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 84
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A. M. EDELMAN is one of the well-known architects of Los Angeles. He has his of- fice in Blanchard Music Hall building on South Broadway. His services are in demand in the planning of buildings both public and private. He is the son of Rabbi Abraham W. Edelman, who resides at No. 1343 Flower street and who has long been prominent and active in Jewish circles. It was after his parents settled in Los Angeles that the subject of this sketch was born, August 19, 1862. His primary edu- cation was obtained in the local schools and after- ward he entered the city high school, from which he was graduated June 19, 1878.
While still a mere lad Mr. Edelman had shown considerable ability in drawing and designing, and it therefore seemed advisable for him to cultivate these talents and select an occupation in which they might be utilized. Deciding to be- come an architect he went to San Francisco and entered the office of a leading architect of that
city, where he carried on his studies for several years. After having gained a thorough theoreti- cal knowledge of architecture he began to gain experimental practice in the same. In order that he might have every advantage this conn- try affords, he went to New York City and carried on his studies there, having the advantage of a study of the methods of the leading architects in the United States. Afterward he traveled over the country, visiting all of the principal cities, where he studied methods of architecture in the construction of business blocks and private residences.
Returning to Los Angeles, in 1885 Mr. Edel- man began work at his chosen calling in this city, and here he has since remained, meantime building up a patronage that is valuable and con- stantly increasing. He has drawn the plans for many of the most substantial buildings in the city, among them the Spring street public school, Jewish Temple, Music Hall building, the county jail, several public schools, as well as other sub- stantial business blocks and elegant residences. He is a member of several societies and organi- zations, among them being the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants and Manufacturers' As- sociation, director of Concordia Club, director of Masonic Temple Association, director of Colum- bia Building and Loan Association and is a past master of Los Angeles Lodge No. 425, F. & A. M.
A Ģ LBERT W. ROCHE, the efficient manager of the Pasadena Consolidated Gas Company, was born in Chicago, Il1., July 5, 1848, being a son of Walter P. and Saralı (Wilson) Roche, natives respectively of St. Louis, Mo., and Indiana. His father was a manufacturer of tobacco and cigars in Chicago, where he settled about 1845 and with which he was for years identified. Finally retiring from business, he settled at Blue Island, a suburb of Chicago, and there his death occurred in April, 1896. He was of French lineage, his father having come to this country from France and settled in St. Louis. The Wilson family is said to have been of Eng- lish origin.
At the age of eight years our subject was taken to Blue Island by his parents. Afterward he at- tended the schools of that town until he was
Alfred PGriffith.
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sixteen, when he entered Chicago University and engaged in study there for two and one-half years. Subsequently he engaged in agricultural pursuits. However, that occupation was not congenial, and he soon secured employment in a different occupation. For ten and a-half years he was employed in the Chicago postoffice in various departments. In 1887 he resigned from the government employ and came to Pasadena, ac- cepting a position as secretary of the Pasadena Gas & Electric Light Company. As such he continued for nine years, during eight years of which time he was treasurer of the company as well as secretary. Resigning these positions in 1896, he returned to Illinois and for two and one- half years made his home at Blue Island. Dur- ing 1898 he returned to Pasadena, since which time he has been manager of the Pasadena Con- solidated Gas Company. He is a methodical, systematic business man, giving the closest atten- tion to every detail and thoroughly mastering the large business that is under his supervision.
Mr. Roche married Alice J. Kile, of Blue Island, Il1. He has three sons, Harry M., Fred W. and Frank K. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order and the Royal Arcanum at Blue Island.
A LFRED P. GRIFFITH. During the past decade no name has been more intimately connected with the development of the Azusa valley and its water interests than that of Mr. Griffith, a well-known horticulturist. Asan illustration of what men may do for themselves, even when their opportunities for improvement are meager, his biography repays study and in- spires the young to emulation. Starting in active life without capital we see him to-day one of the foremost meu of his locality, the owner of a large acreage, the leader of many important enterprises and a factor in the financial, business and social life of his community.
A resident of the valley since 1891 Mr. Griffith was born on the island of Cuba June 24, 1845, but was reared in Philadelphia, Pa. His parents, Richard and Sarah (Harris) Griffith, were na- tives respectively of Wales and Pennsylvania. During his boyhood he was a pupil in the Phila- delphia public schools, but at the age of sixteen he left school and began to make his own way in
the world, securing first a position in a large es- tablishment devoted to the saddlery hardware and carriage furnishing business. Later he was made a traveling salesman for the firm. His en- tire connection with that concern continued about ten years, and no employe was more highly re- garded than he. He also occupied positions of trust for St. Louis, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Cincinnati firms. From the latter city he came to California and bought the ranch of thirty acres forming the nucleus of his present property. To his original purchase he has since added until he now has about two hundred and fifty acres, much of the tract being under cultivation to citrus and deciduous fruits.
The improvement of his fruit farm by no means represents the limits of Mr. Griffith's energies. For a number of years he served as vice-president and a director of the Azusa Valley Bank and he is now vice-president and a director of the Azusa Irrigating Company. He also holds the respon- sible offices of president of the Glendora-Azusa Water Company and the Azusa Valley Lemon Curing Company. At the time he became con- nected with the Azusa Irrigating Company it comprised less than one-half of its present acre- age. In 1892 he assisted actively in the reorgan- ization of the company, which under his leader- ship increased its acreage to nearly four thousand acres within the district. During his early con- nection with the company as director he boldly championed what, in his judgment, was right, against any opposition that appeared and by his indomitable energy succeeded in the plans he laid for the development of the company's conduit, which during the term was changed from thirty- five miles of mud ditches to an equal length of cement or vitrified conduit. With the subsequent development of the water interests he has been closely connected. The question of irrigation, which has been one of the most vexing problems confronting the horticulturists of California, he has grasped in all its details, and by his keen foresight and sound judgment he has been a leader in the solution of this problem in his own neigh- borhood.
Educational matters have received the encour- aging aid of Mr. Griffith. Realizing the great value of a good education he has done all within his power to advance the school interests of his
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
county and state. For seven years he was a trustee of Los Angeles University, during which time his sympathy and co-operation were always to be relied upon in the institution's behalf. For three years he has served as a trustee of the Citrus Union high school, and during this time he has been honored with the offices of president and vice-president of the board.
By the marriage of Mr. Griffith, which united him with Miss Alice Black, of Baltimore, Md., he has one son, Elbert B.
CTAVIUS MORGAN. To one interested in the growth of cities, centers of a great and flourishing population, the heart of a locality's commerce and culture, Los Angeles pre- sents a unique spectacle. In view of the fact that a score of years ago the place, largely Mexican in population, comprised only ten or twelve thousand inhabitants, and that to-day it has at- tained to ten times that number, it is evident that few cities have been so remarkable from the builder's standpoint in the same length of time. Indeed, the visitor from the north and east is as- tonished beyond measure at the stately office buildings, the imposing churches, schools and public structures, and the miles and miles of beautiful residences, each embowered in rich verdure and flowers. Small wonder is it that architects and builders have been attracted here from all parts of this and foreign countries, and the sharp competition and rivalry which have, perforce, existed have doubtless led to the al- most unparalleled excellence of the various edifices erected here, especially within the past decade.
Octavius Morgan, a member of the well-known fırın of Morgan & Walls, is a native of Canter- bury, Kent, England, his birth having occurred October 20, 1850. He is one of the twelve chil- dren, two of whom are now deceased, of Giles Chapman and Caroline (Adams) Morgan. The father, who was born in Faversham, Kent, de- parted this life in 1861, and the mother, whose birth took place in Hern Hill, Kent, England, died in 1899, aged eighty-two years.
In his youth Octavius Morgan received the ad- vantages of the local schools, and attended the Kent Academy. Having chosen architecture as
his life work he went to Canterbury, where he studied with F. A. Gilham and made thorough preparation for his future. Coming then to Los Angeles he embarked in business, at first as a draughtsman with the firm of E. F. Kysor, and at the end of two years, or in 1876, became part- ner. He has been a member of the present firm of Morgan & Walls since 1888, and has offices at No. 232 North Main street, over the Farmers and Merchants Bank. They make a specialty of put- ting up large office and mercantile structures, hos- pitals, hotels and public buildings, and among the scores of structures of this type the following named may be mentioned: The Catholic Cathe- dral of Santa Vibiana in this city, built in 1877; the St. Vincent de Paul Infirmary of this city, erected in 1883; the Nadeau Hotel and Childs' Opera House put up the same year; the Los An- geles Abstract building (fire-proof), the Los An- geles Orphans' Home and the Redondo Hotel, all constructed in 1887; the Hollenbeck Home for Aged People, the Bullard building, in 1895; the Van Nuys Hotel, in 1896; and the Los Au- geles furniture building, Nelson Storey and Barker furniture buildings, etc. These exam- ples are selected from a list of hundreds, many of which are equally notable, but these will suffice to show the varied types of architecture, and the several manifestations, as needed in the different purposes for which buildings are designed. Mr. Morgan is past master of his craft, and is a care- ful, painstaking business man, strictly reliable and trustworthy. During his long career as a business man here he has retained the confidence of all who have had dealings with him, and may well be proud of the fact that he does business for men in Los Angeles to-day who employed him a quarter of a century ago. He has inde- fatigably endeavored to promote the interests of the city in every possible manner.
Socially Mr. Morgan stands high, and in the various clubs and fraternities with which he is identified, is justly popular. He belongs to the Hollenbeck Lodge of Masons and to Golden Rule Lodge No. 160, I. O. O. F., and is the president of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association. He also is the president of the Southern California Chapter of the American Institute Architects, and former- ly served in a similar capacity in the Engineers and Architects Association of Southern Califor-
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nia. From the time that the Temple Street Cable Railway was started he has been one of its direc- tors, and he also is a director in the Fraternal Building and Loan Society. He has been a miem- ber of the California Club for several years, and is a life inember of the Los Angeles Athletic Club of this city. Politically he is a believer in the policy of the Republican party and uses his ballot accordingly.
In 1884 Mr. Morgan married Margaret S. Weller, daughter of J. and Mary (Perkins) Weller, natives of Virginia, in which state their ancestors settled at an early day. Mrs. Morgan, who was born in Ohio, was reared npon her father's farm. Our subject and wife have two children, Octavius Weller and Jessie Caroline Morgan.
G EORGE F. COSTERISAN, who, by com- mon consent of his profession and the gen- eral public, stands in the foremost ranks of the architects of the United States and occupies a distinctive position in Los Angeles and Southern California, is a native of Pennsylvania. His birth occurred upon his father's farm February 5, 1846, and when he was in his fourteenth year lie accompanied the family to Wisconsin. For some years he attended the schools at Baraboo, and when the great Civil war was being waged he enlisted in the defense of the Union as soon as he arrived at the required age. From August, 1863, until the close of the war, nearly two years later, he was a member of Company F, Third Wisconsin Cavalry, and made a creditable record for fidelity and bravery.
As a boy Mr. Costerisan worked for a local architect by the name of Palmer, and upon his return from the war lie studied the business 1111- der Mr. Palmer's direction for a year or more. Then, going to Chicago, he was employed by C. P. Randall, an architect, for two years, and thus completed his apprenticeship to the craft. Prior to this, however, he had attended the Kin- ball Institute at Baraboo, Wis., for two winters. His first independent work of any magnitude was the supervision of the building of the Algona (Iowa) court-house, after which he went to De- corah, in the same state, and opened an office, remaining there until 1878. During this period he designed and built numerous structures in
various parts of his state and Minnesota and Wisconsin. Among them was a large mill at La Crosse, a church at New Hampton, Iowa, a sem- inary at Fort Dodge, schools at Janesville, Wis., Fort Atkinson and Waupun, a high school at Cedar Rapids, an asylum at Faribault, Minn., and one at Rochester, that state.
In 1878 Mr. Costerisan removed to Eureka, Nev., where he opened an office, and during the following year he superintended the building of a court house and large grammar school there. The steady tide of immigration to the west and its great promises for the future attracted him, like others, and in 1879 he went to San Fran- cisco. Thence he prospected in Northern Cali- fornia, and, finding an excellent business open- ing at Port Kenyon, Humboldt county, he con- ducted a dry-goods store there for two years. Subsequently he established an office at Eureka, Cal., and during the ensuing four years designed and constructed several schools, churches and business blocks. In December, 1886, he came to Los Angeles, where he was associated with dif- ferent architects much of the time until April, 1890, when he yielded to a growing conviction within his mind that for the immediate future there was a better prospect for him in Salt Lake City. Proceeding to that ambitious and flour- ishing metropolis he supervised the building of three schools, the cost of which aggregated $127,000. He remained at that place for about four years, and in November, 1894, returned to Los Angeles. His son, M. Ray Costerisan, was in partnership with him for about four years, aud, being a fine electrician, he is now employed in that capacity by the Globe Manufacturing Company, of the town of Globe, Cal. For a year lie held a position as chief electrician in the Henne block, in this city, and he is undoubtedly des- tined to become a leader in his line.
Since his return to Los Angeles Mr. Costerisan has disposed of a large volume of important busi- ness, and to indicate the fine class of work which he carries to successful completion a few of the structures lately erected under his supervision may be noted. He had laid the foundations of his present fame prior to going to Salt Lake City by the designing and management of the build- ing of four grammar schools here, and at Fresno and Bakersfield he was interested in the erection
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of two beautiful high schools, the former costing $65,000 and the latter $18,000. The Lincoln school, of Pasadena, costing $20,000; the Ven- tura high school, costing $15,000; the Santa Monica high school, costing nearly $20,000; the San Fernando high school and university; the Long Beach high school, costing over $15,000; and many others designed and built under his charge, are splendid monuments to his skill and superior taste. All are modern and models of comfort and convenience, beauty and utility be- ing united in a wonderful manner. The limits of this article forbid further mention of his accom- plishments along other lines of his profession. Suffice it to say that he is justly entitled, by virtue of long and arduous work and undoubted genius in his chosen field of enterprise, to a fore- most place among the architects of this gener- ation.
Mr. Costerisan married Miss Rose Powell in Decorah, Iowa, December 17, 1872. They have one son and one daugliter, M. Ray and Cora May. The family are identified with the Episcopal Church. Mr. Costerisan is a Mason, and was associated with South Gate Lodge, F. & A. M., and Utah Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., of Salt Lake City. He also joined Enterprise Lodge No. 15, I. O. O. F., and Unity Encampment No. 9, of Salt Lake City. Besides, he is a Knight of Pythias. Politically he was a Democrat until Harrison was a nominee for president, since which time he has been loyal to the Republican party. His first vote was cast while he was in the army on a raiding expedition to Spring River, Mo., and was in favor of Lincoln for a second term.
RANK E. ADAMS. In all those matters tending toward the development of the high- er interests of Pomona, Mr. Adams has been an important factor since he came to this city in 1890. Having engaged in teaching during a short period of his life, he realizes the importance of providing our schools with the best equip- ments, and he has used his influence toward that end. For four years he was a trustee of the Po- mona public schools and for one year held office as president of the Pomona board of education, these positions enabling him to carry into execu- tion many helpful plans in the interests of the
schools. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Pomona public library, which is one of the most complete institutions of its kind to be found in Southern California. While aid- ing in the progress of movements for the public good he has not neglected his private business interests. Horticulture, the principal occupation of this locality, is the one which he successfully follows. Since the organization of the Pomona Co-Operative Union he has officiated as its presi- dent and he is also a director in the same, as well as in the Pomona Fruit Growers' Ex- change. It will thus be seen that his interests are varied and important.
The family of which Mr. Adams is a member was established in America in a very early day, and among its most distinguished representatives were John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, presidents of the United States. Our sub- ject was born at Oneida Castle, Oneida county, N. Y., May 6, 1852, a son of Silas and Elvira (Snow) Adams, natives of New York, and de- scended from Massachusetts families. He pre- pared for college at Whitestown Seminary, near Utica, N.Y., from which institution he graduated at nineteen years of age. He then entered Am- herst College and took the complete classical course, graduating with the class of 1875 and re- ceiving the degree of A. B. Immediately after his graduation he was offered and accepted a po- sition as teacher of languages in Falley Semi- nary, Fulton, N. Y. Soon, however, he resigned the chair and gave his attention to the study of law with Judge R. H. Tyler, of Fulton, with whom he read for about eighteen months. From there he went to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, having accepted the chair of languages and math- ematics in Oahu College, Honolulu. This im- portant chair he filled for three years. In 1881 he returned to Oneida county, N. Y., but after a short visit there, in 1882 went to Humboldt, Iowa, establishing a mercantile business under the firm name of Ray & Adams, which was con- ducted for eight years. At the same time he served as a member of the board of education in that town. From there he came to Pomona in November, 1890. He is identified with the Pil- grim Congregational Church of this city, in which for a time he held the office of deacon. His po- litical views bring him into affiliation with the
Joseph Firenzell
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Republican party, whose candidates he supports with his vote and his influence. He has a pleas- ant home in Pomona. His wife, Mrs. Carrie E. Adams, is a daughter of Rev. W. L. Jones, at this writing a resident of Pomona. They are the par- ents of three children, Myron F., Carolyn A. and Eugene S. Adams.
OSEPH FRIZELL, who resides at Spadra, came to Northern California in 1859 and to the southern part of the state ten years later. A descendant of Scotch ancestors, he was born in Franklin county, Mass., March 2, 1837, a son of Marcus and Cynthia (Potter) Frizell, also natives of the Bay state. During boyhood he worked on the home farm, where he became inured to hard work and also acquired a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits. His educa- tion was meager. From the time he was sevenl- teen he had no opportunity to attend school, for his time was required constantly on the home- stead. Notwithstanding disadvantages he is now a well-informed man, for he has been a close ob- server and a thoughtful reader.
In 1857 Mr. Frizell started out in the world for himself. He left home and went to Minne- sota, which was then attracting attention as a possible center for wheat raising. The country was undeveloped. He took up a tract of land and began to clear a farm, but did not feel suffi- ciently attracted by the prospects to remain there. In 1859 he started across the plains for California, leaving Goodhue county, Minn., with-a large party bound for the west. The men joined two other parties, and with ox-teams and wagons pursued their journey, crossing the Missouri river at Omaha, Neb., on the 3d of June and arriving at Yreka, Siskiyou county, Cal., on the 30th of December, 1859.
As his object in coming west had been to pros- pect and mine, Mr. Frizell at once turned his at- tention to that occupation. He remained in Siskiyou county for ten years, coming to South- ern California in 1869 and settling in El Monte. In 1873 he removed from there to Tuenta, where lie remained until his removal to Spadra in Au- gust, 1880. Here he has since made his home. Besides his property in this place he is the owner
of several lots in Los Angeles. In his political views he is independent, supporting the men and movements he believes best calculated to promote the public welfare, irrespective of party ties. As an honored pioneer he commands the respect and confidence of his associates and acquaintances.
OHN WESLEY GAINES. During the long period of his residence in California Mr. Gaines has won and retained the esteem of his associates and the respect of his acquaint- ances. He owns and occupies a farm two and one-half miles east of Compton, where he follows general farm pursuits and also carries on a stock business. A native of Kentucky, he was born in Madison county, August 17, 1827, and is a son of John W. and Sarah (White) Gaines, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. His fa- ther, who was a millwright and farmer by occu- pation, died in Missouri, and his mother died in Kansas when about eighty years of age. Of their twelve children only two are now living: John Wesley and Benjamin Franklin. Mrs. Gaines was a daughter of Nathan White, who served in the colonial army during the entire period of the Revolutionary war.
The early years of our subject's life were passed on a farm, and he received his education in coun- try schools. At the outbreak of the excitement in 1849, caused by the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, he determined to try his fortune in the far west. Accordingly, in 1850, be set out on the long journey with an ox-team. After a journey of three months he arrived in the mining district of Nevada City, where he was engaged in mining for two years. About 1855 he settled in Santa Clara county. For eighteen years he followed the carpenter's trade. In August, 1871, he set- tled on a sixty-acre farm near Compton, and here he has since made his home.
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