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 189

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

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Shortly after his return to the United States Mr. Furlong came to California on a pleasure trip and sight-seeing expedition, and among other towns visited Pasadena, intending merely to spend a few days here. However, the invig- orating climate, cultured people and idcal sur- roundings proved a charm too strong to be resisted, and he at once decided that Pasadena should be his future home, nor have subsequent years changed his opinion of the place. Indeed, like other citizens, a long identification with the city's interests only adds to his fondness for his adopted home. Besides practicing law he has had various mining interests and has in- vested in a few companies which his conserva- tive judgment believes will prove dividend pay- ing. On the incorporation of Pasadena he was a member of its first board of trustees and, as chairman of the ordinance committee, had charge of the drawing up of the ordinance that was adopted by the city, and was instrumental in the passing of the prohibition ordinance still in force. He is a member of the Board of Trade. Reared under Democratic influences, he early became an adherent of that party 'and has con- tinned firm in his allegiance to its principles. In local politics he has rendered good service as a member of the county central Democratic committee and the executive committee of the same. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Ilis mar- riage, in St. Louis, Mo., united him with Miss Ida B. Porter, daughter of William Porter, a Virginian by birth, but throughout active life a planter of Kentucky, where she was born and reared.

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JOHN F. CONNELL. The chief engineer for the Stimson estate of Los Angeles was born July 20, 1859, in a humble cottage on the banks of Lake Michigan, in Manitowoc county, Wis. He was the fourth among the ten chi !- dren of J. F. and Margaret (Ryan) Connell, natives of Ireland. His father came to Amer- ica at ten years of age and settled in Wiscon- sin, where he engaged in farming during much of his active life, dying when sixty-five years of age. The mother, who was born in county Limerick, August 15, 1823, came to the United States in girlhood, and in 1849 was married in Milwaukee, Wis. Her death occurred at eighty- three years of age.

After receiving a common-school education, John F. Connell worked for two years on his father's farm. While packing shingles in a mill near by he first became interested in ma- chinery. For two years he worked as fireman and assistant engineer in the mill, then entered a local machine shop to learn the machinist's trade. Two and one-half years later he entered the blacksmith's department to gain a knowl- edge of the working of iron and the quality of the same. After a year in that department, he was for three years first assistant engineer in a large flour mill, and at the end of that time opened a shop of his own near the old home- stead for the manufacture of agricultural im- plements. In this he was successful, and con- tinued until the winter of 1888, when the failure of his health caused him to dispose of his busi- ness and seek California. Here he soon re- gained his health and took a position as engineer in a sash and blind factory at San Jacinto. One year later he became chief engineer and mas- ter mechanic with the San Jacinto Box and Lum- ber Company, which position he filled until the entire plant was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1891. A few months later he was appointed superintendent to erect a new modern mill, and this position he held until the fall of 1892, when the financial affairs of the company became so involved that he tendered his resignation.

Removing to Los Angeles, Mr. Connell se- cured employment as engineer with the Los Angeles Lighting Company. In the spring of 1893 he resigned in order to take charge of the erecting of the machinery of the Stimson block, then under course of construction. After all of the machinery was in place and the building complete, he was engaged as regular engineer, and continued in this capacity until the spring of 1898. He was then granted leave of absence to enable him to erect the new and modern power plant in the Douglas building. On the completion of the contract he was appointed chief engineer for the entire Stimson estate to remodel the entire power plant of the various buildings and connect them with one central station. Taking up this task, he submitted plans

and specifications and was directed to proceed with the work at once. The construction of a tunnel under large, heavy buildings like the Stimson and Douglas is a novel piece of en- gineering and requires great skill. Much has been written and published by the press from time to time concerning this work, and it has been often said that the engineer's plan could be followed to advantage by owners of hotels and office buildings.

Concerning the engine room of the Douglas we quote the following, which appeared in a daily paper soon after the erection of the build- ing:

"The engine room was designed on the lines of the engine room of the famous battleship Oregon. The dimensions of the room are 46x60, twenty-two-foot ceiling, and it is situated in the rear of the basement. A subterranean passage one hundred feet long, six feet in the clear, extends under the cellars of the tenants to the front of the building, where it connects with the elevators and front entrance to the building. The room is equipped with two hori- zontal tubular boilers, manufactured by the Gem City Boiler Company of Dayton, Ohio, of one hundred horse power each, fitted with full flush fronts and ornamented with stars and shields. The safety valves on the boilers are of a new design, used almost exclusively on all new American warships.

"The most novel feature in the equipment of the room is the oil-burning system in an ar- rangement which makes it possible to replenish the supply of oil while the machinery is in full operation. The method was developed by Mr. Connell, the patentee, who also was the first engineer to burn crude oil successfully in office buildings, five years ago in the Stimson block, which has been in continual operation ever since, and is now used in every office building and hotel in the city."

The most recent enterprise of Mr. Connell was the installation of a cross compound Corliss pumping engine, which contains more new and modern improvements than any engine yet built for the purpose. Many of these improvements represent ideas of Mr. Connell. It is charac- teristic of him that he has always favored any change of working plans which he believes to be judicious and helpful. For some time he was the only local engineer who upheld the hydraulic elevator system instead of electric power, and it is now noticeable that the large plants at present have adopted hydraulic power. He is a charter member of California Station- ary Engineers No. 2, of the National Associa- tion, and for several years served as its finan- cial secretary. In 1896 he organized the em- ployment department, of which he was secretary until 1898. Fraternally he is connected with Golden Rule Lodge No. 160, I. O. O. F., and

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is also a member of the Maccabees. In poli- tics he is a free thinker and invariably casts his ballot for the candidate he believes to be best qualified for office, regardless of party ties. June 24, 1894, he was united in marriage with Miss Mamie E. Craig, a native of San Francisco.

E. S. CORDERO. One of the most worthy representatives of the old Spanish pioneers of California is E. S. Cordero, extensively engaged in the stock raising business in Santa Barbara county, and the owner of five thousand acres of country land, besides valuable possessions in the city of Santa Barbara. The family emi- grant from Spain was the paternal grandfather, Mariano Cordero, who first settled in Mexico, and practiced his craft of tailoring, later remov- ing to Santa Barbara, where he labored for the Franciscan Fathers. Joan J., the father of E. S., was born in Santa Barbara in June of 1801, and became a large land owner and rancher, his land being a portion of the Las Cruces rancho, upon which he continued until his death at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Maria Antonia Ballenzinllo, who was born in Santa Barbara, a daughter of Enosio Ballenzinllo, a native of Mexico, and an early settler in Santa Barbara county. Mrs. Cordero, who died in Santa Barbara, was the mother of thirteen chil- dren, seven of whom are living, E. S. being third of these.

Upon his father's portion of Las Cruces rancho E. S. Cordero was born December 8, 1838. He attended the schools of Santa Bar- bara. From his earliest youth he was familiar with ranching, and materially aided his father in the management of his large interests up to the time of the latter's death. He then bought a portion of the ranch, about two thousand acres, and he is now the owner also of the Na Jaue ranch, of over three thousand acres, mak- ing in all over five thousand acres of ranch land. Besides cattle he raises large numbers of horses and hogs, the original ranch being devoted to a dairy and hogs, and the later acquisition to cattle and horses. He raises only the best im- proved stock, his brand being TC. He is one of the oldest stock raisers in this part of the county, and ships large numbers to Santa Bar- bara and Los Angeles. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Santa Barbara Parlor, 116, Native Sons of the Golden West. Mr. Cordero is a public spirited gentleman, and has played his part in the development of the county in which he takes such justifiable pride. He is foremost among the stock men of the county, and enjoys a reputation for fairness and sterling business integrity.

The pleasant home of Mr. Cordero is pre- sided over by his wife, formerly Miss Ortego. who was born in Santa Barbara. Four children are the result of this union: Mariana, who is

the wife of James Donahue, of Highland, Cal .; E. F., who is ranching with his father; Evaristo, and Juan, who are assistants in the management and care of the ranching interests.

FRANK B. CLARK. Added to a successful career in California as an agriculturist and dis- cerning business man, Mr. Clark has dignified and broadened his life by courageous service during the Civil war, during which period of strife he served his country for four years and four months. Although the war records desig- nate him as captain of Company K, Twenty- first Infantry, he nevertheless served as a pri- vate in the beginning, and saw service both in infantry and artillery. Owing to impaired health from the vicissitudes of war, he sought to im- prove his general condition by removal to the west, which he accomplished in 1869, and the following year settled in Hyde Park. His good management and thrift may be judged of when it is known that from a purchase of eighty acres of land, his possessions have increased to two hundred and fifty acres, and from untilled inac- tivity to fine alfalfa and general farming land. A more ideal rural abode it were hard to find, for Mr. Clark has erected a beautiful home, and has a small village of barns and outhouses, be- sides varied adornment in the shape of verdure, including palms and fine shade trees, the latter having grown from small saplings to producers of grateful and spreading shade. Upon the original land was found the walls for an adobe house, and upon these was placed a roof, doors were added and windows, and here the family lived and prospered until about twelve years ago, when the present well planned and more than ordinarily convenient house was erected. The adobe house is now used as shelter for the employes who are required to carry on the different departments of the farm. About twelve years ago the Santa Fe Railroad was built through the property, and this, combined with the lumber yard erected on the place, and the manifold activities ever in operation, produce upon the visitor a business like impression re- mote from the general order of farming.

The average output of the farm besides gen- eral farming is two hundred acres of alfalfa, which is baled on the place and shipped in large quantities to Los Angeles and Pasadena. Mr. Clark also owns other property in the county, and has a store in Hyde Park, which is rented out. In 1888 he married Lizzie S. Leach, a native of Vermont, Mr. Clark having been born in Connecticut. The only living child of this union is Clarence, who is ably assisting his father in the management of his ranch. Mr. Clark is a Republican in politics, and is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. His general admirable characteristics, his devotion to his home, and to all that broadens and eno-

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bles life, is best illustrated by his act in erect- ing the Congregational church, at Hyde Park, to the memory of his daughter, Cora Clark, who died at the age of sixteen years. This edifice is now used as a union church, and is a standing monument to a father's devotion, and a citizen's appreciation of how best to combine an interest in the past with the best good of the present.

JOHN J. BLEECKER, M. D. Descended from the sturdy old Knickerbocker stock so in- timately associated with the early development of New York, Dr. Bleecker, of Pasadena, is the inheritor of mental and physical endow- ments that are his heritage from a colonial an- cestry. For successive generations the family has given to the nation men of high patriotism and noble qualities. Among its most gifted rep- resentatives was the doctor's grandfather, Hon. John Anthony Bleecker, who was born in New York City, and became a leading attorney and prominent jurist; also served as a member of the state assembly. His last years were spent in Whippany, Morris county, N. J. He had a brother, James, who was one of the most suc- cessful of New York's bankers and brokers.

Born and reared in Morristown, N. J., John J. Bleecker, Sr., the doctor's father, became a physician of Cincinnati, Ohio, and later engaged in practice at Canton, Ill., where he died in 1879. He is survived by his widow, Rosanna, who at the age of sixty-nine years is making her home with her son in Pasadena. She was born in Preble county, Ohio, her father, Jeremialı Ba- der, having come there from Germany and set- tled upon a farm. Later he removed to Schuy- ler county, Ill., and from there to Fulton county, where he died. To the marriage of John J. and Rosanna Bleecker there were born three sons and two daughters who are now liv- ing. There was also a son by a former mar- riage, William H. Bleecker, M. D., who served in a New York regiment during the Civil war.

While his parents were living in Cincinnati, Ohio, John J. Bleecker, Jr., was born Novem- ber 20, 1852. In 1859 he accompanied the fam- ily to Astoria, Ill., and later attended school in Schuyler county, Ill. To secure the neces- sary funds for his medical education he taught school, first in Illinois, and then at Liberty Union, Ind. As soon as he had saved sufficient to defray his expenses in school, he entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and continued there until his graduation in Febru- ary, 1885. Immediately afterward he opened an office in Bushnell, Ill., but two years later found him in the new town of Pasadena, Cal., where he has since engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. Meantime he has taken two courses in his alma mater and two in the Chi- cago Post-Graduate College, it being his am- bition to keep in touch with the latest devel-

opments in therapeutics. Discoveries are con- stantly being made in the science of materia medica, and these he keeps conversant with, studying them closely in order to select those which he deems practicable. He is a member of the California State Homeopathic Medical Society. In his practice, as in politics, he is inclined to be independent, selecting what is best in every school. The success with which he is meeting is merited by years of conscientious study and painstaking practice.

In Rushville, Ill., Dr. Bleecker married Miss Mary Creighton, who was born in East Liver- pool, Ohio, a daughter of Ezekiel Creighton. She died in Pasadena in September, 1889, and afterward Dr. Bleecker was united with Miss Annie Boynton, a native of Worcester, Mass. He has one son, Robert Boynton, and one daughter, Averick Eveanna. While in Astoria, Ill., he was made a Mason, and is now connected with Corona Lodge, F. & A. M. In the Pasa- dena lodge of Odd Fellows he is past noble grand. Another organization in which he holds membership is the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Through his service as a member of the board of health he has done good service in behalf of his home city. However, his pref- erence is for private practice rather than posi- tions of public prominence that are the gift of his party. In religion he is connected with the Presbyterian Church.

B. O. SPRAGUE. At an early period in the history of America the Sprague family became identified with its growth, and during the colo- nial period various representatives were influ- ential among the citizens of Boston. The serv- ices of Richard T. Sprague in public life were recognized in his appointment as United States consul to Gibraltar, and while living there his son, Richard Tucker Sprague, was born. Re- turning to America, the family resumed resi- dence in Boston, where Richard T. was reared, educated and married, and where also his son, B. O., was born and passed the years of child- lood. In 1890 the family came to California, where the son had the advantage of three years of study in Leland Stanford University. He possessed an eager and ambitious disposition, less inclined for professional career than for business activities. On leaving school he en- tered the refinery of the American Sugar Re- fining Company in San Francisco, securing a position as assistant chemist and sugar boiler. Ambitious to acquire a thorough knowledge of the business, he worked in every department. and each position he filled with intelligence and energy.

After two years in San Francisco, Mr. Sprague entered the employ of the American Beet Sugar Company, and in July, 1899, came to Oxnard, where he has since made his home.

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For a time he was foreman of the sugar house, from which position he was promoted to be as- sistant superintendent, assuming charge of the night work. In addition, he acts as general as- sistant of the day watches, if duty renders it necessary. His thorough knowledge of the su- gar business in all of its details makes his serv-

ices of the greatest value to the company, and without doubt future years will bring him in- creasing successes along the line of his chosen occupation. He is not active in politics and has shown no desire to enter official life, but gives his allegiance to the Republican party and sus- tains its principles as they concern national af- fairs. He is a member of the college fraternity Sigma Nu.

AVERY BELCHER. Long Beach is sin- gularly fortunate in being the home of a num- ber of women whose business capacity is not surpassed by the opposite sex, and who also possess culture and refinement. Such an one is Mrs. Theresa Belcher, widow of Avery Belcher, and one of the most enthusiastic residents of this promising town. Avery Belcher, a man of lead- ing characteristics, pioneer of Montana, and the possessor of wealth acquired in mining, cattle- raising and banking, inherited his sterling traits from a worthy English ancestry, whose connec- tion with the historical events of their country was by no means immaterial. He was born in Berkshire, England, November 6, 1829, and when twenty years of age came to America with his parents and settled in Michigan, where the father died the following year. From Michigan the son went to Illinois and engaged in farm- ing, and continued the same occupation after removing to Audubon county, Iowa, in 1855. When the gold craze was at its height in 1861 he went to Pike's Peak overland with horse teams, and experienced the average failure and success while mining in Black Hawk and Cen- tral and Russell gulches. After his marriage in 1863 he removed to Montana, which state was to prove the field of his greatest activity and most substantial accomplishment. The journey was undertaken from Denver with ox- teams and wagons, via Fort Bridge, Soda Springs and Alder Gulch, and in 1864 he en- gaged in ranching and stock-raising on the Ruby river, near Virginia City, Mont. He had a fine range and large numbers of cattle, but in time sold out his interest and removed to near Helena, the same state, and later to Milk River and Bear Paw. He was also somewhat inter- ested in mining in Montana, and out of his abundance acquired from cattle investments or- ganized the Bank of Boulder, of which he was president as long as he remained in the state. He was also one of those who organized the Bear Paw Pool, in which about a dozen large cattlemen were interested, formed for the pur-

pose of mutual assistance in the handling of their cattle. The remainder of these men are still in the cattle business.

In 1881 Mr. Belcher took a trip from Fort Benton down the river to Iowa, and in 1893-4 first familiarized himself with the great chances existing in Southern California. From then on he made several trips back to this part of the state, and in 1898 so arranged his affairs in Montana as to enable him to take up his resi- dence in Long Beach. He soon became inter- ested in the affairs of the town, invested heavily in real estate and general property, and was keenly alive to the advantages awaiting the in- vestor. His death, July 5, 1901, terminated a career of immense vitality. He was a typical westerner in thought, heart and enterprise, and his struggles and victories in the heart of the desolate and wild Montana regions bespeak an enormous amount of courage and shrewd common sense. In politics he was a Democrat, but was by no means radical, and his affairs were always too numerous to permit of his par- ticipating to any great extent in local political affairs.

The marriage of Avery Belcher and Theresa Earley occurred in Exira, Audubon county, lowa, March 14, 1863. Mrs. Belcher was born in New Hope, Ohio, and is a daughter of Leon- ard Earley, born near Georgetown, Ohio, and a merchant and manufacturer at New Hope. In 1855 Mr. Earley removed to Henry county, Iowa, and engaged in farming, but in 1895 located in Exira, which is still his home. He is at present retired from active business or farming life, and is greatly interested in pro- moting the cause of education. He is frater- nally an Odd Fellow. His father, Thomas Earley, was born in Maryland, became a stock raiser in Ohio, and met a tragic death in Texas, where he was murdered by the son of Governor Isaac Désha of Kentucky. He had gone to Texas from New Orleans with the proceeds of a flatboat load of farm products, from Brown county, Ohio. While in Texas he was mur- dered by Desha, whose father had just par- doned his wayward son for a wilful murder. The wife of Thomas Earley, formerly Mary Ste- phens, died in Highland county, Ohio, in 1848. The mother of Mrs. Belcher, Catherine (Fiscus) Earley, was born in Ohio, and was a daughter of Abraham Fiscus, who, with his wife, was a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Earley, who died in Ohio, was the mother of one son and four daughters, of whom Mrs. Belcher is the oldest. Mrs. Mary McConnell died in March of 1901 ; William Worth is a miner in the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming, and Sarah Ann lives in Ilar- rison county, Iowa.

Mrs. Belcher was reared in Iowa and was educated in the public schools, and since her husband's death has carried out his plans in re-

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gard to the management of his numerous af- fairs. She is an enthusiastic resident of this city, where she has many friends, and where her standing is an enviable one. She is a member of various clubs in the town, and her expe- rience with human nature has developed an innate tact peculiarly her own, and of immense value to her in the conduct of her affairs. It is doubtful if any private individual in the state has a finer collection of shells than has Mrs. Belcher, and she has made a curtain of snail shells, and also one of clam shells, which have elicited great admiration from all who have been permitted to see them. Mrs. Belcher has one daughter, Clara Nevada, who was educated at Hillsdale College, Michigan, and who is now living with her mother.

LEWIS WILLIAM STEVENS. As presi- dent of the Santa Monica Surf and Ocean Boat- house Company, which he incorporated in 1896, Mr. Stevens is well known to the thousands of visitors whom the fame of this ocean resort an- nually draws hither. In the sale of fish to Los Angeles, Riverside and San Francisco, he has also built up an important business. Not only does he manufacture his nets and tackle, but even his boats, and he is the inventor of the Stevens surf and lifeboat, patented in 1898. The first boat of this kind proved so successful that he has since made a second and larger one. The plan of operating the boat is on the cable sys- tem, which enables the boatman to control the boat as a man controls the movements of a horse. In 1900 he took the boat to Nome, Alaska, and engaged in the transfer business, taking baggage and passengers from the ship to the shore through the surf. He remained during the scason and then returned home. Be- sides these boats, he has various pleasure and fish boats which he rents.

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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 189

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