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 38
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"I rise to second the nomination of Judge
fastSitron
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Waldo M. York of Pasadena. But permit me to say that, having passed my three score and ten, never until yesterday was I present in a Repub- lican county, state or national convention, either as spectator or delegate. And this, too, while there is not a drop of blood that circulates in my veins or throbs in my heart that is not Repub- lican. This, too, when this right hand has cast a ballot for every Republican presidential nomi- nee from John C. Fremont to Benjamin Harri- son. This, too, when in the dark days of 1862 I left wife and home and all I counted dear to maintain Republican principles on the field. And, though living on borrowed time, I hope to ex- tend that loan until I shall be able to cast another ballot for either Major Mckinley, Tom Reed or some other good Republican. I want these old ears to be saluted by another of the old-fash- ioned Republican shouts of victory extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
"And that is why I am here to-day-to ask you to give us a county ticket made up of honest, competent men, with which ticket we shall be able to sweep Los Angeles county like a hurri- cane. You can give us that ticket, for you have the men, and if you can't find them in the Re- publican party I do not know where to tell you to look for them. With my limited political ac- quaintance I have found one such man, and that is Judge Waldo M. York of Pasadena. I say he is a man, every inch of him is a man, and a man of many inches at that. No, I do not refer to his physical proportions. I measure him by a higher standard, the standard of the poet who declares:
'Were I so tall to reach the pole and grasp creation with my span,
'I must be measured by my soul; mind is the standard of the man.'
"And by this standard I still declare that Judge York is every inch a man. He is a man of mind, a man of heart, a man of conscience, a man of stern integrity. Why, only yesterday Judge York said to me, 'Mr. Crawford, I want this nomination; but if I cannot have it honestly, fairly, without trade or trick, I do not want it. I prefer to go back to the bar.' And I said, 'God bless you, old fellow. I had rather lose the race with such a man than to gain it on lower moral ground.' And I am glad to find that my
opinion of this man is borne out by that of his associates on the bench and by those who have practiced at the bar of his court. I do not say this because Judge York is my neighbor and my friend; not because he lives in the same ward with me, which ward gave him more than two- thirds of its popular vote at the primaries. I would use the same language hailed he from the most obscure hamlet of Los Angeles county. Place Judge York on the bench and the scales of justice will be held by a firm and impartial hand; place Judge York on the bench and he will never soil the judicial ermine with which you shall invest him."
Not alone through his record as attorney and judge has Judge York become prominent, but also as a writer and public speaker. Many of his articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines, and bearing as they do upon topics of general importance, they receive wide attention. As an orator he has been heard in public assem- blies and private gatherings.
A characteristic of Judge York is his high ideal of American citizenship. He deprecates the plan of admitting to the privileges of an American citizen those foreigners who are wholly ignorant of our customs and institutions. More than once he has refused naturalization papers to people from other countries whose dense ignor- ance proved them unfitted for the franchise. In this he has been upheld by the press and the citizens who, like him, believe that only those should be eligible to, citizenship who possess some conception, even though imperfect, of the purpose of our government and the character of its institutions.
ON. JAMES A. GIBSON, member of the law firm of Bicknell, Gibson & Trask, of Los Angeles, is a descendant of Scotch- Irish ancestors who were identified with the colonial history of New England. Patriotism has been a family characteristic. His father, Thomas Gibson, who had settled in St. John's, Newfoundland, in early life, but later returned to Massachusetts, possessed this family trait and offered his services to his country at the outbreak
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of the Civil war, enlisting in a Massachusetts regiment of volunteers, with which he went to the front and served faithfully until he lost his life in the service. He had married Mary Berry, who was reared in Marblehead, Mass., and who died shortly before his death. Their son, James A., who was born in Boston, Mass., was a small child at the time he was doubly orphaned. He was taken into the home of an aunt, by whom he was cared for until able to earn his own liveli- hood. While still a mere boy he had gratified his desire for a taste of ocean life and had made a cruise on the sea. When he was seventeen he was given employment in a large manufacturing establishment in Massachusetts, and rose, by gradual steps, until he was placed in charge of one of the departments.
Resigning his position in 1874 he came to Cal- ifornia, settling first in San Francisco, but later going to San Bernardino. While in the east he had commenced the study of law, and this he completed after coming to California. June 13, 1879, he was admitted to the bar in the district court of San Bernardino county, and later he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state; afterward to the supreme and federal courts of the United States. After having car- ried on a private practice in San Bernardino for a time he was elected judge of the superior conrt of that county, a position which he filled credit- ably and satisfactorily. His discharge of official dnties was so thorough and gratifying that he was recognized as worthy of higher honors. May 3, 1889, he was appointed a member of the su- preme court of California commission, and this high position he held until January, 1891, when he resigned in order to resume private practice.
As a member of the firm of Works, Gibson & Titus Judge Gibson soon established a high po- sition at the San Diego bar. The partnership continued until Judge Works withdrew from the firm to form a partnership with his son. The two remaining members of the firm continued in practice under the title of Gibson & Titus, the junior member being H. L. Titus, a lawyer of recognized ability. June 1, 1897, Judge Gibson withdrew from the firm and removed to Los An- geles, where was organized the firm of Bicknell, Gibson & Trask, with offices in the Bradbury block. This is one of the leading law firms in
Los Angeles, and is especially prominent for its connection with a number of important corpora- tion and other cases.
While the surroundings in which Judge Gib- son has found himself placed during much of his active life have been such as to remove him from politics and 'render his connection with political affairs unwise, he has always been a stanch Re- publican, although in his capacity as a jurist the element of politics never entered. He proved himself impartial and non-partisan. For two terms he was a trustee of the Southern California Hospital, an institution deserving of encourage- ment and support. At present he is vice-presi- dent of the American Bar Association for Cali- fornia. Fraternally he is a Mason. He has been connected with military affairs in the state, and held offices in the first brigade with the rank of major.
In 1882 Judge Gibson married Miss Sarah A. Waterman, who died some years later, leaving two children, James A., Jr., and Mary W. He was afterward again married, choosing as his wife Miss Gertrude Van Norman, of Ohio, by whom he has two children, Martha A. and Horace V.
ILLIAM G. NEVIN. More than a quarter of a century ago William G. Nevin started upon his successful railroad career, and to-day he is one of the best known officials in this line in the United States and Mexico. Pos- sessing just the qualities of nature and education essential to one having great responsibilities, he rose step by step, from the lowest ranks in the calling to which he has devoted his mature years, to his present position of trust and honor as gen- eral manager of the Santa Fe Railway Company, at Los Angeles.
William G. Nevin was born forty-four years ago in York, Pa., tlie eldest of the five sons of Jolın A. and Katherine J. (Brown) Nevin. On the paternal side our subject is of Scotch extrac- tion, while his mother's ancestors were Englislı Quakers. John A. Nevin was successfully en- gaged in merchandising in Philadelphia and in Boston, and was respected and highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances,
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who prized him for his sterling integrity and worth. When the war which threatened the stability of the Union came on, he renounced all of his personal ambitions and enlisted under the stars and stripes. He was appointed to serve in the capacity of quartermaster, and acted as such to the entire satisfaction of his superior officers throughout the war. He did not long survive his trying army service, but died in 1866.
The boyhood of W. G. Nevin passed unevent- fully, save for the death of his father when he was but eleven years of age. His education was acquired in the justly celebrated public schools of Boston, Mass. When he was about sixteen years of age he obtained a position as a clerk and from 1874 until 1878 he was in the employ of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company. Having thus gained considerable knowledge of the railroad business, he became associated with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and in its service won the respect of all who knew him. Later he was urged to go to Mexico and assist in the construction of the Sonora Railroad. He acceded to this proposition and remained there from 1881 until 1883, having his head- quarters at Guaymas. His services were so thoroughly satisfactory to all concerned that he was next tendered a position with the Mexican Central Railroad Company, and, having been duly installed in the office, had charge of general supplies for the road. Some time subsequently he became an employe of the San Antonio & Arkansas Pass Railroad Company, as general pur- chasing agent, and at the close of a year was made assistant to the general manager for the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad. There he served for two years, and then went to Chicago, where he became assistant to D. B. Robinson, vice- president of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. At the expiration of a twelvemonth he was made general purchasing agent for the same railroad system, and finally, in March, 1897, he was pro- moted to the general managership of the Santa Fe, with headquarters in Los Angeles, the west- ern terminus. Needless to say, he is meeting the grave responsibilities incident to this position with the same resolution and energy with which he has conquered all of the difficulties in his past successful career. He is admired and respected by his superiors, as well as those under his di-
rection and control, and while he is the personi- fication of the keen, decisive business man of the day, he never fails in courtesy and fairness to all with whom his calling brings him into contact.
The home life of Mr. Nevin is especially happy, and, surrounded by his loved ones, he throws off the cares and anxieties which with many railroad magnates and officials are never absent from the mind. In 1880 he married a Phila- delphia lady, Miss Ella R. Wireman, and unto them a son and a daughter were born. The beautiful home of the family is located at the cor- ner of Garland avenue and Seventh street, and all about them are the furnishings and marks of cultured tastes.
Politically Mr. Nevin is identified with the Republican party, and socially he is a member of the Masonic Order. His time has been so fully occupied in the past that he has had little leisure to devote to public and social matters, yet he never fails to perform his duties as a citi- zen and patriot.
ON. STEPHEN MALLORY WHITE. It
would be impossible to write an accurate history of Southern California without fre- quent reference to Senator White, for his name is inseparably associated with a host of public measures of undoubted value. He is probably one of the most widely known citizens of the Union. While he is still in the prime of life, he has for years wielded a powerful influence in the councils of his state and the nation. Yet his rise was not meteoric,-the sudden flashing of a brilliant light across the political heavens to vanish soon into obscurity; but it was a steady development of intellectual powers, a steady ripening of influence and a sure advancement in the shaping of the policy of the Democratic party. In the various high offices to which he has received the compliment of election he has proved himself able, by wise statesmanship, to preserve the honor of our state and country and to conserve the highest welfare. Strong in attachment to prin- ciple and living in times of partisan strife, his career nevertheless exemplifies the maxim that "He serves his party best who serves his country best." One of the guiding principles of his life
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has been independence of action, his determina- tion to do his duty regardless of consequences, and a steadfast adherence to the dictates of his conscience, regardless of the shifting sentiment of to-day or to-morrow. In the course of his long public career he has, of course, not been without enemies. Every man who enters the service of the country is the subject of more or less severe criticism from his political opponents; his motives are impugned, his actions misjudged, his integrity questioned. He who fears such a fate must avoid the world of politics, must refuse official respon- sibilities and honors. But it may be said that the bitterest political opponents of Senator White have always conceded him to be a man of remark- able ability, a genius for public affairs, and an unlimited fund of determination and will power.
The family to which Senator White belongs has been prominent in public life, numbering among its representatives such men as Senator Mallory of Florida and W. Bourke Cockran of New York. His father, the late William F. White, was long active in the councils of Cali- fornia and was a leader in politics. Stephen Mallory White was born January 19, 1853, in San Francisco, which was then little more than a village. He was educated in St. Ignatins Col- lege, San Francisco, and Santa Clara College, from which latter he was graduated. Entering upon the study of the law he was admitted to the bar, and in November, 1874, came to practice in Los Angeles. During that year he became rec- ognized as a promising lawyer. In his practice in the courts of the county he was successful from the first. As an attorney he grappled as by intuition the salient points in a case, and no one ever identified himself more closely with his client's interests than did he.
From the beginning of his residence in Los Angeles he was intimately associated with public affairs. To every subject presented to him he brought shrewd and cautious judgment. In 1883-84 he served as district attorney of Los Angeles county, the duties of which he performed in a manner so efficient and satisfactory as to enlist general attention. Largely as a result of this satisfactory service he was, in 1886, elected to the state senate, where lie served with conspic- nous ability. His name is identified with a nuni- ber of measures whose value none can question.
Soon after he became state senator the governor, Washington Bartlett, died, and Lieutenant- Governor Waterman became chief executive, which caused Mr. White to be made presiding officer of the senate in the first session and acting lieutenant-governor in the second session. His thorough knowledge of parliamentary law enabled him to fill these positions with fairness to all and in a manner that prevented criticism from any. His career as United States senator began in 1893, when, the opposition to the Republican party having a majority in the legislature, he was chosen to represent the state in the councils of the nation.
Mr. White presided over the St. Louis national Democratic convention which nominated Mr. Cleveland and was the president of the Demo- cratic national convention at Chicago in 1896.
The people of Southern California are one in the belief that Senator White's most valuable service to them, during his occupancy of the office of senator, 1893-1900, was his work in con- nection with the San Pedro harbor. The whole history of this matter is still too fresh to need explanation. Suffice it to say that, in spite of the powerful influence brought against this measure, and in spite of the fact that the effort seemed a hopeless one, he stood his ground firmly and without wavering, and finally secured a victory perhaps unparalleled in the history of legislation. How much the establishment of this harbor means in our future history we may all surmise, but it is perhaps even greater in its influence than our fondest dreams picture; and if, in future years, Southern California reaps the benefit of this legislation to the extent we now anticipate, due credit should be given to Stephen Mallory White.
ON. H. C. GOODING, former chief justice of the supreme court of Arizona, is now one of the distinguished attorneys of Los An- geles. The early years of Judge Gooding's life were passed in Greenfield, Ind., his native town. At sixteen years of age he entered what is now DePauw University and there he re- mained, a diligent student, until his graduation with the class of 1859. Very shortly afterward
Milo M. Pat
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
he went south, accepting a position as principal of an academy in Macon, Tenn. From there he went to Vicksburg. Becoming convinced, how- ever, that war was inevitable between the states, and preferring in that event to be in the north (being an ardent supporter of the Union), he re- turned to the north. He took up the study of · law in the office of Gen. John M. Palmer at Car- linville, Macoupin county, Il1., and later became principal in an academy at Brighton, Ill. While he was in the last-named village he enlisted in the service of the Union, becoming a lieutenant in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, with which he was ordered to the front and served until the close of the con- flict. During a portion of the war he served as acting judge-advocate of the district of western Kentucky.
On being mustered out of the army and honor- ably discharged he entered upon the profession of law. Opening an office in Washington, D. C., he practiced before the supreme court of the Dis- trict of Columbia. In 1868 he left that city and settled in Evansville, Ind., where he passed twenty-two busy and profitable years. During that long time he established and maintained a reputation for wide professional knowledge and keen mental faculties. He represented his dis- trict in the state senate and there served ably during four sessions, during which time he was always to be found on the side of movements of undoubted value to the people. Endowed by nature with a sound practical mind and aided by later educational advantages, he was admirably qualified to represent his constituents in one of the most important positions in his state, that of state senator. As a senator he found many move- ments that needed the fostering guidance of an intelligent mind, and was always to be found working for what he believed to be right.
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In 1890 he received from President Harrison the appointment as chief justice of the supreme court of Arizona, an honor to which his talents justly entitled him. In that capacity he remained until a change in the administration caused him to offer his resignation. His territorial experi- ence was one of great responsibility, but proved him to be a man of judicial mind, capable of pen- etrating the inmost depths of cases presented to him for adjudication. It is a noteworthy fact that
of the many cases brought before him only two were reversed and only eleven were appealed. These facts prove his value as a judge far better than mere words of encomium could do.
M ILO M. POTTER. The people of Los Angeles appear to have more pride in their truly beautiful city than do the citizens of many large and flourishing places, and certain it is that, considering the few years of its real growth, it has made marvelous strides forward in every direction of progress. In addition to the beauties of nature, so lavishly displayed on every hand, the visitor from the east and north is surprised and compelled to admire the splendid schools and churches, fine office blocks, hotels and lovely residences, which bear the impress of refined modern taste. Some of the leading archi- tects and designers of the world have been at- tracted to this wonderful city, and the marks of their genius are to be witnessed everywhere.
While it is a fact, ofttimes deplored by resi- dents and outsiders, that we have no immense metropolitan hotel, few cities on the continent are blessed with a wider range of comfortable, home-like hotels, and chief among those which have been placed at the service of the public within the past few years is the well-known Hotel Van Nuys. In all its appointments this hotel is modern, convenient and beautiful, and under the able management of its proprietor, the gentleman whose name heads this article, it has come to the front as one of the finest hotels on the Pacific coast. It is said by well posted authorities to be one of the two or three most elegantly appointed and best conducted hotels west of New York City. The Van Nuys, cen- trally located at the corner of Fourth and Main streets, within a few blocks of the entire business section of the city, is a building six stories in height, and, owing to its situation on the corner, there is not a dark room in the house. It was completed in 1896, and was furnished throughout with new, handsome equipments. The proprietor is very business-like and courteous, is well liked by the public and all with whom he has dealings in any capacity.
Mr. Potter was born in Dundee, Monroe county, Mich., in May, 1854. Orphaned at the
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early age of eight years, he has been forced to rely upon himself more than falls to the lot of most people in youth, and, consequently, his business instincts were developed when he was a mere child. His parents were Alfred and Betsey Ann (Hecock) Potter, natives of Vermont. The mother died when the son was only five years old and the father passed away about three years later. He was a prosperous farmer and stock- raiser in Michigan, and left some property to his children, of whom Milo M. was the youngest. The latter lived with a guardian for several years and received good school advantages in Adrian, Ann Arbor and Dundee, Mich. Having com- pleted his elementary course of study, he matriculated in the literary department of the University of Michigan, in 1873, and four years later was graduated.
Going to Florida, Mr. Potter engaged in grow- ing fruit for a year or more, and then turned his attention to the cotton industry. In this enter- prise he met with remarkable success, and was on the highway to wealth when disaster befell him. A small worm destroyed the cotton crop one season and also ravaged the fruit trees so thoroughly that the people were compelled to seek entirely different means of obtaining a liveli- hood. The misfortune that befell Mr. Potter at this juncture was a blessing in disguise, as it became the door through which he entered a vocation for which by natural gifts he was most suited, namely, the hotel business. Mr. Potter had erected for himself a beautiful residence and kept several servants, and, in order to sell the place, he concluded to try the plan of keeping a hotel for northern tourists and others in his own handsome home, which was located at Crescent City, Fla. In this enterprise he met with well deserved success, and it seemed that he had, indeed, wrested prosperity from defeat. Later he built the large and far-famed Potter House, one of the finest in the state. Again misfortune swept away his hopes and this time in the guise of fire. His beautiful residence and hotel property were entirely destroyed, and not a dollar of the means he had so long and earnestly labored for was left to him.
Possessing the pluck and perseverance of the best type of American business men, Mr. Potter then went to Atlantic City, N. J., where he
leased the celebrated Congress Hall Hotel, and for four years carried it on in a creditable and paying manner. In 1888 he concluded to come to Los Angeles, of which the east was so deeply en- gaged in praising, and upon his arrival here he took charge of the Westminster Hotel. During the eight years of his connection with that high class hotel he won the respect and confidence of the local public, and a reputation for fairness and business-like methods which has served him in good stead. Mr. Van Nuys determined to in- vest some of his capital in another and finer building. Thus the Van Nuys Hotel came into existence, and everyone concedes that no better manager could be found than Mr. Potter, whose long experience and thorough knowledge of the wishes of the class of people he entertains render him a general favorite. His success is in a great measure due to his generalship, he having that rare tact and talent to thoroughly organize the forces at his command, so that complete harmony prevails in every department. He is also in charge of Hotel Van Nuys, Broadway, which he built three years after the completion of the Hotel Van Nuys, Main street. These two hotels have a capacity for accommodating about five hundred guests.
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