USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 32
USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 32
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Not long after the close of the war Mr. Maul- din came to California in 1867, locating at that time at Santa Rita, where he established a black- smith and wagon shop. He carried this on suc- cessfully for a number of ycars, when the com- pletion of the railroad to Salinas made the re- moval to this city seem advisable. Here he opened a blacksmith and wagon shop on the pres- ent site of the Jeffrey house, carrying on business there for a number of years, or until he sold out his shop and entered upon a new line of business. In the growth of his home city he saw great pos- sibilities in the building and contracting business, and after disposing of his shop he turned his at- tention to this exclusively, being one of the first to engage in this business in the city. On the site formerly occupied by his blacksmith shop he
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erected the hostelry that now takes its place, the Jeffrey house ; he also erected the block in which Scott's drug store is now located, besides many residences throughout the city and Salinas valley, including the Matt Williams house, on the Ali- sal.
Throughout the many years of his residence in Salinas Mr. Mauldin gained a reputation for up- rightness and honest business dealings that placed him high up in the list of her best citizens, and at the time of his death, in 1898, his passing was mourned as a public loss. Politically he was a believer in Democratic principles, and on that party's ticket was elected to the office of justice of the peace while residing in Santa Rita. His marriage united him with Miss Nancy Hurley, a native of Mississippi, and of the children born to this marriage seven are still living, as follows : Lulu, the wife of T. H. Burland, of Salinas; Elizabeth, the wife of William Hawkins, of Hcl- lister ; Minnie, a resident of San Francisco ; Rob- ert G., a resident of Salinas and his father's suc- cessor in business; Lena, the wife of Frank Terry, of San Francisco; Nellie, who became the wife of Peter C. Christiansen ; and Emma, of San Francisco.
FREDERICK L. LAUENSTEIN.
No event in the nineteenth century attracted greater attention throughout the civilized world than did the discovery of gold in California. Hither thronged young Argonauts from every part of the globe and their presence gave to the commonwealth a cosmopolitan population whose descendants include some of the most honored citizens of the state in the twentieth century. Numbered among these gold seekers was Fred- erick L. Lauenstein, a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, born in 1812, and reared in a humble German home where principles of self-reliance and industry were early implanted in his mind.
Upon starting out for himself in Germany Mr. Lauenstein married Caroline O. Wille, a young lady possessing a generous disposition, a kind heart and great philanthropy. One daughter, Dorothea, was born to them in Germany; she is now the widow of Gustave Landis and a resident of Oakland. About the time of her birth, during the spring of 1850, Mr. Lattenstein left Germany
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to seek his fortune in the gold mines of Califor- nia, and after an uneventful voyage he landed at San Francisco on the old ship Golden Gate. For a time he mined in Eldorado county with fair success, and the gold thus secured was used in 1852 to bring his family to the western coast, he having returned to Germany for that purpose.
After their arrival in 1853 Mr. Lauenstein set- tled in San Francisco and embarked in the res- taurant business with A. J. Saulman. The first home of the Lauenstein family was on Green street, where were born the following children : William F .; Louise A., wife of Arnold Stahl; Augustus H. and Albert E. Afterward the house was moved to the corner of Post and Hyde streets, and there three children were born, viz. : Louis A .; Carrie O., wife of Dr. J. A. Riley, of Alameda ; and Robert A., of San Francisco. The children were educated in public and private schools in San Francisco. The restaurant busi- ness was enlarged as the city grew in size and a large trade was conducted at the location oppo- site the California market. From the proceeds of the business a beautiful home was erected for the family and other city property was purchased. Mr. Lauenstein passed away in August of 1879 at the age of sixty-seven years. During 1882 his widow removed to Alameda and there she re- mained until her death March 12, 1907, at the age of seventy-seven years, and after an illness covering practically the twelve years prior to her demise.
Of the sons of the family Augustus H., born in 1857, came to Monterey county in 1879, and eventually acquired a ranch of one hundred and twenty-five acres which he has been engaged in clearing of timber and devoted to raising hay and grain. Albert E., born in 1859. came to Monte- rey county in 1885 after having made his home at Alameda for the three previous years. His ranch consists of one hundred and ninety acres. of which sixty acres are in grain and thirty acres in an apple orchard. As early as 1900 he began the planting of the trees and since then has su- perintended the work with the greatest care. As a result of his efficient management his orchard is not only large but also productive. It is said by impartial critics that the apples raised here are even superior to the far-famed products of the orchards of the Pajaro valley and certain it is
that they are attracting the attention of distant horticulturists to this part of the state. Another brother, Robert A., owns one hundred and ten acres in the vicinity of his brothers' farms. Some of the land, comprising five hundred acres bought in 1886 at $8 an acre, has been sold for $18, some for $20 and a small tract for $22.50, the increase in valuation being due in part to improvements in the educational facilities of the district and the establishing of country roads.
MRS. CAROLINE O. LAUENSTEIN.
To the women no less than to the men does credit belong for the development of this com- monwealth of the Pacific, for had their courage and fortitude been lacking, undoubtedly the his- tory of the state would not be what it is today. The life of Mrs. Lauenstein began in Celle,. Germany, her parents being life-long residents of the Fatherland. During young womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to one of her countrymen, Frederick L. Lauenstein, a man of great courage and nobility of character. During their early married life the news of the finding of gold in California brought a change in their otherwise quiet and peaceful home life, for in the spring of 1850, Mr. Lauenstein bade farewell to his wife and child and set out to seek his fortune in the New World. Sailing from New York on the old ship Golden Gate he landed in. San Francisco after an uneventful voyage, and thence he went to the mines of Eldorado county. Having met with success he returned to Germany for his family and the year 1853 witnessed their arrival in San Francisco. After the family was reunited Mr. Lauenstein gave up the uncertain- ties of mining and engaged in a more dependable business, having associated himself with A. J. Saulman in the proprietorship of a restaurant in San Francisco, which was enlarged and pros- pered with the growth of the city and Mr .. Lauenstein was enabled to provide every advan- tage and many luxuries for his family. Among the many pieces of valuable property which he ultimately owned in the metropolis was the- beautiful family residence, which he erected in accordance with his own ideas and needs, and there his earth life came to a close in August,.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1879, at the comparatively early age of sixty- seven years. A few years thereafter, in 1882, his widow removed to Alameda and there she remained until her death, March 12, 1907, at the age of seventy-seven years, terminating an ill- ness of over twelve years. She was a woman of kind heart and great nobleness of character, and her life and accomplishments will ever be brought to mind when mention is made of the pioneer women who have aided in the upbuilding of this Pacific commonwealth.
J. M. CHANEY.
Mechanical ability as well as a practical knowl- edge of the contracting business has been the means to the end that Mr. Chaney is now recog- nized as one of the most dependable and thor- oughgoing architects and builders in Salinas. When he came to the west many years ago he found ample opportunity for the exercise of his knowledge of the millwright's trade, but as the demand for this decreased he gradually worked into the building and contracting business, until today he has all that he can do in this line.
The birthplace of Mr. Chaney is far removed from the scenes of his present activities. He was born in the town of Whitefield, Me., Novem- ber 6, 1856, into the home of Albion P. and An- geletta (Bryant) Chaney, they also being natives of that northern state. Mr. Chaney's knowledge of his birthplace is fragmentary, for when he was a youth his parents transferred their home from Whitefield to Bath, same state, and in the latter place he attended the public schools. He was about sixteen years of age when, in 1872, he set out for the far west, going to Nevada City, Nev. His object in locating there was to take advan- tage of the mining opportunities there offered. Instead of working with pick and other imple- ments of the mining industry in Nature's recesses he secured a position as amalgamator in one of the mills in that vicinity, and from this gradually drifted into millwrighting, erecting many mills which in their time were considered impossible to improve upon in workmanship. In 1888 he went to Watsonville, Cal., where he entered the employ of the Spreckels sugar factory, the first year being employed as millwright, and later was
promoted to be foreman of the factory. So satis- factory had been his services during past years that when the company decided to erect a factory in Monterey county in 1901 Mr. Chaney was sent to assist in the construction, and upon the completion of the factory two years later he was placed in charge of it as foreman.
It was while he was in charge of the latter plant that Mr. Chaney began taking contracts as an architect on his own account, and finally, after seven years, he gave up his position altogether with the Spreckels company and has since given his whole time and energy to building.up a gen- eral contracting business in Salinas, whither he came at once after giving up his position. Among the buildings which he has erected may be mentioned the following: Schroeder block, Muller block, Salinas ice plant and Salinas steam laundry, the Furman residence in Soledad, build- ings on the Laurelles ranch for the Pacific Im- provement Company, the H. L. Bidache residence on Alisal street, and his own residence on Cayuga street, besides which he has executed contracts in Monterey and King City. Whatever the nature of the work he is called upon to do, whether to construct a factory, business block or residence, the same painstaking care is noticeable through- out, to the end that his services are in constant demand.
In Nevada City, Nev., in 1882, Mr. Chaney was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Ott, and three children have been born of this union. Rowena is the wife of Oliver Bardin of Blanco; Leonardo is associated with his father in the con- tracting and building business ; and the youngest child, Gladys, is still a student in the schools of Salinas. Fraternally Mr. Chaney is a member of Watsonville Lodge, I. O. O. F., and politically he is a Republican. He is a keen, practical busi- ness man, industrious and bound to succeed, and Salinas is proud to number him among her citi- zens.
NEWTON AZBELL.
In looking back upon the frontier environ- ment as it appeared to Mr. Azbell in the early fifties he could see the march of progress of half a century and no native-born resident took greater pride in this advancement than did he.
WILLIAM DOWNES
CATHARINE A. DOWNES
587
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Born in Missouri January 1, 1844, he was brought to the west by his parents in 1851, when he was a lad of nine years. The first home of the family was in Sutter's Fort, where they re- mained only a year when they removed to Angels Camp, in Calaveras county, in both of which places the father endeavored to make a living as a miner. A trial of one year in both places, however, proved rather discouraging, and from Calaveras county he went to Southern California, passing through the San Joaquin val- ley and finally reaching Los Angeles. One year was spent in that city (then only a small settle- ment) and thence they went to the Monte, near Los Angeles, where they stayed about one and a half years. The next removal took them to Tulare and Kings counties, where they remained one year, thence going to San Marguerite for two years and to Cambria, San Luis Obispo county, for the same length of time.
Newton Azbell followed the family in their various migrations, but finally, in 1868, married and settled down as a rancher in Monterey coun- ty. Before her marriage his wife was Miss Eliza Davis, a native of Oregon and the daugh- ter of George and Alecia Davis, who had crossed the plains to Oregon in 1841 and some time after the birth of their daughter, came to Cali- fornia and settled in Santa Cruz in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Davis came to the west single, and were united in marriage in Sutter's Fort by General Sutter. Mrs. Davis is still living, mak- ing her home in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county. After his marriage Newton Azbell moved to Hog canyon and engaged in the stock business, following this in that locality for about ten years, when he removed to Indian valley and near Bradley bought a squatter's right to one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which he finally proved up. His holdings were later in- creased by homesteading one hundred and sixty acres more, and by the purchase of forty acres, all of which was used as pasturage for the large bands of sheep which he purchased and placed upon it. This occupation constituted his chief source of revenue for nine years, when he dis- posed of his sheep and stocked his ranch with horses, cattle and hogs, which he raised quite extensively, in addition to raising barley and wheat on two hundred acres of land. He passed
away July 24, 1903, leaving a wife and five chil- dren to mourn his loss. Named in order of birth the children are as follows: Jasper New- ton and Claude Tyre, both of whom are assist- ing their mother in the management of the home ranch; Alecia May, the wife of H. Taylor, of Paso Robles; Marguerite Ruth and George Bradley, both of whom are at home, the latter sharing with his older brothers the duties of the ranch.
CATHARINE ANN DOWNES.
Worthy of perpetuation in the agricultural annals of California is the name of Mrs. Downes, an honored pioneer of 1863 and ever since 1870 a resident of Monterey county. Dauntless cour- age has been one of her principal characteristics. This trait was evinced when she left her child- hood home in Clarion county, Pa. (where she was born in 1841), and started on the long and lonely voyage by way of the Isthmus of Pan- ama to the Pacific coast. On her arrival in San Francisco she immediately secured employment. The environment was far different from that of her old eastern home and she felt herself to be a stranger in a strange land, but with the reso- lute spirit ever characteristic of her she de- voted her energies to the work at hand and soon decided that she wished to remain permanently in the west. Later she brought out two brothers, George and Henry Bashline, the former of whom is a resident of Salinas. With equal generosity and helpfulness she sent for a sister and her three children, whom she believed the change of climate would benefit and the new country afford a livelihood better than the old.
The marriage of Miss Catharine Ann Bash- line took place in 1873 and united her with Will- iam Downes, who was born in County Antrim, Ireland, November 15, 1827, and came around the Horn in 1850. After his arrival he followed the tide of migration to the mines, but no good fortune befell him there, so he returned to San Francisco and became a longshoreman. At an early date he came to Monterey county and en- gaged in the cattle business. During 1873 he married Miss Bashline, who had settled in the hills of Monterey county three years prior to their marriage. In those days the country was
33
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
undeveloped. Not a house was to be seen be- tween the present Downes ranch and Salinas, and the latter was an insignificant village without commercial importance. Little attempt had been made to raise crops. The land was unfenced and the cattle ranged at will over the hills. During the period that has since elapsed the hills have remained unchanged, but the appearance of the canons is different on account of the timber having been cleared away.
The first home of Miss Bashline was twelve miles from the stage station in a lonely spot, where a woman less brave would have feared to stay. While still a young girl she learned to ride after cattle and to throw a lariat with Span- ish skill, yet she did not neglect her home, but maintained the cottage in an orderly and house- wifely manner. In spite of exposure to the weather at all seasons she always enjoyed ex- cellent health, with the exception of being troubled with rheumatism. After her marriage Mr. Downes assumed the management of the stock and in 1877 they removed to her present home, where they erected a two-story residence, needed farm buildings and substantial fences. For a few years a dairy business was conducted, but grain-raising formed the principal specialty and the soil has proved well adapted to any crop. Mr. Downes died on the ranch August 7, 1907, leaving to mourn his loss Mrs. Downes and their adopted daughter, Rose. Since his death they have remained at the old homestead, leasing the land to others, but still superintend- ing its improvements.
WILLIAM J. SMITH.
The assessor of Monterey county is the de- scendant of a long line of English ancestors, and is himself a native of the Mother Country. Born in Cornwall October 10, 1862, he is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Thomas) Smith, the former now deceased, while the latter is still living at the age of eighty-one years. A miner by occupation, the father came to this country in 1870 to prosecute his calling in the mines of New Idria, in Fresno county, and so successful was he in his undertaking, that after remaining there two years he decided to send to England
for his wife and children. Embarking for the United States with her six children ( William J., Jennie, now Mrs. A. J. Copley; John, Nellie, Polly and Emma E., the last four now deceased), Mrs. Smith finally joined her husband in Fresno county, Cal., where the latter continued mining for some time thereafter. Subsequently he re- moved to Monterey county and settled on a ranch in what is known as Long Valley, and thereafter continued to follow agricultural pursuits during his active years.
Mr. Smith's first recollections of California were of the home in Fresno county, where he attended the public schools for a time, and after the removal of the home to Monterey county he continued his studies under the late M. J. Smeltzer, of the Journal, and H. E. Footman, both excellent teachers. Mr. Smith was little more than a school boy when, at the age of nine- teen, he took upon himself the responsibilities of domestic life by his marriage, January 4, 1881, with Miss Nannie Rogers; who was then seven- teen years of age. The marriage took place at Peach Tree, the girlhood home of Mrs. Smith, where she attended school, having as preceptor C. F. Rubell, one of the best-known educators of Monterey county. Three children have been born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, as follows: Upton William, who chose as his wife Miss Ruth Hardy of Caneros; Emma Eliza- beth and Nellie Blanche.
During his early business career Mr. Smith became identified with the Metropolitan Life In- surance Company and finally worked his way up until he was manager of the Salinas office. The possession of qualities which well adapted him for this work made him especially successful. As an evidence of this it may be said that he secured the gold medal offered by his company for proficiency and doing the largest amount of business for the company in a given length of time. His loss to the company and the insurance business in general was felt when, after his elec- tion to his present position as county assessor he resigned his office as manager of the company. On the Democratic ticket, in the fall of 1906, he was the successful candidate for the office of assessor of Monterey county, receiving a hand- some majority over his popular opponent. As soon as he was installed in office he began in an
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
orderly and methodical way to systemize the business which came under his control, and today he bears the banner record of any official who has ever held a similar office in the county. As a proof of this statement we take the liberty of quoting from a highly complimentary article which appeared in the Salinas Journal following the examination of the office by the state board of equalization : "The equalizers spent yester- day afternoon looking over the books of County Assessor Smith, and computing and compiling figures, statistics and assessments. Mr. Smith kept the whole board working at fever heat at the same time, and when they got through they stated that they considered his office to be one of the best conducted which they had as yet en- countered in their travels through the state. Everything was found to be in ship-shape con- dition." It is needless to add that Mr. Smith is interested in clean politics and that he is in- tensely interested in the well-being of the county and its people.
J. E. REDMOND.
Not many years after the discovery of gold in California, the Redmond family came hither from Texas, bringing with them their son, J. E., whose birth occurred in the latter state, and who at the time of his removal was eleven years of age. Going direct to Santa Clara county they located on a ranch near the town of San Jose, and in the schools there the son gleaned the only school training he was destined to receive. Inci- dentally he was receiving a valuable insight into agricultural affairs through helping his guar- dian with the home duties, and by the time he had reached the age of twenty-one, in 1868, he was competent to undertake responsibilities of a like character on his own account.
In the year just mentioned J. E. Redmond came to Monterey county and located near Park- field, and on the ranch which he then selected he has since continued to make his home. - This con- sists of two thousand acres which he owns, be- sides which he leases nine thousand, using the latter for pasturage for the large number of cat- tle and horses which he raises annually. Seventy- five acres of his own land is devoted to the rais- ing of hay exclusively, and is used to supply his
own needs only, and not for the market. Mr. Redmond's versatile ability enables him not only to carry out his own large undertakings profit- ably and with ease, but also to be of use to his fellow-citizens in a public capacity. For six years, 1898 to 1904, he served as supervisor of the fourth district, being appointed to the office in 1898 by Governor Gage to serve out an unex- pired term, and thereafter he was elected for a second term, thus serving six years in all. Few have taken a deeper interest in establishing and maintaining good schools in this locality than Mr. Redmond, and during the twenty-five years that he has acted in the capacity of trustee of the Parkfield school district much permanent good has resulted.
Mr. Redmond was married in 1875 to Miss Hattie Imns, a native of Santa Cruz, Cal., and three children have been born to them, Alice E., Ora L. and Raymond, all of whom are still under the shelter of the home roof-tree. Two adopted nephews have also shared the home and affection . of Mr. and Mrs. Redmond, Oscar G. and Rich- ard S. Redmond, and are still members of their household. Mr. Redmond is associated with a m11mber of fraternal orders, holding membership in Nacrimento Lodge No. 340, I. O. O. F., Paso Robles Encampment No. 69, and also in Salinas Lodge No. 614, B. P. O. E.
JASPER PHARES.
The Phares family was one of the old and influential ones in the south, especially in Vir- ginia, where several generations had flourished and become well known. Jasper Phares was a native of West Virginia, born in Randolph coun- ty November 27, 1845, into the home of John M. and Sidney (Rennix) Phares, they too being natives of West Virginia, where their entire lives were spent on a farm. Their son Jasper was reared in the midst of rural surroundings, and there he was content to settle down and fol- low the calling of his ancestors. The sickness of his wife, however, made a change of climate necessary, and believing that the desired results would be realized by a trip to California, he brought her here in 1881. Not only was the object of their visit accomplished, but they both
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