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 67

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

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In September, 1868, she married a second time, choosing for her new companion Karol Bozenta Chlapowski, a gifted fellow-countryman, and a year later settled in the more brilliant Warsaw, where she appeared in the principal female parts of Shakespeare, Goethe, Schiller and Moliere, as well as plays by Polish authors. Failing health, worry over the harassing, absurd Russian censorship, and other difficulties, induced her to leave the stage, and with her husband she came to the United States and California, hoping to found there a colony for Polish political refugees or other congenial spirits.

The coming Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, engrossing in particular the curiosity of her son, then an embryo engineer and full of interest for science, was really the first incentive to Mme. Modjeska and her husband to come to America, as

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she tells so charmingly in her always readable "Memories," and the person who piled on torch after torch to the burning fagots was none other than her friend, Sienkiewicz, the author later of "Quo Vadis." Despite the reports of rattlesnakes, bears and the California jaguar, it was agreed by the company of enthusiasts who met evening after evening to look over maps, books and pictures, that one need not starve in the Golden State, for rabbits, hares and partridges were to be had for the mere shooting, and gold was to be dug almost anywhere; and in her intense longing for a change that would mean rest to tired nerves, Pani, or Mrs. Helena, as her friends called her, pictured herself under the blue skies of California, riding on horseback with a gun over her shoulder, or cooking out in the open, in the land of freedom, or bleaching linen at the brook like the maidens of Homer!

After a delightful visit in New York, when they saw and met some of the stage celebrities of the time, the party traveled south to Panama, and there crossed the Isthmus, "a two hours' enchantment," and then came north to San Francisco; and the very next day after their arrival at the Golden Gate they witnessed Edwin Booth act in a series of performances, including the roles of Shylock and Marc Antony. Once in the Southland, they made for Anaheim, then inhabited mostly by German colonists and Spaniards, and were welcomed by Sienkiewicz and others of the Polish company who had gone ahead to Anaheim Landing. After a life spent in the fine old ancestral homes and mansions of Poland, Mme. Modjeska tells us that the little house at Anaheim which had been rented for her seemed painfully small-a dining room, a so-called parlor, with a square piano and a sofa, two bedrooms, a front yard, which "looked like a poorly-kept small graveyard"; but there was one redeeming point, at least, and that was the magnificent view of the Sierre Madre Mountains to the north, and of the Santa Ana range to the east.

Space will not suffice to tell in detail the many novel, exhilarating and also dis- couraging experiences of this charming idealist and her dreamy, impractical, if also delightful associates, who so identified themselves with first one canyon or beach or other corner of Orange County that forever these places will be hallowed to all who are privileged to trace out and follow in their footprints. The reader may need only to be reminded again how, when it was evident that the voyageurs from over the seas could no longer live on sunshine and cigarettes, something had to be done, not merely to supply a supportable income in a raw and undeveloped country, but to satisfy the longings of the higher self, Mme. Modjeska, in the spring of 1877, went back to San Francisco on a visit, encouraged by overtures from theatrical managers whose interest she had long before enlisted, but had never made use of, and after scarcely less than four months' study of English, made her first appearance in the historic California Theater as Adrienne Lecouvreur. Her success was instant, and from the first evening of her performance she scored an acknowledged triumph as one of the leading Ameri- can actresses. Thereafter she made numerous tours of the United States, and played in London and the other leading cities of the British provinces, and even returned to the stage in Poland, distinguishing herself in no less than twenty-five or thirty classical parts acknowledged to be sufficiently difficult to test her claims to have been a truly great actress.

Besides her home in Santiago Canyon, maintained for a while under conditions in strange contrast to what she had left behind in the Old World, and satisfying only to those in such search for the romantic that they drew largely upon their imagination and were blind to commonplace, everyday facts, Mme. Modjeska made her home at various places in Southern California, generally not far from where she first had settled, and in each place not only shared her comforts (as well as, no doubt. a few of the discomforts!) with some of the most gifted and even brilliant, as well as noble hearted of her compatriots, but entertained at various times many of the most famous men and women, particularly in the dramatic or musical world, who happened the way of the Pacific, or journeyed long distances to enjoy her company or partake of her unbounded hospitality, dispensed with rare humor and a full appreciation of the droll or the ridiculous. She counted the greatest minds and the largest hearted of Americans among her friends, and when such of these, as the poet Longfellow, could not visit her, their friendly, devoted or affectionate missives found their way over sea and land and into the forest or canyon recesses to where she, in periods of rest, loved to come again and again. The residence she finally erected was at Forest of Arden, in Santiago Canyon, Orange County, which she named for the scene in the celebrated Shakespearean play. As You Like It. It has long since been a Mecca for tourists to California who know of her only by name. It was roomy, dignified, elaborate and luxurious, both as to its ornate exterior and its well-appointed, richly furnished interior, especially its large and rich library; and there are still living those who may recall the breakfast parties presided over by this rare woman, held out in the open and further animated by her

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son, Ralph Modjeski, the eminent civil engineer of Chicago, and his interesting family. The last home of Mme. Modjeska was on Bay, now called Modjeska Island, in East Newport, to which she had removed a few months prior to her death, on April 8, 1909- a cosy, worthy seaside residence which she bequeathed to her grandson, Felix Bozenta Modjeska, who now occupies it with his family, and maintains it as nearly as possible as it was when she so gracefully moved about on the verandas and enjoyed the refresh- ing breeze.

SAMUEL KRAEMER .- Wonderf .. 1 have been the changes witnessed by Samuel Kraemer since his boyish eyes first beheld the vast unsettled tracts of Southern Cali- fornia. It was in 1867, when he was ten years of age, that he arrived here with other members of the family, at the expiration of a long and tedious voyage from the East. Vast tracts were then untrodden by the foot of man, but were given over to countless herds of wild cattle and horses. Travel was almost wholly on horseback through pathless fields in which the wild mustard at times hid the animal and rider from view. Now his swift automobiles convey him over perfect roads and through a country densely populated with a contented, prosperous people. Then he aided in the cultiva- tion of the ground with such rude implements as could be obtained; now his land is cultivated by workmen having the most modern machinery that money can buy. In those days he gazed aloft with no prophetic vision of the time, when under his super- vision an aeroplane would be constructed, not only as a demonstration of the possi- bilities of science, but also for future usefulness and enjoyment. Financial institutions were not in vogue in those days, for currency was too scarce to render banks a necessity; nor could his vision point ahead to his present service as a director in the First National Bank of Anaheim and the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Fullerton, in which latter institution he also officiated as president for one and one-half years. He was also an organizer and is a director in the Placentia National Bank, is a director in the Placentia Mutual Orange Distributors Association and president of the Anaheim Walnut Growers Association.

Born in St. Clair County, III., July 9, 1857, Samuel Kraemer was a son of Daniel and Elenora (Schrag) Kraemer, natives, respectively, of St. Johannes, Germany, and Landauch, on the Rhine. They emigrated to the United States in early years and passed away in California at advanced ages. The family became pioneers. of California in 1867. The journey was commenced at St. Louis, Mo., whence they traveled to New York, arriving in that city at the end of four days. A steamer was there boarded for Panama and after a tedious voyage of sixteen days they landed at the Isthmus. Three days were spent in unloading on the eastern side, crossing the Isthmus and loading up on the Pacific side, after which they sailed on a steamer bound for San Francisco. The voyage consumed fifteen days and the only stops made by the steamer were at Acapulco and Manzanillo, Mexico. The fact that the ship did not anchor at any port in Southern California caused extra expense and delay to the Kraemer family, who were forced to wait for twenty-one days in San Francisco before any vessel started for the southern part of the state. Eventually they landed at San Pedro, Los Angeles County, after a voyage of five days from San Francisco, and from San Pedro, pro- ceeded to Anaheim. At that time Los Angeles County embraced all of what is now Orange County. The environment was uninviting, for Americans had not settled in sufficient numbers to embark in any improvements and wild stock roamed the ranges.

Immediately after his arrival, the elder Kraemer bought thirty-nine hundred acres of land (which was the smallest land tract that could be bought) in what is now known as the Placentia district. The land was originally owned by A. D. Ontiveras, a Castilian gentleman, a native of Spain, who received his grant from the Mexican government. In time Mr. Kraemer had fenced eighty acres of the tract, besides making other improvements. The entire country was open with the exception of twelve hundred acres at Anaheim, which was fenced, admission being through four gates on the four sides of the tract, and by means of this solid fence all wild cattle were excluded. Eight years later the fence law kept out cattle and brought settlers. From the first Samuel aided his father in the many difficult tasks connected with improving the wild tract and it was not possible for him to attend school regularly, but he was a pupil in the Yorba school for a time, and since then by reading and observation he has become a well informed man. Five hundred acres of the original estate is now owned by him, the larger part of the land being in grain, but in addition he has sixty-five acres in oranges and 130 acres in walnuts. Stock is raised for the needs of the ranch, but not for the general markets.

On September 30, 1886, Mr. Kraemer married Miss Angelina Yorba, a native of California and the daughter of Castilian parents now deceased, representing early settlers of the state, Prudencio and Dolores (Ontiveras) Yorba. Ten children were

Eng by EG Williams & Bro NY

Jose Lausinena

Histip. I-pa

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born of the union, of whom five sons and three daughters survive: Adela is Mrs. Walter Muckenthaler of Fullerton; Samuel P. married Miss Edna Wentz of Ohio, served in the U. S. Army in the World War and is an orange grower in Placentia; Elena Mauri of Oakland, is an orange grower at Placentia; Gilbert U. married Esther Arnold R., who served in the U. S. Naval Reserve, stationed in New Jersey, and married Munger of Santa Ana, and is a rancher on Kraemer Avenue; Angeline is the wife of Edward Backs and resides in Placentia; Laurance P. is attending Occidental College; Geraldine and Louis are attending the Union high school.

Caring little for politics or secret orders, Mr. Kraemer nevertheless finds much to occupy his time. The supervision of his large estate, the discharge of duties as bank director, the enjoyment of domestic and social pleasure, the recreation through travel and the development of irrigation and fruit interests keep him fully occupied. While serving as a director of the Anaheim Union Water Company he also for a time filled the office of vice-president. Even more than many horticulturists, he has realized the importance of a successful solution of the water problem and at all times he has been an active factor in the development of irrigation interests. The fact that the water supply is so abundant and so satisfactory is due not a little to his influence and timely actions. Other important local measures have had the benefit of his aid and cooperation and very justly he occupies a leading position among the pioneer citizens and horticul- turists of the county. In company with William Crowther, A. S. Bradford, H. H. Hale and C. C. Chapman, Mr. Kraemer became one of the promoters of the new town of Placentia. They gave the right-of-way to the Santa Fe Railroad and Mr. Kraemer donated besides ten acres of land on which the depot and side tracks are situated. Work was begun in August, 1910, and four packing houses have in the meantime been erected, one of which Mr. Kraemer erected at his own expense. He is a shareholder and director in the Placentia Mutual Orange Association. They have just completed a large modern packing house at a cost of $150,000, one of the finest in California. His influence in Orange County is felt far and wide and his name is mentioned with honor and respect because of a well-regulated and well-spent life, contributing in no small manner to the well being and upbuilding of the county.

JOSE SANSINENA .- An early settler of the La Habra Valley in what is now the northern part of Orange County, who came to California in 1872 and from a humble beginning by perseverance and close application became one of the largest and most successful stockmen and landowners, is the late Jose Sansinena, who was born at Aldudes, Basses Pyrenees, France, in 1854, where he was reared and obtained his edu- cation in the local school. His parents were farmers and stock raisers, so from a lad Jose assisted on the farm and became adept in the care of stock.

From his countrymen who had returned from California he learned of the many opportunities that awaited young men of brain and brawn who were willing to work. So his desire was whetted until he started for the land of gold and sunshine on the Pacific Coast, arriving in 1872 a young man full of ambition and hope to make a fortune in the new world. Soon after his arrival he entered the employ of Mr. Bastanchury and his steady habits and watchful care of his employer's interest attracted Mr. Bastanchury, so that when the young man had saved enough money and showed a desire to engage in business Mr. Bastanchury took him into partnership and they continued together, meeting with success and became owners of large flocks. In those early days there was no market to speak of in Los Angeles so each year they drove bands of sheep to San Francisco where they were sold in the market, the price per head ranging from $1.50 to $2.00 with the wool. These trips usually consumed two and a half to three months' time.

The marriage of Mr. Sansinena and Miss Dolores Ordoqui was celebrated at the historical old Plaza Church, Los Angeles, in 1889, the ceremony being performed by Father Liebana. The bride was a native of Navarra, Spain, but reared in Los Angeles. She came with her parents, when a girl in 1872, and was educated in the Sisters Con- vent, Los Angeles. Soon after their marriage the partnership with Mr. Bastanchury was dissolved and Mr. Sansinena continued in the stock business and purchased 5,000 acres of the Stearns Rancho in the La Habra Valley and they took up their residence on the ranch, making the necessary improvements for their comfort and convenience. and here they made a specialty of raising sheep, ranging them on the broad acres of their ranch which was well adapted for the purpose, being well watered by numerous springs. His flocks increased until he had from 10,000 to 15,000 head, and when the railroad was completed from San Francisco to Los Angeles, as well as the Santa Fe into Southern California, he shipped both to the Northern as well as the Eastern mar- kets. His keen perception and business ahility was felt and he rose rapidly to a position of affluence and acquired an independent position financially and a competency for

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himself and family. However, he was not permitted to enjoy the fruits of his labors for he was called to the Great Beyond, May 1, 1895, mourned by his family and friends. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles. He left a widow and four children as follows: Antoinette; Joseph, who served in the U. S. Navy in the World War and now ably assists his mother in the care of their large ranch; Magdalena and Marian. They all reside with their mother and having been reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement the daughters ably assist her in gracefully presiding over the home. Mrs. Sansinena afterwards became Mrs. Ysidoro Eseverri and all make their residence at the old home.

Mr. Sansinena was a modest and unassuming man but of strict integrity and honesty of purpose which greatly endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. He was industrious and energetic and was never afraid of work nor to venture in this new country, where in his prime he entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as his heritage. Thus it is to pioneers of his type that Orange County today owes much of its present development and greatness, for without their spirit of energy and optimism the present generation would not now be enjoying the well improved country with its paved roads and other public conveniences and essentials to give them the present day comforts and pleasures. Liberal and kind-hearted to a fault, Mr. San- sinena's example is well worthy of emulation.

JOSEPH WILLIAM JOHNSON .- Among the best-known ranchers and business men of both Yorba Linda and Placentia may well be listed J. W. Johnson, a leader in legitimate "boosting" for the locality, who lives on the Richfield Road near the Yorba Linda Boulevard. He was born in County Durham, England, near the famous cathedral and the old, historic town of that name, on June 22, 1863, the son of Manuel Johnson, a farmer and a landowner, whose chief crops were hay and grain. He had married Miss Annie Walker, a daughter of an old and well-established family that had sent, in her brothers, several representatives to Parliament.

From a boy, our subject had yearned for travel; and when only fourteen he crossed the ocean to New York City, and then came on to the coal regions, where he found employment. Since then he has crossed and recrossed the Atlantic seven times. Having enjoyed the benefits of a good common school education in England, the lad readily made his way in America, being apt at learning; and having become a mining expert, he was busy for a while in New Mexico, serving even as deputy sheriff at Albuquerque. In 1891, however, he decide to abandon mining, and coming on to Cali- fornia, he stopped for a while at Los Angeles, and then came on to Santa Ana, which was then but a small village.

After serving as game warden at the Bolsa Gun Club, he leased land on the Irvine Ranch, and has been pursuing agriculture there or elsewhere ever since. In 1899 he removed to Placentia and purchased five acres on the flats east of Richfield; and this land he improved and developed, making of it a very profitable grove of oranges. Meanwhile, he contracted for the making and grading of roads and the care of the water reservoirs for Yorba Linda, and altogether he spent fifteen years in the service of the Santa Fe Railroad, grading and making crossings, and also graded the streets for the town of Placentia when it was laid out. Of late years he has had full charge as superintendent of some ninety acres in Yorba Linda, and has set out much of this to lemons, using nursery stock developed on his own ranch. Having recently sold his five-acre ranch, he intends to locate on more open land and to improve a still larger area. This has not weakened Mr. Johnson's interest in Placentia and Yorba Linda in any respect, for he still has the utmost confidence in a brilliant future for both; and as both an American citizen of the one hundred per cent type, and a stanch Republican, he supported vigorously all the varied work of the recent war, and also all movements for the building up of the community. Mr. Johnson has one, daughter, Mrs. Laura Speck, of Santa Barbara, and she is the mother of a daughter, Ethel Speck.

JOSEPH KEE .- For twenty years Joseph Kee of Buena Park has been identi- fied with the general farming interests of Orange County, having located on his present ranch in 1900. At that time the land was in its primitive state and he, as well as many other ranchers, was obliged to put up with many inconveniences, and suffered the setbacks common in those days among the early settlers in a new territory. By hard work and sound business management Mr. Kee has overcome his earlier obstacles and today is counted as one of the successful and substantial ranchers in his section of the county.

Joseph Kee was born in McHenry County, I11., on March 10, 1850, a son of James and Rachel (Morton) Kee. His father was a native of the Emerald Isle, while his mother was born in either New York or Illinois of Irish parents. The family of Mr. and Mrs. James Kee consisted of twelve children, six of whom are living.

Dolores S. Eseverri.

Historic Poco.

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In April, 1877, Joseph Kee moved to McPherson County, Kans., where he re- mained until 1887, when he migrated to Los Angeles County, Cal. He lived near San Gabriel for thirteen years, then settled on his present ranch of twenty acres, situated on Almond Street, Buena Park.

In March, 1878, Joseph Kee was united in marriage with Miss Jennie B. Mitchell, who was reared on the adjoining farm in Illinois where Mr. Kee was born, and of this happy union four children were born: Clarence, Elenora, wife of Robert Brown of Santa Ana; Ormiston, and Charlotte, wife of Willis Cornwell of Stanislaus County. Mrs. Kee is a native of Illinois and is of Scotch ancestry.

In addition to his general farming operations. Mr. Kee devotes considerable time to raising poultry, his flock of fowls numbering about 250. In politics he has supported the Republican candidates since he has voted, and he is highly esteemed in his community for his integrity of character and good citizenship. He was reared in the Episcopal Church.

MRS. DOLORES ESEVERRI .- A woman who has nobly done her part to build up and improve the northern part of Orange County and who has displayed wonderful native business acumen and optimism in her effort of transforming the raw land into beautiful orchards loaded with golden fruit, such a woman is Mrs. Dolores Eseverri, who is a native of far away Spain, born at Pamplona, Navarra, a country noted for the modesty and high moral character of its people and where the honor of the home is very sacred and guarded with the most zealous care.

Her parents were Juan and Antonia Ordoqui, also natives of Pamplona, where her father was a carpenter of known ability. When the news of the discovery of gold in California reached Navarra he immediately joined the rush to the new Eldorado and was one of the Argonauts, coming via the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco in 1849. After several years he returned to his home in Spain; however, he was so well im- pressed with the opportunities in the land of sunshine and flowers on the Pacific Coast and the call of the West became so strong that he finally concluded to make it his home. So responding to the allurement, he brought his wife and two children, Manuel and Dolores, settling in Los Angeles County in 1872, where he became a well-to-do sheep raiser, and during his lifetime became the owner of large herds as well as a ranch now the present site of Palms, near Los Angeles. Later he purchased a residence in Los Angeles where he made his home until his death in 1909, his widow surviving him until 1911. The son Manuel is now a business man in Los Angeles.

Thus in this beautiful environment of sunny Southern California Dolores Ordoqui grew to womanhood receiving a liberal education in the Sisters Convent in Los Angeles. She was first married in her early womanhood, the ceremony being performed at the old Plaza Church at Los Angeles, when she was united with Jose Sansinena, who was a native of Aldudes, France, and had come to Los Angeles County in 1872 and had become a successful stockman. After their marriage they gradually enlarged their operations until their flocks became very large and they acquired by purchase 5,000 acres of the Stearns rancho, which at the time was all grazing land and being well watered by springs was well adapted to sheep raising, in which they specialized. Mr. Sansinena was most successful in his business, increasing his herds year by year until their flocks numbered about 15,000 head. He passed away in 1895 leaving his widow and four children, Antoinette. Joseph, Magdelena and Marian.

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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 67

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