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 93

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 93

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ENRY A. PALMER is one of the prom- inent business men of Pomona, who has for years been associated with the various industries and interests that have been 60 in- strumental in building up and creating one of the most prosperous citics of Los Angeles County. In 1882 Mr. Palmer, in connection with C. T. Mills, of Oakland, and M. L. Wicks, of Los Angeles, incorporated the Pomona Land and Water Company. This company succeeded the old Los Angeles Irrigation and Land Co- operative Association, purchasing their land and water rights and also buying an interest in the Loop & Meserve tract and San Antonio Cañon water rights. From its incorporation until 1884 Mr. Palmer was vice president of

the company; he was then elected president (vice C. T. Mills, deceased), which position was filled by him until 1887. It was while under his able management that the company reached its greatest success, and the city of Pomona sprang, as if by magic, into existence as the leading town in the San José Valley. He is also the owner and incorporator of the Pomona Bank, the first incorporated (1883) in that city, and the second to open its doors for business. He has also taken an active and leading part in the street railroads and other enterprises that have been so beneficial to the city. Mr. Palm- er's life has been spent in active business por- suits, a brief résume of which is of interest. He is a native of Stonington, Connecticut, dating his birth in 1842. He was reared in his native place and given the advantages of a good academical and business education, and early entered into mercantile life as a clerk. He was engaged as an express agent, and afterward as a clerk in the United States Custom House at Stonington. In 1862 he came to California and was employed in a banking and assay office in Folsom, Sacramento County, until 1864, and then spent a year in assaying in Michigan Bluff. While there he was offered the responsi- "ble position of cashier in the United States Mint at San Francisco, which position he filled from 1865 to 1867. IIe then accepted the po- sition of cashier in the well-known banking house of Banks & Co., of that city, and was employed in their bank until 1869, when he organized and was appointed cashier of the Union Savings Bank of Oakland. From that time until 1886 Mr. Palmer was prominently identified with the banking interests of that city. Ile was the first cashier of the Union Savings Bank upon its incorporation in 1869, and afterward the first cashier of the Union National Bank, established in 1877. From 1882 to 1886 he was the president of the last-named institution, and also vice-president and treas- urer of the Union Savings Bank. Since 1886 Mr. Palner has spent most of his time in con- ducting his various business interests in Pomona.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Mr. Palmer has also held many positions of trust in the institutions of State and county. He was the secretary and treasurer of the State institution for the deaf, dumb and blind at Berkeley, from 1870 to 1882, and is now one of the directors of that institution, having been appointed as such in 1885; and for two years was director of the Home for the Adult Blind. He was for eight years a member of the board of education as a school director in Berkeley, and is now the president of the board of trus- tees of the Pomona College. He is also a mem- ber of the Pilgrim Congregational Church of Pomona, and one of its trustees and strongest supporters. In political matters he is a straight Republican, and is always allied with the best elements of that party. He stands high in Ma. sonic circles; is a member of Durant Lodge, of Berkeley, and of the chapter and commandery of Oakland, and is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of San Francisco. In 1867 Mr. Palmer married Miss Jane O. Day, the daughter of Sherman Day, formerly the United States Surveyor-Gen- eral of California, and well known throughout the State. The names of their children are: Theodore S., Elizabeth D. and Harold K. Mr. Palmer's father was Benjamin F. Palmer, a well known resident of Stonington, Connecticut, and a descendant from one of the old colonial fami- lies of New England. Both Mr. Palmner and his wife are direct descendants of Roger Sher- man, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, from Connecticut.

A. PACKARD .- Among the most pro- ductive and best improved properties in the San José Valley is that of the above- named gentleman. His 170-acre tract is located just north of and adjoining the town of Lords- burg. Mr. Packard is a resident of Chicago, Illinois, where he has spent many years in a successful business career. Desirons of a winter residence in the genial climate of Southern Cal-

ifornia, in 1884 he purchased the land above mentioned and commenced its improvement and cultivation. Eighty acres of his land are de- voted to vineyard purposes, producing wine grapes, in about equal proportions, of the Zin- fandel, Berger and Matero varieties, and also about thirty-five varieties of table grapes for family use. His vineyard, though not in full bearing, is remarkably productive. Twenty-five acres in 1888 yielded an average of twelve tons per acre. The average yield per acre of his eighty acres in the same year was eight tons per acre. Forty-five acres are planted with trees, classed as follows: Ten acres in Washing- ton Navel oranges, fifteen acres in apricots, ten acres in French prunes, and ten acres in pears. At present he is extending his orchard by plant- ing twenty-five acres of orange trees. Every thing about his model farm shows the success to be gained in horticultural pursuits, when in- telligent care and cultivation is combined with sound business principles. His improvements are of the first order. His beautiful residence is a model country home. No expense has been spared in securing all the conveniences and com- forts that characterize this well-ordered place. Shade and ornamental trees, rich floral produc tions and well-kept lawns add to the comfort and beauty of his surroundings. Commodions barns and out-buildings, including a large two- story fruit storage and packing house, are among his substantial improvements. The water for irrigation purposes is procured from the foot- hills north of the place, from the supply de- veloped by Fleming & Rohrer, and is piped to a 470,000-gallon reservoir, located on the north- east corner of his lands, and thence by a com- plete system of pipe lines is distributed over the place. This reservoir has an elevation of fifty-five feet above the location of his residence and farm buildings, furnishing a strong water pressure which Mr. Packard has made available in running a water moter, that is utilized in running circular saws, emery wheels, grindstones, etc. Except on the south line, Mr. Packard's land is surrounded by a line of encalyptus trees,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

adding greatly to the beauty of his place, while furnishing protection against undesirable winds. Mr. Packard is a successful business man and capitalist, having large interests in Chicago and other points East. His engagement in horti- cultural pursuits in the San José Valley is not a mere pastime; it is a successful business vent- ure, made so by the application of the same energy and sound business principles that have secured him success in the various enterprises that have engaged many years of his life. He is a progressive and representative citizen, ready and willing to aid any enterprise that will build np and develop the resources of his seetion.

ON. JOAQUIN DIAZ PRIETO, Mexican Consul at Los Angeles, was born in the city of Frontera, Tabasco, Mexico, April 4, 1847. lle attended school and received his education in the city of Vera Cruz, studied medi- cine, received his license from the Government and engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1864 he was studying medicine at Vera Cruz at the time that Maximillian came to invade Mexico, and was one of the first to protest and to take np arms in defense of his country. He was appointed to a place in the medical depart- ment of the Government during the troubles with England, France and Spain, and served two years. In 1872 he was appointed customs offi- cer by President Jnarez at Frontera, State Ta- basco, and was connected with this department of the Government for five years, a position of great responsibility. He was the second chief enstoms official, with bonds. He then resnmed the practice of his profession. Ile was made prefect politico and military commander of the States of Tobasco and Campeche, and also ap- pointed judge of first instance for the same States. In 1882 he was appointed by his Gov- ernment and sent as consul to Tombstone, Ari- zona. It was a position of great responsibility at that time, during the trouble between Ari- zona and Mexico, and it required very judicions

treatment. He was the first consul to defend Mexican interests on the border line, and his conrse was approved and commended by Minis- ter Romero at Washington. During the Apache Indian troubles and the differences between him- self and General Crook, the consul was a vigor- ons defender of Mexican interests, and the Mex- ican minister at Washington sustained him in the position he had taken and extended him his entire approval. In July, 1886, he was se- lected for promotion to the consulship of his government to Los Angeles, and has taken an advanced position and an active interest in pro- mnoting the commercial interests between Mex- ico and Sonthern California, using his infinence and efforts in behalf of the international interests of both countries. He still holds his commis- sion as Colonel in the Mexican army. Senior Prieto is working now to establish a steamship line to do business between the ports of San Pedro and San Diego, California, and the Mex- ican ports on the Pacific Coast. IIe is also in- terested in assisting the agricultural and mineral development of Mexico at several points, being connected with several large companies having that objeet in view. Mr. Prieto was united in marriage, February 20, 1884, with Miss Gnad- elupe Sanchez Tirado, of Mexico. She is a dangh- ter of Manuel R. Sanchez, a lawyer of promi- nence, now living with his daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Prieto have one danghter, Amanda, four and a half years old.

OUIS PHILLIPS .- Prominent among the pioneers of Los Angeles County and the early settlers of the San José Valley is the above-named gentleman, who has for nearly two-score years been identified with the indns- tries of the county. Mr. Phillips was born in 1831, in Germany, where he was reared and ed- neated until 1848, when he emigrated to the United States. Locating in Louisiana, he de- voted his attention to mercantile pursuits nntil 1850. In that year he came to California and

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

established himself in business, opening a store on Long Wharf in the City of San Francisco. The next year he came to Los Angeles County and entered into mercantile pursuits in Los Angeles. In 1853 he purchased a ranch east of that city, on the San Gabriel River, and for the next ten years engaged in farming and stock- raising in addition to his other enterprises. In 1863 Mr. Phillips came to Spadra, and in 1866 purchased the San José Ranch, containing 12,- 000 acres of some of the best land in San José Valley. He then entered largely into stock- growing and general farmning, which he has since continned. As the settlement of the county increased, he sold portions of his estate. At this writing (in 1889), he is the owner of a magnifi- cent ranch of 6,000 acres, nearly all under a high state of cultivation, producing rich harvests of hay and grain and affording pasturage for his herds of horses, cattle and sheep. He was one of the first to engage in the breeding of im- proved stock in the county, and for years has devoted much time and money toward placing the raising of fine stock among the paying in- dustries of the county. The homestead portion of his ranch is located at Spadra, and there he has entered into fruit and vine cultivation, hav- ing forty acres of vineyard devoted to wine grapes, and fifteen acres to French prunes. His family orchard is a model, containing a large variety of citrus and decidnons, fruits. He has forty inches of water available for irrigation . purposes, which he has utilized for fish culture, having two large ponds well stocked with carp and cat fish. The improvements are first-class. His two-story brick residence has been fitted and furnished with all the conveniences that characterize a well-ordered modern home, while commodious barns and out-buildings meet the requirements of his farming operations. The whole is surrounded with shade and ornamental trees and well-ordered grounds. Mr. Phillips is a large owner of business and residence prop- erty in the city of Los Angeles, owning three large business blocks. He has been largely iden- tified with the wonderful growth and prosperity

of that city, as hic has also that of the neighbor- ing city of Pomona. He is well known through- out the county as an energetic and progressive citizen, and a shrewd business man, and it is to those qualities, combined with his wonderful foresight, that he owes his success in lite. Polit- ically he is a Democrat, and, though not an office-seeker, his influence is felt in the ranks of his party. In 1866 he was appointed postmas- ter at Spadra, upon the establishment of that office. He is a charter member of Pomona Lodge, No. 246, I. O. O. F. In 1868 Mr. Phil- lips married Miss Esther Blake, a native of Illi- nois. They have four children living, viz .: Belle, who married Frank George, now residing in Northern California; Charles B., Louis and George, who are members of their father's house- hold.

OSEPH EDWARD PLEASANTS was born near St. Charles, Missouri, March 30, 1836. His father, James Madison Pleasants, who still lives at Pleasant Valley, Solano County, and after whom the valley is named, is a native of Kentucky. His mother's name was Mason; she died in 1848. Both parents were of English ancestry. The father and two sons came to Cal- ifornia in 1849, by way of Goose Lake, entering the Sacramento Valley at Redding, with a com- pany of 120 persons, one-fourth of whom died on the way from cholera. Edward was the youngest of the party. He and his father and older brother inined on Feather River eighteen months; then came to what is now Solano County and, on the advice of John Wolfskill, settled at Pleasants Valley in 1851. Bear, deer and antelope were very plenty there then, as also were California lions. Eleven bears were counted by the Pleasants at one time. Ed- ward worked with his father till June, 1856, when he came to Los Angeles to attend the pri- vate school of William Wolfskill, living mean- while in Mr. Wolfskill's family, till the last of 1858. He then went to the rancho " Lomas de

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Santiago," then owned by Mr. Wolfskill, to take charge of horses and cattle, on shares. He has made his home in the Santiago Cañon ever since. In 1861 Pleasants and William C. War- ren, then city marshal of Los Angeles, and the sheriff of San Bernardino County, started after a large band of horses which had been stolen and taken through the Cajon Pass out on Mo- jave River. Near Rock Creek they found the camp of the horse-thieves and captured two of them, who were afterward convicted and sent to the penitentiary from San Bernardino Connty; a third one escaped. A year or two after, he was apprehended for killing Jolin Sanford, and bronght to Los Angeles and tried and convicted by the court, and hung by the people on a cross- beam of a corral gate-way, where Lawyer's Block now stands. Ile gave his name as Charles Wil- kins, and according to his own confession he had been with the Mormons in the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and had first and last killed many men, and was a desperado and fiend of the blackest dye. Pleasants' party recovered about forty animals, twenty-six head of which belonged to Workman and Rowland, of La Puente, and some to Mr. Temple. These rancheros sub- scribed each $100 to fit out the pursning party. In 1862 Mr. Pleasants was shot by horse-thieves in one of his own corrals in the Santiago Canon, where he found three of them stealing horses. One of the gang, Bonillo by name, under pre- tense of being friendly, approached Pleasants as he entered the corral on horseback, as if to shake hands, and suddenly drew his pistol; Pleasants threw up his arm, knocking away the pistol. This shot, however, disabled Mr. Pleas- ants' right hand, and he commenced shooting with his left hand, wounding Bonillo, who, when all his six shots were fired, ran. Every one of these shots hit Mr. Pleasants, his saddle or his horse. Three of them hit Mr. Pleasants, who only fired five shots (all with his left hand), which were all he had, as he had previously fired off one; but the robber supposed that Mr. Pleasants had one shot still in reserve, and as his companions had made off' at the commence-

ment of the mêlée, he fled too. And thus Mr. Pleasants, in a left-handed fight of one against three, remained master of the field and of his own corral. Cattle and horse thieves long ago concluded that Santiago Cañon was an un- healthy locality for their vocation; and now it is one of the most peaceful and quiet, as it is one of the most picturesque mountain valleys in Southern California. Mr. Pleasants has had much success in raising Cashmere goats, of which he has now about 1,000 head. They are easily raised and can live wherever a common goat can. He has also engaged in bee enlture successfully, and cattle- raising. Ile made a very creditable exhibit of bees and honey, for which he received the gold medal at the New Orleans Exposition. July 15, 1868, Mr. Pleas- ants married Miss Mary Refugio Carpenter, who died in this city, January 26, 1888. A sister of Mr. Pleasants, Mrs. W. S. Reavis, is a resident of Los Angeles.

W. PESCHKE, capitalist, 308 Macy street, Los Angeles, is a native of Saxony, born September 18, 1826. He attended school during boyhood, grew up in his native country and was at Frankfort-on-the-Main during the Revolution. Having determined to emigrate to America, he sailed from Antwerp, September 25, 1846, on the ship Lady Arabella, of Boston, and arrived in New York about the 31st of Novem- ber. Having an old friend in Pennsylvania, the only acquaintance he had in this country, he wrote to him and received an immediate reply, urging Mr. Peschke to visit him. IIe accepted the invitation and spent the winter there, after which he went to New Bedford and remained until 1851. In the meantime his brothers came to this country and located in Cincinnati and near there. He visited them, and, after travel- ing about for some time, went to Boston, where he spent the winter. In April, 1852, he sailed for California and reached San Francisco in May. The ship carried 1,100 passengers from

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Panama and came near being shipwrecked on the rocks off Monterey. After reaching San Francisco he went to the mines for a time, but, not meeting with success, returned to San Fran- cisco and Sacramento. In the latter place he opened Columbus Hall, in October, and the fol- lowing month the great fire did not burn him out, but in moving he lost all he had. After a short time he went up to Shasta and Weaver- . ville, in 1854, and opened the Union Ilotel. He remained there until 1857, then sold out and went to Trinity River, bought water privilege and mines and built flumes, doing a good busi- ness, but losing everything by the great floods in November, 1861. The following year he visited Portland and thence to Victoria, West- minster, up to Carriboo, British Columbia; pros- pected there, but money gave out. Provisions were scarce; flour sold for $1.75 per pound; bacon, $1.50 per pound. In company with an old partner, left Williamsfork, traveling on foot through the Indian country; came out at old Fort Collville, on the Columbia River; thence over Spokane, Pelura, up Snake River to Lewistown, thence to Walla Walla, and per steamer to Dallas and Portland, Oregon. In the spring of 1863 went - up to Idaho (Boise mines), made a little money, and in 1864, in the fall, left there on horse- back over Burnt River, John Day River, Dal- las, Mount Hood to Portland, and per steamer Pacific to San Francisco. Went into business, but without luck. Early in the spring of 1865 he took steamer to Wilmington and passed through Los Angeles on his way to Arizona, but, on account of the Indians, did not remain, and re. turned here and sought employment; was clerk for Mr. Mateo Keller for six years; afterward opened a store on Aliso street and carried on mercantile business until 1877, when he sold out and re- tired from active business, and bought the prop- erty where he now lives. In 1876 he took a trip to Europe, spent a year in traveling, and since his return has given his attention to look- ing after his valuable real-estate interests at the corner of Macy street and Aliso road and elsewhere. Iu January, 1879, Mr. Peschke

married Miss Emelia Burkhardt, a native of Baden, Germany. They have two children: Frederick William and Julia A.

NDREW WILSON POTTS, at present one of the bank commissioners of Califor- nia, has been a citizen of Los Angeles County for nearly thirty years. Ile is a native of Bedford, Pennsylvania, born March 3, 1831. In 1846 he went to Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained until 1849, when he set out on the overland journey for California, arriving at Hangtown, then, now Placerville. He stayed there a few months, and then went to Nevada and Sierra counties, where he followed mining seven years. He was then deputy county clerk of Sierra County for five or six years. In 1859 he went to Washoe, and in 1861 came to Los Angeles. He was in the employ of Tomlinson & Co., forwarding and shipping merchants at San Pedro, till 1863, when he entered the em- ployment of Banning & Co., at Wilmington. On the completion of the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad, by H. B. Tichenor, he became the agent of the road at Los Angeles, where he remained· till 1869, at which time he was elected clerk of Los Angeles County, which office he filled acceptably to the people for fourteen years. In 1884 he bought the old Ramirez place at Highland Park, between Los Angeles and Pasa- dena, and built a beautiful home, where his family now reside. Mr. Potts was appointed bank commissioner by Governor Stoneman in 1886, the duties of which office take him all over the State. In 1861 Mr. Potts married Miss Sherrard, by whom he has four children: One son, Fred W., and three daughters, Florence, Meta and Aileen. " Wilson " Potts is not only a thoroughly trained accountant and business man, but he is also one of the most genial of men. He is one of those rare officials who hold that a public officer is a servant and not a ruler of the people; and who believe that the people, even the humblest, who may have legiti-

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mate business with an officer, are uniformly and always entitled to be treated with courtesy, and that their proper business with any public officer thereby becomes essentially public business; and therefore that it becomes strictly the function and dnty of the incumbent of such office, in every reasonable way, to facilitate the same as public business. No matter how complicated or vexations the duties of any office Mr: l'otts has held may have been, it is believed that no reasonable, or even half reasonable, request for information or assistance, pertaining to the duties of his office, ever met with rebuff or was ever treated otherwise by him than with the most patient courtesy. It is this fact, coupled with his thorough efficiency and fidelity in every position, that explains why he has been so popular, and why he was called upon to fill the office of clerk of the growing and important county of Los Angeles for fourteen years. He makes friends wherever he goes. His term as bank commissioner expires in 1890.

JON. GEORGE K. PORTER is a pioneer in the full acceptance and California mean- ing of the word. He came here in the year of the Argonants, and since that time he has in fact been persistent in industry. As success came to him with passing years it brought out all the best qualities of the man. Generous, candid in speech and action had he been before, but with greater scope and wider knowledge of men, these qualities came more into play. IIe is thus the reverse of not a few, and success had a different effect on him from its effect on many who, the more they succeed, the more does self become prominent. In 1849 the subject of this sketch left his home in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, to scek a fortune in the far West. Ile was then a youth of sixteen, and a son of Dr. John Porter. As far back as 1864 Mr. Porter went into the tanning business in Santa Cruz County. HIe also engaged in the manufacture of boots 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