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 66

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 66
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 66
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 66

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Antietam when the battle began, and after- ward voluntarily took up arms on the Union side in that fight He then became ac- quainted with Colonel Thomas A. Scott, then Assistant Secretary of War, and did valuable service for him, which was much appreciated by the Colonel. The rebels, under General McCausland, in one of their raids, burned Mr. Bard's mother's house, after which Col- onel Scott induced him to come to California to take charge of the business interests here.

Mr. Bard sold out his interest in the busi- ness at Hagerstown, and January 5, 1865, came to Ventura County. His first work here was the superintendency of the Califor- nia Petroleum Company, in which Colonel Scott was interested. They attempted to develop the oil resources of Ojai Rancho, and everything they required in the way of ma- chinery came from New York, via Cape Horn to San Francisco, and from San Fran- cisco by boat and landed by means of rafts, through the surf at San Buenaventura. This was the first attempt to develop the oil fields of California. Their work was practi- cally unsuccessful. When they had gained experience enough to know where to locate the wells, the company became discouraged and closed the work. After this he took charge of the property in which Colonel Scott was interested, consisting of the ranchos :-- the Simi, 113,000 acres; the Las Rosas, 26,600 acres; the San Francisco, 48,- 000 acres; the Calleguas, 10,000 acres; the El Rio de Santa Clara, 45,000 acres; the Cañada Larga, 6,600 acres, and the Ojai, 16,- 000 acres. In addition to this he took charge of a large part of the town of San Buena- ventura, and Colonel Scott's lands in Los Angeles and Humboldt counties, about 12,- 000 acres, making a grand total of about 277,000 acres. This vast acreage was devoted to sheep and cattle-raising, and Mr. Bard had

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charge of it until sold. The business was attended with much inconvenience and trouble through people stealing on the lands, sup- posing it to be Government land; almost all of the vast property was involved in dispute concerning title, and inuch ill-feeling was the result; some of the parties were desper- adoes. Generally Mr. Bard succeeded in a just way to pay the people for their losses, and all of the lands he has disposed of have been found to have perfect titles. The land was rented to the people, and many of them afterward became purchasers.

In the meantime his own affairs had grown upon his hands, during the time he laid ont the town of Hueneme, and built the wharf, in 1871, and from that time the town took its start. He continued to manage Colonel Scott's affairs until the time of his death, which occurred in 1882, after which he be- came his administrator in California, and closed out the property.

The liberal course taken by Mr. Bard with the tenants and squatters on the lands re- sulted beneficially in the settlement of the county. He eventually bought the wharf and warehouses and invested in real estate, whichi, with the growth of the county, has be- come valuable. He was one of the incorpora- tors of the first Bank of Ventura, and was its President for fifteen years; he is now Presi- dent of Hneneme Bank, and of the Hueneme Wharf Company. He organized the Simi Land and Water Company, and the Las Rosas Land & Water Company. Mr. Bard is Presi- dent of the Mission Transfer Company, whichi owns the large system of pipe lines and re fineries, at Santa Panla, and which handles the whole of the oil production of Ventura County; he is also the President of the Sespe Oil Company, which control 22.000 acres of oil territory. He is also President of the Torrey Canon Oil Company. The output of

these companies aggregate 600 barrels of oil per day.

Mr. Bard has 320 acres of land adjoining his home, of which all is being farmed; he has fifty acres of ground surrounding his home, on which is a beautiful and com- modious cottage, and very excellent grounds, in which he takes much enjoyment in the collection of flowers and other plants. As one enters the grounds he is confronted by a large triangular bed of scarlet geraniums, making a brilliant show of blossoms. Back of this is a large fountain, and the winding drives branch off in two directions, making curves in divers directions amid groves of trees and flowers and amid the border of evergreen hedges, until the avenues meet in front of the house.

Mr. Bard held for several successive terms the office of Supervisor in the first district of Santa Barbara, before the county of Ventura was formed; he was first elected Supervisor on the Republican ticket. against a Spaniard on the Democratic ticket, when there were not over a dozen Americans in the district. He was the Republican candidate for State Senator in 1877, in the Senatorial district composed of the three counties of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. He was defeated, but Ventura and Santa Barbara counties gave him a handsome majority, which was barely overcome by his opponent in San Luis Obispo County. He was also on the Garfield ticket for Elector, in 1880. He was a delegate at large for the State to the memorable convention at Chicago that nomi- nated Mr. Blaine, in 1884.

He married, in 1876, Miss Mary B. Ger- berding, daughter of Mr. E. O. Gerberding of San Francisco, who was one of the founders of the San Francisco Bulletin. Mrs. Bard was born in California, in 1858. They have five children, all born in Hneneme, viz .;

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Beryl B., Mary Louisa, Anna Greenwell, Thomas G. and Elizabeth Parker. Mrs. Bard is an Episcopalian, and Mr. Bard is an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He is a man of liberal views, broad business capacities, and a quiet and unobtrusive gentleman.

ILLIAM H. RYAN, one of the pio- neers of Arroyo Grande, or, as one of

- the citizens remarked, the " father of the town," was born in Amesbury, Massa- chusetts, April 28, 1833. His father, Jere- miah Ryan, was a native of Ireland, and his mother, formerly Miss Betsy Glidden, was a native of New Hampshire. He was edu- cated in one of the excellent schools of Ames- bury, and at the age of seventeen years started out in the world to seek liis fortune. In 1849 he decided to come to California; took passage on the brig Ark and came to San Francisco by way of Cape Horn, arriving April, 1850, the trip consuming seven months' time. Mr. Ryan did not remain long in San Francisco, but while there was actively en- gaged in the dray business, and was the owner of one of the first drays brought to that place. One year and a half was spent in the city and one year in Santa Clara. In 1853, · during the gold excitement in Australia, he set out for that far-away country. For one year he was foreman of an American com- pany there. He next went to South America, trying his luck in Peru, then Chili, and in a year returned to San Francisco. He visited Washoe during the Washoe silver excite- ment, and finally settled in Silver Mountain, Alpine County, and built the hotel known as Ryan's Exchange, where he remained for sev- eral years. Arizona was the next scene of his sojourn. In 1872 he came to San Luis Obispo County, and here he has made his

home up to the present day. Thirteen months he was engaged in business in the city, and then he came to Arroyo Grande. With the latter place he has become thor- onghly identified, and has been engaged in the hotel and livery business. The hotel which bears his name and which he success- fully conducted so many years, is the pioneer hotel of the place, and is known to everyone in this locality, as is also its owner. Mr. Ryan is the oldest representative in business in the place and has done much toward build- ing up the town and making it what it is. Arroyo Grande is a thriving little town, sit- uated in the heart of some of the richest land on the globe, and no one person residing in the place has appreciated or marked these changes more than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Ryan has retired from the active man- agement of his hotel, having leased it to other parties, and is now living a retired life.

HARLES H. CLARK, an early pio- neer, and a prominent developer of the Point Sal shipping industry, was born in Johnson, Vermont, in 1838, and is a lineal descendant of William Clark, the chief mate of the old ship the Mayflower. Our sub- ject's education was only in English branches, acquired in attendance at the commou schools and academy. At thirteen years of age his business career began, as clerk in the post- office of his native town, where he did all the writing of the office, and attended school during the school hours. In 1857 he came to California, by the Panama ronte. At San Francisco his first occupation was in the postoffice, but the opportunities being too narrow for one of his enterprise, he soon found more congenial employment in the broader fields of mercantile life. As clerk

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he entered the office of C. J. Hawley, an ex- tensive wholesale and retail grocer of San Francisco. After one year, as a financial advancement, he worked on the steamboat running between San Francisco and Stockton for one year, and then returned to the former place, where he opened a retail grocery store. Here he felt the kindly influence of his old employer, C. J. Hawley, who in many ways advanced the young man's interests. Mr. Clark continued his store until 1868, when on account of failing health he sold out, and in 1869 came to the southern country for the open-air exercise, settling near Santa Maria Valley, and taking charge of the " Todos Santos " cattle ranch, where he remained about eighteen months. When the Guada- loupe Rancho was divided, abont 1874, Mr. Clark bought 1,000 acres near Point Sal, and in 1884 bought 1,157 acres adjoining, upon which he has 750 head of cattle and fifty head of horses. The ranch is particularly adapted to grazing; being near the coast it has an abundance of nutritious food and Mr. Clark is farming only a small acreage to hay. His horses are well bred for general utility purposes.

In 1864 Mr. Clark was married to Miss Eliza Clayton, a niece of Hon. Charles Clayton, and they have had eight children, two sons and six daughters. The elder daughter is a descriptive writer of great merit, and all the children have musical tal- ents. The second danghter, Minnie, has studied music under the best instructors in the State, and is a finished pianist and vocalist.

The history of Point Sal has been chiefly made by Mr. Clark, he being the promoter and founder of its extensive shipping indus- tries. In 1872, before any wharf was estab- lished, in partnership with W. D. Harriman, he commenced unloading vessels by means

of lighters, and that year ten cargoes of lum- ber were loaded through the surf, and over 1,000,000 feet were sold to the new settlers. In 1873 Messrs. Clark & Harriman built a wharf at Point Sal, of which a third interest was sold to Hayward & Harmon, of San Francisco. In 1876 the wharf was carried away by a storm. It was rebuilt the fol- lowing spring, but the winter again destroyed it, and Mr. Clark soon after sold his interest, and is now agent for the Pacific Coast Steam- ship Company, whose steamers largely do the carrying trade of the coast. The present Chute Landing was built in 1880 by St. Ores, a Canadian Frenchman, a syndicate of ranch- ers furnishing the necessary capital, which amounted to $21,000. This is an elevated frame work, projecting from the cliff, firmly anchored to the rocks and elevated eighty feet above the water. The vessel is then safely anchored outside, over which extends, from the landing to a bnoy beyond, a wire cable; this is securely attached, a traveler is safely suspended to it, which works easily back and forth upon it, by means of nicely adjusted shievis. To the traveler are then suspended cages, which by means of steam power are worked back and forth, thus discharging or loading the vessel, an engine on the wharf furnishing the necessary power. 1n 1881, 8,000 tons of grain were shipped by this landing.

Mr. Clark has been manager of the land- ing since 1883. The gypsum mines of Point Sal were developed by him in 1883, on the Casmalia Rancho, owned by Merritt & Phoenix. Mr. Clark secured a twenty years' lease of Messrs. Lucas & Co. of the Golden Gate Plaster Mill of San Francisco, which is the only plaster mill on the coast for manu- facturing plaster of Paris and land plaster. The mining is all under ground and Mr. Clark is the manager of the works, and he is

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said to be the " Father of gypsum on the Coast." and he mines about 3,000 tons per year. Mr. Clark possesses the confidence and esteem of the community, and in early life devoted much time to the interests of the Republican party; but in later life his mani- fold duties have occupied all his time.

B ERNARDINO LUGO was born in San Fernando, May 10, 1810. Early in lite he was taken by his family to Santa Barbara and his childhood was spent at that place. It was not until 1850 that Mr. Lugo came to San Luis Obispo County. Then hardly a settlement was to be seen anywhere. He engaged in ranching extensively, and for many years was foreman of a large ranch known as the Paso Robles ranch. In 1870 he came to San Luis Obispo and has been en- gaged in the cattle business ever since, resid- ing at present in the city and living a very quiet life. He is a very familiar figure on the streets of the city. When out of doors he is always on horseback, sitting as erect as a soldier. He is eighty years of age. Mr. Lugo was married in 1850, and has one son living.

OHN M. PRICE, one of the best known veterans of San Luis Obispo County, and we can say of the State, is the sub- ject of this brief sketch. " Old John Price " was born in Bristol, England, September 29, 1810. As a boy he was fond of the sea and at a very early age became a sailor. When fifteen years old he shipped for a three- years cruise to the Southern Ocean on a whaler named Cadmus, of London, England. At the age of eighteen he started on that

eventful voyage which unexpectedly landed him for all time on the coast of California in the New World, on the bark Kent, a whaling ship commanded by Captain Lawton. The Captain was a hard master, Mr. Price re- belled, and in company with another boy quit the ship at Manzanillo, now a prominent Mexican port, but then a wild, uninhabited region, where this whaling vessel put in for supplies. The two young men escaped undis- covered, and this, in the year 1829, was the beginning of their career on the American continent. Making their way into the in- terior, with the aid of friendly Indians, they finally reached Colima, where Mr. Price al- most succninbed to an attack of cholera. After a year's sojourn there he improved the opportunity to come to Monterey, California, on a sailing vessel. At that place he was for six years a vaquero about the ancient capital, and then, in 1836, he came to San Luis Obispo, where he has ever since been a resident. Here he first hired out to Captain W. G. Dana, receiving as wages 815 a month on the Nipomo. Two years later he was en- gaged on the Huasna Ranch for Isaac J. Sparks, for which he was paid $20 a month for several years. During the Graham in- surrection he became one of the many pris- oners who were sentenced to confinement at Santa Barbara and San Blas by order of Alvarado. In 1846 he was residing at the old ranch house a short distance above the site of the present village of Arroyo Grande. The Mexican war was in progress and Mr. Price was surprised one day by the appear- ance of General Fremont and his troops, who wanted him and his men (Indians working for him) to surrender. Mr. Price was willing to surrender, but suddenly the Indians were missing. It was afterward ascertained that they had hid themselves in the almost in- penetrable mass of willows then growing in

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the Arroyo Grande Valley, where they could not at that time be found. Mr. Price states as an eye witness that the stories rife concern- ing the reckless depredations by Fremont's troops are great exaggerations.

On the breaking ont of the gold fever of 1848, Mr. Price and Mr. F. Z. Branch started off to try their Inck. They found some "big nuggets," and after a fair degree of success returned to their ranches. These nuggets Mr. Price desired to retain as splendid speci- mens, bnt subsequent hard times compelled him to cash them.

For a time he worked on the Pizmo ranch on shares with Mr. Sparks, and subsequently he purchased it undivided-7,000 acres, near the ocean shore. This place is a favorite re- sort. For fifty years Mr. Price has been en- gaged in cattle-raising, dairying, etc., and now, at the age of eighty years, he is as ac- tive and energetic as any man on his place, thinking nothing of a long ride in the saddle or of frequent trips with horse and wagon to San Luis Obispo city, fifteen iniles distant. Since his settlement here he has had many offices of prominence, both under Mexican and American control. Under the Mexican Government he was Alcalde and Juez de Paz, and as an American official he was Al- calle, Justice of the Peace, County Judge and Supervisor. Many are the curious docu- ments which Mr. Price has in his possession and which he courteously shows to his visi- tors, in relation to the offices he held in those times. As Alcalde he gave great satisfac- tion, and, taking into account the greatly dis- turbed condition of the country at that time, without law and without precedent, his posi- tion was fraught with great responsibilities. Many are the observations of historical in- terest that Mr. Price can make to a visitor, taking him back to 1840, and even earlier. Probably he is the oldest white settler of this

county, and his life has been full of adven- ture and excitement. Cast upon the world to take care of himself when a boy, amongst a strange people and in a strange country, he has through his indomitable will-power and pluek reached a position of wealth and honor in his old age.

He was married in 1844 to Doña Andrea Carlon, a native of California, and they have had thirteen children, of whom twelve are now living. A splendid specimen of adobe work is seen in a portion of the family home at Pizmo. The walls are there two and a half feet in thickness, and as the family increased in number, rooms were added to the house. Mr. John M. Price is distinguished for his hospitality and devotion to the welfare of his family.

AMES A. BLOOD, one of the successful ranchers of the Carpenteria Valley, re- sides in a handsome residence situated on a high elevation among the foot-hills, commanding a superb view of the valley, ocean and the islands in the distance. Mr. Blood was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1818. His father was a mechanic by trade, and a native of Salem. He moved to Roch- ester, New York, when the streets of that present beautiful city were filled with stumps and the town supported but one insignificant hotel. James A. remained at home until nineteen years of age, when he went to Illi- nois, and became engaged in the manufacture of plows. He was one of the first to make a scouring plow, and people would come a hundred miles to see it work. He did a Jarge business for that country, and also car- ried on farming, owning a quarter section of land. He remained twelve years, and then sold ont in 1850 and came to California.

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He fitted up three wagons with plenty of supplies, and started on his long march, taking seven men who paid him for trans- portation. He was eighty-seven days en route, and inen and animals all arrived in first-class condition, while others suffered severely from lack of supplies. He then went to the mines in Placer County, and after a short but successful experience he re- turned to the East, having made $3,000. He then engaged in the hardware business in Farmington, Illinois, and one year later sold out and returned to California. He again crossed the plains. This trip took six months, as he drove eighty head of cattle and suffered very little loss. He then settled at Marys- ville, Yuba County, where he began trading by running a pack train to the mines, and later engaged in the merchandise business with a Mr. Shannon, for two years. He then sold out, continning his trading until 1858. In that year he went East with his brother, by water and the Eads ship canal route. They then purchased cattle on the border of Texas, and drove 1,250 head across the plains, up the Arkansas River to Pueblo, then to Denver, leaving the cattle to graze on the LIumboldt River through the winter. In crossing they lost abont 200 head, and later the Indians stampeded 500, thus making the transaction a losing investment. The subject of this sketch then went to the mines in the Indian Valley, where his first year's business amounted to $33,000. Hle was then "frozen out" by his partners, receiving only $25,000 for his one-third interest. He was in the valley about five years, as he also owned 1,000 acres of land in partnership with his brother. Mr. Blood also had mining inter- ests in Summit City, Nevada County, where he invested $25,000 and lost every cent. In December, 1866, he made a pleasure trip to the East with his wife, going by the Isthmus

of Panama, and returning to California in 1867. After returning to San Francisco, lie began looking about for a place to settle, and came down the coast by steamer, landing at Santa Barbara. He purchased 117 acres in the Carpenteria Valley, all wild, rough land. After clearing the land he began the cultiva- tion of nuts, corn and beans, and he has since added to his place, increasing it to 350 acres. In 1875 he rented the ranch and moved to Santa Barbara, where he carried on the grocery business under the firm name of Blood & Orr, for abont six years, after which he returned to his ranch. In August, 1887, he sold his entire tract to a syndicate. Hc then re-purchased eight acres, where he has since built his large and beautiful residence.

Mr. Blood was married at Avon, Fulton County, Illinois, March 29, 1840, to Miss Cornelia L. Woods, and they have just cele- brated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding, a pleasure granted to but few in this world. Although they have not been blessed with children, their present happy relation is significant of the peace and harmony which have always existed.

M ANUEL P. FREIRE was born in California in 1864, and is a son of Portuguese parents, his father and mother, now deceased, both being natives of the Azores Islands. Mr. Freire spent his early life in Watsonville, on a farm, and in 1874 moved to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since made his home. At first he leased a ranch in Los Osos Valley and engaged in the cattle business. A year later he leased for a term of years the ranch he now occupies, located on the Corral de Piedra. This property consists of 1,130 acres. Mr. Freire devotes his time solely to the dairy

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business, marketing the products in San Francisco with very excellent results. Mr. Freire is married, but has no children.

HOMAS B. HIGUERA was born in San Fernando, California, Mareh 7, 1818, and died March 10, 1886. He came to the county of San Luis Obispo in 1855, and invested in property located in what is now the center of San Luis Obispo. A prominent street known as Higuera Street, named after him, adjoins this property. Most of this land has since been disposed of, and Mr. Higuera's widow and family who survive him now reside in a dwelling of their own on Marsh strect. Mr. Higuera fought in the Mexican war and took an important part therein. For some years before his death he suffered- greatly from rheumatism and was quite an invalid; and prior to this he was actively engaged in ranching and was very successful. In 1844 he was married to Bacilia Hernandez, by whom he had fifteen children, ten of whom are now living, one having died October 12, 1890.

OHN HENRY BARON VON SCHRO- DER, proprietor of the magnificent Eagle ranch described at length at the close of this sketch, is a native of Germany, the eldest son and heir to the estates and titles of the Von Schröder family. At the age of eighteen years, namely in 1870, he entered the Prussian army and served through the Franco-Prussian war of 1870- '71, in a regiment of Hussars. In 1880 he retired from the army, and in 1882 re- ceived the decoration of the iron cross for twelve years of distinguished service. From

the Hussars he was transferred to. the Cuiras- siers of the Guard, on which he served four years in Berlin and then changed to the Thirteenth Dragoons, of which regiment he is at present Premier Lieutenant d. R.

After leaving the army he traveled during the greater part of two years in the South Sea Islands. It was in Jannary, 1881, that he arrived in San Francisco, and directly afterward, while on a hunting tour in San Luis Obispo County, he " fell in love" with the Eagle ranch. The original settlers ou this property were the family of Francisco Siquero. In 1876 A. F. Benton came into possession of it, and in 1882 the entire prop- erty of 2,400 acres was surveyed and was pur- chased by Baron von Schröder. Large game are still plentiful on this ranch, many bear and deer having been killed in recent years.

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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