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 24

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

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have been successful in their efforts, have ac- cumulated a competence, and at the same time established for themselves a place among the progressive and enterprising men of this section. Francis E. Mills is married, his wife in maiden- hood being Gertrude Hall, a native of Vermont. She was reared in Kansas and came to this state with her parents in 1880, her marriage occur- ring in El Monte. They have had five children, namely: Ellsworth, Francis, who died in in- fancy; Gertrude, Mary Imogene and Ruth Gladys. Both brothers are members of the Mountain View Walnut Growers' Association, in which Francis E. is a director, and officiates as treasurer. Both are stanch adherents of Re- publican principles.

FRED G. BIERLEIN. A popular and suc- cessful young business man Fred G. Bierlein of Long Beach has within the three years of his residence in this city made himself a leader among automobile dealers and is conducting a rapidly growing trade. The family is of German de- scent, Mr. Bierlein's grandfather having been born in Germany and after coming to this coun- try he settled on a farm in Frankenmuth, Sagi- naw county, Mich., where his son, Mathew, was born. The birth of Fred G. occurred July 9, 1880, in Richville, Tuscola county, Mich., his father now owning a farm near that place. His mother; who is also living, was before her mar- riage Anna M. Ranke, a daughter of Fred Ranke, who was a native of Pennsylvania and became an early settler in Saginaw county, Mich., and was there engaged in farming.

A member of a family comprising thirteen children, Fred G. Bierlein acquired a common- school education and helped his father until twenty-one years of age, then went to Bay City and secured employment in the West Bay City Sugar Company's factory, and within two years had risen to the position of assistant to the super- intendent. Desiring to secure a commercial education he went to Lansing and entered the Lansing Business University. from which he graduated in 1902. The following year he filled the position of bookkeeper and office man with the Huber Manufacturing Company in Lansing. and in December, 1903, came to Los Angeles and was employed by L. T. Shettler, agent for the Oldsmobile, as bookkeeper and salesman. Re- taining this place until January, 1905, he con- ducted an Oldsmobile agency in Riverside for four months, then came to Long Beach and built the old Palace garage on Fourth street, becoming the proprietor and securing the agency of the Reo and Winton automobiles. In the spring of 1906 he sold out and started an automobile supply business at No. 38 Locust street and erected a

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new garage at No. 232 Pacific street, moving into the new quarters in September, 1906. The build- ing is 50x190 feet, the materials used in its con- struction being entirely of brick and stone, mak- ing it an absolutely fireproof structure. In the front are the spacious salesrooms and offices, and back of this is the main room for machines, equipped with private lockers for regular cus- tomers, air tanks and everything that goes to make a thoroughly up-to-date complete garage, no expense having been spared to instal every modern convenience. Automobiles are kept for rent and Mr. Bierlein has the agency for the Reo, Winton and Strothers machines, his busi- ness in every department being the largest of the kind in the city.

Mr. Bierlein's marriage in Bay City, Mich., united him with Miss Emily A. Kloha, a native of that state, and they have become the par- ents of one child, Leon Jacob. They are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church, whose charities and benevolences they support liberally, and ex- ert an elevating and progressive influence throughout the community in which they reside.

SAMUEL TRELOAR is one of those fine old gentlemen whom it is always a delight to meet. and the various paths which his life has followed and the stirring scenes through which he has passed make him an interesting conversational- ist. His father, also Samuel Treloar, was born in England and with his family came to this country in 1834. when his namesake was but two years old. Settling in the territory of Wis- consin, he there reared his eleven children. seven of whom grew to maturity, and of these two now make their homes in California. The mother passed away at the age of fifty years, but the father attained the advanced age of eighty- six years.

As has been previously stated Samuel Treloar is a native of England, his birth occurring No- vember 9. 1832, but as he was brought to the new world when he was a mere child he has no per- sonal knowledge of his native land. His boyhood and youth were associated with the pioneer con- ditions which then prevailed in Wisconsin, and in the mean time he attended the subscription schools in the vicinity of the family homestead. In 1852, before he had attained his majority, he joined a party of immigrants bound for Cali- fornia, and upon reaching the state went at once to the Placerville mines. From Eldorado county he went to Sierra county, following mining in both localities for about twenty-seven years, and in the mean time had investigated the mining prospects of the Fraser river country. Returning to his old home in Wisconsin, he remained there seven years, at the end of that time retracing his

steps to the Golden state. Going to Yuba coun- ty, he there settled down as a tiller of the soil, in addition to which he also followed mining. Selling out his interests there in 1896 he came to the southern part of the state, and near Car- pinteria, Santa Barbara county, purchased one hundred acres of choice land upon which he still makes his home, although the work connected with the management of the ranch is performed by others.

In 1864 Mir. Treloar was united in marriage in Forest City, Sierra county, with Lizzie Lee, who was a native of his childhood home, Wis- consin. Nine children were born to them, and with the exception of two, all are married and established in homes of their own. Named in order of birth the children are as follows: Liz- zie J., who is the widow of Ed Jeffrey; ; Frank Benjamin; Carrie, the wife of George Martin ; William, who married Hattie Webster ; Forrest. who chose as his wife Ora Lentz; Charles, who married Mabel Baton ; Stella, the wife of Philip Dane: Myrtle E. and Albert Lee. Since 1864 Mr. Treloar has been identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all of the chairs of the order, this also being true of the United Workmen Lodge, of which he is also a member. For three years he was a member of the Home Guard in Califor- nia. Politically he supports Republican prin- ciples, and in religion he affiliates with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

PATRICK QUINN. As the owner of the Quinn granite quarry, Patrick Quinn is known as one of the successful and progressive business men of Temecula, where he has one hundred and sixty acres of mountain land with a front- age of half a mile of solid granite. The stone is of fine quality and is used for head stones, building and curbing purposes, and is shipped at the rate of about fifty carloads per year to San Francisco and Los Angeles markets.

Mr. Quinn was born in April, 1853, in Gal- way county, Ireland, where he received his ed- ucation. At the age of seventeen years he came to the United States and located at Waltham, Mass., there learning the trade of stone cutter. His arrival in California dates from 1876. when he reached San Francisco. Subsequently he traveled all over the coast section and in 1886 came to Temecula and began his present busi- ness, which was the first one of the kind in this section, and has now grown to proportions re- quiring the employment of sixteen men in the quarries. Mr. Quinn is a public spirited citizen. interested in the development of his section of the state and lends his support to all enterprises tending towards its upbuilding.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

GEORGE H. JOHNSON. The owner of one of the finest orchards in the San Jacinto Val- ley, George H. Johnson is known as one of the most successful and highly respected citizens of this section of the state. His ranch was in a very neglected condition when he bought it, but he has improved it until it is now considered a very de- sirable property. It is located three-fourths of a mile east of Valle Vista, on Florida avenue, and the greater part of the forty acres is devoted to oranges, although he also raises sufficient hay for his own use. The birth of Mr. Johnson oc- curred December 5, 1860, in Phelps county, Mo., he being the son of Milton and Trythene (Deem) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They settled in Missouri in early years, in 1862 becoming residents of Indiana, where they re- mained twelve years, the succeeding ten years being spent in Illinois, and in 1884 they removed to the still further western state of Kansas, lo- cating in Burr Oak, where Mrs. Johnson's death occurred. The father then came to California, arriving here in 1893, lived in San Jacinto and Valle Vista until 1897, when he returned to Kan- sas, his death occurring a short time later at the age of sixty-seven years.

The education of Mr. Johnson was received in the schools of Indiana and Illinois, in which latter state he was married, February 25, 1884. and the following year he removed to Kansas. whither his parents had already located. A de- sire to come still further west induced him to make another change in the spring of 1891, at which time he settled in Diamond valley, River- side county, Cal., later removing to the San Jacinto valley and purchasing a half interest in the ranch upon which he now makes his home. The death of his wife occurred in Kansas in 1890, the year previous to his removal to this state. She was before her marriage Miss Mary Belle Mason, a native of Illinois, in which state she was married. Two children were born of this union, Roy, whose death occurred in his eleventh year, and Earl, now nineteen years of age, who lives at home with his father. Frater- nally Mr. Johnson is a member of San Jacinto Camp No. 100, W. O. W., and Hemet Lodge No. 190, I. O. O. F. He is a man who takes an especial interest in educational matters and served on the school board of his district for two years.

GEORGE A. TELFORD. The attractive country home situated one-half mile south of Ramona has been occupied and owned by Mr. Telford during the entire period of his residence in the west. On coming to California in 1890 he at once settled in Ramona and purchased a ranch adjacent to the village, where he set out an orchard of thirty-five acres of all kinds of

fruit. About the same time he erected a mod- ern and substantial residence containing ten rooms and equipped with the latest improvements, this being still recognized as one of the most elegant farm houses in San Diego county. Every- thing on the place bears an appearance of thrift indicative of the energy and judicious manage- ment of the owner, who in addition to super- intending the farm takes contracts for the erec- tion of residences and other buildings.

The Telford family is of eastern stock, coming from New York State. For many years David W. Telford was a prominent member of the bar of Cayuga county and ranked high for his knowl- edge of jurisprudence and the fundamental prin- ciples of the law, but eventually he retired from practice and established himself upon a farm. For a time he also filled the office of surveyor of Cay- uga county. There he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1900, at the age of eighty-nine years, many years after the de- mise of his wife, Caroline (Mason) Telford, who had passed away in 1865, at the age of thirty-four years. Among their children was George A., born in Cayuga county, N. Y., April 28, 1853. and educated in public schools and Red Creek Academy. During 1872 he started out for him- self and went west as far as Missouri, where he settled in Meadville, Linn county. As time passed by he acquired various interests and form- ed important business relations, becoming one of the well-known men of his town. The packing and poultry industries were his principal occupa- tions for some time and he also held a position as traveling salesman with J. H. Dunn, while in ad- dition for twelve years he engaged in contracting and building in that town and county.

While making his home in Missouri Mr. Tel- ford was united in marriage in 1876 with Miss Eva J. Butler, a native of Beloit. Wis., but from childhood a resident of Missouri. Four chil- dren were born of their union, namely: Ida, who married J. C. Bargar, represented on another page of this volume; Eunice, wife of William Stockton, who is engaged in the stock business and resides at Ramona ; Clarence M., who mar- ried Clara Dodson and resides in Ramona, and is his father's partner both in the cultivation of the farm and the contracting business, and Carrie E., who remains with her parents on the home farm. The family stands high in social circles of the neighborhood and is identified with the Congre- gational Church in religious connections. In poli- tics Mr. Telford for years has been a believer in Republican principles and a voter of that ticket at all elections. Fraternally he holds member- ship with Court No. 8520, Ancient Order of For- esters. The general esteem of the people is ac- corded him, and he enjoys the confidence of all,

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for his uprightness of life and probity in business transactions have been such as to commend him to the people with whom he has had associations.

FRED P. SMITH. Varied business ex- periences in different parts of the east were fol- lowed by Mr. Smith's removal to California, where since January, 1897, he has been em- ploved by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad as their agent at the Carlsbad station. Born and reared in New York City, he is a member of an old eastern family of Quaker ancestry and he was by birthright a member of the Society of Friends, but forfeited his mem- bership through enlisting in the Civil war, participation in warfare being in direct oppo- sition to the society's teachings. His parents, Dr. John T. S. and Amelia (Franklin) Smith, were natives respectively of New Bedford, Mass., and New York City, and the former, re- moving to the metropolis at an early age, there established a homeopathic pharmacy. When seventy-three years of age, in October, 1876, he died in New York City, and his wife also died there at the age of fifty-six years.

Born December 5. 1849, Fred P. Smith was given an excellent education in private schools of New York City and later assisted his father in the pharmacy business, eventually becom- ing a partner in the same business with his brother, Henry M. Smith. About 1875 he turned his attention to the provision business, in which he remained for seven years. The next occupation in which he became interested was that of nursing, in which capacity he was retained by patients of homeopathic physi- cians in New York. On leaving that city he removed to Camden, N. J .. and acted as agent for the Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine Company for a short time, afterward engag- ing in the grain business for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. On leaving the Atlantic seaboard he settled in Toledo, Ohio, where he had charge of collecting rents for his brother- in-law's real estate business and for a time he also filled the position of warden in the Home- opathic hospital of Toledo. Removing to the Pacific coast in 1886, he soon afterward settled in Twin Oaks valley, San Diego county, and made his home in Escondido for two years or more, since which time he has resided in Carlsbad, and is a well-known citizen of this place.

Though very young when the Civil war was in progress Mr. Smith was accepted as a mem- ber of Company K, Eighth New York State Militia, and served until the expiration of his time. Later he affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, in the activities of which he

has maintained a constant interest. Among the other organizations in which he has borne a part may be mentioned the Knights of Pythias (his membership being with the Es- condido I.odge) and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (affiliating with the Oceanside Lodge). While living in New York City he there married, in 1874, Miss Josephine Stevens, a native of Michigan. Two children were born of their union. The daughter, Marion, mar- ried James Furber and resides in Rahway, N. J., while the son, Sherman S., also makes his home in the same city.

CAPT. LEWIS ALBERT PAINE. Since November, 1901, Capt. Lewis A. Paine has been- a resident of California and in the city of Long Beach has given his best efforts toward advance- ment along all lines calculated for the upbuilding of this section of the state. He is at the present writing serving as deputy eity elerk, and al- though but a brief time has elapsed since his ap- pointment to this position by the city council he has ably demonstrated his ability and bids fair to rise to higher positions of trust and responsibil- ity in the gift of the people. Captain Paine is the descendant of an old New England family, his father, Elbridge M., and grandfather, William Henry, both being natives of the state of Ver- mont, where the elder man engaged in agricult- ural pursuits for many years. He eventually brought his family to the middle west, where in the vicinity of Fond du Lac and Manitowoc, Wis., he spent his last days. Elbridge M. Paine was reared on the paternal farm in Wisconsin to years of maturity, when he removed to Charles City, Iowa, passing a brief time in that location ; returning to Wisconsin he was occupied as a farmer for three years and then became a resi- dent of Boone county, Neb., where in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Locating in Long Beach in 1901 he has since lived retired from the active cares of life and is now numbered among thie cit- izens who are enjoying the advantages produced by their early years of effort. His wife, who is also living, was formerly Rhoda Emigh, born in the northern part of New York state, a daughter of Henry Emigh, a farmer who later in life lo- cated in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Of the three children born to his parents Lew- is Albert Paine is the second in order of birth, he being a native of Charles City, Iowa, born April 2, 1875. His childhood days were passed in Ne- braska, where he attended the public schools, sup- plementing this training by a course in the high school of Cedar Rapids and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. He left the university to enlist for service in the Spanish-American war,

William Singleton

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

becoming a member of the Second Regiment Ne- braska Volunteer Infantry, in Company A, after an eight months' service being honorably dis- charged as corporal. Following his release from the army he spent one year in traveling, after which, in 1901, he came to Long Beach with his parents and for the ensuing four years engaged in contracting. In May, 1906, he was appointed by the city council to his present position of dep- uty city clerk. He takes a deep interest in the advancement of all public enterprises and has a firm faith in the future of this city, where he has invested in real estate.

On the 21st of December, 1904, Mr. Paine was one of the organizers of Company H, Seventh California National Guard, and was at that time elected second lieutenant. May I, 1906, while in service at Oakland following the great San Francisco disaster, he was elected captain of the company. In matters fraternal he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America (of which he is venerable consul). Knights of Pythias and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is an honored member of the Spanish-American War Veterans of Long Beach.

WILLIAM SINGLETON. In the citizen- ship of San Bernardino and Riverside counties William Singleton occupies a prominent posi- tion, esteemed alike for his business character- istics as well as for personal qualities which have been displayed during his long residence in this section of Southern California. Mr. Singleton was born in Lancashire, England, a son of James and Ann (Houghton) Singleton, both natives of the same place. His grandfather, William Singleton, was a brewer in Lancashire, where he spent his entire life. James Single- ton engaged as an engineer and machinist in his native country until 1853. when he brought his family to America, arriving in New Orleans, transferred to river steamer and land- ing at Keokuk, Towa, and completing the transcontinental journey by means of the time- honored ox-teams. Arriving in Salt Lake City he engaged in farming until 1857, when he once more loaded his worldly effects into an ox-wagon and finished the trip to the Pacific coast, arriving in San Bernardino, and there securing employment as a machinist and en- gineer in a sawmill and also entering a farm, locating upon the same in 1868. With his son William he purchased the old Roubideaux place of forty-four hundred and forty acres, and there followed agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1881 at the age of sixty-seven years. Onc-half of this large property was sold to a farmer located near

them and the remainder kept in the family. His wife, a daughter of William Houghton, a miner in England, survived her husband until 1894. They had two children, William, of this review, and Ann, now Mrs. Hiram Haskell, of this place.

Born November 13, 1834, William Single- ton was reared in his native country and edu- cated in a private school to the age of eleven years, when he engaged with his father to learn the trade of machinist. He was first em- ploved as a wiper and from that learned the trade. In 1853, on February 8, the family em- barked at Liverpool on the sailer Elvira Ow- ens, bound for New Orleans, and after seven weeks they arrived at their destination. They went up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, thence to Keokuk, where they outfitted with ox-teams and necessary provisions and set out on the journey overland to Salt Lake City. Arriving in that city October 6 Mr. Singleton began farming with his father, and remained in that location until 1857, when they again out- fitted and came overland to San Bernardino. Here he first followed the work of engineer in a sawmill, remaining so occupied for the pe- riod of two years, and then again becoming interested in farming. In 1868 with his father he located on the farm before mentioned, and with him developed and improved it, erecting a residence in which he now resides, and con- ducts an extensive dairy business and cream- ery, as well as general farming operations.

In San Bernardino Mr. Singleton was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Brooks, a native of St. Louis, Mo .; she came to California in 1852, crossing the plains with her father, James Brooks, to Salt Lake City, and ten years later came to Southern California. They are the parents of the following children : An- nie, Mrs. Goetting, of El Casco; William James, engaged with his father; Helen, at home; Thomas Henry, farming near Beau- mont; and Charles Edward, at home. For many years Mr. Singleton served as school trustee of the San Timoteo district and has al- ways taken a practical and helpful interest in educational matters. In political affiliations he is a stanch Democrat. The business inter- ests of Redlands had in Mr. Singleton one of its prominent factors, as with his nephew, W. H. Singleton, mentioned at length in this vol- ume, building the Club Stables and operating them until their sale some time since. He en- joys the esteem of the citizens of this section who have known him for a half century, and merits the high place he holds as a representa- tive rancher, stockman and business man.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

LEWIS CALVIN LINDSEY. Since his location in Long Beach Mr. Lindsey has taken an active interest in the development of the city and has manifested his faith in the permanency of conditions here by investing largely in real estate holdings. He is prac- tically retired from active business cares, seeking a needed relaxation in the evening of his days. Mr. Lindsey is a native of Nor- wich, Muskingum county. Ohio, his birth occurring February 22, 1830, the tenth of a family of thirteen children, of whom but two are now surviving. His father, Joseph Lind- sey, a native of Pennsylvania, was a carpenter and builder who located in Muskingum coun- ty, Ohio, and in addition to his building enter- prise engaged in the improvement and culti- vation of a large farm. He spent his last years in Cedar county, Iowa. His wife, for- merly Ellen Miller, a native of Ohio, died in Illinois.

Lewis Calvin Lindsey was reared in Ohio until he was seven years of age, when he was taken by his parents to Illinois, in Champaign county, receiving a limited education through an attendance of the public schools whose sessions were held in the log cabin of the day. At the age of twenty years he removed to Towa, having at that age been dependent upon his own resources for five years. His prin- cipal occupation was as a farmer in Iowa, im- proving a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of Wilton Junction, break- ing prairie with five yoke of oxen. He re- mained a resident of Towa until 1881, when he removed to Nebraska and three miles west of Hastings purchased and improved a farm. Later he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hayes county, Neb., which property. he still owns. Finally retiring from active farming life he located in Hastings where he made his home until the fall of 1901, when he came to Southern California and lo- cated in Covina. Two years later he came to Long Beach, where he now owns a com- inodious residence and also owned a ranch of three acres near Signal Hill.

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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 24

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