Los Angeles County
Biographies
Charles D. Ambrose
Charles D. Ambrose. - Among the prominent men in the business circles of Pomona during the past three years, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a native of Jackson County, Michigan, born May 3, 1840. He is a descendant of old families of New England. His parents, Samuel and Mary A. (Maine) Ambrose, settled in Washtenaw County, Michigan, in 1836, and later in the county of his birth. In 1849 his father came to California as one of the pioneers of this State, and the subject of this sketch then entered the family of his uncle, who resided in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, where he was reared and schooled until the age of fifteen years. He then engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise store and followed that occupation until reaching his majority, at which time he entered into business upon his own account, establishing a store at Omro, Winnebago County, which he conducted until 1865. In that year he engaged in trading and freighting upon the Michigan shore, and to Lakes Huron and Superior, owning a fine schooner used in his trade, and which in the second year he took charge of as its master. During the winter seasons he engaged in driving cattle from the Fox River Valley to the copper mines of Lake Superior, a distance of over 250 miles, through the almost trackless forests of Wisconsin. Mr. Ambrose followed these laborious and active pursuits until 1868, and then came to California. After a visit to the mining sections, he located at San Jose and entered the employ of T. W. Spring, a prominent merchant of that city, as a clerk, salesman and auctioneer. He was thus employed until 1872, when he entered into the clothing business at Vallejo, with A. P. Voorhees, under the firm name of Voorhees & Co. In 1875 he moved to Ukiah, Mendocino County, and for many years was engaged in one of the largest mercantile and trading establishments in that section. He first established the business under his own name, which after several changes was conducted under the well-known firm name of Taylor, Taft & Ambrose. The failure of the hop crops in that section preceding 1886 resulted in a suspension and dissolution of the partnership, and Mr. Ambrose, after meeting his obligations, found himself nearly round financially; but, nothing daunted, he sought new fields of labor, and, coming south, established his residence in Pomona. His only capital was a active, energetic disposition, trained business habits and square, straightforward dealing. These soon secured his success in business as a real-estate dealer and agent, and gained him a large circle of friends. Mr. Ambrose has considerable landed interests in the county, among which is a fine 240-acre tract of San Dimas, at the mouth of the San Dimas Canon. The present improvement upon this land is six acres of citrus fruits. Fully eighty acres of this land are specially adapted to citrus –fruit cultivation, having plenty of water and rarely affected by frost. The subject of this sketch is deeply interested in the future growth of the city of Pomona, and always lends his aid to any enterprise tending to advance its interests. In December 1888, he was appointed a notary public and still holds that office. He is a member of the Master of Pomona Lodge, No. 246, F. & A. M. He is a member of the Baptist Church, in which he takes a great interest. Politically, he is a straight-out Republican and working in the ranks of his party. In 1869 Mr. Ambrose married Miss Ada H. Treadway, the daughter of Dr. Richard M. Treadway, the daughter of Dr. Richard M. Treadway, a former resident and well-known physician of Sonoma County. Her mother, Nancy J. (Chapman) Treadway, was a native of South Bend, Indiana. Mrs. Ambrose died November 7, 1879, leaving one child, Mary Louise. In 1885 he married Miss Laura Brown, a native of Lexington, Virginia, the daughter of John L. and Susan J. (Agner) Brown, also a native of that State. By this marriage there is one child, Nellie Edwards. The father of Mr. Ambrose is now a resident of Tuolumne County, this State, engaged in mining, and an occupation, which he has followed in California for nearly forty years.
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California – Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1889 Page 370-371
Transcribed by Pat Houser, March 27, 2006
James M. Armour
James M. Armour was born in Belfast, Maine, November 15, 1839. His father, Andrew Armour, was a native of New Hampshire, who settled in Maine, and engaged in ship-building and farming, and later, when the subject of this sketch was but seven years old, settled in Orland, and afterward moved to Ellsworth, where Mr. Armour was reared as a farmer until he reached his majority. He then engaged in stock dealing and trading in agricultural implements. His father died in 1864, and in 1871 Mr. Armour came to California, and after a short stay in San Francisco went to Washington Territory, where he was occupied in the lumber and commission business until the fall of 1873. He then came to Los Angeles County, and fixed his residence in the San Jose Valley, where he located 160 acres of Government land, about four miles east of Pomona, and engaged in general farming and bee-raising. He was one of the first to enter into orange cultivation, making his venture with the Tahiti seedlings. In 1882 he sold his land to the Pomona Land and Water Company, established his residence in Pomona and commenced an active business career as a builder and real estate dealer, purchasing lots and erecting residence buildings, which he sold or rented. In 1885 he bought the carriage shops and agricultural implement works of W. E. Martin, and conducted the same until 1885. After selling out that business, he entered more extensively into real estate business, under the firm name of Armour, Evans & Co., and was until 1888 also actively engaged in conducting the business of the Central Hotel. Mr. Armour has for years been identified with the growth and prosperity of the city of Pomona, and has been connected with some of the most substantial enterprises and improvements projected in that rapidly growing city. He is now a large owner of city residence and business property, and also of farm property in the country. A man of liberal views and progressive business principles, he is a firm believer in the future prosperity of his beautiful city and valley, and is willing to devote time and means to such enterprises as aid in developing the resources and encouraging immigration into Los Angeles County. He was one of the incorporators and projectors of the Pomona Street Railroad Company, and is now a director in the company. He is a member of Pomona Street Railroad Company, and is now a director in the company. He is a member of Pomona Lodge, No 225, A. O. U. W. In political matters Mr. Armour is a life-long Republican, and may always be found battling in the ranks of the best elements of that party. Mr. Armour is unmarried. His mother, Mrs. Eliza (Parker) Armour, is now residing with him in Pomona. He has also a sister living with him.
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California – Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1889 Page 371
Transcribed by Pat Houser, March 27, 2006