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 60

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 60
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 60
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 60
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 60

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).

Mr. Faivre has done a great deal to develop and beautify San Diego. He has built eight houses of his own and probably as many more as agent for others. One of his buildings is a three-story brick 50 x 100 feet, on E street, be- tween Fourth and Fifth, nearly opposite the First National Bank, costing $16,000. He has erected a fine building for business purposes, 75 x 100 feet in size, on the corner of Seventh and D streets. One part will be four stories in

385

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

height and the portion on the corner will be five stories. It will be provided with an elevator, have all the modern improvements, and cost over $40,000. Mr. Faivre was married in 1848, near Dayton, Ohio, to Miss Klyntick. They have had one child, who died of the cholera in New Orleans.

OHN R. SCRANTON, a son of New Ell- gland, one of the early pioneers of Cali- fornia and a citizen of San Diego, was born at Guilford, Connecticut, in July, 1828, and was one of a family of eight children, himself and sister now only surviving, bis sister still living at North Guilford, Connecticut, Mr. Scranton was early apprenticed to a carpenter, serving a term of four and a half years, and thereafter worked at his trade until 1851, when he went to New York city. His attention was early turned to California, and in 1853 he made the trip, by way of Panama and the Isthmus, arriv- ing safely in San Francisco without accident or special incident. Soon after arrival he went to Nevada and Colorado, and there did a large busi- ness in contract building until 1858, when he was "enthused " by the Fraser river gold excite- ment, and started for that field, but stopped at Portland, Oregon, where he took several con- tracts in building. The following ten years were passed in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming, in building and mining and a general speculative business, visiting the leading cities and mining districts and taking up whatever offered the best returns. In the fall of 1869 he came to San Diego and started a general building and contracting business, doing quite well for a number of years, part of the time with a partner, the firm being Scranton & Boyd. In 1873 he gave up contracting and entered the saloon business with J. P. Stowe, but only for a short time, business being very quiet. Tlien he followed and investigated business propo- sitions for about two years, resulting only in chaff, but in 1875 went to Santa Monica and

resumed his trade, doing a prosperous business for about two years. Then he went to Wyoming on a railroad contract and followed his trade at Leadville, Denver, Kansas City and through New Mexico, doing a good general business" Returning to San Diego in July, 1882, he did a general speculative business in the liquor traffic, whaling enterprises, etc., without material profit. Has been a man of broad experience and diver- sitied gifts, having passed through all the stages of prosperity and adversity, and though sixty-one years of age is still in the hey-day of life.

R. SHELDON, of San Diego, a son of New England, was born at Boston, Massa- chusetts, September 13, 1860. His par- ents were natives of Vermont but resided in Boston, where his father, Dr. Leonard Sheldon, has been a practicing physician for twenty-five years. The subject of this sketch was the only child. His preliminary education was received at Boston; then, at the age of thirteen years, he was sent to the university at Barre, Ver- mont; at the age of seventeen years he entered the college at Burlington, Vermont, taking the medical course and the hospital course connected therewith, and graduated in 1881, at the age of twenty-one years. He then passed one year in New York city, at the Medical University and Bellevne Hospital, spending the summer of 1882 at home. In the fall he came to California, settling at San Jose and buying out a drug store, which he continued and also practiced his profession in connection with Dr. Thorn. In 1883 he removed his drugs and medicines to Pasadena and built a drug store on Colorado street; also bought a twenty-acre tract between Colorado and Marengo avennes and there built a pretty cottage for his family, and there con- tinued the practice of his profession until 1835, when, in November, he sold out his drug store and leased his house and went to San Diego, boarding through the winter aud watching for

386

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

investinents. In February, 1886, he sold out his Pasadena property and bonght a lot and built a very handsome residence at the corner of D and Twelfth streets. During the same year he built the Sheldon block, a four- story building on Sixth street, between E and F streets.

The Doctor was married at Burlington, Ver- mont, August 2, 1878, to Miss Emma R. Ban- croft, a native of Vermont, and they have had two children, both of whom are still living. .

In May, 1886, the Doctor bought what was then known as the Mussel Beds, selling in 1887, and now known as Ocean Beach. The Doctor was a man endowed with unusnal brightness, possessing not only the professional skill but also the shrewdness necessary to business pros- perity. His happy home relations and business successes were enjoyed but a few short years, as he died June 14, 1887, and his widow resides at the home which is a fitting monument to his memory.

OHN SPENCER, the able and efficient en- gineer of San Diego Engine Company No. 1, the oldest company in the city, hav- ing been organized in 1872, was born at Bingham, England, July 2, 1849. He there received a private-school education, and at the age of thirteen went into the iron works of Codna Park, at Derbyshire, the largest iron manufacturing establishment in the world, where he learned the trade of molding, remaining about two years. In 1864 he came to the United States, going to Galena, Illinois, where he attended a night school and ran a stationary engine during the day. thus improving both mind and resources. In 1872 he went to Kan- sas City, running as fireman on the east end of the Santa Fé road, and for the following fifteen years was employed in a machine shop of the Union Pacific, and as engineer of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf railroad. In 1887 he worked at Kansas City with Prof. J. C .Henry,

on his electric railway system, and then came to San Diego and erected the electric railway sys- tem between San Diego and Old Town, and then the line on Fourth street to University Heights, each line about four miles in length. In April, 1888, he received his present appointment from the old city council.

Mr. Spencer was married at Galena, Illinois, in 1869, to Miss Annie A. Chenewith and is the happy father of one child.

P. McCORMICK, architect and builder of many of the public and private build- O ings of San Diego, is a native of England, though of Irish parentage. At the early age of fifteen years he left the old country to seek fame and competence in the new, and settled at Philadelphia. He there began his business education. He served three years with one of the largest contractors in that city, and then served two years with an equally good architect, and at the expiration of the term he served an- other two years' apprenticeship as civil engi- neer. Thus, after seven years of faithful ap- prenticeship, at the age of twenty-three years, we find our Irish-English American master of his profession. It was then unnecessary to go abroad to seek occupation, but in the city of his adoption he opened an office and at once entered upon a successful business career. In a few years Mr. McCormick erected upwards of four hundred buildings in Philadelphia, among them the most elegant and substantial of that city, a large number of public edifices, churches, schools and many fine residences. Several large contracts in wharf building and civil engineer- ing were executed in New York, Philadelphia and other Eastern cities. In the civil engineer department of his work he points with special pride to one single mile of railroad built by him in Colorado, where he resided for six years. It was the heaviest mile of rock work on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and the heav- iest mile of rock work ever built in the United

387

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

States. In Chicago Mr. McCormick spent several years, building three elegant fire-engine houses, two police stations, etc.

EORGE D. COPELAND, of San Diego. was born in Waddington, St. Lawrence County, New York, May 15, 1833. His parents were natives of Vermont. There were four children, three of whom are surviving, and the subject of this sketch was the youngest At the age of four years he moved with his parents to Goshen, Indiana, at that time a log- lionse town, and his father opened a shop and manufactured hollow-ware. George D. was favored with an academic education at the La Grange Collegiate Institute at Ontario, La Grange County, and then went to the State National Law School at Poughkeepsie, New York, Professor Fowler then being principal. He took the law course and received his certifi- cate in 1854, and then returned to Goshen, but began the practice of law at Wakarnsa, Elkhart County.

He was married at Goshen, in September, 1857, to Miss Harriet A. Latta, a native of Goshen, Indiana. Mr. Copeland then returned to Goshen in 1858 and remained in the practice of law until 1871. In 1861, when the internal revenue was first established, Mr. Copeland re- ceived the appointment of United States As- sistant Assessor for the term of one year, and he was then promoted to United States Assessor with eleven assistants. He was appointed by President Lincoln and held the position through the term until the office was abolished in 1871 and the business put in the hands of collectors. His offices were at Goshen and his district em- braced eight counties of Indiana. In 1871 he visited California, coming out by the second train over the Central Pacific road. He visited San Francisco and vicinity, and in 1872 brought out his family and settled at Sacramento, re- maining about one year, engaged in importing and selling wagons. He brought the first car

load of Studebaker wagons to the State. In the winter of 1873, in poor health, he retired from the business and came to San Diego, buying a ranch near Sweetwater, and for seven years em . ployed himself in an out-of-door life, attending to his ranch, and fully regained his health. He was then appointed Postmaster of San Diego in 1881, and that making life in town necessary he sold his ranch and moved his family to town, and held the position through the term of four years.

In May, 1886, he organized the San Diego Flume Company and was appointed president, holding the position until 1888, when, owing to a large private interest, he resigned. He was a large investor in the electric street rail- road, owning the entire road and plant, which he operated for one year, starting in same con- nection the Westinghouse system of incandescent light, and wiring and supplying the city. Mean- time he sold his railroad interests with the plant and franchise to the San Deigo Cable Railroad Company, who are now arranging for a cable railway.

Mr. Copeland's electric plant has a capacity of 1,500 lights, sixteen-candle power each, and was the first incandescent light in the city. He began lighting December 15, 1888, and has re- ceived very satisfactory support.

Mr. Copeland's first wife lived but a few years, leaving one son, J. S. Copeland, who is now District Attorney of San Diego. Mr. Copeland was married a second time, at Goshen, Indiana, on August 30, 1869, to Miss Alice M. Austin, a native of Middlebury, Vermont. They have one child, nineteen years of age, a student at the Pacific Beach College.

EORGE A. SELWYN, the pioneer butcher of San Diego, was born at Sheffield, Eng- land, February 24, 1842. His parents are natives of England. There were three children, bnt the subject is the only one surviving. He came to America with his mother, while an in-

388

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

fant, and at the age of eight years they emi- grated to San Bernardino, by ox-wagon, over- land. He then made San Bernardino his headquarters, but spent much of his time pros- pecting and trading in mines. In 1865 he came to San Diego and bought a ranch of 1,000 acres at San Buena Ventura, and started cattle- raising. He started also the butcher business in 1874, with Charles Gasson, which continued two years, then devoted one year to sheep- raising, and in 1877 again started in the butcher business, under the firm name of Selwyn & Co. At present their stand is on Fifth street, be- tween F and G, known as Washington Market.

In 1881 the firm changed to Selwyn & Allison, which is continued to the present time. He still carries on his ranch, and is doing a large dairy business, selling his milk in town. In meats they are doing a wholesale and retail business, supplying the country and most of the city markets.

He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, and the United Workmen.

In 1867 he was inarried, in Old Town, to Miss Lucy Fisher, a native of Texas, thongh of German descent. He was again married at San Diego, in 1882, to Miss Jennie Rice, a native of Ken- tucky. He is the happy father of five children.

SAN DIEGO COLLEGE OF LETTERS.

ADDENDUM TO GENERAL HISTORY.

San Diego College was founded in 1887, by a company of gentlemen who associated them. selves together for the purpose of establishing an undenominational college in Southern Cali- fornia. The company was constituted as fol- lows: C. S. Sprecher, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles; F. P. Davidson, Professor of Natural Science in the High School of Springfield, Ohio; Harry Wag- ner, editor of the Golden Era. The plan and details of organization were so thoroughly marked out, and the purpose with which these gentlemen addressed themselves to the work was so strong, that they at once secured offers of large land grants in four cligible places. It was ultimately decided to locate the college at Pacific Beach, for several reasons: 1st. The climate of the sonth coast is nnequaled for adaptedness to study, on account of its equabil- ity. 2d. Pacific Beach is near San Diego, the future metropolis of Southern California, and yet not in the city where the students would be exposed to many temptations. 3d. The view from Pacific Beach is unequaled. There is a broad south slope looking out over both bays,

and toward the sun and the city at the same time, with the mountains on the left, and the ocean on the right.

The Pacific Beach Company conveyed to the college, at a nominal price, a campus of sixteen acres and about 600 lots. The work of build- ing began just at the departure of the boom, so that the college had no benefit of that phenomne- nal activity in real estate, but has had to push its way along through a depression in business circles such as the country has never known, during which property has come down in value to very near a nominal price.

They have created a property which assets in the judgment of fair appraisers about $80,- 000. This has been realized by the liberal in- terest taken in the cause of education by the citizens of San Diego.

The college was incorporated in 1887 with the following board of directors: C. S. Sprecher, President; F. P. Davidson, Vice President; Harr Wagner, Secretary; O. S. Ilubble, F. S. Van Dyke. By this charter the college is authorized to confer all the collegiate degrees. On the 20th of June the corner-stone of the

389

HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY.

college was laid with imposing ceremonies in the presence of 2,500 people, the elite and lit- erati of San Diego.

As the corner-stone was lowered the words expressive of the principles of the college were pronounced by the president of the company as follows: " In the name of God and humanity. as revealed in the Christ of history, we lay the corner-stone of San Diego College-undenomi- national but not unchristian. Our faith is the faith of christendom; our hope the hope of christian civilization." The college is altogether undenominational, but thoroughly christian; as all the control is in the hands of christian men.

On the 20th of September, 1888, the college was formally opened with an attendance of thirty-seven. The faculty was organized with S. Sprecher, D. D., LL. D., President; C. S. Sprecher, A. M., Vice President; F. P. David- son, A. M., Superintendent of Instruction, and a corps of eleven teachers. Over 100 students were enrolled the first year and the present year promises to surpass that number.

The students are graded in the three years of preparatory and in the Freshman and Sopho- more classes. The curriculum is high-grade in the regular course, comparing favorably with that of any college East or West. Music and drawing are taught with enthusiasm. The col- lege has a first-class set of models from Paris, presented by R. A. Thomas of the First National Bank.

In the fall of 1889 assistance was secured of O. J. Stough, of San Diego, for the erection of Stough Hall, a commodious building in which all recitations and chapel exercises are held. The building is part of the original plan of the

main college building and will be enlarged as needed. There is now an elegant building for a ladies' dormitory, secluded and with appoint- ments unsurpassed in the State; a boys' dormi- tory, and Stongh Hall.

At several critical times in the financial history of the college Rev. L. Groh, A. M., of Pennsylvania, a man of large means and phil- anthropic spirit, extended important aid to the college, and at its last meeting was made a member of the directorate.

The discipline of the school is thorough. The military department is efficient and im- parts system and thorough physical training. The faculty is composed of:

Samnel Sprecher, D. D., LL. D .; Rev. L. Groh, A. M .; F. P. Davidson. A. M .; Harr Wagner, A. M .; C. S. Sprecher, A. M .; E. R. Wagner, Ph. D .; Lucie V. Woods, Laura G. Riddell, Rawlins Cadwallader, A. M., I. H. Hill, J. L. Mande.

In the month of November, 1889, arrange- ments were made with Prof. C. R. Orcutt to place the zoological and botanical collections of the West Coast Museum in Stough Hall. Thus the students of natural history will have access to a collection of nearly 200,000 specimens.

The first commencement of the college showed unusual scientific and literary training and pop- ularized the college with the people. There is a juvenile department, under the efficient man- agement of Mrs. Riddell. Students are received at all stages of advancement, and while the col- lege encourages the regular college course of the high-grade curriculum, it receives those who wish to pursue a partial or select course of a few years. The boarding facilities are excellent.

HISTORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA.

391

LA BAJA CALIFORNIA.

DISCOVERY AND EARLY EXPLORATIONS.

Very soon after the conquest of Mexico the attention of Cortez was attracted by certain stories told by some of the conquered tribes regarding a mysterious but wonderful country, lying far to the northwestward. This land they called Cignatan, or The Realm of Women; and they declared that it abounded in gold, in pearls, rubies, garnets, turquoises, and many other products, rich and precious. Marvelous things were told also concerning the people, customs, and appearance of that far country. About the same time (1530) Nuño de Guzman, Presi- dent in New Spain, was told by an Indian slave of "The Seven Cities of Cibola," with their reputed great population, their streets paved with gold and silver, and their exceeding splen- dor in general. The marvels and mysteries that they had already witnessed in Mexico made cre- dence of these tales easy for the Spaniards, who readily conjectured that Ciguatan and Cibola might be one and the same. As actuating mo- tives for investigation, there was the potent hope of the acquisition of treasure; the idea, cherished by all the invading Spaniards, of dis- covering a northern water-way from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and the hope of exploring the South Sea coasts and islands.

So Cortez the Conqueror fitted out vessels that made three northward expeditions. The first ship, in 1533, discovered a bay, probably that of La Paz, on the eastern or gulf coast of

what is now Lower California. A second ex- pedition sailed in 1534 and in 1535, which Cortez accompanied, to make personal inspec- tion. It is needless to say that the anticipations were not fulfilled and that colonization lan- guished.

In July, 1539, moved by the renewal of the old marvelous stories, Cortez sent out Francisco de Ulloa, with three small vessels. Ulloa reached the head of the gulf now called Califor- nia, and probably saw, from the mouth of the Colorado, the shores of the territory which is now " The Golden State." He also circumnavi- gated the peninsula, and sailed up its west coast as far as Cedros Island. It seems that in the account of this voyage was first applied the name " California," whose origin has caused much discussion, which seems to have been pretty conclusively settled by Mr. Edward Everett Hale, who in 1862 discovered that the name was of romantic origin, being that of the Amazon- ish heroine of Ordonez de Montaloo's old ro- inance, Sergos de Esplandian, which was very popular at the period of the Conquest. This term was first applied between 1535 and 1539, to a particular spot or a locality, but it was soon generalized, to designate the entire adjacent re- gion; and, as this territory was supposed to consist of a group of islands, the plural form was used-Las Californias, or Las Islas Califor- nias-the California Isles.

During July, August and September, 1542,

392

HISTORY OF LOWER CALIFORNIA.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese navi- gator in the Spanish service, followed the Pacific coast northward to a spot which he called Puerto de San Miguel, latitude 34° 20' N .; this Ev- ans. in 1879, identified with San Pedro, but most historians maintain that it was San Diego. Cabrillo died on the voyage from the result of an accident, but the expedition was pushed as far north as Cape Mendocino.

In 1597 Sebastian Vizcayno sailed from Aca- pulco to re-explore and occupy for Spain the Islas Californias. His expedition found good ports, fruitful islands and rich pearl-beds, and he achieved the notable exploit of founding a set- tlement of Europeans at a point then named and ever since called La I'az (Peace), from the pacific character of the aborigines. This place was presumably identical with Santa Cruz, the pseudo- island where, in May, 1535, Cortez had founded a colony. Like that earlier one, this colony of Vizcayno was almost at once aban- doned. A second expedition under Vizcayno, in 1602, advanced beyond Cape Mendocino. In the years that followed, Tomas Cardova, in 1610; Francisco de Ortega, in 1632, and again in 1636; Luit Cestin de Cañas in 1642; Porter y Casanate in 1644; Bernal de Pinadero in 1667: Ysidro Otondo (who founded at La Paz a colony that endured about two years, and was then abandoned) in 1683 ;- these were the chief personages who sailed to the peninsula in the seventeenth century. A number of lesser lights appeared also, but they were very transient vis- itors, being inainly adventurers attracted by the fame of the pearl- beds.

In 1710 a vessel of Woodes Rogers' fleet lay at La Paz to refit, having as sailing-master the renowned Alexander Selkirk, original of Robinson Crusoe, who had been rescued the preceding year from Juan Fernandez Island.

THE JESUITS IN LA BAJA.

The first Jesnit priest to tread Lower Califor- nia soil was Father Roque de Vega, chaplain to Francisco de Ortega, on that worthy's third survey. Ortega, on this voyage, on January 14,

or 15, 1636, anchored his vessel of seventy tons' burden in the bay called Playa Honda, eleven miles south of La Paz. A terrible storm, last- ing eleven days, wrecked the ship and drove it ashore, the men escaping to the land on frag- ments of the vessel. There drifted also-mirac- ulously, thought the forlorn, castaway explorers -enongh vessels of the church service to enable Fatlier Vega to say mass regularly. These were the first Christian ministrations in the Californias. They were followed by the good father's baptizing several dying natives at La Paz, whither the party went, in a boat con- structed from the fragments of the wreck. The second Jesnit priest in California was Father Jacinto Cortez, who in 1642 accompanied Luis Cestin de Cañas to the country for which his order was destined to do so much in the future.

From the epoch of Cortez to that of Otondo -1535 to 1683-so expensive and so fruitless had been the many efforts to occupy the western peninsula, that the government had determined to equip no more such expeditions. Yet it was most desirable, because of the important geographical position of the territory, that it should be under Spanish dominion. Therefore, counting on the steadfastness of the missionary spirit, the council convened to consider this ques - tion, offered to the Company of Jesus a sub- sidy of $40,000 per year as an inducement to undertake the California mission. The order declined the offer on the ground of unwilling- ness to participate in the temporal concerns in- volved in the enterprise.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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