Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century, Part 129

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1366

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While living in Glencoe, Minn., Mr. Meier married Martha Fritz, a native of Danzig, Ger- many, and of this union there are five children, John, Kate, Louis, Edward and Mary. Mr. Meier is a Democrat in national politics, and is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, and St. Joseph's Society. He is a man of high ideals other than those which enter into his occupation, and his many sterling personal qualities have won for him the high regard of all with whom he has been associated.

J. A. MERMILLIOD. There are few parts of the world which have not been visited by J. A. Mermilliod, either in his capacity as an en- gineer in the French navy, or as an expert sta- tionary engineer. Up to the time of his incum- bency as chief engineer of the Ice and Cold Stor- age Company's plant at Los Angeles in April of 1901, his life had been extremely varied, and his association with every department of his favorite occupation so extensive that he is entitled to the enviable reputation of being one of the finest en- gineers on the coast.

A native of Fontainbleau, France, Mr. Mermil- liod was born August 10, 1865, a son of Capt. Anthony Mermilliod, one of the most seasoned salts that ever mastered a vessel. Capt. An- thony was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and as master of a vessel in the merchant marine visited many ports and many seas. He was subsequently a navigator in the French navy, and participated in the Crimean war. His wife, formerly Julia Robineaux, was born in Macon, France, and at present lives in Geneva, Switzerland. She is the mother of five children, all of whom are living, J. A. being the only one in America. In his youth Mr. Mermilliod received the advantages of a thorough French training in the public schools, later graduating from the Polytechnic school in Zurich, Switzerland, one of the finest institutions of its kind in the world. Owing to his father's example he naturally became interested in mari- time affairs, and when seventeen years of age en- tered the French navy as an engineer. During the three years of his service he went all over the world, and in his travels rounded Cape Horn four times and sailed through the Suez canal four times. In 1886 he was honorably discharged, and in December of the same year came to Amer- ica and landed in New Orleans, where he was employed as machinist and draughtsman in a sugar refinery and sugar house works. With the termination of this position began a series of trav- els throughout the country, resulting from his position as erecting engineer for the Cincinnati Ice Machine Company, with whom he remained for five years, and in whose interests he visited thirty-two states and territories. He was later employed by the American Cotton Oil Company as supervising engineer of their mill in Missis- sippi, and still later was with the Illinois Central

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Railroad for a few years. In Vicksburg, Miss., and Wilkesbarre he worked as an expert ma- chinist and renovated ice plants, and accom- plished the same good results in Rio Janeiro, Brazil. In the meantime he had been a corre- spondent for the Chicago Ice and Refrigeration, and still contributes readable and instructive arti- cles to this periodical.

In April of 1901 Mr. Mermilliod came to Los Angeles upon the recommendation of the above mentioned Chicago people, and has since been chief engineer of the Ice and Cold Storage Com- pany's plant, which is the largest enterprise of the kind west of Kansas City. The plant has a capac- ity of one million cubic feet cold storage, and manufactures one hundred and forty tons of ice a day.

In Vicksburg, Miss., Mr. Mermilliod married Alice Moguin, a native of Vicksburg, and of this union there is one son, Warren. Mr. Mermil- liod is a broad-minded liberal man, and is won- derfully well posted on affairs in every part of the world. A keen power of observation and the intelligence to assimilate his acquired knowledge, renders him a most interesting companion and entertainer. He is a member of the National Association of Stationary Engineers, California Lodge No. 2.

J. W. MORRISON. The earliest memories of Mr. Morrison are connected with his child- hood home on Prince Edward Island, Canada, where he was born in the vicinity of Charlotte- town, December 23, 1858. His father, John, was a native of the same northern island, and his grandfather, Hector, was born on the Isle of Mull, Scotland, and in time became a farmer on Prince Edward Island. John Morrison was a magistrate, a clerk of the courts, and served in various official capacities, his active life cover- ing a period of more than seventy years. He was a Presbyterian, and was a cousin of David Livingstone, the great explorer. He married Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Andrew Smith, a native of Inverness, Scotland, and, after emi- grating to America, a farmer on Prince Ed- ward Island. Mrs. Morrison, who died on Prince Edward Island, was the mother of seven children, all of whom are living, J. W. being the youngest. Of the other children, Alexander is in San Francisco; H. J. and Andrew are in Portland, Ore .; and Laughlin is living on the old homestead in Canada. Two sisters also are in Canada.

On his father's farm in the east J. W. Morri- son was reared to man's estate, and was edu- cated in the public schools. As an aid to the future he learned the trade of carpenter, and in 1882 removed to Portland, Ore., where his brothers were prominent builders and con- tractors. In 1884 he began a nine years' resi- dence in Tacoma, Wash., where he built many

residences and public buildings, and superin- tended the erection of the city hall, and put up the Grand Pacific hotel. In 1893 he located in Los Angeles and engaged in contracting and building, and among his most creditable ac- complishments may be mentioned the Fremont Hotel, on Fourth and Olive streets; the Ports- mouth, on Hill street; the three-story brick Nateck hotel, and many residences. He also erected many buildings in Santa Monica. In the fall of 1897 Mr. Morrison sought the quicker way to wealth supposed to await the industrious in the Klondyke, and, strange to tell, his ex- periences were by no means discouraging. Af- ter a year he returned to Los Angeles, and in 1899 substantiated his faith in the frozen north by again seeking to wrest from the earth its hidden treasures, a quest unusually successful, and prolific of a decidedly agreeable impression of a country that to the majority represents disaster and intense suffering. Upon his return to Los Angeles, Mr. Morrison again took up his former occupation of building, and it is no exaggeration to say that he is not excelled in his line in the city.

The marriage of Mr. Morrison and Jessie Fraser occurred in Tacoma, Wash., Mrs. Mor- rison being a native of Nova Scotia, and a de- scendant of an old Scotch family. To Mr. and Mrs. Morrison have been born two children, Bessie and Lloyd Fraser. Mr. Morrison is a stanch Republican. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Encampment, and the Ancient Order United Workmen. With his family he at- tends the Presbyterian Church.

A. NIEMEYER, proprietor of the Central Avenue winery, the Los Angeles depot for the Eagle Rock vineyards at Verdugo, was born at Guttenberg, Clayton county, Iowa, April I, 1868. His father, Henry Bernard, was born in Prussia, and was a tailor by trade in his native land. When twenty-three years of age he came to Cincinnati, and later removed to Gutten- berg, where he engaged in a general merchan- dise and tailoring business, until his removal to Los Angeles in 1873. He purchased ten acres of land on Central avenue from Ninth to Twelfth streets and started a horticultural and wine-making business. In 1883 he bought the present site of the Eagle Rock vineyards; set out his vines and got things started. His manu- factory in the city had been placed on a paying basis when he was killed by the cars, Septem- ber 30, 1891. His wife, Mary Ann (Weber) Niemeyer, was born near Munich, Germany, and came with her parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, later removing to Clayton county, Iowa, of which they were pioneers. Mrs. Niemeyer, who is still living, is the mother of four children, two sons and two daughters.

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When his father removed to California Mr. Niemeyer was but five years of age, and his education was therefore acquired in his adopted city of Los Angeles. He attended the public schools and St. Vincent's College, and from earliest childhood began to learn all about the growing of grapes and the making of wine. He eventually assisted his father in the conduct of his business, and in 1890 became sole manager of the enterprise. Until 1900 he lived at the Eagle Rock vineyards, and then removed into Los Angeles, turning over the care of the vine- yards to his mother. He still utilizes the grapes from the forty acres comprising the vineyard, and in all uses the product of about a hundred acres. In the city he has a fine wine cellar, also the lots on which are built his winery and other buildings on the corner of Eleventh street and Central avenue, and which principal build- ing is 46x105 feet in dimensions. A large re- tail and wholesale business is carried on suc- cessfully, and Mr. Niemeyer is also agent for the East Side Brewing Company.

The marriage of Mr. Niemeyer and Mary Cecilia Maxcy was solemnized in Los Angeles, Mrs. Niemeyer being a native of Denver, Colo., and a daughter of J. J. Maxey, a capitalist of Denver and Los Angeles. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Niemeyer, viz .: A J. W., Bernard E., Mary C., Zeno W., Lorenzo and Henry James. Mr. Niemeyer is indepen- dent in politics, and is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

ALFRED DOLGE. Many and varied have been the experiences that have given individual- ity and prominence to the career of Alfred Dolge, who is now engaged in the wholesale wine busi- ness at No. 829 South Spring street, Los An- geles. He was born in Chemnitz, Saxony, De- cember 22, 1848. At the age of thirteen he en- tered the piano factory of A. Dolge & Co., the president of this being his father, August Dolge. At the age of seventeen he crossed the ocean to New York, where he completed his studies in piano construction. Meantime he was making a thorough study of the business, during the course of which he found that the hammer leather made in the United States was far in- ferior to that manufactured in Germany. Be- lieving he could dispose of the better article, he ordered a small shipment and immediately sold the same at a profit of several hundred dollars, this forming his first capital. Afterward he or- dered constantly increasing consignments. At the same time, having proved the superiority of Poehlmann's wire to the Rollason wire, he began to import the same. In 1871 he organized the Eagle Felt Company, who began business with a single bale of wool in a small loft in Brooklyn. Discouraging failures followed the first experi- ments and the partners withdrew. However, the

enterprising young German continued undis- mayed and finally succeeded in producing a su- perior quality of felt. In less than two years after purchasing his first bale of wool he was making a better quality of felt than had been manufactured in Europe up to that time; real- izing this, he determined to make an exhibition of his hammer felt at the Vienna Exposition of 1873. Six weeks after the opening of the fair he reached Vienna, but found his shipment of felt had been broken open and the contents badly damaged by water and dirt. By the time he had his felts in position the judges had finished their labors, but he persuaded them to examine his exhibit, and the result was that he received the first prize, a medal and a diploma. The Vienna award was followed by the receipts of large or- ders from the piano manufacturers of Europe, which rendered an enlargement of the factory necessary.

Finding a suitable location at Brockett's Bridge, two hundred miles from New York, he purchased a factory site and in 1874 established a factory there, but retained his New York store. At the Centennial in 1876 he received two medals and a diploma. About this time he built a sec- ond factory, for the manufacture of sounding boards. In 1882 large granite felt mills were erected, all the materials used for the same being taken from neighboring quarries and forests. In 1883 he began the manufacture of felt shoes, which business was later sold to the Daniel Green Shoe Company. By the request of the villagers, in 1882 the name of Brockett's Bridge was changed to Dolgeville, in honor of the man to whom the prosperity of the town was due. Not only had he built factories there, but school - houses as well, and one of the schools was largely supported by his private contributions. Two large parks were presented by him to the village and he maintained all expense connected with the same. The academy and free library were built by him, and he advanced to the Turn Verein $40,000, with which to erect a Turner Hall, with gymnasium, theater, banquet halls, etc. Never once were the factories closed until the financial depression of 1893-94, when they were shut down for three months; on starting up again, new tariff conditions made a new standard of business operations and wages necessary, al- though even then they were higher than those paid for similar work anywhere in America or Europe.

Many pages might be filled with a recital of the good Mr. Dolge accomplished in working among his employes, in seeing that they received wages enough to live on comfortably, and in pro- moting their welfare in every way possible, but suffice it to say that he has ever been a friend of labor, and has cherished the belief that event- ually manufacturers will make their employes partners in their business. When the disaster

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came to him that left him with absolutely noth- ing, he did not allow the heavy misfortune to embitter him nor the deceit of some to engender in his mind a distrust for all; but has come to his new surroundings and his new work with energy, hopefulness and the same broad mental equipments which won him success in former years.

ERNST DOLGE. Overlooking Pasadena, in the foothills of the San Gabriel valley, lies Fair Oaks ranch, of which Ernst Dolge is the capable superintendent. The history of this place is car- ried back to the days before the Civil war, when its owner was the gallant general, Albert Sidney Johnston. Later it became the property of J. F. Crank, who erected thereon a mansion costing $35,000 and made other improvements of great value. At a subsequent period it was cultivated and occupied by Alfred Dolge, formerly of New York, and when he removed to Los Angeles, No- vember 1, 1901, the owners of Fair Oaks ap- pointed his son, Ernst, to take charge of the three hundred acres comprising the tract. Among the ranches of California this is one of the best known, and tourists from the east con- stantly visit it in order to see the beauties of which they have often heard. In climate and location the estate is ideal. With an elevation of twelve hundred feet, it lies to the west of San Jacinto mountains, while on the south may be seen the ocean with Catalina island in the dis- tance, and on the west and north may be seen the snowy caps of the mountains. The land hav- ing a gradual slope receives excellent natural drainage, while the fertility of the soil insures gratifying crops. On the ranch are almost four thousand citrus trees, these being Washington navels, Thompson improved navels, Mediterra- nean sweets, Australian navels and seedlings. Recently the eight hundred lemon trees have come into bearing, with excellent promises for future returns. In the vineyards are one hun- dred and nineteen thousand vines, producing as high as five hundred and fifty tons of grapes in a single season, the varieties being Blue Elbe, Mission, Muscat, Malvoisie, Zinfandel, Trous- seau and Rose of Peru. There are one hundred and seventy-five olive trees, and one hundred de- ciduous trees for home use. Fifty acres are in citrus trees, one hundred and forty-seven in vine- yards, one hundred in grain, the balance being utilized for lawns surrounding the residence. Water is supplied by the Precipice Canon Water Company and accumulates in a reservoir of six hundred thousand gallons capacity, for use in orchards and vineyards, while another reservoir provides water for the house, barns and garden.

The high degree of cultivation established by former superintendents has been maintained and even advanced under the administration of the present manager, Mr. Dolge, who is an enter-

prising, intelligent and resourceful young man. He was born in New York City in 1880 and was given every advantage which the large wealth of the family rendered possible, but, while prepar- ing for Cornell University, his father, Alfred Dolge, was robbed of his vast property through the cunning and dishonesty of other parties. Thrown thus suddenly and unexpectedly upon his own resources, the disaster developed the fine qualities which he possessed and which, oth- erwise, might have laid dormant. At first he taught school in Stratford, N. Y., but in Sep- tember, 1899, he came to California, joining his father at Fair Oaks ranch. Up to that time he had never been on a farm nor had he felt any interest in agriculture or horticulture, but he at once began to study these sciences, and took cor- respondence courses in the same, also in the cul- ture of vines. Every book pertaining to this sub- ject he read with eagerness, often spending long hours at night in study after the day's work had been ended. In this way he acquired the best ideas of the most successful workers in the varied fields of activity, and these researches have proved of inestimable value to him in his prac- tical experience. Frequently he has been called upon to prepare articles for publication bearing on those topics in which he is most deeply inter- ested, and horticulturists who have for years made a study of the occupation speak with the highest respect of his broad information and ex- cellent ideas concerning horticulture. In the work of the Pasadena Farmers' Club he main- tains an interest, as he does in all those organiza- tions that benefit his community. As yet he has not participated in politics, but he is a stanch Republican and at some time may possibly iden . tify himself with political movements.

JOHN G. PATERSON. After a seafaring life which took him into many of the principal ports of the world, Mr. Paterson came to Cali- fornia, his residence in Los Angeles dating from April 24, 1886. He was born at sea, in the Indian ocean, under the English flag, May 29, 1853, being the youngest child of Capt. James Irving and Charlotte (Craik) Paterson, natives of Scotland. His father and grandfather were born on the Orkney Islands, and the former, who became master of a vessel, sailed all over the world, finally dying of jungle fever on the west coast of Africa. His wife had died in England in 1854. They were the parents of five children, but only two are now living.

Upon graduating from the Greenwich naval school in 1868, John G. Paterson entered the English merchant marine service and sailed to Valparaiso on the Arau, later returning to Eng- land. Again in 1869 he sailed to South Amer- ica, going this time to Callio, where he joined a civil engineering corps and secured employ-

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ment in railroad surveying. Almost three years were spent in this manner, in the employ of an English gentleman, after which he was employed in boiler works in Chile for nine months. Returning to England, in 1875 he sailed to Port Blakeley, with the intention of going to mines in British Columbia, but in- stead he remained on the sound for two years, working as a marine engineer.

The year 1877 found Mr. Paterson in Cali- fornia. His first employment in this state was as fireman on the Central Pacific Railroad, and later he engaged as a marine and stationary engineer at Eureka, Humboldt county. On coming to Los Angeles, he was employed for almost two years as fireman with the Los Angeles Electric Company and later was fire- man with the Los Angeles Railway Company in their old plant. Resigning this position, he was afterward for two years engaged in con- tracting in Hyde Park, next secured employ- ment as fireman with the Pacific Cable Railway Company and then held a similar place with the Los Angeles Electric Company, later being engineer in the Hollenbeck hotel for a year. The council of Los Angeles appointed him deputy boiler inspector, August 31, 1897, and two years later promoted him to the office of city boiler inspector, to which office he was reappointed in 1901. His work is said to be exceptionally accurate and systematic. His at- tention is closely given to an oversight of the four hundred and fifty boilers in the city. En- gineering in all of its branches he thoroughly understands, hence he is particularly well quali- fied to discharge the duties of his position in an efficient manner. By virtue of his inspector- ship, he is ex-officio secretary of the examining board of engineers, and in this way is con- nected with one of the most important boards in the city. At one time he was vice-president of the National Association of Stationary En- gineers, Los Angeles No. 2, his membership in which has been retained ever since its organiza- tion.

With his family, comprising four children, Lottie, Charles, Alice and Walter, Mr. Pater- son makes his home at No. 970 East Eleventlı street. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Independent Order of Foresters, while in politics hc is a stanch Republican and at one time served as secretary of his ward club, be- sides in other ways identifying himself with local politics.

EDWARD NEISSER. During the period that has elapsed since he came to Los Angeles Mr. Neisser has worked his way forward to a position of prominence as an architect and su- perintendent of building. Many of the designs and plans furnished by him have had the merit of originality, with a further value from the

standpoint of convenience and harmony. Par- ticularly is this true of his plans for the Santa Barbara bath house and power house, the for- mer of which is said to have no superior in Southern California. A number of large ware- houses have been erected under his supervi- sion and from his plans, while he has also de- signed many residences in various parts of his home city.

Though he has spent the greater part of his life in California, Mr. Neisser is of eastern birth and German parentage. His father, Moritz, who was born near Berlin, Germany, came to America in early manhood and en- gaged in merchandising in New York City. During the Civil war he took government con- tracts. Coming to California in 1873, he opened a general store in Sonoma county, but two years later removed to San Francisco, where he was a stock broker. Ill health rendered a change of climate and occupation necessary and for six years he acted as man- ager of a sugar plantation in Hawaii. On his return to San Francisco, his health being re- stored, he resumed the brokerage business and also acted as a promoter of enterprises. His death occurred in 1894. A few years after he came to America he married Regina Fernbach, who was born near Berlin, Germany, and ac- companied her parents to New York City, where her brother, Henry, was a prominent architect. For the past few years she has resided in Los Angeles, which is also the home of six of her children, another being in San Francisco.

Born in New York City, May II, 1867, Ed- ward Neisser was six years of age when the family came to the Pacific coast, and his educa- tion was received in grammar and high schools in California. After graduating from the Al- ameda high school in 1883, he began the study of architecture under William Patton, a prom- inent architect of San Francisco, with whom he remained about nine years. From 1892 until he came to Los Angeles, three years later, he fol- lowed his chosen occupation with other archi- tects of San Francisco, thus acquiring a thorough knowledge of the work and an in- timate acquaintance with its leading representa- tives in his home city. He is now a member of the Southern California Chapter of Architects, besides being a reader of journals bearing upon architecture and kindred subjects. Through these various channels he keeps in touch with every development made in the science which he is making his life work. While living in San Francisco he married Miss Celia Jacobs, who was born in that city. Though not active in politics, he does not neglect the duties of citizenship, but casts his ballot in behalf of measures for the benefit of the people, and politically supports Republican principles. His connection with Masonry began in West Gate

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Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century, Part 129

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co. Number of Pages: 1366

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1366