USA > California > A history of the new California, its resources and people; Vol I > Part 41
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In March, 1860, occured the marriage of Mr. Clayton and Miss Anna L. Thompson, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Robert P. and Amy F. (Brown) Thompson, who came to California in 1857. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clayton, of whom five are yet living.
Mr. Clayton was a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, supporting its men and measures from the time of its organization until his demise. In 1864 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and while serving in the house he gave to each question which came up for settlement his earnest and thoughtful consideration. He was always interested in local and state politics and his labors in behalf of the party were attended with excellent results. He was frequently a delegate to local and state con- ventions and attended the national convention of the Republican party held in Chicago in 1888. At all times his citizenship was characterized by a public-spirited devotion to the general good, and his co-operation in be- half of any public measure that promised to be of value was never sought in vain. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, and in his life exemplified its beneficent principles. In 1857 he became a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, was a liberal contributor to the cause and an active and co- operant factor in its upbuilding. He likewise served as a trustee of the Uni- versity of the Pacific. Mr. Clayton always read extensively and became a well informed man. His educational privileges in his youth were very limited, for he attended school only a few months during the winter seasons. He had, however, a faculty of retaining a comprehensive knowledge of whatever he read and using it to the best possible advantage. Experience, reading and observation continually broadened his mind and so enriched his conversation as to make his companionship most desirable. He was noted for his genial manner, affability and his generosity. The poor and needy never sought his aid in vain, and his liberality at times amounted almost to a fault, but of him like the village preacher it could be said "E'en his failings leaned to virtue's side." While he established a good business that indicated a life of activity it was not his success alone that won him the respect, confidence and friend- ship of his fellow men, but his high character, his devotion to the general good and his exemplification of honorable manly principles.
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ISAAC NEWTON VAN NUYS.
To Isaac Newton Van Nuys has come the attainment of a distinguished position in connection with the great material industries of the state. His life achievements worthily illustrate what may be attained by persistent and painstaking effort. He is a man of progressive ideas; although versatile he is not superficial; exactness and thoroughness characterize all his attain- ments ; his intellectual possessions are unified and assimilated; they are his own. His genealogy also betokens that he is a scion of a family whose association with the annals of American history has been intimate and hon- orable from the early colonial epoch. As early as 1651 the Van Nuys emi- grated from Holland and located on Long Island, but in subsequent years some of the name emigrated to New Jersey and prior to 1790 to Kentucky, and Mr. Van Nuys of this review is the only representative of his family in California. His parents were Peter and Harriet (Kerr) Van Nuys, both now deceased.
Isaac Newton Van Nuys was born in West Sparta, New York, on the 20th of November, 1835. In the public schools of the city of his birth he received his early educational training, this being supplemented by atten- dance in the academy at Lima, in which he was a student for one year. His father was a tiller of the soil, and in the work of the old home farm the son Isaac N. was actively engaged during the summer months, while dur- ing the winter seasons he attended school, and after laying aside his text- books his entire time and attention was devoted to agricultural pursuits un- til his removal to California in 1865. From that early day his name is indelibly inscribed on the pages of the history of the Golden state, for throughout the years which have since come and gone he has been an active factor in promoting its interests, and is numbered among the hardy pioneers who made possible its later-day progress and prosperity. His first loca- tion in this state was at Napa, thence removing to Monticello and engaging in the mercantile business as proprietor of a country store, and in 1871 came to Los Angeles, and so well has he acted his part in both public and private life that the city has been enriched by his example, his character and his labor. He bought in with a corporation the San Fernando ranch of sixty thousand acres and engaged in the raising of stock, principally sheep, thus continuing during the subsequent three years. He then embarked in the raising of grain, and in 1876 loaded two vessels with wheat at San Pedro, this being the first cargo ever shipped from that point. In 1880 the Los Angeles Farming & Milling Company was organized, and Mr. Van Nuys has ever since been engaged with that corporation. The company have a four-story building for mill purposes, with a capacity of four hundred bar- rels every twenty-four hours, and the products consist of flour, meals, cracked wheat, hominy and all kinds of feed. In addition to his connection with this large corporation as president and manager he is also vice-presi- dent of the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank, a director in the Union Bank of Savings, a director in the Los Angeles Pressed Brick Company,
HOTEL VAN NUYS, LOS ANGELES
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J.H Van Hnya.
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and owner of the Van Nuys Hotel, which was erected in 1896, and is one of the finest hostelries in southern California.
In 1880 Mr. Van Nuys was united in marriage to Susanna H. Lanker- shim, a daughter of Isaac Lankershim, of Los Angeles, and they have three children-Annis H., James Benton and Kate. In his fraternal relations Mr. Van Nuys is a member of the Masonic order, connected with Pentalpha Blue Lodge, Signet Chapter, Los Angeles Commandery and Al Malaidalı Temple. His political support is given to the Republican party, and his religious preference is indicated by his membership in the Baptist church. He takes a deep and abiding interest in all things pertaining to the welfare of his town and community, and contributes liberally to the support of all measures for the public good. His career has been one of almost phenom- enal success. Steadily has he worked his way upward to a position of wealth and affluence, overcoming many difficulties and obstacles in his path, and advancing step by step along the tried paths of honorable effort has reached the goal of prosperity.
JOHN GILMORE McMILLAN.
In a history of the development of California John Gilmore McMillan would well deserve mention, for he has been actively connected with railroad construction in following his profession, that of surveying and civil engin- eering, and among the representative citizens of Santa Clara county he is held in high regard because of his personal worth and his fidelity in office. He is now serving for the fifth consecutive term as county surveyor, main- taining his residence in San Jose.
The width of the continent separates Mr. McMillan from his birthplace, for he is a native of Bristol, Rhode Island. He was born on the IIth of July, 1851, belonging to a family of three sons and two daughters, four of whom are living. His parents, William Wallace and Sarah (McCoy) McMillan, were natives of Scotland and came to America in the early '40s, settling in Rhode Island, where they continued to make their home for a number of years. In 1852 the father came to California, hoping that he might have better business opportunities in a section of the country which offered such glowing prospects. He made the journey by way of the isthmus route, and engaged in mining in Butte county, where he still resides, being numbered among the pioneer settlers of that district who for more than a half cen- tury have been identified with the business development and advancement of that portion of the state. He had been in this state for about three years when, determining to make it his permanent home, he sent for his wife and children, who then joined him on the Pacific coast.
John Gilmore McMillan was only about four years of age when brought by his mother to California, and in the early schools of Butte county he be- gan his education, which he afterward continued in the California State Nor- mal School at San Jose. Much of his education, however, was acquired un- der the direction of his father, who was a graduate of the University of Glas- gow, Scotland, and is a man of scholarly attainments.
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Mr. McMillan began teaching at the early age of sixteen years and fol- lowed that profession for a number of terms. During that time he also took up the study of civil engineering, and was elected county surveyor of Sutter county in 1877, and filled the position for about seven years, until 1884, when he resigned to accept a position with the Central Pacific Railroad Company, in the engineering department. He was engaged in making railroad sur- veys and was assistant engineer and assisted in the supervision of the con- struction work of Market, Haight, Valencia and McAllister street cable roads in San Jose. After the completion of those roads Mr. McMillan went to Guatemala, in Central America, where he was employed at railroad loca- tion and construction, returning to California in 1885. In that year he be- came chief engineer for Governor Leland Stanford on the location and con- struction work of Stanford University, this important task occupying his attention from 1886 until 1890.
It was in the latter year that Mr. McMillan was first elected to the office of county surveyor of Santa Clara county, and at each biennial election since that time he has been chosen for the position until he is now the incum- bent for the fifth consecutive term. He has made a record in office that is above suspicion or reproach, and in his work he has rendered valuable serv- ice to the county by reason of his professional skill and his fidelity to the duties of citizenship. During his first term of service he instituted a system of concrete bridges, making plans for all the steel and combination bridges, and also inventing and inaugurating an improved system in bridge flooring, which, after having been in use for about five years, has proved such a suc- cess and such an advantage over the old system, that it is being adopted by other counties with like excellent results. During the past year and a half Mr. McMillan has compiled an entirely new official map of Santa Clara coun- ty. He was elected on the Republican ticket, and his official record reflects credit upon the party that has given him its support. He also, however, numbers many friends and supporters from among the ranks of the Democ- racy.
In 1887 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McMillan and Miss Lizzie Weisshaar, who was born in Mayfield, California, and is a daughter of F. W. Weisshaar, who was one of the pioneer settlers of California, coming to this state in 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. McMillan have been born two sons and a daughter: William Bruce, Percy Walter and Doris. Mr. McMillan belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Tem- plar degree, and also the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also identified with the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Woodmen of the World. the Knights of the Maccabees and the Sons and Daughters of California Pioneers. For almost a half century he has been a resident of California and therefore its history is largely familiar to him from the time of the early gold discoveries and mining enterprises down to the present when its progress and accomplishment place it on a par with any state in the Union, while California is the recognized leader in many productive industries. In the line of his profession he has contributed in no small degree to its improvement,
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his work being of a practical nature that is attended with beneficial and far- reaching results.
ARCHIBALD McDONALD.
Many business enterprises have felt the stimulus and benefited by the energy and industry of Archibald McDonald, and his activity in business and his successful control of manifold and varied interests well entitles him to be called one of the "captains of industry" upon the Pacific coast. He was born in Ireland and when six months old was brought to America by his par- ents, P. A. and Jane (Kirkland) McDonald. The father settled in Massa- chusetts, where he engaged in the manufacture of carpets, and the son pur- sued his education in the public schools of that state. In 1852 he came to California by way of Cape Horn and located in San Mateo county, where he associated himself with a lumber company. In 1857 he became connected with the Santa Cruz Lumber Company and in 1862 entered into business relations with the Pioneer Woolen Mills of San Francisco.
The year 1872 witnessed the arrival of Mr. McDonald in San Jose. He took charge, as superintendent, of the plant of the San Jose Woolen Mills Company, holding that position until 1887, when he resigned. In 1886 he had been appointed a director of the Agnew State Hosiptal for the Insane, in which capacity he served until 1891, when he was appointed a director of the State Hospital at Stockton, California, filling the position until 1901. During that period Mr. McDonald became identified with many business enterprises, making investment as he saw favorable opportunity to use his means in the development and operation of a business enterprise that would yield good financial return. He became president of the Vendome Hotel Company, at San Jose, a director of the Garden City Bank, of San Jose, and a director of the San Jose Woolen Mills Company. In 1897 he once more took charge of the business of the Woolen Mills Company, as superintendent and general manager. This mill is known as a six-set mill and furnishes employment to about one hundred operatives. Its output amounts to four hundred thousand yards of flannel of various colors and five thousand pairs of blankets of all kinds and grades annually. The manufactured product includes horse blank- ets, felts, buggy robes, etc. They annually use about one million pounds of wool as it comes from the grower, purchased at an average cost of twenty cents per pound. San Francisco and New York city are the distributing cen- ters for the output of the mills. In 1869 the San Jose Woolen Mills Com- pany was incorporated with a capital stock of four hundred thousand dol- lars, and with a paid up capital of two hundred eleven thousand and four hundred dollars.
. In 1861 Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Janet Jamieson, a daughter of Ebenezer Jamieson, of an old Scotch family. They have two children : John A., a mechanic located in San Francisco; and George K., who was born in San Francisco and came to San Jose with his parents when nine years of age. His early education was acquired in the common schools and later he attended the Garden City Commercial College. After completing his studies he entered the employ of the San Jose Woolen Mills Company, in
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the finishing department, and afterward took charge of those departments. In 1888, however, he resigned and removed to Los Angeles, California, where he was employed in a large abstract office and with an extensive real estate corporation. In 1891 he returned to San Jose, where he accepted the position of general secretary with the San Jose Woolen Mills Company, in which ca- pacity he is now serving. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and is a Republican in his political views.
Archibald McDonald is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Coming to California when a young man, a half century ago, he has since led a most busy, active life, and one of notable usefulness in trade and industrial circles of the state. His course has been characterized by firmness of purpose, by laudable ambition and un- flagging enterprise, and he stands to-day prominent among the representatives of manufacturing in the Santa Clara valley.
WILLIAM GEORGE HAWLEY.
William G. Hawley, who is well known because of his effective, earnest labors in behalf of the Republican party and now serving as the postmaster of San Jose, was born at Leicester, England, June 16, 1846, being a son of William and Elizabeth Hawley, members of prominent old families of that country. The father died there in 1856, having been a prominent architect, stone-mason and builder in Leicester, and was also the owner of the Clay Lane collieries at Clay Cross, Derbyshire.
During the days of his boyhood the son William attended private schools, and at the age of thirteen graduated at a private academy. In 1861, via Quebec, he came with his mother and family to America, the family taking up their abode in North Prairie, Wisconsin, where William remained until his eighteenth year. He then offered his services to the Union cause in the Civil war, entering the Twenty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry, Company A, under Colonel E. B. Gray, and also served under Generals Steele, Carr, Gran- ger, Canby and Sheridan, participating in active service from the time of his enlistment until peace was declared, after which he was ordered to the Mexi- can frontier when the president requested the French to withdraw their troops from Mexico. In September, 1865, Mr. Hawley received an honorable dis- charge from the army and then made his way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked as a bookkeeper when his health would permit, and also at Manistee, Michigan. In 1872, in the latter city, he engaged in the real estate business, but leaving that city he went to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, in 1873, and in 1883 came to California, the first three years in this state being spent at Hanford. Coming thence to San Jose, he was engaged in real estate operations until in March, 1899, when he was appointed to the office of post- master, at the same time disposing of his real estate business. In February, 1903, he was reappointed to that position for four years, being the present incumbent.
The marriage of Mr. Hawley was celebrated on the 28th of October, 1868, when Caroline A. Everts became his wife. She is a native of New
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York and a daughter of E. H. Everts, also a second cousin of William M. Everts, ex-United States Senator. They have two sons, Frederick William, engaged in the jewelry business in San Jose, and George Archer, in the em- ploy of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Tucson, Arizona. Mr. Hawley is identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M .; to Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M .; to San Jose Com- mandery No. 10, K. T. He also belongs to the National Union, and is past department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for the department of California and Nevada, his membership relations being with the John A. Dix Post No. 42, in which he has served as post commander. Throughout his life he has been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and as its representative has held many positions of honor and trust. During his residence in Wisconsin he served as treasurer and tax collector combined at Reedsburg for two years, for nine years was a justice of the peace, was a member of the town council, and at Hanford was made a school trustee. Ow- ing to his efforts the school building, costing twenty thousand dollars, was erected in that city, but this was done after one of the hardest fights in his political career. After coming to San Jose Mr. Hawley took an active part in the board of trade, serving seven terms as a director and one as president, and while in the former position he presented the motion for a committee to be appointed to wait on the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and request them to close the Santa Marguerite pass, which resulted in the completion of the Coast Line Railroad. Mr. Hawley also served one term as a director of the board of education in this city.
JUDGE SAMUEL FRANKLIN LEIB.
To Judge Samuel F. Leib has come the attainment of a distinguished po- sition in connection with the practice of law in California, and the zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession and careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases have brought to him a large business and made him very successful in the conduct of the arduous and difficult profession of the law. He is serving as judge of the superior court, to which position he at- tained by appointment in March, 1903.
Judge Leib is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred on the 18th of January, 1848, in Fairfield county. His parents, Joseph and Clarissa (Allen) Leib, were farming people. The father was a native of York county, Penn- sylvania, and with his parents removed to Ohio in 1806, the family being pioneer settlers and mill-owners of Fairfield county. After arriving at years of maturity Joseph Leib was married in that state to Miss Clarissa Allen, who was born in Ohio and was a member of an old pioneer family that was estab- lished in the state during the epoch when it was a frontier district. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Leib were born nine children ( four sons and five daughters). of whom the Judge is the youngest. The mother died when he was a youth of sixteen years, and the father. long surviving, passed away in 1880.
Judge Leib spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon his father's
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farm and the work of the fields and meadows became familiar to him as he assisted in the farm labor through the months of summer. The winter sea- sons were spent in attendance at the public schools, and when he had mastered the branches of learning therein taught he enjoyed the further advantage of an academic course, and subsequently a collegiate training in the University of Michigan, where he was graduated in 1869 at the age of twenty-one years. He had completed the law course and upon his graduation the degree of Bachelor of Laws was conferred upon him. He was a youth of about sixteen years when in response to his country's call he enlisted for service in the federal army and was enrolled among the boys in blue of Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served until the close of hos- tilities.
When the war was over he returned home and resumed his education. Believing that the west with its growing opportunities and rapid development would furnish a better field of labor than the older east where competition was greater, Judge Leib decided to cast in his lot with the settlers of Cali- fornia, and in 1869 established his home in San Jose, where he has since re- mained. Opening a law office he has continuously engaged in practice up to the present time, and many important cases have been intrusted to his care, one of the most notable of these being that which involved the irrigation bonds of the state. His arguments have elicited warm commendation not only from his associates at the bar but also from the bench. His preparations always show wide research, careful thought and the best and strongest reasons which can be urged for his contention, presented in cogent and logical form and il- lustrated by a style unusually lucid and clear. It was the reputation which he had made as an advocate and counsellor that caused his appointment to the bench of the superior court in March, 1903, to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Lorigan. Judge Leib's term on the bench is distinguished by the high- est legal ability. To wear the ermine worthily it is not enough that one pos- sess legal acumen, is learned in the principles of jurisprudence, familiar with precedents and thoroughly honest. Many men, even when acting uprightly, are wholly unable to divest themselves of prejudice and are unconsciously warped in their judgments by their own mental characteristics or educational peculiarities. This unconscious and variable disturbing force enters more or less into the judgments of all men, but in the ideal jurist this factor becomes so small as not to be discernible in results and loses its potency as a disturbing force. Judge Leib is exceptionally free from all judicial bias. His varied legal learning and wide experience in the courts, the patient care with which he ascertains all the facts bearing upon every case which comes before him, give his decisions a solidity and an exhaustiveness from which no member of the bar can take exception.
In 1874 Judge Leib was united in marriage to Miss Lida C. Grissim, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of John D. and Hannah (Moore) Grissim, both representatives of old southern families. The Judge and his wife have five children; Lida C .; Edna W., now the wife of W. H. Wright; Franklin A .: Roy C .; and Earl W. The Judge and his family are well known socially in San Jose and the hospitality of their home is enjoyed by
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