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 58

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 58

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opened through his garden and named after him. He held many official positions here in early times, including the office of alcalde. He caused a census to be taken in 1836. He died in June, 1876.

- AMON ALEXANDER was a native of France, and was born in 1825. He came to California in '48 or '49. He built the " Round House," on Main street between Third and Fourth. He was at one time in the forwarding business at San Pedro with Banning & Timms. He married a Valdez and died in 1870, leaving several sons and danghters.

EORGE AIKEN, a prosperous farmer re- siding one and one-half miles northeast of Compton, is one of the representative citizens of Los Angeles County. He was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1842, and is the son of James and Mariah (Smith) Aiken. His parents were both born in Scotland and came to Canada at an early day. James Aiken was a mill- wright by trade, but followed farming princi- pally. He died in 1879 and his wife in 1877. They had a family of eleven children, all living except one, and nine being older than the sub- ject of this sketch. They are widely scattered now, some being in Scotland, some in Canada, and George the only one in California. After leaving his native country Mr. Aiken went to Colorado, where he engaged in teaming for two years. In 1865 he located in Utah, where he followed the same occupation until 1867, in which year he went to Nevada, where lie con- tinned teaming for fifteen years. He then came to Los Angeles County and purchased sixty five acres of land where he now resides. This place is all well improved, his principal crops being grain and alfalfa. Ile also raises some good grades of stock. Mr. Aiken was married in his native country, in 1879, to Miss Mary A.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Reid. She is the daughter of Nicholas Reid, a native of the Emerald Isle. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken have an interesting family of four chil- dren: Ira Allen, George, Jennie, and Clandie. Politically, Mr. Aiken is a strong supporter of the principles as taught by the Republican party.

BEL STEARNS was for many years a prominent man in Los Angeles County. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1799. He came to Los Angeles nearly sixty years ago. He became the owner of land in the southern part of Los Angeles County, equal in extent to a Enropean Duchy; and his cattle roamed and roared "on a thousand hills" like the "bulls of Bashan." It used to be re- ported that he branded as many as 800 calves annually. His home was for many years on the site of the present "Baker Block." He died in 1871. His·widow, a daughter of Don Juan Bandini, after his death married Colonel R. S. Baker.

HARLES L. DUCOMMUN is a native of Switzerland. He has resided in Los Angeles City about forty years, engaged most of the time in merchandising. He is a thorough business man and is highly esteemed in the community. He has been twice mar- ried and has several children.

OBERT S. ARNETT was born in Henry County, Tennessee, in 1816. His father, Samuel Arnett, a native of Virginia, was a veteran of the war of 1812, serving under General Jackson. Mr. Arnett's mother, nee Ann Reed, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when quite young and was reared and educated in Tennessee. The subject of this 24

sketch was reared as a farmer in his native place until twenty years old, and then went to Carroll County, Mississippi, where he engaged in farm labor, and as soon as he procured the means en- tered an academy for the purpose of fitting him- self as a teacher. He was engaged in farming and school-teaching in Mississippi until 1853, when he came across the plains to California, performing the journey and transporting his family by ox teams. Upon his arrival in the State, he located in Colusa County, where he engaged in farming until 1857. Mr. Arnett was the first postmaster at Princeton, retaining that position as long as he remained there. The town of Princeton is situated on the farm he formerly occupied. In 1857 he moved to Men- docino County and settled at Little Lake, above Ukiah. There he entered wild land, and for the next ten years was tilling the soil and engaging in extensive stock-raising. He also established and taught the first school ever opened in Little Lake Valley. In 1867 he sold out his business in that county and came to Los Angeles County and located in the San José Valley, upon the old Palomaris Tract, just north of what is now the flourishing city of Pomona. For two years he occupied the Palomaris homestead on the old San Bernardino road, where he kept a hotel, well remembered by the old settlers and travelers of that period. In 1874 he came to Spadra and for two years rented land of A. T. Currier, upon which he engaged in general farming, after which he purchased fifty acres of land just west of and adjoining Spadra, upon which he fixed his residence and devoted himself to its improve- ment and cultivation. With the exception of a family orchard, his land is devoted to hay, grain and stock purposes. IIe has a fine field of alfalfa of eight acres in extent, which without . the aid of irrigation is producing abundant crops. On this place are good substantial im- provements-mostly built by himself-includ- ing two cottages, barn, etc. Mr. Arnett has been a resident of Los Angeles County for over twenty years. He is well known throughout the San José Valley, and is a respected and

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

esteemed citizen in the community in which he resides. He has for many years been a deacon in the Baptist Church, in the success of which he has taken a life-long interest. In political matters he is a consistent Democrat. In 1846 Mr. Arnett married Miss Malinda E. Norman, who died December 23, 1868. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnett, there are four living, viz .: Samnel E., Isabelle S., Ella M. and Susan. The second child, Robert F., died in 1850, aged twoyears. The fourth child. George Carroll, married Elizabeth Mitchell, and died in 1886, at the age of thirty-two years. The sixth child, William, died in 1885, aged twenty-six. Samuel E. married Miss Hannah Hayes, and is living with his family on the old homestead, the care and cultivation of which is under his im- mediate supervision. Isabelle S., now Mrs. James M. Fryer, is living at Spadra. Ella M. married Henry Fryer and they are residents of Pomona. Susan is living with her father.

IIARLES D. AMBROSE .- Among thie prominent men in the business eireles of Pomona during the past three years, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Jackson County, Michigan, born May 3, 1840. Ile is a descendant of old families of New England. His parents, Samuel and Mary A. (Maine) Ambrose, settled in Wash- tenaw County, Michigan, in 1836, and later in the county of his birth. In 1849 his father came to California as one of the pioneers of this State, and the subject of this sketch then entered the family of his uncle, who resided in Winne- bago County, Wisconsin, where he was reared and schooled until the age of fifteen years. He then engaged as a clerk in a general merchan- dise store and followed that occupation until reaching his majority, at which time he entered into business upon his own account, establishing a store at Omro, Winnebago County, which he conducted until 1865. In that year he engaged in trading and freighting upon the Michigan

shore, and to Lakes Huron and Superior, own- ing a fine schooner used in his trade, and which in the second year he took charge of as its master. During the winter seasons he engaged in driving cattle from the Fox River Valley to the copper mines of Lake Superior, a distance of over 250 miles, through the almost traekless forests of Wisconsin. Mr. Ambrose followed these laborions and active pursuits until 1868, and then came to California. After a visit to the mining sections, he located at San José and entered the employ of T. W. Spring, a promi- nent merehant of that city, as a clerk, salesman and auctioneer. He was thus employed until 1872, when he entered into the clothing busi- ness at Vallejo, with A. P. Voorhees, under the firm name of Voorhees & Co. In 1875 he moved to Ukiah, Mendocino County, and for many years was engaged in one of the largest mercantile and trading establishments in that section. He first established the business under his own name, which after several changes was conducted under the well-known firm name of Taylor, Taft & Ambrose. The failure of the hop erops in that seetion preceding 1886 re- sulted in a suspension and a dissolution of the partnership, and Mr. Ambrose, after meeting his obligations, found himself nearly round financially; but, nothing daunted, he sought new fields of labor, and, coming south, estab- lished his residence in Pomona. His only capital was an active, energetic disposition, trained business habits and square, straightfor- ward dealing. These soon secured his success in business as a real-estate dealer and agent, and gained him a large circle of friends. Mr. Ambrose has considerable landed interests in the connty, among which is a fine 240-acre traet at San Dimas, at the mouth of the San Dimas Cañon. The present improvement upon this land is six acres of citrus fruits. Fully eighty acres of this land are specially adapted to citrus- fruit cultivation, having plenty of water and rarely affected by frost. The subject of this sketeh is deeply interested in the future growth of the city of Pomona, and always lends his aid

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to any enterprise tending to advance its inter- ests. In December, 1888, he was appointed a notary public and still holds that office. He is a member and the Master of Pomona Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M. Ile is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he takes a great in- terest. Politically, he is a straight-out Repub- lican and a worker in the ranks of his party. In 1869 Mr. Ambrose married Miss Ada H. Treadway, the daughter of Dr. Richard M. Treadway, a former resident and well-known physician of Sonoma County. IIer mother, Nancy J. (Chapman) Treadway, was a native of South Bend, Indiana. Mrs. Ambrose died No- vein ber 7, 1879, leaving one child, Mary Lonise. In 1885 he married Miss Laura Brown, a native of Lexington, Virginia, the daughter of John L. and Susan J. (Agncr) Brown, also a native of that State. By this marriage there is one child, Nellie Edwards. The father of Mr. Ambrose is now a resident of Tuolumne County, this State, engaged in mining, an occupation which he has followed in California for nearly forty years.

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AMES M. ARMOUR was born in Belfast, Maine, November 15, 1839. His father, Andrew Armour, was a native of New Hampshire, who settled in Maine, and engaged in ship-building and farming, and later, when the subject of this sketch was but seven years old, settled in Orland, and afterward moved to Ellsworth, where Mr. Armour was reared as a farmer until he reached his majority. Ile then engaged in stock-dealing and trading in agri- cultural implements. His father died in 1864, and in 1871 Mr. Armour came to California, and after a short stay in San Francisco went to Washington Territory, where he was occupied in the lumber and commission business until the fall of 1873. He then came to Los Angeles County, and fixed his residence in the San José Valley, where he located 160 acres of Govern- ment land, about four miles east of Pomona, and engaged in general farming and bee-raising.

He was one of the first to enter into orange cultivation, making his venture with the Tahiti seedlings. In 1882 he sold his land to the Po- mona Land and Water Company, established his residence in Pomona and commenced an active business career as a builder and real-estate dealer, purchasing lots and erecting residence buildings, which he sold or rented. In 1885 he bought the carriage shops and agricultural implement works of W. E. Martin, and con- ducted the same until 1885. After selling out that business, he entered more extensively into real-estate business, under the firm name of . Armour, Evans & Co., and was until 1888 also actively engaged in conducting the business of the Central Hotel. Mr. Armour has for years been identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of Pomona, and has been connected with some of the most substantial enterprises and improvements projected in that rapidly growing city. He is now a large owner of city residence and business property, and also of farm property in the county. A man of liberal views and progressive business principles, he is a firm believer in the future prosperity of his beautiful city and valley, and is willing to de- vote time and means to such enterprises as aid in developing the resources and encouraging immigration into Los Angeles County. He was one of the incorporators and projectors of the Pomona Street Railroad Company, and is now a director in the company. He is a member of Pomona Lodge, No. 225, A. O. U. W. In political matters Mr. Armour is a life-long Re- publican, and may always be found battling in the ranks of the best elements of that party. Mr. Armour is unmarried. His mother, Mrs. Eliza (Parker) Armour, is now residing with him in Pomona. IIe has also a sister living with him.

O. BAXTER, of Santa Monica, is one of the true pioncers of California. His connection with herinterests dates back to March, 1847. He was born in Buckingham-

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shire, England, January 18, 1827, and is a son of John M. Baxter, a native of Oxford, England, who came to this country in 1831, and was for- merly in the East India service. The subject of this sketch was reared principally in Ver- mont, at St. Albans, in Franklin County. On the first day of August, 1846, he was sworn into the service against Mexico, by Colonel Bankhead, in New York City. He enlisted in Company E, Captain Taylor, First New York Volunteers, Colonel J. D. Stevenson He served two years, one month and eighteen days,

. and was discharged at Los Angeles, September 18, 1848, having come by way of Cape Horn to San Francisco. Almost as soon as he was out of the service he went to the mines, first in Califor- nia, then to Australia and New Zealand in 1853, where he remained nine years. Then he came to British Columbia in 1862, and in 1865 went to South America, where he mined till 1867. In 1869 he went to White Pine, Nevada, and in 1875 to Santa Monica. While in Nevada, how- ever, he found the partner of his life, who was Miss Ellen Rumm, a native of Canada, and daughter of John Rumm, of Ireland. They were married October 2, 1873. They have five children, whose names are as follows: Alice Mabel, Grace Edith, Frances Ellen, William Owen and Florence Monica.

RUDENT BEAUDRY .- The name of Pru- dent Beaudry occupies a prominent position in the municipal history of Los Angeles. Ever since the year 1852 his untiring energy and business sagacity have made themselves felt in the affairs of the community. By nature quick of perception, and unflagging in industry, he conld foresee far into the future, and having made his selection of a mode of action, labored inces- santly, and waited patiently, for the ontcome he was certain would follow. And he usually suc- ceeded in his enterprises. Ile was a native of St. Anne des Plaines, Province of Quebec, Can- ada. llis father was a merchant. Both his

parents were natives of Canada, but of French ancestry. The family was a large one, and all of the sons developed a marked ability in their various lines of life. The Hon. J. L. Beaudry attained the distinguished position of mayor of Montreal, which position he filled for ten years, while the other brothers became eminent mer- chants and importers, the name becoming of great importance in the business, social and polit- ical world of Montreal. Prudent Beaudry was educated in the French schools of Canada, and in an English school in the city of New York. After some time spent in traveling in the United States, he became connected with a mercantile honse in New Orleans, where he remained two years. In 1842 he began business on his own account, in partnership with a brother in the city of Montreal. Thonghi still quite yonng, he vis- ited England and Scotland for the purpose of purchasing goods, in which he was quite success- ful; and after carrying on a large business till 1850, he sold out his interest to one of his broth- ers, and turned his face westward, determined to identify his future with that of this Western land of gold. In San Francisco he met his brother Victor, who had come to California in 1849, and who was engaged in a very profitable commission and shipping business. Business conditions were at that time very changeable in San Francisco, and the two brothers decided to go into a general mercantile business, Prudent embarking his whole capital, amounting to $26,000, in the venture. The Nicaragua Canal, still unbuilt, was even then much discussed, and Victor, attracted by this new field of enterprise, sold his interest in the business to Prudent, and left for Central America, Prudent continning the business, and clearing in two and a half months $33,000, by taking advantage of the great fluctua- tion in prices. This was, however, all lost in a short time by two great fires, and by the arrival of several cargoes of sugar and other commodi- ties in which he dealt, which greatly overstocked the market. Some curious experiences were passed through by those early pioneers in busi- ness, and prices went to a limit that seems mar-

PBeaudry

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velous in the light of our more stable conditions. During the fire which destroyed his stores, Mr. Beaudry paid as high as $20 per load for remov- ing his goods, some requiring several removals and finally being destroyed. Cotton cloth was then a common house covering, and common tacks were in great demand to fasten it, and at one time, there being but 400 packages in stock in the city, they sold at $4.00 a paper at anction, and finally retailed at $16 a package. When the market becaine overstocked with goods, alinost any use was made of them, and Mr. Beaudry walked on sidewalks on Montgomery street made of boxes of plug tobacco and other goods. The Argonauts had peculiar ways. In 1852 Mr. Beaudry came to Los Angeles, bringing as his start in the new field his whole capital, now re- duced to $1,100 in goods, and less than $200 in coin. He opened a small store in the Bauchet property on Main street, opposite the site now occupied by the Baker Block. His selections of goods to meet the market were made with good judgment; and in thirty days he had $2,000 and part of his stock left. After changing his loca- tion to Commercial street and successively do- ing business with a partner named Brown and one named Le Maitre, each of whom he bought out, he carried on the business alone. In 1854 Mr. Beandry purchased the property on the cor- ner of Aliso and Los Angeles streets, subse- quently known as Beaudry Block, at a cost of $11,000 and after expending $25,000 in im- provements, he brought the rents from $300 to $1,000 per month. Intense application to busi- ness had begun to tell even upon his mnost ex- cellent physical constitution, and in 1855 he vis- ited Paris for the purpose of consulting the emi- nent oculist, Sichel, for his eyes, but with little or no benefit. After remaining some time in Europe, during which time he visited the Great Exposition, he returned to Montreal, where he remained until 1861, with occasional visits to the States. Returning to California, he continued business in the Beaudry Block till 1865, when, on account of serious ill-health, he retired, having in the last three years cleared over $40,000.

After recovering his health, Mr. Beandry became interested in the Slate Range Gold and Silver Mining Company, which was his debtor for a large amount for goods furnished. This com- pany had a mill of thirteen stamps, twelve build- ings and six mines, on which it had expended $140,000. It was sold at sheriff's sale, and Mr. Beaudry bid it in. The Indians were then hos- tile, and some roving bands set the works on fire and destroyed them, leaving Mr. Beaudry only the insurance for his compensation. This real- ized him but $6,000; after which he let mining ventures severely alone. In 1867 he turned his attention to real estate, foreseeing a marvelous growth for his favorite city of Los Angeles. He began by buying the steep hillside of New High street, opposite the Pico House, at sheriff's sale, for $55. On this he built houses and otherwise improved it. He then purchased twenty acres bounded by Hill, Second, Fourth and Charity streets, for $517, which he divided into eighty lots and sold, realizing about $30,000. His next venture was the thirty-nine acres between Fourth, Sixth, Grand avenue and Pearl, on which he realized over $50,000, and the present value of which is hard to estimate, as it includes some of the finest property in the city. Mr. Beaudry was the first to popularize real estate and bring it within the reach of men of small means, by selling on small monthly payments. Many a happy home became the property of the poor man by means of this. Having great faith in the future of the hill section of the city, his con- stant thought was to devise some means of sup- plying the high hills with water. He became interested in the Los Angeles City Water Com- pany, at its organization in 1868, in company with Messrs. Griffin, Downey, Meyer, Lepan, Lazard and Mott. They first bought the fran- chise and works of Sansevain, who, with Mar- chessault, had laid down some wooden pipes. Mr. Beandry became the leading spirit of the new organization, and was its first president, and for several years a direetor. The company at once proceeded to purchase and lay down twelve miles of iron water mains, Mr. Beandry had

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great faith in the hill portion of the city, and as the main efforts of the City Water Company were directed to supplying the lower portions, Mr. Beandry withdrew, and devoted himself to the perfection of a high service system, which would supply water to the high hills west of the city, then utterly barren, and now, as a result of this man's sagacity, nerve, and expenditure, cov- ered with elegant residences and business blocks, and forming the most charming quarter of the city. Money was then plentiful with Mr. Bean- dry, and he expended it like water, in grading streets and laying down pipes and building res- ervoirs and planting out parks and trees. The water was pumped from springs near Alameda street, a distance of nearly one mile, and raised it to an elevation of abont 200 feet into res- ervoirs, and from there ran through distribu- ting pipes by gravitation. This system finally passed into other hands, and is now known as the Citizens' Water Company. In 1875 Mr. Beaudry joined with Hon. B. D. Wilson in an enterprise at San Gabriel, which promised great results, but, owing to the death of Mr. Wilson and the failure of the Temple & Workman Bank, legal complications ensued, and after going twice to the Supreme Court, the last decision of which radically differed from and modified the first, Mr. Beandry found that he had lost all his vent- ure, amounting to over $40,000, and a half in- terest in land that is now worth not less than $10,000,000. This decision Mr. Beaudry always regarded as unjust. The "Canal and Reser- voir " system was inaugurated by Mr. Beaudry and George Hansen, with others. They brought water from the Los Angeles River and con- structed the dam for Reservoir No. 4. In the course of his real-estate operations Mr. Beaudry has donated to the public at least fifty miles of streets and has expended for opening and grad- ing streets in the hill portion of the city. abont $200,000. In 1887 Mr. Beaudry purchased the land on the west side of New High street, which was then a hill fifty or sixty feet high, and was historic ground. He demolished the buildings, including the old adobe that formerly

served for a jail, and then graded the whole down to the level of New High street, and con structed a retaining wall 565 feet long and fifty feet high, at a cost of about $100,000. From 1873 to 1875 Mr. Beaudry served the city as coun- cilman, and in December, 1875, entered the con- test for the mayoralty. After a sharp campaign, he was elected. There were four candidates, and Mr. Beandry received ninety votes more than all the other three put together. It was a transi- tion period for Los Angeles, and the services of just such a clear-headed, energetic and incor- ruptible man as Mr. Beaudry were needed to guide the struggling young city through the difficulties of changing from a Spanish Ameri- can town to the proud position of being the commercial and political rival of San Francisco. Many were the schemes projected whereby the rich resources of the town would be used for the advancement of the material interests of sonie of the many incipient boodlers that abounded, and who found in Mr. Beandry a barrier to their free access to the municipal treasure box that was not at all to their liking. During his administration many important steps in the progress of the city were made, and it was this term also that witnessed the cuhnination of the hopes of the young city for direct rail connec- tion with the outside world, and Mr. Beaudry officiated on behalf of the city with Messrs. Crocker, Stanford, Colton and Towne, of the Southern Pacific Company, in perfecting this bond of union, by driving near Tehachepi the golden spike that completed the railroad from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The occasion was commemorated by a grand banquet, at which Mayor Beaudry presided, and at which the visit- ing railroad magnates were suitably entertained. In 1886 Mr. Beandry and his brother Victor, who had returned to Los Angeles, started the Temple Street Cable Road, and built one and a half miles. The road proved quite successful, and in 1888 and 1889 the road was extended to the city limits and double tracked from Spring strect to Union avenue. A temperate life, backed- by an excellent constitution, has enabled the

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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