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 29

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 29
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 29
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 29
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 29

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).

Mr. Shang married, April 3, 1861, Mies Har- riet L. Gill, daughter of Marcus Gill, a farmer who came to California in 1849. Their union is blessed with four children: Ella M., born in Farmington, Iowa, in 1862; Charles J., in Salem, Iowa, in 1872; Hugh G., in Ottumwa, Iowa; Marcus Luther, in San Fernando, Los Angeles County, California, in 1875. Mr. Shaug and his family are bright, industrions, upright and reliable business people.

ILLIAM WINTER, of the firm of Win- ter & Schuetze, proprietors of a meat market at San Diego .- America's op- portunities are ample, and as evidence the for- eigner may find a home and prosperity within

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her borders, we have the experience of William Winter, a native of Germany, who was born at Schwarzach-aint- Bühl, Grand Duchy of Baden, 1856, being the sixth child in a family of of eight children, all of whom are still liv- ing. In 1870, at the age of fourteen years, William Winter left home for America by steamer from Bremen to New York, then by the Central Pacific route to California, arriving at San Francisco in July, 1870. He there found employment as messenger boy with the furni- ture house of J. A. Schafer & Co., remaining until October, 1871, when he started by steamer Orizaba, for San Diego, where his brother Jo- seph was then living. After a few months as messenger boy with Mr. Hirschey he entered the employ of his brother, in his bakery business, and remained with him about six years. In 1877 he associated himself with his brother-in- law, Jacob Kuhner, and under the firm name of Knhner & Winter they opened a butcher mar- ket at the corner of Fifth and G streets. After one year Mr. Winter bought out Mr. Kuhner and continued business alone until 1885, when it became so large he took in Mr. W. F. Schuetze to attend to the outside matters, and continued under the firm name of Winter & Schuetze, re naining at the old stand until 1886, when they moved to their present stand at 946 Fifth street, between E and D streets. They own their own slaughter house, buy cattle direct from the ranches and do a wholesale and re- tail business.

Mr. Winter is a past member of the San Diego Fire Company, No. 1, and was treasurer of the company for two years, and for seven years was an active member; he then resigned, as business was too active to allow time to ont- side matters. He is also a member, for many years; of the I. O. O. F.

Mr. Winter was married to Miss Ida E. Glanch, a native of Dresden, Germany, then residing in San Francisco, in June 1886. They have but one child, William Winter, who is three years of age. Mr. Winter owns a nice house and lot at 335 Eighth street, where he

now resides, and possesses those qualities of thrift and persistence which are sure of result- ing successfully.

T. PLATH, a rancher and pioneer of the rich valley of Menifee, was born in Mel- dorph, Germany, December 22, 1844. His father, I. J. Plath, was a native of Hamburg, Germany, born in 1813, and followed the busi- ness of milling. Mr. Plath's grandfather was also a native of Hamburg and a wholesale furniture dealer. Mr. Plath's father married Miss Eliza Wilckens, who was born in Hamburg in 1816. Her father, Mr. John Wilckens, was a ship chandler. They had a family of eight children, of which the subject of this sketelı was the third. They came to America in 1854 and settled in Davenport, Iowa, where Mr. Plath had a store and did an insurance and col- lection business. The subject of this sketch attended school, first in Germany and afterward in Davenport, Iowa. When he was sixteen years of age he learned the harness-makers' trade, and at the age of twenty he opened a shop of his own in Pescadero, San Mateo County, California. He came to California in 1864, cross- ing the plains to Salt Lake City with a man who was bringing sixteen head of horses. At Salt Lake City this man became so overbearing that Mr. Plath and another man left him and came on to until they fell in with another train. He first settled in Santa Clara County, but reinoved foot Pescadero, where he was in business three and one-half years, when he removed to San Joaquin County and took up a pre-emption claim, on which he remained two years, when he proved it up and went back to his harness business in Pescadero. In 1877 he came to Los Angeles County where he remained during the summer, buying and selling stock and driving and break- ing horses. He purchased twenty acres of land near Monrovia, and after farming it for three years sold it, and in 1885 came to Menifee valley and took up a homestead of 160 acres of

Chalmers Scott

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land, on which he built a house and barn, and kept " bachelor's hall " nntil 1888, when his mother came to live with him. In 1887 he began to improve his grounds, by planting hedges and shrubs. Some of his eucalyptus trees have grown thirty feet in two years. He planted 500 fruit trees one year later, and they have made astonishing growth without irriga- tion. Walnuts planted two years ago have grown four feet in two years. Mr. Plath is a horseman, understands the Rockwell system of educating horses, and has a barn-full of fine horses in training. He is also doing something in the way of raising Essex hogs, and keeps a number on hand. Mr. Plath is a good farmer, a inan of ability, a credit to the country, and one who is making telling improvements that will aid in showing the capabilities of the country.

OLONEL CHALMERS SCOTT .- One of the best known citizens of San Diego is Colonel Chalmers Scott. He is a native of Louisiana, having been born in New Orleans, May 9, 1845. He came with his parents to San Francisco, where his father, Rev. William A. Scott, D. D .. LL. D., was for many years pastor of the St. John's Presbyterian Church. Chalmers attended the public schools until 1861, when he went to Europe with his parents. He attended college at Montaban, France, np to Jnne, 1862, and then was a student in the Uui- versity College, London, until May, 1863. IIis family then returned to the United States, and he accompanied them. From June, 1863, to May, 1864, he attended the law department of the University of New York, graduating at the head, though the youngest of his class, at the age of nineteen, and having the degree of LL. B. conferred upon him. He then entered the law office of Blatchford, Seward & Griswold, where he remained until November, 1864, when he returned to San Francisco; and for a year read law in the office of Haight & Pierson. He would have continued his legal studies, but 12

an injury to one of his eyes, received when at school, so affected the sight that he found close application to his books was nsing up his eye completely. A sea voyage was recommended, and just at this time he met the late Thomas M. Cash, who was at that time the representa- tive of the New York Herald on this coast. By him Mr. Scott was appointed special corre- spondent of the Herald, to make a trip to China and back, ou the steamship Colorado, being the opening trip of the China line by the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, leaving San Fran- cisco on New Year's day, 1867.

He made the trip, was gone nearly three months, and on his return rushed through a 2,000-word dispatch to the Herald before any other newspaper man could get a word of the news. A few days afterward Mr. Bennett ap- pointed him by telegraph resident correspond- ent of the Herald in China. This, however, he was obliged to decline. His eye still troubled him, and he went into the Sierras with an en- gineering party of the Central Pacific Railway, remaining from June, 1867, to April, 1868. Becoming snow-blind, he returned to San Fran- cisco. The Spring Valley Water Company was then building their great San Andreas dam, and he joined the construction force under Colonel Elliott, United States Engineer Corps, as paymaster.

At the end of a year he resigned and again began his study of law, entering the office of General W. H. L. Barnes. In January, 1870, his attention was attracted to San Diego, and, looking upon it as a coming city, he came here and formed a law partnership with Colonel G. A. Jones. He was admitted to the bar in July, 1870, and in March of the following year he was appointed County Clerk, to fill the un- expired term of Captain George A. Pendleton, deceased. September, 1872, he joined the Texas Pacifie survey as transitman, under C. J. Fox, and made a survey from San Diego to San Gorgonio Pass.

In March, 1873, the party being called in, he resumed his law practice. In November, 1874

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

having married Maria Antonia Couts, eldest daughter of the late Colonel C. J. Couts, he moved upon the homestead on Rancho Cuajome as legal adviser of the estate. In December, 1875, he accepted the position of Deputy State Treasurer under Don José Guadalupe Estudillo, but the climate of Sacramento not agreeing with his family, he returned to the Cnajome. For a short time in 1880-'81, he was in the employ of the California Southern at San Diego, but in May, 1881, lie was appointed assistant engineer on the Central Pacific Railroad, in charge of the survey from Yuma to Port Isabel, at the mouth of the Colorado. From Yumna he was transferred to Corinne, Utah, to survey a line by way of South Pass, of the Rocky Moun- tains, to Yankton, Dakota. The following year he went to Tucson, and in conjunction with Hon. S. R. De Long, Chief Engineer of the Tucson & Gulf of California Railroad Company, made a reconnoissance to Port Lobos, and after- ward reconnoitered branch lines from Picacho to the Gunsight mine in Meyers' district, and back by way of Gila Bend, Arizona. He was afterward in charge of a survey for the exten- sion of the Vaca Valley & Clear Lake Rail- road.

In August, 1883, he was sent to Guatemala as chief engineer of the Central American Pacific Railway and Transportation Company, to build an extension of the Guatemala Central Railroad from Escuintala to the city of Guate- inala, a distance of thirty-eight miles. The previous management had wasted over two years of their time, and had graded only five iniles of road and laid three miles of track, leaving thirty-three miles to be surveyed, located, graded and ironed in twelve months, in order to save the concession. In thirteen miles of that distance the grade is continnous at the rate of 246 feet to the mile, and nine bridges from 180 to 220 feet in length, and trom eighty to 150 feet high, and at Lake Ama- titlan there was one solid till 750 feet long and eighty feet deep in the lake, which had to be filled from one end, requiring over 500,000

cubic yards of dirt. It was in this work that the discipline of the Central Pacific Railroad proved its value, for with Colonel Scott as chief engineer and J. B. Harris as superin- tendent of construction, the locomotive blew its whistle in Guatemala City on July 19, 1884, the birthday of President Barrios, two months ahead of contract time.

That work completed, Colonel Scott returned to San Francisco, and after spending a year on other railroad work, resigned and followed civil engineering in Oakland and San Francisco, re- turning to San Diego in November, 1886, where he entered into the real-estate business in April, 1887. In October, 1889, he resumed the prac- tice of law, forming a partnership with Judge George Fuller. Colonel Scott is a fine Spanish scholar, and is considered the best anthority on Spanish names in this locality. He is also an authority on Mexican laws and titles, and all classes of cases arising in disputed surveys. Colonel Scott was a member of the line of the National Guard of California for eleven years, from 1865 to 1876. In the latter year he was appointed chief engineer, with the rank of Colonel, on the staff of Governor Irwin, serving in that capacity for four years.

As previously noted, Colonel Scott married a Miss Couts, who was an acknowledged belle. She was considered one of the most beautiful young women in Southern California, and to- day there are few matrons in the State who can equal her in queenly grace and attractiveness. They have had nine children, four sons and five daughters, seven of whom are living. Colonel Scott is a notable man personally. He is six feet and three and one-half inches high, and weighs 200 pounds.

HOMAS ROSE, residing near Perris, is of English descent. His father, Thomas Rose, and his mother, Elizabeth (Bottrill) Rose, were born in Warwickshire, England. They had five children, Mr. Rose being the

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

third. The father died in England, and the mother came to the United States in 1851. . Thomas Rose was born February 15, 1852, and was educated in Philadelphia. At ten years of age he started in the battle of life in the res- taurant business, and he has been engaged in the same up to the year 1889. Having accumu- lated a few thousand dollars, he retired to the peaceful pursuits of horticulture in the beauti- ful Perris valley. In 1884 he married Miss Rowena Ferguson, daughter of Mr. Charles Ferguson, an old pioneer of San Bernardino. She was born in Monterey County, California. They have one son, born January 16, 1890. Mr. Rose is an Episcopalian, and is highly esteemed.

R. E. V. VAN NORMAN is one of the most noted of San Diego's physicians and surgeons. He was born July 18, 1838, at Nelson, Canada West. His father, William Van Norman, was born in 1800 at Nelson, Holton County, Canada, and was a land-owner and farmer. His grandfather, Isaac Van Nor- man, was a native of New York, and with three of his brothers participated in the war of 1812 as United States soldiers. His mother, Gills (Black) . Van Norman, was a daughter of Dr. Black, of New Brunswick, who was drowned in attempting to cross the St. Johns river to see a patient. Her brother, Dr. Daniel Black, also sacrificed his life in the practice of his profes- sion in his attendance upon cholera patients during the year of that great scourge. He con- tracted the disease and died. His father and mother were blessed with ten children, of whom he was the fourth, and by the death of his father he was early cast upon his own resources. He had, while quite young, become imbued with the desire to become a doctor, and with that end in view prosecuted his studies. Up to his twenty-eighth year his time was spent in study and teaching varied with other kinds of work. From much reading and observation he

became a convert to the homeopathic system, and ultimately in 1869 graduated at the Cleveland Homeopathic Hospital College. Previous to and during his practice ophthalmic and anral sur- gery were subjects of study that closely engaged his attention. Prof. T. P. Wilson, president of the college from which he graduated, being sur- geon in charge of the Ophthalmic and Aural Institute and professor of that branch in the college, a proposition of partnership was made by Dr. Wilson and accepted, and Dr. Van Nor- man also received the appointment of surgeon to the institute, which he held until he left the city of Cleveland, in 1872. He left this city on account of the health of his family and moved to Springfield as an inland town, as well as on account of its reputation as a healthy location. At this time his school of medicine had not been brought to the front, but by faith- ful, industrious and never tiring energy and with peculiar adaptation . to the profession, ho- meopathy has in spite of all opposition forced its way to the front rank of medical practice. Dr. Van Norman as a medical practitioner has always held independent views as to the treat- ment of disease, holding steadily to the neces- sity of an adaptability to the peculiar work of the profession and regarding common sense as the first and last requirement to success. The Doctor is a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy and a member of the State Medical Society of Ohio, and an active member of the American Public Health Association, and is also a member of the Medical Society of San Diego County. He is a thirty-second de- gree Scottish rite Mason, receiving the last of these degrees in 1867. He has also been a worthy member of the Odd Fellows Association since 1863. Dr. Van Norman was united in marriage to Miss Martha N. Hazlett, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hazlett, in 1867. She was born in 1841, at Anderson, Madison County, Indiana. Her people were formerly from Virginia. Her parents now reside in Riverside, California, and her father has at- tained the advanced age of eighty-one years.

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Dr. and Mrs. Van Norman have two children, a girl and a boy: Gertrude G., born May 24, 1871, at Ashtabula, Ohio: and William Ver- non, born December 7, 1875, at Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. The Doctor with his fam- ily removed to San Diego, July 18, 1888, and has purchased property and located here. Their home is corner of Fifth and Maple streets and is connected by telephone with his office at 927 Sixth street. Dr. Van Norman became a Methodist when eighteen years of age and is a member and one of the trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Van Nor- man was a Presbyterian, but since her marriage she has joined the Methodist Church.

APTAIN S. S. DUNNELLS was born at Edgecomb, Maine, April, 15, 1824, and in 1826 moved with his parents to Belfast on the Penobscot bay. llis father was a sea- faring man, as was his grandfather; the same influence worked upon the son, and in 1833, at the age of seventeen years, he went on board a merchant vessel, which traded on the Atlantic along the coast of North and South America and the West Indies. In 1841, accompanied by seven sailors, he went up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Peoria, Illinois, and then by wagon across the plains to Chicago, and the following eight years sailed upon Lakes Michi- gan, Huron and Erie, as master of a vessel. In 1849 he returned to Belfast, Maine, and in Jan- nary, 1850, he sailed for San Francisco, Cali- fornia, making but one stop, at Valparaiso, and completing the trip in 160 days, arriving in July, 1850.

He then went prospecting in placer mines on the Mokelumne river and Ister in Onion val- ley and at the headwaters of the Feather river. He soon, however, bought a mule team and car- ried supplies from Marysville to the mines. He then bought and built two lighters, purchased flour at Sacramento, and shipped it up the Feather river to Marysville, the motor power

being wind and poles. He made several very profiable trips, but sold out and went to min- ing on Butte river, then to Piety Hills and Bald mountains in Shasta County, where he conducted general merchandise stores, selling goods to the miners. In 1857 he again visited the scenes of his childhood at Belfast, Maine, returning by way of the Isthmus.

Mr. Dunnells was married in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth H. Moore, a native of Maine. In 1858 he returned to California, where he re- snmed his business at Piety Hills. Being joined by his wife in 1859, they remained about fonr years, and then sold ont and went to Cotton- wood, Shasta County, where they bought a store and remained until 1886. They again sold out and visited Red Bluffs, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco. As he journeyed, seeking a settlement, the stories of his youth came before him, and the sea yarns of his old uncle, a seafaring man, who had often visited this coast, and on his return to his New En- gland home would sit in the chimney corner and tell of the beautiful bay and glorious cli- mate of San Diego, and from this his attention was turned to that place; and, being so satisfied that San Diego would be to hiin a haven of rest, he went to A. E. Horton, who then had an office at San Francisco, and purchased a house and lot at the corner of Fifth and State streets. San Diego city, that he might come to this land of warmth and sunshine, feeling that a house was opened for him and to shelter his family. He then started the first hotel, known as the "Old San Diego Hotel." After running the hotel one year he leased it and in 1870 started in steamboat operations, carrying freight and passengers north as far as Santa Barbara and abont 300 miles south. In 1873 be sold out and started in the fishing business, drying and shipping to San Francisco, and also in piloting vessels ont and in the bay; but at that time shipping was extremely light. He continued until 1873, when he sold out and has since de- voted himself exclusively to piloting.

Captain Dunnells has two children, one daugh-

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

ter and a son, both living in San Diego, the son being also a pilot and connected with his father in duties upon the sea.

J. McINTOSH was born at Adams Cen- tre, Jefferson County, New York, Febru- ary 20, 1829. The father was a native of Massachusetts, but of Scotch descent, and his mother was a native of Rhode Island. They have seven children, F. J. being the sixth in order of birth. His parents moved to Wilna, Jefferson County, in 1832, where his mother died. In 1845 he returned to Adams· Centre, and was apprenticed for two years to learn the trade of shoemaker, and remained until 1848, working at his trade. He then spent one year traveling through Canada. working from time to time when in need of funds, and in 1850 he returned to Burr's Mills, Jefferson County, New York, working at his trade.

He was married July 18, 1850, to Miss Louisa Wheeler, a native of New York State. He then started a hotel, which he continued for fourteen months, and though with no ex- perience he met with great success and cleared abont $1,500. In 1853 he sold his hotel in- terests and engaged as foreman in a mannfac- turing shoe store, remaining until 1856, when he went to Syracuse, New York, and started a harness business under the firm name of Mc- Intosh & Dow. In 1857, owing to depressions in business, he sold out and went to Rodman, Jefferson County, working at his trade. In 1858 he opened a grocery and boot and shoe store, and in 1860 took in a partner by the name of Strong. the firm name being McIntosh & Strong, and in 1862 sold out to Strong. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, Colonel Piper in command. They were ordered to Fort Rich- mond, Staten Island, where they remained nine months drilling in light artillery and infantry. Then they were ordered to Washington, District of Columbia, and were stationed at Fort Carroll,

and after a few months were ordered to Fort Lyons, Virginia; but after a short time were sent to the front and entered their first field en- gagement in infantry at Cold Harbor, under command of General Burnside. They then went ont by way of the Whitehouse Landing, in General Grant's movement toward Petersburg. They moved by water, and were the first com- pany to land at City l'oint, arriving about dark. On the following morning they were drawn np in line of battle, and, making a charge, took about thirty prisoners and nine pieces of field artillery. They then went forward to Peters- burg Heights, and captured main battery No. 5. Here was the undermining of Fort Cotton, a rebel fort, the blowing up of which caused a terrible loss of life. The regiment was then ordered to the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, to reinforce General Sheridan. The morning be- fore the battle of Cedar Creek, the rebels sur- prised the Union troops while in their tents, and a general retreat followed. Sheridan, at the time returning from Winchester to the front, met his retreating troops, rallied his men, drove back the rebels, and gained a victory which ended the war in the Shenandoah valley. They were then ordered back to the James river, near Richmond, and were present at the blowing up of the rebel gunboats on the James river. The 2d day of April, 1865, 400 men, selected from the Sixth and Tenth New York regiments, and led by Major Campbell, of the Tenth New York, charged on the rebel works, driving them back to their ınain line, but, find- ing themselves nearly surrounded, retreated with the loss of eighty men killed. They then made a general charge along the line, drove the enemy about two miles toward Richmond, and came up with General Sheridan, who had just taken Petersburg. The regiment was then ordered to Petersburg, where they remained in charge of the conquered city until Jnly, 1865, when they were discharged from the United States service and were sent back to Madison Barracks, Sackett's Harbor, and were then dis- charged from the State service. The subject of

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this sketch was not wounded during the war.

Mr. McIntosh then returned to Rodman, Jefferson County, and bought an interest in his old store, continuing under the firm name of MeIntosh & Egan. He then bought Egan out, and continued alone about one year, when he sold out, but remained as manager. In 1867 he went to Long Island, Canada, buying and shipping hides to the American side. He con- tinued about one year, and then went to New York. July 5, 1868, he sailed for Aspinwall on the first trip of the Dakota, but owing to an accident they had a long and tedions passage. They crossed the Isthmus of Panama by rail, and at that place took the steamer Nevada for San Francisco, arriving September 2, 1868. He spent the winter mainly at San José, work- ing at his trade, and on March 2, 1869, started for San Diego. He immediately started a shoe shop at Old Town, making a specialty of fancy top boots for the Mexican trade, doing a pros- perous business for eighteen months, with a large force of employes whom he brought from San Francisco. He was the pioneer shoemaker of San Diego city. He then opened a shoe shop near H and Fifth streets, which business he continued in abont four years, when he gave up manufacturing. Increasing his stock, he kept a first-class shoe store on Fifth street. In 1876 he sold out his store, and has since de- voted himself to building and trading in real estate.

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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