History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 49

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 844

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Harry W. Barlow was born at San Diego, California, May 10, 1888, and is a son of Charles D. and Annie S. (Baum) Barlow, both natives of the State of Pennsylvania. Charles D. Barlow established himself in the retail hardware business at Columbus, Nebraska, and it was thence that he came to California in 1887 and established his residence at San Diego. He had charge of plumbing installation in the celebrated Del Coronado Hotel and later was foreman in the employ of Howe Brothers, a leading hardware concern in the City of Los Angeles. He continued his alliance with this firm for a period of fourteen years. For six years thereafter he and his son were engaged in the plumbing business, with two shops, one of which was established at Los Angeles. He sold this business at the expiration of the period noted, but his progressiveness was further shown by his erection of the Hermosa Theater, with the operation of which he was identified until his retirement from active business, both he and his wife being well known and popular residents of Hermosa Beach.

After having profited by the advantages of the public schools of the City of Los Angeles Harry W. Barlow became associated with the plumb- ing business conducted by his father, with whom he was actively allied also in the development of the Hermosa Theater, which he and his father now control. He was also for a time identified with the real estate business at Los Angeles. He is one of the progressive members of the local Cham- ber of Commerce and has served as its president, and the year 1923 finds him giving loyal and effective service as a member of the City Council, his term of office being 1922-26.

May 10, 1911, recorded the marriage of Mr. Barlow and Miss Georgia Baker, who was born in the City of Dallas, Texas, where she acquired her

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early education, she having later attended a leading private school in the City of Los Angeles, where her parents, Eli and Ella (McCord) Baker, still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Barlow have three children: Warren Hunting- ton, Wanda Nadine and Harry W., Jr.

J. D. McLEOD. Among the pioneers whose courage and foresight have served to contribute to the development of their section, few can lay claim to a more valuable gift than that of J. D. McLeod, whose faith and enterprise introduced water to the barren lands of certain parts of California and made possible the wonderful productiveness of the section contingent to Alhambra, where his home and handsome wal- nut grove are located.

Mr. McLeod was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, February 7, 1862, a son of Robert Maxwell and Jeanette (McLeod) McLeod, who, although both natives of Nova Scotia and bearing the same name, were not related prior to their marriage. The paternal grandfather was a native of Dumfrees, lowlands of Scotland, and was brought to Canada by his parents as a lad of nine years. The lady who became his wife was of Highland Scoth birth. Robert Maxwell McLeod was an old-time contractor carpenter, and his son served an apprenticeship to him after passing through the grammar school. At the age of eighteen years J. D. McLeod left home and Canada and in 1881 located at Boston, Massachusetts, where he finished learning his trade under one S. H. Johnson, a carpenter contractor, with whom he served until 1885. He then started on his travels as a journeyman carpenter, and after working for a time in the New England states came to the West and engaged with the old Minnesota & Northwestern Railway Com- pany, and worked on the construction of a number of depots between Chicago and St. Paul. On October 1, 1887, he arrived at Los Angeles, then a rough, primitive, western town, whose streets were dust in summer and mud in winter, with gambling wide open and the only means of transportation an old horse-car line, the conductor on which was equipped in winter with hip boots so that he might carry his cus- tomers of the fair sex to the curb when necessary. Later came the old Temple Street cable line, this to be followed by the old Pico Street electric line, then a novelty, on which Mr. McLeod frequently rode for the unique experience. On a number of occasions, with fellow- passengers, he got out and helped to push the car to the top of the Pico Street Hill. The first four-story building was being constructed on Broadway at that time, as well as the first unit of the Westminster Hotel. On October 3, 1887, Mr. McLeod engaged with a contractor who was then engaged in erecting the old San Gabriel Hotel, and later was employed by numerous other contractors on the then important buildings of the day. He knew San Gabriel when three stud poker games operated day and night, the keys to the doors having been thrown away, and in these resorts have seen amounts ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 in gold in plain view in an open safe ; yet crime was limited and theft uncommon, as the thieves of those days met with summary justice, and without delay. In fact there was more trouble about water rights than about crime. The domestic water supply of San Gabriel was carried through an open ditch, residents diverting the flow to cisterns and barrels for use. When Mr. McLeod purchased his present property he secured the water rights for domestic use with his land. One Alexander developed water on the old Titus ranch, selling a stipulated volume to the East San Gabriel Improvement Company. There were six inches allotted to the north side, and later the Van Nuy's interests became strongly intrenched and by sheer force kept back this rightful flow. The few users below were not financially able to resist, hence they were deprived of what was really theirs. This was but an instance of the trouble that was constantly occurring.

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Mr. McLeod was one of the pioneers who piloted nervily, venturing practically his last dollar in developing water in the new arid country.

About a quarter of a century ago Mr. McLeod engaged in the contracting business on his own account, and has continued in that line to the present. Among the many important structures at Alhambra that he has erected may be mentioned : The Old Jordan Hotel, the Masonic Temple, both the old and new First National Banks, and numerous residences, in addition to the homes of prominent men and large buildings at Los Angeles and elsewhere. In the year 1890 he made his first land purchase. This was on the Ocean to Ocean High- way at San Gabriel Boulevard. To this original property he added by purchases in 1903 and 1906. This was then dry, bare barley land, with no water, and Mr. McLeod entered upon a venture that was greatly ridiculed by many. With $3,000 which he had saved he risked the drilling of a deep well, the first in this section. At 298 feet he pro- duced 60 inches of water, and at once secured machinery and pumped a sufficient supply of water to grow any crop. When he had finished he had barely $100 left out of his $3,000, but the results of his courage and venturesome action were marvelous. In 1902 he carefully selected walnut buds which he had budded onto Whittier nursery stock, and in the same year set his holdings, which had increased to seventy-six acres, to English walnuts. These have developed into magnificent and productive trees, and his walnut grove is now one of the best in the county. Mr. McLeod built his present home on the corner of San Gabriel Boulevard and Ocean to Ocean Highway in 1915. He is a director of the First National Bank of Alhambra, vice president and director of the Fifth Street Building Corporation of Los Angeles, director of the Southern California Oil Company, second vice president and director of the Alhambra Building and Loan Association. He is a past master of Lexington Lodge No. 104, F. and A. M., of El Monte, San Gabriel Chapter and Commandery and Al Malaikah Shrine of Los Angeles.

In 1888 Mr. McLeod married Miss Isabelle Mitchell, who was born in Illinois, and died in 1902, without issue. In 1905 he married Miss Viola McDowell, a native of Nova Scotia, and a daughter of Scotch parents. Her father was Jack McDowell, a pioneer in steam railroad- ing, who was one of the first locomotive engineers in Nova Scotia, where he piloted an engine for forty-eight years, his earlier experiences including the stoning of his engine by ignorant and superstitious mobs who thought the railroad would ruin the country. He still survives in Nova Scotia at the age of eighty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. McLeod have four children, born as follows: Isabelle, born June 10, 1906; Janet, born February 5, 1910; Toinette, born July 27, 1912, and Ber- thina May, born October 22, 1914, all born in California.

ANDREW JOHN LARSON was one of the recognized experts in all matters pertaining to real estate in Los Angeles County. He was a successful business man, but died at a comparatively early age before realizing all the fruits of his experience and ability.

He was born in Minden, Nebraska, June 16, 1879, son of John and Becky Larson. His parents were natives of Sweden, and joined an agricul- tural colony in Nebraska, where his father acquired extensive lands. Andrew John Larson attended public school at Lincoln, Nebraska, and was twelve years of age when he came to California. In this state he attended Hillsburg College and subsequently took a business course in San Jose College.

Mr. Larson's first important business connection was as secretary to the Middle River Farm Company at Stockton. Following that he was secretary to the Superintendent of motive power for the Southern Pacific Company. For many years he was connected with the Board of Assess- ments and for thirteen years served as head of the Bureau of Street Assessments at Los Angeles. Later he engaged in business for himself

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at Glendale, his specialty being expert assessment work. This became really a profession with him, and his services were in demand in many parts of the state. He had so thorough a knowledge of assessment matters that he was often called into conferences. He was member of the firm Endicott & Larson with offices at 116 Brand Boulevard in Los Angeles. Mr. Endicott was his wife's brother and handled the real estate end of the firm. Mr. Larson had charge of the offices in the Glendale Shops Building, and devoted his attention exclusively to municipal bond and expert assessment.

Mr. Larson was always called the Lincoln type, and was honest, straightforward in all his dealings, and he died February 12, 1923, on Lincoln's birthday. His home was at 371 West Lexington Drive in Glen- dale. Mr. Larson was a member of Hollenbeck Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Jinnistan Grotto of that order and was also affiliated with the Royal Arcanum, the Woodmen of the World and the Sunset Canyon Club. In 1901 he married Miss Bertha A. Endicott of Portland, Oregon. They had a daughter Janice, who is a whistling expert.

CLIFFORD ELMORE TITUS. Rising steadily through various positions to his present responsible one of superintendent of maintenance of the San Fernando Valley Division of the Los Angeles Engineering Department, Clifford Elmore Titus of Van Nuys is one of the most experienced en- gineers of Los Angeles County, and one who has won his present distinction through his own, unaided efforts. His career has not been a spectacular one, but it is an instructive one for it proves that all things are possible to the young man who is willing to learn and work.

Mr. Titus was born at Conrad Grove, Grundy County, Iowa, April 7, 1874, a son of Rolland B. and Lea Jane (Reid) Titus, the former born in Monroe County, Ohio, and the latter in Westmoreland County, Pennsyl- vania. By trade a carpenter, Rolland B. Titus moved from Ohio to Iowa, and in 1913, to California, and his last years were spent at Los Angeles where he died in 1921. His wife died in 1884.

Growing up in Iowa Clifford E. Titus attended its public schools, and later those of Kansas City, Missouri. Leaving school he began working for the Westinghouse Air Brake Company in the railroad service depart- ment. Still later he went into the service of the Santa Fe Railroad at Kansas City, and by this company was sent to San Bernardino, California, in 1901. When he left the Santa Fe, Mr. Titus was with the Fariboldt- Weber Paving Company for eight years in Los Angeles. At the expiration of that period he went to San Francisco and was assistant superintendent of the Barber Asphalt Paving Company for two years. Returning to Los Angeles he was with Bryant and Austin until in June, 1914, he entered the engineering department of Los Angeles.

On April 18, 1901, Mr. Titus was married to Miss Bessie Ella Moxley, of Springfield, Missouri, and they have three children: Ruth Esther, Thomas Clifford, and Elmore. Mrs. Titus was born at Shawneetown, Illinois, and was educated in its public schools and those of Springfield, Missouri. Mr. Titus belongs to Marshall Lodge No. 42, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Los Angeles, and the Van Nuys Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, to which his wife also belongs, and she is a member of the Van Nuys Woman's Club as well. They are communicants of the Saint Mark's Episcopal Church of Van Nuys, and active in the church work. They are recognized to be a very valuable addition to the social life of Van Nuys, and they have many friends here and in the other communities where they have been residents during their married life.

ROBERT McWILLIAM O'NEAL, M. D., has secure vantage-place as one of the able and representative physicians and surgeons of Los Angeles County, and is engaged in active general practice at Santa Monica, with offices in the Junipher Building.

Robert O'neal M. L.

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Doctor O'Neal was born in Paradise Valley, Nevada, on the 21st of October, 1879, and is a son of Robert and Emily (Palmer) O'Neal, sterling pioneers of that state, where the father became a successful exponent of the live-stock industry and later a leading lawyer, his death having occurred in 1903 and his widow being now a resident of San Jose, California.

Doctor O'Neal acquired his preliminary education in the public schools and his higher academic training was obtained in Napa College, at Napa, California, in which he was a member of the class of 1896, and the Uni- versity of Nevada, in which he was a member of the class of 1900. In preparation for the vocation of his choice he then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of San Francisco, and in this institu- tion he was graduated in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He further fortified himself by three years of service as an interne in the City of San Francisco, where he was thus connected in turn with the city and county hospitals, the French Hospital and the medical clinic of Lane Hospital. He then initiated the private practice of his profession, at Reno, Nevada, where he remained five years, within which he organized and effected the erection of the building of the hospital conducted by the Sisters of St. Mary. In 1910 the Doctor removed to Tonapah, Nevada, where he became head of the mine practice in his profession and where he also effected the establishing of the hospital for the mines. After leaving Tonapah, Doctor O'Neal was for four years established in successful prac- tice at Bishop, California. In Santa Monica he has built up a large and representative practice, in which he gives special attention to surgery. He is an active and valued member of the Los Angeles County Medical Society and is identified also with the California State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The Doctor has taken effective post-graduate courses in surgery, and in this branch of his profession has attained to high reputation. He is assistant demonstrator of surgery in the southern branch of the medical department of the University of Cali- fornia. Doctor O'Neal is an active member of the Venice Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Santa Monica Club, the Uplifters Club and the Brentwood Country Club. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

December 10, 1912, recorded the marriage of Doctor O'Neal and Miss Aimee Ford, daughter of James and Anna (Ficklin) Ford, of San Francisco. Mrs. O'Neal was born in the State of Nevada, where she received her early education, which was supplemented by her attending the University of California, at Berkeley. Dr. and Mrs. O'Neal have three fine sons, Robert Palmer, Leland Hubert and Douglas.

WILLIAM FREDERIC WOOD. At the time of his death on November 13, 1921, William Frederic Wood had been a resident of California fifty-three years. This long residence was signalized by many important activities. He had been extensively interested in farming, the growing of pure bred live stock, and manifested a singular and public spirited interest in institu- tions and movements for the religious and educational welfare.

Mr. Wood came to California in 1868 from Clark County, Illinois, where he was born November 10, 1855, son of W. O. and Sarah J. Wood. He was thirteen years of age when the family left the middle west and came to California, making the journey via Panama to San Francisco. For two years the family lived in Sutter County, then in Tulare County for a year and from there moved to Ventura County. William F. Wood attended the public schools of Southern California, and for a time was a student in Wilmington College of Los Angeles County and he also attended the Golden Gate Academy and the Golden Gate Commercial College at Oakland, graduating from the latter in 1877.

A young man of liberal education he then returned home and became foreman on his father's ranch at Springville, Ventura County. He was there several years. In 1884 he completed a course in essaying and survey-

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ing at the Vander Naillen's School in San Francisco. Most of his farming was done on a ranch near Oxnard, where he became one of the noted lima bean planters, and contributed a large share to the wonderful lima bean crop of 1893. In 1897 Mr. Wood removed to San Luis Obispo, where he established a ranch for pure bred live stock, handling horses and jersey cattle. In 1900 he bought the old race track property near San Luis Obispo. He was also interested in a large tract of land on Morro Bay and owned a stock ranch in the mountains.

His home had been in Glendale twelve years. His residence was 1470 East Wilson Avenue, where he built a fine home in a seven-acre orange grove. He was a devout Baptist and one of the leading laymen of his church in the state. He was a director of the Sunday school at San Luis Obispo, and was a trustee and generous giver to the University of Red- lands.

In January, 1884, he married Miss Louisa Gilbert Thacker, daughter of Dr. C. W. Thacker, a pioneer physician of Ventura County, who came to California in 1868. The Thacker family came to the Pacific Coast from Louisiana, making the journey by prairie schooners through Texas, being on the road six months. Mr. Wood is survived by Mrs. Wood and four of their five children are living. The son Glen died in 1919. Forest W. Wood married Miss Ann E. Durham of Selma, California, and is a rancher at Van Nuys ; Myrtle, is the wife of Harry W. Chase, an attorney of Glendale and judge for Burbank Township; Hazel, is the wife of Dr. Roger J. Williams, instructor of chemistry in the Oregon State Univer- sity at Eugene; and Dale, the youngest son, is now a student at the Uni- versity of Redlands. There are also eight grand-children.

FERNANDO CORTEZ HERBERT, one of the most successful horticultur- ists of the El Monte District, has owned a part of his present ranch of fifty-two acres since 1890, and therefore may be considered as one of the pioneers in the development of this wonderfully productive region. . He was born in Hempstead County, Arkansas, October 9, 1862, a son of Fernando C. Herbert, a native of Hardin County, Tennessee, and Annie (Deaven- port) Herbert, also a native of Tennessee. They were married in their native state, and continued to live there until 1861, when they moved to Arkansas. There Mr. Herbert continued to be engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1869, his widow surviving him. In 1872 she removed with her family to Texas, locating in Denton County, where two years later she passed away.

Of the seven children born to his parents, Fernando C. Herbert, of this notice, was the fifth in order of birth. He passed his youth in Denton County with an uncle, M. D. Deavenport, who was a miller, and was sent to the local schools. In 1877 Mr. Herbert returned to Hempstead County, Arkansas, and in partnership with an elder brother, Thomas, was engaged ·· in farming until November, 1886, at which time he sold his interests and came to California. First locating at Monrovia, Los Angeles County, he worked with a surveying corps, in which connection he assisted in survey- ing Glendora and the Whitcomb trail to the top of the mountain as far as Whitcomb, so called in honor of the father of Glendora. Later he en- gaged in carpenter work in Monrovia, helping to build the first school- house there. In 1890, as before stated, he bought his present ranch. His original purchase was eleven and one-half acres in the Mountain View District, which had been set out to walnut trees, and since that time he has devoted himself to horticultural pursuits, with very gratifying results. In 1901 he added forty acres of five-year-old walnuts, one-quarter of a mile above his original purchase. At that time the land was damp and needed no irrigation, but in 1916 he put down a well that pumps 95 inches of water, as some artificial water was necessary. Two years later he put down another well that pumps 175 inches. Eight years ago he built his modern residence and walnut drying house, with a capacity for drying walnuts from 100 acres. Mr. Herbert's present prosperity is all the more

FERNANDO CORTEZ HERBERT

Ross D. HERBERT

JOHN EDGAR HERBERT

MRS. FANNIE LUDWIG HERBERT

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remarkable in that he arrived at Monrovia with just $2.50, and has ac- quired all he possesses since then by hard work and good management, and no speculation. Not only has he attained to a material success, but he holds a position of importance among the leading horticulturists of this region, and is a charter member of Mountain View Walnut Growers Association, and a promoter of the best interests of his community. For nine years he was a member of the High School Board, and of the Grammar School Board for six years. Since 1913 he has been a director of the Southern County Bank of El Monte. A democrat, he is faithful to party traditions. Fraternally he maintains membership with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Independent Order of Foresters, both of El Monte. He was a charter member in 1890 of the Redondo Beach Court No. 525, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Herbert has been twice married. His first wife, Mabel Pullee, was born in Orange County, California, a daughter of a pioneer family of the Golden State. They were married in Mountain View, where she died. In 1902 Mr. Herbert married, at San Bernardino, Miss Fannie Blanche Ludwig, a native of York County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Daniel and Leah (Seitz) Ludwig, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ludwig was a farmer and later a contractor. He and his wife had eight children, and Mrs. Herbert was the fifth in order of birth. She and a brother, L. H. Ludwig, are now the only survivors. She came to California in 1896 to take charge of a brother's small orphaned child, and resided at Burbank for two years, and then went to the San Gabriel Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert have two sons: Ross D., who was born December 9, 1902, graduated from the El Monte High School in June, 1922; and John Edgar, who was born March 15, 1904, also graduated from the El Monte High School in June, 1922, and is now a student of the southern branch of the University of California at Los Angeles. When Mr. Herbert came to California it was with the determination to succeed, and he has accom- plished this in a marked degree in every way, and is entitled to much credit for what he has done all by himself, without any outside assistance.

GLENN C. BURBANK has been a resident of Southern California in his professional capacity as a Doctor of Dental Surgery for twenty years. He was the first president of the Long Beach Dental Club, and is prominently connected with the business and civic affairs of Long Beach.

The first emigrant by the name of Burbank to come to American shores was John Burbank. He came in company with Rev. Ezekiel Rogers of Essex County in Yorkshire, England, from the Town of Rowley. They arrived in America in December, 1638. The Rev. Ezekiel Rogers headed a company of twenty families among whom were John Burbank and his wife Ann. Here Mrs. Ann succumbed to the unhealthy swampy climate in the new country.

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History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 49

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944 Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Number of Pages: 844

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 844