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 45

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 45
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 45
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 45

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J. EALY, a rancher near Fillmore, was born in Johnson County, Iowa, Feb- ruary 12, 1853. His father, William C. Ealy, is a native of Pennsylvania, born November 3, 1815; was an architect and builder, and is now a resident of Kansas. His grandfather, John Ealy, was German, as was also his ancestry. He emigrated with his brother to this country during the Revo- lutionary war, in which they both took part, on the side of American liberty. One of the brothers settled in New York, the other (John) in Pennsylvania, and from these sprang two distinct lines, one called the Yankee and the other the Dutch. Mr. Ealy's mother, nee Margaret Ellen Williamson, was born in Kentucky, March 19, 1824. Her father, abont thirty years before the civil war, was the owner of a number of slaves in Kentucky, and, becoming convinced that slavery was wrong he voluntarily freed them. William C. Ealy's eldest child is now Mrs. Lizzie Jepson, of Ventura County. His second son, John William, is a publisher in New York city. The third child, Henry B., is a dealer in agricultural implements in Keokuk, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch, the youngest son, was reared and educated in Iowa City, and there learned the tinner's trade, which he followed for nineteen years. He had a hard- ware store in Dysart, Tama County, Iowa; but, being in poor health, he disposed of his business interests there and came to his pres- ent location in Southern California. He pur-

chased from the railroad company and Gov- ernment a ranch of 200 acres, and secured satisfactory title to the same. This property is located two miles and a half east of Fill- more, in one of the most productive sections of the country, and is each year becoming more valuable. Mr. Ealy at once set about its improvement. built a home and planted a large variety of fruit trees and also walnut trees. A fine spring and two wells furnish an ample supply of water for the place. Mr. Ealy also started a general merchandise store, and for four years was Postmaster. Since coming to this sunny land he has fully recov- ered his health, and is now in a fair way to enjoy life.

He was married in 1872, at Iowa City, Iowa, on Christmas eve, to Miss Ella Whis- ler, danghter of John Whisler, a native of Pennsylvania. She was born and reared in Cedar County, Iowa. Their union has been blessed with two children, Willie C., born in Dysart, Iowa, Jannary 7, 1876, and Ray J., born in Ventura County, California, October 20, 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Ealy are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Ealy is a life- long Republican.

H. DUNHAM is one of the most prominent business men of Santa Panla, is a stockholder in and a direc- tor of the Hardison & Stewart Oil Company, and Superintendent of the Mission Transfer Company's oil refinery. There are four companies here interested in the oil develop- ment: the Hardison-Stewart Company, the Sespe Oil Company, Torrey Cañon Oil Com- pany, and also the Mission Transfer Com- pany, which latter are refiners and marketers of the oil and transfer it from the wells to their refinery and see to its shipment.

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Mr. Dunham was born in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, October 26, 1855. He is a son of Rufus A. Dunham, a native of Massa- chusetts, born in September, 1819, His grandfather, George Dunham, was also born in Massachusetts. They are of English an- cestry. Robert Dunham, who is the pro- genitor of the American branch of the fam- ily, was born in England abont the year 1760. When sixteen years of age he was drafted into the English army to fight the American Colonies. When he reached Amer- ica he took the first opportunity offered to join the American forces, and at the close of the war he made his home in Massachusetts. He was a descendant of Sir R. Dunham, a Knight of the west of England. They had a family coat-of-arms, which is yet in existence, and it is stated that at the close of the war he expected to fonnd an estate in America, but was not successful as it was contrary to the ideas of the founders of a republic. Mr. Dunham's mother's maiden name was Han- nah Morton Westgate. She was born in Rochester, Massachusetts, in 1821. In speak- ing of Mr. Dunham's paternal ancestors, it should be further stated that his great-grand- mother, nee Mary Albertson, was a direct descendant, of Peregrine White, one of the original Pilgrims of the Plymonth Colony. The subject of this sketch was the seventh of a family of twelve children, ten of whom are now living. He was reared and educated in his native town, graduating at the high school at the age of sixteen. When he was. eight- een years old he engaged in the steam laundry business, in which he continued six years. He then removed to Olean, New York, and went into the employ of the Acme Oil Company, remaining with them seven years and in that time learning the business thoroughly. From there he came to Santa Paula, California, to superintend the

construction of the oil refinery and to oper- ate the works, in which business he is still engaged. The capital stock of the Mission Transfer Company is $250,000, and their re- finery is the most complete of all on the Coast. The quality of their refined petro- linm is unsurpassed by any in the world. Mr. Dunham is a most competent man in his line of business. He is a man of few words, but has a fine business head and is a gentleman of first-class business integrity.

Mrs. Dunham is a native of Massachusetts , born in April, 1863. Her maiden name was Alice M. Green, and she is the danghter of Captain Paul Green, of that State. She and Mr. Dunham were married in 1882. They are both Methodists and he is a steward and trustee of that church. Mr. Dunham is affiliated with the Independant Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham reside in a beautiful and substantial new house of their own planning and building. The grounds are being ornamented with trees and flowers, and the place is fast becoming one of those delightful homes, of which there are so many in Southern California.

RICE GRIMES is one of the prominent pioneers of Ventura County, having arrived in what was then Santa Bar- bara County in 1866, and was intimately connected with the formation of the county of Ventura. He was born in Missouri, De- cember 12, 1829. His father, Thomas H. Grimes, was a native of Kentucky, and his grandfather Grimes was born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the original American ancestors of the family having settled in the "Old Dominion " as early as 1748. Mr. Grimes' mother, nee Sarah Gibson, was born in St. Charles County, Missouri. daughter of

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Joseph Gibson, a native of South Carolina, of English ancestry. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of a family of ten children, five of whom are living. His father owned a large farm in Missouri, and there he was reared and received limited school advantages. In 1852 he came to California, and engaged in mining with the usual success and reverses of the miner. While he was mining in Shasta County he lost $1,600 by the failure of the Adams Express Company, besides suffering other heavy losses abont the same time. After three years spent in the mines, he went to Napa County to regain his health. Upon his recovery he went to work again with that indomitable will which is always sure to overcome reverses. He engaged in draying for a time, then built a warehouse, was in the forwarding and commission busi- ness, and afterward turned his attention to general merchandise. He remained there until 1860, when he located in San Luis Obispo County. While there was under sheriff for two years, and had some of the roughest characters to arrest and imprison, having as many as fifteen in jail at one time. Murders and robberies were frequent at that time, and the utmost care and shrewdness was required in the detection and arrest of the perpetrators of crimes. Mr. Grimes re- moved to Los Angeles County and farmed there three years, after which he came to San Buenaventura and. in partnership with Mr. Edwards, opened the pioneer hardware store of the city, snd also did a produce business. Two or three years later he sold out to his partner, who afterward sold to Mr. F. W. Baker. Mr. Grimes came to his present locality and purchased 160 acres of land in the picturesque canon which bears his name. He has here planted several thousand trees, French prunes, apricots, peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, and other varieties, including

oranges and lemons. Mr. Grimes is now a dealer in lumber and builders' hardware at Fillmore.

In 1858 Mr. Grimes wedded Miss Elenora Hogle, a native of Jefferson City, Missouri, whose father, John Francis Hogle, was born in Canada; her mother, Jane (Jacoby) Ho- gle, was a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes have four children, George H., Frank, Lillie and Robert. Those of the children not at home are married and settled near by. Mrs. Grimes is a worthy member of the Christian Church, and her husband's prefer- ences are for that denomination.

At the time of the formation of Ventura County, Mr. Grimes was an active worker in that movement and one of the committee to help draft the bill for the division of the conn- ty, as he also was in the construction of the fine brick school-house in San Buenaventura, which was built at a cost of $10,000, and was considered a grand achievement for the place. He has long been a school trustee, and at that time was clerk of the school board, and much of the management of the building de- volved on him. When he removed to the Willow Grove district he helped to build the school-house there; was afterward cut off into the Bardsdale district, and was also in- strumental in the erection of a fine school- building there. Mr. Grimes has been a prominent Democrat, has been a delegate to many of the State and county conventions. In 1884 he made many speeches, advocating Grover Cleveland's election for President, and in 1886 he made a strong speech in favor of ex-Congressman Berry for Governor. Was one of the candidates for the election to the State Constitutional Convention, and ran ahead of his ticket more than 2,000 votes; and in 1890 he was much talked of by the papers and his friends as an available candidate for Congress in the Sixth District of California

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In speaking of his experience as a miner, Mr. Grimes says that a man who was at work for him on the Yreka flats, in 1853, picked up a nugget of solid gold that was sold for $1,028, a little over four pounds in weight of very pure gold. Notwithstanding his long pioneer and business career, Mr. Grimes is still an active business inan, and bids fair to spend many years in the enjoyment of his home in Grimes Cañon.

RANK SMITH .- One of the hustling business men of Santa Barbara is Frank Smith, who was born on the frontier, in Kendall County, Illinois, December 30, 1845, his father having immigrated to that country from New Hampshire in 1844 with a family of nine children, Frank mak- ing the tenth and being the youngest of the family, of whom two sisters and five brothers are still living. Frank received a limited education at the high school in Joliet, Illi- nois. At the age of eighteen years he was employed by H. C. Carpenter, a prominent grain buyer of Joliet, as book-keeper, re- maining five years. He was then employed by Carpenter, Truby & Company, grain buy- ers, who operated on the line of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, until 1870, when in company with two brothers, N. D. and J. M. Smith and a nephew, J. T. Johnson, they came to California. The firmn of N. D. & Frank Smith established themselves at Car- penteria as pioneers in the lumber and ship- ping business, using surf boats as communi cation between land and vessels. In 1874 they built a wharf, when deliveries to and from the vessels were made much easier. In 1876 Frank bought out N. D. Smith and took in his brother, J. M. Smith, as partner, which continued until January, 1889, when

Frank bought ont J. M., and now carries on the business alone. Mr. Smith is also Post- master of Carpenteria.

In connection with above interests Mr. Smith moved his famly to Santa Barbara in 1872, and entered the employ of J. P. Steams as wharfinger. In January, 1888, Mr. Steams organized a stock company of his wharf in- terest, called the Steam Wharf Company, in which our subject bought stock and was ap- pointed a director and secretary of the com- pany. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Smith was elected Connty Assessor, and was re-elected in 1886 in opposition to Mr. Garrotson, the former popular assessor who was the nominee of the Democratic party, winning by the handsome majority of 700 votes. Mr. Smith employs five deputies through the country.

Mr. Smith was married in Kendall County, Illinois, in 1868, to Miss Annie Corey, and they have four sons, all living. Mr. Smith is a member of Santa Barbara Lodge, No. 156, I. O. O. F., and of the A. O. U. W.

EWIS A. HARDISON is a native of Maine, born Angust 9, 1853. His father, Oliver A. Hardison, was born in the same State, May 18, 1830. Their ances- try is the same as that of W. L. Hardison whose history appears in this book, and who is an uncle of the subject of this sketch. Lewis A. Hardison's mother, nee Mary O'Leary, was born at Frasier Mills, New Brunswick, in the year 1824. He was the oldest son in a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, five of whom are now living. Mr. Hardison received his edu- cation in the public schools of his native State, and remained on the farm until he was nineteen years of age. At that time he went

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to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and in 1872 became a driller of wells, working seven years for wages. In 1879 he got an ontfit and began to drill wells under contract. During the eleven years that he worked there he was engaged on as many as fifty- three wells, their average depth being about 1,400 feet, and average cost of drilling $1,000 each. Four men are employed on each well, and termed a drilling crew, two drillers and two tool-dressers, one of each for each tour, changing at 12 M. and at midnight. When the Hardison-Stewart Oil Company con- menced operations in California, in 1883, he came to Santa Paula and for four years did the company's blacksmith work at Pico and Santa Panla. Mr. Hardison is the inventor and has patented a well drilling machine of great simplicity and merit, which he used with great advantage in putting down water wells in New York during the fall and win- ter of 1882-'83. For some time he has been the master mechanic of the Hardison-Stew- art Oil Company, built their tanks and rigs, and superintended the putting up of their telephone lines and the laying of their pipe lines. He is now superintendent of the Mis- sion Transfer Company, and looks after the gauging of the oil, sees where it goes and keeps an account of the barrels of oil that go through their pipes. They have seventy miles of telephone and ninety miles of four and two-inch pipe lines.

December 25, 1877, Mr. Hardison was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Brooking, a native of St. Johns, New Found- land, born July 22, 1851. They have had seven children, five of whom are living, viz .: Oliver J., Clara E., Arthur J., Bert and Lewis. He and his wife are members of the Universalist Church of Santa Panla. His political views are Democratic, and inde- pendent when he pleases. He was made a

Master Mason July 14, 1875. Mr. Hardison has a pleasant home situated on Eighth street, between Santa Paula street and Railroad avenue.

OHN BRADLEY was born in Northum- berland County, Upper Canada, in 1833, his father being interested in the lumber business in that county then. They emigrated to Michigan in 1843, where his father en- gaged in farming. Mr. Bradley's uncle, George Bradley. was an Indian agent, one well-known and much respected. John Bradley started for California, across the plains in 1852, traveling with strangers. ()n Bear River Mountain he was seriously ill with mountain fever. After recovering, he strayed from his train while hunting, and got lost at the head of the Humboldt River. He then traveled alone and met with many hardships. On his arrival in the Golden State he visited the mines, and the following ten years were passed in the several mining districts, pros- pecting, placer mining and butchering. In 1862 Mr. Bradley made a rich strike. He shortly afterward started for the East, and at Battle Creek, Michigan, in the same year, was married to Miss Velona M. Van Buren. He then returned to California, bringing his wife, and after two more years in the mines, he began farming in Yolo County. The land was held by the land league and they tried to drive off all settlers, but Mr. Bradley per- sisted, amid many dangers, and really opened up the country. In 1870 he came to Santa Barbara, bought 100 acres of land at the head of the Montecito Valley, cleared it, and en- gaged in farming. In 1873 he sold his ranch and purchased seventy-five acres of tide land, where he now resides. Mr. Bradley has taken great interest in training horses, and

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has a short method of training them without cruelty. He built a race track, which he found very profitable for about four years.

Mr. and Mrs. Bradley have been blessed with five children, all living and at home. Mr. Bradley is a worthy and respected citizen. At present he is School Trustee of Montecito district.

H. DECKER is a pioneer of California, having come to the State in 1855, to Santa Paula in 1867, and to his pres- ent ranch in 1870. He was born in Ken- nebec County, Maine, August 20, 1832. His father, Stephen Decker, was a native of Maine, and was a merchant and farmer there; and Joshua Decker, his grandfather, was also born in that State. Great-grandfather Decker was an Englishman by birth. Mr. Decker's mother, nee Phelinda Pratt, was also a native of Kennebec County, Maine, and her father, David Pratt, was born in that State, and was at one time a hotel-keeper. Her ancestors were English people.

The subject of this sketch was the youngest, except two, of a family of fifteen children, six of whom are now living, three sons and three daughters. He was reared on his father's farm and received his education in his native State. When he came to California he engaged in mining, in Yuba County, three years, and was partially successful. For two years he furnished blocks for flumes, and from that turned his attention to the lumber business in the redwoods, being engaged in the latter business eight years. Since then he has resided in Ventura County. He is the owner of 1463 acres of well-improved land, and is engaged in raising fruit and walnuts. The walnut trees were planted in 1878 and began to bear at five years old. They now average

from fifty to sixty pounds to the tree. He has a few orange trees that are doing well. At the time he settled here, Mr. Decker sup- posed his ranch to be Government land, and has had not a little trouble in securing proper title to the land. At last, after an expensive suit, he now has both Government title and a deed from the railroad.

Mr. Decker was married, in September, 1853, to Miss Mary Lewis, a native of Maine. To them was born a daughter, Frances, June 14, 1854, who is now the wife of George P. Willer, and resides at Newton. He was again married, Angust 12, 1873, to Miss Emily M. Rowell, a native of Maine. They had three children, all born at their present home in Ventura County: Burtis L., May 17, 1874; George V., October 12, 1876, and Bertha N., October 16, 1878. Mrs. Decker's death occurred October 22, 1885. June 2, 1888, Mr. Decker wedded Miss Gertrude Hill, at Santa Paula. She is a native of Missouri, born in Richmond, November 18, 1865. They have one daughter, Ruth, born October 22, 1889.

Mr. Decker is a member and a trustee of the Sespe Methodist church. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. He is a man who has been identified with the best interests of the county ever since he took up his residence here: has served the public as School Trustee, and also as Postmaster of Fillmore, having been the first postinaster, when the office was established in 1870.

ESSRS. LEE & RICE .- As one ap- proaches the town of Santa Paula in any direction lie will see a star on the stones and bonlders, and when he arrives in the city he will find several stars in front of a neat and tasteful clothing store. This is

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the Star Clothing House of Santa Paula, the firm being Lee & Rice.

F. E. Lee, of this firm, was born in Detroit, Michigan, March 23, 1859. He is the son of John L. Lee, who was born in England and came to the United States in 1850. Mr. Lee was educated in the city of Lansing, tak- ing a thorough course in a commercial col- lege. He commenced business as a press- man, in the State printing office at Lansing, and was engaged in press work there for five years. Then for a time he was in a store with his brother, in Lincoln, Nebraska, after which he spent five years in Chicago, on press work. From there he came to Los Angeles, California, and held the position of foreman in the press-room of the Times office, five years, until he came to Santa Paula. Mr. Lee is married to Miss Balcom, one of the fairest yonng ladies of Santa Paula, daughter of W. E. Balcom, a wealthy and influential citizen of Santa Paula.

J. C. Rice, who is manager of the store with Mr. Lee, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1854, and completed his education at the Michigan State Normal School, at Ypsilanti. He has had experience in the clothing busi- ness with the best wholesale houses in the East, and in Los Angeles, both as a salesman and traveling man. He has thus gained a knowledge of the cost of goods which is of much value to him in their present business. Mr. Rice was married, September 22, 1889, to Miss Fanny M. Baker, daughter of C. N. Baker, a prominent resident of Santa Paula and a member of the Board of County Super- visors.

These gentlemen are both talented business men. They established their business in Santa Paula September 22, 1889. They pur- chased the building in which their store is located, in the business center of the town, have a fine stock of goods, and quite an ex-

tensive trade. Both Mr. Lee and Mr. Rice are Republicans and both are worthy mem- bers of the K. of P.

AMES M. SHORT, of English-Welsh descent, was born at North Swansea, Massachusetts, in 1835. His ancestors came to Massachusetts in 1840, and shared the hardships of the early Indian wars, the war of the Revolution, and also the war of 1812. His father, Henry S. Short, was a machinist by trade. James M., after leaving the public schools, finished his education at the Warren Institute at Rhode Island and at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kent's Hill. He started for California in January, 1858, on the steamer Star of the West, via the Isthumus, and arrived in San Francisco on the steamer John L. Stephens, making the voyage safely in twenty-four days. After spending a few days in San Francisco, he went to Enreka, Humboldt County, and after- ward to Arcata, where he engaged iu teach- ing in the public schools, remaining about five years. It is quite interesting to hear him relate his experience in the Indian troubles that prevailed there for several years. In the fall of 1864 Mr. Short gave up teaching to accept the office of County Clerk, to which he was elected, and was re- elected in 1866. In November, 1868, he came to Santa Barbara and purchased prop- erty at East Santa Barbara. In 1870 he bonght an interest in the Las Cruces Ranch, and engaged in sheep-raising for about twelve years, and disposed of this interest in 1862. Front 1879 to 1882 Mr. Short was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Santa Bar- bara. For six years he has served as Seliool Trustee, and has been trustee of the city library since its organization. He engaged

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in the culture of pampas in 1882, and has since been interested in its production.

Mr. Short was married at Eureka, Califor- nia, in 1865, to Miss Margaret Singley. They have one son, Henry S., and a daughter, Lillian L. Mr. Short is a veteran Odd Fel- low of nearly thirty years' standing, and is a member of Channel City Lodge, No. 232.

NNA M. LOGAN .- On one of the nicest residence streets in the heart of Santa Paula, and in one of the most artistic houses in the place, lives Mrs. Anna M. Logan, widow of Dr. Marshall L. Logan, who was a prominent citizen and dentist of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. The Doctor was born at Saulsburg, Huntingdon County, Pennsyl- vania, Angust 21, 1844. When quite young he was bereft of his parents by death, and left to his own resources, but succeeded in gaining a liberal education in the public schools and in the Philadelphia University. When the great civil war broke out, with the patriotism of a hero and the ardor of youth, he enlisted in the service of his coun- try in the Twenty second Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Cavalry, and fought through that great struggle with distinction and honor, until he beheld the banner of victory float- ing over a preserved and undivided country. He returned to his home and took up the study of dentistry, and in 1871 went to Ty- rone, where with signal success he practiced his profession for fifteen years. He rapidly rose to a position of distinction in his pro- fession, and conducted it in a strictly upright and honorable manner, and enjoyed the re- spect of his fellow-citizens and a lucrative practice. He was the inventor of the Logan Tooth Crown, which is now in use by den- tists throughout the world. Dr. Logan was

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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