Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century, Part 103

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1366

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and is bookkeeper for Levi Straus of San Fran- cisco. She has been with the firm for over five years, and her services are highly thought of by her employers. Miss Hartman is a graduate of Heald's Business College of San Francisco, and commands a good salary in her position. Mr. Hartman is the agent at Santa Ynez for the Wells-Fargo Express Company. He is vitally interested in promoting the cause of education in his town, and has always been prominent on the school board. The first presidential vote of Mr. Hartman was cast for Garfield, but since then he has voted with the Democratic party. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 212, of Santa Ynez, is past chancellor of the same and now master of finance, and he is also a member of the I. O. B. B., of San Francisco.

WILLIAM HAMILTON, proprietor of the Ventura machine shops, was born near Thorn- town, Boone county, Ind., February 19, 1859. To an extent, he inherits his mechanical ability from his grandfather, William Hamilton, who was born in Ohio in 1792, and who was a flour and saw miller during his years of activity; also from his father, John Hamilton, a native of Ohio, who was engaged in the same occupa- tion. The grandfather was of English descent. and at a very early day left Ohio and settled near Colfax, Ind., where he conducted his mills for many years, and where he died about 1876. The father conducted his mills at Thorntown. Ind., and in 1871 removed to Marion county, Kans., where he purchased land and still lives. His wife, formerly Holland Veach, was born in Ohio, a daughter of John Veach, and of French descent. Mrs. Hamilton, who died in Kansas, was the mother of seven sons and two daugh- ters, of whom one daughter is deceased, her son William being the fourth child. Another son, Horatio, is at present conducting a ranch near Los Angeles.

From boyhood William Hamilton was reared to a knowledge of. the milling business, and he also learned the trade of machinist. His educa- tion was acquired in the public schools, and this. combined with a practical home training, ably fitted him for the responsibilities of the future. In 1871 he removed to Kansas and lived on a farm, and also engaged in running stationary engines and in manufacturing lumber. In 1888 he came to Ventura and for a time worked at the blacksmith's trade, continuing the same after his removal to San Luis Obispo. Upon return- ing to Ventura he entered the shops of the Ven- tura Machine Company, and worked for Mr. Johnson, continuing the same for seven years, after which he purchased the machine shop. remodeled it, put in new machinery, and started upon an era of uninterrupted success and pros- perity. While with Mr. Johnson, the firm pat- ented the only successful bean and grain

John Irving

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

thresher on the market, and the only combina- tion thresher which will thresh lima as well as other beans. Mr. Hamilton is personally widely known as the inventor of several im- portant devices of a mechanical nature, chief of which is a belt guide, and the Hamilton cylinder wrench for removing nuts on the cylinders, which was patented November 1, 1901. He has also ·manufactured and invented bean planters and general machinery, and is acknowledged to possess a more than ordinary talent for the work to which he is devoting his life.

At Marion, Kans., Mr. Hamilton married Eva Harrison, who was born in Ohio, and of this union there are six children: Bert, Mary, Deb- bie, Ray, Floyd and Nellie. The children are all at home, and Bert, the oldest son, is a ma- chinist with his father. Mr. Hamilton is a Re- publican in politics, and Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

JOHN IRWIN. Continually advancing to the front, and even threatening to overshadow the vast aggregation of interests in which Southern California abounds, is the oil industry, holding out such giant possibilities as to revolu- tionize the motive power of railroads and other aids to progress, as well as to offer inducements for speculation, with its inevitable loss and gain. Among the early promoters of the oil business in Santa Paula is John Irwin, one of the pioneers who prosecuted the business successfully in Ventura county. At present retired from active participation in business affairs, his rest is a well merited one, and is the sequel to a life un- tiringly devoted to the tasks allotted it.

The interest of Mr. Irwin in the production of oil may be said to date as far back as the memories of his youth, for his birthplace was within four miles of the Drake, the first produc- ing oil well in the state of Pennsylvania, which was opened in 1859. He was born in Cherry Tree, Venango county, Pa., May 4, 1841, a son of William Irwin. a native of the same place, and Eliza (Stewart) Irwin, a daughter of Elijalı Stewart. and a native of Pennsylvania. The paternal great-grandfather, Richard, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1740, and im- migrated to the United States and Pennsylvania in 1761, at the age of twenty-one years. The paternal grandfather was one of the early set- tlers of Venango county, and lived to be eighty- seven years of age. In 1809 one of his brothers, John Irwin, built the first gristmill at Cherry Tree, and the first sawmill in the township was built by another brother, Ninian, in 1823. John and Ninian were appointed justices of the peace, and held the office for many years.

When John Irwin was yet a small lad his father kept a dairy, and he became interested in stock at a time when the average boy knows

little outside of his rudimentary studies. At the age of eleven he bought and sold cows, and was as familiar with their good and bad points as are many men of mature years. By practical experience he also became familiar with the arduous work around a farm, and thus no royal road led to the success of later years. The death of his father when the son was but nine- teen years materially added to his responsibili- ties, for his mother, six children, and the man- agement of the farm, practically devolved upon his none too strong shoulders. In connection with his other interests had ever been that of oil production, of which he was incessantly re- minded by its close proximity to his home, and during the few intervals of leisure allowed be- tween his farm duties he worked for wages at the oil wells. In time he picked up quite a knowledge of the oil business, and eventually had an outfit and took contracts to sink wells, 'the owner of the well furnishing the boiler en- gine and wood rig, the other material being furnished by the driller. Gradually working his way up he in time became the owner of wells, and among the wells with which he became con- nected by right of purchase or development was the Old Sherman, which was drilled to a depth of six hundred feet by himself and an older brother. This famous old spouter had an in- dustrious career of over twenty years, and when its days of usefulness were at an end it was es- timated that it had flowed one million and nine hundred barrels, or about one thousand and two hundred barrels a day.

In 1880 Mr. Irwin spent six months on the line of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and among other undertakings drilled a water well at Tower City. In April, 1883, he came to Southern California on a prospecting tour, in company with Lyman Stewart, and immediately recognized the hidden possibilities of Ventura county. He ventured upon what is known in the west as "wild-catting," but which settled into a fine substantial business after roads were made, machinery brought from the east, and the general preparations perfecting for oil develop- ment in this part of the state. For assistance Mr. Stewart telegraphed for W. L. Hardison, whose interest became vital as his own, and in July, 1883, was formed the Hardison-Stewart Oil Company, of which Mr. Irwin became field superintendent, and continued in this capacity until 1887. He then went to Tar Creek, in the Sespe district and there was formed the Sespe Oil Company, Hon. Thomas R. Bard being a member of the same. In the producing of wells with a pipe line to the field, Mr. Irwin acted as superintendent of the field work, having com- plete supervision of the business of sinking the wells, of their production, and of the roads lead- ing to them. Thomas R. Bard was president and W. L. Hardison general manager. After

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the consolidation of several of the oil companies into the Union Oil Company of California, Mr. Irwin became identified with the concern as general superintendent, and was thus employed up to January of 1900, when he retired from active business life. His years of experience contributed to render him one of the most widely known oil men in the country, and his advice was often sought where the soil produced evi- dences of its existence. Nor must it be supposed that his field of activity was limited to oil pro- duction, for he was variously interested in the general development of his county, and was one of the organizers of the Santa Paula Hardware Company, and of the Santa Paula Refinery. He is a practical all-around business man, and has never. chased visionary phantoms which lead to disappointment and loss. He is the owner of considerable property in Santa Paula, and his family are housed in a comfortable cottage near the center of the town. He cast his first presi- dential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has since voted the straight Republican ticket.

In 1868 Mr. Irwin married Caroline B. Can- field, a native of Niagara county, N. Y., and of this union there is one son, Ralph, who was born at Cherry Tree, Venango county, Pa., September 9, 1874.

REUBEN HART. Among those sturdy and farsighted pioneers to whom the towns of Guadaloupe and Santa Maria owe a lasting debt of gratitude is Reuben Hart, than whom no citizen living in this part of Santa Barbara county is more respected. In his make up he combines those sterling characteristics which have wrought so exceedingly well when trans- planted to the greater opportunities of this coun- try, and which have their origin in England. He was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1843, and was educated in the public schools. As a means to future independence he learned the trade of carriage builder with the Stubbs Mann- facturing Company at Derby City, remaining there for five years. For a time also he worked in a manufactory in Swansea, Wales, and after immigrating to the United States was employed in the Erie and New York car shops for four years, where he was recognized as an efficient workman.

In 1868, four years after his arrival in New York, Mr. Hart, with his brother, also a ma- chinist, came to California, settling in Alameda county. At San José he entered the employ of D. S. Mills, as manager of his large wagon and agricultural implement manufactory. After one year he and his brother went to Castor- ville, where they established a general machine, blacksmith and wagon shop under the firm name of Hart Brothers. This association was amicably continued until 1878. when Reuben

Hart disposed of his interest to his brother, Thomas. The next combined effort of the brothers transpired in 1872, when they prac- tically started the town of Guadaloupe by erect- ing a machine shop and a large block of build- ings, and acting as sub-agents for the Guada- loupe ranch. They were very prosperous, and succeeded in interesting many home-seekers in the advantages to be found in the embryo. town.

In 1875 Reuben Hart severed his connection with his brother in Guadaloupe and came to Santa Maria, where he built a blacksmith, wagon, and machine shop on the corner of Main and Broadway, and the first brick building in the town, which is now occupied by Hastleman & Company, general merchants. He also built a feed mill, with steam power, and this necessa . rily placed him in intimate touch with the farm- ing contigent, whose extensive patronage lie for a long time enjoyed. In 1879 he still further branched out into mercantile enterprise by starting a lumber yard which was successfully conducted for some time, and in 1888 he built the Hart Hotel, a brick and stone building cost- ing $35,000, and 100x120 feet in dimensions. There are forty-three sleeping rooms, parlors, smoking and reception rooms, gas, hot water, and all modern conveniences. This hotel was admirably conducted by Mr. Hart for six years; he proved a model host, and had a fine reputation among the traveling public.

One of the most advanced improvements in Santa Maria which owes its origin to Mr. Hart was the construction of the water works in 1880. The water was pumped all over the town by steam from a well eighty-five feet deep to an elevated tank, and the supply was equal to all demands. In 1897 Mr. Hart bought ont the minor water works in the town, so at present he is in control of the entire Santa Maria water supply, being able to produce seventy-five thou- sand gallons daily. Nor do these interests re- present all of his responsibilities, for he owns considerable other town property, as well as the slaughter-house and race-track. He is foremost in promoting worthy enterprises, and holds many prominent town positions, among these being a director in the race-track and park as- sociations. He is in no sense a politician, be- lieving that party should have no place in the election to positions of trust in the community. principle alone dictating the people's choice. He has rendered valuable service in promoting edu- cation, hospital service and other public institu- tions.

In 1880 Mr. Hart married Harriet Sharp, a native of England, and of this union there is one daughter, Harriet, who is a graduate of the high school. Mrs. Harriet Hart departed this life in June, 1897. mourned by a large circle of sincere friends for her many noble traits of head and heart.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

JOHN W. HAMMONS. One of the pioneer and most successful insurance men of Southern California is John W. Hammons, who has been a resident of Ventura since 1889. He was born in Henry county, Mo., February 3, 1860, to which county his father, William H. Hammons, removed in a very early day, for many years afterward carrying on a farm as well as extensive carpentering and building interests. An in- dustrious and competent man, had his life been spared past its prime, he would undoubtedly have gained noteworthy success, but he passed away when his son was a small child. His wife was Snsan Williams, a native of Missouri and the daughter of a Kentuckian . who joined the ranks of Missouri's pioneers.

When twenty-one years of age John W. Ham- mons settled in the village of Salem, Richardson county, Neb., where in 1883 he married Miss Dora L. Valentine, daughter of George W. and Mary Jeannette (Gore) Valentine, and a native of Rushford, Minn., where she was reared and educated. Born of their union are two children, Harry V. and Ramona D.

For a few years Mr. Hammons was employed as clerk in a general merchandise store. Be- fore leaving Missouri he had served an appren- ticeship to the printer's trade and in Salem rapidly advanced in journalism, culminating with the editorship of the Salem Index, through the columns of which he exerted a progressive in- fluence for six or seven years. After removing to Ventura, Cal., in 1889 he continned in the same occupation and for a year published the Democrat, in partnership with John McGonigle, to whom he later disposed of his interest in the paper. Next he turned his attention to the in- surance business, in which he has since been engaged exclusively, handling life, fire, accident and marine insurance, representing in all thirty- seven fire insurance companies. His business is the largest of its kind in the county. He represents the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, which, through his efforts, is do- ing a large business in Ventura county. One policy alone, in November, 1901, amounted to $25,000, besides which every month brings many policies for smaller amounts, indicating the ex- tent of his business and the patronage which he has established.

As a promoter of enterprises calculated to ad- vance the general welfare of his community, Mr. Hammons has been prominently before the public. He was one of the originators of the Ventura Board of Trade and is always active in any of its enterprises. A Democrat in politics, he has a keen understanding of the issues and undertakings of his party and has served the interests of the same in various ways, including a service of seven years (1890-1897) as secretary of the Democratic county central committee. Fraternally he is associated with Lodge No. 613 B. P. O. E. at Santa Barbara, being one of its

charter members. In 1889 he became a mem- ber of the National Guard of California, was ap- pointed corporal, later became second lieutenant and afterward was promoted to be first lieuten- ant. At the breaking out of the Spanish-Amer- ican war he was first lieutenant of Company H, Capt. A. W. Browne commanding, and with his company and regiment volunteered for service, expecting to be sent to the Philippines. Com- pany H, Seventh California Volunteer Infantry, started for San Francisco, May 6, 1898, and re- mained there until December 2, of the same year, when they were mustered out at Los Angeles. When in San Francisco Mr. Ham- mons was appointed ordnance officer on the staff of Col. John R. Berry and served as such until he was honorably discharged. His first enlist- ment had been in Company D, Seventh Regi- ment, which later was consolidated with the Ninth Regiment, and Company D became Com- pany H.

CHARLES LEE KING, M. D. With all of the advantages which a splendid theoretical equipment can bestow, added to years of prac- tical experience in professional work, Dr. King embarked in the practice of medicine at Pasa- dena during 1893 and has since devoted him- self closely and successfully to his profession. He is a member of one of the colonial families of Massachusetts and possesses many of the traits which enabled those pioneers to overcome the obstacles presented by a bleak and unde- veloped region. His father, Henry J., a native of Suffield, Conn., received his education principally in Yale College, and later became a merchant of Medina, Ohio, also acted as as- sistant treasurer of Oberlin College. Remov- ing to Hillsdale, Mich., in an early day, on the establishment of Hillsdale College by the Free Baptists in 1853 he was chosen secretary and treasurer of the institution, and filled the posi- tion until 1860. From that time until 1874 he was cashier of the First National Bank of Hills- dale, where he added to the reputation he had previously established as an expert accountant. On account of impaired health he gave up this position and spent some time in recuperating, after which he was for two terms agent of the Indians at Leach Lake, Minn. From there he went back to Hillsdale and later returned to Oberlin, Ohio, where he died at sixty-seven years. In religion he was an earnest and sincere member of the Congregational Church. A man of classical attainments, all through his life he was a student, and the acquirement of knowl- edge, historical, scientific and commercial, formed one of the greatest pleasures of his life. Perhaps one of the chief works of his life was in connection with Hillsdale College, of which he was an officer for some years, and long served as a trustee. To his labors, together with a few other public-spirited men, was due

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the growth of the institution until it had gathered beneath its shadow many hundreds of young men, whom it prepared for the activ- ities of existence.

Three years after the death of Henry J. King his wife passed away in Oberlin. She was Sarah, daughter of Josiah Sumner Lee, who was born in Windham, Conn., and engaged in the drug business in that state. Later he re- moved to Ithaca, N. Y., where his daughter Sarah was born. His next place of residence was New York City. At an early day he be- came a merchant of Medina, Ohio, and from there moved to Hillsdale, Mich., where he died in 1880, aged eighty-two years. Fraternally he was a Mason and in religious connections a Congregationalist. His genealogy could be traced back in this country to the early part of the seventeenth century, when his English ancestors settled in Massachusetts. The family was represented in the Revolutionary war. Its members are now scattered all over the United States and are prominent in various profes- sions and occupations. In the family of Henry J. and Saralı King there were six sons and two daughters, of whom all but three sons attained mature years, and at this writing two sons and both daughters are still living, David H. having died at twenty-one years of age. The younger living son, Henry Churchill King, A. M., D. D., Ph. D., a graduate of Oberlin College and later a student in the post-graduate course in Har- vard College, now occupies the chair of systematic theology and philosophy in his alma mater, and, by reason of his exceptional mental qualities and wide researches, has gained a na- tional reputation.

In Oberlin, Ohio, Charles Lee King was born March 24, 1853. He was educated in Hillsdale College, where he completed the sophomore years, but was then obliged to leave on account of reverses with which his father had met. For a time he was employed as clerk and for five years was assistant postmaster of Hillsdale. Meantime he had cherished a desire to study medicine, and, carefully saving his earnings, he was able to apply them toward the desired object. About 1876 he began his studies under Dr. H. Harris of Hillsdale, and in 1877 matriculated in the Chicago Medical College (now the medical department of Northwestern University), from which he was graduated in 1880 at the conclusion of a course of three years. Returning to Hillsdale he took up the practice of his profession and also for two terms acted as health officer, continuing in the town until 1889. Meantime, for seven months in 1883-84. he was engaged in post-graduate work in the Harvard College medical depart- ment. From 1889 until 1893 he was medical superintendent of Alma sanitarium, and mean- while spent the winters of 1890, 1891 and 1893 in the New York Post-Graduate College. Com-

ing to California in 1893, he opened a private sanitarium at Sierra Madre Villa, and from there in 1896 came to Pasadena, where he re- sides at No. 70 South Euclid avenue. He was married in Monroeville, Ohio, his wife being Miss Selina Bath, who was born in Bristol, Eng- land.

Various professional organizations receive at- tention from Dr. King, particularly the Pasa- dena Medical Association, of which he has of- ficiated as president. In addition he is connected with the Los Angeles County and California State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. Though not active as a partisan, his politics are of no un- certain stamp, but are stanchly Republican. An active worker in the Presbyterian Church, he served in it as a ruling elder. Before leaving Michigan he was made a Mason in Hillsdale and is now a member of the lodge and chapter at Pasadena, also is connected with the Eiks lodge in this city.

CAPT. ISAAC B. HARDY. During the colonial period Benjamin Hardy left England for America and settled at Andover, Mass., where his son, James, was born and reared. The latter removed to East Strong, Franklin county, Me .. where his son, Albert, first saw the light. In turn the latter sought a new home to reward his manhood's activities. In 1855 he settled at Free- dom, LaSalle county, Ill., where he improved a valuable farm from a tract of raw prairie land. On retiring from agricultural pursuits, he came to Santa Barbara, and here his death occurred when he was eighty-four years of age. He had married Nancy R. Baldwin, who was born in New Sharon, Me., and died in Oakland, Cal., and two sons were born of their union, Isaac Baldwin and George F., the latter now a real-estate dealer in Oakland. Mrs. Hardy was a daughter of Naham Baldwin, who in early life was a seafar- ing man in the trans-Atlantic trade, and sailed around the world with his ship. Like the Hardys, the Baldwin family were early settlers of Massa- chusetts and removed from there to Maine.

At East Strong, Me., Isaac Baldwin Hardy was born June 10, 1843. In 1855 he accompanied the family to Illinois, where, August 16, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry, better known as Yates' Sharpshooters. Mustered into service at Springfield, he was sent at once to the front and took part in the second battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, 1862, after which the regiment went into winter quarters at Glendale, Miss. The next year was spent in scouting. Among the battles in which Captain Hardy took part were the following: Dallas, Dal- ton, Buzzard's Roost. Resaca, Adairville, Peach Tree Creek, Snake Creek, Kennesaw mountain, siege of Atlanta, Altoona, Marietta, and theu started on the march to the sea, taking part in

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Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century, Part 103

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co. Number of Pages: 1366

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1366