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 122
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
sociated with his father in the real-estate busi- ness in Pomona. In 1867, in San Joaquin County, Mr. McComas married Miss Lizzie Adams. She died in 1876, leaving no children. His third marriage was in 1878, when he wedded Miss Emma Loughery, the daughter of William and Eliza (Steele) Loughery, natives of Virginia. From this marriage there are three children, viz .: Rush, Maud and Ethel.
W. MIDDLETON, of the firm of Evans & Middleton, is a native of Aberdeen, Scotland, and was born in 1858. He at- tended school and served an apprenticeship to the trade of stone-cutter, in his native town. After reaching manhood he came to America, in 1882, and the following year came to Los Angeles. He followed the trade of stone-cut- ting for several years. In 1886 he engaged in his present business. Their quarries are located at Riverside, San Bernardino County, where most of their stone and granite is dressed before shipping, a portion of it being finished in Los Angeles. The granite for the Germain Block, on Los Angeles street, and the New Griffith Block, on Fort street, one of the largest and heaviest in the city, and many others, is fur- nished from the quarries of Evans & Middleton. Granite for buildings in Riverside and other places is also furnished from the same quarries. In 1881 Mr. Middleton married Miss Annie Craighead. a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. They have four children: Mary, James, Henry and Lillie.
EV. W. S. MATTHEW, D. D., was born in Cotton IIill, Sangamon County, Illinois. Ile grew up on his father's farm, having the best advantages for education furnished by the public schools, which he attended for about six months in each year. At the age of sixteen he began teaching, his object being to earn
money to carry him through college. After five years of struggle and self-denial he was permit- ted to go to Evanston, Illinois, to enter the Northwestern University. Here he studied hard, and toiled from time to time to earn funds to carry him through. He took high rank as a student, carried off several prizes in oratory, and graduated in 1876 at the head of his class. When sixteen years of age he consecrated himself to the service of God and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He now entered the ministry, and was stationed at Auburn, Illinois. Success attended his labors from the first. He was much loved by the peo- ple, and was especially influential among the young people of both sexes. Atter one year lie was removed to Taylorville, Illinois. Here he had a larger and more difficult field, but suc- ceeded in greatly increasing the membership of the church, and in giving it an advanced posi- tion among the churches of the city. During this time he was very active in his advocacy of the cause of temperance. Largely through the labors of his church the saloons were banished from the place, and Taylorville remains a tem- perance city to this day. The good results are patent. During Mr. Matthew's stay here another great event happened to him. This was his marriage to Miss Marion L. Pomeroy, of Evans- ton. This union has brought to him the most substantial joys of his life. His aquaintance with her began when they were both students in the university. Miss Pomeroy graduated in 1877 with a fine record as a student, and honored as a genuine, gracious, queenly woman. As a wife she has brought to her husband that help and comfort which only a true Christian woman can give. Let her husband praise her in the gates: "She has done him good and not evil all the days of her life." Mr. Matthew remained two years at Taylorville, and was then settled over the Second Methodist Episcopal Church in Springfield, the capital of the State. IIere he re- mained three years, the full term allowed by the law of the church, and was very successful. But over-work resulted in a low malarial fever, and
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he was compelled to try a more northern cli- mate. Removing to Minnesota, he was stationed at Red Wing one year; then at Clinton Avenue Church, St. Paul, for three years. From here he went to the First Church, Stillwater, where in the midst of a most successful year's work he received the news that he had been elected Dean of the College of Liberal Arts in the University of Southern California. This was to him a com- paratively untried field; but from the first day his presence inspired confidence both among students and faculty. His work was especially helpful to young men, many of whom were led to become earnest Christians through his influ- ence and labors. After two years at the head of the College of Liberal Arts, Dr. Matthew was elected vice-president of the University. While this was considered a step in advance, and he was urged to accept, yet he declined, not considering it an opportune time for such en- largement of plans as contemplated by the board of directors. His plan at this writing (Septem- ber, 1889,) is to re-enter the pastorate. Mr. Matthew comes of Welsh stock, a parental an- cestor from Wales having been one of the earliest Territorial Governors of Virginia. He is five feet, nine and one-half inches in height, weighs 140 pounds, is wiry and athletic, and capable of great endurance. He has remained a student ever since his graduation, and no doubt has many years of useful service yet before him. His Alma Mater, the Northwestern University, in June, 1889, conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity.
E. MEYER, manufacturing cooper and proprietor of winery, No. 32 South Ala- meda street, Los Angeles, was born in Alsace, Germany, October 3, 1851, and grew up and learned his trade there; emigrated to Amer- ica in 1879, and two years later came to Cali- fornia. Coming to Los Angeles the same year, he began working at his trade, continued three years, and in 1884 established his present bnsi-
ness. He makes a specialty of large, tight work, heavy casks and tanks, his work being mostly on orders. He has built up an established trade. He is also engaged in wine-making for the wholesale trade; raises grapes and buys large amounts to make into wine, which finds market here and elsewhere. He had nothing when he began, and his success is the result of industry and economy. In 1886 he married Miss M. L. Ontleib, a native of Alsace.
McNALLY, contractor, No. 716 Maple avenue, is a native of Prince Edward Isl- and and was born May 3, 1854. He at- tended school during his early boyhood, and at the age of fourteen years went to Massachusetts where he served his apprenticeship to the trade of brick and stone mason. After reaching man- hood he came west to New Mexico, and had the supervision of all the mason work of the Santa Fé Railroad, having in charge the building of the round-houses. He held this position four years, came to Los Angeles in 1882, and the fol- lowing year engaged in contracting. Among the many prominent buildings erected by him are the new United States Hotel, the Los An- geles National Bank, the Wilson Block, corner of First and Spring streets; the Callahan Block, corner of Third and Spring streets; the West- minister Hotel, corner of Fourth and Main streets; Robarts Block, corner Seventh and Main streets; Burdick Block, corner Second and Spring streets; the Philadelphia Brewery, Aliso street, the largest brewery in Southern California; Weil Block, on Main street; the Capital Mills, Hollenbeck Hotel, Turnverein Hall, the new Griffith Block, on Fort street, containing 3,000,- 000 brick, and many other buildings. Mr. Mc- Nally has had a large, practical experience as contractor in brick and stone work, and for the past six years has been prominently identified with the contracting interests of this city. He has, during this time, taken more heavy con- tracts than any one contractor in Southern Cali-
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fornia, and, as an evidence of his ability and re- sponsibility, in all the contracts taken by him he has never been asked to give a bond for the faith- ful performance of any contract. Mr. McNally has served as a member of the city council of Los Angeles during his residence here. He was married March 27, 1883, to Miss Sarah L. Cassidy, of Canada. They have one son, John Ambrose.
MAIER, butcher and wholesale and retail dealer in fresh and salted meats, Los Angeles, was born in Bavaria, Germany, September 16, 1853. After serving an appren- ticeship in his native land, he emigrated to America in 1871; went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and remained three years, and also lived in Cheyenne for a time. During the gold excite- ment he went to the Black Hills. He came to California in 1876, lived in San Francisco about a year, and then came to Los Angeles, and opened a butcher shop, and since then has suc- cessfully carried on the business here. He has built np a large wholesale and retail trade. Coming to America a poor boy, he has by his own unaided efforts, coupled with ability and energy, attained the degree of success he richly deserves. In 1886 Mr. Maier married Miss Louise Smith, a native of Wisconsin. They have three children: Willie, Josie and Mary Louise.
C. McMENOMY, engaged in plumbing, steam and gas-fitting, in Los Angeles, was @ born in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, July 2, 1851. His parents were old residents of that city, and came to California in 1853, settling in San Francisco. The subject of this sketch, after attending school there during his boyhood, entered St. Ignatius College, where he took a three years' course; then served an apprenticeship in the establishment of P. R.
O'Brien in his present business. While fol- lowing his trade he was engaged on the resi- dences of Senator Fair at Virginia City, John Mackey, William Ralston, and many others equally as prominent. He came to Los Angeles in 1872, and entered the employ of Barrows, Furrey & Co., and continued with this firm four years; then established his present business, the firm being Manning & McMenomy. They re- mained together three years, then dissolved, and since that time Mr. McMenomy has carried on the business by himself. He was on the corner of First and Spring streets three years, then removed to First and Maine, and was there until he bought the lot for his present location, and built his factory. His shop is 60 x 41 feet, and two stories high. He does all kinds of plumb- ing, and also steam-fitting, and has a large prac- tical experience and good trade. He was united in marriage December 19, 1875, with Miss Mary Jane Somerset, of Syracuse, New York.
ENRY MERZ, capitalist, No. 504 East First street, Los Angeles, was born in Germany, February 14, 1829. He at- tended school and learned the trade of tailor in his native country. In 1847 he, in company with his sister, emigrated to this country, landed in Canada, and went from there to Buffalo, New York. After remaining there for a time, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, leaving his sister in Buffalo. From Cincinnati he went to St. Louis, and from there to Ottawa, Illinois. From the latter place, in the spring of 1850, he set out for the Pacific Coast, with mule teams. The roads were so bad that it took them two months to reach St. Joe, Missouri. There were nine of them together, and, leaving St. Joe the first of May, they joined another company. Upon reaching Fort Kearney, they were induced to leave their wagons and continued their journey on foot, bringing their effects with pack saddles. Their company divided and they suffered severely for want of provisions. They reached Hang-
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
town, Placer County, August 1, 1850, and the subject of this sketch at once engaged in mining. The following year he went to Auburn, and while assisting his friend was accidentally, and it was thought fatally, shot. In consequence of this he was laid up for a year and started on a visit to the Eastern States, with the hope of re- covery. Upon reaching Sacramento he met an old friend and was persuaded to stay with him, which he did, until he was strong enough to go back to the mines. He remained there until 1866. then went to San Francisco, and the fol- lowing year to Santa Cruz. Mr. Merz was in a bakery in the latter place one year, after which he returned to San Francisco and engaged in the grocery business with his brother four years. Ile then came to Los Angeles and associated himself in the grocery trade with his friend, Mr. Pelaske, now an old and honored pioneer of the Pacific Coast. They carried on the business for ten years, when Mr. Merz retired. In 1878 he married Miss Bertha Brohn, a native of Saxony, Germany.
ILLIAM MANN, of the firm of Mann & Johnson, machinists, 432 South Los Angeles street, Los Angeles, was born in Indiana, October 14, 1837. He attended school and served an apprenticeship to his trade in his native State. He worked at his trade in several States, and followed it nine years in Missouri and five years in Texas. He came to Los Angeles in 1880, and went into the machine shop and iron works of Bath & Fosmer, and the following year was made foreman of the shops and held that position six years, until the fall of 1887, when he resigned to engage in business for himself at South Los Angeles street, the firm being Mann & Johnson. They do all kinds of machine work, and run princi- pally on special orders. They mannfacture Mc- Coy's Water Lifter, patent hose coupling and other specialties, and do all kinds of machine repairing. He lias a large practical experience 50
as a machinist, and they are building up a very nice trade. In 1884 Mr. Mann married Miss Todd, a native of Virginia. Ile has two chil- dren, William A. and Ada Inez, by his former wife. Mr. Mann is a member of the A. O. U. W., Select Knights.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, rancher, etc., near The Palms, was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in 1839. His father was George Mclaughlin, of Scotch origin, and a native of Maryland. He was a farmer and stock-raiser in Pennsylvania for many years. Our subject and a bro:her went to Kansas when he was nineteen years of age, and for sixteen years was in the stock business in Douglas County. He was married there in 1860, to Miss Mary Riggs, a native of Kentucky. In the fall of 1875 Mr. Mclaughlin came to Los Angeles County and located two miles east of Compton. Then he bought 320 acres on the Gird Ranch, which is on Washington street, just south of Los Angeles. Here he engaged in the dairy business for several years, when he sold out and bought 100 acres where he now lives. This ranch he has improved, and lias erected a beautiful residence and made his yards and grounds most inviting. He also owns a dairy near Norwalk, and keeps a full line of Holstein and Jersey cattle. At present he is farming about 640 acres of land in addition to his other interests. Mr. Mclaughlin is an in- dustrious, enterprising man, and a highly re- spected citizen, an intelligent supporter of the Prohibition party, and a conscientious Christian gentleman.
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N. NEWMARK, grain dealer in Comp- ton and at Bunwell Station, also doing a good livery business in Compton, is one of Los Angeles County's mnost enterprising and successful young men. In the grain busi-
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
ness he has a storage capacity of 200,000 sacks. Mr. Newmark is a native of Prussia, Germany. He came to San Francisco in 1868, was in at- tendance for ten months at the Cosmopolitan School, and subsequently came to Los Angeles, where for two years he was in the wholesale grocery business with Newmark & Co. He then came to Compton and became associated in business with S. Grant, under the firm name of S. Grant & Co. In 1878 this partnership was dissolved, the senior member going back to Europe, and Mr. Newmark continuing the en- terprise in his own name until 1886. Since then he has given ahnost his exclusive attention to the grain business, but is also interested to some extent in insurance. He has been snc- cessful in his real-estate transactions, and owns several lots in Compton, besides a whole busi- ness block and the livery barn and grounds. He also owns several houses and lots in Los Angeles, where it is his intention to reside in the future, but will have an office in Compton. In 1880 he married Miss Jessie Malott, of Compton, and a daughter of William M. and Lucy Malott, a sketch of whose lives appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Newmark has a high social standing in the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W., at Comp- ton. II is residence will be on Louisiana avenue, Boyle Heights, in the city of Los Angeles.
AN JACINTO LIME & LUMBER COM- PANY, East First street, Los Angeles, was established here in August, 1888. The quarries of the company are located at San Jacinto, San Diego County, and the lime is all manufactured there. It is of a superior quality, and has an established reputation among the contractors and builders, and at certain seasons of the year the company have been unable to supply the demand. Mr. T. O'Shea, the agent and manager of the business of the company here, is an old contractor and builder of large experience and is thoroughly familiar with all
kinds of building materials, his father being a contractor and builder. He is a native of Ireland and was born October 20, 1837. He came to America in 1856, and to the l'acific Coast in 1859, following a seafaring life for five years, and going on whaling expeditions as far north as Point Barrow. After his return, he gave up following the sea. During the war he enlisted and served in the Ninety-fifth Regiment, Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry. Afterward he located in Chicago and remained there until 1886, in which year he came to Los Angeles. His residence is 117 Walnut avenue.
FAMES ORR .- Prominent among the stock- raisers of Los Angeles County is to be found the gentleman with whose name we begin this sketch. On his farm near Compton may be seen some of the finest thoroughbred horses west of the Rocky Mountains, and also cattle of a high grade. Mr. Orr came to this connty March 17, 1874, and his success and wealth prove the earnestness of his labors, and the wisdom and foresight with which he has conducted his business affairs. He is a native of County Antrim, Ireland, born August 10, 1844, and is the son of James and Mary Orr. His mother is still living in the Emerald Isle. Angust 14, 1884, Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Miss Nannie Davidson, a native of Missouri, and of German origin. Mr. Orr has a pleasant home, and together they rejoice over the advent of a beautiful child, Lola.
ILLIAM OSBORN, manufacturer and dealer in harness and saddlery, Aliso street, Los Angeles, was born in New York State, October 30, 1835. His parents re- moved to Illinois during his early boyhood. Upon reaching manhood he came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, in 1855, began working in the mines, and continned for
yours Truly. Wm, Vielen
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
three years, then came to Los Angeles and en- gaged in freighting to Owens River, Arizona, and Utah. After continuing the business for somne years, he sold out to the Cerro Gordo Freighting Company. In March, 1877, he es- tablished his present business in an old adobe building where Baker's Block now stands. From Main street he removed to Spring street, be- tween Second and Third, and from there to his own property on the corner of Fifth and Hill streets. In 1883 he removed to his present loca- tion. He has a large acquaintance with freight- ing men, and manufactures most of the heavy truck harness for all the companies. He has a large and commodious shop, and employs eight to ten hands, and has a well-established trade. He has held the office of county road commis- sioner, supervisor and member of the board of councilmen. In 1868 Mr. Osborn married Miss Rosetta Baldwin, a native of San Bernardino. They have two children: Rosetta and George Arlington.
ILLIAM VICKREY, President of the East Side Bank, of Los Angeles, one of the city's most substantial .and highly respected business men, was born in what is now Franklin, then Dearborn, County, Indiana, in 1834. He is one of a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, of Solomon and Sarah (Goslen) Vickrey, both of whom were de- scended from English parentage. Mr. Vickrey traces his ancestry, on his mother's side, back to John Goslen and Ann, his wife, who came from Europe to America in an emigrant ship that landed at the old seaport town of Lewistown, near Cape Henlopen, early in the seventeenth century. He took up lands on the peninsula of Delaware and Eastern Maryland, about central, and on the line of both States. Nothing is known of their heirs except that they had one son, Waitman, born in 1726. He married Sarah Whitein 1747,and to them were born one son and eight daughters. The son, Waitman, Jr., was
born in 1766, and had four wives. He first married Ann Polk, in 1788, and by her had three children: William Polk, born in 1790; John White, in 1792; and Sarah, the mother of the subject of this sketch, in 1794. In 1798 he married Margeret Causey, by whom he had one son, Robert, born in 1799. By his third wife, nee Mary Shanks, he had one son, Henry, born in 1804; and by his fourth wife, nee Rebecca Collins, he had a daughter, Eme- line, born in 1811. Waitman Goslen, Jr., be- ing the only son, inherited by lawful entailment all the landed estate and negroes, lived like other colonial aristocrats and entertained in princely style. He served in the Revolutionary war; was also a Captain in the war of 1812. In 1820, while enjoying life, and past middle age, he endorsed heavily for a friend, by which trans- action he lost his broad acres. This so saddened and maddened him that he converted his movable property into money, took a trusted servant and his eldest son, William P., and his wife, and went into the far Sonth, where he lived and prospered for twenty years, and where, about 1843, he was robbed and murdered for his money by river thieves, at his steamboat landing, on the Mis- sissippi, near Memphis, Tennessee. His son William died there, leaving three children, William, John and Ann, of whom nothing is known. John W. Goslen, son of Waitman Gos- len, Jr., died near Bridgeville, Delaware, Janu- ary 6, 1845, leaving four daughters, all of whom, with their descendants, are representative peo- ple. Sarah Goslen, danghter of Waitman Gos- len, Jr., married Solomon Vickrey, and went into the then far West, Indiana, and there, as already stated, the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Vickrey's paternal ancestors also came from England and settled in what is now the State of Delaware, early in the seventeenth century. His grandfather, Waitman Vickrey, reared his family and spent the rest of his life there. Solomon Vickrey, on attaining his mna- jority, left the parental home, went West in 1818, and engaged in flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, between Cincinnati and
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New Orleans, transporting beef, pork and other products to the Southern metropolis, for con- sumption in the cotton-growing States. After pnrsning that business two or three years, Mr. Vickrey went back to his native State and mar- ried Miss Goslen, about 1820. Returning West with his young bride, he resnmed the boating business in company with his brother, Thomas Vickrey. During the prevalence of cholera, in · 1822, his brother Thomas was taken with it on their way down the Mississippi River, with a fleet of seven boats, in what was then known as the Arkansas Territory. The authorities forbade them to proceed further, and also prohibited thein froin landing, and the boat they were in was landed on a sand bar in the river and the rest of the fleet burned by the authorities. After Thomas died, his brother Solomon was compelled to bury his body on the bar, and abandon the boat and cargo. Ile walked back to Cincinnati, and thus lost about everything he had made in the business in the four or five years previons. After remaining a short time in Cincinnati, he moved to the thien new State of Indiana, and settled near Brookville, one of the oldest towns in that State Soon after the birth of William, his parents removed to McLean County, Illinois, and settled near Bloomington. Young Vickrey was there reared on his father's farm, and, soon after reaching his majority, went down into Montgomery County, and there, in 1861, married Miss Sarah L. Cannon, daughter of William and Catherine Cannon, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of South Carolina. Mr. Cannon was one of the pioneers of Illinois, and afterward one of the most prom- inent and favorably known citizens of the south- ern part of that State. Mr. Vickrey carried on farming while in Illinois. In 1872 he moved to Newton, Kansas, then the terminus of the Atch- ison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railroad, and engaged in mercantile business. The following year, with others, he organized and opened the Harvey County Savings Bank, of which he was vice- president seven years, until he sold his interest in 1880, in order to seek a milder climate.
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