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 74

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

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MARCUS CAMPBELL. £ The work of Marcus Campbell has contributed materially to the upbuilding of the best interests of Long Beach, for in his business as contractor and builder he gives conscientious effort along architectural lines. A native of Racine Wis., born July 1. 1868, he is a son of Stephen P. and Eliza (Menzies) Campbell, both of whom are living. The father brought the family to California when his son was eight years old and located in Solano county, near Vaca- ville, where the latter attended the common schools. In young manhood he returned to the middle west, and in Iola, Kans., served an ap- prenticeship to learn the trade of locksmith and machinist, after which he returned to Vacaville and engaged in running threshers and engines in various places. In 1888 he came to Southern California and began farming, in which he con- tinued for seven years. Not meeting with the desired success he branched out into other opera- tions, one of which was, during the first oil boom, to conduct an oil rig, which he owned. This he later sold to the Actonia Oil Company.

In 1901 Mr. Campbell came to Long Beach to follow the carpenter's trade, which he under- stood and which he had followed in Los Angeles prior to his removal to this city. In 1903 he be- gan contracting and in the meantime has put up about one hundred buildings in Long Beach and vicinity. Employing from eight to ten men in his successful and constantly growing busi- ness. He has bought a number of lots and put up twelve houses, six of which he has sold, still owning the remainder. His residence is located at No. 434 West Eighth street, and is presided over by his wife, formerly Katie A. Spencer,

I. T. Sechrest,

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with whom he was united in marriage in Los May, 1905, accepting the position of manager. Angeles county. They are the parents of two children, Edith V. and Edwin Marcus.

Fraternally Mr. Campbell is a member of the Masonic organization and is associated with both the blue lodge and the chapter of Long Beach. In religion he attends and supports the Plymouth Congregational Church, and politically is a stanch Republican. He takes an active interest in the upbuilding of his home city, being a stockholder in the Peoples' Bank of Long Beach, and a member of the Board of Trade. In the line of his work he is treasurer of the Car- penters' Union. He has an abiding faith in the future prosperity of this section of the country and has invested his means in real estate.

W. F. SECHREST. A man of more than average business capacity, and an authority on all questions connected with the raising of fruit in Southern California, W. F. Sechrest, of Escon- dido, is well and favorably known as the owner and manager of the Limken Lemon Company. Public-spirited and enterprising, he is an able factor in advancing the interests of Escondido valley, encouraging and supporting the establish- ment of all beneficial projects. A son of Joshua Sechrest, now living in Oceanside, he was born April 5, 1875, in Kansas City, Mo., where he lived until seven years of age.

Born and reared in Kentucky, Joshua Sechrest spent several years in Missouri, after which he resided for a time in Kansas. At the breaking out of the Civil war he offered his services as a soldier, enlisting in the Union army and taking part in many battles. At the engagement at Lonejack, Mo., he was wounded and subsequently in another engagement was captured, and there- after confined until the close of the war. In his political affiliations he is a strong Democrat. He married Sarah Miles, who was born in Indiana, and is now residing in Redlands, Cal., where the family settled when coming to this state in I889.

Moving from Kansas City, Mo., to Kansas when seven years of age, W. F. Sechrest ob- tained the rudiments of his education in that state. Completing his school life in Redlands. Cal., he immediately began the study of fruit growing and in working for different fruit firms along the southern coast, became familiar with the details of the business, and since, with the exception of five years spent in the mill of the De LaMar Mining Company, has been con- nected with this industry. Coming to Escondido in 1902, he was engaged in ranching and fruit growing on his own account for two years, renting a ranch. The following year he was secretary for the Limken Lemon Company, in

In the care of its ranch, which, aside from its fruit orchards, contained five hundred acres of land, part being devoted to grain and part to grazing, he made many excellent improvements, among others of note being the planning of the large, fourteen-room residence which is of mod- ern construction. Eight or nine years ago he planted fifty acres of lemons, and from this mag- nificent grove he gathered immense crops of fruit, shipping by the carload to the principal markets of the United States. In the care of this ranch, he employed from fifteen to twenty men, and from year to year steadily added to its pro- ductive value. March 1, 1906, he gave up the management of the ranch and purchased the packing business of which he is now the owner.

In 1900 Mr. Sechrest married Fannie Trout- man, who was born in Arkansas, a daughter of J. W. Troutman, now a resident of Colton, Cal., and they are the parents of two children : Malissa and Ralph. Politically Mr. Sechrest is identified with the Repubican party as one of its strongest adherents, and while at Doble served as post- master, and in Gold Mountain was notary pub- lic. He was reared in the religious faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has not de- parted from the teachings of his youth.

ABEL ADAMS. Numbered among the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Ramona is Abel Adams, who, as proprietor of the Adams house, is popular with the trav- eling public, his genial courtesy and evident desire to please and accommodate his numer- ous guests winning him a large and lucrative patronage. An ambitious, energetic man, he is also identified with other business interests, besides which he owns a ranch and has the care of considerable land. A son of the late Elihu Adams, he was born October 25, 1853, near Kempville, Canada, coming on the pa- rental side from substantial English stock, and on the material side from Holland-Dutch ancestry.

Elihu Adams was born in Canada, and was there engaged in general farming during his active life. On retiring from business, being then a widower, he came to California, and here spent his last days, making his home in Ramona with his son, Abel Adams. He was a man of strong mental and physical vigor, and, with the exception of being nearly blind, was in robust health until about twelve days before his death, which occurred at the ven- erahle age of eighty-six years, in 1903. He was a man of deep religious faith, and a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. He married Diana Depencier, who spent her entire life in

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Canada, and they became the parents of seven children, three of whom, two sons and a daughter, have passed to the life beyond.

After his graduation from the Kempville high school, Abel Adams learned the trade of a shoe and harness maker, and for six years was in business in his native town. Coming to California in 1880, he was similarly em- ployed in Sonoma county for two years. Lo- cating in San Diego in 1882, he was employed as clerk in a shoe store for six years. Starting in business for himself in Ramona in 1888, he opened a shoe and harness shop, and very soon afterward embarked in the hotel busi- ness, buying the property which he now owns. During the eighteen years that he has been engaged as "mine host" he has met with un- questioned success, his care and attention to the wants and comforts of his many patrons gaining for him a substantial business.

In San Diego, January 31, 1884, Mr. Adams married Carrie Rogers, a native of Philadel- phia, and they became the parents of five chil- dren, namely: Carrie Belle, who died at the age of two years and four months; Pearl Irene ; Hazel Dell, wife of Doc Wilson, of San Diego; Hubert Abel; and Harold W. Polit- ically Mr. Adams is a steadfast Republican, and fraternally he is a member of San Diego Lodge No. 28, K. P., and of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The family are members of the Episcopal Church.

PETER TRAUB. In 1877 the property now owned by the widow was purchased by Peter Traub, one of the early and substantial settlers of the vicinity of Long Beach, Los Angeles county, and a pioneer of that state, and since that time the family have remained residents of this section. Peter Traub was a native of Wittenberg, Germany, born January 2, 1841, his parents, Peter and Mary Traub, also being natives of the same locality. He was reared among the scenes of his childhood and after receiving an education in the common schools of the country became apprenticed to learn the trade of miller. His apprenticeship completed, he remained in his native country until 1866, when he decided to emigrate, and accordingly cast in his lot with those of his countrymen who were seeking homes and broader opportunities in the western world. He located in the city of Chicago upon his de- barkation and there worked in a sash and door factory. Later in White county, Ill., he engaged in general farming, in which occupation he con- tinued until 1874. Taking up his residence in California at that time, he was located in Ven- tura county for three years, when he came to Los Angeles county, and here purchased a farm

of forty-five acres upon which he made his home until his death, which occurred December 20, 1896. He was a successful farmer and acquired a competency and a place among the early citizens of this community.

In Ventura county, Cal., April 15, 1877, Mr. Traub was united in marriage with Margaret Burkley, a daughter of Christ and Mary Burkley, both natives of Germany. They became the parents of the following children : Peter C., who, October 12, 1904, married Emma Manger, a native of Indiana; Mary, wife of John Shiesel, of Los Angeles; John G .; Louise, who died at the age of nine months and sixteen days ; August ; Charles H .; Albert A .; and George B.

JOSEPH I. KELLOGG. Industrious, en- ergetic and practical, Joseph I. Kellogg has for a number of years been engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Fallbrook, San Diego county, and is here carrying on general farm- ing with excellent results, year by year adding to his wealth and to the value of his estate. A native of Iowa, he was born, June 2, 1856, in Clinton county, a son of Luther and De- borah E. (Sherer) Kellogg, the former of whom was born in Ohio, and the latter in Pennsylvania. His parents are now living in Santa Ana, Cal., being highly respected resi- dents of that place, and members of the United Presbyterian Church. The father was em- ployed in ranching and cabinet-making dur- ing his years of activity, and was a stanch worker in the Republican ranks.

One of a family of nine children, five of whom are living, Joseph I. Kellogg was brought up on the home farm, acquiring his early knowledge of books in the district schools of his native county. Taking upon himself the cares and responsibilities of a mar- ried man soon after attaining his majority, he embarked in farming on his own account, raising grain, cattle and hogs on his farm of eighty acres. In March, 1891, he made a change of residence, going to Missouri, where for one and one-half years he was identified with the agricultural interests of that state. Not entirely pleased with his prospects, how- ever, he sold his farm and stock, and in the spring of 1893 came to Fallbrook to make a permanent settlement, Buying one hundred and sixty acres of land, he has since been busily employed in general ranching, includ- ing the raising of hay, grain, bees and chick- ens, profitable industries, which yield him a good income. A judicious worker and a good manager, prosperity has seemingly smiled on his every effort, and now, while vet in the prime of life, he has secured a comfortable

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competence and occupies an assured position among the thrifty farmers of the community in which he resides.

In Iowa, in 1878, Mr. Kellogg married Fanny D. Whitaker, who was born in that state, and they are the parents of two chil- dren, namely: Edna Lillian, twenty-six years of age; and Rollo M., seventeen years old. In former years Mr. Kellogg was identified with the Republican party, but he is now a Socialist. Religiously both Mr. and Mrs. Kel- logg are consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church, towards the support of which they contribute liberally.

JEROME T. LAMB. One of the many worthy citizens and capable and industrious agri- culturists of Los Angeles county, Jerome T. Lamb is the owner of a valuable little ranch. pleasantly located near Palms. Here he is suc- cessfully engaged in general ranching, exercising great skill and excellent judgment in this pur- suit. A son of the late James O. Lamb, he was born, December 17, 1854, at Waukesha, Wis.

A native of Wethersfield, N. Y., James Owen Lamb was born August 19, 1825, and was left an orphan when a child. Subsequently he was bound out to a neighbor who proved very unkind to him, abusing him shamefully, overworking him, and giving him such educational advantages only as could be obtained in the short terms of night schools. At the age of fourteen years he ran away from his master, and with the as- sistance of an uncle shipped as cabin boy on a whaler, in New Bedford, Mass. He served in that capacity and as deck hand for four years, subsequently following the seas as second mate for seven years. Returning home at the end of that time, he visited first his mother, and then his brother, who was living in Wisconsin. Re- maining in that state, he took up a tract of wild land and settled there as a householder, for two years being engaged in general farming. In 1862 he started with a company of miners for Oregon, taking the overland trail, and after getting in Echo Canyon all of the stock belong- ing to the little band of emigrants was stolen. He therefore decided to remain where he was, and for six year_ _ esided in Utah, being engaged in freighting across the mountains. In the fall of 1866, with five companions, he came to Cali- fornia, settling at San Bernardino, where he had charge of a dairy for two years. The following six years he was engaged in farming on his own account, renting a tract of land near Los An- geles. Coming then to Palms, he rented a ranch, and in addition to managing it successfully was road overseer of his district for twelve years. Removing to Fallbrook, San Diego county, in

1900, he there lived retired until his death, June 17, 1905, at the advanced age of four score years. He was a stanch Republican in politics, active in county and state conventions, and when young was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. February 21, 1854, he married Mary Jane Fillmore, who was born in New York state, and is now living at Fallbrook, Cal. She was a second cousin of Millard Fillmore, once presi- dent of the United States, and her mother was an own cousin of President Ulysses S. Grant.

The oldest of a family of eight children, Jerome T. Lamb remained at home until about twenty-two years old, when he began working out, giving his wages to his parents. Three years later he bought a small ranch at Lincoln Park, near Pasadena, where he lived four years, carrying on his own farm and working by the day in addition. Selling out, he came to Palms, purchasing twenty-five acres of land, and has since been prosperously employed in ranching, carrying on his own farm and renting other land in this vicinity. He pays some attention to fruit growing, having set out four acres of walnuts. He has made many excellent improvements on his place, which has increased in value ten fold under his management, he having paid but $50 per acre for it, while now it is worth over $500 per acre.

November 13, 1879, Mr. Lamb married Clara E. Short, who was born in Illinois, and came to the Pacific coast in 1878. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lamb, namely : Mary Edella, wife of E. W. Jonnas, of Los Angeles, and the mother of two children, Helen Irene and Thelma ; and Walter T., a well-known surveyor. Politically Mr. Lamb is an unswerving Repub- lican, and a strong temperance man.

LORIN S. WARNER. During his ten years of residence on his ranch, one mile north of Valle Vista, Lorin S. Warner has taken an active in- terest in the life of his community and made many friends who hold him in the highest esteem. He was born October 23, 1853, in Wayne county, Ohio, the son of Joshua and Rebecca (Baker) Warner, both of whom were natives of the same state. The father resided on a farm in Ohio until 1879, when he went to Jefferson county, Kansas, remaining there until his death, in 1881, at the age of fifty-four years. The mother removed from Kansas to California in 1902, remained a short time, returned to Kansas for a period, and in 1904 went to San Diego to live, her death tak- ing place in that city October 4, 1905, at the age of seventy-four years.

The public schools of Ohio were the medium through which Mr. Warner received his educa- tion, and after the removal of the family to

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Kansas in 1879, he engaged in farming in that state for a number of years, being also occupied at the carpenter's trade a part of the time. Com- ing to California in 1897 he located immediately. on the ranch where he now lives, the tract of ten acres being devoted to apricots, peaches, pears, etc. In 1904 he got another tract of ten acres, which is devoted to alfalfa. By his marriage in Ohio, October 12, 1876, Mr. Warner was united with Sarah Shutt, a native of that state, and they became the parents of four children, one of whom died in infancy. The oldest son, George E., came with the family to California, and his death oc- curred December 10, 1899, at twenty-two years of age; L. L. is engaged in the real estate busi- ness in Los Angeles, and Ossian R., who is mar- ried and living at home, is engaged in teaming. The family are adherents of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally Mr. Warner is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security of Los Angeles, and takes an independent stand in political matters, preferring to vote for men rather than measures when casting his ballot. That he takes an enthusiastic interest in educa- tional matters is evidenced by his election to a trusteeship on the high school board of Hemet, a position which he filled for three years, and he has also served on the school board of Valle Vista.

JUAN JOSE CHAPMAN. A substantial and a highly respected resident of Palms, Juan Jose Chapman is specially deserving of mention in this volume, being a direct descendant of one of the first American settlers in this section of Cali- fornia. A son of the late Jose Juan Chapman, he was born February 11, 1855, in Los Angeles. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Chapman, an Eng- lishman by birth, emigrated from his native land to the United States when young coming over in a vessel that was wrecked on the Pacific coast, near the present port of San Pedro. He was picked up on the beach by Andreas Machado, who took him to the home of his father, Ignacio Machado, owner of La Ballona rancho. Joseph Chapman could speak no Spanish, and his res- cuers could not understand English. He re- mained with the Machados for some time, and being handy with tools subsequently built several houses in Los Angeles, and also erected the first flouring mill in the county, where the Capitol now stands. It was in Los Angeles that he be- came acquainted with and married Guadalupe Ortega. She was born in Santa Barbara, the de- scendant of an old and prominent Spanish family, and her father owned a large grant of land, which included the site of present city of Santa Barbara. Through his wife Joseph Chapman in-

herited much valuable land. He died in the prime of life, leaving eight children.

Born in Santa Barabara, Cal., Jose Juan Chap- man inherited a portion of his parents' estate, but, in common with many other descendants of the early Spanish settlers of Southern California, lost title to his landed possessions. Moving then to Los Angeles he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, at the early age of forty- five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Josefa Villa, was born in San Jose, Cal., where her father, a Spaniard by descent, was living. In the early days he moved to Los Angeles county and became owner of a large ranch, now known as the Hamlin & Denker ranch, which the heirs lost, being forced to give up on account of faulty title. His wife, Mrs. Villa, owned at one time land in the heart of the city of Los Angeles, where the old postoffice stood, and this was sold, many years ago, for a barrel of whiskey. She also owned the land on which St. Charles hotel, in Los Angeles, now stands. She died in that city in 1862. Mrs. Jose J. Chapman died at the Palms in 1881 leaving four children, of whom Juan Jose, the subject of this sketch, is the youngest child, and the only son.

Eleven years old when his father died, Juan Jose Chapman remained with his mother until her death, during the later years of her life sup- porting her. At the age of seventeen years he began his agricultural career, working for others at first and subsequently locating at Inglewood, where he rented a large tract of land, four hun- dred or five hundred acres, from Daniel Freeman. While there he became active in public matters, through the influence of Mr. Freeman being ap- pointed road overseer of La Ballona district, a position in which he served seven years. Com- ing from Inglewood to Palms, he has served here as road overseer for an equal length of time, and for four years was deputy sheriff of the county, during which time he also had charge of the farm of his father-in-law.

In 1882 Mr Chapman married Maria C. Higuera, who was born in Los Angeles county, near Palms, a daughter of Francisco Higuera, who owned about fifteen hundred acres of land in this vicinity, his farm being called the Ranch of the Oxen, or in Spanish, Rancho Rincon de los Buyes. Of his estate his daughter, Mrs. Chap- man, inherited about one hundred acres in the Palms district, and this Mr. Chapman carried on successfully. They now own and manage about seventy acres of land, forty acres of which are valued at $1,000 per acre. while the remaining thirty acres are worth at least $300 per acre. In 1900 Mr. Chapman was appointed game warden by the county board of supervisors, being the only Democrat to receive an appointment by the board, and was afterwards appointed deputy game

U.S. Sharp

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

warden of the state, a position in which he served faithfully for two years. For three terms he was trustee of La Ballona school district, rendering efficient service. In politics he is an Independent Democrat, voting for the best men and measures. Socially he is a member of Pomona Parlor No. 109, N. S. G. W., of Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have four children, namely: Jose D., Juanita E., Eva C. and Frank J.

WILLIAM F. SHARP. To be designated as one of the best-posted men on the sub- ject of orange culture in a section in which there are located as many experts engaged in citrus fruit growing as there are in the coun- try surrounding Colton is indeed an honor. This distinction belongs to William F. Sharp, manager of the Colton Fruit Exchange, which handles an average of four hundred carloads of fruit in a season, fifteen to twenty cars be- ing lemons. A native of England, Mr. Sharp was born March 3, 1872, in Portsmouth, where he lived until eighteen years of age. His par- ents, Charles and Sarah (Rowe) Sharp, were also natives of England, and now make their home at North Havant, near Portsmouth. The father was educated in the naval engineer- ing school on H. M. S. Marlborough at Ports- mouth and served in the English navy for about forty years, acting as chief engineer in the Sheerness and Portsmouth government dock yards, a part of his duties being to ex- amine the ships built by contractors for gov- ernment service. He is now retired from ac- tive life and enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp became the par- ents of thirteen children, eight of whom are living, only one being in America. Two of the sons are engineers in the employ of the English government. The parents are mem- bers of the Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church of England, and have always exerted an elevating influence upon the community in which they resided.

The early education of William F. Sharp was received in private schools in England, where he finished with a special college course, and after his graduation came to the American continent, spending the first four years on a cattle ranch in the Northwest Territory, Can- ada. From there he went to Corinne, Utah, where he became foreman of a three thousand acre ranch owned by the Bear River Water & Land Company, remaining in that position for sixteen months. In 1895 he came to Colton and immediately began to learn the orange busi- ness. Determined to become thoroughly fa-

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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 74

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