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 120

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 120

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

an honorable business record of over twenty-two years. He had little or no capital when he be- gan life and his success is owing to his own efforts. He erected a large business block on Main street, and is also the owner of other valu- able property. He did not invest in real estate as a speculation, but always as an investment. When he bought property he had a use for it, and in this way his investments have been per- manently made and have proved very fortunate. Mr. Lichtenberger was elected a member of the city council, and after serving one term was elected city treasurer, in 1878. Los Angeles has no more generous and worthy citizen, no one more actively identified with the progress and development of the city and county, than is Mr. Lichtenberger. He was married Novem- ber 2, 1863, to Miss Emily Basse, a native of Germany, who was born in the city of Bohn on the Rhine. They have four children: Herman, Amelia, Louis and George.

HE LOS ANGELES PLANING-MILL COMPANY, corner of San Pedro and Seventh streets, Los Angeles, established their business here July 26, 1886, with S. C. Dodge, President, and Thomas Hughes, Vice- President. The company manufactures sash, blinds and doors, stairs, scroll work, molding and all kinds of ornamental woodwork for finish- ing and decoration. Their factory is large and commodious, about 300 feet frontage, contain- ing the latest and most improved machinery, and during the busy season giving employment to from fifty to seventy-five hands. The com- pany are fully equipped to execute large con- tracts as promptly as any similar factory on the Pacific Coast, and for doing all kinds of fine work; and they have a large and well-established trade. Their stock is secured here and up North on the coast, wherever they can buy to the best advantage. They are contemplating building a mill in Washington Territory, to meet the de- mands of their increasing trade. S. C. Dodge, 49

the president of the company, is a native of Nova Scotia; came to the Pacific Coast in 1875, and to Los Angeles in 1886, to establish the present business. IIe has had a large practical experience in the manufacturing of lumber, and is familiar with every detail; and to the efficient management executed by himself and Mr. Hughes is attributed the success of the company.

W. LOWE, real-estate agent in Long Beach, who came to California in Oc- 6 tober, 1883, is a native of the Buck- eye State. He was born in 1843, and is the youngest of a family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. His father, Jacob Lowe, was a native of Ulster County, New York. He subsequently moved to Ohio, where for several years he taught school, and died in that State in 1865. The subject of this sketch was edu- cated at the common schools in Pickaway County, Ohio. After leaving school he engaged in teaching a short time before his marriage, after which he retired from the school-room, eight years later resuming the profession of teaching and continuing it for a number of years. January 24, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Belle McKee, of Ohio, daughter of James and Elizabeth McKee, both natives of Maryland. For ten years Mr. Lowe was engaged in the grain and live-stock busi- ness. After coming to California he cliose for his future home a beautiful site in Los Angeles County, which has since been named Long Beach, he being one of the first settlers in the place. Mr. Lowe erected the first store-room and kept the first store here. Fortune has smiled on him since he came to this beach, and he is one of the most successful business men in the village. He lias practically retired from the mercantile business and is giving his atten- tion to the management of real estate and in- surance. He is also a notary public. Mr. Lowe is thoroughly identified with the best interests of the place, and enjoy's the confidence and

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esteem of his fellow-townsmen. At present he holds the office of treasurer of the municipality. Politically he affiliates with the Prohibition party, and is an active worker for temperance, and may be depended upon to support, by his influence and his means, anything which has for its object the general good of the community. Mr. Lowe is a member of the Congregational church. Socially he is connected with the Ma- sonic order, and also with the Knights of Honor. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have been blessed with two lovely danghters, Ethel and Vinnie. They live in a delightful location on Pine street, overlook- ing the beach and the grand old ocean beyond.

ICHIARD D. LEWIS, a retired capitalist in Santa Monica, was born near Merthyr Tydvil, Glamorgan County, Wales, in 1814, and is a son of William and Ann (Jones) Lewis. Mr. Lewis was for several years engaged in the iron works in his native country, and in 1840 came to America. He worked by the day in l'ennsylvania for two years, and then took a contract for an iron furnace at Shamokin, Penn- sylvania. He next went to Rochester, New York, where for several years he had control of the Forsyth Scale Mannfactory. In 1870 he received the first premium from the Mechanics' Institute, at the Cincinnati Industrial Exposi- tion. After this he was interested in the air- brake business with James Y. Smith. Mr. Lewis has been a very successful business man. lle owns several blocks in the best business part of Kansas City. IIe has recently purchased resi- dence property in Santa Monica, where he has retired from active business. Mr. Lewis has been twice married: First, in 1840, to Elizabeth Lewis, also a native of Wales. Of this union two children were born. The older, Sarah A., married John Thompson, by whom she had four children. She died in Rochester, New York, in March, 1889. The other child, William, was his father's book-keeper in Rochester, New York; he also is deceased, having died at the age

of forty-eight years. Mrs. Lewis departed this life abont five years ago. In June, 1885, Mr. Lewis married Mrs. Mary Burr, the widow of Theodore Burr. Her maiden nanie was Mary Jones, and she is the daughter of David Jones, a Welshman. Her first husband was John Powell, by whom she had three children: Will- iam H., George O., and Mary J., wife of Thomas Edwards, hatter and furrier, of St. Joe, Missouri. Mr. Lewis has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for fifty years. Heresides at the corner of Seventh street and Arizona avenue, Santa Monica.

ILLIAM LACY, SR., of the Puente Oil Company, and one of the most favora- bly known business men in Southern California, is a native of England, who came to California in 1864, and first engaged in mercan- tile business in Marin County, and subsequently in San Diego, and finally in Los Angeles. Here he has been prominent in financial circles, being connected with the old Commercial Bank, in company with E. F. Spence, and afterward with the First National Bank in varions relations; he is still a director in this institution. He has also been interested in many public enterprises. He was the first to develop the Puente oil wells, which have proved more remunerative than any other in the country. Mr. Lacy and William Rowland are the proprietors of these wells and constitute the company referred to. Their office is now in the magnificent Lanfranco Building in the city of Los Angeles. Mr. Lacy's business capacity and genial manner have won for him many favorable considerations for public po- sition, but he has declined them all except that of member of the Board of Education of the city of Los Angeles. Ilis two sons, William, Jr., and Richard H., constitute the Lacy & Ward Company (Mr. Ward not now being a member of the firm), manufacturers of iron tanks of all classes and sheet-iron work, oil and water pipes, etc .; factory in East Los Angeles on Daly street, which was commenced some three or four years

D. H. Abott

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ago, and where they employ on an average 100 men. This is one of the largest business enter- prises in Southern California. They also have a large factory in San Diego. They furnished all the pipe used in the great San Diego flume, fifty iniles in length, and also furnished and laid all the pipe in the immense Sweetwater dam. Both these young gentlemen, being natives of Marin County, California, are members of the N. S. G. W. They have traveled a great deal, have capacity for heavy business responsibilities, and by their faithfulness well deserve their pres- ent prominent position.

TEPHEN HATHAWAY MOTT. - A namne that is inseparably connected with the history of Los Angeles is that of S. II. Mott, and cannot, therefore, fail to be of interest. He was born in the State of New York, June 21, 1828, near the historic spot of Burgoyne's surrender, not far from Bemis Heights. The Mott homestead is situated in the valley of the Hudson, twelve miles east of Saratoga Springs, at Schuylerville, and is still owned and held as family property. His parents were Quakers. His father, J. R. Mott, filled many positions of honor and trust, being at various times depnty sheriff, justice of the peace and collector of canal tolls, the last-named office coming by appoint- ment from the State. He died in 1856, at the ripe old age of seventy-one years. His mother was Abby Hathaway Dillingham, who died in 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. The family consisted of five children, three boys and two girls, of whom three yet live ---- two of the sons (S. H. and Thomas D. Mott, of Los Angeles), and a daughter, who resides near the old homestead. Young Mott was reared on his father's farm, working hard in the summer time, and attending the common schools in the win- ter. His educational advantages were thus necessarily limited, but the boy derived all the benefits he could from the meager opportunities afforded him. At sixteen years of age he went

to learn the tinner's trade, living the meanwhile with his grandfather. He worked at the trade for about two years, and when eighteen years old he entered a large warehouse on the Cham- plain Canal. In a little over a year he was promoted to a place in the store and office, and later was given an interest in the business. IIis rapid progress with this firm demonstrated two facts more clearly than any other, namely, that he possessed business qualities of a superior order, and also that he was thoroughly appreci- ated by his employers. He remained in this business till he had a capital of $800. In 1855 he terminated his business connection with the honse and removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, then a town of about 6,000 inhabitants. After a few months' experience in the wholesale and retail dry-goods business Mr. Mott moved from St. Paul to St. Peter in October, 1856, where he established a successful business and sold out, and returned to St. Paul in the summer of 1857, and engaged in the grocery business, remaining there till the fall of 1859, when he closed out and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1860, where he entered the retail grocery business, and remained there till May, 1861, when, the war having broken ont, he sold his business and returned to Minnesota, and settled at Shakopee in June, 1861, and engaged in the mercantile business. In March, 1864, he closed out his business in Shakopee and came direct to Los Angeles, where his brother, Thomas D. Mott, had been for some time, which fact, together with what he had read about California, had made him determined to try its climate, which experi- ment he has not yet finished. In 1864 Los An- geles had about 6,000 population, the Spanish- American element largely predominating. From the first Mr. Mott had great confidence in the future of this country; he could see nothing to retard its progress, and he has lived to see his expectations fully realized and to enjoy the benefits of the growth of the city and county. He at once took the position of deputy county clerk under his brother, Thomas D. Mott, which he held until November, 1871, when he resigned

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and was himself appointed to the position for the term. He was ex-officio clerk of the county court, district and probate courts, clerk of the board of supervisors, and ex-officio county andi- tor and recorder, his brother, Thomas D. Mott, having been elected to the Legislature in 1871. At the expiration of his term of office he took a deputyship under A. W. Potts, County Clerk, for two years. During the ten years Mr. Mott was deputy county clerk he had become interested in many financial sehemes. Among others he had purchased the Mott tract of 130 acres, cor- nering on Temple and Fort streets, and running west on Temple street, which he sold out as soon as possible in order to accumulate a small working capital. In April, 1868, the question of giving a subsidy to the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad was voted upon by the people, the city giving $75,000 and the county $150,000. Mr. Mott put all his available cash into the stock of this enterprise, and gave his notes for a large amount. His natural abilities, official experi- ence and personal investments made him the leader of the private stockholders. The road was finished in 1869, having been built under contract by HI. B. Tichenor, of San Francisco. Afterward the Southern Pacific came with an offer to bring that road into Los Angeles pro- viding certain subsidies would be granted to them, and they could have the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad. In 1872 the matter was submitted to the electors of the city and county, and the sum of $377,000 was voted to them, and the city and county relinquished to them, its stock in the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad. Mr. Mott's business career has been one of ex- treme activity. Ile became a stockholder in the Los Angeles City Water Company in 1868, a member of the board of directors in 1869, its secretary in 1874, which position he still holds. Hle became a stockholder in the Los Angeles Gas Company in 1869, and soon there- after a director and its secretary, but sold all his stock in 1875. In 1872 he took a one-third interest with W. II. Perry and Wallace Wood- worth in the lumber business. Mr. Woodworth

died in 1882, and the firm became Perry, Mott & Co., and in 1883 was incorporated as the W. H. Perry Lumber and Mill Company. Mr. Perry is president and Mr. Mott is vice-president; there has been no change in name or position. In 1875 he became a stockholder and director in the Commercial, now the First National, Bank. In 1876 the Bank of Anaheim was organized by E. F. Spence, H. Mabury, J. E. Hollenbeck, A. H. Wilcox, M. S. Patrick and S. H. Mott. The officers were: S. H. Mott, President, and B. F. Seibert, Cashier. This bank was very prosperous. Mr. Mott and Mr. Mabury finally became the sole owners of the bank stock. In 1883 Mr. Mott sold all his stock to P. James, who is now its president. During his administration he planned and erected the building now occupied by that bank. Mr. Mott is a stockholder, and a director and secretary in the Crystal Springs Land and Water Company; capital stock, $1,240,000. The Los Angeles Water Company, capital, $1,2+0,000, has the same directors and officers controlling its affairs as the Crystal Springs Land and Water Company. Mr. Mott has been a stockholder in and the treasurer of the Los Angeles Oil Com- pany, forined in 1876, since it has been paying dividends. The Hesperia Land and Water Com- pany, formed in 1885, the property of which is located in San Bernardino County, including 33,000 acres and good water rights, also has Mr. Mott for a stockholder and secretary. He is also a stockholder in the Sespe Land and Water Company, which has 3,300 acres in Ventura County. He is also a stockholder in and presi- dent of the Barnard & Benedict Fruit Crystal- lizing Company, with a capital stock of $200,000. In 1883 the originators of this enterprise began a series of experiments in the treatment of the fruits of Southern California under entirely new methods and processes, having in view a means of condensing and curing thoroughly ripe and mellow fruits, both whole and in the forin of pulp and marmalades. These fruits, as they were afterward marketed, were erroneously called and known as crystallized fruits, thereby con-

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founding the product obtained by this new method with what is found in all the markets- made largely in France and sold under the name of glazed fruit or crystallized fruit. The Pioneer Lumber and Mill Company, located at Colton, San Bernardino County, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, has for its officers: M. A. Murphy, President; J. M. Riley, Vice-President; S. II.

Mott, Secretary. It has a planing mill and branch yards at Riverside and Redlands. Mr. Mott and W. H. Perry also own two vessels together -- the brig Tanner, and the schooner Serena Thayer. Mr. Mott joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1853, and became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1862. He is also a member of Orange Grove Encampment, I. O. O. F. Through his energy and persever- ance and integrity of character Mr. Mott has been peculiarly successful in Southern California since he first came here in 1864. While he has made money rapidly, he has expended much of it in the support of his relatives, having no de- sire to be considered wealthy while they were in need of anything. He is a typical pioneer of Southern California, and a shining example of what can be accomplished in a growing country by an industrions, honest and carefnl man. But his successful business career is not the most commendable quality of his nature. It is a fact well known among his most intimate and oldest acquaintances that his humane actions and gen- erous impulses toward his friends have been most commendable.

AMES LONEY, horticulturist, near Po- mona, was born in Bangor, Maine, in 1847. His parents were Patrick and Catherine (Hurley) Loney. Early in life he commenced to earn his own living. At the age of eleven years he was employed in a butcher's shop, and then at such occupations as he was able to per- form until 1862, when he came to California and joined his father, who had come to the State in 1854. Upon his arrival he spent the

next two years with his father at Grass Valley, where he attended school. He then went to the Warren Diggings, on Meadow Creek, in Idaho, and was engaged in mining until 1866. While there he also attended the night schools. From that time until 1872 Mr. Loney was engaged in prospecting in Montana and other sections, and also followed other occupations. He then entered the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad, first as a laborer upon a construction train. Active and quick to learn, he soon secured a position as a brakeman upon freight trains, and from that was promoted as a freight conductor, and a conductor on passenger trains. During the first seven years of his railroad work he made his home in Rocklin, and then in 1874 came to Los Angeles County and resided in Anaheim, where in 1875 he married Miss Frances Dolchy, the danghter of John A. and Henrietta Dolchiy, natives of Germany. Mrs. Loney was born in Brooklyn, New York. Soon after his marriage Mr. Loney purchased nineteen acres of land in the San Jose Valley, with the view of making a home for his family. He continued his work for the railroad company until 1880, his wife meanwhile living upon this land and directing its improvement and cultivation. Since the last- named year Mr. Loney has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. His well-known orchard is in one of the representative places of Po- mona, being located on Ellen street, south of Orange Grove avenue. He has six acres in oranges, and four or five acres in French prunes, and about three acres in Mission grapes. Two and a half acres of his French prunes are in full bearing, and he has made a specialty of the pro- duction and care of that fruit. The intelligent care he has taken has produced wonderful re- sults, and his fruit when dried and boxed has yielded him an average of about $500 per acre for the past three years. lle is one of the pio- neers of the fruit industry in Pomona, and the condition and products of his orchard attest the success that may be achieved in horticultural occupations in his section. Much of his success is due to his energetic wife, upon whom for the

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first five years from 1875 to 1880-the plant- ing and cultivation of his orchards depended. Mr. Loney is an enthusiastic supporter of any enterprise tending to develop the horticultural resources of the San José Valley. From 1883 to 1886 he was a county and State fruit-pest in- spector, and also a member of the Pomona board of health. In political matters he is a Repub- lican and a strong advocate for the protection of our home industries. He is a member of Po- mona Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Loney have four children: Frances Theo- dora, Florenee Catherine, James Arnold and Frank Walter.

B E. MILES, Seeretary of the Southern Cali- fornia Insurance Company, is a native of

0 New York State, born at Yonkers, on the Hudson River, August 12, 1853, and is a son of N. S. and Kate (Knowles) Miles. He attended school during his early boyhood, and at the age of fourteen years went to Europe, where he pursued his studies for several years, and after his return attended school at Claverack, on the Iludson. In 1871 he came to the Pacific Coast and spent one year in traveling about the country. The facilities for travel by railroad being very limited, he went on horseback. He afterward located at Anaheim and engaged in the insurance business for a number of years. Ile then came to Los Angeles, and in January, 1886, was elected Seeretary of the Southern California Insurance Company, and since then he has held that position. Ile has been a resi- dent of Los Angeles County eighteen years, is familiar with its interests and has had a large and successful experience as an insurance man. Ile is also interested in the California Ware- house Company. Mr. Miles is actively identi- fied with the progress and development of the eity and county and has taken an active part in public affairs. He is a member of the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce and Produce Exchange. He was elected a member of the

City Council, holding that office two years; was also elected president of the board. Mr. Miles was united in marriage to Miss Laura Yocum, of Pennsylvania, June 28, 1877. They have one daughter, Ethel.

ULIUS MICHIELSON, Superintendent of the pipe factory of Lacy, Ward & Com- pany, is a native of Denmark, born April 8, 1856. He attended sehool during boyhood and served an apprenticeship to learn the trade of a sheet-iron worker. He was employed at that trade in his native country, and also in Russia, Sweden, Finland and Germany. He emigrated to America in 1882, came to Los Angeles the same year, and entered the employ of Harper, Reynolds & Co., remaining with this firm three years. He was then foreman in Hol- brook's factory for a year and a half, and since then has been with Lacy, Ward & Co., and for the past year has held the position of superin- tendent. He is a thorough mechanie and under- stands every detail of the business. In 1886 Mr. Michelson married Miss Mary Neilson, a na- tive of Denmark. They have one daughter, Edna.

RED MORSCH, painting contractor, Los Angeles, was born in Würtemberg, Ger- many, April 27, 1831. He served an apprenticeship to his trade in his native coun- try. In 1856 he emigrated to America, landed in New York, and the following year eame to California, by way of the Isthmus. Upon reaeh- ing San Francisco he began working at his trade, and carried on the business there thirteen years. He eame to Los Angeles in 1869 and established his present business, on the corner of Los Angeles and Commercial streets, after a year or two removed to Court street, still later to Main street, and for the past ten years has oeenpied his present location. Ile is the pio- neer in the business of house and sign painting

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and, being well and favorably known, has an old established trade, having carried on the business in Los Angeles for the past twenty years. In 1870 Mr. Morsch married Miss Bertha Frechman, a native of the Southern States. They have three children: Bertha, Fred- rika and Lizzie. They have a nice home at 725 South Hill street.

L. MARSDEN .- No name is more worthy of a place in this work than is that of H. L. Marsden. This gentleman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1828. His father, John Marsden, was an Englishman by birth and came over to America at an early day. His mother's maiden name was Isabella Langworthy. She was a native of Virginia. Soon after their marriage they emigrated to Washington County, Iowa. This was in 1838, and there they con- tinued to reside, engaged in farming, until 1852, in which year the father died, Mrs. Marsden surviving him until 1880. They reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. In 1852 the subject of this sketch came to Cali- fornia, and after a sojourn of three years on the coast, during which time he worked at his trade, that of a carpenter, and was also engaged in mining, he returned to his home in the East. Ile remained in the East six years and within that time, in 1856, he married Armeta L. Carll, a native of the State of Maine. She is a refined and educated lady, nine years of her life having been spent as a teacher in the public schools, mostly in Nevada. After his marriage Mr. Marsden came by steamer route to California in 1862, leaving his wife and their oldest child behind. Three years later he sent for them and the family have since been identified with Los Angeles County. Mr. Marsden purchased twenty acres of land on which he has made a comfortable home, and is at present giving his attention to the raising of poultry. He has a great and choice variety, and over 1,500 hens may be seen in his yards; and the industry prom-

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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