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 93

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 93
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 93
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 93

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solved to strike out West for himself, and on this date sailed for California, via Cape Horn, on the ship Sweden. He arrived at San Francisco August 3, and soon went into the mines, remaining there, however, only three months. Spending the winter in San Fran- cisco, working at the carpenter's trade, he tried the mines again in the spring, this time at Coloma on the south fork of the American River. Leaving this locality in the fall of the same year, he went prospecting, remain- ing at Bear River, near Illinois Town, for a short time and then going on the north fork of the American River, where deer and game of all kinds at this time were very abundant and could be shot almost withont moving from the camp. In the fall of 1851 Mr. Gragg went into Mariposa County, remain- ing there until July, 1852. In all these places mentioned he was engaged, as was almost every one else, in mining, and with fair success. He now decided to settle down in Santa Cruz. and did make that his home until 1880. For two years he was engaged in loading vessels, then worked at his trade for ten years, and later on was in the tan- ning business for a period. From 1867 to 1880 he was engaged in the planing and lumber business with S. J. Lynch. During his life in this place Mr. Gragg naturally witnessed many changes in its growth and development. From a village of 300 inhab- itants it grew to be a city of 5,000 popnla- tion in 1880. At one time he held the office of City Trustee in Santa Cruz, the board cou- sisting of three members during his terin of service.

In 1880 Mr. Gragg moved to San Luis Obispo County, and since that has made his home here. He is the owner of a fine ranch of 700 acres, near Port Harford, which he is devoting to stock-raising and farming. IIe also owns a pretty home in the city of San

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Luis Obispo, at which place his family reside most of the year, the children receiving the benefit of the city schools.

Mr. Gragg was married in 1868, at Santa Cruz, to Miss Ruth Root, and as a result of this union there are six children. Since his removal to this county, Mr. Gragg has thoroughly identified himself with its best interests. He has served as a member of the Board of Supervisors for the Fourth district for four years. During this term many needed reforms and improvements have been accomplished. It is a period that is, per- haps, conspicuous in that respect, in the history of that body.

OAQUIN ESTRADA was born in Mon- terey, in 1819, and moved to San Luis Obispo in 1845. He first settled on the Santa Margarita ranch, a property which consisted of 15,000 acres, and which is now considered one of the very best ranches in the State. Mr. P. W. Murphy bought it in 1860 for a trifling amount compared to its present valuation. After disposing of this property, Mr. Estrada purchased a ranch about two miles from the city of San Luis Obispo, and has continned to live there since that time. The property, a very pretty place of about 160 acres, is now known as " Es- trada Garden."

Mr. Estrada has a distinct recollection of General Fremont's campaign in this part of the State during the Mexican war. It was during his ownership of the Santa Marga- rita ranch. General Fremont's troops were then stationed in various parts of this county, and at one time, being short of beef, they de- cided to help themselves to the fine cattle on the Santa Margarita ranch, which they did to the extent of thirty cows and 100 horses.

The cattle were killed and for a time the Americans were well fed. Mr. Estrada states that to the best of his recollection he was never paid for the stock, neither did General Fremont offer any explanation in the matter. Mr. Estrada also remembers that this oc- curred while he was absent, and it was on his return that he missed his cattle. He was subsequently captured by the troops at vari- ous times, but was in each case released withont serious injury.

He was the first County Treasurer in this county, W. J. Graves being his deputy. He held this office two years. Was also Justice of the Peace, and for many years served as Supervisor. Of late he has been living quietly at his ranch, the " Estrada Garden," a popular place for picnics, barbecues, etc. Many are the interesting stories this old pio- neer tells of his life on the Santa Margarita ranch. At one time a barbecne there lasted thirty days. He had a band and other at- tractions, and people came from all over the country.

Mr. Estrada was married in early life.

RNEST GRAVES, a member of the firm of Graves, Turner & Graves, at- torneys at law, at San Luis Obispo, is a son of William J. and Soledad Pico, and was born in the old mission building adjoining the Catholic Church in the city of San Luis Obispo, December 5, 1852. At the age of eight years he was taken to San Francisco, as the family changed residence to that city, where his father was practicing law. He at- tended St. Ignatius College in that city, be- tween the years 1862 and 1864, and later the Santa Clara College; in 1871 he was in at- tendance at the State University at Berkeley, and then at an Oakland school. He studied

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law under the instructions of his father in San Francisco, afterward practiced with him there, and after his father's death he located in San Luis Obispo city, his old home, where he has since resided. The law firm of which he is a member is well known in all parts of the State, as they have been parties in all im- portant litigation in this county for a num- ber of years, and generally with marked success. Among the most important cases were those of the wills of Biddle, Logan, Herrera, Blackman, etc .; also the case of Schultz against McLean. Mr. Graves was City Attorney for three years, 1875-'77, the first three years of the corportate life of the city; and he was District Attorney 1880-'85.

He was married March 27, 1878, to Miss Holloway, a native of California, and he has three children.

APTAIN HENRY A. SPERRY, a lead- ing citizen, agriculturist and stockman of San Luis Obispo County, is a native of Boston, Massachusetts. He was born De- cember 22, 1842, is a son of Henry Sperry, a successful real-estate dealer of that city, and a native of Vermont. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth in his native city, and received the advantages of a fair public schooling. He entered the war of the Rebellion in 1861, a member of the Thirtieth Massachusetts Infantry, Company D, as a sergeant. He was advanced through the various official grades with the rank of Captain of his original company. He served nearly five years in the ariny, and was then sent South at the close of the war, to do Pro- vost.Marshal duty.

His experience as a soldier was rather an unusual one, having engaged in so many battles at times under the hottest fire, yet

never received a wound. After serving under General Butler in the army division of the . South, he came north under General Phil. Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, when Early invaded the city of Washington. He was in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek, when Sheridan made his famous ride. After having been mus- tered out of the Government service, he, de- siring to see California, caine to Stockton, where he remained about one year and then went to San Francisco, from 1868 to 1872, where he engaged in mercandising. In 1872 he came to San Luis Obispo County, leased a sheep rauch of Ziba Branch, Esq., one of the wealthiest and most successful old settlers of the county. This business venture proved a success, and in 1875 he wedded Miss Louise, one of the accomplished daughters of Mr. Branch. The wife died in 1879, and her two children, Henry Scott and Elsie, died later. Mr. Sperry married for a second wife Mary Woods, daughter of Mr. C. H. Phillips, a prominent and influential citizen of San Luis Obispo, and the results of this union is three sons and one daughter. Mr. Sperry is a stanch Republican, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a leader in the Harper Post, G. A. R., of Arroyo Grande.

- FERNANDEZ was born in San Luis Obispo County, February 12, 1855, and is one of a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters. The family ranch is located on the line of the city limits, and there Mr. Fernandez has spent the whole of his life. At present he holds an impor- tant position as agent for a San Francisco meat and produce establishment, aud has in charge the buying and selling of cattle for them. He is also engaged on the ranch and

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in various other enterprises. Mr. Fernandez is personally a very popular man in the city and well known throughout the county. He was married in 1881, aud has five children.

ON. CHARLES FERNALD. - Con- spicuous among the homes of the Chan- nel City is that of the Hon. Charles Fernald, perhaps the most widely known as well as the oldest New England resident of Santa Barbara. An entire city block is de- devoted to the culture of fruit and forest trees, upon a slight elevation in the midst of which stands the dwelling. The exterior is a true indication of the hospitable home within, for the Judge and his family unite to the simplicity and character of social life in New England, the genial hospitality and grace of the sunny South.

Judge Fernald traces his lineage to one of the oldest stocks of American progenitors, being a direct descendent from Dr. Renald Fernald, who came from England to New Hampshire with Captain John Mason's com- pany, in 1631, and settled in Piscataqua in that year. The Doctor had the distinguished honor of being the first surgeon who settled in New Hampshire, where the family has continued for more than two centuries.

In 1640 appears the name of Renald Fer- nald as one of the grantors of fifty acres of glebe lands settled by the government and inhabitants of the Piscataqua Rivers to the church wardens for the advancement of the cause of religion. The city of Portsmouth has since been built upon the site of this grant. With this city the name of Fernald has been deservedly connected to the pres- ent day.

Dr. Renald Fernald and is brother Thomas Fernald, who came from England with him,

became proprietors of the island, or the northeast shore of the Piscataqna River, and their descendants held the same for a century and a half, until John Fernald, Jr., of Middleton, New Hampshire, conveyed away the middle one, known as the " Lay Claim Island, " and also as Fernald's Island, which afterwards on June 15, 1806, passed into the ownership of the United States and is now the site of Fort Sullivan in the Ports- month or Kittery navy yard.

The Fernalds have ever been a brave and loyal race. In 1776 Mark and Gilbert Fer- nald appended their signatures to the solemn engagement, to oppose the hostile proceed- ings of the British fleets and armies against the United American Colonies, and Hercules, or Archelaus Fernald, as he was sometimes called, the grandfather of our present sub- ject, then only twenty-seven years of age, and a resident of Kittery, York County, Maine, enlisted in the Continental army in the regiment of Colonel Francis, when he marched to the Heights of Dorchester near Boston and engaged in the defense of his country. He afterward did much other pa- triotic service.

The subject of our present sketch, Judge Charles Fernald, was born at North Berwick, County of York, State of Maine, on May 27, 1830. After completing the preparatory studies for college under the tuition of Pro- fessor Harrison Carroll Hobart, at the age of eighteen he joined that band of hardy and brave youth sent forth by New England to California, arriving at San Francisco June 14, 1849, being one of the Argonants to pass through the Golden Gate in that memorable year, -which honor the Judge still preserves by a life membership in the California Pioneers' Society. After a few months spent in the mines he returned to San Francisco in November 1849, and was engaged in editorial

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work and law reporting until May 1852, being upon the staff of the Morning Post and Alta, the two leading journals of that day. During the time of his residence in San Francisco, he pursued his law studies with steadfast ardor, although interrupted greatly by the fire of May 4, 1851, which blotted out the city and for a brief period checked busi- ness pursuits. On May 4, 1852, a conflagra- tion again destroyed the growing city and swept away his entire library, which he had accumulated in the meantime. This second disaster seemed to have changed his deter- mination to remain longer on this coast, and he resolved to return to Boston. Having many friends and acquaintances in Southern California, the Judge resolved to visit them on his way home, stopping at Santa Barbara and at Los Angeles, intending to take the Panama steamer at San Diego where it then touched. On June 30, 1852, he arrived at Santa Barbara, where he met his friends, Ed- ward Sherman Hoar and Augustus F. Hinch- man, who were among the leading lawyers and citizens of what was then an old and respectable Spanish settlement.

At this period the law-abiding citizens of Santa Barbara were carrying on a vigorous campaign against an organized set of bandits who, disregarding all laws, had so terrorized the peaceful residents that their lives were a daily burden. They had compelled the offi- cers of the law in the connty to resign their trusts, and anarchy and terrorism ruled supreme. At a public meeting of the lead- ing citizens of the town it was resolved to make a firm and determined effort to re-estab- lish order, and they invited Judge Fernald, then a young man of twenty-two, to remain and assist in the good work, desiring him to accept the office of County Judge. He was not a man to decline a public duty thus im- posed upon him, and finally consented to re-

main. Upon the application of the leading citizens of Santa Barbara, Governor John Bigler, on March 14, 1853, appointed him Judge of Santa Barbara County. To this place he was elected September 5, 1853, and re-elected in 1857. At these elections the Judge was the unanimous choice of the citi- zens of the county, only a few votes being cast against him. Among his first official acts was the appointment of Russel Heath to the office of district attorney, with a strong and efficient corps of county officers throughont to take the places of those who had resigned. To these the people gave loyal support and the county government was successfully reorganized, and so strictly and impartially were the laws enforced under the new regime that no public disorder or resistance to the laws was attempted for many years, notwith- standing many " bravos," outlaws and des- perados were at large in some of the adjoin- ing counties.

On January 7, 1860, by a joint resolution of the Senate and Assembly, Judge Fernald was granted five months' leave of absence from the state, in order to transact some very important business and visit his old home in the East.

The Judge spent six months in Massachu- setts and in the East. On his return he was again elected Connty Judge, in 1861. In 1862 he again visited his old home in New England, and returned in October of that year accompanied with his bride, who was Miss H. H. Hobbs, of North Berwick, Maine, ever since and now the universally esteemed and honored wife who has so well aided in making an ideal home in Santa Barbara.

In 1862 the Judge resigned his office on account of the inadequacy of the salary, and entered upon the active practice of his pro- fession in Santa Barbara and throughout

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Southern California, where he has continued his practice with signal success up to the present time. He was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of this State on Sep- tember 2, 1854, and the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of California, September 2, 1857, and to the Supreme Court of the United States at the October term, 1874. He was appointed Judge Advocate of the Fourth Division of the California Militia, April 26, 1854, by Governor Jolın Bigler.

Judge Fernald was alinost unanimously elected Mayor of the city of Santa Barbara in May, 1882, and held the office for two years, to the great satisfaction of the citizens and honor to himself, declining to accept any salary, provided by city charter, for his services as such.

For more than thirty years Judge Fernald has been identified with all the important litigation of this and adjoining counties, and throughout Southern California, and has numbered among his clients the most dis- tinguished eitizens as well as the largest non-resident land-owners; and during that long period has maintained his great reputa- tion in his profession for fidelity and signal ability. He is said never to have lost a land case.

Nearly all the great land-owners, includ- ing John C. Jones, late of Boston, Massachu- setts; Colonel Thomas A. Scott, T Wallace More, Henry M. Newhall, Dr. Nicholas A. Den, Thomas B. Dibblee, Dr. J. B. Shaw, Ellwood Cooper, Lazard Freres, the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, and the Southern Pacific Railway Company were numbered among his clients. He has never been iden- tified in any way with any doubtful or ques- tionable litigation, refusing retainers in in- equitable cases as well as declining criminal practice.

He is strong physically and morally, alert,

an acute observer, and possesses the great and natural advantage of a good memory of facts and occurrences at a trial, as well as tireless industry.

His services to this city in finally settling the title to and fixing the boundaries of its municipal lands, as successor to the ancient Pueblo of Santa Barbara, by obtaining a patent therefor (four square leagues) from the United States Land Department, the first patent ever issued to a pueblo in this State, were of great value to this city and its inhab- itants.

Fortune has smiled on the Judge's profes- sional career, and bestowed upon his exertions ample pecuniary rewards. He is now an ex- tensive land-owner in Santa Barbara and its vicinity, and a stockholder in many of its leading corporations. The Fernald Block, in which his elegant offices are located, is a striking ornament on State Street, situated in the heart of its business center. He has ever been one of the foremost in all local enterprises for the improvement of the city, and he has contributed in no small degree to its business prosperity.

There is perhaps no citizen of Santa Bar- bara more widely known and respected than Judge Fernald. He is deeply read in an- cient and modern history, in English, French and Italian literature, and familiar with the principles of the civil as well as the common law; also a close student of international law and the science of government.

He has ever taken a deep interest in fruit culture and in forestry, being a life member of the American Forestry Association. The first experiment in planting, and in the cultiva tion of the olive tree in Southern California, outside of the old missions, was made by him. As early as 1865-'66, and long prior to the greater and more successful experi- ment of Mr. Ellwood Cooper, he purchased

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the " Belmont property," about seventy-five acres of land, near the city of Santa Barbara, and planted it out in olives of the mission variety, for the purpose of establishing the fact that the soil and climate of Southern California was alike favorable for the produc- tion of olives for preserving and for making oil of the best quality.

A. BARKER .- In traveling east of Santa Paula a mile and turning to the south a quarter of a mile, one comes upon the lovely sequestered spot, under the spreading oaks, and numerous shade and fruit trees of the owner's own planting-the cosy home of the pioneer, J. A. Barker. The house is nearly hidden from view by the endless va- riety of fruit and other trees that surround it. The first intimation of life on the ranch is the friendly greeting of the harmless old honse dogs, which by their wag and twist seem to say, " We are glad you have come." Next, the visitor is met and taken by the hand by the pioneer himself, who, in his frank and hospitable manner, invites his guest in and makes him feel at home.

Mr. Barker was born in Louisville, Ken- tucky, December 3, 1833. He is a son of John Barker, a native of Kentucky, born in 1802, and a grandson of Stephen Barker. also a native of the " Blue Grass State." Both Mr. Barker's mother, nee Mary Asheroff, and her father, James Asherhoff, are Kentuck- ians by birth. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of ten children, only

four of whom are now living. He was edn- cated in Missouri and lived on a farm there until twenty years of age. In 1853 he came to the Golden State, in search of its rich treasures. For six years he mined in Nevada County, with good success, his average per day being from $7 to $14. He came out of the mines with what to him seemed satisfac- tory results. He makes the statement that he has seen a piece of quartz rock seventy-six ponnds in weight, that contained $8,250 in gold. After leaving the mines he engaged in freighting, and received $35 per thousand for drawing lumber seventeen miles. There were very few settlers in this part of the county when Mr. Barker came here in 1869. Mr. J. Crane, Judge Wason and Mr. George M. Richardson were here, and soon other settlers came and the work of development was pushed forward. Mr. Barker took up a Government elaim of 160 acres, which he has improved, and where he has been engaged in general farmning, raising corn, barley, beans, horses, cattle and hogs. Mr. Barker is only one of the many who have come here and have made for themselves and families bean- tiful homes in this sunny clime.

He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Lee, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Joseph Lee, who was born in Massachusetts. They have had a family of eight children, six of whom are living: James, Benton, Mary Ella, Saralı Isabel, John Wesley and Hattie. Sev- eral of the children are married and live near him. Mr. Barker's political views are Demo- cratic. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

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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