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 163

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

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Having established his home at Madison, Wis., in the fall of 1857 Mr. McDonell was elected from that district to the state legisla- ture on the Republican ticket. His election was a test of his personal popularity, for the district usually gave a Democratic majority of three hundred. While in the assembly he won the friendship of all, even those who opposed him politically, and his record was the unusual one of never having lost a bill. During the session of 1857 the contract for erecting the capitol building had been let to a Milwaukee contrac- tor, who began work, put in the foundation, but after eighteen months abandoned everything. Milwaukee was anxious to secure the capital in her own city and members had been elected to the legislature pledged to work for the removal from Madison to Milwaukee. Meanwhile the people of Madison were anxious concerning the matter and greatly desired to have the capitol completed, so the legislature could meet in it. The impression gained ground that the capital would be moved to Milwaukee if the building was not soon completed, and doubtless such would have been the result. As a loyal citizen of Madison, Mr. McDonell was anxious to pro- mote its welfare, and urged that John Ragcraft (the Milwaukee contractor) be sent for and bought out, declaring that he would find a man to complete the capitol before the next election. His proposition was carried out. Ragcraft was sent for and forty men joined to buy him out. after which Mr. McDonell completed the build- ing just thirteen days before the legislature con- vened. When the old papers were turned over to him, they showed that the contract should have been given to him in the first place ac- cording to his first bid. He had taken $50,000 in Madison capitol bonds and the city attempted to repudiate them, but he watched over his in- terests in each legislature and finally the bonds were paid.

During his entire business experience Mr. McDonell had no contract more important or more difficult than that for the building of the tunnel under Lake Erie in order to secure fresh water for use in Cleveland. The filling of this contract required four years of arduous labor. night and day, and during that time many un- expected difficulties arose to retard the progress

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of the work and increase expenses. The prin- cipal difficulty was in connection with the springing of leaks, which caused the tunnel to fill up withi sand, and it was not until he con- ceived the plan of tunneling around it that the difficulty was surmounted. After four thousand feet had been tunneled the water broke through the solid wall of rock and again the tunnel filled up with sand. This time he stopped work at that point and began at the crib, building from there to the point where he had previously worked. Every day he lost money on the con- tract, but he kept his men at work and paid them regularly, securing the money for this by taking a contract in Wisconsin for a tunnel one- quarter of a mile long. on the Chicago & North- Western Railroad. Finally the entire distance from the shore to the crib, one and one-fourth miles, was completed and the tunnel turned over to the city. The council was so pleased with the work that its members passed a resolu- tion recommending that the board of water works pay the contractor an amount sufficient so that he would not be the loser financially. This they did, in recognition of his success in completing a task no one thought it possible for him to accomplish.

Another important contract successfully filled by Mr. McDonell was in Chicago. The Wash- ington street tunnel had been commenced by a contractor, but had caved in, and the work had been abandoned. Then Mr. McDonell, associ- ated with Charles B. Farwell and J. K. Lake, took up the work and completed it from new plans which Mr. McDonell had originated him- self. At various times he had railroad con- tracts and his success as constructing engineer was little less than remarkable. During the war he was with Governor Randall of Wisconsin as engineer, with the rank of brigadier-general on the governor's staff. In 1879 he bought the Mark Twain copper mine near Globe, Ariz., which he worked for fifteen months and then sold to a New York firm. In June, 1883, he came to Los Angeles and later bought the resi- dence on West Adams street, in which he after- ward made his home. After coming here lie still continued his interests in Arizona. As chief engineer and superintendent of construction, he was connected with the building of the Mineral Belt Railroad from Flagstaff to Globe, which work was begun in the fall of 1886 from Flag- staff south. An agreement had been made whereby the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail- road Company was to take each five miles of roadbed at $5,000 a mile. When the president of the road, J. W. Eddy, went to the company for the first payment, they told him they would pay the entire amount when thirty-five miles had been finished. Again, when the stipulated amount had been completed, Mr. Eddy came ont from Boston to interview the Santa Fe of-

ficials, but found they were not in a position to pay, therefore the work was necessarily aban- doned.

At White Hall, N. Y., Mr. McDonell married Frances Elizabeth Bailey, who was born at Troy, N. Y. They became the parents of eleven children, as follows: Mrs. Elizabeth A. Taylor, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Emma M1. Schloesser, of Los Angeles; Alexander Edward, who was drowned at the age of six years; Charles A., M. D., a railroad contractor 110w in Mexico; Mrs. Mary C. Carroll, of Los An- geles; Alexander Walter, of Catalina; William F., who died of yellow fever off the coast of Mexico; Francis J., deceased; George D., oi Mexico; Mary, wife of James Marsh, of British Columbia; and Joseph Henry, of Los Angeles.

Mr. McDonell was made a Mason at New Philadelphia, Ohio, and at New Lisbon he was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religion he was a member of St. Vincent's Catholic Church. Politically he al- ways voted with the Republicans. As might be expected, during his long and active career he met with many experiences. While in Vermont he had a foreman through whose head a bar of iron was blown, yet the man not only survived the shock, but for years afterward carried on his usual work. The case was so remarkable that it was reported in the American Medical Jour- nal about 1850. The death of Mr. McDonell occurred at his residence on Adams street, De- cember 21, 1901. Of his personal attributes it may be said that energy and perseverance were dominant traits. Where obstacles confronted him, he met them with a determination and per- sistence that always proved effectual. No diffi- culty was allowed to discourage him, no re- verses daunted, and no opposition conquered his forceful will. Possessing these characteris- tics, it is not strange that, without the influence of means or friends, he should work his way to a position of eminence among the construc- tion engineers of the latter half of the nineteenth century.

J. H. LOVE, M D. In the list of popular physicians and surgeons of Ventura county none is more highly respected for professional ability and success than is Dr. Love, of Ven- tura. He was born in Higginsport. Brown county, Ohio, November 23, 1847. and is a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Hoover) Love, na- tives respectively of Higginsport and Felicity, Ohio. His maternal grandfather, Joel Hoover was born in Kentucky, of Pennsylvania parent- age. The paternal grandfather, Alexander Love, was a native of county Donegal, Ireland, born in 1776, and came to America in 1794. From Pittsburg he journeyed down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, and from there in 1806 went to Higginsport, Brown county. Buying one

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hundred acres of land at $2.25 per acre, he made a home and improved a farm. His wife, Ellen, was a daughter of Charles and Margaret (Swy- er) Canary. Born in Germany in 1744, Mr. Canary came to America before the Revolution- ary war, in which he served under General Washington. Accompanied by his wife, who was a native of Philadelphia, he removed to Ohio in 1804, and settled in Lewis township, Brown county, where he engaged in improving a farm from the wilderness.

Farming formed the principal occupation of Charles Love and in it he met with fair success. His activity in local affairs is shown by the fact that he served in county offices. His death oc- curred in Brown county at eighty-six years of age. His thirteen children are still living, J. H. being the sixth in order of birth. Two of the sons served in the Civil war, Sylvester and Wesley, both of whom are now residents of Higginsport. Sylvester served in Company K, Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry, while Wesley was first a captain in Colonel Collins' Regulars and afterward was promoted to the rank of major; since the war he has been a practicing physician. The education of J. H. Love was received in common schools. At the age of nineteen he began to study medicine under his brother, Dr. Wesley Love, and in June, 1870, was graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, from which institution he holds the degree of M. D. Returning to Brown county, he opened an office at Hamersville, where for twenty years he conducted a general practice. In the spring of 1890 he removed to California and for some months resided in Los Angeles, but in March, 1891, came to Ventura, where he has since engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. Under President Cleveland lie was appointed a member of the United States board of pension examiners and served for four years as president of the same. Among the professional organizations with which he is identified are the American Medical Associa- tion, California State and Southern California Medical Societies.

The marriage of Dr. Love was solemnized in Felicity, Clermont county, Ohio, and united him with Miss Addie McCoskey, daughter of Dr. Hugh and Rebecca A. (Tucker) McCoskey, natives respectively of Beaver county, Pa., and Clermont county, Ohio. Her father was a grad- uate of Augusta College in Kentucky and the Ohio Medical College, after graduating from which he practiced his profession at Newark, Ohio, next at Ripley, and later at Felicity, re- maining at the latter point from 1849 until 1877, when he removed to Hamersville, and his last years were passed in that city. Mrs. Love was reared in Ohio, received an excellent educa- tion, and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Born of her marriage are

three children, namely: Hugh McCoskey, a graduate of the Ventura high school, winner of the Examiner's prize trip to Chicago in 1893, and later a student in the Chicago University, class of 1901; Louis Cariisle and John Hoover.

While living in Ohio Dr. L.ove was made a Mason in Georgetown Lodge No. 72, A. F. & A. M., and he is still connected with the lodge and chapter in that town. In Hamersville he affiliated with the lodge of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. In political views he is a Democrat and at one time served as chair- man of the Ventura county central committee. Such are his qualities as a citizen and a man that he is fortunate who numbers him among his chosen friends.

MICHAEL FAGAN. The honored cit- izen after whom Fagan Cañon is named and who is one of the pioneers of his section of Ventura county, has practically demonstrated the truth of the saying that "All things come to him who hustles while he waits." On eight hundred acres of the ex-mis- sion grant, purchased in 1883, he has succeeded in overcoming the obstacles at all times to be found in a wild mountainous country, and now has a fine stock and grain farm. Large herds of cattle roam at will over the grassy slopes, the average number being almost three hundred head. A fine grade of cattle they are, and their market value is such as to justify the care ex- ercised in their raising. Horses also are raised in large numbers, and the ranch being so near Santa Paula, many horses are pastured for the townspeople. A general farming enterprise is carried on, and an abundance of fruits raised for home consumption.

Born in Pennsylvania, August 26, 1840, Mr. Fagan arrived in Calaveras county, Cal., August 13, 1852, having made the journey overland with ox-teams. His mother, formerly Annie Dinnell, had died in 1851, while his father, John Fagan, a native of Ireland and in boyhood an emigrant to Canada, died in Calaveras county in November, 1852. After his father's death Michael Fagan and three brothers engaged in mining in partnership, and from 1852 to 1854 were located at Murphy's camp in the placer re- gions, where the old gulch liberally released its hidden store in response to the labor of those who trusted in it. As a result of his mining ven- tures he was worth $11,000 when eighteen years of age. In 1855 he removed to San Joaquin county, near Linden and Stockton, where he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising on a large scale. However, owing to the drought of 1864. his crop of one thousand acres of wheat was a complete failure. Disposing of the interests which he had held in partnership with his broth- er, John, he determined to try his fortunes in Mexico, and accordingly crossed over into that

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country. For a time he was interested in cot- ton-raising and for six months clerked in a store. His next venture was as a miner and prospector in Nevada. While in Mexico, he witnessed the disturbances caused by the overthrow and sub- sequent assassination of Maximilian. The re- turn journey from Mexico to California was un- dertaken overland through Arizona, and on the way he prospected and mined at Wickenburg above Phoenix.

In 1866 Mr. Fagan bought a large ranch in Stanislaus county, where he farmed and raised stock as heretofore. Two years later he dis- posed of his enterprise and came to the Santa Clara valley, where, on the Sespe ranch, for three years he made a specialty of raising hogs and sheep. At times he had as many as three thousand five hundred head of sheep, and for a part of the three years was in partnership withı L. Snodgrass. Some of the sheep were later sold and the balance traded for property in Ven- tura, which sold at a profit during the boom. He then bought one hundred acres in the vi- cinity of Saticoy, and began to raise beans, also set out the first orchard in that part of the coun- try. Sheep were also raised extensively, and in order to carry on his enterprises he rented sev- eral other ranches in the same neighborhood. His ranch near Saticoy was disposed of in 1883 and he forthwith purchased the ranch upon which he has since lived.

April 9, 1879, Mr. Fagan married Hattie Til- lotson, a native of New York, and of their union five children were born: Frank D., Cora May. Ettie Belle, Walter Miller and Marion Morris. Politically Mr. Fagan is a Democrat, and has been active in local politics. On several occa- sions he has served as delegate to state and county conventions, and has intelligently rep- resented the needs and wonderful development of his locality. He is one of the most practical stockmen of the county, as well as one of the most progressive citizens. He is interested in furthering the cause of education and in all en- terprises for upbuilding the valley. At one time he was a member of the People's Lumber Com- pany, also a member of the committee that pur- chased the land on which the Santa Paula branch of this company was established. Fra- ternally he is affiliated with the Masons at Santa Paula.

LEON LEHMANN. In any California town of the size of Oxnard it would be difficult to find a more complete line of merchandise than that carried by the popular merchants, Lehmann & Waterman. In addition to dry- goods they carry a fine line of hardware. In- deed, almost anything in reasonable and general demand may be found on the shelves of this establishment. A continually increasing trade is enjoyed as a result of the energy and wise

judgment of the proprietors, who also conduct a branch store at Hueneme, the latter being underthe management of a trustworth assistant.

The knowledge of business possessed by Mr. Lehmann has been acquired through a practical experience that covers many years. When he first came to California he secured employment as a clerk for the mercantile firm of Wolf & Levi, with whom he remained for almost nine years as an employe. During that period he gained a thorough knowledge of the details connected with a business of that kind, and his experience has since proved of the utmost help to him. His ability was recognized by his em- ployers and he formed a partnership with one of them, under the firm title of Wolf & Leh- mann. Their association was continued until 1897, since which time Mr. Lehmann has been connected with Mr. Waterman. The two have made their association mutually profitable and congenial.

Mr. Lehmann was born in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, February 6, 1861, and is a son of Morse and Estella Lehmann, natives of Ger- many. The father died in his native land, but in 1893 Leon returned to Europe and brought back his mother, who has since made her home with him in Oxnard; she is now sixty-three years of age. In addition to the advantages de- rived from attendance at college and diligent study of text-books, he has since learned much through his habits of close observation and through his varied experiences in the world. Hence he ranks to-day among the well-in- formed German-American residents of Ventura county. Besides his business interests, he has real estate in Oxnard and other towns and is also the owner of a ranch of one hundred and twenty acres.

In politics Mr. Lehmann is a Republican, yet he is not a partisan and is too busy a man to devote any time to politics. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks, Maccabees and Ma- sons, in which latter organization he was the first member to join Hueneme Lodge No. 311. F. & A. M., and has ever since been active in Masonry.

W. H. FLEET. The efficient superintendent of the Piru fruit rancho has filled his responsi- ble position for many years and is well known among the ranchers of Ventura county. He was born in Henrico county, near Richmond, Va., March 29, 1861, and was the eldest of the nine children of Capt. W. C. and Lucy E. (Roan) Fleet, descendants of old colonial stock. The old plantation home where he was born was established by his great-grandfather, who was a pioneer of King and Queen county, Va. The grandfather, James R. Fleet, was the proprietor of large flour and grist mills, and owned a large hay and tobacco plantation, but, unfortunately,

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during the Civil war, the fine improvements of his homestead were almost totally destroyed. He died in 1875. In the house where he was born also occurred the birth of his son, Capt. W. C. Fleet, who succeeded to the ownership of the flour and grist mills, and in connection with the same operated a sawmill. He was a prominent man in his community, and served as supervisor both of Middlesex and also of King and Queen counties. During the Civil war he served in the Confederate army with the rank of captain.

The higher education of W. M. Fleet was ob- tained in Blacksburg (Virginia) College. In 1882 he settled in Lafayette county, Mo., and for a few years engaged in raising cattle. From there he came to California, and was for a short time employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in Los Angeles county. Later he came to Ventura county, since which he has lived in the same locality and been connected with the same ranch. His first employer was David C. Cook, the Sunday-school publisher of Chicago and Elgin, Ill., who had purchased the Temescal land grant, comprising fourteen thou- sand and nine hundred acres. The former owner of the property disposed of it, in August, 1900, to the Piru Oil and Land Company, which, recognizing Mr. Fleet's ability, retained him in the position he had so satisfactorily filled with Mr. Cook.

Since becoming superintendent, Mr. Fleet's attention has been given undividedly to the practical matters connected with the manage- ment of the ranch. The surveying and hy- draulic engineering, water system, canals, flumes and pipe lines receive regular attention from him. No one understands more thor- oughly than he how to protect the system from damage in case of a storm. Devoted to his work, he understands all of its details. The immense orchards reflect great credit on his supervision and the work of his five efficient foremen. Fifty men are given steady employ- ment on the ranch, while during the busy sea- son this number is increased to between four and five hundred. A specialty is made of dried fruit, which is hand picked, sun dried and cured, and cannot be excelled for color, cleanliness, flavor and quality.

Adjoining the elegant mansion built by Mr. Cook is an attractive residence, which is owned and occupied by Mr. Fleet, and presided over by his wife, whom he married January 21, 1897, and who was formerly Lorena C. Scott, being a native of Madison county, Ky. In 1887 Mr. Fleet became a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Piru City, and since that time he has served in the capacity of trustee, steward and Sunday-school superintendent, also was a member of the building committee when the house of worship was erected. For ten years

he has been a school trustee. As a Republican he is active in politics, has served several times on the election board and is a member of the county central committee. Among the citizens of Piru none has a higher position or numbers more friends than does W. H. Fleet.

C. E. KING. This pioneer photographer of Santa Paula is also connected with the city's activities through his ownership and manage- ment of a furniture and undertaking establish- ment. He came to this place in January, 1893, from Illinois, where he was born, at Springfield, August 31, 1858. Reared and educated 111 that state, at the age of twenty years he started out for himself and went to Kansas, settling in Winfield. There he was united in marriage, October 12, 1880, with Miss Mary Felton. From Kansas he returned to Illinois and taught school in Carlinville for twelve years, during the last two of which he held office as assistant principal of schools.

As soon as he came to California Mr. King began to look for a suitable opening. Shortly afterward he bought a photograph gallery at Santa Paula from J. C. Brewster and was the first photographer to settle permanently in the town. In addition to the regular photographic business, he handles supplies of all kinds, with which he supplies amateurs throughout the en- tire county. His Ventura county views, of. which he makes a specialty, are excelled by none. He also devotes attention to the framing of pictures and the furnishing of artist's sup- plies. The amateur photographer has in him a friend, and many of these come to him for advice in regard to the developing and printing of pictures.

In 1895 Mr. King became a partner in the firm of Reilly Bros., undertakers, since which time the firm has been known as Reilly & King until June 1, 1901, when he bought Mr. Reilly's interest. Being an experienced embalmer, he is well qualified for successful work in the un- dertaking business. January 1, 1902. he bought out the furniture store of J. B. Beardsley on Main street, and has since conducted this busi- ness in connection with other enterprises. He also handles sporting goods. His success is worthy of commendation, for he has had noth- ing but his perseverance and energy to assist him in getting a start. He is a member of the Santa Paula Board of Trade and a worker for all plans tending to promote the prosperity of his city and county.

Fraternally Mr. King is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is past grand of the lodge. In the Ancient Order of United Workmen he holds office as district deputy. He is a member of Olive Encampment No. 79, at Ventura. In these various organiza- tions he is active and influential. Another lodge

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in which he is prominent is that of the Fraternal Brotherhood, in which he was the first president and is now the secretary.

JEFFERSON L. CRANE. No name in the Santa Clara valley carries with it more of honor than this, nor does any suggest larger under- takings in the pioneer days. Near Akron, Me- dina county, Ohio, Mr. Crane was born June 17, 1839. His father also was a pioneer, having settled in Ohio in an early day and taken up a government claim of timber, which he cleared and upon which he made his home and reared his family of seven sons and one daughter. He was born in Massachusetts and died in Ohio in 1885. The grandfather, Barnabas Crane, led an interesting life between the ocean and the land, in the summer time commanding a ship upon the sea, and in the winters engaging in educa- tional work. He lived to be four score and four years old. At an early day in the eighteenth century some of the ancestors left their home in England and settled in Massachusetts, and were later among those who fought for release from British tyranny during the war of the Rev- olution.

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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 163

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