History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 74

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 74

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is doing a greater volume of business, population considered, than any other sporting goods dealer in the state.

"He buys Red P ammunition in lots that would stagger some of the big fellows, and some might doubt this if we didn't have the evidence.

"This business was established more than twenty years ago, and Smith has been hammering away ever since. He doesn't let up a minute. He has built up a wonderful trade in ammunition by giving the sportsmen what they want. He thinks first of satisfying his customer. If they have any pet loads they can't find anywhere else, they know Smith will have them. It is not uncommon for orders to travel two hundred or three hundred miles to this store for ammunition.

"But ammunition isn't all that is sold in this store. There is a full line of sporting goods. Smith's gun department would make that of many a dealer in large cities look puny and shrivel up in comparison, because it is 'some department.'

"How does he do such a big business in such a small town? Ask Smith and he will tell you his success is due to the fact that he makes every effort to please his customers, and says the profits will take care of themselves.

"When C. S. Smith first opened a sporting goods store in Paso Robles he found it necessary to have his Peters ammunition shipped direct from the factory in Cincinnati. In those days there were no wholesale stocks on the coast. Before handling factory shells 'Quick Shot' empties were rushed from Cincinnati, and Smith, using a hand-loading outfit, did much of the work of loading himself. Many sportsmen loaded their own shells, but later hand loading was discontinued save for the few who could not find what they wanted in a loaded shell, and the factory-made shells were stocked.

"The business has grown like a mushroom, and prosperity has been Smith's. When Smith started in busienss it wasn't a cut and dry propo- sition. He knew that much game was to be found in that section, and he immediately started a campaign for the business of the hunters. He taught them that Peters shells were superior to all others and today it is said that more game is killed with Peters shells in the vicinity of Paso Robles than is killed by all other brands of shells combined. .

"A study of the interior of the Smith store will readily convince you that he is a firm believer in the helps sent out by the manufacturers. It is evi- dent that he doesn't throw them under the counter or into the waste basket. The hangers are put out where they can be seen.

"The interior view of the store shows its owner. A careful examination will show that he is doing something with his right index finger. Friends who have examined the picture say he is giving a pointer on the kind of ammunition to buy and where to use it. The Smith store is clean and orderly-every corner of it. It isn't that way only when it poses for a pic- ture, but is in trim all the time.

"In addition to playing to the fancy of the hunter the Smith store has a fishing tackle department that is good to look upon. There is nothing in the tackle line that cannot be found in the Smith store."

C. S. Smith was married in Paso Robles to Miss Olive Wright, a native of Santa Clara county, a daughter of II. G. Wright, editor of The Leader. and they are the parents of five children: Ilarry, who died at the age of ten, and Rosabelle, Maude, Meredith, and Clark M.

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Mr. Smith is a member of San Luis Obispo Lodge No. 322, B. P. O. Elks, and . Santa Lucia Lodge No. 350, I. O. O. F., in which he served as Noble Grand in 1899, and of which he has been treasurer for fourteen years. He is a member and Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment, of which he has been treasurer for fourteen years; and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs, and of the Fraternal Brotherhood. He is a charter mein- ber of the Knights of Pythias and is president of the I. O. O. F. Hall Asso- aation and Cemetery Association.

Mr. Smith is a Republican and a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce. He is also deputy fish and game commissioner. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Church, of which he was a trustee for ten years, and is now a member of the official board.

BENJAMIN REED SMITH .- A life full of adventure and travel has been the lot of B. R. Smith, the well-known liveryman of Paso Robles. Born in Dellsboro, Dearborn county, Ind., the third child in a family of six born to Ralph and Sarah (Reed) Smith, Mr. Smith spent his boyhood days on the home farm, receiving his education in the public schools of that vicinity. His mother was a native of Maryland ; and his father was born in Dearborn county, Indiana.

When twenty-one years of age he decided to see other parts of the country, and went to Missouri and from there to Iowa. After about a year in those states, he returned to Indiana and, after a short stay there, went to Kansas and began riding the cattle ranges, whence he drifted into Texas and drove cattle over Chisholm trail, and the Wichita and Dodge City trail, through the Panhandle country, for about three years, meeting with many adventures.

His next move was to New Mexico, where he took up freighting and drove a ten-mule team out of Santa Fe to Fort Wingate, continuing this hard and dangerous employment for three years. The Indians, Apaches and Cheyennes, were a danger always to be reckoned with in those days, especially in that locality, and in one encounter they captured some of the mules, but Mr. Smith and his men escaped.

After completing their work in New Mexico, he next went to Denver, Colo., with the outfit and was employed on the Denver and New Orleans Railway, serving as foreman of grading and construction work for one year. From there he went to Kansas City, where occurred his marriage with Miss Alice L. Smith, a native of Ripley county, Ind., but who was reared near Kansas City. They came to Glendora, Cal .. in February, 1882, where Mr. Smith engaged in ranching one year. He then went to Riverside and took Why horticulture and alfalfa-raising, and bought different properties, which he mbro ed and later sold. He also was interested in the cattle business, ship- un attle from Arizona to Riverside and Los Angeles. In 1904 he located Mileydes, in which city he was occupied in the real estate business and bock.

FROMME to Peso Robles in 1912, Mr. Smith purchased the livery stable 1 Mit ts, his many years of experience in handling horses and cattle While business and making for success. He runs a feed and sale .011 & #. tal sells horses, as well as breaking them.

& The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith four children have been born : L in Sacramento: Ralph, residing in Los Angeles; and Grace

a loome. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Independent

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Our & hos Jesse T. Rutherford

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Order of Odd Fellows and Encampment since twenty-one years of age. He is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabecs. In politics he is a Republican.

JESSE T. RUTHERFORD .- A native son of California, the late Jesse T. Rutherford was born in Watsonville, September 22, 1866, a son of Aaron and Mary (Cook) Rutherford. The father crossed the plains in an early day from his native state, Missouri, and became interested in farming, locating at first near San Jose, then at Watsonville, and later at Avila, San Luis Obispo County. He sold out some years later and moved to Fresno, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mrs. Rutherford was also a native of Missouri and is now living in Fresno.

Jesse T. Rutherford was the fourth child in a family of nine, and was reared principally in San Luis Obispo County, attending the schools of the Avila section. He learned the trade of machinist and engineer, and was employed principally in the latter capacity for different companies along the coast until his marriage on December 24, 1901, to Miss Mollie Jones, a native of Berryville, Ark., and a daughter of James L. and Catherine E. (Smith) Jones, natives of Missouri and Tennessee respectively, the ceremony taking place near Shandon.

At the time of the discovery of gold in California the Jones family came across the plains with ox-teams, and in the same train was the late Mrs. Tennessee Andrews of San Luis Obispo. Two years later they returned to Arkansas, where Mr. Jones farmed until 1873, when he once more brought his family to this state and for a time settled at Cambria. Soon afterwards he located in the Adelaida section, and later homesteaded in McMillan's cañon. Having improved his place, he sold it, to buy a tract on the Cholame near Shandon, where he lived until he retired, his last days being spent with his daughter. When he died he was sixty-six years old.

Mrs. Rutherford was the third child in a family of five and was educated in the public schools. After her marriage with her husband, they spent sev- eral years in the San Joaquin valley, and on their return to Shandon they began ranching. Mrs. Rutherford had pre-empted eighty acres in the Eagle district, which she kept until 1916, when she sold it. When they came back from the San Joaquin valley, Mr. Rutherford homesteaded near Shandon, leasing other land besides, and carried on general farming and stock-rais- ing, continuing to enlarge his herds until 1907, when he sold out and bought the McNeil place of three hundred twenty acres. There he maintained the stock industry with increasing success, until his death, on September 25. 1915, as the result of an automobile accident. After his death, Mrs. Ruther- ford ran the place; and in December, 1915, she added to her holdings by purchase of the George Brown ranch of three hundred ninety-six acres in Tucker cañon. She moved onto this, and is carrying on a large stock business by leasing range land and operating about fifteen hundred acres. She also raises grain, principally wheat, putting in about two hundred seventy five acres each year.

The Rutherford place, located nine miles cast of Shandon, is watered by springs, streams and wells, and is well adapted for the stock business. The brand, an M and an R connected by a bar, is well known among stockmen and range riders. Mrs. Rutherford makes a specialty of shorthorn Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs.

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Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford three children were born. Belle, Mrs. Hughes, lives on a ranch in the San Joaquin valley; Edward LeRoy farms with his mother ; and Theodore is also at home. In fraternal circles, Mrs. Rutherford is a member of the American Yeomen. She is a member of the Methodist Church, and in national politics is a Democrat.

JOHN HUDSON .- It may be that the desire to maintain the traditions of an enviable ancestry has influenced the life and work of John Hudson, since his family were represented among the pioneers of 1845 in California, in the vanguard of that horde of immigrants that crossed the trackless desert with teams of slow-moving oxen drawing the old prairie schooners with their loads of precious human freight; for many of the hardy pioneers brought with them, to share their dangers and successes, their wives and children. He was a son of Andrew J. Hudson, who was born in Missouri and who accom- panied his father, William Hudson, across the plains to California in 1844, when he was a lad of only eight years. William Hudson wintered en route, and arrived in this state in May of 1845, settling near Sacramento for a time, and then went to Sonoma county and was living there when the Bear Flag party was organized and the flag was raised over Old Sonoma. He acted as a scout during the troublous times when Fremont was trying to win the territory of California for the United States. He had one brother. David Hudson, who was First Lieutenant of the California Volunteers. William Hudson was a gunsmith by trade, but followed mining and stock-raising in California, and died at Napa.

Andrew J. Hudson grew to manhood amid the trying times of the frontier when there were lawless bands roving all over the settled and rich portions of the state, and was educated in the primitive schools of the early day. He was a butcher by trade, and was married in Lake county to Sarah Burtnett, who was born in Springfield, Ill., and came across the plains in 1863 with her parents and settled in Lake county. After her marriage she went with her husband to Napa county. They lived there until 1867, when, with his wife and one child, he came to San Luis Obispo County and settled north of San Luis Obispo, where he was engaged in farming. In 1869 he bought a ranch north of Cayucos, where he took up butchering and stock- raising. In 1876 he made another move, this time to a ranch that he had purchased five miles west of Templeton; which consisted of five hundred twenty-five acres ; and here he followed stock-raising and dairying until his death in 1907. at the age of seventy-three years. His wife passed away in 1899. They were parents of eight children, six of whom are now living. These eight children are William, living near Templeton ; John, the subject pi this review : Harry, near Templeton; Tina, who lives near Paso Robles; Carol, Mrs. J. L. Reynolds, also of Paso Robles; Emma, Mrs. Gates, who died at Templeton in April, 1914: Burt, in Tehama county ; and Ernest, who Was accidentally killed by being hit with a derrick fork on a threshing ma- M&mc. August 10, 1916.

lohn Hudson, the second child in his father's family, was born on Weust 28, 1870, on his father's ranch near Cayucos. He attended the pub- Tools of that section, where he was reared on the home place and early I mel the details of successful ranching. He also learned the trade of car- In 1804, he left home and went to San Francisco, remaining there whooth we year : Then he went to Los Angeles and soon after into Ventura

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county, where his grandfather, Peter Burtnett, was living. He assisted him one year and then settled for several years near Templeton as foreman on a stock ranch. His next employment was as foreman of the warehouse for the Templeton Milling Co. and he held this position ten years, since which time he has followed contracting and building, meeting with success in his work. He also served as administrator of the estates of his father, of his sister, Mrs. Emma Gates, and of his brother Ernest Hudson, and all of these very responsible duties he has discharged with infinite care and accuracy in every detail. He is a man who makes and holds friends, and has a wide acquaintance throughout the county.

Mr. Hudson was united in marriage in Templeton with Miss Effie J. Kemp, who was born in Maryland, and they have three children-John Charles and Eva J., who are both attending the Paso Robles high school in the class of 1918; and Chestina Elizabeth. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Hudson votes independently. He is a fine type of self-made man, generous, just and intelligent, well-posted on all topics of the day, and with his wife enjoys the hospitality of a host of friends.

GEORGE W. LINGO .- Pleasant it is to observe in comfortable retire- ment those who, like George W. Lingo, the highly-respected pioneer, have won their right to years of rest and enjoyment after years of fatiguing labor in which they made their contribution to the growth of the State. A native of Randolph county, Mo., where he was born on March 25, 1833, his father was Samuel Lingo, a Carolinian who came to Missouri by way of Tennessee, and who was thus one of the very early pioneers in Randolph county. When he died his honored dust reposed in the soil of Macon county, of the same state. His mother was a Miss Sarah Smith, a native of the Carolinas, and has been for years deceased.

George was the fifth eldest of twelve children; was brought up on a farm and sent to a public school of the typical old log-house pattern ; and in 1850, when but seventeen years of age, crossed the great plains with an ox- team with his father, and commenced mining near Coloma, which he con- tinued until 1854. In the meantime, in 1852, his father had returned to Missouri, and it was not until twenty years later that George made him a visit in the east. In 1854, the young man took up farming near Stockton. buying a ranch and raising grain and hay ; and later he traded that place for cattle and ran them free upon the plains. Ten years after he set up farming at Stockton he lost everything he possessed, but with typical courage he commenced his business career over again.

In 1867 he came to San Luis Obispo County, and in 1868 built the Cambria Hotel, the first hostelry seen in Cambria, which he managed for ten years until he sold it. He then homesteaded a hundred sixty acres near Pozo, and pre-empted eighty more, and when he had these two hundred forty acres in good shape, he went into the raising of grain and general farming. He rented more land, and ran a dairy ; and those were, indeed, days when the dairyman earned all that he received, for one had to pan and skim the milk as well as churn by hand. He continued on his ranch until 1908, when he sold out and retired to Santa Margarita, where he bought the fourteen lots on which stands his residence.

At Staples Ferry, in San Joaquin county, Mr. Lingo married Miss Patience Epperly, who was born in Randolph county, Mo., on September 9. 1833, a

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daughter of Solomon and Phoebe (Gibson) Epperly, who crossed the plains in 1852, and were natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Kentucky. Four children blessed this union: Mary A., now Mrs. R. P. Merrill, who lives at home; Elizabeth E., later Mrs. Cotter, who died here; Margaret A., now Mrs. M. A. Newsom, who lives at Holbrook, Arizona; and George Francis, who also resides with his parents. For forty years Mr. Lingo has been a member of the Odd Fellows, and is now associated with the Chorro Lodge at San Luis Obispo, of which he is a past grand. Mr. and Mrs. Lingo are members of the Rebekahs.

JAMES PEDROTTA .- The pioneer blacksmith of Cayucos, James Pe- drotta, was born in Golino, canton Ticino, Switzerland, March 9, 1855, and for several years attended the public schools of his village. When he was thirteen years old he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, and for three years served without pay while he lived at home. The next four years he worked as a journeyman in the same shop where he had learned the trade. It was natural that he should be an apt pupil, as his father, Louis, and grandfather, Joseph A., had also followed the trade for many years. Louis Pedrotta, the father, left Switzerland and came to California, settling in Napa City, where he worked at his trade from 1866 until 1872, when he returned to Switzerland, where he continued to make his home until his death.

It was in 1876, four years after his father's return, that James Pedrotta concluded to come to California. Leaving home, he embarked for the United States and, after an uneventful voyage and trip across the continent, arrived safely in St. Helena. Instead of taking up his trade at that time he went to work on a ranch. it being his first experience in that vocation. He did not like the change, and after a time found work for four years at his trade in Rutherford. After this he came to San Luis Obispo County and was em- ployed in the shop owned by P. Sherman in Cambria from February, 1884, until June, 1886.

On July 1, of that year, he came to Cayucos and opened a shop of his own, where he is to be found at the present time, and where he has built up a very profitable trade. His shop is equipped with all modern conveniences known to the trade, and he takes pride in efficient workmanship. Besides running the shop he is local agent for the John Deere Plow Co. and for the Peter Schuttler Farm Truck.

For more than twenty-five years Mr. Pedrotta has been local agent of the Swiss Mutual Benefit Society of Cayucos. He is a member and Past Grand of Cayucos Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is also a member and past officer of the U. A. O. D., of Cayucos. Since becoming a citizen of the United States, on July 13, 1888, he has voted the Republican ticket and has beth interested in all movements for the upbuilding of the county.

On June 20, 1886, Mr. Pedrotta was united in marriage, in Cayucos, Obispo County, with Miss Assunta Bombardieri, who was born Canton Ticino, Switzerland, on September 20, 1859, and they are the following children: Elvezia, Mrs. Garzoli, of McFarland, Hiina, Mrs. Ambrogio, of Snelling, California ; Flora, Mrs. Sprea- by e-ad Luis Obispo: Louis, who is assisting his father ; Edna, deceased ; 4. Gilda, James and Frank. After Mr. Pedrotta had succeeded I. v -le took his family for a trip back to his old home, and it was food ale vil cir daughter Edna passed away.

James Pedrotti

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HENRY SYKES .- A resident of California since 1883, Henry Sykes has seen a wonderful transformation in the state since that date, having himself been interested in its agricultural development and its general prosperity. He was born in Philadelphia, February 3, 1833, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Grace ) Sykes, natives of England, who came separately to this country, where they met and married. Mr. Sykes settled in Philadelphia long before that city had attained any greatness, and was employed in a dye factory. They had ten children born to them, of whom six grew up and three are now living ; and one of Henry's brothers, John Sykes, served in a Colorado regiment during the Civil War and now resides in that state.

When a child, the parents of Henry Sykes moved to Gloucester county, N. J., and settled on a farm, and he remained at home until he was twenty- three. The nearest school was three miles away ; and since his services were needed on the farm, he had but little time for schooling. The school house was made of logs with slabs for benches, and was a primitive affair. In 1856, he left home and went to Illinois, worked in Shelby county, and then went on to Kansas, where he spent some time. When the war broke out he returned to Illinois and worked by the month ; and then, in October, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Springfield. He served in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, through the Carolinas and Virginia, and was wounded in the thigh on April 6, 1862, at the battle of Shiloh. After leaving the hospital, he rejoined his regiment. He was in the campaign leading to Atlanta and was at the taking of Savannah. He veteranized at Bentonville, went to Natchez, was mustered out in Fort Worth, Kan., and took part in the Grand Review at the close of the war. During his term of enlistment, he had many narrow escapes, but fortunately came out of the struggle with only one wound. He was sent back to Springfield, where he was honorably discharged as corporal.

After the war was over Mr. Sykes took a trip back to New Jersey to visit his parents, then went to Douglas county, Kan., and there was united in marriage with Sarah Lucinda Kelley, a native of Indiana. He at once engaged in farming eight miles from Baldwin City. He bought raw land, broke the prairie and began raising corn and hogs. While living there he saw two crops eaten up by grasshoppers. In 1883, he sold his place and came to California; and locating at El Monte, he purchased one hundred twenty acres and farmed it one year. Then he sold out and went to Pomona, and from there to Marietta, San Diego county, where he farmed for a time. after which he bought an apple orchard and raised apples in Soquel, Santa Cruz county, whither he had removed. He continued that line of horticulture until 1912, when he sold out and retired to San Luis Obispo County, where he now lives in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He is prominent in the Methodist Church, as he has been since the war, and liberally supports the various organizations in the church.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sykes twelve children were born. Mary A. has become Mrs. Baxter at Hemet ; Harvey A. is at Olive. Sarah J., Mrs. Tower, lives at Corona ; Grace F., Mrs. North, is now in Fulare : the home of Amos J. is in Marietta : Jane \ .. Mrs. Preston, is in San Bernardino : Rose M., Mrs. Culp, hails from Fullerton ; Alice B. is Mrs. Haney of 104 Angeles ; Mabel B. has become Mrs. William Allred of Spreckels ; Lois M. is Mrs. A. Warren Allred, also of Spreckels : Walter 1. resides at Paso Robles;

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and Enie. Mrs. Wilcox, is well known in Oxnard. The children have all enjoyed good educational advantages, having attended the public schools, and they have prepared themselves to take their places in the world of business and society.

GEORGE LOUIS FEIFER MICHELSON .- As might be expected of one who has spent his entire life in California, George Louis F. Michelson is a patriotic son of the Golden State and ardently champions all measures looking towards the development of the commonwealth. He was born in Oakland, on January 18. 1861, a son of Michael and Jensina ( Feifer) Michel- son. His father was a sailor and mate under his father-in-law, Captain George Nielsen Feifer, who was master of a vessel that rounded Cape Horn in 1849, bound for California. Captain Feifer had his family with him and they lived on the store ship "Cadmus." While on a trip to China, Mr. and Mrs. Michelson were married by a Swedish missionary. Michael Michelson continued to follow the sea and in 1850 ran the old Southern Pacific steamer "Louise" on the bay from the foot of Market street to the foot of Broadway in Oakland. He had received his papers as master mariner and continued to fol- low the sea until he retired on account of his health. He was always in the best of humor when it was stormy and was a strictly temperate man, always dependable in a crisis, and held the confidence of his men, from whom he demanded obedience. He was wrecked once on the ocean, but all on board were saved.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 74

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