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 43

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 43
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 43
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 43

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Mount Pleasant, lowa, where he continued until he entered his senior year in 1862. He then left college and entered the volunteer service in the war of the Rebellion, in the Twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and continned in the army with Sherman until the close of the war. Then he entered the law department of the University of Michigan, in September, 1865, and graduated with the class of 1866, and located first for the prac- tice of law in December, that year, in Mem- phis, Tennessee. Being in poor health, he left Memphis and traveled for nearly a year, and then settled in Council Bluffs, lowa, and there practiced law and took an act- ive part in politics, as a Republican, always participating in every canvass as a speaker. In 1873 he came to California, at the instance of his friend Josiah Earl. Mr. Earl having succeeded by a visit to Washington City in having a United States land office located at Independence, Inyo County, California, and being appointed Register, he got Mr. Gregg to come to California to put the new office in working condition. Mr. Gregg left Inyo and located at Bakersfield, Kern County, California, in 1876, and was there elected on the Republican ticket a member of the Cali- fornia Constitutional Convention that met at Sacramento in December, 1878, and that formulated the present Constitution of Cali- fornia, and Mr. Gregg had the honor of serving on the Judiciary and Corporation Committees of that body. Mr. Gregg lias been a resident of San Luis Obispo for seven years, and of the State for seven years. He has always been a Republican in poli- tics, and has for his party canvassed the State at one time, and several counties at dif- ferent times. He is a Grand Army man, a member of George H. Thomas Post, No. 2, San Francisco, and is in receipt of a pension of $16 per month from the Government tor

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wounds received during the war. He has a wife and five children, having married at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 1879.

EORGE G. CRANE, one of the promi- nent citizens of Saticoy, was born in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio, July 7, 1835. His father, George W. Crane, was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1809, and removed to Ohio in 1834, bought a farm in that new country, cleared it and made it his home until his death, which occurred in 1884. Mr. Crane's grandfather, Barnabas Crane, was born in Dighton, Massa- chusetts, in 1774. Their ancestors were English and Scotch, and were among the first settlers of the new world. Mr. Crane's mother, Louisa (Briggs) Crane, was a native of New York, born in 1815. She is now (1890) a resident of California. Her brother, George G. Briggs, was the pioneer in and promoter of the raisin-grape industry in California, devoting as many as 1,000 acres to their production. She is the daughter of Thomas Briggs, who was a native of Massa- chusetts. Mr. Crane is one of a family of seven children, all now living except one, and was reared and educated in his native place. When a young man he came to Cali- fornia, worked in the mines and by the month, after which he returned to his native State and purchased 125 acres of land. After residing on that farm twelve years, he sold ont and removed to Cass County, Missouri, where he bought a farm and lived six years. He then disposed of his property there and went to Denver, Colorado, engaged in the wholesale fruit business, and later in quartz mining, continuing the latter business six years. In 1884 he bought his present home place of 140 acres, situated in one of the

very best valleys in Sonthern California, and improved the property by building, tree- planting, etc. He has fifty acres in English walnuts, four years old, and one-half acre in encalyptus trees, planted in rows six feet apart and four feet apart in the row, now over fifty feet high, which will furnish all the wood needed on the farm. Mr. Crane raises from sixty to 110 tons of beans each year.

He was married in 1859 to Miss Adaline Huntly, a native of Ohio, born in Granger Township, Medina Connty, in 1836. They have two children, both born at his home in Sharon, Ohio,-Amie and Abbie. Amie is the wife of E. E. Huntly, and resides at Saticoy. Mr. and Mrs. Crane are members of the Universalist church, and are liberal in their religions views. In politics he is a Democrat, and has held the office of Super- visor both in Ohio and in Missouri. He has always taken an active interest in schools, and has frequently held the office of school trustee. He is an intelligent and agreeable gentleman, and is highly respected by his fellow-citizens.

L. GISLER is a well-to-do citizen and an early settler of New Jerusalem. His father, Max Gisler, a native of Switzerland, was a poor but worthy and in- dustrious man, with a wife and thirteen children. With the intention of trying to improve his financial condition and to better provide for his family, he borrowed the money to pay his passage to California, and came to Ventura County in 1876. The second eldest son came with him, and together they worked as sheep herders for two years, and during that time they saved money enough to pay the borrowed money and also to bring the

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eldest deanghter and son to this country. S. L. Gisler and two brothers were the next sent for. By the united efforts of all, the mother and other members of the family were brought to California, and here pros- perity has been the reward of their labor. When persistent effort is coupled with a de- termination to sneceed in any undertaking, it is seldom that failure is the result. Mr. Gisler purchased sixty-five acres of land adjoining the town of New Jerulsalem, on whiel he built a fine residence, where he and a part of the family now reside. Five of the children are married and settled in this county.

S. L. Gisler dates his birth June 6, 1861. He arrived in California May 6, 1878, and his first work here was as a farm hand and teamster, for Edward Borchard, remaining with him six years and three months. He next worked two seasons on a thresher, at $55 per month and board. In 1886 he opened his Swiss saloon in New Jerusalem, which he is still conducting. Mr. Gisler was married December 1, 1888, to Miss Theresa Puentener. Both are members of the Catholie ehnreh. His political views are Democratic.

EORGE M. RICHARDSON is one of the oldest settlers of Santa Paula. He was born in Kennebee County, Maine, on the last day of the last week of the year, and on the last day of the last month of the year 1821. He was the son of George and Loviey (Robins) Richardson, the former a native of Attleborongh, Massachusetts, of English extraction, and the latter was born in Orange, Massachusetts. They had a family of twelve children, of whom five sons and one daughter are now living. The subject of this sketch left his native State in 1836, and settled in the town of Moscow, Hillsdale

County, Michigan, just about the time Michi- gan was admitted into the Union as a State, thus becoming a pioneer of that new country. He bought a farm, built a house and improved the land, and lived there for ten years. He then sold out and removed to Jackson County, same State, where he purchased eighty acres of land and again built and made improve- ments; and, while there, split more rails than Abraham Lincoln did. In 1852 he disposed of his property in Michigan and came to the Pacific Coast, reaching San Francisco Deeem- ber 31. Upon his arrival here he was short of money, and he and his brother went to Petaluma, having only seventy-five eents lett when they got there. They at onee went to work in a saw-mill; but, soon afterward Mr. Richardson, observing the high price paid for potatoes, decided to engage in their produc- tion, which he did, paying eight cents per pound for seed; at digging time potatoes were so plenty there was no sale for them. He then went to the redwoods and there worked two years at $60 per month; got out timber for himself and others, which was split with a froe, making good siding. After this he rented a place and made enough to buy out a squatter, in the neighborhood of Vacaville. He lived on this place ten years, built a house and made inany improvements; and then dis- covered that the title was not good. After having paid for it twice, he loaded his things in wagons and started for Southern Califor- nia with his family. Seven of them rode in the covered wagon, which took the place of both wagon and house for weeks while they were traveling; and after they reached their destination they lived out of doors through the day and slept in it at night, until they got the liouse built. At that time, 1867, there were no houses on the road between Santa Paula and San Buenaventura, and his wife remarked to him, " You have brought

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us to the jumping-off place now." Mr. Rich- ardson's first house built there is still stand- ing and speaks plainly of pioneer days. It is 16 x 24 feet, one story high, and the lumber, of which it was built was hauled from Ven- tura. The property is located three-quarters of a mile southeast of the now beantiful town of Santa Paula. When Mr. Richardson lo- cated there his neighbor, Mr. Montgomery, lived a mile and a half away; and the Ven- tura school district was the only one in the county. The first year Mr. Richardson sowed wheat and barley, and the wheat rusted; the second year he sowed again, with the same result; and the third year he did not sow. There was not a mill in the county, and his son Fred went with a wagon to Los Angeles, with wheat and corn to mill, sleeping in his wagon at night. the trip requiring a week's time. The younger boys would go up the Sespe River fishing, and be gone two or three days, returning with plenty of fish and other game. They would take their blankets and go on the top of the mountains at night, in order to be ready for game in the morning. A great share of their provisions at that time was venison. Mr. Richardson has been principally engaged in raising hogs and cattle; but at present he is extensively en- gaged in the production of Lima beans, for which this part of the country is so well adapted.

Mr. Richardson was married July 4, 1848, to Miss Nancy Mull, a native of Ohio. They had one child, Fred, whose history appears in this book. After four years of wedded life, Mrs. Richardson died. And for his second wife Mr. Richardson married Miss Jenette Sims, a native of Indiana. To them were born five children: Emma, who died at the age of twenty-one years; George, born September 21, 1860; Lonis, born December 22, 1862; Frank, born April 8, 1864; and Harry S.,

October 1, 1873. Mrs. Richardson died June 22, 1877.

George Richardson has a ranch of 160 acres adjoining his father's. He married Miss Ida Kellog, a native of Illinois, born December 2, 1860, and danghter of Norman A. M. Kellog, who was born in New York. George and his wife live with father Rich- ardson. They have a family of five children, all born in Santa Paula: George Lawrence, born December 16, 1882; Olinda, June 7, 1884; Charles K., July 27, 1885; Yale, March 6, 1887; and Mark, January 24, 1889.

The subject of this sketch was reared a Democrat, but has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He has been a member of the Methodist Church for thirty-five years. Well has he earned the name of pioneer, having been an early settler of both Michigan and California. By his industry and economy he has acquired a com- petency, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life.

REDERICK RICHARDSON is one of the reliable and prosperous ranchers of Santa Paula, and a pioneer of this part of the county, having come to California in 1855 with his uncle. The subject of this sketch was born in Jackson County, Michi- gan, near the Hillsdale County line, June 18, 1849, and was in his sixth year when he removed to the Golden State. He received his education in Solano County, and was reared to farm life. In 1867 he came to Santa Paula, and to his present home in 1876. He at once began the work of plant- ing and improving, and he now has a com- fortable home surrounded by bearing fruit- trees. He has ten acres of alfalfa for cows, ten acres planted to English walnuts (Lima

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beans are grown between trees till in bear- ing), one acre of blackberries, one acre of raisin grapes, fonr acres of fruit-trees com- mon to the country, including orange, lemon, and Japanese fruits. Two acres are devoted to encalyptus for fire-wood, and the rest of the grounds are planted to corn, hay and Lima beans.

In 1876 Mr. Richardson married Miss Edith Ireland, a native of Atchison, Kansas, born in 1856, and daughter of Newcomb J. Ireland, who was born in New York. From this union two children have been born: George S., born in Santa Paula, April 17, 1877, and Paul F., born at Nordhoff, Decem- ber 16, 1881. Mrs. Richardson was a victim of consumption, and in 1881 died of that re- lentless disease, October 31, 1883, Mr. Rich- ardson wedded Miss Lottie Sewell, a native of New York, born in 1847, daughter of Rensselaer Sewell, of that State. This union has been blessed with two children, twins, Frank R. and Faith H. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ardson are both worthy members of the Meth- odist church. His political views are Re- publican.

W. HARROLD is one of the many prominent citizens who live in the beautiful valley of Saticoy. He was born in Wayne County, Indiana, November 8, 1839, and is the son of Jonathan Harrold, a planter, born in Virginia, of English an- cestry. When the subject of this sketch was two years old his parents removed to Illinois, where he was, reared and educated. For a number of years he was engaged in stock-raising for beef, conducting the busi- ness on a large scale. He moved from that State to Texas, where he spent ten years in the sanie business. In 1886 he came to San

Francisco, and from there to his present ranch, five miles and a half nearly due west of Santa Paula, where he owns 2,500 acres of choice land. He has erected a new house on an eminence overlooking the whole val- ley, the view from which is exceedingly beautiful. The entire valley, with its fine ranches and comfortable homes, and the mountains opposite, is a picture that the visitor beholds with delight and does not soon forget. Mr. Harrold's residence can be seen for many miles in every direction. A large portion of the ranch is planted to olives. They are devoting 375 acres to wal- nuts, and fifty acres to corn. Some thorough- bred Jersey cattle are kept on the ranch for home nse.

Mr. Harrold was married in 1886, in San Francisco, to Miss Clarise Harris, a native of Maryland, an accomplished lady, the daugh- ter of J. B. Harris, who was born in New York in 1830. He has for some time been prominent in railroad building; was assistant superintendent of the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad, superintendent of the South Pacific to Fort Yuma, of the west- ern part of the Northern Pacific; is now en- gaged in the construction of the Nicaragua Canal. Mr. and Mrs. Harrold have two in- teresting children: John H., born in Texas, June 24, 1887, and E. B. Harrold, Jr., born October 28, 1888. Mrs. Harrold is a mem- ber of the Episcopal church. Mr. Harrold's political views are Republican, but he is liberal and independent in politics as well as other topics.

L. BARKER, one of the most intelli- gent and enterprising young men of Santa Barbara, is a native of Methnen, 6 from which town the manufacturing city of

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Lawrence, Massachusetts, was founded by the celebrated Lawrence family of Boston. His father, James K. Barker, was a civil en- gineer and was engaged in building the dam and canal at that place and took an active in- terest in the early history of the town, being elected Mayor in 1861.

After graduating at the Lawrence High School, Mr. Barker entered Amherst College, graduating in the class of 1865 with high honors, although the youngest member in his class. He then returned to Lawrence and entered the office of Daniel Saunders, a prominent lawyer, with whom he read law for three years and was admitted to practice. He also devoted much time to the study of engineering with his father. When his father died, in 1868, Mr. Barker succeeded to his business, which he continued abont eighteen months. Consumption being heredi- tary in the Barker family, as a preventive, J. L. decided to come to California, which he did in 1869. After locating in Santa Bar- bara, his mother followed him the next year. He engaged in surveying, and in April, 1871, was appointed to the position of City Sur- veyor. He made the well-known and much- talked-of Barker retracing. The town was laid off in 1851 by Salisbury Haley, in blocks 450 feet square; but, owing to imperfect measurement and loss of many stakes, it be- came difficult to identify blocks, and the ques- tion arose whether a survey should be adopted which would correspond to exact measure- inents or whether old Haley's stakes should define boundaries; and Mr. Barker made the retracing, following the Haley survey as near as practicable without regard to exact meas- ments, which retracing has been gr. dually adopted. This question is still a prominent feature in local politics, and enters into the election of city officers.

Mr. Barker resigned his office in July,

1873, to visit the East, but on his return was re-appointed in January, 1874, serving to the end of the term. He was appointed Deputy County Assessor in 1880, under J. M. Garri- son, and was re-appointed by Frank Smith, Mr. Garrison's successor, who was elected in the fall of 1882. Mr. Barker continues to hold that position.

The subject of this sketch owns 340 acres of foot-hill lands and much city property. He is a large stockholder in the Stearns Wharf Company. Mrs. Barker is now seventy years of age; resides with her son in East Santa Barbara. They own and occupy the old adobe house formerly occupied by that historic character, George Nidever, the trap- per, who discovered and rescued the woman from San Nicolas Island. Mr. Barker is a Royal Arch Mason, and a royal representa- tive of the citizens of Santa Barbara.

HOMAS HARWOOD, of Saticoy, is a California pioneer, who came into the State in 1850. He was born in Gibson County, Indiana, November 24, 1841. He was the son of Thomas Harwood, Sr., a native of New York, and the grandson of Ruthland Harwood, who came from England. His mother, Sarah Harwood, was a native of En- gland. They had six children, only three of whom survive. Thomas Harwood obtained most of his education in California, as he was only nine years of age when he came to this State. For fifteen years he was engaged in the freighting business from Marysville to Virginia City, with a ten-mnle team and a large wagon. The distance was 120 miles, over mountain roads; the round trip was per- formed in twenty days. They hanled five tons and cleared nearly $500 each trip. Some of the mountain sides were steep, and the

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road formed many loops to make the grade possible, and then the hind wheels were dragged down on shoes to keep them from revolving. From there Mr. Harwood went to Butte County, and engaged in ranching; he had 2,400 acres of land, on which he kept about 2,000 sheep. The net income while he was on this ranch was about $3,000. He continned in this business about twelve years when he sold out ard came to Ventura, and bought a fine ranch where he now resides. The ranch contains 152 acres, for which he paid $18,000. There are twenty-five acres of bearing apricot trees, the fruit of which they market both green and dry, and a large orange and lemon grove and other citrus fruits; and he is now raising large quan- tities of beans and corn, both being a pay- ing crop. In two years, at the present prices, the property will have paid all ex- penses and will have returned the purchase money. He raised 2,100 pounds of Lima beans to the acre, on forty acres of land, which are now worth five cents per pound; the land only cost him $70 per acre. He has raised ninety bushels of shelled corn to the acre, and it is now worth $1 per hundred pounds; he is also raising some Belmont horses.

Mr. Harwood was married in 1876, to Miss E. A. Mastin, born November 14, 1859, in Quincy, Plumas County, California; her pa- rents were natives of Georgia and South Carolina. They have four children, three born in Butte County, California, as follows: Thomas F., born September 26, 1879; Oliver, December 4, 1881; Henry Irvin, October 9, 1883; and Frederick W., born in Ventura County, August 21, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood are members of the Congregational Church. In his political views Mr. Harwood is a Republican, and has frequently hield the office of School Trustee. He is an intelligent

Californian, and is alive to the interests of his State, and highly esteemed by his neigh- bors.

B. WILLIAMS is a native of New York city and dates his birth March 7, 1828. He is a son of Clark Will- iams, who was born in Rensselaer County, New York, in 1801. The family were of Welsh origin and were pioncers of the cast- ern part of this country. His mother, Lu- cinda (Brewer) Williams, was born on the Hudson River. His parents had thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters, nine of whom are now living. His father was largely engaged in business, was a merchant in New York, had canal boats and was also a lumber dealer. Mr. Williams was edn- cated in New York and, being the oldest son, aided his father in both the store and in the charge of the boats, from Buffalo to New York city. He afterward became a boat owner and did a freighting business for thirteen years.

In 1858 he came to California and settled in San Francisco, where he took charge of the spice factory of Hudson Company. He conducted that business for nine and a half years, sending their spices to all parts of the State. Mr. Williams came to Santa Paula in 1867 and started the first grist-mill in the county, at Saticoy, which was run by horse power. The machinery was afterward moved to Santa Paula, where Mr. Williams used the water power. Ile bought property here and devoted a part of liis time to agricultural pursuits. In 1868 Mr. Williams went to Ventura with a colony to organize the Con- gregational church, and was one of the char- ter members, the pastor being Rev. M. B. Star.

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Mr. Williams was married, in 1850, to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, daughter of Peter and Hester Rogers, of Oneida County, New York. Her father was a native of Massa- chusetts. Their union has been blessed with five children: Edward D., Eldret M., Fanny, B. H., Llewellyn A. and Charles A.

In 1884 Edward B. and Eldret purchased a valuable ranch, a mile square, one mile west of Santa Paula. This is principally a stock farm, and they are raising draft and blooded horses, grade Durham cattle and Berkshire hogs These young men were educated in San Francisco and are practical stock men. Eldret M. has special charge of the horses. Their property is beautifully located in one of the richest valleys in South- ern California.

Edward B. Williams dates his birth Decem- ber 21, 1851. He was married in 1881 to Miss Lizy Butcher. She was born Decein- ber 29, 1860, in Canada, and removed with her father to Michigan when she was quite young. They have two children: Aneta, born in Ventura, April 6, 1886; and Howard, born in Santa Paula, October 10, 1888. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Eldret M. was born December 3, 1854, and is still a single man; one of excellent habits and character.

E. MOORE, of Santa Paula, is a pio- neer of the State of California. He was born in New York, of which State his father, John Moore, was also a native, and his mother, whose maiden name was Lydia Todd, a daughter of Jared Todd. The an- erstors of the family on both sides have been Americans, tracing as far back as the early

settlement of this country. In John Moore's family were ten children, five of whom are still living. The subject of this notice was born September 5, 1837, and was three years old when the family removed to Hillsdale County, Michigan, where he was brought up on a farm. In 1859 he came to California and engaged in mining in Placer County, and afterward eight or nine years in the State of Nevada, with varied success. In 1869 he came to what was then Santa Bar- bara County, now Ventura, and bought a squatter's claim a inile and a quarter cast of Santa Paula, built a house and improved the place (160 acres), which he still owns and to which he has added other ten acres by pur- chase. He carries on general farming. He has recently built a nice town residence on Eighth street, Santa Paula, where he now resides with his family, in a quiet and unas- suming way, surrounded with the comforts of life, the well earned results of strict econ- omy and industry. Mr. Moore has ever been a Republican; is a generous neighbor and kind husband and father. In 1872 he married Miss Annie Warren, a native of Wisconsin, born August 19, 1855, and they have one son, Enos Leroy, born in Santa Paula, August 26, 1877.

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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