USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume III > Part 54
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
Born at Kingston, Georgia, February 12, 1888, he attended the public schools of his native city, and later was a student of Piedmont Institute, from which he was graduated in 1906, at Rockmont, Georgia. Going then to Rome, Georgia, he spent two years in that city, and then, going North, for four years was assistant manager of the Wabash Cabinet Company of New York City.
In 1913 Mr. McBryde began his connection with California when he came to Glendale, and began the study of law at the University of Southern California and was admitted to the bar in 1915, and began the practice of his profession at Los Angeles. A career of usefulness was opened before him, and he was building up a most desirable connection when this country entered the World war, and he, like the majority of the young men of the country, left his private affairs to respond to military duty. He enlisted in the infantry in 1918, and was stationed at Camp Bowie. The signing of the armistice prevented his going overseas, and he was honorably discharged December 12, 1918.
After his return from the army he located at Glendale, where, as above stated, he was the pioneer attorney, and he is now carrying on a large civil and criminal practice, and belongs to the local bar association. Since coming to Glendale he has been admitted to practice in the United States District Courts. He is one of the forceful lawyers of Los Angeles County, and his keen, analytical mind affords him unusual facility in work- ing out the details of a case, and his contemporaries are quick to acknowledge his special abilities, and he is fast becoming one of the noted practitioners of the state.
Fraternally Mr. McBryde belongs to the Masonic order, to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of which he is lecturing knight (1923), and socially he maintains membership with the Sunset Canyon Country Club and the Kiwanis Club. He also belongs to the American Legion, of which he is past commander (1922). Through the Glendale Chamber of Commerce he renders excel- lent civic service, and he is deeply interested in the advancement of his community. In the creed of the Methodist Episcopal Church he finds expression for his religious belief, and he is on the membership rolls of the Glendale Church of this denomination.
On June 21, 1918 Mr. McBryde was married to Miss Helen Elaine Mosher of Glendale. Mrs. McBryde belongs to the Tuesday Afternoon Club, and to the Daughters of Rebekah. She was born at Pomona, Cali- fornia, and was educated in the public schools of Glendale. Both Mr. and
James 7. M-Bryde
329
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
'Mrs. McBryde are very popular socially and have gathered about them a number of congenial friends whom they, delight to entertain at their hospitable home.
ROBERT I. JARVIS. Prominently identified with the realty interests of the Bay District of Santa Monica and Ocean Park, Robert I. Jarvis is also actively interested in civic affairs and everything pertaining to the advance- ment and development of his community. A Californian by birth, he possesses the true native son's love of and pride in his state, and thus his business has been to him one which transcends its purely commercial aspect. He is secretary of the Santa Monica City Club, and has other connections that enlist his abilities and profit thereby.
Mr. Jarvis was born March 20, 1877, at Santa Cruz, California, and is a son of George Millen and Anne (Wakefield) Jarvis. His father, born at Savannah, Georgia, April 28, 1828, acquired his early education at Wash- ington, D. C., following which he attended the Farmers College, College Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio, and for several years in young manhood taught in the schools of the Buckeye State. In 1860 he came to California and located at Santa Cruz, where he planted the first vineyards in California's northern part. . This venture having proven successful, Mr. Jarvis began planting orchards, a vocation which he followed for twenty years and in which he made a great success. In his declining years he went to Chicago, where, after he was eighty years of age, he completed a voluminous work of Biblical translation, which was published by A. C. McClurg & Company. He died January 13, 1910, Mrs. Jarvis having passed away November 11, 1884. He was a republican in politics, and he and Mrs. Jarvis were devout members of the Episcopal Church. They were the parents of thirteen children.
The public schools of Chicago, Illinois, furnished Robert I. Jarvis with his educational training, and he was variously employed until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, when he enlisted as a trumpeter in Company L. Fifty-first Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He served from April, 1898, until November 2, 1899, seeing active service in the Philippine cam- paign, and on his return to Chicago received his introduction to the real estate business in the employ of a large real estate concern of that city. Mr. Jarvis remained at Chicago until January 1, 1920, when he came to California and located at Ocean Park, where he has since carried on an ever-increasing realty business, handling bay district properties. Mr. Jarvis has established himself thoroughly in the esteem and confidence of his associates, and has been called upon to fill a number of responsible positions. At this time he is treasurer of the Santa Monica Bay Realty Board, and a member of the Santa Monica Realty Board, the California Realty Board and the National Realty Board. He is secretary of the Santa Monica City Club, which is rapidly becoming a strong force in advancing the interests of this section and also has social features. As a fraternalist he holds membership in the Masons and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On March 11, 1907, Mr. Jarvis married Miss Isabella Hawley, a daugh- ter of Charles W. and Nellie M. (Bridwell) Hawley, of Chicago, Illinois. To this union there have been born two children: Robert I., Jr., and Margaret L., both attending school at Ocean Park. Mrs. Jarvis was born at Oak Park, Illinois, December 2, 1887, and after attending the public schools there went to Oxford College, Oxford, Ohio, to the Milwaukee Downer College and to the Conservatory of Music. She is possessed of musical talent and intellectual attainments, and is a popular member of the local lodge of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the Santa Monica Bay Woman's Club.
WILLIAM M. HENRY. One of the best-known figures in athletic and sporting circles of the Pacific Coast is William M. Henry, of Santa Monica.
330
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Long considered an expert on various sporting subjects, of recent years he has been devoting his talents to the interests of the Douglas Company, Incorporated, manufacturers of air craft, of which concern he is vice presi- dent and secretary.
Mr. Henry is a native son of California, having been born at San Francisco, August 21, 1890, and his parents being Rev. John Quincy Adams and Margaret (Weddell) Henry, the former a native of the State of Iowa and the latter of Canton, Ohio. His father, a minister of the Baptist Church, came to California in 1882 and located at Sacramento, whence he subsequently went to Portland, Oregon, and then to San Fran- cisco, filling various pulpits and being accounted a preacher of rare power, whose labors accomplished splendid and lasting results. Both Doctor Henry and his wife are deceased.
William M. Henry was given unusual advantages of an educational character in his youth. After attending public schools at Chicago and New York City he went abroad and was tutored in private schools of England and Switzerland, and on his return pursued a course at Peddie Institute, Hightstown, New Jersey, after which he attended the high school at Piqua, Ohio, and the Los Angeles High School, from which later he was graduated as a member of the class of 1909. He then went abroad again, attending Sydney University, Sydney, Australia, and on his return enrolled as a student at Occidental College, Los Angeles, from which he was graduated with the class of 1913, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Always interested in athletics, at the time of his graduation Mr. Henry secured a position with the Los Angeles Times as a writer on sporting subjects, par- ticularly automobiling, and was in charge of that department from 1914 to 1919. He likewise acted as aeronautical expert. His work in the latter direction attracted the attention of the Glenn L. Martin Company, manu- facturers of aeroplanes, and in 1919 and 1920 Mr. Henry was advertising manager of this concern at Cleveland, Ohio. While there he became acquainted with two young engineers, David R. Davis and Donald W. Douglas, and in 1920 returned to California with them and assisted in the organization of the Davis-Douglas Company for the manufacture of air craft, which later became, as now, the Douglas Company, Incorporated. A brief history of this successful concern, of which Mr. Henry is now vice president and secretary, will be found incorporated in the review of the career of Mr. Douglas, elsewhere in this work. Mr. Henry is also con- nected with the Los Angeles Times in the capacity of special writer, and was the editor of Touring Topics, issued by the Automobile Club of South- ern California in 1920. He is a director of the Aero Club of Southern California, and holds membership in the Los Angeles Tennis Club.
On September 9, 1914, Mr. Henry was united in marriage with Miss Corinne Stanton, of Los Angeles, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and a graduate of the Los Angeles High School and of Cox College. Like her husband, Mrs. Henry is greatly interested in athletics, and belongs to the Los Angeles Tennis Club. She is one of the best players in the state and is at present city and county champion in the doubles and singles and mixed doubles champion of the State of California. She and her husband have three children : Margaret W., Patricia C. and Mary Virginia.
CHESTER M. GAMMON. Within recent years Los Angeles County has become widely known for many things, among others as being a great fruit producing region, and this supremacy, so admirably developed, has brought into being other branches of industry, equally important, and engaging the attention of sound and aggressive business men. One of these worthy of serious attention is the canning industry, for the production is so heavy in this favored region of Southern California that it is almost impossible to ship all of it at once, and unless there are adequate facilities for preserving the fruits in season a large portion is bound to be wasted, this resulting in a serious loss. This necessity has been recognized and provided for by the organization of companies and the erection of suitable
Chester M. Cfamonos.
331
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
plants, and one concern who is doing a splendid business and justly earn- ing a magnificent reputation for the quality of its products is the Van Nuys Packing Company, of whom Chester M. Gammon is the efficient secretary, treasurer and general manager.
Chester M. Gammon was born at Galt, Canada, April 18, 1884, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Patterson) Gammon, natives of Galt, Canada, and Scotland, respectively. Charles Gammon was a contractor, and, coming to Los Angeles, found in that rapidly-growing city ample opportunity for the exercise of his skill as a builder, and had a number of important con- tracts. His death occurred at Los Angeles, where his widow, who survives him, still resides.
Chester M. Gammon attended the excellent public schools of Toronto, Canada. Upon coming to California he began fruit ranching in the San Fernando Valley, and because of his own experience and that of his neigh- bors was led into his present business, which he organized in 1920 as the Van Nuys Canning Company, which subsequently was incorporated for $100,000, under the name of the Van Nuys Packing Company, Incor- porated, with Fred B. Newhoff, president; Roland Barruch, vice president ; and Chester M. Gammon, secretary, treasurer and general manager. Em- ployment is given to 270 people. The factory has a floor space of 32,000 square feet, and the warehouse a floor space of 9,500, making a total of 41,500 square feet of floor space. The plant is equipped with the most modern of machinery and appliances for the conduct of the business, and the latest methods are followed. The company cans apricots, peaches, pears, apples, spinach, tomatoes and pumpkins, and has its own railroad spur from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Shipments are made to the Middle West, and one-fourth of the output is exported to foreign countries, from which there is a large demand. The total pack for 1922 was 180,000 cases, and is completely sold out. The Fred B. Newhoff Company has exclusive sales rights to the output for the company.
Since coming to Van Nuys Mr. Gammon has been active in civic mat- ters, and for some time has been one of the valued members of the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce. Reared in the faith of the Baptist Church, he early united with it, and is one of the trustees of the local congregation.
On January 6, 1906, Mr. Gammon married Miss Katie J. Skeeles, of Toronto, Canada. She is a native of that city, and was there educated. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gammon are popular socially, and have many warm friends in their home city and county.
FREDERICK WILLIAM ARMITAGE. Shrewd business ability, special adaptiveness to his calling, appreciation of its many advantages and recogni- tion of its many possibilities, knowledge of values and a firm belief in his own capacity for success have been some of the leading factors in placing Frederick William Armitage among the leading realty dealers of Santa Monica, where he also handles investments and insurance. Mr. Armitage has been a resident of Santa Monica only since 1918, but during this time has formed many connections of a business and social character, and has also demonstrated a willingness to perform fully the duties of public- spirited citizenship.
Mr. Armitage was born at Toronto, Canada, where he received a public school education, and at the age of eighteen years went to Winnipeg, where he engaged in the wheat export business. He continued in that line and remained in the same locality until 1893, in which year he came to Southern California, and in 1898 located at Los Angeles, where he embarked in the real estate business. He was permanently located in that city until 1910, following which he alternated between Canada and Los Angeles until 1918, when he came to Santa Monica and purchased the business of Miles and Randolph, real estate and insurance. In 1921 he admited to partnership W. A. Prince, and they have since successfully handled city and suburban properties, investments and all kinds of insurance, including fire and automobile, in addition to bonding insurance of the National Surety Com-
332
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
pany. The firm is known to be reliable and trustworthy, and its members stand high in the estimation of business men. Mr. Armitage is a member of the Real Estate Board, and as a fraternalist is affiliated with the Masonic Order.
Mr. Armitage married Miss Alice Maynard, of Chicago, Illinois, who died in 1910, leaving two sons: Frederick Maynard, of Los Angeles, and Milo Emerson, of Santa Monica, both of whom enlisted in the Forty-fourth Battery, Canadian Field Artillery, as privates, and served overseas from 1916 to November 11, 1918. The first named was honorably discharged as a first-class signalman and the latter as a bombardier, and both had splendid records for bravery and faithful service.
JOSE A. MAGONACELAYA, whose attractive home is at 1207 South Marengo Avenue, Alhambra, is a citizen whose career has been one of signally eventful and interesting order, and 'his educational advancement and material success have been won entirely through his own efforts, he having been thrown upon his own resources when a mere boy.
Mr. Magonacelava was born in the Town of Ybarvvy, province of Biscaya, Spain, on the 29th of March, 1879, and is a son of Domingo and Sotara Magonacelaya, who passed their entire lives in Spain, the father having been a lawyer, watchmaker and farmer and having died when his son Jose, of this review, was but four years old. The wife and mother died soon afterward, and thus Jose A. Magonacelaya began the battle of life for himself, an orphan boy, when he was but five years old. At the age of eight years he became a cook's helper on a small Spanish steamer, on which he worked from 3 o'clock in the morning to 9 at night, and received the princely stipend of $3 a month. He continued his arduous labors on this vessel eleven months, and then obtained a position on a larger vessel, at a wage of $5 a month. He grew rapidly in physical stature and in practical experience, and at the age of twelve years he weighed 185 pounds and held the position of fireman on a coal-burning tramp steamer. He continued to follow the sea for a prolonged period, and in the meanwhile touched all of the important world ports. He has lived for varying intervals in many lands, including China, Africa and South American countries. He was twelve years old when he made his first voyage to the United States, and for some time he was fireman on the old Clyde Line steamer "New York," at a wage.of $35 a month. His natural mechanical talent enabled him to gain authoritative knowledge of machinery and applied electricity, and by close study and experience he became a skilled marine engineer and electrician of practical ability. He found employment in and about New York City for a period of seven years, and in the national metropolis he received his natural- ization papers January 21, 1901, as a full-fledged American citizen. His seafaring life had been one of hardship and many adventures. He signed at one time as fireman on the British freight steamer "Adambridge," and sailed from Hull, England, for Galveston, Texas. On the return trip to England the vessel had a short crew, and in a great storm which it encountered the lifeboats and all superwork on the decks were swept away. The vessel was filling with water, despite the fact that the pumps were working to capacity, but a Norwegian sailor kept his post at the wheel, the second engineer worked his best, and the subject of this sketch continued his herculean work as fireman for a consecutive period of fourteen hours. The water rose till the lower fires were extinguished, but he kept the upper fires active and supplied sufficient steam to enable the storm-wracked vessel to weather the great tempest and finally to reach port. In recognition of their gallant services in saving lives and the vessel and its cargo the three heroic men who did the wonderful work were each awarded one month's extra pay on arrival in England. This incident shows the characteristic poise, determination and courage of Mr. Magonacelaya, who has buffeted many storms in his career on land and sea and who has never flinched at an ordeal.
In July, 1901, Mr. Magonacelaya arrived in San Francisco. He had saved $18,000, but he lost all this in an unsuccessful contracting venture
333
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
in Nevada. He returned to San Francisco "broke," and found employment in picking grapes at $1 a day. Times were hard and jobs scarce. He finally obtained a position as engineer of a pile-driver on the water front at Stockton, where he worked six months, and received $3 a day. There- after he worked at herding sheep and on a railroad, and from Bakersfield, by reason of an attack of malarial fever, he came to Los Angeles, where for three years he was employed in a slaughter house. He next went to the Newhall ranch, where he was prospering in his independent farm enterprise when, in 1912, he made another change by establishing an automobile stage line between Los Angeles and the Aqueduct. This venture resulted in financial disaster, and he has since been engaged in farm enterprise in the Alhambra District, where substantial success is attending his activities. He has ordered his course with unwavering integrity of purpose, and has gained and held the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has come in contact in his eventful career.
In 1914 Mr. Magonacelaya married Mrs. Edwarda (Jason) Polloreno, widow of Alberto Polloreno, and her death occurred at Los Angeles, Febru- ary 27, 1920. She had five children by her first marriage, and the one son of the second marriage is Jose R. Magonacelaya, who was born October 24, 1916.
JAMES H. STEELE. The motorist traveling over the magnificent roads of Los Angeles County does not often pause to think what he owes to the initiative, foresightedness and energy of the men who have brought about this wonderful improvement in the roads of this region. Until 1906 prac- tically nothing had been done in permanent hard road improvement, so that all that has been accomplished has been effected during the past fifteen years, and one of the men who has played an important part in this movement is James H. Steele of El Monte, who has charge of District 408 of road con- struction work for Los Angeles County, a man of long experience, and excellent judgment, who likes his work.
James H. Steele is a native of Arkansas, for he was born in that state in July, 1867, a son of Christopher Columbus and Katherine Steele, natives of Arkansas, farming people. They had ten children born to them, and James H. Steele was their eldest. His educational opportunities were limited, and he remained at home, giving his parents the benefit of his work on the farm, until he reached his majority and then went out into the world on his own account, although at that time he accompanied his parents to Savannah, California, and settled on a ranch just north of Savannah, where the father bought land and improved it, and subsequently added to his original purchase. The father is yet living and makes his home at Los Angeles, but the mother died at Savannah in January, 1913.
In 1891 Mr. Steele married Miss Hattie Guess, a daughter of the late John Guess, one of the notable pioneers of Los Angeles County, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Steele, namely: Elmer, who was born June 22, 1893, died two years later; James R., who was born June 23, 1895, was educated at Savannah, married Emma Johnson, a native of Texas, and they have one son, Richard; Clarence C., who was born August 4, 1897, was educated at Savannah, and is unmarried; Katherine, who was born September 23, 1899, married William West, a native of Arkansas, and they have three children, Harriet, William and Alice; Joseph Guess, who was born Septem- ber 26, 1904, died at the age of six weeks; Josephine, who was born June 20, 1905, was educated at Savannah and El Monte, and is still in the high school of the latter place; and Alice, who was born March 30, 1907, is now attending the El Monte High School. All were born at Savannah.
In 1890 Mr. Steele rented a farm in the vicinity of Savannah, and was engaged in farming until 1897, when he began working for wages on the Rose Mead ranch for L. J. Rose, and was in his employ from 1897 until 1906. In the latter years he began working for Samuel L. Page, road foreman of Los Angeles County, and was with him until 1914, when he was
334
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
made county road foreman of District 403, and was later transferred to his present district and placed in charge of it.
In 1906 there were no good roads in Los Angeles County, and Mr. Steele has been connected with the work of construction during all of its phases, and has immediate charge of much of the most important of the work in this section, and has seen the oil surfaced roads changed to the present fine finished macadam. His service has been a splendid one, and through his efforts flat swamp lands have been transformed into the finest hard surface thoroughfares in the country. When he entered the service it required four horses to haul twelve bales of hay through the winter mud from El Monte to Los Angeles, and a day was required for the trip. Some idea of the value of this road construction may be gleaned by a comparison of the above with the record made any day over the present roads. The old roads were full of holes in the summer and mud puddles in the winter, and it was a task to get over them then, while now it is a pleasure, and one enjoyed not only by the permanent residents, but millions of transcontinental travelers. Mr. Steele and his family are living on a portion of the old Guess homestead ranch, Rosemead Avenue, Pomona and San Bernardino Boulevard. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
CARL F. SCHADER. In the development of Santa Monica and its sub- stantial and permanent improvement no individual has contributed in greater degree than Carl Francis Schader. He is known from Canyon to Del Rey as the man of vision. Always identified with enterprises of magnitude and vast importance, he is always ready to render public service. His achievements have been of the utmost value to the community of his adoption, and several communities owe their being directly to his foresight, judgment and organizing and executive ability.
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.