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 61

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 61

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ROBERT M. HOLTBY .- The movement of migration to Canada was largely promoted by a sturdy class of Englishmen who aided in its agri- cultural development by their own patient perseverance and untiring labors. It was in this manner that the Holtby family came to be associated with Canadian farm advancement. Several generations of the name assisted in the upbuilding of their own community. Upon a large farm near Manchester. Canada, Robert M. Holtby was born March 7, 1847, and in the same locality he received a common-school education, also acquired a thorough knowledge of farming and stock-raising. From his earliest recollections he had heard much concerning the western states. The discovery of gold in California was still a popular theme of conversation during his boyhood. It was said too that this state offered greater inducements to farmers than to miners and thus he carly determined to seek the Pacific coast. At the age of nineteen years he sailed from New York around the Horn to Oregon, where he engaged in teaching school for six months. On August 26, 1867, he left Oregon for California. where afterward he made his home until death. With money given him by his father he invested in sheep and started a ranch on the White river in Tulare county. In time he enlarged his range and increased his flock. Ilis operations became very large in extent and represented an im- mense outlay of money. While in large degree he prospered, he met with many reverses, for the sheep industry always has been characterized by many "ups and downs." During one severe winter he lost six thousand head in the deep snow.

The management of so large a business necessitated the employment of many meu and in his dealings with these employes Mr. Holtby always dis- played the deepest consideration and most kindly forbearance, as far as pos- sible overlooking their mistakes, but also showing an appreciation of any special work which they did in his behalf. With ranges widely scattered and flocks in different parts of the state. he left their management to trusted employes, but maintained a close personal supervision of all. For several years he made his home on a ranch on Poso creek twelve miles from Bakers-

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

field. From 1886 until his removal to Bakersfield he lived on the Troy ranch, one of the most highly cultivated farms in the entire county. This he sold in 1891 and during the same year removed to Bakersfield, where he erected a large, comfortable residence. It was his intention to plant shade trees and improve the property, but ere his dreams had been realized he was called from earth, March 7, 1892, on the day that he was forty-five years of age. The era of struggle had been passed, the days of hardship and toil were to be replaced by a life of greater ease, he was about to enter upon a realization of the fruits of his privation, sacrifices and strenuous labor, when death cut short all hopes of an earthly future. Of Christian principles and manly virtues, he belonged to the type of citizenship of inestimable value to any community and his passing called forth many testimonials of regard from friends of long standing. After he became a citizen of the United States he adopted Repub- lican principles, but never mingled actively in politics and at no time allowed the use of his name as a candidate for office.

The marriage of Mr. Holtby was solemnized in San Francisco May 6, 1880, and united him with Miss Celia Woodman, who was born at Paw Paw, Mich., and belongs to an old family of New England that became established on the Atlantic coast as early as 1635. The original home of the family was in England. It was the privilege of Mrs. Holtby as a young girl to receive ex- cellent educational advantages and she is a woman of the highest refinement. Religion has mingled with the other elements that give gentleness and beauty to her character. An attendant upon the services of the Episcopal Church and a contributor to its maintenance, she has found happiness in her religious faith and usefulness in its charitable functions. Her only child, Mrs. Roberta Mor- gan, resides in Bakersfield. Since the death of her husband she has continued to occupy the home which he built for her.

OSCAR GLANVILLE, Ph.C .- The eldest of four children, Oscar Glan- ville was born at Dover, Kan., June 18, 1885, being a son of William J. and Mary (Sage) Glanville, natives respectively of Missouri and New York. The mother died in Kansas and the father, who still makes his home at Bond, that state, has for years engaged extensively in business as a merchant and miller. After having completed the studies of the Dover public schools Oscar Glan- ville was sent to the Topeka high school and there finished the prescribed curriculum. Next' he matriculated in the Kansas State University at Law- rence, where he remained until he received the degree of Ph. C., upon grad- uating in 1904. Immediately after finishing his studies he secured employment in the pharmacy of a Topeka druggist and later was engaged similarly at Parsons. During May of 1905 he went to Arizona and found work in a pharmacy at Prescott. Coming to California in January of 1906, he first engaged as a pharmacist at Riverside, but during July of the same year he removed to San Diego. Tweve months later he became a pharmacist with the Owl Drug Company at Los Angeles and after six months went to San Fran- cisco in the interests of the same concern. After two years with that organ- ization in San Francisco he engaged to go to Honolulu for Benson, Smith & Co., and spent six months on the famous islands in the ocean, with his headquarters in the capital city, where he was both salesman and pharmacist. Upon returning to California he spent four months with William England of Marysville and then was an employe for seven months with the Neve Drug Company of Sacramento, after which he spent a year as a pharmacist with a large drug firm in Los Angeles. From that city he came to Mojave in February of 1912 and purchased the Peterson drug store, which since he has conducted under the title of O. Glanville. In addition to the usual stock of drugs, sundries, proprietary medicines and Rexall remedies, he carries a line of Eastman kodaks, also acts as agent for the Columbia and Edison phono- graphs and keeps in stock samples of the various styles and sizes, together

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

with records for each. Upon the organization of the Knights of the Desert he became one of the charter members. In politics he is a Democrat.

REV. FATHER JOHN P. HOLDEN .- The first pastor of St. Francis Catholic Church in Bakersfield was Rev. Father P. Carasco, who was followed by Father P. Bannon, whose pastorate extended to June, 1894. Father Jo- seph O'Reilly ministered to the congregation until 1897, when the work was taken up by Father P. Lennon, whose earthly labors came to an end December 11. 1904. At his death he left a bequest of about $2,000 toward the erection of St. Francis Church. Father Lennon bought the lot at K and Eighteenth streets and built the first house of worship about twenty years ago. He afterward bought the site of the present church at I street and Truxton avenue. During his pastorate he had charge also of missions at Delano and Wasco, now separate churches, and of the congregation gath- ered at Kern, now East Bakersfield. He ministered also to the Indian mis- sion at Fort Tejon, and services are still conducted there. For a few weeks after his death Father Quinlan had charge of the pastorate, he being fol- lowed by Father Frund, who was appointed pastor, and he it was who built the brick church and bought the St. Francis rectory. The Sisters of Mercy secured the St. Clair property near the Santa Fe depot for hospital purposes in 1910 and in 1911 abandoned it for the present site on Truxton avenue, to which they removed the St. Clair house, which was enlarged and remodeled. However, even this was inadequate, and in 1913 they erected an entirely new building facing Truxton avenue. This is a reinforced con- crete and brick building, 108x48, three stories with basement. The present capacity is thirty-six rooms for patients, in addition to wards and two oper- ating rooms. Modern heating and cooling systems with other up-to-date features make this one of the best equipped hospitals in the country.

During Father Frund's time he had several well remembered assistant priests-Father Lawrence Donleavy (now deceased), Father John Kelly, Father Schiaparelli and Father Leo Von Garsse. The assistants of Father Holden have been: Father Joseph Daumas, now of Fresno, then Father De Munick, now of Los Angeles, Father Marton, now of Oxnard, and the present assistant, Father Morris.

Rev. Father John P. Holden is the present pastor of St. Francis Catholic Church, having been appointed to the charge in November, 1910. He was born at Belleville, Ontario, Canada, May 31, 1865, a son of David Holden, manager of a lumber manufacturing firm, who lived his active years at Belleville, and passed away there, as did also his wife. Her maiden name was Mary Byrne, and she became the mother of six children, Father Holden being the third in order of birth. The latter was educated at a parochial school at Belleville and at St. Jerome's college, Berlin, Ontario, where he made a specialty of classics and theology and where he was graduated in 1895. He was ordained to the priesthood at Hamilton by Bishop Dowling. October 20, 1895, and became secretary to the Bishop and afterwards chan- cellor of the Hamilton diocese and superintendent of Catholic schools under Bishop Dowling. Later he was for five years pastor of St. Joseph's Church at Hamilton ; but, because of throat difficulties, he resigned to come to Cali- fornia, and in 1910 came to Los Angeles. Before coming to Bakersfield he was acting rector of St. John's church in Fresno, during the temporary absence of Monsignor McCarthy in Europe. The parochial school of St. Francis's church was established in 1910 and now employs four teachers. Among the organizations of the church are the St. Francis Congregation Altar Society, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Ladies' Aid Society and the League of the Sacred Heart, the Sodality of the Children of Mary, the Young Ladies' Sodality, the Sanctuary Boys' Society, the St. Cecelia Choir and the Society of the Knights of Columbus, which is included in the Bakersfield branch of that order.

J. D. Halden

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

St. Francis church is a large structure of Gothic architecture, with Gothic spires, cathedral glass windows and beautifully decorated. During 1913 three new altars of Gothic type were installed, the center one being of marble. Plans are now under way to build a new rectory on the church grounds, when the present rectory will be remodeled and used for a sisters' convent and academy ; and a new parochial school will be built adjoining.

WILLIAM HUNTER LAIRD, M. D .- One of the early settlers of the San Joaquin valley, who through many years of identification with the pro- fessional life of this community served faithfully and well, winning the con- fidence of all who knew him, was Dr. William Hunter Laird. Born in Browns county, Ohio. in 1816, he was there carefully reared and thoroughly educated. He entered upon the study of medicine and as a graduate phy- sician came to California in 1859 and practiced for a time at Monterey and vicinity. In 1861 he came to Visalia, where he practiced medicine, riding horseback with his saddle-bags. Subsequently he was located at San Ber- nardino for a time, but later went to Bakersfield where he practiced medicine and became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which after- wards proved to be in the Kern river oil fields. Along with his many expe- riences in the early settlement of this part of the country he experienced the trials of war in the Mexican war, seeing active service. Dr. Laird passed away in August. 1909, aged ninety-three years, and his death marked the end of a substantial and exemplary career, in which he had met every obstruc- tion bravely and had ministered to the sick in body and mind alike. proving a friend in need and a sociable, congenial and trustworthy fellow citizen.

Dr. Laird was married in Bakersfield to Mrs. Margaret (Cox) Pierce, who was born in Georgia and came to Kern county in the early days to join her brother. J. K. Cox, a farmer near Bakersfield, where she married. Of this union there were two children. Margaret and William, both residents of East Bakersfield living with their mother, who sold her ranch in the oil fields and is living retired. Mrs. Laird is a member of the Christian Church and she and her children are well known and highly respected throughout the community.

W. J. HOLLAND .- The secretary and treasurer of the Rotary Disc Bit Company, Incorporated, was born at Wigan, England, August 12, 1859, and upon the completion of a common-school education he served an appren- ticeship with a firm of mechanical engineers in his native town. At the ex- piration of a term of five years he severed his connection with J. S. Walker & Bro., in 1881, and immediately shipped for the United States, settling in San Antonio, Tex., where he engaged in the tea and coffee business and built up considerable patronage both in wholesale and retail lines. Holland's tea store is now an institution of the southern city and is being conducted efficiently by his father, but after six years in the work he left San Antonio for Missouri and at Sweet Springs, that state, married Miss Eleanor Haw- kins, daughter of a well-known physician of San Antonio. One year was spent in Missouri and one winter in New Mexico, after which he removed to Alabama, settled at Birmingham and remained in that city for eleven years, meanwhile engaging with the Hawkins Lumber Company as manager.

Coming to California in 1899 Mr. Holland settled at Fair Oaks, where he still owns a ranch. In order that his three children, Walter H., Eleanor and Ruth, might have educational advantages, he removed to Berkeley and they completed the high-school course in that city, since which time they have been students in the University. During April of 1910, Mr. Holland came down to Fellows to take charge of the townsite work as an employe of Jamieson, Wrampelmeier and Strassburger, and in that capacity he helped to plat and lease the lots. Since then he has remained in the town, where he represents the Connecticut Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, and is also acting as an official in the Rotary Disc Bit Company. In July of 1911 he was appointed justice of the peace at Fellows, and has since held that office in

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the seventeenth township of Kern county. In religious belief he has been a Presbyterian and his family are active in that church.

SAMUEL CALVIN LONG, M.D .- The call for volunteers in the Union army during the Civil war received a quick response from Hugh Long. a native of Mercer county, Pa., who went to the front with a regiment from his commonwealth and gave faithful service until the expiration of his term of enlistment. With the close of the war he exchanged the uniform of a soldier for the homely garb of a tiller of the soil and thenceforward for some vears gave his attention to the management of his farm in Mercer county, where he also operated a coal mine on his land. Accompanied by wife and children in 1879 he removed from Pennsylvania to Iowa and settled in the southwestern part of the state. After ten years in Ringgold county he crossed the line into Taylor county and bought land near Lenox, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death in 1891. His wife, who survived him for some years and died in Iowa during December of 1899, bore the maiden name of Florinda Campbell and was born in Mercer county, Pa., of Scotch- Irish lineage; her mother lived to be ninety-six years of age. The family of High and Florinda Long comprised ten children, namely: Alonzo, who died in infancy : James Campbell, of Lompoc ; Mark, a farmer near Hanford, Cal. : Dr. George L., a physician in Fresno; R. A., who died in Fresno ; Anna, residing near the old home at Lenox, Iowa: Mrs. Margaret Wyant, of Clear- field, Iowa; Wilbert M., of Clearfield, Iowa; Mrs. Susie Gordon, of Lenox, that state ; and Samuel Calvin, the youngest of the family circle and the only one to settle in Kern county. Born near Pardoe, Mercer county. Pa., August 16, 1871, he grew to manhood upon an Iowa farm and received his education principally in country schools. He can scarcely recall when he first deter- mined upon a professional career. At first his studies were directed toward the occupation of pharmacist and during July of 1897 he was graduated with the degree of Ph.G. from the department of pharmacy, Highland Park Col- lege, at Des Moines.

Almost coincident with his arrival in California in August, a month after his graduation, the young pharmacist secured a position in a hospital at Fresno, and for two years had the most valuable experience as interne and pharmacist. During this time he determined to continue his studies with a view to becoming a physician. For some years he was a student in the Hahnemann Medical College of the Pacific, at San Francisco, from which he was graduated May 13. 1901. Returning to Fresno, he entered the office of his brother, Dr. George L. Long, but in a short time he determined to seek a new location. October 5, 1901, he arrived in Bakersfield, a stranger in a strange city. For some years past he has maintained his office in a suite of rooms in the Woodmen of the World building. As a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy and the California Homeopathic Medical Institute, he has maintained an intimate identification with organiza- tions for the upbuilding of his chosen branch of therapeutics, and is medical examiner for several old line insurance companies. His fraternal relations have been and still are very important and it has been a source of pride to him that he has been chosen medical examiner by the various orders with which he has local association, including the Woodmen of the World, Fra- ternal Brotherhood, Knights and Ladies of Security, Degree of Honor, Women of Woodcraft, American Yeomen, American Nobles and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was made a Mason in Bakersfield Lodge No. 224, F. & A. M., is a member of Los Angeles Consistory No. 3, Scottish Rite, and Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Los Angeles.

The home of Dr. Long at No. 1715 Seventeenth street is presided over hospitably by his wife, who is a woman of culture and was educated in Simp- son College at Indianola, Iowa. Their marriage was solemnized in Lenox, Iowa, in October of 1902, Mrs. Long having been Miss Nona E. Adams, a

Samuel & Song MIS.

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HISTORY OF KERN COUNTY

native of Belle Plain, Marshall county, III., and a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Barton) Adams, the former born in Pittsburg, Pa., and the latter in Cincinnati, Ohio, of English lineage. After he had removed from Pennsyl- vania to Illinois Mr. Adams served as a private in the One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry during the Civil war. Later he continued to culti- vate farm land in Illinois until 1882, when he removed to Iowa and settled upon a farm. His last days were spent in Lenox and there he passed away in 1908. A man of local prominence and civic pride he served for one term as supervisor and gave his support to movements for the material upbuilding of his county. His widow now makes her home with Dr. and Mrs. Long at Bakersfield. She had four other children : WV. B., who is a farmer at Dixon, Ill .; E. M. and N. D., both of Des Moines; and Chester, now living in Kansas City. Mrs. Long was next to the eldest in the family and was the only one to settle in California. Prior to her marriage she taught severai terms of school. Mr. and Mrs. Long are members of the Congregational church, to the work of which both have been generous contributors. They are the parents of two children, Mary Oneita and Hugh Thomas. In politics the Doctor is stanchly Republican.

W. P. MONROE .- The Monroe family has the distinction of belonging to the fine old pioneer element of California. In every instance its members have exhibited the utmost loyalty toward the great west and wherever known their name is a synonym for patriotic devotion and progressive spirit. The founder of the family on the coast was Wesley Monroe, a native of Illinois and a member of that great throng of immigrants whom the discovery of gold brought to the then unknown country beside the sunset sea. As early as 1850 he settled in what is now Tulare county. Later he lived in Sonoma county and followed the occupation of ranching, his large herds being permitted to range over miles of uninhabited territory in every direction from his ranch- house. He married Elizabeth Condry, who was born in Tennessee and died in 1906 in Tulare county. Their family numbered seven children, one of whom, J. D., is a wealthy stock-raiser in Tulare county. Another member of the family, W. P., was born in Sonoma county, this state, March 26, 1864, and during boyhood aided in the care of the stock in Tulare and Kings counties. From Tulare he came to Kern county in 1899 and in 1901 began to work for the Petroleum Development Company, being promoted to the position of manager in 1906 after five years of energetic efforts in less responsible capacities. He has charge of the wells of the Petroleum Development Com- pany located on section 2, township 29, range 28.

While promoting the interests of the company Mr. Monroe has acquired lands of his own and is now the owner of eighty acres of land, situated on section 34, township 28, range 28. A part of the tract has been placed under irrigation and the balance is available for similar work, the proximity of the Kern river proving of the greatest importance to water development. With the completion of irrigating facilities, oranges could be raised on the land. while any kind of garden truck would do well on such soil. The marriage of Mr. Monroe took place in Kings county and united him with Miss Susie Becker, who was born and reared there, and by whom he is the father of three children, Harry, Ruby and Evelyn. The fact that he did not enjoy good educational advantages has made Mr. Monroe solicitous that his own children and the children of other people in the community should receive every modern school privilege, hence he urged the organization of a school district and when such organization was effected in 1910 in the Petroleum school district he was chosen a member of the school board. In this capacity he has labored earnestly to secure good teachers and to surround the children with every advantage that will go toward the making of substantial citizens for "future years. The board of directors of the Petroleum school district, con- 26

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sisting of H. J. Heath, Charles N. Newberry and W. P. Monroe have under construction a new $10,000 school house, which will be completed for the September 1913 term and will be the finest school house in the Kern River field. While living in Tulare county he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Tulare and maintained a warm interest in lodge enterprises. In addition to his eighty acres of good land he has acquired city property at Richmond on the coast.

FRANK S. MATTSON .- From the age of thirteen years up to the present time, when as an experienced and skilled oil operator of fifty years he holds a position of responsibility in the Midway field, Mr. Mattson has known no business save that of oil production. Familiar with its every de- partment and experienced with the work in many of the most important fields of the entire country, he has had a long and honorable career in his chosen occupation and now, even more interested in the work than when a young man and even more skilled in its details, he is giving acceptable service as superintendent of the Safe Oil Company and the B. H. C. Oil Company. The leases of these small but productive concerns stand on the celebrated 25 Hill, occupying a portion of section 25, township 32, range 23, overlooking Taft and the Midway field, and here he is always to be found, overseeing every phase of production and aiming by intelligent oversight to secure the largest possible returns for the stockholders of the companies.

Born in Venango county, Pa., April 14, 1863, Frank S. Mattson is the son of Tobias Mattson, a pioneer in the oil industry in Pennsylvania, where he first became familiar with the business. Practically every position from roustabout to superintendent he has filled in different parts of the country. Following in the wake of oil strikes, he worked in the fields of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and Indiana, prior to coming to California during 1900. A list of the fields in which he has worked would include many of the best known in the east. After coming to the Pacific coast he made his head- quarters in Los Angeles for a time and then went to Carpenteria, from which place he came to Kern county and the Midway field. In his various re- movals from one field to another he has been accompanied by his wife whom he married in Ohio and who bore the maiden name of Anna E. Behrens.

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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 61

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