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 78
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 78
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 78
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eral Huteh's corps of cavalry. Mr. Axtell snstained an injury at Annapolis, was sent to the hospital and was discharged December 18, 1861. He spent the winter at home and in the following spring joined the Quarter- master's Department at Washington, and in 1863 was sent to Johnsville, Tennessee, totake charge of a saw-mill, sawing timber for rail- road ties and bridges, and there remained until the close of the war. The following ten years he engaged in railroad work and hotel- keeping, and in February, 1878, eame to California. He first settled at Lompoc, but the year being dry he did no business. In November, 1878, he was appointed Superin- tendent of the County Hospital. In 1880 he took np a Government elaim on the Santa Ynez River, and there farmed for three years; then sold out and went to Lompoc, where he kept a hotel. In 1886 he was reappointed Superintendent of the County Hospital, and has since held the position. This hospital is the home for the sick, feeble and infirm resi- dents of the county, and averages abont twenty inmates.
Mr. Axtell was married at Castile, Wyoming County, New York, in April, 1873, to Miss Nellie M. Anderson. They have but one child living-Miss Nellie. Mr. Axtell is a member of Magnolia Lodge, No. 242, F. & A. M., and of the order of the Eastern Star, Mar- guerite Lodge, No. 78, of which his wife is Worthy Matron.
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OHN BORCHARD is a native of Han- over, Germany, born October 8, 1838. Both his father and mother were Ger- mans and both are still living, at the ages of eighty and seventy-seven years, respectively. Mr. Borchard contemplates returning to his native land to visit them during the present
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summer, 1890. The subject of this sketch is another illustration of the way the thrifty sons of Germany succeed when they come to the United States. He came to his present loca- tion in 1871, and purchased 400 acres of land, on which he is now raising barley. beans and corn. He owns 4,000 acres on the Conejo, where he is raising cattle and hogs, keeping an average of 400 head of grade Durham cattle, and from 400 to 500 head of hogs. He also owns property in Texas, 6,000 acres of land, which he rents to four men. On his Conejo ranch, Mr. Borchard is building a brick house. This ranch is divided into six or seven pastures, and each is supplied with plenty of spring water and fenced with wire fencing.
Mr. Borchard was married in Germany in 1865, to Miss Elizabeth Chothelm, a native of that conntry. They have three daughters, all born at their present home in Ventura County, California: Mary, Ann, and Theresa. The family are consistent members of the Catholic Church.
Notwithstanding that Mr. Borchard is a rich gentleman, he calls himself an old Dutch- man, and works as hard as ever he did, the thrift and economy acquired in the father- land still staying by him in California. Dur- ing the nineteen years he has lived on this coast, he has seen many remarkable changes, and has given a helping hand to many a Ger- man friend.
F. HAWLEY is a California pioneer. He was born in Canada, December 28, 1830, the son of Charles Hawley and Cynthia (Laboree) Hawley, both natives of Canada. His grandfather, Amos Hawley, was a native of New Hampshire, and his grandfather on the maternal side, Rufus La-
boree, was a native of Connecticut, and the ancestors of both families had long been resi- dents of America. He was the fourth of a family of thirteen children, and the first twenty years of his life were spent in Canada. In 1852 he came to California, and worked in the mines in Mariposa County, with or- dinary success. After being there a year he, went to San Francisco, and February 16 1853, sailed in the Monumental City for Australia, where he arrived after a voyage of eighty days. He went directly to the mines, where he worked for a year and a half, having fine success. He washed as high as $200 in gold in a single day, with an old-fashioned rocker. Upon his return to California he went to the mines in Nevada County, and worked at river mining in the South Yuba, with indifferent returns. In 1862 he went across the country to Idaho and prospected where the city of Auburn is now located. The next year he went to Boise Basin, being more successful and remaining there two years and a half. He was one of a company of five who worked four or five claims at one time and took out as high as §10,000 in a single week. Mr. Hawley took out $4,900 in one week, with five hired men, each receiv- ing $6 per day. They employed four men to work at night, to save the water and also the gold. The water cost 50 cents per inch for twelve honrs' use. When he left the gravel mining he sold his claim, and, with his brothers, went to Nevada and prospected in quartz-mining. They had hard luck and met with heavy losses. After this Mr. Haw- ley bought a ranch in Placer County, where he farmed four years. Then his wife died, and he sold his farm and went back to the mines in Nevada County, where he obtained a situation as a water agent and remained there ten years. At the expiration of that time he came to Southern California and at
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Carpenteria rented land for five or six years, which he devoted to the production of Lima beans. When he came to his present loca- tion he purchased eighty acres of choice land, a part of which he has since sold, retaining forty-three acres. This contains a nursery of walnut trees and a variety of fruit trees.
Mr. Hawley was married, in 1865, to Miss Matty Wheelock, a native of New York. They had two children: Ida B., born at Columbia Hill, Nevada County, is now the wife of John Dickerson, and lives near her father; Frank A., born in Placer County, re- sides with his father. After five years of married life, Mrs. Hawley died December 18, 1870. Mr. Hawley afterward married Miss Anna Carrol, a native of New York. They have had two children, born in Nevada County, Clarence and Lee, aged eight and twelve respectively. Mr. Hawley is a Royal Arch Mason, and has been a life-long Demo- erat.
UDGE H. G. CRANE .- One of the old and honored residents of Santa Barbara is the subject of this sketch, who was born at Varick, Seneca County, New York, in 1828, being the youngest of six children. His self-support began at the age of twelve years, when he was bound ont to a farmer for a term of four years, getting the little educa- tion that was afforded in those early days at the winter schools. His next step forward was to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where he served two years with a harness-maker. He learned the trade and then bought a one-half interest in the business, in 1852, which was very pros- perous, making many harnesses for shipment to St. Paul and New Orleans. Owing to failing health he sold his interest in 1856, coming to California by the Isthmus of Pan-
ama and settling in Tuolumne County, where he had mining interests which proved very profitable. In 1861 he was elected Justice of the Peace, holding the office four years. In 1862 he bought out a hardware and mer- chandise store at Shaw's Flats, which he con- tinned until 1868, when he sold out, and in 1869 came to Santa Barbara. He bought two blocks in De La Vina street and built the pleasant cottage which he now occupies, corner of Sola and De La Vina streets. In 1871 he was elected Justice of the Peace, holding the office until January, 1883. He also became engaged in real-estate business. In 1882 he was elected Public Administrator, commencing from January, 1883, and con- tinuing in office until January, 1887, when he was elected Supervisor of the Second Dis- trict, and was made chairman of the board, continuing in that office up to the present date. Judge Crane was examined and ad- mitted to practice law in the Superior Court of the county of Santa Barbara in May, 1890. He lost his first wife in 1883, whom he mar- ried in Saline, Michigan. He was again married in Santa Barbara, in 1886, to the very estimable lady Miss Frances Porter. Mr. Crane has one son, Alphonse, who has been a successful stationer in Santa Barbara, and with whom he is now connected in real- estate interests. Mr. Crane built Crane's Hall in 1876, and he is recognized as a man of deep knowledge and research, a man strict in the discharge of his duties.
E. READY was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, October 25, 1849. His father, W. G. Ready, was born in the same county, and was a farmer all his life. His grandfather, Lain Ready, was a native of Delaware, was reared in Georgia,
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and removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, becoming a pioneer of that part of the country. Mr. Ready's mother, Margaret (Houston) Ready, was born in Cincinnati, and was the daughter of Robert Houston, a merchant of that place. His grandfather Honston was of Scotch- Irish extraction, and came from the north of Ireland. The subject of this sketch was the fourth of a family of twelve children. In 1861 he left Cincinnati and went to Keokuk, Iowa, and engaged in farming there until 1866. At that time he removed to Northern Missouri, then to Colorado, in 1877, being engaged in farming the most of the time. After a year spent in Colorado, in the spring of 1878, he came to California, and in Sep- tember settled in Ventura. He worked by the month for four years, and then bought forty acres of rich farming land located two miles and a half east of Ventura. He has built upon it and improved it, and is now engaged in the production of Lima beans. This crop has proved quite remunerative, the average production being from 1,600 to 2,000 pounds per acre, and the present price four cents per pound. The average price is about three cents.
Mr. Ready was united in marriage with Miss Martha Seward, daughter of A. D. Seward, a civil engineer. She was born in Indiana. They have four children: Charles E., born October 2, 1883; Virgil E., Novem- ber 16, 1885; Gracie M., January 20, 1887, and Lester, December 8, 1888. Mr. Ready is a Republican. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.
ON. CHARLES H. JOHNSON'S biog- raphy would form an interesting chap- ter in the history of San Luis Obispo, were all the material at hand, as his life has
been one of stirring activity in travel, ad- venture and public affairs. His early years were passed in Maryland, his native State, and after graduating at college he left his home for the sake of travel to distant coun- tries. He first visited the Pacific Ocean and China, and returned home. In a few months he again set out, this time for England and the East Indies, and China again, in company with an uncle who went as agent for a Balti- more East India house. He made the tour and safely returned home again. Meeting John Finley, an acquaintance of the family, and forming with him a partnership, he loaded the ship Rhone for a voyage to the west coast of South America, Sandwich Isl- ands and California, while the Mexican war was in progress. He had assurance from the authorities at Washington that the Gov- ernment intended to possess California. The Rhone sailed from Baltimore December 22, 1847, visited the various ports on the west coast of South America, and arrived at Honolulu July 18, 1848. There the news of the discovery of gold was received; and, instead of disposing of his goods shipped for that port, he and his partner purchased a large addition to their cargo, and on the thirty-first sailed for San Francisco, arriving August 11. His vessel was the first mer- chantinan to enter the harbor of San Fran- cisco after the publication in California of the treaty of Guadalonpe Hidalgo. The gold discovery and the rush of business in San Francisco caused a change in all the plans of these young merchants. Their design had been, after disposing of the cargo for Mr. Finley, to take the ship to Canton and pur- chase a cargo of tea for the New York mar- ket, while Mr. Johnson would purchase land in San Francisco, take an overland trip to Baltimore, and return and settle in California in the mercantile business; but the times
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did not permit the execution of these plans. The cargo of the Rhone brought over $100,- 000 in San Francisco, and the opportunity for establishing a great mercantile house offered itself and required prompt attention. Accordingly, the house of Finley, Johnson & Co. was soon established, and in a short period it became the leading house in Cali- fornia, importing heavily from Peru, Chili, Sandwich Islands and Mexico. Their pros- perity was all that could be expected or even desired. Great warehouses were built and stored with hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of goods; but the great fire of May 4, 1850, swept away $4,000,000 of the prop- erty of the merchants of San Francisco, the firm of Finley, Johnson & Co. being among the unfortunate. No insurance could be obtained, and their loss was total. How- ever, they, with the pioneer merchants gen- erally, proceeded forthwith to resume business and build up as if nothing had happened. Ships poured in their cargoes, business pros- pered and all seemed in a fair way of regain- ing the fortunes lost. The merchants of that period were generally quite free from debt, and when they lost a few hundred thousand they generally had cargoes of their own on the way, or at least a credit that secured them consignments.
But scarcely had they rebuilt their stores and filled them with goods when, June 14, 1850, a still more extensive fire swept them away, involving a loss of $5,000,000. Again the work of rebuilding was begun and busi- ness resumed. The buildings erected this time were more expensive, many being deemed fire-proof; but on the night of May 3, 1851, the cry of fire was again raised, and during the next day-which was the anni- versary of the first fire mentioned-eighteen blocks of the business portion of the city went down before the flames, involving a loss
of between $10,000,000 and $12,000,000! Finley, Johnson & Co. then had in store over a quarter of a million dollars' worth of mer- chandise, all of which was destroyed by the fire. This so greatly reduced their resources that they settled with their creditors and re- tired from business.
Mr. Johnson removed to Monterey, and soon thereafter was appointed Deputy Col- lector of Customs of the district, and after- ward Inspector of Customs for the port of San Luis Obispo, coming to this county in 1852 and settling here permanently in 1856. The position of Inspector he held until 1860, when he resigned to take the seat in the Legislature, he having been elected to the Assembly of 1860-'61. During his long residence in San Luis Obispo he has always been known as a public-spirited citizen and a close student of the affairs of the world. He has written and spoken much on the early history of this county, and many extracts from his writings have been given in other works, some of which have drifted into this volume. His eloquent and instructive ora- tion delivered before the San Luis Obispo Grange, in 1874, was published in pamphlet form and most superbly printed. On account of its rich historical allusions, we wish we had space to reprint the oration entire.
C. ROGERS, President of the Rogers Brothers Produce Company, and also of the Rogers Land Company, was born in Vermont in 1855, and is a lineal descendant of Daniel Webster. Mr. Rogers prepared himself for college at the academy at Montpelier, but commenced business for himself at the age of fifteen years. In 1875 he came to Santa Barbara and established himself in business with his brother. By
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dint of economy and perseverance they were successful, and when the Southern Pacific Railroad was being opened through Arizona they established a general merchandise store there. This proved a successful business venture. They afterward disposed of the store and engaged in stock-raising and Gov- ernment contracting.
In 1888 Mr. Rogers was married to Miss J. A. Norcross, and has since made his home in Santa Barbara. In 1890 the Produce Company was incorporated, and the subject of this sketch was elected president. The firm is doing a large produce business, ship ping for the season of 1890 over $1,000,000 worth of beans. They have established branch honses at Los Angeles and San Francisco, and expect soon to open one at Chicago. Mr. Rogers is a self-made man, one who has earned his prosperity through hard work and close application to economic business prin- ciples.
MCGRATH is one of the old settlers and respected citizens of the Santa Clara Valley, Ventura County, Cali- fornia. He was born in Longford County, Ireland, in the year 1832, and his parents, Peter and Mary (Davis) McGrath, were also natives of the " Emerald Isle." He was the youngest, except one, of a family of six children, received his education in the country schools of his native place, and, at the age of twenty years, came to America. For six years he lived in the State of New York, after which he came to Alameda County, California, about the year 1861, and worked for wages on a ranch for nearly four years. He became interested in the sheep business and followed that occupation six or seven years. In 1876 he removed to Ven-
tura County, and purchased his present tract of land, known as the Rice tract, which con- tains 1,300 acres. He has improved the property, planted trees, and, in 1879, built a large and comfortable house, in which ot spend the evening of his days. When he first moved to the ranch he lived in a little clapboard honse, but, under his manage- men, the premises now have the appearance of comfort and affluence. Mr. McGrath has mnade farming his life business, his principal crops being barley and corn.
He was united in marriage, since coming to California, to Miss Bridget Donlon, daughter of James Donlon, of Ireland, and an aunt of James Donlon, the Ven- tura County Assessor. They have had thir- teen children, ten of whom are living, four sons and six daughters. They were all born in California, and their names are as follows: Mary T., Maggie, Lizzie, Nellie, Josephine, Annie, James H., Joseph, Frank and Robert. Mary T. is the wife of Bernard Hanly, a resident of Oakland, California. The other children reside with their father. After many years of happy wedded life, and after rearing a large family of children, Mrs. MeGrath died of heart disease, in 1888. She was a devoted wife, a loving and faithful mother, and a true and earnest Christian, and is greatly missed by her family and many friends. The whole family are members of the Catholic Church.
In his political views, Mr. McGrath is in- dependent, always seleeting what he believes to be the best inan. Mr. McGrath has scen and can appreciate the many changes that have taken place in Ventura County in thic last few years. Ile came here at a time when people thought grain could not be raised in this section of the country; but all these fertile valleys needed was the hand of toil rightly directed. Enterprising and pro-
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gressive men from different parts of the world have settled here, and the work of de- velopment has gone on until Ventura County is now one of the most attractive and pro- ductive counties of the great State of Cali- fornia.
OHN F. CUMMINGS is a prominent and successful rancher living four miles west of Santa Paula on a farm of rich land and on one of the finest roads. He was born in Richland County, Ohio, September 19, 1835. His father, James Cummings, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1795, was a farmer, and lived to the age of eighty-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Christine McMillan, was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1801, of early American ancestry. Mr. Cummings, our subject, the fourth in their family of seven children, was brought up in Ohio, and began life as a farmer on one of his father's farms. In 1860 he came to California and for several years worked by the month in the northern part of the State. Taking 160 acres of land, he improved it as he gradually obtained the means. In 1872 he sold it and came to Santa Paula, bought 150 arres of unimproved land, and year by year he has been making it one of the finest ranches in the county. He has erected the buildings and fences and planted the trees and witnessed their wonderful development. He has added other land to his original pur- chase. On this place he has raised heavy crops of corn, and also raised and sold many hogs; but his principal business now is the raising of Lima beans. Last year (1889) he raised on seventy-five acres sixty-five tons of beans, for which he has, at date of writing, refused four and a half cents per pound. ()n ten acres he raised 3,300 pounds of beans
to the acre; this quantity, at five cents per pound, would be for the ten acres $1,650. His crop for 1889, at the same price, would amount to $6,500. He has harvested three large crops of potatoes from one planting; has raised corn sixteen feet high and ten feet to the ears; so that the productions of his farm are truly marvelous; and yet not all of his land is in cultivation. Politically, al- though he first voted for James Buchanan for President, he has long been a Republican. He is a man of industrions habits, executive ability and hospitable disposition.
In 1880 Mr. Cummings married Miss Georgia Sweeny, a native of Long Island, New York, and a daughter of Charles Sweeny, a native of the same State. Their five chil- dren are: Ada B., Madge, Christine, Walter W. and an infant danghter named Esther.
ARALD L. KAMP was born in Sweden, May 22, 1824. His parents were both Danish by birth. His father, L. Kamp, arrived in Sweden (before his birth) as a com- mercial agent. Harald received a private education; was engaged as clerk in a book and stationery business; and emigrated to the United States, landing at New York, in 1845. In 1846 he enlisted with Colonel Stevenson's New York Volunteers, Company C., Captain Brackett; left New York for California in September, 1846, arriving March, 1847; was stationed at Sonoma. In May, 1847, he was with others sent to Sacramento under Lien- tenant Anderson for the protection of the settlers from Indians; remained there until September, same year, when he was sent back to Sonoma; and remained in Sonoma to the close of the war.
After the war he left for the mines and re- mained there until December, 1848, when he
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returned to Sonoma and engaged in store business to 1856. Selling out his mercantile business he engaged in farming and stock- raising, in Sonoma County. until 1868, when he moved to Martinez, Contra Costa County. He engaged there in the wholesale and retail liquor business until 1880, then moved to San Bnenaventura, continuing in the same business.
Mr. Kamp was maried in Sonoma, in 1851, to Doña Josefina Higuerra, a native of Napa County, and they have had five children, three of whom are now living, whose names are Lnis Ignacio, Adriano Francisco and John.
R. JOSHUA MARKS, one of the prominent citizens of Ventura County, was born in Richmond, Virginia, July 12, 1816. His father, Mordecai Marks, was a native of Prussia, came to the United States when a youth, was reared in Virginia, and was a merchant there for many years. The Doctor's mother, nee Esther Raphael, was a daughter of Solomon Raphael, a tobac- conist, and a descendant of the great painter Raphael. Her maternal ancestors were set- tlers of Pennsylvania, her great-grandfather, Solomon Jacobs, and her grandmother, Ma- rion Jacobs, having come to this country with William Penn and settled in Philadel- phia. Solomon Raphael, one member of the family, was appointed by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Virginia as one of the gentlemen to receive General La Fayette on his visit to this country.
At the age of eight years the subject of this sketch left Virginia, and was educated in New York city, at the college of Baldwin & Forest, on Warren Street, and at the Medical College of New Orleans, graduating at the latter place in 1847. He was appointed by
Major Chepin of the Commissary Depart- ment of the United States army, as Assist- ant Surgeon under Doctor McFale, and was in Mexico during its occupation by the American arıny. He began the practice of his profession in Matamoras. During his stay in Mexico, the Asiatic cholera made its ap- pearance there, in 1849, and was most malig- nant and deadly. The Governor of the country advised him to follow the disease, and gave him letters of introduction to the most prominent people and also to the Gov- ernor of Durango, stating how successfully he had treated the cholera, first at Saltillo and various other places, after which he went to the city of Mexico, and was given a part of the city to attend during the prevalence of cholera. He was examined by a medical faculty of Zacatecas, and received a license, in accordance with the law. His reputation in the treatment of the disease became such that he was paid $800 for twenty days' serv- vice, and $4,000 for 4,000 doses of his medi- cine with directions for use. A gentleman, acting as his agent, sold $1,000 worth of the medicine at one time. He liad six assistants giving the medicine under his direction, and so astonishing was its success that, by actual count, of 600 who received it only five deaths occurred. Some of this number took the medicine in the first stages of the disease. After this Doctor Marks was appointed sur- geon on the steamship Independence on the Nicaragua route from San Francisco, and after making several trips both he and the Captain left the ship because they did not consider her seaworthy.
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