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 48
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has ever been proposed for its progress which has failed to secure his sympathy and active co- operation. Indeed, he has always been in the forefront in proposing plans to promote the welfare of the people and to aid in developing local resources. Notwithstanding the hardships of existence during the early years of his resi- dence in California, he is still a robust man, and his interest in life and its activities is no less keen than when, a young man of twenty- five years, he entered the Golden Gate of the Sunset Land.
As an instance of the ingenuity which Mr. Cass possesses it may be stated that, having had much experience with the destructive work of the teredo, he set himself to the task of invent- ing a pile preserver, and this he has patented. The system has been adopted, not only in his own wharf, but in others along the coast, and has proved the means of preserving the piles for years. In this way he has not only saved his company heavy expenses, but has also given a valuable invention to the world. Other in- stances might be enumerated in proof of his genius in devising needed articles, but the above is sufficient to show the ingenious bent of his nature.
In 1854 Mr. Cass married Mary, daughter of William Stone, of England. She died in 1858, leaving four children, Sarah, Charles A., Emily and Henry K. His second wife bore the maiden name of Mary McMurry, and was born in New York. A daughter, Rosa M., was born of this union. The family occupy a comfortable home not far from the store and wharf owned by Mr. Cass. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and has passed through all the chairs of the Odd Fellows.
R. H. WILLEY.
This prominent attorney of Monterey and Pa- cific Grove comes of an early dating English an- cestry. As indicative of the moral and intel- lectual standing of the family, it is only necessary to state that the direct line of descent for four generations have been ministers in the Moravian church, and men of exemplary char- acter and broad usefulness.
In keeping with the example of his forefath- ers, Dr. J. M. Willey, the father of R. H., left to his children the heritage of a noble name, and the memory of a life spent near the heart of the best that the world has to offer of art and music, and the impressive science of his great pro- fession. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, and was graduated from the Royal College of his na- tive city, thereafter attaining to enviable dis- tinction as a physician and surgeon. During the devastating famine and plague ending with 1850, he served in the English service as a vol- unteer surgeon, and with the termination of his services in this capacity came to America and located in New York City, where he became a dramatic and art critic. In a few years he lo- cated in Natchez, Miss., coming to California in 1864. In San Francisco he practiced his pro- fession up to the time of his death in 1886, at the age of sixty-four years. He was greatly be- loved by all who knew him, and his devotion to the fine and beautiful things of life amounted almost to a passion. His wife, formerly Maria Miller, was also a native of Ireland, and died in San Francisco in 1895, at the age of seventy years.
Although born in New York City in 1852, R. H. Willey was reared in the north of Eng- land by an uncle and aunt, the former of whom was a minister in the Moravian church. The youth was educated in the private school of the church, and upon returning to the United States in 1870, joined his family in San Francisco, whither his father had in the meantime removed. Having decided to devote his life to the practice of law, he entered the office of Hayes, Stanley & Hayes, of San Francisco, and was admitted to the bar of Napa county in the spring of 1877. After two years' practice he was admitted to the supreme and federal courts, and in 1879 came to Monterey, tlien a town of a thousand inhab- itants. No more interested and helpful spec- tator of the city's growth has advanced its inter- ests or helped to establish its professional prestige. All of the organizations effected here have been under his personal supervision, in- cluding the incorporation of the Monterey Street Railway and the Electric Light Com- pany, as well as the organization of the bank.
HOW ardem
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A like service has been performed for various enterprises at Pacific Grove, where Mr. Willey is known and appreciated for his reliability, and devotion to the best interests of his clients. He is a Democrat in national politics, and a mem- ber of the county central committee.
In 1877 Mr. Willey married in Napa county Susan C. Clark, a native of California. Of this union there are three children, John, Rena, and Robert. The two sons are now employed in the civil engineering department of the South- ern Pacific Railroad.
HORATIO M. WARDEN.
In a very early period of American history a representative of the Warden family emigrated from England and settled in Vermont. Gabriel Warden, who was born at Burlington, that state, served as a captain in the war with England, and was a man of great patriotism and valor. Some years after the war he removed to Ohio and settled near Granville, Licking county, where he and his wife, Mary (Seely) Warden. remained until death. The Seely family was also from Vermont, where a brother of Mrs. Warden became a very wealthy and prominent farmer. There were eleven children in the family of Gabriel Warden, and the next to the youngest was Horatio M., born near Granville, Ohio, in 1828. When he was almost twenty years of age, in 1847, he became connected with a brother, L. M., in the buying and selling of cattle; these he drove in large numbers to Chicago, which at the time was a small village on the frontier.
In the spring of 1850 the two brothers started for California, across the plains. As far as Coun- cil Bluffs they drove a herd of cattle and horses, but there they exchanged them for inules, which they drove to Salt Lake City, in company with Tom Williams, a prominent Mormon, carrying the Salt Lake mail. For three weeks they rc- mained among the Mormons, who showed them every courtesy. With a train of pack mules they left Salt Lake and crossed the desert to Placer- ville (then called Hangtown), Cal., where they began the exciting occupation of mining. Some what later they mined on the American river below Michigan Bluff, where they made some
good finds. Next they went to Sacramento and organized the Sacramento and Marysville stage line, and for some years continued in business as operators of the same. A later venture was the establishment of a stage line between Au- burn, Yankee Jims, Michigan Bluff, Illinois Town and Iowa Hill, in Placer county. In 1856 they embarked in the stock business in Napa county, where they continued some years, hav- ing their share of successes and reverses.
During 1867 H. M. Warden came to San Luis Obispo county, where he now makes his home. Settling in Los Osos valley, he bought three thousand acres of raw land that formed a portion of the Wilson tract or Los Osos rancho. At first he stocked his place exclusively with sheep, of which at times he had as many as six thousand head. Later he bought a large num- ber of head of cattle and became interested in this branch of the stock business. Under the name of Highland rancho, his property has be- come well known throughout the county, its special claim to distinction being the fine qual- ity of butter that is shipped from the ranch to the markets. Three dairies form a conspicuous feature of the place, in the management of which the owner finds his time closely occupied. An average of six thousand pounds of butter is man- ufactured every month, all being of the best quality. Of the three thousand acres originally comprising Highland rancho, a portion has re- cently been sold, and the present acreage is seventeen hundred. Several hundred acres are farmed, and hay, barley and other products are raised. However, by far the larger portion of the land is utilized for the pasturage of the stock, for which purpose it is well adapted. The cattle are principally thoroughbred Shorthorns and Durhams, many of them registered. Both draught horses and roadsters are to be found on the ranch, besides a good grade of hogs. The ranch residence, the first frame house erected in Los Osos valley, is also the largest house in the entire county and is handsomely furnished and finished throughout with all mod- ern improvements.
The management of his dairy and ranch does not represent the limit of Mr. Warden's activi tics. Other important enterprises have been fos
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tered under his judicious care and wise over- sight. With C. H. Phillips, in 1872, he estab- lished the first bank that was started in San Luis Obispo county. The business was con- ducted under the firm title of Warden & Phil- lips, with Mr. Warden as president and Mr. Phillips as cashier, and for many years a general banking business was conducted, under the con- servative and wise supervision of the principal owner. In 1898 he built the Warden block in San Luis Obispo, which he still owns, besides having other real estate here. The growth of the city owes much to his energy and exertions. The duties of a public-spirited citizen are never neglected by him. Especially has he been active in the building of schools and churches, for he believes these to be the two greatest factors of modern civilization, and is of the opinion that too much cannot be done to foster their growth. Together with two school trustees, he gave per- sonal notes which rendered possible the building of the first schoolhouse in San Luis Obispo cotinty, and for many years he occupied the office of trustee in this same school. Politically he is a stanch Republican and is a member of the county central committee, besides an attend- ant at all important meetings of his party. In 1880 he served as a county supervisor. In 1886 he was the unanimous choice of his party for candidate to the general assembly. Frequently he has been a delegate to county and state con- ventions. In fraternal relations he is connected with the San Luis Obispo lodge of Masons and is past noble grand of the Odd Fellows. His second marriage took place in 1882 and united him with Miss Queenie Parr, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Mrs. Loraine (Page) Parr. Three children were born of their union, namely : Queenie M .. Horatio M., Jr., and Mary Loraine. The youngest was called hence March 17, 1902, aged fourteen years, two months and ten days.
EDWARD WHITE.
The name which Mr. White bears is one which has been long and honorably associated with the history of California. Ilis father, Will- fai F. White, a pioneer of the Pajaro valley, Was born in county Limerick, Ireland, in 1816, Wing a son of Edward and Ellen (Griffin) White.
When four years of age he was brought to America by his parents and settled in Chenango Point (now Binghamton), N. Y., but later re- moved to Susquehanna county, Pa., where the parents attained to advanced years and passed away. The mother was a sister of Gerald Grif- fin, the poet (born 1803, died 1840). Through successive generations it has been noticeable that many of the family have inherited eloquence of speech, others have inherited the power to express thoughts in vividand rhythmic language such as the Irish poet used, while still others have shown commercial talents of a high order.
The education of William F. White was com- pleted in Oxford (N. Y.) Academy. He became a commercial traveler for a New York firm and traveled through the southern states. On one of his trips he met Frances J. Russell of Sa- vannah, Ga., whom he afterward married. About the time of their marriage the gold fever broke out and he and his wife decided to join the argonauts for the far west. Proceeding to New York, they secured passage with Captain Hamil- ton and in January of 1849 started around Cape Horn for San Francisco. On board were some three hundred passengers, among whom Mrs. White was the only woman. They endured the hardships of a voyage of six months, during which water failed and the passengers were put on a limited supply. Incipient rebellion arose, but was promptly suppressed, and in June the ship entered the harbor of the Golden Gate. Among the passengers were many college stu- dents, wholly unused to hardships and illy fitted to cope with the difficulties confronting pioneers of the coast. Some of these, finding only a few small buildings instead of a "Golden" city, did not leave the vessel, but applied to the captain for work to defray the expenses of the return journey. As the crew had all deserted for the mines, the captain was obliged to take such help as he could get, and so availed himself of the ex-students and outfitted his vessel for the long return journey.
It had not been Mr. White's intention to fol- low mining, and he at once embarked in mer- cantile pursuits with D. J. Oliver and J. R. Mc- Glynn. In 1852 he sold his interest and pur- chased a part of the Sul Si Puedes rancho, in
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connection with E. Kelley, E. Casserly, J. R. AIcGlynn, W. W. Stowe, William Davidson and Mr. Blair, a tract of thirty-two thousand acres being bought for $40,000. Subsequently the land was divided and W. F. White became owner of three thousand shares. On this estate he erected the first substantial house built in the vicinity. As there were no sawmills in this country, the lumber used in the construction of the house was brought from Maine. On the iand he had cattle and conducted a dairy, con- tinuing for some years, then retiring to San Francisco. The ranch is now owned by Judge G. M. Bockius.
To a man of Mr. White's active temperament and patriotic spirit an interest in local politics and national problems was characteristic and constant. In 1878 he was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and later received from Governor Irwin an appointment as bank commissioner of the state. He died at his resi- dence in Oakland, Cal., in May, 1890, aged sev- enty-four years. Ilis widow is still living and makes her home with her daughters in San Francisco. Their children were named as fol- lows: Ellen (who died in infancy); Mary, Ed- ward, Stephen M., Ellen, Genevieve, Rhoda, Lillie and Fannie.
The second son, Hon. Stephen Mallory White, was born in San Francisco in 1853, and received his education in Santa Clara College, graduating in 1872. He studied law with Hon. Charles B. Younger of Santa Cruz and was ad- mitted to the state bar in 1873, after which he went to Los Angeles to practice. Old lawyers, remembering the days of their youth, can imag- ine his position, among strangers, without in- fluence or prestige, yet undertaking the difficult feat of gaining a foothold. There was much in luis favor, as lie was an eloquent speaker. a fluent writer and a quick debater. Yet even with these talents there seemed no opening. For six months he struggled along, then decided it was useless to wait longer and began to think of re- moving elsewhere. After his mind was fully made up to investigate other towns, a man in- vited him to deliver an address at the celebration of St. Patrick's day, March 17. Having decided 10 leave, he first declined; but, on being impor-
tuned, consented to remain and speak. At the conclusion of his able address to a very large assembly he was congratulated by hundreds and was told by many that he had opened a road to fame. This event changed his entire future. He remained, soon won a case, and from that day on had as large a practice as he could handle. An honorable service as district attorney was followed by his election to the United States senate, where his efforts in behalf of the San Pedro harbor bill gave him national promi- nence. The arduous work of the office under- mined his health and while still a young man he died in February of 1899. His wife, Hortense, nee Lacriste, is the mother of four children. William, Gerald, Hortense E. and Es- telle.
The eldest son of William F. White was Ed- ward White, born in San Francisco June 25, 1851, and educated in Santa Clara College. In 1874 he began for himself by renting farm land and later bought Calabasa rancho of two thou- sand acres, where he engaged in the dairy busi- ness and developed a fruit industry. At this writing eight hundred acres of the tract are in his possession. Much of the property is set out in apples, apricots, cherries and various small fruits, and there is also a dairy of fifty Durham cows. In 1889 he moved his family to Watson- ville, where he has since made his home. His wife, Annie, is a daughter of John Royse, a pioneer of Pajaro valley, and they have six chil- dren, Edward, Jr., Ellen, Stephen, Lucille, Ray- mond and William. Another son was lost in infancy. The family are members of the Ro- man Catholic Church.
Associated with William Dehart, under the firm title of White & Dehart, in 1895 Mr. White established a large lumber mill, but this was soon developed into a box manufactory, his interest in which he recently sold. In Novem- ber of 1899 he was elected county supervisor and at this writing he is also a trustee of the Agnew insane asylum, under appointment from Governor Gage. The reputation which his father established has been maintained by him- self, and in every respect he has proved himself an able business man, a capable financier and a progressive citizen.
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ANDREW YORK.
The man best known between Paso Robles and the coast is Andrew York, proprietor of the Ascension winery, temptingly located on the trail of weary travelers as they proceed across the mountains to the ocean. No tourist in these parts but has heard of the unstinted hospitality tendered the hungry and thirsty by this genial high mountain host, and all are warm in praise of both his commodities and resort. A Hoosier by birth and early training, Mr. York was born in Monroe county, Ind., March 3, 1833, his father, Pleasant York, having settled there in early manhood. In 1852 he removed to La Salle county, Ill., and engaged in farming and stock-raising on two hundred and forty acres of land. Afterward he was fortunate enough to discover coal on his possessions, and thereupon opened up the coal mine which resulted in the formation of the Streeter Mining Company. His death, in 1868, removed a man prominent in the affairs of early and later Illinois, and who at one time served as deputy sheriff of his county. At first a Jacksonian Democrat, he was later as stanch a Lincoln Republican. He married Rachel McPheatridge, a native of Ten- nessee, and who bore him nine sons and one daughter, all of whom attained maturity, An- drew being the fifth. Of the sons, John Milton was county clerk for fourteen years, and after- ward served as county recorder.
Equipped with a common-school education, Andrew York started across the plains March 27, 1854, and on the way helped to drive seven hundred cattle and fifty head of mules and horses. Thus he and his brother, E. M., worked their way over the plains, and this brother is at present living in Napa county, Cal., engaged in the raising of prunes. Mr. York engaged in gold mining in Nevada county for a couple of years, and then went to St. Helena, Napa county, where he mined and farmed for two years. Later he returned cast to Illinois and Missouri, and at St. Joseph, in the latter state, bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, from which he removed to Ottawa county, and farmed. In the spring of 1865 he again started for California, but on account of the Indian war
stopped at Nebraska City, and from there freighted between Julesburg and Fort Kearney in the employ of the government. At the ex- piration of a year he sold his freighting outfit and went to the Cherokee Nation, and on the present site of Baxter took up a claim for one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he oper- ated with modest success for a few months. In Texas he experimented on sixty acres of land in Fannin county. Later Mr. York bought two hundred acres of land in Newton county, Mo., and sold the same the year that he came to Cal- ifornia in 1874. On the coast, at the mouth of Torro creek, in San Luis Obispo county, he be- gan a general farming enterprise in 1877, and in 1882 came to his present ranch of one hundred and twelve acres, where he has since conducted extensive wine making enterprises. Thirty acres are under grapes, although he is obliged to buy grapes in considerable quantities from outside growers. In 1884 he turned out thirty barrels, or fifteen hundred gallons; in 1885 the output was seven thousand gallons; in 1886, forty thousand gallons; in 1901, thirty-six thou- sand gallons; and in 1902, forty thousand gal- lons. On hand all the time are between twenty and fifty thousand gallons. To local trade Mr. York contributes about twenty thousand gallons a year. He has greatly improved his place, has erected the Ascension winery, and has the most advanced ideas for conducting an enterprise of such extensive proportions.
After coming to California Mr. York married Louisa Long. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. York, James is engaged in conducting an apiary and farin in this county : Thomas has a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres ; Walter is the manager and half owner of a winery; Eliza- beth is the wife of Al Hazard; and Ida is now Mrs. Nelson, of Healdsburg, Cal. The present wife of Mr. York was formerly Mrs. Inlda Mat- thews, and of this union there is one son, Silas, who is interested with his father in the winery business, and one daughter, Mrs. Lulu Peterson. By her former husband, Mrs. York had two chil- dren, Oda Priest, now Mrs. Edward Gamble, liv- ing near Templeton : and Justus Priest, a resident of Pleasant valley in Colorado. Mr. York was a member of the state militia for several years,
Is Persone. szon.
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and has been variously interested in affairs out- side of his winery in this county. IIe is a Dem- ocrat in political preference, but has never been among those seeking political honors.
J. B. IVERSON.
The possibilities of Salinas have called forth the most creditable ambitions of a few men who were destined to make their way in the commercial world, and whose strength of char- acter and conservative judgment have served as the fundamental growth of the common- wealth. This has been emphatically true of J. B. Iverson, whose well directed energies have not only placed him among the men of wealth of the town, but have invested him with an en- viable reputation for business sagacity and in- tegrity, tested during the passing of many years.
A native son of Denmark, Mr. Iverson was born at Apenrade, October 3, 1835, a son of Jesse and Hannah (Rurup) Iverson, natives of the same Danish province. The father, who was a blacksmith during his active life, eventu- ally came to America and Salinas, where he died October 15, 1890, the death of his wife having occurred July 13, 1881. J. B. Iverson received the common-school education accorded the youth of his neighborhood, and at twenty- two years of age he enlisted for military service in the Danish army, serving for sixteen months. From boyhood days he had familiarized himself with the blacksmith's trade, which he subse- quently followed in his native land. When twenty-eight years of age he immigrated to America and came to San Francisco, and for the following five years worked for Henry Smith, twelve miles from Oakland. He then removed to Watsonville, where he was employed for three months, reaching Salinas City in 1868. At the time Salinas was a mere apology of a town and contained but few inhabitants, its special need being the infusion of such enter- prise as was embodied in the future calculations of Mr. Iverson. In partnership with his brother, E. P. Iverson, he started an agricul- tural implement manufacturing shop, located where Sanborn & Ford now carry on their hardware business. As the town increased they
branched out and did a large business, and turned out heavy team and farm wagons, fam- ily buggies, sulkies, plows, harrows, and any number of labor saving devices. In time they became the largest manufacturers of their kind in Monterey county, and their present business is conducted on Gabilan street, to which they removed in 1873.
The Water & Light Company, of which Mr. Iverson is president, was started by James Ho- gen and Joseph Enright, and after a fitful career Mr. Iverson and Mr. Vanderhurst took hold of it, and made it what it is today. For several years Mr. Iverson has been president of the company; nor does this represent the extent of his responsibility, for he is vice-president of
the Monterey County Bank, of which he was one of the organizers, and is also vari- ously interested in financial enterprises in the town and county. He is the possessor of two ranches in Monterey county, both of which are well stocked with horses and cattle. In fraternal circles Mr. Iverson is chiefly known as a promi- nent Odd Fellow, which organization he joined in 1869. He is a member of the Encampment and Canton, and has been treasurer for the former since 1879. It was mainly through his efforts that the Odd Fellows' hall was erected in Salinas, and he has been president of the Hall Association ever since it was started. He is one of the most substantial of the pioneers who have encompassed the upbuilding of this town and county, and richly deserves the success which has come his way, and the good will of his associates.
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