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 70

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 70

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Madre District, and the president and director of the Sierra Madre Hall Company. Politi- cally, he is a Republican. He is a member of Temple Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Chicago. In re- ligions belief he is a consistent Catholic. In 1874 Mr. Deutsch was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Smith, a native of Connecticut, and the daughter of Edwin and Mary E. (Russell) Smith, both of whom are natives of that State. The names of the five children from this mar- riage are as follows: Emma A., William E., Margaret, Rosie and Lilian.

ON MANUEL DOMINGUEZ was born in San Diego, January 26, 1803. He received only the education of those primitive days, learning to read and write under the tutorship of Sergeant Mercado of the Spanish artillery. He afterward supplemented this, however, by an extensive course of reading. His father, Don Cristobal Dominguez, was an officer under the Spanish Government. Don Cristobal's brother, Juan José, received from the King of Spain, in the last century, a concession of the Rancho de San Pedro, in Los Angeles County, of ten and one- half leagues of land. After Don Juan Jose's death, Governor Pablo de Sola, in 1822, gave possession of the ranch to Cristobal. At the death of his father, Don Cristobal Dominguez, the son, Don Manuel, took charge of his Rancho San Pedro, and resided thereon till the time of his death. In 1827 he married Maria Engracia Cota, daughter of Don Guillermo Cota, com- missioner under the Mexican Government. Ten children were born to them, eight daughters and two sons. There are living now six daugh- ters; three are married and three single. Ile was a firm believer and follower of the Roman Catholic Church and raised his family in the same belief. In 1828-'29 he was elected a member of the " Illustrious Ayuntamiento of the city of Los Angeles." In 1829 he was elected a delegate to nominate representatives to the Mexican Congress. In 1832 he was elected

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

first alcalde and judge of first instance for the city of Los Angeles. In 1833-'34, he was elected as Territorial Representative for Los Angeles County to the Representative Assembly at Monterey. In 1834 he was called to a con- ference at Monterey for the secularization of the missions. In 1839 he was elected second alcalde for the city of Los Angeles. In 1842 he was elected first alcalde and judge of the first in- stance. In May of 1843 he was elected prefect of the second district of California-the State being divided into two districts. In the same year two military companies were formed for the defense of the county, and he was elected Captain of one of these. In 1844 the office was suppressed and he again retired to private life. In 1849 he was elected a delegate to the first constitutional convention, which assembled at Monterey and which formulated the first con- stitution of the State of California. In 1854 he was elected a supervisor for the county. He had been at different times offered high positions under the Government, but always refused, hav- ing too much attachment to his family, and being also, of necessity, innch engrossed in the care of his extensive private interests. In 1855 the rancho was partitioned off between his brother, Don Pedro, and his nephews, José An- tonio Aguirre and Jacinto Rocha. Don Mannel retained his portion of the ranch, amounting to about 25,000 acres, including Rattlesnake Isl- and in San Pedro Bay, till his death, which oc- curred October 11, 1882 In 1884 all of this portion, except the island and several thousand acres near the month of the San Gabriel River, was divided among his six daughters, by whom it is still owned. The adobe house, the old home where their parents resided for fifty-five years, is still preserved by his daughters. Mrs. Dominguez died not long after her beloved hus- band, March 16, 1883. Manuel Dominguez was well known and respected by all our old citizens for he was a man of sterling character. He was well educated, intelligent, widely read and of unimpeachable integrity and honor. Don Manuel was a fine type of the old Spanish gen-

tleman, for he could hardly have been more thoroughly Spanish if he had been born in Spain, and yet he became a good and true American citizen. He died at the ripe age of nearly fourscore, universally respected and esteemed by all who knew him; and his memory is almost worshiped by his children and grandchildren. His portrait, taken in middle life, may be seen on another page of this work.

HARLES HENRY DUNSMOOR was born at Temple, Maine, July 18, 1850. His father, J. A. Dunsmoor, was of Scotch ancestry. The family moved to Minnesota in 1852. Charles was educated in the public schools and in the Minnesota University, after which he took a business course of instruction. He came to Los Angeles in 1872. After teach- ing two years he engaged in mercantile business three years, and then became deputy city tax collector under A. J. Hamilton; and after the defalcation of that officer, Mr. Dunsmoor was ap- pointed to till his place. For three years he was chief deputy county recorder under C. C. Lamb. In November, 1884, Mr. Dunsmoor was elected connty clerk; and he was twice re-elected to the same office, the last time (1888) by a majority of nearly 4,000 votes. Mr. Dunsmoor is a man of sterling character. That he has administered his office well is evident from his successive re- election by increased majorities. He is efficient, faithful, urbane-in short, he is a model official as he is a model citizen. In 1871 he married Cynthia J., daughter of Edwin Gilman. They have two children, a boy-Charles F., and a daughter, Grace Olive.

II. DALTON, City Water Overseer, No. 6 East First street, Los Angeles, is a native of Ohio, born in Circleville, Pick- away County, May 12, 1848. His father, George Dalton, is a native of London, England, and liis

John G. Downey

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

mother, Elizabeth (Meyers) Dalton, was born in Ohio. They emigrated to the Pacific Coast, arrived in Los Angeles in 1851, and were among the early settlers here. They took up land on what is now East Washington street, and mnade a farm. The subject of this sketch attended school and was reared there. Upon reaching manhood he engaged in horticultural pursuits, which he has since continued. Mr. Dalton was united in marriage, Jannary 8, 1873, to Miss Hattie E. Dye, a native of the city of St. Lonis, Missouri. He lived at home with his parents until his marriage, when his father divided up a portion of his land with his sons, and he is now residing on his part of the old homestead. This land he has set out to fruit and vineyard. Mr. Dalton has held the position of depnty water overseer for twelve years, and during the years 1886 and 1887 he held the office of overseer. Under the new charter of the present administration he was appointed to the same position of city irrigation water overseer. Mr. and Mrs. Dalton have seven children: Mand Irene, Archie E., Leslie C., Clarence M., George W., Ethel E. and James Toberman.

AMES T. DUNN, a farmer and stock-raiser in Compton Township, five miles west of Compton, is one of the reliable and success- ful tillers of the soil. He dates his advent into the county from 1870. The principal part of his farming operations has been carried on, near Downey. In 1887, however, he purchased 120 acres of land where he now resides, and on which he has erected a comfortable residence and barn and has also made other improvements. IIe is the owner of twenty acres further south in the same township, which is devoted to fruit and tree culture; and also of a farm of forty acres near Downey. Mr. Dunn was born in Spalden County, Georgia, in 1850, and is a son of John A. and Mary B. (Lavender) Dunn, also natives of the same State. ITis parents moved to Arkansas in 1857 and engaged in farming in

Union County until 1870, when they came to California, where they still reside. They reared a family of three children, James T. being the oldest. He was united in marriage in Arkansas on the 25th day of January, 1870, to Ellen Ed- dington, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of J. M. Eddington, who resides at present near Santa Ana. Ten days after their marriage Mr. Dunn and his bride turned their faces toward the setting sun, and arrived in California some days later. Here by industry and perseverance they have made a pleasant and comfortable home, and Mr. Dunn has established himself as one of the first farmers of the land, having under cul- tivation over 1,000 acres, his principal crop being barley. Politically, Mr. Dnnn affiliates with the Democratic party. IIe and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sonth.

FAX- GOVERNOR JOIIN GATELEY DOWNEY was born in the county of Roscommon, Ireland, in the year 1826, and he came to the United States in 1840. He learned something of the drug business in Maryland, and in 1846 he removed to Cincin- nati, where he took charge of an apothecary store. He arrived in San Francisco in 1850. From thence he came to Los Angeles, where he formed a co-partnership with Dr. James P. Mc- Farland in the drug business, which continued till 1856, when Dr. McFarland removed to Nashville, Tennessee, where he still resides. In 1856 Dr. Downey, who had been collector of the port of San Pedro, was elected a member of the Legislature. He entered very actively into politics, and in 1859 he was elected Lientenant- Governor of the State. Milton S. Latham, who was at the same time elected Governor, was, soon after assuming office, elected by the Legis- lature United States Senator, and thus Downey beeame Governor. Having acquired thorough business habits Governor Downey undertook to adıninister the affairs of the State on business

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

principles, and with distinguished success. Even his political enemies concede that in the main he made a most excellent Governor. He won great popularity at the time by vetoing corrupt measures,- especially the notorious " Bulkhead bill," which a gang of selfish schem- ers had gotten through the Legislature. Tlie Governor's firmness in defense of the people's interests won for him unbounded popularity. When the Federal Governinent, in the war of the Rebellion, called upon California for troops to serve on this coast, Governor Downey re- sponded promptly by authorizing the raising of six regiments. He gave ready and willing assistance to the Federal Government in all its demands upon the State in the conduct of the war for the preservation of the Union. A less loyal or less firm Governor might have done mnuch to antagonize the general Government, and perhaps to have made possible the realiza- tion of the cherished dream of a large class of people at that time - the erection on this coast of a Pacific Republie. At the close of his term Governor Downey returned to his home in Los Angeles, where his large private interests re- quired his attention, and where he has resided most of the time ever since. A few years ago he took a trip around the world. He was one of the first to start a bank in Los Angeles. The town of Downey, in Los Angeles County, was named after him. He is the owner of the celebrated Warner's Ranch; and also of the extensive block in the city of Los An- geles, built by John Temple, and formerly known as Temple Block, but now known as Downey Block. The Temple Block of to-day, located between Main and Spring streets, was mostly built by John Temple's younger brother, F. P. F. Temple, generally known by the Spanish-speaking residents as "Templito " or " Don Francisco." In 1852 Governor Downey married Doña Maria Jesus Guirado, a lady of great charms of person and character, who was most highly esteemned by all who knew her. She lost her life in the terrible railroad disaster at Tehachipe, in January, 1883. The Governor,

who was also on the same train, barely escaped with his life. The shock to his nervous sys- tem caused by this fearful disaster and by the loss of his wife was alinost overwhelming, and from which he did not entirely recover for years. It has only been by travel and by change of scene that he has been able to par- tially forget what, to use his own words, " seemed a horrible dream!" Governor Downey, with his present wife, whom he married in 1888, makes his home at present, part of the time in this city, and part of the time at Warner's Rancho.

G. DENMAN .- The Buckeye State has furnished some noble men as pioneers in Los Angeles County, and nonc, perhaps, are more worthy a place in a work of this kind than is Mr. Denman. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1832. Ilis father was Mathias Denman, and his mother, nee Catharine Statler, both natives of the Old Do- minion. The paternal grandfather was a pioneer in Virginia, and of English descent. At the age of four years the subject of this sketch was left an orphan by the death of his father, and was reared by an uncle. In 1852, at the age of twenty, he crossed the plains to California in company with Colonel Hollister. They were five months in going from the Missouri River to San José, California. There he worked at $75 a month for a farmer and stock-raiser, then went into the sheep business, and in San Luis Obispo County continued it for ten years, and also ten years in Los Angeles County. In 1871 he was married to Miss Isabella Rayner, a na- tive of Sacramento, and the daughter of William Rayner, a pioneer of 1850. This nnion has been blessed with three children: William, Ed- gar and Isabella. In 1868 Mr. Denman came to Los Angeles County. He had been in the sleep business long enough to know that it was very profitable, and, with Mr. C. E. White, purchased 3,290 acres of land just east of where

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the town of Florence now stands. They con- tinued there as partners in the sheep business for ten years, when they sold out, and Mr. Den- man bought 180 acres of land, situated two miles southeast of Norwalk. This he has put under a very high state of cultivation. IIis fine or- chards of pears, apples, apricots and prunes, are a delight to the passer-by, and show that the husbandman by whom they are owned is a man who thorongly understands the growing and cultivation of fruit. He has, also, in his fields, some of the best quality of full-blooded horses in this country. Mr. Denman has been very successful in business, and is a man highly re- spected; is an enthusiastic, intelligent supporter of the Republican party. He is enterprising and public-spirited, and is one of the few pio- neers of 1852 who have done so much toward the development of the resources of this bean- tiful country.

ARRY E. DILLON, brick manufacturer and contractor, Boyle IIeights, Los An- geles, was born in Des Moines, Iowa, November 28, 1859, his parents being Frank and Maria (Robinson) Dillon. His father being a prominent contractor, he had the benefit of an early and thorough training in mechanical work. As he grew np he spent a short time in Denver and Leadville, Colorado. In 1880 he returned to Des Moines, where he remained four years. In 1886 he came to California and established his present brick manufactory; is now in part- nership with J. A. Murphy, and they make about 6,000 brick per day. They also have a yard at Inglewood, where they are now making 500,000 brick for the Redondo Beach Hotel. During the busy season they give employment to forty or fifty men, and run ten teams. They also do a large business in building. Among the promi- nent contracts they have taken are the large Montagne warehouse, requiring 600,000 brick; the Vernon school-house, 200,000; Southern California Packing Company's warehouse, 150,- 29

000; Pacific warehouse, 300,000; Maxey's build- ing, on Main street, 250,000; and Chadwick's building, and many others. Having had an extended practical experience in their line, they are familiar with every detail of the business, in which indeed they have taken a leading po- sition in Southern California. Mr. Dillon was united in marriage March 7, 1882, with Miss Laura B. Dennis, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They have three children: Lettie, Harry and Bessie.

ICHARD DILLON was born in Ireland, September 24, 1837. Ile early com- menced his apprenticeship at the dry-goods business, which he has followed successfully (in three continents) almost ever since. In 1862 he went to Melbourne, Australia, and in 1865 he came to San Francisco, where he re- mained till 1875, when he came to Los Angeles, and here he entered into partnership with Mr. John Kenealy, forming the well and favorably known dry-goods firm of Dillon & Kenealy, which finally retired from business in 1886. These gentlemen now have a large vineyard, to which they devote a portion of their attention. In 1866 Mr. Dillon married, in San Francisco, Miss Hennessy, a native of Ireland. They have four living children. Mr. Dillon and his part- ner, Mr. Kenealy, are favorable instances of life-long merchants who have always maintained an honorable name and credit, who have never paid adollar in interest, and who have, moreover, in the outcome achieved conspicuous success.

ILLIAM R. DODSON, proprietor .of El Monte Hotel, was born in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1839. His father, Gainaim M. Dodson, was a native of Halifax County, Virginia, who, in 1833, went to Ken- tucky, where he married Miss Nancy P. Thomp- son, a native of that State, and later settled in the county in which the subject of this sketch

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

was born. Mr. Dodson was reared upon his father's farm nntil 1861, when the civil war broke out, and early in that year he entered the service of the Confederate States as a private in the Arkansas Cavalry. He served with gal- lantry and distinction throughont that terrible contest, and rose through the successive grades of rank until he reached a captaincy. In 1864 he was severely wounded, having his left arm shattered while engaged in the battle of Fay- etteville, Arkansas. At the close of the war Mr. Dodson emigrated to Texas and located in Levere Connty, where he engaged in farming and stock-growing. Jannary 2, 1866, he married Miss Clarmond Jones, the daughter of William L. and Malvina F. (Camp) Jones. Her father was a native of Tennessee, and her mother of Georgia. Mr. Dodson remained in Texas until 1868, when he came overland to Los Angeles County, locating at Downey until the spring of 1869. Then he purchased seventy-three geres of land lying in El Monte, south of the county road; upon this he commenced a career of general farming, making many improvements and plac- ing his land under a high state of cultivation, and also establishing and conducting a blaek- smith's shop. In 1878 he rented the El Monte Ilotel, which he has since conducted. In 1880 he purchased the property and made many im- provements on the same. In 1882 he established in connection a livery stable. The Dodson Hall, a well-appointed building 20 x 50 feet, two-stories in height (with market in lower story), was erected by him in 1887. He has been one of the most progressive and energetic citizens of El Monte for years, and has made many im- provements in the town, building several cottages and residences for renting. ITis farm, hotel, stables and other enterprises are conducted by himself. Ilis genial and obliging manners, combined with his well ordered and conducted hotel, has made the "El Monte" well known and deservedly popular. Ilis livery stable con- tains a complete ontfit of vehicles and ten or twelve first-class horses, and is well patronized. In his farm operations he is devoting consider-

able attention to improved stock. His cattle are Jersey and Short-horned Durham breeds. Among his horses are two fine stallions of Bel- mont stock, named Ledgerwood and Ledger wood, Jr. They are fine specimens and show that as a stock-breeder Mr. Dodson is a success. He has for twenty years been a resident of the beautiful San Gabriel Valley; is well and favor- ably known as a strong believer in the future prosperity of Los Angeles County, and is always ready to aid any enterprise that tends to develop the resources of his chosen section. In politieal matters he is a consistent Democrat. He is a member of El Monte Lodge, No. 188, A. O. U. W. Mr. and Mrs. Dodson have five children living, namely: J. Wilkes Booth, who married Miss Nellie Wixon, and is now living in San Bernardino County; May, who married Dr. B. B. Means, and is residing in Texas; and Clayborne B., Elbert B., and William L., who are members of their father's household. Mrs. Dodson's parents came to California in 1868, and became residents of El Monte. Her father was well known throughout the valley, and was for years the proprietor of the El Monte Ilotel. Ile died in 1874. Iler mother is still a resi- dent of the county.

OHN L. DOUGHERTY .- Among the early settlers of the Azusa, or the Upper San Gabriel Valley, is the above-named gentleman, who for twenty years has been en- gaged in agricultural and horticultural pursuits upon his farm, which is located abont a mile and a half south of Glendora and a half mile east of Gladstone. In 1871 Mr. Dougherty came to that section and entered upon a traet of Gov- ernment land of 134 acres in extent, and despite the fact that the land was for many years the subject of litigation between himself and the Azusa grant holders, he commenced clearing and placing substantial improvements on the same. Ilis title to the land was not confirmed until nbont 1882 and since that date he has sold

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

over 100 acres. At this writing (1889) he owns thirty acres of rich and productive land, which is a portion of his vineyard tract. Ife has one of the finest orange groves in his section, it being twelve acres in extent. Ile commenced the planting of this grove in 1875, and his trees have a remarkably strong growth. The trees are budded to Washington Navels and Medi- terranean Sweets. A family orchard of a large variety of deciduous fruits and an acre of Mission grapes are among his improve- ments. The rest of his land is devoted to general farming. Mr. Dougherty was born in Grayson County, Virginia, in 1844. His father, Charles Dougherty, was a native of North Carolina, who, in early life, went to Virginia and there married Rosamond J. Hale, a native of that State. In 1850 Mr. Dongherty's par- ents moved to Texas and located in IIunt County. There his father engaged in farming and stock-raising, and the subject of this sketch was reared to that calling until 1862. The civil war then in progress engaged the attention of the young men of the South, and Mr. Dough- erty, although less than eighteen years of age, enlisted in Colonel Burnett's Battalion of Sharp- shooters and entered the Confederate army. He followed the fortunes of his command in the armies east of the Mississippi, and was at the battles of Jackson, Port Hudson and others, until the surrender of General Pemberton's army and the fall of Vicksburg. His regiment then returned to the trans- Mississippi depart- ment, where they remained until the close of the war in 1865. Mr. Dongherty served faith- fully nntil that time, and then returned to Hunt County and for the next three years was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1868 he joined an emigrant party and came by ox teams overland to California. He did not arrive in the State until the fall of that year, at which time he took np his residence near San Bernardino, where he rented land and engaged in farming operations until 1871, when he took np his present residence. Mr. Dougherty is well known in the community in which he has so long resided,

and his straightforward, consistent conrse of life has gained him the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Ile is a strong supporter of schools and churches, and has for many years been an active member of the Methodist Church, South. In political inatters he is Democratic. In 1865 Mr. Dough- erty was united in marriage with Miss Mary O. Landon, a native of Ohio. Her parents were John and Sarah (Miller) Landon, of that State. The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Dougherty: William Emmet Lonellen, Mattie A. and John Edwin. Lonellen married James J. West, of Glendora. Mr. Dougherty's father and family came to California in 1868. His father died at the Azusa in 1881. The members of that family now residents of the State are his mother, who is living in San Bernardino; his brothers, William and James, residing at Nor- walk, and his sisters, Virginia, now Mrs. E. C. Knott, of Aznsa; Nancy, now Mrs. J. D. Price, . of Garden Grove; and Mary, wife of James C. Preston.

EWEN H. DORSEY, of Spadra, is a native son of California, dating his birth at San Gabriel, April 17, 1858. He was a son of Hilliard Pierce and Civility R. (Ru- bottom) Dorsey. Mr. Dorsey's father, a native of Georgia, born November 30, 1821, was a leading man in his life-time in Los Angeles County, and a leader wherever he had lived. In his native State he volunteered for the Mex- ican war, and served with great distinction as the Captain of Company C, of the Mississippi Battalion of Riflemen. He was known as an expert in the use of the revolver or rifle, a man of commanding presence and fearless courage, of strict integrity and honor. He left Tampico, Mexico, after the war closed, and drove from there to Los Angeles, arriving in September, 1849. He was in the turbulent times in the early days of the history of Los Angeles County, a man who had much to do with pub-

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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