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 76

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

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died in El Monte in 1902; Martha, wife of Jus- tice Allison of Los Angeles, and William, of this review.

The boyhood days of William Shugg were passed on his father's farm near Alhambra, his education being received in the public schools in the vicinity of his home. He remained with his father until the latter's death, after which he and his brother Thomas engaged in the management of the home farm until 1886. At that date he purchased his present property and two years later set out a walnut orchard, now owning nine- teen acres upon which he has built a fine resi- dence, substantial outbuildings, etc., making of it one of the best ranches in this section. His brother Thomas also engaged as a walnut grower until his death in 1902.

In Alhambra, November 2, 1892, Mr. Shugg married Miss Alice McCaig, who was born in Downey, a daughter of George McCaig, who was brought by his father, John, from Arkansas in 1877. George McCaig engaged as a farmer in Downey for several years, and now resides in Puente following the same occupation. His wife formerly Janey Hurst, was born in Arkansas and died in Los Nietos in 1882. They had three chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Shugg is the oldest. Mr. and Mrs. Shugg are the parents of two children, Mabel and Emery. Mr. Shugg takes a deep in- terest in educational work, and is now serving as president of the school board. Fraternally he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he is past master workman, and both himself and wife are members of the Degree of Honor, his wife being past chief. He also belongs to the Modern Brotherhood. Politi- cally he is a stanch Democrat. He is a charter member of the Mountain View Walnut Growers' Association, and is serving as a director and vice- president.

EDSON A. BENEDICT. A man of enter- prise, ability and strong personality, the late Edson A. Benedict held a position of prominence and influence among the early pioneers of Los Angeles county, being one of the original settlers and his the first white family in Benedict's canyon. A man of keen discernment and excel- lent business tact, he took an important part in advancing the mercantile and agricultural pros- perity of this part of the state, and throughout the community was held in high esteem. A native of New York, he was born October 8, 1819, in Elba, Genesee county, where he received a public school and college education. He sub- sequently read law, and was admitted to the bar of New York state, but never practiced his profession to any extent.

Ambitious to enter upon a business career

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when a young man, Mr. Benedict went to Boon- ville, Mo., where he was prosperously employed as a general merchant for a number of years, ac- quiring considerable wealth. In November, 1862, sailing from New York City on the Ariel, he started for the Pacific coast, and while en route the vessel was captured by the Alabama, near Kingston, and he and all on board were held as prisoners for twenty-four hours. Con- tinuing the journey at the end of that time, Mr. Benedict came to California, and for four years thereafter was engaged in mercantile pur- suits in Los Angeles. During the war, in which he took no active part, although his sympathies were with the south, his goods were confiscated, and he was left comparatively poor, having but $10,000 when he came here. His health failing, he then located in the canyon, near Sherman, taking up a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he made substantial improvements, by good management enhancing its value each season. He cultivated a part of the land himself, renting the remainder of his ranch on shares until his death, which occurred at his home, March 30, 1886.

On December 5, 1855, Mr. Benedict married Josephine Pierce, who was born June 3, 1832, in Virginia, where she lived for five years. Her father subsequently removed as a pioneer to Mis- souri, there becoming an extensive landholder and the owner of many slaves, the greater num- ber of whom refused to accept their freedom, pleading to remain with their old master. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Benedict three chil- dren were born, all sons, namely: Edson Pierce, engaged in agricultural pursuits near Sherman ; Frank Lee, of Los Angeles ; and Angelo E., an oil well driller. After the death of her hus- band, Mrs. Benedict leased the home ranch until very recently, when she sold it for $10,000, re- serving the house and a half acre of land. She also has property in Santa Monica, owning a lot in the residence part of the city. She is a woman of great intelligence and Christian vir- tues, and a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church.

JOHN KENNEDY. As a business man John Kennedy has been located in Santa Monica for a number of years, having established himself as a butcher, at first in a very small wav, but gradually increasing his operations with his in- crease of trade until to-day he is named among the successful men of this community. Like the great majority of the men who have been prime movers in the development of this section of California, Mr. Kennedy is not a native of the state, his birth having occurred in Cleveland, Ohio, where his parents, James and Mary J.

(Thornton) Kennedy, removed after their mar- riage. His father is a native of Ireland, who in youth was brought by his parents to Canada, where he was reared and educated, while his mother is of English birth. They are both liv- ing and are residents of California, where they located when their son was still a boy in years.

John Kennedy was educated principally in the schools of California. Upon leaving school he learned the trade of butcher in Santa Monica (where his home was located, his father being a rancher at that time, now retired), and in July, 1903, he opened a shop on his own responsibility. He necessarily began business on a limited scale, but it was not long before he was com- pelled to increase his capacity to supply the de- mands made upon his enterprise. He is now named among the successful business men of this city and bids fair to acquire financial returns which shall adequately compensate him for his efforts.

In 1895 Mr. Kennedy established home ties by his marriage in Los Angeles to Nettie Marshall Leeper, a native of Kansas, in which state she attained womanhood. Mr. Kennedy is identified fraternally with the Masonic organization, being a member of the lodge of Santa Monica, while in his political convictions he adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Re- publican party. He is a man of energy and ability, takes an active interest in public affairs, and can be counted upon to further any plan for the advancement of the city's welfare.

ALBERT E. MEIGS. Noteworthy among the men of prominence in Los Angeles county is Albert E. Meigs, who, as the pioneer real estate dealer at Ocean Park, has taken an active part in the upbuilding of this section of the county and has been a promoter of its industrial and business prosperity. He evinces a deep interest in public affairs, and as postmaster at Ocean Park is giving able and satisfactory service. A son of William and Julia (Austin) Meigs, he was born in 1831, near Deposit, Broome county, N. Y.

Attending first the district schools of his na- tive district, Albert E. Meigs completed his ear- ly education at the village academy in Deposit. He afterwards learned the carpenter's trade in Broome county and there followed it until his removal with the family to Wisconsin in 1852. In Dodge county he worked at both farming and carpentering for a number of years, in the meantime obtaining a good knowledge of bridge building. In 1864 he enlisted in Company E. Fiftieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served as quartermaster sergeant until his hon- orable discharge, in the spring of 1866. Re-

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turning home, he soon afterwards removed to Mower county, Minn., where he bought land and engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time. Be- ing subsequently appointed postmaster at Aus- tin, the county seat, he served two terms under the administration of President Grant. Moving from there to Tennessee in 1877, he resumed his mechanical labors, and for nine years was in the employ of the Louisville and Nashville Rail- road Company as a bridge builder.

Coming to California in 1886, Mr. Meigs en- gaged in bridge building in Los Angeles county, and when the boom was on in Los Angeles car- ried on an extensive and lucrative business in real estate, buying and selling freely. He sub- sequently engaged in the nursery business there for a few years, and at the same time was prom- inent in public affairs, serving a number of terms as deputy county and city assessor. In 1899 he established himself in Ocean Park, be- coming the pioneer real estate dealer of this place, as such being active and prominent in its development. In 1902 he was appointed post- master by President Roosevelt, and has served in this capacity since November of that year.

In Fond du Lac. Wis., Mr. Meigs married Mary P. Davis, and into their household four children have been born, namely: Nellie A .: Bert H .; Julia, wife of. Linn Mckinstry, of Minneapolis, Minn .; and Ernest. Politically, Mr. Meigs cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and has since been an earnest supporter of the Republican party. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, and belongs to Kenesaw Post, G. A. R., of Los Angeles.

HENRY F. FRYER. When Mr. Fryer purchased the ten-acre ranch on which he now lives near Pomona he set it out to apricot trees, but these were later replaced by walnut trees. A native son of the state, he was born January 4, 1855, at El Monte, Los Angeles county, and is a son of Rev. R. C. and Caro- line (Veazey) Fryer. The father was born in Alabama in 1821. When he was eighteen years old he made his first removal toward the west. at that time going to Conway county, Ark., and settling on a farm. It was about this time, too, that he formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Caroline Veazey, the ceremony being performed in Alabama in 1839. Thirteen years later Mr. Fryer con- tinned his westward journey, coming over the plains behind slow-plodding ox-teams, having taken the southern route, which brought him to Los Angeles county. Pleased with the ap- pearance of the country he purchased a ranch in the vicinity of what is now El Monte and settled down to the life which he had always

followed. He had from early years been a man of deep religious convictions, and it was while on his ranch near El Monte that he re- ceived the call to prepare for special service in the Master's vineyard. In 1854 he was or- dained a minister in the Baptist faith, he being the first minister of this denomination or- dained in Southern California. For many years he devoted his time exclusively to the missionary field in the southern part of the state, and in fact the remainder of his life was spent here. In 1867 he purchased two hun- dred and fifty acres of land near Spadra, upon which he made his home until 1888, when he removed to Los Angeles, his death occurring in that city the following year, when he was in his sixty-ninth year. Some time after the death of his first wife Mr. Fryer was united in marriage with Mrs. Mattie Maston, and since the death of her husband Mrs. Fryer has con- tinned to make her home in Los Angeles. Fra- ternally Mr. Fryer was a member of the Ma- sonic Lodge, and was at one time master of El Monte Lodge and also of Pomona Lodge. After removing to Spadra, in 1870, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent his constituents in the state assembly, besides which he filled many lesser offices within the gift of his fellow-citizens, among them school trustee. A man of considerable ability and prominence, he wielded a broad influence for good wherever he was placed and all who were associated with him in the pioneer days revere his memory. Born of his first marriage were eleven children, but of this number only six are now living.

It was after the removal of the family to California that Henry F. Fryer was born, his birth occurring in El Monte, Los Angeles county, January 4. 1855. Such educational advantages as the schools of that locality had to offer were his, and of these he made the most, thus giving him a foundation upon which to build in later years by reading and observation. Until twenty-three years he re- mained at home with his parents, and then started out on his own behalf by renting a ranch near El Monte. Some time later he gave this up and went to Spadra, same county, where he was married to Miss Ella M. Arnett, a native of Mendocino county and a daughter of Robert S. Arnett, the latter coming of a family well known in the south. (For a more detailed account of the family, refer to the sketch of Robert S. Arnett, found elsewhere in this volume.) Soon after his marriage Mr. Frver returned to El Monte and resumed ag- ricultural life, renting a ranch upon which he lived for about three years. It was in 1882 that he came to the vicinity of Pomona and

Sco. D. Stevens.

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took up ranching, and since 1892 he had made his home on the ranch which he now occu- pies, comprising ten acres of as fine land as is to be found in the county. When it came into his possession it was bare land, but he set out apricots and for a time continued to raise this commodity, but believing better returns would be forthcoming if the land was planted to walnuts he had the apricot trees taken up and walnuts set out in their place.

One son blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fryer, Wallace F., who married Miss Grace Bottsford, who was born in Pomona. Both Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Fryer are members of the Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Fryer is a believer in Democratic principles, and fra- ternally he holds membership in the Fraternal Aid.

REV. GEORGE D. STEVENS. As an in- structor of youth in his early manhood and as a minister of the Gospel in his mature years, Rev. Mr. Stevens filled a sphere of distinct usefulness in the localities whither duty called him, and as he looks back over the past he may gather en- couragement and happiness from the thought that the days of his greatest physical and men- tal activity were given to the spiritual and edu- . cational upbuilding of the race. In the quiet routine of his self-sacrificing labors, helping the needy, encouraging the despondent, uplifting the fallen, teaching the erring and ignorant, he pass- ed from the morning of life to its evening twilight calm, yet he has not allowed his activities to be diminished, having merely changed their form of service. Since coming to California on his retirement from the ministry he has made his home in San Diego county, and is now a leading citizen of Bonsall, where he has officiated as postmaster, has served as notary public, has acted as telephone agent and during the entire period since 1893 has been proprietor of a general mer- cantile store.

Early in the colonization of Massachusetts the Stevens family became identified with its pioneers and some of that name moved to Maine while it was still a district of the old Bay state. Thomas and Mahala (Bartlett) Stevens were natives of Maine, the latter being a descendant of a noble and wealthy family of England. In addition to engaging in agricultural pursuits, Thomas Stevens followed the trades of carpenter and har- ness-maker. Prominent in local affairs, he filled practically all of the offices of his township. In early life he was a believer in Democratic prin- ciples as enunciated by Andrew Jackson, but when the slavery question became the most se- rious problem confronting the nation he changed his affiliations to the Republican party. for he was

a thorough-going abolitionist in sentiment. His father, Daniel, was a Revolutionary soldier and he himself possessed the military instincts, but the age limit prevented him from enlisting in the Civil war. In religious faith both he and his wife were Baptists and devoted to the progress of that denomination. After his death, which occurred in Maine at the age of sixty-four years, his widow went to Wisconsin and there died when sixty- eight years old.

In the family of Thomas Stevens there were seven children, and of these four sons are now living, among them being George D., who was born at South Paris, Oxford county, Me., Sep- tember 5, 1836, and received excellent educa- tional advantages in the schools of the state. After a preparatory course of study in Hebron Academy he matriculated in Waterville College and remained a student in that institution until he was graduated with the class of 1863. Imme- diately after completing his college course he took up the work of teaching, spending a few months in that occupation in New York, after which he removed to Wisconsin and for seven years acted as principal of the Richland Center public schools. In addition he was honored with the office of county superintendent of schools of Richland county, to which position he was elected on the Republican ticket. The work of an edu- cator was relinquished for the duties attendant upon a minister of the Gospel, and for twenty- six years he was a patient, resourceful and faithful preacher in the Baptist denomination, holding a number of important pastorates in Wis- consin and accomplishing much for the upbuild- ing of the denomination and the cause of Christ- ianity. Shortly after he had started out to make his own way in the world he established domestic ties, being united with Miss Helen Wing in 1865 and some years after her death he married again, in 1894 being united with Mrs. Linda (Wing) Stevens, a native of Somerset county, Me., and like himself a faithful member of the Baptist Church.

THOMAS SCHULYER INGHAM. Al- though far removed from the scene of his birth and carly training Mr. Ingham is, to all intents and purposes, a native Californian, his residence in the state dating from the year 1870, December of that years witnessing the removal of his parents from the more thickly settled east to the broad and promising west. Born December 12. 1855, he is a son of War- ren R. and Sarah Louise (Schuyler) Ingham, the latter still living at the age of seventy- nine years. The death of the father, May 19, 1905, closed a long and useful career of eighty- three years. Upon coming to the west in 1870

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he first located in Santa Barbara county, but the following year he came to San Bernardino county, and shortly afterward took up land from the government in section 33, the same now being the site of the thriving village of Highland. His waving fields of barley, to which his land was first planted, in time gave place to the cultivation of oranges, a decided innovation in this locality, for to him is cred- ited the planting of the first orange grove in the vicinity of Highland.

While still an infant Thomas S. Ingham was taken by his parents to Lockport, Ni- agara county, N. Y., where he was educated and where he received his initiation into the world of business. Some time after coming to the west with his parents he engaged in the nursery business on land which is now in- cluded in the corporate limits of Highland. After making his home in Los Angeles for several years he returned in 1900 and pur- chased the property upon which he now re- sides, consisting of fifty acres, thirty acres in wine grapes, eight in oranges and four in al- falfa, the remainder being in other fruits. The previous owner had not been especially suc- cessful in his ranching efforts, as was evi- denced in the dilapidated condition of the ranch when Mr. Ingham assumed its control. His pioneer efforts in the matter of irrigation have practically been the making of the town, and as the father of irrigation he bears the esteem of its grateful citizens. His first at- tempt dates back to the year 1887, before the panic, and as early as 1884 he raised grain on ground where now stands the depot and busi- ness portion of the town. While in the nurs- ery business during this time he sold over $200,000 worth of orange trees in one year, but as has been previously stated a turn in the tide followed and resulted in the loss of his business. Once more, however, he is on the high road to success, and is conceded to be one of the most prosperous ranchers in San Bernardino county.

LEWIS NATHANIEL SMITH. Very early in the colonial history of America the Smith family came from England and estab- lished the name in New England, and the rec- ords state that the great-great-grandfather of L. N. Smith, Caleb Smith, was born in Need- ham, Mass., and followed farming in that state throughout his active years. Among his chil- dren was a son Barak, who was born in Ded- ham, Mass., in 1755. The next in line of de- scent was Jabez, who was born in Dover, Mass., was subsequently in Connecticut for a time, and still later established the family in

Vermont, which was then practically a new country, and he made his way to his destina- tion in Windham county by means of ox- teams, blazing a path through the forests. It was while the family were residing in Connec- ticut that Reuel Smith was born near Ash- ford, that state, and he was still quite young when his parents established the family home in the Vermont wilderness. Near Wilming- ton, that state, he improved a fine farm from the heavy forest covered land and made his home thereon the remainder of his life. He died at the age of seventy-one years, cheered and upheld by his faith in the Christian re- ligion, having been a prominent member of the Congregational Church for many years. During his young manhood he chose as his life companion Lucinda Adams, who was born in Vermont, the daughter of Nathaniel Adams, the latter being a native of Ashburnham, Mass., and a pioneer farmer in Vermont. The mother also died on the Vermont homestead, and of the four children born to her two are now living, Lewis N. and F. R., the latter a farmer near Wilmington, Vt. One son, Will- iam H., participated in the Civil war as a member of the Eighth Vermont Regiment, being made captain of his company. He was wounded a number of times during Sheridan's raid and the battle of New Orleans, and as a result his death occurred soon afterward in Chicago, Il1.

The youngest of the four children in the parental family was Lewis Nathaniel Smith, who was born on the family homestead near Wilmington, Windham county, Vt., October IO, 1840. Brought up to an intimate .knowl- edge of farm duties, until nineteen years of age he was an invaluable assistant to his father, and in the meantime he had attended the district school and also taken a course in Leland Gray Academy, in Townshend, Vt. His experience thus far had taught him that his tastes did not lie in the direction of agri- culture and when nineteen years old he took a position in a general store in Newfane, Vt., with the idea of learning the business. After remaining six months with his employer in that place he went to Chicopee, Mass., and later to Springfield, that state, in both of which places he continued his interest in the dry goods business. An interruption came into his life during 1862-63, during which time he had enlisted in the army, but he was re- jected on account of his height. Thereafter he removed to Troy, N. Y., where, from 1864 until 1873, he engaged in the dry goods busi- ness, in the latter year removing to Worcester, Mass., and continuing in the same line of business for one year. For eight years there-

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after he carried on a grocery business in the same location, and at the same time handled and improved considerable real estate, finally disposing of his grocery in order to devote his entire time to the real estate business.

It was in 1898 that Lewis N. Smith severed his connection with the east, so long his own home as well as many generations of the fam- ily, and established himself in California, in November of the same year locating in Po- mona. He purchased a ranch on San Antonio and Central avenues, upon which he made a specialty of raising oranges for about three years, selling his ranch at the end of that time and purchasing his present property in Clare- mont, on Central avenue. Here he owns fif- teen acres, twelve of which are in oranges and three in lemons, and in 1902 he erected the family residence on the corner of College ave- nue and Seventh street. The ranch has an excellent location, being a part of the Loop tract, and is irrigated from the San Antonio cañon. The organization of the Citizens' Light and Water Company of Claremont, in 1903, was largely the work of Mr. Smith, who from the first was a director in the company. From 1904 until January. 1907, he was its president and manager. and since that date has been its secretary and manager. He is also a member of the Southern California Fruit Exchange, and is president of Claremont Cit- rus Union, which is a branch of the former organization. Other enterprises in the town outside of horticultural interests also benefit by his broad knowledge and keen insight, among which are the Claremont Lumber Com- pany, of which he is president, and the State Bank of Claremont, of which he was one of the organizers and is now a director. He is also a member of the board of selectmen of Claremont. He finds his religious home in the Congregational Church, in which he is an active worker as he is in everything else to which he lends his name and influence. Since 1903 he has served as treasurer of the church, He was made a Mason in Chicopee (Mass.) Lodge, and subsequently transferred his mem- bership to Athelstan Lodge, Worcester, that state, and also belongs to the chapter in that city. Politically he is a stanch supporter of Republican principles.

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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 76

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