USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 117
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struggling with the vicissitudes of their life in a Nietos and Ranchito Walnut Growers' Associa- strange country the mother married Joseph G. B. tion, which he helped to incorporate. For years he was identified with the Los Nietos Val- ley Pioneer Club. Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Haynes, and subsequently the family moved to Los Angeles county, Cal., and settled for a time at El Monte. As may be imagined, the oppor- tunities of any description were then of a very In the minds of all who were privileged to en- joy his friendship, profit by his example, or reap the benefit of his kindly acts of consideration and encouragement, Mr. King is remembered as a worthy example of an upright and Christian life. meager kind, the schools especially being an al- most unknown quantity. The education which Mr. King acquired, and which was of such prac- tical use to him in later life, was entirely the re- sult of later application and utilization of the various avenues of information.
Early in life he realized the responsibility of his position as a member of a large and neces- sarily expensive household, and therefore took up land on his own responsibility in Orange county, Cal., in 1871. The twenty acres comprising his ranch were given over to the cultivation of oranges, to which he devoted himself in this locality until 1879. He then moved to the vicinity of Whittier, where his family is now located. His first purchase comprised twenty- five acres, and later he added twenty-one acres, all of which was planted with walnut trees. Originally the land was in a wild and scrubby state, and necessitated much patient application to reduce it to a condition of utility and resource. The farm now has one thousand one hundred and twenty-seven walnut trees, which are in a thriv- ing condition.
Mr. King was married May 5, 1870, to Ellen Noe, a native of Texas, born in 1854. Her parents were Leroy L. D. Noe and Charlotte (Smyth) Noe, the former a native of Indiana, who went to Texas and there died. They were among the very early settlers of Texas, and after the father's death and the mother's later mar- riage, the family started for California by way of the plains with a wagon and ox-team. Arriving at their destination they cast their lot with the pioneers of Santa Ana, Cal. To Mr. and Mrs. King were born eleven children: James T .; William E .; Mamie, the wife of Byron Cole; Daisy, who is married to William Sutton; Arthur, Gertrude, Lory, Allie, George, Robert and Elva.
Mr. King's political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he was associated with many of its important undertakings. He was a member of the first board of trustees of the Pico school district, and also a member of the Los
At a meeting held September 11, 1900, by the Los Nietos Pioneer Club the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted:
"WHEREAS, It has pleased the Supreme Ruler of the Universe to call our beloved friend and fellow-member, John M. King, from this tran- sitory existence to the joy and felicity of everlast- ing life; and,
"WHEREAS, In his death his family loses a good and loving husband and father, the Pioneer Club a valuable member, and society at large a brother and friend, whose blameless life and faultless character have influenced for the better all with whom he has come in contact; therefore, be it
"Resolved, That to the family of our deceased friend and fellow-member we extend our heart- felt sympathy in their affliction; and be it further
"Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Pioneer Club and a copy thereof be sent to the family of our deceased member.
"F. A. SANCHEZ, Secretary. "J. F. ISBELL, President."
M RS. IVA E. TUTT. Who would imagine that the imposing title of secretary and general manager of the Long Beach & San Pedro Electrical Company belongs to a modest and far from aggressive little woman, with fair hair and brown eyes, with a dne regard for the demands of fashion, and few of the mannish traits commonly ascribed to the "new woman." Yet she certainly occupies a unique and quite enviable position as the only woman in the world, as far as known, who stands at the head of an electric lighting plant, and at the same time personally supervises the business in all its details. Her history contains much of unusual interest, and
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the following facts in regard to the plucky young woman will be perused with eagerness by the general public, as well as by her hosts of personal friends.
Quite naturally, as it appears to the biograph- er, Mrs. Tutt hails from a western state, Minne- sota being her birthplace, and, as her life has been mainly spent on the frontier, she early developed the independence of spirit and the resourcefulness so characteristic of our west- ern women. When she embarked in her present great enterprise she knew but little of the elec- trical part of the business; but she was quite a machinist. Her father had devoted his life to that line of work and had held responsible posi- tions in machine shops. He subscribed to a great variety of journals on the subject of machinery, and gave his children many a practical lesson, which has proved beneficial to them in later life. His son is now a prominent civil engineer. After her marriage Mrs. Tutt resided upon a Montana ranch for several years, and there brought her knowledge of machinery into practical use upon numerous occasions, taking down and setting up complicated machinery for different purposes.
Nearly four years ago Mrs. Tutt came to Southern California on account of her health, and, like the majority of tourists, she visited Long Beach, which she found groping in dark- ness, while the local newspapers were waging vigorous warfare upon such a state of affairs in so progressive a seacoast town. Her attention having been called to the matter, as she had some capital, she determined to invest it in an electric plant, which should not only furnish light for this place, but for San Pedro and Terminal Island also. Prior to embarking in the enter- prise she received assurances that the inner har- bor of San Pedro would be improved and an appropriation to that end would be made, even if the splendid outer harbor never materialized. At first she intended merely to invest her capital in the plant, but she soon found out that she was equal to the actual management of the business,
and, as she holds the majority of the stock of the company (which has an authorized capital of $50,000), she ultimately determined to keep the reigns of power in her own hands. She attends personally to the buying of all machinery, mate- rial and supplies for the plant, making bids,
drawing specifications and figuring on contracts. Indeed, she has made herself so thoroughly con- versant with all of the workings of the system, that, in an emergency, she can take the place of any man connected with the business, save that of climbing the poles for attaching the wires. She employs an expert electrician and a good force of efficient men, all of whom regard her with sovereign respect.
In the Long Beach & San Pedro electric plant may be found the latest electrical machinery, and in every respect it compares favorably with the finely equipped modern ones of Los Angeles and other cities. There is a water tube boiler fitted for mechanical draught, a tandem compound en- gine and dynamos for direct current, and the distribution is by the three-wire system. Mrs. Tutt has been of more than local service in the electrical world, as she has solved the problem of lighting small towns, when not far distant from one another, as, in this case, neither Long Beach, San Pedro nor Terminal Island could have paid the expenses of an electric plant alone, and by this system they are joined by the electric cir- cuit and participate in the benefits of the central plant. Long Beach and Terminal Island are beautiful resorts and are yearly winning their way into the hearts of the people, while San Pedro's importance in the future of Southern California cannot be overestimated, and the fine $3,000,000 harbor improvements being carried on by the government are already under way. The success of Mrs. Tutt's undertaking long ago was an assured fact, and the plant has been doubled in size within the four years of its exist- ence. On account of her peculiar position as the pioneer of her sex in this line of business, she continually receives marked courtesies from man- ufacturers and business men, but, while appre- ciating the knightly spirit in which these favors are tendered, she does business upon strict com- mercial lines and asks no favors from anyone.
While it is an undisputed fact that Mrs. Tutt possesses finer executive and financial ability than the majority of mankind, she is essentially womanly. She is not inordinately devoted to clubs, so-called "woman's rights" and other things for which the modern woman is supposed to contend. She has just pride in the fact that she is a direct descendant of the sturdy old colo-
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nial stock of New England, and in consequence of her lineage she belongs to the Daughters of the Revolution. She has a little daughter about thirteen years old now attending the schools of Los Angeles.
From time to time Mrs. Tutt has been inter- viewed by journalists,'and photographs of herself and of the electric plant which she controls have been published in many of the representative magazines of the United States and Europe. A short time ago the Western Electrician, printed in Chicago, devoted its front page to her portrait and a résumé of her work here; and the Electrical Review, published in London, England, also gave considerable space to a history of her achieve- ments. Long Beach, where she owns an attract- ive home, is a beautiful place of residence, and, as it has many fine churches and schools, it is . steadily forging to the front in the estimation of the people. And, it is needless to say, that the electric lighting plant has been an important fac- tor in its development, as it has in the desirabil- ity of living in San Pedro and Terminal Island.
HOMAS STONE. By those who have visited the place, Stonehurst is considered one of the finest fruit ranches of Southern California. The property is owned and operated by Mr. Stone, who established his home there in 1894, and has since given his attention closely to its development and irrigation, meantime intro- ducing improvements that have greatly enhanced its value. In his work he has the active and in- telligent assistance of his oldest and youngest sons, Alexander G. and Claude, his other three sons being engaged in business in Los Angeles.
A description of Stonehurst will give an idea of its condition and improvements. This ranch has undergone considerable alteration lately, all the deciduous trees having been removed and oranges planted in their place, with the exception of ten acres of apricots, which remain. The property comprises fifty-one and one-half acres, all under fruit cultivation. Two and one-half acres are in oranges, planted in 1895, and now in good bearing condition. The fourth year after planting the crop taken from them netted $1.50 per tree. There were also seven acres planted to oranges in 1899 and one acre in 1898. In the
spring of 1900 some thirty acres of deciduous trees were pulled out (which comprised twenty- four acres of peaches, one acre of Kelsey plums and five acres of French prunes) and oranges planted in their place. This is as the ranch is to- day. Surrounding the residence are some fifty trees of various varieties of fruits for domestic use.
The problem of water supply, which has proved so annoying to many Californians, does not distress Mr. Stone, for he has his own supply, furnished by a well yielding about twenty-five inches of water of a most excellent quality and in great abundance. In this way he is independent of any water company for either irrigation or domestic purposes. For the irrigation of the land he has steam machinery and for the house the water is supplied by means of a windmill and tank. The machinery used is the very best man- ufactured. The residence is comfortable and commodious, supplied with all modern con- veniences and furnished in a manner indicating the tastes of the owner.
Mr. Stone was born in Glastonbury, England, April 10, 1844, a son of William and Anne Stone, both of Glastonbury. When two years of age he was taken by his parents to Taunton, England, and there he received a grammar school educa- cation. When quite young he began to be self- supporting, and at twenty years of age he was employed as managing and constructing engineer for a gas plant. In time he became owner of stock in the gas works at Somerset, Dorset and Devon, and at these places he also acted as super- intendent of the plants. In addition, he owned a half interest in a hardware business at Wey- mouth, England, and for thirteen years acted as its manager, the firm title being Stone & Pearce. He still owns stock in many of the enterprises with which he was formerly connected person- ally. Since 1894 he has made his home in Pasadena, having come here direct from England. He was led in this step by a knowledge of the fine climate, rich soil and excellent prospects afforded to those who settle here. Nor has he had reason to regret his decision in moving to a spot so far from all the associations of a lifetime, for he has been prospered in his new home and may hope to see his ranch become one of the finest iu South- ern California.
W. N. Workman
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While living in England Mr. Stone married Miss Martha Gray, of Glastonbury. They be- came the parents of ten children, and six of these are now living, namely: Alexander G., Thomas G., Katie L., Clarence P., Archibald E. and Claude. The family are connected with the Congregational Church, in which Mr. Stone served as a deacon while living in his native country.
ILLIAM H. WORKMAN, president of the Workman Company, has been a resident of Southern California since 1854, when he, a boy of fifteen years, was brought to the state by his parents, David and Nancy (Hook) Workman. He was born in Boonville, Mo., in 1839. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Work- man, a native of England, was a prominent yeoman of Westmoreland county; and his ma- ternal grandfather, John Hook, who was of Ger- man ancestry, was born in Fincastle, Va., and served under General Washington in the Revolu- tionary war. The wife of John Hook was Eliza- beth Cook, a relative of the distinguished traveler of that name. As early as 1819 the Hook family settled in Missouri. Indians at the time were numerous and hostile, and it was necessary for the white settlers to live in forts, as a means of protection from the savages. In all the work of clearing and improving the farm-land in their community they bore an active part.
In the family of David and Nancy Workman there were three sons. The eldest, Thomas H., was killed by the explosion of the steamer Ada Hancock in Wilmington harbor April 27, 1863. The second son, Elijah H., settled at Boyle Heights, and the third son, William H., is also a resident of Los Angeles. The last-named fol- lowed the printer's trade for a time after coming to California, and then for twenty years was con- nected with his brother in the saddlery and har- ness business. For some years he has given his attention to the real-estate business, in which he has important interests. Particularly has he been interested in the improvement of Boyle Heights, by the introduction of water, street car lines and other improvements.
During 1887 and 1888 Mr. Workman filled the office of mayor of Los Angeles, and he has also been a member of the city council and the board
of education. In his political views he is a Democrat. His marriage, in 1867, united him with Miss Maria E. Boyle, daughter of A. A. Boyle; they are the parents of two sons and four daughters.
G EORGE D. PATTEN. The business in- terests of Pasadena have an able representa- tive in the subject of this article, who is the senior member of the lumber firm of Patten & Davies. He is a native of Ohio, born in Morgan county, August 10, 1847, to Mahlon and Sarah (Cole) Patten, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania. His parents were descended from early settlers of America, the paternal ances- tors having come from England and settled, with other Quakers, in the wilds of Pennsylvania, while the maternal ancestors were from Ireland.
When a boy our subject accompanied his parents to Jasper county, Iowa, and there grew to manhood, meantime receiving a good public- school education. At the opening of the Civil war he was fired with enthusiasm in behalf of the Union and determined to enlist, but, being so young, he was obliged to defer the fruition of his hopes for a time. January 3, 1863, he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and went south to participate in General Banks' cam- paign on the Red river. He fought at Sabine Cross Roads, Yellow Bayou and in other engage- ments of minor importance. Subsequently he participated in the Shenandoah valley campaign of General Sheridan and took part in the battles of Cedar Creek, Winchester, Fisher Hill, etc. At the close of the war he was mustered out of the service. He was honorably discharged August 10, 1865, after which he returned to Iowa. He made a short stop in Marshalltown and then went to Osage county, Kans., where he began farming and stock-raising. Steadily he worked his way forward, in due time meeting with the success of which he was so worthy.
In 1885 Mr. Patten came to Pasadena and here he has since made his home, carrying on a lum- ber business, having since 1894 been in partner- ship with E. W. Davies. In addition to his con- nection with this business he has other interests of an important character. He is a director of the First National Bank of Pasadena. The wel- fare and improvement of Pasadena are matters in
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which he is deeply interested. He has proved himself to be progressive and public-spirited, aid- ing in every way possible plans for the benefit of his home town. As a member of the city council (to which he belonged for four years and of which he was president for two years), he helped pro- mote enterprises of undoubted worth. The citizenship of Pasadena has had in him a worthy representative. However, his tastes are in the direction of business rather than public affairs or politics. He has never sought the honors of office nor cared to occupy positions of a political character. His business life has been marked by the exercise of intelligence and uprightness and a strict regard for the rights of others. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree, and is also connected with the Grand Army of the Republic.
While making his home in Kansas Mr. Patten married Eva M. Bessie, of Osage county. They are the parents of four sons and three daughters, namely: Nellie M., Fred W., Henry S., Callie, Frank, Walter and Mabel.
C ACOB KUHRTS. This is a name familiar to many of the citizens of Los Angeles. Through the long period of his residence in this city Mr. Kuhrts has maintained a reputation for good judgment, energy and integrity. Then, too, he has been active in promoting measures of undoubted value to his home town. He has often been alluded to as the "father" of the city fire department, as it grew up under his fostering, in- telligent oversight and care. Now, in the twi- light of his life, he is living practically retired from business anxieties, making his home in the Kuhrts block, built by himself, and situated at No. 107 West First street.
age when he went to sea as a cabin boy, and for five years he followed a sailor's life. On the arrival of his vessel at San Francisco from China, August 6, 1848, he abandoned salt water life and sought employment in the California mines. In 1858 he abandoned mining and came to Los An- geles, where he has since resided. In 1865 he opened a grocery on Spring street, and this busi- ness he successfully conducted for years. In 1867 he built a block on the corner of Main and First streets, and here he has since made his home. About fifteen years ago he retired from business, but as a promoter of the city's welfare he has continued as active as before. Politically he is a Democrat. He has honorably filled many local offices, served as the first city street super- intendent and has been a fire commissioner since 1886. In 1889 he was chosen president of the city council. He is probably, in point of service, the oldest city councilman in Los Angeles. He is a member of the various Masonic bodies, and has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty years. He is an hon- orary member of the state militia and a member of the Veteran Fireman's Association of San Francisco, which is the oldest organization of the kind in California.
Jacob Kuhrts is a self-educated man. He appreciated his stock of knowledge because he hewed it out of the rock of diligence and well- doing. He has never halted in a good measure to advance the welfare of the home of his man- hood. His hand never draws back at the ap- proach of a movement to widen and broaden the city's destiny.
May 1, 1865, Mr. Kuhrts married Susan Behn, who was born in Baden, Germany, February 19, 1848, the sixth daughter of Martin and Lena Behn. One of her uncles, John Behn, was among the first owners of the famons Catalina Islands. Mr. and Mrs. Kuhrts became the parents of six children, four of whom are living. George, who is married and has one child, is a civil engineer; Amelia is married and has one child; Grace and Etta are at home.
Born in Germany, August 17, 1832, Mr. Kuhrts was a son of Henry and Catherine ( Mat- thieson) Kuhrts, who came from Germany to New York in 1836. His father found employ- ment as a ship carpenter in New York, and, after a life of active toil, returned to Germany, where he died at the age of seventy years. His wife It may be said of Mr. Kuhrts and his family that they have been students in all lines where true knowledge may be found. They find that right and truth do not have to serve an appren- also spent her last days at the old homestead across the ocean, and died at about the same age. They were the parents of three children, but Jacob alone survives. He was eleven years of ticeship to be known. The truth always com-
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mands the respect of men who refuse to study to deceive. When men overcome obstacles in life and set the needs of humanity in motion, it is proof that they have in them a dynamic force equal to the occasion, and at the same time pos- sess the courage to act. Such are the true pro- moters of progress.
ILO ALLEN. In addition to his farming and horticultural interests, Mr. Allen has for the last quarter of a century mainly de- voted his energies to the application of his trade, that of brick-layer and mason. His permanent residence in California began in 1891, when for a short time he resided in the town of Whittier, subsequently settling on his present ranch. Of the eight and a-half acres in his possession, inost of it is devoted to the culture of lemons. The houses and appliances are of the most modern and substantial kind, and the place has a home- like aspect, in keeping with the natural advant- ages of the vicinity.
Born in LaSalle county, Ill., November 13, 1837, he is a son of Ethan Z. and Lydia (Marsh) Allen, natives of Vermont. Ethan Allen moved to LaSalle county, Ill., in 1834, where he inter- ested himself in the early development of the county. He attained to considerable prominence, especially as applied to the politics of the locality, and among other offices served as justice of the peace from 1840 to 1876. The mother of Milo Allen was connected with a family who were suc- cessful in many lines of enterprise, and who fought bravely for their country when duty prompted. Her father, Joseph March, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and her brother, Jesse, was a soldier in the war of 1812.
Milo Allen received his early training on his father's farm in Illinois, and was taught the dig- nity and usefulness of an agricultural life. When about seventeen years of age he began to learn the brick-laying and mason's trade, in the prac- tice of which he met with gratifying success. September 7, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Second Illinois Light Artillery, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh and nu- merous minor skirmishes. After three years of active service he was honorably discharged, Sep- tember 28, 1864. Upon returning to his native
county in Illinois, he resumed his agricultural pursuits until 1867, when he journeyed to Cali- fornia, via the Isthmus of Panama, and for four years engaged in mining and other occupations. Returning to Illinois he took up his trade of mason, in which he engaged until 1891, when he returned to California, where he has since re- sided.
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