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 48

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 48
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 48
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 48

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He was first married in Kendall. County, Illinois, in 1859, to Miss Louise Frise, who died in 1877. He then married Miss Car- roll Edwards in Santa Barbara in 1879. They have one child: Bernice Dee Smithi. who was born March 28, 1880.

ILLIAM O'HARA, a rancher near Santa Paula, is a native of Bangor, Maine, born May 4, 1841. His father, Henry O'Hara, was born in Ireland, in 1804, and his mother, Nancy (Galaher) O'Hara, was born in the same country, in 1806. His parents were married in 1824, and emigrated to the State of Maine, where they lived on a farm, excepting two years spent in Illinois. In 1849 Mr. O'Hara's father came to Cali- fornia, and engaged in mining for two years in Tuolumne County, and returned to his home in Maine. Soon after his return the family removed to the State of Illinois, where they remained until in 1867 they came to Contra Costa County, California, where they engaged in farming until his father's death. The subject of this sketch was a miner in Virginia City, Nevada, two years. He was then sent on a mining and

exploring expedition into the wilds of Ari- zona in search of gold, in company with C. L. Strong, and backed by the Bank of Cali- fornia; the expedition consisted of 100 men. They were harassed by the Indians, and a good many of their company were murdered. They fed the Indians in the day-time, but in return they made treacherous attacks upon them in the night. The expedition was finally abandoned, with a heavy loss.

In 1865 Mr. O'Hara came to Santa Paula and bought 150 acres of land, known as the Briggs tract. He afterward sold it and bought his present ranch of 160 acres, two and a fourth miles west of Santa Paula. He bought of a party who took it for Gov- ernment land, and it was supposed to have been grant land, but after lawing over it for nine years to perfect his title lie was obliged to buy of the ex-mission. At that time the valley was a vast mustard field, containing only a few settlers. Among them was John Montgomery, E. B. Higgins, Peter Boyle and William McCormack. Mr. O'Hara built a small house and engaged in stock-raising. He remained here for twelve years, cooking his own food,-a second Robinson Crusoe. The little house has since been destroyed, and a stately mansion is now occupied and filled with the comforts and luxuries of life. Beautiful grounds surround the house, planted with beautiful trees and shrubs, and the whole property is transformed into a most delightful home, with its large barns and beautiful fields. The whole valley is now dotted with fine houses, beautiful trees, and wide, well cultivated fields.

Mr. William O'Hara was married in 1877, to Miss Mary E. Kelley, who was born in Napa County, California, February 17, 1858, the daughter of Michael Kelley, a native of County Kilkenny, Ireland. Her mother, Maggie (Whalen) Kelley, was also born in

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Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara have two children, a boy and a girl, both born in their present home, viz .: Henry, born Jannary 21, 1880; and Georgia, born December 12, 1886.

Mr. O'Hara's first efforts on the ranch was stock-raising, principally cattle, but after- ward in raising barley, corn and hogs. At one time he had as many as 3,000 head of stock, which never had any disease among them; the wild-cat and coyote had to be watched to keep them from stealing the young pigs. The price received for live weight was from two and a half to seven cents per pound. He is now engaged in bean raising; in 1889 he harvested fifty- seven tons, and the price is now five cents per pound; the general price is from two and a half cents to five cents, according to the market. He has added to his original purchase forty acres of hill land, and has planted 27,000 gum trees, which are doing nicely. He is also interested with his broth- ers, George and Hugh, and his nephew, John McClosky, in 320 acres of oil land, and their producing wells give thirty barrels per day. They have all the machinery and tools con- nected with the business. Mr. O'Hara built his present residence in 1887, and it is an ornament to the country. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has continued to vote for the Republican party.

P. SANBORN was born in Kennebec County, Maine, November 1, 1844.

O His father, Captain John Sanborn, sailed in the West India trade. In a storm his ship was wrecked and all on board lost ex- cept the captain and one other man, who were rescued, but died two years after from the effects of exposure and hunger. Young San-

born was reared on a farm and attended school in his native State. When the war of the Rebellion burst upon the country he was only seventeen years old, but the patriotic fire burned in his young heart, and he enlisted September 7, 1861, in Company C, Eighth Maine Volunteer Infantry. When his term expired he re-enlisted and served gallantly all through that great struggle, being mustered out January 18, 1866. Their regiment started in April, 1864, with 900 men, and after the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, they numbered only 160 efficient soldier 3. At that battle Mr. Sanborn, while making a charge, received a gun-shot wound in his shoulder, which disabled him from duty for four months. He participated in many important engagements, and through all acted well the part of a brave soldier. Entering the army as a private, he was promoted to Orderly Sergeant and carried the colors for six or seven months. He knows what it is to bear the old flag aloft in the midst of shell and shot, and lived to see it wave over a united country.

In 1867 Mr. Sanborn came to California and settled in Solano County, where he worked. six months on a farm, and afterward farmed on the shares and accumulated a little money. He then went to Sacramento Connty and bought 200 acres of land, which he improved, and on which he engaged in farming. This land flooded and the property became wortlı- less. Mr. Sanborn was then foreman on a large stock ranch for ten years. He bought thirty acres of fruit land at $1.40 per acre, in Vaca Valley, which he improved and after- ward sold for $300 per acre. He then went to San Mateo County and purchased 3,000 acres of stock ranch, and afterward sold it at a profit, and went to King City, Monterey County. He there took the position of fore- man on a 25,000-acre stock and grain ranclı. Some time after this he went to San Diego

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and operated in lands and invested in city property, and also shipped 157 head of horses from the North, meeting with success in all of these enterprises. He came to his present property in March, 1888, bought forty acres of the finest land in the valley, and built a house and large barn. In 1889 he realized $2,100 from the products of the farm.

Mr. Sanborn married Miss Emily Palmer, a native of Maine, daughter of Reuel Palmer of that State. They have one daughter, Elteen, born in 1877, in Sacramento County, California.

Mr. Sanborn is a Republican, a member of the G. A. R., and a most worthy citizen.

MERSON & COMPANY .-- The pro- prietors of the handsome and com- modious shoe store at 716 State street, Santa Barbara, are both natives of Wakefield, Massachusetts, and are descendants of shoe manufacturers, even to their reinote ancestry.

Daniel W. Emerson, the senior partner, was born at Wakefield. and was a manufact- urer of shoes in Wakefield and Haverhill. He came to California in the interest of gold mining in 1867. having purchased interests in the East, but the mines proving a failure he bought the co-operative boot and shoe business of San Francisco, manufacturing shoes in the city wholesale and retail trade, and also running retail stores in the country, One being established in Santa Barbara in 1873. Mr. Emerson continned mannfactur- ing until 1886, when, after doing a pros- perous business he sold ont his interest and came to Santa Barbara to live a more retired and quiet life.

He was married in Wakefield, in 1865, to Miss Ellen Wiley, and they have two chil- dren: Percey W. and Fred W.

F. M. Emerson, the junior partner of the firm was born in 1856, and was educated at Haverhill, Massachusetts, where his parents removed in his early life. He learned the trade of shoe manufacturing in the establishment of his father. He came to California in 1875, and settled at San Luis Obispo, where he opened a shoe store, continuing four years. He then sold out and came to Santa Barbara in 1879 to take charge of the present store for his uncle, D. W. Emerson, and in 1883 was taken in as a partner under the firm name of Emerson & Co. It is the oldest shoe store in the city, and they carry a fine and well assorted stock.

Mr. Emerson was married at Santa Bar- bara, in September, 1884, to Miss Agnes Calder, a native of Massachusetts. They have two children: Helen Calder and Bar bara. Mr. Emerson is a member of the I. O. O. F.

L. BYERS was born in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, December 15, 1845. His grandfather, David Byers, came from Germany about the year 1768, and settled in Pennsylvania where Peter Byers was born in 1812. He was a well-to- do farmer and wedded Miss Susanna Sour- wine. They were the parents of thirteen children, the ninth one being P. L. Byers, the subject of this sketch. He was reared and educated in his native State, and when eight- een years of age entered the war, enlisting in Company K, Eighth Ohio Cavalry. He was in the Army of the Potomac and partic- ipated in all the battles of the campaign. At the battle of Winchester, September 19, 1864, he was wounded in the right arm and laid up for three months in the Little York hospital, Pennsylvania. Upon his recovery

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he returned to his regiment at Beverly, West Virginia, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out Angust 5, 1865. On account of the wound received, he gets a pension of $2 per month.

After leaving the service, Mr. Byers re- turned to the quiet life of the farin, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since. He came to Santa Paula, June 25, 1875, and after seven years gardening, he purchased his present home property of five acres. He has built a nice house, planted a hedge and all kinds of fruit trees and small fruit, and has one of the neatest little places in all the county. Mr. Byers was married, in 1870, to Miss A. Davidson, of Illinois. She was born in 1850, daughter of John Davidson of that State. Her ancestors were natives of Kentucky, but her father was boru in Pennsylvania. They have had eight chil- dren, six of whom are living. The first two were born in Missouri and the others in Cali- fornia. Their names are Norman O., Ona M., John L., Creed H., Marge E. and Earl. Mrs. Byers is a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Byers has never joined any society, is a strictly temperate man, Demo- cratic in his political views, is an industrious man, and one highly respected by his fellow citizens.

ENRY LEWIS. one of the early pioneers in the Carpenteria Valley, was born near Manassas Junction, Virginia, in 1830. His father was a farmer, and Henry followed a like occupation, although a part of his boy- hood was passed in a store in Washington, District of Columbia. Mr. Lewis was mar- ried at the age of twenty years to Miss Chat- tin, of Virginia, and he then bought a farın and began what has proven his life work.

He sold out all interests and came to Cali- fornia in 1857. The next year he went into the mines in Tuolumne County, and after six months' experience he came out "with rheu- matism and little else," which has remained with him through life. In December, 1858, he moved to Half Moon Bay, and there farmed for three years. In the spring of 1862 he come to Carpenteria Valley, pur- chased eighty-eight acres of land and pitched his tent near where his house now stands. He bought this property from the city of Santa Barbara at $1.25 per acre, the land being wild and uncultivated and covered with brush and live-oak trees. He drovedown from Half Moon Bay, looking along for a desirable situation, and the Carpenteria Valley was the first location which seemed practicable. He immediately began cutting and clearing, and now has one of the most complete ranch properties in the place. The only white people then in the valley were Colonel Rus- sell Heath and Mr. Lowrie. As rapidly as land was cleared he began the cultivation of Lima beans, coru and barley. In 1864 they had a very dry year, no crops maturing and horses and cattle dying for want of sustenance. Mr. Lewis has since added twenty acres to his ranch, which now numbers 110 acres, ninety acres of which he plants to Lima beans, with an average crop of 2,000 pounds to the acre. The thirty-five-acre field in front of his residence has produced an annual crop of beans since 1865, and yearly becomes more productive.

Mr. Lewis lost his first wife in February, 1863, and in 1879 he was married to Mrs. Bebecca Mullin, of Carpenteria. He has seven children by his first wife and three by his second, all living. His handsome two- story residence, fine barns and suitable ont- buildings all go to show the thrifty and suc- cessful farmer, and his well kept ranch is

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significant of the prosperity which has at- tended Mr. Lewis.

- B. ALVORD, a prominent rancher and educator of Ventura County, was born in New York, November 10, 1849. He is the son of Alvin W. Alvord, a native of Ver- inont, and the grandson of Julins Alvord, who was born in Massachusetts. Their ancestors were English. His great-grandfather was Seth Alvord, whose grandparents came to America in the year 1700. Mr. Alvord's mother, Electa R. (Todd) Alvord, came from Scotch ancestors. She was born in Herkimer Coun- ty, New York, daughter of Mr. Bela Todd. The subject of this sketch is the only son in a family of three children. He received his early education in the public schools of New York and Ohio, and was also a student at the Northwest Normal School of Pennsylvania. He began teaching at the age of nineteen years, and has been a teacher almost continu- ously for fifteen years.

On coming to Ventura County, Mr. Alvord bought a small farm, but afterward sold it. In 1884 he purchased his present fine ranch of 160 acres, seventy acres of which he sold for more than the whole cost him. He re- modeled the house and made many improve- ments, and the land is now under a high state of cultivation, his principal crops being beans and potatoes. The beans averaged a ton to the acre, and a portion of the land produced as high as 3,500 pounds per acre.

Mr. Alvord was married, in 1879, to Miss Ida Ricker, a native of Iowa, and daughter of John G. Ricker, who was born in Maine. They have fonr sons, all born in Ventura County, the three eldest named respectively Hartwell, Vernon M. and David E. Mr. and Mrs. Alvord are refined and intelligent peo-

ple. They are members of the Universalist church of Santa Paula. In his political views, Mr. Alvord is a Republican. For eight years he has been a member of the Board of Education of the county. As a teacher he has been very successful, but is at present devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits.

EROME C. WILSON, proprietor of the Black Hawk stables, Santa Barbara, has been successful in his line. He was born at Sutton, Vermont, in 1849. He is of Scotch-English descent, and his grandfather was one of the early settlers of Vermont; his mother was a native of Vermont, but of Scotch descent. Jerome C. was educated at the high school of Sutton. In 1868 he went to Boston and remained until 1885, engaged in a mercantile and speculative business. He came to San Francisco in March, 1885, where he was engaged in business until Sep- tember, 1886, when he came to Santa Barbara. He rented the corner of Cota and Chapella streets, and started a small livery business of five horses and one bns, which was the nucleus of his present complete establishment. In 1887 he bought ont the Black Hawk stable on the present sight, and he built his commodious building of 75 x 152 feet, and keeps ninety horses, twenty-five of which are especially trained to the saddle. He has a fine stock of carriages and the popular three-seated wagon, which, with fonr horses makes the favorite rig of the tourist. It was said of Mr. Wilson when he came to town that "he would not stay a week," but he attended to his own business and is now proprietor of one of the finest livery stables in California. Investing only $3,000 at first, he is now worth fully $70,000.

DRYING PRUNES IN THE OJAI VALLEY.

AN ORANGE ORCHARD IN THE OJAI VALLEY.

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Mr. Wilson is a Royal Arch Mason, Corin- thian Chapter, No. 52, of the Blue Lodge, No. 282, of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Foresters, an Odd Fellow and a Good Templar. May 6, 1890, he married Miss Lettie Renwick. and they made their wedding trip to the principal Eastern cities.

H. TAYLOR, a stock-farmer of San Luis Obispo County, is one of a

O family of four sons. Born in Vir- ginia, in 1829, his early life was spent at home. At the age of eighteen he engaged in the business in which for a period of forty years he was a prominent figure, namely, the livery and stage business. It is difficult to conceive of more varied, exciting or interest- ing experiences than Mr. Taylor relates of his stage life on the plains and over the mountains and various part of California. Coming to California in 1861, he was con- nected with the Pioneer Stage Company of this State, their line extending from Califor- nia to Virginia City, Nevada. He was em- ployed by this company for four years, being superintendent the latter part of the time. This Pioneer Stage Company was a famous one, and operated their line in the best inan- ner ever known. He was also superintendent for the Overland Mail Company, between Salt Lake City, Utah, and Virginia City, Nevada, previons to the building of the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad, and was Wells, Fargo & Co.'s superintendent and paymaster several years on their stage and express lines in Utah, Idaho and Montana. Ile next ran a stage line from Soledad to Los Angeles for a period of thirteen years; and it was related that during that time, either winter or sum- 22

mer, there was never a delay of over two days in the arrival of the mails which were carried by these coaches. With well organized rail- road and steamship companies at the present time, we need only to refer to the season of 1889-'90 to find delays of a week or more in the delivery of these same mails. The Coast Line Stage Company, which had been con- trolled by Flint, Bixby & Co., passed in 1878 into the hands of William Buckley and Mr. Taylor, the latter being superintendent. This arrangement lasted until 1886, when he retired. A remnant of this well managed stage line is now found between San Luis Obispo City and Santa Margarita Station.

Mr. Taylor first settled in Monterey County in 1873, and engaged in the hotel business for a time. He then settled down on the Buena Vista Stock farm, San Luis Obispo County, in 1884, where he now resides. It comprises 267 acres, and is located on the Pacific Coast Railroad three and a half miles from San Luis Obispo on the way to Port Harford. On this place are raised some of the finest horses in the State, and there are few better judges of the points of a horse that Mr. Taylor. He has been an invalid for some time, and is now confined to his house with a nervous affection.

N. HUDIBURGH was born in Morgan County, Indiana, January 4, 1848, son of Samnel and Nancy Hudiburgh, both natives of Indiana, and the former of German descent. He was the sixth of a family of eight children, was reared on a farm and re- ceived his education in the public schools, going to school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer. At the age of seventeen he tendered his services to his country, enlisting, in 1865, in Company II,

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Eighty-third Illinois Infantry. He was transferred to Company I, Sixty-first Illinois Infantry, and was ordered to Clarksville, Tennessee, and from there to Nashville. While his regiment was in the latter place, General Lee surrendered, and on the 8th of September, 1865, he was mustered out by reason of the close of the war. He then re- turned to his home, where he remained a year; next removed to Missouri and worked in Bates County eight years; then went to Linn County, Kansas, where he resided eight years. In 1882 Mr. Hudiburgh came to California, and since that time has resided at Santa Paula. Is engaged in the remunera- tive business of cultivating Lima beans, devoting forty acres to their production.

He was married. in 1869, to Miss Margaret J. Cleek, a native of Virginia, and reared in Missouri. Their union has been blessed with tive children, namely: Charles M., born in Bates County, Missouri, July 19, 1870; Alfred, in Kansas, February 20, 1877; Walter, also born in Kansas, August 3, 1878; Samnel, in Santa Paula, California, July 17, 1884, and Ethel May, in Santa Paula, Novem- ber 6, 1887. Mrs. Hudiburgh is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Hudiburgh is a strict temperance man, a good citizen, and in politics is a Democrat.

E. HODGES, a resident of the lower portion of the Arroyo Grande, was born in Missouri, in August, 1846. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in the Union army, and was in the ranks until the close of the war. In 1865 the family removed to Kansas, where young Hodges lived for eleven years, except the time he was in school, at the age of twenty-three. In 1876 he came to California, and was for two

years employed upon his farin in See Cañon ; was one year on John McGlashan's place, and then came to his present property in the lower part of the Arroyo Grande Valley. It comprises fifty-three acres, twenty-five of which are in orchard, an object of pride to its owner. It contains apricots, peaches, apples, pears and prunes. Many of the branches on the trees at the time this sketch was written were bolstered up by strong ropes, in order to help sustain the enormous quantity of fruit. Mr. Hodges has had great success also with his English walnut trees; and this year he will plant many more of these trees in his twenty-acre bean-field. His drying honse is a considerable invention, and is the largest and most complete in the valley.

Mr. Hodges was married in the fall of 1872, to Miss Sarah E. Weininger, of Ken- tncky, and they have six children.

B B. PIERCE, another of the early settlers of California, came to the State in 1869. He is a native of Howard County, Missouri, born March 31, 1851. His father, John M. Pierce, a native of Virginia, came to California in 1869, and lived to be eiglity-one years of age, dying September 21, 1878. His grandfather, John Pierce, was also a Virginian, and a soldier in the war of 1812. They were of Scotch-Welsh ancestry. John M. Pierce was twice married, and had four children by the first marriage and two by the second. The subject of this sketch was the younger child born of the last wife. His mother, nee Nancy L. Johnson, was a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Benjamin Johnson, who was born in Vir- ginia. Mr. Pierce comes from good old Virginia and Kentucky stock, an ancestry noted for chivalry and hospitality.

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Mr. Pierce was reared in the State of Mis- sonri, and came with the family to California, when eighteen years of age. They first settled in Hollister, San Benito Connty, and for seven years lived on a farm, which they supposed was Government land, but which the railroad company claimed and took from them. They then came to San Luis Obispo County, in 1876, and purchased 640 acres of land on the Los Osos. This property they improved by building, etc., engaged in rais- ing cattle and horses, kept a dairy, and farmned for ten years, when he sold it for $24,000. Then he took up 160 acres, and afterward bought 480 acres adjoining it, on which he built a good residence, planted an orchard and vineyard, and is now engaged in raising stock on this property. He keeps about 150 head of cattle, the stock being graded up to a high standard of Durham cattle, the blooded stock being from the herd of Senator Hearst. They farm about 130 acres of the property. Mr. Pierce has bought property in Paso Robles, and has built a com- fortable home and a good barn. He resides at this place, and has a meat market in the town. They raise and kill their own beef.

Mr. Pierce was married, November 11, 1879, to Miss Mary E. Knaus, a native of Missouri. They have two daughters, born in Los Osos, Maud Adeline and Mable J., and one son, John F., born in Paso Robles. Mrs. Pierce is a member of the Christian Church.

For five years Mr. Pierce served as a mnem- ber of the Los Osos School Board, and he has been much interested in educational matters. He was elected Road Supervisor in 1884 and in 1888, and since then has been elected in District No. 12, by the largest majority ever obtained in the city. He is an Odd Fel- low, and is a member of the board of trustees, and in politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Pierce is a driving, pratical business

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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