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 106

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 106

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of Mormons or Indians. Mr. Wilson lived one year in San Bernardino Connty, and then moved to Los Angeles County, where he rented a farm near El Monte, which he farmed for twelve years. Ile subsequently purchased the place on which he now lives, then all a vast wilderness, covered with mustard fifteen feet high. A com- fortable residence now stands where once all was rugged and wild, and his well-kept herds of cattle and horses, grazing on the fertile fields, show that the owner of this farm has enjoyed his share of prosperity. Mr. Wilson is one of the men who "made it for himself." When he arrived in California he had not a dollar in the world, was in debt $35, and his only possession was two or three cows. He has certainly shown what a man by energy and perseverance can do. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have reared a large family, in all eleven children, ten of whom are living: Sarah Frances, now the wife of Lycurgus Mc- Swain; William Albert, who married Nancy Carter; James Henry, who married Ollie Mc- Gray; Mary Signa, wife of James B. Proctor; John Thomas, who married Mary E. Lee; Jen- nettie; Maggie, who died July 25, 1875; Aunie Mabel, Minnie Alice, George Andrew and Bertha Edna. They have also reared an adopted nephew, Elijah Lee Farriel, who is still with them. Socially Mr. Wilson is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Compton, Centennial Lodge, No. 247. Politically he is a firm believer in, and a strong supporter of, the principles as taught by the Democratic party.

M E. WOOD, City Treasurer, Pasadena, is a native of Bangor, Maine; was reared and received his education in that State; remained there until 1876, when he came to California and located at Los Angeles, engaging in tree-planting at what is now Pasa- dena, and then only a ranch. He planted two orange orchards, one of them where the opera house now stands, and the other just above the Universalist Church. He was among the first

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

to engage in orange-raising. He engaged in the furniture business for several years, and was for a number of years engaged in the fruit and prodnee business in Arizona. He has been actively identified with the interests of Pasadena and one of its most enterprising eitizens, in the progress and development of this beautiful sub- urban city of Los Angeles. He was instru- mental in getting up excursion parties from Boston for several years. In the spring of 1889 he was elected eity treasurer and now holds that office, and is also treasurer of the Pasadena Board of Trade.

EORGE D. WHITCOMB .- The subject of this sketch is the most prominent busi- ness man of Glendora, and may well be styled the father of that beautiful and prosper- ous town, for there has not been an enterprise instituted, tending to build up that town and develop the resources of that section of the East San Gabriel Valley, in which he resides, that does not claim him as its head and front, and he is always found devoting himself, with his trained business and capital, toward a successful result. Mr. Whitcomb, after years' of active and snecessful business pursuits in the East, found himself in 1884 so broken and shattered in health that a complete change of elimate and rest became an absolute necessity. In that year he came to Los Angeles County and located at West Los Angeles, where he remained until 1885. Much improved in health, he could no longer remain inactive, and, deciding to enter into hortieultural pursuits, he came to what is now Glendora and purchased 400 acres of land, covering the present site of Glendora and ex- tending baek to the foot-hills to the north. This land was only partially improved, and with- out water except such as was required for domestic purposes. Mr. Whitcomb, with his characteristic energy, entered into the prosecu- tion of his new ealling, elearing his land, plant- ing fruit trees, and developing water in the

Dalton Cañon and other places. He early saw the possibilities of a rich and prosperous future for the seetion that he had selected as his home, and upon the advent of the railroad (the Santa Fé route) in the valley, in March, 1887, he in- corporated the Glendora Land Company, and also the Glendora Water Company. In the first-named company there were associated with him Merriek Reynolds as vice-president, and John W. Cook as seeretary and treasurer. These gentlemen also held the same position in the last-named company, with the exception that E. F. Spence, of Los Angeles, was the treasurer. In addition to the lands of Messrs. Cook and Reynolds, a large share of Mr. Whit- eomb's lands were devoted to the town site of Glendora, which the company platted and opened its fine avennes. The work was well done, and thousands of trees were planted under Mr. Whitcomb's direction, lining both sides of miles of avenues. The water system for domes- tic and irrigation purposes of the town was also one of the most complete and substantial that could be devised. It was not a wild and vision- ary scheme for " boom " purposes. Substantial and permanent improvements were made, and the operations of the companies were conducted upon sound business principles, which resulted in attracting a desirable class of permanent in- vestors and settlers. The company built a comfortable and well-ordered hotel, erected a building for their office, and contributed some $5,000 for a fine school-house, and then came the solid investors. They eame seeking desira- ble and pleasant homes. They built stores and work-shops, substantial dwellings, churches and school-honses. It is to Mr. Whitcomb's fore- sight, liberality and sound business enterprise that this result has been secured, and Glendora can boast to-day of having as prosperous and as intelligent and cultivated a community as any town of its size in the State of California. It is a life's work accomplished in less than three years, and he may well be proud of the results. In addition to his large interests in the town of Glendora, he is the owner of seventy aeres

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

located at the head of Vista Bonito avenue, upon which he has erected a beautiful villa residence, in which he has combined the conveniences and luxuries of modern life, sur- rounded by well-ordered grounds abounding with ornamental trees and rich floral produc- tions. This home is situated upon an eminence overlooking the town site of Glendora, and affording a beautiful view of the valley to the south and west, producing one of the most varied and pleasing landscape views imaginable. He is a successful horticulturist, having a fine citrus fruit orchard of twenty acres, producing some of the finest-flavored oranges to be found in the county. He also has twenty acres de- voted to decidnous fruits, comprising a large variety of such fruits as are adapted to liis sec- tion. There are also nine acres of raisin and table grapes npon his place. In conducting his horticultural operations he is guided by the same thorough-going qualities and intelligent attention that have secured him success in other pursuits. Mr. Whitcomb is a native of Ver- mont, and dates his birth in Brandon, Rutland County, in 1834. His parents, Dexter and Emily E. (Tilton) Whitcomb, were natives of New Hampshire. In 1844 his parents left Vermont and located in New York. From thence, in 1845, they moved to Michigan, and in 1846 finally located in Portage County, Ohio. Mr. Whitcomb was early in life trained to busi- ness habits, and when less than twenty years of age commenced life as a clerk in the railroad employ, and later was employed as an account . ant by the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad Company. In 1856 he went to St. Paul, Min- nesota, and for many years was accountant and general agent for parties conducting a large hide and leather business. While there, in 1859, he married Miss Leodora Bennett, a native of Wheeling, Virginia. She was the danghter of Captain Abraham Bennett, a well-known pioneer steamboat commander and owner on the Upper Mississippi River. In 1864 Mr. Whitcomb was employed by the Panhandle Railroad Company as its purchasing agent, and took up his resi-

dence in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1870 lie left the railroad employ anil located in Chicago, and entered into extensive coal-mining opera- tions, which he successfully conducted until 1880, when he became the proprietor of the well-known Harrison Mining Machine, and established himself in the manufacture and sale of that machine. This business he still con- duets in Chicago. In 1884, as before stated, lie took up his residence in California. Mr. Whitcomb takes a deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of the community in which he resides. He is a liberal supporter of schools and churches, and is a consistent member of the Methodist church, and a trustee of the same. He is a school trustee in the Glendora district, and was one of the most prominent in establish- ing the first school opened in the district. In political matters he is a stanch Republican, taking an intelligent interest in the political questions of the day. The names of the chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitcomb are as follows: George B., Carroll S., William C., Leo- dora, Elizabeth and Virginia. George B. mar- ried Miss Ella Sheppard. Carroll S. married Miss Ada Bradley. William C. and Carroll S. are stockholders in the Glendora Land Com- pany, and are associated with their father in' condneting the enterprise.

ROFESSOR S. A. WALDRON, Principal of La Ballona School, was born in Wash- tenaw County, Michigan, in 1836, gradn- ated at Ypsilanti in 1857, began teaching when quite a boy, and has been an active and honored member of the teachers' profession for over thirty years. In 1859 he came to California, since which time he has taught in different parts of this county, and for the past ten years has served as principal of the La Ballona School near the Palms. In a'ldition to his achieve- ments in the school-room the professor has ac- cumulated considerable property. He owns a ranch of 2,500 acres in Antelope Valley, which

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

is devoted to wheat and barley. Ile owns also valuable property in the city of Los Angeles. In 1874 he married Miss Belle Swift, a native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She was educated at the seminary in Eau Claire, and has been a teacher in the schools of Los Angeles County and city for a number of years. Professor Waldron is a Democrat in politics, and has been prominently before the people as a candidate for some very important offices. In 1888 he was a candidate for the Assembly, and in 1887 for county recorder. He is a gentleman of scholarly attainments, and his ability as a public in- strnetor is attested by the fact of his having- served so long in his present position.

- C. WOLDEMANN, stock-raiser, was born in the city of Keil, Germany, in 1829. His father died six months before he was born, and his mother died at his birth. They had one other child, Lonisa, two and a-half years older than the subject of this sketch, but she also died at the age of thirteen years. He was thus early left alone in the world. After receiving an education at the common schools in Germany, he was drafted by the King of Denmark into the army, at the age of twenty-one years, He refused, however, to go to war, and started for America, arriving at New Orleans in 1857. He worked at different places and at different occul- pations till, in 1860, he crossed the plains to California. With two others besides himself he spent a whole year on the road, with two yoke of oxen and a two-wheeled cart. He bought 148 acres of land where he has since lived. By strict attention to business he has accumulated quite a fortune. lle has been engaged in raising stoek for several years. In future, he will give considerable attention to raising poultry. When a school-boy in Germany he had this purpose in mind which now he means to carry out; and judging from the success he has had in other lines of business, he will carry this on with profit. Mr. Woldemann is all that is left of the

family, and he has never been married. He has always been a straightforward Republican, be- lieving fully in the principles and doctrines of the party, and has defended them upon all proper occasions and before all men. The "Golden Rule" is his religion, and all who know him will bear testimony to his strict ob- servance of it.

A. THOMAS, Postmaster at Garvanza, and dealer in staple and fancy goods, gro- ceries, etc., has been a citizen of Los Angeles County since the year 1886. He was born in Erie, Huston County, Tennessee, in 1855, and is a son of John and Nancy (Allen) Thomas, of Tennessee. They had eight children. The oldest, W. T. Thomas, was a soldier in the late war. The subject of this biographical sketch was left an orphan at the age of seven years, and was thrown thus early upon his own resources. He followed clerking in a store till he was nine- teen years old, and at that time came to Cali- fornia. Here he remained but a short time, but during that time became acquainted with and married Miss Cora Allen, a native of the Golden State. They were married in 1878, and Mr, Thomas took his bride back to Tennessee, where they resided seven years. In 1886 he again sought the Pacific Coast, and upon his arrival in California, engaged in the livery business in Garvanza, and later, in the grocery business. By him the postoffice was established July 19, 1887, and he was made the first postmaster, which office he still holds. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ALLACE WOODWORTH, one of the pioneers of Los Angeles, was the son of John D. Woodworth, also a pioneer; and he was born at Johnstown, Licking County, Ohio, July 28, 1832. Ile came to California in

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1850, at the age of eighteen, with his father. After staying a year they returned East; bnt Wallace soon came back and went to Oregon, where he stayed three years, when he came to Los Angeles County, and became the superin- tendent of "El Chino Rancho," for his uncle, Colonel Isaac Williams, the owner of that princely domain, Colonel Williams having gone East. Afterward Mr. Woodworth engaged in the purchase of cattle on a large scale, disposing of them in Northern markets and in the mines at good profits. Later he entered into a part- nership with W. H. Perry, which endured nearly thirty years, or till Mr. Woodworth's death. The firm of Perry & Woodworth was long a familiar one to all our older citizens. At first it engaged in the cabinet and furniture business on Main street, near the Pico House; bnt ulti- mately it changed to the lumber and milling business and moved to Commercial street, where the firm and its successor, the Perry Lumber Company, did an immense business. Mr. J. D. Woodworth, the father, returned with his family to Los Angeles in 1857, and resided here till his death, with the exception of a few years' residence at his ranch near San Gabriel, which he sold to Mr. Titus. Mr. Woodworth, Sr., was a man of sterling character and of consider- able prominence, being for a number of years justice of the peace, and also postmaster of this city under President Buchanan. Wallace Wood- worth married Doña Maria Antonia, only daugh- ter of Don José Perez and Doña Merced Lugo de. Perez, and granddaughter of the patriarch, Don Antonio Maria Lugo, of whom a brief sketch appears in another part of this work. There were born to this union four sons and two daughters, all now living in this city. Wal- lace Woodworth was a man of positive character. As chairman of the board of supervisors, he probably was more influential than any other man in rescuing the affairs of our county from the disorganized state into which they had fallen, and in bringing our diseredited county warrants from a heavy discount, np to par. He was also a member and president of the city

council. He took a prominent part in introduc- ing gas and water into the city of Los Angeles. He was an active mover in the erection of a wharf at San Pedro which, however, he did not live to see completed. Affiliating with the Democratic party, he was prominent in its local conneils, and was for many years chairman of its county committee as well as a member of the State executive committee for this county. IIe went as a delegate from California to the Na- tional convention which nominated General W. S. Hancock-of whom he was a warmn personal friend-for the Presidency. During the later years of his life Mr. Woodworth engaged quite largely and successfully in the culture of the vine, orange and olive. While very close and shrewd in business matters, he was a good friend to the orphans and to the church, contributing liberally in aid of both. Wallace Woodworth, as all who knew him will concede, was a useful citizen, a staneh friend, and a good husband and father. He died in the prime of life, after a short illness, on September 13, 1882, aged fifty years.

IMON W. WHITE was born near the city of Cork, Ireland, August 7, 1837, and is a son of William and Ellen (O'Conner) White, the fifth of a family of nine children. He came to America in 1869, and landed in New York, July 12. Before coming to America, however, in 1864, he married Miss Annie Hem- brow, a daughter of James and Sarah Hembrow, both natives of England. From New York Mr. White went to Boston and worked for two years in the machine shops. Later he went to Kansas City, and engaged in the grocery business, and in 1875 he became a citizen of California. In the fall of 1877 he bought 134 acres of land near Burbank, on what is known as the Provi- dentia Ranch. This he has improved, and is now extensively engaged in raising grapes and fruit of all kinds. Mr. and Mrs. White have five children: Simon E. R., William J., Ed-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

ward J., Francis A. and Annie M. Politically Mr. White affiliates with the Democratic party, but in local political matters he is very liberal. Since taking charge of the farm on which he lives, he has been very much interested in the educational affairs of his district. He it was who formed Providentia district in 1879, and he has been one of its main officers ever since, and at present is clerk of the district.

ENRY CLAY WYATT was born in Rich- mond, Virginia, June 29, 1849. His an- cestors for several generations were natives of Virginia, but on the paternal side came origi- nally from England, and on the maternal side from Ireland. He was educated in Virginia, and entered the service of the Confederate States, as a drummer-boy in the First Virginia Regiment, Kemper's Brigade, Pickett's Division. Ile first went into the theatrical business in 1867, as treasurer of the Richmond Theatre. At the end of three years he gave up this posi- tion to open a large music store, known as the " Richmond Music Emporium," which he man- aged for four years, when Colonel John McCaull (of Opera fame), John F. Allen and others converted Mozart Hall, in Richmond, into a theatre, and selected Major Wyatt as the man- ager. Meeting with success in this responsible position, Wyatt took charge of the Peters- burg Academy of Music, the Norfolk Theatre, and several smaller houses, which he managed for some time, when John T. Ford, of Ford's Baltimore and Washington theatres, offered him a large salary to take the "Einma Thursby Concert Company" over a Southern tour. The company consisted of Miss Thursby; W. T. Carleton, baritone; Alfred Pease, pianist; Emil Tvedt, violinist, and George W. Colby, accom- panist. After completing this tour, which was very successful, the management of the original " Mendelssohn Quintette Club" was offered to Major Wyatt for one year, and accepted by him. Later on he took charge of a concert tour by

the great Wilhelinj and Gustav Satter-the lat- ter being a very eminent pianist. Afterward Major Wyatt returned to New York and took the management of the Steinway Hall Concerts. Desiring a change, he with others organized what was known as the "California Quartette," which was one of the first in the country. Wy- att, who has a fine voice and is a thorough mnu- sician, was the tenor of this quartette, which cominenced to sing in concerts, when the "San Francisco Minstrels" engaged it for four con- secutive seasons; Billy Emerson hearing the quartette engaged it for eighty weeks for San Francisco for his company. After the eom- pletion of this long engagement, Wyatt organ- ized a company of his own, known as "H. C. Wyatt, Courtright and Hawkins' Minstrels," and traveled for upward of a year over this coast, including eleven weeks at the Bush street Theatre, San Francisco. After this he made some changes and renamed the company " Wy- att, Arlington and Girard Minstrels," and came sonth and played at Los Angeles. Wyatt, like so many others, liked the place and concluded to settle here. Later, he secured the manage- ment of the Grand Opera House in May, 1886, in which he has had great success. Major Wy- att is now lessee and manager of the principal theatres of Southern California, to-wit: Grand Opera House and Los Angeles Theatre, of Los Angeles; the opera houses of San Bernardino, Riverside, Pasadena, Santa Bárbara and San Diego. He is also sole proprietor of the "II. C. Wyatt's English Opera Company," of forty- eight people, now playing an indefinite engage- ment in Los Angeles.

SAAC WICKERSHAM, proprietor of the livery, feed and sale stables, on Aliso and Ala- meda streets, Los Angeles, was born in Clies- ter County, Pennsylvania, in 1836. His father's name was also Isaac. They came from a cele- brated family. The noted J. P. Wickersham, so well known in the East as a public educator and

3. 6. Shyale

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

State superintendent of schools in Pennsylvania, is a first cousin to the subject of this biographi- cal sketch. Mr. Wickersham engaged very suc- cessfully in the stock business in his native State for several years. He was married in 1864 to Miss Sallie J. Baker, daughter of William Baker, of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Of this union ten children have been born: J. Swayne, the oldest, is proprietor of the East Side stables; Mary A., Bessie W., J. Worth, William B., Jessie B., Edgar A., Ruth S., Isaac and Ada E. Socially Mr. Wickersham is a Mason and also a K. of P. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. During the late war he was in the service of his country a few months, and paid for two substitutes besides. Since com- ing to Los Angeles he has built up a lucrative trade in the livery business, and is a citizen whom every one honors and respects. He has a pleasant home in East Los Angeles, at num- ber 49 North Hellman street.

JOSEPH M. WORKMAN. son of William Workman, deceased, one of the early pio- neers in Southern California, and one of the founders of the first bank opened in Los Ange- les, was born in Santa Fé, New Mexico, in 1833. William Workman was then, and for some years after, a merchant trader in that old town. He came to California in the forties, and prior to 1846 obtained by grant from the Mexican Gov- ernment, the Alcatras, or Bird Island, on which the State penitentiary is situated, in San Fran- cisco Bay, which was subsequently taken pos- session of by the United States Government; but the title was never transferred by him, and the original deed to that now valnable property is in possession of his heirs, who have not, up to the present time, contested their rights in the courts. After coming to this coast William Workman was extensively engaged in the live- stock business, in the San Joaquin country and in Los Angeles County. Being a farmer and stock- grower by occupation, he purchased, and owned

for many years, 20,000 acres of the La Puente Rancho, now owned by E. J. (Lucky) Baldwin, having accumulated a fine fortune for those days. He, in company with I. W. Hellman, and F. P. Temple, his son-in-law, started the first bank in Los Angeles, which was known as the Temple. Workman Bank, which prospered finely for years. Mr. Workman finally withdrew from any active participation in its affairs, entrusting the management entirely to Mr. Temple, in whom he had unbounded confidence. But the sequel proved that the trusted son-in-law lacked some of the elements of a successful banker; for the bank became involved in financial difficul- ties and failed, sweeping away not only $80,000 in cash of Mr. Workinan's money, but his entire estate, bringing upon him financial ruin in his old age-he being then about seventy-six years old. The stroke was too much for his proud English spirit, and so unsettled his mind that he committed suicide, thus ending an active and useful life, in 1873. His widow, a Spanish lady whom he married in Santa Fé, still survives, and resides in this county. Joseph Workman was taken back East in his infancy, and lived in the family of David Workman, his father's brother, a number of years. In 1854 he left Missouri and crossed the plains to California; and after spending several months in Los Ange- les County, went up into the San Joaquin Val- ley and superintended a large cattle ranch owned by his father and Mr. Temple, from 1856 till 1870. In the fall of the latter year he mar- ried Miss Belt, daughter of Judge George G. Belt, of Stockton, and soon after settled in Los Angeles County, which has been his home ever since. Two or three years later he pur- chased over 800 acres of the La Puente Ranch, fifteen miles from Los Angeles, moved on to it, and engaged in the stock business, first keep- ing sheep, but upon the decline in the price of wool, changing to cattle. In 1881, desiring bet- ter advantages than the country offered for edu- cating their children, Mr. and Mrs. Workman decided to lease their ranch and remove to the city. Buying a large lot, 162 x 300 feet, on

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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