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 36

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

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Mr. Neher has met with success with his inventions and has just perfected and put on the market a crude oil generator for use on any gasoline engine, the use of which reduces the cost of operation fifty to seventv-five per cent. The generator will be manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse of Los Angeles. During 1906 he perfected a water system for irrigat- ing five hundred acres of land in his vicinity. by sinking two wells to a depth of two hun- . dred and thirty and four hundred and eighteen feet, giving a flow of two hundred inches, and by using his crude oil generator he lifts the water one hundred feet at a cost of only thir- ty cents per hour, which is one-half of the for- mer cost.

As the development of adequate water sup- ply is made possible and the ability to distrib- nte the same at small cost becomes known there is reason to suppose that a demand for the Neher generator will grow as soon as the public at large are convinced of its merits.

In politics Mr. Neher has been an ardent Republican ever since casting his first ballot and has been interested in the success of his party. Always active in school affairs, he has served efficiently as a school director and has maintained a warm interest in the educa- tion of the young. In 1895 he was united in marriage with Miss Lottic E. Flory, who was born in Greeley. Colo .. and has made Califor-

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nia her home since girlhood. Four children were born of their union, namely: May E. and Maude E. (twins), Minerva Josephine and Virgil William. It is Mr. Neher's ambi- tion to give to his children the opportunities and advantages which he was denied, and the success he has achieved is especially gratify- ing to him, because it enables him to surround his family with every comfort and give his children the encouraging aid so helpful to their moral and educational development.

GEORGE S. RAYCRAFT. Among thie suc- cessful business men of Compton is George S. Raycraft, who has for many years been actively identified with the manufacturing interests of this locality as a harness-maker. A man of reso- lution and ambition, enterprising and self-re- liant, he has made his own way in the world, and in every sense implied by the term is a self- made man. He was born September 20, 1852, in Cleveland, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen months, his mother dying, he was placed in the Mrs. Benjamin Ross Orphans' Home, in that city. He is of English ancestry, his father, Tim- othy Raycraft, having been born in Yorkshire, while his mother, a descendant of the House of Stuart, was born and reared in Lancashire. The father, a well-educated man, was a skilled me- chanic, a cabinet, maker by trade, and after com- ing to the United States was foreman for the Brooks Importing Company, in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of twenty-one years he married, his bride being a girl of sixteen. After her death he went to the Black River mining regions.

At the age of nine years George S. Raycraft made his escape from the home in which he had been placed, and from that time paddled his own canoe. He worked as opportunity offered, at- tended the common schools, subsequently, in Chicago, Il1., earning enough money to pay his tuition for a year in Allen's Academy. Leav- ing Chicago, he went to Sterling, Ill., where he served an apprenticeship of three years at the harness-maker's trade, in the mean time making his home with Rev. Jerome T. Mason, a Bap- tist minister. Becoming familiar with his trade, he had charge of his employer's shop for some time. . Resigning his position in 1885. he made his way to California, and for a short time re- sided in Los Angeles. Coming from there to Compton, he was for eight months in the em- ploy of Charles Lyman, receiving a salary of $18 . a week. In 1886 he started in business on his own account, and with the exception of a short time has since resided here. In his operations he has met with success, having built up a large and lucrative patronage, his reputation for hon-

est, reliable work being known throughout this part of the county.

In Los Angeles, Cal., December 25, 1887, Mr. Raycraft married for his first wife Ianthea Rae, assistant principal in one of the public schools, the marriage ceremony being performed in the Methodist Episcopal parsonage by Rev. R. E. Moore. She was a daughter of Thomas Rae, who was born and reared in Maine, and is now a resident of Sonoma county, Cal. Eigh- teen months after their marriage, which was an especially happy one, Mrs. Raycraft died, leav- ing a babe of six months. This child, Myron Leslie Raycraft, now a young man of eighteen years, is living with his maternal grandparents in Sonoma county. Mr. Raycraft married for his second wife, December 25. 1890, Bertha Voight, a daughter of David Voight, who was born in Berlin, Germany, and immigrated to America with his family, settling in Lake county, Cal., where he has since resided. From this wife Mr. Raycraft was divorced, and their only child, Marvel Addie, fourteen years old, lives with her mother in Lake county. In politics Mr. Raycraft casts his vote for the best men and measures, regardless of party restrictions. In 1872, while living in Illinois, he joined the Odd Fellows, passed through all the chairs of his lodge, and three times served as state represen- tative. In 1895 he was made a member of Anchor Lodge No. 273, F. & A. M., of Comp- ton, of which he is now past master.

JOHN M. WESTLUND. From Sweden have come some of the most loval subjects of the United States, and wherever they may be located we find them among the most highly respected and successful citizens and business men. John M. Westlund, of Santa Paula, was born in Sweden April 19, 1870, and when only nine years old he was left motherless. There were six children in the parental family, only one of whom, the subject of this sketch, lives in Cali- fornia. The father immigrated to America and settled in Kansas, where he finally died, at the good old age of eighty-two years. John M. Westlund received his education in the common schools of Sweden and was fifteen years old when he came to the new world and joined his father in Kansas, where they engaged in farm- ing, and also worked on the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

After three years' residence in Kansas, in 1888 John M. Westlund, removed to Ventura county, Cal., and worked on the wharf at Ventura for three years. He was anxious to resume ranchi- ing. however, and upon a ranch near Saticoy, he remained about thirteen years, after which he moved onto the place where he now resides. He

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carries on operations on a large scale, and be- sides cultivating the thirty-three acre ranch of walnuts which he owns, he rents a tract con- taining a hundred acres on which he has thirty acres of walnuts and seventy acres of beans. On another ranch of one hundred and forty acres he has twenty acres in walnuts and one hundred and twenty acres in beans. He has lived in his present home for eight years.

In 1902 Mr. Westlund was united in marriage to Sarah Wilson, a native of Nebraska, and to them three children have been born: Francis, Mary and Carl. Both Mr. Westlund, who is a member of the Lutheran Church, and his wife, who belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, are deeply interested in religious matters and contribute liberally to the support of both de- nominations represented by their membership. Fraternally Mr. Westlund affiliates with the Foresters Lodge of Saticoy, and politically be- longs to the Republican party.

JOSEPH EUGENE SHREWSBURY. The present efficiency of the fire department of Long Beach is in large measure due to the efforts of Chief Joseph E. Shrewsbury, with which de- partment of the city's activity he has been con- nected since May 27, 1902. At the same time he has built up for himself a position of prominence among the business men of this city, being as- sociated with the firm of W. W. Lowe & Co., real-estate dealers. Mr. Shrewsbury is a native of the middle west, his birth having occurred in Stillwater, Minn., August 19, 1867, although California has been his home since he was three years of age. His father, W. P. Shrewsbury, located in Minnesota from his native state, Ohio, having served in the Sixty-third Regiment Ohio Infantry during the Civil war, a member of the Signal Corps. After his removal to Minnesota he engaged in the livery business in Stillwater, where he remained until 1870; in that year he located in Point Arena, Mendocino county, Cal., and engaged in ranching for a time. In Clover- dale, Somona county, he followed the livery busi- ness until his removal to Skagit county, Wash., where he now resides. His wife, formerly Nora Kerns, died in Seattle, Wash.

One of three children born to his parents, Jo- seph Eugene Shrewsbury received his education in the public school of California, which he at- tended up to the age of fifteen years, when he became dependent upon his own resources. For several years he was employed in the lumber milling business in Mendocino county. after which he was engaged in Seattle as a stationary engineer, later going to Butte, Mont., and fol- lowing the same occupation. After seven months in the last named place he went to Strum, Wis.,

and remained in that locality until 1896. Com- ing then to Southern California he located in Long Beach and with a friend, Mr. Lollich, con- ducted the Long Beach Steam Laundry, the first enterprise of its kind here. Later he sold his interest to James Clewett, after which he operat- ed a stationary engine and engaged as a ma- chinist for the Mineral Hill Mining Company. Returning to Long Beach in 1902 he purchased an interest in the real-estate business of W. W. Lowe & Co., and has continued an active mem- ber of the firm ever since. He was actively in- terested in the laying out of the Atlantic avenue subdivision, Overlook Park tract, View Acre tract, Summer Villa tract, Fry Walnut tract, Palm Vista tract, Van Orman tract and others.

In Seattle, Wash., Mr. Shrewsbury married Miss Maggie Baldridge, a native of Wisconsin, and born of this union are two children, Elenora and Ruby. Mrs. Shrewsbury is a woman of culture and refinement, prominent in social cir- cles and gives her religious support to the Con- gregational Church, of which she is a member. Mr. Shrewsbury from the first has taken a promi- nent part in public affairs, one of the first of his official positions being city plumbing inspector, he being the first incumbent of this position. May 27, 1902, he became connected with the Long Beach fire department, having previously had experience in Anacortes, Wash., as captain of a truck company. Three months after he be- came associated with the fire department of Long Beach he was elected chief and assumed the duties in the volunteer department. In Janu- ary, 1906, upon the organization of a new de- partment, he was again elected chief by the mem- bers of the department. The central house is lo- cated on Third street and Pacific avenue, with branches at Second and Lime, Tenth and Lime and at Terminal ; many improvements have been made in the methods and management of the de- partment, its equipment, which is thoroughly modern and up-to-date, consisting of a steamer and combined chemical engine and hose wagon : also two ordinary hose wagons; and hook and ladder, while there has been installed a machine shop where they manufacture their own fire hydrants, the invention of this department. The fire alarm system is one of unusual merit, and unlike most systems an adequate protection for the city. Mr. Shrewsbury is keenly alive to the success of the department and is enthusiastic in his work. He is a member of the Pacific Coast Fire Chiefs' Association and the National Fire- man's Association. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor commander : Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias. of which he is ex-lieutenant : and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is likewise a member of Sons of Veterans.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

being associated with Lawton Camp No. 2 and is one of the state councillors. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Good Roads Society and the Cosmopolitan Club. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles advo- cated in the platform of the Republican party. Mr. Shrewsbury merits the high position which he holds in the esteem of all who have been as- sociated with him throughout his residence in Southern California, appreciated alike for his re- markable qualities along business lines and the characteristics of the man and citizen.

WILLIAM H. CARPENTER. In the de- velopment and advancement of the material and industrial prosperity of Compton no one per- son was more active and influential than the late William H. Carpenter, who during the quarter of a century that he resided here was identified with the establishment of every beneficial enter- prise of importance. Industrious, thrifty and capable, he accumulated wealth and distinction through his own strennous efforts, became prom- iment in business circles, and as a man and a citizen was held in the highest regard through- out the community, his many sterling traits of character and upright moral principles winning the respect of all with whom he was brought in contact. A native of New York state, he was born. July 20, 1855, in the city of Utica, where he lived until nine years old.

Reared in the Empire state, Mr. Carpenter at- tended the public schools as a boy and youth, completing his early education at the Clinton Liberal Institute, in Clinton, N. Y. At the age of twenty-one years he came to California, join- ing his father, who had three months previously settled in Bakersfield, Kern county. A few months later, in October, 1877, Mr. Carpenter located in Compton as a pioneer of this section of Los Angeles county. Purchasing land, he engaged extensively in agricultural pursuits, and in his independent occupation met with eminent success. He farmed on a large scale, at one time having four thousand acres of grain to care for, at the same time running a threshing out- fit. Continuing his operations, he was each sea- son well repaid by the bountiful harvests pro- duced in his fertile, well-tilled fields and or- chards, which readily responded to his care and management. December 3, 1901, while vet in manhood's prime, he was called to the life be- vond, his death being a sad loss to the commun- ity as well as to his immediately family and friends. Politically he was a stanch Republican, active in party ranks, many times serving as delegate to county and state conventions. Fra- ternally he was a prominent Mason and Odd

Fellow, holding all of the important offices in the lodges of both organizations.

December 18, 1881, in Compton, Mr. Car- penter married Mary, daughter of William and Lucy (Heath) Malott, natives of Virginia, who came to California about 1875, purchased a part of a Spanish grant near Compton, and there spent their remaining years. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter six children were born. two daughters and four sons. The daughters, Mabel C. and Helen L., died in childhood, and the sons are living, as follows: William O. and Arthur L., attending the Los Angeles Military Academy; and Lawrence E. and Raymond, liv- ing with their mother.

January 22, 1903, Mrs. Carpenter married Lee O. Funk, of Compton, a prosperous agriculturist, engaged in general farming and dairying, his ranch of two hundred and sixty-four acres ly- ing two miles east of the village. Mr. and Mrs. Funk, however, live in Compton, having a fine home in the pleasantest part of the town. They have one daughter, Lucille Funk, who was born January 26, 1906.

CHARLES Y. FORD. The position of post- master at Wynola, which he has filled for a period of about ten years, occupies the attention of Mr. Ford to some extent, but the duties are not sufficiently heavy to deter him from engaging in other activities. Accordingly he devotes con- siderable attention to the care of his farm in the Wynola district, where he and his sister, Miss Mary E. Ford, have established a comfortable home and invested their savings in the land and its improvement. The tract comprises one hun- dred and twenty acres, the larger portion of which is under cultivation to farm crops or in pasturage, but twenty-five acres have been set aside for a fruit orchard and apple and cherry trees have been planted that now produce bounti- ful crops of their special varieties.

On a farm near Pinckneyville, Perry county, Ill., Charles Y. Ford was born October 20, 1865. his parents being John P. and Louisa H. (Youngblood) Ford, natives respectively of Ken- tucky and Illinois. His father was but a small boy when the family removed from Kentucky to the then frontier of Illinois, and hence much of his active life was passed in the developing en- vironment of a new community. In time he be- came one of the well-known farmers and stock- raisers in the vicinity of Pinckneyville, and he continued in the same locality until 1885, when he came to California and settled on a ranch near Santa Ana. On that homestead his death oc- curred December 27, 1904, when he was four- score years of age, and his wife passed away in 1897, at the age of seventy.

ANelson

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

On removing to California Charles Y. Ford was a young man about twenty years of age, ready for the active responsibilities of earning a livelihood and ambitious to work his own way in the world. Shortly after his arrival in the state he purchased the land which he still owns and in which his sister also is interested. In addition to managing the home property he rents land which he sows in grain. Recently he has erected a com- fortable farm residence that adds greatly to the appearance and value of the farm. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster and has held the office under a Republican administration, although he is stanchly Democratic in his opinions. His sister holds membership with the Baptist Church and he is a contributor to religious measures, al- though not identified with any denomination. Fraternally he has his membership with Court Julian Banner No. 8522, A. O. F., at Julian. During the long period of his residence in the locality he has gained the confidence of acquaint- ances and has won an assured position in the es- teem of those with whom business or social rela- tions have brought him into contact.

NILES NELSON. One among the oldest settlers of San Diego county and the oldest resident of Poway, Niles Nelson was born near Kongsberg, Norway, July 15th, 1832. He was the son of Ole and Anneken (Stabeck) Nelson, who were among the most substantial and honored old families of the Northland. In [842 they sold their farm and made the long journey of that day to the New World, bring- ing their family. The father died while cross- ing Lake Michigan. At Milwaukee they were met by Mrs. Nelson's brother, Clement Sta- beck, who had settled in Illinois in 1839 and by teams they proceeded to Rock Run, Step- henson county, Illinois. Mrs. Nelson still had sufficient funds to purchase a good farm near what is now the town of Davis, and there she resided until her death in 1883 at the age of eighty-three years. She was a woman of strong character, high ideals, and great moral worth, her amiable disposition and strong re- ligious convictions endeared her greatly to her large circle of friends. Her teachings left their deep imprint on Mr. Nelson, who grew to re- spect, honor and regard them as his guilding star through life.

Mr. Nelson is now the only survivor of the family. He grew to manhood on the farm and attended the common schools, but they were limited in those days and most of his educa- tion was obtained by self-study at night after a hard day's work and by experience when in contact with the problems of the business world. When nineteen years of age he and

his half-brother, Thurston Knudson, joined a company starting for the gold fields of Cali- fornia. Outfitting with ox-teams and wagons they left April 25, 1852, crossing the Missouri river at Council Bluffs and on up the Platte river, then a wilderness with herds of buffalo and roving bands of Indians. They crossed the summit of the Rockies at South Pass and followed the old Oregon trail to Bear river, where they crossed to the Humboldt, which they followed until arriving at the Upper Humboldt Meadows, when they came by the Lassen route to Shasta county, California, aft- er a six months' trip. There they engaged in placer mining for about four years on Clear Creek, meeting with considerable success, and as they made money they sent it to Illi- nois and purchased land. Concluding to return east they left San Francisco on the steamer Cortez, April, 1856, to go via the Nicaragua route, but on account of the Walker insurrec- tion the steamer went on to Panama, landing then just before the Panama riots of April 15, 1856, and history gives credit to the valor and courage of the passengers of the Cortez (re- turning California miners) for saving the day for the Americans against the greasers. Dur- ing the rict Mr. Nelson was robbed of gold dust to the amount of $1,500, but under the circumstances was fortunate to escape with his life which had also been attempted. From Aspinwall they took a mail boat to Havana, thence to New York City, and returned to Il- linois. There he engaged in farming until 1861, when he again returned to California via Pana- ma. He followed mining at the Orofino mines, next in Josephine county, Ore., where he re- mained until 1862, when he made his way to the Caribou mine on Williams Creek, B. C., where he mined until fall; then he went to the Boise mines, in Idaho, via San Francisco. The fall found him in Astoria, Ore., where he remained until the spring of 1865, when he returned to Illinois via the Panama route. He located on his farm adjoining Davis and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture for eight years. But the Pacific coast had such attractions for him that he could not content himself. During his min- ing experience he had met and formed the friendship of A. E. Horton, the founder of San Diego, and in May, 1873, he sold his farm and removed to the southland. He embarked in business in San Diego with the prospect that Thomas Scott would build the Texas Pacific R. R., but when the financial crashi came Scott failed in business and San Diego suffered ac- cordingly. He then located on a homestead in Poway and there began improving a farm and building a house in what was then prac- tically a wilderness. He has met with suc-

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cess as a farmer and horticulturist and now owns four hundred and thirty acres of land devoted to raising grain and cattle; has a vineyard of thirty-five acres raising both table and raisen grapes and also an orchard of eight acres. He has also installed a pumping plant for irrigating a small area.

At Davis, Ill., Mr. Nelson was married Oc- tober 25, 1865, to Miss Helene Joranleid, who was born near Christiania, Norway, the dangh- ter of Hans and Ingeborg (Bratlien) Joran- leid, who were very substantial and extensive farmers. Mrs. Nelson came to America in 1856 and has been truly a helpmate to her husband. She is a woman of much native ability and is greatly appreciated by her many friends, who esteem her for her excellent quali- ties. They are the parents of four children, three of whom are living, namely: Henry Os- car, a farmer and horticulturist in Poway, Cal .; Albert I., assists his father in the management of the home ranch; Ida Clarisse, wife of Will- iam L. Stone, proprietor of the Jersey Dairy in San Diego; and Nels who died in his teens.

Mr. and Mrs. Nelson adhere to the teachings of the Lutheran Church and are strong advo- cates of temperance. Mr. Nelson is a very public-spirited and enterprising man and has ever been active in the upbuilding of his com- munity. The schools have always received his hearty support and co-operation. For many years he was a member of the board of school trustees, a part of the time acting as clerk. Other enterprises that have been start- ed from time to time have always received his liberal support and aid.

H. P. SCHOFIELD. Several successive generations of the Schofield family have made their homes in the United States, the first of the name in this country having been Arthur Schofield, a native of Schofield, England, and by occupation a manufacturer of broadcloth. On coming to America he embarked in busi- ness at Pittsfield, Mass., where he made the first yard of broadcloth ever manufactured in the United States. At the time of his death he had rounded out a full century of useful- ness and activity. Next in line of descent was Arthur, Jr., who learned the trade of carriage- making and followed the occupation with con- siderable success in South Egremont, Mass., remaining a resident and business man of that city until his death at sixty-eight years.

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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 36

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