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 90

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 90

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

united in marriage to Miss Catharine Timmer- mann, of Waterloo, Illinois. They have four children: Eugene A., Elizabeth C., Robert A. and Julia M. William Nicol, Vice-President of the Nuelle & Nicol Planing Mill Company, came to California in 1875 and was engaged in the planing-mill business in San Francisco for eleven years, until March, 1886, when he came to Los Angeles and was superintendent of the Mechan- ics Mill nntil March, 1888. The present com- pany was then organized and since that time he has held his present position. He has charge of the mechanical and contracting department. Mr. Nicol married Miss Jane Ritchie, of San Francisco. They have one son, Willie. James R. Sloan, Secretary of the above named company, is a native of Toronto, Canada. He came to the Pacific Coast in 1873, located in Nevada and remained there until 1881. In 1883 he came to Los Angeles and held the position of sales- man and book-keeper for several years, and upon the organization of this company was elected secretary. In May, 1883, he married Miss Eva B. Forman. She is a native of Lancaster, Ohio.

A. NORMAN, contractor for artificial stone and cement, Los Angeles, is a native of Arkansas, born May 18, 1842. He was reared in Texas from childhood, and lived there when Sam Houston was Governor and until the war, when he enlisted in the Con- federate army. He served in the Third Texas Cavalry, in the command of General Ross, the present Governor of Texas. He served four years and participated in over 300 battles, fights and skirmishes. After the war he returned to Texas and remained there until May, 1887, when he came to Los Angeles and engaged in con- tracting in artificial-stone work for foundations of buildings, sidewalks, etc., and makes all kinds of molded artificial-stone and cement work. He has the contract for the stone and cement founda- tions of the Burdick Block, corner of Second and Spring streets, one of the most solid, substantial

blocks in the city; also for the sidewalks around the same building. He has a large practical experience in molded stone and cement work, and has built up a good trade. He has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Emma Hoyt, of Kentucky. They had five children. His present wife was Mrs. Rosa Bowie, of London, England.

CLAY NEEDHAM, Superintendent of St. John snbdivision of the San Francisco 0 Rancho, took charge of this business in 1889. The tract embraces 10,000 acres of land, on which the town of Newhall now stands. This land was bought some years ago by ex- Governor John P. St. John, of Olathe, Kansas; George B. Katzenstein, of Sacramento, Califor- nia, and Jesse Yarnell, of Los Angeles, Califor- nia. This land has an altitude of 1,300 feet, in the beautiful foot-hills skirting the Santa Clara Valley, and only two miles north of the wonder- ful San Fernando Tunnel. It embraces every variety of desirable soil and climate to be found in Southern California. The purity of the water and the clear atmosphere makes Newhall and its surroundings one of the healthiest localities in the State. Mr. Needham will be found at his post, clever and obliging, ready to attend to business in the most expeditions manner. He comes from Hardin County, Kentucky, and was born in 1851. He is a son of P. S. Needham, a farmer and miller, who died in Kentucky in 1886. The subject of this sketch was educated at Hamilton College, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and subsequently went to Kansas, where he taught school for two years. Then he went into the coal business and bought and leased lands till 1884. From 1884 till 1889 he engaged in stock- raising and farming. He also engaged in the lumberand hardware business in Arcadia, Kansas, and while there served as mayor of that city. He was married in Kansas, in 1878, to Miss Lillie F. Taylor. She is a native of Warren County, Kentucky. The following are the names of their

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children: Nellie May, Blanche Pearle, Russell Everet and Neal. Both Mr. and Mrs. Need- ham are active members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and earnest workers in the Sunday- school. Mr. Needham is a recent acquisition to this State, but by his genial disposition and business qualifications he has won a place already in the hearts of his fellow-men; and through his ability as a salesman and the desirability of the lands, very many home-seekers ought soon to find places in the St. John's Prohibition Colony.

A. NEWMARK & CO .- This name is conspicuons in the business history of Sonthern California. In 1851 Harris Newark, the founder of the great wholesale gro- cery house of M. A. Newmark & Co., the oldest and largest in this part of the State, left Ger- many, his native land, and came to Los Angeles; and for over a third of a century he and his successors have been actively and prominently identified with the business and financial growth of Los Angeles. In 1865 he opened the first wholesale grocery store in the city and was its managing head for twenty-one years. In 1860 Mr. Newmark associated with himself the two brothers, Kasper and Samuel Cohn, under the firm name of II. Newmark & Co. This rela- tion continned until the death of Samuel Cohn, a number of years ago. Kasper retired from the business in 1884, and two years later H. Newmark also retired. In 1870 M. J. New- mark was taken in as a partner, and soon after M. A. Newark came into the firmn. The former retired in 1879, and upon the retirement of the founder of the house, M. A. Newmark took his place as senior member of the present firm, which includes, besides him, M. H. Newmark, Max Cohn and Carl Seligman. Their place of business is the large brick block embracing Nos. 41 to 51 inclusive, on North Los Angeles street, and contains 40,000 square feet of floor room. This furnishes space for a very large stock of groceries, tobacco and cigars and liquors carried

by this enterprising honse, whose trade extends over Southern California as far north as Bakers- field and eastward into New Mexico and Texas, and has reached $2,000,000 a year. The firm employs thirty-five to forty people in their busi- ness, nine of whom are outside salesman.

O. NEWHALL, the genial and obliging proprietor of the Southern Hotel in New- hall, also dealer in general merchandise, is a native of Massachusetts. He was born near the " Hub " at a town called Sangus. He is a son of J. A. Newhall, who was foreman in a Boston store for many years. Mr. Newhall is a nephew of H. M. Newhall, the celebrated owner of the Newhall Ranch. He has been in the mercantile business for several years, having clerked for Newhall, Sons & Co. in San Fran- cisco for a number of years. In 1887 he opened the hotel in Newhall, which burned down Octo- ber 23 of the same year. Mr. Newhall was married in San Francisco in 1884 to Miss Lanra E. Terry. This lady is a native of the Golden State, and was born in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. She is a novelist of some note, having written under the nom de plume of "Ada L. Ilalstead." One of her novels has been pub- lished by the Golden Era Publishing Company of San Francisco. The title of this novel is " Adopted; or, The Serpent Bracelet." Another work soon to appear is " Myrine; or, The Death Trust." Mrs. Newhall is a regular contributor to Waverly's Magazine, in Boston, also to sev- eral local papers. Mr. and Mrs. Newhall reside at No. 1} Spruce street, opposite the Sonth- ern Hotel, in the beautiful mountain village bearing the same name.

ILLIS NEWTON .- There is not, per- haps, in all this county, a farmer more worthy of mention in this work than is Mr. Newton. HIe began at the very bottom, in

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

this county, and to-day is one of the leading farmers in his section. He was born February 8, 1840, in Hot Springs County, Arkansas, and is a son of John and Lydia (Meredith) Newton, both natives of Tennessee. His grandfather was a native of the Old Dominion, and his great-grandfather was a native of Ireland. He came across the water in time to serve as a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war. Lydia Meredith traces her ancestry back to the Welsh. By Mr. Newton she had eight children, five sons and three daughters, of which the subject of this sketch is the sixth child. He, with the rest, had such educational advantages as were afforded them by the common schools of their native State. There he married, April 9, 1857, Miss Charlotte IIndson, a native of Missouri, and the daughter of William and Nancy (Richardson) Hudson, both from Virginia. Mr. Andson emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky, from Kentucky to Missouri, from Missouri to Arkan- sas, and from Arkansas to Texas, where he died in January, 1882, aged eighty-four years. In 1860 Mr. Newton went to Lampasas County, Texas, where he engaged in the stock business very successfully till 1865. He then incurred heavy losses, and in the same year started west- ward across the plains for California. After a long and tedious journey of eight months they arrived iu Los Angeles County. They pitched their tent, in which they lived for ten days. Then he rented land and farmed for three years, when, in 1868, he bought 100 acres, three and a half miles southeast of Downey. On this farm he and his faithful wife endured all the hardships and inconveniences of pioneer life; and, had they been easily discouraged, they would never have had the pleasant home they now have, with all their children well settled in life. William, the oldest son, married Ada Goodwin, and is a farmer near Norwalk. John is a trusted engineer on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Jesse married Sallie Hunting, and is an extensive farmer in San Diego County. Alice, their only daughter, is still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Newton have both been members 37

of the Baptist Church for more than thirty years, and for several years he has been a Dea- con in that church. He and Prof. S. Holgate were the first members initiated into the Ma sonic lodge at Downey, and he is still an honored member of that fraternity. Mr. New- ton is recognized by all who know him as an enterprising farmer, a good citizen and a trne Christian.

LLEN W. NEIGHBORS, a general farmer and fruit raiser, residing one mile north of Downey, came to California in 1865, and located in San Bernardino County, where he re- mnained two years, after which he came to Los Angeles County. He bought eighty acres of land, which he has highly improved, and has recently erected a very comfortable residence, having lost his original home by fire two years ago. He has some thirty-five acres of English walnuts, and a fine variety of oranges and lemons. Mr. Neighbors came from Texas to this State, but is a native of South Carolina, born in York district in 1825, his parents being James and Sarah (Allen) Neighbors, both natives of South Carolina. Their ancestors were pioneers of Virginia, and were of English descent. They both died in Mississippi, having reared a family of four sons and one daughter, Sarah Neighbors; the subject of this sketch being the oldest. He was married in 1855 to a Miss Burrough, by whom he had four chil- dren: Ishmael; Celia, now the wife of Stanford Cheney; Nancy, wife of Amon Rose, and Sarah, wife of John Fuquay, of San Bernardino County. His first wife having died, he was married again, this time in Kentucky, to Miss Elizabeth McCan, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of John and Mary (Boshares) McCan. Her father was a native of Kentucky, and her mother a native of Tennessee. This second union has been blessed with seven children: James, who married Miss McMillen; John W., at home; William F., who married Moley Sex; Burrell,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

at home; Mary, wife of John Borden, of San Diego; Maggie, wife of Henry Burk, of Los Neitus, and Emma, at home. Mrs. Neighbors and her daughters are members of the Baptist Church. Politically Mr. Neighbors affiliates with the Democratic party. At the age of twenty-one he enlisted in the Mexican war, under Colonel Nat Anderson, of Memphis, Ten- nessee. S. M. Neighbors, a brother of Allen W., resides with him at Downey.

ILLIAM O'CONNOR. - Among the noticeable fine orange groves of Pomona is that owned by Mr. O'Connor, who lias sixteen acres on White avenne, north of Holt avenue. Eight aeres of this land are pro- ducing oranges of the Tahiti seedling variety. These trees were planted by Mr. O'Connor in 1877, and are in full bearing, yielding large crops of some of the finest seedling oranges to be found in San José Valley. The rest of his land-such as is not occupied by his buildings-is devoted to decidnous fruits, comprising French prunes, peaches, apricots, pears, etc. Mr. O'Connor has upon his land a substantial cottage residence of modern architectural design, occupied by his family, and also three other cottages which are erected for purchasers of suburban homes. The subject of this sketch was born in Sligo County, Ireland, March 26, 1842. His parents, Michael und Mary (MeTigh) O'Connor, were both natives of that eounty. His father was a gardener and nurseryman, and in 1847 moved his family to Manchester, England. Mr. Connor was deprived of alnost all educational facilities, and at the age of seven years was sent into a factory, where he worked as a cotton spinner for one-half of each day, and later was employed all his time at that occupation. When abont seventeen years of age his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he was engaged as a coal miner until 1861 or 1862. Ile then went to Omaha, Nebraska, and was engaged by the Union Pacific Railroad

Company in the construction of their railroad across the continent. In 1864, before the com- pletion of that road, he entered the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and was employed in construction work in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and at other points. In 1875, while still in the railroad employ, he came to Los Angeles County, first working in con- struction at Anaheim, and in July of the same year he came to Spadra, where he was placed in charge over a section under construction. He was a section master upon the road until 1883, when he quit railroading and devoted himself to a thorough cultivation of his fruit farm which he had established in 1877. He has also been engaged in street railroad construction in Pomona, as a contractor, and was one of the builders of the motor line to North Pomona. Mr. O'Connor's success in life has been due to his energetic and industrious habits, coupled with his well poised intellect and native wit, rather than to any educational advantages he received in his youth; and his straightforward course of life has gained him the respect and esteem of his associates. Politically, he is a straight Republican. A strong supporter of churches and schools, he has contributed liber- ally to both, and was one of the first to aid in building and establishing the Catholic Church in Pomona. In August, 1873, Mr. O'Connor married Miss Catherine Riley, the daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Riley) Riley. residents of Caven County, Ireland. Mrs. O'Connor was born in that county March 28, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor have had six children: William J., Edward II., Catherine R., Ada Madeline, Grace M., and Francis L. The fourth child, John P., died May 21, 1882, aged fourteen months and eleven days.

W. ORR, one of the true pioneers of California, and one of the mnost suc-

6 cessful farmers in Los Angeles County, was born in Union County, Kentucky, February

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

15, 1832, a son of William and Susan (Stone) Orr, both natives of Kentucky. His grand- father, John Orr, was a native of Ireland and came .to this country many years ago, settling in Kentucky. For many years he was a surveyor in the wilds of Kentucky, and subsequently a farmer. The subject of this sketch is the fifth in a family of seven children; was but five years old when his father died; his mother died in the year 1867. Mr. Orr came to California in 1852, across the plains. He worked at mining some, but was not very successful; then he farmed in Oakland Valley for several years; next he moved to Contra Costa County, and en- gaged in stock-raising for six years. After this he took charge of the La Fayette Hotel, where in a year and a half he lost about all he had. In 1864, in company with Judge Venable, he went to Nevada and carried on the lumber bnsi- ness for about three years. In December, 1866, he started back to Kentucky, arriving there the 8th of January, 1867, and the next year was married to Miss Sallie Ryle. This lady was born in Oldham County, Kentucky, and is the daughter of William and Annie (Baldock) Ryle. Her father died in California, Jannary 26, 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and her mother is still living with her at a good old age. After their marriage our subject and his wife went to Texas, and at Waco their first child was born. Just twelve months after leaving their home in Kentucky they landed at San Diego, California. Mr. Orr was entirely out of money, but with that determination which is characteristic of so many of the pioneers of this county, he went to work, and many were the hardships which he and his young wife endured. He received a letter from his faithful friend, Judge Venable, to come to Los Angeles County, and at once accepted the invitation. He rented land in this county for two years, and then bought forty acres of land where he now lives. To the original forty he has added 160 acres more, all well improved, and a comfortable res- idence. He has some of the finest thorough- bred horses and cattle in the State, and his en-

terprise and thrift as a first-class farmer is known far and wide over the county. Mr. Orr owns also a fine fruit ranch near the city of Los Angeles. He has an interesting family of chil- dren, whose names are: Emma A., Willie S., John Joseph, Robert J. and Charles Augustus. Politically Mr. Orr is a firm believer in and en- thusiastic supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He is a large tax payer, and a live, progressive member of the school board in his district. Socially he is a Freemason, and one of the charter members of Downey Lodge. In concluding this biographical sketch it is no more than just to say that a more worthy name does not appear in this work. By honest in- dustry and faithful toil he and his excellent companion have made a home for themselves and their children, and are surrounded by all that is necessary to make them comfortable and happy.

OHN OSGOODBY was born in Lincoln- shire, England, in 1819, the son of Harri- son and Ann (Hannah) Osgoodby, natives of that county. When the subject of this sketeli was about eight years of age they emigrated to the United States and located in Monroe County, New York, about fourteen miles from Rochester. Mr. Osgoodby was reared and schooled in that county. In his young manhood he worked at the cooper's trade, but his calling was that of a farmer. In 1852 he married Miss Mary Ann Dagworthy, who was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, in 1827. Mr. Osgoodby continued his farming operations in the county of his adop- tion until 1865. In that year he emigrated to Missouri, locating in Cass County, and was there employed in farming until 1869. He then located in Miami County, Kansas, where he fol- lowed agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until he came to California, in 1877, settling at San Gabriel. Remaining there until the next spring, he moved to a point abont two miles south of Pomona, at which place he purchased,

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from Lonis Phillips, forty acres of land. This land he devoted to general farming purposes, and conducted his operations upon the same until 1882. He then, in connection with his son, George Osgoodby, purchased a forty-acre tract just west of Pomona, and for the next five years was engaged in fruit and vine culture upon that place. In 1887 the increasing demand for resi- dence property induced him to sell his acres, and the tract was subdivided and sold, becoming the Osgoodby tract of Pomona. Mr. Osgoodby retained only such land as he needed for resi- denee property, upon which he erected a sub- stantial cottage home, in which he proposes to pass the declining years of his life. He is well known in the community in which he resides as a reputable and respected citizen. He is a deacon in the Baptist Church, of which he has been a consistent member for more than fifty years. In politics he has been a Republican since the organization of that party in 1856. Previous to that he was a Whig, easting his first vote in 1840, for General William H. Har- rison. Mr. and Mrs. Osgoodby have two chil- dren: George, whose history is given in this volume, and Andrew, both of whom are resi- dents of Pomona.

EORGE OSGOODBY .- The subject of this sketch dates his birth in Monroe County, New York, July 4, 1853. IIis parents, John and Mary Ann (Dagworthy) Os- goodby (whose history appears in this volume), were natives of England, who, early in life, set. tled in the county of his birth. Mr. Osgoodby was reared in that county until about twelve years of age, when his parents moved to Mis- souri and settled in Cass County, and in 1869 located in Miami County, Kansas. Ilis father was a farmer and stock-grower, and the subject of this sketch was reared to that calling. In his several places of residence he was given the ad- vantages of the best public schools. He was also a student in the William Jewell College at

Liberty, Missonri, and afterward was under pri- vate tuition for nearly four years, fitting himself for the occupation of a teacher. In 1877 he came to California and located at San Gabriel, where he followed agricultural pursuits until 1882, when he moved to Pomona, and, in con- nection with his father, entered into horticultural operations upon a forty-acre tract, just west of what was then the village of Pomona. A part owner of this land, he entered heartily into its improvement and cultivation, planting orchards and vineyards. In 1887 the rapid growth of the city of Pomona caused his land to be in de- inand for residence purposes. Consequently it was subdivided and sold, forming the part of the city known as the Osgoodby tract. He re- tained only such as he required for his residence and grounds. Mr. Osgoodby's connection with Pomona has made its name known throughout the world, and forms one of the interesting epi- sodes in the political history of the Presidential campaign of 1888. He is an intelligent, edu- cated gentleman, and one who for years has taken a deep interest in the policy of the two great political parties of the United States. The at- titude of the Cleveland administration toward England in regard to Canadian fisheries, reci- procity treaties, protective tariff, etc., was deemed by Mr. Osgoodby but a blind, and he conceived the idea of eliciting the opinion of no less a per- son than the British Minister at Washington, as to the two great political parties and their relations to the Mother Country. The following letter-the historic "Murchison letter" -- was accordingly written and forwarded by Mr. Os- goodby:

" POMONA, CAL., September 4, 1888. " To the British Minister, Washington, D. C .- Sir: The gravity of the political situation here, and the duty of those voters who are of English birth but still consider England the mother land, constitute the apology I hereby offer for intruding for information.

"Mr. Cleveland's message to Congress on the fishery question justly excites our aların, and compells us to seek further knowledge before

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casting our votes for him, as we had intended to do. Many English citizens have for years refrained from being naturalized, as they thought no good would accrue from the act, but Mr. Cleveland's administration has been so favorable and friendly toward England, so kind in not en- forcing the retaliatory aet passed by Congress, so sound on the free-trade question, and so los- tile to the dynamite school of Ireland, that by the hundreds, yes, by the thousands, they have become naturalized for the express purpose of helping to eleet him over again, the one above all of American politicians they consider their own and their country's best friend. I am one of these unfortunates. With a right to vote for President in November, I am unable to under- stand for whom I shall cast my ballot, when but one month ago I was sure Mr. Cleveland was the man. If Mr. Cleveland is pursuing a new policy toward Canada, temporarily only, and for the sake of obtaining popularity, and a contin- uation of his office four years more, but intends to cease his policy when his re-election is seeured in November, and again favor England's inter- ests, then I should have no further doubts, but go forward and vote for him. I know of no one better able to direct me than you, sir, and I most respectfully ask your advice in the matter. I will further add that the two men, Mr. Cleve- land and Mr. Harrison, are very evenly matched, and a few votes may eleet either one. Mr. Harrison is a high-tariff man, and a believer in the American side of all questions, and undoubt- edly an enemy to British interests generally. This State is evenly divided between the two parties, and a mere handful of our naturalized countrymen can turn it either way. When it is remembered that a small State (Colorado) de- feated Mr. Tilden in 1876, and elected Hayes, the Republican, the importance of California is at onee apparent to all. As you are at the fountain-head of knowledge on the question, and know whether Mr. Cleveland's present policy is temporary only, and whether he will, as soon as lie seenres another term of four years in the Presidency, suspend it for one of friendship and

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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