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 49

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 Company K, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and died in service in 1863. The mother passed away in Highgrove and was in- terred in Pasadena, Cal.

Reared in Cedar county, Iowa, William Mer- ritt Pierson was educated in the public schools of that state, and also in Gowanda, N. Y., where he lived with his paternal grandfather from the age of seven years to twelve. He then returned to Iowa and worked out on farms until he was seventeen, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of carpenter, and after its completion en- tered the Davenport Business College for a term. Following he taught school for three winter terms and worked at his trade during the summers. Removing to Kansas in 1877 he purchased a farm near Osage City, but rented it and made his home in the town, where he secured a posi- tion as bookkeeper in the Osage County Bank. In December, 1885, he came to California and in Pasadena engaged in the building business for two years, then in the real estate business in Santa Ana, and El Modena for three years. At the expiration of that time he went to Portland, Ore., and followed his trade for two years, then returned to Southern California and in Riverside purchased a home and followed his trade. He resided in Riverside until 1901 and then pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres up Water- man cañon, where he built a hotel and called the place Skyland, one of the scenic places of beau- tiful Southern California. He set out an apple orchard of four acres and otherwise improved his property, continuing the management of the hotel for five years, when he sold out at a good profit, and coming to Bryn Mawr purchased twenty acres of land, of which ten acres are in full bearing navel oranges. In Riverside Mr. Pierson was united in marriage with Miss Olive Bayley, a native of Illinois, and born of this union is one son, Hartley B. Fraternally Mr. Pierson is identified with the Knights of the Maccabees of Riverside, and politically is a stanch advocate of Republican principles. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Red- lands, and liberally supports its charities.

WALTER L. PECK. A keen-sighted, pro- gressive agriculturist, Walter L. Peck is carry- ing on an extensive and lucrative business as dairyman and farmer, his ranch being advan- tageously located three-fourths of a mile south- east of Compton. His land is under good cul- tivation, with improvements of a substantial character, the estate being a credit to his in- dustry, enterprise and wise management. A son of the late Sedley Peck, he was born in Trum- bull county, Ohio, October 26, 1862, and was there reared and educated.

Sedley Peck was for many years a leading citizen of Trumbull county, Ohio, and an im- portant factor in promoting its growth and pros- perity. Possessing good business ability and judgment, he was quick to take advantage of all offered opportunities, and was among the first of the '49ers that staked a claim in the Cali- fornia gold fields. Returning to Ohio, he re- mained in business there for several years. making, however, three more trips to the Pa- cific coast before coming here permanently in 1890. Disposing of his Ohio property in that year, he resided for two years in Los Angeles. In 1892 he bought land in Compton, and was en- gaged in ranching for two years, when he sold out and thenceforward made his home with his son Walter L. until his death, in February, 1905, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He was a man of great prominence, filling most of the offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, and was an active member and an officer in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Mary Hazen, who died in Compton, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Levitt. She bore him nine chil- dren, all of whom were a credit to their parents.

Having acquired his rudimentary education in the common schools, Walter L. Peck was graduated from the high school in Mesopotamia, Trumbull county, Ohio; subsequently worked on a farm four years, after which he spent a year in Florida. Returning to Ohio, he stayed there a short time, and then came to California, set- tling in Los Angeles in 1886. Engaging in the sidewalk, cement and grading business, he was for the next thirteen years actively engaged in adding to the city improvements, working both for individual property owners and for the mu- nicipal government. Giving up that work he invested his money in land, buying his present ranch, and since that time has been prosperously employed as a farmer and dairyman with the ex- ception of 1904, when he again engaged in ce- ment contracting in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Compton. He has twenty-five acres of his land in alfalfa, and is carrying on a profitable dairy business, meeting with well deserved suc- cess in his undertakings.

October 4, 1886, Mr. Peck married Kathryn Heaton, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of William Heaton, now living retired in Los Angeles. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Peck two children have been born, namely: Sedley, a student in the Compton high school; and Mabel, born in 1896. Mrs. Peck is a woman of culture and refinement, a graduate of the high and Normal schools. Both she and her hus- band are good musicians, and for the greater part of their lives have belonged to the church choirs, Mr. Peck singing bass, while Mrs. Peck has a strong, sweet contralto voice. Both are active

Jas 5. hux

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members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Peck is a Republican, and is a member and president of the Fraternal Aid So- ciety of Compton. He is widely and favorably known as a man of unquestioned worth, and both he and his estimable wife are very highly esteemed throughout the community.

JAMES D. KNOX is known as the efficient mayor of the city of Colton, and as a promi- nent and successful contractor and builder. He is a descendant of a well-known Southern family, tracing his lineage directly to John Knox who came to North Carolina in 1730 and left an indelible impress on the history of that state. His parents, Joseph S. and Mary E. (Carlock) Knox, were both natives of Ten- nessee and the father was an enrolling officer under General Lee during the Civil war. He was captured and sent to Camp Chase, where he was held about six months, and after his release returned home a life invalid. He died at the age of fifty-four years. There were nine children in the family, six of whom are living, and the mother also survives, being now sixty-four years old, and living in Colton. Of the children, Mrs. Fuller lives in Col- ton; Mrs. John P. Isbell lives in Whittier ; Clarence M. is a commercial agent for the Southern Pacific at Santa Ana; Dr. Charles H. is a surgeon at Decatur, Tex., and Mrs. W. H. Mann, whose husband is agent for the Santa Fe at Wickenburg, Ariz.

The birth of James D. Knox occurred Sep- tember 18, 1861, in McMinn county, Tenn., and at the age of fourteen years he removed with his parents to Decatur, Tex., where he attended the common schools, the country at that time being but sparsely settled, and he found it necessary to carry a revolver to school. As a young man Mr. Knox worked on his father's ranch for several years, then started on an independent career, engaging in the stock business for another period. He afterwards secured employment with the bridge building department of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad, working on bridges and stations for three years, then was given a po- sition as baggage master at Decatur, and was also at one time check clerk at the same place.

In 1885 Mr. Knox came to Downey, Cal., and was first engaged in the erection of the depot at Downey for the Southern Pacific, then superintendent of the signal service for the same company near Whittier. Later he was postmaster, clerk of the board of school trustees and notary public for five years. He was then in Los Nietos, Los Angeles county,

for a time, after which he secured the posi- tion of commercial agent for the Southern Pa- cific at Whittier, retaining the place for four years. Following this he was a brakeman on the line between Los Angeles and Yuma, Ariz., for one year and resigned the position to engage in the fruit business, buying and shipping oranges. For four years he was agent for the Fay Fruit Company and in 1902 settled in Colton, purchased a ranch of three acres planted to oranges and carried on a fruit business. About a year ago he again took up his old business of contracting and has been engaged therein since that time.

In 1881 occurred the marriage of Mr. Knox to Miss Nancy Graves, a native of Illinois, and they have become the parents of six chil- dren : Minnie Lee is the wife of Mathew Moss, of Rivera, and has two children; James O. married Lowell Rounds, of Selma, and resides in Colton; Jodie C. is the wife of R. W. Cur- tis, of Colton, and has one child ; Elizabeth G., Charles E., and Loma E. complete the family. Mr. Knox is prominent in fraternal circles and has been a member of nineteen different se- cret societies. He now belongs to the Ash- lar Lodge No. 306, F. & A. M .; the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows; Knights of Pythias ; the Woodmen of the World at Whit- tier ; Fraternal Aid at Whittier; Independent Order of Foresters at Norwalk; Knights of the Maccabees at Norwalk; Fraternal Brother- hood; and both he and his wife are affiliated with the Eastern Star and Rebekah lodges. They are also active members and liberal sup- porters of the Christian Church and their influence is given to the furtherance of all charitable and benevolent enterprises. Polit- ically he follows the teachings of his father and adheres to the beliefs of the Democratic party. He is especially interested in educa- tional matters and has at various times served on the board of school trustees. As mayor of Colton, to which office he was elected in the spring of 1906, Mr. Knox has proven him- self an able executive and conscientious pub- lic servant and the duties of the office were never more satisfactorily administered than under his direction. He is public spirited and energetic and in all matters exercises an intelligent caution that makes his judgment valuable.

CHAUNCEY E. CARPENTER is one of the oldest settlers and best-known ranchers in San Luis Obispo county, he having been the first man to locate in the valley which now bears his name. He has an exceptionally well-improved ranch of fifty-six acres of as fertile land as can

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be found in the county, which is devoted prin- cipally to beans and potatoes, with a few acres planted to vegetables and small fruit, including blackberries, dewberries and Loganberries. As a citizen and neighbor he is well liked and highly esteemed, and enjoys the reputation of being strictly a man of his word in every particular. Mr. Carpenter was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., May 29, 1845, his father, Halsey C. Car- penter, being a native of Rhode Island, and his mother, Saralı Van Natter, was a direct de- scendant of one of the old Dutch families who settled in New York state in the early days. Both parents are now deceased, the fatlier hav- ing reached the age of eighty-three years, while the mother was of still greater vitality and sur- vived her ninetieth birthday, all of the ten chil- dren of her family being yet alive at the time of her demise. There were seven sons and three daughters, and the youngest of the children is now forty-six years and the oldest seventy. The mother was a woman of deep religious convic- tions and during her lifetime was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

When Chauncey E. Carpenter was but ten years of age his parents removed to Wisconsin, in which state he received his education through the medium of the public schools, subsequently learning stationary engineering in Galesburg, Ill., where he worked four years in the engine manufacturing establishment of Frost & Co. He then returned to Wisconsin and engaged in farming for two years, after which, in 1870, he removed to Kansas, and purchased a piece of school land upon which he farmed and raised stock until the spring of 1888. He then put into execution his plans to cross the plains and mountains and locate in California, and was so favorably impressed by the climate and quality of soil found in San Luis Obispo county that he chose a location in what is now Carpenter val- ley and bought the ranch which has ever since been his home.

On the Ioth of March, 1866, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Han- dey, and of this union eleven children were born, two dying in infancy. Lorena, who re- sides in Kansas, became the wife of Riley Un- derwood, by whom she has thirteen children; De Wayne, living in Oregon, married Lida Bell, and they have five children; Mina, who became the mother of eleven children by her marriage with William Dowel, of Arroyo Grande, died December 21, 1905. Nellie died in 1889, at the age of seventeen years; Eva, who married Fred Iversen, of Paso Robles, has two daughters; Adda became the wife of Dow Wood, of Paso Robles, and is the mother of three children; Edith married Dean Laughlin, of Santa Maria, and has one son; Cliffie, unmarried, lives in Los

Angeles, and Theresa, also unmarried, makes her home with her parents. Politically Mr. Carpenter affiliates with the Socialist party, and he serves his district officially in the capacity of school trustee. He is a member of the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

ROBERT OSBORNE HURSEY. Con- spicuous among the more active, keen-sighted and progressive business men of Compton is Robert O. Hursey, who is identified with the foremost interests of this part of the county, and in its industrial and financial progress is an im- portant factor. A son of the late Adam Hursey, he was born February 25. 1852, in Licking coun- ty, Ohio, coming from substantial ancestry on both sides.

A native of Ohio, Adam Hursey was a mer- chant during young manhood. Migrating west- ward in 1857, he settled in Illinois, where he engaged as a farmer for many years, living first in Dewitt county, afterwards being a resident of Woodford and McLean counties. On retiring from active pursuits he located in Normal, Ill., where he died at the venerable age of eighty- three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Melick, also lived to an advanced age, and died at Normal, Ill. In politics he was a Demo- crat, ever loyal to his party.

About six years old when his parents moved to Illinois, Robert O. Hursey attended first the district schools, completing his early education at the Normal school in Normal. He subse- quently taught school during seven winter terms, being quite successful in his pedagogical labors. In order to further fit himself for a business ca- reer he then took a course at the Woodberry Business College in Bloomington, Ill., from there going to Bellflower, McLean county, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for two years. The ensuing year he had charge of a grocery in Fairbury, Ill. Coming then to Cali- fornia, he became interested in the various branches of agriculture and horticulture, and for eight years had charge of ranches for other people. Locating permanently in Compton in 1896, he resumed mercantile affairs, and has since been manager of the Co-operative Associa- ton which was organized in 1891 with a paid- up capital of $30,000, and under his efficient management is carrying on a flourishing busi- ness. The association has large financial inter- ests outside of its large store, having stock in the Compton Water and Lighting Company. Mr. Hursey owns forty acres of land near Compton; twelve acres near La Verne; and two hundred and fifty-one acres in the vicinity of Bakersfield, Kern county. By means of thrift and good management he has accumulated

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money, and is a stockholder, a director, and the assistant cashier of the Bank of Compton, a well- established financial institution, having a large list of depositors.

In 1881, at Le Roy, Ill., Mr. Hursey mar- ried Eliza Kinsey, who was born in Indiana, where her father, the late Henry Kinsey, was born and reared, and spent a large part of his life. Her mother, whose maiden name was Mary Stanley, survived her husband, and is now a resident of Redondo, Cal. Politically Mr. Hursey is in sympathy with the Prohibitionists, but in local matters he is an independent voter. He takes an intelligent interest in public affairs, and since coming to Compton has been a member of the school board. Fraternally he belongs to Compton Camp, M. W. A.

NEWTON EMMETT MAY, secretary of the United Syndicates Company Limited, ranks among the most enterprising and progressive men of Long Beach, who is taking an active interest in the upbuilding and increasing the im- portance of the city by the sea. Mr. May was born in Galveston, Texas, June 28, 1866, and wa's the fourth in order of birth of a family of eight children born to David R. and Hattie (Lindsey) May, natives respectively of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. The father was a stock raiser in Texas and a cotton planter in Missis- sippi, and both parents spent their last days in the latter state.

Mr. May received his education in the public schools of Mississippi until the age of seventeen, when he began for himself, doing newspaper work in New Orleans, La., on an industrial paper, then on the Times-Democrat until 1888, when he came to the Pacific Coast. The first four years were spent in Washington and Oregon and in 1892 he located in San Francisco, where he engaged with the New York Life Insurance Company as a solicitor. In 1876 he located in Los Angeles as manager of the Germania Life Insurance Company for Southern California. In 1897 he removed to Honolulu as manager of the same company for the Hawaiian Islands and built up a business for them at the rate of $50,000 per year in premiums. In the spring of 1903. having become interested in real estate and gen- eral business affairs on the islands, he gave up the management of the Germania and devoted all his time to personal affairs. However, in 1904 he closed up his business and returned to Los Angeles, where he began operating in real cs- tate. In 1906 he organized and incorporated the United Syndicates Company, Ltd., with a capital of $200,000, of which he was elected secretary and assumed the management, launching the en- terprise in Long Beach, where he has built up a

successful business. They are at present using the debenture system of syndicating property, al- though he has copyrighted five different plans of syndicating real estate. Mr. May promoted and organized the United Building Company, with a capital of $200,000, of which he is secretary. They have valuable patent rights of America's greatest invention, a disappearing bed and apart- ment house plans, thus saving and utilizing every bit of space, and destined to become very popu- lar and universal.

The marriage of Mr. May occurred in Hono- lulu, uniting him with Miss Rose Roth, who was born in that capital city and chief seaport of the Hawaiian Islands. They have one child, New- ton Emmett, Jr. Mr. May is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is an ardent and stanch Republican. He is an active member of the Long Beach Chamber of Com- merce and was chairman of the committee and the main factor in raising the $100,000 bonus for the securing of the Craig shipbuilding plant for Long Beach, chairman of the Harbor Char- ter Day committee which made that celebration a success. Since coming to Long Beach he has aided in every public enterprise that has been started, sparing neither time nor money to make it a success, and he is much appreciated by the men of affairs, who esteem him for his many excellent qualities, integrity, worth and enter- prise.

J. E. STONES. One of the oldest settlers in this part of the country and a citizen well known and highly esteemed, is J. E. Stones, who has witnessed the development of the state from the days of its infancy. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., October 23, 1845, a son of William and Mary Stones, natives of England, where they were married, thence emigrating to the United States in 1843. They made their home in St. Louis until 1850, when they crossed the plains as far as Ogden, Utah, there spending two years, and again starting on a perilous overland jour- ney which landed them in California. They lo- cated first in Amador county, where the death of the mother occurred at the age of thirty-five years; later in life the father removed to the vicinity of Artesia, Los Angeles county, and there he passed away at the advanced age of eighty- eight years. He took a keen interest in the de- velopment of the country, was a Republican in politics, seeking the advancement of that party's principles. He had eight children, of whom five are still living.

J. F. Stones was but seven years old when they finally arrived in California, he but dimlv remembering the portion of two years spent in Ogden, Utah, where his father put in a crop of

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

wheat. In the spring of 1852 they arrived in Sacramento, and thence went to Amador county, where the father took up a government claim. He received his first educational training in that county, more or less limited, and after complet- ing the course of the common schools in 1857 he came to San Bernardino county, in Southern California, where his father had in the meantime become the owner of a small ranch. Mr. Stones remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, when he started out for himself, ranching and working in the lumber mills of that section, where he continued to make his home until 1876, when he came to Artesia, Los Angeles county, rented land, and began farming operations. He finally purchased twenty acres of land and en- gaged in general farming, later purchasing the five acres which constitutes his home, where he carries on the raising of poultry and also a small dairy, which is supplied by eight cows. Through- out the years he has also been interested in other kinds of work-well-boring, the conduct of a threshing machine, hay press, etc.

In July, 1870, Mr. Stones was united in mar- riage with Miss Emily C. Bingham, a daughter of H. T. Bingham, located on Twenty-fifth street, in Los Angeles, and born of this union are the following children: Emma, wife of H. Robin- son; Mary, wife of Edward Trapp; Ida, wife of Claude French; Annie, wife of Bert Hille- bert; Herbert; and George. Mr. Stones is iden- tified with the Fraternal Aid, and his wife is a member of the Woodcraft. He is an independent voter, reserving the right to cast his ballot for the man he considers best qualified for official position. His wife is a member of the Christian Church, to which he gives a liberal support.

ADOLPH D. DIAZ. The agricultural inter- . ests of Adolph D. Diaz extend throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties, where his name is well known as belonging to that of one of the upbuilders and enterprising citizens of this section. Mr. Diaz is the representative of one of the old families of Southern California, his father, Manuel Diaz, being a native of Cadiz, Spain, where his grandfather, Fernando, en- gaged as an extensive merchant and also had large land holdings in both Spain and Cuba. Manuel Diaz went to Havana, Cuba, to look after his father's interests and from that point came to Mexico and enlisted in the Mexican army, serving as paymaster and lieutenant. He was given a grant of land known as the San Vicente grant, in Lower California, and there he built up a large farm and stock ranch, and also owned the Santo Thomas ranch, located on the border. In 1853 he commanded the soldiers that drove Walker out of Mexico. Some years

later the Indians rose against the white settlers and practically exterminated them, Mr. Diaz being saved only through his wife's ability to speak the Indian language, and because of their paying of a ransom. He made his escape to San Diego with a friend named Jose Maria Necochea. On the way Mr. Diaz lost his horse and the friend decided to journey on alone and not wait for him to make his way on foot, where- upon he drew his revolver and killed Necochea's animal, and then together they made the balance of the journey unmounted. The wife brought the family by ox-cart to San Diego and that city remained their home for a time, finally remov- ing to San Jacinto. About 1859 Mr. Diaz lo- cated in San Timoteo cañon, where he purchased the grant known by this name, the Rofle brothers owning it at that time, and there he at once established a small store and also engaged in the raising of stock. Later he lost by suit the grant of land he had purchased, but not daunted by the misfortune he immediately purchased other prop- erty, that which is now owned by his son-El Cañon San Timoteo-and later obtained the title to two hundred acres of the valley land. Here he engaged in a mercantile enterprise and the raising of stock, also later entering the Diaz Springs, in the Moreno valley. He finally sold his interests to the Van Luvens, and in 1889 passed to his reward, being then eighty-one years old. His wife was in maidenhood Encarnacion Bermudez, a native of Lower California, and a daughter of a prominent cattleman of that sec- tion. Her death occurred January 17, 1906, of her eight children, three surviving: Adolph D .. of this review; Nettie, Mrs. Disdier, of Los An- geles ; and Inez, Mrs. York, of Los Angeles.

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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 49

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