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 105

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 105

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M ILTON S. WILSON, one of the Cali- fornia pioneers of 1849, now resident in Los Angeles County, was born in Licking County, Ohio, March 2, 1823. His father, George Wilson, was a native of Virginia, who came to Ohio when only nine years of age, and upon arriving at man's estate married Miss Jane B. Moore, a native of Pennsylvania. He was a farmer by occupation, and to this calling Mr. Wilson was reared. In 1842 he accompa- nied his parents to Cass County, Illinois, where he remained until 1849. In the spring of that year he started overland for California. The party to which he belonged decided to take the ronte leading through Santa Fé, New Mexico, and Arizona, entering California by the southern ronte. A delay of several weeks occurred in New Mexico, while they were prospecting for gold, and it was not until December 1 that the party arrived at San Diego. While waiting at that point for transportation to San Francisco Mr. Wilson obtained work from the Quarter- master at the United States Barracks, and was employed on the first building ever erected at the new town of San Diego. Some weeks after his

arrival he secured a passage on the old brig Bel- fast, bound for San Francisco, at which port he arrived after a stormy voyage of fourteen days. There he was fortunate enough to secure work as a laborer. In March, 1850, he went to the mines in Tuolumne County, and after a short trial at mining engaged in teaming and freight- ing supplies from Stockton to the mines; and in the fall of that year, in company with others, established a store and boarding-house at Sol- diers' Gulch. Among his associates in crossing the plains Mr. Wilson recalls the names of Cy . rns Epler, now a district judge in Cass and Mor- gan counties, Illinois; Frank Pixley, the editor of the San Francisco Argonaut; Joseph Heslop, the first treasurer of Tuolumne County, and Judge Heslop, of San Francisco. The dry winter of 1850-'51 was ruinons to their iner- cantile and mining ventures, and in the spring of the latter year Mr. Wilson went to Santa Clara County and engaged in grain-raising. In 1852 he and his partners sent East and brought out threshing-machines and mowers for har- vesting their grain crops. In the years 1853-'54 Mr. Wilson engaged in dealing in live-stock, driving it from San Bernardino County to the mines of the North. In the latter year he lo- cated in the San Joaquin Valley, about fifteen miles from Stockton, and engaged in stock-rais- ing and dealing in stock. In 1860 Mr. Wilson married Miss Mary L. Chandler, a native of Jacksonville, Illinois. Her parents, Isaac and Evelyn Chandler, were residents of Santa Clara County; her father was a pioneer of 1849. After his marriage, although conducting his stock business in the San Joaquin Valley, he made his residence in Santa Clara. In 1864 the drouth caused the death of most of his stock, sickness confined him to his bed for months, and his land and improvements were swept from him claimed by grant holders. He thus found himself financially ruined, and com- menced life anew by entering 160 acres of land in the Santa Cruz Mountains. For several years, Mr. Wilson was successsfully dealing in timber lands in that county, and in 1870 returned to

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Santa Clara. For the next six years he was a justice of the peace, the duties of which office occupied nearly his whole attention. In 1876 he again turned his attention to the lumber business, and incorporated the San Lorenzo Flnme and Lumber Company and other enter- prises, a failure of which involved the loss of his means. After some three years spent in farmning rented land in Santa Clara, he came in 1880 to Los Angeles and entered into the dairy business, and in 1882 located upon 160 acres of Government land between Azusa and Vineland. In 1883 he moved upon a sixty-five-acre tract of land one-half mile west of El Monte, where he has since resided, engaging in agricultural pur- suits. His 160-aere tract is as yet comparatively unimproved, but it is admirably adapted to both fruit and vine culture. Fifty acres of his home farm are producing alfalfa, yielding from eight to ten tons per acre. He is also the owner of ten acres of land within the town limits of Long Beach. Mr. Wilson is a well-known and re- spected citizen of the community in which he resides. Ile is a strong Republican in politics, and in 1885 was elected justice of the peace in El Monte Township, a position he still holds. He is a strong supporter of schools and churches, and is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have four sons and one daughter: George L., Harry M., Fred- die Engene, Austin M., and Mary Let etia, all of whom are residing under the parental roof.

ON. JONATHAN TRUMBULL WAR- NER is perhaps better known by the initials J. J., because of a certain free and easy metamorphosis by the natives of his un- couth New England name into the smoother Castilian Juan Jose (J. J.) with the advantage of a two-fold saintly patronage. He was born November 20, 1807, in Hadlyme, New London County, Connecticut, his parents being Selden and Dorathy (Selden) Waruer, who were cousins. Ilis maternal grandfather, Samnel Selden, was a

Colonel in the Revolutionary army, and, being sick, fell into the hands of the British in New York upon its evacnation by General Washing- ton, and died there. It is thought probably-the evidence is almost conelusive-that he was the Major Selden who participated in the battle of Bunker Hill at the head of some Connecticut militia. This Colonel Selden was maternal great-grandfather to the late Chief Justice Waite. Three brothers Warner were among the early Puritan arrivals in New England. The Selden and Warner families purchased vast tracts of land from the Indians, about twelve or fifteen miles above the month of the Connecticut River. The families were originally related or soon became so in their new home. The father of Colonel Warner, though a graduate of Yale College, did not enter on a professional career, but settled on the farm that had been his father's and cultivated it. By the advice of an older brother, a physician, the subject of our sketch left home in the fall of 1830 to seek .a more genial elimate, having been very ill the previous summer. He had no set purpose at the outset of coming to California, bnt on reaching Mis- souri he joined a trading caravan bonnd for New Mexico. There were in the company sixty-two men with twenty-two wagons and teams, with goods, wares and merchandise of various descrip- tions. Arrived in New Mexico, a smaller com- pany was organized for Los Angeles with a view mainly of buying mules for the Louisiana mar- ket. This company Mr. Warner also joined. They reached the Colorado River early in No- vember, and Los Angeles, December 5, 1831. Mr. Warner knows of no American or Enro- pean now living in California whose arrival antedates lis. Hle had no idea of permanent settlement here. Two years afterward illness compelled him to stay, and the rest followed. Some ten years later, in 1843, he moved to San Diego County, where he owned and condneted a cattle ranch for thirteen years, raising not only cattle but also horses and sheep. In 1857, having been disabled many months by a broken limb, he again settled in Los Angeles, of which he

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has been a permanent resident since that date. In 1858 he commenced the publication of the Southern Vineyard, at first a weekly and in the second year a semi-weekly. In those days Mr. Warner was a Donglas Demoerat. Ile was a member of the State Democratie Convention in 1852, and advocated the nomination of Douglas, or the instruction of the California delegates in favor of his nomination. He voted for Douglas in 1860, but like him, loyally aeqnieseed in the election of Lincoln, and had no use for South- ern Confederacy. He has been a Republican sinee 1861. While residing in San Diego he was a State Senator in the Legislature in its sessions of 1851 and of 1852; and in 1860 was a member of the Assembly from Los Angeles. He was a notary publie for about fifteen years, until his resignation on account of failing eye- sight in 1885. He moved to his present home on University street, outside the city limits, in September, 1887. Early in 1837 Mr. Warner was married to Anita Gale, who had been brought to California at the age of three years baptized a Roman Catholic, and brought up to womanhood in the family of Governor Pio Pieo. They had five children that grew to maturity, two sons and three daughters. The oldest, a daughter, never married; the oldest son, Andrew, is dead, leaving a daughter who lives with her mother in this eity. John, the second son, lives in the Sandwich Islands at present, the resi- denee of his family (the mother, two sons and a daughter) being in San Francisco. The second daughter married a Mr. J. Cruz, and died leav- ing one daughter grown to womanhood. The youngest daughter, also married, is the mother of five children, two sons and three daughters, all living with her under the roof-tree of the venerable patriarch. Mrs. Warner died in 1859. Mr. Warner attributes his longevity to hered- ity re-enforced by constant contact with nature in ontdoor life in a healthy climate. In early manhood his health was precarious, and it is pos- sible the hereditary principle would have failed, him had his lot not been cast in this remarka- bly healthy climate. The Warners have mostly 48

been a long-lived people and the Seldens too have had many long-lived members; and one cannot well determine under snell cirenmstances how much to ascribe to climate and how much to heredity. It is pretty generally known, but none the less worthy of record, that Mr. War- ner is joint author with Dr. J. I'. Widney and the late Benjamin Hayes of the centennial " His- torieal Sketch of Los Angeles County," his contribution covering the period from September 8, 1777, to January, 1847. He also wrote some pamphlets on seientific subjects. He is of the opinion that Southern California will eventually become largely agricultural and hortienltural or fruit growing, and that Los Angeles City is des- tined to be a great commercial eenter. The title of Colonel, by which Mr. Warner is familiarly called, is not an official one, but was popularly bestowed on him in appreciation of his prowess on a memorable occasion when his ranch was raided by a band of hostile Indians numbering nearly three hundred. He had received warn- ing and removed his family, and when attacked demoralized his immediate assailants by killing four of the most conspienous and effeeting his escape on horseback during the temporary panic that ensned. It is not often that an honorary title has been so nobly won. When this oe- curred, now more than a generation ago, the Colonel, who is six feet three inches high, in the vigor of young manhood, must have been in the eyes of the startled Indians something almost superhuman.

J. WELDON, Cashier of the California Bank, and president and treasurer of the California Warehouse Company, is one of Los Angeles' business men who has risen to prominence and achieved success solely through intrinsie merit and well-directed energy. He was born in New Brunswick forty-four years ago last December. When seventeen years of age he went to sea on board of a merchant ves- sel, of which his unele was Captain, and followed

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

a seafaring life over four years. Soon after ceasing his wanderings on the deep he came to California, and, locating in Nevada County, en- gaged in the lumber business. While there he married Miss Cutten. a native of Nova Scotia. In the early part of 1874 Mr. Weldon moved to Los Angeles, continning in the lumber trade until 1880, when he went into the Farmers and Merchants' Bank as a book-keeper. Starting in at the lowest position in that capacity, he rose by successive steps during his nearly seven years of connection with the bank till he reached that of paying teller. Upon the organization of the California Bank in 1887, Mr. Weldon was elected cashier of the new banking honse, and resigned his position as teller in the Farm- ers and Merchants' Bank to accept it, and has filled that office ever since that prosperous finan- cial institution was opened. Mr. Weldon was one of the incorporators of the California Ware- house Company, of Los Angeles, and is presi- dent and treasurer of it.

G. WOOSTER, of Pasadena, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hancock, IIan- coek County, Maine, November 3, 1847, a son of John B. and Matilda B. Wooster, and the fifth of nine children. In limited cir- cumstanees, caused by the loss of shipping in which the father was interested, the family were inured to toilsome work, and young Wooster was set to driving an ox team at the early age of nine years. They occupied a rocky farm, which young Wooster assisted in clearing. Dur- ing his youth Mr. Wooster spent three seasons fishing in the Bay of Fundy. At the age of twenty-one years he was intending to take charge of a fishing vessel to be built for him, but sick- ness compelled him to abandon the enterprise. Receiving a thorough common-school education, he taught school during the winter and traveled during the summer seasons selling patent medi- cines. This was to him a valuable school for the study of human nature. To complete his edu-

cation more fully. he attended the Farmington Normal School of Maine one term, and subse- quently graduated at the Eastman National Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, with the highest honors. In 1873 he went to Boston, where he was engaged by Loeke & Bubier, stationers, on Cornhill; but he had to leave this situation soon afterward, to take care of a sick brother, George, who was a traveling salesman for Whitten, Burdett & Young, and who afterward died. The sad event took Mr. Wooster to his old home, where he buried his brother. Again Mr. Wooster went to Boston, and secured a position in the employ of Young, Reed & Atwood as loeal traveling salesman. While in their service he became afflicted with a throat disease and catarrh, and he fled to this, the greatest sanitarium of the world, the Pacific Coast. Coming by the way of the Isthinus, he had a long and tedions voyage, and suffered much from sickness. He landed in San Fran- eiseo more nearly dead than alive; but he re- covered his health and accepted a position in the service of Payot & Upham, stationers, in that city. Feeling, however, that the elimate of Sonthern California would be still inore con- genial to him, he came and spent a month in Los Angeles, and, being greatly pleased with the country, bought ten acres of land, lot 4, block H, on the San Pasenal tract, from the Lake Vineyard Land and Water Association, paying therefor about $480 eash. This absorbed abont all of Mr. Wooster's means, but he man- aged to build a shanty, in which he kept " bach " for five years. Many a day he subsisted upon unbuttered gems, and many a day he was thank- ful to get even them. It was " nip and thek " to " keep body and soul together." During those five years he set out most of ten acres in orange trees and grape vines. On January 19, 1881, Mr. Wooster married Miss Mary Abbie Kidder, daughter of Charles and Mary Kidder, of Cottage City, Massachusetts, which is located on the island of Martha's Vineyard. Almost immediately after marriage he began to prosper, and in all the years since his wife las materially

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aided him by her diligent hands and sound ad- vice. He considers her to have been the key to his success in life. After working for almost starvation wages for a time, lie entered the em- ploy of Brown & Mathews, hardware merehants in Los Angeles, as local salesman. A year after- ward he engaged as local and traveling salesman for the Gordon Hardware Company of Los Angeles, in which position he remained two years. Returning to Pasadena, he began specu- lating in real estate, in conjunction with the in- snranee business. Being careful in all his op- erations-not going beyond his accumulated means-he lias been successful. His motto is, and always has been, pay as you go. Many of his business principles came from his father, who often suggested to him the secret of so many business failures. He has recently finished the finest business building, known as the Wooster Block, in Pasadena, on Fair Oaks ave- une, corner of Kansas street, at a cost of $60,- 000. Besides this, he has built a number of dwellings costing from $1,000 to $5,000. He is secretary and one of the members of the Pas- adena Street Railroad Company; also a member of the Irvington Land & Water Company, of San Bernardino County, which owns over 2,000 acres of land, beautifully located among the foot-hills. IIe is also a subscriber to the Pasa- dena Library, and the Y. M. C. A., and a regu- lar correspondent of the Ellsworth American, Ellsworth, Maine. In 1888 he built a residence known as Island Home, at Avalon, on Catalina Island, California, where he spends his snm- mers, enjoying the pleasures of that famous re- sort.

HE LOS ANGELES WINDMILL COM- PANY, 153 South Los Angeles street, Los Angeles, was established April 1, 1889, by H. Wahleninaier, for the sale of the Cyclone and Star windmills, the former being manufactured at Santa Clara, California, and the latter at Kendallville, Indiana. These two

companies decided to unite and consolidate their extensive trade interests, and, having per- fected their organization as one company, estab- lished an agency here, and are extending their trade through this and adjoining counties in Southern California. They manufacture and supply the Cyclone and Star mills, pumps, tanks, etc. They occupy a large and commodi- ons building, carry a large stock and are pre- pared to supply dealers. The superiority of the Cyclone and Star mills is well-established on this coast and the demand for them is constantly increasing. Mr. Wallenmaier, the manager of the business here, is a native of Germany, and was born October 18, 1849. He came to this conntry in 1864, has lived in Kansas and St. Louis, and first came to California in 1874. He subsequently returned East and engaged in business until 1885, when he came again to the Pacific Coast. He was married January 1, 1877, to Miss Eliza Arn, of Kansas City. They have two children, George and Walter.

RANK A. WEINSHANK, plumber, 128 East Second street, Los Angeles, is a native of Mobile, Alabama, and was born May 14, 1853. His parents, Andrew and Regina Weinshank, came to California in 1856, during his early childhood, spent one year in San Fran- cisco and the following year came to Los An- geles and were among the pioneers of this place. Frank attended school during boyhood and after- ward served an apprenticeship to the tinning, metal and plumbing trade, with Mr. Harper, the leading hardware dealer and manufacturer of tin- ware and plumbing in Southern California. He remained with him four years, and was with Mr. Childs two years, after which he went to Sin Francisco and was with Hoffman & Green one year. From there he went to Virginia City, Nevada, and spent one year, then returned to Los Angeles and was in the employ of the railroad company, at the Mission, one year. Again he went to San Francisco, remained four

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

years, and again returned to Los Angeles. In June, 1882, he engaged in business for himself and built up a very nice trade. Through the failure of a large contractor, Mr. Weinshank lost 85,000, and this swept away both his capital and savings; but, governed by his inherent sense of honor, he began business again in a small way, through the kind assistance of Bishop Mora, and since then, by his industry and economy, has paid every dollar of his indebtedness. He has a good shop and is building up a nice busi- ness, is a very skillful mechanic, and enjoys an enviable reputation for integrity. His word is his bond. Mr. Weinshank was married, June 1, 1888, to Miss IIannah E. Needham. She was born in England and reared in Rhode Island.

ILLIAM WILEY is one of the true pioneers of this county. Ile is a native of the Keystone State, was born in 1836, and is one of the four children of Robert and Margaret (Foreshow) Wiley, both also natives of Pennsylvania. The mother died when Will- iam was a small boy, and the father was subse- quently married to a Miss Walters, by whom he had four children. Robert Wiley moved from Pennsylvania to Fulton County, Ohio, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which oeenrred in January, 1887. William Wiley left home in 1855 and went to Minnesota, returning home in 1856. In the latter year he came back through Minnesota, on his way across the plains to California, driving an ox team to Salt Lake City, for Major and Russells. There, with twenty-six others, he hired a Mormon preacher to hanl their provis- ions, blankets, etc., across the plains, paid him $50 apiece, and they walked the whole distance to California. The Mormon brought them to San Bernardino County, and they arrived in El Monte, January 3, 1858. From that time until 1864 Mr. Wiley was engaged in driving a team; then he rented land and farmed until 1866, at which time he purchased twenty-five acres where

he now lives, to which he has added about sev- enty acres more in one tract and sixty-five acres in two other pieces. He was married in 1872 to Elizabeth Simmons, who was reared in Louis- jana, and who is a daughter of James and Rachel Simmons. To thein have been born the follow- ing children : Robert, James, Lula, Walter, William K., Fred and Lena. Mr. Wiley has a pleasant home, and has been very successful since coming to this sunny land.

ILLIAM A. WILSON is an extensive farmer and stoek-raiser residing one mile southwest of the city of Compton, where he owns and manages 140 acres of land. He was born in Jackson County, Missouri, in 1834, and is the son of John and Signa . (Brad- ley) Wilson, both of whom were natives of Kentneky, and of German origin. The father was a farmer and moved to Jackson County, Missouri, where he and his wife both died when the subject of this sketeh was but a small boy. Ile was thus early thrown upon his own re- sources, and worked by the day and farmed some in Missouri previous to his marriage. This event occurred in 1855, and the lady he selected for a partner through life was Margaret Burress, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of John and Jeannette Burress, both of whom are living. In two years after their marriage, with their first child, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson started for Cali- foruia. Their train consisted of eighteen fami- lies and twenty-six wagons, and their journey was completed after being on the way six months, lacking six days. One incident con- neeted with their trip across the plains will be found of interest to many of the readers of this work. At the time they arrived in Salt Lake, Utah, it being late in the season, the Captain concluded to go the Southern route to California, as it was inch warmer. Just before they left Salt Lake, another train started from there, ealled the Arkansas train. They also took the Southern route, but did not go far before they

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were all killed in the famous Mountain Meadow Massacre. Shortly after leaving Salt Lake some difficulty arose cansing a division of the train, a part of it going in advance and the other fol- lowing a short distance behind. One evening, after the advance party had encamped, some Mormons came to the camp and said if they wanted to save the other party they had better send some men and bring them up as soon as they could, as the Indians were going to attack them that evening. Ten of the Mormons ac- companied ten of the men after the party in the rear. As they were going up a long canon they were fired upon by the Indians, or, as some sup- posed, disguised Mormons, some of the bullets going through the wagon covers, and some pass- ing through the hats of some of the party. None were injured, however. Several nights after- ward, as they lay encamped near the small Mormon town of Beaver, the Mormons came to the train and told them they had better make treaties with the Indians. Accordingly, the next morning they sent three of the party up to the town to make treati.s. As soon as they got in the town the Indians (or disguised Mormons) commenced firing on them, wounding two, the other Mormons going in their honses and shut- ting the doors. The next morning the Mormons would not allow the emigrants to leave camp until they had paid something to the Indians. So they paid a large sum in cattle and clothes, and were allowed to go on their way. The Mor- mons would not allow them to pass the scene of the massacre, so they had to make a large detour out of their road. In some places they had to let their wagons down mountains or precipices with ropes. They were compelled to make other treaties with the Indians (or Mormons), paying out altogether, in cattle and clothing, about $2,600, everything being appraised at low Missouri prices. After making the last treaty at a place called the Muddy, they had about 1,000 cattle left. They then went only a short distance before the Indians stampeded all of their cattle, leaving only the wagons and teams to pull them, after which they saw nothing more

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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