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 69

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

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For two years following his return home Mr. Bennett was obliged to use crutches and during that time he plied his trade in Brunswick, Me. In 1865 he removed to West Branch, Iowa, and en- gaged in farming for a few years, but subse- quently lived in Jasper and Shelby counties and was variously employed in agricultural pursuits and at the shoemaker's trade. In 1873, John Long, the sheriff of Shelby county. appointed him deputy sheriff and a little latter he was elected constable, serving in that office for two years. Long's successor also re-appointed him as deputy and when the regularly elected sheriff died dur- ing his term of office Mr. Bennett was appointed to fill the vacancy. He performed his official duties with such ability and satisfaction that the voters elected him to the office after the expira- tion of his appointed term and he continued as sheriff of that county until 1887, when he came to California in search of a more healthful loca- tion. After two months spent in Elsinore he felt so much better that he decided to remain perma- nently, and spent the years until 1890 in recu- perating his strength. He then established a

D.C. Petersen

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second-hand store, which he conducted for two years, giving it up at the end of this time to devote his whole time to the conduct of a shoe and harness business, which he had been engaged in simultaneously with the second-hand business.

In Elsinore also Mr. Bennett has been active in official life. In 1904 he was appointed by the board of supervisors as justice of the peace and city recorder, positions to which he was re-elected in 1906, and has been a city trustee for four years, half of which time he acted as president of the board. Politically he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party and is an ex-member of the county central committee. He has a nice residence in Elsinore, presided over by his wife, who was formerly Miss Elsadia Coombs, a native of Brunswick, Me. Their marriage oc- curred in Maine, and they became the parents of four children : Edward, who was a railway con- ductor, was accidentally killed at Atlantic, Iowa; Lewis H. is a fruit grower in Highgrove; Fred E. Conducts a shoe and bicycle store at Santa Ana, and Frank H. follows the painters' trade in Elsinore. Mr. Bennett is a member of T. B. Stevens Post No. 103, G. A. R., at Elsinore, be- ing past commander of the post. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, he having served as a member of the official board at one time.

PETER CARL PETERSEN. The sub- stantial and well-to-do citizens of Wilmington have no better representative than Peter C. Petersen, a capable and progressive hardware merchant, who has accumulated a goodly share of this world's goods. Enterprising and far-sighted, he has made judicious invest- ments, and is the owner of much valuable res- idence property, from the rental of which he receives a fine annual income. A native of Denmark, he was born in Copenhagen in 1836, a son of Terkl Petersen. His parents spent their entire lives in Denmark, both dying at a comparatively early age.

Completing his studies in the city schools of Copenhagen, Peter C. Petersen, who was left an orphan when a small lad, began work- ing for himself as a farm hand, continuing thus employed a number of years. Immigrat- ing to the United States in 1867, he stopped for a few months in Philadelphia, and then proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he en- listed in the Fifth United States Cavalry, in which he served five years, when, at Camp Grant, Ariz., he was honorably discharged. Coming to California in 1872, he located in Wilmington, and for six years thereafter was in the employ of Banning Brothers and the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. Invest-

ing his money then in land, he became the owner of several ranches, which he improved, making them among the most valuable farm- ing estates to be found in this part of the state. He also bought land in Wilmington, and built several modern residences, which he rents, and in the spring of 1905 he erected, on Canal street, the first modernly constructed two-story building in the place. For the up- building and improving of the place, Mr. Pe- tersen has done much, being an important fac- tor in aiding the growth and material prosper- ity of Wilmington, and takes great interest in beautifying his own property, and adding to the attractiveness of the town thereby.

In 1870, at Fort McPherson, Neb., Mr. Pe- tersen married Mary J. Short, who died in Wilmington, Cal., March 28, 1903. Politically he is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and religiously he is a faith- ful member of the Presbyterian Church.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LASSWELL. A successful ranchman, B. F. Lasswell is located three-quarters of a mile west of Compton, Los Angeles county, where on his twenty acre ranch he is extensively engaged in the raising of alfalfa and the prosecution of his dairy interests. He is a native of the middle west, his birth having occurred in the southern part of Illinois, Febril- ary 7, 1844, he being a son of the late Isaac Lasswell, a native of Virginia, who removed to the Prairie state and engaged in farming for a livelihood. The father made his home in Illinois for many years, engaging prominently in public affairs, and as a Democrat was elected to the office of sheriff, where he ably discharged the duties incumbent upon him. After the death of his wife, formerly Anna Norton, also a native of Virginia, he came to California and followed ranching pursuits in Lincoln, Placer county, until his death. He was a Mason, and in religion belonged to the Baptist Church.

B. F. Lasswell remained a member of the pa- rental family until attaining his majority, receiv- ing his education through an attendance of the common school in the vicinity of his home, and also engaging with his father in general farm- ing in Hamilton county. He finally engaged in- dependently in the work, renting land in his native state until 1868, in which year he was married and came to California. He first located in Marysville, Yuba county, where he remained for a short time, when he became a rancher in Ventura county and followed these pursuits for nine or ten years; coming to Compton at the close of that period he purchased his present property, consisting of thirty-two acres, holding the same in his possession until about one year

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ago, when he disposed of twelve acres. The balance of the property is devoted to the raising of alfalfa and dairy purposes. He is an es- teemed citizen of this community, where he takes a helpful interest in public affairs.

Mrs. Lasswell was formerly Anna Flynn, a native of Ireland, whose parents brought lier to America during her childhood. They located in the east and spent the balance of their lives in Boston, Mass. About six years ago Mrs. Lass- well suffered a paralytic stroke, which has seri- ously affected her health. Mr. and Mrs. Lass- well belong to the Catholic Church and politic- ally Mr. Lasswell is a stanch adherent of the principles advocated in the platform of the Dem- ocratic party.

P. S. VENABLE. The Venable family is of old Virginia stock which was originally of English descent a representative of the name later going with Daniel Boone to Kentucky, where Judge J. W., the father of P. S. Venable, was born in 1831. At the age of sixteen years he served for three months in the Mexican war and when eighteen came around by the way of Cape Horn to California. When the ship on which he took passage reached Lower California he, with three companions, abandoned it and made the rest of the journey to San Francisco by foot, reaching their destination in the year 1849. He went to Placer county and worked in the mines for several years, after which he carried on ranching and stock-raising for a long period. At one time he owned the stock ranch where Oakland is now located, and he was the first man to pilot a boat up the Sacramento river to Red Bluff. He had many interesting experiences during those early years, for at that time the country was full of Indians who were primitive enough to wear cow- hides on their feet, having no moccasins. In 1869 he removed to Los Angeles and purchased a ranch near Downey, engaging in horticultural pursuits, and he still lives on this place at the advanced age of seventy-four years. In 1852 he was married to Angeline Garrett, who died in 1860, leaving him with one daughter, Elizabeth Louise, who became the wife of Joseph Albright, now of Redondo. His second wife was Annie Elizabeth Tate, of Contra Costa county, and to them the following children were born: Mrs. Kennedy of Wilmington ; P.S., of Redondo ; John, a farmer near Redondo; J. W., Jr., also a farmer near Redondo; Mrs. Grider, living near Holly- wood; Mollie; James; Thomas; Mrs. Hall of Redondo; Mrs. Venable of Los Angeles ; George ; and Mrs. Howards of Long Beach. The father was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was affiliated with the Masons frater- nally, having served as master of the Downey

lodge for ten years. He was very active in politics and was elected by the Democratic party, which he supported, to numerous official positions, among them being a member of the state as- sembly, four years as assessor and eight years as deputy assessor of Los Angeles county, and four years as supervisor. While in Contra Costa county he held the offices of justice of the peace and associate justice.

It was on January 19, 1862, that P. S. Venable was born at Oakland, Cal. When seven years of age his father brought him to Los Angeles county and the ranch upon which they settled was then in the midst of a wild waste. He was educated in the public schools and at Los Neitos Military Institute, and when his schooling was completed remained at home until twenty-two years old. in 1884 he became foreman of a ranch at Compton and in 1888 he secured the contract for hauling the stone to be used in the construction of the Los Angeles court house. This kept him busy for three years, during which time he used five and six teams and hauled stones weighing twenty-four thousand pounds. In 1890 he located in Redondo and engaged in farming on the Norbone ranch of two thousand acres and the Hellman ranch of one thousand, and has operated these places ever since. Everything is conducted on a very large scale and the most modern machinery is in use in the cultivation and harvesting of the crops, which consist principally of wheat and barley. Twenty-five men are re- quired to work this large acreage.

One year ago Mr. Venable built a residence in Redondo on Catalina and Diamond streets. In addition to the cement work which he has ex- ecuted in Redondo he has paved Pacific, Benito Guadaloupe and Ocean View avenues, Diamond, Emerald, Commercial, Gertrude, Francisco and Beryl streets. In Hermosa he graded Hermosa and Santa Fe avenues, and has completed much satisfactory work in other places. He is also heavily interested in various business enterprises in other lines, having been one of the party that built the mill and warehouses in Redondo and is on the board of directors of both the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank and the People's Saving Bank of this city.

The remarkable development of this section of the state can be realized somewhat when it is known that Mr. Venable can himself remember the first engine ever run in the county and re- members the driving of the golden spike which completed the railroad connecting Los Angeles with San Francisco, when the tunnel this side of San Fernando was cut through; also remen- bers when the railroad was built from Los Angeles to Wilmington, where the government barracks were located in the days when passen- gers were carried in large stage coaches, and to

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know that he has been so largely instrumental in the building up of the community may well be a source of pride and satisfaction to him. He is an adherent of the Democratic party and has been elected a trustee of the grammar school, also a member of the high school board of which he is clerk. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving as a trustee and as a member of the building committee. Fra- ternally he affiliates with the Independent Order of Foresters, the Royal Arcanum, and was made a Mason in the Wilmington Lodge No. 198, F. & A. M., becoming charter member of the Re- dondo Lodge No. 328, of which he served as master for two years. He is past patron of the Order of Eastern Star and his wife is past ma- tron of the same fraternity. His marriage to Miss Susie Malott, a native of Platte county, the daughter of William Malott, an early settler in California, occurred at Compton and they have become the parents of five children, Hazel, Max, Carrie, Helen and Mabel.

H. H. ZILLGITT. Noteworthy among the young, wide-awake business men of Los Angeles county is H. H. Zillgitt, of Inglewood, one of the active members of the Inglewood Mercantile Company. Since becoming a resident of this place he has identified himself thoroughly with the best interests of his adopted city, and, by his integrity and sterling character, has won the es- teem of his fellowmen and the confidence of the community. A native of Fairmount, Richland county, N. Dak., he was born December 11, 1882, a son of the late Frederick T. Zillgitt.

Born and reared in Germany, Frederick A. Zillgitt immigrated to this country in early man- hood, settling first at Lake City, Minn., and then at Fairmount, N. Dak., where he bought land and improved a farm. Removing from there to Vernonia, Ore., in 1889, he was for a number of years successfully engaged in mercantile pur- snits in that citv. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1903, he resided in Inglewood until his death, in February, 1904. He married Mary A. Seigne, who was born in Wisconsin, of French ancestry, and is now living in Inglewood. Six children, five sons and one daughter, blessed their union. and all are living, H. H., the special subject of this sketch, being the youngest child.

Brought up in Richland county, N. Dak .. H. H. Zillgitt attended first the public school of Fair- mount, after which he took a full commercial course at the Red River Valley University, in Wahpeton. In 1900 he came to California, and for four vears was employed as a clerk in the store of his brother, Frank A. Zillgitt, one of the leading merchants of Inglewood. In December, 1004, in company with Lyman O. Calkins, of

whom a brief sketch may be found elsewhere, he organized the Inglewood Mercantile Company, and has since carried on a thriving business, hav- ing built up a lucrative trade.

Politically Mr. Zillgitt is a steadfast Repub- lican, and since 1900 has served as deputy post- master. He takes great interest in the advance- ment of the public welfare, and is one of the di- rectors of the Citizens' Home Water Company. He is a member and one of the directors of the Inglewood Commercial Club, and is a member and the clerk of the Woodmen of the World.

JOHN FRANKLIN TEDFORD. A self- made man who has gained, while still young, the degree of success that has crowned the efforts of John Franklin Tedford is always worthy of the admiration and esteem of his fellow citizens. His father died when he was but eight years of age and it became necessary for him to early as- sume the responsibility of his own support, and he now leases six hundred acres of fertile hay land in the Perris valley in Riverside county. He is the son of Thomas J. and Anna Elizabeth (Fickas) Tedford, natives of Texas and Mis- souri, respectively. The family had many dis- tressing experiences with the Indians in the early days of their residence on the frontier. At one time the Indians captured two of the father's brothers and while one of them was saved the other was taken away and has never been heard from since. In 1849 the elder Tedford crossed the plains with ox teams and located in California at Bullwell Point and engaged in mining in San Antonio canon. Later he took up ranching in the Newport district and remained there until his death in 1882. The mother is still living in Sawtelle. Her father was an old settler of this state, who arrived in the early '50s, and in 1867 located on a ranch in Ventura county, where he remained until 1887, when he went to Santa Ana then to the Poway valley in San Diego county, living there until his death in 1905.

The birth of John F. Tedford occurred in January, 1874, in Orange county, Cal., and since the age of fourteen he has supported him- self. He commenced by engaging himself to the ranchmen by the month at various locations, in- cluding Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, Lagona, Florence and in the San Fernando valley, and after a time went to Redondo and became a long- shoreman and stevedore. Failing health com- pelled him to change his occupation. however. and he then went to Chino and worked in the sugar factory there for about three years. After- wards he went to San Bernardino and resided at that place until 1905. when he came to Perris valley, and located the ranch which he now operates, and has since made it his home. He

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was married at San Jacinto, November 1, 1900, to Miss Emma Easton, a daughter of George Easton, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. They became the parents of one child, Nelva Ione. Mr. Tedford is a member of the Red- lands Lodge No. 319, A. O. U. W., and also be- longs to the Redlands Parlor, N. S. G. W. In national politics he advocates the principles of the Democratic party, but in local affairs re- serves the right to vote for the man whom he believes will most efficiently perform the duties of his office. He is a man with many friends and exerts an elevating influence upon all with whom he comes in contact.

JOHN WILLIAM BLACK. Occupying an assured position among the energetic, enterpris- ing and valued residents of Ocean Park is J. WV. Black, who, in partnership with his brother, J. W. C. Black, is carrying on an extensive and prosperous business, being identified with the industrial and mercantile interests of this part of the county. A native of Iowa, he was born in Indianola, Warren county, being one of the six children of William and Mary (Culbertson) Black, both of whom were born and brought up in Illinois, near Monmouth. Grandfather Black was a pioneer of Illinois, settling there when young, and becoming a farmer of prominence. William Black was an early settler of Warren county, Iowa, where he was engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until 1901, when he came with his family to Los Angeles county, locating in Santa Monica, where he is living retired.

After his graduation from the high school in Indianola, Iowa, J. W. Black learned the baker's trade in that city, and subsequently fol- lowed it there and in neighboring places, meet- ing with success. He traveled to some extent while thus employed, coming to the Pacific coast, and in December, 1903, located in Ocean Park, and here, in partnership with his brother, who attends the outside interests, he is conducting a well-stocked store, devoting his entire attention to his business. Politically Mr. Black is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, but he is not connected with any fraternal, benevolent or social organization.

ADAM WASEM. To an unusual degree suc- cess has crowned the intelligent and well-directed efforts of Mr. Wasem, who, while still retaining large and valuable landed interests in Iowa, has also more recently acquired property in Long Beach, where he erected and now owns a mod- ern residence of nine rooms, situated on the corner of Wasem avenue and Railroad streets, two blocks from the ocean, and one and one-half

blocks east of Alamitos Park, on the line of the Pacific electric railroad. At the time of erecting this comfortable dwelling the neighborhood was sparsely settled, but since then a number of ele- gant residences have been erected in this portion of the city and its popularity is growing with a rapidity startling even to its warmest friends.

The far-famed city of Bingen-on-the-Rhine is the native place of Adam Wasem, and May 10, 1838, the date of his birth. His parents, Adam and Anna Marie (Hirshman) Wasem, came to the United States in 1856, and settled in Wright county, Iowa, where they took up farm pursuits. There the mother died in 1861, at forty-eight years of age, and was survived until 1882 by the father, who passed away at eighty-two years. Their son, Adam, Jr., received an excellent edu- cation in the gymnasiums of his native land. After accompanying his parents to the United States he took up agricultural pursuits, for which he early displayed an especial aptitude. From the date of his settlement in the United States he was always loyal to his adopted country and a friend to its progressive enterprises. When the Civil war began he was a stanch supporter of the Union cause, and August 6, 1862, was accepted as a member of Company B, First Missouri Light Artillery, with which he marched to the south and bore a part in various campaigns. The most important engagements in which he participated were those at Vicksburg and Fort Blakeley. During the entire period of his service he was wounded twice, once in the face and again in the hip, but fortunately neither wound proved to be of a serious nature. At the expiration of his term of enlistment, in September, 1865, he was honorably discharged and thereupon returned to his Iowa farm.

During the long period of his residence in Webster county, Iowa, Mr. Wasem enjoyed a steadily growing success. From time to time he added to his possessions until he acquired the title to six hundred acres of land, as fine as the state of Iowa contains, and this he still owns. Much of his success was due to the wise prosecution of the stock business, his greatest profits coming from the breeding of black polled Augus cattle. When finally he had accumulated large holdings and was in a position to seek recreation and rest, he came to California, arriving at Long Beach. February 10, 1904, and since then he has in- vested about $27,000 in property at this place. Included in his purchases were twenty-six acres all of which, excepting nine and one-half acres. he subdivided into town lots, and he also owned the Alamitos Park tract of five acres. He owns the Mira Mar tract of ten acres, Palm Island of nine and one-half acres, besides a number of lots.

The marriage of Mr. Wasem was solemnized at Fort Dodge, Iowa, October 6, 1866, and united

madison 8. Petman

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him with Miss Henrietta Wise, a native of Ger- many. Fourteen children were born of their union, namely : Frederick, who died at twelve years of age; William, Henrietta, Charles, John, Adam, Otto, Ella, Bertha, Carrie, Henry, Wal- ter, Mary and Lena. Ella, Bertha and Carrie are college graduates and formerly teachers in Iowa. All of the sons are stockmen and are attaining a gratifying degree of success in the occupation which their father followed in former years. To accommodate their large herds they have four thousand acres of grazing land in Nebraska, be- sides taking charge of the six hundred acres owned by their father in Iowa.

While living in Iowa Mr. Wasem was an active worker in Fort Donelson Post No. 236, G. A. R., at Fort Dodge, and also was an interested worker in the German Reformd Church, and in politics affiliated with the Republican party. For thirteen years he held the office of township trustee and during the greater part of his residence in Iowa he officiated as a member of the school board, giv- ing considerable time and thought to the develop- ment of the rural schools of his district. Both in the state, where for years he was an extensive stockman, and in the more recent place of his residence, he has proved himself a public-spirited and progressive man, in sympathy with all for- ward movements and a contributor to helpful projects.

MADISON D. PUTMAN. Fair View fruit farm lies in Spencer valley near the village of Wynola and comprises one hundred and sixty acres, whose care and cultivation occupy the attention of the owner, Mr. Putman, giving in return a satisfactory and increasing moneyed recompense for his assiduous labors. When he came to this valley in 1869 he secured a large tract of land from the government and began to make improvements on the raw land. Since then he has erected a neat house and necessary out- buildings, and has made other improvements on his tract of one hundred and sixty acres, be- sides which he has planted twenty acres in apples of the choicest varieties, including the White Winter, Pomerain, Eureka, Belleflower, Ben Davis, Smith, Cider, Royal, Jeanette, Delaware Reds, etc. The thrifty appearance of the orchard proves him to be a man of tireless in- dustry and wise judgment, while his pioneer work in fruit-culture in this valley shows that he possesses a genuine progressive spirit.

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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 69

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