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 53

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 53

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company. During the period of his retention in that post he made his head- quarters at Keene. Since his retirement from railroading in 1904 he has lived retired at Tehachapi and on the incorporation of this city he was honored by being elected to serve as a member of the first board of trustees. Here too he has been prominently connected with St. Malachy's Roman Catholic church. In earlier years he supported Republican principles, but more recently he has become independent with a leaning toward Demo- cratic doctrines.

The first marriage of Mr. Sullivan took place in Boston, Mass., in October of 1871 and united him with Miss Ellen Healey, a native of county Cork. Ireland. Some years after her death he was married in Tehachapi to Miss Mary Hickey, who was born in county Claire, Ireland, and came with her parents to the new world, settling first at Boston, Mass., and then at Mckeesport, Pa., but since 1891 a resident of California. May 15, 1911, Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan started on a trip to the old country. Their journey took them to all of the boyhood haunts of Mr. Sullivan, who thoroughly enjoyed visiting with such of the old friends as still remained in county Cork. Their travels took them to many interesting points in their native land, but they returned to California more than ever pleased to remain permanently in the great west.

While making his home in Tulare, Mr. Sullivan, having faith in the land and an optimistic view as to the future rise in values, bought six hundred and fifty-two and one-half acres for $2.50 an acre about 1890, and this property he sold in 1912 for $80 an acre.

UNION ICE COMPANY .- The Union Ice Company, whose head- quarters are in San Francisco, entered Bakersfield during 1902 and erected the large building which has since been the center of a growing business. The present superintendent of the plant and local representative of the company, Hugo F. Allardt, whose identification with the business dates from 1908, was born at Cleveland, Ohio, June 29, 1881, and during 1905 came to California, where he engaged as cashier with the Fresno Consumers' Ice Com- pany, remaining at Fresno until the larger opportunities offered in Bakers- field induced him to remove to this city. Here he has at No. 2109 Park way a comfortable and attractive residence, graciously presided over by Mrs. Allardt, who prior to their marriage was Miss Rosalie Hamilton, of Oak- land.

The Union Ice Company and its kindred organization, the Bakersfield Ice Delivery, furnish employment to forty men during the busy season, so that the business is a valuable industrial asset to the community. The rapid growth of the concern necessitated the erection in 1911 of an additional build- ing, in which ice-making is also carried on, and during the summer months both of the large compressors are running at their full capacity. Besides supplying the city trade the company furnishes ice for Taft, Fellows, Mari- copa. McKittrick, Delano, Wasco and other outlying towns. In addition the Southern Pacific Railroad Company have a switch to the plant, whereby they are enabled to ice all of their refrigerator cars as desired. A part of the business is the manufacture of distilled water for drinking purposes.

In a large building immediately west of the ice factory there are five large rooms devoted to the cold storage business, each of these rooms having a capacity of two car-loads. The Bakersfield Ice Delivery has one motor truck, thirteen regular route wagons and two distributing stations, one on Wall street between G and H in Bakersfield, and the other on the corner of Sumner and Tulare in East Bakersfield. Mr. Allardt has recently taken over the Oil Center ice delivery, the supply for which is taken from a twenty-ton store-house, and one truck auto and five wagons are used. The large ice plant, located at Thirty-third street and Chester avenue, is equipped with an outfit of modern refrigerating machinery of two hundred and twenty-five

Horace R Freeav.

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

tons daily capacity. Under the sagacious and progressive management of Mr. Allardt the company has kept pace with the growth of the city, has extended its service as the need arose, has enlarged its plant to meet the increasing demand for its products and storage accommodations, and has proved fully worthy of the liberal patronage accorded by the people of the county.

HORACE ROBERT FREEAR .- Those who by experiment, study and experience have proved the adaptability of alfalfa to the soil of Kern county are most enthusiastic believers in the possibilities of the product from the standpoint of profits. The labors of Mr. Freear in this department of agri- culture have not been less gratifying than those of other ranchers. By con- scientious care and indefatigable industry he has developed a valuable alfalfa ranch, from which, by cutting the hay five times a year, he is enabled to secure an average of six or eight tons per acre. It has been his invariable custom to cut and stack the alfalfa with the greatest care, later bale the hay and then sell in the best markets and to the greatest advantage. The ranch which he now owns and cultivates is a tract of one hundred and sixty acres under the Stine canal, situated nine miles southwest of Bakersfield and im- proved with suitable buildings, including a modern, substantial residence erected in 1910. The whole forms a place attractive to the eye, interesting to the stranger and profitable to the owner, whose energetic supervision ap- pears in even the smallest details connected with the ranch.

From the age of seven years Mr. Freear has considered Kern county his home and he has lived here through all this time with the exception of three years spent in Mexico. A native of Nebraska, he was born near Lincoln, Lancaster county, June 25, 1869, and is a son of H. T. and Mary Freear, who also are represented in this work. Immediately after the family came from Nebraska to California he was sent to the Kern county public schools, where he took the regular course of study in the ensuing years. At the age of twenty he was graduated from the Stockton Business College and for six months afterward engaged as a bookkeeper in Bakersfield. Being accus- tomed to an outdoor life, he soon found sedentary employment too confining. therefore gave up his position and aided his father on a farm. With his broth- ers he next engaged in the cutting of wood in the Panama district. When finally three hundred and forty cords of wood had been cut he had earned an amount sufficient to justify an investment in land.

Upon acquiring the title to twenty acres on section 29 in the Old River district, Mr. Freear put the land in vines, intending to specialize with grapes, but these he found unprofitable. Meanwhile, in order to earn a livelihood, he had gone to Chiapas, Mexico, as an employe of an uncle on a sugar plan- tation. A portion of the three years in Mexico was given to hunting for plumed birds along the west coast. On returning to California he purchased twenty acres adjacent to his first tract, so that he owned forty acres in one body, all under cultivation to alfalfa. Upon selling the place to a brother lie bought one hundred and sixty acres located nine miles southwest of Bakers- field and on this ranch during 1910 he erected a modern residence that is con- sidered to be one of the finest country homes in the district. In addition to operating the home place. the larger part of which has an unusually fine stand of alfalfa, he and his brothers, Charles H. and Joseph, in 1912 leased five hun- dred acres from Miller & Lux. The large tract being under cultivation to Egyptian corn, their success was so gratifying that they leased about one thousand acres the following year and their efforts resulted in a bumper crop. demonstrating that the soil and climate make Kern county a leader in the pro- duction of Egyptian corn. While the care of so great an acreage necessitates constant labor and untiring energy, the returns have justified the procedure and at the same time have added further proof concerning the crop possibil- ities of the county.

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The principles of the Republican party receive the support of Mr. Freear, whose intelligent advocacy of progressive measures marks him as one of the public-spirited men of his community. His marriage took place in the Old River district July 2. 1908, and united him with Miss Bertha Weingartner, a native of the vicinity of Tully, Onondaga county, N. Y., and a daughter of Albert and Nancy (Barrett) Weingartner, also natives of New York state. When eight years of age Mrs. Freear came to California in company with other members of the Weingartner family. During girlhood she was a pupil in the public schools of Tehamna and Glenn counties and since her marriage she has co-operated with her husband in an earnest adherence to principles of justice and progress, generously sustaining movements for the material, educational and social upbuilding of the district.

JOHN M. JAMESON .- The history of the Jameson family in Cali- formia dates back to the era of the discovery of gold, while in America the genealogy is traced to colonial Virginia, John M. Jameson, Sr., having been the founder of the name to the west of the Old Dominion and having lived for years among the frontier population of Missouri near the city of St. Louis. While yet a mere lad his son, William T., had served in the Mexican war and had gained an enlarged comprehension of the riches of our vast domain during the period of his service in the southwest. Soon after the expiration of his term in the army with his father he crossed the plains in 1848 with "prairie schooner" and oxen. The trip into California aroused in him a desire to locate permanently in the west, hence after a brief sojourn in Amador county he returned to Missouri via Panama, in- terested others in an expedition, secured the necessary supplies, procured a mule-team and carriage for his mother and sisters, and taking every precaution against attacks from Indians, slowly made his way across the plains with a large following of emigrants. For a time after his arrival he engaged in mining, but later took up agriculture and during 1874 he became a resident of Kern county, where after a year at Glennville he settled in Bakersfield. The little village was unattractive in appearance and in prospects, but he discerned its possibilities and decided to remain. There being no house to rent, he secured an old blacksmith shop, repaired the building and made it the family home for several months until it was possible to erect a small cottage to shelter wife and children. With fair success for years he engaged in teaming, carried on general farming, oper- ated a ranch on the Cottonwood road and owned a cattle ranch on Mount Breckenridge. During the '80s he served as county treasurer for two years. His death occurred at his homestead near Kern in February of 1909 when he was eighty years of age. After coming to California he had married in Amador county Miss Annie Kendall, who was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, and died in 1888. Her father, R. A. Kendall, a native of Ohio, brought the family via Panama to Amador county, but later removed to Sutter county, where his last days were passed.

The family of William T. and Annie (Kendall) Jameson comprised ten children, of whom six are now living, four being sons. Of these E. R. resides in San Francisco, J. R .. in Graham, Tex .. and F. H., in Glennville, Cal. John M., who is next to the eldest among the surviving sons, was born at Fairplay, Eldorado county, Cal., August 31. 1863, but has been a resident of Kern county since 1874. His education was secured in the public schools of Kern. After three years as clerk in a store at Kern and a similar period as superintendent of a ranch owned by Sol Jewett he drifted into farming and stock-raising and acquired the title to a ranch on the Cottonwood road comprising three hundred and twenty acres. On that land his father lived. while he gave his attention to general contracting and

Harrison Ross Jenco .

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

teaming for a long period. From 1890 until 1894 he served as deputy under County Assessor Lightner. For the first time in 1898 he was elected county assessor on the Democratic ticket and in January of the following year he assumed the duties of office. At the expiration of the term of four years he was re-elected. After having served from 1898 to 1906 he was again chosen his own successor and in 1910 he was re-elected without opposition, a fact that bears eloquent testimony as to the value of his services and the appreciation in which they are held. To indicate the growth of Kern county, the first assessment of the county made under his official regime was about $15,000,000, and the last which includes the public service corpora- tions, aggregated over $73,000,000. Besides owning the residence on the corner of Twentieth and B streets, Bakersfield, he still retains farm lands and also owns oil interests. Upon the organization of the Security Bank of Bakersfield he became one of its principal stockholders and was chosen a director, in which capacity he has continued to the present. For one year he also officiated as a director of the board of trade. In 1913, associated with Messrs. Parker and O'Brien, Mr. Jameson purchased the Southern Hotel and incorporated the Southern Hotel Company. Since then the hotel has been remodelled and partially refurnished.

The marriage of Mr. Jameson united him with Miss Charlotte E. Baker, by whom he has two sons, Myron and Kenneth. Mrs. Jameson, who claims Bakersfield as her native city, is a daughter of Col. Thomas Baker and possesses exceptional ability and a winning personality. The Woodmen of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Eagles enjoy the benefit of his intelligent co-operation and in addition he is past exalted ruler of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Years ago he was made a Mason in Bakersfield Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M., and later he was raised to the Royal Arch degree in Bakersfield Chapter. He was made a Sir Knight in Bakersfield Commandery, K. T., while more recently he became affiliated with Al Malaikalı Temple, N. M. S., of Los Angeles, and is a member also of the Bakersfield Club.

HARRISON ROSS PEACOCK .- The Peacock genealogy is traced to a long line of English ancestry, but the family became established in New York state during the early period of American history and Joseph Peacock, who was born and reared near Rome, N. Y., was the first of the name to identify himself with the development of the Pacific coast. Coming by Panama to San Francisco in 1852, he engaged in placer mining near Yreka, Siskiyou county, where with alternate successes and reverses he continued to operate as a miner until 1864. In that year he went as far south as Solano county for the purpose of engaging in general farming and stock-raising. Not understanding thoroughly the conditions appertaining to titles and claims, he settled on what proved to be a Spanish grant, so had to give up his claim. Next he entered a tract on Suisun creek in the same county When he removed in 1874 to what is now Kings county he profited by his previous experience and instead of taking a claim and fighting for it, like many of the early settlers, he bought land from the railroad. Later events proved the wisdom of his act. He was superintendent of the 76 Land and Water Company's canal during its construction and for a period of seven years after its completion. For a long period he engaged in the improvement of his farm, but finally the infirmities of age obliged him to relinquish manual labor and he retired to Hanford, where he died in 1910 at the age of eighty years. From the time of casting his first ballot he was a supporter of Republican principles and he was one of the first twelve Republicans to vote in Siskiyou county. While preferring not to be a candidate for office. he consented on one occasion to run for supervisor and, although in a

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

Democratic district, he was defeated by only forty-nine votes. Some years after coming to California he married Hannah Bonham, who was born in Illinois and lives now at Selma, Cal. Early in the '50s she crossed the plains with her father, Elisha Bonham, who brought a herd of cattle through to Oregon and took up land in that state, but eventually came to California and continued the stock business in Solano county until his death.

The parental family comprised five sons and five daughters. All are still living. Harrison Ross being the eldest of the number and a native of Solano county, this state. born in Green valley, near Vallejo, April 14. 1865. During 1874 he was taken by his parents to Kings county and settled on a ranch near Hanford, where he attended the public schools. At the age of twenty-one years he embarked in the livery business at Traver, Tulare county, and while thus engaged he took a commercial course in Fresno Business College, of which he is a graduate. In addition he served as deputy sheriff under Dan Overall. the first Republican sheriff of Tulare county. Meanwhile he had acquired unimproved land lying between Dinuba, Tulare county, and Reedley, Fresno county, where he became interested in raising alfalfa. At Traver he opened and operated the first creamery in the vil- lage, also was interested in the first creamery at Hanford. Possessing a keen faculty for business of all kinds, he seemed particularly well adapted for the creamery industry. Seeing an excellent opening at Bakersfield, in 1902 he embarked in the occupation at this point. His success has been so great that Peacock's creamery is favorably known throughout all this section of the state. There is an increasing demand for Peacock's butter and ice-cream, the latter manufactured by the brine system operated by electric power.

The management of the creamery does not represent the limit of Mr. Peacock's activities. His fine mental qualities enable him to superintend various interests easily and effectively. At this writing he owns and man- ages the Peacock stock and alfalfa farm located nine miles south of Bak- ersfield, under the old Kern Island ditch. The ranch embraces two hun- dred and forty acres of fertile land that by the aid of irrigation produce excellent crops of alfalfa and grain. A specialty is made of the stock industry. The thoroughbred Poland-China hogs kept on the farm are as fine as may be seen anywhere in the county. There are also one hundred and thirty head of milch cows, some full-blood Jerseys and other grades of superior quality, the whole forming one of the largest dairies in Kern county and one of the most profitable as well. Besides owning this prop- erty Mr. Peacock has an interest in an alfalfa ranch of sixteen hundred and twenty acres on Kern Island, owned by the Panama Land Company. of which he is a director. His interests in oil operations embrace the presi- dency of the Tejon Oil Company, a producing concern operating nine wells in the Kern river field and owning eighty acres of land. Besides his asso- ciation with the creamery, with oil interests and agricultural affairs, he has entered the realm of finances and since the organization of the Security Trust Company, of which he was one of the promoters, he has acted as first vice-president and a director.

The marriage of Mr. Peacock was solemnized in Lake county, Cal .. and united him with Miss Harriet M. Wayne, a native of Illinois, a lady of education and culture, and a sincere member of the Congregational Church. By this union there are three children, Wayne, Ross and Geraldine. While engaging in business at Traver Mr. Peacock was made a Mason and now holds membership with Bakersfield Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M .; Bakersfield Chapter No. 75, R. A. M .; Bakersfield Commandery No. 39, K. T .; and Al Malaikah Temple, N. M. S., of Los Angeles. The Woodmen of the World and the Bakersfield Club also number him among their members.

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While he has limited his attention and investments in the main to his home county, he has not been neglectful of excellent opportunities elsewhere, has invested in lands in the Imperial valley and also has kept in touch with the upbuilding of all sections of the west. Here he has been associated with the Merchants' Association and at one time served as president of the Board of Trade, in which capacity he was able to promote many movements for the local upbuilding. In national politics he is a Republican.

CHARLES H. SMITH .- The discouragements and obstacles incident to existence in a new. undeveloped country fell to the lot of the Smith family when they became pioneers of California, but the father, John Foster Smith, a Kentuckian by birth, was a man of such resolute purpose and such indom- itable will that he never faltered when repeated adversities wiped out his all. Early in life he had removed to Texas and there had served in Indian fights as a member of the celebrated Texas Rangers, where his courage was put to many a severe test. Nor were the trials of pioneer farming less depressing than those of the army. Both in Texas and in California he lived a life of great privation and continued self-sacrifice. While living in Texas he married Amanda Stark. a native of Kentucky, where likewise occurred the birth of her father. Robert E. Stark. After having sojourned for a time in Missouri and Arkansas. during 1853 Mr. Stark brought his family across the plains to California and took up a claim at Fort Tejon. where he engaged in ranching and raising stock.

During the summer of 1859 the Smith family, which then consisted of father. mother and two children, left Texas via the southern stage route for California, where they arrived on New Year's day of 1860 at Tejon canyon. With a brother-in-law. Jesse Stark. as a partner Mr. Smith began to raise stock, his specialty at first being cattle and sheep. For a time he was pros- pered, but in 1877 he lost the savings of years of difficult labor and self- sacrifice. Later he retrieved himself to some extent and farmed on a large tract near Bakersfield. Later he took up land in Bear valley. After he had once again achieved a fair degree of success and had invested everything in a large drove of hogs he lost heavily through an epidemic of cholera that wiped out his entire drove. While operating his ranch in Bear Valley, about 1894, he was accidentally killed by the fall from a horse. His wife passed away in 1900. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Mary Shackelford, now a resident of Bakersfield: Susie. who died in Kern county : Louisa, Mrs. Haupt. of Tehachapi: Elma, who is married to Bruce Tungate and is living near Bakersfield: Laura, Mrs. L. F. Brit, of Bakersfield ; Mrs. Ella Cun- ningham, who died at Tehachapi : Charles H .. deputy sheriff of Kern county ; and Oliver, now in the Palos Verdes Valley.

When the family were developing a ranch at the head of Fort Tejon canyon Charles H. Smith was born at the ranch-house March 20. 1870. At the age of ten years he accompanied the family to Tehachapi, where he at- tended the grammar school. Later he began to work as a rancher and farmer. For some years he was employed as manager of the Rock Springs Land & Cattle Company. Later he engaged in the stock business for himself. In September of 1909 he was appointed deputy sheriff under J. W. Kelly and at once he established his residence at Bakersfield, where he still remains, although he had erected and still owns a residence at Tehachapi. When Thomas A. Baker became sheriff he was continued as deputy and is filling the position with energy and intelligence. displaying the same fearlessness that characterized his father years ago in fighting with the Texas rangers against the savages.

While living in Tehachapi Mr. Smith married Miss Mary Addie Haigh, who was born in Tuolumne county. this state. and died at Bakersfield July

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28, 1910, leaving three children, Alvin, Laura and Emmett. Mrs. Smith was a daughter of George Haigh, a pioneer who came to the west during the period of mining activity and himself had some thrilling experiences in the mines, but not finding there the wealth he had hoped to acquire he settled down to a quiet existence as a rancher. At an early day he settled at Tehachapi and here he still makes his home. In politics Mr. Smith votes with the Democratic party. Fraternally, besides being con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of America, he was made a Mason in Tehachapi Lodge No. 313, F. & A. M., and later also identified himself with Tehachapi Chapter No. 218, O. E. S.

DAVE CRICHTON .- The mining interests of California are of such importance that they have been written of pretty generally whenever the ad- vantages of the state have fallen under consideration. Many a large fortune and numerous snug little competencies have been dug out of the soil of Kern and some of her sister counties. A leading mining operator of Kern county is Dave Crichton of Mojave, who is also interested in the liquor business and is the owner of considerable real estate.

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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 53

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