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 72
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 72
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 72
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Mr. Simmler, the subject of this sketch, received a first-class education in the old country, and learned the trade of painting, traveling two years in the completion of his apprenticeship. He came to this country in 1847, then a young man of 21 years, just after the close of the Mexican war, and re- sided at Houston, Texas, until 1852, follow-
ing his trade. During that year his love for travel induced him to come to California. He was several months on the way, some of the time in the Republic of Mexico, and two months he was on the ocean, where his suf- ferings were so great as to cause him to land when the vessel struck shore near Port Har- ford. The story of his coming is somewhat thrilling. He shipped from Mazatlan, on the bark Holloway, and the vessel being for sixty days lost on the ocean the sailors and passengers fell short of rations. At length they saw land, which proved to be Point San Simeon, at which they landed. About seventy passengers debarked, all of whom except Mr. Simmler hastened off to the mines. He became employed as cook for an American physician named Clements, who was afterward killed by a California lion while out hunting about five miles from the town of San Luis Obispo. Afterward Mr. Simmler engaged in painting for Captain John Wilson, an Englishman then at the Los Osos Ranch, now the property of L. M. Warden. Captain Wilson was a diamond in the rough, a good man; was step-father of ex-Governor Pacheco. After working for Captain Wilson a year Mr. Simmler began farming on John Brice's ranch, and in this enterprise lost all his accumulations. Next he kept a hotel, the first in San Luis Obispo, Dear the old Mission where Weaver's under- taking establisment now is, on the corner of Choro and Monterey streets. Subsequently he removed with his partner to the St. Charles, on Monterey street near the Black- man Block, in Mrs. Sauer's building, now a tin-shop.
From the time he entered the liotel busi - ness near the old Mission, in 1856, he held the office of Justice of the Peace until 1858, when he resigned in order to join the Vigi- lance Committee. This body was disorgan-
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ized six months afterward, and Mr. Simmler began work again for Captain Wilson, and was in his employ several months, pursning meanwhile his trade as painter until April, 1859. At this time he married for his pres- ent wife Mrs. Rosa Butron de Canet, a native Californian whose husband was a Spaniard. Mr. Simmler was Justice of the Peace at in- tervals for ten years; also Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Assessor four years; one of the first Town Trustees; School Trustee for a number of years; first Police Judge under the first corporation and Postmaster abont twenty years. Of course, during a portion of this period he held two or three of these offices at the same time. He was an efficient and popular officer, and although he was the choice of 700 citizens for re-appointment as Postmaster, he was not re-commissioned under the administration of Benjamin Har- rison. At present he is book-keeper and manager for Louis Marré.
ENKINS & McGUIRE, the present pro- prietors of the Santa Maria Times. G. W. Jenkins, the practical newspaper man, was born in La Grange, Missouri, in 1854, and after a preliminary education he com- pleted his studies at the Normal College at Kirksville, Missouri. He then began teach- ing in private classes, and after a course at Canton Business College, he taught day and evening classes until later on, when he en- gaged in the newspaper business. He came to California in 1879, settling at San Luis Obispo, where he became connected with the staff of the San Luis Obispo Tribune, a daily publication with a weekly edition. After three years this connection was severed, and in partnership with F. O. O'Neal they started the San Luis Obispo Republic, but after
three months he sold out and came to Santa Maria, in 1883, in the capicity of business manager of the Santa Maria Times, the paper having been started by S. Clevenger & Laugh- lin, in 1882. In 1884 Mr. Clevenger and Mr. Jenkins bought the Laughlin interest, and continued until May, 1887, when Mr. Clevenger sold his interest to I. N. McGuire, and Jenkins & McGuire have since managed the paper. The circulation is 600 copies, and it is considered one of the leading papers of northern Santa Barbara County.
Mr. Jenkins was married at San Luis Obispo, in September, 1882, to Miss Allie McGuire, a daughter of I. N. McGuire. They have two children: Percie May and George Ray.
I. N. McGuire was born in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1832. His father, with his family, moved to Buchanan County, in 1838, and there our subject received his education. He then moved, with his family, in 1849, to California, coming across the plains, and driving an ox team all the way. They then settled at Vacaville, Solano County, and started the town by building the first house therein. Mr. McGuire then began raising cattle and horses, continuing until 1853, when he moved his stock to Sonoma County, buying 480 acres of land, and there followed the stock business for twenty years, keeping abont 300 head, and farming in grain. In 1873 he came to San Luis Obispo County, and was engaged in sheep-raising until his herd numbered 3,500 sheep; he lost heavily by the dry season of 1877, and closed out the business. In 1880 he moved to San Luis Obispo, and for three years was engaged in mercantile life, and in 1883 came to Santa Maria. He was engaged in the drug busi- ness until 1887, when he bought the interest of Mr. Clevenger in the Santa Maria Times.
Mr. McGuire was first married in Sacra-
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mento, in 1854, to Miss Sarah Condit, who died in 1887, leaving six children. In May, 1888, he was again married, at Bloomfield, California, to Miss May Horsley. Mr McGuire is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264, F. & A. M.
M ICHAEL BOLL is counted among the early American settlers of San Luis Obispo. He is of German birth, was born September 29, 1829, on St. Michael's day; hence he received his Chris- tian name. He emigrated to this country when a mere youth. He is a first-class shoe- maker, which trade he learned in the cities of New Orleans and Mobile. In 1853 he made a trip to Europe, but immediately returned to New York city. Mr. Boll has been a very successful business man, and was also one of the pioneer merchants of Chicago, where he kept a boot and shoe store at 613 State street, in an early day. Owing to the severe climate he embarked for San Francisco, where he remained but a short time, when he started for his adopted town, San Luis Obispo, where he has since resided. He has diligently pursued his chosen calling and by judicious investments he has accumulated a competency.
July 16, 1854, he married Eliza Scheffner, a merchant tailoress. They have five chil- dren.
D. SNYDER, an early pioneer and a prominent developer of the Los Ala- mos Valley, was born in Wales Center, Erie County, New York, in 1853. His father was a farmer with extensive lumber
and saw-mill interests. Our subject left home at seventeen years of age and went to the lumber regions at East Saginaw, Michi- gan, where, owing to his experience in his father's mills, he readily found employment and was put in full charge of a large saw- mill, remaining about three years, when an epidemic of fever and ague broke out, and Mr. Snyder, being quite ill, returned to his home in the East. After recovering he again started forth, and settled at Green Bay. Wisconsin, where he was engaged with a Mr. Lamont in the lumber business for two years. He then disposed of his interests and visited Portland, Oregon, Puget Sound and Seattle, and then went south to Guadaloupe, where he located in 1876, and began ranch- ing. In 1877 he went to Los Alamos, which was then the old stage station, and foreseeing the founding of a town bought land and made the primal move toward its establish- inent by erecting the first business building of the place, which is now occupied by Arata Bros. Mr. Snyder also rented extensive tracts of land and engaged in farming, and in 1881, from 400 acres of land, he raised 10,000 centals of barley and wheat. During the harvest he employed sixty men, sixty horses, two threshers, a header and bailer and at the same time managed his extensive hotel business; was also agent for the Wells-Fargo Express and Coast Line Stage Company, and, as one might imagine, he was reasonably busy. In 1880 he built the Alamo Hotel, which he managed for a number of years. In 1887 he received the Government contract to carry the mail between Lompoc and Los Alamos, and the same year established a livery busi- ness.
He was married in Los Alamos, in 1881, to Miss Linine F. Keenan, a native of Illi- nois. They have no children. Mr. Snyder has now closed his business, rented his hotel
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and intends taking a much needed rest by an extended trip East.
HOMAS BARROWS is a native of Massachusetts, born on Martha's Vine- yard, April 14, 1843. His father, James Lloyd Barrows, was also a native of that State, and was a merchant and mannfact- urer. Their ancestry came from England. Ilis mother, Hannah Cottle, was born in Massachusetts, the daughter of Captain Ed- ward Cottle, a sea captain of merchant ships. Mr. Barrows finished his education at Gor- ham, Maine. He began his business career at Indianapolis, as clerk in a wholesale dry- goods house. After this he accepted the position of general traveling agent for the Grover & Baker Sewing Machine Company, and acted in that capacity for several years. He next took the general agency for the Vic- tor Sewing Machine Company, for the North- west, with headquarters at Chicago, the firm being Thomas Barrows & Co. During this time he was a partner in the Elgin Iron Works, manufacturers of small engines and castings. Their sewing-machine business in Chicago became quite extensive, sales reached 8,000 machines in the best year, and alto- gether they disposed of 25,000. They were caught in the great Chicago fire and lost quite heavily, but were again receiving or- ders the week following the fire.
In 1875 impaired health cansed Mr. Bar- rows to leave Chicago and come to California. lle was first in Oakland and San Francisco. His disease was hemorrhage of the lungs and attending troubles, and his physician advised the mildest climate possible. The Ojai Val- ley was decided upon, and he arrived at this place in 1878. He purchased 160 acres of unimproved land, which, under his judicious
care and management, now presents a very different appearance. He has erected a com- fortable home, planted a large variety of trees and vines, and his property has become a lovely tree-embowered retreat. Mr. Bar- rows has long since regained his health, and is now in a situation to enjoy life, under the shade of the vine and fig tree of his own planting. His ranch is provided with ample barns. He is now engaged in raising Hol- stein and Jersey cattle and fine blooded horses of the A. W. Richmond stock, and is also raising work-horses; has had as high as 300 head of horses and cattle at one time. He has dealt some in real estate, and owns abont 250 acres of choice land in the valley. He is engaged in orange culture both at his home and also at Pomona.
Mr. Barrows was married, in 1869, to Miss Sarah W. Cotlin, a native of Edgar- town, Massachusetts, daughter of Jared W. Coffin, who traces his ancestry back to Nantucket. This nnion was blessed with a daughter, and a few days later the young mother and beloved wife was called away, and thus a most sad bereavement came to him. The daughter, Charlotte C., is now at- tending the Pomona College. Several years after his wife's decease, Mr. Barrows was again married, in 1872, to Miss Ella A. Cole, of Medway, Massachusetts, daughter of Cap- tain John Cole, a sea captain of whaling and merchant vessels. They have one child, Da- vid P. Barrows, who is also attending Po- mona College, in the freshmen class. All the family are members of the Congrega- tional Church. While in Chicago Mr. Bar- rows was superintendent of the Tabernacle Sunday-school and deacon in the Tabernacle Church; is now a deacon in the Nordhoff Congregational Church, and also an active worker in the Sunday-school. He is a gen- tleman of pleasing and genial manners, and
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one whose influence for good is felt in the community in which he resides. Politically, he is a Republican.
YMAN L. PATTER was born in Bell- nington County, Vermont, November 4, 1847, son of S. J. and Flanella Pat- ter, both now deceased. He is one of a fam- ily of eleven children, five of whom are living. February 24, 1868, Mr. Patter landed in California, having made the trip by water, via Panama. He came directly to San Luis Obispo County, and went to work for Steele Bros., and was in their employ for four years. For some time he was engaged in ranching for various parties, and in 1882 came to Santa Margarita Valley, settling on a small ranch where he now resides. This property is located in the heart of this lovely valley and there is no prettier site in the county. Mr. Patter also owns a ranch of 160 acres in Kern County.
He was married February 16, 1871, to Miss Jane Sumner, and they have had ten children, only two of whom are now living.
OSE COLL, son of Daniel and Bruine (nee Garcia) Coll, was born in Santa Barbara, in 1834, and is one of a family of three children. The family moved to San Luis Obispo in 1841, soon after the death of Daniel Coll, and, with the exception of Jo- se, have since continued to make that city their home. Mrs. Coll is still living, aged seventy-eight.
The subject of this sketch came to San José Valley in 1850, and was the first settler in the place. He built the first corral, the location of which is yet easily recognizable.
Mr. Coll has seen, as no one else has, the remarkable changes that have taken place in this productive valley, and having an excel- lent memory relates in a very interesting way his early adventures. When he arrived here the place was one thicket of brush and cot- tonwood; the creek, now qnite a formidable stream, was then hard to find and very shal- low. At one time, in company with four men, one of whom was Antonio Garcia, he went on an expedition off from the valley and caught a number of wild horses. In those days it was no novel sight to see horses roam- ing around that belonged to no one, and though wild were soon put to a good use.
Mr. Coll has been twice married, the second time, in 1877, to Mrs. Sweet, the widow of J. W. Sweet, by whom he has three children. Ever since living in the San José Valley lie has been actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, and is now settled with his wife on the Sweet ranch.
M. SHARP is one of the prominent ranchers of Saticoy. He was born in Cadiz, Ohio, March 3, 1844. His father, John Sharp, was born in Pennsylva- nia, March 27, 1797, and his mother, C. A. (Hesser) Sharp, was born in Virginia in 1808. They had seven children, all of whom are now living. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Oregon, and was a school teacher there. He has also been en- gaged in the profession of teaching since coming to Ventura County, having gradu- ated from the State Normal School in 1871. He came to California in 1867, spent two years in Placer County, working for wages; then, for six years, was a book-keeper in San Francisco; worked one year on a farm in Sonoma County. In 1876 he came to South-
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ern California, resided six years on a farm in Santa Ana, and, in November, 1882, moved to his present ranch where he has since re sided. This property consists of 140 acres, and is most beautifully located. Mr. Sharp has built and made many improvements, and is now engaged in the construction of a fine residence which, when completed, will eon- tain all the modern improvements of a first- class home, including gas, hot and cold water. It is being built some distance from the highway in order to afford ample room for ornamental grounds. This farm cost $40 an aere, and is not for sale, but is valued at $200 per acre. Mr. Sharp is engaged in the pro- duction of Lima beans, for which the land is wonderfully well adapted. He has twenty acres in walnut trees, which will soon yield $100 per acre. Mr. Sharp was married in 1874 to Miss S. R. Plank, a native of Penn- sylvania, born in 1851, and daughter of Jo- seph Plank, who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, September 13, 1813. Mr. and Mrs. Sharp have an interesting family of seven children. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and was graduated at the State Normal School of California, in the elass of 1871. Mr. Sharp is a strictly tem- perance man, and adheres to the Prohibition party.
OHN RANSOM, M. D., San Luis Obispo, was born in Olean, Allegany County, New York, in 1825, the youngest of the five ehil- dren of Rodolphus Ransom, who was a farmer and a leading citizen of that place, a native of Vermont, and is now deceased. He moved with his family from Allegany County to Madison County, same State, and here Dr. Ransom began the study of medicine, under the super- vision of a relative, Dr. David Ransom. He 33
graduated at Geneva College, in the elass of 1849, and commenced .the practice of his pro- fession at the age of twenty-four, in the city of Rochester, remaining there about six years. While there he married Miss C. S. Brennan, daughter of Dennis Brennan, a dry-goods merchant. He next went to San Antonio, Texas, where he engaged in stock-raising with good success. Upon the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion he was shadowed as a Union man. Indeed, he did not hesitate to avow his political preference. This caused him at length to rent his plantation and re- move with his family to New York. He entered the Union army in 1862, as Surgeon of the Fourteenth New York Cavalry and the Nineteenth United States Colored Infan- try, and he served in this capacity until 1867, since which time he nas been a citizen of San Luis Obispo, quietly practicing his profes- sion. He is a gentleman of retired manner, and highly respected as a physician.
He has three children living: Cornelia N., wife of Mr. Hugh K. McJunkin, a lawyer of San Francisco; Florence, now Mrs. R. Man- derscheid, of San Luis Obispo, and Rudolphi.s, of San Francisco.
LBERT J. BOESEKE was born at Schwedt, on the Oder River in the State of Prussia, January 6, 1828; was edu- cated in the common schools and learned the trade of tinsmith. In 1848 he was mustered into the Prussian army, and after three years of active service he was discharged. He then worked two years, and emigrated to America in 1853, landing at New York. In 1855 he went to Muscatine, Iowa, as a pioneer, and started in business, remaining until 1865, when he crossed the plains to California, by way of Salt Lake City, bringing with him
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his wife and three children, and was nineteen weeks on the journey. He first began work at San Francisco, but, not liking the climate, and hearing through friends of the wore salubrious climate of Santa Barbara, he came to that city, where he established himself and has since (1890) remained. He first opened a tinshop and gradually ran into hardware. and then, by taking in a partner, trouble began, as the partner defaulted and Mr. Boeseke lost heavily. He then sold ont to Smith & Edwards, and, after settling np the old business, continued a one-third in- terest, which he held until 1889, when he felt that his health was failing, and to elose up his affairs sold out his interest. He has been a hard-working man, and through thrift and economy and the natural increase in val- ues, has attained a comfortable competence.
He was married at Comanche, Iowa, in 1858, to Miss Eliza Fluehe, a native of Ham- burg, on the the Elbe River. They have six children living, He is a member of the F. & A. M. and of the Odd Fellows. He says with great pride that he is a strong temper- ance man and does not use tobacco, and neither of his four sons either smoke or drink. Mr. Boeseke has many interests in town, as the accumulation of his years of prosperity; and who is more worthy to enjoy than the hard-working pioneer ?
APTAIN A. L. ANDERSON .- After a busy, bustling life in the East, Cap- tain Anderson first came to Santa Bar- bara in 1878, and being attracted by the even temperature and restful quiet of the Montecito Valley, he there established him- self in 1884, and his handsome residence now commands a beautiful view of the fruit- ful valley and the peaceful ocean in the dis-
tance. Captain Anderson was born at Croton, Westchester County, New York, and is a son of Nathan Anderson, who was an extensive trafficker on the Hudson River. Captain Anderson built that famons river boat, the Mary Powell, which is celebrated the world over for her speed and magnificence. She is 300 feet long, with thirty four feet beam, with main, promenade and hurricane decks, and can carry 2,000 passengers. Her record is twenty-six and one-fourth miles per hour, being the fastest time of any river boat in the world. The captain ran her from 1862 to 1878, and has had for passengers all the eminent people of the East and many for- eiguers visiting this land, as the trip up the lludson is one of the most beautiful excur- sions in the East. The boat ran between New York and Kingston, leaving New York each afternoon, Sundays excepted, at 3:30 P. M., and had the record of being so punc- tual and always on time that even watches were regulated by her arrival, and more con- tidenee was placed in her running time and punctuality than in the steam cars. The Captain speaks of her with great tenderness, and she has been the pride of his life; but, owing to increasing years, his son, Captain A. E. Anderson, now runs the boat. It has been twice rebuilt. Captain Anderson still owns a beautiful home at Kingston, on the Hudson, which has been in his wife's family over 100 years. He prefers, however, to spend the closing years of his life in the more peaceful temperature of Southern Cal- ifornia.
C. DENNIS, of San Luis Obispo, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, Novem- ber 26, 1833. His father, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, was a real-estate op- erator, and in early days removed to St.
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Lonis, where he did an extensive business until his death, which occurred while he was yet in the prime of life. He left a widow and eight children. Mr. Dennis, of this sketch, left St. Louis in 1851 for the gold- fields of El Dorado County, California, and there spent the most of his time in the mines until 1865. Then he traveled over the West- ern Territories, spending some time at Salt Lake City, where he was so kindly treated that his opinions concerning the people there were considerably modified. In 1882 he finally settled in San Luis Obispo, althongh his property interests are mainly in San Francisco and Oakland. In 1885 he married Miss Fredrika Bombardie, an Alsacian lady, who has been a resident of this country for fifteen years. They have one step-danghter, named Mary, who is twenty-two years of age.
HEDISTON HOUSE, a boarding and day school for young ladies. The ob- ject of the founders of this excellent institution of learning was to afford yonng ladies tuition in those branches of study not taught in the public schools; for example, the Latin, French and German languages, instrumental music and advanced drawing. The subjects taught in public schools are also taught if desired. The school was formed in the fall of 1888, by two highly educated and accomplished young ladies, the Misses Lilian and Beatrice, daughters of the Rev. J. Cheal. They were educated in high-class schools of England, their native country, and took special courses of study in German. In music and the languages they are espe- cially brilliant and efficient. Their love for books and study, and their ambition and en- terprise as tutors, seem to have come to them as an inheritance from their parents. Their
father, the clergyman in charge of the Epis- copal Church at San Luis Obispo, was, during a long and busy residence in England, thirty- four and a half years, a tutor in the public schools of that country. He is a man of broad culture and a profound scholar. For several years he kept his own private board- ing school in Otley, County Suffolk, England, and for three years prior to his coming to America he held the head-mastership of an endowed institution, which was founded in 1632. He came to America with his family in 1885, and since his arrival he has thor- oughly acquainted himself with the Ameri- can system of education. Although he has not thought of teaching in this country, he has, as a matter of personal gratification, passed all the examinations in the State of California, entitling him to the highest-grade certificate; and his experience as a tutor in English schools of learning was promptly recognized by the State Board of Education, which board cheerfully issued a certificate to teach in any schools in the State. Mrs. Cheal, his amiable and cultured wife, was also educated for a tutorship in English schools. It is thus made clear how the chil- dren of such parents should aspire to the ex- alted positions they have taken in the field of higher education.
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