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 53
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The town of Cambria, with its various impor- tant interests, its good schools, its churches, and its surrounding country populated by enterpris- ing ranchers and dairymen, owes much to the energy of Mr. Guthrie. The establishment and maintenance of a high-class store is always an aid in the development of any village. and draws into it the trade of farmers for miles around. For this reason he is entitled to rank among public-spirited citizens. However, this is by no means his only claim to recognition. In other ways he has assisted in the building up of the place. He was one of the organizers of the Cambria Fire Company and has been its fore-
man ever since the organization. During the quicksilver excitement he was employed as ac- countant for the Oceanic Quicksilver Mining Company.
No political party has ever received the al- legiance of Mr. Guthrie, who prefers to be inde- pendent, and casts his ballot for the men and measures he believes to be best calculated to promote the welfare of the people. It has never been his ambition to occupy positions of official responsibility, yet he has been active in assist- ing such of his friends as are candidates for office. Fraternally he is a member of San Simeon Lodge No. 196, F. & A. M., of which he is past master and present secretary. With his wife, who was formerly Miss S. E. Woods, of Oregon, and whom he married in 1879, he holds a high place in the regard of the people, and his genial manner makes him a welcomed guest everywhere. As one of the early residents in San Luis Obispo county and a man whose . energies have been devoted to the development of the resources of Cambria, his name well de- serves mention in this work and perpetuation in the annals of the county.
JAMES D. FOWLER.
In these United States it is a matter of pride that a large portion of the best and most promi- nent citizens in different walks of life have risen to distinction solely through their own efforts, unaided by wealth, influential family, or circum- stances over which they have no control. .. \ notable instance of the sterling worth which overcomes obstacles and creates its own oppor- tunities is presented in the career of James D. Fowler, the postmaster of San Luis Obispo, and one of the most honored men in the county.
In Glasgow, Howard county, Mo., where he was born April 25. 1837. Mr. Fowler passed his early years on the parental farm, where he was trained in the practical, useful things of life, and inured to industry and thrift. The Fowler fam ily was represented in America at a period nin- certainly located, and the first emigrants sup- posedly settled in Connecticut. The paternal grandfather served in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war, and the father of Mr.
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Fowler, together with his three brothers, served with distinction in the war of 1812. When six- teen years of age. James D., and his brother Charles D., from whom he has rarely been separated. started across the plains for Cali- fornia, and settled in Santa Clara county. After herding sheep for a couple of years he returned to his old home in Missouri, and remained until 1859. During these three years Mr. Fowler studied diligently at the district schools, and this education was about all that he received during his immature and struggling years. Neverthe- less, in his humble environment of work and recreation he gained much that the schools can- not give, and in the light of subsequent study, and keen observation of men and events, the early educational shortcomings seem to have been a spur to the attainments of later years. Upon re-crossing the plains in 1859, Mr. Fowler settled at San José and conducted a farm un- til 1862, and that year paid his own way back to Missouri, that he might assist in the struggle between the north and south. His military career was a worthy one, and prosecuted with all the force of youthful enthusiasm for the cause he deemed just, and as a member of the Ninth Missouri Cavalry he served until July 13. 1865. At first a private, he was afterwards made ser- geant. and during the progress of the war par- ticipated in Price's raid and all of the impor- tant battles after '62. Although strictly to the fore in all danger and privation, he was singu- larly exempt from physical disability, and is proud to say that during the whole of his service he never missed a meal or a fight.
With the restoration of peace Mr. Fowler re- turned to Missouri, and the following Febru- ary returned to California and San José, where he remained until 1860. He then took up his residence in Monterey county, and while there was appointed a member of the committee formed to divide Monterey county and from which was created San Benito county. In 1876 he came to San Luis Obispo county and lo- cated on the splendidly improved ranch which he still owns at Cayucos, about twenty-one miles from San Luis Obispo. Here he developed and improved his property, and entered upon four- teen years of practical and scientific agriculture
and horticulture, and now has one of the finest ranches in the county. In 1894 Mr. Fowler came to San Luis Obispo to reside, and during Presi- dent McKinley's administration, beginning with 1808, he was appointed postmaster of the town, and has since admirably conducted the local af- fairs of Uncle Sam.
In 1865, at his old home in Missouri, Mr. Fowler married Sarah Frances Pierce. daughter of J. M. C. Pierce, member of an old and well known Virginia family. Of this union there have been born four children, three of whom are living: Ella, wife of Farrell C. Nickle, employed in the government service in San Francisco: Attelia, who is living at home; and James Rufus, who is a graduate of the Dental College in San Francisco. Although born an Abolitionist, Mr. Fowler has been a Republican ever since his first voting experience, but he has never been prominently before the public in search of official recognition. Since 1863 he has been associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and has held all of the chairs, and is now serving as commander of the Fred Steele Post No. 70, G. A. R. He is a member of the Pioneers of Santa Clara County. The esteem in which Mr. Fowler is held among all classes of people in San Luis Obispo, the admiration which his meri- torions career elicits from all who appreciate sterling worth and well directed effort; his cour- age as a soldier, and his success as an agricul- turist, are assuredly integral parts of the town to which he acknowledges allegiance. The cle- ments of popularity so unconsciously utilized have won for him friends and his kindly per- sonality, consideration and tact, have played an important part in his struggle for ascendency.
JOSEPH W. GREGG.
For many years the name of Joseph W. Gregg has been a familiar one in the Carmel valley, and his ranch of one thousand acres, located partly in the valley and partly in the hills, and in close proximity to the old Carmel Mission, has been representative of all that was excellent as a dairying and ranching center. A native of Vir- ginia, Mr. Gregg was born December 8, 1828. a son of Aaron Gregg, also born in the Old
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Dominion. Aaron Gregg removed to the vi- cinity of Newark. Licking county, Ohio, in 1830, and there bought a farm of which fifteen acres was cleared, and upon which he cleared one hundred and fifty acres. He was fairly suc- cessful and lived to be seventy years of age. A Whig, and afterward a Democrat, he took little interest in political agitations, but was a de- voted member and worker in the Methodist Church. He married Elizabeth Fleming, also a native of Virginia, and who lived to be seventy- three years of age. She was a member of the Methodist church, and the mother of six chil- dren, of whom Joseph W. is third oldest. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Gregg, was born in England, and was a Quaker in religious belief. After emigrating to America lie became a Vir- ginia planter, and died at the age of sixty.
When two years of age Joseph W. Gregg went with the rest of the family to Licking county, Ohio, and there lived on the paternal farm until seventeen. He then worked in three different flouring mills in Ohio, in one of which he served an apprenticeship, and in the spring of 1852 went to Charleston, Coles county, Ill .. where he superintended the building of a flour- ing mill, a task requiring ten months, and then built another mill requiring four months. March 20, 1853. he started for California via the Isth- mus, arriving in Monterey May 4th of the same ycar. He purchased a ranch in the Carmel val- ley which was heavily timbered and covered with brush, for which he paid $360, and of which he cleared one hundred and sixty acres. At the end of sixteen years he bought a squat- ter's claim adjoining the hills, consisting of about four hundred acres, and sold the same for $7,000. For a time he lived in the city of Monterey and loaned money with fair success, and when ten months had expired purchased the ranch of a thousand acres which has since been his home. Four hundred and fifty acres of this land are in the valley, and the rest in the hills. For years Mr. Gregg carried on a large dairy- ing business, keeping on an average one hun- dred and eighty cows. He is at present en- gaged in general farming and stock-raising, and has one of the neatest, most modernly equipped and most productive ranches in the valley. He
estimates the worth of his property at $100,000.
In 1868 Mr. Gregg married Lola Soboranas, of which union there were four children: Eliza- beth, the wife of Oliver Thomas, of Monterey; Lola M., the wife of William Garner, of Mon- terey; Mary (known as Dallie), the wife of Wil- liam D. Steadman, interested with his father-in- law in the ranch; and Joseph. Mr. Gregg is a stanch Republican, and has been school trustee for nearly thirty-five years. He is honored and respected by all who know him, and his success- ful career is worthy of emulat'on and admira- tion.
THOMAS GRAVES.
It would be difficult to find a man more em- phatically in accord with the true western spirit of progress, or more keenly alive to the oppor- tunities awaiting the industrious and intelligent man of affairs in Monterey county than is Thomas Graves, who has here built up a far- reaching stock business, and identified himself with the best undertakings in his district. Out of his own varied experiences he has evolved the theory that any young man with ambition and correct ideas of life may attain unto his goal, providing his diversions do not include gam- bling, drinking and kindred destroyers of suc- cess and happiness.
A representative of a fine old southern family which was among the first to settle in Kentucky, Mr. Graves was born in Marion county in 1837. and is a son of George and Levina (Mattingly) Graves, both born in Kentucky. When ten years of age Thomas accompanied his parents to Nodaway county, Mo., and two years later the father crossed the plains to Sacramento, where for a year he engaged in the grain and hay busi- ness, making as high as $1,000 a month. So impressed was he with the advantages to be found in the west, that he returned for his fam- ily and belongings, and started from Missouri upon his second trip across the plains. The train that braved the dangers of the overland trail was a small one, and consisted of but five wagons and a lot of stock. At the expiration of five months they reached Alameda county, where they lived for three years, and in 1855
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came to Monterey county, which was then very wild and almost entirely uncultivated. They found the resident Spaniards very hospitable and friendly, but there was hardly a dozen white families in the county at the time. The elder Graves was a man of shrewd business sagacity, and from the first he held tenaciously to his principle of success. He leased the land upon a portion of which Salinas now stands, but which was not then associated with the thought of a town, and as the years rolled by he became the possessor of large ranches and correspond- ingly large herds of cattle and horses, at one time owning four hundred head of fine standard horses. The balance of his life was spent in the midst of his large successes, and he lived to the ripe age of five and seventy years. His brother, J. E. Graves, who is now in the mint in San Francisco, was sheriff of Monterey county for about sixteen years.
Thomas Graves was educated in the public schools of Kentucky, Missouri, and California, and at the age of twenty-two married Sarah E. Bryant, a native of Arkansas. His first inde- pendent farming venture was conducted on a small place about three miles west of where Salinas now stands, and which was known as the Johnson farm. Here he engaged principally in stock-raising until 1875, when, after disposing of his interests, he purchased the Tibadad ranch, northeast of Salinas, and lived thereon until 1881. The next purchase of Mr. Graves was the ranch of three thousand acres nine miles from Gonzales, which he still owns, and which is finely stocked. A still later acquisition is a ranch of one thousand acres near Gonzales, and he also owns several smaller farms in the county. For the last six years he has lived in his pleas- ant home in Salinas, enjoying to a certain extent a respite from his long years of arduous toil. He is a Democrat in politics, but, though often urged to run for office, has ever declined to do so. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows at Salinas, but, owing to ill health, abandoned his association with the organization several years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. Graves have been born five sons and one daughter: George W., who is a farmer and stockman in Montercy county; John Burton, also a farmer in this
county; Frank, who is in the dairy business in Merced county; J. E., who is in business with Mr. Miller, the cattle king of California; and William B., who is still at home and who is in- terested with our subject in stock business; and Levina, who is the wife of Mr. Hughes, of Salinas.
S. B. GORDON, M. D.
Among professional men in Salinas none is more in touch with the general spirit of progress in the west than Dr. Gordon, widely known as a proficient expounder of the best principles of medical science, and for whom his friends pre- dict a future of exceeding brightness. A native son of the west, he was born in Monterey, Cal., October 17, 1868, and is a son of S. B. Gordon, one of the substantial and successful pioneers of California, who died at Pacific Grove June 5, 1902. The elder Gordon came to California in 1852, and the next year to Monterey county, where he was a large stock-raiser, and where he became one of the progressive forces of his lo- cality. As a stanch upholder of Democratic principles he was elected to places of honor by his fellow townsmen, serving two terms as a member of the legislature and several terms as supervisor. He was born in Georgia, and was a large plantation owner, a portion of his land, Gordon Mills, being the scene of the battle of that name. Senator George B. Gordon, who was also General Gordon, was a relative of the family.
Dr. Gordon is the only physician in his fam- ily, and his education was acquired in the public schools up to his sixteenth year. He then took a two years' literary course at the University of California, after which he went to New York and was graduated from the medical department of the University of New York in 1890. For preliminary practice he located in Gonzales, and was the first practicing physician of the town. About four years ago he became permanently identified with Salinas, since which time his acknowledged professional skill, his genial per- sonality, and many fine traits of character have won him hosts of friends and the patronage of many of the most desirable families in the town.
Brooks
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Although the youngest physician here, he has inspired confidence to an unusual degree, his treatment of complicated and apparently hope- less cases being accountable to a large degree for his present standing.
In 1892 Dr. Gordon married Maggie Cox, a native of Watsonville, Cal., and of this union there is one daughter, Lucile M., who is seven years old. Dr. Gordon is a Democrat po- litically, and for six years, beginning with 1893. served as public administrator of Monterey county. He is fraternally popular and widely known, and is associated with the Blue Lodge of Masons, the Commandery at Watsonville, the Chapter at Salinas, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, besides eight or nine other lodges.
TRUMAN BROOKS.
In disposing of the chances that have come his way, Truman Brooks, born in Sutter county, Cal., and at present manager and sole proprietor of the Paso Robles Bottling Company, has evinced both discretion and sound business judgment, and has won an enviable place among the upbuilders of his locality. An ineffectual attempt to represent the family in California in 1849 was made by the paternal grandfather Brooks, who, in his attempt to brave the dan- gers of the plains, succumbed to deprivations and exposure. More successful was his son, J. C. Brooks, a native farmer of Iowa, near Fort Madison, who came across in 1854, settling at Bidwell's Bar, among the placer mines. Here he mined a little and ran a dairy, afterward re- moving to Sutter county, later to Shasta county, and eventually to Colusa county, from where he removed to his present home in Lompoc, where he has bought land and is engaged in chicken raising and the fruit industry. His wife, Miriam (Haskell) Brooks, was born in Iowa, and is the mother of four sons and two daughters, of whom Truman is the fourth.
After finishing his education in the public schools. Truman Brooks attended Pierce's Christian College, at College City, Colusa county, and afterward engaged in ranching and purchasing mules until his twenty-third year.
Later on he rented a farm four years, then turned his attention to carpentering, and in time engaging in the grocery business in Fresno. At Templeton he purchased forty acres of land, which was soon after sold, and he then came to Paso Robles and engaged in the building busi- ness for a few years. With the savings of his industry he was enabled to purchase a half in- terest in the Paso Robles Bottling Company, and in 1898, when the business was closed out by the sheriff, Mr. Brooks became the sole pur- chaser. Although he did not have the money to pay for the other half interest, his credit was such that a bank in the town advanced the money, and he succeeded in paying up every cent at the end of two years. He has succeeded in building up a fine business, which brings in large yearly returns and shows no diminution. In addition, he handles the only ice business in the city, and is agent for the Union Ice Com- pany of San Francisco. In connection with his other interests he has a winery, and his com- modities are known all over this part of the state. He ships a considerable amount of the justly popular mineral water to the surrounding towns, and runs a team with his goods across the moun- tains to Cambria and San Simeon, Cal. Last year he disposed of seven thousand gallons of the mineral water, and in connection with it manufactures all kinds of soda drinks, the whole plant being valued at $4,000.
In Fresno, Cal., Mr. Brooks married Phoebe Speegle, a native of Castroville, Cal., and daugh- ter of A. Jackson Speegle, a native of New England. Mr. Speegle came to San Miguel when he was a boy, having crossed the plains with a party from the Missouri river, and since then has cared entirely for himself. In fact, he has looked out for himself since he was four- teen years of age, and deserves a great deal of credit for having so well managed his chances. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. Truman, Jr., and Vivian Loraine, both of whom are living at home. Mr. Brooks is a Democrat in politics, has been city trustee and treasurer for two terms, and is now chairman of the board. He is a member and treasurer of the fire department. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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the Rebekahs and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
M. E. GONZALES, M. D.
A justifiable pride of inheritance is one of the chief characteristics of Dr. Gonzales, of Monterey county. He was born in the city of Monterey, July 26, 1848, and comes of a distinguished Mexican family of Castilian extraction. His parents were Theodore and Guadaloupe V. de Gonzales. The father came to Monterey county when its present prosperity was undreamed of. In the midst of the undeveloped conditions he reared his family and established a reputation for integrity and enterprise. In time his pos- sessions came to be among the largest in the county. His ranch, Rincon de la Punta del Monte, comprised fifteen thousand acres and was known far and wide. Two of his sons, M. E. and Alfred, are large land owners of Gon- zales and influential citizens.
As a boy M. E. Gonzales was given the ad- vantages of study in Santa Clara College. In his youth he learned the printer's trade. At the age of seventeen he was given complete charge of his father's ranch. Three years later he ac- quired his first mercantile knowledge, at which time he bought out the business of Pulasky & Co., and for several years conducted the same, meeting with success. At the age of thirty years he began to study medicine and in 1883 was graduated from the Cooper Medical Col- lege of San Francisco. The town of Gonzales was so named by him in 1874 and was laid out by himself and brother after having been sur- veyed by Charles C. Healey. About the same time he began the development of his fine ranch in the vicinity of the town and containing fifteen thousand three hundred and forty-five acres of land. Originally destitute of any improvements. it is now one of the best properties in the county, with water canals, ditches, fine resi- dence, substantial bains and general buildings. Two thousand and five hundred acres are de- voted to dairies, the balance being for grain and beets, which latter are sold to the Spreckels sugar concern. All of the land is rented to tenants. Dr. Gonzales receiving one-fourth of the crops as his rental.
In addition to other enterprises Dr. Gonzales is president of the Bank of Gonzales and treas- urer of the Gonzales water works. He was formerly a director of the Race Track Associa- tion. The science of medicine appeals to him with particular force and has often been of use to him in caring for some unfortunate whose condition of helplessness appealed to his kindly heart. However, he has not engaged in prac- tice, the management of his estate consuming his time and thought. Fond of travel, he has found pleasure and recreation in frequent trips to Europe and kindred diversions. Althoughi essentially a citizen of San Francisco, where he spends the greater part of his winters, he never- theless sojourns during part of each summer at his beautiful ranch near Gonzales, in the county to which he owes the allegiance of a native-born son, and the prestige of which he has materially augmented. In San Francisco he married Edia, daughter of Christopher Wesphal, a capitalist of San Francisco. Of this union there is a daugh- ter, at present finishing her education in France.
A stanch Republican in politics, Dr. Gonzales has been a delegate to numerous conventions, notably the national convention held in Cincin- nati, July 11, 1876, at which time R. B. Hayes was nominated for the presidency.
Personally, Dr. Gonzales is a man of broad education, an intelligent traveler, familiar with the historical, artistic and general attractions awaiting the keen observer of European customs and peoples.
MISS BERSABE GONZALES.
The record of the Gonzales family in Santa Cruz is typical of the county's growth and de- velopment. Before any attempt had been made to cultivate the land or build up villages, and while the Indians were still the sole inhabitants of the central coast regions, at such an early period as this Francisco Gonzales, a native of Mexico and a descendant of an ancient Castilian family, came to the county of Santa Cruz to act as administrator of the missions. Previous to this no white man had been engaged in that capacity or as a teacher in the institutions. It was then during the early part of the nineteenth
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- century, and he continued to reside in Santa Cruz until his death, in 1833, at the age of sev- enty years. While living here he became the owner of the Pascadoro ranch, which he stocked with thousands of cattle and horses.
Among the children of Francisco and Gracia (Rodriguez) Gonzales was Filipe Gonzales, who was born in Santa Cruz August 24, 1822. His education was obtained at the old mission of Santa Cruz, and he grew to manhood under the primeval conditions that existed in California. during the early half of the nineteenth century. On the death of his father he succeeded to the ownership of large herds of cattle and horses, and for some time continued on the large tract which had been his childhood home. From there he removed to the Pajaro valley in 1852 and afterward engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred August 21, 1892. Among the Castilian residents of the valley he was a leader, and his influence among Ameri- cans was equally great, many of them remem- bering with gratitude his kindness to them when they came to the valley, friendless and without means. Indeed, he proved himself a benefactor to many a poor and struggling young man, am- bitious to succeed, but seemingly unable to get a foothold in his new home.
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