Biographies of San Luis Obispo County

Thompson & West

1883

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J. M. BONILLA.

Going back to the earliest dates to find a member of the legal profession a resident and practitioner of San Luis Obispo, our researches exhume the name of Don Jose Mariano Bonilla, the first to occupy the judicial bench of the county.

He was born in the city of Mexico, in the year 1807, and received his education at the National College of San Yidefonso, in said city, where he received various diplomas, and was made a Bachelor of Letters. Through application and talent, he became a prominent member of the Bar of the city of Mexico. In 1834 he came to California with one of the colonies sent from Mexico, as Secretary to Governor Figueroa. From that he was promoted to Judge of the First Instance.

He married the daughter of Don Inocente Garcia in 1837, that gentleman then being the Administrator of the mission of San Miguel, and acted as Secretary to his father-in-law. He was afterwards appointed, by Gov. Juan B. Alvarado, Administrator of the mission of San Luis Obispo, at which place he made his subsequent home. After the annexation of California to the United States, and before the Constitution of this State was adopted, he held the position of Sub-Prefect and Alcalde under the Military Government, and after the adoption of the Constitution, he became the first County Judge of San Luis Obispo County. During the time that Hon. Romualdo Pacheco was County Judge, Senor Bonilla was District Attorney. He was afterward elected Supervisor, holding the office for several terms, until in 1866, he retired to private life. He was also engaged in numerous private enterprises, one of which was the building of the Cuesta Flouring Mill, in the early days of the county. Don J. Mariano Bonilla died in San Luis Obispo, March 19, 1878, at the advanced age of seventy-one years. In private as well as in public life he was always found honest and worthy of every trust reposed in him, and his death was sincerely mourned by all classes of people.

During his incumbency as County Judge, attorneys were very few in San Luis Obispo, and it is related that on one occasion, in 1849, a case was on trial before him involving the right to a horse between two Mexicans.

There were but two lawyers in the county, W. J. Graves and Judge Bonilla. Graves was the attorney for the plaintiff, while the defendant had none. This appeared to the Judge a hardship for the defendant, with no one to present his case against so able an opponent, and he called upon the Sheriff to preside over the Court, and leaving the Bench, took up the cause of the defendant, and tried the case with all the energy and earnestness of which he was capable. But his eloquence and skill availed not, as after careful deliberation he rendered judgment for the plaintiff.

Page 284

H. A. TEFFT - Obituary

The Constitution adopted in 1849 provided for the division of the State into Judicial Districts, and that at its first session the Legislature should elect one District Judge for each, who should hold office for two years after the first of January succeeding his election, after which the Judges should be elected at the general election and hold office for six years. The District Court was given original jurisdiction in law and equity; in all civil cases where the amount in dispute exceeded $200, exclusive of interest; in all criminal cases not otherwise provided for and in all issues of fact joined in Probate Court.

The counties of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara constituted the Second Judicial District, and Henry Amos Tefft was elected by the Legislature as its District Judge This gentleman was a lawyer by profession, born in the State of New York in 1824, and came to California early in 1849. He was elected to the Constitutional Convention from San Luis Obispo, and was an active member in forming the first Constitution of the State. At the election adopting the Constitution and for officers under it, he was elected to represent San Luis Obispo County in the Assembly, and chosen by the Legislature as District Judge. He married Dona Maria Josefa Dana, eldest daughter of Capt. Wm. G. Dana The lady, as a widow, subsequently married S. A Pollard, and died in 1878. Judge Tefft, in returning from holding court at Santa Barbara, was drowned while attempting to land from the steamer Senator in the har- bor of San Luis Obispo, February 6, 1852, and his body was never recovered. He was held in high esteem as a gentleman of education and high promise, and his loss was sincerely mourned by all.

Page 284

DON MIGUEL AVILA.

Obituary

Of this gentleman the Tribune, on the occasion of his death, published the following obituary notice. In the county of San Luis Obispo at his Rancho San Miguelito, on February 24, 1874, Miguel Avila died aged seventy-six years. The circumstances of his death were singular. He had been accustomed to reside at a house called the "Rancho Quemado," about a mile and a half distant from the rancho house of San Miguelito, of which rancho he was the grantee. Here of late he was accompanied by an old Mexican, who, on the morning of the 24th last, left him in the act of going to the creek for the purpose of bathing. The Mexican returned during the day and found the old man absent, but thought nothing of it, as Don Miguel had previously informed him that he was going to town that day Late in the evening the same man found the deceased at the regular watering place, near the house, quite dead, and nearly naked, and apparently as though many hours had elapsed since his decease. No marks "of violence” were found on his person. An inquest was held by Mr. George.W Bames acting Coroner, and the verdict was to the effect that deceased died of causes to the jury unknown. Don Miguel Avila had been well known in this County since the American occupation. His rancho was immediate to the landing, and covered all the ground previously used for wharf purposes. He left a numerous family. Under the Spanish rule he was Alcalde of the pueblo of San Luis Obispo. He was a man of more than ordinary education in his own language, but failed to acquaint himself with the language or the ideas of the race which succeeded his own in the occupation of the country. He left a valuable inheritance to his children, and did highly respected by all.

Thompson & West 1883, Page 350

O. P. MCFADDEN. l

Mr. O. P. McFadden bears the reputation of being one of the substantial and worthy citizens whose efforts have made Cambria and vicinity celebrated over the State as a foremost agricultural community. The gentleman came to the county in very early times, dating its arrival from April, 1856. He was the first to settle in the neighborhood of the Paso de Robles Hot Springs. Nine years later, or in 1865, he removed to the pleasanter locality, where he still resides, on Santa Rosa Creek, three miles from Cambria. Here he has located a ranch, and surrounded himself with the conveniences of life. His home, shown prettily in this volume, is all that could be desired in many respects. An orchard, planted sixteen years since, is a great attraction, and a most necessary and valuable appurtenance. Adjoining the orchard upon the side nearest the hills, is the family mansion, with its ornamental surroundings of trees, shrubbery, etc. Commodious out-buildings provide conveniences for the rearing and preservation of stock. Green pastures and fertile fields give promise of abundance, and picturesque diversity delights the eye and enchains the imagination. Here, in the sylvan retreat surrounded by the comforts and luxuries that pertain to prosperity, Mr. McFadden has elected to spend the years of an active and useful life.

Page 339

JEFFREY PHELAN,

Previously mentioned as the founder of the first school in the whole region, was born in County Waterford, Ireland, August 13, 18 2 4, remaining in his native land until 1851, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York. Thence he went direct to Covington, Kentucky, where he remained five months; took a journey through Ohio, and then to Galena, Illinois, where he engaged in lead mining during a three years' residence in that State. In 1854 he came by sea to California, landing in San Francisco in October of that year. Making no stop in the metropolis, he went direct to the mines on Sutter Creek, in Amador County, and remained there a successful miner for three years. In 1858, he made a visit to his dear old Ireland, leaving California in May, and returning in August following. While in the old country he married Miss Alice Hearn, a native of County Waterford, and brought his wife with him to the land of his adoption. Making a stay of one month in San Francisco upon his return, he paid a short visit to a brother at New Almaden, and in the fall of 1858, came to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since lived. His place is nearly two miles north of Cambria, where he has a comfortable home, and an intelligent and happy family of wife and six children, three daughters and three sons. A view of his home is given elsewhere in this book. Mr. Phelan was one of the first settlers in the coast region, and when he came there was no such town in existence as Cambria, and people of the Anglo Saxon race were exceedingly rare in that quarter, his eldest daughter being the first child born in that section of the county. Since his residence here he has shown a great spirit of enterprise and industry, assisting materially in the construction of the first school house and the first store in Cambria, and aiding in other advances for the good of the community. Mr. Phelan's ranch contains 1,400 acres of land. His business being stock-raising and dairying, he has 200 head of cattle, and 100 milking cows. The dry seasons of 1862-63-64 caused him very serious losses, but with his great energy and perseverance, he has been enabled to overcome them.

In this connection it would seem proper to allude still further to those old and honored settlers whose exertions and good example have brought so much of prosperity to the county. Of these, it is proposed next to speak of J. C. Hill, Esq., a native of Missouri, and who has inhabited the region of Cambria for seventeen years.

Page 339

JOHN C. HILL

Was born on October, 25, 1840, being the fourth child in a family of three daughters and four sons, children of John and Margaret Hill. No foreign lands or rich gold mines tempted him from the quietude of his native son until he had reached the age of twenty-two, when he made the journey via Panama to California. Having grown to manhood as a farmer, on arriving in this State he sought the rural region of Marin County, and there for three years cultivated the soil. At the expiration this period he went to Santa Barbara County, and the remained one year, when he came to San Luis Obispo where he has since lived. He now has a ranch on the main stage road about half-way between Cayucos a Cambria, a view of it forming one of the illustrations these pages. The ranch contains 360 acres, and is devoted to dairying, making butter exclusively, there being milked from forty to fifty cows.

Mr. Hill was married November 30, 1870, to Miss Marietta Buffington, a native of Iowa, and they he three children.

Page 339

FREDERICK J. PETERSON,

A Scandinavian, and descendant of the ancient Norsemen, whose home was as well upon the sea as upon land, and who, if limited in territorial possessions, he made their influence and power felt throughout the civilized world. Mr. Peterson is a native of the Danish Island of Alsen, born January 23, 1838. In 1866 the island of his birth, with the Grand Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, became a part of the Kingdom of Prussia. When of sufficient age to be of service, he went to as a sailor, and for many years followed that vocation. In 1853 he came to the United States, and as soon as he was of the proper age became an American citizen. 1857 he made a voyage to his native land, remaining, Denmark six months, afterward going to Australia, where he remained twelve years, generally engaged as a Sailor

along the Australian coast. That, however, did occupy all his time, as he more than once essayed mining , and also got married in that country, marrying September, 1867, Miss Susan Adelaide Elliott, from which union six children have been born. In 1869 he came to California, abandoned his life as a sailor, and settled upon a ranch in San Luis Obispo County. Mr Peterson’s ranch comprises an area of 300 acres, situated in Harmony Valley, about midway between Cayucos and Cambria, a view of it being given elsewhere in this book. Mr Peterson also owns another ranch of 400 acres on Toro Creek, which he expects during 1882 to occupy as a dairy farm, and make his future home, while leasing his other place.

Pages 339-340

JAMES D. FOWLER

Is distinguished as a brave and efficient Union soldier during the War of the Rebellion, and is descended from patriot soldiers, his father having served through the War of 1812, and his grandfather during the War of the Revolution. He was born in Chariton County, Missouri, April 25, 1837, being the seventh child in a family of nine of James D. and Martha (Davis) Fowler. In a log cabin school house of his native Missouri, he acquired a good practical education, qualifying him for the general business of life. When seventeen years of age he left Missouri for California, crossing the plains by the usual mode of making that long journey before the period of overland stages and railroads. His first location in this State was at San Jose, making his home in Santa Clara County until 1869. When the War of the Rebellion arose he returned to the East, espoused the cause of the Union, and joined the Ninth Missouri Cavalry. In this he served three years, principally engaged in running down " bushwackers," and participated in pursuit and conflicts that drove the army of General Price out of the State. The war for the Union being successfully closed, the brave soldier returned in 1866 to his home in Santa Clara and resumed his farming work. In 1869, Mr. Fowler removed into what is now San Benito County, and there remained until 1876, when he came to San Luis Obispo County, settling on a farm on Willow Creek, near Cayucos, where he still lives. He is an active man in business, enjoying society, and takes a great interest in public affairs, being a strong Republican in politics, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; of the American Legion of Honor, and of the Order of Good Templars. He was elected Supervisor of the County in November, 1882. Mr. Fowler was married December 24, 1865, to Miss Sarah F. Pierce, a native of Virginia, and three children have been born to the happy pair.

Page 183

R. M. BEAN

Is the Supervisor from the Salinas District, his home being in a pleasant valley on the northeastern slope of the Santa. Lucia Range, where a perennial stream runs to the Santa Margarita and to the Salinas River. The district represented by Mr. Bean has an area as large as some States of the Union, and where the ranchos of some private citizens exceed some of the Dukedoms and Principalities of Europe. Lovely mountain potreros, rolling hills, rugged ranges, fertile river valleys, and broad plains comprise the region of the eastern part of the county, out of any portion of which it is usual to select a Supervisor. The present representative is Reuben Martin Bean, who is a native of Corinth, Penobscot County, Maine, where he was born March 21, 1842. The father was Reuben Bean, and the maiden name of the mother was Nancy Smith, who were born in Sutton, New Hampshire, in the first decade of this century. They were descendants of the earliest settlers of New England, and their parents had taken an active part in the war against England for independence. Soon after marriage the father and mother of our Supervisor moved into Maine and located at Corinth, one of the chief towns of Penobscot, although twenty miles from the great river which gives its name to the county. The family was large, consisting of eight sons and four daughters, being Reuben M., Edward W., and Edwin P., twins, Augustus L., Charles H., Sumner S., and David H. (deceased), and Albert; the daughters being Clarissa, Diana, Ianthe, and Mary, all married and having families excepting the bachelor subject whose name heads this sketch. The father owned a farm and saw_ mill, which gave full employment to the sons as soon as they attained such age and strength as enabled them to be of service, and in thrifty New England the boys are set early at work, their home duties and their school duties keeping them too busily engaged to learn much mischief from the lessons of loafing and idleness. The long winters of Maine locked up both farm and mill, but opened the school, which all the youth attended, while the elders were in the pine forests getting out logs for the spring run of water. When the snows were melting and the mountain brook was a foaming torrent, then the boys could help about the mill,—not "making hay while the sun shone," but making lumber while the water ran. When this work was over the farm labors began, and thus the year was profitably put in, gaining an education and learning the lessons of life. In this way Reuben M. passed the years of youth and early manhood, and when twenty years of age came to California, leaving his home on the 11th of March, 1862, taking the steamer at New York for a passage by the Isthmus of Panama, and arriving in San Francisco May 6th,of ,the same year. He at once sought the interior, going to Sacramento, which was even then partly under water from the great floods of the previous winter. There was distress and stagnation in business at Sacramento, and, finding nothing to do, he went to Willow. Creek, Calaveras County, and engaged in a saw-mill, for which his early training well fitted him. A Mr. Dennis owned the mill, but the country had been so denuded of timber -that-the last lot that could be gathered was soon cut into lumber, and the-mill closed up.

The Washoe mining excitement was raging, carrying all who wished for adventure and were "foot-loose" to the "“eastern slope," and across the Sierra, in July, 1862, went young Mr. Bean.

The deep mines were not the only sources of wealth, and Mr. Bean was more familar with the saw, ax, and frow, than with the shovel, pick, and drill, and from the use of the former the product of the precious metal was more uniform and -sure than from the latter, even if not so-large at times. He therefore sought the work with which he was most familiar, and engaged with a man named Nelson in running a shingle-machine. This was the first shingle-machine ever set up in Nevada, and as he had experience in managing one of the same kind in Maine, his services in this case were of great value. The machine was moved by hand power, and the toil was quite severe. For his labor Mr. Bean received his board and $75.00 per month, and the shingles sold at $12..00 per M. Owing to the hard labor and slow progress with -the machine, Nelson was induced to send to Bangor, Maine, for another, with which Mr. Bean was also familiar. This was brought out and set up to run by water power, and with it from eight to ten thousand shingles were made daily. The locality was in a little valley about four miles from Lake Tahoe.

After-working for Nelson three years, Bean bought a one-third interest in the Rose saw-mill, of which he took the management and continued in it for six years. In this he became connected with W. S. Chapman, known as the great Minnesota land speculator, who bought an interest in the mill and a large lot of timber land. Chapman continued as a partner in the mill for two years, when a company was formed called N. E. Bunker & Co., Bean being a member, buying Chapman's interest. The business was very prosperous, as the mill would cut from r6 to 24 M. of lumber daily, which was delivered at Virginia City for $28.00 to $30.00 per M. During the Inst year or two the lumber sold at from $60.00 to $70.00 per M. in Virginia City. They also had a shingle-mill which made from 12 to 16 M. shingles daily, for which a ready market was found.

In 1870, having accumulated some money, and tiring of the hard work and severe climate of the summit of the Sierra Nevada, he took a tour through the farming and grazing regions of California, visiting San Luis Obispo County and the-San Joaquin Valley. -He concluded he would try farming, and taking some land belonging to his friend, Chapman, at Cottonwood, Merced County, in the San Joaquin Valley, cultivated 700 acres in wheat, but it being a very dry year in that section, nothing was raised, and he returned to his mill in Nevada. Being encouraged by Chapman, he tried farming the following year, cultivating in the-same locality 1,500 acres in wheat, but with the same result as-in the previous year. This was a succession of misfortunes enough to discourage almost any man. At that time the seed-cost three cents per pound and had to be 'hauled forty miles, and hay cost $40.00 a ton, besides hauling it fifteen miles. In these enterprises he was connected with his brother, E. P. Bean, who had, joined him in Nevada. The two dry years of farming on the San Joaquin had exhausted the fortune made in the lumber business in Nevada; but Chapman gave them employment to look after his land interests in Tulare County, by the Tulare Lake. There they dug wells, fitted the land for occupation, and leased it to others. From that point Chapman wished them to go into San Luis Obispo County, on the Carrisa Plain, where he owned land. This was in 1873. In settling on the Carrisa Plain the first necessity is to find water. The locality chosen was near the center of the valley, near the great salt plain. Water was found at a depth of three feet, but it was exceedingly salt. Another locality was sought, and at six feet in depth an abundance of good water was found. Kept there a large band of sheep, which they subsequently removed to the land now owned by Adams and Hollister, near the head of the San Juan River. There, in 1876, they had 5,000 head of sheep, but during that year one-half died, and the remainder were sold at seventy-five cents per head. After this backset, the Bean Brothers purchased the place now occupied by them, mentioned in the beginning of this sketch. This was purchased in 1877, and comprises an area of 183 acres, 60 of it being very fertile land fitted for culture or fruit growing, and the remainder grazing and timber. They now have an orchard of 800 trees of all varieties, some of the peach trees bearing the most luscious fruit as early as the middle of June, and yielding a revenue of $10.00 per tree. In the orchard are almonds, nectarines, apricots, cherries, pears, plums, apples, etc., of different varieties and luxuriant growth. Grapes, strawberries, and other similar fruit are grown in abundance. The locality is quite elevated, being about 800 feet above the sea, but is so sheltered by the hills that frost does not destroy fruit.

The principal road connecting-the coast towns passes through the valley, and the Messrs. Bean Brothers have erected a large building and capacious stables for hotel purposes; also a large dancing hall, making their place one of pleasant resort for parties from the town of San Luis Obispo, or gathered in the -surrounding country. It is also a favorite stopping place for farmers and teamsters hauling wood and produce to-market, there being during the hauling season after harvest from 6o to 130 horses stopping at the place each night. There is used at the hotel from 250 to 300 tons of 'hay, and-5o tons of barley annually. The main road leads from San Luis Obispo north to Paso de Robles, San Miguel and the Southern Pacific Railroad at Soledad. Branch roads leads to Pozo (San Josh Valley) La Panza, Carrisa, Estrella, Cholame, and other localities north and east. The place was first settled upon as public land by a man named Brown, when it was a wild and uncultivated wilderness, in which condition it .remained until after the purchase by Bean Brothers in 187.7. They now have a hotel of two stories, 2034 feet, with an L 16x20, a dancing hall in octavo form 61 feet in diameter, an arbor loo feet in length covered by grape vines; and extensive stabling for the accommodation of teamsters.

This, pleasant locality is also sought as a health resort by many people, from the Tulare Valley, there being, at times, .as many as fifty encamped in the vicinity. The climate partakes of mountain and valley, the ocean breezes which are sometimes quite severe on the, west of the summit being broken by the intervening range, and blow gently down, the valley. With the pure water and the genial climate of summer, it is a very desirable health resort for, many classes of disease.

In this pleasant, healthful, and prosperous home, Mr. Bean now rejoices after many years of labor and vicissitudes. Besides the business of his hotel and farm he is not averse, to lending aid in public matters, serving as School Trustee for several terms, and in November, 1882, was elected Supervisor of the County, which position he now fills.

Pages 183-185

History of San Luis Obispo, California: Thompson & West, 1883

Transcribed by Martha A Crosley Graham

30 December 2006

Site Created: 30 December 2006

Martha A Crosley Graham

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