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 62

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

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

who was born in Stafford, Conn., and was the father of Chester John Holmes, the subject of this review, and the California representative of the name. John Holmes followed farming throughout his entire life in his native state, there passing away at an advanced age. He married Sabrina Case, a native of Stafford, Conn., and a daughter of Stephen Case, who was born in Tolland, the paternal great-grand- father having located the name in that state from Nantucket, Mass., where he engaged as a farmer. Mrs. Holmes also died in Connecticut. She was the mother of eight children, of whom! but two are now surviving, Mrs. Mary A. Thrall living in Rockville, Conn. One son, David, served in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war and Chester John, the fifth in order of birth and born February 19, 1837, in Stafford, Conn.

Reared on the paternal farm until he was six- teen years old, Chester J. Holmes attended the public schools in pursuit of an education and re- ceived the first lessons in life. He was first ap- prenticed to learn the trade of a machinist, and following this became superintendent of a linen mill. Because of impaired health he left Con- necticut in 1856 and in Red Wing, Minn., en- gaged at the trade of carpenter and builder for two years, when he went to St. Louis. Mo., and followed a similar line of work. In 1860 he went to Louisiana and in Madison Parish engaged in contracting and building, putting up houses on a new plantation until the breaking out of the Civil war, and was there compelled to enlist in Company B, Third Regiment Louisiana Cavalry, in 1862, and served to the close of the war. He was engaged in the Trans-Mississippi depart- ment until the close of the struggle, when he engaged in the manufacture of lumber, operat- ing a steam sawmill above Grand Gulf for two years. The climate was not salubrious and he returned to Connecticut, there married, and fol- lowing engaged in the coal and lumber busi- ness in Stafford Springs for seventeen years. In search of a milder climate he moved his family to California in 1889. locating in Pomona, Los Angeles county, for one vear, and then coming to Redlands, and' in the following year ( 1891), located on his present property, which consists of twenty acres set to navel and valencia oranges, while he also raises poultry on a large scale, his preferred fowl being full-blooded White Wyan- dottes. He has three incubators and carries on the work in a thoroughly scientific manner, his son. B. G., assisting him in this work.

Mr .. Holmes' wife was formerly Miss Amelia M. Gay, a native of Connecticut. and a de- scendant of Puritan ancestry. direct from John Alden, and born of this union was one son, Bernese Gay, who was born in Stafford, Con., and educated in its public and high schools. He

came to California with his father in 1889, and was here married to Miss Blanche M. Walton, of Philadelphia, and they have three sons, Alden Walton, Charles Chester and J. Walton. Mir. Holmes was made a Mason in Stafford; polit- ically he is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the Republican party.

EDGAR DOUGLAS GOODE. Prominent among the representative citizens of Glendale is Edgar Douglas Goode, who during his residence in this locality has been conspicuously identified with the best interests of town and county, gen- erously using his influence to promote the public welfare. . A native of Illinois, he was born, March 10, 1858, in Taylorville, Christian county, of English ancestry. His father, Benjamin F. Goode, was a son of Morgan Goode, and a grand- son of Benjamin Goode, the emigrant ancestor.

Born and reared in England, Benjamin Goode crossed the ocean to America in colonial days, settling first as a planter in Virginia. He took an active part in the Revolutionary war, partici- pating in many important „battles, and subse- quently fought the Indians on the frontier. Go- ing then to Indiana, he took up land, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying at a ven- erable age. These facts were gleaned in part from an old Bible formerly in the possession of Peter Cartwright, the noted frontier evangelist. He was twice married, and his children were born and reared on the western frontier, one of them being Morgan Goode, the next in line of descent.

A native of Indiana, Morgan Goode was there brought up, receiving excellent educational ad- vantages for his day. Going in early manhood to Christian county, Ill., he became distinguished as the first school teacher in Taylorville. Set- tling there permanently, he became prominent in public life, serving as county treasurer, and filling other offices of importance. He died while in the prime of life, at the age of sixty years. He married Elizabeth Schoonover, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, in Illinois. They reared four sons and four daughters, bringing them up wisely and well.

Benjamin F. Goode was born and educated in Illinois, and during the earlier years of his life was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is now living, a retired farmer, in Brookfield, Mo. He married Mary Bennett, also a native of the Prairie state. and they became the parents of .thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters, all of whom, excepting one son, are now living, Edgar D., the special subject of this sketch, being the first-born.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. .

Having completed his early education in the public schools of Taylorville, Edgar Douglas Goode was graduated from Bogardus Business College, in Springfield, Ill. Returning home, he chose for his occupation the one to which he was reared, and for a number of years carried on general farming in his native state. The day after his marriage, in the fall of 1882, he started with his bride for California, coming a stranger to a strange state, having no acquaintances here. After spending a year in Santa Barbara he went into the Conejo mountains, becoming superin- tendent of the large Hunt estate, of which he had charge a year. The ensuing two years he was in business in Los Angeles, and the following twelve years he was engaged in tilling the soil in Eagle Rock valley. Coming from there to , Glendale, Mr. Goode lias since been a resident of the place, and is now leading an ideal Californian life. He is identified with many enterprises, and occupies a position of prominence among the leading citi- zens of this part of the county. He takes genu- ine interest in aiding all beneficial projects, and is overseer of the Los Angeles road district, su- perintending nearly two hundred miles of road. He was instrumental in having the Glendale Electric Railway established, being one of its most ardent promoters, and securing to the com- pany a free right of way. He is interested to some extent in literary matters, and is the local correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.

In Taylorville, Ill., in October, 1882, Mr. Goode married Aletia E. Suttle, who had been his sweetheart since early boyhood, their fathers having been boys together in the pioneer days of Illinois ; her father was editor of the Taylorville Democrat for years, and was also county assessor of Christian county ; her grandmother was Lady Jane Sturgeon of England. Into the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Goode five children have made their advent, namely: Lillie Fay, Ray Ed- gar, Pearl C., Leo Douglas and Donald Bryan, the two first mentioned having graduated from the Glendale Union high school in 1904 and 1906, respectively. Their home life is ideal. Mr. Goode says he believes he has established a new record, in that during the first twenty-one years of their married life, he and his wife were not separated twenty-four hours at one time. Mrs. Goode was one of the organizers of the Glendale Library Association and was one of its most act- ive promoters and enthusiastic supporters. Much credit is due her for her tireless efforts in estab- lishing this first library for the new city of Glen- dale.

In politics Mr. Goode is Democratic, and at the recent Los Angeles county convention he. was unanimously nominated for the state legis- lature in the sixty-seventh assembly district. He worked out the necessary details for the organi-

zation of the Glendale Union high school, which is composed of seven grammar schools; he has always been the Glendale member of the board, and also clerk of the board of trustees. In the contest between the various districts for the loca- tion of the building, he won it for Glendale against strong opposition. He was one of the organizers of the Glendale Improvement Asso- ciation, being its first secretary, and was the first citizen to advocate the incorporation of Glen- dale as a city, under his leadership and against great opposition, the incorporation being accom- plished. He is a charter member of Glendale Lodge, I. O. O. F., and also of Carnation Re- bekah Lodge of Glendale. At all times he has the courage of his convictions; he believes in a square deal, and a fight in the open when a fight is necessary.

JOHN F. AHLSTROM. The development of Los Angeles county and Southern California in general has had in John F. Ahlstrom one of its most interested witnesses, and as well a citi- zen whose best efforts were always given toward the furtherance of every movement which tend- ed to upbuild his community. He is a native of Sweden, born May 14. 1848, the son of John F. and Johanna (Warlin) Ahlstrom, also natives of Sweden; both are deceased, the father dying, when seventy-two years of age, and the mother when thirty-six. The father was a cooper by occupation, a trade which he followed through- out his entire life. Of their family of eight children two sons and two daughters are located in the United States, the others being residents of their native land. The Lutheran State Church of Sweden claimed the religious allegiance of the parents and their children have been true to their early teachings.

John F. Ahlstrom was reared to young man- hood in his native country, receiving a limited education in the public schools, after which he learned the trade of carpenter. He worked at his trade in Sweden until 1873, when he im- migrated to America, and coming direct to Cali- fornia, located in the vicinity of Niles, Alameda county, where he engaged as foreman in a nurs- ery. After twenty months he went to Yuba county and in Marysville engaged in carpenter work, following this with a period of ranching in Sutter county. He then went to Mendocino county and engaged in the logging business in the Redwoods, and after one year, on the 20th of May, 1876, he arrived in Los Angeles, where he engaged at ranching and other pursuits in the vicinity of Anaheim. A little later he ac- cepted employment in the planing and grist mills of this section, remaining thus occupied for two years when he went to Chatsworth and engaged

Daniel Mi Intoan

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in ranching for a time, finally disposing of these interests because of dry seasons. After his marriage in 1881 to Miss Hannah J. Johnson, a native of Utah, he came to Los Angeles and en- gaged in carpenter work and also worked on the street cars. In 1894 he purchased his present property, which consists of eleven acres of land devoted principally to the raising of berries. He has placed many improvements on the place and by an intelligent cultivation also has added to the value of the property.

Mr. and Mrs. Ahlstrom are the parents of the following children: Arthur, Grace, Reuben, Bertha, Lilian, Maie Corinne, Charles and Elea- nor. In his fraternal relations Mr. Ahlstrom is associated with the Independent Order of For- estors of Los Angeles; politically he takes an active interest in the principles of the various parties, but reserves the right to cast his ballot for the man whom he considers best qualified for public duties. With his family he belongs to the Baptist Church. Mr. Allstrom is a man of many admirable traits of character, faithful in the discharge of all duties that fall to the lot of a citizen, earnest in his efforts to advance the best interests of the community, and as such a man, citizen and neighbor he has won a large number of friends who best appreciate the quali- ties so demonstrated throughout his life.

DANIEL McINTOSH. Occupying a fore- most position among the worthy and respected citizens of the town of Ramona is Daniel Mc- Intosh, who has been a resident of this place for thirty-five years, and during that time has been actively identified with its best interests, generously using his influence to promote its prosperity. A man of rare judgment, honest and true in all of his dealings, he has won the confidence and esteem of old and young, and holds a place of importance in the community. A son of the late Neil McIntosh, he was born, July 22, 1838, in Nova Scotia, coming from thrifty Scotch ancestry.

Born and reared on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Neil McIntosh was reared to agricultural pursuits, and during his entire life was engaged in general farming in Nova Scotia. He married Margaret Pringle, who was born in Scotland, and died in Nova Scotia, at the early age of forty years. Eight children were born of their union, and all, with the ex- ception of Daniel, are living in the land of their birth.

Brought up near the Atlantic coast, almost within sound of the ocean's roar, it is not strange that Daniel McIntosh was an enthu- siastic lover of the sea from his boyhood days, and that, on leaving school, he should choose

the life of a sailor rather than that of a farmer. After coasting awhile in familiar waters, in 1856 he came to the United States, and in New York City, in the School for Navigators, further fitted himself for a seafaring life. Thus equipped, he made several voyages to foreign ports, sailing as first officer on differ- ent vessels, and during the fourteen years that he was thus employed visited many of the largest countries of the globe, making trips to Australia, China, South America, Ja- pan, the Philippines, and on his last voyage sailing from San Francisco to Mediterranean ports.

Retiring from the sea, Mr. McIntosh lo- cated in Lower California, where he was for a while connected with the salt works in Scammon's Lagoon. In 1872 he came to San Diego county to make a permanent settlement. Taking up two government claims near Ra- mona, he resumed the occupation with which he became familiar while living on the parent- al homestead, and in his agricultural labors has met with undisputed success. His ranch of four hundred and forty acres is under a good state of cultivation, and with its many valuable improvements is now one of the most attractive and desirable in the neighborhood, being a credit to his energy and good man- agement. He carries on general farming, raising fruit, grain and stock, in each branch being successful.

In 1871 Mr. McIntosh married Romana Murillo, who was born in Lower California, a daughter of Leandro Murillo, a native of Mexico, and into their household seven chil- dren have been born, namely : Daniel, Jr., liv- ing on the home ranch; Alexander, a mer- chant in Santa Ysabel; Rose, wife of J. E. Bachelor, of Ramona; Louisa, wife of H. C. Doll, of Kern county; Mary, at home, and two sons, deceased, Joseph at sixteen years and Andrew at six months. Politically Mr. McIntosh is a stanch advocate of the prin- ciples of the Republican party. Mrs. McIn- tosh is a member of the Catholic Church, but Mr. McIntosh is not connected with any re- ligious organization by membership, although he was reared a Presbyterian, both of his par- ents belonging to that denomination.

JAMES A. GARRISON. Noteworthy among the esteemed residents of Rivera and its most prominent business men is James A. Garrison, a leading contractor and builder, who has con- tributed largely toward making the town of his adoption a desirable place of residence, both from a social and from a financial point of view. A native of New York, he was born December 14,

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1842, in Yates county. His father, Stephen Garrison, was born in Westchester county, N. Y., but after his mariage settled in Bellona, Yates county, where he carried on a good business as a carriage manufacturer until his death, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Brown, survived him, passing away at the venerable age of eighty-three years.

The youngest child and only son in a family of five children, James A. Garrison grew to man's estate in Bellona, and there learned the trades of carriage maker and contractor and builder, becoming familiar with the details. He followed the carriage maker's trade in Geneva, N. Y .; after learning the details from his father, and when twenty-two years of age learned the car- penter's trade in Bellona from a New York City contractor. He followed this trade around Yates and Ontario counties until 1887, when he came to the present site of Rivera, Cal., to fill a contract for a man who had purchased a ranch in the vicinity and was so pleased with the country that he has never had any desire to return to the east. He has followed his trade all over Southern California and has met with his share of success and patronage. He erected his home in Rivera, two years after coming to the state. He now controls a large part of the building trade around Rivera, he and his son, the junior partner of the firm, employing many men in filling their large contracts for building and plumbing, their business being ex- tensive and' lucrative. Mr. Garrison has also other financial interests, being agent for the Aer- motor company. of Chicago, Ill.

At the age of twenty-one years, in 1863, Mr. Garrison married Sarah E. Dickinson, a native of New York, being born in Starkey in 1846, and they have one child living, Frank James Garrison, of whom a sketch will be found else- where; one son, Fred, died aged nine months. Politically Mr. Garrison is a Democrat, and fra- ternally he is a member of Downey Lodge, No. 220, F. & A. M.

AUGUST PENKERT. The predominating characteristics of the Teutonic race are pos- sessed in large degree by Mr. Penkert, as is evidenced in the care which he displays in the cultivation of his ranch in Los Angeles county, not far from the city of that name. Altogether he owns twenty-five acres, all of which is in alfalfa, a commodity which grows with ex- ceptional rapidity and luxuriance under right con- ditions, and these Mr. Penkert possesses, for bv means of the pumping plant which is located on his ranch he is enabled to thoroughly irrigate the land, and as a result harvests a crop which aver- ages from eight to ten tons per acre.

Born in Germany, October 16, 1858, August Penkert is a son of Jeremiah and Annie (Han- nel) Penkert, who were also natives of the Fatherland, and there died when their son was too young to realize his loss. Besides himself there were two daughters in the family, but only one of them is now living, and she also is a resi- dent of California. Until he was about twelve years old August Penkert was reared in the home of an uncle, but at that age he set out to make his own livelihood. In the meantime he had re- ceived a fair education in the schools near his uncle's home and upon leaving the school he im- mediately apprenticed himself to learn the brick- mason's trade, which he accomplished in three years, and thereafter he followed the trade in his native country for nearly eight years. In view of the possibilities which, according to reports, awaited the young man of persevering qualities on this side of the Atlantic, work at his trade be- gan to be irksome to Mr. Penkert, and according- ly, when he was just past twenty-two years of age, he embarked for the new world, sailing from Germany November 15, 1880, and landing in New York January 1, 1881. Before he reached his destination, however, he was shipwrecked and lost everything he had brought with him, even his ticket, but in some way he was able to prove that his passage had been paid as far as Pittsburg, Pa., and transportation was furnished him to that city soon after anchoring in New York harbor. For many weeks after reaching his destination he was unable to work on account of illness. He worked in the rolling mills of that city for a time, going from there to Chicago, Ill., where he obtained work in a pipe factory, and later in the same year. 1881, removed still further west, going to Mis- souri, where he resumed work at his trade. In Nodaway county, that state, he was employed at his trade in the erection of a large Catholic church. Later he worked on a farm in that lo- cality, and still later removed to St. Joseph, at once taking up work at his trade. The desire to get still further west was at last gratified when before the close of 1883 he had located in Port- land, Ore., where for one year he was emploved in the harvest fields. The following year, 1884, he came to Los Angeles, where for three years he was in the employ of the Oregon Lumber Com- pany, of whose plant he was foreman. A desire to become a land owner led to the relinquishment of this position and resulted in the purchase of five acres near Los Angeles, and is a part of the ranch which he now occupies. As his means would permit he purchased adjoining land until he now has twenty-five acres, all of which is cul- tivated to the very best advantage. He erected his own residence and otherwise added such im- provements as are usually found upon a well- regulated ranch.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1893 Mr. Penkert was married to Miss Annie Koppe, like himself a native of Germany, and of their marriage five children have been born, Albert, August, Annie, Theodore and Wil- lie. The family are communicants of the Catho- lic Church, in which faith the parents had been trained from earliest years. Mr. Penkert is a member of the St. Joseph Society of his parish church in Los Angeles. In his political leanings he is a Democrat.

FREDERIC AGGEN. It is an undisputed fact that of all the foreign born citizens of the United States those who come from the Fatherland possess in a greater degree than all others the thrift and fixedness of purpose for which the Germans as a nation are noted. Transplanting from one soil to another in no way weakens these prime characteristics, but rather enlarges their growth and usefulness, to the end that wherever the German citizen may go he inculcates in the less ambitious a desire to get ahead in the world. The qualities above mentioned are not lacking in the make-up of Frederic Aggen, but on the other hand were his chief asset when, at the age of twenty years, he landed a stranger upon the shores of the New World in 1869.

Born December 24, 1848, in the northern part of Germany, Frederic Aggen is a son of Gerhard and Abbie (Johnson) Aggen, both of whom were also born in the Fatherland. Influenced no doubt by the fact that their son Frederic had come to this country two years previously the year 1871 found the parents in Iowa, where the father became the owner of a farm. After nearly a quarter of a century spent in that lo- cality his earth life was brought to a close by his death in 1895, at the age of seventy-six years and fifteen days. His wife had preceded him by a number of years, dying in 1888, at the age of seventy-six years, one month and sixteen days. The only child of their union be- sides Frederic, Hinrich, also died on his Iowa farm. In their religious belief the parents were members of the German Lutheran Church.

After landing in New York City Frederic Aggen lost no time in making his way to Illi- nois, where for about two years he worked as a farm hand, at the same time, as opportunity offered, continuing the studies in which he had gained a good headway before leaving his na- tive land. Going to Iowa two years later he worked on his father's farm for a time, but in 1873 purchased a farm and made his home there until 1895. the year of his advent in Cali- fornia. Previous to locating here permanently, however. he had satisfied himself as to the ad- visability of taking up his abode here by visit-

ing the west and judging for himself of its merits and demerits. The fact that before leav- ing for his Iowa home he had invested in a ranch speaks louder than can words of his opin- ion of the west in general, and of Ventura coun- ty in particular. To his original purchase of eighty-four acres in 1894 he added adjoining acreage in 1901, and now has altogether one hundred and twenty-six acres devoted to lima beans, which produce abundant crops, yielding up to twenty-three sacks to the acre. He still owns his farm in Cass county, Iowa, which com- prises one hundred and twenty acres.

While a resident of Iowa, in 1878, Mr. Ag- gen was united in marriage with Miss Mar- gret Chaney, a native of Ohio. The four chil- dren who have been born to them are as fol- lows: Frederic M., at home; May, who is the wife of Frank Reed and resides at Somis ; Amie and Charlie, both of whom are at home with their parents. The family hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Somis. Politically Mr. Aggen is a Republican, and while in Iowa served his party three terms as township clerk, and since his residence in Ven- tura county has been school trustee and clerk of the board for six years. Personally Mr. Ag- gen is a genial, companionable man, who has a host of warm friends and associates in and around Somis, and one whose life has been such as to win for him the confidence of all.

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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 62

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