USA > California > Los Angeles County > Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities prefaced with a brief history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County, 1542-1908 > Part 39
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The Civil War had broken out in 1860. In 1863 Mr. Kimball was employed as a government photographer at Port Royal, South Carolina, and Jones Island in front of Charleston. He spent upwards of six months at the seat of war when he returned to his business in New York. In 1864 he was appointed official photographer for Princeton College, the work of which amounted to thousands of dollars and he acted in the same capacity for the Freedman's Bureau. He spent in all about twenty-five years in New York City and owned a fine country seat on Long Island. He also at one time owned and conducted a wholesale and retail confectionery business in Fulton Street, Brooklyn.
In 1874 he closed out all his interests and started for California, via the Isth- mus of Panama, and arrived in San Francisco February 25th, of that year. He soon embarked for San Pedro and Los Angeles. Los Angeles was then a small city of about nine thousand people. It had no railway connection with the outside world save the local line to Wilmington and the first street railway, a mule car line, was that year constructed. The city was inadequately supplied with hotels, the Pico House being the leading publie stopping place and that was over crowded. The St. Charles (old Bella Union) and the Lafayette (now St. Elmo) were also full to their limit. Mr. Kimball in quest for an opening for busi- ness decided to erect a first class family hotel and accordingly purchased property on New High Street, north of Temple Street, and erected what was for years the leading hostelry of its elass in the city, known as the Kimball Mansion. It became the home of many of the leading people of Los Angeles and prominent tourists from the east and abroad. Helen Hunt Jackson made it her home while in South- ern California, and it was there that she did much of the literary work on her
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famous story, Ramona. He relates many interesting reminiscences of his ac- quaintance with this delightful guest. Mr. Kimball's residence of nine years in Los Angeles was crowded with business activities. Besides building the Kimball Mansion he made other investments in realty. He took an active in- terest in the progress of Los Angeles and Southern California and became super- intendent of the Southern California Horticultural and Agricultural Societies and it was under his direction and inanagement that the joint exposition of 1878 and also 1879 were held. The Board of Directors accorded him full credit for the phenomenal success of an enterprise entered upon with misgivings as to its feasibility and outcome.
Mr. Kimball was married at the old Episcopal parsonage in Hudson Street, New York City, by Rev. Mr. Tuttle, June 26th, 1857, to Miss Eliza, a daughter of William Robb, a Scotchman. He was a capitalist and a member of Rob Roy clan, famous in the sixteenth century history of Scotland, and the hero of one of Sir Walter Scott's novels. Mrs. Kimball was a lady of exceptional social attainments, amiable temperament and domestic tastes. She became wide- ly known and popular during their residence in Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball purchased a fine residence in Santa Monica in 1882 at No. 225 North Second Street. She died in the seventy-fifth year of her age, April 18th, 1903. Mr. Kimball is a man of great kindness of heart and popularity as one of the best known Los Angeles pioneers. He is a life-long Democrat, of the old Andrew Jackson school, a thorough adherent to the doctrines and precepts of American government that made the old party the bulwark of our nation's greatness. He has lived to see his party side-step many times to its lasting discredit and chagrin of its oldest adherents. Mr. Kimball is an almost life-long member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was Mrs. Kimball. He was very active in the old Central Methodist Episcopal Church, in Los Angeles, and has for years been one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Monica. He is a Free Mason of over fifty years standing.
RICHARD R. TANNER, the pioneer lawyer of Santa Monica, is a native of the "Golden State," born at San Juan, in what is now San Benito County, then Monterey County, California, March 30th, 1858. His father, Albert Miles Tanner, was a California pioneer of 1847, who came overland to the Pacific Coast, a member of the famous Mormon Battalion under Lieutenant-Colonel Philip St. George Cook, to aid in establishing United States Government authority in California. He was born in the town of Bolton, Warren County, N. Y., in 1824, and there grew up. In early life he drifted to the then far west and was thrown in contact with the Mormons, who were pioneering Central and Southern Illinois. While he never affiliated with the Mormon Church, he for several years sustained intimate business relations with them, joined the battalion upon its organization in Iowa and shared its fortunes and misfortunes of war
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until mustered out of service at San Diego, March 14th, 1848. He then went north to Sacramento, from which point he engaged in freighting with the famous pioneer, Sam Brannon, on Mormon Island. As a result of the disastrous floods of 1849 and 1850 he lost his property and in 1853 came south to San Bernardino. There he married Lovina Bickmore, removed to San Juan, Monterey County, and engaged in stock raising. Finally, late in 1871, he removed to Santa Paula, in Ventura County. He died at his Ventura home in 1881, at fifty-six years of age. He was a Douglas Democrat, later a Lincoln Republican, a man of strong individuality and well grounded opinions. The widow and mother is still living in Santa Paula. In Ventura County young Richard obtained his schooling and grew to manhood. He served as assistant postmaster of Ventura from 1877 to 1883. He then took up the study of law in the office of prominent attorneys of Ventura, was admitted to the bar in 1884 and located in Santa Monica the same year. He was for thirteen years, 1888 to 1901, City Attorney of Santa Monica and his long continuance in office is a sufficient evidence of his popularity and a due appreciation of a well rendered public service.
He served as Deputy District Attorney of Los Angeles County from 1892 to 1894. Mr. Tanner has devoted special attention to land law practice and is a recognized authority upon all matters pertaining to land titles in this section of the state. The firm, of which he is senior member, are attorneys for the Title Guarantee & Trust Company, of Los Angeles. He is senior member of the well known law firm of Tanner, Taft & Odell, with offices in the Dudley Building, Santa Monica, and the Coulter Block, No. 213 South Broadway, Los Angeles. Mr. Tanner is a stockholder and director of the Merchants National Bank of Santa Monica and Vice-president of the Santa Monica Savings Bank. He is a promi- nent Mason, an Odd Fellow, a Forester, a member of the Royal Arcanum, of the Native Sons of the Golden West and Elks. Mr. Tanner has been twice married-in 1883 to Miss Elizabeth J., a daughter of Judge Henry Robinson, of Ventura, by this union having one daughter, Mrs. Nora Ormsby. His second marriage was to Miss Sebaldina M. Bontty, of Santa Monica. The Tanner family residence, located on North Fourth Street, No. 144, is one of the many that have made Santa Monica famous as a city of beautiful seaside homes.
J. EUCLID MILES, councilman, an enterprising and representative citizen, is a native of Mount Gilead, Morrow County, Ohio, at which place he was born September 7, 1851. His father, Enos Miles, was a pioneer of Morrow County and was the first sheriff of that county. He was by occupation a drug- gist, having a store at Mount Gilead. He also owned farming lands in the vicinity.
Mr. Miles is the third of a family of seven children. He was educated in the public schools of Mount Gilead and Notre Dame, Ind., college, one of the most thorough educational institutions of its class in the country. After leaving college he entered a banking house in New York City, until 1873, when he re-
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turned to Ohio and entered the motive power department of the C. C. C. & I. R. Ry., learned mechanics and became a first class locomotive engineer. For nearly sixteen years he followed this strenuous calling.
In 1889 he gave up his position on the railroad at Pueblo, Colorado. Here he engaged in the loaning, real estate and insurance business. For a period of about twenty-two years he remained in Pueblo. He prospered in business and was recognized as one of the most energetic and influential citizens of the place. The Pueblo Star-fournal, of July 15th, 1906, has this to say of Mr. Miles, who was on a business trip to his former home city :
"J. Euclid Miles, a well known real estate man of Santa Monica, Cal., leaves for his home on the Pacific Slope today at noon. Mr. Miles was a resident of Pueblo for twenty years, leaving for California about four years ago on account of Mrs. Miles health. During a large share of the time he resided in our city, he was engaged in the real estate business and bore the reputation of being one of the most energetic hustlers in the business."
Mr. Miles acquired valuable property interests in Pueblo which he still holds. He came to Santa Monica in July, 1902, and soon thereafter organized the Santa Monica Investment Company, a business enterprise that has been most active and successful in the work of building and developing homes in this region of the country. Mr. Miles is the general manager of this company.
In August, 1905, Mr. Miles organized the real estate firm of Miles & Tegner, which became the heaviest purchaser and owner of first class realty in the City of Santa Monica.
Mr. Miles promptly became identified with the substantial growth and development of his adopted city and active in the promotion of its civil welfare. He was elected to the City Council from the Sixth Ward, under the new Free- holders Charter of 1906, and placed at the head of the Committee on Finance and made a member of other committees of less importance. His policy in directing the financial affairs of the city has proved one of wise economy and judicious expenditure.
On May 26th, 1872, Mr. Miles was married in New York City to Miss Mary Ann Moore, a native of Queens County, Ireland, and the daughter of John Moore.
Mr. Miles is a prominent and active member of the Knights of Columbia, Elks, Independent Order of Foresters and National Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
CHARLES C. LEBAS is a native of London, England, born April 30th, 1859, a son of Henry V. LeBas, who is the preacher of the Charter House, London, England.
Mr. LeBas was educated by private tutors. At twenty-one years of age he went to Algiers for some time and returned home. Later he spent some time at Singapore, Southeast Asia, chiefly in pursuit of health. He then returned to London and engaged extensively in the publishing business as a member of the
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house of Sonnenschein & LeBas, publishers of school, text and story books and also high class story magazines. He subsequently retired from the business and went to Australia. In 1893 he returned to London, after which he spent several years coffee planting in Java, and there remained until he came to South- ern California in 1896, living in Los Angeles, Covina and San Bernardino. Since 1896 he has lived in retirement in Santa Monica, owning a modern home on Oregon Avenue.
Mr. LeBas married, in 1896, Miss Marion Gene Eckford, a native of the beaut- iful Isle of Jersey. They have one son, Harry LeBas, a native of California.
Mr. LeBas has made investments in California realty and is interested in mining properties.
FRED H. TAFT, lawyer, of Santa Monica, was born at Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson County, New York, April 4th, 1857. He is a son of Reverend Stephen H. Taft, now resident of Sawtelle. A com- prehensive sketch of the life of the father appears elsewhere in this work (see index), which throws some light upon the earlier surroundings and influences under which the subject of this brief notice was reared. He was about six years of age when the family located as pioneers in Iowa. He was educated at Humboldt College, Humboldt, Iowa, grad- uating from that institution in 1878. From 1874 to 1882 he edited and published the Humboldt Kosmos. In 1883 he was one of the founders of the Hardin County Citizen at lowa Falls, Iowa. For four years, begin- ning in 1884, he was associated in the conduct of the Fort Dodge (Iowa) Messenger. There- after he followed semi-newspaper work and commercial lines in Sioux City, Iowa, in the meantime reading law. He was admitted to the bar while at Sioux City, and practiced there until the close of 1892. January 1st. FRED H. TAFT. 1893, he arrived in California, and the follow- ing year formed a law partnership with Richard R. Tanner, the firm now being Tanner, Taft & Odell, with offices in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. From 1902 to his resignation at the end of 1907, he served Santa Monica satisfactorily as City Attorney. In his religious preferences Mr. Taft is a Unitarian, and his lodge affiliations are confined to the International
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Order of Good Templars, of which he is an active member. Mr. Taft married at Humboldt, Iowa, in 1881, Miss Frances M. Welch, and they have two children living-Muriel and Harris, graduates of Stanford University. The family home is El Shacketo, at the corner of Oregon Avenue and Sixth Street.
JOHN A. STANWOOD, of Santa Monica, is a native of Newburyport, Mass., and was born March 3rd, 1856. His father, John Rogers Stanwood, was a hat manufacturer, organizer and promotor of the Newburyport Hat Company and a successful man of affairs.
The history of the Stanwood family is closely associated with that of early New England dating as far back as 1652 to Philip Stanwood who was one of the pioneers of the Old Colony of Massachusetts, the annals of which record many of the names as preachers, doctors, lawyers, soldiers, statesmen and authors. The mother of John Rogers Stanwood was Sara Rogers whose ancestors lived at Gloucester, Mass .; were among the pilgrims who founded that town and were lineal descendants of John Rogers, the martyr.
John A. Stanwood passed his boyhood and youth in Newburyport, Mass .. passed through the public schools and later pursued a course of study in Berton. He then engaged in the drug business in that city for a period of four years. In March, 1882, he came to California and spent about a year on a stock ranch in the San Luis Rey Valley, San Diego County. In 1883 he located in San Ber- nardino where he took active part in local affairs, aiding in the incorporation of the City of San Bernardino. He later removed to Redlands where he was likewise active and influential in securing the final location of the Santa Fe Railway through Redlands and donated valuable lands for railway purposes, being one of the original parties who insisted on its present location.
Mr. Stanwood came to Santa Monica, soon conceived the idea of developing the sand dunes bordering the Ocean Front south of Santa Monica into a residential summer resort and in furtherance of his plans associated with himself Dr. Ell- wood Chaffee, Arthur Gayford, E. E. Hall and James Campbell who purchased and secured title to the land now comprising the southern portion of the City of Santa Monica and the City of Ocean Park, which includes Venice.
This land was purchased from Captain Arthur Hutchenson-consideration, $25,000. They then organized the Santa Monica Terminal and Wharf Company, secured the franchise for the Santa Fe Railway into Santa Monica over what was then Lucas Avenue, which franchise finally passed to the Pacific Electric Railway Co. and is now used by that company. He negotiated the sale of the Short Line Beach Tract to Mr. Frank Strong. He likewise negotiated the sale of the Irwin Heights Tract to the Erkenbrecker Syndicate, of Los Angeles. He organized a syndicate and promoted Ocean Park Heights and the east Ocean Park Heights Addition to Ocean Park. He is president of the Venice Chamber
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of Commerce which, under his administration, is accomplishing much for the material prosperity of the Canal City. With some associates he is at present engaged in the development of the oil territory in the Santa Monica mountains.
Mr. Stanwood is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Woodmen of the World.
HON. GUILFORD WILEY WELLS, soldier, lawyer, statesman and diplomat was born at Conesus Center, New York, February 14th, 1840, and is the youngest of three children of Isaac Tichenor Wells and Charity Kenyon, who were joined in marriage in Granville, New York, February 4th, 1830. Isaac Tichenor Wells was born at Fairfax, Vermont, August 11th, 1807, and died in Conesus Center, November 2nd, 1868. The Wells family trace their genealogy back to the time of William the Conqueror in England, and to the latter part of the sixteenth century in America and number among their ancestors in direct line many illus- trious personages on both sides of the Atlantic. Guilford Wiley Wells was educated at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and College, Lima, New York. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion (while he was in college) Mr. Wells enlisted on the first call for volunteers, as a member of the First New York Dragoons, and gave nearly four years of valiant service to the preservation of the Union and the defense of the "Old Flag." He fought under that intrepid hero of Winchester, General P. H. Sheridan; participated in thirty-seven battles, and rose by suc- cessive promotions for gallant services performed to the rank of Brevet Lieuten- ant-Colonel; was twice wounded, the last time in February, 1865, so seriously as to permanently disable his left arm, and was discharged from the service on account of his wound February 14th, 1865. Retiring from the army Colonel Wells resumed his studies and 1867 graduated in law at the Columbian College at Washington, D. C. In December, 1869, he moved to Holly Springs, Mis- sissippi, to practice his profession. In June, 1870, he was appointed by President Grant, United States District Attorney for the northern district of that state. The Reconstruction Act being passed by Congress about this time, the demoraliz- ing effects of the war began to be manifest in the organized lawlessness which prevailed, especially in Northern Mississippi, in the terrorism of the Ku Klux Klan. Laws had been enacted for the punishment of these crimes but they remained a dead letter on the statutes for the want of prosecuting officers with sufficient courage, tact and ability to enforce them. The ablest men in the Mis- sissippi bar-which was one of the strongest in any state in the Union-were employed to defend these defiers of the law. Comprehending the situation, Colonel Wells determined to do his duty and prepared as best he could to wage battle with those giants of the bar. He drew the first indictment under the re- construction act and secured the first decision rendered in the south against Ku Klux in District Judge R. A. Hill's court, thus winning the first legal fight and establishing a precedent which was adopted in other states and finally re-
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sulted in the complete destruction of that organization. The Ku Klux were hunted down and their secret hiding places invaded, their murderous secrets were revealed and the perpetrators of crimes punished according to their deserts. Mississippi was thus transformed from one of the most lawless to one of the most orderly states in the Union. This herculean task was performed at a great expenditure of labor and energy and at great peril of life but in perform- ing it Colonel Wells won the esteem of the best element of society. Though having no desire to enter the arena of politics by the prominence of his official position and his contact with public men, Colonel Wells was forced to assume a leading position in his party and was chiefly instrumental in securing the nomination and election of General Ames (then United States Senator) to the governorship of Mississippi in 1873. The legislature chosen at the same time elected a United States Senator, and yielding to the importunity of his friends Colonel Wells consented to become a candidate. For some unaccountable reason, Ames, the man he had befriended, and who had hitherto professed a warm personal friendship for him, turned against his benefactor, and by a strenu- ous effort and the use of his official power prevented Colonel Well's election to the United States Senate. Not content with this success against his old friend Governor Ames exerted himself to defeat Colonel Well's re-appointment to the United States District Attorney's office, but his faithfulness and efficiency in that capacity had been too well demonstrated, and at the expiration of his first term in 1874 he was reappointed by President Grant and his appointment was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. In 1876 Colonel Wells received the nomi- nation for Congress in the Second Mississippi District in opposition to A. R. Howe, the Ames candidate, over whom he was elected by 7,000 majority, re- ceiving the full vote of his own party (Republican) and the support of the best element in the Democratic party. During his term in Congress Representative Wells served on several important committees and though in the minority politically, by his energy and fertility of resource he was recognized as one of the most influential working members of the House. Recognizing in Colonel Wells the qualities adapting him for an important government position, President Hayes tendered him in June, 1877, the office of consul general to Shanghai, China, which he accepted, and sailed from San Francisco to his post of duty August 8th of that year. Previous to embarking he had received orders to investigate charges which had been preferred by his predecessor, General Myers, against O. B. Bradford, Vice-Consul at Shanghai. Myers had been suspended by Minister George H. Seward, and the latter's friend Bradford placed in charge of the con- sulate before the charges against Bradford could be investigated. Arriving in China and assuming charge of the Shanghai consulate September 13th, 1877, Colonel Wells proceeded to examine the accusations against Bradford. He found him guilty, not only as charged by Myers, but of numerous other grave offenses, such as robbing the United States mails, embezzlement of government fees, violation of treaty rights with China, extortions from American citizens, mutila-
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tion of records, conspiring with Seward to remove official records and papers from the Consul General's office, etc. Mr. Wells being convinced of Bradford's fraudulent and criminal proceedings, had him arrested and placed in jail, report- ing at once by telegraph and by letter to the State Department at Washington the result of his investigations and asking for further instructions. After inexcusable delays in replying to his communications, and other matters trans- piring to convince Consul General Wells that an effort was being made by officials in high authority to shield Bradford and Seward in their fraudulent proceedings, he tendered his resignation, turned over the affairs of the office in Shanghai, and sailed for home January 10th, 1878. A committee subsequently created by the House of Representatives to investigate the Bradford charges returned a unanimous report that the charges were sustained, and filed articles of impeach- ment against Bradford. The investigation culminated in the retirement of both Seward and Bradford to private life. Colonel Wells twice refused the tender of Consul to Hong Kong, deciding to resume the practice of his profession. Colonel and Mrs. Wells having come by way of Southern California on their return trip from China were delighted with the climate and decided to make it their future home. Accordingly they settled in Los Angeles in 1879 and have resided here ever since. Forming a law partnership with Judge Anson Brunson, the firm of Brunson & Wells at once attained a leading position in the bar of Southern California. This relation continued until Judge Brunson was elected to the Superior Bench and that partnership was dissolved. Up to the time of his final retirement from active practice, Colonel Wells stood at the head of the following law firms-Wells, Vandyke & Lee, Wells, Guthrie & Lee, Wells, Munroe & Lee, Wells & Lee and Wells, Works & Lee. The private law library of Colonel Wells, one of the most extensive in the state, is now in the office of Works & Lee, the latter, Bradner W. Lee, being Colonel Wells' nephew.
In Avoca, N. Y., December 22nd, 1864, Colonel Wells married Miss Katy C. Fox, who was born in that town, a daughter of Matthias and Margaret Fox. They became the parents of a son, Charles F., who was born in Washington, D. C., November 9th, 1869, and died at Holly Springs, Miss., December 24th 1872. The second marriage of Colonel Wells took place in Louisville, Kentucky, December 31st, 1891, and united him with Mrs. Lena (McClelland) Juny, a daughter of Frank and Marion (Watts) McClelland, of Kentucky. Mrs. Wells was born in Paducah that state and is related to some distinguished southern families. She is Regent of the Santa Monica Chapter of the Daughters of the Revolution since its organization, and an influential member of the Santa Monica Women's Club. She is a cultured, sweet-spirited woman and takes a personal interest in local charities.
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