History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 114

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1700

USA > California > Orange County > History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 114

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Albert A. Lee was seven years old when he accompanied his parents in their removal from Iowa to Kansas, the family arriving at Baxter Springs, Kans., in 1870. He was educated in the common schools of Kansas, and taught three terms of school, after which he followed carpentering and bridge building. Coming to Orange County November 9, 1887, Mr. Lee first engaged in the restaurant business at Santa Ana. Afterwards he rented land for years, then purchased four acres, which he dis- posed of to advantage, and bought his present place of ten acres at Villa Park.

Mr. Lee's marriage, which occurred in 1884, united him with Miss Birdee M. Martin, a native of Missouri, whose parents migrated to Missouri from Kentucky. Two children were born to them: Edna, who is now the wife of Willard Smith, a prominent rancher of Villa Park, and George M., who served with the Fourth ammuni- tion train in France in 1918 until his discharge in August. 1919.

In educational matters Mr. Lee has rendered most valuable service. In 1900 he was elected a member of the board of trustees of the Villa Park school district. serving as clerk of the board for eighteen years, and was also a member of the board of trustees of the Orange Union high school for thirteen years. Mr. Lee is a high- minded and useful citizen, who is highly respected by his friends and neighbors.

EDWIN J. BROWN .- The beautifully located fifteen-acre ranch at the corner of Santiago Boulevard and Tustin Avenue in Olive Precinct, four miles northeast of the city of Orange, is owned by Edwin J. Brown. Lying up against the foothills of the Santa Ana mountains, its sunny situation abundantly justifies the appropriate- ness of its name, "Rancho Cuesta Alegra." the euphonious appellation given it by Mr. Brown's daughter, Clara L.

Mr. Brown was born near Lansing, Ingham County, Mich., and is the son of Albert and Josephine (Lowe) Brown, of Orange, Cal. Both parents come from well-known pioneer families of Ingham County, Michigan, where they were for many years engaged in farming, became well-to-do and were rated among that large class of prosperous people who till the soil of Southern Michigan. The paternal grandfather, Jabez Brown, a. native of England, who became a seafaring man, came to America as a young man, stopped in New York City for a while, and satisfied his taste for adventure by sailing up the Great Lakes, finally becoming a pioneer settler in Ingham County, Mich. He was married in Michigan to Miss Jane Burgess, a native of the Empire State. On the maternal side the family were also pioneers of Ingham County. The maternal grandfather. Richard R. Lowe, was born in New York state. He came to Michigan as a young man and was elected to be the first sheriff of Ingham County. He and his brother took up government land in Stockbridge Township. Ingham County, and were among the leading citizens of that neighborhood. Lake Lowe, of that place, was named after them and still bears their name. The maternal grandmother's maiden name was Mahala Newkirk, and she was a native of Ohio.

1062

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

Edwin J. Brown acquired his education in the district schools of his native county, and later supplemented this with a business college course at Ypsilanti, Mich. His marriage, which occurred in Michigan, October 27, 1892, united him with Miss Phoebe A. Proctor, born in Stockbridge Township, Ingham County, Mich., a daughter of Asa J. and Alvira (Pierce) Proctor, farmers in Michigan, now living retired in Pasadena. Their union has been blessed with three children: Clara L., a student at Pomona College; Donald A. and La Verne W. both attend the Orange Union high school. Mr. and Mrs. Brown came to California in January, 1897, and lived in the Chula Vista district, San Diego County, and in 1902 they located in Orange. Mr. Brown has built up and improved several residence properties in the city of Orange, and planted and improved two ranches before coming to his present home place, which he purchased in 1911. He has brought Rancho Cuesta Alegra to a very high state of cultivation. Mr. Brown is a member of the Villa Park Orchards Association and the Lemon Growers Association at Villa Park. He and his family are members of the First Methodist Church at Orange, and Mrs. Brown is a pillar of strength to the ladies' aid society and other Christian projects.

HARVEY H. HOSSLER .- A prosperous Californian who is thoroughly able to appreciate the success with which his efforts have been crowned since he came to the Golden State is Harvey H. Hossler, who looks back upon years of hard, poorly- requited labor in Nebraska in the days when it was mighty hard to make a farm there pay. He came from Iowa, where he was born in Springville, on February 14, 1857, the son of Michael and Katherine (Bowers) Hossler, and his father was by trade a carpenter. He was sent to the common schools at Springville, and for a while worked at carpentering with his father. When he was eighteen, however, he hired out as a farm hand, and at twenty he embarked in farming for himself.

He secured a quarter-section of school land in Hall County, Nebr., and lived there for thirteen years. On September 23, 1880, at Aurora, Nebr., he was married to Miss Beatrice E. Wheeler, the daughter of John Thomas and Electa (Palmer) Wheeler, also farmer folk of that state, although the bride was born in Wisconsin.

When he sold his school land, in November, 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Hossler came to California, and he secured employment on the Santa Ana and Newport Railroad, serving for a time as fireman, and later advancing to be an engineer. He remained with the railroad company for eight years, and then he resumed carpentering, at which he worked until 1917, and during the years he followed his trade he worked on buildings all over Orange County, and for a period of three years followed contracting himself. In that year Mr. Hossler entered the employ of the Orange County Ignition Works, one of the most important establishments of its kind in Southern California, and having been tendered a good post there by E. P. Matthews, and so well satisfied has he been with the concern, and so satisfied apparently has the company been with him, that he has remained there ever since.

Five children have blessed the union of this couple. Thomas L., the eldest, died in 1902; Hutoqua is Mrs. J. C. Gaylord of South Pasadena; Kate has become Mrs. Walter Runkel of Los Angeles, and has two children-Evelyn and Melvin; Geneva who is Mrs. Wilson, lives at home with her father and mother, and is the mother of one child, a daughter, Ellamay, and Harry is in the state of Washington. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Ana, and both Mr. and Mrs. Hossler are Maccabees of the same town. In national politics, Mr. Hossler marches under the banners of the Republican party, but in local affairs he never favors parti- sanship, believing that it is detrimental to movements for the best men and the best measures for a small community.

DONALD S. SMILEY .- Throwing the energy of youth and a resolute spirit into the work of growing citrus fruit successfully, Donald S. Smiley refutes the old saying that you cannot put old heads on young shoulders. His choice and well-cared for ten acres of Valencia oranges, located on Alameda Street in El Modena Precinct, was purchased in February, 1919.

Mr. Smiley is one of the native sons of Santa Ana that she has reason to be proud of, having been born in that city November 12, 1892. He is the son of E. M. and Hattie L. (Scott) Smiley, and was reared in Santa Ana, graduating with the class of 1911 from the Santa Ana high school. He afterward continued his studies at Occidental College, where he pursued an economic course, graduating from that institution in 1915 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Two years later he established family ties by his marriage with Miss Flippen, daughter of T. M. and M. J. Flippen. A son has been born of their union, named Donald E. Mr. Smiley is a member of the McPherson Heights Citrus Association, and he and his wife are a distinct addi- tion to the refining influences of the neighborhood, and with others of like taste and culture assist in forming a social center of high standard.

Ellady

Penelope lady

---

1065

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

EUGENE C. CADY .- Among the pioneers of Buena Park, Orange County, the names of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene C. Cady have long been recognized as prominently iden- tified with every movement for the benefit of the community. Mr. Cady was a native of Ohio, born near Warren on February 17, 1847, the son of Edmond D. and Marie (Besley ) Cady, who were born in New York and Connecticut, respectively, and descend- ants of pioneer Eastern families. Of the five children born to this worthy couple, but two are living: Freman Cady of Los Angeles and an employe of that city for the past forty years; and another brother of Marion, Ohio. Eugene C. was reared and educated in Ohio; early in life he learned the trade of bricklayer, which he followed intermittently for fifty years, in conjunction with farming. He even did some brick work after coming to Orange County. He spent six years in Virginia and nine years in Pittsburgh, Pa., following his trade. In 1893 he went to Chicago, took in the Columbian Exposition and for eleven years made that city his home, coming to California in 1904. He bought forty acres near Buena Park, developed the property and farmed it, in connection with the forty acres that was the property of his wife. He conducted a dairy for five years, selling out on March 9, 1920, to take a much-needed rest after many years of activity. He and his wife had reached Los Angeles. and there he was taken ill with pneumonia and passed away on March 22. He was a Mason, having joined the order at the age of twenty-one in Warren, Ohio, where he served as worshipful master of New Erie Lodge. He had demitted to Buena Park Lodge No. 357, F. & A. M., after locating there, and he was a past patron of Buena Park Chapter No. 240 O. E. S. Mrs. Cady served as worthy matron of the chapter during 1911-12.

Eugene C. Cady was twice married. His first marriage, which occurred in 1868, united him with Miss Adelaide Forbes, of Warren, Ohio. They had seven children, all living: Mary A. wife of T. W. Williams of Los Angeles; Florence M .; Edmond D. of Delta, Utah; Jennie C., widow of William Noble and a resident of Warren, Ohio; Grace, a nurse in Hollywood: Helen, wife of Dr. Frank Cunningham, of Hollywood; and Eugene W., of Los Angeles. The latter was in the Government service during the World War as instructor in the motor department and stationed in Los Angeles. Mrs. Adelaide Cady died in Los Angeles in 1904. On February 8, 1905, Mr. Cady was united in marriage with Mrs. Penelope L. Calder, born in Nova Scotia, the descendant of Scotch parents named Cameron, representatives of the Cameron clan of Scotland. At the age of twelve Miss Cameron was taken to Boston, Mass., and there was reared and educated, and there her first marriage occurred on April 23, 1893, when she was united with Jacob L. Calder, and they had a son Alexander James Calder, born in Los Angeles, after their removal to this state. This young man, known by his intimates as James Calder, served a year in the Coast Artillery at Fort Scott, during the World War. He is now living with his mother and ranching on her property, and with his wife, enters heartily into the social life of their section of the county.

In April, 1894, Mr. and Mrs. Calder moved to Orange County and bought forty acres of bare land near Buena Park, developed it and carried on general farming until Mr. Calder died in 1898. They planted alfalfa, put down three three-inch wells which furnished an artesian flow sufficient to irrigate their property, but when more wells were put down in the neighborhood it became necessary to install a pumping plant to lift the water to the ditches. This forty acres adjoined the forty that Mr. Cady later purchased, and after Mr. Cady and Mrs. Calder were married, Mr. Cady farmed both tracts and, with the aid of his wife, met with gratifying success.

Mr. and Mrs. Cady were well known in the northern part of Orange County and enjoyed the esteem of an ever-widening circle of friends. She is very active in all forward movements and is a member of the Buena Park Ladies' Club. As a pioneer of this section she is deeply interested in elevating the social and moral plane of the citizens and can be counted upon to do her part in charitable work. After the death of Mr. Cady she made an extended visit through the East, visiting Boston and other interesting parts of the country, but was well satisfied to return to California.

MRS. WILDA BOBST .- One of Orange County's public-spirited women, the owner of a splendid grove of Valencia oranges, is Mrs. Wilda Bobst, the widow of the late Daniel Bobst. Mrs. Bobst, who before her marriage was Wilda Van Hise, was born near Pontiac, Livingston County, Ill., her parents being William H. and Margaret (Cox) Van Hise. Her father, who was a well-to-do farmer of Livingston County, was one of the carly settlers there. When Mrs. Bobst was fourteen years of age she accompanied her parents to Thayer County, settling near Hebron, Nebr., and there she finished her schooling, and it was during her residence there that her marriage occurred, when she was united with Daniel Bohst on January 27, 1878.

Daniel Bobst was a native of Pennsylvania, his birth taking place near Logans- ville, in Clinton County, October 28, 1842. He was the son of David and Elizabeth Bobst, the father being engaged in the lumber business in this neighborhood, and 39

1066

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

here his boyhood days were spent. When a young man of twenty, Daniel Bobst left his Pennsylvania home and came west to Stephenson County, Ill., taking up farm work near Freeport, in that county, and here his parents joined him a few years later. Attracted by the possibilities of the large tracts of government land that could then be obtained in Nebraska, Mr. Bobst removed to Thayer County, in that state, and took up a homestead there. Here his marriage occurred, and shortly after that happy event the young couple moved to Frontier County, Nebr., and took up a preemption claim of 160 acres, which they proved up on, engaging in general farming there until 1897, when they disposed of their claim and came to California.

Settling in Orange County, Mr. and Mrs. Bobst rented a small ranch southwest of Anaheim, where they farmed for the next three years. In 1900 they purchased seventeen acres of land on Burton Avenue, which was at that time a barley field. They began at once to improve this ranch, and the entire acreage is now devoted to Valencia oranges, seven and a half acres being thirteen-year-old trees in full bearing, while the remainder is in young trees. The place is all under irrigation and is equipped with an excellent private pumping plant. The whole ranch is in the finest condition and is producing splendid crops, the fruit being marketed independently.

Mr. and Mrs. Bobst had eight children. Irvin was employed in the Brea oil fields and lost his life on December 13, 1918, while fighting fire in the canyon; Delbert is married and is a driller in the Brea oil fields; Albert, a twin of Delhert, lives at home, he owns an orange ranch of ten acres on Broad Street, Anaheim; Raymond was working at home when the United States entered the war and he en- listed in the Navy and was stationed at the sub-bases at San Pedro and San Diego until he was honorably discharged at the signing of the armistice; he is now en- ployed as a mechanic in Los Angeles but lives with his mother; Vernon is on the home place assisting his mother; Iva is the wife of Harry Allen of Los Angeles; Cassie married Don Green of Anaheim, and Arline is now employed at Los Angeles. The family attend the Christian Church at Anaheim. The family circle was saddened by the passing on of the husband and father on January 4, 1919, his death occurring at the home place; since his decease there Mrs. Bobst has taken up the responsibility of the ranch, and with the aid of her sons is carrying on the work with encouraging and increasing success. Loyal to the state of her adoption and deeply interested in its development, particularly of her home neighborhood, despite her busy life she takes an active interest in all measures for the local advancement. Both Mrs. Bobst and her husband were strong advocates of Prohibition.

EUGENE M. SALTER .- A placer-miner pioneer of the Golden West who became one of the early-timers of the Gospel Swamp district and so, despite the hard times of those path-breaking days here, saw much of the "good old days," also, is Engene M. Salter, who was born in Maquoketa. Jackson County, Iowa, on October 21, 1850. His father was Horace Salter, and he had married Miss Sarah Pangbern, of a well-known pioneer family of Iowa. They moved to Shakopee, Minn., in 1858. and there our subject attended the common school of the district, while he grew up with Indian boys, and could count in the Sioux language as easily as he could in English. In Minnesota his father took up a quarter section of Government land, but in the spring of 1862 he sold his relinquishment.

Eugene and his father then crossed the great plains with a company of white men, in a train of 100 wagons; the lad being then only twelve years old and the youngest of the party. No women were allowed to join the train, on account of the hostility at that time of the Indians along the way. The 130 men in the party broke a new trail from Fort Abercrombie, Dakota territory. to Fort Benton, which at that time was the head of navigation of the Missouri River. They took the Mullen Road across the mountains through Deer Lodge Valley and Bitter Root Valley to Walla Walla. Washington, and arrived in Sacramento in the fall of 1862. Eugene stayed with his father until 1864, engaging with him in placer mining.

In the latter year, when Horace Salter went to Helena Mont., to meet his wife. who had come across the mountains and plains with another son and a daughter. Eugene was left in Boise Basin, Idaho. The father thereafter took up land in Gallatin Valley, Mont., and Eugene joined his parents there in 1866. Before he took up land. Horace Salter tried placer mining in the vicinity of Virginia City, but in 1865 he dis- posed of his mine.

Some of the experiences of the Salters are instructive as affording a glimpse at the real conditions then prevalent in the "great West," and what the sturdy pioneer had to contend with. Horace Salter sent two men to the Bitter Root Valley from Gallatin Valley in 1866 to purchase seed wheat; but they could buy only one and a half bushels of wheat, and paid fifty dollars a bushel for what they got, so that the cost of this trip was $300. Eugene's father also paid $500 for a brood sow

Louis Henning

1069

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

and the following year he sold the litter of ten pigs at seventy-five dollars per head as soon as they were old enough to he taken away. He paid $100 for a sack of white flour, and when he ran a dairy farm, in 1867-68, he sold butter at $1.25 per pound. He paid $6,000 for an eight-horse threshing machine, and charged twenty-five cents a bushel to thresh grain grown in 1868. He sold barley for brewing at twenty-nine dollars a hundred weight.

In 1869 Eugene Salter came to San Juan Capistrano and rented a ranch; and three years later, his father having taken up a quarter-section of land, he also took up a quarter-section in the Gospel Swamp district, but eventually they were beaten out of it. In 1879 Eugene Salter went to Colorado, where he stayed until 1888, farming a homestead in the Dolores River district. In 1888 he returned to Santa Ana, and for the next seven years rented a ranch at El Toro. He has a good record as a hunter. On one occasion he went out from Capistrano with nine cartridges and a 44 Winchester rifle. returning the next afternoon with a deer and a grizzly bear and seven cartridges.

In 1895 he went to Benson, Ariz., and was there married to Miss Mamie Higgins, who was born and educated in Cumberland, Md. She had come on a visit to Arizona, and was residing with her cousins when the happy event took place. His wife's health gave way. however, and in 1901-02 they spent a year in travel, hoping to benefit her. Despite all the efforts made, she passed away on a farm twenty miles north of Palestine, Texas, on November 5, 1902.

Mr. Salter returned to Santa Ana in 1904, and bought three lots at 1221 Fair- view Avenue, where he has lived ever since. He raises a little domestic stock, and has about 400 chickens. Part of his spare time is devoted to the study and dissemina- tion of Socialist doctrine. in which, from study and wide observation, he has come to have most faith. Six children were born to honor Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Salter: Roba is now Mrs. Armfield of Los Angeles, and is the mother of three children; Kathleen also lives in Los Angeles; Jason, Margaret and Jennie are at home, and Rose is living at Casa Grande, Arizona.

LOUIS HENNING .- A hustling, enterprising and successful rancher and business man, whose far-sightedness has been of service to others as well as himself in noting the trend of modern affairs, and making the most of conditions as they are, is Louis Henning, who came to Anaheim in 1899, having formerly resided in Chicago. H: engaged in farm work at Placentia for some years, and then purchased a ranch where he was lucky in producing large crops of potatoes. In 1904 he bought forty-five acre on Olive Road and immediately improved the land there.

Since then, with the enterprise for which he is now so favorably known, he bought twenty acres in the Kraemer tract in 1906 and a year later eighty acres in the Golden State tract, which he soon cleared of cactus and brush. He also leveled the same. sunk wells and put in a first-class pumping plant, driven by electrical power, and now he ha a capacity of 125 inches of water. He raised orange nursery stock from seeds ard budded them to Valencia oranges and lemons, sufficient to set out 135 acres and in all those operations demonstrated special gifts for this kind of scientific work, and expert knowledge of the field of science of today. He owned the entire 135 acres which be had brought to a full-bearing orchard in 1918, when he divided it, giving one-half of it to his wife. retaining sixty-four acres, fifty-four acres of it being in Valencias and ten acres in lemons. He has given it excellent care, so that it is considered one of the finest full-bearing groves in Orange County. He uses the latest and most modern equipment, including tractors, in operating his ranch.

With the Wagner Bros., Mr. Henning was the first to begin to improve land in East Anaheim, to sink wells and obtain the water needed for irrigation; they cleared the land and had such success with their crops that they gathered from 100. to 150 sacks of potatoes to the acre. Others saw what they were accomplishing and also hegan to buy and improve land in that section, and the land values were soon con- siderably raised.

Mr. Henning was one of the first in his vicinity to set out oranges, and was ridiculed for what seemed to be a fatal error in judgment; but despite the wiseacres of his time. he has now in that acreage one of the finest Valencia groves in the state Mr. Henning is very optimistic for the future success of the oil industry in this section as he was in the early days regarding orange growing, when he first set out his grove. Thus he is again not afraid to back his judgment and we find him a large stockholder in the Placentia-Richfield Central Oil Company and in two large oil companies in Texas: he also carries a big oil lease in San Juan County, N. M. His own ranch having splendid indications for oil, he expects later on to form an oil company to drill a well on the property.

1070

HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY

At Anaheim Mr. Henning was married to Miss Ottilia Weinknecht, a lady of accomplishments who had come to Anaheim in 1899. Mr. Henning is a believer in pro- tection and nationalism so is naturally a stanch Republican in politics, and an Amer- ican in his nonpartisan support of everything likely to build up the community in which he lives, and a member of the Anaheim Lutheran Church.

It is to men of Louis Henning's type that Orange County owes much of its present development and greatness, for without their optimism and energy the trans- formation that has come about in the past few years could not have taken place. He was never afraid to spend his time and money to improve and develop the land once considered almost worthless, but which is now one of the finest citrus sections in the world. Mr. Henning has always been a very hard worker and has applied himself very closely to the task of improving the land and he is now enjoying the reward of his years of labor in the fortunate ownership of one of the finest citrus properties in the county, or for that matter, in the whole state.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Orange County, California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its earliest growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 114

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1700

Author: Armor, Samuel, 1843-; Pleasants, J. E., Mrs
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1700