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 73

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 73

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

having been identified with the growth and prosperity of that section for the past twenty years. A strong supporter of churches and schools, he is a member and trustee of the Bap- tist Church, and has for the past ten or twelve years been an efficient trustee of his school dis- trict. He has also served his township as a justice of the peace. In Mareli, 1888, he was appointed postmaster at Spadra, which position he still holds. In politics he is a consistent Democrat, taking a great interest in the success of his party. He has served as a delegate in many of the county conventions, and is a mem- ber of the Democratic county committee. No- vember 20, 1870, Mr. Fryer married Miss Belle Arnett, the daughter of Robert S. Arnett, a resident of Spadra, and whose history appears in this book. They have three children: Roy, Bertha and Norman.

RUHLING BROTHERS, proprietors of the Artistic Wrought Iron Works, 118 and 120 South Los Angeles street, Los An- geles. Among the most prominent manufact- uring establishments in Southern California, and leading in their line in the State, is the firm of Fruhling Brothers, of Los Angeles, estab- lislied in May, 1886. Their factory is equipped throughout with a complete plant, including the most modern and improved machinery and all appliances for doing the highest standard of work on a large scale, employment being given to a force of froin ten to twenty hands. In De- cember, 1887, their factory was entirely de- stroyed by fire, entailing a large loss. They immediately rebuilt of brick, on a larger and more substantial scale, increasing largely the capacity of their shops. They make a specialty of manufacturing wrought-iron cresting rail- ing, tower ornaments, ornamental iron work of all kinds, iron doors, shutters, fire escapes, win- dow guards, grates, awning braces, etc., etc. They have done some of the largest and finest jobs in their line in the city, including the fine 30

ornamental iron work on the mansion of Judge Silent, and all the ornamental work on the Woman's Christian Temperance Union Build- ing, corner of Fort and Temple streets; also the stair railing for the City Hall, and the Ab- stract Title Building, and other large impor- tant contracts. The skill and ability of this enterprising firm is shown on many of the finest buildings and residences in the city. W. A. Fruhling, the senior member of the firm, is a native of California, and was born in San Fran- cisco, October 15, 1858. His parents, William and Bertha Fruhling, were among the early pioneers in California. He attended school in Santa Clara County, and completed his educa- tion at the University in San José, and learned his trade in his father's shops in the same place. In May, 1886, he came to Los Angeles, and with his brother established their present busi- ness, and their success is owing to their practi- cal ability, energy and enterprise. A. G. Fruhl- ing, the junior member of the firm, is a brother of the preceding, and was born in San Fran- cisco, April 6, 1865. After attending the com- mon schools during his boyhood, he entered the High School at San Jose. For two years prior to his going to Los Angeles he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business; but de- cided togo with his brother to establish their pres- ent prosperous business, as already described.

S AMUEL C. FOY was born in the city of Washington, D. C., September 23, 1830. His father was John Foy, and his mother's maiden name 'was Calvert, she being connected with the families of Virginia and Maryland of that name. His father, who was a native of Ireland, and who was a civil engineer, having made the acquaintance of Henry Clay in Ken- tucky, obtained, through the influence of that great statesman, employment in the city of Washington. He laid ont the Botanical Gar- dens, and other public grounds, holding his po- sition as an employé of the Government till his

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

death in 1833, when the subject of this sketch was three years old, soon after which the family returned to Kentucky. Samuel remained here and in Cincinnati and Natchez till June, 1852, when he started for California by way of New Orleans and the Isthinus. After his arrival in San Francisco he went to the mines on Feather River, but did not remain there long. Return- ing to Sacramento, he went in the fall to the Calaveras mines. In January, 1854, he came to Los Angeles, which he found to be mostly a Spanish or Mexican town of 2,000 or 3,000 in- habitants. IIe at once decided to locate here. As has happened with thousands of others, be- fore and since, he liked the place as soon as he saw it. He immediately ordered goods from San Francisco, and commenced business in the one-story adobe,-nearly every house here then was of that character, -- on the site of the present Savings Bank, adjoining the Farmers and Mer- chants' Bank, on Main street. The same year his brother John, now of San Bernardino, came here and went into business with him. In May, 1856, he went up the country with cattle; he remained alternately there and here till 1865, still retaining his connection with the business he had established here, which he has kept up till the present time. Thus it is that he has been continuously engaged in business in Los Angeles longer than any other business man or firm. In 1860 Mr. Foy married Miss Lucinda Macey, daughter of Dr. Obed Macey. Dr. Macey arrived here in January, 1851, having crossed the plains with his family by ox-team, the jour- ney occupying nearly nine months. In 1853 Dr. Macey bought the Bella Union, then the prineipal hotel in Los Angeles, the site of which is now ocenpied by the St. Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Foy have seven children living, six dangliters and one son. Mr. Foy has been an active Mason, having been Master of Los An- geles Lodge, No. 42, and High Priest of Los Angeles Chapter, No. 33, Royal Arch Masons, several years. Mr. Foy's eldest brother, Colonel James C. Foy, came to California in 1850, but returned to Covington, Kentucky, in 1854. In

1861 he raised Company A, Twenty-third Regi- inent, Kentucky Volunteers, and served his country until July 9, 1864. He was then in General Sherman's army, and was on the north bank of the Chattahoochee River, when a bursting shell, fired by the rebels, gave him a fatal wound. He was at the time in command as Colonel of his regiment. Mr. Foy's other brother, John M., for many years a citizen of Los Angeles, is now a resident of San Bernardino.

ILLIAM FERGUSON was born in Washington County, Arkansas, Jannary 20, 1831. His father, who was a native of Virginia, was of Scotch descent. When in his eighteenth year, William came across the plains, arriving at Mud Springs, August 10, 1850. After working in the mines awhile, he went to Sacramento and then to Nevada City, where there were very rich mines; and from there to Auburn, where he remained till Febru- ary, 1851. He then went up the Sacramento River to Shasta, and over to Weaverville, and with others undertook the damming of the Trinity River. This work, which was done by the Arkansas Dam and Finne Company, proved a failure, and Mr. Ferguson, after taking a trip over to Humboldt Bay, came back and went to work at Oregon Gulch, where the diggings were rich, yielding $15 to $20 a day per man. Ile staid here about a year. After this he went to Sacramento Valley, to Red Bluffs, and engaged in packing from there to the mines. He fol- lowed this business for about a year. He then (1854) went to San Francisco and engaged in trading in stock at Suisun. Next year he went back to Trinity again, on Cañon Creek, where he took hold of both the butchering and black- smithing business. In 1857 he sold out his business and went East. Returning next year, he gravitated back to Trinity again, as he had interests there, and remained this time about three years, running a ranch, saw-mill, etc. In 1861 he went to Humboldt County, Nevada,

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where he remained two or three years, mining, ete. He then went to Idaho and was gone about six months. Returning in 1864 to San Fran- eiseo, he began trading in stoek in Marin, So- nomna, and other Bay counties, till 1868. That year he came to Los Angeles and took stock up country. In 1869 he returned, to remain per- manently. Mr. Ferguson has been a member of the city council two years. He is a man of good business capacity and of striet integrity, and is thoroughly respected by his neighbors. In the ups and downs of his checkered inining life he was several times "broke," as all good miners were in the early mining days. He has built himself a substantial and elegant home on the corner of Third and Spring streets. In 1871 he married Miss Austin, in Sonoma County. They have two children, a son and daughter.

OBERT JACKSON FLOYD was born June 13, 1820, at Union Court-House, Union District, South Carolina. He came across the plains to California in 1868. He farined from 500 to 700 acres near San Gabriel, abont nineteen years, raising grain, stock, ete. In 1854 he married Elizabeth A. Elam, in Palona, Mississippi. They have two children, a son and daughter. Mr. Floyd, who is now interested in mining in the San Gabriel Cañon, is a resident of the city of Los Angeles. He is a man of the highest probity and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

ANIEL FREEMAN was born June 30, 1837, in Norfolk County, Canada. His ancestors on his father's side were English, and on his mother's side, Scotch-Irish. He spent his minority and received his education in his native county. After studying law he practiced his profession some years in Canada, at the same time owning a large ship-yard at. Port Burwell, on Lake Erie. In 1866 he mar-

ried Miss Christie, who bore him three children, two sons and one daughter. Her health failing, from ineipient consumption, he spent several winters in the southern part of the United States with her; and in February, 1873, as they were on their way from Macon to New Orleans to take the steamer for Jamaica, a newsboy laid a copy of Nordhoff's California on his seat. He bought it and read it, -presto! all their plans were changed, and the next morning they were on their way to California. Arriving in San Francisco, Mr. Freeman traveled over California, examining localities and ranehos, from February till September, when he eoneluded to settle in Los Angeles County on the " Centinela Rancho." He rode over the rancho in April of that year (1873) with the owner, Sir Robert Burnett, now of Scotland, but then living on the ranch; and it presented a very beautiful appearance, with its wealth of grasses and bright flowers. But Sir Robert told Mr. Freeman that the land was useless for farming, because too dry; and he at the time was paying $30 a ton for hay; he held that the ranch was only valnable for grazing purposes. Mr. Freeman, after thorongh ex- amination and comparison with the many other ranchos which he visited during the summer, finally decided that of them all the Centinela snited him best. Accordingly, in September, he moved down there and leased the ranch for five years, with the privilege of buying it within that time, for $6 per acre (the ranch contained 25,000 aeres), or $150,000, which was thought by many at that time to be a high price. Mr. Freeman bought sheep with the raneh and con- tinned in the business of sheep farming till 1875-'76, which was a dry winter, when, having sent his sheep off to the mountains for feed, he lost 22,000 head. That season he put in 640 aeres of barley as an experiment, and as a result he raised twenty-five bushels per acre, on a rain- fall of only four and one-half inehes. He has been raising wheat and barley and other farm produets ever sinee. In 1880 he raised 1,000,- 000 bushels of grain, and sent a ship-load of wheat to Liverpool, and another of barley to

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

New York. Mr. Freeman is a man of great business capacity, and of broad and enlightened generosity. Hle has endowed the College of Applied Science of the University of Southern California with 150 acres of land near Ingle- wood, and has promised the institution $200,000 in money. Mrs. Freeman died in 1874.

W. FLORA, deceased, was born in Loraine County, Ohio, in 1831, his parents being John and Alvira (Mellen) Flora, na- tives, respectively, of Pennsylvania and New York. The father was drowned when the sub- ject of this sketch was eight years old. His mother married again and moved to Illinois and subsequently to Wisconsin. From the latter State Mr. Flora came to California, in 1852, driving an ox team across the plains. IIe worked at mining from 1852 till 1873, atter which he purchased sixty-five acres of land a quarter of a mile west of Rivera, where his widow still lives. On this farm may now be · seen a fine orchard of 900 English walnuts, and oranges and lemons of choice variety and in abundant quantity. In 1866, after an experience of fourteen years on the coast, Mr. Flora went back to Wisconsin and there married Miss Helen Kendall. This lady was born in Montgomery County, New York, and is the daughter of Amos and Elizabeth (Fuller) Kendall, natives of New York and Massachusetts respectively, and of English extraction. Amos Kendall is a wagon-maker by trade, and is now living in Minnesota, at the advanced age of ninety years. He was married three times; had four children by his second wife, of whom Mrs. Flora is the second. After his marriage in Wisconsin, in 1866, Mr. Flora brought his bride to California by steamer, coming via the Nicaragua route, and landing in San Francisco, June 16, 1866. They have had two children: Elmer, who died in 1884, and Blanche E. Mr. Flora was an enterprising business man until his death, which ocenrred in 1889. Mrs. Flora has since carried

on the farm operations, and is doing a prosper- ons business on the old farm.

EV. J. S. FLORY, Postmaster at Tuhunga, California, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, in 1836, and is a son of Abrahamı and Susanna (Stoner) Flory, whose parents were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German extraction. The father was engaged in mining in California from 1850 to 1856. Then he moved back to Iowa, where he died in 1874. The subject of this sketch is the third of a family of six children. He received a good common-school education, and taught school for three sessions in West Virginia. Ile and an older brother were early licensed to preach in the Dunkard Brethren Church. For a period of twenty years he has been a bishop in the church. He now has charge of two congre- gations, one in Ventura County and one in Los Angeles Connty. In 1857 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Sanger, of Mt. Solon, Virginia. She is the daughter of Jacob and Annie (Miller) Sanger, whose parents were natives of Pennsyl- vania and of German origin. In 1861 Mr. Flory moved from West Virginia to Iowa, where he farmed and preached until 1866, when he went back to West Virginia. From there, in 1872, he moved to Colorado, remaining until 1884, when he came to California, and bought the beautiful place where he now lives, four miles east of San Fernando. This he has in- proved and beautified, and his place at the cañon is a most delightful spot, with its evergreen hedges and orchards of orange and other trees, and beautiful flowers. They have reared a family of nine children: William Howard, wlio is a graduate of Huntington College, Pennsyl- vania; Emma V., now Mrs. Madison Bashor; Mary A., now the wife of James Mason, a stock- dealer in Colorado; Maggie S., wife of James Boots; Sarah J., wife of Rev. J. Talley, of Col- orado; Elizabeth H., wife of Frank Calvert; David P., Charles A. and Lottie E. Mr. Flory is not a

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

political partisan; however, he advocates the principles of the Temperance party. IIe is recognized by all who know him as an honest, upright citizen, and a true Christian man.

RANCIS FERRIER, of Wilmington, is a native of Waterloo County, Ontario, Can. ada, born Angust 29, 1851. He attended school there during boyhood, and served an apprenticeship to the milling business with Elias Eby, in the Lancaster Mills at Bridgeport, Ontario. Upon reaching manhood he went to Minnesota, and was in the large flouring mills in Minneapolis one year. In 1872 he came to the Pacific Coast and located at Vallejo. He began working in the mills of Starr & Co., the largest on the Pacific Coast, and among the finest, most complete and most extensive flouring mills in the world. He was connected with these mills over seventeen years, and during that time became a stockholder. In March, 1888, he came to Wilmington and associated with Mr. E. N. McDonald in the grain, storage, and inilling business, operating the Winfred Mills. Mr. Ferrier's experience in the largest and best equipped mills in the country makes him familiar with every detail of the business. He was married November 20, 1888, to Miss Lizzie Doble, a native of San Francisco, and a dauglı- ter of Abner Doble, an old and honored citizen of that city.

EORGE E. FULLERTON, druggist, 303 North Main street, one of the leading pharmacists of the city, is a native of New York State, and is twenty-eight years of age. He began to learn the drug business in To- ronto, Canada, in early youth; and after com- pleting his course and receiving a diploma from the Dominion Government, he took a course in the Cincinnati School of Pharmacy, from which he also holds a diploma. His first experience in

business on his own account was in Eaton, Ohio. From there he moved to Cincinnati, and re- mained in the Queen City until 1887, when he crossed the continent to the Pacific Coast and located in Los Angeles, his first place of bnsi- ness being at No. 16 North Main street. Early in 1888 he opened his present finely appointed store, which is stocked with a complete general assortment of drugs, medicines and toilet goods. Mr. Fullerton being a thoroughly educated pharmacist, with fifteen years of active experi- ence, he enjoys a large prescription trade, of which he makes a specialty. Among proprie- tary articles which he compounds is a prepara- tion for the face and hands denominated Lactine Cream, which is a very popular lotion. His thriving business furnishes employment for two experienced men besides himself. Mr. Fuller- ton was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1885, to Miss McKrell, who was born in Kentucky, but reared in the Buckeye State.

ILLIAM W. FRAISHER .- Among the representative citizens of the Glendora district, in the Upper San Gabriel Val- ley, mention must be made of the subject of this sketch. He is the owner of a forty-acre tract of rich and productive land located just west and south of Glendora, and on the western boundary of Alosta. He purchased this land in 1884. It was then in its wild and unculti- vated state. Since then he has cleared the land of its rank growth of cactus and brush, and placed it all under cultivation. IIe has six acres of fine orchard, producing a variety of decidnous fruits, such as apricots, peaches, apples, French prnnes, nectarines, etc., and also one acre of Navel and Mediterrancan Sweet oranges, and is now preparing ten acres which he will devote to the finer grades of citrus fruits. He is also part owner of a forty-acre tract adjoining his land on the south, and has charge of the cultivation of the same. Upon that he has eighteen acres of vines, abont fifteen acres of which are produc-

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ing wine grapes of the Blauelba, Black Malvoise and Mission varieties, the balance of his vine- yard being devoted to a choice variety of table and raisin grapes. The rest of his lands he is devoting to hay, grain and stock. Among the latter are some fine specimens of Jersey cattle and Norman horses. His lands are watered from the Azusa Water Development and Irri- gation Company's ditch. His building improve- ments are first-class in every respeet, comprising a substantial and well-ordered cottage residence, commodions barn and ont-buildings. Water is piped throughout his buildings and grounds, from a tank that is supplied from water forced from the irrigating company's diteh, by pumps that are opera ed by an undershot wheel which he has constrneted and placed in the ditch, the flow of water in the ditch being sufficient to give him a strong power: Mr. Fraisher's place in- dicates the snecessful and enterprising farmer, and he is destined to rank among the leading horticulturists of the valley. The subject of this sketeh was born in Greene County, Missouri, in 1843. He is the son of William and Rebecca (Myers) Fraisher. His father was born in Ten- nessee and was one of the early settlers of Greene Connty. His mother was a native of Vir- ginia. In 1845 his parents moved to Atchison County, Missouri, and there his father engaged in extensive agrienltural pursuits and stock- raising, and also in mercantile pursuits. IIe was a man of wealth and sound business talents, well known throughont that section of Missouri and the adjoining eonnties in Nebraska. He was one of the founders and a director of the First National Bank of Brownsville, Nebraska. Mr. Fraisher was reared as a farmer, and given the advantages of a good schooling, after which he was engaged with his father in mercantile pursuits and other enterprises. In 1881 his father moved to California and located near Covina, Los Angeles County, and there engaged in bortienltural pursuits, until his death in 1887. Mr. Fraisher remained in Missouri, con- dneting his varions enterprises, until 1883. Ile then came to Los Angeles County and located

at Los Angeles and at San Gabriel for a year or inore, and in 1884 took up his present residence. He is an energetie and progressive citizen, well schooled in business as well as agrienltural pur- suits, and a desirable acquisition to any com- munity. Taking a deep interest in schools and ehnrches, he is a consistent member and trustee of the Christian Church, of Glendora. In politi- cal matters he is a supporter of the Democratic party. In the dark days of the war of the Re- bellion, he was a strong Union man and a mem- ber of the Union Leagne in Missouri. In 1868 Mr. Fraisher wedded Miss Sue A. Hendrickson, a native of Indiana. She is the danghter of Elza and Mary E. Hendrickson, who are now residing in Los Angeles County. From this marriage there are three children: Robert L., Clande M. and Onel J., all of whom are resid- ing under the parental roof.

ON JUAN FORSTER, the genial and hospitable owner of Santa Margarita Rancho, was for many years a prominent and striking figure in the history of Sonthern California. In the early pastoral times he was an ideal ranchero. His own sterling qualities, his patriarchal position at the head of an im- mense establishment, and his near relationship to General Andres and Governor Pio Pico, and the general respeet and affection in which he was held by both the native and the foreign popula- tion here, all combined to give him that char- acter. John Forster, Sr., was born in Liverpool, England, in 1814. He came to California when only nineteen years old, having first come to the west eoast of Mexico (Guaymas) two years be- fore. After his arrival in California he made numerons trips down the coast in charge of a vessel (the Facio) belonging to his uncle, Don Santiago Johnson. In 1836 he decided to set- tle permanently in California. He was probably influenced in this decision by the attractions of Doña Ysadora Pico, sister of Don Pio and Don Andres Pico, whom he married the next year.

how infectfully John Horshr

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

The union lasted over forty years, or till 1882, both dying within a short time of each other. Doña Ysadora was a noble woman, as many per- sons still living can testify. Nine children were born to them- six sons and three daughters -- of whom two sons, Marcos and John, Jr., are still living. Mr. Forster was shipping agent at San Pedro from 1840 to 1843, and a part of the time Captain of the post. In 1844 he moved with his family to San Juan Capistrano, where he bought the ex-mission and where he resided about twenty years, engaged in the raising of stock. He was the grantee of San Felipe in San Diego County, and of the Mission Viejo and Trabuco in Los Angeles County. In 1864, when land in California was of compara- tively little value, he bought the immense ran- chos of Santa Margarita and Los Flores, of about 144,000 acres, and with his sons went into the stock business on a large scale. At one time he had as many as 25,000 head of cattle and about 3,000 horses and 6,000 or 7,000 sheep. He made the Santa Margarita Rancho, or hacienda, his home from 1864 till his death. At one time, soon after his marriage, he owned and lived on the site of the old court-house, between Main and Spring streets, in the pueblo of Los Ange- les, where his eldest son, Marcos, was born. In 1854 he placed two of his sons, Marcos and Fran- ciso, at school at the Collegiate Institute, Be- nicia. Mr. Forster died at his Ranch Santa Margarita, San Diego County, January 20, 1882, and Mrs. Forster survived her husband only a few months.

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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