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 185

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

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in Pasadena, the two sons being, as before stated, law partners.

In Chicago Benjamin W. Hahn was born August 28, 1868. His ambition was toward making his own way in the world, and while still a boy he secured work in the office of the Chicago White Lead and Oil Company, remain- ing with them until 1887, when he resigned to come to California. Two years after arriving in Pasadena he began the study of law under Hon. F. J. Polly, and later studied with Messrs. Metcalfe and McLachlan, with whom he re- mained until he was admitted to the bar of the State of California in 1891. Since then he has carried on a general practice, first alone, and later with his brother, and in addition to work that is strictly professional he is serving as director in many corporations. In San Ber- nardino he married Miss Grace Gahr, who was born in Madison, Ind., and came to California in 1888. They have one son, Herbert L.

On the organization of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks in Pasadena Mr. Hahn became one of its charter members. He was made a Mason in Pasadena Lodge, F. & A. M., besides which he is connected with the Macca- bees, Woodmen of the World, Fraternal Broth- erhood and Phil Kearney Camp, Sons of Veterans. As a member of the county central committee he is actively promoting the welfare of the Republican party in this county. In August, 1902, he was the Republican nominee for the state senate from the thirty-sixth "sena- torial district of California, and was elected to that office by a large majority. He is a member of the Pasadena Board of Trade and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. A believer in the doctrines of the Congregational denomina- tion, he is connected with the work of the First Church of Pasadena and has served upon its board of trustees. Other lines of religious activity receive his warm support, particularly the Young Men's Christian Association, of which he is a director.

WASHINGTON HADLEY. During the early part of the seventeenth century the Hadley family was founded in America by two brothers who were adherents of the Quaker faith. One of them was Simon, whose son, Joshua, was a native of Pennsylvania, but spent much of his life in North Carolina, dying there at an ad- vanced age. In his family of fourteen children, all of whom attained mature years, there was a son Jonathan, who accompanied the family from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and there acquired farm interests, later owning and operating a mill and mercantile store. The foundation of a substantial success had been laid by him when, in 1826, his earthly life ended at forty-seven years of age. Adhering to the Society of Friends, he lived in accordance with

the doctrines of that body and exemplified in his daily intercourse with others the teachings of peace and good will for which it stands.

In 1799 Jonathan Hadley married Ann Long, who was born in Virginia in 1783. When a small child she went with her father, John Long, from Virginia to North Carolina, making the trip in a wagon. Her only brother, Hon. John Long, served as congressman from North Caro- lina and was a statesman of great prominence in his day. The family were of the Quaker belief, and she always affiliated with that society. At the time of her death she was eighty-seven years of age. Of her twelve children, the eldest. Alfred, was born October 10, 1800, and in 1831 migrated to Morgan county, Ind., settling near Mooresville, where he not only taught school but also farmed. Three years later lie went to Parke county, Ind., and embarked in mercantile pursuits. When about seventy- two years of age he was accidentally killed. The second member of the family was Mary, who died in California at ninety-seven years of age. The third child, John, was a successful stock-raiser in Iowa, where he died in 1882 at the age of seventy-four. Ruth died at Indian- apolis, Ind., when forty years old. David died near Lincoln, Neb., having been during the course of his life a leading school teacher and active farmer. Hiram, who was born October. 1810, made a specialty of raising draft horses and other fine stock, and died at Monrovia, Ind .. at the age of about eighty years. Matilda died in Indiana when sixty years of age. Rebecca still makes her home in Indiana; Franklin died at two years; Sidney, who was a teacher and a saddler, died in Parke county, Ind., in 1863; and Addison is now engaged in farming and the stock business near Plainfield, Ind.

In this family of eight sons and four daugh- ters, Washington Hadley was the ninth, and was born near Greensboro, Guilford county, N. C., December 12, 1817. Longevity comes to him from both sides of the family, in spite of the fact that his father was still in life's prime when he died. At the age of fourteen he accompanied his mother to Indiana, and four years later began to teach school. In 1836 lic went to Parke county, where he clerked in his brother's store and after two years was made a member of the firm. An experience of several years in merchandising and pork-packing provedof great value to him when starting out alone, as a trader on flat boats as far south as New Orleans. His election, in 1859, as treasurer of Parke county caused a change in his work, and for two terms he gave his attention closely to official duties, meantime also serving for a time as auditor.

The close of the Civil war found Mr. Hadley in Kansas, where he organized and became the first president of the National Bank of Law-

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rence, an institution that under his supervision became known as a safe and reliable financial concern. At the expiration of twenty years, on the expiration of the original charter, he secured a renewal and continued with the bank in an official capacity until his removal from the state. In 1889 he came to California and settled at the present. His original connection with the town was through his position as one of the heaviest stockholders in the Pickering Land and Water Company, of which he is still the president. Largely through his efforts, in 1894 the Bank of Whittier was organized. At first connected with the same as cashier, he was soon promoted to be president, and when the concern was organized, under national laws, as the First National Bank of Whittier, October I, 1900, he was transferred to the presidency of the new institution, in which position he remains.

In Richmond, Ind., Mr. Hadley was married, November 28, 1839, to Miss Naomi, daughter of Micajah Henley, a leading Quaker of Wayne county. Reared under the influence of that society, she continued faithful to its doctrines and a worker in its behalf, all through her long and useful life. At the time of her death, which occurred at Whittier November 21, 1901, she was eighty-two years of age. Eleven children were born of this union, namely: Gulielma, who died at six. years; Albert, who is vice- president and active manager of the First Na- tional Bank of Whittier; Matilda, the widow of George Y. Johnson, of Lawrence, Kans .; Martha Ann, who died at eigliteen years in Parke county, Ind .; Charles F., who died in Lawrence, Kans., in 1872, leaving a widow and one child; Almeda, wife of Albert D. Pickering, of Detroit, Mich .; . Ella, who married Charles Monroe, an attorney of Los Angeles; Emilie, who is with her father, caring for him and minis- tering to the comfort of his declining years; Laurie, wife of T. E. Newland, vice-president of the California Bank of Los Angeles; Flora H., wife of George E. Little, cashier of the First National Bank of Whittier; and Henry, who died in Indiana in infancy.

Until the disintegration of the Whig party Mr. Hadley supported its tenets, and afterward turned his allegiance to the Republican party. His first presidential vote was cast for Willian Henry Harrison in 1840. During the conven- tion of 1860, when Abraham Lincoln was first nominated for president, he acted as reporter for his home paper, receiving his credentials fron E. D. Morgan. During his residence in Kan- sas he served as member of the city council and as mayor for two and one-half terms. During his administration as mayor the bonds were voted that were used in the erection of the State University buildings, and the location of the

university at Lawrence was in no small part due to his tact, perseverance and energy. When he came into office there were thirty-three saloons in the city. Believing their influence to be deplorable, especially by reason of the pres- ence of many young men as students at the university, he devoted himself to arousing pub- ful that he reduced their number one-half.

Whittier, which continues to be his home to . lic sentiment against them, and was so success-

Wherever he has made his home Mr. Hadley has accomplished much in behalf of education and religion. Indeed, the promotion of these two causes, so indispensable to the highest cul- ture of man, may be said to have been his principal object in life. By birthright a Quaker, he has maintained his membership in the so- ciety. In 1858 he was instrumental in securing the establishment of the Western Yearly Meet- ing of Friends at Plainfield, Ind. When he went to Kansas in 1866 he found his own fam- ily were the only Quakers in Lawrence, where he settled, but later others moved in, and meetings were then held for a time at the home of Mr. Hadley. Largely through his in- fluence the Kansas yearly meeting was estab- lished and organized in Lawrence in 1872. After coming to California he assisted in securing the establishment of California yearly meeting at Whittier in 1895, and was also prominent in establishing the Whittier College, of which he has served as a trustee. His contri- butions to church and college have been excep- tionally generous, as indeed have been his donations to all other worthy movements.

The success attained by Mr. Hadley is the fruition of his concentrated efforts. The only aid he ever received was $500 from his father's estate, and with that as a nucleus he has built up a large and gratifying success. Aside from his other interests, he owns three hundred and ninety-three acres, of which two hundred and ninety are in bearing walnuts, the whole forming what many good judges declare to be the finest English walnut ranch in Cali- fornia. The supervision of this, together with the oversight of his banking business, demands much of his time and attention, but although lie is now eighty-four years of age, he prefers to devote his remaining years to business pursuits rather than retire from all activities, and this he is enabled to do by the remarkable retention of his mental and physical faculties.

GWALTNEY BROTHERS. In the temper- aments and talents of these two brothers there is a resemblance which has found expression in the adoption of the same profession and in the selection of the same town, San Pedro, as the scene of their united and harmonious efforts. They were born in Gibson and Warrick coun- ties, Ind., and are sons of William A. and Nancy (McDonald) Gwaltney. Primarily edu-

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cated in public schools, their ambition, alert to gain every advantage that would be helpful in after life, inspired them to seek a knowledge of the higher branches. Entering Central Normal College at Danville, Ind., they pursued a regu- lar course of study there and at graduation were awarded degrees as Bachelors of Science.

With similar tastes and ambitions, both turned toward the study of medicine. The younger brother, Sylvester, matriculated in the Marion Sims Beaumont College Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., and continued his studies there until his graduation, in March of 1893. On his return to Indiana he opened an office there, but later removed to California, settling in San Pedro in 1897. The older brother, J. Sanford, received his medical education in the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons and Keokuk Medical at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he received the degree of M. D. at graduation. The theoretical knowledge he had acquired in college was sup- plemented by his experience gained in active practice, while conducting professional work of eight years in Nebraska. Two years after his brother had settled in San Pedro he joined him here and the two have since carried on a general practice in partnership, meantime gain- ing an extended reputation for professional skill and knowledge. Some years ago they purchased the old Marine hospital property, and this they have since remodeled for residence purposes.

Besides their private practice the brothers act as examiners for thirteen life insurance com- panies, including all of the old-established or- ganizations of the kind. In addition they have the surgeonship of the breakwater under con- struction, and the brothers also are surgeons for the Salt Lake Railroad at San Pedro.

FRANK A. GIBSON, Born in Pittsburg, Iowa, November 23, 1851, died in Los Angeles, Cal., October 13, 1901. To be born and to die being our common lot, the only other thing worthy of mention is his life.

Are we as much entitled to praise for our good qualities as we are to blame for our ill? Ii the answer is yes, to Frank A. Gibson is due a place in the front rank of humanity.

The clear mind, the power of discrimination, the ability to seize the salient point of any pro- position, were coupled with a heart so sympa- thetic and a character so absolutely honest and unselfish as to make it seem to him the right thing to take up any mental or moral burden laid upon him, often by those who were bound to him by no tie of other blood, business affiliation, common race or interest. Spontan- eously came from him the answer bearing re- lief to every cry for assistance. So natural was this to him that he could rarely be brought to

realize that he was conferring a benefit to those to whom he freely gave of his time, his arduous labors, his experience and his unfailing sym- pathy. Truly it may be written of this man that he, being dead, yet speaketh. His un- swerving integrity preached to every one with whom he came in contact. The dishonest and the mean approached him and, somehow, went away ashamed of their actions. The politician, pressed apparently too hard, brings for his approval an act not strictly correct, and departs cheered, strengthened, and a straight and hon- orable solution of his difficulty pointed out to him.

The widow and the orphan call on him and feel that there is some one in the world who, will honestly and capably assist them to bear their unaccustomed burdens. All these years, when he is giving so freely, yea, lavishly of his sub- stance, even his life, he is giving for the First National Bank, to which he devoted himself for the last seven years of his life, a work in season and out of season, as devoted and as in- telligent and faithful as ever given by any man. The life of such a man does not die. The good that his high character has by contact inculcated in untold and unknown personalities descends from parent to child in a way only dimly appreciated by us and only known to Omnipotence. To say that such a man left a void not to be filled and friends without number is superfluous.

Mr. Gibson graduated from Mount Pleasant (Iowa) high school and after removal to Cali- fornia attended the University of the Pacific at San José. As his father's assistant at Round Valley Indian Agency, he gained an accurate idea of Indian affairs and would have studied law had not the death of his father made it necessary for him to at once assume the care of his mother and sisters. Equally well did he use the surveyor's instruments in the Sierras and his keen mind in the settlement of defective land titles. If "Frank" signed the abstract or opinion, it was accepted as final.

Mr. Gibson married in 1881 Miss Mary K. Simonds, who survives him. One child, a son, Hugh S. Gibson, born in 1883, carries alone the heritage of his father's character and life. Could I write Frank A. Gibson's epitaph in one word, I would say FAITHFUL.

J. M. Elliott.

CAPT. JOHN T. BRADY. The history of the National Bank of Pomona dates from 1891. when Captain Brady assisted in its organization and became its president. The bank has a capi- tal stock of $50,000, and a present surplus of $25,000, with the following officers: John T. Brady, president; G. A. Lathrop, vice-president ; Charles M. Stone, cashier; and T. W. Johnson,

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

assistant cashier. An enlargement of the bank's interests resulted from the purchase, in 1901, of the People's Bank, which had been organized in 1887 as a state bank, with William Doyle as its first president. On the death of William Doyle, his brother, Albert, succeeded to the presidency, with Charles M. Stone as cashier. The merging of the People's into the National Bank caused an enlargement of the latter's business, and the bank is one of the most substantial in the east- ern part of Los Angeles county.

For the successful management of his Pomo- na banking interests Captain Brady is qualified by a previous extensive experience as a banker in Kansas. He was born in Virginia, Cass coun- ty, Ill., but went to Kansas when a young man and identified himself with the landed and stock interests of the new state. While largely inter- ested in raising cattle, he assisted in the organi- zation of a state bank at Sabetha, Nemaha coun- ty. One year later it was merged into the Citi- zens National Bank, and two years later, on a consolidation with the First National Bank, the name was changed to the Sabetha State Bank, under which title it remained until five years ago, then being changed to The National Bank of Sabetha. The demands of his position as president of the bank were such that he retired from the cattle business and gave his entire at- tention to banking. In the midst of his pros- perous management of the bank, his wife's health failed and, when they found in the course of their travels that the climate of Pomona proved helpful to her, they decided to remove here. Accordingly he disposed of his Kansas interests and settled in Pomona, where he has erected a handsome modern residence on the corner of Holt and Gerry streets. The beauty of the homestead is enhanced by walks and drives that are neatly laid out, and by an abund- ance of palms, fruit trees and flowers.

Not being of a disposition to welcome retire- ment from business activities, Captain Brady soon became as active in Pomona as he had been in Kansas. In company with A. C. Moorhead and Frederick Hewett, both now deceased, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres and set out the same in oranges and lemons. To- day this is one of the most attractive ranches of the Pomona valley. On the organization of the Fruit Growers' Exchange he was chosen its president and has since filled this important po- sition. Associated with others, in 1896 he incor- porated the Consolidated Water Company of Pomona to furnish a supply of water for do- mestic purposes in Pomona, North Pomona and Claremont. This company succeeded the Po- mona city water works and the Citizens' Water Company, whose pipe lines the Consolidated Water Company purchased and a part of which they utilized in the construction of their present extensive system of fifty-six miles of pipe lines

in Pomona and four miles of pipe lines in North Pomona. The tunnel from which the water is obtained was built by the late Peter Fleming and James Becket, and by them sold to the con- pany. It is five thousand feet long and at its upper extremity one hundred and ten feet be- low the surface of the ground. The idea of tun- neling for water is to be credited to Mr. Flem- ing, and it has proved so successful that now the citizens of Pomona can boast of the purest and finest supply of water in Southern California.

The years of his service in the Union army during the Civil war are borne in mind by Cap- tain Brady through his membership in Vicks- burg Post No. 61, G. A. R., and he has always been interested in Grand Army matters. In re- ligious belief he is of the Unitarian faith, while fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

ARTHUR I. GAMMON. Many years ago the Gammon family became established in Maine, and there was born and reared Rev. Samuel Gammon, a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal and Free-Will Baptist churches, and who died in Odell, Ill., at eighty-four years of age. Among his sons was Elijah H., a native of Maine and an early partner of William Deer- ing, the famous manufacturer of harvesting ma- chines. Together they brought out the first har- vester ever manufactured. Somewhat later Mr. Deering bought out the interests of his partner, who thereupon established the Plano Manufac- turing Company, now a part of the International Harvester Company. Aside from his large busi- ness enterprises, Elijah H. Gammon was active in religious affairs, a man of great philanthropy and always kind and helpful to the poor. He founded the Gammon Theological School at Atlanta, Ga., an institution which is doing much to elevate the colored race. His death occurred in Batavia, Ill., where he made his home.

Samuel H. Gammon, who was another of the sons of the pioneer preacher and a brother of the successful manufacturer, was born in Maine, but accompanied his parents to Illinois in boy- hood and settled at Earlville. Grown to man- hood, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land near his home town and later became the owner of a farm of two hundred and forty acres. However, he did not remain on the farm long, but turned his attention to the hardware busi- ness in Odell, Ill., and in 1879 opened an agri- cultural implement store in Beloit, Kans. The following year he settled in Chicago, where he engaged in the lumber and planing-mill busi- ness as a member of the firm of Cook, Hallock & Gammon, conducting a very large retail and wholesale trade. After the death of his wife in that city, he came to California in 1890 and died in Pasadena four years later. Four children, Ellen, Arthur I., Mary and S. Wesley, were born

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of his marriage to Nancy Ingraham, a native of Augusta, Me., a woman of ability and of excel- lent Christian character, and a daughter of Theo- dore and Nancy (Church) Ingraham, also na- tives of Maine. Her father, who was a sea captain, came to California via the Horn at the time of the great gold excitement, but later re- turned to the east.

In Livingston county, Ill., Arthur I. Gammon was born May 24, 1866. His education was ob- tained primarily in the public schools of Odell, supplemented by attendance at the Chicago high schools, and later he was a student in Beloit College in Wisconsin and Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College of Chicago, from the latter of which he was graduated in 1887. After a short experience in bookkeeping in Chicago, in 1889 he went to Seattle, Wash., where he was employed as bookkeeper for eighteen months. In 1891 he came to Southern California to join his brother and sister, both of whom were quite low with consumption. After they had passed away, he went back to Chicago and for a year worked as accountant for the Plano Manufac- turing Company, after which he again settled in Seattle, this time becoming a partner in the printing business in which he had previously been a bookkeeper. In order to care for his father, in the spring of 1894 he came to Pasa- dena, and remained with that parent until the end. He then took charge of various invest- ments his father had made, and he is still identi- fied with these, besides having made various in- vestments for himself. With H. T. Newell he built a business block on Broadway, between First and Second streets, Los Angeles. He is a stockholder in the Merchants National Bank of Los Angeles, the First National Bank of Pasadena, the Conservative Life Insurance Com- pany of Los Angeles, and in a number of oil and mining companies.

While making his home in Chicago, in 1892, ., Mr. Gammon married Miss Eleanor Ashley, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of J. W. and Chloe C. (Thompson) Ashley, natives of New York. During the latter years of his life Mr. Ashley was an invalid, and his death oc- curred in 1886. Mrs. Ashley was one of the noble types of motherhood that have blessed the world, a woman of large talent and deep . thought. She died in 1890 after three years of great suffering from heart trouble. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Gammon are Vera, Stella and Bertie Grace. The family are con- nected with the Lake Avenue Congregational" . Church of Pasadena, which Mr. Gammon as- sisted in organizing and of which he and his wife are charter members. Besides his warm interest in the church itself, he aids in promot- ing its various societies and auxiliaries, includ- ing the Christian Endeavor Society. Sunday- school and Young Men's Christian Association.

In politics he is active in the local work of the Republican party

IRA C. GOODRIDGE, the popular proprie- tor of the Spalding, has been a resident of Pasa- dena since 1900. Mr. Goodridge claims an an- cestry represented in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war by his paternal great- grandfather, while his grandfather, Ira, fought with equal courage during the war of 1812. The last-named was born in Vermont and became an early settler of St. Lawrence county, N. Y., where his son, Horace, was born and reared. Taking up carpentering, Horace Goodridge be- came a contractor and builder, in which he en- gaged during his entire active life, making his home in St. Lawrence county until he died. His wife was Lavona Colby, who was born in New Hampshire and died in New York. Of the nine children born to them three are living, two sons and one daughter, Ira C. being the youngest. The older son, Dr. E. A. Goodridge, is a phy- sician of Flushing, Long Island.

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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 185

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