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 90

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 90

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).

which he rents to tenants. For the convenient management of his real-estate and oil interests, he opened an office in Los Angeles and makes frequent trips to the city. He is now superin- tendent of the clay department of the Pacific Cut Tile Company of Tropico, in which he is also a stockholder.

The Imler family is of German extraction, having come from Hamburg to Pennsylvania. During the Civil war Henry Imler, a young man of about twenty-eight years, enlisted in the Union army and served with valor until he was killed in the battle of Gettysburg. His wife, Elizabeth, is still living, and is active and strong, at sixty-seven years of age. Like her husband, she is of German extraction. Three sons comprised their family, two of whom, Cyrus and Samuel, remain on the old Pennsylvania homestead. The third son, David Henry Imler, was born in Bedford, Bedford county, Pa., Oc- tober 31, 1863, and remained on the home farm until fourteen years of age, when he went with a party of men to South America and for three years engaged in the cattle business. Unfor- tunately the outbreak of the rebellion in that country proved disastrous to their interests and they returned with less than they had at first. When seventeen years of age Mr. Imler went to Colorado and was employed in the building of the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad from St. Joseph, Mo., to Colorado Springs, Colo. His services proving valuable as an engineer he was retained for four years on different di- visions, and was one of the first engineers con- nected with the building of the railroad on Pike's Peak, later working in the construction of the Colorado Midland Railroad and tunnel. During all of this time he had been interested in grub-staking and prospecting, and met with the usual experiences of miners in alternate successes and reverses.

Together with John Lane and J. E. Hunter as partners, Mr. Imler located the Orphan Bell group on Bull mountain, Cripple Creek. Four claims were located and developed, and these were sold for $450,000. The same men owned other claims and, while developing in 1893, they opened an office in Colorado Springs and or- ganized a company of which Mr. Imler was chosen secretary. The latter became heavily interested in the brokerage business, which he conducted with Mr. Hutchinson until obliged to leave Colorado for a lower altitude, in Sep- tember, 1897. However, he still retains va- rious interests in dividend-paying companies in that state, the present success of which is largely due to his wise judgment in locating mines.

By the marriage of Mr. Imler to Miss Ade- laide Hickman, a native of Indiana, he has two children, Eugene and Marjory. During his resi- dence in Colorado he took an active part in local politics, as a worker in the Republican

600

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

party, but of recent years he has been less active. A disciple of Masonry, he has taken all of the degrees, including the York and Scot- tish Rite, up to the thirty-second. He is not connected with any denomination, but contrib- utes to the maintenance of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which Mrs. Imler is a mem- ber. All measures having for their object the benefit of the people receive his support. To all subjects presented to him he brings the cautious and keen judgment that have character- ized him in private business affairs. Personally he is genial, companionable and whole-souled, generous in disposition, liberal in contributions to worthy movements, and a citizen whose stand- ing in Tropico is the highest.

J. A. MATHIS. To the mechanical and constructive ability of Mr. Mathis are due many of the substantial structures in Southern Cali- fornia. Possessing a knowledge of the artistic as well as substantial, of harmonious blendings and convenient arrangement, his name is asso- ciated with all that is lasting in the realm of building. A native of Louisville, Ky., he was born September 6, 1863, and was reared and educated in his native town. From a boy he became familiar with carpenter's tools, for his father, Mitchell Mathis, was one of the best- known contractors and builders of Louisville. The elder Mathis was born in Alsace-Lorraine, and immigrated to America with his mother when a young boy, settling in Louisville, where he was educated and grew to manhood. Subse- quently he engaged in running a flour mill, and about 1887 removed to Los Angeles, Cal., where he is living in retirement. His wife, for- merly Catherine J. Brown, who was born in Bal- timore, Md., and died in Los Angeles in 1897, was the mother of four children, J. A. being the youngest of the three now living.

After having mastered the trade of carpenter under his father's able instruction, J. A. Mathis worked for a couple of years in the flour mill, and in 1883 began carpentering in Los Angeles. So successful was he that in 1891 he branched out into building and contracting, since which time, in partnership with Mr. Haupt, he has made a name for himself among the city's am- bitious constructors. Among his most credit- able undertakings may be mentioned the Jacoby building, the Lighting Company's building, the Raphael residence, the residences of F. C. Wolf and Rev. A. M. Hough, the Godins and Jepson homes, and that of S. K. Lindley, the new Tele- phone building and the residence of Col. John E. Stearns of St. James Park. He has also built the gas holder at Pasadena, and his superiority in ecclesiastical construction is best evinced in the erection of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, which cost $80,000, and is considered

one of the finest in the state and the most per- fect in Southern California. The home of the Mathis family in Los Angeles is at No. 1936 Santee street. Fraternally Mr. Mathis is asso- ciated with the Masons, South Gate Lodge No. 320, at Los Angeles, and was raised to Los An- geles Chapter No. 42, R. A. M .; also is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Golden Rule Lodge No. 160.

W. H. PIERCE, an influential citizen of Los Angeles, was born in Delaware county, N. Y., December 28, 1859, and is a son of J. Washing- ton and Frances (Clark) Pierce. The ancestry of the family is authentically traced far back into English history, and among the descend- ants who lived and prospered after removing to New York state, the paternal great-grand- father is recalled with particular pride, because of his personal worthiness and his military services during the Revolutionary war. Daniel, the paternal grandfather, was born in Duchess county, N. Y., and became a farmer in Dela- ware county.

J. Washington Pierce is a native of Duchess county, N. Y., and in early life learned the blacksmith's trade, in connection with which he carried on a farm in New York. Although passed beyond the age limit and exempt from obligation during the Civil war, he volunteered in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth New York Infantry, and saw much of the terrible side of war. He continued to live in New York state until 1896, when he removed to Los Angeles, and has since enjoyed the leisure due his active career. He married in Delaware county Frances C. Clark, daughter of Charles Clark, a native of Connecticut, and a pioneer farmer of Delaware county. Mrs. Pierce, who is sixty-nine years of age (ten years younger than her husband) is the mother of ten sons and two daughters, of whom eight sons and one daughter are now living, W. H. being the fifth. One of the sons, E. T. Pierce, is a prominent western educator, and is principal of the State Normal at Los Angeles: Dr. Clarence Pierce is a police surgeon, and F. E. Pierce is veter- inary surgeon for the city of Oakland and in- spector of food supplies.

The youth of W. H. Pierce was uneventfully passed on his father's farm in New York, and his education was acquired in the district schools and at Walton Academy. In 1880 he came to Sacramento, Cal., and in partnership with his brother, R. W., engaged in the gen- cral merchandise business under the firm nainc of Pierce Brothers for two and a half years. He then had an experience at ranching for about a year in Southern California and during the following year operated a general mercan- tile store in Calaveras county. In 1884 he per-

601

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

manently located in Los Angeles. The livery business upon which he embarked was first con- ducted under the firm name of Pierce Bros., and afterwards as Pierce Bros. & Co., still later being changed to Pierce & Wheat. The enterprise was the pioneer of its kind in East Los Angeles. In 1897 Mr. Pierce disposed of his livery interests, and the following year proved the beginning of his meritorious political career, and his ines- timable services in promoting Republicanism. In December of 1898 he was nominated coun- cilman for the first ward, and elected by a large majority. The year 1900 witnessed his re-election to the same office. From 1900 to 1902 he was a member of the finance and sewer committees, and chairman of the bridge and water supply committees, and also served as a member of the special committee to organize and put in operation the new city water plant. At times he has served on the county and city committees. In these various opportunities to serve the best interests of the community Mr. Pierce has shown judgment and keen knowl- edge, and his administration was free from per- sonal ambitions, or desire for financial gain at the expense of public confidence.

In Los Angeles, in 1886, Mr. Pierce married Mary Newton, a native of Saybrook, Middlesex county, Conn., and a daughter of Dr. Sterling C. Newton, who was born in Hartland, Conn. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Newton, was also a native of Connecticut, and was a farmer in the vicinity of Hartland. Sterling Newton was a graduate physician and practiced his pro- ford, locating in Los Angeles in 1884, where he died in June of 1894. He was a man of leading characteristics, and served in the state legisla- ture in Connecticut in 1861 and 1879. In Los Angeles he was well known and prominent, and acomplished great good for the city. In com- pany with others he founded the East Side Bank (now the Bank of Commerce), and was the president thereof for several years. In political affiliation he was a Democrat. In his young manhood he married Gertrude Tinker, who was born in Toland, Mass., a daughter of Edward L. Tinker, a native of Westfield, Mass., and a tanner by occupation. The Tinker family was represented among the soldiers of the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Newton is now a resi- dent of Los Angeles, and has but one child, Mrs. Pierce, who was educated in the Young Ladies' Institute in Windsor, Conn. To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were born three children, Ster- ling Newton, Gertrude Frances and Helen May.

Mr. Pierce is associated with East Side Lodge No. 325, I. O. O. F., also the Fraternal Brother- hood and the Fraternal Aid. He is a charter member of the East Side Baptist Church, and contributes to the maintenance of this and other worthy claims upon his generosity.

FRANK RADEMACHER. Mechanical and inventive ability is a distinctive characteristic of Mr. Rademacher, chairman of the examining board of stationary engineers of Los Angeles and chief engineer of the Maier & Zobelein brewery. Since he entered upon the duties of the latter position, June 15, 1891, the plant has been enlarged and machinery has been intro- duced which he invented, including the Rade- macher friction power transmission, patented. The peculiar advantages derived from the use of this invention, which can be applied to any engine, are that both space and friction are saved. The oil burning malt kiln, which he in- vented and patented, has been in successful operation in this brewery since 1895. Another of his inventions, patented in 1891, is the Rade- macher heater and condenser for condensing steam from the engine and returning it to the boiler. More recently he has applied the oil- burning system to the factory of Bishop & Co., where it has proved a great success, the capacity of the ovens having been increased three-fold. The electric light plant was put into the brew- ery under his supervision. Two Lansing iron works engines, with combined horse-power capacity of five hundred, and two boilers of two hundred and fifty horse-power each, have been installed by him. During this time he has also designed and built a thirty-five ton refrigerator machine for Simon Maier, to be used in the slaughter house, and this has proved as success- ful as his other devices and improvements.

Near Westphalia, Clinton county, Mich., fession first in Saybrook and afterward in Hart- . Frank Rademacher was born September 20, 1856, the oldest among the six children of Frank and Sophia (Vonck) Rademacher. His grand- father, Frank Rademacher a native of West- phalia, Germany, brought his wife and four chil- dren to America in 1835 and became one of the first settlers in Westphalia, Mich., where he bought land containing a dense growth of beach and maple trees, and situated one and one-half miles east of the village. He opened the first tavern in the township, and continued to live there until his death, which occurred in 1868, at the age of eighty-four years. After the family settled in Clinton county one of his sons, Bernhard, started a hotel in Westphalia, later conducted a hardware business, and built the first brick house in the town, also a large brick store.

A native of Westphalia, Germany, the father of our subject became a farmer of Westphalia, Mich., whence, in 1869, he removed to Osage Mission in Kansas and twenty-three months later settled in Milwaukee, Wis. Returning to Westphalia, he later removed to Reno, Mich., and entered and cleared forty acres, later carry- ing on a hotel in Muskegon county. His wife was born near Cologne, Germany, a daughter of Gustav Vonck, a nobleman of Germany and

602

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large landed proprietor. In 1854 she settled in Michigan. After her death in Grand Rapids, Mich., her husband made his home among his children, and is now in California with his son and namesake.

Being the oldest member of a family whose parents were poor, the subject of this sketch was obliged to work early and late when a boy in order that he might assist in supporting the family. From nine years of age he worked on a farm, and his earnings, though small, were of the greatest assistance to his parents, who were ill and unable to do much. When four- teen years of age he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade in Milwaukee, Wis., in the machine shops of E. P. Ellis, and during his four and one-half years of service the first large pipe for the city water works was cast in these shops. As fireman on a lake vessel, Ironsides, he remained on the lake for two seasons, and then was promoted to be second engineer. A later position was with Thompson & Smith's mills as chief engineer. After eight months he became mechanical engineer for the Lansing Iron and Engine Works, where he continued seven years, meantime erecting plants for the company all over Michigan and in adjoining states. His residence in Los Angeles dates from August 28, 1887. Finding a strike among the machinists he turned his attention to other work, taking a contract to grade a road, and then securing employment in the Baker Iron Works. After three years and four months, he resigned in 1891, in order to accept the position of chief engineer in the Maier & Zobelein brew- ery, where he has since remained, distinctly the "right man in the right place."

In Lansing, Mich., Mr. Rademacher married Miss Nellie Eddy, who was born in Clinton county, Mich., a member of a pioneer family of that state. They have one daughter, Isabelle. After coming to Los Angeles he was made a Mason in Los Angeles Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M., in which he is past master; he is also connected with Los Angeles Consistory, Scot- tish Rite, and Al Malakiah Temple, N. M. S. Among other organizations to which he has belonged is the United Order of Druids. About 1897 he was appointed a member of the ex- amining board of stationary engineers, and on the organization of the new board was chosen its chairman, which responsible place he has since filled. As president he is intimately asso- ciated with the workings of the National Asso- ciation of Stationary Engineers of California No. 2, to which he owes special allegiance as a charter member. An honor was conferred upon him in 1900, when he was elected a delegate to the national convention in Milwaukee, and in this gathering he bore an interested part. Any- thing that pertains to his chosen occupation re- ceives his earnest attention, and particularly so

if it promises any improvement over plans here- tofore used, for, both through his own inven- tions and those of other thinkers, he is solicitous to secure the highest possible development of the department of engineering.

FRANK WALKER. A résumé of the men whose abilities have resulted in lasting good to Los Angeles would be incomplete without due and deserved mention of Frank Walker, a citi- zen whose adaptability has found an outlet in several avenues of activity throughout the west, aside from his chosen occupation of building. It may be said that practically the whole of his business life has been spent west of or in the Rocky mountain districts, for when twenty years of age he left his home, within eighteen miles of Niagara Falls, where he was born March 29, 1843, and henceforward the old familiar sur- roundings knew him no more. His parents, Francés and Elizabeth (Hudson) Walker, were sturdy Canadian pioneers, and reared six boys to years of usefulness, Frank Walker being the youngest and the only one in California.

The journey west was accomplished by Mr. Walker via Panama, on the steamer Ocean Queen to Aspinwall, and aboard the Golden Age to San Francisco, arriving there May 7, 1864, twenty-four days after leaving New York. Arriving in the country of his great ex- pectations, he engaged in lumbering for a time near Eureka, Humboldt county, Cal., and after- wards went to Big Bend, near the headwaters of the Columbia river, in British Columbia. In 'Idaho he helped to build the first mill on the famous Poor Man mining claim at Silver City, and upon going to Nevada he had charge of mills on the Carson river, near Silver City, for about three years. In 1870 he located in San Fran- cisco and engaged in building and contracting, and in 1873 changed his location to Santa Bar- bara, where he erected some of the first brick buildings in the town. Among other construc- tions due to his ability may be mentioned the Odd Fellows' building, the city hall, the Stearns building, and many private residences. In Santa Barbara he also constructed the first street railway, from the wharf to the Arlington hotel. In search of more prolific fields he jour- neyed to Old Mexico in 1879, and in San An- tonio engaged in mining and also built and op- erated a mill for the San Antonio Min- ing and Milling Company. Not content with Mexico as a permanent abiding place, he re- moved a year later to Tombstone, Ariz., where he became prominent in the upbuilding of this then wild mining center. He built the first waterworks in the town, and also furnished plans and had charge of the construction of the court house, one of the finest in the territory, as well as the city hall. He built numerous busi- ness houses, and while still in Arizona furnished

John He Mills

605

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the architectural plans for several other build- ings, both public and private.

In 1885 Mr. Walker became identified with Los Angeles, and was fairly successful as a gen- eral contractor and builder until 1892, when he removed to San Francisco, and remained until 1897. Upon again locating in Los Angeles he looked after his previously acquired interests here, and continued to build on a somewhat less extensive scale. In the mean time he had shown commendable activity in the Republican party, in the principles and issues of which he had great faith up to 1895. He has since affiliated with the Democrats, and to this party owes his election to the city council in 1900, as repre- sentative of the Third ward. In January of 1900 he took the oath of office, and has been chair- man of the Zanza committee, a member of the land committee, and of the water supply com- mittee. Fraternally he has been associated with the Santa Barbara lodge and chapter of Masons, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, both lodge and encampment. Frank H. Walker, the son of Mr. Walker, was educated at the Leland Stanford University, and is now private secretary to the president and general manager of the Frisco Road, with headquarters in St. Louis. The life efforts of Mr. Walker have not only resulted in the establishment of an enviable commercial and social reputation, but have as well brought in their train a' deserved financial standing.

COL. JOHN HENRY MILLS. The close of a busy and useful life covering seventy years came to Colonel Mills in Monrovia, May 22, 1893, shortly after he had established his home in this city. He was born in Johnstown, Mont- gomery county, N. Y., June 26, 1823. His mother was a daughter of Judge Allen of Rhode Island, who was descended from Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame. The education of Colonel Mills was secured principally in the seminary at Amsterdam, N. Y., from which he was grad- uated. At the age of fifteen years he became an apprentice to the machinist's trade, at which he served the regular time, and later was an employe of the Altena Fire Insurance Com- pany. When thousands of gold-seekers were enduring untold hardships to reach the mines of the Pacific coast, he joined these Argonauts and in 1852 arrived in San Francisco. From there he proceeded to Forest City, where he began gold and silver mining. In 1859 he went to Nevada, where he took the first contract for tunnel work in the noted Comstock mines and helped to develop the same.

During the long period of his residence in Nevada Colonel Mills was one of the most dis- tinguished public men of the state, which bene- fited immeasurably by his able services. Before the formation of the state government he was

colonel on the staff of Major-General Van Bock- lin, and afterward held the same position under Governor Blasedell. During the Civil war he raised a company of home guards. The Repub- lican party had in him one of its most loyal supporters, and in return honored him by call- ing him to positions of trust and responsibility. Twice he was elected to the Nevada legislature, and served for one term as speaker of the house, in which position it is a matter of record that his decisions were just and his rulings in ac- cordance with the best parliamentarian codes. Three times he was offered the nomination for governor, but always declined the honor. For six years he was superintendent of the Orphans' Home, for several terms served as mint com- missioner of construction, and was also commis- sioner for the construction of the state capitol. Another office which he held was that of federal assessor, which he resigned to accept that of elector at the second election of President Grant. when he was the messenger of the electoral col- lege to carry the vote to Washington.

Retiring from public life, in 1884 Colonel Mills removed to Portland, Ore., and from there came to Monrovia, Cal., early in 1893, hoping to enjoy many years of health and happiness here, but three months later he was stricken with heart failure and died almost instantly. His body was interred in Live Oak cemetery at Monrovia. While his residence here was but short, he had won many friends, who had been attached to him by his geniality of manner, generous disposition, broad intelligence and high character, and the community was a unit in regretting his demise.

In Grace Episcopal Church of San Francisco, in 1863, Colonel Mills married Miss Elizabeth Cook, who was born at Fort Plains, Mont- gomery county, N. Y. In a family of three sons and three daughters she was next to the youngest. Her parents, Judge Henry and Adelia (Empie) Cook, were natives respectively of Fort Plains and Fry's Bush, N. Y. The lat- ter was a direct descendant of Major-General John Coopman of the Revolution and Capt. Jacob Empie, who was killed at the battle of Areskeny before the birth of Mrs. Mills' grand- father. Her grandfather, John R. Cook, was born in the Mohawk valley, a supposed de- scendant of the duke of Wellington. Through- out active life he engaged in farming pursuits, also took a warm interest in politics as a Jack- sonian Democrat and an associate of Martin Van Buren during the latter's campaign for president. Among the local offices he held were those of county clerk and collector. At the time of his death, which occurred in Clay, N. Y., he was ninety-seven years of age.

From his eastern home, where he had been a leading lawyer and gentleman farmer, Judge Henry Cook went to California in 1851, resid-

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 90

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