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 188

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

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are no salaried officers and no dividends paid, but all of the proceeds are put into land, real- estate and improvements, thus benefiting the community rather than enriching private indi- viduals.

The marriage of Mr. Jones and Miss Maria Tilden, a native of Ohio, was solemnized April 3, 1873. Mrs. Jones is a daughter of Josiah S. and Matilda (Kimball) Tilden, natives re- spectively of Herkimer county, N. Y., and Con- necticut, the latter a daughter of Alvin Kimball, a native of Connecticut and an early settler of Adrian, Mich. The paternal grandfather, Mason Tilden, of New York, became a merchant in Cleveland, and also dealt in live stock and real estate. He was well known as a skillful checker player. At the time of his death he was seventy- eight, while his wife died at sixty-two years. They were the parents of two children. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have an only daughter, Matilda Tilden Jones.

The active interest maintained in public af- fairs while in Cleveland has been noticeable dur- ing the residence of Mr. Jones in Santa Mon- ica, where he was elected to the city council in 1894 and to the office of mayor in 1896. Fra- ternally he is connected with the National Union, Royal Arcanum (of which he has been a member for twenty-four years), Independent Order of Foresters, and was made a Mason in Southern California Lodge No. 278, F. & A. M., of which he is still a member.

JOHN McARTHUR. From the time that the now antiquated stage coach brought Mr. McArthur to Los Angeles, in February of 1869, to the present year, he has had important prop- erty interests in this city. The year after his arrival he took up one hundred and sixty acres from the government, all of which was then wild and unimproved land, but now contains within its boundaries some of the most elegant homes of Los Angeles, its northern limit being what is now Adams street, the southern ex- tremity Jefferson street, while Western avenue formed the eastern boundary. The claim was proved up on and held by him for two years, when a portion was sold, the selling price being $30 an acre. Later the balance was disposed of at $50 an acre. He then bought ten acres on what is now Washington and Figueroa streets. This tract, like the other, was wholly unim- proved. Building a home, he began the task of improving the property and setting out fruit and shade trees. As the city expanded in di- mensions the land was sold in lots, but he still retains for a homestead two acres, comprising one hundred and seventy-six feet on Figueroa and three hundred and fifty-two feet on Wash- ington street.

Of Canadian birth, Mr. McArthur was born in Glengarry county, Ontario, in 1838. His

father, John, was the son of Scotch parents, but was himself a native of Glengarry county, where he spent his life in the tilling of the soil. At the age of sixteen John McArthur began to serve an apprenticeship to the carriage-making trade, in which he continued for four years. Leaving Canada in September, 1856, he took passage on the steamer Illinois for Panama, and after crossing the isthmus boarded the John L. Stevens, which landed him in San Francisco at the end of an uneventful voyage of twenty-four days. Going at once to Sacramento he found work at his trade. When the fall rains came he went to the Sonora mines, where he pros- pected. With the return of spring he went back to Sacramento and took up his trade. In the fall he again engaged in prospecting and min- ing, and for many years he alternated his trade with expeditions to the mines. At Hangtown and Placerville he owned some good claims, and he was also successful in Nevada mines. He did not discontinue mining with his advent into Southern California, but has had some im- portant interests, and is now a member of an incorporated company, just beginning to de- velop mines in Orange county, this state.

Quiet and retiring in manner, but whole- souled and liberal, kind to those in trouble and stanch in his friendships, it is doubtful if Mr. McArthur has ever made an enemy during all his long life. Those who have opposed him in any business matter have nevertheless given him credit for the highest sense of honor and the most unwavering integrity. Among his asso- ciates in the Southern California Historical So- ciety are many of his warmest friends, while all pioneers of Los Angeles county are particularly loyal in their friendships. By his marriage to Catherine Durly, of New York, he has two daughters, Viola C. and Myrtle Agnes. The family are believers in the Unitarian doctrines and contributors to general movements for the benefit of church, educational and charitable plans. In his political belief he is independent, voting for the man rather than the party.

MRS. EMMA L. MALCOLM. Among the many interesting enterprises which interest the permanent residents and castal tourists of Long Beach none is more characteristic of the time and place than is the enterprise in the Bank of Long Beach Building, devoted to shells, taxi- dermy, curios, and orange-wood novelties. From earliest youth devoted to investigating the marvels of natural history as found in all parts of the world, Mrs. Malcolm is admirably adapted to her occupation. A more than local reputation is attached to her work as a taxi- dermist, and specimens may be found not only in the United States, but also in England and on the continent. In her collection of mounted birds the range extends from the smallest hum-

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ming bird to the largest swan, and she has gath- cred for perpetuation examples of the feathered tribe all along between the Atlantic and Pacific. With her brothers and later with her husband she has shouldered the gun in the most inacces- sible parts of the country, and many of her finest exhibits have fallen before her unerring aim. She has gathered her curios with dis- crimination, and the charming devices sugges- tive of the ocean's roar, of orange wood trees, and hosts of the air, are all that could be desired for study or pleasure.

Accompanied by her husband, Mrs. Malcolm came to the Pacific coast in 1891. Harvey C. Malcolm was born and reared in Philadelphia, Pa., and became one of the most popular hotel men in the country. He seemed to possess a particular faculty for catering to the traveling public. At different times during his career some parts of the finest hostleries between the oceans were under his management, not the least important of which were the Brunswick of New York City, the Auditorium at Chicago (which opened its doors under his control), the Metropole in Denver, Colo. (which also started out under his management), the Portland Hotel of Oregon, and the Tacoma Hotel of Washing- ton. In 1897 Mr. Malcolm was proprietor of the Terminal Inn at Terminal Island for a year, and then went to Anaheim, where he became the owner and proprietor of the Commercial Hotel. After returning to Long Beach and perfecting a two years' lease of the Terminal Inn, his death the same year put an end to his long career as an hotel man. He was popular, and his services were typical of the best that obtains in any country in the world.

Mrs. Malcolm is a native of Montgomery county, Ohio, and since her husband's death has resided in Long Beach. As evidence of her faith in the city's future, she has invested in real- estate holdings, and owns a residence on the corner of First and Elm streets. Her admirable personal attributes have won many friends.

FRANK J. PALOMARES. To be descend- ed from a family whose members have borne an honorable and influential part in the history of their nation is an heritage by no means to be despised. Such is the inheritance of Frank J. Palomares, of Los Angeles, who traces his lineage direct to Francisco de Palomares, gov- ernor of the castle of St. Gregory, at Oran, Spain. In the family of the governor there were six children, viz .: Esteban, who was lieutenant- colonel of the Knights of the Order of Santiago; Juan, who became governor of the castle after his father's death; Antonio, who was a judge; Jose; Eugenio, who lost his life in an attempt to overthrow the Roman Catholic religion; and Francisca, who married Diego Francisco, Knight of the Order of Santiago and governor

of the plaza of Oran. The second of the sons, Juan, is remembered in history as the officer who led his men in a determined but hopeless resistance against the Turkish troops at Borcha. After almost all of his men had been slain, being no longer able to defend himself and the castle, he set fire to the powder house and blew up the castle, beneath whose ruins the dead bodies of himself and his soldiers were later found.

The first of the Palomares family in California was Christopher, who came as a sergeant in the Mexican army and afterwards became a judge in Los Angeles. In his family there were the following children: Concepcion, Barta, Rosario, Francisco, Ygnacio, Louise, Dolores, Maria Jesus and Josefa. Of this family, Ygnacio married Concepcion Lopez, and their children were Louise, Tressa, Tomas, Francisco, Manuel, Josefa, Concepcion, Caroline and Maria. The second of the sons, Francisco, at an early age secured employment as assistant on a ranch, but later became a wealthy cattleman as well as the largest land owner in the Pomona valley. At his death, in 1882, he left a wife and four children, the latter being Concepcion, Chris- tina, Frank J. and Porfirio. The wife and inother, Lugardia Alvarado, died June 14, 1896, at the age of fifty-six years. Further mention of the family will be found in the sketch of Porfirio and Jose Dolores Palomares, the for- mer a brother of Frank J., of this sketch.

At the old homestead near Pomona, Cal., Frank J. Palomares was born July 30, 1870. As a boy, when not attending public school he as- sisted on the ranch, where there was always work for an active hoy to engage in. On leav- ing the local schools he entered St. Vincent's College, where he took a full course in book- keeping and was graduated in 1886. Next lie entered Santa Clara College, expecting to take the complete course, but at the end of two years his health was such as to force an aban- donment of all studies, much to his disappoint- ment, as he was within one year of graduating. In December, 1889, he returned home, and the next month accepted a position as book- keeper in the street commissioner's office of Los Angeles county, under Col. W. D. Mulford. After having held this position six and one-half years he became cashier of the Herald Pub- lishing Company. Eight months later the paper was sold, and he then entered into the real- estate business. A short time afterward he secured a position as head bookkeeper in the city engineer's office, where he remanied for two years, and then resigned in order to accept a similar position with the American Beet Sugar Manufacturing Company at Oxnard. January I, 1901, he returned to Los Angeles, to enter upon the duties of bookkeeper in the office of the street commissioners, which position he now

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fills. In 1894 he was the Democratic nominee for county auditor, and was the youngest man on the entire ticket; also had the distinction of running far ahead of the ticket in the city of Los Angeles, but the county was so overwheln)- ingly Republican that he failed of election.

By the marriage of Mr. Palomares to Vir- ginia, daughter of Joseph M. Miller, he has one son, Frank J., Jr. Another son, Charles A., died at the age of six months. The family are identified with the Roman Catholic Church. In fraternal relations Mr. Palomares is a member of the Woodmen of the World, Elks, Native Sons of the Golden West, and in Masonry be- longs to East Gate Lodge No. 290, F. & A. M., and Los Angeles Chapter No. 33, R. A. M.

WILLIAM M. OSBORN. A noteworthy po- sition among the pioneers of Los Angeles is hield by Mr. Osborn, of No. 1345 Albany street. He was born in Chenango county, N. Y., Oc- tober 30, 1834, but at the age of three years was taken to Illinois, where his father, Archi- bald, became a pioneer farmer near Princeton, Bureau county, remaining in that locality until his death at sixty-five years. During the exis- tence of the Whig party he had been one of its stanch upholders, and upon its disintegra- tion he identified himself with the newly organ- ized Republican party. The boyhood years of William M. were uneventfully passed on the home farm, which he assisted in placing under cultivation. Desirous of seeking his livelihood in the west, where he believed opportunities to be greater than in Illinois, in 1855 he came to the Pacific coast via the isthmus. Like all newcomers during the '50s, he considered min- ing the only industry possible in California, and accordingly he hastened to Downeyville, where for three years he prosecuted the work of a miner. However, the results were less gratify- ing than he had anticipated, so he abandoned his claim and came to Los Angeles, his first visit here being in 1858. The then sleepy Spanish town did not especially attract him, so he went elsewhere, but in 1861 returned to Los Angeles. Here he bought teams and began teaming and freighting from different points in California to Arizona, conducting the business with such success that he finally acquired one hundred and twenty-one horses and twenty-four wagons, all of which were in constant use. An entire month was consumed in making a round trip between the points on his route. Not only was the jour- ney a long one, but it was not without danger as well, for Indians were very numerous and gave frequent instances of hostility. On selling his outfit to the Sierra Gorda Freighting Com- pany, he opened a livery and also engaged in the harness manufacturing business. His con- nection with the latter business was unexpected to himself. He was obliged to take, on a

security debt, a harness shop on Fifth street between Broadway and Hill, and, not being able to dispose of it to advantage, took up the man- agement of the same himself, and has continued the same to the present time. During early days he bought for $300 the lot where the Chamber of Commerce now stands, and this he later sold for $1,800, investing the proceeds in his present property on the corner of Fifth and Broadway. Here he built a livery barn and conducted business in the renting and sale of horses until September, 1901, when he sold his equipment and rented the building.

In San Bernardino county Mr. Osborn mar- ried Miss Rosetta Baldwin, who was born there April 10, 1853. The year before she was born her parents, Robert and Rosanna Baldwin, crossed the plains from the east (her father having been originally from England), and set- tled at San Bernardino, entering one hundred and sixty-five acres of land and engaging in the stock business, making a specialty of hogs. On that ranch Mr. Baldwin died when fifty-eight years of age, and his wife when sixty-two. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Osborn are as fol- lows: Rose, Mrs. F. W. Putnam, of Vermont; Maude, who died in infancy; William, who was seven at the time of his death; George, a farmer near Riverside, Cal .; Arthur, a twelve-year-old boy, now attending school; and Donald, also a pupil in local schools.

Through the influence of his wife, who is an enthusiastic believer in the principles of socialism, Mr. Osborn has been converted to that political belief. During his early residence in Los Angeles he served for one term as a member of the city council, and in 1887 he was lionored by election as county supervisor, which office he filled carefully and well. Like all pio- neers, he has the greatest faith in the pros- perity and growth of Los Angeles and believes that it is destined ultimately to be the queen of all the cities on the sunset sea.

LOUIS PHILLIPS. During the half cen- tury of his residence in Los Angeles county Mr. Phillips not only secured large landed holdings, but also gained a warm place in the esteem of the people and a wide acquaintance among the pioneers. His birth occurred in 1831. in Prus- sia, Germany, and there he received his early knowledge of books, at the same time receiving such home training as would fit him for a life of usefulness. In 1848 he accompanied a brother to New York, and the following year, at the time of the rush to the gold fields of California. he joined the emigrant throngs. Instead of trying his luck in the mines, as he had planned, he and his brother opened a small store in San Francisco, using for their quarters a building that boasted a board front, but was otherwise constructed of canvas. The next year they

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were burned out, and, instead of rebuilding, they left that city and came to Los Angeles.

By purchase in 1853 Louis Phillips acquired large holdings on the San Gabriel river, and there for ten years he engaged in raising cat- tle. On selling that property in 1863 he came to Spadra, where for a time he was engaged in cattle raising. In 1866 he purchased twelve thousand acres of the San José ranch, much of which was as fine land as could be found in the valley. Later he sold enough of the tract to clear the balance of indebtedness, and from that time onward his progress and pros- perity were uninterrupted. His neighbors were few and, as a rule, of Spanish extraction, while he was a typical German in his tastes, disposi- tion and views; yet his friendship for them was strong and unwavering, and their confidence in his honor was not misplaced. On his broad acres horses and cattle grazed, at times as many as five thousand head of cattle and three thou- sand head of horses bearing his brand. How- ever, after he had sold a considerable portion of the land, it seemed best for him to give his attention to sheep rather than to the other stock, and in the raising of these he was equally successful. Aside from a small vineyard, all of the land was utilized for grazing purposes. At the time he purchased the ranch it was im- proved with a two-story adobe building, the largest and most elaborate in the country round about. The entire house was surrounded by a wide veranda, and, as was the custom in those ciays, the stairs were on the outside. For some years he made his home here, but later erected a handsome residence, which was surrounded by citrus and deciduous trees of all kinds in abundance. A new vineyard yielded large har- vests of luscious grapes. In early days an abun- dance of water was secured from a large pond fed by springs, but eventually the boring of artesian wells in the valley dried up the springs and forced him to drill for water and build a reservoir. At the time of his death he owned six thousand acres of the San José ranch, be- sides business properties in the cities of Los Angeles and Pomona.

Fraternally Mr. Phillips was connected with the Odd Fellows, being a charter member of Pomona Lodge No. 246. In his political sym- pathies he was a Republican. Upon the estab- lishment of the office in Spadra he was ap- pointed postmaster in 1866 and served accept- ably. In religious views he was liberal. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Esther Blake, daughter of William Blake, a native of New York City, who came to California about 1875 and engaged in the real estate business, dying in 1898, when eighty-four years of age; his wife was killed in a runaway accident when she was fifty-five. Of their eight children, Mrs. Phillips is the sole survivor. She was born near

Quincy, Ill., and came to California in girlhood. In all of her husband's enterprises she was a faithful helpmate and co-worker, and not a little of his success is to be attributed to her wise judgment and economical direction of household affairs. Their marriage was one of mutual help- fulness and happiness until broken by the death of Mr. Phillips, which occurred at his home March 16, 1900. One of his sons, Charles B., is deceased; the other children are living, viz .: Nellie B., who married Frank George, and has two sons, Frank C. and Ralph P .; Louis R., who married Esther E. Way; and George S., who married Irene R. Dudley, and has two chil- dren, Adelaide Louise and Louis Dudley.

SCHEE BROS. Through their several en- terprises, notably those connected with horti- culture and general farming, Walter S. and William F. Schee, partners under the title of Schee Bros., have become well known in the vicinity of Santa Monica and, indeed, through- out Los Angeles county. They are sons of William Fulton and Mary (Meyers) Schee, na- tives respectively of Delaware and Ohio. The ancestry of the Schee family is traced back to England, whence some of the name came to America at an early day and settled in Dela- ware. During the Revolutionary war several of the name bore arms in defense of American liberty. On settling near Uhrichsville, Ohio, William Fulton Schee turned his attention to millwrighting, and also built boats for the Ohio river and canal. Some years later he removed to Iowa and settled on a farm near Oskaloosa, where he was extensively engaged in general farming and the stock business. In 1892 he came to California and settled in Los Angeles county. Here he improved forty-seven acres, making of the tract one of the finest orange groves in the region. At this homestead he died in the fall of 1898. By his first wife, who died in Iowa, he had eight children, namely: John, who died in Iowa at the age of twenty- one years; Mrs. Isabelle Gay, of Redlands, Cal .; Mrs. Ella Elliott, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Lurana Shroyer, who died in Redlands; Walter S .; Mary Ida, Mrs. Reeves, of Santa Monica; Wil- liam F., and James Everett Schee, who is a cattleman in Wyoming. The second wife of William Fulton Schee bore the maiden name of Rebecca Ross, and was born in Ohio. Two children were born of their union, namely: Mrs. Olive Copeland, of Redlands; and George, who is a horticulturist at Redlands.

The two brothers, Walter S. and William F., were natives respectively of Ohio and Iowa, and grew to manhood upon an Iowa farm, meantime receiving common-school advantages. In 1889 they came to California and for two years leased land on the Santenel. Their next venture was the leasing of a part of the San

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Jacinto rancho at Santa Monica, where they have since engaged in raising stock and gen- eral farm products. In addition, they lease and cultivate the Malibu rancho. It is probable that they are the largest individual farmers in Los Angeles county. . The success they have achieved is merited by industry, perseverance and determination. They are progressive farm- ers, anxious to avail themselves of all modern machinery and improvements in farming. Among the implements on their place is a com- bination header and thresher, to which they hitch forty head of horses and mules. The grain is cut from the stalk, and in a very few moments runs out as grain, from the other side of the machine. With the help of this one machine they frequently gather as much as seven hundred bushels in a day. The raising of stock forms one of their main industries, and a portion of the grain produced on their land is utilized for feed, in which way it brings a larger profit to the enterprising proprietors than if sold in the market.

In 1890 the brothers became identified with the horticultural industry at Redlands. Buying an eighty-acre tract, they set it out in navel oranges, and their grove is today conceded to be one of the finest in the state. While it is under the ditch, they have developed water on the land by sinking a well which yields a flow sufficient to irrigate the entire ranch, if neces- sary. This they did on account of the water becoming low in the ditch during the few dry years, and, not wishing to run any chances, they deemed it best to sink the well. Besides their other enterprises, they have copper and silver interests at Chloride, Ariz. In politics both are Republicans. Fraternally Walter S. is a Mason and William F. is connected with the Royal Arcanum.

R. M. FURLONG. The genealogy of the Furlong family can be traced back to Norman ancestors who accompanied William the Con- queror to England. Later generations bore an honorable part in the subsequent history of the British Isles and aided in giving England a foremost place in the galaxy of nations. When Walter Furlong was a boy he removed with his parents to Ireland, where he became a land owner and gentleman farmer of county Wex- ford. His son, John, was born and reared in that country, and when a young man visited America, with which he was so pleased that he decided to locate permanently in this country. Returning to his native land, he married Mary Dalton, who was born in county Wexford, her father, John Dalton, having been the son of an Englishman who owned large estates in Wexford.

Accompanied by his wife, John Furlong came to America and settled in Illinois, buying a

tract of raw land now within the city limits of Springfield. This property he broke, cleared and improved, and devoted to general farming. In later days the growth of Springfield made the land too valuable for agricultural purposes, and it was divided into building lots. Both he and his wife are deceased, and their homestead is now occupied by a son, Walter. Another son, James, is engaged in the mercantile business in Springfield, while the only daughter is also a resident of Illinois, the youngest son, R. M., being the only member of the family on the Pacific coast. He was born in Springfield December 24, 1857, and received his education in the grammar and high schools of Spring- field and South Bend (Ind.) University. Be- fore graduating from the university he discon- tinned studies there in order to take up law under Robbins, Knapp & Schutt, of Spring- field, with whom he remained until he was ad- mitted to the bar. His examination was cred- itably passed, bitt being under twenty-one years of age his license was withheld until he had reached the age stipulated by law. Afterwards he spent two years in Europe, traveling over the British Isles and through the continent.

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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 188

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