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 77
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Some years ago Mr. Brassell purchased the old Christian Church and this he now rents for school purposes pending the erection of the new high school building. With the exception of two terms as town trustee, he has not consented to hold office. He is connected with the For- esters and blue lodge of Masonry and with his family attends the Presbyterian Church. His wife, formerly Mary Bundy, was born in that part of Denmark which now belongs to Ger- many. She is a lady of amiable disposition, great energy and an active member of the East-
ern Star, in which order she has many friends. Six children have been born of their union, one of whom died in infancy, and Clara when five years of age. Those living are Edmund H .. who is a bookkeeper on Spreckels ranch No. I: Nellie, Bertha and Helen.
CYRUS W. BRIDGEWATER.
During his service for eight terms as city marshal of Watsonville Mr. Bridgewater has won the confidence of all the best citizens, and his faithful service is appreciated by them. He was born in Cass county, III., February 16, 1843, and grew to boyhood on the farm of his par- ents, John and Belinda (Haynes) Bridgewater. When the newly opened territory of Kansas was attracting thousands by reason of its intimate connection with events culminating in the Civil war, the family identified themselves with the anti-slavery party in Lynn county, Kans., where they settled during 1857. A part of the farm they purchased was in Lynn county, and the balance in Bates county, Mo.
The father died in 1862 at fifty years of age, and during the same year the son enlisted for service in the Union army, becoming a member of Company F, Sixth Kansas Cavalry. After two years of faithful service in the ranks he was promoted to be second corporal, and served as such until the end of the struggle. Much of his service was on the frontier, where he partici- pated in several skirmishes, but escaped being wounded or imprisoned. On his return from the war he bought a farm in Bates county, Mo., where he followed farming and cattle-raising, and met with fair success. However, the cli- mate did not prove satisfactory and when he learned through a friend of the ideal climate to be found in California he decided to spend the remainder of his days upon the Pacific coast. Selling out in 1875, he came west the next year and settled in the thriving city of Watsonville. in the heart of the Pajaro valley. For a few years he engaged in teaming and jobbing, after which he was employed as engineer in a mill on Main street. The latter position he resigned on securing an appointment as night watchman. After serving as watchman for four years, he
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was elected miry marshal and has been re-elected eight consecutive times. This appointment comes to him from the people, irrespective of politics, he being independent in his views and not identified with any party. In religion, as in politics, he has not associated himself with any particular organization. For many years he has been an officer in the Knights of Pythias, and lie is also connected with the Eagles.
The first wife of Mr. Bridgewater was Eliza- beth Perry, of Brown county, Ill., who died at twenty-nine years. Three children were born of their union: William L., who is a plumber in Watsonville; Ethel. deceased; and James H., a business man of Redwood City. The present Mrs. Bridgewater was Emma Shankman, daugh- ter of James Shankman, and a native of Ken- tucky. To their union two children were born, namely: Edgar, who is a druggist; and Harry, who is employed as a mail carrier.
FRANK R. BRADBURY.
The business interests of Watsonville have an energetic and efficient representative in Mr. Bradbury, who is a dealer in paints, oils, var- nishes. brushes, all kinds of wall and decorative papers, as well as a contractor for painting. pa- pering, decorating and calcimining. In his store lie carries samples of fifteen hundred kinds of paper manufactured by Alfred Peats & Co., for whom he is sole agent in this town. He is also the only representative here of the famous Patten paint. Immediately after coming to Watson- ville, in 1804, he started in business along his present line. His ability as a decorator was soon recognized and he has built up an impor- tant trade and added to his stock until it is now complete and modern. Among the contracts for decorating that have been awarded him are those for the Presbyterian Church, Judge Lee's building and the Cooper block, also the resi- dences of J. T. Bates, C. H. Rogers, O. Tuttle, Mrs. Nugent and James Rogers, besides many in adjoining counties. His place of business is on the corner of Bradbury and Waters streets. while his residence (built by himself) stands on Lincoln street.
Mr. Bradbury was born in Baltimore, Md., in
1855, and is a son of John T. Bradbury, an in- fluential statesman, who died while filling the office of consul in South Africa. The son was reared in Baltimore and there learned the dec- orating business. For two years he studied in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in his native city, after which he acted as assistant with Dr. Gardner in the regular army. For three years he was stationed in Arizona, principally at Forts Lowell and Thomas. From there he went to San Francisco, and, instead of completing his medical education, he took up the decorator's trade. For a year he was employed by G. W. Clark & Co., the leading decorators of the Pa- cific coast at that time. Two years later he em- barked in business for himself and in 1894 came to Watsonville, where he has built up an in- creasing and profitable trade.
By his marriage to Martha Keith, of Balti- more, Md., Mr. Bradbury has two children, Ethel Terrell and Frank. The daughter is not only one of the bright students of the high school, but already has gained considerable prominence as an artist, and some of her works have received favorable criticism from experts. In religious views Mr. Bradbury is liberal. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Eagles, Wood- men of the World, American Federation of Labor, and the League of Education
BENJAMIN BROOKS.
Ever since the year 1635 the Brooks family has been identified with American history, at which time they settled in New York. Many of the early representatives of the name were ship masters and owned merchantmen that were en- gaged in trade with the West Indies. Benjamin S. Brooks was the son of a wealthy ship owner and was given excellent advantages in his youth. At an early age liis talents seemed to point in the direction of the law, and he entered that profession with high ambitions and aspirations. In 1849 he joined the throngs who sought the far west. However, it was not his intention to engage in the exciting search for gold, but to follow his profession, and he settled in San Francisco, of which city he was long an hon- ored and successful attorney. Not only was he
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connected as lawyer with nearly all of the lead- ing land cases in San Francisco, but also with many in other parts of the state, and few attor- neys were as well informed as he regarding all the intricacies of claims, titles, etc. Besides being an able lawyer, he was also a successful business man, and in the management of his various interests accumulated wealth. Had he sought office, he could have secured almost any position within the gift of his party (the Repub- lican), but he was not a politician and preferred to concentrate his attention upon professional duties. At the time of his death, which oc- curred in San Francisco in 1883, he was about sixty years of age. Twice married, his first wife was a New York lady who descended from Eng- lish ancestry. By that marriage he had one son, Benjamin, while by a later marriage he had a son, William, who is now manager of the Land Department of the Spring Valley Water Com- pany of San Francisco.
Benjamin Brooks was born in New York City, October 25, 1842. When about seven years of age his father came to California, and his early education was obtained in the noted academy of Fairfield, Conn. He was thirteen when he first arrived in California, and afterward he attended the public schools in San Francisco. Intending to enter the profession of law, he studied in his father's office and elsewhere, and was admitted to practice. Gen. John C. Fre- mont, who was a warm personal friend as well as a client of his father, offered him a position in connection with the Union Pacific Railroad, of which the general was a promoter. Return- ing to San Francisco in 1865, he resumed the practice of law, and later accepted a position in the custom house there. For some five years afterward he was with the Southern Pacific Rail- road, being connected with Mr. Stubbs in the freight department, this being the gentleman re- cently selected to have the general management of the freight department of the great railroad combine.
During 1885 Mr. Brooks came to San Luis Obispo, where he now resides. Ever since com- ing here he has been owner and proprietor of the San Luis Obispo Tribune, which under his able supervision has been made one of the lead-
ing Republican organs of Central California. About eight years ago he established a daily paper, which he has since conducted, and which has a large circulation throughout this region.
There is one event in the life of Mr. Brooks which is worthy of considerable note, and that is his connection with the first cable-car enter- prise in the United States. While living in San Francisco, he was a member of a company that secured the first franchise for a cable line in San Francisco and, indeed, in the United States. That mode of transportation was wholly new to the people. It was known that London had a very crude line which was operated for a short distance in that city, but no other effort had been made to utilize the principle which forms the basis of the cable system. Many of the leading financiers of San Francisco looked with suspicion upon the plan, for they regarded it as impracticable. Mr. Brooks devised the first cable grip and labored constantly in perfecting the system and interesting people, but failed to get a sufficient amount of money subscribed Finally he sold his interest in the company and afterward the cable line was built which opened up all the western part of San Francisco, fol- lowing the lines of travel he had mapped out.
In 1867 Mr. Brooks married Miss Mary Ella Steele, daughter of Hon. John B. Steele, who was a member of congress from New York, and a niece of Judge George Steele, one of the leading men of San Luis Obispo county; also of Gen. Fred Steele, who was an officer in the Civil war.
Not only through his paper, but also per- sonally, Mr. Brooks gives his influence to the Republican party. As a member of the county and state central committees he has filled with characteristic fidelity every trust reposed in him. An active and interested Mason, he is connected with the blue lodge, chapter and commandery in San Luis Obispo, and is also a member of the Eastern Star. The Independent Order of For esters; San Luis Obispo Lodge No. 322, B. P. (). E .; and San Luis Obispo Council No. 1125. Royal Arcanum, number him among their active members, and he has been the incumbent of various offices in all. Besides his other interests he assisted in the organization of the San Luis
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Building and Loan Association, and for years has served as its president. Indeed, its large and noteworthy success may be attributed mainly in his wise oversight and judicious supervision Socially he is a man of genial manner and pos- -esses the tact, intelligence and good fellowship that always attract strong friendships; added to which is a personality that impresses and charms, the whole combining to make him one of the city's most influential and popular citi- zens.
HENRY BOSSE.
With the sterling traits for which the German nation is noted the world over, Mr. Bosse has worked his way forward to an encouraging de- gree of success; this, too, although he came to the United States with a very limited knowledge of the English language and without any means whatever. He is a native of Hanover, Germany, born December 7, 1844, and came to our coun- try in 1867. For eighteen months he was em- ployed in Muskingum county, Ohio, but believ- ing that other portions of the country offered greater advantages, he sought a new location. In the fall of 1868 he went to New York, where he boarded a ship bound for the Isthmus of Panama. Arriving there, he crossed to the Pa- cific ocean, and then sailed up the ocean to San Francisco. His first location in California was in Monterey county, where he secured employ- ment and remained for a year, working on a lairy ranch.
Since 1860 Mr. Bosse has made his home in San Luis Obispo county. In 1870 he obtained employment with Steele Brothers, and during the next fourteen years he remained with the same employers, meantime saving his earnings in order that he might be in a position to start ont for himself. He was said to be the best cheese maker on the ranch and was head man in this capacity with his employers. With George Steele as a partner, in 1884 he bought a one-half interest in the Oso Flacka ranch, and for the 001 six years he carried on two dairies with one hundred and fifty cows. At a later date he Tottshared the other half interest in the ranch Mon Mrs. George Steele, so that at this writing
he owns four hundred and ninety acres of val- mable land. This acreage does not represent the limit of his holdings, for he has several lots in town. In 1800 he bought twenty-two and one- half acres in the Arroyo Grande valley, which he set out in walnuts, apricots and apples, and now has a fine orchard in excellent condition. Numbered among his other interests is his posi- tion as a director in the Andrews Banking Com- pany, of which he is a stockholder. Ever since becoming a citizen of the United States he has voted with the Republican party and stanchly upheld its principles. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Arroyo Grande, in which he is past noble grand. In 1889 he married Miss Katie Grieb, who was born in Germany. They have two daughters, Nellie and May.
A. WILLIAM BIXBY, M. D.
The principles of the eclectic school of medi- cine have an able exponent in Dr. Bixby, of Watsonville. Not alone the fact of his long residence in his present locality, but especially because of his acknowledged skill in the diag- nosis and treatment of disease in its varied forms. he has gained a position high in the con- fidence of the people. Nor is his influence lim- ited to his home city and county. Through the publication of various articles in medical jour- nals, he has reached and influenced practitioners all over the country, and has been helpful in bringing to the attention of physicians of other schools the value of that of which he is a dis- ciple.
Born at Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, Dr. Bixby grew to manhood in Missouri and received an excellent education in the Missouri State Normal at Kirksville. An initial experi- ence in the science of medicine was gained in the Missouri Medical College, where he was trained in the principles of allopathy. However, with that desire for broad knowledge which has ever characterized him, he investigated other systems of medicine, and found himself espe- cially drawn toward the then new principles of eclecticism. For this reason he determined to become a student of the system, and accord
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ingly entered the American Medical College at St. Louis, where the partiality he had felt to- ward the eclectic school was deepened and strengthened by a constantly increasing famil- iarity with the success of its theories, as ex- emplified in active practice and clinical work. In 1877 he received the degree of M. D. from this well-known institution.
Opening an office at McPherson, Kans., Dr. Bixby remained there four years, meantime building up the largest medical practice in the county and also acquiring, with his brother, H. H., the ownership of a drug store. The success of his work as physician may be judged from the fact that, during an epidemic of typhoid fever in McPherson, he lost only one case out of seventy- five that he treated. In 1881 he accepted the chair of theory and practice in the California Medical College of San Francisco, and, on resigning that position, in the fall of 1882, came to Watson- ville, then a village with only one-half of its present population. At once he began in gen- eral practice, making a specialty of diseases of women and children and chronic troubles, to which he has since devoted much of his time. At first his practice was small, but as he be- came known to the people of the Pajaro valley and as the population increased, calls for his services and aid became numerous, and he is now the one of the busiest physicians of the towns near the coast. With the exception of a few years when he had a drug store, his en- tire attention has been given to practice, and when not engaged in visiting patients or in consultation work, he has worked assiduously in the preparation of articles pertaining to ther- apeutics and in keeping posted concerning all advances made in materia medica.
A thorough knowledge of measures calcu- lated to promote the public health makes the services of Dr. Bixby very valuable in his office of member of the Watsonville Board of Health. Another important office which he nows fills is that of member of the state lunacy commis- sion for Watsonville, to which he was appointed by the state commissioners of lunacy. For five years he acted as surgeon for the Southern l'a- cific Railroad at Watsonville, and he is now officiating as medical examiner for a number of
life insurance companies. While believing thor- oughly in eclecticism, he recognizes the valua- ble points in other schools, and numbers among his friends many practioners of these old sys- tems, with whom he has often consulted in dif- ficult cases. Always, however, in his own prac- tice, it is his aim to follow eclecticism, which endeavors to cull from homeopathy and allo- pathy their most meritorious theories, and com- bine them into one harmonious school. Since 1880 he has been a member of the National Eclectic Association, and a few years ago he was honored with election as president of the California Eclectic Society. At this writing he is medical examiner for the Watsonville lodges of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, also the Native Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, and in addition to being an active mem- ber of the two organizations first named is con- nected with Pajaro Lodge No. 110, F. & A. M., Watsonville Chapter, R. A. M., and Watsonville Commandery No. 22, K. T.
LEWIS L. BARTHOLOMEW.
The long period of his residence in California. which dates from 1859, enables Mr. Bartholo- mew to be denominated a pioneer of this state. A native of New York state, born in Erie county in 1835. he was reared in Jackson county, Mich., and attended the district schools of his day and locality. Shortly after the Mormons opened up Utah, he migrated thither in 1848, and be- gan to engage in ranching pursuits. The hard
ships of life on the frontier fell to his lot. The task of improving a ranch and making it re- munerative was exceedingly arduous. Finally, in 1850. deciding that the surroundings would be more favorable further west. he came over- land to California, settling in the then barren wilderness of San Bernardino county. During the same year he removed to San José and engaged in farming. From there, in the fall of 1870, he came to San Luis Obispo county, and established himself on a ranch near Ade- laida. The next year he bought eight hundred acres, forming a part of the Morro y Cayncos rancho, on Torro creek. Since 1880 he has made this property his home and has devoted himself
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to its improvement Two fine springs furnish a large supply of water, thus solving the most difficult problem that confronts California farm- ers. The presence of these springs adapts the Butch excellently to dairy purposes, and it is principally utilized as such. The dairy cows are oi the best Jersey strains, hence the butter finds at ready sale at all seasons.
On first becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Bartholomew identified himself with the Republican party: but later his views under- went a change and he then cast in his allegiance with the Populists. As a trustee of the Fairview school district, his work has been acceptable, and during his service in that position he was instrumental in having the well bored for the school. Both he and his son are stockholders in the San Luis Industrial Union, which has proved one of the most profitable local enter- prises in the county. While living in Utah he married Miss Clarinda Robinson, who was born and reared in Michigan. Five children were born of their union, one of whom died in her twenty-first year, and two. Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Curry, are widows. The oldest child is Lewis L., Jr. Among the young men of the county the son already takes a prominent posi- tion, possessing those qualities which usually bring their owner a large measure of success. Many of the progressive movements of the county have enlisted his influence and energy, among them being the Alliance mill at San Miguel, in which he is a stockholder, and the San Luis "Reasoner," in which he also has an interest.
JOHN J. BOYSEN.
Situated two miles from Salinas, the home- stead of Mr. Boysen has all the advantages to be derived from juxtaposition with a thriving county-seat. The improvements noticeable on the place have been made since it became the property of the present owner, in the fall of 1884. oud prove him to be a man of enterprise and progressive spirit. \ portion of the three hun- fred acres is under cultivation to the various farm products specially adapted to the soil, wigle the balance is devoted to the pasturage
of stock, for Mr. Boysen, like many of the farm- ers of Monterey county, finds the stock business a profitable adjunct of general farming.
On the farm in Denmark where he was born in 1848, Mr. Boysen passed the years of boy- hood, meantime spending the winter months in the school room. At fourteen years of age he began to make his own way in the world, and ever since then he has been self-supporting. In the spring of 1867 he came to America, pro- ceeding directly to California and settling in Watsonville. To pay the expenses of the trip from Denmark he borrowed $200 and the first money earned in his new location was applied toward the payment of this debt. As soon as his indebtedness had been cancelled, he began to save his earnings, hoping to become a land owner in the near future. For five years he worked in the employ of others and then began ranching for himself. In the fall of 1873 he married Gretha Peterson, whose co-operation has assisted him in all of his efforts. Four children were born of their union, but two died in infancy. The two now living are J. J and Andrew.
During 1884 Mr. Boysen purchased the ranch where he now resides, and two years later he moved to the place, since which time he has devoted himself closely to its cultivation, giv- ing his attention to cultivating its acres and caring for his stock. Though loyal to his adopted country and fond of the state where he lives, he is not a partisan politician, nor has he mingled in public affairs at any time, his interest being merely that of the public-spirited citizen who favors plans for the general welfare and prosperity.
W. C. BENNETT.
The largest and most perfectly appointed drug establishment in Paso Robles is the prop- erty of W. C. Bennett, who has a thorough mas- tery of his chosen occupation, and is besides a citizen of many attainments and varied inter- ests. Ile was born in VanBuren county, Mich., July 7. 1864. his father, George IL., being a na- tive of Devonshire, England. Ile came to America in 1855, at the time being seventeen
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In. & Sus Som Casey
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years of age, and settled in Hillsdale county, Mich., where he engaged as a millwright. For thirty years he lived at Allegan, Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, that state, and in 1887 set- tled in Paso Robles, Cal., where he is at pres- ent assisting his son in his drug business. His wife, Jane (Brain) Bennett, was born in Bir- mingham, England, her father, Richard, being also a native of England. He was a brick ma- son and contractor, and built many of the tall chimneys throughout England. He came to the United States in 1864, and died in Michigan, at the age of eighty-six years. Seven children were born to George H. Bennett and his wife, four sons and three daughters, of whom W. C. is the fourth.
After completing his education in the public schools W. C. Bennett graduated from the Alle- gan (Mich.) College in 1880, and was afterward apprenticed to a pharmacist, in time perfecting his trade knowledge at an eastern college. For' five or six years he engaged in clerking in drug stores, and in June of 1885 came to California, settling in Tulare county, becoming clerk and manager of a store at Traver. At the expira- tion of three years, or in 1883. he came to Paso Robles and started a drug business of his own, the new enterprise being inaugurated under auspicious circumstances, January 1, 1880). He has been very successful, and besides his skill as a druggist has many things in his favor, among others being a genial and optimistic disposition, plenty of tact, and a pronounced de- sire to please. His store is up to date in fur- nishings and general supplies, and is one of the busiest places in the growing town.
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