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 118

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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 118

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In LaSalle county, Ill., Mr. Allen married Mrs. Jeannette French, and to this couple was born one son, Robert L. By her first marriage Mrs. Allen was the mother of three children, two of whom are living, Oliver H. and Eugene. Mrs. Allen died September 23, 1899. Mr. Allen is a member of the Masonic order at Whittier and of the W. S. Rosecrans Post, G. A. R., at Whittier. In politics he is a member of the Re- publican party. Mr. Allen is public-spirited and broad-minded and takes great interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the town and county.

ON. CHARLES W. BUSH, M. D., a Cali- fornia pioneer of 1849, was born at Strouds- burg, near the Delaware Water Gap, in Monroe county, Pa., November 16, 1824. His immediate ancestors were among the most active and patriotic pioneers of that region, and partici- pated in many of the stirring events of the Revo- lution. His father, Henry Bush, a carpenter by occupation, was a son of Henry Bush, Sr., a Revolutionary soldier under the immediate com- mand of General Washington at the battle of Long Island, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. Prior to the occupation of Philadel- phia by Cornwallis the wife of Henry Bush lived temporarily in that city, and there entertained George Washington in her home, cooking with her own hands the dinner of which he partook. After the war was over Mr. Bush returned home, but never regained his health, and finally died from the effects of his wound, which was caused by a bayonet thrust in his hip. His death oc- curred at Stroudsburg. His wife long survived him, and in her last years resided in Shelby coun- ty, Ohio, whither she removed with her son Henry.

Of a family of ten children, the subject of this sketch is the only one resident in California. He obtained his early schooling at his native home in

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Pennsylvania, and later was a student in an a man of abundant means, able to provide him- academy at Sidney, Ohio. During the winter of 1847-48 he attended medical lectures at Columbus, Ohio, and studied medicine at Line Sterling Col- lege. His first trip to California was in 1849, when he came via Salt Lake and the Humboldt Sink, going from South Pass into the Sacramen- to valley. Almost immediately after reaching the coast he went into the mines on the Yuba and Feather rivers, and mined near the town of Washington, Nevada county. He was one of the discoverers of the famous Eureka mine.

In 1852 he returned to Ohio via the Isth- mus of Panama. He first practiced medicine in Iowa, but in the fall of 1854 returned to Ohio. He graduated from the Western Reserve College, Cleveland.

With the exception of this time (about eight- een months) spent east, where he completed his medical education and graduated, he mined in Northern and Central California until the fall of 1860 and then settled in San Francisco, remain- ing there until 1861, when he came to Los An- geles. In June, 1865, he joined the rush into the Kern river mines, and was county physician at Havilah, Cal. On his return to Los Angeles, four years later, he made some investments in real estate that have proved to be wise and ju- dicious.

In 1872 Dr. Bush was elected to the state sen- ate to represent Los Angeles county. At that time Los Angeles was a large county, comprising not only its present area, but all of what is now Orange county. He served during two sessions, and was chairman of the hospital committee. He was the author of the first medical bill passed for the regulation of the practice of medicine in Cal- ifornia. The following year Illinois passed a bill for the same purpose, and upon inspection it was found to be a verbatim copy of the California bill, with the exception of the change of the name from California to Illinois. After having served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con- stituents, Dr. Buslı retired to private life, refus- ing the proffered honor of a second term as senator.

Fraternally Dr. Bush is a member of Pentalpha Lodge No. 202, F. & A. M., and is past high priest of Signet Chapter No. 47, R. A. M., also past patron of the Order of Eastern Star. He is

self with all the comforts of existence. Freed from the necessity of toil, he lived a quiet and re- tired life, enjoying the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

ILLIAM JAMES VARIEL. Though young in statehood, California has pro- duced many sons and daughters now oc- cupying honorable positions in the professional, business and social world. Among the long list of such resolute, ambitious and persevering men, we find the name of William James Variel, who was born in Camptonville, Cal., June 2, 1861. He is a brother of Hon. Robert H. F. Variel, in whose sketch the family history ap- pears.

The little mining town of Camptonville, in Yuba county, was the home of our subject's boy- hood. In youthful days he spent considerable time in roaming through the forests and along the sparkling mountain streams, engaged in hunting wild game, and many a trophy of his skill as a marksman he took back with him to the little family home. The schools of Campton- ville were far below the standard of a successful public school of the present day; but of their ad- vantages, such as they were, he availed himself to the utmost. In July, 1877, he went to Quincy, Plumas county, and attended school there during the ensuing three years. In 1880 he obtained a teacher's certificate, and during the summer of that year taught at Nelson Point, near Quincy. During the two following summers he taught at the same place, while in the intervening winters he taught at Diamond Spring.

From an early age Mr. Variel was ambitious to make a place for himself in a profession. Al- though opportunities were meagre and his en- vironments discouraging to one of less determina- tion, he never relinquishied his ambition to gain a collegiate education. In August, 1883, he took the entrance course at the State University in Berkeley. Owing to a scarcity of means he was compelled to defray his college expenses by work- ing at any honest occupation he could find. He secured employment as janitor of the Berkeley high school, and later was made janitor in the university library, afterward securing a position

Photo by Marceau.

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as assistant librarian. This last position he held in 1888, when he graduated with the degree of B. S. Of recent years the magazines have had many arguments, pro and con, concerning the maintenance of students by their own exertions while they are endeavoring to complete their college or university course; some arguing that such a plan takes the students mind from his studies and prevents his full success, while others insist that what he loses in text-book knowledge he gains in habits of self-reliance, industry and the acquisition of a knowledge of business activities.

Although in youth it had been Mr. Variel's intention to enter the medical profession, later developments caused him to determine to study law, and while in the university he made a special study of that field. He studied law dur- ing his leisure hours while engaged in teaching school for three years subsequent to his university life. In 1889 he was editor and manager of a country newspaper. April 29, 1891, he was ad- mitted to practice by the supreme court of the state, and at once came to Los Angeles, joining his brother, Robert H. F. Variel. He has won his way from that time to this solely through the exercise of his native powers of mind, broadened and ripened by self-culture, and a constant and systematic course of valuable study. Like thous- ands of other young men he began for himself without means; but unlike many others he has conquered adverse circumstances and has now reached a degree of success notable in one who is in life's prime. His career in the future may be predicted with safety, judging from his record in the past. Fraternally he is connected with the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Independent Order of Foresters, and has been a member of the Masonic order ever since attaining his ma- jority. During his university course he was an active member of the Zeta Psi, and owes not a little of his success to the training there received.

V. LANDT. One of the representative members of the Los Angeles bar is S. V. Landt, who, during the thirteen years of his residence here, has steadily advanced in his pro- fession and in the esteem of the general public. Pre-eminently he is a self-made man, as the sub- joining sketch will show.

Born on a farm in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1841, Mr. Landt passed his boyhood in the usual occupations of country life. His first serions trouble was his father's death, this sad event oc- curring when the youth was thirteen years old, and thenceforth he was thrown largely upon his own resources. When he was fourteen he ob- tained a position with a neighboring farmer, re- ceiving his board and $9 a month for his serv- ices. That he was more ambitious and eager to make a name for himself than the majority of the country youths of his age, was manifested by his close application to his studies in the collegiate schools. Commencing at the age of sixteen he taught school for the ensuing four years, during three winter months. In the summer he worked on farms, attending school three months in spring and fall. In the meantime he spent most of his leisure hours in legal studies, for three years in the office of Tremain & Peckham, at Albany City. The goal of his ambition was at length attained when he was admitted to the bar of his native state, after he had pursued a course in the Albany Law College, where he was num- bered among the graduates of 1865. When em- barking upon his professional career, Mr. Landt went to Tipton, Iowa, where he became a mem- ber of the well-known firm of Wolf & Landt, and was twice mayor of Tipton.

For more than a score of years Mr. Landt was closely associated with Judge Wolf, gaining nec- essary legal experience in the first years of their partnership, and later performing his full share towards the prosperity and success of the firm, whose business became very extensive.

The marriage of Mr. Landt and Miss Bertha Brause was solemnized in 1867. Two children of their union survive, namely: Edward Brause and Katherine M., both of whom are at home with their father. The devoted wife and mother, who was a native of Canada, died in this city in 1897.

On account of his wife's failing health, Mr. Landt severed his prosperous business relations in Iowa, in 1887, and removed to Los Angeles, where he hoped the mild climate would prove beneficial to her. Becoming enamored of the beanties of Southern California, he continued to stay here after the death of his wife, and turned his attention to the work in which the major por-

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tion of his mature years has been given. He Fourth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. O. O. has loyally supported the Republican party. Fraternally he is active in the Masonic order. He has a host of friends in this city and where- ever he has resided in the past.

Å LEXANDER PATTERSON, assessor of Bristol township and a prominent citizen of the village of Bristol, was born in this township February 10, 1842, a son of Matthew and Jane (Conell) Patterson. His father, a na- tive of Scotland, emigrated to America in 1835 and became a pioneer of Kendall County, he and his wife at first making their home with a neigh- boring family in a log cabin until he had com- pleted a house of his own. White settlers at that time were few and Indians still roamed over the prairies. Grain was hauled to Chicago, which was then a small town, without pavements or brick buildings. In the work of building up this country he bore an important part and his name is entitled to lasting remembrance by every patri- otic citizen. He was spared to witness the pros- perity and growth of Kendall County, and his old age was rendered comfortable by his industry in former days. His wife passed away in Sep- tember, 1880, and nine years later his death occurred. Further mention of his life will be found in the sketch of his son-in-law, Simon Dickson, on another page.

The earliest recollections of our subject are connected with pioneer days in Kendall County. He recalls the long walks to the school, the long rides to market, the long days of hard work and the few opportunities for recreation or pleasure. The school he attended was held in a log cabin, and was known as the Hunt school. He remem- bers the village of Bristol when it was first started. He has seen the development of the country from a wilderness to a fine farming region, bearing every evidence of the wealth of its owners.

A few inonths after he was twenty years of age Mr. Patterson enlisted in the Union service. In August, 1862, his name was enrolled in Company H, Eighty-ninth Illinois, which was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, McCook's Twenty- eighth Corps. After the battle of Chickamauga the regiment was reorganized and assigned to the

Howard. He took part in the battle of Stone River December 31, 1862, and was there struck in the head by a minie ball, which destroyed the sight of his right eye. Among his other en- gagements were Missionary Ridge and the en- gagements en route to Lovejoy, south of Atlanta, the one hundred and forty miles being a contin- uous battle ground. After the battles of Frank- lin and Nashville he accompanied the troops against Hood. During his entire time of service he was away from his regiment but once, and that was at the time he was ill with smallpox. He was discharged as corporal June 10, 1865, at Nashville.

On returning from the army Mr. Patterson worked with his father on the farm". In 1872 he married and started out for himself, purchasing a farm of ninety-two acres in the corner of sec- tions 17, 18 and 19. This he cultivated as long as his health permitted, but, owing to the effects of his army service, he was unable to do as much manual labor as he wished. In 1888 he retired from active work and settled in Bristol, renting his farm until 1900, when he disposed of it. As a Republican he has been prominent in local pol- itics and has served as a delegate to conventions. For six years he has served as assessor and also has the office of collector. Since the organiza- tion of Yorkville Post No. 522, G. A. R., he has been one of its most prominent members. He is not connected with any church, but attends and contributes to the Methodist Church, of which his wife is a member.

February 8, 1872, Mr. Patterson married Nancy E., daughter of Daniel and Chloe Ann (Whitlock) Stocksleger. Two children were born of their union, but both are deceased. Mary Elizabeth was born May 3, 1873, and died Sep- tember 13, 1874. John H. born March 1, 1876, died January 8, 1885. Mrs. Patterson's father came from Rochester, N. Y., to Illinois in 1836, when a young man. He took up government land on section 20, Bristol Township, and en- dured all the hardships of a pioneer's existence. Deeply interested in public affairs, and an edu- cated 11a11, he was an aid to the citizenship of his township. He held most of the township offices. A progressive men, he was one of the first to purchase improved farm machinery, and

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afterward he handled considerable as agent for various companies. He was successful both in raising grain and stock. He aided in building the Methodist Church at Yorkville, of which he was an active member. His death occurred in 1859, when he was still in life's prime. He left four children : Mrs. Patterson, Mrs. Mary O' Brien, Chloe E. and David H., the latter a resident of Michigan. The original Stocksleger homestead is still owned by two of his daughters, Mrs. O' Brien and Mrs. Patterson.

M ILTON S. WILSON. Among the multi- tudes of gold-seekers who sought a home and fortune on the Pacific coast half a cen- tury ago, and, in fact, one of the veritable "49ers," was Milton S. Wilson, whose allegiance toward this beautiful land of the setting sun never has abated since his eyes first rested upon its charms. He has been identified with many of the industries and enterprises of this coast and in the early years of his residence here experienced the vicissitudes incident to pioneer life.

A native of Licking county, Ohio, Mr. Wilson was born March 2, 1823, a son of George and Jane B. (Moore) Wilson. The former was born in the Old Dominion, while the latter was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and both were agriculturists from their earliest recollections. In 1842 they removed from the Buckeye state to Cass county, Ill., where they carried on a large farm.

Mr. Wilson acquired an excellent knowledge of agriculture in its various branches, and at the same time mastered the elementary studies taught in the common schools of his youth. In 1849 he determined to follow the stream of westward emi- gration and accordingly joined a party of am- bitious men similarly actuated. Among his com- panions on the long journey across the plains were Cyrus Epler, district judge of Cass and Morgan counties, Ill .; Frank Pixley, who later became editor of the famous "Argonaut"; Joseph Heslop, who was the first county treasurer of Tuo- lumne county, Cal .; and Judge Heslop, later prominently known in the legal circles of San Francisco. The party did not reach San Diego, their destination, until the Ist of December, owing to the fact that considerable time was speut in prospecting for gold in New Mexico.

Finding it advisable to replenish his funds, which had been sadly depleted by unexpected demands and exigencies during the long trip across the continent, Mr. Wilson accepted a posi- tion offered to him at San Diego by the local quartermaster of the United States government, and assisted in the erection of the first structure put up at that point-the San Diego Barracks. Some time afterward he secured passage on the brig Belfast, bound for San Francisco, and in that city found plenty to do in various lines of occupation. In March, 1850, he went to the mines in Tuolumne county, and subsequently engaged in freighting supplies from Stockton. Toward the close of the year he, in company with several others, opened a store and boarding house at Soldiers' Gulch, which enterprise was a pay- ing one for a period, but eventually had to be abandoned, owing to the extreme scarcity of rain and water during the winter of 1850-51.

Santa Clara county appearing to Mr. Wilson to be a promising place for the raising of grain, he decided next to embark in that venture, and in 1852 he, in partnership with other local agri- culturists, imported threshers and reapers and improved farm machinery from the eastern states. In 1853 and the ensuing year he purchased live stock in San Bernardino county and drove the same to the northern part of the state, where he obtained excellent prices. In 1854 he removed to the San Joaquin valley, and at a point about fifteen miles from Stockton engaged in farming and stock-raising. Then, for several years, he made his home in Santa Clara county, but the extreme drought of 1864 resulted in the loss of most of his large herds of cattle, and, as usually happens, one disaster after another followed until he found that almost nothing remained to him. Bravely he once more began the battle of life, and, entering a quarter section of land in the Santa Cruz mountains, he commenced dealing in lumber. In 1870 he returned to Santa Clara, where for six years he served as a justice of the peace, giving entire satisfaction to the public. The Centennial year he was instrumental in the incorporation of the San Lorenzo Flume and Lumber Company, but, this venture ultimately proving a failure, he resumed farming, renting property in Santa Clara county. Twenty years ago he cast in his lot permanently with the in-

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habitants of Los Angeles county, and for a couple of years was actively engaged in the dairy busi- ness. In 1882 he located upon a quarter section of land situated between Azusa and Vineland, 'and in 1883 took up his abode upon a sixty-five- acre tract of land near El Monte, his present home. Here he has instituted substantial im- provements and now raises from four to five hun- dred tons of fine alfalfa every year, on the fifty acres which he devotes to that purpose.

By persevering industry and courage, in the face of difficulties and reverses which would have vanquished most men, Mr. Wilson has succeeded in making a snug fortune, while at the same time he possesses what is far better than wealth-an honorable name and unblemished record. In his political preference he is a Republican, and in 1885 he was chosen as justice of the peace at El Monte. He holds membership with the Presby- terian Church and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

The marriage of Mr. Wilson and Miss Mary L. Chandler, a native of Jacksonville, Ill., was solemnized in 1860. Her parents, Isaac and Evelyn Chandler, pioneers of California, lived in Santa Clara county for many years. Four sons and a daughter grace the union of our subject and wife, namely: George L., Harry M., Fred Eugene, Austin M. and Mary Letitia.

LI W. SHULER. The ranch that he owns and occupies, situated one mile north of San Dimas station, has been the home of Mr. Shuler since 1881. He is the owner of one hundred and fifty-five acres, devoted to general farming and stock-raising, and he also gives some attention to the fruit business. For years he has owned and operated harvesting machinery, in which line he is considered an expert. He is a member of the Glendora Citrus Union and is also connected with other organizations and enter- prises of a beneficial nature. Besides his private interests, he is now serving as a deputy sheriff of Los Angeles county.

In Vinton county, Ohio, February 6, 1848, Mr. Shuler was born to the union of John M. and Margery (Weed) Shuler, natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, the former of German extraction and the latter supposed to have been of

English descent and a connection of the prominent Weed family of New York and Pennsylvania. She was a relative of Thurlow Weed. Her father, Dr. Dennis E. Weed, was a native of Connecticut, who moved to Green county, Wis., where he was postmaster for years and a promi- nent physician. John M. Shuler was a mill- wright and bridge builder by occupation. In 1852 he came to California and was one of the original locators of the "Blne Lead," above Downeyville, where he remained for two years, meantime being very successful as a miner. Re- turning to Iowa, he made his home in Van Buren county until 1864, when he came to Cali- fornia for the second time, crossing the plains to the Pacific coast. For six years, altogether, he remained in San Joaquin and Sonoma counties, and he died in the latter county. During his residence in Iowa he held a number of local offices.

When a small child our subject accompanied his parents to Van Buren county, Iowa, and there he remained until he was sixteen. He then crossed the plains to California, having con- siderable trouble with the Indians en route. He and his train accompanied Mrs. John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, for a thousand miles on the way, and he recalls her as a lady of culture and great courage. He finally arrived safely in San Joaquin county. After a short time there he went to Sonoma county, where he remained for fourteen years, meantime engaging in teaming and general mill work. He was one of the original prospectors in the Mojave desert. He was a member of Company A, Second California Cavalry Volunteers, under General Canby, doing scout duty at the time. He fought at the lava beds during the siege of the Modocs, under Captain Jack and Shagnasty Jim, in Modoc county, this state. He had a horse killed in the campaign, and did not receive payment for it from the government until July, 1899.

For many years Mr. Shuler has served as a trustee of the various school districts where he has resided. Politically he favors the Republican party. He is connected with the Independent Order of Foresters at Glendora and the Union League of Los Angeles. Among the pioneers of the county he is well known and higlily es- teemed, for he possesses those qualities of head

Jan Stewart

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and heart that win lasting friendships. In Sonoma county, Cal., he married Miss Isalena Dougherty, who was born in Illinois and at the age of two years was brought by her mother across the plains to California, her father having died one year before. Mr. and Mrs. Shuler have a host of friends among the people of San Dimas and vicinity.

AMES STEWART. The greatest possible good to the community of which he is a resi- dent comes through the efforts and abilities of such men as James Stewart. Large-hearted, enterprising, and full of the determination and push necessary for the carrying out of all growing and substantial schemes, he has been a force among the dwellers of the vicinity of Downey since he came here in 1869. The ranch which has been the object of his care is of fifty-two acres extent, forty-five of which is under wal- nuts.

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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 118

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996