San Diego-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Horton, A. E. 1813 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 21, 2006, 12:10 am Author: Theodore S. Van Dyke A. E. HORTON. IT was the boast of Augustus Caesar that he found Rome in brick and he should leave it in marble. With more regard to truth might Alonzo E. Horton, speaking in the figurative style adopted by the Roman Emperor, remark that he found San Diego a barren waste, and to-day, as he looks down from the portico of his beautiful mansion on Florence Heights, he sees it a busy, thriving city of 35,000 inhabitants. Probably there is no other instance in the history of our country, where great cities have grown from insignificant beginnings, where the presence of one man, unaided by abundant capital, has accomplished such wonderful results as have been achieved by A. E. Horton in San Diego. To understand and appreciate, however, in its fullest sense, what Mr. Horton has accomplished, it is necessary to inquire into the antecedents and examine the characteristics of the man. In the year 1635 the good ship Swallow, after a long and tempestuous voyage across the Atlantic, dropped her anchor in port at Hampton, Massachusetts. Among the passengers, who were all Puritans, was Barnabar Horton, a native of Leicestershire, England. From him, in the seventh generation, is descended the subject of this sketch. Alonzo Erastus Horton was born in Union, Connecticut, October 24, 1813. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Madison County, New York. Afterwards they took up their residence at Scriba, a few miles from Oswego, on the shore of Lake Ontario. Here his youth and early manhood were passed. During this time he was clerk in a grocery, learned the cooperage trade, and was a sailor on the lake, finally owning and commanding a schooner, in which he engaged in the grain trade between Oswego and Canada. When he arrived at man's estate he was in quite delicate health and his physician pronounced him consumptive, and said if he wished to prolong his life he must go West. Accordingly in 1836 he started for Milwaukee, landing there in May of that year. This was an era of speculation in the Western States; it began several years previously, and ended with the great financial crash of 1837. While in Milwaukee, turning his hand to whatever he could find to do, young Horton became possessed of the information that the bills of certain Michigan banks would be received at the land office in payment of lands at par, and would be the equal of gold, and consequently command a premium of 10 per cent. He had a cash capital of $300, and acting on his secret information, he hunted out the holders of Michigan currency and was soon doing a brisk exchange business. This enterprise was a financial success. He returned to New York State soon afterwards, but the year 1840 saw him again in Wisconsin. He bought a home in Oakland and married. After this for three years he was engaged in dealing in cattle and land, steadily adding to his little capital. He bought a large quantity of land warrants in St. Louis about this time and located 1,500 acres in Outagamie County, Wisconsin. Here he founded the village of Hortonville, and at the end of two years he sold out his investments at a profit of nearly $8,000. It was in 1851 that Mr. Horton made his first journey to California. He spent a few months in the mines, but he soon found that he could make more money trading in gold-dust than digging for it. In this traffic his profits were quite large, during the last quarter of 1854 reaching as high as $1,000 a month. As the gold-dust business, however, got a little dull he engaged in an ice speculation. Locating some fine fields in the mountains, he cut and disposed of three hundred and twelve tons, which returned him a profit of $S,ooo. He now had a comfortable fortune for those days and he determined on going back home to his family. Accordingly in the spring of 1S56 we find him a passenger on the steamer Cortez, for Panama. A few hours after the Cortez landed her passengers at Panama the terrible riots broke out in which the natives attacked foreigners wherever found, killing and plundering all who came in their way. Two hundred persons from the steamer were dining in the hotel when that building was attacked by the mob. A general rush was made for the upper story, where they hoped to escape their assailants. Among all the passengers only three had fire-arms and one of these was Horton. By common consent he was selected to command the garrison. The natives, who by this time had become crazy with rage and rum, attempted to carry the staircase leading to the upper story by storm and several of the leaders darted up the narrow passage. At the head of the stairs stood Horton, a revolver in each hand, perfectly cool and collected. In the room behind him were tenscore persons, including women and children; below were a thousand demons thirsting for their blood. It was a trying moment, but Horton did not hesitate. Those behind urged the foremost of the assailants forward; the leader mounted another step; there was a flash, a report, and he fell back dead. Two others took his place, but they dropped lifeless. Now the reports grew quicker and the flashes from the revolvers told of the sharp work being done. Horton had emptied his own weapons and had discharged most of the barrels of another that had been handed to him before the rioters fell back. Eight of their number were dead and four were seriously wounded. But the dangers of the besieged were not at an end. Although the mob had been repulsed they were not dispersed, and they were still vowing vengeance upon the passengers. The only place of safety was the steamer. Getting his little band in compact order, Horton distributing the revolvers to those whom he knew would use them judiciously, started on the retreat to the landing. This was reached in safety, though the mob followed them closely, and had it not been for the rare generalship displayed by Horton in getting the party embarked on a lighter instead of allowing them to rush, pell-mell, as they attempted to, on a small tug, many must have lost their lives. As it was, the lighter was towed out to the steamer and all were taken on board in safety. Mr. Horton's baggage, containing $10,000 in gold-dust, was lost, having fallen into the hands of the rioters. He saved $5,000, which he had tied around him in a belt. Mr. Horton remained in Wisconsin until 1861, when he again started for the Pacific Coast, going with a party overland to British Columbia. He spent a season in the Cariboo mining district, and at first made money, but their claim, which had been considered a very valuable one, "petered out," and they finally disposed of it for $200 and started south. Mr. Horton then came to San Francisco, where he engaged in business of different kinds with varying degrees of success. In the early part of 1867, at a private literary gathering one evening, San Diego, its climate and harbor, was the topic of discussion. He was greatly impressed with what he heard. Here was the sight of a great city of the future; nature had done her share; all that was wanting was for man to develop it. The voice of fate seemed to call to Horton that this was his opportunity. He sold out his business in three days' time, and started on his pilgrimage southward. It was the 6th of April, 1867, that Mr. Horton reached San Diego. The few people that were settled here then lived at Old Town, but Mr. Horton after looking the ground over concluded that the true place for the city of the future, his ideal city, was farther down the bay. He first began the agitation of an election of City Trustees. Candidates were nominated and elected. There was no opposition. Then Mr. Horton had surveyed eight hundred and eighty acres which he desired to purchase. The property was advertised and sold at auction. There was but one bidder (Mr. Horton) and he bid it all in at twenty-six cents an acre. This property is now the main portion of the city of San Diego. Mr. Horton then had his "addition" platted, and started to San Francisco to dispose of it. At first he met with but indifferent success; people were suspicious of "Sandyago," as "John Phoenix" had dubbed it; the general impression was, it was very hot and was a place very congenial to the rattlesnake. But Mr. Horton was never discouraged; he had faith in the future. In 1867 his receipts were $3,000; in 1869, they had increased to $85,000. Since then the appreciation of his property has been steady until the last two years when the increase has been phenomenal. When we come to look at what Mr. Horton has done for the city of his creation, we cannot deny but that he has been a faithful and devoted parent. He has expended over $700,000 of his own capital in the improvement of San Diego. He built the first wharf, which was afterwards sold to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, who in turn disposed of it to the present owners, the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. He gave to each of the religious denominations a lot for a church edifice, and some of them are now very valuable. The lots on which the Methodist Church building now stands at the corner of D and Fourth Streets, is valued at $60,000, and when the members of the congregation look upon it they are constantly reminded of Mr. Horton's munificence. If the real estate that he has given away was valued at the prices selling at this time (April, 1888) it would reach at least $1,000,000. In the days of the city's infancy he gave land to everyone who he thought would improve it. The promises made to him by the recipients of his bounty were not, however, always fulfilled. He gave a fine block of land to a man to build a hotel on, but the hotel was not built. He gave a block to a gentleman who now occupies a high position in the federal service, and two years afterwards bought it back for $4,000. He gave a block for a flour-mill and donated the block on which the court-house stands, to the county. In all he gave away fourteen blocks and innumerable lots, for the purpose of building up the city. For three years, when everyone but he had grown discouraged, Mr. Horton carried the town on his own shoulders, paying salaries of officials and all the expenses of the corporation. He was ready to help everyone who asked it of him, and married men could always get work from him to earn a living and support their families when all other employers failed them. Personally Mr. Horton is one of the most genial of men. He is easily approached and is always as willing to give an attentive hearing to the man who earns his daily bread by the sweat of his brow, and if need be lend him a helping hand, as to listen to the schemes of the capitalist. Somewhat above the medium height, with a portly frame. he is in robust health, and his clear eye and pleasant countenance bear testimony to the fidelity with which he has complied with the laws of health. Additional Comments: From: THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO. ILLUSTRATED, AND CONTAINING BI0GRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS. SAN DIEGO, CAL. LEBERTHON & TAYLOR 1888 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sandiego/bios/horton822nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 11.6 Kb