A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 40

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738

USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 40
USA > California > Santa Barbara County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 40
USA > California > Ventura County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 40

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don't think you know what it was abont." " Oh, yes, father," replied Benjamin; " I can tell you the text, and a good deal that the minister said." And he began and gave a nice little outline of the sermon, and when he stopped he said, " And now, father, I can tell you how many rafters, posts and collar braces there are in the church." And so it can be said of the subject of this sketelı,- that there is not much going on where he is that he does not take in.

C. HIGGINS, a rancher of Carpenteria Valley, was born in Galesburg, Illinois, O in 1842. His father had large farm interests in the locality of Galesburg and mueh eity property. His father and mother are still living, each at the age of seventy five years, and they are looking forward to their golden wedding in April, 1891. P. C. Hig- gins was married at Galesburg in 1864, to Miss Mary Jenks, and they then moved to Altona, Knox County, Illinois, to take charge of one of his father's farms. In 1867 they moved to Forest, Livingston County, where Mr. Higgins bought 160 acres of land, and carried on general farming for thirteen years, dealing largely in hogs, which he fattened for market. In 1880 they sold out and inoved to Prairie City, Iowa, where he engaged in the hardware business, and re- mained three years. Through an unsatis- factory partner they made no progress, and in 1883 Mr. Higgins sold out and came to Carpenteria Valley, where he bought 108 aeres of eleared land, all under cultivation. His main crop is Lima beans, the leading industry of the valley, of which he plants about ninety acres, with an average yield of from 1,500 to 2,000 pounds per acre. Mr. Higgins has a bituminous rock bed on his

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place, bordering on the sea, which, after care- ful examination is found to cover several acres in area, at an average depth of sixteen feet. They have taken out about 5,000 tons, which was used in the paving of State street in Santa Barbara. In boring for artesian water he struck natural gas, at a depth of 500 feet, although not in paying quantities: still by storing it was found to burn very rapidly. He raises, lemons and other fruits, but only for home use. Mr. and Mrs. Hig- gins have six children, all living.

RANE BROTHERS are the leading merchants of Saticoy. The business was established by E. C. Crane in 1886, he conducting it until 1889, when his brother, L. P. Crane, became a partner, taking a half interest in the business. The store was first located on the Telegraph road. and in 1887 it was removed to a point one- half inile north- west of where the depot now is. After the depot was built, as they are buyers and ship- pers of produce, and as the new hotel is at the station, they saw it would be to their in- terest to again move their store, and accord- ingly located near the station. They are now building a large store-room at the rear of the main building, making the whole depth of the building 110 feet. Over the store is a large hall which is used for public meetings. Both of these gentlemen are enterprising and are active in all measures tending to build up the town. Both are native sons of the Golden West, having been born in Ventura County, within a few miles of Saticoy, their father, J. L. Crane, being one of the earliest pioneers of this part of the country. (A sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this work.)

E. C. Crane, the senior member of the firm, dates his birth in 1863. He was reared on a

farm and educated at Carpenteria. In 1884 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Cross, a native of Wisconsin. They have three children, Cora L., Ella and Clarence. Mr. Crane's political views are Democratic. He was Postmaster under the Cleveland ad- ministration. Mr. Crane resides in a neat cottage which he built not far from their place of business.

L. P. Crane, the junior member of the firm, received his education in the public schools of the county. He is a successful farmer, owning a fine ranch in the Santa Clara Val- ley, one mile from their store, and is conduct- ing this in addition to his other business. He has built a nice residence and barn and resides on the ranch. He was married in 1888, to Miss Abby Briggs, a native of Yuba County, California, and a daughter of Jolin G. Briggs. They have one son, Bertie, born in Saticoy. L. P. Crane shares his brother's political views.

OHN BAILARD .- One of the largest ranches in the Carpenteria Valley is that owned by the estate of Andrew Bailard, which is under the direct manage- ment of his widow and John Bailard, his eldest son. Andrew Bailard was born in Germany, and came to this country in his boyhood, with his parents, who settled on a farm in Missouri. In 1853 Andrew came to California, across the plains, first settling in San Mateo County, where he purchased a ranch of 400 acres, and carried on general farming, making grain, barley, hay and po- tatoes the principal crops. In 1857 he was married to Miss Martha C. Schultz, a native of Missouri, who came across the plains in the same train with Mr. Bailard. In 1868 Mr. Bailard sold his ranch and in August of

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the same year he moved his family to the Carpenteria Valley. He here purchased 400 acres of wild land from Dr. Beggs, who . owned a large Spanish grant. He at once began clearing and as soon as practicable planted corn and beans. At that time the small bean was cultivated, the Lima bean being a later production. Mr. Bailard died in December, 1876, leaving his widow and nine children. His eldest son, John Bailard, was born in San Mateo County, in 1859; re- ceived his education there and at the Santa Barbara College. He has taken an active part in the management of the ranch, which has since been enlarged by 100 acres that Mrs. Bailard inherited. The valley land has mostly been cleared of the live oaks since his father's death; and of the 500 acres, 400 are under cultivation, the uplands during the alternate years and valleys every year. The machinery used is of the most improved kind, throwing all labor possible upon the team rather than the driver. Two hundred acres of this ranch is planted to Lima beans, which has become the principal crop of the valley. Mr. Bailard has recently purchased forty acres more, which is largely under cultivation.

In June, 1887, Mr. Bailard was married in Carpenteria, to Miss Kitty Cravens.

EORGE WILLIAM PROCTOR was born in East Providence, Rhode Island, May 5, 1823. His father and grand- father, William Proctor, Sr. and Jr., were both natives of New Hampshire, and were the descendants of English settlers in this country. His mother, Betsey (Thompson) Proctor, was born in Andover, New Hamp- shire, and was a daughter of Peter Thomp- son, a Revolutionary soldier. Mr. Proctor's

father was twice married, and he was the youngest of a family of four children by the first marriage. He was reared at Andover, attended the district school, worked on the farm and learned the blacksmith's trade. He then went to Ashburnham and worked with his brother, after which he took a contract to make 100 tons of railroad spikes, at Nashua. That completed lie entered the railroad shops, and worked for the company three years. November 29, 1848, he went to work for the Passumpsie Railroad Company at Wells Riv- er, Vermont, having charge of a shop. May 20, 1850, he commenced work for the Eagle Screw Company of Providence, Rhode Island. Next he went to Maidstone, Vermont, and helped to build a saw-mill, and from there he went to Guildhall, Vermont, where he set up a blacksmith shop, and continued the business there until 1858.

In that year Mr. Proctor came to California. He engaged in work on a quartz mill at West Point, Calaveras County, and also became in- terested in mining. They had rich rock, but, owing to the dishonesty of some of the par- ties, it did not pay. From there he went to Pine Grove. No survey had been made at that place. Mr. Proctor fenced in 100 acres of land, and also built a shop. In 1859 he planted an orchard of apples, pears, and peaches. This property he sold, and removed to a place twenty-two miles from Sacramento, which he named Elliott. He located a quar- ter section of land, and built a shop, and was there about five years. During that time he did a good business and also cultivated an orchard, which proved a great success, this being the first orchard planted on the red land. He sold the property for $2,000, and removed to Cambria, San Luis Obispo Conuty. Here he got land to the amount of 400 acres. He was a pioneer builder of the town, and in every way did all he could for the develop-

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ment and growth of the place; built a large shop, aided in building the Masons' Hall, built a three-story hotel, and several other houses. The hotel was destroyed by fire in 1889, and was a total loss.

In 1880 Mr. Proctor moved from Cambria to near San Miguel. He took up Govern- ment land, and, as at other places where he had located, he bnilt a shop. IIe for a time ran the shop in San Miguel, with George Washington Proctor, besides his shop across the river from San Miguel. This shop he ran for five years, in company with G. E Proctor. Now, he owns 800 acres of land, six miles east of San Miguel. Other mem- bers of his family have 560 acres adjoining his, making 1,360 acres in all. A fine spring is located on his place. He is engaged in raising wheat, cattle and horses. In 1888 Mr. Proctor built the Occidental Hotel, which was opened in February of that year. It is being conducted by his son-in-law, George S. Davis, who is an experienced hotel man, and who keeps a good house.

Mr. Proctor married in 1844 Miss Elvira Cooper, a native of New York, danghter of Rev. David Cooper, a Universalist minister of Saratoga, New York. They had two children : Elvira E., born in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, now the wife of George S. Davis; and George E., born in Nashua, New Hampshire, who resides on his ranch, two miles east of San Miguel. After four years of wedded life, Mrs. Proctor died. Several years later Mr. Proctor married Miss Lucin- da T. Norris, a native of Corinth, Vermont, a daughter of Rev. John Norris, and they have had seven children.

Mr. Proctor has been a leader; where he has gone others have followed. He has both thought and labored for the interest of the society in which he has lived. Has aided in organizing four granges in the county. In

politics he is in favor of reform. He was reared a Methodist, but his religious views have been modified. He is a believer in one God, and in the principle that " If we do right in this world we will be all right in the next if, there is one, and we will be all right in this world whether there is another or not." This mode of expressing his doctrine was used by a Unitarian minister on the occasion of the funeral of his beloved uncle, Hon. John Proctor, at Andover, New Hampshire. Mr. Proctor has been an Odd Fellow, a Son of Temperance, a Good Templar, and has helped to start a number of lodges and reform movemen's.

S. DUVAL, the builder and proprietor of the Charles Hotel, Saticoy, was born in Maine, August 4, 1858. He is a son E. A. Duval, mention of whom will be found in another part of this book, where the history of the family is given as far as known. Mr Duval came with his father to Saticoy in 1868, and was engaged in the general merchandise business, under the name of Crane & Duval, for two years. He sold his interest and purchased lots of the Pacific Improvement Company, with the under- standing that he would build a hotel for the accommodation of their trains. He ac- cordingly erected the Charles Hotel, 56 x 100 feet, two stories high, having a balustrade on three sides, and containing twenty-five rooms. It was built at a cost of $12,000, and was opened to the public June 2, 1889, being the first hotel in this part of the valley. After being sucessfully condneted for eight months, it was destroyed by fire. The cook upset a pot of lard on the range, and, there being a strong wind blowing, the whole house was soon in flames. Their best efforts to save

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the building was ineffectual, only a portion of the foundation being left. The property was insured for $8,000, which the company paid in full; and Mr. Duval commenced the erection of a new building on the 3d of March, 1890, which was opened for business April 4. It contains eighteen rooms and is suit- ably finished and furnished throughout. It is the eating-house for the traveling public between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, trains stopping for both dinner and supper. This house is being conducted in a first-class way, and Mr. Duval, by his genial and ac- commodating manner, has secured a good patronage.

Mr. Duval was married in 1879 to Miss Mary E. Knox, a native of Iowa, and daugh- ter of Jolin Knox of that State. This union has been blessed with three children, Elmer H., Lawrence and Melvin, all born at Sat- icoy.

Mr. Duval belongs to the Regulators of Santa Clara Valley. In politics he is Re- publican.

B F. MADDOX, one of the business men of Nordhoff, is a native of Ken- tncky, born in Pendleton County, Jan- uary 12, 1844. He is a son of William Maddox, a native of Ohio, who for many years resided in Kentucky, was married to Miss Brandenburgh, and lived on a planta- tion. Mrs. Maddox died of cholera in 1857. His father was afterward married to a second wife, and was the father of eighteen children, ten by his first wife and eight by the second, all except two living to adult age.

When the subject of this sketch was ten years of age the family moved to Illinois. In December, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as

a private soldier, and participated in all the engagements of the West from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson, the battle of Shiloh, the advance on Corinth and the battle of Corinth in 1862. He was with General Sherman on his memorable march from Atlanta to the sea, and was at Washington during the grand review, when the magnificent victorions army made its triumphant march through the great capital of the country their deeds of valor had saved. Mr. Maddox received no wound, but suffered mnch from diarrhea, from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. Four of his brothers were also in the Union army, one of whom lost his life and another came near dying in prison.

At the close of the war Mr. Maddox was Inustered ont, and went to Kansas, where he took a Government claim which he improved and on which he lived until 1874. In that year he came to Ventura County, California. Mr. Maddox was a carpenter, and worked at his trade five years in Ventura, where he met with a very slight accident which resulted in the loss of the use of his right hand. He received a wound from a scratch-awl, and went to a physician to have something ap- plied to remove the soreness. The doctor injected carbolic acid, full strength, and blood poisoning did the rest, cansing Mr. Maddox to be a cripple for life. He then took np a small piece of land in the Matilija Cañon on Ventura River. and kept an apiary. He was there elected road commissioner, and held the office eight years. In 1886 he came to Nord- hoff, purchased a lot, and erected a very pleasant home. He also bought another lot and built a livery stable, and dealt some in real estate, being very successful in his trans- actions. His livery stable is now the only one in the town. It is well equipped through- ont, Mr. Maddox keeping sixteen horses and ten conveyances. Ile has one team composed

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of fine grays, Richmond stock, that being considered the best stock in the country.

In 1872 Mr. Maddox was married to Miss Jennie R. Whaley, who was born in Canada, and is a daughter of William Whaley, a native of Ireland. Their union has been blessed with two sons and two daughters- Lela, Eugenia, Harry E. and Foster F. In political matters Mr. Maddox is a Democrat. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.

OHN PYSTER .-- On the county road, about two miles east of Carpenteria, lies the fine ranch of John Pyster, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1840. He worked on the farm of his father until eight- een years of age, when he came to America, and went to Northern Wisconsin, where he worked at farmning two years. He then went to Jefferson County, New York, and worked for one farmer three years. In 1863 he came to California, and was occupied as circum- stances offered during the first year. He then went to Half Moon Bay and rented a farm of 200 acres of Mr. Andrew Bailard, doing general farming and remaining until 1869, when he came to the Carpenteria Val- ley, working one year for Mr. Bailard, who came down in 1868. In 1870 Mr. Pyster purchased adjoining land to the amount of 191 acres, of Dr. Biggs, who owned the Spanish grant. The land was all wild and largely covered with brush and live-oak which abounded all through the valley. He imme- diately began clearing and cultivating and putting in the standard crops of the valley- beans and barley. Mr. Pyster inherited the thrift and industry of his country, and now possesses one of the finest large farms of the valley. He is a breeder of a fine class of

farm and draft horses, and his stallion " Mon- tebello, Jr.," a Belgium horse, is one of great beauty, is four years old and weighs 1,750 pounds.

Mr. Pyster was married in Santa Barbara, November 15, 1870, to Miss Christiena Lieb, a native of Würtemburg, Germany. They have five children, four sons and one daugh- ter, all at home. Mr. Pyster is quite up with the times in his agricultural work, and is now (May, 1890) putting in thirty-five acres of beans of choice varieties, for seed purposes, to supply the seed-store of George Haskell & Co., of Rockford, Illinois, they finding the seed grown in California to be of better quality than that grown in the East.

W. ROGERS, a resident of the Carpen- teria Valley, was born in Pern, Clinton County, New York, in 1825. He was the youngest son of a family of seven chil- dren, all of whom are now living excepting the eldest son, who went south in early life and was stricken with yellow fever. At the age of two years, with his parents he moved to Boston, Massachusetts. His father was then connected with a manufacturing house, and introduced the first cast-iron plow into the State of Maine. As agent for a Boston firm he was also interested in the lumber business. In 1841 he moved his family to Augusta, Maine, on account of his lumber interests; was very successful, owned a ranch of 1,000 acres, and also owned a line of coast schooners which operated between Angusta, Boston and New York; but owing to a terri- ble freshet his lumber interests suffered to such an extent as to wipe out all of his acen- mulations.

J. W. Rogers was educated at the public schools of Boston, after which he took charge

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of his father's form, which adjoined the city of Augusta, carrying on dairying, general farming and raising stock, etc. In 1852 he was married in Augusta, to Miss Charlotte C. Kenney, and together they passed the fol- lowing winter in Virginia. In the spring they went to Wisconsin, where Mr. Rogers took up 160 acres of Government land, and for seven years was engaged in general farm- ing. While living in Illinois he deeded to the Home for the Friendless, of New York city, one farm of 120 acres, and Mrs. Rogers became a life member of the society, and also a member of the Chicago Home for the Friendless, for the support of which institn- tion she has contributed and also raised inoneys from friends. In 1860 Mr. Rogers sold out and returned to the East, and in 1862 he brought his parents to Fairbury, Livingston County, Illinois, where Mr. Rogers purchased a small farm near the town, and also town property, and there remained until 1880, interested in gardening and the dairy business. The next year he passed in Mon- tana, and his health failing there he came in 1881 to California. He purchased thirteen and a fourth acres of land in the Carpenteria Valley, which was at that time covered with dense underbrush and live-oaks. Mr. Rogers built a small house in the brush and then worked himself out. He now has one of the finest and most productive small ranches in the valley. He has since added to his resi- dence, and in place of the brushi it is sur- rounded with flowers and fruit. Mr. Rogers keeps four horses and three cows; and his strong growth of barley, beans, vegetables, alfalfa and corn bears evidence of the quality of his soil.

Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have an adopted son which they took in infancy. They are also bringing np a colored girl who was left an orphan. In conclusion we state that Mr.

Rogers has just deeded a handsome lot, 50 x 150 feet, to the Methodist Episcopal society for church purposes, upon which is now erected a beautiful little chapel, where services are held every Sunday.

T. WEBSTER .- At the east end of the Carpenteria Valley lies the beautiful ranch of L. T. Webster, who was born on the shore of Lake Erie, in Lorain County, Ohio, in 1845. His father was a farmer, making the production of fruit his chief bus- iness. At the age of nine years his parents moved to Wisconsin, and his father pur- chased a small farnı near Madison. At the age of fifteen years young Webster started out in life for himself. He first went to Iowa and began work on a farm, but with the firing on Fort Suinter his loyalty was aroused, and, though a mere boy, he enlisted in Company E, of the Second lowa Infantry, for three years, under command of Colonel Curtis, Captain MeCullough being in charge of the company. The regiment was engaged with the Western army and was at the battle of Fort Donelson, where 209 men were killed and wounded from their regiment, this being their first heavy battle. They were at the battle of Corinth; and at Shiloh the regi- ment sustained a severe loss, Company E go- ing in with thirty men, nineteen of whom were killed and wounded. At the end of three years Mr. Webster was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and returned home for the summer, but in the fall he again enlisted, in the Second Ohio Cavalry, under Colonel Nettleton. They were stationed in Virginia, Maryland and around Washington, but were in no engagements, and were mnstered out at St. Louis in September, 1865. Mr. Web-

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ster then returned to his home in Ohio, and resumed farming.

In the fall of 1871 he was married to Miss S. E. Hammond, a native of Ohio. In the spring of 1881 they came to California, set- tling, in the fall of that year, in the Carpen- teria Valley, where they purchased sixty acres of valley land as level as a floor. The farm was somewhat improved, a honse and barn having been built on the place. Mr. Webster had done much to increase its pro- ductiveness, and it is now in a high state of cultivation. He has a fine walnut grove of thirty-one acres, six acres in a variety of fruits for family use, and two acres in alfalfa, which, at each cutting, produces about two tons to the acre. He plants six acres to corn and thirty-four acres to beans. The beauti- ful condition of this ranch is a significant history of the success which has attended its owner. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have two children, both living at home.

ILBERT MIDDAGH is one of the old- time Californians. He came to the State in 1854, and to his present ranch in 1869. While driving the corner stake in the homestead claim Mr. Middagh had taken, the Government surveyor stopped and said: " That's right. You're all right. Stick to it." And he has strictly followed the advice given him, and has not only stuck to it, but has added to the ranch until he now owns three-quarters of a section of land. They gathered a little drift wood and erected a temporary structure which they covered with the wagon cover. This crude affair served for a lionse until their nice little adobe home was finished. It stands near the stream, be- side a huge white oak, which now measures

fifteen feet and eight inches around the trunk and its branches extend eighty-one feet in width. Here they planted the fig and the vine until the house is embowered with fruit tree, vine, shrub and flower, and it forms a quiet, snug little home to which Mr. Mid- dagh returns from his broad acres when his day's work is done.

He has engaged in fruit culture and has a fine orchard now in bearing, principally grown from the seed planted and budded by his own hands, and in this work he takes just pride, pleasure and profit. Few realize the hardships and self-denials that the pio- neer had to undergo. The nearest place from which they could obtain supplies was Port Harford, and that was forty-five miles dis- tant. One of the first improvements inade on this ranch was a well, from which the wife lifted the dirt in an iron kettle. The well was completed and has since done good ser- vice. Mr. Middagh has trees that he planted ten years ago which now measure three feet and ten inches in circumference. Fruit trees seven years old, grown from the seed, meas- ure two feet and four inches around, and are loaded with fruit.

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Author: Storke, Yda Addis Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 738

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738