History of Kern 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 117

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1682

USA > California > Kern County > History of Kern 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 117

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GEORGE CARLOS SABICHI, M. S., M. D .- Romance enters into the association of the Sabichi family with California. As early as 1838 Matthias Sabichi, of Austrian birth, came from Vienna to Los Angeles and there won a bride from an old family long resident at the Mexican capital. Two sons. Matthias, Jr., and Frank, were born of the union, the younger of these claiming October 4, 1842, as the date of his birth. When eight years of age, his mother having passed away, his father decided to take the boys to England in order that they might have the advantages of a liberal education. At that time Los Angeles was a mere hamlet without schools worthy of the name. The dis- covery of gold was drawing immense throngs to the west, but was not in- creasing the population of the southern part of the state. To a man am- bitious for his sons, there seemed little opportunity in the Spanish pueblo that as yet had not become imbued with American enterprise. Accordingly father and sons started on the long journey to the old world. While they were crossing the Isthmus of Panama the father was suddenly stricken with

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yellow fever and succumbed to the disease. leaving the young boys alone and friendless. When the unfortunate voyage had come to an end and they were landed in England, the American consul, Joseph Rodney Croskey, received them into his own home, became a foster-father in every sense of the word and carefully attended to their education.

Upon the completion of a course of several years in the Royal Academy at Gosport near Portsmouth. England, where he had received a practical education, Frank Sabichi was given a commission in the English navy and cruised through the waters of Europe, visiting the principal cities of the con- tinent, besides seeing much of the Orient. In his voyages he found abundant opportunity to acquaint himself with the history, customs and languages of the various countries, and thus he became fluent in the use of all the lan- guages of the south of Europe. His own misfortunes had made him self- reliant. Forced to care for himself from an early age, he became observant beyond his years, while association with cultured people in addition to his own thorough education gave him a culture of manner and dignity of address. During his service in the navy he took part in many historical adventures, notably the Sepoy war in India and the siege of Sebastopol. Upon more than one voyage he visited the Philippine Islands, whose wealth and possi- bilities greatly impressed him. Notwithstanding the fact that he was both popular and successful in the navy, he never ceased to yearn for the land of his birth and during 1860 it became possible for him to return to Los Angeles. Having determined to prepare himself for the practice of law, he entered the office of Glassell, Smith & Patton, at that time leading lawyers of Southern California, and there continued until he was admitted to the bar.

Through familiarity with the language of the then prevailing population and through knowledge of local affairs, Frank Sabichi came rapidly to a substantial and remunerative practice. However, as a practitioner in a com- munity of small population he felt himself to be hampered, and so gradually entered into business enterprises, eventually retiring from practice in order to give his entire time to personal matters. Several important land syndicates and projected railroad systems received his practical counsel and co-operation. He became a director in the San Jose Land Company, which controlled a vast acreage now in the heart of the orange belt of Southern California. Appre- ciating the necessity of extending railway lines throughout the country, he became associated in the promotion of the Los Angeles & Ballona Railroad and for a time acted as vice-president of the company. His purchases of real estate in Los Angeles testify as to his sagacity and foresight. The twenty acres formerly the family homestead are now included in East Seventh street, a thoroughfare of great commercial importance, whose first establishment was in a great measure due to the activity of Mr. Sabichi. From the first he had a great faith in the future of the city and this conviction he supported by personal investments, which eventually brought him wealth. As a progres- sive citizen he maintained a warm interest in political and public affairs. Every movement for the local advancement received his aid. It was not his desire to accent public office, for his business affairs engrossed his attention and were more to his taste than public service. After repeated refusals to become a candidate he was elected to the city council in 1871 and re-elected in 1874, acting for the latter term as president of that body. The presence of a man of executive ability and civic rectitude being necessary in the council in 1884 to establish an additional water supply, he reluctantly consented to be- come a member of the board. During his incumbency he took up and con- cluded negotiations by which the city acquired immensely important water rights upon Los Feliz rancho, which in later years became of strategic advan- tage to a city of constant development.

During 1893 Mr. Sabichi was urged to permit his name to be presented to President Cleveland for appointment as minister to Guatemala. Thirty-nine

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senators and twenty-six assemblymen of the state legislature, irrespective of party affiliation, the justices of the supreme court of California, the bench and bar of San Francisco and Los Angeles, together with merchants, bankers, lawyers and captains of industry throughout all of the state, inscribed a memorial to the president presenting the abundant and admirable personal qualifications of Mr. Sabichi and his fitness for the delicate task of repre- senting the national government in the southern country. In addition to many other public offices, Mr. Sabichi served several times on important commissions of the city, particularly the park commission and the board of police commissioners. Besides being a charter member of the Pioneer Society of Southern California he was identified actively with the Native Sons of the Golden West and held in it the office of grand trustee until his death.

The marriage of Frank Sabichi took place May 4, 1865, and united him with Magdalena, daughter of William Wolfskill. The story of the life of Mr. Wolfskill is replete with interest and adventure. One of the carliest settlers of Los Angeles, he became the owner of a broad domain which in- cluded within its limits the first orange grove planted in Southern California outside of the old missions. This consisted of one hundred acres. When the Southern Pacific Railroad was brought into the city the family donated a part of this valuable grove of fifteen acres to be utilized for depot and freight yards. The example of his honored father-in-law and the remembrance of his own father, so long since dead, aroused in Mr. Sabichi a desire to add to the prestige of their names and he spent his whole life as one who has a trust in his keeping. When finally he passed from earth April 12, 1900, he was fol- lowed to the grave by tributes of admiration and praise from the many who had occasion to test his generosity, appreciate his worth and esteem his gracious dignity. His widow, at the age of sixty-eight years, is still making Los Angeles her home.

Among the children of Frank and Magdalena Sabichi the following at- tained mature years : Francis Winfield, who died at the age of forty ; Magda- lena, Agatha, Joseph Rodney, George Carlos, William W .. Louis M., Rosa and Beatrice. Juanita, Ruth Naomi and Leopold died in early years. Of those who attained maturity George Carlos Sabichi, M. S., M. D., was fifth in order of birth. After having been sent through the grammar grades of the public schools in the city where he was born November 4, 1878, he became a student in St. Vincent's College and there in 1898 received the degree of B. S. During 1899 he was granted the degree of M. S., after a thorough post- graduate course. Next he took biological studies at Berkeley. where he be- came a charter member of the Beta Xi, of Kappa Sigma. With the advantage of such excellent classical and scientific training, he matriculated in the medi- cal department of the University of Southern California, where he studied for four successive years, being given the degree of M. D. in June. 1904. at the time of graduation. From that time until 1906 he acted as house surgeon in the Los Angeles County hospital, with a capacity of nine hundred and fifty beds and where his advantages for practical experience were unexcelled. There he laid the foundation for the wide reputation in surgery he now enjoys. Dur- ing 1906 and 1907 he served as first assistant surgeon at the National Soldiers' Home for Disabled Soldiers at Sawtelle, Cal., receiving the appointment to the position from Brigadier-General La Grange. At the same time he carried on a general practice at Sawtelle and Los Angeles. Upon resigning his post at the hospital he went east for post-graduate study and took a course at Columbia University, New York City, where he made a specialty of surgery and received the degree of M. D. Returning to Los Angeles in June of 1907. he was married there on the 26th of that month, his wife being Miss May Myers, whose mother is a direct descendant of Gen. Robert E. Lee and whose father, John Myers, is an honored pioneer of Los Angeles. There are two children in the family of Dr. Sabichi, namely : Isabelle Magdalena and

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Juanita Ronero. On December 27. 1912, the University of Southern California granted Dr. Sabichi the degree of Doctor of Medicine, an honor extended to only such of the alumni whose work has proven highly meritorious.

A residence at Randsburg during 1907-08 was brought about by the ap- pointment of Dr. Sabichi as chief surgeon for the Yellow Aster Mining and Milling Company, which employs about one thousand men. From Randsburg he came to Bakersfield in April, 1908, and here in addition to conducting an of- fice practice and acting as family physician he has become consulting surgeon for the coast lines of the Santa Fe, covering the entire system from Albu- querque to Los Angeles and from Bakersfield to San Francisco. He has his office in the Producers' Bank building and his residence at No. 1620 Seven- teenth street. Along the line of his profession he has maintained an active as- sociation with the Los Angeles Medical Society, the California State Med- ical Association, the American Medical Association and the American Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Science. In addition he has acted as surgeon for the Knights of Columbus, of which he is a leading member. Other organ- izations to which he gives allegiance are the Fraternal Brotherhood. Modern Woodmen of America and Woodmen of the World, also Bakersfield Parlor No. 42, Native Sons of the Golden West, in which he has been honored with the office of president. The Mu Sigma Mu and Bakersfield Club have his name enrolled upon the list of members and his interests have been broadened still further by an active identification with the National Geographical Society.

DR. CHARLES H. SEARS .- A native of Michigan, Charles H. Sears was born in Battle Creek, the son of Allen Il. and Edna (Howe) Sears. His boyhood was spent in Michigan where he learned the trades of blacksmith and horseshoer. Upon coming to California in 1886 he secured empl. yment on the Richard Gird ranch near Pomona, where for two years he had charge of the machine work. Upon leaving the ranch he went into Pomona and opened a blacksmith shop on Second street and Garey avenue, where now stands a large implement house. At that time Pomona was a mere village, giving little prospect of its present high state of development, and he worked with other pioneers to secure needed civic improvements. Grad- ually his shop increased in importance and ten hands found steady employ- ment. While living in Pomona he first began to practice veterinary surgery, although he can scarcely recall a time when he was not interested in horses and successful in caring for them. A practical knowledge of the profession was acquired under Dr. W. J. Fleming and upon the death of the latter he succeeded to the veterinary practice, later passing a most creditable examination before the state board of veterinary examiners.

From Pomona Dr. Sears removed to San Bernardino in 1900 and engaged in veterinary practice, thence coming to Bakersfield in January of 1905. Since then he has conducted a veterinary hospital at No. 2211 Chester avenue, where now he has forty head of horses in his carc. This being the only hospital of the kind in Kern county and having a reputation for skilled management, it naturally receives the bulk of the practice for miles around Bakersfield. As a member of the State Veterinary Medical Association the Doctor keeps in touch with the work throughout California and meets every improvement with an earnest determination to avail himself of its advantages. As a judge of horses his reputation is widely extended, while in the breeding of fine animals he also has been successful. A number of well-known horses have come from his barns and he still owns Richard B. by Woolsey, a three-year-old with a record of 2:16, trial 2.06; also Donello, said to be without a superior along the coast, record of 2:181/2, trial 2:10; besides other animals that stand at the head in the list of equine favorites throughout the state.

HENRY F. DEVENNEY was born in Santa Ana, Orange county. Cal .. May 11, 1879. the fourth oldest of the eight children born to John and Eliza

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(McDonald) Devenney, who were born in Pennsylvania and Iowa respec- tively. The family came to California in 1874 and located at Santa Ana, where the parents were farmers. Eventually they retired to Bay City, where they now reside.

Henry F. Devenney was brought up on the ranch and received his educa- tion in the public schools of Santa Ana, on the completion of which he fol- lowed farming until he entered the employ of the Santa Ana brickyard. In a short time he resigned and engaged as foreman of the Stanton ranch at Brookhurst for four years. At the end of that period he came to Wasco in August, 1909, locating a homestead of eighty acres six miles south of town. Afterwards he obtained title to it and since then has improved the property. In February, 1911, he entered the employ of the Fourth Extension Water Company, having charge of their engineering and pumping plants. He also purchased a local water system, which he has extended, and is supplying water for domestic use to his patrons in Wasco. He is a firm believer in the future prosperity of Wasco and has invested his surplus and owns two resi- dences in town.

In Anaheim occurred the marriage of Henry F. Devenney and Miss Mar- garet L. Williams, who is a native daughter of Orange county. Of the union there is one child, Carl Henry. Politically Mr. Devenney is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and with his wife belongs to the order of the Fraternal Brotherhood.

JOSE SOLA was born in the city of Ochagarvia, Province of Navarra, Spain, June 20. 1881, where he grew up on the farm and received his education in the local schools. He aided his parents all he could and also managed to work out and in that way made enough extra money to attend night school. When nineteen he enlisted in the Spanish army, serving three years and be- coming a corporal. While in the army he learned the barbers' trade and fol- lowed it until his honorable discharge in December, 1902, when he came to California and in the same month to Bakersfield.

Not understanding the language or customs, he accepted the first place he could find, that of sheep herder for Miller & Lux. After eleven months in their employ and five months with the Kern County Land Company he came to Tehachapi, where he worked for Jamison at the Lime Kiln for four months and was then taken sick. Upon his recovery he went to San Francisco, where he established himself in the barber business on Powell and Broadway. On selling out he worked in the Palace shop until three days before the earth- quake ; he had taken a boat for San Pedro and thus escaped the terrors of that period. Then working at the trade in Los Angeles, Bakersfield and San Pedro, he next opened a barber shop in Fresno and while engaged in business there he married Miss Ignacia Errea, also a native of Spain.

On account of his wife's health he sold his business in Fresno and re- moved to Tehachapi. Two years later he opened the Yellowstone barber shop, where he has been successfully in business ever since and is well and favorably known. He has built a residence in the town where he resides with his wife and three children, Mike, Ignatius and Margaret. Fraternally he is a member of Fresno Aerie No. 39, Eagles. He is favorably impressed with the country of his adoption and his admiration for the Stars and Stripes impelled him to acquire American citizenship November 20, 1911. Politically he adheres to the principles of the Republican party.

HIBBARD SMITH WILLIAMS .- Having been brought to California when only four years of age, Mr. Williams is a typical Californian in all except nativity, and no one is more enthusiastic than he regarding the future possibilities of this state. In this respect he resembles his father, the late Charles H. Williams, who from the time of his arrival in Los Angeles in

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1874 until his death in 1879 always contended that it would eventually become the greatest city along the Pacific coast. The faith he cherished concerning the future of Los Angeles he backed by his actions, acquiring the title to about five city blocks in the downtown district. It was not his privilege to live to witness the fruition of his hopes and the realization of his optimistic faith, but by his identification with T. E. Rowan in the real estate business · he promoted civic development and became a factor in permanent upbuild- ing. For years he was an influential Knight Templar. At different periods of his life he had lived in the three great sections of the country: the east. where he was born at Boston, Mass., and where he engaged in the stationery business at Waltham; the middle west, where he settled after the Civil war in Floyd county, Iowa, and built and operated a flour mill at Rockford ; and, lastly, the far west, where his closing years were spent.

The marriage of Charles H. Williams united him with Miss Emma Trene Hibbard, a native of Milwaukee, and now Mrs. E. I. Winslow, of Fresno. There were three sons of the first marriage and of these Hibbard Smith Williams was born at Rockford, Floyd county, Iowa, November 18, 1870. Only the vaguest memories remain to him of the old Rockford home and the flour mill built by his father near the placid Shell Rock river. After the age of four years he lived in Los Angeles, where he attended the public schools, the University of Southern California and the Los Angeles Business College. Early in life he began to work as a freight clerk with the Hancock- Banning Company, after which he attended business college until gradua- tion. Having a desire to study machinery, he apprenticed himself to the trade of a machinist with Fairbanks, Morse & Co. in San Francisco, con- tinuing with them from 1898 until 1901. On the 15th of January of the latter vear he came to the Kern river oil field, engaging as a bookkeeper and assis- tant foreman with the Green-Whittier Oil Company. Seeing the possibili- ties of the oil industry, he determined to learn all of its details. With that obiect in view he went into the field and took anv position possible to fill. For a time he was employed as a pumper. Later he learned drilling. After fourteen months he entered the employ of the Associated Oil Company as division superintendent at McKittrick, arriving at this place April 15, 1902. For seven years he filled the position, discharging its duties with the great- est efficiency. Meanwhile he had opened up the McKittrick field for the company and had accomplished much in their interests. When finally he resigned from their employ in 1909 it was for the purpose of carrying on the Pacific iron works at McKittrick, which place he had purchased in partner- ship with J. M. Smith. Later he bought out the interest of his partner, since which time he has been sole proprietor of the plant. A specialty is made of the manufacture of oil well machinery, fishing and drilling tools.

The distinction of being the largest manufacturing business in the north- west part of Kern county belongs to the Pacific iron works. Steam and elec- tric power enable the work to be conducted with dispatch. Besides carrying on this important plant Mr. Williams is known as the pioneer wild-catter in the MeKittrick field. Some years ago he drilled a well on the Leader Oil Company's lease in North McKittrick, but found no oil. With a Ball and Williams outfit he drilled a well in the same field that still gives out a splendid production, but his interests in this well have been sold. About 1911 he obtained a lease of forty acres seven miles north of McKittrick, where he put down a well to a depth of fourteen hundred feet and obtained a good supply of oil. Considerable profit has come to him through his specu- lation in the oil game, in which he has taken many hazards, but has come ont in excellent financial shape. He has given very little attention to poli- tics, but votes the Republican ticket in national elections. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Bakersfield Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M., and he is also identified with the Bakersfield Club. His marriage took place in Los Angeles

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and united him with Miss Della A. Bowlsby, who was born at Elizabeth, Jo Daviess county, Ill., but has been a resident of California from girlhood.

AUGUSTINE AMOUR .- Born at Marseilles, France, February 12, 1881, and reared at Gap, Hautes-Alpes, Mr. Amour was orphaned in boyhood. While still very young he served an apprenticeship to the trade of butcher, working for his board and clothes, and at the conclusion of his time receiving regular wages. Neither the trade nor the sur- roundings afforded him satisfaction. Prospects for the future seemed discouraging. Hearing much concerning the favorable openings in California he determined to come to the west. When he first reached the state and landed finally in Bakersfield in November, 1903, he was without means, but he experi- enced no difficulty in earning a livelihood through the herding of sheep. A year later he went to San Francisco and in about three months proceeded to Napa county, where for three years he held a position in the dairy department of the state hospital.

Upon coming to Bakersfield with the intention of becoming a permanent resident, Mr. Amour embarked in the bakery business on Humboldt street. In time he bought the lot and building, continuing in that location until August, 1913, when he rented the place. Immediately thereafter he began to improve his lots on the corner of Kern and Grove streets, where he has erected a two-story brick structure, 37x52 feet in dimensions. The Amour building will be utilized for a store and a rooming house, both under the per- sonal supervision of Mr. Amour, assisted by his wife, who was Miss Alberta Riccalde, a native of the province of Asturias, Spain, but a resident of Cali- fornia from girlhood. Their family comprises two children, Augustina and Albert. Since becoming a citizen of our country Mr. Amour has been stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party. In fraternal relations he is con- nected with the Druids.

ALFRED SIEMON .- Born in Van Buren county, Iowa, January 2, 1881, Afred Siemon is a son of William and Josephine Siemon, who for a consider- able period made a home in Iowa, but when their son had become a pupil in the eighth grade of the public schools they moved to Missouri, settling in Caldwell county. Later he became a student in the high school of Brecken- ridge, Caldwell county, and continued there until his graduation with the class of 1898. In his early life the family made a number of removals and thus he was privileged to see something of the country in Iowa, Missouri and Colorado before they came to California in 1902 and established their home in Whittier, Los Angeles county. The presence in that section of a con- siderable number of members of the Society of Friends had attracted them to Whittier, where for four years he attended the Friends' College in the classical course. Before he had completed school he had fixed his ambition upon the profession of law and his first studies in that line were conducted in the law office of A. Moore at Whittier, where also he served for four months as a justice of the peace, but resigned at the time of going into Los Angeles to pursue his law studies. There he matriculated in the law department of the University of Southern California and while carrying on his studies in that institution he earned a livelihood as a law clerk in the offices of H. T. Gordon and A. P. Thompson.

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History of Kern 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 117

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog] Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1682

Author: Morgan, Wallace Melvin, 1868- [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1682