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 27

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 27

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Herman Jacoby moved with his family from Illi- nois to Iowa in 1872, and was there a resident eleven years. His family came to California in 1883. and has since resided in this state. A faithful and loyal citizen, during the Indian

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troubles he served under General Crook. He married Elizabetlı Fleshman, and they became the parents of three children, namely: Albert F., residing in Orange county; Annie C., wife of James Woods, of Bear Valley, San Diego coun- ty; and George F., the subject of this sketch.

But eleven years of age when he came with his mother to this state, George F. Jacoby con- tinued his studies in the common schools, ac- quiring a practical education. Coming then to Valley Center, he lived for a few years with an uncle, in the meantime becoming familiar with farm work. Wishing to know more about the northwestern country before making a perma- nent settlement in life, Mr. Jacoby and his wife made two trips to Washington and Oregon, being away about six years, working and sight seeing throughout those states. Finding no place that pleased them especially, they returned to Valley Center, invested money in land lying a few miles above their present homestead, and began its improvement. Subsequently selling out at an advantage, Mr. Jacoby bought his present ranch of eighty acres, which is one of the most valuable in many respects of any in the valley. He has since made improvements of an excellent char- acter, erecting all of the buildings required on a well-kept homestead, and is now devoting his time and attention to grain raising, dairying and chicken raising, intending to make a specialty of the two latter branches of industry.

In 1894 Mr. Jacoby married Miss Ivy West- moreland, a daughter of A. S. and Emma A. (May) Westmoreland. On the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Westmoreland, then a resi- dent of Tennessee, was a volunteer in the South- ern army, in which he served until the close of the war. In 1881 he came with his family to California, and here he and his wife reared their family of eleven children. In their religious be- liefs Mr. and Mrs. Jacoby are in sympathy with the creeds of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Jacoby is an uncompro- mising Democrat, and for a number of years has been a school trustee. Fraternally they are mem- bers of Escondido Camp. I. O. F.

FRANK D. FOOT. When the enterprising men of San Pedro are mentioned the name of Frank D. Foot is always found in the list. He is well known in the community. for his various in- terests bring him in contact with all classes of people. As a general contractor and proprietor· of the Foot Transfer Company he has demon- strated his right to the title of a successful busi- ness man. His father, Solomon R. Foot, was a native of Ohio, and a pioneer of Sterns county, Minn., immigrating to that section in the early days and starting in business as a stock raiser.

The Sioux Indians were on the war-path and soon put him out of the stock business and came very near putting him out of the world. In those early days of the settlement of the west. men seeking homes in a new country not only had to endure the privations incident to pioneer life, but frequently were called upon to protect their fam- ilies and their homes from the bloodthirsty sav- ages who were ever ready to make raids on un- protected settlers. The Foot family, consisting of himself, his wife and two little ones, and a neighboring family by the name of Erickson find- ing themselves in danger from the Indians, for- tified one of the houses to withstand attack. The Indians came as expected and for two days and nights harassed the families, badly wounding both men. During a suspension of hostilities the men finally persuaded the women to take the chil- dren and make an attempt to reach the fort, charging them as they valued their lives to travel only at night and to keep a constant watch for the Indians who were liable to discover them at any time, and discovery meant death, and death in its most horrible form. With the little ones the women set out to reach the fort and on the second day of their journey met a party of sol- diers, who conducted them to the fort. In the meantime Foot and Erickson were rescued by some men passing their way and were brought by them to the fort, where they and their families were happily reunited. Both men recovered from their wounds, and very soon afterward Mr. Foot enlisted in the Minnesota Volunteer Mounted In- fantry, and served in the campaign against the Sioux Indians. In 1862 he was at the Indian massacre at Green Lake, where he received a gun-shot wound through his right lung and six buckshot in his back. At the close of the war he took his family and located in Melrose, where in addition to farming he kept a hotel on the stage route. In 1883 he removed from Minnesota to North Dakota, near Minot, and again engaged in the stock business. In 1888 he came to Cali- fornia and located at San Pedro, where he lived until his death in 1903.

Frank D. Foot was born at Melrose, Minn .. August 25, 1867, the youngest of his father's family of six children, four of whom are still liv- ing. His mother died when he was twelve years of age. He lived in the town of Melrose and at- tended school there until he was sixteen years old and then went to North Dakota and engaged in stock-raising until 1889. In the last-named year he came to California and located on a farm near Gardena, where he engaged in grain-raising for nine years. In 1898 he came to San Pedro, and seeing an opening for business he started a livery stable at the corner of Second and Beacon streets. It proved to be a profitable investment for him and he awaited his opportunity to enlarge

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his business in the same line. When the Pony livery stable was for sale he purchased it, run- ning it until November, 1905, when he sold it. Since then he has devoted considerable attention to his transfer business, the Foot Transfer Com- pany having the largest business of the kind in San Pedro. In addition to his transfer business he has taken up a line of general contracting, do- ing an extensive business in grading, building and all contract work of that class.

While living in North Dakota Mr. Foot mar- ried Annie Miller, who was born in Galesburg, Ill., of Scotch descent. They have one child, a son, Clyde, and have a beautiful home on Ninth street near Palo Verde. Mr. Foot is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, is president of the Eagles, and a member of the In- dependent Order of Foresters. In politics he is a Republican.

GEORGE W. COLE. When George W. Cole arrived in Los Angeles county from Texas in 1864 and settled near what is now Downey things looked quite different from what they do at the present day. Los Angeles was a very small frontier town with a population composed mostly of Spaniards and Mexicans and the country around was in a wild and unsettled condition, with scant vegetation to lend beauty to the scenery. Mr. Cole at first purchased one hun- dred and sixteen acres of the old Downey ranch, but later, in 1875, located on his present ranch near Whittier. Originally it contained two hun- dred and twenty acres of land, but he is now the owner of but sixty acres, having divided the balance among the various members of his family.

April 3, 1827, occurred the birth of George W. Cole in Bureau county, Ill., his parents, Sampson and Vina (Tompkins) Cole, being na- tives respectively of Kentucky and Tennessee. They were among the pioneer settlers of Bureau county and spent their last days in California. When their son George was twelve years old the family moved to Carroll county, Ark., and after a short sojourn there went to the Cherokee nation, near the Grand river. There the father bored salt wells under contract for the Indians, the sinking of the famous Grand Saline well having been accomplished in the completion of his contract. Subsequently the family lived for several years in Jasper county. Mo., and next located on the Colorado river, thirty-five miles below Austin, Tex. At the expiration of a year in Texas George W. Cole enlisted in the Jack Hayes regiment of Texas rangers, being first under command of Zachary Taylor, and later under General Scott. Their principal work was in the skirmishing line, although they participated

in the battle of Buena Vista. His term of service lasted one year and fifteen days, after which he returned to Burleson county, where the fam- ily were living. A little later he went to Jasper county, Mo., where he was married November 15, 1848, to Olive Margaret Chilson, who was born in Indiana in 1832. Her parents, Emer and Mary (Osgood) Chilson, were natives of Ver- mont and Maine respectively and pioneers of Bureau county, Ill. Mr. Chilson died in Califor- nia and his wife in Missouri. After his mar- riage Mr. Cole returned to Burleson county, Tex., and for years engaged in general farming and stock raising there. In 1853 he came to California on a prospecting tour, but remained only a short time. Ten years later he enlisted in Captain Turner's company, C. S. A., and while he fought in the battle of Donaldsonville, on the Mississippi river, he was principally oc- cupied as a scout and skirmisher. Upon the ex- piration of his term of enlistment he returned to Texas, and in the spring of 1864 he started for California, making his way over the plains with a wagon and ox-team, the journey taking about eight months. Since permanently locat- ing on his present ranch, near Whittier, he has witnessed many changes in the country and in many of them he has been an active participant.

Mr. Cole is a Democrat in politics, with strong independent tendencies. Fraternally he is as- sociated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Downey, and is a charter member of the local lodge. He is a member of the Baptist Church and contributes generously to- wards its support. To Mr. and Mr. Cole have been born eight children: Aurelia. Mrs. John Tweedy; Mary E., Mrs. William Keller; Cali- fornia, wife of Henderson Cheney; George W .; Charles E .; Dora, wife of Jacob Ginther ; Joseph A. and Byron S.

CHARLES ANDREW. The ranch now oc- cupied by Charles Andrew, located two and a half miles south of El Monte, has been brought to a high cultivation by his own personal efforts. Energetic and ambitious, he has given his entire time and attention to the upbuilding of his in- terests and has succeeded in making for himself a place among the prominent ranchers of this section. He is a native Californian, his birth having occurred in San Bernardino February 14. 1875, his father, Tilghman D. Andrew, an hon- ored resident of El Monte, having been one of the early pioneers of the state. . For more com- plete details concerning the life of the latter re- fer to his personal biography, which appears else- where in this volume.

Brought to Los Angeles county by his father in 1881, Charles Andrew grew to manhood in the

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Mountain View district, receiving his education in the public schools of El Monte. He remained with his father until attaining his majority, when he engaged in teaming and general farming in the vicinity of El Monte. In 1899 he began farm- ing on the damp land owned by the Baldwins in La Puente school district, raising grain, al- falfa, potatoes, etc., and meeting with a success in his venture which enabled him to accumulate sufficient means to purchase in 1903, twenty-one acres of land, upon which he has since made his home. This property lies about two and a half miles from El Monte and after his purchase was set out in walnuts, while he at the same time raised alfalfa and potatoes. He improved the ranch by the erection of a good residence and all necessary outbuildings, and the place now stands as a substantial evidence of the young man's energy and ambition. His home is pre- sided over by his wife, formerly Miss Edna A. Taylor, who was born in Michigan, the daughter of George Taylor, who died in that state. She then came to California and was reared by her maternal grandfather, M. D. Mason, of Alham- bra. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew are the parents of four children, Florence, Ray and Roy (twins), and George. Mr. Andrew is quite prominent fraternally ; he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and is past officer of the lodge in El Monte; holds a like position in the Modern Brotherhood of America, and is past chief temp- lar of the Independent Order of Good Templars. In politics he is a stanch Prohibitionist.

MARCUS L. SPARKS. One of the fine ap- pearing ranches in the Pomona valley is that owned and managed by Mr. Sparks, comprising one hundred and thirty acres and lying in close proximity to Lordsburg. Although he has been a resident of the state since 1875, it was not un- til 1890 that he came to this vicinity, the nu- cleus of his present large property consisting of twenty acres, to which he has added from time to time as his means would permit until today he has one of the large ranches of Los Angeles county.

Mr. Sparks is a native of North Carolina, born in Wilkes county, March 20, 1853, one of seven children, three sons and four daughters. born to his parents, Joseph and Mary (Gray) Sparks, they too being natives of North Caro- lina. It was about 1866 that the father left the south with his family and located in Kansas, which was the family home for about nine years. Upon coming to California in 1875 he located in the Sacramento valley, where his remaining years were spent, his death occurring when he

was in his sixty-sixth year. Up to the time of his death he was a stanch. member of the Baptist Church, of which denomination the mother was also a member. December 5, 1906, she passed away at the home of her son, Marcus L., who, with the exception of a sister in Oregon, is the only one of the children living.

The schools of North Carolina during the boy- hood of Mr. Sparks were far from complete as compared with the temples of learning in that state today. Such as they were he attended them with as much regularity as the home duties would permit, and at night in after years con- tinued his studies by the light of the pine knots on the hearth at home. When he was thirteen years old he removed with the family to Kansas. In 1875 he came to California with his father and settled in the Sacramento valley, for about five years working as a ranch hand in that lo- cality. In 1880 he came to Pomona valley and with the means which he had accumulated pur- chased five acres of land. In connection with the cultivation of his own land he still continued to work for others, following this for about six years, when he came to the vicinity of Lords- burg and purchased the nucleus of his present ranch. He now has fifty acres in navel oranges and lemons, all of which he set out himself, and the remainder of the land, eighty acres, is in grain. Water is supplied from a pumping station on the ranch, which makes it possible to irrigate the land thoroughly.

In 1880, during his residence in the Sacra- mento valley, Mr. Sparks was married to Miss Nancy M. Michael, and of their union three children have been born. Nellie became the wife of L. L. Ehresman and is now the mother of three children : Elsie is the wife of W. A. Keat- ing and the mother of one child, the family resid- ing in Lordsburg; Edith is unmarried and at home with her parents. The family attend the Baptist Church of Pomona, of which Mr. Sparks is a member, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Sparks has always been an ardent advocate of good schools. He is now serving as trustee of the grammar school at LaVerne, and is presi- dent of the board of trustees of the Boneta high school, both in Los Angeles county. Two organ- izations in which he takes a special interest and which bring him into close association with other ranchers of this vicinity, are the LaVerne Citrus Association and the San Dimas Land and Wa- ter Company, in both of which he holds the office of president. Politically he casts his vote for Democratic candidates at national elections, but in the choice of local candidates he supports the Prohibition ticket. Mr. Sparks has a genial- ity of nature that wins and retains friends, and these he numbers by the scorc.

L.W. Houghton

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LAKE W. HOUGHTON. Those who have enjoyed the hospitality of the Houghton home in Rivera and who have noted with ar- tistic appreciation the comforts evidenced throughout the entire residence of twelve rooms, unite in bestowing upon Mr. Hough- ton the highest praise for the success he has attained by unaided exertions. Possessed of a sterling character and contented spirit, he was no less at ease amid the frontier environ- ment of the early days than when surrounded by the luxuries of the twentieth century, seat- ed in his attractive home, with telephone at hand to furnish private conversation with any of the four telephone stations on his ranch. Though identified with Rivera for a brief period only, having moved to the town in Sep- tember of 1905, he has formed a large circle of acquaintances and has gained a reputation for public spirit and energy.

Not many years after Texas had secured its freedom from Mexican rule and had acquired independence, W. L. Houghton removed to that then unknown country, where he re- mained from 1844 until his removal to the Pa- cific coast twenty-four years later. In his family was a son, James D., who with his wife, Nancy E. (Hastings) Houghton, became an early settler of Hopkins county, Tex., at that time a stock-growing region, but now studded over with large cotton plantations. While James D. Houghton was still in the prime of life he was taken from his family by death and soon afterward the widow determined to re- move to California. During 1868, in company with W. L. Houghton and wife, and with her two sons and three daughters, she traveled overland with wagon and team, via Denver, Colo., the wagon road running almost parallel with the present route of the Union Pacific Railroad.

For one year the Houghton family remained in Northern California, where they occupied a ranch near Modesto (then called. Paradise City). the county-seat of Stanislaus county, and from that locality they traveled south, fol- lowing the coast road through to Santa Bar- bara. In the vicinity of Santa Fe Springs they bought a tract of forty-four acres, where the grandparents and the mother died soon after settling in Southern California. Reared to a knowledge of ranch life, it was natural that Lake W. Houghton should select agriculture as his life work, and the record of his years proves that he made no mistake in his choice. Though by birth a Texan (having been born near Sulphur Springs, Hopkins county. April 25. 1858, he has been a resident of California since a boy of ten years, and is thoroughly in touch with the history of this commonwealth

and its rapid progress toward permanent pros- perity. Through the exercise of industry and wise management he has acquired a tract of two hundred and seventy-five acres of farm and pasture land near Studebaker, which is de- voted to alfalfa and dairy. Of recent years he has also turned his attention to the raising of soft-shell walnuts and now has fifty acres in that profitable product.

The first wife of Mr. Houghton bore the maiden name of Julia Borden and died in 1893. Five children were born of that union, name- ly: Roy J., Archie (who died at eleven years), William L., Ella and Stella (twins). After the death of Mrs. Julia Houghton on the home place, Mr. Houghton was united with Miss Jennie Brooks, by whom he has a daugh- ter, Nannie. Though well posted in state and national affairs, he is not a politician and maintains an independence of attitude in re- gard to politics, voting for the men he deems best qualified to represent the people, irre- spective of their political views. Downey Lodge No. 220, F. & A. M., has his name en- rolled as an active member, and the doctrines of brotherhood and charity promulgated by the order receive his stanch support and sym- pathy.

ABRAHAM ONTIVEROS. The ranch of two thousand acres owned and occupied by Abraham Ontiveros is his by inheritance, and was .the property of his father, Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, who was born in Los Angeles county, in 1782. Juan Pacifico inherited the qualities of martial ancestors, and in early life joined the Spanish soldiery in their efforts to subdue the Indians and protect Spanish in- terests in Southern California. As reward for services rendered he was given a tract of land known as the Cajon de San Quan ranch in Los Angeles county, and which he eventually sold for what in those days constituted a large fortune. He. then purchased the Tepusquet ranch of nine thousand acres, now the home of his son, where he attained to ninety-five years, the possessor to the last of gracious qualities of mind and heart, and of the respect and good will of all with whom he had ever been associated. His wife shared his fortunes until her eighty-ninth year, and in the mean- time reared a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are living.

At the age of fifty-four Abraham Ontiveros is one of the fortunate men of California. He has a beautiful home, a large income, a family of children who have largely realized his ex- pectations for them, and a host of friends. His reputation as a rancher is unexcelled, and

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in the management of his property he con- forms to the standards of the progressive farmer. He is a breeder of fine horses, owns two hundred and fifty head of blooded cattle and raises large quantities of grain, grapes, olives, walnuts and general produce. He built a reservoir of two hundred thousand gallons capacity on a hill one hundred and fifty feet high and brings the water from the mountain springs for family use and irrigation. He has lived on his present ranch for half a century, coming here in 1856 from his father's ranch in Los Angeles county, where his birth oc- curred April 5, 1852. In 1879 he was united in marriage to Doraliza Vidal, a native of Santa Barbara county, and around his hearth- stone have grown to maturity six children : Ozell A., Erasmus A., Edmund F., Evanoy L., Blanche and Ida. In 1904 he married Petra Arellanes, of the city of Santa Barbara. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. His energies have been devoted to the improvement of his extensive holdings, to a quiet and dignified interest in public affairs, and to the exercise of a delight- ful hospitality.

WILLIAM H. PEIRCE. Travels through many sections of the country, followed by the establishment of his home in San Diego coun -. ty, gave to Mr. Peirce an excellent knowledge of conditions of soil and climate through va- . ried localities, and convinced him that 10 re- gion possesses a climate more equable than that of his home. For some years after set- tling in this county he followed the carpen- ter's trade and later for a number of years held the position of collector for the Linda Vista irrigation district, following which in 1899 he removed to Mesa Grande, and in 1902 bought a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres near the town, where since he has engaged in rais- ing grain and cattle. Besides the supervision of his ranch he owns and operates the stage line between Mesa Grande and Ramona and also carries the United States mail.

During the earlier half of the nineteenth century there resided in Middleboro, Plym- outh county, Mass., a carpenter and contract- or bearing the name of William S. Peirce, who was a native of the old Bay state and a de- scendant of an old family. During 1844 lie lost his wife, Prudence (Dean) Peirce, who at the time of her death was thirty-four years of age. At the time of the discovery of gold in California he was among the first to start for the new gold fields and in 1849 he set sail from New Bedford, Mass., rounded the Horn and eventually landed at San Francisco, from

which point he went to the mines. Soon he returned to San Francisco, leased lands and erected houses, but three times in the early fires that destroyed that city he suffered the loss of his property and so decided to return to the east. During 1851 he went back to Massachusetts, where he engaged in contract- ing and building. With the exception of one year spent in Kansas he remained in Massa- chusetts until his death, which occurred in 1859, at the age of forty-eight years.

Among the children of William S. Peirce there was a son, William H., who was born in Middleboro, Plymouth county, Mass., June 13, 1836, and was orphaned by his mother's death when he was a boy of eight years.

After having completed his education in the public schools and Peirce Academy he learned the carpenter's trade and followed the same in Massachusetts until 1857, when he removed to Lafayette, Kans., and became interested in the building business. Two years later he left that town and during the next fifteen years he traveled much, visiting many sections of the country and acquiring mining interests in Col- orado. From that state he went to St. Joseph, Mo., in January, 1861, and there joined a party en route for the Pacific coast, making the jour- ney with teams and wagons and arriving in safety at Auburn, Ore. From that point he proceeded into Idaho and in December of 1864 came to San Francisco, but during the sanie month took passage on a steamer and returned to his old home. After nine months in Massachusetts he secured employment in New York City and remained there until the failure of his health in 1867 demanded a change of climate. For that reason he went south to Texas and spent a year in Galveston, returning from there to New York City and then removing to Sumner county, Kans., where he engaged in farming until he trans- ferred his residence to his present county.

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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 27

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