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 129

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 129

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

siderable land is devoted to vegetable cultiva- tion, for market purposes. The larger portion, however, is used for hay, grain and stock por- poses. Plenty of water is obtained for irri- gation purposes, from never-failing springs, supplying a large reservoir, from which the water is conveyed in ditches to the land as re- quired. Mr. Winston died in 1886, leaving a large circle of friends and acquaintances by whom he was universally respected and esteemed, and who joined his bereaved family in sincerely mourning his death. He was a man of broad mind and progressive views. In political mat- ters he was Democratic, and was a man whose influence was always exerted for what he con- sidered the best interests of his party. He was a Mason and affiliated with El Monte Lodge, No. 104, F. & A. M. Mr. Winston was thrice married: First, to Miss Mary Jones, of Alabama; second, to Miss Mary Winston, also of Alabama; and his third marriage was with Miss Mary Watts, who was born in Alabama, and is the daughter of Edwin Watts, a native of Virginia. From the first and second marriages there are three children living: William, who is a resi- dent of Texas; Langston, a resident of Pasa- dena, and Mary, now Mrs. Dillard, residing in Alabama. From the third marriage there are five children living: Charles, who married Miss Kate Manning, of Downey; Lyddar, Pettus, Edwin and Alice, all of whom at this writing (1889) are living with the widow, upon the old homestead.

ORENZ VAN DER LECK, capitalist, 82 South Main street, Los Angeles, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, February 25, 1811. He attended school and served an apprentice- ship to the trade of carpenter and joiner in his native country. In 1832 he went to Hamburg and remained five years. From there he went to Strasburg, Switzerland, then to Paris, and from there shipped to South America. After visiting different parts of South America he came to Cali-

828

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

fornia, reaching San Pedro, November 4, 1849. During his long voyage he secured material at the different ports, and made a house, all ready to put together. After his arrival in Los Ange- les he put it up on the corner of Main and First streets, using it as a dwelling house, and re- maining here two years. However, the times becoming dull, he went to San Francisco, where he was employed at his trade for three years, after which he returned to Los Angeles. Ile was successfully engaged in building for over thirty years, and when he retired from active business was the oldest contractor and builder in Southern California. He erected the block where he now lives on Main street, in 1854, it being the first brick building in Los Angeles. The lot he purchased in 1850, and his property has become very valuable. In October, 1854, he married Miss Caroline Geiger, a native of Wirtemberg, Germany. She died in 1861, leaving two children. Caroline, the older, was married May 11, 1878, to Edmund Lewz, a native of Prussia, Germany. They have five children: Emma, Walter, Edmund, Carrie and l'aul. Henry, the son, is residing in this city, and was married October 1, 1888, to Miss Cece- lia Mott, a native of Los Angeles, and daughter of T. D. Mott, Esq., an old and honored resi- dent of this city.

RVING A. WHITE is one to be classed among the pioneers of the Sierra Madre Col- ony, having entered the fourth or fifth resi- dence tract in the colony. He took up his residence on a twenty-acre tract, located on the north side of Central avenue, east of Sierra Madre avenue, in November, 1881. His tract was wild and uncultivated, but with character- istic energy he commenced its cultivation and improvement, building a modest cottage resi- dence and planting citrus and decidnous fruits. He resided upon that tract, engaging in horti- cultural pursuits until 1887 when he sold out and purchased three acres of land on the north-

east corner of Central and Auburn avenues, where he has since resided. This place he is making one of the representative hoines of the colony, planting a large variety of citrus and deciduous fruits and table grapes. His original tract was sold to Mr. Frank Irwin, who subdi- vided and sold it in villa lots. Mr. White has taken an active part in building up Sierra Madre. He was one of the original incorporators of the Sierra Madre Water Company, and has served for years as one of its directors. He has spent more than twenty five years of his life upon the Pacific Coast. He is a native of Cayuga County, and dates his birth in 1841. His father, Till- inghast White, was a native of Massachusetts, who, in his early manhood, settled in New York and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He mar- ried Miss Sarah Nutt, a native of that State. Mr. White was reared upon his father's farm and became well versed in the practical opera- tions of farm life. Of an adventurous and am . bitious disposition, he was not content with tlie staid life of a New York farmer, and at the age of twenty years, in 1861, came via the Isthmus route to California. His first year was spent in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, in farm labor, after which he located in Placer and El Dorado counties, where he was employed in the copper mines. In 1863 lie started out on a prospecting tour in Nevada. After devoting several months to that precarious occupation he located at Pio- che, Nevada, and for several years was engaged in the mines and quartz mills in that section. In 1872 he again engaged in prospecting and locating mines, and spent about two years in Arizona, principally in the Wallapi district, after which he returned to California and was for several years in the northern portion of the State and in Nevada. In 1878 he returned to New York, and in that year married Miss Jo- sephine Wright, a native of that State, and the daughter of Ulysses A. and Eliza (Lawton) Wright, both of whom were natives of New York. In 1880 Mr. White returned to California and located in Los Angeles County, and after an extended trip through Arizona and Mexico,

829

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

finally took up his residence in the Sierra Madre Colony, where he commenced the life of a horti- culturist. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen, and during his residence bere lias been identified with the building up of the county, having real estate interests in Pasadena and Monrovia. He is also the owner of a fine five- acre tract on the corner of Central and Mark- ham avenues in Sierra Madre. This property is well improved, being planted witli a fine va- riety of citrus and deciduous fruits and Muscat grapes. Mr. White is a member and a trustee of the First Congregational Church of Sierra Madre. Politically he is a Republican.

B S. WESTON .- To the casual observer, and much more so to one who makes it a study, is there something at once interesting and fascinating about the life, character, and history of the California pioneers. They were, as a class, exceptional men, strong in most of the qualities that make up the typical American character. They were energetic, courageous, and far-seeing. Coming, as they did, from all parts of the world, and braving many dangers and perils, the careers of many were full of in- cidents, and their life histories read like romance. In 1856 the subject of this sketch drifted here on the ocean as a sailor. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1832. His father was a sea captain, had traveled over the whole world, and was buried on the west coast of Africa in 1835. With his brother, B. S. Weston, he also followed the sea, launching out when he was but fifteen years of age. His first voyages were to the east and west of South America. Then he made several trips between San Francisco and China. This was in the days of sail vessels, and on one of these voyages he drifted to Santa Catalina Islands, where, in partnership with N. A. Nar- bonne, now deceased, he engaged in sheep-raising. In 1868 they removed from the island to the inain-land, a distance of twenty-six iniles, and kept sheep on the ranch of which he is still

owner, though now giving his attention more particularly to farming. This place consists of 3,700 acres and is a part of the Palos Verdes Ranch. Mr. Weston has seen much of the world, and is a man well informed, having by extensive travel and observation obtained a vast store of useful and practical information. So- cially he is a member, in good standing, in the Masonic Fraternity Lodge, No. 198, Wilmington.

OHN T. WILSON, Superintendent of the Rancho ex-Mission De San Fernando, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Crawford County. He came to California when a very young man; has been engaged in mining and has traveled extensively over this State and Colorado. Eight years ago he was appointed to his present position, where he employs thirty- five men and 100 horses on the ranch which con- sists of 16,700 acres of land. Of this, 7,000 acres are in wheat, 500 in barley, and 170 in orange trees. The land embraced in this ranch is the most beautiful and fertile valley in the State, and the climate is unsurpassed. Pure mountain water is abundant, and the whole valley is teeming with life and luxuriance. When he first came to California Mr. Wilson learned the trade of printer in the office of the Express, in Los Angeles; but, his health failing in a meas- ure, he songht employment that would give more out door exercise, and it would be hard to find a climate inore conducive to health than that at the Mission Ranch.

EORGE M. WALKER .- Scattered all over California, and especially in Los Ange- les County, can be found men, who, having passed an active and useful life in some of the States east of the Rocky Mountains, and who, having accumulated enough of this world's goods to be able to spend the remainder of their days in retirement, have sought this balmy climate,

830

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

and here, in homes of luxury, surrounded by tropical plants and ever-blooming flowers, and fanned by the cool breezes from the ocean, they expect to enjoy that peace and quiet that comes, or that should come, after an active business life. Along with this class of people we mention, in brief, the name of George M. Walker, a retired manufacturer from Boston, Massachusetts, who came to Long Beach in 1888. This gentleman might be said to have been born and reared at the "hub." He is the son of Joseph Walker, who was also a manufacturer. Mr. Walker was married in 1876 to Miss Evans, a native of New York. In the beautiful and picturesque seaside resort of Long Beach they have an elegant resi- dence, fronting on the ocean, and overlooking the beach, the town of San Pedro and the Cata- lina Islands.

OODSON WILKINSON, a farmer and fruit grower, residing three miles south- west of Downey, was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1824. His father, James Wilkinson, was of English descent and a native of Virginia, and his mother, a native of Ten- nessee, was, before her marriage, Temperance Knight. His grandfather, William Wilkinson, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Jamies Wilkin- son moved to St. Charles, Missouri, in 1821, and in 1825 he located in Lincoln County, Missouri, where he died November 13, 1855, and his wife died there May 16, 1881. They had nine children. The subject of this sketcli has been twice married. IIis first wife was Margaret Stubblefield, a native of Lincoln County, Missouri, and daughter of Thomas and Mary (Cannon) Stubblefield. This union was blessed with one daughter, Mary T., now the wife of Charles Norton. Mrs. Wilkinson died November 14, 1855; and Mr. Wilkinson, February 17, 1857, was married to Miss Salina Thomas, who was born in Pike County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Samuel F. and Betsey E. Thomas. Of this second union five children

were born, three boys and two girls: Jolın, Charles, William, Elizabeth, wife of Harry Van Bunkeliew, and Alice, wife of Reuben Wixom. Mrs. Wilkinson died January 30. 1888, after a useful and well-spent life, she having been a consistent Christian and a member of the Metli- odist Episcopal Church.

H. WATTS is a gentleman well known in both Pasadena and Los Angeles, where for a number of years he was engaged in the real-estate and insurance business. He also carried on very successfully the livery business in Los Angeles. At present he has practically retired from the more active vocations in which he was previously engaged, and now his time and attention are devoted to the management of his ranch, three miles northeast of Compton, where he has 125 acres of land and has recently erected thereon a new and commodious residence. Mr. Watts is a native of Ohio. A number of years of his life were spent in Chicago where he was engaged in business. His marriage to Miss Millie Locke, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was celebrated in Pasadena, in 1875, this being the first marriage in the place; and their eldest child, Harvey, was the first child born there. The first religious service conducted in Pasa- dena was held at the residence of Mr. Watts. (However, he was not at home at the time.) Mr. and Mrs. Watts are the parents of three sons: Harvey, Seymor and Dan. The subject of this sketch is a man who has seen a great deal of the world and is well informed on all current topics. Ile is an enterprising citizen and an enthusiastic Democrat.

B. WALTER, a retired farmer residing near Downey, was born in Iligliland County, Ohio, in 1812. He is a son of John and Mary (Bentley) Walter, natives of Vir- ginia, and early pioneers in the Buckeye State.

831

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

In 1837 they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where the father died about the close of the war. In 1845 Mr. Walter located in Washington County, Iowa; after a short time moved to Van Buren County and still later went to Lee County. In 1852 he came overland, with ox teams, to the Golden State, leaving his home April 12, and landing in San José, November 12. Here he engaged in farming and was very successful in raising wheat for twenty-five years. In 1878 he moved to Los Angeles County. Since com- ing here he has purchased real estate in differ- ent parts of the county, at Long Beach, San Diego, and has several farms, all within a mile and a half of Downey. Mr. Walter has been twice married, first in Iowa, in 1843, to Miss Tabitha Shepard, of Ohio, born near Bridgeport. They had three children, all of whom, with the mother, died in Iowa in 1848. In 1849 Mr. Walter was united in marriage with Miss Ann Gruewell, of Quincy, Illinois. This union was blessed with two daughters: Georgiana, now Mrs. Rev. R. R. Pratt, of San Diego; and Mary M., now Mrs. Henry Stephens, living near Downey. The mother of these two daughters died in Santa Clara County in 1856.

F. WOODWARD .- No other business institution of a city or town exerts such an influence in creating a reputation, good or bad, for the place as its hotels; for there is a deal of truth in the adage that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Feed and sleep one well during his sojourn with yon and he will bear away pleasant memories of you. Among the many attractions of Los Angeles not the least are its hotels, prominent among which is the Hoffman House, with its cozy office, its broad, easy stairways, bright airy halls, large, sunny guest rooms, richly furnished, and its spacions dining-room with its well-spread tables. The Hoffinan is situated on North Main street, and occupies the block bounded by Main and New High streets and Postoffice court and So-

nora street, thus having the advantage of four fronts and four independent stairways, furnish- ing ample egress in case of fire, and also sup- plying abundance of sunlight and pure air to all parts of the hotel. The first floor is occupied by the office, dining-room, kitchen, laundry and bar. The second and third stories are devoted to guest rooms, of which there are seveuty. Thirty of these-front rooms-have their own private bath-rooms and closets, and each contains an open fireplace and mantel. The beds are all hair mattresses, manufactured to order expressly for the Hoffman House, and are of excellent quality. Among other modern conveniences of a first-class hotel, the Hoffinan is furnished throughout with electric call bells. The furni- ture of the house is mahogany, antique oak and cherry; and the carpets in the front rooms are moquet and velvet, and in the other rooms body brussels. The Hoffman has the largest and most sunny rooms, the purest air, and is replete everywhere with the elements of home comfort. The proprietor of the Hoffinan House, J. F. Woodward, may be said to be a " born" hotel man, for he was born and reared in his father's hotel in Bath, Steuben County, New York, and has spent nearly all his life in a hotel either as employé or proprietor. He stood behind the counters as clerk of leading hotels in Chicago, Indianapolis, and other Eastern cities twelve years, and served two years at the carving-table under one of the principal caterers in the city first named. For a number of years before coming to the Pacific Coast he successfully con- ducted a hotel in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1880 he took charge of the Mojave House, a railroad hotel, in the town of the same name, which became very popular under his management, feeding several hundred a day at times. Since coming to Los Angeles Mr. Woodward was lessce and proprietor of the new United States Hotel, in which he made the handsome suin of $20,000 in seven months, during the late real- estate boom. He has won a wide and enviable reputation as a gentlemanly host and a liberal caterer. In May, 1889, he leased the Vance

832

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

House, the leading hotel iu Eureka, Humboldt County, California, of which he is also proprie- tor, and which is conducted under his direction. Mr. Woodward was forty years of age in June last. He was married about fourteen years ago.

OMAYNE WILLIAMS, one of the most prominent business inen of Pasadena, was born in Greene County, New York, No- vember 25, 1847. He followed agricultural pursuits until seventeen years of age; went to Coxsackie, that State, where he was engaged two years in the employ of E. V. Beatty, dry-goods merchant; then, in 1867, to Troy, same State, where he was employed two years in the large dry goods establishment of Haverly & Frear; next, for four years, he was engaged in wholesale millinery for C. H. Rising; then five years for G. V. S. Quackenbush & Co., dry-goods merchants; and finally, in 1877, he emigrated to the Golden State, arriving in Pasa- dena with but a few dollars in purse. Here his first task was to take charge of the property of IHodgkins & Wood for a year, at $20 a month. During this time he bought of A. M. Boughton five acres of land on Fair Oaks avenue, paying therefor $200 down, and giving mortgage for the balance due. At the elose of his engage- ment with Hodgkins & Wood, he was enabled, with the assistance of his wife, to pay the whole debt. Next, for a year, he was a salesman in the grocery of Sherman Washburn, whom he then bought out, and continued the business under the firm name of R. Williams & Co. This stand he sold out July 1, 1885, to W. O. Swan, Jr. In the meantime he had erected a building on the northeast corner of Fair Oaks avenne and Colorado street. Since that time he lias specu- lated considerably in real estate, and lias by eco- nomical management amassed a fortune. He built the first substantial business block in Pasadena, which no doubt determined the pres- ent location of the business portion of the city. He has worked hard for the interests of the

place, and thinks it has a brilliant . future. He is a director in the San Gabriel Valley Bank; vice-president and director of the Fair Oaks Street Railway; stockholder in the Pasadena Manufacturing Company, one of the largest business firms in the city; was one of the eor- porators of the Pasadena Gas and Electric Light Company, and is now its treasurer; and was one of the promoters of the cable railroad to Wilson's Peak, the objective point for the new observa- tory now in contemplation. In company with C. S. Martin, he owns the site of Wilson's Peak, and they have tendered to the University of Southern California a tract of land for the obser- vatory. Mr. Williams married Miss Ella Mor- rison, of Troy, New York. They have one son.

B. WEIMER, earpenter and builder, 49 West Fifth street, Los Angeles, was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, April 20, 1855, and is the third son of six children of Jeremiah and Elizabeth Weimer. He attended school in his native State and learned the trade of earpenter and joiner. In 1875 he went to Nebraska and lived there several years; then went to Kansas, where he spent two years; eamne to Los Angeles in 1882, and began working at his trade for a time, and afterward engaged in building. By his industry and elose attention to the interests of his business he has secured a good custom trade.

HERMAN WASHBURN, Pasadena, is a native of New York, having been born in Steuben County. His early life was spent on a farm. At the age of twenty one years he moved to Rockford, Illinois, where, for five years, he was connected with the J. II. Manney Manufacturing Company. From Rockford he went to Marshalltown, Iowa, and was there en- gaged in the grocery business for about ten years. In 1860 he moved to Carson, Nevada,

833

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

and, after remaining there two years, came to California in the fall of 1873, locating in Pasa- dena. He purchased fifteen acres in the Berry and Elliott tract, where he built a home and en- gaged in the grocery business for a time. He next entered into the real-estate business in company with Charles Watts, and later he was interested in building the San Gabriel Railroad, of which he was treasurer. At the present writing he is director of the San Gabriel Valley Bank. Mr. Washburn is one of those energetic and enterprising men whose influence is always directed in the channel which tends to develop the resources of the country in which he resides, not only for his own benefit, but for the general good of the community.

ACOB WEIL, 116 Pico street, Los Angeles, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 24, 1828. He emigrated to the United States in 1846, landed at New Orleans and went direct to Louisville, Kentucky. After remaining there some time, he went over into Indiana and spent several years in New Albany and Salem. He next went to Louisiana, and from there came to California by way of the Isthmus, reaching San Francisco in 1853. The following year he came to Los Angeles on the old steamer Sea Bird, and started a small store at El Monte, a few iniles east of Los Angeles. He soon extended his trade and successfully carried on the business there over twenty years, until 1877, when he went to Kern County and engaged in mercan- tile business at Bakersfield for several years. He then returned, his family residing here; and since that time has not been engaged in active business, but gives his attention to improving his property. In 1888 he built his large block on Main street. He purchased the lot in 1867 for 82,500 and refused 890,000 for it before the building was ereeted. He also owns other prop- erty. Mr. Weil is the architect of his own fortune, for when he began life he had no capi- tal, and his success is due to his own efforts. In

April, 1859, Mr. Weil married Miss Gette IIell- inan, a native of Bavaria, and a sister of I. M. and Samuel Hellman, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Weil have seven children: Amelia, Na- than (who is engaged in mercantile business on Main street, under the firm name of Rodriguez & Weil, 407-409 North Main street, Los An- geles, California), Alice, Morrie, Clara, Adelle and Arme.

ENRY WEBER, of the firm of Winter & Weber, proprietors of the Los Angeles Cracker Factory, at the corner of Aliso street and Aliso road, is a native of Germany, and was born July 12, 1855. He grew up, at- tended school and served an apprenticeship at his trade in his native country. In 1871 he emigrated to the United States, and after three years' work at his trade in New York, he came to California; was employed at his trade in San Francisco, remaining there nine years, in the leading bakeries of the city. In 1883 he canre to Los Angeles and became associated with L. Winter, his present partner, establishing the Los Angeles Cracker Company. They have had a large practical experience, understand every detail of the business, and give their per- sonal attention in directing and maintaining the highest standard of excellence in the preparation and manufacture of their goods. In 1877 Mr. Weber married Miss Fredrika Boehringer, a native of Germany. They have three children: Ilarry, Lulu and Flora.

AMES W. WARREN, Superintendent of the Electric Light Works, Los Angeles. was born in Sacramento, this State, July 30, 1850. His father, who had come to California in 1849, raised a company of volunteers on the breaking out of the great Rebellion, was com- missioned Captain and killed during the action in Shenandoah Valley. The son attended the

834

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

public schools of San Francisco, also the Lincoln Grammar School, and pursned his college course at MeClure Academy, taking a practical course in civil engineering. For two years he was then connected with the engineering depart- ment of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company; next he was the chief engineer of the Brush Electric Light Company, of San Francisco, and meanwhile made a special study of electricity. Ilis next position was that of constructing en- gineer for the company, in which capacity he constructed the plants at Portland, Oregon, and Oakland, California. In 1882 he came to this city to build the works for the Los Angeles Electric Light Company, in which he was sig- ually successful, and since that time he lias hield his present position, as noted. In 1884 he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Bennett, of New York, and they have one son, Edward Garfield.

G. WESTON .-- Of all whose names ap- pear in this work, none are more worthy a place thian is the name of II. G. Wes-

ton. He is what might be terined one of the old settlers, having been a resident of the State for thirty-five years, and of the county twelve years. He is a native of the "far East," was born in Kennebec County, Maine, in 1832, and is a son of Cyrus and Lefie (Wing) Weston. Both were born in Maine, and in their native State they lived and died, having reared a fam- ily of eight children. The subject of this sketch left his father's home in 1855, and came by steamer route to California. In 1859 Mr. Wes- ton returned to his home in the East, and while there was married to Miss Octavia Austin, who is also a native of Maine. In three monthis after their marriage they set ont via steamer route for California, February 2, 1860, and twenty-three days later they landed in San Fran- cisco Mr. Weston was interested in mining for some years in the northern part of the State and in Nevada, and for twenty-two years he

carried on the butcher business in Sierra County. When he came to Los Angeles County he pur- chased 100 acres of fine land near the city of Compton, and eight miles from Los Angeles. Here he has established a comfortable home, and here he expects to spend the evening of life, as he has practically retired from active business. He owns valnable city property both in Los Angeles and in Compton. He served the people of this county as deputy assessor for two years. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Weston is made pleasant and happy by the presence of their two amiable and accomplished dangliters, Misses Lizzie and Nellie.

K. WOODWARD, a farmer and stock- raiser residing five miles west of Comp-

6 ton, is a pioneer of 1868. He first located near Downey, where for ten years he farmed and worked at the carpenter's trade. In 1888 he purchased forty-six acres where he now lives, on the Mesa. On this tract he has erected a very neat and comfortable residence, and his land is all under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Woodward is a native of Franklin County. Tennessee, was born in 1837, and is the son of J. B. and Nancy (Kitchens) Woodward, the for- mer a native of Tennessee, and the latter of North Carolina, and they were of English and Scotch origin respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Wood- ward removed to Texas in 1856, where the old gentleman is yet engaged in farming, at the ad- vanced age of eighty years. His wife died in 1886. They had reared a family of eight chil- dren, S. K. Woodward being the next to the youngest. The subject of this sketch was mar- ried in 1871, to Miss Eliza Dunn, who was born in Georgia, and is the daughter of J. A. and Mary B. Dunn. They have six children living: Robert, William, Carrie, Henry, Samnel and Thomas. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dunn are mem- bers of the Methodist Church, South, being con- nected with the church at Downey, in which Mr. Dunn has held various offices. Socially he

835

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is an A. O. U. W. At different times he has held district and school offices. Politically Mr. Dnnn is affiliated with the Democratic party.

YRUS WILLARD, brick and stone con- tractor, 37 West Pico street, Los Angeles, was born in New Sharon, Maine, June 17, 1830. He attended school there and served an apprenticeship to his trade in Boston. At that time the gold excitement of California was spread- ing over the country, and he decided to come to the Pacific Coast; came by water, and landed in San Francisco June 17, 1850. He engaged in inining for a time, and then went to Humboldt Bay and was interested in the lumber business there. In 1861 he returned to San Francisco and engaged in building, being employed on Government work. Ile was foreman in the

light-house department, and also in the en- gineer's and quartermaster's departments, for twelve or fifteen years. In 1876 he came to Los Angeles and engaged in contracting and building, and since then, for the past thirteen years, has been actively identified with building interests in this city. He and Mr. Collins are the oldest contractors in Los Angeles. One of the first heavy buildings erected by him was the old Odd Fellows' Hall. He also built the "Nadean" for the San Francisco estate, the Central Block and two blocks on Court street, Los Angeles Gas Works, the Low Gas Com- pany's Works, Childs' Safe Deposit Building, the Lechtenberger Block, Shoemaker Block, and many others. He was elected and served as a member of the city council of Los Angeles. Mr. Willard is a commissioned officer in the State National Guards, being signal officer with the rank of Major, and a member of the brigade staff. Major Willard is unmarried. His home is presided over by his sister.

2829

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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