History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 40

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 40

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His partner in his farming operations, Buchanan Davis, was born near Santa Cruz in 1857, was reared on the ranch near San Miguel, and was carly associated with his brother Joseph in farming and stock-raising. He, too, is a member of the same parlor of Native Sons, and a past president.

Charles Davis, another brother, who resides in San Miguel, was born near what is now Bradley, on February 21, 1864, and from his thirteenth year has had more or less to do with sheep and cattle. In the middle eighties, he located at San Miguel, and there he has been in business ever since. He owns a business building and a pool hall. He was married to Mrs. Ella Chalmers, a native of Watsonville, and by her he has had three children : Irvin, Irma and Zoe. He belongs to the Eagles, the Redmen and the Native Sons.

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GEORGE H. ANDREWS .- A worthy son of a worthy father, George H. Andrews was born in San Luis Obispo on April 6, 1862. He received his early education in the public schools of this city, and when but a boy lent most valuable assistance to his father in the management of his cattle and sheep interests. When only fifteen years old he spent the entire dry year in looking after the sheep on the Santa Lucia range : and by his good man- agement he brought through in safety some four thousand head, which com- manded a good price in the market when there were no others fit for sale. He continued to look after the stock interests until early manhood, gradually acquiring the experience so valuable to him in later life. He later purchased some three hundred and fifteen acres of fine land near San Luis Obispo, and farmed it for a while himself. Afterwards, he leased out the place, which he is gradually improving by planting it to fruit.

When his father retired from business, George H. Andrews took the position of cashier of the Andrews Banking Company and remained in that responsible position until the bank was sold to the Commercial Bank in 1913. Upon the death of his father in 1914, in January, he became executor of the large estate, gave the business his entire attention and faithfully performed every duty without favor to any individual.

He is a man of quiet force, respected by his fellow citizens, by whom he was elected a member of the city council in 1913, for a term of four years. He is a firm believer in the future of San Luis Obispo. He believes that she now offers greater opportunities than ever before in her history, and that it is the duty of every public-spirited citizen to aid in all movements that have for their object the advancement of the community. Mr. Andrews is also a stanch friend of education and favors all endeavors that will raise the standard of the schools of the city and county. He has grown with the county, has been a part of its growth and development, and both makes and retains friends wherever he is known.

In August, 1891, George H. Andrews was united in marriage with Miss Mary Alethia Graves, a native of Louisiana ; and five children have blessed their union. John Pinckney, who is employed by the Standard Oil Company, married Miss Doddy Jensen, of Idaho, and they have one son, John Pinckney Andrews, 111; G. Winfield attends the Agricultural College at Corvallis, Ore. ; Marvin and Ewart are students in the State Polytechnic School at San Luis Obispo; and a daughter, Marjorie, is now attending the public school.

Mr. Andrews is a Mason and a Woodman of the World.

DAVID THALER .- Whatever of success has been achieved by Mr. Thaler during his residence in California may be attributed to his own capable judgment and industry. He was born in Germany, March 10, 1840, and. received but a few years of schooling, as his parents both died when he was quite small. In 1857, he started for the New World, seeking to better his condition and to win a fortune. His first employment, after arriving in the United States, was in a butcher shop in Cleveland, (). There he stayed two years, going from there to Cincinnati, where he was working when the Civil War broke out. Like many of his countrymen who sought homes in the United States, he enlisted for service, being enrolled on April 22, 1861, in Company K, Ninth Ohio Infantry. Third Brigade, Second Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, under General Mcclellan, and was one of the famous

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"minute men." He was discharged on May 26, 1861, and at once was sworn in again for three years in the same company and regiment ; and after his term of service expired he veteranized, and his company was attached to the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, under General Thomas. After a ser- vice of four years, Mr. Thaler was mustered out at Camp Dennison, Ohio. During his service in the army he participated in the battles of Shiloh, Mur- freesboro, Nashville, Franklin, Mills Springs, Peach Mountain, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and in many skirmishes. After being mustered out, he joined the regular army by enlisting in Company L, Fifth U. S. Cavalry, Colonel Emery commanding, and served five years, being stationed at Forts Hays, McDowell and McPherson, and one year at Camp Grant, Ariz. He was discharged in 1872. While in the regular service he took part in the famous Indian battle at Summit Springs, Wyo. "Buffalo Bill" ( William Cody) was a scout in Mr. Thaler's regiment, and they became very warm friends.

In 1873, having traveled about the country for a time, Mr. Thaler arrived in San Luis Obispo County, where he has since resided. He was engaged in various enterprises. He drove a freight team from the city to Port San Luis in early days, was employed by the Sandercock Transfer Company for a time, conducted the Fulton Meat Market, was steward at the county hospital, served on the police force for eight years, and then was janitor of the Court school for six years, when he retired to private life to enjoy a well-earned rest. On his retirement, the teachers presentd him with a beautiful Odd Fellows gold watch charm. He joined that organization in 1879, and has passed all the chairs of the order, serving as Warden for twenty-six years. He is a member and for the past eight years has been Commander of Fred Steele Post, No. 70, G. A. R. After becoming a resident of California, Mr. Thaler was united in marriage with Hannah Blake, who was a native of this state, born in Napa. Mr. and Mrs. Thaler are the parents of three chil- dren : a daughter, Mrs. Josephine M. Johnson ; and two sons, Frank . and Frederick.

JAMES M. BROWN .- The ranks of the brave defenders of the Union are rapidly thinning. Among those who, after the war, bore the "brunt of the battle" in commercial circles, and have left their imprint on the community, no one was more favorably known than J. M. Brown, more familiarly known as "Brown, the Bee Man," of San Luis Obispo. He was born near Middle- bury, in Addison county, Vermont, on February 14, 1835. When he was but eighteen months old, his parents moved to Licking County, Ohio, and from there, in 1851, to Cumberland County, Illinois. Young Brown attended the common schools in pursuit of an education, and worked on his father's farm. Shortly after the breaking out of the Civil War, in 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh. Corinth, and many skirmishes. He was appointed Second Lieutenant, Company F. 111th U. S. Colored Infantry, and was later promoted to First Lieutenant, Company D, serving until the close of the war. The captain of the company being on the sick list, Lieutenant Brown took command as acting Captain, and participated in the Battle of Sulphur Trestle, Alabama. He was taken prisoner by General Forrest on the surrender of the regiment, and was later exchanged. lle was later made Brigade Quartermaster under General Thomas, and served three 19

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months at Nashville; then he was detailed to special duty in Alabama, gather- ing up government property.

He refused a captain's commission in the regular army after the close of the war, and returned to his old home in Carlisle, Ill. He farmed for a time there; then returned to Licking County, O .; from there went back to Crawford County, Il. ; thence to southwestern Missouri; and, in 1893, to San Luis Obispo County. Cal., where he purchased one hundred sixty acres of land in See cañon. Ile set out fifty acres of orchard, having the best in the county Here, for eighteen years, he lived in the enjoyment of the climate i the golden West, and then, in 1909, retired to San Luis Obispo.

From boyhood Mr. Brown was interested in the bee industry, watching the bees gather honey from the flowers, and gradually becoming an expert as an apiarist. While living in Ohio he owned one hundred stands, which he shipped to ( rawford County, If .. when he removed to that place. He visited some of the largest bee farms in this country and acquired many valuable ideas, and likewise attended the Bee Growers' Convention that was held in Chicago, and various other gatherings of the kind, and eventually became an authority on bee culture. Ile carried on a very successful apiary in See canon, and from a hundred seventy three stands he gathered and marketed in one year fourteen tons of honey. He later increased his colony to two hundred stands.

Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Annetta Sharp, a native of Illinois. She died in 1873, leaving one daughter, Mrs. Rose Kahl, who passed www. September 9, 1916, mourned by two daughters, by a former marriage- Gertrude, the wife of Fred Johnson, and Miss Mabel Mann. Mr. Brown was a member of Fred Steele Post No. 70, G. A. R., in San Luis Obispo. After becoming a resident of San Luis Obispo County no man ever had the interests Of the county more at heart than Mr. Brown ; and he liberally supported, as far as he was able, all movements that had for their object the betterment ni the community.

Mr. Brown answered the final roll call January 10, 1917. Ile laid his Blive and book on a table and put his coat on a chair, and was found lying on his bed, with a peaceful smile on his face, where he had passed quietly away.

JUDGE GORDON G. WALKER .- Born at Marshall, Saline County, M. on December 4 1856, Judge Gordon G. Walker was the grandson of Sammel Walker, a planter, and the son of Hiram S. Walker, who was inter- snad in agriculture. The grandfather, born in Tennessee, had removed to Missouri, first to Lafayette County and then to Saline County, adjoining. Arom Missouri, in 1850. Hiram Walker made his first trip to Texas. After returning to Missouri for a time, he again took up his residence in the Lone Har State, where he died. The mother, Miss Mary M. Gordon before her marriage, Was born in Kentucky, her mother having been a Miss Boyd, a Hall of Speaker Boyd of the Kentucky State Assembly. The Walkers hed four boys and four girls, two of the latter being now deceased. Gordon Walker was fourth in order of birth. He was educated in the public schools of Missouri, and was reared on a Missouri farm; and by 1875 he was ready Con rumeration to San Saba County. Texas, where he became the owner a ranch on Buffalo Creek and began to engage in the cattle business, w Tane acquiring the J. E. Spring Ranch, whose cattle and sheep were famous under the U-bar brand.

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In 1903, he sold his Texas ranch and stock and moved to California. Ile lived for a while at Richmond; and then came to Santa Margarita. He engaged in mining and came to own some fine mining property in the Huasna country, San Luis Obispo County, and elsewhere. Quartz and placer mines were located by him. He prospected in Death Valley, and while there, amid the burning sands, found no less than three skeletons of those who had perished. After a wide experience with localities, the Judge believes emphat- ically in San Luis Obispo County, contending that it is one of the best sec- tions in California for minerals, and that its mining and agricultural resources have as yet scarcely been touched.

While he was a resident in Texas, Judge Walker, as an officer of the law, did much to rid the young state of lawless bandits, and to establish order and security. First he was a constable, then a deputy sheriff, and finally a deputy United States marshal, as well as a member of the Texas Rangers. Some of the worst desperadoes with whom he had to do were the Pitts-Yeager gang of counterfeiters. He arrested Pitts and his compan- ion at Baby Head, just across the Llano County line, and turned them over to an officer. The counterfeiters escaped, however, and Walker led the chase which resulted in their recapture. They were then tried and sentenced to ninety-nine years at Chester, Illinois. Walker told Hal Goslin (the United States marshal), who was taking the two north to Chester, to watch out or they would kill him and again escape ; and sure enough, the events of the next few hours showed how clear was the Judge's fore- sight Pitts and Yeager were handcuffed together, and were in charge of the marshal and his deputy, Manning ; but Pitts' wife and grandmother, and Yeager's sister, were allowed to make the journey with them in the same coach. The women managed to pass each one a revolver, and in less time than it takes to tell it, Goslin was shot dead and the deputy was wounded. The latter, however, fought back and wounded both Pitts and Yeager, though both escaped from the train. Pitts was found dead fifty yards from the railroad. Yeager tore the handcuff from the dead man's hand and made his escape. As soon as word reached Judge Walker, he started immediately in pursuit ; and by nine o'clock the next morning he had the wounded desperado.

So plucky and so persistent was Walker in his running down evil-doers that he soon became a terror to them, especially to horse and cattles thieves. He was naturally a good shot from boyhood; and in the great open, where the man who drew first was king, he became still more expert. He knew, too, as a progressive citizen, that the bad element must first be conquered before the country could be made habitable, so as to attract outsiders; and this spurred him forward even at much personal risk. On one occasion, he and a comrade, C. D. Farris, pursued fifteen outlaws, and they captured or killed a dozen of them. In the end he came to feel, whenever he read or heard of a criminal loose in the neighborhood, that he must do his part in apprehend- ing the undesirable. This devotion to what he considered a paramount duty is shown in his conduct after becoming a resident of California. Alberto Pena, the slayer of Patrolman Rouse, of Fresno, with several others, had escaped and was supposed to be headed toward the coast ; but it so happened that when he alighted from the train at Santa Margarita and started up the track, Judge Walker's son, Clinton, recognized him from portraits published

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in the newspapers, and hurried home to tell his father. This was quite enough for the indignant and doughty Judge, who grabbed his gun, said good-bye to his wife, and hurried out of the house. A neighbor was passing in his automobile, and learning that the Judge intended to get a locomotive to take him up the track, he placed his car at the Judge's disposal. It was not long before they overtook the fugitive, who was also being pursued by Police Detective Castner, from Fresno; and just as Pena drew his revolver against the officers, the Judge, with the quickness that characterized his former years, shot him dead.

While in Missouri, Gordon Walker was married to Miss Amanda B. Clinton, a native of Vernon County, Missouri. Through her he became the father of eight children : Shelby, a cattleman of Texas: Beula, now Mrs. Hall of that state: Nellie, who became Mrs. Deevers, of Tehachapi; Mary, now Mrs. Degman, of Taft ; Hiram, with an oil company at Coalinga ; Walter, representing the Standard Oil Company at Taft; Leonard, a driller in the Coalinga oil fields ; and Clinton, baggage agent for the S. P. R. R. at Santa Margarita. Each of these promising children has been trained according to the teachings of the Christian Church. Always active in social life, the Judge and his wife participate in the programs of the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. O. F. Mrs. Walker was appointed postmaster of Santa Margarita in 1913. A county commissioner in Texas, Judge Walker was also appointed, in 1915. by the San Luis Obispo County supervisors, a member of the ad- visory board having in charge the readjustment of land values for county assessments. A personal and lifelong friend of the present Postmaster-Gen- eral, Albert Sidney Burleson, he has had much to do with the administration appointments in this section of the state.

JOSEPH MAINO .- Many of the sons of Italy who have emigrated to the United States have won recognition for themselves in their chosen fields of endeavor, and among them is Joseph Maino, one of the leading contractors and builders of San Luis Obispo and vicinity.

He was born in Domodossola, province of Novara, Italy, on April 3, 1850. He received his schooling in his native place, and there learned the car- penter and builder's trade, working up from one position of responsibility to another until he became for a number of years superintendent of government construction. During this time he travelled all over Europe and Africa. In 1877 he came to the United States, where he thought better opportunity for advancement was offered energetic young men. He first located in Eureka, Nev., and there, for two years, was employed in timbering the Newark Valley mine. In 1879 he came to the Coast and stopped in San Francisco, but being in ill health he decided to take a sea voyage, and journeyed to China, Japan, South America and back to San Francisco, extending his voyage over a period of six months. During this time he recovered his health, and worked as ship carpenter. He was then employed by Mr. Clair to go to Santa Barbara and remodel a schooner at Santa Cruz island. The work completed, he went to Los Alamos, and thence to San Luis Obispo, where he arrived in 1881 ; and here he has since resided, making this city the scene of his activities. He is the city's pioneer builder, having erected nearly one-third of the buildings in the town, and has paid the lumber companies over $500,000 for building material. Among some of the more important buildings erected by Mr. Maino are the county hospital. the public library, the polytechnic school, and various busi-

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ness blocks and residences. He erected the first school building in Santa Margarita, the church at Cayucos and other structures in various parts of the county.

Mr. Maino has been twice married. His first wife was Mary lemminis, a native of Italy. Their children are: Mrs. Mary Bizzini; James J., a con- tractor in San Luis Obispo; Mrs. Lucy Kern : Charles, of San Luis Obispo ; Theodore, also a contractor : and Mrs. Julia des Grange. Mr. Maino has nine grandchildren. His present wife was Mrs. Angela Angellini, also a native of Italy, but for more than forty years a resident of California.

AMOS RILEY HATHWAY. - The name Hathway is of English origin, but Amos R. Hathway's life found its beginning in the blue grass region of Kentucky, Owensboro being the place of his birth, which occurred on Sep- tember 26, 1829. There, under the spiritual guidance of a wonderful mother, he laid the foundation of a sterling character, and his life was an inspira- tion to those who knew him best. His father, John Hathway, was a native of Maine, born in the year 1795. When John Hathaway's father passed away, the boy John swam the Ohio river with his clothes on his head, deter- mined to aid his widowed mother. John Hathway married Martha Riley. a Kentuckian by birth. His ambition led him to become a man of education, and his natural ability won for him a fortune.

Amos R., the second child of a family of seven, inherited rare qualities. He was dubbed "Luck" by his young friends, who claimed that Dame For- tune always smiled upon him; but it was through determination and perse- verance that he succeeded. He was an apt and industrious student, retiring at 10 P. M. and rising at three o'clock the next morning to study. He mas- tered Latin so thoroughly that he became able to converse in that tongue. After leaving school, he taught for a time in his home county. He also served as a deputy in the office of county clerk. Later. under Dr. Wilson of Kentucky, he took up the study of medicine. Too close application to study, however, impaired his health, and he was advised by his physician to seek another climate; whereupon he and his younger brother John decided to make the long journey to California.

In 1852, therefore, the two young men hitched up a mule team and left family and friends behind. The journey was a perilous one. Mr. Hathway suffered from cholera, and his brother John was later taken with mountain fever and was hauled for eight hundred miles upon his bed, but finally recovered.

They made their first stop at Marysville, where they entered into busi- ness. Mr. Hathway was given charge of a ranch belonging to Dr. Wilkins, who became his lifelong friend. Dr. Wilkins saw and appreciated Mr. Hathway's rare qualities of mind and endeavored to persuade the latter to enter into partnership with him in San Francisco, and together with him establish a sanitarium ; but for his health's sake Mr. Hathway could not consider the proposition, and so he went to Watsonville and farmed success- fully there. He was made school superintendent and also Sunday school superintendent. He was later tendered a county office ; but this he declined. He had promised his mother that at the expiration of four years he would return to her, and he could not disappoint her.

He returned to Kentucky via Panama and New Orleans, and was mar- ried, on June 16, 1857, to Miss Ellen Riley, the daughter of Judge Amos

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Riley of New Madrid. Mo., a man famed for his benevolence. That same year the young couple went to Hathway. Tenn., named for Mr. Hathway, and there be followed farming, practiced medicine and conducted a wood- yard, supplying the steamers that plied the river with several thousand cords of wood per year until the close of the Civil War, in which he himself served two years as a Confederate soldier. He was first lieutenant of his company, but ill health gained for him his discharge.

In 1874 he returned to California, coming to San Luis Obispo. He en- geol in the sheep business, in which he made a success until the Cleveland Warof renderel it unprofitable. Although he had full knowledge of what the (Jewind administration would mean, unswerved by apprehension of his milry adual loss, he stumped the county for Cleveland, for he was a believer in the wool for the nation. This is only one of the many instances in which J!r. Hathway proved his superior worth. He took a very prominent part in the development of the county, and during his term as supervisor he wes active in systematizing the records of the board, and decisive in his determined demands to know how and where the people's money was being spent.

Dr. Ighway was a man of culture and personal magnetism, and soon After his arrival in San Luis Obispo, in 1879, was a candidate for the assembly on the Workingman's and New Constitution tickets, but he was defeated by a small majority by H. Y. Stanley. In 1880, Mr. Hathway was again plice on the Workingman's ticket for assemblyman, but was defeated by P. A. Murphy. An influential politician approached Mr. Hathway and of- fered to throw Cotes his way if he would run on the Republican ticket against Geared Steele, Or at least oppose him in the convention. His reply was, "You justh met for he well knew that his election would mean toadyism ( the "bosses." Had they seen beneath his culture and magnetic manner the stainless sail that lay hidden there. they would never have thus ap- proacked Imth. He preferred political oblivion to the faintest moral stain. since Le caredl Medhing for self-aggrandizement.

Through keen business sagacity, Mr. Hathway accumulated considerable means. He was a philosopher. a good speaker. able to discourse on any subject, and a man of strong convictions who both made friends by his courteous manner and retained them by his steadfast adherence to the prin- riples be deemed to be right and by his good citizenship. Many years ago We organized the Local Government League for the purpose of electing Woul men to office, regardless of their political affiliations or religious con- viction -.

THOMAS BOYD .- The influences which tended to mould the character of Thon'as Boyd in his youth were such as clustered around the locality of Inneskillen. Ireland, where he was born in county Fermanaugh. June 25. 1850. a son of Edward and Mary Ann (Stephenson) Boyd. Edward Boyd was a irdeholder of his native county Fermanaugh. Grandfather Boyd lived to reach the age of ninety, was for years jailer in that county, was twice married, the second time at the age of seventy-four, and by that union had four children. Mary Ann Boyd was born in county Leitrum, near Manner- hanulton : and she died in 1863. Her father and mother had eighteen chil- dren, and all grew to years of maturity. Edward and Mary Ann Boyd had seven sons and two daughters. and after her death. Mr. Boyd married again

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 40

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