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 121

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 121

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ises to be one of great profit. On his place are two fine artesian wells. The soil is fertile, and abundant crops of alfalfa are produced. There, in a pleasant home where many find a cordial welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Marsden are well situated to enjoy life. They have two sons: Dr. Walter L. Marsden, a practicing phy- sician in Drewsey, Oregon ; and George A. Marsden, the popular and obliging postmaster of Compton. Mr. Marsden is one who enjoys life, is happy and contented, and while not a church member, is a God-fearing man, upright in his dealings, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow-men.

ILLIAM M. MALOTT, one of the pio- neers of 1875, was born in Clay County, Missouri, in 1830. He is a son of Will- iam and Christiana (Moor) Malott, natives of Kentucky, and of French and German origin respectively. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Malott was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, . under the great La Fayette. William Malott, Sr., moved from Kentucky to Missouri at an early day. In his early life he was a mechanic, but later gave his attention to farming. He lived successively in Howard, Clay, and Platt counties, Missouri, and in the last-named county he died in 1849. He had been born in 1796 in Kentucky. His companion was born in 1808, and is living to this day at the old homestead in Platt County, Missouri. They reared a family of eleven children. The subject of this sketch is the fourth. He received a good common- school education, and at the age of twenty-seven left home to do for himself. Mr. Malott was married in 1857 to Mrs. Luey Canter, a native of Virginia. By her he has four daughters, all living and married: Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Hazlock; Jessie, wife of the enterprising M. N. Newmark; Mary E., wife of William Carpenter, and Susan, wife of Perry Venable. Mr. Malott is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Compton. Politically he is true to the Democratic party,

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being a firm believer in, and an ardent advocate of, that party. He has been a true pioneer of Los Angeles County, and to such men as he the county has yielded its wild, uncultivated prairies and swamps to be replaced by broad fields of alfalfa, and beautiful vineyards and orchards of the choicest fruits. Pleasantly located, one mile east of the city of Compton, he is spending happily the evening of life with the partner and companion of his youth.

BNER G. McDANIEL is a native of Los Angeles County. He was born at the home of his parents near the old Mission south of El Monte, September 6, 1860. He was reared at the home of his mother near Savannah and educated in the neighborhood schools. He early began to fight life's battles for himself. Full of energy, industrious and frugal, he has followed various occupations, never turning away from any honest labor. His earnings have largely been devoted to the maintenance of his mother's family. When twenty years of age Mr. McDaniel was engaged in coal mining on Twin Creek, sixty miles north of Evanston, Wyoming Territory. In that place he was thus employed for a year and a half, after which he engaged in quartz mining in San Diego County one year. Later, at Ballard, Santa Bárbara County, Mr. McDaniell earned the blacksmith's trade and lived there about three years. While engaged at his trade he received so serious an injury as to necessitate a change of ocenpation. In January, 1887, he commenced to learn teleg- raphy. In March, 1887, he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in the office at Puente. February 1, 1888, he was placed in charge of the company's office at El Monte, where, at this writing, he still remains. IIe is in charge of the Wells, Fargo & Co.'s ex- press business, and the Western Union telegraph office. Mr. McDaniel has shown himself worthy of the confidence and trust reposed in him. Genial, courteous and kindly by nature, he is

deservedly popular among all with whom he has business or social relations. Mr. McDaniel has suffered from so many accidents during his life that we are tempted to briefly relate then. While in his "first pants," with his father's hatchet, he cut off the end of one of his fingers. At four years of age he fell into the well, which caused a severe illness. Not long afterward, as a matter of .childish curiosity, he hung himself and was only resuscitated after hours of effort. Later, with a consin, he ate two boxes of matches, causing weeks of sickness, his cousin dying from the effect. When but six years of age he was thrown from a race horse, while riding in a race, his right leg broken and his skull fractured; and before complete recovery, his leg was again broken. At sixteen years of age he was thrown from a wild horse and his right arm broken. About that time he shot himself in the hand and severely cnt one of his feet. Several minor though serions accidents occurred, but one event came near finishing him, when, being mistaken for a Mexican horse-thief, he was shot at with a rifle, and only escaped by running like a thief. We will finish the story by saying that finally, while trying to shoe a wild horse, he was thrown and jumped npon and nearly killed. Abner B. McDaniel, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Tennessee in 1829, but from the age of ten years was reared in Texas. He came to California in 1853, and located at El Monte. The mother of our subject, formerly Miss Drusilla Bell, was born in Illinois. Her father, Abner Bell, was a native of Tennessee, and her mother, nee Nancy Garwood, was born in Kentucky, of Scotch parentage. She came with her parents to this State in 1853, settling in San Bernardino County. Miss Bell married Elijah Stowell, at El Monte in 1854. IIe died in 1856, leaving his widow with one child, Elijah A. Stowell, who now resides in Kern County. In 1858 Mrs. Stowell became the wife of Abner B. McDaniel, from whom she was divorced in 1887, the custody of the children remaining with her. Their names are: Abner G., whose name heads this sketch; Jefferson D.,

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who died in 1887, aged twenty-four years; Mary B., who married John Hallum, of Los Angeles; William Bragg, Drucilla Annette, Alice B., John, James G. Mrs. McDaniel resides with her children at her cottage home in Savannah.

HOMAS F. MITCHELL was born in 1827 and is a son of John and Martha (Carter) Mitchell, natives of Virginia, and of Ger- man origin. The subject of this sketch was in the Mexican war, and in 1852 came to California and mined for about eight years. In 1860 he engaged in the cattle business, which he followed very successfully for fifteen years. He then laid claim to 160 acres of land in the beautiful cañon where he has since lived. He has added to this original claim several valnable farms, and now owns over 1,000 acres. He has given his attention to farming; till recently he has made quite a creditable record as an apiarist. He has over 400 stands in two apiaries, which yield an average of forty tons of honey per year. In 1865 he was married to Miss Martha Taylor, a native of Arkansas, but principally reared in Cali- fornia. Her father was Ambrose Taylor, an early pioneer of this State. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have a family of four children, whose names are: Frank A., Fannie, John and Minnie. Mr. Mitchell is a warm friend of the common schools, and has taken a lively interest in educa- tional affairs. The beantiful school-house near his residence is due largely to his efforts, and he has been a school officer for several years. He and Mrs. Mitchell are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a true pioneer, and by his industry and economy has made a most beautiful home at the head of Soledad Cañon, where, twenty-one years ago, the bears were so numerous that he found great difficulty in protecting his stock against them, and where the Indians were so dangerous that he had to leave his wife and children behind for nearly two years. Surely the country owes a debt of gratitude to those old pioneers, who have

braved such dangers and hardships to develop its resources and to make such comfortable and beautiful homes for those they love most dear.

M M. MARLEAU, another one of the representative pioneers of Southern California, was born in Canada, Jau- uary 5, 1830, and is the son of Achan and Eliza- beth (Russell) Marleau, both Canadians and of French origin. Mr. Marleau left his native land in 1846 and westward pursued his way. Leaving St. Louis, April 2, 1852, he set out on the overland journey for the far-famed Califor- nia, arriving in the mining districts near Stock- ton in October, and having seventeen ont of the 250 head of cattle with which he left St. Louis. He came to this county March 3, 1868, and hence is one of the earliest settlers. He has witnessed the wonderful changes that have been wrought in this country, and looks forward to its still further development. When first coming here he purchased 100 acres of land, but has since sold the greater part of it, and now retains only twenty-five acres. This is fine land and is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Marlean was married in 1868 to Martha Faull. They have reared a family of four children: William, Elizabeth, Mary A., and Charley, all being mar- ried except the last named. Mr. Marleau is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge. Politically he is an active and enthusiastic Republican. He is a public-spirited citizen and can be depended upon to aid and support any undertaking which has for its object the general good of the com- munity.

U. MASTERS, President of the Board of Trade, etc., Pasadena, was, before his health failed, extensively engaged in the iron business in Cleveland, Ohio, his native place. After traveling for about three years in Europe and Africa, he came, in the winter

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

of 1874, to Pasadena, for his health, but most of the time for the first two years he traveled in this State. In 1877 he was appointed postmaster at Pasadena, when the business of the office was comparatively large and the facilities for trans- acting ii very limited. From his own pocket he paid for additional improvements and more assistants, nntil he could properly handle the rapidly increasing mail. For this he has been but partially reimbursed; but, more important than this to him, he feels that he successfully carried out his determination to give the people good service, and he asks no further reward. The writer has it from both Republican and Democratic sonrces that he did most excellent service. He is one of the organizers of the Pasadena Board of Trade, and is now its presi- dent; is also president of the Pickwick and Union Clubs, a stockholder in the First National and San Gabriel Valley banks, and largely inter- ested in several other enterprises of a more pri- vate character. Probably no one in the city has done so much toward the entertainment of prom- inent Eastern tourists as Mr. Masters, and to him the place is largely indebted for its present advancement.

O. MONROE may well be called the pio- neer of Monrovia, as he erected the first residence in that place, in 1884. This was before the present city was laid out. In that year Mr. Monroe purchased thirty acres of wild and uncultivated land and commenced clearing the same, entered into horticultural pursuits and also developed and piped water on his lands. Later, when the city of Monrovia was projected and laid out, he entered heartily into building up the place, and was one of the most enter- prising of the projectors and builders of that phenomenal city. All of the municipal work, street grading, tree planting, developing and piping the water from San Pit Cañon was done by Mr. Monroe, under contract from the town projectors and trustees. Ile was also one of

the stockholders of the Rapid Transit Railroad, and at this writing, 1889, is the superintendent of the same. He is now the owner of thirty acres of land in Monrovia, nearly all highly im- proved and cultivated. Fifteen acres are devoted to Washington Navel oranges and about ten acres to deciduous fruits, comprising a fine variety of peaches, plums, apricots, pears, etc. The subject of this sketch was born in Scott County, Indiana, in 1848. His father, Sanders A. Monroe, was a native of Virginia, and a descendant from an old Colonial family. From an early age he was reared in Kentucky, and in his young manhood located in Indiana, where he married Miss Catherine Monroe and settled down in life as a farmer. In 1851 he moved his fam- ily to Wapello County, Iowa. The members of the family were Sanders A. Monroe and wife, and the following named children: William N., Felix M., George W., Eliza L., now Mrs. Charles Hotchkiss; Mattie P., now the wife of Dr. D. D. Jay, and the subject of this sketch. Mr. C. O. Monroe was reared to the practical life of a farmer, receiving the benefits of a fair education. Upon reaching his majority in 1869, he started in life as a railroad contractor, and for twenty years was engaged in that work in the various States and Territories. In 1876 and 1877 he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Rail- road Company. In 1880 Mr. Monroe located in Iowa, and spent four years in coal mining. In 1884 he came to California and established his residence in Monrovia. He has thoroughly identified himself with the best interests of the place, and has the respect of a large circle of friends. He is a strong supporter of schools and churches, and is a member and trustec of the Baptist Church of Monrovia. He is a char- ter member of Monrovia Lodge, No. 330, 1. O. O. F. In political matters he is a strong Repub- lican, taking a deep interest in the affairs of the party and serving as a delegate in its county conventions. Ile is one of the trustees of the city of Monrovia, elected in 1889. In 1872 Mr. Monroe married Miss Sarah E. Rogers, a native of Illinois, the daughter of William Rogers, a

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native of Virginia. From this marriage there are four children: Birdie M., Minnie L., Edna C. and Ethel. The parents of Mr. Monroe are now members of his household. All of his brothers and sisters are residents of Monrovia, with the exception of Mrs. Jay, who resides in Troy, Iowa.

ILLIAM N. MONROE, the founder of Monrovia, is well worthy of mention in the annals of Los Angeles County. He was born in Scott County, Indiana, in 1841. His parents are Sanders A. and Catherine Mon- roe, for a more extended notice of whom see sketch of C. O. Monroe, in this volume. . The early life of William N. was spent upon a farm, after which he became a student in the Ashland University, Iowa. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he left college and entered the ranks of the Union defenders, serving with gallantry and distinction until the close of the struggle, when he was mustered out of the service with the rank of Major. He then en- gaged in railroad construction, and obtained large contracts for the Union Pacific Railroad- In 1875 he came to California, and the follow- ing ten years was engaged by the Southern Pa- cific Company in railroad building in California, Arizona and New Mexico. In 1885 he came to Los Angeles County and purchased from E. J. Baldwin the tract upon which the city of Monrovia is located. In this he was associated with E. F. Spence, J. D. Bicknell and J. F. Crank. A large force of men were employed, and the planting of fruit trees and vines pro- gressed rapidly. But in the spring of 1886 it was decided to locate a town upon the tract, which Mr. Spence christened Monrovia, in honor of Mr. Monroe, who was the prime mover in the enterprise. The remarkable growth of the town, the influx of solid citizens, the opening of magnificent avenues, the erection of handsome residences, substantial business blocks, banks, churches, schools, the completion of a per-

fect and abundant water supply, and the estab- lishment of the varied business enterprises, seemed almost magical; but all was well ordered and sprang from the energetic operations and trained business habits of Mr. Monroe. He was at the head of every enterprise that tended to advance the interests of the city of his choice. To him more than to any other man is Mon- rovia indebted for the San Gabriel Valley Rapid Transit Railway, that gives to her citizens a competing line with Los Angeles. His gener- osity seemed unbounded, and he was ever the friend of all honest and deserving men who were seeking to build up homes in the San Gabriel Valley. He was one of the original in- corporators and a director of the Granite Bank of Monrovia. During the war Major Monroe was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Hall. From this marriage there are the following named children: Milton S., who married Miss Mamie N. Thomas; George O., who married Miss Lizzie Miller; Myrtle M. and Mabel H.

OUIS MESMER, capitalist, 64 and 66 North Main street, Los Angeles, was born in Alsace, France, February 20, 1830. In 1847, at the age of seventeen, he emigrated to this country. Having a brother in Syracuse, New York, he made him a visit, after which he went to Ohio, during the celebrated political campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too." He located at Dayton, that State, and started a bakery. In 1857 he determined to come to California, and accordingly sailed for San Fran- cisco, arriving in that place in September of the same year. He first went to Columbia, Calaveras County, then came to Los Angeles, and after a short time spent here went to the Fraser River mines, being very successful and making over $20,000 in eight months. He started a bakery and secured a contract from the Hudson Bay Company to supply the troops. He sold out and went East for a visit, and in 1859 came to Los Angeles and located permanently. He

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

started a bakery, and by his ability and energy extended his business and built up a very large trade, at one time having seven bakeries in operation and having the entire control of the trade. He also furnished supplies for the troops. For the past thirty years he has been promi- nently identified with the business, and has done the leading trade. In 1864 he built the United States Hotel on Main street, and in 1887 he erected the New United States Hotel, a large and handsome structure, one of the best in the city. Mr. Mesmer is one of the many men who have started ont in life with no capi- tal save energy and a determination to succeed, and it is to his own efforts alone that his marked success is dne. Not only for himself has he been so successful, but as a beneficiary for others, and in aiding and assisting them he has paid out a fortune of $60,000 -- the highest standard of commercial honor and integrity. Besides his extensive travels in the United States, Mr. Mesmer has visited his native eoun- try several times. He went to France in 1869, again in 1875, and afterward to the Paris Ex- position. In 1854 Mr. Mesmer was married to Miss Catharine Forst, a native of Alsace, Ger- many. They have five children: Joseph, An- tone, Alphonse, Christina and Lucy.

OHN R. McMANIS, manager of the Pacific Wagon Company, 25 Aliso street, Los An- geles, is a native of Indiana, born in In- dianapolis, September 3, 1841. IIe attended school there during his boyhood, and upon reaching manhood he determined to seek the advantages of a new country, and following the star of enterprise, came West and spent some years in Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Utah. Ile remained in these Territories until 1869, when he came to the Pacific Coast and located at Los Angeles. He engaged in farming for some years, and in 1879 established his present business, the firm being Bonebrake & MeManis. This firm continned for some four years, and

then the Pacific Wagon Company was organized. This house was the first to introduce Eastern- made buggies and carriages here. They make a specialty of Columbus buggies, and have a large established trade. Mr. MeManis is prob- ably more familiar with the demands of the trade than any other firm in his line. He is a generous, public-spirited eitizen.

JON. JOSEPH E. MCCOMAS .- Among the representative men of Los Angeles County and prominent residents of Pomona is the subject of this sketch. A review of his life and association with the history of Los Angeles County is of interest. Mr. MeComas was born in Cabell Connty, Virginia, May 15, 1834. His parents, Hiram and Rebecca (Hatfield) McCo- mas, were both natives of that county. In 1841 Mr. McComas's parents emigrated to Missonri and located in Platte County near the present site of Platte City. The county was new and unsettled, and the subject of this sketch had but few advantages in the way of schooling, but was reared to the labors and hardships attending pio- neer farming. The death of his father occurred in 1849, leaving the care of eight children to the mother, and Mr. McComas was called upon for increased efforts in helping to support the family. The only schooling he was able to obtain was some three months in the year when he attended a subscription school. He was of an ambitious and energetic disposition, and his zeal and sturdy application enabled him to equal, if not excel, many of his more favored competitors. Reared under such cireninstances, his manhood and self- reliant qualities were early developed, and at the age of nineteen years, in 1853, he decided to seek his fortune in the El Dorado of the West. With $10 in his pocket and an extra suit of brown jean clothing, he felt rich in this world's goods. He joined an emigrant train destined for California and worked his passage across the plains, deserts and mountains, cheerfully endur- ing the labors and hardships attending the driv-

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ing of a herd of cattle, and receiving the food he ate for his pay. After nearly five months of this toil and exposure he arrived in Sacramento Valley. Soon after his arrival he engaged in mining, and for the next five years was engaged in that precarious calling in varions portions of the northern counties. In 1858 he found him- self with about $2,000 ahead. He then returned to his old home and engaged in the lumber busi- ness, running a steam saw-mill in his operations. He conducted that business until the breaking ont of the war of the Rebellion, when he promptly decided to enter the ranks of the Na- tion's defenders. He raised a portion of a com- pany and was commissioned a First Lieutenant of Company G, Fifth Kansas Cavalry. He served with his regiment nntil November, 1862, when his failing health necessitated his leaving the military service. He therefore resigned his com- mission and returned home. In the spring of 1863 he again crossed the plains to California, and located in Santa Clara County, where he spent about a year in farming. In 1864 he set- tled in the San Joaquin Valley, near Stockton, and engaged in wheat raising with good success until 1871. In that year he came to Los An- geles County and settled on a farm near Comp- ton. He remained there until 1875, when he established his residence in Pomona. From his first arrival in Pomona, Mr. McComas has taken an active part in the building up of the city. He has seen a city of 5,000 inhabitants spring up npon the almost uninhabited sheep range upon which he first settled. During his resi- dence he has been principally engaged as a real- estate dealer, but he has also been largely inter- ested in building up the business portion of the city. The McComas Block, on the corner of Main and Second streets, was erected by him in 1885 and was the second brick building put np in the city. In 1887-'88 he built the large brick livery stable on First street. This build- ing is 165 x 100 feet. He has also a fine ·two- story residence at the head of Main street. The four and one-half acres of ground upon which his residence stands abounds in ornamental trees

and rich floral productions. He is a stockholder and director of the First National Bank of Po- mnona, and was one of the original incorporators and the first vice-president of the same. He has been a strong supporter of such enterprises as liave tended to develop the resources of the San José Valley and increase the prosperity of his chosen city. He is a stanch Republican, joining that party in 1856, and in 1860 was one of the only two men who voted for Abraham Lincoln in Platte County, Missouri. He has always taken a deep interest in the political questions of the day, and been an earnest worker in the ranks of his party. In 1888 he received the nomination for the office of State Senator for the Thirty-ninth Senatorial District, from the Republican Convention, and was elected by a majority of 1,430. He is the first Republican ever elected to that office from his district, and the majority he received is a splendid tribute to his popularity. He is a man of intelligence and sound sense, and at once took a leading part in the proceedings of the State Senate, serving upon some of the most important committees. His career was one of marked success, but he proba- bly was best known to his constituents from his successful management of the bill creating the county of Orange. Mr. McComas has held many positions of trust and honor in his varions places of residence. At Compton he was twice elected justice of the peace, holding that position four years. In 1882 he was appointed notary public, which office he held for two years. He was again appointed in 1886 and held the office until he resigned to take his seat in the State Senate. He has for twenty-five years been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a liberal supporter of the same. He is a member of Pomona Lodge, No. 246, I. O. O. F .; Pomona Lodge, No. 225, A. O. U. W., and Vicksburg Post, No. 61, G. A. R., of Pomona. In 1860 Mr. McComas wedded Miss Rebecca Yount, the daughter of Henry and Deborah (Doherty) Yount. They were natives of Pennsylvania. She died in 1865, leaving oue child, J. Lane, who is at this writing (1889) as-

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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