History of Los Angeles county, Volume II, Part 46

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 840

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The Pasadena Gas Appliance Company was established by Ohr- mund Brothers June 1, 1921. The business has enjoyed a well deserved prosperity, and has recently located in a building specially erected for the purpose at 901 East Colorado Street. Frank H. Ohrmund is a republican, a member of the American Legion, the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Association. His home is at 1465 East Orange Grove Avenue. On December 17, 1913, at the Shake- speare Club House in Pasadena, he married Miss Grace Elizabeth Anderegg, formerly of Oak Park, Chicago, and who came to Pasadena with her parents. At that time horse cars were still in use on the streets of Pasadena. She was educated in the public schools here and also attended Throop College. Mr. and Mrs. Ohrmund have two children, both born at the Pasadena Hospital, namely Beverly Bernice and Orrin Wane.

ARTHUR PHILLIP OHRMUND, an active associate with his brother, Frank H. Ohrmund, in business at Pasadena, came to California soon after the close of an unusually long and arduous service as a soldier with the American Forces in France and Germany during the great war.

Mr. Ohrmund was born at Pewaukee, Wisconsin, July 26, 1898. He was educated in the public schools of Waukesha and Hartford, Wisconsin, attending high school, and had about a year of experience as a salesman in a general merchandise establishment before the claims of patriotism demanded fulfillment.

April 17, 1917, Mr. Ohrmund enlisted for service and became a member of the Fifth Wisconsin Infantry. He was in training at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, at Camp McArthur at Waco, Texas, and in January, 1918, went overseas to France with the 32nd Division. He saw active service at first with the American Troops in Alsace, was on the fighting front at Chateau Thierry, Juvigny, St. Mihiel, and in various phases of the Argonne and Meuse campaigns. After the armistice he was with the Army of Occupation on the Rhine for six months. On June 9, 1920, Mr. Ohrmund received his honorable dis- charge at Camp Grant, Illinois, and after six weeks with a brother at Hartford, Wisconsin, came to Pasadena, and has since been actively associated with his brother Frank in business at Pasadena.

January 9, 1921, Mr. Ohrmund married Fern Elledge Hopewell, daughter of Mrs. Walter Elledge, of Pasadena, California. They have one daughter, Eleanor Lillian, born March 19, 1922. Mr. Ohrmund is an active member of the American Legion Post of Pasadena.

JAMES CHARLES WALLACE gained no little pioneer distinction in connec- tion with development and progress in Southern California, was one of the early exponents of scientific orange culture in Los Angeles County, and was a man whose character and achievement lent honor to the state and county in which he maintained his home for more than fifty years.

Mr. Wallace was born at Zanesville, Ohio, in the year 1833, of Scotch- Irish lineage, and his education was acquired almost entirely through self- discipline and association with the practical affairs of life. Enamored of the warmer climate of the South, Mr. Wallace ran away from home when he was a lad of fourteen years and made his way to Florida, where he learned the jeweler's and watchmaker's trade, in which he became a specially

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skilled artisan. For twenty years he was engaged in the jewelry business at Oxford, Mississippi, and there was solemnized his marriage to Miss Martha E. Wilson, daughter of Wiley Wilson, who was a brother of the famed California pioneer, Benjamin D. Wilson, in whose honor Mount Wilson, this state and county, was named. Benjamin D. Wilson came to California in the early period when the gold excitement was at its height, and he became the owner of a great part of the northwestern section of the San Gabriel Valley, including the sites of the present cities of Pasadena and Alhambra, both of which he was the founder. At one time he controlled virtually all water rights of importance in this section of Los Angeles County.

James C. and Martha E. (Wilson) Wallace became the parents of ten children, of whom five are now living: Glenn C. is a resident of Balboa, California ; Ida is deceased; J. Wiley, a resident of Alhambra, is individu- ally mentioned on other pages of this work; George A. likewise resides at Alhambra; Oscar died in childhood; Benjamin Wilson Wallace, M. D., died in March, 1921, at Alhambra ; Mattie is the wife of S. M. Kennedy, of Alhambra; Daisy died in infancy ; Mrs. Estella Reynolds is deceased ; and Walter J. maintains his home in Alhambra. He was born on the old home place at 1219 North Granada, where he still retains his home.

Impressed by the portrayal of the advantages and attractions of South- ern California in letters written by Benjamin D. Wilson, the late James C. Wallace became a member of a company of forty persons, all related to each other, that came to California as one of the first and largest immigrant par- ties transported on one of the first trains over the newly completed line of the Union Pacific Railroad. From San Francisco he and his family, with eleven other families constituting the party, proceeded by steamboat to Wilmington. In stage coaches provided by Benjamin D. Wilson Mr. Wallace and his family completed the overland journey from Wilmington to the home of Mr. Wilson, the arrival at this destination having been on March 21, 1871. On the arrival of the company of forty persons, nearly all kinsfolk, Mr. Wilson had offered to the head of each of the families a tract of forty acres of land in the Pasadena District, where the town now stands, as an inducement for them to come to California. At the time little water was here available for requisite irrigation, and under these conditions Mr. Wallace declined the proffer of Mr. Wilson, in whose employ he con- tinued the first two years, and chose a tract in a small canyon in the present Oak Knoll District, but never acquired title to it. In 1873 he purchased from the late Governor Stoneman and from Mr. Hollenbeck land of a total area of about 170 acres, and he forthwith instituted the improvement of this property, with the aid of his three elder sons. He erected a house and other buildings, set out orange trees and also planted seeds and raised citrus nursery stock, these orchards having been among the first established and developed for commercial purposes in Los Angeles County. The venture proved successful, and Mr. Wallace continued his association with the nursery business here during the remainder of his long, useful and worthy life, his sons being his valued coadjutors in the enterprise. It was about 1873 that he purchased the jewelry store and business of the firm of Fischer & Thatcher in the Downey Block, which stood on the site of the present post office building at Los Angeles, and he continued this jewelry business about three years, the returns from the same enabling him greatly to advance the development of his nursery and orange-growing industry. After selling his jewelry establishment he gave his entire time and attention to his nursery and orchards, and he and his sons developed the largest and most prosperous enterprises of this kind in Southern California, with the result that he was a man of substantial wealth at the time of his retirement from active business. He was a resident of Alhambra at the time of his death, July 11. 1916, and his widow passed away on the 11th of June, 1918. The Wallace home was ever known for its gracious and generous hospitality, and Mr. Wallace and his noble wife gained the enduring friendship of all who came within the sphere of their influence. Mr. Wallace was known

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for his exceptional mechanical skill as well as for his business ability and his sterling attributes of character. It is gratifying to present in this publi- cation this tribute to one of the honored pioneers of Los Angeles County.

J. WILEY WALLACE was about six years of age at the time of his parents' migration to California, and thus his memory compassed much of the growth and development of Los Angeles County, within the borders of which his parents were pioneer settlers. His father, the late James C. Wallace, was prominently identified with the development and upbuilding of the citrus- fruit industry in Southern California, and adequate data concerning his achievement are given in the memoir dedicated to him in the preceding sketch, the while the article in question likewise gives due information concerning the family record.

J. Wiley Wallace was born at Oxford, Mississippi, April 2, 1865, and after coming to California he attended school about two years in a unique old adobe building of circular construction that had been erected by an eccentric old English astronomer, this building having stood near the inter- section of the present Main and Mission streets at San Gabriel. At the age of nine years Mr. Wallace was injured by being kicked by a horse, and upon recuperation his youthful energy rebelled at further school work, and he found employment in packing grapes, besides which he early gained practical experience in connection with the nurseries that were being devel- oped by his father. In his early youth he did a man's work in this connec- tion, and he has continued his active association with the nursery industry during the long intervening years. At the age of twenty years he made his first independent venture in the nursery business by putting in the first and largest citrus-fruit nursery in San Fernando Valley, in 1884, this nursery having been established on the Maclay & Widney subdivision. Later Mr. Wallace established his business headquarters at Shorb Station, where he developed ten acres with citrus-fruit stock. From this nursery he sold the greater part of a total of 200,000 trees in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. In 1891 he removed to the fine Santa Anita ranch, where he has since successfully continued his nursery and orchard business and where he maintained his home until April. 1921, when he erected his present hand- some residence on the celebrated Huntington Drive at Alhambra, this home being on a part of the original B. D. Wilson property. The Wallace nurseries are the oldest in connection with the citrus-fruit industry in Southern California, and the family name has long been one of prominence in this connection. At one time Mr. Wallace had 300 acres devoted to orchard and nursery uses in the Santa Anita rancho together with Lucky Baldwin. where he still conducts operations on a large scale. In his independent business career, 1884-1922, Mr. Wallace has marketed and planted more than 1.500,000 citrus trees in the orchards of this section of the state, and among the orchards thus developed may be mentioned practically all of the Shorb holdings in San Marino, more than 200 acres, in the year 1893, and now Hunting property ; the J. D. Barth tract at Shorb, about 300 acres, set in 1893-97. this district being now known as West Alhambra ; the L. J. Rose tract of 700 acres, 1893; L. J. Rosemeade tract at Savannah, a mixed orchard ; the Canyon orchard, now known as Santa Anita rancho, 700 acres near Sierra Madre; the majority of the Chula Vista groves in San Diego County, 1892-95; most of the old orchards of the Lemoncove District in Tulare County and many of the Porterville District, also in Pomona. Upland. Riverside and other places. The first orchard planted by Mr. Holt in Riverside County obtained its trees from the nursery of Mr. Wallace, the stock being hauled by team from the nursery at Riverside.

Mr. Wallace takes just pride in having been an active figure in the splendid development of Southern California, and his success has been on a parity with his energetic and well ordered efforts in his chosen sphere of enterprise. He has been for years one of the representative ranch and orchard owners of Los Angeles County, and is a citizen of distinct liberality and progressiveness.

Jaw. F. Moser

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In 1911 Mr. Wallace married Miss Clara Brennan of Berkeley, a daughter of John and Annie (Curtis) Brennan. Mrs. Brennan was born in Berkeley, and Mr. Brennan was one of the pioneer farmers of Berkeley. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one child, Anna Martha Wallace. By a previous marriage Mr. Wallace had three children: J. Wiley, Jr., Kathleen, wife of Ralph Floodberg, and Alden C. Wallace.

EDWARD F. MOSER. To those who take real interest in their fellow men and are able to appreciate the value of achievement under difficulties, the story of business success through personal effort alone is always interesting. One of the active and enterprising young business men of Pasadena who through fidelity, thrift and self respecting industry has established himself. firmly here is Edward F. Moser, general machinist, highly respected citizen and a member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Moser was born at Blue River, Wisconsin, December 10, 1883. His parents were John and Barbara C. (Krutcky) Moser, both of whom died in Wisconsin. His father was a member of an old, aristocratic and wealthy family of Austria. It was in Vienna that he met and married the beautiful Bohemian girl that caused his father to unjustly disinherit him, although she had every virtue and was his inferior only in birth and educa- tion. Probably the first manual labor that John Moser ever performed was after he became a farmer in Wisconsin. His death occurred seven months prior to the birth of his son. Mr. Moser has three sisters, but he is the only member of the family living in California.

In early boyhood Edward F. Moser attended the public schools and St. Mary's Catholic school at Muscoda, Wisconsin, and afterward the public schools and St. Francis Catholic school in Chicago. His first attempt at self support was as an employe in a millinery manufacturing establishment in Chicago, where he worked in the hat blocking, sizing and pressing depart- ment for a time, but as he found the sulphur fumes used in bleaching affected his health he sought other employment, finding it with the Illinois Tunnel Company of Chicago, and from that connection drifted into the automobile business. In 1904 he entered the repair department of the Winton Motor Car Company, where he continued until 1912, at which time he had entire charge of the shop.

Realizing that his health demanded a more active outdoor life, Mr. Moser decided to become a chauffeur, and was accepted as such by Willis M. Baldwin, president of the Galena Oil Company, and continued in this capacity with Mr. Baldwin for the next five years. In the fall of 1917 Mr. Moser decided to come to California, for a time at least, but has never had any inclination to leave the western coast. For six months after reaching Pasadena he worked as a repair man in the garage of Robert J. McKnabb, then was placed in charge of the shop, and remained as such until Mr. McKnabb's business difficulties terminated in bankruptcy. In September. 1920, Mr. Moser took over the business, and has successfully conducted it ever since. He is favorably located at No. 2526 East Colorado Street. where he does general machine work, auto repairing, oxy-acetylene welding and carries automobile supplies, including Firestone tires and tubes. He has built up a reputation for expert work and honest business methods.

Mr. Moser married at Chicago, Illinois, on September 19, 1906, Miss Bessie B. Smith, who was born at Monticello, Indiana, but was educated at Chicago. They have two daughters: Lavinia M., who was born at Chicago ; and Cecelia P., who was born at Muscoda, Wisconsin. The family residence is situated at 2524 Nina Street, Pasadena.

While living in the State of Illinois Mr. Moser was a member of the Illinois National Guard. As a member of the Pasadena Chamber of Com- merce he is active in all that concerns the substantial development of the city, is a member of the Merchants Protection Association, belongs to the Aero Club of Southern California, and is a member also of Pasadena Lodge No. 672, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Moser was reared in the Catholic Church.

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JUAN RESURECCION RAMIREZ. One of the last survivors of that romantic period of Los Angeles, closing with the American occupation, was Juan Resureccion Ramirez, who died September 30, 1922, at the venerable age of eighty-three. He was of pure Spanish ancestry and of a family dating back to the original Spanish regime in California.

Members of the Ramirez family came to Southern California and held extensive tracts of land granted them by the Spanish crown. The grand- father of Juan Resureccion Ramirez was that historic character Jose Antonio Ramirez, architect of the first house of divine worship in Los Angeles, the old church at the Plaza, which was started in 1814. The parents of Juan Resureccion Ramirez were also born at Los Angeles. His birth occurred in this city March 30, 1839. His birthplace was one of the first two-story houses on Aliso Street. That then was in the most strictly inhabited section of the city.

The father of Juan Resureccion Ramirez owned land and did cattle ranching, and after his death Juan, with his brothers, became associated in the business. These brothers printed the pioneer newspaper of Los Angeles, called El Clamore Publico, which they edited from 1852 to 1855. The paper they used in printing this sheet was brought from San Francisco by boats, and had to be hauled overland from San Pedro. Subsequently the Ramirez brothers started another paper in San Francisco, and delivered its issues throughout the country on horseback. The name of the San Francisco paper was Nuevo Mundo and was continued by them for several years. Juan Resureccion Ramirez after returning to Los Angeles engaged in street contracting, owning a number of teams and other equipment. He had many of the important contracts for opening streets. He also con- structed the first brandy still in the vicinity of Los Angeles, and the family owned a large acreage of vineyards in what is now the heart of the city.

In June 1879 Juan Resureccion Ramirez married Rosa Bustamanto. Her father was also a native of Southern California and a cattle rancher, and was also interested in the mines around Placerville. Mr. and Mrs. Ramirez adopted two children, a brother and sister, whom they reared as their own. The daughter is Mrs. J. B. Lambert, with whom they made their home after her marriage, and at whose residence, 229 North Alexan- dria Avenue, Juan Resureccion Ramirez died. Mrs. Ramirez still lives there. The son is George Goodwin, of San Francisco.

THE MOLLY MAYDE MANUFACTURING COMPANY represents an original and unique business enterprise that has contributed distinctively to the commercial prestige of the city of Los Angeles and that has brought to its founder substantial prosperity, with incidental status as one of the repre- sentative figures in the business circles of the metropolis of Southern California.

Mrs. Monroe, founder and president of this company, the headquarters of which are in its own building, 921 West Sixth Street, came to the United States from Jamaica, British West Indies, where her father, Alexandra de Souza, established the family home when sent from England on an army commission with the Fourth Hussar Regiment, his predecessor in this commission having been the Duke of Connaught. While the de Souza family was thus residing in Jamaica John W. Cox, of Philadelphia, a scion of fine old Quaker stock, went to that island to purchase oranges for the United States markets, and he incidentally formed the acquaintanceship of Miss Molly de Souza, the result being that on the 16th of October, 1886, their marriage was there solemnized. Mr. Cox, who was engaged in the produce business, had a "corner" on all the orange crop of Jamaica in the year of a disastrous freeze, and the blighting of all of the oranges brought to him financial disaster. His death occurred January 7, 1903, and his widow later became the wife of Mr. Monroe. Of the second mar- riage there are two children, Jack L., who is now vice president of the Molly Mayde Manufacturing Company, graduated from the Los Angeles Military Academy and thereafter became actively associated with the

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business founded by his mother. He married Miss Millie McClellan, of Riverside. The daughter, Mrs. Ruth E. Barnum, who is now secretary and treasurer of the Molly Mayde Manufacturing Company, attended the public schools of Los Angeles and thereafter took a course of higher study by attending Pomona College. She has one child, Ruth Alexandra, who was born in 1913.

As a girl Mrs. Monroe took special delight in the making of clothes for dolls, and the skill she developed in this connection came into effective play when she later made dainty dresses for her little daughter. After establishing her home in Los Angeles she opened a modiste parlor, the business of which grew to large proportions. Her success led her to form the ambitious purpose of modeling some exclusive designs in gowns to be placed on the market in a wholesale way, and thus it was that she founded the important commercial enterprise of which she is now the executive head. She decided to specialize in a house-dress model which she had designed. She took a sample gown of this model to one of the leading retail stores of the city, and so favorable an impression was made the con- cern immediately gave her an order for two dozens of the dresses. A repeat order for five dozens soon followed, and from this initiation the business of the Molly Mayde Company has expanded to one of broad scope and importance. Molly Mayde gowns are now on sale in all of the more exclusive stores in Los Angeles and in all leading departments stores in the larger cities of the United States. For the sale of the Molly Mayde gown the Franklin-Simon Company of New York City opened and main- tains a special department. The exquisite house-gowns manufactured by the Molly Mayde Company are of distinct California type. They are of two-tone Japanese crepe and ginghams, all are made of washable materials and all are distinguished by their artistic hand-embroidery, effective pocket arrangements and attractively fashioned skirts. The company has con- ducted fashion revues at the Green Mill, a fashionable California pleasure resort, and at the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City.

The manufacturing quarters of the company are on the top floor of the Molly Mayde Building on West Sixth Street, and here fifty young women find profitable employment under most pleasing conditions. The factory has the most modern equipment, including the most approved designs of power sewing machines, which long ago supplanted the old foot-power machines that were used at the beginning. For the first six months only sixteen young women were employed, but the rapid expansion of the enterprise lead to the consecutive increase in the number of employes and finally necessitated the removal to the new building which now bears the company name. The company maintains branch sales offices and stock- rooms in the cities of Minneapolis and Denver, its trade extends into all parts of the Union, and recently a large shipment of the Molly Mayde gowns was sent to Manila, Philippine Islands. The history of the upbuild- ing of this vital and successful enterprise is interesting and inspiring. and incidentally gives distinction to its efficient and progressive founder.

ALBERT HILLER. The studio of Albert Hiller at 49 East Colorado Street in Pasadena is the work shop and business headquarters of a man thoroughly distinguished in the technical and ideal principals of his art. This is the only general photographic business in Pasadena handling portraits as well as technical or commercial photography. The work of the house stands in a class by itself and scarcely needs extended mention to the many people of Pasadena, especially those who have patronized this artist. A brief sketch of Mr. Hiller follows :

Albert Hiller was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey, June 26, 1877, son of Frederick and Emma Hiller. His father was a sergeant in the Forty-first New York Volunteers in the Civil war, served four years and was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. The mother is still living at Pasadena with her son Albert, who has never married. Albert Hiller graduated in 1893 from the Battin High School at Elizabeth, New Jersey, finished the course in the Newark Technical School of New Jersey in 1897, and for several years he

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was a jewelry designer with leading houses in New York City and Newark. While thus engaged his duties frequently took him to the Congressional Library at Washington. In the meantime he developed his special talents as a miniature portrait painter. For eighteen years continuously he has been at one location in Pasadena. From miniature painting he has concentrated his efforts chiefly on architectural and technical photography. He is a life member of Pasadena Lodge No. 2, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

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History of Los Angeles county, Volume II, Part 46

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944 Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Number of Pages: 840

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 840