USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume II > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
LESLIE C. NANNEY had a prominent part in the educational affairs of Whittier for a number of years. While a very successful and popular teacher, he possessed the qualifications for practical business, and in seeking a wider field of activity he has for several years been associated with one of the leading real estate and insurance firms in the city.
Mr. Nanney was born June 5, 1887, in Menden, Missouri. The Nanney family is of Welsh descent, and was established in Virginia in Colonial times. From Virginia members of the family went West into Kentucky and thence to Indiana and Missouri. Dr. William N. Nanney, father of Leslie C., for many years enjoyed a successful practice as a physician and surgeon of Evansville, Indiana, and is now leading a retired life in Florida. Doctor Nanney married Elizabeth Carson, a native of Illinois and of Scotch-Irish descent.
Leslie C. Nanney was reared at Evansville, Indiana, graduated from the high school of that city in 1906, and subsequently attended a fine old Quaker institution of learning, Earlham College, at Richmond, from which he received the Bachelor of Science degree. He also took post-graduate studies in the University of Chicago and in the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanical Arts. In the meantime he had taught school in Southern Indiana before finishing his college course, later was a teacher in the High School at Bedford, Indiana, and in 1910 came to Whittier,
109
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
California, and during that and the following year had charge of the chemistry department in Whittier College. He then returned East, and during 1911-12 was an Instructor in the Iowa State College at Ames, and when he came back to California in 1912 he became instructor of science in the Union High School of Whittier.
Mr. Nanney was associated with the Union High School for eight years, and on leaving that work in 1920 engaged in the life insurance business. After about a year he became associated with John G. Swain in the general insurance and real estate business under the firm name of the Swain-Nanney Co. Mr. Nanney has acquired valuable property interests in Whittier, and is owner of a four acre citrus grove at East Whittier. He is a member of the East Whittier Citrus Association, and for the two years 1919-20 was director from the Whittier District in the Los Angeles County Farm Bureau. Mr. Nanney was worshipful master in 1920 of Whittier Lodge, F. and A. M., is a member of the Lions Club, is chairman of the Forum Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Hacienda Country Club.
At Whittier, July 9, 1914, he married Miss Edna Thornburgh, who was born in Iowa. Her father J. Thomas Thornburgh, was for a number of years engaged in the dairy business at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and is now one of the city trustees of Whittier. Mr. and Mrs. Nanney are members of the Friends Church, and she is an officer in the P. E. O. Sisterhood. They have two children, Catherine and Herbert, Catherine attending school.
WILLIAM F. STARKEY. Although now living practically retired in his beautiful home at Whittier, William F. Starkey has had a full life, and accomplished much of practical value. During his active years he worked hard, and his investments were made with such foresightedness and astute- ness as to make of him today one of the wealthy men of Los Angeles County. Mr. Starkey was born at Rock Island, Illinois, March 17, 1865. He is a son of Joseph and Matilda (Kirk) Starkey, the former of whom is deceased. Joseph Starkey was born in Ely, Cambridgeshire, England, but was brought to the United States by his parents when he was a child. He remained under the parental roof until he was seventeen years old, and at the time he left home, in 1864, went to Rock Island County and engaged in farming in Bowling Township. Subsequently he expanded his operations to include the raising of small fruits, and he was not only successful in his undertakings, but became prominent in local affairs, served as a school director and in other offices, and when he died, in 1903, was the owner of 600 acres of valuable farm land. His wife was also born in Ely, and was brought to this country by her parents when she was fifteen years old.
William F. Starkey attended the public schools of his locality, and then took a commercial course in Duncan and Littlebridge Business College, Davenport, Iowa. Soon after his graduation from the latter institution he purchased his father's nursery and fruit business, and conducted it for five years. He then went to North Bend, Dodge County, Nebraska, and from 1898 to 1899 was engaged in farming, but then went into a real-estate and banking business, assisting in the organization of the First State Bank of North Bend, of which he became a director and cashier. This bank later was merged with others into the National Bank of North Bend, and he was one of the directors and vice president of the new institution. Several other banks were organized under an interlocking directorate, and Mr. Starkey was a director of all, and he was also a director of the First Na- tional Bank of Schuyler, Nebraska.
After eleven or twelve years of intensive service Mr. Starkey's health became impaired, and he came to California to recuperate. He found so many attractive features in the state that he and his wife decided to become permanent residents. Returning to Nebraska, he disposed of his many interests there and took up his abode at Whittier. As before stated, he has been practically retired since coming to the Golden State, but he has developed a twenty-acre tract in Anaheim, which is planted to valencias
Vol. II-6
110
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
and which is one of the finest and most highly cultivated groves in Southern California. He has been the owner of several other acreage tracts, but has disposed of them. He still owns some very valuable realty in Los Angeles, consisting principally of apartment buildings and residences on Vernon Street, just off from Main Street. For some time he belonged to the Whittier Select Citrus Association, and was one of the organizers of the Community Bank, but later sold his holdings. At present he is still a director of the Mutual Building & Loan Association, which he helped to organize. At one time he was a trustee of seven organizations, but gradu- ally withdrew from them as he found the duties of these offices occupied nearly all of his time.
Fraternally Mr. Starkey belongs to the Blue Lodge and Chapter in Masonry, and has not demitted from the Nebraska bodies; Lyra Chapter Number 144, O. E. S., of Whittier; is past noble grand of the Odd Fellows ; and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, which he served as counsel for five years. He is a republican and took an active part in politics while living in Nebraska, serving on the County and State Central committees of his party, and representing it as a delegate to county and state conventions. Although often urged to do so, he has never sought public preferment.
On March 27, 1889, Mr. Starkey married at Rock Island Miss Jennie M. Forgy, a native of Bowling Township, and a daughter of John and Mary J. (Brown) Forgy, both of whom were born in Ohio. During the war between the two sections of the country John Forgy enlisted in Com- pany B, Forty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served under Colonels Swan and Smith. When he was honorably discharged, in September, 1863, he had charge of the Central Ohio Volunteers, with the title of mustering general. After the close of the war he resumed the occupation of a civilian. He became a member of the Baptist Church, became a deacon in it, and died firm in its faith March 27, 1914, his wife having died April 29, 1885. Mr. Forgy was of Scotch origin, but the family has been established in this country for many generations. His great-grandfather served in the War of 1812, and was very prominent in the Presbyterian Church as a layman.
Mrs. Starkey is past matron of Lyra Chapter Number 144, O. E. S .; is a member of the Royal Neighbors, which she served as secretary for five or six years ; is grand representative of the State of Texas for the Order of Eastern Star in California ; is a past noble grand of the Rebekah Lodge; is a member of the house committee of Plymouth Congregational Church; and is a member of the Whittier Woman's Club.
Mr. and Mrs. Starkey are the parents of three children, namely: John Joseph, Charles Ward and William Eugene. John Joseph Starkey is a rancher and oil worker in North Whittier Heights, and he has twenty acres in grapes. He married Florence E. Cupp, of Whittier, and they have two sons, Willard Joseph and Donald John. Charles Ward Starkey graduated from Leland Stanford University in 1921 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1922 with the degree of Chemical Engineer, and is now chemist for the United Chemical Company of Corona, California, but will later teach chemistry at the Union School at Orange, California. In January, 1918, he enlisted in the Signal Corps from the university, and in July was transferred to the Officers Training School at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, where, October 8, he received his commission as second lieutenant of field artillery, and was stationed at Camp Knox, Kentucky until he received his honorable discharge, December 20, 1918. William Eugene Starkey studied for eighteen months at Leland Stanford University, but owing to ill health returned to Whittier, and is now a student of Sawyers Business College. However, it is his intention to return to the university and complete his course in that institution.
EVERT M. HINSHAW gained the early technical training and varied practical training that have fortified him most admirably for his successful enterprise as a representative contractor and builder in the Whittier District
111
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
of Los Angeles County, where many fine buildings stand in evidence of his ability and effective generalship in his chosen vocation.
Mr. Hinshaw was born in the State of Indiana, April 30, 1882, and there also were born his parents, Luther L. and Mary L. (Wilson) Hinshaw, the latter of whom is deceased and the former of whom resides at Whittier, California, where he is the owner of a small but well improved citrus-fruit grove. The lineage of both the Hinshaw and Wilson families traces back to staunch Irish origin, and representatives of both came to America shortly after the close of the War of the Revolution.
In the public schools of the Hoosier State Evert M. Hinshaw continued his studies until his graduation from the high school at Kennard as a mem- ber of the class of 1901. In the meanwhile he had been actively identified with the operations of the home farm, and after leaving the same he went to the City of Indianapolis, where for one year he was in the employ of L. B. Milligan, a leading contractor and builder in the Indiana capital city. In January, 1910, at the age of twenty-eight years, Mr. Hinshaw arrived in California, and he passed the first two years at Pomona. Since that time he has maintained his residence at Whittier, and here he was superintendent for D. F. Copeland, a contractor and builder, for two years. Owing to impaired health Mr. Copeland then retired from active business, and Mr. Hinshaw became his virtual successor. As a contractor and builder Mr. Hinshaw has made a record of splendid achievement since initiating his independent enterprise along this line. By him have been erected many modern buildings in Whittier and vicinity and at other points in Southern California. He was superintendent of the building of the Whittier Church of the Society of Friends. He built one of the units of the Whittier citrus packing plant and remodeled the other unit for this important concern. He built the Warner Building on North Greenleaf Street, and among the fine houses which he has erected at Whittier may be mentioned the following : One for Edgar George on East Philadelphia Street ; one for Mrs. Edgar George, on East Hadley Street; and the residences of John Harvey, on Howard Street ; W. G. Wildman, on North Pickering Street ; W. Dunham, on Passons Boulevard, near Rivera; A. B. Abbey, on North Friend Street ; O. H. Barr, North Friend Street; Superintendent Brown, of the local branch of the Standard Oil Company; E. Y. Partride, South Greenleaf Street ; Victor Reis, South Whittier; and S. B. Kibler, North Greenleaf .Street. He erected also the Standard Oil Recreation Hall on Coyote Hill, the W. L. Rhodes store building at La Habra, and the Z. L. Rice apartment building on North Greenleaf Street, Whittier. Mr. Hinshaw has distinctive ability also as an architect, and among many buildings erected on plans drawn by him may be noted the Index Orchard packing house at Des Moines Station ; an addition to the Whittier citrus packing house; and the resi- dences of Robert Osbun on Terrace Place; James E. Mayberry, South Whittier ; W. H. Kimball and William M. Cathriner on North Washington Street ; Fred Pease, North Painter Street ; C. C. Barr and I. L. Downing, North Friend Street ; the residence and studio of F. C. Neimyer; P. W. Little, North Bright Street ; Rev. C. A. Clark at Rivera ; Nofle Renmicker at Yerba Linda; Judge Taylor, East Luella Street; C. A. Carden and E. W. Rice at La Jolla ; General M. T. Owens, Whittier ; William Plotts in Shasta County ; and J. J. Wilt at Bakersfield, where also the first unit of the Standard Oil Office Building is a structure planned by him.
Mr. Hinshaw has been the owner of several citrus groves in Whittier, and at the present time owns thirteen and one-half acres devoted to the culture of Thompson navel oranges at Lindsey, Tulare County. He built and owns the modern office building at 135 Greenleaf Street, Whittier, and also his beautiful home building, 627 Terrace Place. The foregoing statements and lists indicate that Mr. Hinshaw has contributed much and well to the development and upbuilding of Whittier, where he is known and valued as a loyal and public-spirited citizen of distinctive progressiveness. He is independent in politics, is a member of the Whittier Chamber of
112
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Commerce and the Hacienda Country Club, and he and his wife hold membership in the local church of the Society of Friends.
In Indiana, on the 30th of October, 1902, Mr. Hinshaw wedded Miss Mabel Clare Beckett, who was born and reared in that state, a daughter of George W. Beckett. Mr. and Mrs. Hinshaw have two children : Opal-Iris and George-Evert.
GEORGE MARSHALL SMART. With all people who are seriously and sincerely interested in any line of effort it is matter for congratulation when hope is seen of their most wished-for dreams coming true, and most enthusiastic and wide-spread interest has been shown in the establishing of the Los Angeles Art Center, an organization designed to cover every phase of artistic work. Such an organization has been a long cherished hope, and it seems especially appropriate that the credit for its realization should be given to so well known, faithful and reliable an artist as George Marshall Smart, owner and director of the extensive Smart Studios, Los Angeles.
George Marshall Smart was born in Indiana, a member of one of the sturdy old families of conventional habit and social prominence. A nat- ural leaning toward certain lines of effort often shows early talent in some children, but that little George's "dancing feet" should indicate anything but childish grace, good health and gay spirit was not thought of. It was his father's fond hope to see his son become eminent in the medical profes- sion, therefore after his creditable graduation from Purdue University he entered the medical department of the Indiana State University, where he completed his course and afterward served one year as an interne in Indianapolis hospitals. During the World war he had charge of small hospitals at Camp Lewis.
In the meantime, however, Dr. Smart had not neglected study and training in the art that had interested him from childhood. His first danc- ing master was Professor Renault, next he was trained by Prof. George Redding, afterward by Louis Cgaliff, all widely known instructors. He then came to San Francisco and here for three years he studied under Veronine Vestoff, who for years had been master of the Imperial Ballet for the Czar of Russia. Released then from training as proficient, having in the meantime also taken a normal course to fit him for teaching, Mr. Smart contracted with the Keith and Orpheum circuit and appeared on the legit -. imate stage for about five years, everywhere meeting with the approbation that a real artist deserves.
In 1919 Mr. Smart came to Los Angeles, after conducting a School of Ballet at Seattle for six years, purchasing at that time the present site of his studios, most opportunely located right at the head of Seventh Street and but one block distant from the Ambassador Hotel, a magnificent hos- telry that is the home of many of the leading artists of the city. As an instructor he teaches the Imperial Russian Ballet method, interpretive, Greek, Egyptian, pantomime and all branches of classic work. He origi- nates all his classic dances, a distinctive one for each pupil as he recognizes their special talent. He takes pupils of all ages and at any stage of their dancing experience, and when they leave his studio they are professionally finished products. Mr. Smart is also an author and producer, and at the present time has two plays on the Pantages circuit. His method is to first write his story, then arrange the step and figures in the dance to interpret it.
The Los Angeles Art Center was founded at Mr. Smart's studios on July 4, 1921, and largely through his indefatigable efforts, his associates in the enterprise being leading writers, artists and financiers of the city, and already a $2,000,000 magnificent building is in sight. It is the aim of the organization to offer here facilities unequaled for the teaching of every form of accepted art, amid surroundings, inspiring and uplifting, that will serve to bring all to perfection.
JOHN H. GWIN. As a recognized medium of public entertainment the moving picture theater occupies a leading place in the attention and the
S. VORKADITON
George MI Smart
113
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
business life of modern progressive communities. In all Los Angeles County, outside of the City of Los Angeles, it is doubtful if a more com- modious, comfortable or attractive building for this purpose can be found than the Scenic Theater at Whittier, of which John H. Gwin, a prominent business man, is proprietor.
John H. Gwin was born in Napa County, California, June 11, 1869, a son of John H. and Drusilla (Evey) Gwin, the latter of whom survives and resides at Whittier. She was born in Illinois and is of English descent and revolutionary stock. Her father was an early Californian, and was a member of the State Constitutional Convention. The father of John H. Gwin was born in Ohio and crossed the plains to California in 1852. His party started on the long journey with horses and mules, but for the last stages they had to depend on the strength and endurance of oxen. Prior to 1887, when he came to Whittier, he was engaged in the freighting and teaming business from Sacramento to the mines in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and in Napa County from the quicksilver mines to Calistoga until 1869, when he was married and moved to Anaheim, where he engaged in farming until 1878. In that year he went to Lake County and engaged in farming until 1887, when he moved to Whittier. During this time he acquired many acres of farm land. After coming to Whittier he went into the livery business with his son, then disposed of it and embarked in the grocery and butchering business, but later returned to the livery business, in which he continued to be interested until his death in 1907.
John H. Gwin had public school opportunities at Lakeport, Scott's Valley and Big Valley in Lake County, where his father owned farms, and afterward he worked on these farms until he joined his father in 1887 in the livery business. Afterward he went into the grocery line, owning the second grocery at Whittier, and continued in the business for twenty-eight years, his trade name being the Gwin Grocery, long regarded as one of the stable enterprises of the place. Some time prior to disposing of his grocery, in January, 1920, he started a theater on South Greenleaf Avenue, in partner- ship with H. J. Siler. The present fine theater was built for Mr. Gwin by Truman Barry on East Philadelphia Street, which is modern in every par- ticular and has a seating capacity of 1500. It was opened to the public on June 28, 1920, and the public continues to be appreciative of his efforts to please. His trade relations make it possible to present the highest quality in pictures, and a Monday night feature includes a vaudeville attraction.
Mr. Gwin married, June 21, 1899, at Whittier, Miss Mabel A. McGinnis, who was born at Boston, Massachusetts. They have one daughter, Helen, who is the wife of Irving Wardman, a son of A. Wardman, of the Whittier Home Telegraph and Telephone Company. Mr. and Mrs. Wardman have one daughter, Bonnie Jean.
Mr. Gwin is a Knight Templar Mason, a member of Whittier Com- mandery, and has been treasurer of Whittier Blue Lodge for fifteen years. He belongs also to the order of Elks and to the Hacienda Country Club, and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. In politics Mr. Gwin is active in the councils of the republican party, has served on the County Central Committee and frequently as a delegate to county conventions. Locally he has served one term as city trustee and one term as city treasurer. He owns a ten-acre citrus grove in Tulare County, a part of which is in navel and the rest in valencia oranges.
HENRY HOWARD DORLAND is not only one of the representative members of the bar of the fine little city of Whittier, but is also a member of one of the honored pioneer families of the district. He came with his parents, Henry and Rebecca Dorland, and sister (now Mrs. Annie Lee Coffman) to Whittier in July, 1887, when the only other residents of the place were William Cooper and Jonathan Bailey and their families. The first church erected in Whittier was a meeting house of the Society of Friends, and this was dedicated on the 14th of August, 1887, with Luther Gordon leading the meeting, and with Mr.
114
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Dorland and Oscar Baldwin, now of East Whittier, as the ushers who seated the first congregation. In this locality the original settlement or colony tract was acquired by Aquilla H. Pickering, an uncle of him whose name initiates this review. It was acquired for the founding of a colony of the Society of Friends, and it was through the influence of Mr. Pickering that the Dorland family home was here established. Henry Dorland, father of the subject of this sketch, was one of the California argonauts of 1852, and was a pioneer in the gold-mining operations in the vicinity of Marysville and Dutch Flats. There he continued his successful activities in the mining of gold for a period of ten years. He then returned to Iowa, where was solemnized his marriage to Rebecca Strahl Andrews. Thereafter he continued his residence in Iowa until 1887, when, as above noted, he came with his family to Whittier, where he became the third settler and where he remained, an honored and influential citizen, until his death in Sep- tember, 1901. His wife passed away in January 1897. Upon coming to Whittier, Henry Dorland purchased a tract of ten acres, the entire district having been at that time little else than a gigantic field from which a crop of barley had just been harvested. He first engaged in farm enterprise and later set his land to citrus trees and became one of the successful fruit-growers of this now beautiful and splendidly improved district, to the development of which he contributed his quota. His lemon orchard was one of the first planted on the tract. He was proud of the city which he assisted in founding and develop- ing, and had high standing in the community. He and his wife were birthright members of the Society of Friends, the gracious faith of which they exemplified in their daily lives.
The public schools of Iowa afforded Henry Howard Dorland his early education, and after coming to California he had the distinction of being a member of the first class to be graduated in Whittier Academy, in June, 1895. He then returned to his native state and entered the University of Iowa, in the law department of which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1897, and with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. For twenty-four years thereafter he engaged in the successful practice of his profession at Lake Mills, Iowa, and in 1921 he returned to California and opened a law office at Whittier, where he has built up a substantial and representative practice. At Lake Mills, Iowa, Mr. Dorland was prominently indentified with political affairs, serving on the Republican Central Committee of his county and in the state conventions of his party as an influential delegate. He served eight years as mayor of Lake Mills, and was vice-president of and attorney for the First National Bank of that city for many years. He is a past master of Arion Lodge No. 488, A. F. and A. M., at Lake Mills, and is also affiliated with the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that place. During the nation's participation in the World war Mr. Dorland was specially active in patriotic service, giving much of his time to the work of the Four- Minute Men who delivered addresses in support of the various local war activities, and serving also as chairman of the fuel and food boards in his county. At Lake Mills was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dorland and Miss Virginia Mildred Gregg, who was likewise born in that state, she being a daughter of Hayden A. and Lucina M. Gregg. Mrs. Dorland passed away in April, 1916. Mr. Dorland has two children, Rebecca Mildred and Dorothy, both of whom are, in 1922, attending the public schools of Whittier.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.