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 28

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 28

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A member of the Bee Keepers' Club of Orange County and an active member of the State and National Bee Keepers' Associations, at the annual meeting in Los Angeles, February, 1920, Mr. Pleasants was elected president of the California State Bee Keepers' Association, a fitting honor to his years of study and research in bee culture. Mr. Pleasants has always taken a prominent part in the activities of these organizations, promoting in every possible way the furtherance of this industry. He has been a valued contributor to the various journals published in its interest in the United States and furnished the data for the chapter devoted to the subject appearing in this history. Now one of the oldest settlers in this county, he is living in comparative retirement at his home in Silverado precinct, and blessed with an exceptional memory, he can recall many interesting reminiscenses of the early days of Orange County. Occupying a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens, Mr. Pleasants can look back upon a long, influential and well-spent life.

JE Pleasant

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GEORGE W. FORD .- Coming to Orange County in 1876, George W. Ford is known throughout Southern California as an authority in walnut growing, having made a special study of this industry and securing results not equalled by any other grower in the county. A native of Illinois, he was horn in the neighborhood of Centralia on October 21, 1848, a son of John and Louisa (Youngblood) Ford, both descendants of old Southern families, who had settled in Illinois when it was a territory. In 1897 they came to California and resided here during the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom grew to maturity.

The oldest child of the family, George W. Ford, was reared on a farm and was educated in the common schools of that time, attending about two months during the winter, and the remainder of the time after he was old enough to work, was spent in helping on his father's farm. From the time he was a lad of fifteen, Mr. Ford was filled with a desire to see California, having read an article in a paper, written from Anaheim Landing, and he made up his mind then to visit this section some time in the future. When he was a little older he worked for a time in a country store, also helping on the farms in the vicinity of his home, and one season while working in the harvest field he was overcome by the heat. His health began to fail and in March, 1875, he decided to come to California, on the advice of a friend, who had been in this state and knew the conditions to be found here by one seeking health. Arriving in San Francisco with less than ten dollars, this small sum had dwindled almost to the vanishing point before he secured employment, but he was fortunate in completely regaining his health.

In February, 1876, Mr. Ford came to Los Angeles County, first working on a ranch and then securing employment in a nursery, where he obtained his first experi- ence in that line. Having saved up a little money he decided to invest it in real estate, and secured five acres of land at Santa Ana, and upon this small tract he started the nursery business that was destined to become one of the largest in the state. From time to time he added to his holdings, in 1884 buying a tract of twenty-three and a quarter acres. At the time of the purchase it was but little better than a sheep pasture, but the extension of the city limits made it a valuable property. As the county set- tled up, his business increased in proportion and at one time he employed twenty men and did a business of over $30,000 a year. He made many of his own importations and sold in carload lots, shipping walnut trees all over California and to Australia, as well as many other fruit and ornamental trees, plants and shrubs. He was one of the first to bring the soft-shelled walnut to this part of the state, and in 1885 he originated the Ford improved soft-shell walnut and continued year after year to improve the grade. In the cultivation of walnut groves he also made valuable contribution through his many and extensive experiments. He was one of the first growers to learn that the best results were obtained by allowing the orchards to remain unplowed, as he found that a "plow hardpan" is formed by cultivating, and also that it breaks off the small shoots sent up by the roots to draw nourishment from the air. He also found that his yield was much increased by planting the trees much farther apart than was the custom, thinning them out until they were at least sixty feet apart.

Mr. Ford continued his nursery business until 1898, when he disposed of it at a good profit. In 1892 he erected his present home and spent much time in beautifying the grounds,, having the greatest variety of ornamental trees and shrubs of any home in the county, among them being some extremely fine camphor trees. A stockholder in the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company, Mr. Ford worked in 1877 on the first ditch started hy that company.

Always a lover of fine horses, Mr. Ford was for a number of years engaged in raising some fine racing stock, breeding some of the fastest horses ever sent out of the state. His horses were raced all over the Pacific circuit, and in the early days he did his own driving and won many races. In 1900 he bought the Orange County Fair Association race track, and for several years maintained it as a training and race course. It was considered one of the fastest mile tracks in California, and it was here that Silkwood, one of the best trotting horses of his day, made his record of 2:07.

Coming here when Santa Ana was but a small, struggling village, Mr. Ford has seen it grow to be one of the most prosperous towns in Southern California, and in this development he has had no small part. Mr. Ford's marriage occurred in Los Angeles, when he was united with Miss Mary Teague, who was born on a farm adjoin- ing the Ford homestead in Illinois, and came to California in 1878. They continue to reside on their old home place, once a pasture, but now in the heart of the residence district of Santa Ana.

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DAVID HEWES .- In the annals of Southern California none of its citizens occupy a more distinctive place than the late David Hewes, whose name is indelibly associated with the great, progressive movements of the state, over a period dating from 1850 to his demise in July, 1915. A man of affairs, a successful financier and a Christian gentleman, his life was ever a power for good and an influence toward the highest ideals of manhood. His long and useful life of ninety-three years was replete with varied experiences that would furnish a volume of material for the biographer, rich in interest, but only the outstanding points of his career can be touched upon here.

Born in Lynnfield, Essex County, Mass., May 16, 1822, David Hewes was the representative of one of the old families of that state, tracing his ancestry back seven generations to the patriot, David Hewes. The death of his father when he was but five years old, with the rather rigid discipline of the New England home, early gave him a sense of responsibility, and the habits of industry that formed the foundation of his success in life. From the age of fourteen he supported himself and earned enough to secure his early education in West Reading Academy and Phillips Academy, and later he was enabled to enter Yale College. Meanwhile he had added his savings to the small inheritance left him from his father's estate and during his second year at Yale he invested his capital in galvanized iron houses which he shipped to California. Leaving his studies he started on the long trip to the Pacific Coast, via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving at San Francisco in February, 1850. While he had not expected to remain in the West, the wonderful possibilities opening up at this period made him decide to cast his lot with this new and untried land. Going to Sacramento he opened up a general merchandise store and from the first was successful, but in 1852, at the height of his prosperity, the city was practically wiped ont by a conflagration, followed in January of the next year by a disastrous flood, so that Mr. Hewes left there prac- tically empty-handed.

Realizing the possibilities of San Francisco as the future metropolis of the Pacific Coast, Mr. Hewes decided to locate there. At that time the beginning of the city's growth made necessary the leveling of the hills and the grading and filling of the streets and here he saw an immediate opportunity, though his limited capital made it necessary for him to begin operations on a very limited scale. It was not long, how- ever, until he increased his business and he was soon engaged in the prodigions task of reclaiming the harbor, filling in blocks that are now in the heart of the city's commercial center. To the present generation it is almost inconceivable that the shore line once extended to Montgomery Street, all this section being made land. It was most fitting that Mr. Hewes was called the "maker of San Francisco" since it was through his initiative and energy that the task was undertaken and accomplished.

While not actively connected with the building of the first transcontinental rail- road, Mr. Hewes was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the project and it was he who furnished the golden spike that marked the completion of the road. It was also he who planned the connection of the railroad company's wires with that of the Western Union, by which the taps of the silver hammer driving the golden spike were transmitted to San Francisco, thus signalling the accomplishment of this long- waited event. Many other activities occupied Mr. Hewes' attention in the following years, before his removal to Southern California, where he entered upon one of his greatest achievements-the development of the famous Hewes ranch near El Modena, in Orange County, which he gave the name of Anapama, "a place of rest." Originally a sheep ranch, and comprising over 800 acres, Mr. Hewes spared neither time nor ex- penditure in its development. A large part of its acreage was converted into a vine- yard, but when Orange County was visited by the blight, it went the way of all the other vineyards. Nothing daunted, Mr. Hewes at once set about to restore the ranch hy planting citrus fruit and it became one of California's noted orange groves, remain- ing a part of the Hewes estate after Mr. Hewes' death, until January, 1920, when it was sold for $1,000,000. The famous Hewes Park, one of the beauty spots of the Southland, was Mr. Hewes especial pride, involving an expenditure of many thousands of dollars. Formerly a barren hill top, this knoll is now a beautiful flower garden. through which are many walks and drives, its lovely terraces ornamented with rare trees and shrubs. From its summit may be seen Catalina Island, the Sierra Madre and Santa Ana Mountains, with the snow-covered summit of "Old Baldy" in the distance.

Business alone, however, did not occupy all of Mr. Hewes' time and thought. despite the great enterprises in which he was always concerned. A lover of art. he spent much time during his European trips at the art centers, and his magnificent col- lection of pictures, statuary and frescoes was ultimately presented to the Leland Stan- ford University. A trustee of Mills College for many years, he gave generously to that institution, one of his gifts being the chime of ten bells that hangs in the belfry. and his benefactions to other schools and churches were legion. The owner of large

.S. Bradford

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holdings in San Francisco, when the earthquake and fire of 1906 destroyed his building at Sixth and Market streets, although he was at that time in his eighty-fourth year, he at once made plans for rebuilding, the fifteen-story structure erected on the old site costing half a million dollars, and it is considered one of the best constructed buildings in that city.

Mr. Hewes' first marriage, which occurred in 1875, united him with Mrs. Matilda C. Gray, and following this they spent two and a half years in Europe. It was on their return to America that Mrs. Hewes' delicate health made it advisable to seek the more balmy climate of Southern California, and they established their residence at Tustin, Mrs. Hewes passing away there in 1887. Mr. Hewes was again married in 1889 to Miss Anna Lathrop, a sister of Mrs. Leland Stanford, the next eighteen months being spent in Europe, Egypt, Palestine and other parts of the Orient. Mr. Hewes was again bereaved of his companion in 1892, Mrs. Hewes' death occurring in August of that year.

A man of remarkable energy, until he was past ninety Mr. Hewes continued to drive his own horses and went about the crowded streets of Los Angeles and San Francisco unattended, looking after his many interests. With a rich heritage of the best New England stock, he reflected in his character the unpretentious honesty and unswerving integrity of his forbears. His is a career that will never pass from the memory of those who have known him, for its influence will live for all time in the lives of those who have felt the impress of his upright manhood.

ALBERT S. BRADFORD .- No one who has recently visited the attractive and instructive orange shows held at San Bernardino will fail to have been greatly im- pressed by the Orange County exhibits, arranged by Albert S. Bradford, president of the Placentia National Bank, each under his scientific and artistic touch for the past ten years of differing and striking arrangement. He was born at Shapleigh. York County, Maine, on August 18, 1860, the son of William Bradford, a namesake and descendant of the famous William Bradford, who came out on the Mayflower and later was governor of Massachusetts. A. S. Bradford's father married Miss Lucy Thompson, also a member of a Revolutionary family who stood by Washington and his laudable aspirations through the thick and thin of the war, or until independence had been attained.

Albert S. Bradford was reared on a district farm where he had plenty to do every summer, although he enjoyed the usual school advantages of the rural districts in Maine during the winter; but, concluding that such a life would afford him little oppor- tunity for the future, he ran away from home at the age of fourteen and started to paddle his own canoe in the larger, if stranger world. Arriving in Boston, he secured employment in a market garden where garden truck was raised under glass, for which labor he received six dollars a month and his board. He remained there for a number of years; but he did something more than earn a living; he kept his eyes and ears open, he studied hot-bed culture and horticulture, and by conscientious application laid a broad and deep foundation of knowledge and practical experience of great value to him in later years. In 1881, he even started a business of his own in the outskirts of Boston. A venture of another kind, that of managing a summer resort, at Colchester on Lake Champlain, Vt., merely proved beyond question what he was best fitted for. When, therefore, he established himself at Stoneham, Mass., and began to cultivate garden produce, he was able to give it his undivided attention and effort.

About the time of the great boom in California, that is, in 1887, Mr. Bradford came to the Coast, stopping for a while at San Diego and then coming to Santa Ana, at that time in Los Angeles County, just in time to take a prominent part in the forma- tion of Orange County in 1889. At first, he was foreman of the Daniel Halladay ranch; but in 1890 he located in what is now the Placentia district and acquired twenty acres of land on Palm Avenue-the Tesoro ranch-to which he added later, so that now he owns some fifty-five acres, all set out to Valencia and Navel oranges, under his expert direc- tion brought to a high state of cultivation. Besides this, Mr. Bradford has other citrus land holdings, including oil-producing property.

He helped to organize the Southern California Fruit Exchange, and was a director in the same, although for a number of years he was an independent fruit packer and owned his own packing house. Later he sold this to R. T. Davies, and he now packs through him. For fifteen years he was a director of the Anaheim Union Water Com- pany, and chairman of the ditch committee, and he helped to organize the First National Bank and the American Savings Bank of Anaheim, and is still a director in both. .

Mr. Bradford's place in California history is pleasantly assured through his dis- tinction as the founder of the town of Placentia. He bought sixty acres of land for the townsite from Richard Melrose of Anaheim in 1910, laid out the town and secured the right-of-way for the Santa Fe Railroad to build its line; and Placentia is now a busy, thriving town, with paved streets, modern business blocks and attractive homes, situated

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in the heart of the richest orange and oil section of Orange County. It has a modern, up-to-date grammar school and its own private water system for domestic service. The Placentia Domestic Water Works has one well 150 feet deep, and another 187 feet, with a modern pumping plant. Two large iron tanks hold 52,000 gallons, and a small tank contains 1.800 gallons, for the use of the packing houses. The largest street main is a six-inch pipe, and there are now 228 water meters installed. There are eight fire hydrants, and the town has a twenty-horsepower electric motor. It will be seen, there- fore, that with clear, pure water, the water system of Placentia compares favorably with that of any other place in the county.

The Placentia National Bank of which Mr. Bradford is president was organized by him in 1911, and occupies a modern brick building of its own-some evidence of its almost phenomenal success from the start. He was organizer of Placentia Savings Bank and president of it and is also a director in the Standard Bond and Mortgage Company of Los Angeles, president of the Republican Petroleum Corporation, and director in the Orange County Automobile Association. He is chairman of the County Board of Foresters, and vice-president and director in the Southern Counties Gas Company, all of them representative business associations. Since 1909 he has had charge, as has been said, of the Orange County exhibit at the annual orange show held in San Ber- nardino each February, and for ten season has made a new and novel design.

Mr. Bradford has been married three times. The first Mrs. Bradford was Miss Fannie R. Mead before her marriage, and she was a native of Winchester, Mass., and the daughter of Captain H. Mead. The latter commanded the U. S. Gunboat Monadnock during the siege of Fort Fisher, in the Civil War, and continuing to follow the high seas, he met a tragic death in the burning of his steamer off Cape Hatteras. Four children blessed the union: Elsie G., the only daughter, grew up to graduate from the Fullerton high school, and died on March 17, 1908. Hartwell A. and Percy L. became mainstays to their parents; but the mother, who passed away on January 9, 1910, did not see the patriotic service of the younger child, Warren M. Bradford, who served in France in the World War, as first lieutenant of the Twenty-third U. S. Engineers. His was the strenuous life of the able-bodied, idealistic and enthusiastic soldier, who never was willing to do the minimum possible, and it is not surprising that he was in several of the most important and famous drives. The blow to Mr. Bradford in the death of his devoted companion threatened to unnerve and incapacitate him; but through the endeavor to overcome the ill effects, he accomplished the great work of providing for the Santa Fe cut-off from Richfield to Fullerton, through Placentia, and also for the founding of the latter town. Hartwell A. Bradford graduated from the Colorado School of Mines, and has made a name for himself as a mining expert in both the United States and Mexico. Percival Loring Bradford was graduated from the Armour Institute of Chicago, as an electrical engineer; while Warren is a musician with proficiency on the piano and cornet. The second Mrs. Bradford was Ellen R. Mead who died November 23. 1918. The present Mrs. Bradford was Mrs. Winifred Wade Bryan, born in Missouri, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Wade.

Mr. Bradford is one of the most prominent Masons in California, having been made a Mason in Anaheim Lodge No. 207, F. & A. M., of which he was master three years. He was exalted to the Royal Arch degree in Santa Ana Chapter and was an organizer of Fullerton Chapter No. 90, R. A. M., and for three years was its high priest, although he did the work for five years. He is a member of the Grand Chapter of California and was deputy grand lecturer of the Nineteenth district. He is also a member of Santa Ana Council No. 14, R. & S. M. Mr. Bradford was knighted in Santa Ana Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar, and afterwards became a charter member of Fullerton Commandery. He is a member of Los Angeles Consistory, S. R., and also a life member of Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O N. M. S., Los Angeles. Always a believer in protection and nationalism for Americans he is decidedly a Republican and has always been active and prominent in matters of political moment to the county and state.

STROTHER S. BALL-During his forty years of continuous residence in Orange County, Strother S. Ball has witnessed the marvelous development of agri- culture and citrus culture in the county, as well as the growth of villages into up-to- date cities. He was born January 29, 1848, in Gentry County, Mo., the son of Hezekiah R. and Ellen (Stephens) Ball, the former a native of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hezekiah Ball were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living.

In 1865, after the Civil War, the family migrated, by the ox-team route, to Arizona. The indomitable spirit of the pioneer possessed this hardy family to such a degree that they determined to migrate still farther westward until the Golden State was reached. In 1866 the family arrived in San Bernardino, where they remained until 1880, when they located in what is now Orange County.

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In 1881 Hezekiah Ball purchased 200 acres of land at the small price of fifteen dollars an acre. Here he followed general farming until his passing away in 1909. The land was subsequently divided and disposed of, Strother Ball receiving his share of the estate. Mr. Ball occupies an established place in the community where he has so long been a resident, and stands high in the estimation of a large circle of friends.

RICHARD T. HARRIS .- A public official who made an enviable record that will long speak for both his high sense of integrity and his sagacity was the late Richard T. Harris, the first sheriff and tax collector, and the third treasurer of Orange County. He was born in Richmond, Va., on February 15, 1859, the son of John and Grace Harris, now deceased, who were both natives of Cornwall, England, where they were also married. They located, on first coming to America, in Richmond, Va., but, attracted by the exciting news of the discovery of gold in California, came out to California in 1860 and located in Grass Valley, Nevada County. For a while Mr. Harris followed mining there, and then he came to Healdsburg, Sonoma County, and from there to Santa Clara County. In the Centennial year of 1876, Mr. Harris settled in the Garden Grove district, which was then in Los Angeles County, and there followed farming.

On reaching young manhood, Richard T. Harris entered the mercantile field, conducting a general merchandise store at Westminster. When Orange County was formed, he was one of those distinguished by his foresight and his helpful par- ticipation in the hard work of the project, and naturally he was elected-by a majority of 1,700-the first sheriff and tax collector. Later he was elected county treasurer. In each of these offices he served a term and became one of the best-known men in the county. He was also interested in ranching and devoted considerable of his time to growing walnuts, oranges and celery. Politically he was a stanch Republican.

On July 3, 1888, at Westminster, Mr. Harris was married to Miss Maria. S. Larter, a native of Ontario, Canada, the family home being only six miles from Niagara Falls. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary J. (Hansler) Larter, born in Norwich, England, and Canada, respectively. Mrs. Harris accompanied her par- ents to Westminster in 1876, her father being one of the pioneer farmers there, and this was his home until his death. His widow survives, making her home at West- minster. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were the parents of one daughter, Geraldine May, who passed away at the age of nine years. Mrs. Harris is a cultured and refined woman, well-read and well-traveled, and this, coupled with a retentive memory, makes her a very interesting conversationalist. She is also endowed with much business acumen, which stands her in good stead in the management of the large affairs left her by her husband, a stewardship of which she is giving a good account.

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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 28

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