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 186

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 186

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Completing his early education in a private school, John Diedrich subsequently served three years in the German Army, after which he was for several years employed in agricultural pur- suits. In 1882, resolving to try life in a newer country, Mr. Diedrich sailed for New York, and from that city came by rail to California. Locat- ing in the Santa Clara valley, he bought a tract of land, and having placed it in a good state of cultivation has now a well improved and valuable ranch of two hundred and forty acres, on which he is successfully carrying on his chosen work. Of recent years, Mr. Diedrich has paid much at- tention to the raising of beets and lima beans, at the present time having twenty-five acres of the former, while the remainder of his land is devoted to the culture of beans. The improve- ments upon his place are excellent and note- worthy, the barns and outbuildings being sub- stantial and convenient, while the large, twelve- room house which he has recently erected, with

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its modern furnishing and equipments, is one of the finest and most attractive in this part of the county.

In 1882, Mr. Diedrich married Matilda Asch- off, who was born in Germany, a daughter of Charles and Sophia (Richer) Aschoff, who spent their entire lives in their native land, Mrs. Aschoff dying when her daughter Matilda was about a year old, and Mr. Aschoff in 1895, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. Into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Diedrich four chil- dren have been born, namely: Louis, born in July, 1883; John, born in September, 1884; Will- iam, born June 12, 1887; and Joseph, born July 13, 1889. Fraternally Mr. Diedrich is a mem- ber of the Knights of Columbus, and religiously he and his family belong to the Catholic Church.

BRUCE W. S. DYE. The Dye family is one of the best known and most highly respected in San Diego county where Bruce W. S. Dye was born. He is the son of J. S. and Mary (War- nock) Dye, the father being a native of Warren county, Ky., and the mother of Pennsylvania. Both parents are now living in Ballena, San Diego county, where they own a ranch of four hundred acres. The father is an adherent of the Democratic party and takes a prominent in- terest in affairs tending toward the development of his section of the state. Mrs. Dye is an ac- tive member of the Catholic Church. Her par- ents, William and Ellen (Derrig) Warnock, were born in Ireland and came to California in 1857, locating in San Diego county, which was then an unsettled wilderness and clearing and improving a ranch on which Mr. Warnock es- tablished himself in the dairy business and built up a most profitable trade. He was a man of much prominence locally, his death occurring in 1898 at the age of seventy-two years; his wife died a year previous, she being sixty-seven years old. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living.

Bruce W. S. Dye was one of a family of thirteen children, nine of whom lived to maturity and have homes in San Diego county. Mr. Dye's preliminary education was received in the common schools of his home district, supple- mented by a course in the commercial depart- ment of the Russ high school of San Diego. After his graduation he worked for his father on the home ranch at Ballena for a short time, but his ambition being to establish himself independ- ently he soon found opportunity to engage in ranching on a tract comprising fourteen hundre i acres of land. He owned one hundred and sixty acres near Ballena, which he subsequently sold and in 1905 came to Ramona and bought the ranch of seventy acres which he now occupies,

devoting himself to the occupations of dairying and fruit raising. His marriage to Lucy Fred- erick, a native of Iowa, occurred in 1901 and they have become the parents of one daughter, Doro- thy. Mrs. Dye is a member of the Congre- gational Church. Mr. Dye belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows lodge, and polit- ically affiliates with the Democratic party. He is greatly interested in all social and civic mat- ters and is held in the highest esteem by all mem- bers of the community in which he lives.

THOMAS C. DYE. Among the many pros- perous and successful farmers of San Diego county none has proved more wise and fortunate in his operations than the native-born sons. Prominent among this special number is Thomas C. Dye, of Ramona, whose remarkable success as a general farmer and dairyman has been brought about by persistent energy, well directed toil, and exceptional business ability on his part ; and he is well deserving of the respect and con- fidence in which he is everywhere held. He was born May 30, 1875, in San Diego county, being one of a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are living. His father, J. S. Dye, of this county, was born in Kentucky, and during the Civil war served in the Southern army. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Warnock, was born and bred in Pennsylvania.

After leaving the district school, Thomas C. Dye entered the Russ Commercial department of the San Diego High School, where he completed . the course of study. Becoming familiar with the science of agriculture when young, he chose the free and independent occupation to which he was bred, beginning his career as a ranchman near his present home farm. He was subse- quently employed in dairying near the coast. Returning to Ramona, Mr. Dye, in 1903, located on his present ranch of twelve hundred acres, and in its management has met with encouraging results. He is an extensive raiser of grain and cattle, and is one of the largest dairymen of this vicinity, milking about sixty-five cows daily. Practical and painstaking, he has his land under a good state of cultivation, and well furnished with substantial improvements, his ranch being one of the most attractive and valuable in the neighborhood, bearing evidence of his industry and wise management.

On October 4, 1905, Mr. Dye married Benita Frederick, a daughter of the late Benjamin Todd Frederick. Mr. Frederick was born, in 1834, in Ohio, but was brought up and educated in Penn- sylvania. He settled in Iowa when a young man, and for several years owned and operated a foundry in Marshalltown, becoming one of the leading men of that city. He was a stanch Dem-

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ocrat in politics and active in party ranks. In 1887 he came with his family to San Diego, Cal., where for six years he was Internal Revenue col- lector. He died November 3, 1903, at his home in San Diego. In Iowa, in 1860, Mr. Frederick married Weltha Putnam, who was born in Ohio, in 1836, spent her carly life in Michigan, and is now living, with her daughter Margaret, in San Diego. Politically Mr. Dye is a stanch Repub- lican, uniformly casting his vote in favor of that party, and religiously he was reared in the Catlı- olic faith. Mrs. Dye is a Congregationalist in religion.

LOUIS GAMASH. Noteworthy among the active and prosperous business men of Rodondo is Louis Gamash, well known as a contracting plumber and steam fitter. Skillful and painstak- ing in his work, and a thorough master of his trade, he has built up an extensive and lucrative patronage in this section of the county, having had charge of the plumbing in the larger and more important buildings here erected in the last decade. He is highly respected as a citizen, and his influence as a man of honor and integrity is felt throughout the community. A son of the late Anthony Gamash, he was born, March 26, 1869, at Waukegan, Il1.

A native of Canada, Anthony Gamash removed to Illinois when young, settling as a fisherman in Waukegan. After residing there a number of years, he removed to New Buffalo, Mich., where he continued in his favorite pursuit until his death. He married Mary Junco, who was born in Quebec, and they became the parents of eight children, all boys, and of these three are living.

The youngest child of the parental family, Louis Gamaslı became interested in fishing when a boy, and afterwards, with his brothers, estab- lished himself in the fishing business at Green Bay, Mich., having his own schooners and pack- ing plant. Subsequently going to Aurora, III., he was connected with the Acorn Stove Works for a year, after which he was associated with the American Well Works, in the same city, for awhile. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1897, Mr. Gamash was for two years in the employ of a Lumber Company of Redondo. In 1899 he be- gan learning the plumber's trade with Eli Davies, of Redondo, by whom he was employed for two years. Obtaining a good knowledge of his trade, Mr. Gamash then started in business on his own account, opening his present establishment, and has since built up a large business as a contracting plumber and steam fitter. He has filled many con- tracts of importance, including among others the plumbing in the Chrisman House, the Buckley House, the Redondo School building, the Ma- sonic Hall, and many others of note.

In Geneva, Ill., Mr. Gamash married Ida Page, who was born and bred in Waukegan, 111. In national politics, Mr. Gamash is a stanch sup- porter of the principles of the Republican party. but in local matters he votes for the best men and measures, regardless of party prejudice. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Modern Wood- men of America. Religiously he is a member of Saint James Catholic Church.

RUFUS A. ENO. Both in the business and municipal affairs of Long Beach Rufus A. Eno, president of the Board of Trustees of this place, has proven an important factor since his location on the Pacific coast. He is a native of Elm- wood, Ill., where he was born May 10, 1859, his father, Imle L. Eno, shortly afterward becom- ing a pioneer of Iowa. He is now seventy-eight years old, while his wife, Julia (Atherton) Eno is seventy-one, both being residents of Long Beach, where they came in 1895 for the benefit of Mr. Eno's health.

Rufus A. Eno received his education in the common schools of Warren county, Iowa, which he attended during the winter months, in the summers assisting his father in the development of their home farm. When eighteen years of age he attended a commercial college in Indianola, Warren county, Iowa, in which place he grew to years of maturity. He began an apprecentice- ship to learn canning, working through the three departments, after which he was employed in Boone, and Muscatine for a time. Finally return- ing to Indianola he remained in that city until he was twenty-six years old, when he secured employment as brakesman on the Rock Island system. Later he secured the position of con- ductor and held the same for five years. In 1894 he embarked in the mercantile business and also engaged in lumber and real estate, and after his location in Long Beach, where he settled on ac- count of impaired health, he opened a real estate office with William Verney as partner. This is now the oldest real estate firm of the place, and in the passing years they have made progress in business standing won by a financial success in handling city and county real estate. Mr. Eno has also been successful in accumulating property independent of his business connections with Mr. Verney.

In Indianola, Iowa, Mr. Eno was united in marriage with Mary Reese, a native of Germany. and a woman of culture and refinement. In his political affiliations Mr. Eno is identified with the Republican party, during his residence in Iowa having become prominent in county affairs. He was liberally supported as a trustee of Long Beach, receiving the largest number of votes,

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which gave him the presidency of the Board. Mr. Eno is prominent fraternally, being a mem- ber of Long Beach Lodge, F. & A. M .; Long Beach Chapter; and Long Beach Commandery. He also belongs to Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of Long Beach, Sons of Veterans, and Knights of Pythias, of Indianola, Iowa, while both himself and wife are associated with the Rathbone Sisters and Eastern Star. Mrs. Eno is also a member of the P. E. O.

DREW EARL DYE. A native son of the state, Drew Earl Dye was born in San Diego county, Cal., May 13, 1881, the descendant of a race of pioneers, father and grandfather having cast in their lot with the beginners of a new state- hood. His father, J. S. Dye, was born in War- ren county, Ky., whence he crossed the plains to California, locating in Southern California and in San Diego county establishing a home and ac- quiring a competence. He married Mary A. Warnock, a native of Pennsylvania, and also the daughter of a pioneer, her father coming to Cali- fornia in an early day. (See sketch of William Warnock in another part of this work.) They reared a large family of children of whom nine are now living, and all residents of San Diego county. They are a family of the strongest qual- ities of citizenship and occupy a place of promi- nence in this section.

Inheriting from his parents self reliant and en- ergetic traits of character, Drew Earl Dye passed from the years of boyhood to maturity well equipped for his future work. He acquired a good common school education, after which he attended the high school of San Diego. Follow- ing the training of his youth he engaged in ranch- ing upon seeking his own livelihood, later com- bining with this pursuit that of the dairy busi- ness. He has gradually enlarged his operations until at the present writing he is operating one hundred acres of land and milking about thirty cows. His attention is pretty. well occupied by these duties but he has met with success since as- suming them, and is now accorded a place among the enterprising young men of San Diego coun- ty. In his political affiliations he adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of the Dem- ocratic party, supporting its men and measures by voice and vote.

E. L. FESLER. A representative citizen of Santa Barbara county E. L. Fesler was born in Linn county, Mo., September 1, 1863, a son of Isaac and Nancy ( Barnes) Fesler. His parents came to California when he was but two years old. bringing their five children and locating first in Salinas county, and three years later near

Santa Maria, Santa Barbara county. Isaac Fes- ler was born and reared in Kentucky and his wife was a native of Tennessee. They were pio- neers of Missouri and in that state gained the start which made possible their subsequent ex- tensive ranching operations in Santa Barbara county. Their last years were spent in retire- ment in Santa Maria, where the father died at the age of eighty-one and the mother at eighty- eight. With the exception of a daughter living in Missouri, all of their children are residents of California. Mr. Fesler was a Democrat in poli- tics, but never cared for official position.

E. L. Fesler was reared on the paternal farm in Santa Barbara county, receiving a practical ed- ucation in the common schools of Santa Maria, while he at the same time was trained in the duties of the home farm. In young manhood he followed his early training and engaged in ranch- ing on rented land. For years he was so occu- pied on different ranches in the valley, finally purchasing his present property in 1896, this ranch of forty acres utilized in the raising of beans and grain. He also gives his attention to the cultivation of other property in the vicinity of his home. In 1888 Mr. Fesler mar- ried Charlotte Gressby, a native of Napa county, Cal., and born of this union are two sons: Cecil R .; and Eugene J., to represent a third generation in the state. In fraternal cir- cles Mr. Fesler is associated with the Knights of Pythias and Redmen of Santa Maria. He is a Republican in his political connections and seeks to advance the principles he endorses. The abil- ity Mr. Fesler as shown in the management of his personal affairs, as well as pleasing person- ality has won for him the respect and esteem of the community towards the upbuilding of which he has shown energy, integrity and public spirit.

JAMES J. GORDON. A man of undoubted energy and ability, active and progressive, James J. Gordon holds an assured position among the prosperous agriculturists of Los Angeles county, and is meeting with excellent success as super- intendent of the Post ranch, which is located near the city of Los Angeles. A son of Samuel Gordon, he was born in Belfast, Ireland, but was brought up and educated in Quebec, Canada.

Samuel Gordon was born, bred and educated in Ireland, and as a young man was a commer- cial traveier in the old country. Emigrating with his family to America. he settled in Quebec. where he was employed as a school teacher 11n1- til his death, in 1861. He married Glen Mc- Dale, who survived him. and died a few months later in Iowa. She was a woman of much force of character, and was a devoted member of the

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Presbyterian Church. She bore her husband four children, namely: John, Katherine, James J., and Robert.

Beginning the struggle of life for himself when young, James J. Gordon worked on a farm in Troy Grove, Ill., for four years, after which he spent five years in Indiana. Returning from there to Illinois, he located in Chicago, where for two years he was a clerk in the store of Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co., one of the leading dry goods firms, and was subsequently a contractor and builder. Going from that city to Nebraska, Mr. Gordon was foreman on a large ranch for five years, and was afterwards a resident of Iowa for six years. The following two years le lived in Denver, Colo. In 1901 he came to California, and is now devoting his entire attention to agri- cultural pursuits, being superintendent of the Post ranch, lying near University station, Los Angeles. Mr. Gordon is a man of intelligence, keeping well informed on current events, and as a sound Democrat evinces a deep interest in local and national affairs.

James W. Graham was born in Hancock coun- ty, Ill., October 1, 1850, and therefore was but two years old when his parents brought him to California in 1852. His early education was re- ceived through the medium of the common schools of Colusa county ; later he took a course of study in San Francisco at the Pacific Medical College, entering the medical department. He also took a general course in medicine and sur- gery at the Willamette University, Portland, Oregon. After making this extended preparation for his professional career he located in East Portland, where he practiced .until 1894. He then

removed to Santa Barbara, from there to Los Alamos, and lastly to Lompoc, his present lo- cation. In 1899 Dr. Graham was married to Miss Lena Rucker, a native of Lompoc, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is also a prominent fraternal man and belongs to the more important lodges of Lompoc, including the Masonic, Eastern Star, Knights of Pythias, Foresters and Fraternal Brotherhood. Political- ly he is a strong believer in the principles advo- cated by the Democratic party and while at Alamos served as trustee of schools for that dis- trict.

FRANK A. HALBURG. Prominent among successful business men of our county is Frank A. Halburg, a pioneer merchant of Burbank, who has accumulated a competency, and is now en- joying a well-deserved leisure, living retired from active pursuits. He was born August 10, 1845, in Sweden, where he grew to man's estate. He emigrated to this country in 1868, settling first in Illinois, where he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he was there employed in mercantile business until 1884, when he went to New York City, where he was similarly employed four years.

JAMES W. GRAHAM, M. D. Dr. James W. Graham, Lompoc's leading physician and sur- geon, is a man highly educated, of broad mind and very intellectual, and for his fine business, Disposing of his New York interests in 1888, Mr. Halburg came to Burbank, and opening a store in this village carried on a substantial busi- ness for six years. Selling out his entire stock in 1894, he has since devoted his time to his per- sonal affairs, looking after his property, which is quite valuable. Mr. Halburg owns and occu- pies a very pleasant house, and in addition to owning four other dwelling houses and several lots in the residential part of the village, has thirty acres of alfalfa land lying near the village. professional and social qualities is greatly es- teemed by his large circle of friends and acquaint- ances. His practice is very extensive and he is often called upon to make long trips to outlying portions of the country where his reputation has spread. In addition to his professional work he conducts an up-to-date drug store in Lompoc, where he has been located for the past eight years. Dr. Graham's father was one of the carliest California pioneers who came to the state when the long and tedious overland trip had to In Illinois Mr. Halburg married Ida Johnson, and they have one child, Clarence Theodore, of Burbank. Politically Mr. Halburg is a straight- forward Republican, and for six years has served as postmaster at. Burbank, being under the ad- ministration of President Harrison for four years, be made by the stage route. He was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife, Sophronia A. Graham, was born in Indiana. The father, Benj. F. Graham, was a farmer in Colusa county for many years, and there the mother died. Later he re- moved to Lompoc and lived there until his demise . and serving under President Cleveland for two at the age of eighty-eight years.

years. Fraternally he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Foresters. He takes an intelli- gent interest in and supports all movements tending to promote the welfare of the com- munity.

ROY HOFFMAN. One of the prominent young business men of Oxnard is Roy Hoff- man, proprietor of the Oxnard Steam Laundry, which is the largest in Ventura county and is fitted with the most up-to-date and modern ma- chinery obtainable. The building, which was especially erected for the purpose, has a main

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building 25x30 feet, with two additions of 20x20 feet each. In the boiler room is placed a twenty- four horse power boiler and a twelve horse power engine. The washing machines, mangles, wringer and other machinery with which the plant is fitted are of the very best patterns and no work is too fine for them to handle. The water used is supplied from an artesian well on the premises, and Mr. Hoffman has a distilled water plant in connection from which he dis- tributes water to all parts of the county.

When his parents, E. S. and Mary (Clark) Hoffman, came to California in 1871 they located at Modesto on a farm, and remained there until 1876, when they removed to Santa Barbara county, where the father died in 1896. The mother is still living and makes her home in Lompoc. Of the seven children in the family six are now living, and Roy is the oldest. He was born November 16, 1874, in Modesto, and received his education through the medium of the public schools of Lompoc. When school days were over he went to Randsburg and en- gaged in farming for a few months, but gave up his work to enlist in the Spanish-American war, as a member of Company A, Eighth California Volunteer Infantry. While in the army he learned the barber trade, and after his discharge engaged in that business in San Francisco until 1899, when he established a shop in Oxnard. He spent a part of 1905 at Tonopah and Goldfield, Nev., and in July, 1906, disposed of his barber shop and bought the Oxnard Laundry, which he is now operating. His marriage to Miss May Johnson, a native daughter of Santa Ana, oc- curred in Santa Barbara, and they have become the parents of two children, Gladys and Mildred. Mrs. Hoffman is a member of and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hoff- man is a Master Mason of the Oxnard lodge, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of which he is past grand master in the Oxnard lodge, and is secretary of the district de- partment encampment: also belongs to the Ox- nard Lodge M. W. A., of which he is clerk. Politically he advocates the principles of the Re- publican party and takes an active interest in all matters of civic and social interest in the com- munity of which he is a leading citizen.

F. J. HUMPHREY was one in a family. of three children born to DeWitt C. and Flore (La Salle) Humphrey, both natives of New York. The parents moved successively from New York state to Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Nebraska, and lastly to California, where they are still living, their home being in Santa Barbara county on a fine ranch, and where they carry on a ranching and stock-raising business. Mr. Humphrey

joined the Masonic Lodge in the East. Mrs. Humphrey is interested in church work of vari- ous kinds and belongs to the Presbyterian de- nomination. In politics both father and son are Republican. The subject of this biography was born near Des Moines, Iowa, May 26, 1876, and was but twelve years of age when his parents brought him to Santa Barbara county. Here he received his education in high school, and when school days were over began his business career as a dairyman near Santa Barbara, but nine years ago removed to the Carpenteria valley, and for two years past has been on the splendid ranch which is now his home, all of the 160 acres being planted to beans.

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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 186

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