USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
organizer and director of the first telephone company in that city. He is is an organizer of, a heavy stockholder in, and manager of the Monterey Electric Light & Development Company.
Mr. Day has been twice married, his first wife being Elizabeth Mappa, a member of one of the oldest families of Los Angeles. His present companion, fomerly Miss Jessie Oliver, is a native of Monterey, a daughter of the late George Oliver, and a lady of rare social culture. By his former marriage he has one daughter, Anna C., now (1892) eight years of age.
No citizen in Monterey is more active or takes more pride in the business development of the city than Frank R. Day. He is a mem- ber of the Town Council. In social as well as business circles he is held in high esteem.
ODELPHUS C. AUSTIN, of Monterey county, California, was born in Oxford county, Maine, February 25, 1854, son of Amos and Florence S. (Taylor) Anstin. His father was a native of that same State and county, and was by occupation a dairy- man. He made the trip to this State in 1856, coming direct from Maine, via Pan- ama. Two years later his wife and son Rodelphus (youngest child) came by the same route, leaving the two daughters with their uncle, G. D. Austin, until abont the year 1863. One year the father was engaged in mining in Butte county. Daniel for three years was in company with ex-Sheriff P. K. Austin, a brother on Point San Pedro, Marin county, this State. Then for five years he conducted a dairy in Sonoma county, and also dealt in live stock. The mother is still living. She dates her birth in 1823. Of
288
MONTEREY, SAN BENITO, SANTA CRUZ,
their six children, four are now living, the subject of this sketch, and his three sisters, all married and settled in life. Flora is now Mrs. William Ferguson, of Los Angeles; Ora B. is the wife of J. Q. Bradbury, a superintendent of mines in New Mexico; and Linnie E. is the wife of Dr. G. H. Heald, of San Francisco. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Austin was Stephen B. Taylor, a native of Maine, who lived to be ninety years of age, and died in Byron, that State, and his father, John Taylor, was a Revolu- tionary soldier under Washington. Grand- father Abiah Austin was by trade a wheel- wright.
Mr. Austin attended the State Normal School at San José and graduated at the McMeans Normal School of Santa Rosa, Sonoma county. He also took a scientific course of study in the Christian College, Santa Rosa. He followed school teaching for a time, being very successful, and urged by school trustees to continue. He pre- empted Government land, and in 1873 owned 1,060 acres. Since that time, how- ever, he has sold off portions of his land, and at this writing has a fine ranch of 120 acres. He is one of Monterey's best-informed and most reliable citizens, and in politics he is an ardent Republican.
OSEPH O. JOHNSON, a pioneer of Pacific Grove, has figured quite con- spicuously in the development of Pa- cific Grove.
Mr. Johnson was born May 10, 1844, in Rappahannock county, Virginia, and was the son of Fariner Johnson, deceased, a planter by occupation, who came to California in 1869, and settled in Monterey county, where
he remained until his death, which occurred in Salinas, in 1877.
The subject is one of the most active busi- ness men of the county and has engaged largely in the mercantile business. Upon his first arrival in San Francisco, in 1869, he spent a year in prospecting throughout the State. In 1872 he located near Salinas, and sold merchandise during 1875, 1876, and 1877. At the last-named date he closed out and spent a year in traveling in northern California, after which he settled in Pacific Grove.
Upon his arrival at this popular seaside resort he purchased of the Pacific Improve- ment Company the only livery business of the town and erected, without question, the most complete and largest livery stable in the State, which cost him $10,000, and which has been considered by all the town as one of the most enterprising businesses of the place. These stables are liberally patronized, not only by the town people but by visitors. Mr. Johnson also platted the town for the Pacific Improvement Company, in Pacific Grove, acting as superintendent. He made many improvements, and during the time he served in that capacity he sold over 3,000 business and residence lots. It was under his able management that Pacific Grove acquired its fame as a desirable resi- dence town, and its largest sales were made under his directorship.
Mr. Johnson has been twice married, the first time, August 2, 1862, to Miss Emma Gray, who died September 13, 1884, at Pacific Grove. January 19, 1886, Mr. John- son married Miss Carrie L., daughter of the lamented D. W. Lloyd, of Pacific Grove, and they have three daughters: Carrie J., Mabel J. ahd Esther. Mr. Johnson owns a large amount of real estate in Pacific Grove and
289
AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES.
valuable farm property in Oregon. He is a man who is noted for his business energy and every project which has him at its head is sure to succeed.
M ARION CROW, Hollister, San Ben- ito county, California, came to this State from Crawford county, Mis- souri, in 1871. His father, Joseph Crow, mined in California as early as 1849, as will be seen by reference to the sketch of W. J. Crow elsewhere in this work.
Marion Crow was born in Crawford county, Missouri, December 13, 1853. He was vari- ously employed until finally he took up farm- ing, and located where he now lives, in the vineyard district, about six miles southwest of Hollister. Here he has 600 acres of farm- ing and grazing land, about 125 acres of which are under cultivation.
Mr. Crow was married in 1875, to Miss Emma Whitton, of Napa, California. They have four children: Cassie A., Mary E., John F. and Josephine.
OHN SHIELDS, an esteemed pioneer of California, crossed the plains from Keo- kuk, Iowa, via Council Bluffs, and the northern route, in 1852, being six months in making the journey. Upon his arrival in the Golden State, he first located in Shasta county, where he lived two years, from there going to Trinity county. Here he devoted four- teen years of his life to mining, and was favored with average success. Since April, 1870, he has been a resident of San Benito county.
Mr. Shields was born in Ireland, in 1831,
and at the age of seventeen came to America. His life has been one of industry and so- briety. In San Benito he has developed a fine estate, has a comfortable home, and has reared a family of seven children, all of whom are capable of taking independent and hon- orable positions in life.
He was married in Santa Clara county, in 1864, to Miss Julia Wallace, a lady of ster- ling qualities, and who proved herself a faith- ful wife and devoted mother. She died in 1892. The names of their children are: Frank, Augustus, Agnes, Ida, John, George and Murty. Frank and his brother-in-law, J. R. Young, are engaged in the Garden City Brass Works, at San José.
Mr. Shields was reared in the Catholic faith. In politics, he is an out-and-out Prohibitionist.
ICHMOND STICE, deceased, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, October 13, 1823. His father, Peter Stice, a Missourian by birth, emigrated to Oregon and there died, at the age of 104 years. Richmond Stice was reared on a farm in his native State, and in August 31, 1843, he mar- ried Elizabeth Allred, and had the following children: William T., deceased; Nancy M .; and Elizabeth, who died November 17, 1846.
In 1856 Richmond Stice came to Califor- nia. Arriving on this coast, he engaged in mining in Amador county one year. He then farmed two years in Napa county, and ten years near Vacaville, Solano county. He came to San Benito county, in 1869, where he followed farming until 1876. Then he moved to Lompoc, Santa Barbara county; in 1877, back to San Benito county, settling at Willow creek. In 1883 he located on Tres
290
MONTEREY, SAN BENITO, SANTA CRUZ,
Pinos creek, near Paicines, where he spent the rest of his life, dying February 2, 1891.
Mr. Stice was married, in Missouri, in 1848, to Miss Martha J. Barnes, a native of Boone county, Missouri, born July 11, 1827. Their children are as follows: Lizzie, wife of Benjamin Duvanl; James B., deceased; Rhoda A., wife of G. W. Joice; Henry P., Lottie E., John M., Tyra R., deceased; Sarah F., wife of M. C. Druden; Silas N., and Lee, deceased.
Richmond Stice was active and enterprising in business affairs, and in his home was ever hospitable and social. He had hosts of friends and was highly respected by all who knew him.
ENSSELAER L. HOHNAN, a native of Orange county, Vermont, was born May 26, 1843. His father, Luther Hohnan, was a farmer. Upon leaving his na- tive State, Mr. Hohnan, in 1865, came to Cali- fornia and spent two years in the wholesale fruit honse of J. & D. Conrad. At the time of his leaving this house he returned to Ver- mont, and spent three years farming on the old home place of his father, then engaged in the mercantile business in Williston, Ver- mont, for two years; then sold out his basi- ness there and engaged in farming for two years at Jericho, Vermont. In 1872, he inade a second trip to California, this time as traveling agent for the Walter A. Wood Mow- ing and Reaping Machine Company, of Hoo- sick Falls, New York, remaining with them two years. Next he was employed by Messrs. Frank Bros. of San Francisco as traveling salesman for four years; then engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement business for himself, in company with Perrin Stanton at Sacramento, California, where he remained
in business for five years; then sold his in- terest in the business to Stanton, Thomson & Co. of that city, and moved to Pacific Grove, investing his capital largely in Pacific Grove residence property.
Mr. Hohnan married, in 1869, Miss Laura A. Whitcomb, of Underhill, Vermont, and they have two sons and one daughter. The family reside in a beautiful home on the Lighthouse road, and it is one of the most complete homes in its appointments and sur- roundings in Monterey county. Mr. Hohnan is esteemed for his sound business judgment and integrity.
AMES H. MCDOUGALL .- The subject of this brief sketch is one of the most widely and favorably known business men in Monterey county. He has been a resident of California since 1854, and his rise and progress from step to step as a business man is briefly noted in the following lines:
Mr. McDougall is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and was born October 4, 1836. His father, James McDougall, is a pioneer of California, of 1853, a venerable resident of Salinas.
Our subject, upon arrival in San Francisco, via Chicago, came directly to Monterey county and engaged in farming in the Parnell val- ley, until 1858. He then followed lumbering for a brief time, and also operated a thresh- ing crew in the Pájaro valley. In 1868 he commenced merchandising in Salinas city, in partnership with Deacon Howe, carrying a somewhat mixed assortiment of goods, mostly stationery. For about thirteen years he served as Postmaster of Salinas, receiving his appointment from Postmaster-General Key, under President Hayes' administration. In 1884 he was elected Tax Collector of Mon-
291
AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES.
terey, and is still connected with the office, as a deputy. He retired from the mercantile business in 1889, having been engaged there- in for twenty years. During these busy years Mr. McDougall has been very prosper- ons and has accumulated a fine property, which consists of valuable productive real estate and business property, in and about Salinas. He has figured more or less in poli- tics, and has never lost a political contest. He has served several times on his local School Board, and is President of the same at the present time. In January, 1880, he was elected Treasurer of Alisal Lodge, No. 163 I. O. O. F., of Salinas, and has since been cus- todian of its finances. He is interested in banking, and is a director in one of the strongest banking institutions in the interior of the State.
Mr. McDougall married Miss Elizabeth, the daughter of the late James Bardin, Esq., an esteemed pioneer and leading farmer of Salinas, a brief sketch of whose life can be found on another page in this work. Mr. and Mrs. McDougall have two bright children, Jay Edward and Charles.
EORGE BLAKIE, a well-known farmer of Salinas valley, has been a resident of California since 1860. He is a na- ive of Scotland, and was born at Kelso, October 6, 1834. He came to America in 1857, and located in Monterey county in 1863, where he has successfully farmed about 300 acres of the Cooper ranch, producing chiefly potatoes and grain, and he keeps abont forty head of horses, his ranch being one of the largest in the vicinity.
Mr. Blakie was married at the little town of Castroville, to a daughter of Thomas Will-
iams. Mrs. Blakie is a native of the State of Connecticut. About a year ago, he removed with his family to their home place, "Cypress Corner," in San Miguel cañon.
NORTON, one of the most proficient and able tutors of the youngin Mont- erey county, is the subject of this brief sketch.
Mr. Norton was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, in the town of Lanes- boro. His parents, P. L. and Sarah (Thayer) Norton, are both natives of New York State. His father served throughout the war in the Union army, was twice wounded, once taken prisoner, and was promoted to the rank of Major of volunteers for meritorious services on the field of battle.
Our subject enjoyed the advantages of a liberal early education in his native town and in the town of Susquehanna, and entered upon a course of study at Cornell University, New York, in 1871. Owing to an almost total loss of eyesight his studies were aban- doned for a while. Upon a partial recovery he went to Philadelphia and embarked for California on the steamship "State of Cali- fornia," which sailed for San Francisco, via the Straits of Magellan. As he had devoted himself to his studies, he was able, after a few months passed in the steamship service of the San Francisco and southern coast ronte, to engage in teaching district school, in the northern end of Monterey county, near Watsonville, Santa Cruz county. Later his talents as an instructor were recognized to such an extent that he was offered the Prin- cipalship of the public-schools of Gonzales, in Monterey county, which position he acceptably filled for seven years. The follow-
262
MONTEREY, SAN BENITO, SANTA CRUZ,
ing two years he held the same position at San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county. In 1892 he resigned his position, relinquished educational work and accepted the position of Monterey agent for the Pacific Coast Station Ship Company. Mr. Norton's thorough knowledge of school work and his conscien- tious devotion to his duties, have made him one of the most able and popular teachers in central California, and his pleasant, genial manner and business tact is making him very popular and successful in his new position of agent for the above company.
Mr. Norton has acceptably served the pub- lic for three terms, or six years, as member of the County Board of Education, and was without solicitation made the Democratic nominee for County Superintendent of schools, but as his party was in the minority he fell short of an election.
AMES H. ROBINSON, a prominent farmer of Salinas and Deputy County Recorder of Monterey county, is a native of Texas, having been born in Dallas, De- cember 26, 1855. He is the son of Ephraim Robinson, a native of North Carolina, who came to California in 1860 and located on a farm near Salinas city. When our subject was five years old his parents came to Cali- fornia and located in Monterey county.
James received his education in the public schools of this county and early in life em- braced stock-raising and farming as his occu- pation. He now is the proud owner of a fine ranch of 1,810 acres, near what is known as the Corral de Tierra, in this county.
Mr. Robinson was married in this county, January 1, 1884, to Miss Annie Condon, of Salinas city, daughter of George W. Condon,
a farmer of Salinas. She was born at Slug Gulch, Placer county, California, May 2, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have had three children.
Two years ago Mr. Robinson accepted the office of Deputy County Recorder, which. position he has successfully filled to the pres- ent time. He was deputy recorder from 1887 to 1889. On the ranch from Jannary 1 up to the fall of 1890, when he entered the campaign for the office of County Re- corder, against a popular young native son of the Golden West, and was elected by a good majority, and holds the office at the present time. He is a successful farmer and enjoys the respect and esteem of his fellow-towns- men.
F. PEARCE, who has a beautiful home of seventy acres, located in San Juan cañon, California, is one of the represenative citizens of San Benito county, and is deserving of some personal mention in this work.
Mr. Pearce was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, December 15, 1834. His parents, Edward H. and Mary (Brown) Pearce, were natives of Gloucester and Hamilton, Massachusetts, respectively. Ed- ward H. Pearce was a seafaring man, a cap- tain of various ocean vessels, and navigated nearly all the open seas of the world. He was born in 1800, spent the evening of his life on a farm in Massachusetts, and died in 1875.
In early life the subject of our sketch learned the trade of shoe-cutter and became an expert cutter. He worked in a factory in Nova Scotia for some time. It was in 1851 that he made his first trip to California, con- ing via Cape Horn, as a sailor before the
293
AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES.
mast. After spending four months in San Francisco he went back into the country and hunted wild game for the San Francisco mar- ket. This business he pursued about four years. Then, after a trip through the inin -. ing districts, he in 1856 returned East. His second journey to California was made by way of Panama in 1861.
Mr. Pearce was married in 1857, at Nova Scotia, to Miss Sarah Eaton, a native of Liv- erpool, Nova Scotia, born May 24, 1837, a daughter of Captain Thomas Eaton, her par- ents being both of English birth. Captain Eaton was a seafaring man and was com- mander of the ship Fairy. This vessel, which had her keel laid on Friday, was launched on Friday, and sailed to sea on Fri- day, was, indeed, a most fortunate craft, not- withstanding the superstition which gov- erned the movements of many sailors in those days. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have two sons and five daughters, viz .: Kate, wife of C. A. Dorsey, Sacramento; Lida, widow of Henry Rounds, San Francisco; Edward, a rancher, Mabel, a teacher in the public schools of San Juan; and Lillian, Arthur and Minnie.
Mr. Pearce has served as Justice of the Peace of San Juan and as a School Trustee of his district for sixteen years.
During the time Edward H. Pearce lived on his farm he was a member of the Massa- chusetts Legislature for over twenty years. Henry, the second son of E. H. Pearce, joined the Union army at the commencement of the war and continued until the close; was in forty-seven engagements and came out with- ont a scratch although he was six feet and five inches in height and weighed 256 pounds. After the war he removd to St. Louis, Mig- souri, where he died, in July, 1889, of Bright's disease. David, the youngest of the boys, also enlisted in the Union army early in the
war, served in the Army of the Potomac about two years and six months, and, after his return, died of the same disease.
EORGE FENWICK BODFISH, of Pacific Grove, is a native of California, born in San José, February 1, 1859.
His father, George H. Bodfish, deceased, was a native of Barnstable county, Massa- chusetts, and an active and influential pioneer of California. Grandfather Eben Bodfish was a native of the same county, and was by occupation a farmer. Grandmother Bodfish was, before her marriage, a Miss Fish, and, like her husband, was of old Puritan stock. George H. was the fourth of nine children born to Eben Bodfish and his wife. He was reared on a farm. He, however, inclined to mechanics and to milling. Locating at New Bedford, Massachusetts, he engaged exten- sively in lumbering, shipping cargoes by an ocean vessel around Cape Horn to San Fran- cisco in 1849. In the latter part of that year he came to California, via Panama, re- maining two years. He disposed of his stock of lumber and engaged in farming in Santa Clara valley, near San José, and also opened one of the first mercantile houses in that city. Both these enterprises proved success- ful, and he continued the same until 1855, when he embarked in the milling business in the Coast Range mountains, about six miles west of Gilroy. He manufactured large quantities of Redwood lumber, operat- ing lumber yards and planing mills in both Gilroy and San José. In 1855 he took into the Santa Clara valley the first steam thresh- ing machine of that region of country. In 1863 he mined gold in the quartz mines of Kern county, California. He died at Sage
294
MONTEREY, SAN BENITO, SANTA CRUZ,
Land, a mining town of that county, in 1869. He was married in 1853, to Mrs. Allen Luce, a widow of New Bedford, Massachusetts, re- turning to California the same year with his bride and her only son, Allen. Allen Luce, at this writing, is the keeper of Point Pinos lighthouse. To George H. Bodfish and his wife were born three children, namely: Emma, now Mrs. W. H. Lambert, of Mon- terey county, born March 9, 1855; George Fenwick, February 1, 1859; and Jessen M., May 26, 1861, died in 1868. Mrs. Bodfish by maiden name was Sarah A. Brent, daugh- ter of Honorable William M. Brent, deceased, an eminent jurist and ex-member of Congress from Louisiana.
George Fenwick Bodfish was educated in the public schools of San José and Monterey, and has for years been a dealer in stock, cattle and horses. He was married Decem- ber 23, 1884, to Miss Brenda R. Prague, a daughter of Honorable J. B. and Maria (Watkins) Prague, of New Orleans, Louis- iana. She is a lady of literary tastes and rare domestic accomplishments, and is a fre- quent contributor to the San Francisco daily papers and Monterey local press. She is a true southern lady, charming in her manner and brilliant in conversation. The familys home is in Pacific Grove. They have two interesting little boys.
OHN H. GARBER comeso f old Penn- sylvania Dutch stock, a people proverb- ial for thrift, domestic neatness and that judicious conservatism which invariably leads to a comfortable competency if not to wealth.
Mr. Garber was born in Trappe, Mont- gomery county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1845. He worked on a farm, when not at-
tending the public school, till he had reached his twenty-fourth year. He then entered Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsyl- vania, of which institution he is a graduate .of class '71. After that he taught school one year. Then he took a post-graduate course at Lehigh University, in his native State.
In May, 1875; Mr. Garber came to this coast and took up his permanent abode at Salinas. For some time after his arrival he took hold of various employments, both at manuel labor and in assisting the county of- ficers in clerical work, serving four years as Deputy County Clerk. He revisited the scenes of his old home in the East for a few montlis, and on returning to Salinas, in 1881, he was again employed in the county offices. In May, 1882, Mr. Garber was appointed County Surveyor to fill the unexpired term of F. S. Ingalls, and has been elected to fill that office as the Democratic nominee ever since.
W. BRIGGS was born in Rome, Oneida county, New York, August 25, 1819. He resided with his parents, attending the public schools, until the Janu- ary after he was twelve years old, when he entered the store of his cousin, Lyman Briggs, in Rome. He served as a clerk at Rome and Watertown until 1838, when he went to his parents in Lake county, Ohio. In 1840 he resolved to go South for the purpose of teach- ing, as he was very well fitted for that life, he having kept up his studies and read exten- sively on law questions. He went to Tennes- see an entire stranger, but was fortunate enough to get a school at Beech Grove Semin - ary, in Giles county, Tenn.
In 1847, July 4, he married Miss Mary Stinson, one of his pupils. That year the
295
AND SAN MATEO COUNTIES.
negro question was beginning to agitate the people, and his wife's family were all Presby- terians and opposed to slavery, although they owned slaves; a number of the family con- cluded to make their home in the free States, and after visiting a number of the Western States finally settled at Troy, in Davis county, Iowa, where our subject again went into iner- cantile life, and acted as Postmaster, School Trustee and "boss" generally. While here he was elected County Commissioner, Supervisor. and when the Board of Commissioners was abolished and the County Judgeship, having all the supervisors' and probate business; when criminal jurisdiction was created, he was elected to that office, as a Whig, although the county was a few hundred Democratic.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.