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 63

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

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In political views Dr. Lewis is a Democrat of the old-line type, a firm believer in the gold standard as best adapted to the commercial and financial development of our nation. While in New York City he was made a Mason and sub- sequently was raised to the chapter degree. In religion he is an Episcopalian. His first wife, Serene Buffington, was born in Boston and died there, leaving four children, namely: Mrs. Corinna Dinsmore, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Ernst, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Boston, Mass .; Stewart, who graduated from the University of the City of New York with the degree of M. D., and is now a popular physician of Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Gerald, who is with his father. The second marriage of Dr. Lewis took place in New Jersey and united him with Olivia P. Woodford, who was born at Tar- rytown on the Hudson. Dr. and Mrs. Lewis have many friends among the most cultured and refined people of their home city.

NATHANIEL STEWART. The sheriff of Santa Barbara county is a member of one of the pioneer families of the west. His father, Archimedes Stewart, a native of Indiana, was a son of John Stewart, of eastern birth, who crossed the plains with his family in 1846, mak- ing the trip with oxen as motive power. Be- coming the earliest settler at Corvallis, Benton county, Ore., he engaged in raising stock and general products there. In 1870 he leased his ranch and removed to the Willow creek eoun- try, in the eastern part of that state, where his stock operations were extensively and success- fully conducted. Later he returned to Corvallis, and there he died when ninety-two years of age. The life of his son, Archimedes, was in many

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respects similar to his own, although he added inining interests to the cattle business. His death occurred, as the result of exposure, when he was fifty-seven years of age. He had mar- ried Matilda Grimsley who was born in Ohio, and in 1846 came to Oregon with her father, John Grimsley, a farmer, who died at eighty- eight years. Mrs. Matilda Stewart died when in middle life, leaving four children. Only two survive, our subject's brother being Granville, an expert telegraph operator, who for years acted as manager in various western towns, and is now with the Sunset Telephone Company at San Francisco.

At Corvallis, Ore., where he was born May 15, 1853, Nathaniel Stewart received his educa- tion in the public schools and Agricultural Col- lege, also the Episcopal Seminary. In 1873 he began ranching near Yreka, Cal., and was there at the time of the Modoc war. When twenty- one years of age he attended the National Busi- ness College at Portland, Ore., from which he was graduated in 1874. Taking up telegraphy, he was employed as operator at Yreka, Cal., next at Callahan's Ranch. In addition to repre- senting the Western Union, he also acted as agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company. In the fall of 1876 he went to Los Angeles as an operator in the Western Union office. His residence in Santa Barbara county dates from April, 1877, when he came to Lompoc as tele- graph operator, and here also he was clerk and bookkeeper for J. Rudolph & Co. for three years, and also became interested in the butcher business. In 1881, with a partner, he bought a ranch, and for seven years the two men con- tinued together, meantime buying two other ranches and acquiring altogether three thousand acres. The partnership was dissolved in 1888, and on the division of the property Mr. Stewart acquired the Stevens ranch of eighteen hundred acres which he still owns and which is one of the valuable ranches of the county. Besides con- ducting this property, he carried on a meat busi- ness in Lompoc until 1897, when he sold out.

On the Republican ticket, in 1898, Mr. Stew- art was the nominee for county sheriff. The result was a tie, which necessitated a special election. At that time, December 13, he was given a majority of one hundred and forty- seven votes, and in January, 1899, took the oath of office, since which time he has devoted his attention to the duties of his responsible posi- tion. On assuming his duties, he moved his fam- ily from Lompoc and has since made his home in Santa Barbara. His marriage took place in Lompoc and united him with Mary E. Reed, who was born in Santa Clara county, Cal. Her father, John Reed, was a pioneer of Santa Clara county, of which he acted as county surveyor. Later he held a similar position in Santa Bar- bara county, where he died. The children of

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart are named as follows: Jessie P., wife of Dr. Stinson, of Santa Barbara ; Horace J., a member of the California National Guard, and now employed in the Santa Barbara postoffice; Elsie L., Alma H. and Eva.

During his residence in Lompoc Mr. Stewart was for seven years a member of the board of education and its clerk. He also acted as a city trustee and was serving as mayor at the time of his election to the sheriff's office, when he re- signed. His identification with the Republican party has always been close, and at one time he was a member of the county central committee. Fraternally he is connected with the Uniform Rank, K. of P., Woodmen of the World, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (of which local lodge he is a charter member) and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

PAUL O. TIETZEN. One of the solid financial institutions of Santa Barbara county is the Bank of Santa Maria, which owes its ori- gin and incorporation in 1890 to the far-sighted ability of Paul O. Tietzen, who has since been its manager. The bank has a capital stock of $100,000, of which $67,000 is paid in. The offi- cers are: William L. Adams, president, and J. F. Goodwin, cashier.

No man in Santa Maria has more thorough- ly assimilated American methods and enterprise than has Mr. Tietzen. As his name implies, he is of German nationality, and was born in West Prussia, north Germany, March 20, 1852. His parents, Julius and Adelaide (Elsner) Tiet- zen, were born and spent their entire lives in the empire, the death of the former having occurred in the spring of 1900. Like the average youth of well-to-do parents, Paul O. received a prac- tical public school education, supplemented by a collegiate training. His first departure fron his native shores was as a sailor, in company with his uncle, and during the two years which he spent before the mast he visited England, South America, China, West Indies and the Sandwich Islands, gathering together a great deal of useful information, of incalculable ben- efit in his later years. After spending some time in New York he came to California in 1870 and became identified with several different firms in San Francisco, and for a short time lived in Prescott, Ariz. Since coming to Santa Maria in 1890 he has been prominent in all of the prin- cipal undertakings of the town, and has, besides town real-estate, a fine stock and fruit ranch in the country.

In Guadaloupe, in 1884, Mr. Tietzen married Margaret McHenry, and of this union there are three children, Ida, Hazel and Herbert. The family reside in a palatial home on Broad- way, wherein are to be found all manner of modern conveniences, and where hospitality is unstintingly extended. Fraternally Mr. Tietzen

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is a master Mason at Santa Maria, and he is a charter member of the Independent Order of Foresters. He is esteemed by all who know him, and occupies a prominent place as a citizen of irreproachable integrity and sound commercial astuteness.

COL. WILLIAM W. HOLLISTER. No name is more closely interwoven with the pioneer history of Southern California than that of William Wells Hollister, whose mature years were intimately associated with the develop- ment of this region. The second son of John and Philena (Hubbard) Hollister, he was born in Licking county, Ohio, January 12, 1818. Early in 1802 his father had migrated from New England to Ohio and there he remained until his death, at which time his son, William W., succeeded to the management of the estate of one thousand acres. His unusual ability was manifest at this early period, for he soon doubled the area of the estate and also engaged in merchandising. During the summer of 1852 hc started across the plains, arriving at San José, Cal., October 3. Deciding at once that here he was offered a fine field for the sheep business, he returned to Ohio, and in the spring of 1853, with fifty men, driving six thousand graded sheep, was again en route to the far west. On this journey he was accompanied by his brother Hubbard and his sister, Mrs. Lucy A. Brown, the latter a woman of exceptional abil- ity and noble character, to whose influence the Colonel was largely indebted for his success. She died April 30, 1893, aged seventy-nine years; Hubbard Hollister, who also possessed a character in many respects ideal, died January 5, 1873, at the age of fifty-three years. There was an older brother, Albert G., who was the equal of the others in every respect, and who died April 24, 1891, aged seventy-nine.

The party drove their sheep from St. Joseph, Mo., to Salt Lake, thence via the Mormon road to San Bernardino, Cal., reaching the latter point with less than one-fourth the original number of sheep. However, the grass, which was grow- ing green and fresh, soon restored strength to the remainder of the flock, and Monterey county was reached without further loss. At San Juan Colonel Hollister became associated with Flint, Bixby & Co., which purchased the famous San Justo ranch and other properties until they be- came perhaps the largest land holders on the Pacific coast. The San Justo ranch was sub- divided and sold to a colony of settlers, it be- ing Colonel Hollister's desire to interest per- manent settlers in this region. The colony of Lompoc was also formed through his liberality. Soon after the sale of the San Justo ranch, he settled in Santa Barbara, and from that time until his death he was deeply interested in the development of the city. It is said that he ex-

pended $500,000 in and around the city. Every worthy enterprise was sure of his generous as- sistance. The crection of the Arlington house was rendered possible by his liberality. Santa Barbara College was largely indebted to him. Odd Fellows Hall and Odd Fellows free library received liberal gifts from him. In fact, there was no enterprise of his day that lacked his generous support.

Meantime Colonel Hollister retained large landed and stock interests. His estate, which was named Glen Annie, in honor of his wife, contained 2,750 acres of land. From the wide verandas of his home he could overlook a plan- tation containing 2,000 orange and lemon trees in bearing condition; 30,000 almond trees, 500 limes, 350 pluins, 200 peaches, besides other fruits. In partnership with T. B. Dibblee, he was the owner of San Julian rancho, in the west- ern part of Santa Barbara county, comprising the ranches of San Julian, Salsipuedes, Espada, Santa Anita, Gaviota and Las Cruces. Alto- gether, the property embraced 100,000 acres, and carried about 60,000 head of sheep and 500 cattle, the annual sales of which aggregated $125,000. The Gaviota wharf is a part of this property, although it is also used for the ship- ment of produce from the Santa Ynez valley. Built by Hollister & Dibblee in 1875, it is 1,000 feet long, and accommodates a large business, principally in live stock, wool, general merchan- dise, sacked grain, ranch produce and lumber.

One of Colonel Hollister's principal traits was his kindness to the unfortunate. In him the needy always had a friend. Many a suc- cessful man owes his start in life to the Colonel's kindness and timely aid. No one to whom he was known but held him in the highest esteem, and his death, August 6, 1886, was mourned as a public loss. One of those by whom he was most deeply mourned was his friend, J. W. Cooper. Between these two there had been a Damon and Pythias affection from the time they first met, July 1, 1861, at the Zaca rancho. Many beautiful tributes were paid Colonel Hol- lister by those who had been closely linked 10 him by ties of closest friendship, but none was more heartfelt than the tribute given by Mr. Cooper on one occasion, when several citizens were speaking of what Colonel Hollister had been to Santa Barbara and its people. For a few moments he was silent, then said: "One clay Jehovah said to the angels ministering about the Throne of Thrones: 'This is Sunday on earth, a hallowed day. I will use it by cre- ating a grand object. I will make a good man.' Then all the angels applauded the words and said: 'Make him, Almighty Father, the perfect man, and let us each add the best element of ourselves.' And so, one by one, they brought in turn truth, honesty, generosity, loyalty, honor, integrity, industry, cheerfulness, unself-

Se P McLaim

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ishness, devotion and mercy, reserving to the Son to add that most precious of all gifts, love for one's fellow-man. Then God took these gifts and all day long modeled and worked as only Omnipotence can work, and in the evening said to all who dwelt in heaven's courts: 'I have done a good work. I have made a good man. But I shall never make another, the in- gredients are altogether too precious and scarce. Now, yc angels, take this man to earth and watch over him in all his career.' It was done, and in this way carth received Col. W. W. Hollister."

GEORGE P. MeLAIN. The name of George P. McLain has for many years been associated with various lines of activity in Los Angeles, and as one of the early settlers he has wisely discerned and ministered to the needs of the city of his adoption. Through his veins flows the blood of a noble and patriotic ancestry, best illustrated by the services of the paternal great- grandfather, who was a commanding officer in the war of the Revolution. The first settlers bearing the name in America presumably cast their lot with the Old Dominion state, for there the grandfather, James, was born, in Fredericks- burg, and like his father was a soldier, bearing his part of the brunt in the war of 1812, as a sergeant. He was a planter and squire, or at- torney, at Fredericksburg, where he spent his entire life as a prominent member of the com- munity. James S. McLain, the father of George P., was born near Fredericksburg, and practiced law in Virginia, and afterwards in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he was county judge. He later settled in Peru, La Salle county, Ill., where he was justice of the peace, and after removing to Duquoin, Perry county, Ill., he continued to practice law, and was judge of the county. He was a man of forceful character and a recognized broad influence in every locality where he lived, and his death, at the age of sixty-eight years, left a void not easily filled in the com- munity. He was prominent in fraternal circles, notably in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and he was devoted to the interests of the Republican party from Fremont's time.

On the maternal side also Mr. McLain is de- scended from Revolutionary stock, for his mother, formerly Sarah Graham Luckett, was a granddaughter of Col. Noland Luckett, a planter of Virginia, and a colonel under Wash- ington during the struggle for colonial freedom. His was an unfortunate fate, as he was captured by the British and suffered long imprisonment on the prison ship in New York harbor. Mrs. MeLain, who was born in Virginia, was a daugh- ter of Otho Luckett, a native of Virginia, a planter, and a brave soklier in the war of 1812. Mrs. McLain, who died in Los Angeles, was the mother of nine children, two of whom served

in the Civil war in an Illinois regiment, George P. being the second youngest in the family and the only one in California. Although born in Fredericksburg, Va., August 26, 1847, George I'. McLain was reared in Peru, Ill., whither his father had removed, and he also attended the schools of Illinois, including the State Normal at Bloomington. His youth was practically un- eventful until the breaking out of the Civil war, and in September of 1863 he enlisted in Com- pany L, Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, at Spring- field, and saw service in Kentucky and Tennes- see. After being mustered out, at Nashville, Tenn., August 27, 1865, he returned to Illinois, but had in the mean time formulated plans which were to be carried out remote from his former surroundings. In the spring of 1866 he start- ed across the plains with four yoke of oxen from St. Joe, freighting via the Platte river to Salt Lake City and thence to Helena, Mont. After spending the winter he returned to Salt Lake City overland with horse teams, but again start- cd overland through Nevada and Colorado, and finally reached Prescott, Ariz., from where he journeyed to Los Angeles, Cal., reaching this city January 2, 1867.

As a means of livelihood in Los Angeles, Mr. McLain engaged as a machinist for Perry & Woodward, and at the end of three years be- came foreman of the lumber mill of Griffith & Lynch, a position maintained for twelve years. He was then appointed engineer in charge of the fire department of Los Angeles, and started the first engine in Company 1, the organization of which was really due to Mr. McLain's apprecia- tion of its necessity, and his work to accomplish the desired end. For several years he labored faithfully to perfect the department, but when the subject of money consideration changed the character of the enterprise he withdrew his as- sistance, believing that his services were best di- rected to other channels. From then until the present time he has turned his best efforts in the direction of politics, and has upheld in 110 casual manner the best interests of the Republi- can party. Under the administration of Sheriff A. T. Currier he served as deputy sheriff for two years, after which he became associated with Mr. Lehman as manager of the Grand Opera House, now the Orpheum. In 1891, on account of the death of his wife, he sold his in- terest in the opera house. and had in the mean time become interested in the bill posting busi- ness, which he thenceforth continned as the City Bill Posting Company.

In January of 1880 Mr. McLain was elected councilman from the second ward, and held the office of chairman of the finance committee for one term. The council appointed him a mem- ber of the board of fire commissioners for two terms, or four years, and he was for one term a member of the police commission. In 1900

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he was elected councilman from the second ward by a good majority, and in January of 1901 took the oath of office. During his exemplary serv- ice he has been chairman of the gas and light committee, chairman of the supply committee. member of the board of public works, and member of the new water supply committee. Interspersed through this public service has been numerous attendance at state and county con- ventions, in all of which Mr. McLain has repre- sented his locality in a most intelligent and tact- ful manner. He was a member of the executive committee of the state central committee for one term and of the executive committee of the county committee. Fraternally Mr. McLain is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of which he was treasurer for thirteen years and re-elected in March, 1902. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined in Los Angeles, and the Independent Order of Foresters. He is a member of the Soldiers and Sailors' Republican League, the California Chapter, Sons of the Revolution, and the Los Angeles Pioneers. For many years he was a director in the Union League Club, and is prominent in the work of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

In Los Angeles Mr. McLain married Guada- lupie Billderain, who was born in Los Angeles, a daughter of Don Refugia Billderain, a native of Spain, and an early settler in Mexico. Mrs. McLain, who died in Los Angeles in 1891, was the inother of two children, George B. and Olympia Byrd. Mr. McLain is a man of large impulse and great common sense, and his serv- ices in the interests of Los Angeles are of a nature to be forever connected with its greatest prosperity.

HON. HENRY G. WEYSE. The name of Weyse is connected with the early history of Los Angeles, the founder of the family in this city having been Julius G. Weyse, a native of the city of Schleiz Reuss, Germany, and a de- scendant of an old Saxon family whose history is traced back to the Thirty Years' war. His father, Judge George G. Weyse, was an eminent jurist and acted as privy counsel to the count. besides representing his principality in all the negotiations during and occasioned by the Na- poleonic wars. The pressure of professional cares and anxieties proved too great a strain for him, and overwork caused his death.

The natural gifts of Julins G. Weyse were trained and broadened by his thorough educa- tion, covering almost fifteen years in colleges and universities in his native land. Through this training under the best educators of Ger- many he acquired a ripeness of thought as un- usual as it was interesting. A gift of poetic imagery had been one of his endowments, and in the expression of beautiful thoughts in ap-

propriate verse he won the applause of his teachers. During youth he had no intention of leaving his home land, but the part he took in the republican movement for the re-estab- lishment of the German empire rendered his continuance there unsafe, and so he crossed the ocean to America about 1836. After visit- ing various cities in the cast, and being made a Mason in Cincinnati, he engaged in educational work at Jefferson City, Mo. Meanwhile his thoughts ever turned fondly toward his native shores, and in 1846 he returned, in time to take part in the revolution of two years later. Again the cause to which he was attached met with de- feat and again he was obliged to leave the coun- try

With others, in October of 1850 Julius G. Weyse engaged the barque McDowd, which rounded Cape Horn and anchored in San Fran- cisco in March, 1851. For a time he mined in Tuolumne county, later engaged in the newspa- per business in San Francisco. As early as 1852 he came as far south as San Bernardino, and four years later he settled in Los Angeles, where he bought twenty acres (now the corner of San Pedro and Eighth streets). This prop- erty he set out in a vineyard, and on it he made his home until he died in 1863. Much of his time during his last years was given to develop- ing the grape industry in Southern California. and he was particularly interested in the found- ing and developing of Anaheim. He was also an organizer of the Los Angeles Vineyard Com- pany. While in Missouri he served as captain of a company in the state militia.

The marriage of Julius G. Weyse united him with Caroline A. Lange, who was born at Apen- rade, Schleswig-Holstein, and came to San Francisco in 1855. Her death occurred at the Los Angeles homestead in 1887. Three sons were born of this union, the eldest of whom, Otto, a merchant, died in San Francisco in 1893. The second son, Rudolph G., was born in Los Angeles in 1860, and for years has been a busi- ness man of this city. October 25, 1890, he married Ada Frances Barrows, a daughter of H. D. Barrows by his marriage to Mrs. Mary Alice Workman. The third son, Henry Guen- ther Weyse, was born at the Los Angeles home- stead in 1863, and, with his brothers, was sent to Gera, Germany, to be educated. Afterward he entered Harvard College, from which he was graduated in 1888, with the degree of LL. B. Since then he has been engaged in the practice of law at Los Angeles, having his office in the Temple block, while he makes his home at Santa Monica by the sea. October 2, 1888, he was united in marriage with Alice Wolfskill Barrows, daughter of H. D. Barrows by his marriage to Juanita Wolfskill, daughter of that well-known pioneer, William Wolfs- kill, one of the very first Americans to set-

J.C. Bainbridge, ma.

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tle in Los Angeles, having arrived here in Feb- ruary, 1831. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Weyse is a daughter, Mary Alice.

The abilities of Mr. Weyse were recognized in his election, in 1894, as representative of the seventieth legislative distriet in the state legis- lative assembly, where he served during the ses- sion of 1895. Since then he has given his at- tention unreservedly to professional work, in which, through his thorough knowledge of the German language, he is especially qualified to render satisfactory service in behalf of clients of that nationality; while at the same time his splendid English education and comprehensive study of the law enable him to master the in- tricacies of all cases that are submitted to his judgment and placed under his control.

J. C. BAINBRIDGE, M. D. In a very early clay the Bainbridge family came from England and settled in Virginia, where occurred the birth of Dr. Bainbridge's great-grandfather, a private soldier in the Revolution and a major in the war of 1812. He had a brother, Commodore William Bainbridge, who was one of the most conspicuous figures in the naval eircles of Amer- ica during the early part of the nineteenth cen- tury. The Doctor's grandfather, E. B., was born near Lexington, Ky., in 1804, and in young manhood removed to Wisconsin, but later settled in St. Louis, Mo., and finally returned to spend his last days at Lexington near the scenes of his childhood. His son, Dr. J. A. Bain- bridge, was born in Wisconsin and in 1860 grad- uated from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Col- lege, after which he practiced in Troy, Mo., later going to St. Louis. In 1874 he removed to Stockton, Cal., where he conducted professional work some years. At this writing he is a physi- cian in Lathrop and also owns a large grain ranch near that place. Fraternally he is a Mason.

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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 63

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