El Monte from the Pioneer Days

Harry Johnstone Woods, who for over thirty yeas, has furnished El Monte citizens, a goodly portion of their daily bread, is counted among the substantial business men of the city. He came to California in 1897, bringing with him the sturdy traits of character, which were his by inheritance from Scotch forefathers. His birth occurred […]

Many colorful incidents mark the life history of Thomas M. Wiggins, a native son of El Monte. Mr. Wiggins’ parents were, Thomas J. and Ellen (Vise) Wiggins, both of whom were natives of Missouri, coming to California in 1849, and settling in El Monte in 1852. Mrs. Wiggins was the daughter of Nathaniel Vise, whose

Born in El Monte, August 19, 1863, Archie N. Wiggins was one of the town’s most loyal and progressive citizens, who spent his entire life in the community and contributed generously in time and means to its advancement. He was the son of Thomas J. and Ellen (Vise) Wiggins who were natives of Kentucky and

Annie Frances Vise, born in 1850, in Houston County, Texas, made the voyage to California by was of Cape Horn, in 1859, with her adopted parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hopper. Landing in San Pedro in the fall of ’59, Mrs. Vise was brought to Los Angeles, where she lived until in 1865 when the

John A. Tucker was born in Lamar County, Texas, January 17, 1868. His parents were L. Dow and Sarah (Frezzell) tucker, natives of Texas. His father being killed when John A. was but four years of age, and he, being second in order of birth in a large family, the responsibility of helping support the

Representative of the early pioneers of El Monte is the name of Jonathan Tibbet who was born December 8, 1822 in Franklin County, Ohio. His parents were Jonathan and Huldah (Root) Tibbet, the father being a farmer and native of New York, while his mother came from Vermont. They had a very large family, fourteen

Well known among the first farmers of El Monte, is the name of Stephen D. Thurman, born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, in 1844. he was the son of John and Lettie Jane Thurman who were also the parents of five other sons and two daughters. The family moved to Arkansas in 1848, where his father

Monroe Thurman for many years a resident of El Monte and vicinity, was a representative of one of the early American families who settled in this community. He was born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, July 22, 1840, the son of John and Lettie Jane Thurman, who emigrated from there to Johnson County, Arkansas in 1848,

John Thurman, and his wife, Lettie Jane Thurman, emigrated from their home in Tennessee, to Arkansas, in 1848, and from there in 1852, they joined a party of about 65 families, who crossed the plains to California. Mrs. Thurman died during the journey, at the copper mines, in Arizona. The remainder of the family arrived

The sketches of our El Monte pioneers would not be complete without that of Alexander L. Thurman, who, when but a child, was brought to California by his parents John and Lettie Jane Thurman. A sketch of the latter is to be found elsewhere on these pages. Alexander L. was born in Bledsoe County, Tennessee,