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 46

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

USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II > Part 46

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The only child of his parents, Ira Ezra Mills was orphaned at the age of six years. He was reared on the home farm and received a pre- liminary education in the district school, after which he completed the course by two terms at Beeman Academy. In July, 1888, he came to California and in Los Angeles secured a position as conductor on the Central avenue street-car line. He remained in this work for two years, when he came to Crafton November 14, 1890, and began horticultural pursuits the same year. He purchased the property which he now, owns located at the corner of Fourth avenue and E street, then raw land, began improvements, and set out an orange grove and since that time has devoted himself to that interest. He has finely improved his place by the building of a fine residence, cement flumes, barns and outbuildings, and in the meantime has also become the owner of twenty acres devoted to navel and valencia oranges, located at E and Citrus streets, also five acres corner of Crafton street and Highland avenue. He has demonstrated his ability in this work and has set out about forty acres of orange groves for others in this section.

In Crafton, January 31, 1894. Mr. Mills was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Johnson,

1430

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a native of California, whose birth occurred in Port Harford, San Louis Obispo county. She was the eldest of four children born to her parents, N. A. and Kittie (Upchurch) Johnson, the others being Nathan R., Mabel and Charles J. Her father was a native of New York from which state he enlisted in Sixteenth Battery New York Artillery, for service in the Civil war. His father, Solomon Johnson, was born in Greene, N. Y., a son of Barent, whose ancestors, Hol- landers, had made their home in New Jersey, emigrating thither about the year 1700. Solomon Johnson became a farmer in Greene, Chenango county, where his death eventually occurred. He married Hannah Jane Reynolds, a native of New York, where her death also occurred. Nathan A. was their only child, his birth oc- curring March II, 1845. He was reared on the home farm and educated in the district school. He volunteered in 1862 and served in Virginia and North Carolina, for the greater part of the time acting as clerk of the battery. After the close of the war he was mustered out at El- mira, N. Y., in July, 1865, after which he at- tended school during the following winter, and then going to Omaha, Neb., joined a govern- ment expedition to lay out a direct road from Sioux City, Iowa, to Virginia City, Mont., whence he came on to San Francisco via Port- land. In old Sonoma he engaged at farm work until 1868, when he came to San Luis Obispo county and there followed general farming and stock-raising for about twenty years, and for a number of years managed a lumber yard in Port Harford. Removing to Palm Springs, San Bernardino county, in 1888, he spent one winter there, and then came to Crafton, where he set out an orange grove at the corner of Citrus avenue and Crafton. He then sold and pur- chased his present property which is all in navel oranges. He is a member of the Crafton Orange Growers' Association and is director in same, is a member of the Redlands Board of Trade, and active in the advancement of his adopted city. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Paso Robles and is now identified with Redlands Lodge No. 300, F. & A. M. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He was married in San Luis Obispo county to Miss Kittie Upchurch, who was born August 30, 1853, near Nevada City, Cal., while her parents were en route to California over the old wagon road across the plains, and was reared in Napa county. Her father, Richard D. Upchurch, was a native of North Carolina, and his ancestors were active participants in the Revolutionary war, being en- gaged in most of the skirmishes and battles which were fought in the southern states.

Mr. and Mrs. Mills became the parents of the following children: Raymond, Karl, Herbert,

Maude, Frank and May. Mr. Mills is a director, president and manager of the Crafton Orange Growers' Association, of which he was one of the organizers, and in the building of the pack- ing house of this concern was one of the most potent factors. He is also interested in the Crafton Water Company, is a member of the Redlands Board of Trade, and for years has served as a member of the Board of Education of the Redlands district. Politically he is a stanch Democrat and is an ex-member of the County Central Committee. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is associated with the Order of Eastern Star, Ladies of the Maccabees and the Women's Relief Corps. Mr. Mills is a thor- oughly liberal and enterprising citizen, public- spirited and progressive, actively interested in the development and upbuilding of Southern California.

BERNARDO FELIPE ROWLAND. Three generations of the Rowland family have contrib- uted to the well-being and upbuilding of South- ern California, the first of the name to locate here being the grandfather, John Rowland. An Englishman by birth and training, he learned the miller's trade in his native country and fol- lowed it there some time before coming to Amer- ica. On coming to the new world he went direct to Taos, Mexico, where he engaged in mill- wrighting and also in the milling business until 1840, when he came to California. Locating at Puente, Los Angeles county, he erected the first mill in this entire section of country, and man- ufactured all of the flour used in the country round about for many miles. In partnership with Mr. Workman he bought La Puente rancho, which consisted of forty-eight thousand acres, upon which for years they were associated in raising stock, making a specialty of horses and cattle. Mr. Rowland was also the first one to erect a brick building in this country, this being his own residence, which was completed in 1855, and is now the property of J. W. Hudson, of Puente. The death of John Rowland in Puente at the age of eighty-two years removed from the community one whose influence had been far- reaching and invaluable to both county and state.

No less influential and notable was the son of this old settler, Thomas Rowland, who was born in Taos, Mexico, in 1838, and was a child of only two years when brought by his parents to Los Angeles county in 1840. He too became a large land owner, at the time of his death owning twenty-four hundred and thirty-nine acres on La Puente rancho, one of the most valuable and remunerative stock ranches in Southern Califor-

1431

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nia. Like his father he was a broad-minded and influential citizen, entering heart and soul into any enterprise whose object was toward the bet- terment of conditions or that would uplift or assist his fellowman. This latter characteristic was nowhere more distinctly brought out than in the enthusiasm he displayed along educational lines. He not only built up the Rowland school, but was an important factor in the erection and maintenance of the schools at Lemon and also the one at Puente mill. He was indeed a valua- ble citizen in his community, and his death in 1900, at the age of sixty-three, was mourned as a public loss. Politically he was a believer in Democratic principles. His wife was before her marriage Senobia Yorba, who was born in Yorba, Orange county, Cal., the daughter of Bernardo Yorba, a native of Castile, Spain. He was the owner of the well-known Yorba rancho in the vicinity of Fullerton, and there his death oc- curred. Mrs. Rowland passed away at the com- paratively early age of forty-nine years, in 1892. Eleven children were born to this worthy couple, all of whom are still living, those besides Ber- nard Felipe being as follows: Samuel P., a rancher at Puente; Thomas, who is engaged in the butcher business in Los Angeles; Fidel, an engineer in Puente; Aurelia, Mrs. Vejar, of Pomona; Ernest, David and Alejandro, all of whom are farmers near Puente; Albertina, who also resides in Puente; Alesandro, an engineer in Los Angeles; and John B., who is a resident of the city of Mexico.

Bernardo F. Rowland was born on the parental homestead in Los Angeles county, May 19, 1864, and was reared to a practical knowledge of farm duties. He was educated in the Rowland school, which was named in honor of his father, who gave three-quarters of an acre from his ranch for the school site. Subsequently he matriculated in St. Vincent's College, in Los Angeles, and after his graduation therefrom re- turned to the home locality and took up farming and stock-raising. His grandfather had been the pioneer miller in this part of the country, and his father bore the distinction of building the first school house, but it was left for him to sink the first deep well in the valley. His initial venture in this line was in 1898, at which time he sunk the well at the east end of his ranch. This well has a depth of two hundred and fifty feet, the water being pumped by means of a forty horse-power gas engine. From this pump- ing plant water is furnished to about four hun- dred acres of the Rowland tract, besides which the Rowland ditch, which is under the manage- ment of the Puete Irrigation Association, waters about two hundred acres of the ranch. The pumping plant is owned by the Thomas Rowland heirs, after whose death his son Bernardo, who

was administrator of the estate, apportioned the ranch among the children. The family also own a stock ranch of six hundred and sixteen acres in the hills. Mr. Rowland's portion of the old homestead lies on Walnut street, where he has ten acres in walnuts, besides thirty acres at the pumping plants also in walnuts. To him be- longs the distinction of setting out the first straw- berries in the valley, a fruit which up to that time had not been grown successfully outside of Tropico and Gardena. He has made a careful study of this particular fruit and can now pro- duce a better quality than is obtainable in either of the aforementioned cities. In consequence his trade in this commodity has grown to large proportions, his entire crop of strawberries being marketed in Pomona, Riverside and Colton. He also owns an eight acre ranch south of the rail- road which is also in strawberries and walnuts.

In Los Angeles Mr. Rowland was married to Miss Caroline Sanchez, who is a native of the same city. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independ- ent Order of Foresters, and politically he is a Democrat, and at one time was a member of the county central committee of his party. Like his father he is deeply interested in educational affairs, and has done much to continue the good work inaugurated by his father. At this writing he is school trustee and clerk of the board of Rowland district. Throughout this part of the state there is probably no other one family that has contributed more largely to its well-being than have the Rowlands, grandfather, father and son, the accomplishments of the latter comparing favorably with either of his predecessors. He is a man of pleasing personality, which is equal to saying that he is popular and well liked by all who are fortunate enough to know him.

REUBEN W. HILL, M. D., was born No- vember 27, 1845, in Arlington, Bennington county, Vt., the native state of both his father, Abner Hill, and his mother, who before her mar- riage was Marian Webb. There were eight chil- dren born to them, three of whom still survive, a son and daughter who are residents of the east, and Reuben W., of Carpinteria. The father died in Salem, N. Y., at sixty years of age, the mother having died at the early age of thirty-eight years. The elder Hill was a Whig in politics, was cap- tain of the militia company and lived as a neigh- bor to Ethan Allen at one time. Reuben W. Hill received his early education in the schools at Salem, after which he attended the Salem Wash- ington Academy for his preparatory work and received his medical degree from Belleview Hos- pital Medical College. His determination to thoroughly prepare himself for his profession in-

1432

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

duced him to spend ten years for that purpose, and his later success as a practitioner is due to his thorough knowledge of the medical science.

In 1876 Dr. Hill located in Santa Barbara county, practicing here for two years, then went to Ventura, where he remained nineteen years, building up in that time a large and lucrative practice. His fine education, as well as profes- sional ability, enabled him to gain the entire con- fidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, who re- gretted their own loss when he retired from the greater part of his extensive practice and re- sponded only to local calls. He is broad minded and liberal in policy, a Republican in politics, and has been honored with the office of coroner in Ventura county and county physician in Santa Barbara county, and is clerk of the Punta Gorda district school board. In the line of his profes- sion he is a member of the Santa Barbara Med- ical Society and fraternally he serves as master workman of the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workman, and is a member of the Mas- onic Lodge at Ventura.

The fifty-acre ranch upon which Dr. Hill lives was purchased in 1889, and while he has raised some large harvests of grain, the principal crop is fruit. There are oil prospects upon the land, however, and it is his intention to begin oper- ations on an oil well which he says will be at least three thousand feet deep, as the deposits are admittedly very deep. He considers the pros- pects very bright for a strong flow of oil of a high grade, as the oil already found is of the twenty gravity grade.

In 1875 Dr. Hill was married to Mary C. Gutierrez, a member of the Catholic Church, and a native of Santa Barbara city. Twelve children were born to them: Louis, who married Alice Henry and has two children; Ruby, the wife of B. O. Clark, of Berkeley ; Benigno, who married Juanita Hayes; Edwin, who married Bertha West; Jessie, Carmelita, James, Isolina, Grace, Abner, Newton and Emmet.

WILLIAM C. CAMPBELL. The pioneer life has held great attractions for William C. Campbell, the larger portion of whose career has been spent among the primitive surround- ings of a beginning civilization, his retirement at the present writing on the fruits of personal labor placing him among the honored and rep- resentative citizens of the beautiful little town of Whittier. Born in Huron, Wayne county, N. Y., July 26, 1839, he is a son of William C. and Silence (Demmon) Campbell, both natives of Vermont and representatives of old and honored New England families. His par- ents moved to New York in their young mar- ried life, and later to Wisconsin, the death of

the father occurring in Iowa, his last home, at the age of sixty-three years. The mother died after coming to California, when seventy- four years old. Paternal ancestors were rep- resented in the Revolutionary war, while various members of the family were active in the public affairs of their native state.

When five years old William C. Campbell accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, where in the vicinity of Milwaukee they spent three years, thence located in Washington county for a time, and then removed to Sheboygan Falls, in the public schools of which Mr. Campbell received his education, studying in the common schools and with a private tutor. After completing his normal education he be- gan the study of medicine but because of his father's wishes gave it up and returned home, where he assisted in the cultivation and im- provement of his parent's farm, which con- sisted of one hundred and sixty acres devoted to general farming and also a well equipped dairy. The father finally disposed of this in- terest and moved into Dickinson county, Iowa, about six miles from Spirit Lake, and there their home remained for thirteen years. Mr. Campbell then located in Mitchell county, Kans., and during the fourteen years of his residence there accumulated large properties, owning one thousand acres of land, and still retaining the six hundred and forty acres of land he owned in Iowa.

His health becoming impaired by the rigor- ous climate and hardships of the frontier, Mr. Campbell decided to seek a milder climate and accordingly came to California and in Santa Ana, Orange county, purchased . a grain ranch upon which he now makes his home. when he came to Los Angeles county and in the vicinity of Whittier bought the five-acre ranch upon which he now makes his home. This is devoted to walnuts and is well im- proved in every way. His home is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Jeanette Pat- terson, a native of New York, whom he mar- ried in 1863. They became the parents of the following children: George W .; Frank; Net- tie, wife of Harry Covell; Minnie, wife of John Wright: Lillie, wife of A. N. Jackson, of Whittier; Herbert; Sylvia. In his political convictions Mr. Campbell is a stanch Repub- lican, and fraternally has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His wife is a member of the Holiness Church. During his residence on the Kansas frontier Mr. Campbell found himself called upon to use his knowledge of medicine in an attend- ance of those families wlio were so far re- moved from medical aid that it was almost impossible to secure a physician in time of

Hear Сазаwx

1435

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

need. The success he achieved in this desul- tory practice was such as to demonstrate the ability he possessed in this line, which would, no doubt, if perfected by study and research, have placed his name among the prominent physicians of the country. Personally he is such a man as to win and hold the confidence and friendship of those with whom he comes in contact, either business or social affairs, and it is by reason of these qualities that he is today ranked among the representative citizens of this section.

JEAN CAZAUX. Among the many settlers of Southern California who came from France, there is none that came of a more distinguished family than the subject of this sketch, whose family is one of the oldest of the nobility of France, who have held important military and political positions under the government. His father was Guilliame Cazaux, an extensive farmer, who for many years served as mayor of Cier de Riviere in Haute-Garonne. His wife was formerly Jeanne Maubie and both were highly esteemed and led useful and apprecia- tive lives. They were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom grew up, namely: Piar- etta, Jules, Firman, Omer, Osmin and Jeanne, all of whom died in France; Marie resides in France; Auguste in the City of Mexico, and Serine and Jean in California. The brother Osmin was a very prominent man in the city of Cier de Riviere, where he served as mayor and was consul-general de la Haute-Garonne, and chevalier de la Legion d'Honneaux.

Mr. Cazaux was born in Cier de Riviere, September 19, 1839, where his childhood was spent and where he received his education in the public schools. In 1868 he left Havre, his destination being California, coming via New York and Panama to San Francisco, thence by steamer to San Pedro, where he took a stage for Los Angeles. After working for Jean Sen- tous for three months, he began the dairy busi- ness, which he continued successfully for about twenty years at the following places : Jefferson street between San Pedro and South Main, Agricultural Park, Elysian Park, Hyde Park and Westlake Park. In 1879 he pur- chased the present place where he is now en- gaged in farming and viticulture. Also owns eighty acres near Aston, Cal., nineteen acres in the city of Hollywood, house and lot on Belmont avenue, Los Angeles, a house and lot in Sherman, three acres on Western avenue and two acres on Melrose and Hartford streets, Los Angeles. The farm is fifty-seven acres located on Gower and Melrose street just

south of Hollywood and the growth of the city has now made it very valuable.

The marriage of Mr. Cazaux occurred in Los Angeles November 23, 1876, uniting him with Celestine Sentons, who was born in Hous, Haute-Garonne, France, a daughter of Francisco and Maria (Fadeiulle) Sentous and came to Los Angeles in 1874. They have four children : Guilliame, Jennie, Blanche and Vic- tor. The latter is attending St. Gaudens Col- lege, France, class of 1907.

Mr. Cazaux has always been a Republi- can, but never sought office. He has helped to develop and improve the farm lands of Southern California, has been a hard worker, ever ready to help build up the country of his adoption and of which he became a citizen as soon as possible after his arrival. Mrs. Cazaux is a most excellent wife and has been the help- meet of her husband in the caring for and up- building of their home.

JACOB H. BATES. A thorough-going hor- ticulturist, well skilled in the art and science of fruit growing, Jacob H. Bates, of Fernando, is actively identified with one of the leading indus- tries of Los Angeles county, and as an orchardist is meeting with eminent success. His home es- tate, bordering on Griswold and Fifth streets, compares favorably in regard to its improve- ments with any in the vicinity, his residence and other farm buildings being models of comfort and convenience, with their attractive surround- ings evincing the thrift and prosperity of the owner. He comes of substantial New England ancestry, and was born, March 4, 1837, in Con- necticut, where he lived until four years of age.

Accompanying his parents to Western New York in 1841, Jacob H. Bates lived there six years, when, in 1847, the family removed to Whiteside county, Ill. From that time until at- taining his majority he resided in Illinois, either in Whiteside or Henry county, obtaining a practical common school education, and becom- ing proficient at the carpenter's trade. Leaving Illinois about 1858, he followed his trade in Ne- braska until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, Second Kansas Cavalry, as a private, and was assigned to the Department of the Miss- issippi. He took part in many engagements, serving the greater part of the time in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri and Alabama. He was slightly wounded in one battle, his old Colt's revolver being struck by a bullet which knocked off the sight, the latter flying up and hitting Mr. Bates on the left cheek. September 29, 1865, Mr. Bates was honorably discharged from the army, having served from November II, 1861, until that date.

1436

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Locating then in Nebraska, Mr. Bates was there employed in general farming for a number of years. In 1880 he moved to Kansas, where he continued as a farmer for six years. Decid- ing then upon a complete change, he came to California, 'locating in San Jacinto, where he purchased land that was in its original wildness, on which he made good improvements, building a house, setting out trees, and placing the major part of the remainder in a tillable condition. He met with success in his agricultural operations while there, and as a carpenter carried on a sub- stantial business. Disposing of his interests in Riverside county in 1894, he came to Fernando to reside. Purchasing ten acres of land he set out a grove of orange trees, and in two years from that time he bought seven acres lying on the opposite side of the street, and this he de- voted to oranges, having one of the finest im- proved and best-bearing orchards in this part of the county. He sold the greater part of his ranch in June, 1906, retaining only three and one- half acres.

August 8, 1865, in Nebraska, Mr. Bates mar- ried Rebecca Matilda Hobson, a daughter of Stephen B. and Mary A. Hobson, who came to Fernando in 1894, and here spent the remainder of their lives. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bates, six children were born, two of whom are living, namely: George W., a clerk in the Maclay store, who married Dolly Cressap; and Carrie L., the wife of Elmer Boaz, a policeman in Los Angeles, and they have three children, Muriel, Gilbert and Eveline. Politically Mr. Bates is a Prohibitionist ; fraternally he is a mem- ber of N. P. Banks Post- No. 170, G. A. R., of Tropico, Cal., and religiously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he united many years ago.

JOHN OLIVER JENIFER. A man of much enterprise and ability, John Oliver Jenifer is ac- tively identified with the agricultural advance- ment of Fernando, being prosperously engaged in general farming. Distinguished as a native- born citizen of California, his birth occurred May 14, 1870, at Hueneme, Ventura county. His father, the late John M. Jenifer, for several years engaged in the livery business, died at his home in Fernando, October 14, 1904, his body being laid to rest in Morning Side Cemetery. His wife survives him and is living in Fernando.

A boy of seven years when he came with his parents to Fernando. John Oliver Jenifer was here educated, attending the public schools. Be- ginning life for himself when a young man, he was employed in teaming and ranching until the death of his father, in 1904, when he succeeded to the latter's business, becoming proprietor of

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 46

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