Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 336.

A. N. Garrison [Editor inserted: Abram N. Garrison]

A. N. Garrison is a veteran of the great war of the Rebellion. He was born in Tompkins County, New York, March 26, 1845, the son of John and Sarah (Cooper) Garrison, both natives of New York, the former born in 1820. His grandfather, Abram Garrison, was also born in that State, in Putnam County, his ancestors being among the early settlers of the State. The subject of this sketch was the third of a family of five children. He was reared and educated in that State, and spent some time clerking in a store. The war broke out, the old flag was fired on at Fort Sumter, and the fires of patriotism burned in the hearts of the loyal people of the North. President Lincoln called for volunteers. War meetings were held. Every little town had its company of volunteers, and the larger places more. The fife and the drum could be heard every day. When the strife began Mr. Garrison was only sixteen years old, and, although eager to enter the service, could not on account of his youth. The following August, 1862, when seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Seventh New York Volunteer Infantry. It was in answer to Mr. Lincoln's 300,000 call; and they went forth into the deadly strife singing, "We are coming, Father Abraham, 300,000 more." In a little over a month they were in the battle of Antietam; and the peaceable farmer boy and clerk and student from school had, as by a miracle, been transformed into a hero. Then they were at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and in the great and notable march with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. he participated in all the battles that his regiment was in during the last three years of the war, and never received a scratch, nor was sick a day - a noble record for a youth of seventeen. He came in at the grand review at Washington, when the war veterans, crowned with victory and glory, made their triumphant march through the beautiful capital of the great country that their heroism had saved. What a glorious chapter in a man's life was that!

On being mustered out of the service, Mr. Garrison returned to his home and was in the oil regions for a time; and not long after engaged in business in Saginaw, Michigan, four years as a merchant and four years as a dealer in stock and produce. In 1876 he came to the Golden State, and was engaged in farming and stock-raising in Yuba County. While there he was burned out and met with several financial reverses. He is now, 1890, located in Ventura County, four miles east of Hueneme, on an 800-acre ranch, raising barley, hogs, horses and cattle and is very successful. Last year he sold $3,000 worth of stock from the ranch. Everything about the place indicates industry and thrift.

August 11, 1877, Mr. Garrison wedded Miss Mary Bayley. She is a native of Vermont, daughter of George B. Bayley, also of the Green Mountain State. In his political views Mr. Garrison is a Republican.


Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 514.


Philemon Garcia

Philemon Garcia is a native of California, born February 10, 1849. His father, Francisco Garcia, was a native of San Francisco, and his grandfather Garcia, also named Francisco, was born in Mexico, and came to California in an early day. His mother Maria Antonia (Paraulta) Garcia, was born in San Jose, this State. They had nine children, seven sons and two daughters, of whom six are now living. Philemon Garcia was educated in the English schools, and at the early age of eleven years began to work for himself. He was first employed to ride race horses, riding Langford, Miami and Norfolk at the most noted races. They were then considered the best horses. He then worked on a ranch for H. Williams, and afterward on threshers for different parties, until he had a thresher of his own. Mr. Garcia, in company with A. B. Smith, was the first to start a cook house, in connection with threshing-machines, to board the hands. He came to Ventura County in 1873, and bought of Edward Borchard his present home place of twenty-six acres, paying $1 down, the purchase price of the property being $500. He paid it all the same year, and since then has built a house and barn and made other improvements, making his money by raising grain and threshing. He cleared a piece of land for Thomas R. Bard, and raised a crop on the same, for which he received $2,000. He is also clearing up other lands for Mr. Bard. Mr. Garcia runs a steam corn-sheller, with which he is doing a large business.

In 1884 he was married to Miss Filetica Vasques, a native of California, and daughter of Francisco Vasques, also born in this State. They have three children, Filetica, Anneta, and Philemon. Mrs. Garcia is a member of the Catholic Church. For several terms Mr. Garcia has served the public as School Trustee. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.
***
Descendants of Philemon Garcia

1 Philemon Garcia b: 10 Feb 1849 in California
.. +Felicita Vasquez b: May 1856 in California m: in California
........ 2 Katie Garcia b: Nov 1884 in California
........ 2 Anita Garcia b: Oct 1887 in California
........ 2 Philemon Garcia b: Aug 1889 in California
........ 2 Thomas Garcia b: Dec 1890 in California
........ 2 Mary Garcia b: Jun 1892 in California
........ 2 Guadeloupe Garcia b: Jan 1894 in California
........ 2 Alfonso Garcia b: 1895 in California
........ 2 Esquivel Garcia b: Mar 1897 in California
........ 2 Josephine Garcia b: Dec 1899 in California


Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 586.


B. W. Gally [Editor inserted: Benjamin Willey Gally]

B. W. Gally, one of the prominent business men of the Ojai Valley, was born in Wheeling, Virginia, July 9, 1852. His father, Hon. Thomas M. Gally, was a native of Virginia, a leading Whig politician, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of Virginia in 1852 and 1854. His mother, who, before her marriage, was Miss Mary List, was a native of Wheeling and a daughter of H. List, Esq., a leading banker of Wheeling. Mr. and Mrs. Gally had but two children, a son, the subject of this sketch, and a daughter.

B. W. Gally, after receiving a liberal education, was engaged in the banking business until his health became impaired. He was advised by his physician to give up a sedentary business and seek a milder climate; and with that object in view he came to California in 1883. He purchased seventy acres of land, on which was located a pleasure and health resort, one mile east of the town of Nordhoff. This was formerly the property of W. S. McKee. Mr. Gally has improved the place very much by erecting four new buildings. The hotel is on the cottage plan, with main buildings in the middle containing parlor and dining-room, and the cottages affording home conveniences. It is situated on a beautiful lawn, shaded and made delightful by scattering live-oak trees. It is both a winter and a summer resort; is patronized in summer by Californians, and in winter by Eastern people. All are delighted by the grand and picturesque scenery, which meets the eye in every direction. A fine new Presbyterian Church edifice stands near the hotel, and the beautiful tree-embowered town of Nordhoff is only a mile distant. The whole valley is noted for its equitable climate and balmy and health-producing air. In the valley are found mineral springs, and at the hotel an abundance of good water, choice fruits of all kinds, and the best of Jersey milk and butter.

Mr. Gally was united in marriage in 1885 with Miss Mary Davidson, a native of Jefferson City, Missouri, and a daughter of Dr. William Davidson of that place. Howard and Killborne, their two children, were born at their present beautiful home. Mr. Gally is possessed of those courteous and agreeable manners so characteristic of the Southern gentleman. In his political views, he is Republican. Mrs. Gally is a member of the Episcopal Church.
****
Descendants of Benjamin Willey Gally

1 Benjamin Willey Gally b: 09 Jul 1852 in Wheeling, Ohio Co., VA d: 25 Nov 1893 in Ojai, Ventura Co., CA
.. +Mary Matilda Davison b: 19 Nov 1854 in Jefferson City, Cole Co., Missouri m: 26 May 1885 in Cole Co., MO d: 12 Feb 1953 in Santa Paula, Ventura Co., CA
........ 2 Howard Davison Gally b: 10 Aug 1886 in Ojai, Ventura Co., CA d: 24 Feb 1975 in Ojai, Ventura Co., CA
............ +Agnes Lord b: Abt. 1887
........ 2 Thomas Kilburne Gally b: 17 Aug 1888 in Ventura, Ventura Co., Ca d: 24 Feb 1969 in Pasadena, LA Co., CA
............ +Lillian Norman b: 14 Aug 1890 in Duarte, LA Co., CA m: 14 Sep 1914 in Santa Ana, Orange Co., CA d: 27 Sep 1981 in Pasadena, LA Co., CA
................... 3 Living Gally
................... 3 Living Gally
....................... +Jean Rilla Wilcox b: 20 Feb 1926 in South Pasadena, LA Co., CA d: 02 Jul 1994 in White Ridge, Jefferson Co., CO
................... 3 Mary Viola Gally b: 21 Sep 1917 in Pasadena, LA Co., CA d: 10 Dec 1917 in L.A., CA
........ 2 Benjamin Wiley Brig. Gen. Gally b: 14 May 1893 in Ojai, Ventura Co., CA d: 07 Feb 1962
............ +Ruth Drown b: 10 Dec 1893 d: 01 Mar 1983


Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 509.

James Evans

James Evans, one of the early settlers and prominent pioneers and ranchers of Ventura, was born in Clarke County, Indiana, July 5, 1839. His father, Thomas Jefferson Evans, was a native of Kentucky. The ancestors of the family were Virginians of Scotch and English origin. Mr. Evans' mother, whose name before marriage was Catharine King, was a native of Pennsylvania, and her parents were Pennsylvania Dutch. Thus our subject has inherited an unusual degree of good quality. He was the third in order of birth of a family of five children. He received his first schooling in Missouri; afterward, in 1844, his parents removed to Missouri, in 1852 to Oregon, and in 1859 to California, settling in Sonoma County, and he attended school in each of these States. In starting out in the world for himself, he first followed farming two years in Sonoma County, and then followed mining most of the time for four years in Idaho, made some money, but lost it; then he came to Salinas Valley in Monterey County and engaged in farming for two years; and finally, in 1869, his father came with his family to Ventura County, purchased 111 acres of land, and he (our subject) bought eighty acres, which he still owns. He has therefore been cultivating his present ranch for twenty years. He has raised corn, beans, barley and flax; but his principal crop at present is beans, on which he realizes $35 to $40 per acre.

Mr. Evans has never joined any society or held office, but he has ever been a Union man and a Republican. He was married in October, 1884, to Miss Osmosen, a native of Germany, and they have two children, Plasent and Hallie, both born in Ventura.

***

James Evans' parents were Thomas Jefferson Evans and Catherine King:

Descendants of Thomas Jefferson Evans

1 Thomas Jefferson Evans b: 1817 in Kentucky d: 13 Apr 1887 in Saticoy, Ventura, California
.. +Catherine King b: 1818 in Virginia m: 04 May 1830 d: 09 Apr 1886 in Saticoy, Ventura, California
........ 2 James Evans b: 05 Jul 1839 in Clarke County, Indiana d: 15 Dec 1907 in Ventura County, California
............ +Meda Osmossen b: 23 Feb 1866 in Denmark m: 16 Oct 1884 in Saticoy, Ventura, California d: 09 May 1945 in Oxnard, Ventura, California
................... 3 Pleasant James Evans b: 21 Mar 1886 in Las Posas Valley, Ventura, California d: 08 Dec 1960 in Camarillo, Ventura, California
....................... +Ila Lorene Bright b: 19 Jun 1892 in Tennessee m: 10 Jan 1911 in Montalvo, Ventura, California
............................. 4 Iris Ameda Evans b: 11 Jan 1911 in Ventura County, California d: 13 Feb 1996 in San Diego County, California
................................. +Dexter Charles Hayhurst b: 13 Feb 1911 in West Virginia d: 22 Sep 1995 in San Diego County, California
............................. 4 James Bright Evans b: 22 Apr 1913 in Las Posas Valley, Ventura, California d: 07 Oct 1988 in San Diego County, California
................................. +Catherine Louise Fullmer b: 05 Aug 1915 in Illinois m: 24 Dec 1935 in Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada d: 08 Dec 1997 in Ojai, Ventura County, California
................... 3 Haley Meda Evans b: 13 Jun 1889 in Montalvo, Ventura, California d: 28 Dec 1957 in Ventura County, California
....................... +Wilbur Henry Stiles b: 04 Feb 1887 in North Dakota m: 15 Jun 1908 d: Bef. 1923 in Ventura County, California
............................. 4 Nathal Evan Stiles-Pope b: 21 Jul 1912 in California d: 24 Jan 1987 in Los Angeles County, California
................................. +Anne Hardychuk b: 04 Aug 1913 in Saute St. Marie, Canada m: 06 May 1939 in Saute St. Marie, Canada d: 10 Jun 1985 in Multnomah County, Oregon
............................. 4 Thais Stiles-Pope b: 1915 in California
................... *2nd Husband of Haley Meda Evans:
....................... +Charles A. Pope b: 1887 in Colorado m: 14 May 1923
........ 2 Christopher Evans b: 1832 in Clarke County, Indiana
........ 2 William Evans b: 1835 in Clarke County, Indiana d: 24 Nov 1904 in Downey, Los Angeles, California
........ 2 Thomas Evans b: 1842 in Clarke County, Indiana d: Bef. 1887
................... 3 Christopher Evans
........ 2 Harvey Evans b: Mar 1847 in Missouri
............ +Nancy b: Jun 1852 in Oregon
................... 3 Albert Evans b: Mar 1895


Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.