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 25

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

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In Cedar county, Iowa, February 22, 1852, Mr. Lindsey married Ellen Halderman, a na- tive of Illinois, and born of this union were ten children, eight of whom are now living: Martha J., wife of Nelson Ridenour of Custer county, Neb .: Mary, wife of Eugene Nye ; Laura, widow of John Elmer De Forest, of Los Angeles ; William, of Long Beach ; Clara, wife of Eugene Hammond, of Hastings, Neb .; Charles Upton, of Long Beach; Minnie, wife of C. F. Casebeer ; and Irene, wife of Fred Hart, of Seattle, Wash. Mrs Lindsey is a

daughter of Christian Halderman, who was born in Germany, and after his immigrating to America engaged as a farmer and carpenter in Illinois. Later in life he located in Cedar county, Iowa, and on Rock creek operated a flour mill and also engaged in farming, being a pioneer of that section. He died there in early life. His wife, formerly Martha Lake, was a native of Ohio, whose death occurred when her daughter was but four years old. Mr. Lindsey is a Democrat in his political affiliations and takes an active interest in the principles he endorses.

JEFFERSON HAIL HATHAWAY. The family represented by Mr. Hathaway of Pomona is traced to Old Virginia, where the grandparents were born, but later years numbered them among the residents of Missouri, the birth of their son Jefferson M. occurring in St. Joseph, that state. When he was a lad of about seven years removal was made to Texas, and in that state he was reared and received such meagre edu- cational advantages as were in keeping with the pioneer conditions. When the fever of ex- citement following the finding of gold in Cali- fornia had somewhat subsided a more conserva- tive class of homeseekers followed in the wake of the forty-niners, and among the number who came to the state with this object in mind was Jefferson M. Hathaway. Behind .a team of slow plodding oxen he crossed the plains in 1853, passing through Arizona, and finally reached Santa Ysabel, San Diego county. From there he came on to El Monte, Los Angeles county, and then crossed over into San Bernardi- no county. After his marriage, which occurred in the latter county, he returned to El Monte and engaged in farming, following this until 1867. when he went to Rincon and purchased a ranch in that vicinity. Sixteen years later he removed to Azusa, and four years later, in 1887, he took up ranching near Pomona, and it was here that his earth life came to a close December 14. 1905. His wife was formerly Martha M. Rus- sell, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of Hiram Russell, who brought his family across the plains in 1858 and settled in San Bernardino county. Mrs. Hathaway is still living and makes her home at No. 808 West Ninth street. Pomona. Seven sons and three daughters were born to this worthy couple, and of the number four sons and three daughters are now living.

Next to the oldest of the surviving children is Jefferson H. Hathaway, who was born in El Monte, Los Angeles county, March 14. 1865. He was a child of only two years when the family removed to Rincon and settled upon a ranch

CAPT. JOSEPH MASSELIN

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in that vicinity. As soon as he was old enough to be of assistance on the ranch he gave his ser- vices to his father, at the same time attending the public schools when in session. This as- sociation continued until 1899, when the son, who had always displayed a mechanical turn of mind, established himself in the bicycle business in Pomona, in connection with which he also does general machine and repair work. His shop is located at No. 443 West Second street, where may be seen a good assortment of second-hand bicycles, as well as new ones of his own manu- facture. His interests are not solely absorbed in the business just mentioned, however, for he is the owner of a fine ten-acre alfalfa ranch near Chino.

Mr. Hathaway's fraternal associations are numerous and include membership in the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to the Encampment and the Rebekahs; the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters, Fraternal Aid and Fraternal Brotherhood. In politics he is a Demo- crat.

CAPT. JOSEPH MASSELIN was born in Havre, France, August 16, 1830, and was reared on a farm until he went to sea, sailing out of Havre. In 1849 he came around Cape Horn to San Francisco. He sailed on the coast and bay of San Francisco, becoming captain of vessels and later on owned his own vessels, which he sailed as master, among them being the Garibaldi, Jean Fredrick and Safety. The latter was burned in San Francisco bay. In 1870 he sold his vessels and located in Los Angeles and for many years was successfully engaged in the sheep business, ranging them on La Brae and Cienaga ranches in Los Angeles county. In about 1880 he purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres, part of the Cienaga ranch, and there engaged in farming until his death, October 21, 1898.

Captain Masselin was married in San Fran- cisco October 29, 1860. to Miss Marie Sehabia- que, who was born in Basses-Pyrenees, France, the daughter of Michael and Dominica Se- habiague, who were successful agriculturists in the south of France. By way of Cape Horn Mrs. Masselin came to California in 1859, leav- ing Havre on the sailer Chatelon, and after a voyage of six months and fifteen days land- ed in San Francisco. Since the death of her husband she has continued to reside on her ranch looking after her interests. It is lo- cated on Wilshire boulevard, one and one-half miles west of the city limits, and aside from engaging in general farming she has it leased to an oil company, which has several produc-

ing wells, two of them flowing. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Masselin, namely : John B., a grocer on west Pico street, Los Angeles; Zellie, wife of Pierre Sarrail, pro- prietor of the Ramona Bottling Works of Los Angeles ; Eugenia, Joseph, Julia and Cornelia, all under the parental roof. Captain Masselin was a very enterprising man and always ready to give of his time and money towards the up- building of his community. He was much in- terested in education and for many years served as trustee of the Cienaga school dis- trict.

MARK MCLAUGHLIN. Throughout Ven- tura county are to be found men of wealth and position who came to this country from the British Isles poor in purse, but with an unlimited stock of energy and perseverance, and who by untiring industry and wise management have acquired a competence. Prominent among this number is Mark McLaughlin, a large landholder, who is now living retired from active pursuits on his well-appointed ranch near Oxnard, en- joying a well-earned leisure. One of the early settlers of the Santa Clara valley, he has ever taken a warm interest in its development, en- couraging and supporting all beneficial projects, and as a man and a citizen is held in high es- teem. He was born. April 20, 1843, in Ireland, where his parents, Patrick and Ellen (Wynne) Mclaughlin, spent their long and useful lives, the father attaining the age of eighty-eight years, and the mother living until eighty-two years old. Of the twelve children born into their household, eleven grew to years of maturity, and two came to America, one son settling in Detroit, Mich., and the other, Mark, being the subject of this review.

In common with his brothers and sisters, Mr. McLaughlin attended the district school until about fourteen years old, when he began to be self-supporting. At the age of seventeen years, being firmly convinced that there were greater facilities for a poor boy to better his financial condition in America than in his own country, he crossed the Atlantic, landing in New York City, where he remained eighteen months, a part of that time being night watchman in some of the wholesale stores. Coming to California in 1863, he lived for six months in San Fran- cisco. after which he was engaged in farming in Alameda county for several seasons, working by the month. Desirous then of making a per- manent settlement, in 1870 he came to the Santa Clara valley, locating near Hueneme, where he made his first purchase of land, buying three hundred and eighteen acres. In its care and management he was very successful, and as he

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

accumulated money he at once invested it in additional land, and now owns, besides his origi- nal farm, a ranch of one hundred and twenty acres near Oxnard, one of two hundred and forty-three and one-half acres near Camarillo, and has also considerable land in Los Angeles county near the Palms. His home ranch he devotes to the raising of beans and sugar beets, and his other two ranches to the growing of beans and hay. All of these are profitable crops, yielding excellent harvests, the beans averag- ing a fair number of sacks to the acre, and the heets doing equally as well in this fertile valley. To some extent he is also engaged in the cattle business, raising enough horses for his own use.

In 1871, in the Santa Clara valley of the Southern Coast, Mr. Mclaughlin married Margaret Clyne, a native of Ireland, and into their home nine children were born, three of whom have passed to the life beyond, two dying in infancy, and Margaret Ann at the age of thirteen years, while six are living, namely : Thomas F., who married Annie Lidle, and has four children ; James P., living at home; Mary Kate, wife of Henry Borchard; Nellie, wife of Frank Borchard; and Caroline and Sarah E.,

both at home. Politically Mr. McLaughlin is a straightforward Democrat, and for over twen- ty years has served as school trustee. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Knights of Colum- bus, and religiously he and his family belong to the Catholic Church. He is connected with the People's Lumber Company of Ventura county, being one of its directors, a capacity in which he is doing much to promote the interest of the organization. He is also a stock holder in the Oxnard Commercial Bank, and is also similarly identified with the A. Levy bank.

THOMAS FREER gives to the state of his birth his most loyal allegiance, upholding her interests in every possible way, supporting her principles, and is enthusiastic concerning the future which awaits California among the com- monwealths of the nation. He was born in Berryessa, Santa Clara county. December 25, 1859, a son of William H. Freer, one of the early pioneers of California. For a full account of his career refer to his personal sketch, which ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Reared in Santa Clara county until he was fifteen years old, Thomas Freer received his education in the public schools of that section, attending for a brief time the schools of El Monte, Los Angeles county, to which place his father removed. He remained on the paternal farm until July 25, 1893, when in El Monte, he married Miss Vic- toria Schmidt. She was born in San Gabriel. Los Angeles county, the second in a family of

five children born to Henry and Eliza Schmidt, the father a native of France and the mother of California, the latter being a daughter of Will- iam Slack, a pioneer of this state.

After marriage Mr. Freer engaged in farming in the Mountain View district and later con- ducted a dairy of sixty cows on the old Freer homestead. In 1903 he located in El Monte and is now engaged in walnut raising, having pur- chased twenty acres of land in the Mountain View district. He is enterprising and pro- gressive in spirit, putting forth an intelligent effort in the management of his property and is proving himself a popular and profitable citi- zen of this section. He upholds the best in- terests of the community, educationally and socially, and is an advocate of Democratic princi- ples. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has a family of three children, Walter, Merle and Thomas, Jr.

LEE FREER. Inheriting the qualities of character which have made the Freer name re- spected and esteemed throughout Los Angeles county and indeed all Southern California. Lee Freer holds rank as one of the representative citizens of El Monte. He is a native son of the state, his birth having occurred in San Jose April 6, 1870, and five years later he was brought by his parents, William H. and Zerelda ( Stucker) Freer, to Southern California, where all of his life has since been passed. Reared in Savannalı he received his education in the public schools and St. Vincent's College, after which he went to Tehachapi, and worked on a farm for one year. Returning to El Monte he entered the em- ploy of John Barton, with whom he remained until 1889, when he purchased his present ranch of forty-six acres. This was then new land, which he has since improved and cultivated. After following farming for some years he finally set it out in walnuts, which are now all in bear- ing and his grove is pronounced one of the fine- est in the section. He has built a handsome resi- dence, barns and outbuildings, and added every possible comfort and convenience, and during this time also improved a thirty-six acre tract, which he subsequently sold.

In Savannah Mr. Freer married Miss Caddie Adams, who was born in this place, a daughter of Rev. Abram Adams. The latter was a native of Lowndes county. Ala., and son of Abram Adams. Sr., who removed from his birthplace in North Carolina to Alabama, where he be- came a planter and accumulated considerable wealth, continuing this occupation until his death in 1869. He served in the war of 1812, and also in the Mexican war, in the latter acting as captain of a company. He was of Scotch-Irish

Joe Gisle

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ancestry and adhered to the belief of his ances- tors in religion, being a member of the Presby- terian Church. Abram Adams, Jr., became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and preached in Mobile, Ala., and Colum- bus, Miss., being presiding elder in the church in the latter state. In 1869 he came to Los An- geles and in that city established the first church of his denomination, and until 1891 followed the ministry in various parts of Southern Cali- fornia. Retiring from the ministry in the last named year he gave his attention to the ranch which he had purchased in the year of his arrival in the state, and continued its improvement and cultivation up to the time of his death, which occurred April 10, 1901, at the age of seventy years. In early life he adhered to the principles of the Democratic party, but finally affiliated him- self with the Prohibition party. He married Isabella Williams, a native of Greene county, Ala., and a daughter of Benjamin Williams, a native of South Carolina, who located in Ala- bama and engaged as a planter until his death. Her mother was in maidenhood Edna Hitt, whose father was an emigrant from Wales. Mrs. Adams died in El Monte, in February, 1892, at the age of fifty-one years. They were the parents of nine children, namely : Annie; Augus- tin; Belle, Mrs. East; Caddie, wife of Lee Freer; Margaret, wife of William Pearson; Mary; Jeannette, Mrs. Kasling; Alice, deceased ; and Abra, wife of Edward Hayes, all of the living children being residents of El Monte with the exception of Mrs. Kasling, who resides in Salida, Colo.

Mr. and Mrs. Freer became the parents of the following children; Zerelda; Ruth; Wesley ; Shirley, who was burned to death in Tehachapi ; Margaret, who died in El Monte; Haven, Em- mett and Edwin Allen. Mr. Freer supports the charities of the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member. Politically Mr. Freer is a Democrat. He is associated with the Mountain View Walnut Growers' Association, and is prom- inent in all matters of public import.

JOSEPH GISLER. Near the shores of the far-famed lake of Luzerne, whose beauty of scenery and calm loveliness overshadowed by the snow-capped mountains have attracted tourists from every part of the world, for many generations the Gisler family lived and labored in simple content. The first to seek the possibilities of the new world was Max Gisler, who crossed the ocean and settled in California in 1877. Later the family joined him at El Rio, where he bought land and en- gaged in general farming. When he died, in January, 1890, at the age of sixty-two years,

he owned a well-improved farm of fifty acres, the same representing his efforts after coming to California. In his native country he had married Josepha Blouser, who was born and reared there, and died at El Rio September 9, 1905. Surviving the parents are all of their children, namely: Sigmund, of Oxnard; Gab- riel, farmer at Springville, Ventura county ; Samuel, who is engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Orange county ; Solomon, who oper- ates land near Oxnard; Edward, a farmer liv- ing in the vicinity of Ventura ; Max, also farm- ing near Ventura; Frank and Joseph, who have been partners in extensive farming oper- ations : Mary, a resident of Oxnard ; Theresa, whose home is at Camarillo, Ventura county ; and Hannah, who lives at Springville, this county.

The youngest of the eleven children is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch and whose birth occurred May 14, 1873, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland, near the village of Altdorf on the bay of Uri. When six years of age he was brought to the United States, the family joining his father in California, where he attended common schools and helped in the cultivation of the farm. At the age of nineteen years he and his brother, Frank, en- gaged in raising beans on the Jack Hill place and later leased a part of the Patterson ranch, successfully cultivating four hundred acres in grain, beans and beets. During 1900 they bought one hundred and fifty-seven acres north of Oxnard and there raised beans and beets with encouraging success. A division was made of the property in 1905, and Joseph now owns eighty-three acres on the Saviers road one mile north of Oxnard, the same form- ing a very valuable farm. Irrigation is ar- ranged for by means of a pumping plant, in which Mr. Gisler owns an interest. The sub- stantial modern residence was completed in 1905 and to it Mr. Gisler brought his bride, whom he married in Oxnard in February, 1906, and who was Miss Adeline Brooker, a native of San Francisco. Both are identified with the Santa Clara Catholic Church and contribute to its maintenance with generosity. as well as aiding other movements for the uplifting of humanity.

While Mr. Gisler has been averse to ac- tivity in public affairs, he has kept posted con- cerning national problems, is well informed as to the issues of the age, and gives unquali- fied support to the Republican party and its principles. The only fraternity with which he holds membership is the Order of Knights of Columbus. His attention has been given closely to agricultural affairs and the manage- ment of his interests has required such close

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attention as to preclude participation in other affairs. Already a large degree of success has come to him, his home farm one mile north of Oxnard being quite valuable, while in addi- tion he and his brother own about fifty-six acres at El Rio. Industry and perseverance have aided him in the accumulation of a com- petency and the attaining of financial inde- pendence, while a course of steadfast integ- rity in all dealings has brought him the re- spect of his community.

JAMES BASCOM FREER, the second son of William H. Freer, whose name is known and honored throughout Southern California as that of a pioneer, was born in Trenton, Grundy coun- ty, Mo., April 15, 1843, remaining a resident of his native state until 1849, when he was brought across the plains to California. Although a child of but six years the events of that ever-memor- ble journey are fresh in his mind. His duty was to assist in driving the cattle, which he performed faithfully to the close of their six months' trip, and although parties ahead and behind them were attacked by the Indians they were mercifully spared this added trial. Leaving Missouri in April they arrived in California in September, and in 1850 they located in San Jose, where James B. received his education in the primitive schools of the day. He remained at home until he was twenty-five years old, when he started out for himself, engaging in farming on the old Palla ranch, near San Jose, being interested principally in the raising of grain. In 1869 he came as far south as Ventura county and purchased a stock ranch in Hopper cañon, improved the place, and at the same time raised cattle in the mountains. He remained a resident of that section until 1884. when he located in Los Angeles county, con- ducted his father's place for two years, then farmed in the Rowland tract for several years. In 1888 he went to Oregon and near Penning- ton, Umatilla county. he followed stock-raising for two years, after which for one year he was located in Puente, Cal. In 1891 he located on his present ranch near El Monte, consisting of forty-five acres, all set out in walnuts.

In Santa Clara county, March 25, 1868, Mr. Freer was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hopper, who was born near Lone Jack, Mo. Her father, Ari, was born in Indiana and re- moved to Missouri, where he engaged in farm- ing. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California by means of ox-teams, and for a time following his arrival worked in the mines. He returned to Missouri by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and in 1852 once more made the trip across the plains, bringing his wife and two children to California. They located first in Petaluma and

then in the Santa Clara valley, and in 1868 settled in Ventura county, where Mr. Hopper purchased land in what was afterward known at Hopper cañon. He farmed there for many years, eventually removing to Covina, Los An- geles county, where he spent his last days, dy- ing January 22, 1898, at the age of seventy- six years. He was survived by his wife, for- merly Susan Easelv, a native of North Carolina, whose parents removed to Missouri when she was a child. She passed away in Covina No- vember 18, 1905, at the age of seventy-eight years. They had three children, all of whom attained maturity, two now surviving, of whom Mrs. Freer is the eldest.

Mr. and Mrs. Freer are the parents of seven children, namely: Albert, an engineer residing in El Monte: Mary, Mrs. Miller, of Los An- geles; Ida, Mrs. Avis, of Los Angeles; Henry, a farmer in El Monte; Eldridge, an engineer residing in El Monte; Wallace and George at home. Mr. Freer supports the Baptist Church of El Monte, the oldest church of that denomina- tion in Southern California. having been built in 1853, and of which his wife is a devoted mem- ber. Mrs. Freer is prominent in the social circles of El Monte, belonging to the Degree of Honor and the Shakespeare Club. Mr. Freer is a Democrat and has served as delegate to county conventions. He is a member of the Society of Los Angeles County Pioneers.

GEORGE F. BRINKERHOFF. One of the best known and successful ranchers of Los Angeles county is George F. Brinkerhoff, lo- cated in the vicinity of Compton and engaged in the cultivation of a well-improved farm. He is a native Californian, his birth having oc- curred in Santa Barbara county, October 12. 1860, his parents being Peter S. and Jane (Nidever) Brinkerhoff. Peter S. Brinkerhoff was born in Oswego, N. Y., where he taught school and followed farming for many years. He made a trip to California by water in 1852 and five vears later married Jane Nidever, who had crossed the plains in the same year. He engaged in farming in the vicinity of San Francisco and later was located in Santa Barbara county, his last days being spent with his sons near Compton. His death occurred June 16, 1891, at the age of seventy-six years. He had witnessed the de- velopment of the western state and participated in large measure in its advancement. He made five round trips to the east, seven passages be- ing made by water and three by land. He was twice married, having six children by his first union, and seven by the second. Alice B. Law- ton and John N. live in Santa Barbara : David H. in Compton: Henry R. in The Palms ;

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John Engebussen.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Roelif C. in Riverside : and Sarah Breckenridge in Compton. Mr. Brinkerhoff was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife, who died January 15. 1870, was a Presbyterian.

George F. Brinkerhoff received his education in the schools of Santa Barbara, after which he was taken by his parents across the Isthmus of Panama and thence by water to New York City; from that point they went to Michigan, where their home remained for four and one- half years. The next residence was in Kansas, to which state they moved by wagon, and there the father rented land for two and one-half years, after which they came overland to Cali- fornia and located in Santa Barbara county. In 1880 he came to his present ranch in the vicinity of Compton, consisting of one hundred and twenty-two and one-half acres and at the same time purchased forty acres of land near here, and has since carried on general farming and dairying, having at the present time eleven milk COWS.

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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 25

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