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 46

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 46
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 46
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 46
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 46

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).

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

that purpose. This became the San Luis Rey Flume Company, succeeded in 1889 by the San Luis Rey Water Company, of Illinois, a sale of the controlling interests in that enterprise having been made to C. B. Holmes and others of Chi- cago. This undertaking has developed into one of the largest and most beneficent irriga- tiou works in California, results due to the efforts of Mr. Cunningham and his associates.

Since coming to California Mr. Cunningham has taken an active part in the work of develop- ing the country. He organized and Was the first president of the San Diego County Agri- enltural Association. He has served as an officer of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, directing his attention particularly to coloniza- tion, and in 1889 represented his county on the State Arid Land Committee. He has served as city trustee and as a delegate to the county and State conventions. He has always been an ar- dent Republican, and to-day takes a warm in terest in political affairs. He has traveled extensively in this conntry and in most parts of Europe.

In January, 1888, Mr. Cunningham married Marion Lyons Kress, the oldest daugliter of Major John A. Kressof the United States army, a lovely lady, whose death the following June was much lamented. Mr. Cunningham makes his resi- dence and business headquarters at Oceanside, California.

OLONEL G. G. BRADT .- Among the self-made men, and the active, energetic workers who have made San Diego what it is, the subject of our sketch takes high rank. Ile was born at Bethlehem, Albany County, New York, November 18, 1827. His early life was passed in the city of Albany, living with a married sister, and improving snch educational privileges as were granted by the high school.

He then filled the position of clerk in a bruker's office for a short time, but having caught the California fever with enthusiasm he

left Albany, December 1, 1850, for California, taking steamer from New York to Aspinwall, then across the Isthummus to Panama, and there, on account of detentions, he remained until April, 1851; then taking the Old Columbia, with 1,000 passengers, they arrived at San Fran- cisco, May 16, 1851, after a passage of twenty- six days. He there engaged in the jewelry business for one and a half years, and then visited the gold mines, but after prospecting for a few months he returned to San Francisco, and for many years was engaged very extensively in the dray and lightering business. He was in- strumental in fitting out a Gold Beach mining expedition for the Oregon coast, and went with the party. After six months spent in search for gold there, he returned to San Francisco and went in the grain brokerage business, which he continued several years. Mr. Bradt was promi- nently connected with the Vigilance Committee of 1856, an organization of 6,000 members, which were instrumental in regulating the affairs of the entire State. They held secret meetings and punished many evil-doers, which had a very salutary effect. Mr. Bradt was prominently connected with the city govern- ment in San Francisco until 1869, when he came to San Diego, arriving May 3, on the steamer Orizaba, at that time a very popular steamer.

He at once started in the hotel business as proprietor of the old San Diego Hotel, corner of F and State streets, at that time the only hotel in town; but after five months of contin- uance, sold out and launched into the real-es- tate business, becoming sole agent for Mannasse & Schiller's addition and other very valuable and prominent property, doing a thriving and prosperous business, continuing until 1877. He then opened the well-known house of Bradt & Sons, in groceries and general merchandise, on the corner of Fifth and D streets, which is row being conducted by his son and son-in-law, while Mr. Bradt is more particularly interesting himself in conducting a wholesale commission business, at present located in the Bradt block,

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on Fifth street, between A and B, his residence being at the corner of Fifth and A streets. Mr. Bradt has served three terms as president of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is now a member. He is also president of one of the boards of the Common Council, and is gen- erally conceded to be one of the best and mnost efficient officers the city has ever had. The Colonel has taken great interest in the solution of the water question, and is recognized as the originator of the absolutely-free-water idea, and maintains that the city should own its own water supplies and distributing pipes. He is chairman of the Special Water Committee, ap- pointed by the Mayor, and a better selection could not be made, as he is one of the best in- formned men on the water question in San Diego; and the reduction of the present exorbi- tant water tax to that of a more reasonable rating will be through the instrumentality of that committee of which he is chairman.

Mr. Bradt was married in San Francisco in 1857 to Mrs. Saralı A. Warren, nee Hood. They have five children, of whom four survive, two sons and two danghters, all grown and well known in this community. Mrs. Bradt is a lady of sterling qualities, retiring in characteristics but benevolent in all works of charity and philan- thropy. Colonel Bradt is now a well-preserved gentleman of sixty-two years, being a leading citizen and interested in all growth and advance- inent of the city's and the county's prosperity.

AMUEL M. TYSON is one of Oceanside's pioneers, and was born in Lamar County, Texas, November 15, 1843. His father, John W. Tyson, a native of North Carolina, was born January 19, 1810. His grandfather, Cornelius Tyson, was also a North Carolinian. Mr. Tyson's mother was Elizabeth Mcclellan. She was born in Bedford County, Tennessee, December 19, 1812, and was married in 1836, and was the mother of three children, two boys and one daughter. The subject of this sketch

was the second son. His school days and boy- hood experiences were like those of other boys, at home with his father. At this time the quiet of farm life was interrupted by the great civil war. Being a yonng Southerner, he enlisted in Company A, Third Regiment Texas Cavalry, and saw first service under General Van Dorn, then under the command of Price, then of Beauregard, and finally under Hood and Dick Taylor. He served three years and fifteen days, and was neither wounded nor in hospital during that time. He saw much hard fighting. In the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862, there were 300 men in his regiment, and in two hours 115 of their number were either killed or wounded. The next battle was the second battle of Corinth, October 1 and 2. At its commencement they had 150 men, but lost sixty killed and wonnded, leaving ninety men, or less than one-third of their number. They then fell back in Mississippi, were remounted, and under General Van Dorn they captured Holly Springs, Mississippi, and took all the supplies in the rear of General Grant, and caused him to fall back to Memphis. The next fighting was around Vicksburg, and con- sisted of several minor engagements under Joseph E. Johnston. They were about to cut their way through to relieve the garrison when Vicksburg surrendered. From there they went to middle Tennessee, and had numerous fights around Columbia and Franklin. The principal battle was fought at Thompson's Station. With 3,000 cavalry they captured 3,000 infantry. From there they came back to Mississippi, and had numerous little fights around Yazoo City, and then marched to Georgia, and at Rome went on the left wing of the army, and was en- gaged in fighting nearly every day. General Hood took command, and they followed him through Tennessee and back into north Missis- sippi. February 21, 1865, half of his regiment received a sixty days' furlongh. He went home to Van Zandt County, Texas, and when he came back the war had come to a close. He then returned home and engaged in the peaceable

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pursuit of farming. In 1878 he moved to Wills Point and opened a general store. Jannary 1, 1883, he came to Los Angeles, and Jannary 19, 1883, he drove over the hills with his family in a wagon, to Oceanside, and located the Govern- ment claim that is now known as Bryan & Tyson's addition to Oceanside. Mr. Meyers was the only settler in advance of him, and Mr. Tyson is entitled to the honor of being the second settler. Mr. Meyers' house was a shanty, and Mr. Tyson built a house 14 x 28, with a lean-to, so he has the credit of building the first house in Oceanside. In 1883-'84 he set ont five acres to raisin grapes, and in 1885 gathered quite a crop of grapes. Although not a carpenter by trade, he built his own house, and since that several others. He is now im- proving a 160-acre ranch, twelve miles south- east of Oceanside, on the coast. It is designed for a general farm-grain and fruit. He has built a house and barn on it.

He was married in 1874 to Miss Amelia Jane Hamm, of Van Zandt County, Texas. She lived only five years, and left a danghter, Edna, born in Rains County, Texas, September 1, 1876. He was again united in marriage with Miss Anna C. Christen, a native of Adams Connty, Indiana, and born in 1855. They have one child, John Robert, born in Oceanside, Sep- tember 30, 1889. Mr. Tyson is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Baptist Church, a member of the school board, and a man of strict integrity. Two of his nephews and his mother reside with him. He has so conducted his life that he has the good word and good will of his fellow-citizens.

EORGE W. FOX, banker, and one of the early settlers of Murrietta, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, January 24, 1842. His grandfather and great-gandfather were natives of Virginia. His father, Jesse Fox, was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1803, and was married in that place to Miss Maria Begom,

of Pennsylvania. They had four children, of whom the youngest, Mr. Fox, is the only sur- vivor. He received his education in the public schools of Illinois and St. Louis, Missouri, and the Wyman High School, and took a course at Jones' Commercial College on leaving school in 1857. He moved with his parents to Kan- sas, then a Territory, where his parents died. In 1859 he crossed the plains, and while in Salt Lake City was employed as a clerk. At Camp Floyd was sutler's clerk with Albert Sydney Johnston's army. In 1861 he erossed the plains to Carson City, in charge of an ox train loaded with flour. He visited Sacramento and then returned to Virginia City, Nevada. From there lie went to Humboldt County, where he was agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., and overland mail agent at Unionville, Nevada. In 1865 he resigned and went to Idaho, and from there to Montana, where he mined and was very success- fnl. In 1869 he engaged in the banking busi- ness in Helena, Montana, and in 1872 organ- ized the People's National Bank and became its cashier. The same year he organized the First National Bank of Roseman, of which he was the president. He continued successfully in the banking business until the fall of 1877. In 1878 he removed to Tombstone, Arizona, and again became interested in mining. In 1879 he went to Old Mexico and returned to San Diego by way of San Francisco, where he was engaged in the newspaper business in 1881. In 1882 he went to Calico and became interest- ed in inining again. He was one of the organ- izers of the Temecula Land and Water Company in 1884. He removed to Murrietta, where he has been engaged in real estate and banking ever since. He was made a Mason in 1870 and became an Odd Fellow in 1872; he is also a Knight Templar. He has held the office of school trustee, and has been prominent as a politieian. He has seen a great deal of frontier life and is a thorough business man. He is the historian of the Murrietta Historical Society, and was a leader and influential in aiding in the construction of the new school-house. For some

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time he has used the Government instruments in taking the meteorological observations.

OBERT W. BOLLEN, the Murrietta Postmaster and merchant, was born in Lockbridge County, Virginia, October 11, 1824. His father, Edward Bollen, and his grandfather were residents of Rockingham County, but the family originally came from England. His grandfather and two of his brothers were in the war of the Revolution. They were at the battle of Fort Meigs when the English undertook to cross the ditch in front of the fort but were repulsed. Mr. Bollen's mother was Polly (Beaty) Bollen. They had a family of ten children, of whom Mr. Bollen was the youngest. Three terms of school of three months each was the extent of his educational advantages. When twenty years of age he ac- quired the carpenters' trade and also some knowledge of the blacksmiths' trade. In 1847 he enlisted in Company F, Third Regiment, Missouri Mounted Volunteers, and was a par- ticipant in the war with Mexico. He took part in the battle of Santa Cruz, March 16, 1848. He enlisted as Fourth Corporal and was pro- moted to Third Sergeant when mustered out. He returned to Virginia, and after two years spent there, he married Miss Sarah Ellen Chev- rout, a native of Harrison County, Virginia, who was born January 1, 1838. They moved to Iowa, where he engaged in the wagon mann- facturing business. Here he was constable and deputy sheriff during the greater part of his stay. In the spring of 1860 he started for Nevada, but the Indians became so troublesome they were obliged to stop at Salt Lake City to winter. While there he took charge of a furniture manufactory and remained two years. In Nevada he did quite an extensive carpenter and wagon-making business. In 1867 he re- mnoved to Genoa, Douglas County, Nevada, and dealt in all kinds of wood-work. In 1869 he was elected Sheriff of the county, which office 19

he held for four years, at the end of which time his health failed and he got a position in the mint in Carson City, first as watch, and afterward captain of the watch. In the year 1885 he removed with his family to Murri- etta, California, while it was still in its infancy. He purchased twenty acres of land and built. a house and made improvements, planting trees, grapes and shrubbery. He assisted in orga- nizing the Methodist Church, and was one of its first members. He has had thirteen chil dren, but six of whom are living: Eliza Sapro- nia, born in Lewis County, Virginia, January 8, 1855, and married to Mr. J. HI. McCormic. They now reside in Murrietta; Virginia Eliza- beth, born February 2, 1858, in Iowa, and married to Mr. J. H. Langley; Sada E., born in Salt Lake City, June 20, 1861; George W., born in Douglas County, Nevada, November 9, 1871, and J. W., born April 20, 1876, in Carson City. Mr. Bollen was elected Justice of the Peace, but resigned that office when he was appointed Postmaster. He keeps a store (dry goods, boots and shoes and notions) and also continues his wagon business. He is a member of the pioneer society of Virginia City, having come to California in 1850. He is also a lead- ing thirty-second degree Mason and a good citizen.

R. C. E. LAWRENCE, Murrietta's drug- gist and physician, was born in Toronto, Canada, January 4, 1859. His father, Charles Earl Lawrence, was a native of New Brunswick. The Doctor's grandfather, Captain John Lawrence, was a sollier in the king's army, and for his loyalty received a grant of lands in Fredricton, New Brunswick. He received his commission from King George III, and his grandson, Dr. Lawrence, has all the documents in his possession. The commission is in the old-style print and is dated August 1, 1787. While a young man the Captain fought a duel, and succeeded in wounding his antag-

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onist. The Doctor's mother was born in Ire- land, February 13, 1830. When she was five years old her parents moved to Canada. Her father was a captain of militia, as was the Doc- tor's father.

Dr. Charles E. Lawrence, the subject of this sketch, was educated in Toronto, Canada, and graduated at Victoria University. On account of poor health he came to California, and after- ward selected Murrietta for his home and the field of his practice. He arrived November 11, 1885, and found few in the town before him. In 1886 he built his drug store and stocked it with drugs, which he still owns, and practices his profession in connection with the business. He is surgeon and physician of the railroad company at Murrietta, and is also surgeon of the Independent Order of Foresters. The Doc- tor enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow townsmen and is in every way deserving of it.

HARLES E. YORK is a descendant of Sir William Wimell York, of Gurnsey Row, London, England, two of whose offspring came to America and landed in Maine: one remained thereand the other went to New Hamp- shire. Mr. York's grandfather was raised in New Hampshire, and his father, Ezekiel York, was also a native of the same State. After becoming of age he removed to Bangor, Maine, where he was a dry-goods merchant for many years. He was also an accomplished musician, playing the finte and the clarionet. He played with old Ned Kendal, and for many years played in church. When the war broke ont he eulisted in the Fifth Maine Regiment and went to the field in Virginia. He served one year, when he was discharged for disability, having contracted rheumatism by exposure at the first battle of Bull Run. It ultimately cansed his death, the rheumatisin going to his heart. He was mar- ried to Miss Nancy Davis, a native of Effing- ham, New Hampshire, and had three children:

James Warren, now a merchant in Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mary Adelaide, now in Maine, and Charles E., the youngest, the sub- jeet of this sketcli, born in Augusta, Maine, September 1, 1844. He was attending the high school at Biddeford when he enlisted, July 1, 1861, in his sixteenth year, as drummer boy in the Coast Guard Heavy Artillery. At the expiration of four months he was sworn into the United States service and remained one year. He was mustered out, was home two weeks, and enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Maine and was promoted to drum major. . He was eleven months in that regiment and then went with the colonel of that regiment to the Portsmouth navy yard and was there three months. He next enlisted in the Second Maine Cavalry and participated in all of its engagements. The regiment was sent to New Orleans: one portion of the battalion was sent up Red river, his portion of the batallion was sent after guer- rillas. He was taken seriously ill. Five of his comrades went with him to the hospital and he alone came out alive, although he was at one time given up for dead. He suffered from the effects of that sickness for years. He was mustered out of the service December 6, 1865, and soon after engaged in the mercantile business at Biddeford, Maine. During this time he studied music and from there went to Boston, where he finished his musical studies and became a teacher of instrumental music. He continued in this business until 1874, when Secretary of War Belknap made a special order appointing him band master of the Eighth United States Cavalry, and he filled the position five years. He then removed to Brownsville, Texas, where he engaged in business, dealing in books, sta- tionary, Catholic goods and sheet music. Soon after embarking in this business the yellow fever visited the town and business was com- pletely destroyed. Persons were not permitted to go either in or ont of the town. As soon as he could get away he went north and traveled with his wife throughout the North until 1882. He then located in Akron, Ohio, and opened a

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music store. In 1886 he paid a visit to Califor- nia to attend the G. A. R. convention. After his return home he made preparations to return to the coast. He finally sold out and on Decein- ber 13, 1887, he came to this coast as special agent of the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati. He became director of the famous City Guard band that made a tour of the United States in the interest of San Diego. He retired from the directorship of the band in Angust, 1888, owing to his increased insurance business, being made associate gen- eral agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In connection with his insurance business he was one of the experts to investigate the county records of San Diego. October 12, 1888, he was commissioned Major and Brigade Inspector of the First Brigade N. G. C., Brigadier-General H. H. Boyce, commanding. He instigated and organized the San Diego Rifles. He joined the G. A. R. at its organization and was Junior Vice Commander of his post. He was special Aide- de-cump Department of California. He is Past Senior Vice Commander of the Seventh Inspec- tion District of California. He is Past Aide- de-camp and acting Assistant Adjutant General Department of Ohio, and compiled the work of the G. A. R. of that department for the year 1886. He has always been active in G. A. R. work and is a member of Heintzelinan Post, No. 33. He is an Odd Fellow, a Knight of Pythias, a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar; nor is he slow on hand in the Methodist Episco- pal Sunday-school, and with his instrument swell its song of praise. He was married in 1867 to Miss Ellen F. Willis, of Biddeford, Maine. She died at Boston, February, 1874, of cosnumption. In 1878 he was again mar- ried, to Mrs. M. Z. Cunningham, of Brownsville, Texas. They have had three children, but two of whom are living: Charles Warren, born No- vember 16, 1880, in Decatur, Illinois; Ralph Edwin, born in Akron, Ohio, in 1884. Mrs. York's parentage is Swede and American. Her father came from Sweden when nineteen years

of age aud located in southern Texas. Both he and his wife were with General Taylor in his conquest of Mexico, and Mrs. York was born at Bagdad in 1848. They left the army, and lie opened a mercantile business in Rio Grande, where he became influential and accumalated a large property. He was in the Texas Legisla- ture, and while there introduced the free-school bill and procured its enactment, and it became a law. He then retired from public life. He was a man of learning, an author and a poet, and talked four languages fluently. His wife was a very beautiful woman and a faithful wife, as- Bisting him in all his work. Professor York is leader of an orchestra of San Diego and enlivens inany of the public gatherings of the city with the choicest of sweet music. He is a talented and cultured musician and his place in the city would be difficult to fill with another so ready and public-spirited.

AMES P. JONES, of San Diego, is one of the hardy sons of the State of Maine, boru in Madison, Somerset County, March 10, 1834. His ancestors were from York, England. His grandfather, John Jones, was a native of Vermont, and his son, James Jones, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Mont- pelier, where he was a lumberman and a black- smith. He married Johanna Heald, daughter of Oliver Heald of Concord, Massachusetts, and had a family of ten children, seven boys and three girls, six of whom are still alive. Mr. James P. Jones was the oldest of the family. When seventeen years of age he left home and went to Boston, where he beca ne a mail-carrier and stage-driver, carrying the mail from Malden to Boston. When nineteen he became a fireman on a steamboat, and after three years was inade first assistant engineer on the steamer Governor. In November, 1861. he went aboard the war steamer Sagamore as fireman. The following June he was disabled by the bursting of a steam pipe. In spite of the heat and scalding water

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he remained at his post and saved his ship. His feet and legs were so scalded that the skin and much of the flesh caine off and he was eight months in recovering. He received the thanks of the officers of the ship for his presence of mind and bravery. Before having fully re- covered he was sent aboard the Hendrik Hudson as engineer and assisted in taking her to New York, and from there to Boston. He was then relieved from dnty and was ordered to report once a week, which he did until his term ex- pired. November 26, 1863, he bought a farm at Bath, Maine, and farmed for two years. He then sold ont and engaged in the fine-arts trade in Boston, where he continned three years, and then removed to Albany, New York, and re- mained there three years. Then he sold out and engaged in portrait-painting until 1873, when the health of his wife induced him to come to California. She was a consumptive and had lost five of her brothers and sisters by that relentless disease. He took his family ont to San Bernardino in May, 1874, and they settled on 160 acres of Government land and engaged in the bee business. He remained there nutil 1881. Jnly 13, 1874, while engaged in blast- ing a rock a premature explosion so injured his hand and arın that it necessitated the amputa- tion of the hand. He then moved into San Diego, where he bought a home, and his wife fully recovered her health. He was soon elected Justice of the Peace and after fifteen months was appointed by the board of supervisors, superintendent of the County Hospital, which position he held for over a year. Soon after he was again made Justice of the Peace and was elected to that office three terms. At last his business became so driving that he resigned the office to give his undivided attention to his own business. He had bought and platted the Silver Terrace addition to the city of San Diego. After disposing of a considerable portion of this property he built a fine home on six acres of the land. He has fine grounds planted to shrubs, flowers and trees, with a fountain and fish pond, and his residence is one of the most

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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