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 36

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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36

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).

Kahn & Co., wholesale dry goods, continuing until 1867, when he sold out his interest and withdrew from the firm. He then started a general merchandise store in Santa Cruz, Oak- land, San Luis Obispo and Guadaloupe, also be- ing a director of the Pioneer Woolen Mill of San Francisco, president of the Oakland Jute Factory and vice-president of the French Savings Bank, also interested in cattle and sheep ranches. Being very enterprising he continued these sev- eral branches with great success.

On January 25, 1865, he married Miss M. Sarassin, a native of France, and in 1871 he sold out his home in San Francisco and, with his wife and three children, went to Europe, spend- ing a year traveling through France, Italy and Switzerland. They returned to America in the fall of 1872, then eame disastrous years. He lost heavily through a defaulting manager at Anaheim, wool speculations in Frisco and lime business in Santa Cruz, and in 1877 lost 3,000 head of cattle, owing to a dry year. In 1880 he came to San Diego city dead broke, but with good friends to back him. Still ill-luck followed, and after three years business in the firm of Block- man & Smith, through a disagreement with Smith, business was settled by a receiver and great loss followed.

In December, 1884, he started his present business at 618, 620 and 622 Fifth street, under firm name of M. Blochman & Son, doing a gen- eral merchandise business, carrying a large stock and meeting with good success. At present he is vice-president of the San Diego Building and Loan Association, with a paid up capital of $150,000. He is district deputy of the order of Chosen Friends, a member of the Masonic Lodge, a member of the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce, and in sympathy with all domestic progress.

Mr. and Mrs. Blochman have had eight chil- dren, six now living, one son and five daughters. The son is in the business. The children are all well educated, two of the girls having been educated in Paris .. Mr. Blochman considers an education the best kind of an inheritance,

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

and is himself a great linguist, being fluent in four languages. His son is likewise ready in these and several other languages.

OHN B. LEVET, of San Diego, was born August 27, 1824, in France, and came to America with his parents in 1836, being the younger of two sons. His brother Joseph, a farmer, lost his life in Iowa, by accidental drowning, leaving a family. Their father, John C. Levet, who also was a farmer, located in Crogantown, Lewis County, New York, where the subject of this sketch grew up. In 1844 the family removed to Watertown, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, where young John learned the trade of earpenter and builder, and followed this vocation until he came to California in 1850. He first located in San Francisco, where he followed his trade as contractor and builder for about twenty years, and the evidences of his en- terprise and mechanical skill are numerous in the many fine residences and business blocks in the breezy metropolis. He completely executed his contracts, putting up buildings from foundation to the delivery of the keys to the proprietors, employing a large force of mechanics and doing presumably a profitable business.

In November, 1869, he came to San Diego, when it was only a trading post of two or three small houses, and Mr. Dunnel kept a " stopping place " near the beach; that building is still standing. Mr. Levet came here mainly for reereation, as he had wore himself down by over- work. He lived awhile at National City, where he erected several dwellings. In the fall of that year he brought his family from San Francisco and took up a permanent residence in San Diego, and there he successfully pursned his calling up to a very recent date. His reputation as a thrifty, energetic business man is too well known to re- quire particulars.

Mr. Levet was married in February, 1856, in Watertown, Wisconsin, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Solomon Owens, a Methodist Episcopal clergy-

man of Dodge County, that State, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Levet have one son, B. F. Levet, who is an expert eivil engineer and dranghts- man, and as such has figured conspicuously in the construction of the California Southern Rail- way, being in their service for seven years; and made drawings and estimates, etc., for the Cuy- amaca Railway. His office is No. 25, in the Pieree and Morris block. His children are: Datus, born March 14, 1864; Ella and Loleta, both accomplished and attractive ladies. The latter 18 known throughout California as a high- ly disciplined vocalist, and she is also a fine pianist.

Mr. Levet has invested his capital in San Diego real estate and therefore owns many good pieces of property, comprising valuable dwellings. He is counted among the judicious and solid citizens, with sound opinions on local matters and public policy. He is a member of the Pioneer Society and of the order of Odd Fellows. Residence, corner of Date and First streets.

UGUSTUS K. CRAVATH, a prominent business man of Escondido, was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 23, 1852. At an early age his parents removed to Will Coun- ty, Illinois, where they remained until the fall of 1858, when they moved to Worth County, Iowa, and there Augustus worked on a farm during the summer and attended public school during the winter. In the fall of 1870 he be- gan attendance at the Baptist Seminary at Osage. In the spring of 1872 he came to San Diego County, where he has remained ever since, en- gaged in farmning. Eighteen ont of the thirty- eight years of his life have been spent in this State. In the spring of 1886 he sold his farın and located in Escondido, as the manager of the Escondido Land and Town Company, in which capacity he remained over two and one-half years. At present he is resident manager of the Pacific Investinent Company, and also

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

President of the City Conneil and of the Escon- dido Mining and Water companies. He is also director of the Bank of Escondido. He arrived in this State with only $2.50, and he is now a capitalist, worth, perhaps, $30,000.

He was married in December, 1877, to Miss Kate Sikes, danghter of Zenas Sikes, a pioneer of San Diego, and they have three sons and three daughters.

OHN OLIVER WINSLOW PAINE, at- torney at law, was born in Charlestown, Maine, January 16, 1838, the youngest of seven children in the family of his father, Ab- ner Paine. He entered the army in 1861, at Bangor, Maine, while he was a student at Dart- month College, joining the Sixth regiment. He afterward enlisted in the Fourteenth regi- ment, under the command of Colonel Nieker- son, as Second Lieutenant, and was honorably discharged after a service of about two years, having been promoted to First Lieutenant. In January, 1865, he raised a company of volnn- teers and was assigned to his old regiment, the Fourteenth Maine. He remainad in active service until the close of the war, and was dis- charged in August, 1865. Part of his military life was spent in Georgia, where he was made provost judge in one of the districts of the State, with general powers. It was one of the first organizations of the courts after the close of the war, made by the commander of the de- partment, General C. A. Steadman. After the war Mr. Paine returned to Maine to practice law, which he had studied previously. He moved to Ottawa, Kansas, in 1867, and re- mained there over twelve years, being one of the leading attorneys, serving two terms as Dis- trict Attorney, and was also City Attorney, and retired with a good record and high honors. In 1879 Mr. Paine moved to San Diego, continuing the practice of his profession. He invested in real estate, and owns considerable land at Linda Vista, Poway, and other places in San Diego

County, and since 1880 has been Notary Pub- lic. He has made a specialty of the public land business, entering Government claims, protests, etc. He is well known to the public, and is a quiet, conscientious citizen. and is interested in everything that tends to advance or improve this county. He believes that this region will attract a larger population in the future than any other portion of the country. He has much to say as to the resources of San Diego County.

He was married in Ottawa, Kansas, in 1868, to Miss Jennie Mckinley, a native of Mary- land, who died in San Diego in 1883, leaving two daughters, Alice and Aimee. In 1886 Mr. Paine married Miss Anna B. Crotts, a native of Pennsylvania, and by this marriage has two children, Albert W. and Olive Prne.

ILLIAM ROGERS, a citizen of Eseon- dido, was born in Wiltshire, England, in 1820, and came with his parents to New York when but two years of age. When about twenty-two years old he engaged in the boot and shoe trade in New York city, and afterward in the same business in Ulster County, New York .. In 1851 he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California, and engaged in mining at Mokelumne Hill, on the Calaveras and Stanislaus rivers, and met with fair success. In 1853 he purchased an interest in the bark Oregon, loaded it with hides and old iron, and returned to New York around Cape Horn. While in the roadstead at Rio Janeiro, the bark narrowly escaped being robbed. Two boat- loads of Portuguese ruffians came out in the night and attacked the bark, but an alarm was given by a dog, which aronsed the sleeping watcher, when the pirates were fired upon by the guard boats, but they succeeded in escaping. The shipment of the freight and the purchase of · the bark proved to be quite profitable, several thousand dollars being realized. Mr. Rogers again engaged in the boot and shoe trade in his former home in Ulster County, New York. In

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1870 he removed to Kansas and engaged in the stock business and in farming. In 1884 he sold out there and came to San Diego, remained there two years and then removed to Escondido, and he built the first house in the place. He has now lived to see the town grow to contain at least 1,000 inhabitants.

In 1848 he married Miss Eliza S. Dusenbury, a daughter of John L. Dusenbury, of New York city. They had fonr sons and three daugh- ters, but two daughters have died.

OLONEL JOHN KASTLE, a prominent citizen of San Diego, was born in Stras- bourg, France, and with his father emi- grated at America when he was quite a small boy, settling in Lexington, Kentucky, where he was raised, and in time became a prosperous shoe merchant. In 1867, having become some- thing of an invalid, he sold out his business and visited the World's Fair, at Paris, spending six months on the continent of Europe. ()n his return he travelled several years in the west and south, spending the winter of 1870-'71 in San Francisco; returning to Lexington he drifted into politics, but having been an ardent Union man, he finally gave up the unequal contest. In 1881 he moved to Kansas City, and in 1884 married Miss Ida E. Hatch, a daughter of a prominent man of that place. While a citizen of that State he became prominently identified with its interests, and was influential in its progress, and was generally considered a man of excellent business judgment. He is an ac- tive member of the A. O. U. W., and is a pio- neer in that order. In 1887, after the death of his wife, Mr. Kastle came to California, making San Diago his home; he is at present a member of Point Loma Lodge, A. O. U. W., of San Diego, and has been its representative to the Grand Lodge for three successive terms; he was elected president of the Savings and Loan Asso- ciation for a second term, and is also an active and influential member of the Chamber of Com-

merce, having been elected president for the current terin. His views are broad and com- prehensive, and he is taking a deep interest in trying to obtain another transcontinental railroad for San Diego. He is one of the committee of the Chamber of Commerce appointed to arouse public attention to this important subject, and with others has succeeded in obtaining nearly a half million dollar subscription for that pur- pose.

He was also one of the earliest friends and promoters of the pioneer cable road of San Diego. He has offered many valuable sugges- tions from time to time in articles published in the columns of the local press, and many im- provements have been proposed by him in vari- ous contributions, among which were the im- provement of the public park, the necessity of a new opera house, the need of street improve- ments, a better system of street sprinkling, a market honse, the vital importance of local in- dustries to produce a steady, robust, healthy progress, and the importance of offering greater inducements to emigrants settling in this part of the conntry. When the commercial congress of the Pacific States was held in San Francisco in August, 1889, he was a delegate from San Diego to that honorable body. He is a pecul- iarly modest man, and is content to see his efforts bear fruit without attempting to assume any special credit to himself. He owns con- siderable real estate in the business center of San Diego, and is also actively interested in every plan or project which will improve the city.

He is a Republican in politics and firmly be- lieves that protecting and dignitying American labor is essential to the success, prosperity and advancement of the nation.

HILIP A. BETTENS, nurseryman of Es. condido, was born near Vevay, Switzer- land County, Indiana, July 31, 1838, of Swiss parentage; when about thirteen years of

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

age he commenced traveling on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers during the winter months and worked on his grandfather's farm during the warmer portions of the year, until 1859, when he moved to Florence, and continued farming until April 1, 1887, when he came to San Diego County. After a few weeks' residence in Coro- nado he moved to San Pasqual valley; was there nineteen months, and then moved to Escondido, September 1, 1888, where he was first in charge of the Escondido Land and Town Company's vineyard for several months; he is now in the nursery business for the Sweetwater Nursery Company.

In 1859 he married Miss Clara A. Dufour, of Switzerland County, Indiana, and of Swiss parentage. She died in November, 1880. By that marriage there are four sons and two daughters. The oldest son, Philip A., is a graduate of West Point, and holds the rank of Lientenant, being stationed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska; the second son, A. G., is in the em- ploy of the Coronado Beach Company, occupy- ing a responsible position in their office. The remaining children are with him at his home in Escondido.

YLVESTER S. ROGERS, druggist of Es- condido, was born in Ulster County, New York, in December, 1859, and when twelve years of age he went with his parents to Cen- tralia, Kansas, where he lived eight years. Then he went to Leonardville, Riley County, that State, and engaged in the hardware business four years, and then in March, 1856, he came to California, locating in Escondido valley, and worked at Bernardo for P. A. Graham six months, and then in Escondido for the same man. In March, 1887, he bought the drug store in the town of Escor.dido, which he has since been conducting.

He married Miss Sarah Boosey, daughter of P. Boosey, of Riley County, Kansas, and they 15

have one son and one daughter. His father, William Rogers, is a native of England, and has lived in California for the past seven years. He is now living in Escondido, hale and hearty. His son, Earl Leroy, was the first child born in Escondido.

ALTER J. BAILEY, principal of public schools, Escondido, California, was born in the village of Corinth, Penobscot County, Maine, July 24, 1862. At the age of five years he began his struggle for knowledge in the district school. His father was a farmer, but, being very desirous that his son should receive a good common-school education, spared no pains to keep Walter in school instead of allowing him to remain at home when extra assistance was needed on the farm, and during the long vacations between the terms of the district schools, Walter as he grew older was sent to private schools. His mother had been a school- teacher before her marriage, and in her Walter always found an able and a willing assistant, which, together with a natural quickness of per- ception, enabled him to stand among the first in all his classes. At the age of fifteen his father placed him under the care of David Fletcher, in the East Corinth Academy, where he remained a student a greater part of the next four years. He also attended the Ken- duskeag High School for a short time. During the fall and winter of 1881 he taught his first term of school in the town of Carmel, receiving $20 per month and his board. He met with such a degree of success in this school that he determined to make teaching his profession, and with that end in view entered the Eastern State Normal School at Castine, Maine, in the fall of 1882. His father wished him to be a farmer and refused to furnish the money for a profes- sional course.

Walter was thus thrown largely upon his own resources, but he never thought for a

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

moment of turning from his purpose; and by teaching and hard labor during vaca- tions he managed, with what assistance his mother conld furnish, to complete his entire course, graduating June 7, 1884. Having obtained a situation at Bowery Beach, near Portland, Maine, he began teaching at that place, but a severe attack of erysipelas pre- vented his finishing the term and confined him in bed for several months, thereby exhausting . his purse and seriously interfering with his studies. He taught several terms of school in his home district, and by his efforts as teacher, and afterward as "school agent" (trustee) made the school the best in the town. The winter of 1885 was spent in teaching the grammar school at West Brooksville, Maine, with his nsual snc- cess. From Brooksville he went to Waterville, Maine, where he spent some months pursuing his studies under the instruction of J. H. Han- son, LL. D., in the Coburn Classical Institute. The summer of 1886 found him transformed into a book agent and canvassing in the State of New York, with his headquarters at Fulton, Oswego County. In September he returned as principal of the High School at Kenduskeag, Maine. Having been converted to the Christian religion nearly a year before, he was now bap- tized and became a member of the First Bap- tist Church at Kenduskeag and took an active part in organizing a Young Men's Christian Association at that place.

Ilaving been a sufferer from attacks of asthma trom childhood he resolved to seek relief in the sunny land of Southern California, and attracted by the boom at San Diego we find him on his way to that city, where he arrived April 17, 1887. Finding no demand for any but mannal labor he began work on the Hotel del Coronado and assisted in laying the foundation for that magnificent structure. He then worked as car- penter on the same until the last of July, when he went to Buena, California, to take charge of a general merchandise store. During the next six months the railroad between Oceanside and Escondido was surveyed and built through

Buena, and Mr. Bailey's store, being in the midst of the contractors' camps, was the center of many exciting scenes.

On the 28th of September, 1887, he was married to Miss Annie L. Haselton, daughter of Captain John A. Haselton, who in company with Mr. Bailey's sister had just arrived from their home in Maine. In August, 1888, Mr. Bailey was elected to the principalship of the public schools in the " Sun-kissed Vale," which position he still retains, and the present excel- lent condition of the schools is largely due to his well-directed efforts.

- EWTON C. WHIMS was born near Hookstown, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1844. He was the son of Caleb Whims, a prominent farmer of that county. The first few years of his life were uneventtul, attending district school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer, until the breaking ont of the war. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment was attached to Hancock's old division (First) of the famous Second Corps, and taak part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac from Chancellorsville to Appomattox. The last year of the war he was in command of his company, with the rank of Second Lieuten- ant. In June, 1865, he settled on a farm in Pottawattamie County, Kansas. He taught school and studied law during the winter sea- sons until 1872, when he was admitted to the bar. From that time nntil 1886 he was prin- cipally engaged in educational work. In the spring of that year he removed to San Diego, and the same year he located in Escondido, in the " sun-kissed vale," and engaged in the iner- cantile business. In October, 1887, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Escondido, bnt, being an uncompromising Republican, he was removed to make room for a Democrat. In March, 1889, on the return of the Republi-

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eans to power, he was again appointed to the position of Postmaster, which place he now liolds.

He was married to Miss G. K. Vance. Octo- ber 11, 1865, and has four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Whims is a radical tem- perance man, a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and a good citizen.

M. LOOP, San Diego .- Some men walk through life with what has been termned a " charmed existence," and pass through terrible dangers and great perils unharmed. The lives of these men are replete with thrill- ing experience and hair-breadth escapes. The Mexican outlaw or Italian brigand could not excel their cruel murders nor their daring reck- less contempt of law. They robbed the mail and treasure boxes, and sliot and killed every one who offered the slightest resistance. They committed the most atrocious crimes without flinching. The people in their intense indigna- tion applied to the Government for protection, for it was unsafe to travel while the country was infested by such dangerous criminals. The United States mail coaches were loaded with gold and valuable treasures. These maranders generally knew where to make a big haul, and their attacks were sure of success. A man must have had intrepid courage to oppose them.

Among those who enlisted in the hazardous service of the Express Company as treasury agents was Theodore Murray Loop, who was born at Bath, Steuben County, New York, June 10, 1832. His father, Murray Loop, married Miss Mary Ann Arnot, a native of Scotland, in Elmira, New York. Mr. Loop became a prom- inent merchant. Theodore was the second child, having no brothers, but two sisters: Harriette Tuttle and Emily Elizabeth. The family moved to Oakland County, Michigan, where Mrs. Loop died, and Mr. Loop returned with his children to Bath, New York, where he left them and came West in 1837, and in 1840 brought his

children from Bath to his new home, settling at Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois. Theodore left home in the winter of 1849, in St. Louis, to come to California the next year.

After wintering in Jackson, Amador County, he followed mining the first three years. In 1853 he went into the service of the Adams Ex- press Company as treasury-carrier, and re- inained with them until they failed. He was next in the employ of the Langton's Express Company until 1858. During these years his danntless courage was frequently called into activity, and in 1854 he marvelously escaped being shot to pieces by a Walker's band of high- waymen, who attacked the stage running be- tween Downieville, Marysvilleand Comptonville. They stopped the coach at the Oregon Honse, and a fierce battle took place, both parties firing incessantly with revolvers and double-barreled shot guns. William Dobson and Theodore Loop fought with a wild desperation and killed three of the robbers; the others took fright and retreated to the mountains, where they were pursued and killed. During the fight a lady passenger was shot through the head, and a man on the coach had his leg badly shattered. The messengers had over $125,000 worth of treasure in the coach this trip. The news of the attack spread through the country, and the valor and courage of Mr. Loop was a subject of surprise and astonishment to all. In 1858 Mr. Loop resigned and went up north in the em- ploy of the California Stage Company, which carred the mail and treasure from Yreka and the mountains. In 1859-'60 he was on the route from Weaverville to Humboldt Bay, dur- ing the great Redwood Indian war, which was in progress at the Redwood mountains in Hum- boldt County. He traveled over the road for months when the Indians were so fierce that no white man dared to show himself. He made the trip at night-time to avoid attacks from them. The settlers were terror-stricken and utterly dismayed. The redskins murdered, pil- laged and destroyed entire settlements bordering on the different rontes between Weaverville and

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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