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 166

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

USA > California > 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 166

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The marriage of Massey Thomas united him with Phoebe Bane, who was born near Lexing-

ton, Ky., and died in California in 1892. Her grandfather, a Revolutionary soldier, was of French descent. Her father, who was a pioneer of Missouri, married a Miss Reynolds, of a New England family. Ten children comprised the family of Massey and Phoebe Thomas, nine of whom attained maturity, namely: James Bald- win, who was the first student to enter Harvard University from California and who died in 1859, at the close of his sophomore year; Susan, Mrs. Hartsough, of Fresno county; T. R., a grain merchant, who died in Gilroy; William, who was a farmer at Hollister, but died at Gil- roy; John, a farmer living near Hollister; B. F., of this sketch; Massey, Riley and Charles E., who are farmers near Gilroy.

Near Monticello, Lewis county, Mo., B. F. Thomas was born February 22, 1846. In 1853 he was brought to California. His education was obtained in the Gilroy public schools, and the San José Institute and Commercial Col- lege, of which Freeman Gates was principal. On leaving school he began the study of law with S. A. Barker, of San José, and P. B. Tully, ex-Member of Congress from Gilroy. January 12, 1874, he was admitted to the bar in Sacra- mento, after an examination in open court. An appointment as agent of the Guadalupe ranch for Theodore LeRoy led Mr. Thomas to come to Santa Barbara county in 1874. and the posi- tion he held for two years, meantime selling the first land to a colony of four Swiss who bought about two thousand acres. In the fall of 1873 he was elected district attorney of Santa Barbara county, and took the office in March, 1876, fill- ing the same for a term. Since then he has continuously engaged in the practice of law. He was a member of the Board of Freeholders that framed the first charter of Santa Barbara, but the charter was defeated at that time. A few years later he was again elected to that board and again assisted in framing the organic law of the city. This time it was adopted, on the approval of the legislature. In addition to his residence, on the corner of Santa Barbara and Mission streets, he owns ranch property in San Luis Obispo county and a ranch at Gilroy, where he has forty acres in prunes.

In Guadaloupe Mr. Thomas married Miss Georgia H. Owen, who was born near Spring- field, Mo., and received an excellent education in the San José Normal School. During the '50s her father, P. B. Owen, crossed the plains and settled in Sonoma county, Cal. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are named as follows: LeRoy, who died at fourteen years: Leona C., who possesses considerable talent as an artist and was formerly a student in Mills College, but is now a special student in Hop- kins Art School, San Francisco; Reginald, a member of the high school class of 1901: and Cecil T. The family are connected with the

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Christian Church, in which Mr. Thomas is a member of the board of trustees and the build- ing committee. Several times he has served as chairman of the county central committee of the Democratic party. While in Gilroy he was made a Mason, and after coming to Santa Bar- bara he was for eleven years master of the blue lodge here, also high priest of the Royal Arch Chapter for four years, and for two terms emi- nent commander of St. Omar Commandery No. 30, K. T. In the lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen, he is past master workman.

CAPT. CHARLES H. HOWLAND. From the earliest period of New England history the Howland family had its representatives in America, three brothers, Arthur, Henry and John, having come to this country from Essex county, England. John accompanied Governor Carver in the Mayflower in 1620 and afterward married Elizabeth Tilley, who was a fellow-pas- senger on that historic ship. A short time aft- erward Arthur and Henry joined their brother in the Plymouth colony. The descendants of Henry lived in the vicinity of Duxbury and Dartmouth, Mass., until 1790, when Peleg moved to Dutchess county, N. Y. Zoeth, a son of Henry, was killed by Indians at Pocasset in 1676 during King Philip's war. Later genera- tions proved themselves to be equally valorous and freely offered their services to the country in times of war. Franklyn Howland enlisted in the Union army' at New York April 19, 1861, and was wounded in the first battle of Bull Run. After serving a year in the army of the Poto- mac he was assigned to duty in the department of the south with the Ninth Army Corps, and, being captured by the Confederates, was for al- most a year imprisoned in Libby and Salisbury (N. C.) prisons and at New Orleans.

Descended from Henry Howland, one of the original emigrants, was Jonathan Howland, a lawyer at Cape Vincent, Jefferson county, N. Y., where he died in 1841. His son, Frederick Aiken Howland, was born on Carlton Island in the St. Lawrence river, in 1827. Joining his three older brothers at Toronto, Canada, in 1843, with them he engaged in building up a large milling and manufacturing business in that city. His brother, Sir William Pierce Howland, was finance minister of Canada in 1862-63, re- ceiver-general in 1863-64, postmaster-general in 1864-66, minister of inland revenue in 1867- 68, and lieutenant-governor of the province of Ontario from 1868 to 1873, when he was made a knight of the Order of the Bath. On his re- tirement from public life, in 1879, he received from Queen Victoria, as a reward for his serv- ices, the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

The marriage of Frederick Aiken Howland united him with Matilda Musson, who was born and reared in Ontario, her father having gone

there from England and settled on a large es- tate near Toronto. Six children were born of their union, four of whom are living, three sons and the only daughter making their homes in Los Angeles, while the remaining son is in On- tario and holds the position of president and general manager of the Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway. Of the sons, Charles H. was born near Toronto March 25, 1863, and received his education principally in Upper Canada Col- lege, in that city. It was his intention to learn the milling business in all of its details, but a short period of work showed him that the dust was proving injurious to his health. On leav- ing the mill he traveled though the Northwest- ern territory, where, as yet, no railroad had been built. In 1881-82 he acted as assistant on astro- nomical survey for the Canadian government through Manitoba and the Northwest, after which, from 1882 to 1884, he was with the Hud- son Bay Company as land inspector. During that period he once met Sitting Bull, of whom he retains a vivid recollection. Seeking Cali- fornia in 1884, he settled in Los Angeles, where he now makes his home. For a few years he was employed in surveying and civil engineer- ing, and later turned his attention to ranching. He was one of the organizers of the Conserva- tive Life Insurance Company of Los Angeles, and at this writing is a director in the Broad- way Bank and Trust Company. After coming to Los Angeles he was married, in 1888, to Miss Grace Freeman, and they reside at Inglewood. In religious belief both are Episcopalians. Politically Captain Howland is a Republican. On the organization of Troop D he entered the National Guard of California as a private in the same. From the ranks he was promoted step by step. September 21, 1897, the governor commissioned him captain of the troop for two years, but he continued in the office until 1900. when he resigned. During his terin as captain Troop D volunteered for the Spanish war, but, being a cavalry company, was not accepted.

R. C. TRUAX. A long and honorable and most exemplary railroad career has been that of R. C. Truax, without doubt one of the most successful and experienced men in his line in Southern California. Through all the different stages he has worked his way up to the respon- sible position of conductor, and covering a period of more than thirty years has been sin- gularly exempt from the difficulties which often accompany a railroad career. Strange to say he has never had an accident, nor has he been summoned to court for trial or as a wit- ness. Even granted that good luck was on his side, this is certainly a remarkable showing. and would seem to indicate a world of common sense and wide knowledge of his many-sided calling.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

A native of Canandaigua, N. Y., Mr. Truax was born July 21, 1846, and comes of Scotch ancestry. His father, John, was a native of the same place, and while living in New York was overseer of the Gregg estate in Canandai- gua. At an early day he settled in Hillsdale county, Mich., about 1854, from which state he enlisted for service in the Civil war, first in the First Coldwater Battalion, and afterwards in Company D, Second Michigan Volunteer In- fantry. He saw very hard service and suffered many deprivations, and eventually died from the long-continued strain. On the maternal side Mr. Truax is descended from Gen. Benjamin Wells, one of the most courageous and persist- ent of those who fought upon the battlefields of the Revolution. This was the great-grand- father of Ann Wells, the mother of Mr. Truax, who was born in New York state, a daughter of Benjamin Wells, a farmer in New York and afterwards in Michigan. Mrs. Truax, who died in Texas on the way to California, was the mother of eight children. four sons and four daughters, of whom two sons are now deceased, R. C. being the youngest son living. Another son, Jerome, is living in Toledo, Ohio.

Mr. Truax was reared in Michigan and edu- cated in the public schools, and in 1862 enlisted in Company D, Second Michigan Volunteer In- fantry, and served in the army of the Potomac, participating in many of the important battles of the war, including Spottsylvania, the Wilder- ness and Cold Harbor. In the latter named battle he was wounded in the left hip and was laid up in the hospital for a year, and was hon- orably discharged at the end of the war. Upon returning to Hillsdale, Mich., he attended school for cighteen months, and then began his railroad career as brakeman on the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad, running be- iween Toledo and Elkhart. He was in time promoted to be a conductor, and thus put in his time until 1883. He then came to California on a visit to his wife's relatives, and being favor- ably impressed with the climate and general prospects, decided to henceforth cast his for- tunes with the less worn activity of the west. The Southern Pacific road offered him a posi- tion as brakeman to begin with, but after three months he was promoted to conductor, and since 1887 he has run on the Long Beach divis- ion. This has been his home since that year, and he has built a fine residence and is per- manently located in this town.

In Grand Rapids, Mich., February 14, 1872, he married Jennie A. Stevens, a native of Bak- ersfield, Vt., and sister of G. A. Stevens, of this town. Of this union there are four children. viz .: Bertha, who is a graduate of the Pomona College, and is now the wife of B. Bellows, of Dakota City, Iowa; J. Wells, who is a graduate of the Long Beach high school and is now cm-

ployed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany at Pasadena; Harry, who is a graduate of the Woodbury Business College of Los An- geles, and is an operator with the Santa Fe Railroad at Winslow, Ariz .; and Viva, who is living at home. Mr. Truax is fraternally asso- ciated with the Knights of Pythias. In politi- cal affiliation he is a Republican, but has never devoted any time to office-holding. Mrs. Truax is connected with the Rathbone Sisters, Order of Maccabees, and is an officer of the Relief Corps. Mr. Truax is possessed of many admir- able characteristics, is well read, enterprising, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Long Beach.

THOMAS STORY. Few among the people now living in Burbank district have been iden- tified with its interests for a longer period than has Mr. Story, and probably no one has main- tained a deeper interest in its development and progress. When he arrived at the present site of Burbank, October 8, 1876, the surrounding country was a desert in which few attempts had been made at improvement. Hence his work was that of a pioneer. As a man of business he has been energetic, while his work as a farmer and stockman bears comparison with that of any other successful cattle-grower or agricul- turist in his neighborhood.

In Waterloo, Seneca county, N. Y., Thomas Story was born July 7, 1850, a son of Amos and Cornelia (Smith) Story, natives of the same county as himself. About 1854 the family re- moved to Michigan and settled on a farm in Kent county, where the father hoped to build up a large estate and gain financial success. Death, however, soon brought an .end to his hopes, for he passed away when only thirty-two years of age. His widow and five little children were left with only limited means, but for a time they kept together, the mother working for the chilren until they were old enough to care for her. Thomas was taken into his grand- mother's home in Seneca county, N. Y., and cared for by her until he was twelve. In 1862 he came to California with an uncle. Hiram Smith, who settled at Donner Lake and took up a timber claim. Three years later the family moved to Placer county in the mines of Todd's valley. About a year later Mr. Story secured work with A. A. Pond & Co., who owned a store and large mines there, and until he was nineteen he drove a team for the company.

During 1869 Mr. Story came to Southern California, where at first he worked on a grain farm and then rented land, after which he made a start for himself at Burbank, buying a squat- ter's right to seventy-eight and one-half acres one mile northwest of the village. This he im- proved and cultivated. On the suhdividing of the Burbank ranch, a portion of which he had

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previously rented, he bought forty acres of the tract, and this he later sold, together with his farm, to the West Los Angeles Water Com- pany. Having disposed of that property he bought another forty acres. In 1898 he opened a livery and sales stable, and for a year also con- ducted a dairy business, since which time he has given his attention principally to dealing in stock and land. At this writing he owns twenty- five acres at the foot of the hills, one mile from Burbank, under cultivation. After coming to this locality he married Miss Emma Fisher, who was born in Ohio, and in girlhood accompanied her father, Henry Fisher, to California, settling on a ranch in Burbank district. They have two sons, Henry Amos and Walter A. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mrs. Story is an active worker in the congre- gation, interested in various of its societies and a contributor to its maintenance. Not being a politician, Mr. Story considers his duty as a citi- zen discharged when he casts a Republican bal- lot at local and general elections, and has not sought the honors of office for himself. In fra- ternal relations he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters.

C. N. STANLEY. The first of the Stanley family to settle in America came from England and established his home in North Carolina. Lewis, a son of this immigrant, and a native of North Carolina, became a farmer in Indiana, making his home first in Fayette county and later in Hancock county. By his marriage to Mary Ann Johnson, who was born in Tennes- see and died in Indiana, there were born four- teen children, all but two of whom attained maturity, and ten are now living. Three sons participated in the Civil war, namely: John, of Indianapolis; Thomas and Van B., all of whom were members of the Seventy-ninth Indiana Infantry. The color-bearer of the regiment being shot down at Chickamauga, Thomas picked up the flag and carried it through the battle; he was afterwards killed in a skirmish at Missionary Ridge. Van B. fell while fighting for his country at Stone River. The sixth in the family circle was C. N., who was born in Fayette county, Ind., March 4, 1846. On at- taining his majority he went to Illinois and began farming in McLean county. Two years later (1869) he removed to Jackson county, Mo., and settled on a farm near Hickman's Mills. During the pioneer days of Kansas he became identified with the history of that state, and in 1871 began carpentering at Humboldt, Allen county. During 1873 he removed to Chicago, J11., where he followed his trade for nine months. His next location was Indianapolis, Ind., where he worked at contracting and building for many years, meantime having contracts for many fine

residences, substantial business blocks and tlie city hall.

Near Jacksonville, Ill., Mr. Stanley married Miss Mary Rex, who was born in Indiana and died in Pasadena, Cal. Two children were born of that union, of whom Florence died in infancy, and Eva G. is Mrs. Charles E. Rice, of Pasadena. The second marriage of Mr. Stanley took place in Pasadena and united him with Mrs. Sarah (Michels) Clatterbuck, a native of West Vir- ginia. Two children bless this union, Lewis and Earle. By her union with Mr. Michels there was one son, George.

During 1887 Mr. Stanley came to California, since which time he has followed contracting and building in Pasadena. Among the contracts he has had in this city are those for the Hopkins and other blocks, and numerous fine residences, besides which he built the First National Bank building of Monrovia and the Monroe block. Since coming west he has been made a Mason in Pasadena Lodge No. 272, F. & A. M. His enthusiastic support of Democratic principles makes him an influential member of his party in local politics, and he is now rendering able service as the representative of his ward in the city committee and also as a member of the county central committee.

FRANK A. SEABERT. The Seabert fam- ily was founded in America by Philip A. Sea- bert, Sr., who, as an officer in Bonaparte's army, suffered the fate of the adherents of the Napoleonic empire and was forced to flee from France, the home of his ancestors and his own native land. Seeking refuge in Canada, he spent the remainder of his life far from the unquiet scenes of his early manhood. The large prop- erty which he owned in France was confiscated. and his descendants have endeavored fruitlessly to regain its possession. His son, Philip, Jr .. was born in Gascony, and accompanied his father to Canada after the battle of Waterloo. Later he became a prominent lawyer and states- man of Vermont, led in the work of the Demo- cratic party, and served four terms as a member of the Vermont legislature, afterward declining a nomination for the senate. Through his ef- forts a law was passed limiting a legal day's work to ten hours. His death occurred in Gas- cony, whither he had been called in connection with litigation for the recovery of the family estate.

In Brattleboro, Vt., Frank A. Seabert was born April 17, 1838. His education, begun un- der private tutors, was continued in Heathcote school, Brown's Academy, and Harvard Col- lege. For a time he studied medicine in Belle- vue Medical College and Hospital, but the fail- ure of his health forced him to abandon his studies. After a long rest and the full recovery of his health he entered the Polytechnic School

Rhinley -

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

at Troy, N. Y., where he took a full course in civil engineering. Afterward he entered the railroad service, being first with the Vermont Central Railroad, and later with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Road. At the opening of the Civil war he responded to the call for ninety-day men. At the expiration of that time he enlisted in Company C, Seventh Pennsyl- vania Reserves, and later assisted in organiz- ing the One Hundred and Forty-ninth Penn- sylvania Infantry Bucktails. From the ranks he was gradually promoted until he reached the office of brevet-colonel, being mustered out as such in 1865. During his service in the army of the Potomac he was several times wounded, but never seriously.

The railroad life of Mr. Seabert began with his entering the service of the Vermont Central road. A later position took him to Scranton, Pa., where he was employed on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad. For a time he was a member of the civil engineering corps, next was track master and assistant superin- tendent, and later became superintendent, which last position he filled for fifteen years, having charge of the division at Buffalo, N. Y. Mean- while for seven years he was a member of the Buffalo board of education, for six years was a director in the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation and chairman of its railroad department, also served as a trustee of Fitch Institute, trus- tee of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, presi- dent of the Eagle Loan and Trust Company, a member of the committee of management of Fitch Hospital, president of the Western New York Car Service Association, and one of the committee that framed the rules and by-laws of the association.

The pressure of heavy responsibilities under- mined Mr. Seabert's health and in 1894 he came to California, where he soon regained his strength. He then entered the Southern Pacific service as assistant superintendent of the Tuc- son division of six hundred and forty miles. However, the extreme heat of the desert proved so trying that he resigned and returned to Cali- fornia, settling at Redondo, where he has since engaged in the general mercantile business. While this is a complete change from railroad- ing, in which he met with such striking suc- cess, he has proved himself a man of diversified gifts, able to conduct different enterprises suc- cessfully. Several clerks are employed to as- sist him in the business, and a full line of gen- eral supplies is carried. He is a member of the executive committee of the Affiliated Retail Grocers' Association of Southern California, and was largely instrumental in organizing the Redondo Board of Trade, of which he has served as president. From the organization of the Republican party he has been firm in his allegiance to its principles. In religion he is

of the Presbyterian faith. While living in Penn- sylvania he married Miss Mary E. Bird, who was born in New Jersey and from there in childhood moved to Pennsylvania with her father, Wil- liam Bird, an extensive farmer. Born of their union were two children, namely: Jennie T. and Charles P., who is engaged in mining in Arizona, where Mr. Seabert himself has various important gold and silver mining interests.

T. R. FINLEY. The legal prestige of Santa Maria is well sustained by T. R. Finley, attor- ney-at-law, who has a deserved reputation and popularity by reason of a thorough adaptation to the requirements and amenities of his profes- sion. A Californian by birth and training, he was born in Santa Rosa June 3, 1854, and is a son of William H. and Ann J. (Maze) Finley, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee re- spectively. Generations ago the Finley family resided in Scotland, and from there crossed the ocean to North Carolina, where among their members were many representative and hon- ored citizens.

One of the well-known characters of pioneer days in California was William H. Finley, a pioneer of 1853. As a miner he worked in the old town of Lynchburg (now Oroville), Butte county, from which place he removed to the San Joaquin valley and engaged extensively in the cattle business, after 1864 being largely in- terested in the raising of general farm products. In 1869 he settled in the vicinity of Modesto, Stanislaus county, where he cultivated several thousand acres of land and met with a success that was well deserved. At a later period he es- tablished his home in Los Angeles, where he died March 24, 1901. Everywhere he was hon- ored for his integrity and honesty. He was a faithful worker and an elder in the Christian Church.

The education of T. R. Finley was acquired for the greater part in Stockton, San Joaquin county, and in Christian College at Santa Rosa, after which he was graduated from the Hastings Law School. His preliminary practice was se- cured in Modesto, Stanislaus county, but after two years he removed to Redding, Shasta coun- ty, where he acted as manager of the Shasta County Abstract Company for a number of years. His residence in Santa Maria began in 1896, since which time he has built up a large general law practice, being admitted to all the courts of the state of California. His efforts in behalf of the town are by no means confined to professional services, for he is prominently identified with business and social life and has also had much to do with promoting the cause of education. In politics a Democrat, he has had no time for office, other than to serve as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is

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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 166

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