Board of Trade and active in his efforts to promote the best interests of the city.

GEORGE S. KLING. The milling interests of San Pedro have in George S. Kling a com- petent representative and a man whose energy and ability are enlisted in the line of his work. He is now superintendent of the San Pedro Lumber Company's mill department, a position which he has filled since June, 1905, and his past record is one that evidences a future of success wherever he is located. He is a native of Lewis county, N. Y., his birth having occurred at Lowville, September 30, 1866. His remote ancestors were German immigrants, who located in New York state, where his grandfather, Peter Kling, was born and in man- hood engaged as a farmer. In the course of time he married and reared a family, a son, Stephen S., born in Schoharie county, becom- ing in manhood a manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds in Lowville, N. Y. Later he re- moved to New Bremen, same state, where he followed his business until retirement from active duties. During the Civil war he served in the Twenty-sixth New York Cavalry, be- ing quartermaster-sergeant in Company H. He is a stanch member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is now living retired in Los Angeles. He married Ann Janette Hoyt, a native of Lewis county, N. Y., and a daughter of James F. Hoyt, a native of Connecticut, who became a pioneer of Lewis county, N. Y. Mrs Kling is still living and enjoying the evening of her days among the delights of Southern California. They were the parents of three sons and one daughter, of whom the sons attaining maturity are : George S., of this review: Spencer J., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Wayland H., of Los Angeles.

Reared to young manhood in New Bremen and Lowville, George S. Kling received a good education in the public schools and Lowville academy, after which he began teaching in his county, being then but seventeen years old. He followed this occupation for four years, during the summers continuing as he had in boyhood by working with his father in the sash and door factory. After attaining his majority he worked with his father steadily until the spring of 1894, when he went to Illinois, and in Hamilton became superin- tendent in the same kind of factory under Dickenson & Bartlett, which position he re- tained for one year. He then went to Hermans-

ville, Mich., and accepted the position of as- sistant superintendent in a hardwood flooring plant of the Wisconsin Land & Lumber Com- pany, with whom he remained for three years, when he resigned, and in December, 1897, came to California, arriving in January of the following year. Going to Los Angeles he established a real-estate business there with his brother Spencer J., but after two years he returned to the milling business, accepting a position as a stickerman at the San Pedro mill, where he remained for eighteen months. He then returned to Los Angeles and accepted a position with the Pacific Tank Company (now known as the Pacific Coast Planing Mill Com- pany), the plant being then in course of con- struction. He helped to install the machinery and remained in their employ from 1901 until 1905, in the course of time becoming superin- tendent of the mill and lumber business. He resigned from this position in June, 1905, and came to San Pedro to accept the position of superintendent with the San Pedro Lumber Company, having charge of their mill, which is one of the largest on the coast.

In Los Angeles, Mr. Kling was united in marriage. with Ardella E. Sharp, a native of Ontario, Canada, and they have one son, Spencer S., a daughter, Birdie, having died in infancy. Fraternally Mr. Kling was made a Mason in San Pedro Lodge No. 332, and is also a member of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees. His wife is a member of the Bap- tist church, to which he gives a liberal support. In his political affiliations he is an adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the Republican party .

JOSEPH E. JONES. The family repre- sented by this progressive young business man of San Diego county traces its lineage to Wales, where many generations lived and la- bored. The locality where they resided was largely given over to the mining industry, hence they naturally sought their livelihood in this occupation, and proved themselves pa- tient, industrious and painstaking miners. The first to come to the United States found in the new world greater opportunities than his na- tive land could offer. After leaving Wales Jo- seph Jones became a miner in the southern part of Illinois and made his home at Chester, that state, in which locality his wife, who was a member of the Scotch family of McKinzie, was born, reared and educated. About the vear 1888 they removed to California and eventually became established on a farm near San Luis Rey, where he engaged in ranching until 1905, the year of his retirement from act-

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ive agricultural cares. While they were living at Chester, Ill., their son, Joseph E., was born December 4, 1873, and in the schools of that city he was primarily educated, but after com- ing to the Pacific coast he had the privilege of attending excellent schools, including the Santa Barbara Business College. In 1893 he became a clerk for the firm of Irwin & Co., dealers in dry-goods and general merchandise at Oceanside, and from a humble position he worked his way upward through diligent at- tention to every detail connected with the business.

On the selling out of the mercantile stock in 1898, the firm of Irwin & Co. embarked in the hay and grain business at San Diego, but continued to be identified with the commer- cial life of Oceanside through the establish- ment of a hardware store in this town, and Mr. Jones was retained in the capacity of manager, a position that he fills at the present writing. In addition to conducting the business with judgment and energy, he has been actively associated with the civic life of his town and as a Democrat has been prominent in local poli- tics. In 1903 he was appointed city trustee to fill an unexpired term in that office and the following year he was duly elected to the po- sition, which he has since filled with charac- teristic intelligence and fidelity. In fraternal relations he is connected with various organ- izations in Oceanside, including Lodge No. 346, I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 385 of the Frater- nal Brotherhood, and Lodge No. 4402, I. O. F., in the work of all of which he maintains a warm interest.

GEN. SENECA H. MARLETTE. The pioneer days of General Marlette have result- ed in a material upbuilding for California, for be brought with him to the state the ability and perseverance which alone could give to the commonwealth its impetus toward the po- sition it now occupies among its sister states of the Union. He was born in New York, near Syracuse, January 18, 1824, a son of Will- iam J. Marlette, a native of New York and the descendant of an old French family, three brothers of the name having located in Amer- ica many years prior to the Revolution, in which a member of the family served with the rank of major. William J. Marlette engaged as a contractor in New York, working on the Erie canal and 'other public works; he later lo- cated in Ohio and engaged in railroad con- tracting. His last days were spent in Illinois, where he died at an advanced age. By his marriage with Lucy Balch, of Massachusetts, he allied his fortunes with those of an old Rev-

olutionary family, her death occurring in Iowa. Of their seven children Seneca H. Mar- lette was the fourth in order of birth, and aft- er receiving his preliminary education in the public schools entered the Rensselaer Insti- tute, now the Polytechnic, at Troy, N. Y., from which institution he was later graduated with the degrees of B. N. S. and civil engineer. He started in as a railroad surveyor, but not securing the business he wished, he took up the study of medicine with Wright & Bryns- made, in Troy, but was later occupied as civil engineer with the New York & Erie Railroad Company. He remained with this company until 1849, when he concluded to come to Cali- fornia, and accordingly he joined the Albany company which was organized by Bishop Kip and Mr. Collier. They made the journey on the Helena via Cape Horn, starting March 4 and arriving at their destination September 23.

Mr. Marlette went at once to the mines of Calaveras county, Cal., but a short time after returned to San Francisco for provisions, and while there obtained a position with the city surveyor. He followed surveying in that city at $20 per day, but having to pay $3 per day for the use of a compass. Later he purchased instruments for surveying, including a theo- ‹lolite, going in debt for them and paying 6 per cent interest per month. For Halleck, Peachy, Billings & Wright he made a survey of a part of the Larkin grant, now the western addition to San Francisco, surveying blocks and lots : during this time he had many inter- esting experiences with the squatters, who pulled up their stakes and came with axes and threatened them for trespassing. He then sur- · veyed a sub-division between this and the city for Hervey Sparks. Later Mr. Marlette made arangements for the publication of a map of San Francisco, including the Western Addi- tion. After making a trip to Santa Clara county he was so well impressed with the place that he took up a ranch, but before he could get a home on the place a friend jumped it. He then returned to the mines in Calaveras county. In the meantime he had become ac- quainted with ex-governor Edwards of Mis- souri, and he having established a general merchandise store at Mokelumne Hill asked Mr. Marlette to become a partner in the con- cern. Not having made a success of his min- ing he was willing to accept the proposition, and accordingly became connected with the mercantile interests of that section. In 1852 he was elected county surveyor and later was compelled to close out his mercantile interests at a loss of $1500, for which he settled by note at 6 per cent interest per month. He was nom-

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inated for re-election in 1853 but in the same year was nominated for the office of surveyor- general of the state of California, and being elected by a good majority he assumed the du- ties of his position, the capital being located at Benicia and during his term was moved to Sac- ramento. He served from January, 1854, to January, 1856, and during this time surveyed most of the emigrant wagon roads. Later he closed the survey of the Pico grant in Cala- veras county, after which he purchased an in- terest in a mine in San Andreas and retained it until 1860, when he went to Washoe, Nev., which was a part of Utah, as a surveyor. He was elected county surveyor of Carson county, Utah, and had to make his report to Salt Lake City until Nevada was organized as a terri- tory. Governor Nye appointed him surveyor of Story county, and he was later elected first state surveyor-general of Nevada. He was re-elected but failed to qualify because he was so busy making out his report; he was later appointed by the governor to this office until the next election.

Retiring from his professional work Gen- eral Marlette engaged in the lumber and water business in the vicinity of Lake Tahoe and Truckee, there building sawmills and manu- facturing lumber in partnership with W. S. Hobart, who died in 1892, after which he sold his interests to the estate for a small amount. They had been known as the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Company, and owned together about eighty-five thousand acres of land, of which forty thousand acres belonged to the general. They owned what has since heen named Marlette lake, having disposed of this to the Virginia & Gold Hill Water Company. After disposing of his in- terests General Marlette came to Southern Califronia to make his home in Los Angeles, having made the first trip south in 1883 in search of timber lands. He has become in- terested in Mentone and in partnership with William P. McIntosh and others purchased a claim on Mill creek in 1884, having already bought other lands here, in 1887 laying it out and bringing water on the place, being the organizers of the Mentone Irrigation Com- pany, now owned by General Marlette and Mr. McIntosh. They have about two thousand acres in the tract, of which about four hun- dred acres are improved to navel oranges all in full bearing, water having been developed by a tunnel a quarter of a mile in length from Mill creek, while they also have wells and pumping plants in case of need.

General Marlette located here in 1896, now owning a beautiful home on Mentone avenue,

where he and his wife have seventy acres in oranges. He was married in Washington, D. C., May 3, 1874, to Miss Alice Ingham, a na- tive of Illinois but reared in California and Utah from early childhood. The general is a stanch Republican in his political convictions ; in the line of his profession he is a member of the National Geographic Association.

FRANCIS HARDEN STANTON. Horti- culture and general farming have in Mr. Stanton an active and capable exponent, his efforts since 1900 being the upbuildings of his own personal interests in the vicinity of Bassett, Los Angeles county, as well as the best development possi- ble for the community. He came to California in 1899. He was born in Grantville, Md., twenty- four miles west of Cumberland, August 5, 1855; his father, William Stanton, was a native of Maryland, as was also his grandfather, George. The great-grandfather came from England and located in Maryland, where he participated in the Revolutionary war. William Stanton en- gaged in farming until his death, which occurred at an advanced age in his native state. He mar- ried Mary Ann Ridgley, also a native of Mary- land and daughter of Eli Ridgley, a farmer. They became the parents of ten children, six of whom are living. One son, A. Jackson, served in a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil war, sur- vived its perils and eventually located in Kansas, where he died.

Francis Harden Stanton was next to the young- est in the large family of children born to his parents. He was rcared on the paternal farm, re- ceiving his education in the public schools and being trained to the practical duties which have proven of so much benefit to him in manhood's years. Upon attaining his majority he went into partnership with his brother, Uriah, and together they farmed the old homestead. He remained at home until the spring of 1880 when he set out for the west and engaged in mining in Ouray, Colo. He was successful and acquired some means with which he purchased a farm on the Uncompahgre river, helping to take out a ditch and canal for irrigation purposes, and contin- uing to improve and develop the property for sonie years. He had two hundred acres devoted to alfalfa, general farming and stock raising, and in this enterprise was uniformly successful. On account of his wife's health he came to California in 1899 and in Los Angeles engaged in a retail mercantile enterprise. After one year he disposed of this interest and in December, 1900, purchased forty acres at Bassett, built a residence, barns and outbuildings, and engaged in general farm- ing once more. In 1902 he set out twenty acres of walnuts and followed this up two years later

ARClay

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

by setting out the balance in the same commod- ity. He also engages in grain raising at Puente.

Mr. Stanton's wife was formerly Miss Alice Killen, a native of Missouri, their marriage hav- ing taken place in Colorado. They have eight children living, namely: Mary, Harry, Alva, Ridgley, Elnora, Francis, Robert and Eugene. Mr. Stanton was made a Mason in Ouray (Colo.) Lodge No. 37, and is now identified with Lexing- ton Lodge No. 104 of El Monte. He has always taken a deep interest in educational affairs and while a resident of Ouray was a member of the school board, and also occupied a similar posi- tion in Bassett until his resignation.

DANIEL RANDAL CLAY. The present growth and prosperity of San Pedro is a ful- fillment of the early visions of Daniel Randal Clay, for years one of the most progressive citizens and most sagacious authorities in real estate whom the town boasted in its list of prominent residents. Ere yet his dreams had come to their realization he was called from the activities of life, leaving a void in the hearts of family and friends and a vacant place in the business circles of his home city. Through his labors as a member of the board of trustees for several years; through his serv- ices as the first chief of the fire department of San Pedro: through his membership in the Chamber of Commerce, and in other capaci- ties he was a promoter of San Pedro's welfare, and his interests likewise extended into the business activities of Los Angeles, where he held membership in the Chamber of Commerce.

Gorham, in the state of Maine, was Mr. Clay's native place, and November 13, 1849, the date of his birth. His father, Rev. Daniel Randal Clay, a native of the same place and a minister in the Baptist denomination, re- moved to Wyoming at an early day and from there came to California, where now he makes his home in Los Angeles. In 1898 he was be- reaved by the death of his wife, who passed away at San Pedro; she bore the maiden name of Mary Hamlin and was a native of Maine. Born of their union were four sons and two daughters, of whom the next to the youngest was given his father's name and re- mained in Maine until nineteen years of age, when he turned his steps toward the west. While still quite young he learned telegraphy and this occupation he followed throughout much of his active life. For eight years he acted as telegraph operator and station agent for the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Carbon, Wyo .. from which point he removed to Denver and took up the real-estate and in- surance business. His next location was at

Rico, in the mountain districts of Colorado, where he remained for two years.

Coming to California in 1884, Mr. Clay se- cured employment with the Southern Pacific Railway Company as telegraph operator at San Pedro and for a brief period gave his at- tention to the duties of the position. In the meanwhile he had become interested in the possibilities of the town. Thoroughly believ- ing in its future growth, he decided he could advantageously engage in the real-estate busi- ness, hence he gave up telegraphy in order to devote himself exclusively to business· af- fairs. The firm of D. R. Clay & Co. was the first general real-estate and insurance busi- ness established in the town and under his ac- tive supervision it was developed into an im- portant institution. Among his most import- ant enterprises :vas the laying out of the Clay subdivision to San Pedro and he was inter- Ested in other additions, his real-estate trans- actions being extensive and important, and aiding greatly in the upbuilding of the town. While still actively engaged in business he died February 18, 1904, and a few days later his body was interred in a cemetery at Los Angeles. The business since his death has been purchased by his son-in-law, J. W. Wal- ton, who conducts it under the title of D. R. Clay Co., and maintains the high reputation established during the lifetime of its founder.

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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 18

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