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 44

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 44

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Mary Handy

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efficient management the affairs of the company have prospered and the volume of business has increased each year.

During the war Mr. Benchley was one of Fullerton's most patriotic citizens and he showed his loyalty by enlisting in the U. S. Army on May 12, 1918; spending some time in the officers' training camp at Camp Gordon, Atlanta, Ga. He was honored by recommendation for a commission shortly before the armistice ended hostilities.

Mr. Benchley's marriage, on June 26, 1906, united him with Miss Belle Jennings of San Diego, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jennings. An active member of the Board of Trade of Fullerton, Mr. Benchley is also prominent in fraternal circles, where he is a member of the Lodge, Chapter, Commandery and Shrine, of the Masons, and also of the Elks. He is a also a member of the Hacienda Country Club, the Fuller- ton Club and the American Legion. Especially fond of out-door sports, he takes his recreation in hunting, fishing and on the tennis courts. Possessing the business ability that has brought him success in his own undertakings. Mr. Benchley can always be counted upon to give his time and energy to all public-spirited undertakings.

THOMAS H. THOMSON .- One of the upbuilders of the Garden Grove district, Thomas H: Thomson, a wealthy pioneer rancher, is now retired from active business, living in comfort on the competence accumulated since coming to the West. Of Scotch ancestry, the qualities of thrift and sagacity which have always characterized this race, have unquestionably had no small part in the success he has made in all his under- takings. A native of Bovina, Delaware County, N. Y., Mr. Thomson was born there August 28, 1837, the son of William and Jeanette (Hamilton) Thomson. The father came from Ayrshire, Scotland in 1825, and settled in New York, and there he was married, his wife being a native of Delaware County. He became interested in dairying, owning a farm of 256 acres. Delaware County was at that time the banner county of New York for Jersey cows, milk and hutter, and was the chief source of supply of New York City for dairy products. Here in this beautiful and healthful locality the parents reared a family of six sturdy children as is evidenced by the fact that there was never a doctor called into the house to attend a case of sickness until all were grown up and married.

Thomas H. grew up on the home place, attending the district schools and early taking a hand in the farm work, driving a team, plowing and harrowing when he was but thirteen years old, acquiring in this way that practical knowledge of agriculture which proved such a benefit to him in his later years. The Thomson home was only nine miles from the birthplace of Jay Gould and Mr. Thomson remembers him very well. Notwithstanding the 'eminence to which the great financier rose in after life, his boyhood days were spent in milking the cows and such homely chores, like the other hoys of the neighborhood. When a young man, Jay Gould published the Historical Atlas of Delaware County, and Mr. Thomson well recalls when he was surveying and canvassing for this work. Until he was twenty-six years of age, Mr. Thomson remained on his father's farm, helping run their extensive dairy business. He then began farming for himself, investing the $3,000 which his father had given him in pay- ment for his services, in a tract of 120 acres near Meredith, N. Y. He continued there in the dairy business until November 30, 1870, when he sold out, and went to Clarinda, Page County, lowa, in 1871, farming there until 1874, when he returned to Delaware County. N. Y. Later he bought a farm of 170 acres near Walton, N. Y., and started in the dairy business again.

In the meantime Mr. Thomson had become interested in California through his brother-in-law. the late James McFadden, who for fifty years occupied a place of such prominence not alone in Orange County, but throughout Southern California, among his many activities being the promotion and building of the Santa Ana and Newport Railway: Mr. McFadden had come to Salinas in 1864 and in 1868 he came to Santa Ana and bought 3,900 acres in what was then called Gospel Swamp, paying $1.75 an acre for it. He returned to Delaware County, N. Y., and in 1874, came back to Cali- fornia with his family and entered upon his long career of useful service here. Nat- urally, Mr. Thomson heard much of the opportunities offered in the great Southwest through Mr. McFadden, so in 1888 he disposed of his dairy farm in New York and came to California, bringing his family with him. For a time they lived on Pine Street in Santa Ana, and then came up to Garden Grove, where in October, 1890, they purchased sixty acres of land, and later on hought five acres more. Here Mr. Thomson and Mr. Jackson, now Sheriff Jackson of Orange County, built the Thomson home on Ocean Avenue, one mile east of Garden Grove, and which has been the center of many happy social functions since. This was before the days of the electric road at Garden Grove and forty acres of Mr. Thomson's land had never been touched by the plow. He began at once to improve the place. at first raising harley and potatoes.

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In 1897, with his son William, Mr. Thomson entered upon a ranching enterprise on the peat lands in the Huntington Beach neighborhood. Taking 200 acres of rough land covered with tules, willows and underbrush, they at once began grubbing and draining. Corn and sugar beets were raised and on the latter as high as twenty- seven tons to the acre were produced. The place was brought up to a high state of cultivation and in 1905 Mr. Thomson retired, his son, William S., maintaining the ranch.

Mr. Thomson's first marriage occurred January 4, 1864, when he was united with Miss Elizabeth Elliott, who was born at Middletown, Delaware County, N. Y., and who passed away at the birth of her first child. Later he was married to Miss Lucy A. Smith, the daughter of Richard and Maria (Saunders) Smith, both natives of England, where they spent their early days, and where Mrs. Smith recalled distinctly seeing Queen Victoria driving through the streets of London. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have three living children: Luella is the wife of F. E. Farnsworth of Santa Ana, a wealthy and influential banker there, and a large landowner and walnut grower; they are the parents of two children, namely, Evlyn M. and Edward G. Mary I. resides at the home place; William S. continues to own and successfully operate the large ranch at Huntington Beach, in which his father was formerly interested. He married Miss Zella Irwin of Huntington Beach. Mr. Thomson was reared a Scotch covenanter and he and his wife are now members of the United Presbyterian Church at Santa Ana. It is to citizens of the type of Mr. and Mrs. Thomson that Orange County is indebted to for the wonderful progress that has been made in the past years, and they occupy a high place in the esteem of a large circle of friends.

ANDREW RORDEN .- An interesting, instructive story is that of the life and work of Andrew Rorden, the rancher of 415 East Chapman Avenue, Fullerton, who came to America in the early seventies to add to that valuable class of intelligent and indus- trions citizens contributed for half a century or more to the United States by Europe. He was born on the Island of Fohr, one of the largest of the Fresian Islands, in the North Sea, in the former duchy of Schleswig-Holstein, now a part of Germany, and duly confirmed in the Lutheran Church. In 1872 he joined his brother, Christ Rorden, who had settled in Los Angeles County four years before, and for three years was em- ployed by William McFadden. At the end of that period, he started at Anaheim to learn the wagonmaker's trade; but the confinement did not agree with his health, and having given it up, he took up any kind of work he could find until the dry year of 1879. The hard times incidental to this reverse led him to make a trip back back to Germany; and after a year there with his friends, he once more found himself in California.

At first, he went to Arizona for three years and worked in the quartz mills, where he earned enough money to make an initial payment on the ranch of thirty acres he now owns on East Chapman Avenue, at Fullerton, then in the Anaheim district. He set out a vineyard, but the blight killed it; and then, in 1886, he began to set out walnuts-an experiment at that time here. Now he has fourteen acres, and they make as handsome a walnut orchard as one would wish to find. He also set out, in 1891, the first oranges-luckily, Valencias, and now he has eight and one-half acres. While his trees were maturing, he raised peanuts, cabbage and potatoes, in order to cover expenses; and by 1892, he was enabled to erect a good home. He endured many hard- ships in these trying-out years, before he was even on the road to that success which he now enjoys and which he so richly deserves; for farming was an experiment in those early days, particularly until the problem of transportation had been solved and markets were established. Now, one of the charter members of the Fullerton-Placentia . Walnut Growers Association, and a member of the Placentia Orange Growers Associa- tion, and also a shareholder in the Anaheim Union Water Company, he has the esteem of all who know him as an honest man, and the good will of all who have followed his patriotic course during the trying days of the World War. He came to California to establish here a permanent home, and he has been loyal to the country, state and county, and has heartily supported all those measures which have meant the greatest good to the greatest number in the community.

Mr. Rorden has been twice married. His first wife was Rebecca Knudtsen-a good companion, who died at Los Angeles in 1912. For his second wife, he married Mrs. Marie (Togel) Klement of Anaheim, the widow of a butcher of that place, and the mother of one daughter, Miss Pauline Klement, who makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Rorden. In 1894, Mr. Rorden returned home to Europe for the second time, and in 1907, while Mrs. Rorden was still living, he made a third trip, taking her. His fourth and last visit to Germany was in 1913.

FRED A. MAURER .- After an eventful life, in which he traveled thousands of miles over the entire West, with many adventurous experiences, which he recalls and narrates in an interesting way, Fred A. Maurer is now living retired at his comfortable home in Anaheim. A native of Lorraine. Mr. Maurer was born there March 12. 1849, when that beautiful little country was still a part of France, and her peaceful inhabi-

andrew Ronden.

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tants undisturbed by the hand of the conqueror. He was the son of Jacob and Mary (Seigel) Maurer, his father being the owner of a vineyard in that country.

While still a babe he was brought to America by his parents, the trip being made on a sailing vessel and eighty days were spent in crossing the Atlantic. The family settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where Jacob Maurer engaged in business, and here Fred A. grew up, attending the schools of that thriving city and learned the trade of cooper. The spirit of adventure was strong within him, however, and in 1878 he made up his mind to see something of this great country. Starting west, he went first to Green River, Wyo., and then to the Ontario silver mines in that state, remaining six months.

Going to Salt Lake City, Mr. Maurer, with two companions, equipped themselves for a trip across the desert, and traveled the whole length of Utah to Washington, in the southwestern part of the state. Going down into Arizona they crossed the Colo- rado River at Lees Ferry, making their way from there to Bingham City, a distance of 100 miles. Their supplies gave out on this trip and they had only two flapjacks apiece on the whole journey so they were almost famished when they reached Bingham City. There they obtained a sack of flour for twenty dollars which they divided with another party and going over Simpson Pass continued on to Prescott, where they remained to prospect for gold for some months. From there they went on to Globe, Ariz., working in the Stonewall Jackson silver mine and later Mr. Maurer went on to the Silver King mine, spending five years there. In these days Mr. Maurer spent much time among the Indians and he can recall many interesting reminiscences of the different tribes, among whom he always fared well, as he understood their ways and knew how to treat them.

Coming to Anaheim in 1884, when this country was covered with vineyards, Mr. Maurer remained here for some months, and during his stay helped to make tanks and barrels for the Boege Winery. The lure of gold, however, drew him to the north part of the state and here he prospected for about a year, returning to Anaheim, where he has since made his home. Soon after coming back to this part of the country Mr. Maurer began shipping lemons from here, being the first shipper from the county out of the state and into Arizona; he purchased fruit from the groves around Orange, Placentia and Anaheim, packing them in a cooper shop near the Southern Pacific depot.

In October, 1893, Mr. Maurer was married to Mrs. Mary (Gade) Wilkins, a native of Milwaukee, who came here in 1880 with her brother, Harry Gade, who ran an express business in Anaheim. Mrs. Maurer was the owner of a tract of six and a half acres in Anaheim, its boundaries being Broadway, West, Center and Walnut streets, and for some years they made their home there, selling it in 1909 and building a resi- dence in Resh Street; this they also disposed of after living there a year, purchasing a home on North Citron Avenue. On August 15, 1920, Mrs. Maurer died, aged sixty- three years. In 1894 Mr. Maurer purchased ten acres of land, renting it out until 1910, when he disposed of it. Mr. Maurer was also the owner of a forty-acre ranch thirty miles from Bakersfield on the Santa Fe Railroad, on which he raised hay, buying this in 1910 and selling it two years later.

Coming here in the early days, Mr. Maurer has not only viewed the wonderful transformation that has taken place in this vicinity but has contributed his share in this great work of development. Kindly disposed and generous in his attitude toward his fellow beings, he has a large circle of warm friends. In politics he has always been a believer in the principles of the Democratic party and marches under their banner when he casts his vote.

ELI S. HARRIS .- During the long period of his residence in California, dating from 1857, when, a child of two years old, he accompanied his parents to the Pacific Coast, Eli S. Harris has been an eyewitness of the wonderful changes that time has wrought since early pioneer days. He was born near Denton, Texas, on February 20, 1855, and is the son of Andrew S. and Lou Ann (Major) Harris.

Andrew S. was born in North Carolina in 1816, and attained the age of seventy- seven, dying in 1893. His wife, who was born in 1829, died in 1918, and was buried on her eighty-ninth birthday. Mr. Harris removed from his native state to Missouri, and was with the militia who were called out in 1836 to meet the encroachments of the Mormons, who in those days became very bold. He finally moved to Texas, in 1847, where he had a novel experience with the Indians, who were intent on stealing all the horses they could lay hands on, so that he was obliged to chain his horses to his log house to preserve them from the thieving Indians. Of his family of thirteen children, three of whom accompanied him to the Pacific Coast in the seven- months' journey overland by ox-team in 1857, five are living, and are residents of Orange County. The family stopped in San Bernardino County one year, then moved to El Monte and bought grant land, but lost it. In 1867 he moved with horse- teams back to Texas, where he had land, traded off his land and came back to Cali-

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fornia, sold his horses and in 1869 purchased forty acres of unimproved land in Los Angeles County, after arriving in his new home, and took up the vocation of farming.

Eli S. Harris moved to Orange County in 1873, where he remained six years, locating south on the Bolsa, and was one of the first men to build in Garden Grove in 1876. Milton Teal has the honor of being the first man to build in that place. Mr. Harris owned a ranch of forty acres and followed general farming. Like most pioneers, he bought and sold several parcels of land before finally settling down. He was absent from Orange County from 1881 until 1914, with the exception of two years, and in the meantime followed ranching. He resided in San Diego County twelve years, and for seven years was "in the saddle" as a stockman, a business he enjoyed and made profitable.

His marriage, in Azusa, occurred in 1894, and united him with Miss Susan Danks, a native of Kentucky, who had been a resident of California since 1869, having crossed the plains with ox-teams. Her father, a major in the Mexican War, and Mr. Harris' father were Texas pioneers together. Eight children were born of their union, six of whom are living, viz .: Albert Andrew, of Orange; William W. makes his home with his parents; Simeon W., of Santa Ana; Charles D., of Santa Ana; George F. is in Orange; Dora B., wife of Leroy Brittingham of Los Angeles.

George F. and William W. were in the U. S. service in the late World War; George F., who saw active service in France, was wounded at the Battle of Argonne. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, and belonged to the Three Hundred Sixty- fourth Infantry,, Ninety-first Division. His brother, William W., who was in the heavy artillery, did not see active service, getting no farther than San Diego.

Eli S. Harris's five-acre ranch on the Garden Grove Road, which he purchased in 1916, is devoted to the culture of Valencia oranges. Mr. Harris is a worthy citizen of industrious habits, and enjoys the esteem of his fellow-citizens. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party in national affairs, but in local matters supports the best men and measures.

JONATHAN WATSON .- One of the few remaining '49ers in California is Jonathan Watson, and his life stands out as one of the hardy pioneers who, with his great strength, courage and determination, was utterly fearless in facing the many hardships that they encountered in those early days. His memory of his pioneer experiences is splendid, and it is most interesting to hear him recount the story of his boyhood escapades and his hunting experiences up on the San Joaquin, when they made corrals from elkhorns picked up on the plains. He has seen herds of elk numbering 500 in a bunch, 20,000 antelope, and in the Santa Cruz Mountains of San Benito County as many as 300 bears in one of the mountain valleys. At one time since living in Santa Ana Canyon, he hunted game for the market, and has . killed as many as twenty-five deer in a day in Santiago Canyon.

Jonathan Watson was born near Independence, Jackson County, Mo., on July 24, 1844, the son of Henry Watson, a native of Virginia, where he was born in the historic year of 1812. He married Matilda Cox, also a native of the Old Dominion. the ceremony taking place in Virginia, and the young couple a few years later settled in Missouri. They began to rear their family on a farm in Jackson County, and he followed freighting to Santa Fe with ox teams, over the old Santa Fe Trail. The story of the discovery of gold in California made him restless, however, and he joined the thousands hurrying westward, in the hope of bettering his condition and that of those dependent upon him. Owing to his having been an experienced frontiers- man, with considerable knowledge of the language and characteristics of the Indians, many neighbors and friends applied to join his company, and so Henry Watson's train came to have 500 wagons and over 1,000 men, and turned away many others who applied. As captain of the train he scouted ahead, picked the camping places and killed the game-buffalo and antelope-for their food. The Indians massacred the train before them but, thanks to Henry Watson's vigilance and diplomacy, they came through all right.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Watson in Virginia: Mrs. Jane Barham, who passed away some years ago, and Mrs. Sarah Ann Bush, who died at the old Bush home above Olive, March 26, 1920. Two children were born to them in Missouri: Jonathan Watson, of this review, and David, who died at Olive a few years ago. Two children were also born to them after they came to California. Jacob, a native of Santa Clara, is a rancher in San Diego County, near the old San Luis Rey Mission. Charles, who was born in Monterey, or what is now San Benito County, is an engineer and is employed at the city water works at Orange.

Henry Watson came to California to make his home, and so hrought with him eight ox wagons loaded with merchandise. One wagon was full of clothing, and an- other loaded with bacon and other provisions, and all of his six and eight-yoke

Natoon

Lenna M. Watson

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wagons contained something substantial, such as hardware, tools and the like. He left Jackson County, Mo., in 1849, and after a journey of three months, pulled up at Sacramento. He went to Bear Creek, and soon after to Dry Creek, built a hotel and engaged in freighting to Nevada and the adjoining mining towns. He received $100 a day for a team, wagon and driver, and for three yoke of cxen, a wagon and driver he received $300 a day, but flour was then a dollar a pound, mining boots fifty dollars a pair, and other essentials proportionately high.

As a mere boy, Jonathan Watson drove teams; in fact, he drove the first load of freight that ever came into Nevada City, Cal. He passed through Hangtown, and there saw three desperadoes dangling by the neck, the work of Vigilantes. His education was very limited, for from a boy he assisted his father in the sheep business. Henry Watson and his family first lived in the Santa Clara Valley, moving from there to Monterey County; later he owned stock ranches in Fresno and Tulare counties, near Visalia. Then he operated in the Kings River country, in what is now Kings County. He worked hard and prospered, became a large landowner and held title to land for twenty-five miles up and down the San Joaquin River. This land he afterward sold to Miller & Lux. Henry Watson died at Olive at the age of eighty-seven, the mother having passed away when she was sixty years old.

Jonathan Watson started in business for himself as a stockman and sheepman when he was eighteen years old, on the San Joaquin River, and his flocks increased so that he soon had a drove of 15,000 sheep. He brought them down to the neighborhood of Olive in 1868, coming there with his father; then he went back to the San Joaquin Valley and disposed of his interests there. With J. M. Bush as a partner, in 1869 he bought 12,000 acres of land stretching from the Santa Ana River at Olive south and east to Tustin; and for twenty-five years he was in the sheep business, during which time, for twenty years he never slept in a house, When Messrs. Watson and Bush bought this land they also purchased the priority water right and used it for raising alfalfa. When irrigation was started in the valley below, he and his father looked the water right over and decided that it was not right for them to keep it all, but that others should have the use of it, too, so they not only gave up their right to the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company, but helped build the canal, and later on Mr. Watson served for a number of years as a director of this company. From time to time Mr. Watson sold off parcels from his holding, retaining 105 acres under the canal, which he set out years ago to walnuts, lemons and Valencia oranges, now full bearing and yielding a handsome income.

A giant in strength, Mr. Watson is still a powerful man; he enjoyed the reputation of being a better shot than even Buffalo Bill, and has killed more grizzlies than any other man in California. When he lined up with Colonel Cody and worsted him, he used a Hawkins rifle; the contest with Buffalo Bill was on the banks of the San Joaquin River, and on account of his marksmanship he was offered $500 a week by an Englishman to go buffalo hunting with him on the great plains, but he turned the offer down. He also excelled in running and jumping and his prowess in athletics was wonderful. His training had not been in the gymnasium as nowadays, but in the great outdoors, by exercise on the plains and in the fields. In those early days he won many contests at both running and jumping; thus it was that when he was a boy of seventeen at Watsonville the manager of Lee's Circus offered him $500 a week to travel with the circus as an athlete, but he also turned that offer down, for he would not leave his mother. One shooting contest he had with John Mason, a quarter-breed Cherokee Indian who thought himself invincible, came near proving a tragedy. Mr. Watson easily proved his superiority as a marksman, when Mason drew a shotgun on him, but with lightning quickness Mr. Watson threw the barrel of the gun up with his revolver and the charge went through his hat; then he covered the would-be murderer, who cringingly wilted and dropped his gun, The remembrance of his mother and her teachings came before him and kept him from shooting, and he was ever afterwards glad, because he did not want the blood of any man on his conscience, even though it was in self-defense.

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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 44

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