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 76
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 76
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 76
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more. Matthew H. purchased 320 acres, and to it has since added eighty acres. The first purchase was at $10.50 per acre and the last at $8.50. This land is now worth from $100 to $125 per acre. Mr. Arnold's prin- cipal crop has been barley, but the land is well adapted to the cultivation of other grains, and without irrigation. He derives a good income from the hogs, Poland-China and Berkshire, kept on this place.
In 1877 Mr. Arnold wedded Miss Eliza Perkins, a native of Maine, daughter of T. E. Perkins, now of Los Angeles County. They have four children, all born at their present home: Ralph, Chester, Jo and Alice. In politics Mr. Arnold is a Republican. He was elected School Trustee when the district was formed, and held the office twelve years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
When Mr. Arnold came to this ranch it was a wilderness of mustard, and there were only three or four board houses between there and the river, a distance of six miles. Since that time the settlement has been rapid and the improvement wonderful. The people who had faith in the future of the county and the courage to settle in it then, are now am- ply repaid.
HOMAS R. MORE, of Santa Barbara, was born in the village of Santa Bar- bara in 1856; attended college two years at Cornell University and two years at the Michigan State University at Ann Arbor, in the scientific course. March 24, 1880, he married Miss Mary Den, and they have five children. Mr. More is a member of the Yonng Men's Institute and of the Native Sons of the Golden West. His father, T. Wallace More, was born at Copley, Summit County, Ohio, in 1826, and in 1849 came to
California with his brother. He and his brother, Alexander P. More, owned the famous Santa Rosa Island, which contains nearly 70,000 acres, and over which graze 60,000 sheep. T. Wallace More was married in Santa Barbara, in 1852, to a daughter of Mr. Hill, who was one of the earliest Ameri- can settlers in Santa Barbara. He married a daughter of the famous Ortega family. T. R. More lived on the Dos Pueblos ranch from 1884 to 1889, looking after his tine-bred cattle and horses. While at Ann Arbor he was under the especial instructions of Professor Moses Coit Tyler, whose only son is married to Susie E. Den, a sister of Mrs. T. R. More. Mr. More is a poet, having just completed a long poem, which will shortly be published. - ROF. JOSEPH E. GREEN, the leading musician of Santa Barbara, was born at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1846, of English descent, his grandfather being one of the first settlers of Ontario. Mr. Green was educated at Hamilton, and in carly life devel- oped a decided talent for music, the cornet being his favorite instrument. At the age of ten years he was dressed in full uniform and a member of the Artillery Battery Band, and later, at the age of fifteen years, he trav- eled through the United States as soloist on the cornet. In 1867 he was leader of the Hamilton City Band, from which was formed the Thirteenth Battalion Band, which is recognized as the best band in Canada. Having a fancy for travel he left Canada in 1863 as leader of the band connected with the Great Overland Cirens, and for seven years, with different organizations, he trav- eled through the United States, Mexico and the Sandwich Islands. In 1875 he organized the San Francisco City Band, which was
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chosen to escort President Hayes across the bay on his visit to San Francisco in 1879. Mr. Green holds a musical diploma from the San Francisco Musical Fund Society. In 1881 he returned to Ontario and became leader of the Dominion Organ and Piano Factory Band, remaining two years, making the band the second best in Canada. Ile re- turned to San Francisco in 1884, and to Santa Barbara in 1885, where he has since resided. He has organized an orchestra and Military Band, at present one of the best in Southern California, and for four years has catered to the guests of the Arlington in all dances and concert music, and has been the recipient of many presents and letters of commendation.
Mr. Green was married at Santa Barbara, May 26, 1888, to Miss Orisa Clifton, a very superior pianist with great natural talent. They have one child, Charlotte, born Febru- ary 9, 1889.
T. CODY was born in Onondaga County, New York, September 12, 1826. His parents were both natives of Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to America as early as 1820, settled in Cicero and built the first frame house in that town. Their name, Mr. Cody thinks, originated in the north of Ire- land; if so, he is of Scotch-Irish descent. He has only one son.
Mr. Cody was educated in Cleveland, Ohio, and graduated at the Willoughby College of Medicine, after which he engaged in the drug business in Zanesville, Ohio. From there he went to Cleveland and from there to Europe. He afterward made a second trip to Europe. Ile spent a portion of his time in Toledo, Ohio, and was also engaged in the
drug business in Waukegan, Illinois, three years. In 1850 he came to California, first worked in the mines and had a trading station near Hangtown; next went to Mariposa County, and also had a trading station on the Merced River, being at that place during the severe winter of 1852-'53. From there he went to Big Oak Flat, Tuolumne County, and opened a drug store, and was in business there until 1864, when he went to Washing- ton Territory. He remained at the latter place a year and a half, and was in the drug business nearly all the time from 1856 to 1890. He came to Ventura May 18, 1881, and bought his present store of Mrs. Simms, a sister of Judge Williams. Mr. Cody has erected the building in which his store is lo- cated, and is doing a nice business. He is also agent for Wells-Fargo & Company, having received his appointment as express agent on St. Patrick's day in the morning, and his wife took the telegraph office in July, 1882.
Mr. Cody's first wife, who was the mother of his son, was nee Susan Adams, of Provi- dence, Rhode Island. Her father was a merchant in that city. The son, N. T. Cody, was born in Waukegan, Illinois, and three weeks later his mother died. Young Cody is now traveling in Europe, and writes home that the more he sees of Europe the more he loves America. In 1872 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to his present wife.
In many respects Mr. Cody is a remark- able man. Has never run for any office, nor has he ever joined any society. He does strictly a cash business; owes no man any- thing, either in his business or out of it. Ile is averse to lawsuits, and would rather lose a sum of money than bring suit in order to get payment. Ile is, withal, a jovial man, and none loves fun better than he. He both gives and takes a joke freely, and if there is any
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fun going he is sure to know of it and have a share in the same.
- DWARD M. CLEVELAND was born in Fluvanna County, Virginia, July 19, 1845. Both his father and grandfather, Jeremiah Cleveland, Sr. and Jr., were natives of Virginia. His mother, nee Sally Wills, was born in the same county, and his grand- father, Miles C. Wills, was also a native of the " Old Dominion." The subject of this sketch was the second of a family of nine children, eight of whom are now living, and he was reared and educated in Virginia. When the great civil war commenced Mr. Cleveland was only sixteen years old. In 1863, when the need of the South for soldiers became great, at the age of eighteen, he en- listed in the Fluvanna Artillery, under Cap- tain Massey, in Colonel Nelson's battalion. He was in many skirmishes and in the bat- tles of Kelley's Ford and Winchester. In the latter a twelve-pound cannon ball wounded him in the back part of the leg, near the knce, carrying away a portion of the flesh and injuring the cords. He was crippled and in Harrisonburg prison hospital twelve days; was considered unfit for service and was permitted to return home.
After his recovery he worked on his father's farm, and later rented 400 acres of grandfather Willis, which he farmed for five years. He was next employed as a clerk in a general merchandise store with his uncle, A. S. Burgess, of Central Plains, and the following year he came to California. He purchased seventy-five acres of choice land at Santa Paula, which he has improved and where he has made a very pleasant home.
In 1879 Mr. Cleveland was married to Miss M. J. Fowler. She was born in Indi-
ana in 1855, and is the daughter of Mr. Welcome Fowler, of Indiana. Mrs. Cleve- land is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Cleveland is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics affiliates with the Democratic party.
D. F. RICHARDS, founder of the town of Saticoy, was born in Fair- field, Herkimer County, New York, March 8, 1838. His father, Benjamin Richards, was a native of the same State, born June 30, 1800. Mr. Richard's grand- father, Joseph Richards, was born in Con- necticut, and was a soldier all through the Revolution. His mother, Hepsey (De Forest) Richards, is a native of the State of Connecticut, was born June 20, 1800, and is still living in Oneida County, New York. She was the granddaughter of Joseph De- Forest, a Huguenot, who fled to America to escape persecution in France. his native land. He bequeathed the DeForest fuud to Yale College for the education of any of the De- Forest name. Mr. Richards, our subject, was the sixth in a family of nine children, only four of whom are living, and was educated at Fairfield Academy, one of the oldest institu- tions of the kind in New York. He came to California in 1868, and bought 650 acres of land, where he now resides. He was one of the first to raise flax-seed, of which he raised over 100 tons on 200 acres of his land; he was also a pioneer in the raising of canary seed, raising 3,000 bushels in one year, and selling it at from three to five cents per pound. He is now farming a portion of his land to Lima beans and 100 acres has been set the present year to English walnuts. Mr. Richards had the town plat of Saticoy recorded March 25, 1887. He has since sold many lots, and
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there are many pleasant homes in the town. The station is within half a mile of the town, and they have an abundance of good water and a handsome Presbyterian Church edifice, of which Rev. J. M. Crawford was the first pastor, and the Rev. Dr. Bowman present pas- tor. Mr. George R. Walden is the obliging postmaster and druggist, and they have two hotels and a blacksmith shop, three general stores, one dentist and two physicians. The town is in the center of the Santa Clara Val- ley, surrounded by a wide stretch of rich level land, as choice as any in the State; it is lo- cated about half-way between Ventura and Santa Panla. The name Saticoy in the Indian language is equivalent to Eureka (Greek for " I have found it") in the Eng- lish language, and is a very appropriate name for the town.
Mr. Richards was married October 4, 1877, to Miss Carrie Leavens, a native of Trenton Falls, Oneida County, New York, and a daughter of Hamilton Leavens, of that State. Mr. Richards is a Republican and a prominent citizen of Ventura County.
P. GRANT, a Ventura rancher. When the Americans began to settle at Ven- tura the whole face of the country was covered with mustard plants so tall and thick that one could scarcely ride a horse through it-indicating that the soil was of the best quality. The town was then a Spanish village. The American seeking a prodnetive soil was allured by the rich al- luviu n and delightful climate of this region. Dr. Voorman had come to Ventura, and, be- ing acquainted with Mr. Grant, informed him of the fine opening at Ventura, and Septem- ber, 29, 1869, Mr. Grant arrived in the town, where he has since made his home and
met with success so satisfactory as to render him content.
Mr. Grant is a Master Mason and belongs also to the Chapter and Commandery, having passed all the chairs. He is Past Master and Past High Priest, and is now filling the sec- ond office in the commandery. He has also held the office of District Deputy in the Odd Fellows order for seven years, and is a charter inember of the A. O. U. W. and K. of P., and is a member of the A. L. of H. Politi- cally he has been a steady Republican. Re- cently he was appointed by Governor Water- man a member of the commission to locate the new insane asylum. In his manner he is genial and unassuming, and in his general character a very practical man.
ARRETT T. RICHARDS, one of the leading members of the Santa Barbara bar, who came to Santa Barbara in 1868 has materially assisted, by counsel and action, in its development and in securing for it a sound city government. He was born at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1842. His father, John Cnstis Richards, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, June 1, 1812. His ancestry were of Welsh origin. His grand- father was the Rev. Lewis Richards of Glamorganshire, Wales, who was sent to this country as a missionary about the latter part of the last century by Lady Huntingdon, and who married Miss Cnstis of Virginia. The early education of Jarrett T. Richards was in Chambersburg; at the age of seventeen years he went to Europe, spending two or three years of student life in Switzerland and Germany. He began the study of law in 1864, at Chambersburg, under a preceptor. In the summer of that year the town was destroyed by a detachment of the Rebel
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army, and in the ensuing fall Mr. Richards went to New York, and entered the Columbia Law School, graduating in 1866, taking the second prize in municipal law. After gradu- ating he entered the office of Brown, Hall & Vanderpool, remaining about one year. He then went to Erie, Pennsylvania, where he began the practice of his profession, and was also the political editor of the Daily Re- publican, during the impeachment of Presi- dent Johnson. After one year at Erie, being in delicate health, his friends persuaded him to come to California. He settled at Santa Barbara in the autumn of 1868, immediately opening a law office, and has been continn- ously in practice of his profession ever since, devoting himself principally to the civil branch of the science.
In 1872 an attempt was made by the Cali- fornia Atlantic & Pacific Railroad to obtain a subsidy from San Francisco and the South- ern counties of California, and particular efforts were made to obtain a donation from the county and the town of Santa Barbara. Mr. Richards was of the opinion that it would be disastrous to saddle an indebtedness upon the community when there was no positive assurance afforded that the road would ever be built, and the results have sustained the conviction. Even after San Francisco had declined to give any aid, it was attempted, nevertheless, to obtain a subsidy from Santa Barbara. many prominent citizens who acted in good faith in favoring it, believ- ing that the prosperity of the community depended upon securing railroad facilities. Mr. Richards opposed it with all possible ardor and energy, and became interested in the Santa Barbara Times, which he edited for that purpose, and the proposition was de- feated. The Board of Supervisors-Thomas R. Bard, of Ventura; Thomas W. More, of Santa Barbara; John Edwards, of Santa Bar-
bara-refused to place the question before the people. The feeling was very bitter and colored the complexion of politics for a long time. In 1875 Mr. Richards was elected Mayor of Santa Barbara. While in office he conceived the system of having city warrants bear a reasonable rate of interest, pending the existence of a large floating indebtedness, which put city scrip at par and established its credit until the indebtedness was finally liquidated. In 1879, at the first State con- vention held after the adoption of the new constitution, Mr. Richards received the nomination of the Republican party as one of the Justices of the Supreme Court. There were four parties in the field, two of which, the Democratic and Workingmen's party, combined upon the judiciary ticket, and thus secured the defeat of the Republican judi- ciary ticket, with the exception of Judge Myrick.
Mr. Richards is opposed to monopolies, the combination of capital and centralization of governmental power, but he is no longer in active politics, attending simply to the duties of his profession.
N. KIMBALL is one of the prominent ranchers of Saticoy, Ventura County, California. He was born at West Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 17, 1843. His father, C. F. Kimball, was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 1818. He was a shoemaker and a farmer. Mrs. Kimball, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was nee Hannah Tyler, born in Boxford, Massachusetts, in 1817. She was a daughter of Flint Tyler, a native of the State of Vermont. C. N. Kimball was the second of a family of seven children, all of whom are living at this writing. He was
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teared and educated in his native place, and his first work was as a machinist. His coun- try's claim in its time of need caused him to enlist, and he was placed in unattached service on the coast of his native State, doing duty in the fortifications. He was mustered out on the 4th of July, 1865. Then for two years he worked in the factories of Lynn and Haverhill, engaged in the manufacture of shoes.
December 31, 1867, Mr. Kimball sailed from New York for California, at which place he arrived January 22, 1868. He accepted a position on the Central Pacific Railroad, remaining in railroad employ nine months. On Christmas of that year he came to Southern California, and bought a band of sheep which he took to Eastern Nevada and traded for a ranch in Lamoille Valley. He there engaged in farming, raising pota- toes and barley; and from that place he went to Eureka, same State, where he burned char- coal for the smelting furnaces. After he had been there a year and a half he was taken sick with pneumonia. At that time he re- turned to California, and worked near Gilroy two years. In 1876 he came to his present locality and purchased seventy-five acres of land. Here he has built a tasteful home and planted trees and flowers, making a very at- tractive place. In farm products his specialty is Lima beans, which proves to be a bonanza for many of the farmers of Saticoy. Mr. Kimball's crop last year averaged 1,600 pounds to the acre, the price being from three to four and a half cents.
Mr. Kimball was married in February, 1884, to Miss Carry Duval, a native of the State of Maine, and a daughter of E. A. Du- val, a prominent citizen of Saticoy, whose history appears in this book. One child, a daughter, born October 4, 1888, died No- vember 4, 1889. Mrs. Kimball is a member
of the Union Chureli. In political views Mr. Kimball is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., is a good citizen and a man of worth and integrity.
C. REMICK, son of Samuel Remick, a native of New Hampshire, and nee Olive Norton, of Massachusetts, was born in Anson, Sunset County, Maine, July 7, 1848. He remained at home, receiving a careful education, until the year 1868, when he came to San Luis Obispo County, California. March 16 of that year he was engaged on the Huer-Huero ranch as a ranch- man, and June 1 of the same year assumed the entire charge of the work on this place. This vast property of 44,000 acres was owned by Flint Bixby & Co., and was devoted en- tirely to the raising of sheep. Young Remick did not, however, remain long on this place, and was soon after engaged to take charge of the Nacimiento ranch, at the same time also being engaged in the livery business and mail contracts in the city of San Luis Obispo. In 1875 lie purchased a sheep ranch and leased it. Later on he stocked it with cattle, and met with the same misfortune that every one did in the dry year that followed. IIe then sold out all of his cattle interests and in the spring of 1878 established himself in the business of buying and selling meat, produce, cattle, wool, etc., and shipping to San Fran- cisco, with headquarters at San Luis Obispo. This business has assumed large proportions and, in Mr. Remick's hands, is at present very successful.
Mr. Remick was married April 15, 1874, to Elizabeth J. Orr, of Detroit, Michigan. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. The family have been living in the city in their present residence since 1877.
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Three times Mr. Remick has been elected City Councilman, and for six years he has served as School Trustee. Socially he is affiliated with the Masonic lodge, the Odd Fellows and the Workingmen's Society Mr. Remick has taken an important part in the operations of the San Luis Obispo Paving & Improvement Company; has been interested in the bituminons rock business for some time, and has been instrumental in the open- ing and extension of the city streets, at vari- ous times.
A remarkable fact in connection with this Remick family is its longevity. Mr. Remick had ten brothers and sisters, and such was the splendid constitution of each member that there was not a death for a period of forty- two years. The father of this family is now living, aged seventy-seven. The mother is deceased.
AITE GERRY came to Ventura in September, 1873. He was born in New York in 1824, the son of Eu- roclydon and Pauline (Avery) Gerry, the for- mer a native of Hatfield, Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. His grandfather's name was Nathan Gerry. His maternal an- cestors were English and Welsh, and one of them, Benjamin Waite, was the liero of llat- field, Massachusetts. Mr. Gerry's parents had two children, a daughter and son, the former being now the wife of Mr. Burr, of New York. Mr. Gerry received a common- school education and completed his studies in Williston Seminary, Massachusetts. The principal part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, but for a time he re- sided in Pennsylvania, where he ran a saw- mill and conducted a store. He also spent some time in Indiana. In 1864 he crossed
the plains with Major Bridge, and after re- turning he emigrated to Cass County, Mis- sonri. Having a love for pioneer life, he continued his way westward, and engaged in mining in Utah, and after returning from this trip he came to California in 1872. For a time he was employed in Oakland, after which he came to Southern California and worked at Los Angeles for the telegraph company. From Los Angeles he went to San Bernardino, and from there he mnade an overland trip to Reno, Nevada, to see the country.
In 1873 Mr. Gerry sent for his family to come to Ventura County, where he had rented a farm from Mr. William Collins. On this ranch of 550 acres they lived a year and were very successful. The next year he removed to Saticoy, leaving his family in Ventura, where they had built a home on a lot he pur- chased. Mr. Gerry engaged in farming, in company with J. L. Starr, in Aliso Canon, and also kept a small apiary. In 1880 he purchased seventy-five acres of choice land at $22 per acre. On this property he has built a good house, planted trees, and the place has become valuable, bring rated at $200 per acre. The principal crop raised on this ranch is beans, but it also produces corn and fruits. The land yields 3,500 pounds of shelled corn to the acre, and as high as 2,500 pounds of beans per acre.
Mr. Gerry was married in 1850 to Miss Ester Craig, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 12, 1827. Her father, John Craig, was a native of Russia; came to America in 1817, and settled near Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gerry's family consists of six children, four daughters and two sons, namely: Mary E., born in New York, September 2, 1851, and is now the wife of J. L. Stone, of Los Angeles; Eva P., born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1854, wedded Mr. A. Everett, of
P.J. Barber
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Saticoy; Isabell G., born in New York, Feb- ruary 17, 1857, now the wife of J. S. Col- lins, of Ventura; Lacetta HI., born in Indiana, April 24, 1861, now the wife of George E. Preble, of Tustin City, Orange County, Cali- fornia; Ellsworth E., born February 4, 1863, in Indiana, is now renting the home ranch; Edmund W., born April 2, 1868, in Missouri. Mrs. Gerry and the family, save one, are all members of the Presbyterian Church. Ells- worth and Edmund are members of the Y. M. C. A. Mr. Gerry has been a Republican, but he and his sons are now Prohibitionists.
J. BARBER .- A brief biographical sketch of the life and career of the Hon. P. J. Barber, and incidents in connection therewith, from the pen of an old friend, by whom it is dedicated.
The early home of his parents discloses the fact that he sprang from stannch New England stock, their ancestors having emi- grated from old England. Those on his mother's side arrived in 1634, and were among the first settlers of Newbury, Massa- chusetts.
His father, Thomas Barber, was born in Canton, Connecticut in 1773. His mother was born in Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1781: her maiden name was Percy Merrill; they were married in 1797 and reared a large fam- ily, the youngest of whom-the subject of this sketch -- was born in Nelson, Portage County, Ohio, in 1830, to which place his parents emigrated in 1820, the journey being made with ox teams in forty five days, that being a remarkably quick trip. The Western Reserve, or New Connecticut, as it was then called, was but sparsely settled, there being less than two families to the square mile in the township, and in some instances three 35
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