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 49

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 49
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 49
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 49

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man, full of fun and ever ready to both give and take a joke.

R. BOOTH, a prominent business man of San Luis Obispo County, has been on the Pacific Coast thirty-two years. With other old-timers he has had his share of pioneer life and also great influence in shaping the destiny of the great State of his choice. His long business career in this country makes him good authority on its varied resources, and he is one of the enthu- siasts who believe that it is difficult to over- draw the grand resources and capabilities of California. He was born in Mount Clem- ents, Michigan, July 28, 1835. His father, John Booth, a native of England, was brought by his parents to America when a child. His mother, nee Jane A. Wisdom, was born in Philadelphia. He was next to the youngest of their ten children. Received his education in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and opened his first drug-store in Fenton, same State. He removed to Eastern Oregon in 1858 and was located at the Dalles. He then spent ten years in Washington Territory and British America, speculating in mines and engaged in general business. He was also in Idaho and Nevada in the same business, and also in the drug trade; and he finally came to San Luis Obispo and later to El Paso de Robles, from choice, after deliberate investi- gation, and even before the town was estab- lished. He accordingly has taken hold and done his share toward the npbuilding of the place, which bids fair to be the largest town in the county. He is senior partner in the proprietorship of two drug stores,-one at San Luis Obispo and the other at El Paso de Robles Booth & Latner have a fine drug store at the former place, while Booth &

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Jannie have a similar one in one of the best localities in the latter place. He is also a member of the firm of Stowell & Booth, real estate and sole agents for the El Paso de Robles town site.

Mr. Booth is a Republican in politics is a Master of the Masonic Lodge, and a Knight Templar.

He was married in 1878 to Miss Susan Reynor, a native of Missouri, and they have had three sons born in San Luis Obispo and a daughter in Paso Robles, viz .: Fred, Frank, Eugene and Clara J.

Following is an interesting anecdote from Mr. Booth's experience illustrating the con- dition of society in frontier life. He was taken for a minister, and it came near prov- ing a serious inconvenience to him. One day, while riding one horse and leading another in a thinly inhabited portion of the frontier, and wearing a "boiled shirt," which was rare and almost unheard of in that country, he asked a settler on the approach of evening whether he could stay all night with him. "No; don't keep hotel, " was the answer. Mr. Booth added, " I don't care for a hotel; all I want is a little hay for my horses; I can lie down anywhere." " Well, can't keep yon, " was peremptorily repeated by the resident. Mr. Booth asked, " Will yon sell me a little hay for my horses; I can feed them out here. " " No; I've got no hay to sell," replied the frontiersman. Mr. Booth, getting mad, said "G- d ---- you! Can you tell me where there is an Indian camp; an untutored savage would not turn me away like that. "

Then the settler came out, grasped liis hand and said, " Who be you, anyhow?" "G --- d- me if I didn't think you was one of these preacher fellers. Git down; I'll keep yon." And Mr. Booth says he was well entertained!

Mr. Booth has seen the early rough times of Western society transformed into those of refinement; the church and the school-house to ornament the land; and all the institutions of refined civilization of America to be established thronghont the Pacific Coast. Physically he is still fresh and hale, and bids fair to live to see the whole coast thickly populated with the most intelligent and civilized people on the face of the earth.

IMOTHY WELLS, one of the promi- nent citizens of El Paso de Robles, is a native of Ohio, while his father, Timothy Wells, Sr., was a native of New York, and his grandfather of Rhode Island. The last mentioned took an active part as Captain of a force of sconts during the Revo- lutionary war, their principal errand being the search for Indians and Tories, in which they rendered the Continental canse good service. The Wells family had its origin in England. The mother of Mr. Wells, nee Elizabeth Hatch, was a native of Connecticut and also of English ancestry; so that Mr. Wells, although an American, is of pure English blood, equalled by that very few who have descended from those of American birth from the period before the declaration of in- dependence.

The subject of this sketch, the youngest but one of a family of seven children, was brought up on the Western Reserve in Ohio, removed to Sycamore, Illinois, and embarked in the general merchandise business until 1857, when he sold out and remained out of active business life until the great civil war came on. In 1862 Governor Yates, of Illi- nois, appointed him Quartermaster, which position he filled until the close of the war, and he had the pleasure of seeing the grand

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review of the victorious soldiers of the Union army at Washington. After the war he engaged in stock-raising and buying and shipping cattle from the northeast corner of Kansas to St. Louis and Chicago, until 1874. In 1875 he came to the Pacific coast and was engaged in mercantile business at Redwood City for three years. Selling ont, he re- turned to Missouri and remained there four years; then he came again to California and spent the first two years in San Bernardino County, at the Hot Springs of Governor Waterman, his brother-in-law, in order to re- cover his health. He then came to El Paso de Robles and bought 560 acres of land four miles from town, which he is now improving and developing. The railroad runs through the property, there is a warehouse there, and a portion of the ground is platted for a town site, a portion planted to prunes, and still another part is devoted to the production of milk. Mr. Wells is also doing a real-estate business in the city, where he has bought a lot and built a nice cottage, and he and his sister, Lucy A. (these two being the only survivors of the family), are spending the evening of their days. He has long been a leading Congregationalist, and is at present a deacon of his church at San Miguel. His political views are Democratic, and he is a pleasant, entertaining and public-spirited gentleman.

At Sycamore, Illinois, in 1844, Mr. Wells was united in matrimony with Miss Mary Howard Waterman, a daughter of John Waterman of that State, and a sister of Governor Waterman of this State. Of his five children, four are living; three were born in Sycamore, and the youngest in Wayne County, Ohio. They are: Helen L., who married William R. Thomas, and resides in Oakland, California; Mary E., who is now the wife of C. N. Chase, and resides in Ver-

mont; Abby J. is the wife of Andrew J. Kinney, and their home is at East Orange, New Jersey; and John P. is married and re- sides in Warrensburg, Missouri. After forty years of wedded life, Mrs. Wells, the loving wife and the kind mother, died, September 26, 1881.

AMUEL HILL is a pioneer of Cali- fornia and one of the prominent ranchi- ers of Ventura County. He was born in England, March 21, 1816. His parents, Samuel and Mary Hill, were both natives of that country. Mr. Hill remained in Eng- land until nineteen years of age, and in 1835 went to Quebec, Canada. He soon afterward located in Toronto, where he was engaged in the milling business for a year and a half. From that place he went to Dubnque, Iowa, and worked in the mills for seven years. He then went back to England, but soon, how- ever, returned to Iowa, and in 1850 came to California. He first worked in the mines at Placerville. At Fort John he had a small store of miners' supplies, was there two years, and then went to Amador County, where he engaged in quartz mining. At the latter place he lost all he had previously made. Next he went to Buckeye Valley, same county, pre-empted a farm of 160 acres and purchased 840 acres more. He also bought a large house that had been built for a hotel and located on the same land. One hundred and sixty acres of land he devoted to grain and sheep-raising, remaining on the farm twenty-five years. He then rented it, removed to Ventura County, and bought 5,368 acres of land in the Conejo grant, and moved upon it with his family in 1877. Has been engaged in raising sheep, horses and cattle, and has kept as many as 12,000

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sheep at a time. His horses are principally roadsters, twenty-five head being used on the ranch.

Mr. Hill was married in 1865 to Mrs. Sarah Middleton, a native of England, and the widow of Thomas Middleton. By her former husband she had five children, all born in America. By Mr. Hill she has had one son, Samnel Hill, Jr., who lived to be twenty-four years of age, and his death was occasioned by an accident. His mules ran him against a fence, injuring him internally and causing his death soon afterward. He left a wife and son, Samuel H., Jr. They reside in Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Hill affiliates with the Demo- cratic party. He has just built a comfort- able residence, and here in the sunny climate of Southern California he expects to spend the evening of his life.

ON. D. W. JAMES, one of the founders of the beautiful young city of Paso Robles, came to this State across the plains in 1849, and has ever since been inti- mately connected with the growth and devel- opment of this State, and had he not the sturdy elements of a courageous frontiersman, and of a persevering and successful business man, he would not have encountered the ob- stacles and survived the great disasters which come so thick and fast around the pioneer.

Drury J. James was born in Russellville, on the Whip-poor-will River, in Logan County, Kentucky, November 14, 1824, the son of Jackson James, who was born near Richmond, Virginia. His grandfather was Martin James, who came from England be- fore the Revolution, and settled in Virginia, and aided in the Patriot war as an aide to

one of the generals. Mr. James' mother was a native of Virginia, and the danghter of a soldier who fought on the Patriot side dur- ing the same struggle. The subject of this sketch, the youngest of eight children, was but three months old when his mother died, and but a little over a year old when his father died. His eldest sister, Mary, took charge of the family. She afterward married John Mimms. He lived with them until he was eighteen years of age, employed upon their tobacco plantation and attending school. After that he was engaged with his brother William in mercantile business in Oldham County, Kentucky, on the Ohio River; but soon afterward he enlisted in the war with Mexico, in one of the companies of the Louisville Legion. Going to the front as a private, he participated under General Tay- lor in the battle of Monterey. On the even- ing of the second day they entered the city and marched to the plaza. The Mexicans raised a flag of truce, and the city was sur- rendered, and the Legion was left to garrison the place while the rest of the victorious command, numbering abont 4,000 men, marched forward to meet the forces com- manded by Santa Ana, numbering about 22,000 men. The Legion was then ordered forward to join Taylor's force, which they reached in time by excessive marching. In the effort Mr. James crippled himself by bursting one of the veins in his leg, from which injury he has never fully recovered. The Americans were victorious in the battle of Buena Vista, fought against fearful odds, and the Legion was ordered back to Monterey. His time of enlistment having expired, Mr. James was honorably discharged, and re- sumed business at his home, in company with his brother.

Directly after the news of the gold dis- covery in California reached him, he joined a

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company of thirty men, left Fort Kearney the last of May, 1849, and crossed plain and mountain, safely landing at Weaverville, August 6. He engaged in mining at this place and at Hangtewn for nine months, with reasonable success. In the spring of 1850 he engaged in buying cattle to supply the mines with beef, buying first at Santa Clara, at $20 per head, and selling them at the mines at sixty cents per pound on foot, and dressed meat at $1 per pound. In 1851 he went to Los Angeles and bought cattle at $15 to $20 per head and realized about $40 per head at the mines. Starting his drove of cattle from Los Angeles, he would make a trip and return to San Luis Obispo, Mon- terey and Santa Clara counties, sometimes taking three droves a year, of 500 to 700 head each time. At one time he drove from Los Angeles 1,500 head. This business he continued successfully until 1860, when, in company with John B. Thompson, he bought 10,000 acres of Government land at La Panza, at $1.25 per acre. They stocked it with 2,500 head of cattle, which he drove to Tulare and Buena Vista lakes, and thus saved them all, while others lost nearly all they had. In 1868, when he sold out, there were 9,000 or 10,000 head of cattle on the . ranch, he could not tell how many. In 1859 he bought a half interest in the El Paso de Robles Hot Springs, and the one league of land embracing it, of his brother-in-law, D. B. Blackburn. They built the hotel and surrounding cottages as fast as they required thein, and also, from time to time as their business grew, they increased the facilities of the place for bathing; and now the place as a health resort has grown in great favor throughout the State, and is known to many in the East. They have the largest bath- honse in the State, and the hotel and cottages around have grown to be quite a village.

Mr. James and his partner are the found- ers of the now incorporated city of El Paso de Robles (the pass of oaks), generally called by the shorter phrase, Paso Robles. It began its rapid growth in 1887, and already has a nice park, fine brick business blocks, palatial residences, school-houses, churches, etc. His firm have now in process of construction one of the finest brick hotels in the county. It is 185 x 300 feet in dimensions, three stories and basement in height, and will be furnished with all modern improvements. The brick used in this building will number 500,000. The old hotel and cottages are directly in front, but they are to be removed when the space is devoted to hotel grounds. The establishment also fronts the park and will be a delightful place when completed.

Since coming here Mr. James has contin- ued to be interested in stock-raising and farming. He has also been a stock-holder and director of the Bank of San Luis Obispo, in the steam flouring-mill of the same place, and other business enterprises. A sketch ot his partner, already mentioned, also appears in this volume. They married sisters, at the same time and place, he choosing Miss Lonisa Dunn, who was born in Sacramento, this State, the daughter of Patrick Dunn, of Irish ancestry, who came from Australia to California. Mr. and Mrs. James have seven children, all born in Paso Robles, viz .:- Mamie, William, Nellie, Lena, Charles, Car- rie and Edward. Carrie and Charles are twins; Nellie is the wife of Edward Bennett, now Postmaster at that place; and the other children are still with their parents. They have a nice residence on a block reserved for that purpose. Mr. James was fittingly elected President of the first Board of Trustees, and continues to hold that position. He has also held the office of Supervisor for abont ten years, and was elected a Representative

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to the State Legislature from his district in 1888, and this position he also holds. Al- though he has experienced an unusual num- ber of hardships, during pioneer days, and has had so many heavy business cares for many years, he is still an active business man, taking great pride in the improvement and adornment of his pet little city. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Masonic order.

K. SNOW, JR., a native son of the Golden West, was born in Vallejo,

0 Solano County, September 5, 1865 His father, H. K. Snow, was born in White- field, New Hampshire, in 1833, and his grandfather, James Snow, was an English- man who settled at Whitefield, New Hamp- shire, in an early day. They were promi- nent people there. Mr. Snow's mother, Cynthia O. (Downs) Snow, was born in Wis- consin. They had eight children, the sub- ject of this sketch being the fourth. He was reared and educated at his native place, Val- lejo, until he was twelve years of age, at which time the family moved to Santa Ana, now Orange County, where his father bought a ranch and engaged in the culture of oranges and grapes, and where he still re- sides. In 1887 they purchased 171 acres of land, one-half mile from New Jerusalem, Ventura County, where Mr. Snow is engaged in the culture of walnuts, having 100 acres of English walnut trees, all doing well. Be- tween the trees they raise large crops of Lima beans and peanuts, one of the future industries of California. The rest of this ranch is devoted to nurseries, there being more than 50,000 trees of different kinds. They intend to do a large business in fruit and ornamental trees. They also grow some

alfalfa and barley. A sightly residence, sur- rounded with flowers and shrubbery, is an attractive feature of this place.

Politically, Mr. Snow is affiliated with the Republican party. He is a member of the Tustin Lodge, I. O. O. F., and is a young man of fine business qualities.

RED A. EARLL was born in Shasta, Shasta County, California, May 13, 1857. His parents, Warner and Comelia (Scoville) Earll, were both natives of Onondaga County, New York. Warner Earll followed Fremont's trail to California in 1848, and was City Judge of Tehama for a number of years; he was also an Associate Justice on the Supreme Bench of Nevada. He was a prominent lawyer of California, residing at Shasta and Red Bluff for years. He also held the po- sition of attorney for the Central Pacific Railroad, in Arizona. His three children were Arthur R., Fred A., and a daughter, A. II., who is now Mrs. Webb, and resides in Oakland, California. Arthur R. was a gradu- ate of the Law School of California; was elected District Attorney of San Luis Obispo, and died three months after. Their father's death occurred in 1888.

The subject of this sketch attended St. Augustus College, and at the age of fifteen years, having obtained a good English educa- tion, he started out to work for himself, and since that time his education has been more of a practical character-obtained behind the desk. He worked for E. M. Derby & Co., lumber dealers, of Alameda, four years. He then engaged in business for himself, dealt in wood and coal, and did a thriving business; but, being anxious to make a fortune by quicker methods, he speculated in mining stocks, and lost his coal business. After that he went to

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Arizona, and opened a stationery and cigar business, which he conducted three years; then removed to Ventura County, bought twenty acres of land, and, after planting an orchard, sold the property and returned to the lumber business. Saxby & Collins of- fered him the management of the lumber yards in San Buenaventura, which he ac- cepted and conducted for two years. He then went to San Francisco and from there came to Paso Robles, to take charge of the warehouse, lumber yard, storage and shipping busi- ness at this point. At the time he came, November, 1886, there was nothing in the town. The railroad had just been built, and the station was in a box-car beside the track. Since then the shipping interests of the town have taken a great start. Shipments of wheat for the past year were about 9,000 tons. Mr. Earll has made real estate investments in the town.

He was married in October, 1879, to Miss Ida Barnes, a native of Dixon, Illinois, daugh- ter of A. M. Barnes, of Ventura. Their nnion is blessed with two daughters, Bertha May, born in Arizona, and Helen, in Paso Robles.

Mr. Earll, being a native of California, took an active part in the organization of the Paso Robles Parlor, No. 122, Native Sons of the Golden West. They started with twenty- four members, composed largely of the best young business men of the town. Mr. Earll was elected its first president, and still holds that position of honor.

A. ATWOOD, a horticulturist of San San Luis Obispo County, was born in Androscoggin County, Maine, in 1828, of New England parents. After receiving a good common-school education at home he

engaged in mechanical pursuits; later he en- tered the grocery business; in 1862 he came to California. For a number of years he was engaged in the manufacture of pumping ma- chinery at San Francisco, and had a profit- able trade. A serious catarrhal trouble compelled him to move from that city, and in 1876, after prospecting around for a year or so, he came to San Luis Obispo County, and settled on the property where he now resides, consisting of sixty-five acres, and lo- cated on the railroad between San Luis Obispo and Port Harford. He is eminently success- ful in fruit culture. At the county fairs he always captures some premiums. At one competition he took the first premium on several varieties of fruits. From a wild, un- settled country, when he first came to the ranch, the place has been changed to a finely developed piece of property. Mr. Atwood has a wife and one daughter, both natives of Maine.

ISAAC H. BUNCE, a rancher of San Luis Obispo County, was born in Auburn, New York, December 24, 1831. On his father's farm he received his early training, and at the age of twenty-two he came to the golden cen - ter of the world's excitement, by the Panama route; but he had no Inck whatever in his search for the shining nuggets, and he went to San Francisco and worked at his trade, carpentering, and a year afterward he began work on a saw-mill in Monterey County, the first mill of that kind in the county. He lived in Santa Cruz County for four years; and then, in the spring of 1858, he came to San Luis Obispo County, and worked at his trade at the connty-seat for many years, being engaged in some of the most important struc- tures of the city. He was for a time a mem-

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ber of the firm of Boland & Bunce. In 1870 he settled upon his present ranch near the oil wells. It is known as a part of the Avila place, and consists of twenty acres. In 1868 he met with a severe accident, falling from a building at Chorro, and he has not yet fully recovered from the effect.

August 22, 1862, he married Miss Juanita Avila, a daughter of Don Miguel Avila, and has nine children: Eliza, Lydia (now Mrs. B. L. Smythe), Charles, Henry J., Alfred Lyman, Martha, John, Minnie and Isaac William.

B. GAGLIARDO, the hotel-keeper at Port Harford, was born in Italy, Jan- nary 18, 1853, came to California in the fall of 1869, and located in Columbia, Tuolnmne County. For many years he en- gaged in mining. In 1881 Mr. Gagliardo, married Victoria Marré, of Jackson, Amador County, and has three children. In 1883 he came to San Luis Obispo County, since which time he has been conducting the hotel at Port Harford, owned by Luis Marré, and named Hotel Marré. It is a popular resort.

C. BENNETT, one of the prominent young business men of El Paso de

O Robles, was born in Van Buren County, Michigan, July 7, 1864, the son of G. H. and Mary (Brain) Bennett, natives of England, who came to Michigan in 1855, the father engaging in contracting and building until 1887, when he retired from business, and the family came to California; they now reside in El Paso de Robles. Of their seven children six are living. The subject of this sketch was educated in Michigan and learned the foundry business, following it for five

years; then he was two years in the drug business in the East; and in 1885 came to Tulare County, California, and managed a drug store there for three years; and in 1888 he finally came to El Paso de Robles, where he has since been engaged in the same trade. He started here in the brick store on the cor- ner of Twelfth and Pine streets; he afterward bought a lot on the corner of Twelfth and Park streets and erected a nice drug store building, where he is enjoying a fine patron- age. He has doctors' offices well arranged and furnished in the rear portion of the build- ing, and they are now occupied by Dr. Glass. Mr. Bennett's brother, R. W., is his assist- ant in the business and is an accomplished druggist.

Mr. Bennett was married in 1889, to Miss Dove McCubbin, a native of Illinois and a daughter of T. C. McCubbin, a capitalist. Mrs. Bennett is a member of the Christian Church and of the Rebekah-degree Lodge of the I. O. O. F., and also of the O. E. S .; while Mr. Bennett is a Congregationalist, a Repub- lican, a Master Mason and also a member of the O. E. S. Both Mr. Bennett and his father have built delightful residences near each other in a sightly portion of the town, and they are highly esteemed members of the community. They have recently bought one of the finest fruit ranches in San Luis Obispo County, and also own real estate in Tulare County.

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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