Biography of Joseph Prouty of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

Joseph Prouty was a successful pioneer, both as a prospector and rancher in the days of ’49, first near the spot where gold was first discovered in California, (Sutters Creek) and later as a rancher near El Monte. He was born February 9, 1831 near Mt. Vernon, Knox County, Ohio, his parents being Anson and Carol (Helms) Prouty also natives of Ohio.  Mr. Prouty’s early life was spent at home with his parents, his education being obtained in the local public schools.  He later studied law, but circumstances prevented his practicing the profession.  He met with moderate success financially when but … Read more

Biography of George H. Peck, Sr. of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

George H. Peck, who was well known among the settlers of El Monte district in the late sixties, and for some thirty years following, was born in Burlington, Vermont, March 4, 1819.  A graduate of the University of Vermont, and a law student, Mr. Peck after a few years of extended travel by land and sea, took up the practice of law in Burlington.  After a few years, failing health compelled him to give up his law profession.  He sought recuperation in travel, taking work instead of leisure, by shipping before the mast on several voyages, which took him to … Read more

Biography of George H. Peck, Jr. of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

George H. Peck, Jr., son of George H. Peck, Sr., whose biography is found elsewhere in this volume, was born in San Francisco, October 15, 1856.  With a brother, John H., in 1868 he came to El Monte and started improvements on his father’s ranch, northeast of the city.  Leaving his father when about nineteen years of age, George worked for a time for Dr. Geller, who owned a 400 acre ranch in this district. Mr. Peck left el Monte in about 1888, to engage in the banking business in San Pedro, and later entered the real estate business and the … Read more

Biography of Michael Osmund of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

One of the most enterprising and progressive ranchers of El Monte and vicinity in the early nineties and later, was Michael Osmund, a native of Farsund, Sweden. Mr. Osmund was educated in the common schools of Norway, after which he went to sea, finally locating permanently in America, where he first engaged as a lumberman.  Later he followed farming in Cass County, Iowa, for some time, his mother from Sweden joining him there, and they then came to California in 1891.  For a time, he was located in Pasadena, but later purchased the property consisting of thirty-five acres, southeast of El … Read more

Biography of Perry Olmsted of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

Born in a covered wagon train while enroute to California in the year 1853, Perry Olmsted is listed among El Monte’s early settlers.  With but meager records of his people, it is stated that Mr. Olmsted’s parents came from Pennsylvania, locating first upon their arrival in California in the northern part of the State.  In 1895, Perry Olmsted came to El Monte from Antelope Valley, where he had engaged for a number of years in raising grain.  He acquired a tract of land on Peck Road, near the Killian Ranch and developed a fine walnut grove, on which he lived … Read more

Biography of Braxton B. Mings of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

Prominent in El Monte for many years as a druggist and practicing physician, and later as a successful farmer and dealer in dairy stock, Dr. B.B. Mings came to California first in 1887, returning after a short stay to his native state, only to be induced after several years, by his wife (a native daughter of California) to return and settle in the sunny land. Dr. Mings was born March 5, 1863 in Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas.  He was the son of Mac and Cynthia (Vise) Mings, both natives of the State of Texas, where the father was a large planter … Read more

Biography of the Mills Brothers of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

California is rich in the possession of men of ability and enterprise who have given their best efforts toward the material growth and progress of the state.   Among these prominent mention may be made of two native sons, the Mills brothers, Francis E. and Edward T., who in 1875, located in the vicinity of El Monte, and actively engaged in farming and later developed a fine walnut grove.  Their father, E.T. Mills, was born in Buffalo, New York, of the same state and the descendant of English ancestry.  E.T. Mills engaged as an assistant in his father’s business, which was … Read more

Biography of George Metcalf of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

For over fifty years a resident of El Monte, George Metcalf, a native son of California, has seen many changes in the growth and development of El Monte and vicinity.  Mr. Metcalf was born in San Jose, March 24, 1877.  He is the son of Martin Metcalf, and early pioneer of California in 186, locating first in the mining district of Plumas County.  In 1869, he returned for a brief visit to Ohio and Illinois and was married to Miss Marcella Dart, a native of the State of New York.  Returning with his bride at once, he re-engaged in sheep … Read more

Biography of Thomas Reece McMichael of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

Prominent in the early walnut raising industry of the Mountain View district, and at present, active as a realtor and subdivider of his properties, is Thomas R. McMichael, who came to California in the early nineties and settled in the vicinity of El Monte a short time later. Born November 14, 1868, in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. McMichael is the son of Kester and Elizabeth (White) McMichael, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania.  His early education was acquired in the public schools of his home communities.  At about eight years of age, his parents moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where they … Read more

Biography of John A. McGirk of El Monte California

The Works Progress Administration

A Justice of the Peace in the early days of El Monte and a citizen of the community since the early eighties, John A. McGirk, has been one of the city’s outstanding residents throughout the years of its steady growth and development. Born of Missouri parentage and nativity, Mr. McGirk is the son of Mathias McGirk, who engaged in farming and in selling wood to the steamboats on the Missouri River, near which his farm was located.  Both father and son were Southern sympathizers during the Civil War, however the father was drafted by the Union and required to serve the … Read more