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 II, Part 115

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234

USA > California > 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 II > Part 115

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The family of John D. and Lydia Palmer con- sisted of four sons and four daughters, namely : Mrs. Ida McCann; Oscar FitzAllen; William, who is sewer inspector in addition to being a member of the firm of Palmer Brothers; Mrs. Maggie Ferguson and Mrs. Mollie Crane (twins) ; Scott, manager of the Pickwick thea- tre, a first-class playhouse leased by the firm of Palmer & Ferguson; Edward and Mrs. Bessie A. Jones. All of the brothers and sisters make San Diego their home.

Oscar FitzAllen Palmer was born in McCon- nelsville, Morgan county, Ohio, February 18, 1868, and received a fair education in the com- mon schools of his native town. On accompany- ing his parents to San Diego in 1884 he began to help his father in the moving of houses and soon learned the business in all of its details, proving himself so reliable and efficient that his father gradually turned over to him the manage- ment of affairs, and in time he and his brothers acquired the business which they have conducted with exceptional enterprise and intelligence. In San Diego he has a comfortable home, presided over by his wife, formerly Lillian Pray, who was born in Kansas, but came to the Pacific coast in early girlhood and was married in this city. Aside from identification with the Fraternal Aid and Fraternal Brotherhood he has no affiliation with orders or organizations, it being his pref- erence to devote himself to the business estab- lished by his father and built up to its present dimensions largely through his efforts. Modest and unassuming, he takes little credit to himself for what he has accomplished, but gives the greatest praise to his father, whose uprightness of life, intelligence, sagacity and genial tempera- ment gave him an honored place in the estima- tion of his acquaintances and in the hearts of his children.

EMIL J. EISENMAYER. As treasurer and general manager of the Colton Grain and Mill- ing Company, E. J. Eisenmayer is recognized as one of the most progressive and thorough-going business men in this city. The close of his school training found him eager to begin his business career, and from that time to the present he has been interested in the milling business, a line of endeavor for which he seems to have a special aptitude. Born in Illinois, March 8, 1871, he is a son of P. H. and Emma (Wise) Eisenmayer, the father also being a native of Illinois. From

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there he removed to Missouri in the early days of the settlement of that state.

The preliminary education of Emil J. Eisen- mayer was received in the common schools and later he took a course in a manual training school in St. Louis, Mo. His initiatory training in the milling business was obtained in Illinois, and was continued in Newton, Kans., and Missouri, in which states he was a resident for a number of years. In 1902 he came to Colton, Cal., and became the principal organizer of the company which built the Globe mills here. After 1903 the business was conducted under the name of the Colton Grain and Milling Company, with officers as follows: W. E. Keller, president ; J. B. Alex- ander, vice-president; W. H. Joyce, secretary, and Emil J. Eisenmayer, treasurer and general manager. The plant is modern and up-to-date throughout, both buildings and machinery being the best of their kind. One hundred and fifty horse-power is required to operate the mill, which has a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels of flour, fifty barrels of corn

and one hundred tons of barley and feed per day. In connection with the plant are steel storage tanks of one hundred thousand bushels capacity, in addition to which there are several large warehouses throughout Riverside county. Taking the equipment throughout, it is probably the most complete of its kind in South- ern California today. In addition to the milling enterprise, Mr. Eisenmayer is connected with a number of other industries in this section. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, and has a large interest in a seventeen thousand acre ranch, the owners having incorporated in 1905 with H. E. Harris, president ; E. J. Eisenmayer, vice-president ; Thomas Keefer, secretary.

Mr. Eisenmayer's marriage occurred in 1892 and united him with Miss Alice A. Burton, a native of Trenton, Ill., and a daughter of John H. and Helen (Douglas) Burton, the family be- ing an old and prominent one in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Eisenmayer have one daughter, Mil- dred A. Mr. Eisenmayer is especially talented as an organizer and promoter of business enter- prises and his energy and enthusiasm, when ap- plied to the furthering of any undertaking, are factors which insure its successful consumma- tion.

JOHN WEBER. The business interests of Pomona have an able representative in Mr. Weber, who is the sole proprietor of the soda works in this place. He is a native of Illinois, born in St. Clair county, June 14. 1855, and is a son of Henry and Barbara (Rock) Weber. Both of the parents were born in the Fatherland, but as they were brought to this country when

mere children (the father at five and the mother when three years of age) they never knew any other home than the United States. As pioneers they settled in St. Clair county, Illinois, when Indians were still plentiful and wild animals were so commonly seen as to cause no comment. Clearing his farm of the underbrush with which it was covered, the father prepared the soil for seed and made a specialty of raising grain. When a comparatively young man, at the age of forty- nine, the father's earth life came to a close, the mother surviving to reach her sixty-sixth year. Of the eleven children originally comprised in the parental family only three besides our sub- ject are now living, all daughters, one residing in Los Angeles, one in St. Louis, and another in Illinois.

A student in the common schools of St. Clair county, Illinois, during his boyhood, John Weber later matriculated as a student in Central Wes- leyan College, of Warrenton, Mo., and after a two years' course in that institution took a normal course in order to fit himself for teaching. For this field of endeavor he seemed to have a spe- cial inclination and fitness, and no doubt would have followed teaching indefinitely had not the ill-health of his family necessitated removal to a more salubrious climate. His career as a teacher in St. Clair and Clinton counties, Illinois, was therefore brought to a close in 1887 and the same year he brought his family to California, locating in Pomona, which has ever since been their home. Two years later, in 1889, Mr. Weber bought a half interest in the soda works of this place, and two years afterward bought his part- ner's interest, since which time he has been sole proprietor.

In Illinois Mr. Weber was married in 1880 to Miss Elizabeth Koob, a native of that state and a daughter of Philip H. and Mary A. (Huebsch) Koob, the father settling in Illinois as a pioneer. The following children were born to the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Weber: Philip H., Edna (now the wife of Houston Browning and a resi- dent of Illinois), Bertha, Olive, John R. and Francis G. Mrs. Weber is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, toward the sup- port of which Mr. Weber is a liberal contributor, as he is to all enterprises of an uplifting and benevolent character. With wise foresight he appreciated that with the growth of the town real estate values would necessarily advance, and soon after locating here he invested in consider- able property, and also erected the commodious residence now occupied as the family home. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Fraternal Aid of Po- mona, and in his political sympathies he is a Re- publican. In whatever community he has re- sided he has always been alert to the best in- terests of his home town, and while in Illinois

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was for eight years village clerk of New Baden, Clinton county. This same interest has been mani- fest in Pomona, and for eight years he has been one of the most efficient members of the board of education. The fact that his election immedi- ately preceded the expenditure of about $80,000 for school extension and improvements is an in- dex to the value placed upon his ability and judgment along these special lines.

MISS IDA E. WARFIELD. Eminently qualified by birth, training and experience for a business career, Ida E. Warfield has achieved acknowledged success in her realty dealings, by honest. earnest work, and much persist- ency of purpose, winning a place of distinc- tion among the leading real estate agencies of Venice. A native of New York, she was born in Ontario county, the only child of Leonard K. and Mary E. (Antisdale) Warfield, the for- mer of whom is a resident of Ocean Park, Cal., while the latter died, in 1896, in Michigan.

The Warfield family originated in England, and was first represented on American soil by two brothers, who immigrated to the Unit- ed States in colonial days, and were after- wards prominent in public life, descendants of both taking an active part in the Revolution- ary war. The brother from which Miss War- field descended settled in Maryland, where her great-grandfather, Zadock Warfield, Sr., was born and reared, although he subsequently be- came a pioneer settler of New York state. His son, Zadock Warfield, Jr., the next in line of descent, was born in Maryland, but when a child was taken to New York state, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits during his active life. He married Chloe Knapp, who lived and died within half a mile of the house in which she was born. This energetic cou- ple began their married life with scarce any capital, he owning a pair of oxen, while each had ten sheep. He was industrious, prudent and thrifty, becoming a large landholder, and rearing a fine family of children, eight in num- ber, Leonard K. being the oldest of this fam- ily, all of whom at the present writing, in 1905, are living.

A native of New York, Leonard K. Warfield was educated in the common schools, and like his ancestors chose farming for his life oc- cupation. About twelve years after his mar- riage he removed to Michigan, where he con- tinued in agricultural pursuits for many years, living first in Hillsdale county, and afterwards residing on a farm in St. Joseph county, and meeting with excellent results in his under- takings. In May, 1900, he came to Los An-

geles county, and has since lived retired from business activities in Ocean Park.

Educated in the schools of Michigan, and receiving her diploma from the State Univer- sity at Ann Arbor, Ida E. Warfield is highly cultured and accomplished. Before her grad- uation, at the age of sixteen years, she began teaching, entering upon a profession for which she was naturally fitted by birth and inher- itance, as in her mother's family, which con- sisted of seven children, there were six teach- ers. She subsequently taught school in Mich- igan for a number of years, having a teacher's life certificate in that state. Afterwards com- ing west, she taught in California and Arizona, from the latter place going back to Michigan to visit her parents and friends. Returning to the coast in 1900, she settled with her father in Ocean Park, and with a few hundred dollars at her command entered into her present bus- iness as a dealer in real estate, having an of- fice at No. 3 Ocean Front. In July, 1905, Miss Warfield removed to her present spacious of- fice in Ocean Park, where she is managing her affairs with characteristic enterprise and abil- ity, her dealings in real estate in this part of the county being extensive and noteworthy. Miss Warfield is a most estimable woman in every respect. highly esteemed by all, and is a valued member of the Presbyterian Church.

FRANK C. HOSSLER. During the entire period of his residence in Southern California Mr. Hossler has been associated with the lumber industry, first in Newport and later in other towns of the same locality, eventually coming to Redondo, where he has made his home for a number of years. Every detail of the business has been learned thoroughly by him, but of re- cent years his specialty has been surveying, and ever since the organization of the Lumber Sur- veyors' Association of Southern California, of which he was a charter member, he has main- tained an active identification with its interests and has accomplished much in the promotion of its usefulness.

Mr. Hossler is now in the prime of life, hav- ing been born February 1, 1872. His earliest recollections are of Springville, in Linn county, Iowa. where his father worked as a carpenter and builder. The latter, M. V. Hossler, was a native of Pennsylvania, but passed the years of youth in Ohio and became a pioneer of Iowa, eventually, however, removing to Nebraska and settling at Hastings, Adams county, where he remained until death. After he had passed away his wife, Catherine (Bowers) Hossler, a native of Ohio, removed to California, and here spent her closing days. In their family of three sons

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and three daughters, Frank C. was the youngest child, and he was primarily educated in his na- tive town of Springville, Iowa. When nine years of age, in 1881, he accompanied the family to Ne- braska, where he became a pupil in the Hastings schools and later took a complete course in the Grand Island Business College.

After his graduation from the commercial school Mr. Hossler came to California in 1893 and secured employment with the Newport Lumber Company, under whom he began at the bottom and learned every detail connected with the industry. Proving efficient and competent, he was sent to Santa Ana as a clerk in the com- . pany's wholesale yard, and there not only pro- moted the firm's interests, but also broadened his own knowledge of the business. When the yard was sold to Nofsinger Brothers, he began tally- ing in Los Angeles for the new proprietors, and in their interests came to Redondo in Septem- ber of 1901. Subsequently he took a leading part in the organization of the Lumber Sur- veyors' Association of Southern California, an institution that has accomplished much for the promotion of the industry and the men con- nected therewith, as well as advancing the gen- eral welfare of the people.

It has been necessary for Mr. Hossler to give his attention very closely to the details of his business, hence as yet he has taken no part in politics aside from voting the Republican ticket, nor has he identified himself with any of the social or fraternal organizations with the sole exception of the Fraternal Brotherhood. Au- gust 3, 1902, lie was united in marriage with Nellie Walch, who was born in San Francisco, but at the time of their union was making her home in Riverside. Both are cordially esteemed in their home town and have many friends also in other parts of Southern California.

JOSEPH FELLOWS. A prominent repre- sentative of the manufacturing interests of Southern California, Joseph Fellows, of Ter- minal, has acquired distinction along the entire length of the Pacific coast as a skillful boat builder, his productions being in great demand, and as president of the Joseph Fellows Yacht and Marine Construction Company is widely and favorably known. Joseph T. Pugh is sec- retary and treasurer of the company. Possess- ing great mechanical ingenuity and much art- istic ability, with a well-trained eye and a skill- ful hand, Mr. Fellows draws his own plans, be- ing an expert draughtsman, and in the building of sea-craft of all kinds has no superior, his yachts, pleasure launches, fishing smacks, light- ers, sail boats, etc., being well made, and meet- ing the approbation of his numerous patrons.

A son of Isaac Fellows, he was born May 31. 1865, in Staffordshire, England, where his an- cestors on both sides of the house originated.

Isaac Fellows spent his early life in England, emigrating from there with his family to On- tario, crossing the Atlantic on the Severn. In 1873 he migrated to Iowa, settling as a carpen- ter and builder in Decorah. From there he went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he was engaged a't his trade until his death, in 1901. He mar- ried Mary Millward, who was born in England and died in Minneapolis in March, 1902. Nine children were born of their union, seven of whom grew to years of maturity. One of these, John Fellows, a fireman, was killed in the mem- orable fire at Minneapolis December 20, 1894, going down with a burning building, so that but six children are now living, Joseph, the sub- ject of this sketch, being the third child in or- der of birth.

Receiving a common-school education in De- corah, Iowa, Joseph Fellows acquired a prac- tical knowledge of the use of tools while work- ing with his father, and at the age of fourteen years began to learn the trade of a boat build- er, working day times and attending a business college evenings. Subsequently going to Wash- ington, he located at Spokane, where he built boats for several residents of Portland, and was by them offered a good-paying position in the city of Portland. Going, however, to Seattle, Wash., he built several boats for people of prom- inence in the west, and likewise built pleasure and fishing boats for firms in San Francisco and Astoria, Ore. In 1896 he accepted the po- sition of superintendent of the yards of the San Francisco Launch Company in San Francisco, and during the eighteen months that he remained with the company manufactured many boats and steamers. Coming to San Pedro in 1898 to take charge of the construction of the J. C. Elliott, a sixty-foot launch, he met with good success, and soon had so many orders to fill in that line that he has since remained here. Estab- lishing himself as a boat builder in 1899 he has been actively employed ever since, and as a builder of yachts, launches and sailboats has won an extended reputation, being the only man- ufacturer of the kind in this part of the coun- ty. He has built twenty-four launches, twenty- six feet each, and several of his boats exhibit great speed, the Venus having won thirteen straight races. He constructed the Mischief, a fine boat, and also the Minerva, which weathered one of the worst storms ever known on the Pa- cific coast. One of the boats, the Myth, which he owns, is a noted racer, and usually comes in winner. Mr. Fellows and his partner, J. T. Pugh, have their factory in Terminal, which is an up-to-date plant, finely equipped, and em-

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ploys about thirty hands. They have had as many as seven boats in process of construction at one time. Mr. Fellows assisted in organiz- ing the Southern Coast Yacht Club, of which he is an active member. During the summer of 1906 the races of the season were held, the competing boats being Mischief II, designed and constructed by Mr. Fellows for Walter Folsom, and the Monsoon, owned by Mr. Gardner of New York. The latter boat was also construct- ed on the coast, by J. T. Pugh, the latter de- signer up to this time having the reputation of designing the fastest boats in the world. The average winning time of all the races was six minutes and fifteen seconds, this result show- ing the superior ability in building craft for speed and giving Mr. Fellows a world-wide reputation.

In San Francisco Mr. Fellows married Josie K. McMeans, who was born in Nebraska, the daughter of James A. McMeans, state senator, and they have two children, Robert Millward Fellows and an infant not named. Politically Mr. Fellows is a Republican. The family at- tend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

D. C. REED. An upbuilder of the city of San Diego is named in the person of D. C. Reed, one of the enterprising citizens of this section. He was born in Madison county, N. Y., in 1847, a son of Oliver, born in the same place in 1800, and a grandson of Charles, who was a native of Genesee county, same state, a descendant of English ancestry, which has been represented in America since 1665, members of the family being prominent in Massachusetts for many generations. Farming was the chief occupation of earlier members of the family. Oliver Reed engaged in this occupation first in his native state and later in Wisconsin, having located in Green Lake county in 1858. He followed an active life as a pioneer settler and died at an advanced age. His wife, formerly Elizabeth Brewer, was also born in New York of English ancestry and died in Wisconsin.

D. C. Reed was reared to young manhood in Green Lake, Wis., receiving a preliminary edu- cation in the common schools of Madison, sup- plemented by a course at the University of Wis- consin. Desiring to take up the study of law he entered the office of Dobbs & Foote, being ad- mitted to the bar in 1869, and the following vear he came to California. January 20, 1870, he located in San Diego, which was then only a small town with a few houses on Fifth street. He immediately established an office here and shortly afterward was made deputy district at- torney under W. T. Neeley. The great possi- bilities of this section early appealed to Mr.

Reed and it was in 1878 that he became active- ly engaged in real-estate operations. With a partner he established an abstract business and incorporated the same under the title of the Reed & Burt Abstract Company, which made up the first set of abstracts in the county. In Febru- ary, 1884, they purchased two tracts of land, one of two hundred and twenty acres and the other of one hundred and sixty acres, and two years later laid out the Reed & Daily addition of forty acres, the Reed & Hubbell addition of one hundred and sixty acres, and also laid out the Reed-Central addition of twenty acres, the Reed & Swaynes addition of forty acres, the Bird Rock City of eighty acres and also a forty- acre tract on University Heights. It was through his instrumentality that Pacific Beach became a city. He continued actively interest- ed in the abstract business until 1899 when he sold out to the Union Title & Trust Company of this city.

In spite of his absorbing business cares Mr. Reed has always found time to take an active interest in the public welfare of San Diego. He has served as director of the Bank of Commerce for many years, was president of the Gas Com- pany from the time of its organization, and has served as a member of the city council many years. In 1897 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of mayor of the city and served one term. He has always been intensely interested in the advancement of his party's principles and in 1884 was a delegate to the National Convention in Chicago, which nom- inated J. G. Blaine for president, and was a member of the notification committee, going with the committee to Bar Harbor. He is a life member of the Chamber of Commerce and seeks in every way to promote the welfare of the city.

In San Diego Mr. Reed married Juliet C. Guiou, who was born in Grass Valley, Cal., a daughter of Daniel Guiou, who came from Ban- gor, Me., to California in 1851, and twenty years later located in San Diego. They have three children: Ethel B., Vida B. and Ruth. Mr. Reed was made a Mason in San Diego Lodge No. 35 and is now a member of the chap- ter, commandery and consistory.

GEORGE C. SAWTELLE. The son of all early settler, George C. Sawtelle inherits the sturdy qualities and independent characteristics which distinguished the pioneers of California and has in his work since attaining manhood sought to advance the standards set by the men who laid the foundation for statehood. Born in Harvard, Clay county, Neb., March 8. 1876, he is a son of J. F. and Adalina Sawtelle, natives

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respectively of New Hampshire and Maine. Previous to his removal from New England the father had operated a shoe store on Hanover street, in Boston, Mass., which he sold in 1866. Later he removed to Lynnfield, same state, where he engaged in the manufacture of ladies' and men's shoes, continuing in this business until 1868, when he sold out and removed to Cleve- land, Ohio, in the latter city having the agency of the Gold Medal sewing machine. From Cleveland he went to Nebraska in 1870, and in Harvard, Clay county, conducted an extensive general merchandise establishment. Disposing of a $25,000 stock, he removed to Wyoming in 1885 and followed merchandising for three years; thence removing to Simi, Ventura coun- ty, he established the store which is now con- ducted by his son, the first mercantile enterprise in Simi. Ever since its establishment this store has been known as the Pioneer store. Mr. Saw- telle brought to bear in his work business abil- ity, increased by a wide experience in the east, and since locating in California he has also de- voted considerable time to ranching, his home still being in the Simi valley.

George C. Sawtelle received his education through the medium of the public school of Simi, after which he immediately engaged in business with his father. The qualities which had dis- tinguished the efforts of his father have also been noticeable in his career, and the energy of his youth added immeasurably to the advance- ment of the enterprise. For some time the firm name was J. F. Sawtelle & Son, but in 1902 he purchased the entire interest of the concern and has since conducted it alone. In addition to his dual interests in the conduct of the store and livery stable he also owns a ranch of one hun- dred and two acres. In San Diego, June 25. 1903, he married Miss Elma M. Ecoryd, a daugh- ter of John Ecoryd, of Simi, and they have one son, George John. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which Mr. Sawtelle gives a liberal support, as he does to all public mat- ters which have for their end the upbuilding of the community at large.

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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 II, Part 115

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234