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 155

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

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OTMAR BAUER. The name of Otmar Bauer conveys a sense of security and solidity from both a commercial and social standpoint, and illustrates in emphatic manner the possibil- ities behind sterling integrity combined with financial and executive ability. A native of Adrian, Mich., he was born November 16, 1848, and was the youngest in a family of three sons and five daughters. His parents, L. and Caro- line Bauer, were both born near Stuttgart. Wurtemberg. The father came to America in 1848, settling on a farm in the vicinity of Adrian, Mich., where he was a pioneer. He died ten years after taking up his residence among the Michigan agriculturists.

In his youth Mr. Bauer had few of the ad- vantages now at the disposal of the rising gen- eration, and his education at the district schools near Adrian was limited because of many arduous home duties. At the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to a tinner in Adrian, and after completing his trade, began to look around for a desirable field of activity. In 1866 he went to Iowa and investigated the chances of liveli- hood, but soon started overland to Oregon, and got as far as Laramie, where illness interfered for the time being with further progress. The better to regain his health he returned to Iowa. and from there went to the copper mines of Michigan in the fall of 1867, locating in the Lake Superior region at Keweenaw Point. This venture proved remarkably successful, and in time he assisted in the re-organization of the Copper Falls Mining Company, of which he was subsequently surface superintendent for eighteen or twenty years. In the meantime his life had expanded into various channels of

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activity, and one year had been spent in travel throughout the west. In 1879 he was one of the active and interested spectators of the great Leadville boom, from which he realized a larger profit than fell to the share of the majority who thought to make a quick fortune.

In 1898 Mr. Bauer became interested in the horticultural possibilities of the peach belt in Allegan county, Mich., and was fairly success- ful up to the time of his removal to Los Angeles in 1891. Upon coming here he purchased five acres of land on Thirtieth street, and an addi- tional five acres on Twenty-eighth street, since which many valuable pieces of city and county property have come into his possession. He is the owner of ninety acres of land on West Adams street, adjacent to the city limits, and laid out the Juanita tract of five acres on West Twenty-eighth street, nearly all of which has since been built up. At present he is interested in perfecting plans for the Bauer tract of five acres on Thirtieth street, which promises to be a distinct addition to the available and desirable building properties of that part of the city. Mr. Bauer is a stockholder in the Los Angeles Edi- son Electric Company, and is still interested in various mining companies in Michigan and the west.

In Marquette, Mich., Mr. Bauer married Anna K. Warner, who was born near Adrian, Mich. Of this union there are three children, viz .: Alice R., who is now Mrs. Kelts, of Los Angeles; Nora A., who is attending the Ramona College; and Owen W. Mr. Bauer is a Re- publican in political affiliation, and is fraternally connected with the Masons at Eagle River, Mich. In the promotion for all worthy enter- prises in Los Angeles he may be counted on to contribute his practical aid, and his liberality and good judgment indicate the man of broad idcas, and ready understanding of the needs of a cosmopolitan community.

F. O. ENGSTRUM. In Sweden's beautiful capital city, Stockholm, Mr. Engstrum was born January 4, 1848, the youngest among the three children of Col. Frederick and Christine Eng- strum, the former an officer in the Swedish army and a member of a very old family there. The family being in comfortable circumstances, the son was given good educational advantages. While still a boy, he began to learn the car- penter's trade under his father, who was a con- tractor and had a large shop. Later he fol- lowed the national custom of serving for three years in the army. The year 1871 found him in New York City, ambitious to try his fortune in the new world, with its vast opportunities. From that city he went to Louisiana and four months later settled in Houston, Tex., later fol- lowing the carpenter's trade in Palestine, the

same state, and thence going to Fort Worth, where he had the contracts for the warehouse of J. H. Brown, the First National Bank and many other large buildings.

Coming to California in 1886, Mr. Engstrum began contracting in San Diego, but soon re- moved to Escondido, where he built the princi- pal residences, churches and banks, also the high and grammar school buildings. From there he came to Los Angeles in 1892 and has since built up a large business as a contractor in this city, where he has his office at No. 530 Byrne building. He was engaged in the erec- tion of the Stimson building, the Posey and Hellman residences, the home of John J. Fay, Jr., on Adams street and Grand avenue, all in Los Angeles; some buildings of the Oxnard sugar factory and houses for the company, the Oxnard Bank building, schoolhouse and hotel, the Masonic Temple, and many residences for citizens, all in Oxnard; the bath house at Santa Barbara, said to be without exception the finest on the coast; the Santa Barbara high school building, and the courthouse at Ventura. Re- cently he completed a residence for his family in Ellendale Place, and besides this property he owns other real estate in Los Angeles, and property at Oxnard; also is a stockholder in the Oxnard Bank and a director of the Oxnard electric railroad. For the owners of the Salt Lake Railroad he built the depot and turntable in Los Angeles, and the bridges, culverts and other special work between this point and Pomona; also had the contracts for the Con- servative Life Insurance building, Western Paper and Box Company building, and Union Oil and Tool Company's house and shops. As a member of the Builders' Exchange and in other ways, he keeps in touch with movements and organizations for the benefit of the craft, and is rightly esteemed to be one of the leading representatives of the occupation in which he engages.

By the marriage of Mr. Engstrum to Eliza- beth Weatherly, who was born in Alabama and is a member of a prominent southern family, there are three children, namely: Frederick, who was graduated from the University of Cali- fornia in 1898 and is now engaged in business with his father; Blanche and Paul. In religion the family are of the Baptist faith. Fraternally Mr. Engstrum is associated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in Santa Barbara; the lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows at Ox- nard; the Knights of Pythias of Los Angeles; Hueneme Lodge, F. & A. M., in which he was made a Mason; Ventura Chapter and Com- mandery, and Al Malakiah Temple, N. M. S .. of Los Angeles. While he is interested in each of these organizations, his main interest lies in his occupation, and nothing is allowed to inter- fere with it, but his time and attention arc

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closely given to the filling of his contracts in a careful and painstaking manner.

JAMES BOTHWELL, the chief engineer of the Cudahy Packing Company's plant at Los Angeles, was born in Pittsburg. Pa., September 23, 1845, and comes of Scotch descent on both sides of the family. His parents, John and Jane (McVeigh) Bothwell, were natives respectively of county Antrim and the vicinity of Belfast. Ireland. The father came to America when a young boy, settling in Pittsburg, where he en- gaged in general contracting, and died some years before the breaking out of the Civil war. Three children were born into the family, and all served during the Civil war in the One Hun- dred and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Infantry. Henry, who was a soldier in Company E, was a machinist, and died in Allegheny City; and William, a member of Company H, and but fourteen years of age when he started for the war, was killed at the first battle of Fredericks- burg, December 13, 1863.

Up to the time of the war James Bothwell lived in Pittsburg, and received his education in the public schools. In Allegheny City in 1862 he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, and was minstered in at Harrisburg for nine months. He saw in11ch of the grewsome and terrible side of warfare, and fought in the battles of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg (where his brother was killed), Chancellorsville, the Wilderness, and many other battles and skirmishes. After being mustered out in Har- risburg in 1864, he returned to Allegheny City and learned the trade of machinist with the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad Company, by whom he was sent to Crestline. Ohio, as foreman in the repair shops and round house. He afterwards became engineer be- tween Crestline and Alliance, and then was sent to Mansfield, Ohio, as master mechanic of the Toledo Division. A still later position was as master mechanic with the Belt Railroad in Chi- cago, Ill., under Manager George S. Griscom, after which he was located at Baraboo, Wis .. as master mechanic under Manager J. D. Layng for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. Two years later, in 1884, he resigned to come to California on account of his wife's health, and upon locating in Los Angeles, bought a ranch seven miles south of the city and engaged in horticulture for two years. The land was even- tually traded for city property. and Mr. Both- well secured the position of chief engineer for the Los Angeles Electric Light Company, with whom he remained for five years. This position also was resigned to take charge of the engi- necring department of the Temescal tin mincs, in Riverside county, which, after fourteen months, were obliged to suspend business, and

Mr. Botliwell returned to Los Angeles. In 1892 he accepted his present position as chief engi- neer of the Cudahy Packing Plant, and his skill and ingenuity have resulted in practically the entire rebuilding of the power department. He is in charge of six different stationary engines of three hundred and fifty horse power, and twen- ty-four pumps, besides an ice machine of onc hundred and eighty tons' capacity.

In Gallion, Ohio. Mr. Bothwell married Hat- tie Reed, who was born in Crestline, Ohio, and died in Los Angeles. Of this union there were three children, viz .: Charles L., who died at the age of seventeen years; LaMoyne, who died when eight years old: and E. R., who was an operator at Port au Prince, Cuba, during the Spanish-American war. Mr. Bothwell has by no means confined his interests to his chosen occupation, but has been substantially allied with the political and other affairs of the places in which he has lived. He is the owner of two commodious residences in Los Angeles, and has other property in this and other surrounding towns. As a stanch Democrat he has served his party in various capacities, is an ex-member of the county central committee, and while liv- ing in Mansfield, Ohio, served four terms in the city council, and for two terms was president of the council. He is a man of broad general information and practical opinions upon cur- rent events, and as an engineer has few equals and no superiors on the Pacific coast.

KNOWLTON REUBEN BRADLEY. A more than local reputation has followed in the wake of the large building accomplishments of Knowlton Reuben Bradley, one of the most skillful and resourceful of the contractors of Los Angeles. Although a native of Laporte county, Ind., born August 15, 1868, Mr. Brad- lev has spent the greater part of his life in the city whose prosperity he has so materially aided, for he was but nine years of age when his par- ents, Reuben R. and Hester (Knowlton) Brad- ley, natives of New York state, came to the west. His father was reared in New York state and became an early settler of Michigan City. Ind., where he was a locomotive engineer, and where he lived until his removal to Los An- geles in 1879. He readily found employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. and has since tendered them his faithful serv- ices. Owing to ill health he is no longer the vital power behind the engine, but is serving in the more peaceful and less wearing capacity of flagman. He married in his young manhood into the Knowlton family, the paternal grand- father Knowlton having been a farmer in New York. Five children were born to this couple. of whom Knowlton Reuben is third.

After leaving the public schools of Los An- geles at his fifteenth year, Mr. Bradley appren-

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CHIEF

POLICE

Chartellon.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ticed to a bricklayer for three years, and after- pense of public loss, and this laudable manifesta- tion is appreciated. wards followed his trade until 1892. He then began contracting and building, and in 1896 During his unusually active life Mr. Elton has been variously occupied, and his experiences have qualified him to be a leader of men. He was born February 5, 1855, at Hudson, Coluni- bia county, N. Y., on the banks of the historic and beautiful river of that name. His father, William M., was born in Connecticut, and his grandfather, Elijah, who was a saddler by occu- pation, was born in New York and died in Con- necticut. William M. Elton was a merchant at Hudson up to the time of his death at the age formed a partnership with Mr. Berg, under the firm name of Bradley & Berg, an association amicably continued until its dissolution in 1900. Since then Mr. Bradley has carried on an inde- pendent business, and, judging from the extent of his contracts, must have very nearly realized his expectations. Among the buildings attrib- utable to his skill of construction may be men- tioned the Lankershim building, the O. T. John- son building on the corner of Seventh and Main streets, the Chamberlain building. the O. T. . of sixty-three years. He was county supervisor Johnson building on the corner of Ninth and and justice of the peace, and was a prominent Mason, being a member of Lafayette Com- mandery No. 7. His wife, Lydia (Shadick) Elton, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., and came of Holland ancestry. Mrs. Elton, who died in Hudson, was the mother of four chil- dren, two of whom are living, one son and one daughter, Charles Elton being the youngest. Los Angeles streets, the county hospital for the insane, the Northern Machine Shop on North Main street, and many others of equal impor- tance. Among the fine residences are the Wil- cox residence, that of H. C. Hooker on Adams street, the Keeley (now the Laughlin) residence, also on Adams street, the Newhall residence and numerous others as imposing and deserving of mention. Los Angeles alone has not profited by his ability, for his artistic appreciation and substantial merit have made his services in de- mand in Yuma, San Diego, Pomona, Redlands and Santa Monica.

In Los Angeles Mr. Bradley married Maud Dezell, a native of Northern California. Polit- ically Mr. Bradley is independent, and believes in voting for the best man. He is a member of the Builders' Exchange, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics. Mr. Brad- ley is popular in Los Angeles, and his services in promoting the artistic improvement of the city are generally recognized.

CHARLES ELTON. The administration of Mr. Elton as chief of police of Los Angeles has been well received throughout, the prevailing impression being that he has brought order out of chaos, and has placed the department on a footing with its most exacting and systematic contemporaries. His association with this part of municipal control began in January of 1900, at which time he received his appointment from police commissioners Ling, Scarborough, Day, Parker, and Mayor Eaton, to fill a vacancy, and was re-appointed in January of 1901, for two years, by the present board of police commis- sioners. Great tact and good judgment have characterized Mr. Elton's discharge of his re- sponsible and never enviable position. his thor- ough understanding of himself and those asso- ciated with him resulting in the harmonious adjustment of whatever difficulties arise while dealing with the unruly elements of a large and cosmopolitan city. It is conceded also that his personal honor and devotion to truth and prin- ciple have had no little bearing upon a situation too often desecrated by private gain at the cx-

From youth up Mr. Elton was trained in the mercantile business, and assisted his father in the carrying on of his store in Hudson. He was sixteen years of age at the time of his father's death, after which he learned to be an engineer in the machine shops at Hudson, and after qualifying, ran a stationary engine in the brick-yards near the city. In search of larger fields he removed to New York City in 1873, and for two years managed a stationary engine. With every intention of going into the railroad business in the far west he visited Los Angeles in 1875, but, finding the business overcrowded, he turned his attention for a time to ranching. Delighted with the climate and general ad- vantages to be found in the "City of the An- gels," he returned to the east and settled up his affairs, and in the fall of 1876 was again in the west and employed in Los Angeles by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, as a fire- man between here and Yuma, Ariz. At the end of fourteen months he was promoted to the position of engineer, and for eight years had an unusually lucky experience while taking trains through Arizona, as far cast as Dragoon Sum- mit. In 1884 he resigned from his position and engaged in the truck and transfer business with C. V. Boquist, a more recent partner being E. H. Barmore, the interest of Mr. Boquist being eventually purchased by Mr. Elton. The busi- ness of the firm was conducted under the title of the California Southern & Atlantic & Pacific Transfer Company, to which was later added the Sunset Transfer Company, the two interests being incorporated as the Los Angeles Trans- fer Company. Of this company Mr. Elton is still vice-president, although when most active he did the outside work.

Various city properties have come into the possession of Mr. Elton. He is extensively in-

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terested in the development of oil, and with Mr. Barmore has sunk two wells and is now at- tempting another. He has further oil interests near Newhall, where he owns a ranch. In poli- ties he is a Republican, and was a member of the county central committee for some time. Fraternally he is a member of the East Gate Masonic Lodge, of Los Angeles, and is asso- ciated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was married in Pasadena to Annie De Forest Phillips, who was born in Rensse- laer county, N. Y., and came to Los Angeles county in 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Elton have been born four daughters and two sons: Winni- fred, Laura, Ray, Ada, Dorothea and William.

ROBERT BEYRLE. Almost every depart- ment of contracting known to practical build- ing has been mastered with scientifie accuracy by Robert Beyrle, whose name is not only asso- eiated with some of the most ambitious general building enterprises of Los Angeles, but is in- vested with added distinction because of his phenomenal attainments along the line of dams, tunnels and general cement work.

In his personality Mr. Beyrle embodies the sterling characteristics of his countrymen, traits fostered and matured during his early education and training in Marmoutier, Alsace, Germany, where he was born May 20, 1859. His father, Andrew, and his mother, Mary (Houser) Beyrle, were natives of the same part of the country, and the former was engaged in the shoe business during the greater part of his active life. In 1869 he brought his family to Dallas, Tex., where terminated his useful life, and where the mother is still living. Of the ten children in the family eight are now living, and of these, Andrew, is also a resident of this state, and is identified with the California Planing Mill Company of Los Angeles. As the oldest of the children Robert Beyrle was early con- fronted with the necessity for assisting in the family maintenance, and as became a youth in his station began to learn a trade at the age of fourteen in Dallas, Tex., whither he had come with his parents when ten years of age. Having learned the carpenter business, he removed in 1882 to Sweetwater, Tex., and two years later began to build with considerable success,

After becoming identified with Los Angeles in 1887, Mr. Beyrle formed a partnership with his brother, Andrew, the firm name being Rob- ert & Andrew Beyrle, and this association was amicably continued until 1800. Since then Mr. Beyrle has proceeded upon independent lines, and among the buildings which attest his skill may be mentioned the high school, Burbank theatre, Santa Fe depot, Capp building, and many more of equal importance and substantial- ity of construction. Nor must it he supposed

that Mr. Beyrle has not extended his activities to the necessities of surrounding towns, for he was the successful builder of the Andrews block in San Luis Obispo, the Ardizzie & Olcese block and the schoolhouse in Kern, San Diego Jail, besides many fine residences and business blocks in Los Angeles.

California, renowned for its many large un- dertakings, has among other things of note the largest tunnel in diameter in the world, viz .: the Broadway tunnel, which was completed by Mr. Beyrle in twenty-one months. The tunnel is forty feet wide, twenty-two feet high, and seven hundred and sixty feet long. The ex- cavation was made for the tunnel fifty feet wide and twenty-four and a-half feet high, and this having a six-foot wall at bottom tapering to a two and a-half foot top center. The enterprise was a decided success, and won for the builder encomiums of praise from all sides. Mr. Beyrle has been equally successful in constructing nu- merous dams in different parts of this county, and has made a special study of all kinds of heavy and important masonry, whether in con- erete or cement.

While in Dallas, Tex., Mr. Beyrle married Katie Reeb, a native of Alsace, Germany, and reared in Illinois and Texas. Of this union there are four children, Oscar R., Robert A., Charles and Katie. Fraternally Mr. Beyrle is associated with South Gate Lodge No. 320, F. & A. M., at Los Angeles; Signet Chapter. R. A. M .; the Maccabees, and Royal Arcanum. He is a Democrat in national politics, and is a member of the Builders' Exchange. Mr. Beyrlc represents the highest type of builder in the state which numbers so many experts among its citizens, and he is one of the progressive and substantial members of a community whose greatest pride is the character and high attain- ments of its members.

JOHN BREINER. The family represented bv Mr. Breiner, of Pasadena, is of German ex- traction. His father and grandfather, both of whom bore the name of John, were natives of Baden-Baden, and on coming to America set- tled at Bloomville, Ohio, where the grandfather engaged in farm pursuits during the remainder of his life. The father went to Pittsburg, Pa .. and for thirty-five years was employed as fore- man for a large blacksmithing house in that eity, occupying this position at the time of his death. when fifty-five years of age. He is survived by his wife, Catherine (Zeigler) Breiner, who was born in Baden-Baden and now makes Pittsburg her home. Born of their marriage are five chil- dren now living, of whom John was the oldest and the only one to settle in California. He was born in Pittsburg March 16, 1858. and at the age of thirteen began an apprenticeship to

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the butcher's trade in his home city. At the expiration of his term of service he began to follow the trade as a journeyman, working in various states of the north and south.

During 1884 Mr. Breiner arrived in Califor- nia, where for two years he was employed in San Francisco. In 1886 he came to Pasadena, where he has since engaged in the meat busi- ness, first as an employe in the Excelsior mar- ket, but since 1887 as proprietor of the City market, at No. 118 East Colorado street. His market is well equipped with modern conven- iences and has large refrigerator capacity. Not only is he one of the oldest meat dealers in Pasadena, but he is also among the oldest-estab- lished business men of the city, and in his long connection with the business interests of the town he has met with financial success, besides gaining a reputation for reliability and upright- ness in all transactions.

The home of Mr. Breiner, at No. 826 East Colorado street, is presided over by his wife, who was formerly Miss Irene Gardner, of San Francisco. They have three children, John, Jr .; Lester and Edna. While Mr. Breiner is not a partisan, he is well informed concerning public questions and gives his influence to the Repub- lican party. The Pasadena Board of Trade and Merchants' Protective Association number him among their members. Outside of business matters and the enjoyment of his home circle, there is nothing in which he feels a deeper in- terest than in Masonry, and we find him quite prominent in that order. After coming to Pasa- cena he was made a Mason in Lodge No. 272, to which he now belongs, and he was raised to the chapter and commandery in this city, and to the Mystic Shrine in Al Malakiah Temple, N. M. S., of Los Angeles. During his residence in San Francisco he was initiated into the Indc- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and on settling in Pasadena transferred his membership to the lodge at this point, also is connected with the encampment, in which he is a past officer. Other organizations with which he is identified are the Maccabees, Woodmen of the World and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, while, with his wife, he is also associated with the Eastern Star.

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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 155

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