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 35
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 35
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On coming to the United States in 1885, Mr. MacDonald settled in Boston, where he secured employment as foreman for a prosperous con-
tractor. Later he took the contract for the build- ing of fifteen houses in Brocton, Mass. While- busily engaged in the east lie, heard much con- cerning the climate and advantages of the west and was finally constrained to close out his east- ern interests in order that he might remove to. California. The year 1898 he spent at Redlands, and while in that town he built the first fraine residence constructed at Oak Glenn, a summer resort in the mountains, eighteen miles from Redlands. Two years were next spent at San Diego, where he had the contract for a number of cottages and other buildings. During 1902 he came to Salinas, where ever since he has en- gaged in high-class mill and specialty work. In his shop cabinet work is turned out, also fancy woodwork, window screens, doors, store fixtures, picture frames, etc., and a large amount of re- pair work is done. In house-finishing he is re- garded as an expert. No one tries harder than he to give satisfaction, and it is his endeavor to satisfy the most critical customer.
The Republican party has had the allegiance- of Mr. MacDonald ever since he became a citi- zen of the United States. Fraternally he is an officer in the local camp of the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Carpenters' Union. and holds office as president of the organization. In his family there are two sons, Edwin Ansell and Fred Freeman, both of whom are in the United States army. The former, a member of the Fourth United States Cavalry, saw two years of active service in the Philippines and during that time he took part in several engagements. During the famous battle of Monte Dijo he was- in the front ranks along the firing line and bore- a valiant part in the engagement, where eight hundred of the natives were killed. The latter son is a member of the Twentieth United States- Infantry, now stationed at Manila.
JOHN WARREN DAVIS.
The fact that Mr. Davis came to the Golden state over forty years ago and has been a con- tinuous resident of his present homestead for nearly thirty years of this time speaks more eloquently than can words of his satisfaction with the state in general and of this particular part of
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it especially. His boyhood home was far re- moved from the scene of his present activities, for he is a native of New York state, his birth occurring in Saratoga county on August 13, 1836, the son of parents who had known no other home than the Empire state.
By the time he had attained fifteen years of age John W. Davis had completed his school training and had turned his thoughts to the more serious side of life. At this age he became an apprentice in an iron foundry and after working at the trade two years he began doing journey- man's work, first in Philadelphia, Pa., where he remained two years. Later he went to Augusta, Ga., and was located there continuously for over ten years, or from 1857 to 1868. The year last mentioned marked not only a change in occupa- tion, but also a change in location, for in that year Mr. Davis came to California and became interested in ranching. Leaving the south, he boarded a vessel at Charleston bound for New York and from there he sailed to the isthmus of Panama ; after crossing this neck of land he took passage on a vessel on the Pacific side that land- ed him in San Francisco in due time. From there he went direct to Santa Clara county, and after remaining at Los Gatos for one year came to San Benito county and located at Hollister, in April, 1869. So pleased was he with the out- look in this locality that he determined to pur- chase land and settle upon it, carrying out this determination by the purchase of one hundred and seventy-two acres of land not far from the city. He immediately began to improve and cultivate the property, and during the twelve years that he made his home upon it he devel- oped it into one of the finest and most profitable ranches in the vicinity. After disposing of the property in 1881, however, he purchased the ranch on which he now lives, and which he is farming in partnership with his sons. The ranch comprises six hundred acres of fine, tillable land on the Santa Ana road, and under the trained hand of Mr. Davis, with the co-operation of his sons, is made to yield abundant harvests.
In 1860 Mr. Davis was married to Miss Tem- perance Swain, a native of Georgia, and it was in that state that their acquaintance, courtship and marriage took place. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis, but one of the number,
Ella, is now deceased. She became the wife of Frank Robinson, of Oakland, and at her death left three children, Alma, Frank and Muriel. Maude, the wife of Albert O. Miller, of Tulare, Cal., is the mother of three children, Mabel, Al- bert O. and Kenneth. Bessie, the next in order of birth, is at home. George is interested with his father in the home ranch. James, who is principal of the Hollister high school, married Miss Anna Thomas, the daughter of B. F. Thomas, of Hollister. The youngest of the fam- ily, Blanche, is a teacher in the Hollister schools and makes her home with her parents. At all times Mr. Davis has been an advocate of fur- nishing the younger generation with the best educational facilities possible, and as a trustee of the Hollister school district ever since 1871 he has been the means of doing untold good to this end. Fraternally Mr. Davis is a member of but one order, holding membership in Hol- lister Lodge No. 96, A. O. U. W.
JOHN McDOUGALL.
Whatever portion of the world has received as citizens people of Scotch blood, such sections reap an inestimable benefit from the presence of men and women of irreproachable characters, earnest industry and progressive spirit, whose descendants will form the bulwark of the pros- perity of any country and bring honor to any land. There is no citizen more devoted to the welfare of the United States than he who proud- ly points to Scotland as his ancestral home or who recounts the deeds of Sir William Wallace and Robert' Bruce and quotes from the lyrics of Robert Burns and the works of Sir Walter Scott. The men who were most loyal to the land of their birth are the ones who show the deepest love for their adopted country and in whose minds patriotism is ever united with hu- manity and brotherly compassion.
As the name indicates, the McDougall family came from Scotland. The original emigrants, James and Margaret McDougall, were born in Glasgow, Scotland, and belonged to humble families whose bread was earned by honorable toil. They, too, were taught to be self-support- ing early in life, the father learning the trade of
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a pastry baker, while the mother became skilled in the art of weaving. After marriage they crossed the ocean to America and came direct to California, settling in the town of Santa Bar- bara. During 1853 they became residents of Monterey county and spent their remaining years in this part of the state, dying at Salinas, the father when eighty-four and the mother at the age of eighty-six years.
The parental family consisted of four sons and three daughters, namely: James H., Daniel K., Margaret, Isabel, Ellen, John and George. All of these are still living with the exception of Ellen and they form a family circle known for sturdy integrity, high order of intelligence and unwearied discharge of the duties of citizenship. The next to the youngest of the children was John, born in the village of Santa Barbara, July 1, 1853, and taken to Monterey county at the age of two months. The local schools of that day gave him fair advantages and after leaving school he served an apprenticeship to the trade of a saddler and harness-maker, which he has followed through the greater part of his active life. When fourteen years of age and while herding cows on the Toro rancho, he was held up by the bandit Vasquez and his gang, but when he made his identity known was per- mitted to go unmolested. He speaks the Spanish language fluently and has always been a welcome guest at the homes of the Spanish people. He was employed on the Carr Abbott ranch, the present site of Spreckels, when a young man of sixteen years. During April of 1880 he was united in marriage with Miss Clara Moses, a native of Michigan. Five sons and one daughter came to bless their union, namely : Earl N., who married Miss Lizzie Tout, of Salinas ; Ellen, John E., Clarence A., Alfred J., and Arthur. The children received the greater part of their edu- cation in the schoolhouse which their father was instrumental in building. One of the sons, Al- fred, is now a student in the Salinas high school and is much interested in athletics.
Removing with his family to Monterey, there Mr. McDougall carried on business as a saddler and harness-maker for a time, and was also employed at the Del Monte for three years. From there he went to San Lucas, Monterey county, where he followed his trade for twelve
years. Next he established his home at Salinas, where he owns a comfortable cottage. Recently he has removed to the thriving village of Spreckels, where he conducts a harness shop, and is treasurer of the Improvement Club and one of the influental workers in fostering the local upbuilding. Like others of his family, he is stanch in his allegiance to Republican prin- ciples ; like them, also, he has considerable mu- sical ability, and was a member of the first brass band of Salinas and still belongs to the Salinas band. He is past grand of Alisal Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F., having joined that lodge when twenty-two years of age, and is a member of the Encampment and Rebekahs. Believing a strict observance of justice and a steady ad- herence to virtue to form the principles of good government and ideal citizenship, he has en- deavored to exhibit these traits in his own char- acter. No progressive measure for the local good has failed of his support. The need of well-equipped schools has been recognized by him for many years and he has accomplished much toward that end, particularly during a serv- ice of twelve years in the office of school trustee. For three years he also served as constable of his township. Both in the discharge of civic duties and those of private life, he has aimed to promote the welfare of his community and the well-being of his fellow-citizens.
RANSOM P. LATHROP.
R. P. Lathrop, the son of Levi B. Lathrop, whose biography is in another part of this vol- ume, graduated from the Gates Institute and Business College in San Jose in 1875 and came to Hollister immediately thereafter and engaged in the hay business that his father had estab- lished in 1874. At that time the plant consisted of one warehouse, a wooden structure with a storage capacity of sixteen hundred tons. With persistent energy and good business methods the business prospered and established a reputation for fair dealing that extends all over the Pacific coast and in some sections of the east. In the year 1876 R. P. Lathrop purchased the plant and continued to conduct it alone until 1893, when the business assumed such magnitude as to war-
34
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rant incorporating under the name of The Far- mers Hay Co., with R. P. Lathrop in full charge.
In 1899 the corporate name was changed to The Lathrop Hay Co., with R. P. Lathrop as president and manager. Tliis concern today is most successful and has made a wonderful growth; the plant now covers thirty-seven and one-half acres with four immense corrugated iron warehouses, the largest in the world, with a combined storage capacity of seventeen thou- sand five hundred tons. The four warehouses end to end are over one-quarter of a mile long, one hundred feet wide, fifty-two feet high in the ridge. The entire premises are fenced in with a close seven foot barbed wire fence; the entire yard is illuminated all night, every night in the year, with seven immense locomotive head lights, supplied with acetylene gas. A watchman is on duty with gun and dog as a precaution against fire.
Hollister enjoys the distinction of not only raising hay of the highest standard of quality, owing to climatic conditions, absence of fogs, extreme heat or cold, making a sweet sun cured hay; but is also the largest shipping point for hay in California, producing practically one-fifth of the state's supply.
Hollister hay finds a ready market in various parts of the Pacific coast and is quite well known in several eastern markets. The Lathrop Hay Co. ship hay direct from Hollister to, Chicago, Cincinnati, New York City, Lexington, Ky., Memphis, Tenn., and other points.
In addition to managing this large business, owing to the complete system practiced, Mr. Lathrop finds time to devote to other enterprises of public interest. He is president of The Grang- ers Union, a department store doing an annual business of $250,000. He is a director in the Bank of Hollister with deposits of $726,000, al- so a director in The Hollister Creamery, and was one of the original builders of The Hollister Irrigation Company canal. He is one of the board of control of the San Benito County Im- provement Club, a member of the Hollister Busi- ness Men's Association and also has the super- intending of several large tracts of land.
R. P. Lathrop was born in San Jose, Cal., December 6, 1855. He has a son, Arthur P. Lathrop, who is filling a resposible position with
The American National Bank of San Francisco, also a daughter, who is the wife of Chester Herold, a member of the Phil. Herold Shoe Company, San Jose, Cal.
R. P. Lathrop is always to the front in any matter pertaining to public welfare. He has no political aspirations. He has the reputation of being a man of good character and standing, and commands the respect of the entire com- munity as a practical, conservative and success- ful man always to be found on the side of jus- tice and right.
EDWIN K. ABBOTT.
In the medical profession of Monterey county Dr. E. K. Abbott occupies a position of im- portance and influence. Noted for his keen in- tellectual and mental attainments and for his professional knowledge and enterprise, he has met with satisfactory results in his practice of medicine and surgery since coming to the Pacific coast and has built up an extensive practice throughout Monterey county, where he holds the rank of being the oldest practitioner in point of continuous practice.
Dr. Abbott was born in the town of Hatley, Canada, December 27, 1840, the son of Abiel B. and Sabrie (Young) Abbott. The progenitor of this family came to the United States from England and settled in Massachusetts in 1640 and since that time the family have been closely identified in all movements for the upbuilding of the country. When Edwin K. was but five years of age his parents moved to the middle west and settled in DeKalb county, Ill., where the father engaged in farming. It was on this farm that the son was reared and where he received his early education in the district schools near his home; this was later supplemented by a course taken in a literary college in Hillsdale, Mich., from which he was graduated with a degree of A. B. in 1869. In the meantime he had decided to follow the medical profession, and with this object in view matriculated in the medi- cal department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which, in 1871, he received his degree of M. D. He then came to California and settled in Salinas, where in addition to the practice of his profession he also established a
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drug business. His place of location, no less than the calling which he had chosen for his life work, had been well selected, and during the thirty-four years that he was associated with this city and surrounding country he gained a professional eminence and business standing worthy of his knowledge and skill. In 1904 Dr. Abbott located in the town of Monterey, whither his fame had preceded him, and here as in Salinas he stands at the head of the medical profession ; indeed it may well be said of him that he holds this position throughout the county.
Dr. Abbott's marriage, which was solemnized in 1873, in Medina, Ohio, united him with Miss Millie E. French and by this marriage five chil- dren have been born, viz: Dana L., employed with the Spreckels Company; Mary, who died in early childhood; E. Ruth, a teacher in the Sali- nas schools: Frederick A., deceased ; and Bertha M., the wife of Carl H. Abbott, residents of Monterey county. For many years Dr. Abbott has been affiliated with the Masonic order, hav- ing joined the lodge in Hillsdale, Mich., in 1868, and since coming to California has transferred his membership to the lodge in Salinas. He is . president of the Monterey County Medical So- ciety, a member of the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The doc- tor is one of the directors of the Pacific Grove Museum and has contributed many botanical specimens to the institution.
BENJAMIN F. JOHNSON.
It is a notable characteristic that the native- born citizens of California rarely ever seek a home in any other part of the country, but on the other hand prefer to remain here and continue the pioneer work which their predecessors so bravely inaugurated. This at least is the case with Benjamin F. Johnson, who since the death of his father in 1903 has continued the work in which he was engaged, raising beets for the Spreckels Sugar Company. In addition to the land used for this purpose he has fifty acres in grain ex- clusively, and also makes a specialty of raising a fine grade of potatoes, for which he receives ex- cellent prices.
Absalom L. and Mary (England) Johnson,
the parents, were natives of the south, the father born in Knoxville, Tenn., and the mother in Steelville, Mo. While he was a young unmarried man Absalom Johnson gave vent to an ambitious desire to try his luck in the mines of California, and hither he came in 1850. His efforts in this direction were first spent in the mines in Cala- veras county, where he was successful even be- yond his expectations, and certainly far beyond the average miner of those days. This good for- tune was not destined to continue, however, for later he met with misfortune in the loss of all that he had accumulated. Still undismayed, however, he removed from Calaveras county to Santa Clara county, and near San Jose again took up mining operations. This, however, did not ab- sorb his whole attention at it had formerly, for in that vicinity he also followed his trade of brick mason to some extent besides becoming in- terested in ranching, having one hundred and sixty acres in grain alone. Altogether he re- mained in Santa Clara county about ten years, when he came to Monterey county and located on leased property near Salinas and farmed land adjoining the property now owned by John Sex- ton from 1867 till the fall of 1870, when he moved with his family near Castroville. Here he began raising beets for the sugar factory and continued to make this his principal business throughout the remainder of his life. Politically he was a Democrat and active in his party's ranks although he was in no sense an ambitious man in the way of seeking public position. During his early life he had little or no opportunity to get an education, and all that he became in later years was due to his own exertions. This being the case in his own life he became more than usually interested in providing educational advantages for the younger generation, and his services as school trustee during a long period were pro- ductive of good results along this line. Person- ally Mr. Johnson was a man of excellent habits, well read and able to converse on all topics of in- terest, and altogether was a man whose presence in any community would be an acquisition. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Mary England, came to California five or six years after Mr. Johnson came across the plains in 1850, and in Santa Clara county their marriage occurred November 6, 1860. The six chil-
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dren born of their marriage were as fol- lows: Belle, the wife of J. W. Grimes, of San Jose; Mary E., who became the wife of W. H. Mullis, of Salinas and is now deceased ; Thomas, who died in infancy; Benjamin F., of Salinas; and Frank E. and Catherine, both de- ceased. The parents of these children are both deceased, the mother passing away in 1901, at the age of fifty-seven years, and the father in 1903, when in his sixty-ninth year. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic organization, and his funeral was conducted under the auspices of this body.
Benjamin F. Johnson was born in Monterey county October 12, 1875, and in this vicinity his entire life has been passed. He was educated in the common and high schools of Castroville and Salinas, and like his father he has also gained considerable knowledge by the reading of well- selected literature and also by observation. From the time he was able to give a helping hand with the chores about the ranch he has continued to be interested in agricultural pursuits, working side by side with his father on the home ranch until the death of the latter, since which time he has continued the work and policy inaugurated by his predecessor. The land which he operates consists of one hundred and twenty-five acres leased from the Spreckels Company, and fifty acres leased from F. Meeker, the latter tract be- ing devoted entirely to raising grain, while the former is in beets, which yield an average of fif- teen tons to the acre. He also raises potatoes to good advantage, his crop not only yielding plen- tifully, but he receives excellent prices for his product. Among the younger generation of ranchers in this county there are few if any who can show better results for their work than Mr. Johnson, all of which is well deserved, for he attends personally to all branches of the work in hand and is careful of details.
The marriage of Benjamin F. Johnson and Miss Catherine Alice Meeker, also a native of California, was celebrated in Salinas December 31, 1906, and one son, Oliver Edward, has been born to them. Not unlike his father Mr. John- son is interested in educational affairs, and is fill- ing the position of trustee in Buena Vista school district No. I. In political matters he is a Re- publican. Mrs. Johnson is a member of the
United Presbyterian Church of Salinas, toward the support of which Mr. Johnson contributes liberally, as he does to all benevolent and uplift- ing measures.
JOHN WESLEY DRAKE.
Ever since coming to California in 1874 and arriving at Salinas by railroad on the 28th of October of that year, Mr. Drake continuously has resided in this part of the state and mean- while by arduous efforts has risen to a position among the progressive agriculturists of Monte- rey county. The ranch which he operates com- prises four hundred and fifty acres of land sit- uated in the vicinity of Chualar. Everything about the place indicates the careful supervision of the proprietor, who in the cultivation of the soil and the care of the stock displays unerring judg- ment as well as painstaking industry. The suc- cess he is winning furnishes an indication of the possibilities of the soil in this locality, when cor- rect methods of cultivation are followed by the ranchers.
Referring to the Drake family history it may be stated that Wesley Drake, a native of Illinois, became a pioneer of Kansas and there engaged in agricultural pursuits. The year of his birth was 1818 and when he died he had lived eighty-nine busy and useful years. In early manhood he mar- ried Miss Martha Kellum, who was born near Little Rock, Ark., and died at the age of seventy- nine years. They were the parents of two daugh- ters and six sons. All of the sons are still living and all are men of more than average ability and attainments. The eldest is J. W., of Chualar ; James C., a banker, resides in Los Angeles ; he was educated in Annapolis and served seventeen years in the navy; Francis M. is a resident of Arkansas. Noah Field, a mining and civil en- gineer, and a graduate of Leland Stanford Uni- versity and of the State University of Arkansas, is now an instructor in the Imperial University of China. Charles, a civil engineer and a grad- uate of the State University of Arkansas, was employed by a railroad as engineer for seventeen years; he is now living on a farm in Arkansas. The youngest brother, Preston H., is a farmer by occupation, living in Chualar. All of the six brothers excepting Charles are married. J. W.
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remained a bachelor for many years ; he was born in Washington county, Ark., May 21, 1855, while it was not until April of 1904 that he established domestic ties through his marriage to Miss Meta Tholcke. Three children came to bless their union, but the second, Noah Field, was taken by death in his infancy. Those now living are Mae Henrietta and Charles Wesley.
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