An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 132

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 132
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 132
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 132
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 132

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

J. H., our subject, at the age of twenty-one years started out in the world for himself. He had previously, at the age of fourteen years, mastered many of the principles of the pro- fession which he has so successfully practiced ever since. He was naturally a student, and at the age of eighteen years he was a proficient veterinary surgeon. At this time he was given the responsible charge of race horses. He began business by buying lame and diseased horses, curing them and selling them at advanced fig- ures. This he followed until 1870, when he teamed for a year on the desert. After this he put teams on the construction of the railroad to

Spadra, and ran the veterinary business along- side. In 1878 he moved to Newport, where he followed farming until he was washed out by the floods. In 1884, with a sick family and being $800 in debt, he moved to Santa Ana and bargained for residence property on the corner of Fourth and Ross streets, and also for other lots on First and Parton streets, where he ran a " Sick Horse Infirmary." Since that time Mr. Gar- ner has worked up a lucrative practice, and his skill in the profession is known far and wide. He has served as inspector for diseased horses in Los Angeles County, and at present holds that position by appointment in Orange County. He has discovered a remedy for lockjaw in horses, which, though simple, deserves special notice. Out of 168 cases treated, over two- thirds were cured.

Of his more private life it may be said that he was married November 6, 1870, to Miss Nettie Ames, danghter of Ellis and Olive Ames, the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. They had fourteen - children, and crossed the plains to California in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Garner have had eight children in all, four of whom are living, viz .: John, Guy S., Albert and Ernest. The deceased are: Olive, Ida, Maria and Robert.

ACOB ROSS, a prominent business man of Orange County, was born in Clinton County, Indiana, August 7, 1846. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth Ross, moved to Illinois in 1851, where the father engaged in the milling business and in farming until 1865, when they with their family came overland to California, being six months on the road. They unloaded at Watsonville, November 25, 1865. Mr. Ross, the father, prospected for a home in Salinas valley till 1868, when he moved to Southern California. He purchased the undi- vided interest in the Spanish grant of 1,860 acres, which, however, was afterward cut down to 1,073 acres. His purchase included the ter-

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

ritory embraced in Santa Ana west of Main street and north of First. He was the third settler in the valley, and was a successful stock- raiser and farmer until his death in 1870. The subject of this sketch was the namesake and youngest living son of his father. He was eighteen years old when he came with the fam- ily to California, and was engaged with his father until the age of twenty-six, when he married and commenced honsekeeping and the management of a farın of 160 acres adjoining Santa Ana on the west, a gift to him from his parents. The early days here were fraught with difficulties and hardships of which no one who has come in later has a practical knowledge. They tried to carry on agricultural pursuits in connection with stock-raising. The Spaniards were not disposed to cultivate the soil, and hence were opposed to the Americans settling up the country as farmers. Accordingly they gave much trouble by driving their herds close to cultivated fields and leaving them to their work of destruction. Mr. Ross liad to corral his stock to keep the Spaniards from killing it; and had to gnard his growing crops to keep them from being destroyed at night. At one time Mr. Ross had $4,000 worth of stock stolen from him in one night. Thus an idea may be gained of what it meant to be a pioneer.

After farmning for six years on his quarter- section, he became interested in politics, with which he has ever since been more or less identi- fied. He was proprietor and manager of the Santa Ana Weekly Herald, having purchased the Santa Ana Times, and he published the two together. Afterward he sold out the paper and served as justice of the peace two years and as deputy assessor two years. He was then chosen supervisor of Los Angeles County, on the Democratic ticket, serving four years. As a proof of his popularity, it can be said that he overcame a Republican majority of 480 votes. Before he took the office of supervisor he was opposed to county division; but when he saw how the Los Angeles County officials were dis- posed to "bleed " the southern end of the

county, he favored a division and worked for it. At the first election of officers for Orange County, Mr. Ross was nominated by the non- partisan convention at Santa Ana, and his nom- ination was ratified by the Orange convention, and the straight Republican convention failed to nominate a man against him. Thus he was elected Supervisor of the second district of Orange County, which district includes the fifth ward of Santa Ana. The Ross addition to Santa Ana was laid out by him in 1877. Its boundaries are fromn Ross street west to Olive and from First street north to Hickey. It was the largest and best addition to the city, con- taining many beautiful residences. Mr. Ross contributed liberally to the building of the Brunswick Hotel, and has aided materially in the growth and development of Santa Ana. He was one of the original projectors of the great water canals of the Santa Ana valley, which was the mainspring to the wonderful development and prosperity of Santa Ana and surrounding country. Socially, he is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and of the A. O. U. W. He is a cool, careful and practical man, winning for himself hosts of friends even in opposing all parties.

August 29, 1872, is the date of Mr. Ross' marriage to Miss Mary C. Russell, daughter of George L. and Nancy (Crowley) Russell, early pioneers of the Golden State. The members of the household are: George, Virgil, Etta Mil- dred, Lorena (deceased), Albert Randolph, Charles and Lecil.

JOHN AVAS, President of the City Council of Santa Ana, was born in Germany in 1843. His parents came to the United States in 1845, settling in St. Clair County, Illinois, and subsequently moved to Peoria County, that State, where the father died in 1851. Afterward the mother married again and moved to Washington, Tazewell County, Illi- nois, twelve miles east of Peoria. Mr. Avas,

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

the subject of this notice, remained with his stepfather until he was fifteen years old, and then hired himself out to a fariner for one year, at the end of which time he was to receive $60. The next year he was hired by Asa Brown (afterward his father-in-law) for one year, for $130. Then he rented land until Angust 4, 1862, when he entered Company B, Forty- seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for the war. He was discharged in February, 1863, on account of disability, and went to farming again. In November, 1864, he married Miss Ruth Brown, a daughter of his former employer. In 1865 he rented land in Woodford County, Illinois, and two years later purchased eighty acres of railroad land for $1,250, paying cash in hand $283; the rest of the purchase money he made off the land. Afterward he bought 160 acres, at three different times. For a period of twelve years he was engaged in farming and stock-raising, and was very suc- cessful. In 1882 he sold out his real estate ana stock, etc., for $15,000, and caine to Cali- fornia. In Santa Ana he has made large in- vestments, and is recognized as one of the best financiers and most successful business men in the city. The Richelieu Hotel, corner of Fourth and Ross streets, is a monument to his efforts in bringing up the west end of Santa Ana. He also owns valnable residence and business property in different parts of the city. He was elected a member of the city council when it was first organized, and he has been elected for each term since, which fact shows how the citi- zens regard his judgment. In April, 1889, he was elected president of the board, which posi- tion he now holds.

Mr. Avas lost his first wife in Illinois, Octo- ber 4, 1880. While on a visit to Santa Ana in 1881, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Lucy E. Moesser, whom he married October 2, 1881. She is a daughter of J. H. and Lucy Moesser, of Santa Ana, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. The members of Mr. Avas' household are: Maggie, Ruth, John and George. Mr. Avas is a member of the Baptist Church,

and the president of its board of trustees. Po- litically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has a host of friends not only in this, but in all opposing parties.

His residence is on Fourth and Larue streets, Santa Ana.

GOODWIN, one of the members of the city council at Santa Ana, is a native of the Golden State, being born in San Joaquin County, June 24, 1854 His parents were A. D. and Amantha (Brofee) Goodwin, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of Wisconsin. The senior Goodwin came to California in 1852, and engaged in mining for a time, and subsequently in agriculture, his death occurring at Tustin, January 9, 1886. The subject of this sketch, the eldest of his parents' four children, was educated at the Washington High School in Stockton, grad- uating in 1873. He soon bought a ranch in San Joaquin County, whereon he followed farm- ing until 1883. In 1880, however, he came to what is now Orange County and bought prop- erty west of Santa Ana, on the Los Bolsas tract, on which he erected a cheese factory and carried on the business for six years. He then became a citizen of Santa Ana. Here he pur- chased seventeen and one-half acres on North Main street, which he has laid out as the Good- win addition to the city. The boundaries of it are, on the north, Seventeenth street; east, Wells and Shafer streets; south, Washington avenue; and west, Main street. This addition is laid out into lots, on which many beautiful residences have been erected. Mr. Goodwin also owns valuable business and residence prop- erty in different parts of the city, and he has interests also in both the First National and the Savings banks. He has aided by his in- fluence and means the various local enterprises. April, 1889, he was elected as a member of the council, and his good judgment in regard to

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

municipal affairs has made for him an enviable reputation.

February 14, 1875, Mr. Goodwin married Miss Catharine Villinger, a daughter of Levi Villinger, a native of Germany and one of Cali- fornia's pioneers. They have four children: Jesse, Pearl, William and Florence.

HELDON LITTLEFIELD, Supervisor from the third district of Orange County, was born in Middlesex County, Massachu- setts, in 1834, and was brought up on a farın. At the age of seventeen years he went to Charles- town same State, and clerked in a grocery for a year. He then took what money he had saved and went to Appleton Academy so long as his money lasted. Then he taught school at Brook- line, New Hampshire, and next returned to Massachusetts and for a time was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and then obtained a position for three years in a Charles- town provision store; and by this time he had saved money enough to bring himself to California, a journey he had been contemplat- ing for the last six years. Taking a steamer at New York city, May 21, 1855, he traveled on the Northern Light to the Isthmus, and from there to San Francisco on the Uncle Sam, arriving June 12. Then he went by steamer up the river to Marysville, arriving there the next day, and before that night he had hired himself ont to work on a ranch in the harvest field. After he had paid his hotel bill he had but fifty cents left. The price paid for his labor was $3 a day and board. After the harvest was over he took charge of stock for two months, and then went to the mines, where he continued some nine years. He kept books, clerked in a store, cooked and took care of the mules. After this he bought a mining claim and worked until 1864; then he was engaged in the mercantile business three or four years. In 1863-'64 he made two trips to Arizona, prospecting and mining. Returning then to San Francisco, he

took the stage for Los Angeles and went thence to El Dorado cañon, where he prospec ed and mined with but little success. He then went again to San Francisco and to the placer digging in Arizona, where he and his comrade cut down the only cottonwood tree there, sawed it into boards with a hand-saw and made a rocker for separating the gold from the sand. After about three months Mr. Littlefield came to Los Angeles and went on to the Santa Catalina island, where he was interested in the mines. He then went to San Francisco again and tried in vain to get a position in a store. He then bought a retail fruit store, in partnership with another man, but this connection was of short duration, and he next opened up a commission house, under the firm name of Littlefield, Webb & Co., and in this business he continued until 1887. Meanwhile the house became known far and wide as a fair and square business firmn. Their first shipment received was from the late O. W. Childs, of Los Angeles. In 1887 Mr. Littlefield came to Anaheim and bought a fruit ranch and a residence. Previous to this, how- ever, he had purchased a fine ranch of 175 acres three miles westof Anaheim. He was one of the company who built the mill and Anaheim Hotel. In 1888 he was elected a Supervisor of Los An- geles County, and he is the present Supervisor from the third district of Orange County. He affiliates with the Republican party. In 1888 he was elected also a trustee of Anaheim for four years by a large vote. As a business man he has succeeded by his own efforts. In society relations he is both a Free Mason and an Odd Fellow.

He was married in 1871 at San Francisco, to Miss Nancy Southwood, a native of the Golden State. Their children are: Sheldon A., Francis T., Eva, Ellen, Joyce and Maud.

EORGE P. BESSONETT, a prominent business inan of Santa Ana, was born in Mississippi, July 21, 1850, and is the s'on of Edwin and Sophia (Neill) Bessonett, natives

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

of Pennsylvania, and of French ancestry. The father was a cotton planter, and the mother was a teacher, from whom George received all of his education. The latter started ont in the world for himself at the age of fifteen years, at Brook- haven, Mississippi, by clerking in a confec- tionery store. Subsequently he carried on the business in his own name. Quitting that place, he went to Kansas City and learned the brick- layer's trade, where he continued until 1872. He then went to Denver and was employed there a year and a half, and then in 1873 he came on to San Francisco. In 1875 he moved to Santa Ana, where he engaged as a contractor and builder. Nearly all the brick honses in that city were built by him. Two years ago he went into the livery business in his brick block at the corner of Fifth and West streets. Mr. Bessonett is a public-spirited and an enterprising man, taking a deep interest in the growth and development of Santa Ana, and owning valua- ble property in different parts of the city. His residence, a beautiful structure, is on orange avenue and Parton street. Politically he affili- ates with the Democratic party. Recently he received the nomination of Supervisor for Los Angeles County. He is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and of the A. O. U. W.

August 7, 1870, lie married Miss Annie E. Briggs, of Mississippi. Their children are named Edwin, Ida, Hattie, Georgie, Oscar, Frank and Charley.

EORGE W. SPONABLE, horticulturist at Fullerton, was born in Eden, Seneca County, Ohio, November 3, 1825. His parents, Christopher and Saralı(Lawrence) Spon- able, were natives respectively of New York and Vermont, and of German and English origin. George W., the third of his parents' eleven children, started in business for himself in 1849, by coming to California. His father had moved in 1836 to McHenry County, Illinois, where he was an extensive farmer until his death in 1854.

Mr. Sponable followed mining and lumbering in California from 1849 to 1855, and then returned to Illinois, where he followed farming until 1879. He then moved to Nuckolls County, Nebraska, and bought 480 acres of land, which he cultivated until 1883, when he again made his advent to the Golden State and bought a fruit ranch a mile and a half northeast of Ana- heim, and there he is spending the last years of his life in the pleasures of horticulture.

Mr. Sponable fought for the Union three years. Entering Company A, Ninety-fifth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, as corporal, he was at the battles of Vicksburg and Guntown, Mis- sissippi, and in the expedition against Shreve- port, etc. At Vicksburg he was wounded. IIe was discharged as a Sergeant, at Springfield, Illinois, in 1865. He is now a member of Mal- vern Hill Post, No. 131, G. A. R., of which he has been Quartermaster two years.

He has been married three times; first, in Illinois, in 1857, to Miss Anna Washburn, a native of New York State, by whom he had one daughter, Georgiana, new Mrs. Ed. Deitz, of Irving Park, Illinois. Mrs. Sponable died in June, 1865, and in 1869 Mr. Sponable married Miss Ella West, also from New York State. She died in 1871, and Mr. Sponable was again married in 1872, this time to Mrs. Sophia Huntington, who was born in New York, the daughter of Stephen Emery. By her first hus- husband she had two children: Emery and Julia; the latter is the wife of Orson Knowlton, of Anaheim.

H. GILMAN, superintendent of the Semi- tropic Fruit Company at Anaheim, was @ born in New Hampshire, left home in 1862, to follow the sea, and in the next year he ran away from the ship Wild Rover and for some time traveled. He afterward worked seven years at the tanner's trade, and then followed ranching in Lake, Napa, and Sacramento counties. In 1872 the Semi-tropic Fruit Company was or-

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

ganized by L. M. Hoult, R. H. Gilman, I. N. Chapman and others. They have 106 acres, most beautifully located and in a high state of cultivation. There are twenty-five acres in orange trees, ten acres in walnuts in bearing, and the rest in young oranges and walnuts. Mr. Gilman, who has been superintendent of the company since its organization, has practically demonstrated what can be done in a few years with the rich soil in this part of Orange County. He has also been practically interested in irriga- tion, being president, vice president and director of companies for this useful enterprise. He is a worker.

M. McFADDEN, a public-spirited business man and rancher at Anaheim, was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1840, and is a son of John and Rachel (McCormac) McFadden, being the old- est of eight children. He was educated at the public schools, the People's Academy at West Pitts, the Curry Normal Institute at Pitts, the Beaver (Pennsylvania) Academy in 1860, and at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial, at Lonisville, in 1861. After this he kept books for a year in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and tanght school in Aberdeen, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. He came to California in 1864, by way of the Isthmus, landing at San Francisco, June 29, and within nine days he was teaching school in Alameda County. Here he continued four and a half years, for one year being principal of the San Leandro Grammar Schools, two years and a half of the Alameda Grammar Schools, and one year at Pleasanton. He came to Los Angeles in December, 1868, and was for two terms County Superintendent of schools in this county. Altogether he was engaged in educa- tional work twenty years. He bought a ranch of forty-six acres, four miles northeast of Ana- heim, in 1869. This he improved while lie was at the same time teaching school. He was one of the seven who organized the Cañon Irriga-

tion Company, and completed the great canal at an expense of $100,000, and was its secretary for four years. He was appointed by Governor Waterman as one of the commissioners to perfect the the organization of Orange County. Was nominated by the Democratic party for the Legislature from the Seventy-eighth dis- trict, but was defeated by Colonel Edwards. He was a member of the Board of Education of Los Angeles County two years, and its president one year. In 1874 he built a school-house in his district with his own money, undertaking to wait until the district conld reimburse him, and he served as trustee until one year ago. Mr. McFadden is Past Master of Lodge No. 207, F. & A. M .; in the lodge he has held all the offices except that of treasurer; is now Junior Warden. In 1881 he was representative to the Grand Lodge in San Francisco. He is also a member of Magnolia Council, No. 94, O. C. F. and Past Councilor.

He was married in December, 1866, to Sarah J. Earl, a native of Ohio. Their six children are: Carrie, wife of H. H. Ford, William E., Clarence, Tom, Ralph and Robbie.

EV. JONATHAN B. TOMBES, D. D., Anaheim, was born in Albany, New York, attended Oberlin College three years, and gradnated at Madison University in 1845, in the literary course. He also graduated in the regular course in theology. In 1870 the de- gree of D. D. was conferred upon him. He was ordained to preach in 1848. For some time he was pastor of the Fourth Baptist Church at Richmond, Virginia; then had charge of Meadville Academy. In 1859 he took charge of Liberty Feinale College at Liberty, Missouri; but in 1864, on account of the war, wherein he was a true friend of the Union, he left his family there and went East, lecturing on the issues of the day. Soon after he was called to take charge of the North Baptist Church in Philadelphia, where he served as

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

pastor for several years; next he was pastor of the Berean Church at Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Subsequently he edited and published a church paper at Charleston, West Virginia, called the Buptist Record; afterward took charge of Carl- ton College for a terin of five years. In April, 1875, he came to Southern California. Here, near Anaheim, he is engaged as a horticultur- ist and has a beautiful home and orange trees and all other kinds of fruits and flowers. Still he does some professional work. He was mainly instrumental in organizing the Central Baptist Church in Los Angeles and was its first pastor. He continues to write articles for church papers, which exhibit thorough scholarship in divinity and collateral subjects.

He married Miss Mary A. McFadden, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have two in- teresting children, who are attending school.

OBERT PARKER, vineyardist near Ana- heim, was born in Beverly Township, Wentworth County, Canada, March 18, 1838, the third in a family of thirteen children of Robert and Ann (Stalker) Parker. He was brought up to steady work on a farm, with but limited schooling. In 1868 he came to Cali- fornia by steamer, followed mining a short time and then bought a Government title to 500 acres of land in Mariposa County. In 1871 lie bought fifty-five acres where he now lives, a inile and a half north of Anaheim, and for sev- eral years he prospered in grape culture, until recently, when the vines died, and he is now devoting his attention to the cultivation of oranges and walnuts. Mr. Parker is a man of considerable experience and good judgment. He is a member of Anaheim Lodge, No. 85, A. O. U. W., and of the Presbyterian Church; was one of the foremost in building the Presby- terian house of worship at Fullerton. Politically he is a zealous and able Prohibitionist, while his wife is an active worker in the W. C. T. U.

at Fullerton, being now superintendent of the department of jnvenire work.

Mr. Parker was first married in 1863, to Henrietta Patterson, a Canadian, by whom he had five children: Robert F., Donald, George, Mary M. (wife of Joseph Nichols of Santa Ana), and Louisa, who was drowned at the beach in 1888. Jannary 15, 1882, Mr. Parker married Mrs. L. A. Keith, a native of the Indian Terri- tory, born June 18, 1860. Her parents were Ira W. Wyman and Elizabeth Dunn, the former cf English and the latter of German descent. Mr. Wyman met his death as a soldier in the late war. Mrs. Parker, by her former husband, H. P. Keith, had one son, named Minor L. By the present marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Parker, there are two children, Alice and Eleanor.

LEX. GARDINER, general farmer and fruit-raiser near Fullerton, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1838, the fourth son of William and Mary Gardiner, who came to America in 1855, in a sailing vessel, landing in New York; thence they immediately sailed to Charleston, South Carolina, and thence they proceeded to Knoxville, Tennessee, locating ten miles sonth of Knoxville at Rockford. William Gardiner was a cotton spinner by trade.

The subject of this sketch served five years as a machinist in Scotland, leaving school at the age of twelve years. In 1869 he came overland to California, starting from Knoxville, Tennessee, September 21, 1869, and arrived at Watsonville, this State, October 6. He hunted along the coast for a home, and December 6 found him in Los Angeles. Directly he pur- chased 160 acres two miles and a half north- west of Anaheim, where he has since resided; was one of the first settlers there, buying of the Los Angeles and San Bernardino Land Company. Ont of a barren waste he has inade a fruitful farm, and as a general agriculturist and horticulturist he has been successful.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038