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 84

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 84

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AVID LEWIS, deceased, was one of the early men of San Gabriel Valley, a man who, by his active, honorable life, won the respect and esteem of an entire community, a law-abiding citizen, a liberal in religion, nn- hampered by creeds, just to all men, kind and charitable to the needy. IIis life was so well

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

spent that all who knew him felt bereaved at his death. Mr. Lewis was born and reared in Chemung County, New York, the year of his birth being 1820. Hle crossed the plains, deserts and mountains to this State, and located in San Gabriel Valley in 1851. October 2, 1852, he wedded Miss Susan A. Thompson. Their home was two miles southeast of what is now El Monte. There he engaged in general farming, though in later years he turned his attention to the culture of hops. To him were born eight children, five of whom lived to receive a father's loving eare and to become men and women. At the home he founded in the prime of manhood, his widow and her son Chauncey yet reside. The names of all the children in order of their birth are: Isabella, now the wife of A. T. Garey, of Los Angeles; Hardy and Chauncey, twins (Hardy died at the age of four years); Ira D., a resident of El Monte; Abbie HI., the wife of Albert Rowland, of Puente Ranch; Agnes died in infancy; Olive is the wife of Charles Black- ley, of El Monte; and Ida, who died in infancy. Chauncey and Ira D. are their mother's assist- ants. Ira D. is at present deputy sheriff of this district. Mr. Lewis died January 21, 1885, in his sixty-fitth year. Mrs. Susan A. Lewis, a lady remarkable for her business qualities, com- bined as they are with culture from early educational advantages in the East, is a repre- sentative of one of the early American families who settled in San Gabriel Valley. IIer father, Ira Thompson, was born in the old Green Mountain State in 1800, of one of the old New England families. He became a stone mason, and after reaching manhood was a resident of the State of Massachusetts. There he wedded, in 1832, Miss Rebecca Hall, who was born in 1812, also in the State of Vermont, and of an old family. Their home was made in the town of Amherst, Massachusetts, where Mrs. Lewis was born, and also her eldest brother, Elbridge R. When the children were quite young the parents moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, thence to the State of Wisconsin, and later to Musca- tine, Iowa, where Mrs. Lewis received much of

her schooling. In June, 1850, having made ample preparation for a long, leisurely journey to this county, the family started on the over- land journey. They drove ox teams, and brought eows. Plenty of time was taken, resting for months, as rest was needed, where the neces- saries of life could be had and comfort secured. Iler mother's youngest child was born on the Gila River, opposite Fort Ynma, and named Ilila, the English pronunciation of the name of the river. She lived to marry Wallace Case, of San Bernardino County, but died at the age of twenty-four years. The eighteenth birthday of Mrs. Lewis occurred January 8, 1851, while the family were at Tucson, Arizona. July 18, 1851, the family reached their future home, "Willow Grove," at what is now El Monte. Mr. Thomp- son was the founder and improver of the " Wil- low Grove" property. Then they opened a hotel, on a small scale at first, later building larger, also improving fifty acres of land. He kept the overland stage station, becoming known and respected far and wide. Ile was a strong, stalwart New England man. Ilis death occurred in June, 1865. IIis widow still lives, and is in excellent health considering her age. Besides her children whose naines have been mentioned, we give the names of the others as Ira S., who died in Shasta County, this State, leaving a large family; Lucy, now Mrs. Lucy Maxy, of Los Angeles; Joseph, a ranch owner of this county; and Harriet R., now Mrs. Harriet R. Park, of Reno, Nevada. Mrs. Lewis is the eldest of the children.

ICIIARD LIVINGSTON, foundryman, No. 432 South Los Angeles street, Los Angeles, is a native of Canada, born in Montreal, June 12, 1852. Hle was reared in Ohio, and served an apprenticeship to his trade in Mansfield. After reaching manhood he came to the Pacific Coast, in 1875, and engaged in mining in Plumas County, in the Feather River mines, remaining there six years. Ile came to

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Los Angeles in 1882, and was employed at the Baker Iron Works for eight months, after which he was with Bath & Fosmer one year. He then started the Union Iron and Brass Foundry, tak- ing in J. B. Ginther, the firm being Livingston & Ginther, and later George Morton became in- terested with them, when the name was changed to the Union Foundry and Machine Company. It continued until July, 1887, when Messrs. Livingston and Ginther withdrew, and the Union Iron Works bought the foundry business. Mr. Livingston ran the foundry for them about six months, and in July, 1888, he and his son estab- lished the present business. Afterward Mr. Cornelius bought an interest and the firm be- came Livingston & Cornelius. They do all kinds of light foundry, iron and brass work. Mr. Livingston has had a large practical experi- ence, and the firm has built up a good trade. In 1871 Mr. Livingston married Miss Jennie Starry, of Richland County, Ohio. They have four children: Frank, Maud, May and Susie.

NNA E. LOGAN .- Among the representa- tive farm properties of the Azusa section is that owned by Mrs. Logan. This farm consists of 150 acres and is located in the Azusa school district, five miles directly south of Duarte and four miles north of Puente. Her lands are devoted principally to general farm- ing, though well adapted to fruit culture, as is attested by the remarkably fine specimens of citrus and deciduous fruit trees to be found in her orchards. Mrs. Logan has one of the inost attractive and beautiful residence properties in that section. She purchased the place in 1877 from Mrs. Mary I. Caldwell, it being a portion of the well-known Reed tract. A neat and well- ordered cottage residence was erected in 1881 and Mrs. Logan commened improving the grounds by the planting of ornamental trees and flowers, also laying out circular drives, which were bordered with cypress hedges. She is en- thusiastic in horticultural pursuits, and most of

the rich floral productions, etc., have been planted and reared by her own hands. Mrs. Logan is one of those energetic ladies to whom the word failure is unknown. She has, with her characteristic sound business principles and practical knowledge, built up and conducted for years one of the finest farms in this section, achieving a success in her enterprise that is often sought for in vain by practical farmers. Mrs. Logan is a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in which State she was reared and married. Her husband was Daniel Logan, a native also of that State, and a farmer by oc- cupation. Domestic troubles arose, and Mrs. Logan secured a divorce. IIer daughter, Mary E. Logan, had married John B. Reichard in 1876 and had come to California. It was natural for the mother to follow her only child and remain near her, so she at ouce took up her present residence just west of her daughter, and commenced the practical life of a horticulturist. Mrs. Logan is well known in the community where she has resided for the past twelve years. Her straightforward and consistent course of life, and the interest she has taken in the welfare and prosperity of her section, have gained her the well-merited respect and esteem of a large circle of friends.

ACY, WARD & CO., manufacturers of sheet-iron, well and water pipe, factory in East Los Angeles, on Lecouver street, was established in 1883, under the name of the Lacy & Verick Hardware Company. This company carried on the business until 1886, when it was succeeded by the present firm of Lacy, Ward & Co., in the manufacture of riveted iron and steel pipe and also the manufacture of iron tanks for storing oil in Los Angeles and for the Puente Oil Company. This firm has executed some of the largest and heaviest piping contracts in Sonthern California. Among them are five miles of large pipe for the city water works of Los Angeles, six miles of thirteen-inch pipe for the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Mound City Land and Water Company at River- side, three miles of pipe for the National Sol- diers' Home at Santa Monica. This company also operates a factory at San Diego, which has just completed eight miles of fifteen-inch pipe to conduct the water of the great San Diego flume to the city. They have the most exten- sive works in this line in Southern California, with ample capacity to turn out contracts of any size. The works of the company are located in East Los Angeles on Lecouver street, giving employment to from fifty to seventy-five hands. William Lacy, Jr., of this firmn, is a native of California, born November 12, 1864. His par- ents, William Lacy and Isabella (Regg) Lacy, are both natives of England. He received his education in the common and high schools of his native State. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship of three years in the sheet metal business, and since then has been actively identified with the management of the business, and has a practical knowledge of every detail connected therewith. It is owing to his ability and energy that the business of the company is being so rapidly extended.

LEW. J. LLEWELLYN, of the firm of Llewellyn Brothers, proprietors of the Columbia Foundry, corner of San Fernando street and Magdalena avenne, Los Angeles, was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, Septem- ber 29, 1858; attended the common schools, and during his boyhood his parents came to Califor -. nia. Hle served an apprenticeship, learning his trade with his uncle, Reese Llewellyn, in San Francisco, and afterward continued in his em- ploy, becoming foreman of his foundry and machine shops; remained until he came to Los Angeles in January, 1887, and established their present business the following April. He has associated with him his two brothers, Reese and William. They make a specialty of architect- ural iron-work of all kinds for building pur- poses, and ornamental iron-work; also act as

agents for Dale's celebrated concrete tiles for lighting basement areas. Their foundry room is 35 x60 feet in dimensions, and pattern shop 65 x 35 feet. They employ during the busy season twenty-five to thirty men, and have built up a good trade here and in Pasadena, Santa Ana, San Bernardino and other interior towns, reaching as far north as San Buena Ventura and to the east to Arizona Territory. They are all practical workmen, and give their whole atten- tion to the different departments of their busi- ness. Their father, David Llewellyn, was an iron-worker, a native of Wales, who died in San Francisco in 1881. Their mother, Hannah (James) Llewellyn, is also a native of Wales, and is living here with her children.

W. LUITWEILER, dealer in Studebaker farm wagons, carriages and agricultural implements, 100 and 102 Los Angeles street, Los Angeles, is the proprietor of one of the largest establishments in his line in Southern California. The store was established by Mr. Luitweiler in 1877. He occupies as salesroom a two-story brick building, 50x 153 feet, and basement, which is used for the storage of car- riages, wagons and farm implements. He is agent for the celebrated Studebaker farm and spring wagons, carriages, Moline plows, Cham- pion mowing-machines, Thomas rakes, Planet, Jr., cultivators, Monitor windmills and other of the most standard makes of farm machinery. Ile has by his energy and enterprise built up a large established trade, which is constantly in- creasing and extends all over Southern Califor- nia and into Arizona and New Mexico. Mr. Luitweiler was born in the city of Rochester, New York, April 9, 1847; is a son of Jacob G. and Martha (Woods) Luitweiler, early settlers of that State and still living there. He attended school during boyhood, and when fourteen years of age entered the bank of Rochester Brothers. Desiring to enter the army as a drummer-boy, his parents objected. In 1863 he left the bank

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

to go to the army; enlisted in the First New York Veteran Cavalry, and was at one time an orderly for General Sheridan during his campaign in the Shenandoah Valley. After the war he entered his father's store, and through his energy and ability built up a large business. Upon coming to California in 1877, he traveled through the Northern and Central portions of the State and decided to locate in Los Angeles. Besides having the active supervision of his extensive business, he is connected with several land and water companies; is president of the Los Argeles and Santa Monica Land and Water Company, and is vice-president of the Los Angeles & Pacific Railroad. It was largely through his efforts that the Soldiers' Home was located in Southern California and in Los Ange- les County. He is actively identified with all measures of public interest in the city and county and in this section of the State. In 1869 Mr. Luitweiler married Miss Sophia C. Maurer, a native of the city of Rochester, New York. They have six children. The sons are Walter, Jesse and George, and the daughters, Mabel, Ethel and Adelaide.

ICHEL LEVY, of the firm of M. Levy & Co., wholesale dealers in im- ported and domestic wines and liquors, Los Angeles, was born in France, February 18, 1834. He emigrated to this country in 1851; came to California the same year and located in San Francisco. Afterward he went to Benicia and Placerville, and was engaged in business there and at Diamond Springs five years. Go- ing next to Sonoma County, he was engaged in business in Cloverdale five years, and then went to Nevada, Humboldt County, and re- mained five years, until 1868, when he came to Los Angeles and established his present business, in Downey's Block, on Main street, the firin being Levy & Coblentz. They carried on the business together for eleven years, when Mr. Coblentz retired and Mr. Levy became

sole proprietor and carried on the business alone for several years. Then Lonis Lewin was ad- mitted to a partnership in the business, and later Lesser Hershfeld also became a partner, and since then the firm has retained its present name of M. Levy & Co. They started the Los Angeles Vintage Company, and now both are conducted under the same name. This firm transacts a large business in all kinds of imported and domestic liquors, wines, etc. It is the oldest house in this line in Los Angeles, and has a large established trade, and Mr. Levy is the oldest dealer in wines and liquors in the city. He enjoys a high reputation for integrity in commercial and business circles. Mr. Levy was married April 12, 1870, to Miss Rebecca Lewin, a native of Germany. They have three children : Hortense, Therese and Isaac Oury.

HOMAS LEAHY was born in Cork, Ire- land, August 12, 1834. He came from Liverpool, via Cape Horn, to California, arriving in San Francisco, February 15, 1851, and in Los Angeles the succeeding April 6. At first he worked for his uncle, Mathew Kel- ler, as a clerk and otherwise, about nine years. After that lie engaged in merchandising on his own acconnt, for some fifteen years. He then devoted himself to vine culture and wine mak- ing, and is now so engaged. He was a mem- ber of the city council three years. In 1873 he married Miss Garthorne, a native of New Orleans; they have six children. After the death of his uncle, Mr. Keller, Mr. Leahy was made the guardian of two of his minor children.

OHN LANG is a native of Herkimer County, New York, born May 5, 1828, and is a son of James P. and Lncy (Rarick) Lang, the former an Irishman by birth and the latter of Mohawk-Dutch extraction. James Lang located with his family in Waterloo, Wis-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

consin, and followed farming and the dairy business; reared a family, and there died. He had four sons and two daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch is the third. lle left home at twenty-one years of age; taught school successfully for a time; also acted as salesman in dry-goods houses for several years. He sub- sequently engaged in merchandising on his own account at Rochester, Wisconsin. Later he took a situation as tutor in Todd's Seminary at Caın- den Point, Missouri. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California, by way of the North Platte, entering the Golden State on Dry Creek, thirty five miles north of Marysville, where he spent his first California winter. The following spring he went to Sacramento, opened and operated two hotels, the Tremont and the American, for about one year. He then located at Martinez, California, and engaged extensively in the dairy business, and there made the first cheese vats in the State, in the spring of 1856. In 1862 he moved to Virginia City, Nevada, and was one of the leading pioneers of that section. Owing to the ill health of Mrs. Lang, he was compelled to sell his property there, which he did at a heavy sacrifice, and returned to California. He then located on thirty-five acres of land now comprising the Washington Gardens, where he cultivated grapes, oranges, olives, etc. He also spent two years in the San Gabriel Valley, and manufactured cheese on the ranch of Hon. D. B. Wilson. The profits of this business venture netted him $25 per day. In 1870 he purchased 160 acres of land, forty miles north of Los An- geles, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, paying $300 for the same. This he has since developed into one of the finest estates on the line of that thoroughfare. Lang's Station, Lang's postoffice and express office are there, the results of his enterprise. He also owns the valuable Sulphur Springs at that point, and the Sulphur Springs Hotel. IIis ranch now comprises 1,200 acres, devoted to diversified farming. It is finely located and the improvements are of the most attractive and modern character. In connection with the life of Mr. Lang, we note that in 1873

he killed the great bear that was known as the Monarch of the Coast. This bear was for over thirty years the terror of California, as he roamed over the entire State and proved invin- cible against all the many plans invented to capture him. Many human beings fell before him, and by his eunning hundreds of cattle, sheep, hogs, etc., were mowed down in his wake. But on July 7, 1873, Mr. Lang made up his mind that this outrageous and ferocious brute had spilt human blood long enough; hence he took his trusty gun and followed his trail for about twelve miles into the San Fernando Range of mountains, in Los Angeles County, and there came upon him. The brute at once started after him with a scream that made the mountains ring for miles away. Then the battle for life began, for it was only victory that could save either, as escape was impossible. But Lang, knowing his gun, waited for the mad brute until he came within thirty feet, then aimed for the stieking place in the beast, and tlie infuriated champion bear fell to rise no more. His weight was 2,350 pounds; size of foot, ten and three- fourths inches in width, and nineteen and one- half inches in length. The hide is at the mu- seum in Liverpool. It was the largest grizzly bear ever known. Mr. Lang was married May 3, 1862, to Mary E. Floretta. They have three sons and two daughters living, all at home. The Lang estate is valued at about $50,000.

W. LA DOW, farmer, five miles sontlı- west of Los Angeles. Of all who are represented in this work, none are more deserving, none are more worthy, than he whose name stands at the head of this biographical notice. He was born in Milton, Saratoga County, New York, in 1824. Ilis parents were Daniel and Laura (St. John) La Dow. His grandfather had twenty-three children, by two wives, and his father was a native of France. Mr. La Dow's maternal ancestors were of English ori- gin. The subject of this sketch is the fifth of

Isaac Lankershim

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

seven children. His mother was a first cousin of P. T. Barnum, her mother, Ruhanna Taylor, being a sister of Barnum's mother. Laura St. John had bnt one brother, Taylor St. John, a well-known elergyman in New York. He had four sons, all of whom occupy honored positions in Albany. New York, in educational and scien- tific circles. Mr. La Dow was married in 1846, in his native State, to Margaret McWill- iams, of Galway, New York. By that marriage he had two sons, Charles and John. In 1852 he left his family at the old home and came to California via Panama as a seeker of gold. He arrived in Los Angeles in May, and in July re- ceived the sad intelligence of his wife's death. His home was then broken up in the East, and his boys were taken care of by their grandmother, Mrs. McWilliams. Mr. La Dow went to the northern part of the State where he engaged in mining till 1863, when he returned and bought twenty-five acres of land near Los Angeles, and soon added to it thirty-five acres more. On this farm he lived until 1868, when he pre- empted 160 acres where he now lives, near the southwest limits of the city of Los Angeles. He has recently erected a new residence near the La Dow school-house. In 1860 he married Miss Harriet Dorman, of Stanford, Maine, and they have one daughter, Hattie M., who has re- cently gradnated at the Los Angeles High School. It is altogether proper, in this con- nection, to state that Mr. La Dow's sons by his first wife are very successful business men. Charles, the elder, is an inventor and machinist well known throughont the country. He is at Albany, New York; has accumulated consider- able wealth, and has recently beautified the old homestead in New York. John is an inventor, now located at Denver. Mr. La Dow is one of the best citizens of Los Angeles County; is now well along in years, and can look back over a life well spent, and with a clear conscience en- joy the prosperity which he has so well earned. Mr. La Dow gave one acre of land to the school district in which he lives, and which was named in his honor, the " La Dow District;" and he

has been a trustee of the district twelve years and upward. He was the first person to take wa- ter for irrigating purposes to that locality, which had a very beneficial effect on the material pros- perity of the community living there. Thongh Mr. La Dow has lived a quiet and rather un- eventful life, it has been an industrious and use- ful one.

SAAC LANKERSHIM was born in Nu- remberg, Bavaria, 1819. He came to the United States when seventeen years of age, and made his way to St. Louis, where, for sev- eral years, he engaged in the stock and grain business, buying and shipping cattle, grain, etc., from St. Louis down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. In 1854 he came to California, bringing cattle across the plains. He went to Napa County and again engaged in the. stock business and in raising grain. Afterward be went to San Francisco, where for a number of years he was a heavy shipper of grain to Europe. In 1868 he bought El Cajon Rancho, in San Diego County, where, the next year, he com- menced raising wheat; and later he built a flour mill there. In 1869 he bought one-half of the immense San Fernando Rancho in Los Angeles County. Eventually, he and Mr. Van Nuys began to raise wheat successfully on their ranch, till nearly the whole 60,000 acres were brought under cultivation. In 1878 they built a flour mill in Los Angeles. In this enterprise he was the moving spirit. 'This inill is equipped with all the modern appliances, and has a capacity of 400 barrels of flour per day. For a number of years previons to his death Mr. Lankershim carried on farming and milling simultaneously in San Diego and Fresno counties, where he owned a farm of 14,000 acres; and at the same time he was at the head of a company that was engaged in the same business in Los Angeles County. Mr. Lankershim was a man of strict honesty and integrity, and' of good, practical business capacity, as must be obvious from the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

foregoing; and he was also public-spirited, gen- erous, and of strong religious convictions. He built and equipped the Metropolitan Temple, including a $14,000 organ, in San Francisco, so that the Baptist denomination there, of which he was a member, could have a commodious place in which to worship. His estate owns the property yet. He also gave in his life time a good farın in Vacaville, as an endowment of a Baptist College. In 1842 Mr. Lankershim married Miss Moore, who was a native of Kent County, England, and who still survives him. Two children were born to thein: a daughter, now the wife of I. N. Van Nuys; and a son, James B. Lankershim, all of whom are residents of Los Angeles. Mr. Lankershim died April 10, 1882, at the age of sixty-three years. The good that he did lives after him.

DDISON W. LEE .- Among the promi- nent capitalists and health-seekers who have chosen the beautiful Monrovia for a residence is the above-namned gentleman, whose elegant residence, located at the corner of Pros- pect and Grand avenues, is one of the land- marks among the beautiful homes that nestle at the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains. In February, 1888, Mr. Lee purchased one acre of land at the above-named location and immedi- ately commenced its improvement and the erec- tion of a home. In this he spared no expense. The location of his residence gives one of the mnost pleasing, varied and magnificent views that it is possible to obtain of the San Gabriel Valley, while the immediate grounds are bean- tified with lawns, floral productions and orna- mental trees; nor has he failed to combine the useful with the ornamental, for he has planted on his grounds nearly 150 of the choicest citrus and decidnous fruit-trees to be obtained. Mr. Ice is largely identified with Los Angeles County and is one-third owner (with Mesers. Spence and Bicknell) of the well-known Cluirch tract, comprising 716 acres, about three miles

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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