History of Kern County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 129

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1682

USA > California > Kern County > History of Kern County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 129

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SOLOMON JEWETT .- The Jewett family traces its lineage to Edward Jewett of Lincolnshire, England, and has been represented in America since the year 1638, when the founder of the name in the new world crossed the ocean to Plymouth, Mass. Later generations removed to Connecticut. Sam- uel, son of Thomas and Eunice (Shafter) Jewett, left Connecticut for Vermont and out of the forests near Weybridge, Addison county, cleared a place for a home. During the pioneer era of the sheep industry in Vermont their son, Solomon Wright Jewett, was one of its leading men. While Wisconsin still remained a part of the great undeveloped wilderness he removed thither and settled at Racine. When advanced in years he came to California and died at Summerland, Santa Barbara county. He was born at Weybridge, Vt., in 1808, and died in 1892. His only sister married Peter Saxe and became the mother of John Godfrey Saxe, the illustrious poet.

The name of Solomon Wright Jewett acquired national prominence through his association with the sheep industry. The stock journals of his day frequently contained articles from his pen concerning the sheep business, these usually being accompanied with drawings which he made for the purpose of illustrating the form of animals, peculiarities in their constitu- tions or conditions of fleece. As early as 1834, when only twenty-six years of age, he was known as the largest flockmaster in Vermont and during that year his ram, Fortune, took the first prize at the New York state fair. He was the first importer of French merino sheep into the United States and those that he imported in 1859 cost him $9.000 in freight alone. To him belongs the distinction of establishing the breed all through this country and in South America and so high was the reputation of his stock that at times he sold rams of his own raising for $5,000 each. To California he brought some of the first and finest merinos ever seen in the state, where his sons, Philo and Solomon, had succeeded him as the leading sheep-breeders of their day. In addition he brought the first bees to California and sold them in Sacramento at a fair price.

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Twice married, Solomon Wright Jewett was the father of three children by his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Fidelia Bell. The only daughter of that union, Louesa M., is now Mrs. A. M. Crites, of Bakersfield. The older son, Solomon, who forms the subject of this review, was born at Weybridge, Vt., March 13, 1835, and died at Bakersfield, Cal., December 26, 1905. The younger son, Philo D., removed from Bakersfield to San Francisco in 1881 and there died. By his second wife, who was Mary Catherine Jewett, Solomon Wright Jewett was the father of six children. Of these Mrs. Mary Kendrick, of Alton, Ill., is the wife of Algernon Kendrick, at one time presi- dent of Shurtleff College. Susan died at St. Helena, Napa county. Charles E., who served in a Wisconsin regiment during the Civil war, later came to Cali- fornia and acted as cashier of the Kern Valley Bank until his death, May 30, 1892. While attempting to rescue two children, who while picnicking had fallen into the Kern river, he met a tragic death by drowning. Mrs. Martha C. Nash lives in Vermont; Fidelia has been a teacher in the San Francisco schools for forty years ; and Mrs. Kate W. Swett makes Cambridge, Mass., her home.

From the age of eight years, at which time he drove a flock of sheep from Vermont to Albany, N. Y., Solomon Jewett engaged in the sheep industry. After leaving Vermont he taught school for a time at Racine, Wis., and from there in 1858 went to Nebraska, where he ran a ferry-boat on the Missouri river. During 1859 he started for Pike's Peak, but on the journey he met so many discouraged men returning to their eastern homes that he changed his plans, proceeded to Nevada, and in 1860 landed in the San Joaquin valley of California. Soon he came to Kern county and engaged in raising sheep on the Tejon ranch, securing a start by going shares with Colonel Vineyard. Soon afterward Philo D. Jewett crossed the plains. The two brothers formed a partnership in the sheep business at Rio Bravo (Brave river) ranch above the village of Kern. When they sold their lands and flocks in 1874 to the Wool Growers' Association, Solomon Jewett bought land just north of Ba- kersfield at Jewett's lane. Prospered in his undertakings, he acquired large flocks of sheep that ranged on the plains and among the foot-hills. It was not until 1899 that he sold his sheep and turned his attention exclusively to cattle. Meanwhile he had become the owner of six hundred and forty acres irrigated by the Beardsley canal, six hundred and forty acres under the Mc- Caffery canal and three hundred and twenty acres under the Emory ditch. The admirable irrigation facilities enabled him to raise any desired crops, but he made alfalfa his specialty.

To create an impression that the sheep industry and agriculture repre- sented the limit of the activities of Mr. Jewett would be to do an injustice to a man of extensive interests, progressive spirit and unusual faculty for the management of diversified affairs. To him belongs the distinction of having built the first store in Bakersfield. During 1874 he organized and became president of the Kern Valley Bank, opening for business in a frame building on the corner of Eighteenth street and Chester avenue. During 1869 he erected a very substantial building of brick which was destroyed by fire on the day of its completion. Undismayed by the calamity, he immediately rebuilt, this time with excellent results and for years he retained the management of the bank after it had been removed to the new building, continuing indeed to act as president until he died. Among the very first workers in the oil fields, during the '70s he discovered oil in the McKittrick field and organized the Buena Vista Oil Company, later the firm of Jewett & Blodget, which secured the rights of way for the railroads to McKittrick and to Maricopa. As presi- dent of the Jewett Oil Company he was a pioneer in the McKittrick field and later mined for asphalt. When the county-seat was removed from Havilah to Bakersfield in 1872 he was serving as chairman of the board of supervisors and had charge of the removal of the county records to the new quarters. In

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politics he steadfastly supported Republican principles. Fraternally he was a Mason of the Knights Templar degree and also held membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

In every respect Mr. Jewett was a man of large affairs. Beginning to learn the sheep business at an age when the majority of boys are not yet out of the primary department in the public schools, he worked his way forward steadily, surely and tirelessly. When finally he reached his goal of success he did not forget other strugglers upon life's vast highway, but cheerfully aided those less fortunate than himself. A man of broad sympathies, no cause that had for its object the good of men appealed to him in vain. The impress of his sturdy character, his rugged honesty, his public-spirited helpfulness and kindly nature is indelibly fixed upon Kern county, which he honored with his high-minded citizenship and which in turn honored him with an affectionate regard. As measured by results, civic, educational and financial, he was one of the greatest men the county has produced and an active force of vital importance in its upbuilding. In his home and in his children he was signally blessed. His first wife, who died in 1879 in Bakersfield, was Emma Landon, a native of Vermont and daughter of Philo Landon, a farmer. Four children survived her and three of these are living, viz .: Philo Landon, a prosperous agriculturist of Kern county ; Mrs. Kate Moncure, of Berkeley ; and S. Wright, a business man of Bakersfield. The second wife of Mr. Jewett was Miss Lois Rice, a school teacher, who died eight years after their marriage. In San Diego in 1889 he married Mrs. Catherine A. McConkey, who survived him.

FREDERICK BEVAN TOUGH .- The resident geologist of the Kern Trading and Oil Company in the Sunset and Midway fields was born in Baltimore, Md .. December 3, 1885, and is a son of L. M. and Elizabeth C. (Bevan) Tough, the latter still a resident of Baltimore. The father, now de- ceased, was at one time manager of an ice and cold-storage plant in Baltimore and later had charge of a similar business at Detroit, still later going to Kansas City in a similar capacity. There were three children in the family, namely : Littleton M., of Columbus, Ohio, now engaged as civil engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company : Elizabeth B., a resident of New York City ; and Frederick Bevan, who was primarily educated in the Baltimore public schools and at the age of nineteen entered the Johns Hopkins Univers- ity. Excellent advantages for the study of mathematics and physics were af- forded him in that institution. A foundation for engineering skill was laid in those years of study. During the fall of 1907 he entered Columbia University at New York City and continued there until his graduation in 1910 with the degree of E.M. While studying that course he also became proficient in geology. Coming to California in July of 1910, he engaged with the Kern Trading and Oil Company in the Kern river field. November of the same year found him at Coalinga as resident geologist, but in July of 1912 he was trans- ferred from that station to the Midway-Sunset district, where he has since given efficient service to the corporation in the capacity of resident geologist. One daughter, Edith Lyttleton, has been born of his union with Miss Edith Wells Sioussat, daughter of L. M. Sioussat, of Baltimore county, Md., an old and prominent family of that locality.

ROBERT W. WITHINGTON .- A member of an old family of the east, Mr. Withington was born in 1838 at Apollo, Armstrong county, Pa., a short distance northeast of Pittsburg. The schools of his boyhood were few in number and crude in instruction, hence he had little education save what he acquired by reading and observation. The trip around Cape Horn in 1853 was in itself a liberal education and gave to him a comprehensive knowledge of the western hemisphere. Upon his arrival in San Francisco he proceeded at once to the mining regions of the Sierras and for years engaged in mining in Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa counties, alternating the occupation

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with work as a teamster. Drifting about from place to place, he landed at Havilah in the early days before it was the county-seat. There he established headquarters and engaged in freighting to Los Angeles.

When Bakersfield was still a new town and before it had been granted the county court-house, Mr. Withington came to the town and became a large purchaser of property. After his death, which occurred in February, 1897, at the age of fifty-eight years, his estate improved the corner of Nineteenth and K streets and they also continue to own a corner on Eighteenth and K streets, both of these properties having been purchased by him prior to the rise in land values. In politics he was a Democrat. In California he married Rachel Free- man, who was born in Austin, Tex., and died in Bakersfield in 1902 at the age of fifty two years. As a young girl she had crossed the plains with her father, Rev. John A. Freeman, a pioneer Baptist preacher, still living and now a resident of Los Angeles. Of the union nine children were born, but three of the family, John W., Robert W. and Claude, are deceased, the two first- named having died in Bakersfield at the ages of thirty-eight and thirty years respectively. The surviving members of the family are Mrs. Harriet LeMay, Mrs. Callie Sweitzer, Carl, Lester, Norma and Lysle W., all residents of Bakersfield.

JAMES ALBERT MORGAN .- Among the men who are aiding in ad- vancing the efficiency of the Bakersfield fire department is James Albert Morgan, who has charge of Engine House No. 4. He was born in Chicago, 111., April 22, 1891, the son of Paul and Louise (Morton) Morgan. The father was for many years an engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- road, running out from Chicago until he met his death in a head-on collision in the Chicago yards. The mother is still residing in Chicago. Of their union there were three children, J. A. being the second oldest and the only son. After completing the grammar schools he entered the employ of Montgomery Ward as messenger boy, being later advanced to shipping clerk. After two years and three months with the firm he resigned and became express messenger for the Great Northern Express Company between St. Paul and Duluth, a position he filled for three years, when he accepted a place in the St. Paul office of the Adams Express Company as trailer for two years.

In 1910 Mr. Morgan came to San Francisco, Cal., where for about a year he was employed in the shipping department of the Fuller Paint Company. It was in 1911 that he came to Bakersfield and January 7, 1913, he joined the fire department as driver of the big gray team at Engine House No. 2 and in July of the same year he was transferred to No. 1 engine house as hose- man. As in all positions he filled the trust with conscientious ability which in turn led him to his promotion, October 10, 1913, to lieutenant, when he was transferred to Engine Company No. 4 on Pacific street, East Bakersfield.

JESSE STARK .- One of the pioneers of Kern county was Jesse Stark, who was born May 10, 1832, in Bowling Green, Ky., the son of Robert Edward and Mary Virginia (Reed) Stark, natives of Kentucky and Virginia respec- tively. They were planters in Kentucky, whence they removed to Texas and in April, 1853, started across the plains with their family in a train of a hundred wagons, arriving in Los Angeles in November, 1853. In the same wagon train was a little girl of nine years who was destined to play a very important part in the life of Jesse Stark. The little girl was Permelia Brown, who was born in Texas in 1844, the daughter of William Harrison Brown, a native of North Carolina, who was bringing his family overland to California from Texas. The wife and mother was Elizabeth Stowell, a native of Ohio. In January, 1862, in Los Angeles occurred the marriage of Jesse Stark and Per- melia Brown, after which they removed to the ranch in the Ft. Tejon country which he had located and on which he had engaged in the stock business soon after his arrival in the state. He purchased land and in time became

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an extensive land owner and stockman. In 1874 he located with his family in Bakersfield, where his death occurred in 1876.

After his death Mrs. Stark continued to make her home at the old family residence at the corner of Chester and Fourteenth street, from which place she has all these years been directing and looking after her many interests. Here, too, she reared and educated her five daughters, all of whom reside in Bakersfield, as follows: Ella, wife, of A. F. Stoner; Virginia, Mrs. Ben L. Brundage; Frances, Mrs. H. L. Packard; Lida, Mrs. S. N. Reed ; and May, wife of Charles P. Fox. Mrs. Stark is a member of the Christian Church. Jesse Stark is affectionately remembered by all who knew him for his moral worth, integrity and high regard for honor.

MRS. CATHERINE A. JEWETT .- A useful, contented and prosperous existence marked the life of Mrs. Catherine A. Jewett, one filled with duty well done, with a never-failing interest in her fellowmen, a generous and helpful attitude toward every unfortunate individual who crossed her path, and a sympathetic understanding which brought with it comfort and blessing. Naturally endowed with unusual mental faculties, she was a perfect leader in the circles in which she moved, imparting of her intellect with such ingenious judgment as to aid the less advanced in a quiet yet forceful manner. Her artistic taste and splendid ability won her the admiration of many friends and she was prominent in the work of the Eastern Star, in which she was a member of the local chapter at Bakersfield for a number of years. It was through her that the woman's club house was built in that city.

In her youth Mrs. Jewett was surrounded with many incentives to large accomplishment. She was born in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Thomas S. and Statira (Brooks) Parker, who were natives of New York state and pioneers of Chicago. After Mr. Parker had engaged in mercantile pursuits in Chicago for a considerable period he disposed of his interests in that city and came to California on account of ill health, in 1887 settling at San Diego, where both he and his wife spent their last days and passed away. Catherine A. was the only child of their union who lived to maturity, and to her were afforded the privileges of a thorough education in the public schools and a select seminary at Chicago, where she married David E. McConkey, a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Some years after the death of Mr. McConkey, which oc- curred in San Diego, she was married to Solomon Jewett, whose death oc- curred in Bakersfield, Cal., December 26, 1905.

Mrs. Jewett had taken up her home with Mrs. L. H. Stevens in Los Ang- eles, with whom she lived until her death, and where she became prominent in fraternal and social circles and surrounded herself with many loving friends. In religious faith a member of the Episcopal Church, she took an active part in all of its departments, giving her most unselfish aid and inter- est. To touch upon all that enlists the sympathy and tenderness of woman, to note a splendid breadth of mind and a conscientious and joyous spirit, would in a brief manner picture the character study of Mrs. Jewett, whose death, No- vember 13, 1912, removed from this sphere a stanch, straightforward woman, whose left hand knew not what the right hand did, yet whose unswerving judgment was the lever which brought soothing and sweet relief to many a troubled mind, and whose soft and gentle ways were a peace and comfort to all.

THOMAS WILEY PINNELL .- The men who hold responsible posi- tions in the fire department must be endowed by nature with keenness of per- ception and decision and also a natural coolness under excitement in order to accomplish the results that are not only expected but demanded of them. A young man having these qualifications is Thomas Wiley Pinnell, a native son of California, born at White River, Kings county, June 13, 1891, the son of W. E. and Addie (Montgomery) Pinnell, born in Stanislaus county and Iowa respectively. The father from carly life followed the range and excelled as a

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rider and roper, becoming known as one of the most efficient in California and Texas. For some years he was cattle foreman for the Sharon estate in the San Joaquin Valley. He finally gave that up and followed blacksmithing and now holds a position with the Monte Cristo Oil Company at Oil Center.

Of the family of eight children Thomas Wiley Pinnell is the second oldest. From boyhood he rode the range with his father in Madera county, meanwhile attending the public schools. In 1905 he came to Bakersfield and after leaving school he was appointed a mail carrier, serving about three years. December 18, 1912, he entered the fire department as a call man and September 9, 1912, he became a regular. After the completion of Engine House No. 3 he was pro- moted to lieutenant in the department and placed in charge of the house, to which he gives all of his time and best efforts. Fraternally he is a member of Bakersfield Camp No. 460, W. O. W., and Kern Lodge No. 202, I. O. O. F.

JOSEPH BRESSON .- Among the Frenchmen who have made a success in Kern county is Joseph Bresson, proprietor of the Universal Hotel in East Bakersfield, who was born in Orciere, Hautes-Alpes, France, October 29, 1883. He grew to young manhood on his father's farm, receiving a good education in the local public schools. In November, 1900, he left his home and friends and about a month later arrived in Delano, Kern county, where he immediately found employment with a sheep man. After continuing in the occupation about four years he purchased a flock of sheep and herded them in the moun- tains and on the plains for a few years, or until he sold the bunch and located in Kern, now East Bakersfield. Here he purchased the bakery on Humboldt street from M. M. Espetallier and continued the business for two and one-half years, when he sold out. For over five years he was employed at the Plantier Hotel, and in May, 1913, he bought the Universal Hotel, which he conducted with splendid success until he sold it in February, 1914. He is now confining his attention to looking after his investments. Besides other property he owns a comfortable home at No. 508 Humboldt street.

Mr. Bresson was married in East Bakersfield November 30, 1907, being united with Mary Roux, who was also born in France. Her father, Joseph Roux, was at one time a pioneer sheep raiser in Kerr county but later sold his interests and returned to France, where he now resides. To Mr. and Mrs. Bresson were born three children : Irene, Louise and Ernest. In politics Mr. Bresson is a Republican.

GEORGE THOMAS NIGHBERT .- The history of Kern county would not be complete without a mention of the life history of the pioneer of Lost Hills. George Thomas Nighbert, who aided in the survey of the town site in September, 1910, built the first building and opened the first eating house and later built the first hotel and has continued in business ever since. He came to California in April, 1871, remaining in Galt, Sacramento county, until 1884, when he removed to Visalia, where for seven years he was proprietor of the Millwood Hotel. During this time he was nominated by the Republican convention as the party's candidate for sheriff of Tulare county, but being of the minority party was defeated. In 1901 he located in Bakersfield and became proprietor of the Galt House at the Santa Fe station for a year and then the Cosmopolitan Hotel for four years and the Princeton for two years. During this time he purchased his home at No. 2115 Nineteenth street, where he and his family still reside.

On the discovery of oil at Lost Hills he came immediately and was the leading factor in building the first buildings in the place.

George Thomas Nighbert was born at Palmyrna, Macoupin county, Ill., February 13, 1849, the son of Joseph A. and Hannah (Wiser) Nighbert. He was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools until he was four- teen years of age, when his father died, after which he made his living by working on farms in that vicinity. In 1871 he came to California.

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In Lodi, Cal., occurred the marriage of Mr. Nighbert with Miss Josephine Smith, a native of San Joaquin county, the daughter of Andrew and Mary (Doyle) Smith, pioneers of California who crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Nighbert have four children: Fred Wright, superintendent of streets of Bakersfield ; Fred A., also of Bakersfield, engaged in the real estate business : Clyde A., a music teacher now studying at the Shepherd School of Music, New York City ; and Maude E., Mrs. Irwin Tup- man of Globe, Ariz.

Mr. Nighbert has always been greatly interested in the growth of Kern county and is liberal in his efforts to advance the importance of this section. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows and Encampment and of the Bakersfield Lodge No. 266, B. P. O. E.

OSCAR RICHARD OCHS .- Among the enterprising business men of Wasco is Oscar Richard Ochs, who has taken an active part in the building business in Kern county. He was born in Okawville, Ill., August 9, 1878, the son of George and Josephine (Ferguson) Ochs. The father served in an Illinois regiment in the. Civil war. In 1883 he brought his family to Fresno. afterwards locating in Coalinga, where he followed contracting and building and still continues to make that his home.

Oscar Richard Ochs was the youngest of seven children, receiving his education in the public schools of Fresno. From boyhood he began to learn the carpenter's trade. After spending three years in the Hollenbeck and Bush planing mill in Fresno he spent two years in a sash and door factory at Sea- side, Ore. Returning to Fresno he engaged in contracting and building in partnership with his brother. Walter J.

In 1906, after the fire in San Francisco, Mr. Ochs engaged in the same line of business there until 1908, when he located in Coalinga and while there did a large business. Among some of the buildings he erected are the follow- ing: The Sullivan Hotel, Bennett, Phelps, Cheney, May, Amy, Wells-Fargo and Rockwell buildings, the Union High and Polk schools, Southern Pacific depot and numerous residences. In 1910 located in Taft, where he was very active in the building up of the town. Among his contracts were the Smith, First National Bank, Axelson Machine Company, and Telephone build- ings and the Bank apartment house, also the Realty building in Maricopa. During this time he also carried on building in Wasco, where he now resides, doing a general contracting business. He built the Bank of Wasco building, Wasco Mercantile Company store. McCansland, Beckwith, Gordon and other residences.

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History of Kern County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 129

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1682

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1682