Orange County CA

Biographical Sketch of M. D. Halladay

M. D. Halladay one of the members of the city council of Santa Ana, was born in Vermont, May 8, 1830. His parents, David and Nancy (Carpenter) Halladay, were both natives of Vermont and moved to Michigan in 1843. They had eight children. M. D., our subject, engaged in the lumber and saw-mill business, and in 1874 came to California for his health; and so rapidly did he improve that he determined to make this country his home. He accordingly purchased thirty acres of land within the town limits of Santa Ana, which he improved, and for several years had … Read more

Biography of Henry Babel

Henry Babel, deceased, formerly proprietor of the celebrated springs which bear his name, and which are now the property of his widow, was born near Hanover, Germany, on August 2, 1826. In 1845 he immigrated with his parents to America, and settled in Lebanon, Illinois, where his father and mother both died within a year. After their decease Henry went to St. Louis, Missouri, and on October 8, 1849, he married Miss Elizabeth Holadway, a native of Tennessee, a descendant of Scotch ancestry on her father’s side, and English on her mother’s. Early in May, 1850, Mr. Babel and his … Read more

Biography of George W. Sponable

George W. Sponable horticulturist at Fullerton, was born in Eden, Seneca County, Ohio, November 3, 1825. His parents, Christopher and Sarah (Lawrence) Sponable, were natives respectively of New York and Vermont, and of German and English origin. George W., the third of his parents’ eleven children, started in business for himself in 1849, by coming to California. His father had moved in 1836 to McHenry County, Illinois, where he was an extensive farmer until his death in 1854. Mr. Sponable followed mining and lumbering in California from 1849 to 1855, and then returned to Illinois, where he followed farming until … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. T. Adams

P. T. Adams of Tustin, was born in Shelby County, Tennessee, November, 1834. His father, Peter Adams, was a native of North Carolina, and moved to Texas in 1833, back to Tennessee again, and in 1839 to Texas the second time, where his children were brought up. The subject of this sketch passed his youth herding cattle, much of the time on horseback. He served during the war in the Confederate army, two years in James M. McCord’s regiment, and then until the close of the war, in General Bankhead’s brigade. Politically Mr. Adams is a Democrat, well informed upon … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. Justice

P. Justice, of Westminster, was born in Pulaski County, Indiana, November 10, 1838. His parents, Jesse and Matilda Justice, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and brought up nine children, one having died early in life. They moved to Texas when Perry, the subject of this sketch, was fifteen years of age, that is, in 1853. In 1857 the former moved to San Bernardino County, California, and engaged at work in the pine forests. In 1859 he moved to Azusa and lived there until 1888. In 1861 the subject of this sketch started in business for himself by taking … Read more

Biography of James W. Layman

James W. Layman deceased, late of Santa Ana, was born in Peoria, Illinois, January 24, 1846. His parents, Martin and Elizabeth Layman, were from the State of New York, and had thirteen children, of whom James was the eighth. He was educated at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where his father had moved when the son was seven years old. He followed farming with his father in Minnesota until 1871, when he came to California. His first purchase here was a ranch near Newport, where he lived four years. He then purchased property on Main Street in Santa Ana, which he improved and … Read more

Orange County, California Cemetery Records

A complete listing of all available online Orange County Texas cemeteries, with links to multiple cemetery transcriptions, gravestone photos, tombstone photos, official records, etc.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Spencer, M. D.

Thomas Spencer, M. D. of Anaheim, was born in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, in 1835, a son of Edward Spencer, who was a dry-goods merchant. He came to the United States in 1849, received a common school education at Burlington, Iowa, and in 1854 came overland to California and attended the Toland Medical College, where he graduatedin 1861. He practiced his profession at Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, until 1872, when he bought land in Santa Barbara County. After making his home there two years he returned to Lucas County, Iowa, and bought a large stock farm, which he still owns. He came … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Hough

George Hough a prominent citizen of Garden Grove, Orange County, was born February 5, 1815, in Lewis County, New York. His parents were Burage and Mary (Alexander) Hough, natives respectively of Connecticut and New York. The father removed with his family to De Kalb County, Illinois, in 1837, and died there, at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. George Hough, our subject, was the second in a family of twelve children. He returned to New York State in 1838, and was there married, in Lewis County, to Miss Hester A., daughter of David and Polly (Puffer) Tiffany. In 1842 Mr. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Maggard

Jacob Maggard residing near Anaheim, was born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, August 12, 1815. His parents,. Jacob and Susan (Bright) Maggard, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee, had ten children, he being the fifth. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself by working by the day in Scotland County, Missouri, whither his father had moved fifteen years previously. He was reared principally in Randolph County, Missouri. He continued in his calling as a farmer, in which he was successful, until about twelve years ago, when he came to California and purchased property in Sonoma … Read more

Biography of Sheldon Littlefield

Sheldon Littlefield Supervisor from the third district of Orange County, was born in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in 1834, and was brought up on a farm. At the age of seventeen years he went to Charlestown same State, and clerked in a grocery for a year. He then took what money he had saved and went to Appleton Academy so long as his money lasted. Then he taught school at Brookline, New Hampshire, and next returned to Massachusetts and for a time was engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and then obtained a position for three years in a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. Head, M. D.

W. Head, M. D. of Garden Grove, was born in West Tennessee, in 1840. His parents, Dr. Horace and Mary (Brown) Head, were natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee. He received his literary education at Obion, Tennessee, and his medical education at Nashville, and in 1866 began the practice of his profession, in company with his father. After sustaining this relation for ten years, he came to California and bought land near Garden Grove, where he has since given most of his attention to stock-raising and farming. In political matters the Doctor is a zealous and able advocate of Democracy. … Read more

Biography of John Avas

John Avas President of the City Council of Santa Ana, was born in Germany in 1843. His parents came to the United States in 1845, settling in St. Clair County, Illinois, and subsequently moved to Peoria County, that State, where the father died in 1851. Afterward the mother married again and moved to Washington, Tazewell County, Illinois, twelve miles east of Peoria. Mr. Avas, the subject of this notice, remained with his stepfather until he was fifteen years old, and then hired himself out to a farmer for one year, at the end of which time he was to receive … Read more

Biography of Richard Robinson

Richard Robinson, a prosperous farmer of Garden Grove, was born near Ottawa, Canada, in 1827. His parents, Isaac and Margaret (Moses) Robinson, were natives of Ireland, moving to Canada in 1821. The senior Robinson was a shoemaker by trade and also owned a large farm. He died in Canada in 1843, leaving a family of nine children. Richard, the third in the family, received a common-school education and entered business when very young, having to help in the maintenance of the family until 1852, when he started for California by way of Cape Horn on the bark Fanny Major. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Illiam A. Firebaugh

Illiam A. Firebaugh farmer and and stock-raiser near Newport, was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, November 24, 1848, a son of David and Margaret (Hull) Firebaugh, both of Virginia. William, the fourth in a family of eight children, received but a limited education. In 1870 he went to Cedar County, Virginia, and began business for himself by renting land for two years. In 1872 he came to California and bought land, which he subsequently improved and finally sold, when he bought a ranch a half mile southwest of Newport, and here he has been successfully engaged in general farming and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. Scholl

D. Scholl of Tustin, was born December 25, 1807, a son of Jacob P. and Elizabeth Scholl, natives of Pennsylvania. His father, a blacksmith by trade, moved to New York in 1815, and died there in 1835; then the subject of this sketch, the eldest of the nine children in his father’s family, returned to Pennsylvania and learned the milling business with his grandfather. In 1834 he went again to New York State, married Miss Lucy Rowell, a native of Massachusetts, and the next year moved to Goshen, Indiana, where he engaged in the furnace and machinery business until 1849, … Read more

Biography of Robert Parker

Robert Parker vineyardist near Anaheim, was born in Beverly Township, 1 .. Wentworth County, Canada, March 18, 1838, the third in a family of thirteen children of Robert and Ann (Stalker) Parker. He was brought up to steady work on a farm, with but limited schooling. In 1868 he came to California by steamer, followed mining a short time and then bought a Government title to 500 acres of land in Mariposa County. In 1871 he bought fifty-five acres where he now lives, a mile and a half north of Anaheim, and for several years he prospered in grape culture, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of S. W. Preble

S. W. Preble of Tustin, is a pioneer of 1849. He was born in York, Maine, in 1826. Educated at Gorham Academy, clerked for a short time in a carpet store in Philadelphia, then followed the mercantile business upon his own account for nearly three years at Salmon Falls, New Hampshire, when the gold excitement broke out, and he sold out, and March 15, 1849, left his native land for California, and after a voyage of four months arrived in San Francisco, July 15 following. For nearly three years he was engaged in mining, and was quite successful. In the … Read more

Bloomer, Ted S., Sr. – Obituary

Durkee, Oregon Ted S. Bloomer Sr., 91, a longtime Durkee rancher, died Aug. 5, 2002, at the Holy Rosary Medical Center in Ontario. His graveside funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery mausoleum. Jim Rex of the Baker City Christian Science Church will officiate. Disposition will be by mausoleum entombment. A reception will follow at the Durkee Grange. Visitations will be today until 8 p.m. at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Mr. Bloomer was born July 16, 1911, at Lebanon, Mo., to William A. and Maude F. (Blackburn) Bloomer. The family moved … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Arquis L. Sells

Arquis L. Sells a farmer near Westminster, was born in Wyandot County, Ohio, September 6, 1845. His parents, John and Mary (McKissen) Sells, were natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia, and had five children, three of whom are still living. John Sells was a well-known attorney in Wyandot County for a number of years, and died November 19, 1886. Marquis worked on the railroad as a trackman, and subsequently attended school at New Hagerstown and Harlem Springs. Then he taught school for some ten years in Ohio and Missouri, and in May, 1871, he came to California with two brothers … Read more