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 68

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 68

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low prices to settlers, as the desirable location for self-sustaining and beautiful homes. Water was developed from the numerous springs an l streams in the mountains on the north and piped throughout the colony lands. His enterprise was a success from the start. The rich and fertile lands, the genial climate, comparatively free from fogs and frost, the never-failing sup- ply of the purest mountain water, were advan- tages such as few sections possessed, and that

model colony sprang into existence as by

magic. Its enterprising settlers built comfortable homes, planted orchards and vineyards, graded avenues, erected churches and schools and other public buildings; and in a few years Mr. Carter, from his beautiful home at "Carterhia," had a view of one of the most prosperous sections of the valley. Of the original tract, Mr. Carter is now the owner of about 400 acres, 300 of which are under cultivation. One hundred and ten acres are in grape-vines of the most approved

wine and table varieties. Ten acres are in citrus fruits and an equal amount of land is devoted to deciduous fruits. Fifty acres are used for garden purposes, producing vegetables for the markets of Los Angeles and Pasadena. The rest of the land is used for general farming. Mr. Carter is a practical and thorough horticult urist and success attends his efforts in that calling. IIis home is one of the most pleasant to be found in the county or in Southern Cali- fornia. It is situated upon a sloping hill, part way up the monntain-side, on a jutting promi- nence, and commands one of the most striking, extended and beautiful views of the valley, I'nente Hills and even the sea beyond. IIe has erected a magnificent residence, in which he has combined the conveniences and luxuries that characterize a well-ordered modern home. This beautiful home is well styled "The Crown of the Valley." Mr. Carter is a uative of New England, dating his birth at Lowell, Massachu- sctts, in 1840. IIe was reared and schooled in that city, and early in life entered into mercan- tile pursuits as a clerk. In 1862, in connection with his brother, he established himself in the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

grocery business, and later sold out his interest to his brother, after which he established an agency for the sale of sewing machines. Ile also, in connection with that business, estab- lished the manufacture of ready-made eloth'ng and United States flags. The first flag inade by machine work for the United States Govern- ment was manufactured by Mr. Carter in 1866. Mr. Carter condneted his enterprises in Lowell until his failing health demanded a complete change of climate. In 1870 he made an ex- tended visit to Southern California, spending many months in visiting different sections, seek- ing a restoration of health. He was mneh benefited and returned to his business. It soon became manifest that nothing but a permanent residence in the mild climate of Southern Cali- fornia would enable Mr. Carter to prolong his life. He, therefore, in 1872, came to Los Ange- les County and, after a winter spent in the city of Los Angeles, took up his residence in the San Gabriel Valley. Purchasing a portion of the Florres Ranch near San Gabriel, he entered into horticultural pursuits. Mr. Carter was an enthusiast in advocating the then comparatively unknown resourees of Los Angeles County. He spent time and money in making known to his Eastern friends the Areadia of the Pacific Coast. In 1874 he organized and established the well known "Carter Excursions," bringing train loads of Eastern people to visit California, being the pioneer in that business. IIe eon- dueted these excursions for several seasons, or until 1881, when he purchased the Sierra Madre traet and took up his residence there. During his years of residence in this county Mr. Carter has taken a deep interest in its progress and set- tlement, and has been a strong supporter of and an active worker in the horticultural fairs, etc., that placed the products before the world. He was for years a member of the Sixth Distriet State Agricultural Board. He has always taken a leading part in supporting every enterprise that tends to build up his chosen Sierra Madre. He was one of the original incorporators of the Sierra Madre Water Company, and has for years 28

been the president of the company and among its board of directors. In political matters he is a Republican, and has taken a prominent position in the couneils of that party, serving as a delegate in many of the county conventions and as a member of the Republican Central Committee of the county. In 1864 Mr. Car- ter married Miss Annetta M. Pierce, a native of Lowell, Massachusetts. Her parents, Alexis and Emeline (Butterfield) Pierce, were both natives of that State. Mr. Carter's parents were William and Julia (Coburn) Carter, both born in Massachusetts, and descendants of old New England families. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Carter there are five children, viz .: Florence, now Mrs. William H. Mead, of Los Angeles; Arthur N., Julia F., Anita E. (the first child born in the Sierra Madre colony) and Phillip C.

ZRO W. CIIILDS was born June 5, 1824, in Sutton, Caledonia County, Vermont, his parents being Jacob and Sarah (Rieh- ardson) Childs. In 1850 Mr. Childs came to California, and in November of that year set- tled in Los Angeles, where he has since eon- tinuously resided. He was for many years engaged in mercantile and manufacturing business, in the hardware and allied lines. Re- markable success attended all his ventures. As his prosperity inereased he embarked in the nursery business also, buying a fifty-aere traet for that and related purposes. For many years he cultivated and improved his place with such marked success that it was ranked among the most attractive spots in the entire county. Thousands of citizens, tourists and sojourners have borne testimony to the artistic style in which the grounds were laid out, to the well- kept lawns, the rare trees, and the great variety of fruits and flowers that embellished the place. It wonld fill a large catalogue to enumerate all the exotic trees and plants that he succeeded in colleeting and enltivating side by side, though

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

very many of them originally came from oppo- site parts of the earth. He was directly in- strumental in introdneing into Southern Cali- fornia many varieties of the semi-tropical fruits that now thrive so well here. He is, in fact, the pioneer nurseryman and floriculturist of Los Angeles County. The growth of popu- lation and the spread of the city finally induced him, in 1884, to subdivide his tract into lots for sale, and one of the most beautiful and inter- esting landmarks in the county was thus ob- literated forever. But the grounds surround- ing his present home, extending from Main to Hill and from Eleventh to Twelfth streets, are laid out with the old artistic taste of the owner, and are in their way as attractive as were his nursery and fruit and flower gardens of former years. With the advancing years Mr. Childs' business interests have become more diversified. Besides his real-estate operations, he is trustee of the Los Angeles branch of the Home Mutual Fire Insurance Company of California, president of the Los Angeles Electric Com- pany, etc. Ile is also owner of Childs' Opera House, situated in the very center of the city. It was erected in 1884, has a seating capacity of about 1,800, and is engaged almost every evening in the year. In 1860 Mr. Childs was married to Miss Emeline IIuber, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, of German descent. They are the parents of six living children, the eld- est, William, aged twenty-three (1889), being a partner in the firm of Childs & Silent.

ILLIAM CHAPPELOW is the proprie- tor of the well-known Chappelow Nurs- ery, located on Mountain avenue one mile southeast of Monrovia, in the Duarte School District, El Monte Township. Mr. Chappelow established his nursery in 1882, and by his intelligent care and thorough atten- tion to business has built up one of the leading industries of the county. He is each year pro- ducing a choice variety of citrus and deciduous

fruit trees that find a ready sale among the fruit-growers of his section. His shade and ornamental trees and floral productions are un- excelled by any in the San Gabriel Valley, and are gaining for the Chappelow nursery a repu- tation second to none in the county. Mr. Chappelow came to Duarte in 1874, and, al- though not skilled in horticultural pursuits, he purchased a ten-acre tract on Mountain avenue, and in 1875 commenced planting fruit trees and vines. He entered heartily into his call- ing, studying the effects of soil, climate, etc., upon his various productions. A student by nature, he soon mastered his profession. The constant and increasing call made upon him for trees and plants from his small nursery beds led to the establishment of his present industry. Mr. Chappelow is a native of England, and dates his birth in London in 1848. His par- . ents, William and Mary Ann (Stephens) Chap- pelow, were both natives of that country. IIe was reared in the city of London, and given the advantages of a good schooling until the age of seventeen years was reached. He was then ap- prenticed to an optician and scientific instru . ment maker. He took a deep interest in his calling and became a fine workman. His ap- prenticeship ended upon reaching his majority, and in 1868 he came to the United States and located in New York, where he readily found employment in the leading manufactories of that city. In 1870 he went to Mexico, and for the next three years was engaged in mining and assaying, after which he located in Arizona. After a short stay in that Territory he came to Los Angeles County and spent some months at farm and orchard work, until 1874, when he took up his present residence. Ile is well known in his section and has been identified with its best interests for many years. He is a hearty supporter of snch enterprises as tend to develop its resources. Public-spirited and progressive in his views, he has proven a de- sirable acquisition to the community. Politi- cally, he is a supporter of the Prohibition party. In 1878 Mr. Chappelow was united in

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

marriage with Miss Callie E. Beardslee, the daughter of Dr. Nehemiah Beardslee, one of the early settlers of Los Angeles County, and the founder of the well-known Beardslee tract of Duarte. Her mother was Elvira (Ander- son) Beardslee. From this marriage there are the following named children: Amy, Eva and Percy.

AMES H. CAMBELL, city clerk and as- sessor of Pasadena, was born June 22, 1866, at Clearwater, Wright County, Minnesota; mnoved with his parents to Poughkeepsie, New York, in August, 1868, where his father was inanager of Vassar College; attended the Pough- keepsie Military Institute and Bishop's Academy in that city; moved with his parents to Pasa- dena in the fall of 1877; attended the district school and afterward studied under the direction of Professor M. M. Parker; entered the city en- gineer's office in July, 1886, but in February following left the city engineer's office and com- menced the compilation of the present city map; during the summer he admitted into partnership in this enterprise O. Marsh, and they finished the map in January, 1888. During the suc- ceeding spring, at the solicitation of many citi- zens, he ran as a candidate for the present posi- tion, and April 9 was elected by a large majority, receiving 569 votes ont of the 749 votes cast. Was duly sworn into offiee on the sixteenth of that month. His terin of office will expire April 16, 1890. Mr. Cambell is a member of the order of Sons of Veterans, and served as Captain of Phil Kearny Camp, No. 7, of Pasadena, from January, 1888, to January, 1889.

HE CHILDRESS SAFE DEPOSIT BANK, though young in years, ranks prominently among the great financial institutions for which Los Angeles is famous. It was established under the banking laws of

the State, by W. T. and A. D. Childress, and opened its doors for business at No. 37 South Spring street in July, 1886. The banking rooms, which are adin'rably adapted for the purpose, are furnished with a large safe-deposit vanlt so constructed as to offer absolute safety and protection to the patrons of the bank against both fire and burglars. The top, bottom and sides are made of chrome steel and iron welded and bolted together, of such combination and thickness as to render the structure entirely proof against burglars. The door is a massive affair equally impervious to the tools of the "cracksmen," and is secured by two Diebold's patent cut-off spindle combination locks, and the celebrated Yale time-lock. The vault has a capacity for 1,000 boxes mnade of welded steel and iron, with doors of the same material and extra thickness, and fitted with the latest im- proved safe-deposit locks, each supplied with two keys, a "master key" being held by the bank, which must first be inserted before the renter can gain access to the box with his private key. The key to each private vault is entirely different from every other key, thus rendering access to it by any other key than the one designed for it utterly impossible. By prescribed rules of the bank the customer must be identified as having the right to enter the vault before he is permitted to do so. The bank imparts no information as to who are depositors or renters or its business transactions with them. Ample room is furnished the patrons for the examination of the contents of their boxes, with- ont the risk of carrying them through the streets. For executors, guardians, trustees and private individuals these private safes are very con- venient and afford perfect protection to papers and other valuables at a nominal expense to the renter. The Childress Safe Deposit Bank also does general commercial banking business, buys and sells exchange, etc. Mr. A. D. Childress, who has active inanagment of the bank, has been in the banking business over thirteen years, and is thoroughly familiar with every branch of it. As an indication of his devotion to the

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bank's interest, in three years and a half since it was opened he has only been absent from it during banking hours once long enough to make a business trip to San Francisco and return. Ile is a native of Tennessee and was twenty-nine years of age his last birthday. His father and partner, W. T. Childress, is an Alabamian by birth, and spent fifteen years in banking life in Terrell and Sulphur Springs, Texas, before they moved to Los Angeles in 1885. Although re- tired from active business he has extensive financial interests in Los Angeles besides the bank. He is now sixty-seven years of age.

LFRED B. CHAPMAN and C. T. PAUL, proprietors of the stove, tinware and house- furnishing store, at Nos. 12 and 14 Com- mercial street, opened a tin shop on the opposite side of the street under the firm name of Chap- man & Paul, in 1879, the object being chiefly at first to manufacture cans for lard and honey. Their shop was in a dilapidated building, for which they were to pay $15 a month rent, and on which they expended §165 in repairs to render it tenantable, this sum to be deducted from the rent. Their business rapidly expanded and a stove department was added. A larger store and better facilities becoming necessary for the accommodation of their growing trade, the firm leased and moved into their present quarters in 1881, at the same time adding crockery and willow-ware to their stock. The store having for many years been occupied as a crockery house, Chapman & Paul had a fine trade in that class of goods for several years, when they closed out that department and substituted shelf-hardware. In 1886 the firm began to make a feature of plumbing and general con- tracting, which has grown to be an important branch of their business. This firm was the first to introduce gasoline stoves into California, abont nine years ago, and created no little ex- citement among insurance men when the first ear-load of them arrived. A bitter war of op-

position was waged against the use of these stoves by insurance companies for some five or six months, but this enterprising firm won the victory in the way of securing a permit clanse in the insurance policy for their customers to whom they had sold gasoline stoves. Chapman & Paul have made a specialty of this class of goods ever since; and having the start of other firms by two or three years, and dealing in none but the very best manufactured, they have held the lead in the trade on vapor stoves in this part of the State. A serious difficulty they had to contend with in introducing the stoves was in getting the gasoline, as no firin in the State kept it for sale in quantity. But they overcame this by ordering gasoline shipped direct from Cleveland, so they were enabled to supply their customers with fuel to operate their stoves- Finally the Standard Oil Company began to supply it. The firm's leaders in stove supplies are the Jewel Grand gasoline-the latest im- proved; and the Richmond stoves and ranges. They carry a general line of hardware and house- furnishing goods, including a large assortment of granite and agate wares, and also tin and cop- per ware, most of which they manufacture. Their store comprises two floors, 24 x 80 feet in area. They make an important feature of job work, plumbing, gas fitting, bath tubs, sinks, sewers, etc., employing from nine to fifteen skilled work- men. In September, 1888, they opened a branch store on South Spring street, for the accommodation of their customers in the south part of the city; and it is having a prosperous trade. Messrs. Chapman & Paul are both practical tinsmiths, and are thorough masters of their trade, which accounts for their remarkable snecess. Alfred B. Chapman was born in Medina County, Ohio, in 1840. He served three years in the Union army as a member of Company E, Fourth Ohio Infantry, and was wounded while in the service. He also served seven years in the California State Militia, for which he holds a certificate. He was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company A, Seventh Regiment, and had command of his company.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Mr. Chapinan was formerly engaged in the hard- ware business in Iowa, and while there married Miss Miller, a native of Cleveland, Ohio. They moved to California in April, 1875. C. T. Paul was born in Michigan thirty-five years ago, and passed most of his early life in New York State at Batavia and Lockport, learning the tinner's trade at the latter place. IIe came to California in 1876, and spent nearly two years in Sacra- mento before settling in Los Angeles. His first venture in business on his own account was as a member of the present firm. Ilis consort, to whom he was married in Los Angeles, was formerly Miss Merrill, a native of Massachusetts, but reared from girlhood in California.

C. CARRELL, one of the enterprising and self-made men of Los Angeles County, is very pleasantly located on a farm two and a half iniles northeast of Compton. He was born in Pope County, Arkansas, in 1851, and is the son of Charles and Lusanna (Ashmore) Car- rell, natives of Tennessee. They both died when Frank was about three years of age, and he was thus thrown on his own resources early in life. Being a boy of more than ordinary push and energy, he was not to be discouraged. When quite young he went to Texas and farmed on shares for six years. Then he came to Califor- nia and worked for wages, receiving $1 per day. Ile soon saved enough to bny a team of horses, and in 1882 he purchased thirty acres of as fine land as there is in this county. In one year he had it all clear of debt, and he has erected on it a large barn and a commodious residence. In 1879 Mr. Carrell was united in marriage with Miss Rosa McCarty. This lady was born in Madison County, Illinois, and is the daughter of Cornelius and Annie Elizabeth (Suman) Mc- Carty. They have two interesting children: Annie Myrtle, born January 15, 1883; and Rob- ert Franklin, born February 2, 1889. They lost two children, the first and third: Loyd Leon, born July 21, 1881, died December 30, 1881;

and Rena Etta, born March 17, 1886, died De- cember 21, 1887. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carrell are active members of the Christian Church, and politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. Mr. Carrell is a worthy citizen, and a man who enjoys the confidence and respect of his neiglibors.

AMES CASTRUCIO, the senior partner and managing member of the firm of Cas- trucio Brothers, proprietors of the Mari- posa Store, at No. 30 North Main street, is a native of Italy, where he was reared and edn. cated. He immigrated to America in 1876, then a young man twenty-four years of age, and having served as a soldier in the Italian army before coming over. Upon arriving in this country he located in Los Angeles, and the same year became connected with the grocery business, of which he has hal active control for the past twelve years, and which has enjoyed a continuous career of prosperity under his con- servative and efficient management. The store, which is a large double room, with a rear alley communication for receiving and delivering goods, is stocked with a complete assortment of standard groceries and provisions, also wines, liquors and miscellaneous articles for household use. The house was established in 1868, and hence is one of the oldest in Los Angeles; and the policy of its management has been sc straightforward and honorable that it has cus- tomers who have dealt with the firm for fifteen years. It has a large patronage among the Spanish-speaking people of the city and sur- rounding country, as also inany American ranch- ers, and enjoys a large restaurant and hotel trade, the average volume of business being $10,000 a month. The members of the firm own the brick building in which the store is situated. James Castrucio is a student as well as a busi- ness man, and has studied and mastered the English, French and Spanish languages during his residence in Los Angeles. He married an

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Italian lady in this city in November, 1882. He owns several pieces of city property and a ranch eight miles distant. This ranch is under a high state of cultivation, and on it is situated one of the finest artesian wells in this part of the State.

EORGE CUMMINGS .- It is a piece of rare good fortune that falls to the lot of a man who is permitted to pass more than a third of a century in this sunny ever-green land of Southern California, where existence is an ever-conscious pleasure. Of the few now living who have been thus highly favored, the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch is one. Born in the Empire of Austria, Mr. Cummings wan- dered from the shelter of the parental roof-tree when a lad of thirteen in search of an elder brother who had gone from home several years before. After traveling with a fellow-country- man some time in Europe without finding the object of his search, young Cummings took passage on an American schooner for the United States. The Captain having taken a great fancy to the wandering boy, proved to be a true and valned friend; for he not only brought him across the Atlantic on his vessel, but around to San Francisco, and made him a present of $100 to defray liis expenses in reaching the gold mines, to which the adventurous youngster was bound. Landing in San Francisco in the summer of 1849, he soon after proceeded to the mines, and with a companion whose acquaintance he had formed, commenced to search for gold. The greed and excitement for the yellow dust were at white heat, and fortunes were being washed out of the rich placer deposits in a day. Young Cummings and his chum were destined for some share of " good Inek." While mining in the fall of 1848, in Tuolumne County, they took out $1,900 in five days. And so wild were they with the idea of growing suddenly rich, that they left this mine for reputed better " paying dirt" in Mariposa County, but were doomed to disappointment on reaching that fabled prom-

ised land. Realizing from experience the enormons prices paid for provisions-having on one occasion paid $600 in gold dust for 200 pounds each of flour, beans and rice-they de- cided in the spring of 1850 to try farming. And, ereeting a rude hut on the Merced River, -which was afterward burned and many of their valuables (including some gold dust) de- stroyed with it,-they planted quite a large acreage to potatoes, melons and other vegeta- bles, and produced a fine erop. Their potatoes sold in the field for $75 per 100 pounds, and the melons brought 88 to $10 each. The agrienlt- ural experiment proved very profitable; and in spite of the fact that the young farmers were attacked with malaria and reduced nearly to skeletons with the agne, they farmed three years and made money rapidly. In 1853 they turned their attention to stock-raising, and Mr. Cum- mnings continned in that business on the Merced River five years. In 1858 he bought the Te- hachepe Ranch,-then in Los Angeles County, now in Kern,-comprising 3,300 acres, which he still owns, and engaged in raising and dealing in cattle and horses. Being a great lover of domestic animals he has continued in the busi- ness to some extent ever since. He subse- quently bought a 160-acre ranch at Alpine Sta- tion, which he also still owns. Mr. Cummings purchased a tract of some forty acres, including his present homestead, on Boyle Heights, and erected there a fine residence about fourteen years ago. Ile has expended a large sum of money in improvements and in experimenting in fruit- growing, having had at one time 2,000 orange trees and over 1,500 decidnous fruit trees on the place. The homestead embraces thirteen acres. A portion of the property, consisting of thirty-five acres lying on the opposite side of Aliso street, he has subdivided into lots, and has sold off about ten acres of it. The lots are valned at $1,000 each. In 1869 Mr. Cummings and Miss - Lopez were married. She is the daughter, and one of four living children, of Francisco Lopez, and was born within a few rods of her present home. Mr. Lopez is also a

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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