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 9

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

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MARTIN JULIUS LAURENT. For more than one-quarter of a century Mr. Lau- rent was intimately identified with the devel- opment of Ventura county. Measured by the history of the far-distant ages of the past, twenty-five years represent but a brief epoch, but it is a long time gauged by the present standards of progress and activitv. Not until years after he had settled on a farm in the Santa Clara valley of the south did the near- by town of Oxnard spring into existence. At that time transportation facilities were few and unsatisfactory. Modern farming tools had not been brought to their present state of de- velopment ; indeed, the larger part of those

now used were but a nebula in the inventor's brain. School and church advantages were meagre. Men had before them the arduous task of subduing an unknown soil and ascer- taining to what products it was best adapted; hence there was little leisure for recreation, yet it was in those days that the charm of gracious hospitality shone at its brightest and the kindly deeds in another's interests were of common occurrence.

In the settlement and development of Cali- fornia almost every nationality was represent- ed. Mr. Laurent represented the French race, being a descendant of a long line of ancestry identified with the history of France. His father, Nicholas, who was a native of that country, became a merchant tailor in Louis- ville, Ky., but later took up farming pursuits among the pioneers of Leavenworth county, Kans., and eventually moved to Douglas coun- ty, where he died at Lawrence. Loyal in de- votion to his adopted country, he offered his services to the Union during the Civil war and served as a member of a Kansas regiment. His wife, Ursul, also died in Lawrence. The eldest child and only son among their three children was Martin Julius, who was born in Louisville, Ky., March 14, 1842, and in early boyhood accompanied the family to Kansas, there attending the public schools. Practical- ly the first employment which he secured was that of clerk for an uncle at Cape Girardeau, Mo., and later he engaged in the mercantile business for himself in Missouri for two years.

The marriage of Mr. Laurent was solem- mized at Lawrence, Kans., February 23, 1871, and united him with Miss Annette Petit, who was born in the department of Haute-Saone in the eastern part of France near the German border and also in close proximity to the mountains separating France from Switzer- land. Her father, Jean Baptiste Petit, for vears was a farmer in that region, but in 1853 he brought the family to the United States and settled in Clearfield county, Pa., there engaging in farm pursuits and also in lumber- ing. The year that marked the close of the Civil war saw him a pioneer of Douglas coun- ty. Kans .. where he engaged in farming near a hamlet then known as Blackjack. During 1875 he came to California and settled in the Santa Clara valley of the south, where he died in 1804, at the age of eighty-four vears. A number of years before leaving France he married Miss Elizabeth Catherine Carame, daughter of Louis Carame, a manufacturer of agricultural implements in France. Her death occurred in Kansas in 1870, when she was six- ty-one years of age. Five children comprised their family, namely: Mrs. Harriet Roussey,

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a resident of Oxnard, Cal .; Margaret, who died in Pennsylvania in early girlhood; An- nette, Mrs. Laurent, of Oxnard; Frank and Justin, both of whom cultivate farms near Ox- nard.

For a short time after his marriage Mr. Laurent followed farming and the mercantile business in Kansas, but in 1874 he removed to California and settled in the Santa Clara valley, renting land ncar the present site of Oxnard. Bothi he and his wife were pleased with the climate and the surroundings, and therefore they soon decided to become prop- erty owners. At first they bought only a small strip of land, but by the purchase of ad- jacent tracts they acquired a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, on which they erected a substantial and commodious ranch house. He was among the first to adopt modern imple- ments suitable for caring for the different crops raised, and always took pride in his fine stock. About 1889 they rented the ranch and removed to Los Angeles, but soon returned to Ventura county and bought lots in Oxnard, where they erected an attractive and elegant residence. In the midst of these pleasant sur- roundings which his wise labors had rendered possible Mr. Laurent passed his last days and here he died February 14, 1902, when lacking one month of sixty years of age. The Santa Clara Catholic Church, of which he had been a liberal and earnest member, had charge of the ceremonies connected with his funeral, while citizens in general, irrespective of re- ligious affiliations, were as one in their trib- utes of respect to his memory and apprecia- tion of his worth. Since his death Mrs. Lau- rent has rented the ranch to tenants ,who have the land under cultivation to beans and beets, and maintain its reputation as one of the finest farms of its size in the entire state. Like her husband, she has been interested in public questions and has believed in Democratic principles throughout all of her life. Like him, too, she is earnest in her allegiance to the Santa Clara Church. The congregation has been benefited by her generous offerings and the various church societies have felt the in- fluence of her helpful work and executive ability.

M. BLANCHE BOLTON, M. D. Not to men alone is due the credit for the rapid devel- opment, progress and upbuilding of this west- ern state, for in nearly all avenues since the pio- neer days the wives, daughters and sisters of these courageous men have proven themselves equally courageous and self-sacrificing. Along medical lines a successful exponent is named in

the person of M. Blanche Bolton, M. D., well and widely known in San Pedro, Los Angeles county, where she has been engaged in the prac- tice of her profession since 1899. She is a na- tive daughter of the state, born in San Francisco one of five children in the family of her parents, J. J. and Mary A. (Swayze) Bolton, both of whom are living and are now residents of San Gabriel. The father, a native of England, was brought to Toronto, Canada, by his parents and there grew to manhood. He became a farmer in that section, where he remained until 1873, in which year he located in San Francisco. Later he followed general farming in Dixon, Solano county, Cal., until his removal to San Gabriel. His wife is a native of Montreal, Canada. One son, Becher Bolton, is practicing medicine in Napa, Cal., and another son, Manzanito Bolton, is also a physician, being located at Johnsville, Cal. William makes his home in San Gabriel, and Agnes is at home with her parents.

M. Blanche Bolton was born in San Fran- cisco, Cal., receiving her preliminary education in the public and high schools of that place. In 1894 she became a student in the California Med- ical College, graduating from that institution in 1897 with the degree of M. D., after which she spent one year in Guadalajara, Mexico, begin- ning the practice of her profession with her uncle, Dr. Winfield Swayze. In 1899 she came to San Pedro, and since that date has engaged in a general practice of medicine and surgery and has built up an extensive and lucrative patron- age throughout this section. She is a member of the Los Angeles Medical Society, the Southern California Eclectic Medical Society, and the State Eclectic Medical Society. She is promi- nent as a member of the Rebekahs, in which she is past officer.

HAMILTON M. SQUIRES. Many years have come and gone since Mr. Squires estab- lished his home on a ranch in San Diego coun- ty, and now for a quarter of a century he has remained on the same homestead, busily en- gaged in raising general farm products and in breeding registered stock as fine as the lo- cality can boast. In addition to his own tract of nine hundred acres he superintends nine- teen hundred acres owned by his wife, so that their united possessions represent a large val- uation and entail considerable responsibility upon the proprietor. The home place is sit- uated three miles south of Vista and bears im- provements showing the owners to possess thrift, energy and ample means.

Few men are more deeply interested in the history and progress of California than Mr. Squires, and perhaps this fact by some may be

Dr. A. Auld

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

attributed to the coincidence of his birth, Sep- tember 7, 1850, occurring just two days before California was admitted as a state into the Union. His earliest recollections are connect- ed with pioneer days in the west, and a few of these memories are more thrilling than pleasant, notably his recollection, with the vividness of an event happening yesterday, of the shooting of Sheriff "Billy" Getman in Los Angeles by an insane man, William Jenkins of the San Gabriel valley being shot in the leg at the same time. On another occasion his father was a member of the vigilance commit- tee of Los Angeles that dealt with Juan Flores, the murderer of Sheriff Barton.

At the age of seventeen years E. W., father of H. M. Squires, removed from his native Kentucky to Missouri, and in 1847 there mar- ried Louisa Smith, a native of Ohio. Two years later the young couple started for Cali- fornia in a wagon drawn by oxen. After a long journey they arrived at Fort Lassen, where he engaged in the butchering business and sold meat to the miners. In 1850 they left that locality and traveled via wagon to Santa Clara county. During the progress of this journey, while they were encamped in tents in Grass valley, a son was born whom they named Hamilton M. Four years were spent in Santa Clara county and then they removed to Los Angeles county, settling at El Monte, two miles from the San Gabriel Mission. In 1858 they moved from there to the Temple grant about six miles south of the city of Los Angeles, and on a farm in that vicinity they spent many busy years. In the fall of 1870 they moved to a farm near Santa Ana, and in 1874 they established their home at Olive, Orange county ; there the death of the father occurred March 18, 1906, the mother passing away October 22 of the same year. Their happy married life had covered a period of about sixty years. In sunshine and in shadow they labored together, and an honored old age rewarded their well-spent years. Twelve chil- dren comprised their family, and all but one of these attained mature years, ten still living in California.

As an assistant to his father, Hamilton M. Squires early gained a comprehensive knowl- edge of agriculture and when he came to his present ranch in 1881 he was well qualified to conduct a farm systematically and profitably. While devoting himself closely to the man- agement of his land he still finds leisure to participate in local affairs and for nine consec- utive years served as school trustee. Political- ly he favors the Democratic party, but main- tains an independent attitude in local elec- tions. In September of 1897 he married Miss

Mary Emma Kelly, who was born at Dead- wood, Placer county, Cal., and is a woman of refinement and culture, a devoted member of the Christian Church, and a loving mother to her two children, Ida Belle and John Hamil- ton. The family of which she is a member (mention of whom is made in the sketch of her sister, Mrs. Minnie Borden, on another page) came to California in an early day and settled among the pioneers of upper San Di- ego county, where ever since they have been prominent citizens.

WILLIAM H. AULD. One of the most ex- tensive ranchmen in Alamos valley is William H. Auld, who is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families in this section. He operates a thirteen hundred acre ranch, half of which he owns, and is engaged in raising horses and the growing of wheat crops, the latter necessitat- ing the use of a combined harvester. He was born July 2, 1855, in Amador county, Cal., the son of George and Caroline D. (Hodges) Auld, both of whom died in Riverside county, the former July 30, 1901, at the age of eighty-three years, and the latter in 1889, being then sixty- seven years old.

George Auld was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, July 20, 1818, his father, John, having been a native of Scotland. He received his education at the place of his birth, and in the same locality engaged, as a young man, in the general merchandise business. After his marriage, which occurred in the early '50s, he came to California and located in Amador county, from there going to Santa Clara county, and finally, in 1880, he removed to Alamos valley, where he took up land from the government, becoming one of the first set- tlers here. He built the first house and barns of the place and otherwise improved it, and as time passed increased his holdings by pur- chase from the railroads until he had acquired the present ranch, which embraces about four- teen hundred acres. Five hundred acres of the land is devoted to farming purposes, the re- Inainder being in pasture. During his life Mr. Auld served on the school board, and from March 3, 1809, until the time of his death filled the office of postmaster at Auld. Four of his five children are still living and have homes in this locality. Eliza F. was educated in Santa Clara county, where she taught school for a time, later engaged in that occupation in Riverside county for five years, and is now housekeeper for her brothers, Henry and Charles, who live on and operate the home place. The last-named son is a member of the Republican county central committee, is a

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deputy county clerk, and also clerk of the Ala- mos school district. Miss Auld is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. George F. died at the age of twenty-two years.

William H. Auld received a common-school education in Santa Clara county and came to this locality with his father in 1880. His mar- riage, which occurred here in 1902, united him with Emily D. Higgins, a native of Missouri, and they have become the parents of two chil- dren, Alma C. and George H. Mr. Auld is one of the most substantial and highly respect- ed men of this community and takes an active interest in all matters tending to improve and develop his part of the state.

JAMES MILLIGAN. Occupying a con- spicuous position among the agriculturists of Ventura county who have worked their way forward from poverty to independence and through hardships to success, mention should be made of James Milligan, the owner of a finely improved ranch lying three-fourths of a mile south of Oxnard. The farm is valuable by reason of its remarkable fertility as well as its substantial improvements. At the time of purchasing in 1899, Mr. Milligan paid $265 an acre for sixty-three acres and at once devoted the soil to the raising of beans and beets. By subsequent purchase he has increased the ranch to its present dimensions of one hundred and seven acres, all under the plow and lying in one body. An abundance of water is fur- ished by means of an artesian well with a pumping plant, and with the best of facilities for irrigation it has been possible for the own- er to raise as much as twenty-five tons of sugar beets per acre. The cost of bringing the crop to a condition for marketing is far greater than would he supposed by those un- familiar with the business. At present prices for labor and seed, the cost may be estimated as follows: $2 per acre for seed: $2 per acre for hoeing and cultivating : $2.50 for plowing; $5 for thinning the plants; $10 for loading the crop ; and $6 for hauling, a total of $27.50, so that it costs little less than $30 per acre to raise beets and deliver them.

During the ninteenth century John and Jane (Campbell) Milliken, natives of county Antrim. Ireland, immigrated to the United States and settled near Ogdensburg. N. Y., in Lisbon township. St. Lawrence county, where the father engaged in farming until his death at sixtv-five years, and the mother also died at that place. Both were descended from Scotch ancestors who fled to Ireland dur- ing the era of religious persecutions. Their two sons, James and William C. (twins),

changed the family name for convenience to Milligan. They were born near Ogdensburg, N. Y., June 29, 1856, and William C. died at Worcester, Mass. James was reared on the home farm and received common-school edu- cational advantages. During April of 1880 he came west as far as Nevada, where he spent one year at Reno. From there he came to California and settled in Ventura county. Be- ing entirely without means, he was obliged to work for wages, and for a few years was em- ployed as a farm hand, rising in time to be foreman of the Dixie Thompson ranch, where he remained for seven years in the successful management of the estate. With the savings of that period he bought thirty-six acres two miles northwest of the present site of Oxnard and began to engage in raising beans, but later he sold the land in order to purchase the larger ranch he now owns. When it is re- membered that he came to Ventura county practically penniless and now owns a property valued at many thousands of dollars, it will he conceded that this county offers many op- portunities to men of energy, determination and industrious habits.

After coming to Ventura county Mr. Milli- gan met and married Miss Elizabeth Hutchins, who was born near Des Moines, Iowa, re- ceived a fair education, and is a lady of gentle disposition, earnestly devoted to her family and to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a faithful member. Their family consists of six children, namely: Estella, Ralph, James, William, Robert and John. While Mr. Milligan has been too deeply en- grossed in agricultural affairs to permit of ac- tivity in politics, yet he always has kept post- ed concerning issues before the nation and has given his steadfast allegiance to the Republi- can party, at one time serving as a member of its county central committee. The only fra- ternal organization to which he belongs is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his mem- bership being with the lodge at Oxnard.

DR. ROBERT W. BROWN is one of the re- spected and highly esteemed physicians in the Santa Maria valley and is recognized as a man thoroughly well posted in all matters pertain- ing to his profession: in the short time that he has been practicing in this community he has built up an extensive practice. His fine home in Santa Maria is one of the most comfortable in the village. Dr. Brown was born in London, England, January 27, 1862. His father, Samuel Brown, who was a merchant, died at the age of fifty-two years in his native land, while the mother, who was Miss Jane Palmer before her

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

marriage, and also a native of England, lived to be sixty-five years old. There were eleven children born to this family, seven of whom are still living, the doctor being the only member of the family in California. The mother was a communicant of the Episcopal Church and the son holds a membership in the same denomina- tion.

Dr. Brown received his early education in a private school in London, where he prepared for his collegiate course. Then he went to Canada and entered the Manitoba Medical College at Winnipeg, later taking the examination at the University of Manitoba in the same city. In his studies he pursued a general line in medi- cine and surgery and later received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. From Canada he came to the United States, in 1893, locating at Glen- wood, Wis., where he remained for five years practicing his profession. From there he removed to Nipomo, Cal., where he followed a general practice of medicine until 1905, when he came to Santa Maria. In 1894 his marriage to Miss Anna L. Kidd, a native of Ireland, occurred, and to them have been born two children, Roy and Lucile. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she is an active worker. Fraternally Dr. Brown affiliates with the Masonic order at Santa Maria and is a member of the Independent Order of Red Men of this place.

ARISTIDES E. STOKES. Years ago, ere white men had discovered the possibilities of the Ramona valley and ere any attempt had been made at permanent settlement or improvement, there came to this region Adolphus Stokes, a native of Los Angeles and a young man eager to acquire large tracts for his stock interests. A tour of inspection convinced him that abundant pasturage could here be obtained for his large herds, and accordingly he bought such properties as were for sale, gradually increasing his pos- sessions until he held the title to seventeen thou- sand seven hundred and sixty acres in the valley. Upon the land he put up a cabin of adobe and es- tablished himself as the first white settler in the valley, taking up the difficult task of improving a homestead remote from human habitation and destitute of means of transportation to the mar- kets. As people began to be attracted to the country he sold off some of his estate, retaining perhaps one-fourth of the entire grant, and at his death, February 21, 1897, at the age of fifty-three years, he left to his children about fifteen hundred acres of the original tract. He built three houses on different parts of his property and conducted the first stage line between Julian and San Diego.

While living in Los Angeles Adolphus Stokes

met and married Dolores Olvera, a young Span- ish girl, who was born and reared in that city, and who was a member of an old family of South- ern California. Her death occurred January 6, 1896, when she was forty-nine years of age. Seven children were born of their union, namely : Concepcion, wife of Ernest S. Howe, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Aristides E .; Flora, of San Diego; Camilla, who married C. R. Angui- sola, of San Diego; Esperanza, wife of William O. Marr, of Coronado; Esther, who died at twenty-two years of age, and Ysabella, wife of Robert Green, of Escondido.

During the residence of the family in Los An- geles Aristides E. Stokes was born February 9, 1872. In early childhood he came to the Ra- mona valley and here he attended the public schools. Later he was sent to Santa Clara Col- lege in order that he might have advantages im- possible in the home locality, but ill health pre- vented him from completing the course and obliged him to relinquish his studies entirely. Upon regaining his strength he entered actively upon agricultural pursuits and carried on a part- nership with his father in the raising of stock. After the death of his father he acquired inde- pendent interests and now owns a ranch of about two hundred acres near the village of Ramona. where he keeps about fifteen milch cows as well as other stock and carries on grain and stock farming. The neat house on the ranch reflects the tastes and orderly spirit characteristic of Mrs. Stokes, who was formerly Miss Emma J. Libby, being a daughter of an honored pioneer, B. F. Libby, mentioned on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes were married at San Luis Rey February 14, 1901, and are the parents of four sons, Benjamin Franklin, Edward C., Charles Raymond and Harold L. The family are of the Catholic faith and have their membership in the San Diego church of that denomination. Politically Mr. Stokes favors Democratic prin- ciples and always votes for the men and meas- ures of the party. Though not caring for office himself, he has several times consented to serve as school trustee and has filled the office with efficiency and an earnest desire to advance local educational interests. The only fraternal or- ganization with which he has membership is the Ancient Order of Foresters at Ramona, Court No. 8520, in which he has been an active worker for a number of years and to whose charities he is a contributor.

CARROLL E. BORDEN. The family of which this enterprising agriculturist is a lead- ing representative came to San Diego county in an early day and has since given to their adopted locality men and women of high prin-

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ciples of honor, substantial worth and unflag- ging energy, citizens of inestimable value in the permanent development of the community, and contributors to educational, religious and philanthropic movements. Extended mention of the family appears on another page of this volume, in the sketch of Mrs. Minnie L. Bor- den, mother of Carroll E. Borden, and an hon- ored resident of the county.

The entire life of Carroll E. Borden thus far has been passed within the limits of his native county of San Diego, where he was born at San Marcos May 13, 1884, and where he re- ceived a fair education in the schools of Carls- bad. While still a mere lad he gained a com- prehensive knowledge of agriculture as ap- plied to the soil and climate of his home coun- ty, hence he was qualified to engage success- fully in farm pursuits when, in 1903, he left the parental roof and started out to make his own way in the world. Removing to a tract of five hundred acres in the vicinity of Vista. he erected a farm house, substantial barn and other buildings, and has since given his atten- tion to the maintenance of a high class of im- provements on the farm. The raising of grain has been his specialty and the entire tract is under cultivation to cereals.

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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 9

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