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 86

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 86
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 86
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 86

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Mr. Field was married at Walling- ford, Connecticut, in 1868, to Miss Bessie Crampton. They have no children. He is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264, F. & A. M., and is Commander of Foote Post, No. 84, G. A. R.

ALLACE L. IIARDISON, of Santa Paula, is one of the most prominent business men of Ventura County or Southern California. Joseph Hardison, the originator of, the family in America, came to that part of Massachusetts now embraced in the State of Maine before the Revolution, and it is believed from Sweden. His son, Joseph Hardison, and his grandson, Ivory Hardison, and his great grandson, Wallace L. Hardison (the subject of this sketch), were all born in Caribou, Aroostook County, Maine. Mr. Hardison's father was born in 1802, and he dates his own birth in August 26, 1850.

His mother, Dorcas (Abbott) Hardison, was born in China, Kennebec County, Maine, in 1804, and was a descendant of the old Abbott family, statesmen and authors of the early history of the country. There were eleven children in his family, of whom he was the youngest. His education was received in the public schools and a short course in the Hol- ton Academy; before reaching maturity his business had been that of farming. In 1869, when nineteen years of age he came to Huin- boldt County, California, where for a short time he worked for wages; soon, however, lie began work for himself, as a contractor, in a small way. In the fall of 1870 he went East to Pennsylvania, and engaged in work for his brother, who was controlling the drilling of oil wells. In the course of a year he was taken into partnership, and in another year he began to operate for oil on his own ac- count. While in Pennsylvania he was con- nected with the drilling of 300 oil wells. The first well he owned was the Eaton and Grant, the time occupied on it before it began to produce oil was abont three months, and its production was 100 barrels per day. While engaged in the oil business in Pennsylvania, he purchased the Eaton farm in Saline and Ellsworth counties, Kansas, and afterward purchased other lands adjoining, to the amount of 10,000 acres, which he stocked with horses, cattle and hogs, introducing some fine blooded horses to improve the stock. After running this property eight years, a stock company was formed, and half of the stock was sold to F. G. Babcock, of New York, and the other half was sold the following April. July 1, 1888, Mr. Hardi- sun took stock and started the National Bank of Saline, Kansas, and for four years owned the controlling interest and was its president until March, 1885, when he sold his interest; but he is still a stockholder. In 1882, with

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other gentlemen, he organized the Eldred Bank of McKean County, Pennsylvania, and was its president until 1884, and still retains stock. Through the influence of Mr. Lyman Stewart Mr. Hardison, in April, 1883, visited the oil regions in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, and was so impressed with the country-the prospect for oil, the fertility of the soil and the excellent climate-that he decided to move here, which he did in July 17, 1883. In connection with Lyman Stewart, Milton Stewart and others, they drilled seven wells, six at Pico Cañon and one at Santa Paula Cañon. Only one of these wells was a producing well, which yielded a large amount, and is still producing splendidly. They have organized the Hardison-Stewart Company, and have drilled forty wells. They also organized the Sespe Oil Company, com- posed of Thomas R. Bard, Daniel McFarland and others, and have drilled twenty-seven wells. In connection with Thomas Bond, W. Chaffee, Messrs. Stewart, Dolbeer and others they have built pipe lines from the wells to Hueneme, Ventura and Santa Paula, and a refinery at Santa Paula. This crude oil is shipped all over the country, and the re- fined oil finds the principal market at San Francisco and Los Angeles. They also mann- facture lubricating oils, gas oils and asphal- tum. Their crude petroleum is largely used for fuel, for the generation of steam. They built a steamboat, at a cost of about $65,000 to carry oil in bulk to San Francisco: her capacity was 160,000 gallons. It caught fire and burned at the dock, and has not yet been replaced.

Mr. Hardison has assisted in the organi- zation of the First National Bank of Santa Paula, and is one of the directors and a stock- holder. He has been a factor in the organi- zation of the Universalist Church of Santa Paula, and also in the starting of the Santa

Panla Academy. He is president of the Horse and Cattle Company. In 1883 he bought 6,400 acres of the ex-Mission Rancho, and a company was formed to which he sold the ranch. Before organizing the company he had sold interests in the ranch to liis brother, Harvey, and to his nephew, C. P. Collins, and also to John R. D. Say. At the time of organization the company had about 500 head of cattle. Mr. Hardison still retains stock in this enterprise. In 1885 he imported twenty thoroughbred registered Holstein cows and a bull from Holland, through a cattle firm of Hornellsville, New York. They are doing finely .. Mr. Hardison is president of and a stockholder in the Santa Paula Hardware and Stove Company, who have just completed a very large and expensive store building, an ornament to the place and a credit to their reputation. It is fully stocked to demand all the modern require- ments in the line of hardware. The building is 62 x 80 feet, with a rear addition 40 x 60 feet, for stoves, making the total depth 140 feet. Mr. Hardison is also a director of the Los Posos Land & Water Company, conduct- ing an extensive enterprise. His home place, of eighty acres, is situated in a beautiful locality in the Santa Paula Cañon, a mile and a quarter from town, where they enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding country. Mr. Hardison has here built an elegant house, on a beautiful site, surrounded with grounds, to his taste, where he enjoys the comforts of home life. When in Pennsylvania, he rep- resented his district in the Legislature during the exciting sessions of 1880-'81. In his political views he is a Republican; in his religious, a Universalist, and he is a total- abstinence man with reference to string drink and tobacco. He has a fine physical develop- ment and is a splendid representation of the self-inade American business man.

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In 1875 Mr. Hardison was united in matri- inony with Miss Clara McConnell, of Ven- ango Connty, Pennsylvania. Her father, William Benjamin Harrison McDonald, now resides in Santa Paula. Mr. and Mrs. Hardi- son have five children, three of whom are living, namely: Guy Lyman, born in Clar- ion County, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1876; Gnssie, born in Mckean County, Pennsylva- nia, May 30, 1880, and Hope, born in Santa Paula, April 2, 1889.

ERMANN HOLT, a cattle-raiser near Guadalupe, was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to America in 1867, -- directly to California. For the first two years he followed farming in Monterey County, and since then he has been in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. For some time he lived with his brother Henry, who owns a ranch of 475 acres on the Oso Flaco, and since 1884 he has been residing upon his own ranch of 211 acres a mile from Guadalupe, where he is engaged in raising- cattle. He is a bachelor.

AMES ALLEN DAY, one of the pio- neers of the orchard business in Ventura County, came to Ventura in 1874, and engaged in horticulture, planting 100 acres to apricots. He also let 150 acres, which was planted to fruit, under his directions, and he built the first fruit dryer in the county; so that he is entitled to the credit of having faith that the soil of this county would raise fine fruit, and he backed his faith with his works. He is a native of Franklin County, New York, and dates his birth July 3, 1828. Ilis father, Orrada Day, was a native of

Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Day's grand- father, Robert E. Day, was one of the first settlers of Hartford, Connecticut, having gone to that State before the Revolution. They were Welsh people. His parents had twelve chil- dren, three of whom are now living, Mr. Day being the sixth of the family, and the oldest survivor. He was reared and educated in the State of New York, and his first busi- ness was the manufacture of lime and brick. He made a success of it in Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin, for twenty years. Before going to Wis- consin he had spent five years in Massa- chusetts. When he came to Ventura he invested in land. He is still largely interested in real-estate, having 807 acres in one locality, and seventy-five acres adjoining Ventura. He has more recently interested himself in the construction of some fine blocks in Ven- tura. With three others he built the Masonic Block, one of the grandest buildings in the city, if not the finest. It is a credit to the city and also to its builders. Mr. Day had the superintendence of its construction. It contains two fine stores on the first floor, and above are several office rooms and a splendid Masonic hall, all the rooms being occupied. Mr. Collins and Mr. Day built the Collins Block, in which the Collins Bank is located, and this building is another ornament to the town. Mr. Day has done his part in the pub- lic enterprises of the place, and has been ever ready to help in what he believed was for its success. He was made a Mason in 1860, and is Commander of the commandery at the present time.

He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Jane Warren, of Connecticut. She is the daughter of Mr. Alonzo Warren, of that State. Their union has been blessed with four children: the oldest, Alice, was born in Oshkosh, Wis- cousin, and is married to Mr. Charles G. Bartlett, of Ventura; Bera C. is now attend-

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ing a university at Los Angeles; Mark E. and Lillie V.

Mr. Day has now, in a measure, retired from business. He spends his time in the lovely home he has built, on a sightly spot, overlooking the town and the ocean. He has also a nice club room, in which he may often be found, enjoying especially the company of his friends.

ORTON, another one of California's pioneers, canie to this State in 1853. He was born in New York, March 23, 1834. His father, R. Orton, was also a native of New York, and was of Scotch descent. Mr. Orton's mother, Clara (Bicknell) Orton, was born in Utica, New York. Her people were of French and English extraction. Mr. Orton was educated in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and, after completing his studies, he engaged in the milling business, which he learned in Iowa with his father, who owned a mill.

Mr. Orton came to California during the gold excitement, and, like others, he became a miner in Volcano. He mined for a year and made as high as $50 per day; then sold ont and went East. When he returned to California he engaged in milling in Santa Cruz County, and was in the business there from 1855 to 1871. He was elected Sheriff of the county, and held the office for eight years. During that time he arrested many desperate characters. guilty of high crimes. One man he followed 1,180 miles, and single- handed arrested him in a saloon, shackled him, lodged him in jail at Salt Lake City, and took the train to Ogden and thence to California. Mr. Orton again engaged in mining for two years, after which he located in San Luis Obispo County, and went into the inilling business. Ile built a mill and

remained there four years, and from there went to Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, and milled six months. He came to Ventura in 1881, and helped build the Ventura mill. He returned to Ventura February 1, 1887, and since then has improved the mill from a stone to a full roller-process mill, and he is now doing the milling for Ventura and sur- rounding country, and ships some flour to Santa Barbara. They make the best of flour, and also grind meal and feed of every de- scription.

Mr. Orton was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hunt, a native of Illinois, and daughter of Mr. John Hunt, of Watsonville, California. Their union is blessed with five children, four sons and a daughter. Emma was born in Santa Cruz County, and is now the wife of William Orr, of Santa Barbara County. F. A., Edgar and John were born n Sıntı Cruz County, and Lucius was born in Ventura. Mr. Orton is a Master Mason, and also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workinen. In politics he is a Re- publican.

YLER BITHER is another of the worthy pioneers of California. Ile was born in Houlton, Aroostook County, Maine, June 15, 1828. His father, Benjamin Bither, was also a native of Maine, and his grand- father came from England to that State in an early day. Mr. Bither's mother, Anna (Tyler) Bither, was a native of Maine and of Dutch descent. The subject of this sketch remained in his native State until twenty-three years of age, when, in 1854, he came to California, and for twelve years was engaged in mining in Tuolumne County. He dug from $2.50 to $100 per day, and in one pan got six ounces of gold, which he sold for $102. When he

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quit mining he went to San Joaquin, took np Government land, which he improved, and ten years later sold it and located in San Luis Obispo County, remaining in that place one year. In 1877 he came to Ventura and, after renting land three years, purchased the farm of 100 acres on which he now resides. This he has improved, and his home is a comfort- able and attractive one. Mr. Bither is de- voting 400 acres to the cultivation of Lima beans and also small white beans, and is real- izing from $30 to $80 per acre from his crops.

The subject of this sketch was married in 1852, to Miss Sarah J. Ward, who was born in Massachusetts in 1836. For thirty- eight years she has shared his joys and sor- rows, and knows inch of pioneer life. They have reared a family of seven children, all now living, viz .: Arthur A., born in Maine in 1853, resides in the San Joaquin Valley; Marion J., born in Tuolumne County, Cali- fornia, in 1861, is now the wife of J. M. Coff- man, of Santa Barbara; Annie S., also born in Tuolumne County, now the wife of W. S. Newell, of Ventura; W. W. W., one of trip- lets, now a resident of Ventura, the other two having died a few hours after birth; B. F. and Minnie M., both born in San Joaquin; and S. J. Eva, born in Ventura in 1880.

Politically Mr. Bither was formerly a Doug- las Democrat, but since the war has been a firm Republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. His mother was a Free- will Baptist and his father a Universalist. Mrs. Bither was reared a Congregationalist.

B. KELSEY, a rancher near Ventura, is one of the pioneers and extensive farmers of Ventura County. He was born in Morris County, New Jersey, No- vember 8, 1838; his father, J. B. Kelsey, Sr.,

was a native of the same State; his ancestry were from Scotland. Mr. Kelsey's mother was Delia (Conyer) Kelsey; her ancestors were of French extraction. J. B. Kelsey was the eleventh of a family of fitteen chil- dren. After his early schooling, at the age of fourteen years, he went to work in a gro- cery store in Rockaway, and continued there five years, when he came to California. in 1858. He remained one year in San Francisco, and then removed to Alameda County, where he rented lands and engaged in farming market produce. He continued that business until 1868, when he came to Ventura and rented land two years, and then bought and im- proved 182 acres of land near Ventura. He still owns the property, and has planted trees and built a fruit-dryer. He moved upon the place in 1876, and is now raising corn and beans on a very large scale, - 1,500 pounds of Lima beans, and about the same quantity of small white beans to the acre. His average crop of shelled corn is from 3,000 to 4,000 pounds per acre.

Mr. Kelsey was married, in 1861, to Miss Mary Fichter, a native of New York city, but was raised in New Jersey; hier parents were of German extraction. They have had eight children, three of them born in Ala- meda County, and the others in Ventura, viz .: Sarah, who is now attending the Nor- mal School in Los Angeles; Agnes, Victor, Mary (who is also at the Normal School), Della, Helen, Fred and Olive. They have a large stock ranch, of which Victor has charge, and Agnes is keeping house for him. On this ranch he is breeding horses, both Norman and Clydesdale stock. Mrs. Kelsey died September 24, 1884; they had been married twenty-three years, and the loss was most deeply felt by them all. Mr. Kelsey is a member of the I. O. O. F .. and also of the Masonic fraternity; in his political views he

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is a Republican. He was again married, to Mrs. Redwin, widow of the late Mr. Lewis Redwin, of Ventura. She is a native of Mis- souri. Mr. and Mrs. Kelsey and several of the family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

ON. L. M. WARDEN, a prominent resident of San Luis Obispo County, has been a resident of California since July 6, 1850. He was born in 1825 in Lick- ing County, Ohio, at thetown of Granville, and was the son of Gabriel Warden, a farmer who had ten sons and three danghters. The subject of this sketch, the eighth son, went with his brothers and sisters to a point near Redfield, Dallas County, Iowa, in 1844, as an Indian trader. Two brothers and one sis- ter still live in Ohio. He came to California during the early gold-mining period, being only sixty-two days in crossing the plains, coming by way of Fort Laramie and Salt Lake to Hangtown. After mining for three months he engaged in the livery business and staging from Auburn, Placer County, to Yankee Jim's and Michigan Bluffs, same county. Three years afterward he went to Napa County, engaging in the live-stock trade; then he removed to Mendocino County, where he was Sheriff from 1860 to 1868; and then he came to San Luis Obispo County, entering the sheep business on the Atasca- dero ranch, and leased eight leagues of land from General Murphy for four years. Then he purchased 3,100 acres on Los Osos ranch and stocked it with 12,000 head of sheep in the fall of 1871. The season of 1876 was so dry that he quit the business, with only 600 sheep. Since that time he has sold 1,400 acres. This ranch is known as Captain Wilson's, where ex-Governor Pacheco was

brought up. Mr. Warden, a Democrat, was a member of the Board of Supervisors from 1874 to 1878, and of the State Legislature for 1878-"79.

He has a wife, two sons and three dangh- ters: one son and both the daughters are married. Frankie E. is the wife of Dr. H. M. Fisk of Chicago; May is the wife of W. H. Fisk, of Portland, Oregon; William H. is on the ranch; and Oscar L. is a resident of Portland, Oregon.

W. MURPHY, of San Luis Obispo, was born in Missouri, September 11, 1840, the son of Martin and Mary (Bulger) Murphy, who were both natives of County Wexford, Ireland. When Patrick was a mere child, the family removed to Cal- ifornia, settling in the beautiful Santa Clara Valley. Here he grew to manhood, attend- ing school and graduating at Santa Clara College. He then moved to San Luis Obispo to look after the large estates of his father, which amounted to 70,000 acres, and in- cluding the beautiful and far famed Santa Margarita Rancho. Later Mr. Murphy came into possession of this vast property, and on the ranch mentioned, twelve miles distant from San Luis Obispo, he makes his residence. Politically he is a Democrat, and is promi- nent in both political and business enterprises of any magnitude. He has three times been State Senator, and once an Assemblyman. Mr. Murphy was one of the originators of the San Luis Obispo Water Company, and also one of the incorporators of the San Luis Obispo Bank. He bears the title of General, having been appointed by Governor Irwin Brigadier General of the Second Brigade of the National Guard of California. The home of General Murphy, Santa Margarita Rancho,

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is pretty enough to be one huge park; no tourist to San Luis Obispo ever fails to visit this lovely spot. Its owner devotes most of the land to cattle-grazing, in which business he has been eminently successful.

He was married February 23, 1870, to Miss Mary Kate O'Brien, daughter of Dr. P. M. O'Brien, of San Francisco, who died in Santa Clara Valley in 1875.

E. WHITNEY, one of the old Ver- mont stage-drivers at Santa Barbara, @ has been a resident there abeut six years. At one time he had charge of the Truck Company of that city, whose business he sold to George Walker. Mr. Whitney was born in Chantauqna County, New York, in 1836, a son of Ira Whitney. His father, a native of Vermont, now resides at Carpen- teria, and is eighty-one years old. His mother, a native of Cattaraugus County, New York, died when twenty-four years of age, at Silver Creek, Chantauqua County, New York. Mr. Whitney married Hattie Ferry, a native of Ohio, and they are living at the corner of Ortega and Canal streets. Polit- ically, he is a Democrat. He has a brother living at Battle Creek, Michigan.

ILLIAM E. BORLAND, a contractor and builder at San Luis Obispo, is one of the old pioneers of this county who rounded Cape Horn in 1849. He was born in the city of Washington, in July, 1828, and when fourteen years of age he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, which he has ever since followed. In 1849, through the efforts of a prominent steamship officer, he shipped aboard the four-masted

steamship Chesapeake, and August 8 of that year steamed out of New York harbor for California, and arrived at San Luis Obispo June 14 following. In those days men were paid double wages for their work; and Mr. Borland, working at his trade, made money. For eighteen months he lived in San Luis ()bispo, and then worked in San Francisco six months: but in the latter place he was un- successful and was glad to get back again to San Luis Obispo, where he has ever since prospered.

He was married in 1857, to Joscfa Avila, a danghter of Don Miguel Avila, and they reside on a part of the Avila estate between San Luis Obispo and Port Harford. Mr. Borland has held prominent public offices and taken part in all the interesting, and at times exciting, proceedings that form a con- spicuous part of the history of this county. He was under Sheriff for seven years under Francisco Castro; was also County Judge for a year and a half, under appointment from Governor John G. Downey.

OHN C. KAYS, a dry-goods merchant at Santa Barbara, first came to Cali- fornia as early as 1842, which was two years before Fremont's first visit to this country. He was born in Ireland, at the same place where ex-Governor Downy was born, and came to America in 1833, landing at New York. In the fall of 1842 he came on to California and entered the dry-goods trade in Los Angeles, which he followed un- til 1848, being the only merchant of the kind there with the exception of two others at the beginning of his career at that place. But during the Mexican war he served in the army, in Texas and Mexico. In company with. about 500 other volunteers, he was

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taken prisoner at Santa Fé; and afterward he was sent out from that point to obtain pro- visions. Finally he was one of the number who marched victoriously into the city of Mexico. In 1849 he moved to Santa Bar- bara, since which time he has been engaged mostly in the dry goods trade, his business amounting at times to several thousand dol- lars a day. Thus he amassed a considerable fortune, owning at one time three nice ranches; but he lost them in real-estate speculations. For a time he was agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company. He has never been willing to accept office.

In 1847 he married Josefa, a daughter of Captain Burke, an American, while her mother was from one of the old Spanish fam- ilies of Monterey. Mr. Kays has a number of relatives in the Eastern States, and now has six sons and two daughters living. Two of his sons are in business in Los Angeles- James and Michael-the latter in Coulter's dry-goods house.

OBERT J. HAZARD, a rancher near Cayucos, was born in Rhode Island, in 1826, of English ancestry and one of three sons. He was reared on a farm in Greenwich, Rhode Island, which was his home at intervals for twenty-two years. At the age of sixteen years he went to Naragan- sett Pier, one of the now famons watering places of America, and engaged in the ship- ping business with his uncle; and he was also in business for a year in New York city. In 1850 he came to California, and for the first four months he was in San Francisco; then two years in Tuolumne County, farming, and then engaged in gold-hunting away off in Anstralia, for eight months, with mod- erate success. He next visited Peru and

crossed the Andes Mountains to the Amazon River, for more wealth, but did not find it. Returning to Tuolumne County, he remained there until 1867, when he came to San Luis Obispo County. The first two years here he resided in Cambria, where he had a ranch of 400 acres. In 1870 he came to Cayncos. For the past ten years he has occupied his present property of 430 acres, six miles from Cayucos and on Old Creek. On it are splen- did fruit orchards, to the care of which he devotes much of his time, as well as to dairy- ing. He has 18,000 grape-vines and 250 fruit trees now in bearing.

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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