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 45

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 45
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 45
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 45
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 45

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).

He started again with his regiment for the Pacific coast, and was sent with a detachment to the Mission San Diego, where he remained for three years, during which time he mnade ten expeditions among Cahuila Indians, living in the northern part of the county. At times they displayed hostile traits, and the presence of the troops was necessary to prevent an outbreak. He was then stationed at Fort Yuma for a year, during which time that post was threatened by Indians. During the war of the Rebellion he served about six months in the Army of the Potomac, commanding Battery G, Third Artil- lery, and then was ordered to this coast and placed in command of Alcatraz, in San Fran- cisco harbor. There he remained three and a half years, until the elose of the war. He then resigned his commission and entered civil life. Soon after this he engaged in a mining venture below Ensenada, in Lower California, for a while, and afterward was interested in a mine at Lyttle Creck, near San Bernardino. He then went to Los Angeles, where he remained until 1872. In the latter year he came to San Diego, where he has made his home ever since. He has practiced medicine until about three years ago, when he retired from active practice. He

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

now has charge of the Marine Relief Hospital, an institution which he has built himself, and is but just completed.

Dr. Winder was married in 1850, in Ports- month, New Hampshire, to the daughter of Governor Goodwin, of that State. He has one son, who is now a lieutenant in the navy and attached to the United States steamer Marion. Dr. Winder is the owner of Winder's addition. He is a liberal-spirited citizen, and a representa- tive man.

M RS. MARY J. BIRDSALL .- When the advocates of female suffrage advance arguments in support of their canse they are too apt to appeal to sentiment, and to overlook one of the most forcible argumenta, and that is, the ability with which women direct those branches of business that are popularly supposed to fall within the special province of men. When we find a woman who combines executive ability with attention to detail, who has a talent for direction as well as a faculty for managing-who is, in fact, a thorough woman of.business-the most nitra opponent of equal rights to the gentler sex is apt to surrender his opinions. When we find a specimen of this stronger type of womanhood, she not only ex- cites onr admiration but commands onr respect. We admire the gifts with which nature has en- dowed her, and respect the manner in which she has applied them. Among that body of able, enterprising, and progressive pioneer resid- ents that gave the impetus to San Diego's growth, there is to be found the name of a wo- inan-Mrs. Mary J. Birdsall. Coming to San Diego when it was but a hamlet, she has lived to see it advance to a bustling, commercial city, and by her business prescience she has been enabled to participate in the general prosperity that has attended its wonderful growth.

Mrs. Birdsall was born near Jefferson City, Missouri, but was raised in Tennessee, and edn . cated at the Young Ladies' Model School in

Summerville, Tennessee. She graduated at the age of fifteen, and within a year afterward was married. Abont twenty years ago she came to California, by way of the Isthmus, and for two years lived in the northern part of the State. Then, in 1870, she came to San Diego. At that time what is now the city of San Diego contained but a few board honses. The erec- tion of the Horton House, the first brick build- ing, had just been completed, and it gave little promise of the great future before it. In com- pany with her husband, Mrs. Birdsall started the Home Restaurant on the ground where the Commercial Hotel now stands. It was after- ward known as the Lyon Restanrant. In 1880-'81 she kept a hotel known as the Com- mercial, situated below the Horton House, on the ground now ocenpied by the Chadbourne Furniture Company. In 1881 she began the erection of the fine house at present occupied and managed by her, the Commercial Hotel, on the corner of Seventh and I streets. It contains 115 rooms, and is admirably arranged for the purpose for which it was designed. It is strictly a temperance honse, and no liquor has ever been sold in it. It is especially popular with the old residents of this section of the State. Being cast npon her own resources, Mrs. Birdsall cul- tivated her natural business ability, and by strict attention to her duties she has acquired a most enviable position in the community. While directing her hotel in an admirable manner she has, by the exercise of jndicions investments, acquired a handsome competency. Besides the Commercial Hotel she owns considerable city real estate and county property. During San Diego's darkest days, Mrs. Birdsall never lost faith in the future-her confidence in the city's ultimate importance was unbonnded.

Mrs. Birdsall has two sons and one daughter, the latter being married. One son is a grad- nate of St. Angnstine Military College at Beni- cia, Solano County, California, and one resides in Arizona. Her father died here in 1880. Mrs. Birdsall is a lady of retiring disposition, never seeking publicity. She is, however, very

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charitable, and has contributed liberally to all good objects.

ILLIAM H. VAN SLYKE, deceased, formerly a prominent citizen of Ocean- side, was born July 20, 1840, on the Hudson, in New York. His father, William Van Slyke, was a native of New York and be- longed'to one of those old Dutch families of that State; his mother, Mary (Hotailing) Van Slyke, was one of a very noted family of New York. They had seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest. The family re- moved to San Francisco when he was thirteen years of age. After leaving the public school he took a course in a commercial college. He was a miner from 1861 to 1884. He inined in the following places: Grass Valley, Nevada County, Idaho, Virginia City, Pioche and Ari- zona, where he had charge of the works of the Grand Central; he then returned to Cali- fornia. Mr. Van Slyke had located the Good Hope mine, near the present town of Perris, in San Diego Connty. This was the richest little mine in Southern California. The best ore from it went $6,000 to the ton. Mr. Van Slyke worked it six years and took from it $160,000 in gold. Since his death the mine has been sold for $25,000, and a new company is now at work at it. Mr. Van Slyke came to Oceanside in July, 1886, and invested in real estate. In 1887 he commenced building the South Pacific Hotel, the finest building in and greatest improvement to the young town. The house was completed in eleven months and is a credit to the town and a monument to its builder. It cost, completed and furnished, $70,000. It is four stories high, has sixty commodious rooms, not counting the fourth story, which is not entirely finished as yet. The building stands near the grand Pacific ocean and in front of the town, and is a perfect model of beauty in its outside architecture, and inside it is a model of safety, convenience and comfort. It is good enough for any town in any

country, no matter how rich. Mr. and Mrs. Van Slyke opened the honse February 22, 1887, and commenced its management. He was taken sick soon after it was opened, and after a severe illness, which lasted sixteen months, he died in the fine house he had taken so much pleasure and exhibited so much public spirit in building. Mr. Van Slyke was a Chapter Mason and a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. He was married in San Diego, September 2, 1886, to Mrs. M. E. Barber, widow of the late Mr. A. Barber, a Boston merchant. Her father, O. S. Sparks, was from Massachusetts. She was born in San Francisco, June 26, 1847, and was the first American child born in the city. Her people lived in San Francisco fourteen years. She is now carrying on the hotel and Dr. E. A. Tuttle is her business manager. The Doctor was born in Boston, September 13, 1848, and has been a physician and surgeon for several years, but more recently abandoned the practice of his profession to engage in the hotel business. and has had good success.

ARON PAULY, a California pioneer and one of the oldest residents of San Diego, was born in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, May 24, 1812. His father died when he was ten years of age. His youth and early manhood were passed in Warren County, and, until he was fourteen, on a farm. When thirty years old he started West and located in Quincy, Illinois, where he engaged in the mercantile business and remained until the spring of 1849. Gold had been discovered in California, and emigrants were flocking to the new El Dorado from all parts of the civilized world. Mr. Panly formed a party and started across the plains for the Pacific coast in the spring of that eventful year. Travelers and tourists of the present day, journeying overland in Pullman coaches, can have but slight conception of the fatigues, dan- gers, and delays that attended a journey to Cali- fornia in 1849. Each of the different routes

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

had its hardships. The voyager by sea was tossed and buffeted about in closely-packed and ill-provisioned ships for months; those who jour- neyed by way of the Isthmus, in addition to the discomforts of a sea voyage, were compelled to pass through the fever-stricken districts of the Isthmus; the march across the plains was long and arduous; the trains were liable to attacks from Indians, their cattle often died from want of water and proper pasturage, and, in some cases, the emigrants themselves fell victims to the drought. There were twenty-five persons in the train with which Mr. Pauly crossed the plains. They came by the way of Salt Lake and the Truckee River, stopping finally at Co- loma, a mining camp near Sacramento, built on the site of Sutter's Mill, in the race-way of which gold had been discovered two years be- fore, by James W. Marshall. Mr. Pauly re- mained at Coloma during the winter of 1849-'50, but in the spring went to the mines in Butte County, where he remained for two years. Hav- ing been quite prosperous in his ventures, he bonglit a large stock ranch at. Spring Valley, Yuba County, twelve miles from Marysville. Here he made his home till 1865. He then disposed of the ranch and removed to Marys- ville, where he remained three years, engaged in the mercantile business with his sons, F. N. and C. W. Pauly. In 1869, on account of ill health, he disposed of his business in Marys- ville and moved to San Diego. Horton's Wharf had just been completed and Mr. Pauly landed the first stock of goods upon it. He opened a store, which was connected with the wharf, and had charge of the latter. At this time he had considerable trouble with Ben Holladay, who refused to allow his steamers to touch at Hor- tou's Wharf. Finally, however, after threaten- ing to charter a schooner and transport his goods independent of the steamship line, Holladay gave in and permitted his vessels to load and discharge at the wharf.

Mr. Pauly remained in the merchandise busi- nesseuntil 1875, when he sold out and went into real estate, commission and insurance with his

son, C. W. Pauly. He has now retired from active business and devotes his time to conduct. ing his private affairs. Mr. Pauly was a mem- ber of the board of supervisors in 1873-'74. Ile was also tax collector for nine years, from 1875 to 1884, and was one of the organizers and first president of the chamber of commerce. During the time that he was at the head of this institution, the railroad was built into San Diego, and it is not too much to say that Aaron Pauly's labors did much to bring about that important event. He was one of the founders of the Baptist society here, selected the lots and aided largely in building the present tine church edifice on the corner of E and Ninth streets. Mr. Pauly owns considerable real estate in dif- ferent parts of the city. In conjunction with D. C. Reed he built the fine business block on the corner of E and Sixth streets, known as the Reed-Pauly block; and with A. G. Gassen, he has just erected a block on the northeast corner of E and Fourth streets, known as the " Lawyer's Block." He has lately finished a handsome and spacious residence on the corner of D and Eleventh streets. It is the Queen Anne style of architecture, and is considered one of the most tasteful private residences in the city.

In addition to his interests in San Diego, Mr. Pauly has done much to further and develop the mines of the county, and the mining region of Julian is probably more indebted to him than to any other individual for its present prosper- ous outlook. He was also one of the projectors and president of the company that built the wagon road from Yuma to San Diego. This road was of great benefit to San Diego, and a great deal of business was done over it, which continued until the opening of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Panly was one of the organizers of the San Diego Benevolent Associ- ation, a society which is still in existence, and has for many years, in an nnostentatious way, accomplished inuch charitable work.

Mr. Pauly was married in 1840 to Miss El- tira Nye, a native of Vermont. The result of this union was four children living, two sons and

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

two daughters. Besides he had one danghter by his first wife, to whom he was married in 1834, but she died in a little more than a year afterwards. His eldest daughter is the wife of General Dustin, of Sycamore, Illinois, who served all through the war of the Rebellion. His sons are living in Southern California, one being employed in the First National Bank in Los Angeles, and the other being engaged in the real estate business here. One daughter is married and living in Gridley, Butte County.

Mr. Panly has fully realized his early expee- tations in the present wonderful growth and prosperity of San Diego. He is in excellent health, and bids fair to have many days of use- fulness before himn.

ENERAL DATUS E. COON, a member of Heintzelman Post, No. 33, San Diego, was born February 20, 1831, in De Ruyter, Madison County, New York, son of Luke and Lois (Burdick) Coon ; the former born in Peters- burg, New York, in 1804, was a farmer of Scoteh descent; the latter, born in Rhode Island in 1808, was of German descent. They had a family of six children, of whom our subjeet was the oldest. He spent most of his early youth in two conn- ties, Allegany and Cattaraugus, of New York. In 1849 the family removed to Wisconsin, where they bought a farm, and Mr. Coon re- mained with his father improving it; he was there two years, then went to the Milton Academy and prepared himself for teaching. He tanght for two years in Delhi and Dubuque, Iowa; he then embarked in the newspaper business and started the first paper published in Delaware County, lowa, the Delhi Argus. It was issued in August, 1855; in six months he sold the whole establishment and removed to Osage, lowa, and published the Osage Democrat. The town was a new one just started upon the prairie; and the first issue eame out in April, 1856, and the type was set up outside in cold weather, the cases filled

with snow, and the printers had to warm their fingers at pots of coals under the eases. In the spring of 1858 he removed the estab- lishment to Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, where he published the Cerro Gordo Press, until the war broke out in 1861.

On receipt of the news of the fall of Fort Sumter he resolved to go into the army as a eavalry man, and procured a captain's eommis- sion from Governor Kirkwood, of Iowa, to raise a company in three weeks. The com- pany was raised, and they proceeded to Daven- port, Iowa, and were assigned to. the Second Iowa Cavalry. In September, 1861, Captain Coon was promoted to Major, in command of the Second Battalion. After drilling and equip- ping here, they were ordered to St. Louis, and from there they were ordered to the front. They took a steamer to Cairo, Illinois, from there across the river to Bird's Point, Missouri, and then were ordered to New Madrid, Missouri. They participated in the battle of New Madrid and Island No. 10; from here were ordered on General Pope's expedition down the river to near Vieksburg, where they remained until ordered back to Cairo, Illinois, and from there to Shiloh. The first important engagment the Second Regiment had was a cavalry charge, made to protect the command of General Paine of Illinois, who was making a reconnoissanee near Corinth, Mississippi, on May 9, 1862. It was Major Coon's good fortune to be in the lead with his eommand of four companies. The regiment lost sixty horses, and several men were killed and wounded; it all occurred in fifteen minutes, but saved Paine and all his division, by diverting the attention of the enemy. The next important engagement was the battle of Boonville; the victory was given to Sheridan, who was promoted to brigadier general the next day, July 1, 1862. When Sheridan was promoted, Colonel Ed. Hateh be- came brigade commander and Major Coou was assigned command of his regiment; six months later he was placed in command of a brigade of eavalry, composed of the Sixth and Ninth Illi-

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

nois Cavalry and Second lowa Cavalry. In 1864 he was appointed Colonel and was ordered with his regiment to Memphis, Tennessee, where he commanded a brigade of cavalry until the fall of that year, when they were driven back from Shoal creek, Tennessee, to Columbia, Tennessee, by Hood's army advancing on Nash- ville. His brigade participated in the battle of Franklin and was driven back to Nashville, where they remained during Thomas' prepara- tions for the great battle. At Nashville, Tennes- see, two regiments more were added to his com- mand (5,000 men all told), namely: the Seventh Illinois and the Twelfth Michigan Cavalry. De- cember 14, 1864, the whole army were ordered to the front to contest with General Hood. Colonel Coon's command occupied the right of General Thomas' command. When five or six miles in advance they struck the enemy, dis- mounted and advanced on the first fort; his command captured a small earth-work, somne forty prisoners and two pieces of artillery and 200 stand of arıns. Not satisfied with this victory they pushed steadily on to what is called the Brentwood Hill, and charging as infantry on foot, 200 feet up the hill, captured 400 pris- oners, two more pieces of artillery and 400 stand of arms. This was the most terrific storm of shot that the men had ever passed through, and many brave men of this brigade were killed and wounded. The Colonel's horse was killed under him, the ball passing through the horse just back of the Colonel's leg. The next day the whole command pushed on, followed Hood's demoralized and retreating army to the Tennessee river, and took up camp at Eastport, Mississippi, where they remained until Wilson made his raid further south. Immediately after the battle of Nashville, which occurred on December 14 and 15, 1864, the subject of this memorial was appointed by the President, Brevet Brigadier General, for gallant conduct on that memorable battle-field. July 1, they were ordered east, to Decatur, Alabama. At this point he received orders to report to General Thomas, at Nashville, and was placed in com-

mand of a cavalry camp of drill and discipline, on the north side of the river. In the latter part of August he was ordered to proceed with his regiment to Selma, Alabama, to be mustered out of service, as the war had been ended several months and the men were anxious to get home to their families. The final muster out took place at Davenport, Iowa, October 1, 1865. General Coon returned to Selma, Alabama, in the fall of 1865, and embarked in the raising of cotton. He was elected and served as a member of the first constitutional convention which convened under act of Congress, 1868. After- ward he was elected a member of the State Senate and served four years, and later, two years in the House of Representatives of the State of Alabama. He also held several prom- inent appointments from the Federal Govern- ment. In 1879 he was appointed consul to Baracoa, Cuba, where he remained for six years, at the expiration of which time he came to San Diego and engaged in the real estate business.

In 1855 he married Miss Hattie A. Cummins, of Delhi, Iowa. She died in May, 1857, leav- ing a child six weeks old, which died soon after. At the close of the war he married Mrs. Jennie E. Bailey, daughter of Hon. George W. Ells, of Davenport, Iowa, by whom he had two daughters, one of whom, Maggie E., died in Cuba when thirteen years old; the wife died there also. The other daughter, Georgie, was born in 1872; she now lives with her father in San Diego.

RANK HERBERT CUNNINGHAM, a prominent citizen of San Diego County, was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, December 5, 1855. His parents were both natives of New Hampshire, to which State their ancestors early emigrated from the Scotch low- lands. His mother, Miria'n Putney Roby, was born in Sutton, of a family of Revolutionary heroes who had gained conspicuous honors at Bunker Hill and Bennington. She was both a

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

beautiful and remarkably intelligent woman, possessing robust health and a benevolent Chris- tian character. His father, Benjamin Pierce Cunningham, was born at his father's farmn at Hillsboro, from which at an early age he set out, learned the tiuware trade, and soon after established himself in the house-furnishing busi- ness, in which he amassed a fortune. He was a pushing business man, a skillful financier and a good citizen, and was honored by his neigh- bors and associates for his sterling worth. Frank Herbert, the second son, would have been as tall, broad-shouldered and vigorous as his parents had not an unfortunate fall, during infancy, produced a curvature of the spine. For this no cure was found, although the best authorities were consulted; their treatment re- sulted in such a loss of strength that until his twelfth year he was compelled to use crutches. His mind, however, was unusually active, and having early acquired a taste for good literature, his greatest pleasure throughout life was found in reading a favorite author. Afflicted as he was, his struggle for health, education and for business success seems truly remarkable. Until 1869 he was unable to attend school, but two years later we find that he secured the highest percentage of the sixty-nine applicants for en- trance at the Roxbury Latin School, where he proposed to prepare for college. Such a course was thought beyond his strength and he there fore entered the Boston Grammar School, com- pleting the usnal four years' course in half that time. In 1873, while attending the Roxbury High School, he was obliged to abandon further study, and to confirm his health and care for cer tain Southern investments, he passed the greater part of the next year in Georgia and Florida.

In 1878, npon the death of his father, Mr. Cunningham determined to acquire a higher education, and with that purpose entered. in 1879, the Phillips Academy at Exeter, New Hampshire, from which, three years later, he was gradnated with high honors. At Exeter, despite the severe winter temperature, his health became greatly improved and he was therefore

able to take an active interest in many of the sports that pertain to school life. He was like- wise active in the various school societies and a favorite in his class as well as a welcome guest at the houses of the citizens.

Although passing his examination for Har- vard College, he decided to finish with a year course at the Cambridge Law School. During this year Mr. Cunningham wrote a centennial history under the title of " Familiar Sketches of the Phillips (Exeter) Academy," a book of nearly 500 pages, published by the Osgoods. This volume not only received the approval of the Alninni of that celebrated institution but also found its way into all the public and many of the private libraries. Its circulation is said to have been the means of largely increasing the endowment of the academy through the com- plete exposition given to its affairs. While at Exeter Mr. Cunningham had decided upon a business career. He seems to have inherited a restless energy and an aptitude for commercial pursuits, which for a long time had warred against his fondness for literature and his fitness for such work. He established his headquarters in Boston and for several years made a specialty of Kansas mortgage investments, later extend- ing his operations and journeys to the Pacific coast. At the same time, as the head of the Cunningham Manufacturing Company, he was interested in the manufacture of patent machin . ery, shipping the same to all parts of the world. Repeated visits to the southwest led himn to study that section and to conclude that Southern California possessed elements to attract and support a very dense population, under proper system of irrigation. Therefore forming a partnership with other gentlemen of means, Mr. Cunningham removed to Oceanside, Cali- fornia, where in 1887 he consummated the pur- chase of the water rights of the San Luis Rey river, the most considerable stream in San Diego County, California, and also the reservoir sites, to be used therewith, proposing to utilize these for the irrigation of some 200,000 acres of fruit land, as soon as capital conld be seenred for

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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