History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 57

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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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

Clevenger. Another son, Frank G. Lyman, is deceased. Albert Lymate was an Odd Fellow for forty-five years, a charter member of Truckee Lodge, and one of the original members of the B. of L. E. of the state.

Harry E. Lyman was educated in the public schools of Nevada and California, and when nine years of age was brought to San Luis Obispo County, and was reared on the farm until 1900, when he decided to enter the employ of the railroad and went to work in the engine department of the machine shops at Wadsworth, Nev., where he stayed eighteen months. At the time of his father's death he came back to his old home town, and for two years was firing an engine on the Southern Pacific.

In 1903, he went to work at the carpenter's trade in San Luis Obispo. and continued as a journeyman until 1908, when he began taking contracts on his own account. He has met with deserved success and has erected many fine homes, pretty bungalows and substantial business blocks in the city, among which mention may be made of the residences of F. J. Rodriguez, S Spencer, E. Elberg, E. Vollmer, C. 11. Kamm, E. Freeman, and Anita Ilath- way. He also erected the Carissa building, the San Luis and G. W. MeCabe garages, and many smaller houses, cottages and barns throughout the county. So satisfactorily does he fulfil his contracts that many of his patrons do not seek bids from other contractors. In his planing mill in the rear of his home. he prepares all the furnishings for his contracts.

While Mr. Lyman has given his time to the contracting business, he has not neglected the duties of a citizen and has supported every movement con sidered by him of importance for the general welfare of the city and county Some years ago he married Miss Maggie Sresovich, a native of Lompoc. Santa Barbara county, and they have two children, Mabel and Elmer. Mr Lyman is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

STANLEY L. NICHOLS .- In these United States it is a matter of pride that a large number of the best and most prominent citizens in different walks of life have risen to distinction solely through their own efforts. A not ibk instance of the sterling worth which overcomes obstacles and creates its own opportunities is presented in the career of Stanley 1. Nichols, now living re tired in San Luis Obispo.

He was born near Rochester, N. Y., June 16, 1837, and there he resided until eighteen years of age, attending the public school and working on the home farm. In 1855 the family moved to Adrian. Mich. In 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, joining Company F. Michigan Cavalry, under Colonel R. J. Minty. The company proceeded to Louisville, Ky, and was attached to the Army of the Cumberland and took part in many important battles, including those of Chattanooga and Chickamauga, with its three days of bloody fighting ; and it is worthy of mention that his regiment fired the first shot in the last-named contest. He was also in the Battle of Atlanta

Later his regiment was under General Wilson in the Battle of Selma. where 3,000 prisoners were taken within three days Mr Nichols was on the spot and took part in the capture of "Jeff Davis," and heard the sokher- sing the famous song, "We'll hang Jeff Davis to the sour apple tree" Ile was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., August 9, 1805. He had three brothers in the same company with him, and they all came out uninjured

After the war, Mr. Nichols farmed for many years near lansing and Mason, Mich. In 1889 he arrived in California and settled in San I mis Obupu

SW MAF OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

wlive for eg hit cras he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, alfil for a time followwil the trade of carpenter. In 1866 he was united in mar- Finito will bilen F Harrison, a native of Michigan, and they have two chil- dran Almen. of Fresno, who has a son, Robert ; and Mrs. Ardie Leona Tajes, of Santa Barbara, who has two children, Leona and Leslie. Mrs. Nichols Hist w folk, 1915. Mr. Nichols is a member of Fred Steele Post No. 70, G. \ R., in which he is acting adjutant.

OTTO WYSS .- No one will ever discount the enormous debt of Cali- fornia to German ability and culture, least of all those who have met and come to know genial Otto Wyss, the pioneer of Klau, who was so long post- master there, and for years was Justice of the Peace, until he refused longer to serve in that honorable capacity. All the homely virtues of the Germans, a long extolled by those who have lived in the comfortable old Fatherland, are reflected in this scientifically trained but easy-going Teuton, and it is little Conder that Otto's capital begins with his friends.

Born at Otelfingen. Zurich, in Switzerland, on November 10, 1846, he dime of parents now dead, but who in their lifetime enjoyed high social Shading. His father was Dr. John V. Wyss, a practicing physician, and his mother, before her marriage, was Frl. Anna Schneebeli, a native of his home District. He himself was the fourth of six children, and the only one to come to California. He began with the primary school of his district, then attended the secondary school at Regensdorf, and next entered the Zurich Techno- logical Academy. Following the death of his mother, he went to England, Having finished his course as a machinist in Paris. In the British Isles he spent a year in study at Manchester, taking practical work in one of the lead- we machine shops ; and in the fall of 1871 he came to the United States. He Was unfortunate, however, in being unable to obtain employment in the field ile which he had been drilled ; and this led to his turning to dairying work il New Jersey.

On the first of January, 1872, he crossed the continent and reached San francisco, where again he took up dairying; and having an acquaintance n the person of Ernest Von Jensen, who was later superintendent of the Mahoney mine in Adelaida mining district, he was encouraged to make for Imon some drawings, and in that way secured employment which brought Ih t. San Luis Obispo County. In April. 1875, he became engineer at the Walioney mine: and while helping to repair the tools, he kept the books at mein and made new drawings of the shafts and tunnels. There he remained ond the mine shut down in 1877, although he was left in charge of the prop- wy nd still has charge of the mine. He then located his present homestead hundred sixty acres adjoining the mine, which he improved and added ho la jin -empting eighty acres more. and later by purchase, until he now has baur hwpdred acres.

on Joong time, or until the post office, about 1879, was moved farther was postmaster of Adelaida : and when Mr. Klau, who owned The kako puffke MA the place named after him, and who was postmaster there, ne integration. Wyss was appointed postmaster in his stead. At San no per M. W. ind married Miss Emily Meier, a native of Switzerland, Home le bei larsen bike Old World. When she died in 1888, he gave up his Chesuolore ward offy the post office. Finally, he resigned his position as DOyou can't- daughter, Mrs. Pauline Dodd, was appointed in his place.

Oth rys

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

Six children were born of his first marriage: Emily, now Mrs. Van Horn. of this vicinity ; Alice, Mrs. Witcosky, of San Luis Obispo: Otto. Oscar and Henry, all of whom died of diphtheria within three days; and Anna, who died in infancy. In 1889, Mrs. Wyss was married a second time, to Miss Selina Streul, also a native of Switzerland, and by her he has had four children. three of whom are still living. Miss Selina is a Red Cross nurse in Los Angeles; Miss Mattie is bookkeeper for the Salinas Valley Lumber Co., at San Miguel ; and Pauline, now Mrs. Dodd, is at home, her chief responsibility being the postmastership. Her husband, by the way, is J. E. Dodd, who operates the Wyss ranch of four hundred acres, which is well stocked, and i- devoted to raising hay and grain. Mr. Wyss owns a dairy, usually milking from eighteen to twenty cows.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Wyss has stood high in the councils of his party ; and as has been remarked, he has long served the community in the bothersome office of Justice of the Peace. He is a genial neighbor, and as a citizen has for many years been conspicuous for his liberality, hospitality and large-hearted public spirit.

JOHN PETERSEN .- To the hardy pioneers who braved innumerable dangers and suffered indescribable hardships that they might make the path- way of their children smoother than they found it themselves, this country is indebted in a way that should in some manner be recognized. Among these pioneers, John Petersen, late of San Luis Obispo, is a worthy representative. He was born in Denmark, February 28, 1839. When a boy he went to sea. following it until he rounded Cape Horn and arrived in California, in 1858. Then he ran away from his ship, became a landsman, and was willing to accept any honest employment that came to his attention. Going to Ala- meda, he was employed in a warehouse for some time; and later removing to Watsonville, he engaged in ranching, raising beans and grain for about ten years, and meeting with fair results.

Ile next spent three years in the vicinity of Salinas. In 1876 he came to San Luis Obispo County, where he purchased one hundred fifty acres it land in the Los Osos valley, which is still known by his family as the home ranch. He acquired and improved other properties until he owned four hun dred acres. He engaged in the dairy business and did general farming He was strictly a self-made man, for he started in as a poor boy and by the time when he passed away, November 30, 1906, he had become one of the wealthy men of the county, and one who held the respect of everyone with whom he came in contact. By all his business associates his word was ys good as his bond.

In Watsonville, in 1869, occurred the marriage of John Petersen and Miss Frances Elizabeth Petersen, daughter of Lewis HI. and Elizabeth Seul Petersen, natives, respectively, of Denmark and Alsace, Germany Lewis ! Petersen followed the sea for many years and made his first trip to Call fornia in 1836. He was engaged in trading with the Indians, took part in the Mexican War and became familiar with conditions existing in the western country. During the Mexican War he served in a Tennessee cavalry rept ment. He went back to New Orleans, where he married, and going to Mis souri, farmed until 1853, when he outfitted with provisions, supplies and in teams and prairie schooners, and started on the long and dangerous tro bel across the plains to the wonderful state of California.

SAS LUIS ABISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

Leaving St. Louis, Mo., in 1853, they began the long journey which, ere u hed ren hed its end. was one never to be forgotten by members of the party. Re dise morts were many, more especially to the brave wife and mother, who goes birth to twin sons while the party were near Salt Lake. The test tomter they arrived in California and stopped in the bay section until WPSwhen they settled near Winters, Yolo county, where Mr. Petersen took muyernment land. In 1862 they went to Watsonville, and here he engaged Thr veneral farming until 1883, when he came to San Luis Obispo County, where he died. having met with well-merited success during his lifetime.

Fo John and Frances Petersen the following children were born: Mrs. Via Miller, of Stratford; Peter, of Vallejo; Mrs. Ella Montague, of Los Angeles : Lewis H., of Modesto: Mrs. E. M. Payne, of San Luis Obispo ; John, of Los Angeles : Mrs. May Murphy, of San Francisco ; Mrs. Edith O'Sullivan, A Graduate of the University of California and now a public school teacher in Manila ; and Henry, in the garage business with his brother, in Modesto. Altogether there are fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren in the family. Mr. Petersen was a stanch Republican, but never an office- -çeker.

MICHAEL AND CARLOS SERRANO .- It is a far cry to the days when -warming Indians and a handful of padres were the only residents of Cali- mornia, but there are still a few sons and daughters of those hardy and adven- turous spirits who braved every danger and made trips of exploration into the then wilderness of California. The first visit made by Michael Serrano, a n tive of New Mexico, was in 1816. Just one hundred years ago he crossed the country on horseback and went as far north as San Francisco bay, one of The first to visit that place, which was known only to Mission history. He Wturned to New Mexico; but twelve years later the longing for the West Meuin came over him, and in 1828 he made his second trip and thereafter re- named in California territory. He rode the ranges as a cowboy, later coming to San Luis Obispo County when the only persons here were Indians and a few priests at the Mission.

He married here Prudence Quintana, whose father, Stephen Quintana, came to San Luis Obispo County in the very early days, and was a large cattle AW sheep raiser. He acquired two thousand acres of land near what is now Serrano Station. He died in 1880. The ranch was managed by Michael Ser- cook for many years, and was known as the Potrero ranch. He had about tros hundred miles and thousands of cattle and sheep. Michael Serrano died w Jtomba 23. 1899, aged ninety-six. Their children were Mrs. Antonio som, Mr Junie Stanley, Mrs. R. Williams, Hippolyte, and Carlos.

Golfo Scano, the youngest of the five children born to his parents, was I mis Obispo, March 31. 1872. He attended school until twelve they began herding sheep for his father, and later worked for rode the range as a cowboy and did teaming until he was me He then engaged in business on his own account, buying and He also dealt in real estate, purchasing small @ them, and selling them to advantage, and has become CupTemelini values. He owns a dairy and cattle ranch on San Ber- win mo spent many years in the saddle, and became an Ile married Miss Cleo Quintana, a native of New 16 0 ans Www children. Peter and Frances.

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SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

P. A. H. ARATA .- A direct descendant of an old Spanish family, and himself a native son of California, P. . \. 11. Arata is recognized as one of the leading real estate dealers in San Luis Obispo. He was born in Santa Barbara county, January 26, 1868, a son of Juan and Maria .A. ( Jimeno) \rata. Juan Arata, a man of fine education and business ability, was born in Spain. He came to California in 1849 and became a merchant in Monterey. Later settling in Santa Barbara, he was prominently identified with the public affairs of both city and county, serving as city treasurer of Santa Barbara and as treasurer of the county. He was also an extensive cattle and sheep raiser, and had a wide acquaintance throughout the central coast section. llis wife was a datighter of Manuel Jimeno, one time acting governor of California under Mexican rule, and a very prominent and highly educated man. Hle married into the family of Jose de la Guerra, a very prominent military man who was born in Santander, Spain, in 1776, and whose coat-of-arms carries their record back to the Moors. Jose de la Guerra was appointed ensign and left Spain to join his company at Monterey, California. He rose gradually until, in 1810, he was General to the Vice-Royal Government in Mexico. In 1811 he was commander of the troops at San Diego, and in 1817 was appointed Captain and Comandante of troops at Santa Barbara. In 1804 he married Doña Maria Antonia Carillo, daughter of Raymundo Carillo, then coman- dante of the presidio at Santa Barbara. In fact, in reading the state history the names of Spanish and Mexican men who took an active part in govern- mental affairs from an early period to the time of the American occupation are interwoven with names that are traced to Mr. Arata's maternal forefathers, all of whom have long since passed away.

Mr. Arata was educated in the schools of Santa Barbara and became especially proficient in bookkeeping. At an carly age he displayed a fondness for polities, and served in various capacities. He was deputy assessor under Charles O. King, has been a member of the Democratic county central com- mittee for years, and was chairman and also secretary. For three years he served as a member of the city council of San Luis Obispo, and installed a system of accounting, in connection with the city government, which gives any taxpayer, at a glance, a complete insight into the city's financial affairs For over ten years, too, he has been a director of the local Chamber of Com merce, and has been always active in all movements coming before the Cham- ber that have had for their object the betterment of conditions in the city or county.

Prominent in fraternal circles, Mr. Arata is a member and Past Uvalted Ruler of San Luis Obispo Lodge No. 322. B. P. O. Fiks : is Past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias ; and a member and past president of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He is a certified accomn int, and las followed his vocation in San Luis Obispo for a number ofyears In links Mr. Arata embarked in the real estate business and has met with the best of success. With W. C. H. Dibble, he is interested in muting, Their holdings being in San Luis Obispo County, and from these gratifying results have been obtained.

Mr. Arata has been twice married Ilis hrst wife was Miss Ila Wo ken den, a daughter of Frederick Wickenden, a pioneer of Calitorma and How a resident of Sisquoc, Santa Barbara county, who, at over ninety years of age, is hale and hearty. Two children were born of this umon Helen 1

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

a -MMent in the University of California at Berkeley ; and Winfield H., who is suvoling Stanford University. Mrs. Ida Arata passed away in 1899. His sconto! marriage united Mr. Arata with Miss Grace Richardson, a lady of cul- ture and refinement, who was born in Oregon of eastern parents. Mr. Arata is an affable and popular citizen, and a firm believer in the possibilities of this county, where he has made many friends and a financial success. He has many matters occupying his time and attention, but is never too busy to join with others in promoting the best interests of the people and of the county And state.

THOMAS STEVENS .- Social life, including the almost numberless de- partments of the business world, has become so confusingly complex that the modern man is apt to forget the very important place once occupied by the all-around merchant, and indeed the important participation by him in the great machinery of affairs today. A splendid representative of the old school of merchants, who remained, however, decidedly up-to-date with his latest contemporaries, was Thomas Stevens, long prominent in Paso Robles business and social circles, but who was denied, through broken health brought on by overwork, the full enjoyment of a success he had certainly earned. It was in the comfortable and rather fashionable old spa-town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, that Mr. Stevens was born on December 23, 1865. the second youngest of six children and the son of William Stevens, an engraver who owned "The Rockery," a large country home, and who once visited Mr. Stevens at Paso Robles. His mother was Miss Emily Page, before her marriage: and he had a brother, Major William Stevens of the English army. Thomas was educated at Corpus Christi, a preparatory school for Eaton, and one of the thorough schools of his native country. after which he decided to come to the United States, it having been his ambition and desire from a lad.

In 1883 he left England and came to Nebraska, where he remained for two years, after which he made a six months' visit to his native place. About 1886, he arrived in California, and soon entered on a mercantile career at Sacramento with the firm of Weinstock. Lubin & Co. His health failing after several years, he was advised to remove nearer the coast. and this led him to come to Oakland, where he changed to the livery business in order to get outdoor work, later taking up mercantile life with Abrahamson Bros .: it after three years he sold his interests on the Bay and removed to Paso Robles, and there he was employed by Herman Eppinger, an old-time mer- hant In time he became Eppinger's local manager. resigning only when Gorge Bell offered him greater inducements. A still larger increase of ': ry dr .w him back to Eppinger, but once more he was with Bell at the Logothis dry goods department. In 1903, he formed the well-known part- wesaidjie with Mr. Shimmin and helped to start the mercantile concern at T .. Job und Spring streets. Phenomenal success attended the partners Purse, w the "Emporium" became quite famous, so that the returns justified No wodbifffin . and enlarging of their store. The firm also started a branch TAL temes at Shandon ; and they became the owners and operators of

Wodlased application to business and overwork once more told on this tier k we won 1 in July , 1914, he was stricken ill with such serious phases That The are nowpelle I to give up active supervision. The following No-

your very Thomas Stevens -

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

vember, when the Shandon store had been disposed of, they also endl the Emporium in Paso Robles, and soon thereafter Mr. Stevens removed to See Leandro, Alameda county, where, in March, 1915, he purchased a -mall farm, gaining recreation in outdoor work until the following spring, when, in May, he suffered a second stroke. He then built a handsome residence at Berkeley, and in this quiet retreat he was living when, on October 29, of that year, he died.

As far back as October 26, 1893, Mr. Stevens was married at Paso Robles to Miss Grace Stanage, a native of Lafayette, Contra Costa county, and the daughter of Hiram McCarty Stanage. Her father was born at West Liberty, Ohio, on April 28, 1832; he was left an orphan and became a farmer. About 1853, he crossed the plains in an ox train and settled as a farmer in Contra Costa, in time marrying Miss Lutheria Hodges, a native of Wis- consin, and a daughter of the New Yorker, David Hodges, who brought his family from Wisconsin to California, dying on the Coast on September 6, 1890, at the age of fifty-eight, from injuries received in a runaway.

The youngest of five children, Mrs. Stevens was educated at the public schools in Contra Costa County and in Oakland. She has two daughters : Miriam, a graduate of the California Polytechnic School at San Luis Obispo, who is now Mrs. Hall Bither, of Berkeley, and the mother of a promising child, Thomas Stevens, named for its grandfather, and the idol of Mrs. Stevens' heart ; and Bernice, a graduate of the Paso Robles high school. who is now the wife of Dr. John A. Lesoine of Oakland.

In politics, Mr. Stevens was a Progressive Republican. He was very active in public enterprises, and was a stockholder in the Citizens Bank of Paso Robles, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce at that place. Fraternally, he was a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Independent Order of Foresters. Mr. Stevens was an Episcopalian, and a liberal contrib- utor to benevolent enterprises. Mrs. Stevens attends the College Avenue Methodist Church at Berkeley.

GOTTLIEB W. KIRCHNER .- The changing vicissitudes of life brought the late Mr. Kirchner into close touch with various localities before, in 1911, he established his home in San Luis Obispo County. He was born in Saxony, Germany, May 2, 1839. Ilis parents died when he was a child, and he was reared under the guidance of a brother and sister and came with them, in 1853, to the United States. They settled in the woods in Adam county, Ind., cleared the land and began to farm. Here he was reared to manhood among pioneer conditions when wild game abounded in that ser- tion, and for the first seven years received one hundred twenty five dollars as payment of wages for his labor. It was hard work ckaring the timber from the land, Indians were numerous and not any to friendly, and the settlers were always armed.

At the breaking out of the war, he was fired with enthusiasm to defend his country's honor and flag, and enlisted, December 17. 1861, in the Eleventh Indiana Battery, Captain Sutermeister, and was assigned to the First Brigade. Third Division, of Sheridan's Twentieth Army Corps, in the Army of the Cumberland. During his term of service he participated in many battles and skirmishes, among which may be mentioned four weeks' bombardment of Atlanta, the battles of Corinth, Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Tulla homa, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Tunnell Ilill, Bu 27

SAS LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS

zard' Bonety Rasacht New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta and Ionesbons W werved under Generals Sheridan, Buell, Lytle and McCook, mo Was Granted At Pittsburg Landing and Chickamauga. Mr. Kirchner was my feet of his battery, and his family have in their possession a letter of recommendation stating his faithful services and gallantry in battle, signed by lis ooption and officers of his company, dated March 1, 1865. The state of Undros elected a monument at Lytle Hill for the Eleventh Battery, in honor 01 General Lytle, who was killed there.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 57

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