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 117

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 117

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IIe purchased twenty-six acres lying west of Baldwin avenue, between Central and Live Oak avenues. This land was then in its wild state, but Mr. Hosmer, with the energy so character- istic of himself, began clearing, grading, and planting trees and vines. He planted 1,600 orange and leinon trees, 400 apricots, and a large variety of other deciduous fruits. In a year he had built up one of the finest orchard properties of the colony. He was one of the first to recognize the demand to be made upon the colony lands for villa lots, and in 1886 sub- divided his tract into sixty-six lots, retaining four acres for his home. Ilis enterprise was a success, and there has been erected upon the lots sold fifteen residences and other buildings. Upon his home place of four acres he has a substantial cottage, commodious barn and out- buildings. He is devoting his attention to the cultivation of a fine variety of citrus and de- ciduous fruits, among which are 114 orange trees. Mr. Hosmer, after visiting and inspect- ing many localities, selected the Sierra Madre Colony as one of the most desirable locations for residence and horticultural pursuits in the San Gabriel Valley, and has never had eause to regret his decision. From the very start he has been one of the most progressive and public- spirited citizens of Sierra Madre, identifying himself with every enterprise that tended to build up and advance the interests of his chosen section. He was among the original incorpora- tors of the Sierra Madre Water Company, and has served many years as a director of the same. As one of the original trustees of the public library he was largely instrumental in estab- lishing that most desirable of public institu- tions. He is now a school trustee of his district, and the efficient road overseer of the colony tract. Mr. Hosmer is a native of New England, dating his birth at Concord, Massachusetts, in 1844. He is the son of Nathan S. and Ruth L. (Hay- ward) Hosmer, both natives of that State. Ilis father was a builder and contractor by occupa- tion, located at Concord; and Mr. Ilosmer was reared and schooled in that place until sixteen

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years of age. He then entered into mercantile pursuits as a clerk, after which he located at Lowell, Massachusetts, and engaged in the sew- ing-machine business for about two years. In 1872 he established an agency for the Singer Sewing-Machine Company in Lawrence, which he conducted until 1874. He then returned to Concord and engaged in the grocery business until he came to California. Mr. Hosmer is endowed with energetic. and industrious habits, and by his experience in various occupations in life has acquired the power to achieve success in whatever he undertakes. He is well known throughout this section of the valley, and ranks as one of its desirable and esteemed citizens. Politically he is a Republican. In 1886 he served as a delegate in the county conventions. He is a member of Lowell Lodge, No. 44, K. of P. In addition to his Sierra Madre property he has real-estate interests in Monrovia and Olivewood, and is also the owner of a five-acre tract of unimproved land at Cresente Cañada. In 1872 Mr. Hosmer wedded Miss Clymena W. Hathorn, a native of Maine. No children have blessed this union. Mr. Hosmer's mother died when he was eight months old. His father is still a resident of Concord.

M ISS FRANCES H. HAWKS. There is no resident of Sierra Madre more worthy of inention in its early history and subsequent remarkable growth and develop- ment than the lady whose name heads this sketch. Miss Ilawks was born in Delafield, Wisconsin, and was there reared and educated. Her parents were Nelson P. and Hannah (Crocker) Hawks. The death of her father occurred in 1863, and she was left to the care of her loving mother. Early in life Miss Hawks displayed a talent and taste for music and was given the benefits of a thorough musical educa- tion. In 1879, accompanied by her mother, she came to California and located in San Fran- cisco, where she was successfully engaged in

teaching music. The climate of that city not agreeing with her, she was compelled to seck a more genial one, and in 1881 she and her mother came to Los Angeles County and located at Stoneman's Ranch, at San Gabriel, until September of that year. She then purchased a twenty-acre tract of land in the Sierra Madre Colony, at that time just opened to settlement, and established her residence upon the same in October. Miss Hawks and her mother came to this wild and uncultivated land on that October day and sought the shelter of an oak-tree while the carpenters erected the rough little 12 x16- foot cabin they were to occupy for months after- ward. This was the second building erected for residence purposes upon the colony tract. Miss Hawks at once entered upon the improve- ment of her land, and engaged in horticultural and viticultural pursuits. She bravely and cheerfully encountered the discomforts and even hardships of the situation. Success rewarded her efforts, and she soon made the apparent desert blossom and bloom like the veritable garden of Eden. Miss Hawks's tract was located on the south side of Grand View avenue. The first avenne trees planted in the colony were pepper trees planted by Miss Hawks on that avenue early in 1882, and it is believed she also set ont the first grape-vines there. She has been a liberal supporter of all enterprises that have built np and developed the resources of Sierra Madre. She is a stockholder in the Sierra Madre Water Company, and has been a liberal supporter of schools and churches. She is an earnest member of the Episcopal Church, and donated to that society the lot upon which the Church of the Ascension stands, besides contributing freely to the building fund. The floral productions in her Sierra Madre nursery on the corner of Grand View and Baldwin ave- nnes are not exceeded in beauty and variety by any in that section of the San Gabriel Valley. The care and cultivation of this one-half acre of nursery ground is confided to no one, but is attended to by the lady herself. She is now the owner of about fifteen acres of her original

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

tract, but she also owns valuable business prop- erty in Sierra Madre, among which is the fine two-story building on the east of Baldwin ave- nue, just north of Central avenue. She is a thoroughly educated lady, possessed of sound business qualifications, and has gained a well- merited success in hier real-estate and other en- terprises. Her long residence in the valley has made her well known and gained her a large circle of friends.

ENRY HANSEN, Los Angeles, painter and contractor, was born in Norway, Sep- tember 10, 1858, emigrated to America when eleven years of age, and grew up in Chi- eago, where he served an apprenticeship in learning the trade of painting. He remained in Chicago until 1887, when he came to Los Angeles and engaged in his present business. His practical knowledge and experience in the best class of work have enabled him to build up a good trade, giving employment to from twelve to fifteen men, and doing some of the most im- portant work here. He received the contract for doing all the painting for the new city hall. He resides on Austin street and Central avenue, and owns the property he occupies. In 1880 he married Sophia Blatt, a native of Mecklenburg, Germany. They have two children: Theodore and Florence, and lost two children in Los An- geles.

C. HANNON, ex-Supervisor for the First District of Los Angeles County, was born in the city of London, England, Deeem- ber 2, 1828, son of David and Martha Hannon. When five years of age his parents resolved upon emigration to the United States; and on arrival in this country they made their home in Eastern Ohio, nearly opposite Wheeling, West Virginia. There they lived, engaged in agri- culture, the rest of their lives. The subject of

this sketch was reared to a farin life, and re- ceived his rudimentary education in the com- mon schools of Ohio. During the latter part of his residence in that State he was engaged in lumbering in the forests near his home. In the early part of the year 1859 he resolved npon emigration to this golden sunny land, reaching the State late that year. He spent the follow- ing four years in the mining districts of Nevada, and became one of the fon ders of Unionville, the county seat of Humboldt County, in that State, and was one of the well-known enterpris- · ing citizens of Humboldt County. Returning to San Francisco in 1863, he married there, June 1 of that year, Miss Elizabeth Carr, a native of Ireland. Soon afterward Mr. Hannon settled in Santa Clara County, two miles east of San José, on the Alum Rock road. This home was established early in 1864. In 1869, after considerable time had been given to the work of selection of a future home in Southern Califor- nia, Mr. Hannon and his few chosen compan- ions, now his neighbors, selected the site of his present home, in the beautiful San Gabriel Valley. No more productive soil can be found in California,-a deep alluvial deposit making an inexhaustible fund of wealth to draw npon, and no draft has ever been dishonored. The 160 acres are devoted mainly to the production of wheat and barley. Stock sufficient for domes- tic use and farm operations is kept, and a mis- cellaneons variety of decidnous and citrus fruits are raised in abundance in the family orchards. The home, with its beautiful surroundings, is the abode of comfort and genuine hospitality, and is located less thantwo miles northwest of El Monte, in the Savannah school district, and convenient to Pasadena and Monrovia. Mr. and Mrs. Hannon have six children living, viz .: Frank, who is engaged in the Internal Revenue Office at Los Angeles; Edward, at home with his parents; Vincent and Mary are in school at San José, the former in the Santa Clara College and the latter in the College of Notre Dame; Charles and Franees are attending the home district school. Mr. Hannon is a Democrat in politics,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

and prominent in the councils of the party; is deservedly popular as an official ; was elected supervisor in 1876, and served eight years; later he served four years as deputy assessor; and many years he has served his district ås trustee. In all relations of life he has always been the true, upright man. His father was of Irish birth, but reared in London, where he married a lady of English birth. He was a devoted adherent of Daniel O'Connell, and identified with him to such an extent as to become obnoxious to the Government, and to make emigration to this land of the free desirable if not necessary. In conclusion, we will say that when Mr. Hannon selected the site of his present fine estate, then in its native wildness, he builded better than he knew.

UGENE GERMAIN .- The subject of this sketch, who is one of the leading men of Southern California and foremost in business affairs of the city of Los Angeles, is a native of Switzerland, born November 30, 1847. He came to New York in 1868 and to California in 1870. At this time the Southern Pacific Railway was in course of construction through Arizona and New Mexico from Yuma to Sanderson, Texas, and for about five years, from 1879 to 1884. Mr. Germain engaged ex- tensively in operating numerons supply stores along the line of work. He established branch stores at Theson, Benson, Deming and El Paso, from which he handled large quantities of mer- chandise and did presumably a very profitable business. Upon the completion of the Southern Pacific line through this country, Mr. Germain centered his attention and energies upon his Los Angeles business with results that are well known to the people of Southern California. He purchased, packed, shipped and otherwise handled large quantities of fruit, provisions, etc., and in 1884 his business had grown to such pro- portions that its reorganization was necessitated and increased facilities required for properly

handling the same, and the Germain Fruit Com- pany, organized by Mr. Germain, and now with- ont exception the largest institution of the kind in Sonthern California, is the outgrowthi of the business which he established in 1882. Mr. Germain has served the company as its president since its organization and personally directs its affairs from their main offices and spacious stores in the Baker Block. Mr. Ger- main is a man of remarkable energy, and pos- sesses great executive ability. He is foremost in varions local business enterprises, and any movement tending to the growth of Los An- geles City and county and the development of their remarkable resources, he is ever ready to encourage with his influence and money. His opinions upon questions of public policy are re- garded as always sound. He has two terms presided over the deliberations of the Board of Trade of Los Angeles, and his administration of its affairs was a marked success. He has also served as president of the Stock and Prod- nce Exchange of Los Angeles. During the present year (1889) Mr. Germain, with his fam- ily, is in Europe, having been appointed by Gov- ernor Waterman Commissioner of California to the Paris Centennial Exposition. Mr. Germain is a scholarly man of culture and speaks finently several languages. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Caroline Sievers, and they have an interest- ing family of five children, three sons and two daughters.

AMES L. HOWLAND .- The most exten- sive nursery in the San José Valley is that owned and conducted by the above-named gentleman. His nursery grounds of seventy acres in extent are located on Cucamungo ave- nne, within the town limits of l'omona, and about two and a half miles north of the busi- ness center of that city. Fully forty acres are devoted to nursery purposes. His productions range from the useful and ornamental trees and vines to the most delicate floral productions.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Of citrus fruit trees he has 20,000, budded mostly with Washington Navels, and 75,000 of the most approved seedlings. Foreseeing the future demand for olive trees, he has entered extensively into their production, and has nearly 200,000 of those trees, such as his research and study have convinced him are the best suited to the climate, soil, etc., of the San Jose Valley. Of deciduous fruits he has about 20,000 trees, comprising a large number of varieties. His shade and ornamental trees and floral produc- tions comprise almost innumerable varieties, covering in scope the floral world of Southern California. In addition to his nursery, Mr. Howland is engaged in fruit-growing, having twenty acres in olive trees, ten acres in orange and lemon trees, besides deciduons fruit trees in much smaller proportions. All these im- provements, including extensive hot houses, buildings, complete water system for irrigation, etc., have been made by him within the past four or five years. Ile purchased his land from George B. Adams, in 1885. It was originally a portion of the Loop and Meserve tract, and until that year was in a wild and uncultivated state. Mr. Howland is a native of Massachu- setts, dating his birth in Barre, in 1862. IIe was reared and schooled in Springfield, at which place his father, James Howland, a native of Massachusetts and a descendant of an old Colo- nial family, was engaged in business as a drug- gist and chemist. Mr. Howland received the benefits of a good education, graduating at the excellent High School of that city. He also, at the age of fourteen years, commenced the study of his father's profession, and was employed in his store until 1879, when the death of his father left the business dependent upon himself. This he successfully conducted until 1882, when he came to California and located in the San José Valley. Upon his arrival he determined to turn his attention to horticultural pursuits, and entered into the nursery business with S. Gates, near Pomona. This partnership existed until 1885, when he established his present enterprise. He has achieved a success in his

business that is well merited, for with his in- dustrious habits and sound business principles he combined a careful study and research in his calling that is commendable. Mr. Howland has other landed interests in San José Valley, among which are 600 acres of improved land lying north of his nursery farin and along the foot- hills. A large portion of this land is well adapted to olive culture. Mr. Howland is a Re- publican in politics, and takes an earnest interest in the protection policy of that party. He is a member of the National Guard of California, being commissioned as First Lientenant in Com- pany D, Seventh Regiment. He is unmarried. His mother, Mrs. Mary E. (Thorpe) Howland, resides with him. He has one brother, Harry A. Howland, who is a resident of Pomona.

ILLIAM A. HOME, senior partner of the firm of Home & Abel, druggists, whose stores are situated at Nos. 508 Downey avenue and 716 and 718 San Fernando street, was born in Connecticut in July, 1840. During the early part of his active life he was engaged in the iron trade. He came to Cali- fornia in August, 1882, and the following month he started in the drug business in partnership with William H. Abel, on San Fernando street. About a year later they opened a branch store on Downey avenue in East Los Angeles, and have done a prosperous business in both stores. The second year after they started their store was destroyed by fire, in which the firm sus- tained a loss of $2,000. They own both the buildings in which their stores are situated. They erected the two-story brick in East Los Angeles at a cost of over $10,000, and moved into it in February, 1889. Formerly they did some wholesaling, but discontinued that feature a year or two ago. They manufactured several medical preparations, the principal one being their celebrated White Pine Balsam, which they put upon the market six years ago, and which has an extensive sale thronghont California.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Six to eight men are employed in all depart- ments of their business. Mr. Home married Miss Antonia C. Price, a niece of General Ster- ling Price, in Carthage, Missouri. Mr. Abel is also a native of Connecticut, and came to Cali- fornia in 1882. He has been many years in the drug business.

OIIN E. HOWARD .- One of the repre. sentative resident properties of the San Gabriel Valley is "Howard Place," owned by the above-named gentleman. This five-aere tract is located about two miles and a half north and east of Pasadena. In 1884 Mr. Howard purchased fifteen acres of land at that point and took up his residence there, and, although an invalid, commenced its improvement. In 1887 he sub-divided ten acres of his land into villa lots and sold them, after which he commenced a more extensive improvement of his remaining five acres. Ile erected a fine two-story residence, complete in all its appointments and furnishings. This was destroyed by fire in May, 1888, and in the same year he built his present home, which is a large two-story building, of architectural beauty, in which he has combined all the con- veniences and luxuries of a well-ordered mod- ern home. But it is the ornamental trees and floral productions of his grounds that attract the most attention. Mr. Iloward is an enthusi- ast in his horticultural pursuits, and his beauti- Inl grounds abound in the choicest collection of trees and flowers to be found in the county, and probably are not excelled by any of private ownership in the State. The diversified arrange- ment or studied irregularity of his grounds adds greatly to their beauty. No two trecs of the same kind or flowers of the same variety are placed side by side, nor has he followed geo- metrical lines in his planting. Space will not admit of giving the names of the variety of trees and flowers he has, collected and suecess- fully cultivated. As an illustration it may be noted that the 400 rose-trees he has secured

comprise over 100 varieties, and there are seven varieties in his seventy-five palms. There can scarcely be mentioned a tree or flower that can be grown in the San Gabriel Valley that he has not a specimen of under successful cultivation. About one-half of his five aeres is occupied by his residence and grounds, and the remaining two and a half acres are planted with citrus and deciduous fruits. He has followed the same course in this as in floral prodnets, and has col- leeted a variety of all fruits that ean be snc- cessfully cultivated in this section. The hardy apple and quince of the North may here be fond side by side with the tropical banana of the South. The subject of this sketel is a native of the Granite State, New England, born in Cheshire County, in 1840. His father, Jonathan Iloward, was a native of New Hampshire, and a farmer by oceupation. His mother, nee Gracia Alexander, was also of that State. Mr. How- ard was reared to agricultural pursuits until twenty years of age. He then started in life for himself by establishing a trade throughout his seetion which he supplied by a large general merchandise wagon, with which he made stated trips. He was successful in his business, and in 1868 moved to Greenfield, Massachusetts, where he established himself in mereantile life by opening a large merchandise store. He con- ducted various enterprises until 1882, when ill health compelled a retirement from active business pursnits, and in seeking a restoration to health, he came to California. For more than twenty years Mr. Howard led an active business lite, and is a man of energetic, indus- trious characteristics, and as his health returned, in his California home, lie sought aetive out- door employment, which he found in beantifying his grounds. Politically he is a Republican; has for over thirty years been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for more than twenty years a Knight Templar in that order. He is affiliated with the Republican Lodge and Con- neeticut Valley Commandery of Greenfield, Massachusetts. He is a consistent member of the Congregational Church. In 1868 Mr. Ilow-

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ard married Miss Elizabeth Henry, the daughter of Nathan F. Henry, of Montagne, Massachu- setts. From this marriage there are two dangh- ters: Lonisa and Bessie A.

W. HEINSCH, manufacturer of harness and dealer in saddlery, hardware and turf goods, North Main street, Los Ange- les, was born in this city, October 16, 1862. His father. H. Heinsch, was an early settler here, and for more than twenty years was a well- known prominent merchant. The subject of this sketch attended school in his native city, and learned the mercantile business in his father's store. In 1882 he went to San Fran- cisco and was for four years connected with leading business jobbing houses on the Pacific Coast. Then he returned to Los Angeles, and since that time has been the leading merchant in his line. He manufactures the greater por- tion of his stock, employing eight to ten men. His store is large and commodious, and he car- ries one of the largest and most complete retail stocks of goods west of the Mississippi River. He has a large established trade, which extends through Southern California and Arizona. He also imports a large amount of turf goods from England.

A. HUNTER, manufacturer of boilers and oil-tanks, Los Angeles, was born June 6, 1839, in Pennsylvania. Dur- ing his youth he served an apprenticeship in the Baltimore Locomotive Works. In 1857 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa. On the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry; served under General Curtis, was wounded at Milliken's Bend, and was mustered ont in 1864. For the next seven years he had charge of the Capital Iron Works, at Springfield, Illinois; then four years was in business in Jacksonville, same State; then four

years in the same trade, at St. Joseph, Missouri ; and finally, in 1884, came to Los Angeles and established his present business, on the corner of Castelar and Alpine streets. He has had a large practical experience as a manufacturing machinist, and is well calculated to build up an extensive trade. He was one of the original corporators of the Union Iron Works. IIe also owns a fine ranch in this county. Mr. Hunter married Miss Elder, a native of Kentucky, and they have two children: W. A., Jr., and Dora A., now Mrs. Gilbert.

EORGE S. HAVEN, of Los Angeles, has been a resident of California since 1859. He is native of Yarmouth, Maine, born September 2, 1836. From his native place he sailed southward, crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and from thence came by steamer to San Francisco. He followed mining in Placer County to some extent until 1862. He visited Los Angeles and Southern California towns in the dry season of 1863. After visiting vari- ous localities lie, in 1887, located at 231 Com- mercial street, Los Angeles, and opened the Boston Chop House, a restaurant which he still conducts. Mr. Haven has been an extensive traveler on the Western Slope. September 6, 1866, he married Miss Mary M. Humphrey. They have four children: Frank B., Grace E., Charles A. and Fred H.

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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