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 47

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 Buckhorn Livery and Feed Stable, which he conducted with characteristic forethought and energy until disposing of it. Besides owning property in the village he is engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, renting a ranch in this vicinity.

In 1897, in Fernando, Mr. Jenifer married Beulah Harps, a daughter of Jacob Harps, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this volume, and they have two children, Clarence and Ida. Politically Mr. Jenifer is Dem- ocratic in his views. Fraternally he is a member of Fernando Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was one of the charter members of San Fernando Lodge, M. W. A., which has since been transferred to Los Angeles. He attends the First Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Jenifer is a member.

J. ALEC CATE. A native Californian and one imbued with the progressive and enterprising spirit which has distinguished the advancement of the state in the past half century, J. Alec Cate is engaged in the management and improvement of the ranch where he was born, June 15, 1880. His father, Daniel W. Cate, was a native of Illi- nois, born in Quincy, September 1, 1856, there reared to the age of seven years, when he was brought to California in 1864 by his parents, James W. and Eliza (Henderson) Cate, natives respectively of New Hampshire and Indiana. The elder man died in 1900 at the age of seventy- three years, while his wife still survives at the age of seventy-nine. He was a stanche Democrat politically, and in religion a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to which de- nomination his wife also belonged. Daniel W. Cate was reared on this ranch in the vincinity of Rivera, and educated in the district schools, and after attaining his majority he engaged in ranching for himself, leasing his father's land of one hundred and fifty acres. Of this prop- erty eighteen acres were in walnuts and the bal- ance in general farm products. He married in 1879 Miss Emma Pierce, a native of Texas, who was brought to the state of California at the age of one year. Five children blessed their union : J. Alec Cate, of this review ; Harlan, who mar- ried Mand Gilman; Earle; Glenn; and Dean. Mr. Cate is independent in his political views ; in religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He served as school trustee for a number of years, and is a director of the Cate Ditch Company.

Reared on the paternal ranch, J. Alec Cate received his preliminary education in the public schools, after which he attended Woodbury Business College in Los Angeles. Returning to the ranch, he made his home with his parents until his marriage, which took place in January, 1906, and united him with Miss Laura Graham.

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HISTORICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

She is also a native of the state, born in Los Nietos, a daughter of Thomas Graham, an early settler of this section of Los Angeles county, now deceased, her mother still living. Mr. Cate owns this ranch of sixteen acres upon which he has erected a fine cottage and made many other improvements, setting out walnut trees and de- voting the remainder of the land to gardening. He is a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, and is chief Templar of South- ern California; in his political views, like his father, he reserves the right to cast his ballot accordingly to his own convictions of the possibili- ties of the candidate.

MRS. MARCELLINA BERNASCONI. Among the many notable things which attract the attention of those who travel in California is the large number of women who are display- ing their great business ability as managers of important business enterprises throughout the state. One of the most successful of these is Mrs. Marcellina Bernasconi, whose ranch of two hundred and eighty-four and one-eighth acres, which was formerly a part of one of the Mexi- can grants, is supplemented by three hundred acres of rented land, and who conducts the Southern hotel at Perris, where she now lives in order that her children may receive the ad- vantages of the schools there. She was born at Tessin, Switzerland, the daughter of Jack and Marianna Ossi, her father also being a native of that land, where he died November, 1904, at the age of eighty-five years. There were sixteen children in the family the most of whom came to the United States and reside here. Among them we name: Ponpeo Orsi, of Santa Cruz; Jack, a large wholesale paint dealer of San Francisco; Felix, who was a painter in New York City, and was killed by accident in 1876, at the age of twenty-four years; Jolin, a stock- man of Perris; Daniel and Teodolinda, residing in Paris, France; Eliseo, living at San Francis- co; Felicita, who became the wife of Mr. Bacelli, and died November 12, 1888, at the age of twen- ty-six years; Mary, who lives at Eldorado; Carolina, Virginia and Amalia still in Switzer- land; and Marcellina, who is now Mrs. Bernas- coni. At the age of ten years Mrs. Bernasconi was by death deprived of a mother's loving care and at the age of eighteen, being of an energetic and ambitious nature, she came to the United States, arriving in New York City in 1877. She remained there for a year and a half and then removed to the Pacific coast, making her home in San Francisco during the following four years.

Her marriage to Bernardo Bernasconi, who was born in Switzerland, and came to America in 1871, occurred at San Francisco, September

I, 1883, and three weeks later her husband brought her to Perris, where he was engaged in ranching near Lakeview, and which enterprise he now conducts. The premises connected with it have a great historic interest, for when she first built the house there was a four-acre plot surrounding it enclosed by an adobe wall, the place having formerly been called Corral Pilares and being used in the early days by the people at San Luis Rey and San Juan Capistrano mis- sions as a place in which to brand their stock. In 1888 Mrs. Bernasconi built the Southern hotel at Perris. Since 1903 she has lived in Perris and had charge of the hotel which she manages with flattering success. She is a woman of en- ergy and good business tact and ability. While Mrs. Bernasconi conducts the hotel Mr. Bern- asconi is engaged in the management of the ranch on which large crops of grain are raised, they owning a third interest in one of those wonderful thirty-two horse-power combined har- vesters and threshers. They have a family of six children of whom they are justly proud : Matilda, wife of Virgil Roberts, who lives on the home ranch; Felicita, Joseph, Stella and Ernest, all residing at home; and Edith whose death occurred in 1900 at the age of nine years. Mrs. Bernasconi is also the proud grandmother of her only grandchild Dorothy Helen Roberts, who was born September 25, 1906. Mrs. Ber- nasconi is a member of the Catholic Church.

HOWARD C. BURMISTER. Throughout Southern California and Central Arizona the name of Burmister is synonymous with thrift and prosperity, in mercantile circles especially standing pre-eminent, H. C. Burmister being one of the foremost grocers in Ocean Park, Los Angeles county, while his father, R. H. Burmis- ter, has been for upwards of thirty years a prom- inent merchant in Prescott, Ariz., which is the central trading point for a large territory.

After his marriage with Margaret Bashford, R. H. Burmister was for a few years engaged in business at San Diego, Cal. Deciding, how- ever, to change his field of operations, he left that city in 1871, going by boat up the Colorado river to Ncedles, thence by teams to Prescott, Ariz., where in partnership with his wife's un- cle, the late Levi Bashford, he embarked in mer- cantile pursuits. Enterprising and progressive, he built up an extensive trade, both retail and wholesale, and is still carrying it on, being one of the best-known and most highly respected merchants of that locality.

Born in Prescott, Ariz., Howard C. Burmister was educated principally in California, attending a preparatory school in San Mateo, and after- wards entering Leland Stanford, Jr., University,

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

from which he was graduated in 1899, having taken the full course in the department of mines. After his graduation he entered his father's store, remaining there until he had mastered the details of its management. Leaving Prescott in the spring of 1905, he located in Ocean Park, and on March I of that year opened the largest, best equipped and most up-to-date grocery in this section of the county. It is furnished with all the modern improvements and conveniences known to the trade, its furnishings being unique, its mode of shelving entirely new, the store in all of its details comparing favorably with any like establishment in the state. Carrying a com- plete assortment of anything and everything in this line of merchandise, he has won an excellent patronage since he has been in Ocean Park, and is meeting with great success. Energetic, pro- gressive, of honest, upright character, he is highely esteemed, and is fast winning for him- self an enviable reputation in bothi social and business affairs.

In San Francisco, September 19, 1900, Mr. Burmister married Virginia Breeden, daughter of H. C. Breeden, a prominent business man in Portland, Ore., and they have one daughter, Vir- ginia Margaret. Politically Mr. Burmister is a sound Republican ; he belongs to the Sigma Nu fraternity of the Leland Stanford, Jr., Univer- sity.

HOWARD B. SMITH. The financial in- terests of Colton, as represented by varying commercial, professional and railroad activities, furnish to the First National Bank of the town an abundant field for the building up of an ex- tensive and increasing banking business, and give to the towns-people an advantageous op- portunity for the safe deposit of their funds. The history of the bank dates back to the year 1886, when it was organized by J. W. Davis, Sr., and J. W. Davis, Jr., both of whom are now deceased. From the start the institution has enjoyed the confidence of the people, its conservatism in investments and the wise judgment of its officials having given it a place of importance among similiar concerns. With a capital stock of $50,000, the bank transacts a general banking, loan and ex- change business, and still shows the same cau- tion and prudence in investments and the same dislike for speculation that characterized earlier officers. The board of directors comprises the following gentlemen: Edward D. Roberts, M. A. Hebbard, W. W. Wilcox, J. E. Davis of Red- lands, and Howard B. Smith, while the officers at this writing are: Edward D. Roberts, presi- dent : Howard B. Smith, vice-president ; and C. W. Curtis, cashier.

The vice-president of the bank, who has been connected with the institution from a period very shortly after its organization, is a native of Wis- consin and was born at Sparta, that state, in 1863. The family came from the east, his father, Robert, having been born and reared in New York, but ultimately removing to Wisconsin, where he became a prosperous farmer. The early education of Howard B. Smith was ob- tained in common schools and later he matricu- lated in the Wisconsin State University at Madi- son, from which he was graduated with the class of 1885. Immediately after his graduation he left home to make his own way in the world and came direct to California, where he secured employment in a short time as bookkeeper with the First National Bank of Colton. In 1888 he was promoted to be cashier and continued in that capacity until 1905, when he was elected vice-president of the bank. Besides his con- nection with this institution he owns stock in the San Bernardino County Savings Bank and the San Bernardino National Bank, and is a member of the board of directors of the latter institution.

Remaining a bachelor for some years after coming to California, Mr. Smith in 1890 married Miss Virginia, daughter of J. A. Van Arsdale, a prominent citizen of Colton, where she was reared and educated. Born of their union were two sons, Robert L. and Howard V. Fraternally Mr. Smith holds membership with Ashland Lodge No. 306, F. & A. M .; Keystone Chapter R. A. M .; St. Bernard Commandery, K. T., and Los Angeles Consistory, and in the phi- lanthropies of these various degrees he has main- tained a keen and continued interest through all the period of his association with them. At no time has he displayed a spirit of partisanship. Indeed, he is not a politician in any sense in which that word may be used. His opinions are not moulded by either of the two great political organizations, but he maintains an independence of opinion and party allegiance. While refus- ing to take part in politics, he is public-spirited in his support of worthy measures for the benefit of the town, and is recognized as one of the most progressive citizens of Colton.

JAMES THOMAS MARTIN. Prominent in public affairs in San Pedro, James Thomas Martin is justly entitled to the position of re- spect and esteem which he holds in this place as one of the foremost and enterprising citizens and a promoter of all worthy projects. Mr. Martin is a native of Cornwall, England, his birth having occurred near Plymouth, October 18, 1858. His father, William Martin, was also a native of that locality, where he engaged as

R.N. Dawson

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a carpenter and builder until his death. He mar- ried Mary Benney, also born in Corwall, and she survives her husband, still making her home in the vicinity of Plymouth. Six of her eight children are living, a son, Lewis, being located in San Pedro, where also a daughter, Mrs. Pid- well, made her home until her death.

The eighth in order of birth in the family of his parents, James Thomas Martin was reared to young manhood in his native country, re- ceiving his education through the medium of the common schools. He learned the trade of carpenter and engaged in the prosecution of the same. In 1883 he married Elizabeth Cosmer, who was born in St. Clear's Parish, England, and in the same year migrated to America, where in Tombstone, Ariz., he followed his trade. He re- mained in that location for four years, when, in 1887, he came to California and in San Pedro entered the employ of the Wilmington Trans- portation Company, with whom he remained suc- cessfully engaged for six or seven years. Fol- lowing this connection he became associated with the Ganahl Lumber Company, and in 1897 with the San Pedro Lumber Company, with whom he has since remained as order clerk. He has pros- pered in his work and won a place among the enterprising citizens of San Pedro. He owns a home on Sixteenth street, near Palos Verdes, where his family are located, two children hav- ing blessed the union of himself and wife : Marian A. and William J. C. Mr. Martin is charter member of the first Methodist Episcopal Church of San Pedro, in which he officiates as a member of the Board of Trustees, treasurer and steward. He has been a member of this denomination since he was seventeen years old, having united in England, and in San Pedro has taken a most prominent part in the work, serv- ing on the building committee and on others equally important. In his political convictions he endorses the principles of the Republican party, but advocates prohibition. For four years he served as school trustee and was clerk of the board, the Sixteenth street school being built during his term of service. In 1896 he was appointed a member of the city council to fill an unexpired term and in April, 1902, was elected to the position, where he is a factor in the Building and Land Committee, and Light Committee. He is a man of energy, ability and strong principles and as such commands the re- spect of all who know him either socially or in a business way.

ROBERT W. DAWSON. Attracted to the Pacific coast by the manifold advantages this section of the country offers to its residents, Mr. Dawson has made his home in California

since 1894 and after an experience of eight years as a rancher he relinquished agricultural cares in order to enjoy the rest his years per- mitted. However, being a man of active tem- perament, he is not satisfied to join the ranks of retired citizens, and accordingly we find him conducting a real-estate business as a member of the firm of Dawson & Sherman at Long Beach, where he erected and now occupies the residence at No. 445 Pacific avenue. In addi- tion he built two other dwelling houses and owns other lots in the town, his investment in real estate proving the faith which he holds in the future of the thriving town where he makes his home.

Of English birth and ancestry, Mr. Dawson was born in Lancashire, November 3, 1833, and at ten years of age accompanied his pa- rents to the United States, settling in New England, where he was educated in the schools of Massachusetts and Connecticut. For ten years he made his home near the city of Hart- ford. In 1857 he became interested in photog- raphy, which for years he made his principal occupation and in which he acquired a skill that made his name the synonym of local suc- cess in his art. During the year 1860 he be- came a photographer in the city of Elgin, Ill., where he conducted a studio for seven years, and then removed to Blair, Washington coun- ty, Neb., where he carried on a photographic establishment. The year 1878 found him a resi- dent of Little Rock, Ark., where he conducted a studio and gained a reputation for skill in his chosen art. After a long career in photog- raphy in 1892 he sold out and returned to Ne- braska, where he lived at Blair for a short time. Meanwhile, having heard much con- cerning the climate of California, he decided to remove to the coast, and in 1894 he settled on a nine-acre tract one and one-half miles east of Long Beach, removing from there into the town, where six months later he opened the real estate office of R. W .. Dawson & Co. For a time he conducted business alone, but since then he has had three different partners, and with each he has made a specialty of the sale of real estate and the renting of houses and other properties.

In the early years of manhood Mr. Dawson married Miss Lucy Freeman of Wisconsin, and they became the parents of four children, two living, viz .: Nelson, of Texas; and Clara, living in Little Rock, Ark. The wife and mother died in Little Rock, and in that city Mr. Dawson was again married, his wife being Laura Stillwell, who also died in the same city. The only child of that union died at the age of two years. After coming to the west Mr. Dawson was united in marriage with Sue

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

V. Neil, of Los Angeles, who shares with him the esteem of associates, and with him is an earnest member of the Christian Church, in which he holds the office of trustee. In poli- tics he has voted with the Republican party ever since its organization and had the dis- tinction of casting his vote for John C. Fre- mont.

JOSEPH H. SPECHT is one of the old set- tlers of the Ojai valley and is a progressive and successful rancher, who during his long years of continuous residence in the same community has made no enemies and is highly spoken of by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance. He was born on the high seas March 19, 1856, while his parents Thomas and Anna (Helcal) Specht, were journeying across the ocean toward New York harbor from their home in Germany, where they were born. Upon their arrival in this country they settled in Hamilton county, Ill., where the father died when the son was only four years of age. His early education was received in the common schools of Hamilton county, where he resided until he had attained the age of twenty years. The family gained their livelihood on a farm in Illinois and when Mr. Specht came to California he resolved to continue in the busi- ness for which he was best trained and equipped. He filed on the land in Ventura coun- ty which is now his home, in due time receiv- ing his title to it from the government, and now owning a ranch comprising seventy-eight acres of as good land as there is in the state, and which is planted to all kinds of fruit, especially apricots, prunes and almonds ; another fruit farm of fifty-four acres is also among his possessions.

Mr. Specht is unmarried and his mother makes her home with him at the present time. He was her only child by her first marriage, but she married a second time and to this union were born four children, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Specht is a man with pro- gressive ideas on all social and economic sub- jects and is a great reader, his political affilia- tions being with the Socialist party, in the ten- ets of which he is an enthusiastic believer.

A. J. SWIFT. Actively identified with the in- dustrial advancement of Ocean Park is A. J. Swift, who was until recently one of the pro- prietors of a general repair shop, but since pur- chasing his partner's interest has given his at- tention to following his trade as an electrician. A son of Barnabas and Amelia ( Balcomb) Swift. he was born, November 7, 1874, in Juniata, Adams county, Neb.

The descendant of one of the early colonial

settlers of New England, Barnabas Swift was born in the historic town of Plymouth, Mass., not far from the rock on which the Pilgrim fathers landed in December, 1620. In 1870 he migrated westward, becoming a pioneer of Ad- ams county, Neb., where he followed his trade of a carpenter and builder for a number of seasons, and was also engaged to some extent in agricultural pursuits. Coming to California in 1889, he purchased two lots at Pico Heights, where he resided for about fifteen years. Since January, 1905, he has lived retired from life's activities in Ocean Park.

Brought up and educated in Nebraska, A. J. Swift came with the family to Los Angeles county in 1889, and subsequently, in the city of Los Angeles, learned the trade of an electrician, which he followed successfully for awhile. Starting in business for himself, he located at No. 1040 Main street, Ocean Park in April, 1905, forming a partnership with F. A. Jennings under the name of the Novelty repair and electric work. Later Mr. Swift bought out his partner and has since carried on an extensive business as an electrician.

Mr. Swift is a young man of great energy, enterprise and ability, and is held in high regard in business and social circles. He resides with his parents, his home being at No. 147 Dwight street. Politically he casts his vote for the best men and measures, regardless of party restric- tions, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

BAZIL T. ROZELLE. Devoting his atten- tion principally to farming, in which he is quite successful, Bazil T. Rozelle is actively identified with the agricultural interests of Los Angeles county, and is contributing his full share towards advancing and promoting the prosperity of the community in which he resides. His ranch, ly- ing near Compton, is well improved and judici- ously cultivated, constituting one of the model farms of the neighborhood. A son of Miles M. Rozelle, he was born, September 13. 1864, in Anderson. Ind., and was there reared and edu- cated. His father, a native of Indiana, married M. M. Tillson, who was born in Ohio, and they became the parents of eight children, four of whom have passed to the life beyond, and four are living, namely : Bazil T., the subject of this sketch ; Charles J., of Anderson, Ind. ; Miles A., of Compton, Cal., and Chester A., of Anderson, Ind.

After his graduation from the Anderson, Ind., high school, Bazil T. Rozelle took a course in stenography in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was subsequently in the employ of the Big Four Railway Company for four years. In 1894 he

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

came to Los Angeles county, locating near Compton, where he has since been prosperously engaged in general farming, on his finely cul- tivated ranch of one hundred and fourteen acres raising large crops of alfalfa.

Previous to coming here, in 1891, Mr. Rozelle married Edith Owens, a daughter of Dr. Will- iam Owens, a physician of prominence of Cin- cinnati. William Owens, M. D., was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, and as a young man traveled extensively, for two years residing in South America. Returning home, he learned the cooper's trade, after which he entered, in 1843, Woodward College, from which he was grad- uated in 1846, with the degree of M. D. En- listing in Company E, First Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he served in the Mexican war, and during the Civil war was a surgeon in the army. Dr. Owens married Sarah E. Wil- cox, of Cincinnati, and they have six children. Politically the doctor is a true blue Republican, and in religion he is a Unitarian. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rozelle six children have been born, namely : Walter M., William Owens, Mabel, Raymond F., Elmer D., and Edwin Glen, and all are natives of California with the exception of the oldest child, whose birth occurred in Ohio. Politically Mr. Rozelle sustains the principles of the Republican party. Religiously he is a Bap- tist, and Mrs. Rozelle is a Unitarian.

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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 47

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