USA > California > San Luis Obispo County > History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches > Part 79
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Of the eight children in this family. Josiah Freeman was the third in order of birth, and from a boy in Texas he rode the range after cattle and farmed, attending the public school in pursuit of an education. In 1903, he went to Globe, Ariz., and led the life of a cowboy there until 1905, when he came to California and settled near Bradley with a "snug" sum of five dollars as his total financial backing. He was able, however, to borrow money, and with a brother. R. D. Freeman, he rented the Fallman place of 1,700 acres and engaged in raising grain and stock combined. Three and one-half years netted him a handsome profit, and he soll his interest to his brother and with his money came and bought a three hundred twenty acre ranch in the vicinity of Paso Robles, which he conducted until 1914, since which time he has rented it to his brother, M. Il. Freeman. Going back to Bradley, he again leased land and raised grain and stock, but sold the lease and returned to Paso Robles. Ilere he rented the Dresser place, which he is operating, having three hundred fifty acres in wheat and barley, and devoting the balance of the eight hundred acres to raising horses, mules and cattle. He has been meeting with very good success, and gives the enterprise his undivided attention.
Mr. Freeman allied himself by marriage with one of the pioneer families of this section when he was united in wedlock to Emma Christensen, daughter of Abraham Christensen (whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work). She was born in Vineyard Canon, Monterey county, and completed her education in Paso Robles. They have one son, Walter Francis. Politic- ally Mr. Freeman believes in the principles of the Socialist party.
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WILLIAM ORLANDO DRESSER .- A strain of good old English blood manifesting itself eventually in the most creditable display of American patriotism contributed to bring William Orlando Dresser into prominence in the honored Grand Army of the Republic, and to render him a popular resi- dlent of Paso Robles, as he is likewise an enthusiastic advocate of everything making for the progress of San Luis Obispo County. His grandfather was a linen draper of London, and in the great world's metropolis his father, William Dresser, was born and educated, receiving instruction particularly in the field of astronomy. William Dresser was among the early lecturers on the won- ders of the solar system, appearing in public both in England and in America. His education included technical training, also, in the art of the photog- rapher, and this enabled him to make his own lantern slides and to devise the most unique and instructive kind of platform entertainment. Three fires having affected the family's fortunes, he came to the United States and in Illinois tried his hand as a farmer, plying his trade as a photographer, and now and then lecturing to audiences on astronomy.
In 1850, he crossed the plains, using pack horses and saddles, and for four years sought to improve his fortunes at the mines in Hangtown, and in Jackson, Amador county. In 1854, he returned to the East by way of Panama ; but the desire to return to California possessed him ; and in November, 1860, he arrived at Sacramento, with his family, after another arduous trip across the plains. He and his party had left Rockford, Ill., in the fall of 1859. driving their horses and wagons as far as the Pawnee river, Fort Scott, Kan., where they wintered until the following spring. They then started in reality to cross the plains, using oxen and cows to draw their wagons, outfitting once or twice between the Republican river and the Platte, when they lost part of their equipment. At length they struck the overland trail, and arriving in the Golden State, settled in Yolo county. The elder Dresser took up and improved government lands : and at the same time, with the aid of his magic lantern, he lectured on his favorite theme, the stars. He later went to Tulare county, and there acquired some land, which he worked until he retired to Santa Ana, where he died. William's mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Jenks, and who was an Ohioan by birth, died in Illinois in 1854.
William O. Dresser was born at Beloit, Wis., on May 11, 1847, and ttended school near Rockford, Il., and at other places as the family moved West and after they had reached Yolo county, for the lad was but thirteen When he crossed the wide Continent. The other four children in the family Were . Albert, who lives in Santa Ana: Charles, who resides in Hollywood: 1. How Mrs. Dunning, of Ceres; and Emma, who became Mrs. Baxter, mi Show deceased. On his way across the plains, William (). Dresser, Iwy though he was, drove the ox teams for weeks, his part in the labor com- ppg wyMl with that of his ellers.
In California, he remained at home with his father until he was twenty- ore 101 1| 1879 he went to Stanislaus county, where he located near Modesto, Genuine wo grain and alfalfa and running a first class dairy. The latter he El pol aloe meed to Merced county, where he purchased a ranch near m'ont nl ereaged in raising grain and stock. His next removal was in 1 4 Janbe purchased part of the Eureka ranch on the Huer-Huero, four unless bron Son Rables. This he did not take personal possession of at once. but for - side rental it to others. Ile made a practice of renting some of
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his property, and even now has some three thousand acres let out. On one of his properties he had the first flowing well ; and this he made the most of, coupling with it many other improvements. The brick house built there was the original Linne post office, although that has now been moved across the hill. For many years he has been a stockholder, director and vice- president of the Citizens Bank of Paso Robles. In the middle of the eighties, Mr. Dresser moved to Modesto, and there he remained for seven years.
In 1894, he bought his residence on Spring street in Paso Robles, and there he has resided since. With him are his family, enjoying the comfortable and attractive home. On September 21, 1875, at Florin, in Sacramento county, he had married Miss Mary M. Rickey, a native of Gallia county, Ohio. Her father was Brice Rickey, who married Ellen Wright, a Penn- sylvanian, who came to Brown county, Ill. From there Miss Rickey migrated with her parents in 1870 to Florin, where she lived until she was married. Seven children were born of this union, six of whom are still living. Dr. Ralph O. Dresser, a graduate of the University of California, practices medicine in Paso Robles; Miss Bertha Dresser is a trained nurse at the Fair- mount Hospital, in San Francisco; Nellie, Mrs. Clarence Brewster, is a graduate nurse and resides in Portland, Ore .; William Rollo Dresser assists his father on the ranch : Ruby has become Mrs. Frank Cummings, of Rexall Heights, Paso Robles; Sadie is now Mrs. Roy Warden, of the same town; while Irvin was accidentally killed on a hunting trip when nineteen years old
For ten years, from 1896 to 1900, Mr. Dresser was a member of the Board of Education, and also clerk of the board, and for the same period he was city trustee, ceasing his connection only when he insisted on resigning. Mr. Dresser was formerly a stanch Democrat, but is now an Independent. He was for many years a member of Grant Post No. 9, G. 1. R., Modesto, of which he is Past Post Commander. During the Civil War, William (. Dresser, when only seventeen years of age, volunteered under the Union flag, and joined the 4th California Volunteer Infantry Regiment, but he was disap- pointed in his ambition to see service on the firing line against the Confed- crates, for the Government sent his regiment into Northern California to fight the Indians. Mr. and Mrs. Dresser are a delightful couple, with whom it is a pleasure to meet.
Since this biography was written his family have been bereaved of Mr. Dresser, who passed away on Sunday evening, October 29, 1916, loved, esteemed and mourned by his dear ones and all who knew him.
HERBERT E. LEISY .- Among the rising young men who are showing themselves industrious and capable in whatever line of business they have entered, we find Herbert E. Leisy, a man of native ability, tact and energy. Ile was born at Donelson, Lee county, Ia., October 24, 1890, the son of a native of the German Fatherland, Abraham Leisy, whose wife was Elisabeth Gram. Both were farmers in Iowa, and now reside, retired. at Paso Robles.
The youngest of five children, Herbert was reared in fowa, attended the public schools there, and came to Paso Robles first in the fall of 1912, when he entered the employ of the Paso Robles Mercantile Co., taking a clerkship in their grocery department. On March 1. 1914, he resigned to engage in the wholesale and retail handling of grain, flour, feed, hay and fuel. Not many months elapsed before the enterprise and integrity of Leisy & Lovgren
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were widely and well recognized ; the Paso Robles feed store on Park street, near Twelfth and Central, of which he was manager, becoming the head- quarters for farmers' and gardeners' needs and, as the largest business of its kind in this vicinity, affording an exceptional variety and selection. He con- tinued in management of that business until January 1, 1917, when he dis- posed of his interest to his partner and accepted a position with Bryan's Ex- press Co., in charge of their automobile truck.
Independent in politics, Mr. Leisy is a man who does his own thinking and votes according to his own ideas. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, enthusiastically supporting progressive measures.
FRANK PERINONI .- The dairy industry has been followed with a great deal of success in San Luis Obispo County, and great credit should be given those men of foreign birth who have devoted their active lives towards building up that industry from its infancy. To no one is more credit due than to Frank Perinoni of Cayucos, for he has followed that line of activity ever since he landed in California.
He was born at Someo, canton Ticino, Switzerland, April 3, 1848, and attended the public schools of his native district until he was fourteen years old. He assisted his parents on their home place until seventeen years of age, and then embarked for the United States with California as his goal. Arrived here, he went at once to Marin county, in April, 1865. He could not speak the English language, nor did he know how business was carried on in his new home; but with perseverance he set to work for his brother James, who had come some time before, and was engaged in the dairy busi- ness and offered him wages. He worked for various people until 1870, when he received on offer to drive three hundred head of cattle to San Luis Obispo County. This he accepted, and it took about twenty days to make the trip to San Simeon. He was pleased with the country, decided to remain and soon found employment with a dairyman. He did not remain long there, however, but taking his savings engaged in dairying with a partner at Guadalupe, they being the first Swiss to embark in the business at that place. They milked about one hundred cows and continued there three years. After this he sold out and located at Cambria, and two years later, in 1875, moved to Cayucos.
For one year Mr. Perinoni worked for Peter Tognazzini, and in 1877 went to Morro, where he once more took up the business for himself on leased land. In 1882 he bought his first piece of land at Guadalupe, where he had gone at an earlier period. This property consisted of seven hundred fifty-three acres, well adapted to dairying. For twenty-two years he re- mained a resident of that section, and acquired considerable means. le felt it a duty he owed his parents to visit them again, and so he sold out and made "i third trip to his native land.
On his return to California, he located near Newman, Stanislaus county. purchasing one hundred fifty-three acres of fine land, and there he raised dialfa and conducted a dairy for two years, building up a fine property, which he then sold to good advantage. Thereupon he returned to Cayucos, where he rented eight hundred acres ; but he later sold out and went to a ranch near Modesto, which he leased for four months. In 1913 he again returned to San Luis Obispo County and located in Cayucos, where he has since lived, retired, enjoying the fruits of his labor. In 1909 he erected a
addolorata Primoni
I Terinoni
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two-story concrete store building in Cayucos, now occupied as a general mer- chandise store by his son-in-law, Ellis Tomasini, who is also the postmaster.
Mr. Perinoni was united in marriage in San Luis Obispo County, March 13, 1882, with Miss Addolorata Giovanotti, who was born October 3, 1863, in Civio, Switzerland, and who came to this county in 1881. Of this union five children have been born. Flora resides with her parents; Savina, Mrs. Valente Guerra, and Sila, Mrs. Ellis Tomasini, are both living in Cayucos ; Mark and Frank are both deceased. To his children he has given edu- cational advantages and a good start in life. From this résumé of his life, it will be seen that he started with nothing, and was handicapped by not being able to speak English ; but that by hard work and good business man- agement and honest dealings, he has won deserved success. Mr. Perinoni has never cared for politics, but votes the Republican ticket at national elec- tions, although for local offices he supports the man he considers best qual- ified to fill the position. He is a member of the U. . 1. O. D.
ARTHUR C. CHURCHILL .- A native son of California with the true western spirit of hospitality inherited from his pioneer parents, Arthur C. Churchill has won a place for himself in the business life of San Luis Obispo County as agent for the S. P. Milling company at Templeton. He was born in Watsonville, March 15, 1884, a, son of Charles C. and Ellen (Gorham) Churchill, natives of Morristown, Vt., and Walnut Creek, Cal., respectively. The former, a blacksmith by trade, enlisted for service in the Civil War, but was rejected on account of his youth, he being then but fifteen. In 1871 he came to California and, locating at Walnut Creek, Contra Costa county, followed his trade until 1875, when he took up his residence in Watsonville and started a shop which in time grew to be the largest blacksmithing forge in the city, and where he carried on his trade for thirty years, until he sold out in 1905 and moved to San Jose. Ilis wife was a daughter of William Gorham, a native of Illinois, who crossed the plains to this state in 1856. On the maternal side, Mr: Churchill is connected with the Allens. His grandmother, Melissa Allen, started across the plains with her parents in 1846; her father died on the Platte river, when she was ten years old, but her mother finished the trip to this state with her small children and settled in Walnut Creek, where she married Judge Elam Brown in that same year. Mr. and Mrs. Gorham died in Watsonville.
The youngest of the two children born to his parents, A. C. Churchill grew up in Watsonville, attended the public and high schools, graduating in 1902 from the San Jose high school, and then entered the Pacific Coast Business College at San Jose, from which he graduated in 1903. He next secured a position with the First National Bank for a short time, and later with J. II. Flickinger Co. In 1904 he entered the employ of the S. P. Willing Company as utility man, and in 1909 was made agent at this place, which position he has filled with efficiency since June 20, 1909.
Mr. Churchill was married in Santa Barbara to Emma F. Dosev, who was born in San Jose, and their four children are Stanley, Kenneth, Raymond and Lillian. Mr. Churchill is financial secretary of the local Board of Trade. is fire commissioner for Templeton district, is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and politically is a Republican. He is a self made man, genial. free-hearted and successful, and has many friends.
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GRACIANO CASTILLO .- How intimately the threads of California's lastory are interwoven with the social and political fabrie of historic and romantic of Spain is well illustrated in the biography of such families as that of Graciano Castillo, who is proud of his American citizenship and also proud that Spanish blood flows in his veins. Grandfather Castillo was born in the famous town of Castile, Spain, and settled in Mexico. His son, Juan Castillo, was born in Mexico and came to California in very early days. Soon after arriving on the northern coast he settled near Avila beach, where he took up a farm which he held until he died. About the same time he married, at Los Angeles, Gargonia Ocaño, who was also a native of Mexico. A family of sixteen children resulted, two of whom are still living, and Graciano was the second eldest. He was brought up on his father's farm and educated at the public schools ; but when he had reached the age of twelve he began to work for the P. C. Railway running between San Luis Obispo and Port Harford. He was their water boy, and continued in this work for one year, after which for three years he was in the service of the steamship company at their Port Harford wharf, where better pay and more agreeable labor attracted him. When he quit he bought an acre of land at Avila beach, near the spot where he was born on June 1, 1865 ; and there built and entered into business for himself. When he sold out, he removed to Paso Robles and engaged in the wholesale liquor trade. The confinement of the place, however, was not favorable to his health, and once more he disposed of what he had and changed his mode of living.
On April 1, 1890, at San Luis Obispo, Mr. Castillo was united in marriage with Mrs. Lottie Margaret (Gillikin) Marshall, who was born in Placer- ville, Cal. She was the daughter of Andrew J. Gillikin, who was sent out to California as an official, and came across the plains in an ox-team train in 1847. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and was of Scotch de- scent. He was interested in the famous Comstock Mine, in the days of Mackay, Flood and O'Brien, and was a friend of the late "Lucky" Baldwin. ller father thus made and lost large fortunes, although he was a wealthy man at the time of his death in Portland on November 28, 1879. Her mother was Margaret J. Hanson, who was born in Maine on June 14, 1829, daughter of Captain Paul Ilanson, and came to San Francisco by way the Isthinus of Panama in 1852. Before her marriage, Mrs. Castillo w .- concated in different parts of the United States and on the coast, in Saint Helen's Hall at Portland, and also in convents. One child resulted rom the present union-Margarita Rose. Mrs. Castillo talks of her travels of Four years throughout the United States, and is well posted on the geog- sons of the country. In 1898, Mr. and Mrs. Castillo moved to Santa Mar- san, where he established a business which he continued for sixteen years. Then he built himself an attractive modern residence. In his spare time he superintends certain properties in various parts of the State. Ile owns, for whole, the business building occupied by the local postoffice, and in addition h hasta luuindred twenty acres two miles east of the town which he devotes Then there is a corner lot in San Francisco such as anyone Mit Tee And to have the title to, and some property in San Diego county, Mak Sai doubtless also become valuable. A Republican in polities, Mr. cantilff - on setive citizen ready to boost any good local project having the chi merauntnt his fellow citizens.
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FRANK E. FOTHERINGHAM .- Come what may, no one will ever usurp the position among Californians of the Native Son, and a Californian of whom Santa Margarita is proud is Frank E. Fotheringham, who was born at Sutter Creek, Amador county, on March 11. 1861. His father was Dr. George Fotheringham, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was educated for the medical profession. The name, which belongs to an old English family, was originally Fotheringay, and it was changed by Dr. Fotheringham on his coming to America. Dr. Fotheringham settled in Dupage county, Ill .. and there practiced medicine until 1850, when he crossed the plains to Cali fornia. He had with him his wife and two children when the ox-train was attacked by Indians, but very luckily all escaped.
Arriving at Hangtown, he started mining; but when it was discovered that he had brought with him his medicine case, he was so often called, and at such fees, that he gave up the thought of digging for gold and resumed his practice. Later he located at Sacramento, and there became a leading physician and surgeon. When he retired, he settled in San Francisco. llc died in the bay city at the age of seventy-five years. His wife was Miss Ruth Jaynes, who was born in Illinois, and died in San Francisco.
Four of the six children born to Dr. and Mrs. Fotheringham survived, and among these was the subject of this review, who attended the public schools of Sacramento and the high school of San Francisco. Later he came to La Panza, San Luis Obispo County, when that section was a great cattle and sheep range. He went to work to learn the cattle business on the ranch of his brother-in-law, J. M. Jones, who owned twenty-five thousand acres or more of land, remaining with him as foreman until he was thirty years of age. Subsequently, he was superintendent of the ranch of Schoenfeld & Jones, who combined two great ranches, the Carissa and the La Panza. including quite forty-five thousand acres ; and as the no-fence law then came into effect, Frank had a big job on his hands, bringing the necessary wire from San Luis Obispo, and completing the fence within six months. In 1897, he began leasing different ranches to tenants, but this was only for two years ; at the end of that time it was thought advisable to turn them back into ranges for cattle.
Since 1886, he has had a large experience in raising herds of cattle, ship- ping in feeders from Arizona and Mexico by the train load, to be turned out a year later fat and fit, and bringing his Durham and Hereford breeds to the highest standard possible. Not by any means have these things been accom- plished without privation and considerable risk; and if ever you succeed in getting Mr. Fotheringham to tell about the early days, you will hear some good stories in which his friends, the coyotes, the grizzlies, the California lions and the mountain deer play their parts. His first trip to Los Angeles. which was then a city of only about 12,000 people, was made in 1883, when he was compelled to chase some horse thieves who had made depredations on his stock.
In 1916, Frank Fotheringham resigned his position and removed to Santa Margarita, and built there the comfortable residence in which he now passes his days more leisurely, looking after his varied interests in San Luis Obispo County and in Los Angeles, in which city he has made considerable invest ments on account of its wonderful growth. Mr. Fotheringham was married in San Francisco to Miss Mand Meredith, of the northern metropolis, and he has
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of late given himself up somewhat more freely to social life. He is a member of the San Luis Obispo Lodge, No. 422, B. P. O. E., and of the Los Osos Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West. As a Democrat he has served as a member of the County Central Committee.
VINCENT ROSSI .- One of the prosperous citizens of San Luis Obispo County and a man who has made his own way in the world, Vincent Rossi was born in Peccia, canton Ticino, Switzerland, on September 23, 1866. He attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, and then devoted his time to farm work, assisting his father, who ran a dairy and raised sheep and goats. This work did not offer much advancement, and on talking with a friend who had spent some time in America and was back on a visit to his old home, young Rossi heard such glowing accounts of the advantages offered on the Pacific Coast to young men of energy and ambition that he decided to venture into the Western country and see what he could do.
He came direct to California, arriving in 1886, and worked for a short time on a ranch near Duncans Mills, Sonoma county, after which he came to San Luis Obispo county, where he has since made his home. He first worked on the Jack ranch for one year, and then, during two years, for Nicola Tonini, and saved enough money to start for himself. He rented three hundred acres near Morro, bought stock and commenced on a small scale, gradually increas- ing his stock during the five years that he remained there. He then sold out and moved to the Serrano place, where he continued the dairy business for eleven years. This has been his chosen occupation, and from the start with thirty-five cows, he has increased his dairy to three hundred and conducts a successful dairy and stock-raising industry on 2000 acres of the R. E. Jack ranch, with about 1000 acres of the Fairbanks ranch. He also raises about two hundred head of hogs, and enough grain and hay for his stock.
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