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 51
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 51
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 51
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elected at the expiration of that term. His part in building up the Republican party in this county was an active one, but he has since excluded politics, and gives it only the attention necessary in the exercise of his privileges as a citizen.
Having sold his ranch, he moved into town, and in 1869, in company with John Harford, who owned the landing facilities, and L. Schwartz, of Santa Cruz, who resided in the timber district, he embarked in the lumber business, Mr. Schwartz doing the buying, Mr. Harford the shipping, while Mr. Beebee did the selling and managed the busi- ness. Mr. Harford afterward retired from the firm and went to Washington Territory, where he now resides, and Messrs. Beebee and Schwartz have since carried on the trade, the former having exclusive management of the business for some ten or fifteen years, when, having placed it on a permanent foot- ing, he gradually began to retire from the aggressive part he had so long taken in its eondnet. Some idea of the magnitude of the operations of this house may be gathered when it is stated that their trade has in the past reached all the way from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 feet of lumber per year, they supplying the trade to the remote interior. All these years they have practically con- trolled the lumber trade of this part, and have had extensive interests in the shipping which touched at Port Harford. They now own yards at Cayucos, where they are inter- ested in the wharf as members of the firm of James Cass & Co. of Santa Maria and at San Luis Obispo.
Mr. Beebee has independently large ship- ping connections, being extensively interested in fine vessels engaged in the eoast and for- eign trade, one of which, a fine schooner, bears his name. These, however, are but a portion of his investments, among the others
of which may be mentioned banking, he be- ing vice-president of the First National Bank of San Luis Obispo, and a stockholder in the Bank of San Luis Obispo, of which he was one of the organizers. He has some agri- cultural interests as a partner, and some en- tirely on his own account, among the latter a dairy ranch of 500 acres, between San Luis and Cayucos, and fifteen miles from the former.
Having gotten his varions business prop- erties under control, Mr. Beebee has allowed his former taste for travel to revive to some extent, and in 1886 visited Alaska, following this in the succeeding year with a tour of Enrope, oceupying six months of constant travel and sight-seeing. In 1888 he made a trip to Yellowstone Park, and drank in the beauties of that favored center of nature's fairest phases.
He has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married here, was Miss Alida St. Clair, who died in 1878. By this marriage there were two children, of whom one is living. viz .: William D., aged fourteen, in 1890; the other, Addie B., having died at the age of seven years. Mr. Beebee's pres- ent wife was formerly Miss Arletta S. Bes wick, and to her he was united in marriage in November, 1879.
Mr. Beebee is a good type of the success- ful, spirited pioneer of California. Coming here long before the tide of immigration set in this direction, he has, ever since reaching manhood's estate, held his place well in the front rank of business men, through all the various changes of condition and eirenm- stanees which have taken place sinee the early days. He has seen California in all her various phases from the days when he rode horseback over her great ranches until a new civilization has grown up and she oc- eupies a place among the most favored and
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most advanced of the States of the Union. As a business man, he couples with aggres- siveness and shrewdness a spirit of toleration and moderation which goes far to explain his popularity socially. His only affiliation with social or fraternal bodies, however, is that of his connection with the San Francisco So- ciety of California Pioneers, of which he has long been a member.
S. LEWIS, dealer in hardware and agricultural implements at El Paso Robles, was born in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, this State, August 12, 1865. His father, I. M. Lewis, is a native of Mis- souri, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Horn, was a native of North Carolina. He is the third in a family of seven children; was educated in the public schools, and was brought up on a farın in San Benito County, California. When the town of Paso Robles was begun, he started in business there, in 1887, in cigars, tobacco and fruit. A year and a half afterward he sold out and embarked in the hardware busi- ness, as a member of the firm of IIoliday & Lewis; six months after that he sold his in- terest to a Mr. Fletcher and opened a store for the sale of agricultural implements and hardware, which business he still continues, and it is growing. His trade extends forty miles to the east. Mr. Lewis is also agent for four large insurance companies,-the Hartford, North American, Commercial of California, and Liberty of New York. He is not a member of any of the fraternal organi- zations, and in political matters he is a Democrat. At the last city clection he was chosen Treasurer of Paso Robles, against the cashier of the Bank of Paso Robles, by a ma- jority of three. Commencing without capital,
Mr. Lewis has succeeded finely in business, having accumulated his present handsome property by industry, honesty and economy.
ATHAN ELLIOTT, a prominent busi- ness man of El Paso de Robles, came to California with his family in 1864, and has been a continous resident of the State for the last quarter of a century. He was born near Greensboro, Henry County, Indiana, January 21, 1835, of. English and Scotch ancestry. His father, Obadiah Elliott, a native of North Carolina, removed to In- diana in 1833, a pioneer there, entering land and bringing up a family, and remaining there until his death. He was a Quaker and a zealous Abolitionist. His wife, whose maiden name was Armella Hinshaw, a very pions lady of the Society of Friends, was also a native of North Carolina, and daughter of Seth Hinshaw, a prosperous and prominent free-labor merchant of Southern slavery times. The subject of this sketch, the fifth in the family of eight children, was brought up on a farin and learned the trade of brick- making and bricklaying, but soon embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he conducted with success in Indiana and Iowa until 1864, when he sought the Pacific coast. The first seven years here he resided in Woodland, Yolo County, engaged in the manufacture of brick and in contracting. In 1873 he re- mnoved to San Francisco, where for fourteen years he drove a prosperous fruit and mer- chandise commission business; and finally, in 1886, he came to El Paso de Robles, as the town was just starting. He attended the first sale of town lots, and made purchases, subsequently of several blocks, and started the first brick-yard in the place, and has manufactured the brick for nearly all the
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brick buildings in town, including the brick hotel, which required 1,500,000 brick. He erected some buildings himself and has just broken ground for a large business block. Only three and a half years ago, when he first came here, it was only a cattle ranch; he has been an important factor in building up this pretty place. The city is now incor- porated, and has one of the most palatial hotels, and a bath house on the coast; a large flouring-mill with roller process and a ca- pacity of 150 to 200 barrels of flour per day, two school-houses and four churches, a good system of water works, electric lights, etc. Mr. Elliott is a Freemason, and both him- self and wife are members of the O. E. S.
He was married in 1855, to Miss Emily I. Haskit, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Thomas and Sarah Haskit. Of their four children three are living and are married: Charles F., is a merchant of El Paso de Ro- bles; Mary S, is the wife of Charles II. Ar- nold, and resides in San Francisco; Laura is now Mrs. S. P. Stephens, and resides in El Paso de Robles; the one now deceased, Sarah Armella, was a star in the family, and much loved and esteemed by all. The grand- children are five in number and are: Pearl H. and Meta Jane, Elliott and Susa V, and Elliott Stephens and Armella E. Arnold.
C. JAMESON, one of the prominent young business men of El Paso de
0 Robles, was born July 6, 1860, in Providence, Rhode Island. Thomas Jameson, his father, came from Scotland to America when a boy and now resides in Monterey County, this State. He married Miss Ellen Curran, a native of Scotland and a descendant of the Irish Currans who left Ireland soon
after the Irish rebellion. His parents' family were three children, of whom he is the youngest. He was but seven years of age when he came with the family to California. In completing his education he took a thorough business course at the business college of San Francisco. He learned the tinners' trade and opened a shop at Castro- ville, and carried it on four years; selling ont, he came to El Paso de Robles and in 1888 bonght out a firm dealing in stoves, hardware and tinware, and he has since con- tinued the business, enjoying a good patron- age. Ile has orders from a distance of thirty miles. Ile is a Republican in his political views, a Master Mason and is highly esteemed by his fellow townsmen.
Ile was married in 1884, to Miss Emma Trafton, a native of Watsonville, California, and a daughter of George A. Trafton, a grain dealer of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson have two children: Mabel, born in Castro- ville, and Alma, born in El Paso de Robles.
M. ROCHIN, of Los Alamos, was born March 19, 1822, in the State of Sonora, Mexico, and at the age of fifteen years moved to Guadalupe y Calvo, State of Chi- huahna, Mexico, which is a nice, new, rich mining town, and there he followed the trade of goldsmith, separating gold from silver and silver from lead,-a trade he learned from one of his nneles, who was one of the best mechanics in the country. He also engaged in buying gold and silver for a merchant there, for a large commission, as he had no opposition, making sometimes as much as $200 to $250 a week; but he was young and inexperienced, and the money went out s' le way abont as fast as it came in. In time, of
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course, opposition in his business sprang up, and he could not make more than any one else.
In December, 1849, when the California gold fever was at the highest and business in his place dull, he came to California, landing at San Fransisco. He left home December 2, went to Mazatlan on muleback, arriving there on the 9th, and then found that all the berths on steamers were taken for two to three months ahead. He had therefore to wait for the first sailing vessel. Soon a little German schooner came along, and he and fifty other Mexicans and fourteen Americans embarked upon it, being all that it could carry; but it was a fleet vessel. He and an American gentleman and his family and six other persons took all the berths that the ves- sel had. They arrived at San Francisco January 1, 1850, making a quicker trip than had ever before been made from that point by a sailing vessel. He went direct to the mines, and for three years was engaged all through the mining section, in every ocenpa- tion which the district afforded, having his " ups and downs," as has been the experience of all miners. In 1853 he went to Los Angeles, where he passed one year. In 1854 he came to Santa Barbara, where he began what has since proven a very extensive stock experience. He began by renting land and keeping native stock of cattle, and in 1875 started the breeding of fine horses. He com- menced his herd by purchasing forty picked inares from the stock of Dr. Richard Den and thirty from Mr. Ruiz, of Santa Barbara County; in 1873 was said to have owned more horses than any other . man in the county. In 1873 he sold 200 choice mares to Sepul- veda, of Los Angeles. In 1875 he traded 200 mares far the stallion " Newry," who was a full brother to Norfolk, and fleet runner, and bred by Mr. Alexander, of Kentucky. Mr.
Rochin lost " Newry " in 1883, through the burning of one of his stables. He now keeps three stallions,-Antioch, Don Ramon and Captain Martinez, - and breeds for both run- ning'and trotting, having forty choice mares. Since 1876 Mr. Rochin has given special attention to the breeding of fine cattle, and his herd averages about 1,500 head.
Mr. Rochin was married at Los Angeles, in 1853, to Miss Lorenza Ordaz, a native of California. She died January 1, 1889, leav- ing one daughter. Mr. Rochin bought a ranch of 1,250 acres near Lompoc, in April, 1877, where he kept his horses, but sold again in 1880, feeling that it was cheaper to rent than to purchase. He has since been a large renter, also owning considerable city property in Santa Barbara and Los Alamos. He has always had the reputation of dealing conscientiously, and of breeding the best that could be obtained.
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RIDOLIN HARTMAN .- Among the early residents, prominent citizens and business men at San Buenaventura, we find the subject of this sketch. As his name indicates, Mr. Fridolin Hartman was born in Bavaria, Germany, and he dates his birth February 2, 1844, his parents being Bava- rians. He was reared and educated in his native country. At the age of twenty-one he traveled in Austria and France, and was in Paris when war was declared with Ger- many. He came to the United States, land- ing in New York August 26, 1870. He first went to Philadelphia, then to Pittsburg, and on to St. Louis, Missouri, where he accepted a situation as foreman in a malt house. He next went to Kansas City, then to Denver, Colorado, and from there to Sacramento, spending a year and a half in the city brew-
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ery at Sacramento. Then he went to San Francisco, and, after spending two or three months there, he came to Ventura, in 1873, where he accepted a position in Mr. Green- wood's brewery. It was then a little wooden shanty, and, after working a year, he bought the property. He was so successful in his business that, two years later, he built the present two-story brick brewery.
Mr- Hartman saw the desirability of own- ing real estate in a growing county like Ven- tura and in the city of Ventura, so he has made a number of investments. He bought lands, which he subdivided and sold, and in this way his property has accumulated. He became the owner of eighty feet on Main Street, extending the whole length of the block on Palm Street. On this he built a commodious residence. Seeing the need of a larger hotel in Ventura than the town pos- sessed, he took stock for the purpose of build- ing one. His lot on Main street being a central position, he put it in as stock, and Anacapa Hotel was erected upon it. This building is a very good one and would do credit to any city. It is 80 x 130 feet, is three stories high, and contains 100 well planned, spacious rooms, lighted by electricity and furnished in good style. The building lias a mansard roof, and under veranda on Main and Palm streets, the whole length and width of the buiding. When it was opened in 1888, it was crowded with guests, and has since been a popular hotel. Mr. Hartman has since invested in the stock of the coin- pany until he owns the controlling interest in the whole property, and is now proprietor of the hotel. He also owns, and is condnet- ing a ranch of 300 acres, about three miles north of the town. This property he has improved by planting twenty-five acres in walnuts, also a large number of all kinds of trees, both deciduous and citrus. A portion
of the farm is devoted to corn, wheat, barley and beans, and the rest is in pasture. Another piece of town property he owns is 100 feet front on the south side of Main Street, be- tween Palm and Figueroa streets.
Mr. Hartman was united in marriage, in 1874, to Miss Katherine Kaufman, a native of Minnesota. Her father, Michael Kanf- man, came to the United States in 1820, and in 1849, with an ox team, crossed the plains to California. In crossing the plains, their company had a convoy of soldiers, which es- corted them until it was thought they were out of danger. After the soldiers left them they were attacked by the Indians. Two men were killed and one of the women captured. They made every effort to regain the woman, but failed. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman have had eleven children, all born in Ventura, in their present home, and all are living except one. Those living are Ludwig, Theresia, Fridoline, Karl, Katie, Anna, Lena, George, Fanny and Willy. The whole family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Hartman is a Democrat, and has three times been elected to the office of City Trustee. He resigned his trusteeship when he was elected a Supervisor of the town. He has served in this office four years, and was chairman of the Board of Supervisors. During his term of service he was strongly in favor of improvements. The addition to the court-house was made, and the substantial brick jail and the hospital were erected. Mr. Hartman's success in life would indicate that he is a good financier
BERNETHY BROS. are the leading livery and feed stable men of El Paso de Robles, and they are also prominent in the rearing of horses and cattle. The three brothers were born in the north part of the
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County Tipperary, Ireland,-John in 1848' Edward in 1849 and Joseph in 1851. Edward came to America in 1868, Joseph in 1869 and John in 1873. They took np Govern- ment land, 480 acres, in Monterey County, built upon it a residence, etc., and raised stock and grain for seven years, when they sold ont and came to their present place of residence. Here they bonght lots and erected the buildings they occupy, their establish- ment being known as the Fashion Stables. They have ten carriages and thirty-five head of horses. They also have a ranch, where they are raising cattle and horses, of which John is in charge, while Joseph and Edward conducts the business in town. They own a fine French-Canadian Messenger horse and several valuable brood mares, and they are raising some good horses. In their political views these gentlemen are Democratic, and in religious matters they were brought up in the doctrines of the Established Church of England. Edward Abernethy is married and has five children.
M STANLEY UTTER is a native of the Empire State, and dates his birth November 11, 18 -. His father, T. L. Utter, is also a native of New York, his ancestors being English, but for two generations having resided in New York. Ilis mother, Frances A. (Wilson) Utter, was a native of New York, as also was her father, Jeremiah Wilson, her ancestors, too, being English. Mr. Utter's father was a Union soldier in the late war. The subject of this sketch is the second child of a family of three sons and two daughters. His education was obtained chiefly in the public schools, later taking a course in the Curtis Business Col- lege, in Minneapolis. He began a fruit, con-
fectionery and tobacco business in that place and continued the business very successfully for four years. His health failing at this time and being desirous of a change of loca- tion, he was influenced in deciding on Cali- fornia as his future home by reading, in the San Francisco Chronicle, a description of San Luis Obispo County. The fine springs, the new railroad, the central location of El Paso de Robles, and the delightful climate, were the attractions which brought him to this sunny land; and his expectations have been fully realized, both in the growth of the place and also in the improvement of his health. When he arrived the railroad had just been completed. The whole business of the town was done in the old "trap" where the hose cart is now kept. It contained a general stock of provisions, groceries, hardware and drugs, and also the postoffice. The change that has come over the town, in this respect, is marvelous; its many nice brick blocks, with fine stocks of merchandise, show a won- derful change in three years. Mr. Utter bought a block, corner of Twelfth and Olive streets. and at once commenced the erection of three cottages. They were completed in two months, and he moved his family into one and rented the others. He also bonght a barley mill and engine, and has been doing the ernshing for this section of the country, and in this way has become acquainted with most of the people in the county. He par- chased 172 acres of land, and has since sold twenty-five acres at double what it cost himn. The rest of the land he is devoting to the production of grain and also to the cultiva- tion of some fruit. Mr. Utter still owns a fine home in Minneapolis, and other property there.
He was married in November, 1880, to Miss Mary C. IIewins, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Donavin and Emaline IIew
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ins. Her father is a farmer near Petersburg, Indiana, on lands he bought in an early day, and for many years has been postmaster of that town. Mr. and Mrs. Utter have two children, Irene, born in Indiana, and Darwin, born in Paso Robles, California.
Mr. Utter is a Republican, and a worthy citizen of the town of his adoption.
F. NEWBY, an influential citizen of Ventura, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, January 3, 1841. His father, Gabriel Newby, a native of North Carolina, was an enthusiastic supporter of Henry Har- rison. He served as County Commissioner of Wayne County for eight years, and was highly commended for services rendered. Thomas Newby, of the firm of Morrison & Newby, of Cambridge City, Indiana, an uncle of the subject of this sketch, was one of the highest Masons of the United States. The Newby Lodge there was named for him. Mr. Newby's grandfather, Gabriel Newby, of North Carolina, was one of the first settlers of that State. The family have been noted for their patriotism, love of liberty and hatred of oppression. His great-grandfather lib- erated all his slaves, numbering more than 100 persons-an act very unusual at that early day. Mr. Newby's ancestors were Quakers, the original progenitors of the family having come to America from England and Scotland. His mother was Rebecca (Harvey) Newby. It is his impression that she was a native of North Carolina. She died when he was only four years of age, and the family afterward moved to Lee County, Iowa. His father was long a leading business man of Cambridge City. Mr. Newby was next to the youngest of a family of eight children. In 1857 he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and while there was
ean nthusiastic supporter of James Lane, be- ing there during the time of the Kansas troubles. From there he went to St. Louis, and then to St. Joseph, Missouri, where, for a time, he clerked in the postoffice. In 1859 he removed to New York city, was there four years, a portion of that time being clerk in the St. Nicholas Hotel; and from there he returned to Leavenworth, and was in part- nership, dealing in dry goods and notions with Mr. Bloomingdale, now a wholesale merchant of New York city. In 1864, dur- ing Price's raid, word was sent to Leaven- worth that Price was going to burn the town. A meeting was called to devise means for protection, of which meeting Mr. Newby was elected chairman. They decided to raise and equip a company from the business men of the town. Mr. Newby was Orderly Sergeant of this company. General Curtis met and defeated Price, and the town was saved. Owing to the excessive rents, they moved to St. Joseph and continued business there abont two years. Fire caught in an adjoining building and his store was burned out. Mr. Newby was a severe loser. He was not out of business long, however, for he soon en- gaged in ornamental tree planting, and was very successful.
In 1874 he came to California. After he had been two years in San Buenaventura the town was reorganized, and in December, 1877, he was elected Town Clerk and As- sessor, and has held the office ever since with the exception of two years, his last majority being the largest of any town officer. He has thus far performed the duties of this office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow-citizens. Mr. Newby was one of the men who was helpful in organizing the Town Library, of which the residents are now so justly proud. Some objection was made to it on the ground of expense to the
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town; he was instrumental in overcoming these objections, and was elected its secretary and librarian, holding the office for ten years. During his city clerk and assessorship he has collected large amounts of money to pay the school district bonds for the construction of the splendid school building, and paid off the bonds.
Mr. Newby was united in marriage, April 27, 1864, to Miss Permelia E. Sheridan, a native of Summerville, Kentucky. Her father, S. N. Sheridan, was Sheriff of Buchanan County, Missouri. Their nnion has been blessed with three sons and two daughters, viz .: Thomas S., John W., Edward M. and Nellie, born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and Minnie, born in Ventura.
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