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 64

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 64

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While living in North Vernon, Ind., Mr. Covert was married to Miss Zoe Grinstead, a native of that place, and two children have been born to them, Lucile, the wife of Carl Ransdell, and Paul. In North Vernon Mr. Covert was made a Mason in the local lodge, and since com- ing to Long Beach he has transferred his mem- bership to Long Beach Lodge No. 286. Other fraternal orders also claim his membership, among them the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and Knight of Pythias, in which latter he has attained the uniformed rank. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Long Beach, and politically is a Republican. Both himself and wife have many friends who re- spect them highly for their many commendable qualities.

WALTER D. HAMBLETON, D. D. S. Prominent in professional circles is Walter D. Hambleton, D. D. S., who has the distinction of being the first dentist to open an office in Ocean Park, where he has built up a large and remun- erative practice, his natural talents and skill being recognized and thoroughly appreciated by those who need, as we all do at some period of life, a judicious application of dental surgery. A native of Iowa, he was born, July 1, 1875, in Davis county, in the same house, and in the same room, in which the birth of his father, Elbert A. Hambleton, occurred. His grandfather, Abra- ham Hambleton, was a pioneer settler of Davis county, Iowa, where he became a large property owner and one of its most successful farmers. In 1887 Elbert A. Hambleton migrated with his family to the Pacific coast, and is now living, re- tired from active pursuits, in Modesto, Cal.

Coming with his parents to California when

HL Mchain

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a boy, Walter D. Hambleton completed the course of study in the Modesto high school, after which he entered the dental department of the University of California, at Berkeley, where he was graduated with the class of 1902. Immedi- ately opening an office in Ocean Park, Dr. Ham- bleton began the practice of his chosen profes- sion, being the first dentist to locate in this vicin- ity. The town was then in its infancy, and in its upbuilding and rapid growth he took great interest, making judicious investments in real estate. As the population grew, the doctor's patronage increased, his success as a dental sur- geon being assured from the first, as was his popularity in business and social circles.

Politically the doctor is a loyal Republican, and fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Santa Monica.

HENRY L. McLAIN. Few of the men now active in various occupations in the west have reason to regret their decision in estab- lishing their homes in this part of the country, and certainly Mr. McLain is not among these few citizens, for he has achieved a steadily in- creasing success and has risen to a position of prominence as one of the successful resi- dents of San Bernardino county. The occu- pation which he now so successfully follows differs from that which engaged his attention during the earlier years of manhood, for in early life he studied architecture and for twenty- years he devoted himself exclusively to that occupation. As a boy he had lived on a farm in Blair county, Pa., where he was born July 19, 1845; however, agriculture did not attract hiim sufficiently for him to select it for a life- work, but instead he turned his attention to the study of architecture. After having fol- lowed this occupation about one-quarter of a century he came to California in 1889 and settled in Los Angeles, but two years later removed to Highland, where since he has made his home.

The purchase of twenty acres of the Lingo claim gave Mr. McLain an unimproved tract on which to concentrate his labors, and herc be erected a neat house and substantial barns. Ten acres of the land he set out in lemon trees and for a time devoted consideration to lemon-culture, but the failure of the water supply obliged him to abandon the occupation. Meanwhile he had begun in the poultry busi- ness on a small scale and gradually developed a large plant. On his place he has chicken- vards neatly fenced and a complete equipment for the care of the fowls. At this writing he has two thousand hens of the single white- comb Leghorn and barred Plymouth Rock

varieties, and during the season of 1906 he shipped twenty thousand eggs for setting pur- poses, shipments being made to the various cities and towns along the coast. On his farm he utilizes incubators with a capacity of one thousand eggs altogether, which enables him to raise an enormus number of chickens each season. Through careful attention to detail and thoroughness of work he has developed a very profitable industry and gained a wide reputation as a poultry fancier.

In fraternal relations Mr. McLain formerly took an active part in the Knights of Pythias, but of recent years he has not been active in any order. Interested in politics, he always has been stanch in his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party. Since 1894 he has been a member of the Democratic county central committee and since 1900 he has filled the office of road overseer, both of which positions he has filled with painstaking care and fidelity. However, partisanship does not appeal to him, for he is a citizen first, not a politician, and his devotion to the welfare of county, state and nation has been apparent in all of his acts. From Pitts- burg, in 1863 he enlisted in the Fifth Penn- sylvania Heavy Artillery, Company L., and was assigned to the army of the Potomac, taking part in its engagements. He is a mem- ber of Cornman Post, G. A. R., of San Ben- nardino. Though not identified with any church, he contributes to religious activities, and especially to the missionary enterprises of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, with which his family holds membership. His wife, who shares with him the esteem of acquaint- ances and the good-will of the community, was Mary Dunlap Blood, a native of England, but from an early age a resident of Pittsburg, Pa., where she was educated in the public schools. Their marriage was solemnized on the 4th of July, 1869, and was blessed with two children. The daughter, Mary Belle, is the wife of E. I .. Howell and resides in San Ber- nardino. The son, Francis George, has made his home in Redlands for several years and follows the trade of a builder, taking contracts for the erection of houses and other buildings.

S. D. MUNGER. Prominent among the active and enterprising business men of Moor- park is S. D. Munger, 'who in connection with bis farming interests successfully managed the Moorpark hotel, of which he was formerly the proprietor. Industrious and energetic by nature. possessing great business ability and tact, he has ever made the most of his opportunities, and for- tune has evidently attended his every effort,

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bringing him well deserved returns for his labors. As a general farmer, he uses excellent judgment, and as proprietor of the hotel was pleasant, agree- able and accommodating, proving himself an ideal host, and well worthy of the extensive and lucra- tive patronage which he built up. A son of Dexter Munger, he was born, February 8, 1860, in Shiawassee county, Mich., where he received his elementary education.

A native of New York state, Dexter Munger migrated from there to Michigan when young, and when the Civil war broke out offered his services to his country. Enlisting in a Michigan cavalry, he was in active duty for four years, taking part in the many engagements in which his company participated, and at the siege of Petersburg being severely wounded. He spent his last days in California, dying at the age of sixty-three years in Santa Paula. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he took great interest. He married Jennie Hall, who was born in Michigan, and died in Tennessee, leaving two children.

But sixteen years old when he came to Ven- tura county, S. D. Munger completed his early education in the public schools of Nordhoff. Go- ing then to Ojai valley, he followed ranching for fifteen years in that locality, after which he was engaged in grain and fruit raising at Santa Maria for ten years. The ensuing three years he was a resident of Riverside county and one of its prosperous agriculturists. Investing his money then in Moorpark property, he bought farming land, village lots, and the Moorpark hotel, and has since been one of the busiest and most active men of the place, carrying on general farming and managing the hotel until disposing of the latter.

In 1890 Mr. Munger married Julia Robison, a native of Texas, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Ruby, thirteen years of age ; Marion, ten years old; Claude, five years of age ; and Leon, two years old. Politically Mr. Munger gives his cordial support to the Repub- lican party; fraternally he belongs to Saticoy Lodge No. 1419, I. O. F .; and religiously he is a .member of the Christian Church.

LONG BEACH BUSINESS COLLEGE. The Long Beach Business College is one of col- leges owned by The Private Schools Company, incorporated in 1905, of which R. S. Knudson is president and V. E. Nielson is secretary. The college was founded and opened by Mr. Knudson on September 8, 1902, and has grown until it has become one of the largest and leading commercial colleges in Southern California. In the fifth year of its growth, there are enrolled over eight hundred students. The college is located on First

street and American avenue and occupies two floors of the Bartow building. It is modern and conveniently arranged, has large, light and airy classrooms and is equipped with roll-top desks and overy fifty Smith Premier and Remington typewriters. Besides full business and short- hand courses they have a Conservatory of Music, Art and Elocution. Branch schools have re- cently been established at Ocean Park and San Pedro.

Mr. Knudson is a Minnesotan, and is a grad- uate of the Rochester Business University, Rochester, N. Y., the Northwestern College of Shorthand, Minneapolis, Minn., and the banking department of the Metropolitan Business Col- lege, Chicago, Ill. He has been engaged in school work for nearly twenty years.

Mr. Nielson is a native of Kansas. He is a graduate of the Lincoln Center and of the Great Western Business College, Concordia, Kansas, and was a member of the faculty of the Riverside Commercial College until August, 1903, when he became a member of the present faculty. The two gentlemen, by their ability and energy have made the college a success and their efforts are appreciated by the people of the ocean cities.

EDMOND LEONARD DORAN. An in- teresting career has fallen to the lot of Edmond Leonard Doran, one of the prominent business men of Avalon. He was a resident of the great plains country and worked on the large cattle ranches at the time of the passing of the buffalo and the subdning of the Indians, being engaged in line riding at the time of the Geronimo cam- paign in 1886. He is now greatly interested in the wonderful glass bottomed boats which are the source of more interest and admiration than any other single attraction at Catalina, being a member of the Meteor Boat Company at Avalon. A history of these glass bottomed boats contains much of interest. Until 1895 glass bottomed boxes were placed on the water at the side of an ordinary boat when parties were looking for abalones and viewing the sub- marine gardens. In that year Alex O'Leary the hermit of San Clemente island, who spent some time at Avalon, suggested the construction of the glass bottom boat, and acting upon this suggestion Bill Condit and Charles Fage proceeded to build the first craft of the kind ever made, and in which Mr. O'Leary was skipper for some time. The first sidewheel glass bottom boat was built by Gurious & Tobin in Mathewson's boatyard, and after- ward became the property of the Meteor Boat Company, although it is now dismantled and idle. The second large boat was Lady Lou, the third Cleopatra, and the fourth and largest of

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

all is the Empress, which is the first one to be provided with two rows of glass boxes, instead of one as the others had, the capacity of the Empress being one hundred and twenty people -as large as it is considered practicable to build a boat of this description. All of these boats are now the property of the Meteor company. Mr. Doran has spent many months on the dif- ferent islands along the coast, has explored all of them thoroughly, and owns a very large col- lection of Indian relics from them, being with- out doubt the best posted man in that line of anyone now living.

October 14, 1864, Edmond Leonard Doran was born in Ontario, near Montreal, the son of Solomon, a native of the same place, and a grandson of Samuel, who was a native of New England and became a pioneer in Ontario, set- tling near Montreal. A part of the Doran fam- ily were United Empire Loyalists, as different members settled on each side of the St. Lawrence river, thinking they were in Canada, the settle- ment of the boundary question proving those on the south side to be in the United States, however. The grandfather cleared and im- proved lands until he had enough to provide each of six children with one hundred acres, also utilized the water power of the creek which coursed through his possessions, established a saw mill, and proceeded to manufacture hum- ber. His death removed a man of considerable prominence in that part of the country. The father owned a farm on Doran's creek which he later sold, removing to Iroquois, where he en- gaged in the merchandising business, building the first large brick block at that place. He subsequently took his oldest son as a partner and together they were interested in many important enterprises, building a wharf on the St. Lawrence river, building a grist mill, and engaging in traffic on the river. They also owned a lumber yard ; they shipped eggs, to Boston by the whole- sale, and their house was the first one to be fur- nished with a base burner hard coal stove in that locality. The senior Doran was captain of a local company of militia, was prominent in politics, be- ing at one time mayor of the city, and fraternally belonged to the Masonic lodge. He died at the age of fifty-three years. His wife was Margaret Bailey before her marriage, a native of the United States, her people being also United Empire Lovalists. She lived to the advanced age of cighty-two years, her death occurring at the old home in February, 1906. Of the nine chil- dren in this family but three are now living, and one brother, Edgar A., is a resident of Los An- geles, being president of the Doran, Brouse & Price Oil Company, and engaged in general contracting.

The next to the youngest of the family Ed-

mond Leonard Doran was brought up on the farm in Ontario, where he attended the public schools as a boy. and in 1883 removed to Den- ver, Col., where he remained through the winter and in the spring of 1884 secured employment on Dr. Tuttle's ranch, continuing on the ranch four years. The spring of 1888 found Mr. Doran in San Bernardino, Cal., where he engaged in business, conducting a cigar and news stand in the old Hotel Stewart. Later he became clerk of the Stewart, under the proprietor, J. G. Burt, who had so many outside public interests that the duties of a private secretary devolved upon Mr. Doran until Mr. Burt's death in 1893, when he came to Los Angeles. The following year he started in the oil business, becoming the fifthi stockholder in the American Crude Oil Com- pany, which was the first prominently successful company in Los Angeles. He was president of that company at one time, and also held in- terests in other companies, which paid him well. In 1895 he first visited Catalina, and owned the Mascot, which was the only launch at San Pedro at that time except Captain Duffy's. Mr. Doran renamed his boat the Narod, which is his own name spelled backwards. There is also a station on the Southern Pacific and Salt Lake routes hv that name which was given in honor of Mr. Doran. This same year he purchased other launches and became interested in the Avalon Boat Company. which was later consolidated with the Meteor Boat Company, and incorporated with him as vice-president and general manager. He holds both a master's and an engineer's license and can run any of his launches as skil- fully as the best of his men. The other busi- ness interests of Mr. Doran include the Doran, Bronse & Price Company of Los Angeles, heing a director of that incorporation : large land hold- ings in Tulare county on the Kings river ; and oil wells in Bakersfield.

The marriage of Mr. Doran occurred in San Lorenzo, where he was united with Susanna, daughter of William Meek, owner of the large Meek tract at that place, comprising three thou- sand acres. He crossed the plains in an early day and settled at Llewellyn, Ore., and broke the first wagon road from that point to Cali- fornia. Mrs. Doran is a woman of superior at- tainments and fine education, being a graduate of Mills College. They have a beautiful modern residence on Breezy Point where Mr. and Mrs. Doran live with their two children, Margaret and Gertrude. Politically Mr. Doran is a strong believer in the principles embraced in the plat- form of the Republican party, and he is a mem- ber of the Union League Club of Los Angeles. He is a man of generous disposition and liberal principles, taking an active interest in all busi-

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ness, social, and civic enterprises, and holds the highest respect of all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

WILLIS BURR McDONALD. As a success- ful business man Willis Burr McDonald is ad- ding his influence to the growth and upbuilding of the city of Redlands, where he has been lo- cated since 1900 and engaged for the greater part of the time in the management of the Palace Livery, of which he is proprietor. He was born in Waukon, Iowa, March 23, 1868, a son of Judge C. W. McDonald, a native of Indiana and a prominent citizen in whatever section of the union he made his home. His father, C. B., was a pioneer of Illinois, of Scotch descent, building and owning the first flour mill in Peoria, whence he later removed to Indiana. C. W. McDonald located in New York City and there engaged as foreman of a large daily, remaining so occupied for some time, when he returned to the middle west and in Sioux Falls established the Independ- ent, which he conducted successfully. Later he established the Wessington Springs (Dak.) Herald, and at the same time entered land and engaged in general farming. A man of erndition and talent he was elected to the office of county judge, which he filled satisfactorily. He is a prominent Mason and well known in fraternal circles. His wife, formerly Clara Burr, was a member of the New York family of that name and was a second cousin of Aaron Burr. She died early in life, leaving but the one child, Willis Burr McDonald, of this review.

Reared in Dakota and educated in the public schools of Sioux Falls and Wessington Springs, Willis Burr McDonald grew to young manhood among the surroundings of a frontier home. He followed the training received in the paternal home and in young manhood began farming and stock-raising on a homestead which he took up adjoining the town. In 1898 he disposed of these interests and located in Boulder, Colo., where he established a feed and fuel business, and also fol- lowed farming to some extent, but because of the extremely high altitude he was forced to leave that place. Again disposing of his business in- terests he located in Redlands and six months later purchased the business of J. H. Kelley, who was then proprietor of the Palace Livery Stable, well located on Orange street, in a building 50x 120 feet in dimensions. He has built up a large business and continues to hold a wide patronage. He is a member of the Redlands Driving Associa- tion, which company was formed for the purpose of caring for the tourists that come annually to the city.

In Wessington Springs, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage with Miss Floy Tofflemire, a

native of Illinois, and born of this union are the following children: Burr, Lottie, Carl and Floy. Fraternally Mr. McDonald is associated with the Odd Fellows, having been made a member of the organization in Boulder Lodge No. 7, and is now a member in Redlands, and also belongs to the Encampment and Canton. In religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and politically is a stanch advocate of the principles embraced in the platform of the Republican party. He is a member of the Board of Trade and takes every interest in all movements calcu- lated to advance the general welfare of the con- munity.

CHARLES G. DAVIDSON. Numbered among the practical, self-reliant and prosperous young business men of Compton is Charles G. Davidson, who is actively engaged in mercan- tile pursuits, carrying in his store a full line of general sporting goods, and likewise conduct- ing a well-equipped bicycle repair shop. He was born in Lafayette county, Mo., December 5, 1874, a son of the late G. C. Davidson.

Born and reared in Missouri, G. C. David- son became a land owner in that state, and for a number of years was there employed in gen- eral farming and stock-raising. Disposing of his property there in 1875, he came to California with his family, locating in San Luis Obispo county, where he ran a dairy farm for a few years. Coming to Los Angeles county in 1882. he bought land, and in addition to farming was also engaged in business here as a blacksmith for a time. Giving up his smithy' some time later, he devoted himself to ranching altogether until his death, in 1889, at the comparatively early age of fifty-one years. He married Eliza Goodrich, a native of Kentucky, and she survived him a number of years, dying in Compton in May. 1902. Eight children were born of their union, namely : Rebecca, wife of B. Aberle ; Rosie, wife of J. N. Brinkerhoff; Alice, wife of A. Mc- Comas; James, who married Minnie Ridgeway : Martha, wife of H. M. Dillon; Annie, wife of Jesse Sutton; Charles G., the subject of this sketch; and John, who married Lena Andrews. Politically the father was a steadfast supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and both he and his wife were faithful members of the Baptist Church.

Coming with his parents to Compton when about seven years of age, Charles G. Davidson was here brought up and educated, attending the public schools, and until after the death of his father assisting in the labors incidental to farm life. His widowed mother then bought property in the village of Compton, and here spent the remainder of her life. In 1898 Mr. Davidson

& Midgett

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enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war, becoming a member of Company C, Sev- enth California Volunteer Infantry, which was stationed for five months in San Francisco. Sub- sequently, after a furlough, he went to Los An- geles, where, in December, 1898, he was mus- tered out of the army. Returning home, he was for six months in the employ of S. F. Catey, acting as engineer in well drilling. In 1899 he started in business on his own account, opening a store well stocked with sporting goods of all kinds, and has since built up a substantial and profitable trade in this line. He has in connec- tion with this business a bicycle repair shop, which is on a paying basis, being liberally pat- ronzed.

A stanch adherent of the Republican party, Mr. Davidson is active in local affairs, and is serving as a deputy sheriff, and as constable of Compton. He is a man of upright principles, and a member of the Baptist Church, and socially belongs to the Fraternal Brotherhood.

SAMUEL MUDGETT. Long association with the agricultural interests of Santa Bar- bara county and close identification with movements for the upbuilding of the same have made Mr. Mudgett one of the most prom- inent figures in this part of the county, his ranch of forty acres lying in close proximity to Orcutt. A quarter of a century, lacking only a few years, has elapsed since he cast in his lot with the few settlers of this county and began the task of developing a ranch from the wild prairie soil. Age has not weakened his intellectual powers nor lessened his interest in the prosperity of the county; on the other hand, while the years have taken from him a capacity for long physical endurance, they have made a recompense in their accumulating fund of experience and mental grasp.

For years antedating the Revolutionary war the Mudgett family had lived and labored in the New England colonics, and it was while the grandparents of Mr. Mudgett were living in New Hampshire, that their son Stephen was born. By his marriage with Mary Porter, also of New England parentage, and a native of Maine, cight children were born, but two of them are now dcccased. Two sons fought for their country's cause in the Civil war, enlist- ing in Company A, Eleventh Maine Volun- teers, and a daughter, Ann Mary Hunter, now makes her home in Alameda, this state. Both parents lived to enjoy a ripe old age, their earth life coming to a close amid the scenes familiar to them throughout their long and useful lives, both dying in Maine, the father

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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 64

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