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 137

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

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into their home four adopted children, whom they carefully trained and prepared for positions of usefulness in the world. One of these was Robert B. Kanouse, who at the opening of the Spanish war became leader of a band and went to the front with the Sixth United States Cav- alry. In recognition of his bravery in battle he was transferred to the staff of General Bates, at the request of the general himself, who had occasion to notice the young man's valor. At this writing he resides in Madison, Wis.

WILLIAM F. POPE. Immediately after arriving in California in 1895, Mr. Pope estab- lished his home in Moneta and here he has since resided. A native of Missouri, he was born near St. Joseph, January 18, 1862, being a son of Robert and Tennessee (Spencer) Pope, natives respectively of Kentucky and Buchanan county, Mo. On his removal to Missouri Robert Pope took up agricultural pursuits upon a raw and unimproved quarter section, and for some years he gave his attention entirely to farm work. On removing to Leavenworth, Kans., he purchased a livery stable and this he operated for five years; his death occurred in that city. He was a son of William Pope, who was born in the vicinity of Louisville, Ky., and was a farmer by occupation. Late in life he accompanied his son to Missouri, where he remained until death. The maternal grandfather, Obadiah Martin Spencer, was born in North Carolina, and there owned a large plantation on which was raised tobacco and hemp. Removing to Missouri he took with him his thirty-six slaves, but the Civil war of course gave them their free- dom. On his arrival in Missouri he home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres, to which he added by subsequent purchase until his landed possessions aggregated seven hundred acres. At an advanced age he retired from farm pursuits and removed to Leavenworth, Kans., where his death occurred at eighty-six years.

In a family of ten children W. F. Pope was the third in order of birth. In the usual routine of school work he passed the years of boyhood. When starting out to earn his own livelihood he went west and herded cattle, spending three years on the lonely plains and frontier. During that time he traveled over much of the country from New Mexico on the south to Montana on the north. On his return to Leavenworth he took up farm pursuits, managing a farm for one-half of the proceeds, and this connec- tion with an uncle continued for twelve years, after which he acted as manager of a livery stable in Leavenworth for two years. From there he came to Moneta, Cal., and bought nine acres of unimproved land, which he has since placed under cultivation to strawberries and Logan berries, besides a tract of alfalfa. The

residence which he occupies was erected under his supervision and all of the other improve- ments represent his personal labor and over- sight. He owns one-half interest in a gasoline pumping plant located on his place, and of thir- ty-horse power, with a capacity of one hundred inches. The water from this they sell two and one-half days of each week, receiving ninety cents an hour for the same.

Before coming to California Mr. Pope mar- ried Miss Anna C. Drews, who was born in Leavenworth county, Kans., and is a sister of L. W. Drews, of Moneta. Her father, Rudolph Drews, a native of Germany, came to America at an early age and subsequently traveled over much of our country, finally establishing a per- manent home in Leavenworth county, where he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Further reference to his life appears in the sketch of his son, L. W. Drews. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Pope, Katie, Rob- ert and William, are with them in their Moneta home. Political matters have to some extent engaged the attention of Mr. Pope, who votes the Democratic ticket both in local and national elections. Among the offices which he has held may be mentioned those of school trustee and clerk of Moneta district. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Degree of Honor and Rathbone Sisters.

J. T. LINVILLE. The transformation of a barley field into a well-cultivated berry farm proves that the years of Mr. Linville's residence in Moneta have been industriously and wisely spent. On his arrival here in 1893 he bought ten acres and this he planted to some extent in fruits and strawberries, reserving two acres for alfalfa. The house which he erected on this property is neat and comfortable and is often the scene of hospitable gatherings of neighbors and friends. Mr. Linville is a native of Mis- souri and was born near Kansas City May 18, 1850, his parents being David and Sophia (Bales) Linville, natives respectively of Penn- sylvania and Tennessee. The maternal grand- father, William Bales, was born and reared in Tennessee, from which state he removed to Missouri, becoming the owner of one of its pioneer farms. In the improvement of the one hundred and twenty acres comprising the estate the balance of his active life was successfully passed. His life was prolonged beyond the usual span, covering about ninety-three years. When a mere boy David Linville left Pennsylvania for the then far west and arriving in Missouri began farm pursuits. His first acquisition of land con- sisted of a quarter section which he home- steaded, and somewhat later he invested his savings in three hundred and twenty acres. On the large farm thus acquired he devoted

MR. AND MRS. J. A. MAY

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himself to agricultural pursuits for sixty years, and at the time of his death was four score years of age. During the Black Hawk war he went into the service to aid other pioneers in defending their homes against the assaults of hostile savages.

Under the supervision of his father J. T. Lin- ville in boyhood gained a thorough knowledge of the tilling of the soil and proper rotation of crops. On leaving the home neighborhood in 1887 he came to California and settled at Vine- land, where he bought five acres. During the period of his residence there he married Miss Emma McIntyre, a native of Canada, and in 1893 they came to Moneta, where they now make their home. In his opinions regarding national problems Mr. Linville is a pronounced Republican, and this party receives his support in local and general elections.

JOHN A. MAY. It is indicative of Mr. May's enterprise and progressive spirit that, since he came to Redondo in 1890, he has not only conducted a successful drug business, but has identified himself with many movements for the benefit of the town. Included among his pos- sessions are six cottages on the beach, and he is also a stockholder in Redondo cemetery. In the office of justice of the peace he has rendered impartial and efficient service. The gratifying degree of success which has rewarded his efforts is particularly worthy of praise because he had no influences to aid him in getting a start, but all that he is and all that he has may be attributed to his determination of character and wise judg- ment.

In Delaware, Ohio, Mr. May was born Novem- ber 24,' 1851, a son of Bradford W. and Ellen May, natives respectively of Massachusetts and New Jersey. His father, who was a contractor and builder, settled in Delaware, Ohio, about 1840, and later followed his trade in the north- western part of Missouri, twenty-six miles from St. Joseph. The last years of his life were spent in Oregon, where he died. At one time he vis- ited California, but after a short time returned to Oregon. His father, Asa May, was born in England and settled at May's Landing, Mass. The maternal grandfather of J. A. May was John Van Liew, a native of New Jersey, of Dutch de- scent, and for years a farmer in Ohio. Thence he moved to Michigan, and later to Kansas, where he died.

In a family of five children, four of whom at- tained mature years, J. A. May was the eldest. His education was sufficiently thorough to ena- ble him to engage in teaching school successfully for fifteen years. Meantime he became inter- ested in the drug business, at which he served an apprenticeship, thus acquiring a complete knowl- edge of drugs, and when he came to Redondo in 1800 he brought his stock of drugs with him, cs-

tablishing the business which he has since con- ducted. Among the residents of the town he is well known as a far-sighted business man and patriotic citizen, who takes an active part in local workings of the Republican party, is also asso- ciated with the Maccabees, and is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Clara L. Davison, who was born in Lincoln, Neb. The two children born of this union are deceased. Mrs. May is a daughter of J. L. Davison, a na- tive of New York, and for some years the pro- prietor of a grist mill at Lincoln, Neb., but now the occupant and owner of a ranch at Green Meadows in Los Angeles county. Being a woman of ability and intelligence, Mrs. May has devoted considerable attention to acquiring a thorough knowledge of the drug business and her assistance is therefore of the greatest aid to Mr. May in the management of the store, his success, indeed, resulting not a little from her co- operation and counsel.

N. E. COWLES. Varied experiences in different localities have brought Mr. Cowles a ripened judgment and have prepared him to enter into horticultural pursuits with intelli- gence, industry and energy. Coming to Cali- fornia in 1889 and to Gardena in the spring of 1898, he has since made the latter place the scene of his activities, having in the year last named purchased seventeen acres of partly improved land and erected a neat and conmo- dious residence. By planting a variety of prod- ucts he has shown sound common sense and foresight. The acreage is divided as follows: Alfalfa, six acres; two acres in strawberries, two in blackberries, three in raspberries, one-half acre in dewberries, one-half acre in asparagus, one acre in grapes and fruit trees, and the bal- ance in pasture. An abundance of water is se- cured by means of a gasoline pumping plant with a capacity of forty inches.

Mr. Cowles was born in Amherst, Hampshire county, Mass., April 1, 1854, being a son of Jonathan and Sarah (Dickinson) Cowles, also natives of Amherst. His father, who operated a sawmill and also owned three hundred acres of land, died at Amherst in April of 1902. Hc was a son of Jonathan Cowles, who tilled the soil of the family homestead, the same being a tract which was granted to the great-grand- father by George III. of England. The Cowles family is of English extraction. Mrs. Sarah Cowles was a daughter of Walter Dickinson, a farmer, who spent his entire life in Connecticut. In her family there were three daughters and two sons, and N. F. is second among the four now living. He was given a public school edu- cation, supplemented by a year in a New Hamp- shire seminary. His first employment was as a clerk, after which he became associated with

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a paper mill, and still later entered the meat business in Amherst, Mass. During 1875 he went to Iowa and purchased a farm near Farm- ington, Van Buren county. However, not sat- isfied with the prospects there, the next year he removed to Texas, but after one winter in that state returned to Iowa and became a farmer in Taylor county. After a time he went to Storm Lake, the same state, where he followed farm- ing. The fall of 1877 found him again in Massa- chusetts, where he took up agricultural pursuits. Two years later he became connected with a tobacco-raising enterprise in that state.

On again coming west of the Mississippi river, in the spring of 1880, Mr. Cowles settled on a farm in Douglas county, Neb. During 1882 and 1883 he acted as agent in Hamilton, York and Pope counties, Neb., for the York Nursery Company of Fort Scott, Kans. On giv- ing up that work in 1884 he bought eighty acres adjoining the town of Valley, Neb., and the cul- tivation of this engaged his time and attention until 1889, when he crossed the mountains to California. His first location in this state was in Kern county, where he took up a homestead from the government and the quarter section thus secured was his home for seven years and still remains in his possession. After a visit of some months at his former home in the east, in the spring of 1898 he returned to California and purchased the property at Gardena, which he still owns and occupies. As yet he has not identified himself with politics, although he is stanch in his adherence to Republican princi- ples. He is connected with the Fraternal Brotherhood and the Masonic blue lodge, and gives his support to movements along similar lines for the progress of his community and the welfare of his fellow citizens. While living in Kern county he married Mrs. Leonora Battie, who was born in Illinois and in 1887 came to California in company with her father, S. O. Knight, settling in Pasadena. After two years they removed to Kern county, where Mr. Knight took up a homestead claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres. From there he went to Santa Anita as foreman of E. J. Baldwin's fruit farms, and in 1902 he removed to San Gabriel valley, buying a ranch which is now his home.

CHARLES L. STEBBINS. Throughout the neighborhood of Moneta, where he has made his home since 1897, Mr. Stebbins is known as an enterprising and efficient fruit farmer, and there are few who surpass him in his knowledge of the best varieties of strawberries and the best modes of cultivating the same. Immediately after coming to this place he rented six acres, which were already under cultivation to straw- berries. These proved to be of an excellent va- ricty and their sale brought him a neat sim. which was the nucleus of his later-acquired

prosperity. He bought six acres of land in 1902 and now cultivates altogether twenty-one acres.

Mr. Stebbins was born in Portland, Me .. January 6, 1867, being the only child of Charles H. and Mary G. (Lewis) Stebbins, both natives of Westfield, Mass. His father, who followed the business of cigar manufacturing both in Massachusetts and Maine, removed from New England to Colorado, establishing his home in Pueblo. From that city he removed to Ogden, Utah, and later spent some time in Salt Lake City, coming from there to California in 1895, and settling in Moneta. While the family were living in Springfield, Mass., Charles L. Steb- bins attended the public schools there, and dur- ing the vacation seasons assisted his father in the cigar business. During 1891, when the family lived in Salt Lake City, he worked for his father there, but the following year started out for himself, coming to California and taking up the berry business at Moneta. He was mar- ried in Oakland, Cal., his wife being Miss Mande D. Ames, a native of Downsville, Wis. They have three children, Ethel Marie, Charles Leslie and Inez Grace.

By all who know Mr. Stebbins there is no doubt as to his political views, for he is a very pronounced and active Republican, and always supports the principles of his party. Frater- nally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. As a citizen he supports movements for the benefit of his community and may be relied upon to give his earnest allegiance to measures of undoubted worth and progressive character.

C. SEBELIUS. The present home of Mr. Sebelius, at Gardena, forms a striking contrast, in climate and environment, to his boyhood's home in South Hällan, Sweden, where he was born January 15, 1859. His father, Johannes, tilled a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he leased for . a period of twenty-five ycars, and on which he died in 1880, at forty- seven years of age. He was a son of Christian Sebelius, a Swedish farmer, and his ancestors were farmers, as far back as the records extend. Since his death his widow has continued to make her home in Sweden. Until twenty years of age the subject of this article attended local schools and worked on the home farm, but in' 1879 he started out for himself, becoming a sailor on the Baltic and North seas.

Arriving in the United States in 1882, Mr. Sebelius found employment with the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company in its freight depot at St. Louis, Mo., where he remained for eight- een months. He then came to California and for a year worked in the apiary of T. F. Mitchell at Soledad Canon, after which he engaged in

C. W. Ball

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the bee business for himself. The year 1890 found him in Los Angeles, with little money and no friends to aid him in securing a good start. He secured an appointment as janitor at the State Normal School, and this position he held five years. With the savings of these years he invested in twenty acres at Gardena, and this tract he has converted into one of the finest improved ranches in the vicinity. The ranch house was built under his supervision, and the land has been placed under cultivation, two acres being in blackberries, one-eighth of an acre in Logan berries, and the balance of the property in watermelons, muskmelons and alfalfa. A valuable improvement made by him is his private pumping plant, of sixty-five acres' capacity, which not only furnishes an abundance of water for his own land, but enables him to sell some to his neighbors.

While living in Los Angeles Mr. Sebelius married Miss Amanda Charlotte Nelson, a na- tive of Sweden, and a daughter of Johannes Nel- son, who was a lifelong resident of that country. They have two living children, Marie Justina and Carl Melville, who were the only children ever born within the walls of the Los Angeles State Normal School. Another child, Edna Amanda, died in Gardena when three years of age. The family are earnest members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and are highly re- spected not only by people of their own na- tionality, but by all who honor integrity, progressiveness and perseverance. Since be- coming a citizen of the United States Mr. Se- belius has voted the Republican ticket.

CHARLES DEXTER BALL, M. D. A na- tive of Stanstead, Quebec, born October 5, 1859, Charles Dexter Ball received his literary educa- tion principally in the Wesleyan College at Stan- stead, while his professional education was ob- tained in Bishop's Medical College at Montreal, from which he was graduated with honors in 1884. Returning to Stanstead, he opened an of- fice and began a general practice. Three years later he came to California and settled in Santa Ana, where he has built up a large and profitable practice, not limited to the city itself, but ex- tending throughout the country. He has made the study of medicine his lifework. He assisted in the organization of the Orange County Medi- cal Society, of which he served as president in 1893. Besides he helped to organize the South- ern California Medical Society, of which he was vice-president in 1898. He is a member of the State Medical Society and also of the American Medical Association. A firm believer in the pub- lic-school system, his interest in educational work has been continuous, and for nine years he was. actively connected with the board of education in Santa Ana. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Blue Lodge of Masons,

also Orange Chapter No. 73. R. A. M., and Santa Ana Commandery No. 36, K. T. Politi- cally he is independent.

BYRON A. MOORE. While he is still only of middle age, Mr. Moore has become ac- quainted with life under diverse conditions and varying environments. As a boy he became fa- miliar with the long, bleak winters of Canada and Minnesota; in early manhood he had many thrilling experiences while living the rough and ready life of a cowboy on the western plains; and of recent years he has lived the peaceful life of a horticulturist in Southern California, own- ing a neat little ranch at Moneta. He was born at Oxford, Ontario, Canada, July 1, 1858, being a son of Andrew and Margaret (Stover) Moore, both of Canadian birth. His father, who was a general merchant, during the later years of his life was unable to engage in business, owing to poor health. It was with a hope of regain- ing his strength that he came to Los Angeles in 1886, but the anticipation was unrealized and he remained an invalid until his death. His wife, who was the daughter of a Canadian fariner born in New York, is now making her home with her second child, B. A., at Moneta. In the family there are two other children.

When his school days had ended, B. A. Moore started out for himself, and for five years was employed as a cow puncher in Montana. From there in 1887 he came to California and settled near Azusa in the San Gabriel valley, where he bought twenty acres. This tract he planted in oranges, apricots and peaches. How- ever, the venture did not prove successful, so he disposed of the property and removed to Moneta, where he owns a ten-acre place, mostly in barley. He is unmarried, and his home is presided over by his widowed mother. Frater- nally he is connected with the Knights of Pyth- ias and the Independent Order of Foresters, while in politics he is a Republican. Whatever of success the future years may bring him will be appreciated and deserved, for he has been a man of perseverance, energy and great indus- try, who has had no one to aid him in the strug- gle for advancement

D. R. HANCOCK, M. D. The family rep- resented by Dr. Hancock of Redondo is among the old-established and honored families of America. One of its distant connections was Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock. The father of Dr. Hancock was himself a man of distinction and ability, and not only filled the position of superintendent of the public schools of Cincin- nati for a long period. but at the time of his death was holding the high office of state super- intendent of schools for Ohio. In every posi- tion to which he was called he proved himself to be in touch with the highest ideals of educa-

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tion as well as the most practical advances made in pedagogy. By his marriage to Elizabeth Jones, who, like himself, was a native of Ohio, six children were born, one of these being W. F., a graduate of West Point, and now a captain of artillery in the United States army.

The youngest of the family was D. R. Han- cock, whose education commenced in grammar schools and supplemented by a complete course of high-school study, turned his mind in the direction of the science of materia medica and therapeutics. Deciding to become a physician, he matriculated in the Starling Medical College of his native city of Cincinnati, and there he took the complete course of lectures, remaining until his graduation. Having been born May II, 1870, he was still quite young when he came to California and settled at Redondo in the spring of 1894. Since then he has conducted a general practice of medicine, including, besides his private practice, the duties of physician for the Redondo Beach Company, and physician for the Independent Order of Foresters. Besides his labors as a practitioner, he has filled the office of city recorder for one term and has been active in the local work of the Democratic party. The Maccabees number him among their members, as do also the Foresters. Fond of the pleasures of life, he intersperses profes- sional labors with the various recreations that appeal most to him, and is a welcomed guest in the best homes of Redondo.

SAMUEL K. WOODWARD. The identi- fication of Mr. Woodward with Southern Cali- fornia covers a long period. It was on the 18th of May, 1868, that he left Austin, Tex., for the trip across the plains to the coast, wending his way hither with a party of men whose wagons were drawn by oxen and mules. A monotonous journey ended on the 12th of August, when he arrived in San Bernardino, and from there lie proceeded to Los Angeles in December of the same year. Entering upon the occupation of a builder, he continued the same for twelve years. and meantime (in 1869) bought forty acres near Downey, which he cultivated and improved. During 1879 he came to Gardena, where he rented a tract of farm land. Seven years later he bought seventy-two acres of unimproved land, on which nothing but barley had ever been raised. Here he has since made his home. The land is principally under alfalfa, although twenty-three acres are under cultivation to a variety of products. The house that stands on the ranch was erected under his supervision. Water was reached at a depth of two hundred and thirteen feet, whence it is forced upward by compressed air, the capacity being seventy inches.

In Jackson county, Ala., Mr. Woodward was born August 31, 1837, being a son of J. B. and

Nancy (Kitchens) Woodward, natives respec- tively of Lincoln county, Tenn., and North Carolina. His maternal grandfather was Sam- uel Kitchens, a native of North Carolina, and an early settler of Franklin county, Tenn., where he bought a plantation of two hundred acres and spent the remainder of his life. J. B. Wood- ward was in early life a planter, but later be- came interested in the running of a saw and grist mill. For some years he made his home in Alabama, but returned to Tennessee, whence in 1856 he removed to Fayette county, Tex., and later established his home in Mason county, same state, where he now owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.

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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 137

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