USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 100
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he abandoned city counting-rooms, smiled good naturedly at the ridicule of his young friends who laughed when he contemplated farm work with his soft hands, rolled up his sleeves, and went at the task. The result is, that although the past year was the first in which he had managed a ranch, he cleared up several thousand dollars, owing in part to the high prices of beans. grain and hay.
Born on the Tepesquet, on January 16, 1884, and educated at the public schools in his neighborhood, as well as at the Santa Maria grammar school and the Pacific Coast Business College in San Jose, he served for six months as clerk in the Farmers Union Bank of that city. After the great earthquake he went to San Francisco, where for four years he worked in the "Cash House" clothing and men's furnishing establishment Later, he engaged with Nathan Dohrmann, Hayden & Co., and still later was in the office of the Carrigan llayden Wholesale Hardware Co. In 1908, he came to Santa Maria and went to work as collector for the Pacific Telephone Co., putting in two and a half years in that capacity, and then acting for six months as their manager.
A distressing accident, the result of playfully boxing with friends com- pelled him to enter a Los Angeles hospital and caused him the loss of an eye This somewhat conditioned his next move, which was a journey to Arizona, where he took up a hundred sixty acres of land near Wilcox This he proved
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up and still owns. Having there acquired valuable experience, he entered Og his enviable inheritance of a hundred fifty-six acres received from his father, who died some years ago. This property he had retained, while his widowed mother-Mrs. King, of Santa Maria, whose biographical sketch appears else- where and the other children sold their holdings. Here, in 1916, he raised six hundred five bags of beans and sixty tons of hay.
At San Francisco, Kencho Ontiveros was married to Miss Lee Lancaster, belle of Denver, and with her he lives contentedly in his modest country bonne on the Tepesquet. There they are planning to build, the coming year, a modern and model residence.
Mr. Ontiveros is the grandson of Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, who once ow ned the entire Tepesquet rancho. He is a nephew of AAbraham Ontiveros, whose life is outlined elsewhere in these pages. An esteemed brother was Senecio Ontiveros, who met with such injuries in an automobile accident in Los Angeles that, after lingering for six weeks between life and death, he died in November, 1915. Another brother is Ernest L. Ontiveros, proprietor of the Standard Oil Co.'s gasoline and oil station on North Broadway, in Santa Maria. A sister is Zorida, the wife of Louis Hughes, a resident of Santa Maria; and another sister is Erolinda, the wife of Jack Portenstein, of Los Angeles.
PATRICK E. HOURIHAN .- A son of Erin who is one of the hardest- working men engaged in farming on the Tepesquet, and is just as good a manager and financier as he is a practical, laboring farmer, Patrick E. Houri- Wi was born in County Cork, Ireland, March 12, 1884. His father, who died m his native land at the age of eighty, was also named Patrick; and his mother, who reached her seventieth year and also died in Ireland, was known before her marriage as Miss Margaret McCarty.
Growing up on his father's farm of about a hundred acres, Patrick E. Hourihan attended the public schools of his native land, and thus, when nine- Teen years of age, pushed out into the world for himself. On May 16, 1903, Tre sailed from Queenstown on the Cunarder "Lucania." He landed at New York, and soon came west to San Francisco. Moving on down to the Santa Maria valley, he worked out by the month; and although he received only thirty dollars for a wage, he saved his money, and so got ahead. He then went to Santa Barbara, and for some years was engaged first as a motorman and later as a conductor, on the street railway.
In the meantime, in 1907, he had married Miss Lilly Ontiveros, a daughter of Jose D. Ontiveros, now deceased, an outline of whose worthy life appears elsewhere in this work. She is a niece of Abraham Ontiveros, also described on another page. Mrs. Hourihan had inherited from her father a ranch of two hundred twenty acres ; and in 1913 Mr. Hlourihan returned to the Santa Maria valley and began farming his wife's place, giving it his personal care Whi attention. By wise forethought and hard labor, Mr. Hlourihan has made Hi- beautiful place on the Tepesquet creek a model of neatness and comfort, wil the headquarters of plenty. He has set out a family orchard, has laid of w fine garden, and has a beautifully kept lawn and a well-built and attrac- Tra WAdenice. He farms the ranch to barley and beans; and in 1916 he Whats up about twelve thousand dollars on these erops.
Wwide awake and progressive citizen, Mr. Hourihan is esteemed for Iv- Independent views. He votes according to principle, and for candidates
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known and approved. Mrs. Hourihan is a social favorite in Garey and on the Tepesquet. They are devoted Catholics, and attend the Foxen Canon Catholic Church.
Mr. Hourihan has three brothers living in America. Lawrence is a rancher at Arroyo Grande; Mike is a farmer at Madera ; Tom is a policeman at San Diego. A sister, Annie, is the widow of Peter Hourihan, deceased. Another brother, Cornelius C. Hlourihan, is farming on the old home place near Cork, in Ireland.
EDWARD J. DANIELS .- One of the interesting men that it is a pleas- ure to meet is Ed Daniels, trustee of the Tepesquet school district, who, for several years, has been clerk of the board and filled the position with efficiency. He is a native son, having been born in Oakland, October 22, 1864. a son of William and Adelia ( Randall) Daniels, pioneers of that city. The father came overland in 1850 as an employee of Ben Halliday, driving a band of mules and about two hundred head of cattle, and in due time arrived without mishap. He made two more trips in the same manner, long before there were any railroads, and each time brought back stock. Ile eventually settled in Fresno county, and in 1880 came to Guadalupe, and died at the home of his daughter, in Lompoc. in February, 1909.
Ed Daniels was reared in this state and educated in the public schools. The most of his life since he has been old enough to remember has been spent on the range, and he is as much at home in the saddle as on terra firma. Since reaching manhood he has worked his own way and has met with an average degree of success. On November 25, 1893, he married Miss Jennie Gibson, a native of lowa, who has resided in California since 1888, and they have five children, William Wible, Fred E., Irwin, Mary Loraine and Porter. As Mr. Daniels has succeeded he has bought land and now owns and oper- ates four hundred acres of the Tepesquet. Ile makes a specialty of cattle and his brand is WD, duly recorded in the records at Santa Barbara and known by all stockmen throughout the central coast section.
PERRY HUDSON .-- A resident of the Santa Maria valley since 1873, and thereby entitled to the honors of pioneer, Perry Hudson is a son of Cali- fornia, having been born in Sonoma county, November 5. 1850. He grew to manhood and attended school there, and at the college at Sonoma. He was raised on a farm, became familiar with raising stock of all kinds, and it was but natural that when he started out for himself he should begin raising horses, cattle and hogs. In 1873 he was married to Miss Maria Ausser, : native of San Jose, and they have had two children, sons: Tollie, living in Red Bluff, and Martin, at Point Richmond.
Ilis father, Martin Hudson, was a Virginian, who moved to Missouri when young, and while living there was united in marriage with Bessie Mackera. Then they came overland to California, in 1848, at the first emi- gration to the western coast. They settled in Sonoma county, which remained the family home for many years.
The year of his marriage Mr. Hudson came to the vicinity of Guadalupe and leased land for ten years, at which time he was able to buy his present ranch of three hundred twenty acres ; and during his residence here he has carried on a successful and growing stock business. He votes the Democratic ticket at national elections, but in local matters selects the best men regardless of party lines. He has served on the school board for several years 46
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GEORGE LESH FULLER .- George L. Fuller, the production foreman of the Palmer Union Oil Co. in Cat canon, in the Santa Maria oil fields, is a veteran and trusted employee of the company, who commands the respect of those working under his direction and the confidence of his superiors. He is justly popular for his kindly treatment of his men, is optimistic in his views of life, and tries to live up to the Golden Rule. He was born at Kinzua, Warren county, Pa., August 8, 1880, a son of Benjamin M. Fuller, a farmer who also worked at the oil business for a time, and now makes his home with his son. His people are descended from an old New York family who went to New Jersey in an early day. His father was married in Warren county, Pa., to Mary B. Brown, who was born in Easton, the same state.
George L. Fuller grew up on the home farm, and attended the grammar and high school, from which he graduated. At the age of twenty, he began working in the oil fields. In September, 1911, he came to California, and in Los Angeles met Frank Feathers, a well-known oil man, who induced him to come up to the Santa Maria fields, where Mr. Feathers was then superin- tendent for the Palmer Union Oil Co. Since that time Mr. Fuller has been associated with this concern. He began at the bottom, and gradually worked up to his present position as production foreman.
On June 27, 1907, at Frewsburg, N. Y., Mr. Fuller was united in mar- riage with Miss Bina Williams, a resident of that town from her girlhood. Frewsburg is located six miles from Jamestown, which is on the outlet of Chautauqua lake, the home of Bishop Vincent and the birthplace of the Chautauqua idea. Mrs. Fuller is a woman of education who has assimilated much of the culture and refinement of the literary atmosphere of old Chat- tauqua. She radiates good cheer, and does much to grace and refine the social and home life of their community. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Fuller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a Past Noble Grand of the lodge in Frewsburg, N. Y. With his wife, he enjoys the friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances in their section of the valley.
LOUIS WILLIAMS .- Well and favorably known throughout the oil fields section of the Santa Maria valley as a contract teamster, Louis Williams is doing his work the best he knows how and is gradually creeping up the financial ladder on his own merits. A native of California, he was born in the Sacramento valley, at Biggs, Butte county, February 17, 1883, and was but a babe in arms when his parents settled in the vicinity of what is now Sisquoc. Here he grew to manhood, attended the district schools, and early became familiar with farm work. He lives on three hundred twenty acres of land owned by his father, and known as the home place; and another half section of grazing land is leased from Henry Holt. In 1916 he had eighty acres in beans, and harvested a bumper crop.
Mr. Williams' principal business, however, is heavy teaming. He owns twelve head of fine draft horses for that purpose, with wagons and necessary ottipment for hauling lumber and heavy machinery into the oil fields; and ling given his personal attention to the work, he pleases his patrons, who Wer him about all the work that he can attend to.
In 1908, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Anna Hanson, Who was born in San Luis Obispo, and is a stepdaughter of J. P. Hanson of Santa Maria. They have had four children: Pearl A., Elsie L., Louis A.
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(who died in infancy), and Ruby A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Williams are well known throughout the valley, where they are popular with their many friends.
Mr. Williams' father, Jacob Williams of Los Angeles, was one of the pioneers of Cat canon, and is widely known throughout the valley as the owner of three valuable ranches. He came overland to California from Wis- consin at the age of fifteen, located in Butte county, and began his career by chopping wood. In 1884 he came south and settled in Cat canon. He married Miss Jennie Krusick, who was born near Pittsburg, Pa .; and six children were born to them: Joseph, in the Imperial valley; Jacob K., a rancher near Tempe, Ariz. ; Louis, the subject of this review ; Addie, the wife of Harold McDonald, of San Pedro; Mollie, who married A. R. Hunter, of Tempe, Ariz., and Jennie, Mrs. Max Dunham, of Torrance, Cal. After an active career as a rancher, Jacob Williams and his wife retired to Los Angeles, leaving their son Louis to represent the name in the Santa Maria valley, where he is living up to the example set by his worthy parents.
SANTA MARIA UNION HIGH SCHOOL, PROF. NELSON CROX- FORD SMITH, B. L., M. L .- An educator who has a thorough grasp of the many intricate details connected with an institution of learning that has a wide sphere of influence, Prof. Nelson C. Smith is deserving of especial men- tion in the history of the community that has been so greatly benefited by the school in which he has labored. A man of lofty ideals, he is an inspiration in the various departments of the school, where he encourages originality and initiative in his pupils.
The Santa Maria Union High School is one of the best of its kind in the state, and reflects the progressive spirit and high idealism of the people. The buildings, complete in every detail, are located at the corner of South Broadway and Morrison avenue. The main building has two stories and basement, and is well ventilated and lighted. The first half of this building was completed in 1894, and the second half in 1905. The manual training and domestic science building was erected in 1912, and is a model of perfec- tion. The physical and chemical laboratories are well equipped, and there is a large library of well-selected books, particularly works of reference. There are also well-organized commercial and art departments. The school has an enrollment of fifty-six boys and eighty-one girls, with an average daily attendance of one hundred twenty-two. All entrants must have a diploma of graduation from the grammar schools, or must pass a satisfactory examina- tion before the principal of the high school and the county superintendent of schools.
The yards, lawns, playgrounds, shrubbery, and pergolas made by the boys of the manual training department ) ; the trusted caretaker, the principal, the faculty, and the trustees ; the parents, tax payers, and an appreciative and enlightened public sentiment : all contribute to the exceptionally high standard of this high school. The girls and boys are encouraged in athletics, and ample ground is set apart for out of-door sports. There are two basket-ball courts and two tennis courts, a splendid baseball diamond, and a fifth mile track. In track and field events, a handsomely engraved silver trophy cup has been won by the students of the school in competition with students of other high schools. Everything about the premises indicates a careful atten- tion to detail; and the students, faculty, and board of trustees have a justi- fiable pride in the condition of the grounds and buildings.
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The board consists of T. R. Finley, president ; W. H. Rice, clerk; Mrs. J. H. Winters ; and Messrs. F. J. McCoy and A. R. Jones. The faculty in- cludes : Nelson C. Smith, principal-History and Spanish ; Errett Allen, vice- principal-Science : Miranda Ray Arms-Household Arts; Vera Hawkins- Mathematics, History, Girls' gymnasium; Cora L. Bryson-English, Dra- matics, Debating : Beatrice M. Maine-Latin, German, History, Girls' basket- ball: Frank M. Buzick-Commercial branches : C. M. Rogers-Manual Arts, Drawing and Athletics : Ormonde Paulding, librarian.
The principal of the faculty, and the recognized leader in the building up of the Santa Maria Union High School. Prof. Nelson C. Smith was born at Malden, Mass., on March 4, 1881. He was graduated from the Boston Uni- versity in 1901. The following seven years were spent in educational work in the Philippines. For one year thereafter he was Fellow in History in the University of California, where, in 1910, he received the degree of M. L. He spent 1910-11 as professor in and vice-principal of the Mckinley Inter- mediate High School of Berkeley. In 1912 he came to Santa Maria, where his labors have since been spent in building up the high school.
At Stoneham, Mass., Prof. Nelson C. Smith was married to Miss Susan Alice Meredith, a native of that state and a graduate of Boston University. They have one daughter. Susanna Meredith Smith. Professor Smith is a Mason, a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264. F. & A. M., of Santa Maria. He is a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A man of fine education, broad-minded and progressive, and firm in his decisions, he has made a name and place for himself as an educator in the annals of California.
RAMON A. CAREAGA .- Strange and striking are the contrasts sug- gested in the life of Ramon A. Careaga, one of the best-known men on the San Jose Exchange, and the representative of the San Jose Realty Co., and those of his distinguished military ancestors who, by chivalrous exploits in the service of the King of Spain, established the Careaga family in America. A Spanish nobleman, from romantic Castile, seems to have been the first to come, making for Mexico with his soldiers and there demanding and re- ceiving recognition of Spanish arms. After a while, Colonel Satornino Ca- reaga came into prominence, an aide to Captain Munoz, whom he accompanied to Monterey and later defended and protected the isolated Mission of San Jose-almost losing his life in the bargain. This brave officer was Ramon F. Careaga's father and the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.
Although not of a military nature-destined, in fact, to be an equally aggressive leader in paths of peaceful endeavor-Ramon F. Careaga, who died February 7, 1914 (leaving a widow, still residing at San Jose), was a remarkable man. Born in Monterey county, he joined his brother, Juan B., and Daniel Harris, a friend, in buying some 18,000 acres of the old De la Guerra ranch, a tract of vast extent that figured conspicuously in early California history : and when Harris took 7,500 acres, Ramon retained 6,900 as his share. By the merest chance, the presence of oil was detected in seeing the surface of the ground sprinkled here and there with asphalt, and thus it hap- jiened that on Ramon Careaga's ranch was fixed the center of the great Santa Maria valley oil industry, the foundation of the later Careaga wealth.
Maria A. Bonevantur, of French and Castilian blood, was the estimable kudy chosen by Ramon F. Careaga as the companion most likely to become w helpmate to him in his arduous way through life ; and faithfully, nobly
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she performed her duties as wife and mother. Eleven children, all of whom she has seen grow either to maturity or to interesting youth, and all of whom are still living to bless her, were born of their union. Among the four danghters, one, Eleanor, now Mrs. John Carr, resides on one of the ranches ; the other three girls-Rita 1 .. Evangeline and Angeline- are at home with their mother and attend Notre Dame school. Ramon A. is the second eldest of the sons, Luis S., of Santa Barbara, being his senior : and next came John T., Ramon's partner at San Jose ; Bernardo, who lives on the Carcaga ranch : Antonio, residing with his mother ; James F., a ranchman near Los Alamos ; and Charles M., superintendent of part of the Careaga ranch.
While some of the children, therefore, have remained on the old farm. or are affording personal companionship to the widowed mother, Ramon 1. has entered the commercial and financial circles of his native state and. en- tirely through his own ability, has become prominent in the field in which he is an acknowledged specialist-that of realty, with all its perplexing phases. How much his happy marriage to Miss Cora Riley has had to do with his success, those who know the attractive lady and her two wide-awake children Ramon F. and Alberto J., may best judge. Certainly they constitute in their decidedly home-like home, at San Jose, a contented group, each working for the others' welfare.
Besides the realty business, Mr. Careaga is extensively interested in the oil business in San Benito county, where he and his two partners. L. . \. Crandall and State Mineralogist Moran, have over 20,000 acres leased, and are beginning to develop the property, which will mean untold wealth to that section of country.
THOMAS EDGAR McKEE .- A citizen of whom any community micht well be proud, and in whose life are illustrated the results of energy, perse- verance and judicious management, is Thomas Edgar Mckee, a native son born at Salinas, the oldest of five children, and the son of Richard Young McKee, now enjoying retired life at Monterey. His father was a farmer and stock man, having been born in Pennsylvania, and came to California during the war ; and his grandfather, Thomas Mckee, was a native of Scotland. The mother's maiden name was Essie Starkey, a native daughter, born in Alameda county of Irish and German descent. Up till a few years ago, the grandparents, paternal as well as maternal, were alive, thus showing the hardihood and longevity of both the families.
Even as a boy, T. E. Mckee had to battle with adversity, and so came to assist his father very early ; and as he was clever at figuring, the foundation for which knowledge was laid in the public school he attended. he got to estimating by a new method for computing the cost of hauling, and so se cured numerous contracts. At seventeen, he advanced to the more technical work of steamfitting, and entered the employ of the Union Iron Works, and later assisted the Spreckels Sugar Co. at Salinas for a year, afterward working for Duffy & Tay.
In 1905 he had his first experience with oil, undertaking to do some blacksmith work for the Union Oil Co. at Lompoc ; and before he had finished with that, he had run up against every phase of the oil problem. Now a contract driller, during this time he helped in the process of and use in ( ah fornia of cement to shut off the water in oil wells. He and his partner, George M. Scott, the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce at Santa Maria, control
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30,000 acres of well-situated oil lands, and this alone is likely to make him wealthy. He also has some 5,000 acres in the Casmalia district, as well as some in San Luis Obispo County, each parcel of land situated in an oil belt.
AAt the present time, as drilling contractor, he is drilling Well No. 8 for the new Pennsylvania Petroleum Co., the well being nearly finished. His record as an oil-well driller is excellent. With a special reputation for expert work in cementing, he is not limited to the Santa Maria field, but cements for anyone in the various oil fields of Santa Barbara county. The natural result is that, in strong contrast to the somber days of his boyhood, he is at last on a fair road to prosperity.
At Berkeley, on September 20, 1903, Mr. McKee married Miss Daisy Severy, a native of Stockton, and the daughter of F. A. and Elizabeth (Jones) Severy, both of whom are living at Oakland. The father was born in Boston, Mass., and in California is a well-known newspaper man. Particularly inter- esting is the association of the Severys with this San Joaquin city, for at one time Mrs. McKee's grandfather, Moses Severy, owned much of the land on which Stockton stands. Her mother was a native of Stockton. Grand- father Jones was a stockman. Mrs. McKee is the second oldest of eight chil- dren, seven of whom are living. She was reared and educated in the pub- lic schools of California. Four children, Bernice, Loraine, Fern and Thomas, are the result of this union, and with their parents contribute to swell the membership of the reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Two brothers of Mr. McKee, Louis and Robert, assist him in his responsible work; and there are two sisters still living, one being Mrs. J. J. Westfall of Monterey county, and the other Mrs. C. A. Cooper, of San Francisco.
SAMUEL P. CHASE .- Joy in the great open and that love of daring and hazard which has poured into romantic California such a number of her adventurous and most successful pioneers, were the mainsprings which prompted Samuel P. Chase, the chief rig-builder for the Western Union Oil Co. at Bicknell, to choose a calling that eventually landed him on the Pacific coast to become one of the master minds in the oil fields. Born at Johnstown, (., in 1880, when the bells were pealing out a happy New Year, he grew up in the home of his father, Solomon P. Chase, then a jeweler and watch- maker, but now retired, who has a Civil War record as a member of the 2nd Ohio Heavy Artillery. For six years Samuel was under the tender care of his mother, now deceased, who was known in her girlhood as Mary Malissa McClain. A brother died in infancy, but five sisters also grew up and are now residing at various places in their native state.
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