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 39

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

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The oldest of a family of eight children, Thom- as H. Simonton attended first the public schools, completing his early education at a private school in Peru. Ind., and at the Gambia school in Ohio. While in the latter institution, in 1850, he had an attack of the California fever, and after a short visit at home started for the gold fields. Going to St. Joseph, Mo., he paid $200 to Jerome, Hanson & Smith, who conducted a train of twenty-eight wagons across the plains. The.train broke up at Salt Lake City, where Mr. Simonton remained nineteen days. Continuing then his journey, he and his comrades had a fight with the Indians, but none of the party were seriously injured. Arriving in Hangtown, now Placerville, he mined successfully until stricken with the cholera, with which he was sick the en-

tire winter. He was then engaged for some time in mining along the Feather river, after which, with three companions, he located twelve miles west of Marysville, where he put up hay, haul- ing it to the Marysville market. Subsequently purchasing mule teams, he was engaged in freighting to the mines northeast from Sacra- mento, from 1851 until 1854, when he re- turned east. For a short time thereafter he re- mained on the old homestead, and then went to Peru, Ind., where he speculated in grain, hogs and produce for two years, carrying on a prof- itable business. In 1859 he outfitted, and went to Denver, Colo., and later to Redcliff, Eagle county, where he engaged in farming, stock- raising and mercantile pursuits, having two stores in that place. In each of these vocations he met with success, staying there until 1900. Coming from there to California for the sake of his wife's health as well as his own, they took up their residence in Santa Monica, and are now respect- ed citizens of this community.

In Indiana, Mr. Simonton married Frances M. Reed, a native of that state, and they became the parents of five children, namely: Clara, at home; George and Frank, merchants in Victor, Colo .; Jennie, wife of Newton Riley, of Victor, Colo .; and Fannie E., who died aged twenty-one years. Politically Mr. Simonton is a steadfast supporter of the Republican party.

OSCAR D. STEWART. Not far from Cama- rillo, Ventura county, lies the ranch of ninety- eight acres which has been the home of Mr. Stewart for nearly forty years. Born at Battle Creek, Calhoun county, Mich., August 20, 1845, he is a son of Enoch and Nancy A. (Oscar) Stewart, both of whom claimed the Empire state as their birthplace. Following the life to which he had been reared the father immigrated to Michigan at an early day in the history of that commonwealth, and upon the farm which he es- tablished there made his home for many years. His later life, however. was spent under the sunny skies of California, his death, February I, 1896, closing a career of seventy-nine years of usefulness. After the birth of their three children the wife and mother was taken from them, Oscar D. at the time being a very small child.

Calhoun county, Mich., was the scene of the early life of Oscar D. Stewart, in fact he was about twenty years old when he severed connec- tions with his surroundings in that state and struck out boldly for the west in 1864. After remaining in California for one year a strong desire to see his old home and kinsmen once more caused him to return to Michigan, but the following year found him ready to return to

Herbofman

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the west permanently. For about two years he was located in the vicinity of Sacramento, but in 1868 he came to Ventura county, and with the exception of two years spent in Oregon he has made his home in this county continuously. For a few months he worked as a farm hand on ranches in the county, but in the fall of the same year located on the ranch which he now occu- pies, which fell as an inheritance to his wife. The greater part of the ranch is in beans, which form his principal crop, and yield from twelve to fifteen sacks to the acre.

A marriage ceremony performed on his ranch in 1869 united the destinies of Oscar D. Stew- art and Fredericka Lucy Sip, the latter a native of Iowa. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart was blessed and brightened by the birth of five children, all of whom are now grown and es- tablished in homes of their own with the excep- tion of the youngest, who although married still remains with his parents. George, born June II, 1870, married Lilie Shields and resides in Camarillo; Edward J., who was born Septem- ber 24, 1871, chose for his wife Lucy Russell, and he too lives in this vicinity; Walter O., born July 16, 1873, married Anna Sebastian, their home being near Oxnard; Clara A., born Feb- ruary 19, 1875, is the wife of George Hughes ; and Arthur Clyde, born October 30, 1883, and who married Catherine Schmitz, still makes his home on the old homestead. During the long period of his residence in this county Mr. Stew- art has won and retained the respect of associ- ates and has a large circle of friends among the pioneers of this part of the state. His polit- ical views coincide with the principles laid down in the platform of the Democratic party, and its candidates rarely fail to receive his vote.

CAPT. WILLIAM EDWIN HOFMAN. California is a favorite location for retired army officers who seek a place of rest and comfort for their declining years after a life of nomadism and active campaigning. Capt. William Edwin Hof- man, who spent more than twenty-five years of his life in military service, has been living in Elsinore since 1897 and has a nicely improved home in this city. He was born on Christmas Day, 1836, in Mansfield, Ohio, the son of Jacob and Jane W. (Caruthers) Hofman, the father being a native of the Shenandoah valley, Va., and the mother of Mansfield, Ohio. On his father's side Captain Hofman is descended from German ancestors and from his mother he re- ceived Scotch-Irish blood. The elder Hofman was an early settler in Ohio and was occupied as a jeweler in Mansfield until 1840, when he removed to Mt. Carmel, Ill., and from there to Olney, where for twelve years he filled the office

of clerk of Richland county, after which he re- tired. Both parents died in Olney. There were six children in the family, three of whom are now living. One son, Jolın, who was a rail- road man, was killed by accident in Kansas City, while Rudolph, who served in the Civil war in the same company and regiment as his brother, Captain Hofman, was wounded at Big Shanty, Ga., and died from the effects nine days later.

The education of Captain Hofman was re- ceived in the public schools of Illinois and when a young man the congressman from their dis- trict offered him a cadetship. His mother ob- jected to his accepting it, however, and it was then given to Wesley Merritt of Salem, Ill., who afterwards became major-general. He then served a four-years' apprenticeship to the man- ufacture of tin, copper and sheet iron, and in 1859 left Olney for Pike's Peak, traveling by team from Leavenworth, Kans. Locating at Central City he mined in Russell and California gulches until 1861 when he returned to his home in Illinois. In 1862, after the breaking out of the war, he assisted in raising Company B, Ninety- eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was mustered in at Centralia on September 3, and was com- missioned by Governor Yates as first lieutenant of his company. After the battle of Stone river the regiment was mounted the same as the mounted cavalry and took part in the engagement at Hoover's Gap and in the Tullahoma cam- paign, which ended with the battle of Chicka- mauga. Following this he took part in the Georgia campaign until the capture of Atlanta. He was in Girard's cavalry which was dismount- ed in order to turn the horses over to Kilpat- rick for use in Sherman's march to the sea, and was then sent to Louisville, Ky., for new mounts and outfits, when the regiment was sent in pur- suit of Morgan. They did not meet him, how- ever, and were ordered back to Georgia, Mississ- ippi and Alabama. From then until the close of the war he served under General Wilson, took part in Wilson's raid and the capture of several cities in the south. while a portion of his reg- iment assisted in the taking of Jefferson Davis. He had in the meantime been promoted and commissioned as captain, and when mustered out at Nashville, in August, 1865, he was the senior captain of the regiment.

Returning home Captain Hofman began to look about for a business opening. Following the suggestion of his cousin. Col. Mc. E. Dye. he decided instead to enter the regular service. Six months after making his application he was com- missioned as a first lieutenant, June 12. 1867. and was later assigned to Company K. Thirty- first United States Infantry. Going to Ft. Tot- ten, N. Dak., he was a participant in the Tur-

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tle Mountain Indian troubles until 1869, when lie was sent to Ft. Sully, S. Dak. About this time the army was reduced in numbers but he was retained and assigned by General Han- cock to the Ninth Infantry as first lieutenant of Company H, and sent to Ft. Russell, Wyom. Later he went to Ft. Saunders and in 1873 escort- ed the surveying party which ran the prelimi- nary line for what is now the Northern Pacific Railroad from the Missouri river to Yellowstone. From there he was stationed at Ft. Omaha, Neb., and subsequently sent to various points, includ- ing Ft. McKinney, Wyom., Ft. Russell, and Ft. Bridger, then was promoted to a captaincy and returned to Ft. Russell to accompany an expe- dition to Crisfield, Kans., in 1885. In 1886 he was sent to Ft. Wingate, N. Mex., and was in command of three companies from his regiment in the Geronimo campaign until that warrior was captured. Upon his return to Ft. Wingate he applied for sick leave in order to come to the western coast, but when his application reached General Howard he ordered Captain Hofman's company from Ft. Wingate to San Diego, Cal. This was in 1887, and after remaining there for six months Captain Hofman was retired in 1888 for disability. He remained in San Diego for a time, then removed to Murrietta, and in 1897 came to Elsinore.

Captain Hofman was married in Clay county, Ill., to Miss Sarah Hance, and they became the parents of one daughter, Alice, who is now the wife of E. Michener of Elsinore. Captain Hof- man is a member of the T. B. Stevens Post, G .. A. R., at Elsinore, of which he is past com- mander, and politically affiliates with the Repub- lican party. He served his city one year on the board of trustees and in every way has proven himself a valuable citizen, interested in every cause tending toward the upbuilding of the com- munity in which he resides.

GIDEON EDWARDS THURMOND. A fine type of the southern gentleman of that school which is rapidly passing away is G. E. Thur- mond, one of the best known and most highly re- spected citizens of Santa Barbara county. Both his father, Thomas J. Thurmond, and his mother, who was Sarah Franklin before her marriage. were born in North Carolina. There were seven children in the family and two of the sons were killed during the Civil war while doing active military service in the Confederate cause. The father died before the commencement of the war. at the age of forty-five years, and his wife sur- vived him but a short time, she also dying at the same age. Thomas J. Thurmond was a member of the Masonic fraternity and during his lifetime occupied a prominent place as a leading and

highly respected citizen of his home community.

G. E. Thurmond was born in Hardeman coun- ty, Tenn., November 27, 1843. His preliminary education was received in the common schools, after which college preparatory work was done at Wilson Hall in Mississippi for entrance into the University of North Carolina. When war was declared between the north and south Mr. Thurmond enlisted in Company B, Seventeenth Regiment of Mississippi Infantry, and became a member of the Featherstone Brigade. His gal- lantry, bravery and worth as a soldier were rec- ognized in his appointment to the position of first lieutenant of Company B during the first two years of his service, and during the last two years of the war he filled the higher office of captain of the same company. With his regiment he took part in the battles of Bull Run, Balls Bluff, Seven Pines, and the seven days' engagements before Richmond, and later in the Fredericksburg cam- paign, and other minor engagements. At the close of the war he returned to Tennessee and taught school near Bolivar for two years, and after that he removed to Texas and engaged in the mer- chandising business for a like period. In May, 1868, he decided to follow the then popular road to the west, and reached San Jose, Cal., as his first stopping point. He remained there for a short time only, however, before removing to the Carpinteria valley, which has ever since been his home. For a number of years he owned and managed a store in Carpinteria, finally disposing of it to devote his time to the duties of the office of county superintendent of schools of Santa Bar- bara county, which office he held for nearly a quarter of a century. At the time of assuming the duties of this position in 1874 there were eleven districts and fifteen teachers, and at the end of twenty-five years there were fifty-six dis- tricts and one hundred and forty teachers. Mr. Thurmond held the office longer than any other incumbent of the same office in Southern Califor- nia. When it is remembered that Santa Barbara county is a strong Republican district and Mr. Thurmond is an equally strong Democrat, the long period during which the people continued him in office is a flattering tribute to the personal popularity and official efficiency of the man. Aft- er this long term of office holding Mr. Thurmond retired to private life, feeling that he had given a just share of his years of active work for the good of the schools in his section-and no work is of more importance and far-reaching influence. He now resides on his ranch, which consists of about thirty acres of land. a third of it being planted to walnuts. He takes a deep interest in matters of public import, and throughout the county claims the admiration and respect of all who appreciate what he has accomplished.

Fraternally Mr. Thurmond affiliates with sev-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

eral lodges, among them the Knights of Pythias, the Maccabees and Fraternal Brotherhood. He is an adherent of the Episcopal faith and his wife is a Presbyterian, a liberal support being given to all religious benevolences and charitable causes in Carpinteria. The marriage of Mr. Thurmond to Miss Ellen Dickinson of Glade Spring, Va., occurred November 23, 1870, and four children have blessed the union: Hunter, who has charge of the commercial department in the Oxnard high school; Gwyn, who married Edith Shepard and has two children ; Mary, who married Ben Bailard and is the mother of five children : and Mildred, a student in Pomona col- lege.

MILETUS HENRY SNOW. The prosperity of any community depends upon its business activity, and the enterprise manifest in commer- cial circles is the foundation upon which is build- ed the material welfare of town, state and nation. The most important factors in public life at the present day are therefore the men who are in control of successful business interests, and such a one is Mr. Snow, well known as the manager of the Pomona Lumber Company, which has one of the largest lumber yards in the Pomona valley, and is located at No. 491 East Second street.

A native of Kansas, Mr. Snow was born in Winfield, Cowley county, the eldest of five sons born to his parents, A. B. and Marietta ( Brown) Snow, the former a native of Illinois. Before leaving his native state the father had become interested in the lumber business and upon his removal to Kansas during his young manhood he established himself in that business in Cow- ley county. After continuing there for several years lie transferred his business to the adjoining territory of Oklahoma, and still later removed further south into Indian territory. The locality in which he located was almost a wilderness as compared with present activity, and among those who were instrumental in organizing the settle- nient now known as Chickasha, none was more active than A. B. Snow, for it was he who put up the first building, it being portable and hauled in with cattle: lie also put in the first stock of lumber. With his wife he is now living in Long Beach, among whose citizens he is classed as one of her active business men, for he is still engaged in the lumber business.

Born in Winfield, Kans., October 9, 1877. Miletus H. Snow attended school first in his na- tive state and later in Oklahoma and Indian ter- ritory. As far back as his memory can carry him he recalls associations connected with his father's lumber yard, and in fact when he was fourteen years old he entered his father's em-

ploy. So thoroughly did he learn the details of the business that he became an invaluable assistant, the two working harmoniously to- gether for a number of years in Chickasha, I. T. In March, 1904, Mr. Snow came to California and the following June located in Pomona. In 1904 his father and brother organized the Pomo- na Lumber Company, Inc., of which A. B. Snow is president, and Miletus H. Snow is manager. Besides lumber of all kinds usual to an establish- ment of this kind they carry a full line of shin- gles, sash, doors, lath, lime and cement, and under the capable management of the son a flourishing business has grown up which dis- tinguishes it as one of the thriving institutions of the Pomona valley.

In Chickasha, I. T., Miletus H. Snow was married to Miss Nellie Ellis, a native of Texas, and two children have come to add brightness to their home life, Pearl and Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Snow are consistent members of the First Presbyterian Church of Pomona and are active in the various departments of benevolent work carried on by the local church. While in Indian territory Mr. Snow became identified with the Odd Fellows organization, being initiated into Chickasha Lodge, and since coming to Califor- nia has transferred his membership to Pomona, and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he gives his support to Republican principles, and is a member of the Board of Trade.

EARLE. CARR. The magnificent section of country in Southern California has been devel- oped and improved by some of the most stirring and enterprising men of this day and age, 110 part of the globe having been more quickly transformed from its original wild condition into a beautiful garden spot, rich with bloom and harvests, than that portion of Ventura county lying in and around the town of Oxnard. One of the leading spirits in this wonderful trans- formation is Earle Carr, an active and progres- sive agriculturist, and one of Oxnard's most in- fluential citizens, occupying a position of promi- nence in industrial, business and social circles. A son of P. S. Carr, he was born December 24. 1878, in Kalamazoo county, Mich.

A native of Michigan, P. S. Carr was brought up on a farm, and for many years was engaged in agricultural pursuits in that. state. In 1888 with a view to bettering his financial condition, he came to California, settling in Ventura coun- ty, where he has since been prosperously em- ployed in his chosen calling. He is a man of strict integrity, and is very prominent in Ma- sonic circles, being a Scottish Rite and a York Rite Mason, and belonging to Ventura Com-

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mandery, K. T. He married Mary Ann Earle, who was born in England, and they became the parents of three children, all of whom are liv- ing.

Coming with his parents to Southern Cali- fornia when ten years of age, Earle Carr was educated principally in Ventura county, attend- ing first the common schools, and afterwards the Ventura Business College. While remaining at home he assisted his father in the management of his ranch, acquiring in the mean time valuable agricultural knowledge. In 1896 he began the battle of life for himself as a ranchman, and by dint of perseverance, thrift and wise judgment has succeeded almost beyond his most sanguine expectations. In 1901 he took possession of his present ranch of three hundred acres, and has since placed all of the land under a high state of cultivation, devoting twenty-five acres of it to beets, and two hundred and seventy-five acres to beans. Both are profitable crops to raise, the latter yielding on an average nineteen sacks to the acre. In the care of his farm, Mr. Carr takes genuine pride and pleasure, sparing neither time nor expense in his efforts to improve it, his ranch in its appointments being one of the best in the neighborhood.

In 1896 Mr. Carr married Winnifred Fair- banks, who was born in Hueneme, Cal., a daugh- ter of E. B. Fairbanks, for twenty-five years foreman of the wharf. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carr, namely : Philetus Sprague, Robert and Earle Edward. Politically Mr. Carr upholds the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote. Fra- ternally he is a member of Oxnard Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M .; of Oxnard Chapter No. 86, R. A. M .: of Ventura Commandery No. 18, K. T .; and of Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Los Angeles. He is highly esteemed in Masonic circles, and is now serving as worship- ful master of Oxnard Lodge.

NOAH R. SMITH, D. D. S. Prominent among the leading professional members of the industrial community of Santa Monica is Noah R. Smith, D. D. S., who has a large and re- munerative patronage, his natural talents and in- dustry placing him among the most noted and successful dentists of this part of the county. A native of Missouri, he was born in Pike county, February II, 1874.

Having completed his preliminary education in the common schools of his native state, Noah R. Smith was graduated from La Grange Col- lege, in La Grange, Lewis county. Mo. He aft- erwards went to Kansas City, Mo., there en- tering the Western Dental College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. Im-

mediately opening an office in Howard county, Mo., Dr. Smith remained there five years, being successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. Desiring a complete change of clim- ate, he came to Los Angeles county in 1901, lo- cating as a dentist in Santa Monica, where he has built up a splendid practice, his professional knowledge and skill having won for him the con- fidence and esteem of his numerous patrons.

In Howard county, Mo., Dr. Smith married Roberta M. Todd, a native of that county, as was her father, H. M. Todd. She came of pio- neer ancestry, her grandfather, Joshua Todd, having been a pioneer of Howard county, and also being distinguished as having been the first settler of Omaha, Neb., getting his grant from the old Council Bluffs Ferry Company. The doctor and Mrs. Smith have three children, namely: Nelson R., John Robert, and an infant unnamed. The doctor is domestic in his tastes and practices, his home being far more to him than any club, and is a valued member of the Baptist Church.

THOMAS McCORMICK. One of the in- dustrious and thoroughgoing ranchers of Ven- tura county is Thomas McCormick, whose well- appointed and productive ranch is pleasantly and conveniently located two miles from Camarillo. Becoming a tiller of the soil from choice at an early age, he has followed that vocation ever since, and since locating on his present ranch has made a specialty of raising beans and barley.

Of foreign birth and antecedents, Thomas Mc- Cormick was born in County Longford, Ireland, July 9. 1867, and is a son of James 'and Cath- erine (McCormick) McCormick, both of whom were also natives of the Emerald Isle. Mr. Mc- Cormick has no personal recollections of his father, for the latter died when he was an in- fant. His mother, however, endeavored to sup- ply the loss to her family by giving them the care and protection of both parents, with the re- sult that the children were trained to lives of use- fulness and high ideals. The death of the mother occurred in 1904, when she was about fifty-six years of age. Prior to coming to the United States in 1888 Thomas McCormick had taken advantage of every opportunity offered in his native county for obtaining an education, and the foundation there laid has been greatly added to in the later years by intelligent reading and care- ful observation. Landing in New York City, he soon made his way across the continent, coming at once to what is now Oxnard, Ventura county, where for seven years he worked in the employ of others, an experience which was of great ad- vantage to him, in that it gave him an excellent opportunity to learn the methods of farming in

Honest Il Erskine Alice & Enchine

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this country. Before becoming a land owner, however, he tested his ability as a rancher by starting out for himself on rented land, operating leased land from 1895 until 1902, in which latter year he came to his present location. Besides owning a tract of one hundred and twelve acres, he leases one hundred acres of land adjoining, the entire acreage under his control being devoted to the raising of beans and barley exclusively. The raising of beans constitutes his chief indus- try, and in harvesting twenty-three sacks to the acre he is exceeding by far the average yield for that commodity.

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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 39

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