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 4
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 4
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JOHN W. PROCTOR.
Evidences of the skill possessed by Mr. Proctor along the line of architecture as well as his efficiency as a contractor appear in many well- known buildings and elegant residences in Mon- terey county, where with George Quentel as a partner for the past few years he has been busily engaged in erecting structures artistic in appear- ance and substantial in workmanship. Since he- established his home at Pacific Grove in 1904 his name has been associated with many import- ant contracts and it has been his duty to draw all of the plans for the buildings, while his partner- gives especial attention to the contract work. The contracts for all the buildings erected by T. A. Work have been given to them, and these- include the blocks in Pacific Grove and Mon- terey and the elegant residence in the Grove. Other contracts have been the block erected by Judge Pell, the Winston block, Mason, Miss. Platt, Balch and Neighbor residences, the skat- ing rink on Lighthouse avenue, the auditorium at the beach, the new swimming tank at the bath- house, three houses for George Copp, the Pell" and J. P. Pryor residences and, indeed, all the prominent structures built in the town during recent years.
Near Windsor, Nova Scotia, John W. Proctor-
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was born March II, 1859, being a son of George and Thirza (Harvey) Proctor, also natives of that peninsula. At the early age of eleven years he began to earn his own livelihood and for three years he followed the sea, being employed on a coasting schooner running between Plymouth and Windsor. Upon leaving the sea he worked on a farm near Windsor for five years. Ambi- tious to earn a more satisfactory income than was possible in his native land, he left at the age of nineteen and sought work in Boston, Mass., where he learned the trade of a carpenter. For :seven years and six months he was in the employ of the same man and during the last three years of the time he acted as foreman. During the year 1887, in company with a friend, he went to the northwest and traveled through the north- ern parts of Washington and Idaho on horse- back, inspecting the country. For a time they herded sheep on a large ranch in eastern Ore- gon. Finally Mr. Proctor decided to settle at Spokane, Wash., and from 1887 until 1904 he engaged in carpentering and contracting in that city. While still living in Massachusetts he had studied drawing at a night school in Cambridge- port and had by self-training qualified himself for successful work in architecture, which he has made his specialty. While engaged in busi- ness at Spokane he had the contracts for the Hyde block, Eagle block, Washington Brick Company's plant and many of the finest resi- dences in the city.
The marriage of Mr. Proctor was solemnized at Spokane, Wash., December 25, 1890, and united him with Miss Luella M. Clark, a native of the state of Oregon. Her mother crossed the plains to Oregon in 1847, making the trip in a wagon drawn by an ox-team, and her father, Rev. Nelson Clark, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, became a pioneer of Ore- gon in 1851. Fraternally Mr. Proctor has been active in Masonry, being a member of Pacific Grove Lodge No. 331, F. & A. M., and is also identified with the Odd Fellows. The latter or- der he joined in Massachusetts in 1883 and after locating in Spokane passed through all of the chairs. He owns a residence at No. 302 Con- gress street and since coming from Spokane to Pacific Grove he has risen to a position among the leading residents of the town, where his in-
telligent labors as an architect have contributed to the artistic development of the city and en- hanced its natural picturesqueness.
GEORGE QUENTEL.
The Quentel family was established in the west by William Quentel, a California pioneer of 1849, who during the previous year had emigrated from his native country, Germany, to the United States and upon learning of the discovery of gold had started across the plains for the gold-fields near the coast. The long and exhausting journey was made with a mule-team and came to a safe end- ing in due course of time. Instead of mining he gave his attention to agriculture and took up land near San Jose, Santa Clara county, but later removed to the vicinity of the Santa Cruz mountains. Upon selling his land at that loca- tion he removed to the vicinity of Los Gatos. In 1868, before the railroad had been built, he came to Salinas and bought two hundred and twenty-five acres six miles from town. Hampered by distance from market and lack of capital, he yet made a satisfactory record in his farm work and eventually prosperity rewarded his efforts. Upon retiring from agricultural pursuits he came to Pacific Grove in 1885 and for three years served as superintendent of streets. In move- ments for the local welfare he was deeply inter- ested and contributed to the same. In civic affairs he was active and in progressive meas- ures displayed a commendable public spirit. At his death in 1894 he was survived by four chil- dren, namely: William, Jr., living at Oakland ; George, the well-known contractor at Pacific Grove: Catherine, Mrs. Tetrich, of Salinas ; and Elizabeth, of New Monterey.
Born in Santa Clara county May 19, 1855, George Quentel received such advantages as California afforded educationally in pioneer days. In early life he aided his father on the farm and also learned the trade of a carpenter, after which he engaged in the building business at Moss Landing, Monterey county. When he came to Pacific Grove in 1885 he was one of the early contractors in the town and while in business alone he worked on the Lloyd block, the Hollen- beck block, the Pine street public school, Dr.
А. А. Глисту
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Hart's residence, and was overseer on the T. A. (A street was named after Captain Liedsdorf in San Francisco.) This was the year Mr. Tres- cony established himself in old Monterey, where he began at the tinsmith's trade and in addition to his other work made pans for the miners ; Work hardware building, and the Work block in Pacific Grove, also the T. A. Work Com- pany's building at Monterey. Some years ago he engaged in business with J. W. Proctor and they have had the contracts for the Winston _ these he would load on a mule and take to the garage, the George Capp building at Monterey and the residences of James Mason, W. B. Ellenwood and Mrs. Lena Laufland at Pacific Grove, together with the home of T. A. Work, the most elegant residence in Pacific Grove, also the contracts for the Climax Furniture Com- pany's building in Monterey, and the Winston and Robson blocks in Pacific Grove, as well as other blocks and dwellings in the two towns. Every contract is executed with fidelity, intelli- gence and artistic skill, and they have attained a reputation second to none in their line in this part of the state.
In addition to other interests, Mr. Quentel has owned property at Moss Landing at different times and has had landed interests in ranches. His marriage took place November 14, 1880, and united him with Miss Annie A. Sherman- tine, who was born in California and educated in local schools. Of this union there are two children, George L. and Addie A., both of whom reside with their parents. Fraternally, Mr. Quen- tel is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. However, he has never been ac- tive in fraternities nor has he sought official hon- ors in politics, for his attention is engrossed by the contracting business and no leisure is left to him for participation in other matters.
JULIUS A. TRESCONY.
A native son of the county, Julius A. Trescony was born in Monterey August 27, 1858. He was the son of Albert Trescony, one of the best- known pioneers of the county and a man noted for his progressive spirit in all things for the up- building of his county. Albert Trescony was of Italian birth, educated in his native country, and coming to the United States in young manhood, located in Memphis, Tenn. He later went on a tour of inspection through Mexico and from Mazatlan came to California in 1841, on the schooner Julia Liedsdorf, arriving in the fall.
camps and sell for a good sum. It saved the time of the miners to have them brought to them and at the same time gave Mr. Trescony an opportunity to see the country. He made his first purchase of land where the present site of Salinas is situated, this being originally a tract of one hundred and sixty acres. He sold this the year previous to the railroad coming to the place. Later he purchased the San Lucas grant of land from James McKinley, consisting of eighty-eight hundred acres ; still later he secured the San Bernardo grant of forty-four hundred and forty-four acres, and in 1885 bought the San Benito grant of six thousand acres. Again he made a purchase of twenty-three thousand acres in the Carmel valley and also three hundred acres near Salinas. These purchases made him one of the largest land holders in the county. He be- lieved that the investment in lands would eventu- ally make a man independent and his judgment was well founded. While he owned the land he made it bring him returns. He stocked it with sheep and soon his bands increased till he owned about twenty-five thousand head. His land was well adapted to the successful raising of these animals and he met with well deserved success in his undertaking. He encountered the dry years and lost several thousand head, but he stored the pelts and these later he sold for $2.50 each. His loss was quite heavy on sheep and he thought to protect himself in the future and so branched out with horses and cattle and these also proved a good source of income.
Albert Trescony conducted the hotel and stage station on the present site of Salinas, and as all travel from the end of the railroad to Los Angeles along the coast was by stage he did a thriving business. He married Catherine Cotton, who died in 1866, leaving three children, Julius A., of this review ; Rose Christal, now deceased ; and Teresa, who became the wife of R. F. John- son, of Monterey. Mr. Trescony reached a ripe old age, retaining his faculties up to the time of his death in 1892, at the age of eighty years. He
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
was a man of great public spirit and was identi- fied with all movements for the upbuilding of the state and county. While he was engrossed with his own affairs it was not to the exclusion of the duties of a citizen and all movements that were brought to his notice felt the impetus given by him.
From the father to the son came the inheri- tance of a good name and the spirit of progress that has made the name famous in the county. Julius was educated in the schools in the county and this was supplemented by attending St. Mary's College in San Francisco. After leaving school lie was in the employ of the Southern Pa- cific Railroad at Santa Cruz for about eighteen months. In 1879 he came to the ranch of his father's near San Lucas, and since then has been closely identified with the county in which he was born. Upon coming to the ranch he re- mained with his father for a time and about 1881 embarked in the stock business for himself, con- tinuing this industry for about five years, when lie sold out and has since given liis attention to diversified farming. In later years he has be- come recognized as one of the largest grain rais- ers in the county. He controls large bodies of land and has many tenants on the property who farm on shares and find in their landlord one of the mnost considerate of men and one who is al- ways willing to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. Mr. Trescony has made a specialty of horses for some time and his draft animals have been known over a wide radius. He has made a success of his undertakings, as he has systematized his work and given his per- sonal attention to its management. All of the buildings have been built of adobe by Mr. Trescony, following in the footsteps of the old- est settlers, and also on account of being too far away from the railroad at the time he erected them. He has protected them well and they are in the finest state of preservation.
J. A. Trescony was married October 10, 1884, to Kate M. Aguirre and they have the following children : Albert M., Lewis R., Julius G. and Mary Mercedes. All of the children have been well educated, the sons in Santa Clara College, from which the youngest son graduated in 1909, with the degree of A. B. at the age of nineteen. The daughter received her training in Notre
Dame in San Jose. Although they have been given every advantage that money could secure, and have mastered three languages, all of the sons are following ranching, preferring this to professional life. Among the first teachers of J. A. Trescony were S. M. Shearer and the late C. P. Bailey, of Monterey.
On the roster of the Salinas Lodge of Elks No. 614 is found the name of J. A. Trescony and the Native Sons of the Golden West number him as a valued member as well. He is one of the trustees of the Monterey custom house and has been very active in the Monterey County Agricultural Association as one of the directors. He is a pronounced Republican and from 1893 until 1896 was a member of the board of super- visors of the county and favored all measures that came before that body that had for their ob- ject the well being of the citizens and the up- building of the county.
JOHN JAMES HEBBRON.
One of the native-born sons of California who has made a name and place for himself among the ranchers of Monterey county is John J. Heb- bron, whose ranch of three hundred acres near Salinas is one of the most up-to-date places in the county. Born in Sonoma county January 3, 1857, he is a son of James R. Hebbron, who after the birth of his son removed to Monterey county, and here the latter was reared and edu- cated. Up to the age of sixteen years he re- mained on the parental homestead, attending the public schools in the vicinity, and working on the ranch as much as possible when not in school. Life began in earnest with him at this age, for he then went to work for his brother-in-law, D. Mckinnon, and received his first wages. Mr. Mckinnon made a specialty of stock-raising, and as Mr. Hebbron's father had also followed this. line of agriculture, he felt quite at home in his first position. He remained with Mr. Mckinnon almost ten years, during which time, in 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Smith, and a year afterward went to Gonzales, where for two years he had charge of a ranch. At the end of this time, however, he returned to this vicinity and rented Mr. Mckinnon's ranch
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for three years, making a specialty of raising grain and dairy farming.
Subsequently Mr. Hebbron rented the ranch belonging to William Hatton, which has since given place to the beet sugar factory and the Spreckels Company in succession. Mr. Hebbron devoted it to the raising of beets, which he first shipped to Watsonville, but after the location of a factory in this vicinity he sold his product here. As the company's business grew and more land was needed Mr. Hebbron sold his prop- erty to them and moved to the property on which he now lives. The original purchase was two hundred acres, for which he paid $80 per acre, and he has since added to it until he now has three hundred acres under cultivation. Since taking up his home here he has made every ef- fort to bring the land up to a high state of culti- vation, and has also improved the property by the erection of one of the finest houses in the county. After the death of William Hatton Mr. Hebbron assumed the management of the ranches owned by the Pacific Improvement Company, having the supervision of all the holdings of the company throughout the state. He held this po- sition for ten years, at the end of which time he resigned and settled on his own property and has since given his whole attention to its manage- ment.
Four children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hebbron, named in the order of their birth as follows: Mabel, the widow of G. L. Dexter; Elton B., who with his wife and son lives on the Carr ranch, which he manages, and is also interested with his father in the home ranch; Allan N., who is serving an apprentice- ship at the machinist's trade; and Bertram, a student in the public schools. Politically Mr. Hebbron is a Republican and is active in party ranks, having at one time served as treasurer of the Monterey county Republican central com- mittee, and has also been honored by being chosen as a delegate to county and state conventions. He has always been a firm believer in the fact that good schools are one of the first essentials in a community that expects to progress, and as a consequence he has been an active worker in the elevation of the school standard, and for years served as trustee of his district. At the time he was in charge of the Pacific Improve-
ment Company it was making a special effort to have good roads built throughout the country in this vicinity, and for years he had charge of a seventeen mile drive. Fraternally he is a member of Salinas Lodge. F. & A. M., Salinas Chapter, R. A. M., and with his son Elton be- longs to Salinas Lodge No. 614, B. P. O. E.
MILTON LITTLE.
The association of the Little family with the history of California dates back to the period prior to the discovery of gold. It was during the year 1842 that Milton Little set out to find a home in the then unknown west, inhabited mainly by the descendants of Spanish ancestors. A native of New York, he was born in Cattaraugus county in 1820, the son of Alexander Little, also a native of the Empire state. During his early manhood he taught school in his native state, but later came west as far as the Mississippi river, on which he ran as supercargo of a mer- chant vessel. On one of his voyages to New Orleans while in this capacity he contracted the yellow fever, and it was as a result of this that he decided to come to California and locate.
It was in the latter part of the year 1842 that Milton Little set out on the unknown jour- ney that was to bring him to the west, the party being under the guidance of Captain Walker. Hardships innumerable overtook them on the way, not the least of which was cutting their way through the growth of underbrush, for as yet no path had been made by predecessors. Their most trying experience, however, was when provisions gave out and they were com- pelled to kill some of their horses for food. Finally, during the spring of 1843, they arrived in California, Mr. Little settling in the town of Old Monterey, at that time under Mexican rule. There he opened a general store, stocking it with all the commodities in demand in the com- munity, and with a keen foresight he bought large tracts of land in the village in anticipation of its future growth. He subdivided the land into house lots, and these were readily sold to settlers. The Little tract, as his subdivision was called, was the first instance of a land subdivision recorded in the history of California. He was
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also the founder of the town of New Monterey. After having continued his mercantile business for about twenty-five years he disposed of it in 1869 and thereafter lived retired until his death, which occurred in the town which he had found- ed, New Monterey, in 1879. Enterprising and public spirited, his services were in constant de- mand, and among other offices he served for four terms as treasurer of Monterey county.
The marriage of Milton Little and Mary Eager, the latter also a native of New York state, was celebrated in Monterey in 1848, the Rev. Walter Colton performing the ceremony. The following children were born to this worthy couple : . David S., a well-known contractor of Monterey, of whom a sketch will be found else- where in this volume; Lucy C., the wife of Manuel Wolter, of Monterey ; John, a resident of Little Springs, this county ; Milton T., a resi- dent of Pacific Grove, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere : Walter C., of Berkeley; Mary. Mrs. Ellmore, of Nevada ; Helene, Mrs. Slankard, of French Camp, San Joaquin county ; and Edith, the wife of George Underwood, of Monterey. Had Mr. Little kept a diary of his experiences in the west it would have been in part the his- tory of the development of this section of the state, for few white settlers antedated him and few if any were as optimistic as he in regard to the future of the west. During his early days in the state he was a member of the vigilant committee, formed for the purpose of subduing the unruly element that was such a powerful factor until brought into subjection by the power of the law.
CHARLES HENRY HART.
The stock and general farming interests in Monterey county have an energetic representa- tive in Charles H. Hart, who has charge of a ranch of three hundred acres which he rents and owns a tract of four hundred and eighty acres lying near San Ardo. Of his own land he has two hundred acres cleared and under cultivation and all of the improvements seen upon the ranch have been placed there by the owner, for at the time the land came into his possession it was in its primeval condition. While devoting his ener- gies to the care of the large acreage just men-
tioned he has not neglected his duties as a citi- zen. Movements for the benefit of the locality have received his stanch support, this being es- pecially true of matters bearing on the improve- ment of educational facilities and for fourteen years he has served in the capacity of trustee of San Bernardo district.
The entire life of Charles H. Hart has been passed in California, where he was born in Placer county February 28, 1859, being a son of James A. and Ann (Dadey) Hart. When he was six years old his parents removed to San Fran- cisco, later located in Santa Cruz, and finally, in 1871, came to Monterey county, where, in Sa- linas, the father conducted a hotel until his death in 1874. Mr. Hart remained in that city with his mother until 1877, but finally determined to strike out in the world on his own behalf. Be- fore locating permanently, however, he carried out a desire of long standing to explore the western country, going first to Seattle and re- maining a year, and from there going south as far as Mexico, where he spent a like period. The result of this extended tour of exploration was that he was glad to return to Monterey county, contented that his lot had been cast in a region which could not be surpassed. Near San Ardo he located on the Brandenstein ranch, of which he had charge until 1886. In the mean- time he had carefully saved from his earnings with the idea of becoming a land holder, initia- tory to which was the homesteading of a quarter section of land near San Ardo. Subsequently he pre-empted a like amount, also purchased one hundred and sixty acres, until, as previously stated, he lays claim to four hundred and eighty acres of land in this vicinity. Of this two hun- dred acres have been cleared of underbrush and are under cultivation, besides which he rents three hundred acres of the Brandenstein ranch. The greater part of the land is in barley and wheat, although sufficient land is reserved as pasturage for the large number of cattle, horses and hogs which he raises. Both branches of ag- riculture receive his personal attention, to the end that both are remunerative in proportion to the time and labor expended.
Mr. Hart's marriage united him with Miss Lettie Carr, who though a resident of Califor- nia at the time of her marriage, was a native of
Hiram Money
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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West Virginia. Four children, all daughters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hart as fol- lows: Hazel and Lettie, who are attending school at Hollister; and Dove and Ada May, pupils in the high school at Gilroy. Though his many personal cares and obligations occupy his thoughts to a great extent Mr. Hart is not un- mindful of his duties as a citizen, and his ver- satile ability makes his services in a public ca- pacity well-nigh indispensable. At the present writing he is serving as deputy county assessor and as roadmaster under William Casey, and for fourteen years he has served efficiently as trus- tee of the San Bernardo school district. Politi- cally he is a Democrat, though not partisan in his views, for invariably the weight of his in- fluence is cast in favor of the man best suited for the office, regardless of party name.
HIRAM COREY.
Among the men who have aided in the de- velopment of the state of California, and espe- cially that part in which he has made his home for nearly forty years, is Hiram Corey, a pio- neer of California of 1852. He has been a resi- dent of the Buena Vista district since 1872, and during all these years in the upbuilding of Mon- terey county has ever been ready to lend a helping hand to all enterprises. He is the owner of the Las Palmas rancho, one of the show- places of the county, and all this has been devel- oped by him.
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