History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 29

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070

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LEWIS D. AND CARRIE GIBBONS .- The late Lewis D. Gibbons, who passed away in 1910 at his home in Morro, was one of the well-known citizens of the county, and in the section about Adelaida was identified with the agricultural development of the land. He was born in Ohio and attended the public schools there until he accompanied his parents to Bachelor Springs, Kan., when he was a lad of sixteen. Here he finished his public school course and was graduated from the University of Kansas, after which he taught school in Kansas for a time. On account of ill health he gave up teaching and. in 1884, came to California; and near Adelaida, in San Luis Obispo County, located on government land. He also homesteaded and improved the property, and finally retired to Morro, where he died.

The marriage of Lewis D. Gibbons united him with Carrie Ingraham, a native of Illinois who, at the age of eleven years, accompanied her parents to Kansas, where she completed her schooling. Coming to California she at once became identified with educational matters, and for thirty years was connected with the schools of San Luis Obispo and Kern counties. She served as principal of the grammar school in Taft for two years and held the same position in the school in Fellows for three years. In San Luis Thispo County she taught nine years in Cayucos and Morro, and for some time was connected with the schools in Paso Robles. She is recognized as not the pioneer teachers of the county, and none of them are more favor- wbh Kuown than Mrs. Gibbons. She has always entered into school work with fer while heart. and many of the men and women who are active in the wir- if the county today owe to her their start in educational training.

of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons two children were born : Oscar, o p. Date of Stamford, and a prominent attorney in San Luis Obispo, who m pigro d . 10 the father of two children : and a married daughter, Mrs. Hor- mi form Urs. Klage was graduated from the State Normal and taught is vers and in Riverside. Cal., one year. She is the

F. E. Darke

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It is everywhere recognized that the educator is the most potent factor in building up the moral code in any community, and to the men and women who devote their life work to this end, great credit should be given. Mr Gibbons spent some years as a teacher, and the daughter also won recogni- tion in that field of endeavor ; while Mrs. Gibbons, during her long term of active service in the schools of the county, has seen them develop from their infancy to their present rank with the best in the state. That she has done her part is evidenced by the esteem in which she is held in the various parts of the county where she spent so many useful years.

FREDERICK E. DARKE .- No man now living in San Luis Obispo County is more universally respected than the subject of this review. For over forty years he taught school in the county, and served efficiently as county superintendent of schools six years, and a like period as county recorder. Professor Darke is a Pennsylvanian, born at Carbondale, August 22. 1845, a son of John W. and Salina (Duncan) Darke, the former born in London, England, and the latter also a native of that country, but of Scotch descent. The education of Mr. Darke was obtained in the public schools of his county until, in his seventeenth year, he enlisted for service in the Civil War, be- coming a member of Company G, 57th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. under Captain Peck, Colonel Charles Campbell in command, the regiment becoming a part of the Army of the Potomac. With his regiment Mr. Darke participated in the battles of Big Bethel, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Richmond, and Malvern Hill, this being the last of the seven days' battle about Rich- mond, as well as in many other minor engagements and skirmishes in the Army of the Potomac. He was taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, and re- turned to his regiment in December. After a service of a little over three years, he was honorably discharged, May 15, 1865. On April 3 of that year he veteraned by re-enlisting in the Ninth Hancock's Veteran Volunteer Regiment. He served till the close of the conflict, and was discharged, June 25, 1866, at the end of the war.

The great conflict over, Mr. Darke returned to complete his education. entering Norwich Academy at Norwich, N. Y., where he finished an elective course. In 1868 he decided to come to California ; and embarking on a vessel for the Isthmus of Panama, he crossed that stretch of land, re-embarking on a ship for San Francisco. He came at once to San Luis Obispo County, secured a school and began teaching in the spring of 1869, in the San Simeon district. He taught later in Cambria, after the organization of the district, and continued teaching for fourteen years. In 1878 Mr. Darke was elected county superintendent of schools, serving from 1878 to 1879, while at the same time he was allowed to teach. He was becoming interested in politics; and as he was very popular wherever he was known, he was elected county recorder and served three consecutive terms of two years cach.

He then taught school, for nineteen years, in the city of San Luis Obispo, soon becoming principal of the grammar schools. It was while in this posi- tion, and while teaching the Nipomo Street School, that Professor Darke drew up plans for additional room that was badly needed for the grammar grades. He laid out the grounds, marking spots where he wanted trees set out and flower beds planted, laid the plans before the proper persons and was assured that a tax would be voted for the improvements. The matter came before the people, the tax carried, and the good work began, the plan- being 14

PAY THIS QUESTO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

anton low Fre de letter - he had arranged. He himself set out nearly Do the- w the word and the lawn and flower beds were set out and penki nican Tay tiper vision. It was declared by many that it would be inge sinTe In keep the children from trespassing on the lawn and flower lol- ToJete thes on fairly started; but Mr. Darke organized the boys into wywal, ou] : . apena elected monthly to see that order was maintained, and colt the Der- became enthusiastic over the beauty of their school yard, and ompebyilstrongly for the honor of being captain. This plan for beautifying the bare -boot grounds was but the beginning of civic improvements in the wmy, many other schools falling into line.

la 1906 he was again elected county superintendent of schools, serving four years. In 1911 he resumed teaching at Cambria, continuing three years, and then taught one year at Nipomo. At the end of the year he had taught over forty years, and in 1914 decided to retire. Many of the men and women engaged in the busy affairs of life owe their early educational training to Professor Darke. Many a discouraged teacher has received from him words of cheer that gave heart once more to make the effort to overcome what seemed almost insurmountable difficulties.

Professor Darke is a charter member of, and helped to organize, Fred Steele Post, No 70. G. A. R., of which he is Past Commander. At the time of organization, there were about eighty members ; at this writing, in January. 1917. there are fifteen. Professor Darke has twice been honored by his fellow townsmen, outside of the confidence and trust reposed in him in official ca- pacity. He was selected to provide protection for President Mckinley and his party in May, 1901, when that distinguished gentleman stopped in San Luis Obispo on his tour of the Pacific coast; and an incident of the occasion worth recalling follows. As Mr. Darke was about to enter the President's pri- vate car to be introduced, Secretary Cortelyou, who was in charge of the Presi- dent and his party, asked Mr. Darke his title, which question, for the instant, took even the usually composed pedagogue unawares. But he replied. "Mister is good enough for me"; and President McKinley, who at that moment was near the door, immediately greeted him with "How do you do, Mister Darke?" Needless to say. Professor Darke carefully protected the President from any kind of annoyance during his stay in the city. Again, in May, 1903, when President Roosevelt and party stopped in San Luis Obispo on his cam- feigning tour of the Coast. Mr. Darke was chosen to safeguard the popular statesman. He selected members of the Grand Army as guards, and detailed ach ter certain duty, again showing his careful attention to detail and having De satisfaction as before of knowing that, through his management, nothing mr.red the event.

In San Luis Obispo, on April 18, 1870, occurred the marriage of Professor Tous Salle Agnes Woods, a native of New York. She passed away on 0 9 199) leaving eight children : Frederick E., Jr., who died aged twenty- 15. Mrs. Clara G. Filsley, of Tulare county ; John W., of Nevada Funly Jane Gilbert, of Winters, Yolo county; Mrs. Sarah 0% beone OF Sema. Ind : Mrs. Myra B. Conant, of the Hawaiian Islands; Bom | come cremeer and Miss Helen, teacher in the high school at Mc- Abo -boston3. V.la married Virgil A. Vinyard. Four of the daughters bon 00 ccdo rod from the University of California at Berkeley. In the Himla good check 00 rib . grandchildren to brighten the fireside of Mr. Darke.

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By virtue of the law enacted by the state legislature that teachers be given an annuity after a certain number of years of service, Professor Darke is enjoying the results of his many years as an educator. He likewise re- ceives a soldier's pension ; and through these sources and his savings of many years, he is enabled to live retired, free from the cares and tribulations of the busy world of strife. He enjoys good health, keeps abreast of the times, and retains the good will and respect of neighbors and friends, among whom, by those who know him best, he is called "Father" Darke.

GEORGE T. GRAGG .- More than in any other state of the Union, Cali- fornia traces her vigorous prosperity to the sturdy character and perseverance of the hardy pioneers, many of whom risked their lives on the trackless, Indian- infested desert, the extremely dangerous trip across the Isthmus of Panama, where disease took its toll of human beings, or the journey, in any kind of a vessel, around Cape Horn, with danger besetting them on every hand dur- ing the entire voyage. Among these men of sterling worth is numbered George T. Gragg.

He was born in Milton, Mass., April 29, 1829, a son of Moses and Mary (Alden) Gragg, of English descent. The only education he received was in the common schools of his native place, and he was early set to learn the trade of carpenter. When twenty years of age, in the spring of 1849, George T. Gragg sailed from Boston, with a party of friends, on the ship "Sweden," to round the Horn.

On August 4 of that year they arrived in San Francisco. Here Mr. Gragg at once outfitted for the mines at Mokelumne Hill, where he mined for about two months, and then returned to San Francisco to spend the winter. The next spring he went back to the mines and followed the precarious occu- pation of miner for two years. During one of his exploring trips into the mountains, he camped on the spot where the Donner party split up. In 1852 he located in Santa Cruz and worked, for a time, at his trade of carpenter ; later he engaged in the tannery business for two years, and then he opened a planing mill which, for several years, he conducted with some success. During this time, he became a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the lodge at Santa Cruz, and he has passed all the chairs of the order.

In 1880 he came to San Luis Obispo County and bought a ranch of seven hundred acres, which he improved and farmed until 1890, when he moved into San Luis Obispo to give his children the advantages of the schools of the county-seat. He still owns the ranch, and it is devoted to dairying and grain-raising, and is being conducted by his son.

He served on the board of supervisors from 1886 to 1890, and during his term many needed improvements were pushed to completion in the county. Since moving to the city, he has lived retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. He married Ruth Root, a native of New England, and they became the parents of six children : Cauline, Mrs. Orton of Ventura; Hazzard, on the home ranch; and George R., Ruth, Frances and Alden, all of whom have received good practical training to fit them for the responsibilities of life. Among the people of San Luis Obispo, Mr. Gragg has a pleasant word for every one he meets ; and well he may, for his life has been well spent, and the world has used him as he used the world.

WS ILIS PRISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

CHARLES BRADLEY. The changing vicissitudes of life brought Cures Bradley into intimate acquaintance with various localities before he Anubishel his permanent home in the Santa Maria valley in the fall of ISR TF Las Lorn at South Wingfield. Derbyshire, England, in 1839, and bel lor in de opportunity to secure an education ; for at the age of twelve he Wwe t work in the coal mines at Oakerthorpe, and when he was eighteen he mannen of taking contracts in mining and breaking coal for market, con- birding wont 1868. Then, through the influence of his uncle, Paul Bradley, Je wibe to this state. to Monterey county, where his uncle was living. With The Lier. for a time, he stopped. and in the fall of that year came with him IN INE > min Maria valley, driving all their stock, and he began working for tin- miele, who had purchased considerable land here and was beginning in illy Shop. business. He continued in his employ four years, when he struck wi lot inmy-elf.

In 1872 Mr. Bradley purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. adig in this from time to time, by pre-emption and purchase, until he Wwwwwwwwowner of about three thousand acres, one thousand of which was tilLa1,and the balance suitable for pasturage. From this time on he devoted his wmergies to the sheep and cattle business with success. In the early peradd there was ample range-land. and stock roamed at will and was only gathered in at the annual rodeos ; but as settlers came in and the large ranges were divided into smaller tracts, the stock business became unprofitable and Mr. Bradley, like the other stockmen, turned his attention to other lines of activity.

The Bradley ranch was well improved. and in 1873 he erected a fine wentry home and suitable buildings to accommodate his farming opera- tions. In 1880, as an experiment. he set out an orchard of various kinds of fruit : but the business was never profitable in the valley and he went no further with the venture. His home property was not the extent of his interests, for he became interested in the town of Santa Maria by the pur- chase of the Hart Hotel, which he remodeled and renamed the Bradley Hotel. This is favorably known by commercial men throughout the length and breadth of the state as one of the up-to-date hostelries frequented in their travels, and is now one of the valuable assets of the estate.

In South Wingfield. England. on April 5. 1857, Mr. Bradley was united my marriage with Miss Elizabeth Booth, a lady of culture, by whom he Van elerey deren -two sons and nine daughters. At their beautiful country Kaffe. era Med ir 1873, many happy reunions were held before Mrs. Bradley's We wal there Mr Bradley passed away. He was a member of Hesperian 8_ !. 1. & A. M., of Santa Maria : was interested in the cause of volu de molfor many years served on the school board and did much to Heat for teniendo the schools of the valley. He was a stockholder and a ilince wy to Sinte Maria Bank, and in 1004 was elected president of the NE Ap tx the time of his death in 1913. His was the largest funeral Tek kit = me NochemIlis death was mourned by rich and poor alike. Sundhed Tarifable man, always ready to aid those deemed wwww b: Hin . . ] he was a potent factor in the development Followed . if . well and favorably known wherever he had

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DAVID F. NEWSOM .- From the year 1853 until his death in 1902, an unbroken period of almost fifty years, David F. Newsom was an important factor in the history of San Luis Obispo County ; and he left behind him the legacy of an untarnished name, more valuable and cherished more highly by his family than the riches he had accumulated during his busy life.

Born in Petersburg, Va., September 5, 1832, a son of David and Mira (Robinson) Newsom, he was educated in public and private schools and took a two years' course at the Petersburg Classical Institute, a Presbyterian school at Forestville, N. C. In his fifteenth year, on account of the business failure of his father, he had to leave school and go to work to support himself. He studied the situation carefully and decided to learn a trade. Accordingly he went to New York City, where he apprenticed himself to Dietz Brothers & Company, to learn brass finishing. One of the Dietz brothers was the husband of his mother's sister, and he secured him the chance to learn the business. On March 15, 1849, young Newsom boarded the schooner "Ann," owned by Captain Bogart, who offered him free passage to New York ; and arriving there after a voyage of eight days, he entered at once upon his duties at the brass works.

Mr. and Mrs. Dietz were the editors of Holden's Magazine, and were the recipients of many complimentary tickets to operas, lectures and concerts ; and these were frequently given to their nephew, who was glad to take ad- vantage of every opportunity to educate himself. He also availed himself of his apprentice's right to draw books from the Mechanics' Library, as well as to attend lectures frequently given there ; and here he heard many noted men and women. He also gained much valuable information at Barnum's American Museum. From a Mrs. Taylor, another friend, Mr. Newsom received invitations to attend Henry Ward Beecher's church, and heard that eminent divine from the Taylor pew. Lectures and entertainments, how- ever, were not his only form of instruction and medium of education. Be- lieving that bookkeeping would be of great assistance to him, he arranged to attend the Public Night School No. 5, on Duane street, where he also took lessons in vocal and instrumental music.

Apprentices were paid $30.00 the first year, and $40.00 the second: and when young Newsom's two years were up he had due him just $20.00. On March 29, 1851, David F. Newsom left New York a good mechanic, a fine bookkeeper, and with an unusually large fund of general information. Re- turning to Petersburg, he accepted a position as clerk in a shoe store, the firm being the one that had bought his father's business. He remained with them two years, deciding then to come to California.

On September 15, Mr. Newsom started for New York, where he secured passage to San Francisco via the Nicaragua route on the steamer "Star of the West," which left the harbor September 25, and landed the passengers ten days later in San Francisco. There Mr. Newsom met Oscar M. Brown, who owned two ranches in San Luis Obispo County and was also county judge. He told Mr. Newsom there was a vacancy in the county clerk's office, and that he would appoint him to fill it if the salary of $2000 a year was sufficient inducement. He accepted the position, but the salary not being sufficient, he opened a feed stable (which business became very remunerative) mean- while continuing his position in the county office, and finding his task a difficult one, as the books were in a chaotic condition. As ex-officio county superintendent of schools, Mr. Newsom employed a teacher and opened the

SAS TLIF THISPG COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

mes ulile - lowit in Phe county, in a room in the old mission. Mr. Newsom te de Ally elected to the office of county clerk and held the office until 1897 when he went To Washington to try his fortunes.

do towary mitres. Mr. Newsom, with a partner, ran a hog ranch, part of lin Dret de Piedra grant, leasing the land from the Villa family. Tw lo @; wore Iriven to the mining section in the vicinity of Washo, W96 3m4 a book; from six to eight weeks to make the trip. He also ran a vosPratle Kol truck garden, and when he would go to San Luis to his office in Che coordenise, he would haul all he could carry to the markets there.

Res Fr. Gomez gave Mr. Newsom, to whom he had taken a great liking, one half of the Van Gorden ranch and stock, selling the other half to a Mr. Lemos Father Gomez had to leave for San Blas, Mexico, before the papers were made out for the transfer. Mr. Newsom made out the papers, he being county clerk at the time, and they were given to Lemos to have W. J. Graves turn over to Newsom his portion. In the meantime Lemos had sold the stock and pocketed the money, and said about the transfer of the land, "Do you think I am a fool to turn over the land?" He held the deeds. When Father Gomez came back to California to collect his $4,000 from Lemos he refused to pay, and holding the deeds, could not be made to do so. Thus he and Mr. Newsom got nothing. Father Gomez then came to Mr. Newsom and told him of the wonderful opportunities in mahogany timber in Mexico, and that he would see that Mr. Newsom profited well if he would go down there : but he told the priest that he had had enough of Mexico as it was, and could not agree to leave California.

He opened the first general store at Olympia, sold out, and in April, 1858, started the first general store in Bellingham, both successful ventures. He disposed of the latter store, and in December moved to Fort Hope, B. C., opened a store on Fraser river, and remained there six months. Selling out at the end of that time, he started towards California once more. Ar- riving at San Juan Island, Mr. Newsom found General Pickett with a detach- ment of United States soldiers trying to prevent his arrest by the British ; when Mr. Newsom organized a company of sharpshooters to assist him, a compromise was agreed upon, and Mr. Newsom was chosen to represent the different factions. He remained on the island until 1861, having charge of the sutler's store and assisting in the establishment of the San Juan lime works.

After his return to San Luis Obispo county, Mr. Newsom again became prominent in local affairs. He was an ardent Democrat for years, although later more independent in his views, and filled various offices, including justice " the peace and deputy county clerk. In 1864 he went to Arroyo Grande and lau ght the first school there. In the fall of 1864, he moved onto the Santa looneli riel, where he had purchased twelve hundred acres of land con- John the Arbeso Grande Warm Springs. Here he improved a valuable Jan De pers. set out orchards of various kinds of fruits, raised Angora IN Led-@umbers, and other stock. He was interested in the Newsom o ble ue better known, perhaps, in the development of Newsom inte: 36 wwwwww.trate the curative powers of the water, Mr. Newsom grown Trong the county hospitals to his resort and gave them free betono0 00 rin. ameri- they were heir to, curing them, and thus giving con te He improved the surroundings of his resort and

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erected suitable buildings for the baths and cottages for tourists, and to those who came and wished to camp, he furnished free camping grounds. He had fourteen cottages, modern in appointments for the locality, and a good bath house with tubs and attendants. He would not allow any kind of liquor sold on the grounds at any time; and by his personal attention to the details of his resort, he built up a large patronage and derived a good revenue therefrom.

In 1863 Mr. Newsom and Anita Branch were united in marriage. Mrs. Newsom was a daughter of F. Z. Branch, of whom an extended mention is made in this history. For forty years this worthy couple prospered, mean- while rearing a family of twelve children : David Z. : Edward F., who married Evelyn Cochran and, dying, left one son ; Mary M. ; Eliza, wife of J. E. Wier of Bakersfield and the mother of one son; Anna: Alexander D .; Louisa, the wife of John Janette of Los Angeles : Michael .A., who married Mrs. Margie (Lingo) Craghill; Ruth L .; Belle Lee : William H. : and Robert P. David and Alexander are carrying on the ranch and Newsom Springs resort with success. The waters of these springs have great curative powers, and the place is equipped with a large plunge as well as with private baths. There is a dairy of twenty-five cows on the ranch.

David F. Newsom was made a Mason on his twenty-first birthday, Sep- tember 5, 1853, when he received the first and second degrees ; and on Septem- ber 10 he received the third degree, it being conferred upon him by the Lieu- tenant Governor, who was Grand Master of the State of Virginia. With the exception of George Washington, Mr. Newsom was younger at the time of initiation than any other Master Mason that had then been received into the order in Virginia. He was also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He died January 1, 1902. His wife passed away March 30, 1912.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 29

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837- Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1070

Author: Morrison, Annie L. Stringfellow, 1860-; Haydon, John H., 1837-
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1070