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 95

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 95

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

hostile at the time, after one year living among them, and they (the Indians) were good friends to the Powell brothers ever after that; and, by so doing, the brothers were the means of making that section of the country safe for emigrants and people having business between Los An- geles, San Bernardino, and the upper country. After three years' time he sold out and moved with his brother to the Castec, and there gave his attention to sheep-raising. While there he was elected recorder of the Polomas mining district, and in 1875 he was elected justice of the peace of Soledad Township, and in 1877 was re-elected to the same office. In 1879 lie was united in marriage to Miss Dora A. Lake, of Jamestown, New York, a daughter of N. S. and Carrie I. (Hatch) Lake, both natives of the Empire State. Mrs. Powell's grandfather, Do- rastus B. Hatch, was an Englishman by birth, and one of the patriot soldiers under George Washington in the Revolutionary war. Her father, Judge Lake, moved to Santa Clara, Cali- fornia, November 28, 1867, and died in Pomona, California, April 19, 1875. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and was highly respected by all who knew him. Her mother died at New- hall, California, September 16, 1885, and was a woman who was ever ready to assist the sick or needy, and was loved by every one where she lived. In October, 1879, Mr. Powell was sent ont to Resting Springs as manager of the Cerro Gordo Freighting Company's store, and after a period of eighteen months he came back to Newhall. Mr. and Mrs. Powell have three children, one girl and two boys. The girl, Florence M., is nine years old. The boys, Fran- cis M. and Alfred C., are aged respectively six and four years. Mr. Powell is interested in prop- erty in this county, among which are mining lands situated at and near the San Francisco Cañon and other places. Politically he is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R., Stanton Post, No. 55, Los Angeles. Mrs. Powell is a member of the Stanton Woman's Relief Corps, No. 16, which is an auxiliary to the G. A. R. As a soldier Mr. Powell has a

record of which he may be prond; and as a citi- zen, he is loyal, patriotic, and enterprising, having some good stanch friends.

M. PECK, a thriving and prosperous tiller of the soil on farm lots Nos. 6 and 7, range 4, of the Temple and Gibson tract of the San Pedro Ranch, is in the cor- porate limits of the city of Compton. He came to the county in 1867, and hence is one of the very first settlers of this beautiful place. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born No- vember 23, 1821, and is a son of Horace R. and Mary (Johnson) Peck, natives respectively of the States of New York and Virginia, and both of English origin. The father was a soldier in the war of 1812 for two years. He was a farmer by occupation all his life, and died there in April, 1846. The mother died in December, 1854. They had a large family, in all fourteen children, eleven of whom lived to be grown and ten are still living. At the age of twenty-one years Mr. Peck bought a farm in Ohio, and for several years carried on the dairy business. His partner in the business left him with a debt of several . thousand dollars on his shoulders. Going to Pennsylvania and engaging in mining for several years Mr. Peck made money enough to pay off the indebtedness in Ohio, which he did. He had been educated at the common schools of his native county and also attended the academy at Farmington, Ohio, and at Kint- land. In 1852, with very little money but plenty of grit, he set out for California, coming from New York to San Francisco on steamer via South America. Mr. Peck has been very successful and is a man of great energy. He is an earnest Christian, and has been an exhorter and local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has held all the different offices of the church. While in the mining regions he or- ganized and superintended three different Sun- day-schools. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the I. O. O. F.

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After coming to California Mr. l'eck was for fifteen years engaged in mining, and subse- quently he became interested in sheep-raising and farming. Ile owns eighty acres of very fine land in and near the village of Compton, and twenty-five acres in Azusa, which yields him very handsome returns in the way of fruit and vegetables. Mr. Pcck is now well along on the shady side of life, and has chosen to fight its battles alone, having never been married. He was in the service of his country during the " late unpleasantness." He entered the army early in the spring of 1864 and belonged to the Reserve Corps of the Pacific Defense, but they were organized in State militia companies ready for work before being accepted in the United States service.

G. REYNOLDS .- There is not in Los Angeles County, perhaps, a man more worthy the title of trne pioneer than is he whose name stands at the head of this bio- graphical notice. He is one of the very first who eame to the county. When a boy twelve years of age he landed in this State, and knows full well all the hardships and privations of frontier life. But by thrift and economy and by co-opera- tion of his excellent wife he has made a home, and reared a large and intelligent family of children. Mr. Reynolds was born in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, May 29, 1834. His father, Simeon Reynolds, was of Irish extraction and was born in Rhode Island. IIe married Flo- rinda Sullivant, of Bedford County, Tennessee, and daughter of Jamnes Sullivant, whose ances- tors were Scotch. Mr. Reynolds is the fifth of a family of eight children. He attended the common schools of Coffeeville, Mississippi, when a boy. When he was eight years old his mother died and his father afterward married again. While yet a mere boy our subject went to Texas, and with Major Erskin joined a train for Cali- fornia, spending eight months in erossing the plains and driving 1,500 cattle. Twice they

were attacked by Indians, and some of the work cattle were killed. After experiencing hardships and adventures ineident to the overland trip they landed in California in November, 1854. For some time young Reynolds worked in the mines, and later purchased 160 acres of land in El Monte, which he farmed for three years. After this he was in the stock business five years. In 1865 he bought the farm where he has since lived. Where he beheld the mustard fifteen feet high, and where there was not the smallest switch of timber, the passer-by now beholds a comfortable farm residence, and prodnetive fields, and orchards and vineyards laden with luscious fruits. Mr. Reynolds was married in this county, in 1865, to Miss Martha Thompson. Her parents were Samuel and Margaret (Me- Kamy) Thompson, the father a native of Vir- ginia and the mother of Tennessee. They were pioneers of California, in 1852, and had a family of four children. The father died about seven years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have eleven children: Flora, Robert, John, William, Oliver, Linnie M., Emma, Joseph B., Davis, Ralph, and George. Mr. Reynolds has held the office of deputy sheriff of Los Angeles County for ten years, and has also served in other publie offices. He is a highly respected citizen and has a cordial welcome for all, and is noted for that true hospitality which is characteristic of the Southern people generally.

B. QUESNEL, contractor and builder, Los Angeles, was born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, January 13, 1854. Ilis parents were J. P. and Rachel (Knight) Quesnel. The latter is a sister of Mr. Knight, of the firm of Fisk, Knight & Co., one of the largest and most prominent mercantile houses in St. Louis. Our subject spent his boyhood in Illinois, attended school there and learned the trade of his father, who was a ship-builder. In 1875 Mr. Quesnel caine to California, located in San Buenaventura and remained there seven years. In 1882 he

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came to Los Angeles and engaged in building, taking contracts, and since then has successfully carried on the business here, enjoying a good jobbing trade. Mr. Quesnel was married De- cember 1, 1880, to Miss E. E. Miller, of Turner, Oregon. They have two children: Royal Otto and Iloward William.

USTIN RUGGLES .- One of the best con- ducted, systematically cultivated and most productive farms in the famed San Gabriel Valley is that of the above-named gentleman. His comparatively sınall farm contains but eighty acres, located in the El Monte school district, within one mile of El Monte, and to the north of that town. The most important industry conducted by Mr. Ruggles is a dairy, comprising forty milch cows of selected Dur- ham stock. The products of liis dairy, being first-class in every respect, command ready sale at the highest market prices. He also pays considerable attention to raising hogs, keeping from twenty-five to thirty of the famous Essex breed upon his place. His acres, besides sup- porting the above-named stock, including six or eight horses, are producing hay, grain and corn. He has thirty acres of alfalfa that under his system of fertilizing produce marvelous crops. Acres of his land have produced over 100 bush- els of corn per acre, and it is not nnusnal for him to take a crop of grain from the land and then in the same year plant and harvest a crop of corn from the same land, showing its wonderful productive power under a proper enltivation and fertilizing. He is also the owner of fifty acres of land located a few miles south of his home place, which he devotes to pasturing his young stock. Mr. Ruggles has spent a life-time in agricultural pursuits. He was born in Hard- wick, Massachusetts, in 1819. His parents, Adin and Cynthia (Snow) Ruggles, were natives of that State, and descendants from old families of the Massachusetts colony. From boyhood Mr. Ruggles was reared to farm life. In 1831 39

his parents moved to Tolland County, Connecti- cut, where his father died in 1836. His mother then took upon herself the care of the family, and after the death of her husband moved to Chautauqua County, New York, and there lo- cated in the almost unbroken forests, and com- menced the clearing and cultivating of land. In this she was ably assisted by the subject of this sketch, who remained at home assisting in sup- porting his mother and the family until 1850, when, leaving his mother well provided for, he located at Carroll, in the same county, and en- gaged in farming upon his own account. In 1849 he married Miss Martha Fields, the daugh- ter of Governor William Fields, of Connecticut, one of the most prominent men of his day. Her mother was Martha Penney, also from an old prominent family of Connectient. Mr. Rug- gles engaged in farming in New York until early in 1859, and then deciding to seek richer soils and less rigorous climate, started upon an overland trip to the Pacific Coast. Arriving at Jefferson City, Missouri, he fitted himself out with the typical ox teams and wended his way across plains and mountains to the Golden State. Upon his arrival in California he located in Placer County and for the next ten years en- gaged in farming, stock-raising and market gar- dening. In 1869 he moved to Monterey County and there conducted a dairy farm until 1874, when he came to Los Angeles County. His first enterprise upon his land was in sheep- raising and wool-growing; but this resulted disastrously, and at the end of three years lie found himself nearly $2,000 in debt, and no stock upon his place except one horse and one cow. Since that time his success has been sure and rapid, and he has secured a competency. No wild speculations have been indulged in, but an intelligent and thorough attention to well- conceived farm operations bronght about this result. In these operations he is ably assisted by his only son, Willie Ruggles, who has an undivided interest in the successes of his father while assuming his full share of the cares and struggles by which they have been wrought.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Mrs. Ruggles died in Monterey County, in June, 1873. Mr. Ruggles is an esteemed citizen in his community, and a credit to his ealling as a farmer. In political matters he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

IIAUNCEY B. RELYEA, one of the well- known citizens of Sierra Madre, was born in Orange County. New York, in 1829. llis father, James Relyea, was a native of Ulster County, that State. He was of French descent, his forefathers being among the French Hugue- nots who songht refuge in this country. Mr. Relyea's mother, Martha (Owen) Relyea, was a native of Orange County. Mr. Relyea was reared in his native place, receiving the educa- tion afforded by the common schools, until twelve years of age. The death of his father oe- curred at that time, and as he was the eldest of the children, he commeneed life's battle, not only for himself, but also aided in the support of the family. At sixteen years of age he com- meneed work at the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until 1849. In that year he went to Cineinnati, Ohio, and was there employed by his uncle in his soda-water manufactory. He soon mastered that business and was given the supervision and general management of the bnsi- ness, which he conducted for several years. After that he carried on the business upon his own account, and established and condneted works at Portsmouth, Ohio, Covington, Ken- tueky, Port Jarvis, New York, and other places. Hle was employed in those enterprises until abont 1870. Ile then returned to his old call- ing as a blacksmith and machinist, and was em- ployed in a large carriage-spring factory at New llaven, Connectient, and later was employed by . the firm as their traveling agent and salesman. In 1877 Mr. Relyea established himself in busi- ness in Lowell, Massachusetts, as an agent for the sale of wheel stock, carriage materials, ete. lle was successful in his enterprise and con- ducted that enterprise until 1885. In that year

he came to California, and in September took up his residence at Sierra Madre. Ile pur- chased ten aeres of wild and unimproved land on the south side of Grand View avenue, erected himself a neat cottage and commeneed hortieult- ural pursuits. In 1887 the demand for resi- dence lots indueed him to subdivide his tract, and he sold off all his land except one acre, which he retained as a home. This place he has fully improved, planting a large variety of choice citrus and deciduous fruits, berries, etc. Ever since taking up his residence in Sierra Madre, Mr. Relyea has taken an active interest in building up his section. He is a stoekholder and director of the Sierra Madre Water Com- pany. Ile also has real estate interests in Pasadena, Monrovia, Lamanda Park and other places. He is an enterprising and progressive citizen. In political matters he is a Republican. In 1863, at Portsmouth, Ohio, Mr. Relyea mar- ried Miss Sarah Stearns, a native of Connecti- ent. She died in 1866, leaving one child, who died in 1870. Ilis second marriage was in 1873, when he wedded Miss Ellen Phelan, a native of Burlington, Vermont, and the daughter of John and Ellen (Murphy) Phelan, natives of Ireanld. From this marriage there are five children: Ilelena Gracie, Martha, Walter G., Josephine and Charles E.

TOSEPII W. ROBINSON, proprietor of the Boston Dry-Goods Store, and one of the most enterprising and successful business men of Los Angeles, is the son of a prominent Massachusetts dry-goods merchant, and was born at North Bridgewater, forty-two years ago. Ile entered the employ of a wholesale dry-goods firm in Boston, when a lad of thirteen years, and has been actively connected with the business ever since. Ilis father, H. W. Robin- son, started in the dry-goods business in North Bridgewater in 1844, and is still carrying it on there, and, though seventy years old, is well preserved and active. Before coming West the

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subject of this sketch was a partner with his father for seven years. In October, 1882, Mr. Robinson left his New England home and came to California, with the expectation of engaging in orange growing at Riverside, as he had friends residing in that citrus paradise. But, after looking over the ground and duly weigh- ing the matter, he concluded it would be better to continue in a business with which he was familiar. rather than engage in one he knew nothing about. The sequel proves the wisdom of his decision. Accordingly, on the 19th day of February, 1883, he opened a dry-goods store with a small stock of goods in one-half of the room now occupied by Mr. Harris's clothing store, at 125 North Spring street, for which he paid a rental of $125 per month. Ile and two clerks did the work of the store. In the brief period of six years and a half the business has grown to such mammoth proportions that ninety people are required to handle it. The rapid ex- pansion of the trade necessitated a change to more ample quarters, and in June, 1887, Mr. Robinson moved into the large and commodious room he now occupies on North Spring street, and known as the Boston Store. It is 165 x 41 feet in dimensions, finely fitted and furnished with every convenience for expediting the trans- action of business, including the Lampson basket cash system, and is one of the most complete and attractive business rooms on this coast. Mr. Robinson confines his trade strictly to legitimate dry-goods, of which he carries a very large stock of the best grades manufactured; and, his busi- ness being conducted on a high and honorable plan, his patronage includes the best citizens of the city and surrounding country. Each snc- ceeding year has witnessed an increase in the volume of trade over the year previous, that of 1888 being the largest in the history of the house, and aggregating abont $750,000. In the summer of 1887 Mr. Robinson established a wholesale store at Nos. 17 and 19 Temple street, where a purely jobbing business is done. The trade of this department extends over South- ern California and Arizona, and reached nearly

$250,000 in 1888. Mr. Robinson is one of the business men of Los Angeles who is thoroughly loyal in his sympathy with and faith in the city and adjoining country, and thinks Los Angeles one of the best business points of its size in the United States, the only drawback being the necessity of carrying a larger stock of goods for the same amount of trade, owing to the long distance from the source of supplies. He thinks the dry-goods business is conducted at as small a cost and ou as small a margin of profits as in Eastern cities, and avers that most lines of goods are as low in price as in the East- ern centers of trade. When he opened the doors of his little store in 1883, there were more dry- goods stores in Los Angeles than there are now, but they were run on the slow-going old-time plan. The infusion of Yankee blood and Yankee enterprise into the commercial life of the Angel City has wrought a revolution in the business methods of the Southern metropolis, and en- larged the volume of trade many fold within the past decade. Mr. Robinson married a daughter of New England, who accompanied him to this sunny land of the Occident.

R. RINALDI was the first settler in the San Fernando Valley belonging to the Cancasian race. He is a native of Ber- lin, Prussia, and was born in 1834. His father was Carlos Ambrosns Robert Rinaldi, a native of Italy. He was an artist of considerable note, and traveled all over Europe. The subject of this sketch came to America in 1856. He landed in New York, and from there traveled over sixteen States and three Territories, till in 1859 he landed his "weather beaten bark" on the golden shores of California. He first located in Los Angeles, where he founded the Los Angeles Furniture Company. He established this business in 1868, and three months after- ward it was known as Rinaldi & Co. In 1872 he sold out to I. W. Lord, and bought 151 acres of land, which he has subjected to a very high

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state of cultivation. He purchased this of a Spanish widow by the name of Maria Los Angeles de Filaes de Buro. This land had a title, and its history is very interesting. Mr. Rinaldi built on section 8, township 2, range 15 west, a mile and a half northwest of the old mission and two miles and a half west of San Fernando. He raises fine varieties of oranges, olives and vines. December 29, 1869, he mar- ried Miss Francisca Vallez, a native of Califor- nia and of Spanish origin. She is a daughter of Julian Vallez, whose parents are natives of Spain. fler mother's maiden name was Ancan- acion Reys. The Reyses were a very important family in the early history of this county, and held celebrated titles and grants. Mr. and Mrs. Rinaldi have reared an interesting family. The names of their children are: Charlotte, Otto, Isaae, Julian, Osear and Charley. Mr. Rinaldi is a warmn friend to the public schools, and has rendered valuable service to his distriet as trus- tee. Ile also served as deputy sheriff for two years. Ile is a charter member of the Pental- pha Masonic Lodge in Los Angeles; is Secretary of the A. O. U. W. Lodge, No. 212, San Fer- nando. Mr. Rinaldi has furnished some very important dates and statistics, and in the early history of the San Fernando Valley none are better informed than he, nor none more willing to aid a worthy enterprise.

ICTOR PONET, a pioneer of Los Angeles, is a native of Ulbeck, Belgium, born in the year 1836. Ile received in his native land a thorough college education, and after completing his studies traveled extensively iu Europe and America, visiting nearly all places of note in both countries. During his travels lie eame to Los Angeles, arriving in 1869. Ile was impressed with the natural beauty of South- ern California, the salubrity of its climate, and foresaw in Los Angeles a growing and prosper- ons eity as its future business center. He there- fore decided to make the City of the Angels his

future home and accordingly entered business as an importer and manufacturer of mirror and pieture frames. He later engaged successfully in the undertaking business, in which he con- tinued until the year 1865, when he retired. Sinee that time he has devoted his energies to the management of his real estate and other in- terests. Mr. Ponet has figured prominently in the business affairs of Los Angeles and is one of the organizers and still a director of the Ever- green Cemetery. Ile is a man of practical, sound judgment, strong traits of character, an econo- mist in the truest sense, a gentleman of worthy charity and a citizen highly esteemed. Mr. Ponet married in 1873 Miss N. J. Manning, a na- tive of Ireland, and they have a daughter, Ger- trude, and a son, William.

ISAAC N. RIIYNE .- One of the oldest and most respected eitizens now living in this county is the gentleman whose name heads this article. He comes from the Old Dominion ; was born in Bath County, Virginia, Jannary 8, 1817, his parents being Martin and Barbara (IIansbarger) Rhyne. Mrs. Rhyne's parents came from Germany and settled in Maryland, near Harper's Ferry, before the Revolutionary war. Jolın Hansbarger made a farm in Alle- ghany County, Virginia, where he lived and died. Martin Rhyne moved to Virginia at a very early day and "took his farm out of the woods," as was the eustom there in those days. There he lived and there they buried him at the advanced age of eighty-six years. The sub- ject of this sketch was married in 1843 to Miss Eliza Nesbit, who was reared in Rockbridge County, Virginia. Her parents were John and Phœbe (Travers) Nesbit, of Augusta County, Virginia. The result of this union was three children: Susan, now the wife of T. J. Wood, of Riverside; Mary, wife of Asa Todd, of Los Angeles; and Maggie, who keeps house for her father at the home he has made in this county, near Downey. Mrs. Rhyne died at her old home

Victor Pont

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

in Virginia in 1850. With his daughters, Mr. Rhyne crossed the plains to California in 1865, having previous to this live:l ten years in Mis- souri. After residing three years in Sın Ber- nardino County, in 1868 he bought the forty acres on San Gabriel River, three miles northwest of Downey, where, for nearly a quarter of a cent- ury, he has been successfully engaged in gen- eral farming. He owns valuable property in the city of Los Angeles, and may be classed with the successful men of this county. He is now, and has been for half a century, an active, earnest and consistent member of the church, as was also his beloved wife, who died many years ago, and to whose memory he has ever been true. He is recognized by all who know him as a true Christian and a man upright in all his dealings.

OHN ROBERTS, manager for the San Pedro Lumber Company, is a pioneer of this part of Los Angeles County. He came to Long Beach in 1884 from Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. Roberts is a native of the Buckeye State, boru in Belmont County in 1831, and is the son of Charles and Sarah (Harris) Roberts. The father was a native of Canada, and his parents were natives of Pennsylvania. Charles Roberts was a farmer by occupation, and in 1862 moved from Ohio to Missouri, where he farmed till 1872, in that year removing to Iowa, where he con- tinued the occupation of farming until his death, which occurred in 1875, his wife having died in 1871. They had a family of thirteen children, eight of whom are still living, the subject of this sketch being the oldest one of the family. John Roberts received the benefits of a common- school education, and in early manhood began tilling the soil in his native State. He learned the carpenter and cabinet-maker's trade, and at this he worked in Ohio till the year 1856, when he removed to Montezmina, Iowa. After remain- ing there about a year and a half he went to Nebraska, where he took an active part in the

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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