USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume III > Part 28
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Judge Crawford first married, in Kemper County, Mississippi, Miss Martha Rush, a native of Mississippi, and they had seven children, namely : Virginia, who died of yellow fever; Mrs. J. A. Montgomery, who is a resident of Rivera, California; Terrell R., who is a resident of Downey; Julia A., who is mentioned at length below; M. D., who was a merchant, recently died at Alhambra, California; William D., who is deceased ; and James A., who is a retired capitalist of Memphis, Tennessee. The first Mrs. Crawford died in 1872. Judge Crawford married for his second wife Mrs. Belle Howard, a native of Arkansas, in 1873. She survived her husband, but died in 1900.
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Julia A. Crawford was born in De Kalb, Mississippi, in 1852, and was carefully educated in the schools of her native city and those of Paris, Ten- nessee. In 1871 she was married to I. N. Cochran, born at Huntsville, Alabama, in 1841. Coming to California, he became one of the prosperous ranchers of the Los Nietos Valley, and also served as a justice of the peace for many years. His death occurred in December, 1904. Like his father-in-law, Mr. Cochran played an important part in the early life of Downey, and he was especially capable in his official capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran had six children born to them, namely: Ula, who is Mrs. C. B. Porter, of Los Angeles; Irene, who is Mrs. W. R. Pollard, of Los Angeles ; J. D., who resides at Downey; Lillian C., who married Perry J. Purbeek, a teacher in the Downey High School; Duke Crawford, who is a resident of Eagle Park, California ; and May, who died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Cochran is very proud of the records made by her father and husband, and enjoys nothing better than reviewing their lives and deeds, and recalling conditions during the days when the history of Downey was in the making. The most important men of the period were almost daily visitors at the Crawford home, and Mrs. Cochran was privileged to meet and know them, and especially ex-Governor Downey, between whom and her father existed not only the bonds of a business partnership, but those of a strong and mutual friendship.
HARPER K. WILLIS. The growth and development of any community is largely dependent upon the exertions of those men who devote them- selves to the exploitation of real estate. Without their energy, vim and progressive ideas no locality will move out of the conventional rut, out- side money will not be attracted to it, and property will show but little annual increase in value. With the advent of an enterprising, experienced man well versed in the realty business comes a growth that is remarkable. Many years have passed since the initial work in this line was done in the older portions of Los Angeles County, but the needs of this very impor- tant section of California have made necessary a constant expansion of the smaller communities, while the maintenance of property already built is extremely important. So it is that the work of the realtor is accounted as being among the most important forces of the county. One of the men whose name is associated with important work in this field is Harper K. Willis, senior member of the real estate firm of Willis & Colodny, 3161/2 Santa Monica Boulevard, Sawtelle.
Harper K. Willis was born in Delaware County, Ohio, November 25, 1857, and his educational training was obtained in the excellent public schools of his native county and the college at Battle Creek, Michigan. A man of strong religious convictions, Mr. Willis entered the ministry, and until 1913 was a most eloquent and faithful pastor of the Adventist faith, but in that year realized that too close application to his exacting duties had impaired his health, and he decided to seek in other fields the means of providing for his family, although he has never entirely relinquished his interests in religious work, and still maintains his mem- bership with the church of his choice.
In 1913 he came to Sawtelle and entering the employ of Robert Marsh & Company, and was associated with that reliable firm in extensive sub- division work, in which he gained a thorough and practical training in the work for which he is so admirably fitted. In 1919 he severed his pleasant connections with this firm to establish himself in business, at his present location, with Harry Harris as his partner, the firm being Harris & Willis. This association continued until August 1, 1922, when Mr. Harris retired, and I. Colodny became Mr. Willis' partner, the new firm becoming Willis & Colodny. The firm handles a general line of real estate, nego- tiates loans, collects rents, and sells insurance, in the latter department representing some of the best of the old-line insurance companies of the world. In addition to the partners two persons are kept busy handling the business of this flourishing firm. The reliability of both of the gentle-
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men is unquestioned, and their connection with a development project is considered a guarantee of its soundness and value as a good investment. Mr. Willis is a valued member of the Sawtelle Realty Board, and the Sawtelle Chamber of Commerce.
On December 9, 1880, Mr. Willis married Miss Ida M. Pickering, born in Logan County, Ohio, and they have two children, namely: Lena May, who is at home; and Orpha, who is the wife of J. H. Munns, of Sawtelle. Giving liberally, although usually where his gifts are known only to himself and the receivers of his benefactions, Mr. Willis has always proven the sincerity of his religious professions, and has always taken great pleasure in being of use to others. No man is truer or deeper in his attachments to family, friends and community. He is a Christian gentleman, honorable business man and good citizen, and his influence at all times upon his locality and associates is of the most uplifting character. His careful methods and honorable dealings have been rewarded by a prosperity that is well-deserved. His kindly, human interest in his asso- ciates and employes makes his success a source of great gratification. His estimate' of himeslf is a modest one, and all of his kind deeds are done with such unostentatiousness that one scarcely realizes how much has been accomplished in civic betterment by this good man, who has not ceased to be a minister of souls although he has left the pulpit.
HARRY H. MAYBERRY was a resident of California from his early childhood until his death, which occurred at his beautiful home, 1117 North Stoneman Avenue, Alhambra, on the 28th of November, 1920. A man of splendid initiative and executive ability, he had to do with the development and upbuilding of business enterprises of broad scope and importance, and achieved substantial financial success. Guided and gov- erned by high ideals, he was true and loyal in all of the relations of life and commanded the unqualified confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Concerning the family history adequate record is given on other pages of this work, in the personal sketch of Edward L. Mayberry, Jr.
Mr. Mayberry was born in the City of Bangor, Maine, on the 1st of May, 1867, and was three years of age when he came with his mother to California. Harry Mayberry's father was George Wing, a native of Bangor, Maine. Mrs. Wing and her son came to California in 1869 or 1870, and she married Mr. Mayberry, who legally adopted Harry as his own son. Harry H. Mayberry attended the University of California from 1885 to 1889. He had previously graduated from the Los Angeles High School, the family home having been established in the present beautiful suburban City of Alhambra in the year 1878. For a long term of years Mr. Mayberry was a successful traveling salesman for the Union Hard- ware & Metal Company, one of the representative commercial concerns of Los Angeles. In 1897 he became an interested principal in the Hispolito Screen Company, and later equal success attended his association with the real estate business in connection with which he was prominently identi- fied with the development of various sub-divisions. He finally purchased the basic patents of the Bond Weighing Machine, in the development of which he later became the controlling stockholder and active manager of the Bond Automatic Scale Company. He gradually purchased the stock of this corporation until he became the owner of the business, in which he invested many thousands of dollars in the developing and perfecting of the device. Under his supervision the machine was brought to the high- est standard of efficiency and accuracy, and in its manufacture he devel- oped a wide and substantial sale. The exactions of the large and pros- perous business and other interests finally led Mr. Mayberry to sell his patents and rights in the scale company to the E. D. Anderson Company of New York City, and thereafter he lived virtually retired until his death. Mr. Mayberry was a republican in political allegiance and was influential in the ranks of the party in California, which state he represented as a presidential elector at large at the time of the election of President Taft.
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In the Masonic fraternity he attained to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, and he had the distinction of serving as master of Pentalpha Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Los Angeles, this lodge, one of the oldest in the state, having been instituted on the day of his birth.
The land for the beautiful home which he provided for his family at Alhambra was purchased in 1904, and he erected on the same the present modern and attractive house, among the fine old live-oak trees, the home being still the abiding place of his widow and daughter.
Mr. Mayberry was a thorough business man of exceptional ability, was known for his integrity in all the relations of life and for his high civic ideals. He was an earnest advocate of clean politics, and while he never consented to become a candidate for public office he was a valued worker in the ranks of his party. He was a charter member of the University Club of Los Angeles, and continued his active affiliations therewith until his death.
In the year 1894 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Mayberry and Miss Beatrice Davis, who was born at Joliet, Illinois, October 19, 1867, a daughter of J. W. H. Davis, a representative physician and surgeon of that city who died in 1876. Mr. Mayberry is survived by one daughter, Beatrice W., who was born in Los Angeles, August 3, 1896, and who attended the University of California and graduated from Leland Stan- ford University, in which latter she was a member of the class of 1919. Miss Mayberry is a young woman of exceptional ability as a mathemati- cian, and at the time of this writing she has the distinction of being a mem- ber of the staff of the celebrated Mount Wilson Observatory, one of the greatest astronomical observatories in the United States and, indeed, in the world, this institution having contributed much to the cultural prestige of California.
LOUIS MESMER was born in the village of Surburg, Canton Sulz, Alsace, France, February 20, 1829. He was one of a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls, born to Joseph and Barbara Merkel Mesmer. In the winter months in his boyhood days he attended school, while the greater portion of his time was taken up in assisting the family in the culti- vation of the various strips of farming land owned by his parents, and the harvesting of the crops. At the age of fourteen he took an apprenticeship in a bakery in the town of Hagenau, about fourteen miles distant, and after serving four years he went to Strassburg, where he started a bakery. This flourished and soon his business was sought. Selling out at a good profit, he moved to the City of Colmar with a view of opening a bakery, but on arriving there he changed his mind, deciding to visit his two sisters who were living in Paris, the wonder city he had heard so much about. After a few days spent seeing the sights of Paris and visiting with his sisters he concluded to go to Havre, with the ultimate view of coming to the United States. At Havre he established himself in the making of doughnuts. In this enterprise he met with marvelous success, and soon he had several offers for the purchase of his doughnut shop. The offers were so tempting that he decided it was best to sell and to cast his future luck in America. Embarking on the first sailing vessel carrying passengers, and after a stormy and tempestuous voyage of more than three months he arrived at New York. From New York he went to visit relatives at Syra- cuse and thence to Buffalo, where lived his cousin, Michael Mesmer, a prominent business man. Not being able to talk the English language, he accepted a journeyman's position. After he fairly advanced himself in speaking English he went to Cincinnati and thence to Dayton, Ohio, where resided a number of his home village friends. After a short stay at Dayton he went to Tippecanoe City, Miami County, Ohio, where resided his elder brother, Caspar Mesmer. In Tippecanoe City he opened a bakery, and after he had successfully established himself he married Miss Cath- erine Forst, in December, 1854. Having heard of the wonderful gold discoveries in California, he in 1858 left Tippecanoe for California via
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rail to New York and by steamer via the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco. Upon his arrival at San Francisco the Calavares and Moko- lumme Hill gold excitements were at their height, which attracted him to these diggings, and while there he was informed of wonderful rich discoveries being made in Carriboo, British Columbia. Returning to San Francisco, he took the steamer for Victoria and thence to Carriboo. His mining ventures proved to be failures, due to non experience in mining or ill luck. Returning to Victoria, he obtained employment from the British Government as post baker for troops that were stationed at Fort Esquimalt. The bread he made became so famous and so pleasing to the English officials that when he decided to establish a bakery in Victoria they favored him by furnishing him, at a reduced price, flour for baking purposes. The bakery did an excellent business and soon he was besieged with tempting offers and, owing to his wife and family being back in Tippecanoe City, he decided to sell and left for San Francisco. Upon arriving at San Francisco he wrote for his family, consisting of wife and son Joseph, to meet him at San Francisco, and while awaiting their arrival he took temporary em- ployment as pastry baker on one of the steamers which plyed between San Francisco and Panama. Upon arrival of his family in San Francisco, and after several weeks stay, he upon the advise of a friend, came to Los Angeles, arriving here in the early part of August, 1859. He and his family stopped at the Lafayette Hotel (where now stands the St. Elmo), which was conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Louis Eberhardt, famed for their generous hospitality and through their solicitous kindness Mr. Mesmer was induced to locate here.
Los Angeles then had a population of about 3,000 inhabitants, about 1,000 Digger Indians, 1,400 Mexicans and 600 white people. Los Angeles was a regular frontier town, wide open in all licenses of sports, and gambling, horse racing, bull, bear and cock fighting and dancing were the main entertainments. It was in every sense a lively berg. Money was easy, and for those who knew how to make money and save it was their opportunity.
After sizing up general conditions he decided to purchase the Ulyard Bakery, located on the southwest corner of Main and First streets, where now stands the Natick House. In less than a year he had captured the best patrons in the city. Upon a wager with some of his Jewish friends he proved to them that he could make Passover bread. He was the first baker who made this bread, for previously thereto it had been shipped here from San Francisco.
After conducting the Ulyard Bakery for two years he sold it to Mr. James Rowan at a good advance and later purchased the New York Bakery from Peter Balz and Henry Kuhn, located near the southwest corner of Main and Third streets. At the outbreak of the war, on account of the strong leanings of the white population towards the South, the Government dispatched a regiment of California soldiers under Col. Carl- ton to Los Angeles, stationing them on the Ballona Ranch, immediately southwest of Culver City. The military quarters were known as Camp Leighton. He secured the bread contract from the Government, and he thereupon built an adobe bake oven and frame bakery at the camp, in which he baked bread and pastries for the soldiers and the ranchers resid- ing nearby. Having a good opportunity to sell, he sold the New York Bakery, which had grown to considerable proportions, and then moved to near the southwest corner of Los Angeles and Commercial streets, remain- ing there about six months, when he moved to Main Street, opposite the present Federal postoffice and courthouse. This being a central location, he soon did a thriving business. In 1863 the soldiers were transferred to Highland Park, on the grounds formerly occupied by the Occidental College. After the soldiers removed from Camp Leighton he furnished them the bread from his Los Angeles Bakery.
In the summer of 1863, through the lure of excitement and change, he and his friend, Mr. Yander, fitted out a seven span prairie schooner and
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a trailer, which they loaded with groceries and provisions to sell to miners in Arizona mining camps. The expedition was full of hopes of a profitable venture, but proved a failure of the worst possible type, for not only did they lose all the profits gained, but the death of all their animals caused by the poisoning of a water well by a jealous trader. Abandoning their wagons and salvage they struck out on foot across the desert for the nearest stage line station, from which point passage was secured to Los Angeles.
While Mr. Mesmer was away on the trading venture Mrs. Mesmer conducted the bakery. Mrs. Mesmer's business success during this interval proved so successful that with the money that she had stored up they were able to buy the United States Hotel. Mrs. Mesmer, said, "Here I am going to stay and no more moving for me, for a rolling stone gathers no moss. We have been in Los Angeles four years and this is our fifth move and it will be my last one."
In the five and a half years which they conducted the United States Hotel they popularized it, due largely in a great measure to Mrs. Mesmer's untiring efforts to please and serve the patrons. As the traveling public became aware of the special service that was obtainable they flocked to this hotel in greater numbers than it was possible to accommodate, obliging the turning away of hundreds of would-be guests. With five and a half years earnings they were able to buy one piece of property after the other until they had purchased 142 feet on Main Street, erecting thereon as their income permitted a two-story brick building with storerooms below and bed rooms above. During their conduct of the hotel it attained the reputation far and wide of serving the best meals and having the best beds.
In the spring of 1869 they leased the hotel to Messrs. Adams and Gray, and decided to visit their native land, taking with them their children. Joseph and Tony were placed in the College of Strassburg, while their daughter, Christina, accompanied her parents in their travels and visits to various European cities and places. The strained relations between France and Germany in the spring of 1870, which resulted in a war, hastened the family's return to Los Angeles.
In 1871 he purchased the Dr. R. T. Hayes home on Fort Street, now Broadway, between First and Second streets, where now stands the Mason Opera House. The family lived in this home for over twenty years. In 1873 he purchased the property on the southwest corner of Los Angeles and Requena, now Market Street, from Don Manuel Requena, on which he built a two-story brick building which was joined and made the easterly part of the hotel building.
In 1874, at the request of Rt. Rev. Bishop Thadeus Amat and his co- adjutor, Bishop Francis Mora, he took full charge in the erection and building of the Cathedral on Main Street, near Second Street. He not only superintended the work, but while under construction he solicited thou- sands of dollars in donations towards its completion.
In 1876 he and his wife visited the Centennial Exposition at Philadel- phia, and also paid a visit to their eastern friends and relatives of days gone by.
In 1880 Andrew Geiger put down for him at his residence the first piece of concrete sidewalk laid in Los Angeles. For doing this concrete work the owners of the Schillinger Patent Concrete Paving Company swore out a warrant for his arrest for infringement on their patent rights. As the only Federal Court in the state was located in San Francisco, he was obliged to go to San Francisco to defend himself and incident thereto his attorneys, White and Hazard, were able to break the patent claims, which benefit enured to the public, but at the expense to him of over $800.00.
In 1884 he purchased from Frank Reverin the seventy-one feet on Los Angeles Street immediately joining the property purchased from Don Manuel Requena and built thereon another two-story addition to the hotel. In all of his building undertakings he supervised the work and had it all
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done by day labor. In 1886 he demolished the building on the corner of Main and Market streets and erected in its stead a pretentious three-story building, which compared favorably with the best types of buildings con- structed at that time.
In 1887 he, M. L. Wicks and Jean Bernard tried to make an artificial harbor at La Ballona Lake, about fifteen miles distant from Los Angeles. The undertaking lacked experience and engineering qualifications, and al- though considerable money was spent the project proved a monumental loss.
On October 2d, 1891, the boon companion of his struggles, wife and mother and most loved and respected woman in the southwest, passed to her Heavenly reward.
On July 15th, 1893, he married Mrs. Jennie E. Swan. His first as well as his second marriage proved most felicitous.
Mr. Mesmer was most enterprising and progressive and full of ambi- tion to promote the welfare and advancement of Los Angeles, the city he loved so well. He was identified with most every public enterprise. He was one of the largest contributors to the purchase of Normal Hill for the State Normal School. He and Mr. F. P. F. Temple furnished gratis the first accoutrements for the Seventh Regiment State Militia. He was identi- fied in steamship enterprises and in the building of wharfs. He opened Com- mercial and Market streets from Los Angeles Street east to Alameda, and also took an active part in the opening of Central Avenue. His happy-go- lucky disposition and the frank, open heartedness of the California pioneer endeared him with all those with whom he came in contact.
He passed from this life to that better life beyond August 18, 1900, leaving to mourn his loss a widow, Mrs. Jennie E. Mesmer, three sons, Joseph, Louis Anthony and Alphonse J., and two daughters, Mary Agnes Christina, now Mrs. Griffith, and Lucille Amelia, now Mrs. Charles L. Whipple.
F. E. BUNDY. Among the first settlers in the City of Santa Monica was the family of Nathan Bundy. At the time of his death in 1913 Nathan Bundy had lived in that community thirty-seven years.
With his wife, Mrs. Harriett Bundy, he arrived there April 30, 1876. At that time they had three children. The three children who accompanied them to California were: Frank E., George Guy and Charles LeRoy Bundy, and these sons are still living in the Santa Monica Bay District, where the mother also lived until her demise in 1922.
Nathan Bundy and his wife, also, were born in Chesterfield, Morgan County, Ohio. Subsequently they moved to Ames, Iowa, where the three sons above named were born. In response to a long cherished desire they visited California and came to Santa Monica, to Mr. Nathan Bundy's brother, Mr. M. J. Bundy, who at that time was one of the first merchants on the Bay. Santa Monica, though with only a few hundred population, proved so satisfactory to the family that they have continued to remain here, and have been on the Bay forty-six years. In the meantime Los Angeles grew from a town of fifty-seven hundred people to a city of eight hundred thousand.
The Bundy Brothers have been in many ways actively identified with the community, largely in the real estate business. At present Mr. F. E. Bundy is president of the Realty Board, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, and is conducting three real estate offices. He specializes in property in the Santa Monica Canyon. Mr. C. L. Bundy is vice president of the Santa Monica Land Company and has large interests in other prop- erties throughout Southern California. Mr. G. G. Bundy is the resident manager for the Studebaker corporation and handles a large business in that line.
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