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 150

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 150

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The marriage of Mr. Crippen took place at Elko, Nev., and united him with Miss Berta M. Doe, of Humboldt county. They are the parents of three children, Frederick, Evelyn and Gilbert. While living in Humboldt county Mr. Crippen became connected with the Knights of Pythias at Petrolia. Since coming to Kern county he has put in membership with the Woodmen of the World at Bakersfield and also has been initiated into Masonry in Taft Lodge No. 426, F. & A. M. He is also a member of the board of trustees of the Kerto Club, the quarters for which are provided by the Kern Trading and Oil Com- pany.

GEORGE E. TAYLOR .- It is interesting to write of a native son who has, through all circumstances, conducted himself with credit and honorably accomplished success in his business and the securing of the confidence of his customers, meanwhile establishing warm personal friendships, receiving from every one the utmost faith in his integrity and honesty of purpose. Such a man is George E. Taylor, who was born in Ukiah, Mendocino county, Cal., February 1, 1876. His father, William, was born in Missouri, while his grand- father, Alexander Taylor, was a native of Kentucky, of an old southern family. He removed to Missouri and in 1849 joined the tide of migration to the far west, bringing his family across the plains with ox-teams and locating first in Humboldt. Later they made their home in Mendocino county and afterward in Monterey, always following the occupation of stock business. He died in Monterey county.

Like his father William Taylor was a stockman; at Ukiah for some years he followed that trade and then moved to Fresno county. When oil was discovered in the Coalinga district he began locating oil lands and followed the oil business for a time. While on a visit to Bakersfield he passed away in May, 1912. His wife, Annie (Thompson) Taylor, was born in Iowa, the daughter of Theodore Thompson, who was a native of Maryland. The latter brought his family across the plains in the early '50s, and became a pioneer farmer. He now makes his home in Bakersfield aged eighty-two years. Mrs. Taylor passed away in Huron, Fresno county, in 1887.

Of the five children born to his parents George E. Taylor is the eldest. His childhood was passed mostly in Monterey county, where he assisted his uncles who were cattlemen. From a young boy he rode the range. His educa- tional training was obtained in the local schools and as he grew he imbibed a spirit of progressiveness and a courage to accomplish successful ends. On February 1, 1896, he came to Kern county, his first employment being with Wellington Canfield, receiving $20 per month. He worked steadily for some years and having saved some of his hard-earned money he purchased sixty acres of land in the Old River district, which he improved, raising alfalfa. In addition he engaged in the dairy business and continued with marked suc- cess until he sold the place to R. L. Mccutchen, and in February, 1904, began a mercantile business in Bakersfield. Starting in a small storeroom on Chester avenne, he conducted the business under the firm name of G. E. Taylor & Co. This business he sold in 1907 and soon afterward started the present store known as Taylor's grocery, at No. 1423 Nineteenth street, of which he is now sole proprietor and he enjoys a large trade among the citizens of Bakers- field and the surrounding country.

Before her marriage Mrs. Taylor was Miss Dollie Rowlee, a native of Marion, Iowa, who came to California when a child with her parents. Her father, Charles E. Rowlee, is represented elsewhere in this publication. Mrs. Taylor is a graduate of the San Diego State Normal class of 1902, and has achieved much success as an educator. She is at present acceptably serving

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as principal of the Standard schools. By a former marriage Mr. Taylor is the father of two daughters, Alma and Frances. A woman of intellect and accomplishments, with refined and artistic tastes, Mrs. Taylor is much beloved by hier many friends and with her husband is freely hospitable and respected for their generous impulses.

J. C. KNOKE .- No other occupation aside from the oil industry has ever engaged the attention of Mr. Knoke and therefore his rise from a most humble capacity to an influential position has been steadfast. At this writing he fills a very important place as production foreman for the Kern Trading and Oil Company in the Midway-Sunset fields. The duties of the position entail upon him the management of the company's wells (about eighty-five now producing) situated between Pentland and the North Midway.

Throughout practically all of his life Mr. Knoke has lived in oil regions. Born at Wheeling, W. Va., November 1, 1877, he is a son of the late Clem Knoke, at one time a shoemaker in Wheeling, but later the owner and occu- pant of a farin at Sistersville, in the same state. When oil was struck at Sis- tersville about 1890 Mr. Knoke was a lad of thirteen years and was a pupil in the local schools of the village. There were twelve children in the family and ten of these are still living, so that the small estate left by the parents at death could aid the sons and daughters but little. After he had graduated from the grammar school Mr. Knoke began to make his own way in the world and as early as 1894 he worked as a roustabout in the Sistersville field. Later he was employed in other fields of the same state. From 1902 to 1934 he engaged in the oil industry in Colorado, where he worked up from tool-dresser to driller.

For nine months he engaged with the Burlington & Missouri Railway Company and drilled three discovery wells for that company near Shaddron, Neb., but found no cil. Various parts of New Mexico also were inspected with a view to finding favorable oil prospects and at Raton he drilled a dis- covery well for the Raton Oil Company, but the results were unsatisfactory. During the year 1904 he came to California for the first time. Securing work with the Union Oil Company as tocl-dresser, he was soon made head well- puller and before the first year of his connection with the company had ex- pired he was filling the position of superintendent of production. For six and one-half years he remained in the employ of the Union Oil Company at Santa Maria and then resigned to make a tour of inspection through Cuba. In the five months spent there he engaged in digging discovery wells for an English syndicate, but no oil was found. Returning to California for the pur- pose of securing more supplies and sending them to Cuba, he discharged these duties and then, instead of going back as he had anticipated, he accepted a position as manager for the May's Consolidated Oil Company, owning leases on sections 28 and 30, township 31, range 23. After nine months with that cor- poration he entered upon the duties of his present position in May, 1912, and since has devoted his energies to this work, meanwhile making his home at Maricopa in one of the superintendents' houses on the Kern Trading and Oil Company's lease. One daughter, Helen B., has been born of his union with Miss Mamie McKay, daughter of E. S. McKay, of Lompoc, Cal .. but a resident of Santa Barbara at the time of their marriage. While making his home at Santa Maria he affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and during a temporary sojourn at San Luis Obispo he became a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is one of the trustees of the Kerto Club, which meets in a building provided by the Kern Trading & Oil Company.

C. L. DICKEY .- The lease foreman on the Kern Trading and Oil Com- pany's properties has been familiar with the oil industry from his earliest recollections, for he is a native of one of the eastern oil regions and has given all his mature life to the development of the in-

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

dustry. Born at Sistersville, W. Va .. September 6, 1887, he is a son of the late Thomas and Sarah (Phillips) Dickey, the former con- nected with production activities in the oil fields of his home town. There were nine children in the family and of these C. L. was sixth in order of birth. When only fifteen years of age he was obliged, on account of the death of his father, to stop school and take up the serious business of earning a livelihood. Not only was he self-supporting, but in addition he helped to care for his mother and other members of the family, so that he assumed the responsibilities of manhood while yet a youth. When he began in the oil fields it was as a roustabout.

Continuing with the same eastern oil company for some years, Mr. Dickey resigned his place in the spring of 1907 and then sought an occupative opening in the west. Upon his removal to California he engaged in work in the Santa Maria field, where he remained until September of 1910. Having had thorough training as tool-dresser and head well-puller in West Virginia, he was competent to fill important duties at Santa Maria. From that field he removed to Fellows and was employed as gang-foreman and tool-dresser. The next step in advance brought him to the Kern Trading and Oil Company's properties, where since June of 1912 he has served as lease foreman, his juris- diction extending to the properties in the Sunset field. A warm friendship with J. C. Knoke, production foreman for the company, which dates back to their early residence in Sistersville, W. Va., was instrumental in identifying him with this company and his own reliability and energy enable him to fill the position with satisfaction to all concerned.

CHARLES E. GEDDES .- The youngest of seven sons and a member of a family of thirteen children, of whom there now survive five sons and five daughters, Charles E. Geddes was born at Sheffield, Warren county, Pa., and grew to manhood in Mckean county, same state, where he attended the Bradford schools. Always the family maintained an interest in the oil business and two clder brothers are now with the Associated in the Coalinga oil field in California, G. W. being a machinist and J. E. production foreman. The father has made the lumber business his principal occupation and is now living retired, being at present in Coalinga. The mother was a native of Pennsyl- vania and came of a Swiss family. After two years in the high school Charles E. Geddes began to work in the Bradford oil field at the age of sixteen. At first he engaged as a pumper and later as a tool-dresser. Going to Illinois at the age of twenty-one he worked in the Robinson field for two and one-half years and from that section of the country he came to California in October of 1907. A visit of eight days in the Kern river field gave him his first practical knowledge of western conditions. Two months were then spent in the Coalinga field as an employe of the pipe-line department and then of the pro- duction department of the Associated, after which he was promoted to be gang-pusher and well-foreman. On being chosen superintendent of the Espe- ranza and the Sibyl he associated himself with the properties that later were overtaken by the General Petroleum, whose officers retained him in the capacity of superintendent with largely increased responsibilities. This position, as foreman of all the properties of the company in the North Midway field, includes the following divisions now owned and operated by the great concern: Oakburn, Dabney, Sahle, Globe, Logan, Brunswick, Section 19, Fellows, Continental and Sibyl. He personally visits each lease daily, going from one to another by automobile, and directing and supervising all of the work with an alertness and nervous energy that invariably produces re- sults.

Since coming to Kern county Mr. Geddes has been connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Taft. He married Miss Leula Hunter, of Russell, Warren county, Pa., the daughter of one of the well-known and

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

successful oil operators of the cast. The company's residence on section 14, 31-22, is their home, which with its artistic furnishings and air of happy domesticity attracts often to its hospitality the many friends of the charming hostess.

ARTHUR EUGENE HOAGLAND .- The excitement caused by the dis- covery of gold in California imbued William Hoagland with a desire to visit the vast unknown west. At the time of joining a party of Argonauts he was still a mere lad, yet he was able to do a man's work and assumed responsibil- ities equal to those thrust upon men many years his senior. As a boy he had attended the schools of Springfield, Ill., where his birth had occurred about 1835 and where his parents had made their home for years. The trip across the plains during the summer of 1849 he still recalls as one of the most inter- esting experiences of his eventful life and scarcely less interesting was the return voyage by water. Settling upon a farm in Missouri, he gave himself in- dustriously to agricultural pursuits and for some time continued to live and labor in that state. Meantime he served in the Union army during the Civil war and remained at the front until the expiration of his period of service. About 1884 he became a pioneer of Kansas and took up a claim in Barber county, where he engaged in farming for some years. When he made his second trip to the Pacific coast in 1891 he found conditions in the west far different from those of the earlier period. Oregon, to which state he removed from Kansas, was becoming known for riches of soil and growth of commerce. For a number of years he served as assessor of Klamath county and made his home in Klamath Falls, but more recently he has removed to California, where he and his wife, Cassie (Fulton) Hoagland, now are living in Butte county.

The family of William Hoagland comprised eleven children and eight of these are still living. One of the younger members of the family, Arthur Eugene, was born July 7, 1876, during the residence of the parents near Rolla, Phelps county, Mo., where he remained until eight years of age and then accompanied the other members of the family to Kansas. Later he attended the public schools of Medicine Lodge, Barber county. At the age of fourteen he began to be self-supporting and from that time he has made his way unaided in the world. . The Santa Fe Railroad had a line through his home town and offered an opportunity for an honest livelihood through day labor. At first his wages were very small, but his worth found appreciative recognition and at seventeen he was promoted to be a foreman. Later he was transferred from Kansas to Illinois as a construction foreman, after which he was similarly employed in Arizona. During 1899 he was transferred to Bakersfield and from this city was sent north on construction work. The year 1900 was spent mainly in Hanford. During 1901 he returned to Bakersfield and this city has since been his home. For three years he continued in the railroad business. As general foreman of construction he had charge of construction work between Bakersfield and Fresno.

Resigning in 1904 after a long and honorable identification with railroad interests, Mr. Hoagland turned his attention to other lines of business. For a time he owned a cigar store and for two and one-half years he acted as local manager for the Wieland brewery, since which time he has been a member of the firm of Hoagland & Ross, wholesale distributors of Rainier beer, manufactured by the Seattle Brewing and Malting Company. The firm has an agency at Mojave and a cold storage plant at Bakersfield and ships the bottled beer throughout all of Kern county. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat and fraternally he is identified with the Royal Arch Lodge and also has served as president of the Eagles. By his marriage to Miss Maude Rainer, a resident of Bakersfield, but a native of Kansas, he has two children, Bruce and Helen.

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

JOHN HENRY HARVEY .- The power of determination and industry in overcoming obstacles appears in the life of Mr. Harvey, who, although left an orphan in early life and obliged to forego educational advantages, has nevertheless risen to a position of influence in his chosen calling. His mother had passed away when he was so small that even the most indistinct memories were lacking of her affection and devotion. The father, Thomas, an Irishman by birth, was most intensely loval to the country of his adop- tion and when the Civil war began he offered his services to the Union. Enrolled as a private in the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, he was sent to the front with his regiment, took part in a number of large engagements and finally lost his life in the battle of Gettysburg, where he was buried in an unknown grave. The son, who was born on Christmas day of 1856 near Port Huron, St. Clair county, Mich., was thus left alone in the world. Though far too young to be self-supporting, he nevertheless determined to "paddle his own canoe" and notwithstanding the fact that he lacked warm clothing and nourishing food he kept on without disheartenment and even was able to attend school for several winters. At the age of sixteen he began an apprenticeship to the trade of a blacksmith. After completing his trade he worked as a blacksmith during the winter months in large cities in Michigan, while in the summer months he sailed on the lakes as wheelman or quartermaster. Life on the lakes interested him from its constant variety and its healthful nature, but when he established domestic ties the desire to be at home caused him to give up his position as a sailor. Meanwhile having worked as a blacksmith in the lumber woods and having risen to be foreman of the lumber camps, he had proved his skill and efficiency in the occupation to which he has devoted the greater part of his mature years.

The marriage of John Henry Harvey and Miss Eusebia A. Richards, a native of Cairo, Mich., but a descendant of French ancestry, took place in her home town, where Mr. Harvey engaged in running a blacksmith's shop. Later he was similarly employed in Cass City and then in Imlay City. Dur- ing 1892 he came to California and found employment at his trade in Bakers- field, where in 1895 he started a shop at No. 1712 Chester avenue. From a very small beginning he rose to the management of a large business, con- tinuing at the same location until 1908, when the Elks' Hall was erected on that site. Since then he has had his manufacturing establishment at No. 2300 Chester avenue, the large increase in his business necessitating an ex- pansion, as he has taken up the manufacture of automobile springs and forgings in connection with blacksmithing and carriage-making. Electric power is utilized and an electric motor furnishes the current for the four fires. Tracks and cranes have been installed and in every respect the shop has been well equipped, not only for the heavy iron work and repairing of vehicles, but also for the repairing of bodies, frames and wheels of auto- mobiles. For the manufacture of automobile and heavy truck springs he has installed a spring rolling machine run by a seven and a half horsepower electric motor, also a gas oven for the quick heating and tempering of springs, and he has a gas furnace for tire-heating and setting.

The home of Mr. Harvey, erected by himself, stands at the corner of C and Palm streets. His family comprises his wife and three children, the eldest of whom, LeRoy Alonzo, is a pianist, devoting all his time to music. The second son, Lee Richards, is head of the grocery firm of Harvev & Webber, in Bakersfield. The youngest child. Ina Aville, is a high-school student. In national politics Mr. Harvey is a Republican. While still living in Michigan he was made a Mason in the blue lodge at Romeo, and since coming west he has transferred his membership to Bakersfield Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M., while in addition he is identified with the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and has been an officer in the local lodge of the latter organization.

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SARSHEL VAUGHN MATHEWS .- A native of Wilmington, Los An- geles county, Sarshel Vaughn Mathews has spent his entire life in Southern California, where he has seen many wonderful improvements, and been among those who have benefited greatly by the development which has taken place in this part of the country. Earnest, energetic and persevering he has worked hard to reach the point of prosperity he now enjoys.

Theodore Mathews, father of Sarshel V., was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1827 in Pittsburgh. He served as corporal in Company B of a New Jersey regiment during the Mexican war and in the carly '50s came west in the employ of the government, spending some time in Utah. In the latter state his marriage occurred, shortly after his arrival, to Harriet Burton, born in England, and they later removed to Oregon, remaining there for a number of years, after which they came to California. Wilmington, Los Angeles county, was their place of settlement, Mr. Mathews holding the position of wagonmaster under the government, which post he filled for a long time. He finally removed to Los Angeles, where his wife died in 1903, and he passed away in 1907.

Sarshel V. Mathews was born in Wilmington, Los Angeles county, October 7, 1866, and was a small lad when his parents removed to Los Nietos, in Los Angeles county, seven years later moving into Los Angeles, where he attended the schools and made his home for many years. His first occu- pation was on a stock ranch, but in 1889 he went to work for the Union Lime Company in San Bernardino county, remaining there about three years, at the end of which time he entered the Southern Pacific railroad shops in Los Angeles. In 1899 he came to Tehachapi in the capacity of superintend- ent for the Union Lime Company and filled that position for two years, re- turning then to the shops in Los Angeles until 1908. Tehachapi had proved attractive to Mr. Mathews, and after his return he opened up a quarry for the city aqueduct and settled permanently. About the same time he pur- chased thirty acres of apple land and began improvements, planting apples and pears. The ranch is located one and a half miles from town and has been equipped with a pumping plant, with a capacity of thirty inches of water, and the property is well cared for.

Mr. Mathews was married in 1901 to Mabel Diamond, a native of Utah, and to this union two children were born, only one of whom is living, Gert- rude, who is attending school at Tehachapi. Mrs. Mathews is the daughter of James and Mary Diamond, both deceased. As a Republican, Mr. Mathews has taken an active part in the politics of his native state, and he has served as roadmaster at different periods.

HOWARD W. CARLOCK .- East Bakersfield, formerly known as Kern, is Mr. Carlock's native place, and he was born June 26, 1875, when the now flourishing town was a straggling hamlet called Sumner. Both his father, Francis Marion, and his grandfather were pioneers of California, having crossed the plains with ox-teams and wagons during the era of gold excitement and afterward engaged in mining in the Sierras.

The early agricultural settlement of Kern county found Francis M. Carlock actively engaged in cattle ranching on Kern Island. For years he also engaged in freighting between Delano and Bakersfield, meanwhile haul- ing the first lumber into the latter town and also into Sumner. After he had moved from Sumner to Bakersfield he engaged in merchandising on the present site of the Redlick building, on Eighteenth street and Chester avenue, where in 1889 he suffered a heavy loss from a destructive fire. Later he pur- chased a new stock of goods and resumed business. After he had finally disposed of his mercantile enterprises he continued in the dray and transfer business until 1906, when he retired to private life. His wife, formerly Miss Marv Tucker, came across the plains with her parents from her native locality in Pike county, Mo., and endured all the hardships of the tedious

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journey made with ox-teams and wagons in company with a large expedition of emigrants.

Out of a family of seven children there are only three now living and these reside in Bakersfield, namely: Hattie, H. W., and Mrs. Iva Hayes. The only son received his early education in the Summer schools and con- tinued in school after the family had removed to Bakersfield, when he was about thirteen years of age. While still a mere lad he acquired a thorough knowledge of the dray business. Many years ago the elder Mr. Carlock had built the Overland stables and, after losing heavily twice by hire, he had finally built new barns on Eighteenth near Chester. About 1907 the Overland barn was leased by the son, who purchased a complete outfit of new vehicles and horses and has since carried on a large business. The building is large, having a frontage of more than one hundred feet, with a depth of one hundred and fifty feet, besides which he leases a building across the street. The livery is the largest in Bakersfield, and more than one hundred and twenty-five head of horses are kept in the barn. Politically he is a Republican and fraternally he holds membership with the Wocdmen of the World. In Fresno he was united in marriage with Miss Nettie McLennan, who was born in Illinois, but has been a resident of California from early life. They have a son Harold, aged twenty-one months.

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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 150

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