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 67

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 67

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Spanish-American Benevolent Society. Both he and Mrs. Coronel are active members of the Historical Society of Southern California, and both take a keen interest in local historical matters. They have probably one of the most complete private collections of Spanish, Mexican, and Indian curios in California. When the notorious claim of Limantour came before the United States Courts, in 1857, Mr. Coronel was sent in private to the city of Mexico to examine the archives there, and gather testimony, etc., which his knowledge of the Spanish language and acquaintance with public men in that capi- tal, enabled him to do very efficiently. He found abundant evidence to prove that Liman- tour's alleged title was forged and that his claims were utterly fraudulent. His labors were facilitated by President Comonfort and other high officials. He obtained much valu- able evidence proving that it was forged and frandulent. This evidence was laid before the United States Court, and the claim was rejected finally, and thus the titles to thousands of homes in San Francisco were cleared of the cloud that, like a pall, hung over them. Only those who were cognizant at the time of the excitement that was stirred up throughont California by this case can appeciate how intense the excite- ment was. Limantour maintained his colossal pretensions with the utinost vigor and by the most unscrupulous means. He brought wit- nesses from Mexico to swear to the gennineness of his grant, though it was afterward clearly proved to liave been forged. Mr. Coronel's serv- ices in helping to lay bare this great fraud were of the utmost importance. Mrs. Helen Hunt Jackson has borne warm testimony in the Century magazine and elsewhere of both Mr. and Mrs. Coronel, in behalf of the defenseless Mission Indians of Southern California. Mr. Coronel fur- nished Mrs. Jackson the materials of her story of " Ramona," nud visited with her the varions places where she located her story, and aided her in acquiring knowledge of the customs and traditions of the people, whereby she could give it in the proper coloring. When Mrs. Jackson

first thought of writing " Ramona," she wished to take Mr. Coronel's place as a typical Mexican home; but as Mrs. Del Valle's house was more suited to that purpose, it was decided-with the consent of Mrs. Del Valle-that Cannitos be- come the home of Ramona, only the plot is laid many, many years before the Del Valle family lived there. While the work was going through the press, she had the proofs sent to him for correction of episodes in which he took part. He also gave her the materials of another and more dramatic story, based on real life here in Southern California, the beautiful heroine of which, "Nacha," was well known by some of the best of the old Spanishi families. If Mrs. Jackson had lived, she was to have worked thein up as a companion story of " Ramona." He also gave her the data of her account of Father Junipero, the founder of the California Missions. And he took the lead in getting up the celebration or solemnization of the centennial of the death of that eminent prelate. In 1873 Mr. Coronel married Doña Mariana Williamson. In 1887 Mr. and Mrs. Coronel visited the city of Mexico, and expected to have taken an extended Eastern trip; but as Don Antonio was taken seriously ill in Mexico, the latter portion of their tour was reluctantly given up. Since their return to Los Angeles he lias entirely recovered his health. They have lately built themselves a modern, commodious and beautiful home. For many years Mr. Coronel, as a politician, was influential in the party to which he belonged; but latterly he has withdrawn from active participation in political affairs. Ile is liberal in his ideas. He judges people by their personal qualities, rather than by their nationality or by their political or religious creed.

EÑORA MARIANA W. DE CORONEL, wife of IIon. Antonio F. Coronel, was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1851, and is the eldest daughter of Nelson Williamson, a native of Angusta, Maine, now eighty-seven years old,

TRE LE CORONEL

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

and Gertrudes Romana de Williamson, of Mexi- can birthi. As she was taught to use the lan- guage of both her father and inother from her infancy, she speaks both the English and Spanish languages with equal facility. Her family emi- grated to California in 1859. She was educated in the public schools of Los Angeles and in the College of the Sisters of St. Vincent. In 1873 she was married to Mr. Coronel. The union has been a singularly happy one. All who have known them with any degree of intimacy have been struck with the perfect sympathy which seems to exist between them. Mrs. Jackson, who came to be their ardent friend and co- laborer in behalf of the defenseless Mission Indians of Southern California, has borne grace- ful testimony to this characteristic, in the Century magazine and elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Coronel did much to assist that gifted and philanthropic lady to see the Mission Indian question, as they (as life-long friends of these Indians) saw it- as it is. The Indian question, as relating to the always friendly and entirely harinless Mission Indians of California, is a radically different one from that which relates to the treacherous Apaches of Arizona and New Mexico, or to the murderous Comanches of Texas; and it is high time the American people took note of this distinction. These poor, con- fiding and kindly children of nature have been encroached upon, robbed, and in many and in- genious ways insulted and outraged by un- scrupulous self-styled civilized people; and benevolent citizens like the Coronels and others have long been cognizant of the fact, and have done what they could to befriend and advise the Indians and stand between them and those who have wronged them. And when one who loved justice, and who was as sensitive to the right as was Mrs. Jackson, came to see this question in the light that others did, as that good Benito Wilson and Hugo Ried did long ago, no wonder her heart was stirred up; and that she threw her whole soul into the portrayal of their wrongs, in " Ramona" and in the "Century of Dishonor.' And neither is it strange that she should be-

come the warm-hearted friend of Mr. and Mrs. Coronel, who had long been engaged in a work that she, after she came to know them, entered upon with extraordinary zeal. The gratitude of the San Luis, Pala, and other Mission Indians toward the Coronels, Mrs. Jackson, Colonel Markham and others who have befriended them, is touching in the extreme. Don Antonio has inany letters from their Captains, asking advice, etc. One of them, José Luis Albañes, Captain of the Rincon Indians, wrote in good Spanish and in a fair hand to Mr. Coronel, August 21, 1888: "Yo me acuerdo mucho lo que dijieron el Señor Markham y Mrs. Jackson y usted," etc. (I think mnuch of what Mr. Markham and Mrs. Jackson and you said). And in the same letter he recalls how "we all pre- sented ourselves to our Queen, Mrs. Jackson, and afterward to Mr. Markham, Representative to Congress," etc. He next speaks of the " suf- ferings, which all of us suffer here." Also, "We want to know why the Americans are building houses very near; we remain quiet, be- cause we do not know where the lines run." And in various letters he speaks in behalf of himself and his people in the most affectionate and respectful and grateful terms; of Colonel Markham, Mrs. Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Cor- onel, for assisting and counseling them in their helpless condition. In another letter dated April 29, 1889, he says: "Señor Don Antonio Coronel, My Dear Sir (Patron Mio) :- After kindly and respectfully saluting yourself and your wife (Mi patrona, Doña Mariana Coronel), I ask you to do mne the favor to reply to me, dear sir (patron inio), in regard to a inatter that we do not understand, but which interests us all. Our attorney was here two or three months, working in our behalf, selecting lands for each person, in the Rancho de Panma." He then with some repetition goes on to say that the at- torney, Mr. Lewis, brought the surveyor, who set up stakes for the corners, and laid off lands for all who lived there in Panma. Evidently they did not thoroughly understand all their rights in the matter under this new mode of

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holding lands, and desired advice from their friend in whom they had the most implicit con- fidence. In closing he said:

" I wish you would send me your photograph (reteato) and that of your wife (la Señora), and also of the deceased Elena (Mrs. Jackson), and also of your mother. We are all well here, thanks to the Lord.

" Adios! Patron mio. Recibe espreciones de

" JOSÉ LUIS ALBANES, " Capitan del Rincon."

Mrs. Coronel accompanied Mrs. Jackson in her visits to the different villages of the Mission Indians and acted as interpreter for her as com- missioner while she, Mrs. Jackson, was acquaint- ing herself with their conditions and necessities. and assisted her in many ways in her historical and literary work in behalf of the Indians, and in her report concerning their condition. The Mission Indians . very generally understand Spanish, but they do not understand English; and Mrs. Jackson found Mrs. Coronel's assist- ance invaluable, to which fact, and to the strong affection that grew up between them, Mrs. Jack- son has in many ways borne testimony. In this connection we are permitted to transcribe the following letter from Mrs. Jackson, written dur- ing her last sickness to Mr. and Mrs. Coronel:

" 1600 Taylor Street, San Francisco, " May 30, 1885.

" Dear Friends :- I am afraid you are ill. I wrote you weeks ago, asking you to go to the Verdugo Cañon and get me. the baskets front the Indian women, and send them to ine here, with the broad flat one I left with you. I also asked you to write out for ine some romantic story or legend of the olden time here suitable for a ballad poem which I had been asked to write. But that is no matter now. I am too ill. I shall never write any more poems, I think. But I would like to have the baskets and see them and send them to the friend for whom I bought them.

" Yours with much affection, " II. J."

In a letter to Mr. Coronel dated San Fran- cisco, October 1, 1885, after Mrs. Jackson's death, Mr. Abbot Kinney, who had been a co- commissioner with her, adds this postscript: " Mrs. William S. Jackson, in her last con- scions moments, sent a message of love to Mrs. Coronel and desired me to say that she wished her a successful and happy life." Not at all strange is it that Mrs. Coronel worships her friend's memory, and carefully treasures the tokens and letters, etc., received from her; nor that tears sometimes come to her eyes at the sight of her friend's picture, or at the mention of her name. Mrs. Coronel has a natural love for art. In the county exposition of 1877 she took the first prize in her work in wax. Both she and her husband are members of the His- torical Society of Southern California, in the objects of which both take much interest. For her amiability and personal worth, she is esteemed not only by her friends near home, but also by those who know her and live in other States and in other lands.

W. COLTRIN, one of the first settlers in Compton and one of the substantial farmers of Los Angeles County, was born in Geauga (now Lake) County, Ohio, in 1828, and is the son of Elisha C. and Betscy (Sinclaire) Coltrin, natives of New York and Vermont respectively, and of Scotch origin. In 1852 Mr. Coltrin started westward, leav- ing his native county on the 11th day of May, and coming overland to Salt Lake, where lie remained from November till March. In that month he again continued his journey toward the setting sun, and on June 12, 1853, landed in Placerville, California, having been just thirteen months and one day on the trip. Until they reached Kancsville, Iowa, they traveled with horse teams, but from that point the jour- ney was made with ox teams. Like the ma- jority of emigrants in those days, lie tried his Inck in the mines, remaining in the mining

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

region of Placerville until September of that year, at which time he went to San Francisco. He continued in that city one year, subse- quently went to El Dorado County and en- gaged in mining, and eight years later to San Joaquin County, where he engaged in farming until 1866. He then went to Santa Cruz County, and later to Los Angeles County, where he has continued to reside. ITis original pur- chase here was forty acres, and to this he lias added thirty acres more, now having one of the best farms in this part of Southern California, all well improved and highly cultivated. He has raised some very fine Holstein cattle, and all the stock ou his farm is of the best grade. Mr. Coltrin is a pioneer of the pioneers, and is recognized as one of the leading and enterpris- ing citizens of the community. He is a pub- lie-spirited man and is honored and esteemed by his fellow citizens. While a resident of El Dorado County he was, in 1860, elected on the Donglas ticket to the State Legislature, where he served his term of office with credit to both himself and his constituents. His social stand- ing in the I. O. O. F. lodge in Compton is of the highest order. July 4, 1854, Mr. Coltrin married Miss Martha M. Point, of Akron, Ohio, who came to California in the same train with him, the marriage taking place at Smith's Flat, El Dorado County.

EORGE CAMPTON was born in the West Indies, in 1839. His father, Thomas Campton, was an officer in the British army and was stationed in the Indies when George was born .. When he was two years of age his father went to Toronto, and there en- gaged in the mercantile business on Queen street. During his connection with the British army he had made quite an independent fort- nne. The subject of this biographical sketch started out for himself very early in life. At the age of sixteen years he opened a butcher shop in Toronto, and carried it on very success-

fully for five years. In 1861 he came by steamer route to California, landing in San Francisco, where he again went into the butcher business, in Washington Market. In 1868 he went to White Pine and tried his luck at min- ing, but it did not "pan out," so in 1870 he went back to San Francisco, and subsequently to Monterey County, where he hired out as a clerk in a general merchandise store. After one year he was made general manager of a large stock and agricultural ranch. Here he made two trips each week around the two stock ranches and the agricultural ranch, each trip making seventy miles. In May, 1875, he took charge of the San Francisco Ranch of· 48,000 acres, owned by H. M. Newhall, and was in charge as superintendent till September, 1876, when he opened up the mercantile business at Newhall. In this he has been eminently suc- cessful. He carries a full line of dry goods and general merchandise; also lumber and farın implements. For nine years he served as post- inaster at Newhall, being the first one ap- pointed. He is interested in educational mat- ters, and has served on the school board a number of times. Mr. Campton is a model business man. He began for himself when a mere boy, and by honest integrity and strict attention to business, he has succeeded, and to- day commands the respect and confidence of the community whose interests he has so ma- terially aided in developing. Whatever the future of Newhall may be, the name of George Campton, the "pioneer merchant," will never be lost sight of nor forgotten.

W. CHENEY .- A biographical his- tory of Los Angeles County would not be complete without an appropriate mention of the pioneer whose naine is at the head of this sketch. He is now one of the oldest and most highly respected citizens of the city of Downey. Every one in this part of the county knows Mr. Cheney and his excellent

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wife, who, with him, has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for over fifty years. They have walked, and worked, and prayed together for more than half a century. IIe was born in Tennessee, February 22, 1816, and is a son of William and Saralı (Scott) Che- ney. His father was born in North Carolina, and his mother in Pennsylvania. They were married in Kentucky, moved to Tennessee, and lived there till 1833, when they moved to Car- roll County, Arkansas, and there he died in 1835. Our subject grew to manhood there and was married to Miss Martha Meek. This lady is a native of the Hoosier State, born in 1821, and danghter of Jeremiah Meek, of Jennings County, Indiana. Her mother was from Ken- tucky, and they had twelve children. Ile moved to Tennessee and lived there ten years, and then to Carroll Connty, Arkansas, where the mother died somne years later. He then went to Texas and there died. Twenty years ago Mr. Cheney crossed the plains and has since been a citizen of Los Angeles County. ITis recollections of the six months' journey are very vivid, and his recitations of events which took place then and also those which took place in the early days of this county are interesting, amusing and in- structive. His first purchase of real estate in this county was eighty acres near Downey. On this he made a home, and he has added other and valuable property, including lots in Rivera and in the city of Los Angeles. He has been eminently successful, and is now retired from active business life. Socially he is a Freemason, and politically a strong and conscientious snp- porter of the principles of the Democratic party.

ASPARE COIIN was born in Prussia, June 14, 1839. IIe came to New York in 1857, and to California, via Panama, in 1859. In 1861 he went to Red Bluff's, where he remained four years. He then returned to Los Angeles, and became a member of the firm of H. Newmark & Co., and helped to build up

the immense business of that house during nineteen years, or till himself and H. Newmark retired from it. Mr. Cohn is a thorough bnsi- ness man. He is possessed of tireless energy, and has a capacity for large transactions. In 1872 Mr. Cohn married Miss Newmark. They have four children.

ALFRED BECK CHAPMAN is a native of Greensboro, Alabama, where he was born September 6, 1829. His father was born in Virginia, and graduated at the University of North Carolina, of which his grandfather was president. Their ancestors were from England. Alfred, the subject of this sketch, graduated from West Point in 1854, and was afterward sta- tioned (being assigned to the First Regiment of Dragoons) in Florida, and successively at Forts Leavenworth, Benicia, Tejon and Churchill, after which he resigned and commenced the study of law with his father-in-law, the late J. R. Scott. He practiced law with Andrew Glassell, Esq., in Los Angeles for some twenty years. He was several years city attorney, and also dis- trict attorney. In 1879 Mr. Chapman retired from his extensive law practice, and moved on to his rancho, which is a portion of the Santa Anita grant, where he owns abont 700 acres. HIere he has been engaged in horticultural pur- snits, in which he has met with great success, thathas only been clouded temporarily, he hopes, by the ravages of the white scale. He has nearly 10,000 citrus trees in bearing, which yielded before the advent of the pest (in 1885- '86) 15,000 boxes of oranges and several thou- sand boxes of lemons. Last season the yield was materially reduced by the white scale to about 10,000 boxes altogether. But orange growers have strong hopes that the new enemy of the white scale will destroy the latter, and save the orchards from destruction. Mr. Chap- inan was first married to Miss Scott, in 1859. Six children were the issue of this marriage: Scott, who has served two years as a mem-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

ber of the State Horticultural Society, and who is an expert and an authority on horticultural questions; William, who lately graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York City; and three daughters, Lucy, Ruth and Evelyn, and Richard. Mrs. Chapman died some years ago; and in 1883 Mr. Chapman married his second wife, a daughter of the late Colonel W. H. Stevens. Mr. Chapman is a man of sterling qualities and of a very genial dispo- sition. General Robert H. Chapman, a brother, and also two sisters of Mr. Chapman, are resi- dents of the county.

AMUEL BRADFORD CASWELL was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, January 3, 1828. His ancestors were of English extraction. The first on the paternal side to come to this country were three brothers Cas- well, who came to Taunton abont 1630, or very soon after the first settlement of the Plymonth Colony. His maternal ancestors were Leonards. When seventeen years of age he moved to Fall River, and later to Wareham, where, in the year 1849, on the day he attained his majority, he married Miss Mary Bradford Gibbs. In 1852 he engaged in merchandising at Fall River, till 1855, when he came to California via Panama. Ile went to Nevada County, where he devoted his attention to mining till 1864, he being one of the first to introduce hydraulic washing. He sold out that year and visited the East. In June, 1865, he returned to California and canie to Los Angeles, where with John F. Ellis, now deceased, he engaged in merchandising, doing an extensive business till 1875. From 1875 to 1878 he was clerk of the city council. Since that time he has been in the employ of the City Water Company as anditor. Mr. Caswell was a supervisor of the connty one term, and in 1872 he was a member of the city council. Mr. Caswell is a thorough business man, of broad views and wide experience, of great executive ability and of sterling integrity. He is one of

the executors of the extensive estate of the late Remi Nadeau. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell have had two children-a daughter who married J. T. Clarke, of Norwich, Connecticut, now deceased, and a son, William Mitchell, who is the present cashier of the Los Angeles Savings Bank. The latter was for three years a cadet at West Point.

B. CASS and B. H. CASS compose the firm of Cass Brothers' Stove Company, proprietors of the stove and tinware house, No. 38 Sonth Spring street. They are natives of Albion, New York, where they were born thirty-two and thirty years ago respect- ively. P. C. Cass, their father, is a Vermont Yankee, who went to the Empire State when a young man, and married and reared his family there, while pursning the business of general merchandising. He now resides in Los Angeles, retired. A. B. Cass came West soon after at- taining his majority, and started a general mer- chandise store in the Indian Territory. About six years later his younger brother and present partner joined him, and they carried on a very prosperous business together, until, tiring of the privations and rough life of the frontier, especially the lack of educational advantages for their children, they decided to move to a conn- try where a more advanced civilization prevails. Acting upon this decision, they closed out their business in the land of the red men, and came to Los Angeles in January, 1888. The same month they opened a store on Third street, which has done and still is doing a fine busi- ness. In March, 1889, Cass Brothers bought the business of Northcraft & Clark, at 269 North Main street. Their store is 100 feet deep, with a storage room and work-shop in the rear. The basement is used for storing stove castings, and a large warehouse on the east side of the river is kept filled by the firm with re- served stock. They have a large trade in stoves, tin, sheet-iron and copper ware, and employ from three to five men in the shop, mannfact-

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uring pieced goods in these lines. The firm have the sole agency on the Pacific Coast for some, and in Southern California for others of the leading makes of gasoline stoves, among them the Peerless, made in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Twin Burner, manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri. They also have the general agency for the Florence oil stove. They inake a specialty of jobbing these goods, and handle them in large quantities. The Prize Hub ranges and stoves, made at Boston, are their leaders in this line, and are a highly im-

proved pattern of cooking apparatus. This en- terprising firm stands high in business circles, and is very popular with customers, which ac- counts in a degree for the marked prosperity and growth of their business during its history in Los Angeles. In June, 1885, Mr. A. B. Cass was married, in the Indian Territory, to Miss Tufts, daughter of J. Q. Tufts, Indian Agent there at that time.

ATHANIEL C. CARTER. - For nearly twenty years the subject of this sketch has been identified with the building up and advancing the interests of Los Angeles County. IIe is the best known, probably, in his connec- tion with the Sierra Madre Colony. He was the founder of that colony, and the father of an en- terprise that eventually resulted in settling up one of the most desirable portions of San Ga- briel Valley, inviting emigration and establishing a community that for intelligence, progressive and public-spirited enterprise and moral stand- ing is unexcelled in the county. In February, 1881, Mr. Carter purchased from E. J. Baldwin 1,100 acres of the choicest portions of the beanti- ful Santa Anito Ranch. This tract, then in its wild state, comprised the northern portion of that ranch, commencing at the basc of the Sierra Madre Mountains and gently sloping toward the valley. Immediately after this purchase he laid out broad avenues, and subdivided the lands into twenty, forty and eighty acre tracts, and offered them at

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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