Orange County
Biographies
R. Q. WICKHAM,
the first County Clerk of the new county of Orange, was born in Hancock County, Ohio, January 31, 1855. He is by trade a printer, and by profession a teacher, and followed said avocations alternately in Iowa, Dakota and Nebraska, from 1872 to 1887, when he came to California and engaged in the real-estate business at Santa Ana, and resided at Garden Grove. When the movement was revived for the organization of a new county, he joined in with zeal and pushed the matter along. He was appointed by Governor Waterman one of the commissioners on organization, and was by that body made its secretary. That his services were appreciated was evidenced by the large vote he received for Clerk, receiving 1,714 to his opponent's 916 in the first election, which was entirely non-partisan. He is a Republican in his political principles, and an accommodating and popular officer.
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.- 888
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
PROF. JOHN P. GREELEY,
County Superintendent of Schools of Orange County, was born in Swanville, Maine, in 1860. Was educated in the common and high schools of his native place. Graduated at the State Normal School at Castine in 1883, standing second in a class of forty-five. Before graduating he taught in his native town six years. Had charge of the graded schools at Searsport for two years, and in Belfast two years.
Prof. Greeley was elected Superintendent of Schools of his native place for three successive years, resigning when he came to California in 1884. Taught one year in San Joaquin County, and the remainder of the time in Los Angeles County. Was principal of the schools at Placentia for four years. When Orange County was formed he was elected as its first Superintendent of Public Schools, being elected in July, 1889, receiving the highest number of votes of any candidate.
He was married July 7, 1889, to A. Evelyn Earl, of Los Angeles city.
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.- 888
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOEL RATHBURN CONGDON,
late of Santa Ana, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1838, and crossed the plains from Independence, Missouri, in 1854. He, with his two brothers, George and Frank Congdon, and five others were on the road from May 5 to September 5. They had two wagons and 325 head of cattle. They stopped first in Yuba County, where Joel took charge of his brother's stock for about seven years. From 1861 to 1863 Mr. Congdon mined in San Bernardino County; from 1864 to 1868 he was a farmer near San Bernardino; next he purchased land at San Juan, then in Los Angeles County, but now in the southeastern part of Orange County. Being the first American there, he bought of the Mexicans. Subsequently a grant was floating over his title and he had to purchase the same land again. On this place he planted the first walnut orchard in the southern part of the county,—thirty-five acres in all. In September, 1887, he sold out to Major George H. Bonebrake and moved to Santa Ana, where he purchased $30,000 worth of city property. A brick block on South and Spurgeon streets, 25 x 100 feet and two stories high, stands as a monument to his enterprise; and he has also erected a magnificent residence on Pine and Cypress avenues, where, with his family, he is enjoying the pleasures and comforts which he well deserves. He took an active part in the county division. His judgment in all matters relating to Santa Ana and Orange County has proven wise beyond question.
January 2, 1864, is the date of Mr. Congdon's marriage to Miss Mary Rouse, a native of Iowa, whose parents immigrated from Salt Lake to San Bernardino in 1858. Mr. Rouse was subsequently killed by the Indians. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Congdon are as follows: Harriet, wife of Rodolphus Cook, of San Juan; Sarah, wife of E. E. Cook, telegraph operator for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in San Bernardino; Ella, May, Walter, Claude and Grace.
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.- 888-889
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler