USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 37
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Mi- Ways slept with her husband's six-shooter at the head of her bed what he was away of business; and she tells of once walking a desperate chatacter -Meswil T her horse for three miles, his hands in the air. She was kilowie ne - gonil shot ; and being deadly in earnest, she succeeded in deliv- wque her pri-wer over to others.
At the time of the settlement of Mr. Biggs on his ranch there were no osbooks outside of San Luis Obispo. So the few families that lived in that section got together and hired an Englishman for a teacher ; and Mrs. Biggs kava up her kitchen, that had been built as a lean-to on their log house, for a school-room until a suitable building could be erected. Mr. Biggs was a friend of education, and served about twenty-five years as a director of the old Santa Fe district.
HERMAN BUDAN .- Among the prominent German-Americans who contributed to the development of San Luis Obispo County, Herman Budan occupied a conspicuous place, for he possessed to a large degree the traits of character upon which material success is founded. He was born in 1842, in Germany, and died December 7, 1907, in San Luis Obispo County. He at- tended school in his native country, where he remained for a short time there- after. He then came to the United States, when he was quite a young man, and drifted westward.
He stopped for a time in Utah, and happening to discover the Ontario mine, he followed prospecting and mining in Utah and Nevada for many years. Mr. Budan was associated with the late United States Senator George Hearst in his mining interests in those two states, and after severing his relations with Mr. Hearst, he took a trip back to visit his old home in Ger- many. At the conclusion of a pleasant stay there, he again came to California, and settled in Sonoma county, near Santa Rosa, where he engaged in ranching and the dairy business until 1886, when he came to San Luis Obispo County, and, purchasing two hundred acres of land in the Avila district, began farming wid dairying. continuing that occupation until his death.
He married Hanna Christensen, a native of Denmark, who died in 1910, anl they became parents of six children: Mrs. Annie Gorham, in Alaska : Mr. Lulu Jeffreys, residing in Los Angeles; Mary ; Clara, deceased ; and Fibth and Herman.
Mr. Budan became a very prominent citizen, was a Republican in politics, Mul served for years as a member of the county central committee. He was w friend of education, and supported and advocated the maintenance of good hools.
EDITH B. BUDAN, the youngest daughter of Herman Budan, is fol- bro mg m the footsteps of her father in trying to benefit mankind wherever If possible. She is conducting and is the owner of Ontario Hot Springs. In out on the state highway between San Luis Obispo and Pismo, on a part ol Wh ranch owned by her father. These springs have been tested and show De . lnable medicinal qualities. The temperature of the water as it comes Irem Be -pring is 128'. The water is impregnated with sulphur, and is a um lø chenmatism. Here Miss Budan has erected suitable buildings, and a buffe bom, both eight tubs. The accommodations are modern, and suitable coming Er provided for her patrons. She has built up a fine business and n enel mans people have been benefited by treatment at the Ontario Hot
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MANUEL J. SOUZA, SR .- One of the well-to-do Portuguese citizens of the Santa Maria valley is Manuel J. Souza. Sr .. now the owner of four valuable ranches. His home place is well improved with a modern bungalow, and with barns and outbuildings, all kept in good repair. He is a veteran bean grower. and has made money by personal supervision of his ranch operations and careful attention to details.
Manual J. Souza was born January 15, 1850, in the Azores islands, from which, at the age of twenty, he went to sea and for four years was on a whaler, out of New Bedford, Mass., returning home in 1874. The next year he came to California and began working as a farm hand for small wages. He soon became acquainted with the methods of doing business, and with the English language, and when he had saved money, he was united in mar- riage, in 1878, with Miss Maria Lawrence Bello. Soon after this Mr. Souza began leasing land and working for himself. year by year strengthening his position in the community. His first purchase of land was of eighty acres. and from time to time he has added to that nucleus until now he is the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land. He has never cared for politics, although he votes the Republican ticket. Mr. Souza and his family attend the Catholic Church; and he is a member of the I. D. E. S. Lodge of Santa Maria.
Mr. and Mrs. Souza are the parents of eight children: Mary L., Joe J .. Manuel J., Frank E., Annie J., Antone J., John L., and Maria de Gloria, the wife of Manuel C. Grace. Joe and Frank are ranchers in the valley, Antone conduets a store in Guadalupe, and John is employed in a bank at Santa Maria.
Manuel J. Souza, Jr., was born on the Oso Flaco attended the public school, and commenced work on the ranch for his father after he was twelve years of age. He is now a successful rancher and one of the progressive Portuguese in the valley. He was united in marriage with Rosa Garcia, who was born at Arroyo Grande ; and they have three children, Alice, Bernice and Henry. In 1916 Mr. Souza erected his present home, where he and his family are comfortably located. He and his wife are Socialists. He is a member of the I. D. E. S., of Santa Maria, and is one of the trustees of the lodge.
ALBERT PFISTER .- In the life of this successful banker of Paso Robles are illustrated the results of perseverance and energy. He is a citizen of whom any community might well feel proud, and the people of San luis Obispo County, fully appreciating his ability, accord him a place in the foremost ranks of representative business men. Identified with the history of Paso Robles since 1887, he has witnessed its gradual growth and the development of its commercial interests as well as the gradual increase of its population by the removal hither ot men of enterprise, intelligence and high standing. His parents. Joseph and Margaret (Stahle) Pfister, both natives of Germany, were living in Colusa County, California, at the time he was born, November 6, 1859. His father was born in Wurttemberg, came to Pittsburg, Penn., when a mere lad and was employed in the steel mills until 1852, when he outfitted with provisions and mule teams, and crossed the plains to California from St. Joseph, Mo. The first two years were spent in mining : then he returned to Pittsburg and married, the newly wedded couple soon coming to California, via Nicaragua. There were some three hundred in the party that landed at Nicaragua, but it was at the time
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of the Walker filibuster expedition and they were held six weeks before being allowed to cross. In the meantime yellow fever broke out among the immi- grants and all died but eighty, a sister of Mrs. Pfister being among the number who perished.
Arriving in San Francisco, Joseph Pfister engaged in teaming to the mines in Washoe, Nevada, his wife residing on land entered from the govern- ment, in Colusa County. On account of dry years, they abandoned the land ind moved to Napa county, near Suscol, and farmed there until 1868, when he removed to Contra Costa County, and bought a tract of land at Pinole, and improved it with a house and suitable outbuildings. This property of two hundred twenty-seven acres adjoining Pinole is still in possession of the family. There Mr. Pfister died in 1892, aged sixty-eight years ; and his wife lied in 1885. They were parents of seven children : Albert ; Rose, of Suisun ; Minnie. Mrs. Nudd of Dixon: Paul, of Paso Robles; John, in Los Angeles County ; Joseph, a dentist in San Francisco; and Augusta. Mrs. Harper, of Suisun.
Albert Pfister accompanied his parents to Contra Costa County when nine years old, attended the public schools in Pinole and later in San Fran- cisco, at South Cosmopolitan grammar school and the old high school on Clay street, and graduated in 1876. He then learned the trade of machinist and mechanical engineer and followed it ten years, part of the time being employed in the powder works at Pinole as a machinist. He then went to Dixon and engaged in ranching for two years; and again going back to his trade, he spent one year as master mechanic at the Mahoney mine in Amador County.
In 1887 he came to Paso Robles, bought land near by, and followed grain- and stock-raising on part of the Santa Ysabel ranch. Later he purchased nine hundred sixty acres, continuing the grain and stock business until selling out. In the meantime he had formed other interests in the growing city of Paso Robles, in 1893 being elected a director of the Citizens Bank, of which institution he was chosen cashier in 1899, a position he has since occupied In 1909, the Bank of Paso Robles met with reverses and was closed ; the Citizens Bank took over the affairs of the defunct institution ; and in due time all depositors were paid one hundred cents on the dollar. The Citizens Bank was organized in 1892 with $100,000 capital, of which $60,000 was paid up. The deposits now exceed $700,000. This bank has made an excep- tional record and is one of the leading financial institutions in the county. As manager and cashier. Mr. Pfister has the confidence of the people through- out the northern part of San Luis Obispo County ; and it is the consensus of opinion that the success of the Citizens Bank is due largely to Mr. Pfister's excellent judgment and careful and conservative management, and under his vise supervision the depositors of the bank know that the money they have mitrusted to its care is in safe keeping.
Another enterprise of Mr. Pfister's was the organization of the firm of Pfister, Ladd & Co., dealers in hardware and farm implements, at the corner of Twelfth and Pine streets. In 1912 this was incorporated by Albert and Paul Pfister as the Paso Robles Mercantile Company, and at that time they branched out and established the present large department store. Albert Mister is the manager and gives it his close supervision ; and it is remarkable No note his physical and mental capacity for work, which seemingly never
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tires him. A Republican, he has served as a member of the county central committee, and as city trustee, and is a member and active worker in the Chamber of Commerce. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is prominent among the bankers of the county, very conservative and successful, and is an excellent judge of land values as well as of securities. The Citizens Bank enjoys the largest business in this section of the state, and its cashier is recognized as a leader in financial circles.
WILLIAM C. STOKES .- The state of California has among its citizen- ship the representatives of almost every nation of the globe. Many of those who played a most important part have been of Spanish blood, and their descendants have exemplified true western spirit and have entered heartily into every branch of industry, and the professions, and are today among the most highly respected men and women of the state. In Guadalupe, William C. Stokes is a worthy representative of an English and Spanish family. He was born in old Monterey, August 1, 1840. His father, Dr. James Stokes, was a native of England, who came to California in 1839, on a sailing vessel via Cape Horn. He practiced medicine in San Jose, kept a general merchandise store and owned about one thousand acres of land in various places. He later lived in Monterey, where he had large landholdings, raised sheep and cattle, served as postmaster and was a very prominent citizen of the early period. By his marriage with Miss Josephine Soto he allied himself with an old Spanish family of San Jose and Monterey, also a family of large landowners and stock-raisers. Five children were born of this union : William C., Mrs. Josephine Winterburn, Mrs. Louisa Gonzales, Mrs. Kate Sherwood, and Henry.
William C. Stokes, the eldest of the family, was educated in the schools of San Jose, assisted his father in the care of his sheep and cattle, and when still quite young, with assistants, drove stock from the ranch into Nevada, where he sold them. In 1867, when twenty-one, with seventeen other men, he drove eleven hundred head of horses across the plains to Omaha, Neb. Disposing of them, he returned to California via Panama, and engaged in dairying in Monterey county two years.
In 1870 he came to Santa Barbara county, and bought property on Main street, Guadalupe, which included an old adobe ranch house, one of the historic landmarks of the county, in which Mr. Stokes now resides. Here he ran a dairy of one hundred cows, making cheese and butter until 1877, when the dry season caused the loss of all his cattle. Mr. Stokes then took up a government claim of one hundred sixty acres near town, proved up on it, added to the same from time to time, and now has three hundred thirty acres which he is farming to grain and beans, with some stock. Since the dis- covery of oil in this section of the state, this land has become very valuable and is now leased to an oil company, from which Mr. Stokes derives a good revenue.
William Stokes was married to Miss Matilda \. Fisher, a native of Ohio, near Zanesville. She was the daughter of Abraham and Rhoda (Rogers) Fisher, both born in Ohio and merchants till they removed to Illinois about 1857, locating near Rochelle, Ogle county. The father engaged in farming until he died. The mother afterwards married J. 11. Orcutt and came to San Luis Obispo County, California : she now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Stokes. She is eighty-five years old. Of her four children. Mrs.
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Stokes is the only one now living. After coming to California, Miss Fisher was educated in a private school near Guadalupe; and here she resided till her marriage, April 25, 1874, to Judge Stokes. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes have nine children: Mrs. Josephine Colbath, Ronald, Walter, Mrs. Evelyn Ber- grand. Alfred, Leland, Mrs. Elouise Livingston, Paul, and Carl. There are four grandchildren to brighten the life of their fond grandparents.
Mr. Stokes has been a faithful servant of the people: and having been dected to the office of Justice of the Peace of his township, he is now serving hi- fourth consecutive term. There is no man in the Santa Maria valley who believes more strongly in progression, or advocates more heartily all meas- ures to uplift humanity, than does Judge Stokes. His success has been the result of his own efforts, and he is now living practically retired with the exception of his judicial duties. He is one of the oldest native sons living in Santa Barbara county today, and wherever he is known he is highly esteemed and respected.
CHRESTEN A. IVERSEN .- California's rapid strides and improvement are in large measure due to the countries of the Old World, among them the minor kingdom of Denmark, whose naturally capable sons and daughters have gone forth into other lands to influence modern civilization. An illus- tration of Denmark's friendly and highly appreciated contribution to the de- velopment of the Golden State is found in such a career as that of Chresten \ Iversen. the pioneer of Union district, who located there when there was Teither a country road nor a windmill east of the Salinas river. Mr. Iversen was born near Ballum, Denmark, on Christmas Day, 1861. His father was Mim- Iversen, an interesting sketch of whose life is given on a separate page this work. Chresten was the third eldest child and was given every educa- tionhl advantage that the public schools could afford.
When he was seventeen years of age, however, he broke away from the schools and determined to leave for America and California, two brothers, Tver and Mat., having preceded him to the New World. Having crossed the American continent. Chresten was the first of the family to reach the Pacific coast. He arrived in San Francisco with three dollars in his purse, waged himself for a year at ten dollars a month, and faithfully carried out ma prirt of the agreement. Later he ran a restaurant on East street in San Iomarco, but hearing of government lands in San Luis Obispo County, and E their distribution to the public, he came with his father and his brother Mat. and three friends, and located a homestead of one hundred sixty acres my Dry Creek in Union district, after which, for a short time, he returned wst Francisco, to work.
In San Francisco, June 21, 1884. he married Miss Annie Lena Christensen, olio was also born near Ballum. Her father was Andreas Christensen, a strom of the Wars of 1848 and 1864, in which he fought against Germany, www de now lives in California, aged ninety-two, with his daughter. Her mo ley was Louise Christensen, who is now deceased. In 1908, Mr. and Mrs. Lhini Tet-en celebrated their golden wedding at Union. After their marriage, Me and Alr -. Iversen located on their homestead, and continued the improve- meats already begun there. They built an adobe house and cleared and broke The land ; and just what agriculture in those days and in that section meant may be gathered from a fact or two in the development of this steadily pro- pressing ranchman. In 1883, his father had sown some wheat on their three
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homesteads, which he harvested with a scythe in 1884: and from his portion he obtained three hundred twelve sacks of first-class grain, a sample of which, sent to the immigration offices in San Francisco, was pronounced the best among a hundred or more varieties. In 1885, too, the Iversens harvested with a header, but in 1901 they bought and operated a combined harvester. Mr. Iversen then rented some adjoining land, and bought other acreage, and engaged in raising wheat, moving about, also, onto different places which he farmed. In one year he raised five thousand five hundred sacks, and for three years he farmed near San Miguel.
In 1904, he bought a part of his present place, moving onto it in 1906, and later purchased more land adjoining; so that today he has eight hundred acres in a body. He also still owns the old homestead of one hundred sixty acres. With his son, Andrew, and a brother, C. F., he owns one hundred sixty acres near Union, forty-five acres of which he has set out to almonds. He superintends the operations of the farm himself, which he accomplishes with the latest and most improved machinery. A result of his indefatigable labor is that he has wrung a fortune from Mother Earth. Mr. Iversen hauled his first three crops to San Luis Obispo, taking three days for the round trip. The fourth crop was delivered in Paso Robles, the railroad, then completed, having provided a much more rapid means of transit. Already a leader among ranchers, it was natural that, in 1891, he should become one of the organizers of the Farmers' Alliance Business Association, that built the large ware- houses of Paso Robles, of which he is a director. He was also one of the organizers of the Good-Will mining syndicate, engaged in operating and de- veloping a copper and iron mine in Los Osos valley near Morro Bay. It has already made a valuable showing, and he has thus established a precedent for which he deserves much credit. He is liberal and enterprising, and believes that a man who has been successful should be willing to devote a percentage of his profits to the development of the natural resources of the county in which he lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Iversen have had seven children : Mary, the wife of Mr. H. Lund, who farms in the Union District: Andrew, who married Margaret Paulus, and is a farmer on the Estrella ranch : Louise, who died at the age of seventeen : Jenny, Mrs. Chris Jespersen, who lives on the Estrella ranch ; Hetty, who died at two years of age : Alice, a clerk in the Emporium at Paso Robles; and Harry, who attends the local high school. Inspired with the socially helpful spirit, Mr. Iversen is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, being affiliated with Paso Robles Lodge No. 286; while in matters of religion he prefers both the theological tenets and the form of government of the Lutherans. In every respect Mr. Iversen is enterprising and pro gressive, a man of native ability and acquired knowledge, and a citizen esteemed and well liked.
LAURA WHITE WOLF .- The influence wielded by women in business affairs is demonstrated by the success achieved by Mrs. Laura White Wolf of San Luis Obispo, lessee of the Elks Theater for the past two years, and a resident of the city for twenty years. She was born in Salt Lake City, June 2, 1866, a daughter of Richard Cullen White, of English birth and ancestry. Ile was a descendant of the "House of White," and a man of superior intelli gence and education. He migrated to Canada with an uncle when a very young man. Soon leaving his uncle, he came to the United States, where he
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engaged in newspaper work, fought in the Civil War, followed a literary career and became a playwright of prominence. As an author and a linguist, he was equalled by few. On his arrival in California, he embarked in the theatrical business, writing and producing his own plays. He went to Mon- tana for a time, but finally came back to this state. He was the first one to dramatize "She." as well as many of the very best dramas and operas ; and none of his productions were failures. He made and expended several for- tunes, lived his life to its full, and spent his last years at the home of his daughter in San Luis Obispo. When he was about eighty-five years old, he decided to master Spanish, and one winter spent in study enabled him to speak the language fluently. He died in 1916 at the age of eighty-nine years. His was a wonderful life, blessed with the rewards that come to those whose lives are directed in the right channels. His good wife, Mary Lash, was born in Richmond, Va., a daughter of Elizabeth Bryan, a member of the same family as the "Peerless Orator." She was highly educated, a leader in society, and besides her daughter Laura, had one son, Richard Cullen White, and another daughter, Lenor White Barnett, both of whom became famous.
When she was three months old, Laura White was brought to California by her parents. Her education was obtained in a convent in Portland, Oregon. She became her father's companion, and it was but natural that she should participate in his theatrical ventures, later taking a prominent part in his productions : and from that time she followed the profession until she came to San Luis Obispo. Through her professional career she met the man she later married, and in Paterson, New Jersey, Daniel Wolf and Laura White were made husband and wife. Later they had their own company on the road, consisting of eighty persons. Arriving in San Luis Obispo, Mr. and Mrs. Wolf located for a time, and here her daughter, Violet Mercy Wolf, was born: she also had a son named after her father, that died in infancy. Mrs. Wolf gave to her baby girl her entire time and loving care, intending, when the latter was old enough, once more to take up her profession ; but this resolution was never carried out, for her whole life was bound up in her child. She saw her pass through the grammar school and graduate from the high school in this city, and finally take a finishing course in Notre Dame convent in San Jose. This daughter is now living with her mother, at home.
Mr. Wolf was born in New York City, of German-Jewish extraction, was educated in the public schools and later became associated as a master elec- trician in the theatrical business. After his marriage, he traveled together with his wife in their own company. Since locating in San Luis Obispo, he has engaged in various theatrical ventures. For a time he had a show house in the old pavilion, then for five years was superintendent of the county Tospital, and then ran the Elks Theater for about two years. He is public- porited. well liked by all, and is familiarly known as "Dan" Wolf by those who know him best.
For the past twenty years Mrs. Wolf has been a valued citizen of San Lin Obispo. She has always willingly given of her time and talents to help Hmerland charity, and has liberally given of her means to promote the wel- For of the city, which she has grown to love for its early associations. She has a vide acquaintance among theatrical people throughout the country, has enjoyed her life to its full capacity, and is living in the quiet contentment of her home and the enjoyment of an ever widening circle of friends.
James Henry Rucker
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JAMES H. RUCKER .- In improving the western opportunities that have come his way, James H. Rucker, one of the substantial citizens of Paso Robles, has displayed characteristic enterprise. He was born in Blooming- ton, Ill., December 24, 1849, a son of Ambrose Rucker, who was a native of Virginia, from the Rappahannock, and of Scotch descent. He was married near Woodstock, Va., to Catherine Ruth Carran, a native of that vicinity. After their marriage, Mr. Rucker migrated to Ohio, thence to Bloom- ington, Ill., and thence to Mt. Pleasant, la., where he worked at his trade of blacksmith, opening a shop and doing a good business until 1849, when he was seized with the gold fever and came across the plains in the spring of that year. He mined at Placerville, then known as Hangtown, with success, and then returned home via Panama. During his trip to California, his wife had gone to the home of her parents in Illinois, and it was while there that her son, James H., was born. After the return of Mr. Rucker, they located again near Mt. Pleasant, Henry county, Ia., and here he engaged in farming and blacksmithing, six miles from town.
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