USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 42
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
Thomas J. Ballard was reared on the home farm and went to school in Tulare county. When he was twenty-four years old he came to Parkfield, Monterey county, and pre-empted one hundred sixty acres of land: and later he added another quarter section, developed it, and raised grain and stock, making a specialty of cattle, horses and hogs, and meeting with very good success in this undertaking. His brand was the number 12. 1n 1910, 11 account of his parents' age, he located in Paso Robles to care for them in
1
37
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
their declining years, leasing his land, and while living here engaged in the poultry business. Meeting with success in this venture, he sold his ranch and branched out in his new industry, now owning two blocks at Seventeenth and Riverside avenue, and also two acres on the Salinas river. He specializes in white Leghorns, has his own incubator and brooders, and ships eggs and poultry to the San Francisco markets. He has about five hundred hens, kept in three different yards, with nesting houses. He raises alfalfa and has erected two pumping plants to supply water for the irrigation of alfalfa and kale for his poultry. He is an active member of the Methodist Church and a member of the official board. In politics he is a Republican and a warm supporter of all movements for the betterment of the people and the develop- ment of the county's resources.
WILLIAM W. CULP .- One of the oldest and best-known of the tenants on the great Suey ranch, five miles northeast from Santa Maria, is William 1. Culp, a native son, born June 14, 1864, in Grass Valley, Nevada county, a son of Rev. William and Margaret Elizabeth (Woods) Culp. Rev. Mr. Culp Was born in Kentucky, whence he went to Missouri, and later to Oregon. In the early fifties he came down to California. He was a Methodist preacher, and his first charge in California was in Grass Valley, where he met and later married Miss Woods, a native of Missouri. Her father, William D. Woods, crossed the plains in 1848 from Missouri, driving a cow and a mule, hitched together, and arrived in Grass Valley with his wife and children. Mrs. Culp then being but seven years old. He was a member of the Pacific Confer- ence and helped to organize many Methodist churches in northern and cen- tral California, where he became well known. He moved from place to place, as is the custom with ministers of that faith, and finally died in Merced in 1870, after a very useful career.
Four children of this worthy couple grew to maturity: Fannie married > 0). Fesler and lives in Modesto; William W. is the subject of this review; Margaret became the wife of John Whaley and lives in Bakersfield; Lucy is Vr -. Henry Morris of Santa Maria. Mrs. Margaret Culp died at the home of her son, William W., on the Suey ranch in 1906, aged sixty-three years.
The only son of his parents, William W. Culp obtained his education in The public schools of Merced and Kern counties. His father died in Merced wanty, and some few years later his mother took her children and moved to Woody, Kern county, where she remained until 1882, when the little family Con to the Santa Maria valley. The town was small, and there was not much work to be had by a lad of seventeen ; besides, the family were poor, so In bed to find some kind of employment to help toward their support. Farm- me and stockraising were the principal industries in the section, and he onest a job and was offered one as a farm hand on the Suey ranch and cheer- we went to work, eager to earn a few dollars with which to aid his mother
bo soon became acquainted with Ellis Nicholson, then superintendent of Un -wey auch, and that acquaintance leading to a lasting friendship, young Wolffbecame a trusted employe and later one of the foremen. Still later, when Of Nicholson was appointed agriculturist for the Union Sugar Co. at Bet- Moravw Mr. Culp became superintendent of Mr. Nicholson's fifteen hundred arre ralich, which he had leased from the Newhall company, and remained Mr ko bolson's trusted superintendent until 1905. At that time Mr. Culp
377
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
leased six hundred thirty acres of the Suey ranch and since then has met with success.
In 1911 Mr. Culp was united in marriage with Mrs. Cora (Scott) Shep- pard, a native of Massachusetts and a daughter of Henry and Sarah E. (Birl) Scott; and they have one daughter, Cora. By a former marriage with Fred- erick Sheppard, two children were born, and one, Laura Sheppard, is living.
Mr. Culp is prominent in fraternal circles as a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, and an Odd Fellow. Mr. and Mrs. Culp are members of the Meth- odist church. They reside in a very comfortable bungalow that he erected in 1910 at 418 West Chapel street in Santa Maria. Mr. Culp has never shirked a duty. He is public-spirited and charitable, and is honest and upright in all his dealings.
J. FRED BRANCH .- The interest which attaches to the biography of California pioneers is not that of curiosity, but a visible expression of the gratitude which all men feel towards those forerunners of civilization in the far west. The youngest son of that grand pioneer, Francis Z. Branch, of whom mention is made in detail in this work by the editor on another page, J. Fred Branch was born in the Arroyo Grande valley March 15, 1853, upon a ranch that numbered thousands of acres. Here he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools and also by private teacher, his father hiring a lady from New York to teach in his district; after which he completed his education in a college in San Francisco.
Returning to the ranch he engaged in farming on part of his father's property on his own account, raising great numbers of sheep and cattle ; and during the dry years of 1877-78 he lost thousands of them, as he had no feed, nor could feed be bought. At this writing, Mr. Branch is owner of a fine traet of land of four hundred acres which he has stocked with a fine dairy of sixty cows. He is very successful in the conduct of his ranch and dairy. Mr. Branch is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
J. Fred Branch was united in marriage March 5, 1881, with Miss Her- linda Bonilla, born in California and a daughter of Judge Jose Mariano Bonilla, who was the first Judge of San Luis Obispo County. He was born in Mexico, educated at the National College of San Ildefonso and graduated with the degree of B. L .; and he became a prominent member of the bar of the City of Mexico. He was sent to California in 1834 with one of the colonies as secretary to Governor Figueroa, and later was promoted Judge of the First Instance. He married a daughter of Don Inocente Garcia in 1837, that gentleman then Being administrator of the Mission of San Miguel. Don Jose Mariano Bonilla became the secretary to his father-in-law, and later was appointed by Governor Juan B. Alvarado administrator of the Mission at San Luis Obispo, where he then made his home. After the annexation of California to the Union, and before the constitution of the state was adopted, Don Jose Bonilla held the position of subprefect and aleakle under the military government ; and after the adoption of the constitution, he became the first judge of this county. lle also served at different times as supervisor. In 1866, he retired from public life. He erected the Cuesta flouring mill and was one of the pioneers in that business. lle died March 19, 1878.
Thus it will be seen that Mr. Branch, through his birth, is numbered with the prominent pioneer family who have been so important a factor in the development of this county and in the preservation of law and order, and
.
---
378
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
that through his marriage he is connected with the Spanish Dons who held sway in California before there was any thought of American occupation to develop the land and bring to the country sources of wealth other than stock interests.
ANDREW NELSON .- \ resident of Paso Robles from 1888 until his death, August 9, 1915, at the age of sixty-nine years, Andrew Nelson did much to promote the prosperity of this section of San Luis Obispo county. He was born in Helsingborg, Skane, Sweden, February 28, 1846, and was educated in the public schools of his home place and raised on the home farm. When eighteen years of age, he went to sea and for the following twelve years followed the life of a sailor. During this time he was twice shipwrecked. He sailed around the Horn several times, and was employed in both coast- ing and foreign trade. When he finally left the sea, he came to San Fran- cisco ; and two years later he was in charge, as foreman, of the construction of a large business block, and demonstrated that he was able to handle men. He next went to Seattle and bought a small farm four miles from town on Salmon bay ; and this he developed and improved and set out to fruit and berries, and met with good success. In 1886 he came to California, and to Paso Robles, for his health, and was so well pleased with the conditions as he found them in this section that he returned to Seattle and sold out his holdings there. Returning to Paso Robles, in 1888, he located on a ranch of one hundred sixty acres four and one-half miles from the city. In order that his children might have the advantage of good schools there, he also bought one hundred nine acres, one and one-half miles out of town, erected suitable buildings and improved the place with an orchard of twenty- five acres of several varieties of berries, and began raising poultry and con- ducting a dairy. He was thrifty and a good manager, and accumulated a competency. He retired from the busy cares of the ranch two years before he died, and gave over the management to his sons, who carried it on with success.
Mr Nelson was married in San Francisco, on March 2, 1876, to Miss Annie Ekblom, who was born in Vennersborg, Sweden, where she was reared and educated. She came to New York and remained there a little over six years, then came west to San Francisco and eight months later married Mr. Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson had five children: Robert, who is a business man in San Francisco; Ernest and Frederick, partners in grain raising on the Nelson ranch, near Paso Robles; Albert, who conducts the home place; and Mabel.
Mr. Nelson built several residences in town, where he owned property and was always in favor of progress in every way. He was a member of the Methodist church, to which congregation his wife belongs. He was a Republican, but never an aspirant for office ; and he was a member of Paso Robles Lodge No. 286, F. & A. M. His widow owns a valuable piece of property at the corner of Vine and Twelfth streets. Mr. Nelson passed away at his home at the age of sixty-nine years, and between the date of his birth and his death saw and aided many movements that were promoted to build up the various sections where he had made his home. As was most natural, therefore, he was mourned at his passing by a large circle of friends who valued him for his worth as a citizen.
D.Ontiveros
381
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
JOSE DOLORES ONTIVEROS and MRS. AUGUSTA ONTIVEROS. -When death called Jose Dolores Ontiveros, the Santa Maria valley lost one of its most public-spirited citizens, and one who had grown up from early boyhood within its limits; for his father, the late Juan Pacifico Ontiveros, became a resident of this section in 1856, when he purchased the Tepesquet rancho of nine thousand acres and brought his family there to reside, this son then being but five years old. Under stress of circumstances, women have often shown marked business ability ; and after the death of Jose Ontiveros his widow, Mrs. Augusta Ontiveros, took up the management of his extensive affairs, and in the passing of the years has shown capacity for interests com- monly supposed to be outside of woman's sphere.
Mr. Ontiveros was born on the Cajon San Juan rancho in Los Angeles county, in that part now set aside and known as Orange county, March 19. 1851 ; and when he was but five years old, his parents moved to Santa Barbara county and ever after made it their home. He was educated in the Spanish language by teachers hired by his father, that being the custom before there were any public schools established in this section of the county. He grew to manhood on the Tepesquet, learned the details of successful farming, and was engaged in that vocation during his lifetime. He inherited considerable land from his father's estate, and by good management succeeded in retaining possession of it and operating it with success.
On March 11, 1881, occurred the marriage that united Jose D. Ontiveros with Miss Augusta Flores, a native daughter of Santa Barbara, whose father. Juan Flores, was born in Chile, South America, while her mother, Señora Isodora Valenzuela, was born in Santa Barbara. She was one of the children born to Jose Maria and Josefa (Cota) Valenzuela, native Californians, the former descending from Spanish blood and being married in this state. Both families were remarkable for longevity, and were among the highly respected representative people of the early days in California.
After the marriage of this worthy couple they came to the old homestead on the Tepesquet and farmed, later removing to the place where the widow now lives, although for a time they were residents of Santa Maria. Of this marriage four children were born. Abdon, who is farming part of the Tepesquet ranch, married Grace Bacon of Los Angeles; Abner, also living on a part of the old ranch, married Carolee Butts, who was born in San Diego; Hortensia is the wife of Ramon Goodchild, a promising young rancher living near Sisquoc, and has one son, Ramon William Goodchild; while Delila became the wife of Patrick E. Hourihan and lives on the Tepesquet. All the children have been given the advantages of good schools, and have been enabled to take their places in the business and social world with credit to themselves and to their early training. The family are consistent members of the Catholic Church, Mrs. Ontiveros being a member and liberal supporter of the Foxen canon church. She owns the home ranch of three hundred sixty acres near Sisquoc and three hundred fifty more on the Huasna in San Luis Obispo County, which is devoted to the raising of stock ; and she has given her personal attention to her business affairs and is known as a shrewd business woman. The residence occupied by her is the okl adobe, remodeled at con siderable expense and having grounds beautified with lawn, flowers and cement walks and stairway leading to the building, which has a fine setting 20
382
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
on a hillside overlooking the cañon and valley. Here Mrs. Ontiveros dispenses a gracious hospitality to all.
Mr. Ontiveros passed away March 4. 1909, after having lived a useful and busy life, and left to his descendants the heritage of an untarnished name. For more detailed mention of the family 'of Ontiveros, the reader is referred to the biographical sketch of Abraham Ontiveros on another page of this work.
PETER AND INA JOHNSON .- It is a far cry from Sweden to Cali- fornia, but many of the men who are responsible for the upbuilding of this commonwealth have come from that distant country and fulfilled their am- bitions in this state of opportunity. Such a man was the late Peter Johnson, who came to San Luis Obispo County in 1888 and thereafter made his home amid the surroundings conducive to long life and happiness. His untimely leath was a loss to the county, for his progressive spirit encouraged many to success.
Peter Johnson was born in Sweden, near Osterlund, February 2, 1847, reared to hard work on the farm, and had such school advantages as the country afforded to one in his station in life. Left orphaned at the tender age of thirteen, he lived with his sister until 1867. when he came to America. In Lansing, la., he worked for wages on a farm, then went to Caledonia, Minn., and there, in 1872, was married, in Houston county, to Miss Ina Gamberg. She was also a native of Sweden, born in 1850, in Gnarpsoken, Helsingland. Her parents, Lars P. and Ingri Gretta (Frenel) Gamberg, brought their family to Houston county, Minn., in 1866, bought a farm and improved it, and later removed to South Dakota; and in Clay county they homesteaded a quarter section and farmed with success, until they retired ( Sioux Falls, where they both died, twelve months apart, each aged ninety- one years.
After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Johnson went to South Dakota and home- Ftcaded a quarter section of land adjoining her father's farm, made improve- ments and raised grain and stock until they came to California, in 1888. arriving in San Luis Obispo County, May 14. Mr. Johnson first bought a farm near Linne, but remained only two months, as it was not what he wanted. He then bought eighty acres, three miles from Paso Robles, improved it and, being a handy man with tools and a sort of mechanical genius (for he could (o carpenter work, lay brick and stone and make shoes), soon had his ranch m / well-improved condition. At the same time, he worked for others at welding, and also at manufacturing brick, which found ready sale in the bombing up of the new city of Paso Robles. He set out an orchard which Jobw. H. but there was no sale for the fruit, and he dug up the trees. As his metuis permitted, he added to his hollings, first eighty acres and again om fundred and twenty-five more, working hard to improve the land and malo gens with his grain and stock raising industry.
Asa 10-ult of injuries received in an accident in which he was crushed by MI ne p. t. the death of Mr. Johnson occurred in 1913. He was a Christian, Jmeno of the Swedish Baptist Church at Linne, and a deacon. In South Dukants In was one of the men who advocated and helped to maintain good los Hip Ins district, and served on the board of directors for years. He voted Ilty Republ .mn ticket at the elections and believed in its party principles. Since for dlesafe for widow has maintained the position he built up for the family.
383
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
and conducts the ranch with success. She devotes considerable attention to the raising of horses, being the owner of Black Tom, half Percheron- Norman, whose weight is 1400 pounds, and which took a premium at the Upper Salinas Valley Fair. She also raises Jersey cattle, and has twenty-five acres in alfalfa, and a good well with a twenty-five horse-power pumping plant, with a six inch pump.
Mrs. Johnson is the mother of nine children, six born in Dakota and three in California. Martha, Mrs. Samuelson, is of Turlock : Christine, Mrs. Lindstrom, lives at San Jose: George is a rancher near Colton; Elwood is a dairyman in the vicinity of Turlock : Amanda, Mrs. Hanson, lives in Min- nesota : Oscar is employed as a stenographer in Modesto: William is with his mother, running the home place: Lillian, a twin sister of William, mar- ried I. M. Phillips and resides in San Luis Obispo ; and Nina became the wife of Arthur Hansen of Oakland. Mrs. Johnson and her children are members of the Baptist church. To this woman is due great credit for the manner in which she is carrying to success the enterprise undertaken by her worthy husband.
JOHN BONHAM KESTER .- One of the best-known of the pioneers who have wrested success from the stored fertility of two states is J. B. Kester, now living retired in San Luis Obispo after many years of activity in farming in lowa and California. He was born in Montgomery county, Ind., September 19, 1829, and when three years of age was taken by his parents to Illinois, where they lived two years. Then, in 1836, they turned their steps once more towards the West and located in Cedar county, Iowa, then a territory, and recognized as the frontier.
Here J. B. Kester was educated in the primitive schools of the time and place, and was reared to young manhood on his father's farm, or until he was old enough to strike out for himself. Ile was trained to farm duties by his father, who had made a success of that work, and when starting out for himself, engaged in general farming and the raising of cattle and horses, making a specialty of heavy draft horses, which took first prizes at the lowa state and county fairs. He was active in the upbuilding of his section of the state and supported men and measures that would best advance the interests of the people.
In 1863, like his father, he heard the call of the West, and with his family he drove across the plains to California, where he felt that better opportunities awaited him; and settling in Napa county, near St. Helena, he again took up farming, and for the following four years he again met with success. In 1867, he came to San Luis Obispo County, took up one hun- dred and sixty acres of government land on Old creek near Cayucos, and began improving a new home under pioneer conditions. As fast as he could. he added to his holdings, until he became owner of five hundred twenty acres of land. Here he made all desirable improvements, and with decided success for the next thirty-three years carried on dairying and the raising of hogs, cattle and grain. In 1911, after a long period of activity, Mr. Kester disposed of his ranch, and then moved to San Luis Obispo and retired from active life.
It is safe to say that there is not a better known man in San Luis Obispo County than J. B. Kester, who has a wide acquaintance, and, as a Repub lican, has been supervisor of his district eight years, during which term in
384
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
office many needed improvements were made throughout the county. He served his constituents impartially and well. In 1900 he was deputy United States census marshal for the county. For twenty-five years he was one of the trustees of the Cayucos district school, and did much to bring the school to its present high standard.
Mr. Kester was united in marriage in 1854, in Iowa, with Miss Sarah Jane Chord, by whom he has had eight children. six of whom are living: John C., living in Kings county; Willard W., of Paso Robles: Mrs. Mar- garet M. Archer, in Los Angeles; Frank U., near Shandon; Edwin, de- ceased : Charles D., working on the state highway in Sonoma county ; Felix, residing in Oregon : and one child that died in infancy. Mrs. Kester passed away January 13, 1881, and on August 5, 1882, Mr. Kester was again married, Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown) Hill becoming his wife. By this second marriage one daughter, Julia, now the wife of Abram B. Green of San Luis Obispo, was born. Mrs. Elizabeth Kester died October 2, 1912.
LEO P. SCARONI .- A citizen of Santa Maria whose success has been builded upon determination and the gift of application, as well as upon strict honesty and integrity, so that he merits the confidence of all with whom he has business or social relations, is Leo P. Scaroni, cashier of the Bank of Santa Maria and a native son of California. He was born in Santa Cruz county, May 19, 1877. a son of Pio and Filicita (Gianoni) Scaroni. The grandfather. G. A. Scaroni, was a dairyman and mayor for many years of Gordola, Switzerland. Pio Scaroni was born July 11, 1851, on a farm in the sheltering Swiss mountains, arrived in the United States December 28, 1869, and since then has become one of the prominent and successful ranchers of Santa Cruz county, where he still lives. The eight children born to Pio Scaroni and his wife are Leo P., Mary, Adeline, Lilly, Joseph. Anna, Harry and John.
The oldest son and child of his parents, Leo P. Scaroni graduated from the grammar school at the age of fourteen, then attended Chestnutwoods (now Heald's) Business College six months, and afterwards continued at the home ranch six years. When he was twenty, he left home and went to San Luis Obispo, where he was employed in the Commercial Bank two years. He was sent by that institution to Santa Maria, after the organization of the Bank of Santa Maria by Paul (). Tietzen, who had been the representative of that bank in Santa Maria for some months. He was employed from 1899 until 1905 as clerk, then promoted to be cashier ; and this position he still holds, enjoying the confidence of the officers of the bank as well as of its customers, among whom a large majority of the Swiss and Portuguese patrons seek his advice on many of their business matters. Ile has long been one of the men who have materially assisted in the development of the valley.
Mr. Scaroni was united in marriage in March. 1905, with Flora McNeil, mil they have two children, Margaret and Catherine. Mr. Scaroni erected I- residence at 508 South Broadway in 1905, and here he and his Wimly live in comfort and entertain in their hospitable manner. Mr. Scaroni is now one of the men who stand at the front in the conduct of the bank ; and by his accurate methods, strict attention to business, clear-headed, rigid hon- Asty And courteous manner, he has aided very materially in bringing the insti- turion to its present sound financial standing in the state.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.