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 80
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ARKIN Y. COOPER, who has resided in Pomona since 1893, was born in Ozark county, Mo., April 29, 1843, being a son of Absalom and Susan (Hedrick) Cooper, natives of Ohio. When he was about sixteen years of age he accompanied his father from Missouri to Kansas and settled with him near Fort Scott, where the family remained a short time. Their next home was in Lyon county, the same state, from which place they moved to Labette coun- ty, and there the father died. The mother had died in Missouri when Larkin was a child of only four years.
The education received by Mr. Cooper was such as the common schools afforded, supple- mented by reading and practical business experi- ence. While he was living in Kansas the Civil war began. Fired with the spirit of patriotism he determined to enlist in his country's service. A few days before he was nineteen years an op- portunity came for him to enlist, and on the 20th of April, 1862, his name was enrolled as a mem-
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ber of Company I, Second Kansas Cavalry, in which he served for one year, being on detached duty most of the time. From that regiment he was transferred to Company H, Fifteenthi Kansas Cavalry, in which he continued for two years. He served under General Conners in the Yellow- stone expedition, during much of which time he was engaged in skirmishing with Indians. He continued in the army for a few months after the close of the war and was honorably discharged in December, 1865.
Returning to Lyon county, Kans., Mr. Cooper took up general farın pursuits and the raising of stock. He remained a resident of Kansas and an active agriculturist until 1893, the year of his removal to California. While in Kansas he married Sarah E. Shockley, a native of Keokuk county, Iowa, and a daughter of William and Mary (Anderson) Shockley. They became the parents of four children, but all are deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cooper are members of the Pomona Methodist Episcopal Church and he is an official in the same. Politically he gives his allegiance to the Republican party. He is esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact, and, with his wife, holds a high place in the regard of the best people of Pomona.
DGAR J. SHARPLESS. Through the ex- ercise of his ability, and steady application to the work of developing his ranch in the vicinity of Whittier, Mr. Sharpless has been enabled to realize to a large extent his expecta- tions in regard to a residence in this wonderful land of brightness and resource.
A native of Marshall county, Iowa, where he was born June 30, 1864, he is a son of Benjamin and Deborah (Willets) Sharpless, the latter of whom is deceased. Mrs. Sharpless was the mother of six children. Benjamin Sharpless was a well-known farmer and stock-raiser of Powe- shiek county, Iowa, where he lived for thirty years before coming to Southern California in 1887. He is now living in Whittier in the enjoy- ment of all his faculties.
When two years of age, Edgar Sharpless was taken by his parents from Marshall to Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he grew to man's estate, and diligently availed himself of the advantages
of the public schools. This training was supple- mented by five terms of study at Penn College at Oskaloosa, Iowa. During his youtlı, also, he had occasion now and then to acquire considera- ble knowledge of business, which he turned to account in later years. In 1891 he came to Los Angeles county, and has lived here almost ever since. In politics he is a Republican. He has shown many evidences of his desire to assist in all that pertains to the advancement and well- being of his county and state.
October 24, 1895, Mr. Sharpless was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Crook, a native of Ironton, Sauk county, Wis. They have one son, Peter Edgar. Mrs. Sharpless is a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Parkinson) Crook, natives of England. In 1892 Mr. Crook came to East Whittier and bought forty-six acres of good land, which he set out in walnut and orange trees. He was successful as a horticulturist. For more than thirty years before coming west he had been a prosperous merchant in Wisconsin. Wherever known he was honored and respected. His death occurred March 3, 1898; his wife is now living in Whittier. They were the parents of six children, viz .: John; William; Sarah, wife of Lester Keith; Anna, wife of L. Butman; Katie, wife of John Jones; and Mrs. Martha J. Sharpless.
The Sharpless ranch consists of twenty acres, mostly under walnuts. The residence is commo- dious and comfortable, and the popular owner is esteemed by all who come within the range of his good will and kindly personality.
OSEPH J. BAYNHAM. Since the year 1887 Mr. Baynham has made his home on a fruit farm north of Lordsburg and has given his attention closely to the development of the property. He is the owner of thirty acres of fruit land, of which twenty acres are in his home- stead. His specialty has been the raising ot oranges, and the larger part of his land is set out to this fruit, in the cultivation of which he has become an expert. He has made a thorough study of horticulture, aiming to master all of its intricacies and to overcome all of the obstacles that interfere with a horticulturist's success.
Mr. Baynham was born in Calloway county, Mo., September 28, 1857, a son of Grief H. and
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Martha E. (Games) Baynham, natives respect- ively of Virginia and Kentucky. The Baynhams descend from English ancestors and the Games family originated in Ireland. During his boy- hood our subject lived on the farm which his father owned and operated and upon which he gained his rudimentary knowledge of agriculture. Upon reaching his majority he began for himself in the raising of farm produce and of stock. He continued to reside in Missouri and to carry on agricultural pursuits until 1887, when he changed his residence to California. His decision to change his place of residence he has never had reason to regret, for he has not only found a climate far more equable than that of Missouri, but he has also become the possessor of a valuable fruit orchard. He has never been a politician nor cared to identify himself with any party, but has voted for the men and measures in his opinion best calculated to promote the welfare of the people. Fraternally he is connected with the An- cient Order of United Workmen in Pomona. His life has been guided by the precepts of Christianity. He has proved himself, in private and public relations, a man of the utmost integrity and highest principles of honor. He has long been connected with the Baptist Church and for some years he served as a deacon in the church at Pomona. In 1883 he married Katie, daughter of A. P. DeGroff, and a native of Kentucky. The four children born of their union are Charles R., Willa D., J. Robnett and Henry Games.
EWIS C. MEREDITH. The various in- terests with which Mr. Meredith is identified have brought him into close association with the history and development of horticulture in Southern California. He came to this region in 1887 and the following year purchased a tract of thirty-three and one-third acres of land, almost wholly unimproved. This he planted to oranges and lemons. In a few years the trees came into bearing condition, thus greatly enhancing the value of the property. Through his successful and industrious efforts the tract has been brought to its present improved condition, and is now recognized as one of the best fruit farms of Laverne. In addition to its management he has served as treasurer of the San Dimas Land and
Water Company for nine years, is a director in the Indian Hill Citrus Union and a director of the Pomona National Bank.
In Wayne county, Ind., Mr. Meredith was born September 10, 1847, a son of James and Mary (Molsbey) Meredith, natives of Pennsyl- vania and members of the Society of Friends, our subject being a Quaker by birthright. Both the Meredith and Molsbey families are of English extraction. In an early day David Meredith, our subject's grandfather, removed from Penn- sylvania to Indiana, and his son, James, became a well-known farmer of Jay county, that state, where he died. Lewis C. was seven years of age when the family moved from Wayne to Jay county, and his education was obtained in public schools in the latter county, where he grew to manhood. When twenty-three years of age he left his Indiana home and went to Mills county, Iowa, where he carried on general farming and stock-raising for several years. During the period of his residence there he returned to In- diana, where he married Amanda Griest, of Jay county. With his young wife he returned to Iowa and took up farm work on the same place as before. From there he moved to Nemaha county, Kans., where he followed farming and stock-raising on an extensive scale. From that state he came to California in 1887 and settled at Laverne, where he has since made his home. In politics he is a Republican, but his time is given so closely to horticultural pursuits that he has no leisure for participation in public affairs, hence has never been a candidate for office nor sought local positions of trust.
EN. EDWARD P. JOHNSON. Standing at the head of one of the most extensive business concerns on the Pacific coast, and for many years associated with most of the ad- vancement of Los Angeles, in whose growth and prosperity no one of her citizens takes greater interest, Gen. Edward P. Johnson is eminently worthy of mention in the annals of Southern California, where he has dwelt for about a quarter of a century.
His father, Hon. John D. Johnson, came of one of the old and respected families of Balti-
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more, Md., and many of the line figured promi- nently in the early wars and struggles of that state. He was born and reared in the city men- tioned, and when he arrived at manliood he re- moved to the thien wilderness of Indiana, where lie established a home in the forest and cleared and improved a valuable farm. He became wealthy and influential in that section, and was frequently called upon to occupy local positions of trust, besides which he was elected to the Indiana legislature, and faithfully served his con- stituents. His wife, the mother of our subject, was Miss Sarah Bromley, of Maryland, also of an honored pioneer family there.
Gen. E. P. Johnson was born in Lawrenceburg, Ind., on the banks of the Ohio river, February 10, 1843. He was reared upon his father's farm and was educated in the common schools and at Moor's Hill College, a Methodist institution of learning. He had not yet graduated, however, when, the Union cause seeming to be in great dan- ger he abandoned his books and enlisted in the de- fense of the stars and stripes. It was August 19, 1862, when he was nineteen years of age, that he became a private in the Sixty-eighth Regi- ment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and he con- tinued to serve until the close of the war, being mustered out with the rank of captain. He took part in many of the decisive and important cam- paigns of the war, and at the battle of Munfords- ville, Ky., he was captured by the Confederates. After being in their hands for about two months he was exchanged at Chickamauga, after which he fought in all the leading battles of the cele- brated Atlanta campaign, later being assigned with his regiment to General Thomas' army corps, and under his leadership fought in the engagement at Nashville. Always faithful and reliable, he was admired and looked up to by his comrades, and esteemed by his superior officers.
At the close of the war General Johnson settled at St. Paul, Minn., where he was engaged in mer- chandising until the Centennial year. He then came to Los Angeles, a straggling town of per- haps eight thousand inhabitants, and for several years he engaged in mining and prospecting in this section of the Union. In 1884, the city hav- ing made wonderful strides towards its present beauty and greatness, the Los Angeles Furniture Company was incorporated. General Johnson
was one of the prime movers in this enterprise, and was chosen as president of the company, a position he has occupied ever since. The only commentary necessary to his ability and wisdom in the management of the business is a visit to the great and truly wonderful furniture emporium at Nos. 225, 227 and 229 South Broadway, said to be the largest house of the kind in the south- western part of the United States. The building is a modern one, four stories in height, and filled from basement to garret with beautiful furniture and house furnishings, of every style and variety, both in quality and price. From the start the business has been a success, and no small share of the credit is due to the efforts of the efficient president. He is a director in the Los Angeles National Bank, as he has been for many years, is president of the Union Mutual Building & Loan Association, and is financially interested in many other local concerns.
Fraternally General Johnson is very popular in the Grand Army of the Republic, to which he has long belonged, in the Masonic order and in the Loyal Legion. Actively interested in the National Guards, he was honored by Governor Waterman with appointment to the office of brigadier-general of the California State Guard, and was reappointed by Governor Markham. Later he was placed on the retired list, but not- withstanding this, he retains his earnest interest in whatever effects the military forces. In his political convictions he is a stanch Republican, but in no sense has been a politician, as his many other interests precluded his devoting much time to this line, even had he been so inclined, as he was not. The cause of education has found a sincere friend in him, and for two years he acted as a member of the Los Angeles school board.
At the close of the Civil war General Johnson was united in marriage with Miss A. F. Blasdel, of Lawrenceburg, Ind., his home town, the ceremony being solemnized September 7, 1865. They are the parents of four living children. The two daughters are named, respectively, Sadie and Gertrude, and the sons are Edward P., Jr., freight agent for the Grand Trunk Railroad Com- pany, in this city, and Benjamin F., who holds the rank of captain in the United States army, and is in the quartermaster's department. Gen- eral Johnson has afforded his children excellent
L.D. Hollingsworth
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educational advantages, and he has just cause for pride in each member of his family. He has been fortunate in the acquisition of wealth, and has been liberal in its use and distribution.
AWSON D. HOLLINGSWORTH, whose pleasant home is situated near the corner of Colorado and Hollister avenues, is one of the oldest and most substantial citizens of Pasa- dena. The family of which he is a member was one of the first to settle in colonial America. He descends directly from Valentine Hollingsworth, who accompanied William Penn to America on the good ship Welcome, and in 1682 settled in Newcastle county, Del .; subsequently he was intimately identified with the rise and progress of the Society of Friends. He married Catherine, daughter of Hugh Cornish, high sheriff of Lon- don, who, during the reign of James II, was ex- ecuted October 23, 1685. Eleven children were born of their marriage. The eldest son, Thomas, became a resident of Winchester, Va., and there died about 1732. He was twice married. To his first marriage a son, Abraham, was born Janu- ary 19, 1686. The latter married Ann Robinson; he died in 1748 and she a year later. They left four children, of whom George married Hannah McCoy, of Virginia; Margaret became the wife of Benjamin Carter, of Virginia; Lydia married Lewis Neill; and Isaac chose as his wife Rachel Parkins, of Virginia.
Next in line of descent was George Hollings- wortlı, whose children by his first marriage were Joseph, Isaac, Robert, Abraham and Ann. Jos- eph was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Frost and his second Margaret Hammer; he made his home at Bush River, Va. Isaac married Susanna Wright and settled in Soutlı Carolina. Robert married Susanna Rice and made his home in Winchester, Va. Abraham married Margaret Wright and moved to Ohio. Ann became the wife of a Mr. Brock. After the death of his first wife George Hollings- worth was again married. To his second marriage the following-named children were born: James, who married Sarah Wright; Henry, whose wife was Saralı Cook; George,
who married Jane Henry; John, who was united with Rachel Wright; Nathan, who died unmar- ried; and Mrs. Susanna Mott.
The line of descent is traced through John Hollingsworth, who married Rachel Wright and died in Ohio in 1807. His children were: James, who in 1818 married Esther Cadwallader; Henry, whose first wife was Addie Skinner, daughter of a Revolutionary soldier; Jane, Mrs. John Cammack; Charity, wife of Jonathan Cox; John, who married Mary Vestal; Nathan, whose wife was Elizabeth Vestal; George, who married Jane Henry; Hannah, Mrs. Samuel Cammack; Joseph, whose first wife was Rachel Vestal and his second, Adaline Bell.
The subject of this sketchi was born in Warren county, Ohio, June 14, 1823, a son of Henry and Addie (Skinner) Hollingsworth. He spent the first nine years of his life on his father's farm in Warren county, and then accompanied the family to Richmond, Ind., where he attended the com- mon schools. Early in life he apprenticed him- self to the millwright's trade, which he followed until about 1847. December 19, 1844, he mar- ried Miss Lucinda Maudlin, who was born in Wayne county, Ind. Both were spared to cele- brate, in health and happiness, the occasion of their golden wedding, at which time their Pasa- dena home was the scene of a family reunion, some relatives coming from Iowa purposely to attend the celebration. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, viz .: Henry T., who was the first postmaster and one of the first merchants of Pasadena, and is now living in Los Angeles; Arthur S .; Ellen, wife of William Vore; and Jennie E., wife of Joshna Reed Giddings, all of Pasadena.
In March, 1845, Mr. Hollingsworth and his wife removed to Henderson county, Ill. His last work as a millwright was the erection of a mill at Oqnawka for his uncle. Soon afterward he rented a farm in Peoria county and remained there until 1853. He then crossed the Missis- sippi river into Iowa and settled on a farm near Iowa City. While he devoted considerable time to raising grain lie also gave much of lis time to the nursery business, in which he acquired such a reputation that people came from long distances for the purpose of securing a fine grade of nur- sery stock. After a time he gave his entire at-
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tention to the production of fruit stock and made he taught school for about four years. Thus, at his headquarters in West Branch, Iowa. In an early age, he learned habits of industry, economy and perseverance. 1876 he came to Pasadena, traveling almost the entire distance by train, but staging the last one hundred and thirty miles of the journey. At once after reaching this place he bought ten acres near the present site of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This property he placed under cultiva- tion. He engaged in its improvement nntil ill- health forced him to relinquish active labors. After years of industrious and successful effort he is now living in retirement. His course in life has been so honorable and upright that every acquaintance has been made a friend and every associate a well-wisher. It has been his princi- ple to identify himself with public affairs, not with a view to office-seeking, but for the purpose of promoting the public welfare. He is a stanch Republican in politics. His first presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay. For several years he served as a trustee of the Pasadena schools. In religious belief he and his family are identified with the Society of Friends.
HERMAN SMITH. Although the period of his connection, as superintendent, with the Whittier state school has been con- paratively brief, Mr. Smith has won the com- mendatiou of those interested in the institution, for he has proved himself to be admirably quali- fied for the heavy responsibilities of the position. Possessing determination of will, decision of pur- pose, keen intuition and broad information, his appointment as superintendent of the school, July 1, 1899, was felt to be wise by all concerned.
The paternal ancestors of Mr. Smith came from Scotland in an early day and settled in New England. He was born at Skowhegan, Me., December 24, 1850, a son of Obed W. and So- phronia R. (Frenchi) Smith, also natives of Maine. His paternal grandfather, Elijah Smith, was the son of a Revolutionary soldier, and was himself a soldier in the war of 1812. It will thus be seen that a patriotic spirit is one of the family characteristics. When he was a boy our subject was given the best educational advantages within the means of his parents. He was educated in the public schools and Maine Wesleyan Semi- nary, Kent's Hill, Me., and after leaving school
On leaving Maine Mr. Smith went to Boston, Mass., and for nearly eight years was engaged in manufacturing, and as a commercial traveler. For nine years afterward he was identified with the Union Straw Works at Foxboro, Mass. Both of these positions he filled creditably to himself. In 1886 he crossed the continent to California and settled in Los Angeles, where, with the ex- ception of one year, he continued to reside until his removal to Whittier, in 1899. He soon be- came well known among the citizens of Los An- geles. His fitness for official duties was rec- ognized by his appointment as deputy county clerk of Los Angeles county, under T. E. Newlin, who at the time was county clerk. That office he filled for four years, and for two years he was deputy city assessor of Los Angeles. In politics he is a stanch Republican and always votes for the principles of his party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge at Whittier, the Knights of Pythias at Los Angeles, the In- dependent Order of Foresters in Los Angeles, and is a charter member of Tent No. 2, Knights of Maccabees. By his marriage to Sarah E. Smith, of Skowhegan, Me., he had two children, but the daughter, Annie J., alone survives, the son, Sherman C., having died in infancy. .
G EORGE M. BULLOCK. Before coming to his present ranch near Rivera, in 1888, Mr. Bullock lived for a short time in what is now Riverside county, having come from New Hampshire in the spring of 1875. During the latter part of the same year he took up his resi- dence in the Los Nietos valley, and there owned twenty acres, which he sold John Moyse. Later he settled upon the ranch which has since been a source of pride and revenne to him. His home ranch is composed of twenty-four acres, mostly under walnuts, and he owns a ninety-three- acre ranch under walnuts and alfalfa, and partly used for patronage. In addition, he is the pos- sessor of twenty acres of land at Santa Fe Springs.
A native of Grafton county, N. H., he was born February 18, 1853, and is a son of Bradford
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and Lovina (Gale) Bullock, natives of New Hampshire. The Bullock family is said to be of English extraction. George M. was reared on his father's farm and educated in the district school and the high school of his neighborhood. He assisted his father in his duties around the farm and became an experienced agriculturist, leaving the home interests only when he felt that in the far west he could better his prospects for the future.
Mr. Bullock was twice married; his first wife was Mary Haynes, of Los Angeles county, and to this couple were born seven children, six of whom are living: Ella D., Fred G., Lela, Clar- ence E., Earl H. and Delbert. Tessie is deceased. Mr. Bullock was married a second time, choosing as his wife Elmira Conway, also of Los Angeles county, but formerly of Minnesota. To this couple have been born two children: Glen C. and Evelyn L. Mr. Bullock is a member of the Los Nietos and Ranchito Walnut Growers' Associa- tion, and is also identified with other institutions that have helped to develop the locality. Frater- nally he is associated with the Independent Order of Foresters at Rivera, Cal., being a charter member of the same.
Mr. Bullock is one of the most esteemed of the settlers around Rivera, and has during his resi- dence here impressed his personality and influ- ence upon the community.
ACOB FRANK LOBINGIER. There are few occupations so fascinating as that of horticulture. Especially is this true in California, where the horticulturist finds the added charm of a delightful climate and beautiful scenery. One of the best-known fruit belts in Southern California is in the vicinity of Pomona, and the men who have bought land here and cultivated orchards are indeed fortunate. Since 1888 Mr. Lobingier has engaged in fruit raising at his present homestead on Cucamonga avenue, and his orchard of twenty acres, with its rows of orange, lemon and apricot trees, forms one of the attractive pictures that this landscape affords.
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