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 91

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

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In St. Louis, Mo., December 6, 1886, Mr. Myers was united in marriage with Miss Alma Newman, who is a native of Fulton, Mo. Two children have been born to them, Harvey H., who is attending Leland Stanford University, and Philip N., Jr. Politically Mr. Myers is a Republican, and is active in party ranks. For six years he served as county central committeeman, and in June, 1906, was chair- man of the county convention for the nomina- tion of candidates. On June 18, 1906, he was sent as a delegate to the state convention which met in Santa Cruz. Numerous fra- ternal organizations claim his membership, among them the Republican Club, of which he was the first president, Benevolent Protective

Order of Elks of Riverside, Independent Or- der of Foresters, Fraternal Aid and the Knights of the Maccabees. With his wife Mr. Myers attends the Episcopal Church, of which they are both members. By right of her descent from Revolutionary ancestors Mrs. Myers has received certificate of membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, in whose ranks she is an active worker. The Myers home is one of the most beautiful and attractive places in Hemet, a town which is indebted immeasurably to Mr. Myers for what he has accomplished.

WILLIAM T. MCLAUGHLIN. An ener- getic and enterprising young rancher, William T. Mclaughlin is located two and one-half miles southwest of Palms, Los Angeles county, en- gaged in the cultivation and improvement of a ranch of fifty acres which he owns, besides rent- ing two hundred acres which he carries on in con- nection with his own property.

A native of Douglas county, Kans., born No- vember 17, 1865, William T. Mclaughlin is a son of John and Mary (Riggs) Mclaughlin, born in Pennsylvania and Missouri respectively. While he was still a young man the father be- came a pioneer settler in the commonwealth of Kansas, and as he was born in 1834, was less than thirty years old at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He joined a Kansas regiment in defense of the Union, and though his service was not protracted, it was rendered willingly and faithfully. When he located in Kansas many years ago he took up from the government a quarter section of land which he improved and cultivated with the idea of making his home there indefinitely, but the year 1870 brought about a change in his plans and witnessed his removal to California. His first purchase of land in the state was a ranch of one hundred and fifty acres in Los Angeles county not far from Compton, and upon selling this some time later he invested the proceeds in a ranch on Adams street in the same vicinity. At this writing he is living retired in Los Angeles, making his home on Twentieth street. Named in order of birth the children comprising the parental family are as follows: Ellen, who became the wife of F. Garrison; Mattie, Mrs. C. R. Coe; William T., the subject of this sketch: Belle, who is un- married and makes her home with her parents; George, who chose as his wife Bessie Andrews; Eva and Walter, also at home: Ida, Mrs. George Rittsman ; and Minnie, the wife of H. W. Chase.

When twenty-one years of age William T. McLaughlin assumed the responsibilities of life on his own account, and the property which he then selected and purchased is the same on which

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he makes his home today. This comprises fifty acres not far from the village of Bollona, but as the latter is not a postoffice he receives his mail and markets his produce in Palms, which is about two and a half miles distant from his ranch. Besides this property he owns two hun- dred acres in Tulare and Kings counties. Carson City, Nev., was the early girlhood home of Mrs. Mclaughlin, who before her marriage was Miss Laura Kitzmeyer. She is now the proud mother of two daughters, Inez and Lulu. While Mr. McLaughlin is not named as a follower of either of the great political bodies, it is no indication that he is luke-warm in his interest in the af- fairs of his nation and county, but on the other hand suggests an independent spirit, and in cast- ing his ballot for the man best fitted for the office rather than for the support of a political organization he is acting from the point of prin- ciple.

JOHN McGLASHAN. In whatever part of the world the Scotch people may elect to reside they are welcomed as valued additions to the citizenship of the locality, for their thrift, energy and high principles of honor are known the whole world around, and it is generally conceded that no race excels them in the qualities that contribute toward ideal citizenship. Represent- ative of that nation is John McGlashan, a pros- perous rancher who owns and operates a ranch of seventy-eight acres in the vicinity of Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo county, and who for a number of years has cultivated this tract with increasing financial returns and gratifying suc- cess. A portion of the property is under culti- vation to beans, while twenty acres are utilized as pasture land for horses.

Born in Scotland August 28, 1835, this pro- gressive farmer is a son of John and Elizabeth (Rogers) McGlashan, also natives of that coun- try, but during much of their married lives citi- zens of Fulton county, N. Y., where the mother died at sixty-six years and the father when eighty-two years of age. Of their ten children seven are still living, and these were trained to habits of uprightness, industry and honesty under the wise preceptorship of the parents. In re- ligious views the family were earnest members of the Presbyterian Church. During all of his active life the father followed agricultural pur- suits and while he did not reap a fortune from his labors, he was enabled to support his large family in comfort and accumulated a competency for his old age.

When the family left Scotland for the shores of the new world Jolin McGlashan was a boy of eight years, and much of his education was ac- quired in the schools of Fulton county, N. Y.,

where he grew to manhood. In addition to work- ing on a farm in youth he learned the trade of mason, but this he did not follow for any consid- erable period. Leaving the east in 1858 he went to the frontier regions of what was then known as the Colorado desert. For one year he worked for Butterfield & Co., in the overland mail route. On settling in California he engaged in ranching in Alameda county, where he remained about ten years. Later he went to the San Joaquin valley, but met with heavy reverses in his agricultural enterprises in that part of the state. After six years in that locality he left to start anew in another region, and proceeded to San Luis Obispo county, where he has made his home since 1875. For a time he owned a ranch on the other side of Arroyo Grande, but eventually he sold and in 1903 he bought the property he still owns. Here he is retrieving the losses of earlier years and by dint of perseverance and energy he has won re- cognition among the progressive ranchers of the valley.

The marriage of Mr. McGlashan took place in 1866 and united him with Lucy A. Rooker, a native of Iowa and a member of the Presby- terian Church. They are the parents of four children, The eldest son, John A., was first married to Malinda Gibson, and to them one child was born; his marriage with Eva Beavers resulted in the birth of two children. The second son. David R. married Mattie Bray and has three children. The third son, Joe W., now deceased, married Rose Eubanks, who survives him. The youngest son, Charles, is unmarried and resides on the home ranch. Politically Mr. McGlashan gives allegiance to the Democratic party, but he displays no partisan spirit and is liberal and broad-minded in his views.

FREDERICK C. HESS. Comparatively few of the men now prominent in agricultural or commercial affairs in San Luis Obispo county have spent their entire lives within its limits, but such is the record of the young gentleman whose name introduces this article and whose energy and progressive spirit have made him popular among the ranchers in the vicinity of Arroyo Grande. This village is his native place and November 24, 1873, the date of his birth. In addition to attending the grammar school here he had the advantage of a course of study in the San Francisco Business College, and on his return to this county he began to work 011 a ranch, starting out for himself in 1897. The farm which he occupies and operates near Arroyo Grande comprises seventy-three acres of valuable land. Besides this tract he has fifteen acres at Pismo devoted principally to beans and ten acres planted to apricots and walnuts. His marriage

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and his independent undertaking of ranching were both events of the year 1897, the former oc- curring in September, at which time he was united with Miss Tessie Ransom, a native of San Jose, this state. Mrs. Hess was one of the two chil- dren comprising the family of Amasa and Mary (Wallace) Ransom, the former of whom was born in New York and died at thirty-six years, while the latter was born in Michigan and died at forty-five years of age. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hess there have been born two children, Freda and Carl. Fraternally Mr. Hess holds membership with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias at Arroyo Grande.

The Hess family is of German origin, and the parents of Frederick were both natives of Germ- any, but emigrated from there to the United States in 1866. The father, Henry, was a native of the city of Frankfort, and in that part of the empire married Susan Schimph, by whom he be- came the father of five children. Of this family two daughters are now deceased. Both parents survive and at this writing make their home in the city of Berkeley, where they have many friends, and they also are remembered with es- teem and respect by old friends in San Luis Obispo county. After coming to this country the father allied himself with the Republican party and the son was reared in that faith, to which he still adheres, voting the regular party ticket at local and national elections.

PETER L. IVERSEN. Among the many prominent residents of San Pedro worthy of special representation in this volume is Peter L. Iversen, who, as president of the Terminal Ship and Boat Building Company, is actively as- sociated with the advancement of the industrial and commercial interests of Southern California. A native of Denmark, he was born, October 31, 1846, at Skjelskor, Sjaeland, where his father, Hartvig Steffen Iversen, a shoemaker by trade, spent his entire life. His mother, whose maiden name was Anne Dorthea Peterson, was born in Aggerso, Denmark, and, like her husband, was a life-long resident of her native land. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom grew to years of maturity, the fourth child in order of birth being Peter L., the subject of this sketch. Several of their descendants set- tled in this country, some of whom are promi- nent in public life, one of their grandchildren, Jens Iversen Westengaard, a graduate of Harv- ard University, being at present one of the legal advisers of the King of Siam.

Brought up in his native town, Peter L. Iver- sen was educated in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen years began learning the

trade of a ship carpenter, serving an appren- ticeship of three years at Karrchaks minde. He was afterwards ship carpenter on deep water vessels for a short time, acquiring practical ex- perience in his chosen industry. In 1867 he came to California, sailing from Scotland as a ship carpenter, and seven months later, having rounded the Horn, arrived in San Francisco. For several years thereafter he was engaged in the coasting trade, going as a common sailor, and subsequently being similarly employed on the Sacramento river, where he was at first mate on a schooner, and afterwards master of a ves- sel. In 1880, as master of the schooner Adeline, he came to San Pedro to assist in hauling the rock from Catalina to build the break-water in this harbor. Completing his work in that line, he entered the employ of the government, and as ship carpenter was employed in different ca- pacities, among other things having charge of the building of two lighters. He was after- wards ship carpenter for the Wilmington Trans- portation Company for awhile, and on giving up that position, in 1891, established a boat yard on Terminal Island. The land being subsequently claimed by the railroad company, Mr. Iversen compromised with it, retaining his present yard, which is 140x140 feet, and is located just op- posite Terminal. With his partner, he is car- rying on a large and lucrative business as a member of the enterprising firm of Fulton & Iversen, and in addition to building boats and launches of all kinds, and repairing vessels in port, he erected the building for the San Pedro Canning Company. Mr. Iversen is a man of excellent business ability, and by dint of industry, forethought and good management has acquired a handsome property. When he first came to San Pedro he erected a house for himself and family on Eleventh street, and has since built the pleasant residence that he now occupies, at No. 248 Eleventh street.

June 9, 1897, in Los Angeles, Cal., Mr. Iver- sen married Helena Bertha Lang, who was born in Luzern, Switzerland, of German ancestry. Her parents, John and Lucilla (Marfort) Lang, were life-long residents of Luzern, and she was their only child. Her father, who was a miller by trade, died in manhood's prime, and her mother died when Mrs. Iversen was a child of eleven years. Being this left an orphan, she came, in 1883, to the United States with Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman, who were traveling through Switzer- land, and for four or more years lived with them in Enterprise, Kans., while there perfect- ing her studies in English. In 1887 she came to San Diego, Cal., and four years later went to San Francisco, from there going to San Jose. and later locating in Los Angeles, where, she resided until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Iver-

S. Campodonico.

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sen have two children, Anna Lucilla and Harold Steffen. Fraternally Mr. Iversen is a member and past grand district deputy of the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows: and a past officer of the Knights of Pythias; and both he and his wife belong to the Rebekahs. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Iversen are Lutherans.

S. CAMPODONICO. Since in its most intelligent form success is measured by the faculty of contributing to the well-being of the community, by promoting soundness in finance, politics, education. ethics and some of the useful arts of living, the career of S. Campodonico must be regarded as of vital in- portance to the town of Guadaloupe, of which he has been a resident for the past twenty- two years, and of which he is the largest mer- chant, and wealthiest. most influential citi- z.en.

The rise of Mr. Campodonico has been from a small beginning and meagre advantages. Being of Italian ancestry he is further to be commended on account of having achieved pronounced mercantile success in a rugged western community. In Italy, where he was born January to, 1840, he received the rudi- ments of an education since diversified by continuous research. The expectation of long life would seem justified bv his parentage, for his father, John Campodonico, lived to be seventy years old, while his mother attained to the age of ninety years.

Mr. Campodonico was seventeen and a half years old when he arrived in America. July 18. 1857, he began to work for a toy manu- facturer in New York City for $1.50 a week, but he soon afterward apprenticed himself to a marble sculptor, with whom he remained three and a half years. In 1861 he came to San Francisco and worked at. marble cutting until 1864, when he moved to Mariposa county and clerked in a general store a couple of years. He then returned to San Francisco and worked at marble cutting for $5 a day, a year later establishing a marble business of his . own which was successfully conducted until disposing of the same in 1880. Mr. Campo- donico then became a partner in a canning venture, upon the failure of which he took charge of the small mercantile store in Guada- loupe, for the creditors, this being the nucleus of his present large business. This was in 1884, and his future prospects were centered around the contents of a small room, valued at a few hundred dollars.

Forceful and energetic, and with a kect de- sire to please, Mr. Campodonico won the con- fidence of the purchasing public, and an en-

largement of his stock soon became a neces- sity. Today he has one of the best equipped and best managed stores in the Santa Maria valley, and a patronage by no means confined to the limits of the town or county. He has made an exhaustive study of merchandising. and in his own character and acquirements subscribes to the essentials of this important branch of industry. He carries general mer- chandise of all descriptions and graded to suit all tastes and purses. Neatness, order and dispatch are among his watchwords, and liv- ing within his income has advanced him to a position where he is unaffected by temporary depressions or falling off of trade.

July 8, 1869, Mr. Campodonico was united in marriage with Lizzie Bigler, a native of Missouri, and of the union there are nine chil- dren: Lottie, who became the wife of J. R. Acquistapace; Sylvia, wife of M. L. Smith, manager of Union Sugar Factory store; Frank E., who married Hulda Burola : Step- hen Victor : Joseph A. : Marguerite E. ; Charles L .; Alma E .: and Victoria M. Mr. Campo- donico is prominent in social as well as busi- ness circles, and a member and past master of the Masonic lodge of Guadaloupe. Polit- ically he is independent. His fitness for pub- lic service has resulted in his election to the school board, of which he was clerk during the erection of the present substantial school building. He is the active and unceasing friend of education, the promoter of sound local government, and the upholder of high civic and private ideals. In adding his name to its citizenship more than a score of years ago, Guadaloupe was to profit by the efforts of a man thoroughly in sympathy with its progress, and one who was in a position to grasp its most desirable opportunities.

MORRIS A. ROSENFELD. Prominent among the successful and influential business men of San Pedro is Morris A. Rosenfeld, the popular and leading merchant tailor of the city. Identified with the manufacturing and mercan- tile interests of the place, he gives careful at- tention to his business, is prudent in the man- agement of his affairs and strictly honorable in his dealings, and as a man of undoubted integ- rity and worth has won the confidence and es- teem of all with whom he has been brought in contact. In following his trade, Mr. Rosenfeld has had a broad experience, having traveled quite extensively in England and on the continent as a journeyman cutter and tailor, obtaining a prac- tical knowledge of every branch connected with his trade. During the earlier years of his busi- ness career he pursued his vocation in a number

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of eastern cities. In 1903 he decided to come west, attracted by the mildness of the climate and the glowing accounts of the brilliant pros- pects for business enterprises in this portion of Southern California. Coming to the city of Los Angeles, he followed his trade there for a year. having a finely furnished and stocked establish- ment on Broadway, between Fifth and Sixth streets. Settling in San Pedro in August, 1904, Mr. Rosenfeld established his present business, which has grown rapidly and satisfactorily. Since his advent in San Pedro he has given a great deal of attention to real-estate investments, and has been very successful in this respect. In 1905 he began the erection of the Rosenfeld building, on Fourth street, between Palos Verdes and Cen- ter streets, where he has ample accommodations for himself, his patrons, and for the large stock of fine goods which he carries. This building, 37x60 feet, two and three stories in height, with a buff-colored, pressed brick front, is a credit to his good taste, and an ornament to the city. Having purchased two lots on Seventh street he has erected thereon a large apartment house, which is up-to-date in every respect. It is a two-story frame, with a classic colonial front, contains twenty-five rooms with modern equip- ments, baths and accommodations for the trav- eler, to which class of patronage the proprietor devotes his best attention. Other investments in property have been most successful and several choice sites are being held with a view to suita- ble improvement when the city's requirements have so far advanced as to permit the additional outlay.

In Little Rock, Ark., Mr. Rosenfeld married Sophia Bejach, and they have three children, Harry, Abe and Sylvia. Mr. Rosenfeld, familiar- ly known as "Morris, the tailor," is a member of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, which is composed of the foremost business men of the city, and fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

ROBERT MORRIS McGEE. Occupying a good position among the leading merchants and real-estate dealers of Long Beach is Rob- ert M. McGee, who until recently conducted a thriving grocery business, having built up an excellent reputation among the people of his community for fairness and honesty. A son of Patrick Henry McGee, he was born March 1, 1867, in Massac county, Ill., on the paternal side coming from thrifty Scotch an- cestry, and on the maternal side being de- scended from a Pennsylvania-Dutch family.

Of Scotch-Irish stock, Patrick Henry Mc- Gee was born in Tennessee June 3, 1826, the

son of Benjamin and Nancy McGee, of Graves county, Ky. From Tennessee the father re- moved to southern Illinois, where he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for a time, but when war was declared between the United States and Mexico he enlisted and served un- der Gen. Zachary Taylor until its close. Re- turning to Illinois, he continued as a farmer in Massac county for a number of years. In 1861, with true patriotic spirit, he answered President Lincoln's first call for troops, en- listing in Company A, Fifty-sixth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and served until after the sur- render of General Lee. He participated in inany of the important engagements of that time, including the siege of Vicksburg and Sherman's March to the Sea, part of the time being under command of that gallant hero, Gen. John A. Logan. Being honorably dis- charged from the service in Washington, D. C., he returned to Massac county, and there resided until his death, November 29, 1875, when forty-nine years of age. November 30, 1851, he married Anna Mary Hewitt, a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., born October 5, 1832. Her father, Henry Hewitt, removed from Huntingdon county, Pa., to Missouri, where he was employed in farming until his death, in 1848. His widow, Mrs. Margaret Hewitt, who was a native of Huntingdon county, Pa., subsequently settled in Illinois with her children. Of the union of Patrick Henry and Anna Mary (Hewitt) McGee six children were born, concerning whom we men- tion the following: Izora, who was born Feb- ruary 26, 1853, married W. P. Brown, of Bel- knap, Ill., and died January 11, 1892; Iona, born August 7, 1855, married Robert Grimes and died October 5, 1896, her husband also be- ing deceased ; Benjamin H., born November 22, 1857, died January 15, 1874; Patrick Hen- ry, Jr., born March 8, 1860, resides in Massac county, Ill .; Andrew Jackson, also a resident of the latter county, was born July 20, 1863 ; and Robert M., the subject of this biographical sketch, was born March 1, 1867. The mother of these children passed way August 16, I900.

After taking the full course of study in the common schools of his native town Robert M. McGee was graduated from a business col- lege in Delaware, Ohio. He subsequently taught school with good success for seven years, being in Massac county six years, and in Pulaski county one year. Locating then in Boaz, Ill., he was there engaged in mercan- tile pursuits for several years, having a gen- eral store, and also serving as postmaster. Coming to California in May, 1903, he settled at Long Beach, buying a home for himself

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and family, and likewise purchasing other val- uable real estate. On April 16, 1904, he es- tablished a grocery on the corner of Fourth and Cherry streets and built up a substantial business, but two years later, in April, 1906, he sold out and organized the Sunset Realty Company, doing a general real-estate and in- surance business in association with Thomas Patch.

September 3, 1893, Mr. McGee married Alice Alena Wade, a daughter of George W. and Rebecca (Cook) Wade, lier birth occurring in Massac county, 111., June 23, 1872. Three children have blessed their union: Gracie Maud, born June 18. 1894, died November 28, 1897; Lewis Wallace was born January 3, 1896, and Alice Alena October 25, 1897. Polit- ically Mr. McGee affiliates with the Republi- can party, and fraternally he belong to Cen- ter Point Lodge No. SII, I. O. O. F., of Boaz, Ill. Religiously he and his family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee.

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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 91

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