History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 43

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

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OP. moore

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OLIVER PERRY MOORE .-. \ most interesting early pioneer. . Alaskan gold miner, and sturdy old soldier, who, while seeing much of the workl, has left a record for worthy living and honest dealing, is Oliver Perry Moore, a native of the Hoosier State, although a grandson of Irish forebears and the son of Buckeye parents. His grandfather was a native Irishman named Moore, while his maternal grandmother came of a German family named Garner. His father was David Moore, an early settler of Ohio, while his mother was Patsy Garner, whose family originally came from Germany.

Born at Kokomo, Ind., July 20, 1849, our subject enlisted, when only fourteen, in Company E, 9th Indiana Volunteer Infantry ; but as he was too small to meet the physical requirements demanded, he was transferred to Company E, of the 126th Indiana Cavalry. In November, 1863, he was mus- tered in at his birthplace. He did valiant service under General Hancock, and remained a loyal soldier supporter of the Union until 1865, when, at Jeffer- sonville, in his native state, he was honorably discharged. During the time when he thus exposed life and limb for the sake of the great canse for which his country was fighting, he served at the battle of Franklin, in Tennessee, as well as at the battles of Mammoth Cave and Nashville, fighting the rebels all the way to Atlanta, as he is wont to express it with spirit but with no unkindliness. One result of this honorable record of unselfish service and distinguished bravery is that veteran Moore today sits high in the councils of the Grand Army of the Republic, in their headquarters at Santa Maria.

When eighteen years of age, O. P. Moore set out for the Pacific Coast by way of Aspinwall and Panama, and landed at San Francisco about the first of May, 1868. After a brief sojourn there, he went to Salinas, where he worked on a farm by the month for his brother, Milton Moore, who now lives at Castroville. He then leased land there and farmed for eight or nine years, after which, in 1874. he came to Guadalupe. He bought land from Daniel Coiner, but sold it back to him, went to Los Alamos to start afresh, and farmed there with varying success.

In 1898 Mr. Moore went to Alaska, during the mining excitement, stopped at Dyea and Skagway, and crossed the Chilcot and the White passes, return- ing to Santa Maria in 1900, where he tilled in the neighboring valley. Six years ago he bought the present ranch of nineteen acres.

At the beginning of this eventful century, Mr. Moore was married to Mrs. Rettie Saulsbury, the widow of George Saulsbury, a conscientious woman and a motherly wife. She was the daughter of Daniel Davidson, and was born in Indiana, from which state she migrated to Kansas when twelve years old. There she grew up until she was married to Mr. Saulsbury, a rancher, who came with her to California in 1894, dying here four years later.

Five children, whom Mr. Moore large-heartedly regards as his own. blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Saulsbury. George Leonard became a rancher and teamster, residing near Los Alamos, and married Minnie Granas, of Los Olivos: James Albert is also a rancher, living near his brother, and he married Virgie Stowe, of Girard, Kansas, by whom he has had three children, George. Elizabeth and Isabelle: John Clyde is a farmer, and married Sadie Ralph, of Sisquoc, by whom he has one child. Mcclellan Clyde : Pearl is the wife of James Easter, assistant mechanic residing on the Folsom lease : and Lillian is the wife of Harry Coles, a carpenter and builder.

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A wide-awake citizen with Democratic preferences, proud of his record as one of the youngest boys in the Civil War, Mr. Moore is a pioneer who is most loyal to the valley in which he has settled.

WILLIAM H. RICE .- Gifted with the force of character. business capacity and unswerving integrity which characterize the progressive and successful men of the West. William H. Rice has won large returns from the virgin soil. One of the Native Sons of the Golden West. he was born in Healdsburg. Sonoma county, October 11, 1856, a son of John H. and Mary A. (Long) Rice. His father, of Welsh extraction, was born in Tennessee, the son of a planter who died in Arkansas at the age of eighty. and whose widow came to California, spent one year visiting and returned to her Arkansas home, where she died at the age of eighty-one. Grandfather Isaac Rice, a slave owner, was an influential man. He wrote considerably for publication, was well-informed and became wealthy. During the war he lost his slaves and became greatly reduced in finances. On the maternal side, the Longs are of English descent. Mary .\. Long was born in Ohio, and came overland to California in 1853 with her parents, William and Mary Long, who were natives of South Carolina and Ohio respectively, in which state they were married. Grandfather William Long met his death as the result of a runaway at the age of seventy. His wife lived to reach the age of eighty-four. John H. Rice and wife had seven children : one died young and the others grew up. He owned the Rice ranch of about seven- teen hundred acres lying west of Santa Maria. His widow still lives in Santa Maria, and is aged eighty-one.

William H. Rice attended the public schools in Healdsburg until he was eleven, and then went with his parents to Monterey county in 1867, where he continued his studies and grew up on the ranch, working with his father at farming and stock raising. He later attended Christian College at Santa Rosa. In 1873 his parents moved to the Santa Maria valley, and here William H. received his first experience in business. With his father he operated the Rice ranch west of town, it being one of the most valuable places in the vicinity. In 1880, he married and went to work on the Arellanes ranch, which he leased. His first purchase was eighty acres east of town; later he bought one hundred and sixty acres south of town, adding to these from time to time until he is owner of about thirteen thousand acres, including luis share of the original Rice ranch. In 1908 Mr. Rice leased out his ranches, and bought a place in town where he is living, practically retired, although a man of large affairs. He once owned a ranch in Cat canon, which he sold to the Old Mission Oil Company. The sale of this property netted him a snug fortune.

(1 April 14, 1880, in Los Alamos, W. H. Rice and Miss Florence Coiner, daughter of Daniel Coiner, one of the pioneers of the valley, were united in marriage. Mrs. Rice has been a true helpmate to her husband, and dispenses the hospitality of their home at 401 West Cypress street with grace and charming simplicity. They are the parents of seven children. Elmer C., a rancher of the valley, married Edna Blosser; Owen T., a rancher, married Viola Cook of Des Moines, Iowa, and two children, Owen S. and William, grace the home : Marion, a rancher, married Clara Stringfield, member of a San Luis Obispo pioneer family, and they have three children, Florence .A., Leland and Lindal: William T., assistant cashier in the Bank of Santa Maria,

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married Teresa McDonald, and two children, Rodger and Catherine, have blessed their home; Gertrude married Elmer Boyd, November 12, 1916, and resides in Santa Maria : Edith, a graduate of the Santa Maria high school and the Oakland Polytechnic, is a stenographer for the Pinal-Dome Oil Co. and lives at home ; and Ellis H., a graduate of the Santa Maria high school and the Oakland Polytechnic, is employed in the Bank of Santa Maria. The sons, who are all hard workers, have been of valuable assistance to their father, and are now making a name for themselves.

William H. Rice was a delegate in 1908, from Santa Barbara county. to the Irrigation Congress at Albuquerque, N. M. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of Reclamation District No. 798. for the protec- tion of the Santa Maria. valley, and served as president until the work was finished, when he resigned. He served as trustee of the Santa Maria high school from its organization, and was president of the board several terms. being on the building committee when the building was erected. Outside of his ranching operations, he fills a responsible position as the president of the Valley Savings Bank, a position he has held from its organization : and he is also a director in the Bank of Santa Maria. Conservatism is one of Mr. Rice's dominating characteristics. He is public-spirited, heartily favors and supports all progressive movements, and is one of the most kindly dis- posed men in Santa Maria.

BANK OF SANTA MARIA .- Since its organization, this institution has grown rapidly, although at first it did not have clear sailing, as the country was sparsely settled and the people did not realize the advantages of a banking system as they do today, in addition to which money was not so plentiful. During the dry years of 1893-1897. the panics and the financial difficulties of 1903 and 1908, the bank had its discouragements; but under the active management of Paul (. Tietzen, to whom the bank owes much of its steady rise to prosperity, it succeeded in weathering the conditions. When he made a step, it was always one forward: and the results are written into the history of the bank and of the town of Santa Maria. Today the bank's capital, surplus and profits are $500,000, and it is one of the most substantial and prosperous institutions in Central California, with branches at Guadalupe and Los Alamos.

Twenty-six years have passed ; and the bank has grown in capital and has extended is scope all over northern Santa Barbara county. The credit for this growth and success is principally due to the management of its affairs by Paul O. Tietzen, J. F. Goodwin and Leo P. Scaroni, supported by its ever efficient officers and board of directors. These now are: Paul O. Tietzen, president : J. F. Goodwin and S. A. Dana, vice presidents ; Leo P. Scaroni. cashier; B. E. Jessee and William T. Rice, assistant cashiers ; and F. C. Twitchell, J. F. Goodwin, G. Muscio, P. O. Fietzen, William H1. Rice, S. A. Dana, F. J. Pezzoni and John Long, directors.

The bank erected its splendid new building on Main and Broadway. with rooms equipped with the most modern and complete of furnishings including vaults, safes and safe-deposit boxes of the finest types invented. the whole being an ornament to the town. It was opened for business May 1, 1890, with a capital of $25,000, its officer- then being L. M. Kaiser, presi- dent; A. Pezzoni, vice-president : F. B. Jack, manager ; and Paul O. Tietzen.

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cashier and secretary. R. E. Jack, J. F. Goodwin, Henry Brunner, L. M. Kaiser, McD. R. Venable, F. B. Jack, Antone Pezzoni and Paul O. Tietzen made up its board of directors.

Plans have been prepared for enlarging the bank building by remodel- ing the front and interior and occupying the entire frontage, including that of the Valley Savings Bank building, thus making this institution one of the most modern and up-to-date banks in the coast section of California.

DAWSON LOWE .- The late Dawson Lowe was a pioneer of Cali- fornia in the early sixties. He was a native of England, born in Lincolnshire, September 1, 1842, a son of Richard and Elizabeth (Tisdale) Lowe. Daw- son Lowe came with his parents from England to the United States, when nine years of age, and was reared in Wisconsin. From a lad he had a long- ing for the Golden West and often told how he would stand on the hill at his home at Cross Plains. Wisconsin, gazing at the sun going down with a desire that he might some day live on the Pacific Coast. So he worked the harder on farms at eight dollars per month, until he had accumulated enough to take him to New York and thence across the Isthmus of Panama to San Francisco.

On his arrival here, at the age of twenty-one, he at once struck into the country, and at Benicia obtained employment with a blacksmith, by whom he was cheated out of his pay after he had worked some time. Then he made his way to Sonoma county, and in the vicinity or Petaluma worked for wages until he settled on a rented ranch and began farming for himself; and ever since that time he was successful, from a financial standpoint, and his early boyhood wish was realized.

He continued farming in Sonoma county until in 1880 he sold out and located in San Luis Obispo County. Settling near Morro, he farmed two years and then moved near San Luis Obispo, where he purchased one hun- dred sixty acres of land, which he cultivated, raising large quantities of hay that commanded high prices in the local trade. Later he acquired ranches in different parts of the county, the largest being the Filmore ranch. When the state located the polytechnic school in San Luis Obispo County, Mr. Lowe sold two hundred eighty acres, which comprises the present polytechnic school farm. He also owned valuable business property in San Luis Obispo, and was at one time a director in the San Luis Obispo Bank.

Mr. Lowe was united in marriage with Mary Linebaugh, who was born in Sonoma county, a daughter of John and Katherine (Fruits) Linebaugh, both natives of Missouri. They crossed the plains to California with ox teams in 1852 and settled in Sonoma county, where they became well-known pioneers.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Dawson Lowe three children were born- Robert, deceased ; S. Jackson ; and Mrs. Clara Brooks. Mr. Lowe died May 14, 1908. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Lowe erected the beautiful Monterey Theatre block in San Luis Obispo on Monterey street, on one of the properties left by her husband. Mr. Lowe was always a liberal supporter of any worthy movement for the betterment of the citizens and the upbuild- mg of the county with which he was for so many years actively and prom- mently connected, but all that he did was accomplished in an unostentatious manner.

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THOMAS B. RECORDS .- A Californian after 1875, the year of his ar- rival in the Golden State, the late Thomas B. Records of Arroyo Grande valley was an example of that sturdy type of frontiersmen who laid the foundation of the present-day prosperity of the state. He was born in Brown county, Ohio, August 29, 1821, a son of James and Elizabeth (Heaton) Rec- ords, who were pioneers of that state, settling there when the country was covered with timber, and Indians and wild game were much in evidence. This worthy couple were married in Ohio in 1820, where they resided for several years and endured the privations and hardships of the times. In 1824, with that spirit of Wanderlust that prompted him to settle in Ohio, James Records took his wife and children and located in Indiana, where he passed away. Mrs. Records here married Robert Pence: and once more the family started westward, settling in Henderson county, Ill., in 1828, near Oquawka, in the midst of a heavily timbered section, and took up the task of clearing a farm. There was no habitation in that part of the country, and the first winter was spent in an Indian wigwam owned by the great chieftain, Blackhawk, who himself gave Mr. Pence permission to occupy it. This was at a time when nearly all of the Indians were friendly and willingly aided the "pale-faces."

It was in this environment that Thomas B. Records grew to manhood, got what little schooling the community afforded, and became inured to hard work, grubbing timber and tilling the soil. Here also he met Miss Mary Short, of Scotch-lrish descent, whom he married on April 1, 1847. She was born in Perry county, Ind., January 15, 1828. Her parents, Stephen Short, a Virginian, born in 1805, and Agnes Prunty, born in Kentucky in 1808, were married in 1827. They moved to Indiana in 1828, and that same year continued westward to Oquawka, Henderson county, Ill., where they settled. There were three sons and five daughters in the family, all of whom lived to a ripe age.

After their marriage Thomas B. Records and his wife settled on a farm that he cleared from the timber, where they endured hardships with a fortitude worthy of emulation by the younger generations. There they developed a fine farm from the wilderness; and there twelve children were born, seven of them dying prior to 1874. Mr. Records was anxious that the young folks should have the advantages of schools, and he assisted in building up the schools of that locality, serving as a director for years. He and his wife were strict Cumberland Presbyterians in their religious belief.

He remained in Henderson county on his farm until in the spring of 1875, when he brought his wife and children to California-moved. no doubt by that same spirit that prompted his father and mother to leave homes of comfort and pioneer the Middle West. The family stopped in Watsonville from May until August, as Mrs. Records had relatives living in Santa Cruz county. The Short family, consisting of her father, mother, three brothers and three sisters, had crossed the plains in an ox-team train from Illinois to California in 1852, arriving in Santa Cruz on October 18, of that year.

Leaving his family in Watsonville, Mr. Records traveled about the country looking for a location and finally decided on the wilderness section in the Arroyo Grande valley near what is now the thriving town of Arroyo Grande. At that time there was but one road or trail over to the coast, and the land was covered with scrub timber, heavy undergrowth and a thick mat

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of vines : but he bought one hundred acres, set to work and cleared a farm, raised grain and stock, set out an orchard and later raised beans, and in the long run met with fair success, although he had many discouragements in dry years and in low prices for his products. Here, as in Illinois, he took a decided interest in educational affairs, served as a school trustee and did ali that he could to raise the standard of education. Mr. Records died March 21. 1900, and his good wife passed away March 10, 1910.

Their children, who reached maturity, are Laura I., who was married in Illinois, April 1, 1874, to W. H. Findley, and had two children, Flora M. and Mayme B .; Susan E., who became the wife of W. A. Walker, October 31, 1878; Spencer C., of Arroyo Grande ; and L. Agnes, who married J. W. Gil- liam, September 25, 1890, and had one son, Jack T. All of the children who came with the family to California are now dead except S. C. Records and Mrs. Gilliam.

DAVID TERRIS, SR .- One of the best-known and most highly respected old settlers in the vicinity of Paso Robles, and one who has won the respect of everyone who knows him, David Terris is rounding out his scores of years well spent and, with his good wife, is enjoying the evening of life at their comfortable home near Paso Robles. He was born near Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland, November 1. 1842. a son of John and Isabella ( Wright) Terris, both of whom were reared and passed their days in Fifeshire. Of their five children born, David is the only one living and the only one who came to California. He had just the advantage of the common schools for his education, grew to manhood on the home farm and in 1870 came to Canada in charge of some full-blooded shorthorn Durham cattle. Landing in Quebec, he remained there about eighteen months, when he went to the blue grass region at Lexington, Kentucky, and there engaged in farming. In October, 1874, he came to California, having heard a great deal about this state while he was in Canada.

Settling in.Salinas, he stayed one year there, and then came to his present place near Paso Robles, at that time raw pre-emption land. He built a house, hauling the lumber from Cayucos, dug a well, cleared and plowed the land and put in a crop of grain. While he was paying out on his own place, Mr. Terris worked at chopping wood for different people to make money to live on and to meet expenses. He was industrious, and with the help of his wife, now owns a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres. well improved with house, barns and outbuildings. He has an orchard, where he raises fruit for family use, as well as for sale. The homestead is situated in the almond district, and here Mr. Terris has set out thirty-five acres to almond trees.

In April. 1872, at Lexington, Ky., occurred the wedding of David Ter- tis and Miss Janet Mack. She was born in Carnock, Fifeshire, Scotland, a daughter of James and Margaret Mack, lifelong residents of Scotland. To Mr and Mrs. Ferris six children have been born. Maggie died at the age we twenty one: Mary Ann died when but two years old; David is on the home place : Jane has become Mrs. Dougherty, and lives in Paso Robles: James married Jane Kester, and lives in Paso Robles: Thomas married Bertha Pierce, and lives near Los Angeles.

Mir. Terris served as a school trustee and helped to build the Oak Har schoolhouse. He is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge at San Miguel,

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Past Grand and ex-representative of the Grand Lodge, and served as district deputy. He is also a member of Paso Robles Encampment, and a past officer and ex-representative to the grand encampment. Both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs and of the Presbyterian church. In politics he is a Democrat in national affairs. Self-made in the fullest sense of the word, beloved by all who know them, Mr. and Mrs. Terris have a host of friends throughout this part of the county.

JOHN BOYD .- The largest dealer and shipper of cattle, sheep and hogs in the Santa Maria valley and one of the organizers and a director of the First National Bank of Santa Maria, as well as one of the public-spirited. progressive citizens of Santa Barbara county, is John Boyd, who was born on February 15, 1854, near Enniskillen, Ireland. His mother died when he was but seven years old. He attended the public schools and was reared on the home place until he reached the age of nineteen, when he left home. September 12, 1873, and arrived at Castle Garden on the steamship "City of Montreal."

From New York he journeyed to San Francisco, arriving in the Pacific metropolis twenty-eight days after leaving home. Going into Santa Clara county he worked on a ranch by the month, remaining in the vicinity of San Jose nine years and being in the employ of one man four years, eight months, twenty-three days. He then became a renter, beginning on a small scale: and as his horses increased, he began doing teaming, hauling lumber to San Jose and to the Almaden quicksilver mines from sawmills in the Santa Cruz mountains.

In 1876 he came to Santa Maria valley on a tour of inspection. He returned to San Jose, but in 1881 again came, and bought a ranch of three hundred twenty acres, eight miles east of Santa Maria, which he still owns. In the spring of 1883, he erected a house and moved onto his own land. He began buying and shipping stock as soon as the valley line was com- pleted to Guadalupe ; and since then he has had extensive dealings with the packing houses of Los Angeles, with Simon Meiers and Schwarzchild & Suls berger. Ile also did the buying for Woodward Bennett, of San Jose, for twelve years, this being his first experience as a buyer of stock ; and he still supplies that firm. It is safe to say that Mr. Boyd has bought and shipped more stock out of Santa Maria valley than any other one man. He has become known all over the central coast section of the state as a good judge of stock and a shrewd buyer.

As Mr. Boyd prospered he became interested in various ventures. Ile helped organize the First National Bank, and has been one of the directors for years. He is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264. F. & A. M., and he and his wife belong to the Eastern Star. They are members of the Presby terian Church and in politics are Republicans.

At Los Gatos, Mr. Boyd and Miss Jane Griffith were united in marriage : and they have three children : Mrs. Phoebe Atkins, a widow, and a teacher in the grammar school at Santa Maria: Edward W., who manages the home ranch ; and Mrs. Cora Croskey of Chino. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd reside in their comfortable home on the corner of South Broadway and Boone streets, Santi Maria, where they enjoy every comfort and are surrounded by their many friends.

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FRANCIS ZIBA BRANCH .- To the permanent settlement of the West the citizenship of the East has made heavy contributions. From densely pop- ulated regions of the Atlantic coast settlers have been drawn to the promise Mal fertility of the Pacific coast environments. One of these was this pio- Beer, whose life story can never be fully told, so intricately is it interwoven with the early history of the state and particularly of this county. Francis 7 Branch was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, N. Y., on July 24, 1802. Both of Its grandfathers served in the War of the Revolution. At the age of biteen he left home and went to Buffalo, and for five years found work on wiling vessels of the lakes. Using his experience as a capital with which to Thein, he then went to St. Louis, at that time on the western frontier. From There he went with a trading party commanded by Captain Savory, to Santa Fe, N. M., their party consisting of one hundred fifty men, with eighty-two wagons, by which they reached Santa Fe in July, 1830.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 43

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