Orange County
Biographies
HENRY STEPHENS,
a farmer near Westminster, was born in Monmouthshire, England, in July, 1827, and in 1851 came to the United States. He traveled awhile in the Eastern States, and in 1852 came to California, by sail-vessel from New Orleans to the Isthmus, across which he traveled by the Nicaragua route, and thence to San Francisco, where he landed in August, having been six months in coming. After spending a year in the mines he returned to the Southern States, purchased a number of cattle and drove them across the plains, starting from Clark County, Arkansas, and arriving in California in September, 1854, after a six-months trip, by the way of the Evansville route. Subsequently he mined two years near Sacramento, disposed of his cattle, and for twelve years ran a saw-mill in Calaveras County. He was then a resident of Stockton for a year and a half, and finally moved to Westminster, where he bought land, and has since lived there and bought other tracts of land. He is one of Westminster's most prosperous farmers. He was one of the partners in the co-operative store at Westminster, and has aided every enterprise wisely inaugurated.
In 1865 he married Miss Olive W. Shaw, who was born in Warren County, Pennsylvania. Her father, O. W. Shaw, was a cabinet-maker by trade, and crossed the plains to this State in 1852. He served as a soldier in the last war and helped build the Government barracks at Wilmington, California. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are active members of the Congregational Church, and highly respected as members of society. Their four children are: Bessie, wife of Hansler Larter; Hiram Y., Lovisa and Etta; Sadie, the fourth child, and Tiny, the sixth, having both died in Westminster.
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.- 868
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN HARRIS,
of Westminster, was born in Cornwall, England, in May, 1832, and came to the United Sates in 1852. After spending three and a half years in Pennsylvania and Virginia, and one year in Missouri, he came in 1859 to San Francisco, and was in the mines for several years. Afterward he served as Superintendent of the Pine Tree mines for John C. Frémont. In 1874, his health failing, he came to Westminster and purchased 160 acres of land. For several years, in company with his son, Richard T.,—now the sheriff of Orange County,—he was in the general merchandise business at Westminster; for some time past he has been retired on account of delicate health. He owns a stock-farm, and gives his attention principally to raising horses. For many years he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is recognized as a true Christian gentleman by all who know him.
The names of his children are: John, deceased; John E., Arthur, Richard T., George W., deceased; Clara, wife of Jerome Fulsome, of Garden Grove; Eliza A., Frederick, at Westminster; Ernest A., deceased; Albert E., Lora and Joseph.
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.- 868-869
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
GEORGE H. CARLYLE,
one of Westminster's successful dairymen, was born in Woodford County, Kentucky, March 23, 1827. His father moved to Saline County, Missouri, in 1855, and followed farming there until his death twelve years ago. He had nine children. For several years George (or Henry, as he was generally known) was connected with the stage line under Ben. Holiday, from the Missouri river to Fort Kearney and Salt Lake City. After this he followed farming and the dairy business at Independence, Missouri, until he came to California in 1887. Buying eighty acres of land in the Westminster colony, he is now raising fruits, fine Jersey cattle, and also carrying on the dairy business. Politically Mr. Carlyle is a Democrat, and religiously he is a member of the Christian Church, of which for several years he has been an elder, at Santa Ana.
In 1868 he married Annie Fackler, of Missouri, and a daughter of Dr. J. M. Fackler, of Kansas City. Their children are: Virgie, John, Frankie, Lutie and George Fackler.
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