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 89

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 89

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

FW Churchill

593

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

California Undertaking Company for two years. On his return to Ventura in 1889 he began to lay plans for a business of his own, and the fol- lowing year organized the firm of Reilly Brothers, which has since conducted an under- taking business. As a funeral director he has no superior in the entire county. As opportu- nity offered, he has interested himself in other business enterprises along the same line. He started the firm of Reilly & King in Santa Paula, also the undertaking establishment of Reilly & Boynton at Oxnard, both of which have been successful; and at one time he was a partner in the firm of Reilly & Wessel at Red- lands. In 1896 he was appointed county coroner and public administrator to fill a vacancy, and in 1898, on the Republican ticket, without oppo- sition, he was elected to these offices, which he now fills. The Republican party receives his stanch support, and at one time he served on the county central committee. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Worknien, the Rebekahs, and Lodge No. 214, F. & A. M., in which he was made a Mason. His marriage was solemnized in San Luis Obispo county, Cal., and united him with Miss Agnes Short, who was born in Watsonville, Cal., and by whom he has one daughter, Frances.

JOHN WESLEY CHURCHILL. If years of practical experience and intelligent observa- tion and study along any given line of occu- pation count for anght, Mr. Churchill certainly holds high rank among the foremost oil devel- opers of the country. His activities have at times been centered in nearly all of the oil localities of the United States, and he has brought about the development of this now generally diffused commodity in many states where its existence was hitherto unsuspected. Generally speaking, his life and successful career contains innumerable lessons worthy of emula- tion, for the long way between the time when a sturdy urchin of twelve took to the tow path of the Pennsylvania canal in order to earn his own living, up to his present enviable position in the community of Santa Barbara, argues an enormous amount of natural grit, augmented by a farsighted discernment of opportunities.

Of English ancestry, Mr. Churchill was born at the head of the west branch of the Susque- hanna river, Indiana county, Pa., June 10, 1840. His paternal grandfather, who was born in Eng- land, settled in New England, later in Elmira, N. Y., and served during the war of 1812. He must have been a man of high moral courage and general ability, for his sons developed into useful members of society, two of them being prominent as ministers in the Presbyterian Church. His son, John L., the father of John Wesley, was born in Elmira, N. Y., in 1800, and

devoted the greater part of his life to the stock and lumber business. In time he removed from Indiana county to Freeport, Pa., and engaged in the ice business, which subsequently proved his Waterloo. He worked up a large ice trade with the south, shipping the ice down the Allegheny river on rafts and barges, but unfortunately his last trip was retarded by the low water, and he thus lost more than he had ever made in the ice business. His last days were spent in Ar- kansas, where he died of sunstroke at the age of seventy-eight years. Like his clergyman brothers he inherited or acquired literary ten- dencies, and was a poet of no mean order, hav- ing a correct ear for rhyme and a facility of expression quite in keeping with his metrical and harmonious thoughts. He was twice mar- ried, the mother of John Wesley being formerly Maria Hazlette, a native of Etna Valley, Pa., and a daughter of Rev. John Hazlette, who was born in the north of Ireland, and married a Scotch lady. After coming to America Rev. Mr. Hazlette preached for many years in the Wesleyan Methodist Church, and three of his sons followed in his footsteps and became min- isters in the same church; also a son-in-law. He died in Indiana county, Pa., as did also his wife. Of the two marriages of John L. Church- ill there were thirteen children, and four of the sons served during the Civil war. Philander M. served in a Pennsylvania regiment, and now lives in Indiana county, Pa .; Samuel was a member of the Eighth Pennsylvania Reserves and was killed at Fredericksburg; while James M. was in the marine brigade operating on the lower Mississippi river, and died in Bradford, Pa., in 1900.

The life of John Wesley Churchill opened into a rather cheerless and responsible childhood, which was spent until his tenth year in In- diana county, Pa., after which he went to Free- port, and at the age of twelve began to work on the tow path of the Pennsylvania canal. In 1860 he arrived in West Virginia with large hopes in the oil wells of that section, and dili- gently went to work to drill wells with the drill by hand with a spring pole method. In June of 1861 he volunteered in Company F, Seventy- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for three years, and was sent to Louisville, Ky., where he operated in the army of the Cumber- land under General Thomas. He participated in the battle of Green River and many other skir- mishes, and was among the first troops who took the Hermitage, General Jackson's old home. The regiment was in the front at the battles of Stone River. Perryville, Shiloh, Tulla- homa, Chickamauga, Big Shanty, Peach Moun- tain, siege and battle of Atlanta, then back un- der General Thomas. At the expiration of the three years they served voluntarily on an ex- pedition and were mounted, and went out with

594

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

three days' rations, but staid for fifteen days. During that time they were obliged to live on the country, and as may be imagined, the fare was not such as to superinduce corpulency. They were after Colonel Forrest, and the ex- pedition wound up with the battle of Nashville, Tenn., after which they returned home and were mustered out at Kittanning, Pa., in December of 1864, having been in the army three years and three months. During the service Mr. Churchill was never absent from duty for more than twenty-four hours and was never laid up in a hospital. Nevertheless he still retains reminders of pretty close calls, for his clothing was per- forated with shot, his gun shot in two, his knapsack riddled, and his canteen dented be- yond all recognition. At Stone River also he received a bayonet thrust through the hand.

In January of 1865 Mr. Churchill went to Pithole City, Venango county, Pa., and en- gaged in the oil business. From then on he was interested in drilling wells all over the state. often keeping as many as ten rigs going at the same time; nor were his operations confined to Pennsylvania, for he went into West Virginia, and was one of the first to drill for gas in Ohio. perfecting the first wells at Cleveland, and in Indiana. In the Hoosier state he carried his operations over all the state in search of gás and oil, and succeeded in working the first and only oil well in Terre Haute. He later success- fully drilled in Illinois and Michigan, and in 1895 came to Los Angeles, Cal. The following year found him in Summerland where he helped to develop the wells, his sons also carrying on contract drilling at that place, where they bored one hundred wells, Mr. Churchill himself drill- ing twelve successful wells, and nine that proved to be practically worthless. He became closely identified with the general affairs of Summer- land, and purchased considerable property which has since been disposed of. In his recent operations in Ventura and Santa Barbara coun- ties, his work has been facilitated by the assist- ance of his sons, and six modern steam drilling outfits.

Since May of 1899, Mr. Churchill has made Santa Barbara his home, and his residence is a pleasant and hospitable place. Mrs. Churchill was formerly Jennie L. Kiebler, a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., and her marriage to Mr. Churchill was solemnized August 23, 1866. Mrs. Churchill is a daughter of George Kiebler, who was born in Salem township, Westmore- land county, Pa., and was a manufacturing cooper and farmer by occupation. He removed to North Washington township, where he en- gaged in farming, later locating in Freeport, where he was a manufacturing cooper, and sub- sequently returning to North Washington town- ship, where his death eventually occurred. He married Elizabeth Singer, who was born in

Dauphin county, Pa., and died in North Wash- ington township. She was the mother of nine children, four daughters only attaining maturity. To Mr. and Mrs. Churchill have been born six children, viz .: David Lawrence, who is in the oil business in Los Angeles and is a contract driller, his only child, Lida M., residing at pres- ent with her grandparents; Samuel Clifford, who is also in the oil business in Los Angeles; Lida Clothilda, who is living at home; Frank G., who is with his father in the oil business; John Ernest, who died at the age of eight years; and Eva May, who died at the age of seven years. Mr. Churchill is a stanch up- holder of Republican institutions and principles. and he is fraternally a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Indepen- cient Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., at Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Churchill is affiliated with the Lutheran Church.

LEONARD JOHN ROSE, Jr. The pen of a novelist, searching the San Gabriel valley for incident with which to embellish the thread of his story, would find in the life of Leonard Jolin Rose, Sr., sufficient material for all his needs. He was born in Germany in 1827, and immi- grated to America for broader opportunities. As a member of the General Beal train of emi- grants, he came to California in 1860, the little band being the first to cross the trail mapped ont by the courageous general. At Gila Bend, Ariz., they were attacked by the Indians, and a number of their party killed, Mr. Rose himself being twice shot. He finally settled in the San Gabriel valley, his material aids to future success consisting of his wife, three children and two mules. In this famous valley he established the ranch which is to-day a monument to his indus- try, and which is still known by the old familiar name of Sunny Slope. Upon its fertile acres were grown for years one thousand acres of grapes, around which was centered a great wine industry, consignments being shipped to the extreme east and to all parts of the country. Besides his own grapes he bought all that could be found through the length and breadth of the valley, and converted the same into nectar, the aroma and bouquet of which brought a wide reputation. The other nine hundred acres com- prising the ranch were devoted to various agri- cultural interests, but more than all to the raising of the finest thoroughbred racing stock, among them the: great Stamboul. At one time alone, Mr. Rose, Jr., took eighty-seven head to New York, the average price received being $2.700. This great ranch of one thousand and nine hun- dred acres was sold to an English syndicate in 1887 for two hundred and seven thousand pounds, and the former owner thereof passed his declining years in Los Angeles, where his

595

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

death occurred May 17, 1899. He was a man of great strength of mind. The soul of hon- esty himself, he was cqually exacting on this score with other people, and allowed no one to take advantage of a business contract. At one time a New York firm of wine merchants tried to swindle him out of a large consignment of wine, but he personally undertook to settle the matter, and made the long journey to New York, which consumed seven months, and collected every cent of the debt. His occupations as wine merchant and stockman, combined with his chivalrous nature and interesting personality, drew to him many friends among the wealthy and influential, among others being John Mackay, who used to make the California ranch his headquarters, and was the owner of one of his host's finest trotters, Sweetheart. In his passing away Mr. Rose left behind him many kindly memories of generous deeds. He mar- ried Amanda M. Jones, after whom the town of Lamanda Park, San Gabriel valley, was named.

A worthy successor of his father, Leonard John Rose, Jr., was born in the San Gabriel val- ley June 11, 1862, and graduated from the Saint Augustine Academy, Benicia, in 1878. He soon became associated with his father in business, and as a partner in the wine industry spent five years in New York, looking after the interests at that end of the line. When his father's ranch was sold in 1887, he came to Ventura, and in 1888 purchased two hundred and sixty acres of land two miles from Oxnard, and also bought other property, speculating in real estate and cattle. In 1894 he located where he at present lives, and built one of the most palatial rural homes in the county, beautified to the extent of the landscape gardener's art, and surrounded with hedges and groves. Two hundred acres are in walnuts, fifty in beets, and enough oranges are raised for home consumption.

In 1885 Mr. Rose married Fannie, a daughter of J. B. Fargo, a wholesale liquor dealer of San Francisco. Of this union there are four chil- dren: Martha True, Hinda Alice, Fargo Fenton and Gilbert Blackman. In national politics Mr. Rose is a Republican, and he is fraternally asso- ciated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

MATTHEW H. ANDERSON. During the year 1876, among the men who came to Ven- tura county to identify themselves with its in- terests was Mr. Anderson, whose former home had been near San Jose, and who is now living three miles west of Santa Paula, on the Tele- graph road between Santa Paula and Ven- tura. A native of Allen county, Ohio, born in 1844, he was reared near Lima, that state, but in 1874, accompanied by his mother and sisters, removed to California. Settling near San Jose,

At the expiration of that period he settled in the southern part of Ventura county, and two years later he bought fifty acres here and set out an apricot orchard. Soon afterward he be- gan to raise lima beans, being a pioneer in the industry that has since grown to be one of the most important in the community. Finding the raising of beans more profitable than fruit- growing, he replaced his orchard with the lima beans, of which he now raises seventy-five acres, besides having thirty acres to sugar beets each year. The beans yield about one ton per acre and sell at from three to four cents a pound. The beets yield from sixteen to twenty tons per acre. Twelve acres of the ranch is under walnuts. The property has been greatly improved under the constant and diligent care of the owner, and now one who had not seen it from 1878 to 1902 would not recognize it as the same property.

After coming to Ventura county Mr. Ander- son married Miss Victoria Rendal, who was born on Prince Edward Island and educated in New York state, and was one of the early teachers in Santa Paula. They have two chil- ·dren, Neil and Elisabeth, both at home. The family are connected with the Presbyterian church. Realizing the value of adequate irriga- tion facilities, Mr. Anderson became a stock- holder in the Farmers' Irrigating Company. with which he was connected for several years. During past years he voted with the Repub- licans, but he is now independent in local and national politics. Enterprising and successful, he has not been content with gaining prosperity for himself. but has taken an active part in plans for the upbuilding of the community and has con- tributed of means, time and influence to many enterprises.

WILLIAM J. BRODRICK was born in Cambridge, England, January 2, 1847, the son of an officer in the English army. After having received a fair education, he left England in 1865 and crossed the ocean to New York, thence going to Chile and Peru, and finally, in 1869, settling in Los Angeles, where he em- barked in the insurance business, as a repre- sentative of a number of the standard old-line companies. On the organization of the Main 1 Street and Agricultural Park Railway Company. he became an officer of the same, was soon chosen its president and continued in that posi- tion until his death. Other enterprises also received his encouragement, sympathy and assistance. On the founding of the Los Au- geles City Water Company, he became a mem- ber of its board of directors and at the time he died was filling the offices of vice-president and auditor. The Metropolitan Building and Loan Association received the benefit of his ripened for two years he conducted a fruit farm there, judgment during his service on its directorate,

596

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

as did also the Puente Oil Company. For some years he was also connected with the Crystal Spring Land and Water Company, in which he was elected to the offices of vice-president and auditor.

While thus maintaining close personal re- lations with a number of private and public enterprises, from which he accumulated a com- petency, Mr. Brodrick did not neglect the duties of citizenship, nor was he lacking in the develop- ment of social qualities, for through member- ship in the California Club of Los Angeles and the Jonathan Club, he participated in much that contributed to making his home city one of the most delightful, socially, on the entire coast. The two organizations especially established to promote the commercial progress of the city, the Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce, numbered him among their members. His re- alization of the need of Los Angeles for ade- quate protection from devastating fires led him to accept a position on the board of fire commis- sioners, where he remained for four years. Though not a partisan nor actively connected with political affairs, he yet believed firmly in Democratic principles and kept posted concern -. ing the problems confronting our nation. Dur- ing his participation in insurance affairs, he was a prominent member of the Fire Underwriters' Association of the Pacific.

High ideals governed Mr. Brodrick in all of his actions. His was the far-seeing discrimina- tion, the sagacity of judgment and the honesty of purpose that are conspicuous attributes of our noblest citizens. Though English by descent, birth and education, there was something es- sentially American in his life and character. Indeed, he was a typical Californian, hospitable, energetic, honorable and brave, and the spirit of western push and enterprise was a promi- nent ingredient of his nature. While he achieved considerable success in business he also gained that which he valued far more- the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and his death, October 18, 1898, was regarded as a loss to the city whose progress he had stimulated and whose development he had aided.

May 8, 1877, Mr. Brodrick married Miss Laura E. Carlisle who was born in Los An- geles, a daughter of Robert S. and Francisca Williams Carlisle. Her father, a native of Ken- tucky, was of Virginian family and English lineage. When a boy he went to Mexico, and from there came to Los Angeles, where he married in 1857. Later he became the owner of Chino ranch of fifteen thousand acres, where he engaged extensively in stock-raising, residing there until his death, in 1865. Since then his widow has made her home in Los Angeles, having a residence on the corner of Flower and Washington streets. They were the parents of

two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living except one son. Mrs. Brodrick, who was next to the youngest, received an excellent edu- cation at Laurel Hall in San Mateo county, from which she was graduated at seventeen years of age. Soon afterward she became the wife of Mr. Brodrick, and of their union four children were born, Francisca, Anita, Lucy and Eugene Carlisle.

JACOB DIETERICH. Of all the occupations which Southern California offers to the lovers of nature none is more consistently adapted to the prevailing conditions than floriculture and nursery development. It is generally conceded that Jacob Dieterich is one of the most intelli- gent florists of Los Angeles, and he is the only one to import direct from Europe, his specialty being the cultivation and importation of choice decorating plants from all parts of the world. Among them may be mentioned the bay or latt- rel trees, sago palm from Mexico and Japan, and tree ferns from Australia.

In earliest childhood Mr. Dieterich took in- tense delight in cultivating flowers and improv- ing plants. On his father's farm near Studtgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, he learned much of use in later years, for his parents, Martin and Mar- garet (Reiche) Dieterich, were practical tillers of the soil. The youngest of the four children in the family, Jacob was apprenticed when fourteen years of age to a florist in Studtgart, and at the same time he attended evening school, and learned botany and landscape gar- dening. On account of good behavior his term of service was reduced from three to two and one-half years, after which he worked independ- ently, and was especially devoted to decorating. Later in Erfurth, the large seed-growing district, he was employed by J. C. Smith, known the world over as "Flower" Smith, and after a year he traveled through Eastern Switzerland, work- ing as a florist and picking up additional infor- mation. Upon returning to his home to stand draft for army service he drew free, and so returned to Switzerland and found employment on a nursery and fruit-tree farm for a year.

In 1887 Mr. Dieterich came to America and at once crossed the continent to Los Angeles, where he was employed as a florist and land- scape gardener for a year, and was afterwards employed by the Central Park Floral Company. being in charge of their uptown store for a year. He then went with O. W. Childs and lad charge of his place for a year. By this time he had gained a fair acquaintance in the city, and formulated plans for the future. In 1892 he located at his present place, Nos. 1142- 1146 Wall street, which at that time had no im- provements and hardly suggested the teeming industry prevailing today. He owns four lots, cach 50x150 feet, and on these has been built

D. H. IMLER

599

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

greenhouses after the most modern and ap- proved plans; he also has his own waterworks. He makes a specialty of raising plants for deco- ration, such as pine trees, palnis, laurel and bay trees, and ferns, and has worked up a large business in imported trees and plants. From Belgium he brought the first bay trees to Cali- fornia, and this is but one of the innovations which his forethought has provided for the city of his adoption. So successful has he become that his goods are in demand all over Southern and Northern California, Arizona, Old and New Mexico. In July of 1901 he took as a partner F. Huston, the florist, and since then the affairs of the firm have been conducted under the name of Dieterich & Huston. Mr. Huston for- merly owned three acres at Sixteenth street and San Pedro avenue, which he had planted to roses, carnations, palms, etc., and which is kept and cultivated by the firm.

In Los Angeles Mr. Dieterich married Ida Hafen, who was born in Utah a daughter of Conrad Hafen, born in Switzerland. Mr. Hafen emigrated to Utah in 1860 and to Los Angeles in 1869 and up to the time of his retirement engaged as a farmer and wine grower. Mrs. Dieterich, who was educated in Los Angeles, is the mother of three children, viz .: Martha, Martin and Viola. Mr. Dieterich is a member of the Nurserymen and Florists' Association of Southern California, and from the time of its organization, in the spring of 1901, has been treasurer of the association. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of For- esters, Maccabees and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church and a generous donator to its support. The Chamber of Com- merce numbers him among its members. He is unexcelled in his line in Southern California, and Los Angeles is the gainer by his public spirit and his botanical knowledge.

DAVID HENRY IMLER. The equable climate of Southern California has attracted families from every part of the United States, thus giving to this region a citizenship not sur- passed by any section. Among those who were led by climatic considerations to cast in their lot with the people of Tropico was Mr. Imler, who, after a long and successful business career in Colorado, finding himself injuriously affected by the high altitude of that mountainous state, removed to California in 1897 and purchased three acres in Tropico, where he has since made his home. The land is planted in citrus and deciduous fruits and vegetables for family use, Mr. Imler not having taken up horticulture as an industry, but only to supply his table with every variety of product the soil and climate produce. Among his property interests in Cal- ifornia is a large. dairy south of Los Angeles,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 89

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