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 19

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 19

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).

The fraternal associations of Mr. Clay in- cluded membership in the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Royal Arcanum, and the Ma- sonic Order, in which he was the first master of San Pedro Lodge No. 332, F. & A. M., and also an active member of the Royal Arch chap- ter. Though not a partisan in politics, he had pronounced convictions upon the leading ques- tions of the age, and gave his unqualified sup- port to the Republican party. Surviving him are his widow and two daughters. The for- mer, who bore the maiden name of May J. Sanders, was born in Cardiff, England. and was a daughter of James and Hannah Char- lotte (Jones) Sanders, natives respectively of Bristol and London, England. The father, who was an engineer by occupation, brought the family to the United States and settled at Salt Lake City, where both he and his wife remained until death. In the family of Mrs. Clay there are two daughters, both of whom are married and reside in San Pedro. The elder daughter. Josie May, is the wife of J. W. Walton, and they have one daughter, Mary Lillian ; the younger. Lillian, married L. W. Goodhue. The Clay family residence stands on the corner of Tenth and Bacon streets and is one of the most attractive homesteads in

1218

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the city. Like her husband in political views, Mrs. Clay believes in the principles of the Re- publican party. With the other elements forming a rounded character religion blends its harmonious light. The creed which Mrs. Clay espouses is that of the Episcopal Church and to its charities she is a thoughtful con- tributor. In fraternal associations she is iden- tified with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs.

ALEXANDER GILL. The life of the noble pioneer will ever be held in reverent remem- brance in the community that he helped to build up. Among pioneer settlers Ventura county had in Alexander Gill of Springville one of its most enterprising citizens, a man of energy and ability, successful along personal lines and at the same time prominent in public affairs, in which he constantly sought to advance the best general interests. He was a pioneer of Califor- nia, having located in the state in 1867 from his birthplace, Canada, he having been born No- vember 2, 1847, in Grinnville. His parents, David and Mary (Frazier) Gill, were natives respectively of North Ireland and Scotland, the father emigrating to this country at the age of sixteen years. They were married in Canada and spent the balance of their lives in that lo- cation, his death occurring at the age of fifty- six years and hers at the age of thirty. Alex- ander Gill received his education in the public schools of Canada and during the years of boy- hood and young manhood received parental training which fostered in his character those traits that distinguish natives of the countries from which his father and mother emigrated. He followed agricultural pursuits in Canada un- til 1867, in which year he came to the Pacific coast, and in Mendocino county, Cal., farmed for about nineteen years. In 1886 he came to the Santa Clara valley in Ventura county and pur- chased the property where he ever since made his home. This property, which consists of two hundred and forty acres, was then raw land en- tirelv devoid of cultivation or improvements ; to- day his farm holds rank with the best in Ventura county, being well improved with a comfortable residence, substantial barns and outbuildings, good fences, and also has a fine artesian well which furnishes a good supply of water. In ad- dition to his own land he rented three hundred acres, his interests being principally centered in the raising of beans (to which sixty acres are devoted ) and the cultivation of wheat and barley. He ably demonstrated his ability along agri- cultural lines and was accounted one of the most successful men of this section, as well as a liberal and public spirited citizen.

Mr. Gill established home ties through his mar- riage in Canada, in 1876, to Miss Linda Smith, a native of Canada, and born of this union are the following children: Ernest, residing in Los Angeles county ; Bessie, Alice, Edmond Roy, George, Charles, Marion, Harry, John, Allen, Jessie and Myrtle. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, to which Mr. Gill gave liberally, supporting all its charities. Fraternally he was identified with the Masonic organization, being a member of Oxnard Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M., and Oxnard Chapter No. 86, R. A. M. Educational matters received no little of the at- tention of Mr. Gill, whose best efforts were al- ways given toward the promotion of the best ad- vantages possible. For a number of years he served efficiently as trustee of the Springville school, which office he held up to the time of his death September 17, 1906. Politically he was a Republican, and although too much occupied with his personal affairs to care for official recog- nition, was counted upon to support the men and measures of his party in a public-spirited man- ner.

EDWIN WATERMAN COLMAN. Busi- ness connected with the Lumber Surveyors' As- sociation of Southern California receives the en- tire time and attention of Edwin Waterman Col- man of San Pedro, he having been one of the or- ganizers and the first president of the association. For more than thirty years he has been a resi- dent of California, the greater part of which time he has been identified with the development and upbuilding of this city. The Colman family is of English extraction and the name was form- erly spelled Calman. The first members who came to this country settled in Massachusetts and the grandfather, Amial, who was born in Scituate. was proprietor of and originally laid out Colman's Hills in Scituate and Cohasset, Mass. Waterman Colman, the father of Edwin Waterman, was also born in Scituate, Mass., and as a young man followed seafaring life. Af- ter making two trips he gave up that life, how- ever, and engaged in mercantile pursuits in Med- ford and West Medford. Later he came to Cali- fornia and is now living in Woodland, this state, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife, who was before her marriage Nancy Eli- zabeth Loring, was born in Yarmouth, Me., of English descent, and her death occurred in 1890.

The only child of his parents, the birth of Mr. Colman occurred May 1, 1856, in Boston, and he was reared in North Cambridge. After completing his studies in Shepherd grammar school he entered the high school preparatory course at Cambridge, being in the same class with ex-governor William U. Russell of Massachusetts.

. Faisfury

1221

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

His eyesight failed him before the work in the school was completed and he was obliged to give up further study. For an entire year he took treatment for his eyes without apparent results, when suddenly his sight returned to him and has not troubled him since. He then entered the employ of Mr. Woodworth of Boston and learned. to become a proficient tea taster. His health becoming impaired he was obliged to give up this business and refusing an offer of a position at a salary of $3,500 in 1876 he came to San Francisco. Upon his arrival he secured employ- ment at Woodland, then became connected with the California Pacific Railway, at Willows he being engaged in checking up all of the material which was sent to the northern road. In 1884 he came to Southern California and took a position with the San Pedro Lumber Company, a year later removing to Los An- geles, where for the succeeding four years and four months he filled the position of foreman for the Davies-Henderson Lumber Com- pany. He then returned to San Francisco and was occupied as tallyman until 1893, when he took up his permanent residence in San Pedro and began as a lumber surveyor. In 1903 he assisted in the organization of the Lumber Sur- veyors' Association of Southern California and after filling the office of president for two and a half years refused longer service in that capa- city.

Mr. Colman was made a Mason in Wilmington Lodge No. 198, F. & A. M., and is now a charter member of San Pedro Lodge No. 332. Politi- cally he is a stanch advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Republican party. As a public-spirited citizen he is actively in- terested in the upbuilding of this section and takes a leading part in the furthering of all enter- prises tending to develop the community in which he resides.

SIMON FAIRBURN. Prominent among the large and prosperous fruit growers of Los Angeles county is Simon Fairburn, owner of one of the most valuable ranches in Burbank. A man of exceptional, executive and finan- cial ability, he has filled positions of trust and responsibility with great cred- it to himself and to the pecuniary ad- vantage of others, having for more than twenty years been connected with the Stand- ard Oil Company in an official capacity. A son of William Fairburn, he was born, May 16, 1850, in the Shenandoah valley, Augusta county, Va., of substantial Scotch descent. His grandfather was born and reared in Pennsyl- vania, but subsequently settled as a planter in Virginia, being a pioneer of the Shenandoah

valley. He served in the Revolution, and like- wise in the war of 1812, in the latter being in the army until his death, in 1814.

William Fairburn was a life-long resident of Virginia, his birth occurring there in 1800, and his death in 1890. He was owner of a planta- tion, and a citizen of influence. He married Elizabeth Funk, the descendant of a family that emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1706, and located in Pennsylvania. Her birth occurred in Virginia in 1808, and her death in 1872. She bore her husband twelve children, five of whom reached years of ma- turity, and four are now living.

Brought up on the home plantation, Simon Fairburn assisted his father in its manage- ment until seventeen years of age, when, as an apprentice he learned the miller's trade. Sub- sequently leasing the mill of his former em- ployer he operated it successfully for three years. In 1874 he made a new departure. Go- ing to Parkersburg, W. Va., he secured a po- sition with the Standard Oil Company, with which he was connected for twenty-two years. Beginning with the firm in a low position, he gradually worked his way upward, carefully learning the details of the business in its every branch, and for three years, from 1883 until 1886, was superintendent of their works in Parkersburg. In the fall of 1886 he was sent as a representative of the company to Mexico, with instructions to locate, construct and op- erate a refinery in the City of Mexico. In 1889 he was instructed to build a refinery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, and was then made superintend- ent of the entire Standard Oil business in the Republic of Mexico, a position of great re- sponsibility, which he held until 1896. Being obliged to send his children north to be edu- cated, and wishing to be in Parkersburg a part of the time each year, Mr. Fairburn then asked the company for a transfer, and this be- ing refused, he at once resigned his position. Returning to the United States, he traveled through many parts, and in September, 1896, decided to locate permanently in Southern Cal- ifornia. Accordingly, he bought sixty acres of land in North Glendale, near the line of the Pacific Electric road, paying $4.500 for the first thirty acres, and $2.850 for the other half. Taking up ranching in earnest, he has made im- provements of an excellent character, includ- ing the setting out of an orchard, and has now one of the most desirable estates in this part of the county.

In Washington, D. C., Mr. Fairburn mar- ried Bettie M. Williams, a native of Bath county, Va., being a daughter of Dr. R. P. Williams, who served throughout the Civil

1222

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

war as a surgeon in the Confederate army. Mr. and Mrs. Fairburn are the parents of five children, namely: Charles W., Eva E., Flora E., Ollie W., and Ruth A., the latter born in California. Mr. and Mrs. Fairburn are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Burbank, and Mr. Fairburn is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

MICHAEL BALDRIDGE. To the pioneers, the pathfinders to civilization and prosperity, a special debt of gratitude is due, and the resi- dents of California who now enjoy the delights and privileges of a locality which has no equal in the country, should never forget the meed of praise which they owe the few sturdy frontiers- men who made their pleasant life here possible. Among this noble band of pioneers who came to the state during the gold period was Michael Baldridge, whose accounts of the happenings of early days have probably had more readers and listeners than any other one of the remaining pioneers. He never tires of recounting the inci- dents of those days, which were filled with hard- ships which we of this day cannot even picture in our most vivid imagination, but even under these conditions kind-hearted liberality and brotherly love prevailed. Not only is Mr. Bald- ridge a fluent speaker, but he is a ready writer as well, and his reminiscences and anecdotes of pioneer life in the west are eagerly read and greatly appreciated, not only by those who, like himself, have crossed the plains and experienced its perils and hardships, but by the younger gen- erations.

The first of the name to settle in the new world was the grandfather, another Michael Baldridge, who was born in the north of Ireland and upon coming to the United States located in Little Britain, Lancaster county, Pa. In his religious belief he was a strict Presbyterian. His son John was born in Little Britain, Pa., where he made his home until reaching his nineteenth year, when he transferred his interests to Sen- eca county, N. Y. There he established himself as a tiller of the soil, an occupation which he followed throughout his life, or until his death in 1876. Not only had he lived long, but he had lived worthily, putting into daily and hourly practice the principles of his belief in Christianity as set forth in Presbyterian doctrines. His mar- riage united him with Agnes Barr, a native of Seneca county, N. Y., and a daughter of Rob- ert Barr of Scottish birth. Upon coming to the United States he first settled in Washtenaw county, Mich., and later in Kent county on the present site of Grand Rapids. At that time there was little evidence that the straggling settle- ment would ever attain its present prominence

in the commercial world, but Mr. Barr was a far-seeing man and often prophesied a brilliant future for the town on account of its excellent water power. To Mr. Barr and his wife were born seventeen children, all of whom grew to mature years and all early in life established their independent careers, which was perhaps a matter of necessity rather than one of choice. A large family also blessed the marriage of John and Agnes Baldridge, and of their twelve chi !- dren eleven attained maturity. During the Civil war John Baldridge, one of the sons, served in the engineering corps; Robert is now a resident of Covina, and James was a resident of Pomona at the time of his death, having come to the west with his brother Michael in 1858.

Michael Baldridge was born in Seneca coun- ty, N. Y., December 21, 1826, and was brought up on his father's farm, attending district school during the winter months and working on the farm in the summer. Notwithstanding the crude surroundings and lack of present-day advan- tages he became a brilliant scholar and was es- pecially apt in spelling, and in the old "spelling school" of former days he carried off the honors as a champion speller, being able to "spell down" the entire class. Among the memories of those days he recalls his intimate acquaintance with the old Cobb speller, a text-book then in general use and which served as an arbiter in case of dispute in the study of orthography. When he was nineteen years of age he left the east and went to Montcalm county, Mich, where he had relatives, but it was not long before he returned to his native state, and later became an en1- ploye in the counting room of C. C. Marsh, in New York City. It was while there that he heard of the French expedition to California, plans for which were exploited in the daily pa- pers, and his youth and ambition could not withstand the challenge. With colors flying and hopes high the steamer Georgia, under com- mand of Parker H. French, left New York har- bor with its load of gold seekers bound for the Pacific coast. On the way they touched port at Havana, New Orleans, Galveston and El Paso del Norte, in which latter place the expedi- tion was broken up on account of French not keeping his promises. From there they made their way as best they could, walking a distance of one thousand miles in reaching Mazatlan, and on the way passed through Chihuahua and Du- rango. When Mr. Baldridge started from New York he had $20 in ready money and as sec- retary of the expedition was to receive $25 per month for his services. He received nothing, however, and when he arrived in San Francisco eight months from the time of leaving New York, he was exceedingly short of funds. His prime object in coming to California had been

1223

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

to seek wealth in the mines, and for three years he bent his efforts in this direction. That his efforts did not meet with the desired results was evident from the fact that at the end of that time, in 1853, he returned to familiar scenes and surroundings in the east. From then until 1857 he engaged in business in Waterloo, Sen- eca county, N. Y., but as that was the year of the panic he suffered the fate of many other busi- ness men and was forced to close his doors. The following year he again started for the Pacific coast, coming by way of Panama, and on this trip was accompanied by his brother James. Once more he tried his luck at the mines, but with about the same results as before, sometimes making money but more often losing, until af- ter thirteen years he gave it up entirely and fur- thermore resolved never to be tempted to try mining again. For twelve years he worked in the employ of others as clerk, remaining with one house in San Francisco for eight years, and during all of this time was a most indefatigable worker, his motto being how much and not how little he could accomplish for his employer's welfare.

Thus far in his career Mr. Baldridge had struggled against great odds, but with the year 1873 brighter prospects opened up before him. In that year he started in business on his own account, handling bonds and stocks under the title of M. Baldridge, banker and broker. A large commission business grew out of this hum- ble beginning, and he became a charter mem- ber of the Pacific Stock Exchange, being chair- man of its executive cominittee for seven years. Failing health, however, compelled him to give up his interests in San Francisco and in 1880 he located in Covina, where he started a nursery composed of orange trees entirely. At that time there was no market for these trees, so he bought land at $II per acre and set out one hundred and eleven acres to orange trees, and in time was able to sell the nursery stock. He gave away thirty-one acres of the land, still retaining eighty acres, which he carried on as a nursery for seven years, during which time his health was greatly improved. At the end of this time he was offered $70,000 for his ranch, an offer which he accepted, and the same year came to Pomona and built his present residence on Kingsley and Washington streets. During the thirteen years which he has made this place his home he has built up one of the finest ranches in this part of the county. It comprises ten acres, and is supplied with a pumping plant which fur- nishes an abundant supply of water for both domestic and irrigating purposes. He also owns a ten acre orange grove at Bloomington, as well as a block of five acres on a street in San Ber- nardino, upon which he is erecting twenty-six

cottages of patent stone, having put in his own manufacturing plant for that purpose.

Upon his return east after his first expedition to California Mr. Baldridge was married, in 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Garrison, a native of New York, but their married life was of short duration, as her death occurred four years later. His second marriage occurred in Indiana in 1871 and united him with Mrs. Elizabeth (Graham) Lee, who was born in Ohio, and is still living. Politically Mr. Baldridge is a Republican. As may be surmised he is a member of the Society of California Pioneers of 1849, none of whose members, it is safe to say, experienced more se- vere or prolonged hardships than did Mr. Bald- ridge in reaching the Golden West. His motto through life has been to put into daily practice the principles of the Golden Rule, and all who have been brought in contact with him will tes- tify that he adhered to these principles rigidly. His name is on the membership roll of the Uni- tarian Church of Pomona.

SETH MARSHALL. There are few citi- zens in San Bernardino who have so em- phatically impressed their worth upon their community as has Seth Marshall. His advent into the Pacific coast country dates back to the spring of 1875, coming hither in the hope that the ocean voyage would restore his health, which had become greatly impaired by over- work in East Saginaw, Mich., where he was then residing. His quest for health had not been in vain, the sea voyage and the bracing climate of San Francisco, where he remained for a time, both contributing to his welfare. So well pleased was he with the outlook in the west that he decided to remain and grow up with the country.

Of Puritan stock, Seth Marshall was born April 25. 1850, on the old Marshall homestead on the Western Reserve, in what is now the city of Painesville, Ohio, whither his grand- father had immigrated from Colebrook, Conn., in the early '30s. Among the children in the grandfather's family was one Seth, who be- came an important factor in the upbuilding of that new country. Before the building of the Lake Shore Railroad he was a clerk on one of the large lake steamers, and subse- quently was bookkeeper and later president of the old Bank of Geauga, an institution which in later years became the First Nation- al Bank of Painesville. Before the Civil war he took a firm stand in the question of slav- ery, and throughout northern Ohio no one labored more zealously to abolish the nefarious institution than did Mr. Marshall, whose home was one of the stations on the underground

1224

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

railroad used for the escape of the negroes. As one of the organizers and upholders of the Republican party in that state he counted among his friends and co-laborers such men as Ben Wade, Joshua R. Giddings, Salmon P. Chase, besides others of equal fame dur- ing that time. As a delegate to the national convention of his party Mr. Marshall had a hand in the nomination of Lincoln for his sec- ond term, and was one of the presidential electors from Ohio at that election. As a fit- ting close to his long and useful life he was permitted to spend his last days in the land of Sunshine and Flowers, passing away at the home of his son in San Bernardino in 1880.

By the time he was eighteen years of age Seth Marshall, Jr., had completed his studies in the school of Oberlin, Ohio, and was ready to launch upon his business career, which he did by becoming a clerk in the wholesale hardware business owned by his uncles, Mor- ley Brothers, of East Saginaw, Mich. It was not long before he had acquired an interest in the business, and finally became general man- ager of the plant, but after seven years of close application his health became impaired to such an extent that he followed the advice of his physicians and took an ocean voyage, the same which brought him to California in 1875. After disposing of his interests in Michigan he entered with vigor into the life of the new country and among other enter- prises which he assisted in founding was the Pacific Stock Exchange, organized in the summer of 1875. His interest in various min- ing properties in Nevada, Arizona and in the Ord district of San Bernardino finally led to his location in this country in 1880.

With his brother-in-law, William H. Chen- ey, and the latter's uncle, John Cheney (the latter one of the original Cheney Brothers who founded the Chency Brothers silk works at South Manchester, Conn.), Mr. Marshall purchased one thousand acres of land, the eastern part of the Muscupiabe grant. Legal complications which followed delayed the im- provement of the tract and in the mean time John Cheney died. Mr. Marshall was appoint- ed administrator of the estate, which was finally bought by an eastern syndicate of which he was a member. To secure water for this large acreage he organized the Highland Ditch Company, to build a canal from the east side of City creek west, above the Cheney tract, on to North San Bernardino, where Mr. Marshall then owned another tract of one thousand acres. In time the canal was com- pleted to the Cheney tract, which enabled the land owners along the foothills of Highland to secure water for their lands, the Cheney

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 19

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