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 51

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 51
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 51
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 51
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 51

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).

HARLES M. FENN, A. M., M. D., of San Diego, eminent for his culture and skill in his profession, was born June 18, 1835, in Hamilton, Ohio; a son of William and Anna Maria Merwin, who were married December 24, 1833; the father was born June 23, 1807, in Connecticut. He followed the mer- cantile business all his life. During the thirties he removed to Lacon, Illinois; he died in 1873, at Bloomington, same State; his father, Gaına- liel Fenn, was born February 16, 1775. The Doctor's mother was born January 3, 1814. They had three children, of whom Charles M. was the oldest and the only son. The daugh- ters were Francis and Mary Lincoln Fenn. The Doctor's early education was had at Lacon, later in Amherst, Massachusests. His classical education began at the Illinois College in Jack- son and was finished at Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut. He then studied medi-

cine and was graduated at the medical depart- ment, University of California, in 1865. He had come to California in 1860. He com- menced the practice of his profession in San Francisco, where he remained eight years, and then came to San Diego in the early part of 1869.

He was married June 21, 1872, to Miss Callie D. Archambean. She was born August 26, 1841, in Los Angeles. They remained in Los Angeles about a year, then came to San Diego, bonght twenty acres of land near the city, which they still own. It has been subdi- vided into town lots. lIe has served one year as County Coroner and Administrator, and has also been County Physician for several years, and health officer of the city. The Doctor had the degree of Master of Arts conferred on him by the State College of Illinois.

OSEPH COYNE. - The peace and good order of the city of San Diego is chiefly due to the experience of Joseph Coyne, who is now Chief of Police. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 18th of December, 1837. His father died when he was but three years old. He spent the first fourteen years of his life at Cleveland and attended the public schools there. When he was fifteen years of age he weut to the mines in Calaveras County, and spent sixteen years in Nevada County. He made a few thousand dollars often and as often lost it. He come to San Diego and went to the Julian mines, where he reinained four years. He, with four others, located the Chariot inines, which he worked for about a year, then sold his interest for $50,000 to Wit Whitney. Mr. Whitney also purchased all the other shares.

Mr. Coyne was nominated by the Republican party for Sheriff, and was elected by 260 major- ity over Hon. James M. McCoy. He was elected three terms in succession and held the office for seven years. For four years he held the office of under-Sheriff under Mr. Bushyhead. Since

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then he has been elected City Marshal three terms of eight months each. He was then elected Chief of Police, and held the office sixteen months. Under the new city charter he was appointed to the same office, which he now holds.

He is a native of Ireland and emigrated to the United States when quite young. Mr. Coyne's parents were also natives of County West Mayo, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Coyne's family consists of four girls, of whom one, Jennie May, is dead; the others are: Irene, eight years old; Belinda Anna, six years old, and Josephine Stephens, two years old.

A FAYETTE FLOOD, of Perris, one of the men who came to California when a baby in his inother's arms, and next to a Son of the Golden West is entitled to the honor of being a pioneer, not only of the State, but of Perris. He was born August 7, 1851, in Farm- ington, Iowa. His father, J. A. Flood, re- moved from Iowa to California with his family in 1851, and settled upon 160 acres of Govern- ment land in San Joaquin County, which he improved. He married Miss Elizabeth Goslin, and had thirteen children, eight of whom are still living. Mr. Flood, the subject of this sketch, was the seventh child, and was educated and raised in San Joaquin and Santa Cruz counties. At the age of eighteen he went to Nevada, where he engaged in mining, and had good success for three years, when he returned to San Benito and married Miss Amanda Metz, daughter of Israel Metz. She was born in 1854. After his marriage he lived a portion of the time in the counties of Los Angeles, San Be- nito, Sonoma, Santa Barbara and Shasta, where he followed the business of farming and stock- raising. In 1884 he came to Perris before Per- ris was started, and took up a Government homestead uf 160 acres, a little over a mile north of the town of Perris. Here he built a house, barns and shop, planted grapevines, trees

and shrubs, and has helped greatly to make the town of Perris. His farming has been princi- pally grain-raising, which he has carried on quite extensively. The first year he raised 1,600 bags of barley, which he sold for 85 cents; the second year he put in 200 acres, and raised 150 tons of barley hay, and 1,000 saeks of barley; in 1889 he had 300 acres sown, and harvested 2,100 sacks of barley and 400 saeks of wheat, which he sold at from $1.10 to $1.25 per hun- dred. He is now preparing to sow 700 acres. When he came to Perris he had nothing (in fact, he was a little behind); now, in six years, he owns this fine ranch of 160 acres, with all its improvements and stock. He has his own black- smith shop on the premises, and does his own repairing and sharpening. He is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and is a inost reliable eitizen in every particular.

HARLES H. FISK, station agent at Per- ris, was born in Linsey, Victoria County, Ontario, November 16, 1861. His father, a native of New Hampshire, was born in 1827. His grandfather, Ephraim Fisk, was also a native of New Hampshire, and was the first man to be drafted in his State for the war of 1812. His ancestors came from England before the Revolution, and settled in New Hampshire. Mr. Fisk's mother, Maria (Jewett) Fisk, was born at Duffin's Creek, Ontario, in 1834. Her father, Mr. James Jewett, was a descendant of the Pennsylvania Duteh, and was a hotel-keeper and owner of a stage line in the early days when travel was performed in that way. Mr. Fisk's parents were married in 1857, and had a family of seven children, of which he was the second. He attended school in Canada until he was fif- teen years of age. At the age of nineteen he was a telegraph operator at Loneville Junetion, under his father's instructions. He remained here three years and a half. In February, 1884, he came to Los Angeles, where he remained six weeks, when he went to National City, and was

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ordered to Temecula as station agent of the Southern California Railroad Company. He was operator and station agent for fifteen months, when he engaged in the engineering department of the company, where he remained two years. He was then sent to Perris as as- sistant agent, and acted in that capacity for seven months. He was then promoted to station agent, having charge of the whole business, which position he now holds. The railroad business runs in the family, his father having been a station agent since 1873, and his grand- father held that position until he was eighty years of age. Mr. Fisk's great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and the musket taken by him from a British soldier is still in the family. Mr. Fisk is recording secretary of the Independent Order of Foresters at Perrie, and is a man of high moral character.

SRAEL METZ .- Just to the east of the rail- road, one mile north of Perris, is a 160-acre ranch withont a stuinp or stone on the whole property. This is the ranch and home of Mr. Israel Metz. He settled on the then wild Gov- erument land September 29, 1884, and made the adobe brick and built a very comfortable home, and planted his grounds to trees, shrubs and flowers. Mr. Metz is a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and was born November 12, 1831. His grandfather, John Metz, was a native of Germany, but settled in Pennsylvania, where his son, Israel Metz's father, was born, raised and married to Miss Anna Doan in 1830. They had a family of eleven, of which Mr. Metz was the eldest. When quite young his parents removed to Iowa, where he received his educa- tion. He learned the cooper's trade before he became of age, and worked at it about three years, and has worked at it, more or less, all his life. He farmed in Iowa for five years, and came to Cailfornia in 1855. He has resided in Santa Clara and San Joaquin counties, and lived within seven miles of Stockton for twelve

years, on a farin which he owned. He was in San Benito County four years. Then he went to Sonoma County, then to Tehama, and then to Shasta. While at the latter place he got the chills and fever, and came south to San Diego County in 1884, and settled in his present home. He has been a resident of California for thirty-four years, and has seen much of pioneer life when there were but few settlers, no rail- roads, and few of the privileges or enjoyments of civilization. He was married March 15, 1853, to Miss Margaret Wiley, who was born in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, November 24, 1832. She was a daughter of Mr. James Wiley, a native of Virginia, born April 11, 1802. They have had five children: Amanda Elizabeth, born in Santa Clara County, Novem- ber 28, 1855; she is married to Mr. La Fayette Flood, and their land adjoins her father's. Al- bert W., born in San Joaquin County, Decem- ber 17, 1857, and married to Miss Trulover; their home is on the same section. Teressa El- nora, born in San Joaquin County, September 16, 1859; Joseph Orlando, born in Los Angeles County, February 8. 1870. Mrs. Metz is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Metz is a pleasant and sociable man and an excellent neighbor.

R. W. F. PERRY, of Perris, was born in Binghamton, New York, March 20, 1852. His great-grandfather, Anson Perry, was a full consin of Commodore Perry. The Doctor's grandfather, also Anson Perry, was a soldier in the service of his country in the war of 1812. Dr. Perry's father, David B. Perry, was born September 25, 1811, and in 1835 was married to Miss Lucy B. Chaffee. They celebrated their golden wedding, February 2, 1885. Mrs. Perry died in 1887, and Mr. Perry in 1889, at the age of 78. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are living. The subject of this sketch received his early edu- cation in the public schools of Bingliampton,

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

his native town. In 1882 he entered the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, of Chicago, and graduated at the Kentucky School of Medi- cine in June, 1885, and commenced the prac- tice of his profession in Chicago, where he re- mained for two years, then having serious throat trouble he came to California December 1, 1887, and located at Perris, December 17, 1887. He bought a home and made great im- provement in the growth of trees, shrubs and flowers. He has trees planted only six months that are now fourteen feet high. The whole property and grounds have an air of taste and culture and will soon be a place of great beauty under the Doctor's skillful treatment. He was married, February 18, 1887, to Miss Matilda Schoonever, born in 1851, near Hornsdale, Wayne Connty, Pennsylvania, danghter of William and Margaret (Darling) Schoonever. The Doctor is now clerk and director of the Perris School Distriet, and is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and is the examining physician of the order. He is the only phy- sician in Perris, and is a man in every way qualified for the successful practice of his pro- fession. He reports great improvement in his own health since coming to Perris and recom- mends it as a most healthy place,-only four deaths in the place, and they from natural eanses, and forty-four births, since his arrival here two years ago.

E. COLBY is another good citizen who has located on a fine Government ranch near Perris. Was born in Jeffer- son County, Wisconsin, October 21, 1852. His his mother, Colby, was a native of Vermont; father L. A. Caroline (Hicock) Colby, was also a native of Vermont. They had six chil- dren, all of whom are living. A. E. Colby was educated in the Albion Academy, Rock County. Wisconsin. In December, 1869, when he was only eighteen years of age, he came to California and settled, first in Sonoma County 21

and then in Santa Barbara County. He then went back to Wisconsin, and froze out in one winter, and came back to Santa Barbara County, where he remained abont twelve years. Decem- ber 25, 1884, he located his present valuable ranch, 320 acres of splendid plow land, built a house and is making improvements as fast as possible. Last year he sowed 250 acres, nearly all to barley; this year (1889) he is sowing eighty acres to wheat and the balance to barley. He was united in marriage September 4, 1880, to Miss Mary Pierce, daughter of Mr. E. H. Pierce, who now lives near thein. She was born in Santa Barbara County. They have had five children, four of whom are still living. Their eldest sou, Ralph Colby, born December 11, 1881, met his death May 18, 1889, when only eight years of age, by drowning in the river near his home. The children now living are: Jessie, born in Shasta County, California, April 20, 1882; Rubie, born in Ventura Conn- ty, March 15, 1884; Percy, born in Perris December 17, 1896, and Harry, born in Perris, February 4, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Colby are highly esteemned by their neighbors and friends.

S. FREY, a rancher of Perris, is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, born July 22, 1841. His father, Jesse Frey, was born in Pennsylvania, and his ancestors were originally Germans. His mother, Ora (Nettleton) Frey, was born in Vermont. Their son, E. S. Frey, was educated in the country schools of Ohio. At fourteen years of age he began to do for himself, and at eighteen years of age he went to learn the carpenters' trade, at which he worked for one year. In January, 1865, he enlisted in the Union ranks in Com- pany C, Fifteenth lowa. He participated in several of the most sanguinary battles of the war, and made the memorable march with Sher- man from Atlanta to the sea, and was a partici- pant in all the skirmishes and fights of this gallant and victorious army until the close of

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

the war, and was mustered out of the service without having received so much as a scratch. He was mustered out at Louisville, Kentucky, and received his discharge at Davenport, Iowa. When he returned home he resumed the peace- ful avocation of the hammer and the saw, and is now running a gang plow with six horses, putting in barley on his fine ranch of 160 acres, which he located in September, 1885. He has built a good house and barn, and has put a wire fence completely around his property. He is a worker, and is this year sowing 540 acres of barley and 160 acres of wheat, in all 700 acres. His land is level and every inch plow land, and it is fast making a nice home. He was married in September, 1887, to Miss Frances McCarty, born in Platte County, Missouri, in September, 1885. He became an Odd Fellow in 1869, and is also a member of the G. A. R., Rowlands Post, No. 23, Stockton.

LISHA H. PIERCE is one of California's pioneers and a representative farmer and citizen of Perris. He was born in Onan- daga County, New York, July 11, 1831. His parents were Jonathan Pierce and Mary (Petty- rove) Pierce. The subject of this sketch was the second child of a family of six children. He received his early education in Wisconsin, and when only nineteen years of age he crossed the plains to California and dug for the precious metal in El Dorado County. He dug there with fair success for more than a year and got out about $2,000, and in the spring of 1851 he went to Feather river and tried his luck. He remained there until he voted for General Scott for President of the United States. In 1861 Mr. Pierce was elected Sheriff of Plumas County, and held that office for four years. He then removed to Santa Barbara County, where he bought a farm and engaged in farming it until 1885. While here he was elected Supervisor for three years. He then came to Perris, where he took up 160 acres of Government land, and has

since bought railroad land until he now farms 800 aeres. He sows about 500 acres each year of wheat and barley. He has built a good home and his ranch has the appearance of peace and plenty. His horses and eattle are fat and look as though it were a good thing to be owned by such a man. Mr. Pierce was united in wedlock in 1858 to Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp, widow of Mr. George W. Sharp, and danghter of Mr. William Shield. Their family consists of four children : Alice, born in Quincy, Plumas County, in 1859, married Mr. M. M. Groshone, and resides in Santa Barbara; William, born in Quincy, Plumas County, in 1871, married Miss Skillin- ger, and is living in Mountain Glenn, near Perris; Mary, born in Quincy, Plumas County, in 1872, married A. E. Colby, and lives near her father's place on a nice ranch of their own. Harry was born in Carpenteria, in 1869, and his death occurred in San Bernardino County, July 18, 1887. He was oiling a steam thresher while it was running and it broke through with him. His injuries were so severe that he only lived three hours. Mr. Pierce's last marriage occurred in: 1871, when he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Colby, daughter of Mr. Levi Colby. Their family consists of three children : Florence, born in Santa Barbara County, 1874; Archie, born in Carpenteria, Santa Barbara County, in 1876, and Mattie, born in Perris, January 20, 1887. Mr. Pierce is a man of high moral worth, and is a credit to the community in which he lives.

IMBALL BROTHERS' ranch is situated seven and one-half miles southeast of Perris, and contains 480 acres of rich land, every inch of which is under the plow, and is without a stump or stone to prevent them from sitting on their gang plows and plowing and sowing (with two plows) fifteen acres per day. This year they are sowie g 200 acres to wheat, and the balance of the ranch to barley. They are also breeding and raising several fine Hamilton

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

horses, and intend to go to more largely into fine blooded stock-raising. There are three of these brothers: the oldest, William T., was born in Henderson County, Texas, October 1, 1847; Edward G. was born in San Francisco, Decem- ber 26, 1860, and Eugene H. was born in San Francisco, January 1, 1863. Their sister, Mary E. Harrington, who is the widow of Mr. Will- iam C. Harrington, born in Texas, in 1864, is now their housekeeper. Their father, Albert G. Kimball, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, October 20, 1817, and their mother, Sarah C. (Gleeves) Kimball was also a native of Ten- nessee, born in 1820. Her death occurred in 1880. There were nine children in the family. The brothers have followed farming most of the time for thirteen years. They resided in San Francisco for fourteen years, in Contra Costa Connty and in Los Angeles County several years. In December, 1886, they removed to Spring valley, and in the short space of three years have made the valnable ranch on which they now live. They are all temperance men in every sense of the word, using neither tobacco nor strong drink. It is needless to add that this family are worthy, enterprising members of the community in which they reside.

EORGE COPE, a rancher near Perris, was born in Jerseyville, Illinois, June 12, 1861. His father, Walter Cope, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1825, and his father, John Cope, was a native of Germany, who settled in South Carolina. Mr. Cope's father married Miss Elinda Day in 1852. She was a native of Buffalo, New York, born in 1831, and was a daughter of Mr. Ira Day, who was an Illinois land-owner and farmer. They had eight children, three boys and five girls. The subject of this sketch was the youngest but one of this family. He was sent to the conn- try schools of Jersey County, Illinois, and re- inained at home with his father until twenty- two years of age. He was nnited in marriage

to Miss Nellie Sanderhouse, who was born in Jersey County, Illinois, in 1865. They have one interesting little danghter, Laura, born in Jer- seyville, Illinois, June 9, 1885. Their ranch consists of 160 acres, situated four miles north of Perris. Ten acres of the ranch is devoted to the house and ranch building, and shrubbery and fruit. The house and barns have the stamp of affluence and comfort second to none in the valley. Mr. Cope is a good farmer. He is sowing this year 100 acres to White Russia wheat and 200 acres to barley. Mr. Cope and wife stand high in their community as enterpris- ing citizens.

H. McCANNA, of Perris, is one of the solid, active business men and ranchmen of Perris. He was born in Clinton County, New York, July 16, 1833. His father, John Mc- Canna, a native of Ireland, came to the United States when quite young, and married Ann Young. They had a family of nine children, but two of whom are now living. Mr. Mc- Canna, the subject of this sketch, went to the then new State of Iowa in 1843, when but eleven years of age. His educational advan- tages were limited. He began his business career as a peddler, which he followed for two years. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union army and served three years. While in the service he was two years forage master, and was engaged in the hazardons business of making raids into the enemy's country for supplies. While on one of these expeditions he was made prisoner by the enemy, who took from him his arms and valuables, and threatened to shoot him for being a spy. He saw three mules near him and sprang upon one of them and made his escape amid a shower of bullets. He reached the Union forces about midnight with the three Innles. He wasin the battle of White river, at the siege of Vicksburg, at Cherokee Station and at the battle of Suffield Station. At this latter

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

battle he received a slight wound in the head from a ball; another ball went through his coat, and a third one killed his horse and wounded him slightly in the leg. He did efficient duty in gathering supplies for the army while with Sherman on his march from Atlanta to the sea. When the war was over lie engaged with his brother in the business of buying bankrupt stocks of goods and selling them again at auction and at private sale. He continued in this business eight years, when he came to Cali- tornia and traveled all over the country for four years. He went to Los Angeles in 1883 and opened a grocery store, but, after a year, sold out and came to Perris, where he took a Govern- ment claim of 160 acres of land, a short dis- tance east of the town, on which he built a good brick house and made other improvements. He built the first store in Perris, and now owns four store buildings. He is engaged in several kinds of business iu addition to carrying on his ranch; he has a brick and lumber yard, a livery and feed stable, buys and sells stock, and rents his buildings. He was married to Miss Almira Carpenter, and by her had one son, James Har- rison, born September 20, 1864, who is now married, owns property and resides in Perris. This wife and mother died in 1872. Mr. Mc- Canna was again married in 1882 to Mrs. Ben- nett.

M. THOMASON, whose well appointed establishment for all sheet-iron roofing and cornice work, is located at 1331 C street, San Diego, was born at Sheridan, Lucas County, Iowa, in August, 1855, his father being a native of North Carolina and his mother, of Indiana. There were six children, five of whom are still living, his father was a farmer, and owned a highly improved farm of 320 acres, near Sheridan, where the subject of this sketch received his early education, residing at home and attending the common schools. He came to California in 1883, spending one year in and

near San Francisco, then in 1884 he entered the employ of P. S. Lawson, who had a well estab- lislied tinning and roofing business in Sacra- manto, remaining with him until 1887, when he came to San Diego and worked with Edward Harris until March, 1889, when Thomason bought ont the business, and is meeting with very flattering success. He does a general business in roofing, cornice and jobbing work, preferring the wielding of heavy sheet-iron, as his establishment is fitted with such machinery as is particularly adapted to that line of business, If honest thought and straightforward actions. win success, Mr. Thomason is sure to " get there."

HOMAS LARSON .- It is with interest that we take up the history of the early pioneers who came to this State in 1850, and paved the way for the greater influx in the years to come. Thomas Larson is a native of Norway, who came to the United States in boy- hood with an uncle and aunt, first settling in Wisconsin, but coming to California in 1853, paying $100 for transportation, and arriving with $14 in his pocket. He first went to Placerville and then to the mines on Russell's creek, where lie followed mining for ten years, visiting the principal mining districts of Cali- fornia and Idaho. In 1868 he settled up all mining interests and came to San Francisco; he then traveled quite extensively through the State but finally decided to settle permanently in San Diego, arriving in December of the same year. He then started trucking and also ran a passenger wagon to and from Oldtown, which was then the center of business interests, the present city being covered with sage buslı and a cover for quail and jack rabbits. Mr. Larson also started the coal business, being the pioneer dealer. He began with a very small business, but built up a large trade, continuing twelve years and then selling to the San Diego Coal

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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