History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 30

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


USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 30


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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ANALYSIS OF THE WATERS OF NEWSOM SPRINGS


(Temperature, 100.50 deg. F.)


Sodium Chloride


4.10


Sodium Carbonate


1.75


Sodium Sulphate


3.92


Silica


2.03


Potassium Carbonate


.15


Potassium Sulphate


2.90


Magnesium Carbonate


6.41


Magnesium Sulphate


2.47


Organic matter


.27


Calcium Carbonate


3.25


Calcium Sulphate


.75


Ferrous Carbonate


3.99


Alumina


.33


Total


32.32


BERNARD EXLINE .- A pioneer of this state, Bernard Exline came across the plains with ox teams from Indiana to California and went to El- dorado county, where for some years he was engaged in mining. In 1868 he settled in San Luis Obispo County, locating on a ranch on the Salinas river. three miles north of what is now the city of Paso Robles, a town not dreamed of at that time. He had tired of the uncertainties of mining and decided to take up farming; so he located a homestead of one hundred sixty acres, and his place was the first homestead proved up in this section.


He succeeded in ranching and later moved in to San Luis Obispo when it was taking on new life, and engaged in contracting and building in the


SAS LUIS DIASPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS


ws Tore ATT Ar beta more land adjoining his homestead, and owned an wil -rich je op bbals. all under cultivation to grain and stock.


Mr. I Vline was toie of the early pioneer American settlers in the county anbeito rier vo finns Maolships. He owned eighty acres in Iowa that he peref filode (0 , 5ml Bang leased his California ranch, he went back to INN ALI em - Jonas am addition to Newton, with building restrictions 6mil at Three thousand dollars, and rapidly sold off the property.


He also oword four hundred eighty acres at Rich Hill, Mo. ; and three ware after lowtrong ( alifornia, he moved to this farm and built a home and epersze the place until his death, of cholera morbus, four years later. His mie was Plusbeth Huey, a native of Indiana. She died in San Luis Obispo. They Had four children.


Viter the death of his first wife, Bernard Exline married a second time. Hi bride was Belle Johnson, who died at Newton, Iowa, leaving no issue. DAVID FINLEY STOCKDALE .- No object lesson could be presented by the student of history more striking than the transformation wrought in California during the past half century. David F. Stockdale well remembers the appearance of the country fifty-eight years ago when, after a tedious trip across the plains, he arrived in what is now the greatest commonwealth in America. As proprietor of the Park View Ranch, Mr. Stockdale has been a participant in the upbuilding of San Luis Obispo County since 1868. His father, Seneca Stockdale, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and his grandfather, John Stockdale, brought the family to Ohio and settled on Jones creek near Zanesville, where he cleared and improved a farm and where he died. They were members of the Society of Friends. The mother of Mr. Stockdale was Elizabeth Barker, born in Delaware, and she became the mother of eight chiklren, two of whom are living.


David F. Stockdale was born in Zanesville, Muskingum county, O., October 15. 1835, attended the subscription schools of that period, and was reared on the farm of his father until he was eighteen. In 1853, he went to Shelby, Ill., and hired out for ten dollars per month as a farm hand, remain- ing one season. With the money he managed to save, he went to Winneshiek county, la., located a tract of land, and remained there engaging in farming two years. He next went to Minnesota, and in Freeborn county bought out a settler : and when his father went to that state in 1857, he located him on the land, and the following year started for California. In 1856, Indians killed all the settlers at Spirit Lake, la., eighty miles from Mr. Stockdale's home; And he helped bury the dead. It was bitter cold, forty below zero, and he 48 his fingers, which still show the marks. In 1857 the same band of Dohan came to Minnesota, but the settlers went after them and gave battle I Mud Lake. Mr. Stockdale was wounded in the left arm during the fight, Of which David gave a good account of himself, for he was an expert with the During the battle the sokliers appeared and stopped the fight, and TuON the Indians to the reservation and fed them, and looked after them to Tep pan from further depredations.


Yn ISEN. Mr. Stockdale started for California, joining a large train of imigrant, all having os and horse teams. The party journeyed by easy w e- ttl tate, where the settlers arrived in the fall after an uneventful Inps there bemy sufficient numbers to insure against Indians. Stopping in Mando Samty. he legan mining, meeting with the usual luck attending


----- - --- 1 1


D. J. Stockdale


Mrs. Rebecca Stockdale


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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS


that precarious occupation. In 1865, for instance, he found a bar on the Con sumnes river where the water broke : and after getting out the water, he put in sluice boxes and mined one hundred dollars in half an hour : following which, he worked over two acres, but did not make two dollars and a half a day.


In 1868 he located in San Luis Obispo County, then a wild country just being surveyed. Mr. Stockdale located a pre-emption on one hundred sixty acres, built a cabin and began improving the land. Lumber was five cents a foot, and it was all hauled from Port Harford. Mr. Stockdale began raising cattle, his brand being DS with a half circle above. He later home- steaded eighty acres, thus adding to his original holdings.


Mr. Stockdale was married here to Mrs. Rebecca ( Exline ) Middleton, a native of Indiana and a sister of Levi Exline. She had come here with her brother, Bernard Exline, in the fall of 1868. Before her marriage, Mrs. Stockdale had homesteaded one hundred sixty acres on what is now the state highway, three miles north of Paso Robles, proving up on the property, which added to his holdings and made them four hundred acres in one body, where he continued stock- and grain-raising. He was one of the first to set ont an orchard, having prunes, pears and various kinds of fruit, all producing large crops ; but there was no market for the fruit on account of lack of shipping facilities, and he grabbed out the trees and went back to grain, which is his staple erop. On this place he has made all the improvements with the aid of his late wife, who did her share in enduring the hardships and rearing the family.


Three children were born to them. Charles F. is in Lemoore ; William L. resides in the Adelaida district ; and Claude is carrying on the home place. By the first marriage of Mrs. Stockdale there was a daughter, now Mrs. Catherine Linn, living on an adjoining ranch. Mr. Stockdale was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Alliance Business Association that erected the farmers' warehouse at Paso Robles, and which did so much to advance the grain-growers' interests and establish a higher price, as it encouraged com- petition ; and Mr. Stockdale was a member of the first board of directors.


DWIGHT REYNOLDS .- More than any other state in the Union, Cali- fornia traces her vigorous prosperity directly to the sturdy characters and untiring perseverance of the pioneers, many of whom risked their lives on the trackless, Indian-infested plains, bringing hither castern conservatism and practical experience to the aid of western chaos and impetuosity. Enrolled among these men is the name of Dwight Reynolds. He was born in New Auburn, Cayuga county, N. Y., March 8. 1837, a son of Robert and Annie (Draper) Reynolds, both of whom were born, lived and died there. They had eight sons and one daughter, only two of whom are living at this time. There were four of the Reynolds brothers in the Civil War, and two of them were killed in battle.


Dwight Reynolds was educated in the common schools of his native county and reared to manhood on his father's farm; and he there carly learned the rudiments of farming and lessons of thrift. When he was but ten years old his father died, and he remained at home for a few years, after which, until he came to California, he went out to work for wages, for the farmers in that part of the county. He left New York City, May, 1860, on the "North Star," bound for Aspinwall, and crossed the Isthmus to Panama.


-


ES ITIS TI-TOCOUNTY AND ENVIRONS


com con i jornal su hold the "Joling . Stevens" to San Francisco, the . collis waage sa twenty-one days. He went to the Santa cerealles cro trudy Mark at threshing on the farms of that section. and prove That of the San Joaquin and Santa Clara valleys.


IN ITS MF Raywel la vanne to San Luis Obispo County and engaged in 100002 Ago by bizeelf Tle was later superintendent of the Eureka ranch The Tens Thổ Try a TeM Vody- of the Santa Ysabel ranch. He purchased two www . way bimfrev -ixty acres each on the Huer-Huero river about The addre Trois Paso Robles, and began improving them with good build- Toz- on Ierttitle the bad under cultivation ; and from time to time he added Ltlinti mouit le wos about four hundred acres in one body. Here he en- sagst al Ape chceli business for a number of years and met with success. He 4. tel senend farming He also owns one hundred sixty acres adjoining Fax Robles, where the golf links are located, a place that promises to become mu nothe finest residential sections of the city.


Mr. Reynolds was united in marriage at San Luis Obispo in 1875, with Mis- Mary Johnson, who was born in Guelph, Ontario, Can., where she was rendel and attended the public schools. She came to this state in the sev- moms and from San Francisco came to San Luis Obispo. They have had localäldren : Isabel, Mrs. Walter Rhyne of this vicinity : Ross and Charles, wwrane farming on the Huntington ranch : William, of Alberta, Canada; and Vwie. Mi- Coates, who resides in San Francisco.


Mr. Reynolds has served as trustee of schools for many years, was a member of the first board of the Dry creek district and helped build the adonthouse. He is a Republican in politics, although he has never sought publi office. With his wife he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal (Top le Both Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds have a host of warm friends through- w the county, where he is recognized as one of the oldest living settlers. Il fo- accumulated a competence, and is now living in the quiet enjoyment de Tonie and its surroundings.


CASSIUS H. GLINES .- There is probably no better-known citizen in ung Barbara county, m particular, and the Santa Maria valley, where he is a premier than Cassius 11. Glines, now living retired in his comfortable home 755 South Broadway, Santa Maria. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, moreno: 5 1850, while his parents were coming across the plains to Cali- Wwwe won Missouri Ths father, John Il. Glines, was born in the vicinity Tasyon du Heut Quebec, Canada, February 16, 1831, and was married in WWW De Mi METY Via Evans, who was born September 2, 1832. in Rich- I the the word overland for California with his wife, and when they T chy lus -topped for a time; and while there their eldest Ny times came on to California and was engaged in Tenedoro Salt Lake City, and was also in the stock to on time ,Mer city until they finally joined him in rach near San Bernardino. While ranch- ... the Bear alley mines.


White considerably in pursuit of a fortune. altro his permanent home. In 1862 they Stronado where he was freighting to DI Colle cometo the Santa Maria val- men Deprecious year: but 1877


245


SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS


being a dry year and the prospects uninviting, the family went down to what is now Orange county, then a part of Los Angeles county. There they made their home, and there he and his wife died-she in 1884 and he in 1897.


They were the parents of twelve children. Five sons and five daughters grew to maturity : Cassius H. ; Mrs. Mary A. Johnson, of Covina ; David, who died in Santa Ana : Perry L., living in Santa Ana : Joseph, of this state : Dow, in Arizona; Mrs. Ella Boyd, in California ; Mrs. Olive King, deceased; Anner. of this state; and Mrs. Etta Veigley, deceased. The experiences of this worthy couple in pioneering in the great, unlimited West were full of hard- ships and privations, but rich in historical associations.


Cassius H. Glines attended school in California in the varous places where the family lived. He was but twenty years younger than his father, and was always associated with him in business affairs until the family moved to Santa Ana, when he remained in the Santa Maria valley. He looked upon his parent more as a companion than a father, and was always so treated by him. He grew up in the stock business, assisting on the farm, and doing a man's work from early manhood, and helped to settle up a new country and to make it a pleasant place in which to live. He distinctly remembers that his father was offered thirteen acres of land, now within the borders of the city of Sacramento, in exchange for a mule-which offer was refused, as he was freighting between that city and Virginia City, Nev., and a mule was valuable, for they were hard to get and he had to make his living with them. He also relates that his uncle, Israel Evans, at one time worked for Tom Marshall, the discoverer of gold in 1848, at Sutter's mill. He recalls the first public school, which he attended a short time, later finishing in the inter- mediate school at Sacramento.


For a while Cassius lived on Sutter's creek in Amador county, mining for gold and quartz. When his parents came to the Santa Maria valley, the outlook was discouraging ; but father and son set to work, and by dint of hard labor developed a valuable property, doing a very successful business in gen- eral farming. After his father went to Santa Ana, the son remained on the ranch and has always been a valued resident of the Santa Maria valley.


He has improved several ranches in the intervening years, and now owns one hundred twenty good acres near Orcutt, and also a thirteen-hundred-acre stock ranch; and is half owner, with his eldest son, in two hundred head of cattle. Besides this, he owns his comfortable home in Santa Maria, which he purchased in 1908. At one time he had a government claim of one hundred sixty acres right where oil is being produced, and could have proved up on it by paying $2.50 per acre to the government : but it was unsuited for agricultural purposes and he let it go.


When he first came to the valley in 1875, what is now Santa Maria was known as Central City and comprised four blocks at Main and Broadway. There were only a few trees in the valley in the early days. \ pepper tree planted in his yard is now forty-five years old and three feet in diameter. He set oftt one of the first family orchards in the valley in the winter of 1883, and a vineyard of some two hundred vines; all grew and thrived, and about five years later he took a premium at a fair in Santa Barbara for his apples. Mr. Glines served as trustee in the Pine Grove district for twenty years, part of the time being clerk of the board; he also assisted in organizing the Wash- ington district, and was clerk and trustee while he lived there. He was one


240


SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS


of the organizers, and is a Past Grand, of Santa Maria Lodge No. 302, I. O. O. F. Politically he is a Democrat.


In 1872, at Summit Flat, Shasta county, Mr. Glines was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah B. Martin, a daughter of Thomas J. and Sarah Jane (Goatley) Martin. She was born in Missouri and died in Santa Maria, Feb. 22. 1913. Of this union several children were born. Charles H. is a partner . with his father in the stock on Glines' ranch on the Alamo; he married Annie Purvis and they have one child. John T. married Dora Holloway, whose parents were early settlers and were the first couple married here. He is a stockman and the father of five children. Robert, in business in Orcutt, mar- ried Cora McCroskey and has four children. Belle is the wife of William Mc- Donald of Santa Maria. Huldah, the wife of M. M. Purkiss, field manager for the Union Sugar Co. at Betteravia, is the mother of two children. Eva is at home. James L. married Ethel Dempster and has one son He is cashier of the First National Bank of Santa Maria, and is city treasurer of Santa Maria. Phoebe lives at home. Mr. Glines is highly respected by all with whom he is acquainted, and has always made his influence felt for the good of the community.


JOHN P. BLACK .- \ worthy son of his father, John P. Black has taken an active part in the development of the agricultural interests of San Luis Obispo County, where the greater part of his life has been spent. He was born in British Columbia, March 17, 1862, a son of Patrick J. and' Maria ( Morris) Black. His early schooling was obtained in the schools in San Francisco, where he also studied to become a civil engineer and surveyor, a profession that he has followed for many years, throughout San Luis Obispo and adjoining counties.


Mr. Black assisted his father in the sheep business and proved up on a government claim near Huasna; and to this small beginning he has added, from time to time, until he now owns twelve hundred acres of good land on the Huasna plain which is devoted to the stock business. Besides the above ranch, he is also the owner of considerable land in other sections. Since 1888 he has done surveying in almost every part of this county, and has become a very well-known man.


Mr. Black held an appointment as United States Deputy Surveyor for a number of years, during which time every survey made was accepted. Like his father, he always enjoys a hunt ; and twenty-five years after his father had hunted in the Tulares, he and a friend hunted antelope on the Cuyama, run- ning onto about three hundred head, of which they shot seven. He also shot hundreds of deer and California lions.


Mr. Black was united in marriage with Mary Mahurin, who was born in California ; and they have six children: William J., who owns a govern- ment claim in this county ; Walter L., owner of a claim in Santa Barbara county ; and Herbert E., Lillian A., Laura M., and John R. Black. Since Mr. Black attained his majority, he has been self-supporting, and since becoming a resident of San Luis Obispo County he has been identified with every move- ment for the advancement of the welfare of the citizens and the improvement of the county. Hle is a friend of education and has done much to improve the standard of the schools. He is a member of the B. P. O. Elks and of the Catholic Church.


W. J. Lucas


249


SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS


WILLIAM T. LUCAS, M. D .- Among professional men in the Santa Maria valley, none is more in touch with the general spirit of progress in the West than Dr. William T. Lucas, senior member of the firm of Lucas & Coblentz and widely known as a proficient expounder of the best principles of medical science. A native of Missouri, he was born near St. Joseph. Buchanan county, March 18, 1850, a son of George J. and Sally (Thomas) Lucas. George J. Lucas was a farmer in Missouri, who emigrated with his family to Montana in 1864, crossing the plains by prairie schooner, his son, William T., riding a mule and assisting in driving the thousand or more head of cattle brought by the company, of which the Lucas family were members. Besides the stock, the company had several loads of freight. The Lucas family stopped in Deer Lodge valley, Mr. Lucas taking up land and engaging in dairying, making cheese and butter until 1868, when he sold out and again started westward with California as his goal. On arrival he settled in Yolo county near Woodland, where for several years he followed farming and stock-raising. Finally retiring to Woodland, he lived there until his death, at the age of seventy-seven years. His widow, now in her eighty- ninth year and in the full possession of all her mental faculties, still resides in that city.


W. T. Lucas received his education by private tutor in Montana, and from the time he was old enough had to work hard to assist in the support of the family. Later he attended Hesperian College at Woodland, and also taught school, off and on, for six years in Yolo and Solano counties. His ambition after he had reached manhood's estate was to become a physician ; and accordingly, after he had saved enough money to defray his expenses. he entered the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, Dr. Lane being professor of surgery and Dr. Plummer instructor on diseases of women and children. During three years of that time, Dr. Lucas was clerk of the Chil- dren's Clinic, and it was while he was instructor here that George Pardee, later governor of California, was a student. In November, 1876, Dr. Lucas was graduated, and the following February he opened an office in Wood- land, where he practiced medicine, became county physician and had charge of the Woodland hospital until 1879, when he came to Guadalupe, Santa Barbara county. There he practiced until June, 1884; and then he located permanently in Santa Maria, where he is the pioneer physician. In 1882 he obtained an honorary degree from Cooper Medical College, now the medical department of Stanford University. Locating in Santa Maria, he bought property in town and one hundred sixty acres of farming land. He leases out eighty acres of the latter, and is improving the balance with orchards, including deciduous fruits. He already has about twenty-two acres set out. Dr. Lucas, who is one of the owners and proprietors of the Lucas Sanitarium on South Broadway and was the first surgeon in charge, has an extensive and successful practice through- out the Santa Maria valley. He is a great reader, and has a large private library.


Dr. Lucas was married in Sacramento to Miss Lulu Maupin, a lady of French descent, although born in Missouri. Her father, a Southerner, was one of the "Midnight Raiders," and was assassinated during the Civil War. Her mother is also deceased. Mrs. Lucas came to California with an uncle, James M: Stephenson, who lived in Franklin, Sacramento county. To Dr. and Mrs. Lucas two children have been born: Lee F., regimental quarter- master in the 5th Regiment, N. G. C., is married and lives in Berkeley : while


250


SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS


Ora is he wife of G. B. Blankenburg, a prominent attorney with offices in San Francisco.


To Dr. Lucas, more than to any other citizen, is due the credit of organ- izing the Santa Maria High School, having the building erected in Santa Maria, and making it one of the best schools in the state. He was the first president of the Agricultural Association of the Santa Maria Valley, and is fond of horses and a patron of the race-track, not for gambling purposes but for the pure love of the sport and of fine horses. He is a York rite Mason, a mem- ber of the Blue Lodge of Guadalupe, of which he was Master several years. He was elected Grand Master by the Grand Lodge of Masons of the state in 1896. He is a member and Past High Priest of Fidelity Chapter, R. A. M., of Santa Maria, and a member of San Luis Obispo Commandery, No. 27, K. T. For eight years, Dr. Lucas was one of the most active workers on the griev- ance committee of the Grand Lodge of Masons, of which he was a member for about twelve years. He has the most complete Masonic library in Southern California. He has been a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge since May, 1877, and is a member of the San Luis Obispo lodge of Elks. In line with his profession, he belongs to the County Medical Society, and the State Medical Society, having served as its vice-president in 1904-05, and is a member of the American Medical Association.


The Doctor is a consistent Democrat, and has taken an active part in campaigns ever since he was old enough to vote, and even before that time. In 1884 he was defeated for the state legislature ; in 1904 he was defeated for Congress ; and in 1916 he refused to become a candidate for the last-named post. He is a member of the State Democratic Central Committee, and for years has been a member of the Democratic County Central Committee.


Dr. Lucas is noted as an orator, and delivered the address at the laying of the corner-stone of the Santa Maria Carnegie Library, as well as the speech of the day at the laying of the corner-stone of the Masonic building in Santa Maria. Of his addresses may be mentioned the "Historical and Philosophical" lecture on Masonry, delivered before various Masonic meetings throughout the state: "History of Masonry"; and "In Memoriam"-all elo- quent discourses. He is an enthusiastic booster for California and his section of the state, a progressive citizen, a noted surgeon and a prominent Mason. He is hale and hearty, comes from a long-lived family, is companionable and popular and very highly respected.


ARCHER CATRON JESSEE .- There are but few persons whose records are obtainable at this time who represent those men who were members of that brave band of pioneer plainsmen, soldiers and farmers who took part in the early movements that won California for the Union and there- after were active participants in the later-day movements that placed this glorious state in the front rank of all the commonwealths of our country. Such a man was the late Archer Catron Jessee, progenitor of the family in California. He was a native of Virginia, born December 25, 1821, in Russell county, moved to Missouri with his parents, and remained with them until 1842, when he married, in Atchison county, Va., Miss Mary Harbin, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of James M. Harbin, the discoverer of the famous Harbin Springs in Lake county, California. She was likewise a sister of Matt Harbin, pioneer of this state, who migrated to the West in 1842, and became California's first millionaire.




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