USA > California > Merced County > A history of Merced County, California : with a biographical review of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 81
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As the proprietor of a cement contracting business in Merced William E. Bailey has built up an important trade in his line. The business was inaugurated by Elton F. Bailey, the father of our sub- ject, in 1911, and one year later William E. took over the active management of the business, which has steadily increased with the passing of the years. His birth occurred in San Francisco, Cal., on May 12, 1885, a son of Elton F. and Emma (Conklin) Bailey. The father is also a native son, born in Placerville, Cal., and a son of a very early pioneer, who located in that section of California. Both parents are still living, Elton F. being associated with his son in the cement works.
William E. Bailey attended public school in San Francisco and, as his father before him was a cement contractor, he began to learn the business at an early age and has grown up in it. During the World War he was employed as a mechanic in merchant marine work; after the war he returned to Merced, having previously located here in 1912, and resumed his cement contract work. He had the contract for the cement work on the Doyle Garage, the Gateway Garage, the postoffice building and the building adjoining, the warehouse of the Merced Hardware Company, the Merced Creamery building, the Galen Clark School, the Keystone Hardware building, the John Muir School, and the Livingston High School. He did the cement work on the cafeteria, the manual arts building, and the auditorium of the high school, and the creamery floors at Atwater. Mr. Bailey guarantees all of his work to be first class in every particular and employs only high grade workmen.
The marriage of Mr. Bailey united him with Miss Pauline Miller, a native of Ohio. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Fraternal Brotherhood of Merced and in politics votes the Republican ticket.
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THOMAS BURTON STRIBLING, JR.
Agriculture has been the life occupation of Thomas Burton Strib- ling, Jr., for he was only fourteen years old when he determined to make this line his life's work. In 1911 he established the Stribling Nursery which he operated alone for ten years; then in 1921, he be- came associated with Ivan Lilley and the firm now operates under the name of Lilley & Stribling Nursery, and they have succeeded in build- ing up a prosperous business. Mr. Stribling was born at Granite Spring, Mariposa County, Cal., on August 28, 1895, a son of Thomas Burton and Mary Lavina (Halstead) Stribling, both natives of Cali- fornia, and still living. The grandparents of our subject crossed the plains to California in an early day.
Thomas Burton Stribling, Jr., attended the public schools in Mari- posa, Merced and Stanislaus Counties, with three years in high school. During vacation periods he worked in a nursery and started his own business in 1911 in Merced.
The marriage of Mr. Stribling united him with Miss Eugenia Inez Cabral, and they are the parents of three children: Willis An- thony, Burt Lee and Ivan LeRoy. Mr. Stribling served for three months during the World War and is a member of the local Ameri- can Legion Post; he is also affiliated fraternally with Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. Elks, and the Red Men of Le Grand; he also is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. In politics he is independent.
MISS IVA E. TRUMBELL
That the credit for progress and the amelioration of the condition of humanity is due to the male sex entirely has never been for a mo- ment conceded, even by the most prejudiced. In some lines it must be admitted that the work of women has far overshadowed anything that man has been able to accomplish. One of those lines is nursing and caring for the sick, and one who is a worthy exponent of that line is Miss Iva E. Trumbell, proprietor of the new Mercy Hospital in Merced.
The daughter of Charles and Alpha (Brooks ) Trumbell, she was born on July 9, 1893, on a farm near Belmont, Iowa. Her father was a farmer and is now living in Stockton, Cal. Her mother has passed away. Miss Trumbell's education began in the public schools of Iowa and was completed in the Iowa Methodist Hospital Train- ing School for Nurses in Des Moines, from which she was graduated in 1917. Afterward she was night superintendent of the same insti-
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tution from 1917 until June, 1919. She then did post-graduate work in the Teachers' College of Columbia University in New York. From there she was called to Iowa as the superintendent of the Congrega- tional Hospital in Des Moines, where she remained until 1922, when she came to California and for ten months conducted a hospital at Oakdale. On November 20, 1923, she came to Merced to take charge of the newly constructed Mercy Hospital.
This building was erected by the people of Merced and is most modern in construction and is equipped with every up-to-date appli- ance for the care of its patients and the convenience of the attending physicians and nurses. The heating, lighting and cooking are all done by electricity. The hospital has eleven private rooms and four wards and has a total bed capacity of thirty-five. There are six graduate nurses besides the other attaches of the place. The building is located in a square of ground comprising four blocks and overlooks the new park. With its fine lawn and surroundings it is ideal in its location and a very valuable adjunct to the city.
Miss Trumbell is a member of the American Nurses Association and the National League of Nursing Education, which has its head- quarters in New York City. She is also a Red Cross nurse and a member of the Rebekahs of Merced. Politically she votes the Republican ticket.
MANUEL T. CUNHA
Bereaved of his father when eleven years of age, and of his mother when four, Manuel Cunha had a hard row to hoe but he has hoed it well and has arrived at a comfortable competence and commands the respect of his fellow citizens. He was born in St. George, in the Azores, on December 25, 1872, the son of Manuel and Anna ( Betten- court) Cunha. The father was a clerk in a store in St. George, came to California in the fall of 1875 and settled at San Rafael, Marin County, where he carried on a farm and dairy business. At the early age of thirty-three he passed away and his wife died at twenty-four. Manuel had one brother who is at Petaluma. Manuel attended the grammar school until his father died, then he started out to work for himself, taking odd jobs at first till he got steady employment on a farm near Millbrae, where he worked three years in gardens and at general farming. The dry goods business was his next venture, and he followed it for ten years in San Rafael. Upon selling out he came to Gustine, Merced County, in 1910, and for six years was manager of the dry goods department of Miller and Lux's store in Gustine. In 1916 he became manager of the Gustine Creamery, holding the posi-
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tion for two years. In 1919 he engaged in the insurance business with the New York Life Insurance Company for six months, and then with the Reliance Life Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, with which he still remains.
In September, 1911, Mr. Cunha married, at Stockton, Mrs. Fran- ces Fernandes, widow of Manuel Fernandes. Her maiden name was Frances Rose, and she was born at San Rafael, the daughter of Man- uel and Isabella Rose. Her father was a native of the Azores Is- lands, who came to California as a young man and engaged in the dairy business, and later in brick making. Mr. Cunha's family con- sists of five children: Anna Fernandes, a stepdaughter; Nathalie, Margaret, Frances and Milton. In politics he is a Republican. He is a director of the Bank of Gustine and is corporation secretary of the Gustine Creamery. Mr. Cunha owns an alfalfa ranch of twenty- seven acres near Gustine; and his home, which he bought in 1918 in Gustine.
IVAN W. LILLEY
Prominently identified with the best interests of Merced County is Ivan W. Lilley, an enterprising and progressive nursery man and horticulturist, residing in Merced, where he is engaged in the nursery business. The business was established in 1920; later he formed a partnership with Thomas B. Stribling, Jr. and they specialized in commercial fruit trees, putting particular stress on fig trees, a fruit which is admirably adapted to Merced County climate and soil. They also handle ornamental trees and shrubs. Lilley and Stribling main- tain their nursery at Le Grand, Merced County, where they grow their stock. They handle about a million and a half fruit trees an- nually, employing fifteen men during the planting season. Their stock is of the very best to be obtained, and they sell throughout the State.
Ivan W. Lilley was born in the State of New York, on June 6, 1895, the son of Dr. W. E. and Mabel (Crosgrove) Lilley, whose sketch may be found in this history. He was brought to Merced in 1899, and was graduated from the Merced High School in 1913, then entered the University of California, from which he was grad- uated with the degree of B.S., in 1919. He took up horticulture, and for one year worked as field man with the Peach & Fig Asso- ciation in Fresno. He then engaged in contract pruning until he estab- lished a nursery business in Merced County, which has expanded rapidly under the joint management of Messrs. Lilley and Stribling.
The marriage of Mr. Lilley united him with Miss Inez H. Youd, a native daughter of Merced. Mr. Lilley's interest centers in Mer-
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ced County, which he considers one of the most fertile portions of the State, and he takes an active part in the development of its re- sources. He is a member of the Merced Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. He is a member of Alpha Chi Chapter of the Kappa Alpha college fraternity. In politics he prefers to vote inde- pendently of any party lines.
JAMES McCUE
While James McCue is among the more recent accessions to the business ranks of Merced he is none the less deservedly popular and successful in his line, that of contract plastering, in which he usually employs six men. Among the outstanding contracts he has handled was the plastering of the gymnasium of the Union High School build- ing, the new Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and many of the finer residences where A-1 work was required. He was born in Erie, Pa., on July 13, 1872, a son of Thomas and Helen (Flannigan) Mc- Cue. The father, Thomas McCue, was a machinist by occupation and lived and died in Pennsylvania.
James McCue received his education in the public schools of Buf- falo, N. Y. Reaching young manhood he learned the plasterer's trade and for a number of years followed it successfully ; he also ran a grain elevator in the East before coming to California, about 1900, and made his home in Oakland, although he worked around the Bay dis- trict. It was not until the summer of 1922 that he located in Mer- ced, and by his integrity and exceptional grade of work he has taken the lead in his line of business.
At Oakland, Cal., Mr. McCue was married to Miss Bertha White, one of California's native daughters. In politics Mr. McCue prefers to select the candidate best fitted to serve the public rather than be confined to strict party lines; fraternally he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose at Merced.
A. A. LEWIS
Although a resident of Merced only since 1922, A. A. Lewis has won for himself a place among the successful business men of the city as the agent for the Studebaker automobiles. Besides carry- ing a full line of cars he has a large stock of parts and supplies, all of which is housed in a concrete, fireproof building erected by the company at 842 Seventeenth Street. The business has steadily grown from month to month under his management. His birth occurred in
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Sierra County, Cal., on March 29, 1884, a son of David and Leah (Davis) Lewis, both natives of England, who came to California in 1871. The father, David Lewis, spent the greater part of his life in placer mining, but is now living retired with his wife in Plumas County.
A. A. Lewis finished the grammar and high school courses, then took a business course; later he took a mining course in the Van der Nailen School of Mines in San Francisco, and for twelve years there- after followed mining. From 1907 to 1910 he operated the old Vir- ginia mine at Coulterville. From 1911 to 1912 he resided at Coalinga, Cal., where he was engaged in the oil business; then he returned to his mining operations and spent the following seven years in the quick- silver mines of Northern California. In February, 1919, he returned to Coalinga, where he was associated with Mr. Fluetsch in the Pio- neer Garage and Machine Works, which they operated until 1922, when Mr. Lewis came to Merced and established his present business.
The marriage of Mr. Lewis united him with Miss Eula McKee- han, a native of Warrensburg, Mo., and a graduate of the normal school there. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis : Leah Lillian, Artajean, Richard Kenneth and James William. Mr. Lewis is satisfied to make Merced his permanent home, where he takes a good citizen's part in all measures looking toward its pros- perity and advancement. He is independent in his political views.
FRANK J. DUNCAN
A notable instance of one who has risen to a responsible position by his own unaided efforts and who commands the respect of his fel- low citizens, is presented by Frank J. Duncan, deputy sheriff of Mer- ced County. A record of his career takes us back to his birth in Den- ver, Colo., September 2, 1884, when he entered the family of William T. and Elizabeth (Terrill) Duncan, who lived to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. The father, now retired, was an at- torney-at-law who came to Denver about 1849. The mother came from Virginia.
Frank J. Duncan was educated in the public schools and was graduated from the East Denver High School, to which foundation he added a business course in the Denver Modern School of Business. At the age of nineteen, in 1903, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Philippines for six years. Altogether he was fifteen years in the army and was promoted to first lieutenant; his later service was in California. On January 1, 1919, he resigned his com-
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mission and went to Yosemite as a ranger. While on a vacation in Merced he was appointed city marshal, which position he held from November, 1919, to April, 1922. He then resigned to accept the position of State inspector with the Motor Vehicle department until January 1, 1923, when he was appointed a deputy sheriff.
Mr. Duncan is happily married to Miss Beatrice H. Nelson, daughter of Henry Nelson, a California pioneer. He is a Republican in politics. His popularity and wide influence are betokened by his many stanch friends and well-wishers. He is a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, and is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
JOHN E. OUST, JR.
A citizen and business man of much worth and character is John E. Oust, Jr., who, though a comparatively recent accession to the business life of Merced, has made his influence felt in the best in- terests of the place and in the progress and development of its resources. His birth occurred in Norway, October 5, 1883, a son of John E. and Anna N. (Olson) Oust, both natives of the same country. Our subject was six years old when his parents came to California and settled at Merced, where the father was employed with the Crocker-Huffman Company for many years; he is now liv- ing retired; the mother passed away in October, 1922.
John E. Oust, Jr., attended grammar and high school in Mer- ced; then he entered the University of California, where he pursued the electrical engineering course, finishing in 1906. He then returned to Merced, where he entered the employ of the Merced Falls Gas & Electric Company; after some time spent in their employ he went to Chile, S. A., where he remained for eighteen months. Then he located in Sonora, Mexico, for nine months, when he removed to San Francisco and for the following two years was employed with the Westinghouse Company ; then for three years he was with the tele- phone company in San Francisco. Mr. Oust then returned to Mexico and after being there for five months, the revolution broke out and he was obliged to return to his own country, where he became an em- ploye of the Half Moon Bay Light & Power Company and while in this locality was city engineer of Burlingame. After remaining with this company for some time he entered the employ of the U. S. Gov- ernment and had charge of the electrical work at the various coast fortifications. In July, 1923, he returned once more to Merced, where he established his present business of electrical engineer and contractor. He has completed the electrical work on the following
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buildings: the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Church, the manual arts building of the high school, the manual arts building of the grammar school, the motors and wiring of the Cody apartments and many of the handsome residences in and around Merced.
The marriage of Mr. Oust united him with Miss Adele Louise Johnson, a native of Alameda, Cal., and they are the parents of two children, Jack E. and Signa D. Mr. Oust is a Republican in politics and fraternally belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World of Merced. He is highly esteemed and respected by all who know him.
WILLIAM M. GRIFFIN
By virtue of his integrity and progressive spirit, added to those qualities which have distinguished the Griffin family in their resi- dence in this section, as well as by his business ability, William M. Griffin is named among the representative citizens of Merced. As the junior member of the firm of Welch and Griffin, funeral direc- tors and undertakers, he had an opportunity for the display of his executive ability and judgment in its successful management. Mr. Griffin was appointed county coroner in 1917, to fill a vacancy, and he was elected to succeed himself. He was one of Merced County's native sons, born on the old Duggan ranch about five miles from Merced, on April 19, 1872, a son of Patrick and Catherine (Town- sell ) Griffin. Patrick Griffin had immigrated from Ireland to Aus- tralia in an early day and in 1871 came to California and located in Merced County, where he engaged in business until his death in 1882; the mother died in 1875.
William M. Griffin received a public school education. He clerked in a grocery store until he became a clerk in the El Capitan Hotel, his employment there covering a period of four years. In 1896, he went to the Klondyke and spent one year, meeting with only fair success and encountering many hardships. He returned to Mer- ced and went to work for G. E. Nordgren, a furniture and under- taking firm; when Mr. Nordgren sold to Welch & Company, Mr. Griffin came into the company and later, when he bought a half interest in the business, the firm name was changed to Welch & Griffin. The parlors are maintained as a thoroughly modern under- taking establishment and are located in the Masonic Building in Merced, where every consideration is given to their clients.
The marriage of Mr. Griffin united him with Miss Lulu Knisley, born at El Dorado in Eldorado County. Mr. Griffin died February 6, 1924. In politics Mr. Griffin was a Republican, and fraternally
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was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Wood- men of the World, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus. At his passing, the city and county lost a worthy citizen and supporter of their best interests. The firm still remains Welch & Griffin, Mrs. Lulu K. Griffin succeeding her late husband in the conduct of the business.
ANDREW EARL MONTGOMERY
Having passed thirteen years of his life in Merced County and having made a special study of properties and their real worth, Andrew Earl Montgomery is a recognized authority on land values. His special work has been the developing of fig orchards, vineyards and dairies and disposing of them; thus his efforts have contributed to the growth of Merced County in a very substantial manner. His birth occurred on his father's ranch in western Kansas, on July 1, 1889, and he is a son of W. C. and Delia (Kelly) Montgomery; W. C. Montgomery was engaged in farming all his life, and is now deceased. At one time he was a member of the Kansas State legislature. His widow makes her home in Los Angeles.
Andrew Earl Montgomery received his preliminary education in the grammar and high schools of his native state; after the family came to California, he entered St. Vincent's College in Los Angeles, from which he was graduated in 1910, with the degree of A. B. After finishing school he went to Mexico, where he spent two years in prospecting and mining, then returned to Los Angeles and engaged in the real estate business. Through having charge of a tract of land in Merced County, he became interested in this section of California, and in 1911 located in Merced permanently. He purchased a dairy ranch and after eight years of successful management sold out and devoted his attention to the development of a fig orchard. He now owns two bearing fig orchards and one vineyard in the vicinity.
In 1917, Mr. Montgomery was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Josephine Iler, one of California's native daughters, born at San Rafael, and they have two children : Marjorie Ruth, and Andrew Earl, Jr. Fraternally, Mr. Montgomery is affiliated with Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E., of Merced. He has served as tem- porary secretary and a director of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he is an active member. Mr. Montgomery had charge of the campaign of putting over the irrigation pageant in Merced, a great undertaking, which was wisely handled and which proved a great factor in advertising this productive section of California.
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JOHN LESTER QUAIL
The possession of superior business qualifications has enabled John Lester Qail to rise to prominence in his chosen line of work. He located in Merced, Cal., in 1920, where he became assistant county agricultural agent of the extension service, holding this posi- tion until July, 1923, when he was appointed county agricultural agent, and his determination to win in this position has brought him the confidence and good-will of the entire community in which he resides. He is one of California's native sons, born at Stockton, on August 6, 1894, a son of F. E. and Salina Jane (McCleary) Quail, both natives of Ohio. The family came to California in 1890 and settled at Stockton, where the father has been county engineer of San Joaquin County for five terms. Both parents are living, making their home in Stockton.
John Lester Quail spent twenty years of his life in his home city, and completed the grammar and high school courses there; then in 1914 he entered the University of California, from which he was graduated in 1920, with the degree of B. S. During the World War he was a commissioned officer in the air service, being second lieu- tenant aerial observer. He completed his service in fourteen months and received his honorable discharge, then returned to his home and assisted his father until December, 1920, when he located in Merced, which has since been his home.
The marriage of Mr. Quail united him with Miss Violet M. Hamilton of Amador County, and they are the parents of two sons; John Lester, Jr. and Donald Eugene. Mr. Quail is liberal in politics, preferring to support the candidate best fitted for office rather than hew to party lines. In his fraternal relations he is identified with the American Legion and the S. A. E. Fraternity. He is an enthusiast on wholesome outdoor sports and is particularly interested in the growth and prosperity of Merced County.
ROBERT CLARK CUNNINGHAM
A deservedly popular citizen, Robert Clark Cunningham is num- bered among the representative men of Merced who have labored zealously for its upbuilding and the development of its resources. During the twelve years of his residence in Merced he has wit- nessed many changes. He was born in Sidney, Ohio, on September 6, 1892, a son of J. F. and Molly (Clark) Cunningham, both parents of pre-Revolutionary ancestors. The mother is now deceased, while
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the father makes his home in Merced. Robert Clark Cunningham finished the grammar and high school courses in Ohio; then in 1912 he came to California and settled in Merced. For six years he served as deputy county tax collector. During the World War he was chief clerk on the Merced County exemption board; after this he became bookkeeper and cashier for the Crocker-Huffman Land & Water Company, serving in this capacity for two years. His next position was as bookkeeper and salesman for the Cullen Motor Car Com- pany, his services covering a period of one year; then for two years he was chief clerk for the San Joaquin Light & Power Company. On February 1, 1923, he and an associate engaged in the public accounting business and the following November Mr. Cunningham became sole owner of the business.
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