History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 30

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

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Bank in Pasadena, and Mabel, wife of Prof. J. C. Roberts, of the Whittier High School. Both of these children are graduates of Whittier College.

B. H. DELAY. The development of aviation has created a profession practically unknown a decade ago. Its members have learned their art not from books, but in the machines or workshops, in daily contact with the work they have to do. They have had few precedents to guide them, but have worked out the problems which their employment has brought in the school of experience. A leading factor in the development of this highly interesting and profoundly important calling is the B. H. DeLay Aircraft Company of Venice, of which the president and general manager is B. H. DeLay, a man young in years, but mature in experience and ability.

Mr. DeLay was born at San Francisco, California, August 12, 1895, and is a son of C. Y. DeLay, a native of Grass Valley, California, and a well-known mine operator. After attending the public schools of San Francisco, B. H. DeLay was sent to Heidelburg College, Heidelburg, Germany, and was graduated as a mining engineer. On his return to his native land he was placed in charge of the Good Hills gold mines in Arizona, and when the United States entered the World war was placed in charge of all manganese mining for the United States Government. He remained in this capacity until the war was over, at which time he purchased the present business, incorporated at $200,000. The B. H. DeLay Aircraft Company is the successor to the Venice Aviation Field, which was estab- lished in 1909, and is located on Washington Boulevard and the Pacific Electric Railway at Venice. The field, 390 acres in extent, includes twelve plane hangars and the office building, and was equipped by Mr. DeLay himself at the time of its purchase, in 1918. In addition to the fifteen passenger planes the company owns two J. N. 4. D's planes, one Gage, one DeLay, one scout and three A. E. G. bombing planes, equipped with twin Liberty motors. Mr. DeLay is familiar with every detail of the business, as he not only supervised the construction of the various buildings and looked after their equipment, but himself learned to fly on this field. It is a significant fact that there has never been a fatality on this field, this despite the fact that it is the scene of much motion picture work and that a school of aviation is conducted here. The field is famous for its pictures, and practically ninety percent of all the "stunt work" filmed is done here. The school of aviation, with a course consisting of three months of study, maintains on an average twelve students. Mr. DeLay is president and general manager of the DeLay Aircraft Company, Samuel Perkins is vice president, and Harry Sample, secretary and treasurer.

As would be supposed, Mr. DeLay is a young man of energy, courage . and progressive views. He has not been afraid to venture into fields practi- cally unknown, but has always tempered his progressiveness with a proper amount of conservatism.

ARCHER N. MOODY. Prominent among the progressive business men of Santa Monica, one who occupies a leading position both by reason of his accomplishments in his own behalf and what he has done for the com- munity in the way of fostering and aiding local enterprises of a beneficial nature is Archer N. Moody, the proprietor of a flourishing retail pharmacy, and president of the local Kiwanis Club.

Mr. Moody is a native of the Buckeye State, born at Chatham, Ohio, June 26, 1871. His early education was gained in the public schools of his native place, following which he pursued a course in the University of Nebraska, from which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He next enrolled as a student at the University of Denver, from the medical department of which he was graduated in 1898, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He be- gan practice at Seville, Ohio, in the same year, and remained there for six years, following which he went to Fowler, Colorado, and conducted his profession for seven years. That closed his active practice as a physician,

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for in 1910 he came to Santa Monica and engaged in the drug business, to which he has since devoted his time and energies. Since then Doctor Moody has had four stores at Santa Monica, having had three at one time, but has disposed of all save his up-to-date establishment at No. 1430 Third Street, where he handles drugs, candies, toilet articles and supplies, sun- dries, stationery, periodicals, etc., and gives employment to three people. He has built up an excellent business among the best people of the city, and has combined professional equipment with business ability and personal courtesy in a way that has served to further his interests rapidly. During the spring of 1922 Doctor Moody was one of the principal factors in the organization of the Santa Monica Kiwanis Club, a body of professional and business men banded together for the promulgation and support of move- ments for the benefit of the city and its people. This club started off with fifty charter members, and has already accomplished several gratifying results in the way of civic betterment. Doctor Moody was elected the first president of this body, his fellow officials being J. B. Lorbeer, vice presi- dent ; J. D. Rishell, secretary, and Prof. W. F. Barnum, treasurer. He is also an active member of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and has several fraternal affiliations. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, in which he serves as an elder.

In May, 1898, Doctor Moody was united in marriage with Miss Helen B. Bisbee, of Arlington, Nebraska, who was born at Fontanelle, Nebraska, and educated in the public schools there and at Oberlin College, Ohio. She is an active member and worker in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Moody are the parents of four children: Dorothy, Ruth, Gard and Jack, all attending school.

GEORGE B. DICKINSON. The increasing tendency of men learned in the science of law to embark in occupations outside their immediate field of professional activity results in numerous advantages. This is the natural result of a profession which equips its devotees for success in more lines of business than any other monetary-earning medium, causing it to be justly regarded as a means, rather than an end, and an adjunct rather than an entirety. The result is necessarily an elevation of commercial standards, an avoidance of complications, a means of adjustment of mis- understandings out of court, and a general simplifying of conditions through a knowledge of underlying principles and penalties. An illustra- tion of this modern phase of law is found in the career of George B. Dickinson, vice president of the First National Bank of Santa Monica, California, and president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Dickinson was born at Woolwich, Sagadahoc County, Maine, May 10, 1860, and received his primary education in the public schools there. He left home when not quite fourteen years of age and went to work in Boston for what is now the Revere Rubber Company, as an errand boy at the princely salary of $100 per year. He worked during the day and at- tended evening schools until he began his preparatory work. In October, 1887, he borrowed $10,000 at the National Security Bank and joined two other men in incorporating the Boston Excelsior Company. That company is today second to none in the world in its line. They increased the capital stock from $30,000 to the millionaire class on the surplus earnings. No stockholder was ever assessed one dollar for the advancement or improve- ment of the company. Today the company has several thousand employes and has offices in all the principal cities of the United States east of the Mis- sissippi River. It was the first and only concern for many years that could go into the Orient and purchase unlimited stock and have it shipped with- out the customary bank drafts, relying solely upon their report and pay- ment upon arrival by simple invoice form.

Following his graduation from high school Mr. Dickinson entered the Boston Polytechnic Institute, where he pursued a course, and then en- rolled as a student at the Boston Law School, from which he was duly

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graduated with the degree of Doctor of Laws as a member of the class of 1891. He entered upon the practice of his calling in 1893, in New York City, and gradually began to specialize more and more in the difficult field of corporation law, in which he made splendid progress and rose to a high place in his calling. From young manhood he was interested in business affairs, and in 1887 was one of the incorporators of the Boston Excelsior Company, of which he served as general manager. His professional con- nections brought him into association with large interests and his services were retained in official capacities with some of the big eastern concerns. He was for years president of the Philadelphia Excelsior Company and the Hunter Excelsior Company, vice president of the Abbott Excelsior Com- pany and president of the Hanover Excelsior Company, for all of which he served as counsel. In December, 1912, Mr. Dickinson resigned from his positions, disposed of his law practice and came to Santa Monica, re- solved to retire from active affairs. His nature and abilities, however, have been such that he has not been allowed to efface himself completely from business matters. On the contrary, practically ever since his arrival he has been an important factor in financial and civic activities and has contributed to the prestige and advancement of his adopted place. He is acting in the capacity of vice president of the First National Bank in Santa Monica, an institution which was founded in 1903, and in which his fellow- officials are: Dr. C. P. Thomas, president; C. D. Francis, cashier; V. C. Kelbe, assistant cashier, and the directors are: Mrs. V. G. Stephens, A. U. McPherson, Dr. W. H. Olds and George Hutton. The capital stock at this time is $100,000, and the surplus and undivided profits are $40,660, while the present deposits amount to more than $1,500,000. The hand- some banking house, located at the northwest corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Third Street, is modern in every respect, in system as well as in equipment. It has a complete electrical burglar alarm system, and its modern safety deposit vaults are also protected by a device of this kind. The bank, aside from the officials, gives employment to eighteen persons. Nine years ago when Mr. Dickinson took oath of office in the bank, that institution was rated fifth among other banks. It has steadily grown until now it is conceded first place and has acquired the position by simple meth- ods of good banking principles. The deposits when Mr. Dickinson joined it were $159,659. Today they are nearly $2,000,000.

Mr. Dickinson is rendering excellent service in the capacity of member of the Board of Directors of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, in the work of which he takes a leading part. He is greatly interested in Red Cross work, having been a member of the National Red Cross for several years, and at present is president of the Pacific Slope Division of this body. His political tendencies made him a republican, but he has not sought political honors. As a fraternalist he is a thirty-second degree Mason and Noble of the Mystic Shrine, and also holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, being chairman of the audit committee and of the building finance committee. For the past twenty-one years he has belonged to the Christian Science Church, in which he has served as presi- dent of the Board of Directors for eight years.

Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage with Miss Helen M. Mugridge, of Boston, Massachusetts. She is an active member of the Santa Monica Woman's Club and chairman of the house committee. In the Christian' Science Church she is acting as second reader.

Mr. Dickinson has travelled the globe many times and has been in every railroad city all over the world excepting in Australia and South America.

CHRISTIAN SORENSEN has resided for more than forty-six years on his present fine walnut ranch near Whittier, and is one of the honored and popular pioneer citizens of this district. For many years he followed a sea- faring life, and in establishing his present home he realized the ideal of his dreams. His devoted wife passed to eternal rest and left to him the care of their four little daughters, to whom he has been both father and mother

Christian Jounsun

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in the matter of tender solicitude, and now that the shadows of his life begin to lengthen from the golden west he is blessed with the companion- ship and filial devotion of these four charming daughters.

Mr. Sorensen was born in Denmark, on the 2d of September, 1840, a son of Daniel J. and Mary Sorensen, who passed their entire lives in their native land, where the father was a farmer and freighter. The schools of Denmark afforded Christian Sorensen his early education, and as a youth he learned the shipbuilding trade at Odense, Denmark. He followed this vocation from 1854 until 1858, when he went to sea in the capacity of ship carpenter. Thereafter he served on many vessels and touched nearly all of the leading ports of the world, but the greater part of his sailing was on American ships out of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and other American ports on the Atlantic Coast. In the Civil war period he encountered the ship "Alabama" several times.

In 1866 Mr. Sorensen sailed from the harbor of New York City for the voyage around Cape Horn to California, and he disembarked at San Fran- cisco in August of that year. He soon afterward took passage on the old sidewheel steamer "Pacific," which afforded him transportation down the coast to Wilmington, Los Angeles, where a landing was made by means of a surf boat. At Wilmington Mr. Sorensen found employment as a carpen- ter, and later he followed the same trade at San Pedro Point. In 1868 he became associated with his eldest brother, Daniel, in the purchase of eighty acres of land from Pio Pico, and of this tract he still retains sixty acres, which is planted to walnuts and which has been his place of residence for nearly half a century. His brother Daniel lived on the place and supervised its improvement while he himself continued to follow his trade at points along the beach. In 1876 Daniel Sorensen removed to Anaheim, and Chris- tian then purchased his brother's interest in the old homestead place, which has since continued to represent his home, his brother having continued a resident of Anaheim until his death in 1892.

Christian Sorensen has given his time and attention to the development and care of his now well improved walnut grove, than which there is proba- bly none finer in Los Angeles County, and substantial financial success has attended his well directed endeavors. In the early days forty acres of the tract were planted to grapes, but later these were cut out, and eventually the entire place was planted to walnuts, the recurring seasons now giving large returns from this source. Mr. Sorensen was formerly an active member of the Rivera & Ranchito Walnut Growers Association, but when the district west of the San Gabriel River became a large producer of walnuts the Whittier Walnut Growers Association was organized, and Mr. Sorensen has since continued an active member thereof. He was one of the founders of the Whittier National Bank and the Home Savings Bank, and served as a director of the latter for many years, continuing in office until he had reached the age of eighty-one. In politics Mr. Sorensen is a republican, his first presidential vote after becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States having been cast for General U. S. Grant. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran Church. He is a pioneer who grew to know and love California in the early days, and has contributed much to the industrial and civic development and progress of the district that has long represented his home and the stage of his productive activities. He holds a secure place in the confidence and good will of all who know him, and in his character and achievements he has signally honored the state of his adoption. The old house on the Sorensen homestead figures as one of the landmarks of the Whittier District. This building, still well preserved, formerly stood near the Anaheim landing, and Mr. Sorensen and his brother hauled it to their ranch by means of ox teams. This ancient dwelling as a habitation has given place to the commodious and attractive house which now figures as the home of Mr. Sorensen and his daughters.

In Copenhagen, Denmark, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sorensen and Miss Dorothea Katherine Neilson, and she died when her daughters were small children. All of the daughters, Misses Mary, Katherine, Hilda

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and Laura, remain with their venerable father, all are graduates of the Whittier High School and all are popular in the representative social life of their home community. Mr. Sorensen has twice taken his daughters to Europe, first in 1910 and again in 1914, and the family were in Denmark at the inception of the World war, in which connection many unusual, excit- ing and interesting experiences were encountered before the return home. Mr. Sorensen has made several trips to his old home in Denmark to visit his sisters, one of whom is still living there.

VIRGIL R. SUTLIFF, who died January 29, 1922, had lived in Pasadena for a third of a century. He was founder of the Pasadena Furniture Company, and when he retired from the presidency he left it one of the largest and most flourishing organizations of the kind in Southern California.

He was born in Medina County, Ohio, April 11, 1860, son of Nathan G. and Phoebe Sutliff. When he was a small child his parents moved to Ithaca, Michigan, where he was reared and educated. When he came to California in 1888 he was a young man of business qualifications and some experience, but with inodest capital. Here he became associated with the late George E. Brown, and they opened a furniture store at 99 South Fair Oaks Avenue. It was a very small store, but during the next five years they prospered and built up a satisfactory business, so that at the end of that time they sought larger quarters in the Masonic Temple Building on North Fair Oaks Avenue. Soon afterward Mr. Sutliff became sale proprietor, and then took in Fred T. Emmons and formed the Pasadena Furniture Company, of which he became president, with Mr. Emmons, secretary and manager. The business continued to grow and prosper in its new quarters, and after ten years the company took a long lease on a new concrete building on North Raymond Avenue, near Holly Street. This building is still the home of the Pasadena Furniture Company, and when at the close of the year 1918 Mr. Sutliff retired he was succeeded as president by Fred T. Emmons. This company has the largest furniture store in Pasadena.

The late Mr. Sutliff served for a number of years as a member of the Merchants Association of Pasadena, was a member of the old Board of Trade, was a life member of Pasadena Lodge No. 272, F. and A. M., a charter member of Pasadena Lodge No. 672, B. P. O. E., and was also an Odd Fellow. In his early years he was a member of the American Club of Los Angeles, and was a first lieutenant in Governor Markham's Guards.

The late Mr. Sutliff was a big man not only in business affairs but in character. He could overlook and forget the faults of others, and under all circumstances he manifested and expressed the noble qualities of love, loyalty, honesty, patience and kindness.

Mr. Sutliff married in 1890 Miss Jeanette M. Brown, also of Ithaca, Michigan, and a sister of his former business partner. Her brother, Ira W. Brown, is a well known engineer at Pasadena. Mrs. Sutliff and two daughters survive. Miss Louise Sutliff is a teacher at Catalina. Helen is the wife of Ralph Braley.

CHARLES F. RICHARDSON, whose attractive home is on Mission Drive, the second house east of Mission Boulevard, in the beautiful San Gabriel District of Los Angeles County, is a native son of Los Angeles County and a popular representative of an honored pioneer family of Southern California. He was born August 28, 1868, on the old homestead ranch of his father between Stoneman Avenue and the old Kewen ranch, in the San Gabriel District, and is a son of Solomon and Agnes (Mellor) Rich- ardson, the former of whom was born in the State of New Hampshire and the latter in England, where her father was extensively engaged in the manufacturing of woolens. As a young man the father of Mrs. Richardson

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went to Australia, where he engaged in mining in the famous Ballarat gold camp and where also his marriage was solemnized.

Solomon Richardson and his young wife arrived in San Francisco in June, 1860, after a voyage marked by many perils and hardships. They were on the ocean six months, and the sailing vessel on which they took passage ran short of both water and food, besides which it encountered se- vere storms that threatened its destruction. The vessel made its way to Tahiti, one of the south sea islands of the Pacific, where a month was passed in making repairs and obtaining requisite provisions. Further delays and perils were encountered as the staunch little vessel made its way to San Francisco, and from that place Mr. and Mrs. Richardson soon came to Los Angeles. At Wilmington Mr. Richardson entered the employ of Hancock Banning, who there had a contract for the dredging and improv- ing of the harbor. After having assisted in this work Mr. Richardson moved to the Miles ranch, now a part of Pasadena, and had charge of that about one year. The ranch was located where the Raymond Hotel now stands. Upon his return he rented a small tract of land from the late Ben- jamin D. Wilson, by whom he was employed in getting out timber on Mount Wilson, this timber having been transported by burro pack trains over the rough mountain trail to the valley below. This tract of rented land is now the site of H. E. Hunting's home. It was on this land that he got his start financially by the raising of vegetables and melons, which he sold in Los Angeles. During this period Mrs. Richardson raised chickens and made butter from the milk of cows which Mr. Richardson was caring for on shares with Mr. Wilson. This product was also sold with the vegetables and melons. He was the pioneer melon raiser in Los Angeles County. He remained on this land for four years, from 1864 to 1868. Prior to enter- ing the employ of Mr. Wilson Mr. Richardson joined a mining expedition into Arizona, and on his return trip he came by raft down the Colorado River and crossed the Colorado desert and the Salten Sea country-the now beautiful Imperial Valley District. He made this overland journey on foot through a wild and desolate region, the hazardous undertaking having led to reports that he was dead. He arrived at his home without shoes and with but little clothing, after an experience that but few men would have undertaken. In 1868 Mr. Richardson became associated with Mr. Hutch- inson in the purchase of twenty acres of land from Mr. Carpenter. For a half-interest in this property he paid Mr. Carpenter at the rate of seventy- five dollars an acre, but the title proved not clear and he had to repurchase from the railroad company holding title, and paid an additional fifty dollars an acre. He purchased other lands later from the late Governor Stoneman, and eventually sold his holdings at the rate of $200 an acre. He next pur- chased from the Southern Pacific Railway Company a tract of eighty acres for thirty dollars an acre, and this land, on the old Mission Drive, is now owned in part by his son Charles F., whose name introduces this review and who acquired the property partly by inheritance and more largely through purchase of the interests of other heirs. In Los Angeles County the parents passed the remainder of their lives, sterling and honored pio- neers who played well their part in civic and material development and progress.

Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Richardson were the parents of ten children: James, born in Australia and buried at sea; Mary A., widow of Thomas Banbury, residing in Los Angeles ; Alice 'Richardson, who died in Los An- geles at the age of two years ; Allie, wife of S. Logan Sertz, of Beaumont, California ; Charles F., of this sketch; Andrew N., farming at Simi, Ven- tura County; Roy N., a lemon grower of South Pasadena; Harry C., a member of the firm of the R. B. R. Service Station in Alhambra ; Rachael, living at Pasadena, the wife of W. L. Hartshorn ; Ralph, manager for Col. Lambert's lemon orchard and a property owner in Lamanda Park.

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History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 30

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