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 46
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No attempt had been made at improvement,
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and the task before him was one requiring energy, industry and patience. Soon, however, as a result of his enterprise, he had placed the land under cultivation and made the necessary improvements. He then leased other tracts until he was cultivating large holdings, having charge of almost two thousand acres altogether, the larger part of which was devoted to the raising of wheat. Included in his possessions was a ranch near Shandon, San Luis Obispo county, while he also farmed a large tract near Creston. In addition to his other interests, he owned a threshing outfit, which was in demand in every part of the county, doing as much threshing as any machine in the county. Con- stantly he endeavored to improve his home place, and by the development of a water sys- tem, the setting out of numerous shade trees and the building of a substantial house, he made of it a valuable property. All of this is espe- cially noteworthy when it is remembered that he began wholly without means, and worked his way forward to prosperity by his unaided ef- forts. It is to such men as he that California owes the development of its material resources, which had remained dormant during the long period of Spanish and Mexican rule.
Neither of the great political parties received Mr. Roselip's support, as he preferred to be in- dependent. For some years he served as a trus- tee of the Edna school. In 1874 he married Miss Laura L. Rassette, who was born in Napa county, this state, and is a woman of much abil- ity, having, since her husband's death in 1893, not only maintained a careful supervision of her home and trained their seven children to man- hood and womanhood, but she has also super- intended the home ranch with judgment, secur- ing from it a neat income each year and main- taining its improvements at the high standard established by Mr. Roselip.
A. R. BOOTH.
The period of Mr. Booth's residence in San Luis Obispo county dates from 1879. How- ever, for almost twenty years prior to that time he had been identified with the far west and had micantime traveled much through the Pacific
coast region, following various lines of business and also acquiring mining interests. He came to the west from Michigan, where he was born at Mount Clemens in 1835, and where his boy- hood years were passed in various towns. His father, Rev. John Booth, was a native of Eng- land and accompanied his parents to America in childhood, early settling in Michigan, where he was a pioneer preacher. In the family of John and Jane A. (Wisdom) Booth there were ten children, of whom A. R. was next to the youngest. When a boy he had few advantages save such as his own industry rendered possible. From an carly age he was self-supporting, and one of the first enterprises in which he was in- terested was a drug store at Fenton, Mich., where he remained until his removal to the west.
In 1858 Mr. Booth went to The Dalles, Ore., and for a time engaged in ranching, after which he was connected with different enterprises in Oregon, Washington and Idaho, even going as far north as British Columbia. He opened and conducted a drug store at Boise City, Idaho, and later was proprietor of a similar business at the mining camp of Tuscarora, Nev. The year 1879 found him in San Luis Obispo, Cal., where he opened a drug store and for ten years re- mained proprietor of the same, as senior mem- ber of the firm of Booth & Latimer. In 1889 he came to Paso Robles and opened a drug store at this place, which he conducted until 1894. Meantime he had also sold his interest in the store at San Luis Obispo to Mr. Lati- iner. The next enterprise in which he became interested was the real estate and insurance business, the handling of all kinds of city and country property, acting as agent for many of the large ranches, and representing many of the best insurance companies. In addition, he was agent for the Town Site Company, the Paso Robles hotel, and Blackburn Bros. At this writing he handles almost all of the real estate in the city, to the building up of which he has been a constant contributor. Associated with Hon. D. W. James, he has done much to develop the northern part of San Luis Obispo county and has been especially helpful in the grading of country roads.
WILLIAM GRISWOLD
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In the organization of the Paso Robles Lodge of Masons Mr. Booth was one of the most ac- tive workers. He was interested in forming the stock association which erected the building in which the lodge now meets, also acted as the second master of the lodge. He has risen to higher degrees in the order than those of the blue lodge, being a member of San Luis Obispo Chapter No. 27, R. A. M .; and San Luis Com- mandery No. 209, K. T. The Paso Robles Im- provement Club numbered him among its or- ganizers, and he has been one of its active workers. Believing most thoroughly in Re- publican principles, he has been a local leader of the party and has served as a member of the county central committee. His service in the party received a fitting recognition in January, 1900, when he was appointed postmaster at Paso Robles, and this office he still holds.
While living in Nevada, in 1878, Mr. Booth married Mrs. Susie Raynor. They have four children, namely: Frederick G., who is a med- ical student in San Francisco; Frank J., who is a student in the State University at Berkeley, where he is taking a course in mechanical engi- neering; Eugene L., at home; and Clara J.
WILLIAM GRISWOLD.
During his long connection with the vicinity of San Lucas, Monterey county, Judge Gris- wold has been associated with many enterprises for the benefit of the village and the advance- ment of the general welfare. He was born in Catskill, N. Y., November 15, 1847, and was reared on a farm in Delaware county, meantime attending the district schools and also acquir- ing a thorough knowledge of agricultural pur- suits. Not content to remain in the east, at nineteen years of age he came to California and settled in the Salinas valley, where he was employed by Messrs. Abbott and Hitchcock for five years. The following year he was in the employ of John G. Armstrong. With the means he had thus accumulated he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land and established a postoffice, known as Griswold, on his ranch, where he made his home from 1874 until 1887. Meantime he had become a man of influence
in his community. His advice was often sought by people in the adjustment of difficult claims or the purchase of property. From 1878 to 1887 he filled the office of justice of the peace, and his service was eminently satisfactory to all concerned.
On leaving the ranch Judge Griswold came to San Lucas and embarked in the mercantile business, building up a fair trade among the people of the locality, who soon came to appre- ciate his fair business dealings and reliability as a merchant. During much of the time he has lived in San Lucas he has filled the office of postmaster, having served prior to Cleveland's administration and also six years under Presi- dent Mckinley. An ardent Republican, he as- sisted in organizing the first Republican club in Monterey county, started during the first ad- ministration of President Grant, and from that time to this he has never wavered in his alle- giance to the party of his choice. In 1882 he was initiated into the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Salinas and retained his mem- bership there for some time, but is now con- nected with the King City Lodge. In the Order of Knights of Pythias he is a charter mem- ber at San Lucas and the present district dep- uty. It is noteworthy that he held the office of master of finance fourteen terms and that of exchequer for six years. Six times he was elected to represent the lodge in the grand lodge of the state, and at this writing he is cap- tain of the Uniform Rank. His homestead con- sists of twelve hundred acres in one body, with the improvements that have been made by him since the place came under his ownership. In 1882 he married Samantha Baldwin, by whom he had two children, one dying in infancy, and the other, Ruth, being with her father in the family home. Mrs. Griswold died September 30, 1901.
K. F. REDMAN.
The home of Mr. Redman is one of the sub- stantial residences of Watsonville and presents an attractive appearance to the passer-by, with its finely kept grounds ornamented with palms, shrubbery and flowers, and with its neat rows
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of fruit trees and its gardens of berries, Besides this residence he is the owner of ranching prop- erty and valuable fruit orchards. He has always been interested in fruit-raising and takes a just pride in the success which this industry has gained in the Pajaro valley.
In Nelson county, Ky., Mr. Redman was born in 1828, a son of Richard Redman. When a boy he accompanied the family to Missouri and settled on a farm, where he grew to manhood. He can scarcely recall when he first became in- terested in horticulture. The industry always possessed a special charm for him, The soil and climate in Missouri were adapted to fruit-rais- ing, especially to peaches, and he was anxious to try his luck in the industry, but his father preferred to devote the land to the cattle busi- ness. Once, when a boy, he asked his father if he might plant some peach pits and grow peaches, but was told to go away and play and not to persist in such desires, as the cattle would eat up the trees. However, the lad had a determined will and persisted until consent was given. The pits were planted and in three years the trees showed a gratifying growth. Soon he had peaches for the family and for neighbors.
Accompanying a party of westward-bound emigrants, in 1847 Mr. Redman crossed the plains to Oregon, which was then attracting many home-seekers. For two years he tried mining, in which he met with success, but when an attempt was made to dam up the American river, he decided further work was unwise, and so returned to Missouri. Buying a large tract of land, he paid cash for a portion and gave his note for the balance. Soon he had the land under cultivation and was able to pay for the entire tract. However, though his surroundings were favorable in Missouri, he never forgot Cal- ifornia, and in 1864 again crossed the plains, having disposed of his Missouri property.
After visiting various places, Mr. Redman came to the Pajaro valley and in 1865 purchased the Isaac Williams ranch. Ilere hc planted one of the first orchards in the valley, which, under his wise supervision and oversight, was devel- oped into a good-bearing orchard. This ranch he still owns. Ile has set out one hundred and
twenty acres in trees, besides sixty acres west of Watsonville, of which fifty acres are in trees. In all of his work he had the assistance and cheerful co-operation of his wife, Matilda (Fer- rell) Redman, in whose death, February, 1899, at seventy-seven years of age, the family suffered a deep bereavement. Their children are: Mrs. Sarah Tuttle; James; Mrs. Mary Oliver; K. Fayette, Jr., who occupies the Lake avenue ranch; Lavina, at home; Christy G., who has charge of the sixty-acre ranch; and Oda, a teacher in Watsonville. The family stand high among the people of their home city, and Mr. Redman is a contributor to measures of merit. At no time has he aspired to office, although he consented to occupy the office of councilman, and in this position was able to promote the in- terests of the city by championing enterprises of unquestioned valute to the city's further develop- ment.
MANUEL R. MERRITT.
Perhaps there is no resident of Monterey county more familiar with its resources than Mr. Merritt, who, having spent his entire life within its boundaries, is well qualified to judge concerning its prospects and advantages. He was born in Monterey, June 8, 1855, and is a son of the late Judge Josiah Merritt. When he was fourteen his father died, and he left school for the purpose of making his own way in the world. Hearing his brother speak of printing offices, he decided to seek employment in one, and very soon he was at work in the composing room of the Monterey Republican, where he thoroughly learned the printer's trade. When only eighteen years of age he became editor of the Monterey Herald, publishing it in connec- tion with E. Curtis, later on the editorial staff of the San Francisco Chronicle. At the same time he was connected with the Castroville Argus. On selling out his newspaper interests in 1878, he embarked in the mercantile business at Castroville, where he built up a very large and prosperous mercantile business. During the eight years he was at the head of that store he also served as county supervisor, justice of the peace and postmaster. The store at Castro-
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ville was eventually sold to Whitcher & Co., in order that he might devote his attention to his Monterey interests.
In 1890 Mr. Merritt came to Salinas, where he now resides. For eight years he had charge of the county assessor's office under W. A. An- derson. On retiring from that position, he es- tablished himself in the abstract business, and is now known as an expert in this line, his suc- cess in searching records and bringing down ab- stracts being little short of remarkable. In ad- dition, he has been engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, in which lines he has built up excellent patronage. While living in Castroville, in 1877, he married Miss Lizzie Townsend, a native of Alameda county, Cal., and daughter of an architect there. They have three sons, Robert, Roy and Herbert.
Scarcely a local convention of the Democratic party has been held in years in which Mr. Mer- ritt has not been a leading figure. For six years he acted as chairman of the county Democratic central committee, and in 1896 he acted as a presidential elector for Bryan. On numerous occasions he has been chosen to represent his party in state conventions. It fell to his lot to act as chairman of one of the most noted Demo- cratic conventions ever held in the state, this being at the time of the congressional fight, when all of the prominent lawyers of the state and the leading statesmen, including Stephen M. White, were present. Fraternally, he is con- nected with the Independent Order of For- esters, the Druids and the Native Sons of the Golden West, in all of which he is past presi- dent.
JOSEPH HUBBARD HOLLISTER.
Early in 1802 John Hollister moved from Connecticut to Ohio, where, in Licking county, he made for himself a new home in what was then the midst of the frontier. There he mar- ried Philena Hubbard, daughter of a prominent farmer. They became the parents of a large family, who inherited the sterling traits of the parents and became honored citizens in various communities. One of their sons was Joseph Hubbard, who was born in Licking county,
Ohio, March 9, 1820. With a brother, in 1853 he crossed the plains to California, driving the first flock of sheep ever brought from the east. Selling out at a profit, he returned to the east in 1856. In the spring of 1858 he again started west with sheep, this time being in partnership with Colonel Peters. At Boonville, Mo., he met for the first time J. W. Cooper, whose subsc- quent history was closely interwoven with his own. Cooper, having formerly worked for Colonel Peters, was introduced by him to Mr. Hollister, who was so pleased with his appear- ance that he engaged him to buy sheep for the westward trip. About the Ist of July, 1858, the train moved on its way, along the old Santa Fe trail through New Mexico and Arizona. Un- fortunately the sheep became lame and progress was very slow. Frequent halts were necessary. November 10 they arrived at Las Vegas. From there they proceeded to Sabina, where they crossed the Rio Grande. The train camped along from place to place until Fort Thorn was reached, and there they met twelve Indian chiefs at a great feast, the close of which was marked by the smoking of the pipe of peace. To the credit of the Indians be it said that they ad- hered to the treaty they thus made and never molested the sheep. However, there were many other hardships and trials, and in later years Mr. Cooper often stated he could not have en- dured the strain of the trip had it not been for "that noble, high-minded man, Hubbard Hol- lister, whom I loved as a brother. He had more sunshine in his presence, more nobility of char- acter, more of the milk of human kindness, more generosity and more loyalty than one often meets in this world."
One of the heaviest of the reverses that met the men was the loss of almost sixteen thousand head of sheep. They crossed the Colorado river at Fort Yuma, and thence proceeded into Lower California and from there into San Diego county, arriving at San Gabriel January 5, 1860. Near Los Nietos they leased a ranch for a short time, thence moved to rancho San Dimas, now occupied by the town of Pomona. About this time Mr. Hollister returned to Ohio for his family, returning with them January 1, 1861. The flocks were then moved to the San Fer-
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nando valley near Cahuenga, and in the sum- mer following were moved to higher lands, where they thrived well. The business then began to be remunerative, bringing the part- mers deserved returns for all the hardships they liad endured. May 8, 1863, the flock, consist- ing of eleven thousand and five hundred sheep, was moved to Lompoc, Mr. Hollister and Mr. Cooper making Cañada Honda their headquar- ters. During the fall of 1863 the Lompoc and Mission Vieja de la Purissima ranchos were purchased for $60,000, Hubbard Hollister being a partner with J. W. Cooper, Albert and Thomas B. Dibblee, and Col. W. W. Hollister. When the facts of the purchase became known, the San Francisco Bulletin insisted that the pur- chasers "were a set of blockheads," but, on the contrary, the investment proved a most forti1- nate one. In the twelve years following the men purchased about one hundred and sixty- five thousand acres in Santa Barbara county alone, including the ranchos Santa Rosa, Lom- poc, San Julian, Salsipuedes, etc. During 1866 Hubbard Hollister purchased the Chorro and San Lusita ranches in San Luis Obispo county and moved there with his family, after which, although still in partnership, he was more or less separated from the friends who had grown to hold him in such high esteem and by whose side he had labored for so many years. On his home ranch in San Luis Obispo county he died January 5. 1873. His death was a deep be- reavement not only to his family, but to his circle of intimate friends and associates. His long-time friend, J. W. Cooper, says of him: "Like all the Hollister brothers, Hubbard was an ideal man. If he had any faults, they were never apparent It would take a large number of pages, if I proposed to attempt a mere enu- meration of the most conspicuous good acts of this noble man's life. To the sick he was the most tender and attentive nurse. His mere presence in the room was most potent, and a call on an invalid, with a little of his cheery. l:opeful and sunshiny conversation, did as much good as the doctor's prescription. On that long journey across the plains, if one of the party was ill, it was Hubbard Hollister who insisted on nursing the invalid back to health. If a man
was over-weary, it was Hubbard Hollister who insisted on doing an extra amount of work in order to lighten the other's task. If a person was in any trouble, he had but to call on Hub- bard Hollister, and the call for aid was never in vain. He was truly one of God's noblemen. I was in intimate relations with the man for fif- teen years, and I never had one harsh or angry word with him. The more I was with him the more I loved him. He was one of those rare men one meets but occasionally in a lifetime."
June 18, 1843, Hubbard Hollister married Ellen, daughter of Joseph Mossman, of Dres- den, Ohio. They became the parents of five children, four now living, namely: Mrs. Phineas Banning, of Los Angeles; Mrs. R. E. Jack, of San Luis Obispo; Mrs. Sherman P. Stowe, of Santa Barbara: and John H., the only son. Mrs. Hollister died on the Chorro ranch in 1868.
ALBERT PFISTER.
In the capacity of cashier of the Citizens Bank of Paso Robles, Mr. Pfister is known to the majority of the residents of San Luis Obispo county, and is everywhere recognized as a keen financier and capable business man. He is a son of Joseph Pfister, a pioneer of 1850 in Cal- ifornia and was born in Colusa county, this state, in 1859. When a boy much of his time was spent in Contra Costa county, and he at- tended the public schools there and in San Fran- cisco. On starting out for himself, he selected the occupation of mechanical engineer, which he followed about ten years.
In 1887, when Paso Robles was in its in- fancy, Mr. Pfister came to the new town. Look- ing around for a suitable investment, he selected a ranch two miles east of town, and on this he located. During the next eleven years he im- proved the property and devoted it largely to the raising of stock. Meantime he had formed connections with other business interests. In 1893 he was elected a director of the Citizens Bank of Paso Robles, and in 1899 was chosen cashier of the institution, which position he has since filled, devoting his attention closely to a general supervision of the bank and to an over-
Mark Elburg
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sight of its investments, loans, etc. He is a member of the California Bankers' Association. Ten years after he came to Paso Robles he be- came identified with a new industry, being an organizer of the firm of Pfister, Ladd & Co., dealers in hardware and agricultural imple- ments. Another investment which he has made is the purchase of one-half interest in a ranch of which his brother, Paul Pfister, is the man- ager. At the time of the organization of the Paso Robles Improvement Club he was deeply interested in the movement and has since been connected with the club and a member of its executive committee.
Few men in Paso Robles have acquired a rep- utation more extended than that of Mr. Pfister. His honorable course in business, excellent financial talent and tact in the management of affairs have won for him the confidence of the community and have given him a high place in the regard of all with whom business or social relations bring him into contact. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while in politics he gives his support to the Republican party.
MARK ELBERG.
Owing to the long period of his residence in San Luis Obispo county and his close iden- tification with its ranching interests, Mr. Elberg has become known among a large circle of ac- quaintances in the central coast regions of Cali- fornia. Like many other men who have helped to develop this state, he is of foreign birth and lineage. Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, is his native place, and August 28, 1847, the date of his birth. His education was such as the common schools of Germany afforded. In 1870, after the treaty between Germany and Denmark, he went to the latter country and enlisted in the Danish army, where he served for six months. However, the life was not congenial to him, and he decided to seek an- other sphere of activity.
During 1871 Mr. Elberg landed in Quebec, and from there proceeded overland to Cali- fornia, where he settled in San Mateo county and secured employment in a sawmill at Red- wood City. The following year he took up
farm pursuits, settling on a ranch near Salinas, Monterey county, where he remained two years. The year 1874 found him in San Luis Obispo county, of which he has since been a resident. His first purchase here comprised one hun- dred acres near the city of San Luis Obispo, and a later venture was the renting of the War- den and Gibson ranch, where he farmed for two years on a somewhat extensive scale. Go- ing to the southern part of the county in 1876, he leased two thousand acres, associated with Tiyson Brothers. The agricultural operations which they started were the first attempted in that part of the country and met with success larger than was expected. From this ranch, in 1880 they harvested twenty-seven thousand sacks of wheat.
On dissolving this partnership Mr. Elberg in 1880 settled on a ranch of four hundred and fifty acres in Los Osos valley. The land was raw and unimproved, but he discerned possi- bilities in the soil that had been overlooked by others, and he at once set to work to place the tract in a condition where profits might be expected from its cultivation. At this writing he has three hundred acres under the plow, and raises excellent crops of beans, bar- ley, oats and wheat. The house which he erected on the ranch is one of the most sub- stantial in the county, and is furnished with a regard for the comfort and well-being of the family. In addition to the raising of various farm products, Mr. Elberg makes a specialty of the dairy business, having a herd of twenty- five head of dairy cows. The butter which he manufactures commands a ready sale in the markets. In addition to the cows on his place, he has other stock, noticeably a number of large horses for draft work and several fine roadsters. The excellent condition of his ranch and the many valuable improvements he has made since coming here in 1880 speak vol- umes for his determination, perseverance and industry. Indeed, it was only by the constant exercise of these traits through all of the past twenty or more years that he has been able to bring his homestead into its present improved condition and make it one of the best ranches in Los Osos valley.
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