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 99

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

USA > California > 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 99

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It was at Geneva, Switzerland, that Henry F. Wegnori was educated in the public schools. there learning besides the other necessary branches of study the French, German and Italian languages, becoming very proficient both as a reader and a writer. When the time arrived for him to choose a trade he decided to learn that of cabinet-maker and carpenter. In 1864, being anxious to see his native land, he located in New Orleans, and followed his trade for a couple of years. In 1866 he went to Ogden, Utah, and secured employment on the Central Pacific Railroad, which was then being built. He was occupied as carpenter and bridge build-

Percy & Johnson.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

er and was present at the ceremonies when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Point, Utah, which signalized the completion of that part of the transcontinental railway.

In 1868 Mr. Wegnori removed to San Fran- cisco and for ten years prosecuted his trade at that point. From there he removed to Virginia City, Nev., and engaged in contracting and build- ing during the summers and mining in the win- ter time. After remaining there for five years he went to Truckee, where for some time he was foreman in a large planing mill. The year 1886 found him in San Bernardino as foreman of the West Coast Lumber Company's planing mill, which position he filled for three years and then commenced business as contractor and builder. Among other contracts which he secured were those tor the erection of the Harbison and Levy residences and in all his work there is evident the hand of the expert builder.

Mr. Wegnori's marriage to Miss Hattie Dill, a native of Ohio, occurred in Los Angeles, and they own and occupy a fine residence in San Bernardino. Politically Mr. Wegnori is a strong advocate of the principles embraced in the plat- form of the Republican party. He is a member of several lodges, among them being the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Work- men and the Masonic order. He was made a Mason in Pacific Lodge at San Francisco, and . is now a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 185, F. & A. M., at San Bernardino, being also a member of Keystone Chapter, R. A. M.

PERCY A. JOHNSON. As one of the largest ranch owners in Southern California and assemblyman to the state legislature from his district, Percy A. Johnson is known as a man of considerable prominence in this state. He was born May 19, 1867, in Bangor, Me., the son of C. F. A. and Sarah (Jewett) Johnson, both of whom were born in Maine and died in California at advanced ages, the father being seventy-five and the mother seventy. There were four chil- dren in the family, two sons and two daughters, both of the latter now residing in this state. Percy A. Johnson received his education in the Bangor public schools and at the Hallowell (Me.) preparatory school and after the completion of his studies, although only a young boy, he came to San Diego county, Cal., arriving in January, 1884, and securing employment of ranchmen in that vicinity. From there he came to Fallbrook and continued in the same occupation for a time, then feeling that he had become thoroughly fa- miliar with ranching in all its branches he began independent operations on a large scale, in 1896 moving to his present location, which is known as a part of the Magee & Johnson ranch. Mr.

Johnson runs the thirty-five hundred acreage, the greater part of which is devoted to grain farming, while his partner has charge of the two thousand acre ranch upon which a large dairy is operated. They now have one hundred fine milch cows, but expect soon to increase the herd to three hundred head. The ranch is a highly improved property, having a barley crushing mill, an up-to-date pumping plant, and being fitted with all necessary modern machinery to carry on operations in the most scientific manner. The amount of money invested in stock, horses, mules and machinery is considerable.

In 1891 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Marie A. Magee, three children blessing this union : Ynez, aged thirteen ; Antonio, aged eleven and Josephine, aged five. The mother is a native Californian and a devout member of the Cath- olic Church. Fraternally Mr. Johnson is a member of Fallbrook Lodge No. 317, F. & A. M., which he served as grand master for five years; of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows at Fallbrook; and of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks at San Diego. As a mem- ber of the Republican party lie takes a leading part in its councils and the confidence and esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens is dem- onstrated in his unsolicited nomination and elec- tion to the state assembly from the Eightieth district of California.

L. BERT MORGAN. The boyhood years of Mr. Morgan were passed upon a farm in Kan- sas, where he experienced all of the vicissitudes incident to the agricultural development of that state in the period before the era of her perman- ent prosperity. Born in Cherokee county, that state, March 16, 1870, he was early trained to habits of industry and perseverance, and was made an assistant on the farm as soon as old enough to handle horses and machinery. His parents, Enos and Annie (Harvey) Morgan, were natives of Indiana, and the former was a soldier in the Civil war, at the close of which he took up a homestead in Kansas. There were two sons and two daughters in the family and when the eldest of these, L. Bert, was a child of five years, the mother was taken from the home by death. The father and children remained on the home farm until 1887, when they came to California and settled on a ranch near San Diego, but came to Long Beach in 1893, and the father has since made his home on Signal Hill.

In addition to attending common school L. Bert Morgan was a student in Spring River acad- emy, a school in Kansas conducted by the So- ciety of Friends. When he was seventeen years of age he came to California with his father. whom he accompanied a few years later to Long

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Beach. During 1898 he became an employe of the Long Beach steamn laundry and after working there for eighteen months he bought a one-half interest in the business, but later disposed of the same. In 1902 he started, with others, the Model laundry at No. 644 West Fifth street, Long Beach, the company consisting of L. B. Morgan and H. D. Vail. The company is in- corporated with a capital stock of $9,000 and owns a fine plant with a reputation for careful and reliable workmanship.

Since coming to Long Beach Mr. Morgan has established domestic ties through his mar- riage to Lydia B. Wildman, a native of Indiana, and they are the parents of one son, Leslie Earl. The residence is located at No. 1145 East Fourth street, where he erected a comfortable residence. The family are members of the So- ciety of Friends, in which faith Mr. Morgan was reared and to which he adheres with sincere de- votion. Interested in all movements for the public good, he has rendered efficient service in the Young Men's Christian Association and has given his stanch support to the cause of Prohibition.

HIRAM CALVIN MATTESON. For the past three years Hiram Calvin Matteson has been conducting one of the most successful dairies and creameries in San Bernardino, where his butter has gained a wide reputation for its superior quality. Mr. Matteson was born Jan- uary 1, 1863, near Fond du Lac, Wis., the only child of C. K. and Caroline (Robinson) Mat- teson, both natives of New York. Calvin Matte- son, the grandfather, was a pioneer farmer in Wisconsin, and the father, though reared on a farm, chose the medical profession as his life work. The breaking out of the Civil war found him in the midst of his medical studies, but he relinquished them for the time being and entered his country's service, enlisting three times in as many different Wisconsin regiments. His brav- ery and soldierly qualities were noted by his superiors in rank, and in recognition of these he was chosen as one of Earle's picked men, and at the time that brave officer was killed he was one of those who helped to carry him from the field of battle. At the close of the war Mr. Matteson entered Eclectic Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving his medical degree in 1868. He then engaged in professional practice in Fond du Lac, Wis., later in Tennessee, and in 1885 came to San Bernardino and engaged in hor- ticultural pursuits on a ranch of forty acres, sit- uated one mile south of Harlem Springs, that place being now his home. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and as an en- terprising and progressive citizen is held in the highest esteem in that community.

The boyhood days of Hiram C. Matteson were spent in Iowa and Tennessee, his education being received in the public schools. His moth- er died when he was six years old. Coming with his father to California in 1885 he remained at home for a time, helping to improve the place, then engaged in independent farming operations, raising grain and hay. For two years he sub- sequently worked for the Pacific Clay Company at Corona. Returning to San Bernardino he again engaged in grain and hay raising, and later entered the employ of W. F. Somers, for over twelve years having charge of his ranch, which was devoted largely to stock and had a dairy and creamery in connection, thus enabling Mr. Matteson to become thoroughly familiar with all the details of the business. It was in 1903 that he purchased the Lightfoot milk route in San Bernardino, with a consumption of about three hundred gallons daily. He is located on South C street near Mill street, owns a dairy herd of twelve cows, and also buys milk from other dairymen, with whom he makes yearly con- tracts. In the creamery which he has built up he manufactures Matteson's creamery process butter, which is of as fine quality as can be bought anywhere at any price. The plant is a modern one, fitted with refrigerators, two-horse power engine and other machinery necessary to the production of a first-class product.

By his marriage in San Bernardino Mr. Mat- teson was united with Miss Elizabeth Walton, a native of Pleasanton, Alameda county, and of this union three children have been born: Car- rie, Francis and Charles Kenneth. Fraternally Mr. Matteson is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America and politically he is a stanch believer in the principles embraced in the plat- form of the Republican party.

DWIGHT M. CRUM. During the last twenty years many changes have marked the history of Southern California and there are few prop- erties which in that period have been held by the same owners, one instance of this kind being furnished by Mr. Crum, who came to the state in October of 1887 and has since owned and oc- cupied a ranch near Compton. The property comprises eighty-seven and one-fourth acres and is devoted to the raising of barley and alfalfa, which products have proved profitable to the owner. In his farm operations Mr. Crum utilizes modern methods of work and thus is enabled to gain the largest results possible from every acre ; indeed, his ranch is among the most attractive and also among the best-cultivated tracts in the county. Upon it he has put down two artesian wells, with adequate water for irrigation of the entire ranch.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Descended from an eastern family, Mr. Crum is a son of David S. and Mary ( Walton ) Crum, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in 1826. During childhood they accompained their respec- tive parents to Ohio and there were united in marriage. While they were yet living in that state their son, D. M., was born January 3, 1852. Two years after his birth the family removed to Illinois and purchased a tract of raw land in Livingston county, where the mother died in 1860. Throughout his entire life the father has followed agricultural pursuits and he still re- sides at his old homestead in Livingston county, where he is an honored citizen, a sincere member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a devoted adherent of Republican principles, and at one time hield office as justice of the peace and as a member of the county board of supervisors.

Upon the completion of common-school studies, D. M. Crum matriculated in the Wesleyan Uni- versity at Bloomington, Ill., where he carried on his studies for two years, and thus acquired the foundation of a broad education. On his re- turn to Livingston county he took up agricult- ural pursuits and became the owner of a well- improved farm devoted to the raising of grain and corn and the feeding of cattle. After a suc- cessful experience as an Illinois farmer he came to California and settled near Compton, where he yet resides. Some years before leaving Illi- nois he married, in 1877, Miss Lydia Van Pet- ten, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Van Pet- ten. Though born in New York state the father spent his life in Illinois; since his death the mother has continued to reside in Col- fax, McLean county. Mrs. Crum was born and reared in Illinois, receiving a fair education in McLean county schools, the Peoria Normal and the Illinois State Normal, after which she fol- lowed teaching until her marriage. Of her mar- riage there are four children namely : Mabel, who is employed as a teacher in the Compton schools ; Lula, who is in the employ of the Los Angeles City Railway Company; Margaret. a student in the class of 1908 at the California State Uni- versity: and Van, who is now attending the Compton high school. The family are attendants upon the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church and contribute to religious and charita- ble movements. For years Mr. Crum has been a stanch supporter of Republican principles. At everv election he casts his ballot for the party nominees and for the principles represented by the same. Some years ago he was selected to act as deputy assessor of six school districts of Los Angeles county and devoted three months to the work, discharging every duty with conscientious fidelity and patience. For a time he held office as justice of the peace, where his decisions dis- played au impartial spirit and a broad knowledge

of local and general laws. By faithful service as school trustee he has evinced his interest in the free-school system of education, which he con- siders indissolubly associated with the permanent welfare of our country. In fraternal connections he has passed the various degrees of Masonry. has been warmly interested in the Eastern Star and has officiated for years as chief ranger of the Independent Order of Foresters.

MORGAN PERRY. As a contractor and builder who makes a specialty of planning resi- dences and cottages Morgan Perry does a fine business in San Bernardino. He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born December 6, 1848, and is the son of Joseph Perry, a native of Lancaster, Pa. His grandfather Perry died when com- paratively young in Pennyslvania and his wife was subsequently married to Dr. Oberdorf, an old German physician who had been surgeon under Napoleon for twenty-six years, and was with him when he crossed the Alps on the way to Moscow. Dr. Oberdorf removed with his family to Cincinnati in 1815 and was a prac- ticing physician there until his death. Joseph Perry was a bricklayer and contractor in Cincin- nati, from there removing to Sunman, Ripley county, Ind., where he died at the age of sixty- eight years. The mother who was Hannah J. Marslı before her marriage, was born on the bat- tlefield of Buffalo, in 1812, and was the daugh- ter of Thomas Marsh. The latter was born in New Jersey, and removed with his family to Cincinnati, where he followed the trade of brick- layer, which trade he taught to Joseph Perry, The mother died in Indiana, and of the eight children born to her three are now living.

Until 1862 Morgan Perry lived in Cincinnati. where he attended the public schools, and in that year went to Kentucky and was engaged in gov- ernment service as a cook at Camp Nelson, lo- cated near Nicholasville. In 1865 he went to Nashville and began the study of bridge build- ing. Subsequently he was employed by L. B. Boomer & Co., now the American Bridge Com- pany, and worked with crews on the Nashville & Chattanooga, Tennessee & Alabama and East Tennessee & Georgia Railways. Following this he was with the Southern Bridge Contracting Company at Knoxville, Tenn., working in Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee, and after the flood in 1867 returned to the Ameri- can Bridge Company for a time. Going to Cincinnati in 1868 he was associated in husi- ness with his brother until his removal to Beards- town. Ill .. when he again worked at bridge build- ing for F. E. Canda & Co. of Chicago, con- tinuing with them for a year, after which he er- tered the government employ at Ft. Leaven- -

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

worth, Kans. In the fall of 1870 he went to Little Rock, Ark., and from there to Lewisburg, in the latter place engaging in contracting and building until 1887, when he came to San Ber- nardino and was employed at the carpenter's trade, working at various times for the Santa Fe Railway Company on bridges and buildings and in their carshops. Since 1891 he has given the greater part of his time to planning and erecting residences and cottages and has been very suc- cessful in the work. .

Mr. Perry was married in Lewisburg, Ark., to Miss Martha Merryman, a native of Johnson county, in that state. Having no children of their own, they adopted a daughter, Lula. Mr. Per- ry was made a Mason at Lewisburg, Ark., and is now a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 178, F. & A. M. at San Bernardino. He also be- longs to the Independent Order of Foresters. Both he and has wife are active members of the Bethel Congregational Church, of which Mr. Perry is a member of the board of trustees. Po- litically he is an advocate of the principles em- braced in the platform of the Democratic party, and as a member of the Mt. Vernon Improve- ment Club he takes an interest in the beautifying of the city. His well rounded interests in busi- ness, social and civic lines give him a large and favorable acquaintance among the residents of San Bernardino, who regard him as a highly re- spectable citizen.

ALBERT THOMAS KIMBELL. The fam- ily represented by the supervisor of the fourth district of Riverside county is of southern ex- traction. His father, A. G., was born in Nash- ville, Tenn., January 20, 1817, and in early life removed to Texas, where for a time he was em- ployed as a clerk in the state capitol at Austin and also as a clerk in the land office. At Red River, Tex., October 12, 1841, he married Sarah C. Gleaves, who was born in Davidson county, Tenn., May 15, 1825. When news came of the discovery of gold in California he immediately determined to journey to the unknown regions of mining activity. With a party of five men he started from Austin by muleback to Mazat- lan, at which point he took a ship for San Fran- cisco and arrived at the Golden Gate in January of 1850. His health had been impaired by the confinement incident to his clerical duties in Texas, and accordingly he spent some time in hunting deer and bear, thereby deriving all the benefits of the splendid western climate and the outdoor exercise. In the fall of 1850 he secured a position as enrolling clerk in the state legisla- ture for the term, after which he mined in Tuolumne county for two years. For the pur- pose of giving his children good educational advantages he removed to San Francisco, where

he was assistant marshal in 1860-61 and also assisted in taking the census of the city. Some- what later he became interested in the reclaim- ing of the tule lands in San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties, where he lived until 1878, and then removed to the San Gabriel valley in Los Angeles county.

In order to take up mining A. G. Kimbell went to Arizona in 1880 and became a miner in Cochise county, from which point he made a trip to Texas and other southern states. In 1883 he left Arizona, and two years later set- tled in the San Gabriel valley. When the de- velopment of the Imperial valley was first agitated he became a stanch champion of the measure and endeavored to interest capitalists in the undertaking. In 1888 he removed to the vicinity of Perris, Riverside county, where he died June 20, 1899, at the age of eighty-three years and five months. His wife had passed away in the San Gabriel valley December 2, 1880, and was buried in Evergreen cemetery at Los Angeles. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: John F., who was born Jan- uary 23, 1843, and died May 15, 1893, at the age of fifty years; Mary E., who was born De- cember 31, 1844, and in San Francisco was mar- ried to William C. Harrington November 22, 1864, afterward living at Sousma, but in 1877 removing to San Gabriel valley, where Mr. Harrington died August 22, 1875; William Y., who was born October 1, 1847, and now resides with his next younger brother and his older sister at Perris; Albert Thomas, who was born in Austin. Tex., October 23, 1849; Frank G., who was born in California June 6, 1854, and died January 7, 1859; Henry S., who was born in May, 1856, and died September II, ' 1857; Charles J., who was born in San Francisco July 9, 1858, and is now living, unmarried, in Ari- zona; Edward G., who was born December 20, 1860, and is living in California; Eugene L., who was born January 1, 1863, and is now mar- ried and living at Riverside ; Sallie R., who was born in San Francisco January 17, 1865, and is the wife of C. H. Cowles of Perris; and Samuel B., who was born February 3, 1867, and with his family now makes San Jose his home.

Brought to California during infancy, Albert Thomas Kimbell was educated in San Francisco and Oakland college, and in 1878 accompanied his parents to the San Gabriel valley, seven years later removing to the Perris valley, where he engaged in farming. The following year he removed to Los Angeles and secured an ap- pointinent as storekeeper and gauger at the bonded warehouse under the first administration of President Cleveland. After having filled the position for four years he resigned and returned to the vicinity of Perris, where he resumed agri-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

cultural pursuits. November 4, 1898, he was elected supervisor, the duties of which he as- sumed in January, 1899, and since then he has been a member of the county board of super- visors. Reared in the Democratic faith, he al- ways has been stanch in his allegiance to that party. However, he places loyalty to county and commonwealth before partisanship, and in private life and public service has displayed a keen sense of responsibility as a citizen and a desire to aid in securing lasting improvements. In fraternal relations he holds membership in Elsinore Lodge No. 289, F. & A. M., and the Eastern Star; also the Independent Order of Foresters at Perris, and Knights of Pythias No. 90, at Perris, in which he has been honored with the office of chancellor commander. Socially he is respected for his manly traits and sterling qualities. His popularity is evidenced by the fact that he has three times been elected super- visor in a district containing twice as many Re- publicans as Democrats, yet it is known every- where that he champions Democratic principles and votes the straight party ticket. Sharing with him in the esteem of neighbors is his sister, Mrs. Harrington, who has charge of his home, and who is a lady of culture and kindly disposi- tion.

LEWIS MORSE. One mile southeast from the city of San Bernardino may be seen one of the neatest and most orderly dairy ranches to be found anywhere in the county. The prop- erty formerly belonged to Governor Water- man, from whom Mr. Morse purchased it in 1897, removing with his family to the same in the fall of that year. The ranch comprises twenty-one acres, and with the exception of the house which was upon it at the time of pur- chase Mr. Morse has made all of the improve- ments which are to be seen upon the property today. Besides this ranch, which is pasture land exculsively, and devoted entirely to dairy purposes, Mr. Morse also owns other property in the county. In November, 1905, he pur- chased one hundred and thirty-three and three- quarters acres near San Bernardino, twenty- five acres of which he has under cultivation and five acres set out to various kinds of fruit. A good residence, excellent barns and an abundant supply of water which is stored in a large reservoir, add immeasurably to the value of the property.

Mr. Morse is of eastern birth and parentage, born in Yates county, N. Y., March 12, 1841, the son of Samuel and Mary (Shepard) Morse. His boyhood and early manhood years were spent in and around his native place, but the year 1874 found him in Virginia, where he

remained for six years, engaged in farming. To his ambitious spirit the slow and unpro- gressive methods which prevailed in the south became irksome to him and influenced him in his 'decision to remove to the west. Putting this decision into execution in 1880 he came to Merced, Cal., remaining there for eighteen months, after which he came to San Bernardi- no county. It was a number of years before he was enabled to secure a piece of property to his liking, and in the meantime he lived on various ranches in the vicinity. In the purchase of the two pieces of. property which he now owns he has been amply repaid for the delay, for without doubt he now possesses two of the finest ranches to be found in the county.

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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 99

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