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 25

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 25

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RURAL CALIFORNIAN,

an illustrated journal of horticulture. Twelve years ago this journal was established in Los Angeles as the Southern California Horticult- urist. Two years later George Rice, the present editor, bought it and several other publications devoted more or less to agriculture and consoli- dated them, naming the new paper the Rural Californian, he continuing as editor and pro- prietor until three years ago, when he sold it to Messrs. Alles & Gardner. Then for over three years Mr. Rice put into practice the theories he had published, and again assumed the editorial chair after this experience in the orchard and field. He is in love with his work, to which he expects to devote his life and energies.

The Rural is a neatly printed illustrated monthly journal of forty-eight broad donble- column pages, bound in an illuminated paper cover, and devoted to the discussion of topics relating to the farm, the orchard and the home. It has a large list of readers not only in Southern

California but throughout the State, and many thousands in the East.

GEORGE RICE was born in Brown County, Ohio, in October, 1842, educated in the State Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, at which he graduated in 1860. IIe had begun to study law when the attack upon Fort Sumter changed the current of his life. In April, 1861, the day President Lincoln issned the call for 75,000 volunteers, Mr. Rice enlisted as a member of Company G, Eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was commanded by ex-Governor Oglesby. Mr. Rice served three years and three months. He has a gold medal given him by General J. B. McPherson, dated July 4, 1863, bearing the inscription, " Presented to George Rice, private of Company G, Eighth Illinois Infantry, given for meritorious service." One of the last official acts of General McPherson before he was killed was to issne to Mr. Rice a Lieutenant-Colonel's commission. After the close of the war Mr. Rice engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1869, when he entered into the publishing business, and has spent ten years at it in Los Angeles.

THE PACIFIC COAST POULTRY JOURNAL

was issued in May of the present year-1889. It starts out as an illustrated monthly in maga- zine form with imperial quarto page of three columns. The subscription price is $1 a year. C. (). Cummings is the editor. The publishing office is in the Lanfranca Building, North Main street, Los Angeles.

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE was founded by its present editor and publisher, Rev. P. II. Bodkin, A. M., March 1, 1886; having superseded a District Quarterly issued by Rev. R. W. C. Farnsworth, A. M., of the Los Angeles District Methodist Episcopal Church. For nine months it was issued as a medium four-page monthly, at 50 cents a year, under the supervision of the Los Angeles Meth- odist Preacher's Meeting. Rev. S. G. Blanchard was associate editor. November, 1886, its field

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

was enlarged, its name changed to its present title, and it was made a sixteen-page semi- monthly, with a local advisory committee, which raised a subsidy of $500 for the editor and pub- lisher to aid them in the work. The subscrip- tion price was $1.00 a year. In November, 1887, the editor took in Charles Patterson as partner in the business management, but this arrangement was discontinued in six months. From November, 1887, the paper has been is- sned as a weekly, eight pages, size of sheet 26 x 38 inches. The publication committee was slightly changed, and $1,000 was raised for an office outfit.

At the session of Conference held in Pasa- dena September 13, 1888, the Advocate was made the Conference organ. This action raised it from the character of a local concern and made it the official paper of the entire Conference. The present editor and publisher was unani- mously continued by a vote of the Conference, and as usual was appointed to the work by the Bishop. The publication committee was now enlarged to embrace representative men of the entire Conference, and is as follows: Rev. P. F. Breese, D. D., Rev. M. M. Bovard, D. D., Rev. T. E. Robinson, Rev. A. M. Hough, J. P. Widney, A. M., M. D., IIon. E. F. Spenee, Rev. E. S. Chase, Rev. A. B. Morrison, Rev. D. H. Gillan, Ilon. R. M. Widney, LL. D., Rev. R. S. Cantine, D. D., Rev. S. G. Blanchard and P. M. Green.

A $500 subsidy was raised this year to assist the editor in his work of publication. The subscription list has grown with reasonable ra- pidity, and now (June, 1889) numbers between 1,500 and 1,600. It bids fair to be self-sup- porting in another year. The editor manages the entire paper in its literary and business way, and has frequently issued large editions of ten and twelve pages.

The editor, Rev. P. H. Bodkin, was born in Ireland, in 1851, is an Indianian by adoption, was educated at DePauw University (then called Asbury), at Greencastle, Indiana, graduating in 1877, entered the Jowa Conference of the Meth-

odist Episcopal church in 1878, and transferred to Austin (Texas) Conference in 1882, being stationed at Fort Worth. While there he was assistant editor of the Texas Methodist. In November, 1886, he came to California and was appointed pastor at Ontario, where he remained for one year. Since then he has resided at Los Angeles and has had no charge in connection with his editorial work.

THE LOS ANGELES CHURCHIMAN

is a monthly magazine of some twenty pages of three columns each, devoted, according to the announcement on the title page, "to the inter- ests of the church in Los Angeles and Southern California." The contents of the number before 18-June, 1889-embraces articles on various religious and Sunday-school topics. The Churchman was established by Rev. Thomas W. Haskins, its present editor and proprietor, in January, 1888. The subscription price is 50 cents a year, and its present circulation about 500 copies. The publishing office is in the California Bank Building, Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.

THE CALIFORNIA BAPTIST.

In February, 1887, the first number of the Southern California Baptist was issued in Los Angeles by the Southern California Publishing Company, with Rev. W. B. Wright as editor. It was started as a sixteen-page weekly with four columns to the page. In September, 1888, its form was changed to eight pages of five col- umns each, and from February 1, 1889, it has been published weekly. The patronage and in- fluence of the paper having extended beyond the local boundary of Southern California, the name was then altered to California Baptist. After the first three numbers were issued, Rev. G. S. Bailey, D. D., of State distinction, assumed the editorship, and filled that position from June 1, 1887, until June 15, 1889. In Novem- ber, 1888, the present editor and proprietor, A. W. Palmer, purchased the paper and plant from the Southern California Publishing Company.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

The paper has received a liberal support and has prospered from the beginning. The publishing office is at 18 Sonth Fort street, Los Angeles.

THE PENTECOST

was first issued in 1885, as a quarterly publi- cation. The following year it was changed to a monthly, and abont the middle of the year 1887 it began to be published semi-monthly and has been issued twice a monthi ever since. The paper and plant, including a job printing office, is the property of the " Holiness" societies of Southern California and Arizona, and the editing and publishing is done by L. A. Clark and W. C. Brand. It is a four-page sheet with four columns to the page, and circulates among the adherents of this religious belief. No adver- tisements are inserted in it. The publishing office is at No. 15 Patrick street, East Los Angeles.

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PRACTITIONER,

a medical monthly journal, was established in January, 1886, the editors and founders being J. P. Widney, A. M., M. D., Dean of the Col- lege of Medicine of the University of Southern California; Walter Lindley, M. D., Professor of Obstetrics, and Joseph Kurtz, M. D., Professor of Clinical Surgery in the same college. These gentlemen have remained in charge of the journal ever since, but have associated with themselves Frank L. Haynes, M. D., Professor of Gynecology in the college.

The Practitioner, while devoting itself to the discussion of all matters pertaining to the science of medicine and surgery, has mapped ont for itself one particular field as its specialty, viz .: The careful investigation of the climatic peenliarities and climatic laws of Southern Cali- fornia, and of that great inland plateau which embraces Arizona, New Mexico, and the ele- vated portion of the Mexican interior; the effeets which these climatic peculiarities may have upon race types, race development, and race diseases; the local changes which, through human agency-such as irrigation, drainage, cultivation, planting or clearing of timber- may be produced in climate; the question of

race habits of food, drink, and manner of life; the physiological and pathological effects of the crossing of bloods were noticed; and all of these questions as affecting the Anglo-Teuton in tak- ing np his race abode in this, to him, new cli- matic belt. It is a new, a broad and a hereto- fore unworked field, and many of the questions will require generations, rather than years, for . their solution, yet the Practitioner hopes to add somewhat to the stock of human knowledge in this direction, and to help toward the solution of these problems; and it will aim to base its investigations upon a solid substructure of facts and carefully-compiled scientific observations, rather than upon the more glittering, but less fruitful, basis of mere speculation. It will, also, endeavor to present the salient features of vari- ous sections of this now widely-known climatic belt, so that physicians throughont the Eastern States and abroad, who may be recommending a change of climate to invalids, or persons of deli- cate constitution, may have accurate informna- tion upon which to base a selection.

In carrying ont the plan of work thus ont- lined, scarcely a number of the Practitioner has appeared withont some valnable climatic article. This journal has become .standard authority throughout the continent in this new field of climate and disease, in which it is the pioneer.

POMONA DAILY TIMES AND POMONA TIMES-COURIER.

The Pomona Times was established in 1882 by Messrs. Short & Morton. In December, 1883, the first number of the Pomona Weekly Courier was issued, with John H. Lee as editor and publisher. In February, 1884, H. N. Short sold his interest in the Times to W. D. Morton, and on April 1, following, the Times and Cour- ier were consolidated under the name of the Times-Courier, J. II. Lee and W. D. Morton as editors and publishers. In November, 1885, W. D. Morton retired and the paper issned with Lee & Sumner, Publishers. In April, 1886, Lee & Sumner began the publication of the Pomona Daily Times. This was the first daily paper ever issued in the city of Pomona, and

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

the only one published up to the present writ- ing in 1889. February 18, 1888, Mr. William E. Ward, the founder and editor of the Orange Tribune, purchased Mr. Sumner's interest, and the firm of Lee & Ward was established. They have, since that date, edited and published the Times as a daily and the Times-Courier as a weekly paper. Both papers are independent in politics, but are strong in their support of all interests and industries that tend to develop the resources of Los Angeles County, and especially to encourage immigration into the beautiful San José Valley and the city of Pomona.

The Times office is complete in its equip- ments, with cylinder press run by steam power, being well equipped for doing a large and first- class job printing business. Its enterprising proprietors well merit the support they receive from the community.

JOHN HI. LEE. The subject of this sketch is a native of California, dating his birth in Blncher Valley, Sonoma County, in 1852. His father, Dr. William G. Lee, was a native of Ohio; he is a pioneer of California, coming overland to the State in 1849. Mr. Lee's mother was Aletha A. Ross, a native of Illinois. She died when the subject of this sketch was six years of age, leaving a family of seven children, only one of whom was married. When he was thirteen years of age his youngest sister, who up to that time had managed the domestic affairs of the household, was married, and the family circle was broken up. Mr. Lee then located in Monterey County, and in 1867 entered the office of the Salinas Standard as an ap- prentice, beginning with the first issue of that paper. Ile worked for three years in the Stun- dard office, and afterward was engaged in vari- ous newspaper offices in the central portion of the State until 1871. In that year he located at Bakersville, Kern County, and for twelve years was engaged in newspaper work in that place, as a compositor and foreman, in various offices. Ile also established the Kern County Record, which he edited and published until 1883. In that year he sold out his paper and

established his residence in Pomona, Los An- geles County, and in December established the Pomona Courier. Since that time to the pres- ent writing, in 1889, Mr. Lce has been promi- nently connected with the newspaper enterprises of the city, as an editor and publisher. Thor- oughly practical and well schooled in his call- ing, he has, by his strict attention to his busi- ness, achieved a well-merited success. He is enterprising and public spirited, and has always taken a deep interest in the growth and pros- perity of his chosen city. In politics he is a Republican and a worker in the ranks of that party. He is a charter member of Ætna Lodge, No. 107, K. of P., of Pomona, and also a mem - ber of Pomona Lodge, No. 225, A. O. U. W. At Bakersfield, in 1883, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Belle Sage, the daughter of Orris C. and Ann Eliza (Farner) Gage. From this nnion there are two children living: Oribel and Winnie.

WILLIAM E. WARD. The subject of this sketch was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1842. His father was a native of Massachusetts, who in early manhood moved to Vermont and es- tablished himself as a merchant in Vergennes. While there he married Miss Harriet Shirrill, a native of that place. In 1840 he moved to Cleveland, and from there, in 1846, to Wauke- sha, Wisconsin, and later to Green Lake County, of that State. Ile was engaged in manufactur- ing and mercantile pursuits. In 1853 he crossed the plains and located himself and fam- ily in Plumas County, California. He was prominent in the early history of that county, and in 1854 was elected county judge, and later held other offices of honor and trust. His death oc- curred in that county in 1876. The subject of this sketch, at the age of fourteen years, en- tered the office of the Mountaineer, at Quincy, to learn the trade of a printer. In 1860 he located at Carson City, Nevada, and was for a year or more working at his trade. In 1861 he returned to Plumas County, and for the next two years was engaged in mining in Genesee Valley. Ile then returned to his trade, and in

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

1868 purchased an interest in the Plumas Na- tional. He edited and published that paper for sixteen years and became well known in the newspaper circles of Northern California. HIe was also, during these years, connected with many of the mining interests of that section. In 1884 Mr. Ward came to Los Angeles County, and after a residence of a year in Los Angeles, located at Orange, and in April, 1885, founded the Orange Tribune, which he successfully con- dneted until 1888. In February of that year he established his residence in Pomona. Upon his arrival in that city he purchased an interest in the Pomona Duily Times and Pomona Times- Courier, and has since been actively engaged in the publication of those journals. Mr. Ward is a Republican in politics and has always taken an active interest in the success of his party. He is a member of Santa Ana Lodge, No. 236, I. O. O. F., and of Pomona Lodge, No. 225, A. O. U. W. He is a man of strong characteris- tics and genial temperament, and in whatever community he has resided has gained hosts of warm friends. In 1856 he married Miss Louise J. O'Neill, the danghter of Captain John F. ('Neill, a well-known resident of Plumas County and a pioneer of Wisconsin, where he was an officer in the early Indian wars. No children have been born from this marriage, but Mr. and Mrs. Ward have reared an adopted daughter, Mary J. Van Norden; she married J. J. O'Neill, of Pomona, in 1889.

THE POMONA PROGRESS

was established in January, 1885, but it was not until January 31 that the first issne ap- peared. It was then under the ownership and management of Edward E. Stowell. Pomona was then a hamlet of about. 1,500 people, and the Progress was a decided innovation in the town and in rural journalism. It was printed on a first-class cylinder press, its paper was far above the average, and its "make-up" and typography were artistic and attractive. The Progress created a new field for itself in Po- mona and the eastern part of Los Angeles County,

and soon won a prominent place in the newspaper circles of Southern California. Its business has gone on steadily increasing from the first.

In January, 1886, the Progress bought the office and plant of the Pomona Telegram, and added that business to its own. In the follow- ing May the health of Mr. Stowell broke down, and Charles I. Lorbeer became editor and pub- lisher of the Progress. Later P. S. Dorney, of Los Angeles, was editor a short time, and then R. A. Morton and W. Cobler. B. A. Stephens, of Los Angeles, was lessee from November, 1886, to May, 1887, and. made it a splendid paper. Mr. Stephens sold his lease to Mr. Lor- beer, and Mr. Stowell once more assumed the editorial management, and remained in that capacity until he suddenly died on February 5, 1888.

On March 1, 1888, Henry G. Tinsley bought. a one-half interest in the Progress, and became its editor and manager, Charles I. Lorbeer being a silent partner. Mr. Tinsley came directly to Pomona from New York, where he was a mem- ber of the New York Sun staff for several years. He had his first journalistic education on the Lyons (N. Y.) Republican, and was a writer for the Rochester (N. Y.) Democrat and the Rochester Herald for two years. He was born in Lyons, New York, in 1861, and gradu- ated from the Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, in 1883. Several of his articles have been published in the New York Independent, the Cosmopolitan and Outing. He is an enthu- siastic Southern Californian now, and has given his whole time and attention to spreading abroad the advantages of the beautiful Pomona Valley and making his newspaper a proud success.

The Pomona Progress office is an unusually well-furnished and equipped establishment. It has a large $1,700 Cotrell cylinder press, three Gordon job presses, a three horse-power engine, two full dresses of type (brevier and nonpareil), and a particularly large quantity of job and wood type. The handsome appearance of the eight-paged Pomona Progress is a matter of general comment among all who see it.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

BENCH AND BAR.

CHAPTER XV.

PIONEER ATTORNEYS.

IIE United States Land Commission, ap- pointed by act of Congress to pass upon the validity of Spanish and Mexican land grants in California, brought here some of the ablest legal talent in the United States. In these eases the fees were large and many fort- unes were founded on these claims, the attor- neys frequently bargaining for half the lands contingent on confirmation.

The early lawyers arriving in the order men- tioned were: Don Manuel C. Rojo, 1849; Russell Sackett, 1849; Lewis Granger, 1850; Benjamin Hayes, February 3, 1850; Jonathan R. Seott, Marelı, 1850. The last four, as well as Mr. Hartman, were overland emigrants. Law books were scaree. A brief passage in "Kent's Commentaries," that was found somewhere in town, decided an interesting ease between the rich Peruvian passenger and liberal French sea captain, some time in March, before First Al- calde Stearns. The Captain lost, but comforted his attorney, Seott, with a $1,000 fee, as it hap- pened, all in §5 gold pieces. In 1850 also came William G. Dryden and J. Lancaster Brent, the latter with a good library; 1851, 1. K. S. Ogier, Ogier & Rojo, May 31, 1851; 1852, Myron Norton, James II. Lander, Charles E. Carr, Ezra Drown, Columbus Sims, Kimball

H. Dimmick, Henry Hancock, Isaae Hartinan; 1853, Samuel R. Campbell; 1854, Cameron E. Thom and James A. Watson ("Colonel Jack Watson"); E. J. C. Kewen, W. W. Hamlin, 1856; Alfred B. Chapman, 1858; Volney E. Howard, 1861; Andrew J. Glassell and Colonel James G. Howard arrived on the same steamer, November 27, 1865, from San Francisco. Myers J. Newmark was admitted to the bar in Septem- ber, and Andrew J. King in October, 1859; Don Ignacio Sepúlveda, September 6, 1862. Other attorneys prior to 1860 were Hon. S. F. Reynolds (afterward district judge of San Fran- cisco), Joseph R. Gitehell (in April, 1858, ap- pointed district attorney), A. Thomas, William E. Pickett. Casanenva & Jones advertised De- eember 13, 1851. This was William Clande Jones, known in Missouri. Scott & Hayes were partners from March, 1850, until April 13, 1852; afterward Scott & Granger; then Scott & Lander. Between 1852 and 1860 the land questions before the Commissioners and United States District Court brought almost as resi- dents distingnished lawyers - II. W. Halleck, A. C. Peachy, F. Billings, C. B. Strode, William Carey Jones, P. W. Tompkins, Gregory Yale, John II. Saunders, II. P. Hepburn, not to name others. There are dead Russell Saekett, 1872; James H. Lander, Ezra Drown, Columbus Sims;

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Kimball II. Dimmick, 1856; James A. Watson, S. R. Campbell: Clarke, at New Orleans; Carr, at Washington City; Joseph R. Gitchell, 1866. J. Lancaster Brent stood high as a lawyer and statesman. He resides in Louisiana, near New Orleans, and in part represented that State in the late Democratic National Convention at St. Louis. Mr. Granger was a fluent, pretty speaker; in 1852-'3, partner of Judge Scott; recently can- didate for judge of the First Judicial District. General Drown lost his wife in the stranding of the steamer Independence. He died August 17, 1863, leaving a son. Hon. K. II. Dimmick, a Captain in Colonel Stevenson's regiment, had been a member of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1849.

Of the early attorneys at Los Angeles prac- ticing before the Commission were the firms of Jones, Tompkins & Strode, Scott & Granger, Ogier & Carr, J. L. Breut, Myron Norton and Ezra Drown. William Carey Jones was a son- in-law of the great Thomas II. Benton. Ile only remained a short time in California, and returned to Washington, D. C.

Pat Tompkins was a noted and eccentric character, a man of great ability, and withal a most humorous wit. Born in Breckenridge County, Kentucky, of the poorest of parents, he was self-educated, but not self-made, as the Creator did his best when he made Pat Tompkins. At a very early age he went to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and before coming to California he represented that State in the National Congress. He also remained in Cali- fornia but a few years. He died many years ago.

Jonathan R. Scott came to Los Angeles from Missouri in 1849, and remained here until he died in the '60s. Scott was a man of great physical strength, was a giant, but, mentally, was greater than physically; at the bar he was a tornado.

Lewis C. Granger came from Ohio to Los Angeles in 1849, and remained here until 1857, when he went to Oroville, Butte County, where he resides to-day, ripe in age and full of honors

well deserved. Mr. Granger was a refined, gentle, polite man, a college graduate, a fine lawyer and a most kind and generous gen- tleman.

I. S. K. Ogier was a South Carolinian, who came here in 1850 or 1851. In 1854 he mar- ried a relative of the then United States Senator William M. Guinn, and was appointed judge of the United States District Court of the Southern District of California. The Judge died in San Bernardino County about 1864. Ilis widow resides at Los Angeles at the present time.

Charles Edward Carr was a Lonisianian, and left Los Angeles in 1854 and never returned. He was a scholarly man, a good, jovial, gener - ous fellow, who believed strongly in the code of honor.

Joseph L. Brent came from Baltimore and hung out his shingle here in 1850 or 1851. He was a man of fine ability. Brent left Los Angeles in 1862 to link his fortunes with the "lost canse." He won some distinction, became a Brigadier-General, and was of the trio who surrendered the last Confederate Army. The other two were Sterling Price and Simon Boli- var Buckner. The army surrendered was that of Kirby Smith to General E. R. S. Canby at New Orleans, in May, 1865. Brent now re- sides in Louisiana.

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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