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 65

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

USA > California > 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 65

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In 1841 Mr. Bristol was ordained as a min- ister at Mansfield, Ohio. For some time be- fore his graduation he engaged in evangelistic work, and soon after graduating he accepted a call to Franklin, Ohio. In 1845 he resigned to

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accept the appointment as financial agent of Oberlin College. Largely through his earnest efforts the college was again placed on a firm financial basis. In 1848 he resigned this posi- tion to accept a call to the Second Congrega- tional Church at Fitchburg, Mass., and there remained until 1850, when he was called to the pastorate of Sullivan Street Congregational Church in New York City. At this place he only remained one year, on account of ill health. After a few weeks of rest he received a call from the Free Church of Andover, Mass., which con- gregation he organized in 1846, and which is now one of the largest of that place. After one year's carnest work at that place, his health again fail- ing him and his physician advising him to give up his profession, he came to California in 1852. The first year of his sojourn here he devoted to hard labor in the mines, and in this way recovered his health. With renewed strength the longing for his work came upon him, and he returned to the east about 1853 and bought a farm near Green Lake, Wis., and while work- ing this farm organized churches at the follow- ing places: Dartford, Green Lake and Bran- don. For about ten years he served as pastor of these three churches, preaching three times each Sunday, and doing evangelistic work dur- ing the winter.

In 1862 Mr. Bristol was again obliged to give up preaching on account of his health. A com- pany of emigrants and prospectors being formed about this time to go to Oregon, he concluded to join them, and they made him the captain of the company. On account of the great danger from Indian outbreaks to travelers across the plains, this company consolidated with several others, and he was unanimously chosen as cap- tain of the consolidated companies. For six weary months they toiled across the plains, and at last safely arrived at Auburn, Ore., about September 1, 1862, having left Ripon, Wis., in March of that year. While stopping for a short time at that place the news of the great discov- eries of gold in Idaho reached them, and with many others they at once started for the gold fields. Idaho City was their next stopping place, where for six months they worked in the mines. In the fall of 1863 he went into the Boise Valley, among the Indians, leading a few men, and took up land, soon after founding Boise City, now the capital of Idaho, which was located on his land, and of which he was the principal owner. Many of the streets of Boise City were named by him. A company of United States Cavalry, under Colonel Morey, was sent out in 1864 to build a fort within fifty miles of the mouth of the Boise, and in consequence of his services they exempted from their claims the farm on which he had located, and built the fort adjoining same.

At the close of 1864. his health being fully

restored, Mr. Bristol abandoned the frontier and returned to his chosen profession in Wis- consin, where he labored for two years, when he was again compelled to resign his labors, on account of his health. In the fall of 1867 he came to California via the isthmus, and front San Francisco soon made his way to the Santa Clara valley. In the spring of 1868 he bought two hundred acres on the bank of the river, a portion of the Santa Paula y Saticoy rancho, and since that time has devoted his attention to farming. The next Sunday after arriving at his new home he held a meeting in Ventura among the settlers, and later built the Congregational Church of Ventura, of which he was the pastor. He has done much to build up the churches of the community. The governor of the state ap- pointed him as one of a committee of five to separate Ventura county from Santa Barbara in 1873, and he served as chairman of this com- mittee, organizing the county and putting it in good condition. He has now practically re- tired from public life, but still officiates at many funerals and marriages, and is one of the most regular attendants at the Saticoy Congrega- tional Church, where he has taught a Bible class for twenty-five years. In temperance work he has been and still is very active. During the temperance campaign of 1901 he wrote a col- umn article for eight weeks in succession for the Ventura Free Press, and paid for one hun- dred copies each week to be sent to those who were not subscribers to the paper.

In addition to his many duties, Mr. Bristol has also been engaged as an author. He has written a volume of three hundred and thirty- six pages, giving his experience as a pioneer preacher on the frontier. This book is still in circulation and is in its third edition. In 1892 he published a book, "Paracletus," or "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit." He has also writ- ten extensively for current journals and agricul- tural papers, and is well known as a writer on spiritual subjects. In addition to this, he has a list of seventy-five regular correspondents, al- most all of whom are personal friends. His family consists of four sons and two daughters. The forty acres which now comprise all that is left of the arable land of the old rancho (the rest having been washed away) are principally de- voted to the culture of lima beans. The ranch is well improved and makes a pleasant home.

FRANK P. BARROWS. In the whole range of commercial enterprise no interest is of more importance than that which has to do with the sale of general merchandise, and it is in this connection that Frank P. Barrows is best known. A resident of Nordhoff since 1879. his coming here was at the suggestion of physi- cians who hoped that a change of surroundings would improve his somewhat impaired health.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

His plans proved to be wisely conceived, and resulted in complete restoration, so that in 1886 he started the mercantile enterprise since so successfully handled.

A native of Massachusetts, Mr. Barrows was born in 1850, a son of J. F. and Hannah (Cottle) Barrows, natives of Massachusetts. The ances- try on the maternal side had for generations lived at Martha's Vineyard, near Boston, Mass., and in days gone by were prominent in the his- torical events developed in and around Boston. Mrs. Barrows, who is living with her son Frank P., is eighty-four years of age, and is the mother of five sons and three daughters, all of whom attained maturity, but only two now survive. The other living son, J. Lloyd, is engaged in the commission business at Santa Barbara. Frank P. Barrows received his education at Martha's Vineyard, and graduated from the high school. In 1866 the family removed to Chicago, Ill., where father and sons were engaged in the gen- eral merchandise business on East Washington street. The devastating fire of 1871 completely wiped out their business, but they continued to remain in the lake city, and after a short time made enough to repay all debts. Although re- cuperated financially, the health of the family was incapacitated by the strain of their losses and consequent later application to business, and one by one they came to California, a son, Thomas Barrows, and family, arriving in 1875. One brother especially was greatly benefited by the change, but died three years ago in Clare- mont. Thomas Barrows, who came to Califor- nia with Frank P., has a son, David P., who often visits his uncle, and of whom the latter is very proud. A graduate of Pomona college, he was one of the first students to enter that insti- tution of learning, his father being one of the trustees. After graduating from Pomona he also finished the course at the state university in Berkeley, Cal., and Columbia college, New York, and is reaping the reward of his learning as superintendent of public instruction in Ma- nila. This position was secured because of his special erudition as a student of natural history, which chair had been filled by him at Berkeley and by which institution he was sent out on his present mission. He is also a member of the Philippine commission.

In San Francisco in 1881 Mr. Barrows mar- ried Julia E. Smith, daughter of S. S. Smith, a pioneer and successful retired merchant of San Francisco. He was born in Connecticut, and married Josephine Childs, also a native of that state. Mrs. Barrows died in September of 1900, and left three sons, viz .: Albert, Stephen and Evert, aged respectively eighteen, fifteen and twelve years, and all preparing for entrance to Pomona college, at the Thatcher school, estab- lished at Nordhoff about ten years ago by E. S. Thatcher. Since he first voted for Abraham

Lincoln, Mr. Barrows has voted for all the Re- publican presidents, and is a stanch adherent of his party. Formerly a Congregationalist, he is now a member of the Presbyterian church, the latter having been combined with the Congre- gational, of which he was Sunday-school super- intendent for fifteen years.

DUNCAN McDONALD. As indicated by his name, Mr. McDonald is of a Scotch family. He was born in Glasgow, February 13, 1848, a son of Hugh and Catherine (Cameron) McDon- ald. His paternal grandfather, Hector McDon- ald (or Macdonald, as the name was then spelled), was a large sheep-raiser on the island of Mull, shire of Inverness, Scotland, and there Hugh was born and reared, removing thence to Glasgow, where he was employed as a fire- man on the Caledonia Railroad, and at the age of twenty-seven years was already a successful and efficient engineer. About that time, how- ever, he contracted a cold which brought on a fatal illness. His wife, who was born at Dum- barton Castle, Scotland, and now resides in Nor- folk, England, was a daughter of Major John Cameron, a native of the highlands of Scotland, and for years regimental sergeant major of the Seventy-eighth Highlanders, stationed at Dum- barton Castle. After his retirement from the army he conducted a hotel at Bromalow on the Clyde, remaining there until he died. One of his sons, Duncan Cameron, became a large and successful printer in Glasgow, while his two brothers, also members of the Highlanders, in the Seventy-ninth Regiment, served through the Napoleonic war, from 1812 to 1815.

After the death of Hugh McDonald, his widow was married to Joseph Gray, an engineer on the Caledonia Railroad. Three children were born of her first marriage and five of her second union, the former being John, Jane and Duncan. Jane married and died in Scotland. John, a mechanical engineer, was employed for twenty- seven years by the Japanese government, rising from foreman to superintendent of motive power on the government railroad. Though now practically retired and in receipt of a pen- sion from the government, he still acts as con- sulting engineer for Japanese railroads, as a member of the firm of McDonald & Crowley, of London. Twice the Mikado has honored him with decorations, these being the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Mirror.

When his father died, Duncan McDonald was only six months old. At the age of five years he was taken from Glasgow to Carnwarth, and four years later to England, his step-father becoming passenger engineer of the Great Eastern, under Robert Sinclair. When ten years of age he was put to work as an assistant in the track depart- ment of the Great Eastern road, and at fifteen was apprenticed to the machinist's trade, which

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he completed. As may be readily imagined, he had few advantages; in fact, his total schooling scarcely exceeded two years, but as he has al- ways been a man of good memory, close obser- vation and excellent mental powers, he has ac- quired a broad fund of knowledge, far superior to much of the education acquired from text- book routine. At the age of twenty he began firing on the express train between Norwich and London. July 16, 1870, he was promoted to be engineer on the same line, but resigned in November, 1871, in order to engage under the Japanese government for service as a loco- motive engineer in Japan. The voyage to that country was made via Suez canal. Arriving at his destination, he was appointed as engineer between Yokohama and Yeddo during the con- struction of the railroad, and in 1872 he had the honor of taking the Mikado, in a private car, on his first trip between those two towns.

Leaving Japan in October, 1875, he came to San Francisco via the steamer Grand Republic, which crossed the ocean in twenty-one days. With him he brought letters of introduction to Charles Crocker and in this way was at once given employment on the Southern Pacific Rail- road as locomotive engineer. For six months his run was between Sacramento and Oakland. When new engines were built, he was given one, which he took to Mojave and ran along the route of construction until connection was made, December 5, 1876, at Laing's. Next he ran a freight train between Mojave and Wil- mington, and in 1877 was given a passenger run between Wilmington and Mojave, but, not lik- ing it, was transferred on request to the freight, continuing in that capacity until 1880, when he was given the passenger run between Los An- geles and Mojave. Since 1880 he has been employed continuously as passenger engineer and since 1893 has had the run between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. During his long experience no serious accident has ever oc- curred to his train and no passenger has ever been killed, but he has had more than one nar- row escape, when fatal results would have en- sued had he not retained his coolness and cour- age. Since 1876 he has resided in Los Angeles, where he has a pleasant home on Buena Vista street.

In Sacramento, Cal., in February, 1876, Mr. McDonald married Miss Emily Fisk, who was born in Norwich, England. They are the par- ents of seven children, the eldest of whom, John Cameron, is chief clerk for the Mexican Na- tional Railroad, with headquarters in the City of Mexico. The two oldest daughters are married, Gertrude being the wife of John .Able, and Alice the wife of William Schmitz, of Los Angeles. The other children are at home, namely: Bes- sie, Margaret, Georgia and Harrison. The fam- ily are Presbyterians in religious belief.

While living in Norwich, England, Mr. Mc- Donald was made a Mason, and later became connected with Nippon Lodge at Tokio, Japan, in which he served as warden. At this writing he belongs to Santa Barbara Lodge No. 192. He was raised to the Royal Arch degree in Corinthian Chapter No. 52, of Santa Barbara; and to the Knight Templar degree in St. Omar Commandery No. 30, Santa Barbara, besides which he is connected with Al Malakiah Tem- ple, N. M. S., of Los Angeles. Since 1878 he has been associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Los Angeles, being a char- ter member of Lodge No. 55. Politically he votes with the Republican party. He is a char- ter member of Orange Grove Division No. 5. B. of L. E., of which he served as past chief two terms and in 1887 acted as delegate of the order to the Chicago general convention.

HON. JOHN H. RANKIN. Through a period covering the history-making years of the nineteenth century, Judge Rankin was identified with the progress of St. Louis, where he was an honored attorney. From an early age his talents indicated that success would be found by a close application to and thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles of the law. His father, William, was an agriculturist by occupation, but his own tastes led him away from the farm and into professional activities. Born in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1820, and a graduate of the Pittsburg Law School, he followed the tide of emigration westward, and about 1842 established himself as a lawyer in St. Louis, where he later formed a partnership with C. S. Hayden. At that day St. Louis occupied a position among the Missis- sippi valley cities even more important than that of the present time. Railroads not yet hav- ing spanned the country, travel was largely by steamer, and the St. Louis docks were constant- ly crowded with boats from all points, loading or unloading large cargoes, and carrying large con- signments of passengers. Perhaps for this rea- son mnuch of his practice was in connection with maritime laws, and no lawyer in the city was better posted than he in this particular branch of the law. In addition, he had a large civil practice, extending into all the courts.

Perhaps no trait was so conspicuous in the character of Judge Rankin as that of concen- tration. Nothing was allowed to interfere with professional work. The charms of society which appeal so strongly to many never lured him from his desk, yet he was a genial and compan- ionable man. The fascinations of political life which so many are unable to resist never drew him aside from his work, yet he was a man of public spirit and loyal in his citizenship, a thor- ough believer in the Democratic party, but, dur- ing the Civil war, a strong Union supporter. The inducements and invitations to accept office

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which lead so many attorneys out of practice fell with him on unheeding ears, yet he was ever ready to exert his influence for friends who were candidates for office. The path which in early years he had mapped out for himself he walked in steadfastly until his death, March 27, 1886. With this remarkable concentration of mind and heart into his chosen profession, it is not strange that his exceptional talents should have brought him a position of prominence among the brightest minds of his home city.

The marriage of Judge Rankin took place in Manchester (now Allegheny City), Pa., in 1847, and united him with Miss Mary J. McKain, daughter of James and Adeline (Kerwin) Mc- Kain. Her father, who was of English descent on the paternal side and of German extraction on the maternal side, was born in Marietta, Lan- caster county, Pa., and settled in Pittsburg, walking almost the entire distance between the two towns. For some time he carried on busi- ness as a hatter in Pittsburg, and his daughter, Mary, was born there. On account of ill health he closed out the business and opened a large greenhouse and pleasure gardens on the Ohio. His boat, the Greenwood, conveyed passengers from Pittsburg to Greenwood Gardens, where visitors were delighted with the artistic taste shown in the arrangement of plants and shrubs. In the raising of flowers he became-an expert, and his bouquets were awarded first premiums in many exhibitions where eminent florists com- peted for honors. Though his life was prolonged to almost ninety-four years, he retained his fac- nlties to the last, and, had it not been for a se- vere fall six months before he died, he would doubtless have attained an even greater age than he did. Not only was he a remarkable man physically, but his mental attainments were above the average, and the success which he achieved in his business proved him to be a man of tact and resourcefulness. After the or- ganization of the Republican party he gave his support to its principles. At the age of eighteen years he became a member of the Presbyterian Church and continued active in that denomina- tion until his death, serving as elder in Dr. Herron's church, later in Dr. Swift's church in Allegheny City.

The wife of James McKain was of English lineage through her father, and Irish extrac- tion on the maternal side. Her ancestors were among the first settlers of Pittsburg, Pa. She was born in that state, and died in Toledo, Ohio, at seventy-six years of age. In religion she was of the Episcopalian faith. Of her ten children five daughters and two sons attained maturity, and all are still living except one son. They are named as follows: Anne C., widow of Dr. G. S. Walker, who died in Los Angeles; Mary T., Mrs. Rankin; Adeline M., wife of R. H. Lecky, and a resident of Los Angeles; James

K., deceased; Emma H., Mrs. Robinson, of Findlay, Ohio; Joseph, of Hastings, Neb .; and Clarissa, Mrs. Robinson, of Bellaire, Ohio. Dur- ing the Civil war Joseph was for three years a member of a Pennsylvania regiment. James K., who enlisted in a Pennsylvania regiment for nine months, afterward re-enlisted for three years, and remained at the front until the close of the war. Later he engaged in railroading and was accidentally killed on a railroad in Ohio.

Born and reared in Pittsburg, Pa., Mrs. Ran- kin was given the best educational advantages that city afforded. She remained in her father's home until she went to St. Louis, a bride, to take charge of the home her husband had pre- pared for her. After his death, not caring to re- side in St. Louis, she returned east, spending eighteen months in Toledo, Ohio, and then pur- chasing residence property in the East End, Pittsburg. In January, 1894, she visited Cali- fornia for the first time and was so delighted with the climate and the beauties of Los An- geles that she at once arranged to establish her home here, buying property on South Flower street. Four years later she built a residence on the corner of Eighteenth and Flower streets. In October, 1896, she selected a site on Twenty- eighth street, and under her supervision was erected the artistic residence which has since been her home. Since coming to Los Angeles . she has been associated with Immanuel Presby- terian Church and has been interested in its va- rious organizations, being particularly active in its missionary society, of which she is vice-pres- ident, giving liberally to its various missions and also contributing to the general mainte- nance and charities of the church.

HENRY MILNOR MITCHELL. During his long connection with the professional and horticultural interests of Los Angeles and vicin- ity, Mr. Mitchell wielded great influence in the advancement of this western metropolis, and few of its citizens have been more deeply mourned in death than he. Both as an attorney and as the incumbent of various offices of trust, he proved himself to be the possessor of fine abili- ties, coupled with a high sense of his duty as a citizen and his responsibility as a man. To some degree his ability was undoubtedly inherited, for his father, Samuel P. Mitchell, a Canadian, of English parentage, was one of the leading financiers and business men of Richmond, Va .. where his position as president of the Planters' Bank made him a power in financial circles, while he also owned a large woolen manufac- tory that represented an important investment. To his generosity was due the erection of an Episcopal house of worship in Richmond, and he afterward remained one of its most liberal contributors and a member of its vestry. He married Rebecca Klapp, daughter of a well-

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known physician of Philadelphia, where she was born and reared. Of their union were four sons and one daughter, of whom three sons survive.

The eldest of the family, Henry M. Mitchell, was born at Richmond, Va., December 14, 1846, and was educated in the Virginia Military In- stitute. During the Civil war he was a mem- ber of the Cadets Corps, C. S. A., under Gen- eral Ewing, and was at Appomattox. At the close of the war he engaged in raising wheat and tobacco in Virginia, and in 1867 taught school in North Carolina, from which state in 1868 he came via Nicaragua to Los Angeles, Cal. His first work here was in surveying and his next that of a reporter on the Los Angeles Star. In 1872 he was admitted to the bar, and seven years later was admitted to the supreme court. Under Sheriffs Alexandre and Rowland he served as a deputy, assisting meanwhile in the capture of Tiburcio Vasquez, a noted ban- cit. While pursuing a horsethief, Satella, Mr. Mitchell had a narrow escape, and one shot pen- etrated his hat; however, he was successful in landing his prisoner. In 1877 he was elected sheriff of Los Angeles county, and at the ex- piration of his term resumed the practice of the law; later, however, serving as under sheriff with J. C. Kayes.

As a pleasant relaxation from the cares of office and professional work, Mr. Mitchell be- came interested in horticulture, and bought one- half of San Rafael rancho, which he laid out into orchards and vineyards, building an attractive and commodious residence, in which he after- ward made his home. To this place he gave the name of Blenheim, but afterward, when for two years the celebrated singer, Ellen Beach Yaw, leased the property, she bestowed upon it the name of Larks' Nest, and views of the homestead, under this title, were published in various eastern magazines. The property is still owned by Mrs. Mitchell, who remained there four years after the death of Mr. Mitchell, then spent two years in Philadelphia, returning to California to make her home with her father, and now resides on Menlo avenue, Los Angeles.

In national politics Mr. Mitchell was a Demo- crat. On the celebration of the centennial of national independence in Los Angeles he acted as grand marshal. For years he was a member of the volunteer fire department. When Gen. John M. Baldwin was in command of the First Brigade, C. N. G., he served as assistant adju- tant-general and chief of staff. Until his death lie was a member of the Los Angeles Bar Asso- ciation and maintained a deep interest in every- thing bearing upon the profession of law. From the busy cares of his profession he often sought a needed change in exercising his fondness for athletic sports and particularly for hunting. Be- ing an expert shot, he frequently, with a few companions, spent several days in hunting ex-

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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 65

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