History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 97

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 97

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The marriage of Lazaro Silvers Garcia occurred in the old Mission city of San Luis Obispo, December 12, 1897, when he was united with Miss Polonia Flores. She was born at Pozo, San Luis Obispo County, the daugh- ter of Ignacio and Ramona (Reyes) Flores, natives of Mexico, who mi- grated from their native land to San Luis Obispo County, where the father was engaged in mining at Pozo until he died. His widow now resides at Nipomo. They were the parents of fifteen children, seven of whom are living, Mrs. Garcia being the eldest. She attended the public schools in her native locality, and also in San Luis Obispo.

After their marriage, the Garcias began farming. Mr. Garcia operated his father's place as well as about six hundred acres of the Murphy ranch for a number of years, and then moved to Santa Margarita. Here he pur- chased his present residence, which he has since made his home. He followed teaming for some years until he again decided to farm, for which purpose, in 1910, he leased six hundred acres of the Santa Margarita ranch, adjoining the town. This he operated with three big teams until he pur- chased a thirty-horse caterpillar, with which he does his plowing, seeding, and harrowing, harvesting the grain with a large combined harvester and hauling the grain to the warehouse with the caterpillar engine. He finds this method very satisfactory, and is enthusiastic in the use of the most modern machinery. Mr. Garcia sows about five hundred acres to wheat and barley, each year, and is making a financial success of his farming operations.

Mr. and Mrs. Garcia have nine children living. Peter and Robert are assisting their father with the farm work. The others are Ramona, Juanita, Cecelia, Frank, Libbie, Fermina, and Frances. Mr. Garcia has always been interested in the cause of education, and in the establishing of good schools, and is serving his second term as a member of the Santa Margarita board of school trustees. During his term of office, the new grammar school has been built at a cost of $16,700; and it is one of the finest grammar-school buildings in the county. Politically, he is an ardent supporter of the prin- ciples of the Republican party.

JOHN GUY .- John Guy is well and favorably known in Santa Mar- garita, where he is proprietor of the meat market and is doing a creditable and successful business. Ile was born at Peoria, Polk county, la., August 8, 1873. Ilis father, also named John, was a farmer, who died .when his two sons, John and Albert, now residing in Los Angeles, were small children. The mother was in maidenhood Lucy Swarms. She was married a second time, to John Merrihew, and with him emigrated to California with the two children in 1885, locating at Elsinore. Here John went to work on near- by ranches, helping to support the family.

After he had grown up, Mr. Guy was employed in the Good Hope mine, continuing there for seven years. He then came to Riverside, in the employ of J. C. Stege, the okl butcher of that place, and under him learned the butchering business, after which he worked at his trade in various places in Southern California.

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In 1905 he came to San Luis Obispo County and engaged in teaming at Oilport for twenty-two months, from the time it was started until it was closed. He then purchased a ranch of three hundred twenty acres in Calf cañon, seven miles from Santa Margarita, where he raised stock until 1916, when he moved to Santa Margarita and started his present butcher business, in which he is meeting with deserved success.

The marriage of John Guy occurred in Riverside, where he was united with Miss Dolly Praster, a native of Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Guy six children have been born, as follows: Marvel, Mrs. Haber-Kern of La Panza : Lester, who is assisting his father in business; Angie, Mrs. Simpson of Santa Margarita ; and Kenney, Helen, and John. In politics, Mr. Guy is a true-blue Republican.

THOMAS H. ROUGEOT .- Among the men who have achieved suc- cess and a competency in the business of farming and stock-raising in the vicinity of San Miguel, we find Thomas H. Rougeot, owner of a large ranch in Echo canon, just north of the San Luis Obispo County line in Monterey county. He is a York State man, having been born near Rome, Oneida county, May 2, 1864. His father, Cadet T. Rougeot, was born in France and came with Noel Rougeot, his father, to New York, where he became a builder and farmer, passing away in 1876 at the age of forty-eight years. Mr. Rougeot's mother was Sarah Cooley, who was born in Ireland and died at Rome, aged seventy-five years.

Thomas II. Rougeot is the second youngest of a family of six children. He grew up in Oneida county, where he had the advantages of the public schools until eighteen years of age, when he determined to cast in his lot with the Western country. So in 1882 we find him in Colorado, where he re- mained for a period of six years, spending most of his time lumbering in Jefferson county. In 1888 he came to Estrella, San Luis Obispo County, rented land, and began farming on a very small scale, gradually obtaining a footing and a good farming outfit. In 1895 he leased land at the head of Keys canon, where he farmed until 1901. He then purchased his first one hundred sixty acres of land, which is located in Echo cañon and is the nucleus of his present large ranch. He purchased land adjoining ; and soon discovering that a large acreage was required for successful cattle-raising, he continued adding to his hollings until now he has 2,600 acres in a body. Here he set out an orch- ard and built a residence and suitable barns for storing hay and grain, and for sheltering his stock. He has been raising Shorthorn Durham cattle, as well as fine mules, being the owner of a well-bred Kentucky jack. He has just begun the breeding and raising of jacks, and for the purpose has shipped to his ranch thirty jennies from Missouri, all well-bred animals.

Among the early settlers of Echo canon were Josephus Shney and his wife, who was in maidenhood Sarah Newland. They were born in Adams county, Ill., and Montgomery county, Pa., respectively, and were married in Illinois. In 1859 they crossed the plains with ox teams to California, locating in the San Ramon valley. Contra Costa county, where they farmed until 1885, when they homesteaded one hundred sixty acres in Echo canon, Mon- terey county, being among the first settlers of this region. Mr. Shuey died in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Shuey had six children. Their youngest daughter, Ida M., was born in San Ramon valley. She became acquainted with Thomas II. Rougeot, an acquaintance that ripened into love ; and they were married at the Shuey home in Echo canon, on December 14, 1891. Of this

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union have been born seven children, as follows: Sarah May, the wife of Otto E. Dauth, a farmer and stockman of their vicinity; Frank H., a farmer on Turkey flat: and Ada Luella, Clarence Theodore, Ray A., Fay E. and Wilma Adell. Mrs. Shuey now makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Rougeot, where she is held in loving esteem and reverence.

Mr. Rougeot made a trip back to his okl home in 1898 with his wife and their two children, visiting his relatives and old friends; and on his return he was more than ever favorably impressed with his adopted state.

Mr. Rougeot is very enterprising and progressive. When he located here there was no county road through to San Miguel; so Mr. Rou- geot, with H. H. Russell, represented the project before the super- visors and succeeded in getting them to establish the county road. They also worked for a star-route mail service, so that now the mail is deliv- ered to the farmers along the road. He was one of the first to start the organization of the Interurban Telephone Co., of which he was president for four years, and to which he gave much of his time until it was com- pleted, thus placing telephones in the farmers' homes in his locality. He has served as trustee of Ellis school district, a position Mrs. Rougeot is now filling. Fraternally, he was made a Mason in San Miguel Lodge, No. 285, F. & A. M., of which he is Junior Warden ; and he is also a member of Na- cimiento Lodge, No. 340, 1. O. O. F.

Mr. Rougeot and his estimable wife are very hospitable; and they have a host of friends, who admire them for their many good qualities and their kindness of heart.

WILLIAM T. PIPPIN .- One of the old settlers and enterprising farmers near Pozo, William T. Pippin was born near New Cambria, Macon county, Mo., February 9, 1855. His father, Joseph Pippin, a farmer, died in Missouri in January, 1861. The mother of our subject was Mary Lingo, a native of Randolph county, Mo., and a sister of George W. Lingo, a forty-niner, now living in Santa Margarita, who is represented on another page in this work. After Joseph Pippin's death, his widow was married a second time, to Thomas Epperly. The family all came to California in 1870, spending three years at Morro, whence Mr. and Mrs. Epperly removed to Arizona, where they remained five years. They then spent three years in Texas, and four years in Washington, after which they located in Josephine county, Ore., where they resided until their death.

William T. Pippin was the second eldest of the three children born of the union of Joseph and Mary ( Lingo) Pippin. He was brought up in Mis- souri until the age of fifteen years, when he came to California with his father's family. From a lad of seven years he had to drive a team on the farm. because the men of the family were in the war. So he continued to help his mother, receiving such education as the local schools afforded.

On coming to California in 1870, he worked for a time at farming and Ouirying. In 1873 he drove a six-horse team to Prescott, Ariz., where he Ne aled his mother, and then returned to San Luis Obispo County. Soon afterwards he leased a ranch on the Chorro, where he ran a dairy. It was a hard winter, and a year's work found him in debt four hundred dollars. He then went to work for wages until all his indebtedness was paid. In 1876 he became foreman of the Summers ranch at Pozo, and a year later went to San Mateo, where he followed ranching for over a year, when he returned to Pozo.

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In 1879, at Lodi, occurred the marriage of William T. Pippin and Miss Lizzie L. Epperly. She was born in Chariton, Mo., and came with her father, Solomon Epperly, across the plains to California in 1849.

In 1880, Mr. Pippin leased a ranch on the Salinas river, near Pozo; and in 1881 he homesteaded one hundred sixty acres, his present home ranch on the Salinas river, one and three-quarters miles north of Pozo. He cleared the land, broke the first furrow, and made all the improvements. Ile built a rude house, and afterwards a new and larger residence. This was burned, and he then built the third house. He bought more land. and has now five hundred eighty acres in two ranches, and two sets of farm buildings. Ilere he engages in raising cattle and in buying and dealing in stock, for which his ranches produce sufficient grain and hay. Riverside Ranch, as his place is known, is well named, as it lies along the Salinas river. It is an exceed- ingly good stock ranch.

Mr. Pippin's wife died in 1886. Later, he was married a second time, in San Luis Obispo, where he was united with Miss Mary Clausen, born near that city, the daughter of Rasmus Clausen, a farmer in this county, now deceased.

Mr Pippin is an active member of the board of trustees of New school district. Politically, he is a Democrat.

GEORGE A. PHILBRICK .- George A. Philbrick was born near Coopers Mills, Lincoln county, Me., January 25, 1869. On both the paternal and the maternal side, he comes of an old and prominent New England family. Ilis father. George W., was a shipbuilder, and also followed lumbering and farm- ing. In the fifties he made his first trip to California, and a second trip in 1862. In 1874 he brought his family to Arroyo Grande, where for a time he farmed. Then. in partnership with his brother, he engaged in blacksmithing in San Luis Obispo from 1876 to 1878. From this time on he was a farmer near San Jose, until his death. The mother, Lydia Noyes, died in Santa Barbara county. Of their nine children, four grew up. three of whom are now living, George A. being the second oldest.

From four years past, George A. Philbrick was raised in California, and educated in its public schools. When fifteen years of age, he began learning the blacksmith trade under his father and his uncle, Radomanthus Philbrick. After mastering his trade, he continued to work at it, coming to Pozo in September of 1899.

While employed at his trade in Pozo, Mr. Philbrick met Miss Margaret Nohl, and the acquaintance culminated in their marriage in San Luis Obispo, in December, 1899. Miss Nohl was born in San Francisco, the daughter of Eugene W. and Margaret (Dick, Nohl, natives of Germany and Scotland, respectively. The father was a stationary engineer, who came out to Cali- fornia and was employed in the mint. In December, 1882, he came to the vicinity of Pozo, where he was a farmer, later purchasing the blacksmith shop in Pozo. The last seven years of his life were spent as chief deputy county assessor, under Charles King, from 1901 until his death, in Pozo, where the mother still resides. Two children. Cora E. and George A., have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Philbrick.

In 1900, Mr. Philbrick purchased a ranch of thirty acres one and a half miles east of Orcutt and, in connection with farming, built and ran a shop there until 1908, when he returned to Pozo and purchased the blacksmith shop from the Nohl estate. Here he has since continued in business, meeting

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with success: and the increase in the amount of work at his shop has necessi- tated the building of a garage, so that he is now equipped to repair everything in the line of machinery.

Mrs. Philbrick, seeing an opportunity for a mercantile establishment, put up a store building, and engages in general merchandising. She is also serving as postmistress at Pozo.

The cause of education has always received the hearty support of Mr. Philbrick. He served about nine years as a member of the board of trustees of the Pine Grove district, in the Santa Maria valley. Fraternally, he is a member of Santa Maria Lodge, No. 302, I. O. O. F., of which he is Past Grand.

CAROL H. STONE .- A young man who is proving the value of prepara- tion and the study of scientific methods for successful farming. Carol H. Stone was born in Santa Barbara, Cal., December 25, 1891. His father, Alfred Stone, was born in Tunbridge Wells, England, a builder by trade. On coming to San Francisco, over thirty years ago, he engaged in contracting and build- ing, and soon afterwards came to Santa Barbara, where he also followed his trade. He is now retired. Carol's mother, Lucy Hansard, was born in Boston, England. Of her four children, Carol is the youngest.

Carol H. Stone was educated in the Santa Barbara grammar and high schools, from which he graduated in 1910. Having always been interested in farming and stock-raising, he then entered the California Polytechnic School in San Luis Obispo, taking a special course in preparation for that occupation For a time thereafter he was employed on the Bishop ranch, at Goleta, and then worked for the San Joaquin Land & Cattle Co., on the Chowchilla rancho, as assistant to the superintendent.

In 1915 he entered into his present partnership, under the name of Smith & Stone, and came to Cañada Verde rancho, near Pozo, since which time he has been the manager of the ranch, devoting all of his time to making a success of dairying and stock-raising. The ranch comprises 1,300 acres, located on the Salinas river, and is a splendid stock ranch. It has seventy- five acres of alfalfa, irrigated by the use of a pumping plant. Aside from the dairy of sixty-five cows, the ranch is devoted to raising cattle and hogs, and produces sufficient grain and hay for the stock.

Through his careful study, close application, and energy, Mr. Stone is making a success. He is well and favorably known, and is a highly esteemed young man. In national politics, he is a Progressive Republican.

ESKEL E. MEYER .- \ very enterprising and progressive man, who is making a study, and a success, of grain-raising, is Eskel E Meyer, a native of Sweden, born in Westmanland, September 13, 1866, but reared in Dalene. Ile is the son of Peter and Hedvig (Hultin) Meyer. The father migrated to Trenton, N. J., in 1882, with his wife and two children, Eskel and John. The latter died on their arrival in New Jersey. Peter Meyer was a forge- man in Trenton, and later at Mont Alto, Franklin county, Pa. After Eskel Never came to the Coast, his parents joined their son in California, and are www; making their home with him here.

I skel Meyer received a good education in the public schools of his na- tive country, where he pursued his studies until. at fifteen years of age, he migrated to Trenton, N. J., with his parents, and there went to work in the iron works, learning the trade of forgeman under his father. Later, he fol- l wel las trade at Mont Alto. Pa., until he came to San Francisco in 1888.

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There he found employment on the old Sixth street car line. Ife was both driver and conductor on the old horse-car line. After two years at this occupation, desiring to engage in farming, he purchased fifty-two acres across the Salinas river from Atascadero, and immediately located on it. Making his headquarters here, he also leased land on a part of the Patrick Murphy ranch at Atascadero, broke new land there, and raised some of the first crops. After nine years, the place was sold to Mr. Henry, and Eskel leased from the latter for ten years, becoming well posted on the quality of land and soil on the large ranch. When the ranch was finally sold, in 1913, he leased a part of the Santa Margarita ranch, where he raises about three hundred acres of barley and wheat each year, using two big teams for put- ting in the crop, and a Deering combined harvester to harvest it.

The marriage of Mr. Meyer occurred in Berkeley, uniting him with Miss Anna Bjork, who was also born in Sweden, and who came to California when a young lady. They are both members of the Swedish Lutheran Church at Templeton.

Mr. Meyer is interested in educational matters, and has served as trustee in Eureka district. He is well and favorably known, and is much esteemed by all who know him, for his worth and integrity of purpose.

WILLIAM DALTON WIMMER .- William Dalton Wimmer comes of an old and historic family in California. Ilis grandfather, Peter Wimmer, crossed the plains to California in 1845. Ile was working on the mill-race at Sutter's mill and, while walking along with Mr. Marshall, in the water. picked up the first piece of gold found in California and handed it to Mar- shall. Grandmother Wimmer tested it for gold, in her way, by boiling it in a kettle of soap ; and she kept it until her dying day. However, as a matter of history, Mr. Marshall received the credit for the discovery of the nugget. though in fact Peter Wimmer picked it up. For a time Peter Wimmer fol- lowed mining, but afterwards gave it up to follow the more certain business of agriculture, finally locating on Santa Rosa creek, in San Luis Obispo County, and afterwards retiring to San Diego, where his wife died. Ile then returned to this county, and died on Old creek.

The father of William Dalton was Franklin Wimmer, who was born in Sutter county, in 1846; and according to the best, obtainable records, he was the second white child born in California. Ile became a cattleman in San Luis Obispo County, residing at the head of Santa Rosa creek, where he died in 1874. His wife was Ethella Bailey, who was born in Wisconsin, the daugh- ter of William Bailey, also an early settler of California. She died in 1892. The two children born of this union are William Dalton and J. W., who is a rancher on Templor Mountain.

William Dalton Wimmer was born in Los Osos valley, San Luis Obispo County, July 10, 1872, and was educated in the public schools on the coast. .After assisting his mother at farming until her death, he then farmed for a year with grandfather Bailey on the Estrella plains.

Mr. Wimmer was married at the home of the late William II. Tuley, on the Estrella plains, where he was united with Miss Mildred Tuley, who was born near San Luis Obispo. The life of her father, William H. Tuley, is outlined elsewhere in this work.

.After his marriage, Mr. Wimmer leased land on the Estrella till 1901. and then removed to the Newhall ranch near Santa Maria, where he farmed for nine years, raising barley and beans. After this he farmed for two years

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more in the valley, and then moved to the Huasna. Here he ran hogs and cattle for three years, when he sold his stock and outfit.

In November, 1915, Mr. Wimmer located at Pozo, and bought his present dairy, leasing the place of eight hundred acres, where he milks a herd of from fifty to seventy-five cows, separating the cream, which he ships to San Francisco. He is also raising beef cattle and hogs, and for that purpose leases 2,000 acres of range land six miles from his dairy, where he runs his cattle. His dairy herd are Holsteins, at the head of which he has full-blooded animals. His hogs are of the Berkshire and Duroc Jersey strains. Laguna Ranch, as the place is called, is a beautiful place with a natural lake. It is a splendid stock ranch, having alfalfa fields and a pumping plant, and ample acreage for raising grain and hay for the stock on the place.

Mr. and Mrs. Wimmer have five children, Gladys (Mrs. Cooper), Wesley, Mildred, Darrel, and Virgil, of whom the parents are justly proud, and to whom they are giving a good education.

Mr. Wimmer has always been interested in the cause of education, and in having good schools for the children. He has served as trustee of the Huasna district, and is now trustee of the Pozo district. Fraternally, he is a member of the San Luis Obispo Lodge, No. 322, B. P. O. E., and of the Santa Maria Lodge, No. 90, K. of P. Politically, he is a Democrat.

PATRICK DOYLE .- Among the men who achieved success in farming and business circles was the late Patrick Doyle, born in county Wicklow, Ireland, in 1833, who came when a child with his parents to Alton, Ill., where he was reared and educated. As a lad he learned farming, and followed it after attaining his majority.

In St. Louis. Mo., January 7, 1871, Patrick Doyle was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Keough, a native of St. Louis, where she received her education in the public schools and convent. In November of 1872, the young couple came to Butte county, Cal., and, being practically without funds, began at the bottom. Leasing land on the Guerke grant, he farmed for five years. Then, wishing to enlarge his business, he leased over 6.000 acres of the Finnell ranch in Tehama county, where he was very successful for a period of six years, having accumulated a large outfit of mule teams, with a full complement of the latest improved farm machinery. This he sold at a large publie sale, and removed to Dixon, where he purchased one hundred sixty acres and engaged in farming. However, this did not prove a success, and he lost nearly all he had previously made. So, with the remnant, he moved to San Luis Obispo County, about 1887, leased a part of the Huntington ranch near Paso Robles, and again began grain-raising. As he made money, he branched out and farmed on a larger scale. Ile purchased land from the Eureka ranch, and also the Ysobel rancho, becoming owner of five hundred acres of the latter, and of 1,000 acres of the former. He also leased some 6,000 acres adjoining, and raised grain on an extensive scale. One year he lelivered 25,000 sacks of grain to the warehouses in Paso Robles, which he old for seventy five cents per cental. In spite of the low prices, he made noney by his method of farming, for he was a first-class agriculturist, modern oud advanced in his methods. Ile was the first man to summer-fallow, a Thethod that was ridiculed by the people of the vicinity. However, he dem- wstrated that it was a success, and it is now a universally accepted method m grain-raising. He managed his grain-farming operations so well that in eleven years he cleared up over $100,000. He purchased the Doyle block on

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the corner of Pine and Thirteenth streets, in Paso Robles, and a year later started a hardware business in the corner store. Continuing in business for a few years, he then sold out to Mr. Bell, after which he retired to Paso Robles, in the enjoyment of his competence, where he kept a couple of fancy drivers.

Mr. Doyle died on January 23, 1907, aged seventy-four years. He was a man of broad ideas, large-hearted and liberal, highly esteemed and loved by all who knew him, who, with a wealth of meaning, familiarly referred to him as Pat Doyle. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle had one child, Georgia, Mrs. Strom of San Francisco.

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History of San Luis Obispo County and environs, California, with biographical sketches, Part 97

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