El Monte from the Pioneer Days

Robert Hicks, successful farmer and long-time resident of El Monte, was born in the Ozark, Franklin County, Arkansas, January 12, 1856.  He is the son of Robert and Abigail Hicks, the father being a native of Kentucky and the mother from Alabama.  The parents settled in Arkansas in 1854 where they engaged in farming during their entire lifetime. Mr. Hicks was educated in the public schools of his local community, later attending White Oak Academy, near Ozark.  He remained with his parents until after reaching his majority, following which for a number of years he followed farming in his native county.  … Read more

Successful as a horticulturist and prominent in the early growth and development of El Monte and vicinity, Fernando C. Herbert is also a liberal contributor to the movements of general uplift to the community. Mr. Herbert was born in Hempstead County, Arkansas, October 9, 1862.  His father, educated for a medical doctor but preferring the life of a farmer, which occupation he followed, was F.C. Herbert, Sr., a native of Tennessee.  The mother was in maidenhood Miss Anna Deavenport, also born in Tennessee.  The father died in 1868, leaving the widow and seven children, the subject of this review being the … Read more

A successful farmer, teacher and walnut grower, who pioneered with the early settlers of El Monte, and vicinity, was John Hayes.  Born in Ireland in 1836, Mr. Hayes came to America and California in 1868 from Australia, where for a number of years, he had served the British government as a surveyor.  For a number of years, immediately following his arrival in California, Mr. Hayes was likewise employed by the Southern Pacific Railway as a surveyor. In 1878 he came to El Monte and engaged in teaching – his services being used in the El Monte, Bogdale (now Temple), and … Read more

Charles H. Hartle, an early resident of El Monte, was born November 19, 1827, in Rootstown, Cortage County, Ohio.  His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, where they engaged in farming.  Charles H. was educated in the local public schools, and later upon reaching his majority he went to Peru, Massachusetts.  Soon afterward he settled in Ravenna, Ohio, where he engaged in the hotel business.  In 1864,he moved to Masillon, Ohio, were he followed the general mercantile business. Mr. Hartle came to California in 1885, first stopping at Riverside.  In 1886 he came to El Monte and immediately leased a tract of … Read more

J.C. Hannon was born in England in 1828, and came to the United States with his parents five years later.  The family settled in Ohio where his parents remained the rest of their lives.  In 1859, J.C. Hannon started westward across the plains, and after spending four years in Nevada, he came to California and made his home in San Jose, where he married Elizabeth Carr. In 1869, he moved to Los Angeles County and settled on 160 acres, two miles northwest of El Monte.  He was elected County Supervisor in 1876, and served eight years.  He also served as deputy … Read more

John T. Haddox was among the early merchants of El Monte.  His store was centrally located and was well fitted and stocked as a representative country general store.  Mr. Haddox also combined the real estate and insurance business with his enterprise, and was the agent of E.J. Baldwin in his land sales.  A brief resume of his life and association with the industries of the San Gabriel Valley is as follows: He was a native of Hancock County, Ohio, dating his birth in 1858.  His father, Jacob Haddox, was a native of that State, but a descendant of an old … Read more

One of the oldest settlers in the vicinity of El Monte was John Guess, who lived on mile west of the city and successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising.  Mr. Guess came to California in October 1852, as a pioneer, and witnessed and participated in the development and upbuilding of this community.  He was a native of the South, born in Batesville, Independence County, Arkansas, March 28, 1827.  His father, Joseph, was born in the east and became an early resident of Arkansas, where he engaged in farming throughout his active life.  His death occurred from cholera in … Read more

A native son, pioneer and son of a pioneer of El Monte and vicinity, Henry Guess, bears the added honor of being the first American white child born in Los Angeles County.  His parents were John and Harriet (Holifield) Guess, both natives of Arkansas who came to California by ox-team in 1852.  A sketch of John Guess and his parents is given elsewhere in this volume. Henry Guess was born January 14, 1853 on the old Lugo Ranch, a few miles southwest of El Monte.  He attended the first public school in El Monte, located in what is now the Rio … Read more

Fielding W. Gibson was born in Mississippi in 1809. During the early years of his life, he engaged in farming in Mississippi and Louisiana. In 1851, he traveled from New Orleans, through Mexico to Mazatlan and from there by boat, to San Francisco, and then to the mines were he stayed five months. The scarcity of cattle in the north induced him to go to Mexico where he purchased a herd of cattle, and attempted to drive them to northern California. The Mexicans in his employ, however, stole most of the stock by the time he reached San Gabriel Valley, … Read more

Thomas Andrew Garey was born of German ancestry in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 7, 1830.  He started for California in 1850, stopping about a year in New Mexico and six months at Tubac, Arizona, arriving at San Diego, in 1852.  At Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1850, Mr. Garey was untied in marriage with Louisa J. Smith, a native of Massachusetts. Soon after their arrival in San Diego, they came to and settled in El Monte.  Several years later, Mr. Garey bought land on San Pedro Street in Los Angeles, and engaged extensively in the citrus nursery business.  The demand for young orange, lemon … Read more