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 57

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

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esque environment pleases his artistic tastes. Since coming to Ocean Park in 1898 he has witnessed the rapid growth of this locality and has enjoyed the benefits accruing there- from, while at the same time he has won the esteem of associates and acquaintances.

Directly across the line from Pennsylvania, in Braceville, a town of Trumbull county, Ohio, Mr. Hazelton was born August 21, 1844, the son of Thaddeus Hazelton, an industrious carpenter descended from an English family early identified with the history of Vermont. It was natural that, on the conclusion of his school studies, he should take up the carpen- ter's trade under the oversight of his father, who taught him to be efficient, skillful and practical in the work. At the opening of the Civil war he was only a youth, scarcely old enough for service, yet he solicited admission as a private and was accepted in 1861, becom- ing a soldier in the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Infantry. With his regiment he marched to the front and bore a part in the numerous en- gagements falling to their lot. In the second battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1862, he was wounded, but soon recovered and rejoined his regiment, with which he remained until the close of the war. When peace once more reigned in the country he was mustered out of service and honorably discharged June 26, 1865, after which he returned to his old home and resumed the occupation of a private cit- izen.

After having worked as a carpenter in Penn- sylvania for a number of years, in 1876 Mr. Hazelton sought the undeveloped regions of the northwest, settling in Winona county, Minn. Considerable building was being done in that locality and he had a part in the new prosperity coming to the region. Land was quite low and he invested his savings in farm property, in which way he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. However, the long and severe winters of the northwest proved trying and irksome, and to secure more favorable climatic conditions he disposed of his holdings and removed to Cal- ifornia, where in 1889 he became a resident of Santa Rosa. Agricultural pursuits and the carpenter's trade occupied his attention here as in his former home. Upon coming to Ocean Park he bought property and erect- ed houses, several of which he yet owns. Of a quiet, retiring disposition. he has had little inclination to identify himself with social or fraternal organizations, none of which has gained his allegiance except the Grand Army of the Republic. After settling in Minnesota he was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Graves, an estimable lady who had accom-

panied her father from their native place in Canada into the States and had settled in Minnesota during the pioneer history of that region.

WILLIAM H. FRINK. The Frink family were established in California in the famous days of '49 and since that time members have taken a prominent part in the upbuilding of the interests of the state. The pioneer, John R., was born in New York, a son of Jefferson Frink, the latter of an old Massachusetts family who located in New York. John R. Frink was reared in St. Louis, whither his parents removed later, and thence he began freighting across the plains and act- ing as captain of trains. In 1849 he came to Sacramento and began mining, remaining in that section of the state until 1852 when he came to Southern California and in Los Angeles estab- 'lished a feed and sale stable. He married there ' Sarah Peacock, a native of Yorkshire, England ; her father having died in Canada, she crossed the plains with Mrs. Jane Lathrop and her mother in 1849, the latter dying in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1854 Mr. Frink brought his family to San Bernardino and located on a small farm, and a year later he bought a farm in San Timoteo cañon, while at the same time he con- tinued interested in mining ventures, being as- sociated with the Vulture Mining Company at Wickenburg, Ariz., and acting for some years as its manager. The gold obtained was carried in a four-horse carriage across the desert to San Pedro, thence by boat to the mint in San Fran- cisco. After the mine ceased to pay he went into the stock business at Wickenburg. He was later interested in the mines at Darwin, Inyo county, where they had a stamp mill, and also interested in the mines near Virginiadale, this county. He sold his cattle business in Arizona in 1886, and then engaged in ranching in Tulare county, southwest of the town of that name. His death occurred there at the age of sixty-two years. His wife is still living at the age of sev- enty-nine years, and makes her home with her son. Of their four children three are living. George M., of Los Angeles; Daniel J., of Red- lands ; and William H., of this review.

William H. Frink was born in San Bernar- dino, Cal., May 23, 1865, and was reared on the paternal farm, and educated in the public schools, after which he attended the San Ber- nardino Business College for a more complete preparation for his work in life. He then re- turned to the home ranch and followed farming on the old Frink ranch in San Timoteo cañon. In 1892 he engaged in dairying and farming for himself, improving property, which consisted of five hundred acres eight miles from Redlands,

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eighty acres being in alfalfa and under irrigation from the San Timoteo creek. He devoted his time to the raising of hay and grain, and also had a creamery outfit which utilized the products of his dairy. In December, 1905, he sold the ranch and located in Redlands at No. 231 West Cypress street, where he has five and a half acres in navel oranges, a handsome residence, and necessary outbuildings, this being one of the valuable little ranches in the city. Mr. Frink is associated fraternally with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Odd Fellows, ot Redlands, where he also belongs to the Board of Trade and gives his best efforts toward the material upbuilding of the city. He is a Re- publican in politics, and is ex-member of tie Riverside Republican County Central Commit- tee. He has been very successful in his work and is accounted one of the progressive and en- terprising citizens of Redlands.

JOHN DUSCH. Noteworthy among the pioneer settlers of Ventura county was the late John Dusch, who came here in 1873, and from that time until his death was an import- ant factor in developing its agricultural re- sources. Purchasing land that was mostly in its native condition, he labored with unremit- ting toil until he had it under good cultiva- tion, with substantial improvements. A hard- working, honest and industrious man, he was in every way trustworthy and highly respect- ed. He was born April 9, 1849, in Switzer- land, the country which has given us so many of our most valued citizens, and died on the home farm in October, 1904, aged fifty-five years.

Brought up and educated in Switzerland, John Dusch there learned the baker's trade, in which he became proficient. Immigrating to the United States when a young man, he spent a short time in New York City, from there going to Philadelphia in search of congenial employment. Not contented, however, he pushed onward to the Pacific coast, in 1872 ar- riving in San Diego, where he remained about a year. In 1873 he located in Ventura county, and in the Santa Clara valley made his first purchase of land, buying ten acres. Very soon afterward he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and immediately be- gan the improvement of his home ranch. Suc- ceeding in his ventures, in the course of time he bought ninety acres of adjoining land. En- terprising and thrifty, he raised all of the grain, fruit and cereals common to this section of the country, having an apricot orchard of fif- ten acres, and raising wheat, barley, hay and beans in large quantities.

In San Diego. in 1873, Mr. Dusch married Mary Gisler, who was born and reared in Switzerland; coming to this country when a girl, she lived in Philadelphia until 1871, when she came to this state, where she has since re- sided. Two of her sisters have also resided here since 1884. Mrs. Dusch's parents are both deceased, as are the parents of Mr. Dusch, both of whom were life-long residents of Swit- zerland. In May, 1905, Mrs. Dusch and her daughter Amelia took a trip across the Atlan- tic, visiting friends and relatives in the moth- er's childhood home. Of the children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dusch, six died in infancy, and five are living, namely : William, of Santa Paula, who married Mary White; Bertha, wife of Christopher Nelson, of Somis, and the mother of two sons; Leonora, wife of \V. P. Daily ; Arno ; and Amelia, a pupil in the Santa Paula high school. Politically Mr. Dusch was a firm supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and took a warm in- terest in the affairs of his adopted town and county.

FRANK PITTS. Occupying an honored position among the many worthy citizens of Ventura county, Frank Pitts is a successful and energetic farmer residing at Somis. A native son of the state, he was born in Mendocino county, August 10, 1860, and is one of ten chil- dren, eight of whom are living. He is the son of W. O. and Isabella (Burrse) Pitts, the for- mer a native of Missouri and the latter of Illi- nois, both of whom are living, aged seventy-four and sixty-six respectively. The father is also a rancher, and in connection with his agricultural pursuits runs a profitable livery business and besides has mining interests in Idaho, where he spends a portion of his time. In his political views he is a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican platform and of the candidates of that party. The mother is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church.

Remaining at home with his parents until fif- teen years of age, during which time he attended the common schools, Frank Pitts started out in the world for himself at that age, engaging in agricultural pursuits in Ventura county, where he has since resided. It has been his good for- tune to succeed beyond his expectations, and he now operates a five hundred acre ranch which is dovoted principally to raising sugar beets, Lima beans, barley, wheat and stock. The land yields on an average ten sacks of beans to the acre and is also well adapted to fruits and grain. The ranch upon which he has lived for the past fifteen years is a part of the Los Posas ranch. He owns a ranch at Hueneme, a comfortable

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home at Somis and property at Oxnard, and has won success by his individual and persistent ef- forts, industry and progressive spirit. His standing in the community is the best proof of his ability, integrity and worth.

In 1892 Mr. Pitts formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Emma Willard, who is a native of Idaho, and two children, Earl and Edna, have been born of their union. At the present writing Mr. Pitts is identified with the Fraternal Brotherhood. Politically he is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in the plat- form of the Republican party, lending his sup- port to its men and measures.

SAMUEL M. LESHER. One of the most up-to-date and progressive ranchmen in Riverside county is found in Samuel M. Lesher, who has upon his six hundred acre ranch, located near Murrietta, every convenience for farming, dairy- ing and stock-raising, and in addition has a fine blacksmith shop on the farm. He is a man of more than usual intelligence and whatever he does is accomplished in the best and most scien- tific manner possible. He is a natural mechanic of ability, a progressive business man and con- ducts his ranching operations in a thoroughly modern manner, being well read and thoroughly familiar with all new developments in his lines of work. He was born November 1, 1868, in Henderson, Minn., the son of Benjamin and Annie (Gunderson) Lesher, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of London, Eng- land. The father was a pioneer settler in Min- nesota, having removed to that state in 1865, and there continued the prosecution of his business as contractor and builder, having been engaged at that occupation in the south before coming west. He assisted in the erection of the state capitol of Minnesota in St. Paul, and later con- ducted a hotel on the Minnesota river in the city of Henderson. In 1880 he pushed on further west, and locating in Montana continued the hotel business first in Forsyth and later in Glen- clive, in which latter place he also engaged in mercantile pursuits. His residence in Califor- nia dated from 1888, when he arrived in Los Angeles county, subsequently removing to Valley Center, San Diego county, at which point he took up land. Following this he spent a great deal of time in travel, visiting in Washington, D. C., and making a trip to Dawson, Alaska. His last years were spent with his son, Samuel M .. his death occurring in 1902. at the age of seventy-three years. His wife died in Montana in 1884. in her fifty-seventh year. Of their children one son. Jacob C., is a draughtsman in Washington, D. C .; another son, Benjamin, resides in Los Angeles : a daughter, Georgiana.

is now the wife of Edward Keys, of Fairbanks, Alaska.

The preliminary education of Mr. Lesher was received in the public schools of Minnesota, this being supplemented by work in St. Johns Uni- versity, at Collegeville, Minn. After the com- pletion of his studies he went to Montana and was for three years employed on the cattle ranges of that state, and after his removal to Glendive, in 1887, began his training at the blacksmith's trade. The following year he came to Los An- geles, from that place removing to Escondido, where he worked on a ranch for a couple of years, after which he returned to Los Angeles and engaged in blacksmithing until 1895. Sub- sequently locating in Murrietta on his present ranch he has since made this place his home. About three hundred acres of land is given over to the raising of crops, while a like amount is devoted to pasturage purposes. He has a dairy and creamery and milks thirty-eight cows, makes and ships butter supplying Murrietta Hot Springs and Elsinore with this product. His creamery was established in 1903 and was the first one located in this vicinity. He is also a breeder of fine horses of both trotting and the Percheron-Norman stock, owning Poco Pronto and Roscoe, two standard-bred stallions which are considered the best in this section of the state. Among his other property interests is a fine ranch at Valley Center.

Mr. Lesher's marriage in Los Angeles, in 1891, united him with Henrietta R. Christian, of Minnesota, and they have become the parents of seven children, namely: Roy, Earl, Edward, Ira, Oliver, Rena and John. The prominent interest which Mr. Lesher takes in educational matters is evidenced by his service as a trustee of the Murrietta school district. He is a Repub- lican in politics and an active worker in his locality for the interest of the party. He is a public-spirited and well-informed citizen who takes an interest in all matters of importance to the community at large, his influence being al- ways exerted on the side that builds up and develops the section in which he lives.

WILLIAM HARVEY BENTLEY. The genealogy of the Bentley family in America is traced back to the year 1720, when settlement was made in Rhode Island by James Bentley, an Englishman by birth and a brother of Sir Rich- ard Bentley of England. In the family of James there was a son, Benjamin, who had a son named Gideon, the latter following farming pur- suits in Rhode Island and New York, eventually dying at Constantia, Oswego county, N. Y., when he had attained the age of one hundred and ten years. From him the genealogy descends

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through his son, Gideon, who was a farmer of New York and Ohio, but in 1831 removed to the sparsely settled state of Illinois and settled on a tract of raw land in Pike county, remaining there until his death. When the family became estab- lished in Pike county in 1831 William was then but a year old, hence his earliest recollections were associated with the frontier, and as a boy he assisted his father in operating a woolen and flour mill run by water power. Upon starting out for himself he went to Iowa and there married Malinda C. Shaul, who was born in Indiana, and is a sister of M. J. Shaul of Oceanside (see his sketch for the family history).

Shortly after his marriage William Bentley bought a farm in Wapello county, Iowa, but in 1873 he removed to Kansas and improved a large tract of land near Westmoreland, Pottawatomie county. At this writing he still makes his home in the same county, but has retired from agricult- ural labors and resides in Havensville. In poli- tics he votes with the Republican party and in religious views he is in sympathy with the doc- trines of the Christian Church. In his family there are five sons and one daughter, namely : Rev. F. H. Bentley, pastor of the Christian Church at Topeka, Kans .; William Harvey. of San Diego; O. L., a merchant at Havensville, Kans .; Rev. Charles C., pastor of the Christian Church at Hanford, Cal .; Mrs. Hattie Witten, of Westmoreland, Kans .; and Bert I., who is an evangelistic singer and makes his home in To- peka. The second of the sons. William Harvey, was born at Ottumwa, Iowa, October 20, 1860, and at the age of six years accompanied the fam- ily in their removal from town to a farm six miles away. In 1873 he went with them to Kan- sas and afterward attended the country schools near Westmoreland. On leaving school he gave his attention to farming and stock-raising.

During the spring of 1882 Mr. Bentley left Kansas and made a tour of investigation through the region further west. While in Idaho he took up a claim and proved on the land. About 1886 he returned east as far as South Dakota with a drove of horses which he sold there and then vis- ited relatives in Kansas. On again coming west during 1887 he settled at Fallbrook. San Diego county, and secured work with the American Os- trich Company which had started in the ostrich business in San Diego as early as November of 1883. Their importation of twenty-three birds was the first to be brought to the United States except with shows. In February of 1884 they removed to Fallbrook and established a farm. and in 1887 started the Coronado ostrich farm. In December, 1891, Mr. Bentley and C. F. A. John- son started an ostrich farm at Riverside. During 1893 Mr. Bentley had charge of the exhibit of the American Ostrich Company at the World's

Fair in Chicago. At the close of the exposition E. J. Johnson signed a contract to exhibit at the Antwerp (Belgium) exposition, having first se- cured from Mr. Bentley a promise to take charge of the exhibit. From Chicago the birds were taken to London, England, and wintered at the Royal Aquarium at Westminster, arriving at Antwerp in May, 1894, where they were exhibit- ed until Sepember 15, same year, and were then sold to Hagenbach at Hamburg.

After having disposed of the birds Mr. Bentley traveled on the continent and in January, 1905. returned to San Diego, where he bought the for- ty-eight birds owned by the American Ostrich Company. Before this he had acquired the birds from the Riverside farm (twenty in number) and in December, 1893, had them sent to Coro- nado to be put with the birds owned by the com- pany. For a few years, owing to the small de- mand for feathers, there was little profit in the business, but eventually the demand increased and the profits became commensurate with the risks. From Coronado in December, 1904, the farm was removed to its present location, a por- tion of the old Mission Cliff park, where the nine- ty-five birds have ample room and comfortable quarters. Some of the birds formerly owned by Mr. Bentley have been sold to other breeders, and several have secured their start from his farm. The manufacture of boas and plumes and tips is his specialty and orders for these come from all parts of the country. With one excep- tion the farm is the largest of its kind in Cali- fornia and no spot in San Diego county yields to the tourist more of interest or instruction than this farm, which is, indeed, included among the most attractive "show" places for visitors to Southern California.

The marriage of Mr. Bentley took place in Clarinda, Iowa, and united him with Miss Ros- ena Stuart, who was born and educated in that town and is a cultured lady and an earnest mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Their two sons are William Harvey, Jr. (nine years of age) and Gilbert Stuart (two years old). For some years Mr. Bentley has been connected with the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, for three terms he served as treasurer of Coronado and for one term officiated as town trustee. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party and fraternally holds membership with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows.

WILLARD B. HAGE. One of the large business enterprises of San Diego is the New England Dairy and Creamery, whose owner and proprietor, Willard B. Hage, since com- ing to the city in 1891, has built up an indus- try of important and increasing proportions.

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The management of his retail milk business, with the utilizing of six milk wagons for de- livery to customers, is only a small part of his business, although this is the largest dairy in the city. Even more important is the creamery plant, occupying a modern build- ing on the corner of 5th and G streets, op- erated by steam power and equipped with the latest appliances for butter-making. Often three thousand pounds of butter are churned in one day and at times the pay roll to farm- ers reaches $500 per day. Receiving stations have been established at Escondido, Ramona, San Luis Rey and Bonsall, and the balance of the cream is shipped by stage and railroad to San Diego. In addition to the operation of this plant he started the first creamery at Im- perial, but finding it to far away to be given personal attention he sold the plant; for two years he also owned a creamery in San Fran- cisco, but this too he sold to other parties, so that now his energies are concentrated upon the business at San Diego.

A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Hage was born at Eagle, Waukesha county, June I, 1868, and was the eldest child and only son among four children, all still living. His father, S. S., was born in Livingston county, N. Y., and married Sarah Kelloway, also a native of New York state. The paternal grandfather, John Hage, was of English birth and parentage and on coming to America settled in Livingston county, N. Y., but later became a pioneer of Wisconsin and took up a tract of raw land in Waukesha county near Eagle lake, where he improved a farm and remained until death. The father likewise followed farming pursuits in Waukesha county and made a specialty of the dairy business, shipping milk to Milwau- kee. thirty-five miles distant. On selling out there in 1904 he came to San Diego and since then he and his wife have lived retired from active cares.

After having completed the studies of the grammar schools and the Waukesha high school, Mr. Hage began to assist his father, whom in 1890 he accompanied to Phoenix, Ariz., for the purpose of engaging in the stock business. The following year he came to San Diego and embarked in the dairy business, which he has since conducted with unusual success. By reason of his thorough knowl- edge of the principles of butter-making he has gained considerable prominence among men following that occupation and at this writing he holds office as vice-president of the Cream- ery Operators' Association of California, in addition to being a leading member of the Los Angeles Creamery Board of Trade. The close attention which he has given to business inat-

ters has prevented him from becoming active in politics, in which he takes no part aside from voting the Republican ticket at general elections. The San Diego Chamber of Com- merce numbers him among its members and no one is more interested than lie in its plans for the upbuilding of the town and county. In fraternal associations he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. While living in Wisconsin he was married at Eagle Lake to Miss Addie Scofield, a native of Chi- cago, Ill. Four children were born of their union, namely: Frederick, Edna, Ruth and Willard, all of whom are at home.

JAMES HENRY CASSIDY. The supervis- or from the second district of San Diego county has made his home in the city of San Diego for twenty years or more and meanwhile has formed a circle of business and social acquaintances ex- tending throughout his home town and county. The present place of his residence is far re- moved from the scenes familiar to him in early life, for he is a native of New Brunswick and as a boy grew accustomed to the bleak and storm- tossed shores of that province. His parents, James and Elizabeth (Milligan) Cassidy, were also natives of New Brunswick, whence his pa- ternal grandfather, Andrew Cassidy, had emi- grated from the north of Ireland. For some years the father followed the carpenter's trade in his native province, thence came to the United States and worked in Calais, Me., later in Min- neapolis, Minn., but eventually in 1900 he came to San Diego, where at the age of eighty-three years he is living in retirement from business cares. While residing in Minnesota he lost his wife by death. .

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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 57

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