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 124

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

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JOHN H. SCHINTZ. While making his home in California ever since early boyhood the duties attendant upon his various positions as steamship electrical engineer have taken Mr. Schintz to various parts of the world and par- ticularly to lands lying on the shores of the Pa- cific ocean. Through his travels he has ac- quired a wide knowledge of people and nations, for his habits of close observation have 'enabled him, during brief stops at prominent ports, to gain a comprehensive idea of the locality, cli- mate and people. During the period of his em- ployment as steamship electrician he visited the Isthmus of Panama, the countries of Japan and China and even traveled as far as the island of Australia, as well as northward along the Ameri- can coast as far as Puget Sound. No land, how-

ever, of those visited by him during his voyages seemed as fair as California nor does any coun- try in his opinion offer more desirable oppor- tunities to young men.

The Schintz family was founded in America by an attorney from Switzerland, who became a pioneer of Wisconsin and secured the first Havana tobacco seed ever planted in that state. The crop proved a success and the ensuing year he furnished seed free of charge to neighbor- ing farmers who wished to embark in the rais- ing of tobacco. Eventually he returned to his native land and there died. His son, John Henry, was born at Zurich, Switzerland, and engaged in the banking business in that city in early life, but after coming to America he en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and was a pioneer tobacco raiser of Wisconsin, where later he fol- lowed the building business in Oshkoshı. Re- moving to California in 1876 he settled in San Francisco and engaged in the manufacture and sale of cigars, remaining in that city until his death in 1898. While living in Wisconsin he married Bertha Isler, who was born in Switzer- land, thence came to the United States with her father and is now a resident of San Francisco.

The third in order of birth among six chil- dren, John H. Schintz was born in Oshkosh, Wis., February 12, 1871, and received a public- school education in San Francisco. Upon leav- ing school he became an apprentice to the trade of electrical engineer in San Francisco under D. D. Wass, with whom he served for three and one-half years. The first practical experi- ence which he gained of his trade as a salaried worker was when acting as assistant to an en- gineer on a boat running to Coos Bay .. After a year in that capacity he went to Panama as steamship electrician, and later sailed as elec- trician on the Mariposa to Sydney, Australia, via Honolulu and Auckland. On his return to California he was employed as electrician with the American Steamship Refinery Company A year later he was sent to China as sugar electrician on the Peru and during that voyage visited Japan and Yokohama. Returning to the United States he sailed for seven months on the Walla Walla between San Francisco and Puget Sound. At the expiration of that period of service he left the sea and in 1896 came to Los Angeles, but soon went to Chino as electrician with the American Beet Sugar Company, later filling the position of mechanical engineer. His residence in Oxnard dates from 1898, when he came to the new town as superintendent of the wiring of this plant, and aided in installing the machinery. Upon the starting of the plant in 1899 he was appointed electrician and mechani- cal engineer, and the following year became as- sistant engineer, since which time he has re-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mained with the company, and is regarded as a thoroughly trustworthy and efficient engineer.

The comfortable home owned by Mr. Schintz and erected under his supervision stands on South C and Seventh streets. It is presided over by his wife formerly Miss Claudia B. Por- tillo, who was born in Mexico, but from girl- hood made her home in Pomona, where her mar- riage was solemnized. Their family consists of four children, John Henry, Irene Clara, Arthur and Marie Patricia. Since coming to Oxnard Mr. Schintz has affiliated himself with the Citi- zens Club and the Sons of Herman, and has given his support to all measures for the per- manent advancement of the city.

S. A. CLINE. The interests with which Mr. Cline has been identified since beginning his business life have been of a varied nature and indicate his adaptability to different enterprises and the resourcefulness of his mind. By trade he is a cooper, a business which he followed more or less prior to coming to California in 1876, but after locating here gave his attention particularly to ranching until establishing him- self in the express business, in which he is mak- ing an eminent success.

Born in New York state May 28, 1843, S. A. Cline is a son of John A. Cline, the latter a wheelwright by trade, who in his boyhood was a close friend of Peter Cooper, the noted inven- tor, manufacturer and philanthropist. Many of the wagons turned out of Mr. Cline's shop were shipped to the southern states. He gave up fol- lowing his trade after locating in Rochester, be- coming interested in the real-estate business in- stead. It was while a resident of the latter city that he was united in marriage with Catherine North, and to them were born two children.

When fourteen years old, his school days over, S. A. Cline began an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, which he later followed for eight vears in both New York City and Rochester. The call to arms to aid in the suppression of hostilities which had arisen between the north and the south caused thousands of young, able- bodied men to desert business for duty to home and country, and among this number was Mr. Cline. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Thir- teenth New York Infantry, and after the term of his nine months enlistment had expired he went to Detroit, Mich., and enlisted in the Sev- enteenth Michigan Infantry. After a service of two years in that company he was transferred to the Second Michigan Infantry. His war rec- ord shows him to have been a participant in numerous battles and skirmishes, among the for- mer being the battle of Bull Run, siege at Knox- ville, battle of Lowden, Vicksburg and Jackson,

Tenn., and he was in the battles of the Wilder- ness and Petersburg. His honorable discharge was tendered him in Detroit, Mich., in 1865, af- ter four years of faithful service.

Returning to New York state, Mr. Cline left there soon afterward to take up work in the oil fields of Pennsylvania, and three years later re- sumed work at the cooper's trade in the Em- pire state. His next removal was to Michigan, locating first in Detroit and then in East Sagi- naw. In that state he engaged in the stone busi- ness, taking out rock that was used in the con- struction of the state prison. From Black Rock, N. Y., a suburb of Buffalo, whither he later re- turned, he went to Rochester, going from there to Chicago, Il1., but soon afterward went to New York state and remained one year. He next went to Philadelphia, Pa., later returning again to the Empire state, whence he left for Iowa in 1871. From Iowa he went to Nebraska, taking up a homestead claim in the vicinity of Lincoln, after which he was in Des Moines, Iowa, for a short time. The next two years were spent in Nebraska, after which, in 1876, he came to Cali- fornia, as previously stated. In the vicinity of Kingsburg, Fresno county, he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land which at first he de- voted to general farming, but later set out one hundred and forty acres to grapes and ten acres to prunes. From Fresno county he went to Hanford, Kings county, from there coming to Los Angeles in 1896. After one year's residence in the city he made his home in Pasadena for nine months, in 1898 coming to San Pedro, which has since been the scene of his activities. Al- though he has changed his place of residence many times since leaving the parental home it is safe to predict that he will spend the remainder of his life in this town, as he has erected a beau- tiful family residence and given evidence of his contentment with the locality in various ways.

In Iowa, in 1874, Mr. Cline married Eliza- beth Case, who was born in Kansas, and they have three children, as follows : Fred and Harry, both of whom are married and live in San Pedro; and Edith. In memory of the years spent on the battle-field in the service of his country Mr. Cline finds recreation in associating with old comrades in Harbor City Post, G. A. R., of which he is a valued and interesting member.

WILLIAM REIMANN. The life history of William Reimann, who is one of the leading ranchmen of Oxnard, Ventura county, is a forcible illustration of the exercise of persever- ance and resolution under the pressure of finan- cial disaster as well as amid the sunshine of prosperity. Coming here from the Fatherland nearly twenty years ago, he embarked in agri- cultural pursuits, and, although he has met with

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

reverses, at one time being entirely burned out, he has surmounted all obstacles, and is now numbered among the substantial farmers and the most respected citizens of this part of the coun- try. A son of Christopher Reimann, he was born, January 5, 1844, in Sachsen, Germany, where he lived until six years old. His father spent his entire life in Germany, his birth oc- curring in 1800, in Sachsen, and his death in 1878. His wife, whose maiden name was Eliza- beth Drost, spent her fifty years of life in the Fatherland dying in 1866.

Removing with his parents to Hanover, Ger- many, in 1850, William Reimann was there reared and educated. He subsequently learned the trade of a furniture maker, serving an ap- prenticeship of three years, in addition paying to his employer $30 in money. He afterwards fol- lowed his trade in his native land, but not finding it sufficiently remunerative determined to see what he could do in a newer country. Accord- ingly, in 1884, leaving his family at home, he came to California, and for two years remained here, in the meantime visiting the more impor- tant cities and towns. Going back to Germany in 1886, he spent two years in his native land, and May 27, 1888, he returned with his family to this state, coming with a party of twelve peo- ple. He located at once on his present ranch, starting in as a farmer by buying out the horses, farm machinery, etc., of a neighboring ranch- man. He had just become well established in his agricultural venture when, November 5, 1888. he was entirely burned out by a prairie fire that began on Las Pasos hill, losing his house, furniture, farming machinery, wagons, six hundred and fifty sacks of barley, one hun- dred sacks of corn, all of his hay, and in fact nearly all of his property. Nothing daunted, however, he borrowed money, paying twelve per cent interest, and began life again, poor, indeed, and at one time being in debt to the amount of $10,000. Even with this heavy financial bur- den to carry, with the able assistance of his son John. he paid the entire sum, and has now a clear title to eighty-seven acres of choice land, in the managent of which he is meeting with well de- served success.

In 1868, in Rollshausen, Germany, Mr. Rei- mann married Catherine Kreis, who was born February 13. 1843. in Hanover, a daughter of John and Thesa (Truemper) Kreis. Her par- ents were life-long residents of Germany, her mother dying there in 1866, aged fifty-one years, and her father in 1891, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Reimann two children have been born, namely : John William, whose birth occurred March 20, 1869, in Germany, and Margaret, born May 4, 1874, and now the wife of G. Gisler, of whom a

brief sketch may be found elsewhere in this vol- unie.

John William Reimann was educated in Ger- many, and, when a young man, learned the bar- ber's trade, which he followed for some time. On November 5, 1886, he started for the United States, crossing the ocean to New York, from there coming by way of New Orleans to Los An- geles. He subsequently worked at his trade in San Luis Obispo for a time, after which he joined his father on the home ranch, and in its development and improvement has since been a most capable and active assistant. He is a man of undoubted integrity and worth, much esteemed throughout the community as a loyal and true citizen of his adopted country. He is a member of the German National Society of California, and also belongs to the Sons of Herman Society.

J. C. SHERER. Active, energetic and enter- prising, J. C. Sherer holds an assured position among the foremost citizens of Glendale, and is widely known as one of its most able business men. For twenty-five years or more he has been a resident of this locality and in its affairs has ever evinced a deep interest, generously devoting his energies, time and attention in aid of enter- prises calculated to promote progress and pros- perity.

Born and reared in the east Mr. Sherer re- ceived excellent educational advantages, attend- ing the State Normal school at Millersville, Pa., and afterwards being graduated from Eastman's Business College in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Subse- quently acquiring a thorough knowledge of teleg- raphy, he secured a position as operator in Phil- adelphia, where he remained for awhile. In 1875 he came to California, and here followed his pro- fession in different places, first in San Franciso, then in Yreka, from there going to Kibesillah. Mendocino county. In 1878 he located in Los Angeles, where for upwards of ten years he was telegraph operator for the Western Union Tele- graph Company and also for the Postal Telegraph Company for three years. Giving up that busi- ness for a time he was connected with the Los Angeles Times as a reporter for a number of months. being afterward engaged in the water pipe business in Glendale prior to the collapse of the boom. When that came he returned to the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, and for a time was also assistant agent in Minneapolis. Minn., for the Southern California Fruit Exchange, which he helped to organize, later continuing as a telegraph operator for sev- eral years.

With many of the improvements that have as- sisted in the upbuilding of Glendale within the last twenty-five years Mr. Sherer has been a pro-

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moter, contributing his full share as a loyal and public-spirited citizen. He assisted in developing the water supply of this locality, and filling at dif- ferent times the offices of president, secretary and treasurer of the Paduga Canon Water Com- pany. In May, 1905, when the State Bank of Glendale was organized, he was made cashier, and although without previous experience in this ca- pacity, he has filled this position of responsibility in a most satisfactory and praiseworthy manner. This institution is favorably known and well con- ducted. the directors being J. C. Kays, of Los Angeles, president ; Dr. D. W. Hunt, vice-presi- dent; J. F. McIntire, Capt. C. E. Thom, B. F. Patterson, Elias Ayers and James H. Wells.

Mr. Sherer was united in marriage in Los An- geles with Miss E. C. Parker, of Boston, Mass. Politically Mr. Sherer is a Republican, and relig- iously he belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He is connected with one secret organization, being a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood. He has accumulated some property, among his real estate holdings being a valuable deciduous fruit ranch of fourteen acres at the corner of Verdugo road and Ninth street. Since the organization of Glen- dale as a city he has filled the office of treasurer.

ROBERT EDWARD DANCER. Enterpris- ing and progressive, Robert E. Dancer has suc- ceeded in building up for himself a competence, while at the same time he has won a place among the representative citizens of Bassett. He is of southern birth and breeding, his birth having occurred in Alcorn county, Miss., April 18, 1868 ; his father, Elisha Dancer, was born in England and while still a child was brought to America by his parents, who located in Georgia, where he was reared to manhood. He eventually removed to Mississippi, where he followed his trade of machinist. He died in 1873. and his wife, for- merly Jemima Wardlow, born in North Car- olina of Scotch-Irish ancestry, in 1875.

The boyhood days of Robert Edward Dancer were passed in Mississippi, where he attended the public schools until thirteen years old, when his parents having died, he came to California with his Grandmother Bird. They located in Downey and he there continued his education. attending the public school at El Monte for a short time also, having removed hither in 1883. His first independent venture was as a farm hand, working by the month, and in 1893, with his accumulated earnings, he engaged in farm- ing for himself. The raising of alfalfa and gen- eral farming occupied his time until 1904. when he purchased a thirty-four acre tract in Bassett and at once began its improvement and cultiva- tion, putting in a pumping plant and installing a

fifty-four horse power gas engine with a capacity of one hundred and seventy-five inches. He de- votes his own ranch to walnuts and alfalfa, and also manages a ranch in El Monte.

In Artesia Mr. Dancer married Miss Carrie Law, a native of Illinois, and her death occurred in Artesia some time later. He was afterward married to Miss Edith Cuddeback, who was born in Tehachapi, Cal. They have three children, Vera, Vada and Lloyd. Mr. Dancer is a mem- ber of the Christian Church, while his wife be- longs to the Baptist denomination. Mr. Dancer is a Democrat politically and fraternally belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

SAMUEL N. CURRY. With an unimpeach- able record of about twenty years as a business man in Texas and Louisiana Mr. Curry came to Pomona in 1900 and began dealing in real estate, a business for which he seems to have a special aptitude, judging from the enormous volume of business which he has transacted during the last six years. This has not been accomplished, however, at the sacrifice of honor, but is the result of honest, painstaking efforts, and those in a position to know are responsible for the statement that he bears the reputation of being the most reliable real-estate dealer in Pomona.

A descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestors, Isaac Curry, the grandfather, was born in Virginia, where as a farmer he made his home until re- moving to Tennessee. In Maury county, in that state, his son Green B. was born, he too follow- ing farming throughout his active years. From Tennessee he enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war, being wounded in the course of his service. Up to the time of the war lie had been a resi- dent of Tennessee continuously, but afterward he removed to Texas, and at the advanced age of eighty-four years he still makes his home there. At one time in his career he was active in the Masonic fraternity. The wife and mother. who was of Scotch descent, was before her mar- riage Margaret Thompson, and was born in Tennessee. She survived to reach her eighty- fifth year, dying in Texas in May, 1906. Ten children were originally comprised in the pa- rental family, but of the number only six are now living.

Next to the oldest in the family was Samuel N. Curry, who was born in Maury county, Tenn., May 23, 1853. His earliest recollections take him back in memory to the homestead farm in that county, where he was reared and edu- cated, and he also recalls the blighting effect of the Civil war. He was then a lad of about eight years, and was attending private school, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs in

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the south retrenchment was necessary on all sides and his schooling was therefore very lim- ited. It was about 1871 that the family removed to Ellis county, Tex., and on the farm that his father purchased in the vicinity of Waxahachie he worked as his father's assistant until twenty- seven years of age. He then established do- mestic ties and at the same time located on an adjoining farm and engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Subsequently he relinquished agricultural life entirely, and removing into Waxahachie in 1880, followed the livery busi- ness for the succeeding five years. From there in 1890 he removed into the adjoining state of Louisiana, settling in the rice-producing section around Crowley, Acadia county. There he pur- chased a plantation devoted to rice culture and for nine years was a planter in that vicinity, be- sides which he engaged in the agricultural im- plement business in Crowley. It was with this business experience that he came to Pomona in 1900 and opened a real-estate office, the nucleus of the business now conducted under the name of S. N. Curry & Co. Since 1906 W. O. Rogers has been associated with Mr. Curry. Among the numerous transactions that have passed through their hands may be mentioned the ten- acre high school tract, which they laid out into lots, besides the Lothrop tract. While they do a general real-estate business, yet their specialty is dealing in orange groves, having handled up- wards of $500,000 in this class of property alone. Of this amount $300,000 has come from settlers from Crowley, La., which is a high testimonial to Mr. Curry's judgment and shows the con- fidence in which he is held by his former busi- ness and social acquaintances. The firm also make loans on good security and write insur- ance, their office at No. 321 West Second street being a busy center of activity. Besides his in- terest in the business just mentioned Mr. Curry also owns a thirty-acre orange grove in Pomona valley and twenty-two acres in walnuts, both of which are in bearing condition and bring him in a handsome income. His interest in horticulture is further shown in his connection with the Cali- fornia Produce Company, of which he is a director.

Mr. Curry's marriage, which occurred in Wax- ahachie, Tex., united him with Miss Frankie Farrar, who was born in that state, and two chil- dren, Katie and Earl, have been born to them. The family find their church home in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. and Mrs. Curry are members, and he is now filling the office of class-leader. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and politically he is a Democrat and a member of the county central committee. He is also a meniber of the Board of Trade of Pomona.

JOHN W. CRUICKSHANK. It was in 1886 that John W. Cruickshank came to Cali- fornia and began to ply his trade as carpenter in San Bernardino, and in the twenty years which have since elapsed he has steadily pushed forward in his work and business until now he has reached a top place as a lumber manufac- turer and has acquired a large amount of prop- erty. A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, born No- vember 21, 1865, he is a descendant of an old family of Jacobites, his grandfather, James, hav- ing been an adherent of that faith. The father, William, was by occupation a farmer, and spent his entire lifetime in Scotland, he being a stanch Presbyterian in his religious faith. The mother, Helen Stephenson, was born in Iverness, Scot- land, and also lived in that country until the time of her death. She was the mother of eight children, seven of whom survive, and one son, William, is now engaged in horticultural pur- suits in Rialto.

The boyhood days of John W. Cruickshank were spent upon the farm in Scotland, and until seventeen years of age his time was devoted to securing a good common-school education. He was then apprenticed as a carpenter near Aber- deen, and for four years worked at that trade and in the planing mill of the firm to whom he was apprenticed. He was an ambitious young man and the hard work of the day did not deter him from acquiring additional education in a night school, taking up the study of architecture and drawing, for he realized that to attain the highest success one must be thoroughly equipped with a comprehensive knowledge of every line of the work one adopts. One month after the expiration of his time of apprenticeship he took passage to New York City, arriving there in the spring of 1886. September of the same year found him in San Bernardino, where he secured employment as a carpenter and worked at the trade until he became a foreman. He then took up independent contracting and built many resi- dences in that city, among them being those of W. E. Leonard, F. A. Leonard, Will Curtis and Dan Dedick, and he also filled a contract for the erection of the Barton block and the Pres- byterian Church.

Determining to branch out more extensively, Mr. Cruickshank in 1902 came to Long Beach and started the Alamitos Lumber Company, lo- cating the plant on Alamitos and Second streets. Two years later he sold out to the Interstate Lumber Company, in which he in turn acquired an interest and was made a director of the com- pany and superintendent of the plant, and al- though he resigned from his positions in 1905 he still retains an interest in the business. In 1906 he started and incorporated the Home Mill and Lumber Company, of which he is now presi-

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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 124

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