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 92

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 92

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Upon his arrival in California Mr. Whelan first located in Yolo county, where he engaged in ranching, coming from there, in 1873, to Kern county. It was at this time that Mr. Whelan became interested in sheep raising, realizing the profits attained thereby, and accordingly he bought six hun- dred and forty acres of land in the Tehachapi valley and began farming and stock raising, which became his chief occupation. He raised high grade cattle, hogs and sheep which increased in number so that he was obliged to add to his holdings until he owned a thousand acres. When he entered into the stockraising business Mr. Whelan moved onto his ranch before the town of Tehachapi was in existence, and he has seen it expand and grow into a thriving, prosperous place, taking an active part himself in its de- velopment. In 1913 he sold his ranch and stock and located in Wilmington, where he purchased and also built several houses, and the same enterprise exhibited in building up the Tehachapi country is shown in Wilmington.

THOMAS S. SMITH .- Son of an old pioneer, T. S. Smith was born at Visalia, Tulare county. Cal., October 25, 1861, his parents being Thomas H. and Sophia M. (Whittock) Smith, who have further mention in another part of this publication. A long line of Anglo-Saxon forbears have contributed to Mr. Smith's inheritance, his father being a native of Bristol, England, born in 1824, and throughout his life and the rearing of his family he has exhibited marked traits of that excellent race.

In 1862 Mr. Smith was brought by his parents into Kern county where the business interests of the father increased rapidly and brought with them a degree of success which has always prevailed. Before the end of the year 1863 they were making their home on the south fork of the Kern river and a few years later he was sent to school in Havilah, which was then the county seat. Later he pursued his studies in Kernville until he was nine- teen, at which time he took up the activities of a business life and entered the cattle business. This line of enterprise was naturally the one to which he would turn, as his father had become well known throughout the vicinity as a large and successful cattle grower. Attentive, alert and strictly honest in his every dealing he soon acquired an enviable position in the cattle business world. He has added to his holdings from time to time as his success has become more assured until he is now the owner of about a thousand acres of land and six hundred head of well-kept, fine cattle.

Always interested in the progress and general advancement of his native country, Mr. Smith has never been found wanting when his help was needed, especially in the local work of his party, his political principles being Republican. For his wife he chose a native of San Francisco, Miss

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Ella P. Merriam, who has proved a helpmate in the true sense of the word, by her quiet influence and unfailing co-operation being invaluable to her husband in his many enterprises. Three children have been born to this union, Hattie M., Stanley L. and Helen. The family home is on the South Fork near Onyx, Cal.

DANIEL WAGGONER WALSER .- Born near Jefferson City, Mo., February 9, 1834, D. W. Walser is the son of Squire P. and Elizabeth (Wag- goner) Walser. The former was born on the Yadkin river, North Carolina. and on both sides descended from old Southern families of German descent. On the maternal side his grandfather Laup served in the Revolutionary war as a commissioned officer under Gen. George Washington.

Squire Walser, a farmer in Tennessee, was there married, his wife being a native of that state. They removed to near Jefferson City, Mo., where they spent their last days. Of the five children Daniel was the youngest and is the only one living. His childhood was spent on the Missouri farm, and he received a common school education. In 1852 he crossed the plains with ox- teams, being en route four months and seventeen days. The first four years were spent in placer mining, after which he came to Visalia, arriving in November, 1856, and engaged in the cattle business. He bought cattle in Los Angeles, then only a small adobe town of about four thousand, and drove them by way of Ft. Tejon and Placerville to Nevada, selling them in the mines, and generally making two trips in a season. In the fall of 1863 he went with a party overland to Arizona, but not being satisfied with the outlook he returned to Los Angeles, and there, in December, 1863, met the lady who afterwards became his wife. Her father, A. T. Lightner, Sr., was then living in Walkers Basin. Mr. Walser arrived there in January, 1864, and on March 24, 1864, he married Miss Mary F. Lightner, born in Lexington, Mo., January 6, 1845. (For more facts relative to the Lightner family, refer to biography of Mrs. Walser's brother, A. T. Lightner, Jr.)

Mrs. Walser was only five years of age at the time of crossing the plains and her education was obtained principally in San Jose, coming to Kern county in 1857.

After their marriage Mr. Walser bought a claim in the lower part of Walkers Basin, where he resided for two years, when he sold and purchased a part of his present place at the head of Walkers Basin on which he imme- diately located. After clearing the meadow of willows, grubbing and break- ing the soil, he erected suitable buildings. A part of the place is a natural meadow and is well watered with large springs and a creek that is called Walser's creek. He purchased land adjoining until it contains twenty-seven hundred acres and is considered one of the finest stock ranches in Kern county. All these years he was engaged in the cattle business. At first his brand was a 7 with a bar ; this he sold and afterwards established as his brand the quarter circle L which his sons still use. He first raised thoroughbred Shorthorn and afterward Herefords. His business was not limited to Walkers basin, for in 1867 we find him driving a flock of five thousand head of sheep from Oregon to San Francisco, where they were sold, and he also at one time owned ranches in Tulare county, where for some time he engaged in wholesale and retail butcher business in Visalia.

With J. J. Mack and S. W. Wible he set out the first commercial prune orchards in the county ; was one of the organizers of the Bank of Bakersfield and a director of the bank for nine years, when he retired. Of late years he has been retired from active business, having turned the business over to his two sons, and he divides his time between his old home in Kern county and Santa Rosa.

Mr. and Mrs. Walser had seven children, of whom three are living: John Caswell and Sidney J., who are operating the ranch and are extensive cattle

Wir Halsen

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men in Walkers Basin, and Daisy, Mrs. Morgan Wallace of Santa Rosa. In July, 1866, Daniel Walser was one of four commissioners appointed by an act of legislature to organize Kern county. The other members of the com- mission were Col. Thomas Baker, J. M. Brite and Michael Erskine, all de- ccased but Mr. Walser. They met at old Havilah and there laid the county out into voting precincts and called the first county election and arranged for the survey of the county line. One year later Mr. Walser became a candidate and was elected supervisor and served as chairman of the board for one term. During all these early years he gave of his time and means to upbuilding and furthering the interests of the county. Always interested in the cause of edu- cation he was a member of the first board of school trustees of Walkers Basin district and aided in building the first school house. Mr. and Mrs. Walser are both members of the Baptist church in Bakersfield. Mr. Walser is a Democrat and a leader in the councils of his party in Kern county.

JEREMIAH MCCARTHY .- Born on a farm in County Cork, Ireland, April 13, 1843, Jeremiah McCarthy was reared on the farm and educated in the national schools. In 1862 he came to Boston, Mass., and for two years he worked at farming; then was an employe of the weighers and gaugers. Having heard many encouraging reports from California he became inter- ested and in 1867 came out west to see the land of gold and sunshine. He arrived in San Francisco, February 7, 1867, coming on the Moses Taylor from San Juan del Sur, he having made the journey to the Pacific coast via the Nicaragua route from New York city. He was employed by the Spring Valley Water Company until 1868, when he entered the employ of the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad at Palisades, Nev., where he worked on repairs, swing- ing a hammer and using the shovel. In 1870 we find him working on the construction of the railroad at Lathrop. In 1871 he became a foreman on construction for the Northern Pacific in Washington, where he remained until 1873, then returning to California to become foreman for the Southern Pacific at Borden and other places along the road to Tehachapi, where he was extra foreman. In 1881 he again took a position as foreman on construction of the Northern Pacific, working in Washington, Idaho and Montana, and while there was promoted to general foreman. On his return to California in 1883 he became foreman on the hill, as it is called by railroad men, and after two years at Tehachapi he was eight years at Keene. In November, 1893, he became foreman at Bealeville and continued in that capacity until 1907 when he resigned and retired from railroading to engage in farming and stock-raising. He owns six hundred and forty acres at Bealeville where he has made the necessary improvements for carrying on the raising of hay and cattle, his two brands being the quarter-circle under the figure 3 and a double J with bar underneath.

Mr. McCarthy was first married in Tehachapi to Hattie Walsh, who was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and died in Dixon, Cal. His second marriage, June 15, 1898, was with Mrs. Mary (Heskin) Davron, a native of County Mayo, Ireland, the ceremony being performed in Tehachapi by Rev. John Reynolds. Of this union are three children : Jeremiah Michael, Thomas Patrick and Eugene. By her former marriage Mrs. McCarthy has one living child, Mortimer. Having been reared in the faith of the Roman Catholic church, Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy are members of that church.

JOHN G. STAHL .- As president of the Kern Live Stock Association. and as a director of the California Jersey Breeders Association, Mr. Stahl holds a position in the state which evidences his extensive knowledge of the many fine points of the cattle business, as well as an executive ability which is capable of a vast amount of labor. He has made a scientific study of the business, and has put forth his utmost effort to bring about the finest and best results.

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Mr. Stahl came to Kern county in 1887. His early life was spent in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was born January 16, 1864, and where he at- tended school up to the age of twelve years. He was obliged to look after himself at an early day, owing to the death of his father, and until he was seventeen worked on farms through Ohio. Going to Nebraska he worked there for about a year, in the fall of 1882 coming to California and procur- ing work on the Nadeau ranch in Los Angeles county. In 1887 he came to Kern county and engaged in the hauling of borax from Death Valley to Mojave, driving the twenty-mule team for about two years. He then took up a homestead and timber claim adjoining the Tejon ranch, on which he carried on dry farming. Besides serving as school trustee there he also gave public service as justice of the peace and his fulfillment of the duties of these offices proved highly satisfactory to the community he represented. Some time later he sold out and came to Bakersfield and for two years engaged in hauling oil from the oil fields to town. In 1902 he leased one hundred and sixty acres of land for five years on what is called the Island, and on this property he engaged in farming and dairying. In the year 1906 he purchased eighty acres of land, but did not come into possession of it until 1907. This land he developed and improved, and in April, 1910, he sold it and came to his present place. Associating himself with H. R. Pea- cock, he went east with him in 1911 and assisted in the purchase of cattle for Mr. Peacock's ranch, of which he was the manager for three years.

JEAN EDWARD BERTRAND .- A native of France, Jean Edward Bertrand was born in Basses-Alpes, January 25, 1870, the son of Jacques and Josephine ( Bernard) Bertrand, farmers and stockraisers in that country. Jean was brought up on the farm in France and educated in the local schools. Having heard reports of splendid opportunities in California, when twenty years of age he determined to come hither and start for himself. He arrived in San Francisco June 10, 1890, and in September of the same year came to Delano, Kern county. He immediately entered the employ of a sheepman and three years later bought a flock of sheep and ranged them in Kern, Inyo and Tulare counties, meeting with great success. In 1899 he sold his sheep and purchased ten acres on Brundage Lane. adjoining Bakersfield, and there he began farming.

Mr. Bertrand was married in East Bakersfield in July, 1899, being united with Lola Bauer, a native of Bakersfield and the daughter of Fred and Belle (Kilbreth) ) Bauer, born in Germany and San Francisco, respectively. Her parents were stock raisers in Kern county. The father died in 1902, while the mother makes her home in Bakersfield, where the daughter was reared and educated. With the aid of his wife Mr. Bertrand engaged in farming and stock raising, in which they have been very successful. In 1913 they sold their place on Brundage Lane and purchased forty acres ten miles southwest of Bakersfield in the old river district under the Stine canal, where they are raising alfalfa and grain. He also owns a one hundred and sixty acre ranch two miles above Granite Station which he uses for cattle range in the summer, his brand being J. B., and he is meeting with merited success. Mr. and Mrs. Bertrand are the parents of four children, as follows: Jean Edward, Josephine Martha, Frederick and Dorothy.

MIGUEL ECHENIQUE .- The sheep business, which has proved a source of most gratifying results to many who have come to the Golden State to try their fortunes, has become the successful vocation of Miguel Echenique, who made his way hither from his native country of Spain to follow his brother, Tomas, who had settled in California and become inter- ested in the sheep raising industry. These sturdy sons of Spain were the children of Jose Maria and Petra (Dendarieta) Echenique, the former a

Rebecca &. West

Henry. W. Weet

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

farmer and stockman in Navarre and the father of seven children. Of these Miguel was the fifth and was born in Navarre January 4, 1874.

The local school of his native place afforded Mr. Echenique his educa- tional training and he completed his course of studies in the Spanish lan- guage. The year 1899 brought him to Kern county, Cal., where his brother Tomas had settled, and he immediately began work for a sheep grower herding sheep. By industry and economy he soon found himself in the pos- session of means and in 1905 he purchased a flock of sheep and began for himself a business that he has continued to the present time. Ilis increasing flock he ranges on the plains and in the mountains of Kern, Inyo and Mono counties, and his stock has an enviable reputation in the market for its special quality and fine condition generally.

With his wife, whose maiden name was Marie Louisa Etcheverry and whose birthplace was Aldudes, Basses-Pyrenees, France, he makes his home in a comfortable residence at No. 801 Quincy street, East Bakersfield. Mrs. Echenique was the daughter of John and Catherine (Laxague) Etcheverry, who still reside on their farm in the lofty Pyrenees. One child was born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Echenique, which took place in East Bakersfield in 1911, and they have named him Tomas to perpetuate the name of Mr. Echenique's brother.

HENRY DIBBLE WEST .- When the tide of pioneer travel to Cali- fornia was yet at its height there came across the plains during the summer of 1853 Dr. Charles N. and Martha (Dibble) West, natives respectively of New Hampshire and Connecticut. The young couple settled in Stanislaus county, where occurred the birth of their eldest child, Henry Dibble, April 23, 1854. Later the family removed to Santa Cruz county, where the mother died; and at this writing the father, active and mentally alert notwithstanding his ninety-one busy years, is living in San Francisco. The eldest child received public-school advantages supplemented by attendance at the University of the Pacific, San Jose. A clerkship in the store of an uncle, Elisha Giddings, at Turlock gave him his early knowledge of mercantile pursuits. Later he was employed in the store of Simon Jacobs at Plainsburg, Merced county, still later conducting a mercantile establishment at that place on his own account. In 1881 he moved the business to Hanford, two years later selling out to be- come manager of the store of Manassa & Jacobs at Traver. During his resi- dence at Traver he served for several years as justice of the peace and also acquired farming interests. Upon his arrival in Kern county in 1889 he lo- cated a homestead in the Weed Patch. After proving up on the property he sold it and bought three hundred and twenty acres of school land three miles south of what is now Edison. On that place he engaged in raising grain and stock. During 1900 he bought twenty acres in the Fairfax district, three miles from East Bakersfield, where he engaged in raising alfalfa. Forty acres have been added to the original twenty, and both being under the east side canal, he has an excellent alfalfa ranch. Besides operating the land he sold hay to the oil companies in the Kern river field and continued in the hay business from 1904 until his death, which occurred January 20, 1911, on the home ranch. Politically a Democrat, a citizen of progressive views and splendid public spirit, he had served as deputy county assessor and for seven years had been clerk of the school boards in both Mountain View and Fairfax districts. An organizer of the First Presbyterian Church of Bakersfield, to which his wife and all the members of her family still belong, he served as a trustee and elder and aided largely in the erection of the house of worship on O street.

The marriage of Henry Dibble West and Rebecca E. Lauder was solemnized at Plainsburg, Merced county, February 20, 1881. Miss Lander was a native of Rockburn, Huntingdon county, province of Quebec, Canada, and was the eldest daughter in a family of eleven children, six of whom now

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survive. The father, Andrew Lauder, a native of Montreal of Scotch descent and a wheelwright and carpenter by trade, married Eliza Waller, a native of Ireland. Leaving his family in Canada he came on to California in 1868 in search of a suitable location. The mother died in 1869 and it was not until 1875 that the children joined their father in California, settling at Plainsburg, where he had engaged in carpentering and also served as justice of the peace. His last days were passed at Merced. During the last twelve months of his life he was an invalid as a result of a stroke of paralysis. It fell to the lot of the eldest daughter in this large family to act as housekeeper after the death of her mother and hence she had not the opportunity for a collegiate education, yet she is the possessor of unusual business ability and always has been, not only a home-maker, but a practical assistant in the business affairs of the family. One year after the death of her husband she left the farm and settled at No. 2020 E street, Bakersfield. Aside from the home ranch she owns fifty acres of citrus land near Edison, on which there is a deep well and a pumping plant sufficient to irrigate the land for alfalfa and fruit. The family also has one hundred and sixty acres on Cedar creek near Poso Flat, where a specialty is made of the raising of draft horses. Her eldest sons, Henry D., Andrew L. and Albert, are in charge of the farming operations of the estate. Mrs. Martha Treadway lives on a farm near Bakersfield; Mrs. Emily Kiger makes her home in East Bakersfield; Mrs. Laura Parker is a resident of Bakersfield. The three youngest children, Ruby, Francis S. and Charles W., remain with their mother in the Bakersfield home.

THOMAS J. CORNISH .- Whatever of success Mr. Cornish has achieved (and it has been noteworthy) it must be attributed to his own persistence in the midst of the discouraging experiences of his early years. He was born in Cornwall, England, August 8, 1870, being the only son of John and Elizabeth (Ball) Cornish, honest and well-to-do farmers of that shire. At the age of six months his father was taken from him by death, after which he and his mother went to live with his grandfather, George Ball, a farmer of Cornwall. The boy was sent to the St. Columb schools and thus acquired a knowledge of the three R's. At the age of seventeen he left Cornwall for Canada and in Toronto served an apprenticeship to the trade of a baker under his uncle, Mr. Tonkyn, who did all in his power to give the lad a correct knowledge of the principles of the bakery business. Upon the completion of his time he came to the States and followed his occupation at Buffalo, N. Y., and Austin, Pa .. after which in 1903 he came to California. The failure of his health prevented him from devoting his attention to his trade and therefore, having invented and patented an oil burner for bake-ovens, he engaged in the manufacture and sale of this article. While able to earn a livelihood he made no financial progress and at the time of his arrival in Bakersfield during June of 1908 he had little capital except his restored health and a thorough knowledge of the baking business.

Having no acquaintance with business men and no financial standing, he worked for one year on a salary and then began baking on a very small scale. In his subsequent success his wife has been of the greatest assistance. Indeed, to her intelligent co-operation he attributes in large part the splendid standing he now enjoys as a business man and skilled baker. Prior to their marriage in Niagara Falls. N. Y., she was Miss Bessie McIntosh. a resident of Buffalo, N. Y .. having been born at Springville, Erie county. Possessing ability of an high order, she has been able to promote the success of the busi- ness in which her interest has been as great as his own.

For a time after opening his bakery Mr. Cornish did all of the baking without help and during the first two weeks his boy delivered the goods with a basket. That soon proved inadequate and he rented a horse and wagon. As soon as he had saved sufficient money he bought a horse and wagon, but

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

still used the rented vehicle. The bakery goods proved popular with critical housekeepers. The demand increased from time to time and now he uses five wagons besides one automobile for delivery purposes. Bakers are kept steadily at work and five thousand loaves of bread are baked every day, besides pies, cakes, cookies, and other bakery goods in like proportions. His payroll amounts to $2500.00 per month and about $30,000.00 per annum. Three modern ovens of large capacity are in constant service. The bakery, which is by far the largest in Kern county, is located at No. 1127 Nineteenth street, with a large branch store at No. 1610 Nineteenth street. Plans are made for a new factory for the manufacture of bread and bakery goods on a larger scale and a much greater variety. This factory will be installed with latest and most modern machinery for bakery goods. The capacity will be increased ten times in all the different lines.

J. KELLY RUSSELL .- The cashier of the National Bank of Bakers- field traces his genealogy to several old and honored colonial families, among them being not only the Russells, but also the Duncans, Kellys and Rays. His father, George C. Russell, a native of Bardstown, Ky., and an extensive stock-raiser, made a specialty of breeding the thoroughbred and standard horses for which the blue grass region has been famous for more than a century. The farm which he owned and operated stood in the heart of that noted region, six miles from the city of Lebanon, and from it were sent out a number of rare specimens of equine perfection. One of these animals made a record of 2:11 in Cleveland more than twenty years ago. In judg- ment of horses he was regarded as an expert and in their training he ac- quired a local reputation. By his marriage to Annie Kelly, who like himself remained a lifelong resident of Kentucky, there was an only child, J. Kelly, born at Lebanon, Marion county, Ky., December 26, 1873, reared at the old homestead, educated in public schools and a graduate of a local high school.

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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 92

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