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 76
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Hargan, and whom he married in Santa Bar- bara. Mrs. Cooley is a native of Spring county. Ind., the daughter of George W. Hargan, a Kentucky farmer who came to California by way of the plains during the early '6os, and set- tled in San Joaquin county. He later lived in Los Angeles and Santa Barbara counties, even- tually settling in Ventura county, where his death occurred at the age of fifty-two years. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooley: Emma, who is a compositor and type- setter with the firm of Sanborn, Vale & Co., of San Francisco; Maud, who is the wife of Alfred Granger, a barber of San Francisco; Frank, who is a tinner and plumber by trade; and Ed- win, who is a resident of San Francisco.
HUGH ROSS, M. D.
A professional career which has been far- reaching in its usefulness, multitudinous in its experiences, bright with its distinguished friend- ships in many lands, and of more than passing interest to all who have watched its develop- ment, is that of Dr. Hugh Ross, a resident of Paso Robles, and one of the foremost medical · homeopathic practitioners in San Luis Obispo county. A native of London, England, Dr. Ross was born March 3, 1845, a son of Alexan- der and Mary (Coe) Ross, natives respectively of Edinburgh, Scotland, and England. The pa- ternal grandfather was born in Scotland, and during his entire active life was superintendent gardener for the Duke of Arthol. Alexander Ross was receiver for the London Gas Liglit Company, and in return for years of faithful service was pensioned by the company up to the time of his death at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, whose father was born in Wales, and became a farmer in England, lived to be over ninety years of age.
Up to his fourteenth year Dr. Ross lived in England, and during that time attended a pri- vate school, and took a course of lectures in the Museum of Practical Geology, in Germain street, London. He afterward took lectures in composition, anatomy, chemistry and geology in Hamilton, Canada, and also attended the high school in the latter named town. March
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3, 1864 le prove ditt Detroit, Mich .. thence pro- ceeded ro Springfield, Ill., where he was made citizen of the United States before Judge Treat. In Christian county. Ill., Dr. Ross Bonght one hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he lived for a year or so, and, hav- ipy disposed of this property, began to study merlicine at Hahnemann College, Chicago, in October, 1874. and remained for a year, in the fall of 1875 entering the Chicago Homeopathic College, from which he received the degree of M. D. in 1886. IIe also took a special course in physical diagnosis in the Cook County Hos- pital, Chicago, and a course under Dr. Brown- Sequard on the nervous system. In October, 1881, he was appointed one of the judges of the floral department of the Illinois State Fair at Peoria. The same year he removed to Huron. S. D., and homesteaded four hundred and eighty acres of land, but soon became convinced that the change was unfortunate, both as far as land and climate was concerned, and disposed of the place at the end of seven years. In 1888 he re- moved to Tacoma, Wash., and engaged in prac- tice until the boom collapsed, and in 1895 came to California, where he spent two years in look- ing over the country, in search of a favorable . permanent location. Having decided in favor of Paso Robles, he settled down to a professional practice, and at the beginning of the Spanish- American war departed, August 20, 1898, on the troop ship Scandia, for the Philippine Islands. Arriving in Manila, he was appointed surgeon for the ship by General Otis, and subsequently made two more trips to Manila, his second trip being on the transport Centennial, and the third on the Wyfield, on both of which he 'served as ship surgeon. He was discharged from the Scandia December 22, 1898, and from the Wy- field May 28, 1001. While in Manila he engaged in an extended private practice, and worked in connection with the Red Cross Society, but was obliged to pay his own expenses during the whole of his residence in the capitol city. In addition to the many evidences of appreciation from Manila, he has certificates of Illinois, Da- Rota, Washington and various other states, and Also a certificate for examining the insane of California. IIe is a member of the Homeopathic
State Medical Society, and of the Theosophical Society, the latter founded in New York, with headquarters at Madras, India. In the Spanish Barracks at Manila, in 1900, Dr. Ross married Etta Gabaretta, a native of Yokohama, Japan. They have one child.
JOSEPH ALBRIGHT.
A typical example of the opportunities af- forded by the west is to be found in the life- record of Joseph Albright, of Watsonville Though a native of Ohio (born near Bucyrus in 1841), his early recollections are of Iowa, to which state his parents, John and Emma (Baker) Albright, removed in an early day. From there. in 1853, the family journeyed overland to Ore- gon and settled in Clackamas county. There, as previously, the father followed the occupation of manufacturing brick. On his retirement from business he was succeeded by his son. Joseph, who carried forward the enterprise with praise- worthy ambition and energy. However, when the law of convict labor was passed, brick could no longer be manufactured profitably, and he therefore discontinued the business and in 1866 came to California, settling in Soquel, Santa Cruz county. For three years he engaged in the manufacture of brick in that village, and then noved to Watsonville, where he estab- lished a brick yard at the extreme end of Sud- den street. Later he rented land on the flats from Mrs. William Blackburn and attempted to establish a kiln, but found the combination of clay not suitable, and so gave up the work. The yards in Watsonville were carried on until 1894. Where they once stood may now be seen some of the neat residences for which Watson- ville is noted. The first house on the spot was erected by Mr. Albright and utilized as a home for his family. At a subsequent date he built three houses on the corner of Fourth and Rod- riguez street, and still later built his present resi- dence on Fourth street, which is an attractive house with modern improvements.
On discontinuing the brick business Mr. Al- bright turned his attention to farming and fruit- raising. He bought sixty-seven acres and put about forty acres under cultivation to straw-
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berries, and on which, in 1892, he planted thirty- five acres in apple trees. However, he is now best known through his success as a beet-raiser. Itis own land being insufficient for his needs in this direction, he has rented other property, during 1901 renting one hundred and fifty acres near Spreckels, in Monterey county. From one hundred and thirty acres he gathered two thou- sand seven hundred and eighty-five tons, being an average of twenty-one tons per acre, for which he received $4.50 per ton. This yield is considered remarkable, but it proves what can be produced from some of the California soil when in the hands of a man of energy, sagacity and prudence. While giving his attention closely to business matters, Mr. Albright has not neglected his duty as a citizen, but has al- ways supported measures for the development of the county and the benefit of the people. Since 1875 he has been a member of the Chris- tian Church and during much of that time has held official positions in the congregation. Fra- ternally he is connected with the local lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he is past grand.
The marriage of Mr. Albright united him with Nancy Jane Bunton, who was born in Iowa and rcared in Oregon. Their children are named as follows: William H., who for some years has been an extensive strawberry raiser; Lena May, Mrs. Frank Tuttle; Josephine, Mrs. G. H. Le- land; Myrtle, who married E. A. Kelly; Thomas Joseph, a blacksmith by trade; and Orrel Etta, who resides at home.
F. SANDS AUSTIN.
Under the supervision of Mr. Austin as man- ager is conducted the business of the Loma Prieta Lumber Company of Watsonville, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the entire state. The origin of this company dates back to the establishment, by the firm of Ford & Sanborn, of a large mill in the southern part of Santa Cruz county. At that time the mountains were covered with a dense outgrowth of red- wood and white pine, hence the location was es- pecially favorable for a large lumber industry. Choosing as the title of the firm the Watson- ville Mill and Lumber Company, they embarked
in the business and soon built a narrow gauge railroad from Aptos into the mountains. The opening of other lumber districts gave them ad- ditional territory and added prestige as a firm. In November of 1883 the concern was merged into the now well-known Loma Prieta Lumber Company, which controls seventy-five hundred acres of land and has a railroad extending from Loma Prieta four miles into the mountains. During 1901 the mills were removed to Hinck- ley Gulch, where about two hundred men are employed and about forty thousand feet of lum- ber cnt per day. The company has lumber yards and finishing mills at Santa Cruz, Capitola, Wat- sonville, Hollister, Gilroy. San José, Salinas, Monterey and Pacific Grove. Shipments are made to the north, south and east, throughout the state.
The officers of the company are as follows: President. Timothy Hopkins, of San Francisco; vice-president and general manager at San Francisco, A. E. Bassett; treasurer, M. T. Smith, of San Francisco; secretary, A. Wil- liams, of Santa Cruz; agent, W. R. Porter, of Watsonville; and F. Sands Austin, manager of the yards at Watsonville. The mills in this city comprise the planing mills, sash and door fac- tory, yards, etc., where employment is furnished to about thirty-five men, and the work is con- ducted under the oversight of William H. Ames, superintendent. The plant covers about six acres of ground, and from it lumber is shipped to all of the surrounding country towns.
In Tioga county, Pa., F. Sands Austin was born August 2, 1855, a son of Benjamin and Zenna (Culver) Austin. His education was ob- tained in local schools. When seventeen years of age lie started out to make his own way in the world. His first experience was in a tan- nery, after which he was employed in sawmills and lumber camps in Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-six years he came to California and settled in Santa Cruz county, where he was en- gaged as teamster with the Watsonville Mill and Lumber Company. When it was absorbed by the Loma Prieta Lumber Company, he was made manager of the lumber yards at Watson- ville, and has since filled the position to the satisfaction of the officials of the company. A
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jpmm al derling palities, he has proved a valu- alle addition to the citizenship of Watsonville And has taken his part in promoting measures for the benefit of the city. Since coming here Me has become a property owner and has re- cently erected a modern residence on Maple street. Fraternally he is connected with the lodge and chapter of Masonry, and is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. His first wife was Laura Foster, who died at twenty-two years of age. Afterward he was united with Mrs. Emily (Cook) Wannieke, who was born while her father, Captain Cook, was en route to Japan. Captain Cook was a seafaring man of some prominence. and his daughter's earliest recol- lections are of voyages with her parents on the l'acific ocean.
PERRY M. ANDREWS.
"Nothing succeeds like success," is the motto which has inspired the efforts of Mr. Andrews in his operations as a contractor and builder at Watsonville. He was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., April 15, 1864, and in boyhood went to Missouri with his father, William Andrews, a builder by trade. The latter removed to Cali- fornia in 1882 and settled in San Diego, where he was engaged in the building business. His death, the result of an accident, occurred in that city when he was sixty-two years of age. Dur- ing his residence in Missouri, Perry M. An- drews learned the carpenter's trade. His first independent experience at the trade was in Da- kota, where he worked as a journeyman in Rapid City. After three years he took up con- tracting there.
On coming to California Mr. Andrews visited various points and did considerable prospect- ing, after which he chose Watsonville as his home. In this decision he was influenced both by the fine climate and by the prospects for a large amount of buikling. Taking up work as h journeyman, he was soon made foreman for S. J. Jennings, and as such had charge of the building of the Pajaro Valley Bank, the ()dd Fellows Building and other substantial struc- tures. Later he formed a partnership with S. J. Jennings in the building business. They had
the contract for the Christian Church, and when it was burned took charge of the rebuilding. In a subsequent association with Mr. Christiansen he built many of the best residences of the lo- cality. In 1806 he started out alone and has since had contracts for many of the finest resi- dences erected in this city and vicinity, besides several business blocks, among which may be mentioned the Bockius Block, the Alexander Building and the remodeling and rebuilding of the Charles Ford Company business block. He built the modern house in which his family re- side. During the past six years he has averaged about nine men a day, and has had as many as twenty men employed steadily during one year. It surely speaks much for his ability and reputa- tion as a builder that, since coming to Watson- ville, he has not been without work for twenty- four hours, but usually has contracts taken for many months in advance.
The marriage of Mr. Andrews united him with Miss Ola Nevenhuysen, daughter of Frank Nevenhuysen, of Watsonville, and they have one child, Gladys Marie. At one time Mr. Andrews was chief of the local fire department and is now first assistant. In fraternal relations he is con- nected with the blue lodge, chapter and Eastern Star of Masonry, the lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he is past grand, and also belongs to the Encampment and the Independent Order of Foresters.
LYMAN BREWER.
Since 1892 a resident of Paso Robles, Mr. Brewer has creditably associated himself with various worthy enterprises in his adopted city, and has come to be regarded as an influential and progressive citizen: He was born in Buf- falo, N. Y., July 31, 1859, and his father, F. H. Brewer, was a native of Norwich, Conn. The elder Brewer was for many years engaged as a general mercantile broker and agent in Buffalo, N. Y., and is now living a retired life in Mystic. Conn., and is about sixty-five years of age. He married Rebecca Holmes, a native of Troy, N. Y., and of this union there have been born five children, four daughters and one son, Ly- man Brewer being the oldest of the family.
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During his youth in Connecticut Mr. Brewer attended the public schools, and graduated from the high school of Mystic, that state, this train- ing being supplemented by four years at the academy of San Mateo, Cal. For ten years he engaged as a telegraph operator and station agent along the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and in 1892 as assistant cashier of the Citizens' Bank, with which institution he was connected for seven years. At the present time he is engaged with the Wells-Fargo Express Company, and also handles fire insurance. For two years he has been justice of the peace, and ever since his first voting days has been inter- ested in maintaining the integrity of the Re- publican party. For eight years he has been a member of the school board, and during three years of that time was chairman of the board. In 1896 he was made president of the city board, continuing in that capacity for four years. Fra- ternally he is popular and well known, and is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic blute lodge.
In San Francisco Mr. Brewer was united in marriage with Eva Cross, a native of that city, and daughter of Thomas J. Cross, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Cross has been engaged in mining in California for many years, but at the present time is living on a ranch near Napa, this state. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brewer: Irene, Ruth, Fred H. and Lyman.
SAMUEL FRANKLIN GEIL.
Corporative and criminal law in California has no interpreter more lucid than Samttel Franklin Geil, of Salinas, who for nearly thirty years has been identified with the professional growth of the Pacific coast. A splendid type of the strong and gifted in human endeavor, with a mind attuned to justice and broadened by association with all sorts and conditions of men, he has been a magnet around which have cen- tered many of the most thrilling legal battles in the arena of the state. A remarkable showing is the fact that out of nearly forty cases up for murder, six have resulted in conviction, and of the people charged with felonies of less gravity,
he has secured the release of many more than one hundred and fifty. The cases of Azbell, Prewitt and Hawes were widely read all over the country.
Of German descent, Mr. Geil represents a family which located in Pennsylvania nearly two centuries ago. He was born in New Britain, Bucks county, Pa., September 28, 1841, and re- ceived a common-school and academic educa- tion. In fulfilment of an ambitious plan cher- ished from childhood, in 1859 he went to Cleve- land, Ohio, and entered the law office of Her- rick & Barlow, combining his studies there with the usual course at the Ohio State and Law College, from which he was graduated May 26, 1862, his admittance to the bar occurring Sep- tember 26 of the same year. With the culmina- tion of hostilities between the north and south in 1861, he served for a short time in the Second Ohio Cavalry, but on the IIth of December of the same year his resignation was accepted by General Buell and he received an honorable dis- charge. In search of a desirable field for a loca- tion, Mr. Geil selected the west, and arrived in San Francisco via Nicaragua in December of 1862. From that city he proceeded to Mon- terey, where early in 1863 he opened a law office. In the fall of the same year he was nominated on the Democratic ticket for district attorney, and was elected by a large majority in a strongly Republican locality. During his service in this capacity he laid the foundation of one of the largest practices ever established in the interior of California, and handled with credit cases which attracted by their importance the atten- tion of the surrounding country.
In the meantime the county scat had been removed to Salinas and hither he came in 1873. opening a law office. The same year he was appointed to fill the office of district attorney. made vacant by the death of the former incun- bent. During the unexpired term he prosecuted and secured the conviction of the desperate Miguel Moreno, of the Vasquez band of robbers and murderers. At the expiration .of his ternt he formed a partnership of short duration with Hon. P. K. Woodside, ex-clerk of the supreme court of California, and between 1875 and 1880 engaged in an independent practice. Following
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this he was for nine years a partner of Hon. H. V. Morehouse, a promising lawyer, who has ince gained a reputation throughout the state is an orator. Since 1890 he has practiced alone and his prestige has increased with the passing years, while his work has proved an inspiration to many an aspirant for legal honors. For the past twenty years he has been attorney for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and for five years has been attorney for the Spreckels Sugar Company. At this writing the greater part of bis time is given up to corporation practice. An analysis of the cause of Mr. Geil's success would be superfluous, for no two cases are in any way parallel, save in the matter of brain force and in the ability to grasp the opportunities by which one is surrounded. The supreme gift is neither talent nor genius, but lies along the path trod by Mr. Geil and consists in being able to use to the best of one's ability the gifts with which one is endowed.
At Monterey in 1866, while serving his first term as district attorney, Mr. Geil married Jo- sefa Sanchez, representative of the Castro fam- ily, so prominently identified with the early history of California. During the many years of his association with the Masonic order Mr. Geil has served for three years as high priest of Salinas Chapter No. 59, R. A. M., and is also a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. In addition he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
GEORGE R. BUTLER.
A visitor to the gallery of Mr. Butler in Sa- linas finds much to interest and awaken admira- tion. It needs but a glance around the studio to convince the stranger that he is gazing upon the work of an artist, and such indeed Mr. But- ler is, having inherited a love of art from many preceding generations of his family. For years he has given his attention to art in photography, and as a result the products of his gallery lose nothing by comparison with the work of leading photographers throughout the state.
Mr. Butler was born in San Francisco in 1861 and received his education in the public schools of that city. His parents, F. and Anna M.
(Bennett) Butler, were natives respectively of New York and Delaware. During the exciting days of 1849 the father left the east to seek his fortune in the mines of the coast, but soon he commenced work at the occupation in which he had previously engaged, that of an architect. It is said that he was the first architect to come to California. His services in that capacity were in constant demand and many of the fine build- ings put up in San Francisco in early days were designed by him. He continued in the business until about 1880, when he died.
From early boyhood George R. Butler was interested in everything pertaining to art, espe- cially as evinced in the science of photography. His training in the occupation was gained under the supervision of some of the leading photog- raphers of San Francisco, with whom he re- mained for some time after he had acquired a thorough technical and practical knowledge of the business. About 1893 he came to Salinas and established the business which he has since conducted, his patronage not being limited to his home city, but extending through various parts of Monterey county. He was accompa- nied to Salinas by his wife, formerly Sadie How- ard, whom he married in San Francisco, and who was born and educated in that city. While not active in politics, he is a stanch Republican, and never fails to cast his vote for the men and measures advocated by this party. The Wood- men of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen number him among their members, and he is likewise associated with the Native Sons of the Golden West and the Beney- olent and Protective Order of Elks.
HANS PETER BRASSELL.
Noteworthy among the citizens of California who came from the thrifty little peninsula of Denmark is Mr. Brassell, a successful horticul- turist residing in Watsonville. He was born in 1848 and at an early age lost his mother by death. When a boy he learned the blacksmith's trade under the oversight of his father, Andrew Daniel Brassell, and in 1869 came to California. where he worked as a journeyman in various places. During 1874 he settled in Watsonville
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and purchased from J. J. Lund a shop and cor- ner lot on Main and Fourth streets, where he soon established a growing trade. In 1877 his father joined him in this city, where he died one year later, at sixty-five years of age.
About 1882 Mr. Brassell extended his busi- ness interests by building a feed mill, which is operated by a steam plant, the water being fur- nished by his own water works. The mill was equipped with two sets of rollers. In the rear of his lot on Fourth street he built a large honse. In 1892 he rented his present business location for a blacksmith's shop. Business con- tinned to be prosperous, but June 28, 1901, he sustained a severe loss in the burning of the mill and store. However, undaunted by the catastrophe, he at once rebuilt. Previous to this he had purchased fifty-one and one-third acres of the Salsepuedes rancho in Santa Cruz county and in 1892 he set out one thousand apple trees on the place, also one thousand prune trees. The following year he added to the size of the orchard by planting one thousand apple and one thousand prune trees, all of which are now in fine bearing condition. In addition, he set out oranges, lemons, apricots and other fruits. ()f recent years he has found the demand for Pa- jaro valley apples and apricots so great that he is replacing the prunes with these trees, and he is also adding to the size of his orange grove, having ascertained by experience that the cli- mate suits this fruit. Every improvement has been made that will in any way promote the value of the land and increase its productive- ness. Among the people of the valley he is con- sidered an authority in matters pertaining to horticulture.
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