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 86

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

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J. R. Abbot received his preliminary education in the public schools of Lansing, after which he attended Lansing State Agricultural College and graduated therefrom in the class of. 1884. Upon leaving the college work he received an appoint- ment in the state library of Michigan, which posi- tion he held for the period of two years. At the expiration of that time he went into the lum- ber camps of the state to learn the lumber busi- ness, and later had charge of a part of the mill work of a lumber company of Saginaw, one of the largest concerns of that section. He engaged in this occupation for about seven years, when he severed his connections and coming to Cali- fornia purchased the ranch which he now owns, consisting of twenty-five acres, of which six are devoted to oranges and the balance in grain and pasture. He has thirty head of Jersey

cattle and conducts a dairy, now supplying Alhambra with dairy products, his wagons mak- ing daily trips to that town. He is unusually successful in his work, having brought to bear the knowledge and science acquired during his years of study in preparatory work, and prov- ing beyond doubt the advantage of such a course. Politically he is like his father a stanch Republi- can, and although never desirous of official rec- ognition he still takes an active interest in the advancement of the principles he endorses. He is a member of the Congregational Church, as is also his mother, who keeps his home for him. He is public spirited and progressive, interested in matters of public import, a worthy citizen and friend, and is looked upon as one of the representative men of this section.

LESLIE A. MILLER. San Pedro is the center of an extensive lumber trade, which has been built up through the sagacity and foresight of men of enterprise and ability, prominent among the number to whom credit for advanc- ing this profitable industry is due being Leslie A. Miller, superintendent of the National Lum- ber Company. Possessing a wide knowledge of the business in all of its details, he devotes his energies to the promotion of the business in which he is employed, and is meeting with marked success in his operations. Of excellent New England ancestry, he was born, May 9, 1869, in Whitneyville, Washington county, Me., which was also the birthplace of his parents, Albion and Maria Helen (Lowell) Miller. His father removed with his family to Minneapolis, Minn., in 1876, and there built up a large and profitable lumber business, becoming head of the Albion Miller Lumber Company. He was a man of strong personality, a stanch Republican in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity.

The youngest child in a family of which three sons and two daughters survive, Leslie A. Mil- ler was graduated from the Minneapolis high school when young, and for two years thereafter was in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company, first as a clerk, and then as foreman of the freight department. Beginning then to learn the lumber business with his father, he remained in his employ until 1896, when he went to Seattle, Wash., where he became connected with Cosh-Murray Com- pany as commercial salesman, traveling through Washington with a good line of cigars and tobacco. Coming to San Pedro in 1902, he en- tered the employ of the Whiting Lumber and Supply Company, and as its superintendent had charge of opening and building all of its vards. March 29, 1905, the name of the firm was changed to its present name, the National Lum-

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ber Company, with Perry Whiting as manager, H. W. McLeod treasurer, and Mr. Miller as superintendent, a responsible position which he is filling with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the company and its patrons.

In Minneapolis, Minn., Mr. Miller married Minnie Campbell, who was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and they have one child, Lois M. Miller. Politically Mr. Miller is true to the faith in which he was reared, and is a loyal supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Elks of Long Beach.

PETER J. FILANC, SR. The death of Peter J. Filanc in 1896 closed a career which extended over a period of seventy-seven years. Of this nearly a quarter of a century had been spent on his ranch near Colton, San Bernardino county, the same on which his son and name- sake now resides. The elder Mr. Filanc was a native of southern France, born November 3, 1818, the oldest child in his parents' family. During young manhood he went to Africa, where for nine years he engaged in the slave trade, a business which required considerable travel. In 1845 he sailed from Mecca, Arabia, to China, from there taking slaves to Salem, Mass. After following the sea many years in the interests of this business he gave it up in 1848, with the determination to make his future home in America. From New York he made his way by water to New Orleans, thence went up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers as far as Council Bluffs, Iowa. Winter overtaking him at that point he spent several months there and the following spring crossed the plains with ox-teams to Salt Lake City. The winter of that year was spent in Utah and with the opening of spring he joined a party consisting of fifty-two wagons.under the lead- ership of Captain Foote. The journey was a fortunate one, for none of the large band was seriously ill and no mishaps befell them. They arrived in San Bernardino in September of 1849, at which time there was only one fort in the place.

It was during the same year that Mr. Filanc purchased two hundred and twenty-five acres of land in this county not far from what has since sprung up and been known as the town! of Colton. By adding to the tract from time to time he finally had one thousand acres under his control and ownership, for which he paid $5 per acre. Over this vast tract his large bands of sheep roamed at will, sheep-raising forming his . principal occupation for many years, a business which netted him a good income. In later years, however. he gave it

up and stocked his ranch for dairy purposes. It was while carrying on this latter industry that he met his sudden death, being gored by a bull. Before his death he had disposed of considerable of his land, the ranch now com- prising two hundred and thirty acres, upon which a specialty is now made of cattle-raising, besides growing large crops of hay and alfalfa.

In 1859 Peter J. Filanc was united in mar- riage with Miss Elizabeth Lughan, a native of Los Angeles and a daughter of Joseph and Mary Lughan, who were born respectively in Spain and California. Mr. Lughan came to the state in a very early day and was one of the first settlers in Los Angeles. At his death in 1881 he left a family of ten children, of whom Elizabeth was the third in order of birth. She is still living, at the age of sixty years, and makes her home with her son. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Filanc the eldest, Louisa, is now the wife of Samuel Lambert, of Redondo, and the mother of four children; the next child, Aeneas, died at the age of thirty years; by his marriage with Josie Salsar one child was born, the widow and child now residing in Arizona; the youngest child, Peter J., his father's namesake, now has charge of the homestead ranch, in the management of which he is having the same success that made his father a well-to-do and substantial citizen.

JOHN H. STEWART. For many years a well-known and successful farmer of Ventura county and now a business man of Long Beach, John H. Stewart is widely known in this sec- tion of Southern California, and has won a large circle of friends. Born of a southern family of prominence, and inheriting the qualities of his Scottish forefathers, Mr. Stewart first saw the light of day July 19, 1858, in Macon, Miss. His father, Thomas H. Stewart, is one of the prominent citizens of Long Beach, where he is now retired from the active cares of life. A complete history of the family will be found on another page of this volume.

Reared to young manhood in his native state, Mr. Stewart received his education in the pub- lic schools and later accepted for his life work the occupation to which he had early been trained, engaging in farming in Lafayette coun- tv, Miss. In 1882 he followed his father to California, locating in Ventura county, where he homestcaded one hundred and sixty acres, four miles east of Saticoy. He made all of the improvements upon his property, which he brought to a high state of cultivation, being a pioneer in many lines in farming activity. He was the first farmer to plant and raise corn in the Los Posas valley and also the first to raise

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beans in that section. He remained in that location until November, 1903, when he sold out and located in Long Beach, engaging in the feed and fuel business. He is located at No. 321 East Anaheim road, near American avenue, where he deals in hay, grain, wood and coal, also the buying and selling of horses and mules. He built this property and also owns a residence at No. 1314 American avenue. He was mar- ried in New Orleans in 1880 to Miss Sarah Todd, a native of Louisiana, and born of this union are the following children: Celena, wife of Theo. Sanchez, of Long Beach; Claude, en- gaged in teaming in Long Beach; Minnie, wife of Henry Steplar, of Long Beach; Lorena and Alice at home. In 1898 Mr. Stewart made a trip to Alaska, and in February of that year crossed Chilcoot Pass and reached Lake Bennet about the time of the "great slide," when he made one of the party which dug out the buried prospectors. Later he went on to Dawson City and engaged in prospecting and mining until December, 1898, when he returned to his home in California. Mr. Stewart is a Democrat in his political affiliations, although he endorses the present administration, and is liberal and en- terprising and an all around business man.

JOHN R. HEINRICH. No country con- tributes more valuable citizens to the United States than does Germany and those industrious and well educated young men whose ambitions prompt them to come to this country where so many opportunities await them are heartily wel- comed to whatever community they may choose as their new home. They are quick to see and take advantage of openings which promise good returns for the labor expended, and are almost invariably flatteringly successful in their under- takings. John R. Heinrich, the subject of this sketch, is one of those young men about whom all of the foregoing is true, and while he has been in the United States only three years, two of which have been spent in this state, he is very enthusiastic about everything concerning California, speaks the English language fluent- ly and is highly spoken of by all who know him.

It was on October 20, 1877, that John R. Heinrich was born in Germany, where his father, Carl Heinrich, died several years ago, and where his mother, with the remaining five children of the family, still resides. He received his education in the high school of his native town and upon his arrival at New York in 1903 he secured a position at John Wanamaker's store, which is one of the largest and most promi- nent in the metropolis. After working there for one year he came to Arroyo Grande, Cal., where he has since resided. Immediately upon

his arrival here he bought the place which he now occupies, he himself putting on the im- provements, which consist of a very fine large house and buildings to accommodate fifteen hundred chickens, for his eight acres of land is given over entirely to his chicken ranch. He now has four hundred laying hens and one thou- sand young chickens, which yield him a hand- some income.

In 1904 Mr. Heinrich was married to Miss Helen Thiele, a native German, and both are members of the German Presbyterian Church, and contribute generously to the support of all benevolent and charitable interests of that de- nomination.

JAMES B. RIDDICK. Considerably more than one-half a century ago the Riddick family became connected with the agricultural develop- ment of the United States; their race being founded in this country by Joseph B. Riddick, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and an immigrant of 1846. From the time of his arrival in the United States until his death, which occurred in October, 1891, at the age of seventy-one years, he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Vermont, owning and cultivating a farm in Chittenden county, near Milton. When he crossed the ocean he was a young man without domestic ties, but a few years later he established a home, being united in marriage with Mary A. Blair, who was born in Maine, and later became a resident of Ver- mont, where she remained until her death on the home place in 1872, at the age of forty-one years.

Among three sons and five daughters compris- ing the parental family and of whom seven are now living, James B. Riddick is the second in order of birth, and was born in Milton, Vt., De- cember 28, 1852. On the completion of his studies taught in the country schools, he entered Georgia academy in Vermont, where he finished his education. Afterward he secured employ- ment on a farm, remaining in Vermont until 1872, when he removed to New Hampshire and began to work in a cotton mill at Manchester. During the year 1877 he removed to Lowell, Mass., and was similarly employed in that city until 1884. The following year found him as far west as Minnesota and for two years he made his headquarters in Minneapolis, meanwhile trav- eling through Wisconsin and Illinois in the in- terest of a rubber-stamp business. Late in the year 1885 he went back to Lowell, and from there traveled to Florida, where he remained until the spring of 1886, and then again went to Minne- apolis, soon, however, proceeding to Kansas City, Mo., where he was employed for a brief period.

It was during the fall of 1887 that James B. Riddick came to California and secured a posi-

M.M. Westover

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tion as letter carrier connected with the Los An- geles postoffice, continuing in that capacity until April of 1903, when he resigned in order to take up the real-estate business. For a year he had his offices at No. 2602 Downey avenue, Los An- geles, and he still owns property in that city. Some years ago his attention was called to Long Beach as affording a profitable field for in- vestment, and in 1900 he erected ten cottages on First street between American avenue and Elm streets. The interests of his property led him to remove to Long Beach in March, 1904, and he now has a real-estate office at No. 343 East First street, where he manages the details of his real- estate holdings and is in a position to consult with would-be investors as to desirable property. After coming to California he married Miss Mary A. Collins, who was born in Malone, Franklin county, N. Y., and has been a resident of the Pacific coast since 1889. They are the parents of three sons, Arthur. Joseph and James. The family are identified with the Long Beach Con- gregational Church, in which Mr. Riddick is a member of the board of deacons and one of the most liberal contributors and influential workers. A stanch opponent of the liquor traffic, he has given his support to the cause of prohibition and for years has advocated the theory that the in- discriminate sale of intoxicants should be sup- pressed in the interests of the prosperity of our country and the happiness of its people. The only fraternal organization with which he has identified himself is the Independent Order of Foresters at Los Angeles, in which he remained an active worker during the period of his resi- dence in that city.

M. N. WESTOVER. Upon coming to the state in 1889 Mr. Westover was attracted to the extreme southern section as offering the greatest number of opportunities, and it is reasonable to suppose that his expectations have been realized, for at no time in the in- tervening years has he contemplated remov- ing from his original location. Coming to the west from the extreme east, where the farms are necessarily much smaller than in any other portion of the country, he purchased a ranch of one hundred and fifty acres in San Diego county, not far from the village of Mesa Grande, and here inaugurated a stock and grain ranch in addition to establishing a dairy business. He now has twenty-five cows, and it is his intention to give more attention to the latter industry in the future, relinquishing the stock-raising and grain interests as the growth of his dairy warrants.

A native of Minnesota, Mr. Westover was born in Blue Earth county May 13. 1858, a

son of Orlin J. Westover. The latter was born in the Empire state, but during his early manhood went to Minnesota, and there es- tablished domestic ties by his marriage with Mary J. Britton, a native of Missouri. Two children were born of this marriage, Calvin E. and M. N., but while they were quite young they were deprived of the love and care of their mother, who passed away in 1863, when only twenty-eight years of age. This calamity to both husband and children result- ed in their removal to the east, the children be- ing placed in the public schools of Oxford, N. Y., while the father joined the regular army and at once entered upon active duty in be- half of the Union. Six months after enter- ing the service he was taken prisoner and con- fined in the loathsome dungeon at Anderson- ville, and although he was later removed, did not long survive, his death being the result of privations and improper treatment. By trade he was an experienced surveyor, following this to a considerable extent in addition to carry- ing on farming.

His school days over M. N. Westover found employment on neighboring farms in Chen- ango county. and before he had attained his majority had established a home of his own. After his marriage with Clara N. Beardsley, a native of New York state, he carried on a farm in that state for ten years, giving it up at the end of that time to settle in the west. While Mr. Westover is the gainer by larger op- portunities as a result of the change, San Diego county is also reaping a benefit from his en- terprising spirit, his ranch ranking among the most prosperous and productive in the vicin- itv of Mesa Grande.

The marriage of Mr. Westover and Clara N. Beardsley resulted in the birth of two chil- dren, Alice D. and Mary Estella, the latter the wife of T. O. Fewel, of Warner Springs, San Diego county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Westover are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically the former is a Re- publican.

JEAN APIOU. The pioneer element of Southern California has in Mr. Apiou one of its well educated and informed gentlemen who has made a personal success and at the same time has acquired a position of prominence among the citizens of this section. He was born in Lescun. Basses-Pyrenees, France, February 6, 1852, the fourth in a family of five children born to his parents, Jean and Elizabeth (Casau) Apiou, natives of the same place, where they passed their entire lives. Jean Apiou was reared on the pater- nal farm and educated in the public and private

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

schools of his native land. November 18, 1868, he left Havre, France, bound for America, and after landing in New York City took passage via the Isthmus of Panama for San Francisco, which he reached January 4, 1869. His first employment was on a farmi in that vicinity, where he remained until November of following year, when he came to Los Angeles and found a like occupation here until 1874. At this date he purchased a herd of sheep in partnership with a cousin, Pierre Beilhes, and with this herd of twelve hundred began an independent ef- fort in sheep raising. In 1876 they located in San Bernardino county and there in 1879 Mr. Apiou purchased his partner's interest and con- tinued alone for two years. Disposing of the business at the expiration of that time because of impaired health, he took a trip to France and at Vichy Springs took treatments which restored his health. Returning to California in 1889, the following year he again embarked in the sheep business, retaining his herd for three months, when he sold out, and since that time has acted as business agent for his countrymen occupied in this work. He acts occasionally as interperter for both French and Spanish in the courts of Los Angeles, where he is most widely and favor- ably known.

In Los Angeles, May 19, 1906, Mr. Apiou was united, in marriage with Mrs. Jeannette Agoure, also a native of France, and a daughter of Jean Pierre Higue, formerly a farmer in France and a town official, and now a resident of Los Angeles. Her first marriage united her with Jean Pierre Agoure, a native of France, who came to America in 1873 and engaged in the sheep business until his retirement, when he located in Los Angeles and spent the remainder of his days, his death occurring February 25, 1903. They had three children, Emma, Annie and Theresa. Mr. Apiou is a member of the French Benevolent Society of San Francisco, and politically leans toward the principles of the Democratic party, although he is too broad to be bound to cast his ballot for any set of men, reserving the right to interest himself for the man whom he considers best qualified for public service. Mr. Apiou is broad minded and liberal in his ideas, and as a progressive citizen has done much for the material upbuilding of Los Angeles.

FRANK A. BORCHARD. Descended from a family that was represented among the pioneers in the early days of the American occupancy of California and that has since given to the state citizens of worth and intelligence, Frank A. Borchard has passed his life within the imme- diate vicinity of his present home, and was born November 7, 1876, on a ranch within two miles

of where Oxnard now stands. The first of the name to settle on the Pacific coast was his grand- father, Christian Borchard, a native of Germany, and during early manhood a resident of Iowa. Attracted by reports concerning the discovery of gold in California he closed out his interests in Iowa and accompanied by his family and such supplies as were necessary, he started upon the long and dangerous trip across the plains through a region inhabited only by hostile Indians. Ar- riving safely on the western coast, he took up farm work near Antioch and later moved to Ventura county, where he died about 1903, at an advanced age. It was his privilege to be spared to witness the remarkable growth of the state to which he came when it was sparsely set- tled and comparatively unknown, and he was wont to contrast the hardships of pioneer days with the improvements and conveniences of the twentieth century.

In the family of Christian Borchard was a son, J. E., who was born in Iowa and was eighteen months old when the family crossed the plains to Contra Costa county, Cal., and later he came with them to Ventura county, where he was one of the earliest settlers on this side of the river. After he had removed to this locality he mar- ried Miss Mary Kaufman, who was born in Minnesota and came across the plains with her father, Michael Kaufman, settling among the pioneers of the Sacramento valley, but later re- moving to the Santa Clara valley, Ventura coun- ty, where Mr. Kaufman remained until death. Both J. E. and Mrs. Borchard are living and nine of their twelve children survive, Frank A. being third in order of birth. Reared on the' home farm, he was given the advantages of local schools, supplemented by attendance at St. Vin- cent's College in Los Angeles and Throop In- stitute in Pasadena.

Upon starting out for himself Mr. Borchard engaged in raising beets on a ranch near Ox- nard. During the dry years it was necessary to irrigate the land. For that purpose he bought a gasoline engine, installed the same and operated it with success, finding that it proved a valuable acquisition for a rancher. During May of 1900 he assisted in the organization of the Oxnard Implement Company, of which he was chosen assistant manager. On the incorporation of the company he continued to act as assistant manager and in addition held the office of vice-president. The company owns the largest implement house in Ventura county and lie still retains stock in the enterprise. In August of 1905 he bought the stationery and news business owned by H. A. Thatcher, and about the same time was ap- pointed agent at Oxnard for the Wells-Fargo Express Company. At the store on the corner of Fifth and B streets, on the Plaza, he carried a

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full line of stationery, and handled all of the Los Angeles papers in addition to the San Fran- cisco Chronicle, Call, Examiner and Bulletin. In 1906 he disposed of the business in order to engage in the selling and setting up of gasoline engines of the Fairbanks-Morse type, varying in horse power from two to one hundred and fifty, these being especially adapted for the purposes of the farmers of this locality. In May, 1906, he purchased an interest in the Oxnard Furniture and Plumbing establishment. Mr. Borchard's home in Oxnard is presided over by his wife, who was formerly Miss Millie Mclaughlin, and is a native of this valley, receiving her education in local schools. For some years Mr. Borchard has been identified with the Citizens Club of Ox- nard and he further holds membership with the Knights of Columbus and the Fraternal Brother- hood.

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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 86

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