Josephine Simoneau Fussell was born Feb. 23, 1877 in Monterey, California and died May 23, 1973, also in Monterey. She was the daughter of Jules Simoneau and Martina Feliz. Jules Simoneau, a French restauranteur, born in Nantes, immigrated to California and was a pioneer of Monterey, California. Simoneau befriended Robert Louis Stevenson during his stay in Monterey during 1879. His daughter, Josephine, lived all her life in Monterey, residing in the Simoneau House at 456 Van Buren Street. She married Manuel Machado. After Machado's death during the First World War, she married Thomas Fussell. She was known locally as "Mrs. Monterey" and was known for her wealth of information about early Monterey. She was a member of what was called the "Larkin Street Gang" of early pioneer Montereyans. Although only two years old at the time of her father's contact with Stevenson, Mrs. Fussell was a frequent resource for the story of her father's friendship and care of the writer, who was ill at the time.
Isobel "Belle" Osborne Field was the daughter of Fanny Osbourne and stepdaughter of Robert Louis Stevenson. With her mother, sister, and aunt, she stayed a few months in Monterey at the boarding house of Maria Ygnacia Bonifacio, known as the Sherman Rose, in 1879. Stevenson followed Mrs. Osbourne, whom he later married, to Monterey. Isobel Osbourne married artist Joseph Dwight Strong who also resided in Monterey for a period. After his death, she married Edward Salisbury Field and lived in Santa Barbara. She authored a memoir describing her life and experiences, including her time with Robert Louis Stevenson. She died June 26, 1953, in Santa Barbara.
From the description of Josephine Simoneau Fussell Collection, 1902-1951; correspondence; (bulk 1902-1923; 1940-1951). (Monterey Public Library). WorldCat record id: 123081964
