USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume II > Part 77
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Mr. Taylor wrote and starred in "American Ace," "System," "Star Bout," and he starred Bill Hart in "Hold Up." One of his last efforts was directing King Baggott in a one-act play.
Much of his fame as an actor was gained in and about New York City, and he was also well known in London and Europe. After coming to Los Angeles he became interested in the Grauman interests as a producer of prologues and plays. He was responsible for all the prologues of the Grauman plays. The Grauman interests own four of the finest picture show houses in the country, located in Los Angeles and Hollywood. For many years Mr. Taylor was on the Keith and Orpheum circuit. He carried a carload of scenery, and frequently a troupe from eighteen to larger numbers. Eugene Field in some of his books of collected verse makes several references to "Little Bud Taylor," especially in the poem "The House." Mr. Taylor played with and was stage manager for Miss Marie Burroughs in "The Battle of the Strong"; others in the cast were Holbrook Blinn, Maurice Barrymore and others. In "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" he created the part of Chris Hazy, the one-legged character. He played in "The Suburban" with Bill Hart in 1902, taking the place of the jockey in that melodrama.
"Books for Actors" states that Mr. Taylor "supplied the United Book- ing Offices of America during his many years as a producing star." George M. Cohan is said to have characterized "The System" as the best one-act melodrama he ever saw. It had extraordinary popularity in England. The act was characterized by the tenseness of its scenes and its tremendous ending. Mr. Taylor played with Charles Coughlin three years, Coughlin being, himself, the finest orator of lines on the stage.
In his career Granville Taylor traveled the world over, including all of Europe, South America and the Orient. His wife, Laura Pierpont, has been with the Orpheum Circuit many years, frequently starring in his productions, and she was on the road and unfortunately unable to be present at the bedside of her husband at the time of his sudden death. Mr. Taylor was a Royal Arch Mason, of New York City, and a member of the "White Rats," an actor club. He and his wife had their home in New York and spent their summers in that city. They were married in New York City. Mr. Taylor died after a brief illness in April, 1923, and is survived by his wife, his mother and stepfather, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walworth, and his sister, Mrs. Josephine Taylor Loomis.
Mr. Charles Walworth, the stepfather of Mr. Taylor, was for many years an officer of the First National Bank of Chicago. Four years ago he retired from business and came to California, building a magnificent home on the top of one of Hollywood's hills.
PHILANDER ELLSWORTH HATCH, vice president of the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles, and manager of its Long Beach branches is a veteran banker, and has the distinction of having organized the first bank in Long Beach, California, where his name for nearly thirty years has been a synonym of financial integrity and civic public spirit.
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Mr. Hatch, son of John and Diana L. (Canfield) Hatch, was born at New . Preston, Connecticut, July 25, 1861, of old New England ancestry. His education was thorough and practical. He attended the New Preston High School, graduated from the Whittlesey Seminary at New Preston, and from the Yale Business College at New Haven. He began his practical business experience at the age of eighteen, as a clerk for the well known firm of hardware manufacturers, Sargent & Company, of New Haven. In 1881 he left that position to go into the employ of the firm of Peck & Bishop, at New Haven, and later became bookkeeper and cashier for the wholesale and retail furniture house of H. B. Armstrong & Com- pany of the same city, where he worked until 1887. He then moved West to Kenesaw, Nebraska, and from 1887 to 1894 was cashier of the Kenesaw Exchange Bank.
Soon after coming to Long Beach in 1894, Mr. Hatch organized the first bank, known as the Bank of Long Beach, which was opened for business on June 1, 1896, with Mr. Hatch as cashier. He also organized the first savings bank, known as the Long Beach Savings Bank, in 1900. He was cashier and manager of the Bank of Long Beach for several years, then served as first vice president, and in 1903 became president, when the bank became the National Bank of Long Beach, with a capital of $100,000.
He served as vice president and manager of the Savings Bank from the time of its organization until the two institutions were consolidated, at which time he was elected president. The capital of the consolidated bank was placed at $600,000, and the deposits increased to $8,000,000. Mr. Hatch held the office of president of the consolidated institution, the Long Beach Trust and Savings Bank until 1921, when it was merged with the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles, becoming the Long Beach Branch of the Security Trust & Savings Bank, and while having the advantages of the great resources and capacity for service of the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Los Angeles, it is a complete local institution. Mr. Hatch is vice president of the Security Bank, and is manager of the three branches in Long Beach. There are two vice presidents of the Long Beach branch under him, one of them being his son, J. E. Hatch.
Mr. Hatch is also a director of the Morris Plan Company of Los Angeles; director of the Southern Counties Gas Company ; director of the Chestnut Avenue Building Company of Long Beach; and for three years was president of the Bank of Wilmington, which he organized in 1905. He has also been treasurer of the California Shipbuilding Company. and is president of the Long Beach Clearing House Association, which office he has held since the Association was organized in 1912. He was for twelve years president of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, and has been a director of that organization for a quarter of a century. He has been a member of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, for twenty-six years, and is now a member of its breakwater committee. He has been prominently identified with the California Bankers Association, serving for three years on its executive committee. In the American Bankers Associa- tion he has been vice president for the State of California, and state vice president for all state banks.
Mr. Hatch has among other distinctions that of owning the first automobile in Long Beach, a steam car, and since then has owned forty- three cars. He is a republican, a trustee of the First Congregational Church of Long Beach, and a member of the Jonathan Club, Virginia Country Club, Kiwanis Club, Washington Gladden Club, Las Turas Lake Club, Masonic Club, and Automobile Club of Southern California. He served as the first Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Long Beach. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Masonic Lodge of Long Beach, the Knights Templar, the Scottish Rite Consistory, Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
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At Guilford, Connecticut, November 7, 1883, Mr. Hatch married Miss Elouise Cecelia Norton, daughter of Henry Ellsworth Norton. Mr. and and Mrs. Hatch have two children, John Ellsworth Hatch and Eleanor Norton Hatch. John E. Hatch, who married Amelia May Grundy, was educated in the Long Beach public schools, and in Pomona College, and has been associated with his father in the banking business since 1908, and is now a vice president of the Long Beach branch of the Security Trust & Savings Bank. He enlisted in July, 1917, served in training camps, and came out as a first lieutenant in the regular army. He is a life member of Lodge No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and also has a life membership in the Masonic Scottish Rite Consistory and Shrine.
CLARENCE MAYHEW CAGLE, Doctor of Chiropractic, now established in a successful practice at Glendale, has a service record with the navy and later with the Signal Corps, United States Army, and was on duty throughout nearly all the period of the World war from 1914 until after the armistice.
Doctor Cagle was born at Morley, Missouri, January 19, 1897. His father, Rev. Carter M. Cagle, for many years was active in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in 1911 came to California, locating at Downey, and is now retired.
Clarence Mayhew Cagle acquired his education in Missouri, Texas, Arizona and California, in the places were his father was in the ministry. After two years in the University of Southern California he enlisted on September 1, 1914, as an apprentice seaman, and was in the navy three years and four months until given a medical discharge.
After leaving the navy Doctor Cagle returned to his studies in the University of Southern California for a time, but the war being still in progress he was drafted as a private in the Signal Corps, and was with that organization until discharged January 2, 1919.
After the war he entered the Los Angeles Chiropractic College, and received his degree Doctor of Chiropractic June, 1921. Doctor Cagle had his first practice at Escondido, but since May 1, 1923, has been estab- lished at Glendale, with offices in the Cole & Damerell Building, at 103A North Brand Boulevard. He is a member of the Universal Chiropractic Association and California State Association. He also belongs to the Credit Men's Association, the Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias.
November 11, 1922, he married Miss Edith M. Enos of Escondido. She is the daughter of A. Enos of Adrian, Missouri, of which town she was a native and where she received her education. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
KENNETH C. HENGEN. In so desirable a section of California as the San Joaquin Valley the real estate business in all its department offers an inviting field to men of capital and business experience, and thus the phenomenal development of Long Beach within the last few years has resulted. A realtor who has done much to promote real estate interests here is Kenneth C. Hengen, senior member of the firm of Hengen, Kitter- man & Nolan, heavy dealers in real estate, stocks and bonds, and public accountants.
Mr. Hengen was born at Omaha, Nebraska, June 9, 1885, the only child of Gustave B. and Glen S. (Critchfield) Hengen, both natives of Omaha and present residents of California. The father of Mr. Hengen is practically retired from business, but still retains the presidency of the Kentucky Midland Railway Company and also of the Kentucky Midland Coal Company.
Kenneth C. Hengen was carefully educated, first in private schools, where he was prepared for college, then attended the Nebraska State Uni- versity at Lincoln and afterward Wentworth Military Academy at Lexing-
Clarence M. Cagle, D.C.
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ton, Missouri. His father found him both companionable and ambitious, and before engaging in business for himself the youth traveled over the country with his father and assisted in looking after the latter's many interests.
Mr. Hengen's first independent business venture was as a grocery merchant at Gloversville, New York, where he conducted a store for two years. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he continued active for some years, gaining first hand experience on a farm owned by his father, situated seventy-five miles south of Kansas City, Missouri. He subsequently acquired a valuable tract of timber land comprising 640 acres, which is situated forty miles north of Mobile, Ala- bama, just over the line in Mississippi. Mr. Hengen still owns this property, which is largely devoted to the production of turpentine.
In the meanwhile Mr. Hengen had become interested concerning South- ern California, and this resulted in his coming early to Long Beach to judge for himself, and during a stay of one year became completely won over by the natural advantages and business possibilities of this section. He returned then to his Mississippi farm, but in December, 1915, came back to settle permanently at Long Beach, purchasing an olive grove of ten acres in the San Joaquin Valley. This proved satisfactorily profitable, but within two and a half years Mr. Hengen's business acumen made him realize that with the rapid growth of Long Beach in his direction his property would be greatly increased in value as a part of the city, and at the present time the former olive ranch is one of the choice residential sections of Long Beach. Since locating here Mr. Hengen has erected more than twenty handsome residences. In addition to his Long Beach realty he is heavily interested in Santa Fe Springs land, and in other sections. On February 19, 1923, the present firm of Hengen, Kitterman & Nolan was formed. It deals in real estate, subdivisions, oil lands, leases, insurance loans, rentals, business chances, stocks and bonds and public accounting. The offices of the firm are conveniently situated on East First Street, Long Beach.
Mr. Hengen married at Omaha, Nebraska, on December 19, 1915, Miss Dorothy C. Joseph, who was born and educated at Detroit, Michigan. They attend the Christian Church, in which religious body Mr. Hengen was reared. Although cherishing no political ambitions for himself, Mr. Hengen has always believed that sturdy political convictions are a part of good and useful citizenship, and to some extent he is active in republican politics at Long Beach. In fraternal life he belongs to Long Beach Lodge No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
SYLVANUS A. KITTERMAN. A line of business that is ably represented at Long Beach is that of dealing in real estate in all of its departments and handling old line insurance, and a prominent firm in this field is that of Hengen, Kitterman & Nolan, which in a short period has built up a reputation for business enterprise and strict reliability. Mr. Kitterman of this firm is a well seasoned business man of many years' experience in other lines, and he has a wide acquaintance and hosts of friends here and in other sections.
Sylvanus A. Kitterman was born on a farm near Luverne, in Rock County, Minnesota, January 8, 1879, a son of Benjamin Taylor and Kath- erine Kitterman, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter near Bloomington, Illinois. They were prosperous farming people in Minnesota and well, known and respected throughout Rock County. Of their family of eight children, two daughters and three sons live in California, the latter being: Sylvanus, of Long Beach; R. F., of Glendale, who is manager of the Security Trust & Savings Bank branch there; and G. R., who is a druggist with the Sun Drug Company of Long Beach.
Mr. Kitterman attended the country schools while growing up on the home farm, but his natural inclination was not in the direction of agri- cultural pursuits, and this led to his leaving home early and, with boyish
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love of adventure, striking out for himself. He had many unusual experi- ences in different parts of the country before he was eighteen years old, about which time he learned the barber's trade and later was connected with the Sylvan Clothing Company at Jennings, Louisiana. He resided at Jennings for ten years, and was in the barber business for one year at Lake Charles, Louisiana, at both points being numbered with the reliable citizens and business men.
In 1915 Mr. Kitterman came to California and located at Long Beach, where he bought and operated three barber shops for a time, but sub- sequently sold them when he became associated with Freeman A. Mckenzie in the automobile business, with whom he continued nine months. Mr. Kitterman then became a salesman with the Green Motor Company, and for years successfully handled the Franklin car as head salesman, retiring from the Green Motor Company after four years to identify himself with the Colonial Chocolate Company, with which corporation he continued until February, 1923, when he became a member of the firm of Hengen, Kitterman & Nolan at Long Beach, his active partnership beginning on March 1, 1923. While he is connected with every interest of the firm, he is particularly concerned in selling Santa Fe Springs property. In earlier life Mr. Kitterman had eight years of military experience, for that length of time being a corporal in Company H, Second Minnesota State Militia, and left behind him an honorable record for efficiency and attention to duty.
Mr. Kitterman married at Lake Charles, Louisiana, on May 16, 1901, Miss Blanche E. Deimer, who was born at Janesville, Iowa, but was edu- cated at Waterloo, Iowa. They have an attractive home in the Artaban Apartments at Long Beach. Mr. Kitterman is a member of the Order of Elks. In political sentiment he is a democrat.
JOSEPH SUNSERI. When death came to him at his beautiful home at 4062 Wilshire Boulevard on June 18, 1923, Joseph Sunseri was only sixty years of age, but had achieved a high position in commercial affairs, and for years has been known over this country as the "Banana King," on account of the great volume of business he transacted in that fruit.
He was born in Trabia, Province of Palermo, Italy, November 11, 1862, son of Francisco and Ninfa Sunseri. He was reared in his native country, educated there, and acquired his early knowledge of the fruit business before coming to this country.
He was an American citizen for twenty-six years. From the first he became associated with the fruit transportation business on a large scale, and for many years was the lieutenant and right-hand man of the million- aire fruit dealer, Joseph Di Georgio. His business headquarters were in various eastern cities, New York, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and he imported bananas to this country by the ship load, sending them in all directions by the car load, and for this reason he became known as the "Banana King." After leaving Di Georgio he became associated with the Vaccaro Brothers, one of the largest firms of fruit shippers at New Orleans.
Mr. Sunseri first lived in Los Angeles for a period of eleven years, and was in business for himself. He returned to Pittsburgh, but in 1919 came to Los Angeles again and made it his home until his death. He made a fortune in business, and was also known for the fineness of his heart and his willingness to help all who came within his notice. He never refused assistance, and went out of his way to perform kindly and benevolent acts. His recognized probity as a business man and his per- sonality brought him many advantages in a commercial way, and frequently he was given preference by business concerns over his competitors because of these characteristics. He was a devout Catholic.
Forty years ago he married Rosa Gattuccio. Their three children are: Mrs. Salvatrice Sunseri Lauza, Fanny Sunseri and Frank Sunseri, who continues his father's business.
Mr. Sunseri had been ill from the time his family moved to occupy their beautiful home on Wilshire Boulevard and he had never been per-
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mitted to go upstairs and view that portion of his house. A great concourse of people specified their esteem and love of him at his funeral. The church auditorium was much too small to accommodate those who pressed forward to pay their respect, and the entire ceremony was most beautiful with flowers and all that money and good taste could show. He was laid to rest in a private mausoleum.
MYRTLE H. COOPER is one of Los Angeles' most successful young busi- ness women, and incidentally has done some pioneer work for her sex in broadening the field of achievement in which a woman's abilities may command her recognition. She was the first woman in Los Angeles and one of the few in the country to achieve an executive position in banking circles.
Miss Cooper was born at St. Paul, Minnesota, and spent her early girlhood and first attended school at St. Paul and later at St. Louis. Thir- teen years ago she came to California, and for four years lived in San Francisco and four years at Oakland. After finishing a course in the San Francisco Business College she became private secretary to the secre- tary of the Federal Reserve Bank at the time that institution was established.
She resigned to come to Los Angeles five years ago to take up duties as private secretary to Mr. Ora Monnette, president of the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank. She resides with her mother at 955 South Alvaredo Street.
For several years Miss Cooper had charge of the credit bureau of the Citizens Trust & Savings Bank. In 1921 this bank undertook a general campaign for new business, participated in by many of the employes. Miss Cooper received the first prize for results in this campaign, including new friends and new business for the bank. Her remarkable grasp of the principles of banking, her readiness in handling banking details, and the executive qualifications she displayed were all brought to the atten- tion of the bank directors in the spring of 1922, when plans had been made for the establishment of the first of a series of branch banks. Mr. Monnette told the directors he knew of no one more capable to handle all the duties as manager of the new branch than Miss Cooper, and she was accordingly selected for the novel and responsible post in the new branch at Eighth Street and Vermont Avenue.
DON C. SUMMERS, manager of the California White Leghorn Breeding Farms, is one of the business men of Lankershim who is devoting his energies and capabilities to the conduct and development of a newly organized business that promises to become one of large proportions and importance. His associates in this business are equally zealous, and they are all enthusiastic about the wonderful possibilities of their undertaking. The farms are located on Tulare Street, two blocks west of Lankershim Boulevard, and comprise twenty acres. The business was established in February, 1922, by Mr. Summers and A. O. Eckerman as a copartnership. In November of that same year J. D. Milligan was taken into partnership, each member of the firm owning an equal share. In addition to exhibi- tion stock the partners have over 23,000 chickens, of which over 5,000 are breeding hens. It is the purpose of the partners to sell hatching eggs and baby chickens. These farms are well equipped for the work in hand. There are eight large breeding houses and several small ones. In addi- tion to the twenty acres above mentioned the firm owns ten acres nearby, now devoted to raising nursery chickens, with a capacity of 8,000, to which additions are being made. The heaviest egg strains as breeders have been assembled on the large ranch, it being the idea of the partners to profit by the experience of the producers of heavy egg strains of the White Leghorn breed. The immense flock of standard-bred Leghorns of Bur- bank, and the Ranches, Delaware and Martin's standard flock previously owned by Mrs. Martin of Downey and Mr. McConnell were bought out- right by the firm, and many breeders from Williams Brothers of Fullerton,
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California, whose stock is the foundation of all standard flocks, were bought as well. The different strains of White Leghorns are all housed, yarded and bred separately. Mr. Eckerman is treasurer and purchasing agent of the copartnership; Mr. Milligan has charge of production; and Mr. Summers is sales manager.
Don C. Summers was born at Knoxville, Tennessee, September 21, 1883. After attending the public schools of Valparaiso, Indiana, he went into the poultry business and followed it in Indiana and Missouri until 1921, when he came to California and located in the San Fernando Valley, near Lankershim, and commenced arranging for his present business. His long association with the practical details of his business are of value to him in his present undertaking. He is a member of the Southern Producers' Association, and is president of the state branch of the National Single Comb Leghorn Club.
On July 6, 1919, Mr. Summers married Miss Evelyn McCarter, of St. Louis, Missouri, and they have one son, Don C., Jr., who is at home. Mrs. Summers was born in Texas, and was there educated, but was living at St. Louis at the time of her marriage. Although new comers to Lanker- shim, both Mr. and Mrs. Summers are making their influence felt in its life, and they are deeply interested in its further development and improve- ment, for they propose to make this their permanent home.
FREDERICK M. ROSSITER, M. D. A distinguished member of the medical profession, and a medical author, Doctor Rossiter has been in California for ten years, and is a leader in his profession at Glendale.
He was born at Elmore, Ohio, March 12, 1870, and has been a deep student all his life. He attended public schools in Ohio, is a graduate of the high school of Hillsdale, Michigan, and graduated Bachelor of Science from Battle Creek College, Michigan, in 1893. He is also a graduate of the University of Michigan and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Rush Medical College of Chicago in 1896. In 1897 he graduated Doctor of Medicine from the University of Pennsylvania. Doctor Rossiter was for five years a physician on the staff of the Battle Creek Sanitarium. It has been Doctor Rossiter's rule to interrupt his routine work every year or so for the benefit derived from post-graduate study and association with eminent men of the profession. He attended the New York Post- Graduate School, has also been abroad at the University of Vienna, the University of Berlin, and in 1920 he went to London, England, and spent five months specializing on heart diseases. From the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons in England he has the degrees L. R. C. P. and M. R. C. S. Doctor Rossiter came to California in 1913, and was in practice at Oakland, then at Long Beach and is now at Glendale. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical associations, and his fellow practitioners at Glendale have honored him by making him president of the Glendale Physicians' Club. He is associate professor of medicine in the College of Medical Evangelists. He belongs to the Glendale Chamber of Commerce. Doctor Rossiter's two books, of which he is author, are "The Story of the Living Temple" and "Practical Guide to Health."
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