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 135

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

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ELMER HERMAN THOMPSON, M. D. A resident of Burbank since May, 1905, Elmer Herman Thompson, M. D., has acquired a po- sition of considerable prominence in professional, business, and social circles. A young man of talent and culture, he has an extensive knowl- edge of the science of his chosen profession and is fast establishing an enviable reputation for his skill and ability in the diagnosis and treat-

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ment of diseases. He was born March 7, 1878, in Wisconsin, and in the public schools of that state laid a substantial foundation for his future education. Deciding to fit himself for a medi- cal career, Mr. Thompson studied for two years at the American Medical College in Battle Creek, Mich., prior to which he had spent a year at the Battle Creek Sanitarium. In Decem- ber, 1900, he entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, Il !. , from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1903. Open- ing then an office at Superior, Wis., he remained there two years, when, on account of ill health, he was obliged to give up the large practice which he had established and seek a more con- genial climate. Coming to Los Angeles county, he located in Burbank in May, 1905, opening an office, and has now a substantial and rapidly increasing practice. He is very successful as a physician, being painstaking in every particular, carrying his own drugs and filling the prescrip- tions himself. While in Wisconsin, he was sur- geon for a railway company, and November 15, 1905, he was appointed emergency surgeon for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company.

June 19, 1904, in Chicago, Ill., Dr. Thompson married Louise Kindig, and they have one child, a daughter named Dorothy. Politically Dr. Thompson is a strong Republican. He belongs to the Wisconsin State Medical Society, and to the Douglas county (Wis.) Medical Society, and fraternally he is a member of both the Mod- ern Samaritans and the Mystic Workers.

ABRAHAM RAPHAEL. Situated one and one-half miles from Moneta lies the Raphael ranch of forty acres, which for some years has been under the active management of Abraham Raphael. The property has been improved with a neat set of buildings and a pumping plant that furnishes an abundance of water for the alfalfa and other products of the land. By reason of these improvements and the excellent quality of the soil, the land is easily worth $500 per acre, ranking among the most valuable tracts of its size in the vicinity of Moneta and Gardena, and owing much to the energetic supervision of its present manager, who came to this place from Los Angeles after an experience of ten years in that city at the trade of stationary engineer.

The life history of Mr. Raphael's father, Charles, shows what it is within the power of a talented and energetic man to accomplish, though poor and friendless and alone in a strange country. Born in Germany April 13, 1844. he received a fair German education and then learned the glazier's trade, receiving registered papers from the government of his native land certifying to his ability as a machinist and gla-

zier. At fifteen years of age he went to Eng- land, where a year later he had charge of a large glass factory employing fifty men. In 1865, at twenty-one years of age, he crossed the ocean to New York, but sought in vain in that city and Boston for profitable work at his trade. After two years marked by steady lack of suc- cess he came to California via the Panama route and brought with him the first art glass show- case ever in this state. At San Francisco he started in the plate-glass business, but soon re- moved to Los Angeles, where for many years he conducted a growing business in his spe- cialty.

When Charles Raphael landed in San Fran- cisco, his worldly possessions consisted of only $1, and seventy-five cents of this he paid for his first meal in the city, giving the remaining quar- ter to the waiter. Though penniless, he was not discouraged, for he had youth, health and the knowledge of an important trade. That he util- ized the following years to advantage is shown by the fact that in 1887 he sold his interest in the glass business to his nephews for $100,000. Since then the business has continued under the old name of Raphael & Co., and still ranks among the leading enterprises of the city. After he had disposed of all his stock in the company he frequently assisted his nephews and enjoyed following the routine of work familiar to him through so many successful years. While thus engaged, May 26, 1905, he was killed by a crate that weighed one thousand pounds falling on him. The estate is now in the hands of trustees and has not been divided among the heirs. Shortly after coming to Los Angeles he built on Second street and Broadway one of the very first frame houses erected in the town and later he took stock in the first street-car line estab- lished at this point. Other infant industries owed much to his encouragement and financial assistance, and at the time of his death he still owned considerable property in Los Angeles, as well as stock in various concerns. In religion he was a member of the B'nai Brith congrega- tion and did much to assist in the establishment and maintenance of the church of his faith in his home town.

After coming to California Charles Raphael met and married Bertha Coleman, who was born in Germany and came to the United States in childhood, settling at Providence, R. I., whence she came to California by way of Cape Horn. A devoted wife and mother, liberal to the poor, generous toward the needy, her death June 7, 1893, „was mourned as a loss to family and friends. In addition to rearing seven children of her own, she gave a home to two nephews and also took care of a number of poor boys at other times, her husband assisting her in this

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charitable work. They were the parents of the following-named children: Rosa, who married H. W. Altman, of Los Angeles; Aaron C., who is employed in the business founded by his father ; Nellie, Mrs. I. Oppheimer, of San Fran- cisco; Rachel, who married J. E. Fulton, of Los Angeles, employed as a conductor on the South- ern Pacific Railroad; Abraham, who was born in Los Angeles, October 17, 1875, and after com- pleting a high school education took up the trade of stationary engineer, but is now manager of a ranch belonging to himself and his two brothers; Meyer, who is employed in the house established by his father; and Flora, who resides in San Francisco. All of the family were given excellent advantages and hold positions of importance in their several communities, the son whose name introduces this article bearing a reputation for energy and capability, and holding membership in various organizations, including the Fraternal Brotherhood.

LEWIS F. RANKER. Of an active and en- terprising disposition, endowed by nature with a resolute will and an unlimited stock of energy, Lewis F. Ranker began life for himself when a mere lad and has met with deserved success in his undertakings. Well known in the business circles of Pomona and the surrounding country for miles, he has the distinction of being the most up-to-date and practical horse-shoer in this part of the country and is one of Pomona's most thriving and esteemed citizens. Of Ger- man birth and parentage, he was born in Mit- telbach, Saxony, August 17, 1874, a son of Jo- seph and Margaret (Schmidt) Ranger, they too being natives of that part of the Fatherland. With their family the parents immigrated to the United States in 1888, first settling in Cleveland, Ohio, and later in Tiffin, that state, in both of which cities Mr. Ranker followed his trade of blacksmith. He had gained a fairly good start at his trade when death called him from his labors in 1906, and his wife also died in Tiffin in 1892.

Of the nine children born to his parents Lewis F. Ranker was the fourth in order of birth, but of the number only seven are now living. Up to the age of fourteen his life was associated with his native land, being well trained in the schools and gymnasium of Mittelbach, and in the meantime also he had been an apt pupil in his father's blacksmith shop. By diligent appli- cation mornings and evenings he learned the trade, which included the manufacture of nails and horse shoes by hand. His knowledge of the trade proved a wise provision, both for himself and for the family, for they had not been in Cleveland long before the entire family fell ill

with typhoid fever with the exception of Lewis F., and upon him depended the family support for the time being. Without difficulty he se- cured a position at his trade, and from the first received what for a boy of fourteen years was considered a munificent wage, his employer pay- ing him $1.50 per day. He continued to work at his trade in that city until 1901, when he opened a shop in Clyde, Ohio. He remained there only two years, however. for in 1903 he came to Pomona. Purchasing the shop then owned by Jacob Ranker, his brother, he continued the business of his predecessor at the same stand for three months, and then removed to larger quar- ters at No. 280 West Third street, the same which he occupies today. Not only is Mr. Ranker a practical horse-shoer, but he under- stands treating weak and diseased feet, and all cases of interfering and knee-knocking in horses brought to him receive the most careful and ex- perienced attention.

Mr. Ranker's marriage occurred in Pomona and united him with Miss Martha J. Thornton, who was born in Illinois. Mr. Ranker is affili- ated with a number of fraternal organizations, among them the Independent Order of For- esters, and the Fraternal Brotherhood.

LOUIS S. DART. When Mr. Dart came to San Bernardino county in 1887 and established his dairy ranch near Redlands it was with the determination to succeed and make a place and name for himself as one of the best in his line in the county. With this as his goal he has spared no efforts to attain the highest point of excel- lence in the production of his dairy commodities. Cleanliness is a marked feature of the plant, and that, with the care displayed in handling the products, makes an impression upon the cus- tomer which is lasting, and stimulating to trade. Fifty milch cows supply the dairy, besides which he has about seventy-five head of cattle.

Of eastern birth and parentage, Louis S. Dart is a son of Sidney T. and Theodosia (Ray) Dart, born in Chenango county, N. Y., Septem- ber 1, 1854. The parents were also natives of the Empire state, and there the death of the mother occurred. The father is still living in his native state and is now in his eighty-fifth year. In his earlier years he joined the Masonic order and is still a member of that body. In his relig- ious views he is a Universalist.

Supplementing the education gleaned in the common schools of Chenango county by a five- vear course in Sherburne Academy, Mr. Dart later followed teaching for five years. This, however, was not the line of work most agree- able to him and in the meantime he had decided to master the carpenter's trade. With this at

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his command he readily found all that he could do, and for three years worked at his trade in his native state. Removing as far west as Illi- nois at the end of this time, he taught school in Lake county during the winter, and with the opening of spring crossed over into Iowa, where for fourteen years he worked at his trade in Marshalltown continuously, in addition to con- tracting and building. His next removal found him in Nebraska, working at his trade in Lin- coln, that state, as well as in Colorado, whither he went seven months later. From there in 1887 he came to California and in 1895 purchased the ranch of thirty acres which has been his home ever since. Besides himself there were three other children in the parental family, but he is the only one of the number in the west.

In Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1877, Mr. Dart was married to Della N. Sanford, a native of that state, and six children were born to them, as follows: Fred (deceased), Bessie, Earl, George, Guy and Frank. Mr. Dart's political views are in accord with Republican principles. Fraternally he is a Mason, having been made a member in Marshalltown Lodge No. 108, and now belongs to the chapter and commandery of that place.

MARSHALL G. STONE. Riverside is one of the best counties in the state of California and Valle Vista is one of the most attractive parts of the county. Located at the foot of the San Jacinto range, at an elevation of about eighteen hundred feet, it has a most perfect climate, cool and free from wind and rain storms. Valle Vista is located on the road from Hemet to Idyllwild, and is recognized as one of the most beautiful spots in this section, and an ideal situation for a town. Marshall G. Stone, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Florida, or Valle Vista, as the place is now known, is the father of this town and takes great pride in the natural advantages surrounding the place of his choice and lends the greater part of his time and energy to the development of this section. He is a native of Canada, his birth having oc- curred in Toronto in 1848. His parents, Mathew and Sarah (Greenhill) Stone, removed to Mil- waukee, Wis., when Marshall G. was but four years of age, and later resided in Dodge county of the same state. Both parents are now de- ceased. The son received his education in the public schools of Columbus and Milwaukee, and in 1867 located in Iowa, where for twenty years he followed stock raising and farming with good success.

His residence in California dates from 1887, when he came to his present location, four and one-half miles east of Hemet, and has consid-

ered it a good enough place to remain ever since. He was one of the organizers of the Fairview Land and Water Company, serving first as vice- president and later as president of the company. He superintended the development of a part of the San Jacinto grant, three thousand acres of which was purchased by the company, im- proved it by the laying out of streets, planting of trees and the laying of nineteen miles of iron pipe for water mains. The acreage was divided into twenty-acre plots and sold to fruit growers. Store buildings were erected and also a fine hotel was built, the latter being now occupied as a residence by Mr. Stone. By his marriage in Iowa in 1873 he was united with Miss Eliza Champion, who now presides over his home in Valle Vista.

LAWRENCE L. GARNER. The ranch which for a considerable period has been the headquarters of Mr. Garner and which is oper- ated by him under a lease comprises four hun- dred and sixty acres situated four and one-half miles southwest of Inglewood and commonly known as the Vossburg ranch. The raising of barley is made a special feature of Mr. Garner's farming operations and in addition he has en- gaged successfully in the raising of corn, his ranch being excellently adapted for almost any variety of general farm product. In striking contrast with the majority of the farmers of this region, he has not engaged in extensive agricul- ture, but has followed the methods used in the castern states and has given his attention to general crops rather than to horticulture or mar- ket gardening.

Indiana is the native home of Mr. Garner, and Putnam county the place of his birth, which occurred March 12, 1864. Nothing of especial importance occurred to mark the years of his boyhood and youth, which were passed in the schoolroom during the winter months and in farm work during the summer seasons. At the age of twenty-one years he started out to make his own way in the world and proceeded to Mis- souri, where he secured employment on a farm in Bates county. About the same time he also worked in the mines at Rich Hill. When he took up farm pursuits as a renter he secured a tract of land and began the raising of general farm products, remaining in the same vicinity for nine years. At the expiration of that period he came to California and for a year worked on the wharf at Redondo, after which he acted as manager of a ranch for two years, and then leased the ranch where now he is busily engaged in agricultural pursuits.

While living in Bates county, Mo., Mr. Gar- ner met and married Miss Mary F. Riley, who

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was born in Kansas, but accompanied her family to Missouri at an early age and passed the years of girlhood in Bates county. Three sons were born of their union, Buford G., Levi Lester and Lawrence. Ever since attaining his majority Mr. Garner has voted the Democratic ticket and has given his support to its men and measures, but he has never solicited office at the hands of his fellow-citizens, having little inclination to- ward public responsibilities. In fraternal rela- tions he holds membership with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of the Maccabees, in both of which organizations he maintains a warm interest.

MICHAEL MAYER. As the name indicates the Mayer family is of German extraction. Mi- chael Mayer is a native of Heidelberg and a member of a family long identified with manu- facturing industries in that part of Germany. In the city where he was born, January 28, 1855, he received an excellent common school educa- tion, supplemented by a complete course of study in Heidelberg College, from which he was grad- uated at the completion of his course.

Subsequent to graduation Mr. Mayer engaged in the wine business with his father, and after the latter's death he took charge of the estate, continuing the store for a time. Coming to the United States in 1902 he bought the old Casino in Redondo and rebuilt it on a larger scale with modern improvements, making of it the largest casino on the coast. Modern bowling alleys have been built and the resort has been made one at- tractive for tourists and the general public. Be- sides owning the building and business he is the owner of residence property in Redondo and is a director in the First National Bank of Re- dondo. Politically, since becoming a citizen of the United States, he has voted the Republican ticket at all elections, and in fraternal relations he affiliates with the Eagles.

WILMOT GEORGE BROWN. The cashier of the First State Bank of Inglewood is a mem- ber of an old eastern family whose identification with American history dates back to the colonial period. Very early in the settlement of the Mis- sissippi valley Stephen H. and Margaret (Co- iany) Brown, natives of New York state, be- came pioneers of Toulon, Stark county, Ill., and from there in 1859 they removed to Winona, Minn., where again thev bore a part in the de- velopment of a frontier region. Both have passed from earth's activities, but all of their four children survive, the only one on the coast being Charles H., the father of our subject.

While the family were residents of Blue

Earth, Minn., Wilmot George Brown was born June 30, 1873. When he was ten years of age he accompanied his parents to Owatonna, where he was graduated from the high school, and later became a clerk in the Farmers' National Bank of Owatonna. At the age of eighteen years he was made paying teller, being the youngest to hold that position in the entire state. Resigning in 1898 he removed to Dodge Center, Minn., where he assisted in organizing the Farmers' National Bank and held the office of cashier in the concern. Upon resigning that position in 1903 he came to California, and spent a year at Ocean Park and Santa Monica, after which, in 1904, he settled at Inglewood. Since then he has been interested as treasurer in the Inglewood Realty Company, promoters of Palm place of ten acres and East Acres, a tract of eighty acres. In May, 1905, he assisted in the organization of the First State Bank of Ingle- wood, which was opened for business on the 14th of October of that year, with a capital stock of $25,000. The bank occupies a two-story structure, 50x60 feet, constructed of solid brick, and equipped with Debolt safe and steel vault and other modern appliances.

The marriage of Wilmot G. Brown took place in Owatonna, Minn., and united him with Miss Nora I. Montgomery, who was born in that city and is a graduate of the college at Carlton, Minn. The only child of their union is a son, Stanley Henry. While living at Dodge Center Mr. Brown was initiated into Masonry and ever since has been a warm believer in the high prin- ciples for which the order stands. The Repub- lican party receives his ballot and its candidates have his stalwart support. In religious views he is of the Universalist faith.

JULES J. DELPY. A substantial residence with modern improvements and attractive ap- pointments forms the home of Mr. Delpy and ranks among the most elegant country houses in its district. Surrounding the grounds and con- venient to the commodious winery may be seen the vineyard of seventy-five acres planted to grapes of the most select varieties, while in ad- dition the ranch also contains a considerable amount of grain land, its entire extent compris- ing four hundred and forty acres. Improve- ments are made each year, so that the estate has an increasing value, while its cultivated appear- ance bespeaks the thrift of the owner. The suc- cess with which he is meeting in the wine busi- ness proves that the industry may be profitably prosecuted in the locality.

Born in the south of France, September 5. 1867, Jules J. Delpy is a son of Bernard and Anna Delpy, natives of France and both now de-

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ceased. An uncle, B. T. Delpy, came to San Diego county in 1875 and took up a homestead from the government. Later he started a vine- yard and operated a winery, which he carried on until his death, in 1891, at the age of fifty-nine years. Meanwhile he had become widely known through all this part of the country and the fer- tile valley where he lived became known by his name. A genial, companionable man, he pos- sessed the affable traits for which the French are noted, and he won many warm friends among his American associates.

On the completion of his education Jules J. Delpy left his native land at the age of sixteen years and came to the United States, landing at New Orleans. The same year, 1884, found him in California, where he learned the winery busi- ness under his uncle, and at the latter's death in- herited eighty acres of valuable land. In 1893 he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Hauret, of Los Angeles, and they have three sons, Louis, Frank and Jacques. The family are identified with the Roman Catholic Church and contribute to its charitable organizations and general maintenance. Not only in Delpy valley, but also wherever known, they have friends among the most refined and intelligent people and are respected for genuine worth of charac- ter.

DAVID G. WEBSTER. One of the large ranchmen of the San Jacinto valley is David G. Webster, who has ninety acres of land on the Idyllwild road devoted to the raising of crops. He was born August 3, 1861, in Paris, Ill., the son of William B. and Mary (Nevell) Webster. the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Athens, Ohio, her father having been an officer in the war of 1812. The Websters became early settlers of Illinois, took up government land there and engaged in farming in that state until 1875, when Mr. Webster removed with his fam- ily to California, landing first at San Francisco, from which point he came by water to San Pedro, remaining through the summer in Los Angeles and Compton. In September of that year he settled in the San Jacinto valley, in which section he filed on government land and pur- chased a part of the San Jacinto grant, until lie at one time owned twenty-eight hundred and sixty acres of land, upon which he raised a great many sheep, cattle and horses. He erected build- ings and otherwise improved his holding and lived on the place until his death, in April, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was one of the best known men in Southern California during his life and made friends with everyone with whom he came in contact. Helen Hunt Jackson chose him as the original of her char-

acter Merrill in her noted novel Ramona. Mrs. Webster lived to be seventy years of age, her death occurring in November, 1898.

Until the age of fourteen David G. Webster spent his life in Illinois, attending the public schools there. Coming to California with his parents in 1875 he worked with his father until 1897, then engaged in independent farming op- erations and has continued as an agriculturist ever since. His marriage to Miss Nannie B. Robinson, a native of St. Louis, Mo., took place March 10, 1897, and they have become the pa- rents of one child, Mary, aged eight years. Mr. Webster is now a member of the Florida (or Valle Vista) board of school trustees, and he takes an active interest in all matters of public interest to the community in which he resides. Politically he is an advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Republican party.

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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 135

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