History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 43

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

USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume III > Part 43

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1851 Crawford P. Teague sold his Indiana farm, and with horses and wagons moved with his family to Iowa, where he became one of the very early settlers in the vicinity of the present village of Troy, Davis County. With ox teams he broke the raw land, and he in time improved one of the productive farms of Davis County. In 1865 he sold his farm and came with his family to California, the overland journey having been made with wagon and horse team, though the greater number of teams in the train were of oxen. The colonists crossed the Missouri River on May 1st of that year, proceeded up the south side of the Platte River and thence onward to Fort Bridger and Salt Lake City. Through Nevada the party followed the Lassen and Hat Creek trails into the Sacramento Valley of California, where Mr. Teague and his family arrived October 13, 1865. They remained two years in Tehama County, and then removed to a farm near Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, where occurred the death of Mrs.

261

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Teague. In 1878 Crawford P. Teague became associated with his sons in the renting of land on the San Jose ranch in the San Dimas District, the sons here engaging in grain farming, the father joining them two years later. In 1884 they leased 7,030 acres of this ranch, and when the tract was sub-divided Mr. Teague was one of the first in this district to plant orange trees, and he became one of the enthusiastic, progressive and suc- cessful growers of citrus fruit in this part of the county. The closing years of his long and worthy life were passed at San Dimas, where he died March 10, 1910. David C. Teague, familiarly known to his friends as "Dave," was four years of age at the time of the family removal to Iowa, and there he gained his initial educational discipline by attending school in a primitive log school-house. He early began to assist in the reclamation and other work of the pioneer farm, and he was an ambitious youth of seventeen years when he came with his parents to California. He was associated with his father in farm enterprise in Tehama County two years, and upon the family removal to Sonoma County he there engaged in similar activity in an independent way. In November, 1875, he wedded Miss Anne Run- yon, who was born in Hickory County, Missouri, a daughter of Robert B. Runyon, who came with his family to Sonoma County, California, in the year 1871. In 1878 Mr. Teague became associated with his father and brothers in the raising of grain in the San Dimas District, as previously noted, their operations having been on the San Jose addition to the San Jose ranch. When this great ranch was subdivided in 1887 Mr. Teague purchased forty acres of the land and there initiated his activities as an or- ange grower. In 1888 he was associated with his father in setting out the first orange grove in the San Dimas District, and he and his brother Robert M. grew the first citrus nursery stock in this district. He lost his first orange crop in 1891, when a severe wind storm blew the growing fruit from the trees. The next year he shipped his fruit to the eastern market, and was charged back for freight, so that the returns from his sale of nur- sery stock became of great financial aid to him. After a few years he re- tired from the nursery business in order to give his attention to the care of his orange grove and to extending the same by further planting. He thus improved forty acres of the best type of orange grove property. When he and other growers found that freight rates were so excessive as to take all profits from the growing of citrus fruit here a co-operative system of handling the product was adopted. He thus became one of the organizers of the Indian Hill Orange Growers Association, and he served several years as its president. He became also an active member of the San An- tonio Fruit Exchange, and he was for sixteen years one of its Board of Directors. On the 4th of August, 1911, Mr. Teague sold his orange groves, and since his retirement he has continued to maintain his home at San Dimas. He was one of the directors of the First National Bank of San Dimas for twelve years, and he resigned his position of director in June, 1918. On the same date he resigned also his place as a director of the San Dimas Savings Bank.

The loved and devoted wife of Mr. Teague passed to the life eternal on the 11th of September, 1890, and was survived by five children. The eldest of the number is Walter, who is a skilled landscape gardener, resid- ing at Santa Barbara, and who is married and has three children. Hattie M. became the wife of John B. Brubaker, is now deceased and is survived by one child. Elmer E., a successful horticulturist at San Dimas, is married and has two children. Russell W., a progressive representative of the nursery business in San Dimas and also at Yuma, Arizona, married Miss Helena Kirkelie, a native of Minnesota, and they have four children.

Mr. Teague was raised to the degree of Master Mason in Pomona Lodge No. 246, A. F. and A. M., and upon being dimitted from the same he became a charter member of San Dimas Lodge No. 428, with which he is still affiliated. He was exalted in Pomona Chapter No. 76, R. A. M., and received the chivalric degrees in Southern California Commandery No. 37, Knights Templars, at Pomona, besides which he is affiliated with Pomona

262

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Council No. 21, R. and S. M .; the temple of the Mystic Shrine in the City of Los Angeles ; and Pomona Chapter No. 110, Order of the Eastern Star. He is a charter member of Pomona Lodge No. 789, B. P. O. E. Mr. Teague has been influential in advancing local educational interests, was active in establishing the first schools in the San Dimas community and in the progressive movement which resulted in the erection of the excellent school buildings, he having been an original director of the school board of San Dimas. He is a stalwart republican, and while he has had no desire for public office he gave most effective service during his three years mem- bership in the Highway Commission of Los Angeles County. He and his brother, as well as their honored father, were pioneers in the development and progress of the San Dimas District, and civic loyalty and public spirit · are invariably associated with the family name. Mr. Teague is one of the now venerable pioneer citizens of this section of Los Angeles County, and none has more inviolable place in popular confidence and esteem in the community in which he figures as a founder and builder.

MORRIS SPAZIER is a substantial capitalist whose civic loyalty and pro- gressiveness have found splendid expression in the advancing of local inter- ests since he established his residence at Burbank, and he is one of the most honored and influential citizens of this place.

Mr. Spazier was born in the City of Vienna, Austria, August 26, 1876, and is a son of John and Rebecca ( Spazier) Spazier. As a boy Mr. Spazier made his first visit to the United States, in company with his older brother, and later the home was established in England, where he acquired the major part of his early education. Upon coming again to the United States he associated himself with the General Electric Company, in New York City, and later came to the City of Chicago. He became a skilled chemist and in this line of professional work he has achieved success and high reputa- tion. He was stationed at Peoria, Illinois, three years, and then, in 1907, he came to Los Angeles, California, as coast representative of the Columbia Chemical Company and the Eagle Lye Works. In 1911 he established in Los Angeles the independent industrial enterprise conducted under the title of the Spazier Chemical Company, of which he became the president, the company having been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000, which was later increased to $150,000. In 1912 Mr. Spazier sold his interest in this concern, which is now a part of the National Chemical Company, and in 1915 he established his residence at Burbank. Here, in 1917, he took active interest in Burbank and was the main factor in bringing the More- land Motor Truck Company to Burbank and was one of the largest single donors to this fund. He has also erected several high-grade business build- ings in this vital little city. In 1919 he erected the Victory Building, one of the most modern and attractive in the place. He became vice president of the Carbassenio Products Company, which was incorporated with a capital of $600,000, and he erected the large and well equipped manufac- turing plant of this company, at Burbank, the enterprise being in the manu- facture of soaps. In 1919 Mr. Spazier organized the Burbank Development Company, incorporated for $100,000, and he became its president. He is now the sole owner of this important concern, which has done much to further the development and progress of Burbank. In 1920 he was asso- ciated in the organizing and establishing of the Nu Way Laundry at Bur- bank, incorporated for $100,000, and every progressive movement in the community has found in him a loyal and liberal supporter. At the time of this writing, in the spring of 1923, Mr. Spazier is building a fine new armory for the local organization of the California National Guard, and he constructed the recreation grounds and buildings for the World war soldiers at Camp Kearney, this state. His leadership in progressive move- ments have cause him to be designated as the "Father of Burbank." He is a valued and influential member of the local Chamber of Commerce, is the president of the Good Fellows Club and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, and is a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

263

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Mr. Spazier is aligned loyally in the ranks of the republican party, and he is a member of the planning board of the park commission of Burbank.

March 13, 1907, recorded the marriage of Mr. Spazier to Miss Elizabeth Dickman, who was born at Goodrich, Kankakee County, Illinois, in which state she was reared and educated. Mrs. Spazier is an active member of the Woman's Club at Burbank and is a leader in the social and cultural activities of the community.

HENRY DAVID TALBERT. One of the pioneers of Los Angeles County, the late Henry David Talbert, passed through much of the constructive period of this region, and left his imprint upon his times, and behind him a stainless reputation, and the record of a useful and upright life. He was born at Nashville, Tennessee, March 4, 1833, and for many years was a heavy grower of cotton on his large plantation in the vicinity of Nashville. During the war between the two sections of the country he served all through it as a soldier in the Confederate Army.

Following the close of the war he returned to his old home, but found conditions so changed that he decided to seek a new field, and in the early '70s came to California, settling on the Old Mesa, now West Adams Street, Los Angeles, there buying twenty acres. Selling it a few years later, he moved to Gallatin, now Downey, and bought four acres of the old Reeves homestead, which has since been known as Talbert's Corners. This prop- erty he improved, planted to fruit, and made this one of the most valuable ranches in this district. After good roads were built he established the first wayside fruit stand, now so numerous along the California highways. All his life he was an earnest member of the Christian Church, was one of the organizers of the church of that denomination at Downey, hauled timber for its construction, and continued to be extremely active in its affairs until his death, which occurred November 29, 1918. A strong believer in the efficacy of Sunday School work, he long served as superintendent of the Sunday School connected with his church, was also a leader of the prayer meetings, and never let an opportunity pass for extending the influence of the church or adding to its membership.

In 1886 Mr. Talbert married Miss Eliza Grant Davidson, then eighteen years of age, in Coulter's store at Los Angeles. Mr. Coulter was a Chris- tian minister and officiated at one of the oldest Christian Churches of Los Angeles, and at the same time carried on his large mercantile establishment, one of the best-known in the early days. Mrs. Talbert was born in Lafay- ette County, Missouri, June 8, 1869, a daughter of Bailey Davidson, who died when she was six years old. Her grandfather, Samuel Davidson, reared her and brought her to California in 1884. They left Missouri in the spring of that year, and traveled on an old emigrant train, they furnish- ing their own bedding and food, for those were the days before trans-con- tinental Pullmans. They first settled at Compton, California, where the grandparents both died, he at the age of eighty-six and she when seventy- four.

Immediately following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Talbert took up their residence on his ranch at Talbert's Corners, and here she still main- tains her home. Five children were born to them, namely: Bessie, who was born in 1887, was, like the other children, educated in the old Gallatin School. She was married to Benjamin Sheffer, superintendent of the state asylum at Pomona, California, and they have one son, Clarence ; Ollie, who was born in 1889, is living with her mother. Naomi, who was born in 1890, was married to Buron Conway Hemperley, a veteran of the United States Navy, in which he served during the World war, a part of the time on a torpedo boat. They had two children, Juniata Mae and Buron Conway, Junior. Mr. Hemperley, who was an accountant, died August 18, 1922. Henry Leroy, who was born in 1892, enlisted in the United States Navy April 23, 1915, serving eight years, his period of enlistment extending over the World war, and during those eight years he visited the leading ports of

264

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

the world. Paschal Robert, who was born May 25, 1895, was recalled from the service at the railroad depot on the way to the training point by the signing of the armistice. At that time he was in line for official promotion. He married Miss Isabelle Chevel, of French ancestry. This youngest son is a rancher. When Mr. and Mrs. Talbert located on their ranch it was: in a very wild state, the present finely cultivated acres being then covered with a willow growth. Mrs. Talbert remembers many interesting pioneer condi- tions, which now seem almost incredible, but which she lived through, and in some cases did her part in changing. This is one of the best known and most highly respected families of the county, and the younger generation is living up to the high standards raised by that good citizen and fine old Christian gentleman, Henry David Talbert, whose death inflicted on his community and family a heavy loss.

DAVID EVANS. After a life of successful business activity David Evans came to California to pass his declining years, and purchased a ten acre citrus grove on Sixth Street, near Catalina Avenue in East Whittier. After this transaction he returned to Des Moines, Iowa, to close up his business affairs, but death overtook him before he could return to the land of flowers and sunshine. Mrs. Evans was left with the orange grove. Although without experience, she set herself to the practical study of citrus growing, successfully managed the business, and had one of the finest homes and groves in the district. Mrs. Evans passed away November 11, 1922.

The late David Evans was born in Wales, July 20, 1843, son of Lloyd and Anne (James) Evans. He was well educated and had a business experience of a number of years in his native country. A visit to America so impressed him with the opportunities and the different standards of life that in 1882 he came to this country for the purpose of becoming a perma- nent citizen of the United States. For a time he was associated with his uncle, Samuel James, in the dry goods business in Waukesha; Wisconsin, but from there removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and for many years con- ducted a flourishing restaurant business. It was in 1909 that he came to California and purchased the property mentioned above from Mrs. San- born. The late Mr. Evans was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason.

On May 20, 1880, at London, England, David Evans married Miss Sophie Kahler. She was born in Germany, daughter of Johan Kahler. Mrs. Evans became the mother of three children. Louis Joshua is a resident of Whittier, but proprietor of a restaurant business at Los Angeles. He married Mildred Penland, of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and has one son, Louis D., residing in Des Moines. John Evans, the second son, was some years ago Associated Press correspondent in Los Angeles, and is now correspondent for the Associated Press in Paris, France. He married Aimee Loizeaux, a native of Des Moines, and they had two children, Judith and Druseilla. The youngest child, Miss Anne. Evans, lives at the home on Sixth Street ..

Mrs. Evans after coming to California entered actively into the life of the community, and was both a business and a club woman. She made a flattering success of her citrus grove. The Valencia oranges and grape fruit produced on her land command the highest prices. The ground is on the hill slope of East Whittier, and the fruit has never been troubled with frost. The house is of the comfortable, roomy California architec- ture, inclining toward the Gothic, and is richly finished. Mrs. Evans was a member of the Whittier Citrus Association, the Whittier Chamber of Commerce, and served as a director of the East Whittier Woman's Club. She was a woman who was loved by all with whom she came in contact, and her passing was a matter of sincere regret in Whittier.

MAJ. TRUMAN COLE. One of the best examples Los Angeles County affords of the energetic, self-reliant, public-spirited man who has risen through his own efforts to the position in his community to which his tal- ents entitle him is Maj. Truman Cole of Montebello, who owns one of the

DAVID EVANS

MRS. SOPHIE EVANS

265

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

finest lemon groves in the Montebello District. He was born at Oneida, New York, October 20, 1873, a son of D. A. and C. J. Cole, natives of Mas- sachusetts and New York, respectively. They became the parents of five children. When Major Cole was six years old the parents, who were farm- ing people, moved to Denver, Colorado, and there the lad was reared and educated.

Major Cole was apprenticed to the decorating trade, and worked at it in Denver, for seven years. In the meanwhile his father had moved to Los Angeles and become a member of the firm of J. K. Miller & Company, and in 1890 Major Cole joined him and worked for this firm of decorators for some years. In 1911 he purchased ten and one-half acres of land on Maple Street, Montebello, which he planted to lemons, and here he has since re- sided, his time being now occupied with the cultivation of this fine orchard.

The military record of Major Cole is a most commendable one. In 1893 he enlisted in the California National Guard as a private of the Seventh Regiment, and for twenty-one consecutive years he continued a member of this unit, during that period being promoted and passing through all of the official ranks to that of major, and then, after ranking as major for ten years, retired. During the Spanish-American war he served as a first lieutenant of Company C, Seventh California Volunteer Infantry. When the National Guard was mobilized for service on the Mexican border Major Cole did everything in his power to re-enter the guards, but was not ac- cepted, being beyond military age. However, his twenty-one consecutive years in his regiment proves his devotion to his country and comrades, as well as his service in actual warfare. In 1905 Major Cole was made mili- tary instructor of the State Reform School at Whittier, California, and held that position for seven years, in that connection, also, rendering most valu- able service.

Upon becoming a resident of Montebello he set to work to make his cit- izenship of as much value as possible to his community. When Montebello secured a charter and was made a city of the sixth class Major Cole was elected one of the first city trustees, and was re-elected to the same office, which he is still filling. He has been most active as a member of the Monte- bello Chamber of Commerce, and has otherwise been a hard and consistent worker in behalf of his home city and county. A lifelong republican, he gives an efficient support to his party's candidates.

In 1907 Major Cole married Miss Margaret Mitchell, a daughter of William and Anna (Walls) Mitchell, natives of Belfast, Ireland. Mrs. Cole was also born at Belfast, but left that city for the United States when a girl of fourteen years. Major and Mrs. Cole have three children: Jane C., who was born at Whittier, California, in 1908, is a student of the Monte- bello High School; Eunice M., who was born at Whittier in 1910; and Tru- man, Junior, who was born at Montebello, April 17, 1917. In the teachings of Christian Science Major Cole finds the expression of his religious faith, and he is a firm adherent to them. An upright, honorable man, self-made and eminently deserving, he is one of the most desirable citizens of Los Angeles County, and of the state he served for so many years in a military capacity.

GEORGE R. CALKINS. Of the men who have been identified with the citrus industry of Los Angeles County during the past several decades, one who has risen to comfortable circumstances solely through his own exer- tions is George R. Calkins, whose productive twenty-acre property planted to oranges is situated in the famous Montebello oil district. He was born at Salina, Kansas, April 15, 1873, and is a son of Royal D. and Matilda (Armstrong) Calkins.

Royal Calkins was born in New York State and was a child when taken by his parents to Kansas, where he attended the first school established for white children in that state. He pioneered through the hardest years of Kansas' history, enduring the numerous hardships and overcoming innu- merable obstacles while following his vocations of farming and stock rais-

266

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY

ing. He had the assistance of a capable and faithful wife, who was born in Ohio and who was taken to Kansas by her widowed mother in 1867. Mrs. Armstrong was a woman of determination, and while many of the early settlers fled from the grasshopper pest and the droughts, she remained and fought it out in the new country, where she reared her family. Royal D. and Matilda Calkins were the parents of ten children, all of whom sur- vive.

George R. Calkins was called upon to spend much of his youth in hard work on the home farm, and as a result he was able to gain only an ordinary education, leaving school when sixteen years of age. He went into the oil fields in southeastern Kansas, and in 1898 he came to California, first set- tling at Whittier, where he continued in the oil production industry. In 1900 he was employed in the Sunset District in Kern County. During the same year he made the initial payment on ten acres of his present home, which had just been planted to oranges, and this he cared for while he, through great industry and economy in other work, secured the means to clear off his indebtedness. He later added ten acres to the west in the same district, and his ventures have proven uniformly prosperous. His land may prove to be of even greater value, for it is located in the famous Monte- bello oil fields, and at present a well is being drilled on his property. For a number of years Mr. Calkins was superintendent of the Mutual Water Company of his district, serving some 1,200 acres of land with irrigation, this being accounted one of the best water services in Southern California. Mr. Calkins has had no aid financially, and that he is in good circumstances is owing to his determined energy and thrift. He is a careful thinker and hard worker, and is ardent in his belief that the youth of today be taught honesty, modesty, thrift and sensible ways.

In 1904 Mr. Calkins married Miss Susie E. Sugg, who was brought to California when six years of age by her parents and received good educa- tional advantages. She is a popular member of the Montebello Woman's Club and takes an active part in movements making for civic betterment and progress. She and her husband are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, to the movements of which they contribute liberally. They are the parents of two children: Glen, born January 25, 1908; and Willis, born in September, 1914.

E. A. WILLIAMS. Experiments have proved that the climatic conditions in Los Angeles County are ideal for the raising of all kinds of tropical fruit, and one variety which is being developed very remarkably during the past few years is the Avocado, which is in great demand in the differ- ent city markets, and which was formerly raised in foreign soil. This devel- opment of a new industry has been brought about by the concerted action of some of the most experienced orchardists, who have risked much in their experiments, but who are now being abundantly rewarded for their enter- prise and faith. Optimists in the industry prophesy that the Avocado is destined to be more profitable than any of the citrus fruits, or even the English walnut, and that as the public taste is educated the demand will increase surprisingly. One of these progressive orchardists of long and varied experience who is achieving wonderful results with his Avocado is E. A. Williams, whose ranch is one mile northeast of Montebello, in Los Angeles County.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Los Angeles county, Volume III, Part 43

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