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 42

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

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In 1886 Mr. Shaw came to California, his first home being in Altadena, where he entered the employ of Woodbury Brothers as general overseer in the construction of improvements of the Woodbury ranch, and at the same time was engaged in contracting and building in Altadena. It was during this time that his employers built the road from Pasadena to Altadena now owned by the Salt Lake, and he rode on the first train that passed over the new line in 1887. In that year he also made a survey of a road to Mt. Lowe, the line which he marked going by way of Millard Cañon, across to the present line, and on to Mt. Wil- son. In 1889 he located in Pasadena and was occupied as a contractor until 1896, when he continued the business in Long Beach, which city has since been his home. After two years he again took up surveying and did consider- able work in San Bernardino county. Enter- ing the Long Beach city engineer's office in 1901 as assistant he continued in that capaci- ty until 1906, when, upon the resignation of W. A. Foster, he was appointed by the city council as city engineer, liis long experience in the office having given him the confidence of the people who look for efficient service from its officials.

The marriage of Mr. Shaw occurred in Chase City, Va., uniting him with Miss Mary E. Ramsey, a native of Pennsylvania, and to them have been born three children. The daughter is now the wife of Dr. Austin, of Long Beach ; Ray is a surveyor in Long Beach ; and Clark is assistant city surveyor. Fraternally Mr. Shaw is a member of Long Beach Lodge No. 327, F. & A. M., and religiously is an active member of the Presbyterian Church. He is an advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Republican party, and in the development and upbuilding of the city is one of the most enthusiastic workers.

CHARLES EDWARD BECK. The family to which Charles Edward Beck belongs was one of the earliest to locate in Southern California, Thomas, a native of Coventry, England, coming hither in 1853 and about 1858 locating in San Bernardino county. He had been brought to America by his father, also Thomas Beck, the elder man coming to New York City with his two sons, Thomas and Joseph. In that city Thomas Beck, Jr., learned the trade of baker, after which he went to sea and followed this life for about four years, his last voyage being

S. E. Kennedy

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around Cape Horn to San Francisco, where in 1850 he left the vessel. Three years later he came to Southern California and in San Bernar- dino county was employed as a ranch hand. In that location also he married Caroline Single- ton, she too being a native of England. Her father, Robert Singleton, brought his family from England to Philadelphia, then across the plains over the old trail, via Salt Lake City and San Bernardino. In her girlhood Mrs. Beck was educated in the public schools of this section.

E. has since been closely connected. As pro- prietor of a meat market here he enjoys a suc- cess far above the average, but not more than is his just due, for years of training in the butcher business have made him a connois- seur in the selection and curing of meats, and this, taken in connection with tactfulness and fair dealing, is the secret of his high stand- ing in the community.

Born in Centerbridge, Bucks county, Pa., October 31, 1861, Mr. Kennedy is a son of In 1860 Mr. Beck came to Los Angeles county . William and Sarah (McCourt) Kennedy, both and remained for a time in the vicinity of El Monte, but finally returned to San Bernardino county, where he purchased a place and made his home until his death. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beck: Charles E., of this re- view; Thomas and George, both of whom died in childhood. Mrs. Beck subsequently became the wife of James Cleminson, and died in El Monte in 1880. of whom came from Ireland and settled in Pennsylvania during the early days in the history of that commonwealth. The father is still living, making his home in the same lo- cality in which he first settled with his wife upon coming to this country. The wife and mother passed away in 1906. As their cir- cumstances were exceedingly limited it was not possible for the children to consume much Reared in San Bernardino county, where he was born January 8, 1862, Charles E. Beck was fourteen years old when he was brought by his parents to El Monte, and here he completed his education in the public schools. He remained at home until he was eighteen years old, when he returned to San Bernardino and entered the employ of an uncle, E. P. Clyde, again in 1886 lo- cating in El Monte, where he farmed the old Cleminson place. He was married in El Monte, in 1887, to Miss Lulu McGarvin, a native of Mis- souri. He continued farming in this section, pur- chasing and improving farms in the vicinity, and then selling and at the present writing is engaged in the dairy business on the old W. L. Hinman place, where he has twenty-eight Jerseys, and twenty-six acres in alfalfa. Mr. and Mrs. Beck have four children, Harold E., James Ivor, Hazel M. and Clyde E. Mr. Beck served for a time as school trustee in the Bassett district and is otherwise interested in the general welfare of the community. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Foresters of El Monte, of which he is past chief ranger, and also the Modern Woodmen' of America, being a meni- ber of its board of directors. Politically he is a stanch Republican. time in acquiring an education, and it was on this account that Silas E. began to earn his own living when a lad of nine years. Until fifteen years old he worked as a farm hand in return for his board and clothes, but the work was hard and not altogether satisfac- tory, so when the opportunity was offered him to come to California and work for an uncle he was not long in making up his mind to take the journey. For about four years he and his brother, who had accompanied himn across the plains, were in the employ of their uncle, George Hinds, who was the proprietor of a butcher shop in Wilmington. Going to Los Angeles in 1880 Silas E. continued work in this line for two years, when he once more located in Wilmington, working in a meat market until 1893. It was during this year that he gave up work at his trade to devote his time to the ranch near Redondo in which he had an interest. This did not prove to be a wise move, however, for three dry years which prevailed from then until 1896 made the ranching business unprofitable. This turn in his affairs led him to return to Wilming- ton and establish the meat market of which he is now the proprietor, and thus what seemed a hardship had proved a blessing in disguise. Besides his commodious home, which is sur- rounded by spacious grounds, he also owns several fine lots in Long Beach and a small ranch in the vicinity of Redondo, which is a part of the Meadow Park tract.

SILAS E. KENNEDY. The name of Silas E. Kennedy is familiar to most of the resi- dents in the southern part of Los Angeles county, and carries with it an impression of influence, large undertakings and unques- tioned integrity. His identification with Wil- mington dates back to the year 1876, at which time he and a brother left their home in the east and came directly to this town, with whose activities and industries the life of Silas

Mr. Kennedy was married October 27, 1887, to Carrie Venable, a daughter of J. W. Ven- able. who is well known throughout Los An- geles county for the prominent part he has taken in political matters. He is a Virginian by birth and came to California during the

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early days of its settlement. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are the parents of three children, Mary, George and Silas E., Jr. In fraternal relations Mr. Kennedy holds membership in Wilmington Lodge No. 198, F. & A. M .; Long Beach Chapter No. 84, R. A. M .; and also belongs to the Eastern Star Chapter No. 173, of that place. Perhaps in no respect has he rendered his city more signal service than through his work as a member of the school board, of which he has been clerk for the past six years. He is also treasurer of the Masonic Hall Building Association. In his political sympathies he is a stanch Democrat, is chair- man of the board of trustees of Wilmington, and religiously he is a member of the Pres- byterian Church. He is one of the solid, re- liable men of the community, and as such merits the many friendships and blessings which have come to him.

LEANDER LODGE. In the part of Redlands district known as Greenspot, Leander Lodge is engaged in horticultural pursuits on one of the fine ranches of this section, highly improved and cultivated, although he makes his home in Long Beach for the greater part of the year. He was born in West Greenville, Pa., December 21, 1840, a son of Samuel, a native of Westmoreland coun- ty, and grandson of Benjamin, born in the vicin- ity of Philadelphia. The grandfather served in the Revolutionary war as a civil engineer with the rank of lieutenant under the direct command of General Greene. Upon the close of hostilities he settled in Westmoreland county, Pa., surveyed and laid out the town of Greenville, Mercer coun- ty, making his home in Westmoreland county, where he came to his death by drowning. He came of an old English family of Quaker ances- try, and early settlers of Philadelphia. Samuel Lodge was a tanner and currier by trade, he and his brother having operated a tannery in Green- ville for some years. In 1852 he removed to Henry county, Ill., and located at Geneseo where he was killed in a runaway. His wife, formerly Jane McCord, was born in Mercer county, Pa., a daughter of James McCord, of Scotch ancestry, a patriot in the Mexican war. Mrs. Lodge died in Iowa; of her eleven children five are now liv- ing, of whom three sons served in the Civil war, Oscar and Albert in an Iowa regiment, and George in an Indiana regiment.

Leander Lodge was reared for the first twelve years of his life in his native county, after which, in 1852, he accompanied his parents to Henry county, Ill. He was there reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools, from boyhood working on the farm and acquiring a practical experience in life. In 1863 he taught

school in Illinois. Removing to Iowa in 1867, he located near Wilton, Cedar county, and engaged in the dual interests of teaching and farming. He was married in Cedar county in 1869 and two years later removed to Pottawattamie county, same state, and there purchased a farm and be- gan its improvement and cultivation. Eight months later he opened a general merchandise store in Walnut, erecting a building in which he continued operations for the period of twelve years. For the greater part of this time he held the postmastership of the place, and was one of the principal upbuilders of its interests. In 1884 he located in Neola, same county, and engaged in the banking business, the institution being known as the Bank of Neola. He remained at the head of this enterprise for five years, when he sold his interests and spent three years in Nebraska and Boston for rest and the better education of his children. Deciding to locate in the remote west he came to Seattle, Wash., and there engaged in the brokerage business for the period of two and a half years, in December, 1892, locating in Greenspot, San Bernardino county, Cal. Here he purchased forty acres of land, cleared it and set it out in oranges, became connected with the Mentone Water Company and brought the water to the place. During the dry years when they could not get water he dug a well eighty-five feet deep, after a depth of forty-five feet being com- pelled to put in a gasoline engine to sink the re- mainder of the well. He now has a centrifugal pump with a capacity of thirty inches, operated with a Weber gasoline engine. Mr. Lodge now has twenty-five acres in oranges, composing as fine an orchard as is to be found in Southern Cal- ifornia.

Mr. Lodge built a residence on East Ocean avenue, Long Beach, and spends his summers in that city. His wife was formerly Miss Sarah M. Woodhouse, a native of New Hampshire, who was engaged in educational work. They became the parents of the following children : Leta A., a graduate of the Boston University and now prin- cipal of a school in Los Angeles; Helen H., who took a course in the Boston Conservatory of Music, and wife of Leland Lyons, of Crafton ; Elizabeth L., graduate of Stanford University ; and Freda M., a student in the Marlborough School, of Los Angeles. With his family Mr. Lodge is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, of Redlands, and is active in its work. Politically he is a stanch Republican.

WILLIAM HENRY LYON. A pioneer of California and an upbuilder of the state, William H. Lyon came to Redlands in 1888, where his brother, Isaac L., had already begun the develop- ment of what is now known as the Lyon orange

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

grove, and ultimately he improved a two hundred acre orange grove, which was one of the finest properties in Southern California. He was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., September 27, 1818, the eldest of three children born to his parents, Stephen S., a native of New Jersey and a lumber manufacturer of New York, where he died, and Eliza (Wheeler) Lyon, who was born in Con- necticut and died in New York. He was reared in his native city and educated in the Ogdens- burg Academy, and at the age of seventeen years went to Buffalo, N. Y., and with a letter to the city surveyor obtained a position in his office. When the Illinois Central Railroad was built Mr. Lyon worked on the first survey in its location, and also on the construction had charge of a sub- division of ten miles. He was next on the sur- vey of the Rutland & Burlington Railroad, in Vermont, and was also resident engineer during its construction. In 1850 he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama and with five others engaged in mining in Placer county. He was very successful and with his accumulated earn- ings established a brewery in San Francisco which later grew to extensive proportions on Jessie street in the rear of the Palace hotel. The firm was known as Lyon & Co. Because of a severe illness in 1877 he closed out his business and in 1880 returned east again (having made the trip several times after the transcontinental railway was completed) and deciding this time to make the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He finally concluded to locate in Paris, France, and accordingly he spent eight years and three months in Europe, after which he returned to America and with his brother, Isaac L. Lyon, he came to Redlands and has ever since made this place his home. His brother died in Decem- ber, 1901, when Eldridge M. Lyon, his brother's son, assumed charge of the vast interests.

In San Francisco Mr. Lyon was made a Mason in California Lodge No. 1, F. & A. M., of which he is still a member, and also belongs to Califor- nia Chapter No. 5, R. A. M., California Com- mandery No. I, K. T., and San Francisco Con- sistory. He was made an Odd Fellow in New York and also holds membership with this organ- ization at the present writing. He is numbered among the California pioneers of San Francisco. Politically he is a stanch Republican.

JOB EDWARD APSEY. When a man spends nearly a half century in active labor it is but just that the rewards of his industry represented by the accumulation of property should enable him to live in rest and retire- ment in his later years. J. E. Apsey, a leading citizen of Arroyo Grande, is thus situated and enjoys great popularity and the possession of a

host of friends who congratulate him on his success in life. He is of English parentage, both his father, Isaac Apsey, and his mother, who was Jane Long before her marriage, hav- ing been born in England. They emigrated to America in 1836 and made a home in Iowa when it was far out on the frontier, living there until 1853, when they continued their journey across the continent and became pio- neers of the state of California, where four years later the father died, at the age of sixty- four years. The mother lived ten years longer and was the same age as her husband at the time of her denise. Mr. Apsey was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination and a man of strong principles and integrity of character. Of the five children in the family one son now lives in Nevada and a daughter near Red Bluff, Cal.

J. E. Apsey was born in Jones county, Iowa, July 9, 1847, and came to California with his parents in 1853, Tehama being the point at which they settled. In this location Mr. Ap- sey attended the common schools, after which he acquired a practical business education and in young manhood engaged in cattle raising in Tehama county. Following this occupation until 1867, he then came to San Luis Obispo county with cattle ; however, he soon engaged in the livery business, which he conducted for a time and then had charge of the San Simeon wharf for two years. After retiring from this position he began his career as a hotel keeper, having charge of the Cambria house for several years. Disposing of his interest in that place he came to San Luis Obispo, where he en- gaged in business and in 1891 settled in Ar- royo Grande and conducted the Ryan house for the ensuing nine years. After that he had charge of a threshing outfit for three years. and at the end of this time gave up active business.

In 1871 Mr. Apsey was married in Cambria to Mrs. Marv Gross, a native of Ohio, and a widow with three children. Fraternallv he is a member of the Cambria Lodge and Hesper- ian Lodge No. 181, T. O. O. F., which he joined in 1876. In politics he has always taken a deep interest and is a firm believer in the tenets ad- vocated in the platform of the Republican par- ty. He has repeatedly served in official ca- pacities and among other offices has held that of constable several times and has also been a deputy sheriff. He was recently honored with the appointment by the governor to the office of supervisor of the Fourth District of San Luis Obispo county, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Patrick Moore. No man in the community is held in greater esteem, being ap- preciated especially for his demonstrated in- tegrity and ability.

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DANIEL SMITH JORDAN. The section about the city of Redlands is particularly adapted to dairy products, which are of such quality and quantity as to have won a distinction throughout Southern California, and among the many citi- zens thus occupied mention may be made of Dan- iel S. Jordan, whose proprietorship of the Glen Dairy has resulted in its upbuilding and financial prosperity. Mr. Jordan came to California in January, 1891, and was variously occupied for some years before venturing upon his present en- terprise, when he did, however, bringing to bear in his work such intelligence and perseverance that he quickly systematized his plans and soon accomplished satisfactory results.

Born in Bourbon, Ind., August 9, 1857, Mr. Jordan was a son of David K. Jordan, a native of Virginia and a farmer in Indiana, where his death eventually occurred. The mother was in maidenhood Nancy Wood, a native of Lexington, Stark county, Ohio, and her death also occurred in Indiana. They became the parents of ten children, of whom three are living, two sons, Will- iam Henry and Jesse, Jr., having served in the Fifteenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war and the latter was killed at At- lanta. Daniel S. Jordan was reared on the pa- ternal farm in Indiana and when fourteen years old went to St. John, Putnam county, Mo., where he attended the public school in pursuit of an education. When twenty-one he spent two terms in the Wasioja Seminary in the town of that name in Minnesota. Following this he went to Red- field, So. Dak., and there homesteaded a claim and also took up a tree claim, improving in all a farm of two hundred and forty acres. He fin- ally returned to Minnesota and in Nobles county engaged in'a mercantile enterprise in the town of Rushmore, and there remained until 1891. In the last named year he came to California and in Rialto engaged in a nursery business and horti- culture, setting out a ten-acre orange grove. In March, 1895, he sold out and coming to Red- lands located in San Timoteo cañon, where he farmed until 1896, purchasing in that year a part of his present property, forty acres of which he later set out in peaches and apricots and finally grubbed out to make room for alfalfa; he added to his purchase until he now owns two hundred and forty acres located three miles from Red- lands, given over to the raising of grain, hay, alfalfa and stock, and the management of the Glen Dairy. This last is supplied by a herd of twenty-five cows of high grade stock, the product being retailed in the city of Redlands. Mr. Jor- dan is interested in the Lower Yucaipe Water Company, and also has a pumping plant on his own property, which supplies a part of his irriga- tion.

In Minnesota Mr. Jordan was united in mar-

riage with Miss Ermina Bedford, a native of Sul- livan county, Pa., and born of this union are thie following children: Winifred Alice, a student in the Los Angeles Normal School; Ernest W .; Ramona; Ruth; Willard; and Helen. Mrs. Jor- dan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Jordan is associated fraternally with the Odd Fellows of Redlands and with his wife belongs to the Rebekahs. He takes an active interest in educational affairs and for six years has served as a member of the board of trustees of the railroad district. Politically he votes the Republican ticket.

HARRY LEE MARTIN. The first repre- sentative of the Martin family in America became a pioneer of Maryland, but later generations es- tablished themselves in North Carolina and Georgia, from which states they scattered through the south and west. Robert Martin, a native of North Carolina and a soldier of the Revolution, was the father of James, who was born and reared in South Carolina and settled upon a farm near Cuthbert, Randolph county, Ga. By his marriage to Hester Bogan he had seven sons, all but one of whom became ministers in the Baptist denom- ination. Among the six preachers was Rev. Isaac Martin, a native of South Carolina and for some years a farmer in Georgia, where he earned a livelihood by farming and donated his services to the church. Eventually he removed to Texas and settled at Rusk, Cherokee county, where his death occurred. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Pruitt, was born in Wilkes countv. Ga., of an old family in that state, and her deathı also took place at their Texas home.

In the family of Rev. Isaac and Mary Martin there were eleven children, all but one of whom attained maturity and four are now living. Two came to California, these being Isaac T. and Will- iam Purnell, who engaged in the furniture busi- ness in Waco, Tex., and also were together after coming to the Pacific coast. Isaac T. died Sep- tember 19, 1904, at the age of fifty-five years. Fraternally he was identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, while in religion he was of the Baptist faith. William Purnell, who received his name from the Purnell family of Maryland (relatives of the Martin family), was born near Cuthbert, Ga., March 8, 1839, and passed the years of boyhood on a Georgia farm, during the winter months attending a subscription school in the home neighborhood. At the age of twenty years he left the old associations and started out in the world for himself, his first lo- cation being in Columbia county, Ark. When the Civil war began he was among the first in the lo- cality to offer his services as a soldier and was accepted as a private in Company E, Eleventh

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Arkansas Infantry, in which he remained until the close of the war, meantime receiving a com- mission as first lieutenant. After the first year of service the regiment was mounted and served as cavalry during the balance of the struggle.

Upon the close of the war William Purnell Martin joined his father in Texas and soon after- ward secured employment with an uncle, Col. James Diamond, proprietor of the Houston Journal. Next he went to Waco and found em- ployment in the furniture store of William An- derson. Meanwhile he sent for his brother, Isaac T., whom he sent to school and when his educa- tion had been completed, the brothers embarked in business under the title of W. P. Martin & Bro., continuing together in the furniture trade for twenty years. During 1887 they disposed of their store and in 1888 removed to California, settling in Los Angeles, where in a short time they opened a furniture store on Third street near Hill, later removing their establishment to Spring street. In a short time they had estab- lished - growing trade in the line of their spe- cialties. During 1893 W. P. Martin disposed of his interest to his brother and turned his atten- tion to the dairy business, establishing a dairy on the west side of the city and continuing the business for about six years. On selling out the dairy he became city salesman for the Standard Oil Company and later for six months acted as superintendent of the Inglewood Water Com- pany's ranch. Upon the death of his brother he became administrator of the estate and conducted the furniture business until February, 1905, when it was sold to the Gem Furniture Company.

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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 42

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