History of Contra Costa County, California; with biographical sketches 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 89

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1118

USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California; with biographical sketches 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 89

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C. W. SCHEDLER .- The vice-president in charge of operations of the Great Western Electro-Chemical Company in Pittsburg, Cal., C. W. Schedler, has made a name and place for himself in the history of this industrial city, where he is president of the Pittsburg Industrial Associa- tion and Water Users of Solano and Contra Costa Counties. Mr. Sched- ler has been a resident of the city since 1916, when he came out here to join John F. Bush, the vice-president and general manager of the Great Western Electro-Chemical Company, which Mr. Bush was instrumental in starting, with the assistance of Mr. Schedler. The plant represents an investment of over $2,000,000. The first officers were: Mortimer Fleishhacker, president; John F. Bush, vice-president; and Arthur Lillien- thal, secretary and treasurer. During the World War the company ex- ecuted several large government contracts, and its products are sold from San Diego to Vancouver, on the Pacific Coast. The products manu- factured are bleaching powder, caustic soda, liquid chlorine, zinc chlo- ride, muriatic acid and xanthate, a flotation used in the copper industry. This company buys its raw materials in the open market, but owns an interest in the limestone quarry at Sonora, Tuolumne County, Cal. When the plant was started on July 22, 1916, Mr. Schedler was the first super- intendent, and he continued in this position until he was made general manager in 1919. The plant has trebled in size and employs some 200 men. This is considered one of the important enterprises of Pittsburg, and has done much to advertise the city's industrial possibilities wherever the products are sold. The rapid expansion of the company's business is in large measure due to the ability displayed by Mr. Schedler.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, C. W. Schedler was born on December 6, 1888. He grew up in Ohio and New York States, and was graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, N. Y., after which.

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for five years, he was engaged in construction work of various kinds on twenty-five or thirty jobs, mainly with the Foundation Company in New York. He then drifted westward and was employed by the Hooker Chemical Company at Niagara Falls, New York, and while there became acquainted with John F. Bush, who conceived the idea of building an electro-chemical plant on the Pacific Coast, for which he selected Pitts- burg, Cal., as the most favorable site. He accordingly sent for Mr. Schedler to join him as his superintendent, which he did in January, 1916. That his work has been satisfactory is evidenced by the success of the enterprise and by the esteem in which he is held by all who know him.

Mr. Schedler was united in marriage at Niagara Falls in 1916 with Miss Susan Hotchkiss, and they have two children, William F. and Elsie L. In 1917 the family moved to Berkeley. Mr. Schedler is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers of New York City, and is also a member of several societies in the bay cities; of the State and National trade organizations; and of the Pittsburg Chamber of Com- merce. He favors the Salt Water Dam project, desiring a complete survey with report on the proposition; and if that looks favorable to him the project will have his hearty support and cooperation.

HERMAN EDWIN YEATON .- Representing an old Colonial family of New England, Herman Edwin Yeaton, general night superin- tendent of the Columbia Steel Corporation at Pittsburg, Cal., worthily sustains the traditions of his forebears. He was born at Abington, half way between Plymouth and Boston, Mass., on July 24, 1882, the son of John Edwin and Harriet Velma (Richmond) Yeaton, both members of prominent families of that State. The mother was the only daughter of Benjamin Richmond, a highly respected farmer in the Green Mountain district of Vermont, and is still living, making her home with a daughter in Lometa Park, San Mateo County, Cal. Grandfather Charles Yeaton conducted a preparatory school in his younger days, and later was a pat- tern maker in a brass foundry in Portsmouth. John Edwin Yeaton was a blacksmith and carriage builder at Whitman, Mass., doing business in one shop for a quarter of a century; he was also well-known as a manu- facturer of fire apparatus and hose wagons, and drew his trade from a wide radius. He died at the age of sixty-seven, in 1915. Various mem- bers of the Yeaton family have distinguished themselves in many lines of endeavor, in farming, mechanical pursuits and the professions, in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.

Herman Edwin Yeaton attended the public school in Abington, and also took up mechanical engineering and metallurgy courses in the I. C. S. of Scranton, Pa. In 1909 he went to Chicago and found employment at Grand Crossing, with the Interstate Iron & Steel Company, remaining in their employ until 1917. He then went to Youngstown, Ohio, and was engaged with the Brier Hill Steel Company, making munitions of war for the U. S. Government, for use of the armies over seas. He came to

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California in 1918, arriving in San Francisco, where he found employ- ment with the Pacific Coast Steel Company as superintendent of the open hearth department for four and one-half years. Then he came to Pitts- burg, on July 25, 1923, and took charge of the construction of furnaces 4 and 5, as night foreman, and is now general night superintendent.

The marriage of Mr. Yeaton, in Chicago, on March 12, 1911, united him with Ruth E. Weld, daughter of Newton Weld. Mr. Weld was born in Vermont, but later was a pioneer of Elgin, Ill., coming there when there was no Chicago, when the place was still known as Fort Dearborn. She was educated in Elgin, graduating from the high school, and from a business college; and she is also a graduate from the Chicago Conserva- tory of Music, being a pianist of much ability. Two children have blessed this union, Vivian and Edwin, both of whom are attending the public school. Mr. and Mrs. Yeaton own their own home in Pittsburg and have an ever widening circle of friends. Mr. Yeaton was a baritone singer in his younger days, being a member of some of the best male quartettes in New England. He belongs to the Masons, having been made a Mason in Portland, Maine; to the Berwick, Maine, Chapter; and to the Sciots in San Mateo. In national politics he is a Republican.

HENRY SHOWALTER .- The night superintendent of the sheet mill of the Columbia Steel Corporation at Pittsburg is Henry Showalter, a man of much experience and ability, his connection with the steel in- dustry extending over a period of thirty-five years. He has the distinc- tion of having started the steel sheet mill at Pittsburg, working as a roller the first day this mill was put in operation in 1922. Mr. Showalter was born in New York City, July 23, 1871, and is a son of Joseph and Jennie (Lawrence ) Showalter, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of the Green Mountain district of Vermont, both now deceased. After his school days were over Henry Showalter began working in the steel works in Pittsburgh, Pa., and later went to Gary, Ind., and thence to Sharon, Pa .; Bethlehem, Pa .; and Youngstown, Ohio, getting a vast amount of experience in the steel industry and by contact adding to his knowledge of men.

In 1922 Mr. Showalter came to California to accept a position as assistant superintendent in the sheet mill, a very responsible position. He is thoroughly awake to the possibilities of the Columbia Steel Corpor- ation, which is the most important steel mill on the Pacific Coast, taking rank with the best the United States has to offer. This mill turns out great quantities of material, plain, galvanized, and copper-coated sheets ranging from 12-gauge up to 30-gauge, and 144 inches long. Copper is used to improve the quality of their product, and nowhere is there a better product than is put out at Pittsburg, Cal. On August 24, 1926, Mr. Showalter was called upon by the superintendent of the Columbia Steel Corporation to experiment in rolling sheet tin. This he accomp- lished very successfully. The experiment was made to see if the quality

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of steel manufactured here could be rolled to the thinness desired, and by a process of his own this was done by Mr. Showalter. Plans are being made to increase the plant by adding a tin-rolling mill. The sample was 38-gauge. The mills run day and night, except Sunday.

Mr. Showalter stands for improvement in all lines, and believes in the future of Contra Costa County. He is the father of four children, and has a home in Pittsburg. Fraternally, Mr. Showalter is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Newcastle, Pa., and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at St. Louis, Mo. He is a believer in the teachings and faith of the Desciples' Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and gives his undivided cooperation in forwarding all movements for the better- ment of his adopted city and county.

ANDREW A. DEHN .- Among the thrifty farmers of Contra Costa County who are in every possible way aiding its agricultural growth and development, is Andrew A. Dehn, who is prosperously engaged in farming and stock-raising in Deer Valley, in the Lone Tree District of this county. He is a native of California, born at Antioch on March 5, 1869, a son of Charles and Katherine (Scheele) Thompson, the former a native of Denmark and the latter of Germany. His father was a sea captain and for many years ran a schooner from Antioch to Stockton; he passed away when our subject was about eleven years old. The mother of our subject is now seventy-seven years old and makes her home in San Francisco. Grandfather Scheele was a pioneer shoemaker of Anti- och. There are four children in the family: Andrew A., our subject; Annie K., Mrs. Albert Lilley; Thomas, a carpenter in San Francisco; and Charles, the mate on the Santa Fe tug-boat. Andrew and his sister, Annie Katherine, were legally adopted by John and Rachel (McDonald) Dehn and brought up as their own children. Mrs. Dehn passed away in 1888, and her husband survived her until 1900, when he passed away, both dy- ing in Contra Costa County.

Andrew A. Dehn grew up on the Dehn home place in Deer Valley and early learned to farm. He attended the country schools in the vicin- ity of his home, working mornings and evenings and during vacation, raising grain and stock. Some twenty-five years ago he planted an al- mond orchard on the Dehn ranch, where he now lives. This orchard is now among the finest in the county. The Dehn farm consists of 160 acres lying seven miles from Brentwood and eleven miles from Antioch, in the productive section of Contra Costa County known as Deer Valley, in the Lone Tree District.

On January 25, 1920, Mr. Dehn was married to Mrs. Frances Pars- ley, a daughter of David and Amanda (Hammond) Allen, natives of California and Arkansas, respectively. They were pioneers of Mariposa County, and David Allen was a member of the California State Legisla- ture from that county. Mrs. Dehn was born in Kern County but was brought up in Mariposa County, and was the youngest of four children.

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She is the mother of seven children by her former husband. David mar- ried Miss Blanche Olson and lives in San Francisco; Eva, the wife of Robert Ross, resides in Sausalito; Sylvester P. also lives in Sausalito; John P. married Margaret Baker, and they also live in Sausalito; Ruby is the wife of J. R. Mowbray; Blanche married Earl E. Thompson; and Raymond P. lives in San Francisco, where he is an employee of the South- ern Pacific Railroad Company. Mrs. Dehn has four grandchildren. Fraternally, Mr. Dehn belongs to Antioch Lodge No. 161, I. O. O. F., at Antioch. In politics he is a Republican. He has done his duty as a juror many times.

JESSE V. ALLEN .- The proprietor of Allen's Garage, on the Pa- checo Road out of Martinez, is Jesse V. Allen, one of the progressive business men of the county, a native Californian, and a descendant of the famous Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame. Born at Round Mountain, Shasta County, on June 5, 1894, he is the son of Dr. Merrill C. Allen, a native of Montpelier, Vt., who was a practicing physician in Shasta County for many years. Dr. Allen married Stella Brown, a native of Baldwin, Wis .; she is still living, but the husband and father died in Los Angeles County in 1913, aged sixty-one years. They were the parents of two children who grew to maturity : Clinton, in the employ of the Associated Oil Company at Avon; and Jesse V., of this review.

Jesse V. Allen attended the public schools of Shasta and Eldorado Counties, moving to the latter county with his parents when eight years old. He grew up at Camino, that county, to the age of fourteen, and then went to Sacramento and attended the Polytechnic School. Here he spe- cialized in the study of motors and motive power, including automobiles of electric, steam and gas motive power; and he also learned engineer- ing along the same lines in Sacramento. Thereafter he was employed by the Brown Hoisting Machinery Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, as demonstrator, and introduced the Brown hoists to the Westwood Lumber Company in California, and the Verdi Lumber Company of Verdi, Nev. He remained with the Brown Company from 1913 to 1916, and after setting up the hoists for the Verdi Lumber Company in Nevada he took a position with them as locomotive engineer for one year.

In June, 1917, Mr. Allen went to San Francisco to enlist in the 18th Engineers for service in the World War; but he was needed at Moore and Scott's shipyards, where he went as an operator. He soon became crane foreman, and later became chief engineer and assistant master mechanic, having complete charge of all steam, gas and electric engineering in that immense plant where 10,000 men were employed. He was ushered into the government employ with the work of a chief engineer and assistant master mechanic, and received his honorable discharge in 1919.

In June of that same year Mr. Allen came to Martinez and built his present place of business, and the name Allen's Garage has become synonymous throughout the Bay region with first-class automobile service

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and repair work. He specializes in rebuilding and repairing motor cars of all kinds, and his place is the special service station of ten of the lead- ing makes of cars. He also carries a full line of extras and accessories for all of these makes, and has the authorized tow service for Martinez and vicinity, owning and using a Chalmers tow car with crane and a com- plete wrecking equipment. Employing seven men, he has a completely equipped machine shop in connection with his garage. His success has been assured from the time of his establishing himself in business in Contra . Costa County, and he is justly popular, both as a business man and as a worker for progress in his home community.

The marriage of Mr. Allen, on June 5, 1924, at Martinez, united him with Miss Louise M. Flood, daughter of Edward Flood, of Oak- land. Fraternally, Mr. Allen is a Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to the Oakland Consistory and to Live Oak Lodge No. 61, F. & A. M., in that city. By the time this book goes to the press, he expects to have been initiated into Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., also in Oakland; and he belongs to the Sciots in Antioch and the Odd Fellows in Martinez, and to Martinez Parlor, N. S. G. W. Actively interested in civic affairs, he belongs to the Exchange Club and the Martinez Chamber of Commerce. In the latter he has served on the board of directors, and in 1926 was the president; and during his term he appointed the committee which success- fully put over the $75,000 bond issue to develop the Martinez harbor. He is also president of the sanitary board of the Mountain View district of Martinez, the locality in which he lives, having erected his home here in 1924. In January, 1926, he received a commission as lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps of the Officers' Reserve in the United States Army. He is a Republican in politics, and serves as a deputy under Sheriff Veale; and also as a deputy county clerk for the registration of voters of the Mountain View district.

WILLIAM EDGAR CUNNINGHAM, M. D .- To do one thing and to do that well has ever been the goal of William Edgar Cunning- ham, M. D., of Richmond, Cal. And the wisdom of his plan of life is at- tested to by the unostentatious, yet secure, success which has been his. As a skilful medical practitioner and surgeon he has gone about, in his quiet way, ministering to the sick and disabled of the community and proven himself of that sterling brand of citizenry of which the Golden State may well be proud.

Dr. Cunningham was born at Madera, Cal., February 14, 1878, the son of John and Sarah (Whiteford) Cunningham, both of whom were natives of Indiana. The father was both a merchant and a miner; there were five children in the family, three boys and two girls, all now located in California. Dr. Cunningham was educated in the grammar school and a private school of Madera County. Prior to graduation, however, he decided to take up the study of medicine and entered Cooper Medical College in San Francisco. In college he was known as a quiet "non-frat"

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man, but that he was thorough in his work is shown by the fact that after he received his degree he was assigned to one of the highly prized intern- ships at Lane Hospital, where his studies were supplemented by practical experience for some time. He then practiced medicine in Oakdale for a short period, and in 1906 settled in Richmond, which locality has since been the scene of his labors. He has engaged in general practice, includ- ing surgery, and has been quite successful, being rated as one of the lead- ing physicians of the county. The office building at corner of Macdonald Avenue and Ninth Street was erected by him.

Although he takes a keen interest in the welfare of his community Dr. Cunningham is not a politician and not a public man. Even at the medi- cal meetings he is not a loquacious speaker, unless there is some special reason. He is a member of the Elks, the Rotary Club, and the State Medical Association, and the County Medical Society, having been presi- dent of the county organization for one year. His recreations are golf, hunting, autoing and outdoor life. He especially enjoys camping in the mountains with his family.

In 1908 Dr. Cunningham was united in marriage to Miss Edith Trea- nor of San Jose. Her father, Thomas Treanor, was a native of Ireland, a former recorder of Santa Clara County and a distributor of implements for the Studebaker Company. The mother, Matilda ( Wehner ) Treanor, was a native of Germany. Mrs. Cunningham, who is one of six children, is an accomplished musician. She has taught and composed music and is a graduate of the Pacific College of San Jose. Dr. and Mrs. Cunning- ham are the parents of two children: Jack and Helen, both are students in Richmond High School.

MORTIMER B. VEALE .- An attorney of marked ability and at- tainments, whose friends predict for him a very successful career, is Mortimer B. Veale, of the firm of Rodgers & Bray of Martinez. He is a native of Contra Costa County and was born on the Veale tract near Knightsen on November 18, 1893, a son of R. R. and Elizabeth (Martin) Veale, highly esteemed citizens of this county, where R. R. Veale has served as sheriff for thirty-two years. Mortimer Veale, who is the third son of his parents, attended the public schools of the county, graduating from the Alhambra Union High School with the Class of 1913. He then entered Stanford University and pursued the law course, graduating in December, 1919. His studies had been interrupted by the World War, during which he volunteered his services in the United States Navy. For three months he was stationed at San Pedro, and then was commissioned ensign on October 9, 1917, and served at sea until 1918, when he entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, and was graduated in the Reserved Class in June, 1918. Receiving the commission of ensign, he was assigned to the Minnesota and served on her until March, 1919, when he was transferred to the United States Destroyer J. Fred Talbert and as radio officer did confidential communi-

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cation for Vice-Admiral Grant. In June, 1919, Ensign Veale resigned from the navy and reentered Stanford University to complete his law course. Upon leaving the university he returned to Martinez and was connected with the sheriff's office one year. In June, 1921, he took the State Bar examination, and was admitted to practice on August 22 of that year. Mr. Veale at once opened an office in Martinez for the practice of his profession, continuing until he located in Antioch in 1923, where he became connected with the firm of Rodgers & Bray, the leading firm in Martinez and well known throughout the entire county.

On June 15, 1924, M. B. Veale was united in marriage at Martinez with Miss Ida Olive Honegger, of that city. Mr. Veale is a member of the Masons of Antioch and of the Eastern Star Chapter, to which Mrs. Veale also belongs. He belongs to the Elks of Richmond, and the Native Sons of Martinez, being a Past President of the latter, and also belongs to the Antioch Aërie of Eagles. He is Past Adjutant of Henry A. McNamara Post, American Legion, of which he served as Adjutant for more than two years, and is the present Adjutant of the County Council of the American Legion, as well as a member of the board of directors of the East Contra Costa County Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of directors of the Bank of Antioch. Mr. Veale takes an active and enthusiastic interest in all movements that have as their special aim the advancement of the city of Antioch along com- mercial, educational and moral lines. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Congregational Church.

WILLIAM HAROLD ANDERSON .- An ambitious and energetic young man who holds a high place in the citizenship of Brentwood is W. H. Anderson, whose ability has already brought to him the respon- sibility for the discharge of various public duties. He is one of Cali- fornia's native sons, born in San Francisco on January 29, 1891. His father, R. K. Anderson, was a San Francisco contractor and builder, and is now deceased. The mother was in maidenhood Miss May Jane Carroll ; she died when our subject was only four years old, and he then came to live with his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. John Geddes, in Brentwood for a time, but later was brought up by his stepmother, who still lives in San Francisco.

As a boy Harold Anderson, as he is familiarly known, attended public school in San Francisco, but on account of poor health he later came to Brentwood, where he attended the high school for two years. His health improved so that he could do ranch work, and thereafter for seven years he worked for one man. He then accepted a position with the Brentwood Lumber Company as yardman. When the war broke out he was called in the first draft and served with the 347th Field Artillery, 91st Division and was on the Verdun front for eleven days; and after the armistice was signed he was with the Army of Occupation for three months. Returning to the United States, he was honorably discharged

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at the Presidio in San Francisco on April 26, 1919, with the rank of corporal. After his discharge he again took up his work with the Brent- wood Lumber Company, and in 1925 was promoted to the position of agent for the company. Mr. Anderson takes personal interest in every home erected in this section, stands ready to lend aid in every way, and enjoys prestige as an authority in building matters. He is ever alert to lend aid to projects that are put forward for the betterment of his home district, and is honored and esteemed by all who have had business rela- tions with him through the Brentwood Lumber Company.

On March 8, 1920, Mr. Anderson was married to Mrs. Myrtle E. Watson, née Wristen, of a Brentwood pioneer family. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of one child, Myrle Fern. Fraternally, Mr. Anderson is a member of the Brentwood Lodge No. 345, F. & A. M. He is (1926) adjutant of Roy Frerichs Post No. 202, American Legion, at Brentwood.

IRVINE SKEOCH .- That the Columbia Steel Corporation has been the means of bringing to Contra Costa County some of the most skilled artisans in the whole country there is no gainsaying. Their various de- partments require men of more than ordinary ability to carry out the policies of the great corporation, and among these men is Irvine Skeoch, superintendent of the wire and nail mills at the Pittsburg branch of this corporation. It is doubtful whether many people, even in Pittsburg, fully realize the importance this concern holds in the State. Nearly everything made of iron and steel is manufactured at Pittsburg in this plant. Each of the various departments are under the supervision of ex- perts in their line, and no detail is overlooked in providing for the safety of the hundreds of employees that are necessary to keep the plant run- ning. Of no little importance is the wire and nail mill where the ingot. which comes from the open hearth furnace, is taken and again heated and rolled into rods and then drawn into wire after proper chemical treat- ment. Nearly every size of wire on the market is produced in this de- partment under the able supervision of Mr. Skeoch. Some 280 different sizes of nails are also made in the nail mill, which has fifty-four nail- making machines that turn out from 530 small nails to 150 seven-inch spikes per minute. These machines are operated by skilled workmen. By use of different dies each machine makes a certain sized nail. Sixteen hundred fifty 100-pound kegs of nails, brads and spikes are turned out every twenty-four hours, all machines running that number of hours each day. In the wire mill all kinds of wire, for every purpose, are made, from the copper-coated, steel and galvanized to baling wire. Products of this great corporation rank with any produced anywhere in the world.

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History of Contra Costa County, California; with biographical sketches 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 89

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1118

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1118