USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 61
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John Haydon was educated in public and private schools and m the University of Missouri, where he also proved his physical powers is an alle lete. He was a wrestler and a one-hundred yard runner, and held Ilk rec pl for three standing jumps, thirty three feet. He came Herpes the plans to California in 1865, when he showed his prowess as an Inchat fighter, the Indians being on the war-path ; and as captain of the trab . Mr Haydon lol the fighting to protect his outfit at Bitter CottonWood-now ( Ftramwond Springs-Cook's Ranch, and Medicine Bow. At the latter place, William Shearin, an uncle of Mark I .. Shearin of Sdhta Warth, a member of his party. was killed.
On arriving in California, Mr. Haydon stopped for a while In Santa Rosa, and in 1868 returned East via Panama and New York, Setthug in Mexico, Mo., where he served as county surveyor and road and bridge cam missioner for a term of years, and built the first iron and steel bruder me like
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Bounty Bend Afirken with pen paralysis, which made drafting impossible, he legm fe, hug school : and in this work he continued until he again came to california in 1888.
Arriving in the Santa Maria valley, he continued teaching about six posts. settling on a small ranch five miles south of Santa Maria, where he set www.an orchard of prunes and apricots, and went "broke" because the fruit was a failure for want of irrigation. He then moved into the town and served as postmaster from 1895 to 1899; and after that he became connected whir AT . telephone company and did much to extend their system in the valley. He has done reportorial work for newspapers, and has written a his- tery of the Santa Maria valley for the Historic Record Company of Los Angeles.
Mr. Haydon was united in marriage in Mexico, Mo., in 1860, with Miss Phoebe Eleanor Martin, a native of that place, a noble woman and a true felpmate for her husband. She was the mother of three children : James W .. of Tait, who is married and has one son, Albert Lucas: Mrs. Annie Lee Jones, di Mexico, Mo .: and Mrs. Dora M. Miscall, of Tulare, Cal. Mrs. Haydon Tossed away January 3, 1913, mourned by all who knew her.
Mr. Haydon has been a lifelong Democrat, has always taken an active Mterest in politics, and has rendered valiant service during campaigns, often Arrying his section of the county to victory. He favors and fights for good schools and good roads, considering them a prime necessity to build up any community. For years he has been connected with the Presbyterian Church, is always been a great advocate of Sunday schools, and dearly loves the children : and this feeling is returned by them. He has served as superin- tendent of the Sunday school for many years, and has exerted a beneficent influence on the younger generation. He is thoroughly progressive and ad- Cocates every improvement for the public good. He is a Mason, and a man Who counts every man his friend.
AMOS SMITHERS .- Born in Woodstock, Canada, on October 31. 1851. Amos Smithers is the son of William Smithers, a farmer of Sussex, England, who migrated to Canada, where he engaged in farming until his death. The EtCher died when Amos was but three years of age. The lad attended school 100g| he was twelve years of age, after which he worked on the farm.
In November, 1874, at twenty-three years of age, Amos Smithers pushed ant bravely across the wide continent to California. He settled in San Luis Will- County in May, 1875, choosing this district in preference to Tulare ofthy, in which for a while he had tarried after his arrival in the state. On come to this county he found employment at farming around Cambria. At Mount thus time Mr. Smithers was married to Miss Ida M. Terrill, who was Top m Semtoma county of a family of pioneers who came to that section in Halo , He Happy event occurred in December, 1878, and probably had much lo worth MIr Smithers' rapid steps forward in dairy ranching. He first chlad 10} affe then purchased the nucleus of his present property, a nice In 1 6. mai fred fifteen acres. This he stocked with handsome Jerseys. co ( contje Thade himself famous for miles around for the quality of His ranching operations brought him into commercial 11 100 006 23 bi was soon sought as both stockholder and director of the Den al Enolos Give and substantial institution that is a credit to the gminy bob cell supports it. He became an Odd Fellow in 1886, in
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
Hesperian Lodge No. 181, Cambria, of which he is Past Grand and an ex- representative to the Grand Lodge.
Several boys and girls have come to brighten Amos Smithers' life, among them Warren, Ernest T., Mabel I., Shelby W., Lloyd and Lester, all of whom are living. Two daughters, Mary and Charlotte, are deceased. On Sep- tember 5, 1914, the excellent wife of Mr. Smithers, a mother whose devotion was felt beyond her cosy home, also passed to the Spirit Land. This be- reavement, however, has not embittered the life of Amos Smithers, on whom Cambria looks as one of her most smiling and optimistic citizens.
LOUIS Z. HAUN .- \ native son of Arroyo Grande and prominently identified with the commercial interests of that town, Louis Z. Haun comes from a well-known family in the county. Ile was born on June 18, 1893. the son of William A. and Ida A. (Forsting) Haun, both natives of the East, who came to the West, were here married, and are now residents of Arroyo Grande. They have three children: Nancy, wife of Jesse Burns of San Luis Obispo, Mae and Louis Z. Mrs. Haun's parents were among the earliest settlers in Arroyo Grande valley. The family were prominent in an early day, and now all are deceased except Mrs. Hlaun.
Louis attended the public schools in the town until he was sixteen. then spent one year in high school, and after that became a clerk in a store here. He worked eighteen months for the railroad at the station in Arroyo Grande then accepted a clerkship with S. Alexander and held the position for eighteen months.
With his savings he wished to enter upon a business career for himself : and, resigning his position, he bought out the meat market known as Langen beck & Ketchum, purchasing Mr. Ketchum's interest. Thereafter the firm was known as Langenbeck & Haun. As the business prospered. this com- pany purchased the shop conducted by Morgan & Gilliam, moving their business to the new location, and now having the only shop in the town, and doing a good business because of the fine country surrounding them. Mr. Haun is in charge of the market, while his partner looks after the outside work and buys cattle.
Ile is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Portu guese lodge, U. P. E. C. He is a self-made man, and while young in years. has a bright future.
CARMI ELLISON MOSHER .- The county of San Luis Obispois the abode of a large number of men who were thrown on their own resources at an early age, and whose natural abilities were strengthened by contact with the world, thus gaining for them the esteem of associates, as well as financial success. To these men Carmi Ellison Mosher, hardware merchant of Arroyo Grande, is no exception. He was born in Ontario, Canada, N. vember 24, 1853, and had school privileges until he was twelve years old. ever since which time he has been self-supporting. Until he was twenty eight years old, he worked for wages as a farm hand ; then he was employed as a driller by Gilbert Bros., when they were widening the St. Lawrence channel, and worked for them five years.
On January I, 1888, Mr. Mosher started for California and arrived in San Luis Obispo County on January 21. He went to work for the Biti nous Rock Company for three years, then took up farm work on a ranch adjoining Pismo, and carried that on for three years. He then moved to
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Edna on the Bitummous ranch and stayed there three years; and thence in 1898, to lhasna ranch, and farmed four years to wheat and barley, when he "went broke," and had to begin all over again. This he courageously did, farming on shares the T. J. Steele ranch; and four years were spent raising grain and hogs on 1,000 acres. He was successful, but sold out and moved to Arroyo Grande and in November, 1907, bought the hardware business of C. S. Kinney, where he has been gradually building up a good business as a dealer in general hardware, farming implements and ma- chinery, and plumbing.
Mr. Mosher was married at Edna, February 17, 1890, to Jessie M. Cor- mack, a native of Delhi, N. Y., born in 1862. They were parents of four chil- dren : James C .; Carrie L., who married G. Hampton ; Frank ; and Charles, now deceased. Mrs. Mosher passed away in December, 1895. Mr. Mosher is a member of the Woodmen of the World and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also the Women of Woodcraft. He has had reverses, but is optimistic as to the future, public-spirited as far as his means will permit, and honest and industrious-in short, a good exampe of a self- made man.
WILLIAM H. DOWELL .- Through his connection with important interests in Arroyo Grande William H. Dowell has become a factor in the commercial life of the county. He has been a resident of the county since 1888. He was born in Farley. Platte county, Mo., July 26, 1863, a son of James A. Dowell, who was a farmer all his life. At the age of seven years young Dowell accompanied his parents to Butler county, Kan., where for five years they settled on a farm. In 1875 they moved to lowa, and there he grew to maturity and attended the common schools. Reaching the age of nineteen years, he started out for himself. He went to Chase county, rented land and began farming ; but after two years, he returned home and for a time was em- ployed on the railroad. Then he went to farming once more and met with success. Selling out, he next moved to Indian Territory ; then, coming West to California, he located in Arroyo Grande, arriving September 20, 1888.
Ilis first work was as a wood chopper, clearing land, and this occupied him one year, when he bought seven and one half acres in Carpenter cañon. Five years later he sold the land and went to the Edna district, where he rented one hundred forty acres which he farmed until 1897. He had married ind decided to return to Kansas and live; but in January, 1898, he returned In Arroyo Grande and bought ten and one half acres set out to a walnut afford, now in fine condition. This place Mr. Dowell has improved and 16 1900 be bought an interest in the Arroyo Grande Commercial Com- und from 1913 to 1915 he served on the board of directors. In politics Pomohlaind has always been active in the party councils. He also wp - de trustee of the high school, and was elected Justice of the Il is a member of and has passed all the chairs in Arroyo 205. 1. O. O. F., was delegate to the Grand Lodge twice, Low, and is a member of the Rebekahs. He is also a
wetel in marriage with Mina A. Carpenter, a native of Lara chase county, May 15, 1871, and came with her wert kok u May , 1888; and they had the following children :
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Lorena L., Claudia L., Clinton W., Audre C., Nellie F., Lee C., Freda M., Wilma A., Cliffie A., and Raleigh C. Mrs. Dowell passed away December 21, 1905. Mr. Dowell is a self-made man and highly respected for his sterling traits of character by all who know him.
JOHN CHAPEK .- One of the foremost citizens of San Luis Obispo, and a man of sterling worth, is John Chapek, a leading contractor and builder of the city and county, and a member of the city council, to which he was elected on April 2, 1917. He was born in Bohemia, under Austrian rule. September 2, 1872; and after he had received such schooling as was accorded the youth of that section, he went to Vienna and learned the trade of carpen- ter, serving a three years' apprenticeship. At the age of eighteen he came to the United States to find here better opportunities than were offered young and energetic men in his own country. Ile worked at his trade in Prairie dit Chien, Wis., for six months, from which place he went to Clayton county, la., where he was engaged as a carpenter until 1893.
In 1893 Mr. Chapek came to San Luis Obispo County. He was engaged in farming near Arroyo Grande until 1899, when he came to the city of San Luis Obispo and began working at his trade. He was so successful that after six months he began contracting and decided to remain in that occupation. In 1907, he formed a partnership with F. H. Johnson and they organized the Union Hardware Co., and continued the business three years. At the expira- tion of this time, Mr. Chapek sold out his interest in the business to his part ner, still retaining ownership of the building.
Mr. Chapek was united in marriage, September 15, 1903, with Mary S. Anderson, a native of California, a daughter of John and Ellen (Donovan ) Anderson, pioneers of California ; and they have four children : Carl J., John R., Eleanor, and Frederick, all of whom were born in San Luis Obispo County.
Mr. Chapek has been a big factor in the upbuilding of San Luis Obispo and surrounding country, and has built and sold many cottages, besides doing work for others. He is now owner of a number of houses from which he receives good rent. An addition to the city known as Fremont Heights, one of the choice residence sections, has been put on the market by Mr. Chapek : and on this he has erected many fine houses. Some of the buildings put up by him are the Miles Station schoolhouse, the Charles Brewer block, and the old Masonic block; while among the first buildings he erected was the Reedy Ilotel, one of the earliest three story buildings built in the town From his first contract to the present time he has made good : and his work. scattered throughout the county, has given perfect satisfaction to his patrons He is a member of the Odd Fellows and a life member of the B P O. 1.1ks
WILLIAM WALLACE .- The State of New York has contributed many citizens to help swell the population of the Golden State, each county getting its share of these representative Americans, and they are engaged in every calling. The proprietor of the El Mar cafe at Pismo, which was opened in 1906 by William Wallace, has added to the enterprise of the beach town.
He was born in New York City, October 15. 1875, was educated on the public schools and was variously employed until coming to California, m 1901 He was engaged in the liquor business in San francisco for two years, then sold out and came to Arroyo Grande, where he began business as proprietor of Ryan's Hotel, carrying on that hostelry until he opened his present place two and one-half years later.
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Mr Wallare was united in marriage, in 1902, with Miss Ella Lang, Who is a native daughter of California, having been born in San Francisco, where her marriage also took place.
Mr. Wallace is a booster for the county, and supports every movement for the upbuilding of the beach resort, which is his home.
WILLIAM HEMPHILL .- Great have been the advances made in the science and practice of horticulture, particularly in the knowledge of the soil and how it must be treated, as will be seen by even a brief visit to those well-cultivated lands in charge of William Hemphill, one of the most ener- getic. painstaking and progressive cultivators of orchard trees, in San Luis Obispo County. A native of Bally Kelly, County Derry, Ireland, William's father, a farmer of Scotch descent, was also surnamed William ; while a brother, Rev. John Hemphill, is now a retired Presbyterian minister living at Los Gatos William, whose boyhood was spent on a farm and at the local public school. was the sixth eldest of eight children.
When fifteen years of age, that is, in 1870, the lad came to the United States and to San Francisco, where he obtained employment in a business office and attended, in spare hours, the Pacific Business College. Three years later he came to San Luis Obispo County, and was made bookkeeper for the several Steele ranches. He next rented a dairy, for the first season at Arroyo Grande ; after which he went to Contra Costa county, where he en- gaged in stock-raising at the base of Mt. Diablo. Another move brought him to Danville and set him up in the butcher business.
In 1900. Mr. Hemphill was back in San Luis Obispo County, where his brother had a large farm of some sixteen hundred acres, mostly in the Oak Flat district, and along the Encinal. This he ran as a stock farm, while for right or nine years he also rented other ranches. He put in four years at Santa Margarita in the raising of grain, after which he was foreman and then manager of the Santa Margarita ranch, one year raising 20,000 sacks of barley. In 1912, he returned to Paso Robles to clear the land on the Talbot ranch, and three years later he assumed his present responsibility, that of superintending the San Ignacio and Santa Helena ranches, owned by the world famed pianist. Paderewski, and Madame Paderewski, to which he has added the care of extensive improvements being made upon these properties. Mready two hundred forty acres have been set out to almonds, walnuts and pears, principally almonds. The summit of the Merritt Springs tract is Trustless on the southern and eastern slopes, and there they have set out oranges and lemons as an experiment.
William llemphill has twice been married. On the first occasion the ceremony took place in Sonoma county, where he was wedded to Miss Eliz- beth Gordon, a native of the district, who died at Danville. Eleven children okey Born from this union, and the following seven attained maturity : Della Ele goethe, Who is a trained nurse in San Francisco; William Gordon, a ma- jonny there. Estella Gertrude and Lillias Margarita, both bookkeepers and withers in the northern metropolis; Chester Arthur, who also re- -alle m can Francisco; John P., in attendance at the San Luis Obispo high appel lante, who resides in Danville. His second marriage took place sin Jar Ofa po, where he was joined to Miss Sallie Findley, who was foren m 'Ines and died at San Luis Obispo, leaving one child, Laurence, (ne Ac00 1. San Luis Obispo high school.
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A great world tragedy threw a deep shadow across Mr. Hemphill's aile erwise happy life. His sister, Mrs. Martha Moody, owner of a large . wmary estate near Londonderry, Ireland, after a visit to her brothers in Calforma, accompanied by her daughter, Meta, during which the ladies also enjoyed the Exposition at San Francisco, was returning to Europe on the "Lusitania" when that ship was torpedoed and sent to the watery abyss. With so many other victims, Mrs. Moody was lost; but her daughter was saved, and re turned to Londonderry to tell the story of the sinking and of her mother's lamented death.
Mr. Hemphill is a Republican in national political affairs. He has served as a school trustee in both the Encinal and the Summit districts.
ERASTUS FOUCH .- Among those who walk the streets of Arroyo Grande with head erect and looking every man in the face, is Erastus Fouch, the well-known farmer of veteran military experience to whom some of the educational and other problems of the district have been committed. Born in the country districts near Creole, Vinton county, Ohio, on September 7. 1844, the son of James Fouch, Erastus attended school and did the chores about a farm until he was seventeen or eighteen years old, having in the meantime learned the ins and outs of agriculture, from A to Z.
When the great War for the Union broke out, Mr. Fouch was among the first to enlist as a volunteer in the famous 75th Ohio Infantry, and from that date until 1865 he served his country faithfully as a private soldier, and underwent both the dangers of action and the privations incident to such a career. He served under Captain George Fry, and in May of 1862 was with the intrepid Irving McDowell, then General and later park commissioner at San Francisco, who laid out the beautiful drives known as the Golden Gate Park. Mr. Fouch saw service at Manassas, Chancellorsville, Bull Run, and the Battle of Gettysburg, incidental to which he was for fifty one days a prisoner of war. The long conflict passed, Mr. Fouch migrated to Carver county, Minnesota, and later for some time farmed in Hennepin county. near Excelsior, where he bought land and raised wheat on a large scale
Attracted by the wonderful climate of California, he sold out and came West, coming almost immediately to San Luis Obispo County ; and in the vicinity of Arroyo Grande he bought a home surrounded by thirty three and a half acres. This land he has improved, devoting part of it to farming 00) part to the raising of fruit and alfalfa: and in addition he has rented con siderable land and carried on general farming.
In practically every way Mr. Fouch has been successful at & farmer. and while enjoying domestic life to the full, he has never failed to give he support to civic affairs in which helpers are needed, but are often wanting One instance of this is his relation to the local high school, for the establish ing of which Mr. Fouch worked so hard. He has been a very active member of Colonel Harper Post No. 126, G. A. R. \ Republican in national polities. he nevertheless is an independent in local matters, and always works bu the best man and the best issue.
On June 19, 1866, in Ohio, Erastus Fouch was married to Miss Mar Emily McClannahan. She was born in Ohio, Juh 25. 1850. Mr and Mrs Fouch are the parents of nine children : Anthony F . Hill, Frank L, Pearbe D., Arthur, Charles W. D., Edwin, Harley Il., and Elby . \
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND ENVIRONS
JOHN C. HANSEN. Many of our best citizens have come from foreign shores, and in the New World have overcome obstacles and made a name and place for themselves, as well as promoted the welfare of the country at large. In the vicinity of San Luis Obispo, where he has lived since 1879, John C. Hansen is no exception to the rule. He was born in Denmark, Schleswig- Holstein, October 15, 1862, and attended the common schools until he was fifteen years of age. He lived at home with his parents, Peter and Anna Marie Hansen, both now deceased (the father died in 1915, aged eighty-three years, and the mother passed away in 1914, also eighty-three years of age), and assisted with the usual duties about the place until 1879, when he decided he could better his condition by coming to a new country.
With an aunt, Mrs. Margaret Beck, he came direct to San Luis Obispo County ; and in the Santa Fe district he worked for wages for the first two years. He then started out for himself with a partner, P. M. Petersen, where the tank farm is now located, and continued farming in that locality until 1903, when they sold their lease, stock and tools to Hans P. Mathieson. Mr. Hansen then moved to the Laguna district and there farmed until 1911. He also engaged in dairying ; and meeting with good results, he then traded his interest, and came to his present home place, where he is raising hay and doing general farming.
Through all these changes, Mr. Hansen has never neglected his duties as a citizen, but has supported those movements that have had for their object the upbuilding of the county. He married, in San Luis Obispo in 1911, Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth (Clausen) Morland, who was born in Tennessee. In politics he is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office. By hard work and good management, Mr. Hansen has acquired a fine ranch of one hundred sixty-four acres, which he has improved to its present fine condition. He is a worthy citizen of the county and holds the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
JOHANNES R. HEINRICH .- Among the various industries that have taken root in San Luis Obispo county, and are rapidly becoming a valuable asset among the many and varied lines of enterprises, is the raising of poultry. One of the largest plants of its kind in the county is owned and operated by Johannes R. Heinrich of Arroyo Grande. Mr. Heinrich is a native of Germany, born in Dresden, October 20, 1877, where he attended the grammar Wil Ingh schools, and supplemented these by a course in college, from which w kas graduated in 1895. He then went to work in the store his father 09Ha1 . 1 Dresden, and beginning at the bottom, learned the business thor- would. . nd With the experience thus gained was able to secure lucrative appena drewhere. In 1903, Mr. Heinrich came to America, worked Og www cor in the great establishment of John Wanamaker in New York, Te po California.
DE Ha womes le possessed, he came direct to San Luis Obispo County, Anotalo wegode m the poultry business, which he had studied thor- 8011 where he is now located, with no improvements 1 0 Grdan putting things in shape and erected buildings
wid purchasing four hundred white Leghorn chickens, from the start he succeeded in creating a market in no , receiving the highest market prices.
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