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 75
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 75
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 75
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boat and during this year that Captain Hil lard first made the acquaintance of Captain John Wilson and family, who were on their way from San Luis Obispo to San Francisco. Captain Wilson had with him at this time his entire family, consisting of Mrs. Wilson, one son and three daughters, one of whom, Miss Ramona Wilson, named after her mother, was subsequently married to Cap- tain Hillard. This marriage took place April 24, 1853, at the Osos ranch, near San Luis Obispo, the old family home of the Wilsons. To this worthy couple five chil- dren were born, viz .: Adelaida, Charles, Mary, John and Frederick.
Captain Hillard's successful career as cap- tain of the coast steamers may now be said to have fairly begun. As captain of the Ohio and subsequently of the Seabird, Go- liath, Sontherland and Fremont he acquired a reputation as a navigator which any officer then and of the present day might well be proud. In those days' there were no light- houses of any description, no buoys of any kind, no pilot charts nor guides, all of which helps make navigation of the California coast a comparatively simple matter to the steamship commanders of the present day. During this period Captain Hillard brought his boats safely through many a perilons voyage, and it is not surprising when his in- timate knowledge of the coast and also his splendid qualifications as an officer are taken into account, that he was known as the " best captain on the coast."
Captain Hillard moved his family from the Osos ranch to San Francisco in 1882, where he resided until his death, which oc- cnrred May 5, 1890.
When Captain Hillard married Ramona Wilson, he married into a family whom resi- dents of San Luis Obispo County love to think and speak of. Mrs. Hillard's mother
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was born in San Diego, July 29, 1812, and died December 16, 1888. She first married a Pacheco, by whom she had two sons, one of whom is ex-Governor Pacheco, of San Francisco. Her second marriage was with Captain John Wilson, by whom, as was pre- viously stated, there were three daughters and one son. Mrs. Ramona Wilson had hosts of friends wherever she lived and visited. Especially in San Luis Obispo, where she lived so long, did the sick and poor often receive a helping hand from her. To quote from the eulogy of the distin- guished Father Dugan, who officiated at the funeral services of the deceased, " through- out her life Mrs. Wilson always manifested that strong faith which is a distinguishing characteristic of her race, and it had conse- quently been her hope in life and consolation in death."
Mrs. Hillard, the surviving widow of Cap- tain Hillard, inherits the many noble char- acteristies of her mother, to a very marked degree, and her frequent visits to San Luis Obispo from the family home in San Fran- cisco are always hailed with great satisfaction by the many who are so fortunate as to know her.
HARLES H. SHELDON was born in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, June 9, 1839, and is a descendant of an Eng- lish family. His grandfather, Timothy Shel- don, was long a resident of Gouverneur, St. Lawrence County, New York, and his father, Henry Sheldon, was a native of that place, born July 2, 1814. Mr. Sheldon's mother, nee Betsey Botsford, was born in Darien, New York, September 14, 1817, her ances- tors being English and Welsh. The subject
of this sketeh was the oldest of three children. He finished his education in the Gouverneur Wesleyan Seminary. His unele, Robert Bots- ford, being a blacksmith, Mr. Sheldon, early in life, conceived a liking for that trade, learned it with his anele, and has made it his life work.
At President Lincoln's first call for troops, Mr. Sheldon enlisted; but, the quota of his State, Michigan, being full before lie was mustered in, and being determined to engage in the great struggle, he went to Chicago and joined Battery C, Chicago Light Artil- lery. He went to Washington, where the Captain, Richard Busteed, Jr., was taken with inflammatory rheumatism. General Berry, then Chief of Artillery, went over to their camp on East Capitol Hill, and in. formed them that they were at liberty to join any branch of the service or go home, as they liked, the battery not having been inustered into the United States service. Mr. Sheldon then enlisted in the First New York Light Artillery, Battery G, and served three years without receiving a wound or being a day from duty. Hle participated in the following battles: Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Au- burn Hill, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Habor, and several others; and during all this time he was blacksmith for his battery, shoeing all the horses and keeping every thing in repair.
In 1875 Mr. Sheldon came to Ventura County, California, and, in partnership with Mr. Vickers built their present shop. They are also engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages, and are doing a thorough and reliable business. Mr. Shel- don owns a ranch of eighty acres, sixteen miles from town, which he is devoting, principal- ly, to the cultivation of orange trees, Washing- ton Navels. Water is finined to this place,
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He is also interested in bees, having 200 stands on his ranch.
In 1861, Mr. Sheldon was married to Miss Elizabeth Young, a native of England, by whom he had six children, four born in Michigan, viz .: Frederick Henry, Emma C., Sarah S., Charles Leroy, and two born in Ventura County, Harriet E. and Maudie. Mrs. Sheldon having died in 1881, Mr. Shel- don was married, in 1883, to Mrs. Nellie Bradley, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Gabriel Newby, a Quaker of that State. Mrs. Bradley had two daughters, Edith R., born in Santa Barbara, California, in 1869, and Effie N., born in Ventura, in 1873. Mrs. Sheldon is the owner of a good home in Ven- tura, in which they reside. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity; and was a charter member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in Ventura. Mr. Sheldon is a respected and worthy citizen, and no man is more entitled to respect than he, who by honest industry makes a livelihood and a competency.
IOVANNI ROCCO MAGGI was born in the State of Parma, Italy, January 16, 1852, and came to Santa Barbara, California, in 1872. After remaining in that place three or four months and hearing of better business opportunities in San Luis Obispo, he came to this city, associating him- self with G. Divoto in the grocery and general merchandise business. This con- nection lasted seven years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in business for himself and has so continued up to the present. In 1871 Mr. Maggi made a visit to his old home in Italy, remaining tbere six months and then returning to New York and six months later to San Luis Obispo. Four
years afterward he made another journey to Italy, this time bringing back with him to this country the remainder of his family. Mr. Maggi's parents. Pietro and Katrine Maggi, are both dead. Mr. Maggi is mar- ried and has six children, all living. He is a member and Vice President of Societa Unione Italiana of San Luis Obispo.
- URPHY GRAVES, son of William J. and Soldat (Peco) Graves, was born in San Luis Obispo, Angust 5, 1865. At his baptism in the Catholic Church (the mission) there were present as sponsors P. W. Murphy and Mrs. C. W. Dana. Mr. Graves is one of a family of seven children, four sons and three danghters, all living and all prominent men and women. He a tended school in San Luis Obispo and later on in San Francisco. In the latter place he subsequently entered his father's law office, remaining there for three years. Mr. Graves is at present deputy County Clerk, a position he has held for five years. He is a charter member of the society of Na- tive Sons of the Golden West; is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mr. Graves was married January 16, 1889, to Harriet Leland, of Watsonville. Santa Cruz County, daughter of Captain Richard Leland.
H. REED, one of the popular photog- raphers of Santa Barbara, was born at Buffalo Grove, Illinois, in 1848. His father came to that locality among the first pioneers in 1829, and devoted himself to farming. The subject of this sketch was
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educated at the State Normal School, Illinois, taking the regular teachers' course. He then took up photography, gaining his knowledge from actual experience through photographi- cal acquaintances and in attendance at photo- graphic conventions. He came to Santa Bar- bara in 1887 and established rooms at 9282 State street, where he has since conducted business in all kinds of interior photography, and his artistic tastes in scenic views is especially recommended.
He was married at Pontiac, Illinois, in 1874. They have three children.
- DWIN TAGGART was born in Sulli- van County, Pennsylvania, in the town of Montoursville, August 6, 1852. He is the son of John P. Taggart, a native of Pennsylvania, who was an assistant surgeon on the first staff of General Grant, and for some years held the position of Internal Revenue Collector of Utah Territory. His death occurred November 22, 1889. Mr. Taggart's mother was nee Phebe Ann Wil- lets. She was married to Mr. Taggart in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, and is the mother of two children, the subject of this sketch and a daughter, Emma, who is now the wife of Lieutenant Munford, of the United States army. Mr. Taggart finished his education at Manuel Hall, Chicago. When he was six- teen years old, he was engaged for eleven months with a surveying party, in southern Illinois, making a railroad survey. At the age of seventeen, with a partner, he started in the drug business, in Salt Lake City. In 1877 he sold his interest in that enterprise, and engaged in mining at Silver Reef, work- ing there a year and a half. He then went to Wood River, Idaho, and mined with fair success. In 1881 he came to California,
located in Ukiah, Mendocino County, bought out the drug business of Dr. Barton Dozier, and remained there ten months. At that time he sold out and came to Ventura. He here bought the pioneer drug store of the city, which is located on Main street, between Oak and Palm streets, in the center of town, and which is the largest and best equipped drug house in the city. He employs two assistants, and has established a good trade.
Mr. Taggart was married, September 11, 1876, to Miss Virginia K. Pitt, of Salt Lake City. They have one child, Johu K., born in Salt Lake City, December 24, 1877. Mr. Taggart is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, is a Republican in politics, and is pres- ident of the board of trustees of the Epis- copal Church of Ventura. As a business man he is prompt and capable, and as a citi- zen he is worthy and respected by all who know him.
A. DUVAL is an early settler an ad prominent business man and rancher of Saticoy, Ventura County, Califor-
nia. He was born in one of the Windward Islands of France, September 14, 1834. His parents and all his ancestors were French people. Mr. Duval came to America when sixteen years of age, and has become thor- oughly identified with American principles and government. A part of his life was spent in the State of Maine. He came to California in 1861, went to the mines in Nevada for three years, and was afterward in the grocery business. From Virginia City he came to Saticoy, in 1868. This country was then a vast field of mustard. Mr. Duval purchased seventy-tive acres of land, built a house, and at once commenced the work of planting trees. Some of the trees first
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planted have attained a wonderful growth. His land is now mostly devoted to fruit- apricots, peaches, plums, prunes, nectarines, apples, pears, figs, oranges, lemons, black- berries, almonds and walnuts. At the time he bought this property, land was sold at from $12 to $20 per acre. It is now worth from $150 to $500 per acre, according to the improvements made, Mr. Duval has dis- posed of a part of his land, but retains a fine home, where he resides; and in addition to his ranch interests he is also engaged in mer- cantile business.
He was married, April 15, 1855, to Miss Artemisa G. Hopkins, who was born in Frankfort, Maine, danghter of Captain Smith Hopkins and Susanna Hopkins. Their union has been blessed with ten children, nine liv- ing, viz .: Charles S., Carrie, Winton, Ger- trude, Anna, Willie, Walter, Earnest and Edwin. The first three were born iu Maine, and the others in Saticoy, California. They are members of the Union Church of Sati- coy. In his religious views Mr. Duval is a Conditional Immortalist. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist. He is a public-spirited citizen, and is much interested in the upbuild- ing of his town.
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C. ORTEGA, son of Stevan and Dogra- cia (Ruiz) Ortega, was born in Santa Barbara, March 19, 1850. At the age of fifteen years he left home and came to San Luis Obispo to attend school and prepare himself for a business life. In 1870 he took charge of the express business of Wells, Fargo & Co., and also the Pacific Coast Stage Com- pany's business, remaining in that capacity until 1876. Mr. Ortega then engaged in the stationery business on his own account, con- tinning until 1885. Since that date he has
been in the insurance and real-estate business, He was City Treasurer from 1870 to 1880, the only public office he has ever held, although requested at various times to accept nomi- nations.
Mr. Ortega was married May 8, 1888, to Miss Mary Murphy, of San Francisco. They have one child.
L. CRANE .- Much credit is due to the pioneers who came to this country when o it gave so little promise of being what it is to day, who, with astonishing fortitude, spent years of labor and experiment, and who overeame the difficulties and discouragements that beset their way. J. L. Crane is one of these worthy pioneers, and is deserving of more than a passing mention in these pages.
He was born in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio, June 17, 1839. His father, George W. Crane, was a native of Massachu- setts, and a pioneer of Ohio. He went to that State in an early day, took a Government claim of heavy timber land, cleared it up, reared a family of seven sons and one daugh- ter, and lived there until he died, in 1885. Mr. Crane's grandfather, Barnabas Crane, was a sea captain in summer and a school teacher in winter, and lived to be eighty-four years old. They traee their ancestry back to England. Some members of the family settled in Massachusetts before the Revolutionary war, and most of the Cranes of this country are descendants from that stock. The mother of the subject of this sketch, nee Lonisa Briggs, was a native of New York, born in 1815. She is now a resident of California. Mr. Crane received his education in the pub- lic schools of Ohio, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. Before coming to California he sold his farm in Ohio
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to his brother, started in October, 1861, and arrived here in November. He came to his present location on the Saticoy ranch in December of the same year. His unele, G. G. Briggs, came with him from Marysville, and bought 16,000 acres of the Moore Bro- thers, the price being $45,000. Mr. Crane had been married a short time before leaving Ohio, and to this ranch, in March, 1862, he brought his young wife. At that time it was a vast mustard-plant country. Their nearest neighbor on the west was ten miles away, and on the east, twelve miles. The only in- habitants of Saticoy were a few Indians. The country was full of game, and it was not un- usual to see bands of fifteen or twenty deer on the hills. One could scarcely go out without seeing tracks of the grizzly bear. At that time it was thought that nothing could be raised without irrigation. Mr. Briggs brought nursery stock for his own use, and the next year 200 acres were plowed and planted. An orchard, containing a variety of fruits, was set out, the first attempt of that kind in the country. They planted the first ten acres of corn grown without irrigation. Up to that time, Mr. Crane had been in the employ of his uncle. In the fall of 1862 he went to work for himself. That winter proved to be a short one, and the drouth of 1864 caused Mr. Briggs to abandon the idea of colonizing the valley. Every one was discouraged and gave up the thought of stay- ing or the possibility of living in such a country. Mr. Briggs sold his ranch in 1867 to E. B. Higgins. In 1864 Mr. Crane re- moved to Santa Barbara, and engaged in teaching school. The people of Santa Bar- bara at that time were so discouraged that they offered land in what is now the heart of the eity for $5 per acre. After remaining in that town ten months, he returned to the ranch and planted a quantity of potatoes.
They were planted too late, however, and were killed by the frost. After six years of dis- couragements here they were heartily sick of California, and decided to go back to Ohio, which they did. They remained only ten months, and, after all, found that California had its attractions, and they were sufficient to induce them to return to this coast. They came with a firm determination to stay, and have never wanted to leave again. He re- sided in Carpenteria seven years, was there at the time the county was divided, and has seen a wonderful change come over the Santa Clara Valley. Mr. Crane now has a farm of 100 acres at Santa Paula. Twenty acres of this are in fruit trees of different kinds, 700 pear, 300 apple, 100 plum trees, and all other kinds of fruit.
Mr. Crane's marriage occurred in 1861, when he wedded Miss Jenette Briggs, a fos- ter daughter of his unele. She is a native of Massachusetts. They have five children, all born in Ventura County: Emmit C., April 6, 1863; Lincoln P., September 28, 1865; Cora L., April 21, 1873; Charles, April 21, 1875; and Chaney, November 4, 1877. The two oldest sons are merchants at Saticoy, and the other children reside with their parents. Po- litically, Mr. Crane is a Free-trade Democrat.
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EORGE G. SEWELL, residing near Santa Paula, is a pioneer of California, having come to the State in March, 1851. and is also a pioneer of Santa Paula, as he arrived here in 1872. IIe has to the present been one of the most prominent ranch- ers, and ocenpies a most delightful suburban home, graced with vine-embowered retreats, and ornamental trees and shrubbery. He was born in Glens Falls, New York, February 24, 1819. His father, Jonathan Sewell, was a
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native of Dutchess County, New York, born in 1770, and was an early settler of Glens Falls. His ancestors, from England, first settled in the East, in the early history of the country. His mother, Wealthy Skinner, was born in 1780, in Connecticut. In their fam- ily were nine children, of whom George was the seventh. Five of this family are still living, their ages now aggregating 376 years. Mr. Sewell went to Wisconsin in 1844, bought a farm and cultivated it for six years; he then sold ont and came to California, where he engaged in mining for a few months in Placer and El Dorado counties; but expos- ure to cold water induced rheumatism, which compelled him to abandon a miner's life, and he located upon a section of State school land, on Auburn Ravine, near Lincoln, Placer County, on which he spent twenty years of his life as an industrious farmer. In 1868 he was elected County Clerk of Placer County, and subsequently re-elected. He is a Republican, casting his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison, and his last for his grandson, Benjamin Harrison. Mr. Sewell sold his fine farm at the close of his term of office, resided at Sacramento for a few months, and then came to Santa Paula and purchased about 1,000 acresof valley and grazing land. Barley and corn being the principal productions of the valley at that time, his experience in Placer satisfied him that to grow small grain for the San Francisco market, entailing the expense of labor and machinery for harvesting and threshing, would not pay. He, therefore, at once stocked his ranch with sheep and hogs, principally, and by raising hogs enough to do the harvest- ing and save the threshing, and conveying to market the corn and barley grown on 200 to 300 acres yearly, made his investment remu- nerative. The dry season of 1877 forced him to dispose of his sheep, but by growing two
crops of barley and corn on land that could be irrigated, other stock did not suffer. He after that engaged in dairying for five years, milking from fifty to seventy-five cows, mak- ing butter and cheese, which he found to be profitable.
Recently lie has subdivided his land and sold portions of it. His home place, one mile west of Santa Paula, contains sixty acres. Mr. Sewell has lived in four or five different States, and as many localities in California, and is best suited with his present place.
He was married in 1849 to Miss Harriet Benedict, of Glens Falls. She lived only a year, and in 1858 Mr. Sewell married Eliza Rich, of Shoreham, Vermont, who was born in 1825, the daughter of Hiram Rich, of Richville, Vermont, which place was settled by and took its name from her grandfather. His brothers came from Massachusetts and settled there. Mr. and Mrs. Sewell are origi- mal members of the Universalist Church of Santa Paula. While at Lincoln, Mr. Sewell was a member of the Union League.
D. GOODYEAR was born in Tiffin, Seneca County, Ohio, October 23, 1825.
a His father, Merritt Goodyear, and his grandfather, Joseph Goodyear, were both na- tives of Connecticut. His great-grandfather, Stephen Goodyear, came from England in an early day and settled in Connecticut, and was the ancestor of the Goodyear family in America. Charles Goodyear, the man of such noteriety as a rubber inventor, and whose name is stamped on nearly all the gennine rubber boots and shoes in the civilized world, was a cousin of Mr. Goodyear's father. The mother of the subject of this sketch, nee Fanny Smith, was born in the State of New York. She was the daughter of Zenas Smith,
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who married a Marvin, niece of Marvin the great safe manufacturer of New York. Mr. Goodyear spent his early childhood in Ohio, and, at the age of seven years, went to New York State, where he remained until he reached his majority. He has been an in- dustrions man all his life, began work when he was quite small, and has been engaged in many different kinds of employment, and among other things, has worked in the red- woods of California. He has been the owner of several pieces of property that have become very valuable since he parted with them. He thinks the mistake of his life has been that he did not hold on long enough. Mr. Good- year has learned wisdom through the years that are past, and it is his intention to keep the beautiful ranch which he now owns. In 1887 he bought 120 acres of land. This property had been improved to some extent, and Mr. Goodyear has continued the work of tree-planting and improving and remodeling until the place is now a delightful and at- tractive home. There is a fine artesian well on the ranch. Mr. Goodyear's principal crop is corn. He also has a fine variety of fruit, and has given some attention to the raising of horses.
The subject of this sketch was married in 1851, to Miss Sophina Wright, a native of Illinois, and daughter of Peter Wright, who was a Kentuckian by birth. They have had ten children, six of whom are now living, viz .: Harriet, wife of Henry Root, resides in Oregon; Eugene, who married Miss Lizzie Panlson; Willie, who is at home with his father; Everett, now attending college at Berkeley; and Edward and Fanny, at home. Emma married Albert Coyle, and died in 1883, leaving one child, Emma.
Mr. Goodyear was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party, and has been a Republican since that time. The
Goodyear family is one that has seen much of pioneer life, and can fully appreciate their comfortable home, which is situated in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley, only three miles from Hueneme. Mr. Goodyear was a pioneer in the Territories of Wisconsin and Min- nesota, and voted for the admission of both into the Union. Himself, wife and children represent five States, by birth.
M ATTHEW H. ARNOLD is a prom- inent rancher of Ventura County, and a pioneer of California. A brief sketch of his life is as follows: He was born in DeKalb County, Illinois, February 16, 1844. His father, Collar Arnold, is a native of Ohio, born in 1818; has been a pioneer of California since 1849, and is now a resident of Orange, Orange County. The ancestors of the Arnold family came from Connecticut and Vermont. The grandfather's name was Nathan Arnold, and grandmother's name on father's side was Cutler. His mother's name was Hough. She was born in New York State, of ancestors who were from Con- necticut and Massachusetts. Burage Hough was her father's name and Alexander her mother's name. Cullar Arnold had nine children, of whom eight are living in Cali- fornia. Mr. Arnold, whose name heads this sketch, received his education in the public schools and at Oakland College, California, and, since leaving school, his time has been principally devoted to agricultural pursuits. He came to California in 1852, and to Ven- tura County in November, 1868, and his present location December, 1878. In Nov- ember, 1869, they settled on what they snp- posed was Government land; but, on finding their mistake, his father and two of the sons bought 480 acres, and afterward 160 acres
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