USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 64
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MONTGOMERY, HI. L., was born in Brookfield, Trumbull county, Ohio, January 1, 1834. He worked on his father's farm until he was eighteen years of age. February 16. 1852, in company with ten others he left his native home for California. They went to New York with the intention of going by the way of the Isthmus, hut not heing ahle to procure passage by that route, they sailed
RESIDENCE OF P. BOWERS, ORANGE . LOS ANGELES C9 CAL. .
PUBLISHIO DI THOMPSON & WEST.
181
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
March 2d on the clipur Grecian viu Cape Horn. After being out forty-one days they made their first stop at Rio Janeiro, remaining at that port seven days. The next stop was made at Talen- huano. Chili, where they remained twelve days, and sailed for San Francisco, arriving in that city August 12. 1852. Mr. Montgomery started at once for the mines, where he remained several months, hut not being successful he went to Yuha City, Sut ter county, and engaged in supplying steam-boats with woud, in company with Ira II. Wood. Ile con- tinned in the wood business until 1855, and engaged in stock raising. January 1, 1857, he married Mrs. MI. B. Spregle, of Ynba City. In 1866 he sold his stock farm in Sutter county, and moved to Ukialı Valley, Mendocino county, where he remained two years and came to Los Angeles county, where he has since resided. He bonght the place, a view of which will be found on another page, in 1871. Mr. Montgomery's post-office address is Dowuey City.
MORA, RIGHT REV. FRANCIS, Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles; was horn at Vich, in the Province of Barcelona, Spain. November 25, 1827. At three years of age his parents died. In dnc time he entered the Episco- pal Seminary at Vich, where he remained until 1854, engaged in the studies of Latin, Theology, and Philosophy. In the last-named year, the late lamented Bishop Amat (of this diocese) visited Vich, aud upon his return to America young Mr. Mora accompquied him. He went first to Missouri, where he spent some time in familiarizing himself with the English language. In 1855 he came to California, and on March 19th of the following year. at Santa Barbara, was duly invested with sacred orders, and appointed to the pastorate of the parish of Monterey. Subsequently he offici- ated at San Juan, and afterward at San Luis Obispo. In December, 1862, the parish of Los An- geles having heen left withont a pastor by the death of Father Raho, Father Mora was appointed thereto. July 25, 1866, l'ather Mora was elevated to the dignity of Vienr General. May 20, 1873, by a Pontificial Bull, his late Holiness, Pope Pins IX,, elected Father Mora coadjutor of Right Rev. Thaddeus Amat, with the right of succes. sion in chief to the Episcopal Sec. August 3d fol- lowing, at the old mission church in Los Angeles, in the presence of a vast crowd, the imposing cere- mony of conseeration was performed hy Bishop Amat. Upon the death of the last-named Bishop, May 12, 1878, Bishop Mora assumed the full pow- ers thereby devolving upon him. Los Augeles has been an Episcopal See since 1859, iu which year the Bishop's permanent residence was there established. The Cathedral of St. Vibiana (a view of which appears in this volume) was com- inenced in 1871, the foundation stone being laid in June nf that year. The Cathedral was dedi- rated June 30, 1876, by Bishop Mora, and is counted the most elegant religious structure upon the Pacific const. The plan of the building was patterned after the church of San Miguel del l'uerto at Barcelona, Spain. The main building covers a space eighty hy one hundred and sixty feet, and the total cost (including the grounds) was about cighty thousand dollars.
MORTON, MARY A. William Mortou and Mary A. Moore were both natives nf Oswego county, New York. The former was born in the year 1810, and the latter in 1819. They were married
in 1834. In one year a son was born to them, two months after which they moved to Lenawee county, Michigan, where they resided until 1843, here two children were horn, and their chle-t child died. In 1843 they removed to Marshall, Michigan, where they lived l'or sixteen years, bere two children were horn, and one of their eldest children died. In 1859 Mr. and Mrs. Morton with three children started across the jdains for California, for the benefit of Mr. Morton's health. They were joined by a number of families from Marshall. The party hrst went to St. Lonis, where they purchased their outfit and then went to St. Joseph, where they joined # train of about one hundred and fifty wagons. They made a stop of two weeks at Salt Lake City to recruit-here Mr. Morton was com- pelled ta sell some of their goods -- four of their horses having died on the road from the effects of idkali, prevented them from taking their goods to their destination. They arrived in Stockton in September, 1859, and a few months later Mr. Mor- ton rented a farm located about nine miles from Stacktan, where he remained until the next l'all. when he purchased a farm of one Immered and sixty acres adjoining the rented land, stocking it and building u honsc. Here their youngest child. a daughter, was born, and soon after their youngest sou died. Iu 1867, Mrs. Morton's health failing, they decided to prospect for a new home in south- ern California. Being favorably impressed with Los Angeles county, they located near the present city of Compton. Mr. Morton's first selection for a farm was on tro low ground, and they sulfered from the effects of dronghts. He, however, purchased one hundred and sixty acres on what is known as "The Hill," aud built a comfortable home, soou after, homes were built for their two sons, the eldest of whom has held various public ofhees. at one time was one of the Board of Supervisors. MIr. Morton died in 1874, being sick only a few days. Mrs. Morton still resides at the house huilt hy her husband. A view of the property will he found on another page.
MULLALLY, JOSEPH, resides in Los Angeles, wus born in Cincinnati, Ohio, December 18, 1826. Ile crossed the plains in 1850, and arrived in San Francisco the same year, where he commenced the manufacture of bricks, which he continued until 1854, when he removed to Los Angeles, and again resumed the brick business, which he is still engaged in. In 1857 he was elected a member of the Los Angeles City Conneil, aud has been a member of that body during four different terms. The residence of Mr. Mullally is situated on the corner of Buena Vista and College streets, is one of the finest residences in the city of Los Angeles. The grounds have a frontage of one hundred and eighty-five feet on Buena Vista street aud two hun- dred aud eighty-five feet on College, and contain a fine bearing orchard, consisting of orange, lemon, pear, apple trees, etc. A view of his place will be found on another page.
NADEAU. R., has resided iu Los Angeles, since 1862. lle did husiuess, freighting in Mon- tana and Nevada for three years. In 1865. com- menced freighting hetween Los Angeles and Inyo county mines. At one time had as bigh as seveu- ty-two head of oxen hauling freight. Water and grass being very scarce, he was compelled to give up the oxen and use mules, and at one time ran twenty-seven teams of fourteen head each from Los Angeles to Inyo county mines and Kernville. The
following note which appeared in the Los Angeles Neues under date of September 5, 1871. will give some idea of the extent nf the business he carried OD :- " This enterprising man has for years past spent from three to four hundred dollars per day in Los Angeles. He has given employment to more men. and purchased more produce, and introduced more trade into Los Angeles than any other five men in the city." In June, 1873, he established a company called the Cerro Gordo Freighting Company, composed of honself, E. Judson and M. W. Relchard (the latter two of San Francisco). The object being to freight hetween Los Angeles and the Cerro Gordo mines. The company have had as high as eight hundred head of mnles ot work at one time-two hundred thousand dollars being invested. The company has now uhant five hundred head of mules in actual work, freighting between the Mojave and the Inyo mines and iu Arizona. They also hanl large quantities of horax from the borax lake in San Bernardino county. They own a large store, comprising n general stock, at Resting Springs in San Bernar- dino conuty; also own a large steam mill at Mojave. Mr. Nadeau is general superintendent of the whole business. llis latest cuterprise is the erection of u large heet sugar mill, which promises to be one of the largest industries in Los Angeles county. The mill is located about eight miles from Los Angeles, near Florence, and adjoins the railroad. About eleven hundred acres have been planted in heets in the vicinity of the mill, prin- cipally by Mr. Nadeau. That this enterprise will prove a success, there is no doubt. Hle lins also several large tracts in wheat and barley, also an orange grove cuutaining eighty acres. A view of his residence will be found on another page.
NADEAU, MRS. MARTHA F., was horu in Con. cord, New Hampshire, in 1820. She was the second child of Amos and Laura Frye, who had a family of eleven children; and her father still lives at the ripe old age of eighty-three. lle is a pensioner of the war of 1812. Mrs. Nadeaa was married in 1844 to R. Nadeau, Esq., of Los Angeles. Seven children were horu to them, of whom four are now living: three married, and one (a son) still unmarried and living with her at her present residence. Her home property consists of one hundred and sixty acres, beautifully laid nut and improved. being largely planted with euca- lyptus trees. She has here also a good orchard nl apples, pears, and peaches, also a small vineyard. There are some fine Jersey and Durham cattle on the place. A view of the residence appears in the body of this work.
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NEWMARK. H , of H. Newmark & Co., Los Angeles, is a native of Prussia. lle was born in the city of Loehaue, July 16, 1834. In 1853 he came to the United States, aud direct to Los Angeles where he arrived Octoher 21st of that year, and was em- ployed by his brother (J. P. Newmark who came tn Los Augeles iu 1851 and removed to San Fran. eisco in 1855, where he now resides), who was in the dry goods business. He continued with his hrother for one year, when he went into the same business on his own account. He engaged in the mercantile business alone until 1860. Iu 1865 he founded the present firm of H. Newmark & Cn .. dealers iu groceries, hardware, hides, wool, etc., etc. Samnel Cobn, who died in 1871, was his first partner. In 1866 Kasper Cohn hecame a partner,
and, subsequently, M. A. Newmark became one of the firm. M .J. Newmark, of San Francisco. was also interested in the tirm from 186; to LS79. when he retired. The property known as the Temple Block was purchased hy HI. Newmark & C'a. in 1877, for which they paid one hundred and thirty -me thousand dollars. The main portion of this strneture was built in Isto, that portion facing the Coort Honse being built in ESOT. . A view of this fine block, which will give a better idea of the editice than can be described, will be found on another page. HE. Newmurk was married . in 1858 to Miss Farah Newmark. They have had ten children, five of whom are now living. Although Mr. Newmark has been offered high positions of trust in public office, he has never accepted, pre- ferring to keep entirely out of politics.
O'NEILL JOHN S. Los Angeles, was born in Ire. land in the year 1839. Emigrated to the I'nited States, arriving in New York in 1855. He came to California in Isay and romainel until 1874. when he went Kast. Returned in December of the same year with the intention of making a home in Los Angeles county, and with what wuje. ces may ke aren hy the view of his property, which will be found on another page
POTTS, A. W .. resides in Los Angeles; was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1831. Went to lowa in 1846 where he remained until 1850, when he came to California, where he has since resided. He came to Los Angeles county in 1801 and engaged in the forwarding business ut San Pedro and Wihaington, after which he came to Los Angeles in the employ of the Los Angeles aud San Pedro Railroad Commmy. In 18;t ho was elected to the atlice of County Clerk, which position he has since hekdl. A view of Mr. Pott's residence will be found on another page.
PUTNEY. A. E., resides at Florence; is n native of New Hampshire: was born March 27, 1827. When lir was nine years of age he went with bis parents to Massachusetts. At the age of seventeen he learned the machinist trade and worked at the same in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts. until 1×49, when he sailed from Boston on the ship Cep- itof For California, me Cape Horn and arrived Inly 19, 1849. In 1819 atel 1850 he was in the mining districts, since which time he has engaged in u variety of ocenpodtions-carpentering, contracting, farming, blacksmithing and artesian- well boring. In the latter business he has been very successful and has probably bored moore artesian wells than any other person in the State. In 1854 he hored the first flowing well in Alameda county. A view of his property will be found in this work.
REISER, THEODORE, Anaheim, was horu Septem- ber 7, 1829, in the city of Lahr, Graud Dutchy of Banden. llis parents were John Daniel and F'red- erica Reiser, natives of that pdace. When Mr. Reiser was three years of age, his parents removed to Freiburg, his father fwho was an officer under the Government) heing stationed at that jdace. Here Mr. Reiser was educated in the Normal school. After completing his education he learned the coopering and brewing trades, then traveled for some time in Switzerland for information and pleasure. In 1849 he emigrated to the L'uited States and lauded at New York, where he remained four years. lu December, 1853, he left there for San Francisco ria the Nicaragua route, and
182
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
arrived in the latter city January 11, 1854. Ilere lie soon found employment in a small brewery on Broadway atmve Stockton street, where he re- mained about two months, after which he entered into an engagement with Mr. Jacob Gaudlach, proprietor of the Bavaria brewery. He continued nearly three years with Mr. Gandlach, and then through his kindness secured u situation as busi- uess manager of an extensive brewery at Columbia, Tuolumne county, where he remained for ten months. lle then rented a brewery and began business for himself at Springheld, about one and a half miles from Columbia. On September 3, 1857, Mr. Reiser was married to Miss A. Thiele, daugh- ter of Frolerick and Rosa Thicle. Mrs. Reiser way born in the city of Gnerfurt in 1821. In 1857 Mr. Reiser united with Mr. Jacob Hantiner, his brother-in-law, and organized the Los Angeles Vineyard Society, In August, 1860, Mr. Reiser disposed of his interest in the brewery, and removed to Anaheim, where he arrived September 18th fol- lowing and immediately began the manufacture of wine from grapes, which he purchased there front Mr. Thomas Scully, of Old Santa Ana. This was the first wine made at Anaheim. Ile also erected the first still in that place and distilled the first brandy. In 1863, Mrs. Reiser's health failed and he took her to San Francisco for med- ienl treatment, Ilis residener and other buildings were all crected by day's labor, to secure substan. tial work. His dwelling is a two-story brick, forty- eight hy twenty-four, with veranda running com- pletely around it. Ilis cellar is cleven feet deep. While absent from home, Mr. Reiser's brother-in- luiw took charge of the property. Ile returned in the fall of' 1864. and the following year bought out his brother-in-law's interest. lie has since conducted the business alone. Mr. and Mrs. Reiser have never lind any children of their own, but in 1869 they adopted Eminin, a bright little girl of niue yenra. March 3, 1874, their adopted daughter died suddenly. In 1874 Mr. Reiser erected the the brewery known now as Hine's brewery, aud on February 16, 1875. made the first beer therein. ITe sold the establishment September 28, 1876, to Thomas P. Hines, Mr. Reiser is a member of the Masonic Lodge at Anaheim (No. 287. F. & A. M.). of which he was one of the original members, and took an active part in the organization of the lodge. Hle was Master of this lodge for four years in snc- cession, and was then re-elected. He was also Treasurer for a year and a half. Mr. Reiser is a Royal Arch Mason. In polities he is a Republican, in religion, a Protestant.
SEIBERT. B. F., of Anaheim, cashier of the Bank of Avabeim, is a native of Pennsylvania; was born in Kast Hanover Township, Lebanon county, Sep- tember 11, 1838. He lived in the State until 1864, working on n farm nuti! he was sixteen years of nge, when he went to the town of Berryshurg. Dau- phin county, where he commenced an apprentice- ship of three years at iron moulding, after which he continued his trade in the cities of Philadel- phin and Harrisburg until the outbreak of the late civil war. He enlisted at the first call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thousand men for three months, and afterwards enlisted in the Signal Corps, remaining iu that branch of the service until the termination of the war in Angust, 1865. In October of that year Mr. Seihert went to the Vineland Colony in New Jersey, and located at Mille- velle, working at bis trade until the fall of 1871,
when he started for the far West. He was in the employ of Wells, Fargo & Co., at Ogden, Utah, Reno, Nevada, San Francisco and San Diego. MIr. Seihert came to Anaheim in 1816, where he has since resided. Ile was married at the age of twenty. A view of his home is published in this work.
SHAFFER, P. J., of Orange, is a native of Virginia. Was born in Hampshire county, in that State, in 1823, In 1830, with his father he moved to Illi- nois, where his father engaged in farming for eight years, and in 1838 emigrated again, this time going to lowa. Mr. Shaffer left Iowa for California April 20, 1852, and arrived in Nevada City September 8th of the same year, and engaged in mining. This he continued For six months, and then went to Plumas county, where he went into partnership with his brother of # ranch, and continued nntil 1866, when he removed to Honey Lake, Lassen connty, and again engaged in ranching. In 1868 he located in the Sacramento valley, where he re- mained until 1870, and removed to Los Angeles county, where he has since resided, engaged in raising semi-tropical Irnits. Mr. Shaffer has one hundred and ninety aeres, one hundred and sixty here's of which is under cultivation, thirty acres being planted in fruit, including one thousand six hundred orange trees, two hundred lemon, one hundred lime, three hundred almond, four hun- dred apple, five hundred peach, fifteen plun, twelve cherry, nine apricot, five nectarine, one linndred fig, fifty walunt, four Japanese per-im- nw3, besides a nursery stock of two thousand five hundred trees, and six hundred ornamental trees. Mr. Shaffer was married in 1870, and has one child. A view of his place will be found on auother page.
SHIELDS, GENERAL JOHN HOWARD, of Flor" ence, was born in Sevierville, Tennessee, Septem- ber 15, 1829. ]le is of the north Ireland Scotch- Irish Shields family His relatives iuelude many distinguished persons, among whom may be men- tioned Tilghman Howard, M. C., and President James Buchanan. Both his grandfathers were Revolutionary officers under Washington; both declined pensions, and hoth freed their slaves. Gen. Shields is of the alumni of' Holston College. Cincinnati, Ohio: was duly admitted to practice law in that State, and was a member of the Cin- cinnati Bar for several years. He pioncered the foundry, machine shops, ship yard, coal wiiuing. transportation, cte., which awoke Knoxville, Ten- nessce, from a village to a city. llc was a Direc- tor. and at one time President of the Union Bank of Tennessee (capital five million dollars). He was a planter in the south, and is now a prominent rancher in Los Angeles county. lie married Miss M. A. McMillan at her home in Knoxville, Ten- nessee, January 5, 1852. Mrs. Shields is a grad- uate of East Tennessee Female Institute. Her father ( Andrew McMillan) was a lawyer and bank- er. Her mother was lineally descended from the English Spencers, of the family of three earls, aud from the Stovins of Axholme, whose estates date back a thousand years of hereditary succession. ller grand unele fa portion of whose Cincinnati estate she now holds by inheritance) was Wm. Mc- Millan, a Virginian, who, with twenty other men, founded the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was Ohio's first United States District Attorney-Gen- eral, and was the second delegate in Congress from that State, and the donor of the lot on which
stands the Masonic Temple of McMillan Lodge, Third street, Cincinnati. Gen, Shiells came to C'alifornia in 1874. Has six children living, und two dead. \ view of his property will he found in this work.
SHORB. J. DE BARTII, San Marino, post-oflice San Gabriel, is a native of Maryland. After leaving Alt. St. Mary's College of Emmitsburg, Maryland, he commeneed the study of law with his cousin, W. W. Dallas (nephew of the late George M. Dal- lası which he continued for a short time, and then engaged in active business of farming and milling, and was a successful man at the age of twenty-two years. Ile came to California in 1864, and was soon after appointed assistant Superintendent of the Philadelphia and California Petroleum Com- pany, a corporation of Col. T. A. Scott's crention. The company, after a large expenditure of money in developing the oil interests, proved unsnecess- I'nl. Mr. Shorb, having invested in the enterprise, was a heavy loser, wherenpon he resigned his posi- tion, and accepted a civil appointment in the Rugineer Corps, United States Army. Ile was again appointed Superintendent of the Philadel- phia and California Petroleum Company, which office lie hield until they discontinued. He then commenced work in acquiring title to the Temes- eal grant, known as the San Teleciana placers and developing the water on same. While engaged in this work he married the eldest daughter of the late llon. B. D. Wilson. Soon after his marriage he engaged in the wine business in company with other parties. In 1876 they extended their bil-i. ness to San Francisco, and soon afterwards estab- lished a branch house in New York. They then extended their enterprise to foreign countries, hay- ing correspondents in Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Central America, England and Scotland. Withdrawing from the firm, he entered into partnership with his father-in-law, which con- tinued until his (Mr. Wilson's) death. Ile then commenced iruprovements on his place by cutting up the lands and increasing the vineyards and orange groves, and also in developing the water system. The latter work was all done under Mr. Shorb's supervision, and is without doubt the finest arranged water system to be found in California. Mr. Shorb is a member of the Chamber of Con- merce: was Chairman of the merchants' committee of "fifteen: is President of the Lake Vineyard Land and Water Association, which controls the finest lands in the San Gabriel valley. A view of Mr. Shorh's residence will be found in this work.
SNOW, HIRAM K., was born in New Hampshire November 15, 1824. When eighteen years of age he came to California on the clipper ship W'itch of the Ware, serving before the mast. He at once went to the mines, and worked in Calaveras and Mariposa counties until 1856, when he returned East and settled in Osage, Iowa, where he was mar- ried, on the 3d of October. 1858, to Miss Cynthia O. Downs, daughter of Dr. E. M. Downs, of Osage. In the spring of 1859 he moved to Bandera county,
Texas, where he followed stock- raising until the spring of 1861. He then went overland through Mexico to Guaymas, and from there went to Kan Francisco by steamer, arriving in October. He lived there until 1863, and then moved to Vallejo. and engaged in merchandising. He was elected County Recorder of Solano county for the year- 1870-71, aud in 1>77 disposed of his husiness, and
came to Tustin ('ity, in this county, in January, 1878, where he had previously purchased a half interest in the old Tustin Ranch, A view of this place, uow known as the Aliso Orange Grove, can be seen on another page of this work. This place is situated one und one-half miles from Santa Ana, and contains sixty acres of laml. Upon it are nearly four thousand orange trees, three hundred lemon, four hundred English walut, ten thousand grape vines, besides four hundred, apple, pear. pench, apricot, plin, and other fine fruit trees.
STEPHENS, D. G. The subject of this sketch was horn in Morris county, New Jersey, in the year 1835. He remained there until he was twenty-one years of age, when he moved to Princeton, Burcan county, Illinois, and engaged in farming. Ile remained there three years, until 1859, when he crossed the plains for California with an ox-teamn. and arrived on the coast in the same year. Soon after he commenced placer mining in El Dorado county, and followed the business for nhont two years. He then moved to Los Angeles county and again engaged in mining in the San Gabriel canon. He continued his mining operations there for about one year, and then moved to the city of Los Angeles, where he has since resided. lle was engaged in various pursuits until the year 1868 when he commenced the livery stable business, und has followed the same ever since. . In 1871 he was married in Los Angeles to Mrs. E. T. Dowling, who is a native of New Portland, Mainc. Mr. Stephens' first livery business location was on the corner of Spring and Second streets, remaining there for seven years, when he moved his plice of business to the present location, corner Temple and New High streets A view of his fine stable will be found in another part of this work. Mr. Stephens understands his business thoroughly und is always prepared to furnish first-class rigs. He has in his stable a I'nll line of A t carriages, buggies, fine horses, etc. Post-oflice address, Los Angeles.
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