Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-10
Our First Traction Lines


events proved, enterprising as well. He
married Il daughter of Mrs. DIR. Mac
Dougall who had been the wife of
the noted Bob Carlisle. killed in a fra
cas- with the King brothers i'm the Bella
Union hotel, and the daughter was one
of the bellies of Southl;n California. He
became connected. with the water COM
pany. He was a highly useful citizen
and developed into a. man of wealth.
His sudden death a few years ago
greatly panied and surprised his
friends.
Col. John r. Wheeler, the secretary
of this company, was one of the best
known men in Southern California. He
was at one time editor of a weekly
newspaper of this city, which had long
disappeared into the limbo of things
lost upon earth when | first made his
acquaintance. He was a man of great
height and elegant figure; and, in his
department.. would suggest a French
marshal of Napoeonic days
Amongst other unconsldered trifles
that were lying around loose at that
time COL Wheeler attached himself to
some extensive acreage out in the
University district which afterwards
made him rich He was the father OF
two beautiful and charming daugh-
ters, one of whom married Billy Prid-
ham of this city, and the other Clay
Green, the dramatist The old colonel
was jolly and distingue looking to the
last, and recreated much in Europe
towards the close of his days.
Just Little Chat
l am not essaying any dryasdust his
tory of local traction in Los Angeles,
but simply aim to indulge in a little
GlScursive chat with personal recolleC-
tions. Hancock Nj. Johnston engineered
the next line of street railway over to
East Los Angeles. This flourishing
settlement had been laid out as a town
site by DR.. John S. Griffin, who en-
trusted the management of the sales
to his nephew, Johnston. That ener-
eetic parsonage went up to San Fran
cisco and engaged the services of the,
ut that time, well known real estate
firm of Daily q Hawkins to come down
here and hold the auctions. The lots
went off like hot cakes, and East Los
Angeles started off on a BOOM which,
steadied down and relieved of it's froth,
is on deck still.
Hancock NJ. Johnston is not man
who should be dismissed with scant
mention i'm any chronicle which deals
with the annals of Southern California.
He was the son Of Gen. Albert Sidney
Johnston. who was killed at Shiloh
While commanding the Confederate
army; was the man whom JEFF Davis
regarded as the ablest of his generals,
and to whom the people Of New Orleans
erected a monument.
His son came out to California a mere
boy For a time he worked in the mines
at Virginia City for $4 a day. down in
the bowels of the earth, like the rest of
the Toys He finally came down to Los
Angeles, where he identified himself
with his unele's projects and develop
ing many of his own, in which he made
much money, besides greatly assisting
in the exploitation OF the country.
Was a Horse Owner
Like all kentuokians. he was devotes
to the horse, and he ranked with Lucky
Baldwin, l.. j. Titus and Capt George
A. Johnston of Penasquitos in promot-
ing the turf of Southern California and
in filling this region with fleet and
beautiful horse flesh. Amongst others,
he introduced the Richmond string here,
and he was at all times liberal patron
OF Agricultural park and a directing
(cant1nRed an RaGe SixA