San Diego County
Biographies
WILLIAM NEWPORT,
rancher near Menifee. The city of Chester, England, is one of the oldest cities of England. It still has its old walls that used to surround it to prevent invasion preserved. There is only one other city in England that has these ancient walls preserved. In this city was born and educated Mr. William Newport, the subject of this sketch. He was born June 5, 1856. His father, William Newport, was born in England in 1818, and his grandfather, Thomas Newport, was born in England in 1788. Mr. Newport's mother, Mary Newns, was also born in England in 1820, and married Mr. William Newport in 1854. They had but one child, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Newport's ancestors were all English farmers and he may be said to be a born farmer, as he loves the business and brings his great energy of character into the business of his choice. In 1876 he came to the United States for the purpose of buying a 2,000-acre farm and farming in this favored land. It was not luck but his wise judgment that sent him to the most favored and delightful portion of the United States—California. He landed at New York in 1876, and from there came to San Francisco County, and from there to Los Angeles, where he lived and farmed for nine years. He then came to Menifee and purchased 2,000 acres of land, nearly every foot of it plow land, and he is now farming on a large scale. When he moved to Menifee, although a young man, he resembled one of the patriarchs, as their were twelve wagons in his train, loaded with implements, provisions, lumber and his cook-house on wheels, a building one story high, 9x 18 feet. He had with him his men servants and his cattle and asses and horses. He found the valley very dry, with only a few poor people; but poor as they were they pitied the young man who, as they thought, was to make a failure of farming. When they unloaded their caravan he built a good ranch house and two large barns; he has planted ten acres to fruit and has laid out ample grounds and has planted and has many ornamental trees growing. He runs four gang plows and uses thirty-two work horses. They plow and sow twenty-eight acres of land in a day. He has his Chinese cook. This year he proposes to sow 3,000 acres of grain-1,600 acres of the best Australian white wheat and the balance in best brewing barley. He has 200 acres in alfalfa and intends to sow 100 more acres of it this year. He is going more fully into diversified farming. His lands are peculiarly well adapted to the production of blooded horses. He now has a fine drove of young horses and mules. He owns a fine thoroughbred horse from Hardwood the dam, by Richmond the sire. The animal shows fine breeding and will undoubtedly be very fast. Mr. Newport is also turning his attention to the breeding of Berkshire hogs and he has as the head of this a thoroughbred Berkshire that is as fine as any in the United States. Mr. Newport will not be satisfied with anything short of the best. He sows the best varieties of wheat and barley and makes it perfectly clean, and is able to make his own price on what he sells. His barns at one time this year contained 20,000 sacks of grain. He has selected the site and adopted the plans for a palatial residence which is to go up in the near future. What a single man will do with such a house can only be conjectured. His present house in which he baches is capital, has a fine instrument in it and is full of costly pictures. He not only uses his brains, but muscle in his farming. He and his hands are up at half past four in the morning taking care of the stock, and the breakfast is eaten so that they go on the ranch as soon as it is clear. Some of his help have been with him from three to five years. He is a very genial gentleman and makes many warm friends. While others are complaining of hard times, this man of push and vim has barns full of grain and money in the bank. It is safe to say that he is a valuable factor in showing what his section of the country will do when judiciously tickled with the plow.
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.- 208-209
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
GEORGE M. DANNALS,
of San Diego, was born in Rochester, New York, November 2, 1844. His father, R. M. Dannals, was a native of New York. His mother, Susan (Bell) Dannals, daughter of Dr. Bell, was also of New York. Mr. Dannals is a descendent of the Holland Dutch who located in the Mohawk Valley. His father was a contractor and builder. Mr. Dannals left his home in 1867, and to fit himself for a business life, took a course in a commercial college. After leaving college some good genius put it into his head to learn a trade. He consequently learned the carpenter's trade.
When twenty years of age he offered his services to his country as a soldier, and was enrolled July 26, 1864. At that time the great war had assumed gigantic proportions, and as thousands upon thousands of our brave men had died in prison, and had been slain on many a bloody battlefield, 1864, of all the years in the history of the United States since the days of Valley Forge, was the time that tried the patriotism and courage of its citizens, and to enlist in such a war at such a time was a most grand and heroic deed. He enlisted in Company E, Fifty-fourth New York Infantry, which was composed mostly of young men. They were sent to Elmira, New York, to guard prisons, and to aid in preventing bounty jumping, and to aid in forwarding troops to the front. He was in the United States service 110 days, and after being mustered out in November, 1864, he was soon engaged as chief clerk in a railroad freight office. March, 1867, he went to Nevada County, California, where he engaged in the mercantile business, dealing in mining supplies. They bought gold dust, and did a lucrative business. From there he went to San Francisco, and then came to San Diego and went to the Julian mines in 1870. He was there until 1876. They had a long and severe struggle to set aside the Mexican land grant, which menaced their mines and threatened to take them from them. He came out of this successfully, but very much injured financially, as it took a large amount of money to bring it to a close. In 1871 and '72 he was elected a member of the California Legislature. While at the mines, Mr. Dannals was agent for Wells, Fargo & Co., and Postaster, and had all kinds of experiences. Soon after this the mines were closed, and Mr. Dannals became bookkeeper and cashier for the firm of Klauber & Levi. He had full charge of the finances of the company, including the banking. He was with them nearly eleven years, and during the boom, was paying teller of the First National Bank of San Diego, and had plenty to do in the then great rush of business. He was afterward cashier of the bank of San Diego, which was afterward consolidated with the First National Bank. He is now Expert of San Diego County, employed by the county to examine all the county offices.
He was married in 1872 to Miss Lucy L. Wilcox, daughter of Leroy Wilcox, born in Ohio, April 24, 1858. Her father was one of the discoverers of the Nevada mines, and made a fortune at that time. They are from Kalamazoo, Michigan. They have one child living: Marion, born in San Diego, May 10, 1874.
Mr. Dannals served four years on the Board of Education in San Diego. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been the treasurer and a trustee for several years. Mr. Dannals is a veteran Odd Fellow, having served through all its offices. He has been Noble Grand, Representative to the Grand Lodge and District Deputy, and in all the same positions in the Encampment. He also belongs to the Masonic order, and has served in all its offices, the last two years as Master of the lodge. He is a Knight of Pythias, and was its Commander and also District Deputy, and in the Masonic Chapter is High Priest, and is a member of the commandery of Knight Templars, and Junior Warden of the lodge of perfection. His wife and himself are the present worthy matron and patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, of which they were the organizers in San Diego. He is Past Post Commander of Heintzelman Post, No. 33, G. A. R., and has taken an interest in all that pertains to the growth and welfare of the city and county. He is also a veteran of the National Guards, having served some seven years in the State of New York and in California, as an officer since October 1, 1881; and is at present Major and Commissary on the First Brigade Staff.
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.- 209-210
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler