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 66

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 66

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ILLIAM CARUTHERS, a farmer, re- siding two miles north of Downey, has been a citizen of Los Angeles County as long, perhaps, as any other man, having come to the connty in 1865. Ile first purchased 146 acres of land, and at once turned over half of it to a neighbor. The part which he retained he has now in a high state of cultivation, has engaged in general farming and has made a success of his calling. He has over 1,100 wal- nut trees and six acres of apples, peaches and oranges, some of the oranges being of the finest varieties in the county. Mr. Caruthers was born in Lonisiana, in 1830, the son of John

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

and Frances (Murphy) Caruthers. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Missouri. His grandfather was a pioneer of Virginia and subsequently moved to Missouri, where he died at a good old age. John Carnth- ers moved from Missouri to Louisiana in 1830, and, after raising one crop there, removed to Texas, when the subject of this sketch was less than one year old. There he was engaged in stock-raising and farming until his death, which occurred in 1861. He had twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity and six are still living. William was educated in Texas and was married there February 18, 1856, to Miss Amanda Perry, of Tennessee. While in Texas their oldest child was born, Zora, now the wife of L. M. Grider, of Downey. The rest of their children were born in California, and their nanies are as follows: William, Angeline, now the wife of II. II. Grossmayer, of San Ber- nardino; Jefferson D .; Mary, wife of J. P. Stevens, also of San Bernardino; Martha, IIngh and John. Mrs. Caruthers and her danghters are consistent church members. Mr. Caruthers is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 220, at Downey. Politically, he is an act- ive worker in the ranks of the Democratic party.

EORGE W. COLE was born in Putnam County, Illinois, in 1827, and is a son of Sampson and Viney (Thompkins) Cole, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee respect- ively. Ilis father was one of the first miners in the lead mines of Galena, Illinois, and was for many years a frontier land speculator. In 1841 he moved to Missouri and remained in that State until 1846, when he moved to Texas. He had eight children, and died in 1881. His widow is still living, at the age of eighty-four years. In 1846 our subject went to Mexico and entered the army under Colonel Jack Hays and served as a cavalryman till he was mnustered ont at Fredericksburg in 1848. He then re- turned to Missouri and married the lady who

has ever since helped him fight life's battles. This lady was Miss Olive M. Chilson, daughter of Emer Chilson, a native of Vermont. Iınıne- diately after his marriage he and his bride went to Texas and settled down to farming and gen- eral stock-raising. In 1853 he made a trip to California, by steamer, and remained abont a year, when he returned to Texas and remained in the stock-business till 1864. He then sold out and moved to California, spending eight months in crossing the plains, with ox teams. He arrived in San Bernardino County, and worked at the Inmber business on the mount- ains. In 1865 he bought 116 acres in the Downey Ranch, which he improved and farmed till 1875, when he sold it and bought the 200 acres where he now lives. This is one of the finest ranches in Southern California, and he has erected a very handsome residence. In 1876-'80 he was engaged in mining in Ari- zona. He has made a home where peace and plenty reign, and he has a welcome for all. The children are nearly all married: Anrelia is the wife of John Tweedy, of Rivera; Mary is the wife of William Kellar, of Tuston; Cali- fornia is the wife of Henderson Cheney, of Whittier; Dora is the wife of J. B. Ginther, of Los Angeles; George W. is married and is an extensive cattle-dealer in Arizona; Charles E. is married and lives near Whittier; Joseph A. and Byron S. are still at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Cole has been eminently successful in his calling as a farmer, and his pleasant home and comfortable surroundings are the result of the combined industry and taste of himself and his excellent wife.

I. CASE .- Prominent among the capital- ists who have located their winter resi- dences in Monrovia is the above-named gentleman, a resident and well-known manu- facturer of Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Case has erected an elegant two-story residence, sur-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

rounded by well-ordered grounds, on the north side of Banana avenue, in Monrovia. At this place, in connection with J. M. Studabaker, he is the owner of eighty acres of fine fruit land, ten aeres of which are now planted to Wash- ington Navel and Mediterranean Sweet oranges. Adjoining this tract on the north they own 200 acres of mountain land, upon which there is a reservoir of 1,500,000 gallons capacity. Mr. Case is also interested in and the owner of other real estate in Los Angeles County, among which is a tract of land of seventy-eight acres lying just south and east of Duarte, this land being all under cultivation and producing oranges and walnuts and also a variety of deciduous fruits. Associated with him in the ownership of this tract are J. M. Studabaker and W. N. Monroe, of Monrovia. He has also a fine residence tract of twenty acres on Lake avenue in Pasa- dena, at the terminus of the Altadena Railroad. The brief facts in regard to Mr. Case's life and successful business career are of interest. He is a native of Oswego County, New York, and dates his birth in 1818, the son of Caleb and Deborah (Jackson) Case. His father was a farmer, and Mr. Case was reared to that calling, receiving such an education as was afforded by the common schools of that date. In 1841 he decided to seek his fortunes in the great West, and located at Racine, Wisconsin. Aside from his indomitable energy and industrions habits, his only capital at that time was a small one horse-power threshing machine. With this he entered the grain fields of Wisconsin. In those early days in Wisconsin agricultural machinery was but little used, and there were no manufact- uring establishments for the construction or repair of such machinery in that State, and as Mr. Case's threshing machine needed repairs, he was entirely dependent upon himself in making them. This led him to study the con- struetion and working of his machine and also to make some improvements; and finally he constructed a new thresher to take the place of the old one, and then the construction of other machines followed, to meet the calls of his

neighbors. From this small beginning rose the establishment of the largest threshing-machine manufactory in the world, at Racine. He also established extensive plow works, and became one of the largest manufacturers in the West. Mr. Case spent nearly forty years in condueting his various enterprises, and upon wishing a par- tial retirement from a personal supervision of the works, his interests were merged into stock companies. Incorporating under the names of The J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, and The J. I. Case Plow Works, Mr. Case re- tains a controlling interest and is president of both the companies. He is also largely inter- ested in banking and other industries in Wisconsin, and is the president of the Mann- facturers' National Bank, of Racine, and the First National Bank, of Burlington, Wisconsin. He was also one of the incorporators, and is vice-president of the Granite Bank, of Mon- rovia. He has been identified with the politi- eal history of Racine. In the years of 1853 and 1854 he was mayor of that city, and in 1857-'58 served in the Legislature of Wiscon sin as the senator of his district. In political matters he is a Republican. Mr. Case is a great lover of horses, and has devoted both time and money in breeding some of the finest horses in the United States, among which is the famons horse "Jay Eye See," with a trotting record of 2:10, and " P'hallas," whose record of 2:138 is the fastest of all living stallions; also a four-year-old stallion, "Brown," with a record of 2:183. He is the owner of a magnificent stock farm near Racine, and is also a one-third owner of the Glen View Stock Farm, near Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Case is emphatically a self-made man, and his life is an illustration of what may be achieved by an energetic and industrious man by a course of straightforward dealing and sound business principles applied to a particular branch of business. In May, 1849, Mr. Case married Miss Lydia A. Bull, the daughter of De Grove and Amanda (Crosby) Bull, of New York. From this marriage there are for children living, viz .: Jackson I., who

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

married Miss Henrietta Roy, and is residing at Racine, Wisconsin, conducting his father's busi- ness; Henrietta, now Mrs. Percy S. Fuller, whose husband is an attorney at law in Racine; Jessie F., wife of H. M. Wallis, Secretary, Treas- urer and General Manager of J. I. Case Plow Works, also of Racine; and Amanda, wife of J. J. Crooks, of San Francisco.

E. CRONENWETT, jeweler, corner of Myrtle and Orange avenues, Monrovia, has one of the most complete stocks of goods in his line of business in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles and Pasadena. Mr. Cronen- wett is a thorongli mechanic, is the master of his calling, and is also a well-trained business man. He is receiving the patronage and support of the community that his enterprise and skill so fully merits. IIe is a native of Carrollton, Carroll County, Ohio, born in 1865. His father was Dr. Charles F. Cronenwett, a physician and druggist. When the subject of this sketch was three years old his father moved to Woodville. There he was reared and educated, completing his studies in the Woodville University. When he was sixteen, the death of his father occurred, and he then went to Carrollton and entered the jeweler's establishment of his uncle, where he became a practical workman and was well versed in the business details of his calling. He after- ward took charge of the business and success- fully conducted it until 1888, when he came to Los Angeles County, and in February of that year established his present business. Mr. Cronenwett, from the first establishing of his business, has been thoroughly identified with the growth and prosperity of Monrovia. IIe is the owner of the store he occupies, besides res- idence property and other real-estate interests in the city. Ile is an enterprising and public- spirited citizen, and a desirable acquisition to the business community of Monrovia, and may be counted upon as a supporter of any enterprise that he believes will advance the interests of his

chosen city. He is the musical director and manager of the Monrovia City Band, with a membership of thirty-one performers, the largest band in Southern California, an organization controlled and supported by the city council, he being appointed custodian for the city. Hle is a member of the First Lutheran Church of Los Angeles, and also a member of Carroll Lodge, No. 197, K. of P., of Carrollton, Ohio, and of the Jewelers' League of the United States. In political matters he is a consistent Democrat. February 14, 1888, Mr. Cronenwett wedded Miss Minnie E. McCall, the daughter of Senator T. C. McCall, of Iowa. Her mother was nee Mary Boynton, both of her parents being natives of Ohio. Mr. Cronenwett's father was a native of Michigan, and his mother, nee Margaret Helf- rich, was born in Ohio. Both are of Gerinan descent.

ILLIAM B. CULLEN .- Among the early settlers and representative citizens of what is now the populous town of Glendora is the above-named gentleman. Mr. Cullen is a native of Loudoun County, Virginia, and dates his birth in 1841. His father, Dr. John Cullen, was a prominent dentist in that county. He was a native of Virginia, as was also Mr. Cullen's mother, nee Harriet Furr. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native county until eighteen years of age. He then went to Oxford, Mississippi, and joined his father, who had preceded him to that place. There he entered upon a course of study in the Mississippi State University, in the preparatory department, which he continued until the break- ing out of the civil war in 1861. Upon the first commencement of hostilities he entered the Confederate army as a member of the Lamar Rifles. Early in 1861 his command was as- signed to the army of Virginia, and he partici- pated in the first battles of the war. Ile was with that army at the battle of Manassas and also at the siege of Yorktown and battles of

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Williamsburg, West Point and Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks. In the latter engagement Mr. Cul- len was severely wounded, necessitating the amputation of his right arm. After the loss of his arm he was retired from active service in the ranks, but remained with the armies of the Confederacy throughout the war as a dispatch bearer and in other positions of confidence and trust. At the close of the war he located at Memphis, Tennessee, where for many years he was engaged in mercantile business and other enterprises. He was for a long time connected with the Cotton Compress Association, and was also for several years the license collector of the city of Memphis. In 1874 he came to California and located in Los Angeles County. Shortly afterward he purchased a squatter's right to 160 acres of Government land at the Azusa, where now stands the town of Glendora. This land was wild and uncultivated and was among that claimed by the Azusa grant holders. Mr. Cullen took up his residence upon this land and commenced its improvement and cultiva- tion, and for years stubbornly resisted the claims of the grant holders, and finally, in 1883, se- cured a Government patent. A portion of his original 160 acres is now part of the town site of Glendora, but he still owns seventy acres, upon fifty acres of which he is conducting horti- cultural and viticultural pursuits. His fine vine- yards comprise thirty-five acres, twenty-seven of which are producing wine grapes of the Zinfandel, Matero and Trousseau varieties. Eight acres are devoted to table grapes, princi- pally of the Muscat and Black Malvoise varie- ties. IIe has ten acres of citrus and deciduous fruits. Among his improvements is a winery of sufficient capacity to manufacture and care for the products of his vineyard. Such water as is needed for irrigation has been developed by him near the Dalton Cañon, and is piped to his reservoir of some 150,000 gallons capacity, and from thence piped all over his lands. His well-ordered cottage residence is beautifully located, affording a pleasant view of the valley. With the exception of three years, -from 1879 to

1882,-when Mr. Cullen's official position as tax collector of Los Angeles County required his presence in Los Angeles, he has been a resi- dent of this part of the county since 1874. He is well known as an energetic and progressive citizen, taking an interest in the success of the community in which he resides. In political matters he is Democratic, and may always be found allied with the best elements of his party. He has served as a delegate in many of the connty conventions. In 1876 he was elected justice of the peace in his township, and in 1879 was elected tax collector and served three years. In 1884, upon the establishment of the Glendora postoffice, he was appointed postmaster, and held the position until resigning in 1888. It may be truthfully said that in whatever posi- tion of trust Mr. Cullen has been placed, he lias filled the same with honor to himself and satis- faction to his constituents. In 1870 Mr. Cullen was united in marriage with Miss Mary Fitz- gerald. From this marriage there are seven children living: Maud M., Walter J., Ettic M., Margaret, Clara, Wm. Gerald and Agnes.

HARLES CHARNOCK, the subject of this sketch, was born near Preston, Eng- land, and was the sixth child of a family of ten, of John and Sophia A. Charnock, and was born June 10, 1836, and in May, 1846, moved with his parents and their family (except the oldest son, W. H., who remained, and the second son, Thomas, who was drowned), to Stratford, Canada West (then called), where they engaged in farming and lumbering. Here the mother, who had been delicately nurtured, succumbed after three years to the hardships of a pioneer life, died and was buried in the Episcopal bury- ing ground at Stratford in 1854. The family moved to Madison, Wisconsin, the two oldest boys having moved to Grand Rapids, Wiscon- sin, three years previously, and thither the sub- ject of this sketch went, working one year at lumbering. The next three years finds him

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

learning the carpenter and joiner's trade, at Janesville, Wisconsin, going to school winters, and here also, in 1856 and 1857, he imbibed his ardent Republican ideas from such men as Judge Doolittle, Washburn, Williams and others in the great " Frémont campaign." In Novem- ber, 1858, he moved to his father's farm, at Mantorville, Dodge County, Minnesota, visiting and working six months, then with four brothers moved west to Brown County, Big Cottonwood River, south of Fort Ridgely, where they made claims, built log cabins, broke up quite a lot of land, fenced it and raised corn and potatoes, ete. Winters be followed lumbering in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, till May 10, 1861, when Charles and the youngest brother, Ed. F., enlisted with thirty-four others, with Captain Catlin, of the Beaver Dam Rifles, who, finding it difficult to till up his company, went to Grand Rapids and filled out his complement of 100 men there. The company, after a month's drill in Beaver Dam, was sent to Madison, Camp Randall, and there became Company D, of the Fifth Wiseon- sin, Colonel Amasa Cobb's Regiment of Infantry. After the first Bull Run battle the regiment was sent to Washington, Camp Kalorama; next across the Potomac at Chain Bridge, Virginia, where the regiment was with the Sixth Maine, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania and Forty-third New York, brigaded under General Hancock, and paraded and drilled with the Army of the Po- tomac, till the campaign " on to Richmond." Was in the battles of Williamsburg, Lee's Mills, Mechaniesville, Golden's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spott- sylvania, North and South Ana, Cold Harbor, Margees Ileights, Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Richmond, Crampton's Pass, Shenandoah Val- ley, with Wright and Sheridan. Was never se- verely wounded, never in hospital a day, never taken prisoner; was private, Corporal, Sergeant, Orderly Sergeant, Second and First Lieutenant. After the close of the war he was sent with his regiment to Texas, where they were mustered out at Corpus Christi, in November, 1865, but

were not discharged finally till January 13, 1866, at Indianapolis, Indiana. Ile went to Wisconsin; after visiting friends, and in the month of July, 1886, married Miss Ilattie E. Howenstein, of Bucyrus, Ohio, daughter of Rev. P. Howenstein. With his brother he put up a saw-mill near Grand Rapids, but in 1868 moved to Iowa, where he was engaged in the retail lumber business and farming till the winter of 1880, when he and his family moved to Cali- fornia. Ile farmed on the Ballona road, near Santa Monica, a couple of years, sold out and moved to the city of Los Angeles, and was en- gaged in the grocery business one year, but finding this to be a very unsuitable business for a Inmberman, he sold out, and has since been dealing in real estate in this and adjoining counties. He has still some good realty, and has ereeted the fine briek block on his lot, eor- ner of Fifth and Main streets, during the present year. Mr. Charnock is a member of Stanton Post, G. A. R., No. 55; also of Pentalfa Lodge, No. 202, F. & A. M., and Cœur de Lion Com- mandery, Knight Templars, No. 9. His present residence is No. 456 South Los Angeles street, but will be in his briek, eorner of Fifth and Main streets, where he will be glad to meet his friends. llis family at present consists of him- self, his wife and daughter, Miss Laura E., having buried three children. IIe is an enthin- siastic admirer of Southern California, and says that he has made his last move.

ENJAMIN CHADSEY, contractor and builder, corner of Hancock and Kurtz streets, East Los Angeles, was born in the Dominion of Canada, March 6, 1836. Here he attended school and learned the trade of his father, the family all being mechanics. Upon reaching manhood, he determined to come to the Pacific Coast, and in 1858 sailed from New York, via the Isthmus of Panama and Aspin- wall, to California, arriving in San Francisco June 14. After spending a few months in So- noma County, he went to the mines at Colum-

A. J. Coronely

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bia, Tuolumne County, and remained there until 1869. He then left the mines, went to Stock- ton, and the following year came to Los Angeles, where he engaged in building. For the past nineteen years he has successfully carried on the business here and is the oldest contractor and builder in the city. He has been interested in building associations and has done his full share in advancing the progress and develop- ment of the city. He has an attractive home in East Los Angeles at the corner of Kurtz and Hancock streets, with three lots on the former and two on the latter street. Mr. Chadsey was united in marriage August 5, 1872, to Miss Marietta Close, a native of England. They have four children: Alice, Edwin, Isabel and Orville. Mr. Chadsey is a member of the A. O. U. W. and also of the Select Knights.

NTONIO FRANCO CORONEL has been so intimately and prominently associated with the annals of Los Angeles and of California, that it is no easy matter to condense his life within the limited space available for a single subject in this work. We will, however, give the salient points, leaving the matter to be more elaborately treated in an autobiography, on which it is understood Mr. Coronel is en- gaged, and which it is hoped he will give to the world at an early day, for a full record- of his remembrances since his arrival in California more than fifty years ago would constitute a history of the State. Being a man of education and of affairs, he has been called to fill many important positions of trust. We have barely room for a list of these; and the importance of his relation to some of them-especially to the Limantour claim to half of San Francisco, and to the Mission Indians, and the labors of him- self and Mrs. Coronel, in connection with Mrs. Jackson-can hardly be appreciated without extended explanations. Don Antonio's father, Don Ygnacio F. Coronel, was many years ago a resident of the city of Mexico and an officer

under General, afterward Emperor, Yturbide. In 1834 he came with his family to California. His children were: Josefa, who married Matias Sabichi; Antonio F., the subject of this sketch; Macaela; Soledad, who married José M. Yn- dart; Rosa; Manuel F., still living; Maria An- tonio, who married Alex Godey; and Ygnacio, Jr. All are deceased except the two brothers, Antonio and Manuel. Mr. Coronel, the father, was an educated man and gave his children a good education. Ile established the first school in Los Angeles under the Lancastrian system. He died in 1862. Antonio was born October 21, 1817, in the city of Mexico, and came with his father to California in 1834. In 1838 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of Tribunals of the city of Los Angeles. In 1843 he was made Judge of First Instance (Peace). In 1844 General Micheltorena appointed him Captain and Inspector of the Sonthern Missions. In 1845 he was made commissioner to treat for peace between Micheltorena and his opposers, Juan Baptista Alvarado and José Castro, com- manders of the revolutionary forces. In 1846, in consequence of the American invasion, he was called into actual service as Captain. After the battle of October 8, 1846, at the San Pedro or Dominguez Rancho, he was given charge of the American flag captured there, for him to carry as trophy to Mexico, but on account of meet- ing Kearny, the American General, at the Colo- rado River, he was forced to abandon all hope of personally taking the flag, and he sent it secretly with Felipe Castillo. Subsequently he was named Aid-de-Camp of the Commanding General, and took part in the battles of the 8th and 9th at Bartolo Pass and the Mesa. In 1847 and 1848 he was a member of the body of magistrates, having in charge the regulation of irrigation. He was county assessor in 1850 and 1851, and in 1853 was elected mayor of the city. He was a member of the city council with the exception of two years, from 1854 till 1866, when he was elected State Treasurer for four years. Mr. Cor- onel has also been a supervisor, a member of the State Horticultural Society, and president of the

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HISTORY OF 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