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 159

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

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GEORGE RUTHERFORD, Sr. Numerous are the evidences of industry and success to be found at the busy little blacksmith shop of George Rutherford, Sr., on West Cañon Perdido street, Santa Barbara. Indeed, the genial and capable manipulator of the hammer and bellows has few superiors in his line, as evidenced by the noble steeds that come to him for proper coverings for their pedal extremities. His regu- lar customers include some of the bluest blooded horses in Santa Barbara county, and his trade extends far beyond the city limits. A canny Scot, Mr. Rutherford was born near Kelso, Roxburyshire, Scotland, September 30, 1840, his father, William, and his grandfather, George, having been born in the same shire. Both men were stock-raisers, and accumulated a fair competence by reason of their industry and good management. The mother of George Rutherford, Jessie (Balmar) Rutherford, was also born in Roxburyshire, a daughter of Thomas Balmer, a Scotch land steward. Mrs. Ruther- ford, who came to California in 1872, is now living with her children, and is aged eighty-two years. She is the mother of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to maturity, and eleven are now living, George being the second young- est. Janet is now Mrs. Hunter, of Berkeley; Thomas is a stockman in Scotland; William is also a stock-raiser in his native land; Isabel is now the wife of William Fisher, of Lompoc;

Stephen is a farmer at Naples; John is a farmer in Shasta county; Waiter is engaged in black- smithing in Reading, Cal .; Mary is the wife of Albert Salts, of San Francisco; Andrew and Frank are engaged in farming at Goleta.

At the age of four years George Rutherford removed with his parents to Heddingtonshire, where they lived on a farm, and where he at- tended a private or pay school. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to learn the trade of blacksmith and horseshoer, and after serving for four years went up to London and was em- ployed by Mavar Brothers, the largest veter- inary establishment in the city. In 1866 he re- turned to Heddingtonshire, and worked in the shop where he had served his apprenticeship un- til 1873, and in June of the same year came to America, sailing from Glasgow to New York on the steamer Australia. Upon arriving in California he worked for Rice & Collins, horse- shoers, in Santa Barbara, and in 1880 started the business for himself which has since been such a pronounced success.

In London, England, Mr. Rutherford married Mary F. Findley, who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and died in Santa Barbara. Six of the children of the family are living: Maggie, who is the wife of R. W. Greer, of San Fran- cisco; William, who is running a horseshoeing establishment in Oakland, Cal .; George, who is a horseshoer and has his own establishment in Santa Barbara; Thomas, who is in business with his father; Daisy, who is the wife of Henry Kercher, of Santa Barbara; and Florence, who is the wife of E. Loomis, of Aguas Calientes, Mex- ico. Mr. Rutherford is a Republican in politics, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. In religion he is a Presbyterian.

E. W. DAVIES, the proprietor and manager of the Santa Barbara Granite and Sandstone Company, also a contractor for granite, stone and marble work, is an adept in his line, and receives a patronage in proportion thereto. Many fine examples of his work remain as per- manent inonuments to the adornment of the city, among them being the stonework of the Alexander block, the receiving vault at the cemetery, the Duryea mausoleum, and others equally substantial and practical.

A native of Kewanee, Henry county, Ill., Mr. Davies was born March 29, 1855, and was reared on the homestead in his native state. His father, Hugh Davies, was born in Wales, at Conway Castle, Flintshire, and when a young man immigrated to America, settling in Connec- ticut. He later removed to Henry county, Ill .. and from 1852 until 1869 engaged in gardening and general farming. He then took up his resi- dence near Mankota, Minn., where he contin- tied to farm. and where his death eventually occurred. He married Margaret Wilson, who

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also was born in Wales and likewise died in Minnesota. There were seven sons in the fam- ily, six of whom are living, E. W. being the third. In 1869 the latter accompanied his parents to Minnesota, where he completed the education begun in the public schools of Henry county, Ill. When twenty-one years of age he went to Mankato and engaged in the marble business as a stone cutter, continuing the same for five years, when he turned his attention to contracting and building.

In 1882 Mr. Davies removed to Denver, Colo., and worked as a stone cutter. The fall of the same year he repaired to Salt Lake City and engaged in contracting and building, and in 1884 located in Helena, Mont., also contract- ing and building. There he became well known as a master workman and secured the contract work for the best residences and public build- ings in the city. In 1888 he came to California, locating at Riverside in the stone business, but soon removing to Los Angeles, where he lived for a year, and was foreman on the Brushwal- ter brownstone monument at Buena Vista. Later he had a contract job at Pasadena, and then removed to Sespe and ran the quarries until 1891, when he went to Ventura and was foreman on the Ventura Bank building. In Summerland Mr. Davies was foreman during the construction of the Crocker Lemon house, and in 1898 came to Santa Barbara, where he has since lived and prospered. Among his most praiseworthy undertakings here has been the placing of the viaducts, culverts and general stone work for the Southern Pacific extension. He also operated the boulders and put in a remarkable plant for sawing stone, twenty-five engine power, and located near the Southern Pacific Milling Company's plant. This plant is a general marble, stone, granite and sandstone affair, cuts in any dimensions and is particu- larly useful in monumental work.

In Minneapolis Mr. Davies married Carrie Andrews, a native of Canada. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and otherwise identified with the business and social life of Santa Barbara. He is liberal in religion and politics. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined in Mankato, Minn., and is now a member in Santa Barbara, and vice grand of the Chan- nel City Lodge. In addition he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

JOHN L. DEANE. The genealogy of the Deane family is traced back to the Daine fam- ily of England. From that country the great- grandfather of John L. removed to Scotland, where he died. The grandfather. John L., Sr., by whom the name was changed to its present form, was born in Ireland, but grew to manhood in Scotland, and crossing the ocean became a

pioneer of Kentucky, where he improved a tract of raw land. During the war of 1812 he and his brother enlisted in the American army; the fate of the brother was never known, but it is sup- posed that he was killed in the battle of New Orleans. Capt. David H., son of John L., Sr., was born in Breckinridge county, Ky., and for some years during his active life followed con- tracting in the Blue Grass state. Later he lived in New Mexico, and is now living, retired, in Texarkana, Tex. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and served as cap- tain of a Kentucky company of volunteers. One of his brothers, William, was killed in the battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican war. It may be seen from the ancestral history that the family inherits patriotic loyalty and a love for military affairs.

The marriage of Capt. David H. Deane united him with Miss Fannie Porter, who was born in Maysville, Ky., and died in New Mexico. Six children were born of this union, five of whom are living, John L. being the eldest of the num- ber. He was born at Cloverport, Breckinridge county, Ky., April 23, 1858, and was reared principally in Hartford, Ohio county, until four- teen years of age, when he accompanied the family to Paducah. Under his father's over- sight he early acquired a thorough knowledge of the carpenter's trade, which he followed until he took up contracting. From 1882 until 1888 he engaged in the building business at Nevada, Vernon county, Mo., and in the latter year came to California, since which time he has made Los Angeles his home. During all of this period he has followed contracting in or near Los An- geles, with the exception of eighteen months (1900-01) spent in the Cordeline mining district at Wallis, Idaho, where he not only followed his occupation, but also had mining interests. Since his return home he has erected a resi -. dence for his family on Washington street near Central avenue. The Builders' Exchange num- bers him among its members, and in other ways he aims to keep abreast with the developments in the building business. All of his contracts have been conscientiously executed. Accurate work has been one of his mottoes. Painstaking care is evident in all that lie does, and many residences and public buildings stand as monn- ments to his skill and fidelity. Numbered among his contracts may be mentioned those for the Rowan, Solana, Rodman, Hershey. Ty- ler and Schroeder residences.

By his marriage to Miss Amanda C. Young, who was born in Hopkins county, Ky., Mr. Deane has two children, C. Rex and D. Her- bert, but an affliction has fallen upon the family in the death of the older son at the age of thir- teen years. In religion Mr. Deane is a believer in Baptist doctrines, while politically he votes with the Democratic party. and in matters fra-

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ternal holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Order of Wash- ington.

PETER JOHN DREHER. Undoubtedly the greatest service which Mr. Dreher has ren- dered his adopted state of California is in con- nection with the securing of harmonious and concerted action on the part of the citrus-fruit growers in the shipment of their products. With the maturing of his orange grove at Pomona his attention was called to the very unsatisfac- tory methods employed in the disposition of crops, and he at once realized that, if the orange grower would receive any profit, a radical change must be resorted to. The success he achieved in bringing about needed reforms in the plan of shipment was so pronounced that the attention was attracted of horticulturists throughout the entire state, and the amount of good thus accomplished can scarcely be over- estimated.

As his name indicates, Mr. Dreher is of Ger- man lineage. The son of Karl Dreher, he was born June 4, 1848, in the village of Feckweiler, principality of Birkenfeld, Germany, about fifty miles west of Bingen-on-the-Rhine. In August, 1855, he accompanied the family to the United States, and in June of 1856 settled at Summer- field, Ill., where he attended the public schools for six winters. Later he took a course in book- keeping in Rhorer's Commercial College in St. Louis. In 1864 he learned the shoemaker's trade under his father, whose business he took charge of the next year, but in January of 1866 left home to learn the dry goods trade in Kansas City, Mo. Returning in September of the same vear, he opened a general store in St. Claire county, Ill., at a cross-roads called Lenzburg. The building he occupied was 14x22 feet in dimensions and was stocked with general mer- chandise, such as could be purchased with his original capital of $442. In a short time he was appointed postmaster at a salary of $12 per an- num. At first he made slow progress, but his pluck and perseverance eventually won the day. His integrity and fair business dealings won him the confidence of the people, among whom his standing was of the highest. November I, 1869, he married Miss Margaret Griebel, to whose efficiency as a helpmate much of his success may justly be attributed. They are the parents of six children, all of whom are in Cal- ifornia : Mrs. F. D. Dudderar, C. J. Dreher, Mrs. I. W. Brink, G. P., E. L. and L. F. Dreher, the latter of whom is in San Francisco.

When the Cairo Short Line Railroad was built through St. Clair county, Ill., in 1871, it passed three-quarters of a mile from Lenzburg, and business therefore was attracted to other towns. With an energy characteristic of him Mr. Dreher a few years later purchased a tract

of land along the railroad and laid out Lenzburg station, building a depot for the railroad com- pany and erecting a large two-story brick build- ing for a store as well as residence. In addi- tion to conducting a mercantile business there he acted as postmaster, notary public, station agent and express agent, all of which positions he held until April, 1885, when he moved to Belleville, Ill., having disposed of his large mer- cantile interests in the fall of 1884. In the spring of 1884 he was elected supervisor of Lenzburg Township and a member of the county board.

After two years of recreation, during which he looked into the future prospects of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and California, he finally decided to locate in Pomona, Cal., where he arrived with his family on October 17, 1886, and where he has since made his home. For six months he engaged in the real estate and insur- ance business, after which he devoted himself to citrus culture. In 1888 he represented Po- mona with a large exhibit of fruits at Colum- bus, Ohio, and was gratified by the high com- pliments which press and people paid the exhibit. On the organization of the National Bank of Pomona in 1891 he was chosen a mem- ber of its board of directors.

On the maturing of his first crop of oranges, in 1892, Mr. Dreher found no market for the fruit, but plenty of middlemen who were ready to handle them on commission, but take 10 financial risk. Believing a remedy for this evil could be found, he concluded to handle his own crop at least. Largely through his efforts in November, 1892, a conference was held in Claremont of seven neighboring citrus growers, and at that time the Claremont (Cal.) Fruit Growers' Association was launched into exist- ence with Mr. Drelier as president. This was the first co-operative society organized in the state, doing its business successfully direct with the eastern dealers (excepting possibly the Pachappa Association at Riverside, the exist- ence of which was unknown to him at the time) and the first to make direct shipments of navel oranges in car lots to England, April 7, 1893. The membership was small and only twenty-one cars of oranges were shipped the first year, but the plan proved successful. The citrus industry of the state being in a deplorable condition and under the pernicious consignment system, cit- rus growers were soon attracted by the suc- cess of these co-operative movements. Dele- gated meetings were held to organize all citrus growers of Southern California, all of which he attended. Mr. Dreher acted as secretary of the first meeting (for organization) held in Los An- geles, and was one of the committee of five who drafted the plan and basis upon which the Southern California Fruit Exchanges were or- ganized. In all the councils of organization he bore an active part, and (excepting T. H. B.

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Chamblin of Riverside, who became the lecturer for the movement, no one took a more active part in it), all at his own expense and without compensation. He was a director of the San Antonio Fruit Exchange, and as its first acting secretary placed the organization upon a busi- ness system approved by his associates. Devot- ing his attention to the improvement of his orange groves, he took no part in the manage- ment of the Claremont (Cal.) Fruit Growers' Association and the San Antonio Fruit Ex- change aside from serving as a director, but in 1895 the condition of the co-operative move- ment became critical; in fact, its very existence was threatened; the business having fallen into the hands of incompetent (if not unfaith- ful) agents and employees. At that critical point he entered the breach and in November, 1895, accepted the position of secretary and general manager of the San Antonio Fruit Exchange; after two years' hard labor in this position the movement took on new life so that the quantity of fruit shipped by this organization under his management increased tenfold in the next four years, and no exchange has a more cohesive body of members. It is through his active and sympathetic efforts that the annual meetings of the local associations are so interesting and largely attended by its members.

The gross volume of the business in his direct charge approximates a million dollars annually, about forty per cent of which goes to the trans- portation lines for expenses, while the balance is paid to the members of the associations at Pomona, San Dimas, Claremont and North Po- mona. Since 1896 he is the representative of this exchange to the Southern California Fruit Exchange, and the director on the board of that organization, attending the weekly meetings of that body each Wednesday and taking a most active part in its business. Here his business 'acumen comes into active play again, and many of the most valuable and practical features of the present complete and successful system of marketing citrus fruits by that organization were introduced by him, including the present perfect system of agent's telegraphic re- ports, the plan of co-operative insurance of their fruit in transit, as well as the co- operative insurance of packing-houses among the local associations. He is a stanch supporter and strong advocate of any practical measure that will advance the interest of the Citrus Growers of Southern California, with whom he has cast his lot. In politics he is now, and al- ways has been, a stanch Republican, and while living in Illinois was his party's nominee for county sheriff in 1872, but the Republicans were beaten in the county that year on account of the Greeley movement, their entire ticket fail- ing of election.

The activity of Mr. Dreher in the citrus indus- try was not expected by him, as he came to Cal- ifornia anticipating a retired life after an active business career in Illinois. However, to a man of his temperament, the greatest happiness is found in avenues of industry and usefulness, and as long as life shall last it is probable that he will continue his intimate and helpful asso- ciation with the leading industry of Southern California.

CAPT. GEORGE F. ELLIS, of Santa Bar- bara, is descended from one of the oldest fam- ilies in this country. The founder of the Ellis family in America landed at Plymouth, Mass., in the year 1630 from England. He married a member of the Bourne family who came over in the Mayflower in the year 1620 and they settled at North Sandwich, about fifteen miles from Plymouth, where descendants of the family have lived ever since. The land on which the Ellis homestead is situated was bought from the In- dians and George F. Ellis has the original deed, dated 1668, signed by the cross of the Indian Chief Quochatecy, remaining in the family ever since.

When the Revolutionary war broke out Ephraim Ellis joined the army and was killed and buried in New York state. During the war of 1812 his son, Ephraim Ellis, was captain of a vessel running betwen Cape Cod and New York and was captured by a British man-of- war. It happened that the British captain was one of his acquaintances and as soon as he dis- covered the identity of his prisoner he said he regretted that he had not known it sooner. However, he proved his friendship by having the American captain landed on shore and given his freedom with the pleasure of walking two hundred miles to reach his home.

N. B. Ellis, the father of George F. Ellis, was not inclined toward a sea-faring life as his an- cestors had been and he built up a large nail manufacturing business in his native town of North Sandwich. doing a very extensive busi- ness until the financial crisis of 1837 swept over the country, when he lost his fortune. After this he went into the live-stock business, and when the most westerly terminus of any railroad in the country was at Syracuse, N. Y., he used to go to Ohio and Indiana, then considered the far west, buying live stock and driving it to Syracuse, shipping thence to Boston. He con- tinued in this business until the railroads of the country extended far west of Chicago and he saw that city grow from a small town to be the greatest live-stock market of the world.

George F. Ellis was born at the old home- stead in North Sandwich in 1848. He resembled his ancestors and possessed a love for adven- ture that found its outlet in a stirring life on the frontier and in the mines of the west. He first

RtSudden

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

crossed the plains in 1868 before any railroad was completed across the continent and when vast herds of buffaloes and antelopes roamed the country that is now built up with cities and towns and divided into ranches and cattle ranges. He spent the years of 1868-69 mining in Arizona and had many adventures and much trouble with the Indians. He returned to the states in 1869 and engaged in commercial pur- suits until 1879, when he first came to California on a pleasure trip and has made that state his home ever since. He was engaged in hydraulic mining in the northern part of the state and when the mines in Tombstone, Ariz., were dis- covered he went there and later drifted down into Sonora, Mexico, where he with some oth- ers had some valuable mines. They had much trouble with the Indians and were raided twice by Apaches under Natchez, one of Geronimo's chiefs. In 1882 he sold out and came to Santa Barbara, Cal., where he married Mary J. Rog- ers. They and their family, consisting of two sons and two daughters, now reside in this .city. Here he turned his attention to a sea-faring life in which he had gained previous experience. He soon rose to the position of a captain and was successfully engaged in hunting sea otter. When the boom in Southern California real estate occurred he made quite a fortune in buy- ing and selling real estate. He filled many im- portant positions in Santa Barbara; at one time he was president of the Santa Barbara Transfer Company, agent for Wells-Fargo Express Company, and agent for the Pacific Coast Steamship Company.

In 1896 Captain Ellis went to Alaska for the North American Transportation and Trading Company. It happened that he was in the local- ity when the gold mines at Dawson were dis- covered and he hastened to that point, being one of the first on the ground. His early ar- rival and his knowledge of mines enabled hiın to make some very fortunate selections in prop- erties. He was interested in claims No. 12 and 13 on El Dorado Creek, which proved to be very valuable; for a time he took out $10,000 every twenty-four hours from No. 12. He bought other claims and re-sold them, making immense profit. After three years he sold out, and in 1899 returned to Santa Barbara. His account of those early days at Dawson is par- ticularly interesting and shows vividly the hard- ships of life in that camp. Expenses were very high. Labor was $15 a day; flour sold at $1 per pound; moose meat at $I per pound; eggs at $2 each; butter at $5 per roll; beans, sugar, bacon, etc., were proportionately high. Cap- tain Ellis was so successful and fortunate in his ventures that Joaquin Miller, in his letters from Alaska, refers to him as the Monte Cristo of the Klondike. Since his return to California he has been engaged in quartz mining in different

parts of the state. His real estate posessions include some valuable property in Santa Bar- bara. He votes with the Republican party, and is identified with the Masonic fraternity as a Master Mason.

ROBERT COWPERTHWAITE SUDDEN. The most praiseworthy and substantial of the many undertakings which have been crowded into the life of Mr. Sudden are inalienably asso- ciated with the growth and realized possibilities of Ventura. As one of the native born of Cali- fornia, and as the son of a man whose ambitions and capabilities have culminated in renown in shipping and transportation circles in San Francisco, he has maintained the traditions of ancestors who formulated their healthful aspira- tions and lived their useful lives upon the heaths and moors of Scotland. A native of San Fran- cisco, lie was born November 21, 1861, a son of Robert and Catharine Sudden, natives respect- ively of Scotland and Ireland.

Robert Sudden, than whom there is no man in the west more competent in his line, followed the fickle and uncertain fortunes of the sea while a small boy, and later engaged in the fishing industry in Nantucket, Mass. At the time of the discovery of gold he came to California and continued his former occupation, rapidly rising to the front as his opportunities were strength- ened and his knowledge increased. He was one of the first men employed by the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and their predeces- sors, and as captain for the company his charge was first the steamboat Salinas, and the last boat, the Ventura. He also branched out into the wharf business, building wharfs along the coast, and incorporated the San Buenaventura Wharf Company, of which he has since been president. Possessed of a strong personality and keen financial understanding, he has not only added to a store of worldly goods, but has made his influence felt and his worth appre- ciated. In his honor has been named a station on the new coast line at Point Arguella, where he also owns a fine ranch. His possessions in the shape of vessels and other water craft ply the high seas, bound with their cargoes for near and distant ports. He is prominent in Masonic circles, and is one of the honored citizens of San Francisco.

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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 159

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