History of Los Angeles county, Volume II, Part 48

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

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While in the army he had met Miss Mary King, a daughter of Samuel King, who moved to California with his family in the spring of 1852 and settled at El Monte. Doctor Mayes had proposed to Miss King before she left Albuquerque, New Mexico, and although rejected had such hopes of being finally accepted that he joined the Kings of El Monte, and his persist- € ence resulted in their marriage in 1853. The young couple located at El Monte, where he was the first physician, and his practice extended from San Bernardino to Dewey, over which wide territory he traveled on horse- back, carrying his medicines in saddlebags. While he responded promptly to every call, and never asked from the poor any return for his services. he had a number of rich patients as well, and from them he required a fair measure of this world's goods, and when he died left an excellent estate to his widow and children. He was a Blue Lodge Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His widow died at El Monte in 1909.

Doctor and Mrs. Mayes had seven children, three of whom died in childhood, those reaching maturity being as follows: Edwin, who was born January 15, 1855, died at Yuma, Arizona, in May, 1920, at which time he was serving as sheriff of his county, although he was a miner by occupation, and he was survived by four children; Ada, who was born in February, 1858, died at El Monte in 1911, never having been married ; Victoria, who was born in 1863, married John T. Haddox, who died in 1920, leaving his widow and six children, residents of El Monte ; and Lula, who was born at El Monte, where she is still residing. These children were all well educated, and Miss Mayes has always resided at El Monte. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Shakespeare Club. A lady of unusual mentality, she takes a decided interest in church and civic matters, and in 1920 succeeded in securing the necessary co-operation, after six months of untiring efforts under the most discouraging conditions, to incorporate the El Monte Ceme- tery Association. The pioneer burial place of the early settlers had been greatly neglected ; it was brush-covered and unkept. A mutual-non-profit organization was completed, and through this association the grounds have been beautified and the funds provided for the future maintenance of this cemetery. This work was greatly needed, and the results attained by thie association is deeply appreciated by all good citizens, and stands as a lasting monument to Miss Mayes and her co-workers.

FRANK C. FARMER, M. D., D. O. One of the representative medical practitioners at Pasadena is Dr. Frank Chatfield Farmer, a graduate of several schools and an able and experienced physician and surgeon. Although he has been a resident of this city but a comparatively short time.

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it has been long enough to make him well known to the public and to estab- lish him in their esteem and confidence.

Dr. Farmer was born at Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minnesota, June 11, 1877, a son of Judge J. Q. and Susan C. (Sharp) Farmer, the latter of whom survives and resides at Pasadena. She was born in Medina County, Ohio.

The late Judge J. Q. Farmer was a prominent man and a distinguished jurist in Minnesota for many years. He came of sturdy old New England stock and was born at Burke, Caledonia County, Vermont, in 1822, and died at Billings, Montana, in 1904. Although long past the age of the Psalmist, he was alert in mind and vigorous physically, and when the death summons came he was on a railroad train, on a fishing excursion. For many years fishing had been a favorite sport, and in Minnesota he was an authority on the distribution of fish in the state waters. A leader of the Spring Valley bar, he was elected judge of the Tenth Judicial District of Minnesota, and during his sixteen years on the bench had but two of his opinons reversed by the higher court, a record only equalled in the entire country by a judge in Maine. During the Civil war he attained military distinction and served through the war as colonel of his regiment, and afterward for many years was associated with the leading political powers in the state. Of his family of eight sons seven survive, all of whom live in the western states, but Dr. Farmer, the seventh in order of birth, is the only one to maintain his home in California.

Frank Chatfield Farmer attended the public schools of Spring Valley and graduated from the high school with the class of 1894, and then spent one year in the University of Minnesota. Medical science interested him, and during the next thirteen years he closely applied himself to study, taking advantage of the instruction afforded in the leading medical schools of the country and winning degrees through proficiency. He graduated from the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri, while its founder, Dr. Still, was yet living; from Hahnemann College, Chicago, in 1904; and from the medical department of Northwestern University, Chicago, in 1908. Following his graduation he was associated with Dr. Milton M. Portis, one of the great diagnosticians of the country, and through this association gained valuable experience.

In the above year Dr. Farmer embarked in the practice of his profession in the City of Chicago, where he is still remembered with respect and esteem, and continued until 1917, when he felt called upon, in the exigency of war, to offer his professional services in the cause of humanity. He served at first with the rank of lieutenant on the medical staff of the transport Deo at Hoboken, New Jersey, and then became troop surgeon on the steamship Mauretania, where he continued until the armistice with the enemy was signed. He then accepted shore duty, and served faithfully among the sick and wounded both in England and in France, ultimately wearing out his own vitality, and when he returned to the United States in June, 1919, it was to become a patient himself in a hospital. Dr. Farmer remained in New York for the next two years, and was connected with the military hospitals at Gun Hill and Fort Sheridan, and then went to Roches- ter, Minnesota, and took a post-graduate course in the Mayo Brothers Hospital there. In 1921 he came to California and established his residence at Pasadena.

Dr. Farmer's great ambition has been to found an institution where everything known to modern science should be incorporated for the purpose of correct diagnosis of human ills. His ambition bids fair to be realized, and the first unit of the institution has just been completed at 66 South Lake Street, at a cost of $12,000. This building has departments for diagnosing every known complaint, in fact what may be termed complete diagnosis. including X ray and electro-cardiograph. With his assistants Dr. Farmer will have the most modern equipped institution of this kind in Southern California.

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At Chicago, Illinois, on September 18, 1909, Doctor Farmer married Miss Grace Clute, who was born and educated at West Troy, New York. Dr. and Mrs. Farmer reside at 366 South Mentor Avenue, Pasadena. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church. In political sentiment Doctor Farmer is a republican, in which political faith he was firmly grounded in his youth by his stalwart father. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and still continues his interest in his old college society, the Theta Delta Chi.

JOHN T. HADDOX. It is difficult for the traveler through the magnifi- cently developed regions embraced in Los Angeles County to realize that only a few years ago this garden spot of the world was practically in a wild state and that the portions not arid were covered with a swampy growth. Yet this is true, and it is equally true that this uncivilized state would still prevail had it not been for the wonderful foresight, broad vision and initia- tive of a few men who, coming here, had faith in this section, and the belief that through the proper utilization of the means at hand the land of South- ern California could be made fertile beyond any former conception. In the years that followed their faith has been justified, but some of these pioneers have not been spared to live out a long life in the enjoyment of the results of their labors. They worked too hard, gave too much to their efforts, but their accomplishments remain and are a lasting monument to them and the principles for which they labored so faithfully and long. One of these men, now deceased, was John T. Haddox of El Monte, whose name will be always connected with the walnut industry, for which he accom- plished so much of lasting value.

John T. Haddox was born at McComb, Hancock County, Ohio, in 1858, a son of Jacob Haddox, also born in Ohio, but the son of a Virginian. John T. Haddox received a common-school education, and when only seven- teen years old, in 1876, came to California to join an uncle, William Had- dox, a rancher of the El Monte District. As soon as he had saved enough money John T. Haddox bought ten acres of land and set out apple trees, and when he had improved it, sold it at a profit and invested the purchase price in thirty-six acres on Covina Boulevard. This was wild land, totally unimproved, and Mr. Haddox had to work hard to bring it to a state where he could put it to soft-shell walnuts. He had been investigating consider- ably, watching the experiments of others, and decided upon the walnuts, although at that time citrus fruits were much more popular. However, he lived to see his judgment justified, and this veritable gold mine is still owned by his family. Subsequently he bought an acre one-half mile east of El Monte, on which he erected a comfortable home and there he continued to live until his death, April 19, 1919, and here his widow still resides. This is a beautiful property just outside the city limits of El Monte, with all of the advantages of both country and urban life.

Mr. Haddox married Miss Victoria Mayes, a daughter of the well- beloved pioneer physician Dr. Thomas Mayes, a sketch of whom imme- diately precedes this. Although Doctor Mayes passed away some years ago his memory is tenderly cherished by those of the older generation to whom he ministered with such faithfulness in the early days. He not only was the leading physician and surgeon of his day, but also a leading citizen, and one who kept fully abreast of progress.

Mr. and Mrs. Haddox became the parents of six children, namely : Dorothy, Hilda, Miriam, Marjorie, John Victor and Philip Mayes. Mr. Haddox was a republican, and always took a great deal of interest in party successes, although not a politician by any manner of means. During his entire residence in Los Angeles County he was active in development work, and never ceased to advocate and encourage the planting of walnuts in this vicinity. His family is held in the highest esteem in this neighborhood, and his children are a credit to him and his estimable wife, who since his demise is carrying on alone their plans for the welfare of these children.

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WILL A. SMITH has been at Whittier a veritable apostle of civic and material progress, and has had large influence in the furtherance of the development and upbuilding of this fair and prosperous little city of Los Angeles County. As one of the early newspaper publishers at Whittier Mr. Smith was naturally active in the political and civic affairs of the community, and through the medium of his paper, the Whittier News, he was a leader in the progressive campaign that gave to the community an impetus in the work of making public municipal improvements. When he here established his residence and his newspaper enterprise Whittier streets were unpaved, sidewalks were few, and there were no electric-light or fire- protection systems, while electric street transportation was distinctly a matter of the future. Mr. Smith set himself with characteristic vigor to the advancing of these and other measures which have made Whittier one of the most attractive and prosperous little cities of Los Angeles County, and his work in this connection has become an integral part of the history of this favored community. He was a specially staunch advocate of the widening of Philadelphia Street, an improvement that has contributed greatly to the metropolitan appearance and facilities of the city.

A scion of a family, of English lineage, that was founded in New Eng- land in the early Colonial period of our national history, Mr. Smith claims the old Green Mountain State as the place of his nativity. He was born at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on the 25th of March, 1867, and is a son of the late Dr. John H. Smith, who was a leading dentist and representative citizen of that place. Representatives of the Smith family were patriotic soldiers in the Revolution, and the subject of this review retains as valued family and historic heirlooms numerous relics from the Lexington battle- field. Mrs. Sabra (Sulloway) Smith, mother of him whose name initiates this sketch, passed her entire life in Vermont and was a representative of Revolutionary stock, she having been of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

In the public schools of his native city Will A. Smith continued his studies until he had profited by the advantages of the high school, and his initial experience in the printing and newspaper business was acquired in the office of the St. Johnsbury Republican, where he began his service as "printer's devil" and finally gained comprehensive knowledge of the various details and mysteries of the "Art preservative of all arts." After a period of seven years he purchased a job-printing establishment at Barre, Vermont, and this he conducted until 1896, when he sold the plant and business and came to California. Two years later he returned to the East, where he remained only one year, the lure of California causing him to come again to this state in 1899, in December of which year he arrived at Whittier. Here he founded the Whittier News, a five-column weekly paper of six pages, and the initial issue of the new paper appeared on the 24th of March, 1900. A most favorable reception was accorded to the paper, and this was, indeed, fortunate, for the available capital of Mr. Smith at the time was summed up in seventy-two dollars. The town at the time had a population of 1,400, and so liberal was the support accorded to the News that it was frequently found necessary to make its issue one of sixteen pages to accom- modate advertising and news matter. For the first two years the News was printed on a twelve by eighteen inch Gordon job press, and Mr. Smith then purchased a two-cylinder Campbell press, the first in the town. He continued as editor and publisher of the Whittier News until 1904, when he sold the property and business, the new owners eventually making a daily paper of the News, which is thus published to-day, under the original title given by its founder. In starting his paper at Whittier Mr. Smith made in its columns the statement that the subscription price was "$1.50 if paid in advance, and $2 if never paid." This statement not only created amusement but also a liberal supporting patronage.

After his retirement from the newspaper business Mr. Smith engaged in the real-estate business, but he soon opened at Whittier a job-printing establishment, the equipment of which he has brought up to the best modern standard and in the conducting of which he has since continued to be excep-

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tionally successful. This representative business place is established in a building owned by Mr. Smith, at 210-12 East Philadelphia Street. In the conducting of his business during the entire period of his residence in Whittier Mr. Smith has had as his able and valued coadjutor his wife. He is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the republican party, and while he has been active and influential in its councils and campaign service, he has never sought or desired public office. He is a charter member of the Masonic Blue Lodge and Commandery at Whittier, and has the distinction of being a past commander of Whittier Commandery No. 51, Knights Templar, which he represented at the national conclave at Atlanta, Georgia, where also he was a member of the Shrine Chanters of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Los Angeles, and gained the incidental nickname of "Bones." He is a member of Past Commanders Association of Knights Templar, is affiliated with Whittier Lodge No. 1258, B. P. O. E., and is an active member of the Whittier Chamber of Commerce. In further- ing the advancement of Whittier Mr. Smith did good work when such service was most demanded, and he is one of the most loyal and progressive citizens of this community. He has been an ardent advocate of the con- struction of a scenic highway along the ridge back of Whittier, and still hopes to see this "Skyline Drive," which would attract many tourists and be otherwise of much benefit to Whittier completed before the lapse of many years. Mrs. Smith has been likewise active in civic affairs, and served two years as president of the Whittier Woman's Club.

At Barre, Vermont, on the 14th of June, 1893, Mr. Smith wedded Miss Helen May Stafford, who was born in the State of Illinois and who is a daughter of the late William Lloyd Garrison Stafford, former proprietor of the Whittier Hotel, he having come with his family to Whittier in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Hal Will, who is a graduate of the Whittier High School and who still resides at the parental home. He was in the nation's aviation service in connection with the World war, his train- ing having been received at Kelley Field, Texas. Hal W. Smith is a popular and enthusiastic member of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, and both he and his father find much pleasure and recreation through the medium of a fine sloop owned by him.

ARTHUR T. EMORY, one of the substantial citizens and successful citrus- fruit growers of the Whittier District, figures as a member of the fine army of steadfast, industrious men who quietly follow their chosen paths and support all measures and undertakings tending to advance their home communities. It is to such worthy citizens of constructive ability that the beautiful little City of Whittier owes its present attractiveness and pros- perity, and he is well entitled to recognition in this history of his adopted county.

Mr. Emory was born at Unadilla, New York, October 16, 1862, and is a son of William H. and Louise (Page) Emory, the former a native of Maryland and of French ancestry and the latter a native of the State of New York and representative of English ancestry. The original American pro- genitors of this branch of the Emory family came to this country in the Colonial days and settled in the South. William H. Emory was a leading merchant at Unadilla, New York, for a long term of years, and was one of the influential and honored citizens of his community, both he and his wife having continued to reside in the old Empire State until their deaths.

In his native city Arthur T. Emory was afforded the advantages of a private academy and preparatory school, and he then entered Cornell University at Ithaca, New York, in which great institution he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1886 and with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He was a member of the baseball team of the university and also of its glee club. It was well within the powers and ambition of Mr. Emory to mark the passing years with excellent achievement in the pedagogic pro- fession. After leaving the university he was a teacher in the public schools of his native state and later he became principal and part owner of the

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Mount Pleasant Military Academy, with which he thus continued his con- nection nine years. After selling his interest in this institution he passed one year in the City of New York and then became principal of the Chelten- ham Military Academy at Ogontz, Pennsylvania, where he remained two years.

In 1905 Mr. Emory came to California, and in November of that year he purchased four and one-half acres of land on South Painter Avenue, Whittier. In this action he was moved primarily by a desire to find outdoor occupation, and in the following year he became asso- ciated with his wife and son in the purchasing of five and one-half acres on the opposite side of the same avenue. To-day the entire ten acres is represented in a fine grove of orange and lemon trees, and the present family domicile is an attractive house that was erected by Mr. Emory about ten years ago, at 728 South Painter Avenue. This is one of the handsome homes of this district, the house being of the approved California architectural type, with a screened Spanish patio. Mr. Emory has brought to bear scientific methods in the development of his successful citrus-fruit industry, has prospered with the growth and development of his home community and here finds that in all respects his "lines are cast in pleasant places." He is an active mem- ber of the Whittier Citrus Association, a former director of the Whit- tier Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Forum Club, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. He is a director also of the Community Bank, and his civic loyalty is of the most insistent order. A man of fine intellectual ken, he continues an avidious student and reader, and at his home has assembled a specially comprehensive and select private library. His political allegiance is given to the repub- lican party, and he and his wife are earnest communicants of the local parish of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which he is serving as senior warden of the vestry. Both he and his wife are members of the choir of this church, and Mrs. Emory is president of the Girls Friendly Society. Mrs. Emory also organized in Whittier a Red Cross Chapter and served as its chairman during the period of the World war, in which capacity her efficient and tireless efforts were crowned with gratifying success. Mr. Emory maintains affiliation with the Beta Theta Phi college fraternity and as a member of the Alumni Association of Cornell University he takes lively interest in his alma mater.

In New York City was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Emory and Mrs. Sallie S. (Williams) Moore, widow of J. P. Moore. Mrs. Emory was born in Kentucky and is a daughter of Jenks Williams, a repre- sentative of an old North Carolina family of English lineage. By her first marriage Mrs. Emory has one son, John P. Moore, who is employed in an automobile supply establishment at Hollywood.

ALEXANDER R. FRASER. The business enterprise and the public spirit of Alexander R. Fraser and his son Earl A. Fraser have been perhaps the chief factors in the development of one of Los Angeles County's most beautiful resort cities, Ocean Park.

The primary institution touched by their enterprise is the Ocean Park Bath House. This was built in 1905 by A. R. Fraser and others as a stock company with a capital of $150,000. T. H. Dudley was the first president and Miss E. R. Jillson, secretary. The present officers and owners of the Ocean Park Bath House and Amusement Company are Earl A. Fraser, president and secretary, and A. R. Fraser, vice president. The bath house contains a pool 133 by 70 feet, 21/2 feet deep, and has 3,500 lockers, 500 rooms, 10,000 bathing suits and all other equipments and facilities for com- plete service. The company operates its own laundry, has filtered sea water treated with a Wallace and Tiernin chlorinator, and the filters are so arranged as to change the water every twelve hours, the daily use con- suming 256,000 gallons. There are sixteen hot and cold showers and

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twenty tub baths and twenty people are employed. The swimming instructor is George Watkins, the manager of the bath house is D. C. Wilson.

The late Alexander R. Fraser was a man of broad vision and excep- tional business ability. He was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, Canada, February 1, 1856, son of J. I. and Leah (Rosbro) Fraser, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Ireland. His parents died in Los Angeles. Of their eight children, one son and five daughters are still living. Alexander R. Fraser was five years old when brought to the United States by his parents who settled in Michigan. For a time he lived at Port Huron, Michigan, where he was in the lumber business and cheese manu- facturing. In 1885 he came to California and located at Los Angeles, where he engaged in the real estate business. In 1898 he moved to Ocean Park and in 1900 bought the old Santa Fe Railroad property, which was still undeveloped. He subdivided it into residence lots, and this was the first sand property in Southern California to be sold to the public. Sub- sequently with associates he bought the interest of T. H. Dudley and became a partner of the late Abbot Kinney and the guiding genius in the development of the Ocean Park Bath House and Amusement Company.

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History of Los Angeles county, Volume II, Part 48

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