San Diego County
Biographies
HORATIO S. MASON
was one of the original purchasers of the town site and one
of the first citizens of Murrietta. He was born in New York, December 25, 1830.
His ancestors came from England before the Revolution. Mr. Mason's father, Hale
Mason, was a farmer and was born in 1778, and was married to Miss Debora
Henderson, of New York. Her family were from Connecticut and were of
Scotch descent. She was married to Mr. Mason in 1799 and had a family of ten
children, of which Mr. Mason was the youngest. He was raised and educated in
western New York. When he was sixteen years of age he entered a store as
clerk, where he remained for six years. In 1852 he came to California and
settled down in Alameda County, where he engaged in farming for eight years. In
1861 he went to Nevada and settled in Carson City, where he did a successful
business for twenty-five years. In 1886 he came to Murrieta and purchased an
interest in the Murrieta ranch. They subdivided the property and sold lots, and
have been the promoters of the growth of this beautiful village.
Mr. Mason has made a nice home near
the town, has planted shrubs, flowers and fruit, and designs to engage in fruit
culture on a large scale. He was married, in 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Jane
Cheney, who was born in Cortland County, New York, in 1838, and was the daughter
of Mr. David J. Cheney. The result of their union is four children: Cathro M.,
born in Alameda County, in 1861; Edwin H., born in Carson City, Nevada, in 1866;
John C., born in Carson City, in 1868 and Frederick L., born in Carson City, in
1882. In 1865 Mr. Mason became a Free and Accepted Mason, and has been a leading
Mason for many years. He has held nearly every position in the order and was
elected an honorary member of the Masonic Veteran Association of the Pacific
coast.
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.- 300-301
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
W. H. C. ECKER,
of Coronado, was born near Allegheny, Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, May 6, 1849. When four years old he went with his parents to
Gallipolis, Gallia County, Ohio, where he improved the advantages of an academic
education, later attending the Law School in Cincinnati, graduating in 1874. He
then returned to Gallipolis,
where he practiced law until 1887, when on account of poor health his attention
was turned to California, and he came out in February of that year, spending
nine months at San Jose.
In December of that year he came to San Diego and, the climate being beneficial, opened an office and resumed the practice of his profession in general law. He is a resident of Coronado and is deeply interested in the welfare of the city of San Diego. As to climatic influences, although living at sea level he experiences no dampness therefrom ; and he finds the sea breezes of the Pacific extremely soothing and healing to his particular trouble of throat and bronchial tubes and asthma. He is a member of the Rose Commandery, No. 43, of Gallipolis, Ohio.
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.- 301-302
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
D. N. BUCHANAN.
On the
hillside west of Murrietta may be seen a picturesque California home. This
beautiful residence site, containing sixty acres of land, was bought by Mr.
Buchanan of the owners of the town site, and it was the first purchase made by
an actual settler. The buyer showed his good taste in making the selection, as
he has
since sold half of the original purchase for what the whole cost, leaving him
his beautiful homestead clear. He was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, May 9,
1849. His grandfather, David Buchanan, came from Scotland and settled in
Pennsylvania; his wife was Rebecca Hatfield, an English woman. Their son, David
Buchanan, was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, and was a land owner and
farmer. He was married to Sarah N. Kepner, who was born in Perry, and was of
German descent. They had a family of six children, all of whom are living.
While a young man, the subject of
this sketch learned several trades; first tanning, then plastering, then
cabinet-making and carpentry. He now carries on a ranch, is a contractor and
builder, manufactures Robit fence, and sells and sets up both the Adams and
Splendid windmills. He was married in Perry County, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1870,
to Miss Mary Snyder, who was born in Perry County, in 1851. Her father, Emanuel
Snyder, was a farmer and native of Pennsylvania, and was of German descent. Mr.
Buchanan's family consists of five children: Sarah E., born in Perry County
October 8, 1871; David E.. born in Dauphin County, July 28, 1875; Allie J., born
in Perry County, October 30, 1876; Catherine E., born in Grand Island, Nebraska,
January 6, 1885, and Josie Mabel, the nice baby, born in Murrietta August 21
1889. He removed to Nebraska, where he followed his business in several
different places, but finally lost his health. He was sick with the neuralgia
during the years 1881, 1882, 1883 and 1884, and removed to Murrietta,
California, where he arrived November 15, 1884. On February 5, 1885, he bought
his land and built the first residence, in which he now resides. Both himself
and wife, and the two oldest children are members of the Methodist Church, of
which he is class-leader and steward. Mr. Buchanan has found that "a man's life
does not consist in the abundance of things which he has," and he carries about
with him a cheerful, pleasant smile, indicative of the peace within.
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.- 302
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler