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 90

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 90
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 90
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 90

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Mr. Ballou then made his way to Califor- nia, by way of the Isthinns of Panama, and spent some time in mining in the mountains of Nevada, and later spent one year on the United States Geological Survey. In 1868 he returned to California, stopping in San Luis Obispo County a short time, and then located in Monterey County, where he engaged in farming until 1874. He then opened one of the first stores in Lompoc, in San Luis Obispo County. After a two years' visit to Arizona he entered into mer- chandising and farming on an extensive scale in Fresno County, but since 1874 he has been a resident of San Luis Obispo County. He is a popuiar citizen and a genial companion. He is a Sir Knight of Com- mandery No. 27, and an influential member of Fred Steele Post, G. A. R., at San Luis Obispo.

He has recently received the appointment of light-house keeper at Port Harford, and the position certainly could not have been bestowed upon a more worthy citizen and ex- soldier. Mr. Ballon came from a well-known family in America, noted for their sterling qua ities, and is only a generation or two from the immediate family of General Gar- field, whose mother was a Ballon. Stephen Ballou was married at Santa Cruz, California, in 1871, to Miss Mary, danghter of J. D. Marshall, and they have one daughter.

COLONEL WILLIAM WELLS HOL- LISTER, deceased .- Among the Amer- ican settlers of Southern California, from the early pioneer days to the time of his death, perhaps there was none other so well known and prominent, and so univer- sally respected, as was W. W. Hollister. He possessed in a high degree the qualities of the true pioneer and civilizer, with the ability to grasp the situation in a new country, and the strength of mind and character to turn his abilities to account. So interwoven is his name with the history of this region that something more than the mention of him in a historical capacity becomes essential, and a brief outline sketch of some of the salient points in his career is given in this connec- tion.

He was the second son of John and Phi- lena (Hubbard) Hollister, and was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 12, 1818. His father had settled in that county in 1802, when it was a wild, unsettled region, and took an active part in its early development. Being a man of unusual intellectual power, splendid physique and commanding presence, lie was an important figure in that portion of Ohio. There the Hollisters intermarried

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with the Welles family, which embraced among its members Gideon Welles, the well- known member of Lincoln's cabinet, a near relative of the subject of this sketch, and the one in whose honor he was given his middle name.

W. W. Hollister, with whose name this sketch commences, spent his early boyhood days amid the scenes and surroundings which usually attended the clearing up of a new district in Ohio, and after having re- ceived such educational advantages as the vicinity afforded at that time, he was sent to Kenyon College to complete his schooling. There he applied himself so diligently to his studies that he was attacked with inflamma- tion of the eyes, which caused his retirement from college without having completed the course. The death of his father had left the farm without a head, and to this position the subject succeeded. The place consisted of a tract of 1,000 acres, but so successful was his management that the area was soon doubled, this being an example in early life of the splendid business qualifications of W. W. Hollister, atterward so well displayed in California. He also engaged in merchandis- ing, and, in connection with farming, carried it on with varying success

The prominence which California had ob- tained by reason of the discovery of gold naturally attracted his attention to that far- away land, and from the information gleaned from the many reports received, he felt that there was a favorable opportunity there for well-directed effort, and in 1852 set out over- land for the Golden State, reaching San José on the 3d of October. A glance over the country satisfied him that there was a good opening in the sheep business.

In pursnance of the plan formed, he went back to Ohio, and in the spring of 1853 started again for California with a company

of fifty men and driving 6,000 graded sheep. Such an enterprise, driving a body of such sheep across sandy plains, often destitute of water and grass, and often met by tribes of hostile Indians, seemed desperate, but the promise of the future, in case of success, seemed to justify the attempt. He was accompanied by his brother, J. H. Hollister, of San Luis Obispo, and his sister, Mrs. S. A. Brown. There were numerous obstacles to contend with, but the knowledge of the country ob- tained on his previous trip enabled him to overcome them successfully, despite of many predictions of disaster by others. The route lay from St Joseph to Salt Lake, thence to San Bernardino, by the old Mormon trail. When he begun the descent into California, at San Bernardino, less than a fourth of the sheep had survived the hardships of the trip, and the remnant, wending their weary way along the cactus hills and plains, gave little promise of the future. The grass. which was growing fresh and green at Los Angeles soon restored strength to the animals, which reached San Juan, Monterey County, not only without further loss, but with the addi- tion of 1,000 lambs born on the way. It will be seen that the enterprise required nearly a year, and that the long drive in- volved the necessity of arriving at the time that grass should be growing: hence the choice of the southern route, which would admit of crossing the Sierra Nevada in the winter season.

At San Juan he became associated with Flint, Bixby & Co. The first land purchased was that of the famous San Justo ranch. Other purchases soon followed, until the firm be- came perhaps the largest land-holders on the Pacific coast, holding at one time so much land as to admit of their offering the right of way to a railroad for eighty miles!

Although a large land-holder, Colonel

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Hollister was the pioneer in breaking up the large holdings to facilitate settlement. The San Justo ranch was subdivided and sold to a colony of settlers for some $25,000 less than was offered by a speculator. The col- ony of Lompoc was also formed through his influence and liberality. When a hard sea- son reduced the colonists to a condition of embarrassment, the Colonel came forward and relieved them, by throwing off principal and interest to the extent of some $25,000. thus enabling them to tide over the hard times.

Colonel Hollister was married in San Francisco, June 18, 1862, to Miss Annie, daughter of Samuel L. and Jane L. James, the ceremony being performed by Thomas Starr King. To them were born five children.

Soon after the sale of the San Justo ranch, Colonel Hollister made his home in Santa Barbara, to which place, until the time of his death, he gave most of his time and at- . tention, having expended nearly $500,000 in and around the city. Every commend- able enterprise had the benefit of his purse and judgment. The Arlington House was raised principally through his enterprise. The Santa Barbara College was also greatly indebted to him, as was also the Odd Fellows' Building and Odd Fellows' Free Library, now merged into the public libary. On the occasion of dedicating the library to public use, the Rev. Dr. Hough, perhaps the most eloquent speaker that ever made Santa Barbara his home, made some very felicitous remarks which deserve to be pre- served in a form more substantial than that of a newspaper.

(Santa Barbara Press, September 17, 1875.)

" LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: I have the lionor of presenting to your acquaintance this por- trait of Colonel Hollister (here the veil was removed). If ever I was called upon to per-

form what our Catholic friends call a work of supererogation, it is in being asked to in- troduce Colonel Hollister to the people of Santa Barbara. There is not a Spanish muchacho in our streets; there is not a sheep- herder between this place and Point Con- cepcion who would not instantly recognize in that picture the representative man of Cali- fornia, the man who holds the plow or the pen with equal facility, the man who is equally at home in planting an almond or- chard at Dos Pueblos, managing a ranclio at San Julian, assisting to found a colony at Lompoc, or aiding to rear an Odd Fellows Hall and public library at Santa Barbara * *

* I have entertained the idea that in the early days of the order there occurred, somehow, a mistake in the name, and that it was intended they should be known to the world not as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but as the Independent Order of Good Fellows. I do not know whether Colonel Hollister is an Odd Fellow or not. I know that he has sometimes been named, quite against his own taste, a " Pastoral Prince," but I am sure that neither he nor you will quarrel with me, if I combine the two, after the fashion that suits me best, and call him the Prince of Good Fellows.

" Colonel Hollister's home place is called Glen Anne, in honor of his wife, and con- tains 2,750 acres of land composed of plain, rolling hills, long sunny slopes, and secluded, sheltered valleys. In one of these, which, though named a glen, is elevated enough to overlook the sea for a great distance, he has built an extensive cottage some 60 x 100 feet, with wide verandas overlooking a plantation of 2,000 or more orange and lemon trees in bearing. On this farm he has 30,000 almond trees, 1,200 oranges, 1,000 lemons, 500 limes, 350 plums, 200 peaches, besides other fruits, foreign and domestic variety. Roads wind-

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ing under great oaks, around rolling hills, across rustic bridges, over deep glens, now coming in view of a farin-house for his work- men, or a fanciful barn for his stoek, showing here a glimpse of the sparkling sea, now a field of grain, and now portions of his orchard, are among the attractions of the place.

" In company with T. B. Dibblee he is the owner of the San Julian Rancho, situated in the western part of Santa Barbara County, which is as fine a piece of property as a prince might wish to own. It is composed of the ranches San Julian, Salsipnedes, Es- pada, Santa Anita. Gaviota, and Las Cruces, containing in all about 100.000 acres of land classed as follows: valley, 17,000; rolling hills, 50,000, most of which can be cultivated; strictly pastnrage. 35,000. It carries from 50,000 to 75,000 head of sheep and 500 cattle. The sheep are pure merino, and the cattle thoronhbred. The annual sales are from $125,000 to $150,000, the expenses being from $25,000 to $30,000. The Gaviota Wharf is part of the property, though much produce is shipped from the Santa Ynez Valley by this wharf. It will be seen that the property pays an interest on at least $1,- 000.000. It is the intention of the pro- prietors to snbdivide and sell it when it shall become worth more for agricultural purposes than for grazing.

"Colonel Hollister has inaugurated some very extensive reforms. What is called the trespass law was enacted mainly through his exertions. In early days cattle were allowed to run at large, compelling every person to fence who wished to cultivate the ground. Though a stock-raiser himself, he insisted on not only the justice, but the policy of com- pelling every man to herd his stock under pains and penalties of trespass if they did damage. Public opinion was much divided on the matter, but one county after another came

into the arrangement, until the justice and expediency of the . Trespass Law ' is now gen- erally conceded.

"The subject of Chinese labor is still under consideration. Whether the public will come to his way of thinking is doubtful. He wields a vigorous pen, and is evidently sincere and earnest. He is a great believer in the value of labor, and enforces his belief by being about the hardest worker in the State. As a public speaker he is to the point and lucid, never attempting to be ornate or poetical, but is often humorous and sometimes sar- castic, though it requires great provocation to bring out the latter quality. In politics he is a Republican. earnest, but not rabid. A few extracts from his writings will give a better idea of his style than any description.

" PRODUCTION BEFORE COMMERCE.

" Antecedent to all trade is labor. Eng- land grows rich, not because she is smarter than other nations, but more industrious. . France lives and thrives, and pays the fright- ful war indemnity because her citizens work. Did she care for the millions of eoin paid out, and tear that thereafter she would have no measures of values left inside her dominion ? Not at all. She went to work, and so brought them back from all nations with whom she had commercial relations.

" LABOR, MORALITY, AND CIVILIZATION MARCH ABREAST.

" Labor is the sum total. Go to work and grow rich. If the nation continues idle, noth- ing can save it. If idle, it will be immoral. Poverty and crime go together. If you would have a moral community, make it prosperous. You can only do that by unflagging industry. " Labor is the penalty we pay for civiliza- tion. If there is an American who does not wish to work, let him don the scant apparel

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suited to the climate, go to the tropics, be a savage, and nature will feed him from a tree. If he wants the comforts and luxuries of a better life, let him take off his coat and go to work.

" Without work there is no wealth. There is not a dollar added to the wealth of the na- tion without labor. Congress may make a promise, but it cannot create a dollar. The labor of the people alone can do that. When the Government issued its greenbacks, it sim- ply promised to the world that the American people would create by labor a dollar's worth of property for every dollar of paper issued. That promise we must fulfill. When we have done that, greenbacks will be as good as gold, and not an hour before."

A. FORRESTER, deceased, was an in- fluential member of the San Luis Obispo County bar, a progressive citizen of broad intelligence and an aggressive advocate of the cause of right. He was born in Phil- adelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1836, became as he grew up a bright scholar, active in edu- cational affairs, an eloquent speaker and an influential politician. In San Luis Obispo County he was County Superintendent of the Schools fromn 1870 to 1872, and'a brilliant correspondent of leading San Francisco pa- pers. He was a member of San Simeon Lodge, No. 196, F. & A. M., of San Luis Obispo. He was married in that city, Jan- nary 21, 1861, to Doña Maria Josefa Pico, daughter of José de Jesus Pico, a highly re- spected Californian of that place. Mr. For- rester died September 18, 1885, at the age of forty-nine years, leaving a wife and six chil- dren. Touching enlogies were written and officially engrossed upon the records of the bar. We copy:

" Upon the receipt of the sad intelligence of the death of P. A. Forrester, Esq., the members of the Bar of San Luis Obispo County assembled in the court room of the Superior Court on Monday, September 21, 1885, and after enlogistic remarks passed the following resolutions:

" Resolved, That the members of the Bar of San Luis Obispo County have received with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of P. A. Forrester, late esteemed member of the Bar of this county.

" Resolved, That in his decease his family have lost a kind and affectionate father, the Bar an honorable member and learned attor- ney, and the community a good citizen.

" Resolved, That as a mark of respect to the deceased these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Superior Court of this county; that a copy be transmitted to the family of the deceased, and that a copy be furnished the newspapers of the county for publication.

" W. H. SPENCE, Chairman."

H. JOHNSTON, of San Luis Obispo, is a pioneer of California, as he first landed at San Francisco as early as March 14, 1850. He was born in Green County, Alabama, a son of Chesley Johnston, who also was born in that State, in 1809, was a farmer by occupation and was twice mar- ried. By his first wife, whose name before marriage was Mary Ryan, he had one son, who is the subject of this sketch. By his second marriage he raised a large family.

Mr. Johnston left home in the fall of 1843, going to Hinds County, Mississippi, where he was overseer of a large cotton plantation until he came to California. Starting from New Orleans by sailing vessel to Panamna, he

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came thence by the steamship Edward Ever- ett to San Francisco. After spending eight- een months in the mines of California and passing through various business vicissitudes, he located in 1867 in the extreme southern end of San Luis Obispo Connty, on Los Barons Creek, where he entered the dairy business, being the second to engage in that occupation in this county. He has since sold his stock and leased his ranch of 1,700 acres, and practically retired from business, making his home in San Luis Obispo.

He was married in 1855, to Mrs. Mac- Kinnes, a daughter of Charles Hamilton, of Scotland.

DWARD B. DE LA GUERRA, a son of William and Francisca (Foxen) de la Guerra, was born on the Los Alamos Rancho, December 12, 1864. His father, who died in 1874, was the oldest son of José Antonio de la Guerra. Ilis mother, now Mrs. Goodchild, was the daughter of William Domingo Foxen, one of the distinguished pioneers of Santa Barbara County. Edward spent his boyhood in Guadalupe, Santa Bar- bara County, to which place the family had moved; and it was there that he attended school and also entered mercantile life. At the age of fifteen years he was in the employ of L. M. Kaiser & Co., and later of M. J. Fontana & Co.,-both firms being of Guada- Inpe. For four years afterward he was en- gaged by Weilheimer & Coblentz of Santa Maria. In 1888 he came to San Luis Obispo city, where he and his brother are now en- gaged in the trade of gents' furnishing goods, under the name of De la Guerra Brothers, although the establishment is somewhat bet ter known as the "City of Paris."

In September, 1888, Mr. De la Guerra was

the Democratic candidate for County Recorder of Santa Barbara County, but was defeated. The nomination for this office was not of his own choosing, and was accepted only after the earnest solicitation of his friends. He is a member of the N. S. G. W., Santa Maria Parlor, No. 128. He is unmarried.

MANUEL DE LA GUERRA, of the city of San Luis Obispo, is the son of William and Francisca (Foxen) de la Guerra, and was born in Los Alamos, April 13, 1856. He received his education mainly in Guadalupe, and later, in 1879-'81, he com- pleted his studies at Santa Barbara. In 1884 he left Guadalupe and made his home in San Luis Obispo city, where he has since resided. For three years he was in the employ of Blochman & Co., and later opened the gents' furnishing store now known as the "City of Paris." He was then associated with Meyr & Greenberg. In February, 1889, he formed a partnership with his brother Edward, and they are now conducting the business jointly. Mr. De la Guerra is a man very popular both in business and social circles. He is a mem- ber of the N. S. G. W., San Luis Obispo Parlor. He was married April 25, 1890, to Mrs. Lizzie Price.

B. CALL, of San Luis Obispo, now deceased, was born in Newport, New

0 Hampshire, in 1838, the youngest in a family of six sons and two daughters. He learned the harness-making trade in Boston and came to Santa Cruz, California, Novem- ber 2, 1859, and to San Luis Obispo in March, 1862, where he died at the age of forty-three ycars. He was a pioneer in the saddle and

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harness business at this point. He was highly respected as a man of influence in the community, was a successful business man, and on his death he left a handsome estate.

ILLIAM GRAVES, of San Luis Obispo, is the second son of Judge William J. Graves, deceased, whose sketch is given elsewhere. Born Angust 15, 1854, he received a liberal education, at- tending the public school in San Luis Obispo, a private school at Chorro Ranch tanght by Mary K. Biddle, the Lincoln school in 1868 in San Francisco, in 1872 the Sunnyside High School in New Bedford County, Virginia, and afterward the Uni- versity of Virginia, at which he graduated He was admitted to the practice of law in Virgin a by the Court of Appeals in 1877, and in December that year he was admitted by the Supreme Court of California and also by the United States Circuit Court. In 1879 he was busy at the practice of law in San Francisco, and was well established in his pro- fession in connection with his distinguished father, under the firm name of W. J. & W. Graves.

In 1881 he went to Arizona and was associated with Oscar M. Brown, an intimate friend of his father, in the practice of his profession. In 1884 his father died and he returned to San Luis Obispo. Since that time he has made his home in this city, de- voting all his time and energy to the prac- tice of law, being now a member of the firm of Graves, Turner & Graves, who transact an enormous amount of business; their clients are scattered all over the State. They have participated in the litigation of abont all the important suits that have been instituted in this county, as the will cases of Biddle, Logan,

Herrera, Blackman, etc. When in Arizona Mr. Graves was a member of the Territorial Legislature. In San Luis Obispo he was City Attorney in 1878-'79, a member of the city board of trustees 1877-80, and is now a school trustee.

IIe was married in October, 1881, to Miss Lily H. Branch, a native of California, and has three children. Mr. Graves is a man of dignified presence and stately form, and is a distinguished lawyer.

OBERT E. LEE was born in Watson- ville, Santa Cruz County, California, September 21, 1866. His parents, Robert F. and Mary F. Lee, were both of Irish descent, and came from Ireland to America in the year 1850, remaining in the Eastern States some years before making California their home. Young Lee journeyed to San Luis Obispo in the year 1874, and has made that city his home ever since. IIe is a printer by trade, having established himself in that business in 1882. Is a prominent member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.

HIARLES L. ST. CLAIR was born in San José, California, July 12. 1854. He is the son of Arthur and Alida St. Clair, who came West from Michigan in the fall of 1853 and settled in San José. Young St. Clair came to the city of San Luis Obispo in 1860, and has since made this city his home with the exception of a short period when at school in San Francisco, where he attended the St. Mary's College, graduating in 1874. In 1878 he was married to Albertin . B. Boll, of Mobile, Alabama. They have two cliil-

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dren. Mr. St. Clair is a prominent member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and has, during the five years of his membership, taken an active part in the management of the affairs of this powerful organization. A blacksmith by trade, he has been engaged in that occupation for fourteen years. Mr. St. Clair is a prominent member of the San Luis Obispo Band, and possesses considerable talent as a musician, a gift which has been inherited to a surprising degree by his little son, who, at the age of nine years, took part in the performances of the band.

OHN THOMPSON is one of the prom- inent early settlers of San Luis Obispo County. In 1867 he located in Monterey County, and after three years spent there he came to his present locality in San Luis Obispo County. He is a native of north England, born in February, 1842, of Eng- lish parents, John and Esther Thompson, and was reared and educated there. When he came to San Luis Obispo County it was a grand sheep country, with but few settlers, principally stock-raisers. At first he took sheep to raise on shares, and soon worked up a fine business, becoming a breeder of stock. This he continned successfully until 1884, when the county began to be settled more thickly, and he closed out the business. When he came to the county there was only one American at the mission, Lewis Colgate, and only a few Spaniards were there. The following year Mr. Walter M. Jeffreys landed there, and they became warm friends, the intimacy lasting until 1890, when Mr. Jeffreys' death occurred. Mr. Thompson was with him in his last illness and at his deatlı-bed. He is administrator of his friend's estate, and the manager of the Jef-

freys Hotel, the pioneer hotel of the place. Mr. Thompson has large land interests of his own, having 800 acres, located three miles east of San Miguel, where he is carrying on farming and raising horses and cattle. He is also interested, with two of his sisters who reside in England, in 1,600 acres of land in Kern County. They have stock on this ranch, and they also have property in the eity of San Luis Obispo.

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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