Well know and highly respected, and remembered especially for his sterling character and benevolent nature, Larkin S. Bunyard, early El Monte pioneer, was born in the blue grass state, November 11, 1812. In about the year 1835, Mr. Bunyard was married to Miss Frankie Stewart, a native of Tennessee.
El Monte’s first constable was Barney (“Bud”) Bryant who came to California in about 1854 and who was among the first pioneers of this district. He was born in Milan County, Texas, December 19, 1840, accompanying his parents to California when in his early teens.
Another El Monte Pioneer of the covered wagon days was Charley Blackley, who was born in England in 1830. Coming to the United States when a small boy, his parents settled in Illinois, where Charley Blackley was educated in the public schools. In about the year 1857, Mr. Blackley was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Johnston, a native of Arkansas, whose parents were El Monte pioneer settlers of the early fifties.
Bearing the distinction of being the first white child in El Monte, Moses C. Cuddeback was born January 22, 1853 or 1854. At the time, his parents were living with the family of Nicholas Smith on Valley Boulevard in an adobe house. Moses C. Cuddeback was the son of Grant P. and Almira Cuddeback, their native state being New York. History tells that the family came to California in 1850.
Among the first settlers in El Monte was Grant P. Cuddeback. He was born in New York State July 1, 1820, the son of Peter and Clarissa Cuddeback. At El Monte, February 2, 1852, he was married to Miss Elmira Hale, of whose parents there is no record available. To Mr. and Mrs. Cuddeback were born six children.
Thomas Bell, well known in El Monte for his success in agriculture and dairying, was born in El Monte, California, October 5, 1859, and was here reared to young manhood, receiving his educational training in the public schools of the community. Thomas Bell, well known in El Monte for his success in agriculture and dairying, was born in El Monte, California, October 5, 1859, and was here reared to young manhood, receiving his educational training in the public schools of the community.
Charles M. Bell was born in El Monte, February 22, 1863. His parents were William C. and Rebecca A. (Fears) Bell. Mr. Bell’s life was spent in his native place, and his education obtained in the local public schools. In 1885, Mr. Bell married Miss Sallie R. Kimbell, a native of California.
William C. Bell was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, September 17, 1832, the second in a family of five sons and two daughters. He was married in El Monte in the spring of 1859, to Mrs. Rebecca Ann (Fears) Cundiff, a native of Clinton, Illinois, who came to California in 1858 across the plains.
John W. Barton, pioneer rancher, located in the vicinity of El Monte in the ‘80’s and engaged in the cultivation of an extensive ranch of between fifteen hundred and eighteen hundred acres, in the meantime improving and developing a homestead of twenty-four acres. He met with success in his efforts, acquired a competence, and won a place among the loyal and public-spirited citizens of the locality.
One of the successful and enterprising citizens of Los Angeles County was Chester R. Barton, who located in El Monte, and the surrounding country, operating as an extensive rancher. He was a native Californian, his birth having occurred in Solano County, July 16, 1855. His father, John W. Barton was born in Vermont, the Representatives of an old New England family located in this country by an English Ancestor prior to the Revolution.