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 53

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 53
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 53
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 53
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 53

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).

In May, 1872, he was elected City Trustee and City Clerk; afterward he was appointed

Deputy County Clerk by Captain A. S. Grant, and held the office until March, 1878; in 1879 he was appointed again hy S. Statler, and served until January 1, 1883. During the previous autumn he had been elected Auditor and Re- corder, and he entered upon the duties of this office the first Monday in January, 1883, and held the office for two years. In 1886 he was re- elected for another term, and in the fall of 1888 for still another. Among the societies of which Mr. Haight is a member are the F. & A. M., A.O. U. W., O.C.F., and I.O.R.M .; and also of the " Matrimonial Society."

He was married February 22, 1871, to Miss Addie M. Turpin, who was born in Rochester, New York, in 1864. And last, but not least, heis a member of the Society of San Diego Pioneers. The official and other relations which our subject sustains attests his liberal spirit and popularity.

R. GEO. W. BARNES, San Diego, is of Scotel ancestry; he was born in Fred- erick County, Virginia, December 9, 1825, son of Stephen, a native of Frederick County, Virginia, and Eleanor (Scarf) Barnes, also a native of Frederick County. Dr. Barnes' father's mother was from the north of Ireland, and his ancestors were Scotch. When ten years of age the Doctor moved with his parents to Newark, Ohio. Having decided to follow tlie profession of medicine he became a student of Dr. A. O. Blair, then one of the most promi- nent homeopathic physicians of Ohio. After attending a course of instructions at the Medi- cal College of Ohio, the Eclectic Institutg of Cincinnati, and the Cleveland Homeopathic College, he graduated in the latter institution in 1851. Ile thien located at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where he enjoyed an extensive practice for over fourteen years. In 1865, having been elected a professor in the Cleveland Homeopathie Ilos- pital College, he removed to that city. In 1869 his health failed by reason of excessive labor, and compelled him to resign his position and

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seek a milder climate. He came to California and spent nearly a year in the study of its climate. At the end of that time he gave San Diego the preference and settled there. Several years since the Doctor received a spinal injury from the rearing and bucking of his borse, from which he has never recovered, but, notwith- standing this, he continues his professional work far beyond his apparent ability. Dr. Barnes had associated with him in practice from 1881 to 1884, Dr. E. A. Clark, now of Los Angeles, and from the latter date to the first of November last, he had as his associate Dr. A. Morgan. He now has associated with him Dr. P. F. Gamber, late of Cleveland, Ohio.

Dr. Barnes was largely instrumental in or- ganizing the San Diego Society of Natural History. He has been its president since its organization and has faithfully labored to pro- mote its prosperity. Since 1853 he has been a member of the American Institute of Home- opathy, and since 1878, in consequence of a membership of over twenty-five years, he has belonged to the association of seniors of that body. He aided in the establishment of the first medical dispensary of Cleveland and the Homeopathic Hospital, still in operation there, and was one of its consulting physicians. He was physician to the Cleveland Protestant Or- phan Asylum, was secretary of the Cuyahoga County Medical Society and treasurer of the Western Institute of Homeopathy. He was associated in the establishment of the Ohio Medicul and Surgical Reporter, and its edi- torial management during its first voluine. Ever since his resignation as professor in the Cleveland College, he has had the honorary title of Emeritus Professor of Materia Medica in that institution. He is now a member of the California State Homeopathic Medical So- cicty, and an honorary member of the Los Angeles Homeopathic Medical Society. lie is also a corresponding member of the St. Lonis Academy of Science, and of the Wisconsin State Historical Society. He has contributed to inany medical journals, and is the author of a

seventy-page pamphlet, entitled " The Hillocks and Monnd Formations of the Pacific Coast."

After what has been above stated we need not add that the Doctor stands eminent in his profession. His is a most enviable position. He invested considerably in city property during his early residence here, and this having in- creased in value, he is now independent. The Doctor's physical disability has been such that he has many times been carried up stairs to see a patient. He now does an office business, and goes out only to engage in consultation.

S. FLOURNOY, a native of Missouri, was born at Independence, June 26, 1830. His parents were natives of Kentucky. They had two children, both sons, of which R. S. was the oldest, and the other is since deceased. His father was a farmer and miller. The snb- ject of this sketch reinainel at home until he was nineteen years of age, receiving a common- school education. In 1849 he left home for California by the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, then took a sailing vessel for Chagres, small boats up the Chagres river to Cruces, and there walked twenty-five miles to Panama, hiring the natives to carry his baggage across on their backs. He remained at Panama abont two weeks, and then paid $160 for passage by sailing vessel to San Francisco. There was great speculation for steamer tickets, some sell- ing as high as $500. He embarked January 8, 1850, on board the brig Corbia, with a very full list of passengers. The Corbia was an old English tub, and from unwholesome food and bad water they experienced great discomforte. Panama fever broke out on board and many deaths resulted therefrom. Atter a passage of ninety days they arrived in San Francisco, April 8, 1850. He then passed eight years on the Yuba, American and Feather rivers, prospecting and speculating in mining interests, but with no satisfactory results. In 1853 he bought a farm of 250 acres in Indian valley, Plumas County,

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

which he managed until 1864, when he sold out and went to Taylorsville, same valley. In 1864 he bought a pack train of forty-four mules, and took a general line of groceries and supplies to Silver City, Idaho, but the market being over- stocked, he stored his supplies with a trusted friend, and returned; but later, his friend sold his supplies and defaulted, whereby Mr. Flour- noy lost $20,000. He continued packing for two years, then sold his mules and in 1866 bought a farm of 200 acres, with stock and tools, in Genesee valley, and later pre-empted 200 acres, which land he resides upon and farmis. He has a large fruit orchard of apples and such fruits as are adapted to a temperate climate, and has built a large brick house, three large barns and ontbuildings. His principal crops are wheat and oats, and the land is also a fine grass coun- try. Farming is similar to that of the East, except that irrigating is necessary, but they have water in great abundance. He was married at Elizabethtown, Plumas County, November, 1855, to Miss A. A. Varna. They have been blessed with seven children, three only surviv- ing, the eldest being Harley C., then a daughter, Tiney, and the youngest a son, Robert W. All are living on the farm, his wife being deceased. His success is due to wise management in farm- ing and stock-raising. He came to San Diego November, 1886, and invested in real estate, improved and unimproved, and has since de- voted himself to that line of business.

ILLIAM PERIGO, a retail liquor dealer of San Diego, was born in Brooklyn, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, July 25, 1829, his parents being natives of New England. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed for three years to learn the cabinet- makers' trade at Kingston, where he remained, working at his trade until September, 1862. He then enlisted in the army, Company A, Captain George A. Stone, One Hundred and Fifty. first Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel

Warren in command. The regiment went forward to Washington, then to Arlington Heights, and then to the old Bull Run battle- ground, where they passed the winter on picket duty; in the spring of 1863 to Fredericksburg, where, under the command of General Joe Hooker, they took part in the battle of Chan- cellorsville, and there they remained until they went forward to the battle of Gettysburg, General Meade being commander-in-chief, and General Reynolds in command of the First Army Corp, in the third division of which they were placed. They mnet General Early's corps of the Confederate army and were badly cut up, the subject being wounded and taken prisoner, but, being able to walk, was paroled and re- mained in Gettysburg until July 13, when he was sent to Jarvis Hospital, at Baltimore, and on August 13, 1863, was discharged from hig regiment and returned to his home in Brook- lyn, Pennsylvania, where he remained until De- cember, 1863, when he again went to the front as sutler's clerk, under A. G. Plume, of New York, sutler for the New York Zonaves, which was composed of the re-enlisted of the Fifth New York Zouaves, and the Fourteenth, of Brooklyn, New York, under General Winslow, of the Fifth Corps, General Warren in command. They were in the battle of Weldon Railroad, which the corps took and held. The subject remained with the sutler until December, 1864, when he again returned to his home, remaining till the spring of 1865, when he joined a corps of engineers and went to the Black Hills, making the preliminary survey of the Union Pacific Railroad, corps in charge of J. A. Evans, remaining until November, 1865, when, on account of cold weather, they returned to Brooklyn and there passed the winter. About May 15, 1866, he went to Omaha, then to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he joined a party of miners and went to Pinas Altas (tall pines), New Mexico, arriving about the middle of October, and remaining about two years engaged in quartz and placer mining, with bnt little suc- cess. He next went to Fort Cummings, New

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Mexico, where he spent one year as clerk in the Quartermaster's department, leaving July 1, 1869, for San Diego; coming through Arizona by freight wagon to Tucson, and then taking the stage at $100 per ticket, and arriving at San Diego September 13, 1869. For about ten years he worked as a carpenter and day laborer, but in 1872 opened a saloon on Fifth street, between E and D. In October, 1883, he went to Los Angeles, but, preferring the locality and climate of San Diego, returned in June, 1884, continu- ing in the business of retail liquor dealer.

HARLES A. TREANOR, a twenty years' resident of San Diego, was born February 17, 1861, near Sacramento, California, his father being a farmer and owning a farm near that city. There the subject passed the first eight years of his life. May 3, 1869, his family moved to this city, where they have since re- sided. The following years he passed as attend- ant of the city schools, and out of school hours he was employed in delivering papers for the Old San Diego News. In 1881 he entered the employ of the California Southern Pacific Rail- road Company, and was engaged in varions capacities until the fall of 1884, when he be- carne book-keeper and cashier for the Russ Lumber & Mill Company, a position which he still holds, September, 1889.

The subject is still unmarried, being one of the class of dutiful sons, who considers the care of mother his first pleasure. His father is deceased. He is a member of the Sons of the Golden West, a society composed entirely of na- tive-born sous of citizens.

OHN HEERANDUER, a native of Obern- berg, Austria, was born in 1825. He left Austria in 1848, by the good ship Balti- more, from Rotterdam, and after a quiet passage of forty days arrived safely in New York. He

went at once to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thence to Burlington, for a few months, and to Roches- ter, where he passed about a year working at his trade, that of machinist, which he acquired in Austria. In 1850 he joined a train at Racine, Wisconsin, managed by David Barton, to cross the plains to California. They came via St. Joseph, Fort Leavenworth, North Platte and Greene rivers, crossed the Rocky mountains by the Great South Pass in June, and, after a pleas- ant journey, devoid of unusual experiences, arrived at Hangtown, now called Placerville. Although their own trip was a pleasant one they were witnesses of the sufferings of others, as on the latter part of their journey the trail was lined with the carcasses of dead horses and cattle, which the early pioneers had left behind themn. At Hangtown Mr. Heerandner worked at min- ing for a while, then went to Gold Spring, tak- ing up a claim, and, with a partner, struck it very rich; but, owing to a disagreement with his partner, he sold out and went to Walmonth, where he opened a saloon, hanling supplies from Stockton; but the miners encroached upon his land, so he sold out and went to Yankee Jim, where he opened a wagon shop; but, work being scarce and food expensive,-flour being from 75 cents to $1 a pound,-he gave up his shop and went to chopping wood. In the spring of 1852 he went to Michigan Bluff and opened a car shop and foundry, with great success; there be- ing no coin there gold dust and nuggets were weighed out in exchange for supplies. In 1856 the town was destroyed by fire, but he rebuilt and remained until 1859, when he went to Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, and worked at house-moving in summer and ran a ferry-boat across' the river in winter. He secured a charter from the State and built a toll bridge across the river, which proved very profitable; finally sold out his toll bridge to a toll company, and was employed by them in building roads and bridges across the low lands and rivers. He then converted his ferry-boat into a freight boat and carried freight to the several dealers.

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

In 1870 he came to San Diego city with abont $2,500, bought a corner lot at Sixth and K streets, started a planing mill and began the business of house-moving, being the pioneer establishment, and having a monopoly in that line of business for fifteen years. During the boom of 1886 he sold his property for $12,000, and then built a large bath-honse at the foot of Sixth street, with hot and cold baths, which he has carried on until the present summer, 1889.

In 1871 Mr. Heeranduer was married, in San Diego, to Miss Caroline Nordk, who died in 1885, leaving no children. Though sixty-four years of age. Mr. Heeranduer is still active and quite a musician. He has now rented his bath house, and, from the income of his possessions, anticipates a less active and laborious life.

EDRO J. AGUIRRE, member of the firm of Aguirre & Dowell, Mexican and American custom-house brokers and com- missioners. was born in Westport, Jackson County, Missouri, June 25, 1864, his parents being Ephraim and Mary E. (Bernard) Aguirre; the former was born in the city of Mexico, and when thirty years of age was killed by the Indians on the Mexican border. His grand- father, Pedro Aguirre, was a native of Spain and was a large land-holder and farmer in Mexico, and became a citizen of America by reason of the Gadsden treaty. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born June 23, 1844, in Saint Louis, Missouri, daughter of Jacob Bernard, a native of Richmond, Vir. ginia, born in 1800. Mr. and Mrs. Aguirre were married on the 26th of August, 1862. They had four children, namely: Pedro J., Ephraim B., born May 12, 1865, in Los Cruces, New Mexico, and Stephen N , born in Westport, Missouri, February 4, 1867.

Pedro Aguirre crossed the plains from Kan- sas City to Los Cruces, New Mexico, when only three years of age. They returned in March, 18 -- , and in 1867 came back again. Mr. Aguirre

received his education in Lawrence, Kansas, and in Arizona. While at the latter place he had charge of his uncle Pedro Aguirre's stage- coach line. Afterward he was elected treasurer of the city of Tucson and held the office from 1866 to 1867, when he came to San Diego and became connected with the International Com- pany of Mexico; he acting as their translator. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Dowell, which now exists, and has since been interested in promoting trade with Mexico. He made an extensive trip through Mexico last spring in con- nection with this business. The result has been a large amount of trade attracted to San Diego.

Mr. Aguirre is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Ancient Order of United Work- men. He is a gentlemanly young man of good business qualities.

HOMAS J. DOWELL, one of San Diego's promising young business men, was born in Calaveras County, December 21, 1855. His father, John A. Dowell, was a native of Virginia, born in 1828; most of his life was spent in Missouri. He came to Cali- fornia in 1851, and was foreman of the Meadow Valley Mining Company. He had charge of the first train loaded with machinery, taken to Pioche, Nevada. Mr. Dowell's mother wa+ Calista Palacio, born in El Rosario, State of Sinoloa, Mexico. They had but one child, Thomas. His early education was entirely Spanish; later he attended Santa Clara College. In 1874 his father gave him money to start in the mercantile business in Pioche. The firm name was A. D. Reccabarren & Co. At the end of a year he sold ont and engaged in min- ing with his father. Five months later his father was killed by falling down a shaft in the mine. Mr. Dowell went from there to Silver Reef, Utah, and opened a book store, which he sold out two years later and went to Tomb.

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

stone. He was there engaged in inining for four years, one year of which time he was in the service of the Mexican government in the Palomina enstom-house. After this he was in the store of Max Marks & Co. In 1886 he came to San Diego and was engaged in book- keeping four months. He afterward entered the service of the International Company of Mexico. Finally he formed a partnership with Pedro Aguirre, in Mexican and American custom-house brokerage and commission. They are opening and developing a trade with Mexico, which will no doubt result in an in- erease of business between San Diego and Mexico. Mr. Dowell is an Odd Fellow and a Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Py- thias, and a men ber of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.

H. GROVESTEEN, a native of Albany, New York, he was raised in New York city. His father, J. H. Grovesteen, was a native of New York city, and one of the old- est piano forte manufacturers in the United States, as well as one of the most extensive, having made 40,000; they were justly celebrated instruments. Jennie Lind used one on her musical tour through this country. Mr. Grove- steen's mother was a native of New Jersey. She was for a long time a leading soprano singer in New York; she sang in the old Broadway Tab- ernaele and in other churches of note. His sister is now singing in Dr. Paxter's church, at a salary of $1,800 per year. His brother is a member of the Stock Exchange, and is a noted pianist. The whole family have partaken of the father's ard mother's talent for musie. Mr. Grovesteen, the subject of this sketch, was born May 29, 1844. During the war he went out with the New York Militia, Company H., served three months, and again enlisted in the spring of 1862, served three months on the Peninsula, and re-enlisted again in the fall of 1862, in the One Hundred and Seventy-fourth New York,

and was promoted to Second Sergeant; he was sent to the Department of the Gulf, and was all through the Port Hudson campaign. On sev- eral occasions, by reason of the absence of his superior officer, he had command of his com- pany. There were no promotions in that com- pany on account of the Colonel's sickness and absence; he was taken sick at Baton Rouge, left for New York and never returned to the battal- ion. In his absence the Lieutenant Colonel had no power to make promotions. Mr. Grove- steen was made First Sergeant of his company by reason of a general order from the War De- partment. The Lieutenant Colonel had charge until the consolidation of the regiment with the One Hundred and Sixty-second New York at Shreveport, Louisiana. Mr. Grovesteen had charge of that office at Fordwood, Bedlow's Island, now called Liberty Island. He had charge there while they were distributing weekly about 500 men, sending them to different de- partments, where their regiments were located. He remained there until mustered out of service at the close of the war, after having served his conntry from the first to the last of the great struggle.

He entered business with his father at New York city in the manufacture of piano-fortes, and remained there twenty years, until they closed ont their business. In 1886 he came to San Diego to look after the piano business, but entered the assessor's office and became assistant in apportioning and placing taxes on the roll with Charles Shepherd. As soon as Varnuin was appointed, Mr. Grovesteen took charge of the office until his election the following year; then he entered the office of the recorder and remained until the following spring (1889), when he entered the office of the county clerk as deputy.

He was married in 1868 to Miss Amnelia H. Gale. They had two children: Hetty M., born August 12, 1869, and Charles E., born October 26, 1872. Mrs. Grovesteen died in 1884. Mr. Grovesteen is Adjutant of Heintzelman Post, No. 33, and is a member of the Improved Order of

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Red Men, also belongs to the Royal Arcannm. He is a bright, active and obliging officer and a thorough business man.

IDEON JACKSON OVERSHINER came to California in 1850, from Galena, III- inois, arriving August 3, 1850. He was born at Fort London, Franklin County, Penn- sylvania, February 4, 1825, son of Philip Over- shiner, who was born in Virginia, moved to Franklin and passed the greater portion of his life there. Gideon Jackson was the ninth child in a family of eleven. The family emigrated to Hopkinsville, Kentucky, in 1846.

Mr. Overshiner was married in Galena, Illi- nois, September 13, 1848, to Miss Minerva Dunphey. In 1850 he came to California; he went to St. Louis first to purchase supplies, then joined the train a St. Joseph, Missouri. There were sixty-four members in the train and sixteen wagons. The hardships of the jour- ney were such that the horses gave out and wagons were left from time to time along the trail, so that not one was left in which to cross the mountains. The overflowing of the Hum- boldt river had made the trail of '49 impassa- ble, and new roads had to be broken over wild, rough country. They crossed the mountains by the Carson route, often inaking their own trail and suffering much. Mrs. Overshiner left Galena in 1851, taking the steamer from New York to the Isthmins, which she crossed on mnles, and taking the steamer McKim, on the Pacific side, for San Francisco. The ship proved to be unseaworthy and put into San Diego at the town now called Roseville, where the pas- sengers, 375 in number, were discharged; those having no money struck inland. Mrs. Over- shiner, after two weeks' delay, took the Seabird for San Francisco, where she met her husband, who took her to Sacramento, where he was car- rying on the carriage business. At the end of six years they moved to the western part of 22

Yolo County, to Cottonwood, where he bought land and began to raise grain and stock.

In 1861 he was elected County Assessor, and moved to Washington, the county seat, ou the Sacramento river; that same year the county seat was moved to Woodland, of which town Mr. Overshiner, in conjunction with the other county officials, were the first settlers, and gave the town the name. In 1863 his term expired, and he took up his carriage business at Wood- land, which he followed until January, 1870, when he moved to San Diego. He continued his carriage trade there, but the town being quiet and business slow, he sold his posi- tion after four years and moved to San Jose, continuing the same business, but not perma- nently locating, as he had been so pleased with the climate of San Diego that he intended eventually to return, which he did in 1885, and resumed the old vocation.

In politics he has been an active Republican; he was one of the vice-presidents of the last Whig meeting held in this State. He voted for the constitution and admission of the Territory as a State, September 9, 1850. During his ex- perience as a pioneer he has considerably ad- vanced the Republican form of government.

Mr. Overshiner has had teu children, eight of whom, five boys and three girls, are living.

ANVILLE F. JONES was born in Solou, Somerset County, Maine, June 10, 1846. His parents died when he was six years old and he lived with his uncle, Samuel Jones, for two years. From there he went to reside with John Weston, of Bloo nfield, with whom he remained until fourteen years of age. Ile then went to Augusta, to his brother James Jones; they removed to Wakefield, Massachu- setts, in 1861, where he attended school and helped on the farm. In the fall, his brother having enlisted in the navy, he returned to Maine, and after being there a month enlisted in Company I, Fourteenth Maine; he reported

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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