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 176

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

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The education of Mr. Perry was obtained at the Pennsylvania Military Academy, at Chester, Pa., and at St. Stephens College, New York, after which he studied law with his father, Judge Perry, and with Judge R. S. Kuhl, of Fleming- ton, N. J. He was admitted to practice at the New Jersey bar in June of 1875.

At Woodbury, his former home in New Jer- sey, he assumed numerous important responsi- bilities, and was for a time city solicitor, bank

director, an officer in the Gloucester County Bible Society, and for ten years was president of the City Library Association. He arose to con- spicuous eminence in New Jersey Democratic affairs, was twice chairman of state Democratic conventions, and was favorably mentioned as a candidate for gubernatorial and congressional honors. As state's attorney Mr. Perry prose- cuted three of the most famous murder trials ever held in New Jersey, viz .: the State vs. George M. Dunham; the State vs. James Hill- man; and the State vs. Michael Tighe.

Owing to failing health, Mr. Perry came to California in 1898, and for a time was engaged in journalistic work, as editor of his purchase, the Santa Ana Standard. In California and in the east he has engaged in miscellaneous lit- erary work, and started, and for a time edited, the Gloucester (N. J.) County Democrat, and also aided in a preparation of the history of Gloucester county. Valrosa, the beautiful home of Mr. Perry, is located on his splendid fruit ranch on the outskirts of the city, and is gra- ciously presided over by Mrs. Perry, who was, before her marriage, Lida, daughter of Rev. Daniel Thackeray, of Woodbury, N. J.

HUBERT HENRY WAKEHAM. The fine Wakeham ranch, five miles south of Santa Ana, is a monument to the industry, enterprise and good citizenship of Hubert H. Wakeliam, who, though dead since March 26, 1888, is neverthe- less remembered by many who knew him during his sojourn in Southern California. He was a model agriculturist, a good business man, and the possessor of those sterling traits of mind, character and attainment which win esteem and consideration. His counsel and purse· were cver at the disposal of worthy and needful causes, and his practical, common-sense views and: honesty of expression made him eagerly sought for on important occasions. Although a member of the Republican party, he was in no sense a poli- tician, his existence being fashioned on those serene lines wherein the strife and uncertainty of politics had no place.

To an unusual extent he inherited the sub- stantial traits of the English race, his ancestors for generations having been loyal adherents of English rule. He was born in Revelstock. Devonshire, England, in November, 1832, a son of John Wakeham, of Devonshire, and an agri- culturist by occupation. Hubert H. immigrated to the United States when twenty-one years of age, his journey taking him through Canada and he remained in Illinois for some time. Eventually he made the overland trip to Cali- fornia, and lived in Sacramento prior to locating in Los Angeles county in 1867. From there he came to what is now Orange county. He pur- chased a tract of unimproved land, which his enterprise converted into a paying property, and

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upon which he instituted all modern and con- venient improvements.

The year of the Centennial at Philadelphia found Mr. Wakeham in the Quaker city, an enthusiastic tourist and keen observer of the marvelous things there to be seen. True to the memory of an early love across the sea, he returned to the scenes of his youth and married Elizabeth S. Helmer, a native of Plymouth, England, and a daughter of Frederick and Ann (Evans) Helmer. On returning to the United States with his bride he settled on the ranch improved by himself, and erected what was then one of the finest rural homes in Southern Cali- fornia, south of Los Angeles.

JOHN D. PARSONS. Not only through his work as a business man, but in other lines of enterprise, Mr. Parsons has been able to pro- mote the welfare of his home city, Santa Ana. That he maintains a deep interest in local mat- ters is evinced by his acceptance of the position of member of the city council, to which he was elected by acclamation and in which office he is now serving his third term. During this pe- riod he has given his support to such measures as seem best adapted to promote the welfare of the city and the development of its material re- sources.

The oldest of three children, John D. Parsons was educated principally in Maine, but at the age of eighteen he returned to his native county in Missouri. In a short time he located upon a farm in St. Louis county, where he took up the work of an agriculturist; but, owing to ill health, was obliged to sell his interests there and seek a more congenial climate. It was in this way that he was induced to come to Cali- fornia. November, 1886, found him a resident of Santa Ana, where he has since made his home. As soon as he was restored to health he took an active part in the enterprises of the town. In 1892 he opened a grocery at No. 414 West Fourth street, where he has since success- fully continued in business. In addition to the management of his store, he owns a walnut orchard northeast of Santa Ana and also valu- able city property.

WILLIAM CROWTHER. . One of the larg- est, best known and improved properties in Orange county is the ranch owned by William Crowther. The one hundred and thirty-six raw and unpromising acres which came into his pos- session in 1875 have been induced, under the in- fluence of unremitting care, to yield abundantly of the products which have rendered this section of the country world famous. Eighty acres of land are under English walnuts and about twen- ty-five acres under oranges, deciduous fruits and a small vineyard. Although so successful as a horticulturist, this particular branch of industry

would seem to be but incidental in the life of a man whose start in life was propitiated by the learning of a useful and at all times needful trade. To the accomplishment of this early fore- thought he owes many of the opportunities which, when worked out, have placed him among the benefactors of an appreciative com- munity.

As one of the intelligent pioneers of his local- ity Mr. Crowther necessarily became conscious of the many improvements required before the soil would yield even fair returns, and the avaii- able facilities for irrigation be such as to induce those in search of homes to locate within the county. He therefore gave to the subject of waterways his most earnest consideration, and was one of the originators of the present means of irrigation provided by the Anaheim Union Water Company. As one of the directors for many years and as the president of the company for this, his second term, he has evinced a con- tinual interest in the waterway and been of ill- valuable assistance in the conduct of its affairs. Interesting to note is the fact that he made the first pick used in the construction of the canal, and he was also the company's blacksmith for the first eighteen months.

ARCHIE McFADDEN. As far back as the genealogical records extend, the McFadden family was identified with the history of Scot- land and lived upon a small island off the shores of that country. The first to come to this coun- try was John McFadden, who was reared to agricultural pursuits and became so efficient as a farmer that he was awarded a silver medal for doing the best plowing on the Isle of Butte. This medal is now in the possession of his son and namesake, John, Jr. While he was still quite young, he crossed the ocean to America and settled near Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., where he became the owner of a valuable farm comprising two hundred and twenty-five acres. Industrious, frugal, diligent and persevering, he secured a competence in return for his diligent cultivation of the soil, and was able to surround his family of twelve children (one of whom was an adopted son) with the comforts of life. The integrity which manifested itself in every ac- tion had its root in a fervent religious belief, for he was from youth a sincere member of the United Presbyterian Church and long served as a ruling elder in the denomination. After the organization of the Republican party he gave it his allegiance, but he was not a politician and preferred the quiet pursuit of daily duties to participation in politics. At the time of his death he was sixty-six years of age. Later, his wife, Effie (Lamont) McFadden, went to Newburgh, N. Y., and there her life came to a close at the age of four score years. She, too, was a native of the Isle of Butte, but it is supposed that her

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

family originated in France. Among the most prominent members of the Lamont family is her nephew, Daniel Lamont, ex-secretary of war.

On the old homestead in Delaware county, N. Y., Archie McFadden was born March 2, 1835. Reared to farm pursuits, he selected agriculture as his life occupation, and for four- teen years after his father's death he continued to operate the home farm. On selling the es- tate, he came to California in 1875 and settled at Santa Ana, near which town he bought a farm of forty acres. His next purchase was a farm within the corporate limits of the town, and this property he still owns. The improvement and sale of real estate and the buying and sell- ing of farms constituted his occupation for some time, but in addition he superintends a walnut ranch of fifteen acres, which he owns and upon which he resides, and he also owns twenty-two acres north of Tustin. He has given consider- able attention to the fruit business and is well posted concerning the productiveness of the soil. Indeed, few residents of his county are more familiar than he with the various qualifi- cations necessary to success in fruit-growing, and his advice upon the subject is always wor- thy of thoughtful consideration. While he is not a politician, he takes an interest in local and national affairs and supports Republican prin- ciples.

HENRY HETEBRINK. The history of the Placentia district from 1876 up to the present time would be incomplete without due mention of the successful efforts in behalf of his own and the general welfare on the part of Henry Hete- brink, one of the substantial general farmers and dairymen of Orange county.

The first ambitious incentives to success which entered the life of this earnest pioneer were formulated in Hanover, Germany.

For several years after landing in America he contented himself with the conditions exist- ing in New York City, but subsequently became imbued with the western fever of the latter '50S and journeyed to California via the Isthmus of Panama in 1859. After a short residence in San Francisco he took up his residence in Alameda county, Cal., where he lived for a number of years. Though moderately successful and suf- ficiently pleased with California to contemplate with unanimity the prospect of a continued residence within its borders, he sought to still further improve his prospects by removal to the Placentia district,which has since been his home. In the beginning he purchased for future culti- vation one hundred acres of crude and un- promising land, to the improvement of which he bent his entire energy with the result so gratifyingly evinced in the present. Although the greater part of the land is devoted to general farming and dairying there is also a grove of

English walnuts, which has proved a profitable and satisfactory investment.

THEO LACY is a member of an old family of North Carolina and Alabama.

In a family comprising seven daughters and three sons, Theo Lacy was third in order of birth. He was born in Morgan county, Ala., April 22, 1850, and received his education in the public schools. At the age of six years he was taken by his parents to Washington county, Ark., and there remained until twenty years of age. On starting out for himself, he went to the Indian territory and was employed as a clerk in the mercantile house of F. B. Severs, of Okmulgee. Subsequently he went to Musko- gee and engaged in the cattle industry and the mercantile business. After a number of years of successful work in that line, he disposed of his interests in the territory, and in 1882 came to California, settling at Santa Ana. For some years he carried on a livery business, after which he gave his attention to farming.

The people of Orange county have frequently chosen Mr. Lacy to serve in positions of trust and honor, and in every instance he has proved himself to be faithful to every trust reposed in him. He was twice elected treasurer of the city of Santa Ana, in which capacity he served four years. In November, 1890, he was elected sheriff. His term was so satisfactory to the people that he was re-elected in November, 1892, serving another term of two years. In No- vember, 1898, he was elected for the third time, this term being for four years.

OTTO DES GRANGES. An interesting, eventful and noble life was that of Otto Des Granges, who died in the Placentia district, Orange county, June 24, 1899. His loss is sincerely mourned by all who knew and appre- ciated the life-long effort of this German-Amer- ican, who so materially aided in sustaining the national characteristics which have accom- plished much towards the substantial develop- ment of their adopted land. He was among the very early settlers of the locality. and. upon first coming here in 1873.purchased eighty acres of land. which for several years was devoted to general farming. He eventually turned his at- tention to oranges and walnuts, in the cultiva- tion of which he accomplished satisfactory re- stilts.

Though a quiet. unostentations man. Mr. Des Granges had a wide knowledge of the world, having traveled extensivelv and observed keen- ly. He came of a family whose distinction he endeavored to maintain. and whose traditions reached into remote European history. With the countless hundreds who fled from France after the revocation of the edict of Nantes, his ancestor of Protestant belief settled with other

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Huguenots who sought a refuge in Germany, and became loyal to the government and insti- tutions of the asylum country. There the de- scendants have lived up to the present time. In Prussia, Germany, Mr. Des Granges was born March 26, 1816, and was a son of Philip and Sophia Des Granges. His education was far in advance of that enjoyed by the average German youth of that time, and was of a military nature, acquired in the famous military school at Pots- dam, near Berlin. He later attended the mili- tary school of war at Berlin, and subsequently, at the age of twenty, entered the Prussian army as a first lieutenant, serving for three years. In 1839 he left the army and went to India, where he engaged in coffee culture for several years, but, owing to the failing health which usually accompanies extended residence in that country, he returned to Europe and entered the employ of the Austrian army as a civil engineer. For a time he was employed at building railroads.

HON. JOHN WESLEY BALLARD, the judge of the supreme court of Orange county is a descendant of an English family long identified with the history of New York. His father, Gilson Ballard, a native of that state, for some years en- gaged in farming near Dryden, Tompkins county, but early in the '4os he removed to Illi- nois and settled in Franklin county. Later he established his home in Hancock county, the same state.

It was from this locality that the family in 1863, started on their long journey via the Isthmus of Panama, to California. They had only been in Suisun, Solano county, two weeks when the father died, and three years later the mother also passed away. They were sur- vived by three sons: Duane, now of San Fran- cisco; Hooker, now deceased; and John Wesley. Before the family left Carthage the last-named son had commenced the study of law under one of the leading attorneys of Illinois, and he continued his readings in Solano county under M. A. Wheaton, now a wealthy resident of San Francisco. Later he went to Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he read with W. D. Bliss, attor- ney. From there he went to San Francisco, where he was employed as accountant for sev- eral years, and finally became a clerk in the freight department of the Southern Pacific Rail- road. Considerations of health influenced him to remove to a farm in the Reese River valley in Nevada, where he not only engaged in the stock business, but also taught school and resumed his law studies. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court.

After a few years in Nevada he came to Southern California in the fall of 1883 and set- tled at Tustin, where he carried on mercantile pursuits for six years. On the organization of Orange county he was appointed deputy dis-

trict attorney, acting as such under Col. E. E. Edwards, after which he resumed the practice of law. Later he was elected district attorney for a term of four years, but at the end of the second year he resigned the office in order to accept that of superior judge, to which he had been elected. During his discharge of official duties he has sat on the bench while a number of famous cases have been tried, among them one which was transferred from San Diego county and involved $1,500,000 of city bonds. In politics he has never displayed a partisan spirit, although he is stanch in his support of Republican principles. He is connected with the Odd Fellows and has passed all the chairs in his lodge.

ROBERT LEE BETTNER. In an early day in America's history the Bettner family came from Germany and settled in New York, from which state some of that name afterward en- listed in the Revolutionary war. James Bettner, Sr., who was a large land owner on the Hudson river, married Annie Carnochan, a sister of Dr. John Murray Carnochan, and a daughter of John Murray Carnochan, who emigrated from Scotland and first settled in Savannah, Ga. Later he became the owner of the Apalachicola tract, comprising sixty miles square of land in Florida.

James Bettner, Jr., father of Robert Lee Bettner, was born at Riverdale, on the Hudson, N. Y. He was admitted to the New York bar, but gave his attention principally to civil engi- neering, and after graduating from the Troy. Polytechnic school, surveyed the Northern Pa- cific Railroad through Montana. As a result of exposure in inclement weather, his health was impaired, and he was obliged to resign his posi- tion. He then came to Riverside, where he was among the first to make experiments in fruit-raising. While here he aided in organiz- ing the free public library and became a mem- ber of its first board of trustees. He also started the Riverside Fruit Company, which was one of the earliest concerns of its kind. In addition to his property here, he owned real estate in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and various other points in Southern California. His death occured in Riverside in 1888. By his marriage to Cath- erine Allen, who resides on Magnolia avenue, Riverside, he had four children, of whom the eldest and the sole survivor is Robert L. The last-named was born in New York City, March II, 1865, and received his education in the Charlier school, completing his study of the classics under a private tutor in Riverside.

Throughout his residence in Riverside, Mr. Bettner has maintained a close connection with its fruit-growing interests, and he now com- bines horticulture with his real estate dealings. On Terquesquite avenue he has thirteen acres

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in an orange grove, and he owns residence prop- erty at the corner of Magnolia avenue and Jefferson street. As a member of the firm of Bettner & Osburn, he has an office at No. 666 Seventh street, Riverside, opposite Glenwood Tavern, and there he spends much of his time. He is a member of the Board of Trade. In politics he is a gold standard Democrat.

In the organization of the Riverside Country Club, Mr. Bettner took a warm interest, and he was chosen its first secretary, afterward acting as its president for several years. At this writ- ing he is president of the Riverside Polo Club. For three years he held office as president of the Casa Blanca Lawn Tennis Club. After the organization of the Southern California Lawn Tennis Association, in which he bore a promi- nent part, he was elected its secretary and treas- urer, serving as such for several years, after which he acted as president for some years. He also aided in organizing the Pacific Coast Polo and Pony Racing Association, of which he is now the vice-president. In all of these organiza- tions he is influential and active, as he is in all movements for the benefit of his community.

Since coming to Riverside, Mr. Bettner has married, his wife being Lucy Elisa Gilliland, who was born and reared in England and came to Riverside with her brother and sister and her mother, Mrs. Lucy Gilliland. They are the par- ents of one child, Dorothea Annie Catherine. The family is connected with the Episcopal Church.

ALBERT S. WHITE, in whose honor the beautiful little park of Riverside was named, has taken a very active part in the upbuilding and improvement of this city, and is held in high esteem by all of our citizens. Mr. White was born in Belfast, Me. After graduating from the high school, he located in New York City, and for eleven years was engaged in the ship chand- lery business under the firm name of Gilchrist, White & Co. Having been prostrated by a severe attack of pneumonia, and failing to rally from its effects, he crossed the continent in January, 1876, in search of health. In River- side he purchased forty acres of land on Mag- nolia avenue, which he planted to an orange orchard.

Being energetic and public spirited he threw himself into every enterprise tending to advance the prosperity of the city of his adoption. To- gether with H. J. Rudisill, Esq., in 1879 he organized in Riverside the first citrus fair ever held in this country. This proving a great suc- cess, he at once raised the funds for the erection of the pavilion which was built on Main, corner of Seventh street, on the ground now occupied by the Loring opera house. This pavilion was thereafter used for citrus fairs as well as for all public entertainments, until its destruction by

fire in 1887. Among the many public works with which Mr. White was prominently con- nected were the building in Arlington of the schoolhouse and Presbyterian Church; the founding of the Mercantile library, which has since developed into the public library, with both of which he was connected as trustee, and the organization of the Citizens' Water Com- pany and its successors, the Riverside Water Company, and the Riverside Land Company, he serving as director on the board of each com- pany. He was one of the incorporators and di- rectors of the Arlington Railroad Company and the Riverside Railway Company, both of which have been merged into the Electric Railroad Company, of which he is also a director. In 1887 he was president of the Riverside Improve- ment Company which developed and piped the domestic artesian water supply to this city. He is president of the Riverside Heights Water Company, which supplies the water for White's Addition to Riverside. He is director and treasurer in the Loring Opera House Company. It was largely through his efforts that the beauti- ful stone church of the Universalist faith was erected. When the state board of horticulture was organized Mr. White was appointed a mem- ber by Governor Perkins to represent Southern California.

THOMAS SPENCER, M. D. While the duration of Dr. Spencer's residence on Orange- thorpe avenue, near Fullerton, was compar- atively brief, yet his residence in California covered many years, and no one was more familiar with its growth and progress than he. During the fall of 1888 he settled on a ranch in Orange county, and afterward gave his atten- tion to the cultivation of the property, which comprised twenty acres. Under his supervision, the land was planted in oranges and walnuts, and the property was developed into a remunera- tive investment. On this homestead his death occurred June 9. 1891, thus closing a life that was all too brief for the consummating of the plans that he cherished.

A native of Newcastle, England, Dr. Spencer was a boy of fourteen years when he came to America with his parents, Edward and Lillie Spencer. With them he settled in Eddyville, Iowa. Probably about 1854. while he was still a mere lad, he started for California, working his way across the plains by driving teams in an emigrant train. On reaching this state, he set- tled in the northern part thereof and remained in that locality for twenty years. Meantime he studied medicine and received the degree of M. D., later practicing in Santa Rosa for a num- ber of vears and meeting with fair success in the profession. Finally, returning to Iowa, he set- tled in Lucas county and became interested in the stock-raising business, which consumed his

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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 176

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