USA > California > History of the State of California and biographical record of Coast Counties, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 100
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Through his marriage with Mary E. Patton, Mr. Bloom has reared and educated six chil- dren, all of whom are living: Sarah H., Ida E., Walter P., Irvin M., Mina G. and' Lucy. Mr. Bloom is a Republican in politics, and is well known fraternally, being associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Forest- ers and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is well known and popular in his locality, and has made a success of the chances offered him on the coast.
JOSEPH H. RING.
AAmong the ambitious pioneers who left more peaceful surroundings in the east and came to California in search of gold in 1849 was David Ring, the father of Joseph H. He was born in Ireland in 1813. and emigrated to the United States when a young man, landing on foreign shores with little to aid him but determination and high spirits. His trip to the coast was made by way of Central America, and he located in San Francisco, where he engaged for fifteen years in the dairy business. In 1864 he changed his location to Santa Cruz county, where, with the earnings from his northern dairy experi- ence, he bought the present homestead of his family, consisting of sixty-five acres. Here he was successfully engaged in farming and dairy- ing up to the time of his death in 1878, at the age of sixty-five years. To himself and wife, for- merly Mary Roache, were born five children : Maggie, the wife of J. W. Martin; Mary; Jo- seph H .; James J. ; and David.
Under his father's instruction Joseph IT. Ring learned to be a model farmer, and when quite young performed his share towards the cultiva- tion of the farm. After the death of his father he assumed almost entire control, and is now considered one of the capable and far-sighted agriculturists of the locality. Aside from
general farming he makes a specialty of sugar beet culture, and his land produces from fifteen to twenty tons of beets to the acre. He is a Dem- ocrat in political affiliation and is a member of the Catholic Church. The Ring farm is located three miles south of Watsonville, on the Ocean road.
JAMES JEFFERY.
Among the residents of Salinas Mr. Jeffery is remembered as a man of energy, perseverance and a high standard of honor, traits which came to him from a long line of Scotch forefathers. Himself a native of Glasgow, he was, however, a mere boy when the family emigrated from Scotland to Canada, and from that time onward he worked early and late in order to assist in the maintenance of the family. During his en- tire youth he had only six weeks of schooling. yet such was his determination to succeed and so great his fondness for study that he became a well-educated man, solely through his unaided efforts.
On coming to California in 1856 Mr. Jeffery settled in Tuolumne county and began the life of a miner. However, he soon decided that he had no especial talent in that direction, so moved to Santa Clara and took up other pursuits. Upon coming to Salinas he opened the first restaurant in the then village. The venture proved a finan- cial success and was conducted on a steadily in- creasing scale. Finding himself so well adapted to this kind of business, he determined to build and equip a hotel, and about 1885 erected the Jeffery House, which stands on the corner of Main and Alisal streets, in the business portion of the town. The hotel contains sixty rooms and is furnished with modern conveniences. As its proprietor he continued actively engaged in busi- ness until he died in 1893, and the hotel is 10mm conducted by his widow, Mrs. Amic &Moor Y Jeffery, and his son. Edwin Jeffery, the datter of whom has been connected with the hotel over since it started.
In addition to the management of the hotel. James Jeffery identified himself intimately with the Republican party and bore i share in ils local activities. At one time he was his party's not
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nee for county sheriff and lost the office by only three votes. All measures for the benefit of the city received his support as well as such contributions of his time and means as were pos- sible. While living in Canada he married Emi- line Sprague, who was born there and died in California in 1873, leaving two sons, Edwin and Eugene. By his second wife he had two sons, William and James, Jr.
Although a native of Canada, Edwin Jeffery has spent his life in California since early child- hood, and has few recollections of any other home than Salinas. Like his father, he is an en- thusiastic Republican and bears an active part in the local management of the party. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Honor and the Eagles. His attention is given largely to the management of the business affairs of the hotel, while Mrs. Annie Jeffery superintends the culinary arrangements. Under their able over- sight the Jeffery House continues to take high rank among the hotels of the state. Indeed, trav- eling men rank it with the foremost hotels near the central coast, and assert that nowhere do they receive more courteous attention or find better service than at the Jeffery. This compli- ment on the part of men amply qualified to judge proves that the proprietors of the hotel are able to cater to the wants of the traveling public in a manner most satisfactory to all.
REV. FATHER B. SMYTH.
The parish connected with the Sacred Heart Church at Hollister is the largest in the territory north of San Luis Obispo, and is eighty miles long by twenty-five wide, bordering on the Fresno and Hanford parishes. Ever since 1889 the parish has been under the supervision of Rev. Father B. Smyth, whose progressive ideas have found vent in many improvements, and whose large-hearted humanitarian projects have resulted in nameless good to the community. Since taking charge the seating capacity of the church has been more than doubled, new stained glass windows have been placed, and new altars erected, at an expense of $8,000. In 1892 Father Smyth built the parish church at Tres Pinos, this county, and has since had charge of both
churches. His responsibilities are, however, ma- terially lightened by the assistance of Father Donohue, who was recently ordained in Los An- geles.
A native of Ireland, Father Smyth received his education in his island home, and graduated from the All Hallows College in Dublin. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1882, after which he came directly to the United States and California. For a short time he had charge of the old mission church of Los Angeles, and was afterwards assistant at Santa Cruz, returning again to Los Angeles, where he remained for about three years. He then substituted for Father Bott, during the absence of the latter in Europe, and in 1889, as heretofore stated, allied his fortunes with his present charge.
W. J. HILL.
Of the newspapers published in Salinas, spe- cial mention belongs to the Weekly Index, by reason of the fact that it was the first paper established in the city, having been started by M. Byerly in 1872. Not only was it the first to be established, but it was also the first to be printed by steam power. Since 1876 it has been owned and operated by W. J. Hill, whose long and close connection with the paper has made his name a household word throughout Mon- terey county. People who have long made their home in the county state that, through all the years of Mr. Hill's connection with the paper, of which a daily edition is also published, he has used its pages as a medium to foster worthy movements for the benefit of the city and county and has ever been found on the side of progress.
So much of Mr. Hill's life has been passed in the Pacific coast region that he is a typical west- erner, just the type of whole-souled, large-heart- ed, generous man one would expect to meet "far from the madding crowd." There are many who assert that city life tends to make a man selfish, and that under the blue skies of the west he grows as broad and large in heart as are the limitless plains over which he rides. Cer- tain it is that men of Mr. Hill's stamp are popu- lar wherever they go and make warm friends in every community where they reside. During
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the long period that he lived in Idaho he became known all over the territory, and he is still re= membered with affection there, though years have passed since he left.
Near Prescott, Canada West, Mr. Hill was born in 1840, of Scotch parentage. In the spring of 1862 he went to the Caribou gold fields and traversed the now famous Klondike district long before anyone dreamed of its wealth in gold. Returning to California, he crossed the Sierras to Esmeralda, Nev., in the spring of 1863, thence went to Salt Lake City, from there to Boise Basin, and in August landed at what is now Idaho City. During the winter he mined at Bear Gulch, near the town. Early in the sum- mer of 1864 he went to Owyhee, Idaho, and as- sociated himself with Jared Lockwood and Frank Cable, who had located ranches in Jor- dan valley, twenty-five miles from Silver City. Soon afterward he took part in a battle with the Indians, in an effort to secure the Indian mur- derer of Mr. Jordan, after whom Jordan valley was named. A severe encounter finally left one hundred or more Indians on the battlefield dead, while two whites were killed and Mr. Hill re- ceived a wound that forced him to use a crutch for some time. During the winter of 1863-64 he and his partners built the first livery stable in Silver City, packing in hay from Jordan valley on mules and cayuses and selling it for $300 a ton. In 1865, 1866 and 1867 he kept Hill's ferry on the Owyhee river, at the junction of the old Chico and Humboldt roads, sixty miles from Silver City. While there he had many fights with Indians, but their desperate attempts to kill him were always unsuccessful, and they began to say that the "pale-face chief" was a "bad medicine man" who was proof against their bullets and arrows. His adventures during those days, if fully recounted, would fill a vol- ume. It was about this time that people who had never seen him began to call him "Old Hill," under the supposition that he was a gray- haired man instead of a mere youth. This title has since clung to him, and many pioneers of Idaho today love to recount stories of "Old Hill's" prowess as an Indian fighter, and they describe him "as a splendid specimen of physical manhood, six feet high, straight as an arrow,
active as a cat, brave as a lion, and generous to a fault."
In 1867 Mr. Hill and Henry Millard pur- chased the Owyhee Avalanche from John and Joe Wasson, and in 1870 the former purchased liis partner's interest and became the sole pro- prietor. In 1875 he started the Daily Avalanche. the first daily paper in Idaho, and the press upon which it was printed was the first steam press in the territory. Through his instrumental- ity was secured the telegraph line from. Winne- mucca to Silver City, and he paid $300 a month for the telegraphic news for his paper. While in Silver City he was elected county clerk, sher- iff and tax collector, these positions coming to him as the Republican candidate in a county strongly Democratic. In 1873 he married Miss Belle Peck, Governor Bennett coming from Boise to Silver City to perform the ceremony. The Idaho Hotel and Masonic Hall were hired for the occasion, and the event was made the occasion for a great celebration in town. Mrs. Hill was born in California and, when the min- ing collapse came in 1876, induced her husband to settle in the state where her childhood had been passed. Their only son, William C., was born in Silver City and is now his father's assistant in the newspaper office. Mrs. Ilill, who is a woman of unusual ability, has been lier husband's inseparable companion and helper in all his undertakings.
Since coming to California Mr. Hill has rep- resented his district in the state senate during three sessions and has been mayor of Salinas for six years. He is now postmaster of Salinas. Few men are more widely informed than he. His information embraces a wide range of knowledge, historical and current, as well as a ready command of the French and Spanish lan- guages. A keen and forcible writer, able to ex- press his thoughts in terse, concise sentences, he is peculiarly fitted for editorial work, and in this line has met with many of his most gratify- ing successes. Ile was honored by being chosen to deliver the address of welcome to President Benjamin Harrison when the latter visited Mon- terey in 1891. Mr. Hill is in his sixty-fourth year, active and alert as ever, and is one of the hardest workers in California. Fraternally
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he is post master of Salinas Lodge, No. 204, F. & A. M .: past patron of Reveille Chapter No. 47. (). E. S. : past master of Sausal Lodge No. +7. A. O. U. W., of which he was the first mas- ter : past master of the Salinas Grange; a mem- ber of Salinas Chapter, R. A. M., and Watson- ville Commandery, K. T.
JOSEPH A. THOMPSON.
There are few of the residents of the Pajaro valley who have spent their entire lives within its limits, but such is the history of Mr. Thomp- son, who was born in Santa Cruz county Sep- tember 24, 1861, and has known no other home than this. His father, John Thompson, was a native of Ireland, born in 1820, and on coming to America spent a short time in the east. While living in Boston, Mass., he married Mary Cum- mings, who was born in Dublin, Ireland. Dur- ing 1855 he made the long journey to the then unknown and distant west, settling in Monterey county, Cal., where he invested his savings in a tract of unimproved land. Along lines of activity similar to those followed by other pio- neers he spent his remaining years. Though he never participated in public affairs, he was very loyal to the country of his adoption and gave his sympathy and support to movements for the general welfare. On the farm where he had spent many busy and useful years his death occurred in 1868. Born of his marriage are twelve children, namely: Julia, Elizabeth (de- (cased), Peter, Edward, Joseph .1., John, Mar- garet, Mary, Christopher, Michael (deceased), Catherine and Sarah.
The schools of Watsonville afforded Joseph 1. Thompson a fair education, and during the vacation months he assisted in the cultivation of the home farm, working for his father until the latter's death. During 1888 he married Anna Grimes, who was born in Alameda county, Cal., 11 1867. They are the parents of five children. It is the desire of their parents to give these children the best possible advantages, in order To prepare them for positions of usefulness and honor in the business and social world. They are being reared in the faith of the Roman catholic Church, of which Mr. and Mrs.
Thompson are faithful members. The farm where the family reside and which has been the center of Mr. Thompson's activities ever since his marriage consists of one hundred and twenty-eight acres. The larger part of the prop- erty is under cultivation to general farm prod- ucts, although there are about thirty acres in apples, Mr. Thompson finding the latter indus- try a profitable addition to his annual income. Though voting with the Democrats, he is not a politician, and has never sought office, prefer- ring to concentrate his attention upon the im- provement of his farm.
CHRISTIAN F. STORM.
Santa Cruz county claims many successful farmers and stockmen, among whom promi- nent mention belongs to Mr. Storm, who since 1868 has resided on his present farm in the Pajaro valley, between Watsonville and Free- dom. His birth occurred in Denmark, Decem- ber 15, 1845, his parents being Peter and Anna S. (Skow) Storm. The father was a man of versatile occupations, from time to time follow- ing the calling of sailor, carpenter, wagonmaker and farmer. In 1868 he came to the United States, making his way to California and settling i11 Santa Cruz county, where he resided until 1872. In the latter year he returned to his na- tive land and there spent the remainder of his life. Besides our subject, the following chil- dren comprised the parental family: Cinrod, who came to San Francisco in 1858 as second mate on a vessel, and died June 11, 1859, aged seventeen years; E., Mrs. Hanstren; Anna M., deceased; Sophia, Mrs. Holstein; and Lena, Mrs. Hanson.
When nineteen years of age Christian F. Storm determined to see what the new world had in store for him, and landed at Castle Gar- den after experiencing the usual incidents of an ocean voyage. After spending two weeks in New York he made his way to California, com- ing by way of Central America, and landing in San Francisco in 1865. Later he located in Watsonville, and in 1868 purchased his present farm, which is located between Watsonville and Freedom. The original tract contained one hun-
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dred and thirty acres, but he has added to this as his means permitted until he now owns four hundred and twenty acres of productive land. In the raising of oats he has been especially suc- cessful, inasmuch as in 1901 he gathered twenty- four hundred sacks from twenty acres of land. Besides carrying on general farming he con- ducts a dairy of seventy-five cows and sixty calves. A small orchard also adds attractive- ness to the farm, the products of which are used entirely in home consumption.
In 1872, when twenty-seven years of age. Mr. Storm married Lena Anderson, like him- self, a native of Denmark. They have three children, viz .: James, Peter and Chris. In his political opinions Mr. Storm stanchly supports the Democratic party, and in religious matters is identified with the Lutheran Church.
JOHN TENNANT.
The life which this narrative sketches began in Wexford, Ireland, March 9, 1809, and closed at Pacific Grove, Cal., August 13, 1891. The first fourteen years in the life of Mr. Tennant were passed in his native place, after which he went to Edinburgh, Scotland, and served an ap- prenticeship to the trade of cabinet and piano- forte maker. At the end of six years he re- moved to London, England, and there remained for ten years, working at his chosen occupation. He then returned to his native land, where he remained until 1852. December 29th of that year he sailed from London for California, arriv- ing in San Francisco during August of the fol- lowing year.
Coming direct to Santa Clara county, Mr. Tennant purchased the beautiful piace, Eden Vale, six miles south of San José, and there resided until 1888, when, with his only sister. Miss Margaret Tennant, who has been his life- long companion, he removed to Pacific Grove. There, in his pretty little cottage by the sea, in peace and quietude, he passed the closing scenes of a well-spent life, honest, faithful and true, ever willing to lend a helping hand to the needy. He was loved wherever he went, and many an eye was moist with tears when the word came of the death of that good and noble man.
ABRAHAM SALLY.
Conspicuous among the pioneers of Hollis ter, to whose energy and perseverance in the midst of obstacles and innumerable hardships may be attributed much of the advance made by the central coast regions, mention belongs to the late Abraham Sally, formerly one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of San Benito county. A native of Kentucky, in his childhood he accompanied his parents, William and Eliza- beth Sally, in their removal to Missouri and settled at Warsaw, Benton county. There he grew to manhood, receiving a fair education. While still a resident of that place he served as constable and sheriff. In that town he married Mary E. Janes, daughter of William and Mary Janes. Accompanied by his wife in 1869 he came to California and settled on the present site of Hollister. His first purchase consisted of one hundred and fifty-nine acres of raw, un- improved land, on which he built a small house. The task of cultivating the land was no slight one, but was courageously carried forward by him. As the years passed by, Hollister began to be settled and attracted permanent residents. At first there were only two small stores and about twelve houses, but the population steadily increased and for a time all was prosperous. Ile assisted in the erection of the first church built in the town, and took part in many other worthy enterprises. About 1875 he set out some small gum trees that are today among the largest and most admired trees in the town. In recent years a portion of his ranch was subdivided and sokl. leaving only fifty-nine acres in the farm.
As the acreage of his home farm was reduced by subdivision into city lots, Mr. Sally bought other property and in time acquired large hokl- ings. At his death, which occurred in 1898 at the age of seventy-three years, he left his family an estate of more than one thousand acres. Much of this land was devoted to general farm- ing. although to a large extent it was also de voted to pasturage for his stock, of which he kept about one hundred head of cattle and fifty horses. By his constant and indefatigable ef forts he accumulated a competency and was thus enabled to spend his last years in retire
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ment from active cares, renting his land to tenants, but still maintaining a supervision of the property. During his residence in Missouri he was actively connected with the Odd Fellows and Masons, but after coming to California his attention was so closely given to the develop- ment and improvement of his farm that he had no leisure for fraternal associations. His was a busy, active and useful life, the typical life of a brave, fearless and resolute pioneer, and the memory of his irreproachable character and in- tegrity is cherished in the hearts of his family and friends. Besides his wife he left four daugh- ters, one of whom, Mary E., remains on the homestead with her mother. The others are as follows: Hattie, Mrs. E. Fairchild, of Riverside; Florence, Mrs. Aden Recht, of Stockton; and Katie, wife of Harry Monroe, also of Stockton.
VICTOR H. WOODS.
In the capacity of surveyor Mr. Woods has been intimately connected with the growth and upbuilding of San Luis Obispo county for the past eight years. He was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1868, and came to California with his parents when five years of age. His father, James E. Woods, was also a surveyor, and was clerk of Keokuk county for eight years after the Civil war. During the war he served under General Rosecrans, and was wounded in battle in September of 1863. The family came to America long before the Revolutionary war, and the paternal grandfather was an old settler in Vermont. On the maternal side Mr. Woods is allied with a prominent Ohio family, his mother being before her marriage a Miss M. C. Hulderman, whose father died in distinguished company, for on that same day the immortal Washington breathed his last. It is supposed that some of the Hulderman family fought in the Colonial army, although there is no au- thentic record to that effect.
The education of Mr. Woods was acquired at the public schools of San Francisco, and at the university of the Pacific, from which he was graduated in 1886. In the meantime he had learned surveying from his father, and applied himself to this occupation for a time on the rail-
road in Arizona, and also spent a year in Fresno. He finally entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as sur- veyor, and remained in that capacity for five years, and afterwards in the employ of the gov- ernment went to Central America. About eight years ago he came to San Luis Obispo, and has since made this his home.
In the Old Mission in San Luis Obispo, De- cember 19, 1898, Mr. Woods married Miss A. C. Spofford, daughter of J. M. Spofford, head of one of the well-known families of this county. The Spoffords claim distinguished lineage, and distant members have been allied with events constituting the landmarks of American history. Foremost among the men who have added luster to the name may be mentioned Daniel Webster, and many of the prominent and well-known families of the south claim kinship with the Spofford heroes who stacked their muskets on the battlefields of the Revolution. Mrs. Woods, who is a Daughter of the Revolution, is well known as an educator throughout this part of the state, and taught for seven years in the schools of San Luis Obispo. In 1898 she was elected county superintendent of schools on the Democratic ticket, and the same year her hus- band was elected surveyor on the Republican ticket. To Mr. and Mrs. Woods has been born one daughter, Ellen Evelyn. Mr. Woods is identified with the Independent Order Odd Fel- lows and with the Elks. With his family he lives at the Ramona Hotel.
ALFRED WIDEMAN.
Forever associated with the inconsequent be- ginning of the town of Gonzales is the meritor- ious carcer of that splendid pioneer and loyal friend, Alfred Wideman. The little station ex- isting on the San Vicenti ranch of sixteen thou- sand acres, to which the few farmers then in touch with the possibilities of the fertile region used to flock with their produce, awaited but the energizing vitality of such men as Mr. Wide- man, who brought with them a sterling integrity and shrewd business and common sense. And so, into the embryo hamlet in 1874 came the business enterprise with which Mr. Wideman
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was for so many years associated, and which was the outgrowth of his far-sighted peering into the future of the locality. The firm of Sarles & Wideman were the first to erect a store and lay in a supply of things needful for the coming pio- neers, and for the farmers who would in the near future gather their finc fruit, grain and general product harvests. With the growing realization of the value of the lands along the Salinas river, they were obliged to increase their original stock, until they carried a full line of dry goods, clothing, groceries, provisions, hardware and agricultural implements. Their honest dealings and obliging tactics gained for them a wide reputation, and made a chance buyer a pur- chaser for all time. And into all the avenues of activity which arose at the bidding of the town's growth Mr. Wideman infused a vital spark, and became, besides the father of the village, its most earnest promoter and worker.
Mr. Wideman was born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, now Prussia, December 1, 1838, and came to America with his parents in 1844. The family located in Illinois, and bought a farm in LaSalle county, where the father died, and where the entire support of the family was ac- complished by the oldest son, Alfred. The mother still lives in LaSalle county. While in lilinois Mr. Wideman met J. D. Cochran, and they were there associated as friends for about ten years. Eventually, out of their combined ambitions was evolved the project of removing to the Pacific coast, and thither they traveled together in 1870, via Panama. For a couple of years they burnt charcoal and hewed trees in the red woods and worked in the harvest fields of Vera Cruz county, and then came to Monterey county, where they worked for Dunphy & Ilildreth, who then rented the Gonzales ranch and was the largest cattle firm in the county. Mr. Wideman stepped into the remunerative position of overseer of the ranch, and at the ex- piration of four years went into partnership with his Illinois friend and confidant, Mr. Cochran. In connection with their stock-rais- ing and farming enterprise he also engaged in the merchandise business in 1874, and continued in this combined capacity until his death, Febru- ary 22, 1901. By reason of his wise investments
and well directed energy he left a large fortune, as well as what is known as the Castro ranch, a pleasant home, and the store building and prop- erty. During nearly all of his residence in Gonzales he filled the office of postmaster, and, as a stanch upbuilder of the Democratic party, served for many years on the school board and the board of supervisors. With his partner he was a heavy stockholder in the bank of Gon- zales, of which he was president and his partner cashier. Fraternally he was associated with the Odd Fellows, being past grand of Gabilan Lodge No. 372, Salinas Lodge No. 204. F. & A. M., Salinas Chapter No. 59, R. A. M., and the Watsonville Commandery No. 22, K. of P.
May 13, 1871, Mr. Wideman married Mary E. Hoffman, daughter of Christian and Mar- garet Hoffman, the former of whom came to California in 1849, his family following him nine- teen years later. Mr. Hoffman was a farmer, sheep-dealer, and stage driver in California. To Mr. and Mrs. Wideman were born five children: Frederick H., who is the successor of his father's business, and is one of the most promising and popular citizens of Gonzales; Margaret, who became the wife of M. C. Clark, partner of Frederick Wideman, and who died a short time ago, leaving two children, Alford and Clarice L .; Christian H., who is also in the store; Anna, who died at the age of two years and eight months ; and Hazel, who is living at home.
FRED W. SWANTON.
In the development of plans looking toward the direct progress of Santa Cruz and its posi- tion as a city boasting all modern improvements, no citizen has displayed greater activity than Mr. Swanton. With many projects for the benefit of the place his name is indissolubly as- sociated. At a crisis where a more timid finan- cier would hesitate, his enthusiasm carries him into the heart of the movement and his shrewd judgment brings it to a favorable issue. While almost his entire life has been passed in Cali- fornia, he is not a native of this state, but was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 11, 1862, and at four years of age came to the far west with his mother, joining his father, Albion Paris Swan-
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ton. During 1867 the family settled in Santa Cruz, and here his primary education was ob- tained. Later he was a student in Heald's Busi- ness College, from which he was graduated in 1881. After a year as an employe of the Maderia Flume and Trading Company of Fresno, he went to Felton and for a year was with the Santa Clara Valley Mill and Lumber Company.
During a trip east which Mr. Swanton made about this time, he obtained the state right for a telephone patent, which he very successfully introduced along the entire length of the state. On disposing of his interest in 1883, he became associated with his father in the building of a three-story structure, known as the Swanton house, and this they conducted together until it was burned down in June, 1888. At the same time he acted as manager of the Santa Cruz opera house. The partnership was dissolved in 1888, his father continuing to take charge of the Bonner stables, while he established the Palace pharmacy. Fifteen months later he sold out, and immediately agitated the project for lighting Santa Cruz with incandescent elec- tricity. Associated with Dr. H. H. Clark, in October, 1889, he put in a three hundred light machine, thereby within one week causing the price of gas to drop from $3.50 to $2.50 per thousand feet. Naturally people were quick to see the advantage of such an innovation, and the demand for such lights was so great that it was necessary to add a machine of six hundred and fifty lights. Within two years they were supplying five thousand incandescent lights. The success of the enterprise rendered neces- sary its re-organization, and the Santa Cruz Electric Light Company was established, with the following officers: H. H. Clark, president; A. P. Swanton, vice-president; F. W. Swanton, secretary and manager, as well as the largest stockholder; J. F. Appellby and C. E. Lilly, directors. In the fall of 1895 the plant was sold to James McNeil, the present owner.
With the energy which has always been a noticeable trait of his character, F. W. Swanton was no sooner disconnected with the electric light company than he began the organization of other public-spirited projects. In 1896 he
organized the Big Creek Power Company, which has furnished power to the city and for manufacturing purposes. Its officers were Henry Willey, president; William Rennie, vice- president; Fred W. Swanton, secretary and manager; C. E. Lilly, treasurer; and A. A. Morey, director. Eighteen miles of transmission line were built by the company along the moun- tains, the entire work being finished in sixty days from the time it was started. For two years Mr. Swanton continued as secretary and manager of this company, meantime placing it upon a substantial basis. In 1900 he sold his interest to J. Q. Packard and F. W. Billings.
It is noteworthy, as showing Mr. Swanton's progressive spirit, that the incandescent lights introduced into Santa Cruz in 1889 under his direction were the very first in the entire state; also that his was the first long-distance electric power plant in California. Its capacity of twenty-five hundred lights has since been de- veloped to ten thousand lights. The plant now furnishes light for Watsonville and Capitola, as well as Santa Cruz. The disposition of his interests in the power plant gave Mr. Swanton an opportunity to gratify his ambition to visit the Alaskan gold fields, and in 1900 he made a prospecting tour to Nome. After his return he organized the Santa Cruz Oil Company, which operates in the Bakersfield oil fields, and has Henry Willey as president and J. J. C. Leonard as vice-president. During 1901 he began the organization of a new electric street car com- pany to run from Santa Cruz to Watsonville via Capitola.
On Christmas day of 1884 Mr. Swanton mar- ried Miss Stanley Hall, daughter of Richard Hall, of Santa Cruz. They have one child, Pearl Hall Swanton. The family own and occupy a residence, modern in every respect, surrounded by beautiful trees and drives, and overlooking the city, ocean and mountains. Fraternally Mr. Swanton is connected with the Elks, Odd Fel- lows, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knights of Pythias. The industries with which he has been connected have accomplished much for the benefit of Santa Cruz, and their success- ful consummation may be regarded as an indi- cation of his ability as an organizer and leader.
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