USA > California > A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, Volume II > Part 31
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Having always acted independently in her oper- ations Mrs. Summers is entitled to the full meas- ure of credit for her unparalleled success. Her in- heritance of business ability and judgment has been supplemented by a wide training in the busi- ness world, contact with financial enterprises and business men, and it is thus that she has broad- ened into the practical, thorough business woman she is, despite the fact that she is of an artistic temperament and well developed along those lines. She occupies her old home on California street, where she has lived ever since coming to Los Angeles, and here gives free rein to her artistic tastes. She has built up for herself a wide circle of friends, who appreciate her for her womanly characteristics rather than for the un- usual ability which has brought her success in the financial world. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and active in all move-
ments brought forward for the advancement of the city's interest. In religion she is a member of the Episcopal Church.
LEON T. SHETTLER. While yet a young man, Leon T. Shettler has won a reputation in the business world which might do credit to a man many years his senior. This is due to no reflected influence from his father, Reuben Shettler, at one time an active business man in Lansing. Mich., but who is now living retired in Los Angeles. For a more extended account of the life of Reuben Shettler the reader is re- ferred to his sketch, which appears elsewhere in this volume. Leon T. Shettler was born in Tecumseh, Lenawee county, Mich .. December 27, 1879, and in his home city he attended the common schools, later attending the high school at Lansing. At the close of the junior year, however, he discontinued his studies and at the same time began an apprenticeship in the Olds gas engine works, a step which he was led to take through inherited mechanical tastes.
At the close of his apprenticeship he be- came private secretary to Mr. Peer, who rep- resented the Huber Manufacturing Company, of Lansing, Mich. After holding this position for some time he resigned the office in 1902 and came to Los Angeles, believing that in the west larger opportunities awaited him than in the middle west. With a capital of $500 he established himself in the automobile business on Sixth street near Spring, at first handling the Oldsmobile exclusively, having the agency for this machine throughout Southern Califor- nia. During the time which he held this agency, from October 4. 1902, until January I. 1905, he built up an excellent business, but notwithstanding this he sold out his business on the date last mentioned and returned to Lansing in order to familiarize himself with the mechanism of the Reo automobile. This he accomplished by entering the factory, which had been in operation only a few months, and after applying himself for six months he was thoroughly familiar with every part of the machine. With the knowledge which he had acquired and with a full line of Reo automo-
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biles he returned to Los Angeles July 1, 1905, opening a garage at No. 415 South Hill street. From this beginning has developed a large sale of Reo cars on the Pacific coast, in fact it is conservatively estimated that he has placed over one thousand cars of that make on the road during this time. To such an ex- tent did the business grow that during the year 1905. the same year in which he established the business, he was justified in erecting a garage of his own at No. 633 South Grand avenue. This is a structure 65x165 feet, built according to plans prepared by Mr. Shettler for his special purpose, which provides ac- commodation for the largest stock of auto- mobiles in Los Angeles. Some idea of the magnitude of the business transacted by Mr. Shettler may be gained when it is known that he employs twenty salesmen to represent the Reo automobile throughout Southern Califor- nia, besides which he maintains a facsimile of his Los Angeles garage in San Diego, the lat- ter having been established in 1907. A num- ber of men now prominent in automobile cir- cles on the Pacific coast owe their position cither directly or indirectly to Mr. Shettler, having been brought to the west by him or through his influence. Among them may be mentioned H. M. Hanshue, at one time em- ployed in the Olds factory in Lansing, and now the manager of the San Diego branch above mentioned. Mr. Hanshue has the reputation of being the best driver on the Pacific coast. Another representative from the Olds factory is F. E. Hughes, who is now filling an impor- tant position as one of the sales managers of the Western Motor Car Company of Los An- geles. Jack Stoner, who came to the coast in 1902, is now the Pacific coast manager for the Standard Automobile Company of San Fran- cisco, and F. A. Bennett, now located in Port- land, is well known as one of the largest auto- mobile dealers on the Pacific coast.
In Lansing, Mich., Mr. Shettler formed do- mestic ties by his marriage with Miss Frances Lemon, who was born in Byron, Shiawassee county, Mich. They have a pleasant and com- modious residence at No. 1718 Lennox avenue, where they both dispense a gracious hospi- tality to their many friends. Few men are bet-
ter versed in the automobile business than Mr. Shettler, and as secretary and treasurer of the Automobile Dealers Association of Southern California he is filling a position for which he is in every way qualified. He is also a mem- ber of the Chamber of Commerce of Los An- geles, and in his political inclinations he is in sympathy with Republican principles. Proba- bly no one in automobile circles on the Pacific coast is held in higher esteem than Mr. Shet- tler, who has reached his present success through the exercise of high principles of honor in all of his dealings and he may justly be proud of the success which has come to him. Not unlike his father, he too is lavish of his gifts to the deserving and unfortunate, but all of his benevolences are bestowed in such an unostentatious manner that none but the recipients know of the good he accomplishes.
HAMPTON L. STORY. Among the first families of New England was that of the Storys, established on American soil by an Englishman who crossed the ocean about 1640 and reared a family amid the privations and hardships of a frontier country. Succeeding generations re- mained residents of New England and in Ver- mont hecame prosperous farmers. Elijah Story, a native of Bennington, Vt., married a Miss Beaman and reared a family, among whom was a son, Andrew. He became a prosperous farmer and married Adaline Read, a native of . Vermont and likewise the representative of an old New England family. Born among the mountains of Vermont. in the township of Cambridge, June 17, 1835, Hampton L. Story was a son of An- drew and Adaline Story, and on the parental farm he attained years of maturity. He attended the public schools in pursuit of an early educa- tion, later a select school, then the Vermont Academy at Bakersfield, and still later the acad- emy at Fairfax, same state.
Well equipped for the battle of life as far as education was concerned, Hampton L. Story then left his native state and coming as far west as Illinois taught school for four winter terms. He had previously taught one year in Vermont, and after completing his fourth term in the Prairie state he returned to his native state and
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there engaged in the music business in the ca- pacity of salesman. Wishing to try his ability along independent lines, he then opened a store and stocked it with musical instruments and met with a success which encouraged him later to engage in the manufacture of instruments in a modest way. His business career was interrupt- ed by his enlistment in 1863 in the Twelfth Regiment Vermont Infantry, when he was at once ordered to the front and participated in many important engagements, among them Get- tysburg and Chancellorsville. After his honor- able discharge he returned to Vermont and en- gaged again in his commercial enterprise, finally entering into a partnership to do business in Chicago under the firm name of Story & Camp, which connection continued successfully from 1867 to 1882. In the last-named year Mr. Story sold his interest and formed a partnership with Mr. Clark in the manufacture of pianos and or- gans, and later with his three sons began the enlargement of their enterprise. This is now one of the most noted concerns of the United States, the plant, which is located at Grand Haven, Mich., covering over four blocks and being one of the largest concerns of its kind in the world. It is thoroughly equipped with the most modern and improved machinery and pro- duces pianos and organs of a superior quality and tone, which are shipped to all parts of the globe. The business offices are in Chicago, where its active affairs are transacted. Mr. Story passes his winters in his beautiful home at Altadena, while his summers are spent in Chi- cago and at the factory with his three sons.
Mr. Story's first trip to California was made in 1882, when he interested himself in several upbuilding enterprises in San Diego, among them the building of the Coronado hotel, one of the most noted resorts in the extreme part of Southern California; was also president of and built the Coronado railroad, some twenty-five miles in length, and was similarly connected with the first street railway of San Diego; he was the promoter of the ferry system from San Diego to Coronado and the installation of the water system; was instrumental in getting the Santa Fe Railway built into the city ; as well as being identified with numerous other enterprises which had for their end the development and upbuild-
ing of the place. During this period he became connected with the interests of Escondido, assist- ing in the building of that town and at the pres- ent writing is serving as a director in the Escon- dido Land & Water Company. The greater part of his San Diego interests he disposed of in 1888. Five years later he came to Altadena and pur- chased a tract of ten acres, which was known as the Woodbury homestead. He at once re- modeled the house, laid out the grounds in a most artistic manner, set out trees and shrubs and various plants, and planted a portion of the land to lemons. This is now one of the most beautiful homes in Altadena, and when Mr. Story comes to the coast for the winters it is a time of recreation and pleasure for him. How- ever, all of his time is not given over to pleasure, for ever since his location here he has taken an active interest in the development of the section, the water system of Altadena finding in him a practical promoter, and also served as president of the company known as the Rubio Land & Water Association, and during his incumbency of ten years the greater part of its development was made. He was active in the organization of the Altadena Improvement Association and for two years served as its president.
Mr. Story has been twice married, his first wife being a Miss Fuller, by whom he had two sons, Edward H. and Frank F. In 1876 he was united in marriage with Miss Adella B. Ellis, and born of this union are James E. and Ada, the latter the wife of R. H. Ripley. Mr. Story is associated with several important social clubs of the section, among them the Valley Hunt Club of Pasadena, the Sierra Club of the state and the California Club of Los Angeles, while he belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic of San Diego, the Knights of Pythias, the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic lodge of Burlington, Vt. He is recognized as one of the enterprising citizens of Altadena, a successful business man, and a cultured and scholarly gentleman.
JAMES F. T. JENKINS, C. M., M. D. The medical profession in Los Angeles has no more brilliant exponent than Dr. Jenkins, whose abil- ities come to him as an inherited tendency
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through several generations, his father, uncles and grandfather following this profession in the British army and navy medical service and in private practice. The family originally flour- ished in England, where the name was well known as one of the old country families, dat- ing back many centuries, and the emigrating ancestor established the name in Canada, here as on the other side of the water producing men who added luster to a name already held in high repute. Four sons of Grandfather Jenkins fol- lowed the medical profession in England, and all their sons chose the same calling, preparing for their life work in hospitals and medical col- leges in London and on the Continent. Among the sons was F. D. Jenkins, the father of Dr. Jenkins, who after completing his medical train- ing in England came to America and entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which institution he also graduated. For some time he practiced as a physician and surgeon in Michigan, but the last twenty years of his life were spent in Riverside, Cal., where he lived an ideal retired life among his orange groves until his death. He held membership in several European scientific associations and was an au- thority in analytical chemistry. He possessed the highest medical and surgical qualifications of Great Britain.
On the maternal side Dr. Jenkins is of Irish descent ; his mother, in maidenhood Miss M. E. Hale, was born in Ireland, a direct descendant of the noted Sir Mathew Hale. She is still liv- ing and makes her home in Riverside.
The only son in a family of three children, Dr. J. F. T. Jenkins was born in Toronto, Canada, April 19, 1854, and received his early training in the schools of his home city. Supplementary to his preliminary education he took a course in the Upper Canada College, and later entered the medical department of the University of Louis- ville, Ky., graduating with first honors from that institution in 1878 with the degree of M. D .. receiving a gold medal. He then spent one year in the Toronto General Hospital and in Trinity Medical College, Toronto, after which he be- came a student of the medical faculty of the University of Bishop's College, Montreal, now amalgamated with McGill University of the same city, graduating the following year as
valedictorian of his class with the degrees of C. M., M. D. Under the terms of amalgamation between the two universities, Dr. Jenkins as a graduate of Bishop's College will receive the degrees of M. D., C. M., from McGill Univer- sity, ad eundem statum. Even this preparation did not satisfy his ambition and to further qual- ify himself for his profession he continued his studies, becoming a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Quebec, and then went to London, England, and Paris, France, study- ing in the hospitals and colleges there. While abroad he made a tour of the continent and after visiting all the principal cities he returned to his home and engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Montreal, following this uninterruptedly until he came to California. The year 1893 wit- nessed his arrival in Los Angeles, and in that section of the city now known as Union Square he opened an office for the practice of his pro- fession at the junction of Union, Hoover and Twenty-fourth streets. Dr. Jenkins has the dis- tinction of being the pioneer physician in that part of the city, for at that time Hoover street formed the western boundary of the city, and in the intervening years he has seen the city limits extend many miles beyond and the space built up with beautiful residences.
In Louisville, Ky., Dr. Jenkins was married to Miss M. E. Pelot, who was born in Charles- ton, S. C., and was educated in Louisville, Ky. Dr. and Mrs. Jenkins have two children who are in every way a credit to their parents. The eldest, Dr. J. Evan, has followed in the foot- steps of his father in the selection of a profes- sion and is now one of the rising young sur- geons of Los Angeles, having graduated from the medical department of the University of Southern California in 1903 and passed the State Board of Medical Examiners the same year ; he was appointed by the board of super- visors interne at the County Hospital, which position he filled for one year, leaving it at the expiration of that time to fill a similar position in the California Hospital for another term. Later he took a post-graduate course in the larger eastern hospitals and is now associated with his father in general practice. The other child, Shirley, graduated from the Los Angeles
hay d. Briggs
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high school and was recently married to Ralph Getchell Dow of Los Angeles.
No opportunity for furthering his knowledge in his chosen profession is neglected by Dr. Jen- kins, as is attested by his membership in a num- ber of medical societies at home and abroad, of which we miglit mention the State Medical Association, American Medical Association and the Los Angeles County Medical Society. Prob- ably no one in the profession in Los Angeles holds a higher position in the esteem of pro- fessional men and laymen than Dr. Jenkins, and the productions of his scholarly pen have had wide circulation in American and foreign med- ical journals. Both Dr. and Mrs. Jenkins are much loved and respected by their many friends and no service which they can render their fel- low-men is withheld for lack of sympathy or good-will. In Louisville, Ky., in 1877, Dr. Jen- kins was made a Mason in Robinson Lodge No. 266. He has passed through all the chairs in Odd Fellowship and is a member of Los Angeles Tent No. 2 of the Knights of the Maccabees, also examining physician for the life insurance department of that order. During his more than thirty years' continuous practice he has held various appointments as medical teacher, prac- titioner and medical journalist. With his wife he is an attendant at St. John's Episcopal Church, and politically he espouses Republican principles.
VINCENT A. HOOVER. The Hoovers are among the earliest American pioneer fam- ilies of Los Angeles, coming here in 1849, when it was a small pueblo with a few adobe buildings clustered around the plaza. The father of the family was Dr. Leonce Hoover, born in Canton Argau, Switzerland ; he gradu- ated from a medical college and was a surgeon in the army of Napoleon. Later he came to the United States and became a practicing physician in New Albany, Ind. The name in Switzerland was Huber and was changed to Hoover by the doctor when he took out his naturalization papers. In 1849 he started with his family, consisting of his wife and four chil- dren, for California, crossing the plains with ox teams and wagons. Vincent was then twenty-three years of age; another son, John,
aged twelve, died of cholera en route. From Salt Lake they came by the southern route to the Chino ranch, and then came on to the pueblo of Los Angeles. Dr. Hoover was al- ready advanced in years and wished to retire from practice, but this he was not allowed to do, for he was soon forced to visit the sick, and being a very able and successful practi- tioner his desires in the matter were not con- sidered and he continued the practice of medi- cine until his death, in 1862. Dr. Hoover was a cultured and refined gentleman of scholarly attainments and a fine linguist. His wife, Eva, died in Los Angeles in 1852. The oldest in the family was Charles Hoover, a wholesale druggist in New Albany, Ind., where he died. Of the two daughters, Anna M. died in Los Angeles in 1856. Mary A. became the wife of Samuel Briggs, a native of Claremont, N. H., who came to California in 1861 and to Los Angeles in 1863, and was for many years agent for the Wells Fargo Express Company. His demise occurred in 1884.
Vincent A. Hoover was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1826 and received his education in the schools of New Albany, Ind. In 1849 he accompanied his parents to California, driving an ox team, and in 1850 he and his father went to the placer mines in northern California, where they found very rich placers, but were driven out by the hostile Indians. During this time the family lived at the old Wolfskill vine- yard, and orange grove, the present site of the Southern Pacific depot. On his arrival in Los Angeles he went to work and in 1851 he had accumulated sufficient funds to purchase twelve acres of land on Mesa street, which he at once began to improve. He was one of the first to engage in horticulture in Los Angeles and he set out and developed the valuable orchard which he sold in 1870. Thereafter he engaged in dealing in real estate in the city and building up and developing his property, in time becoming one of the leading business men and capitalists of the place. His busi- ness judgment was frequently sought and lie was for many years, or until his death in 1883, an appraiser for banks. After his death Mrs. Briggs administered the estate and has since invested and reinvested in Los Angeles city
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property, having been exceptionally success- ful and demonstrated her executive and busi- ness ability. The result is she owns valuable inside property in this city that has grown from the little Mexican pueblo she saw in 1849 until it is now a large metropolitan city. In 1898 she built her present comfortable residence at No. 739 Garland avenue. Her only child, Lilly, is the wife of Dr. Granville McGowan, a prominent physician of Los An- geles, who in 1906 accompanied her on a seven months' tour to Europe, visiting Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Hol- land and England. She is a most liberal and charitable woman, ever ready to aid in building up and beautifying the city of her adoption. She is an active member of the Episcopal Church.
Vincent A. Hoover was one of the true pio- neers of Los Angeles, always having faith in the future of the city. With Colonel Baker, William Ferguson and Mr. Haley he purchased thirty-two acres on Twenty-third and Hoover streets and laid out what is now Union Square. Like his father he was an exemplary and noble man of fine feelings, ever ready to help those who were less fortunate. He was honored and respected by his friends for his honesty, integrity and great moral worth, and is often spoken of as one of the most enterprising citi- zens of his time. He was temperate in all his habits, was a true Christian, and was a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. While not an aspirant for office he was a stanch Republican and active in the councils of the party.
GEORGE ZOBELEIN. It was in 1867 that Mr. Zobelein first came to California and the following year that he located in Los Angeles, and it may be truly said of him that he has never regretted his choice of a home. He has been very successful in his enterprises and is now the owner of extensive and valuable real estate, which has increased in value many times since he first acquired it.
Mr. Zobelein inherits his sterling traits of character from German ancestors, his own birth having occurred in Bavaria, Germany, August 12, 1845. His father, Conrad Zobelein, was a
brewer in the Fatherland, where his death oc- curred when his son George was a child of five years. The latter acquired his first knowledge of business affairs in his uncle's mercantile estab- lishment and when sixteen years of age he en- tered upon an apprenticeship to learn the busi- ness systematically. In 1867, at the age of twenty-two, he came to the United States, land- ing in New York City, then by way of the Isth- mus of Panama lie came to California. For one year he was engaged in the mercantile business in San Francisco and then, in 1868, came to Los Angeles, where with the passing years he has be- come one of the city's enterprising and progres- sive citizens. He followed mercantile enter- prises here for a time, and then went to Inyo county and followed a similar enterprise. Re- turning to Los Angeles in 1876 he filled a posi- tion as bookkeeper in the New York brewery for five years and at the expiration of that time he purchased an interest in the Philadelphia brew- ery, which was then known as the D. Mahlsted & Co. brewery. In 1882 Joseph Maier bought out the interest of Mr. Mahlsted and the firm then became known as Maier & Zobelein, under which name it was incorporated in 1893. Mr. Maier served as president of the company until 1904, when Mr. Zobelein was elected to the of- fice, a position which he held until June, 1907, at which time he sold his interest in the company. This step was immediately followed by the pur- chase of the controlling interest in the Los An- geles Brewing Company, of which he is now president and manager. This is one of the larg- est and best appointed breweries on the Pacific coast and dates its origin from the year 1897. From an unpretentious beginning, covering a comparatively small space, the plant has grown steadily from year to year and now covers eleven acres of land, with an abundance of the best brewery water. The exceptional facilities for procuring good water has been a large factor in the production of a superior article, and hence is accountable for the steady increase of the brewery's output.
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