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 41

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

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sons, Robert and John, are business men of San Francisco. Alexander Fraser Mills, who was the second son, received his education in the grammar and high schools of Stirling. In 1866 he helped to build a woolen factory, and in 1870 was made manager of it, but the follow- ing year the business was sold. In May, 1873, he came to California, and after a year in Santa Barbara settled in Los Angeles. Here he took a course of study in the Lawler Institute, gradu- ating in the business course.

An excellent idea of the nursery business was gained by Mr. Mills while employed by Thomas A. Garey, who was then the largest nurseryman in California, and it was there that Mr. Mills gained a thorough knowledge of orange culture. Resigning his position in 1877 he came to Pasa- dena and embarked in the nursery business, in which he met with encouraging success from the first. With a keen foresight concerning future values, he bought seven and one-half acres on the corner of Colorado and Fair Oaks avenue, which were then but country roads. Of the land, three hundred feet were on Fair Oaks and ten hundred and eighty-nine on Colorado, running to Pasadena avenue. In 1878 he set out citrus and deciduous trees on the land. The next year he became superintendent for H. H. Hall's Perfumery ranch at Carpinteria, Santa Barbara county, but after a year resigned to de- vote himself to the nursery business. During early days he set out thousands of acres in vine- yards and orange groves in Los Angeles county. In 1883 he platted the A. F. Mills subdivision opening up De Lacey street, which he named for his wife's family; a private driveway has since become known as Mills street. In 1886 he built the Mills block, with a frontage of fifty feet on Fair Oaks avenue, and he also erected the News block, 60x72, corner of Colorado and De Lacey streets. Since the age of twenty-one years he lias been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which, at times, he has been Sun- day-school superintendent and a member of the board of trustees, and also has been identified with the Y. M. C. A. In politics he is a Re- publican and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Foresters.

At Santa Barbara, in 1879, occurred the mar- riage of A. F. Mills and Miss Cora Roberta Lacey, who was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, and is a graduate of the Santa Barbara high school. She was second among four children, of whom her brother, Friend E. Lacey, is a resident of Pasadena and an attorney in Los Angeles. Her sisters, Thep and Mrs. Emma S. L. Shoup and a nephew, John M. Shoup, also reside in Pasa- dena. The family of which she is a member comes from the de Laceys of France and crossed from Normandy with William the Con- queror. Robert W., who was born in Cadiz, Ohio, was a son of John Mills de Lacey (the

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prefix "de" being retained until this generation). When a boy he learned the builder's trade. In 1849 he came via the Horn to San Francisco, where he engaged in mining. In 1852 he re- turned to the east by the isthmus, the next year was married, then spent eighteen months in Wheeling, W. Va., and in 1855 settled in Oska- loosa, Iowa, where ile had many important con- tracts.

The year 1872 found him bringing his fam- ily to San Francisco, and from there by boat to Santa Barbara, where he bought a home and engaged in building. In 1884 he came to Pasa- dena and bought five acres on Villa and Moline streets, also fifteen acres on Villa and North Moline, where he engaged in horticulture. On this place his death occurred August 26, 1893, since which the five-acre tract has been sold by his heirs, but the fifteen acres are still retained, with the exception of such portion as has been opened into streets. He was a Republican in politics, an active worker among the Odd Fel- lows, and for forty years a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

At Sistersville, W. Va., October 3, 1853, Robert W. Lacey married Miss Nancy Engle, who was born in Greensburg, Pa. Her father, Ezra, who was born December 13, 1790, was a son of Peter Engle, who was born in Ghent. Belgium, August 17, 1747. The latter's father, John P. Engle, a native of Saxony, brought his wife and family to America in 1749, settling in Frederick, Md. During the Revolutionary war Peter Engle was with General Washington and took part in the capture of the Hessians at Trenton, also spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, where he suffered all the horrors of cold and hunger. He died in Greensburg, Pa., as did also his wife, Susanna (Bugh) Engle, who was born in Maryland in 1750. At Harper's Ferry Ezra Engle learned the gunsmith's trade, and later engaged in business at Greensburg, then at Sistersville. Such was the quality of his work that people came to him from miles away in order to purchase one of his guns. His death occurred when he was seventy-eight. His wife, Nancy, was born in Mapletown, Pa., and died at Sistersville, W. Va .; of their nine chil- dren four are living. She was a daughter of Jacob Black, a native of Greene county, Pa., and a first cousin of Jeremiah S. Black, the noted at- torney of Pennsylvania; Jacob Black married Margaret Grindstaff, of Pennsylvania.

Among the pioneers of Pasadena none stands higher in the estimation and confidence of the people than does Mr. Mills, who by reason of his long residence in the same locality, his in- timate knowledge of the development of Pasa- dena and his integrity, together with other finc qualities, combine to place him in the ranks of the city's most honored pioneers and respected citizens.

ANDREW GLASSELL, Sr. From the pe- riod of his arrival in California during the pio- neer days of 1852 until his death, nearly fifty years later, Mr. Glassell was intimately associ- ated with the profession of law in this state, with the exception only of the momentous days of the Civil war. His influence was apparent during the formulative period of the state, when men of powerful minds and strong wills were needed to place the commonwealth upon a substantial basis; nor were his achievements less commend- able during those later years of progress and development which have rendered possible the high standing of California to-day.

Many of the qualities so noticeable in the life of Mr. Glassell were his by right of inheritance from Scotch ancestry. He was the fourth in di- rect succession to bear the name of Andrew Glassell, the first having been a worthy Scot whose son and namesake founded the family in Virginia. In a family of six children, whose parents were Andrew and Susan (Thornton) Glassell, the last survivor was Andrew, born in Virginia, at the ancestral home (known as Torthorwald) September 30, 1827. When seven years of age he was taken to Sumter county, Ala., where his father became a cotton planter near Livingston. At seventeen years of age he entered the University of Alabama, from which he was graduated in 1848. The study of law he began under the preceptorship of Hon. Samuel W. Inge, and on being ad- mitted to the bar commenced a general profes- sional practice, during which time he enjoyed the friendship of Hon. John A. Campbell, at one time a justice of the supreme court of the United States.

As before stated, it was in 1852 that Mr. Glassell cast in his fortunes with the new state of California. The recommendations which he brought from Judge Campbell not only secured his admission to the bar of the supreme court of this state, but also gave him at once a high rank among its lawyers, and he was soon ap- pointed a deputy of the United States district attorney of California at San Francisco. His especial assignment was the trying of a large number of land cases, some of which were then pending before the United States land commis- sion, appointed under act of Congress of March 3, 1851, to settle the titles to lands in this state. After three years in this position he resumed private practice in San Francisco and so continued until the war, when, on account of his southern sympathies rendering it impossible for him to take the test oath, he temporarily closed his office, and until after the termination of the war engaged in running a steam saw mill and manufacturing lumber and staves near Santa Cruz. With the close of the war he again took up professional labors, selecting Los Angeles as his future home and entering into

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partnership with Alfred B. Chapman, a friend of his boyhood and at one time an officer in the regular army. For a time the firm title was Glassell & Chapman, but the admission of Col. George H. Smith, January 1, 1870, caused a change of name to Glassell, Chapman & Smith: and for a short time Henry M. Smith, now de- ceased, and late judge of the superior court of Los Angeles county, was a member of the firm. In 1879 Mr. Chapman retired to engage in horticultural pursuits, and later George S. Pat- ton, a nephew of Mr. Glassell, was admitted as a junior partner. This association continued until 1883, when Mr. Glassell retired, to enjoy in his declining years the leisure and comforts which he had so worthily won and merited.

During his residence in San Francisco Mr. Glassell married Lucy Toland, whose father, Dr. H. H. Toland, was the founder of the Toland Medical College, now the medical de- partment of the California State University. Nine children were born of this union, namely: Susan G., wife of H. M. Mitchell, represented elsewhere in this work; Minnie G., Mrs. Har- rington Brown, of Los Angeles; Hugh, who is manager and one of the executors of his father's estate; Andrew and William T., both of whom are represented on another page; Louise G., wife of Dr. J. DeBarth Shorb, of Los Angeles; Philip H. and Alfred L., of Los Angeles; and Lucien T., who died at nineteen years. Mrs. Lucy Glassell was born in South Carolina and was a mere child when brought to California, where her death occurred at thirty-nine years of age. In religion she was a faithful member of the Catholic Church. Six years after her death Mr. Glassell was again married, his second wife being Mrs. Virginia Micou Ring, of New Or- leans, who died in Los Angeles in 1897. The death of Mr. Glassell occurred at his home, No. 352 Buena Vista street, Los Angeles, January 28, 1901. Many tributes of respect and honor were paid to his memory by those who had been associated with him during the years of his pro- fessional activity. Among others we quote the following from the memorial adopted by the attorneys of Los Angeles and prepared at their request by a committee consisting of Stephen M. White, A. M. Stephens, A. W. Hutton, J. R. Scott and J. A. Graves.

"At all times since the formation of the co- partnership of Glassell & Chapman down to the time of Mr. Glassell's retirement, the firm of firms of which he was the head enjoyed a large and lucrative practice. He and his copartners were favorably known throughout the state and especially in this section, and they were usually retained on one side or the other of every impor- tant civil suit tried in this county and vicinity. The records of the several tribunals, state and federal, abound with evidence demonstrating the extent and importance of the litigation so ably

conducted by and under the supervision of Mr. Glassell, and to these records reference is made as the highest and best evidence of his reputa- tion, worth and ability as a lawyer. Not only was the firm of Glassell & Chapman active prac- titioners of the law, but they did much to de- velop and improve this section of the state. They did not, as so many owners of large tracts of land have done, wait to become enriched by and through the enterprise of their neighbors, but took an active interest in all matters calcu- lated to induce immigration and the upbuilding of Southern California. One instance of their deals in real estate may be cited: About 1868 they became the owners of a large tract of land in the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. This tract was subdivided and a large irrigating canal constructed to conduct the waters of the Santa Ana river to the farming lands and to the town of Richland, which was laid out by them, and the land offered for sale upon terms most favor- able to settlers. This little town of Richland is now the city of Orange. The canal of the Semi- Tropic Water Company has been from time to time extended and enlarged until to-day it forms a large part of the property of the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company and a portion of the finest system of irrigation in the southern por- tion of the state.

"Mr. Glassell was one of the incorporators, and for many years preceding his death one of the directors, of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Los Angeles. He also took part in the organization of the Los Angeles City Water Company in 1868 and continued to be one of its large stockholders. About the same year the firm of Glassell & Chapman acted as the attor- neys in the incorporation of the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railway Company, by which com- pany the first railroad in Los Angeles county was constructed. They were its attorneys con- tinuously until the road was transferred to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, when the firm became local attorneys for this latter com- pany. As a lawyer and as a man he was scrupulously honest, direct in his methods, open and frank in all his dealings, and toward the members of the bar always extremely courteous and affable, but at the same time in the trial of a case bold and vigorous. He was generous to those who were associated with him in his cases and always quick to recognize and acknowledge their services rendered in the com- mon cause. He was liberal to the young men who entered the profession through his office and more than one member of your committee remember with gratitude his kindness, helpful- ness and generosity, and it is most pleasing now to remember that in all of their intercourse with him they cannot recall one single coarse expres- sion or a single instance in which even for a moment he laid aside the bearing of a gentle-

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man. He was a sound lawyer, deeply versed in the principles of his profession and thoroughly posted as to precedents affecting the questions in hand. He was a safe adviser and practical rather than brilliant. He was not an orator, but always terse, clear and forcible in argument. He was at all times thoroughly prepared at the trial, and in the preparation acted upon the theory that he is the best lawyer who drafts his pleading and other papers so thoroughly as to leave no weak points for the attack of his ad- versary, and consequently but little need of ora- tory to defend them. In his business dealings with his debtors he was merciful and forbearing, often reducing or remitting the debt when its enforcement might have seemed to be harsh. Each member of your committee has personally known Mr. Glassell for more than a quarter of a century and can without reservation attest that they never heard expressed any suspicion of the man. By devotion to his profession and by rare business sagacity he accumulated a large fortune, but by far the richest legacy he leaves behind him is the reputation which he earned by a lifelong course of honest dealing in his pro- fessional and business career. Notwithstanding his retirement from the practice hereinbefore noted, his life was a laborious one and full of responsibilities, and it is said by one who was very near to him in his latter days that he was ready to lay down the burdens of life and rest. His mortal career is ended; his life's roll is made up and at its conclusion is written the endorsement, 'An honest and just man.'"

COL. LORENZ P. HANSEN. The years that have elapsed since Colonel Hansen came to Pasadena in 1890 have found him active in pro- moting measures for the benefit of the people, indefatigable in forwarding schemes for the improvement of transportation facilities, and energetic in the development of real-estate in- terests. Soon after liis arrival he acquired by purchase twenty acres lying between Lake, Wil- son. California and San Pasqual streets, and this tract he improved, converting it into a beautiful homestead. Subsequently three acres were sold, but he still owns seventeen acres, forming what is known as Oak Villa, his present home, and this property he has improved with a cozy residence, a thrifty orange grove and ex- cellent water facilities. In addition to his own home another house stands on the place. He built the Masonic Temple, corner of Colorado street and Raymond avenue, a three-story struc- ture, 65x125, and one of the finest buildings in Pasadena; this he recently sold. Besides his property in Pasadena, he was interested in lands at Lake View, Riverside county, and is a direc- tor in the Lake View Water Company.

The parents of Colonel Hansen were Olaf and Maria Hansen, natives of Denmark, the

former a brick mason. In the family of six children three attained maturity, two daughters and one son, all of whom are now in America. Lorenz P., the second of these, was born in Rise, North Schleswig, Denmark, July 26, 1847, and as a boy attended the national school. When fourteen he began to learn the ship car- penter's trade in Abenrade. Two years later, on the breaking out of the Danish-German war, he was pressed into service as a teamster, serv- ing until the close of the war. Meantime, in the battle of Oversea, he received a sabre wound over the right eye and was also wounded by a shell that struck him in the neck. When the war was over he went to Copenhagen and se- cured employment in a wholesale house, re- inaining there until 1868, when he came to the United States. In this country his first location was Detroit, where for three years he was em- ployed in the wholesale wood yard of Mr. Liv- ingstone, winning promotion to the position of superintendent through his faithfulness and ability. Being ambitious to acquire a good English education, he attended school every evening, so that his life was a very busy one.

From Detroit Colonel Hansen went to Chi- cago in 1871, immediately after the fire, and opened a restaurant on Madison and Dearborn streets, where he remained for twenty years. His was the first restaurant started after the fire and became one of the well-known places in the city. The business was conducted under the German name of Radskeller, which means the court's assemblage place to dine, In 1890 he sold the business and came to California, since which time he has made Pasadena his home. During his residence in Chicago he was president of the Eclipse Manufacturing Com- pany, manufacturers of steam radiators. The real-estate business also received considerable attention from him. He erected the University Club building on Dearborn, between Washing- ton and Madison streets, one of the most cen- tral locations in Chicago. Another important undertaking was the building of the Geneva Flats, a large apartment building on Rush street, which he still owns. For five years he was a member of Company I, First Regiment Illinois State Militia, and then assisted in or- ganizing the Veterans' Corps, to which he be- longed for several years, and of which he was a charter member.

The marriage of Colonel Hansen occurred in Detroit and united him with Miss Anna Mose- gaard, who was born in North Schleswig, Den- mark. They are the parents of two children. Their son, Waldemar Grant, is represented else- where in this volume. The daughter, Laurina, is a graduate of Irving Institute of San Fran- cisco. After coming to California, Colonel Han- sen became interested in securing better trans- portation facilities than then existed in Pasa-

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dena and Los Angeles. He was one of the original promoters of the Pasadena & Los An- geles Electric Railway Company, and its first vice-president. All of the street car franchises were granted in his name and he personally ob- tained the right of way. After the road was completed he disposed of his interest therein. As the first president and a promoter of the Santa Monica Railroad (now the Los Angeles and Pacific Railway), he was active in the con- struction of this road and still owns stock in the same. For three years, by appointment, he served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Gov. H. H. Markham, with the rank of lieutenant-colo- nel. Under Governor Burt he held the same official rank for four years, continuing for eighteen months under Governor Gage, when he resigned. In politics he is a pronounced Republican. While in Chicago he was made a Mason in Golden Rule Lodge, which he served as senior warden; there joined the chapter and commandery, and was a member of St. Bernard Drill Corps, in command of the second division. At this writing he is connected with Corona Lodge in Pasadena.

The personal characteristics of Colonel Han- sen are such as command respect in the busi- ness world and win warm friendships in social circles. In this era of strenuous activity those deserve commendation who rise to influential positions when assisted by the prestige of birth, education and ancestry. Still more do those men merit praise who rise above such obsta- cles as foreign birth, a lack of knowledge of American customs and language, and the dis- couraging outlook of a friendless condition in a strange country. To this latter class belongs Colonel Hansen, who came to America a stran- ger in a strange land; yet, with the determina- tion and force of will which have always char- acterized him, set himself to work to win a name and place for himself. How well he has succeeded in his meritorious endeavor his pres- cnt position abundantly testifies.

JAMES A. HILL. Among all of the con- tracts filled by Mr. Hill since he began business in Los Angeles, there has been none more im- portant than the building of the Third street tunnel, a work of such magnitude that two years were spent in excavating. The construc- tion was peculiarly difficult on account of the presence of a large quantity of water, which was discovered after many prominent civil engineers had declared it to be a dry hill. During the process of building he was one of the seventeen men who were buried beneath the debris at the time the cave fell in. The accident occurred at II:30 in the morning and it was eleven at night before the first men were unearthed; shortly after midnight most of the men had been rescued, but it was three days before all were

out. It seems little short of a miracle that four- teen of the number were saved, although two of these were in a very critical condition when rescued. The completion of the tunnel has proved of the greatest benefit to Los Angeles, and it is estimated that five thousand people pass through it every day.

Mr. Hill was born at Stuart, Guthrie county, Iowa, August 30, 1865, a son of Andrew Jack- son and Susan (Thompson) Hill, natives of Ohio. His paternal grandtather, Andrew J. Hill, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, and when a boy, with his father, was captured by the Indians, and saw his father killed by the sav- ages, while he himself was put to torture, his cars pierced and his tongue split. Finally, on payment of a ransom, he was freed. Later he settled in Ohio, where he died. Andrew J., Jr., removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, in 1847. and entered a tract of government land, which: he improved and upon which he died at sixty- seven years of age. His wife is still living on the old homestead. Her father, John Thomp- son, the son of a Revolutionary soldier, served in the war of 1812 and afterward settled in Ohio, thence, in 1847, going to Guthrie county, Iowa, of which he was the earliest settler.

In a family of eleven children, all but one of whom attained mature years and six are liv- ing, James A. Hill was fourth in order of birth, and is the only one in California. From early boyhood le helped in the work of the farm, attending school only six months altogether. When he was ten he began to work at the brick- layer's trade in Des Moines, under S. A. Rob- inson, and three years later was drawing a man's wages. Some of his early work was in the building of the state capitol. About 1881 he went to Omaha, Neb., where he was a charter inember of the Union, and in 1884 and 1885 worked as a contractor. During the fall of 1885 he came to Los Angeles, where he has since followed contracting, having probably had some part in the erection of over three thousand buildings in this city. Much of his work has been upon the best residences and public build- ings. Coming here when the town was still small, but when it was beginning to attract strangers as residents or investors, he found himself overwhelmed with contracts during the boom period and even afterward, while a gen- eral depression existed, his services were still in demand. Among his contracts were those for the Homer Laughlin building, Hotel Van Nuys, Newmark building, Douglas and Baker blocks, Third street tunnel (with Mr. Swenson), Salisbury block (1886), Bryson and Bonebrake block, Hinstell building, Baker and Leed's warehouses, and the addition to the State Nor- mal. Besides his contracting business he is interested in oil, as a stockholder in the Hia- watha and Kramer Oil Companies.

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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 41

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