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 40

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

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October 27, 1901, Thomas McCormick and Elizabeth McGrath were united in marriage, the ceremony taking place in El Rio. The three children born of their marriage are, Mary Jose- phine Dolores, Thomas Hubert and James Dominick. The family are adherents of the Roman Catholic faith, and worship in the church of that denomination at Oxnard. Politically Mr. McCormick is a Republican, and the only fra- ternal order with which he is connected is the Knights of Columbus. Few citizens of the coun- ty enjoy to a greater extent than does Mr. Mc- Cormick the confidence and esteem of his fellow- townsmen, nor are any more in touch with the needs, aspirations and successes of the commun- ity.

FORREST MANLEY ERSKINE. The suc- cess which has accompanied the efforts of Mr. Erskine since his location in California has been such as to place him among the repre- sentative citizens of the vicinity of Bryn Mawr, win him a competency, and establish his fortunes on a firm basis. A native of Stoughton, Mass., Forrest Manley Erskine was born February 4, 1850. a son of Robert, of Abingdon. that state, a shoemaker by trade, and who lived to the age of eighty-one years. His mother, in maidenhood Joan Whitmash, was born in Abingdon, Mass., where she also passed away at the age of seventy-two years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom seven are now living. a son, Frank, hav- ing served in the Civil war in a Massachu- setts regiment.

The fourth in his father's family, Forrest Manley Erskine was reared in his native state and educated in its public schools, after which he learned the trade of shoemaker. engaging first as heeler and then as heel trimmer on the machine with various companies in Stoughton and Brockton. He was employed by the Stacy Adams Company and made $100 per month as heel trimmer. He came to Cali- fornia in October, 1891, with $1,500, the en- tire amount that he had been able to accumu-

late in the passing years, and secured a posi- tion with Isam Mitchell, acting as foreman on his ranch for ten years. During this time he had become interested in horticultural pur- suits and had purchased ten acres of land and set .it out in navel oranges; three years later he bought ten acres adjoining, and later bought twenty acres of raw land, now owning twenty acres in full bearing. He made all the im- provements on the property and about five years ago began to devote his entire time and attention to his groves and now has one of the finest properties of this section.

In Stoughton, Mass., Mr. Erskine was unit- ed in marriage with Miss Alice Eldora Mad- an, a native of that place, and they have one child, Gladdys Wayne, now Mrs. V. G. Klien- berger, of Los Angeles. She was educated in private schools. Politically Mr. Erskine is a true blue Republican.

STEPHEN LENTON. A central figure in commercial and agricultural affairs in Long Beach was the late Stephen Lenton, whose death in 1905 removed from the community an enter- prising and able citizen. He was a native of Eng- land. his birth having occurred in the vicinity of Birmingham in 1847. He there grew to man- hood and after serving an apprenticeship in land- scape gardening engaged in that business for some years. Deciding to locate in the United States he brought his wife, formerly Mary Fluck, also a native of England, and their two children across the Atlantic in the year 1873, and after lo- cating in the state of Mississippi followed farm- ing for a livelihood. Later he went to New Jer- sey, where he engaged as a florist for seven years, meeting with success in his efforts. His next move found him a resident of Elgin, Ill., where the same business offered him opportunities for advancement, and in that section he remained un- til his final location in California. He first set- tled in Piru. Ventura county, where he engaged for a time on a ranch, in the nursery department, after which he embarked in the nursery business, following the same for the period of eight years. During this time his wife died at the age of fifty- five years. Coming to Los Angeles in 1896. he established a floral store and also raised many varities of flowers and plants. In April, 1899, he came to Long Beach and on the corner of Fourth and Alamitos avenues conducted a nursery and floral establishment. At the time of his death there were four and a half acres in the home place, which has since been subdivided.

In 1899 Mr. Lenton was united in marriage with Mrs. Jennie (Braly) Hargrave. the widow of Judge J. P. Hargrave, of Prescott. Ariz., and she now makes her home in Long Beach. By his

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first marriage he had the following children : Rose, widow of E. V. Lawson, of Long Beach ; Albert, also of Long Beach; Ada, wife of A. . Martin of Ventura, Cal .; Lavinia, a teacher ; and Alice, a trained nurse.

Albert Lenton, the only son, was born in Eng- land, May 6, 1872, and was brought to America when only one year old. In the schools of New Jersey and Illinois he received his scholastic training, graduating in the Elgin schools. He learned the trade of landscape gardener and florist under the instruction of his father, with whom he worked a considerable portion of his time, remaining in Fullerton, Orange county, Cal., where his father had located after leaving Los Angeles, prior to his settlement in Long Beach. Following his father to this city he en- gaged as foreman in the ornamental department of the Orange County Nursery 'in Fullerton. during which time he was offered the position of foreman of the University grounds in Berkeley, Cal. After thirteen months in that location he returned to Long Beach on account of his fath- er's failing health, and here took up the duties of his father's business. For about two years he held the Fourth street nursery independently, but since his father's' death he has removed to Fullerton in the employ of the Orange County Nursery.

ARTHUR PINCKNEY NELSON, super- visor of the Fifth Supervisoral district, is a well known horticulturist and is superintendent of the Whittier ranch at Redlands Junction, in which work he has met with great success. Of southern lineage, he was born in White county, Tenn., July 22, 1848, and was thus a lad of nearly thirteen years at the time of the breaking out of the Civil war. His father, Jesse T., was born in Virginia and reared in North Carolina, when he removed to Tennessee and engaged at his trade of wagon and carriage maker, and also was occupied in farming. At the breaking out of the war the family was located in Spencer, Van Buren county, where Mr. Nelson was prominent in public affairs, serving as justice of the peace and in other positions of importance, his livelihood at that time being obtained as a miller. Because of his avowed Union sympathies he was constantly threatened by the Secession- ists, and finally in 1863 he started his family for Illinois by team, and with his son ( who was then reaching an age when he would be forced into the Confederate army) traveled at night to Ken- tucky, and thence to Illinois. Up to this time they had acted in the interests of the famous underground railway, Arthur P. Nelson assist- ing as conductor in aiding the Union men to es-

cape from Tennessee to the Federal lines in Kentucky, piloting them by night from his fath- er's house over the mountains to their next place of refuge. In Olney, Richland county, Ill., the father located his family, and there engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1866. His wife, formerly Sarah Barckley, was born in North Carolina and died in Illinois, leaving a family of seven children.

The eldest in his father's family, Arthur Pinckney Nelson, received his preliminary edu- cation in the district schools of Tennessee and also attended Burrett College at Spencer one term, when the war interrupted educational pur- suits. In February, 1865, after his escape from his native state, he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, was mustered in at Springfield and served in Tennessee within sixty miles of his old home. He was honorably discharged in August of the same year and soon after his return home his father died, leaving him the head of the fam- ily at the age of seventeen years. He engaged in the management of the home farm and until 1875 cared for his mother, brothers and sisters, and then, having previously learned the trade of carpenter, worked at this pursuit for two years. He then accepted a position in the de- partment of bridges, buildings and water sup- ply for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. now the Baltimore & Ohio, and retained his connec- tion with the road mitil 1887. Coming to Cali- fornia in this year he looked about in Riverside and San Bernardino, and finally accepted em- ployment as a carpenter on the Mound City buildings. The bench at that time was covered with sage-brush, where he shot jack rabbits and quail. He worked in Southern California until February of 1889, when he decided to go to San Francisco, and from there continued to Portland. where he followed the building business until fall. He then returned to California and worked at his trade in Berkeley until April, 1890, and then came again to San Bernardino county, as he had previously become interested in the nurs- ery business in Mound City and felt it necessary to return to attend to his interests. After locat- ing here in 1890 he took charge of the work him- self and in the fall of the year bought property and continued the work, improving first four acres and later adding fifteen acres, the latter property still being in his possession and now devoted to oranges. In 1894 Mr. Whittier called upon him to accept the management of his ranch of one hundred and seventy acres, of which one hundred and sixty-five acres are in oranges and grape fruit, being set out by Mr. Nelson and thoroughly improved by him, irrigated, etc., the residence, barns, outbuildings, wells, pumping plant, all being his own work. He has made a

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

success of his work and is one of the most suc- cessful horticulturists of this section.

Mr. Nelson has been twice married, the first ceremony being performed in Richland county, Ill., and uniting him with Miss Mary L. Bowen, who was born in Ohio and died in Illinois. In San Bernardino county he married Miss Lou Perkins, a native of Michigan. Mr. Nelson was made a Mason in Olney, Ill., and now belongs to Redlands Lodge No. 300, F. & A. M. Political- ly he is a stanch Republican, and in 1904 was elected supervisor of the Fifth Supervisoral district, and is now discharging the duties of that position. For years he has served as a member of the Republican County Central Committee. As a member of the Redlands Board of Trade he is active in advancing the business interests of this section.

JOSEPH E. WILSHIRE. The name which heads this review is one well known in Southern California and held in the highest esteem by those whose pioneer efforts toward the devlop- ment of the state left nothing to be desired in the present generation but the same self-sacri- ficing devotion to the cause of their forefathers. Joseph E. Wilshire is a native of California. His father, George T., was born in England and emi- grated to America in young manhood. After spending some time in Boston, Mass., he located in the middle west, married in St. Louis, Mo .. and from thence in 1855 he crossed the plains to Salt Lake, where he followed farming for the period of two years. In 1857 he came to San Bernardino county by means of ox-teams, and purchasing a farm on Worm creek, he there be- gan its cultivation and improvement. He re- mained in that location for seventeen years, when he went to the vicinity of what is now River- side and engaged in the raising of alfalfa and became a horticulturist. Locating at Oak Glen in 1882, he bought a farm on the upper Yucaipe and followed general farming and stock raising for the period of two years, thence to Cuca- monga, where he engaged as a horticulturist, finally retiring from active business and making his home with his son for about twelve years, his death occurring in Colton in September, 1905. at the age of eighty-two years. His wife was formerly Susan Edes, a native of Boston, whose death occurred in Colton at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom two are living. the fourth in order of birth being Joseph E. Wilshire.

Born in what is now Colton, April 12, 1858. Joseph E. Wilshire was reared in San Bernardino county and educated in its public schools, after which, in line with his early training. he fol- lowed farming with his father. His first inde-

pendent venture was made at the age of eighteen years when he went to Los Angeles county and engaged in the stock business in Laguna cañon just below Newport, remaining in that location for one year, when he went to Lake Elsinore and there on unsurveyed land engaged in the cattle business. One year later he returnd to Jumpa, the home of his parents, sold his cattle and went to school for a time. His next employment was with Judge Arthur Parks on his farm, after which, in 1877, he located at Oak Glen and bought a claim and engaged again in general farming and stock-raising. He with others built a ditch from the little San Gorgonia creek, from which they obtained their water supply for irri- gation ; he set out an apple orchard of thirty-five acres, and seven acres of cherries, pears and peaches, and devoted the remainder of the land to the raising of cattle. He has six hundred acres of land at an altitude of forty-five hundred feet, with two and a half miles of stone and con- crete flume to his orchard, where he raises the finest apples in Southern California.

In the fall of 1906 he located in Redlands and purchased a comfortable residence at No. 103 Sonora street. Mr. Wilshire has been twice mar- ried, the first ceremony being performed in Yu- caipe, when he was united with Miss Rosalia Webster, a native of San Bernardino. She died in Yucaipe leaving three children, namely : Marv. wife of George Parks, of Riverside: Eva, wife of A. E. Carter, of Lodono Beach ; and Earl, of the United States army, serving in the Philip- pines. His second marriage occurring in San Bernardino, united him with Miss Melissa Week. a native of Missouri, and they are the parents of the following named children: Ida, Clarence, Alice, Ruth, Emma. George and Susie. Mr. Wilshire has taken a keen interest in all matters of public import and is especially active in edu- cational affairs, having served as a member of the school board of the Yucaipe district for the period of ten years, and officiated as clerk for the greater part of that time. Fraternally he is iden- tified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks ; politically he adheres to the principles ad- vocated in the platform of the Democratic party.

F. C. RUSCONI. The successful manage- nient of a dairy, stock and grain ranch of twen- tv-four hundred acres demonstrates the posses- sion of broad agricultural knowledge, combined with business and executive ability of a high or- cler. That these requirements are realized in F. C. Rusconi, for the past three years in charge of the M. D. Tognazzini ranch, admits of no doubt in the minds of those familiar with ranch- ing conditions in Santa Barbara county. Mr. Rusconi augments the colony of capable Swiss-

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Americans who have brought to this state their invaluable lessons in dairying, and who, more than the representatives of any other immigrat- ing nation, have behind them the example of gen- erations of forefathers similarly employed.

Frank and Liberata (Prescom) Rusconi, par- ents of the Santa Barbara county rancher, still occupy the old home in Switzerland, where their son was born February 20, 1870. The latter left his mountain home at the age of twelve years, a fact not surprising, since there were fourteen children dependent upon the resources of a comparatively small farm. Arriving at his in- tended destination in California, the youth at once entered upon his dairying career, finding employment with a ranch owner near Napa, Napa county, with whom he lived for several years. His labor thenceforth was along dairy- ing lines, and his experiences amply qualified him for the responsible position he has held the past three years. Of the seven hundred head of cattle on the Tognozzini ranch, three hun- dred and fifty are milch cows, and the chief product is cream, although formerly the dairy produced large quantities of butter. Thirteen men are required the year round and additional recruits during the harvesting of the twelve hun- dred acres of grain. A new creamery has just been completed, which, for completeness, sur- passes anything of the kind hitherto found in the county. All of the buildings of the ranch are kept in excellent repair, and many of them are of recent and costly construction. It is a prop- erty which fulfills expectations, no matter how ambitious, of those most interested in the growth and reputation of the county, and that this is so is in large measure due to the energy, re- source and intelligence of its present manager.

In May, 1905, Mr. Rusconi married Josie Tognazzini, who is distantly related to M. D. Tognazzini, and who was born in Sidney, Aus- tralia. Mr. Rusconi is a Republican in political affiliation, and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Solano county, and the Druids of Guadaloupe. He is a man of strong character. fine education, and pronounced views upon subjects which engage popular attention. He is personally popular, and has the faculty of infusing his subordinates with that earnestness and enthusiasm which spells suc- cess in all lines of human endeavor.

ERNEST RONSSE. Conspicuous among the substantial citizens of San Diego county who selected agriculture as their vocation in life, and who, judging from all appearances, have realized their most sanguine anticipations, is Ernest Ronsse, a general farmer and stockman, residing near Bonsall. His large, highly cultivated ranch

is well improved, the fine set of buildings which he has erected being made more attractive by the artistic arrangement of flowers around and near them, while the practical work is greatly facili- tated by the use of the most approved patterns of modern machinery, the estate, with its appur- tenances, being one of the most noteworthy in the neighborhood. A son of Leonard Ronsse, he was born, April 9, 1858, in France, not far from the beautiful city of Paris.

Born and reared in Belgium, Leonard Ronsse settled as a farmer in France when a young man, and was thus engaged until 1871. Immigrating to the United States that year, he taught for three years in the agricultural college at Roches- ter, N. Y. In 1889 he came to California, and is now a resident of Watsonville. He is a man of great worth, a stanch Democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic Church. His marriage united him with Mary Vackman, also a native of Belgium, and of the four children that blessed their union all are living.

After his graduation from the high school Ernest Ronsse worked first in a factory in France, and was subsequently for a short time employed as a traveling salesman. In 1880 he came to the United States, and after a brief stay in Philadelphia joined his parents in Kansas, settling near Topeka, where for five years he as- sisted his father in farming. Embarking then in agricultural pursuits on his own account, he car- ried on general farming in Kansas until 1888, when he came to the Pacific coast in search of a favorable location. After visiting San Diego and San Francisco, he returned to Kansas, but not quite satisfied with his financial prospects there, removed to Flagstaff, Ariz., where he was engaged in the lumber business for eight years. In the mean time, about 1892, he made a trip to :Southern California, and while in San Diego county purchased his present ranch, lying near Bonsall, and began its improvement by setting out many trees. Taking up his residence on this ranch in 1896, he has since managed it most suc- cessfully, carrying on general farming and stock- raising with profitable results. He has three hundred and sixty-five acres of rich and fertile land, and in its improvement takes genuine pride and pleasure.

In 1884, in Kansas, Mr. Ronsse married Helen Verschalden, who was born in Belgium, and into the pleasant household thus established eight children have been born, namely: August ; Hen- ry; Julius : Charles and Joseph, twins ; Mary and Martha, twins; and Helen. In politics Mr. Ronsse is an independent voter, reserving the right to support the man whom he considers the best qualified to serve the interests of the people, and in religion both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Mission Catholic Church.

A. b . lassan

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HENRY C. CARSON. Prominent among the prosperous agriculturists and substantial business men of Compton was the late Henry C. Carson, whose success in life was largely self-acquired. For many years he had been actively identified with the industrial inter- ests of this part of Los Angeles county, and had taken an intelligent interest in all mat- ters that concerned the welfare of the com- munity at large. 'A son of John Carson, he was born December 8, 1835, in Jordan, N. Y., where he grew to man's estate. His father was born in Salem, N. Y., and spent his life in his native state. He married Sophia Cady, and of the six children that blessed their union all are deceased excepting Mrs. J. M. Smith, of Santa Maria, Cal. On the maternal side Mr. Carson came from a family noted for its longevity, his Grandmother Cady having attained the remarkable age of one hundred and three years.

After leaving the district school, Henry C. Carson learned the harness-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of five years. Start- ing for himself in 1854, he migrated to Illi- nois, locating in Freeport, where he was for a time engaged in railroading. Going thence to Savanna, Ill., he established himself in the harness business, which he carried on success- fully for six years. The following nine years he was similarly employed in Winona, Minn., from there going to Missouri and becoming a resident of Hannibal. Not content with his financial prospects in that region, he came to California, arriving in Compton July 26, 1872, joining his brother George, with whom he was for awhile engaged in general ranching, mak- ing a specialty of raising sheep. Turning his attention then to mercantile pursuits, he es- tablished himself here as a butcher, and for thirty years carried on a large and lucrative meat business, running wagons all through this section of country. About 1900 he re- tired from this business, and until his death, April 8, 1906, devoted his attention and en- ergies to the carc of his home ranch of twenty acres. He was an extensive stock raiser, keep- ing horses and cattle, and in his agricultural operations was successful. A man of much ability and practical judgment, he was ex- ceedingly prosperous, and invested considera- ble money in real estate, owning five ranches, aggregating in all ninety-five acres of rich and valnable land.

Tn Savanna, I11., in 1856, Mr. Carson mar- ried Leonora E. Pierce. a daughter of Aaron Pierce, a pioneer of Illinois, and one of the original settlers of Savanna. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carson, namely: Harriet, who was born in Savanna,

Ill., and died in Winona, Minn .; and Frank Henry, born in Winona, Minn .; during boy- hood he came with his parents to Compton, married Mae Palmer, and died here at the early age of twenty-six years. Politically Mr. Carson was a straightforward Democrat.

HON. FRANK PIERCE MESERVE. The advantages of foreign travel have been added to education and culture received at home, which have made of the Hon. Frank Pierce Meserve a personality both pleasing and entertaining, and his close observation and retentive memory have combined to give him the best that could be ob- tained through such intercourse with the world's geography. He is now located in Redlands, one of the most beautiful cities of Southern Califor- nia, and here he has contributed of all of his gifts to add to the growth and prosperity of the com- munity, no movement calculated to advance the general welfare lacking his support. Mr. Me- serve comes of an old New England family whose ancestry can be traced to the Isle of Jersey, whence emigrating ancestors located the name on American soil. Here they have been prominent in public affairs, many serving as eminent jurists of their day. In New Hampshire his paternal grandfather served as colonel in the war of 1812; in that state his father, Samuel, was born, reared and educated, and there engaged as a brick and stone mason until his death. By marriage he al- lied his fortunes with those of another old New Hampshire family, his wife being before marriage Mary A. Hanson, a native of that state and daugliter of John Hanson. They were the par- ents of six children, all of whom are now living. Two sons served in Company A, First Regiment New Hampshire Infantry, and one in the Con- federate army.

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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 40

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