A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I, Part 86

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1184

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days he can look back upon a life well spent and forward without fear to whatever future awaits him, for he has lived in all conscience for and toward the right.

COL. J. A. DRIFFILL, manager of the Amer- ican Beet Sugar Company of Oxnard, is de- scended from a long line of ancestors who have been interested in manufacturing pursuits of various kinds, and while his own life has not all been spent in active manufacturing interests, the greater part of it has been so employed. He was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 24, 1859, being the oldest of the three sons in the family. The grandfather, James Driffill, emi- grated from Devonshire, England, when his fan- ily was still young, and settling in Rochester, en- gaged in the shoe manufacturing business, which was the same occupation he had followed in England. William Lewis Driffill. the father of Colonel Driffill, was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, but grew to manhood in Rochester, N. Y., and became a lumber. manufacturer and dealer, first in Western New York, then in Mich- igan, finally going back to Rochester, where he died. His life had been one of honesty and in- tegrity and he was held in high esteem by his friends. The Baptist Church held his affiliations and he took a personal interest in church activ- ities as well as contributed generously to its benevolences. Colonel Driffill's mother was Eliza Glascow, born in Ontario, the daughter of James Glascow who came from Scotland, where he had been a prominent and influential citizen. In Scotland he was interested in steamship building, in this particular following a long line of ancestors had bequeathed the business from father to son from early days when the first ones were shipbuilders on the Clyde. In Ontario Mr. Glascow became connected with a shipbuild- ing company and continued in the work until his death. The mother died several years ago.

J. A. Driffill was given a public school edu- cation, supplemented by a course at the Rochester Free Academy and Commercial Col- lege. Following his graduation he secured a position with L. P. Ross, a shoe manufacturer. and succeeded in working up to an important position with the firm. Too close attention to his work impaired his health, and after serving his employers four and one-half years, he re- signed. In 1883 he decided to remove to Cali- fornia. after careful consideration of the ad- vantages of different points deciding upon Pomona as a location. During the same year ·Colonel Driffill was united in marriage with Miss Emma Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon of Rochester, and born of this union were two daughters, Mary Edith and Emma Mabel.

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During the ten years of his residence at Pomona he was interested in the cultivation of oranges and other horiticultural products, but the venture proved unsuccessful. In 1893 he re- moved with his family to Chino and there first became connected with the American Beet Sugar Company. Encouraged by the large returns which the farmers about Chino were receiving for their beets which they sold to the sugar fac- tory, the people about Oxnard decided that they would try beet culture. In 1896 a few were grown with flattering results, and in 1897 a large crop was produced which it was necessary to ship to Chino. Then the company decided to build one of the finest, largest and most up-to- date beet sugar factories on the Pacific coast at Oxnard, and Colonel Driffill was made manager of the new factory, in recognition of the efficient service he had given to the Chino plant as store- keeper and manager's assistant. The success of the Oxnard factory has conclusively proven the wisdom of the choice of their man as manager. Work was commenced on the plant at Oxnard and its completion accomplished within eighteen months' time., This left the 1898 crop to be shipped to Chino, but in 1899 the Oxnard factory began operations and from that time to this the company has paid the farmers of that section about $6,000,000 for their beets. All of the product has been · manufactured into standard- grade granulated sugar, and the track which the Southern Pacific found it necessary to lay from Montalvo to haul in the material when the factory was being built, is now used to haul out the immense quantity of sugar manufactured. The capacity of the factory is two thousand tons per twenty-four hours run, and to insure a sufficient quantity of beets to operate profitably during the season ( from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five days) necessitates that contracts be made with the farmers to plant eighteen thousand acres of beets each season. Conditions are very favorable in this section for the growing of the crop and a maximum return of from $75 to $100 per acre is realized by the grower. The main building of the factory is an immense structure 401XI21 feet, and has seven floors. Besides this there is a sugar warehouse 220x60 feet, boiler house, machine shops, etc. Six hundred men are employed in the factory during the operating season, while from twelve hundred to fifteen hundred men are required to harvest the crop. Oxnard has grown as high as eighteen thousand acres of beets in one sea- son, and when one considers that in 1897 the country was practically one vast bean field this is indeed phenomenal.

The initial, continued and present success of the whole industry is attributable in very large measure to Colonel Driffill's unflagging zeal and

remarkable executive and financial ability. In all the years the enviable record of never having had a contract forfeited nor been obliged to col- lect a debt by law has been made. But even the management of so large a business enterprise has by no means filled or exhausted the capacity of Colonel Driffill to accomplish things and he has been active in other important enterprises of vital interest to the city of Oxnard. When the town was laid out in the spring of 1898 he organized the Colonial Improvement Company and became its president and manager and as- sisted in the sale of lots. To this enterprise the city is indebted, in large measure, for its present prosperity.

In 1903 the light and water properties were separated from the town properties and the Ox- nard Light and Water Company was organized, Colonel Driffill becoming president. The com- pany built a water plant, put down artesian wells and secured an abundance of water, after which they constructed a light and power plant and in- stalled the finest modern power house on the coast for the size of the municipality, the build- ing being 106x50 feet in dimensions and the engine being of three hundred horse power. The company also furnishes light and power to El Rio, a village two miles north of Oxnard, and to Hueneme on the south, as well as to a num- ber of intervening farm houses. In July, 1900, Colonel Driffill assisted in the organization of the first bank in Oxnard, starting it with a capital stock of $50,000. In 1905 the capital stock was increased to $100,000 and a surplus of $25,000. all paid in. For several years he was vice-presi- dent of the institution and is now filling the office of president.

A well rounded man has other interests be- sides business, however, and Colonel Driffill has well earned this distinction. In military lines he has always been active wherever he has been located, and the various organizations have found in him a member capable of leading them. While in Rochester, he was a member of the Fiftv-fourth Regiment, National Gnards of New York. Removing to Pomona he became lieu- tenant and later captain of Company D. Seventh California Regiment. and from there was trans- ferred to the Ninth California Regiment and made captain of Company D. Later he became major inspector on General Johnson's staff, and was also at one time lieutenant-colonel, and as- sistant adintant-general on General Last's staff.

Fraternally Colonel Driffill has received high degrees and offices in the Masonic lodge which he first joined in Pomona, and is now a member and past master of Oxnard Lodge No. 341, F. & A. M. Made a Roval Arch Mason in Los Angeles, he is now a member of Oxnard Chapter No. 86. R. A. M., received the Templar degrees

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in Coeur d' Alene Commandery at Los Angeles, and is a member of the Southern California Com- mandery No. 37, K. T. He is also a member of Los Angeles Consistory No. 3, and belongs to the Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of Los Angeles.

In politics Colonel Driffill is a Republican and he gives to his party the same loyal support that he accords every interest-business, social or otherwise-and is an active member of the Union League Club of Los Angeles. In fact, he does nothing in a half-hearted way and when he gives his name to the support of any cause it also means that he gives to it his talents. He holds membership in the Citizens Club of Oxnard, and belongs to the California Club of Los Angeles. That Colonel Driffill is a man of versatile talents, great ability and discriminating tact is thorough- ly evidenced by the list of positions which he is daily filling, and when it is stated that in all of his multitudinous dealings with men in so many different channels he has been enabled to make of every one his friend, no higher tribute could be paid him. He is very popular both in his own community and in the state at large where he is known. Any community might well congratulate itself on having Colonel Driffill among its citi- zens, and that Oxnard has so fully accorded him the leadership in so many branches of its busi- ness, social and political life is but just recogni- tion of a strong man's worth.

HON. MEREDITH P. SNYDER. There are names so closely associated with the per- manent development of Los Angeles that the mention of the city's growth brings to the old residents thoughts of the personality of these citizens and their important contribution to local progress. None has been more active than Mr. Snyder in promoting measures for the welfare of the city; none has been more deeply interested in municipal affairs, and few have been more influential in fostering enterprises necessary to the city's material, commercial and educational growth. Hence in local annals his name is worthy of perpetu- ation, and a complete history of the place could not be written without giving due mention to the citizenship of this prominent man.

The Snyder family is of southern origin, North Carolina becoming the scene of their labors during the colonial period of our coun- try. At Lexington Court House, in that state, October 22, 1859, Meredith P. Snyder was born, the son of K. D. and Elizabeth (Heiher) Snyder. Both parents passed away when their son was but a lad in years, and the estate be- ing rendered worthless by the devastating ef- fccts of the Civil war he was compelled to seek

a livelihood early in life. Of a studious na- ture through inheritance he devoted all the time he could possibly spare to securing an education, accumulating sufficient means to give him considerable collegiate training, al- though he did not graduate. In 1880 he be- came a resident of Los Angeles, where he has since made his home and successfully estab- lished for himself a place among the repre- sentative men of this city. His first occupa- tion was as clerk in a furniture store, after which he engaged in like capacity for B. F. Coulter Dry Goods Company and had charge for four years of the drapery department. Following this clerkship he engaged in the real-estate business for eight years, when, for a similar period, he was at the head of the M. P. Snyder Shoe Company, a business which is still successfully carried on although un- der different management.

A Democrat in his political convictions Mr. Snyder early became associated with this party in Los Angeles and was chosen to represent the people in various positions of trust and responsibility. For twelve years he was the leader of the Democratic party in the city and practically controlled their movements. Elect- ed in 1891 a member of the police commission he served acceptably until the expiration of his term, when he was re-elected. Two years later he was elected to represent the second ward in the city council, where he took an ac- tive part in all movements tending toward the upbuilding of the town. Careful and dis- criminating in his public office as he has al- ways been in business life, he considered the worth of all measures introduced before giv- ing them his support, and after having once made up his mind nothing could swerve him from his point. An evidence of his standing as a citizen and his prominence in the Demo- cratic party was his nomination in the fall of 1896 for the office of mayor. His election by a large majority followed and in January, 1897, he took his seat and began an adminis- tration which has meant no little in the wel- fare of the city. Although exercising a con- trolling influence in local affairs this influ- ence was used only for the best purposes and for the distinct good of the municipality. Be- tween the expiration of this term and his re- election in 1899 he engaged in the real-es- tate business, his interests being confined to acreage subdivisions, in which he met with success. Again chosen to the office in 1899 he began his administration in 1900, and was re-elected in 1902, closing his third term as mayor of the city of Los Angeles in 1905. His record is one which may well be emulated by aspirants to this office, because he had always

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in mind the welfare of the municipality, its growth and upbuilding, and with this his aim made a success of his work. His reasons for political actions have always been based upon sound judgment and common sense, a careful study of the point in question from all view points, after which he has taken decisive ac- tion. He is universally esteemed by thought- ful men whether of his party or another, and justly named among the men who have done much for the upbuilding of the city.

Like all men who work for the good of a municipality Mr. Snyder's hobby was and is municipal ownership of the water supply. Before his entrance into official politics he served as secretary of a municipal water works club and very strongly advocated a supply of pure water, firmly believing that the city would need an unlimited supply. Not liking the methods employed by the old water com- pany he fought them for twelve years, en- deavoring to induce them to sell out to the city. He was elected to the office of mayor on the platform of municipal water works owner- ship. He finally induced the old company to set a figure of $2,000,000, at which time he opened a campaign, taking the platform and working to have the city bonded for that amount. When success attended his efforts and the bonds were floated in New York City by attorneys Dillon and Hubbard it was found they were faulty and could not be disposed of until they were out of the hands of the water company. After considerable discussion the water company agreed to deed the works to a trustee and the city selected the same man and even though Mr. Snyder had fought them for years, yet the water company chose him as the party and for fifteen days he was sole. owner, without bond, of that all-important source of the city's development. By this means the bonds could be negotiated and from this the present system has developed. He appointed the first commission which was the one that brought about the present Owens river project. In 1904 Mr. Snyder organized the California Savings Bank and became its president. A company had secured the char- ter for a bank but were unable to effect its organization, finally giving the entire matter into the hands of Mr. Snyder. They began with a capital stock of $300,000 and in the brief time that has elapscd have become one of the strong banking institutions of this city. Their growth has been phenomenal and they now find their building, located at the corner of Fifth and Broadway, inadequate for their needs. In the near future they contemplate the erection of a new building, Mr. Snyder is vice-president and director of the Gardena

Bank & Trust Company and one of the original stockholders in the Central Bank.

The home of Mr. Snyder is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss May Ross, with whom he was united in 1888. She is a daugh- ter of Willian W. Ross, who served in the body guard of President Lincoln during the Civil war and later became a prominent citi- zen of Topeka, Kans., where he served as mayor and in other prominent positions. Her uncle, Hon. Edinund G. Ross, was governor of New Mexico and also served as United States senator. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one son, Ross. In his fraternal relations Mr. Snyder is a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias, and various others, being very prominent in these circles. In his business transactions he has been open and always in favor of a square deal. While a prominent Democrat his election as mayor was upon a much broader basis; it was "For the people and by the people." While in of- fice he gave his undivided attention to the peo- ple's interests with the same fidelity that he would give to his own. Such men as he build for all time and leave a monument to their memory in substantial form, as well as a heri- tage to their posterity and an example worthy of emulation.

CAPT. JOHN T. BRADY. Wherever cir- cumstances have placed him Captain Brady has been a prominent figure in his community, a fact which has been nowhere better or more forcibly illustrated than since his identification with Pomona in 1891. . When he had been in the town only a few months he comprehended thor- oughly her advantages and opportunities, and was equally well prepared to enlist his services in a way that would redound to the mutual credit and advantage of himself and his adopted home town. It was in January of 1892 that he opened the National Bank of Pomona, the history of whose growth and prosperity was made a possi- bility through his wise management as president for fourteen years. It was started with a capital stock of $50,000, and in April of 1904 its capital stock was doubled and its name was then changed to the American National Bank of Pomona. At that time it paid its stockholders seventy per cent, which left a surplus of $25,000. From the time of its organization the bank has had a steady, conservative growth, and in 1901 it bought the People's Bank. Throughout its history, until January of 1906, Captain Brady was at the helm to weather the financial storms, and although he has resigned the presidency he is still interested as a stockholder in the institu- tion.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Captain Brady was born in Cass county, Illi- nois, October 17, 1834, and is a son of Charles and Mahala (Graves) Brady, the former born in Washington county, Kentucky, in 1801, and the latter in 1802. When he was a young man of twenty-six years the father went to what was then considered the frontier, settling on a farm in Cass county, Illinois, which ever after remained his home. In his political sympathies he was an old-line Whig and advocated the aboli- tion of slavery, a belief to which he had been trained by his progenitors. When he was about twenty-five years of age, in 1859, Captain Brady was one of the number whose object in coming west was to seek the gold fields of Pike's Peak, whose discovery that year took thousands of young men from farms in all parts of the coun- try. On the way he stopped in Nemaha county, Kansas, and it was not until the following year that he carried out his original plan in coming to the west-namely, to reach Pike's Peak. The fact that he returned the same year and settled in Kansas is sufficient evidence that his anticipa- tions in regard to reaching sudden wealth in the gold fields there were not realized. Undismayed by this change in his plans he entered into the life of the pioneer farmer in Kansas. The break- ing out of the Civil war brought another change in his life, and in July, 1861, he volunteered as a member of Company A. Seventh Kansas Regi- ment, being mustered in as duty sergeant. During his term of three years he saw much hard service, and among the notable battles in which he participated were those at Corinth, Iuka and Holly Springs. Upon his return to Kansas he was for some time engaged in border warfare, and was finally mustered out at Leaven- worth in October, 1864.

Returning to Nemaha county, Kansas, Captain Brady resumed the duties which he had laid down to answer his country's call. and in the years that followed became a large land owner and stock-raiser in the new state. In 1870 he was president of the company that located and laid out the town of Sabetha. A new impetus was added to the little town by the building of a railroad through it, and from that time onward it had a steady growth. In 1882 Captain Brady was instrumental in organizing the Citizens Bank of Sabetha, of which he himself was presi- dent. One year later it was merged into the Citizens' National Bank, and two years later, on a consolidation with the First National Bank, the name was changed to the Sabetha State Bank, under which title it remained until changed to its preseni title, the National Bank of Sabetha. Captain Brady's knowledge of financial affairs and his ability as an organizer of banks made him an important factor in his community, but not there alone. for he was instrumental in start-

ing the bank at Fairview, of which he was presi- dent for a time. He also started the bank at Burns, Nemaha county, and was the founder of a bank at Morrill, Brown county. Throughout his residence in Kansas he was largely interested in the cattle business, his partner in this enter- prise being ex-Governor Butler of Nebraska. Had it not been for the ill-heaith of his wife it is doubtful if he would have given up his bright prospects in Kansas for a home elsewhere. In traveling about in search of a desirable climate they came to California in 1888, but did not lo- cate here permanently until two years later, then settling in Ontario, San Bernardino county. The following year they came to Pomona, and have since been classed among the town's active and enterprising citizens. They have a beautiful res- idence on the corner of Holt avenue and Palo- mares street. the ground being laid out in attrac- tive walks and drives, and numerous palms, fruit trees and flowers further enhance the beauty of the surroundings. Mrs. Brady was before her marriage Emily E. Collins, a native of Cass county, Illinois, although her marriage occurred in Sabetha, Kans.

Associated with two others, A. C. Moorhead and Frederick Hewitt, both of whom are now deceased. Captain Brady purchased one hundred and twenty acres near Ontario and set out the land in oranges and lemons, this now being one of the most attractive ranches in the Pomona valley. On the organization of the Pomona Fruit Growers' Exchange he was made its presi- dent, a position which he filled for about ten years. In 1896 he was instrumental, with others, in incorporating the Consolidated Water Com- pany of Pomona, supplying the water for do- mestie purposes to Pomona, North Pomona and Claremont. In 1903 they sold the latter system. In 1905, upon the death of Mr. Longdon, Cap- tain Brady was appointed by Governor Pardee as a member of the board of supervisors at Los Angeles for the first district. He is also a mem- ber of the Republican county executive commit- tee and was formerly a member of the Board of Trade of Pomona. Fraternal affairs have also made claims upon his time, and besides holding membership in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, he belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge of Pomona. He became identified with the order in Illinois in October of 1855, at which time he joined Saxon Lodge No 68, in Virginia. Bv his membership in Vicksburg Post No. 61, G. A. R., he keeps alive the memory of army days, being one of the charter members, and is post commander in Sabetha, Kans. In religious belief he is of the Unitarian faith, attending the church of that denomination in Pomona, and the only strictly social order to which he belongs is the Union League Club of Los Angeles.

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PROF. J. J. MORGAN. The appreciation in which Prof. J. J. Morgan is held as an educator is shown by the important positions which he lias been called upon to fill since his location in Southern California in 1894, and his worth is justly estimated in the results which he has accomplished. He is now serving as city super- intendent of the schools of Long Beach, until 1905 having held the position of supervising principal of all the schools and principal of the high school of this city. In this work he was instrumental in securing a rapid development along the lines of educational advancement, en- larging the schools, securing modern and up-to- date equipment, and to a marked degree empha- sizing the high standard of excellence which has given the pupils of these schools entrée into the best collegiate institutions of the state. At the same time he has won for himself a popularity which is not based upon his ability as a teacher, but is the outcome of the qualities of manhood which have formed no small part in the success of his career.

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I, Part 86

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1184

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1184