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 84

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

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NATT W. TILTON. Capable and in- dustrious, with a remarkable degree of push and energy, Natt W. Tilton holds a noteworthy position among those who have contributed liberally towards the growth and upbuilding of San Pedro. For many years he has been promi- nent as a city official, possessing in an eminent degree the discretion, trustworthiness and force of character which have made him so useful as a member of the common council, a position which he has filled acceptably to all for nearly a decade. A son of John A. Tilton, he was born September 17, 1857, in Fremont, Rocking- ham county, N. H., coming from a long line of honored New England ancestry.

A native of Tilton, N. H., John A. Tilton grew to manhood in his native town. In 1849, lured by the thrilling stories concerning the dis- covery of gold in California, he came around the Horn to this state, but after mining a few months with moderate recompensation for his labors he returned to the rugged hills of New Hampshire. In 1851 he made a second trip to the mining regions, coming by way of the Isthmus, and returning to New York by the same route the following year. Locating then in Fremont, N. H., he carried on general farm-

URIAH U. TYLER

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ing for a number of seasons. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Eleventh New Hamp- shire Volunteer Infantry, was wounded in bat- tle, and at the end of a year was honorably dis- charged. In 1868 he removed to Chicago, IlI., where he was employed for a few years as a contractor and builder. Buying a farm in Reno, Nev., in 1878, he was there engaged in agri- cultural pursuits for about three years. Com- ing to California in 1881, he settled first at Stockton, then in Kern county, finally coming to San Pedro, where he resided until his death, at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Sarah Ann Heath, who was born in New Hampshire, a daughter of Nathaniel Heath, a farmer, and of the eight children born of their union, six survive. Two of the sons served in the Civil war, both being members of the Eleventh New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry. One of these, George A. Tilton, died from wounds received at the battle of Gettysburg, the other son, Edward D., served until the close of the war, after which he came to California, and for many years has not been heard from.

About eleven years old when his parents re- moved to Chicago, Natt W. Tilton was edu- cated principally in the public schools of that city. Going from there to Reno, Nev., in 1875, he followed farming and teaming until 1881, when he settled in Stockton, Cal., where he con- tinued as a teamster for five years. In 1886 he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Delano, Kern county, where he carried on general farming during the summer seasons, spending his winters in Fresno, for four years of the time superintending the construc- tion of the Risden and Kirby canal. Coming to meat market was the only store of the kind in San Pedro in 1893, he accepted the agency of the Union Ice Company and here built up a large and remunerative business for the firm. He was likewise agent for three breweries, the M. & Z. Brewery. the Los Angeles Brewing Company and the Weiland Brewery. Under In Salt Lake City, May 14, 1865. Mr. Tyler was married to Rachael Moore, who was born ·in Ft. Madison, Iowa, August 26, 1841, the daughter of John Harvey and Clarissa (Droll) Moore. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, as follows: George W., who lives at home with his mother; Lizzie A., Mrs. R. W. Colson, of Portland, Ore .; Emery B., in Nome, Alaska · Urban A., living in San Ber- nardino: John Hugh, also at home with his mother ; and Edward Guy, deceased. his supervision ice houses were erected, and for nine years, under the name of the San Pedro Wholesale Company, he carried on a very large business. In 1902 he incorporated the business under that name and served as its president and manager until selling out his interests in the concern in February, 1903. A man of great financial and executive ability, far-seeing and possessing good judgment as an investor, he has acquired a fine property. In company with Mr. Menburg he has established a large busi- Not only was Mr. Tyler a believer in Re- publican principles, but he was a stanch sup- porter of those principles and did his part in gaining converts to his belief. As a candi- date on his party's ticket he was elected the first deputy sheriff in Los Angeles, later was county clerk of San Bernardino county, his ness as a dealer in real estate under the title of the San Pedro & Wilmington Realtv Company. with office in Wilmington. He has built a large residence for himself and family in San Pedro, and also owns a valuable farm of three hun- dred and twenty acres near Calexico, San Diego

county, on which, in addition to raising alfalfa, cattle and horses, he has a bearing vineyard of five acres.

· In Delano, Cal., Mr. Tilton married Mattie Meier, who was born at Cole Camp, Mo. Polit- ically Mr. Tilton is an active adherent of the Republican party, which he has served with fidelity and ability in public affairs. In 1895 he was elected councilman, and served until he moved outside of the city limits. Eighteen months later that part of the town was taken into the municipal limits and he was re-elected to the same position, and has served continuously ever since. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and of the Eagles.

URIAH URBAN TYLER. Though thirty- five years have passed since the death of Mr. Tyler so indissolubly was his life associated with the upbuilding of San Bernardino, where he had made his home for twenty years, that his name and deeds are alike imperishable. Born November 13, 1826, in New York state, at the age of twenty-one he came across the plains as far as Salt Lake, remaining there until the following year, when he completed the journey to California. Coming the same year to San Bernardino, which was then lit- tle more than a hamlet, he entered heart and soul into whatever project was started for its upbuilding and for the part which he per- formed in bringing about better conditions all who remember him revere his memory. For a number of years during the early days his town, and after he gave this up he engaged in various lines of business. At the time John C. Fremont was surveying for the base line Mr. Tyler assisted in the work and also helped to place the monument on the mountain.

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election as assessor following still later. As the first justice of the peace in San Bernar- dino his position was no sinecure, for he fought lawlessness and corruption to the bitter end, with the result that he was a terror to evil- doers and had the stanch support and good- will of the better element. For over thirty years he had been affiliated with the Masonic order, at the time of his death, July 4, 1871, being a member of the lodge at San Bernar- dino. In her declining years the widow is blessed in the companionship of her eldest and youngest sons, the three living together in the family home on Second street, San Bernar- dino.

JOSEPH WILEY WRIGHT. Since coming to Long Beach in 1904 Mr. Wright has gained considerable renown as a contractor, the initial training in that line being among his boyhood accomplishments at the carpenter's bench. Among the larger structures which stand as monuments to his handiwork are the Townsend building and the Eastman block, while in the residence district he has erected many of the finest homes in the city. Contracting, however, is only one of the lines in which he is engaged, for he is equally well known as a reliable real- estate dealer, and owns considerable valuable property in the residence district particularly.

The ancestry of the Wright family is traceable to Irish antecedents, for the grandfather, Joseph Wright, who established the family in the United States, was a native of the Emerald Isle. He settled in Virginia, in Roanoke county, and there his son, Chester B., was born in the town of that name, as was also the grandson, our subject. Besides following farming, a life to which he had been trained from boyhood, he also was a mill- wright, and it is safe to presume that he was very successful in both lines of endeavor, for he is now living retired on his Virginia farm, where he and his wife had lived for so many years and trained their eleven children. Before her marriage Martha Sweeney, Mrs. Wright was also born in .Virginia, and her death oc- curred on the home farm in 1905.

Of the eleven children born to his parents, J. W. Wright was the eldest, his birth occurring in Roanoke, October 15, 1877. From the public schools of that place he matriculated in Norfolk college, there as well as in the common schools acquitting himself nobly. During his boyhood and youth he had applied himself to mastering the carpenter's trade whenever he could spare the time from his studies, so that when he was little more than a boy he had a knowledge of the business which justified him in starting out on his own behalf in 1896. Going to Lincoln,

Logan county, Ill., he followed his trade there for about one year, during which time he erected the Spitley hotel, one of the finest buildings in that city. Returning to Virginia at the end of that time, he engaged in millwrighting, besides which he also worked at his regular trade. The years 1897-98 were spent in West Virginia, where he made a specialty of dealing in lumber and building mills, and during this time he also bought a farm and erected a mill upon it. Once more he returned to old Virginia, there follow- ing the lumber business until his removal to Dayton, Ohio, remaining in the latter place seven months. His coming to the west dates from the year 1902, at which time he went to Whittier, following his trade there for two years, at the end of that time locating in Long Beach, where he has become well known as one of the leading contractors and builders as well as reliable real-estate dealers in the city.

Mr. Wright has a very pleasant and com- modious residence at the corner of Lemon and Alamitos streets, his home being presided over by his wife, who, before her marriage, was Miss Sallie Light, she also being a native of the Old Dominion. Two children have blessed their marriage, Clarence B. and Alta May. Mr. Wright is a valued member of numerous fra- ternal organizations, among them the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows (being high priest of the encampment branch of his lodge, and is also serving as vice-grand of the subordinate branch), Modern Woodmen of America, Modern Broth- erhood, Rebekahs and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

GEORGE H. MARSH. Since taking up his residence in Pomona in 1897 Mr. Marsh has sub- stantially impressed his merit upon the com- munity. Among the busy enterprises of this thriving town due mention belongs to his man- ufactory at the corner of Cypress and Sixth streets, where he makes a specialty of manu- facturing ladders and screens. Among the for- mer are the Acme extension ladder, the tripod fruit-picking ladder, and the painter's extension ladder. The plant is supplied with modern con- veniences and appliances, and a ten-horse pow- er gas engine furnishes the motive power for the planers, saws and lathes.

Mr. Marsh is of English birth and ancestry, and was born in Kent, November 3, 1859, the son of William Henry and Emma (Crow) Marsh. The father now makes his home in Pasadena, his wife having died in England. George H. Marsh was educated in the public schools of Seven Oaks, Kent, England, and when he had reached his seventeenth year had definite plans as to his future business career. Going to Bris-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

tol, England, he apprenticed himself to learn parlor-organ building and such was his applica- tion and interest in the work that it was not long before he had established a factory of his own in the same city in which he had learned his trade, his plant being known as the Temple Organ works. After a number of years' close application to the business he took a deserved respite in the year 1891 and came to the United States, visiting Santa Rosa, Cal., among other places. Returning to England he once more took up the work of ' organ-building and for two years carried it on with apparent content. His visit to California, however, had made a lasting impression on his mind, and his object in disposing of his business in 1896 was to take up his permanent residence in the Land of Sun- shine and Flowers. For about a year after coming to Southern California he was interested in the furniture business in Los Angeles, and the following year he came to Pomona and estab- lished himself as a manufacturer of ladders and screens, his plant being the only one of the kind in town, hence the rapid growth of his business. The products of his factory are well known commodities throughout this part of the country. Not only is Mr. Marsh a manufacturer, but he is an inventor as well, having originated the bolted step used in the ladders of his manu- facture, as well as the patent lock.

Mr. Marsh was married in England to Miss Nellie Sewell, who was a native of that country also, and two children, William Gordon and Louisa have been born to them. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in their daily living exemplify the teaching they profess. Public-spirited and enterprising, Mr. Marsh is one who is not content to live for himself alone, but is happiest when giving joy or comfort to others, which makes it super- fluous to say that he has friends innumerable.

JOHN BJORKMAN. A man of sterling worth and integrity, industrious, energetic and progressive, John Bjorkman is numbered among the valued citizens of San Pedro, where for one year he served as treasurer of the Lum- ber Surveyors' Association of Southern Cali- fornia, one of its most important business or- ganizations. A native of Finland, he was born, May 4, 1871, in Nyacarleby, where his parents, John Frederick and Sophia (Harold) Bjork- man, spent their entire lives, being engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is one of a family consisting of eight children, five of whom are living, namely: Carl, of Los Angeles ; John, the special subject of this sketch; Mary, of Los Angeles ; Henry, of San Pedro; and Mrs. Louise Gustason, of Nyacarleby, Finland.

Brought up on the home farm, John Bjork- man received his elementary education in the common schools. Immigrating to America in 1889, he came directly in San Pedro, which was then but a comparatively small place, and for about four months worked on a farm. Entering then the employ of the San Pedro Lumber Com- pany, he began in a humble capacity, and grad- ually worked his way upward, 'becoming lumber inspector for that firm. Resigning that position in 1895, he established himself as a lumber sur- veyor, working for different companies as tally- man, and meeting with excellent success. In 1901 he assisted in organizing the Lumber Surveyors' Association of Southern California, of which he has since been an active and promi- nent member, and for one year was its treas- urer. Mr. Bjorkman is a man of good financial ability, and in addition to accumulating other property has a fine residence at No. 119 Orizaba street.

September 4. 1902, Mr. Bjorkman married Hannah Sisbacka, a native of Purmo, Finland, from which she emigrated in 1902, coming from there to San Pedro, arriving in this city on July 12 of that year. In religion, Mr. and Mrs. Bjorkman are Lutherans.

CHARLES L. MULLHOLAND. In 1884 Mr. Mullholand came to California and since that time has succeeded in building up for himself a competence, proving himself a pioneer farmer in the peet lands and successfully establishing his claim that these lands could be profitably culti- vated. Mr. Mullholand is a native of Wyandot county, Ohio, his birth having occurred in Carey June 25, 1864; his father, William, was also born in Ohio, near McCutchenville, while his grandfather, Hugh, was born in Ireland and be- came a pioneer farmer of Ohio, where he died. William Mullholand engaged as a farmer in Ohio until his retirement from active life, when he located in Adrian, Ohio. His wife, formerly Lucinda Long, was born in Pennsylvania, and she also survives. They were the parents of ten children, of whom seven are now living.

The fifth child in the family, Charles L. Mull- holand, was reared on the paternal farm in Ohio, receiving an education in the district school in the vicinity of his home. At the age of thirteen years he became dependent upon his own re- sources, inheriting the sturdy spirit of his ances- tors. He worked on various farms throughout the country, his last five years in Ohio being spent on the farm of David Straw. In 1884 he came to Los Angeles, thence went to Colton, and from there to the Greenlead mines, after which he mined in the Holcomb valley for two years. Going to San Diego he was employed for two

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months in the building of the No. 2 tunnel, after which he returned to Colton and entered the en- ploy of J. V. Suman. In 1889 he came to Los Angeles county and made a contract with Rich- ard Garvey to run a tunnel into the hills. This he did, at a cost of $8,000. He was then em- ployed on the Ripatti ranch, working for Hell- man, Newmark and Bicknell, and while in their employ ran a nine hundred foot tunnel for them. He then did two thousand feet of work on the Titus ranch for Bradbury and Bicknell. In the meantime he had purchased ten acres of swamp land, which he now began to improve and in 1892 purchased another ten acres and improved it, his horses having to wear peet shoes when he ditched and tiled the land. In 1896 he pur- chased another ten acres adjoining, which he ditched and improved, and the next year planted seven acres in potatoes, from which he obtained three hundred sacks per acre. He sold at a profit of $450 per acre, this being the first large yield in the vicinity. He continued his farming enter- prise and finally bought the old Bolton place near the Durfee ranch, where he made many im- provements and began general farming and gar- dening. The first ten acres he purchased he has now set to walnuts, apples and peaches, and on this has erected his home residence, owning in all thirty acres ; besides which he owns property in Adrian, Ohio, where his father still lives. He has taken a prominent part in matters of public import and has served efficiently as school trus- tee in the Puente district. Politically he is a stanch adherent of Democratic principles.

ALBERT SLACK. A native son of the state, Albert Slack was born near El Monte, Los Angeles county, July 14, 1868, a son of Will- iam Slack, a well remembered pioneer of South- ern California and one of its prominent citizens, whose history will be found elsewhere in this volume. He was next to the youngest in a family of ten children, all of whom are now liv- ing. Reared on the paternal farm near El Monte, he received his education in the public schools of this place, after which, at the age of nineteen years, he engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise establishment here. In Monrovia, January 12, 1890, he was united in marriage with Miss Eva Irene Durfee, born on her father's homestead near El Monte. James Devine Durfee was one of the earliest pioneers of this section, locating liere in 1859, and grad- ually rising to a position of affluence and in- fluence in Southern California. More complete details concerning his career are given in his personal biography, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Immediately following their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Slack located on a farm near

El Monte, upon which Mr. Slack engaged iu general farming with financial success, which enabled him in 1902 to purchase his present property. This consists of a portion of the old Allen property, located two and a half miles south of El Monte, ten acres having been set out in walnuts, while twenty acres of peet land is rented for celery and general gardening pur- poses. Mr. Slack has one of the finest ranches in this section, well improved and highly culti- vated, and which brings him in large financial returns. In addition to his farming enterprises he is also interested in teaming and as a whole- sale dealer in hay, grain and wood, furnishing the first named commodity to South Pasadena. Mr. and Mrs. Slack have three children, Howard Albert, Perry Durfee and Majorie Diantha. Politically Mr. Slack is a stanch Republican.

OLIVER PERRY THORNE. The fact that Oliver Perry Thorne is a new resident of Long Beach does not in any sense signify that he is new at the cement business, for he has been engaged in this work all of his life and has a thorough, practical knowledge of it in all its details, which accounts in a large measure for the success of the Ornamen- tal Stone and Brick Company, of which he has been manager since acquiring an interest in the firm in May, 1906. A member of a family of seven children, six of whom are now living, Mr. Thorne was born March 5, 1871, in Win- chester, Ind., the son of D. M. and Lucy (Keever) Thorne, both natives of Indiana. The father was a prominent business man of Win- chester; and a large landowner, and was an influential citizen who took an active interest in the public life of the community, at one time serving on .the board of county com- missioners from his district. During the Civil war he served in the Fifth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry as a first lieutenant, fought valiantly for his country, and during the remain- der of his life carried scars from wounds re- ceived in battle. His death in Indiana removed a man who had many friends and was held in the highest respect and esteem by all who knew him.

After completing his studies in the public and high schools of his native state Mr. Thorne learned the carpenter's trade and followed it for two years, after which for a like period he was employed by T. J. Lyst & Son, large cement contractors of Anderson, Ind., working for them as foreman in various parts of Indiana and Ohio. Following this he established himself in a cement- contracting business in Winchester, where he owned one of the first cement block machines brought into that city. His business at this time also embraced general street contracting, and in

SAMUEL WARNOCK

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all he met with excellent success. It was in the fall of 1905 that he located in Long Beach and engaged in cement contracting for a few months before buying an interest in his present business. The Ornamental Stone and Brick Company manufacture ornamental stone and cement pressed brick, using two Wingate cement block machines and one Jackson cement pressed brick machine. They also do a general contracting business in heavy cement and re-enforced concrete work and have furnished materials for many public and business buildings in the city, giving entire satisfaction to their patrons.

Mr. Thorne's marriage, which occurred in Lynn, Ind., united him with Miss Mattie Norton, a native of that place. Fraternally he is connected with a number of the more prominent organiza- tions, having been made a Mason in Lynn Lodge No. 223, A. F. & A. M .; is a member of Lynn Lodge No. 294, I. O. O. F., belonging also to the Encampment of Lynn and the canton at Winchester, Ind .; and holds membership in the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Lynn. Politically he is an advocate of Republican principles. As a public spirited citizen, an enterprising business man, and one whose well-rounded interests give him broad and liberal views he is accorded a high place in the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

SAMUEL WARNOCK. The changing destinies of military service established the Warnock family in Southern California, the first to found the race on this soil having been Samuel Warnock, a native of the north of Ire- land and a soldier in the United States army. While in the early dawn of manhood he enlist- ed in the army and in 1849 was sent to Cali- fornia as a member of Company I, Second In- fantry of Major Heintzelman's command. When the discovery of gold in the far west attracted emigrants by the thousands the gov- ernment found it necessary to establish mili- tary posts along the route of travel in order to protect the defenseless gold-seekers from the hostility of the Indians. For this purpose the secretary of war ordered Major Heintzel- man with several companies of the Second In- fantry to establish posts at various points along the western coast and on the lonely des- erts. Among other posts the major estab- lished was that on the right bank of the Col- orado river at its junction with the Gila, and this he named Fort Yuma. The location was an exceedingly important one, for the emi- grants, having fought their way down the Gila, had previous to the coming of the sol- diers fallen an easy prey to the red man.

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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 84

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