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 109

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 109

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HE ATLAS MILLING COMPANY, corner of San Pedro and Fifth streets, Los Angeles, was established in 1879 by Moore & Alexander, and they carried on the business until 1884, when they were succeeded by Meschendorf, Sutcliffe & Ashman. The mill runs largely on merchant work, grinding their own grain for feed, making a specialty of rolled barley. When they succeeded to the business they manufactured only 100 sacks per day, but they have increased this trade until they now have demand for 1,000 sacks per day. They have large local trade, as well as good shipping demand throngh Sonthern California and Arizona. The company are adopting the most approved machinery and methods, and that their efforts are appreciated is shown by their constantly increasing trade. The company have their office and warehouse at 205, 207 and 209 South Los Angeles street. H. H. Mesch- endorf, who has charge of the office and ware- house, is a native of Germany, and was born

July 21, 1861. His parents emigrated to this country when he was fourteen years of age, and went to Louisville, Kentucky. The subject of this sketch entered a store as clerk, and after- ward engaged in the grocery trade, and re- mained in that city until 1884, when he came to Los Angeles, and since then has been engaged in the milling business. John Sutcliffe was born in England, October 28, 1841, learned his trade there, and came to the United States in 1871, reaching Boston in November. lle held the position of foreman of the machine shops of the Pacific corporation at Lawrence, Massachusetts, for eleven years. In 1882 he came to the Pacific Coast and settled in Los Angeles, and went into the machine shops of the Baker Iron Works, and afterward became a partner in the business until 1884, when he disposed of his interests there, and since then has been successfully identified with the milling business. James Ashman was born in England, March 25, 1848; came to America in 1870; entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a locomotive engineer, and remained with that company eleven yearss holding a good position. He came to Los An- geles in 1884, on account of ill health, and en- gaged with his present partners in the milling business. He gives his whole attention to the mill, and every detail of the manufacturing is under his practical supervision. He married Miss Lizzie Smith, a native of Liverpool, Eng- land, and they have three children: Emma, Lilly and Bartram.

M ESSRS. MAIER & ZOBELEIN, pro- prietors of the Philadelphia Brewery, 234 to 242 Aliso street and 129 to 137 Sanaevain street. This large and important enterprise was established in 1874, in a small way. The business changed hands several times previous to 1881, at which time it came into possession of its present enterprising proprie- tors, Messrs. Maier & Zobelein, and since then they have added to the capacity from time to

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

time; and when the extensive improvements now in progress are completed it will be one of the largest and best equipped breweries in the State. Their premises are located on Aliso street, and occupy 155 x 200 feet of ground, which is covered by a six-story building and is completely equipped with all the modern and improved machinery and propelled by two large engines. The capacity of the Philadelphia Brewery is 20,000 gallons daily, or 30,000 gal- lons in twenty-four hours. They also have ex- tensive bottling works connected with the brewery. They have two ice machines with a capacity of seventy tons every twenty-four hours; and from fifty to 100 hands are em- ployed in the various departments of their brewery. They are the only manufacturers of lager beer in Southern California. The quality of this product is unsurpassed, and they do an enormous business, which is constantly in- creasing. The superior quality of their beer has created a large demand for it here, and they also have a large shipping trade. Their supply of grain is secured from the adjoining counties, and they require from 50,000 to 70,000 sacks of barley during the season. By their ability and enterprise they have demonstrated their sound, practical business judgment, and they have established an enviable reputation for in- tegrity, and are actively identified with the progress and development of the city and county. Joseph Maier, of the firm of Maier & Zobelein, was born in Bavaria, Germany, Octo- ber 30, 1851. He attended school and served an apprenticeship to the brewing business in his native country. Upon reaching manhood he came to the United States, in 1872. In 1875 he came to California, and in 1882 be- came associated with Mr. Zobelein. Since then they have carried on their extensive business. In 1875 Mr. Maier married Miss Mary Schmidt, a native of Wisconsin. They have three chil- dren, two sons and one daughter: Freddie J., Luln M. and Eddie R. George Zobelein, of this firm, is also a native of Bavaria, Germany, and was born August 12, 1845. He was reared

and learned his business in his native country. After reaching manhood he emigrated to the United States, in 1867; came the same year to California, and the following year to Los An- geles, where he engaged in the grocery busi- ness. In 1882 he became associated with Mr. Maier in the enterprise above described. In 1870 Mr. Zobelein married Miss Brigada Graf, a native of Mexico. They have seven children, four sons and three daughters, residing in their beautiful park on Figueroa street, a large tract of land which they acquired in early times and is now in the finest suburb of the city.

UGUSTE AMAR, deceased, was born in Dauphiny, France, in 1847. His parents were Fidele and Mary Amar, both natives of that country. Mr. Amar was reared and schooled in his native land until 1867, when he emigrated to the United States, and located in San Francisco, where for the next ten years he was engaged in various occupations. In 1877 he came to Los Angeles County, and engaged in raising sheep and growing wool in the San José Valley. In this he was successful, and in 1881 he purchased 1,836 acres of hill and val- ley land just east of Puente, upon which he commenced his improvements and engaged in general farming and stock-growing. There he established one of the finest farms in the sec- tion, planting orchards and vineyards, and erect- ing a fine country home, commodious barns, out-buildings, etc. He planted eighteen acres in vines of the most popular wine-grape varie- ties, from which he manufactured a fine quality of wines; also a family orchard containing a large variety of citrus and deciduous fruits. About 300 acres of his land being of a rieh, deep soil, located in the valley, he devoted it to hay and grain. Mr. Amar, in addition to his farming operations, was also identified with the development of the Puente oil wells and the building up of the town of Puente. In 1880 he was joined in marriage with Miss Alphonsine

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Gaucher, the daughter of Xavier and Honorine Gancher, natives of France, but residents of Los Angeles. By this marriage there are living three children, viz .: Constance, Auguste and Fidele. The first child, Marguerite, died in 1888, aged seven years. The fourth child, Therese, died in the same year at the age of three years. Mr. Amar was the builder of his own fortune, and achieved his success in life by energetic and industrions habits, coupled with sonnd business principles and honest dealing with his fellow man. He died March 14, 1888, leaving a large cirele of friends and acquaint- ances who joined his bereaved family in sin- cerely mourning the loss of a kind and affection- ate father, a good friend and esteemed citizen. Since his death his widow has conducted the operations of the farm, etc., upon which she is residing and rearing her children.

OIIN ALLIN .- Among the energetic and progressive men who have been identified with the building up of Pasadena and cre- ating the second city of importance in Los Angeles County, is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Allin is a native of England, dating his birth at Plymouth in 1834. His parents, Will- iam and Mary (Danbury) Allin, were natives of Devonshire County, England, and at the time of his birth were en route to the United States. They settled in Knox County, Ohio, in that year, and engaged in farming occupations until 1849, and then moved to Missouri, residing in Colwell and Davis counties until 1851, and then finally locating in Johnson County Iowa. Mr. Allin was reared to farm life, receiving such an education as was offered by the common schools. He was the oldest of the ten children of the family, and, as his father was an invalid, much of the care and responsibility of the farm oper- ations devolved upon him. He became a strong, self-reliant man, remaining at home, caring for the family until he reached his majority. He then started in life for himself, teaming and

taking contracts for breaking up prairie lands, and finally settling down to farming occupa- tions upon lands of his own in Johnson County. Mr. Allin was one of the representative men of his district, taking a deep interest in all that advanced its welfare. A strong supporter of schools, he served many years as a school trus- tee and treasurer. He conducted his agricult- ural operations in Missouri until 1883, and in that year came to Los Angeles County and took up his residence in Pasadena. He purchased from Mr. Painter ten acres of land on the cor- ner of Fair Oaks and Mountain avenues, upon which he commenced horticultural pursuits. IIe also purchased a sixty-acre tract of land about two miles east of Pasadena, devoting it to grain- raising. This land he sold in 1886. From the very first Mr. Allin took an interest in building up Pasadena. He was one of the syndicate that developed and perfected the splendid water sys- tem of North Pasadena, and has been for many years a director of the Pasadena Lake Vineyard Land and Water Company. He was one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Pas- adena, and has been a director since its organ- ization. He was also among the projectors and incorporators of the Fair Oaks and North Pasa- dena railroads, and interested in the Pasadena Gas Works. Ile was the first to establish tlie street sprinkling system in the city. During the past three or four years he has been en- gaged in real-estate operations, more as a builder than as a speculator. In 1886 he built stables and established a livery business on Raymond avenue. This he sold out in 1887. He has also been engaged in contract work, piping water, etc. Mr. Allin is a successful man, straightforward and honorable in his dealings. In political matters he is a stanch Republican. He is a member of Pasadena Lodge, No. 151, A. O. U. W. In 1861 Mr. Allin was united in marriage with Miss Jamima Townsend, the daughter of David and Sidney (Mandlin) Town- send. Mrs. Allin is a native of Wayne County, Indiana. Her parents were from Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Allin have three children. The two

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sons, Thomas D. and Charles A., are now (1889) engaged in their studies at the University of California. The daughter is Rosa L.

S. ARNOLD, proprietor of the Alta Planing-mill, corner of San Pedro and

6 Seventh streets, is a native of Rhode Island, and was born April 14, 1851; attended school during his boyhood and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. He came to California in 1871, and was in different parts of the State until 1880, when he came to Los Angeles and engaged in contracting and building, and during the past ten years has erected some of the finest residences and business blocks in this city. In Jannary, 1888, he became the proprietor of the Alta Planing-mill, and is engaged in manu- facturing sash, blinds and doors and all kinds of mill work, and has a large established trade, which is constantly increasing. In June, 1875, Mr. Arnold was united in marriage with Miss A. E. Horton, a native of California. They have one son, Ray. Mr. Arnold is connected with the order of I. O. O. F., being a member of Lodge No. 35.

C. ALLEN, contractor, Los Angeles, was born in the city of Montreal, Canada, August 20, 1847, attended school there, and when seventeen years of age went to Rut- land, Vermont, where he served an apprentice- ship learning his trade. After reaching manhood he went to Chicago and worked at his trade, and was foreman for the contractors in the erection of the Exposition Building on the lake front. lIc went to Peoria and engaged in building, and for ten years was the leading contractor in that city and did the heaviest building work there, including several of the largest distilleries, the extensive sugar works, the Peoria Storage Ware- honse, one of the largest in the country, and many of the largest business blocks. Ile came

to Los Angeles in 1887, and since then has been successfully engaged in contracting here. He has the contract for constructing the large cable houses for the Street Railway Company in Los Angeles. He has had a large practical experi- ence in brick and stone work, and has taken a prominent place in the business here. Mr. Allen married Miss Barrows, of Peoria, Feb- ruary 11, 1883, and they have two children, Olive C. and Hortense.

HRIS ANDERSON, contractor, North Griffin avenne, East Los Angeles, is a na- tive of Denmark, born June 18, 1844. He attended school during boyhood and acquired the rudiments of his trade in his native country. In 1861 he emigrated to the United States, went to Wisconsin, and was employed in a saslı, door and blind factory, where he completed his trade, and afterward went to Chicago. During the war he went South and was in the employ of the Government. He returned to Chicago, followed his trade there and in Wisconsin, and from there went to Terre Haute, Indiana, re- maining at the latter place two years. In 1869 he inade a visit to his native land, and while there inarried, May 21, 1869, Miss Mary Knut- sen, a native of Denmark. After his return to this country they spent a few months in Wis- consin, after which they settled in Terre Haute, Indiana, and remained there ten years. In 1880 they came to the Pacific Coast and located at Los Angeles. The following year Mr. Anderson engaged in contracting and building, and since then, for the past eight years, has been prom- inently identified with building interests of this city and county. Among the many buildings erccted by him are the Hammond Block, Spring street; Hayden Block, East Los Angeles; Mu- hally Block, Buena Vista and College streets; Edgar Block, Cram residence, Judge Taney's residence, and the residences of White, Zech and Norton, and also many others. Mr. Ander- son las had a large experience and has earned

mesquine

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

an enviable reputation for his ability as a con- tractor aud also for liis integrity and fair deal- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have eight children: William A., Albert H., Mary C., Fannie B., Flora C., Rosa A., Christina T. and Waldemar. One daughter, Lanra B., is deceased. They have an attractive home on North Griffin avenue, comprising four or five acres of ground. Their large and beautiful residence has just been com- pleted. Mr. Anderson also owns other property in the city and country.

ARTIN G. AGUIRRE was born in San Diego, September 6, 1858. His father was Don José Antonio Aguirre, a native of Madrid, Spain, and his mother was Dona Rosario Estudillo, daughter of José A. Estnudillo and nee Victorio Dominguez. Mr. Aguirre came to California in 1840. He married Dona Rosario Estudillo. He died in 1860, leaving a widow, who still resides at San Diego, and four children, namely: Mignel; Dolores, who mar- ried Francisco Pico, of San Diego; José An- tonio, who married Leonor Cardwell and is a resident of Los Angeles; and Martin G., the present sheriff of Los Angeles County. The lat- ter came to Los Angeles County when nine years of age. He received his education at Prof. Lawler's Institute, in Los Angeles, and at the Santa Clara College. He was a deputy under Sheriff George E. Gard two years; and in 1886 he was elected constable by 421 majority over his opponent, on the Republican ticket when almost the entire ticket was defeated; and in November, 1888, he was elected sheriff on the Republican ticket by a majority of 3,987 votes over his Democratic competitor, Mr. Thomas E. Rowan, who was considered to be the strongest man in the Democratic party. Mr. Aguirre, although still a young man, is a brave and most efficient officer. While yet a subordinate nnder Sheriff Gard, he displayed those qualities of character which have since marked him as a man eminently qualified, by his bravery and

skill, to win snecess in the pursuit and capture of criminals. His daring and activity, shown in saving lives and property in the flood of 1886, won him the plandits of the entire com- munity, as well as the lasting gratitude of those whose lives he saved and of their families and immediate friends. Mr. Aguirre, who is the youngest sheriff this county ever had, takes a chivalrous pride in faithfully performing the onerons duties of his important office; and the people of Los Angeles County are proud of their young sheriff, as was manifested by the over- whelming majority by which he was elected.

COLONEL R. S. BAKER, one of the most prominent, and perhaps the best known, citizens of Los Angeles, was born in Provi- dence, Rhode Island, in 1825, and is the son of Rev. Luther Baker, a Baptist clergyman, who officiated for years as pastor of the First Baptist Church in that city, the oldest and leading Church of that denomination in the State. Colo- nel Baker's ancestors were among the earliest settlers in Rhode Island. The Baker home- stead was one of the first houses built in War- ren, that State, many years before the Revolution; and the Baker wharf, at the foot of Baker street, in that town, includes the Massasoit Spring and the site of the former residence of that cele- brated Indian chief. Colonel Baker's brother, William L., was United States Consul at Gnay- mas, Mexico, under the administration of Pres- ident Lincoln. In the winter of 1862, while returning from a mining expedition in the in- terior of the State of Sonora, he was ambushed and killed by the Apache Indians. Colonel Baker was among the pioneers of California. Leaving New York on the steamer Oregon, he arrived in San Diego, Marchi 20, 1849, and pro- ceeded at once to San Francisco, where he en- gaged in business in company with Joseph and George Lewis Cooke, of Providence, Rhode Isl- and, the firm being known as Cooke, Baker & Co. In February, 1850, he severed his con-

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nection with that concern, and bought three vessels for the purpose of shipping his goods to Marysville, where he had started in business. This venture, however, not proving as success- ful as he desired, he sold out and engaged in mining on Poor Man's Creek, in Sierra County. His health not permiting him to continne his mining pursuits, he started for Fort Tejon in company with General E. F. Beale, afterward Minister to Austria, and in 1861 engaged in the cattle and sheep business. This enterprise proved a great success, and was the starting point toward amassing his present handsome fortune. In 1874 he married the opulentand accomplished widow of Don Abel Stearns. This gentleman, a native of Boston, Massachusetts, but for many years a resident of Los Angeles, was a land and cattle king, and at his death all his vast posses- sions passed under his will into the hands of his widow, now Mrs. Baker. She is the daughter of Don Juan Bandini, deceased, who for a long time prior to his death resided at San Diego, though he was formerly a resident of Los An- geles. It is said that at one time Bandini and Stearns together owned nearly the whole of Southern California. When Colonel Baker first arrived in San Francisco he erected a building there, which he bought in the East at a cost of $2,500 and had sent out on a sailing vessel, from which he realized a rental of $36,000 a year. The Baker Block on Main street, Los Angeles, was erected by him in 1878, at a cost of $25,000, and this, too, at a time when the city was perfectly dead in a business point of view, and when there were scarcely anything but adobe structures in the place. It required rare courage and perseverance to rear such an edi- fice at such a time. It is to day one of the finest and most substantially built blocks in Los Angeles. The construction of this elegant block inspired confidence in the future of the city, and was undoubtedly one of the main factors in laying the foundation for the marvelous growth and prosperity of the metropolis of Southern California. In this action it is im- possible to deny to Colonel Baker the merit of

extraordinary foresight. Among the other prop- erties acquired by him is the San Vicente Ranch, of 36,000 acres, bordering on the Pacific Ocean, and on which is located the town of Santa Mon- ica. He originally owned the whole of this princely domain, but sold the major part of it to Senator Jones, of Nevada. They jointly do- nated 300 acres of this territory, valued at not less than $100,000, to the United States Gov- ernment for a soldiers' home; and they have provided an ample supply of pure water for the use of this institution. The Hotel Arcadia at Santa Monica Beach was named in honor of Mrs. Baker. In addition to his city property, Colonel Baker owns the upper portion of Pu- ente Ranch, 5,000 acres; the Laguna Ranch, 11,000 acres, a portion of which is in the city of Los Angeles; and the Camulo Ranch at Newhall, of 6,000 acres, on which are oil wells that he works at a profit In the development of the inining interests of the country he has great concern, and owns and has interests in the mines all over the coast. In politics the Colonel is and has always been an ardent Re- publican, though he has never sought or wished for public office. He is probably as well known throughont the State of California as any man in it, notwithstanding the fact that he has made no effort to figure in public life.

DWARD A. BAER, pharmacist and pro- prietor of the drug store at No. 16 North Spring street, is a native son both of the Golden State and of the "Angel City," having been born in Los Angeles. IIis father, A. Baer, came from the city of New Orleans to California in the '50's. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in this city, and has been actively connected with the drug bnsi- ness in the several capacities of apprentice, clerk and proprietor ten years. In the early part of 1888 he opened his present attractive store, and being in one of the choicest localitics in the city, he has had a fine growing business

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from the start, a prominent feature being his large prescription trade. His stock comprises everything in the line of drugs and chemicals, and a general assortment of toilet and fancy articles. He manufactures several preparations for his own retail trade. Mr. Baer learned the business with Mr. C. F. Heinzeman, the oldest active druggist in this part of the State, and is one of the rising young men of Los Angeles.

ON. JOHN RYLAND BRIERLY was born at Great Falls, New Hampshire, July 16, 1839. His father, Rev. Benjamin Brierly, was a native of England, and when a child came to America with his father. He re- ceived his education at the Newton Theological Seminary, Newton, Massachusetts, and after graduating there preached at Dover, Great Falls and Manchester, New Hampshire; Springfield, Vermont, and Salem, Massachusetts, coming from the latter place to California in 1849. In 1850 he was chaplain in the California State Senate, and during the same year organized a private school at Sacramento, which he tanght one year. He then had charge of the First Bap- tist Church of Sacramento, until June, 1852, the First Baptist Church of San Francisco until 1858, when, resigning the latter, he removed to his farm adjoining the city limits of San José. Iu 1860 he became pastor of the Baptist Church at Nevada City, at which place he died in July. 1863, at the age of fifty-one years. His mother, nee Mary Jane Harville, was born at Amherst, New Hampshire. She was a graduate of the Seminary at New Hampton, where she was mar- ried to Rev. Mr. Brierly in 1836. Previons to her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools of her native State. She was the mother of two children: Frank A., the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Jennie M. Tarlton, of San José, California. Her paternal ancestors were English, while on her mother's side they were Scotch-Irish, the latter being among the first settlers of Londonderry, New Hampshire, and

the Harville homestead at Chestnut Hills, Am- herst, has been the home of the Harvilles for over two centuries. The subject of this sketch did not come to California nntil 1852, when, in his thirteenth year, he accompanied his father, who had returned to New Hampshire on a visit. After remaining here one year he went back to his native State and attended the seminary at Claremont until Angust, 1855, when he again came to California accompanied by his sister. He made his home in San Francisco nntil No- vember, 1856, when he went to his father's farm near San José, remaining there until Febrnary, 1860. In that year he came to Los Angeles County, and engaged in farming and stock- raising till Jnly, 1863, when he returned to San José and attended the San José Institute one year. He was then employed in the schools of Santa Clara until March, 1866, when he was elected superintendent of schools of Santa Clara by the school board, and was so employed till March, 1868. He then tanght in the public schools of Santa Clara County two years, in Los Ar geles County three years, and in 1873 was appointed United States ganger, serving as such till May, 1876. At that time he engaged in the real-estate business at Los Angeles. During 1880 he was assistant secretary of the State Senate, and in 1881, journal clerk of the same. He was also deputy county clerk for a time, and in 1882 received the appointment of col- lector of customs for the district of Wilming- ton, with headquarters at San Pedro, California, holding the position until the expiration of his term of office in 1886. In November of that year he was elected by the Republican party a member of the State Legislature to represent the Seventy-sixth Assembly District. In the assembly he served as Speaker pro tem, and was chairman of the committee on education. IIe was also selected by the assembly Republican cauens to take charge of the general appropri- ation bill during the absence of the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. In June, 1887, Mr. Brierly engaged in the real-estate business at Los Angeles, and so continned until being

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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