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 75
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guide us in every action and word. Even the humblest man, who lives nobly, exerts an influ- ence for good in his community. To a much greater degree does the life of a prominent man prove a power, not only in his immediate neigh- borhood, but in places remote, and his good deeds bless mankind through an endless cycle of years. Of the subject of this narrative it may be said that no citizen of Southern California has more powerfully affected its history or enhanced its development than has he. His advice and counsel are much sought. He is regarded as one of the noble-hearted and self-sacrificing pioneers of Los Angeles county, whose wisdom, judgment and business ability have been used for the pro- motion of the best interests of his fellow citizens. While always refusing political preferment his record in connection with the sittings of the leg- islature is a most exemplary one. Persistently he has fought any measure or effort to secure money from the taxpayer without giving full value in return. He has been the instigator of so many wise measures for the benefit of the common people that to-day it is safe to say he could have any office within their gift, were he willing to accept official honors: Indeed, were it probable that the Democratic nomination for the presidency would be given to the Pacific coast, his name would cer- tainly be one of the first considered for the can- didate.
No record of Mr. Kinney would be complete without mention of his literary tastes and his writings. His works: "The Conquest of Death," "Money," "Under the Shadow of the Dragon," "Protection vs. Free Trade," "Australian Bal- lot," "Forestry," "Eucalyptus," etc., will for- ever live as monuments to his genius and marked literary gifts. His work, "The Conquest of Death," deals intelligently with pro-creation of human beings and the attainment and perpetua- tion of the best of the race. The march of death and its ultimate conquest over the human family, unless checked by wise and sure principles of reformation, is clearly set forth in this work. One reads it with pity for the ignorance of the ranks of the supposedly educated, and with sin- cere sympathy for those who should also know how to bring into existence the noblest and best, but do not because of want of opportunity. For want of observance of the laws of nature in the
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building up of the best of the race, nations have gone down. The result of this headlong rush into national death is so ably set forth in the "Con- quest of Death" that everyone should read it and live by it.
"Tasks by Twilight" is worthy of close study. It deals with child training, the beauties and wonders of mind properly moulded, and the evils of "cramming," as well as the noxiousness of the material used to gorge the plastic mind of youth. It is a veritable catapult in the educational arena, and a challege to educators to meet the issue that is upon us. It is a plea for the salvation of the children from the attempt to make their minds perform what their bodies cannot bear up, and to eliminate what is simply extraneous in the sys- tem. Educators may read this and receive light that will insure the welfare of those intrusted to their care. It is a noble work and an honor to the author.
A few facts, gleaned from another writer's esti- mate of our subject, will be read with much in- terest: It was in the year 1850, at the village of Brookside, N. J., that the sun first shone on an infant who was, mayhap, predestined at the hour of his birth, to one day represent in the sen- ate of the United States a region which was then beginning to pour its long-hidden golden treasure into the lap of the world. Mr. Kinney's boy- hood, however, was not passed at the place of his birth, but at Washington City, where his uncle, James Dixon, was representing the state of Con- necticut in the senate. He had many relatives in the army and navy and in other branches of pub- lic life, all of whom were war Democrats. As a boy he was thrown much with the families of Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and others whose names are enrolled upon the pages of imperishable his- tory. After a course of schooling he was sent abroad, where he completed his education in Switzerland, Paris and Heidelberg, becoming a master of modern languages and dipping deep- ly into the problems of political economy which even thus early engaged his profoundest interest.
On the completion of his foreign education Mr. Kinney returned to the United States and again took up his residence in Washington. There he liad a pleasant and notable experience. The Comte de Paris had written a history of onf Civil war and it became Mr. Kinney's privilege to
translate the work to General Grant, then presi- dent. Many delightful hours were passed in this manner until the president was made thor- oughly familiar with the foreign view of our great contest.
Shortly after this Mr. Kinney engaged in the tobacco business, and in 1875 spent a year in Turkey, procuring the famous brands of that country for his manufactory. He was there when the Bulgarians were massacred and was the last man to leave Macedonia with his goods before the general slaughter took place. He pursued an arduous and successful business career until 1877, when, feeling the need of rest, he made a tour of the world lasting for three years. One year of the time he spent in Egypt, where, during a fear- ful period of famine and small-pox, he was com- missioner to ameliorate the condition of the peo- ple of an Egyptian province. On this tour of the world he made a special study of the governments of many nations, thus laying up a stock of knowl- edge of vast importance in public life and in liter- ary pursuits.
After having viewed the lands of the whole civilized world with the intelligent mind of the cosmopolian, in 1880 Mr. Kinney reached Cali- fornia. Of all fair lands this seemed to him to be the fairest. He speedily determined to establish his home here. In this decision he proved him- self to be a man of judgment and taste. He pur- chased about five hundred acres of unimproved land near Sierra Madre, and this he converted into a most beautiful tract, planting over two hundred acres in citrus fruits. He has since become one of the leading authorities concerning horticulture in this state. It is doubtful if any man has done more than he to build up the great fruit industry of Southern California. In 1883 he was appoint- ed a commissioner, with Helen Hunt Jackson, to inquire into the condition and report upon the needs of the Mission Indians in Southern Cali- fornia. It was during this period that Mrs. Jack- son gathered the material for her most famous work, "Ramona," and at the same time Mr. Kinney gathered material for a report which in- duced the government to take steps to ameliorate the condition of the Indians.
In 1884 Mr. Kinney married the charming and accomplished dangliter of Judge James D. Thorn- ton, and they are the parents of five sons. Mrs.
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Kinney is a direct descendant of Mildred Wash- ington, a niece of George Washington. She is a blood relation of Thomas Jefferson. Abbot Kin- ney's father's ancestors came to America in 1634, and his mother's in 1636. From a literary point of view he is related to Oliver Wendell Holmes and Ralph Waldo Emerson; and, from a political standpoint, to General Harrison.
For many years Mr. Kinney has been a stu- dent of forestry. In 1884 he was appointed chair- man of the state board of forestry in California, in which capacity he served for three years. It was during his term that the first surveys for for- est reservations were made. Deeply interested in securing the best literature for all, he estab- lished free public libraries in Santa Monica and Pasadena, and a reading room at the Soldiers' Home, which he maintained at his own expense for two years. The practical side of life has al- ways appealed very strongly to him. As an evi- dence of his devotion to the cause of good roads it may be stated that he served one term as road overseer of the Santa Monica district. During his term he planted over nine miles of shade trees along the roads. He was the first to advocate and put into practice the plan of sprinkling the country roads. He has landed interests in many parts of the county, owns valuable real estate 011 Main and Spring streets, and is connected with several industrial enterprises. His life in South- ern California has proved most helpful to horti- culturists, agriculturists, and indeed to men in every occupation. All are the gainers by his hu- manitarian acts and methods.
To the subject of state legislation he has given valuable time, and has often been heard to say that his greatest glory was his successful work in bringing forward and assisting in the enactment of the Australian ballot law, to which he gave two years of constant work, such as writing pamphlets and newspaper articles, making public addresses, seeking personal interviews and ex- plaining the system of voting. As is well known, he has been identified with numerous other state and local economics, procured through various organizations, notably the Citizens' League.
Among numerous national measures in which he has been interested he found, perhaps, the greatest satisfaction in his work to break up In- dian reservations and allot the lands necessary in
severalty to the heads of families, with time limit, to insure the preparation of Indians for civilized life and its conditions; in securing a national for- est policy for the forests and mountain water sheds under government control, and he has favored the care of our water sheds under such reasonable regulations as will secure the utiliza- tion of all forest resources, viz .: irrigating water, power, ripe timber, mining, etc. He hasfavored the present proposal to meet the drought crisis by a system of permits to stock and sheep own- ers, whereby each person receiving such permit will be allotted a specified district in the mountains for which the permit holder will be responsible and for which he will pay sufficient to provide a patrol to guard against abuses and especially against fire; this will do away with fighting over public pastures and put an end to irresponsible and forcible possession inside the forest reserves. He is now interested in opening a way for Cali- fornians to own ocean-going ships by removing the prohibition handicap of local and state taxes, which have been unjust and fatal, because the state taxes property on open ocean where it does not and cannot protect.
Mr. Kinney has been on intimate terms with, or known to some extent, most of the leading men of the United States during and since the war-Lincoln, Mcclellan, Grant, Hancock, Farragut, Seward, Sherman, Thurman, Bayard, Randall and others; and also many abroad, Von Moltke, Victor Emanuel, Napoleon III, the Eni- peror of Austria, Abdul Aziz, Ismael Pasha and others.
In June, 1897, Governor Budd appointed Mr. Kinney a member of the Yosemite commission and he was immediately elected their presiding officer. The purpose of the commission was to remove the many abuses then prevailing, such as overcharge to visitors, to clean and clear up the trails and roads, to look after and keep cattle, sheep, etc., from being herded there. How well this work was done can plainly be seen. When they took charge there was but one road to the park with a regular stage service and it was in bad condition. Now there are three roads and all are good. Travel had been decreasing, but now it is rapidly increasing. Prices have also been reduced, which, with the better accomnio- dations, makes it possible for those in moderate
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circumstances to pleasantly enjoy the delights of Tenth Minnesota Infantry September 10, 1862, this remarkable place. Under the commission's wise management all of the old debts have been paid, and for the first time in years the park is out of debt and in good condition.
F EN. SAMUEL P. JENNISON is among the most prominent and influential residents of Covina, where he is now serving as pres- ident of the Covina Citrus Association. He has been actively identified with the educational, pro- fessional, political or business interests of at least four of the more important states of our Union, two of which border on the Atlantic ocean; one is directly connected with Lake Superior and the mighty Mississippi, and one extends along the Pacific shore. He was born May 9, 1830, in Worcester county, Mass., a son of James and Mary (Lamb) Jennison, and the descendant of a hero of the Revolution, his paternal grandfather, Joseph B. Jennison, having served as a soldier during America's struggle for independence. He comes of excellent colonial stock, the emigrant ancestor, Robert Jennison, from whom the gen- eral is seven generations removed, having emi- grated from England to this country in 1638.
Samuel P. Jennison received his elementary education in the public schools of his native town, and after completing the course of study at Mon- son Academy, in Massachusetts, spent two years at Harvard University. He was subsequently a resident of Concord, N. H., for a number of years, having been associated with its educational in- stitutions as principal of the high school for two years, after which he conducted a private school in that city for awhile. While living there he fitted himself for a professional life, reading law and being admitted in that city to the bar. In 1857 he began the practice of his profession in St. Paul, Minn. In 1860 he was appointed pri- vate secretary of Alexander Ramsey, then gov- ernor of Minnesota, a position that he resigned a year and a-half later for patriotic reasons, having enlisted, July 5, 1861, in Company D, Second Minnesota Infantry, in which he was commis- sioned second lieutenant. January 18, 1862, he was promoted to first lieutenant and adjutant, and August 24, 1862, was mustered out for pro- motion, being appointed lieutenant-colonel of the
and after the battle of Nashville he was breveted colonel, and previous to being mustered out of service, August 18, 1865, was breveted a briga- dier-general, a record that shows him well worthy of his honestly earned title of "general." While in active service he fought under General Thomas at Mill Spring, and participated in the siege at Corinth under General Buell. He wasafterwards transferred, and in 1863 took part in Sibley's ex- pedition against the Sioux Indians, and later in the year his regiment became a part of the Six- teenth Army Corps, in which he took an active part in the engagement at Tupelo, Miss., and the battle of Nashville, where he was so severely wounded as to incapacitate him for further service for a time.
At the close of his military service General Jennison returned to St. Paul, Minn., and for six months thereafter was associate editor of the St. Paul Press. Going from there to Pithole, Pa., he remained there a short time as agent of the oil property known as "Holmden Farm." Resuming his residence in St. Paul, he received the appoint- ment of private secretary to Gov. William R. Marshall, of Minnesota, with whom he remained from 1866 until 1869. In the fall of the latter year he became the proprietor and editor of the Red Wing ( Minn. ) Republican, which he owned and edited a full quarter of a century. Through its columns he obtained fame and popularity, and through the influence of his paper suggested many projects for the better management and control of the public interests, and as these proj- ects were carried out a marked improvement in social conditions became evident. While a resi- dent of Red Wing General Jennison served four years as secretary of state in Minnesota; was for five years private secretary of Gov. L. F. Hub- bard; was chief clerk of the house of representa- tives for three terms; and was secretary of the state senate an equal length of time.
In 1894 the general sold out his interests in the Red Wing Republican, and three years later migrated with his family to California. In 1898 he purchased an orange ranch of twenty acres in Covina, where he has since resided, in the mean- time becoming actively identified with some of its leading enterprises, having in 1899 been elected president of the Covina Citrus Association, an
1. 96. 26 aultime.
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office which he is now filling, and in addition he is a director and the vice-president of the Covina Irrigating Company. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Minnesota Commandery of the Loyal Legion.
August 2, 1858, General Jennison married Miss Lucia Wood, of Concord, N. H., and of their children two are living: James, of Minne- apolis, Minn., is bookkeeper for the Pillsbury- Washburn Flour Mill Company, Limited; and Paul is an accomplished musician, and a noted violinist and 'cello player.
H. HAMILTON, M. D. For many reasons, the paramount one being the health of their . families, physicians from all parts of this continent has flocked to Southern California, and when one of this great multitude of profes- sional men rises to prominence among them, it means a great deal more than it would elsewhere. Dr. Hamilton is in the prime of life and useful- ness, and within a short period he has gained prominence among the practitioners in Santa Monica, his place of residence.
Dr. Hamilton was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., February 17, 1852, but when two years of age he was taken by his parents to Winona, Minn. There he grew to manhood, in the meantime lay- ing the foundation of knowledge in the grammar and high schools of the town. Then, being de- sirous of entering the medical profession, he re- turned to his birthplace and entered the Univer- sity of Michigan, where he remained for some time pursuing his studies. Owing to the fact that he could not have as good clinical advantages there as in a metropolitan college, he finished his medical preparation in Rush Medical College of Chicago. Soon after he graduated with honors in the class of 1877, he located in the then new town of Grafton, N. Dak., where for seventeen years he had an increasing practice. While re- siding there he was, for a period of fourteen years, president of the United States board of ex- amining surgeons for soldiers' pensions; also, for a similar period, served as county physician, for two years was county coroner, for four years member of the examining board for the insane, and for nine years secretary and superintendent of the county board of health. He was the first
vice-president of the North Dakota State Medi- cal Society, and served as district surgeon for the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railroad Companies.
More prudent than many, Dr. Hamilton waited until his success was assured before he ventured upon the responsibilities of establishing a home. October 21, 1887, he married Miss Bertha R. Crookston, of Ann Arbor, Mich., a lady of excel- lent education and social accomplishments. They have had four daughters: Helen, Edith, Clara and Esther. Their second daughter, Edith, a bright and noble child of eleven years, died Octo- ber 16, 1900, after an unsuccessful operation for appendicitis.
The winters in North Dakota being extremely severe, Dr. Hamilton determined (on account of his health) to make a radical change of climate, in spite of the fact that he had built up a large practice and an enviable reputation. In Septem- ber, 1894, he came to Santa Monica, where he has since engaged in practice. Notwithstanding many of his friends predicted at the time of his removal that he would soon return east, he has continued in California and has no desire to seek a home elsewhere. Besides his private practice he is district surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railway; is the medical examiner for all the old line insurance companies in Santa Monica; also acts in the same capacity for four fraternal so- cieties. He is a director in the Santa Monica Bank and is actively connected with other local enterprises, in the success of which he is deeply interested. During the anti-saloon movement in Santa Monica, in March and April, 1900, he was one of five constituting the executive committee that rid the town of her ten saloons. He belongs to several medical fraternities, among them the Los Angeles County Medical and the American Medical Associations.
Before leaving Grafton he was identified with the local blue lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order, also the Mystic Shrine, which he joined in Fargo, N. Dak., and demitted and became a member of the Santa Monica blue lodge; also the Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Los Angeles. He is a member of the order of Knights of Pythias and the uniform rank of same in Santa Monica; also belongs to the Independent Order of Foresters of Santa Monica. He is a di-
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rector of the Western Masons' Mutual Life Asso- ciation of Los Angeles. In his political convic- tions he is a true-blue Republican. Religiously he is a Presbyterian and a trustee of the church at Santa Monica. Personally he is highly es- teemed by everyone, as he deserves to be, for lie is a fine type of the loyal American citizen and the sincere Christian physician, his influence in the community being strongly felt for righteous- ness and whatever uplifts and benefits humanity.
G. MOSSIN. One of the justly popular young business men of Los Angeles is J. G. . Mossin, now holding the position of cashier of the California Bank. He is a native of Mil- waukee, Wis., his birth having occurred in the Cream City in 1857. His parents, Peter L. and Octavia (Bangs) Mossin, were born in Denmark and grew to maturity iu that country, but in 1847 they came to the United States and took up their abode in Milwaukee.
In his youth J. G. Mossin received an excel- lent education in the public schools of his birth- place, and, by making the best possible use of his opportunities, laid the foundations of his future successful career. When he was in his sixteenth year he obtained a situation in a bank and served in various capacities in the institution during the ensuing five years. He was diligent and faithful to the interests of his employers, and thoroughly mastered the intricacies of banking and general business. In 1878 he went to Chi- cago, where he became a member of the board of trade, and from the first was very successful in his financial operations. After a time, however, he concluded to come to Southern California, and in 1884 arrived in Los Angeles. For several years after coming here he did not attempt to en- gage in business, but the fine climate and out- door life which he lived soon restored his wonted strength, and to one of his energetic temperament idleness could not long be brooked.
Since 1890 Mr. Mossin has been connected with the California Bank, one of the solid finan- cial institutions of this city. The first position held by him was that of assistant cashier, and subsequently he was promoted to his present office, that of cashier. Courteous and accommo- dating to all of the patrons of the bank, and hav-
ing a comprehensive knowledge of financial affairs, he looks out for the interests of those with whom his house has business dealings and en- joys the sincere respect and good-will of all who know him. He has been the architect of his own fortunes, and has justly earned the high place which he occupies in the business and social world by arduous and persistent labor, and by the exercise of sterling integrity and honor in all of his dealings with mankind.
Politically Mr. Mossin is independent in local affairs, using his franchise for the man whom he deemis best suited to carry out measures for the good of the people, while in national elections he is unswerving in his allegiance to the Republican party. His personal popularity with the busi- ness men and leading citizens of Los Angeles is plainly indicated by his having been chosen to serve in the president's chair of the California Club during the year 1898. Previous to this he had been a director for four years and he materi- ally aided in the building up of the club.
2 HILIP G. McGAUGH. Although he was but a small child when his parents came to California for the first time, Mr. McGaugh retains a vivid recollection of that long and lonely trip across the plains, and remembers clearly his excitement and delight when finally the little party of travelers, with their ox-teams and trav- eling outfit, landed in Sacramento. At that time the population of California consisted principally of miners and people connected directly with the mining industry. Few then supposed that the state would become more widely known for the fine quality of its fruits than for its output of gold. In 1869 he came to Los Angeles county, and in 1881 settled upon land near the present town of Rivera, since which latter year he has devoted himself to the cultivation of his ranch of fifty-eight acres. The larger part of the land is under English walnuts, for which the owner finds a ready sale at fair prices.
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