Orange County
Biographies
SYLVESTER LYMAN,
deceased. American biography has always been considered to
be of the greatest interest, far outranking in this regard the same study in any
other country. The cause of this is the large proportion of self made men in our
population,—men who have plucked the flowers of success from the thorns of
difficulty. Mr. Lyman, the
subject of this memoir, illustrates this fact. He was born at Westhampton,
Blandford County, Massachusetts, February 26, 1826. At the age of fourteen years
his father moved his family to Shiawassee County, Michigan, where Mr. Lyman
assisted in the farm work for some years; then taught school. In 1852 he came to
California, across the plains, with a party of pioneers; he was exposed to great
dangers and endured many hardships. The first ten years he spent in mining in
Sierra County, then in its golden boom. When the "gold fever " broke out in
Arizona and on Fraser river, he went on a prospecting tour to both places; being
disappointed with his trip, he returned to Santa Clara County, California, and
took charge of a grain rancho.
In 1864 he was married at Saratoga to Miss Nettie Pollock, of Marysville, Union County, Ohio. They had one daughter—Lutie, who, with her mother, now reside on the old home.
In 1875 Mr. Lyman bought 160 acres of land at Westminster, now in Orange County, out of which he made a fine rancho and on which he erected a beautiful residence. He owned land in San Diego, also an interest in Arrowhead Hot Springs, in San Bernardino County, where he was manager at the time of his death, which occurred March 11, 1889. In his home life Mr. Lyman was kindness itself; very social and hospitable. The needy always found a helping friend in him. In his conduct he was strictly honorable and upright, and as a citizen was loved and respected by all.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 869
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOSIAH McCOY,
Justice of the Peace at Westminster, was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1826. His father was Colonel John McCoy, of Scotch ancestry; and his mother, whose maiden name was Jane Brice, was a daughter of Rev. John Brice, of West Virginia. They were among the early settlers of Washington County, Pennsylvania. In 1850 Josiah McCoy went to Marshall County, Illinois, followed farming for a number of years, and subsequently mercantile business some five years at Henry, that county. In December, 1873, he became a citizen of California and a resident of the town of Westminster, where he bought 120 acres of land.
This he has put under a high state of cultivation, and is carrying on the dairy business and stock-raising. He also owns valuable land near Beaumont, in San Bernardino County. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party and sympathizes with the Prohibition movement; he is public-spirited, aiding in all good enterprises.
Mr. McCoy was first married in 1854, to Miss Mary L. Noe, a native of New Jersey; their children are: John J., now of Beaumont; Carrie B., a teacher; Jessie A., a student at the Normal School at Los Angeles; Chester M., of Beaumont. Judge McCoy lost his first wife in 1865, and was married again April 23, 1868, at Coshocton, Ohio, to Miss Martha L. Wells, a native of Licking County, that State, and daughter of Chester and Polly (Case) Wells, natives respectively of Chatham and Granby, Connecticut. By the latter marriage the children are: Hattie Wells, Mamie Sturges and Wells Brice. Miss Hattie is attending Hanna College, and Miss Mamie is a student at the Normal School at Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an elder.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 869-870
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN TURNER,
of Westminster, was born in Genesee County, New York, in
1818. At the age of eighteen years he walked all the way to Michigan,
where he worked by the day for a year, and then returned to New York.
There he married Miss Harriet Hopkins, whose father, James Hopkins, was one of
the wealthiest farmers of Genesee County. Mr. Turner went with his wife to
Michigan and carved a farm out of the dense forest. In 1852 he came to this
State, and for ten years followed dairying in
Amador County. In 1862 he moved to Carson City, Nevada, and in 1866 to
Healdsburg. Sonoma County, where he was engaged in stock‑raising and butchering
for twenty years. In 1884 he came to Westminster, where he is still engaged in
dairying. He also runs a stage to Anaheim once a day, carrying the United States
mail. He has had three children: George, Frank, who died at the age of fourteen
years, and Charles.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 870
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler