San Diego County
Biographies
LEWIS DURETT
was born in Keeseville, Essex County, New York, February 3,
1834. His father, Anthony Durett, was born in Canada, and when a small boy came
to reside in the State of New York. His grandfather. Anthony Durett, was a
native of France. His mother, Margaret (Myres) Durett, was born in the
State of New York, of Scotch parents.
When only nine years of age, Mr.
Lewis Durett was deprived of his mother by death, and he was obliged to come up
without many of the early advantages that some boys enjoy. His father died in
1863. Early in life he was put to work at whatever he could, and learned the
business of gilding in a tool factory. In 1859
he removed to Port Huron, Michigan, and was there for ten years. September 13,
1862, he enlisted in the Union ranks, in Company F, Twenty-seventh Michigan
Infantry, and was soon sent to the front. In Kentucky he was engaged in several
small battles before reaching Vicksburg, which was captured while he was there,
on July 4, 1863. They then went to Knoxville, Tennessee, and were in all the
battles there until 1864. At the battle of Knoxville he received a gunshot wound
which caused him to remain in the hospital three months. After returning to his
command he was detailed on provost duty, and was there until July, 1864, when he
was sent to the quartermaster's department and served there until July 26, 1865,
when he was honorably discharged. When he came home he sailed on the lakes four
years,—one year before the mast, and afterward as mate and sailing master.
During this time he was engaged in the grain, iron ore and lumber trades. In
1869 he removed to Nebraska and engaged with his brother in the plastering
business, and while there he took a Government homestead and purchased eighty
acres besides, making 240 acres of land in York County, Nebraska. Since then he
has been engaged in buying and selling stock. In 1884 he came to San Jacinto,
bought a lot and built a store, which he still owns. He also bought twenty acres
of land where he now resides, and has built a comfortable home. He also has town
lots in different places. April 10, 1852, he was married to Miss Angelina Bolio,
born May 10, 1836, in Canada. They had three children: Harriet, born February
19, 1853; Henry, born November 19, 1855, and William, born May 6, 1858. Mrs.
Durett died March 22, 1866, and in 1871 he was again married, to Miss Sarah A.
Gilbert, a native of Troy, Walworth County, Wisconsin, daughter of William H.
Gilbert. She was born June 27, 1852. She is a member of the Christian Church, of
the Ladies' Aid Society, and of the W. C. T. U. While in Nebraska she was also a
member of the Ladies' Auxiliary Relief Corps. When the first G. A. R. started in
Nebraska, Mr. Durett joined Anderson Post, No. 32, and is now a member of J. A.
Addison Post, No. 121, San Jacinto. His principal business is the breeding
and raising of blooded horses, both trotters and all works. He owns a fine Clyde stock horse; he is also the owner of Pope Leo, a Blackhawk and Hamilton horse that has a record of 2:22, and is from very fast stock. He has also several very valuable brood mares and some very promising growing colts. One of the very desirable things about a horse is docility and gentleness of temper, and Mr. Durett's horses are remarkably gentle and well trained. He is justly proud of his horses.
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.- 153-154
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
L. MENDELSON
was born at Zagorow, Province of Warsaw, Russian Poland, November, 1840. He was a descendant of the old Castilian Hebrews, and his grandmother still spoke the Spanish language. While at home he attended the public schools, learning Polish, Russian and German. He then spent two years studying in Germany, and there learned English, which he considers the most difficult of all languages. His father was a merchant, and the son's inclinations were turned in the same direction. In 1857 he went to London, England, and there entered the general merchandise store of Moses & Son, where were employed 2,000 clerks, remaining until 1860, when he came to the United States, spending one year near New York. He then went to St. Louis in 1861, and President Lincoln then calling for 60,000 ninety-day men to meet the Southern insurgents, though foreign to the country, Mr. Mendelson at once took up arms for the land of his adoption, and enlisted May 8, 1861, in Company M of the Fourth Missouri Regiment, United States Reserve, Colonel B. Gratz Brown, under General Siegel, and was at the taking of Camp Jackson, near St. Louis. He was discharged in the city of St. Louis, August, 1861, and then went to Kentucky, remaining until the capture of Memphis, when he immediately went to that city and entered into the business of general merchandise.
In 1863 he sold his interest and embarked for California by the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco in October of the same year. After a short business career, he accepted a position as clerk, remaining until 1866, when he went to Anaheim, Los Angeles County, and there started a lumber business, which he continued about four years. Then going to Real del Castillo, Lower California, he opened a general merchandise store, selling out in 1886, when he was elected by the people to the position of Sindico, and as such immediately took the position of Representante del Ministerio (Prosecuting Attorney), holding the position until July 1, 1888. In 1887 he received also a position from the International Company, and in July, 1888, became general agent of the said company, and now holds a position under contract as steamship freight agent for the same company, both in San Diego and Ensenada, and to make out all consular and custom-house papers, and to pass steamers through the customhouse.
In 1885 he was married to Miss Carmen Lamadrid, of Spanish descent, though a native of California. The family of Lamadrid still resides in Lower California, where they have a large stock ranch at Las Cruces. Mr. and Mrs. Mendelson have two children, both living.
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.- 154
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler