History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 29

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 844

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Among the children born after the family came to California the only daughter is Sarah E. Bundy, living in Los Angeles. Nathan P. Bundy, an- other son, born at Santa Monica forty-three years ago on the ninth of Sep-

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tember, admission day, achieved success as a lawyer and died in 1910. The youngest brother, Thomas C. Bundy, was formerly the champion tennis player of the United States, and married Miss May Sutton, the world's woman's champion tennis player. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Bundy have four children, three boys and a girl. Mr. G. G. Bundy has a son and daughter, Mr. F. E. Bundy, two daughters and Mr. C. L. Bundy, two sons.

LON F. CHAPIN. From the time he finished his high-school education in Iowa the primary interest of Lon F. Chapin has been newspaper work. Other matters have naturally grouped themselves in useful connection with his newspaper career, not least among them being a wholehearted partici- pation in everything connected with the progress and welfare of his home City of Pasadena, where for a number of years he has been associate editor and manager of the Pasadena Star-News.

Alonzo Franklin Chapin, to mention his full christian name, was born in Grundy County, Illinois, March 19, 1862. He is a direct descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin, founder of Chicopee, Massachusetts. His father, Alonzo Gustavus Chapin, was born in Vermont and was a pioneer settler in Northwestern Iowa. His mother was Lucy (Ryder) Chapin. Lon F. Chapin graduated from the high-school at Denison, Iowa, in 1878. Two years later he made his first newspaper connection as one of the publish- ers of the Ida Grove Era. From 1889 to 1898 he edited and published the Review at Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Mr. Chapin has been associated with Pasadena Journalism since 1899, when he bought from Walter S. Melick a half interest in the Pasadena Daily News. They were associated in its publication until the death of Mr. Melick in 1904; following that Mr. Chapin continued the Daily News as its editor and publisher until 1910, though for one year, 1907-08, Judge J. H. Pryor owned a half interest and was active in the management. Selling the News in December, 1910, Mr. Chapin permitted himself his only lengthy vacation from the newspaper business, and for five years devoted his time to orange growing. Then, in 1915, he purchased a half interest in the News from Judge Pryor, who had acquired the paper, and 'in the following spring participated in the merger of the Pasadena News and the Pasadena Star. Since then he has been associate editor and man- ager of the Star-News.

Mr. Chapin is a director and treasurer of the Community Chest of Pasadena, has been a director of the Pasadena Chapter of the Red Cross, chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Pasadena Welfare Bureau and a director of the Pasadena Dispensary. In former years he has at differ- ent times accepted a working interest in similar movements. Mr. Chapin has in the main kept away from politics and has never been a candidate for public office. However, he is interested in good government, is classi- fied as a progressive republican and from 1900 to 1910 was active in the movement which placed California in the ranks of progressive republican states for a number of years following. The Pasadena Daily News during the years he was at its head was recognized for its influence for good gov- ernment, and generally for its part in the consideration of local and county affairs. Mr. Chapin is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason, a member of the Congregational Church, the Pasadena Golf Club and the Overland Club.

At Boone, Iowa, March 18, 1882, Mr. Chapin married Ada Lunette Caswell, daughter of Leveus Addison and Louise (Loomis) Caswell, her father a native of Maine and her mother of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. Her father was a pioneer of Iowa and owned the first lumber mill in Boone County. Mrs. Chapin was one of the organizers of the Parent- Teachers' Associations in Pasadena, and is a member of the Shakespeare Club, with the active work of which for a number of years she was closely identified. The four children of Mr. and Mrs. Chapin are: Grace June, wife of Hyman Mitchell; Ned Leroy, who married Roberta Selden Jen- kins ; Alice May, wife of Clarence S. Fry ; and Ralph Owen, who married

In J. Chapi

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Grace Eleanor Manley. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin also have two adopted children, Charles Lorenzo and Alfred Bayless Chapin, both of whom have served creditably in the navy for several years, while his eldest son, Ned Leroy, well-known in Pasadena, was educated at Annapolis, served with the Reserve Forces during the World war. He is now engaged in the publishing business in Los Angeles. The second son, Ralph, has been employed for some time on the Star-News.

LOUIS Q. BRANSON, president of the Grand Valley Investment Com- pany, one of the important real-estate corporations of Los Angeles County, is one of the most loyal and progressive citizens of San Fernando, where are maintained the headquarters of the company of which he is the exec- utive head. Of his status in the community it is needless here to say more than that he is liberal, forward-looking and loyal in citizenship, and his sense of civic stewardship was shown when he consented to serve without remuneration as secretary of the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce, of which office he is the incumbent at the time of this writing, in the spring of 1923. Of the Chamber of Commerce specific record is given on other pages of this work.

Mr. Branson was born at Jackson, judicial center of the Ohio county of that name, and the date of his nativity was September 10, 1877. He is a son of Louis Q. Branson, Sr., and he received his early education in the schools of his native city. In Ohio he gained also his early experience in connection with business affairs. He was for six years manager of the Alleghany Rock Quarries at Lancaster, Ohio, and he then went to the City of Chicago and took a course in optometry. For seventeen years thereafter he was engaged in active and successful practice as an optometrist and optician in the City of Sandusky, Ohio, and in the year 1911 he came to California and established his residence in Los Angeles. There he re- mained two years, and then, in 1913, purchased and established his home on a ranch in the San Fernando Valley. He there continued in active supervision of operations until he turned his attention to the real estate business, in which his success has been distinct and in which he has made and continues to make valuable contribution to civic and material develop- ment and progress in this favored section of Los Angeles County. He has been president of the Grand Valley Investment Company from the time of its organization and incorporation, in 1919, H. P. Loomis being vice presi- dent and operations being based on a capital stock of $10,000. This well ordered corporation does a general real estate and insurance business, buys and sells city, suburban and farm properties, gives careful attention to real estate, exchanges, and has a department devoted to general fire and casu- alty insurance. The company has been prominently identified with subur- ban development enterprise and figures as local agent for the subdivision known as Sylmar Acres. The offices of the company are established at 205 Brand Boulevard, San Fernando, and the concern retains a corps of six employes.

Mr. Branson is a member of the directorate of the San Fernando Na- tional Bank, is vice president of the Antelope Valley Bank, is vice president of the San Fernando Valley Shriners Club, is secretary of the Kiwanis Club in his home city, and of his connection with the local Chamber of Com- merce adequate mention is made in the article descriptive of that vital in- stitution elsewhere in this publication. He is affiliated with both the York and Scottish Rite bodies of the Masonic fraternity, as well as with its ad- junct organization, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. Branson has erected several buildings in San Fernando, and is ever ready to support measures and enterprises tending to advance the interests of his home city and district.

On the 25th of March, 1912, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bran- son and Miss Cora K. Schuck, who was born and reared at Sandusky, Ohio,

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

a daughter of Daniel Kunz Schuck. Mr. and Mrs. Branson have one child, Margaret Schuck Branson, who remains at the parental home and is a pop- ular figure in the juvenile social activities of the community.

SAN FERNANDO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The following record of the inception and development of the San Fernando Chamber of Com- merce was compiled for this publication by J. S. McGroarty.

The San Fernando Chamber of Commerce was organized April 23, 1912, with Mr. F. W. Prince as president and Mr. H. C. Caldwell as sec- retary. Fifty-five persons signed the constitution. The dues were six dol- lars a year, payable quarterly. The first Board of Directors consisted of the following named members: Fred W. Prince, H. C. Caldwell, F. A. Powell, T. J. Walker, B. S. Claubes, E. H. Schwinger, W. J. Millen, O. C. Gray, E. P. Rose, J. O. Jenifer, R. P. Waite, J. H. Jenifer and R. H. Maclay.

While the personnel of the Board of Directors changed with the passing years, F. W. Prince continued as president until the spring election of 1921, when C. S. McCormick was elected to this office, in which he served one year. In 1922 R. G. Millen was elected president, and he likewise served but one year, F. W. Prince having again been elected president in 1923.

Mr. Caldwell acted as secretary until 1917, when he took up war work and H. A. Decker was appointed secretary. In 1921 a commercial secre- tary, R. H. Barrett, was employed to devote his entire time to the Chamber, with an office assistant. Mr. Barrett's health failing, Captain C. S. Conner was employed in May, 1921, but in the following October he resigned, to take another position. Mr. Louis Q. Branson, vice president of the Board, of Directors, agreed to take this position, gratuitously, with the proviso that he be furnished an office assistant, and at the time of this writing this arrangement is in force.

While a Chamber of Commerce can not make laws or enforce laws for the betterment of a community, it can offer recommendations to the city authorities and to the Board of Supervisors, and then follow up the suggestions until these duly constituted officials either see the light or are tired out and consequently acquiesce. Through the efforts of the San Fer- nando Chamber of Commerce the following changes and attainments were brought about: Membership greatly increased, dues increased to twelve. dollars per annum, eight miles of streets paved, city thoroughly paved, street lights on all streets of prominence, better protection at railroad cross- ings, saving of shade trees along the boulevards and streets, bridge now about to be completed on State Highway, building of new State Highway on Mulholland, secured parcel-post delivery for the city, San Fernando Cannery established in the city, good water system for San Fernando, road to Chatsworth paved, road from San Fernando Boulevard to Lan- kershim paved, name of railroad station changed from Fernando to San Fernando, co-operated with park commission of Los Angeles in improving Brand Mission Park, secured lot for new school buildings in San Fernando for the Los Angeles city school system, of which San Fernando schools are a part.

The main province of a Chamber of Commerce is, of course, to adver- tise the city in which it is situated so that newcomers to the state may be induced to make that city their home, and to promote the establishment of business enterprises that shall enhance the city's growth. This important service the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce has consistently rendered, especially in the sending out of literature descriptive of the town and val- ley, the welcoming of strangers, advising them and assisting them in getting well settled.

This vital Chamber of Commerce has acted as a mediator between labor and employer, in securing work for the laborer and help for the employer. It endeavors to keep alive the spirit of civic pride and to co-operate with all societies and efforts for the betterment of the city and the community.

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IRVING H. MALIN, the efficient cashier of the First National Bank of San Fernando and also of the allied institution, the San Fernando Valley Savings Bank, definite mention of which is made on other pages of this work, was born at Long Beach, Los Angeles County, on the 25th of Octo- ber, 1888, and is a son of John H. and Ida M. (Bailey) Malin, the former of whom was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and the latter at Colusa, Cali- fornia. Her father, Henry C. Bailey, a native of Kentucky, came across the plains to California in 1847, about two years prior to the historic dis- covery of gold in this state, and became a prominent and influential figure in early pioneer affairs, besides which he was associated in the platting and development of Long Beach, now one of the foremost of the seaside re- sorts of California. John H. Malin was long engaged in the hardware business, but is now retired from active business and he and his wife main- tain their home at Long Beach. Of the three children the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and the other two, John W. and Douglas, reside at Long Beach.

Irving H. Malin attended the public schools of Los Angeles, Holly- wood and Long Beach, and thereafter graduated from the University of California, as a member of the class of 1910. Thereafter he passed five years at Salt Lake City, Utah, and during the ensuing period of four and one-half years he held a position in the Home Savings Bank of Los An- geles. He then came to San Fernando and assumed his present executive office, that of cashier of the First National Bank and the San Fernando Valley Savings Bank. The year 1923 finds him in effective service as president of the local Kiwanis Club, he is a member of the Hollywood Country Club, is affiliated with the Los Angeles Lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church.

July 15, 1920, recorded the marriage of Mr. Malin and Miss Edna E. Vane, of Chicago, Illinois, and they are popular figures in the representa- tive social activities of their home community.

SAN FERNANDO KIWANIS CLUB. In the vital little City of San Fer- nando this club was organized December 20, 1922, with fifty-nine charter members. The club now has sixty-nine members, with a set limitation of seventy-five as the ultimate number of members. The club meets on Tues- day of each week, and in its progressive policies and effective service is do- ing much to advance and safeguard the civic and material welfare of San Fernando. The officers of the club are as here noted: I. H. Malin, presi- dent ; F. J. Hendershot, A. D. Amstutz and Harry H. Huston, vice presi- dents; L. G. Branson, secretary ; H. A. Decker, treasurer ; R. H. Glenn, district trustee ; and R. W. Lusby, sergeant at arms.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF SAN FERNANDO, one of the solid and well ordered financial institutions of Los Angeles County, and one that gives effective service in the thriving little City of San Fernando and the surrounding districts, has its functions supplemented by those of the sub- sidiary or co-ordinate institution, the San Fernando Valley Savings Bank.

The San Fernando Valley Bank was established in the year 1905, and its organizer, T. J. Walker, became its vice president and manager. The original banking office was in the old Rey Hotel Building, on North Maclay Street, and about one year after the inception of the enterprise the bank was removed to the old Harrison Block. James E. Wheat held the office of president and T. J. Walker continued as vice president and cashier. The bank based its operations on a capital stock of $25,000, had a surplus fund of $2,50Q, and its deposits eventually became about $75,000. In 1909 the institution was reorganized and received a charter as the First Na- tional Bank of San Fernando, the officers remaining the same and likewise the capital stock. The bank about this time assumed headquarters in its own building, at the corner of First and Maclay streets, where the busi- ness has since been continued. In 1916 J. E. Wheat sold his stock in the

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bank to J. M. Douglass, who is now the president and of whom individual mention is made on other pages, T. J. Walker continuing as vice president until 1919, when he sold his stock and retired, Fred W. Prince having in that year resigned his position as cashier. The present personnel of the official corps is as here noted : J. M. Douglass, president ; F. M. Douglass and F. C. Ferry, vice presidents ; I. H. Malin, cashier; and Robert W. Bailey and R. R. Riedel, assistant cashiers. In 1919 J. H. Jenifer was a vice president and L. A. C. Waite was assistant cashier.

In 1917 the San Fernando Valley Savings Bank was organized as an affiliated institution, and the officers of the two banks are the same. This combined banking house maintains a branch at Newhall. The combined capital, surplus and profits, as shown by the official statement of December 29, 1922, aggregated $93,521.07, and the combined assets $746,729.01. The number of depositors is now about 2,800.

At the time of this writing, in the spring of 1923, the First National Bank of San Fernando has in process of construction its fine modern build- ing at the corner of Porter and Maclay streets, and, with its high-grade equipment, this building will be occupied by the above institution ere this publication is issued from the press. Of the cashier, Irving H. Malin, spe- cific mention is made on other pages.

LINDLEY M. GREENE, M. D., is a representative citizen and citrus- fruit grower of the Whittier District of Los Angeles County, and is one who attributes much of his splendid physical health to the climate of Cali- fornia and to the opportunities of which he has here availed himself for vigorous outdoor life. After twenty-two years of earnest and successful devotion to the work of his profession in Ohio Dr. Greene's health became dangerously impaired, and in a somewhat forlorn hope of recuperating his energies he came to California, the consensus of opinion at his old home in the Buckeye State being that he was departing with only the prospect of dying among strangers. Almost from the moment of his arrival in Cali- fornia he began to improve in health, and at the present time, though he is near to the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, he is in the full vigor of physical health and is able to do manual work on his place for a full day and with less fatigue than would come to the average man of younger age. Upon coming to California the Doctor gave up the practice of medicine and turned his attention to the growing of citrus fruit, in which, like many others in the fine Whittier District, he has been remark- ably successful. It is needless to say that his loyalty to California is marked by deep appreciation of its manifold advantages and attraction, for here he has found health, happiness and constructive prosperity. He has been a resident of Whittier since 1903, and has taken loyal and helpful interest in all things tending to advance the community along both civic and industrial lines. He is a man of exceptional intellectual and profes- sional attainments, and he has the generous content that comes to the one whose "lines are cast in pleasant places."

Dr. Greene was born in Clinton County, Ohio, on the 29th of March, 1853, a birthright member of the Society of Friends, of which his father was a minister. The Doctor is a son of Hazael and Millie (Cherry) Greene, both of whom passed their entire lives in Ohio, the latter having been of Irish ancestry. Representatives of the Cherry family were patriot soldiers in the War of 1812, and the father of Mrs. Greene was an officer in that war. Both the Greene and Cherry families were founded in Ohio in the early pioneer days. Hazael Greene, who was born on the same farm as was his son Lindley M., of this review, continued as one of the prosperous farmers of his native county throughout the course of a long, worthy and useful life. He and his wife were devoted members of the Society of Friends, as a minister of which he had charge of the local church for a number of years. His father was born in Virginia, the original progenitors in America having there settled upon coming from England in the early Colonial era, and of this family line having been

6 m. Greene

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General Greene, one of the distinguished officers in the War of the Rev- olution.

The public schools of the old Buckeye State afforded to Dr. Greene his early education, and as a boy and youth he had full fellowship with the work of the old home farm. In 1878 he graduated from Earlham Col- lege, an excellent institution maintained under the auspices of the Society of Friends at Richmond, Indiana, and he received therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1882 he received the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine from the medical department of the University of Cincinnati, this department representing the amalgamation of the former Miami Medical College and the Ohio Medical College. After his graduation the Doctor was for eight years successfully established in the general practice of his profession at Highland, Ohio, and he then passed a year in Europe, where he did effective post-graduate work in leading hospitals and medical schools. In this connection he took with him a personal letter from Hon. James G. Blaine, then United States secretary of state, to the diplomatic and con- sular officers of the United States, and the Doctor presented this letter, which was dated June 25, 1889, to Sir Morrell Mackenzie, who was physi- cian to Queen Victoria and consulting physician of the London Hospital. This letter contributed much to the success of his studies abroad. Dr. Greene passed some time in Berlin, Germany, and he then went to the London Hospital, where he found the best of opportunities for clinical work and other advanced investigation along the line of his profession.

After his return home Dr. Greene continued in the practice of his profes- sion at Wilmington, Ohio, until the very precarious condition of his health led to his retirement and his removal to California in 1903, as previously noted. In January, 1907, he purchased at Whittier an orange grove of eleven acres, and he has brought this to splendid development, the while he has added materially to his land holdings, which include a forty-acre ranch in Tulare County, thirty-one acres of this place being devoted to citrus fruit and nine acres to olives. He has been very successful in his industrial operations in California, and has contributed his quota to the development and upbuilding of the Whittier District. He has served as a trustee of Whittier College during virtually the entire period of his residence in Cali- fornia, and gave to his children the advantages of this excellent institution, which was founded and is maintained under the auspices of the Society of Friends, in which he has served as elder for a number of years.

Dr. Greene is a stalwart republican, and while he has shown lively inter- est in political affairs in California he has never sought public preferment. In Ohio, however, he served as a member of the republican committee of his county, and was otherwise active in party affairs, though he has invaria- bly refused to appear as a candidate for public office. The Doctor has been for many years president of the Whittier Citrus Association, and is a director of the Whittier National Bank. While engaged in the active prac- tice of his profession he was a member of the Ohio State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

In 1882 Dr. Greene wedded Miss Mary Alice Davis, a native of Indiana, and she is survived by two children. Inez is the wife of Dr. L. A. Test, professor of chemistry at Purdue University, Indiana, and they have two children, Frederick and Dorothy. Pliny, who is a teller in the Whittier National Bank, enlisted in the United States Navy when the nation became involved in the World war, and was assigned to service on the "Charleston," a patrol vessel for the transports bearing American troops across the Atlan- tic. On this war vessel he had charge of one of the large guns as a pointer, and served until the armistice brought the war to a close.

The second marriage of Dr. Greene was solemnized at Wilmington, Ohio, on the 2d of August, 1893, when Mrs. Lizzie S. Smith became his wife. Mrs. Greene was born and reared in Ohio, a daughter of John and Sarah Cook. There are no children by this second marriage. By a previous marriage Mrs. Greene had two children, who came into the Greene family at a very young age : Theodore W. Smith, now cashier of the First National

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History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 29

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944 Publication date: 1923 Publisher: Number of Pages: 844

Author: McGroarty, John Steven, 1862-1944
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 844