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 126

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 126

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

the forty acres where the son now lives. The subject of this sketeh was married in 1875 to Miss Josephine Sackett, a native of the Golden State, and daughter of T. D. and Matilda (Evans) Saekett, of Texas. Mr. Sackett was a pioneer of 1857. Mr. Settle and his wife have five inter- esting children: Susan, George, Lottie, Robert and Ross. Both Mr. and Mrs. Settle are active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, at Norwalk, and the duties of recording steward have devolved upon him for the past four years.

HOMAS STROHM, Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, was born in Germany, November 5, 1846. His parents emigrated to America in 1852, and settled in Cineinnati, and during his boyhood he attended the common schools and grew up there. Upon reaching manhood he came to California and located in Los Angeles, where he entered the grocery trade, and continned in the business seven years. In 1885 he engaged in the manufacture of soda- water, mineral waters and all kinds of carbonated drinks and fruit syrups, and has built up an established trade. In 1887 he was appointed chief engineer of the fire department and served with great satisfaction during the termn. After the recent election he was again appointed, March 22, 1889, to the same position, by Mayor IIazard, and he enjoys the reputation of being a prompt, vigilant officer. Mr. Strohmn was married December 24, 1876, to Miss Emily Schubnell, of Los Angeles. They have four children: Lewis R., Anna B., Clarence B. and Walter.

AMES SMITH, of the firm of Smith & Grant, contractors, Los Angeles, was born in Murrayshire, Scotland, February 6, 1856, served an apprenticeship to his trade there, and after reaching manhood came to America, in

1881. Going to Chicago, he followed his trade for a time and then engaged in building. In 1885 he came to the Pacific Coast. After remain- ing a short time in San Francisco, he came to Los Angeles and formed a partnership with John Grant, a fellow countryman, and engaged in contracting for building. They have erected some of the best structures in Los Angeles; are now completing their contract on the Burdick Block, corner of Spring and Second streets, one of the best and most substantial business blocks in the city. They have also had the contracts for some of the best blocks in Pasadena. The firm of Smith & Grant are both working partners, and are taking a prominent position as building contractors.

ILEY F. SWAIN was born in McNairy County, Tennessee, 100 miles east of Memphis, April 17, 1830. He is a son of William and Rachel (Anderson) Swain. The father was born in North Carolina in 1800, and died in 1857, and the mother was born in 1802, and died in 1876. They had a family of thir- teen children, Wiley being the sixth. So far as known, eight of the family are still living. Mr. Swain received a good common-school education in his native State, and was married there in 1853 to Miss Mary Lyles, of the same county. She was a daughter of Mansa and Betlisheba (Anderson) Lyles. Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Swain moved to Texas, where he farmed till 1869. In 1862, however, he entered the army, in the Seventeenth Consolidated Regi- ment, Company E, under Captain Duckworth, and was in the service 'until the elose of the war. He was at the battles of Pleasant Hill, Louisi- ana and Mansfield, and also had charge of a ward in the hospital at different points. After the close of the war he returned to his farm duties in Texas, where he continued till 1869. In 1866 his wife died, leaving him with three children: Maletha, Emmcline and Joe. A few years later he started with the children across

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

the plains for California, by the popular route and with ox teams. On this journey Joe was accidentally shot and died two days later, aged fourteen years. Maletha is now the wife of Frank Davis, and Emmeline is the wife of Jack Patton. In 1874 Mr. Swain was married to Miss Louisa Taylor, a native of the Golden State, and daughter of James and Margaret (Davis) Taylor, natives of Tennessee and Arkan- sas respectively, and pioneers of California in 1856. By this marriage he has one daughter, Lola. When first. coming to the coast Mr. Swain purchased thirty-one acres of land ucar Downey, and to this original purchase he has added twenty-eight acres. He now manages a ranch of thirty acres, and his principal crops are alfalfa and barley. For several years he was en- gaged in raising logs, but is now giving more attention to general farming. His political af- filiations are with the Union Labor Party. He is a straightforward and worthy citizen, and is respected and esteemned by all who know him.

ENERAL E. M. SANFORD was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, in 1833. He is a son of Major-General John W. A. and Mary R. (Blunt) Sanford. Mr. and Mrs. San- ford had three sons: John W., the oldest, served as Attorney-General of Alabama several terms; the subject of this sketch being the second, and Theodore G. the youngest. General Sanford graduated at Union College, New York, in 1853; and for several years was a large cotton planter in Texas. December 13, 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Cammilla M. Gordon, youngest daughter of General John W. Gordon, of Georgia. In 1867 he came, by steamer ronte, to California, and landed in San Francisco, where he lived for a short time, after which he came to Los Angeles County and purchased 500 acres of the ex-Governor Downey tract, where he has mnade vast improvements and where he has one of the most beautiful locations for a home that can be found within the bounds of the county.

This is known as the " Sunny Side Rancho," and from the residence, among the evergreens, one has a magnificent view over fertile valleys and fruitful fields. General Sanford is one of the most successful farmers in this county. At this time there are about 400 acres of his farm in small grain, and the fine horses, cattle, etc., that he raises all go to show that he is a leader in this industry. In 1876 General Sanford was made the recipient of an honor which all heartily accord to him. This was the commission which he received under William Irvin, Governor of California. By this commission he was made Brigadier-General of the First Brigade, National Guards, as snecessor to General Phineas Ban- ning. Another evidence of his ability and pop- nlarity was his nomination to the Senate by the Democratic party in 1879.

OHN STEERE .- Among the successful men of Los Angeles County is the subject of this sketch, a brief résumé of whose life is as follows: Mr. Steere was born and reared in -Providence, Rhode Island, about the sanie distance from the Atlantic Ocean that his pres- ent residence in Santa Monica is from the great Pacific. The year 1823 is the year of his birth, and he is a son of Hosea and Hannah (Tinck- com) Steere, both natives of Rhode Island, and of Scotch origin. The subject of this sketch is the fifth bearing the same family name, and be- longs to the fifth generation born in Providence, Rhode Island. His father was in the war of 1812. He had a family of twelve children, of which John was the youngest boy. He learned the trade of millwright, which he followed about seven years, when he engaged in the mer- cantile trade in Providence. There, at 28 Ex- change Place, he continued as a successful mer- chant till 1865, when he retired from business at that place, and traded with the West Indies, in sugar and molasses, and made several trips to Cuba. Then he came to California, not to engage in business, but to select a home in this

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

genial climate by the sea, where he might spend the residue of his days retired from the exciting and pressing demands of business. He entered his name on "The Great Register" as John Steere, hunter. That event is worthy of men- tion in these pages, for he has gathered the largest and choicest collection of birds in Los Angeles County. As a taxidermist, he has made 'a record which will identify him with the his- tory of this county for all time. In his collec- tion in the Opera House in Santa Monica may be seen 350 specimens of birds, which contains at least 200 varieties, all arranged in perfect life-like order in the glass cases around the hall. Mr. Steere has also been eminently successful in business since he has been identified with this county. He has dealt in real estate and money, and is one of the stockholders and a director of the First National Bank at Santa Monica. The city by the sea will ever be grate- ful to him for the first brick house built there. It is known as the Opera Block Building, is 50 x 80 feet in dimensions and is two stories high. The erection of this building advanced the price of lots in Santa Monica from $500 to $10,000 in one year. The upper story of the building consists of offices and a very fine opera hall. Mr. Steere was a member of the first board of trustees in Santa Monica, and was the first vice-president of the bank. His residence is beautifully located on Fourth street, in the city overlooking the sea. The citizens of this place recognize in Mr. Steerc a wise financier, a shrewd business man, and an energetic, enter- prising citizen, who favors every enterprise hav- ing for its object the public good.

SAENZ, merchant, near The Palms, was born in Mexico in 1845, and is the only son of D. Saenz, who was one of the early Spanish settlers in this country, and for several years a miner. Ile died April 10, 1887, and his aged widow is still living. The subject of this sketch has been one of the leading citizens in

this part of the county for the past fifteen years. He attended the first sale of lots in Santa Mon- ica, and since 1875 he has been engaged in the saloon and general merchandise business a mile and a half southeast of where The Palms is located. The place where he has been in busi- ness was formerly known as Machado, and here he served as postmaster for a period of ten years. A nice little ranch of fourteen acres is included in his property. He was married to Miss Amada Garcia, also a Spaniard, but a native of Califor- nia. By his diligent attention to business Mr. Saenz has made himself quite comfortable for this life, and by liis integrity he has won the confidence and esteein of a wide circle of friends.

ILLIAM SLACK was born in York- shire, England, December 27, 1823. His parents were Richard and Ann (Britt) Slack, both natives of England. At the age of fourteen years Mr. Slack was apprenticed to the trade of a molder, and after serving an apprenticeship of seven years, he followed that occupation as a journeyman until 1848. In that year he came to the United States, landing in New Orleans. From there he went to Cincin- nati, Ohio, and was employed as foreman in the foundry of Baker & Morton. He held that im- portant position until 1850. He then started overland for Utah. Locating at Salt Lake City, lie turned his attention to the mineral resources of that Territory, and in partnership with his brother-in-law, Richard Varley, opened iron and coal mines and built the first blast furnace established near Salt Lake. . Not suited with the Mormon community, he abandoned his en- terprises there, and in 1852 came by the Southi- ern ronte to California, and located at El Monte, Los Angeles County. There he rented land and established a dairy, and engaged in general farming, etc., until 1855. He then went to Ventura and Santa Bárbara counties, where he was occupied in stock-raising until 1859. In that year he moved to Texas and located at San

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Antonio. While there he was in the employ of the gas company, laying pipes, etc. He manu- factured the first gas used in that city. The breaking out of the war in 1861 rendered busi- ness enterprises so unsettled in that State that Mr. Slack returned to California and again took up his residence at El Monte. He was em- ployed for several months as a superintendent in a distillery, after which he engaged in stock- growing and farming upon disputed lands in the Temple tract, south of town. In 1870 he went to the San José Valley, and for the next four years was engaged in the stock business, after which he returned to El Monte and pur- chased eighty acres of land just south of the village, and entered into general farming. He was also for several years engaged in the butch- er's business, and conducted a meat market in El Monte. Since 1874 Mr. Slack has resided at El Monte. His lands are now under a fine state of cultivation and very productive. He has also a residence and business property in El Monte, being the owner of the store occupied by J. T. Hnddox. The subject of this sketch is a liberal supporter of public enterprises. For a number of years he has served as a trustee of his district. He is a Democrat, and is conserva- tive in his political actions. Mr. Slack has been twice married. February 13, 1845, he wedded Miss Eliza Varley, a native of Yorkshire, Eng- land. She died at El Monte, December 29, 1879, leaving the following named children: Elizabeth, born in England, January 13, 1847; William Thomas, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Novem- ber 27, 1850; Elizar, in Salt Lake, April 28, 1853; Sarah Ann, in Ventura County, August 24, 1855; Jonathan, in Santa Bárbara, Jann- ary 31, 1858; Mary, in San Antonio, Texas, August 7, 1860; George, in El Monte, April 10, 1864; Richard James, in El Monte, July 8, 1866; Albert, in El Monte, July 14, 1868, and Arthur Varley, in El Monte, Jannary 11, 1871. Elizabeth is the wife of Richard Quinn; Will- iam married Miss Sarah Ann Guess; Jonathan married Miss Matilda Wiggins; Sarah Ann married Robert Hewitt (since deceased). All

of the children, except Richard, who lives in San Luis Obispo County, are residents of Los Angeles County. In 1881 Mr. Slack married Mrs. Ann Montgomery, a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Slack returned to England in 1885, and spent a year in visiting the homes of their childhood and youth.

RANK SABICHI was born in the city of Los Angeles, on the 4th day of October, 1842. His father, Matthew Sabichi, a native of the Austrian Empire, wandered a third of the way around the globe, and settled in Los Angeles during the earlier years of the present century. He became a merchant, and accumu- lated a handsome property. He married rather late in life. In the year 1850 Mr. Sabichi, the elder, taking with him Frank, then a child but eight years of age, and another son, left Los An- geles for England, with the intention of having his children educated in that country. The fond father did not live to accomplish his wishes, for he died before reaching England; but Frank was put to school at the Royal Naval Academy at Gosport, a town situated near Portsmonth, one of the busiest ports of England. At this establishment the boy remained for several years, and received there a thorough education. Afterward he traveled extensively in Great Britain and on the continent of Europe, and acquired with proficiency the languages of sev- eral of the nations of Europe. After some years of pleasant wandering he turned his steps west- ward, and arrived at his native place in the lat- ter part of May, 1860. In the autumn of that year Mr. Sabichi entered upon the study of law, and in due course of time was admitted to prac- tice in all California courts, and for several years practiced his profession. Of late years the care of his landed interests in and around the city of Los Angeles has made greater de- mands upon his attention, and he has reluctantly abandoned the calling of his choice. Since his return from Europe lie has continued to reside

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in the city of his birth, and is now identified with many of the most important enterprises of Los Angeles. He is largely interested in the Ballona & Santa Monica Railway, and at one time held the position of vice-president of that corporation. Mr. Sabichi is also a director of the San José Land Company. The subject of this sketch resides with his family in the city of Los Angeles, in an elegant home, which, at the cost of several thousand dollars, he has built on a site comprising more than two acres in extent, and situated on Figueroa street, between Ellis and Adams streets. In 1865 Mr. Sabichi mar- ried Miss Magdalena Wolfskill, a daughter of the late William Wolfskill, one of the earliest and most prominent of the American pioneers who settled in Los Angeles. Mr. Sabichi is a consistent Democrat in politics. He has never sought office, having repeatedly refused to ac- cept it; but offices have sought him frequently. He was elected to the city council of Los An- geles in 1871, and was re-elected in 1873 -'74, presiding over its deliberations, to the lasting benefit of the municipality. He was also a member of the same body in 1884, when he was foremost in a movement which secured to the city of Los Angeles its bountiful supply of water for irrigation purposes. He is an aggress- ive, enterprising business man, who in matters public and private has the confidence of the community at large and a wide circle of friends.

AVID S. SHRODE .- Among the best- known and respected citizens of the Duarte is the above-named gentleman, a sketch of whose life is of interest. Mr. Shrode is a na- tive of Warrick County, Indiana, and dates his birth in 1825. His father, Francis Shrode, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was one of the pioneers of Indiana. His mother, nee Rebecca Hudson, was born in North Carolina. Mr. Shrode was reared upon a farm, receiving only such an education as was afforded by the pioneer schools, until nineteen years of age. Ile then

entered a four years' apprenticeship at wagon- making, blacksmithing and manufacturing edge tools. He served his term, after which he worked as a journeyman in Indiana until 1851. In that year he emigrated to Texas, and located in Hop- kins County, where he established blacksmith and wagon shops, and also engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. He continued these pursuits until . the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. A strong Union man in principles, he was sub- jected to many persecutions, and, finally, in order to preserve his life and property, was com- pelled to enter the Confederate service. In April, 1862, he entered the Texas Cavalry and served for about fifteen months, or until he was taken prisoner by the Union forces at the battle of Franklin. He was sent north as a prisoner of war, but was soon paroled, and returned to his home in Texas. He was not called upon to en- ter the service again, and soon resumed his oc- cupations. In May, 1870, he started with his family overland for California. This journey was made by ox teams, arriving in San Diego County in December of that year. Ile remained in that county until February of the next year, and then established his residence at Savannah, Los Angeles County, resuming his former occu- pation of blacksmithing. In March, 1874, he purchased twenty-three acres of the Beardslee tract of land at the Duarte, and entered into horticultural pursuits, planting orchard and vine- yard and also erecting a dwelling-house and blacksmith shop. Mr. Shrode remained upon that place until June, 1887, when he sold out and established his residence in Duarte, on Buena Vista avenue, between Central and Falling Leaf avennes. He there purchased two acres of land and erected a substantial and attractive cottage residence, also a blacksmith and wagon-repair shop. He conducted his business at that place until 1889, when he sold out his shop to his son, Francis M. Shrode, and William R. Beardslee. Mr. Shrode is now enjoying a modest competency, gained by honest toil and straightforward deal- ing. During his residence at the Dnarte he has been an active supporter of all enterprises that

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have built up and improved that section. He was one of the original incorporators of the Beardslee Water Diteh Company, and was presi- dent of that company from its incorporation until 1887. He has ever been a strong sup- porter of schools and ehurehes. At the age of fifteen years he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has ever lived a consistent Christian life. In 1860 he was lieensed to preach, and in. 1867 was ordained as a minister of that church, and is now the superintendent of the Sunday- school in his church at Duarte. For over four- teen years he has been a school trustee of his distriet. Politically he is a Prohibitionist, but has for years been a conservative Demoerat. For the seven years preceding the war he was a jus- tice of the peace in Texas, but was removed be- canse he would not take the oath under the Confederate Government. At the close of the war he served in the same capacity under the Provisional Government. In 1847 Mr. Shrode married Miss Elizabeth Chapinan, the daughter of William Chapman, a native of South Caro- lina and a pioneer of Indiana. She died in 1858, leaving five children, three of whom are now living, viz .: Jacob H., who married Miss Mary S. Patterson; Francis M. and Charles A., all residents of Duarte. In 1859 Mr. Shrode married Mrs. Maria C. Moore, nee Hargrave. From the lattter marriage four children are living: Helen, now Mrs. Seth Daniels, of Fullerton; Viola, now Mrs. Emmet Norman, of Duarte; Jennie and D. Lee, residing with their parents.

DE BARTH SHORB, President and gen- eral manager of the San Gabriel Wine Company, was born April 4, 1842, in Frederick County, Maryland, a son of Dr. James A. Shorb, who also was a native of that State; and the grandfather of De Barth, also a native of that State, died in Pennsylvania, at the age of 104 years! Mr. Shorb's great-grandfather came from Alsace, France, to this eountry, and became a large land owner in Maryland, North

Carolina, Delaware and Pennsylvania, settling in the latter State, near Hanover. Mr. Shorb's mother, also a Marylander, was of a Scotch-Irish family, being the daughter of Captain Felix MeMeal, whose name appears in the first diree- tory published in Baltimore City. He was one of the very first officers in the merchant marine service, which antedates the American navy; he died during the '60s. Dr. Shorb, our subject's father, was also the owner of a large amount of real estate, a part of which was the well-known San Marino plantation. Mr. Shorb graduated in 1859, at the old elassical college of Mount St. Mary's, at Emmettsburg, Maryland, where also Cardinals McClosky and Gibbons and Arch- bishops Hughes and Bailey, of New York, and Kendrick and Carroll, and others, most of whom are eminent divines in the Catholic Church grad- nated. After graduation Mr. Shorb eominenced the study of law in the office of W. W. Dallas, nephew of George M. Dallas, Vice-President of the United States, 1845-'49. Upon the break- ing out of the war of the Rebellion, Mr. Shorb came to California as assistant superintendent of the Philadelphia and California Oil Company, of which the late Thomas A. Scott, of Pennsyl- vania railroad fame, was president. In 1867 he purchased the tenure of the Temescal grant and began mining operations; and the same year he married the daughter of Don Benito Wilson, one of the best known men in Southern Califor- nia, and at his request he entered the wine and grape business, as a member of the San Gabriel Wine Company, who now own 10,000 acres, and eultivate 1,300 acres of the best varieties of grapes; indeed the vineyard, both in respect to quality of vines and equipment, is said to be the best in the world, by such judges as Henry Grosjean, who was here as the French Commis- sioner of Agriculture, and who is a member of the Institute Agronomique. The product of this vineyard bears the highest reputation in the Eastern markets. The winery comprises a ferment room 120 x 260 feet in dimensions, and two stories high, with a capacity of 900,000 gallons; actual fermenting capacity of upper

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and lower floors, 2,640,000 gallons. The storing cellars are in a two-story brick structure 147 x 217 feet. The distillery, 43x 46 feet, attached to the building, has a large Sherry room with a capacity of 200,000 gallons annually, with a portion partitioned off for bonded warehouse. The buildings are so situated, arranged and equipped with the most approved and complete machinery that the work is all done at the low- est minimum of expense from the moment the grapes are received in the fermenting room until the wine is ready for shipment. A track half a mile in length connects the building with the Southern Pacific Railroad at Shorb's Station, thus placing the wines immediately upon one of the greatest thoroughfares in the Union, and at a point also that is only twenty-two miles from a seaport. Shipments are made to all parts of the world. The company have also within their enclosure 1,100 orange trees of the Washington Navel variety, and they have apple and pear orchards, on a large scale, all furnished with the finest water system to be found in California. These great enterprises-many in one-were brought to their present state of per. fection by Mr. Shorb, the president and general manager. He has given to these matters twenty years of study; is identified with all the leading agricultural enterprises in the State. IIe is commissioner for the State at large of the State Viticultural Commission. He was the first president of the San Gabriel Valley Railroad, of the Pasadena & Alhambra Railroad, and former president of the Chamber of Commerce and several other corporate enterprises. He is one of the best-known and most public-spirited citizens on the Pacific Coast. Mr. and Mrs. Shorb have nine children, five sons and four daughters.

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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