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 51

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 Los Angeles, Cal., in October, 1878, Ja- cob Miller was married to Dorothea Grelck, who like himself was born in Germany. She has been a resident of the United States ever since her twenty-fifth year. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, as follows: Emma, Mrs. Otto Glardy, of Los Angeles: Elise, Mrs. Lyman E. Hathaway, a resident of Hollywood; Theressa, who for two years taught school in Hollywood and in August, 1906, entered Stanford University to complete her education ; and Dora. William A .. and Edith. the three last mentioned at home with their parents. Until recently Mr. Miller was a member of the school board of Holly- wood, to which he gave faithful service for

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thirteen years. While in Los Angeles he joined the Independent Order of Foresters, but of late years he has not been as active in the ranks of the order as formerly. Although he is not a member of any church, he gives liber- ally toward the support of all denominations, and has the good-will and veneration of all who have lived and labored with him in Hol- lywood for nearly a quarter of a century.

DOLORES M. VEJAR. A skillful, intelli- gent and capable ranchman, the late Dolores M. Vejar was actively associated with the advance- ment of the agricultural prosperity of Los An- geles county, owning large tracts of land, which he managed successfully. In his boyhood days the now attractive city of Los Angeles, in which he spent many years, was very sparsely settled, the only residences being the adobe houses of the early settlers. He was of Spanish descent, and was born, June 22, 1845, in Los Angeles, a son of John Christopher Vejar.

Coming from Spain, his native country, to Cal- ifornia, John Christopher Vejar served as a sol- dier in the Spanish army, after which he received as a grant Conejo rancho, a tract of one thousand six hundred acres of land in Ventura county. He also owned extensive and valuable interests in Los Angeles, which city he made his home for a number of years. He engaged extensively in stock raising in the Ventura locality, although resident in Los Angeles, where he was a man of distinction, having served as councilman and as mayor. He was a man of wealth, at the time of his death at the age of sixty-two years, leaving a handsome property to his family. He married Mary Grace Reyes, the descendant of a promi- nent Spanish family. She was born in Los An- geles, and died, at the venerable age of eighty- six years, in that city.

Educated in the public schools of Los Angeles, Dolores M. Vejar learned much of the various branches of agriculture while young, and at the age of twenty-one years acquired by inheritance the old Vejar ranch, lying between Los Angeles and Ventura, and containing six hundred and thirty-five acres of land. He followed stock raising during his life, but a number of years ago moved into Los Angeles in order to give his children better educational advantages, buying the ranch now owned and occupied by his widow and children. In addition to this ranch of thirty acres, Mr. Vejar also owned two hundred and forty-five feet of land on Flower street, Los An- geles, a valuable residential property. He was very active and enterprising, and in addition to operating both of his ranches he rented large tracts of land, and was successfully engaged in

general ranching until his death, which occurred March 22, 1904, after a brief illness of only two weeks.

In 1883 Mr. Vejar married Mary E. Goss, who was born, June 22, 1855, in Onetis, Mari- posa county, this state, a daughter of Willis G. Goss. A native of Georgia, Mr. Goss came over- land with ox-teams to California in 1852, settling as a miner in Mariposa county, where he resided, an honored and influential citizen, until his death, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, Eliza- beth Petty, was born in Texas, and came across the plains with her father in 1852, in the same train with her future husband, Willis G. Goss. Mr. Goss died March 19, 1870, and his widow then removed to Los Angeles, where she spent the remainder of her life, passing away at the age of thirty-nine years. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vejar seven children were born, namely: Theodore J., Beatrice E., Mary Grace, Victoria G., Annie Ray, Dolores R. and Rudolph G. Vejar. All living at home.

ELGAR REED, M. D. A successful expo- nent of the medical profession is named in the person of Elgar Reed, who has been located in El Monte since 1893, and has built up an exten- sive practice. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in the vicinity of Cincinnati, December 13, 1865 ; his father, Garrett R. Reed, was born in 1827 in Franklin, Ohio, while his grandfather, Gilbert, was born in New Jersey in 1796 and became a pioneer settler of Ohio, where he engaged in farming until his death. He came of fine old eastern stock, being related to the Van Shaicks and also to George Read, the signer of the Declaration of Independence, the spelling of the name being changed by himself. Garrett R. Reed attained years of maturity in Ohio, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, after which he settled in Iowa at an early date in the history of the state, and in Louisa county engaged as a farmer and blacksmith. Later he engaged in the hardware business for a time, finally removing to Carmi, .Ill., where he became a lumber manufacturer. In 1882 he made a trip to Southern California and spent some time in Los Angeles, but returned to Carmi because of his business interests and remained there seven years. In Los Angeles, where his death occurred in 1904. he was interested in the Los Angeles Box Company. He is survived by his wife, formerly Elizabeth Weller, a native of Ohio. Her father, Tobias Weller, was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1801, and in manhood engaged as a farmer in that state until 1875. when he came to Los Angeles and purchased a ranch upon which he made his home until his death in 1892, when nearly ninety-one years old.

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Mrs. Reed makes her home in Los Angeles, and is the mother of two sons and one daughter.

Elgar Reed was the youngest in the family and was reared in the states of Iowa, Illinois and California, his preliminary education being re- ceived in the schools of the two former states before his removal to Los Angeles. In this city, in 1884, he entered the preparatory department of the University of Southern California and graduated therefrom in 1890 with the degree of B. S., later receiving the degree of M. S. In the same year he returned to Ohio and entered the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which institution he was graduated in 1893 with the degree of M. D. He at once lo- cated in El Monte and began the practice of his profession, which has since absorbed his entire time and attention. He has built up an extensive practice and is looked upon as a physician of unusual ability, whose most conscientious efforts are given wherever his services are required.

In Los Angeles Dr. Reed was married to Miss Mary Sawyer, who was born in Colorado. Dr. Reed is prominent in fraternal associations, hav- ing been made a Mason in Lexington Lodge No. 104, of El Monte, and is also associated with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent Order of Foresters, Fraternal Brotherhood and the Modern Brotherhood. Politically he casts his ballot for Republican candidates.

CHARLES POWERS. A citizen of worth and ability is Charles Powers, who first saw San Pedro in 1880, and has witnessed much of the growth and development which have marked the city's history. Mr. Powers is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred at Oskersham Septem- ber 19, 1863. His father, Olander Powers, also a native of Sweden, spent his entire life in that country with the exception of a short time in Chicago, Ill., where he located in the early days of that city. . Of the five children born to his parents Charles Powers is the only one in Amer- ica, and his residence here is probably due to the fact that his travels as a seaman brought him to the Pacific shores of this country. From boyhood he followed the sea, becoming cabin boy and in time a sailor before the mast. In 1879 he shipped on the McMillan of Glasgow, rounding the Cape of Good Hope and in Sep- tember of the same year touching at the port of San Diego, Cal. He disembarked and for a few months remained in that location. In January of the following year he came to Los Angeles county and in Wilmington engaged with the Wilmington Transportation Company, with whom he continued until 1889. He then se- cured employment with the Kirckhoff Cuzner Lumber Company as shipping clerk, and in 1891

became the foreman of their yards in San Pedro, the wholesale and distributing point for the com- pany, and since that time he has remained so oc- cupied, being located permanently in this city. He thoroughly understands his business and is successful in his work.

After his location here Mr. Powers married Mercy J. Crocker, a native of Wilmington, Cal., and the daughter of Henry Crocker, a pioneer of this section. They have one son, Charles Waldo. In his political affiliations Mr. Powers is a Democrat, but is liberal and broad in his views, reserving the right to cast his local ballot for the man whom he considers best qualified for official duty. As a trustworthy citizen he was elected a member of the city board of trus- tees, which position he held until removing be- yond the city limits, when he resigned. Fra- ternally he is prominent, being a member of the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past officer ; the Eagles, and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Until 1905 he was also associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he officiated as an officer, but in the last named year withdrew from the organization.

GEORGE BAY. When George Bay first came to California, like many others it was in search of good health and he has gained not only that, but a very generous material prosperity as well, as a progressive and energetic man who adopts up-to-date methods cannot fail to do in the fertile Ojai valley. His father, William Fin- ley Bay, a native of Ohio, was one of the early Oregon pioneers who crossed the plains in 1850 and settled in that western coast state. He con- ducted a ranch in Oregon, where he died at the age of fifty-six years, being survived by his wife, formerly Nancy J. Kirkpatrick, a native of Quin- cy, Ill., and who is still residing on the old home- stead at the advanced age of ninety years.

Of the family of ten children George Bay is the only member residing in California and he came to this state when a young man of twenty-two years. He was born July 30, 1853. in Oregon. and was educated in the common schools of that state. Impaired health induced him to come to California and to Ventura county in particular. In April, 1875, he settled on a piece of govern- ment land which is now a part of his homestead, owning at the present writing one hundred and twelve acres of land upon which he raises fruit and hay, and in addition rents and cultivates a grain ranch of two hundred acres. The Ojai val- ley has some of the best apiaries in the state lo- cated in the foothills and Mr. Bay owns four hundred stands of honey bees which net him a handsome income during the season. Upon one occasion ninety-six of the stands made the splen-

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did record of producing nine tons of that clear white honey for which the state is famous.

In 1878 Mr. Bay was married to Maggie Van- curen, a native daughter of Iowa, and to them were born four children : Guy Ora, who married Bertha Whitney; Nellie Agnes, the wife of Frank T. Brooks; James W., who is fourteen years old ; and Fred Leo. Mr. Bay is well versed in social and economic subjects and after a careful study of the policies to which the old-line parties are pledged he believes that they do not stand for the best and most progressive ideas and so gives his allegiance to the Socialist party. He has always taken an active interest in all affairs of interest to the public welfare and as an intelligent and leading citizen he is accorded a high esteem throughout the Ojai valley.

JOHN W. SPEED. Prominent among the earlier settlers of the Santa Maria valley is John W. Speed, an influential resident of the city of Santa Maria. He has won his own way through life, by his honesty and upright deal- ings establishing a reputation for integrity that , any man might well covet, and gaining an as- sured position among the business men of this part of the county. A native of Missouri, he was born August 4, 1849, in Morgan county, be- ing one of a family of five children born of the union of James H. and Lucy A. (Maroni) Speed. His parents were both born and reared in Virginia, and both died on the home farm in Missouri, the death of the mother occurring at the age of fifty years, while the father, who survived her, attained the age of seventy-two years. John W., of this review, is the only member of the family living in California.

John W. Speed labored hard to acquire an ed- ucation, and after leaving the public schools of Morgan county spent three years at the State University, in Columbia. Mo., taking the regular scientific course, by his own efforts paying all of his college expenses. At the early age of six- teen years he began to be self-supporting, and after leaving college embarked in agricultural pursuits, for two years having charge of a grain ranch. Leaving home in 1875, he came to Santa Barbara county, and for a while was employed in ranching in this valley. Returning to Mis- souri, he resumed farming, remaining there un- til 1879, when he again came to the Santa Maria valley, settling as a farmer in Santa Barbara county. Leasing land near Guadaloupe, he car- ried on dairying and stock-raising for eleven years, meeting with satisfactory success in his operations. In 1890 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in the upper part of the val- ley, and, with the exception of two years that he spent as a hay and grain dealer in San Francisco

he was for fourteen years engaged in horticult- ural pursuits, making a specialty of apricots. He subsequently bought his home ranch, which consists of forty acres of valuable land, and is advantageously located in Santa Maria. Be- sides this ranch he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land near the Sunset oil fields of Kern county; has title to thirty acres of land in the district near Orcutt; is a stockholder in the Brookshire Oil Company; and is a shareholder and the president of the Meridian Oil and Land Company, that is developing oil in the Santa Maria fields.

In 1884 Mr. Speed married Fannie Herndon, who was born in Carrollton, Mo., in 1857, and died in Santa Barbara county in 1890, at the age of thirty-three years, leaving two children, James H. and John W., Jr. The former took a preparatory course in the academic department of the Missouri Valley College, at Marshall, Mo. In 1893 Mr. Speed married for his second wife Mary Bocay, who was born and educated in England. In politics Mr. Speed is independ- ent, using his own judgment in casting his bal- lot, instead of blindly following any political leader, or giving unqualified adherence to any party.

JOSEPH B. ROBISON. Ten miles north- west from Santa Monica, in the Garapatos school district No. 10, lies the stock ranch on which Mr. Robison resides, and which he owns in partnership with his father-in-law, Benjamin F. Berkey. The ranch includes one hundred and eighty acres, of which about fifty acres are under cultivation, while the remainder of the land forms a range for the cattle. Stock-raising is the principal industry engaged in, although they also conduct a small dairy and raise fruit and nuts.

Mr. Robison is a native of the middle west, born in Vernon county, Mo., not far from the village of Harwood, October 13, 1871. His father was born in the adjoining state of Illi- nois, and was reared on a farm there until re- moving to Missouri during young manhood. There also be established himself on a farm, and in addition to its management also conducted a sawmill and owned threshing machines, with the latter assisting farmers throughout the local- ity during the harvest season. His active and well-planned course in life has resulted in mak- ing him fairly well-to-do, so that he is now prac- tically retired from business cares, although to keep his mind occupied he still manages a small farm near Harwood, Mo. The wife of his youth is still spared to him and together they are spending their later years in the enjoyment of the competency accumulated through hard work

I. F. moore

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and frugality. Mrs. Robison was before her marriage Elmira Hodgson and like her husband was born in Illinois.

Vernon county, Mo., was the scene of the early life of Joseph B. Robison, and by the time he was nineteen years old his school days were over and his business career was fairly begun. It was at this age that he crossed the plains to the west and located in California, coming direct to Santa Monica, where he worked as a farm hand for about nine months. With commenda- ble ambition to become a land owner he squatted on railroad land in Antelope valley, but after holding it about a year he sold the property. Coming to the Garapatos school district in No- vember, 1894, he bought a squatter's right to his present ranch, filing on the same in 1896. Since his marriage he and his father-in-law have combined their interests, their landed possessions aggregating one hundred and eighty acres, up- on which they raise cattle, horses, hogs and poultry.

In November, 1900, was celebrated the mar- riage of Joseph B. Robison and Miss Ethel Ber- key, the latter of whom was born in Nebraska, where for six years she taught school. She has been a resident of California since she was twenty-three years of age, and after coming to this state also taught school for a time. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robi- son, Irma Eleanor, Florence Edna and Bertha Blanche. Mr. Robison's political views are in harmony with the Democratic party, which he stanchly upholds. For two years he was a mem- ber of the board of school trustees of his district.

JOHN F. MOORE. The versatile ability of Jolin F. Moore, one of the successful ranch- ers of the vicinity of Norwalk, Los Angeles county, has enabled him to make a success financially and at the same time build up for himself a position of respect and esteem among the citizens of whatever community he has made his home. He boasts a California birth, for his parents were both pioneers of the state. the father, Henry Moore, a native of Ohio, having come to the Pacific coast in 1855 via the Isthmus of Panama and in the mines near Camptonville was engaged for seven years. He then followed freighting to various California and Nevada points, and at the same time purchased a ranch in Yuba county, Cal. Later he sold this and took up a government claim in Colusa county, but event- nally had to give it up. He then went to Or- land, Glenn countv, Cal .. and there purchased three hundred and twenty acres, sold it in 1891, and then in Oregon bought a ranch of two hundred and fifty-one acres. His death

occurred in that location in 1892 at the age of sixty years. He was a man of public spirit and energy. A Republican in politics, he was called upon by this party to discharge the duties of supervisor of Colusa county for twelve years. Fraternally he was a Mason. He came of a loyal and patriotic family, two of his brothers serving valiantly in the Civil war. He married Adaline Andrews in Cali- fornia and she is still living on the old home- stead. She was the mother of six children, of whom four are still living, besides John F., the eldest, being Retta, wife of John Sexton, of Los Angeles county : Edward, who lives on the home place in Oregon; and Charles, a student in a divinity school in Oregon in preparation for the Christian ministry.

Born in Marysville, Yuba county, Cal., Sep- tember 21, 1866, John F. Moore spent the first three years of his life in that place, when he was taken by his parents to Colusa county, and five years later to Orland, Glenn county. He received his education in the common schools of that place, and after his schooldays were over he went to work at Marysville to learn the trade of harness maker. He was then but eighteen years old and henceforth he was dependent upon his own resources. He also started to learn the trade of blacksmith but because of defective eyesight had to give this up. He ranched for his father for a time following this, and finally, in the fall of 1890, he went to Oregon. He was married in that state and there rented land and farmed for about seven years. At the expiration of that time he came south and in Santa Barbara county spent one year, then came to Los An- geles county and in the vicinity of his pres- ent property rented land and engaged in gen- cral farming. He again rented land here and then with his brother-in-law purchased forty acres, Mr. Moore now owning the north twen- . ty acres of the tract, of which fourteen acres are devoted to alfalfa, three acres to a fine family orchard, and a dairy business being supplied by five cows. He has made his own improvements, built residence, barns, out- buildings, and installed a pumping plant equipped with a fifteen horse power gasoline engine. He is also interested in poultry breed- ing. It may also be added that Mr. Moore is a natural carpenter and has added to his in- come at times because of this ability.

Mr. Moore's wife was in maidenhood Rosa Newlan, the ceremony which united them in marriage being performed July 3. 1892. She is a daughter of J. N. Newlan, whose personal history also appears in this work. They be- came the parents of the following children :

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Maud, aged fourteen ; Roy, aged thirteen ; Jo- seph, aged eleven; Ethel, aged eight; Lester, aged six; Ada, aged three. Both Mr. Moore and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Politically he is a stanchi Republi- can and fraternally is associated with the Woodmen of the World, while both himself and wife are members of the Fraternal Aid. Mr. Moore is much esteemed in the community and is justly named among the representa- tive citizens.

SYLVESTER KINCADE SMITH. In the vicinity of Beaumont, Riverside county, is lo- cated the ranch operated by Sylvester Kincade Smith, one of the enterprising and successful farmers who have assisted materially in the up- building of the best interests of this section of Southern California. He was born in Yates City, Knox county, Ill., January 12, 1854, among the youngest in a family of fifteen children of whom thirteen are now living. His father, Seth Smith, was born in North Carolina, a son of William, also of that state, whence he removed to Hillsboro, Ohio, and engaged as a farmer until his death. Seth Smith engaged in farming in Ohio, where he attained manhood, and later located in Yates City, Ill., and there followed farming and also the trades of stone and brick mason, carpenter, wagon maker and blacksmith, being gifted with natural mechanical ability. In 1869 he removed to Iowa and in Adams county improved a farm and spent the remainder of his life. His wife, formerly Mary George, was a native of Virginia and a daughter of William George, who removed to Ohio, thence to Yates City, Ill., where he engaged as a farmer until his death. A son, John, served in the Eighty- sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and is now a resident of Iowa ; and also William Smith, served · in the Fourth Regiment Iowa Battery, and is now a resident of Williamsfield, Il1.

Reared on the paternal farm in Illinois, Syl- vester Kincade Smith received his education through an attendance of the public school in the vicinity of his home, after which he went to work for his father. He accompanied the family to Iowa in 1871, and remained with his father until attaining his majority, when, in May, 1885, he came to California because of his health. He spent the first summer at El Monte, Los Angeles county, and in the fall came to San Gorgonia Pass and secured employment on va- rious farms in the section. In the summer of 1887 he engaged in freighting lumber from the mountains, and following this in the spring of 1888 began farming operations with H. J. Roberts, with whom he continued for two years. .At the close of that time they dissolved partner-

ship and Mr. Smith purchased the farm upon which they have been operating, and it is that which he owns at the present writing. He has since added to the original purchase a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, the greater part of which is devoted to the raising of grain, and in addition to this he leases eleven hundred acres for the purpose of raising grain, hay and stock. He owns three six-horse teams and carries on an extensive business, in which he has been very successful, acquiring a competence and at the same time a place in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

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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 51

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