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 136

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 136
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 136
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 136
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 136

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).

A. McKEE, of Santa Ana, was born in Friendship, Allegany County, New York. At the age of seventeen years he entered the army, enlisting in the Twenty-third New York Volunteer Infantry, and served two years; then for several years he was engaged in the live-stock business in Kansas, and for a few years in merchandising at Wichita; married in Junction City, Kansas, in 1869, to Miss Jennie Paxton, a native of the Buckeye State. She has been a school-teacher; taught her first term in her native State and subsequently in West Vir- ginia, Illinois, Kansas and Texas. Mr. McKee moved to Texas in 1874, and for a period of fifteen years was successfully engaged in the rearing of sheep. In 1888 he came to Califor- nia and bought a residence near Santa Ana, where he is now enjoying life and expects to spend the remainder of his days. At present he is a partner in a grocery store on Main street, the firmn name being McKee & Brackett.

T. ADAMS, of Tustin, was born in Shelby County, Tennessee, November, 1834. His father, Peter Adams, was a native of North Carolina, and moved to Texas in 1833, back to Tennessee again, and in 1839 to Texas the second time, where his children were brought

up. The subject of this sketch passed his youth herding cattle, much of the time on horseback. He served during the war in the Confederate army, two years in James M. McCord's regi- ment, and then until the close of the war, in General Bankhead's brigade. Politically Mr. Adams is a Democrat, well infor.ned upon questions of political economy, local, State and national. He has built a neat and comfortable residence on his fine fruit ranch near Tustin, and is giving his whole attention to the cultiva- tion and improvement of his orange orchards.

He was married in Texas, October 25, 1865, to Miss Elizabeth H. Downs, from Iowa. Her father, Dr. E. M. Downs. came to California as early as 1850, but returned. He died in Cali- fornia in 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have five children: Henry M. and Annie D., now Mrs. J. E. Gowen; Coodie, Edmund L. and Lela Frances.

W. PREBLE, of Tustin, is a pioneer of 1849. He was born in York, Mainc, in 1826. Educated at Gorham Academy, clerked for a short time in a carpet store in l'hiladelphia, then followed the mercantile busi- ness upon his own account for nearly three years at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, when the gold excitement broke out, and he sold ont, and March 15, 1849, left his native land for California, and after a voyage of four months arrived in San Francisco, July 15 following. For nearly three years he was engaged in mining, and was quite successful. In the spring of 1852 he returned to his native land, and in the winter of 1853 was married to Miss Abbie L. Wilson, of Wells, Maine, and in March, 1853, returned with his wife to California and located in Tomales, Marin County. There he followed agriculture for about eight years, when he moved to San Francisco, and in company with two other gentlemen built a wharf and engaged in the wood and hay business about two years. He then moved to San Mateo

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

County and engaged in agricultural pursuits for about ten years, and in the fall of 1876 moved to his present home in Tustin, where he purchased twenty acres of unimproved land, which he has converted into one of the finest and most productive fruit ranches in Southern California, realizing from the sale of oranges alone between $3,000 and $4,000 per annum. He is connected with some of the leading enter- prises of Orange County, also with the Bank of Tustin, the Grangers' Bank at San Francisco, and is vice president of the First National Bank of Santa Ana. As a business man his ability is recognized. and as a citizen his worth is acknowledged by all who know him. His resi- dence exhibits a high order of taste.

ARLAN FAIRBANKS, of Tustin, was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1840. For twenty two years he was engaged in the drug business, and in 1861 he entered the army in the Fifteenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infan- try; was acting Sergeant; was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, Virginia, and discharged for disability at Philadelphia, in 1862. In 1886 he became a citizen of California, where he has since been eminently successful in the real- estate business. In 1889 he built a drug store at the corner of D and Fourth streets in Tustin, having bought out C. W. Smith & Co. of Santa Ana. He was a charter member of G. A. R. Post, No. 10, of Worcester, Massachusetts; he now affiliates witlı Sedgwick Post, at Santa Ana. He was also one of the charter members of Tustin Lodge, No. 231, I. O. O. F.

In 1868 be married Miss Almira L. Lee, from Elmira, New York.

ILLIAM B. WALL, M. D., Santa Ana, the first Treasurer of Orange County, was born near Danville, Virginia, in

1890. His literary education he received at

the common schools in Mississippi, and his medical education at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1853. He further attended lectures in New Orleans in 1854, and began the practice of his pro- fession in Mississippi, where he built up a fine patronage; but on the breaking out of the war he entered the Confederate army, in the Twenty- third Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, and was Surgeon for the regiment. He was elected First Lieutenant, and subsequently Captain, and served as Surgeon until the close of the war, when he was surrendered under General Joseph E. Johnston.

He then followed his profession in Missis- sippi until 1875, when he came to California and bought land near Tustin, on which he planted orange trees and vines; and until the blight struck the grape and the scale the orange, Dr. Wall had the finest vineyard and orchard in Southern California. The neatness of his grounds and the fine quality of his fruits gave evidence of a horticulturist possessing superior knowledge and ability. Dr. Wall was elected County Treasurer at the first election in Au- gust, 1889, on the non-partisan ticket. He has held also other official relations. Politically he is an orthodox Democrat, and socially he is a Freemason, and religiously a zealous meniber of the Baptist Church. He is also secretary of the Orange County Medical Association.

He was first married in 1844, and had one daughter. In 1873 he married Mrs. Julia F. Norman, from North Carolina, and by this marriage there are two children-William and Pearl.

W. HALESWORTH has been a resi- dent of Santa Ana since March, 1872, " enjoying signal success in business affairs. At first he was employed in Los An- geles city, and in the fall of 1873 purchased twenty acres of land where the city of Santa Ana now stands, which he devoted to grape-

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

vines and fruit-trees, until in 1884 he began to cut it up into city lots. "Halesworth's Addi- tion" is bounded on the north by Washington avenue, east by West street, south by Hales- worth street, and west by Ross street. The second addition which bears his name is bonnded on the north by the lands of the Spurgeon heirs, east by West street, south by Washington avenne, and west by Ross street. North and south through the second addition runs Durant street, named for Mrs. Ford, whose inaiden name was Durant. Halesworth street, running east and west, connects Ross and West streets. Mr. Halesworth's residence on Ross street cost $10,000, and is tasteful in its architecture.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Fulton County, Illinois, October 7, 1851. His parents, Simon and Hannah (Rouse) Halesworth, were both natives of England, who came to the United States about 1846. For a number of years he was engaged in the mer- cantile business in Illinois. He was married in California, September 4, 1881, to Miss Martha Durant, à native of Wisconsin, and daughter of John and Eliza Durant, natives of England.

Politically Mr. Halesworth is a Republican. He was on the first United States Grand Jury in the Southern District of California. Is a public-spirited and enterprising man, liberal and patriotic, especially zealous for the interests of Santa Ana. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of that place, and is favorably known as a successful business man.

ACOB ROSS, deceased, formerly a resident of Santa Ana, was literally the first pioneer in this place, coming here when the land was owned by the Spaniards, and buying some 2,500 acres of the Santa Ana de Santiago rancho. He also bought other lands near where the city of Santa Ana now stands, and improved a farm one mile west of the city, where Mrs. Ross now lives. He crossed the plains to this coast with wagons in 1865, and many were the hardships

he endured. In the early days here his crops had to be guarded both day and night against the roving herds of horses, cattle and sheep belonging to the Spaniards. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1823. At an early age he went to Indiana, where he married Miss Eliza- beth Thompson and resided sixteen years; then he moved into Illinois, where he was a miller until 1865, when he came to California, being on the road about four months. He rented land and farmed some three years in Monterey County, and in 1878 came to Santa Ana. The four children whom he brought up are the fol- lowing: Jacob, now one of the Supervisors of Orange County; Samuel and Josiah, prosperous farmers; and Christiana, wife of Samuel T. McNeil, of Santa Ana. Mr. Ross died here in 1870, aged fifty-seven years, after having been for a long time a member of the United Brethren Church, and highly respected by all who knew him.

ESSE C. THOMPSON, a prominent resi- dent of Westminster, was born in Clay County, Missouri, February 17, 1829. His parents, John B. and Hannalı (Clark) Thompson were natives of North Carolina, and had elever: children, five of whom lived to be grown. They moved to Missouri in 1825, where the children were educated in such schools as were common in those times. In 1840 they moved to Andrew County. In March, 1850, Jesse started, in company with his brother Samuel, with an ox team for California. His brother died on the road, Jnly 26. Jesse arrived in Placerville on Angust 31, stayed there but a short time, and went to Sonoma County, where he followed agriculture for the next fifteen years; then he was engaged in the cattle and sheep business in Mendocino County until 1885, when he noved down to Long Beach and bought land of the Cerritos colony. Afterward he moved to Westminster and bought forty acres. Since then he and his three sons have bought fifty - seven acres of valuable peat land.

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

Mr. Thompson was married in 1852, in So- noma County, to Miss Margaret A. Camron, who was born in Illinois, June 15, 1836. Her parents, John M. Camron, a native of Georgia, and a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, and Mary Orendorf Camron, a native of South Car- olina. When Mrs. Thompson was one and one- half years old they moved to Iowa. In April, 1849, they started for California, arriving in October, having endured great hardships. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are: Adelia M., wife of E. J. Phelps, of Westminster; Samuel C., who was married to Miss Clara E. Carner. of Potter valley, Mendocino County; Arthur ()., Altimont J., who was married to Miss Jennie E. Barbee, of Willits, Mendocino County; Vienna A .. wife of J. T. Blosser, of Willits; May I., wife of D. G. Case, of West- minster; Olive P., Jesse and Margaret, twins. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and all of their chil- dren are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Thompson has been elder for twenty-six years.

ULIUS A. CRANE, M. D., Santa Ana, is of New England parentage, and was born in Portage County, Ohio, January 21, 1846. His father, Rev. Eber Crane, was a clergyman of the Baptist denomination, born in Clinton, Connecticut (on Long Island Sound), May 3, 1808, and died at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, April 4, 1884. He was educated at the academy in South Reading, Massachusetts, and pursued his professional studies at the Newton Theological Institute, in the outskirts of Boston, at which time-honored institution he was graduated Au- gust 20. 1834. He was a zealous and life-long Abolitionist, a coadjutor and personal friend of William Lloya Garrison, and to the close of his eventful and, at times, stormy life, always and everywhere had " the courage of his con- vietions." Dr. Crane's mother, Nancy A. (Knowlton) Crane, was born near the Green mountains, Vermont, January 5, 1817, from

which State, while yet a child, her parents moved to the Western Reserve in Ohio. She is a woman of great force of character, strong in- dividuality, beloved by her children and higlily esteemed and admired by all who know her.

Dr. Crane received his literary education at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, after which he took up the study of medicine in the city of Cleveland. He was graduated from the Charity Hospital Medical College (now the medical department of the University of Wooster) in the spring of 1870, and on March 15, 1882, received the ad eundem degree of M. D. from the Medical De- partment of the Western Reserve University of Cleveland. In the year 1873 he was appointed first assistant physician in the Iowa (State) Hospital for the Insane at Mount Pleasant, occupying this position until January 1, 1875, when he resigned on account of ill-health, his resignation taking effect three months later, while the medical staff of the hospital con- sisted of four physicians, and his office required that he discharge the duties of superintendent. During the absence of that officer - a thing not unusual-yet so well did he meet the obli- gations and responsibilities of this high position that, upon his retirement, the following letter from Dr. Bassett, the medical superintendent, followed him. The force and nature of this document will be the better understood when it is stated that this hospital is one of the largest and most successful institutions of the kind in the United States, and, indeed, is the one after which the California Hospital at Stockton is largely modeled:

SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE, IOWA HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA, April 1, 1875. Dr. J. A. CRANE, Mount Pleasant Iowa:

Dear Doctor :- As your resignation of the office of First Assistant Physician in the hos- pital takes effect to-day, I desire in this manner to thank you for the valuable service you have rendered to the hospital, and to myself as its ex- ecutive officer. During the nearly eigliteen months of your engagement here, I feel that I

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

am in no small degree indebted to yon for whatever of success has attended its manage- ment, and that I should be doing myself an injustice did I not in this way testity to the fidelity and ability which have characterized your professional services in the hospital.

In whatever community your lot may be cast, I trust you may nieet with the enconr- agement and success you so well deserve.

If it is in my power to do you any service at any future time, be assured it will give me pleasure to do so.

Yours very truly, H. M. BASSETT, Superintendent.

On June 2, 1875, Dr. Crane arrived in San Francisco, visiting with friends there for a number of weeks, after which he spent several months in the unfrequented portions of Oregon and northern California. Those halcyon days, many hours of which were passed in wild camp life up among the pines of the Coast Range, or along the water courses of middle and southern Oregon, engaged in hunting and fish- ing; living, in brief, the out-door and desultory life of a nomad, soon restored him to a degree of bodily health and vigor, and toward the lat- ter part of December he again found himself in San Francisco. A few days later his face was turned toward Southern California. Traveling leisurely by the Coast-line stage, and stopping at short intervals at places of historic interest or to investigate the merits of growing towns or promising valleys, by the middle of Jan- uary, 1876, he had reached the then "cow county " of Los Angeles. And here, influenced more by a blind intnition or caprice than by any force of reason or conviction, he determined to remain. After passing through the vicissi- tudes and somewhat rare and unique experi- ences of early settlement here, at a time when the best and fittest found the "picking " close, he located in the sleepy little village of Santa Ana, to engage in the practice of lis profes- sion. And here he has since remained.

Although by no means an enthusiast in his profession, Dr. Crane has been prominently identified with the medical and surgical history

and life of the Santa Ana valley. For years his drives often carried him, and not infre- quently at night, thirty and forty iniles up into the surrounding mountain cañons or down the coast, and not a few times over into San Diego County. He was one of the chief promoters of and contributed largely to the organization and support of the Orange County Medical Associ- ation. He is an honorary member of the Los Angeles County Medical Society, and also a member of the American Medical Association. He has repeatedly served on the board of health of the city of Santa Ana, and has twice been chosen its health officer; was also, for a number of years, correspondent for the city and valley of the California State Board of Health.

He has always taken a hearty interest in all pnb- lic matters affecting the interests of Santa Ana, and particularly anything looking to the pro- inotion of the new county of Orange. He had inch to do with bringing about the organization of the Santa Ana Valley Inmigration Associa- tion, and was chairman of the committee to supervise the preparation of the first immigra tion pamphlet issned in the valley. In the fall of 1885 he was placed in charge of the Santa Ana exhibit of the Southern California Citrus Fair held in Battery D Armory, Chicago, remaining a number of weeks there assisting in its arrangement and conduct. This elegant and, withal, lavish exhibit of the fruits and products of the coast did mere to mold public sentiment East in our favor than, perhaps, any other one factor. Dr. Crane for a time was president of the Santa Ana Gas Company, resigning on account of the press of other engagements. Three additions to the city of Santa Ana bear his name. while the character of the improvements made by him, notably his elegant residence at the corner of Ninth and Spurgeon streets, indicates clearly his disposition to do things thoroughly and well.

Dr. Crane was married October 17, 1882, to Mary A., youngest daughter of Hon. O. H. and Mary J. Schenck, of Burlington, Iowa, and formerly of Franklin, Ohio. He is a supporter

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

of tlie First Presbyterian Church of Santa Ana, of which Mrs. Crane is a charter member. Politically he is a Republican, and since his res- idence in Santa Ana has often represented his party in the county and Congressional conven- tions. While not so actively engaged in prac- tice as in years gone by, yet he is still open to professional engagements, though avoiding those departments of medical work necessitating un- due exposure or fatigue.

In conclusion, probably no one has watched with keener interest the development of Santa Ana, from the straggling little hamlet of rude ánd unpretentious homes and shops of years gone by, looking out through vistas of wild mustard and malva, into the active, struggling and growing city of to-day. And surely, none can pay a higher tribute to the indomitable pluck. and energy of that little Spartan band of half a dozen heroic souls, to whose calm, dispas- sionate judgment and eternal vigilance-deaf to the maligners of their good names and the misinterpretations of their words and acts-this consummation, so " devoutly to be wished," is wholly and indisputably owing.

F. MANSUR, cashier of the Orange County Savings, Loan and Trust Com- pany at Santa Ana, was born in Barns- ton, Ontario, Canada, July 8, 1840. At the age of fourteen years he came to the United States and located at Randolph, Wisconsin, upon a farm. During the war he enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, bet- ter known as the "Live Eagle Regiment," because they carried a live eagle through the war. After the war Mr. Mansur returned to Wisconsin, followed farming two years, then was a merchant a year or two in Canada, and in 1867 came to California. Here he was engaged in the mercantile business for ten years at Camptonville, during which time he was post- master also at that place. In 1878 he came to Santa Ana; where he has since lived. Heowns

several fine fruit farins near-the city, and other valuable property. For several years he was a director in the Santa Ana Valley Fruit Com- pany, and made several trips to Chicago in its interests, and is still its acting secretary. April 8, 1889, he organized the company of which he is now the cashier, and August 1 opened for business. Capital $100,000. Officers: Carey R. Smith, President; I. N. Rafferty, Vice-presi- dent; C. F. Mansur, Cashier. This company, though in its infancy, shows that it is destined to be one of the leading enterprises in the enter- prising city of Santa Ana.

Mr. Mansur was married in Wisconsin, in 1861, to Miss C. L. Gale, from Vermont, just before he entered the service of his country. They have brought up a family of six children, the eldest of whom is now a merchant in Chi- cago.

H. TITCHENAL, of Santa Ana, was born in Harrison County, West Vir- " ginia, January 2, 1817, a son of John R. and Rebecca (Harbertt) Titchenal, bothı na- tives of West Virginia. His father, a black- sinith by trade, moved to Missouri in 1819, and in 1833 to the vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he died January 16, 1831.

The second of his nine children, the subject of this sketch, and a sister, are the only surviv- ing members of the family. Mr. Titchenal was brought up to the life of a stock-raiser. From 1835 to 1852 he followed his calling, and also mercantile business, after 1849, in Texas. He then came overland through Mexico to the Pa. cific coast and then by sail to San Francisco, landing July 9, 1852. After following mining and teaming for awhile, he moved to San Juan, in Monterey County ; was a resident of Mariposa County from 1855 to 1868, and March 4, 1869, he started for Southern California, arriving at Santa Ana November 9. He first bought two lots and followed farming and teaming. In 1871 he bought thirty-six acres of land and

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HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY.

erected the first dwelling-house in Santa Ana, on lots No. 8 and 9. In 1881-86 he built the Titchenal block, on Fourth street, at a cost of abont $16,000. The structure is a fine two- story brick, with seventy-five feet frontage and eight-five feet deep. As a business man Mr. Titchenal has been very successful, and as a citizen his record is beyond reproach. In former years he was connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church Sonth, but of late years he worships with the " Holiness" branch of the church.

In 1838 he went from Arkansas on a visit to his friends in Ohio, where he met and married Miss Sarah Ann Dickason, January 29, 1839, and they have had eleven children, only five of . whom are now living, namely: Susan E., now Mrs. McHenry Morrison; John Jackson; Mar- tha J., wife of N. T. Settle; David D., and Samnel H., proprietor of the candy store in Santa Ana.

R. MOSES SPENCER JONES, the oldest resident physician in Orange County, was born in Clinton County, Illinois, in 1842, a son of Charles Lee and Elizabeth Leek (Spen- cer) Jones. His father, a native of Buckingham County, Virginia, moved to Christian County, Kentucky, in 1824, and thence in 1830 to Illi- nois, where he died August 2, 1860.

Dr. Jones was educated at McKendree Col- lege, at Lebanon, St. Clair County, Illinois, and completed his education under private instruc- tion in St. Louis. He took a special course under the celebrated Dr. William Niehans, in ophthalmology and aural surgery, and subse- quently a special course at New York city, under the private instructions of Dr. D. B. St. John Roosa. He received his diploma from the St. Lonis Medical College in 1869, and began the practice of his profession in part- nership with his old preceptor, Dr. Niehans. Within a year his health failed and he went to Shreveport, Louisiana, and practiced there two

years, and then re-formed a partnership with Dr. Niehaus at St. Louis; but failing health again broke his relation and he came to Califor- nia, arriving January 26, 1874. He practiced one year in Los Angeles, and in 1875 estab- lished himself in Santa Ana. His specialty is the treatment of diseases of the eye and ear.

While in Shreveport, Miss Cordelia J. Reier- son, of Kaufman, Texas, came to him for treatment for blindness, and was cured; and in September, 1876, they were married. They had two lovely children: Essie L. and George R. In October, 1887, she died, and March 3, 1889, the Doctor married her consin, Venia Avera, of Sherman, Texas.

C. HICKEY, of Santa Ana, is a native of Knox County, Tennessee, and was an in- fant when his father died. He was reared by his step-father, who moved to Alabama about 1845. At the ageof fifteen years he left his step- father, on account of crnel treatment, and started for California. He traveled on foot through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. At San Antonia he joined Dr. Edwards and others who were starting to California with cattle, in 1854. After arriving in Los Angeles, Mr. Hickey worked by the day for two months, and then for seven years was engaged in the cattle business in various parts of northern California. In 1864-'65 he followed farming one year at El Monte. In 1866 he was settling up his cattle business in Fresno. In 1868 he bonght a large barn and cattle ranch in San Bernardino County, and carried it on for seven years.

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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