USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Los Angeles from the mountains to the sea : with selected biography of actors and witnesses to the period of growth and achievement, Volume III > Part 9
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His father died in Alameda County, California, in April, 1885, and just prior to his death he had purchased seventy acres of hill land covered with rock and scrub oak near Napa, California. Mr. Bowen took his mother and four sisters to Napa to live on the ranch, and he entered the Methodist College at Napa, but finding it impossible to make both ends meet, after one semester, abandoned his college career for the time being and took to the task of clearing the farm and quarrying rock at twenty-five cents per load. As he had his heart set on the prac- tice of law, however, he got a few second-hand law books and the cast- away advance sheets of the Reporter system through Judge Henry C. Gesford, of Napa, in exchange for janitor work at his office, and con- tinued to make progress in his law studies, walking one and a half miles to perform this service after working hard all day.
In 1888 he was elected road overseer for his district. In November, 1890, he was elected a Justice of the Peace in Napa City. He filled that office until August, 1891, and at the same time looked after his farm. Judge Bowen was in private practice at Napa until August, 1892. He then entered and graduated from Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa, and on returning to California located at Los Angeles, where he began the practice of law with his brother, C. C. Bowen. In 1896 his brother went into the ministry and Judge Bowen then became associated with Judge W. F. Henning under the firm name of Bowen & Henning. In 1898 his partner retired, and James G. Scarborough became his asso- ciate, under the name of Scarborough & Bowen. This is one of the old and prominent law firms of Southern California.
JonBowen
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Mr. Bowen is trustee of the University of Southern California, is chairman of the board of trustees of the University Methodist Church, and is a member of Golden State Lodge of Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Skull & Dagger Society, the Delta Beta Tau Fraternity, the Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Bar Association, and is a leading Methodist layman, a republican, and served in the Los Angeles City Council in 1901 to 1904, inclusive, being president of that body during his last term.
August 16, 1892, at Napa, California, he married Louise A. Martin. They have two daughters, Mary Spencer Bowen, who graduated from the University of Southern California in 1918 and is now assistant registrar of that institution, and Wilda Louise Bowen, who graduated from the musical department of the University of Southern California in 1919 and is now taking her master degree in the same institution.
Of the many civic matters with which Mr. Bowen has been con- nected the one that stands out most prominently is his "discovery," "acquisition" and "development" of Agricultural, now Exposition Park. In 1898, while teaching a large class of boys in the University Methodist Episcopal Sunday School, he discovered that some of his class were attending coursing matches (which consisted of chasing jack rabbits with hounds) every Sunday after class. This brutal pastime had such a demor- alizing effect on the young men of the community that he at once resolved to put an end to it. He had Col. F. D. Black, the promoter, arrested, secured a conviction, the case was appealed to the Superior Court, and finally on October 19, 1899, Judge B. M. Smith rendered a decision upholding the lower court, and sounding the death knell of this cruel sport in Southern California. After closing up two saloons, running full blast and in defiance of the law in the Park, he then conceived the idea that the grounds should be beautified and improved.
He was elected to the City Council in 1900 and at once began a campaign to raise money by private subscription to purchase the park from its supposed owners, it being understood generally at that time that it was private property. After raising $25,000 by private sub- scription he visited the late Judge Slauson for assistance, and the Judge suggested that he look into the title of the property, which he did, and soon discovered that it was public property. He then abandoned the idea of buying the same and proceeded to get hold of the machinery by which suit could be prosecuted for the recovery of the property, and finally, an August, 1904, he filed suit in the Superior Court for an accounting and the recovery of the park.
Immediately thereafter he was attacked by one Frank W. Burnett, an attorney, through the Municipal League, setting forth at length in a communication to Governor Pardee, claiming that the wrong actian had been taken, and that the property would be lost to the people by reason of the statute of limitations, and asked him (the Governor) to place someone in charge of the case who would carry the same to a successful conclusion. The Governor, however, had confidence in his ability and refused to interfere. The case was tried and Judge Waldo M. York sustained every contention made in the lower court, and the defendants appealed to the Supreme Court, which finally sustained Judge York on August 8, 1908, and the title was finally quieted in the people.
While the fight was being waged in the courts, an equally interest- ing fight was staged in the legislature at Sacramento by those who were trying to claim the property as private property. In January, 1905, Senate Bill 578 was introduced by Senator Savage, and A. B. No. 701
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introduced by J. A. Bliss, of Oakland, whatever may have been their purpose, nevertheless the effect would have been to terminate the exist- ence of the plaintiff corporation in the action for the recovery of the property, and greatly embarrass all efforts to secure the property, which had since 1896 been in private hands. To Assemblyman Percy King, of Napa, and E. K. Strowbridge, of Alameda County, are due much credit for the defeat of these bills. Again in 1907 and 1909 attempts were made to accomplish by legislation what could not be done through the courts, but on each occasion their efforts failed.
The title and possession having been settled, the next question was the use and improvement of the park. He conceived the idea of inter- esting the city, county and state, in different lines of activity, but the whole co-ordinating in one harmonious plan for the improvement, use and enjoyment of the park by the whole people. Under this plan the great museum and art gallery were built, the state exposition building, and the armory. The old wooden grand-stand and stables were de- molished and new ones rebuilt ; a great athletic field was laid out, bowling greens, tennis-courts, picnic and children's play grounds, and last, but not least, two splendid swimming pools were constructed, which will accommodate hundreds of men, women and children every day. Under this joint agreement the city has charge and care of the grounds, and improve and maintain the same.
In order to start the new work he secured private subscriptions for $10,000, and succeeded in getting the city and county to each provide a like amount, and out of this the new race-track and new barns were completed.
On December 17, 1910, the corner-stones of both the museum and exposition buildings were laid by the Masonic Grand Lodge of California as follows : Judge Dana R. Weller, grand master ; Hon. W. D. Stephens, deputy grand master; Mayor George Alexander, grand senior warden; Hon. Lee. C. Gates, grand orator ; E. B. Spencer, grand junior warden ; W. M. Bowen, grand treasurer; W. T. McAllister, acting grand secre- tary, and Dr. J. S. Thompson, grand chaplain. These grand officers were escorted to the grounds by the Knights Templar of the Golden West Commandery No. 43, commanded by C. I. Logan, and Los Angeles Lodge No. 9, commanded by Hon. James G. Scarborough. After sing- ing "America" the formal ceremony of christening the park took place. This honor fell to Mary Spencer Bowen, who, pouring Owens River water from a gold-lined silver goblet, generously donated by the Whitley Jewelry Company for the occasion, said.
"On this 17th day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1910, by order of the Board of Directors of the Sixth District Agricultural Association, and in the name of the great State of California, I christen thee 'Exposition Park.'" Inscribed upon this cup is the following :
"EXPOSITION PARK."
"Christened December Seventeenth, Nineteen Hundred and Ten with Owens River Water by Mary Spencer Bowen, Dedi- cated to the Development of the Resources and Industries of the State of California, for the Preservation of the Historic, Scien- tific and Artistic Treasures of the Golden State."
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The Museum of History, Science and Art is managed and con- trolled by a Board of Governors, of which Mr. Bowen is president, under agreement with the Board of Supervisors, whereby the County defrays all the expense. In it is housed a splendid collection of fossils taken from the Hancock LaBrea Fields-the most wonderful collection of its kind in the world.
A great stadium with 50,000 seating capacity at Exposition Park has been a dream of his for many years. He has the plans drawn and the work practically financed, and this great achievement will soon be one more to his credit.
JUDGE JOHN W. SUMMERFIELD, who occupies an enviable position in Los Angeles legal circles, has a career that is the product of hard work and an exceptional alertness to every opportunity. Judge Sum- merfield has no recollection of his father, being an infant when the latter died, and he early realized that the sure road to success was through his own initiative and merit.
He was born at Vernon, Indiana, November 20, 1869, son of John- son Wyatt and Catherine (McCloskey) Summerfield. His father, who was born at Vernon, Indiana, in 1837, completed his education in old Asbury, now DePauw University, at Greencastle, Indiana. He became a lawyer in his native town, but in 1861 left his budding practice to enter Company A of the Twelfth Indiana Infantry. He served through three different enlistments. After the war he resumed the practice of law and also became a newspaper editor. In 1863, during an interval in his army experience, he was elected county clerk, and in 1867 re-elected. In 1865 he took over the Vernon Banner, and was its owner and editor, in addition to carrying on a law practice, until his death, in 1870.
When John W. Summerfield was five years old his mother took him to Wellington, Kansas, where he received his first advantages in the public schools. In 1881 he went to Boise City, Idaho, in 1882 to Ogden, Utah, and in 1883 came to Los Angeles to live with his uncle, William S. Vawter, at Santa Monica, where he finished his education in the local schools in 1887, and had his first business experience as bookkeeper and cashier in his uncle's office, the Santa Monica Lumber and Mill Company. In 1890 his uncle was appointed postmaster of Santa Monica by President Benjamin Harrison, and Judge Summerfield for several years filled the office of assistant postmaster. He took up the study of shorthand and in 1895 was a student of the Longley Short- hand School, and having perfected his knowledge of that art, he was appointed official shorthand reporter to the county coroner in the fall of 1895. In 1898 he became official stenographer to James C. Reeves, district attorney. He was also a diligent student of law in the night classes of the University of Southern California Law School, and in 1901, having been admitted to practice, he formed a partnership with Benjamin S. Hunter under the name Hunter & Summerfield. Their associations continued three years. Judge Summerfield then became shorthand reporter to the county coroner and in 1906 was appointed justice of the peace. He has been re-elected to this office in 1910, 1914 and 1918, and for over twelve years has held court in the County Build- ing at Los Angeles.
Judge Summerfield is a popular member of the Masonic Order, the Eastern Star, the Elks, the Eagles, the Independent Order of Foresters, Woodmen of the World, Union League, and in politics is a republican.
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E. H. BAGBY is an old resident of Southern California, and for many years was prominent in the newspaper field on the Pacific Coast, espe- cially in building up and developing the chain of newspapers comprised in the Scripps service in this section of the country.
He was born in Schuyler County, Illinois, October 23, 1871, son of John Courts and Mary Agnes (Scripps) Bagby. His grandfather, George Henry Scripps, settled in Schuyler County, Illinois, in the early thirties, on land given him by the government for his services in the Black Hawk Indian wars.
Mr. Bagby was educated in the public schools of Rushville, Illinois, and in 1886 entered the law offices of his father and brother. His father at that time was on the bench in Illinois, and had previously represented the Eleventh Illinois District in Congress. Mr. Bagby came to Cali- fornia in September, 1891, locating at San Diego, where he joined the staff of the Union as a reporter. In June, 1892, he became city editor of the Sun, which had just been acquired by his cousin, Mr. E. W. Scripps, the first of the Scripps enterprises on the Pacific Coast. In 1893 Mr. Bagby went to Chicago, accompanying Mr. Scripps, in a private car, for the opening of the World's Fair. From there he went to Cin- cinnati and became a reporter on the Post for a year. Returning to San Diego, he took the business management of the San Diego Sun.
In 1895 Mr. Bagby, in association with Mr. Scripps, bought the Los Angeles Record, and continued both papers until 1898, after which he gave all his time to the Record. In 1899 he assisted in starting the Scripps papers in the Northwest, the first of which was the Star at Seattle. Eventually the service was extended until it comprised twelve other papers in different cities, all being operated under Mr. Bagby's superintendency until 1909.
In 1909, on account of ill health, he retired from the active manage- ment, but is still a stockholder and director in the Scripps organization. He devoted considerable time to the development of some large citrus acreages, in which he was largely interested, as well as subdivision properties in Los Angeles City.
Mr. Bagby is one of the pioneer golfers of Southern California, and is secretary and treasurer of the Southern California Golf Association. He has won many cups and other trophies. He was one of the directors of the San Diego Country Club in 1896, and since 1898 has been a mem- ber of the Los Angeles Country Club. He is a member of the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles, and served as a director as early as 1898-99.
Many times Mr. Bagby has been a member of different committees of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, including the chairmanship of the Entertainment Committee. In June, 1918, he succeeded George J. Dennis as member of the Selective Service, Local Board Division No. 17, of Los Angeles.
In August, 1918, through Mr. Bagby's energies, the Chamber of Commerce created a Replacement Bureau for ex-service men in the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. This branch of service was conducted under his direction until the creation of the larger body known as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Replacement Bureau, which was brought into ยท existence through the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, the mayor of Los Angeles, the State Council of Defense, and all the war activities of Los Angeles City. This bureau also, under Mr. Bagby's direction, cared for all the information needs of the soldiers and sailors, and co- ordinated its efforts with all the activities so that every possible care was given to returned service men. During the period of its official
Leo G. Garsse
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existence, at 226 South Broadway, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Replace- ment Bureau filled over 15,000 jobs, took care of 7,000 cases of allot- ments and allowances, handled several millions of lapsed insurance, and converted about two million dollars worth of war risk insurance into permanent policies.
Mr. Bagby is affiliated with the York and Scottish Rite Masons, is a life member of the Shrine, belongs to the Elks and in politics is independent.
REV. LEO G. GARSSE is pastor of St. John's Catholic parish at Hyde Park. This parish was established by Father Emil Gerardi, who said the first Mass in the school house, May 3, 1908. May 10th of that year the Catholic Building Association of Hyde Park was organized for the purpose of erecting a church edifice. It was built in 1909, and was dedi- cated by the late Bishop Conaty in January, 1910. Father Gerardi remained as pastor until 1911, when he was succeeded by Father Gregory Ash, and he in turn in 1912 by Father John Benson. From 1913 to May 1, 1918, Father Jerry Burke was pastor.
Father Garsse entered upon his duties as successor to Father Burke, and has already won the admiration and affection of all members of the parish. There are a hundred families in the parish. Father Garsse is also pastor of St. John the Baptist church at Inglewood, comprising seventy-five families, and St. John's church at Hawthorne, also a com- munity of seventy-five families.
Father Garsse is a native Belgian. He was born in Hamme, Flanders, near Antwerp, February 6, 1881, son of Bernard and Sabina (Van Hoey) Garsse. His father, a native of the same locality, was a ship builder. He died in 1904, and his plant is still operated by his two sons John and Francis. There were seven children altogether.
Leo G. Garsse was educated in the parochial schools to the age of thirteen, attended the College of the Blessed Virgin at Termonde, Bel- gium, where he graduated in 1903, and for one year was student of philosophy in Petit Seminary at St. Nicholas, Belgium. His theological course was taken at the famous university city of Louvain, in the Ameri- can College, where he remained three years. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Maas, July 16, 1907, and immediately came to America. The following year he spent in the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., and was then sent to the Pacific coast as assistant pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows church at Santa Barbara. Five months later he was trans- ferred to Bakersfield as assistant pastor of St. Francis church, where he remained two years, was assistant pastor of the Santa Clara church at Oxnard three years, and just before taking up his duties at Hyde Park was pastor of St. Francis church at Imperial and St. Joseph's church at Holtville. Father Garsse is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
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BENJAMIN F. GROVES, who recently entered upon his duties as registrar of the United States Land Office at Los Angeles, has been a resident of the Pacific Coast for thirty years, and has a wide and varied experience in civil engineering, building and contracting, mining and other affairs.
He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, August 2, 1860, a son of George and Clara (Marquess) Groves. His parents were both natives of Virginia. His early life is accounted for briefly by school attendance to the age of fourteen, and after that farm labor until he
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was eighteen. He then went out to Dixon County, Nebraska, a frontier locality, farmed there for himself a year, and then returned to Adair County, Iowa, where he farmed two years. He also served a two-year enlistment with Troop F of the Sixth Cavalry. After that he was an employe for others in Adair County until 1887, when he came to Cali- fornia.
Mr. Groves' first experience in California was as a transitman at San Diego under Henry L. Ryan, county surveyor. While at San Diego he drove the first stakes for the Coronado Hotel and the Sweetwater Dam. In 1889 Mr. Groves went to San Francisco and found employ- ment in the United States Geodetic Survey under W. Hammond Hall, assistant hydrographer. In 1891 he came to Los Angeles and was actively engaged in the contracting and building business here until 1897. About that time the discovery of gold in the Klondike of Alaska attracted him to the far Northwest, and he was a miner and prospector in that country for several years. In 1903, having returned to Los Angeles, he resumed the contracting business, in 1905 sold out and concentrated his attention on real estate. Mr. Groves practically retired from business in 1914, and has since busied himself with private affairs and politics. He served as secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee, and on May 14, 1918, was appointed register of the United States Land Office by President Wilson. His appointment was recommended by Secretary Lane of the Interior Department, and his appointment was readily con- firmed by the United States Senate.
September 9, 1887, at San Francisco, Mr. Groves married Anna Howard. They have three sons : Francis R., born in 1890, is an engineer with the Southern Pacific Railway; Edmund C., born in 1892, was divi- sion deputy in the Internal Revenue Office at Los Angeles, but now, with his brother, F. R., is an income tax expert; and Ralph H., born in 1895, is locomotive fireman with the Southern Pacific Railway.
HERBERT A. PAYNE is county auditor of Los Angeles County. He has been an auditor, expert accountant and efficiency expert with some of the largest corporations in the country, and a better qualified man for his present position it would be difficult to find.
Mr. Payne was born in Vernon County, Missouri, November 15, 1879, a son of John A. and Elizabeth (Van Swearingen) Payne. After graduating from the local high school in 1896, he went to Rich Hill, Missouri, and was connected with the real estate brokerage and mining firm for several years. In 1900, at the age of twenty-one, he became confidential clerk to the auditor of Swift & Company, packers, at Kansas City. In 1902 he went with one of the large packing houses of that time, Schwartzchild & Sulzberger, whose business was recently acquired by the Wilson & Company. At Kansas City, and later at Chicago, he was confidential clerk to the general superintendent until 1906. He then became assistant auditor with Sears, Roebuck & Company, Chicago, but left that house in January, 1913, and came to Los Angeles to form the partnership of Browning, Payne & Company, paint manufacturers. Mr. Payne sold his interests in this factory in 1914 and accepted the appointment of research accountant of the City Efficiency Department of Los Angeles. In December, 1917, he became director of that depart- ment, and on June 1, 1918, was appointed county auditor by the County Board of Supervisors to succeed Walter A. Lewis.
Mr. Payne is a republican. At Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 29, 1907, he married Miss Mary Louise Browning.
James Robert Townsend
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JAMES ROBERT TOWNSEND. While his connection with the bar of Southern California dates back as early as 1882, the interest attaching to the career of James Robert Townsend is not merely that of length of service. He has appeared conspicuously in many public and private causes, has been in local politics to some extent, and as a registered attorney of the United States Patent Office has handled many of the most important patents and copyright interests originating in this sec- tion of the country.
Mr. Townsend was born at Staunton, Clay County, Indiana, Septem- ber 21, 1858, son of James McGready and Julia (Somers) Townsend. Few Los Angeles citizens have a longer and sturdier line of American ancestry than Mr. Townsend. His family history goes back to Richard de Hauteville, who went to England with William the Conqueror and there took the name of Townsend from a castle on a hill at the end of a town in Norfolk county. The American history of the family begins with Richard Townsend who landed at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1620. Sixteen years later in 1636, John, Richard and Thomas (or Henry) Townsend landed at the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and proceeded south to Jamaica, Long Island, while Richard probably went on to Snowhill, Maryland.
James Townsend, grandfather of the Los Angeles lawyer, was a son of Major Townsend. In 1810 he removed from Snowhill, Maryland, to Union County, Kentucky, being.accompanied by his wife, Catherine Davis. In 1832 he left Kentucky and moved to Indiana, where he freed his slaves. He had distinction of being one of the founders and the man who laid out the town of Greencastle, Indiana. James McGready Town- send was born at Morganfield in Union County, Kentucky, February 21, 1820, his wife Julia Somers was born near Barnet, Vermont, in 1825, daughter of Robert Somers, who emigrated from Vermont to Indiana in 1838.
James R. Townsend attended the public schools of Indiana until 1878, and in the preceding year had acted as weigh-boss at a coal mine. He was a school teacher in 1878-79 and 1880-81, and through all his active career has maintained a deep interest in educational progress. A few years ago he graduated under Dr. Maria Montessori in the be- ginner's and elementary courses of Montessori Training. He has the distinction of being the first American male graduate of this famous method of child training. In the intervals of his early work as a teacher he spent sixteen months at Albia, Iowa, studying law with his uncle, John S. Townsend. Upon being admitted to the bar he returned to his native county in Indiana, and at Brazil began practice with the firm of Coffee & Carter. He was getting his first training in the law at the same time he was teaching school.
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