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 81

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738

USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > A memorial and biographical history of the counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura, California Containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future; with full-page steel portraits of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 81
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 81
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 81

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man. His editorials, at that early date, show a perfect estimate of what San Francisco was to be. His death occurred in 1882. Mr. C. P. Faulkner began the drug business in San Francisco, in 1873, on the corner of Mission and Fifth streets, where he has conducted a successful business continuously for fifteen years, with the exception that in the year 1876, being mnuch impressed with the ac- counts given by Wells and Squiers in their works, of the richness of Honduras, Central America, in the precious metals and opals, he left his business and traveled for about a year in that country as a miner. Finding that, though the country was very rich, it was impossible to mine at a profit, he re- turned to his business in San Francisco.

In 1884 he recovered from a severe attack of pneumonia, and to regain his health Inade a trip to San Luis Obispo County. He regained his health so rapidly, and was so delighted with the country that he called it God's footstool, and believed in the great future of the county. He selected 160 acres of beautiful land, commanding a fine view of the county, and filed a claim on it for a homestead, in 1885. It is located four and a half miles east of San Miguel, and they have built upon it a pleasant and cosy resi- dence. Mr. Faulkner, his wife and two sons reside on it, and take great pleasure in raising fruit, of which they have a large variety. The leading kinds are walnuts, chestnuts, pears, apples, peaches, apricots, prunes, nec- tarines, figs and cherries. They have a nice vineyard of many kinds of grapes.

Mr. Faulkner was married in San Fran- cisco, in 1872, to Miss Nellie MeMorris, a native of Toronto, Canada, daughter of Ro- bert McMorris, also of Canada. They have two sons, born in San Francisco; the oldest is now seventeen and measures six feet in height, and the youngest is nearly as tall.

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Mr. Faulkner is a Past Master of Excelsior Lodge, No. 166. Mrs. Faulkner is a member of Violet Chapter of the Eastern Star Lodge at San Miguel. They are refined and intel- ligent people, and their success in raising- fruit without irrigation show the fruit-pro- ducing value of the county.

M ICHAEL HARROLD, a dairyman near Cayucos, was born in Ireland, in October, 1828. July 4, 1849, he alighted upon American soil, the land of opportunity. For the first twelve years he lived in New York city and vicinity. In 1861 he arrived in Marin County, California, where he worked for wages for a period of tive years. Then he took a homestead in Sonoma County. Later he followed dairying on rented property. After residing in that county two years he came to Cayucos and vicinity, where he entered extensively into the dairying business. In 1883 he located upon his present ranch of 320 acres, on Old Creek five miles from Cayucos, where he was engaged chiefly in dairying with fair profit.

He was married in 1866, to Miss Margaret Phillips, and has seven children: Elizabeth Dorcas, Jolin, Mary, Victoria Lee, Margaret, Michael Dennis and Susan Fidelia.

APTAIN RICHARD ROBINSON is one of Ventura County's prominent horticulturists and stock-raisers, having 2,440 acres of land devoted to the above mentioned pursuits. He was for forty years, the best of his life, a seafaring man, most of that time master of a vessel, and has there- fore honorably earned the title of Captain.

The past eighteen years he has been identi- fied with Ventura County and its interests. It is not a little surprising that a man who had followed the sea for forty years, should at once be transformed into a successful horti- culturist, and that, too, in a county where the raising of fruit, when he began, was but an experiment. Mr. Hobart and himself were the pioneers in the business in the Upper Ojai Valley. In 1872 the Captain purchased 440 acres of land, on which he built and planted and improved. He now has forty-five acres in fruit, apricots, nec- tarines, prunes, peaches, apples, olives, wal- nuts and oranges, all yielding large returns. He has his own dryer on the ranch. In addi- tion to his fruit interests, he is also raising horses, cattle and hay on this ranch. This property is being managed by his son, Richard O. Captain Robinson has bought 2,000 acres of land on the Santa Ana ranch, ten miles north of Ventura, where he is rais- ing Hambletonian horses and grade Holstein and Durham cattle. He has imported a fine Hambletonian horse and several thoroughbred brood mares, and now has about 150 head of cattle and sixty horses. He also raises hay on this place.

Captain Robinson was born in Thomaston, Knox County, Maine, August 13, 1817. His father, Richard Robinson, was born in North Wales, in 1787, came to Maine when a boy fourteen years old, and was a sea captain, most of his life a master of merchant ships, principally in the cotton trade between New Orleans and different ports in Europe. The last twenty years of his life he was President of the Thomaston Bank. He married Miss Jane Wyllie, a native of Bristol, Maine, daughter of Captain John Wyllie, also a ship owner. They had a family of ten children, four of whom are living, two in California, one in Brooklyn, New York, and one at the

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old home in Maine. Captain Robinson re- ceived his early education in his native State, and at the age of seventeen years began to sail with his father; was two years before the mast, six months second officer, three years chief mate, and after that was master of the ship Catharine, of which both he and his father owned a part. She sailed between the South ports and New York, Boston and En- rope. The Captain has seen much rough weather, but never lost a ship or had a serious accident. He was married, in 1840, to Miss Mary Wentworth, of Lincolnville, Maine, and daughter of Captain John Wentworth, also a native of that State, and a seaman. Mrs. Robinson sailed with her husband dur- ing the greater part of his seafaring life, so he was not deprived of the company of his family. Their union has been blessed with two sons, Richard O. and Charles W., both born at Thomaston, Maine. Charles is now devoting his time to the study of innsic in Boston at the New England Conservatory of Music. Both the sons are married. The Captain and his family retired from the sea in 1872, after a most successful career, and settled in Ventura County, where they have since resided. In politics Captain Robinson is Republican. Ile is a quiet, unobtrusive man, never seeking notoriety. He has purchased a neat home on Oak street, Ventura, where he and the partner of his life are quietly spending the evening of their voyage on life's tempestnous sea.

DOLPHIO CAMARILLO was born in San Buenaventura, October 29, 1864. His father, Juan Camarillo, was a native of the city of Mexico, born in 1812. He came to California with a colony, in 1834, they having for their destination Monterey,

and, becoming tired of the sea, landing at San Diego and continuing their journey by land. Juan Camarillo left the party at Santa Barbara, and became a traveler and trader with the Indians from San Francisco to San Diego, selling them trinkets and receiving gold in return. The Mission Fathers were very obliging to travelers, and gave him a room in which to lodge, and there, when all was quiet at the mission, the Indians came to trade. In this trade with the Indians he accumulated $3,000, and with this money he opened a store in Santa Barbara, and there made his money.

Mr. Pedro Ruiz had a large goverment grant of land, and upon his death the heirs sold the property, 10,000 acres of beautiful land, to Mr. Camarillo. He also owned town property in Ventura. Mr. Camarillo's family consisted of four daughters and three sons. One of the latter is deceased. The father died December 4, 1880. The Ventura prop- erty was left to the daughters, who are now married and reside in Ventura, and the ranch was left to the widow and two sons. Mr. Adolpho Camarillo is the manager of, and resides upon, the ranch, while his mother and brother, Juan Camarillo, live in Ventura, the latter being engaged in the general mer- chandise business.

Adolpho Camarillo was educated in the public schools ot Ventura, and graduated at the International Business College at Los Angeles. He has been on the ranch since his father's death, and is extensively engaged in the raising of sheep, keeping an average of 4,000 head. He also raises the horses and cattle required on the ranch. Mr. Camarillo rents 2,500 acres of land to be cultivated in corn and Lima beans, 800 acres being devoted to the latter. The renters furnish every thing and pay one-fourth of the crop for the use of the land.

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The subject of this sketch was married, in 1888, to Miss Isabella Mancheca, daughter of Franeisco Maneheca, a native of Spain. They have one child, a daughter, Minerva. Both Mr. Camarillo and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. Politically he affiliates with the Democratie party.

RANK P. BARROWS, the leading general merchant in the town of Nord- hoff, was born in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, June 23, 1850. His father, J. L. Barrows, was a descendant of the Puri tan Fathers. (See the ancestory of the family in the history of his brother, Thomas Barrows, iu this book.) The subject of this sketch is the youngest son, and was educated in the publie schools of his native town. He began business for himself, in Chicago, in 1867. In 1871, he, in partnership with his brother, took a general agency for the Victor Sewing Machine, and they did a thriving business, selling 25,000 machines in the short time they were there. They were in the great Chicago fire, but a week afterward were at business again and receiving orders. Mr. Barrows, on account of failing health, his dis- ease being throat and lung trouble, was obliged to give up business, and, by the ad- vice of his physician, came to California in 1875, and to Ventura County in 1879. He has here fully recovered his health. His first venture was to buy the Ojai Valley House, which he improved and conducted for five years. He bought 100 acres of land, and later purchased a stock of general merchan- dise in Nordhoff, and is doing a thriving business, employing five clerks. He has the largest store and stock of goods in the town, and enjoys the confidence and patronage of the people in the two valleys. He is liberal 37

in his views on all topics, and has good natural as well as acquired ability for the mercantile business. He takes orders and delivers goods all over the territory which naturally belongs to Nordhoff. His enstom- ers have found they can buy no better goods elsewhere. Mr. Barrows gives only a few hours each day to his business, just enough to keep himself thoroughly informed as to how it is being conducted. He has a hand- somne residence near the center of town; the grounds, comprising ten acres, are dotted over with beautiful live-oaks and other trees, with flowers in profusion. A delightfully shaded brook runs through the grounds, and the whole place speaks of taste and refinement.

Mr. Barrows was married in 1882, to Miss Julia Smith of San Francisco, daughter of Stephen Smith, a merchant there. This union has been blessed with three children, all born in Nordhoff: Albert L., Stephen S. and Edward S. Mr. and Mrs. Barrows are both members of the Congregational Church. In politics Mr. Barrows is a Republican. He spends most of his time with his family, in his beautiful home, surrounded with balmy air, fine scenery, cooling shade, and enjoys a paying business. Why should he not be healthy and happy in his lovely California home?

C. RYNERSON was born near Stock- ton. California, January 4, 1858. His father, C. C. Rynerson, is a native of the State of Kentucky, and crossed the plains to the Golden State in 1849. He took up a Government elaim near Stockton, was, for a time. Sheriff of the county, and for a number of years was one of the most prominent men of San Joaquin County. His ancestry came from Germany. One member of the family

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is a leading medical authority of New York city. His father died in 1887. His mother, Mary A. (Wesley) Rynerson, was born in England, and in infancy came with her parents to America. She was the mother of nine children, five daughters and four sons, only two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Eva J. Leaclı, a widow, residing at Santa Barbara.

Mr. Rynerson received his education at Santa Barbara, and when prepared to enter the university his eyes became diseased. He afterward took a business course at the Heald Business College, San Francisco, and engaged in the milling business with his father at Santa Barbara. Five or six years later they sold the mill and moved to Arizona, re- maining there a year, having, at this time, failing health. In 1884 gypsum had been discovered, and his father returned to Cali- fornia to see it, and purchased 660 acres of land. They have recently sold a mining claim to the Ventura Plaster Company, and the gypsum bed will now be worked. The sub- ject of this sketch has improved the property which his father bought, by erecting a pleas- ant home and planting fruit trees; he has four acres in French prunes, three acres in apricots, and an assortment of nearly every kind of fruit, including blackberries, rasp- berries, and strawberries. He also has twelve acres in young olive trees. Many of his fruit trees are now in bearing. Mr. Rynerson sank a well 196 feet deep, in which the water rises to within forty feet of the surface, and he has an engine of his own to pump the water. For sixteen hours in succession the water has run without exhausting the supply. Since coming here, Mr. Rynerson has re- gained his health, and is now a strong man in a fair situation to enjoy life in his pleasant California home, which is a typical one, sur- rounded with trees and vines and with the

foot-hills making a delightful back-ground to the picture.

Mr. Rynerson was united in marriage with Miss Ida C. Holmes, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of J. T. Holmes, a farmer of that state. This union has been bleseed with three children, two born at Santa Barbara and one at their present home, viz .: Ruth, Edna L., and Margery. Mrs. Rynerson is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ryner- son is a Trustee of his school district, and takes an interest in educational matters. Politically, he is a Republican. Earlier in life he took an active part in the conventions of the party, but more recently devotes his time to his ranch.

W. GALLY, one of the prominent busi- ness men of the Ojai Valley, was born 0 in Wheeling, Virginia, July 9, 1852. His father, Hon. Thomas M. Gally, was a native of Virginia, a leading Whig politician, and was a member of the Constitutional Con- vention of Virginia in 1852 and 1854. His mother, who, before her marriage, was Miss Mary List, was a native ot Wheeling and a daughter of H. List, E.q., a leading banker of Wheeling. Mr. and Mrs. Gally had but two children, a son, the subject of this sketch, and a daughter.

B. W. Gally, after receiving a liberal edu- cation, was engaged in the banking business until his health became impaired. He was advised by his physician to give up a seden- tary business and seek a milder climate; and with that object in view he came to California in 1883. He purchased seventy acres of land, on which was located a pleasure and health resort, one mile east of the town of Nordhoff. This was formerly the property of W. S. McKee. Mr. Gally has improved

AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

the place very much by erecting four new buildings. The hotel is on the cottage plan, with main buildings in the middle contain- ing parlor and dining-room, and the cottages affording home conveniences. It is situated on a beautiful lawn, shaded and made delight- ful by scattering live oak trees. It is both a winter and a summer resort; is patronized in summer by Californians, and in winter by Eastern people. All are delighted by the grand and picturesque scenery, which meets the eye in every direction. A fine new Pres- byterian Church edifice stands near the hotel, and the beautiful tree-embowered town of Nordhoff is only a mile distant. The whole valley is noted for its equitable climate and balmy and health-producing air. In the valley are found mineral springs, and at the hotel an abundance of good water, choice fruits of all kinds, and the best of Jersey milk and butter.

Mr. Gally was united in marriage in 1885 with Miss Mary Davidson, a native of Jef- ferson City, Missouri, and a daughter of Dr. William Davidson of that place. Howard and Killborne, their two children, were born at their present beautiful home. Mr. Gally is possessed of those courteous and agreeable manners so characteristic of the Southern gentleman. In his political views, he is Re- publican. Mrs. Gally is a member of the Episcopal Church.

HOMAS A. SHEPPARD is a native of the Golden West and a business man of Hueneme. He was born in Tulare County, November 5, 1862, and is a son of Judge S. A. Sheppard, a native of Maryland. (His history will be found on another page in this book.) The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools and also took

a course in the Heald Business College, San Francisco. After completing his education, he went to Los Angeles, where he engaged in the real-estate business, under the firin name of T. A. Sheppard & Co., Peter Ward and William Wright being the other mem- bers of the firm. They did a thriving com- mission business, and continued it until 1887. They were the exclusive agents for an East Los Angeles tract belonging to Dr. J. H. Griffin, and were also agents for a Sis- ter of Charity tract, both of which they closed out in a satisfactory manner to all parties concerned. Mr. Sheppard then removed to the Ojai Valley and engaged in the real-es- tate business with Mr. Stewart. He remained there until business became dull. He next moved to Hneneme, and here bought out the drug business of his brother, S. D. Sheppard, which he still continues. He has the only drug store in the town and is doing a fine business.

Mr. Sheppard was married, in 1884, to Miss Bell Hutchings, of Los Angeles. She was born on the plains, while her parents were en route to California. They have three daughters: Madge, born in Los Angeles, Florence, in Ventura, and the youngest (not named) born in Hueneme.

Politically, Mr. Sheppard is a Democrat.

T. GILGER, the junior member of the firm of Livingston & Gilger, of Huen- eme, Ventura County, was born in Ohio, April 13, 1865. His father, Daniel Gilger, is also a native of that State, and his grandfather, Jacob Gilger, was born in Ger- many and settled in Ohio in the early pioneer days of that State. He was a weaver by trade, and the family still have in their pos- session cloth made by him at a time when

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everything they wore was woven from their own wool and flax. Mr. Gilger's mother, Cynthia (Turbett) Gilger, was born in Ohio, of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage. They had three children. of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. He first came to Cali- fornia and to Ventura, with his father and family, in 1871. They returned to the East, settled up their business, and came back to this State the following year, remaining a year in Sutter County. In 1873 the family came to Ventura County, where the father purchased forty-five acres of land, near New Jerusalem, on which he erected buildings and otherwise improved. and engaged in the real-estate business, in which he met with fair success. In 1877 he purchased 120 acres of land.

The subject of this sketch had two farms near New Jerusalem, which he sold and atter- ward bought ninety-five acres of his father. They are both pleasantly situated and have erected comfortable homes. In February, 1890, Mr. Gilger bought a half interest in their present grocery, hardware and produce business. They have a good stock of goods and have established a fine trade.

Mr. Gilger was united in marriage with Miss Annie Middleswarth, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Fred, born in Ventura County. Politically, Mr. Gilger is a Repub- lican.

OHN DONLON is one of the prominent ranchers of Ventura County, California. He was born in County Longford, Ire- land, in the year 1847, the son of Irish par- ents. He came to California, in the fall of 1870, and since that time has been variously employed. He first worked for wages at San José and in Alameda County for three years.

Next he went to San Francisco, where he was employed for two years. In 1875 he came to Ventura County, and worked ont for a year, after which he engaged in sheep- raising, following that business seven years, and keeping from 500 to 3,000 sheep. He sold his, sheep and purchased 403 acres of land, and on this property he has since lived, engaged in farming. His principal crop has been barley, of which he has raised 3,400 sacks in a single year. which sold for ninety cents per hundred pounds. He also raises horses, cattle and hogs.

Nearly all this time Mr. Donlon lived the life of a single man. June 24, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Forrer, a beautiful young lady, native of Utah, and daughter of Fred and Caroline Forrer, na- tives of Germany. Now things are changed at the once dreary bachelor's hall, for here are two interesting children: Peter A .. born April 28, 1887, and William C., born De- cember 2, 1888. The patter of children's feet can be heard and the prattle of childish voices greet the tired father as he returns from his daily routine of ranch life; and he whispers to himself, " How much I missed by remaining single so long!"

Mr. Donlon is, religiously, a Catholic, and, politically, a Democrat. He has served the public as School Trustee, and is much inter- ested in the developinent of his section of the country. Living, as he does, so near the village of New Jerusalem, he enjoys the ad- vantages of stores, school and church.

OHN SCARLETT, one of the old set- tlers and prominent ranchers of the Santa Clara Valley, is a native of the " Emerald Isle," born in Connty Fermanagh, June 18, 1825. His parents, Richard and

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Elizabeth Scarlett, were natives of Ireland, lived on a farm, and were members of the Episcopal Church. John was educated in his native country, and came to the United States in 1852. He engaged in the wool and cotton dyeing business five years. He came to California in 1867, and had charge of an engine in a San Francisco sugar refinery. Mr. Scarlett remembers Mr. Spreckles when he started a little business there at that time. After three years spent in San Francisco, he moved to Alameda County, built a hotel and conducted it from 1861 to 1870, after which he rented it. There was a deal of travel on the roads at that time and the hotel business was a very profitable one. Mr. Scarlett next engaged in sheep-raising, keeping from 4,000 to 5,000 sheep. This also proved a profitable business and he continued it four years be- fore coming to his present locality. While in this business he lived in a tent both win- ter and summer. When he came to this county he brought 2,700 sheep, three men and a cook. The journey was made by land, and their diet was principally biscuits and bacon, though they sometimes got an ante- lope, and they slept on the ground at night. Mr. Scarlett bought an interest in a grant and when it was divided his share was 700 acres, which he has farmed since that time. When he made the purchase, his neighbors, Mr. McGrath and Mr. Leonard, were both here. The land was bought of Mr William Rice. Mr. Scarlett does general farmning and raises horses, cattle and hogs, his principal crop being barley and corn. He has several splendid fields, perfectly level and in a high state of cultivation. From the highway, which passes through Mr. Scarlett's ranch, the traveler is at once impressed with the pleasing appearance of this attractive home. The house, an elegant one, is shaded and surrounded by ornamental trees and flowers,

and the whole premises indicate that the in- mates are people of taste and refinement. Mr. Scarlett says that the improvements of the grounds may be attributed to his wife, as he gives his time and attention to his stock and ranch.

Mr. Scarlett wedded Miss Annie Lester, a native of Australia, and daughter of Law- rence Lester. Their union has been blessed with five children, four of whom are living and all at home with their parents. Their names are Lizy, John, Sally and Annie.

In his political views Mr. Scarlett is a Republican.

IMON COHN is one of Ventura County's business men and the pioneer general merchant of New Jernsalein. He was born in Germany, of German parents, April 4, 1852, and was educated in his native land, and learned the mercantile business in his father's store. He came to California, in 1873, to launch ont in business for himself, and has met with that snecess which is the reward of faithful, honest toil. He was first employed by his brother, at Saticoy, and re- inained there sixteen months, after which he came to his present locality, in 1875. Mr. Cohn is entitled to the honor of being the founder of the town of New Jerusalem and of naming it. The first settlers of the town were three Hebrews, the fields were loaded with golden grain, plenty of fine cattle were in the valley, there was an abundance of choice fruit, and also milk and honey; so, the name of New Jerusalemn seemed quite appropriate. Mr. Colin erected the first build- ing in the town, and in it opened his store and continued to do business in the same until the increasing demands of his trade necessi- tated a larger store roomn. He accordingly

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Author: Storke, Yda Addis Publication date: 1891 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 738

Author: Storke, Yda Addis
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 738