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 78

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 78

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wise supervision, the value of the land has been trebled. From the time of attaining his majority his sympathy has been with the Republican par- ty. He has shown himself desirous of discharg- ing every duty as a man and a citizen. His influence is large and his standing high in the community where he makes his home. In 1885 lie married Miss Martha Finch, a native of Ten- nessee, and by her he has eight children, all liv- ing, viz .: Rose Blanche, Gracie, Anna, Myrtle, Samuel, Pearl, Silas and Iona.

LFRED D. KELLAM. The well-conducted ranch belonging to Mr. Kellamı is located near Rivera, and is twenty-eight acres in extent. It is entirely given over to the cultiva- tion of walnuts, to the study of which its pros- perous owner has given much time and attention.

The Kellam family is of English extraction, and among their members who settled in Amer- ica were many prominent in various walks of life. Alfred Kellam was born in Newcastle county, Del., October 27, 1836, and is a son of Richard and Mary (Beesam) Kellam, natives of Delaware. Until his teuth year he was reared on his father's farm, and attended the public schools as oppor- tunity offered. The family then took up their residence in Macoupin county, Ill., and there he continued in the duties of the average farmer lad, and also attended the schools of the county. He became a successful agriculturist and ably as- sisted his father in the management of the farm. He was married in Illinois to Susan Loyd, of Indiana, a daughter of Samuel Loyd. Of this union there are four children: George B., Will- iam H., Maggie L. and Lillie M.

ILLIAM H. OVERHOLTZER, the eldest son of the late Samuel A. Overholtzer, was born in Carroll county, Ill., November After years spent in farming and stock-raising Mr. Kellam moved, in 1889. from Illinois to Los Angeles county, Cal .; and settled on the ranch where he now lives. He has been prominently identified with the advancement and improve- ment of the neighborhood, and is especially in- terested in the cause of education. For several years he lias served as trustee on the school board, and in other ways has evinced a desire to further the upbuilding of the locality. He is a member of the Los Nietos and Ranchito Walnut Growers' Association. Himself and family are 21, 1862, and was scarcely two years of age when the family settled in California. His earliest recollections are therefore of the region of the Pacific coast. Here his boyhood passed and his education was obtained. He accompanied his father in his various removals, and since early manhood has made his home in Covina, where he owns an orange ranch of twenty acres and is also a director in the Covina Citrus Association. Having made his home on his present ranch since 1892, he has employed the intervening years in improving the property, and, as a result of his active members of the Holiness Church, in which

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he is an elder, and toward the support of whose charities he is a liberal contributor. In politics he adheres to Prohibition principles, and has done much to further the cause of abstemiousness. A conservative in thought and action, he is thus a valuable addition to the oft too rapid growth of enterprising communities.

ILLIAM T. BARKER. This well-known pioneer of the Azusa valley came to his present ranch in 1883. Besides the cultiva- tion of his orange orchard, which contains seven acres, he has a number of diversified and impor- tant interests. He is road foreman of the. West Azusa district, also manager and a director of the Central Well Company, and a director in the Azusa Citrus Association. Through his service as a director, the schools of Azusa have been ad- vanced and their welfare promoted.

In Eldorado county, Cal., Mr. Barker was born June r, 1855, a son of Richard and Bettie (Andrews) Barker, natives of England, who in 1849 emigrated to America and settled in St. Louis, Mo., thence coming overland, with a train of emigrants, to California in 1853, and arriving at Diamond Springs, Cal., after a weary journey of almost seven months. Indians had been very troublesome all along the line of travel, and had stolen their cattle and other valuable possessions, but had not molested the emigrants themselves. For a time Mr. Barker made his home in Eldorado county and followed mining. He was similarly engaged at Placerville later, and while there witnessed the execution of three men, Mickey Fee, a notorious outlaw, being one of them. From Placerville he went to Calaveras county, Cal., where he engaged in mining for some years, and during that time not only saw the execution of a noted negro desperado named Ferguson, but was one of the jurors who in pub- lic court condemned him. In 1869 he went to Mount Diablo, but the next year proceeded to Oregon, where he was interested in mining until 1872. Returning east he spent a short time in Columbiana county, Ohio, and later made his home in Pennsylvania and Illinois, thence going back to the Buckeye state. In 1877 he returned to Oregon. Four years later lie again came to California and resided at Mount Diablo for some

years. However, for some time past he has made his home at Wellington, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He has two children, Will- iam T. and Mrs. M. H. Spratt, of Wellington.

When about seventeen years of age our sub- ject began for himself, his first place of employ- ment being the mines of Clinton, Beaver county, Pa. Next he went to Monmouth, Ill., where he was employed in the manufacture of sewer pipe until 1877. He then settled in Coos coun- ty, Ore. Three years later he removed to Calaveras county, Cal., and from there, in 1883, removed to his present ranch in the Azusa valley. All of the improvements to be seen on his place are the result of his energetic application and determined effort. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World, Masons and Odd Fellows, and, with his wife, holds member- ship in the Eastern Star at. Azusa. In 1883 he married Miss Lucy Wells, who was born in Iowa, and in her girlhood removed to Stockton, Cal. Two children were born of their union, but the son, Samuel R., is deceased, the other child being a daughter, Bessie B.

OHN A. STEVENS, who ranks among thie pioneers of San Dimas, settled on his present farm in December, 1879. At that time the land was in its primitive condition. He took up a homestead claim to one hundred and sixty acres from the government, and at once began the difficult task of placing the tract under culti- vation and rendering it a profitable investment. Much of the soil being suitable for fruit culture, he engages in horticulture, and at the same time he also carries on general farm pursuits.

At Nyack on the Hudson, Rockland county, N. Y., Mr. Stevens was born April 29, 1845, a son of Abram J. and Hannah (Wallace) Stevens, natives respectively of Rockland county and of Glasgow, Scotland. The Stevens family is of En- glish extraction and was founded in America pre- vious to the Revolutionary war by an Englishı family, who, owing to religious persecution in their native land, had gone to Holland, coming from that country to America. They were of the Puritan faith and possessed the religious fervor characteristic of that people. Succeeding gener- ations resided in New York state, from which our

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

subject's grandfather, John W. Stevens, enlisted in the war of 1812. The father of the paternal grandmother of our subject was a Revolutionary soldier.

For some years Abram J. Stevens followed car- riage manufacturing in New York City. In 1848 he moved to Fond du Lac county, Wis., and en- barked in agricultural pursuits, buying a tract of land on which he raised various kinds of fruits, also farm produce, and at the same time carried on general farmning. He died there in 1895, when in his eightieth year. When the family settled in Wisconsin our subject was a child of three years. He attended the public schools of that county and grew to manhood with a thorough knowledge of every department of farm work. For several years he taught school during the winter months. In 1876 he came to California, after having for some years conducted a farm in Wisconsin. At first he settled near Rincon and engaged in farming, after which he purchased the government land that to-day constitutes his well-improved farm. He and his wife, who was Annie M. Cowhan, of Fond du Lac county, Wis., are the parents of six children: William E .; Flora V., wife of L. J. Goff, of Glendora, Cal .; Mabel C .; Albert L .; Edgar E .; and Charles W.

Public spirited, interested in measures for the benefit of the people, ready to aid in worthy movements, Mr. Stevens may indeed be called a good citizen of his town and county. His vote is cast for Republican candidates and principles, and his sympathy is always with this party, to which he has adhered since early manhood. In religious connections he is identified with the Unitarian Church of Pomona.

UTHER MILTON POWERS, M. D., who is well and favorably known in Los An- geles, descends from sterling old southern families, among whose representatives were sev- eral who won fame and honors on fields of battle, while fighting for the rights of the American col- onies. His great-grandfather, Ephraim Powers, a Revolutionary patriot, was wounded in battle. The maternal great-grandfather, James Murray, was born in Scotland and there served in the army; subsequent to casting his lot with the

colonies he enlisted in the American army and helped to achieve our independence. He resided in North Carolina, as did also the Powers family. The paternal grandparents of Dr. Powers were Kintchem B. and Tabitha (New) Powers, the latter a daughter of a soldier in the Revolution- ary war. They were lifelong residents of North Carolina, where Mr. Powers died at the age of eighty-five and his wife when about forty-one. The doctor's maternal grandparents were Nicanor and Mary (Williams) Murray, the former of whom served in the American army during the war of 1812.

William and Lucy J. (Murray) Powers, the doctor's parents, were natives of New Hanover county, N. C. His father, who was a successful farmer, died at the old homestead when eighty- seven years of age, and the mother died when in her seventy-ninth year. They reared to maturity six children, five of whom are yet living. Two sons, George G. and Nicanor W., enlisted in the Confederate army at the outbreak of the war, and the former died while a prisoner at Point Lookout. Nicanor W. is still living and resides upon the old homestead in North Carolina. Dr. Powers was born in New Hanover county, April 5, 1853, and was reared on the home farm. His educational advantages were excellent. He at- tended Wake Forrest College, a well-known in- stitution of learning, situated about seventeen miles from Raleigh. After leaving college lie went to Wilmington, where he took up the study of medicine with his brother-in-law, Dr. A. D. McDonald. In 1877 he was graduated from the medical department of Washington University of Baltimore, receiving the honors of his class.

Returning to North Carolina, Dr. Powers opened an office in Washington county and formed a partnership with Dr. Henry G. Lewis, which continued until the latter's death. In 1886 he removed to Norfolk, Neb., where he en- gaged in professional work for fourteen monthis. He arrived in Los Angeles, July 12, 1887, and for some time had his office at No. 107 Nortli Spring street, after which he located at No. 114 North Spring. His ability as a physician has been recognized in many ways. In February, 1893, he was appointed health officer of Los An- geles by the board of health, and was re-ap- pointed in 1897 and 1899. He has made a ster-

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ling public official and is entitled to great credit for the systematic, conscientious manner in which he discharges his responsible duties. For- merly he was identified with the North Carolina Medical Association, and at present.belongs to the Los Angeles County, Southern California and California Medical Associations. Every oppor- tunity for widening his professional knowledge he lias eagerly embraced. He has been a regu- lar reader of the leading medical journals, by means of which he has kept in touch with the latest developments in the science of medicine. He has taken three post-graduate courses: At Bellevue in 1881, College of Physicians and Sur- geons in 1884-85 and the Polyclinic in 1885.

In political views Dr. Powers is a Democrat. His first ballot was cast for the governor of his native state and other state officials, and his first presidential vote was deposited in favor of Grover Cleveland. He is actively interested in the progress and improvement of Los Angeles and has an abiding faith in its great future. His marriage to Miss Mary Ella Stevenson was solemnized November 28, 1881. They have two sons and two daughters, and their pleasant home at No. 829 West Seventeenth street bespeaks the refined aud artistic tastes of its occupants.

UFUS LANDON HORTON. That for many generations past the bar has attracted vast numbers of the foremost men of the age is a fact well attested by history, and that from its ranks have stepped forth some of the inost illustrious statesmen and leaders of nations no one doubts. At all periods since law became reduced to a science its expounders have taken a prominent place in the affairs of their day, and their influence often has survived them for gener- ations. In passing in review the members of the Los Angeles bar the name of R. L. Horton shines forth with the brilliancy of the possessor's genius, and the following facts in relation to him will doubtless prove of interest to his hosts of friends here and elsewhere.

Though a native of Michigan, where his birth occurred September 2, 1861, Mr. Horton was reared to manliood chiefly in Ohio, to which state his parents, Richmond B. and Anna M. Horton, removed when he was a child of four or five years.

His father, whose possessions in Michigan in- cluded large farms and mills, subsequently man- aged and owned a large farm in the vicinity of Wauseon, Ohio. His death occurred in 1894. In the schools of Wauseon the youth received his elementary educational training. After com- pleting his high school studies he took a course in the Dallas (Tex.) College, for he had accom- panied the paternal family to that city a short time previously, and later he was graduated in the Lawrence Commercial College, of Dallas, Tex. Subsequent to that event, which occurred in 1880, he engaged in teaching school, and finally was offered a position in the business de- partment of Lawrence College.

In the meantime Mr. Horton had determined to devote himself to the law, and, accordingly, he gave all of his leisure to study along that line. At length he resigned his position as a member of the faculty of Lawrence College, and in May, 1887, came to Los Angeles. Here he studied in the office of Judge Shaw, and made such good progress that in April, 1889, he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the state, having been admitted to the superior court several months prior to that date. His career at the bar has been of the highest honor, as, while vigilant in his devotion to his clients' interests, he has never forgotten that he owes a higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. His diligence and energy in the preparation of cases, combined with the earnestness and loyalty with which he defends the right as he understands it, challenges the admiration of his legal associates. He is forcible, logical and convincing as an ad- vocate, and his knowledge of the law is accurate and far reaching. An enumeration of even the most prominent cases which he has handled with marked skill would not lie within the scope of this sketch, but perhaps we may be pardoned for mentioning a few in which he figured most conspicuously, and which were followed with great interest by the public in general. These were the cases of the contest of the last will of Conception Aliniz, deceased, which consumed fifteen days before a jury in its trial, and which resulted favorably for Mr. Horton, counsel for two of the contestants; the case of Lauterback vs. Voss, which was on trial one week; the case of the Crescent Coal Company vs. the Diamond

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Coal Company; and Methvin vs. the Fidelity Insurance Company; the last-named case has recently heen decided in favor of Mr. Horton's client by the supreme court en banc. He is the attorney of several important estates in Southern California and elsewhere, and enjoys an enviable reputation for financial ability as well as legal skill. His pleasant and centrally located office is in the Henne block. His services are retained hy many of the extensive business honses and corporations of this city. Since his coming to Los Angeles, several years ago, he has been zealous in everything relating to the advancement of the city, and has been of material assistance in the good work in innumerable ways.

Largely on account of his former connection with educational endeavor, perhaps, Mr. Horton has always taken a commendable interest in school affairs, and has served on the board of officials having the Los Angeles schools in their charge. Politically a Republican of no uncertain order, he has frequently been honored hy that party. He is a great favorite with all who know him, and is identified with the Chamber of Commerce, Academy of Science, the Masonic order, etc.

The attractive home of Mr. Horton at No. 351 South Alvarado street is presided over by his charming wife, whom he married in this city July 15, 1896. She is a daughter of Dr. Joseph Kurtz, one of the leading physicians of Los Angeles.

ENRY C. NORRIS. The founder of the Norris family in America was Nicholas Nor- ris, who left England in 1670 and came to this country a stowaway on a sailing vessel. Settling in New England he took up the respon- sibilities of life in an unsettled, undeveloped re- gion. For generations his descendants continued to be identified with life on the Atlantic coast. They proved themselves to be loyal, patriotic citizens, ever true to the welfare of their country. One of them, James Norris (our subject's grand- father), was a soldier in the Revolution. An- other, James Norris (an uncle of our subject), was a surgeon in the United States navy for a number of years.

Nicholas G. Norris, our subject's father, en- gaged in manufacturing shoes in New Hamp-

shire, whence in 1850 he moved to Ohio; two years later he died at Sandusky. While in the east he served with the rank of major on the staff of a governor of New Hampshire. He married Elizabeth Blanchard, a native of Sandwich, N. H. Their son, Henry C., was born in Sandwich, N. H., May 1, 1842, and was eight years of age when the family settled in Sandusky, Ohio. At fifteen years of age he went to Springfield, Ohio, where for two years he was employed in a bank, but resigned the position on account of ill health. Next he became an express messenger on a rail- road running between Springfield and Delaware, Ohio, and continued in that capacity for a short time, resigning at the outbreak of the Civil war.

In August, 1861, Mr. Norris went to Camp Dennison, Ohio, and enlisted in Company A, Second Ohio Infantry. On the day of his enlist- ment he was detailed for clerical work at head- quarters and continued with the adjutant-general and the inspector-general for some time, also for six months acted as division postmaster. How- ever, ill health forced him to resign, and in 1864 he was honorably discharged from the army, after a service of two and one-half years in the field. After recuperating at his home in Ohio he went to Nashville, Tenn., and accepted a position in the quartermaster's department. Two weeks later he was appointed cashier of the disbursing office of the department, holding the position for two and one- half years, under various officers, and during that time disbursing $50,000,000 in payment for the purchase of horses, mnles, forage, etc. Finally he resigned the position in order to engage in the banking business in Nash- ville, Tenn., and in the latter he continued for eight months, a recurrence of poor health forcing him to seek another occupation. For a time he was an inspector in the internal revenue depart- ment at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was in Chicago at the time of the great fire and was engaged in the planing mill business in that city. While living in Chicago he married Felicia, daughter of John A. Packard, who for many years was presi- dent of the Frazer Lubricator Company of Chi- cago, and a man of prominence in business circles. By their marriage they had two sons: John P., deceased; and Harry C., who is married and has two sons, Harry C. and John P.

The first time Mr. Norris came to California

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was in 1875 and he spent five years in Stockton, returning to Chicago in 1880 and was employed by the Frazer Lubricating Company, and also assisted in the business of his father-in-law, who was ill. For a number of years he was thus identified with the lubricator concern. In 1893 he came to Southern California and the following year bought and located at Laverne, where he made a beautiful suburban home. Here he has since resided, superintending the management of his fruit ranch interests, yet finding sufficient leisure time to enjoy every comfort this genial climate affords. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lordsburg. Dur- ing his residence in Stockton he served as a trus- tee of the city schools and was active in local Re- publican politics. While living there he identi- fied himself with Stockton Lodge No. 23, A. O. U. W., as a charter member.

AVID C. McQUITTY, who was a pioneer in 1850 in California, is now living at La- verne, where he owns an orange ranch of fourteen acres. He was born in Hickman county, Tenn., on New Year's day of 1836, a son of Andrew and Mary W. (Craine) McQuitty, natives respectively of St. Louis, Mo., and Virginia. His father, who was born in 1808, descended from Scotch ancestors, and spent his early manhood in Missouri and Tennessee. At the time of the dis- covery of gold in California he determined to seek his fortune in the far west. Accordingly, in 1850, accompanied by his son David, he started across the plains. With a party of Argonauts he left Fort Leavenworth March 16, proceeding until he reached Hangtown, August 16, after a journey of six months in wagons. After a short time in Sacramento, father and son sought a loca- tion elsewhere, and settled in Amador county, Cal., later going to other points in the state.

In 1863 our subject went to Nevada, but re- turned the next year, and married, in Calaveras county, Miss Mary C. Hubbard. Immediately after his marriage he returned, with his wife, to Austin, Nev., where he made his headquarters for some years. In 1869 he went to White Pine, Nev., which was then the center of the great excitement caused by the discovery of silver there. From that time until 1882 he made White

Pine his home, meantime engaging in gold and silver mining, and also raising sheep, cattle and horses, and carrying on general farm pursuits. In 1882 he came to Los Angeles county, and for four years carried on business here, then returned to White Pine and resumed the raising of stock and also mining. When he again came to Cali- fornia, in 1896, he settled in Pomona, butin 1900 removed to Laverne, where he now resides. He and his wife are the parents of four children: Andrew G., Lizzie, James and David.

The political views of Mr. McQuitty are in sympathy with the Democratic party. During his residence in Nevada he was elected on that ticket to the lower house of the state legislature, and made an honorable record, serving the best interests of the state and his constituents. He also held other positions of trust. In 1898 he was a delegate from Pomona to the state conven- tion of the Democratic party at Sacramento. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Masons in Pomona.

M ARION F. DOUGLAS, a horticulturist of Laverne, and a resident of this place since 1887, is the owner of a farm of thir- teen acres, planted to oranges and lemons. In addition to the management of this property, which of course requires much of his time and attention, he also acts as secretary of the San Dimas Land and Water Company. He is inter- ested in public schools, and in the capacity of di- rector of his school district has been helpful in promoting the educational standard of this com- munity.

Dodge county, Wis., was the native county of Mr. Douglas, and August 31, 1852, the date of his birth. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch lineage, while his maternal ancestors also traced their ancestry to Scotland. He is a son of John and Sallie (Woodruff) Douglas, natives respect- ively of New York and Vermont, the former be- ing the son of a Scotchman who settled in Amer- ica, and here spent his remaining days. During his boyhood days he alternated work on the home farm with attendance at the neighboring country schools, and little of unusual importance charac- terized those years of growth. In early man- hood be married Olive Reid, who was born in

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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 78

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