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 55

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 55
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 55
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 55

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

They had their dogs with them, but discreetly made up their minds not to provoke attack. Later on the dogs and wolves attacked each other, but were finally separated without serious loss. The dogs used to track many deer in this valley and on one occasion killed two within an hour's time. A magnificent hunting ground, that! To-day any one can go back in the hills and mountains and cap- ture a deer without much trouble, and if still more ambitious he can find the California mountain lion. Mr. Lazcano's ranch in the San Josè Valley originally contained 1,440 acres. He has since disposed of all but 860 acres. His residence is an old adobe one, built in the year 1857.

Mr. Lazcano was County Treasurer in 1874. He is a man universally popular, as is shown in the result of this election. All the voting then in this part of the county was done at Santa Margarita, eighteen miles dis- tant. All the voters from San José Valley and surrounding country had to be trans- ported to this place, and Mr. Lazcano's friends all reached the polls through his efforts and expense. His political career is strictly Republican, and he never has re- ceived any funds to work and carry on cam- paigns. He has always worked at his own expense, from Lincoln's administration to date.

He has never married.

ILLIAM T. PIPPIN was born in Missouri, in 1855, and came to San Luis Obispo County, California, June 30, 1870. He first located in Morro, where he was engaged in ranching with his step-father for three years. At the end of that time he accompanied his parents to Arizona, the family making the trip by wagon. After

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remaining there for six months he returned to California, located at Chorro and engaged in dairying, renting a dairy of Mr. Lowry, of that place. After being thus engaged for one year, he was employed on a ranch, for wages. In 1876 he stocked a ranch, of which he was foreman, with 100 cows, and ran a dairy for six months, meeting with good suc- cess. At this time Mr. Pippin decided to make a prospecting trip in the north. De- cember 17, 1879, he came to the San José Valley, rented a place of Captain Fletcher, and subsequently purchased the ranch, which contains 167 acres and which he now occupies. This property is located in the beantifnl San José Valley, a mile and three-quarters from Pozo. Here Mr. Pippin is engaged in dairying, being very successful and receiving good prices for his product, which he markets with great care. He states that off of twelve cows (Devon) he has mar- keted one ton of butter, from September 1 to June 1, which is, indeed, a remarkable show- ing. Mr. Pippin also raises some fine fruit, the soil of the San José Valley being espe- cial y celebrated for this. As a health resort, Mr. Pippin speaks in the highest terms of the San Jose Valley. Since his residence here he has never had occasion to call a phy- sician to his home.

The subject of this sketch was married, January 27, 1880, to Miss Lizzie L. Epperly. They have an adopted child.

- E ROME BROTHERS, proprietors of a blacksmith shop and also agents for all kinds of agricultural implements in Lompoc. The firm is composed of A. P. and George E. DeRome. A. P. DeRome was born in Chicago, in 1856; his father was a cabinet-maker. In 1858 he moved his family

to California, coming by water and the Isth- mus of Panama. They settled in San Fran- cisco, where A. P. was educated, and at the age of fifteen years began learning his trade of blacksmith at Kimball's mannfactory, where he remained three years. He then passed two and a half years in Oakland, and in the fall of 1876 he went to Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Connty, and there opened a shop and remained twelve years in general black- smith work. He sold ont and in the spring of 1888 came to Lompoc.

George E. DeRome was born in San Fran- cisco, in 1862, and also learned his trade at Kimball's manufactory, where he remained three years. He then joined his brother at Cayucos, working for wages until his brother sold out to go to Lompoc. In the spring of 1889 the present partnership was formed. They bought 50 x 140 feet of land on the corner of Ocean avenne and G street, and there erected their present spacious building, 50 x 60 feet. They carry on all the branches of blacksmithing, and are also agents for all kinds of agricultural implements. A. P. De Rome was married in 1884, to Miss Fanny Henning, a native of California. Four children have blessed this union, only three of whom survive.

SAAC J. SPARKS, deceased, was born in the town of Bowdoin, Maine, about year 1800, and was one of the great land-owners, and an early pioneer of this section of the State. His father fonght in the war of 1812, and after its close moved his family to Ohio, and soon afterward to Saint Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in farming; he also died at this place. After his father's death our subject was obliged to take charge of the plantation. He had in-

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tended to become a doctor, but had to give up the idea on account of ill health. He was troubled with dyspepsia, and frequently went to the mountains for relief, and it was on one of these expeditions that Mr. Sparks inet a party that was bound for the far West. Fran- cis Z. Branch, elsewhere sketched in this work, and Oldman Yount, an old pioneer, were members of the party, he had no intentions of joining this party, but never- theless was induced to do so, and he first settled at Los Angeles, California, in the early part of the year 1832, and a year later in Santa Barbara. Here Mr. Sparks followed Otter hunting, at which business he was very successful, being an excellent shot. He ac- quired large tacts of land, owning seven large ranches in Santa Barbara County, and the Huasna and Pismo ranches in San Luis Obispo County, at one time. The Huasna property, five leagues, now in possession of the daughters, was the smallest one. These large tracts were granted to Mr. Sparks by the Mexican government, chiefly as a pro- tection against the Indians, the government freely giving the land if a settler could then be induced to occupy it, and thus in a meas- ure keep off the hostile redskins. He was a resident of Santa Barbara when Fremont was there, and the General was very anxious that he should take up arms against the Mexicans, which he declined to do. He how- ever aided Fremont in many ways, giving him provisions, clothing, horses, etc., to the value of $20,000 or more, for which he never re- ceived a cent in return. Mr. Sparks built and conducted the only store in Santa Bar- bara for some time, and also built the first brick house in the town, a relic of which now remains. He was a man tall and slim, but with a well formed frame, and had a fine commanding presence. Ilis death occurred June 16, 1867.

He was married in Santa Barbara, to Miss Mary Ayers, a lady of Scotch descent, now liv- ing in that city, strong and hearty at the age of seventy-eight years. They had three children, -Flora, Rosa and Sallie, who are now Mrs. Captain Harloe, of San Luis Obispo; Mrs. Arza Porter, of the same place; and Mrs. Harkness of Santa Barbara.

E. BATTLES, whose fine ranch of 320 acres is attractively located on the mesa east of town, was born in Erie County, Pennsylvania, in 1848. His father was a farmer, and in early life our subject moved to Illinois, where he continued farm- ing until 1855; then he moved to the town of Ipava, Fulton County, where he engaged in the blacksmithing business until 1860; then he engaged in a grocery until 1864, when he and his son again pushed West to California, crossing the plains with horse teams. They settled in Sacramento Valley, where they were engaged in farming until 1868, when they came to the Santa Maria Valley and took up 160 acres where Mr. Battles' father still resides, at the age of sev- enty-four years. The subject of this sketch lived at home until 1872, when he began farming on 160 acres, which he had pre- empted in 1868. About the year 1876 he sold out, and purchased his present fine ranch of 320 acres on the mesa, where he farms principally in grain. He has 160 acres of land near the town of Garey, which is de- voted to stock for grazing. He also plants twenty acres in corn, and twenty-five acres in beans, and a small acreage to other sumner crops. He averages about 300 hogs, which he fattens for market.

Mr. Battles was married in Santa Maria, in 1884, to Miss Mary E. Minor, and they

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have two children: Rollin Eugene and My- ron H.

- APTAIN MARCUS HARLOE is a na- tive of Ireland, born March 17, 1833. His mother was a Scotch ship-master's daughter of Campbelltown, Argyleshire, and his father's ancestors were both Irish and English. Both are now deceased. Much of Captain Harloe's boyhood was spent in Ire- land and Scotland, where he attended school. Early in life he evinced a strong desire for the sea, and in 1847 came to America. The next three years were spent on the sea, and in 1850 he came to California. With head- quarters at San Francisco, for twenty years and more Captain Harloe has led a seafaring life on the Pacific, and more especially on the California coast. He has risen from the lowest and humblest position in the marine service to some of the most important in the gift of the Government. From 1862 to 1875 he was Captain of many of the steamers sail- ing between San Francisco and San Diego, and from San Francisco north to Portland. Ile was also engaged as commanding officer with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company for a time. Captain Harloe was Harbor- master at San Francisco for two years, 1865 to 1867, and in 1880 was appointed chief whartinger, which includes the office of har- bor-master, and served a term of four years, it being a political office and an appointment of some significance.

In 1866 the Captain married Miss Flora Sparks, the eldest daughter of Isaac J. Sparks, of Santa Barbara, by whom he has had seven children, two daughters and five sons.

Since 1875 the Captain and Mrs. Harloe have made their home in the Huasna Valley.

Their ranch, consisting of two square leagues of land, is a part of the original Sparks grant. The Captain is engaged in farming, cattle-raising and dairying on this property, much of which is rented ont. To the stranger, driving through this valley for the first time, the country appears like one huge park, so beautiful are the trees, hills and landscape. The Harloe home is built of adobe and is situated on a knoll, one mile from the Hnasna postoffice. The house is an old one and was rebuilt and enlarged in 1868. Isolated as the house seems to be from the adjacent towns, one is quite im- pressed with the luxuries and comfortable appointments which greet the visitor as he enters. One noticeable feature of this at- tractive home is a splendidly equipped libra- ry, the property of Mrs. Sparks. Another is a fine Steinway piano. Since coming to the Huasna Valley, Captain Harloe has not entirely given up his sea life. He was for two years commander of the Santa Maria. During his residence in this place he has served as Supervisor for the Arroyo Grande District two years, 1876-1877. September 1, 1890, he was nominated for the Assembly by the Republican county convention.

An exceedingly popular man, Captain Harloe is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. As a ship-master, he won the respect, confidence and good will of all who traveled with him.

OHN HOUK, one of the progressive ranchers of the Santa Maria Valley, was born in Germany, in 1852; his father was a nail-maker by trade. Labor being poorly paid, Mr. Honk emigrated to the United States with his family in 1855, going first to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he began

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farming. At the age of thirteen years our subject began his self-support. He went to Missouri and worked for two years on a ranch, then to Texas, where he followed the beeť trade for two years, and then returned home, where he resided until 1874, when he came to California. After spending the winter at Sacramento he traveled north through Oregon and Washington Territory, but returned to Sacramento, where he worked at harvesting and in logging camps until the fall of 1876. He then came to Santa Maria and took up eighty acres in La Gracia country, remaining until the fall of 1880, when he sold out and bought 320 acres of the Suez school district. Mr. Houk has his ranch well fenced and im- proved. He raised principally grain until 1888, and now carries on general farming, with a small dairy of twenty cows. He is improving his stock by crossing with full- blood Holstein, owning some fine animals, and forty fine Berkshire hogs.

Mr. Houk was married at Sacramento, in 1875, to Miss Angelina Howerton, and they have eight children.

OSEPH RUFFNER, one of the stanch and sterling citizens of Lompoc, was born at Luray, Page County, Virginia, in 1819. His father was an extensive farmer. Facilities for education were limited in those early days, but Joseph received the best that could be obtained from the old log school- house. In 1842 he went to West Virginia, part of the way by stage. Afterward he made a trip to Missouri, and returning to Virginia he followed farming until 1845, and in Kanawha County he was then superintendent of a salt furnace, in the manufacture of salt, until 1852. He then started for California by Major Ainesby's covered wagon train, paying

$200 for his passage from St. Louis to Sacra- mento, and being about four months on the journey. There were twenty passengers, but they were all amply fed, and, excepting oue death from mountain fever, they came through without accident. At Sacramento Mr. Ruffner entered the stock business, buy- ing for market, and at the elose of the first week he had neither made or lost, and he gave up the business. In 1852 he bought a team of horses, drove to Santa Cruz, and there rented land and farmed for two years. He then bought 150 acres of land near the coast, where he made his home up to 1879, carry- ing on general farming. Ile was one of the original stockholders of the Lompoc Colony, and attended the first sale, purchasing eighty acres, which he sold later. In 1879 he closed his interest at Santa Cruz and came to Lom- poc to reside. Mr. Ruffner rented the Thomas Wick's ranch of 250 acres, which was sold to Captain Sudden, in 1882, but Mr. Ruffner has continued on the ranch up to date (1890) and carries on general farming in barley, beans, mustard and potatoes, and also raises some horses. . All of the ranch is under cultivation. In 1887 Mr. Rnffner made his first trip East, visiting his own home, going as far as Philadelphia. In 1887 he bought 123 acres of valley aud grazing land, south of town, where his son now resides. He has seen some wonderful changes in the valley. When he arrived the question was, " What can we raise ?" Nature herself has answered by giving abundant harvests, from any seed which are committed to her productive influences. Mr. Ruffner thinks California the best State in the Union.

He was married at Santa Cruz, in 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Williams, a native of New York State. Four children have blessed the union, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are married and living in the valley.

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Mrs. Ruffner died in 1886, at the age of sixty-six years.

B T. WILEY, one of the first locators of the Santa Maria Valley, was born in

0 Autanga County, Alabama, in 1825. He was brought up on a farm, and at the age of fifteen years he went to Mississippi, where he was engaged in farming until 1847, when he enlisted for the Mexican war, in the Second Mississippi Regiment, under Colonel Reuben Davis. Their service was on Taylor's line, through Monterey and to Buena Vista, Mexico, but not being in time for the battle they were not in actual service, and were mustered out at Vicksburg, in July, 1848. Mr. Wiley returned to his home, and then to Greensborongh, Mississippi, where he was engaged in farming until March, 1849, when he started for California. He drove five yoke of oxen across the plains, landing at Hang- town, now Placerville, in October, 1849, where he began mining, and continued for eight years. In 1857 he went to Amador County and began farming. He was married at Santa Cruz, in Jnne, 1859, to Miss Minerva Clark, and they continued on the farm in Amador County until the fall of 1862, when they went to Santa Cruz County, and there located. A grant covered their ranch, and in 1864 they went to Mendocino County, and continued farming in different counties until 1868, when, having lost his wife, he took up land in the Santa Maria Valley, being the first man to locate. His land, of 160 acres, was a half-mile north of town; he built a little cabin and dng the first well, sixty-five feet deep without curbing, now considered a peril- ons proceeding. After two years he traded for other property, and in 1878 sold out and located his present ranch in Strawberry

Cañon, southeast of town, and began improv- ing by clearing off brush, fencing and build- ing. He owns 320 acres, and carried on general farming. He has fifteen acres in fruit, and a fine garden with raspberries and strawberries every month in the year without irrigating. Corn is his principal crop, of which he plants about forty acres; he also keeps fifteen head of horses and cattle.

Mr. Wiley was again married at San Luis Obispo, in 1875. to Mrs. Abigail Bryant, and they have three sons. Mr. Wiley is particular that his children shall receive every benefit of an education.

OHN M. WILKINSON, a native of Missouri, was born March 2, 1837; was reared on a farm, attending school a part of the time, until seventeen years of age. In 1854 he came to California, crossing the plains with an ox teamn. He first settled in Butte County and spent some time in the mines. In the spring of 1855 he went to Napa County and for eight years was en- gaged in farming. Mr. Wilkinson relates that these days were the most prosperous ones of his life-he made money and made it fast.

Mr. Wilkinson was married in the fall of 1861 to Miss Wallace, of Napa County, by whom he had six children, only four of whom are living at present. In 1879 he was mar- ried a second time to Miss Hettie Stubble- field, of Santa Barbara, and by this marriage has had five children.

During 1863 and 1864 Mr. Wilkinson passed through a perio l of misfortunes, los- ing all the money he had ever made. This was in Washoe City, Nevada, where he was engaged in teaming and speculating in min- ing stock. Leaving this locality as soon as

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he could, he engaged in farming in Butte and Sonoma counties for six years, and in 1870 came to San Luis Obispo County. In 1875 he went to Santa Barbara County and set- tled on a ranch near Santa Maria, and for nine years lived there and did well. In 1884 he came to the Hnasna Valley, where lie has ever since resided. Mr. Wilkinson is en- gaged in fruit-raising and farming on his ranch of 160 acres. Like all the soil in this valley, it is rich and productive. Mr. Wil- kinson has been particularly successful in raising grapes. He grows the Muscatel raisin grapes in large quantities and of ex- cellent quality. The section of the Huasna Valley in which this property is located has been cultivated only in recent years. When Mr. Wilkinson came here in 1884 his ranch was one brush thicket, and now anything can be raised on it. Watermelons weighing from thirty to fifty pounds each are often picked from his vines, and one weighing sixty-five pounds was once growu, and is his best exhibit so tar. To complete this illus- tration of the wonderful fertility of the soil in the Huasna Valley, Mr. Wilkinson has picked melons front his vines on Christmas Day, and has had them on his table for din- ner. To people outside of the State of Cali- fornia, this story will appear quite impossible to believe, and perhaps to many in the State, but to the neighbors of Mr. Wilkinson it is all assured fact.

A. EVANS, a rancher of Lompoc, was born in Putnam Conty, Indi-

O ana, in 1834. In 1854 his father in oved

to Madison County, Iowa, being among the pioneers of that section. The subject of this sketch remained at home nn- til 1857, when he came to California, by

steamer from New York, crossing the Isth- mus of Panama. From San Francisco he went to Oroville, Butte County, where he passed two years in a lumber camp. In 1859 he came to Gilroy, Santa Clara Valley, and worked in the redwoods, hauling and getting out lumber, remaining until 1862, when he went to the Powder River Mines, in Oregon, and worked one year. He then went to Boise City, Idaho, and was connected with mining interests until 1866, when he returned to San José and was connected with ranching at Gilroy and Castroville. In 1880 Mr. Evans came to Lompoc and bought eighty acres of land and has since devoted himself to the cultivation of beans, mustard and general farming. He has a small or- chard sufficient for family use.

Mr. Evans was married at San José in 1869, to Miss Hannah Higginbotham, of Cheshire, England. They have one son, Oliver Samuel Evans, born in March, 1872.

- ATHAN BROOKS SMITH, is a native of the State of Massachusetts, born in Concord, January 17, 1850. He is the son of Joseph A. Smith, who was born in Concord in 1818, and still resides there, en- gaged in farming. He is a lineal descendant of Paul Revere, the hero of Revolutionary days. Mr. Smith's mother, Rebecca (Brooks) Smith, was born in Acton, a town adjoining Concord. She came of Puritan stock. Iler father, Nathan Brooks, was a farmer, and her grandfather, Seth Brooks, was a Sergeant in the Acton " Minute Men," and was in the "Concord Fight" of 1775. There were six children in the family, the subject of this sketch being the oldest. He received his education in the institutions of learning in his native city; and afterward engaged in

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railroading in Kansas and Nebraska. Then he was book-keeper for Mr. Josiah Quincy, in Boston. Later, he went to Concord, bonght a farm and engaged in general farm- ing. That property he sold before coming to California. Upon his arrival on this coast, he located in Ventura County and engaged in sheep-raising, which proved a paying bnsi- ness. They had as many as 7,000 sheep at one time. This business he closed out, and, in 1882, with his partner, purchased his present fine fruit ranch of forty-five acres, on Ventura avenue. It is planted principally to walnuts, apricots, prunes and apples, bnt he also has a variety of other fruits. They are farming a large tract to wheat and barley, 4,000 acres being devoted to the cultivation of these crops, the yield being correspond- ingly large.

Mr. Smith, in 1875, married Miss Agnes E. Tolman, a native of Concord, daughter of Benjamin Tolman, also a native of that city, and the owner of a large printing house. They have one son, Allen Tolman Smith, born in Concord in 1880. Mr. Smith is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is independent.

W. MAULSBY, of Santa Maria, was born in Wayne County, Indiana, in October, 1856, and moved to Dallas County, Iowa, in 1858, where his father en- gaged in farming. He was educated in the high schools, and at Tabor College in Fre- mont County, Iowa, after which he studied medicine two years. In 1878 he was married at Perry, Iowa, to Miss Linda E. Beeson, and in 1881 he went to Colorado and engaged in mining; he did the assessment work on the great Iron King Silver Mine without realiz- ing a substantial benefit. In 1882 he came

to Santa Maria, California, where he started a boot and shoe store; this he exchanged the following year for a farm, which he man- aged one year, then rented it and moved to Los Angeles, but returned to Santa Maria again in 1886 and engaged in the real-estate business. In 1887, associated with S. J. Jones, they bought sixty acres southeast of town, which they improved under the name of Olive Hill Orchard and Nursery.

Mr. Manlsby has bred some fine trotting stock which he is now having trained; he is a member of the County Board of Horticultural Commissioners for Santa Barbara County. Mr. and Mrs. Maulsby have two children, Luln A. and Flora B.

Mr. Maulsby is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264, F. & A. M.

F. McCLURE, a rancher of Lompoc and one of the early settlers, was born in Caledonia County, Vermont, in 1844. Until 1866 he lived at home, and assisted his father on the farm. He was educated in Caledonia County and attended academies, and later taught the winter school. In 1866 he came to California, by the Isthmus of Panama, landing at San Francisco, and first bought a water route and sold water about the city. He then went to Nevada, and drove on a stage route, then conducted a dairy in Marin County, and later went back to San Francisco, where after three months he came to Santa Cruz and was in the dairy business for one year. In 1871 Mr. McClure returned for a visit to his old home in Vermont. On his return to San Francisco he engaged in the milk business, which he continued at Santa Cruz for one and a half years. In 1875 he came to Lompoc, and bought forty acres of land in the valley, to which he has since added

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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