USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 62
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Governor Latham-who had in the meantime heen eleeted to the I'nited States Senate-sent in his resignation, and John G. Downey hecame Governor of California. It may he said that from this time dates his State and National reputation. lle as- sumed the responsibilities of Excentive at a trying time. The rebellion, which was seething in its shell. broke out during the first year of his adminis- tration. California was, for a time, considered a doubtful Ftate. Her people were made up in not very nnequal parts of Northerners and Sontherbers, and whatever advantage the Unionists might have had in numbers, might be overbalanced hy a State administration leaning toward secession. Governor Downey soon quieted all apprehensions by not only declaring for the Union, but by exerting the whole power of his office to maintain it. When the Fed- eral Government called upon this State for six regiments, Governor Downey at once issned the necessary order for the enlistment of volunteers, and in a short time they were organized and ready for active service. Under his vigorous supervision the Carlton column was dispatched to Arizona, a portion of it reaching well over towards the Gulf, und another column was seut into Utah tonverawe a manifest disposition on the part of the Mormons to take advantage of the disorder of the times. The military record of Governor Downey's admin- istration is one of the most brilliant of any of the governors of the States which adhered to the Union. Indeed, it is more so when we consider the dithiculties he had to encounter on account of the close divix- ion of the people of the State of the all-absorhing question which then agitated the country. But if Governor Downey was successful in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of California, he was univer- sally so in his civil capacity. His inflexible integrity stood between the people and scores of corrupt schemes to pilfer the treasury or to lay hur- dens upon the people. The most notable of these schemes was a monster conspiracy entered into by Levi Parsons and a number of unscrupulous speculators to get possession of the city front of San Francisco, and thus control and tax the com- merce of the State. The celebrated Bulkhead Bill was pushed through both houses of the Legis- lature. It was said that hundreds of thousands of dollars had been spent to lobby this measure through, and there is no doubt that every means known to venal legislation was resorted to to pass the measure. The people of San Francisco were in a terrible state of excitement abont this bill. It threatened to turn over their commerce, bound hand und foot, to the conspirators, and to place the husi. ness of their city at the mercy of n baud of sharpers. The conspirators found no difficulty in bribing the Legislature, but when they came to deal with the Governor they found themselves face to face, not only with an honest man, hat with an Executive of Jacksonian firmness. Neither their blandish- ments could seduce nor their threats intimidate him. lle knew nothing but his duty to the people, and this he fulfilled by vetoing the in- famous measure. The people of San Francisco showed their gratitude to Governor Downey in every way possible. When he next arrived in San Francisco he was received with demon- strations such as no publie man had ever before heen accorded. The whole population turned out to do him honor. The Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in which they warmly tbanked him for bis action; and the merchants assembled and drew np a most complimentary recognition of the
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great service he had done the city-had it en- grossed and sigurd by all the leading men of ran Francisco, placed in a handsome frame. and then presented it to the Governor. A Republican cor- respondent of a New York paper. writing at about that time from san Francisco, will give the reader a clear idea of the impression which Governor Downey's official conduct had made on even those who were politically opposed to him. The cor- respondent wrote: "But what a Governor we have stumbled upon! A Catholic, an Irishman, and an accident, he proves all plock, and bas taken an armt-chair in the heart of our nffections. With his party like a steam engine pegging into the small of his back, with a lohby that had con. quered the State charging with bayonet- in bis face, he kept his ground, held the track, vetoed right and left, and made all his pred cessors envy his position. By his firmness he has saved the State millions of dollars -lond talk this, but true-saved onr credit, and discomfited the whole hungry crow of schemers, plunderers und liminds. It is a great pity he is not a Republican, for anything he wants hereafter, if he holds on another year as he has begnu. he will be very likely to have given him freely." . Governor Downey. however, adhered to his party, and the Democratic party was in such bad odor that it was unt until eight years atter- wards it managed to recover power in the State. The Governor completed his term as he had com- menced it, and made his entire administration a marvel of economy in its financial conduct, in its efficiency in all its departments and in its loyalty to the cause of the imperilled Union. It is not easy to realize at this date the difficulties which sur- rounded the Governor. lle was the recognized chief of the party which embraced within its men- bers all, or nearly all, the men in the State who were at heart secessionists. That party had placed him in power, and those who manipulated it felt that they had the right to influence his action ns Executive. But he was firm in the loyal course he had marked out, and gave ready and willing assist- ance to the Federal Government in all its demands upon the State to aid in erushing the Rebellion. A less loyal or less firm Governor might have done much to antagonize the Federal Government and perhaps to have made possible the realization of the eberisbed dream of a large class of people at that time -the erection on this coast of a Pacific Republic. At the chose of his termi Governor Dowucy returned to his home in Los Angeles, where he had, and still has, large interests in agri- culture, in vine-culture, in stock-raising, und in wool-growing. Besides his extensive property in huds, he has valuable real estate in the city-all of which requires and receives his intelligent attention. |A view of his residence and Downey Block is published in this work. ] He was the first to inangnrate a bank in Los Angeles, and up to a recent period was actively engaged in that bosi- ness. He has been the one conspicuons figure in organizing water companies, railroads and other important enterprises in the city where he resides; and he was the first to set the wholesome example of cutting up large ranches and dividing them into smail and prosperous farms with flourishing communities upon them. Downey City, named in his honor, is the market-town of an extensive ranch which he once owned and ent up into small farms. Although slightly on the down-grade of life, Ex-Governor Downey is still a man who is physically and mentally in his prime. He has
amassed a handsome fortune Lot a fortune such as many less farseeing and capable men can boast, but a competency ample for his wants. Indeed, he is cast in such a mould that he only cares for the decent necessaries of life. He aims to make all around him comfortable and happy. lle is spending the eve of his days-if we may use the term -in the handsome, tower.embowered bome which he has now ocenpied for a score of years, His consort, whom he married in Los Angeles when he was twenty-six years of age, she then being fifteen, was the child of a Spanish gen- tleman of a distinguished family. Their life hnx bren a continnal romance- a delightful blending of the shamrock of Ireland and the olive of Spain. They have not been blessed with children, and the love which they would have divided between themselves and a growing family, without dimin- ishing the lovr they boie each other, is perhaps intensified by the constant companionship of two bearts that have been left to graft, us it were, npon a single stock. In concluding this sketch of a hte which is at once a lesson and a guide, we shall merely any, as we said at the start, that it emphin- sizes the value of the institutions of our country- institutions which open to every young man the path to fortune, fame and honor. With integrity as the foundation of character, u fixed und honor- able purpose underlying lofty aspirations, the will to do and the courage to net. velfrelinee waiting upon every emergency, and a manly independence supplementing all the other qualities-with these and n fair modienm of talents, the road is open to any youth to rise like Jobn fi. Itowney to the high- est honors and to the loftiest public places.
DUNKELBERGER, I. R, Los Angeles, was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1833. lle commenced the study of law with llon. J. B. Parker, at Fnaberry, Pennsylvania, und war admitted to the bar. April 16, 1861, and the follow- ing day joined the First Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. Was commissioned in the regular Army as second Lientenant. April 26, 1861, and wax promoted to first Lientenant. August 13, 1861, and to Captain, Jne 7. 1563, again promoted ta Brevet Major for gallantry at Cold Harbor, and again to Brevet Lientenant-f'olonel for gallantry at Trevil- ian Station, Virginia, nt which place he was shot through the body with u minic-ball, Jonn 12, 1864. This prevented him from again joining bis regiment during the war. After the rebellion, he was assigned to the First United States Cavalry, and sent to Arizona, where he served until Janu- ary 1, 1870, when he was mistered out of the ser. vice with five hundred und forty other officera, owing to the reduction of the nrmy by Act of Congress. Ile was re-appointed in the regular army, June 25, 1876, and the following September, resigned, returning his commission. He was mar- ried in Los Angeles, February 26, 1867, where he has since resided. February 26, 1877, he was appointed postmaster of Los Angeles, which pasi- tion he now bolds. A view of his residence will he found ou another page.
DURRELL, J. F., resides in Florence, Los Angeles county, was born in Solon, Somerset county. Maine, July 1, 1826. In 1852, during the gold excitement, he started for California in company with three other young men from his native town. The party left New York on the clipper ship Grecian, being unable to procure passage on an ocean steamer. They had a very long and tiresome trip, being six
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
months on the water, and enduring many hard- ships. Out of the small party of four that started, only two survived the trip, one having died at sea, and the other on arriving at San Francisco. In company with his remaining friend, Mr. Durre1] went to the mines on the American river, where he remained a short time, and then went to Knugh and Ready, Nevada county, and from there to Sierra county, where he engaged in locating mines until 1857. In the fall of 1857 he returned East, And after spending a few months returned to Cali- fornia with his wife, and again went into the mountains and engaged in mining aud sheep-rais- ing. The dry season of 1863-4 so reduced his herd that he gave up the sheep business. In the spring of 1878, hearing of the illness of his father. he again returned Enst taking his family. Spend- ing a few months East he returned to California and located in Los Angeles county, where he has since resided. When Mr. Durrelf first located where his residence now stands, the country was a wild burren plain, not a tree, house or l'ence to be seen. His father also came to California from the East in 1878, bringing with him his large family of chif- dren with their families, numbering some seven- teen persons, all of whom, with the exception of one family, huve settled in Los Angeles county. A view of Mr. Durrell's place will be found on another page.
EBERLE BROTHERS, owners and proprietors of the City Gardens, which are situated about a mile from the Los Angeles Court Ilonse. The gardens contain about eight acres, planted in orauges, lemons, limes, peaches, peats, and many other varieties of semi-tropical fruits. Messrs. Eberle Brothers established this resort in 1874, since which time they have expended about thirty thou- wand dollars in buildings and in beautifying the grounds. They have succeeded in making it one of the finest pleasure resorts to be found in the vicinity of Los Angeles. The buildings consist of their own private dwelling, with saloon attached. pavilion, bowling-alley, shooting gallery, etc., etc. Their principal business is done during the summer months, when a band of music is alinost constantly in attendunee, besides many other attractions for the entertainment of visitors. A view of this place will be found on another page.
EDWARDS, SAMSON, son of William and Eliza- beth Edwards, was born in Berg Farish, couuty of Cornwall, England, February 26, 1830. At an early nge he commenced mining, and in 1848 emi- grated to New York with his parents. They went to Buffalo via the Krie canal, and then to Erie, where he bnd the misfortune to lose both of his parents by death. He then joined his brother Thomas in Pittsburg, where he engaged in mining aud other pursuits for about a year. Ilere he did the hardest work of his life for five shillings a day and boarded himself. He then removed to the lend mining distriet of Wisconsin and miued there. November 1. 1851. he married Miss Deanna Rogers. daughter of John and Jane Rogers, a native of England. le immediately begau farming in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, aud four years later pur- chased and moved on to another farm in the east- eru part of the sume county. Here his life passed (mnietly along until 1872, when he sold his property and removed with his family to Los Angeles county, to make for himself a new home. He located at Westminster, where he is engaged in farmiuy, dairying, stock-raising and butehering.
He has a good residence on two hundred and twn acres of land, fenced and well adapted to pa-tur- age and grain, a view of which appears in this work. Ilis land is well watered by three artesian wells. whose supply never fails. Mr. Edwards has had seven children :-- Elizabeth .J., horn July 25, 1852, died November 10, 18,0: John Sam-on. Lorn August 7. 1853, died February 7. 1851: John, born October 16, 1855; William James, born April 22, 1858; Mary Isabella, born February 1t. 18Gt; Hester Ann, born December 10, 1862; Thomas Nelson, born September 19, 1872. William J. 19 married and resides at home. The eldest daugh- ter is also married to F. J. Roger-, who reside- at Garden Grove, in this connty. Mr. Elwards is a member of the M. E. Church of Westminster, of which he is the principal support: in politics he is a Republican.
EDWARDS, THOMAS, son of William and Eliza- beth Edwards, was born in ('rown Parish, Cornwall, England. lle attended the common schools, and then followed his father's occupatiou, miuing, till 1847. Ite then came to the fUnited States, arriv- ing July 4, 1847, and immediately began work in the eopper mines of Lake Superior, where he remained one year. Ite then removed to Alleghany county. Pennsylvania, and engaged in coal mining. At Birmingham, l'ennsylvanin, November 4, 1848, he married Miss Sarah Rogers, a native of England. In 1849 he went to the lead wines in Giant county, Wisconsin, and in 1852 he crossed the plains to the gold fields of California. After mining fifteen months in Sonora, Tuolumne county, he went to Grass Valley for a short time, and then returned East. He settled with his wife on a farm in Green county, Wisconsin, and began life with but a team of horses. By economy and industry, he built up a good home in sixteen years that he sold for sixteen thousand dollars. Owing to ill-health, he then made a voyage to his native land, and spent one year, and upon his return, came West again with his family. Ile traveled through Oregon, Washing- tou, Victoria, and the greater portion of California, seeking a good location, and, finally, settled in Los Angeles county. Ile owns six hundred and two acres at Westminster, well-adapted to farming and pasturage, and watered by a never failing sup- ply of water from artesian wells. A view of his residence ean be seeu on another page. Mr. Edwards has had eleven children. Two, whom he named William Henry, died in infancy; his third child also received the same name, and is now liv- ing near his father. The others were: Martha Matilda, living in San Francisco; Elizabeth Jane, Sarah Louisa, Samuel Charles, deceased: John Thomas, Mary Alice, deceased; the tenth child died in infancy, and Matthew James. Mr. Edwards is a Republican, and is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church.
FERGUSSON. DR. REGINALD A., proprietor of the sanitarium at Anabeim, Los Angeles county, California, is a son of the late Doetor Edward Laup Fergusson of No. 43 Clermont Square, London. England. Ile came to this country in 18,7, and settled at Anaheim, where he has since re-ided in the practice of his profession. A view of the san- itarium will be found in this work. Doctor Fergus- son has taken the following degrees: M. D., MI. Ch., Qu Unio, Ireland: L. R. C. P .. L. M., L. R. C. S .. Edinburgh: L. S. A., London: L. F. P. S. and L. M. Glasgow. Ile is also the Late Assistant Pathofo- gist and Senior House Surgeon and Physician, Royal
Infirmary, Glasgow. Dr. Ferguson is at preseut in England, where he has gone to settle up the estate of his father recently deceased.
FASHION STABLES. G. R. Butler, superinten- dent, are located at No. 39 Main street. Los Angeles. They have capacity for keeping one hundred head of horses. Make a speciality of boardling horses and attending to the want- of the transient trade. A fine line of hacks are also run in connection with the stables, and may be found on the streets at all hours. The carriages, buggies, horses, in fact. everything pertaining to a first- ela>> livery stable, will be found at the Fashion Stables, a view of which will be found on auother page.
FOSTER, EDMUND R., was born in Madison county, New York, December 31, 1837. Ilis parents, Albert and Olive Foster, were natives of Couneetieut, and went to New York in 1830, Mr. Foxter was reared npon a farm. attended the common schools of his native State, and was a pupil for several terms at the Oneida Academy. After leaving school. he turned his attention to farming and pur- sned that occupation until 1876, when he came to California to make for himself a home in its semi- tropical climate. Hle settled in Centrulia at his present home in IS78, a view of which is given elsewhere in this work. Ile owus one hundred and sixty acres of good lund, well improved. August 16. 1879 he married Miss Lizzie A. Hill, daughter of Joseph C. and Emma Hill of Centralia. Sbe was born in Wisconsin, and emigrated with her parents to l'uget Sound, Washington Territory. then to Walla Walla for a year, then came to this county, living at Orange and finally at C'entralia. Mr. Foster was reared in the Protestaut faith, and is a Republican in politics.
GARDNER, J. W., resides at Santa Aua; was born in Canada in 1844; moved with his parents to Lowell, Michigan, in 1847, where he lived until he was seventeen years of age, when he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-first Michigan Infantry. Re- turning from the war, he attended school at Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, for one year. Ile taught music until he was twenty-three, when he was married. Shortly after he went East to attend a musical institute. In 1872 he commeneed the manufacture of the " Gardner organ," in Girand Rapids, Michigan. Ile came to California in 1875 and has been extensively engaged in the music business throughout the State, also in Oregon and Washington Territory; has had musie store in Oakland, and Salem, Oregon. Failing in health. he located in Los Angeles county to regain it. A view of his place will be found in this work.
GOOCH, THOMAS L., was born in North Carolina in the year 1847, being the youngest of nine chil- dren horn to Thomas W. and Mary Jane Gooch. Iu 1859 they removed to Arkansas, taking with them six of their family, Thomas L. being one of these. In 1863. he joined the Southern Army and served until the close of the war, most of the time as a scout. In 1865 he went to Texas, but remained tfiere only six months, when he went to Louisiana. After about a year in that State he returned to Pope county, Arkansas, where he resided until 18;0, when he came to California by rail and set- tled in the Los Nietos valley, where he has sinee resided. In December. 1870, he was married to Miss Alida C. Shugg. a native of Los Angeles
enunty, who was born January 22, 1854, to James and Esther Shugg, who settled in Los Angeles county in 1852. By this union they have tive children (four girls and one boy ) all living. Emma I., born Jnunary 7. 1872; Clara A., born October 11. 1873: Mary Ella, born October 26, 1875; George L., born September 22, 1877; Esther ("., born May 29, 1879. Mr. Gooch hus 38 acres of rich hottom land located between the two San Gabriel rivers, being a part of the Ranchito Rancho. A view of his place appears on another page.
GOTHARD, GEORGE. son of Isaac and Mary A. Gothard, was born in Derinda, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, February 24, 1852. 1le was born and reared on a farm, und received an education at the excel- Jent public schools of his native State. Having re- muined at the homestead until twenty-two years of age, and desiring to build up a home und property for himself, he bade adien to his friends iu 1874 and enme to live among the orange groves of California. 1le located in Westminster, and by his industry and energy, has one hundred acres of land well fenced and under a high state of cultivation, and well adapted to grazing and grain, # view of which appears in this work. Mr. Gothard was married July 3, ISTD, to Miss Elizabeth J. Edwards, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Edwards. In politics he is a firm Republican and has been reared in aml adheres to the Protestant religion. lle had the pleasure of receiving a visit front his mother, now quite an aged lady, in the fullof 1878.
GROVE, M. P., resides in Los Angeles. 1le came to California with his family from Ruy county, Missouri, in the fall of 1875, and in Jannary, 1876, commenced the improvements of his place. Hle was one of the first to adopt the system of sub- irrigation in Los Angeles county, and was so pleased with that manner of irrigating that he has had his entire grounds piped. The pipes are so conuected that he can water his whole orchard by turning the water into the pipes, or can water any row or number of rows independent of the balance. Mr. Grove claims that by the pipe sys- tem it requires only one-fifth of the water used in surface irrigation. A view of his place will be found elsewhere.
GUINN, JAMES MILLER, of Anaheim, was born November 27, 1834, in Shelby county, Ohio. Ile spent the early part of his life in assisting his father to clear a farm, western Ohio at that time being an almost nubroken forest. Three months of each winter he attended school in a little log school-house, which was his only means for gaining an education. At the age of eighteen he began teaching, having prepared him- self by studying evening» after doing a hard day's work. By teaching during vacations, manual labor, and the closest economuy, he worked his way through college, and graduated with honors. April 19, 1861, he enlisted in the army in the three- months' service, and afterwards for three years. He engaged in the West Virginia campaign under Mcclellan, and afterwards with Rosencrans. Mr. Guinn made a narrow escape from capture at the hattle of Kesler's Cross Lanes -he made his es- cape to the mountains, where he remained hive days without food. He was engaged in the battles of Winehester. I'ort Republie, Cedar Mountain. and Antietam. Losing his health through expos- ure, he was mustered out of service; he again entered under the rank of Captain, and agaiu re-
RESIDENCE OF R. F. HOUSE, POMONA , LOS ANGELES C9 CAL.
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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
tired. In November, 1863, he came to California, nnd first located in Centerville, Alumeda enuuty, where he taught school for three months. In 1864 he went to Idaho and engaged iu gold mining in the Bruse Busin for three years. Returning to California in 1867, he taught school in Livermore, and afterwards in Pleasanton, Alameda county. He went East in 1868; returned in 1869, and com. menced teaching in Anaheim October 22d of that vear and has continued until the present time. Hle first taught in a small adobe building and had twenty pupils. There is now a fine school build- ing, and an attendnnee of two hundred pupils. Four tenchers are employed. A view of the Ana- heim school, alan of Mr. Guinn's residence will be found on auother page.
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