History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 69

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

USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 69

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The Kilers resided on their ranch until 1905, when they moved to their home in Paso Robles, superintending the ranch work from their city home. Here Mr. Kiler passed away, March 26, 1914. He was prominent in horti cultural affairs, was an honorary member of the Luther Burbank Society and a member and official of the State Realty Federation, and was engaged for some years in the real estate and insurance business in Paso Robles. He was long trustee and clerk of the school board, was a member of the Fra- ternal Brotherhood and the Congregational Church, and was a Republican. It was through his efforts that the fence was built around the city park as 32

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ami tech Il Was always in the van in whatever tended to the building he wit los bunte city or county.

Mr anil Wr -. Kiler had eight children. Harry served in Company D, 27Th TYS Waunteer Infantry, in the Spanish-American War, and died in she Phthppie- Alice, Mrs. (). H. Brians, resides at Dinuba. Maud is the will of Fred Royse, of Washington, D. C., where he is employed in the pen- - bureau. Mamie is the wife of Adolph Claassen, in business in American Tall-, Ida. William Justice resides in the same place. Benjamin F. is a foi estate dealer in Paso Robles, where he carries on the business established hé his father. He is specializing in almond-raising in the Encinal district west el Paso Robles at an elevation of 1.900 feet in the frostless belt, where he has about eight hundred acres set out. He is taking a course in agriculture at the University of California College of Agriculture, to perfect himself in the industry. He is also agent for the Pacific Nursery Co. of Oregon. Nettie Viola is bookkeeper in the Southern Pacific Hospital at San Francisco. Min- nie Margaret is the wife of M. N. Yocum of Bellota, Cal.

Mrs. Kiler has been a member of the Episcopal Church for forty-two years, and in politics supports the Republican party. She is a woman of much native ability, cultured and refined, and socially much sought after. She is a member of various clubs and fraternal societies in Paso Robles, in all of which she is a prominent and active worker. She was president of the Woman's Club, in which she has always been very active, particularly in civic matters. She took the first steps towards securing aid for the State Horticultural Commission in the exterminating of the pine weevil, and was the prime mover in planting the state flower. the California poppy, along the state highway in Paso Robles and its environs. Being public-spirited, she gives of her time and means as far as she is able towards the upbuilding and beautifying of her adopted city.

JOHN HARRIS OOLEY .- One of the best-posted horticulturists in San Luis Obispo County and at this writing the superintendent of the McPhail almond ranch and the Dr. Akin almond orchard, John H. Ooley has pron a name and place for himself in this county and also in the state. He is a native of Indiana, born in Clay county, August 16, 1871, a son of Robert Eliza Jane ( Letsinger ) Ooley, natives of Indiana of Scotch-Irish and German descent respectively. Robert Ooley was a soldier during the Civil Wer. After the war, he engaged in farming, and died in Indiana. He had two lowther- who served through the war : and his wife had six brothers in the ser- yo_ two being killed in action and one afterwards dying from wounds.

The third of five children born to his parents, John H. Ooley had the of sor ges of the public schools of his home and the high school at Worthing- omo log at home and growing to manhood on the farm. In 1891, he (19 60 Paso Robles, California. He worked for Levi Exline one year on (- 0 0r be di then for the Blackburns as landscape gardener nearly four 6 9x. Robles, after which he was with the University of California sjoronen Station at Paso Robles for six years, the last two years having station. During this time Mr. Ooley experimented in the Pomme no care of all kinds of nuts and fruits, and became recognized as prestonx cc bort culture.

Marco 00 5.01 m was discontinued, he went to Chico as state forester pre m's - in charge of the station ; but on account of malaria he re-

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signed and returned to Paso Robles, and for two years was clerk in Mr. Bell's store. From there he went to Salinas and was in the employ of the Sperry Flour Co. five years, where he became bolterman ; and when the mills closed down, he took up ranching near this city. Here he was in charge of James McMillan's ranch at Shandon, where he had 1,600 acres devoted to grain and stock-raising.

After three years he resigned to accept a position with the S. P. Milling Co., in Paso Robles, which he filled seven months ; then was with the Taylor orchard one year, and in 1915 took charge of the McPhail ranch of three hundred twenty acres, where he has set one hundred acres to almonds and is caring for them.

Mr. Ooley was united in marriage in Paso Robles with Miss Emma Garran, who was born in Missouri and came with her parents. James and Eliza (Hodge) Garran, to Paso Robles. The father was a bridge carpenter and worked on the building of the Pacific railroad in this region. Mrs. Ooley was educated in the grammar and high schools of Paso Robles. Mr. and Mrs. Ooley have three children : Bessie Gertrude, Elwood Harris, and Frances Bell. Mr. Ooley is a strong supporter of the Republican party, and is a Knight of Pythias.

MRS. DOVE EMERSON .- In all the varied vocabulary coined, nothing is more expressive of the enterprise shown by Mrs. Dove Bennett Emerson than the word "hustler." Her grandfather was Joseph MeCubbin, a native Kentuckian, who was one of the first settlers near Carthage, Ill., and who broke the wild prairie with ox teams. Ile married Ellen Lipsey, whose father, John Lipsey, was a Revolutionary soldier and suffered the loss of a leg ; he lived to be one hundred three years of age. Mrs. Emerson's father was Thomas Benton McCubbin, who was born near Carthage and became a farmer and cattleman. He also was a manufacturer of hard-wood lumber, operating three sawmills, and made a specialty of manufacturing coffins. In the eighties he brought his family to California, afterwards making no less than twenty-four trips back and forth across the continent, and now resides at Fresno, at the good old age of seventy-seven. Her mother was Martha (Cameron) McCubbin, also a native of Ilinois, and the daughter of John Cameron, who was born in Tennessee, of Scotch descent, and Elizabeth ( Lee) Cameron, a sister of the famous "White Horse Harry Lee," father of the illustrious General Robert E. Lee. The mother was, therefore, a cousin of the great Confederate leader, and she looked back with satisfaction to many interesting events in the annals of her family. She died in Fresno county some twenty years ago. Mrs. Emerson's uncle was James Cameron, a member of the Home Guards in Illinois, serving at Carthage at the time when Joseph and Hiram Smith were killed. Afterwards, in 1850, he crossed the great plains to reach the Land of Gold, and died two years later in lang town, now Placerville.

Three of the six children born to the MeCubbins are still living. Mrs. Emerson being the youngest. She was cradled at Carthage, and while yet a little girl came to California with her parents, residing for a while at Acampo, in San Joaquin county, then moving to Shasta county, and later to Red Bluff, and Fresno. At Selma, Miss MeCubbin was married to W. C. Bennett, with whom she came to Paso Robles, where she has since made her home. Three children were born of this union : Clifford Cameron, who

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chedl at the age of eleven ; Lorena, who died when two months old; and the baby, win, died in infancy. In a railroad accident at Fresno, on October 1, 1909. Mrs Imerson was injured, her left side being paralyzed, and she seemed unable to obtain medical relief. In the end, when all other means had failed, she was healed through prayer ; as a result of this cure, she has since professed the religious faith of a Divine Scientist. An estrangement led to a divorce, after which she began business on her own account, and bought her present house. at the corner of Sixteenth and Spring streets, which she re- modeled and improved by the introduction of hot and cold water and private biths, and named it Casa de la Paloma, or "House of the Dove." making it one of the finest and most attractive rooming houses in Paso Robles. In Bakersfield. November 1, 1916, Mrs. Bennett was married to Zaza Emerson, who is a native of Santa Rosa, California. His father, E. S. Emerson, was born in Missouri, served in the Mexican War as a teamster, and came to So- noma county, California, in 1851, and in 1868 to San Luis Obispo. He died in Kern county. His wife was Julia A. Dunbar, also a native of Missouri. She also came across the plains in an ox-team train in 1849.

Mr. Emerson was reared in this county, but since 1889 he has been en- gaged in cattle-raising in Kern county, where, with his brothers and a sister, he owns Poleta rancho of six thousand acres, located twelve miles south of Maricopa. Mrs. Emerson is a member of Bethlehem Chapter, No. 95, of the O. E. S., in which she is Past Matron ; and she also belongs to the Re- bekahs. In politics she is a Democrat ; but this party preference never pre- vents her from lining up with local movements that have for their object the development of Paso Robles into the splendid, up-to-date town it is assuredly destined to become.

JOHN B. TULEY .- A native son of this county, and one who com- menced his career on his father's ranch on the Estrella plains, John B. Tuley was born September 27, 1875. a son of W. H. Tuley, of whom mention is made elsewhere. He was reared on the ranch and attended the public school in the Estrella district. He worked for his father until he was eighteen years old, and then leased part of his father's land and, with his brother J. T. Tuley, began raising grain, continuing the partnership for two years. Later the brothers purchased a combined harvester to facilitate the harvesting of their crops and added other labor-saving machinery to their stock on hand.

After J. T. Tuley left, John B. continued to operate the ranch ; and as he -nieceeded. he bought land of his own, partially improved it, and sold this øl again purchased, now owning one hundred twenty acres across the road from his father's old home place and one hundred fifty-two acres near by, all Coted to grain and stock. He leases eight hundred acres near his ranch, With he devotes to grain-raising, having four hundred acres seeded to grain, mike wheat.

Mr Tuley is a prominent rancher and citizen, and is public-spirited and Imprime. He belongs to Santa Lucia Lodge of Odd Fellows in Paso He is a trustee of the Estrella school district, the same district in Tobacconf fa school. He is a member of the Paso Robles Christian Church. Who - 10 rried in San Luis Obispo to Miss Annette L. Skinner, a male e & t d'oorni . who was born in Fresno county, a daughter of James W. al many Flo koter came across the plains with his father, when nine years of pos m alie for ourties, to Oregon, and in 1853 to Napa county, California. In

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Catherine E. Finn

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1868, he arrived in Cambria, and later he removed to Fresno county, remain- ing until 1879. He returned to San Luis Obispo County and became a prominent farmer and stockman, and died on the Estrella plains. Of the union of John B. Tuley and Annette L. Skinner four children were born : William Lloyd, Charles Ward, George, and John Beebe. Mr. Tuley is following in the footsteps of his father and is making a name for himself in his community. He is well known throughout the county, believes in progression, and has made a success of his own undertakings. In politics, he is an independent.

MR. AND MRS. HOWARD MALCOLM LINN .- A resident of Cali- fornia since 1884, and of Paso Robles two years later, Howard M. Linn has been actively interested in the development of San Luis Obispo County. He was born at Chandlersville, near Zanesville, Muskingum county, Ohio. Feb- ruary 24, 1857, a son of Robert and Mary ( Brown) Linn, the former born in Virginia and the latter a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, where the pa- ternal grandfather settled, and where his son Robert grew to manhood and was engaged in farming all his life. There were eight children in the family, although only two are now living: Lucretia Linn, who lives on the old homestead in Ohio, and Howard Malcolm, of this review.

Reared on the home farm, Howard attended the public schools of his locality and finished at the high school in Zanesville. He remained at home until 1884, and then decided to try his fortunes in California. On his arrival here, he went to Colusa county and farmed for two years. In 1886 he came to Paso Robles and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Milling Company in their planing mill here ; he operated a planer about a year, and then, with his wife, located on their present place, which was owned by her, and here he has been successfully engaged in ranching since.

On October 6, 1887, at Park View ranch, the Stockdale home, Mr. Linn and Catherine C. Middleton were united in marriage. Mrs. Linn is a native of Indiana, born near Jasonville, Greene county, January 20, 1862. Her father, Thos. Middleton, a native of Coshocton, Ohio, was a farmer in Indiana. ller mother was Mrs. Rebecca ( Exline) Middleton Stockdale, who came to C'ali- fornia via Panama in the fall of 1868, bringing her daughter Catherine and accompanied by her brothers. Bernard and Levi Exline. For six weeks they stopped in Eldorado county ; and then they came on to San Luis Obispo County, where Mrs. Middleton later homesteaded one hundred sixty acres, the present Stockdale home, where she and her brothers camped the first night they landed in this county. She afterwards married D. F. Stockdale, and died August 21, 1916, at the age of seventy-seven years.

Mrs. Linn was reared on the Stockdale ranch and received her education in the public schools in San Luis Obispo. Estrella and Paso Robles. In those days there were but crude buildings, and they were few in number : and many who attended the schools did so under trying conditions. Mrs. Linn entered the State Normal at San Jose and remained a short time : then. on account of her health, she returned to Paso Robles. She afterwards pur- chased the quarter section where the Linn family reside, from Norvel Butch ard, who had homesteaded it ; and here they have erected a new and modern house, and are engaged in the raising of grain and stock. Later one hun- dred sixty acres were added to the original tract. In 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Linn leased the ranch and moved to Arroyo Grande, and bought six acres adjoining the town, where they engaged in raising vegetables for the following

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ten years with remarkable success. They then returned to their own home ranch, where they now reside.

Mrs. Linn has seen this county develop from an almost wild and unin- habited region to its present productiveness and wealth-from the large, fenceless cattle ranches, where the animals ran over a wide range, and only the rodeo, or round-up, once a year to sort over and divide up the stock, broke the monotony of life. Sheep were also scattered everywhere in large bands. Finally came the transition from the large ranges to grain, and now to orchards and fruit of all descriptions, making of the county a veritable garden spot, where once people were led to believe that the land was worth- less except for sheep ranges. Paso Robles has grown under her eyes from a place with one store and a couple of houses to its present size, and to its present importance as a commercial and educational center in the central Coast section. She is keenly alive to its future, and with her husband sup- ports all movements that have for their ultimate end the upbuilding of the Paso Robles section.

Mr. and Mrs. Linn have had four children, and three of them are living. Edward O. and Othello C. are both graduates from the State Polytechnic School at San Luis Obispo ; and Howard F. is a graduate from the Paso Robles high school. All are at home assisting with the farm work. Mr. Linn has served as school trustee for years in the San Marcos district. He was made a Mason in Chandlersville Lodge in Ohio and now holds his membership in Arroyo Lodge, at Arroyo Grande. Both himself and wife are well and favorably known in the Paso Robles and Arroyo Grande sections of the county, and have hosts of friends.

KARL BEVAN GLASS .- Every community is fortunate in having a number of young and enterprising men whose liberal views and warm- hearted action form an attractive bond of contact with strangers who come within the community gates. Such a man of winning personality is Karl B. Glass, whose grandfather, the late Dr. D. Glass, who died in 1913, was a prominent physician and surgeon and distinguished himself during the Civil War in the medical department of the service. Karl's father was Dr. James 1l. Glass, born in Kentucky, where he grew up and was married. He grad- uated from Baltimore Medical College, practiced medicine in Kentucky, Florida and Kansas, and in 1885 came to California, following his calling in Saratoga, Santa Clara county. When the town of Paso Robles was laid out, he came here and, concluding that it was the most desirable place he could find. settled here and practiced his profession and helped to build up the city. He died in December, 1914, at the age of fifty-seven years. He was always interested in the city of his adoption, and served as a member of the board of blister, and at one time was president of the board. He was also a stock- holder and a director in the Citizens Bank of Paso Robles, and for some wears kas president of that institution. His wife, before her marriage, was Vis Mlettie Hogg, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Stephen Hogg, a Pasient attorney. She was an only child and was reared amid the refine- there of a Ispically Southern environment. She still resides in Paso Robles. What Dr Glass was living at Saratoga, their son Karl B. was born, on word 20 1880, and when his parents moved to Paso Robles and he attained Ello I her Mes sent to the public schools in that town, supplementing his (No pb w pendance at Saint Matthew's Military Academy in San

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Mateo for three years, finally finishing at the Paso Robles High School. For a time he was in the employ of the Paso Robles Light and Water Co., where he learned considerable about electricity ; and having matriculated at Heald's Engineering College, he became proficient as an electrical engineer. Ile worked at various places in California and finally returned to his home town and was made manager of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co., which position he held for two and one-half years, when he resigned.

He again undertook electrical work in various towns, and soon was placed in charge of the Midland Company at Paso Robles, where he remained one year. He again toured California and Nevada ; but in July, 1915, he returned to Paso Robles and bought out Sutton's livery business, changing the name to the Glass Livery and making it one of the best in this section of the country. He also inaugurated a first-class truck and transfer system in which the automobile plays an important part. This was found to be so satis- factory that he closed out his livery and established an exclusively automo- bile service under the name of the Glass Transportation Co., of which he is manager, and which operates two trucks and several touring cars with head- quarters in a remodeled building opposite the site of his former business.

Mr. Glass was united in marriage at Redwood City with Miss Mabel Pate, who was born near Paso Robles, a daughter of Robert Pate ; and they have been blessed with three children : Dorothy, Martha, and James Robert. In social circles Mr. and Mrs. Glass are deservedly popular. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Chamber of Commerce.

FRANK J. LUNDBECK .- The senior member of the firm known as the Paso Robles Agricultural Works has been one of the upbuilders of the town of Paso Robles, where for many years he has been connected with the leading business interests. Frank J. Lundbeck was born in Kalmar, Sweden, Feb- rnary 17, 1859, a son of Nils and Ingri Lundbeck. His father was a black- smith by trade and followed that occupation during his active career. Three of his sons came to the United States, Frank J. and Peter, his twin brother, and John ; the latter, a carpenter, died in . Austin, Texas.

Frank J. Lundbeck attended the public schools of his native town ; and when he was old enough he went into his father's shop to learn the trade. which he followed until he was twenty-one years old. Then he came to America and, locating in Austin, Texas, for about three years was employed in the International railroad shops as a blacksmith. For four years there- after he worked as blacksmith in the service of the contractor that erected the state capitol building at Austin, resigning then to enter into partnership with his brother Peter in the general blacksmithing business under the firm name of Lundbeck Bros. This partnership continued until 1887. when the brothers sold out and came to California, and for one year carried on a general black smithing business at Fresno, meeting with success.

In October, 1888, they came to San Luis Obispo County, and in Paso Robles bought out the old Erdman shop on Twelfth and Railroad streets, where from a very small beginning they built up a large and profitable trade. By 1892, they had outgrown the little shop, and so they erected a large brick building suitable for their needs, in which they installed the most modern machinery. At the time of his brother's death, in 1898, Mr. Lundbeck took in Carl E. Hansen, and the firm then was known as Lundbeck & Hansen ; this association continued until Mr. Hansen sold out and retired. Then C. W

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Andersen and Peter Larsen bought an interest in the business, which had grown negoodly proportions, and the firm became known as the Paso Robles Agricultural Works.

The firm have built up the largest business of its kind between San Jose und Los Angeles, and draw their trade from a wide territory surrounding, baving work sent them by rail from sixty miles away. The business increased to such proportions that the brick building could not accommodate the machinery, and they erected their present large, commodious structure and installed the latest and most modern machinery to handle every kind of work that might come to them. The plant is run by electric power. They do all kinds of repairing on all kinds of machinery, and also do wood work; and during the busy season they employ fifteen experienced men. The old brick shop was remodeled into a garage service station, fully equipped with mod- ern machinery for the repairing of automobiles, and they have the agency for the Overland and Willys-Knight automobiles.

Mr. Lundbeck was united in marriage in Austin, Texas, with Miss Hattie Mathilda Rosengren, and they have had four children born to brighten their home Walter is engaged in the plumbing business ; Arthur is manager of the Pioneer Garage: Lawrence is an office man with his father's company ; and Lottie is the wife of C. W. Anderson, junior member of the firm. Mr. Lundbeck is a prominent member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and has passed through the chairs. He is also a member of the Yeomen and the Knights of Pythias, and a communicant of the Swedish Methodist Church, of whose board of trustees he is chairman. It is safe to say that no one has a wider circle of friends and associates in his community than Mr. Lundbeck, who is respected for his public spirit and upright business principles.

VICTOR ANDERSON. It would be difficult to find a man more em- phatically in accord with the true western spirit of progress, or more keenly alive to the opportunities awaiting the industrious and intelligent man of affairs in San Luis Obispo County, than is Victor Anderson, who has here built up a far-reaching stock business, and identified himself with the best undertakings in his district. Out of his own varied experiences he has evolved 11:e theory that any young man with ambition and correct ideas of life may reach his goal, providing his diversions do not include gambling, drinking or kindred destroyers of success and happiness.

\ native of Sweden, Victor Anderson was born at Linkoping, Oster- letland, a son of Andrew J. and Inga Lovisa Anderson, natives and lifelong residents of Sweden, where the father was a large landowner and farmer. De somned some eighteen hundred acres, and ran a water-power sawmill, wl marketed his lumber in Linkoping. After logging most of it, the place e jam. based by the government and trees were planted in rows, and today Wie w mer a forest reserve.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 69

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