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 58

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 58
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 58
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 58
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 58

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).

B. STEADMAN, the owner and manager of the San Diego Boat House, was born at Sarnia, Canada West, on the 11th day of August, 1846. His father was a native of the northern part of Ireland, and his mother was of English descent. He was the fifth son of eleven children, nine of whom still survive, one brother having just been murdered and robbed in the Indian territory, where he was attending to his cattle, his ranch being in Ari- zona. In 1861 our subject came to the United States, residing at Detroit and other cities of Michigan, practicing the trade of machinist, which he learned in Canada. In 1865 he went to Howard County, Missouri, on railroad con- tracting and other machine work. In 1867 he went to Atchison, Kansas, in the stock business, remaining several years. In one storm, a " northerner," with heavy snow, he lost 1,800 head of cattle and many horses, which about " cleaned him out." He then went into politics and ran for Sheriff in Washington County, and being elected he served one term of two years. In 1874 he went to Colorado, prospecting and mining; but after five months went to the northern part of Arizona, when he again started in the stock busines and ranching and introduced the growing of small grains in northern Ari- zona. He also introduced harvesters and thresh- ing-machines, being obliged to freight them by ox teams from El Moro, Colorado, to Prescott, Arizona, a distance of 800 miles. He was a heavy contractor with the Government in fur- nishing sınall grains. He was very successful in these enterprises, and again entering into mining speculations lost heavily. In 1886 he first came to California; traveling through the northern part of the State he reached San Diego just at the height of the boom and mnade con- siderable money in real estate. He also bought out a small boat business which adjoined the

P. C. S. S. wharf, which he has greatly enlarged, and he now (1889) has one of the best equipped boat-houses on the Pacific coast. He holds the pennant for the fastest-sailing boats up to the twenty-five-foot class in southern California, and lis row-boats are unsurpassed. He owns seven sail-boats from eighteen to thirty feet, and thirty . nine small boats in shells, canoes and rowing boats, and his entire plant and boating outfit he values at $11,000.

Mr. Steadman was married in Canada in September, 1868, to Miss Catherine Campbell, of Scotch descent, who died in March, 1888, and he is now a widower. He has two children, both living. The daughter is attending Saint Mary's College at San Diego and his son is at the Ter- ritorial school at Prescott, Arizona.

D. BUTLER, San Diego .- The school work of San Diego County is well and ably managed by its superintendent, Mr. R. D. Butler, whose entire life has been given to educational purposes and principles. Mr. Butler was born in Springfield, Missouri, on the 27th day of March, 1851, being the youngest in a family of four children. On account of the failing health of his father they left Missouri in 1856, and with a mule team thay crossed the plains by the old emigrant route. After ex- periencing the usual delays and annoyances of that mode of traveling they arrived safely in California, first stopping at Marysville and then locating in Napa County, where our subject's father bought a farm and carried on general farming, and was physically benefited by the outdoor life. After five years of labor in im- proving and beautifying, they lost all through the injustice of one of those " floating grants" which swallowed up their property. The loss of property limited Mr. Butler's educational fa- cilities, but by stern perserverance and much hard labor he acquired the education he 80 eagerly sought, and fitted himself for teaching, beginning at Santa Rita, Monterey County, in

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

1879, in the district schools, and later in the public schools of that county. In 1881 failing health brought him to San Diego and its genial climate, and for two years he taught at Old Town. In the fall of 1882 he was elected Superintendent of the county schools and was re-elected in 1886, the term of office being four years. Mr. Butler has charge of the schools of the county and visits each district at least once a year. There are 110 districts and they employ 200 teachers in the city and county.

He was married at Salinas, Monterey County, in 1878, to Miss Ida Morgan. This union has been blessed by two children, one only of whoin survives.

ORACE I. BREWSTER, of San Diego, was born in Schoharie County. New York, in 1853. His early years were spent in his native State. His desire to see the great western country, however, was early developed, and after spending some years at Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was engaged in con- tracting and mining, he went North, spending some time in Idaho, but finding the climate too rigorous he took an extensive trip through Washington and Oregon, and came to San Fran- cisco, where he remained about a year. In Sep- tember, 1885, he reached San Diego, and, as he says, came to stay. During the time he has been in San Diego some of the finest and most substantial residences and business blocks have been erected under his personal supervision, notably the Methodist Church block, Snyder block and the Overbaugh and Thomas resi- dences. His last and best effort was the erec- tion and furnishing of the magnificent hotel which bears his name, at a cost of $135,000. After its completion he desired to assume the management himself, and in December, 1888, the house was opened to the public, since which time it may be said that the Hotel Brewster has stood in the foremost rank, and from its excel- leut management, convenient location, and nn-

excelled appointments, it is certain to maintain the leading position it has assumed. Mr. Brewster's pedigree is second to none, being descended direct from one of the oldest and most respected families in the United States, namely: Elder Brewster, one of the most noted of the Pilgrim Fathers, who came over on the Mayflower.

PAPE, San Diego, of German descent, emigrated to America in 1880, filled

O with the thrift, enthusiasm and integ- rity of his country, and landing in New York for four years followed his trade of carpenter, which he had learned in the mother country. In 1884 he was attracted to southern California, and upon his arrival at San Diego began work at his trade, which he followed for five years, and in September, 1889, he purchased of Mr. Pierce the nucleus of his present handsome establish- ment, known as the Tropical Natatorium, at the foot of D street. He immediately enlarged his facilities and is now prepared to give hot and cold salt-water baths at all hours during the winter and for his summer patrons has two large swimming tanks, with convenient dressing rooms adjoining. His building covers a frontage of seventy-five feet, with facilities and space for the residence of his family. It is 200 feet deep, with wharves and floats in the rear for outside bathing. He also has a fine chicken ranch in Switzer valley of three and one-half acres, which he is just establishing, starting with a flock of 150 fowls.

In 1885 he was married in San Diego to Miss Dorothea Broetther, who is an able assist- ant in his several enterprises.

OHN F. RYAN, an artisan in his profes- sion, who has a well stocked salesroom at 1334 D street, San Diego, was born in New York city in May, 1855, his parents being

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

natives of Tipperary, Ireland. His father was a tailor, so that Jolin F. came naturally by his profession. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and there John learned his trade. In 1879 he went to Chicago as a journeyman and came to California in 1881. After one year at San Francisco and three at Salinas, Monterey County, he came to San Diego in 1886, commencing bus- iness in a small way with very limited resources and gradually working up to his present stock and business, employing from four to eight hands and carrying a stock valued at about $2,500. He catere exclusively to a fine class of work and carries mainly imported cloths.

Mr. Ryan was married at Cleveland, Ohio, in February, 1879, to Miss Catherine Dolen and the union has been blessed by four children, all of whom are living and at home.

UGENE FRANZDEN. of San Diego, was born at Fredericksburg, Texas, August 10, 1862, and spent his early years at a mili- tary post in that State, of which his father was commanding officer. He was educated at Svendborg and Copenhagen, Denmark, and, after completing his course at the university in the latter place, traveled through Norway, Sweden, and Denmark for six years. In 1881 he re- turned to this country and settled at Topeka, Kansas, where he spent four years in the em- ploy of the Santa Fé Railroad Company. In July, 1886, he came to San Diego and started a commercial printing-house, under the name of Ferguson, Bumgardner & Co., and afterward purchased the interest of Mr. Ferguson, which gave him a two-thirds interest in the firm, which was then changed to Franzden, Bum gardner & Co. Under Mr. Franzden's manage- ment the volume of business has constantly in- creased, and besides the large local business of the firmn they enjoy a large patronage from various parts of the southwest. In 1888 Mr. Franzden was elected a member of the City Board of Education, and was re-elected in 1889.

He was married in March, 1888, to Miss Lotta Davies, danghter of Councilman J. P. Davies, of San Diego.

M. LENZ .- There are no two branches of business that interest the artistic tastes of a community more than musical instru- ments and photography, and in both of these no man stands higher in San Diego than J. M. Lenz. Like so many other adopted citizens, Mr. Lenz started at the foot of the ladder and has built up his present business by excellence in workmanship and indomitable industry.

Mr. Lenz was born on the river Rhine, in Germany, where he received an excellent mus- ical education, which commenced when he was but six years of age, under the tuition of his father, who was an eminent musical director. He is not only versed in the science of music, but is proficient on almost any kind of stringed or wind instruments. He came to America in 1870 and located at Springfield, Illinois, where he was married to Miss Ella Carmean, and where he learned the art of photography. He subsequently worked in the best galleries in Chicago, and established an enviable reputation as an artist. He embarked in business for him- self in Chicago and afterward moved to Daven- port, Iowa. He had the finest studio in the State, and did an immense business. He came to San Diego in 1887 and opened at his present stand, No. 657 Fifth street, between G and H streets. Here, as in Davenport, he is recognized as a leader not only in photography but in the sale of musical instruments, which he carries on extensively. He is sole agent for the Weber, Emerson, Mathushek, Krackanr, New England and Cable & Son's pianos. In organs he han- dles Story & Clark's, Packard's and the Bridge- port makes. He also carries a big line of small instruments. He has established a reputation for selling pianos and organs on very close mar- gins, and the public has not been slow to take advantage of his liberality. As a photographer

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

Mr. Lenz is the only artist on the city making pictures from the smallest to lite-size. He does only first-class work, and consequently has all he can do. He took the first premium at the county fair this year over all competitors.

ELSON OVERMIER, a rancher of El Cajon Valley, was born at Somerset, Perry County, Ohio, April 19, 1830, the fifth child of Adam Overmier, a farmer. He was educated in Marshall County, Illinois. In April, 1853. he went from St. Louis up to St. Joseph, Missouri, whence he started for Cali- fornia, in company with Isaac Lankershim, Capt. W. E. Wild, Messrs. Marshall and McCoy, and arrived at the old Buckeye House, twenty iniles from Sacramento, in November. They wintered their stock in 1853-'54 at the Co- summes ranch, below the wire bridge on the Daly grant and about sixteen miles below Sacra- mento. The party had bonght about a thou- sand head of cattle, and, ferrying them across the river at Sacramento, drove them around into Napa valley. Overmier left the party at Napa, went to the mines, traveled around the camps, visited Marysville, worked for three years at Downieville, and spent two years at China Flat, Sierra County, above Downieville, where he was blown up by a premature explo- sion of powder. The eyes of his partner were blown out and one of his arms torn from his body. Overmier's face was badly burned, but it was not a serious injury and he soon recovered. In 1858 the great excitement on Fraser river began to rage, and he started for a gold mine there, and during a period of over five years he was there he became prosperous. He was one of the 500 men who cut the road through the Cascade mountains to the Upper Fraser river, the only direct road to the mines. He mined on that river for over three hundred miles, until they struck Canal river, and worked up to the forks of the river for over 150 miles. Provis- ions were so scarce that they sold at $1.50 to

$5 a pound. Mr. Overmier went into the Cari- boo country in British Columbia, where he found a large lake, which he called the Cariboo lake. It is fifteen miles long by about two miles in width. He prospected the country on both sides of the lake as far up as Little Cari- boo lake and Swamp river, which empties into Cariboo lake. At the head of the lake they discovered a stream which they named Harvey creek, after a member of the party. He found plenty of gold, both in nugget form and in small particles; but he was destitute of food and provisions, and altogether had a very rough and unpleasant experience.

He left the country in 1865, bought a team at Dalles, loaded with provisions and went to Bannock City and wintered in Grand Round valley in eastern Oregon. He traveled over the Owyhee country, and opened a livery, sale and stock yard in Silver City. He bought and sold stock, and by close attention built up a good, substantial business. In 1866-'67 the Indians raided the country and drove off eighty- five head of stock belonging to Mr. Overmier, which loss represented over $5,000. This mis- fortune affected him so that he settled his affairs and traveled down through the Goose lake country and sold his stock at Oroville, and took the railroad for San Francisco, arriving about three days before the great earthquake of Octo- ber, 1868. He was so badly shaken up that he became frightened, packed his things and took the steamer Orizaba for San Diego, and has never visited San Francisco since !

Mr. Overmier has devoted himself to farming and fruit-raising. He spent about fifteen years farming in Alpine, but concluded to move nearer civilization, sold his ranch and purchased a farm in El Cajon valley, about eighteen miles from San Diego; there he has an orange orchard, a well assorted variety of choice deciduous fruits, and a neat and comfortable home in one of tlie prettiest spots in San Diego County.

In 1875 he married Miss Lucy Fields, of Mississippi. Mr. Overmier is an old pioneer and has a large fund of interesting and excit-

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

ing stories to relate about his companions of " long, long ago." He knew most of the pio- neers, who are now quietly fading away, with their frosty hair and hoary age, into the silent realms which enfolds them in a strange, qniet solitude of peace. He is a sunny-hearted, cheer- ful man, with a kind and pleasing disposition.

ILLIAM JOSEPH LYONS, of San Diego, was born September 3, 1851, in the old town of San Diego. His father, Joseph Lyons, was a native of Donegal, Ireland, and came to California in 1846, and has re- mained here ever since. Joseph Lyons was married in 1850, to Miss Bernardo Billar, a daughter of Lieutenant Billar, the commander of the Presidio in San Diego. After William was born, his father engaged in the merchan- dising business until he was elected Sheriff of San Diego County, which occurred in 1858. He occupied this important and responsible office nntil 1862, when he retired permanently from active business life. Joseph Lyons enjoys the reputation of being one of the oldest Amner- ican citizens in San Diego, and is also one of the oldest Freemasons in the county. There are at present only three persons living, besides Joseph Lyons, who can claim to be the first or earliest pioneers, viz .: Mr. William Warner, Colonel Crosthwaite and Mr. C. J. Stewart.

Mr. Joseph Lyons has a family of ten chil- dren, seven sons and three daughters, living at present. The subject of this sketch is the oldest child. William attended school in San Diego until he was sixteen years of age. He then left school and began a complete course of study to become a practical master-mechanic. He devoted five years to wood-turning, carriage making in all its different branches, etc. He then entered the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, and spent three years there, becom- ing a proficient machinist, molder, model-maker, etc. He worked five years at the carpenter's business, and did considerable heavy contract

work during that time. For over eighteen months he was in the engineering department, and when that time expired he was then in a position to feel secure that he had accumulated from practical experience sufficient knowledge to claim that he was a thorough and genuine master-mechanic.

He returned to San Diego in 1880-'81, and went into the railroad contracting business, and met with some reverses. He then visited Lower California and became interested in the wonder- ful mining discoveries in that country. He spent over eighteen months in active prospect- ing, and finally came out victorious, for he suc- ceeded in finding some very rich gold-quartz mines. He organized the United States and Mexico Gold-Mining Company, witli $100,000 capital stock, composed principally of Eastern capital. He afterwards sold out his interest and went into different heavy business opera- tions of important proportions, and achieved a grand and pronounced success. He was very fortunate in his ventures, and advanced several large enterprises until they were popular and profitable. In 1884 he commenced buying land, and afterwards became associated with Mr. H. A. Howard, and they were soon widely known as " Howard & Lyons, Real Estate Agents." The strong, reliant, aggressive charac- ter of Mr. Lyons soon became apparent, for the new firm made the heaviest sales ever made in the county, and enjoyed the satisfaction of doing the largest business in San Diego.

Like John Wanamaker, they believed in liberal, constant advertising, and the commnu- nity soon grew familiar with the names of " Howard & Lyons." The Eastern visitors, local bankers, prominent men, eager investors and cool-headed money-lenders knew the firm. One of the most artistic and interesting speci- mens of advertising was gotten np by the firm in book shape, and named "Sonvenir," with this quotation on the title-page:

" For life at best is not too long, And therefore we determine

That many people read a song Who would not read a sermon."

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

In the introductory the authors state the reason why they were compelled to publish a book: "The publication of these specials was begun as an experiment in advertising, and continued because we found that they attracted both buy- ers and sellers to our office. At the time they were written we had no intention of gathering them for publication in any permanent form; but we have, during the past few weeks, re- ceived many letters from all parts of the coun try, asking us to procure back numbers of the San Diego Union containing our 'Specials.' The back numbers are all exhausted: hence this ' Sonvenir.' We are informed that some other real-estate dealers are not pleased with our sys- tem of advertising. We are sorry for that, but it costs them nothing;

' And if the king like not the comedy, Why then, belike, he likes it not.'"

The little book became a favorite, and over 50,000 were published. It is replete with in- formation expressed in polished English, full of brightness, sunshine, alluring word pictures, and shows high literary ability in its every page. This little gem was scattered over Eu- rope and the Eastern States, and assisted in in- forming strangers just what kind of a country San Diego was in reality.

Mr. Lyons is thoroughly acquainted with the Spanish language and the history of the Spanish grants in San Diego, throughout Southern Cali- fornia, Lower California and the adjacent coun- try. He has traveled over Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Lower Califor- nia, and is a perfect encyclopædia of wholesale information for the visitor, tourist or investor. This is a decided advantage, and has perhaps in a measure assisted him in achieving his great success in his business. He has quite an inter- est in the Lower California mines in Alamo, which is at present looking up as the coming mining country. Some wonderful developments have been inade there since last March, and the district known as Alamo embraces over 200 quartz and placer mines. Mr. Lyons considers 24

it one of the best mining districts ever dis- covered, and confidently predicts a grand ex- citement there ere long. Alamo is about 180 miles from San Diego. Mr. Lyons is about negotiating the sale of ten inines to San Fran- cisco parties for $312,000, and some Chicago parties will invest $80,000 in two mines in Lower California. These heavy transactions serve to show the style and manner of business Mr. Lyons is engaged in. He is known favor- ably to heavy capitalists and investors, and is generally at the head of every large or important enterprise.

Mr. Lyons was married to Miss Sarah Ames, a lineal descendant of Oliver Ames, of Massa- chusetts, on August 4, 1879, at San Diego. He has a family of four children, three boys and a girl. He has a nice, comfortable home in Old Town, his native place, and enjoys the reputa- tion of being an enterprising, liberal-hearted man.

Mr. Lyons was elected one of the delegates of the city of San Diego at the late election held under the new charter, and is full of pro- gressive ideas for his constituents and the pub -. lic generally.

INDLEY BROTHERS, San Diego .-- There are few business houses in San Diego at the present time that are better or more favorably known than the grocery house of Findley Brothers, now located at 1320 D street, in the Methodist Church Block. The firm is composed of Herbert W. and Frank S. Findley, both natives of Prince Edward's Island, Canada. Herbert, the elder, and founder of the firm, was born in 1863. He received his education in his native town, graduating at Prince of Wales College, and Charlottetown Business College. In 1883 he first came to the Pacific coast, remain- ing one year at Victoria, British Columbia; then returned to his native place, when he was admitted as partner in the firm of James Paton & Co., the largest dealers in Charlottetown.

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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

He remained with this house three years, at the end of which time he again turned his footsteps westward and came to San Diego, entering into the grocery business on Sixth street, in March, 1888, where be was joined by his broth er Frank. The business grew to such propor- tions that it became necessary to find more commodious quarters, which were found in the Methodist Church block, D street, where they have the finest store and largest business in the city of San Diego.

Frank S. Findley received his education at the same schools as his brother, and in 1883 went to Victoria, British Columbia, where he remained six years in the wholesale grocery business. He joined Herbert in San Diego in June, 1889, and with him formed the firm of Findley Brothers.

He was married in September, 1889, to Miss Hettie Butler, a danghter of Robert Butler, ot Victoria, British Columbia. At the solicitation of Herbert and Frank their parents have joined them, so that the family now are all in San Diego except a married sister and one brother, who still remain ou Prince Edward's Island.

ROLONEL CAVE J. COUTS, of Gnajome. Of all the prominent men who at one time or another held official positions in San Diego County, none are more deserving of fame than Colonoel Cave Johnson Conts. Although trained to arms, being a graduate of West Point, and having made a gallant record in the war with Mexico, yet his greatest achievements were in the paths of peace. Of a tall, commanding figure, a little over six feet in height, weighing about 165 pounds, straight as an arrow, willowy and active, a perfect horseman, the beau ideal of a cavalry officer, with the natural instincts of a gentleman, supplemented by a thorough edn- cation, fond of an active, busy life, devoted to his family, the soul of honor,-to him a lie was like blasphemy, being nnexcusable and unpar- donable,-of strict integrity and business habits,

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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