Orange County CA

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Ross

Jacob Ross, deceased, formerly a resident of Santa Ana, was literally the first pioneer in this place, coining here when the land was owned by the Spaniards, and buying some 2,500 acres of the Santa Ana de Santiago rancho. He also bought other lands near where the city of Santa Ana now stands, and improved a farm one mile west of the city, where Mrs. Ross now lives. He crossed the plains to this coast with wagons in 1865, and many were the hardships he endured. In the early days here his crops had to be guarded both day and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Jonathan B. Tombes, D. D.

Reverand Jonathan B. Tombes, D. D. Anaheim, was born in Albany, New York, attended Oberlin College three years, and graduated at Madison University in 1845, in the literary course. He also graduated in the regular course in theology. In 1870 the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him. He was ordained to preach in 1848. For some time he was pastor of the Fourth Baptist Church at Richmond, Virginia; then had charge of Meadville Academy. In 1859 he took charge of Liberty Female College at Liberty, Missouri; but in 1864, on account of the war, wherein he was a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George P. Bessonett

George P. Bessonett a prominent business man of Santa Ana, was born in Mississippi, July 21, 1850, and is the son of Edwin and Sophia (Neill) Bessonett, natives of Pennsylvania, and of French ancestry. The father was a cotton planter, and the mother was a teacher, from whom George received all of his education. The latter started out in the world for himself at the age of fifteen years, at Brookhaven, Mississippi, by clerking in a confectionery store. Subsequently he carried on the business in his own name. Quitting that place, he went to Kansas City and learned the brick-layer’s … 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 Joseph Beach

Joseph Beach of Orange, was born in Essex County, New York, August 20, 1816, and for twenty-six years after he arrived at the age of manhood he followed agricultural and mercantile pursuits. Then he was a farmer in Calhoun County, Michigan, ten years, until 1873, when he came to California. Since then he has been engaged successfully in the cultivation of a fruit farm in the Santa Ana valley, until lately, being in his seventy-fourth year, he has practically retired. Being one of the first settlers of Orange, he is respected as a pioneer, an honored citizen and a successful … Read more

Weber, Lyle Raymond “Ray” – Obituary

Lyle Raymond “Ray” Weber, 72, of Mission Viejo, Calif., a former Baker City resident, died Dec. 13, 2001. There was a private family memorial service Saturday. Lyle R. Weber achieved a great deal in his 72 years. He was a staff sergeant in the Civil Air Patrol, Staff, a sergeant in the ROTC, and a veteran of the Army Air Force and the U.S. Navy. He worked in commercial construction for 45 years, beginning as a carpenter and retiring as a respected superintendent of blueprint detail. He was awarded a multitude of art, photography, and volunteer service awards. He was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Armor

Samuel Armor a Supervisor of Orange County from the fourth district, came to California in 1874, and located on a fruit-farm, giving what time he could spare from the ranch to the carpenter trade. He subsequently taught school in Orange for three and one-half years; then clerked in a store, and five years ago began the mercantile business in his own name. He carries a fall line of stationery, fancy articles and boots and shoes. He has contributed to the architectural beauty of Orange by erecting a fine brick block on the corner of Chapman street and the plaza, and … Read more

Biography of Henry Sterling Pankey

Henry Sterling Pankey a farmer of the Los Bolsa tract in Orange County, was born in Tippah County, Mississippi, in 1852, and reared principally in Tennessee. His parents, Henry and Zilpah (Daniels) Pankey, were natives of South Carolina The father died when his son Henry was only a year old, and the mother married Marion Clark four years later. Being ill-treated by his stepfather, Henry left him to live with William Burns, of Texas. Six months’ schooling was all that Mr. Pankey ever received. During the war he suffered many privations and undertook many disagreeable risks. He had to go … Read more

Biography of Judge C. W. Humphreys

Judge C. W. Humphreys of Santa Ana, was born in Mason County, Kentucky, and is a son of Robert Humphreys. Following is a history of the family as furnished to the subject of this sketch by his father at the age of eighty-eight years: “Shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War, four brothers, by the name of Humphreys, with their families emigrated from Tyrone County, Ireland, to Virginia, to either Greenbriar or Monroe County. Their names were Richard, John, Robert and Samuel. My grandfather was Robert. His sons were James, John, Robert; daughters, Mollie, Nancy and Jane. John Humphreys … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry and Charles Kuchel

Henry and Charles Kuchel editors and proprietors of the Anaheim Gazette, took charge of this paper in 1887. They are the sons of Conrad Kuchel, a native of Germany, and one of the earliest settlers of Anaheim. For several years previous to his arrival in Anaheim he was engaged in the business of engineering in San Francisco. Henry Kuchel, the senior editor of the Gazette, was born in San Francisco, June 11, 1859. He received a high-school education at the Anaheim schools and, learned the printer’s trade in the office which he and his brother now own. He subsequently worked … Read more

Courtney, Pinkney L. – Obituary

Mrs. B.T. Long received word Thursday evening of the death of her father, P. L. Courtney at Payette, Idaho and left for that place Friday. M. O. Courtney of Lostine accompanied her. P. L. Courtney was one of the earliest settlers of the valley and lived here until recent years when he was compelled to try a different climate to relieve asthma from which he was a sufferer. He spent the past year in California from there going to Payette only two weeks ago and on the trip contracted the influenza to which he succumbed. Pinkney L. Courtney was born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Madison H. Bear

Madison H. Bear a farmer and dairyman near Newport, was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, December 6, 1841, the fifth child in a family of eight children of David and Maria (Anderson) Bear. Was educated in Harrisonburg and also worked upon his father’s farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he married Miss Cornelia Firebaugh, of Rockbridge County, Virginia, and a daughter of John and Ella (McCutchen) Firebaugh. Mr. Bear then bought 120 acres of land four miles west of Harrisonburg and managed a farm there four years; selling out then, he came, in November, 1873, to California, … Read more

Coffee, Alice Wiles – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Alice Wiles Coffee, mother of Bob Coffee of Enterprise, died Aug. 30, 1989, at Wallowa Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 9.1915, at Santa Ana, Calif., the daughter of Scott and Mary Wiles. On Dec.22, 1945, she married George L. Coffee at Long Beach, Calif. He preceded her in death on March 3, 1989. She worked as a parachute rigger in Long Beach, Calif., during World War II where she met her husband. She was a homemaker. After the death of her husband, she moved to Enterprise. Survivors include her son, Bob Coffee, Enterprise, daughter, Kathy … 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 Lysander Utt

Lysander Utt a retired merchant of Tustin, is a , “49er.” He was born in Wythe County, Virginia, June 1, 1824. His parents, John and Mary (Criger) Utt, were both natives of the Old Dominion, had a family of thirteen children, and moved to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1840, where the father died, in 1849. The subject of this sketch, the third child in order of birth in the above family, worked at farming until the year named, when he came to California across the plains with an ox team. In Mariposa County he followed mining for two years, and … Read more

Taylor, Emma Augusta Abraham – Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Frank (Emma Augusta) Taylor, Sr., will be held Thursday, December 28, at the Evanson Funeral Home. A well-known resident of Ellensburg for more than 60 years, she died Sunday, December 24 [1967], at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. Born in West Bloomfield, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Augusta Abraham. At the age of 6 months, her parents moved to Orange, California, where she was reared. She attended schools in Orange and Santa Rosa. She moved with the family to a ranch in the Teanaway valley just before the turn of … Read more

Biography of William M. Higgins, Dr.

Dr. William M. Higgins, pharmacist on Central avenue, Anaheim, was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, June 18, 1826. He was educated at Princeton College, at which he was graduated in 1845, with the degree of A. B. He read medicine for a period of two years, and February 22, 1849, started for California on the bark St. Mary. He remained in Rio Janeiro ten months, then went aboard the ship William Brandt, bound for San Francisco, at which place he arrived in July, 1850, having been ship’s doctor during the voyage. After his arrival in San Francisco he was … Read more

Schricker, Richard Alex – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Richard Alex Schricker, 65, of Baker City and formerly of La Grande, died Aug. 11 in Phoenix, Ariz. A viewing will run from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Coles Funeral Home in Baker City. A memorial service begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Agape Christian Center in Baker City with a reception immediately following at the church. Pastor Garth Johnson will officiate. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. at Hillcrest East Cemetery in La Grande. Richard was born March 7, 1943, to Richard Clifford and Patricia Louise (Wynegar) Schricker in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Wall, M.D.

Dr. William B. Wall Santa Ana, the first Treasurer of Orange County, was born near Danville, Virginia, in1890. His literary education he received at the common schools in Mississippi, and his medical education at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1853. He further attended lectures in New Orleans in 1854, and began the practice of his profession in Mississippi, where he built up a fine patronage; but on the breaking out of the war he entered the Confederate army, in the Twenty-third Mississippi Volunteer Infantry, and was Surgeon for the regiment. He was elected First Lieutenant, and … Read more