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 62

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 62

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M ILO S. BAKER .- The subject of this biography was born in Morganville, Genesce County, New York, March 20, 1828, and his parents were pioneers of that connty. His father, Remember Baker, was the grandson of Captain Remember Baker, a patriot and soldier of early Revolutionary fame, a native of Connecticut, later a citizen of Vermont, one of the original surveyors of the New Hampshire

Grant, and one of the illustrious trio of Ethan Allen, Seth Warner and Remember Baker. Colo- nel Ethan Allen and Captain Remember Baker were fast friends not only in war but also in peace. Ethan Allen's wife was an only sister of Remember Baker, and where one of these men was known in any enterprise the other was sure to be found his right-hand supporter, as in the case when Allen demanded the surrender of Fort Ticonderoga " in the name of the Great Jehovalı and the Continental Congress," Baker was at his back with a clincher. Crown Point was afterward surrendered to him (Baker), this being one of the last grand efforts of his life, as he was soon taken prisoner by treacherous Indians, decapitated, and his head elevated on a pole in the center of a war dance. He was the first officer killed in the American Revolution. Captain Baker was succeeded in his land-sur- veying enterprise by an only son, Ozi, who in this capacity had much to do with the surveying and final establishment of the boundary lines be- tween the States of New York and Vermont, and in this was assisted by a son, Remember Baker, the father of the subject of this sketch. This son, however, went to sea, became master of a vessel, subsequently navigated the North River, and piloted the steamboat Robert Fulton on its first trip up the Hudson in 1807. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and under General Brown held a Captain's roving commission, doing his country valliant service as a scout. While Mr. Baker was but a small boy his father moved from Western New York, with his family, to the wilds of Michigan, in 1836, settling near where the State capitol now stands. In 1845 Mr. Baker's father removed to Portland, lonia County, Michigan, where he died in less than a year. Although at that time not eighteen years of age, tlie subject of this sketch assumed entire control of his father's business and con- tinued it for three years, or until the discovery of gold on the Pacific Coast, when he resolved to seek his fortune in far-off California, and in March, 1850, he with four companions com- menced their journey with a four-horse team

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and covered wagon. They took their route through Illinois, Iowa, and to St. Joseph, Mis- souri, which town was at that time on the ex- treme western frontier, and was a supply station. Five long months were consumed in making the journey, during which time many distressing incidents occurred, which, in order to be appre- ciated must be experienced. Severe storms, drouths, scarcity of food and water, encounters with the Indians, and numerous other hindrances occurred to impede the journey. Upon reach- ing Green River they were compelled to abandon their wagon, make pack- saddles for their horses, and accomplish the remainder of their journey on toot. The Rocky Mountains crossed, they found themselves within ten miles of Hangtown, now Placerville; which is located within six miles of where gold was first discovered in California .* IIere they disposed of their remaining horses for $127 in cash, which they invested in a ininer's outfit at prices as follows: Pick, shovel, and rocker, $35 dollars each. Five men worked two days, the fruits of which were $1.30, pro- visions consmined during the time costing them $2.00 per day each, which they themselves cooked. A change was then decided upon, each man working for himself, except Mr. Baker, who, with a chosen companion, prospected, with fair success, getting from $9 to $28 per day at first; and later their luck was like that of the majority of other miners,-good, bad and indifferent. They worked early and late, drop- ping the pick and shovel only when too dark to see to use them. They cooked their meals by camp-fire on the ground, and rolled up in their blankets at night to fall asleep and dream of untold and unfound riches. In 1851 the two built a log cabin on Dry Creek and went into winter quarters. Thrilling scenes were in those days enacted in the mining regions of California, and offenses against moral and business laws were frequently punished without formality and by methods peculiar to the miners' code. One

notable illustration of this fact was the novel punishment meted out to a man at a place where now stands the town of Jackson, in Amador County. He thought to make some money by washing out a pile of dirt that had been thrown up by another miner, which he did. A council of miners decided at once that the offender be tied fast astride a donkey, turned loose on the commons for three days and nights, and if the culprit survived the ordeal he was to be taken off and given a square meal and two hours in which to leave the mines. Another, for stealing money from a miner at Rancho Rea, was, with a rope around his neck, taken to the creek, pulled back and forth in the water, then drawn up to the limb of a tree until life was nearly extinct, after which he was permitted to leave the camp. Mr. Baker now holds a note taken from a party for money lent him to repay a theft, which money Mr. Baker lent him as the only show of saving the fellow's neck. Mr. Baker spent three years in the mining regions of this State, and, in that time having secured sufficient means with which to embark in business, he returned home by the way of the Panama route, going from San Francisco to Panama on the Win- field Scott. She was subsequently beached on the coast between here and Santa Bárbara, where she still lies. Machinery had always been his chosen business, and he now entered into it again with a will at his old home. Success seemed to crown his every effort, even in the wooing and winning of a loving and most esti- mable wife, Miss Phebe Beers, whom he married' in September, 1854, but was permitted to enjoy her smiles and affection only two brief years. She died in 1856. Enterprising and public- spirited, Mr. Baker was soon surrounded by a host of friends. In the year 1860 he was unex- pectedly called from business and elected to the Michigan State Legislature from Ionia County. Those were exciting times. The war cloud had commenced to gather. During the first session of. that body Fort Sumter was fired upon. The news reached the HIonse while joint resolutions to compromise with the South were under con-

* Mr. Baker has a diary in which he noted among other things his estimate of the distance traveled to this point, and his figures varied only nineteen miles from the record made at the time by a "road- ometer."

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sideration. At this juneture the famous letter of Zach Chandler reached the Legislature, which decided the matter at once to make no compro- mise with treason. It is needless to say that Mr. Baker's position on the war issue was solid for the protection and maintenance of the Union at whatever cost. About this time he sold his foundry and machine works at Portland, and commenced the erection of new and more exten- sive works at Lansing. Mr. Baker married Miss Cordelia Davis, a resident of Lansing, and in less than a year's time his life was again embittered by her untimely death, after which Mr. Baker also suffered a long and eritical sick- ness. Thus afflicted, his business came to a halt, and upon his recovery some months later, he spent the following winter in Washington, D. C., where he saw much of the inside workings of the war. In the spring he was called home to attend an extra session of the Legislature to raise funds for carrying on the war. The sum- mer which followed was spent in travel in the Lake Superior regions. A previous engagement recalled him to Washington the next winter. At this time, January 19, 1863, he was united in wedlock to Miss Harriette V., daughter of William Lawrence, one of the sterling citizens and active business men of Yonkers, New York, the marriage taking place at St. John's Church, in that city, and was solemnized by the Rev. Dr. Carter, its rector. Mr. and Mrs. Baker spent that winter in Washington and returned to Lansing in the spring. He entered upon the completion of his iron works with a renewed zeal. Baker's Eureka Iron Works was a three- story brick structure of large proportions, equipped with new machinery, and he at once built up a large business, turning ont machin- ery and architectural iron work for Lansing and surrounding towns. About this time he built for General L. C. Baker, a brother, the Lansing House, one of the largest hotels in the State, and added to his foundry a large flouring-mill and a saw-mill. The two latter establishments were a few months later destroyed by fire, entailing a very heavy loss. Mr. Baker, however, rebuilt

on the same spot, and this time put in machin- ery for the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. This establishment he subsequently leased, and, being in poor health, made a second trip westward, traveling over the same route at thirty miles per honr, that he had taken twenty- five years previously at three miles per hour. On this tour he visited Chicago, St. Louis and Salt Lake City, and spent several months in the Geyser and Yellowstone country, which at this date was slow and hazardous business. The next country to claim his attention was Southern California, and he arrived in Los An- geles, January 1, 1874. IIis faith in a brilliant future for Southern California is evinced by the fact of his permanent settlement here, and the manner in which he has so thoroughly identi- fied himself with her growth; and his letters concerning this point, published in Lansing, were the means of exciting the first emigration from that place to Los Angeles. ''This glorions climate and the gorgeous natural beauty of this country had for Mr. Baker a wondrous charm as a health restorer, and he located at Santa Monica, where he remained about three years. With a shattered constitution almost entirely restored, Mr. Baker removed to Los Angeles, and in 1877 built a foundry and machine-shop on Spring street, opposite the old court-house. The business was opened on a modest scale, but soon assnmed lively proportions, and in a short time he removed to and purchased the corner of Main and Second streets. In 1886 the busi - ness having outgrown these accommodations, Mr. Baker purchased the present site of the "Baker Iron Works," adjoining the Southern Pacific Railroad depot, and commenced the erection of buildings thereon. A stock company was at this time incorporated under the name " Baker Iron Works," of which Mr. Baker is president and his son, Fred L. Baker, superin- tendent. The institution is, without exception, the largest and most complete of its kind in the State, outside of the city of San Francisco, and is of great eredit and a sonree of mneh pride to Los Angeles. Mr. Baker's high appreciation

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of the grandeur of Nature's handiwork is mani- fest by the judicious selection he has made of a location for a future home, and upon which he has just completed one of the finest family resi- dences in the "City of the Angels." We per- haps can give no better idea of this beautiful home and its location than to copy the following from one of the leading daily papers of the city, printed about the time of its completion. " M. S Baker, President of the Baker Iron Works, has just completed one of the most elegant and attractive residences in the city, on the site of the old Fremont fort, at the corner of Rock and Fort streets. Mr. Baker was his own archi- tect, and the result is a high compliment to his good taste and judgment. The house being on an elevation, a retaining wall is necessary, and for this work the Sespe brown-stone was the material chosen, which presents a very hand- some effect. The entrance at the corner is by broad easy steps, artistically cut and laid, and the historical site is retained by a tablet of raised letters cut in the stone, "Fort Place." The front and side porches are fine broad arches of brown stone, which add much to the beauty of the house, and at the same time are a re- minder of the old fort. The structure is two stories, with basement and high attics, from which a fine view of the surrounding country can be had, and is finely finished throughout in hard wood, the reception hall being especially worthy of notice. Altogether, it is a model residence and an ornament to the city." Mr. Baker has ever been fortunate in his domestic relations. Mrs. Baker is a lady of culture and most noble qualities. She is active in her so- ciety circle, and prominently identified with the charity institutions of the city, being one of the directors of the Orphans' Home, and an officer of the Los Angeles Humane Society. She is a lady of great fortitude, and is full of good works. They have two sons and one daughter. Fred L., before mentioned in this sketch, was recently married, and is settled in a beautiful cottage, also on the hill. Arnet, who, with his older brother, has grown up with the business of the

iron works, is an expert mechanic, and foreman of the pattern shop. Their daughter, Miss Belle, a young lady of culture and modest de- mneanor, is just merging into womanhood. No man in the city stands higher in business cir- cles as a safe, conservative business man of strict integrity and candor than does Mr. Baker, and of such men no city can possess too many.

M. BUSTER, a retired farmer living one mile north of Wilmington, on land once owned by the Government and known as " The Drum Barracks," has been a resident of this place and an honored citizen of Los Angeles Connty since 1870. Mr. Buster was born in East Tennessee in July, 1825, and is a son of M. W. and Elizabeth (Walker) Bnster, natives of Tennessee, and of Irish and Scotch descent. His father moved to Greene County, Missouri, in 1849, where he farmed for a number of years, subsequently moving to Mendocino County, California, where he continued the occupation of farming until his death, which ocenrred in 1871, his wife having died a few months previ- ous. They reared a family of ten children, six of whom are still living. The subject of this sketch was married on the 8th day of March, 1849, to Miss Malinda E. Garrett, in De Kalb County, Alabama. This lady is a native of Southern Alabama, and the danghter of Jesse and Judith Garrett, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Georgia. They died in Alabama. Mr. Buster came to California first in 1850, and was for three years engaged in mining. He then farmed in Santa Clara County, near San José, for some time, after which he returned to the East and brought his wife with him to the Golden State, locating in Mendocino County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising for a period of thirteen years. He next moved to Santa Bárbara County, and, after remaining there two years, came to Los Angeles County in 1870, and cast his inter- ests with her favored and enterprising people.

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Mr. Buster is a lover of peace and good-will, and never had a lawsuit in his life. He is a public-spirited man, and by his honorable and upright course in life he has won the respect and esteem of all who know him. He and the companion of his youth are both active members of the Holiness Church at Cerritus Station. They both received the blessing of holiness August 23, 1880, and their walk and conversation has been "such as becometh godliness." In the church he holds the office of elder. Politically, Mr. Buster is true to the principles of his native State, and affiliates with the Democratic party.

RED L. BAKER, Vice-President of the Baker Iron Works, Los Angeles, was born in Lansing, Michigan, February 10, 1865. When only nine years of age, in 1874, his parents (see sketch of Milo S. Baker elsewhere), emigrated to this city. Entering his father's iron works when only twelve years old, he served a regular apprenticeship and worked his way up through every stage of the business until 1885, when he was appointed superintendent of the works. The position was one of great respon- sibility for a young man who had not reached his majority, and during the busy season of the year he has the supervision of 100 to 160 men. Ile was united in marriage with Miss Lillian May Todd, a native of the State of Missouri, November 28, 1887.

HOMAS FINLEY BARNES, of Los An- geles, is a native of the city of La Porte, Indiana, and is a son of Enos R. and Eliza- beth A. (Craft) Barnes, the father a native of Painesville, Ohio, and a son of one of the pio- meers of that town, and for many years post- master of the first-named place. He came to the Pacific Slope with his family in 1860, and located at Gold Hill, Nevada Territory, and there served as postmaster and agent for the

Wells-Fargo Express Company until his death in 1865. The subject's widowed mother is now living with her eldest son, W. C. Barnes, of Holbrook, Arizona. Of her two sons Thomas F. is the youngest. Ile was born June 24, 1861, He received a good common-school education, and learned the printer's trade in his native town, with the publishing house of Douglas & Carlan. Mr. Barnes has previously made sev- eral trips to the Pacific Coast-once around Cape Horn, twice across the Isthmus of Panama, and once overland. He is a first class stage artist and excels in comedy plays. He has traveled as a comedian throughont the entire North- west and British Columbia with the Barton Hill Company, and as a delineator of comedy characters has won the highest approval of the press and the public. He, however, abandoned the stage and came to Los Angeles in 1880, and occupied the position of assistant foreman in the printing house of the Mirror Company until 1885, when he entered the now well-estab- lished and esteemed business firm of Kingsley & Barnes, printers, No. 57 North Spring street. Mr. Barnes married, in 1880, Miss Florence MacDonald, a daughter of William and Char- lotte (Herriott) MacDonald, of San Francisco. Mrs. Barnes is of English-Scotch parentage, and was born July 23, 1860. She is a most esti- mable lady of culture, and has one daughter, Ethel, born August 27, 1882.

OHN BENDER. - The subject of this sketch is one of the early residents of that section of the Azusa now known as Glen- dora. Ile located at that place in 1874, when the site now occupied by the town of Glendora was but a wild and desolate waste. Securing a claim of 160 acres of Government land, he devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement, and with others in that sparsely settled section fought through long years of liti- gation against the grant holders of the Azusa until success rewarded their efforts and placed

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thousands of acres under Government title and made possible the remarkable growth and settle- ment that has since taken place in the East San Gabriel Valley. Mr. Bender is now the owner of eighty acres of rich and productive land just west of Glendora, twenty acres of which is in vineyard, comprising eight and a half acres of Mission wine grapes and eleven and a half acres of raisin grapes of the Muscat variety. Ten acres are devoted to citrus fruits, to which the climate, soil, etc., are well adapted. With the exception of a family orchard containing a large variety of deciduous fruits, the rest of his land is devoted to general farming. His improve- ments are first-class, among which may be noted his substantial and well-ordered two-story resi- dence which is built of concrete, and in the con- struction of which Mr. Bender has spared no expense in securing the comforts of a well de- vised home. It is located upon elevated ground, which gives him a magnificent and pleasing view of the valley below. . His well-ordered grounds and avenue leading to his home contain many choice ornamental trees and flowers, but the most prized of all are the two old oaks of remarkable growth, just west of the house, and under whose wide-spread branches Mr. Bender first pitched his tent in 1874. It is worthy of mention that Mr. Bender has, by a system of tunnels and reservoirs, developed some five inches of water in the hills on the northern portion of his land, which gives him an ample supply for his citrus fruits, etc. Mr. Bender is of German descent. His parents, John and Dolly (Weigel) Bender, emigrated from Ger- many and located at Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee. There the subject of this sketch was born in 1849. He was reared and educated in that city. At the age of thirteen, while at- tending school, he carried a ronte of daily papers to from 100 to 150 patrons; and at the age of sixteen years entered into life upon his own ac- count as a clerk in mercantile houses, and after- ward was engaged in various business enterprises, among which was the establishment of a bakery with Charles Fink. He was also in the market

business with W. B. Cullen, now his neighbor in Glendora. Mr. Bender continued his resi- dence and business in his native place. until 1874, when he came to California and located in Los Angeles County. He first took up his resi- dence at Alhambra, but after a short stay there he went to Duarte, and there rented land and, after harvesting one crop, came, in August of the same year, to the Aznsa, where he took np his present residence. By years of industry and well directed efforts he has built up one of the representative farms of his section. Mr. Ben- der is well known throughont that portion of the county. His long residence and consistent course of life have gained him a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a progressive citizen and is identified with the growth and prosperity of his section. Politically, he is a liberal and conservative Democrat. He is a member of Azusa Lodge, No. 232, A. O. U. W. In 1881 Mr. Bender married Miss Harriet F. Wiggins, the daughter of Thomas J. and Ellen (Vice) Wiggins. They are pioneers of Cali- fornia and Los Angeles County, coming from Missouri at an early date and settling in El Monte, at which place they are now residing. Mrs. Bender is a native of Los Angeles County. She was born in El Monte and there reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Bender have three children: William Burr, Flora and Herbert Clifton.

B ARTHOLOMEW BRADLEY. - Among the prominent and well-known citizens of Glendora is the above-named gentleman, who is the proprietor of the Glendora Livery Stable. Mr. Bradley is a native of Greene County, Illinois. He was born December 29, 1836. His father, Dr. Robert Bradley, was a well-known physician and agriculturist of that county. His mother was nee Laurana Osbun. Both of his parents were natives of Tennessee, and were among the early settlers of Illinois. Mr. Bradley was reared as a farmer and remained

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upon his father's farm until he reached his ma- jority. He then started in life for himself and commenced farming upon his own account in his native county. In 1857 he married Miss Catherine N. Allred. At the breaking ont of the war of the Rebellion Mr. Bradley's family were prompt in enlisting in the service of their country, he and four brothers entering the army. He enlisted early in 1862 in Com- pany I, One Hundred and First Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and leaving his family and farming interests, went into the field as a private soldier. IIis eredita- ble service soon gained him recognition and he was promoted to Sergeant. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and participated in its hard-fought battles, severe marches, etc. At the battle of Holly Springs Sergeant Bradley was taken prisoner, but was shortly afterward parolled and exchanged After his return to his regiment he was wounded at the battle of Resaca and sent to the rear, and upon his recovery was placed upon duty in a military hospital. In this year (1864) the deatlı of his . beloved wife occurred, leaving three young ehildren to the care of compara- tive strangers. Their claims upon the father were of paramount importance and Mr. Bradley accepted his discharge from the army and re- turned home to care for his family. In 1865 Mr. Bradley married Mrs. Amelia (Ventreese) Scanland. He continued his farming opera- tions in Greene County until 1869. In that year he moved to Vernon County, Missouri, where he purchased 320 acres of land and en- tered quite extensively into farming and stock operations. IIe was successful, and soon ranked as one of the leading agriculturists of that county, throughout which he was well known and respected. He took a prominent part in the building up of his section, establishing and supporting its schools, ehnreles, etc. Ile was also elected justice of the peace of his town- ship. In 1885 Mr. Bradley decided to seek a new home in California, and in the spring of that year he located in Los Angeles County,

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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