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 89

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 89
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 89
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 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Hogg was married, in 1876, to Miss Fanny Grant, a native of Kentucky, and a

642

SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO

daughter of W. S. Grant, also a native of that State, and now a resident of Paso Robles. They are of Scotch ancestry. Two children have been the result of this union: Opal, born in Nebraska; aud Bernice, at their present home. Mr. and Mrs. Hogg are members of the Christian Church. His political views are in harmony with the Republican party.

D. FROST, one of the reliable young business men of El Paso de Robles, is a native of Ohio, born September 21, 1867, and is the son of William B. Frost, a native of the same State. Both he and his father were born in the same town. His grandfather, E. S. Frost, was a native of the State of New York. The ancestry of the family came to America from England before the Revolutionary war. Mr. Frost's father is still living and has the honor of having been a Union soldier in the great civil war, a volun- teer from the State of Ohio. He is now traveling agent for a San Francisco firin and resides at El Paso de Robles. Mr. Frost's mother's maiden name was Miss Flora J. MeKenney. She was a native of Ohio and daughter of Almoren McKeuney, a native of the State of New York. Grandfather Mc- Kenney came from Scotland and settled in New York in an carly day. Mr. Frost's parents had five children, of whom he was the second son. He received his education, in part, in South Toledo, and in 1876 the family removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he finished his education. In 1885 he came to the Pacific coast. In San Fran . cisco he was appointed a station baggage master by the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany; spent eighteen months at Pajaro and was then transferred to San Miguel, in the same capacity, and completed his knowledge

of telegraphy. March 4, 1889, he was sent to relieve the freight and passenger agent at El Paso de Robles, for three weeks. The agent's health not recovering, he resigned, and Mr. Frost was appointed to that position, which he now tills to the satisfaction of both the company and the business men of the town. Mr. Frost is a Protestant and a Re- publican. He is a Master Mason; and is a young man who enjoys the confidence and good will of all who know him.

DWIN M. BENNETT, a prominent business man of El Paso de Robles, was born in Oakland, California, July 18, 1860. His father, Nathaniel Bennett, is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. The Ben- netts have lived in New Bedford, that State, for four generations. Mr. Bennett's mother, nee Miss Teresa Feleury, was a native of Ireland, of Irish ancestry, and came to Amer- ica in 1845. In their family were four chil- dren, of whom our subject was the third child and the first son. He was reared in Santa Cruz County, and was educated partly in the public schools and partly by his father. When fourteen years of age he begar. to earn his own livelihood as a messenger boy, and then as a clerk in a store. In 1883 he came to clerk for P. H. Dunn for six years; and then, with his present partner he formed the firm of Bennett, Shackelford & LeBlanc, hardware merchants and plumbers, who have a fine stock and are doing a large business. All the members of the firm are young men of enterprise and business ability. Previously Mr. Bennett had been appointed agent for Wells, Fargo & Co .; and he is now also Post- master; and he is, besides, a partner in the firm of Earll & Bennett, insurance agents, who represent several of the leading insur-

643

AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

ance companies; and he is agent of the West- ern Union Telegraph Company. Two and a half miles out of town he has a ranch of 160 acres, and he also has some lots in the city. In political matters he is a Republican, and in his social relations he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the order of the Eastern Star.

July 10, 1889, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie James, a native of El Paso de Robles, and a daughter of Hon. D. W. James, one of the owners and founders of the city. On June 6, 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Ben- nett became the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy; so that Mr. Bennett " is one of the fortunate ones who has nearly all the good things of this life!"

OLONEL JAMES LIDDLE, a Paso Robles business man and rancher, was born in Geneseo, Genesee County, New York, May 20, 1854. His father, George Lid- dle, was a native of England, and married Miss Martha Jane Webb, a native of Scotland. They came to the United States in 1840, set- tling in Genesee County, New York, where they reared thirteen children, of whoin the Colonel was the youngest. He grew up to years of maturity in his native county, learn- ing the mechanics' and engineers' trade. In 1865 he went to Montana and engaged with his brothers in raising live-stock for several years, and while there the last of a series of Indian raids was committed on the frontier in that Territory, in 1875-'76. The Ren- shaw Brothers, half-breed Indians, who were ferrying on the Big Horn River, became the leaders of a most atrocious massacre of the white settlers. Men, women and children were surprised and murdered, and their dwellings burned, and their bodies most

fiendishly mutilated and left unburied. The Governor of Montana called for volunteers to protect the settlers and subdne the Indians. The citizens formed a company at once, com- prising ninety-nine men, who furnished their own horses and were armed by the Govern- inent. Mr. Liddle was elected Colonel of the company and had command of it during sev- eral skirmishes and two battles with the Indians.

Organizing at Sterling, near Virginia City, they went in the direction of Yellowstone River, and at Black Mountain the Indians made a stand; twenty of them were left on the battle field, while the rest retreated through the hills by the river for twenty miles, with the whites in full pursuit. The next season they were found 200 strong or more at Clark's Fort, on the Yellowstone. They opened the fight, which lasted a whole day, the Americans losing ten men; and the Indians after sacrificing many of their num- ber withdrew and got away. Thus ended the Indian raids, as the savages were successfully subdued. They soon afterward assembled at Fort Benton, where a treaty was formed, which has never been broken. An appropri- ation was made by the State to pay the vol- unteers for this service, which was thankfully received.

Colonel Liddle, after doing for his State a valuable service, returned to his stock ranch and continued there a number of years, in Montana and Nevada. Selling ont, he came to Paso Robles, arriving June 19, 1886. He purchased 800 acres of land three and a half miles west of town, on which he started the business of stock raising, and he still con- tinnes in that occupation. The town of Paso Robles starting about the same time, he spent a year in the real-estate business; then, with a partner-Mr. Short-he engaged in a wholesale and retail meat market. Soon

641

SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO

afterward he met with a serious accident by falling down a trap-door way and breaking his leg. The firm then leased their shop and retired from business. Colonel Riddle is a Republican in his political views, and is yet unmarried.

B. LEBLANC, a leading young business man of El Paso de Robles, was born in San Joaquin County, California, April 13, 1869. His father, Perry LeBlanc, was a native of Louisiana, and the whole family on the paternal side had lived in that State since before the Revolution. His mother, nee Sally Hongh, was born in Mississippi, the daughter R. N. Hongh. Their family consisted of five children, four of whom are living. Mr. Le Blanc, the second child, was reared and educated in Fresno. His first business en- terprise --- the management of a bakery -- was in that town; but he was burned ont and he arrived at his present place August 16, 1889, connecting himself with the firm of Bennett, Shackelford & LeBlanc, in the hardware busi- ness. He had learned the art of plumbing before coming here and had become pretty well acquainted with hardware. The com- pany now has a fine trade. Mr. LeBlanc is a young man of strict business habits and deserves the good reputation he enjoys. In his political views he is a Democrat.

R. SOMERSET ROBINSON .- In very pleasant brick house on the hill- side overlooking the beautiful city of El Paso de Robles, dwells the subject of this sketch. He had the house built for himself, and the block on which it is built is beautiful, with a variety of trees, including vines and

orange trees. In this way the Doctor is amusing himself and prolonging his life in this health-restoring resort. The well-spread table of the El Paso Robles Hotel is only a few hundred feet from his door, and there the Doctor three times a day supplies the wants of the " inner man." Dr. Robinson is a na- tive of Maryland, born March 6, 1836. His grandfather, Fendle Robinson, and his father, Thomas Robinson, were both natives of Mary- land. His great-grandfather, Ford Robinson, came to America from England to possess a grant given him by the King; the part of the country in which he settled is called Ford's Venture, a plantation near Fort Washington, Maryland. His mother was Harriet (Gray) Robinson, a native of Maryland, and of pure English ancestry. The Doctor had six brothers and sisters. His education was obtained at the Rugby Academny and at the University of Georgetown; he is a graduate of the Medical Department, of 1858. He then entered the navy, and was a medieal officer in the navy with Commodore Farragut in the Gulf Squadron, and served in that capacity all through the great war. Since then he has been continuously in the service of the Government, traveling around the world attending to his duties as a Medical Examiner of the United States Navy. After having seen all parts of the world, where American ships sail, and learning of El Paso de Robles as a health resort, he came to this place. He was pleased with the locality and climate; to him it has been the true El Do- rado; he now enjoys better health than he has for twenty-five years. He still holds his of- ficial capacity in the United States Navy, and makes trips of inspection whenever he re- ceives orders to that effect. The Doctor has a beautiful home, and is a quiet retiring gentleman, not seeking anything that would appear like notoriety. He does not object

645

AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

to be classed with the citizens of Southern California, and enjoys the wider relation of being a citizen of the United States.

Politically, he is independent, and seldom votes. He says he has faith in the intelli- gence of the people, and gives politics but little attention. The Doctor is thoroughly and widely informed on all scientific subjects, and is a very cordial and entertaining gen- tleman.

R. S. J. CALL, a leading practicing physician of Paso Robles, was born in Missouri, February 18, 1858. His father, G. W. Call, is a native of Kentucky, his parents having come from Maryland and Virginia. His remote ancestors were Scotch- Irish. The Doctor's mother, Elizabeth (John- son) Call, is a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Colonel Tom Johnson, who was one of the active participants in the late war.

The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of five sons and four danghters, who, with their parents, crossed the plains to Idaho in 1864, where they lived until 1869. At that time they came to California and settled in Santa Clara County, where the Doctor received his common-school educa- tion. He then took a thorough course in the State Normal School, after which he went to San Luis Obispo and spent three years in the drug business. Next he read medicine with Dr. Hayes, and then went to the Cooper Medical College, San Francisco, where he graduated in 1884. In the spring of 1885 he began practice on the coast of San Luis Obispo County. Soon afterward he was ap- pointed physician for the Alaska Commer- cial Company, and repaired to Alaska to treat and look after the health of the employés of the company ; was at sea nearly all the time,

visiting the stations of the company. When he returned from this trip, he brought back many curios of the country, with which he has ornamented his office in El Paso de Robles. Soon after engaging in practice at this place, he received the appointment of physician to the Hot Springs, which he now fills. The Doctor is much pleased with the effects of the water on gout and skin diseases. A careful analysis of the water shows as val- uable medical properties as any in the world, and many instances of wonderful cures are noted.

The Doctor's political views are Demo- cratic. He is a Master Mason, a member of the encampinent of the I. O. O. F., and is ou the way to the Knight-Templar degree.

OHN SCOTT, a prominent citizen of El Paso de Robles, was born in White County. Indiana, January 29, 1850, a son of Greenup and Elizabeth Scott. His father and his grandfather, John Scott, were both born in Kentucky. His mother was a native of Indiana. He was the youngest of three children, and when he was twelve years of age the family came to San Mateo County, California, and after three years came to San Luis Obispo County, settling at Cambria. They purchased 200 acres of land, engaged in stock-farming, improving the place and continued there seventeen years. In 1882 Mr. Scott, of this sketch, was elected Sheriff of the county of San Luis Obispo on the Re- publican ticket, and served two years, retir- ing from it with a clean record. He then re- moved to El Paso de Robles and engaged in a meat market for more than a year, with good success, when he sold out and rented his shop. His attention is now turned in the direction of raising fine horses, in which

646

SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO

he takes great delight and in which he is thoroughly posted. His favorite breeds are the Hambletonian and Almonts, standard trotters. He keeps them on his ranch, which he still retains. Mr. Scott is a member of both the Odd Fellows and the Masonic orders; in politics he is an unhesitating Republican, and in his disposition he is social, kind- hearted and liberal.

He was united in marriage to Miss Cate Lane, a native of Tennessee, and they have a son and a daughter-Edwin G. and Maud- both born in this county. Mrs. Scott is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

UGENE A. STOWELL, one of the prominent business men of El Paso de Robles, was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts, July 12, 1848. His father, Alexander Stowell, his grandfather, Abel Stowell, and his great-grandfather, Abel Stowell, Sr., were all natives of Massachu- setts. His great-great-grandfather, Cornelius Stowell, settled in Watertown, Massachusetts, in 1727, a clock mannfacturer, a pioneer in that business. His work was of the honest kind, made for durability, and many of his clocks are still in existence. Four successive generations, including Alexander Stowell, were clock-makers. The Stowells also took a lively interest in the Revolution. See any standard history of the United States. Mr. Stowell's mother's maiden name was Esther M. Adams, and her ancestors were the first settlers of Caroline, Massachusetts. Of the ancestry on her mother's side, David Dodge was the first city clerk of Charlestown, that State.

Mr. Stowell, one of two children-the other a sister who has since died-was edu- cated at the Charlestown High School and at

the Norwich University. His desire for adventure and seeing the world induced him to go to sea, and for four years he sailed a part of the time before the inast and the rest as second mate. Then he spent eight years with the firm of Stowell & Co., his father being the senior member of the firm. He then removed to Nebraska and purchased a large farm and engaged in stock-raising for eight years, when he sold out, and in 1889 came to Paso Robles. Becoming interested in the growth of the new and promising city, he purchased business lots and built a brick block, which is all occupied, and he has also built one of the finest residences in the county where he resides with his family. He is engaged in the real-estate business with A. R. Booth, Stowell & Booth as sole agents for Paso Robles property.

Mr. Stowell is a member of St. Andrews Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, of the K. T. and of the I. O. O. F. For his wife he mar- ried Miss Helen L. Stephens, a daughter of Major C. W. Stephens, and they have a daughter named Alice Esther. Mrs. Stowell is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

It is interesting to state that Mr. Stowell still has in his possession the surveyor's in- struments used by his grandfather in survey- ing the border between the United States and Canada.

F. EASTIN, the county clerk of the county of Ventura, is one of the best known and well-informed men in the affairs of the county, having acted as a clerk from its organization to the present time. He was born November 8, 1845, in Lexing- ton, LaFayette County, Missouri. His father, James W. Eastin, was a Kentnekian, born

647

AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

February 7, 1821. The ancestors of the family came from Ireland early in the history of the country. He came to California August 20, 1847, settling at Sutter's Fort. From there he went to Sonoma and engaged in the mercantile business, and in the time of the gold excitement became a miner. In 1850 he settled on a farm in Santa Clara County, where he is still resident. Mr. Eastin's moth- er, nee Rebecca A. Pine, was born in Ten- nessee, August 19, 1811, and died March 15, 1883. Of their five children three are living. A brother, John W. Eastin, was born in San Francisco October 9, 1848, the first child both of whose parents were " Americans " born in that city.

The subject of this sketch gradnated at the University of the Pacific, in Santa Clara County, in 1866, and followed farming with his father until 1868, when he was appointed Deputy County Clerk of that county under John B. Huston, serving two years under him, and a second term of two years under J. M. Littlefield. In May, 1873, when the county of Ventura was organized, he was re- quested by telegraph to come and take charge of the office of this county, and everything in connection with the records of the county fell under his supervision, and the manner of keeping and preserving the records has de- volved upon him. During the years 1875-'76 he served the county as Under-Sheriff, ap- pointed by John R. Stone. In 1883-'85 he practiced law and dealt in real-estate and lent money; and in 1886 he was again elected County Clerk, and in 1888 re-elected, and he now holds the office. He is a Democrat, and generally runs ahead of his ticket in the elections. He has aided in the establishment of the fine library of Ventura and has been one of its trustees; and he has also held the office of Conrt Commissioner two years. He is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and

commandery; has been Secretary of the blue lodge and Master several years, and since 1876 has been Secretary of the Chapter. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the Catholic Church; his parents were inem- bers of the Christian Church.

Mr. Eastin was married July 19, 1874, to Miss Fanny Sutton, who was born in Canada April 12, 1850, and they have three daugh- ters and two sons, all born in San Buenaven- tura, namely: Mary A., Fanny R., Ruth, Charles P. and George Russell. Charles is attending school at Los Angeles.

- AUL CHARLEBOIS, one of the leading business men of San Buenaventura, was born near Montreal, Canada, December 8, 1848. His father, of the same naine, was also born in Canada. His grandparents were brought when children by their parents from France, who settled as pioneers in the dense woods of the Dominion. Mr. Charlebois, one of five children -- three sons and two daugh- ters-was educated in the French language in the public sehools of Canada and in the Eng- lish language by himself. When twelve years of age he went to Ogdensburg. New York, entering a store as package boy, and remained there seven years in the employ of the house. In 1868 he took a trip to St. Louis, Missouri, and remained there a year and a nalf; then he was at his native place until 1870, when he came to California, settling in Napa Valley. Next he went to San Francisco, where he was a clerk for a year in a dry-goods house. In the autumn of 1871 he came to San Buena- ventura and clerked for the firm of Einstein & Bernham for fourteen years. For them he had charge of their hardware and grocery de- partment, and they had an extensive trade. In 1885 he took charge of the business of

648

SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO

Leach & Hunt in San Buenaventura for nine months, and he then bought them out and has since remained in business, dealing in hard- ware, tinware, stoves and farm implements, on the corner of Main aud California streets, in the business center; of course he enjoys an enviable trade. In 1886 he was elected a trustee of the city, and by the trustees elected chairman of the board, a position equivalent to that of mayor in a city. He was re-elected to the same position in 1888. In the fall of 1889 he was elected County Treasurer on the Democratic ticket, being only one of the two Democrats elected that season; he ran aliead of his ticket abont 300 votes. He has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., and has been District Deputy for the order four years. Religiously, he was bronght up a Catholic; his wife and children are Presbyterians. The life of Mr. Charlebois strikingly illustrates the rise of a chore boy to a position of af- fluence and honor, and it seems that he lias many years yet to live to enjoy the fruits of early industry, enterprise and good judgment.

He was united in marriage in 1874 with Miss Agnes Ayres, a daughter of Robert Ayres, who is a pioneer of Ventura County. She is a native of the State of Illinois, and was only one year old when she was brought across the plains to California in 1858, and was brought up in Petaluma, So- oma County; and she came with her parents to Ventura County in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Charlebois have an interesting family of' girls, all natives of San Bnenaventura, namely: B.anche, Celima, Emma and Florence.

EPBURN & TERRY, managers of the fine hotel built by L. J. Rose, of Los Angeles, in San Buenaventura. Mr. Terry was born in Massachusetts in 1850,

and came to California in 1875, since which time he has been engaged in hotel-keeping. He first had the Langham House, one of the inost aristocratic hotels on the Pacific coast. With his partner he afterward had charge of the Garvanza Park Hotel in Los Angeles County. G. M. Hepburn was born in New York city in 1849, and has been in California about fifteen years, and all this time in the present partnership. The Rose Hotel is a very imposing and beautiful four-story struct- ure, and an ornament to the town as well as a credit to its owner. It has seventy-five rooms for guests, elegantly finished and far- nished, with costly mirrors, silverware and rich furniture. For its size it is indeed the most expensively furnished house in Southern California, and second to none in America. Messrs. Hepburn & Terry are men of 'ex- perience and ability, who understand well their business, and the Rose Hotel is destined to have a still wider reputation.

TEPHEN D. BALLOU, a well-known citizen of San Luis Obispo and at pres- ent the light-house keeper at Port Har- ford, came to California in 1865. He was born at Middleport, Niagara County. New York, in 1845, and at the age of sixteen years he volunteered to defend the flag of our Union, joining Company D of the Forty- ninth New York Infantry, which was at- tached to the Army of the Potomac, and he served four years in that department, partici- pating in the battles of Centerville, Virginia, Lee's Mills, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Second Bull Run, Sharpsburg, Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericksburg Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the first battle of the Wilderness under Gen- eral Grant at Spottsylvania, later at Bowling

649

AND VENTURA COUNTIES.

Green, Cold Harbor and then went into camp in the front of Petersburg. In July, 1863, his brigade was summoned to Wash- ington, where they fonghit General Early in the streets of the National Capitol, and later in the Shenandoah Valley, and on the 19th of October at Cedar Creek; it was here that General Sheridan made his famous ride. Succeeding in this expedition his regiment, with others, took their position in the front of Petersburg, where they fortified thein- selves and remained until the following win ter, and in April, 1865, a general advance was made on the city, and Lee evacuated. Mr. Ballon witnessed the fall of Richmond and the surrender of Lee, and was mustered out of the service in July, 1865.

During his service in the army, Mr. Bal- lou was wounded in the left leg, at the bat- tle of Lee's Mills, in 1862, and also was struck in the face with a piece of shell at Malvern Hill, from the result of which wound he has never recovered.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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