Los Angeles County

Biographies

RANDOLPH S. BASSETT

        RANDOLPH S. BASSETT is one of the most active and energetic business men in the city of Pomona. His music store is on Second street, in the Johnson Block, where he has the largest stock of pianos, organs and other musical instruments to be found in Southern California outside of the city of Los Angeles. He is also the agent of the Domestic, White, New Home and Davis sewing machines. Is real-estate agent and dealer, personally devoting his time to this branch of his business. Besides his city trade, he is largely engaged in country business, employing a corps of energetic agents and five teams, which are constantly traveling through the county. Mr. Bassett was born in Marshall County, Illinois, in 1856. His father, John P. Bassett, was a native of Kentucky, and a contractor and architect by profession. His mother, Elizabeth (Reece) Bassett, was born in Ohio. Mr. Bassett, after receiving a good business education, commenced his career as a clerk. Being of an ambitious temperament and desirous of improving his condition, at the age of eighteen years he came to California and located at Santa Barbara. After clerking in a book and stationery store at that place for some months, he entered into business as a dealer in lime, cement and building material. He conducted that business until 1877, and then located in San Francisco, where he engaged in the furniture business, under the firm name of Bassett & McPhail, on Ellis street. In 1879 he sold out, and after some months, during which he was employed in the large furniture establishment of J. E. Davis at Sacramento, he took up his residence in Nevada City and there opened a book, stationery and music store under the firm name of Brand & Bassett. This business he conducted with success until failing health in 1882 compelled .his seeking a more desirable climate, and after a trip to the Sandwich Islands he came to Los Angeles County and located at Pomona, where he entered into business, first as a dealer in books and stationery and then in musical instruments, and finally, in 1885, adding that of real-estate agent to his other enterprises. Mr. Bassett is a strong believer in the future of this beautiful valley, and is greatly interested in the development of its wonderful resources. Much credit is due him for the time and means he has devoted in showing to the world the products of this section of Los Angeles County. He accompanied the first displays sent by his county to St. Louis, Missouri,. in September, 1887; Columbus, Ohio, September, 1888, and other points East; and in February, 1888, had charge of Pomona's fine display of citrus and other fruits at Riverside.

        He is the owner of several orchards near the city, which he is devoting to oranges, French prunes, peaches, apricots, apples, etc. In political action he has long been identified with the Republican party. Locally, he has been elected a member of the city council on the anti-saloon ticket. He is a member of Etna Lodge, No. 107, Knights of Pythias, of Pomona. He is one of the progressive men of his wide-awake city, and is sure to be found as an active worker in any enterprise that in his opinion will advance the interests of the community in which he resides. In 1884 Mr. Bassett was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Camfield, the daughter of Joshua Camfield, a native of England, but now a resident of Los Angeles. Mrs. Bassett was born in Indiana, but came to California in 1878.

An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California –  Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, Page 385

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

BARNARD & BENEDICT

        BARNARD & BENEDICT, Fruit Crystallizing Company, Los Angeles. Among the many new industries of Southern California is that of the Fruit Crystallizing Company of Los Angeles. This company was organized by Messrs. Barnard & Benedict in 1886, and commenced business the following year. These gentlemen had been engaged for several years in making scientific experiments as to the best methods of crystallizing fruit, and continued until the formation and organization of the company. Their process is entirely their own, the result of their efforts after using the various French methods and receipts in experimenting with them, so as to successfully compete with cheap French labor, reducing the amount of labor and using only the ripe fruit; and their efforts in this direction have been attended with
signal success. This is best demonstrated by the fact that they have a demand from the Eastern markets—New York and Chicago—for all of the products of their factory, their orders being from the leading confectioners of these cities. Their factory is located on California street, and is 150 x 180 feet in dimensions, and

during the busy season they employ from fifty to one hundred hands. W. H. Barnard, the senior member of the firm, is a native of New York State, and was born March 15, 1846, a son of George and Laurana (Torrence) Barnard. He received his education in his native State, and in 1864 went to Washington, D. C., and entered the bank of Jay Cook & Co., remaining there until their failure. Then he succeeded Edwin L. Stanton, son of the great War Secretary, as receiver of the bank in Washington, at the time of his death, and wound up the affairs of the bank. Messrs. Barnard and Maynard organized the Telephone Exchange in Washington, and theirs was the first contract made by the Bell Telephone Company. Mr. Barnard sold out his interest on account of ill health, and came to Southern California in 1882, and the following year brought his family and located in Los Angeles, and became interested in their present business, which promises an abundant success. In 1880 Mr. Barnard was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Parker, a native of the city of Boston, and daughter of the illustrious Dr. Parker, of that city.

An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California –  Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, Page 386

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler