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 118

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 118

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HABEN, of the firm of Haben & Phip, manufacturers of galvanized iron cor- nices, sky-lights and metal roofing, 116 South Los Angeles street, Los Angeles, was born in Syracuse, New York, and learned his trade there. After reaching manhood he trav- eled through South America as well as North America, and came to Los Angeles in 1883, where he went to work for Harper & Reynolds, having charge of their tin shops and cornice

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

work three years. He then bought that depart- ment and he and Mr. Phip established their present business. They do a general jobbing trade, making a specialty of galvanized iron cor- nice, metallic sky-light and metal roofing. Their factory is 26 x 50 feet in ground area, and they employ ten to fifteen men in the busy season. He had a practical experience in every detail of the trade, and the success of the firm is due to their close supervision of their work.

LDRIDGE EDWARDS HEWITT was boru at Pulteney, Steuben County, New York, August 12, 1828. The first of his ancestors of whom he has any knowledge came to America from Cork, Ireland, soon after 1620. Ile is, however, not sure that he was a native of Ireland ; probably not, as he soon went to Leeds, England, and there married an English lady of the same name, but no relation as far as known. Immediately atter his marriage he returned to America and settled in Connecticut, on the shore of Long Island Sound. His grandfather, Ran- dall Hewitt, was an officer under General Wash- ington throughout the Revolutionary war. Ilis father, Richard Ilewitt, was born in Seneca County, New York, and was a physician in act- ive practice in New York, Ohio and Missouri for over forty years. Ilis mother, nee Hannah Heminway Parker, was of Welsh extraction, her ancestry coming to America from Wales during Colonial times. Ilis parents were mar- ried in Steuben County, New York, in 1827, and moved from there to Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in 1831. Richard Hewitt represented the district composed of Tuscarawas and Stark counties two terms in the Ohio Legislature, in the years 1843-'44. In 1845 President Polk appointed him agent for the Wyandott Indians, who had just before been removed from Ohio to their reservation in Kansas Territory, at the junction of the Missouri and Kansas rivers; and in the same year he moved with his family to that point and assumed charge of affairs. The

only school that Edwards ever attended was the old-fashioned district school in Ohio, between 1831 and 1845, where the solid rudiments of an English education were literally pounded into what he calls his rebellious brain, chiefly by a barbarous old Scotch school-master by the name of Stone. From 1845 to 1847 he was a clerk in an Indian trading establishment, at what was then known as Westport Landing, but long since famons as Kansas City. In April, 1847, he enlisted in the Twelfth United States Infantry for " five years or during the war" with Mexico. Hon. J. W. Denven, once a member of Congress from this State, was his Captain. General Franklin Pierce was the Brigade Commander, whom they joined at Vera Cruz in June, where he was appointed Sergeant-Major of the regi- ment, and held the position till the close of the war. The orders were to join General Scott, who wasthen at Pueblo, awaiting reinforcements and supplies. Their command was weak and the march a forced one, but the advance was made interesting and lively by their friends the guerrillas, who amused themselves by blowing up bridges that spanned almost impassable rivers and chasms, and by rolling huge rocks from mountain sides upon them as they passed through defiles. The only battles of magnitude that Mr. Hewitt participated in were those of Contreras and Churubusco on August 19 and 20, 1847. He was wounded at Contreras, but not seriously. At the close of the war he was tendered by the Government a Second Lieuten- ancy in the First Dragoons, regular army, but declined when he heard of the discovery of gold in California. Ile and two other young men from Kansas City crossed the plains with an ox team, via the Carson River ronte, and arrived in California in September, 1849. From 1849 to 1863 Mr. Hewitt was almost exclusively en- gaged in mining and merchandising in Mariposa, Merced and Stanislaus counties. He arrived in Los Angeles, July 31, 1863, and passed the time from that date till October 28 in making n fruitless trip to the Weaver diggings in Arizona (during which he walked 500 miles), and in

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

working for his board for a gentleman by the name of Coh:, who kept a stationery and toy store on Main street, where the Grand Central Hotel now stands. On the last-named date he entered the service of General Phineas Bann- ing at Wilmington, in whose employ he re- mained six years, or until the completion of the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad, of which he became superintendent in 1870. General Hewitt is now division superintendent of the Southern Pacific Company, and has been since its purchase of the Los Angeles & Southern Pacific Road in 1873. He was married at Wil- mington, Los Angeles County, in October, 1866, to Miss Susan Garrett, a native of Arkansas. They have three children living, two daughters and a son, the former aged twenty-one and four- teen years respectively, and the latter sixteen years. The family moved from Wilmington to Los Angeles, in February, 1874. General Hew- itt was treasurer of the county from 1876 to 1878. He has also held the position of General of Brigade of the National Guards of California . The subject of this sketeh is a thorough busi- ness man, having filled with ability the position of railroad superintendent for nearly twenty years. His present dnties as division superin- tendent of the Southern Pacific system require great executive ability. He not only possesses this in a marked degree, but he is withal per- sonally and officially popular in the community in which he has lived so long.

M. HAVENS, carpenter and builder, No. 10 Washington street, Los Angeles, was born in the city of Albany, New York, October 1, 1860. His father, Morton II. Ha- vens, was a prominent contraetor and builder. Serving as an officer in the Union army, the lat- ter was severely wounded in the battle of Cold Harbor and left for dead on the field. After the war he was eonneeted with the Freedinen's Bureau. Returning to Albany, he engaged as a building contraetor, and carried on an exten-

sive business for many years. The subject of this sketeh attended school during boyhood in his native eity, and afterward learned of his father the trade of carpenter and joiner. In this he was so proficient that before reaching man- hood he was charged with the supervision of forty to fifty men. In 1887 he came to Los Angeles, where he is enjoying a good patronage in his line. He also deals in real estate, taking jobs of repairing and renting, etc. He was married March 1, 1882, to Miss Sarah V. Rocke- feller, of Greenbush, New York, and they have one son, Ed M., Jr.

RED HAVER, contractor in briek and stone work, Los Angeles, is a native of Living- ston County, New York, and was born October 13, 1847. His parents, Fred and Mari- ette (Preston) Haver, were also natives of New York State. They went to Illinois and settled in Moline in 1853. Young Haver attended sehool until after the breaking out of the Re- bellion, when he enlisted, March 17, 1862, in the Thirty-ninth Regiment, Illinois Infantry, General Logan's old regiment. He served three years, seven months and twenty-three days, and participated in a number of battles and skir- mishes. While out seouting and in a skirmish, twenty of his regiment were captured and taken to Andersonville. However, Mr. Haver, being a good runner, escaped. After being mustered ont of the service, he entered the regular army, Eighth Regulars, U. S. A., commanded by old Colonel Bumford, the Ranking Colonel of the army. He was Sergeant-Major two years, the highest non-commissioned rank. Was mustered ont June 17, 1870. Mr. Haver learned his trade of his father, who was a prominent eontraetor and engaged in building in Iowa. The subject of this sketeh eame to Los Angeles in 1883 and engaged in contracting, and since then has been prominently identified with the contraeting and building interests here. Among the many large contracts he has taken are, the Barker Bloek, the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Goller Block, the Armeister, the Kiefer Block, Germain Block and many others. He had the contract for building the Raymond Hotel and made the 2,000,000 bricks required for the foundations. Ile built many of the best build- ings in Pasadena: Ward Block, Exchange Block, Carlton Hotel, General Ward Block, First Na- tional Bank, Hopkins Block and many others. Mr. Haver has had a large, practical experience and enjoys the reputation of being one of the most competent and responsible contractors in this State. He was married July 11, 1872, to Miss Minerva Stiles, of the State of Iowa. Her father was a soldier who served in the Twenty- sixth Iowa Infantry and died of injuries received in the service of his country. Mr. and Mrs. Haver have five children: Herbert, Goldie, Earl Wayne, Pearl M., and Fred, Jr.

C. HARPER, manufacturer of well and water pipe, tanks and all kinds of tin and metal roofing, 344 Alameda street, Los Angeles, is a native of Columbus, Mississippi, born March 13, 1866, and is a son of C. F. Harper and Martha (Mullen) Harper. His par- ents came to California and settled in Los An- geles in 1868. His father, an old and honored citizen, established the well-known house of Harper, Reynolds & Co., and for the past twenty years this firm has been one of the largest and most prominent in the extent and magnitude of its business in Sonthern California. The sub- ject of this sketch attended school here, and after leaving school entered his father's store, where he received a thorough training in the de- tails of the business and was connected with the house until the present year, when he purchased the manufacturing department and succeeded to this part of the extensive business, the oldest in this line in Southern California. He manu- factures all kinds of sheet iron and tin plate work for the trade, in a wholesale way, having a large trade with the land and water com- panies, supplying them with water and well

pipe. For so young a man, Mr. Harper has had a large practical experience and gives his per- sonal supervision to the details of the business. Hle will continue to increase the already large established trade of this old and well-known manufacturing honse. Mr. Harper was united in marriage, October 25, 1887, to Miss Minnie Hamilton, a native of Dalton, Georgia, and daughter of Colonel Joseph Hamilton, formerly of Georgia, but who has been a resident of Los Angeles for many years.

ULIUS HAUSER, dealer in fresh and salted meats, corner of Main and First streets, is a native of Germany, and was born in Baden, January 7, 1847. He attended school during boyhood, and upon reaching manhood lie emigrated to America, in 1867. He lived in Poughkeepsie, New York, three years, after which he came to the Pacific Coast, in 1870, and located at Sacramento, where he was engaged in business for thirteen years. He was also in- terested in the stock business, and traveled from Oregon through the Territories on horseback, for the benefit of his healthi, at the same time continuing his business in Sacramento, which place continned to be his home until 1888. He then came to Los Angeles and established his present business. He has one of the best loca- tions in the city, corner of Main and First streets, and is building up a large trade. In 1879 Mr. Hauser married Miss Caroline Ilergett, a native of the city of Sacramento. They have four sons: Edward Charles, Herman Julius, Lewis Angust and Franklin Mitchell.

F. HAWK, an extensive and prosperous farmer, residing five miles west of Comp- ton, has been a resident of the county since 1873. He is now farming 1,700 acres of land, the principal crop being barley, of which he raises a superior quality. He also owns a

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

farm of forty acres near Downey. When first he came to the county Mr. Hawk was employed for several years in Los Angeles City by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, as clerk, and he subsequently devoted his time and at- tention to agricultural pursnits. Mr. Hawk is a native of Indiana, was born in 1849, and is the son of James and Caroline (Newell) Hawk. His parents were natives of Ohio, and moved at an early day to La Salle County, Illinois, where the subject of this sketch was principally reared and educated. Besides a liberal common-school education, he pursued the higher branches of study at the Grand Prairie Seminary at Orange, Illinois. He afterward figured as a pedagogue, and taught three years in Iroquois and other connties in Illinois. In 1881 he selected as his partner through life Miss Mattie Willets, of Leesburgh. Indiana. She is the daughter of Enos and Elmira (Wood) Willets, natives of Ohio, and pioneers of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Hawk have an interesting family of three chil- dren: Leroy, Walter and Olga. Politically Mr. Hawk is a stanch supporter of the principles as taught by the Republican party. Being a scholar and a man of close observation, he is one whose opinion, on matters both public and private, is received with deference by all who know him.

ARMON HIGGINS, deceased, came to California in 1844. He was born in Illi- nois, February 19, 1812. His parents, Josiah and Margaret Higgins, of Tennessee, moved to Platt County, Missouri, when Harinon was one year old. There he was reared and educated, receiving both a common-school and a college education. He was married in Holt County, Missouri, December 25, 1842, to Miss Malinda Durbin, a native of Platt County, Mis- souri, and a daughter of Daniel and Thurza (Fnget) Durbin. They were natives of Missouri and Kentucky respectively. The father traces his genealogy back to the Irish and Welsh, and the mother to the French and Welsh. They

reared a large family, seven girls and three boys. Two years after his marriage the subject of this sketch set out for California, coming overland in company with a train consisting of twenty-six families, with Niel Gillam as their Captain. They arrived in Portland, Oregon, abont Christinas, where they remained until the spring of 1849, during which time Mr. Higgins was engaged in the management of a large sheep and cattle ranch. He then mnoved to San Fran- cisco, and for six months was engaged in min- ing. He subsequently moved to the Napa Val- ley where he farmed for three years, and then returned to his ranch in Oregon, remaining there six months. In 1861 he moved to El Monte, where he rented land fonr years. In 1865 he bought eighty acres of land where the city of Compton now stands, and was one of the original settlers of the place. He subsequently purchased 160 acres of land in San Diego County, residing on it one year, and then inov- ing back to his Compton rauch. Mr. and Mrs. Higgins have reared a large family, eleven chil- dren in all, ten of whoin are yet living: Jaines P., Dallas A., Josiah, Harmon, Buchanan, Will- iam R., Wallie, Mary E., wife of Madison Snt- ton; Augusta, wife of Jefferson Mago; Cas- sanda, wife of John Hollman; and Frances M., who died at the age of eleven years. Mr. Hig- gins led a useful life and was a highly respected citizen. His death occurred March 2, 1887, at his home in Compton. Mrs. Higgins has re- cently built a large and elegant residence on the old farm just inside the city limits of Comp- ton, where, with her sons and two grandchildren, she is spending the evening of life in a manner which only those who have led a useful life can enjoy.

OODSON C. HOLMAN was born in Kentucky in 1824, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Duvall) Holman, the former of German and the latter of French origin, and both natives of Kentucky. Jolm

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Holman was born September 11, 1787, was a soldier in the war of 1812, in his younger days was a successful teacher for a number of years, went to Oregon in 1843, and engaged in farm- ing there until his death, which occurred May 14, 1864. He and his wife reared a family of sixteen children, fourteen of whom lived to maturity. When the subject of this sketch was only a boy he was entrusted with the care of his father's family on their way from Missouri to Oregon. On this journey they experienced untold privations and hardships, and for sixteen days were lost, wandering they knew not where. This was in 1845. In 1848 the subject of this sketch came to California, and for ten years was engaged in the wholesale mercantile business in San Francisco. Mr. Holman is a man who has traveled much. Eight times he has been across the ocean from San Francisco to New York, and four times across the continent. He made twenty-five trips by sea from Portland, Oregon, to San Francisco, and twice overland, all these being business trips. He was at one time Cor- poral in the Indian war, to rescue prisoners taken at the massacre of Dr. Whitman, and in this capacity he rescued forty women and chil- dren. For the past eighteen years Mr. Holman has been a citizen of Los Angeles County. For six years after coming to the county he was a forwarding merchant in the city of Los Angeles, and twelve years ago he purchased 100 acres of land where he now resides. At present he is cultivating sixty acres, as a horticulturist. IIe received the nomination for justice of the peace in 1876, but was defeated. While in Oregon he was elected sheriff of Pacific County in 1852, but resigned the office on account of business claiming his attention in San Francisco. Mr. Holman is somewhat of an author, though his edneational advantages were very limited. He spent one winter in Philadelphia, one in New York City, and two in Washington, as cor- respondent for different newspapers. He pub- lished a work of his own, or rather a lecture, entitled "Twenty-four Years' Residence in Or- egon and California." Ile made a tour east to

St. Louis and other points, where he delivered this lecture to appreciative audiences. Mr. Holman has been twice married. In 1858, at Bethel, Oregon, he wedded Olivia Burnett, daughter of Rev. G. O. Burnett, a minister in the Christian Church. This lady lived only six months after her marriage. In 1870 he chose for his second wife Mrs. Mary A. Elliott, of Clinton County, Missouri, who is a daughter of William Stoneman, of Plattsburg, Missouri. This lady, by ber first husband, had two dangh- ters, Florence and India. Her union with Mr. Holman has been blessed with two sons, Frank and Claude Stoneman.

AMES HAY, a blacksmith near Artesia postoffice, has been one of the most success- ful men in this part of the county. IIe was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1843. His parents, Donald and Jessie (Cameron) Hay, had six sons and one danghter; came to Canada in 1857 and located in Frontenac, Ontario, where the father followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1875. The mother died three years previously. In 1864 James went to Roch- ester, New York, and thence to Oil City, Penn- sylvania, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade. Thence he went to Wyoming Territory, where for nine months he served in the Quarter- master's Department. Next he was at Salt Lake City, and then in Idaho Territory, where he followed his trade until 1875. Then he came to Los Angeles, purchased a farm south of Artesia, sold it and bought where he now lives. This he has improved, and here day after day the year around has the ring of his anvil been heard. Thus, having good health and rigidly practicing industrious and economical habits, he has accumulated an independent fortune. Ile is one of the first settlers of this beautiful Artesia country, and has witnessed the vast and rapid improvement that has been made within the last ten years. IIe is recognized as an emi- nently successful business man, enjoys the con-

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fidence and esteem of his neighbors in a very large measure, is energetic, patriotic, public- spirited and intelligent, and no good public enterprise suffers from the lack of his support. Socially he is a Freemason and Odd-fellow, and politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is yet unmarried.

V. JOHNSTON, contractor, 309 West Seventh street, Los Angeles, was born in Tompkins County, New York, June 18, 1830. He went to Chicago in 1848, and served an apprenticeship to his trade in that city. At length he succeeded to the business of Cooley & Briggs, who were prominent bnilders. Mr. Johnston engaged in contracting and building and carried on the business there thirty-seven years. Thus he is one of the oldest and best-known contractors and builders in the city of Chicago, and has done as much building there as any other man. He also ran a planing- mill in connection with his business for fifteen or twenty years. On account of his health he was obliged to seek a milder climate, and closed his active business interests there and came to Los Angeles in 1888. Here le engaged in contracting for building. Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary H. Cooley, a native of the city of Chicago. Her parents, W. H. and Rebecca (Warner) Cooley, settled in Chicago in 1833, and were among the earliest pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have four children: Ada M., Edwin J., Arthur and Martha.

ROFESSOR S. HOLGATE, musician, near Norwalk, was born on the Atlantic Ocean, between Liverpool and New York, on the 30th day of April, 1842. His father's name was William, and his mother's, Martha Holgate. They were natives of England. She was a pro- fessional singer, and on her way to fill an en- gagement in New York when the subject of

this sketch was born. They made several trips between Liverpool and New York when he was but a small boy. Ile came over the last time with Professor Mackey, and was known as the " baby violinist." For seven years he was a pupil of Professor Mackey and traveled exten- sively with him, till 1864, when he went to White Pine, Nevada. There he worked in the quartz mines for two years. In 1868 he came to Los Angeles County, and rented land for some years, then bought a farm, which he soon sold. Then he purchased where he now resides, and has made a very pleasant home a mile and three- quarters southwest of Norwalk. Professor Hol- gate has distingnislied himself as a musician, and his ability as a violinist is not exceeded, perhaps, by any in the State. He is the leader of the Norwalk Orchestra and Brass Band, and has played for the best entertainments in the State. Of late he has not given much attention to the science, but his ability as a musician and violinist is wonderful. He was married in 1865 to Miss Julia Thompson, daughter of the well- known O. D. Thompson, of Los Angeles. The names of their children are: Julia, wife of Gar- rett Duncan; William, Stephen and James. Professor Holgate was the first member initi- ated into the Masonic lodge in Downey, and lie has ever since been " on the square." Politi - cally he is a Republican.

OHN ROWLAND, one of the early pio- neers of Los Angeles County, was a native of Maryland. He went to Taos, New Mex- ico, many years ago, where he married Doña Incarnacion Martinez, and where his older chil- dren were born, namely: John, Jr., Thomas, Robert, Nieves, who married John Reed, and Lucinda, who married James R. Barton; Will- iam R., his youngest son, was born in California. Mr. Rowland, with his life-long friend and part- ner, William Workman, was engaged in Taos in milling. The partners also owned a distil- lery. In 1841 they set out for California, in

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company with John Tete, Santiego Martinez, Thomas Belarde and others. The following year they went back after their families. On their return hither, their company included B. D. Wilson, D. W. Alexander, John Reed, Will- iam Perdue, Samuel Carpenter, all of whom became residents of this county, and also Will- iam Charel, of Tehama County. Rowland & Workman obtained a grant of La Puente Rancho, of eleven leagues, or about 48,000 acres, twenty miles east of the city of Los Angeles, where they settled and lived the rest of their lives. Some years after the death of his wife, Mr. Rowland married Mrs. Charlotte Gray, whose husband had been killed by Indians while cross- ing the plains. Her danghter by her first hus- band, Mary A. Gray, married Mr. Charles Forinan, and is a resident of this city. The only living issue of Mr. Rowland's second mar- riage are Albert and Victoria, both residing on the ranch and both married, the latter being the wife of J. W. Hudson. In 1869 Messrs. Rowland & Workman divided their rancho, and Mr. Rowland, in 1870 or 1871, settled up his estate and portioned off the ranch among his heirs, giving to each about 3,000 acres of land and about 1,000 head of cattle. Mr. Rowland was well and favorably known for many years by the old settlers of Los Angeles County, both Spanish and Americans; and he was known as a good and enterprising citizen and an honest man-de buena fama-which certainly was a good heritage to leave to his posterity. The writer of these lines knew him well from 1855 till his death. His residence in this city was the Bliss Vineyard, opposite the Wolfskill place, on Alameda street.

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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