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 183

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

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vegetables and melons, of the last named produc- ing one hundred crates of cantaloupes to the acre, each crate weighing two hundred to two hundred and twenty pounds, and containing from four to seven dozen melons. A few years ago Mr. Nor- ton made a trip to Alaska, traveling by sled and dog team to the head waters of the Yukon river. He endured many hardships and privations- sleeping out of doors with the thermometer at fifty-four degrees below zero-and experiencing such weather as sixty-five degrees below zero- but met with success in his venture and counts the experiences well worth the trip.

AUGUST J. LEMBKE. The earliest recol- lections of Mr. Lembke are associated with Southern California, where now he is a rising young agriculturist, interested in the develop- ment and cultivation of lands near Redondo. His father, J. J., a prominent agriculturist of this vi- cinity, was born in Germany December 21, 1849, and received an excellent education in German schools. At the age of nineteen years he crossed the ocean to the United States and later attended school for a year in order to increase his knowl- edge of the English language. A few years after coming to this country he married Christina Turow, a native of Germany. For a time they resided in Iowa, but in 1881 settled in California, where for thirteen years they made their home on one ranch of twenty-one hundred acres. In 1901 they purchased their present homestead near Re- dondo, which is devoted to the raising of wheat, corn and beans. Of their children all but one re- main in California. The eldest, Dorothea, Mrs. F. A. Schulte, is a resident of the state of Wash- ington. Henry married Elsie Hodge and lives at Wilmington. William married Blanche Stock- well and makes his home at Moneta. August, the fourth in order of birth, is associated with his father in ranching affairs. Esther, Mary and Benjamin vet remain with their parents. In religious views the family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, while in polit- ical opinions they favor Republican principles.

While the family were living in Clayton coun- ty, Iowa, August J. Lempke was born February 25, 1880, and in his infancy he was brought to California, where his education was begun in Redondo public schools and completed in the Woodbury Business College at Los Angeles. With the exception of six months as an en- ploye in the Holt combined harvester factory at Stockton, Cal., he has been a continuous resi- dent of Los Angeles county and has engaged in the ranching business with his father, whom he has relieved of many responsibilities by his en- ergy and capability. In addition to aiding in the care of his father's ranch of three hundred

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and eighty acres he helps in the management of the large tract of rented land, and is proving himself a resourceful and progressive rancher.

The marriage of August J. Lembke was sol- emnized February 18, 1905, and united him with Lorinda, daughter of Joseph Lucas, now living at Gardena. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lembke are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church and are interested in its philanthropies and mis- sionary enterprises. In social circles they en- joy the respect of acquaintances and are wel- come guests in the homes of their neighborhood.

NATHAN L. SLOSSON. Ranching opera- tions are carried on on an extensive scale by Nathan L. Slosson of the Menifee valley, who has seven hundred acres in grain crops and one hundred acres devoted to the raising of alfalfa and to pasturage purposes, for he is also en- gaged in the raising of horses and cattle. He was born August 17, 1877, in Eaton county, Mich., the son of Cyrus and Lydia (Darling) Slosson, the former a native of New York. The father was an early settler in Michigan and is still living on the farm for which he received the original patent from the government sixty years ago. The death of the mother occurred there in 1905. Mr. Slosson received his education through the medium of the public schools of Michigan and in 1892 at the age of fifteen years came to Chino, Cal., where he secured employ- ment in the sugar factory. He afterwards farmed there for a year, then continued in agri- cultural pursuits on the peat lands of Orange county until 1896. The following four years were spent in farming in Elsinore. In 1900 he removed to a location east of Los Angeles city, occupying a farm until 1903, when he located in the Menifee valley on the ranch which is now his home.

His marriage in Elsinore in 1898 united him with Miss Mamie E. Robinson daughter of John Robinson of Elsinore, and their union has been blessed in the birth of four children : Ethel, Cy- rus, Clara and Bessie. Fraternally Mr. Slosson is a member of Elsinore Lodge No. 336, I. O. O. F. He is especially interested in educational mat- ters and was at one time a member of the board of school trustees, of Menifee district. As a business man he is energetic and successful and as a citizen interests himself in all matters of an upbuilding nature.

ELLA J. SLAUSON. A talented, accom- plished woman, possessing rare business ability and judgment, Miss Ella J. Slauson is actively identified with the material growth and prosperity of Venice as one of its most energetic and enter-

prising dealers in realty. While promoting her own interests, financially, she has been an impor- tant factor in the upbuilding of this section of Los Angeles county, and in the advancement of its welfare, winning for herself a position of prominence in business circles. A daughter of Joseph Slauson, she was born in New York state, but when a small child was taken by her parents to Carthage, Mo., where her father was for many years in business.

Having completed the prescribed course in the public schools of Carthage, Ella J. Slauson re- turned to New York state to complete her edu- cation. In June, 1898, she came to California, and for two years resided in Los Angeles. Active and energetic, she was anxious to have some permanent occupation, and in May, 1900, she be- came interested in the building business. Lo- cating in Ocean Park, she began her career with a limited capital, at first erecting a few cottages for rent on the water front. Suc- ceeding in this venture, Miss Slauson grad- nally enlarged her operations and to-day is recognized as one of the leading real estate deal- ers of the place, having obtained an enviable rep- utation and position among her professional con- temporaries. She has the distinction of being the pioneer woman real estate agent of this locality, and for the financial success that she ha's achieved is deserving of great credit. She has acquired considerable property through her own exertions, owning valuable real estate in and about both Ocean Park and Venice.

After the death of her father, her mother mar- ried again, being now Mrs. Sarah A. Thomas. Miss Slauson's mother and her sister, Mrs. George Nettleton, are also residents of Southern California.

ERNEST W. SLYGH. As a large and suc- cessful ranchman Ernest W. Slygh has achieved prominence in Riverside county, where he has six hundred acres of land devoted principally to the raising of barley hay. The ranch is equipped with hay presses and all necessary farm machin- ery to facilitate the planting, cultivation and harvesting of his crops. Mr. Slygh was born January 1. 1867, in Peoria county, Ill., be- ing the son of G. D. and Mary (Wycoff) Slygh, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Illinois. Their present home is on a farm at Toulon, Stark county, Il1.

The early education of Mr. Slygh was received in the public schools of Illinois and when as a young man he started out on an independent business career he chose farming as the profes- sion he would follow. He engaged in this work in his native state until 1888 when upon his re- turn from a visit to California he decided that

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

life would be easier and more enjoyable, and op- portunities for financial success more favorable in that state, and the following year he came to Riverside county to remain. He first found em- ployment on a fruit ranch for a short time and at the same time cast about for a favorable opportun- ity to buy a place of his own. He soon decided upon a small tract where he lived for a time and then moved to his present home, which was one vast wheat field when he purchased it. Mr. Slygh set to work to improve it, determined to make his ranch one of the finest in the valley and he has succeeded. There are plenty of fine shade trees, and both apricot and olive orchards, all of which he planted himself. He has made a scientific study of the subject of horticulture and is at present occupying the position of county horti- cultural inspector. He is also a member of the school board of his district and taken an active interest in all enterprises tending toward the ad- vancement and upbuilding of the community in which he resides. In 1898 he was married to Rose E. Lamb, who was born in Utah, and they have one child, a daughter, Dorothy.

JOHN SCHLEGEL. In every era of the world's history and in every land where civiliza- tion reigns, pedagogy has attracted men of keen intellect and high ideals. Perhaps no nation ever has entertained higher aspirations for education- al advancement than our own land can boast, and it is an accepted fact that our institutions of learning compare most favorably with those es- tablished for centuries in older countries. Here it is that the public school system attains its great- est degree of perfection and here the brightest minds are engaged in training the young for the duties of citizenship. It is said that, with the exception of the schools of Los Angeles, no in- stitutions in the entire country surpass those of Long Beach, and in the latter district creditable mention belongs to the Alamitos school, which is under the supervision of John Schlegel as prin- cipal, aided by seven instructors of exceptional attainments.

Though of American birth, Professor Schlegel descends from Swiss forefathers, his parents, Leonard and Anna (Tischhauser) Schlegel, hav- ing been born in the old-world republic of an- cient families of that land. The father came to the United States in 1851 and took up a govern- ment claim in Wisconsin, where he labored as- siduously in bringing the raw land into cultiva- tion. After some years he went to Iowa and set- tled upon a farm, but eventually he removed to Kansas and became proprietor of a flour mill at Abilene, Dickinson county. During the residence of the family there the son, John, who was next to the youngest among nine children, was born June

26, 1880, and of the family all but one are still living.

Upon the removal of the family to California in 1885 Leonard Schlegel purchased land near University, Los Angeles county, and engaged in ranching, but after some years he subdivided a portion of the property and sold at fair profit. The balance of the estate is now rented, and wa- ter is supplied to the tenants from a pumping plant which he owns and operates. He is now a widower, his wife having passed from earth on Christmas day of 1897 at the age of fifty-eight years. When the family came to the Pacific coast John Schlegel was only five years of age. His education therefore has been secured wholly in the west, being primarily obtained in public schools, after which he had excellent advantages in the California State University at Berkeley. In June of 1902 he was graduated from the uni- versity and in the autumn of the same year he secured a position as principal of the Inglewood schools, where he rendered efficient service for two years, and then resigned to accept his present position in Long Beach.

The marriage of Professor Schlegel was sol- emnized at Fairview, Orange county, this state, June 26, 1905, and united him with Miss Ethel, daughter of P. M. and Matilda Freeman, natives respectively of Minnesota and Indiana, but since 1885 residents of Orange county. Interested in various fraternities, Professor Schlegel holds membership with Inglewood Camp No. 229, Woodmen of the World, also the Independent Order of Foresters at Inglewood, and the blue lodge at Redondo, F. & A. M., in which he was. made a Master Mason. With his wife he is an attendant at the services of the Methodist Epis- copal Church and a prominent figure in the so- cial and educational activities of his home city.

THOMAS TURBETT. It is not strange that Thomas Turbett gives an unswerving loyal- ty and support to California and more especially to that section in which his home is located, as he is a native son of the state and throughout his entire life a resident of Ventura county. He is a young man of energy and ambition, inheriting from pioneer parents those qualities of courage and industry which bespeak the best in the citi- zenship of a new statehood, and in the compara- tively brief time in which he has been dependent upon his own resources he has ably manifested such characteristics as to win financial returns in large measure as well as a place of importance in the citizenship of Ventura county.

Born on the 19th of December, 1878, in the vi- cinity of Oxnard, the boyhood years of Mr. Tur- bett were spent in his present location, his father. William Turbett (whose biography appears on

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another page of this work), having settled here in an early day. He received his education prin- cipally through the medium of the public schools, which he attended, alternating his studies with duties on the paternal farm. In 1899 upon at- taining his majority, he felt impelled to seek a means of independent livelihood, and in Decem- ber of the same year he established home ties through his marriage with Miss Mabel Harris, a native also of Ventura county. The few inter- vening years to the present date have witnessed his efforts along agricultural lines and also the success which has followed well-directed thought. He is now farming two hundred and eighty-five acres, sixty-five acres of which is devoted to the cultivation of beets, while the balance is given over to the raising of barley. He gives time and thought to the cultivation of his property and brings to bear in his work an intelligent apprecia- tion of the requirements which have enabled him to reap large financial returns. Of good prin- ciples and unquestioned integrity, he has won the esteem of all who have had business dealings with him and numbers his friends liberally throughout the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Turbett are the parents of two children, Hazel and Alfred.

WILLIAM WILSON was born August 25, 1872, in Lambertville, N. J., a son of John M. and E. (Lawshe) Wilson, both of whom were born in New Jersey and are still living in that state, where the father is engaged in agricultural pursuits. The son, William, was educated in the New Jersey public schools and at the age of nineteen years came to Riverside, Cal., where he resided for two years, in 1894 removing to the San Jacinto valley. He later purchased ten acres of land, upon which his present home is located, and improved it by the erection of necessary buildings, beginning at once to set out his nurs- ery. He met with good success as the years passed and gradually added to his acreage until now there are forty acres in the ranch, all of it being devoted to the culture of general nursery stock, including peaches, pears, apricots, oranges, apples and plums among the fruits, and a line of shade and ornamental trees. Mr. Wilson was one of the pioneers in this business in the San Ja- cinto valley, and the wisdom of his choice of oc- cupation has been amply proven.

His marriage occurred in 1897 in Solebury, Pa., uniting him with Miss Emma Worstall, and three children have been born of this union: Lawshe, Lloyd and Meryn. Mr. Wilson is a member of the Masonic blue lodge at San Ja- cinto and also of the Commandery at the same place. He is actively interested in the develop-

ment of Riverside county and is at all times will- ing to lend a hand in the furthering of enter- prises which tend toward the upbuilding of that section of the state.

GEORGE W. YOUNG. The rapid growth and material development characteristic of the recent history of Long Beach have attracted to the city a large number of contractors who are unusually skilled in their special lines of labor, and among these mention may be made of George W. Young, a contracting plasterer. Although comparatively a newcomer to the city, he has al- ready established a reputation for reliable work in his specialty and has been awarded contracts for much of the plastering work in the large structures of recent construction. Careful and methodical in workmanship, honorable in busi- ness transactions, energetic and prompt in the filling of contracts undertaken, he deserves to the fullest measure whatever of prosperity awaits the progressive industrial laborer.

Now in the prime of life, Mr. Young was born February 22, 1874, in the city of Atchison, Kans., where his parents, Frank P. and Margaret Young, conducted a hotel for a number of years. Both were natives of Germany and immigrated to the United States about 1855, settling in Phila- delphia, Pa., where they were united in marriage. After a brief sojourn in that city they moved west as far as Illinois and settled in Peoria. From there they went to Kansas three years later and settled in Atchison, in which city they en- gaged in the hotel business with fair success. The year 1887 found them in California, where they remained in Los Angeles for a short time and then established a home in Santa Ana. Dur- ing 1903 they came to Long Beach and have since lived in retirement in this city.

Primarily educated in the public schools of At- chison, Kans., after coming to the Pacific coast George W. Young had the advantages offered by the Los Angeles schools. At the age of six- teen years he began to learn the plasterer's trade and continued in that occupation at day wages for a period of ten years, at the expiration of which he began to take contracts. During his res- idence in Santa Ana he was associated with W. L. Harding and it was due to their indefatigable ef- forts that the Alpine plaster, now so popular, first attracted general attention. On coming to Long Beach in 1903 he became interested in a furniture business with Mr. Callahan, but in a short time disposed of his interest in the store and turned again to contract plastering, which still remains his specialty. While making his home in Santa Ana, May 28. 1902, he married Miss Bertha Waite, who was born in California.

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and by whom he has two children. Mrs. Young is a daughter of the late Alonzo Waite, a pioneer of the Pacific coast and during the Civil war the publisher of a newspaper in Los Angeles. Since the death of Mr. Waite, which occurred about 1891, his widow has continued to reside in Santa Ana. Mrs. Young adheres to the faith of the Ro- man Catholic Church. Politically Mr. Young votes with the Republican party and in matters of fra- ternal interest he holds association with Santa Ana Lodge No. 236, I. O. O. F., and the Modern Brotherhood of America in Los Angeles.

CHARLES E. MURRAY. Personal knowl- edge of many parts of the United States, gained by widely extended travels, has convinced Mr. Murray that his present location at Gardena offers distinct advantages both in climate and in opportunities to earn a livelihood amid at- tractive surroundings. Descended from an old eastern family, he was born in New York state April 15, 1861, and at the age of two years was taken to Iowa by his parents, Warren and Electa (Fellows) Murray, natives respectively of New York state and Erie county, Pa. After the death of the father, which occurred in 1863, the wid- owed mother conducted a restaurant at Boone, Iowa, and meanwhile sent her son to the public schools of that town. Upon the completion of the studies of the high school, he entered the Marshall Agricultural College at Marshalltown and continued there for a brief period, later spending a year in a law office in Iowa.

The west at that time was less known than now, but its opportunities were already begin- ning to attract permanent settlers, and among these were Mr. Murray and his mother, who came from Iowa to Ogden, Utah, and thence to San Francisco. For three years he took a course in pharmacy and medicine in San Francisco, re- maining there until his graduation. Afterward he was engaged in similar work at San Fran- cisco, Sacramento and Lower Lake, and met with encouraging success, but was forced to seek another occupation by reason of trouble with his eyes. By accident rather than choice he drifted into railroading and was employed in Arizona, his mother going with him to Fort Whipple, where he made his headquarters for a considerable period. On establishing domestic ties he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Basse, who was born in New York state, and was a young lady of refinement and cultured manner. The heaviest bereavement of his life was the death of his wife and their child in a runaway accident.

On coming to Gardena Mr. Murray purchased a tract of fourteen acres and here is engaged in

raising alfalfa, also makes a specialty of the poultry business. On his place one of the most conspicuous improvements is a flowing artesian well, from which the land is irrigated by means of a large pumping plant. In addition to his home place he owns, in partnership with his mother, one hundred and sixty acres near Doug- lass City, Trinity county, for which $20,000 has been offered, and in addition he also owns a quarter section of land situated in Santa Cruz county. Interested in political affairs and a stanch supporter of the Republican party, he has always been a leader in local activities of the par- ty in the various places of his residence, and has officiated as justice of the peace and a member of the board of school trustees. In fraternal re- lations he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. Though not one of the pioneers of Gardena, no citizen is more interested in its de- velopment than he, and no one champions its welfare with greater enthusiasm or more con- sistent fidelity.

CHARLES R. ARNOLD. Classed among the more enterprising and skilful farmers of Ventura county is Charles R. Arnold, whose well-tilled ranch lies near Oxnard. The son of one of the early pioneers of California, he was born, April 13, 1867, in Lassen county, where his father, Henry Arnold, lived for a number of years. His grandfather, Cutler Arnold, was one of the forty-niners, coming across the plains in that year, and settling first in Marysville, where he kept a general store, and was also engaged in mining. He remained in that locality until 1872, when he removed to Ventura county, and here spent his remaining days.

A native of New York, Henry Arnold came by way of the Isthmus to California in 1852, land- ing in San Francisco, and was subsequently a scout for General Cook, and a member of the state troops. He afterwards located near Susan- ville, Lassen county, remaining there until 1874. Coming then to this locality, he lived for seven years near Ventura, and in 1881 bought the land now owned and occupied by his son, Charles R. Arnold. In 1892 he moved to Hueneme, where he served as postmaster until his death, at the age of sixty-five years, in January, 1902. He married Pamelia Ellen Robertson, who is still a resident of Hueneme.

Having obtained a good common school edu- cation in the public schools of Ventura county, Charles R. Arnold assisted his father in farm- ing until 1889, when he began life for himself, engaging in agricultural pursuits on the old home ranch. He now owns eighty acres of land in his home ranch, and also leases land on which he raises beets and beans, having two hundred

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acres of the former vegetables and fifty acres of the latter.

On April 5, 1889, in Oxnard, Mr. Arnold mar- ried Helen Hodge, who was born in Marysville, but was brought up and educated in Santa Cruz, being a daughter of L. C. Hodge, who came across the plains to California with the pioneer emigrants of 1849. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, namely : Hazel, Alta, Charles and Nellie. Politically Mr. Arnold is a strong Republican, quite influential in public affairs, has served as school trustee, and in 1902 was appointed postmaster of Hueneme, serving in that capacity until sending in his resignation in the fall of 1905. Fraternally he is a member of Hueneme Lodge, A. O. U. W., and of Oxnard Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Relig- iously he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

OLIVER OAKS. Travelers passing through the valley of San Bernardo, in San Diego county, are enthusiastic in their descriptions of the large estate and well-kept ranch occupied by Oliver Oaks. The substantial house is surrounded by orange trees and shaded drives, giving an air of comfort and beauty to the entire estate, and bear- ing mute testimony to the refinement of the fam- ily. The vast estate comprises twenty-five hun- dred acres and two thousand acres are available for cultivation, grain and hay being the principal products. The improvements that make the ranch one of the finest places in the valley were made by Omer Oaks, father of Oliver, and one of the honored pioneers of the locality.

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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 183

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