An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 104

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 104

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LAIBORNE VAUGHN .- The subject of this sketch is one of the well-known and representative hortienlturists of his section. Ile came to the Azusa in 1872 and took up a Government elaim of eighty acres in the Ont- side school district of Azusa, abont two miles and a half southeast of the present site of Azusa City, and one mile northwest of Covina. Ile successfully contested the claim of the Azusa grant holders to this land, and was then com- pelled to contest the claims of the Southern Pacific Railroad. This he finally settled by pur- chase from them at $11 per acre. IIe had ma d

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

many improvements commencing from his first occupation in horticultural pursuits and seeking a water supply for irrigation purposes. In 1885 and 1886 he sold forty acres of his land and is now the owner of forty acres of his original tract. This he has under a fine state of cultiva- tion, having twenty-three acres of citrus fruits, thirteen acres of Washington Navel oranges, and ten acres in lemons. Of decidnous fruits he has ten acres, mostly in apricots, but also containing a fine variety of peaches, apples, prunes, etc. Six acres are producing large yields of alfalfa. He has also some three and a half acres (among his young fruit trees) which are producing strawberries. This land when first occupied by Mr. Vaughn was entirely wild and uncultivated, and he has devoted years in bringing it to its present productive state. It is well watered from the Azusa Water Development and Irri- gation Company's ditches. Mr. Vaughn was born in Shelby County, Indiana, in 1832. His father, James Vaughn, was a native of Virginia, who, in childhood, accompanied his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared until he reached manhood, and then became a pioneer of Shelby County, Indiana. There he married Miss Mary Will- iams, a native of that State. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life upon his father's farın, receiving but a limited education. With the exception of four years spent in Southern Illinois, Mr. Vaughn lived in the county of his birth until 1859. He married, in that county, in 1854, Miss Lewis, a native of Indiana. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Vaughn took up his westward march, intending to locate at Pike's Peak. This journey was performed with ox teams. Not being pleased with the reports he received of the Pike's Peak country, he continued lis emigration to California, and in the fall of that year he took up his residence in Sonoma County, about one mile from Petaluma, where lie engaged in farming. He spent thirteen years in that section, and during that time was largely engaged in contract work in the city of Petaluma, grading and paving streets, etc. In 1872 he came to Los Angeles County, and

readily obtained employment with Bateman & Bnell, having charge of their ditches in the San Gabriel Cañon. In the fall of that year he took up his present residence, since which time he has devoted himself to agricultural and horticultural pursuits. Mr. Vaughn is one of those public- spirited men whose efforts have been so instru - mental in opening up and developing the re- sources of one of the finest sections of the San Gabriel Valley. He served as the water com- missioner of his district from 1875 to 1880 and was one of the original stockholders and incor- porators of the Azusa Water Development and Irrigation Company, and has been for many years a director in the same. His long residence has made him well known, and his consistent course of life and dealing with his fellow-men have gained him the well-merited respect of his associates. In political matters he is a stanch Republican, dating his adhesion to that party and its principles from its formation in 1856. During the war of the Rebellion he was a strong Union man and a supporter of the administra- tion. He was a member of the military company enrolled at Petaluma. Mr. and Mrs. Vaughn have no children. They adopted a son, Frank White, who is now (1889) a resident of Wash- ington Territory. They have also reared from early childhood Gertie M. Williams, the dangh- ter of George and Alice (Williams) Williams. Her mother died in Sonoma County, and her father is a resident of Indiana.

J. VAWTER, Santa Monica, was born in Vernon, Indiana, and, with his father and brother, came to the Pacific Coast in 1875, first locating in Pasadena. They were members of the old Indiana Colony, the found- ers of that now beautiful and wealthy town. From Pasadena they removed to Santa Monica, then only a sheep ranch. There they opened a general merchandise store, and also organized the Santa Monica Lumber Company. In 1875 and 1876 the place grew very rapidly. The

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

first railroad was completed and a wharf was built in the former year. . From 1878 to 1880, using Mr. E. J. Vawter's own words, " a finan- cial cyclone strnek the town and nearly every body who could left for the mines in Arizona. Only a few remained, and among those were my father, brother and myself. We had great faith in the future of our beautiful Santa Monica, and we hung, as it were, with our eyebrows. Soon light dawned upon us, and things took a de- cided change for the better." Few men have labored more assiduously for the upbuilding of a town or the general welfare of a community than have the Messrs. Vawter for the develop- ment of Santa Monica. The town now has two railroads with prospects for a third, also the es- tablishment of a wharf. The new Soldiers' Home is located near. In 1888 Mr. Vawter, with others, organized the First National Bank with a capital of $50,000, and with E. J. Vaw- ter as cashier. The Messrs. Vawter have built and have in operation some five miles of street railway. Perhaps to no other persons is Santa Monica more largely indebted for the beautiful sea-side resort that it is than to these gentlemen. When others deserted it to go in pursuit of that fickle goddess, gold, they stood firm, and, after a few years of unabated toil, are now seeing their efforts crowned with success.

D. VAWTER is a native of Indiana, and was born in Jefferson County in

0 1815, son of William and Frances Vawter. Ilis mother's maiden name was also Våwter; she was a native of Virginia. Ilis father claimed to be a native of Virginia, Ten- nessee and North Carolina, because he was born where these States corner. He moved first to Jefferson County, Indiana, and later to Jennings County, where he was a successful fariner until his death. The subject of this sketch was mar- ried in 1834 to Miss Mary Crowder, of Mary- land, by whom he had six children, whose names are as follows: Mary E., wife of Ward Leavitt,

of Santa Monica; May, who married Dr. Har- wood, with whom she went to Australia and there died in the city of Sidney; Jennie C .; Mattie, wife of S. Vawter, editor and proprietor of the Daily Call, La Fayette, Indiana; W. S. Vawter, manager of the Santa Monica Lumber and Mill Company; E. J. Vawter, cashier of the First National Bank, Santa Monica. In 1852 Mr. Vawter married Charlotte A. Knowl- ton, a native of Massachusetts. From this union two children have been born: Miss Emma, and C. K. Vawter, who died in Santa Monica. The subject of this sketch came to Los Angeles County in 1875, and was one of the original members of the Indiana Colony. This colony bought land where Pasadena now stands. His original purchase was sixty acres in Pasadena. This was divided into lots and sold. He subsequently purchased sixty acres. Mr. Vawter and his sons bought 100 acres of the Lucas Ranch, sonth of Santa Monica, and they have recently sold fifty acres of it at $1,000 per acre. He owns valnable lots and property in the " city by the sea," where he resides. On first coming here he engaged in the mercantile business, owning all of the original stock. In 1887 a company was organized for carrying on the lumber and milling business, of which his son, W. S. Vaw- ter, is manager. Mr. Vawter has been a very successful inan. His life has been one of great activity. He is now in his seventy-fourth year, and he is always actively and profitably en- gaged. As a citizen he is highly respected. Politically he is a Republican, having voted for William II. Harrison in 1836. For a number of years he served as postmaster at Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana.

SAAC NEWTON VAN NUYS was born in Livingston County, New York, November 20, 1835. His ancestors, as his name indi- cates, came from Holland. Mr. Van Nuys was educated in his native county. In the fall of 1865 he came to California via the Isthmus

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

route. He went to Napa County, where, at the town of Monticello, he engaged in merchandis- ing nntil 1870, when he came to visit Los An- geles; but he did not come to reside permanently till 1874. Since the latter year he engaged in wheat- raising and milling on an extensive scale. He and some associates bought 60,000 acres of the San Fernando Ranch, in the valley of the same name, in 1869. Mr. Van Nuys was one of the very first men in Los Angeles County to demonstrate by actual results that wheat, by using the right kind of seed and by proper treat- ment of the same, can be raised there success- fully. The raising of wheat had often been attempted in Los Angeles County before, but it had been about given np as impracticable. The Spanish farmers said it would alinost surely "chalmiste," or rust. Judge J. R. Scott lad sowed several successive years, from 1,000 to 1,500 acres, up the river between the city and San Fernando, only to encounter failure, nearly every season. Others had experimented with similar discouraging results, in various parts of the county. In 1876 Mr. Van Nuys rented lands of the company of which he was a member, and against the advice of old settlers and neigh- bors, selected and prepared his seed properly, and, raised enough wheat that season to ship nearly three full cargoes to Liverpool. This was the beginning of successful and extensive wheat- raising in Los Angeles County. Various renters of the San Fernando Company, following Mr. Van Nuys's methods, have become rich at this business. Gradually the company has increased its own sowings until last year (1888) it directly, ¿. e. without the aid of renters, raised the enor- mons amount of 510,000 bushels. Most of this grain was of the best quality, much of the wheat averaging sixty-four pounds per bushel. All of this wheat instead of being sent abroad, is con- sumed here at home. Wheat-raising is now one of the recognized important industries of Los Angeles County. In February, 1880, Mr. Van Nuys married Miss Susana Lankershim, daughter of Isaac Lankershimn, by whom he has three children. Mr. Van Nuys, like Mr. Lankershim

and William Wolfskill and George Dalton and others of the modest but sterling pioneers of Los Angeles County, believes that the true way to advertise this section is to demonstrate what its possibilities are by producing tangible, prac- tical results.

ULIUS L. VIERECK, proprietor of the stove and house-furnishing store at Nos. 209 and 211 North Los Angeles street, has been in business in the city since his arrival in 1883. For the first three years he was a partner with Mr. William Lacy in the stove and hardware firm of Lacy & Viereck Hardware Company. At the end of this time the partnership was dis- solved and the business wound up; and in the early part of 1887 Mr. Viereek purchased the stock and business from M. W. and O. W. Childs, who had established it nearly thirty years ago, and thus he became the proprietor of the oldest stove and house-furnishing store in Los Angeles. His stock comprises stoves, ranges, tin ware and general house-furnishing goods in great variety, which is sold at both wholesale and retail. He occupies two floors and .the basement of the building, which is 36x 120 feet in area. The store and basement are filled to their utmost capacity with goods demanded by his large trade, extending as it does throughout Southern Cali- fornia, and as far east as Yuma and Arizona. The second floor is used as a shop for the manu- facture of tin and copper ware for his trade. Mr. Viereck carries the largest and finest stock of stoves and ranges of any house in this part of the State, making a specialty of Resor & Company's Monitor stoves and ranges, Cincin- nati, Ohio, the oldest stove manufactory in the world, having been founded in 1809; and in this age is indicative of excellence, for their goods stand at the head. Before coming to California, Mr. Viereck carried on the same line of business for twenty years in Cherokee County, Kansas, and hence has been actively engaged in mercantile life more than a quarter of a century.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

He built up a fine, lucrative business in Chero- kee County, one of the largest in the State; owned the building in which his store was situ- ated, and also several other pieces of improved town property. Mr. Viereck is a German by birth, and is forty-eight years of age. He learned the trade of tin and copper smith before leaving his native land for America in 1863. While in Kansas he was united in marriage with Miss Hellen Loewen, also a native of Germany. Six children, three of each sex, compose their family, namely: Edwin, Carl, Jessie, Frank, Lanra and Selma, the last being a native danghter of the Golden West. Owing to the serious ill- ness of Mrs. Viereck with throat and lung trouble, which physicians predicted would prove fatal, and hoping a milder climate would arrest the disease, Mr. Viereck sold out his business and property in Kansas, at a heavy sacrifice, and- moved to Los Angeles. Their hopes have been realized in the complete recovery of Mrs. Vie- reck's health, and an increase of her weight from 108 to 135 pounds. In the latter part of 1887 Mr. Viereck purchased an elegant home in which he and his family reside. It embraces several acres of highly improved land in the Altadena, three miles north of Pasadena, and twelve miles from Los Angeles, and is beautifully situated at an altitude of 600 feet above, and overlooking the pretty foot-hill city. His place is valued at over $25,000. Mr. Viereck is one of Los An- geles' most reliable and esteemed business men; conscientious and upright in his dealings, he enjoys the confidence and respect of all who know him. Edwin, the seventeen-year-old son, a youth of sterling qualities and bright promise, has charge of the store and business during his father's absence.

II. VOIGT is a native of the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, born Novem- ber 30, 1857, and is a son of Henry Voigt, a pioneer merchant of that city, a native of Germany, and now retired from business.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee, and later took a complete scientific course of study at the Michi- gan State Agricultural College, gradnating in the class of 1881. He then came West, surveyed mining claims for a few months in Montana, visited San Francisco, then came to Los Angeles and took up a situation as salesman in the fur- niture house of Sharp & Bloeser. He afterward held a similar situation with Dolter & Bradley in the same line of trade. Upon the organiza- tion of the Los Angeles Furniture Company in 1866, he entered its employ. He afterward purchased stock in the institution, and since that time has occupied the position of assistant manager. He married, December 10, 1885, Mrs. Nevada Gould, daughter of David Ander- son, deceased, who was among the first American settlers of Los Angeles, and a manufacturer of wagons. They have two children, a son, Albert, and daughter Mamie.

OHN P. WEST .- The subject of this sketch was born in Ireland, in 1825. His parents were William and Ellen (Patterson) West. Ilis father was a native of Ireland, and his mother of Scotland. In 1828 Mr. West's par- ents emigrated to the United States and settled in Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to Ohio, locating in Trumble County. There Mr. West received his education in the common schools, and was reared as a farmer. While in that county he married Miss Elizabeth Harshman. In 1856 he moved to Henry County, Iowa, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits. He took a prominent position in the community in which he resided, and for many years was a member of the Legislature and Senate of Iowa. In 1862 he entered the Fourteenth Regiment of Iowa Volunteers, and served as a soldier throughout the war of the Rebellion. At the close of that struggle he returned to Henry County, where he resided until 1875. In that year he came to California and located at Comp-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

ton, Los Angeles County, where he engaged in farming. Mr. West was a strong Republican, and took an active and leading part in the poli- tics of the county. In 1878-'79 he was a mem- ber of the Constitutional Convention that framed the present constitution of the State, and in 1880 was elected to the State Senate, serving his term with credit to himself and his constituents. In 1884 Mr. West moved to Washington Territory, but is now (1889) a resident of Novato, Marin County, California.

AMES J. WEST .- Among the well-known agriculturists and business men of Glen- dora, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. West located at what is now Glendora in 1879, taking up his residence upon 160 acres of wild and uncultivated land, just east of and forming a part of what is now the town site of Glendora. As the settlement of his section increased he sold portions of his land, sixty acres of which went into the town site of Glendora. He is now the owner of sixty acres of his original purchase, upon which he is engaged in general farming and fruit growing. Seven acres are devoted to citrus and deciduous fruits. The latter comprise a large variety of apples, pears, peaches, figs, apricots, etc., which are grown without the aid of irrigation. His citrus fruits are irrigated by water from the Dalton Canon, which he, in connection with others, has de- veloped and piped to his farm. The rest of his lands, although good for fruit and susceptible of irrigation, are devoted to hay and grain and also stock purposes. Mr. West has also a one- third interest in 240 acres of land at the month of the Dalton Canon, upon which his irrigating water is developed. The subject of this sketch was born in Trumble County, Ohio, December 28, 1851. His parents were John P. and Eliza- beth (Harshman) West. In 1856 Mr. West's parents moved to Henry County, Iowa, and there he was reared and schooled. He was early in life inured to the practical life of a farmer,

and at the same time given the benefits of a good education, completing his course of studies at the lowa Wesleyan University, at Mount Pleasant, Iowa .: In 1875 he accompanied his father to California, and took up his residence at Compton, Los Angeles County. There he purchased eighty acres of land and engaged in farming upon his own account, which he con- ducted until 1879. In that year he came to the lands then known as the Azusa, in Azusa Township, and took up his present residence. Mr. West is one of the enterprising and pro- gressive citizens of his section, and has been largely identified with the building up of Glen- dora, and developing the resources of his chosen section. He is a director of the Glendora Water Company, and was one of the original incor- porators and stockholders of the same. He is a firm believer in the future wealth and pros- perity of Glendora and the surrounding coun- try, and is a hearty supporter of any enterprise that will advance the interests of the community in which he resides. In political matters he is a Republican, and is always to be found allied with the best elements of his party. In 1878 Mr. West married Miss Frances Lemon, the daughter of William Lemon, a well-known resi- dent of Compton. She died in 1882, leaving one child, Lloyd A. In 1885 he married his present wife. She was Miss Lonellen Dongh- erty, the daughter of John L. and Mary O. (Laudon) Dougherty, a sketch of whom appears in this volume. From this marriage there are two children, Oscar Roy and an infant daughter.

IDWARD L. WATKINS .- Among the prominent business men of the San Ga- briel Valley is the above-named gentleman, who is vice-president of the San Gabriel Wine Company and superintendent of the immense winery, vineyards, etc., of that corporation (the history and description of which is given in this volume). Mr. Watkins is a native of Column-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

bus, Georgia, dating his birth in 1849. His parents, William and Mary F. (Brent) Watkins, are natives of Maryland. While in his infaney his parents moved to New Orleans, Lonisiana, in which eity the subject of this sketch was reared, receiving the benefits of an academical and business edneation, and later engaging in mercantile pursuits. In 1874 he came to Cali- fornia and located at San Gabriel. There he was employed by B. D. Wilson and J. De Barth Shorb, firm of B. D. Wilson & Co., as superin- tendent of their winery, vineyards, orange groves, ete., and in 1876 was sent by them to Wilmington, where he had charge of their furni- ture factory, farms, grain raising, and other in- dustries. In 1878 the death of B. D. Wilson veenrred, and. Mr. Watkins returned to San Gabriel, and, under the direction of Mr. Shorb, the executor, took charge of the various indus- tries and enterprises of Mr. Wilson's estate. In 1882, upon the building of the San Gabriel Winery, he was appointed its superintendent, a position that he has since held. He is one of the stockholders and original incorporators of the San Gabriel Wine Company, and in 1888 was elected vice-president of the company. Mr. Watkins is an energetic and progressive man, well schooled in business and endowed with fine executive abilities, as is well illus- trated by his management of the various enter- prises in which he has been engaged. Ile is also engaged in horticultural pursuits, being the owner of a fine orange grove of twenty aeres in extent, located at old Alhambra. Upon this tract he has erceted a neat cottage, surrounded by well-ordered grounds, affording him a pleas- ant home. Ile has other landed interests in the county, among which is a twenty-acre tract at Wilmington, well improved and planted in vines and fruit trees. Ile is also one-half owner of twelve acres in Alhambra, known as the Strausser place, which is prodneing wine grapes and a large variety of citrus and deeidu- ous fruits. In political matters Mr. Watkins is a consistent Democrat, is an earnest worker for the best interests of his party, and has

served as a delegate in many of its conventions. In 1882 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Stone, a native of Maryland. From this marriage there are three children: Frank, Brenta aud Willie.

OHN B. WILSON is the owner of a gen- eral merchandise store at Lamanda Park. This is the pioneer store at that place, and was first established by Mr. F. M. Vanderlip. Mr. Wilson purchased an interest in the busi- ness in June, 1887. The firm of Vanderlip & Wilson earried on the enterprise until Decein- ber of that year, when, by the purehase of his partner's interest, Mr. Wilson became the sole proprietor. The Lamanda Park store, under his able management, has become one of the representative business establishments of that seetion and has a patronage that Mr. Wilson's straightforward dealing and courteous manners entitle him to receive. He has been a resident of Los Angeles County for the past eighteen years, and is well known by the residents of Lamanda Park and vicinity. He was born in La Fayette County, Mississippi, July 10, 1850, and is the son of John W. and Virginia G. (Butler) Wilson. His father is a native of Ten- nessee, and his mother was born in Mississippi. The former was a teacher by occupation, but after the civil war he entered into agrienltural pursuits, to which the subject of this sketeh was reared. Mr. Wilson received the edneation afforded by the publie schools of his native place, and was oeeupied with his father in cou- ducting the farm until 1871. In that year he accompanied his parents to California and lo- cated in Los Angeles County, near Pasadena, where he engaged in grain-raising, etc., upou rented land. Hle continued that occupation uu- til 1882, and then entered the employ of Mr. J. F. Crank, as the foreman of the Fair Oaks Vineyard and his orchards. He remained with Mr. Crank until he entered into his present business. He is an energetic and public-spir-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

ited citizen, and a supporter of enterprises that tend to build up and develop the resources of his section. His long residence in the valley has secured him a large circle of friends. Po- litically, he is a Democrat. He is a member of Pasadena Lodge, No. 151, A. O. U. W., and a member of the Select Knights of the same order. He is the owner of residence property on Daisy Street, in Lamanda Park, and also of a ten-acre tract of land on the Santa Anita road. In 1873 Mr. Wilson married Miss Sarah E. Ivy, the daughter of S. M. and Sarah (Clark) Ivy, of Mississippi, but now (1889) residents of Phœ- nix, Arizona. The following are the names of the five children from this marriage: Georgia C., Luther B., James A., Irvin I. and John William. Mr. Wilson's parents are residents of Pasadena.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092