History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 73

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

for many years, both building and selling places of his own. He still owns Three resplences in the town. In 1898 he erected his present two-story brick residence on Fourteenth and Chestnut streets, where he is living in the "niet cioyment of his well-earned rest. He retired from active work In 1911.

Mr. and Mrs. Tolle are members of the Methodist Church ; and for years le was a class leader, trustee and steward, as well as superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr. and Mrs. Tolle have been consistent Christians ; he was converted at the age of eleven in the church in his home section, and she as a girl of seven in her father's home. In Kansas the neighbors in their locality organized a congregation and held services in a schoolhouse for a time, until Mr. Tolle and his wife deeded a parcel of land on one side of their farm to the congregation and built a church with their own means, where services are now held For many years Mr. Tolle supported Republican principles, but of later years has been independent, supporting the best men and measures. Hle and his wife have a wide circle of friends and are highly esteemed by all who know them.

HENRY F. SCHROEDER .- It really makes a good deal of difference as to the successful direction of civic organizations in a town, and particularly un such a home-place as Paso Robles, whether the leaders selected are men und women of personal magnetism and at least a moderate degree of popu- larity : and this is demonstrated in the life and activities of Henry F. Schroeder. the sturdy, straightforward business man, who has given his influence to for- warding the interests of Paso Robles, and has never been found wanting in local movements where intelligent co-operation, hard work and even self- denying effort have been required.

A native of Elkader, Clayton county, Ia., where he was born on August 24. 1861, Henry was the son of Louis Schroeder, a native of Mecklenburg, in Schwerin, Germany, and came, in the early forties, as a pioneer to Iowa. There he located on the frontier, and being a merchant tailor he soon opened a tailoring and general merchandise business in Elkader, prospering so well that he was able to retire and remove to La Crosse, Wis., where he ended his las. His mother was Louise Meder, also a native of Germany, and she also lied at La Crosse. Of six children born to the Schroeders, five are still living. imong whom Henry was the fourth eldest.

'he usual course at the public schools preceded his employment, begun m 1882, in the grain warehouse at Whitehall, Wis. : after which, the following cent. he became manager of the warehouse for W. W. Cargill, with whom In remamed eight years, representing him at various points in Wisconsin, Mimoem cand South Dakota.

WEO tober, 1901. Henry Schoeder came to the Pacific Coast, almost imme- de un po time in the town of San Luis Obispo, from which, ten months later. Time of the Robles. Here he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific 007 506. belang foreman of the lumber department, a position he has How successful he has been, his many acquaintances, par- 1 nl 00 7 6 Upper Salinas valley and all the way from the Santa Lucia up with: 12es i county, can attest. Kind, and of a winning personality. arsenal, rul able to lead while others follow. Mr. Schroeder has the mpany and- the employees, as well as of the public with its Anken mon patronage.

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On November 2, 1884, Mr. Schroeder married Miss Jessie Sherwood at Whitehall, Wis., a lady who was a social favorite in her community in that state, being well-known there as the daughter of Joseph and Vice (Sai- ford ) Sherwood, natives respectively of Syracuse, N. Y., and Lynn, Mass. Her grandfather Sherwood came from an old New York state family that originally owned a part of the present site of Syracuse. Her father was born in 1835, was reared a farmer, and twenty years later removed to Springfield, Jackson county, eventually settling at Whitehall, Trempealeau county, Wis. Her mother came to that state when she was sixteen years old. The grand- father, Robert Safford, was a physician as well as a sea captain, sailing from Boston to Liverpool for many years, and during this time he was a partner of Howe in the manufacture of the Iowe sewing machine, and was also interested in shoe manufacturing. However, he quit the sea and moved west- ward, locating in Wisconsin when the country was a wilderness. He was married to Miss Louise Boston, an own cousin of the great evangelist, Dwight L. Moody. In the Sherwood family there were two sons and four daughters ; and one son and three daughters are still living. Mrs. Schroeder being the third eldest. She received her education in the public schools at Whitehall and in the Black River Falls high school.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder. Lester, a photographer, resides in Paso Robles and spends his summers in the Yosemite Valley, his photographs of that famous region being reproduced in the popular magazines. Elmore, a graduate of the University of California, from which he has the degree of Ph. G., is a druggist in Redlands. Pearl Marie. a graduate of the Paso Robles high school, who afterwards took a course in the University of California, has distinguished herself as a musician and vocalist, and is a lady who, with exceptional generosity, often favors the community in which she lives with an exhibition of her talent, contributing in particular to the programs of the church which she attends.

The family are active members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Schroeder being one of the board of trustees. \ director of the Chamber of Commerce, of Republican affiliations, he is also interested in popular education. At the same time he is a well-known figure among the Knights of Pythias. He is president of the Paso Robles Athletic Club. Mrs. Schroeder also partici- pates in civic activities as a member of the Women's Club, and of other societies.

ALBERT CRUM .- A veteran of the Civil War, a prominent contractor and builder in various parts of the country, a business man in San Luis Obispo County, where he settled at Templeton in 1886 and is now living practically retired from active pursuits. Albert ( rum looks back on a life well spent and to the future without fear, for he has lived by the golden rule throughout his life. Albert Crum was born in Haverstraw. on the Hudson, N. Y., on February 10, 1843, a son of Jacob Crum, likewise born there on February 18, 1819, and grandson of John (rum, One of the carly representa tives of the name in Haverstraw, who was also born in that place, of Scotch ancestry. The name was originally krome, in Scotland, and was after wards changed to Crum, as it was pronounced that way Grandfather John Crum's mother was born in Germany. Jacob was a carpenter and builder He worked on the old Astor House in New York, and later went to Yonkers and followed building until 1857, when he removed to Adams county, 111.

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with In- family. www.in Houston township, near Quiney, bought one hundred wwwwre- of lont with a land warrant, located on it, and improved a home Ant dlel there. After his death, his widow was married a second time, to a Mr. Shannon. She died in Illinois on September 3, 1902. Of her eight chil- Iren five are living, Albert being the second in order of birth. His oldest brother. Phillip, served in the 76th Reg. III. Vol. Inf., and is now deceased. Samuel served in the 84th Reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. and is now a resident of Centralia, Wash. : Mathilda, born on August 9, 1846, became the wife of R. M. O'Dell of Haines, Alaska, where he is judge of the U. S. court ; Jacob, born on November 12, 1848, died in Illinois: Maria, born on August 28, 1850, died in Mendon, Ill. ; Esther, born May 14, 1853, resides in Oklahoma ; and llenry, born December 27, 1854, lives in Lindsay, California.

Albert Crum was reared in the state of New York and attended the public schools of Yonkers until he was fourteen, when he went to Illinois. He there attended school, worked on the farm, learned the trade of carpen- ter with his father and worked with him for some time. On November 16, 1861. at the age of seventeen, he enlisted in Co. B, 50th Reg. III. Vol. Inf., for service in the Civil War. Mustered in at Chillicothe, Mo., he was sent with his command down the Mississippi, to Cairo and Paducah, Ky. He was at the capture of Fort Henry, and participated in the Battles of Ft. Donelson, sec- ond Corinth, Shiloh, Resaca, and Altoona Heights. He was also one who made the "March to the Sea," later taking part in the battle of Bentonville and the capture of Savannah. He was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., on July 19, 1865. Mr. Crum veteranized at Linnville, Tenn. After being mus- tered out, he returned to Illinois and in 1866 went to Minneapolis and fol- lowed carpentering, being next employed in railroad work in Jefferson, Tex., and on the Kansas Pacific Railroad through Kansas, and thence down into New Mexico : still later he was with the Union Pacific as a carpenter until the road was completed to Promontory, and was building a depot at Ogden when the golden spike was driven in 1869. From Ogden, Mr. Crum went to work for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and helped to build the first bridge on that line until Colorado Springs was reached, when work was suspended. In 1871 he came to California, remained a short time and then went to Port- land, proceeding from there to The Dalles in the employ of the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Co., and helping to construct the steamers "R. R. Thompson" and "Spokane."

Ilis next employment was as a merchant at The Dalles, where he con- tinted for six years. He again came to California in 1886. He located in Templeton when the town was just laid out, bought block 15, built a store which he leased to Goldtree, and followed the building business until Oldtree sold out. Then he started in business in his own building vacated by Goldtree, and for six years was successfully engaged in the general mer- bahdise business until selling out to George F. Bell. He has since lived retired from all business cares, and in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest.

Mr. C'rum was married on July 19, 1888, to Miss Eunice P. Wright, a native of Santa Cruz and daughter of Elisha and Louisa (Hanks) Wright. names Ti South Carolina and Alabama. Mr. Wright crossed the plains in 1842, Girmed in Santa Cruz county, and later in San Benito county, and died millewinter, as did also his wife. Of their eight children, seven are living. M- Foon being the sixth in order of birth. The children born to Mr. and

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In lo acebedo

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Mrs. Crum are Cora, a nurse in Los Angeles; Albert, in Oakland; Charles, of Chicago; Ralph, of Oakland; and Phillip, in Hollister. Mr. Crum is inde- pendent in politics and has served as school trustee for years very efficiently. Both he and his wife are highly esteemed for their high principles of honor and strict integrity, and have many friends throughout the county.

MANUEL C. ACEBEDO .- A man who is a successful and quite ex- tensive cattle man, as well as a native son of California of whom any com- munity might well be proud, Manuel C. Acebedo was born in the city of Mon- terey, March 3, 1869. His father, Thomas Acebedo, was one of the Argonauts who came to California in 1849 from his native land. Mexico; and he located in Monterey county, where he engaged in the stock business until his death. His wife was formerly Mary Torres, a native of Spain who came with her parents to California in 1849, and she also died in Monterey county.

Manuel was the sixth of twelve children in order of birth. He attended the public schools of the county and assisted his father on the ranch with the stock, working with a desire to learn all he could along those lines. He early learned to ride a horse, to throw the lasso, and to brand cattle, and became a good judge of stock as to quality and value. As soon as he was twenty-one, he embarked in the stock business on his own account, pur- chasing thirty-two head of cows at fifteen dollars per head ; and with these as a beginning, he has risen gradually to the position he holds today.

He leased range land in Kings county, and in due time bought the old Lowell ranch of one hundred sixty acres on the edge of that county; and this was the nucleus of his present large holdings. He branched out and increased his herd as rapidly as he could, establishing his brand, AC, the C underneath and connected with the A. He added to his land as he prospered, and now owns about twenty-five hundred acres in a body, extending a distance of five miles in length in Kings and Monterey counties. The land is adapted for the stock business, as it is well watered by springs and creeks. He is partial to the shorthorn Durhams, of which he makes a specialty.

In connection with his own ranch he leases and controls twelve thousand acres whereon roam his herds, which number from five hundred to one thou- sand head. Since 1905 he has been engaged as a cattle dealer, purchasing cattle and shipping them by carloads to his ranch from Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, buying them wherever he can find them at the right prices. As fast as the cattle are brought to good condition, he makes his sales from the ranch to the market, and has become one of the well-known and responsible stockmen of the coast section of the state.

It was at Traver, Tulare county, June 28, 1906, that the marriage uniting Mr. Acebedo with Miss Ilelen Wood, a native of Estrella, San Luis Obispo County, and a daughter of George W. Wood, was celebrated. Mr. Wood was born in Connecticut, and is a graduate of Wesleyan University of that state, where he taught school until coming to California, in 1888. Here, also, he has been engaged in educational work in San Luis Obispo County, part of the time as assistant superintendent of schools, and in various places in the state as a teacher, being now employed in that calling in Merced county. 1Ic married Jean Kerr, a native of Pittsburg. Pa., who is a graduate nurse and is matron of the Hanford Sanitarium of Hanford, Cal. Mrs. Acebedo was edu- cated in the grammar and high schools, and is a woman of broad information. Two children have been born to them, Narciso and Romeo. 34

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In 1913 Mr. Acebedo purchased his residence convenient to Shandon, where he and his family reside in order to secure good school advantages for Its lots, while he superintends his large stock interests. In political mattor- he supports men and measures of the Republican party; and to keep abreast of the times and his chosen calling he is a member of the California State ('attle Growers' Association.

PERCY JENNINGS MARGETTS .- A representative of an old family and himself born in California, on San Lorenzo ereek, San Benito county, on the Monterey county line, Perey J. Margetts is a son of Charles U. Margetts, who was born in 1848, in Northamptonshire, England, and when twenty-seven years old landed at New York, and after a few days in the metropolis came to the "Far West." He settled near Hollister, in San Benito county, and there he worked as a sheep-herder for about nineteen months, to learn the business which was so profitable at that period. He then formed a partnership with his brother-in-law. R. J. Rogers, under the firm name of Rogers & Margetts, and starting on a small seale, buying and raising sheep, became in time one of the most extensive sheep-raisers in Monterey county.

From 1876 until 1882 Mr. Margetts gave his entire time and attention to the business as superintendent ; and when the partnership was dissolved, in 1882. Mr. Margetts went to the Carissa plains in San Luis Obispo County and here also became a large sheep-raiser, both buying a ranch and leasing some twenty-five hundred acres. Thus he continued the business until 1894, when he moved his family to Templeton and located them at what he named the Nine Oaks Ranch, so called on account of nine oak trees growing from one old stump. Here Mr. Margetts purchased some land and also became interested in the Templeton Milling Company as a stockholder when the mill was being erected, and afterwards became president and manager of the concern. He was also interested in the maintenance of good schools and served as one of the members of the school board of Templeton for some time. He was prominent in the lodge of Odd Fellows, is a Republican, and a very well known man in San Luis Obispo County.

fle was twice married. On the first occasion, in 1881, he was united with Miss Eleanor H. Jennings, a native of York, England, who died August 23. 1897, at Templeton, leaving four children-Amy, Mrs. Tucker of Shandon ; Percy, the subject of this review ; Frances, Mrs. Cliff Biekell of Paso Robles; and Ethel, Mrs. Wilbur Clark of Maricopa. In 1899 Mr. Margetts was married the second time, this union being with Mrs. Josephine Matthews, who already had one son, Walter Matthews. Mr. Margetts is now living at Shandon, where he is serving as postmaster and is also engaged in the real estate and insurance business.

Percy J. Margetts, born May 2, 1884, was educated in the public schools of Templeton and raised in the live stock business from a lad, in which line he has continued his interest up to the present time, while he is also engaged W tc ming. In 1912 he was appointed roadmaster of District Number Twelve Onder Supervisor Black, and still maintains that position, having about one Tamriel miles of road to care for. He is a trustee of the Templeton school

On (, plier 7, 1909, in Santa Barbara, occurred the marriage of Percy TTmsotts with Miss Elora Yaney, who was born in Red Bluff, Cal., a Mo obbe ci Oliver Yancy, a native of Illinois, who came across the plains

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to California and settled in Tehama county ; and at Red Bluff he engaged in the mercantile business and was for some time a traveling salesman. He is now engaged in business in Chico. He was married in Colusa county to Miss Bettie Cravens, a native of Missouri, and they had six children -Myrtle, Mrs. Weeks of Red Bluff; Kate, Mrs. Edwards of Sacramento: Elora, Mrs. Margetts; Chester, in Shasta county; Glenia and Neva, both teachers in San Luis Obispo County. Mrs. Margetts attended the public schools and graduated from the high school in Red Bluff in 1900, and later from the San Jose Normal in 1902. She taught in Tehama county two years and in 1904 came to Templeton and taught four years, and is now teaching at Oak Flat.

Mr. and Mrs. Margetts have three children-Kathryn Frances, Percy Jennings, Jr., and Don Usher. Both Mr. and Mrs. Margetts are active mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and both are musically inclined, thereby becoming popular in the social circles of Templeton and vicinity.

LEONARD LAW BILTON .- The life of Leonard Law Bilton has been one of activity along various lines of business and he is an authority on values and conditions of lands throughout this section of San Luis Obispo County. A native of England, he was born on the channel at Portsmouth, January 30, 1855, a son of George and a grandson of William Bilton. The former, likewise a native of England, was a dealer in oils and colors, and died in London from the effects of a fall from a wagon. Grandfather Bilton was born in Yorkshire, was mayor of Portsmouth, and later served as Chamber- lain of the borough, and was a successful business man, a dealer in oils and colors. Great-grandfather Stenth and his four sons served in the English navy with distinction and honor. George Bilton married Eliza Law, daughter of George Law, who was an auctioneer in Portsmouth, and was a member of the council there. While attending a launching, he was run into by a butcher-boy carrying a tray, a handle of which punctured an eye, and he was made blind in that eye.

Leonard L. Bilton grew to boyhood in Portsmouth, and at the age of ten went to Southampton and stayed eight months, and then attended the pay schools in Woolwich until the age of seventeen. Then he was apprenticed to learn the dry goods trade at Dartford, his term being four years; but after he had been in the store two years, his employer died. Young Bilton then worked up in different stores until he entered the employ of William Whitely, the Universal Provider in London, a place employing from four to five thousand people, he being one of twelve employees in the furniture department. In 1882, he resigned, with excellent recommendations, and came to Texas; and at Taylor he engaged in carpentering, building and selling houses, meeting with success there until 1888, when he came to California.

After spending three weeks in San Francisco, he settled in Paso Robles and with his wife and four children located on a homestead four miles cast of Santa Margarita, and erected a house and improved the property for cultivation. Soon after that he moved into the town of Paso Robles, in order that his children might have better educational facilities, retaining the ranch and doing contracting and building in the town. In 1895, Mr. Bilton became millwright for the Sperry Flour Co., remaining with them several years, at various times doing work in Salinas at their mill there. In 1905, he bought the almond ranch of twenty-two acres on the Mountain Spring road, called

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Scenic Drive. He killed squirrels by the thousands. He operated the ranch with success, setting the balance of fifteen acres to almonds. He also had three acres of orchard and vines, which do well in this section. The resi- dence was erected under the live oaks that abound on the place, which Mr. Bilton named the Rill Ranch. He paid five hundred dollars for it at time of purchase, and in 1916 sold it for $6,000. Besides the profit in money, the ten years' experience gave him a wonderful knowledge of the almond industry and makes him an authority on the subject. He gave the develop- ment of the ranch all of his time and made a study of soil conditions as well as of the care needed for the trees and vines on the place.

In Bishopsgate Church, London, England, occurred the marriage of Leonard Law Bilton with Miss Mary Gray, the ceremony being performed by the curate, Rev. Rogers. Mrs. Bilton was born at Bishopsgate, a daugh- ter of John and Slaney (Richards) Gray. Of this union seven children have been born, three of them in California. Herbert, when seventeen years of age, was accidentally killed by a Southern Pacific train at Paso Robles; Percy is buyer for Brown Bros. Hardware Co., in San Francisco; Estella is an employee of the Paso Robles Record; Ada, a twin sister of Estella, is a graduate of the State Normal at San Jose and teaches near Santa Mar- garita ; Mable is a graduate of the high school at Paso Robles and is serving as assistant postmaster ; Leonard, a high school graduate, is proprietor of a billiard hall; and Nettie, also a graduate from the Paso Robles high school, is a musician in piano and voice, and is also with the Record. In political mat- ters Mr. Bilton is a Socialist.

CLARK SHERWOOD SMITH .- One of the leading business men of Paso Robles is Clark S. Smith. He was born in Lee county, Ill., June 22, 1871, a son of Henry B. Smith (whose sketch is given elsewhere in this work), and was reared and educated in the schools at Walnut, Ill. When fourteen years old he accompanied his parents to California. They settled in San Luis Obispo County, and he finished the grammar school at Creston. At the age of nineteen, he went to Oakland and for three years was. employed in the hardware store of C. B. Rice on Thirteenth avenue, East Oakland. Later he came to Paso Robles, and to Cambria, where he had a repair shop.

In 1894, he started the nucleus of his present large enterprise on Spring street, moving later to more commodious quarters on Park street, and in 1896 to his present location on Park street near Twelfth. He made a specialty at first of repairing guns and bicycles, later putting in a stock of guns for renting and a stock of sporting goods ; and has increased his stock from scar to year as occasion demanded. He handles a full line of fishing tackle und rents bicycles, and has a warehouse for storage of surplus goods. He In owns a twenty-three acre ranch adjoining his father's place one mile withwest from town.

The following article, which appeared in the Sporting Goods Dealer of SY Luis, and was reprinted in several magazines in the East, especially in ( h co 3 mnd Duluth, will show the development of business that has occu- poco the after tion of Mr. Smith for more than twenty years in Paso Robles :

workout in Paso Robles, Cal .. C. S. Smith is conducting a sporting Goode Un-Thes on a large scale. Paso Robles isn't the largest town in Cali- morin, or fther i Smith's store the largest sporting goods store in California, The moon wager your chances of escaping the warm hereafter that Smith

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 73

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