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 54

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

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Removing to Nebraska in 1869 Mr. Thomas settled in Lyons, Burt county, at a period so early in the settlement of the village that Mr. Lyons and family were the only other resi- dents of the hamlet. For three years he car- ried on a general store and then operated a farm adjoining the town. Meanwhile he had hecome prominent in local Republican poli- tics and on that ticket. in the fall of 1879. he was elected sheriff, after which he removed to Tekamah, the county seat. Upon the ex-

piration of his term as sheriff in 1881 he was elected county clerk and two years later was chosen to succeed himself in that office, which he filled until the Ist of January, 1886. Not long afterward he closed out his interests in Nebraska and arranged for removal to the west. April 7, 1887, he came to San Diego, where he engaged in the real-estate business, but like all others similarly interested, he suf- fered heavy losses in the reaction subsequent to the memorable "boom." Later he set out an orchard of ten acres of lemons, also con- tinted in the real-estate business and built his present resident on the corner of Third street and Ash. For five years he was employed as a conductor on the San Diego electric street- cars and for some years he was one of the inspectors in the customs service, resigning that position to accept the appointment as chief of police, tendered him in June, 1903, by Mayor F. P. Frary. Under re-appointment by Captain Schon he is now serving his sec- ond term as the head of the police depart- mment. He is a member of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, belongs to the Union League Club, is identified with Boomer Post, G. A. R., and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. While in Ne- braska he was made a Mason in Tekamah Lodge No. 35, A. F. & A. M., and now holds membership with San Diego Lodge No. 35, F. & A. M. Both of his daughters have mar- ried and now reside further east, so that he and his wife are alone in their home by the seashore. The older daughter, Ella M., be- came the wife of O. G. Tabor, of Holton, Kans., and the younger daughter, Frances, married Dr. J. U. Scott of Missouri, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Har- risonville, that state.

FELIPE J. CAZAS. With the exception of three years while in Lower California Felipe J. Cazas has spent his life in Southern California. On February 5, 1854, he was born in Ventura county, the son of Paul and Ramona (Bemis) Ca- zas. The father, a native of Mexico, fought in the Mexican war, and his death occurred in Ventura : the mother, who was born in Ventura, died in 1883. The education of Mr. Cazas was received through the medium of the common schools of Ventura county and in 1869 he removed to Los Angeles county, locating in the San Fernando valley. In 1871 he returned to Ventura county, remaining for three years, when he again came to this section of the state. The three years fol- lowing 1875 he spent in Lower California and the remainder of his life thus far has been spent in farming on his present ranch, located six miles

Wograham

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south of Temecula. He is also interested to some extent in honey production, owning thirty-four colonies of bees which yield him a nice income.

In 1885, in Temecula, Mr. Cazas was married to Louisa Ayal, who is a native of Riverside county, and of this union six children have been born : Sarah, Estefana, Joseph, Louisa, Marie and Louis. They are members of the Catholic Church and contribute liberally to the support of all enterprises tending to elevate and upbuild the community in which they make their home. Mr. Cazas is an enterprising and progressive citizen and possesses many sterling qualities which have won for him the highest esteem and respect of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

WILLIAM £ OTTERBINE GRAHAM. The development of the walnut industry as one of the profitable enterprises of California may be attributed to the sagacity and per- severance of a comparatively small number of men, among whom mention belongs to Mr. Graham of Whittier, a horticulturist who has ever been anxious to experiment with new methods in order to ascertain those that are the most practical and successful. Through a long series of experiments he has arrived at a certain theory and definite conclusion re- garding the growing of walnuts, and the value of his plan of work is proved by his success with the trees. When he came to Whittier he bought twenty-five acres from B. F. Max- im, the same forming a part of the old Gunn and Hazard tract, watered by the old Banta ditch, but wholly unimproved. Immediately after the purchase of the property he set out walnut trees, which are of such value that he has been offered $800 per acre for the orchard. However, as he has no desire to change his place of residence, he has declined all offers.

In his care of the orchard Mr. Graham has adopted a method as unique as it is success- ful. Briefly stated, his plan is as follows: I11 the spring the weeds are allowed to grow tall, for the weeds that are so obnoxious to a grain farmer are a blessing to the orchardist. After the rains of April and May he uses a disk plow to turn the soil to a depth of ten or twelve inches, then harrows the land. During the latter part of July he irrigates by means of a system of furrows. A stream of water is turned into each of six furrows between rows of trees forty feet apart, and from forty-eight to sixty hours are allowed for irrigation, after which he harrows the ground crosswise and then uses the Killifor weed-knife cultivator. Each season he plows deep but once and ir- rigates but once. Many of his acquaintances are adopting his methods, convinced by his suc-

cess that his plan of cultivation is judicious. The success of his system entitles him to a place among those .men who have benefited their community by the exercise of wise judg- ment and original methods.

At the family home on the banks of Wills creek in Maryland, near the old Savage Fur- nace, Mr. Graham was born February 21, 1843, and from there when three weeks old he was taken to Pennsylvania by his parents, William and Sarah Graham. Somewhat later he accompanied the family to Illinois and set- tled on a farm in Adams county near the Mis- sissippi river, where he was trained to a knowl- edge of agriculture and to habits of industry and frugality. At the same time he also ap- plied himself to the cabinet-maker's trade, which he learned in youth, and did consider- able work in carpentering after his removal in 1884, to Jasper county, Iowa, where also he conducted a farm. While living in Illi- nois he married Miss Gilly Mustain, who was born in that state and died in Iowa. The two daughters of that union were Sarah Belle (deceased) and Mrs. Gilly J. Wolf. After go- ing to Iowa he was a second time married, his union with Miss Carrie Taylor being sol- emnized in August of 1886. In March of 1887 he brought his family to California and set- tled at Garvanza, a suburb of Los Angeles, where he built a house, but remained only a short time. From there he went to Pasadena and took charge of the building of a brick block, after which he filled a contract to build a substantial hotel at Fairmont in the Ante- lope valley. On the completion of that con- tract he came to Whittier, where he and his wife and their three children, William J., Mil- lie Elmira and Harry Reuben, have many friends among their circle of acquaintances. In addition to his home place he owns thirty acres of pasture land near by, also a small orange orchard in Whittier, and one hundred and sixty acres in Antelope valley, these vari- ous properties representing a considerable monetary value and the accumulations of years of energetic application.

ALBERT DUANE EASTON. Since De- cember, 1905, Mr. Easton has been engaged in the conduct of the Model market, of Ocean Park, and although a resident of this place for so brief a time he has still made for himself a place among the business men and bids fair to acquire a noteworthy success in his venture. Ile is a native of the middle west, his birth hav- ing occurred in Piatt county, Ill., April 10, 1873 : when he was but six weeks old his parents, Ezra and Mary (Hodge) Easton (natives respective-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ly of Ohio and Indiana), removed to Iowa and located in Monona county on a farm. For twelve years they remained in that location, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, when, in 1885, they came to California and in Colton estab- lished their home, Mr. Easton following ranch- ing there. In that place Mrs. Easton died in her thirty-eighth year; she is survived by her hus- band, who is now living retired in Monrovia.

Of the six children born to his parents, Albert Duane Easton was third in order of birth. His boyhood years were spent in Iowa and Califor- nia, and he received his education in the pub- lic schools of both states, eventually attending the high school of Colton. In young manhood he learned the trade of tailor, but not caring for the work he later engaged in the grocery busi- ness. Eventually learning the trade of butcher in Colton, he opened a shop in Los Angeles, and later was located in various cities of the state, among them. San Francisco and San Jose, in the latter city conducting the business of the noted Saratoga Market. Coming to Ocean Park, in December, 1905, he purchased the Model market and has conducted the same since, with every prospect of. meeting with entire sticcess.

By his marriage Mr. Easton has one daughter, Roberta Lillian. In his political convictions he is identified with the Republican party, while socially he is esteemed for the many qualities of manhood as displayed by him in both his busi- ness and social life.

JOHN VERPLANK LARZALERE, M. D. Noteworthy among the influential and re- spected citizens of Escondido is J. V. Larza- lere, M. D., a well-known physician, who, now in the prime of life, is following a career of usefulness, being exceptionally well fitted for the duties of his responsible position. His skill and ability and his thorough knowledge of medicine have won for him the confidence of the community to such an extent that his suc- cess is assured, and his patronage is of the best and most lucrative. A son of John Lar- zalere, he was born, January 28, 1859, in Wa- terloo, N. Y.

The lineal descendant of a family that emi- grated from France to the United States in colonial days, John Larzalere was born in New York state more than eighty years ago. When a young man he learned the trade of harness- maker, which he followed successfully for a number of years. Enlisting during the Civil war in Company H, One Hundred and Forty- eighth New York Volunteer Infantry, he was detailed as a harness maker, and served in, that capacity during his term of enlistment.

After the war he was machinist and superin- tendent of a woolen mill in Waterloo, N. Y., where he is now living, retired from active business. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Maria Schick, a native of Fayette, Seneca county, N. Y. Her fa- ther, David Schick, was born in Pennsylvania, of German ancestry, and was for many years engaged in business in Fayette, N. Y., being a stock-dealer, a butcher and a merchant. She died at the early age of thirty-seven years, leaving six children, four of whom are living, J. V., the subject of this sketch, being the only one on the Pacific coast.

Brought up in Waterloo, N. Y., J. V. Larza- lere there laid the foundation for his future education, attending the public schools and the village academy. After studying medicine for awhile with Dr. John W. Day, of Waterloo, in 1881 he entered the University of Buffalo, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1884. Immediately beginning the practice of his profession with Dr. Day in Wa- terloo, he remained there a year, and in the mean time served as county physician. Going then to Poplar Ridge, Cayuga county, N. Y., he continued there as a practitioner for a num- ber of years, meeting with excellent success. Coming to San Diego county, Cal., in 1895, he was engaged in his professional labors at Na- tional City for a year, succeeding Dr. Buxton. Locating in Escondido in 1896, he has built up a large and lucrative practice in this city, his natural talents and industry placing him among the most able physicians of this part of the county. In the treatment of diseases, the doctor uses the most modern methods, and in his finely equipped office he has a static electrical apparatus, with an X-ray attachment and all forms of electricity used in the treat- ment of diseases. He is local surgeon at Es- condido for the Santa Fe Railroad Company, in this direction ably performing the duties devolving upon him. In 1901, Dr. Larzalere, ambitious to keep up to the times in his pro- fessional work, went to New York City to take a post-graduate course at the New York Hos- pital College.

The doctor is much interested in horticult- ure, and for a few years had twelve acres of oranges and lemons. He has recently sold five acres, and has now seven acres, all under irrigation. on which he built his present two- story residence, lying one and one-half miles east of the city. Since coming to Escondido he has taken a genuine interest in local affairs, and was one of the directors of the Irrigating District at the time of the work that was car- ried on in connection with the committee of fifteen that were successful in raising money to

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settle the bonds, which were burned upon li- quidation, the directorate being then dissolved. He is president of the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, and has served one term of the board of health in Escondido district.

In Poplar Ridge, N. Y., Dr. Larzalere mar- ried Frances E. Peckham, a native of that place, and they have three children, namely : Ray V., a pupil in the high school, belonging to the class of 1907: Lena M .; and Harriet E. Politically the doctor is a zealous supporter of the principles of the Republican party and an ex-member. of the county central commit- tee, being a delegate to the state convention in 1906. Professionally he belongs to the County, State and American, Medical Associ- ations. Fraternally he is a member and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias; is a past officer and district deputy of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which he united at Poplar Ridge, N. Y .; is a member and the medical examiner of both the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica ; is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters; and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security. Religiously Mrs. Larza- lere belongs to the Congregational Church, towards the support of which the doctor con- tributes willingly and liberally.

RICHARD J. WELTY. A goodly number of the men who were identified with the early American colonization of Southern California have been spared to witness its remarkable de- velopment and prosperity. Included in this class may be mentioned Richard J. Welty, who since the year 1866 has made his home in this section of the country and who has been a factor in its material growth. Born and reared in Illinois, he became a resident of Iowa in early life and there met and married Miss Mary Singleton, a native of the state. On leav- ing the settled regions of the Mississippi val- ley for the unknown and remote locality beyond the desert and the mountains, he traveled with wagon and team across the plains, accompanied by his family. After an uneventful journey of six months he arrived in San Bernardino county, where he established his home and engaged at the carpenter's trade, also for a time worked in a lumber mill on the San Bernardino mountains. When the tide of immigration turned toward San Diego county in 1869 he took up land on the Pala road and for seven years superintended his ranch, which is now occupied by Victor Magee and is known as the McCumber ranch.

Drifting from the occupation of a rancher into the specialty of an apiarist. Mr. Welty established his home at Aguanga and for twelve years en-

gaged in the bee business, meanwhile becoming the owner of four apiaries, which he conducted in a profitable manner. At the same time he had charge of a cattle ranch at San Ignacio. During the year 1885 he came to Temecula, Riverside county, where he still makes his home. Soon aft- er his arrival he bought real estate and erected a building for hotel purposes. Later this was de- stroyed by fire, and soon afterward he put up the Welty hotel on the same site. For some time this hotel was leased to other parties, but June 17, 1906, Mr. Welty again assumed its management and since then has been its popular and efficient landlord. In addition to this property he owns several houses in Temecula and has ranch prop- erty in the locality.

The family of Mr. Welty now comprises the following-named daughters: Nancy E., who married William Kinkead, of Moosa Canon; Ma- tilda A., at home; Hattie A., who was appointed postmaster at Temecula in 1888 and has held the office continuously with the exception of one and one-half years; Laura, wife of Hugh McCon- ville, the well-known liveryman at Temecula ; Mattie E., Fronie J. and Allie A. The daughters are educated and refined, possess charitable dis- positions and high principles, and in their re- ligious views favor the Baptist and Christian Churches. Miss Hattie A., who has charge of the postoffice, fills the position with characteristic fidelity and tireless energy, and has won the con- fidence of the patrons of the office by her long and efficient service. Fraternally Mr. Welty long ago became identified with the Masonic Or- der and has remained to the present time an ar- dent disciple of the fraternity's principles of brotherhood and charity.

VINCENT SENTOUS, a successful business man of Los Angeles, and one of the old pioneers. was born in Mont Rejeau, in the department of Haute-Garonne, France, August 4, 1857, a son of Francisco and Marie (Fadeuill) Sentous. They were both natives of France, where they passed their entire lives. The father was a farmer and stockman and successful in his ef- forts, acquiring a competence and a position of prominence among the citizens of his section. He was twice married, having three children by the first union and five by the second, all of whom are located in California. The first of the fam- ily to emigrate was John Sentous, who came to California in 1852; this led to another brother, Louis, following in 1855, and in 1874 Vincent Sentous severed his connections with the Mother country, a lad not yet in his eighteenth year and just through his course in college. July 1, 1874, he reached San Francisco and on the 3rd of that month was in Los Angeles and in the sunny

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land of Southern California. His brothers were already established here in the sheep business, and he at once secured employment with them, beginning on the bottom rung of the ladder and with nothing to presage a future success save his energy, perseverance and industry. Three years later with his accumulated earnings he pur- chased a flock of sheep and continued the busi- ness alone until 1883, when he sold out and in partnership with his brother purchased a meat market on the corner of Los Angeles and Aliso streets, where the firm of Vincent and Exupere Sentous became widely known to an appreciative public. They dissolved partnership in 1903 and Vincent Sentous established a similar enterprise at No. 228 Aliso street, which was first known as the Vincent Sentous Market and later as the New Orleans Market. In addition to this busi- ness he is also engaged as an extensive farmer and stockman at Lemon Station, Los Angeles county, where he owns sixteen hundred acres of land, a part of the old San Jose grant. This extensive property is well watered by living streams and springs and much of it can be placed under irrigation. His chief interests here are in the raising of cattle and fine horses, in which he has met with unusual success, and which places him among the prominent farmers of Southern California.

In Los Angeles Mr. Sentous was united in marriage with Miss Zelia Meysan, a native of Columbia, Cal., but reared and educated in Inyo county, this state. Her father, Charles Mey- san, was a miner in the early days and later a merchant at Lone Pine, Inyo county. Mr. Sen- tous is a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and is in every way interested in the advancement of the city and the development of its best interests.

CLAUDE WOOLMAN. During an early period in the settlement of America the Wool- man family crossed the ocean from England and became identified with the fortunes of the new world, where. as in their old home, they adhered to the doctrines of the Society of Friends and displayed the peace-loving and up- right qualities characteristic of the members of that organization. As the trend of emigration drifted toward the Mississippi valley the family were quick to identify themselves with the newer and undeveloped regions whose fertile soils of- fered a large return for their care and cultiva- tion. Benjamin Woolman, who was a pioneer farmer of Iowa, afterward became an early set- tler of Nebraska, and eventually established his home at Julesburg, Colo., where he still lives. In his family was a son, J. H. Woolman, who was born in Osceola, Iowa, and became a hard-

ware merchant of York, Neb., but as early as 1882 came to California, where, after a year in National City, he established his headquarters in San Diego, embarking in business as a tinsmith and hardware merchant. For some years he was one of the local leaders of the Republican party, on which ticket he was twice elected to the office of city trustee and also for four years held a position as member of the county board of supervisors. Largely to his tireless labors and enthusiastic support may be attributed the movement which led to the purchase and im- provement of City Park on F street, and many other local enterprises of permanent value re- ceived the impetus of his support. Eventually he. transferred his allegiance to the Democratic party, on which ticket in 1902 he was nominated for the legislature, but suffered defeat. Fra- ternally he long has affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. A busy life covering fifty-five years has not diminished his physicial powers or men- tal energies, for he still remains active in busi- ness, interested in the issues of the age, in- telligently informed concerning matters of gen- eral importance, and public-spirited in his sup- port of projects for the general welfare.

While still a resident of Iowa J. H. Woolman married Mary Estes, who was born in Osceola, that state, her father, J. M. Estes, having been a member of an old southern family and for some years a resident of Missouri, but in his last davs a citizen of California. There are two children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wool- man. The daughter, Mrs. Ida Maude Deeble, lives in Los Angeles, and the son, Claude, is a business man of San Diego. The latter was born in Clarinda, Iowa, February 3, 1875, and was a small boy when the family removed to the Pacific coast, so that his education was ob- tained almost wholly in the west. After having graduated from the San Diego grammar school and having taken a course in the San Diego Business College, he learned the plumber's trade under his father's oversight, after which for five years he was connected with McKinzie Brothers (now the Western Metal Supply Com- pany) and as a traveling salesman in Southern California and Arizona for three years he opened up the territory for them and established an ex- cellent business in their line.

Upon resigning from the company's employ in the fall of 1904, Mr. Woolman formed a partnership with A. J. Bradley under the firm title of Bradley & Woolman. The partners pur- chased a lot and erected a three-story building, 60x30 feet, where now they conduct an under- taking business. The establishment is said to be the finest of its kind in this part of the state and is fitted up in the most modern manner with every convenience. The basement is utilized as

PATRICK DONOVAN

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an embalming room, stockroom and workroom, while the first floor has the office and reception room, and the second floor contains a chapel with appropriate furnishings. In addition to taking his part in the management of the business, Mr. Woolman has been interested in all movements for the city's development, has maintained a warm interest in the Chamber of Commerce, and until November, 1905, served for some time as a member of the board of police commissioners. For three years he served in the Naval Reserve at San Diego. After the outbreak of the war with Spain he enlisted at Pasadena as a musi- cian in Company I, Seventh California Infantry, and went with the regiment to the Presidio. The course of the war was such that he was not called into action, but after seven months received an honorable discharge at Los Angeles. When an association was organized of the Spanish- American war veterans he became identified with the movement and attended their gathering at Camp Bennington. At different times he has been connected with the majority of the bands of Southern California, and now plays the trom- bone in the City Guard Band, besides which he is a charter member of the Musicians' Union. In San Francisco, April 21, 1904, he married Miss Edna B. Bradley, only daughter of A. J. Bradley, now of San Diego. Mrs. Woolman was born in Boise City, Idaho, and is a graduate of Mills College, Oakland, an earnest member of the Episcopal Church and a leading worker in the Order of the Eastern Star. In fraternal relations Mr. Woolman is an officer in the Be- nevolent Protective Order of Elks, and also a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and Independent Order of For- esters. Under an appointment, which dates from November 26, 1905, he fills the office of city treasurer and tax collector, in which work he has proved painstaking, efficient, prompt and trustworthy, a strict guardian of the city's funds, a careful accountant and an honorable repre- sentative of the people in an office of trust and responsibility.

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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 54

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