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 170

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 170

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Politically Mr. Wilson is a Republican. He is a charter member both of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is actively connected with the Odd Fellows. He was made a Mason in Lodge No. 242, A. F. & A. M., and is now also connected with Chapter No. 51, R. A. M., St. Omar Com- mandery No. 30, K. T., Al Malakiah Temple, N. M. S., and Bruce Consistory of Los Angeles. He is a charter member of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce. His marriage took place in this city May 6, 1890, and united him with Miss Lillie Renwick, who came to Califor- nia with her father, John Renwick, now of Lom- poc. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are named Roy and Ruth.

CHARLES B. McCAY. The vast grain and stock-raising possibilities of Ventura county have been utilized by Charles B. McCay, who has been a resident of California since Novem- ber, 1873, and is accounted one of the author- ities on stock and agriculture in this part of the state. He was born in Steubenville, Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1848, a son of Joseph and Fan-

1152

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

nie (Day) McCay, the former a native of Penn- sylvania, and for many years well known as one of the experienced Chio river men. The parents died in Chio, where their son, Charles B., re- ceived a common-school education and in com- paratively early life acquired a fair knowledge of general business. Upon removing to Cali- fornia he lived for twelve years in Hueneme, where he became identified with building and mercantile interests, and, as the second meat- marketman, built the first store of any size in the town.

At the present time Mr. McCay has a ranch of five thousand acres, called Canada Verda, and located thirty-two miles east of Ventura. Upon its broad and fertile meadows graze nine hundred head of cattle and horses, and some of the finest of their kind are the result of the methods of breeding here adopted. An addi- tional responsibility was assumed by Mr. Mc- Cay in 1888, at which time he took charge of the ranch of the Simi Land and Water Com- pany, which, at the time, contained ninety-six thousand acres, and of which Senator Bard was president. The present holder of the position is Dr. Cochran, of Los Angeles, and the land has been disposed of until but eight thousand acres remain, over which Mr. McCay has still entire management. The staple crop is wheat and barley, and there are still three thousand acres of tillable land for sale. For the accommoda- tion of travelers, the Simi hotel has been erected at the east end of the valley, and here are housed Mr. McCay and family. The railroad station is also on the premises.

While living in Ohio, in 1872, Mr. McCay married Lizzie B. Garrett, a native of Pennsyl- ·vania, and of this union there are two children. Henry is a graduate of the Los Angeles Busi- ness College and is interested in the iron works at Bakersfield. Nellie is also a graduate of the Los Angeles Business College, and is living at home. Mr. McCay is a Republican in national politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Rutherford B. Hayes.

WESLEY L. STEVENS. When looking around for a suitable location, in 1893, Mr. Stevens visited Long Beach, which was then a small town with scarcely five hundred people. Finding the climate equable and delightful he determined to establish his home here and accordingly purchased the hardware business of L. A. Bailey. Since then he has continued the business at the same site and in the same building, the latter being 25x100 feet in dimen- sions and two stories in height. and stan ling on the corner of Second and Pine streets. Through the admission of his son, Spencer R., as a partner, in 1898, the firm title became W. L. Stevens & Son.

Near Meadowgap, Huntingdon county. Pa ..

WV. L. Stevens was born December 25, 1842, the thirteenth child and youngest son of Benedict Stevens. His grandfather, Benedict, Sr., was a son of a Vermonter who settled in Hunting- don county, Pa., and who was of Scotch-Irish descent. In the parental family there were fif- teen children, all but two of whom attained mature years, and seven are living. Those in California are Wesley L., Frank D. and Mrs. Rebecca J. Weight, of Pasadena. Five of the sons served in the Civil war, F. D. being in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves; William H., chaplain of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry; B. T. in the Twenty- second Pennsylvania Cavalry; David W., who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, served in the Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves; and Wesley L. was at the front during much of the war.

When the first call came for volunteers, in 1861, Wesley L. Stevens enlisted for three months, but found the quota filled. September 8 of the same year he volunteered in Company B. One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania In- fantry, and was mustered in for three years at Camp Crossman. However, after the battle oi Winchester he became seriously ill and was con- fined in the hospital for some time, after which he received an honorable discharge July 17, 1862, by reason of physical disability. For some months he remained at home recuperating and as soon as his health was regained he again offered his services to the Union. June 16, 1863, his name was enrolled in Company A, Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, and he served in the Shenandoah valley until he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, February 5. 1864. His final enlistment took place August 29, 1864, when he was mustered into Com- pany K, Two Hundred and Second Pennsyl- vania Infantry, at Harrisburg, after which he was sent to the Shenandoah and served on de- tached duty, finally being mustered out at Har- risburg August 3, 1865, by reason of the special order discharging all soldiers at the close of the war. During his service with the Twenty- second he took part in a number of cavalry dashes and saw considerable hard fighting.

Soon after the close of the war Mr. Stevens entered the Iron City College at Pittsburg, where he remained until graduating. In 1867 he opened a general merchandise store at Three Springs, Huntingdon county. where he was also a member of the first board of city trustees. In 1883 he bought out the hardware business of his brother, Frank D., at Mount Union, Pa., and continued there until 1886, when he sold out, came to California, and formed a partner- ship with his brother, F. D., in Pasadena. The Stevens Hardware Company became the largest of its kind in the city and the proprietors were also active in the buying and selling of real

1153

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

estate. The loss of health forced Wesley L. to sell his interest in the business. after which he set out and superintended an orange grove in . Pasadena, continuing at that occupation until he had regained his health, when he came to Long Beach. Here he recently completed an attractive and commodious residence of three stories on the corner of Fourth and Cedar streets. Politically he is a Republican, and in religion a member and trustee of the Methi- od'st Episcopal Church. He is connected with the Master Plumbers Association of Long Beach and Long Beach Post No. 180, G. A. R. In Harrisburg, Pa., he married Sarah Jane Keister, who was born near Maddensville, Huntingdon county. Pa. They have twelve children, viz .: Lou Mav, a bookkeeper for her father: Raymond B. and Spencer R., both asso- ciated with the business; Winnie, in Los An- geles; Chester W., a plumber in Pasadena; Dyson, a plumber employed by his father; Mitchell, who is employed in a meat market at Long Beach; Ina, Myrtie, Claudine, Beatrice and Viola.

FRANK D. STEVENS. In Huntingdon county, Pa., Frank D. Stevens was born March 13, 1841, a son of Benedict and Eva (Ow) Stev- ens, natives of Pennsylvania. He was reared on the home farm and received a common- school education. In March, 1862, he enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Pennsylvania Reserves, army of the Potomac. and took part in the bat- tles of Mechanicsville, White Oak Swamp, Fredericksburg (where he was twice wounded), Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Mine Run and Bristow Station. During the campaign in the Wilderness he was captured and for nine months was kept in prisons in Georgia and South Carolina, but was finally paroled in March, 1865, and the next month was honor- ably discharged with the rank of first lieuten- ant. Returning to Pennsylvania he began in the hardware business at Mount Union, where he remained for seventeen years. Coming from there to California he spent a year in Los An- gles and then came to Pasadena, where he is the head of the Stevens Hardware Company at No. 8 East Colorado street, and is also a direct- or of the Pasadena Lake Vineyard Land and Water Company. He has been commander of John F. Godfrey Post No. 95, G. A. R., and is a trustee of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Pasadena. While living in Pennsylvania he married Annie A. Bush and after her death was united with Anna Hiney, who died in Los Angeles in 1886. Later he married Dora M. Bucher, of Philadelphia. Five children were born of his first marriage, one of whom, Etliel F., is deceased. Those living are Arthur B., of Pasadena; Claudine D., Mrs. W. A. Benshoff;

Rev. Frank G. H., a minister in the Methodist Episcopal denomination; and Kingsley N., of Pasadena.

E. W. OLNEY. The name of Olney is de- rived from an island in the Severn river, Eng- land, and the emigrating ancestor was one of the venturesome voyageurs who landed on Massachusetts' shores trom that historic crait, the Mayflower. E. W. Olney, rancher, and one of the most popular and enterprising citizens of Gardena, was born in Chenango county, N. Y., March 7, 1840, and is a son of Rensselaer Jesse Olney, born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., in 1807. The elder Olney removed from New York to Illinois when his son, E. W., was five years of age, and settled on a farm of eighty acres in the town of Kingston, DeKalb county, where he died at the age of seventy-eight years. His father, Jesse, was born at Stillwater, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1755, and, having qualified as a practicing physician, continued to live among his native surroundings up to the time of his death, in 1810. In 1831 Rensselaer Olney married Rachel Ireland, born in New York, and daughter of Thomas Ireland, who came from his native country, England, to the United States in young manhood, and was a farmer during the years of his activity, being successful and prom- inent in the locality in which he lived.

The youth of Mr. Olney was spent in the vi- cinity of Chicago, Ill., where he was educated in the public schools, and engaged in farming on his own responsibility. In response to the need of the Union he served during the Civil war in Company F, Thirteenth Illinois Infantry (the first regiment that was mustered into the Government service from Illinois for three years). and during his service was under Gen- cral Sherman for the most of the time. He saw much of the terrible and grewsome side of warfare, and received a gunshot wound in his left shoulder which necessitated eleven months of hospital treatment. He was mustered out in Springfield, Ill., ard the following year ex- changed his occupation of farming for that of a clerkship in an hotel. Thereafter he turned his attention to the buying of wheat in Iowa, and for five years this proved a profitable business. He then removed to Nebraska and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land near Lin- coln. In 1897 he settled in Gardena upon an alfalfa ranch of five acres. The California prop- erty of Mr. Olney is well improved, and utilized for alfalfa and deciduous fruits.

In Sycamore, DeKalb county. Ill .. Mr. Olney married Elizabeth D. Dunlap, a daughter of David Vescelius, who moved to Michigan with his parents when but a hoy, and later settled in Illinois. He married Patience Mitchell, who was horn near Liverpool. England, and came to America with her uncle when twelve years of

1154

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

age, settling near White Pigeon, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Olney have no children of their own, but adopted a daughter, Kitty, who by her first husband, Abner Thomson, had one child, Olney Thomson, now adopted into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Olney. Mrs. Thomson married a sec- ond time, being now the wife of William Bry- ant of Gardena.

Mr. Olney is a Republican in politics, and served as supervisor while living in Nebraska. He is fraternally associated with the blue lodge of Masons in Kingston, DeKalb county, III., and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is president and a director of the Gardena Water Company, and is treasurer and a director of the Co-operative Creamery Company of Gardena. Mrs. Olney is a member of the Royal Neigh- bors of America. Mr. Olney is one of the sub- stantial, large-hearted, and public-spirited men of this community, has one of the most beauti- ful ranches for many miles around, and has hosts of friends who appreciate his fine personal characteristics and pronounced success.

JOHN ROBERTS. That Mr. Roberts pos- sesses those sterling and common-sense attri- butes in accord with developing conditions, no one questions, for his life has been cast in pio- neer grooves, and during a long and well-di- rected career he has started a couple of towns and assisted at the early upbuilding of others. When he first came to Long Beach, in 1884, the aggregate of residences, barns and outbuildings was seventeen, and this nucleus of future pros- perity had need of just such enterprise and wise conservatism as characterized the industry of this honored citizen. In August of the year of his arrival he constructed a home with his own hands, having completed which he engaged in the lumber business as manager of the San Pedro Lumber Company at this point, and he sold the first lumber in the village,. thus encouraging building and general trade. In this capacity he continued until his resignation in 1888, since which time, though practically retired from ac- tive business life, he has contributed in an all around general way to the best interests of the town of his adoption.

The emigrating ancestor of the Roberts fam- ily was one Cadwallader Roberts, who left the home of his forefathers in Wales and settled in Montgomery county, Pa., soon after the set- tlement of that state. He was a member of the Society of Friends, as were many of his lat- ter-day descendants. The paternal grandfather, Ezekiel, was born in Pennsylvania and settled in Ontario about 1800, but after the war of 1812 removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where he engaged in farming. He afterwards located at Samantha, in Highland county, and was there extensively interested in the nursery business.

He also was a member of the Society of Friends. While living in Ontario his son, Charles, the · father of John Roberts, was born, and later became a farmer in Belmont county, Ohio, and in 1845 removed to what was then Delaware county, near Mount Gilead. His death occurred in Chariton, Lucas county, Iowa. After his marriage to Sarah Harris, a native of Belmont county, he departed from the faith of his an- cestors and accepted the teachings of the Meth- odist Church, in which he had implicit confi- dence for the remainder of his life. The Harris family came from old Virginia stock, and John Harris, the father of Mrs. Roberts, was born in old Virginia, whither his family had removed, and where they were surrounded with Indians. After the Civil war the father and mother re- moved with their children to Akron, Mo., and later to Iowa, where both eventually died. There were thirteen children born of this union, eight of whom are living, John Roberts being the old- est of all, and the only one in California. One of the sons, Wright, served during the Civil war in the Forty-third Ohio Infantry, and at Corinth, Miss., had his left hand shot to pieces. He now lives in Harrison county, Mo.

John Roberts was born in Belmont county, Ohio, June 16, 1831, and in his boyhood days attended the early subscription schools, sup- plemented by a partial course at the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. Owing to illness he was obliged to shorten his study at the latter institution, and he therefore turned his attention to farming in Ohio, until his removal to Iowa in 1856. Upon settling in Montezuma, Powe- shiek county, he worked at the carpenter's trade until October of 1857, when he started across the plains with a horse team and wagon, cross- ing the Missouri river at Nebraska City, and locating in Otoe county, Neb., at the head of the Little Nemaha river, surrounded by a wil- derness of prairie. While there he helped to locate and found the town of Palmyra, and also named it, and contributed much towards its carly development. In the immediate vicinity thereof he cleared and improved two farms, but that he might better educate his children, even- tually disposed of his interests and moved to Nebraska City. His life at the head of the Little Nemaha was replete with interest and also with vicissitude, for during the first two years of his residence there he was nine miles from his near- est neighbor. He first pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in 1865 homesteaded another farm the same size, and he was one of the first settlers of that now flourishing region. For four years also he was connected with the overland stage, and in this way became familiar with the extreme wildness in surroundings, and in humanity as represented among the crude but promising conditions.

After removing to Nebraska City, Mr. Rob-

1155

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

erts was a delegate the same fall to the national convention at Philadelphia, convened for the second nomination of General Grant for the presidency. In 1873 he was appointed outside deputy internal revenue collector for the north- ern half of Nebraska, the division line being the Platte river, and the headquarters in Omaha. This responsibility was dutifully discharged until 1878, at the close of which year he took up his residence in Lincoln, another town which he had helped to plan and locate. He there engaged in a manufacturing business, with fair success, until failing health rendered a change imperative. He therefore came to California in 1884, and after a few months in Los Angeles set- tled permanently in Long Beach. He was a member and president of the first and second city councils, and mayor also, these services cov- ering in all seven years. He helped to form the city government, and rendered invaluable serv- ice by his wise and practical counsel, and his thorough knowledge of municipal life in all its bearings. Assisted by an earnest and efficient board of trustees, he brought about the con- struction of the Long Beach pier, which, more than any other factor in the history of the town, has completed the prosperity at present pre- vailing. Another advance due to his energy and forethought was the securing of the franchise for the terminal railroad which, without his as- sistance, had been long delaved.

Thrice married, the first union of Mr. Rob- erts was in Morrow county, Ohio, with Mary Barrett. a native of that county, and who died in Ohio in December of 1852. Of this marriage there was one child, Mary, who is now the wife of C. O. Mortley, of Centerburg, Knox county, Ohio. The second Mrs. Roberts was formerly Sarah A. McKee. a native of Morrow county, Ohio, and who died in Long Beach. Of this union there were the following children: Charles H .. who is a graduate pharmacist from a New York college, and is now a traveling salesman in West Virginia for Park, Davis & Co., of De- troit, Mich .; Sarah E., who is the wife of Dr. Steer, of Long Beach; Ida Frances, who is now Mrs. Christy, of Los Angeles; Eda Bell and Eva Dell, twins, and now Mrs. Fleming, of Los Angeles, and Mrs. Welsh. of the same town: John, who died at the age of five years; and Dwight J., who is a practicing physician of Los Angeles, and a graduate of the Hahne- mann College, Chicago. The third marriage of Mr. Roberts occurred in Long Beach, and united him with Mrs. Clara F. (Richardson) Meyer, a native of Canada, and a resident of California since 1889. Mr. Roberts is a stanch Republican, and was formerly a Whig. In Palmyra, Neb., he was justice of the peace, and was a member of the board of county commis- sioners for three years. In Nebraska Citv he was made a Mason, identified with Western

State Lodge No. 2, and is at present connected with the Long Beach Lodge No. 327.

DAVID HARRIS. Integrity and persever- ance were the foundation stones upon which Mr. Harris built the superstructure of an honor- able life. These qualities were his by inherit- ance from a long line of Welsh forefathers, as well as by careful training in a Christian home. His boyhood was passed in Glamorganshire, Wales, where he was born May 24, 1821, and where his father, David, Sr. was a miner. It was but natural that he, too, should learn min- ing and follow the occupation which was the principal industry in his shire. Indeed, he could scarcely remember when he first began to work in the mines, as his recollections at seven years were of such scenes and such labor. Coming to the United States about 1843, he located at Niles, Ohio, where he laid the first stone on the foundation of the rolling mills at that place. He next went to the copper mines in Michigan, and from there went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he was married, and then returned to Gallipo- lis, Ohio, where he superintended in mines. On going to Ohio he bought one hundred and fifteen acres and upon that place was the super- intendent of coal mines, but later he laid out the land and built up the town of Mineral Ridge, of which he was virtually the founder. As a partner of John Morris (brother of David Morris), under the firm name of Harris & Mor- ris, he operated mines of his own, and attained a degree of success which his industry and de- termination well merited. Having been familiar with mining from childhood, his fertile mind had grasped every detail of the industry, and his judgment in every detail of the business was regarded as authoritative. Not only did he pos- sess broad views and original ideas, but he also had the energy and ability to execute these plans, and in the prime of his life he reaped the reward of the preceding years of toil and application. In 1873 he moved to Denver, Colo., and bought a residence in that city. However, after some years, deciding that Los Angeles offered special advantages in climate, he came to this city in March, 1882, and afterward lived retired, with the exception of a general oversight of his in- terests. His death occurred here January 10, 1896, when he was seventy-six years and six months old. Fraternally he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined that order in Wales. In politics he was a Republican.

April 13, 1848, in Pittsburg, Pa., Mr. Harris married Miss Margaret Jones, who was born in Brownsville, Pa., a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Young) Jones, the former a native of Glamorganshire, Wales, and the latter born near Brownsville. When twenty-one years of age

1156

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Jones came to America and settled in Pitts- burg, where lie engaged in the hotel business. His death occurred in Pittsburg when he was fifty-two years of age. In all of the labors of Mr. Harris his wife proved a wise counselor and true helpmate, and the credit for much of his success he gave to her. With a sincere desire to be an influence for good in the world, she has given aid to religious and philanthropic movements. Since coming to Los Angeles she has been an active member of the First Chris- tian Church, in the work of which she takes a deep interest.

J. H. HASSINGER. The Hassinger family is among the oldest in Pennsylvania. Samuel K. Hassinger, who was a merchant in Dauphin county, removed from Pennsylvania to Ne- braska in 1870 and settled near Palmyra, Otoe county. His death occurred at Hastings, that state, March 4, 1893. While living in the east he married Mary S. Barnes, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., of an old family there, and who died June 16, 1863. Their first child, a son, died in infancy. J. H., born in La- trobe, Pa., May 4, 1859, accompanied his father to Nebraska when he was eleven years of age, and grew to manhood in Otoe county. While still a boy he became familiar with the car- penter's trade, and in 1881 went to North Piatte, where he turned his attention to mer- chandising and afterward engaged in farm- ing. For five years he was postmaster at Nesbit, Logan county, Neb., was also county auditor for three years and treasurer of the school dis- trict for nine years.

On coming to California in 1894 Mr. Has- singer at once settled at Ocean Park, where he now makes his home. The village at that time was in an enibryo state, containing few possi- bilities of future growth or prosperity. Believ- ing that it had many advantages of climate and location, he invested in property here and de- termined to identify himself with the town's future growth, a decision which he has not had cause to regret. In the intervening years he has built almost one hundred and fifty build- ings, and has done much to promote the welfare of the place. While living in Nebraska he was married at North Platte, April 5, 1882, to Miss Ella M. Jones, who was born in Owasso, Mich. Her parents, Thomas J. and Nancy A. (Bogue) Jones, were natives respectively of Virgil and Rochester, N. Y., and in 1872 settled at North Platte, Neb., where Mr. Jones followed sheep ranching. During the early days he was a famous buffalo hunter, and his success in bring- ing down his game made his name familiar throughout the hunting regions of the west. Mr. and Mrs. Hassinger have three children now living, Thomas Hamilton, Charles Bogue and Ella June. Their three eldest children died

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 170

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