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 56

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 56

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

flashed the same message that had passed between Washington and Baltimore in 1844, "What hath God wrought!"

January 1, 1864, Mr. Haines was called from his position as manager of the Placerville office and made assistant superintendent of the Califor- nia State Telegraph Company. He was com- missioned to proceed to Oregon and decide as to the advisability of building lines through the northern country. Believing such lines necessary and profitable, he at once set about the work. In March, 1864, the line was completed to Portland. The next order was to explore to Olympia, Wash., and, without waiting for a report as to the practicability of the route, a second order fol- lowed the first to build immediately. In August that work was completed, and Olympia was given telegraphic connection with the world. In the latter part of October the line was extended to Seattle. This work took the builders into re- gions that had never been opened by roads or even by trails, and they were obliged to literally hew their way through fallen timber. When that line was completed the order came to extend the line to the Frazer river into British Columbia. The country to be covered was a dense wilder- ness, where the foot of white man seldom trod, where rivers had to be forded often at the peril of life, and dangers, privations and hardships abounded. To increase their troubles, winter was approaching and the sun gave scarcely light enough for a desirable day's work, while the cold hampered the movements of the men. However, in spite of all difficulties (and they were legion), the work was completed, and the line reached New Westminster April 4, 1865. Between Portland, Oregon, and New Westminster nineteen rivers had been crossed, three of them deep enough for ship navigation, while almost all were navigable by light vessels. The great Columbia and Frazer rivers were crossed by submerged cables and the others by wires suspended above the reach of steamers.

The telegraph line reaclied Victoria, Van- couver's Island, in the fall of 1865. This re- quired sixteen miles of submarine cable, laid in three sections across the channels between the island and the main land of Washington. It was at the time the longest submarine cable on the coast, and in the work of laying it Mr. Haines

was assisted by the British gunboat, Forward. In 1866 the Western Union Company purchased a controlling interest in the stock of the California State Telegraph Company, and has ever since had control of all its interests.

In 1868 Mr. Haines built for the Oregon Steam Navigation Company a line from Portland to The Dalles, on the Columbia river, a distance of ninety-five miles. He was then delegated to take charge of electrical matters in Nevada, and re- moved to Virginia City, remaining there one year. When public interest began to center upon Southern California, the Western Union Com- pany commenced to enlarge its lines in this sec- tion, and Mr. Haines was sent here to represent the company. In 1870 a line was built from San Diego via Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, and, in 1872, from Stockton to Visalia, along the track of the Southern Pacific Railroad, this wire con- necting at Visalia with the line from that point southward, which was built to Los Angeles in 1859.

The Indian outbreak in Arizona in 1872 called the attention of congress to the need of connect- ing the military posts and supply depots of that territory with electric wires, and an appropria- tion was made for that purpose. In 1873 Mr. Haines was appointed to superintend the con- struction of the line. The work was entered upon in July and completed in November. The line was five hundred and fifty miles long and con- nected with the Western Union system at San Diego. The construction work was mainly done by soldiers. The absence of water on the arid plains, with the mercury ranging from one hun- dred to one hundred and fifteen degrees, made the work very trying and severely taxed the en- ergies of all the men. In 1873 a telegraph line was constructed from Anaheim to San Bernar- dino. The next year a line was built from Sa- linas City to Santa Barbara, Santa Monica, Riverside, Hneneme, in Ventura county, and Cambria, Cayucos and San Simeon, in San Luis Obispo county, were put in communication with the telegraph system of the coast in 1875.

As the years passed by and the population of California increased, a constantly increasing num- ber of lines might be seen throughout the entire country. Mr. Haines continued to be actively connected with the building and superintendence

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of various lines until the close of August, 1887, when he tendered his resignation and severed his connection with the company, to whose success his faithful service had so materially contributed. His intelligence and determined energy had greatly promoted the company's prosperity, and those who were in touch with his work expressed the highest appreciation of his services. When he had completed his work in Arizona the quar- termaster telegraphed him: "Well done, good and faithful servant," and the general superin- tendent, under whom he had worked since 1860, bore this testimony: "I heartily congratulate you upon the completion of the lines across the great desert. You deserve great credit for your energy and perseverance. If I have any more worlds to conquer I shall surely call upon you to lead the van, as you are always ready and never found wanting." Since his retirement he has resided in Los Angeles, where he makes his home at No. 218 West Twenty-seventh street.

Mr. Haines was married in Carson City, Nev., in July, 1865, to Miss Eugenia Viola Kirk, a na- tive of Indiana. Two children blessed this mar- riage: Sarah E., now Mrs. J. J. McMillan, of Los Angeles, and Estelle, now Mrs. H. T. Fennell, of San Francisco.

ALTER B. CLINE. A truly representa- tive citizen of Los Angeles is Walter B. Cline, whose standing is deservedly high in both the social and business circles of this flourishing western metropolis. He has been ready and glad to liberally sustain every worthy or creditable movement for the advancement of the welfare of Los Angeles and vicinity, and has spared himself neither money nor effort when the permanent good of the people has been at stake. He possesses the true patriotic spirit, and is deeply loyal to his community, his state and his country, setting an example in this respect well worthy of emulation.

Though only just arrived at the prime of life, Mr. Cline has accomplished more than many suc- cessful business men of twice his years, and lias established a reputation for sagacity and integrity in all of his dealings, of which he should be proud. Born thirty-eight years ago, he claims California as the state of his nativity, and as the

scene of his entire career, thus far. He passed the first five years of his life in the city of Sacra- mento, whence he removed with his parents, William and Maria Cline, to San Francisco. His father came to this state in 1852 and for many years was successfully engaged in mining. He also was occupied for years in conducting various mercantile and other enterprises, both in San Francisco and Sacramento, in most of his ven- tures meeting with prosperity. His wife died when Walter B. was young, and the lad was the only son who lived to maturity.

The education of W. B. Cline was obtained in the common schools of San Francisco, and his first experience in the world of commerce was acquired in the office of a stock-broker, in which business he held clerkships from 1879 to 1882. Eighteen years ago he became interested in his present line of business, which he thoroughly mastered. For a number of years he was con- nected with the Central Gas Light Company of San Francisco, and at length rose to the dignity of manager of that concern. After passing through the hands of a Philadelphia company it finally was merged into the Pacific Gas Improve- ment Company.

Eleven years ago Mr. Cline came to Los Angeles, which has since been his home and is looked upon as his permanent place of abode. Up to that time there had been two local gas com- panies in the city, but the service was not adequate nor satisfactory until Mr. Cline took the helm. Under his able management the former concerns were merged into the Los Angeles Lighting Company, which bas held the field ever since it was incorporated in 1889. Mr. Cline then was elected its president, and later was elected president of the Los Angeles Electric Company. By his genius and fine executive ability he has brought order and system and suc- cess to the enterprises. He is a popular official, as he strives to meet the wishes of the public and to provide the citizens with excellent service. The officers of the companies are at Nos. 449 to 457 South Broadway, a central location.

Mr. Cline belongs to the Jonathan Club, also to the California Club, which comprises in its membership about three hundred of the repre- sentative business men and citizens of Los Angeles. He holds membership in the Ameri-

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can Gas Light Association, and in the Pacific Coast Gas Association, neglecting no means for improvement and suggestion along the line of his chosen field of labor. He is in no sense a politician, though he discharges his duty at the polls and keeps posted on national issues. His preference is for the Republican party.

In the home circle Mr. Cline finds his chief pleasure, and there he is to be seen in his best and truest nature. His home, surrounded by lovely grounds and the semi-tropical trees and foliage for which this section is noted, is at No. 2110 South Grand avenue. He was married, fifteen years ago, to Miss Clara Smith, of San Francisco, and their union has been blessed with two daughters.

r D YRUS BURDICK. For many years the life of Mr. Burdick has been inseparably associated with the history of Pomona, of which he was one of the founders. He has lived to see what was in years gone by a region of al- most unsettled land transformed into a prosperous and beautiful country. In the midst of all the arduous and stirring scenes of pioneer life he was ever ready to aid those who needed assistance and to promote enterprises for the benefit of the community. He belongs to that class of pioneers to whom so large a debt of gratitude is due from the present generation, owing, as it does, all its advantages for a high degree of culture to the noble hearts that endured hardships and priva- tions in order to open a way for civilization in a region hitherto unknown and uninhabited. Not- withstanding the cares of a busy life now ap- proaching its twilight, lie is still hearty and ener- getic and with mind unimpaired by the flight of time he can look back over the past with a just pride and forward to the future without fear. Although he came to California as early as 1853 and at that time settled in Los Angeles county, he did not locate on his Pomona ranch until about 1870. He then settled on the property one mile northwest of the Southern Pacific depot at Pomona, in an old Mexican settlement then known as San José. Soon after going to that place he planted some orange and lemon trees and a variety of deciduous fruits. As a horticul- turist he was prospered. He was one of the first in this part of the state to start a fruit orchard

and his success encouraged others to embark in that industry. In 1888 he moved from the ranch to Pomona, where he now resides. With two other gentlemen he started the town of Pomona, since which time he has been more or less identi- fied with its growth. He was one of five men who built the Union block in this city and he has also been interested in other important local enterprises. With his wife, who like himself is a California pioneer, he resides in a beautiful home on Holt avenue and enjoys the esteem of neighbors and associates.

In Lake county, Ohio, Mr. Burdick was born October 22, 1834, a son of Thomas and Annie (Higley) Burdick, natives respectively of New York and Vermont. His grandfather, Gideon Burdick, was a Revolutionary soldier and spent the winter with General Washington at Valley Forge. When Cyrus Burdick was eleven years old his parents moved to Burlington, Iowa, where his father taught school. A year later they went to Council Bluffs, the same state, where they re- mained for seven years. During that time his father was the first county judge elected in Pot- tawattamie county, which had not been organized at the time they settled there. Judge Burdick also served as postmaster at Council Bluffs, and Cyrus was his deputy for three years. In 1853 the family crossed the plains with a large party, there being one hundred wagons in all. They left Council Bluffs on the 9th of May and arrived in San Bernardino county, Cal., on the roth of December, after a trip filled with hardships and dangers. For one term Judge Burdick was a member of the board of supervisors of Los An- geles county and took an active part in local af- fairs. He died in 1877, at the age of eighty years, and was buried in Los Angeles, where the body of his wife is also interred.

While Cyrus Burdick had few advantages in boyhood, yet he was not deprived of all educa- tional opportunities. He attended school in Ohio and Iowa. However, his education had been mostly self-acquired. He is well posted concern- ing politics and believes in Republican princi- ples. His marriage united him with Amanda Chapman, who was born in Iowa and crossed the plains in 1853 with her parents. Her father, the late Charles Chapman, was a well- known pioneer of Los Angeles county. The

Percy E Fuller

Photo by Marceau.

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family of Mr. and Mrs. Burdick consists of one ber, 1899, he formed a copartnership with Judge son and three daughters, viz .: C. Gideon, Mrs. William Fitzgerald, which continues under the firm name of Fuller & Fitzgerald. Laura Bates, Mrs. Jasper N. Teague and Lucre- tia, whose husband, Frank P. Brackett, is an in- structor in Pomona College at Claremont, Cal.

ERCY E. FULLER, one of the successful and promising young lawyers of Los All- geles, has been almost a life-long resident of this city, and is active in everything connected with its improvement and prosperity. He is a worthy representative of one of the sturdy old New England families, four brothers bearing the name having emigrated from England with the Pilgrim fathers, seeking a home and "freedom to worship God."

Henry, father of Percy E. Fuller, was a native of the Green Mountain state, where he grew to manhood, and married Helen D. Day, likewise of Vermont. During the Centennial year Mr. Ful- ler brought his family to the Pacific coast, and since that time has made his home in Los An- geles, where he is well and favorably known. For several years he conducted a large wholesale furniture business here, being the pioneer in that line. Some time ago he retired from active life, having amassed a competency, and is pleasantly spending his declining years on a beautiful orange ranch in Redlands. He has nobly per- formed his part to his community and country, and during the Civil war he sought to enter the Union army, but was rejected on account of youth.

The nativity of Percy E. Fuller occurred in the town of Vergennes, Vt., July 15, 1872, but, as he came to the Golden state at the age of four years he has little remembrance of any other home. Here he obtained a liberal education in the public school and norinal, and was one of the first students in the then newly established University of Southern California. For some time he was engaged in the wholesale furniture business with his father, but later gave his atten- tion to the study of law, and was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state of California. He has met with gratifying success in his chosen field of labor, and, judging by what he has accomplished within the past few years, he has a brilliant future before him. In Novem-

In political affairs Mr. Fuller is a stalwart Re- publican, and fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and other fraternal orders. In 1895 he married Lillian, a daughter of E. W. Lewis, of Cook county, Ill. The young couple have a very pleasant home and numerous friends and well-wishers.

HILIP C. DANIELS, the popular cashier of the Azusa Valley Bank, and secretary of the A. C. G. Fruit Exchange, took up his residence in Azusa in 1891. The Daniels family is an old one, the first members to arrive in America having settled in Massachusetts in the beginning of the eighteenth century. The parents of our subject were Charles E. and Eliza- beth (Paine) Daniels. Elizabeth Daniels' grand- father was a valorous soldier in the war of the Revolution.

A native of Clayton county, Ohio, Philip C. Daniels was born November 20, 1865, and con- tinned to live there until he attained his majority. He studiously availed himself of excellent educa- tional advantages, first in the McGregor public schools, and later at Carleton College, Northfield, Minn. In 1888 he entered upon his first busi- ness venture, associating himself in various clerical capacities with the Citizens' National Bank at Des Moines, Iowa, in which capacity he served for three years. Profiting by this ex- perience, and having the ability and determina- tion to work on independent lines, he came to Azusa, Cal., and organized the Azusa Valley Bank, which entered upon its existence in 1891.

In 1895 he was made acting manager of the A. C. G. Citrus Association, and in 1896 became secretary and manager of the same, a position which he held until 1898. In addition, he has served as secretary and manager of the A. C. G. Fruit Exchange, as director in the Azusa Valley. Bank, and has been city treasurer since the date of the city's incorporation, February 1, 1899.

In politics Mr. Daniels is a member of the Re- publican party. He is an active member of the Presbyterian Church of Azusa, and has been trustee of the same for several years. He mar-

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ried Florence M. Hubbard, of Des Moines, Iowa, and they have two daughters, Dorothy and Sarah. Mr. Daniels represents the best and most progressive element in Azusa. His ability, geniality, and manifest interest in the public welfare are appreciated by the members of the community in which he lives.

AMES A. METCALFE, M. D., one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of Los Angeles county, is located in Azusa, where he has built up an extensive and lucrative prac- tice. He was born May 20, 1852, in Natchez, Miss., where his father, the late Volney Metcalfe, M. D., was then an active practitioner.

Dr. Volney Metcalfe, who came of substantial English ancestry, was born in Kentucky, whither his progenitors had removed from Virginia, the state in which the emigrant ancestor had settled on coming to America from England in old colonial days. He was well fitted for his pro- fession, having studied surgery and medicine in America and Europe, where he was under the in- struction of eminent surgeons. After his mar- riage to Ann Wood, also a native of Kentucky, he located in Natchez, Miss., where he had a very large practice until his death, from yellow fever, in 1853.

James A. Metcalfe lived in Natchez until thir- teen years old, when his widowed mother re- moved with her family to Mason county, Ky., near Washington. For some time he attended the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington, Va., and later entered the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Ky., from which he re- ceived the degree of M. D. in February, 1873. After his graduation he was for a year resident physician at the city and county hospital in Louisville. He then went to Texas, where for four years he was actively engaged in the prac- tice of his profession, being located near the town of Kosse. Going then to Robinsonville, Tex., he there continued his practice until coming to California, in 1888.

Settling at once in Azusa, Dr. Metcalfe has since won great success in the cases that have come under his charge, and his services are much sought, both as a physician and as a surgeon, in this and neighboring cities and towns. He

occupies a place of prominence among his pro- fessional brethren, and is actively identified with the leading medical organizations of this vicinity, belonging to the Pomona Valley Medical Associa- tion, of which he is now president, and to the American Medical Association. For the past ten years he has been a special health officer of Los Angeles county, and for nine years was a mem- ber of the surgical staff of the Southern California division of the Santa Fe Railroad, serving until the office was abolished. Fraternally he is a member of Azusa Lodge, F. & A. M., and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and takes an active part in both orders. He is identified with the Presbyterian Church.

April 8, 1878, Dr. Metcalfe married Lettie J. Wood, of Mason county, Ky. She died July 24, 1894, leaving three children, as follows: James A., M. Annie and Mary E. The doctor was again married, March 29, 1898, Mrs. Ida T. (Sunder- land) Rankins, of Chicago, Il1., becoming his wife. Of their union two children have been born, namely, Thomas and Andrew S.

OHN QUICK. Although his residence in the Azusa valley covers a comparatively brief duration of years, Mr. Quick has be- come known as an efficient horticulturist and his orchard of ten acres, under oranges, is said to be one of the best in the valley. While he has made his home in Southern California only since 1896, he is a pioneer of the state, having come to the Pacific coast as early as 1865, when he settled in Nevada county, Cal. In that part of the state, for more than thirty years, he engaged in hy- draulic gold mining, being superintendent of the mines owned and operated by a company known as the English Company, and he still retains his financial interests in that enterprise.

Cornwall, England, was Mr. Quick's native county, and February 29, 1840, the date of his birth, his parents being Israel and Mary (Rowe) Quick, natives of England. In boyhood he was given such advantages as local schools afforded. Although a farm was his boyhood home, yet he early acquired a knowledge of mining, being for some years employed in copper and tin mines in Cornwall. The year 1865 found him making the trip from Liverpool to New York, and from the

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latter city le proceeded, via the istlimus, to San Francisco, thence to Nevada county, where much of his time was passed until his removal to the Azusa valley.

Before leaving England, Mr. Quick married Mary Hosking, a native of that country and a daughter of William and Ann (Hosking) Hos- king. They are the parents of five children, namely: Mary E., wife of Prof. Henry McCut- chan, principal of the Azusa grammar school; Laura, wife of Robert Quick, of Nevada county, Cal .; John H., who is living in the county named; Jamies R., who makes his home in San Francisco; and Lilias A., at home.

To the country of his adoption Mr. Quick has proved a good citizen and he has kept posted concerning affairs of national and international importance. Politically he believes in Republi- can principles. In Masonry he is connected with the lodge at Azusa and the commandery at Nevada, Cal.

ILAS JUDD, a veteran of the Civil war, came to the Azusa valley in 1887 and has since made his home upon his fruit farm, the cultivation of which engages his time and at- tention.' The place comprises ten acres of land, six acres being planted to fruit (mostly oranges) now in a bearing condition. Mr. Judd was born in Madison county, N. Y., May 6, 1826, a son of Isaac and Belinda Judd, natives of New York state. His grandfather, Silas Judd, who was born in Connecticut in 1776, became a poet of considerable note in his day. The latter's uncle was captured by the Tories in the Revolutionary war.

The public schools of Madison county fur- nished our subject with a fair education. While he was still quite young he not only gained a thorough knowledge of agriculture, but also learned the painter's trade, which lie followed much of the time for forty-five years. In 1852 he left the east and settled in Rice county, Minn., where he followed general painting. While he was living there, in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Minnesota In- fantry, and accompanied his regiment to the frontier, where he engaged in warfare against the Sioux Indians for two years, being under Gen- eral Sibley and Colonel Marshall. Among the

battles in which he took part was that of Wood Lake. At the expiration of his term of service, in April, 1864, he was honorably discharged. Returning to Northfield, Minn., he resumed work at his trade, which he followed continuously for years afterward. Meantime, he also identi- fied himself with local affairs and became well known among the citizens of his town and county. For one year he held office as justice of the peace. One of the thrilling recollections of his life in Northfield is in connection with the famous robbery of the Bank of Northfield by the James and Younger brothers, with their gang; and he saw the dead robbers after they were laid out.

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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 56

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