USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume II > Part 13
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After successfully passing the rigid examinations required Mr. Crosher spent some time as a commercial traveler representing a surgical instrument house of London, Ontario, visiting physicians and surgeons through Lower Canada and the Provinces. He then went to New York City and from there to Long Island, where he bought his first drug store, at Flushing, and afterward bought another at Whitestone, conducting both of them for a time. After disposing of them on account of forming other business connections he came to California in 1902 as manager of the Pasadena store of the Sun Drug Company, with which organization he continued for ten years. Mr. Crosher then embarked in business for himself at Pasadena, opening a drug store at Hudson and East Colorado Streets, afterward buying a drug store on East Colorado Street, corner of Lake. Avenue, and con- solidating the two stores under the name of the Lake Avenue Pharmacy. In 1921 he still further expanded by buying the High School Pharmacy, which is situated at 1583 East Colorado Street. Mr. Crosher's two stores in attractiveness and modern equipment would be a credit to any city, and he is numbered with Pasadena's far- sighted business men.
Mr. Crosher married at Los Angeles, California, November 30. 1905, Miss Flora H. Clarkson, who was born at Northville, Michigan, in which city she was educated and was valedictorian of her class when she graduated from the high school. She is a daughter of Eugene and Eveline Clarkson, the latter of whom survives and resides on her thirty-acre ranch near Pasadena. The father of Mrs. Crosher served in the Civil war, joining the army when but sixteen years old, and was a sergeant in the fourteenth Michigan Cavalry when it accompanied Sherman on the march to the sea. Mr. and Mrs. Crosher have four children : Kenneth Ross, Carol Isabel, and Helena and Harold, twins. Mr. Crosher and his family are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
As a recreation Mr. Crosher became interested in the breeding of high class pigeons, but as his interest grew he added to his early plans and has become a well known pigeon fancier, making a specialty of the Giant Runt. He imports blacks from France and whites from England, and has established a strain of White Runts, the blood of
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which is shown in nearly all the stock pens today. The Pasadena Royal breed, developed by Mr. Crosher, brought $150 at the San Francisco-Panama-Pacific International Exposition Pigeon Show, and at the same show he was the prize winner also in the Red Runts. He is a member of the Los Angeles Pigeon Association, and of the Tournament of Roses Association of Pasadena. In politics Mr. Crosher is a democrat. In Masonry he belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery ; is past sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men, and belongs also to the Modern Woodmen of America.
HARLAN GOLLAN CRISTY, of the bond department of the First Securi- ties Company, is a native of Pasadena, and one of its prominent younger men in financial affairs.
He was born at Pasadena, May 2, 1891, son of Charles S. and Joan G. Cristy, his father of New Boston, New Hampshire, and his mother of Buffalo, New York. Charles S. Cristy was for many years an active figure in the lumber industry at Saginaw, Michigan. In 1887 he came to Pasadena, and lived retired in this city until his death in March, 1905. Mrs. Joan Cristy is still living in Pasadena.
Harlan G. Christy attended the public schools of Pasadena, graduat- ing in 1908, and for the past fifteen years his experience has been in bank- ing, bond and brokerage lines. He had several periods of employment with business and brokerage firms that gave him opportunity for broad and liberal training in his present business. For a time he was a member of the brokerage firm of Baer, Brown & Parsons Company, and left that company to enter the bond department of the First Securities Company, which is associated with the Los Angeles Trust & Savings Bank and the First National Bank of Los Angeles.
The only interruption to his consecutive experience in Pasadena business circles was the year and a half he served in the navy, including six months in French waters. He was commissioned an ensign, and toward the close of his service was promoted to lieutenant of the junior grade. Mr. Cristy is a republican and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pasadena.
At Glencoe, Illinois, October 30, 1920, he married Miss Mabel Clark Becker, of Glencoe, Illinois, daughter of Edgar B. Becker of Chicago. They have one daughter, Mary Joan Cristy, a native of Pasadena. The Cristy home is at 285 South Holliston Avenue.
LESLIE BOYD HENRY, of Pasadena, is resident manager for Blyth, Witter & Company, bonds and investments, and maintains his office head- quarters at 614 Chamber of Commerce Building.
Mr. Henry was born in the City of Melbourne, Australia, on the 11th of April, 1889, and is a son of James Dixon Henry and Mary (Powers) Henry, the mother and the other three children having died before the subject of this review was three years of age. James D. Henry was born in Nova Scotia, came to California in 1876, and in the early '80s went from this state to Australia. In 1894, with his one remaining and mother- less child, Leslie B., Mr. Henry voyaged through the South Sea islands for the benefit of the health of the young son, and finally returned to California, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death having occurred in the City of San Francisco in April, 1916.
In 1907 Leslie B. Henry graduated from the Lowell High School in San Francisco, and was of the class of 1912 in the University of California, where he became affiliated with the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Theta Nu Epsilon fraternities and Golden Bear, the senior honor society. He was a member of the 1909 intercollegiate debating team against Stanford. After leaving the university Mr. Henry became identified with newspaper work as a reporter on the staff of the San Francisco Morning Call and the Sacramento Star, of which he eventually became city editor. Thereafter he extended his successful newspaper experience by doing effective work as Pacific Coast editor of the leased-wire service of the New York Sun.
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Later he served as night city editor of the Los Angeles Tribune, for which paper he was special correspondent with Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in the latter's presidential campaign in 1912.
In 1916 Mr. Henry became a bond saleman for Blyth, Witter & Com- pany, a representative concern which maintains offices in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Portland, Pasadena and San Diego. When the nation became involved in the World war Mr. Henry organized the first Liberty Loan committee for Los Angeles and similar committees throughout Southern California, in which connection he served as director of publicity in the first two loan campaigns and finally was made special representative of the Federal Reserve Bank for war financing in Southern California for the duration of the war, his earnest and effective service in each of these capacities having been gratuitous. In 1920 Mr. Henry visited Australia, the land of his nativity, as investigator of con- ditions-a preliminary survey in connection with the proposed financing in the United States of the Queensland state government and those of other states of that dominion. In November, 1919, Mr. Henry was made resi- dent manager for Blyth, Witter & Company at Pasadena, of which posi- tion he is now the incumbent.
At the inception of the nation's active participation in the World war Mr. Henry volunteered for service with the Marine Corps, but he was rejected, by reason of blindness in one of his eyes. He waived all exemp- tions under the draft, but was classified as totally unfit, due to blindness and under weight. In 1918 he obtained appointment to an Officers Train- ing Camp in the artillery arm of the Canadian army, but in this connection he was again held unfit for service. He found opportunity for effective patriotic service, however, and continued his work as special representative of the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve Bank for Southern California, in charge of Liberty Loan campaigns, from May, 1917, to April, 1918. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Southern California Divisions of the War Camp Community Service, and was active also in the work of the Red Cross and on the executive committee of the Four Minute Men. Mr. Henry is a director of the Pasadena Community Chest, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association, the Pasadena Y. M. C. A., is governor for Kiwanis Clubs for the State of California and International vice-president of the organization, is special lecturer on economics at the University of Southern California, is a men- ber of the Advisory Board of the California Institute of Technology and is president of the Pasadena Alumni of the State University. In the Masonic fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of the Scot- tish Rite, Knights Templar, and is a member of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In the City of Los Angeles he holds membership in the California, the University and the Union League Clubs ; at Pasadena he is a member of the Twilight, the Valley Hunt (of which he is a director ) , the Annandale Golf, the Cauldron and Kiwanis Clubs ; at San Francisco he holds membership in the University of California and Press Clubs; at Manila, Philippine Islands, he is a member of the Columbia and English Clubs ; and in New York City he is a member of the Friars Club. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
At San Francisco, in June, 1913, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Henry and Miss Gladys Henriette Bush, who was born and reared in that city, as a representative of the third generation of the family in San Fran- cisco, she being a daughter of Charles G. Bush, M. D. Mrs. Henry was afforded the advantages of the Girls High School in her native city, where also she attended Miss Hamlin's School, after which she made a tour abroad with the traveling school of Dr. Brush. Mr. and Mrs. Henry have two children, Barbara Marie, born in San Francisco, and Jane Leslie, born at Pasadena. In 1922 the respective ages of the two daughters are seven and one years.
The brief review here given indicates alike the versatility of Mr.
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Henry and the admirable application he has made of his powers in con- nection with the varied activities and responsibilities of life. The record, with naught of adulation, in a measure tends to indicate the man.
JOHN I. HOLLISTER, JR. To the upbuilding of a prosperous and thriving city such as Pasadena growing enterprises have contributed, and for their development and solidity men of clear intellect, steady purpose, personal integrity and progressive spirit have been necessary. These qualities have been important factors in the consistent advancement of the East Side Hardware Company, now operating two successful establishments, of which one of the proprietors is John I. Hollister, Jr.
Mr. Hollister was born at Hannibal, Missouri, February 23, 1879, and is a son of John I. and Annie ( Holme ) Hollister. The Hollister family originated in England and Holland, while the Holme family is of the latter country. John 1. Hollister, the elder, was born at Coxsackie, on the Hudson River, in Greene County, New York, in 1834, and in 1850 went to Hannibal, Missouri, where he was engaged in the grocery business until 1895. Dur- ing the Civil war he served as a member of the Home Guards. In 1895 he and Mrs. Hollister went to Troy, New York, whence they came to Pasadena in 1907, and are now living in comfortable retirement, Mr. Hollister being eighty-eight years of age and Mrs. Hollister, eighty-two. They have been married for sixty-two years, having been united at Han- nibal, Missouri, in September, 1860. Mrs. Hollister is a native of Rush- ville, Illinois. In the family there are four sons and two daughters: Mrs. A. G. Souther, of St. Louis, Missouri ; C. W., of Orange, California ; F. H., of McMinnville, Oregon; T. L., of Texas; Mrs. Edwin Veghte, of Pasa- dena; and John I., Jr.
John I. Hollister, Jr., acquired his education in the public schools of Han- nibal, Missouri, whence he accompanied his parents to Troy, New York, in which city he secured employment with the nationally-known firm of Cluett. Peabody & Company, collar manufacturers. In 1904 he went to St. Louis, where he was attached to the administration department during the World's Fair, but in the fall of the same year removed to Muskogee, Oklahoma, a city in which he spent six months. Subsequently he spent short periods at Galveston and Houston, Texas, then went back to St. Louis, and eventually, in 1906, came to Pasadena, which city has since been his home and the scene of his business success. On locating here Mr. Hollister obtained employment with the Pasadena Hardware Company, with which he remained for approximately ten years, learning the business in all its details. In 1916, in partnership with John R. Lee, who had been employed by the same concern for seven years, he established the East Side Hardware Company, opening a modest establishment at 1252 East Colorado Street, with a general line of shelf and heavy hardware, stoves, ranges, guns and ammunition, paints, oils and glass. Under the energetic management of the partners the business grew rapidly and now enjoys a large patronage. On January 1, 1922, the partners opened Store No. 2, under the same style, at 820 East Colorado Street, and this, likewise, has proved a pronounced success. Hr. Hollister is thoroughly entitled to the success that he has won, and his standing among business men is high. He is a member of the Merchants Association of Pasadena, is a republican in his political alle- giance, and as a fraternalist belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 672, of Pasadena, and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to Pasadena Lodge No. 272, F. and A. M., and Con- sistory No. 4, and a member of Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. His religious connection is with the First Presbyterian Church.
At Pasadena, May 29, 1914, Mr. Hollister married Miss Charlotte M. Moore, who was born, reared and educated in Ohio, a daughter of Henry J. Moore, now a resident of Bakersfield, California. To this union there have been born two children: Richard E. and Albert Henry, both native sons of Pasadena. The pleasant family home is situated at No. 1710 Casa Grande Avenue.
two ett alliter for
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ALFRED L. BINFORD. After years of activity along different lines Alfred L. Binford is now living retired at Whittier, where he is regarded as one of the city's substantial citizens. During his years of participation in business life he displayed many excellent traits of character, and won the confidence and respect of all with whom he was associated. Mr. Binford was born in Ohio, December 12, 1867, a son of Peter and Margaret C. (Stanley) Binford, both of whom are now deceased. Peter Binford was born in Ohio, but his father was a native of Virginia, and the family is of Revolutionary stock and English descent. His wife, also a native of Ohio, came of Revolutionary stock and English descent, and her father was born in that part of Virginia now com- prised in West Virginia.
Alfred L. Binford attended the public schools of his neighborhood and Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, following which he became a student of the pharmaceutical department of the Northwestern University at Evanston, and was graduated therefrom as a Registered Pharmacist. In 1894 he went into the drug business at Brookings, South Dakota, in which he continued until 1901, when he disposed of his interests and went to Colorado and for nine years was a stock- holder, director and cashier of the First National Bank of Paoma. In 1911 he came to Whittier, being attracted here by reason of the fact that the city contained a large Quaker settlement, among which he had a number of warm personal friends, and the added advantage of the excellent college maintained by the Society of Friends, to which he could send his son.
Upon coming to Whittier Mr. Binford built a comfortable home at 340 North Painter Avenue, where they resided until they moved to their present home at 309 North Washington Street. This house is of the California bungalow type, and is one of the most attractive and comfortable on the street, which has a number of fine residences. Until 1917 Mr. Binford dealt in mortgage loans, but since then has lived retired. He bought the property on the southwest corner of West Philadelphia and Washington streets, on which he put up two brick buildings, but later sold them, and he also bought and still owns the business property at 110 and 112 West Philadelphia Street. He is a director of the Mutual Building & Loan Association, and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. While he is a republican, he takes no active part in politics. Since coming to Whittier he has been a trustee of the Friends Church, and both he and Mrs. Binford are very active workers in it, and she is a member of the Woman's Auxiliary of Whittier College.
On August 20, 1897, Mr. Binford married at Brookings, South Dakota, Miss Anna P. Elmore, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of William Elmore, a farmer of Greene County, Iowa, who came from an old family of Indiana of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Binford have three children, Raymond E., who was attending Whittier College when this country entered the World war, enlisted in the aviation branch of the service, was billeted in Texas, and, although not twenty- one years old, was commissioned a second lieutenant. After the close of the war he married Vivienne Newcomb, of Whittier, and is now an employe of the Whittier Lumber Company. Florence Lucile and Margaret Ruth are attending the Whittier public schools.
JOHN D. STALL, a mechanical and electrical engineer with wide and varied experience, has traveled all over the Pacific slope from British Columbia to old Mexico, but now regards himself as permanently established. He is one of the popular citizens of Whittier, and has a successful business for electrical repair work and garage at 401-403 West Philadelphia Street.
Mr. Stall was born at Beaver Crossing, Nebraska, December 26, 1875, son of Irwin and Sarah Ann (Lazenby) Stall, both natives of
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Ohio, the former of Dutch and the latter of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His mother is living at Anaheim, California. Irwin Stall was a farmer and mechanic, took an active part in local affairs, was a buyer of horses and cattle for the Government during the Civil war, and while living in Nebraska served as assessor of Seward County.
John D. Stall had a common and high school education in Nebraska, and finished a course in the State University. He remained at home assisting his father on the ranch until he was nineteen, and then took up work in his line as mechanical and electrical engineer. He went to various Southern states including Arkansas and Louisiana. In 1898. when the Spanish-American war broke out, he joined the first Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, but was not called to active duty beyond the camp at Chickamauga. In the same year after his discharge he went to Chemanius, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and for two years was engineer on a steamboat. For another two years he was master mechanic in the mines of Alvanza Hayward in Southeastern Sonora, Mexico. He then returned to Puget Sound as chief engineer of the Bellingham Brewery, and was identified with that plant for seven years. Following that he changed the plant of the Centennial Brew- ing Company at Butte, Montana, owned by Henry Mueller, from steam to electricity.
About that time he determined to leave the engine room for good, and going to San Francisco he became coast inspector for the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company. Two years later his talents and experience were attracted to the automobile business. For one year he trained himself while employed in a garage at San Mateo, and then established a garage of his own at Norwalk. He disposed of this business preparatory to joining the American forces during the World war, but two days after his enlistment the armistice was signed. Then, in January, 1919, he came to Whittier and purchased land 70x100 feet at the Southwest corner of West Philadelphia and Pickering streets. On this ground he put up a garage 70x50 feet. but his establishment is primarily noted for its electrical repair work. Mr. Stall is an expert in everything pertaining to electrical equip- ment. He has a local agency for the Exide Battery.
A republican in politics, Mr. Stall while living in the State of Washington was nominated and defeated for mayor of Bellingham by only ninety votes, and was defeated by only one vote when a can- didate for the Legislature. Mr. Stall is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Whittier, is a Catholic convert, attending St. Mary's Catholic Church, for two years has been grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Foresters and was a high court officer while in British Columbia, and is a former member of the Knights of Pythias.
June 17, 1903, at Bellingham, Washington, Mr. Stall married Mamie C. McGartney. She is a native of Minnesota and a daughter of Henry M. and Joseph McGartney. They have two children : Regina, member of the class of 1924 in the Whittier High School; and Harry, who while carrying on his studies in the Whittier public schools is learning the business and assisting his father.
EDMUND W. BACON. A practical idealist is one who can translate his ideals into achievement and make his dreams come true. His associates in Whittier say that Edmund W. Bacon is a practical idealist. He has lived there over thirty years. Thirty years ago Whittier had done little to realize the aims of its founders, the colony of Friends who had located here several years previously. Lack of water for irrigation purposes was the chief obstacle. In that unpromising situation Mr. Bacon was one of the few who could look into the future and foresee the time when Whittier would be one of the garden spots of Los Angeles County. All the country
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around was improved only to the extent of grain fields, stock ranches, with great intervals of wild mustard. Real roads hardly existed at all. The matter of good roads, and transportation facilities in general, have always been a matter of first importance to Mr. Bacon. He has spared neither time nor effort to improve the highways of his district, and has witnessed a wonderful progress from the days when he saw cattle roam the streets.
Mr. Bacon was born in Norfolk, Ontario, Canada, August 22, 1864, son of George and Emmaline Bacon. His parents were farmers in Canada. His education came from public schools and the reading of good books. An interest in literature and a studious mind have always been prominent features of his character. In 1887 Mr. Bacon went to Saginaw. Michigan, and for three years was connected with the engineering depart- ment of the Flint and Pere Marquette Railway.
Leaving Michigan, he came to California in 1891. He arrived here soon after the late A. L. Reed, the first engineer and manager of the East Whittier Land and Water Company. Mr. Bacon for eight years was in the service of that company, and in 1899 followed Mr. Reed as superin- tendent and manager. Simon J. Murphy finally sold out the water company when the oil development became of first importance, and Mr. Bacon was then made superintendent and manager of the Murphy Oil Company, an office he held for eight or ten years more.
With an unwavering faith in the country and its possibilities, Mr. Bacon has invested all his spare capital in land, and has been an extensive dealer in local real estate. At present he owns about sixty acres, with perhaps fifty acres in citrus fruit. He recently sold forty-two acres adjoin- ing his present holdings in East Whittier. Mr. Bacon planted one of the first citrus groves in that locality. The land on which his groves are planted lie on the high ground back of East Whittier, and has never been touched by frost. The product of the Bacon groves is some of the finest fruit, commanding the highest prices in the Eastern markets. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon selected their present home site and built a large and attractive residence, with a view commanding the valley, Los Angeles and the distant sea. This home itself and its environment is one proof of Mr. Bacon's ability to make dreams come true. He is a member of the Whittier Citrus Association, and is affiliated with Whittier Lodge of Elks.
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