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 117

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

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In 1845 Mr. Titus married Maria Benedict, who died leaving two daughters, Mary H., wife of Capt. J. C. Newton; and Clara R., who he- came a sister of the order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The older daughter was mar- ried to Captain Newton in 1866 and became the mother of two daughters, Clara Drysdale and Mary Titus Newton. At Saratoga Springs, N. Y., October 1, 1891, Mr. Titus was united in mariage with Miss Ella Crary, daughter of John and Ella (McKenna) Crary, natives respectively of Saratoga Springs and New York City. Her mother was educated in New York City and while visiting in Saratoga Springs met Mr. Crary for the first time. By their union three children were born, Mrs. Titus being the sec- ond. Mrs. Crary died at Saratoga Springs, April 23, 1888, and Mr. Crary, after many years as a merchant, is still living in that city, but now retired from active cares. Excellent edu- cational advantages were given Mrs. Titus in her girlhood, culminating in a course of study at the Fort Edward Institute in New York. After graduating she returned home, where she remained until her marriage to Mr. Titus. Her bridal tour was the trip across the continent to her new home, Horseshoe ranch, on San Pas- quel avenue, East Pasadena, a tract of fifty acres comprising one of the most valuable estates in the vicinity. The only child of her marriage to Mr. Titus was a son, his father's namesake, and who died December 24. 1895, at the age of three years. The death of Mr. Titus occurred April 20, 1900, on the home ranch, and thus passed away one of the honored pioneers of Los

Q. M. Stewart.

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Angeles county, one who as a friend, neighbor and citizen, had been faithful to every duty in life, and whose sterling integrity of character won the friendship of every acquaintance. Since his death the management of his properties has fallen to the care of Mrs. Titus, and her un- usual business ability is called into constant exercise in their supervision. Besides the home- stead, she has a section of unimproved land in Riverside; a section five miles from Templeton, the larger part of which is in wheat; six acres on Garfield avenue at San Gabriel Mission, which is under cultivation to barley; six acres on Rose avenue, Lamanda Park, which is planted to olives; and two lots on Agricultural street, Los Angeles. Her recognized ability in business affairs, coupled with her culture, has won for her a high position among the refined and successful citizens of Pasadena.

JOHN MARCELLUS STEWART. It is given to few in a corresponding sum of years to pass through the varied phases of life ex- perienced by John Marcellus Stewart, the key note of which is best expressed in a paper read by this honored early settler before the pioneers in September of 1901. In vivid and graphic fashion are set forth his impressions of the days when men's minds reeled with visions of limitless wealth on the coast, and when the vast western plains were intersected with slow moving forms borne past all deprivation and suffering by the internal fire of their golden dreams. So faithfully and candidly are his ex- periences recounted that the pages were filed away in the archives of the society, and pro- nounced a masterful exposition of happenings possible at but one period of the world, and in but one country.

A native of Warner, Merrimack county, N. H., Mr. Stewart was born April 13, 1828, and comes of Scotch-Irish ancestors, who were de- voted members of the Baptist Church. His father, John Stewart, was born in Massa- chusetts, as was also his grandfather, another John, and whose brother was killed at the battle of Stillwater, during the Revolutionary war.

ʻ The grandfather eventually moved with his family to New Hampshire, where he was a pioneer farmer, and where he died. The younger John during the rest of his life, lived on the homestead which he tilled and improved and which had been the special pride of his father before him. He married Hannah Dalton, also a native of Warner, and a daughter of Isaac Dalton, born in Massachusetts and an early set- tler of New Hampshire. To this couple were born six children, two of whom are living, John Marcellus being the youngest. Another son, Leonard, was a soldier in the Civil war, and lost his life as a member of a New Hampshire regiment.

The education of Mr. Stewart was acquired in the public schools of Merrimack county, N. H., and at Sanbornton Academy. At the age of eighteen he had qualified for a teacher, and en- gaged in educational work for about a year. In 1848, when twenty years old, he located in Columbus, Columbia county, Wis., and after buying land on the prairies engaged in teaching school. He, also, heard the tales of gold nar- rated by returned travelers from the west, and in 1850 set out with four companions, and with horse teams and wagons crossed the Missis- sippi river at Dubuque, Iowa, and the Missouri at Council Bluffs. The little band here laid in a supply of horses and provisions, and pro- ceeded by way of the Platte and the Southern Pass to Salt Lake and Humboldt, and arrived at Placerville, July 14, 1850. The danger in- fested journey consumed eighty-three days, and of the nine horses with which they started from Council Bluffs, and the one purchased on the way, four only succeeded in reaching Cali- fornia. For two years Mr. Stewart engaged in mining on the American river with fair success. and in 1852 returned to the states by way of Panama and New York, finally reaching Wis- consin, where he engaged in the milling busi- ness for six years. To facilitate his ambitious schemes he ,built a saw and grist mill on the Crawfish river, where was heard the hum of industry which indicated a deserved success. But as most returned who had once felt the charm and possibility of California, the miller of Wisconsin felt again the old desire, and in 1858 brought his family hither by way of Pan- ama to San Francisco, and settled in Sacra- mento county. For a time he juggled with the uncertainties of mining, and then settled down to the slower but more sure returns of mer- cantile business, as found in the sewing ma- chine trade of Sacramento. As time went on he had no occasion to regret this departure until the big flood left six feet of water on Jay street, when it behooved him to settle elsewhere. He therefore established a business in San Fran- cisco, and in 1864 returned east with his family by way of Panama, and visited Wisconsin and New Hampshire until the following year. By the Nicaragua route he then returned to San Francisco and engaged in lumber manufactur- ing for several years.

In 1871 Mr. Stewart became identified with Southern California, and bought seventeen acres of land in Los Angeles east of what is now Grand avenue and south of Thirtieth street, where he built a cottage about a hundred feet from his present residence. This property was set out in vineyards, and under the present man- agement was converted into a nursery which was maintained for about ten years. In the mean time the land had been sold off so that there were but ten acres remaining, and this

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Mr. Stewart laid out into the Stewart nursery tract, most of which has since been disposed of. He has built some residences on his property, and has an unusually fine addition.

In Columbus, Wis., Mr. Stewart married Me- lissa A. Fisher, a native of New York state, and of this union there have been two children: Nettie, who is now Mrs. Barron, of San Fran- cisco, and Grace, who is married to C. H. Hall and is living at home. Mr. Stewart is a Re- publican in political affiliation, and is a member of the Society of Los Angeles Pioneers. He is associated with the Immanuel Presbyterian Church, and is an ex-member of the board of trustees. Of recent years he has not discon- tinued his travels, for in January of 1888 he went east via the Central and Union Pacific Railroads and returned the following December to California by the Canadian Pacific Railroad. In 1890 he took a pleasure trip to Alaska, and it may thus be said that he has a most intimate knowledge of the country of which he is a typical citizen.

CLARK GILBERT WILKINSON. After some years of identification with various busi- ness interests in California, in 1901 Mr. Wil- kinson turned his entire attention to the straw- berry business, having previously started the raising of the plants. The five acres that he has planted in strawberries are in a thriving con- dition and give every indication of gratifying fruitage, in return for the care and labor ex- pended upon them. To assist in the cultivation of the land, he has his own pumping plant, and is thus enabled to irrigate the ranch as needed. The property is located at Tropico, within easy reach of Los Angeles, where the berries are marketed.

The parents of Mr. Wilkinson are Samuel and Sarah (Smith) Wilkinson, natives of Pennsyl- vania, and pioneers of Tropico, Cal., having settled here in 1885. For some years the father carried on horticultural and farming pursuits, but he is now living in retirement at his pleas- ant country home. Of the twelve children comprising the family six are living, Clark Gil- bert being the youngest of the number. He was born at Elburn, Kane county, Ill., March 18, 1872, and grew to manhood upon a farın. In 1889, four years after coming with his par- ents to Tropico, he became an employe of the Los Angeles & Glendale Narrow Gauge Rail- road, and within six months had worked his way up from news agent to conductor. After one year in the latter capacity he left the rail- road and began farming and teaming, but later opened the first plumbing establishment in Tropico. While still a boy he had learned how to operate gasoline engines by working the pump- ing plant on the home farm, and in this way he gained a thorough knowledge of engineering.

In 1898 he became chief engineer of the Tropico Water Company, of which he was an organizer and stockholder. After superintending the put- ting in of the plant, he continued as engineer for three years, and under his capable manage- ment the plant was greatly enlarged and im- proved. He is regarded as an expert in all matters concerning gasoline engines and is fre- quently called upon to set them up or repair them when out of working order. His inter- ests extend to the oil business, and he acts as agent for the Franklin Refining Company of Los Angeles, which handles distillate and lubri- cating oil.

The marriage of Mr. Wilkinson and Miss Orlie F. Saunders, who was born in Kansas, occurred in Los Angeles, and they have since made their home at Tropico. Their family con- sists of two sons, Miles and Irving. Though not active in politics, Mr. Wilkinson is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows at Glendale, the Maccabees in Los Angeles, and the Independent Order of Foresters at Glendale, being an officer in the lodge last named.

R. H. WILSON. This well-known citizen of Monrovia arrived in California with his par- ents when a lad of about fifteen years. At once the qualities of energy and determination which he possessed asserted themselves. With an acre of land, given him by his father, he began for himself, planting the tract in nursery stock. From that small nucleus has grown the Pioneer Nursery, which is one of the largest and most successful in Southern California. A close study of the soil during the past twenty-five years has given him a thorough knowledge of the same, together with a complete understanding of the varieties of plant life best adapted to certain soils; and this latter fact causes him to be often consulted by amateur horticulturists desirous oi securing a correct start in the business. His trade is large and extends all over the state, and the filling of the many orders received makes him one of Monrovia's busiest men.

At New Providence, N. J., Mr. Wilson was born March 15, 1859, a son of Joseph and . Elizabeth B. (Sayre) Wilson, the former a native of Manchester, England, the latter of New Providence. The paternal grandfather, Henry Wilson, brought his family from Eng- land to the United States and settled in New York, afterward removing to New Jersey. The maternal grandfather, David Sayre, who spent his entire life on a New Jersey farm, was the son of a Frenchman residing in America front youth. Growing to manhood in the east. Joseph Wilson for some years carried on a saw mantt- facturing business at Newark, N. J., but, hoping to better his condition in the west, he settled in California in 1873. For thirteen years he

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was employed in Los Angeles, and in 1876 bought thirty acres, which he planted in navel and valencia oranges, deciduous fruits and Eng- lish walnuts. The ranch is one of the most thrifty in Duarte and its prosperous appearance reflects credit upon the enterprising owner, who, at the age of seventy-two, is still giving personal attention to its management.

When a child R. H. Wilson accompanied his parents from New Providence to Newark, N. J., where he attended the common schools until thirteen years of age. Since coming to Cali- fornia he has given his attention to business matters, but has compensated for his limited schooling by self-culture and habits of close ob- servation. His first wife was Miss Alice Phil- brook, who was born in Bloomington, Ill., and died in Duarte, Cal. His present wife was formerly Miss Florence A. Campbell, of Illinois. They have two sons and two daughters, namely: Alice, Nellie Elizabeth, Chester Ellsworth and Charles Roswell. The family attend the Presby- terian Church, to the work of which Mr. Wil- son is a contributor. In fraternal organizations he is connected with the Foresters, Royal Arcanum and Ancient Order of United Work- men. In addition to the management of his nursery business and the supervision of his ranch of thirty-three acres where nursery stock is grown, he has various business interests, in- cluding the ownership of one-third interest in the Citrus nurseries at Duarte and a one-fiftlı interest in the California Rose Company of Los Angeles.

JOSHUA WOOD. The genealogy of the Wood family is traced back to the founding of Jamestown, Virginia's first colony. His great- grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier from Virginia. The paternal grandfather, Thomas, was equally patriotic and offered his services to the country during the war of 1812, but ere he had been sent to the front peace was declared. Becoming a pioncer of Ohio, he cleared and im- proved a raw tract in Columbiana county, and later took up new land in Lexington township, Stark county, where he improved a farm and remained until death. His son, Robert, though born in old Virginia, spent his life principally in Ohio, where he cleared eighty acres of wild for- est land, built a log cabin, placed the land under cultivation, and in time became a prosperous farmer. For years he served as township trus- tee, being clected to the office on the Republican ticket. He married Abigail Gaskill, who was born in Columbiana county and died at Alliance, Ohio. The family of which she was a member affiliated with the Society of Friends. Her father, Nathan Gaskill, a native of England, ac- companied his parents to America and settled among the pioneers of the southern part of the state, later going to Columbiana county. In

the family of Robert and Abigail Wood there were twelve children, all but three of whom attained maturity and five are living. One son, E. J., now of Anamosa, Iowa, and another, J. D., of Alliance, Ohio, were soldiers in the One Hun- dred and Fifteenth Ohio Infantry during the Civil war.

The eldest of the family and the only one in California is Joshua Wood, of Pasadena. He was born in Alliance, Ohio, December 3, 1829, and grew to manhood on a frontier farm in Lex- ington township. Among his earliest recollec- tions are those of seeing bear, panthers, wolves and deer. In the early days children had little opportunity to attend school, for every hand was needed in the arduous task of cutting timber, grubbing, clearing, cultivating and improving. The years of his youth had few recreations or pleasures, but he grew up, strong, resolute and clean-souled. Through self-culture, rather than any extensive attendance upon the subscription schools, he acquired a fair education, and at the age of twenty-one began to teach in the home district, where he remained for ten successive years, afterward teaching one year in Indiana. His success in educational work led to his se- lection as chairman of the township board of education, which position he filled for fourteen years. In the meantime he had bought and im- proved a farm of one hundred acres, and on sell- ing this he bought one hundred and fifty-seven acres two miles from Alliance. For six years he was a member of the board of county com- missioners, and for three years served as its chairman.

When the first call came for volunteers in 1861 Mr. Wood offered himself for service in the Nineteenth Ohio Infantry, but was rejected on account of a stiff ankle. The surgeon, who noticed that his rejection was a keen disappoint- ment to the enthusiastic youth, tendered him a position as aid in the provost-marshal's office, and he was delighted to see that much of act- ive campaign work. While he was filling the position, as he stood one day on guard at the door, he lowered his bayonet to permit the en- trance of a mere boy, who had just volunteered and desired an examination. It was this boy who afterward served so nobly in his country's cause and who, in later years, as President of the United States, brought the nation to a de- gree of prosperity never before experienced. The acquaintance formed in this unique way be- tween the guard and the recruit was continued in later years, and Mr. Wood took pleasure in serving as foreman of the first grand jury after Mr. McKinley had been elected prosecuting at- torney; also had the pleasure of attending the congressional convention where he was nomi- nated for congress. Among his most prized keepsakes are a number of letters received at

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different times from Mr. Mckinley. Among his friends he also numbered James A. Garfield, with whom he was well acquainted.

In 1889 Mr. Wood came to Pasadena, Cal. Two years later he was made foreman of the Pasadena road district, which position he has since filled. In his district there are eighty- seven bridges, and eighty-two and one-half miles of road. In point of years of service, he is the oldest road foreman of any district in Los An- geles county. The satisfactory condition of his roads speaks volumes for his efficient labors in the office. Meantime he has also engaged in horticulture and has improved his place with de- ciduous fruits. While living in Ohio he mar- ried Miss Maria Carter, who was born in Portage county, that state. They have five children. The eldest, Lorinda, is the wife of G. A. Winner, who came from Alliance, Ohio, to Pasadena, Cal., in 1887, and is now superintendent of Sta- tion A, Pasadena postoffice, besides carrying on mercantile pursuits. The other members of the family are: Belle, at home; Edwin Gar- field, who is tax adjuster with the Southern Pa- cific in Los Angeles; Mrs. Ona Spaulding, of Los Angeles; and Burdette, at home.

For twenty-four years, during his residence in Ohio, Mr. Wood was superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school, and for four years he also had charge of another school. He is now a member of the board of trustees of the church in Pasadena and at one time served as president of the same. From his earliest vot- ing days he has been an enthusiastic Republican, and no one is stancher than he in his support of the party. In Ohio he rendered service on the county central committee. In this state, during the candidacy of William McKinley, he did considerable stump work, and was especially careful to brand as falsehood a number of state- ments that had been made against the Repub- lican nominee. Both from the standpoint of personal friendship and party policy, he was un- ceasing in his efforts to enlist the public fa- vor in behalf of his friend, whose subsequent successful administration proved that he did not err in his estimate of his presidential qualities.

GEORGE B. WOODBURY, the secretary of the Verdugo Canon Water Company, at Ver- dugo, Los Angeles county, is of English descent and a son of George L. and Anna (Rich) Wood- bury, natives respectively of Massachusetts and Dixmont, Me. His father, who was reared and educated at Salem, became an undertaker by oc- cnpation. While a young man he joined a party of fortune-seekers for the Pacific coast, but did not long remain in California. He was married in Massachusetts and later removed to New Or- leans, La., where he was employed as book- keeper in an office. In 1860 his son was born in Monticello, Minn., while the family were vis-

iting there in order to escape the heat of a southern sumner. Soon afterward, during the Sioux Indian outbreak, Mrs. Woodbury had a narrow escape from drowning, while attempting to seek safety from the red men. A few months later she was bereaved by the death of her hus- band, who was then thirty-nine years of age. She was thus left alone in New Orelans, with limited means, and surrounded on every hand by the evidences of hostility which the near ap- proach of the war was developing. Being in sympathy with the north and desirous of join- ing her relatives in New England, she made hurried preparations to leave the south, and secured passage on the last boat that started from New Orleans before the war began. In her haste she was obliged to leave property and household possessions, and on her arrival in Boston had only $20 in her possession. For many years she remained in that city, but finally died in Maine, when sixty-one years of age.

The public schools of Boston, supplemented by attendance at the Maine Central Institute, in Pittsfield, Me., furnished Mr. Woodbury with an excellent education, which he utilized by teaching three terms of district school during winters. In November, 1884, he crossed the continent and established his home in California, where he has since been a devoted adherent to the state's progress and a firm believer in the constant growth and progress of his particular locality. Buying twenty acres at Glendale, he found himself in a sparsely settled community, where few attempts at improvement had been made. With the subsequent development of the iocality he has been closely associated and still owns the ranch that was his first purchase in the state. However, the land is rented, with the exception of his homestead of two acres, which is planted in fruit and vegetables for fam- ily consumption. His attention is mainly given to his labors as secretary of the Verdugo Canon Water Company, which office he has filled since 1901, having previously since 1886 been con- nected with the company as zanjero. He and liis wife (who was formerly Miss Alice Wright, of Pennsylvania) have a daughter, Anna A. In his political views he is independent, not bind- ing himself to any party, although maintaining an active interest in all matters pertaining to the local and general welfare.

JUDSON HORATIO WOODWORTH, one of the carly settlers of Pasadena, was born in the township of Wayne, Ashtabula county, Ohio, October 31, 1847. The Woodworth fam- ily, from which he descended, came originally from England and settled in New England. Ezra Woodworth, his great-grandfather, came from Vermont in 1804, and settled with his fam- ily, consisting of a wife and. nine children, in Ashtabula county. This family was among the

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earliest settlers of that region. They found there an unbroken forest, inhabited by Indians and abounding in bears, deer and wolves.

Ezra Woodworth and his five sons bought large tracts of land from the government, and clearing the forests from them, made farms which are known today as among the very best estate in the old Connecticut Western Reserve. Horatio Woodworth, a grandson of Ezra and father of J. H. Woodworth, lived upon one of these farms, and reared his family of six chil- dren, of which J. H. is the eldest. The latter, after attaining his majority, remained with his father, engaging in farming, general produce shipping and manufacturing. In the year 1886 he came to Pasadena. Since living in Pasadena he has been identified with the real estate, loan and insurance business, in which he has main- tained, either alone or in partnership with oth- ers, one of the leading real estate offices of the city. At present he and his son, Wallace S. Woodworth, are conducting an office at No. II South Raymond avenue.

Mr. Woodworth. has been for several years president of the Pasadena Orange Growers' As- sociation, and by his energy and perseverance has been a leading factor in bringing that or- ganization to its present prosperous condition. He is also vice-president and a director in the Semi-Tropic Fruit Exchange, and a member of the Pasadena Board of Trade.

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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 117

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