USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume III > Part 52
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CLAYTON A. LANGWORTHY. No professional brings into play a more diversified exhibition of capability than that of teaching. In order to rise
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to any distinction in that profession, it is necessary first to possess the natural inclination toward the work, without which it is almost impossible to render effective service, and superimposed upon this must be a training that is almost perfect in its details, coupled with a long and varied experi- ence. The life of a conscientious teacher is one of self-abnegation and sacrifice that has its rewards in the realization that young minds are developed properly and characters trained so that in the future when the stress of life is brought to bear upon them, they are able to meet all demands promptly and effectively. In the teachers' profession in Los Angeles County few names are better known than that of Clayton A. Langworthy. district superintendent of schools of Redondo Beach, and a man of modern tendencies and practical ideas, under whose supervision the children of this locality are being given the wisest and most thorough training with which to meet the battles of life.
Mr. Langworthy was born at West Edmeston, New York, June 26, 1874, and received his early education in the public schools of Leonards- ville, New York, following which he attended Hillsdale College, Michigan, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1897 and that of Master of Arts in 1898. He began his career as a teacher at Holland, Michigan, whence he went, successively to Polo, Lena and Lanark, Illinois. At this period he deserted the educator's calling for a time, being for three years engaged in the insurance business at Rockford, Illinois. In 1905 he came to Cali- fornia, his first location being at Needles, and later he settled at Santa Ana, where for two years he taught History in the Santa Ana High School. In 1910 he came to Redondo Beach, as principal of Redonda Union High School, and the next year was made District Superintendent which positions he has retained to the present time.
One of the greatest of Mr. Langworthy's achievements has been the development of the Redondo Union High School, one of the best examples of a modern educational institution to be found. This institution, consist- ing of four buildings, was erected in 1915, and has thirty class rooms, a faculty of thirty-two members, and an enrollment of 700 students. Its audi- torium, with a seating capacity of 1,000, contains a magnificent pipe organ, with over 1,500 pipes. The gymnasium is modern in every feature; there are numerous locker rooms, a teacher's rest room, a hospital, a domestic science kitchen, a laundry, laboratories, machine shop, foundry, mechanical drawing department, cafeteria, automobile department and woodworking shop. A feature is the model apartment, which is completely furnished throughout, with range, furniture, rugs, draperies, dishes, linen, toilet accessories, etc. Another feature which impresses the visitor, and a novel one, is what is known as the Roman room, a replica of a Roman apartment of the time of Alexander, with its sunken pool, marble benches, etc. This is so constructed as to represent the different marbles of the day, and an ingenious system of indirect lighting makes this feature beautiful as well as instructive.
On Feb. 16, 1923, the district adopted a plan to enlarge the building to accommodate 2,000 students. . The plan contemplates the purchase of an athletic field; the erection of 3 additional class room buildings and the construction of an open air auditorium after the pattern of a Greek theatre with a seating capacity of at least 3,000. The first unit of this group, together with the gymnasium will be erected this year. The group when completed will constitute one of the most compact and artistically arranged school plants in the state.
Mr. Langworthy is a member of the California Teachers' Association, and for four years has been a member of the executive committee of the southern branch of that body. He belongs also to the National Educational Association and the High School Teachers' Association, and occupies a high place not only in the calling, but in the esteem of his associates and the regard of the students under his care. He is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason and belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Alpha Tau Omega college fraternity. He
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also holds membership in the Chamber of Commerce and his religious faith is that of the Congregational Church.
On June 3, 1903, Mr. Langworthy was united in marriage with Miss Lottie Culler, of Berlin Center, Ohio.
CHARLES HERBERT TUCKER has been closely associated with the finan- cial affairs and institutions of Long Beach for a number of years and is the active head of the Mutual Building and Loan Association, one of the oldest organizations of this kind in Long Beach.
Mr. Tucker is a son of James William Tucker, president of the Western Savings Bank and long a prominent figure in the financial affairs of Los Angeles County. A sketch of James W. Tucker appears on other pages.
Charles H. Tucker was born at Trenton, New Jersey, December 11, 1882. He attended high school at East Orange, New Jersey, and also at Long Beach, but even while a school boy began learning in the school of experience. For the measure of success that has rewarded his efforts he gives chief credit to his good father and mother. He has always lived at or near their home, and has kept well within the influence of their exem- plary lives. He has enjoyed almost constant association with his father, a high minded and capable business man, and none of the important decisions he has been called upon to make in banking has ever been taken without con- sultation with his father.
Mr. Tucker's first employment was as a billing clerk in the New York office of the B. F. Goodrich Rubber Company. After coming to Long Beach he was employed as postal clerk, and for a time was a reporter with the Long Beach Press and later the Daily Telegram. His banking expe- rience began as bookkeeper with the National Bank of Long Beach. Fol- lowing that he was assistant cashier and trust officer of the Long Beach Trust & Savings Bank, and his service with the Mutual Building & Loan Association has been as secretary and for the past two years as president. This building and loan association in less than twenty years has accumu- lated resources well upwards of four million dollars. It has guaranteed stock of two hundred thousand dollars and reserve fund and undivided earnings of nearly two hundred fifty thousand dollars. The officers and guaranteed stockholders include a number of the most substantial business men and financiers in Los Angeles County.
Mr. Tucker is also a director in the Western Savings Bank. He is a member of the Board of School Trustees for 1922-23 of the Los Cerritos District of Los Angeles County. He was also a member of the Board of Freeholders which drafted the city manager charter for Long Beach. In politics he is a man of liberal views, but has seldom sought in an active way to influence political affairs. He is a member of Long Beach Lodge, No. 327, Free and Accepted Masons, Long Beach Chapter No. 84, Royal Arch Masons, the Knights of Pythias, was elected treasurer for 1923 of Long Beach Lodge No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a director of the Rotary Club, and is treasurer and vestryman of St. Luke's Episcopal Church.
At Los Angeles, July 23, 1906, Mr. Tucker married Miss Clara Morgan, daughter of the late Capt. Sid O. Morgan and Mrs. Helen E. Morgan of Glen Ullin, North Dakota. Her parents were pioneers of Dakota territory and Mrs. Tucker remembers at least one Indian scare during her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker were married by Rev. J. J. Wilkins of St. Paul's Church, Los Angeles. Their four children are: Charles Herbert, Jr., born in 1907, a student in the Harvard school ; Merit Morgan, born in 1909; Julia Ett, born in 1911 ; and James William IV, born in 1913.
NEWTON M. TODD, who has charge of the extensive legal practice of the firm Daly, Daly & Todd, attorneys at Long Beach, is a native son of Southern California, and one of its prominent younger members of the bar of the state.
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He was born at Pasadena, November 21, 1894, son of I. N. and Katie (McKie) Todd, retired residents of Los Angeles. His father for about thirty years was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and for ten years of that time was general agent at Pasadena. There were two children, Newton M., and Florence, wife of George Crane of Hollywood.
Newton M. Todd was educated at Long Beach, graduating from the high school in 1912, and for three years was a student of law in the Uni- versity of Southern California, leaving the University in 1916. He paid some of his expenses while in University by work in a drug store at Long Beach, where he has had his home for nineteen years. Mr. Todd was admitted to the California bar in 1917, and began practice at Long Beach the same year. He became associated with the Dalys in law practice in 1918, and in 1921 was admitted to partnership. The senior member of Daly, Daly & Todd was John E. Daly, who died recently at the age of fifty- nine, while his son James H. Daly died May 3, 1922, at the age of thirty- three. Since their death Mr. Todd has conducted the practice of the firm, involving the business of several large corporations, and the firm name remains the same. Among other interests Mr. Todd is attorney for the First National Bank of Long Beach, and the firm's offices are in the First National Bank Building.
He is a member of the Republican County Central Committee and was the first president of the Young Men's Republican Club. Mr. Todd is exalted ruler of Long Beach Lodge No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a member of the Masons and Knights of Pythias, the Add Club of Long Beach, the Long Beach, California and American Bar Association and the First Baptist Church.
At Los Angeles, March 3, 1917, he married Miss Minnie K. Dalen, of San Pedro, where she had been a teacher in the public schools. Mrs. Todd was born in Salt Lake City, but was reared in Southern California, graduating from the San Pedro High School in 1911, and from the State Normal School of Los Angeles in 1913. They have two children, both born at Long Beach, Newton M., Jr., born in 1918, and Paula Jacelyn, born in 1922.
JAMES EDWARD PAWSON is a partner with Newton M. Todd, in the law firm of Daly, Daly & Todd of Long Beach. Mr. Pawson began the practice of law in Los Angeles County, and is one of the county's well known younger attorneys.
He was born in Hoopeston, Illinois, September 13, 1894, and came to Long Beach with his parents in 1909. He is a son of Edward and Jennie May (Orr) Pawson, the latter now deceased. His father was in the lumber business in Illinois, and is now living retired at Long Beach.
Only child of his parents, James Edward Pawson, was educated in Long Beach and Los Angeles, graduating from the Long Beach High School in 1913, and received the LL. B. degree from the University of Southern California law school in 1916. He was admitted to the Cali- fornia bar in June of that year and subsequently admitted to practice in the Federal Court. Mr. Pawson conducted an individual law practice with offices in the First National Bank Building at Long Beach until 1922, when he formed the partnership with Newton M. Todd, who handled the extensive practice of the firm Daly, Daly & Todd. Both the senior members of the firm, the Dalys, are now deceased. Mr. Pawson was a member of the Legal Advisory Board during the war, is active in repub- lican politics as a member of the county central committee, and is affiliated with the Long Beach and American Bar Associations. He is a member of the Phi Sigma, the Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity of which he was Dean in 1916, is a Knight Templar Mason and Elk. He and Mrs. Pawson are members of the Grace Methodist Episcopal Church of Long Beach.
At Los Angeles, he married Miss Dorothy Phipps, a native of Missouri, but reared in Long Beach and graduate of the High School there. She was also a nurse in the Clara Barton Hospital in Los Angeles. The two
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children of Mr. and Mrs. Pawson, both born at Long Beach, are Edward Albert and Patricia Nancy.
CARLE L. WILLIAMS is head of the Carle L. Williams Company, suc- cessors to the Charles F. Van de Water Company, one of the largest gen- eral insurance agencies in Southern California. Mr. Williams was formerly manager of the Van de Water Company and has been closely associated with this firm in Los Angeles County for ten years.
Mr. Williams was born at Panora, Iowa, December 11, 1889, son of Ferdinand A. and Lida M. Williams. His father was a cousin of James Whitcomb Riley. His mother is a cousin of President Warren G. Harding, both having a common ancestor in the Van Kirks.
Carle L. Williams as a boy lived with his parents in Denver and Kansas City, where he attended grammar schools, received his high school educa- tion in Boone and Des Moines, Iowa, and for three years was a student of art in Des Moines. He gave up the study of art to go into business, and for a time was with a large dry goods house at Kansas City. He also traveled in the state of Iowa for a school supply firm.
Mr. Williams came to California in 1913, and soon became associated with the Townsend Van de Water Company, real estate, at Long Beach. In 1914 he became an equal partner with Charles F. Van de Water.in the Charles F. Van de Water Company, real estate and insurance, and in 1922 the Carle L. Williams Company took over all the interests of the Townsend Van de Water Company and the Charles F. Van de Water Company, Mr. Williams owning personally a five-eighths interest in the Charles F. Van de Water Company, which is capitalized at $100,000. This company, with offices both at Long Beach and Los Angeles, represents about twenty-four of the Standard Insurance companies, covering every phase of insurance, including fire, life, accident, health and the various forms of property in- surance and liability. Mr. Williams is also a stockholder in the South Coast Canning Company of Long Beach and the Colorado Ranch Company.
He is a director and vice president in 1922-24 of the Long Beach Cham- ber of Commerce, is a republican, a member of the Masonic Lodge and Long Beach Lodge, No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the Kiwanis Club, Old Colony Club, Advertising Club, Vir- ginia Country Club and is a member of the Christian Science Church.
At Albia, Iowa, November 6, 1909, Mr. Williams married Miss Abbie E. Burgess, daughter of Ed. J. Burgess, a well known banker of Milo, Iowa, now living retired at Long Beach. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have three chil- dren : Mary M., born in 1911, Betty C., born in 1915, and Edward K., born in 1918.
JOSEPH H. ROBERTS is an architectural engineer who has done some interesting and important work in his profession in Southern California. His offices are at the Marine Bank Building at Long Beach, and he has been a popular resident of that city for a number of years.
Mr. Roberts was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 10, 1898, son of John H. and Sibyl (Hammitt) Roberts, and their only surviving child. An older brother died in infancy, and the mother died at Cincinnati, when Joseph H. was two years of age.
This branch of the Roberts family has been in America for over two centuries. Thomas Roberts came from Wales in 1700, and was one of three brothers to establish homes in the colonies. He married a Miss Zanes, a native of Holland, and among their five sons and daughters was Robert Roberts. Joseph Roberts, a son of Robert, moved to Clermont County, Ohio, as a pioneer, and married there Mary Stratton. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters and one of these was Thomas Roberts whose son, Joseph, was the father of John H. Roberts and grand- father of the Long Beach architect.
John H. Roberts was born in Montezuma, Indiana, June 29, 1849. He finished his education at Oxford College in Ohio, was a farmer in
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early life and he also played baseball as a member of semi-professional ball teams when the National pastime was in its infancy. From Ohio he went out to Dakota territory and was a pioneer in the neighborhood of Sioux Falls in 1870, taking up a homestead there. On leaving South Dakota he removed to Chicago, and was in the real estate business for about five years, and then returned to Ohio on account of his wife's health. He also spent the year 1890 in California. After the death of his wife at Cincinnati, in 1900, he came to Los Angeles, later to San Diego, and since the early part of 1903 has lived at Long Beach. He has never married since his wife's death, and he and his son Joseph H. shared a home in common since coming to California.
Joseph H. Roberts attended public school in Long Beach, graduated from the Polytechnic school in 1916, also did a year of post graduate work in architecture and engineering, and in the course of his practical experi- ence has studied under several men in the profession. For two years he was an outside superintendent, engineer and draftsman with two of the largest firms of contractors in Southern California. In December, 1918, Mr. Roberts engaged in business, and established his office at Long Beach in May, 1919. As an architectural designer he has drawn the plans for nearly four hundred buildings in Long Beach, Los Angeles and vicinity, including numerous large projects. He has designed buildings in Montana, Ohio and South Dakota as well. Mr. Roberts was the architectural engineer and designer of the St. Regis, a handsome eight story and basement apart- ment house with seventy-seven apartments, erected on East Ocean Boule- vard and completed in October, 1922, also the "Californian," a six story structure of similar purpose. These apartment houses were both built on the "own your own apartment" plan. His work includes hospitals, apartments, hotels, etc., well known to the people of Southern California. Mr. Roberts has contributed a number of articles on architectural and other technical subjects to magazines and scientific publications.
He is unmarried. In politics he is a republican, is a member of the American Association of Engineers, the Long Beach Architectural Asso- ciation, the Knights of Pythias lodge and attends the First Christian Church.
MAJOR GEORGE T. BAGGOTT, treasurer of the National Soldiers Home (Pacific Branch) at Sawtelle, Los Angeles County, was born in the City of Louisville, Kentucky, April 20, 1872, a son of Dr. John W. and Mary E. (Thomas) Baggott, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky and both representatives of sterling families that were founded in the fair Southland in the Colonial period of our national history. Dr. Baggott long held prestige as one of the representative physicians and surgeons in the City of Louisville, and since his death his widow has con- tinued to maintain her home there.
In the public schools of his native city Major Baggott continued his studies until he had completed the curriculum of the high school, and for three years thereafter he held a position in the Louisville offices of the Standard Oil Company. During the ensuing eight years he was there in the office service of the Adams Express Company, and when, in 1898, the nation became involved in war with Spain he enlisted as a private in Com- pany H, First Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was in active. service in Porto Rico during activities with Spain and when the regiment remained after peace until December, 1898, being then sent home to muster out in March, 1899, receiving his honorable discharge at that time with his regiment. For the following ten years Major Baggott held a clerical position in the motive department of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, with headquarters in his native city, and upon his retirement from this work he entered the service of the National Soldiers Home department at the Central Branch, Dayton, Ohio. There he was for one year the post- fund clerk, and he was then appointed inspector of that branch, a position of which he continued in tenure until 1915, when he was transferred to the Pacific Branch and assigned to service as its treasurer, an office of which
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he has since continued the incumbent, as one of the able and popular executives of the National Soldiers Home at Sawtelle. The Major is affiliated with the Spanish-American War Veterans Association and also with the Veterans of Foreign wars, besides which he maintains affiliation with the Masonic fraternity.
August 16, 1899, recorded the marriage of Major Baggott and Miss Marian Potter, daughter of Adelbert and Clara Potter, of Mason, Michigan, in which state Mrs. Baggott was born and reared. Mrs. Baggott is a popular and appreciative member of the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club and the Sawtelle Woman's Club, besides being active in the social affairs of the home community. Major and Mrs. Baggott have no children.
THOMAS JAMES DEEBLE. Measured not in length of years, but in the thoroughness with which he did his work and the example he set in public spirited and patriotic endeavor, the late Thomas James Deeble lived a life of real distinction. His home was in Long Beach for about seven years.
He was born at Pittston, Pennsylvania, March 31, 1881. He studied law at the Easton Academy at Easton, Pennsylvania, took his degree at the Carlisle Law School at Carlisle, and in 1904 he removed to a little community known as Carlisle, Indiana, and for eight years enjoyed a successful law practice there and at Terre Haute. While at Carlisle he married a Miss Fannie Mae Pierce. On coming to California they estab- lished their home at Long Beach, where Mr. Deeble engaged in the real estate business. For a time before his death he was senior member of the firm Deeble and Myers.
Mr. Deeble died at his home at 1100 Appleton Street, February 3, 1919, his death being due to influenza-pneumonia. Due to his prominent business connections and particularly to the self sacrificing work and leadership he had exemplified in every patriotic movement during the World war, his death was regarded as a real calamity to the community. He had been chairman of the Speakers Committee in every Liberty Loan Drive, and undoubtedly many hundreds of thousands of dollars in Long Beach's quota came as a direct result of his personal efforts and influence.
Mr. Deeble is survived by Mrs. Deeble and three children, Emma Ruth, Jessie Loise and Richard, who still retain their home at 1100 Appleton Street. He was also survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Deeble. His three sisters are Mrs. Birdella Evans, Mrs. Anna McPherson and Mrs. Viola Pratt, all of Long Beach. His brothers are W. F. and R. E. Deeble, both well known figures in Long Beach business affairs and as such represented elsewhere in this publication.
The late Thomas J. Deeble was affiliated with Long Beach Lodge No. 888, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, had been president of the Republican Club and was an active member of the Taubman Bible Class. He was a member of the Long Beach Realty Board, Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Modern Woodmen of America. The various organizations of which he had been a member and those with which he had worked in community and patriotic matters, were all represented at his funeral, making it a singularly impressive service. The principal speaker was Rev. George P. Taubman, teacher of the Taubman Bible Class.
WILLIAM F. DEEBLE is a member of the firm Deeble & Myers, real- tors, at 135 West First Street in Long Beach. Mr. Deeble has been a factor in the real estate business at Los Angeles and Long Beach for the past ten years, and is a brother of the late Thomas J. Deeble, one of the best loved citizens of Long Beach.
Mr. Deeble was born at Avoca, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1888, son of Solomon and Ruth (Davis) Deeble. His parents were born in Wales, and are now living retired at Long Beach. His father for eight years was postmaster of Avoca during the administrations of Mckinley and
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Roosevelt, and has always been a staunch republican. He and the family came to Long Beach in 1912. Of six children, two sons and three daughters are living. The other son is R. E. Deeble, of the real estate firm of Deeble & Chapman, also of Long Beach.
All members of the Deeble family are engaged in the real estate busi- ness in the City of Long Beach and there is probably no other family in the United States that has all its members in this line of business in the same town and in active though friendly competition one with another. The subject of this review is in partnership under the firm name of Deeble & Myers ; his brother R. E. Deeble with the firm of Deeble & Chap- man and his three sisters have an exclusive ladies office under the name of McPherson & Evans Company.
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