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 46
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HISTORICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
He was clerk of a senate committee of the first legislature of California and in 1854 served as deputy clerk of the state supreme court. In 1854 he was deputy tax collector, and in 1855-56 hield office as mayor of San José. For five years he served as a volunteer fireman of his city. He organized the Eagle Guards, one of the first independent military companies in the state. He was ordnance officer on the staff of Major-General Halleck, and during the period between 1857 and 1866 held seven military commissions. During the war of the Rebellion lie drilled a company of infantry and another of light artillery for active service in the army.
At the request of the sheriff of Santa Clara county, on an occasion when a mob of several hundred armed men surrounded thejail and were about to attack it with the object oflynching two prisoners, he marched twenty men through the mnob, took possession of the jail and finally caused the mob to disperse.
In 1857 Mr. Houghton was admitted to the bar of the district court, three years later was ad- mitted to practice in the supreme court of the state and in 1871 was admitted by the supreme court of the United States. For a number of years his specialty was the settling of the titles to old Spanish land grants before the United States courts. He is considered one of the fathers of the law of the state of California, having had an active part in settling itssystem, acting in various capacities from that of judge in a mining camp in pioneer days to the shaping of statutes for legis- lative enactment. In 1868 he assisted in founding and establishing the San José woolen mills. He was vice-president of the Western Pacific Rail- road Company, owners of a railroad built by authority of Congress from Sacramento to San José to connect the Central Pacific with San Francisco.
Recognizing his fitness for public service, the friends of Colonel Houghton nominated him as congressman, and he was duly elected. For one term he represented the first district of California in the forty-second congress of the United States, which then comprised the present fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh districts. In the forty-third congress he represented the fourth district. At the expiration of his second term he was re- nominated by acclamation. During the period
of his service in congress the work on the inner harbor of San Pedro was commenced and con- tinued without interruption, through the very liberal appropriation lie secured for that purpose. He was the originator of the project to make a deep-water harbor at San Pedro. In 1874 he introduced a bill in congress to appropriate $5,000 to cover the expenses of an examina- tion by United States engineers to ascertain and report upon the feasibility of such a work.
In 1882 Colonel Houghton was one of the five veterans of the Mexican war selected by that society to represent it in the re-incorporation of the Veterans' Home Association. During the same year he was elected a director of the home and served actively until July 31, 1884, when he resigned. During the administration of President Arthur he was appointed a member of the com- mission to investigate and report upon the con- dition and management of the United States mint at San Francisco, his associates on the commission being ex-United States Senator and ex-Secretary of War Ramsay, of Minnesota, and ex-Governor Young, of Ohio.
The first wife of Colonel Houghton was Mary M., daughter of Jacob and Mary Donner, who, with her parents, crossed the continent from Illinois to California in 1846. She died the year after their marriage, leaving one child, Mary M.
October 10, 1861, Colonel Houghton was united in marriage with Eliza Poor, danghter of George and Tamsen Donner. The former, a brother of Jacob Donner, mentioned above, was a native of North Carolina, his father having come to America and settled in that colony about the time of the war for independence. George Donner was captain of a company known in history as the "Donner party," whose experiences on the journey to California form one of the most tragic and pathetic tales of early California days. Captain Donner perished in the snow-bound camp in the Sierras, near the lake which bears his name, and where the party passed that terrible winter of 1846-47. And there, too, his heroic wife gave up her life for his sake, re- fusing to save herself when she might have done so by going with the last relief party which came to their rescue from the Sacramento valley, because by going with them she would be com- pelled to leave her dying husband. She remained
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
alone with him to whom death was nigh, in the desolate mountain fastnesses, and thus fulfilled to the uttermost her wifely vow, "Till death do us part."'
Mrs. Donner was a daughter of William Eustis, a soldier of the Revolution, who was taken captive by the British and detained for four months a prisoner on board the Count D'Estaing. The family are also lineal descendants of John Wheelwright, vicar of Bilsby, England, who, being ejected by Archbishop Laud, emigrated to America in 1636. He and his sister-in-law, Anne Hutchinson, were leaders in a religious con- troversy which for a time threatened to disrupt New England. The two, being opposed by all of the clergy excepting Cotton Mather, were ex- pelled from Boston. In 1644 his sentence was annulled and two years later he went back to England, where he was favored by Oliver Cron- well, whom he had known in boyhood. Return- ing after the restoration of Charles II. he settled at Salisbury, Mass. His writings were collected by the Prince Society in 1876. Among his descendants have been men who were distin- guished in various walks of life, notably William Wheelwright, in the fifth generation, who made an immense fortune in South America, he having established the first steamship line plying between South Pacific ports, and built wagon roads and railroads in Chili, which republic has erected a large bronze statue of him in the market place in Valparaiso, and also placed his portrait in their municipal building. He devoted large sums to charities, among other things founding the Old Ladies' Home in his native town, Newburyport, Mass.
Mrs. Houghton was educated in the city schools of Sacramento and the convent in Benecia. After her marriage she removed to San José, where seven children were born to her: Eliza P., Sherman Otis, Clara H., Charles D., Francis I. and Herbert S. Another son, Stanley W., was born in Washington, D. C. Herbert S. died in infancy, and Francis I. at Los Angeles, Cal., October 3, 1894, at the age of twenty-three.
During her residence in San José Mrs. Hough- ton was identified with many charities and move- ments tending to the advancement of the com- munity, and at her home in Los Angeles, June 16, 1895, the second chapter in the state of the Soci-
ety of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Eschscholtzia Chapter, was organized by her daughters.
M J. MC GARRY. One of the enterprising and able attorneys-at-law of Los Angeles, M. J. Mc Garry has a brilliant future awaiting him, judging from what he has ac- complished within a comparatively short period in the past. He possesses the energy and progres- sive spirit of the great west, and takes much pride in the high standing of this city, his chosen place of residence. Moreover he bids fair to be- come something of a politician, and on several occasions has been delegated to represent his party friends in city and county conventions.
It seems specially fitting that this ambitious young man should have come from that city of grand and phenomenal achievement-Chicago. There his birth occurred April 13, 1872, and there he obtained his elementary education in the parochial schools. In 1881 he accompanied his family to Los Angeles, which he has since con- sidered liis home. His father, Hon. Daniel M. Mc Garry, formerly a prosperous coal merchant of Chicago, is at present engaged in the real estate business, and has served efficiently as a member of the Los Angeles city council. For one term he represented the fifth ward, and sub- sequently he was elected from the seventh ward. During the many years of his residence in this city he has sought to promote its interests in every honorable manner, and for that reason is now acting as a director of the Chamber of Com- merce. To himself and wife, whose maiden name was Mary Mc Caughan, six children were born, of whom Daniel is engaged in the coal business in Los Angeles; Dr. John A., who was graduated with the degree of Master of Arts from St. Vincent's College, later was graduated from the Los Angeles Medical College, and is now assistant surgeon in the National Soldiers' Home, in Los Angeles county ; Patrick J. is a graduate of the State School of Pharmacy; and Anna and Mary are at home.
When he had finished his preparatory course of mental training, M. J. Mc Garry became a student in St. Vincent's College, of Los Angeles, graduating therefrom in 1892. Then, going to the University of Notre Dame, in South Bend,
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HISTORICAL, AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Ind., he took up the study of law, and was grad- uated in that well-known institution in 1894. He was admitted at once to the bar of the supreme court of Indiana, and the same year was admitted to the California state bar. Since that time he has made steady progress in his favorite field of effort and conducts a general and quite extensive practice.
In social, political and fraternal circles Mr. Mc Garry is deservedly popular. He is president of the local branch of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and is a member of the Royal Ar- cannm. In his political creed he is a Democrat of no uncertain stamp, possessing the courage of his convictions. His marriage with Miss Evaline Quinlan was solemnized in Chicago, May 10, 1898. The young couple have a pleasant home here and numerous friends wherever they have resided.
ESLIE R. HEWITT. Among the able young legal practitioners of Los Angeles stands Leslie R. Hewitt, who, it would seem, was destined for his chosen profession, and who, by persistent effort and well applied zeal, has steadily advanced in the regard of the public and in the estimation of his brothers at the bar. He is what may be termed a self-made man, for he has been dependent upon his own resources and has been the architect of his own fortunes, building upon a solid foundation of knowledge and carefully rearing the superstructure of suc- cess.
When it is explained that the paternal grand- father of Leslie R. Hewitt was serving in the position of chief justice of Washington Territory, under appointment of President Lincoln, at the time of our subject's birth, in September, 1867, and that the latter's father was acting in the capacity of clerk of the court at Olympia that year, and that in addition to this the young man's nativity took place in a wing of the courthouse, where the home of the family was at that time, it may be seen that there is ample justification for the statement that he apparently was destined for the law. From his earliest recollections peo- ple laughingly made the prediction for him, and undoubtedly he inherited the keenness of mind
and the love for debate and argument, as well as the capacity for study, that are marked traits of the successful lawyer.
In the spring of 1876 Mr. Hewitt removed to Los Angeles and commenced attending the pub- lie schools of this city. He was graduated in the high school in 1885, and later entered the Uni- versity of California, where he was graduated in 1890. He began the study of law in the office of Wells, Guthrie & Lee, and afterwards was connected with the offices of Judge York and Houghton, Silent & Campbell. In addition to completing his legal education systematically, and though largely dependent upon himself, it should be said that he laid the foundation of a large and well-selected law library also in this period. In due course of time he applied for examination and was admitted to practice at the bar. In 1893 he was admitted to practice before the supreme court, and since that time has surely progressed toward the goal of his ambition. He has met with gratifying success in the majority of the cases which he has handled, and, as he never has ceased to be a student and searcher for information, he is daily widening his mental horizon and fitting himself for yet greater tri- umphs.
In his political faith Mr. Hewitt is a thorough- going Republican, and when he was chosen by Walter F. Haas, city attorney, to serve as his assist- ant in this responsible position, all acquainted with both gentlemen were highly pleased, as it was foreseen that the interests of the people would not be allowed to suffer in their hands. In this connection it may not be out of place to quote what the Los Angeles Times of January 1, 1899, said of the then newly elected Mr. Haas: "He leaves a large and rapidly growing practice to assume the duties of this responsible trust, but his indomitable energy, his wide and varied learning in the profession to which he is so ar- dently devoted, and withal, the wise discrimina- tion he has shown in the choice of his subordi- nates, has abundantly justified his choice by the suffrages of the people." The Times of the same issue also paid a fine tribute to Mr. Hewitt per- sonally, concluding with the remark that "Mr. Hewitt has been associated with Mr. Haas since the spring of 1895, and the general public feel great confidence that under their administration
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the affairs of the city attorney's office will be conducted faithfully and well." That this hope has been realized to the fullest extent it is need- less to state, and that both of these wide-awake, ambitious young men have a brilliant future opening before them, it is not hazardous to pre- dict.
ALEB E. WHITE. Very few of the men now living in Pomona have been identified with the history of California for a longer period than has Mr. White. He was one of the ' 49ers who were led to cast in their lot with the then unknown west at the time of the discovery of gold here. Since that time he has made his home in this state. The wonderful improvements that have brought this state to a foremost position among the great commonwealths of America he has witnessed and aided, and he deservedly occupies a position among the public-spirited pioneers to whose self- sacrificing efforts the organization and develop- ment of the state may be attributed.
Mr. White was born in Holbrook, Mass., Feb- ruary 5, 1830, a son of Jonathan and Abigail (Holbrook) White, natives of the same place as himself. His father, who was the son of a Revo- lutionary soldier, was for years engaged in the manufacture of shoes at Holbrook. During his boyhood our subject had some experience in the nursery business at Holbrook, where he attended the grammar and high school. When nineteen years of age he started for California, being one of a party of fifteen who purchased the brig Arcadia, and sailed from Boston for San Fran- cisco via the straits of Magellan. After a tedious voyage of two hundred and sixty-three days they sailed through the Golden Gate October 29, 1849. In 1850 Mr. White embarked in the general inercantile business in Sacramento, as a member of the firm of Haskell, White & Co. However, this firm was dissolved in a short time. Subse- quently he engaged in the nursery business on a ranch on the American river, and also for sev- enteen years was a member of the firm of White & Hollister in the nursery business. At a later date he became interested in sheep-raising, liav- ing a sheep ranch at Florence, Los Angeles county.
The year 1880 found Mr. White a pioneer of what is now the city of Pomona. He was one of
the prime movers in securing the organization of the city, and served as a member of its first board of trustees. He has become one of the well- known horticulturists of the region. His place consists of seventy acres, of which sixty acres are in orchard. In addition to the management of this property, he has for ten or more years served as vice-president of the People's Bank of Pomona. The Republican party has always re- ceived his allegiance and its candidates his vote. He has invariably been found on the side of prog- ress and development, and his support has been given to measures for the benefit of the city and the development of its resources. Fraternally he is a Mason, and in religion a member of the Pomo- na Methodist Episcopal Church.
The marriage of Mr. White took place iu Cal- ifornia in 1854, and united him with Miss Re- becca Holship, of St. Louis, Mo. They became the parents of three children, namely: Helen M., who is the wife of Hon. R. F. Del Valle, of Los Angeles; Nannie C., wife of Charles L. North- craft, also of Los Angeles; and Harry R., of Pomona.
HIRLEY C. WARD has attained distinc- tion as one of the able members of the Los Angeles bar. In this profession, probably more than any other, success depends upon indi- vidual merit, upon a thorough understanding of the principles of jurisprudence, a power of keen analysis, and the ability to present clearly, con- cisely and forcibly, the strong points in his case. Possessing these necessary qualifications, Mr. Ward is accorded a foremost place in the ranks of the profession in Los Angeles county.
He was born in Nashville, Tenn., June 30, 1861, a son of John S. and Ennice (Robertson) Ward, aud a representative of one of the promi- nent pioneer families of Tennessee. His mater- nal grandfather, Gen. James Robertson, was the founder of Nasliville. The family was repre- sented in the Revolutionary war, four of the grand-uncles of our subject having participated in the battle of Kings' Mountain. The father of our subject has devoted the greater part of his life to literary pursuits. While in the south he was editor of a literary magazine, and since com- ing to this state he has written many able articles on Southern California for magazines and other
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
periodicals. He is now living, practically re- tired, in Los Angeles county. The mother died when our subject was but a child, leaving two children, the other being Annie Eunice, who pos- sesses considerable ability as a poetess, but her many poems have never been put in permanent form.
At the age of twelve years Shirley C. Ward accompanied his parents on their removal to Cal- ifornia. After spending a short time in Los Angeles they located on a ranch in San Bernar- dino county, where he attended the public schools, and later was a student in the University of Cali- fornia at Berkeley, graduating from the law de- partment of that institution in 1886. He took the examination before the board of the supreme court, passed very creditably, and was admitted to the bar. Locating at once in Los Angeles, he became a member of the firm of Wicks & Ward, and this partnership continned for four years, since which time Mr. Ward has been alone. He has made a special study of irrigation, water rights and corporation laws, and has had some of the most intricate and difficult cases along those lines in Los Angeles county, having brought him largely before the supreme and federal courts. The old Mexican land grants have caused a great deal of litigation, the idea prevailing that these grants held priority over the Indian title, and that the Indians could be driven out at any time. Mr. Ward has had many such cases, and is to- day one of the best informed lawyers along that line in the city. After he had prepared a brief and conducted one of the most stubbornly fought cases on record, and won it in the supreme court of the state, he was appointed by the attorney- gener- al, at the instance of the secretary of the interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, attorney for the Indians in South- ern California, this position being given him without his solicitation. Subsequently he was appointed by Attorney-General Garland to con- duct the case of the United States vs. John Han- cock, involving title to the Muscupiabe grant, but the government lost the case.
I11 1883 Mr. Ward was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Chandler, whose father, Jefferson Chandler, one of the leading attorneys of Waslı- ington, D. C., became prominent first in Missouri, and from there mnoved to Washington, where lie has figured in many important cases in the United
States. He was the leading counsel in the Star Route cases, and was connected with the Bell Telephone cases and many others. Our subject and his wife have four children, namely: Chand- ler Paul, Jolın Shirley, Robertson Burnette and Katherine Corilla. The family have a pleas- ant home on the Harper tract.
Politically Mr. Ward is a Democrat. Though he is interested in good government, his profes- sional duties leave him no time to take part in political affairs. When a boy he determined to become a lawyer, and he has that love for his profession without which there can be no success. He is thoroughly versed in the law, and never appears in court unprepared. Prominence at the bar comes through merit alone, and the high position which Mr. Ward has attained attests his superiority.
ON. WILLIAM J. HUNSAKER. Prob- ably there are few members of the bar who are more widely known or accounted more of an authority ou legal matters in Southern Cal- ifornia than Mr. Hunsaker. Endowed with a keen mentality and broad and liberal views, he readily masters the intricacies of any situation, however involved and difficult, and presses his advantage to a successful issue in the majority of cases. He maintains a high standard of professional ethics, and never has been induced to descend to petty methods.
The paternal grandfather of W. J. Hunsaker, Daniel Hunsaker by name, was a pioneer of Illi- nois, where he participated in the Blackhawk war and suffered the privations of a frontier life. The father of our subject, Nicholas Hunsaker, was, in his turn, a pioneer of progress and civil- ization in the west. As early as 1847 he came to California, where he engaged in farming and improving property in Contra Costa county. There he became recognized as a man of unusual ability, and was honored twice with the office of sheriff, being one of the first occupants of that post in the young county. Later he was elected sheriff of San Diego county and filled the posi- tion with credit. He was a native of Illinois, while his wife, whose maiden name was Lois E. Hastings, was born in Ohio. Two of their four sons are deceased, and James is a successful cattle raiser in Arizona,
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The subject of this article is California born and bred, and with all the strength of his nature he loves his native state, which, even within his own recollection, has made such wonderful strides toward wealth and power. His birth took place in 1855 upon his father's ranch on Walnut creek, in Contra Costa county, about fourteen miles from Oakland, Cal. There he passed fourteen years of his life, at the end of which period he accompanied his parents to their new home in San Diego. In that city he received his higher education and made preparations for his future career.
Having determined to enter the legal profes- sion, young Hunsaker commenced his studies along that line in the office of Judge Baker, who subsequently rose to the position of member of the Supreme Court of Arizona. Major Levi Chase also aided the young man with such advice and instruction as he needed, and finally, in 1876, he was admitted to the San Diego bar. There he was actively engaged in practice for sixteen years, in the meantime making an enviable rec- ord and for one term serving as district attorney of the county. In 1892 he removed to Los An- geles, as greater possibilities are constantly open- ing before this queen of the cities of the great southwest. With the exception of about one year, when business affairs necessitated his presence in Tombstone, Ariz., he has since looked upon Los Angeles as his home. Formerly he was retained as legal adviser and solicitor of the Santa Fe Rail- road system, but resigned in order to give his undivided attention to his rapidly growing prac- tice. He makes a specialty of corporation law, and the major portion of his business is tran- sacted in the federal and supreme courts. His finely furnished and commodious offices are cen- trally located in the Currier block, his suite being Nos. 407-410. Hard and earnest work, fidelity to the interests of his clients and devotion to principle have wrought out his success. In manner he is genial and optimistic, and his friends are innumerable throughout this section of the state. Politically he is now enrolled under the banners of the Republican party, though until the last presidential election he was an ar- dent Democrat. As might be expected of a man of his cool, judicious mind, he carefully weighs all of the evidence submitted to him, and when
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