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 51
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When William L. Beebee was a boy of four- teen he was taken into the office of an uncle in Philadelphia, with whom he remained, in that city and New York, for two years. Our lives are fashioned strangely, and often a seemingly un- important event changes the entire tenor of our existence. It proved so with Mr. Beebee. When James K. Polk became president of the United States he appointed William G. More- house consul to Valparaiso, and that gentleman gave Mr. Beebee an opportunity to accompany him. Being young and possessing a love of ad- venture, he quickly accepted. In November, 1846, he sailed on the bark Hortensia from Baltimore, the other passengers on the boat being Consul Morehouse, with his wife and child; Henry D. Cook, who became governor of Washington under President Grant, and two young Californians. When the ship had reached the latitude of the Bermudas a fierce storm arose and for six days the vessel was at the mercy of the waves. Each hour the passen- gers expected to be their last on earth. When at last the storm subsided, the ship was left without masts and with a hole in her bow. A jury mast was hastily rigged up and the vessel's head was turned in the direction of the island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies. Finally they reached that island in safety. Learning that the British had a regular line sailing from South- ampton to Chagres, and from Panama to Val- paraiso, they availed themselves of this knowl-
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edge, and proceeded to Chagres on a small pilot boat that they chartered. The trip from Chagres to Panama consumed a week, and was made partly on muleback and partly by poling up the Chagres river.
No vessel was ready to start from Panama, und they were obliged to remain at that un- licalthful point for ten days, when they took passage on the regular steamer for Valparaiso. The latter city proved to be one of great inter- est to the traveler. It was full of life and en- terprise, reminding him in that respect of his former home in the north, although in every other respect it was radically different. Several opportunities to secure office work came to him, but nothing that seemed to offer special induce- ments, so after some months in that town and Santiago he decided to seek an opening else- where. One day there appeared in the port of Valparaiso the United States storeship South- ampton, among whose officers was Lieutenant Commander Thornton and Executive Officer Worden. They invited Mr. Beebee to accom- pany them to California, and he accepted their invitation gladly. He became well acquainted with Mr. Worden during the voyage and learned that he was weary of a seafaring life. It would have seemed then that he would not continue in the service long enough to achieve an undy- ing fame as commander of the Monitor in the famous battle between that vessel and the Mer- rimac.
August 25, 1847, the ship anchored at Monte- rey, Cal., where Mr. Beebee found considerable sickness and he himself fell a victim to what was known as the Monterey fever. Wishing to go to San José, he secured the desired oppor- tunity on board the Malacadel, an unseaworthy craft, which did not reach Sausalito until Sep- tember. He went ashore at Yerba Buena, and there met Joseph S. Ruckle, from whom he learned that his former fellow-passenger, Henry D. Cook, was in partnership with Mr. Ruckle at San José. Accepting an offer of a clerkship in that house, he soon gained a thorough knowl- edge of San José and its surroundings. His position was such that he had frequent opportn- nities of traveling through California, in which way he soon acquired a thorough knowledge of
the west. On one of these trips he accompanied a party of Mexicans on an elk hunt to the San Joaquin river. Frequently he traveled along the bay of San Francisco and speculated upon the city that would some day be planted there, real- izing that the excellent harbor would be util- ized for the landing of ships from all over the world. However, neither he nor any of the old pioneers ever imagined that this future city would be founded on the sand hills by the bleak mountain side, in what would seem the least de- sirable position possible. Indeed, those very sand hills were cordially disliked by every trav- eler, for they impeded his progress and ob- structed his view. Scarcely any one dreamed of investing a penny in such lands. However, Mr. Beebee did buy a lot there for $16.75, which he sold in 1849 for $1,600.
When gold was discovered, Mr. Beebee was one of the first to reach the mines, and he met with some success in his search for gold. In the fall of 1848 he went to Yerba Buena, and in the spring of the next year he came to San Luis Obispo county with Samuel A. Pollard. The two men opened a store and, on the corner of Monterey and Chorro streets, put up what was the first store building in San Luis Obispo. Their customers were principally ranchers from the adjoining country, some of them coming from points as far distant as forty miles. A few years later Mr. Beebee withdrew from the firm and settled on a ranch eight miles south of San Luis Obispo, where he met with success for some years. Unfortunately, during the drought of 1864-65, he lost fifteen hundred head of cattle, and this so changed his opinion of stock-raising that he soon sold the ranch of twelve hundred acres to Steele Brothers.
At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Beebee was a stanch supporter of the Union and he afterward became a leader in the Republican party. Governor Stanford recognized his prom- inence by appointing him judge of San Luis Obispo county. At the expiration of a year he was regularly elected to the office, and re-elected at the end of the term. On selling his ranch he had returned to town, and in 1869, with John Harford and L. Schwartz, he embarked in the lumber business, Mr. Schwartz doing the buy-
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ing of timber, Mr. Harford the shipping, while lic had charge of the selling. The three men were well fitted to attain suecess, each possess- ing qualities that would promote the prosperity of the enterprise in which they had embarked. However, it was perhaps most largely due to Mr. Beebee's wise course as manager that the business became so large and profitable. Their trade aggregated as much as ten million feet of lumber per year. Indeed, they practically eon- trolled the lumber trade in this part of Califor- nia, and they also had extensive interests in the shipping which touched at Port Harford. In addition to the headquarters at San Luis Obispo, they owned yards at Cayueos, where they were interested in the wharf as members of the firm of James Cass & Co. After having managed the business for fifteen years, Mr. Beebee placed it in a condition permitting his gradual retire- ment, although to the last he maintained a close oversight of all his moneyed interests. He owned interests in several schooners engaged in the coast and foreign trade and one of these (which was among the largest of that day) bore his name. He aided in organizing the Bank of San Luis Obispo, in which he was a stockholder, and he was also vice-president of the First Na- tional Bank. Among his other interests was the ownership of a dairy ranch of five hundred acres fifteen miles from San Luis Obispo.
Through all of his active life Mr. Beebee never lost his fondness for travel, and while during the pressure of business activities he was not able to gratify this feeling, as soon as he had re- tired he gave himself up to this favorite recrea- tion. In 1886 he visited Alaska. The next year he made a tour of Europe, while in 1888 he visited Yellowstone Park and studied the won- ders of nature there. He was twice married, and his second wife, who was Arletta S. Beswick, survives him. By his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Alida St. Clair, he had two children: William D. and Addie B., who died at seven years of age.
During the last three years of his life Mr. Beebee suffered almost constantly. His health was gradually undermined, and three times he was stricken with apoplexy. The last stroke proved fatal, and resulted in his death June 1.
1899, at the age of sixty-nine years, six months and ten days. The funeral services were held in the Pioneers' Hall, San Francisco, under the auspices of the Pioneers Society of California, with which he had long been connected as an honored and active member. Thus passed from among us one who, during his last years, seemed like a connecting link between the remote past and the prosperous present, one whose arrival in California antedated the famous emigration of 1849, and whose history for more than a half century was intimately associated with the growth of this state. All along the Pacific coast there were men who heard of his death with sorrow and who regarded it as a personal be- reavement. Especially in San Luis Obispo county was the loss keenly felt, for it was here that his greatest work was aceomplished and his most fruitful years passed.
The only son of Mr. Beebee is William D., who was born in San Luis Obispo, Cal., in 1876, in the house that is still his home. Prima- rily educated in local schools, he was later sent to St. Matthew's in San Mateo, of which A. L. Brewer was principal, and in 1896 he was grad- uated from that institution. For a time after leaving college he was connected with the bank, and, since its affairs have been elosed up, he has given his attention to the management of the property inherited from his father, and also to the several vessels he owns, plying in foreign waters between Honolulu and Australia. In 1898 he was united in marriage with Odulia M. Estudillo, a member of an old family of Califor- nia, to whose history reference is made else- where in this volume. They have three children : Enide E., Eulalia E. and William L.
HON. GEORGE G. RADCLIFF.
The position held by Mr. Radcliff. that of postmaster at Watsonville, came to him by ap- pointment in 1902, as the suceessor of B. A. Os- borne. Former incumbents of the office were A. B. Hawkins, George B. Card. 11. S. Fletcher, C. O. Cummings and Edward Martin, back to the first incumbent of the office in 1854. The building occupied as a postoffice stands on Main street in the Peck block, and since July
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of 1897 has been a second-class office. In Jan- tiary of 1901 a free delivery system was estab- lished, and two rural routes are also a part of the present modern system. Connected with the office are Mrs. Radcliff, assistant post- master; Eva B. Osborne, Frank Brandon and Hugh W. Judd, clerks; Ray Wycoff, substitute; Harry Bridgewater and Clark Hockabout, city carriers, and O. A. Schuchard, substitute; rural delivery, George W. Post, who travels twenty- seven and one-half miles between II:40 a. m. and 4:00 p. m., so that the people in rural dis- tricts may receive their mail and daily papers promptly; S. B. Atkinson, who travels daily to Valencia and Corralitos, delivering to people all along that route: H. Covell, substitute rural carrier; and C. E. Hoyt, mail carrier to trains. Under the oversight and supervision of the post- master all of the work is conducted with system and dispatch. For the convenience of the peo- ple, and in order that they may be correctly in- formed as to the mail service, he has issued a printed list giving time of receipt and delivery of mail, time of collection in boxes, etc., which has been of benefit to business men as well as the general public. There are six deliveries of mail daily. In all of the work the general supervision of a master mind is observable, and many trib- utes of praise have been bestowed upon the postmaster for his prompt and ready conduct of affairs. Further decided improvements are contemplated for the office.
A native of California, Mr. Radcliff was born in Grass Valley, Nevada county, February 6, 1868, and is a son of Philip Radcliff. The lat- ter was born on the Isle of Man and in early manhood came to the United States, settling in Toledo, Ohio, where he followed the occupa- tion of a mining engineer. In 1858 he removed to Michigan and from there came to California via Panama, accompanied by his wife, Catherine (nee Bridson), whom he married in Philadelphia, Pa. On settling in Nevada county he took up the occupation of mining engineer and con- tinued at the same until his death, which oc- curred in 1877, at the age of fifty-two years.
The education of George G. Radcliff was se- cured in the grammar school of his native town. In 1882 he came to Watsonville and entered
11pon an apprenticeship in the office of the Paja- ronian, of which his brother, W. R. Radcliff, was then and is yet the editor and proprietor. Through the energy and ability displayed in the work he soon rose to the position of manager of the office, and as such has continued after entering public life. Receiving in 1899 the nom- ination as representative from this district to the state legislature, as the candidate of the Re- publican party, he was successful in winning the election, and served for two and one-half terms, the latter one-half term being on special session work in 1901. Prior to this he had gained legis- lative experience by serving as journal clerk and clerk of the senate committee on banks and banking in the legislature. In 1890 he was elected city clerk and assessor, which office he filled with the same fidelity characteristic of his entire public service. In fraternal orders he has maintained an interest, and has been elected to prominent positions in various organizations. As president of the Eagles and an active worker in the Woodmen of the World, he is associated with two leading organizations of Watsonville. In March, 1887, he became a member of the Na- tive Sons of the Golden West, in which he has filled all the chairs up to and including that of district deputy grand president of the Grand Parlor of the state, and also served two years as a grand trustee of the order in the state, declining further re-election. He and his wife, who was formerly Florence Huss of Grass Val- ley, are prominent in the most select social circles of their city and have many friends both here and in their former home in Nevada county.
JOHN WHICHER.
The county clerk of San Luis Obispo county is of eastern birth and parentage, but has spent his life, from his earliest recollection, west of the Mississippi river. His father was one of the early settlers of the now populous city of Des Moines. Iowa, and for some years was identified with its business interests. In every place where he made his home he became known as a man of integrity and intelligence. His loyalty to the government he proved in early life, when he enlisted for service during
de lames til bury
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the Black Hawk war. At the opening of the Civil war he gave his sympathy enthusiastically to the Union and proved his patriotism by en- listing in the Fourth Iowa Infantry, afterward holding a commission as lieutenant. The last years of his life were passed in Colorado, and he died and was buried in Pueblo in 1884. His wife, Rachel, was a daughter of Dr. James Hol- man, of Richmond, Ind., and a niece of Ho11. William Holman, for some years a member of Congress from Indiana. Mrs. Whicher made her home with her son John (the sole survivor of her family of eight children) until her death, which occurred April 18. 1902. Her oldest son, James S., was in command of the Sec- ond Indiana Battery during the Civil war, and afterward settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he was killed during the cyclone a few years ago.
In Urbana, Ohio, John Whicher was born on the 4th of July, 1855. When two years of age he was taken by his parents to Des Moines, Iowa, where he received his education primarily in public schools. Later he took a course of study in Keokuk Business College. While still a boy he became ambitious to make his own way in the world, and at fifteen he secured employment in a printing office, where he re- mained some years. In 1879 he left home and went to Denver, Colo. The following year found him in Leadville, which had recently gained a world-wide fame through the discov- ery of its mines. During the four years he spent in that mining camp he gained sufficient knowledge of the town to be positive that he did not wish to settle there permanently. He dates his residence in California from 1886, when he arrived in Los Angeles. The spring of the same year witnessed his arrival in San Luis Obispo, where he has since made his home. For a time he was employed in the office of the Tribune, but resigned that position in order to enter upon his official duties. In 1894 he was elected county clerk, and his dis- charge of the duties was so satisfactory to the people that they chose him to be his own suc- cessor in 1898. Accuracy and system are said to be two of the leading characteristics of Mr. Whicher, and these qualities admirably adapt him for the successful discharge of his duties
as county clerk, a position that calls for care- ful attention to detail on the part of its incum- bent. That his administration of the office has been pleasing to the people his re-election abundantly proves. The people of the county place the greatest confidence in his honorable character and executive ability. A few years since, when the County Bank failed, he was chosen to act as manager in the closing up of its affairs, and still serves in this capacity, hav- ing meantime devoted considerable time to this important work.
In Des Moines, Iowa, December 13, 1882, Mr. Whicher married Miss Isabel Hoffman, who was born and reared in that city. In his political views he has always adhered to Repub- lican principles, and his elections to office have been as the candidate of this party. The Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks number him among their number. He is also high in the ranks of Masonry, being worshipful master in King David Lodge No. 209, F. & A. M .; past high priest in San Luis Chapter No. 62, R. A. M .; and past eminent commander of San Luis Obispo Commandery No. 27, K. T.
DR. J. M. McCURRY.
One of the most versatile and successful of the professional nien in San Luis Obispo county is Dr. James M. McCurry, who has a large den- tal practice throughout the county, and a more than passing reputation as a sculptor and dev- otee of the fine arts. In 1859 he was born in Al- legheny City. Pa., where he was educated prima- rily in the public schools, and spent the greater part of his youth. His father, John T. McCurry, served in the Union army during the Civil war, and as a soldier in the Twenty-second Pennsyl- vania Volunteer Infantry participated in the bat- tles of Antietam, South Mountain and many others of large and small importance. In this army service he was not alone as far as kith or kin were concerned, for a brother fought by his side in the same regiment, and with him shared the terrible vicissitudes of war. On the maternal side the doctor is related to another old Pennsylvania family, for the name of Cole-
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baugh has for mig years been familiar to the very old residents of the state.
As an aid to future independence, Dr. Mc- Curry learned the trade of stone and marble cut- ting and carving, but his early evinced talent, and also the generally unhealthy nature of the work, led him to regard his attainments in this direction rather as an accomplishment than as a practical present means of livelihood. He therefore decided in favor of dental work, and after removing to what is now the state of Washington he practiced dentistry for several years. In 1895 he went to San Francisco and in 1806 entered the College of Physicians and Sur- geons, from which he was graduated in the den- tal department in the class of 1900. Meantime, in 1898, he permanently located in San Luis Obispo, and has since become one of the fore- inost dental practitioners of the county.
The marriage of Dr. McCurry and Alice F. Hammond occurred in Allegheny City in 1881, and of this union there are three children, Har- old James, Nellie A. and Lillian. Dr. McCurry is politically affiliated with the Republican party. although he was one of the organizers of the American party. From the standpoint of office- holding he does not entertain aspirations, but is nevertheless a conscientious and painstaking voter. As a sculptor he has grasped the essen- tials of this remarkable and interesting art, and lias evoked out of marble many fine productions. He has completed busts of President Mckinley, Admiral Dewey, and many other men promi- nently before the public, and now has a design in progress for the Mckinley monument.
CHARLES C. REED.
Located on a portion of the great Buena Vista ranch in Monterey county is the twenty-two acre ranch belonging to Charles C. Reed, one of the thrifty and successful agriculturists of this productive valley. Though his responsibil- ity is not as large as that of many of his neigh- bors. Mr. Reed makes a good living for him- self and little family, and the care and neatness evident from a survey of his property denote not only enterprise but progress. He is making a
specialty of beets and poultry, and engages in general farming and a little stock raising.
A native of West Virginia, Mr. Reed was born August 24. 1854. a son of William Reed, also a native of the Old Dominion state, and who was a farmer up to the time of his untimely death at the age of thirty-six years. At the time of his death Charles C. was cleven years of age, and the boy remained with his mother until her sec- ond marriage, at which time he was fifteen and inclined to start out in the world for himself. He learned the carpenter's trade in the vicinity of his home, and thereafter combined farming with his trade, usually working for the surround- ing farmers. He came to California in 1876, locating in Sonoma county, where he worked as a carpenter for about three years, and then ran a very large ranch on shares for two years. Subsequently he ran a very large ranch on shares for about eleven years, and in 1894 bought his present home of twenty-two acres.
The wife of Mr. Reed was formerly Fannie Dillon, a native of California, and of this union there have been born four children, the oldest of whom died young. Etta, William E. and Emma are living at home. Mr. Reed is a Demo- crat in political affiliation, but has never desired or sought political recognition. Mrs. Reed is a member of the Catholic Church,
J. H. MENKE.
One of the soundest and most conservative financial institutions of Monterey county is the First National Bank of Salinas, of which that popular and progressive German-American, J. H. Menke, is the president and propelling force. In his effort to elevate the standard of his town he has donated liberally to all worthy causes, and has lent the weight of his influence on the side of advancement. He is the owner of the Salinas brewery, and has from time to time be- come the possessor of various city and country properties, including several farms in this county. Possessing a splendid knowledge of finance and a shrewd, level business head, he has made the best of his opportunities in the west, and has, besides, the satisfaction of know- ing that all who know him wish him well, and
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rejoice in the strict integrity which has charac- terized all of his dealings.
Until his seventeenth year Mr. Menke lived and studied at the public schools of his native town of Hanover, Germany, where he was born in 1848. Of an expansive turn of mind, he early formed a decision to conduct his future opera- tions in the new world, and upon arriving in New York found employment in the establish- ment of a ship chandler for three years and a half. He came to San Francisco in 1869, and worked for three years in a grocery store, after which he removed to Santa Cruz and was vari- ously employed until he settled in Salinas in 1874. With the money earned through his own efforts and frugality in America he purchased a half interest in the old Salinas brewery, and conducted the same with his partner, Mr. Lurz, until the death of the latter in 1889. Mr. Menke then purchased the remaining half of the brew- ery, and that year erected a new place for the conduct of his business, his handsome and com- modious residence being close at hand. In 1892 he established the bank of which he is now president, and which has since enjoyed an un- interrupted era of prosperity.
In 1879 Mr. Menke married Emma Tholcke, a native of Germany, and of this union there are the following children: William, who is in his father's bank; Litha, Emma, Henry. Mamie and Carl. Mr. Menke is politically a Democrat, and is a member of the city council. Fraternally he is a member and treasurer of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
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TIMOTHY COWLES.
Although during the period of the '50s Cali- fornia attracted many men of doubtful reputa- tion, it has been the glory of the state that it also attracted thousands of young men, sturdy of frame, energetic of will, upright in life and honest in every transaction. To this latter class belongs Timothy Cowles, a pioneer of 1851, and now a retired rancher residing in Watsonville. He was born in Peacham, Vt., April 26, 1814. being a son of Timothy and Susan (Fairchild) Cowles, and of Danish descent. It is worthy
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